#it’s actually a truly thought provoking and interesting movie

[state-of-franklin]

All the people that think Oppenheimer is a propaganda movie actually make me laugh, because it is propaganda! Just not the nationalistic/patriotism kind.

It’s literally about a guy that lives to regret his most renowned invention, who wished more than anything it wouldn’t become a weapon, and when faced with his own guilt is told to suck it up and fake a smile.

This movie is trying to get the audience to understand the plight of the scientist that feels like he invented death. He was manipulated time after time by the US military and government, and truly was used for his genius more than he “used” anyone.

It is a 3 hour movie of pain, regret, and opposition between scientific progress and moral implications of doing so.

Don’t shit on a fucking movie because you read a tumblr post about it. Do your own fucking research and maybe go see the movie before you lay such harsh judgement on it.

[monkey-network]

Good Stuff: Orion and the Dark

You know? I remember playing Pajama Sam 1 many moons ago and to this day I find it lovely to play. Great characters, incredible artwork, the differing routes each playthrough which I didn't even realize until then, and the ending which really stuck with me. That what was kept me anticipating Orion and the Dark, as I felt it was that spiritual successor I never knew I wanted. It sucks that Dreamworks dropped this onto streaming like it was nothing, not even on the site they own no less, but I genuinely looked forward to this and that's what matters. Now that it's out, let it be known I can't believe this will be the first Charlie Kaufman film for me. Just saying, any interest in his previous movies is gonna feel like whiplash.

Just imagining some kid loving Orion & is eventually in awe for a movie called I'm Thinking of Ending Things

To truly start this review, this might be the best kino non-Pixar Pixar movie Dreamsworks ever made. I didn't think of it having the whole "what if X had feelings" factor until now but I actually like that they take it not only in a reasonable direction, but twists the dynamic in a way Pixar honestly hasn't done since... Toy Story 4 I guess? No spoilers, but I enjoyed that Darkness and his entity friends have their insecurities, this is before they all met Orion, and they take that in a very great if offputting direction. Plus I love that they were able to personify these elements I didn't actually think about when it came to night time. They also present the biggest problem with the movie and that's the lack of real camaraderie with the entities and Orion. You enjoy the friendship between the boy and Darkness, but they streamline the bond Orion has with the others and that really makes the story hit or miss depending on if you grow to care about them. I brought up Pixar and yeah, while they have their great individual moments they don't have the same effectiveness dynamic wise as the emotions from Inside Out. Also small nitpick, but I didn't like that Dark's name is "Dark" and not "Darkness"; doesn't roll of the tongue, you know?

Plus we didn't get Orion and Dark playing Cheese & Crackers like missed opportunity of the year

Now again, this is my first Charlie Kaufman film, but I was familiar with his writing style and I gotta say I loved what he does with the structure of the story. It's a story within a story where as soon as the curtain is pulled, I was fully hooked. I love how Orion essentially helps himself overcome some of his fears both thanks to unexpected but welcomed help and developing his own confidence. It was clever how when you put a face on a fear, that fear slowly fades but the film shows that it's not something capable of a cure. Orion's neuroses dilate thanks to this adventure, he probably wouldn't have lived to tell it if otherwise, but it presents that growing up doesn't mean everything will work out perfectly or immediately. Does it do a lot to get to that point? Yes, but I felt the risks paid off in a way I don't think I've seen before in a story like this. I know as a kid I didn't have constant paralyzing premonitions regarding the worse outcomes imaginable like Orion, but on some level I remember what it's like and how it'll still fester your mind as you get older. This film, pun unintended, gets dark on a personal level and will probably stick with me long after watching it.

Can't say this scene broke me, but damn did it get close

Orion and the Dark impressed me as something thought-provoking, that does a lot more than being another adapted storybook. Is it an insanely masterful modern Dreamworks movie like Puss in Boots 2? No, even with its great subversions the movie doesn't juggle everything as well as I hoped. Then again, I highly appreciate that this was a risky movie Dreamworks was willing to release, that got both Kaufman and Werner Herzog of all people on board, as opposed to shelving it like some companies I know. A movie that doesn't spell everything out, that gets to be a family movie not constantly upbeat but colorful and optimistic in all the right ways. Orion deserves a chance where I think everyone will have interesting takeaways even if it won't be their favorite Dreamworks film in recent years. I'm overall glad I saw it and kinda want to see it again soon for missed details.

4 Out Of 5; The night truly shined with this one.

[juniperhillpatient]

ok I’m like… back to this. I do love that the coffin of andy & leyley is so brutally bluntly HORROR as in not pg 13 blumhouse ghost horror movies that shy away from anything too taboo but horror that’s meant to offend & upset. I like the way it sees shit you’re not “supposed” to talk about & goes as hard as it can like - I don’t think at this point it’s a secret to literally anyone who follows me or has ever discussed fiction with me ever that the controversial or daring are obvious draws for me in any genre but particularly my favorite genre of horror.

like an anon suggested this to me, I saw the words “cannibalism” “incest” & “botched satanic ritual” as soon as I googled & was ready to check it out BUT I think it’s worth noting that it’s not the dark concepts themselves that got this game its well earned hype or that ensure that it lives rent free in my head & the heads of other fans.

I think the writers have created really compelling & complex multilayered characters & a fascinating storyline with a lot of questions left unanswered about the nature of these demons & of human souls & the world these characters inhabit & I’m being so sincere here I also think it’s a really thought provoking critique or at least exploration of the american nuclear family.

I already said this but I would’ve stopped caring pretty fast if andrew & ashley were not more than their archetypes which SURE are fun we love a quirky evil girlboss & her simp boyfriend brother but the fun archetypes are not enough on their own to keep me hooked. luckily, these are some of the least 1 dimensional characters I’ve ever seen. this got carried away talking about how good I think the game is & giving an obligatory disclaimer that yeah, I totally got into it initially for shallow & edgy reasons lol but I actually wanted to talk about the themes because I genuinely think it’s an incredibly well crafted story. anyway -

I think it’s really interesting that ashley is the one that is originally shown believing / hoping their mom hasn’t truly abandoned them. andrew discourages her from having hope in their mom or considering trying to find her until it’s about finding sacrifices for the demon & getting money. yet this initial dynamic is totally forgotten once they’re home. ashley just wants to kill these motherfuckers while andrew is busy playing mind games & - one might argue- playing house / pretending be a happy family. it’s andrew who is offered the olive branch. who we see considering sparing his parents or at least feeling conflicted about killing them. in the flashbacks we see that “andy” was forced to take care of “leyley” & she uses it against him “mom says you have to play with me.”

ashley is so depressingly achingly desperate for any hint of affection & it’s so obvious the reason she’s latched into andrew is that he’s the only one who’s ever chosen her. that’s why she’s so obsessed with calling andrew “andy” despite the conflict it constantly creates. andy helped her hide a body. a possibly hot take but I don’t think leyley was going “yay murder” in her child brain - I don’t think she cared that the girl died don’t get me wrong - but I do believe it was an accident. this is a happy memory though because it’s the only time in ashley’s entire life that someone has chosen her with that level of commitment. yet for andrew it’s horrific & traumatic & he wants to get away from it - or so he tells himself. maybe his parents were decent to him or at least not actively hateful how they were to ashley but it’s abundantly clear based on the fact the story’s premise relies on them leaving him to fucking starve to death that they do not give a fuck about him.

when mrs. graves tells andrew that there’s still hope for him & that she always cared about him the compliments she chooses are telling - they thought he was easy, quiet, a good kid - they thought they could have another (& hand her off to him to take care of). and ofc it’s worth noting mrs. graves only says all this to save her own skin & would never freely talk about caring about andrew.

so andy is living this cold not abusive but certainly empty & devoid of nurturing life & along comes leyley. she’s annoying & needy but she loves him with such reckless abandon. adult ashley’s words say it all. “If only you could love me with half the heart I love you with.” but he DOES he just doesn’t know how to show it the way she does. so he chooses her again & again & tries to make her happy with violence & bending to her will & showing her he’d do anything for her with everything he can except the one thing she wants which is simple affection.

as things get more & more dire ashley gets more abusive, controlling & manipulative embodying the worst aspects of her mother - a cold heartless bitch who never cared about anyone but herself - & andrew gets more & more apathetic just like his worthless father who’s barely even a person in his wife’s shadow.

it’s a really tragic story & I love this idea of characters on the run but they’re really running from themselves & that’s something you can never escape. how telling is it that the one thing ashley doesn’t want is to be buried in the same grave as her parents? but this story is about a grave it’s always been about a coffin in one way or another, they thought they escaped when they got out of the apartment but they’re still in it because they’ll always still be in it, you can’t escape from who you are at your core & there’s a reason ashley having tarred soul is such a glaring theme & episode 2 (in some versions) ends with andrew gaining a mark on his hand from the demon. they’re marked & there’s no escape. I’m sorry it’s just REALLY good horror. ok I’m done for now

