don't be afraid of anything
Ugh, I can't believe the Mets lost that game, except for how I can totally believe it because the Royals are 1. notoriously relentless, and 2. the Mets' fielding has always been suspect. I can't believe Familia blew the save! But mostly I blame Cespedes and Conforto for not getting that first out and instead letting it turn into an inside the park home run! WHAT THE HELL, YOU GUYS. WHAT THE HELL.
Also, at what point is Cuddyer a better choice at bat than Johnson? NOT LATELY, IS WHEN. WHY DO THAT? ARRGH.
They had their chances, they just couldn't put it away when it was necessary. *hands* I went to bed at the top of the 14th when it looked like Colon and Young were going to pitch all night. I'm not sorry, either. Sigh.
And now we do it again tonight. It's either going to be quick and painful, or long and painful. I'm not sure which I prefer at this point.
***
Wednesday book meme:
What I've just finished
The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina, which I liked but didn't love. Post-apocalyptic YA dystopia - I liked everyone's abilities but the whole thing felt a little thin to me. I don't know - maybe it's because I was interrupted in the middle? Anyway, maybe I'll read the next book, but I'm not clamoring for it.
Aftermath: The Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens by Chuck Wendig. I got this from the library since I've bounced hard off of Wendig's writing before, but the writing was fine. I also didn't even realize that that one dude was gay before he said it, but apparently according to homophobes, it's the end of the GFFA as we know it! Idiots. (There's also a lesbian couple in the background. SHOCKING. *rolls eyes at pearl-clutchers*)
ANYWAY. While I liked the main story - it's kind of a heist, kind of a prison break - I thought the interludes were super annoying, mostly because we never saw more of the more interesting ones. Han and Chewie and a brigade of brigands freeing Kashyyyk! Where's the book about that? (side note: I still want the story of Darth Vader freeing slaves everywhere he goes by killing their masters. I'm just saying. He could be all Denethor about it too: "You're free. Live or die now in the manner in which you see fit." IJS. Also the AU where Anakin tells the council to get stuffed and leaves to free his mom and the other slaves when he's 18. I will never get over how badly they handled him in this regard [and others but especially that]! It boggles the mind, it does.) Speaking of Anakin/Vader, I thought there was going to be a fun interlude in this book with the kid Temmin buying/stealing/bartering for Anakin's old lightsaber (somehow rescued from the ventilation shaft at Bespin) on the black market, but instead if was just some rando selling what probably wasn't Vader's lightsaber to someone who is probably involved in the First Order/Cult of Vader thing in TFA. Which wasn't what I was hoping for. Sigh.
It was nice to see Wedge, though.
Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith. While this is a lot less funny than the first two Cormoran Strike books, I thought it was a much more tightly plotted story (though as usual, I could do without chapters from the killer's POV, especially when the killer is a misogynist piece of shit). This is also much grimmer than the first two books (and given that the second one involved some really nasty shit, that's saying something), and definitely should come with warnings for rape and child abuse and pretty much all the terrible ways men can treat women and adults can treat children. If you can stomach it, it's a compelling read, and Robin takes the lead for a lot of it (though that also falls into a trap I find annoying in procedurals/detective stories - I don't want the cases to always be personal/related to the detective! They should parallel/foil the protags, but not necessarily be overtly about them!), and we get a lot of backstory for her and for Strike. I could have done without Robin having a rape in her backstory, but it does seem well-thought-out and not just thrown in there because what else does a woman have in her history, amirite? *rolls eyes* I feel like it does explain a lot about some of her behavior, and I like how it explicitly called out how people (and society) treat women who've been raped, and also that it set up a realistic disconnect between her and Strike, because NO! I DON'T WANT THEM TO BREAK UP! I mean, okay, I ship it (I was surprised at how overtly shippy this book was!) but I also love them partnering! Batman Strike needs Robin! AND THEN THAT ENDING. EXCEPT SHE WENT AHEAD AND MARRIED MATTHEW. UGH. GIVE ME THE NEXT BOOK NOW, JKR!
For a better/more thoughtful take, read
selenak's review.
