He saw himself as alive and I saw him dead
Ugh, I'm having the kind of day where I type up a comment in response to someone's post and then realize that they probably don't care what I have to say so I just click out of it instead of posting. It's been that kind of week - I've been in bed by 10 the last two nights because I just couldn't keep my eyes open, despite sleeping well. So even though I can tell the days are getting longer - it's still sort of light when I leave work now yay! - February is still the worst.
*
Last night I dreamt that
devildoll,
snacky, and I were going on fangirl vacation together but somehow we ended up at Yankee Stadium instead of JFK. We were not pleased, and the traffic on the Deegan was killer.
*
ursamajor told me that not only was yesterday National Pancake Day, it was also World Nutella Day. I see Nutella-stuffed crepes in my near future. There's a crepe place opening right up the block from my apartment (though I will probably not wait for that to open, since my favorite restaurant around the corner does excellent crepes with Nutella and bananas).
*
In more interesting news (maybe?), the Wednesday book meme:
What I'm currently reading:
The Other Lands, Book 2 of the Acacia Trilogy by David Anthony Durham.
As you can tell by the title, this book finally starts exploring the titular "other lands", i.e., the countries beyond the Acacian empire that gives the trilogy its name and was the setting for the first book.
Also, there's a dragon. Well, a big lizard with wings that is so far vegetarian (fruitatarian?) and has magical healing powers. So there's a bonus. Especially since it's paired with Mena, who is probably my favorite character in these books so far.
The book is still more concerned with the plotty machinations than the characters, but I've grown to like the characters enough and been intrigued by the worldbuilding enough to keep reading.
What I just finished reading:
Acacia: The Acacia Trilogy, Book One by David Anthony Durham. The final twist isn't really a surprise except for the part where Corinn takes the book and learns to use it; I wasn't expecting that, though I figured she'd kill Hanish and take over, and I figured Aliver was a goner when someone said something about Dariel wearing the crown one day, and also because he was a dreamer/idealist and there was probably no way he could have done everything he promised, and trying would have broken him.
These books are very... they remind me in some ways of Dune - there's a drug that most of the population is hooked on, and there are a lot of negotiations about keeping control of it that always makes me think the spice must flow! Except there's a lot less incest. Which may or may not be a selling point for you, idk. But it's all political skullduggery and bloody battles, and the characters and their emotions are kind of shafted (or, I should say, the characters I really care about - I didn't really care about the older men who do get to have emotional moments). For example, after 9 years of separation, you'd think we'd get to see the siblings' reunion - at least one of them! - but they either occur offscreen or are mediated through a third party from well outside the hugging and crying. Which I must protest! I was hoping for some emotional payoff, especially between Dariel and Mena, who seemed to at least be somewhat close before they were separated, but no. And we don't really see them reunite with Corinn either.
I think Corinn is fascinating as a character, because on the one hand, she's kind of a cliche? But on the other, I think that psychologically her actions make a lot of sense given what she's been through, especially since she's the only one of the four who didn't get to escape and make some kind of new life outside the palace. I can't help but think it won't end well for her, though, one way or another.
What I plan to read next:
Well, there's the third book of this trilogy, and I also have the first of Mike Carey's Felix Castor books, which were kind of a double rec as someone mentioned them as being like Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series, which I love (
rachelmanija posted about them yesterday [there are some minor spoilers in the comments]), and also Mike Carey wrote Lucifer, the Sandman spinoff comic, which I highly recommend. And I have all the other books I've mentioned in this slot in past weeks, piling up on my kindle. And of course, if there are any comics I pick up today (one day I will remember what comes out what week, but today is not that day, though I think Fearless Defenders #1 is out, and I might have to get that), I'll read those tonight when I get home.
Which reminds me, I never talked about Hawkeye #7, aka, the one about Superstorm Sandy. I always kind of have mixed feelings about stories that tie in directly to current events (especially events I've personally experienced) but I did like that they sent Clint out to the Rockaways (and that there was a discussion of Far Rockaway v. Rockaway Park v. Rockaway Beach etc.). Also, Clint, do not disrespect Springsteen. you know you love him (best comment from Fraction about Clint - someone asked what Clint's makeout jam would be and Fraction said it was the cassette of Purple Rain he picked up in 1984. Because yes. (source)), and you deserved exile from your own apartment for that. I wanted more Kate, and not just because I always want more Kate (SHE IS THE BEST NO LIE) but because I felt there needed to be more backstory for her portion of events - it seemed really random. (I mean, I get that this was written on the fly and not originally scheduled, so I'm impressed they got it together at all, given the givens, but yeah.)