[tylercurry]

convention

Last year I went to the Tampa Bay Convention Center to attend Tampa Comic Con. The experience was unlike anything that I had ever been to before. It was buzzing with lots of younger people as well as some adults. People arrived dressed in all sorts of costumes which imitated characters that I had seen throughout movies and shows. One group that particularly caught my attention were the Star Wars fans, they seemed to be the most prevalent group and they had nearly movie quality effects. I was thoroughly impressed as I viewed characters that I had only seen on screen come to life in person. It was clear to see how the Star Wars fandom was one of the biggest cult-like groups there. One characteristic that I found particularly interesting was the fact that the age ranges spanned from people as young as kids in elementary school to senior citizens old enough to be grandparents. It seemed as though the shared interest ascended beyond similarities that one would pick up upon for face value. Although Star Wars was just one example, I could list many more, for instance, the Marvel fandom. Despite the fact that most people could name the major Marvel superheroes, it was still truly impressive to observe how much these fans and the community knew about intricate details that most others would not. Even though there were many different pieces of pop, culture, and celebrities present at the comicon if I’m being honest, I was most excited to take part in discussions surrounding the Marvel cinematic universe. There were many interesting people and stations set up, but I was truly taken away by Breaking Bad’s fanbase’s reaction to Gus and his panel. That was the first time I have ever truly felt the passion that can be derived from finding a community that shares interest in the same sort of media. Considering the recognizability of many of the characters on display, you would expect there to be less anime fans, than live action fans but despite preconceived idea my thought process was disproved when I went to the second floor, and I saw thousands of people dressed up as characters from different anime that I was not too familiar with. Some characters that I did know that I could recall were Naruto, Ash Ketchum, and Goku. Although I did not grow up watching anime, a sense of nostalgia overcame me when I saw all of the characters. It was really neat to observe how each fanbase kind of had their own little culture. with recognizable quotes, characters, and settings. I’m not quite certain, but I believe that I even saw some cosplayers speaking in their own language. The level of dedication that went into becoming so immersed in their respective shows/movies was actually something that I found quite admirable. The convention was genuinely an intriguing and thought-provoking experience, but I do not think that I appreciated it as much as I would have if I had been more familiar with the content on display. For this reason, I hope to go back and revisit the stations and familiarize myself with the environment. I think this class has exposed me to so much more media and thought provoking themes than I would have if I simply continued to allow myself to consume content that was popular or mainstream. I would also like to see the difference between conventions in cities like Tampa versus San Diego or even one in Japan.

[batfleckgifs]

Hi, I love your gifs! But this is an unconventional ask tho.

Here is something actually I want to discuss with someone, kind of asking for confirmation or a second opinion, and feel free to ignore this if this is too weird.

In ZSJL, when Clark was just resurrected, he was fighting the League and steadily making his way to Bruce. I always think of it as because he was provoked by Cyborg, so he started fighting the League, then he was provoked some more because he was fired upon. Therefore he was simply mowing down everyone he sees, anyone who was present.

But with theatrical cut it was more like he was specifically targeting Bruce.

I don't know if it was because theatrical cut's existence influenced others to think the same in ZSJL, or that it influenced me to think differently, or is this a free for interpretation not transparent kind of thing.

Please share your thoughts if you want! And I'm sorry how long it got oops.

Don't even worry about it. I love talking about these movies non stop so it's never a bother truly.

I think just as a clear cut clarification: the snydercut was the original intent so the theatrical cut is the frankenstein's monster so to speak.

But I think yeah the Snyder Cut tells the story as Clark's resurrection triggering Victor's defense mechanism which in turn provokes Clark to protect himself. He doesn't really grow aggressive until he was hit with Cyborg's blast if I'm remembering correctly.

The Joss Whedon cut, I'm afraid I remember less, but I think that read is valid because it is carried a bit from the Snyder cut too where there's this interesting moment where you're aware that Clark doesn't have memory of much if at all but his last moments with Bruce in BVS are still enough to evoke such a visceral reaction to him that his rage and confusion is projected to him the very moment he sees him.

Like if you rewatch this moment - you can clearly see that there's an intrinsic recognition in him when Bruce comes into the scene that isn't really there when its just the other four members of that league.

The ferocity of that intent I think is definitely up to you. Although I think the "Do you bleed?" mocking he does in Joss Whedon's version makes it more bluntly obvious compared to like the Snyder it which also does heavily mirror or echo the Nightmare Dream as well as that moment in BVS before the fight. I do think that is un-characteristic of Clark though. Just for me personally.

[chdmeeksmartins]

Can I ask what you enjoyed about the Bailey/Kirsch family’s motive? I feel like it’s pretty divided in the fandom when it comes to that twist so I wanted a explanation on why you enjoyed it.

hey, thanks for asking! i’d love to elaborate on this

to put it simply, i think going back to a “simpler” motive after a few movies in a row of complex or more “fame-based” motives was really refreshing. we really haven’t had a ghostface motive be so truly be “plain old fashioned revenge” since mrs. loomis in scream 2, and even in that case i think her reveal / character fell flat for multiple reasons.

(like, for one, she was barely in the movie. and she was also a terrible mom who left her family, lol)

vs the bailey-kirsches are interesting because not only are they doing it for revenge… but it’s not just one parent/family member and their accomplice. it’s literally richie’s whole family as the killers.

not only does that make richie, as a killer, entirely more interesting due to the newfound knowledge that his whole family has a few screws loose… but i also think their “gone mad with grief” vibes were way more realistic and believable than mrs loomis.

++ the dynamic of it being a family created one of the most interesting interpersonal dynamics between killers in the franchise, because it’s one of the rare times you knew they (probably) weren’t going to turn on each other and you saw them actively trying to defend / protect one another.

i also want to give a shoutout to dermot mulroney, liana liberato, and jack champion as actors. even if you didn’t like their characters or performances, i think they did a really effective job of establishing the “family dynamic” even with the brief screen time they had all together as a trio in the last act.

i’d have to find the interview, but i actually remember reading an article where liana talked about how they discussed what they thought the family dynamic & birth order between the kids was before they filmed and like…. it shows !!!

(iirc, she said richie was the oldest, quinn was the middle child, and then ethan was the youngest.)

even the small stuff like ethan potentially having some hangups on richie being the favorite kid, or quinn very clearly being the “protector” sibling was incredibly clear from the acting choices

so, uhhh, long story short i think they just did the whole “revenge” motive thing the best out of the other killer(s) in the franchise with that same MO, while also just being one of the more interesting / thought provoking killing teams analysis wise due to the angle of it being literally an entire family.

[tjreidwrites]

I used to have a movie review website. I also posted those reviews on Instagram back in 2020. I want to give some of those reviews new life on here. I’ll start with my favorite superhero movie, Spider-Man 2.

SPIDERMAN 2 REVIEW (2004)

Let’s be honest. The first Spider-Man back in the early early 2000’s was a fun time. Maybe a bit overrated though, right? Sam Rami takes what worked in the first installment, and adds amazing story telling, better action, better special effects, and truly realized characters into the fold. This is the first example of the way a superhero movie should be and holds up today. Nothing has been quite like it.

Spider-Man is revealed to be a burden in so many ways to Peter Parker. So much so, that its ruining his life. This movie does everything right when it comes to characters and character development. So many superhero movies before this took so little time with the people behind the mask. I remember even as a kid first viewing this movie, being taken on a emotional roller coaster I wasn't expecting. Peter’s problems become very real to us. The amount of time he spends as Spider-Man forces him to put his actual life on the back burner. This movie is charming, thought provoking, action packed and heart breaking.

Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) is working on a dangerous experiment. He needs materials only Harry Osborn can provide. His experiment will either prove fusion can work as a cheap source of energy, or destroy all of New York. To handle all the moving parts, Octavius creates four super powered tentacles that are built into his spine and have intelligence of their own. The chip at the head of the contraption is designed to help him keep control of his thoughts. When the chip is destroyed, we welcome Doc Ock.

Peter Parker’s inner battle is easy to become attached to. He can't love Mary Jane, because her life would be threatened 24/7 from Spider-Man’s enemies. We watch as she gives up on Peter, who can't make time for her. Peter has a lot of heart felt moments with Mary Jane as well as Aunt May (Rosemary Harris), who has a lot of screen time. All while Peter has to deal with Harry, who likes Peter but hates Spider-Man with every fiber of his being. We want Peter to just tell Harry the truth about what happened in the first film, but sympathize with him for not knowing how.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Toby Maguire nails this role. Its true. Say what you want about the first film being cartoony, campy, this one Toby shines. In this movie, he is the true Peter Parker. He did everything right. This movie does an immaculate job keeping the dialogue just as interesting as the action. Sure, some sentences are just cheesy enough to remind us that we are watching a movie, but it works. The drama in this movie steals the show every time you watch.

