#mourning for two young women who are shaped by their pasts and the actions they take because of them and who they become

[vesemirsexual]

not a ciri/mistle shipper, not a ciri/mistle anti, but a secret third thing

[meta-squash]

Brick Club 1.2.6 “Jean Valjean”

Okay, you know what? The past two times I’ve read Les Mis, I’ve always laughed at the sentence about Valjean waking up and then the next paragraph immediately digressing into his life story, but thinking about it, I actually really like it. Since Valjean has entered, he’s kind of been treated like a stranger; we don’t get his internality, and everything about him is narrated to us as if Hugo doesn’t really know anything about him either. And then he wakes up, and with his waking, we are finally able to learn about his past and also, in the next chapters, access his internal thoughts. From 1.1.1 to 1.2.5, we have been existing in Bishop Myriel’s point of view. The whole house goes to sleep in 1.2.5, and when Valjean awakens in 1.2.6, we have left Myriel and are now in Valjean’s point of view.

Somebody else pointed it out already, but I truly love that Jean Valjean’s father was called Jean and his mother was Jeanne. I hope his sister was also Jeanne and at least one of her children was Jean or Jeanne. No wonder there were all those “every Amis’ first name is Jean” memes back in the day. Hugo wasted all his creativity on last names and chapter titles.

So I looked up milkfever, and as far as I can tell, it’s mastitis, which is an infection of the breast tissue. Mastitis most often occurs in women who are breastfeeding. Which would mean that Valjean would have been extremely young when his mother died, possibly still an infant? So his sister raised him from what seems a very, very young age. It’s interesting, then, that he seems more sentimental about her children rather than her?

“His youth was spent in rough and poorly paid labor; he was never known to have a sweetheart; he had no time to be in love.” This line feels really important. It establishes how alone Valjean has been all his life, and that he’s never really had an ambition towards that kind of non-familial human connection. It sort of sets everything up for why he’s able to function so well on his own. At the same time, just in the next paragraph, we’re told that he lets his sister take the best of his meal for her children, and that he quietly paid for the milk that his sister’s children stole; this establishes a sort of quiet, almost instinctual kindness. He’s sullen, he grumbles, he barely speaks, but he cares enough to pay for the milk and not get the children in trouble with either Marie Claude or his sister.

This also establishes the difference between Valjean pre-prison and Valjean post-prison. Despite his reticence and grumpiness, pre-prison Valjean is kind and thoughtful and willing to sacrifice both badly needed money and food for the sake of the comfort of his sister’s children. Post-prison Valjean is equally quiet but has much rougher instincts: his reaction to Myriel’s kindness is a weird semi-threat, his instinct to steal the silver seems much different from his reasoning for stealing bread, he scares Petit Gervais away rather than giving him back the coin.

Hugo’s comparison between poachers/smugglers of nature vs the city is interesting. Men who are fierce to survive on their own in the forest or the sea are savage, but still human. The brutal inhumanity of city-based poverty destroys that. I think I see what Hugo is getting at here: Circumstances make the man. Men who survive in nature are impoverished due to their natural surroundings. You’re going to have to fight to survive if you’re all alone (or in a very small community) in the middle of nowhere in a forest/mountain or on the coast, because resources are scarce and nature is intense. But you retain your humanity because you are fighting against the ruthlessness of nature, not of other people (and perhaps because some of the time, you are working with a community to survive). On the other hand, men who have to survive in the city aren’t fighting nature. They’re fighting the total lack of sympathy from politicians, or employers, or anyone in a more privileged position, and the dog-eat-dog, every man for himself nature of surviving in such a place. They’re fighting against a lack of access to food/goods/money/etc not because those resources are naturally physically scarce, like in the forest, but because they’re socially scarce; in the city scarcity is man-made. It’s you and maybe you’re family against the world, and other people aren’t necessarily going to go out of their way to help you. The more you have to do hard labor to get almost no money and therefore almost no food or other essentials, the more your humanity is sucked away. Capitalism, woo! Again, Hugo being painfully relevant to modern day.

“In our society there are fearful times when the criminal law wrecks a man. How mournful the moment when society draws back and permits the irreparable loss of a sentient being.” Woof. I feel like I don’t even have anything to say about this line because it speaks for itself so goddamn loudly.

(It’s painfully strange to be reading this in the US in the 21st century and have so many modern day injustices come to mind.)

I don’t know enough about French history to understand why Hugo establishes Napoleon’s victory at Montenotte alongside Valjean’s attachment to the chain gang. I wish I did.

Jean Valjean is taken to Toulon and is “erased” at the same time as his sister and her children. In the same paragraph that Valjean’s past is erased and he is given the number 24,601, Hugo also tells us that, now that we are in Valjean’s point of view, his family have pretty much completely vanished as well, sucked into the blackness of poverty in the city. He completely forgets about them; aside from the retention of his plant-based knowledge for later in the book, it seems as though this is the moment where all of Valjean’s past is sucked away from him, and he pretty much never mentions anything about his pre-prison life again, except for the fact that he was a pruner at Faverolles.

Valjean attempts and fails to escape prison four times. I feel like this parallels with his major escapes later in the book, which are successful: his escape from the Orion, his escape into Petit Picpus, his escape from the clutches of Thenardier, and perhaps his escape either into the sewers or his “escape” from Javert when Javert lets him go.

And then a moment in which Hugo becomes self-referential. Claude Gueux is a short story Hugo wrote in 1834. (Also, I’ve just now read it, and Hugo references blowing the candle out with one’s nostril here, too. Only he calls it a boyhood trick.) It’s very obviously the scaffolding for Valjean later on, and a little for Javert. The very skeleton of a summary is this: it’s about a poor but noble-hearted man who is put in prison for stealing bread for his family; he is abused by a guard in a number of ways and kills that guard for his needless cruelty. At his trial he raises questions about what makes a man steal or kill, and how society is to blame.

“Valjean entered the galleys sobbing and trembling; he left hardened. He entered in despair; he left sullen.” Hugo reiterating what he said already with the line about a scar being left on Valjean’s heart. The only way for him to survive all those layers of pain and trauma is to let everything scar over and harden for protection.

There’s a lot in this chapter despite it being fairly short. Basically what the thesis of the chapter seems to be is “circumstances shape men in ways that force them take actions they are not necessarily naturally inclined towards, and abuse/neglect from the law and society only make it so much worse”.

[the-sky-fell-blossoms]

Not as Easy the Second Time Round (Part 1)

(I put this up on my amino awhile back but decided I wanted to continue it somewhere else in full. Nothing was changed from that version of the first chapter but I’ll be updating here.)

Jumin sat across from the man, never as dubious to what the other was planning than in this moment. Jihyun was always horrible at concealing his thoughts or feeling out of his eyes, said eyes pleading silently as if begging for him to spill out his thoughts to him as well. Needless to say, it did little to affect Jumin's bored glance as he continued looking over papers looming over the back of his mind since he was driven home. It became second nature to sit here like this however long necessary for the man to spit out whatever was on his mind. He supposed this is what it was like a mother tuning out the tantrums of a child: nervous wringing of pale thin hands replacing the insistent wailing of someone who actually had an excuse for their behavior, or at least the denial of a more appealing learned behavior. Still, he waited, past experience telling rushing the lanky male would have him near pulling his hair out till sunrise. He showed strong resilience in not letting out a soft practiced cough, instead settling on a reluctant sigh through his nose.

"So..."He started, though it didn't get a clear response from the other. "Are you still in contact with that um... the last company that you used for the cat project last month, the one that did the marketing?" That's it? Jumin was half expecting him to tell him he needed a kidney with how long that took.

"Well it is hard to lose contact, any major event, or new endeavor C&R decided to branch off to, they're often behind. So far the partnership goes well for us both.." He answered, but oddly the look in Jihyun's eyes didn't fade or seem relieved at all. Now that's slightly surprising. He sat up and gave the other his full attention. At least that seemed to catch his childhood friend's own faster as well. Piquing the CEO's interest was not a small feat.

"Oh. No. I just was curious. Honestly, it wasn't fully about the company or your work, More about Luciel." Ah, was that all...? "How did you feel about him?"

"I assume you mean the child, you walked in with," Jumin answered, with the reward of a small nod from the other. "A bit young to surprise with an impromptu visit to a twenty-three-year-old he's never met."

"Well...we just wanted to make sure you two got along, Rika was unsure but, I think given time, you two might really get along." So he intends on bringing him back? To what end? With his father, he can see a clear reason why 6.43 times a year he's 'blessed' with the company of a woman he's never had a stread of need towards or for.

They never shared the same appearance. As if his father was trying to gauge his type by throwing different size shape and colored women at him. He was as a child always mesmerize if by none else than of his father's efficiency, part of him is still rather surprised to see features he must have reacted well to, appear on different packages. Unlike Chairman Han however, it took more than appealing eyes or hair to fool him into not reading their deeper motives. He'll admit there are the rare women who have no motives, either just as rich or as disinterested. Some just find him attractive and want their version of a perfect family, however, he doesn't have time for fruitless readings into people he has no interest in when there's a company to run.

He sometimes wonders looking at them if they've settled for his father, once or twice... before- or after.