*
This entry at DW: http://musesfool.dreamwidth.org/542479.html.
people have commented there.
*
Last night I dreamt that
devildoll,
snacky, and I were going on fangirl vacation together but somehow we ended up at Yankee Stadium instead of JFK. We were not pleased, and the traffic on the Deegan was killer.
*
ursamajor told me that not only was yesterday National Pancake Day, it was also World Nutella Day. I see Nutella-stuffed crepes in my near future. There's a crepe place opening right up the block from my apartment (though I will probably not wait for that to open, since my favorite restaurant around the corner does excellent crepes with Nutella and bananas).
*
In more interesting news (maybe?), the Wednesday book meme:
What I'm currently reading:
The Other Lands, Book 2 of the Acacia Trilogy by David Anthony Durham.
As you can tell by the title, this book finally starts exploring the titular "other lands", i.e., the countries beyond the Acacian empire that gives the trilogy its name and was the setting for the first book.
Also, there's a dragon. Well, a big lizard with wings that is so far vegetarian (fruitatarian?) and has magical healing powers. So there's a bonus. Especially since it's paired with Mena, who is probably my favorite character in these books so far.
The book is still more concerned with the plotty machinations than the characters, but I've grown to like the characters enough and been intrigued by the worldbuilding enough to keep reading.
What I just finished reading:
Acacia: The Acacia Trilogy, Book One by David Anthony Durham. The final twist isn't really a surprise except for the part where Corinn takes the book and learns to use it; I wasn't expecting that, though I figured she'd kill Hanish and take over, and I figured Aliver was a goner when someone said something about Dariel wearing the crown one day, and also because he was a dreamer/idealist and there was probably no way he could have done everything he promised, and trying would have broken him.
These books are very... they remind me in some ways of Dune - there's a drug that most of the population is hooked on, and there are a lot of negotiations about keeping control of it that always makes me think the spice must flow! Except there's a lot less incest. Which may or may not be a selling point for you, idk. But it's all political skullduggery and bloody battles, and the characters and their emotions are kind of shafted (or, I should say, the characters I really care about - I didn't really care about the older men who do get to have emotional moments). For example, after 9 years of separation, you'd think we'd get to see the siblings' reunion - at least one of them! - but they either occur offscreen or are mediated through a third party from well outside the hugging and crying. Which I must protest! I was hoping for some emotional payoff, especially between Dariel and Mena, who seemed to at least be somewhat close before they were separated, but no. And we don't really see them reunite with Corinn either.
I think Corinn is fascinating as a character, because on the one hand, she's kind of a cliche? But on the other, I think that psychologically her actions make a lot of sense given what she's been through, especially since she's the only one of the four who didn't get to escape and make some kind of new life outside the palace. I can't help but think it won't end well for her, though, one way or another.
What I plan to read next:
Well, there's the third book of this trilogy, and I also have the first of Mike Carey's Felix Castor books, which were kind of a double rec as someone mentioned them as being like Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series, which I love (
rachelmanija posted about them yesterday [there are some minor spoilers in the comments]), and also Mike Carey wrote Lucifer, the Sandman spinoff comic, which I highly recommend. And I have all the other books I've mentioned in this slot in past weeks, piling up on my kindle. And of course, if there are any comics I pick up today (one day I will remember what comes out what week, but today is not that day, though I think Fearless Defenders #1 is out, and I might have to get that), I'll read those tonight when I get home.
Which reminds me, I never talked about Hawkeye #7, aka, the one about Superstorm Sandy. I always kind of have mixed feelings about stories that tie in directly to current events (especially events I've personally experienced) but I did like that they sent Clint out to the Rockaways (and that there was a discussion of Far Rockaway v. Rockaway Park v. Rockaway Beach etc.). Also, Clint, do not disrespect Springsteen. you know you love him (best comment from Fraction about Clint - someone asked what Clint's makeout jam would be and Fraction said it was the cassette of Purple Rain he picked up in 1984. Because yes. (source)), and you deserved exile from your own apartment for that. I wanted more Kate, and not just because I always want more Kate (SHE IS THE BEST NO LIE) but because I felt there needed to be more backstory for her portion of events - it seemed really random. (I mean, I get that this was written on the fly and not originally scheduled, so I'm impressed they got it together at all, given the givens, but yeah.)
*
This entry at DW: http://musesfool.dreamwidth.org/542479.html.
people have commented there.