Every character in this movie takes what happened in the first one, and grows as individuals so much. Mary Jane, Harry, Peter, Aunt Mae all have character arcs that pay off massively. Sam Rami nailed the mechanics of Spidey’s web slinging throughout the city. No longer looking cartoony, but instead honing in on the special effects of the time, and looking amazing on the screen.

I’ve watched this movie countless times and know I will watch it even more. The storylines weaving in and out, and the weight of the situation being more real than any superhero film before its time, they knocked this one out of the park. I love this movie and on an overall scale, It has to be the best superhero movie of all time. I think there's an argument to be had on the topic, but there isn't anything wrong with this film.

[eliteprepsat]

I’ve always loved to read. I was the kid in high school who, when we watched the film adaptation of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in 12th grade English, insisted that I read the book first. So, for those few days that the rest of the class watched the movie as a group, I literally scooted my desk out into the hallway with the paperback instead.

Major eye roll, I know.

Given my education, I’ve often wondered how my love of reading began. This is because the offerings in my middle school and high school English classes were pretty limited and far from interesting. And I gather that many people have had similar learning experiences. This is why, about 20 years and a few English degrees later, I’ve compiled a list of the 15 books I wish I had read in high school. I hope the list will come in handy for those young people who, like me in the 90’s, have an inkling that they love literature but lack sufficient guidance as to what to read next.

1. Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (1889)

At some point during our school years, most of us are assigned either Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn or The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Huckleberry Finn, in particular, is thought by many to be the greatest American novel of all time for (among other reasons) its considerations of race, identity, and morality.

Yet, there is more to Mark Twain than these two novels. Twain was an incredibly prolific writer, penning not only novels, but also journalism and travelogues, essays, and memoirs. Twain stands out among the greats for his truly singular wit and insight into the human condition.

A lesser known (but no less incredible) novel of Twain’s is A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, which tells the story of Hank Morgan who, after receiving a blow to the head, is transported back in time to Arthurian England. At its simplest, the novel is a fun tale of adventure set in a time and place of enduring interest. At its more complex, it challenges our assumptions of history. Are we really that much smarter or advanced, Twain asks, than people from centuries past?

2. Octavia Butler’s Kindred (1979)

In a field historically dominated by white men, Octavia Butler, an African American woman, was a pioneer and a powerhouse of science fiction writing. Her most famous book, the haunting novel Kindred, combines elements of sci-fi (e.g. time travel) with elements from the tradition of the U.S. slave narrative, to tell the story of a young African American writer forced to shuffle between her present, 20th-century life in Los Angeles and that of a pre-Civil War Maryland plantation. A groundbreaking, genre-bending novel that explores serious issues of slavery and prejudice, Kindred remains as important today as ever, and it would be great for introducing such issues to high school students due to its exciting and thought-provoking approach.

3. Frederick Douglass’s Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (1845)

Octavia Butler’s Kindred is a literary tour de force. Yet, it fits under the category of speculative fiction, or fiction that stands in some way outside of reality. For a real-life account of what it was like to live as a slave, nothing compares to Frederick Douglass’s autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Douglass’s Narrative tells the story of his being born into slavery in Maryland in the early 1800s, the many abuses he both witnessed and suffered within the institution of slavery, and his eventual escape from slavery to freedom. At turns starkly brutal and lyrically beautiful, Douglass’s memoir is a reflection on freedom, (in)humanity, literacy, and truth. Although the history of slavery in the U.S. is often taught in high school, such lessons are often limited and rarely told from the actual voices of the enslaved. While Douglass’s memoir is not the first slave narrative, it is certainly the most famous.

4. Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man (1952)

Ralph Ellison’s novel Invisible Man follows an unnamed Black narrator who has chosen to live in an underground lair beneath a bustling city, a symbol for the social “invisibility” he has long experienced throughout his lifetime. Drawing from Dostoyevsky’s Notes from the Underground and highly influenced by Ellison’s own mentor Richard Wright, Invisible Man is a lyrical and philosophical exploration of common issues faced by African Americans in the early 20th century. It is a wonderful read for high school students since it highlights the lasting oppressions experienced by African Americans post-slavery—most of which remain relevant still today.

5. James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916)

A classic of high school reading lists is J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. This novel is often a favorite of teens, too, since they can so easily relate to the protagonist, Holden Caulfield, as he questions many of society’s conventions. But there’s no doubt that Salinger was inspired by another book, James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, in which the reader similarly follows young, Irish college student Stephen Dedalus (Joyce’s literary alter ego) as he rebels against his upbringing. It’s a coming-of-age novel perfect for high school students, since it deals with many of the quintessential questions young people ask, including those involving their schooling, their religion, and their place within society at large.

6. Short stories (especially by women)

The curriculum of many high school English classes tends to privilege the novel. Short stories (especially those often anthologized in textbooks) tend to be assigned, as well. Often-anthologized short stories are usually classics, and for good reason. But there’s so much more out there—especially by women writers—where the unique art form of the short story is concerned. Masters of the genre include Flannery O’Connor, Shirley Jackson, Joyce Carol Oates, Alice Walker, Margaret Atwood, Jamaica Kincaid, Alice Munro, and Ann Petry. In our current moment, a rich and diverse range of short story writers is also producing incredible work. The anthology Rotten English (2007), for instance, presents a collection of international short stories (as well as poetry, essays, and novel excerpts) written in “non-standard,” vernacular English, exposing readers to the myriad ways authors continue to re-think language itself.

7. Cathy Park Hong’s Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning (2020)

Another extraordinary book that reflects upon the nature of language is Cathy Park Hong’s Minor Feelings. In this collection of autobiographical essays, Hong plumbs—with humor and unique insight—her complicated feelings of racial identity. A native of Los Angeles’s Koreatown, Hong describes her experiences growing up as a child who was seen as not speaking English “correctly,” yet relates how these same experiences of coming to own what she calls “bad English” led to her becoming the dynamic artist she is today. An intimate exploration of Asian American identity and one’s relationship to words, Minor Feelings is a powerful offering for high school students, whether they can relate to Hong’s experiences or engage with an experience other than their own.

8. Tommy Orange’s There There (2018)

Much of the U.S. history and accompanying American literature taught in high school gives young people a limited, often romanticized, and ultimately inaccurate way of thinking about indigenous cultures. A prime example is James Fenimore Cooper’s The Last of the Mohicans, which presents native peoples as inherently “one with nature” and essentially part of the past. Cheyenne and Arapaho author Tommy Orange’s debut novel, There There, provides an alternative, corrective view of indigenous cultures to the one typically taught in high school. The book follows a cast of 12 characters from Native communities living in 21st-century Oakland, California as they deal with issues including addiction, depression, and cultural dispossession. In its consideration of modern-day indigenous peoples and their relationships to urban life, Orange’s There There refuses the limiting designations often promulgated in high school, showing readers how indigenous cultures have survived and thrived into the present day.

9. Contemporary poetry

The poetry that is typically taught in high school often leaves students disliking—or, worse—feeling alienated from it. But this is because the poetry that is typically taught in high school tends to be older, with archaic-sounding language that students find un-relatable. When I was in high school, I didn’t really understand that people still wrote poetry. And I think that many young people still don’t know that there is a thriving contemporary poetry world with many interesting writers doing interesting things. A few popular poets writing today are Ocean Vuong, Danez Smith, Sam Sax, Kaveh Akhbar, Donika Kelly, Terrance Hayes, Tracy K. Smith, Natalie Diaz, Katie Ford, Jenny Xie, and Layli Long Soldier. Literary journals are a great way to keep up to date on the latest in the poetry world. A few of the most popular literary journals out there include The Paris Review, Ploughshares, and Poetry.

10. Quality horror

When I was in high school, I was drawn to horror as a genre. Unfortunately, though, I didn’t really know where to turn for good literary horror content. I only knew of Stephen King, whose work was admittedly too mature in its subject matter for a teen. In school, we read Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and the occasional Edgar Allan Poe short story. Yet, as with the poetry that is typically taught in high school, these authors felt remote and almost ancient.

High schoolers who are similarly drawn to this genre should know that there is no shortage of powerful, artful horror literature out there. Some iconic examples include Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, which is widely considered the quintessential haunted house story, and Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black which, although written in the 1980’s, reads like a classic of the genre akin to Henry James’s The Turn of the Screw. For more contemporary horror offerings, check out this list of 100 Favorite Horror Stories from NPR.

