In War and Peace, Natasha and Andrei have fallen in love and gotten engaged at great speed, although on the promise to Andrei's father that they won't get married for a year, and will keep their engagement secret for that year, which will cause absolutely no problems whatsoever. :) :) :) Natasha's first ball is one of the scenes I'd remembered fondly from my first read-through, ~10 years ago— Tolstoy is just so good at evoking the feeling of experiencing feelings (here, the deadly seriousness of preparing for, and giddy excitement of attending, Baby's First Big Grown-Up Social Event) and, between Natasha and Kitty in Anna Katerina, I feel like he's surprisingly good at writing teenage girls? On the other hand, I had not recalled the twin plot threads of Andrei and Pierre both trying to engage with reform via committee: in Andrei's case, advocating for military reform, through which efforts he quickly becomes besties with but just as quickly disillusioned with (I'm sensing a pattern/foreshadowing here) an upstart statesman; in Pierre's, getting really invested in the mission and mysteries of the Freemasons and trying to convince his fellow Freemasons, who view it more as a social networking club, to take it equally seriously.
I've started reading Madly, Deeply, the edited and published collection of Alan Rickman's diaries, 1993-2015; so far, his 1993 entries have been a blur of names and references that I mostly don't recognize— main plot threads of 1993 are a failed bid to acquire a theater(?) and shambles on the set of the movie Mesmer— but it is delightful whenever someone I do recognize pops up (so far, Fiona Shaw— who he refers to as "Fifi"— and Ian McKellen). I'm also delighted by his frequent mini-reviews of random movies: "Jurassic Park— what the hell is the plot? Great dinosaurs." and "Sleepless in Seattle— halfway through I think 'I was in this movie'" (followed by editor's note: "He wasn't").
Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 09 secrets from Secret Submission Post #1009. Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ]. Current Secret Submissions Post:here. Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.
I have been doing lots of socialising lately! I went to the opera on Thursday, as described previously. On Friday I had the David Attenborough Centenary Dinner, which went really well - we had about fifteen people, everyone had brought their required cool animal fact (we went round the table and everyone shared! the facts were indeed very cool!), and we had a very cheerful couple of hours. There were a couple of subgroups of people who knew each other, but even the odd ones out seemed to be enjoying themselves with conversation. Also, several of the people who couldn't make it shared animal facts in the WhatsApp chat, so I had a steady trickle of animal facts all day, which was extremely delightful. I'm thinking of doing one of these again, but next time I'll pick a space anniversary of some sort, and make everyone bring space facts instead.
Then on Saturday I went out for brunch with S, who happened to be here with her husband that weekend (although not early enough to come to dinner!), having brought her baby to visit the SeaLife Centre. Sunday I didn't have any in-person socialising as such, but I sang Matins for other S (final result: 7 congregation vs 5 choir... they had the parish AGM after the later service, so it was substantially quieter than usual) and then had three video calls (toft, family crossword, B5 with Miss H). Work on Monday was comparatively restful.
Time for more Digimon Ghost Game thoughts! This time for episodes 50-60. Getting so close to the end… I can’t believe I only have seven episodes left. ( beneath the cut )
While this isn't thematic or plot-related or anything, I did remember one thing I wanted to comment on from PoH because it's probably the most relatable* Carl has ever been to me: ( minor spoiler )
*There's a post on tumblr that I think I've reblogged a couple of times, that notes that characters don't need to be relatable for me to enjoy them, but they do need to be resonant. This was a case where something was both. *g*
In more real world news, last I checked (earlier today), the MTA and the various railroad unions are still far apart on finalizing a new contract, so it's entirely possible there will be a strike starting on Saturday and the LIRR will stop running. I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if there were an eleventh hour agreement to prevent that, but I also wouldn't be surprised if there weren't. In the face of this uncertainty, my boss made going into the office on Tuesday optional (and non-tenable if there is a strike, since she lives out on the island), so I have opted to not go in regardless. So all my cupcake baking will have to wait until next time. (I think our June in-office day is also currently non-tenable because it's a day when there will be an afternoon World Cup match and nobody wants to be in Manhattan during that, but especially around Penn Station or the Port Authority, as required by many commutes, but we'll see what happens when we get there.)