But this was a random child. Who shows up in the dead of night, with his dear friend just to 'share some drinks'. Still, he didn't push his questions. One thing he learned early on is that questioning Jihyun head-on was conversational suicide. "Other than that... what do you think?" He probed softly, interrupting my thoughts and idle sipping. so he genuinely wants an opinion of a stranger I spent twenty minutes in silence with?

Then again, it wasn't completely silent, and Jumin was a strong believer of actions over words. The kid had plenty of actions, and after he had taken in his surrounding, never giving anything a twice over in the short walk to the couch; he seemed to start taking in Jumin's as well. He caught on that Jumin was studying him early on and started studying openly in return, while Jihyun went on about something on cats and shared love. He appeared at least fifteen. His large ringed glasses and his height did nothing to help him seem old enough to solidify his place beside the two men. Unless V had taken on an apprentice.

V had not taken an apprentice.

He did, however, treat the boy with an open affection. And not in the usual Jihyun way. He pat his shoulder, his back, sat closer to him if Jumin asked a question he felt too brash or personal. Jihyun was being protective. Not really in a way he was ever in front of Rika. No, surprisingly the two solemnly touch at all for a couple. Although past experience showed Jihyun to be reserved but a universal toucher to anyone he was comfortable standing alone with for 15 minutes uninterrupted. In the back of his mind, Jumin did always question it but it wasn't until seeing him interact with a perceived stranger and not himself that it truly clicked. The boy obviously did notice, holding back flinches at every touch, not looking outwardly uncomfortable but tensing and untensing quickly after. Seemingly a micro-reaction he was working hard to keep under control. He did well, Jihyun didn't notice. His face was clear of displeasure. It was respectable.

He hated to admit, but he could see his younger self get on with a Kid like this. He looked to be straining to hold back sarcasm, his responses quick and smart. But not always. There was one time in the conversation when asked a question, he seemed to lose himself going on for twenty-six seconds about something seemingly unrelated, his voice softer. Then looked up and didn't seem surprised at his outburst like what he said made sense. Maybe it did... to him.

Looking back, it might have made sense to everyone in the room. Or at least the feeling there in the words.

Jumin thought over this for a bit. Not having the gift of time nor hindsight, finished his drink and stood. he finished his thought too. "he seems fine." Feeling Johyun's dissatisfaction in waves at his answer.

...…...

I take a soft sip of my wine as the man sits across from me readying his tape recorder and notepad. From what I heard the note pad was just to write down his initial thoughts, words he doesn't know so he can listen out for them, and of course, my reactions to the questions. He takes a deep breath, and starts it, looking towards me. He is a shorter male with a tuft of rather curly brown hair, unkempt but framing his face in a unique way, so he had the thought to at least tease it before coming here. "Hello Mr. Han, first, I would like to say thank you for being here today. I know it's been hard for you and the rest of the 'RFA' with this loss. I heard you were one of the few who wanted the privacy to mourn in peace. So I wanted to thank you for coming, especially so early in the morning."

I took a sigh. Then answered, knowing that this was less of genuine thanks and more to gauge how up I am for not only this interview but for his scoop. "You're welcome." However, I am not 'up' for it. Hence the glass of wine, though he didn't seem to mind too much.

He at least seemed to catch on. "May I ask why you changed your mind on this interview? You seemed steadfast in not wanting to before in our last few approaches."

My father.

My father had always been a man who prided himself in being right. Or looking right. Knowing what's best. I hated when he actually was. But I did hate when he pretended to nine times more. So his behavior here is much more manageable.

He came for a spur of the moment visit, taking one step in before beginning. "My Boy, you know you can't stay quiet forever. Especially not after you broad-casted on the back of the C&R reputation. People will talk." I opened my mouth about to correct him about my status of caring when he raised his hand to interject. "Not about you. About C&R being an open supporter of the other prime minister candidate. Convenient lynching. About Mr. Choi. Both of them. They appear out of nowhere with instant access with the CEO of the biggest company in all of South Korea. Arguably all of Korea. And one of them not proven to exist. Not publicly" He corrects after noticing my slight reaction,. "and the other without papers or records of existing at all." He paused, waiting to see if I look to argue, I don't. Just glare slightly. Unsure where my anger lies truly at this moment. "What's worse is that you are the only one, who has not stated claim. Even the brother is speaking out on his loss. I can't claim what is going through your head, or why you brought our company name into it. And while I trust you and your word, I do know what the people will think if you remain silent on the matter." Like that, he was already turning to leave. Having apparently come all this way to say just that he had said. "Tomorrow morning I have scheduled a meeting with an influential paper. whether or not you show is your business and I am always on your side. But it is in the best interest of the company that you make your stance known." With that, he left.

...

I knew what Father meant by that. He wouldn't show up in person just to tell me I needed to do damage control. This was not to be a PR reach, this was a personal loss that required personal statements for the public to believe this is anything but a smear campaign. Hence the second glass of wine.

I neglected to say this though and the interview continued on, the reporter ordered his coffee. He spoke clearly, taking his time in asking everything he wanted to. Sometimes unrelated things sure as my feelings after, and how often I keep in contact with the others, more so Saeran. But unfortunately, I haven't kept up with the man. That's more MC and Jaehee's stance. As Yoosung locked himself off still taking it hardest as he can't control his emotions and Zen complains of uncanny feelings hearing another person looking so much like...Saeyoung sound so... not Luciel. But Luciel was a dense package, even I only saw the shallow end of once or twice in person. In the chatroom, he'd flip back and forth given a change in what must have been a tenth-degree shift in temperature. Luciel had a very hard time not feeling or expressing those feelings, in some way. But there's something about genuinely seeing first hand those moments few and far between. I think I am the only one who truly sees the resemblance and it's hard to miss, heartbr- startling how much the man is so much like a younger Luciel. Missing some of the bite and snark in the words but it's there. Even the hairstyle, before Luciel, cut it... Puffed bangs towards the front.

The reporter listened to me, his eyes pensive as if trying to catch something he missed in my words. "You two seemed close. I'm sorry." In his defense, he seemed to mean it. Perhaps I got lost too deep in that sentimental mood Jihuyn is always on about.

I sigh, looking away, "Luciel is a very difficult case. Constantly pulling pranks, teasing everyone about something at some time, he had no concept of breaks, passing out for days at a time after a job then constantly around 24/7, getting him to pay attention and stay serious is an uphill battle featuring roller skates. But I have no reason to doubt the love given by anyone in the RFA for him. Oddly enough he's the most dedicated of us all."

He pauses a bit but eventually continues, scrawling something out on his notepad before continuing. "So, how did you feel about him?"

"hm?"

"Well, you've been talking about the group feeling a lot and that really makes you seem like a family. But what is your personal thoughts on Saeyoung Choi?"

There was no hesitation as I answered. "Saeyoung... is an idiot." It was a simple thought.

Simple.

'Simple' and 'Saeyoung Choi' share nothing but a few letters. Somehow it felt wrong leaving it only at that. So I tried again. "He is one of the largest fools I know, and I supposed I'm doomed to attract those near me and for them to stick," I say knotting my eyebrows together in annoyance. I hold the silence a bit longer. "But I would do anything for him. And right now, it's starting by putting everything I have into making sure the Mr. 'would-be-prime-minister' realizes that the slow rotting he'll be doing in jail now is the greatest mercy the world allows him as long as I breathe."

I expect the foreign reporter to be shocked by the sentiment but he moves right along with a small nod, and I, my attempt to honor my father and company. Hence my third glass of wine.

[inkyardpress]

Celebrate Your Pride with 10 Great Queer Reads

Happy Pride! This month, we’re celebrating the LGBTQIAP+ community with the one thing we just can’t stop talking about: books, books and more books! There are lots of amazing novels out there repping queer voices, telling unique and impactful stories, and filing up bookshelves around the world. These are just a few of our favorite outstanding stories. What are you reading this month?

All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens throughout the Ages edited by Saundra Mitchell 

Take a journey through time and genres and discover a past where queer figures live, love and shape the world around them. Seventeen of the best young adult authors across the queer spectrum have come together to create a collection of beautifully written diverse historical fiction for teens. 

From a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood set in war-torn 1870s Mexico featuring a transgender soldier, to two girls falling in love while mourning the death of Kurt Cobain, forbidden love in a sixteenth-century Spanish convent or an asexual girl discovering her identity amid the 1970s roller-disco scene, All Out tells a diverse range of stories across cultures, time periods and identities, shedding light on an area of history often ignored or forgotten. 

Featuring stories from: Dahlia Adler, Sara Farizan, Tess Sharpe, Shaun David Hutchinson, Kody Keplinger, Mackenzi Lee, Malinda Lo, Nilah Magruder, Anna-Marie McLemore, Tehlor Kay Mejia, Natalie C. Parker, Alex Sanchez, Kate Scelsa, Robin Talley, Scott Tracey and Elliot Wake. 

All Out is out now. Add it to your Goodreads shelf! 

Our Own Private Universe by Robin Talley 

Fifteen-year-old Aki Simon has a theory. And it’s mostly about sex. 