11. More nonfiction

Many high school students tend to associate nonfiction with academic textbook writing. I know I did. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized the category of nonfiction encapsulates everything from journalism, to memoir, to travel writing, to lyrical essays, to self-help guides, and more. There is quite literally a type of nonfiction writing for anyone and everyone’s interests. And, I think, if students were exposed to a wider range of nonfiction early on, they might find their own personal niche within it. To begin exploring this vast, diverse literary genre, high school teachers and students should look to what’s published in popular literary magazines such as The New Yorker and The Atlantic. Another great source for quality nonfiction is The Best American Essays. Part of The Best American Series published by Houghton Mifflin (which also includes titles such as The Best American Mystery Stories and The Best American Food Writing), The Best American Essays is a yearly anthology of magazine articles published in the United States.

12. Graphic novels

We’ve discussed how poetry can be alienating for high school students. The truth is, for many young people, just about any kind of literature can feel alienating, regardless of the genre. In a world that is currently so dominated by visual media, a solid introduction to literature often needs to come with the help of visual media. Graphic novels are a wonderful option in this case since, by definition, they blend visuals with literary narrative.

Though similar in ways, graphic novels are not to be confused with comic books. Graphic novels tend to be longer, non-serialized (i.e. standalone) books that combine text and illustrations in a comic-strip format to tell a story. And although there is incredible variety among graphic novels, some truly tend toward high art.

Examples of highly lauded graphic novels include Maus (1980), which relates the experiences of author Art Spiegelman’s father as a Polish Jew and Holocaust survivor, and Watchmen (1986), a genre-defining (and interrogating) graphic novel about a disgraced group of former super heroes. There is also a 2017 graphic novel adaptation of Kindred, which adds striking visuals to Octavia Butler’s already stunning story of history, race, and the treatment of women.

13. Magical realism

Much of the literature taught in high school is either from, or inspired by, the British realist tradition. This means that such literature attempts to detail real people, places, and things in as truthful a manner as possible. Yet, there are many other styles of writing out there—writing styles that, in many cases, appeal more to teenagers’ naturally imaginative natures than does British realism. One such style is magical realism.

In magical realism, writers don’t attempt to detail real people, places, and things in as truthful a manner as possible. Rather, they create compelling worlds that combine reality with fantasy. Gabriel García Márquez, a Nobel Prize-winning Columbian author, is widely considered the “father” of magical realism. His stories give one the feeling that anything can happen at any moment. In his short story, “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings,” for example, an odd, angel-like figure falls from the sky one day in the middle of an otherwise normal village.

The events of magical realist stories are often as interesting as anything seen on television or film. And in a world with so much compelling content competing for our attention, it would behoove high school teachers to capture their students’ interests with literature from rich, exciting traditions such as magical realism. Contemporary writers who write within this tradition of magical realism include Aimee Bender and Kelly Link.

14. The Very Short Introductions series

By the time I reached graduate school, I had the feeling that my education had been lamentably pointy rather than well-rounded. I had been lucky enough to craft an education that was catered to my specific interests. However, I felt like I had missed out on the opportunity to think through other, essential subjects and ideas. This is where Oxford University Press’s Very Short Introductions series comes in. With over 700 titles covering an incredibly wide range of topics—everything from Accounting and Alexander the Great to Volcanoes and Zionism—the Very Short Introductions series is a great way to fill in any gaps that might exist in your knowledge. Was The Spanish Civil War not covered in your high school history class? Want to know more about Black Holes or Behavioral Economics? The Very Short Introductions series has informative, literally pocket-sized books on just about any topic about which you’re itching to know more.

15. A grammar book or two

Words come somewhat naturally to me. And by the time I graduated from high school, I had intuited many of the rules of English grammar. Yet, I didn’t understand why I made the choices I did when speaking or drafting a sentence. For better or worse, I had made it through school without a proper course (or even a proper lesson) in grammar. Years later, I now understand that knowing these rules is beneficial to communicating effectively. Perhaps more importantly, though, I understand that knowing these rules can help one to more effectively break the rules.

If, like me, your education in grammar is lacking, you’re in luck. There is a whole field of authors who write books to teach grammar skills in easily-digestible and even (if you can believe it) fun ways.

Two such examples are Lynne Truss’s Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation and the oeuvre of Mignon Fogarty (a.k.a. “Grammar Girl”). A former BBC radio host, Truss mixes humor and practical instruction in Eats, Shoots & Leaves to highlight the importance of proper punctuation. A former professor of journalism, Fogarty has published three essential books on grammar. Her first print book, Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing, made The New York Times bestseller list in 2008, and the audiobook version was named one of Oprah Magazine’s “must-hear audiobooks” in 2009.

Still looking for reading ideas? Check out The Best American Nonrequired Reading. Part of The Best American Series and edited by Dave Eggers and others, this is a yearly anthology of fiction and nonfiction selected by high school students.

[mary-janewagner]

I got fired yesterday

“You are more trouble than you are a help” was what she said when she randomly called me a few hours before I was supposed to show up at the bar. I had not even worked there a whole month, but now have to again be writing job applications. Though my coworkers were weirdly passive aggressive to me from the beginning on - which I thought to be because they are just like how typical German urban people in their twenties are like here (entitled, privileged and lacking a sense of humour) I certainly did not expect to be laid off from that job really. In fact, I thought I was doing pretty well actually, was enjoying that work and looking forward to spend my summer nights in that bar.

Jas and me are sitting in this cafe that is attached to the movie theatre right now. We just had a pancake and a lentil soup after spending the day at different cafes being more or less productive...

Now, it is the next day. We watched The End We Start From. It was only us, a couple that was sitting close to us a few days ago at the library and some random guy in the tiny theatre hall. I had never heard of the movie before and the main reason we decided watching it was that it was being shown in English. I found it to be a good movie, thought provoking. The protagonists were (somewhat) white, priviledged urban people. That did not save them from being completely helpless against the floods though. The movie portrayed how natural disasters truly make us equal. With climate chance they will occur more frequently and in places we are not yet used to them occuring in. People literally sitting in the same boat.

My mood got very serious and pessimist throughout watching the movie. Do I want to set children into this world in which it seems a safe future even in our priviledged western societies cannot be taken for granted? How can I ensure a safe future for myself and my possible future family? Now that it's the first time I am with a partner with whom I could actually imagine a future together those questions suddenly feel so real.

Nowadays I read a lot about migration. I am taking this course on Migration and Belonging in Political Theory with that professor whom I absolutely adore. She is a great role model for me and my main motivation showing up and participating - something I have had a hard time doing throughout the past two years that I am studying already - is just to make her like me really. Ideally I would like to work for her, but that job is already taken by one of my fellow students. He though is not too appreciative of that student assistant job - he himself complained about it to me. However, with migration I have found a topic that I am hugely interested in. It is a phenomenon that with climate chance will become more and more present that it is already now.

Last week I applied to a student job of a another professor at the political science institute though - and she also works on migration! I got to know about the position being vacant through a researcher of political science who knows me through a series of absurd and akward situations rather than through university itself. Most importantly though he had me on mind when it came to this, which I greatly appreciate. Though I am not as advanced in my studies as I should be, having procrastinated a lot indeed, in the past two years my social and political engagement in two organisations in which I had leading positions and another friendship I made to a researcher in law (who at some point even was my partner) allowed me to gather precious experience as an event organisor and student assistant already. Especially the latter friendship enabled me to have very unique insights into research and academic life having observed the process of publishing a book with Oxford University Press, having helped organising an international academic conference inviting 13 prestigious researchers to my university and most interestingly: having lived in a New English town for three months already, taking part at seminars and lectures of very known professors.

Being back in Germany since April my claim was concentrating on my studies completely, being focused and extremly disciplined. For about two months I managed that pretty well: I had two jobs, was showing up to my courses, ate healthily, practiced a new sport (rowing) and helped the old British Gentleman that I am living with. Throughout the past weeks though I have been lenient. It was when Jas arrived from the US that I became distracted. So far I have not managed to get back on track yet. I do not necessarily regret the time we spent in different cities in which I showed him around, we went to art galleries, book stores or concerts or us going to all different cafés and bars of this very town. But I have troubles focusing again. It is time to get serious and become disciplined again though. I simply cannot afford procrastinating in my studies anymore. I have to make progress. This town eventually is becoming to small, I know too many people here, I want to become somebody myself, want my degree. If I manage to stay consistent I will be able to finish my Bachelor's aged 23, which I guess is still fair enough. Especially if one considers the experiences I made living in the US, travelling in general, being involved in projects and organisations and working several jobs.

I started this blog to remind me to keep going every day. Since February I publish my ramblings on tumblr already. I felt the need to make a new blog in which I be more concrete about my life as a student, write less about certain private parts of my life. I just want it to be able to be publicaly read. It will hard for me to distinguish in my writings and finding out which contents fit which blogs, but it will also make me feel more secure, being less explicit publicly, but more detailed about scientific/professional topics or cultural observations I make.

That being said I feel much lighter now and will hopefully make myself spend the rest of the day studying.