In other work news, they are scheduling our annual summer staff picnic someplace up in Dutchess County(?!) and everyone on my team is like, WTF? DNW! about it (it appears I will already be on PTO for it, so at least I'm well out of it). I also had some charter bus horror stories to share, from my own personal experience, so I hope the folks managing that have great intestinal fortitude, because managing transportation for large groups for an outing is the worst, and they're planning to do it from multiple locations. They're also requiring people show up for the busses at like 8:30 am and they won't leave from upstate to come home until 4 pm (the team planning this had to be talked down from making it 5 pm), and it's at least a 90 minute drive (longer to/from Brooklyn or Queens) and then you still have to commute home from the pickup/drop-off location. I think this is an even worse proposition than the Governor's Island location, which required a railroad > subway > ferry trip from me so I noped out of it repeatedly. The one time I went, many years ago now, was when it was from 1 - 4 pm at Riverside Park, which is super accessible by subway and also not a full day affair. It's also why I dislike corporate events on boats (which I have also had experience with) - you're just stuck for the length of the affair with no escape.
Anyway, now that I've fully exposed my asocial personality, I will hit post. *g*
I’ve been saving up these notes until I finish some of the longer things and that means they’ve been getting fewer and further between. But I do have more to say about each thing!
Five Worlds by Mark Siegel, Alexis Siegel, Xanthe Bouma, Matt Rockefeller, and Boya Sun— This series of five MG science fantasy graphic novels. There are multiple moons that the characters travel between and also magic which makes for a fun mix. Three children must go on a quest together to save the world. Occasionally the problems they face are a little too parallel to those of our world. For example their worlds are heating up, and it's going to be a disaster if no one does anything. And I found the similarities a little stressful. But mostly the story was lot of fun, with cool worldbuilding. The art is really good, very colorful and fun, but also surprisingly easy to follow what is going on from panel to panel even when the action gets complicated. The environments and backgrounds are also really good.
Superman vs. Meshi by Satoshi Miyagawa, Kai Kitago (Illustrator), Wes Abbott (Letterer), trans Sheldon Drzka— So you know those slice of life manga where everyone goes on in detail about how good the food is? This is one of those with Superman as the main character. He’s become obsessed with Japanese chain restaurants and so goes to Japan on his lunch breaks – it’s very cute.
Superman is so excited to eat food! One time he got confused about which kanji was for beef and which was for pork which I found very relatable. He also brings his fellow superheroes and family to come eat with him resulting in some cute moments. (thought I can not suspend my disbelief to believe that a bunch of old people from Kannas would be happy to sit on the floor and eat sushi)
I think this is much more successful as a foodie slice of life manga than it is as a superhero comic, but I don’t really think it's trying to be a superhero comic. (But if someone came to this expecting more typical superhero stuff they would probably be confused)
Content notes: Fat phobia - mostly off hand comments about gaining weight, but there was one issue where it was more of focus. Also non consensual memory wiping
Let's Eat Together, Aki and Haru, vol 1 by Makoto Taji, trans Unknow— Reading Superman vs Meshi made me want to read more slice of life manga, so I picked up this one about two college roommates eating together. It’s tagged a yaoi so I think they’ll get together at some point but right now it's just gentle pinning and blushing. Since this is about college students is about simple and easy foods, and there are recipes. It's cute and charming.
Batgirl vol 3 (2009) by Bryan Q. Miller et al.— I have a lot of feelings about Stephine Brown – some of which have to do with her political/fandom history. The first time I learned that there had been more than one Robin was years ago reading discourse about her death, and I just feel fiercely protective of her. All this is to say that I was excited to read this series where she is the star!