No, it isn’t that kind of theory. Aki already knows she’s bisexual—even if, until now, it’s mostly been in the hypothetical sense. Aki has dated only guys so far, and her best friend, Lori, is the only person who knows she likes girls, too. 

Actually, Aki’s theory is that she’s got only one shot at living an interesting life—and that means she’s got to stop sitting around and thinking so much. It’s time for her to actually do something. Or at least try. 

So when Aki and Lori set off on a church youth-group trip to a small Mexican town for the summer and Aki meets Christa—slightly older, far more experienced—it seems her theory is prime for the testing. 

But it’s not going to be easy. For one thing, how exactly do two girls have sex, anyway? And more important, how can you tell if you’re in love? It’s going to be a summer of testing theories—and the result may just be love. 

Our Own Private Universe is out now. Add it to your Goodreads shelf! 

The Sidekicks by Will Kostakis 

Ryan, Harley and Miles are very different people—the swimmer, the rebel and the nerd. All they’ve ever had in common is Isaac, their shared best friend. 

When Isaac dies unexpectedly, the three boys must come to terms with their grief and the impact Isaac had on each of their lives. In his absence, Ryan, Harley and Miles discover things about one another they never saw before, and realize there may be more tying them together than just Isaac. 

In this intricately woven story told in three parts, award-winning Australian author Will Kostakis makes his American debut with a heartwarming, masterfully written novel about grief, self-discovery and the connections that tie us all together. The Sidekicks is out now. 

Add it to your Goodreads shelf! 

Runebinder by Alex R. Kahler 

When magic returned to the world, it could have saved humanity, but greed and thirst for power caused mankind's downfall instead. Now once-human monsters called Howls prowl abandoned streets, their hunger guided by corrupt necromancers and the all-powerful Kin. Only Hunters have the power to fight back in the unending war, using the same magic that ended civilization in the first place. 

But they are losing. 

Tenn is a Hunter, resigned to fight even though hope is nearly lost. When he is singled out by a seductive Kin named Tomás and the enigmatic Hunter Jarrett, Tenn realizes he’s become a pawn in a bigger game. One that could turn the tides of war. But if his mutinous magic and wayward heart get in the way, his power might not be used in favor of mankind. 

If Tenn fails to play his part, it could cost him his friends, his life…and the entire world. 

The action-packed follow up, Runebreaker, hits shelves November 27th, 2018. 

Add it to your Goodreads shelf! 

What We Left Behind by Robin Talley 

Toni and Gretchen are the couple everyone envied in high school. They've been together forever. They never fight. They're deeply, hopelessly in love. When they separate for their first year at college—Toni to Harvard and Gretchen to NYU—they're sure they'll be fine. Where other long-distance relationships have fallen apart, theirs is bound to stay rock-solid. 

The reality of being apart, though, is very different than they expected. Toni, who identifies as genderqueer, meets a group of transgender upperclassmen and immediately finds a sense of belonging that has always been missing, but Gretchen struggles to remember who she is outside their relationship. 

While Toni worries that Gretchen won't understand Toni’s new world, Gretchen begins to wonder where she fits in this puzzle. As distance and Toni's shifting gender identity begin to wear on their relationship, the couple must decide—have they grown apart for good, or is love enough to keep them together? 

What We Left Behind is out now. Add it to your Goodreads shelf! 

Toil & Trouble: 15 Tales of Women & Witchcraft edited by Jessica Spotswood and Tess Sharpe 

History is filled with stories of women accused of witchcraft, of fearsome girls with arcane knowledge. Toil & Trouble features fifteen stories of girls embracing their power, reclaiming their destinies and using their magic to create, to curse, to cure—and to kill. 

A young witch uses social media to connect with her astrology clients—and with a NASA-loving girl as cute as she is skeptical. A priestess of death investigates a ritualized murder. A bruja who cures lovesickness might need the remedy herself when she falls in love with an altar boy. A theater production is turned upside down by a visiting churel. In Reconstruction-era Texas, a water witch uses her magic to survive the soldiers who have invaded her desert oasis. And in the near future, a group of girls accused of witchcraft must find their collective power in order to destroy their captors. 

This collection reveals a universal truth: there’s nothing more powerful than a teenage girl who believes in herself. 

Toil & Trouble hits shelves August 28th, 2018. Add it to your Goodreads shelf! 

The Diminished by Kaitlyn Sage Patterson 

 In the Alskad Empire, nearly all are born with a twin, two halves to form one whole…yet some face the world alone.

The singleborn: 

A rare few are singleborn in each generation, and therefore given the right to rule by the gods and goddesses. Bo Trousillion is one of these few, born into the royal line and destined to rule. Though he has been chosen to succeed his great-aunt, Queen Runa, as the leader of the Alskad Empire, Bo has never felt equal to the grand future before him. 

The diminished: 

When one twin dies, the other usually follows, unable to face the world without their other half. Those who survive are considered diminished, doomed to succumb to the violent grief that inevitably destroys everyone whose twin has died. Such is the fate of Vi Abernathy, whose twin sister died in infancy. Raised by the anchorites of the temple after her family cast her off, Vi has spent her whole life scheming for a way to escape and live out what’s left of her life in peace. 

As their sixteenth birthdays approach, Bo and Vi face very different futures—one a life of luxury as the heir to the throne, the other years of backbreaking work as a temple servant. But a long-held secret and the fate of the empire are destined to bring them together in a way they never could have imagined. 

The Diminished is out now. Add it to your Goodreads shelf! 

Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley 

In 1959 Virginia, the lives of two girls on opposite sides of the battle for civil rights will be changed forever. 

Sarah Dunbar is one of the first black students to attend the previously all-white Jefferson High School. An honors student at her old school, she is put into remedial classes, spit on and tormented daily. 

Linda Hairston is the daughter of one of the town’s most vocal opponents of school integration. She has been taught all her life that the races should be kept “separate but equal.” 

Forced to work together on a school project, Sarah and Linda must confront harsh truths about race, power and how they really feel about one another. 

Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley is out now. Add it to your Goodreads shelf! 

Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody 

Enne Salta was raised as a proper young lady, and no lady would willingly visit New Reynes, the so-called City of Sin. But when her mother goes missing, Enne must leave her finishing school—and her reputation—behind to follow her mother’s trail to the city where no one survives uncorrupted. 

Frightened and alone, Enne has only one lead: the name Levi Glaisyer. Unfortunately, Levi is not the gentleman she expected—he’s a street lord and con man. Levi is also only one payment away from cleaning up a rapidly unraveling investment scam, so he doesn't have time to investigate a woman leading a dangerous double life. Enne's offer of compensation, however, could be the solution to all his problems. 

Their search for clues leads them through glamorous casinos, illicit cabarets and into the clutches of a ruthless Mafia donna. As Enne unearths an impossible secret about her past, Levi's enemies catch up to them, ensnaring him in a vicious execution game where the players always lose. To save him, Enne will need to surrender herself to the city… And she’ll need to play. 

Ace of Shades is out now. Add it to your Goodreads shelf! 

Pulp by Robin Talley 

As if we couldn’t pack any more of Robin Talley’s fantastic works into this list, we have one more than needs to be on your radar. Keep an eye out for Pulp in November 2018! 

In 1955, eighteen-year-old Janet Jones keeps the love she shares with her best friend Marie a secret, but when she discovers a series of books about women falling in love with other women, it awakens something in her. As she juggles her hidden romance with a newfound ambition to write her own story, she risks exposing herself—and Marie—to a danger all too real. 

Sixty-two years later, Abby Zimet can’t stop thinking about her senior project and its subject—classic 1950s lesbian pulp fiction. The stresses of her life fall away when she's reading her favorite book. She feels especially connected to one author, a woman who wrote under the pseudonym “Marian Love,” and becomes determined to track down her true identity. 

Pulp hits shelves November 13th, 2018. Add it to your Goodreads shelf! 

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[pemdasblog]

PEMDAS -- 11•19•20

Welcome to the new PEMDAS Blog! My work on PEMDAS keeps expanding each week so it needs a bigger home. She loves The Overwhelm.

My main goal is to have a one glance spot for all things news/entertainment. I want it to contain as much detail as possible without being too cluttered. Striking the balance is hard. If you have feedback, please share it with me.

Open below for PEMDAS!

POLITICS/NEWS 

U.S. Coronavirus Numbers

More than 11,695,500 people in the United States have been infected with the coronavirus and at least 251,100 have died.

The number of people who have died from Coronavirus in the U.S. is equivalent to 84 times the number of U.S. citizens who died in the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. It is 56 times the number of U.S. soldiers who died in the war against Iraq. It is 7 times the number of U.S. citizens who died from the flu last year.

On Nov. 18: 1,923 deaths (+52% 14-day change), 172,391 infections (+77% 14-day change)

The rates of infection and death remain disproportionately high in the Native American communities across the country. Just last weekend, 600 Native people died on the Navajo reservation.

Sen. Chuck Grassley from Iowa has contracted coronavirus. The nation mourns :-(

Global Coronavirus Numbers

The coronavirus pandemic has sickened more than 56,661,800 people, according to official counts. As of Thursday afternoon, at least 1,355,100 people have died.