[princepipper]

Is Gabe a good dad? The story you posted ends when Abby is still just a baby so I wanted to ask if she and Gabe are close when she gets older.

Heh. Well, not to spoil too much since I want to write some fics set in the future, but overall I would answer that yes, he and Abby have a good relationship and he's a pretty good dad!!

I posted some headcanons on my personal Twitter with thoughts about how Abby is literally a perfect mix of her parents when it comes to looks and personality. Like Gabe, Abby has a very wide and toothy grin, and she can be a little bit insensitive to other people, even enjoying the act of provoking her peers (she seems to be entertained by arguments and drama)... She also isn't very bothered by things like scary movies or graphic/gory content. Mind you, Pip isn't either, the entire household rather enjoys the horror genre and Abby will likely grow up to analyze and laugh at such films instead of being nervous or disturbed.

Abby is a troublemaker. Gabe had a streak of rebellion when he was young, somewhat due to his strict upbringing- Pip and Gabe aren't very strict parents but they DO try to raise Abby to be polite. Unfortunately she is very hyperactive and even more curious, so she tends to wind up in situations where she needs scolding... I have a collection of drabbles in the works that contain her asking random questions during her childhood, some of which give her parents quite a headache.

The last things I'll mention is the subject of Gabe's mental illness, and whether or not anything like that passed onto Abby genetically. To be honest I have not 100% decided if I want to play with that idea, because as interesting as it could be to have something like that as a conflict or plot device, I really hate to think of Abby in such a rough situation!

So, for the sake of ambiguity, I will say that if she ever did show troubling symptoms, Gabriel would be the first one to not only notice, but do what his parents failed to, and help her right away. There's a line in my posted fic, The Wheel Of Life, from Gabe's dad- when Gabe is talking to him on the phone and saying he's scared that Abby will end up like him, and his dad says, "Who better than you to help her find her way?"

I know it's funny to quote my own writing but like, honestly, after everything Gabe went through and how much he changed and bettered himself, he's the best person to help guide his kid through that kind of thing. It really speaks to how important he is to Abby, and how crucial it is that he be present as a father. She needs him, and truly, he needs her (and Pip) too.

I joked once that if Abigail DID show any weird signs, he'd probably have a heart attack and be packing her in the car to go to the hospital at 11pm on a Sunday because "We are NOT taking chances on this," and Pip would have to settle him down, convince him that their daughter would not self-destruct in the span of one night, haha.

So! Gabe might have had a bit of a hard time adjusting to fatherhood, but he does his best and there's no strain in his and Abby's relationship, nothing like the way he was with his parents. He actually rather likes the experience of watching Abigail grow, always interested to see just how similar she is to both him and Pip, and also often amused by her mischievous side.

ALSO:

Abby's first word is literally 'Dad', so even from that long ago, the two of them were more or less two peas in a pod.

[impeccablebackside]

If you could choose one cat characteristic (tail, ears, general cat behavior) a Queen has you'd want human women to have what would it be and why?

This is a great question anon, so thanks as always for bringing new ideas to the table. I did mention very early on that I have a thing for anthropomorphized animal characteristics in an ask about personal fetishes, and Cats feeds it so well that I feel I could never truly find anything equally fulfilling. Not that I would want to at all, in all fairness.

I suppose it could be interesting to consider from the viewpoint of the actual musical that any specific basic physical trait (aside from fur colour) is not really a focus in the appearance of any queen / actor, as the whole package makes them a cat. Even when some productions emphasize ears, tails, make-up, eyes, etc. more than others everything together makes it work in the end to form a cat.

Anyway, if I had to choose a 'minor' feline characteristic to bestow upon the human world, I would pick definitely cat ears. In my opinion that would be the best fit in everyday life. They would arguably be the least intrusive physical facet to swap to a human aside from eyes. Considering that they would / could fit with essentially any hair style or colour makes it more 'viable' too. Perhaps though, in the easiest and most important to justify way, cat ears on someone would highlow-key 'automatically' make them a cat-person, no matter how human they are otherwise. I guess taking into consideration how prominent catgirls are in a substantial amount of other forms of media all of this is not surprising either. It may be the most common opinion.

Having a cat(-like) tail, no matter how cool that would be from a general or anatomical perspective, would not make someone strictly a cat if you get what I mean. They could reasonably be another animal with a tail depending on how it looks, plus I feel it would be an awkward clash of a tail (re)added as an appendage to the spine. What colour fur would it be? I imagine whatever natural hair colour the person has.

Even going off script and proposing fur, which is a much more involved characteristic, would not necessarily make someone a cat, but it would go a long way. Honestly though anon, that thought is indeed quite an arousing one (sexually and not), as it gives me 2019 vibes. Particularly how those queens looked much more of a cat-human hybrid, especially with how human the faces were in the final product. To add more reasoning behind my choice, the defined ears in 2019 (which should have been bigger, but I digress) make a huge difference to help suspend the illusion that they are cats in the movie as well.

General behavior is the most intriguing part of your ask, as there is so much that is tied into feline behavior. What did you have in mind with this anon? I am quite curious of your perspective. I am not sure if I have anything that I would immediately apply to human actions. Maybe I am just not thinking with the same mindset.

In the end, I would unsurprisingly prefer everything rather than just one thing. I have an appreciation for the whole package of any given queen. That is not to say that I want human women to be cat-people though. In the context of this blog, none of the specific cat related physical features or mannerisms on their own are what makes the queens hot to me. I do know that even simple cat ears on a otherwise human girl make them personally hotter to me, so add another checkmark to cat ears beings the subjective best option.

I am very interested in hearing what you would want and why anon, so please let me know if you are up for it. This ask is / was a thought provoking one, and getting time to dissect stuff like this is always welcomed.

[jgrimes12]

Goodbyes/Farewells

To begin, I would like to dedicate this last post to reflecting on the course. This course has been very thought-provoking and understanding black horror films from a different perspective. Before this course, I viewed horror films as only a genre and being my favorite genre of movies (of course). Now, I see horror films in a way to acknowledge the purposes of such films, especially when it comes to black films and their directors. In my opinion, I think it is incredibly eye-opening to learn from the films by black directors. Not only do these films help us understand and learn from black history, but it also allows society to gain an insight into the history of oppression and neglect that African Americans experienced in the United States. Much of this continues to occur in the states, especially with the topics that revolve around police brutality, mental health, and familial issues. It is interesting to see how black films target and address the black struggle in a myriad of ways such as seen with Eve’s Bayou, Candyman, Beloved, and so forth.

At the start of the course, I expected us to only examine and analyze modern black films, but I am glad we were able to focus on past films that tell the black history and associate them with the time periods when the films were created. For instance, we started the course by understanding how Birth of A Nation ties to horror because we can see the horrors of what it was like being a black man in America, but I never really associated it with horror. It is astonishing how white women were portrayed in a way to fear black men, but it was rare to see an actual black man as an action; it was mainly white men using black faces to represent these “horrors”. 

Moreover, I wanted to end the post by reflecting on my favorite films that we have examined this quarter. I was amazed at how well the directors of Eve’s Bayou and Get Out portrayed their message. It was really interesting seeing how family issues can tie to horror movies and the idea of growing up. In Eve’s Bayou, we can clearly see the issues within the family that can drive other problems such as with the father and the importance of black magic as seen with Eve’s gift. In addition, it is incredible how the film revealed Eve’s journey in an effort to address her father’s problem and she was forced to mature in repsonse to her father’s issues. Not to mention, this film was distinct from others because it showcased black life, especially the middle or upper class during a time when much violence was enforced toward African Americans. 

I would like to conclude by saying that I truly enjoyed this course and the films we have examined. Although this is only my second quarter at UCLA, I am amazed by this course and Professor Due’s way of lecturing the films.

[mostlygibberish]

"Show me a samurai who'll fight for famers in return for food!" "Find hungry samurai."

I liked the part with the watermill.

Seven Samurai tells a fascinating story with great, believable characters, and looks damn good doing it. For a sixty eight year old movie, it still felt fresh and contemporary, by virtue of the influence it's had on so many other works.

It took its time, filling out three-and-a-half hours in a reflective, nuanced way that never felt overlong. Themes like class, morality and community were covered in interesting, thought-provoking ways. Great, natural acting all around, which really drew me into the performances and gave the characters a believability that's not commonly attained.

The black and white cinematography looked sharp, and everything was framed gorgeously. All the action had a raw brutality to it that surprised me, especially in the final battle where the stakes actually felt high. Unlike in The Magnificent Seven, the comedic relief actually worked for me, nicely breaking up tense moments while fitting perfectly with the overall pacing.

Something about the formula of assembling a group of quirky characters for a righteous cause just works so well. It's probably a large part of why this story was remade, with the first-act team assembly being particularly fun, and the climactic battle being so memorable in both movies.