It’s fun! I don’t love the way it sets up a “Steph has always been a fuck up" narrative (That doesn’t track with my reading of earlier comics, though I did skip War Games) But otherwise I really like this version of Steph. And I love seeing her working together with and being supported by other women!
Hello to all members, passers-by, curious onlookers, and shy lurkers, and welcome to our regular daily check-in post. Just leave a comment below to let us know how your current projects are progressing, or even if they're not.
Checking in is NOT compulsory, check in as often or as seldom as you want, this community isn't about pressure it's about encouragement, motivation, and support. Crafting is meant to be fun, and what's more fun than sharing achievements and seeing the wonderful things everyone else is creating?
There may also occasionally be questions, but again you don't have to answer them, they're just a way of getting to know each other a bit better.
This Week's Question: What do you wish you could get right first time, every time?
If anyone has any questions of their own about the community, or suggestions for tags, questions to be asked on the check-in posts, or if anyone is interested in playing check-in host for a week here on the community, which would entail putting up the daily check-in posts and responding to comments, go to the Questions & Suggestions post and leave a comment.
In celebration of our Public DoMay month we’ll be hosting two editing chats on our Discord!
Join us on Saturday May 16, 8pm UTC (what time is that for me?) or Sunday May 17, 3pm UTC (what time is that for me?). Come join us for some fun chatting with other editors and help edit Fanlore pages!
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I'm still reteaching myself how to read, but I did get through Charmed Life in about a day last week.
Huh! I've definitely read this book at least three times, but it slides right out of my brain after. I remembered that Gwendolen burned up her brother's lives in a matchbook, but which Chrestomanci that brother turned out to be, and how she did it, and why, or what anyone did about it--simply could not remember. Having just reread it, I think that might be because the book's a bit of a muddle.
From mulled wine at Christmas to hot cross buns at Easter, nutmeg has become an essential spice in Europe. But its widespread adoption—including in the traditional Dutch breakfast pastry of ontbijtkoek—comes on the back of a sordid history of colonial exploitation.
From the seventeenth to the nineteenth century, Dutch cultivation of nutmeg and the related spice mace involved “one of very few historical situations where Asian slaves worked on European-owned farms or plantations,” according to anthropologist Phillip Winn.
The Banda Islands, once the world’s only source of nutmeg, were home to between 13,000 and 15,000 people until their conquest by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in 1621.
The roughly 1,000 Bandanese who survived were enslaved alongside other laborers under the perkenier system, where hundreds of workers toiled on each plantation (in Dutch, perk).
“The newly enslaved Bandanese were not simply ‘labour’ in the perkeniersstelsel—they were the original silviculturalists and traders of the islands whose expertise was recognised and utilised by the VOC,” Winn explains. “Enslaved Bandanese were deliberately distributed about the islands to make use of their expertise in cultivation and spice production.”
Yet conquered Bandanese made up just over one-tenth of the enslaved workers. Many other slaves hailed from neighboring parts of the Indonesian archipelago, as the Dutch made arrangements with local rulers to traffic enslaved people captured in regional conflicts.
Some might have come from even farther away. A “little black slave boy” renamed Januari began his journey to the Banda Islands when he was sold to a Dutch vessel, the Amerongen, in the northwestern Indian port of Surat in 1766. From there, the Amerongen sailed east, plying colonial trade routes around Java.
Alicia Schrikker speculates that Januari “may have originated in East Africa and been brought to Surat by Gujarati traders,” though she can find no official trace of him in either the ship’s cargo manifest, where enslaved people were normally listed, or in the payroll registers.
Sugar, tea, and tobacco tied British daily life to empire, turning global exploitation into ordinary habits of consumption.
Instead, Januari appears in the historical record because he was still in the custody of the Amerongen in 1769, when he was caught semi-naked in the company of an older youth—a white Dutch teenager who had enlisted as a cabin boy in the VOC.