On Nov. 18: 11,133 deaths (+13% 14-day change), 598,877 infections (+25% 14-day change)

Election 2020

President-Elect Biden claims that Trump’s refusal to concede the election is preventing him from accessing critical data about the U.S. outbreak and that this could slow the vaccine distribution process.

President-Elect Biden names Cecilia Muñoz as part of his transition team. Muñoz served as a top immigration advisor for Obama, justifying harsh immigration policies, including the deportation of thousands of Central American children and the killing of an executive order that would have halted deportations.

Nancy Pelosi is re-elected as Speaker of the House.

World News

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo toured an illegal Israeli settlement and said he has plans to tour another in the occupied Golan Heights. This violates multiple U.N. resolutions and the Geneva Conventions. He also labelled the B.D.S. movement “anti-Semitic.”

In Central America, at least 30 people have died from Hurricane Iota. About 160,000 Nicaraguans and 70,000 Hondurans were forced to flee from their homes.

The head of the Australian military has apologized to the people of Afghanistan after Australian special forces committed war crimes by killing 39 noncombatants in Afghanistan over the past 4 years.

A nearly three-decade-old ceasefire has ended in occupied Western Sahara — what many consider to be Africa’s last colony. Fighting has broken out in several areas between the Moroccan military and the Polisario Front, the Sahrawi liberation movement seeking independence, after the Moroccan military broke into a no-go buffer zone in southern Western Sahara.

Winners of the National Book Awards 2020

Fiction: Interior Chinatown •• Charles Yu

Nonfiction: The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X •• Les Payne and Tamara Payne

Translated Literature: Tokyo Ueno Station •• Yu Miri and Morgan Giles

Young People’s Literature: King and the Dragonflies •• Kacen Callender

EDUCATION — Topic: this Candace Owens tweet

“There is no society that can survive without strong men. The East knows this.“

Both of these sentences separately are not true; both of them together are not true.

Here is an article about a village in China (”the East”) with women running the show.

Here is a list of several others, mostly in “the East.”

“In the west, the steady feminization of our men at the same time that Marxism is being taught to our children is not a coincidence.“

First of all, Marx has not been an outright advocate for a gender-queer society.

Second of all, I think she’s right. Socialism and gender/queer theory are intertwined in so many ways.

“It is an outright attack.“

And I think she’s right about this, too. Socialism and gender/queer theory all are an attack on the cis-hetero white supremacist capitalist patriarchy.

“Bring back manly men.“

Okay, this is where I think she’s wrong again.

1) "Manly men” haven’t gone anywhere...

2) Is she basically arguing that a couple of men wearing dresses means every man is no longer “manly?” This makes no sense.

3) In a society, “manly men” can coexist with “feminized” men. There is enough room for everyone. And there will always be men who want to take up the “manly” MANtle. And there will be queer/trans masc people who will want to do the same, though I’m sure Candace would hate that.

MEDIA (OTHER) 

BOOKS - Tuesday, November 24

Ready Player Two •• Ernest Cline

How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories (Folk of the Air) •• Holly Black

Saving Freedom: Truman, the Cold War, and the Fight for Western Civilization •• Joe Scarborough

Bright Shining World •• Josh Swiller

Ruinsong •• Julia Ember

The Awakening (Dragon Heart Legacy #1) •• Nora Roberts

Dark Tides •• Philippa Gregory

Escape Pod: The Science Fiction Anthology •• edited by S.B. Divya & Mur Lafferty

The Thirty Names of Night •• Zeyn Joukhadar

MOVIES

Friday, November 20

Jiu Jitsu •• Dimitri Logothetis •• In Theaters

The Last Vermeer •• Dan Friedkin •• In Theaters

Run •• Aneesh Chaganty •• Hulu

Soros •• Jesse Dylan •• In Theaters

Sound of Metal •• Darius Marder •• In Theaters

The Twentieth Century •• Matthew Ranking •• In Theaters

Vanguard •• Stanley Tong •• In Theaters

Sunday, November 22

Belushi •• R. J. Cutler •• Showtime

Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square •• Debbie Allen •• Netflix

Monday, November 23

Shawn Mendes: In Wonder •• Grant Singer •• Netflix

Tuesday, November 24

Hillbilly Elegy •• Ron Howard •• Netflix

Wednesday, November 25

The Christmas Chronicles 2 •• Chris Columbus •• Netflix

The Croods: A New Age •• Joel Crawford •• In Theaters

Happiest Season •• Clea DuVall •• Hulu

Stardust •• Gabriel Range •• In Theaters

Thursday, November 26

Mosul •• Matthew Michael Carnahan •• Netflix

Superintelligence •• Ben Falcone •• HBO Max

TV SHOWS

Friday, November 20

Animaniacs •• Season 1 •• Hulu

The Mandalorian •• Season 2, Episode 4 •• Disney+

Marvel’s 616 •• Season 1 •• Disney+

The Pack •• Season 1 •• Prime Video

Small Axe •• Mangrove •• Prime Video

Voices of Fire •• Season 1 •• Netflix

Saturday, November 21

Between the World and Me •• Special •• HBO

Sunday, November 22

American Music Awards 2020 •• Special •• ABC

Host: Taraji P. Henson

Performances

Bad Bunny x Jhay Cortez

Bebe Rexha x Doja Cat

Bell Biv DeVoe

Billie Eilish

BTS

Dan + Shay

Dua Lipa

Jennifer Lopez x Maluma

Justin Bieber x Benny Blanco

Katy Perry

Lewis Capaldi

Lil Baby

Machine Gun Kelly

Megan Thee Stallion

Nelly

Shawn Mendes

The Weeknd x Kenny G

Monday, November 23

Black Narcissus •• Miniseries •• FX

His Dark Materials •• Season 2, Episode 2 •• HBO

Tuesday, November 24

Big Sky •• Season 1, Episode 2 •• ABC

Wednesday, November 25

Saved by the Bell •• Season 1 •• Peacock

The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration 2020 •• Special •• ABC

Hosts: Derek Hough, Julianne Hough, Trevor Jackson

Sneak peek of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure attraction and of Pixar’s Soul

VIDEO GAMES

Friday, November 20

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity •• NS

Katamari Damacy REROLL •• PS4, XBO

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin •• PS4, NS

The Skylia Prophecy •• NS

Monday, November 23

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands •• PC

Tuesday, November 24

Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues •• NS

Football Manager 2021 •• XBX, XBO, PC, Mac

Just Dance 2021 •• PS5, XBX

Wednesday, November 25

Out of Space: Couch Edition •• PS4, XBO, NS

Star Renegades •• PS4

Vigor •• PS4

Thursday, November 26

Maid of Sker •• NS

DIRECT ACTIONS/DONATIONS 

Give $5 to... Unicorn Riot: on-the-ground journalists covering and capturing footage of the revolution!

ALBUMS 

separated from her twin, a dying android arrives on a mysterious island [EP] •• Ada Rook

distanceless gentleness

time dilation

total memory failure

otherworld

Self Help •• Badge Époque Ensemble

Sing a Silent Gospel (ft. Meg Remy & Dorothea Paas)

Unity (It’s Up to You) [ft. James Baley]

Cloud

The Sound Where My Head Was

Just Space for Light (ft. Jennifer Castle)

Birds Fly Through Ancient Ruins

Extinct Commune

BE •• BTS

Life Goes On

내 방을 여행하는 법

Blue & Grey

Skit

잠시

병

Stay

Dynamite

Hypoluxo •• Hypoluxo

Seth Meyers

Ridden

Nimbus

Tenderloin

Appetizer

Night Life

Pointer Finger

Shape Ups

Shock

Sweat

Harmony •• Josh Groban

The World We Knew (Over and Over)

Angels

Celebrate Me Home

Shape of My Heart (Duet with Leslie Odom Jr.)

Your Face

Both Sides Now (Duet with Sara Bareilles)

She

The Impossible Dream

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

It’s Now or Never

I Can’t Make You Love Me

The Fullest (feat. Kirk Franklin)

Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) ∞ •• Kali Uchis

la luna enamorada

fue mejor (w/ PARTYNEXTDOOR)

//aguardiente y limón %ᵕ‿‿ᵕ%

¡aquí yo mando! (w/ Rico Nasty)

vaya con dios

que te pedí//

quiero sentirme bien

telepatía

de nadie

no eres tu (soy yo)

te pongo mal (prendelo) [w/ Jowell y Randy]

la luz (Fín) [w/ Jhay Cortez]

ángel sin cielo

III •• Lindstrøm x Prins Thomas

Grand Finale

Martin 5000

Small Stream

Oranges

Harmonia

Birdstrike

Good News •• Megan Thee Stallion

Shots Fired

Circles

Cry Baby (ft. DaBaby)

Do It on the Tip (ft. City Girls)

Sugar Baby

Movie (ft. Lil Durk)

Freaky Girls (ft. SZA)

Body

What’s New

Work That

Intercourse (ft. Popcaan)

Go Crazy (ft. Big Sean & 2 Chainz)

Don’t Rock Me To Sleep

Outside

Savage Remix (ft. Beyoncé)

Girls in the Hood

Don’t Stop (ft. Young Thug)