Oh, and this week's comics, though that doesn't seem like it should count, since they're over so quickly:
Grayson #13: I will never believe Tim proclaiming a woman's hotness like that. I'm sorry. I just don't believe it. Even if it is Helena and she is hot! (I also don't believe Tim's surprise when Dick is planning to seduce a man; I mean, he's met Dick, right? I don't usually have hard and fast head canons for characters' sexualities etc.*, but Dick Grayson is totally a polyamorous pansexual. Fight me.
*Well, and Tim is not straight.)
I'm a little creeped out by being made privy to the examination cavity search Dick undergoes, but I enjoy him turning like a flower to the sun of Helena's approval. I totally ship it. But then there's Tiger, and I totally ship Dick/Tiger too. (Not so much Midnighter not because he's a Batman expy but because he's in a relationship that seems real to me.)
Batman and Robin Eternal #4: ROBINS. ALL OF THEM**. ON SCREEN. And I don't just mean the official ones. PLUS BATGIRLS. IT'S AS IF THEY KNOW ME.
So Alfred totally sent them in to protect Bruce, right? And Dick and Babs are gonna train them! and Jason's hanging out with Steph! please make out! Ahem. I don't really care for Steph's characterization here - I didn't like some of it in Batman Eternal either, but she and Jason suffer from that a lot, so I'm just going to be happy they're together in the Batcave. And also that they appropriately respect Cass's badassitude.
**except Damian, who I guess is still off on his atonement quest in Son of Batman.
...and you thought I was going to talk about plot developments? Ha.
What I'm reading now
Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge. I avoided this book for a while because I thought it was about vampires, but I'm glad my misconception was remedied, because so far, it's fantastic. Triss wakes up after an illness and everything is different! Or maybe it's just her! She doesn't know, and her overly protective (and creepy) parents aren't helping, nor is her angry, vengeful little sister. ♥PEN♥ I'm just over halfway through and SO MUCH has already happened that I can't even figure out where it's going to end up, but I trust Hardinge enough to believe it'll be somewhere amazing.
What I'm reading next
*shrug* Unless something pops up from my library hold list, I'll figure it out when I'm done with Cuckoo Song.
***
This entry at DW: http://musesfool.dreamwidth.org/789973.html.
people have commented there.
Also, at what point is Cuddyer a better choice at bat than Johnson? NOT LATELY, IS WHEN. WHY DO THAT? ARRGH.
They had their chances, they just couldn't put it away when it was necessary. *hands* I went to bed at the top of the 14th when it looked like Colon and Young were going to pitch all night. I'm not sorry, either. Sigh.
And now we do it again tonight. It's either going to be quick and painful, or long and painful. I'm not sure which I prefer at this point.
***
Wednesday book meme:
What I've just finished
The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina, which I liked but didn't love. Post-apocalyptic YA dystopia - I liked everyone's abilities but the whole thing felt a little thin to me. I don't know - maybe it's because I was interrupted in the middle? Anyway, maybe I'll read the next book, but I'm not clamoring for it.
Aftermath: The Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens by Chuck Wendig. I got this from the library since I've bounced hard off of Wendig's writing before, but the writing was fine. I also didn't even realize that that one dude was gay before he said it, but apparently according to homophobes, it's the end of the GFFA as we know it! Idiots. (There's also a lesbian couple in the background. SHOCKING. *rolls eyes at pearl-clutchers*)
ANYWAY. While I liked the main story - it's kind of a heist, kind of a prison break - I thought the interludes were super annoying, mostly because we never saw more of the more interesting ones. Han and Chewie and a brigade of brigands freeing Kashyyyk! Where's the book about that? (side note: I still want the story of Darth Vader freeing slaves everywhere he goes by killing their masters. I'm just saying. He could be all Denethor about it too: "You're free. Live or die now in the manner in which you see fit." IJS. Also the AU where Anakin tells the council to get stuffed and leaves to free his mom and the other slaves when he's 18. I will never get over how badly they handled him in this regard [and others but especially that]! It boggles the mind, it does.) Speaking of Anakin/Vader, I thought there was going to be a fun interlude in this book with the kid Temmin buying/stealing/bartering for Anakin's old lightsaber (somehow rescued from the ventilation shaft at Bespin) on the black market, but instead if was just some rando selling what probably wasn't Vader's lightsaber to someone who is probably involved in the First Order/Cult of Vader thing in TFA. Which wasn't what I was hoping for. Sigh.