Though Januari was likely no more than twelve years old, he was put on trial for sodomy and sentenced to hard labor in the Banda Islands. If the boy survived his 10-year sentence, Schrikker grimly notes, “the VOC probably sold him on to a perkenier, a planter, for whom he would have worked as a slave on the nutmeg plantations for the rest of his life.”
The perkenier system is distinct for blurring the interests of the VOC and the planter class. For instance, plantation managers may have held “a more cavalier attitude toward policing their slaves” because they considered nearby Dutch forts to be responsible for the “publicly owned slaves” leased by the VOC to the perken, David Carlson and Amy Jordan suggest.
The perkenslaven, who were allotted by the VOC in quotas to individual plantations, toiled alongside “private” slaves whom planters “purchased” for their personal use. Toward the end of the perkenier system in the 1860s, enslaved people were also joined by indentured laborers.
At the same time, planters might order perkenslaven to grow vegetables and other produce for their own households and businesses, rather than cultivate nutmeg as the VOC intended.
“[I]t ultimately becomes difficult to separate the use of slave labour in support of spice production from that which served household economies,” Winn writes.
In fact, perk compounds could have been designed for planters to display domestic slaves to visitors, since “the mere presence of slaves as a subordinate group to the owner could have served as a display of their material wealth and prestige,” write Carlson and Jordan.
The perkenier setup differs significantly from how plantation slavery was practiced in the Caribbean and the southeastern United States—indicating, Carlson and Jordan write, that “the Bandanese plantation landscape is considerably unlike those found elsewhere in the world.”
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Scholars point out that the forced mixing of individuals from diverse origins has left an indelible mark on the culture of the Banda Islands. Many perkeniers’ wives were locals, and some were even formerly enslaved women, who might have gone on to own slaves of their own. Cultural hybridity was intensified by the domestic use of creole “Moluccan Malay.”
“Bandanese themselves now use the term campur (‘mix/blend’) in describing their distinctive Malay … but also as an expression of self-description in the phrase orang campur,” writes Winn. “To be Bandanese (Orang Banda) today is also to be an orang campur, a juxtaposition that troubles national narratives of static, regionalised ethnic identities.”
Took a sleep aid last night, slept pretty well but not long enough. Today we went to the zoo, saw gorillas and capybaras and poison frogs and ducks and cranes and skinks and many other things, but sadly did not see giant otters or tamarins or a few other things that were apparently hanging out in inaccessible parts of their enclosures. Then we came home and I have been struggling mightily to stay awake because if I nap I'll probably just screw my sleep schedule even worse (and we have to be fully packed and out the door at 6:45 am the day after tomorrow to catch a ferry to Guernsey). We may just blow off dinner. I may fall asleep while typing this.
1) This was a new one. Finished a game on Board Game Arena, and the person says in the chat window that they're asking this because they wrote a novel and many short novels, would I be interested in reading them? They're in Italian but I can use Google Translate. We had had no other interaction during the game. Um sure, we're all so incredibly short of reading material these days that random offers to read novels of unknown topic (which we must translate) will no doubt be jumped on by many a random card player…
3) This discussion of how a Deep Space Nine tie-in series both anticipated our current political situation, and at the same time had to have its final installment posted to AO3, was interesting in various ways. A tale of how stories come together as well as the difference between writing fanfic and working for publishers.
4) Speaking of our current political situation, I've been trying out CIA, which is an ok show for background stuff. What caught my attention is that their episode airing February 23rd had reference to a weapon that could be sold to Iran to control the strait of Hormuz. Unsurprisingly, Trump has been watching the wrong TV shows.
5) Apparently our dystopian future is already here, given this story of what it's like to work as an AI trainer. Although not the main point of the article, the insight it gives into what's happening in the entertainment industry is also grim.
I love a good scary mystery, and The Sun Down Motel had all the elements to make it perfect. I loved the Gothic atmosphere, the theme of women coming together to get justice for other women, and the excellent momentum of the pacing. Other than possibly being too spooky for some, I can’t come up with a single reason why anyone should avoid this book.