Copycat Killer [EP] •• Phoebe Bridgers x Rob Moose

Kyoto (Copycat Killer Version)

Savior Complex (Copycat Killer Version)

Chinese Satellite (Copycat Killer Version)

Punisher (Copycat Killer Version)

Euphoric Sad Songs [EP] •• RAYE

Love Me Again

Change Your Mind

Regardless (ft. Rudimental)

Secrets (ft. Regard)

Natalie Don’t

All Dressed Up

Please Don’t Touch

Walk on By

Love of Your Life

Dimensional Stardust •• Rob Mazurek - Exploding Star Orchestra

Sun Core Tet (Parable 99)

A Wrinkle in Time Sets Concentric Circles Reeling

Galaxy 1000

The Careening Prism Within (Parable 43)

Abstract Dark Energy (Parable 9)

Parable of Inclusion

Dimensional Stardust (Parable 33)

Minerals Bionic Stereo

Parable 3000 (We All Come From Somewhere Else)

Autumn Pleiades

While the World Was Burning •• SAINt JHN

Sucks to Be You

Switching Sides

Freedom Is Priceless

Gorgeous

High School Reunion, Prom (ft. Lil Uzi Vert)

Monica Lewinsky, Election Year (ft. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie & DaBaby)

Roses (Remix) [ft. Future]

Pray 4 Me (ft. Kanye West)

Quarantine Wifey (ft. JID)

Time for Demons

Ransom (ft. 6lack & Kehlani)

Back on the Ledge

Roses (Imanbek Remix)

ALIAS •• Shygirl

TWELVE

SLIME

FREAK

TASTY

LENG

BAWDY

SIREN

Coping Mechanisms •• Tayla Parx

Sad

Dance Alone

System

Stare

Fixerupper

Bricks

Residue

Justified

NonChalant

Nevermind

Last Words

You Don’t Know

LIVE DRUGS •• The War on Drugs

An Ocean Between the Waves (Live)

Pain (Live)

Strangest Thing (Live)

Red Eyes (Live)

Thinking of a Place (Live)

Buenos Aires Beach (Live)

Accidentally Like a Martyr (Live)

Eyes to the Wind (Live)

Under the Pressure (Live)

In Reverse (Live)

SINGLES

NEW

“Revolutionary Love” •• Ani DiFranco

“Dido’s Lament” •• Annie Lennox

“My Head & My Heart” •• Ava Max

“Endless Me, Endlessly” •• Baio

“What Do You Say When I’m Not There?” •• Baio

“45” •• Bleachers

“chinatown” •• Bleachers x Bruce Springsteen

“Thousand Pills” •• Boldy James x Stove God Cooks

“gf haircut” •• dad sports

“Scratchcard Lanyard” •• Dry Cleaning

“Angel Rock” •• Dua Saleh

“Best Rapper in the Fuckin World” •• GoldLink

“Anywhere” •• Hannah’s Little Sister

“Love Not War (The Tampa Beat)” •• Jason Derulo x Nuka

“Pick Up Your Feelings” •• Jazmine Sullivan

“Daddy Boyfriend” •• Jessica Lea Mayfield

“Emotional Abandonment” •• Jessica Lea Mayfield

“Hitman” •• Kelly Rowland & NFL

“Summertime The Gershwin Version” •• Lana Del Rey

“Undone” •• Lande Hekt

“Man’s World” •• MARINA

“Prisoner” •• Miley Cyrus x Dua Lipa

“The Lighthouse Keeper” •• Sam Smith

“Is It Just Me?” •• Sasha Sloan x Charlie Puth

“Shameika Said” •• Shameika x Fiona Apple

“Monster” •• Shawn Mendes x Justin Bieber

“Hey Boy” •• Sia

“nhs” •• slowthai

“Plead Insanity” •• Spring Silver x Sad13 x Bartees Strange

“feel good” •• Tierra Whack

“Peppers and Onions” •• Tierra Whack

“Flawed” •• Wale x Gunna

“Tried to Tell You” •• The Weather Station

REMIXES

“Valley of One Thousand Perfumes (Orchestral Version)” •• Mary Timony

“Lifetime (Planningtorock ‘Let It Happen’ Remix)” •• Romy x Planningtorock

“Boys Who Don’t Wanna Be Boys (U.S. Girls Live from The Peppermint Lounge Remix)” •• Seth Bogart x U.S. Girls

COVERS

“Waverly” (Samia cover) •• Anjimile

“Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” •• Betty Who

“Deacon Blues” (Steely Dan cover) •• Bill Callahan x Bonnie Prince Billy x Bill McKay

“Christmas Will Really Be Christmas” •• Black Pumas

“Clementine” (Elliott smith cover) •• Bonny Light Horseman

“The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” (Roberta Flacke cover) •• James Blake

“The First Noel” •• Jazmine Sullivan x Cory Henry

“A Dreamer’s Holiday” (Perry Como cover) •• Julien Baker

MUSIC VIDEOS

“JUMPING SHIP” •• Amaarae x Kojey Radical x Cruel Santino (dir. Remi Laudat)

“34+35″ •• Ariana Grande (dir. Director X)

“Shameika” •• Fiona Apple (dir. Matthias Brown)

“Don’t Underestimate Midwest American Sun” •• Kevin Morby (dir. Johnny Eastlund x Dylan Isbell)

"Star” •• LOOΠΔ (dir. MOSWANTD)

“Waverly” •• Samia (dir. Samia Finnerty x Matt Hixon)

“Kerosene” •• Yves Tumor x Diana Gordon (dir. Cody Critcheloe)

[vacationsoup]

New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/a-tragic-story-from-the-past/

A tragic story from the past...

The tragic story below is probably the first murder in Steni and is dated back to 1878. Ananias Anania and Kyriakou Theodoulou Nitti are our great grandparents. This story is a great insight of village life and how law and order was implemented nearly 150 years ago.

"Ananias Papagianni was the oldest child out of five in the family of Steni's priest, Papagiannis Hadji-Argyrou, He was married to Mariou with which he had John, a 4 year old, Dimitris, aged two, and a son who was only a few days old. He was a strong and handsome young man, twenty-eight years old, though shrewd and proud.  He came from a wealthy family and perhaps that was what shaped his character, in the manner we mentioned above.  Many times his deeds, although not evil, caused a confrontation between him and his father who was a quiet and pious man.  A Turkish-Cypriot nicknamed "Kolas" lived in the neighbouring village of Agios Isidoros, which is almost conjunct to the village of Steni.  Perhaps the two young men were friends, since -in that era -the village's inhabitants lived together in harmony; the Turks of Agios Isidoros spoke only the Greek language, something indicating that they were Christians that converted to Islam.  The Turk mentioned above regularly visited the house of two sisters in Steni, the two women being prostitutes.  This is not strange for that era since -many times -poverty compelled some women to resort to that lifestyle so as to survive, the condition of the economy in the countryside during the times of Turkish domination being most tragic as we know.

Perhaps several people in the village nagged about Kolas's insolence, proceeding with such actions in their village, though no-one took any initiative to stop him.  Knowing the character of Ananias, he must have considered it an insult for the Christian inhabitants of the village.  So, he decided -we do not know if it was his decision or if some other persons influenced him -to give an end to this situation.

One night when Kolas visited the house, Ananias was waiting for him in the street, several meters away from it.  As Kolas was heading back, the two young men came to blows; no one knows what exactly happened and how long the fight went on.  At some point Ananias was found with a serious knife-wound in the chest.  The perpetrator fled the scene but the cries of the wounded Ananias awoke the village and everyone that could run chased the perpetrator, soon arresting him before he was able to leave the village.

They took him to the house of Hadji-Lampis Hadji-Savvas, the head of the village, and after tying him up with a rope they fastened him to the millstone of the oil-mill that was located nearby, sending someone on horseback to notify the police in Polis Chrysochous.  As it was expected, until the police arrived the perpetrator was savagely beaten by a few friends and relatives of the victim.

In the meantime others had transferred the victim to the village's main street but he was already dead, the wound being very severe.  Meanwhile the policeman had come to the village, riding a horse and trying to approach the victim who was surrounded by all the villagers.  Quite a few were shouting that the perpetrator should be put on trial and be hanged by the neck, Cyprus already being considered as British soil for some months now.  A tragic figure in this scene was the wife of the victim, Mariou, mourning over her husband's dead body while having recently given birth.

After the policeman confirmed Ananias's death, he took the perpetrator and ordered him to walk in front of his horse, his hands tied, leading him to the police station of Polis Chrysochous.

The perpetrator was put to trial very soon and was convicted to twenty years of imprisonment, his action not being considered as premeditated murder.  He was transferred to the jails in the island of Malta to serve his sentence, seeing only the sea and the sky from his jail cell, as he was later related after his release.

Mariou in the meantime had raised her three boys going through a thousand trials and tribulations, knowing the difficulties that a woman -alone, with three children and without a husband -was facing in that era.  She raised her three sons, constantly advising them to be quiet, kind-hearted, and to avoid bad company, achieving her goals to the fullest.  Kolas, returned to his home after his release but now as a stigmatised murderer.  He could not keep any job and no one wanted him anywhere near.  He was rejected not only by the Greeks but also by the Turks of his village.  In order to survive he was forced to beggary in the region's villages, including Steni.  As the proverb declares "time can mend things" and so many of Steni's inhabitants started looking at Kolas as their fellow human being, though they did not forget that he was the murderer of a fellow villager of theirs, giving him whatever they could so that he could survive.