I was relieved, but not exactly surprised, to see that the happy ending to the romance was a western addition; The tragic outcome to that story matched far better with the melancholic note of pyrrhic victory that Seven Samurai ended on. Genuinely one of the most effective endings I've seen in recent memory.

A truly incredible movie, in every way.

[dylanobrienisbatman]

2021 year in review!

Tagged by the ever lovely @boomheda and @iamnotawomanimagod <3

Top 5 Movies You Watched This Year

Dune: As a known lover of all things Science Fiction, and a big time lover of both Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya, I knew I was going to enjoy this movie but... y'all. I cannot say enough good things, this movie was FANTASTIC and I can't wait to watch it again!

Spider-Man: No Way Home: Honestly I love any and all iterations of Spider-Man, and this one was no different. I LOVED this movie, and I'll probably go see it again.

The Green Knight: Oh my GOD this movie was absolutely amazing. Definitely much more artsy than I expected, but it was beautiful and thought provoking, and Dev Patel has never looked better.

Eternals: This list is super marvel heavy, but what can I say. I love a good superhero movie, and this one was SO good! I loved the concept, the actors were phenomenal, the story was actually really moving and lovely, and oh my god guys deaf superhero!!! deaf!!! Super!!!HERO!!!!! And also... the shipping potential... absolutely unmatched. I had a blast watching this, I loved every second.

Black Widow: I was super skeptical coming into this movie, and I definitely agree with the critique that it was truly too little too late in terms of the character, but my god this movie was fun!! Yelena is obviously a total stand out character, but even Natasha had more depth and warmth, and the fight scenes were SO cool!

Top 5 TV Shows You Watched This Year

Wheel of Time: Okay, so if you didn't know, Fantasy is probably my favourite genre, and I have been waiting for this show since I first heard about it. I've not yet read the books (they're on my list!) but oh my GOD I'm loving the show! SUPER cool badass characters, phenomenal world building, a good mystery and intrigue, and I love the actors! So excited to watch the finale TONIGHT and I can't wait for s2 already (thank god for an early renewal!!)!

Ted Lasso: Anyone who knows me knows comedies are something I'm extremely picky about, so this one was a huge shock. I honestly put it on in the background to have as just noise, but pretty much immediately I knew I was going to love it. It's so incredibly well written, beautifully acted, and laugh out loud funny without being stupid or annoying. Easily one of the best shows I've seen in a long time, and it has earned every accolade it's been given.

Shadow and Bone: Yet another fantasy series, and I'm obsessed. This show is the first I've felt inspired to write any fic for since t100, and for good reason. I love the cast, I think they're phenomenal, and I think they've done an amazing job of adapting a book I really just... did not enjoy, into a thrilling, exciting, and awesome show. And, of course... Malyen Oretsev... my Beloved <3.

Foundations: So I watched this with my dad, and it's really very heavy science fiction. Based on the classic Sci-Fi novels by Isaac Assimov, this show was pretty dense and sometimes hard to follow, but my dad and I read some Assimov books together when I was a kid so we watched this together and we loved it. Full of mystery and intrigue, absolutely stunning to watch, and beautifully acted, I was absolutely entranced for every minute and I can't wait for more.

Ragnarok: This little weird netflix show was not really what I expected, but I loved it all the same. A modern take on norse mythology, I didn't love the main character or even the main storyline, but the villains were so interesting and fun to watch, it definitely makes the list.

Top 5 Songs of 2021

2011 - 5 Seconds of Summer: ... is anyone shocked? This song is everything to me, honestly. A beautiful mix of all the 5sos era's blended together to make something so special and so wonderful. Plus... it's a Calum song. Swoon.

Mean to You - Almondmilkhunni: NGL, I literally only found Almondmilkhunni because she's dating someone from 5sos, but her music is delightful. Sultry, sexy R&B with gorgeous vocals and good vibes all around. This song is my favourite by her, but she's got a few that I really love.

Bad Girls Don't Cry - The Night Game: Not really sure how I came across this one but its SUCH a jam!! Sharp, heavy beats and cool vocals, I'm really into it. The album as a whole wasn't my favourite but they had a couple songs I really dug.

Easier than Lying - Halsey: I will be honest, this album has not been given the attention it deserves by me this year, but I intend to change that. This song in particular stuck out to me on first listen and I absolutely adored it! Halsey has always been a fave of mine so I'm excited to give this album another go sometime soon.

Zitti E Buoni - Måneskin: As someone who was big into Tokio Hotel in high school, my love for european rock bands is long standing, and I'm honestly loving what i've heard from Måneskin so far. I haven't given them a ton of time, but this song is so heavy and so cool, I can't get enough.

Top 5 Albums You Heard This Year

When Facing The Things We Turn Away From - Luke Hemmings: Ethereal and vibey as hell, Luke Hemming's first dip into solo work was nothing short of magnificent. Every song is it's own unique experience, and the themes of memory and life lived and what it means to grow up are beautiful. A phenomenal lyricist, a extraordinary musician, I knew it would be good but I really had no idea it would be this good.

Cherry Blossom - The Vamps: An 80's pop, pop rock, brit pop, bright, beautiful, musical masterpiece, this album is nothing short of spectacular. The lead singer's vocal abilities are absolutely incredible and the unique use of instrumentation creates an album of genre bending pop rock bliss. Listen to Married in Vegas and then come talk to me.

X - The Driver Era: Ross Lynch's deep, sultry vocals paired with the funky vibes create an album I have on repeat all. the. time. The thumping bass and chill vibes, make this album one I put on from start to finish. This band was also the first concert I've been too in over 2 years and they sure as shit know how to put on a show.

The Good Times and the Bad Ones - Why Don't We: Honestly this album has some BANGERS! The overall album is a bit hit or miss for me, definitely some skips, but I really love the overall vibe, the guys in this band can really sing, and I'm excited to see where they go next with their music! Very pop-y, but with some genre bending vibes that look promising for whatever they do next. Fallin' (Adrenaline) is an absolute SMASH of a song.

Not so much an album, but I've gotten into the band COIN this year, and I love it! They have great vibes, a really cool sound, and i'm excited to hear more! I've also gotten into the band CAMINO recently, and I'm a big fan of Bad Suns as well!

Top 5 Books You Read in 2021

Six of Crows - Leigh Bardugo: What can even be said about six of crows that hasn't already been said? Phenomenal characters, riveting plot, beautiful writing, its a page turner from the first line and I've reread it at least twice this year. I tried to read S&B and was sorely disappointed, so I went into this without much expectation and was completely blown away. 10/10, would read for a fourth time.

These Violent Delights - Chloe Gong: What a fucking cool book, to be honest. A beautiful historical sci-fi (disguised as fantasy) retelling of Romeo and Juliet, set in 1920's Shanghai, Gong creates a riveting, exciting tale full of twists and turns and tons of mystery and intrigue. I haven't read the sequel yet, but I'm honestly so excited to get into it, because the world that was built here was truly spectacular.

The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern: What a... weird fucking book. I don't really know what else to say. This book is epitome of just vibes. The plot is loose at best, and sometimes hard to pin down, but the prose is absolutely gorgeous, the characters are heartfelt and powerful, the world building is insane, and I couldn't put it down. Prepare yourself to really have no idea whats going on and to love every second of it.

City of Brass - S.A. Chakraborty: A beautiful, extraordinary fantasy novel. The world built here is so deep and rich, the magic and the 'monsters' are unique and so interesting, the heroine is full of fire, and the writing is gorgeous. If you enjoy fantasy, but are tired of the euro-centric fantasy worlds that are so common, grab this book, you will not be disappointed.

An Ember in the Ashes - Sabaa Tahir: Honestly, if you'd asked me earlier this year, this book would be higher on my list, but the sequel left such a sour taste in my mouth that this one has fallen by comparison. But even on it's own this book was such a good read. It has spies and magic and political intrigue, the world building is harsh and not afraid to be frank about what the world looks like, and the two main characters are really phenomenal. Hopefully one day the second book will stop lingering in my head and I can grab the final book in the series to enjoy!

5 Positive Things That Happened in 2021

I got 5sos tickets!!!! June 2022 baby lets GO!

I got a new job in March (FINALLY) and it's really working out and I love it.

I made plans for what comes next, which includes a lot of traveling because my new job is fully remote, and it's really given me a lot of stuff to look forward too.

New puppy! We got a Saint Bernard named Maggie and i love her.

I got back into reading this year, which has been really amazing. Big ups to six of crows for being the spark that helped me out on that one.

Hope everyone had a great year! Lots of love to you all <3

Tagging: @thelittlefanpire @the-most-beautiful-broom @willexxmercer @hopskipaway @bluevalntine @its-ashleyreads @hostagetakerandhistraitor @laufire @darling-stay-with-me @oretsov @rosealie @bombshellsandbluebells @robsheens @mal-zoya @myonetruenorth @probably-voldemort @captainbobbiedraper and anyone else who wants to!!