Something hasn’t been right at the roadside Sun Down Motel for a very long time, and Carly Kirk is about to find out why in this chilling new novel from the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of The Broken Girls.
Upstate New York, 1982. Viv Delaney wants to move to New York City, and to help pay for it she takes a job as the night clerk at the Sun Down Motel in Fell, New York. But something isnʼt right at the motel, something haunting and scary.
Upstate New York, 2017. Carly Kirk has never been able to let go of the story of her aunt Viv, who mysteriously disappeared from the Sun Down before she was born. She decides to move to Fell and visit the motel, where she quickly learns that nothing has changed since 1982. And she soon finds herself ensnared in the same mysteries that claimed her aunt.
First Love, Take Two by Sajni Patel is $1.99! This is a contemporary romance where two exes become roommates. We featured this one on a previous edition of Cover Awe. Shana gave this a B-:
Readers who like to root for a couple who are up against a closed-minded community, and who sympathize with an anxious, and occasionally strident heroine, would enjoy First Love, Take Two. If you’re looking for a standalone romance, low angst, and a couple with stellar communications skills, this might not be for you. Either way, my fellow foodies will want platters of buttermilk biscuits and tacos at hand while you read.
On the verge of realizing her dream of being a doctor, Preeti Patel should be ecstatic. But between the stress of her residency, trying to find a job, and managing her traditional, no-boundaries family, Preeti’s anxiety is through the roof. Relationships and love aren’t even an option. Fortunately, Preeti’s finally found a new place to stay . . . only to discover that her new roommate is her ex.
Preeti never quite got over Daniel Thompson. Super-hot, plenty of swagger, amazing cook—the guy is practically perfect. And if it weren’t for their families, there might have been a happily ever after. But it’s hard to keep her sanity and libido in check when the man of her dreams is sleeping mere feet away. Can Preeti and Daniel find a way to stand up and fight for each other one last time . . . before they lose their second chance?
Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane is $1.99! This is an urban fantasy that has been recommended by readers quite a few times! It was mentioned in the comments in a GS vs STA post about heroines who don’t want kids (which I know many people like to read).
THE DEPARTED HAVE ARRIVED.
The world is not the way it was. The dead have risen, and the living are under attack. The powerful Church of Real Truth, in charge since the government fell, has sworn to reimburse citizens being harassed by the deceased. Enter Chess Putnam, a fully tattooed witch and freewheeling ghost hunter. She’s got a real talent for banishing the wicked dead. But Chess is keeping a dark secret: She owes a lot of money to a murderous drug lord named Bump, who wants immediate payback in the form of a dangerous job that involves black magic, human sacrifice, a nefarious demonic creature, and enough wicked energy to wipe out a city of souls. Toss in lust for a rival gang leader and a dangerous attraction to Bump’s ruthless enforcer, and Chess begins to wonder if the rush is really worth it. Hell, yeah.
I Kissed a Girl by Jennet Alexander is $2.99! This is a contemporary F/F romance with both heroines working in different aspects of the entertainment industry. I thought we reviewed this one, but I think it just had a mention on Book Beat instead.
Can an up-and-coming horror actress and the makeup artist for her newest “creature feature” turn on-set chemistry into the romance of a lifetime?
Lilah Silver’s a young actress who dreams of climbing out of B-list stardom. She’s been cast as the lead in what could be her breakout performance…but if she wants to prove herself to everyone who ever doubted her, she’s going to need major help along the way.
Noa Birnbaum may be a brilliant makeup artist and special effects whiz-kid, but cracking into the union is more difficult than she imagined. Keeping everyone happy is a full-time job, and she’s already run ragged. And yet when the beautiful star she’s been secretly crushing on admits to fears of her own, Noa vows to do everything in her power to help Lilah shine like never before.
Long hours? Exhausting work? No problem. Together they can take the world by storm…but can the connection forged over long hours in the makeup chair ever hope to survive the glare of the spotlight?
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