One day Kolas found himself before the house of Anania Ananias, the infant that Ananias Papagianni left behind him after his death so many years ago, who was married to Kyriakou Theodoulou Nitti.  Kyriakou was a woman who always gave to those in need and so she offered a piece of bread to the murderer of her father-in-law.  Her husband justifiably told her that it would be better to give that bread to their dog rather than to Kolas, knowing that the bread was offered to his father's murderer.  Kolas heard the words of Ananias and said, word-for-word, "Ananias, don't hold a grudge against me and hate me, your father pinned me down and would have killed me if I had not nailed him with the knife", a detail that of course no one can confirm as being true.

Ananias's heart softened -being a mild and peaceful man -and so a calmness was set in the hearts of these two men, both being victims of the circumstances since the lives of both of them had changed after the tragic event of 1878. "

The story features on http://www.steni.org.cy/en/past-len

The black & white family photo is the only photograph we have of my great grandfather,  Ananias Anania.  He did not like to have his picture taken. Due to being blond with blue eyes, the eyes were always white on the photos so he refused to take any.  In this photo he is with 4 of his 7 children. The girl sitting on his left hand side is my grandmother Andromachi Anania

[seattle-rpg-blog1]

katrina frederike unger is a resident.

        resident | columbia city | independent film reviewer for a.v. club | twenty-three | female

past

Children must be seen and never heard, they must be thoughtful but never outspoken, they must be strong but never aggressive. Little girls become charming young women, strapping boys become industrious adults. Kids are ever kids, they are raised with the insistence that one day they will open their eyes and they will be adults: mistakes are to be made only once, intelligence is to never falter and decisiveness must be instilled. Katrina’s childhood wasn’t unhappy, she was born on the banks of the Rhine river, in the manufacturing town of Duisburg, Germany. Her parents worked hard, they had craved a son to carry their name– but Katrina was their first and only child, a health condition pushing her mother into the position where another birth would pose too large of a risk upon her own safety. The Unger’s were practical people, their success was moderate in the early years of her life, when she was just a girl with very little grasp of such concepts. She was often in the care of her grandparents, who insisted to the sniffling child that they went away for such lengths in order to provide for her; she was taught that mourning their disappearances was selfish, also ungrateful, two traits that were evil to possess. Beautiful girls aren’t wicked, her grandmother whispered, a smooth cheek pressed to an aged one, the last thing she told Katrina before the girl and her parents moved from the Rhineland to upstate New York. Only four, her English was limping, but the German accent slipped away with use, enrolment in countless programs and lessons forcing her interactions with others. Katze, they would tell her, when they came home to their live in nanny already tucking her into bed, you must never be proud or arrogant, especially when you are as lucky as you are. The Unger’s had found wealth in New York, their company’s growth to the new area had taken well, one small shop offering maintenance to high end vehicles had gotten enough traction that her father no longer rolled on trolleys beneath cars, but sat in an office, directing employees as to what was to be done at their four, now booming locations. She grew older, delicate and small, taking after her mother with her ice hued eyes and a soft, pouting mouth. Katrina’s school years were spent at private institutions, where every skill for the upper class was painstakingly taught to the impressionable, shaping and molding them into the intolerable adults they were destined to be. She was the subject to many injustices, unwarranted lack of kindness and cruelty. There was no place to cry victim, it made Katrina stand taller, they simply did not know her; as she grew older she realized they didn’t wish to either. Her parent’s lack of love was never their fault, it simply wasn’t their way to be affectionate and physical with their child. Practicality stood above all, when she got older she would understand, it was the promise of every nanny as they gave her the kiss upon the forehead that she so desperately desired from her flesh and blood. For someone so incredibly social, Katrina grew up alone. As her mother and father wished, she did succeed– the lessons and programs proving her talents numerous. Artful and detailed paintings littered their home, introspective but appropriate poetry filled the spines of her notebooks, the sweet sound of the cello floated through the empty space when she came home from school. A quiet girl developed into a dark teenager, with years of being simply seen and never heard pressing into her spine and temple and every pressure point that was visible beneath the luxuriously crafted clothing she took to wearing. Her words were chosen carefully, but they were launched with a viciousness that made those who crossed her stutter, her recklessness made her unfortunate company grip at their seat and pray for intervention. Each horrible action was hidden from her parents, for one can always rebel– but they must never disappoint and she bore the burden of a horrible loneliness alone. She didn’t truly break from her shell until she was sixteen, a dangerous time for pretty young things, where her first drink was poured and slid across a bar by a man who looked too old to be serving drinks to tiny girls, it was as they danced upon the scarred tops of tables towards the finality of the night that she found a sense of community, with her hair held back in a grimy stall as she clutched a porcelain bowl— Katrina was consumed with the idea of these newly struck friendships.

She dissolved into the art scene at around the same time she began schooling for it, her lack of talent in the arts pushing her spend her evenings with the boys and girls of the Millennial Brat Pack. Kat cherished the name, she held it close to her chest like a reddened brand, it made her something— with teeth bared and arms felt only at home flung around the shoulders of the city’s up and coming somebody’s. In pictures she was captioned as an heiress of sorts, this was a label she could stomach; four years gave her a degree in film— though she lacked the eye to create anything herself. Instead she found immediate work with a film review company, whittling down from her wild years to something more domestic and calm.

New York was a state of mind that she loved, but it was independence that she craved more, her own wealth— the Unger name was a good one, but the girl wished to claim her own stake in it. It was in the strange years between child and adulthood that Katrina shook away the wildness of her youth, finding home and family in Bushwick, with a girl and her collection of felines.

present

Seattle wasn’t her first choice, in messages back home she bitterly remarks about how the city could never be anyone’s first choice– but from a hat that she plucked a fresh start from, it had been the place scribbled on paper. A fresh start and opportunity awaits her here, though her life remains in a collection of unpacked boxes still in an apartment just above a Vietnamese restaurant, settling in has become easier. While Seattle lacks the rush of the city she grew up in, her job has become less difficult and there is more time on her hands to explore– something that she implores herself to do. Her youth was a mosaic of missed opportunities and Katrina now hungrily seeks out a way to connect. A desire for success at all costs applies to most areas of her life and the girl is willing to dive into the foggy city head first.

personality

Katrina is sort of a cruel girl, awfully jealous and impatient. Her words are quick and often spat out without thinking, like a lashed dog she bites worse than she barks. It’s not her fault, one would say, we’re all just products of our environment, but there is a good heart buried under the bristles and spines, one that even the harshest of childhoods couldn’t have darkened. There is a wild streak within her that youth hadn’t of stamped out and she can often be found seeking out adventure in the most unlikely (or rather, unsavoury) of places, but her loyalty is her most prevalent of traits. Katrina Unger would stand in front of the L Train at rush hour for someone she loves and it would break her heart if someone ever tried to exploit that.

a little more…

         ❝ this has been my religion: the belief that i deserve attention, that they are wrong not to listen, that those who dispute me are fools. ❞

[floraexplorer]

A Haunted Guide to Lunenburg, The Spookiest Town in Nova Scotia

At first glance, the little town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, is picture-perfect.

Under bright skies, tourists flock to Lunenburg to eat ice cream, shop for souvenirs, and learn about the town’s rich maritime history at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic.

Lunenburg is famous for its brightly coloured clapboard houses lining the narrow streets, and for its picturesque harbour, home to the famous tall ship Bluenose II. And as one of the best surviving British-built colonial towns in North America, the whole of Lunenburg’s Old Town is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

But as the sun begins to set, the streets of Lunenburg seem to mysteriously empty.

What you don’t see in the daylight is Lunenburg’s spooky side – because this is a town filled to the brim with ghosts, witches, and spiritual stories. Every night, the streets of the Old Town are lit up by lanterns as the braver tourists set out on the Haunted Lunenburg Walking Tour.

Lunenburg is an historic town – but it’s also a haunted one. 

A history of Nova Scotia: why is it so haunted?

Over the generations, the people of Nova Scotia have grown up in close proximity with death.

The province’s maritime history is largely responsible: as almost all of Nova Scotia’s landmass is unsuitable for agriculture, the economy has always been based around fishing. When sailors left shore they’d be gone for months at a time, and there was no guarantee they’d return.

Storms, shipwrecks and drownings often occurred. Those lost at sea were commemorated with granite memorials in the places they hailed from – and the bodies of victims who made it back home were buried in cemeteries right in the centre of towns, not shunted off to the outskirts.

It’s been said that Lunenburg has more folklore, witches, superstitions and ghost stories than any other place in Nova Scotia. And when you stand in the town’s 300-year-old cemetery at the top of a street named Gallows Hill, you get the feeling it could be true.

Read more: the most beautiful cemetery I’ve ever seen 

A turnstile at the entrance to Garrison Graveyard in Annapolis Royal, NS

Although we’d only been in Nova Scotia for two days when we arrived in Lunenburg, Kim and were already getting familiar with the province’s spooky past.