[just-another-blog-of-fluff]

A Difficult Question

Word count: 3000

Warnings: continued second-hand embarrassment? 😉 tickling, fluff as always

This is in response to a prompt from @sigyn-laufeyson0609 for a sequel to An Embarrassing Secret. Thanks for the idea friend! 😊 I snuck in a little soft Loki toward the end, just to switch things up a little!

* * *

You had avoided Loki for a solid week after he had revealed he knew about your blog. Although he didn’t seem to find it as strange as you’d have expected him to, you couldn’t help but feel a little exposed. Your writing wasn’t something you’d intended to show anyone, much less the tall, handsome, alien god who made you feel giddy every time he said your name.

Despite your concern that he would tell the others, no one else so much as breathed a word about your little secret. Either they were too kind to say anything for fear of embarrassing you, or he truly hadn’t told anyone else. You hoped it was the latter, although you supposed it couldn’t get any worse than Loki finding out.

You couldn’t avoid him forever, though. The first time you ran into him, other than those brief moments in passing where you ducked your head or turned the other way, you were sitting in the library again, this time actually reading something rather than typing on your laptop. (No way were you risking leaving that out in public again…) Loki had entered the library without your knowledge, having been engrossed in the novel you were reading while sitting in one of the comfortable armchairs. A sudden squeeze to your side alerted you to his presence, causing you to jolt and whip your head around to find the god smirking down at you. He shot you a wink before continuing on to browse the shelves.

Somehow, that brief interaction had eased your anxiety around him. You didn’t really want to stay away from him, after all. And it seemed like he was going to treat the whole situation as a game, which in a strange way made you feel better about the whole situation. You would much rather he use this little secret for some lighthearted flirting versus making a big show about it.

So, you went back to your usual routines, no longer trying to shy away from him. He rewarded you with the occasional poke to the side while passing by you in the hallway, or a quick pinch to the soft skin above your knee during movie night with the team. And, maybe, you started trying to provoke him a little more. Doing little irritating things like stealing the last cookie right from under his nose or changing the channel during one of the rare moments he was actually watching something on the television usually earned you a couple extra scribbles to the belly, or a fluttering of fingers to the neck.

It never lasted longer than a couple seconds at most, though. Most of the time that was plenty for you, just long enough to make your heart beat faster with adrenaline and for heat to prickle in your cheeks.

But not today.

No, today you were really in the mood to be tickled senseless. You were even making sarcastic comments to some of the other Avengers, hoping that someone might just decide they’d had enough of your sass. Although no one else knew you actually enjoyed it, everyone was aware that you were more ticklish than the average person. It was uncommon for the others to take advantage of it, but on rare occasions Thor or Tony would dig their fingers into your ribs to get you to stop talking if you were being particularly annoying. Today, though, no one was getting the hint.

You didn’t see Loki until later that evening, when you stumbled across him in the common room. He was alone, sitting on the couch with his back leaned up against the cushions and his feet up on the coffee table. He had a book in his hand, which he seemed pretty focused on, turning a page every few seconds as his eyes skimmed across the aging pages.

“You’re hovering again,” he observed suddenly, never once lifting his gaze from his book. Startled, you left your position from the doorway and entered the room, taking a seat on the other side of the couch.

“I’ll never understand how you know people are there without even seeing them,” you marveled.

“I’ve told you before – it’s impossible to sneak up on me.”

“Well maybe I’ll be the first someday.” You sat back against the couch, and silence blanketed the room, save for the occasional crinkling of the pages of Loki’s book as he continued to read. You realized that this would be the perfect opportunity to try to provoke the Asgardian to tickle you – you were alone in the common room, and he seemed to be in a state of focus where he would be pretty irritated if you broke his concentration.

You wanted to be subtle, though. You wouldn’t want him to think you were asking for it, after all, and as he was the only person who knew about your secret, you figured he would see through you pretty quickly if you tried too hard. So, you started simple by leaning forward and picking up the remote from the coffee table, turning on the television. You found a program he had previously expressed disinterest in and set the channel to that, settling back against the couch cushions, and turning up the volume.

Loki was silent despite all of this, so you stole a glance in his direction. His brow was furrowed a little, but his gaze was still fixed on the pages of his novel. Need to try harder, you thought to yourself. You cranked up the volume a little more and laughed a little extra loud at every joke. After trying this for a few minutes, you risked another glance in his direction.

Nothing. Not even a flinch.

You were starting to get a little desperate. The desire for someone to tickle you had settled itself like a flame in your belly, and it had been slowly building all day long. But you were too proud, too embarrassed to just come out and ask for it. You had to find another way.

You turned your body so you were leaning back against the arm of the couch and stretched your legs out across the couch cushions, your feet only inches away from Loki’s leg. This time, you didn’t even chance looking over at him, knowing he wouldn’t try anything if he thought you were expecting it. You sat still for a maddening amount of time without finding any success in your attempts. You stretched one leg out a little further and tapped his leg with your foot.

Nothing.

You tried again, this time with a little more force. At long last, the trickster looked up from his book to glare at you.

“Can I help you?” he asked, his tone flat.

“Uhh… no, sorry,” you replied quickly. He turned his attention back to his book, and you turned back to the TV, feeling a bit deflated. Your mood was still gnawing at your insides, though, and you weren’t quite ready to give up just yet.

You waited a few moments, trying to think of another way to get on his nerves. Maybe you just needed to try a different angle.

“So… watcha reading?” you inquired.

“Shakespeare,” he stated without looking up.

“Oh. That’s really old though, isn’t it?”

“’Old’ is a relative term. What you consider ‘old’ is actually quite new for someone my age.”

“Right. Because you’re old too,” you snickered. This got him to look up at you again finally.

“Pardon?” he asked, his eyes narrowing.

“Well, like you said, ‘old’ is relative. So, compared to me, you’re really old.” You held his gaze, a triumphant grin threatening to spread across your face.

“Yes, I am ‘old’ compared to you I suppose. And yet, you still seem to like what you see.”

Your face flushed hot.

“I- well- that’s not… never mind,” you huffed, turning away from him once again. You heard his book snap shut, the cover making a small thumping sound as he set it down on the table.

“You seem a bit off today. Is there something with which you require assistance?” You glanced up to find his blue-green eyes fixed on you. It was difficult to read his expression – he wasn’t annoyed, but he wasn’t overtly amused, either.

“What? No. Why do you ask?”

“Well, you’re watching a television show you and I both know you hate, laughing loudly and turning the volume up, and just generally trying to capture my attention,” he listed. “If I didn’t know any better, I would assume you were trying to get me to tickle you.”

“W-what!? Pshh. That’s… that’s ridiculous,” you stammered, folding your arms defiantly across your chest. “Just because I don’t mind it doesn’t mean I would ask for it.”

“I see.” Loki sat back against the couch again, picking up his novel and reopening it to his bookmarked page. “So, you won’t mind if I go back to reading in peace, then?”

“Nope,” you affirmed, popping the P for emphasis. You leaned back into your seat once again, your arms still crossed. You changed the channel to another show you were more interested in so you could try to forget about this whole thing by distracting yourself.

Once again, the room fell silent, with the exception of the voices on the television and the flipping of Loki’s book pages. Your heart sank deeper in your chest in disappointment. You almost had him there – why did he have to go and ruin it by observing out loud that you wanted to be tickled?

“Honestly, y/n, you look as if someone put something sour in your drink,” Loki said finally, placing his book back on the coffee table.

“I’m fine,” you insisted flatly, refusing to look at him.

“I’ve told you before – if you want me to tickle you, all you have to do is ask.” You observed him in your peripheral vision, your stomach swooping at the mischievous gleam in his eyes.

“No,” you stated.

“No? No what? No, you don’t want me to tickle you? Or no, you refuse to ask?”

“Just… no.” You pulled your feet closer to your body, sitting crisscross on the couch with your arms still folded across your torso. Loki chuckled, a smirk tugging at his lips.

“You sound like a petulant child.”

“Do not!” you argued. Loki didn’t respond – he merely held his hand out at you, silently noting that you’d proven his point. You huffed and turned away from him, pretending to turn your focus back to the television.

“I know exactly what you’re trying to do, darling,” he sang, scooting closer to you on the couch. “You are hoping to provoke me sufficiently to make me retaliate and tickle you. You’ve been doing so since you saw me from the doorway. Don’t try to deny it.”

Heat was crawling up your neck into your cheeks again, and you squeezed your mouth shut, shaking your head defiantly. He shuffled a bit closer, now only inches away from you. “I’m sorry to tell you, dear, but you’re going to have to ask me properly.” You let out an involuntary groan at that, your heart pounding at the sheer proximity of the god beside you. “Use your words, darling. What is it that you want?”