It was nice to see Wedge, though.
Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith. While this is a lot less funny than the first two Cormoran Strike books, I thought it was a much more tightly plotted story (though as usual, I could do without chapters from the killer's POV, especially when the killer is a misogynist piece of shit). This is also much grimmer than the first two books (and given that the second one involved some really nasty shit, that's saying something), and definitely should come with warnings for rape and child abuse and pretty much all the terrible ways men can treat women and adults can treat children. If you can stomach it, it's a compelling read, and Robin takes the lead for a lot of it (though that also falls into a trap I find annoying in procedurals/detective stories - I don't want the cases to always be personal/related to the detective! They should parallel/foil the protags, but not necessarily be overtly about them!), and we get a lot of backstory for her and for Strike. I could have done without Robin having a rape in her backstory, but it does seem well-thought-out and not just thrown in there because what else does a woman have in her history, amirite? *rolls eyes* I feel like it does explain a lot about some of her behavior, and I like how it explicitly called out how people (and society) treat women who've been raped, and also that it set up a realistic disconnect between her and Strike, because NO! I DON'T WANT THEM TO BREAK UP! I mean, okay, I ship it (I was surprised at how overtly shippy this book was!) but I also love them partnering! Batman Strike needs Robin! AND THEN THAT ENDING. EXCEPT SHE WENT AHEAD AND MARRIED MATTHEW. UGH. GIVE ME THE NEXT BOOK NOW, JKR!
For a better/more thoughtful take, read
selenak's review.
Oh, and this week's comics, though that doesn't seem like it should count, since they're over so quickly:
Grayson #13: I will never believe Tim proclaiming a woman's hotness like that. I'm sorry. I just don't believe it. Even if it is Helena and she is hot! (I also don't believe Tim's surprise when Dick is planning to seduce a man; I mean, he's met Dick, right? I don't usually have hard and fast head canons for characters' sexualities etc.*, but Dick Grayson is totally a polyamorous pansexual. Fight me.
*Well, and Tim is not straight.)
I'm a little creeped out by being made privy to the examination cavity search Dick undergoes, but I enjoy him turning like a flower to the sun of Helena's approval. I totally ship it. But then there's Tiger, and I totally ship Dick/Tiger too. (Not so much Midnighter not because he's a Batman expy but because he's in a relationship that seems real to me.)
Batman and Robin Eternal #4: ROBINS. ALL OF THEM**. ON SCREEN. And I don't just mean the official ones. PLUS BATGIRLS. IT'S AS IF THEY KNOW ME.
So Alfred totally sent them in to protect Bruce, right? And Dick and Babs are gonna train them! and Jason's hanging out with Steph! please make out! Ahem. I don't really care for Steph's characterization here - I didn't like some of it in Batman Eternal either, but she and Jason suffer from that a lot, so I'm just going to be happy they're together in the Batcave. And also that they appropriately respect Cass's badassitude.
**except Damian, who I guess is still off on his atonement quest in Son of Batman.
...and you thought I was going to talk about plot developments? Ha.
What I'm reading now
Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge. I avoided this book for a while because I thought it was about vampires, but I'm glad my misconception was remedied, because so far, it's fantastic. Triss wakes up after an illness and everything is different! Or maybe it's just her! She doesn't know, and her overly protective (and creepy) parents aren't helping, nor is her angry, vengeful little sister. ♥PEN♥ I'm just over halfway through and SO MUCH has already happened that I can't even figure out where it's going to end up, but I trust Hardinge enough to believe it'll be somewhere amazing.
What I'm reading next
*shrug* Unless something pops up from my library hold list, I'll figure it out when I'm done with Cuckoo Song.
***
This entry at DW: http://musesfool.dreamwidth.org/789973.html.
people have commented there.