In Halifax the night before, we’d enjoyed a fancy dinner at the Five Fishermen Restaurant – and in between bites of lobster mac and cheese I’d been on the lookout for poltergeist activity. The Five Fishermen building used to be a funeral parlour and mortuary back in the 19th century and prepared dozens of the Titanic victims for burial.

And just that morning we’d visited the lighthouse at Peggy’s Cove, famed for the ghost of a woman in a blue dress named Margaret. Her husband was lost to the sea, and she’s wandered the rocks mourning for him ever since.

So we were well-prepared for some haunted goings on in Lunenburg. Or so we thought.

[Photo by Kim Leuenberger]

A spooky night on the Haunted Lunenburg Walking Tour

The sun had already set when we met our guide Kerriann beside a splintered bench. A tiny sign hung above it, advertising the tour; a collection of lanterns sat on the steps beside her, candles waiting to be lit.

Kerriann introduced herself as an eighth-generation Lunenburger, and a direct descendant of the Moreash clan. Many of her ancestors called these same streets home, and their names cropped up repeatedly throughout the tour.

A bored-looking teenager with his parents walked towards us. They were the last three members of our little tour group, and after Kerriann handed out the lanterns we set off together.

[Photo by Kim Leuenberger]

From the moment she began to speak, it was clear that Kerriann had worked extremely hard to perfect her storytelling skills – and I realised that it wouldn’t be fair for me to give away the specifics of her stories in writing.

What I can describe is the atmosphere she created.

As we wandered past ornate houses and looming hotels, Kerriann told us ghost stories about Lunenburg’s long-dead residents: the disgruntled hotel owner tormenting guests; the murderous husband who was the last man hung beside the jail; the young girl forever standing in a ‘Lunenburg Bump’, waiting for her long lost love.

The ‘Lunenburg Bump’ is a curious architectural wonder in the town – an extended dormer window built into the top floor of many Lunenburg houses, it first began as a way to provide a bit more light and air, but quickly gained pace as neighbours took the idea and developed it.

Nowadays Lunenburg is filled with Bumps of all varieties, and it’s all too easy to imagine them as a type of ‘widows walk’. How many wives, fiancees, mothers and daughters of sailors and captains have patiently stood watch up there, waiting for their seafaring men to come home?

Superstitions are still alive and well in Lunenburg

The widow’s walk is just one of many superstitions to still hold weight here. The residents of Lunenburg are a tight-knit community, which means they’ve been raised with an oral history.

Familiar stories passed down through generations are responsible for shaping the behaviours of thousands of Lunenburgers – and alongside her ghostly tales, Kerriann explained the amount of superstitious belief which has influenced much of Lunenburg: how wearing grey mittens when fishing would bring grey skies, or how Lunenburg houses were built with identical front and back doors to confuse the devil, who only entered through the back door.

We learned that it’s legal to spit in public – but only when you’ve seen a single crow. The sight of that one bird is bad luck, but spitting on the ground invites a second crow to join it. Unfortunately the governors in Halifax cottoned onto this belief and introduced a fine for spitting in public in their city, which was often referred to as the Lunenburg tax on account of who often ended up paying it!

Kerriann told us that flipping things is bad luck, as it mimics the action of a boat capsizing. That means eggs are always cooked ‘over easy’; food comes out of a can with a spoon instead of being turned upside down; and women serve freshly-baked bread by taking it straight from the oven, running a knife around and lifting it out.

These superstitions make sense when you remember this community revolved around the sea – a place full of unpredictability and danger. Sailors have always been renowned for their superstitious nature, but it’s fascinating to realise that many modern-day Lunenburgers still wholeheartedly believe in these things, and abide by them too.

Read more: traditions and superstitions in the South American mountains

[Photo by Kim Leuenberger]

The mysterious stars of St John’s Anglican Church

As darkness fell, we made our way slowly up Gallows Hill until we reached St John’s Anglican Church.

This Gothic building was the first church built in Lunenburg in 1754 and the second oldest Anglican church in Canada, but it was tragically set on fire by arsonists on Halloween Night, 2001. The precious stained glass windows had to be smashed to gain access to the church and attempt to fight the fire which ultimately destroyed half the building and all the contents within.

[Photo by Kim Leuenberger]

Inside, we stared up at a domed ceiling above the altar which was covered with stars. Kerriann told us that during the post-fire restoration (achieved by solely using salvaged wood from the wreckage), historians realised the spacing of the stars seemed somewhat strange – so they called in star experts. Eventually they realised it was the same constellation visible from Lunenburg on 24th December, the night Jesus was born.

Somehow this significant fact had slipped from history – but thanks to the fire, it came to light again.

[Photo by Kim Leuenberger]

The haunted graves of Hillcrest Cemetery

At the very top of Gallows Hill sits Hillcrest Cemetery, a sprawling plot of land where the oldest grave marker dates back to 1761, eight years after Lunenburg was established.

We approached the cemetery beneath the pale light of a watery moon, and I could feel the air of unease settle around the group. Being in such close proximity to a lot of very old graves felt rather vulnerable.

I stepped onto the damp grass, holding my lantern closer to my face – I didn’t want to trip over any gravestones and give myself a heart attack – but luckily Kerriann knew exactly where she was going. She picked an easy route between old slate gravestones with German names until she reached one surrounded by a wrought-iron fence. It was the grave of Sophia, a 14 year old girl who died of a broken heart.

While Kerriann told us the sad story of Sophia’s untimely death after she was accused of stealing $10, I looked furtively around at the neighbouring graves. Did Sophia still wander this patch of ground?

[Photo by Kim Leuenberger]

The basement ghost of Lunenburg Academy

The ‘Castle on the Hill’ is a massive, three-storey building which dates back to the 1890s and has housed the local primary school for centuries. It’s also just opposite Hillcrest Cemetery, meaning generations of children walked past these graves on their way to and from class.

Lunenburg is a landmark building for both historical and architectural reasons – it’s imposing enough just to look at – but as you’d expect in this town, it’s seriously haunted too.

The basement was nicknamed ‘The Dungeon’ by scared students, thanks to an evil feeling which pervaded the space and the rumour of a monster inhabiting one of the toilet stalls. Little boys were dared to enter alone, goading each other on despite the fear, while girls refused to go inside unless they were in pairs.

But the more compelling ghost story is about Sidney Kernickle, a school janitor who was such a strong spiritual force in the Academy that a ghost hunters show paid $50,000 for a local to show them around the building, eventually capturing an image of a face in one of the windows. When the image was circulated around Lunenburg, someone pulled out a yearbook from 1960 and identified Mr Kernickle!

[Photo by Kim Leuenberger]

As Kerriann told us about the ghost of Lunenburg Academy, I glanced over at a car parked in front of the building. There was a middle-aged man sitting in the car’s front seat: he was disarmingly still, and I wasn’t entirely sure what he was doing. Neither was the moody teen from our group, who slouched his way towards the car to investigate. I could see the tension in his shoulders as he approached, peering through the window to get a closer look.

I turned to Kim and whispered very quietly, “There’s a man in that car…” She jumped a mile in the air and everyone began to laugh, the ghostly tension dissipating for a moment.

But as we walked away from the dark red bricks of Lunenburg Academy which towered above us, I felt a chill run quickly down my spine. There were so many windows. Who knew if Sidney’s ghostly face was peering down at our little group as we walked away?

Info about Lunenburg Walking Tours

Lunenburg Walking Tours offers a selection of daily tours from June 1st to October 30th – ‘Essential Lunenburg’ at 10am & 2pm and ‘Haunted Lunenburg’ at 8.30pm. Their tours are also available year-round via reservation.

All the Lunenburg Walking Tours take about an hour and have the same prices:

Adult: $25

Youth: $15

Family: $75

I can personally attest to the quality of both these tours – we received complimentary tickets for the Essential Lunenburg tour, and loved it so much that we immediately paid for the Haunted Lunenburg tour that same evening!

Read more about my adventures in Canada here

Pin this article if you enjoyed it! 

NB: This trip was in partnership with Tourism Nova Scotia – but the ghost stories and haunted streets are all down to Lunenburg’s long-gone residents…

The post A Haunted Guide to Lunenburg, The Spookiest Town in Nova Scotia appeared first on Flora The Explorer.

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Fundamentals of Comics

           In these 8 blogs I will introduce 8 different topics linking them to books to help build the fundamentals of comics. The topics include introduction to comics, essence of art in comics, social issues in comics, reality in comics, creativity of comics, narratives point of view, superheroes in comics, and closure with comics. Introduction to comics can be tough. Choosing the first right comic book for to read can be overwhelming because it determines first impressions. Comic books at first impressions can all look pretty similar, words with pictures, colorful, superheroes, and etc. which makes its hard to choose the first comic book for you. To narrow down to a comic book that’s a good first comic to read and a great introduction to comics is Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics. The book is fun and easy to read and incredibly helpful in showing the reader how comics work.  McCloud talks about how much difference can be made by things like the shape and spacing of a panel in comics and the impact it has due to it. The readers are trying to define comics, and McCloud is helping them with process through Understanding Comics. For example McCloud explores the vocabulary in comics, the concept of closure as it applies to comics, time frames, line, color, drawing, expressions, and storytelling. McCloud does a great job explaining the process to understanding comics, he explains the space between the panels is called the gutter and goes in depth about how when a reader looks at one panel, they can automatically add the previous image to the next panel and complete the action or idea in their heads, which is what he calls closure. To understand comics, it is necessary for the reader to feel closure with the text. McCloud does a great job with Understanding Comics, and it is a perfect read for someone new to comics.