Your resolve was breaking. This whole exchange was only enhancing your lee mood, and he’d made it clear that you wouldn’t get anything out of him without actually coming out and asking for it bluntly. It was difficult to form the words in your mouth.

“I… erm… could you… uh…”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch that,” he teased, his smirk broadening.

“Could you… would you, maybe… couldyoutickleme?” The words finally came tumbling out of your mouth, and as soon as you said it you found yourself pinned down on the couch, the god of mischief hovering over you with a victorious smirk on his face.

“Now, y/n, was that really so difficult?” Before you had the chance to tell him exactly how difficult it was, he cut you off by digging his fingers into your ribcage. He knew it was a weaker spot, drawing rambunctious laughter from you as you grasped his wrists. You weren’t really making any effort to try to push him away, of course, but it gave you something to do with your hands. “For someone who wanted this so badly, you’re making it exceedingly difficult with your incessant squirming.”

“I cahahan’t help ihihit!!” you exclaimed, arching your back as his fingers darted down to your belly. He wouldn’t give you the chance to get accustomed to one spot, quickly moving to scribble into your sides or drill his thumbs into your hips. It was exactly what you’d been hoping would happen all day today, and yet still you could barely handle it as ticklish shocks wracked through your body.

“Let’s see, now – where else are you ticklish? I don’t have your little narratives open for reference this time, so I suppose I’m going to have to find out for myself,” he pondered aloud, tone laced with mischief. “Ah! How about here?” Loki slipped his fingers under your arms, causing you to clamp them down to your sides. That didn’t stop him, though, continuing to vibrate his fingers into your uppermost ribs. The sensation made you shriek, throwing your head back and laughing with abandon.

“Nohoho Loki! Not there!” you cried, feebly pulling at his wrists as much as you could with your arms pressed to your sides.

“No? On the contrary, dear, I think it’s a perfectly effective spot.” You twisted involuntarily, accidentally rolling off the couch and face first onto the floor with a thud. Loki was at your side in a flash, kneeling beside you with a hand on your shoulder. “Are you alright?”

“Y-yehehes,” you giggled, heart fluttering at the idea that he was so concerned about you possibly being hurt. You turned to roll onto your back to look up at him, but he pressed down on your shoulder, holding you in place.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked ominously, his fingers moving to dig into your ribcage with renewed vigor. Not being able to see his hands was so much better worse. You tried desperately to roll onto your side but each time he would shift both hands to the newly exposed side, forcing you to roll back onto your stomach to protect the sensitive skin there. “Shall I ‘go in for the kill’ as they say?”

“No! Don’t! Anything but that!” you pleaded, although you both knew your heart wasn’t really in it.

“Sorry, darling, but as I recall, you did ask for this.” With that, his fingertips scribbled into that wretched spot on the back of your upper ribs. You kicked your feet against the floor in ticklish agony, your laughter pitching up an octave. Before long, your laughter grew silent, prompting him to ease up on you and scratch lightly at your sides. You turned to roll onto your back, and he allowed it this time, chuckling at your disheveled state. You took a moment to catch your breath, chest heaving with exertion, and you twitched occasionally when his fingertips found an extra sensitive spot on your side.

Loki’s fingers stilled against your sides, and you frowned up at him, feeling a sense of loss without his touch. He laughed heartily at that, a genuine smile spreading across his lips.

“Silly girl, was that not enough for you? Do you need me to continue?” Before waiting for your answer, he reached down and fluttered his fingers behind both knees. You squealed in surprise, giggles spilling from your lips. Loki sat on your shins to avoid any accidental kicks to the face, shifting to knead at the soft skin just above your knee on your inner thigh. You hadn’t anticipated just how unbearably ticklish that spot could be.

“Wait wait wahahait!! Stahahap!!” you cried, trying desperately to yank your legs out from under the Asgardian.

“Ah, I see I’ve identified a new– what do you call it? ‘Death spot’?”

Your laughter was growing hoarse, and Loki took this as his cue to let up again, getting up off your legs and kneeling beside you. You were exhausted, but the endorphins coursing through your veins made you feel giddy.

“That… that was mean,” you said breathlessly.

“I’ll remind you once again, you asked for it,” he retorted.

Loki stood up and offered you a hand to help you off the floor, which you gratefully accepted. You stood there awkwardly for a moment, not certain what to say. For the first time, you noticed Loki was also at a loss for words; his hand moved to the back of his neck, and he glanced around the room, uncertainty in his eyes.

On a whim (or maybe it was just the residual adrenaline, you’ll never know) you leaned forward and wrapped your arms around the bewildered god in front of you.

“Thanks, Loki,” you whispered into his shoulder. He stood frozen for a moment before finally sliding his arms around you as well, squeezing you tight.

“Anytime, love,” he replied, his voice low and gruff, softer than you’d ever heard him speak. You hugged him for another moment before releasing the trickster and hurrying off to your room, hoping to hide away before you could say anything to ruin things.

And, you can bet, you would be doing some more writing tonight.

Part 3: A Cozy Evening

[petruchio]

Caroline, you have great taste. Pretty please, can I have some book recs?

I like romance, fantasy, sci-fi, anything! Frankly, genre isn’t as important as having the Caroline stamp of approval. Please, I am dying out here in the book dessert.

oh my dear darling anon you are the sweetest person EVER to say that to me <3

honestly i am kind of ALSO dying in the book desert!! i've read fair amount of books this year, but i haven't read that many that i would consider really *great* -- i've read some that i thought were fine (and some that i thought were really awful) but honestly it's SO difficult to find books that are really GOOD (though that said it's also probably because i've been mostly trying to get a grasp on contemporary fiction because i feel like that was a huge gap in my literature brain after college, and what i'm learning is that a lot of contemporary fiction is kind of... not great.) ALL OF THAT SAID though i am happy to talk about some good books i have read recently!!

the last book i read that i thought was truly amazing was why be happy when you could be normal? by jeanette winterson -- it was the kind of book that made me want to turn myself inside out and scream into a void for like three hours (i mean that as the highest compliment). it was a book that made me feel like YES!! THIS IS WHY WE DO IT!! THIS IS WHY WE READ AND WRITE AND TELL STORIES YES!! it's winterson's personal memoir and i thought it was just so well-written and incredible to read. i have a lot of her books on my reading list and i can't wait to read more of her work!!

another book i read recently that had me straight up sobbing by the end was the travelling cat chronicles by hiro arikawa -- i saw someone describe this book as "like reading a studio ghibli movie" and i thought it did feel like that in many ways!! fair warning it was super sad and i literally had to put it down because i could not read it through my tears, but it was cathartic and poignant and beautiful all at once and i really liked it

in my quest to get away from contemporary fiction i also read rebecca by daphne du maurier because it is my grandma's favorite book and she lent me a copy of it. and well... it is really a flawless book. i mean plenty has already been said about rebecca so there isn't much i have to add and i guess it's sort of a basic recommendation, but it really is a good book haha

a contemporary debut novel i read that i thought was pretty good was the margot affair by sanaë lemione -- i was at the library and i just happened to grab this book off the shelf, and i thought it was a really interesting piece. as far as contemporary literary fiction goes, i thought it was actually really well done. the plot was interesting and engaging, i thought the characters had dimension, and the prose was nice to read as well

i also just read the book cultish by amanda montell and i thought it was a great read. i posted a few quotes on here that i really liked and i found it to be really illuminating and thought provoking. the end was a little meh to me but the first like 75% of the book was genuinely amazing and i think that anyone who is like, alive in the world should read it, because it has some really fantastic insight into cults, language, and influence. it prompted me to re-examine a lot of things in my own life and past -- and i think it was a fruitful exercise and i wish more people would do the same.

some other books i've recommended before but that i do genuinely love (most of which i read in college) would be: homegoing by yaa gyasi, there there by tommy orange, a visit from the goon squad by jennifer egan (side note i just found out that she released a sequel to this book and i have it on hold at the library and i'm very excited to read it), emma by jane austen (the best book ever written), and anything by louise erdrich (my personal favorite is the plague of doves). and if you want to peek inside my brain it's always good to read more shakespeare, though honestly it's probably better to see shakespeare done live. (random side note, i recently got to see the play teenage dick and i thought it was one of the best modern shakespeare adaptions i've seen in a LONG TIME. maybe ever.)

my ya recommendations are the same as always... the hunger games, percy jackson, anne of green gables, howl's moving castle. same with my classics recs: emma, les miserables, great expectations. there are plenty more i can think of but those are my top books of all time :P all of those are books i have read and reread countless times and they never get old.

well hopefully that was even a little bit helpful and perhaps i will have even more new recommendations soon! and as always please send any book recs my way as well -- i love hearing what you guys are reading and i'm always on the hunt for new things to read!!! <3 <3 sending all my loveeeeee :)