            The essence of art in comics is very important because without the artwork a comic book isn’t a comic book. The art is what makes it stand out from regular books and makes it fall under the genre of comics.  A comic book that satisfies the essence of art is Nicole Claveloux’s The Green Hand and Other Stories. In this book we see the Claveloux emphasizing the drawings, it really brings out the essence of art in comics. The drawings are out of this world, creative, imaginative, and enjoyable. Claveloux uses big bright colors and bubbly shapes that make the art stand out. The bright colors make the art vivid and the bubbly shapes help the visual narration compliment the textual narrations. Claveloux uses her drawings to bring the pages together, which helps shows her testing herself to see how many different ways there are to draw and color.  She uses radiant shapes and hand separated tones which makes the art look dizzying. In The Green Hand and Other stories, Claveloux uses hallucinatory color to captivate the readers, she also uses the classic black and white to emphasize depth. Claveloux uses her art to bring the readers into a land that is strangely familiar but oddly not recognizable. Her artwork seems to tell a story of its own. The essence of art in comics help define how drawings are just as important as the text because in works like The Green Hand and Other Stories, the story seems to be complimenting the art. Overall, Nicole Claveloux’s The Green Hand and Other Stories, is one of the most beautiful comics drawn, the drawings are intoxicating, because it is in a way freshness, and out of this world. The art is simply fascinating, it is as if someone dreamt on paper, which makes it a perfect to see the essence of art in comics.

            Real life problems portrayed in comics is often a common thing. Many comics use their comic books to address an issue going on, and bring awareness to that situation. One comic book that is well for a great start for a social awareness topic, is the comic book by Gene Yang’s American Born Chinese. One of the realest comic book that focuses on growing up as an Asian in the United States. In American Born Chinese, Yang tackles many stereotypes that many Asian children might’ve faced and stereotypes most of us have heard somewhere out in public. For examples kids in school express disgust at the main characters dumpling lunch, and assumes that he eats dogs. The teachers of the school butcher his name, and automatically tell everyone he’s from China because as the stereotype goes, if you are Asian you are most likely Chinese. Due to these circumstances the main character has no friends, this is something that some recently migrated children, and teens might feel in school. Yang brings out a minority group in the spotlight and introduces the difficulties a minority might come across trying to fit into a majority. Yang brought a real life problem and portrayed it in comics, he took a different way to bring attention to the problem. Stereotypes, discrimination, and racism has been a problem since long before, but to see its effect on the victim is done beautifully in American Born Chinese. Throughout the story we see key ideas such as self-hate, change, and moving towards self-discovery. The reality of these issues are severe and can sometimes be neglected, comics is a good way to inform someone of what’s going on through a different perspective, and lens. American Born Chinese by Gene Yang is a great comic that brings a real life problem in to life in comics.

            There are many reality events represented in comics. An unfortunate event that occurs in the real world is also a topic that is presented in comics. One book that focuses on a tragic event is Love is Love by Marc Andreyko. Andreyko discusses the unfortunate event of the Orlando nightclub shooting. The book was made to honor the victims of this tragic event. Comic books aren’t only meant for enjoyment, they can also touch your heart, grasp the readers emotionally, and get you to release your feelings.  In Love is Love, Andreyko is using the comic to mourn the victims, support the survivors, and celebrate the unity of LGBTQ community. Andreyko tries to bring everyone together through love, the comic book spreads love and examines love in today’s world. The comic book will empower you to bring positivity into the world, to be strong, and hope for a better tomorrow. Andreyko passionately provides a meaningful response through the comic book to a senseless act and in some ways, this is the aim of all art. Art can be an escape, a way to cope, and a way to try and make sense of a world that can be seen beautiful or seen meaninglessly cruel and unfair. Love is Love is a simple that brings a tragic event into spotlight. It’s a great read for someone who wanted to connect emotionally with this tragic event that took place. It’s a great book for a visual learner as well because the book succeeds by using an incredibly meaningful format. The entries in the book are very short, it can be compared to be a emotional and meaningful scrapbook. There’s rarely enough narrative on the page to make it feel like a full story, but it is enough to satisfy the message and point being made.

           Comics would be incomplete without creativity. Creativity of comics depend on the person making a comic. Every person beholds creativity, everyone has their own perspectives, thoughts, and ways of expressing themselves. Every comic book has its own creative edge and way of finding closure with the readers. One specific book that’s good to read for creative aspect and closure with the text is Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me by Ellen Forney. The book is a great graphic memoir that is funny, personal, and visually dynamic. Forney’s graphic memoir provides a glimpse into the effects of a mood disorder on the artist’s work. Forney believes in creativity and that everyone has it. There’s a problem that she faces in the book and she recognizes that she was unbalanced, but regardless she views that as the source of her creativity. Sane or insane, everyone has a way of being creative. Every idea is brilliant. Every person met is a chance for a memorable encounter or opportunity for a magical adventure. Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me will encourage the readers to be creative, to go out, do something fun, be wild, let loose, and be happy both for the moment itself but more importantly for a chance to tell someone about them later. To be creative, you have to start with yourself, you have to be accepting, and be proud of who you are. It’s what you contribute to the world, and it doesn’t matter how you contribute it. Creativity is a process, it takes time, it can be linked to your personal life, such as circumstances you’ve been through, past experiences, and turning points in your life, which can help spark creativity. Forney talks about how transformative work can be a way of therapy and it can help motivate creativity.

            Narrative points of view in comics is very important. It gives the main characters a voice, unlike novels, comic books also give the drawing of the character, which give the visual representation of the character to the reader for them to picture the character in the plot of the story. A graphic novel that illustrates the narrative points of view and lives of two young women from different cultural, family, and financial backgrounds who go through two different abortions, medical and surgical is Not Funny Ha-Ha by Leah Hayes. The narrative points of views helps the readers follow the two young woman through the process of choosing a clinic, reaching out to friends, partners, family, and eventually the procedures itself. Hayes simply shows us what happens when a woman goes through the situation. Despite the fact that so many women and girls have abortions every day, everywhere, all around us, Hayes uses the narrative points of view of the two character to show it can be a lonely experience. The narrative points of view help keep the graphic novel non-judgmental, comforting, and even gives the readers a humorous look at what a woman can go through during an abortion. Abortion can seem very fast procedure, it can be very quick, and girls can bounce back into their daily lives. But the event of having an abortion can really affect someone in numerous ways, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Sometimes a week later, sometimes ten years later, which will bring sadness to a person, and this is where Hayes uses her narrative points of view of the two women to show their perspectives. The two different women have two different ways of going through and coping with the procedure, and that is what we get to see in Not Funny Ha-Ha because of the narrative perspectives.

           Superheroes have always been linked to comic books, and comic books have had a great impact on superheroes. Many movies and television series make adaptions of comic books. Comic books are the origin of many superheroes. Growing up, children from everywhere have wanted to be a superhero, have superpowers, and save the world. Superhero comic books give children and everyone else the access to bring their imagination to life. Superhero comics have a buffet of different heroes, and heroines. Yet it doesn’t stop there, different heroes and heroines have many different powers. But there’s more, for any person to be a hero you need to have a good villain, and comic books also give a variety of villains. Comic books are great for fans of superheroes, and what better to way to start a superhero comic than Action Comics #1 by DC Comics. It features the first appearance of Superman, a hero everyone is familiar with, and this where a start of something revolutionary started. Readers were introduced to a character that was beyond this world. A character that can jump over buildings, lift enormous weights, runs faster than a train, someone who has impenetrable skin, with super hearing, and someone who can shoot laser out of his eyes. Superman was a creative idea, and was made a god amongst humans. Superman is also known as man of steel. Superman is a powerful figure, although not being real, he is still looked up to till today by many fans. The character of Superman has definitely inspired many creations of new superheroes, in a way Superman was the base model that made the way for future creations of heroes and anti-heroes. Reading Action Comics, will set up the reader to read future superhero comics from any universe and understand how the superhero stories are linked together with each other.

          Fundamentals of comics in short are all these subjects combined together. The different features and genres all combined make a great comic book. Lastly the one thing that holds all these subjects together, is closure with the comics. Without closure with the comic book, you can’t really let loose and enjoy the work. In order to understand and interact with the book you need to have closure. To narrow down to a comic book that’s a great comic in whole, which cannot be read without closure is One Hundred Demons by Lynda Barry. There are no restrictions when it comes down to Lynda Barry’s One Hundred Demons. The book contains themes of childhood, some joyous, and others more serious. The book is made in a way that people of all ages will be able to relate to.  In order to do so, the reader must find closure with the comic, recognize the plot, understand the personality of characters, and apply it to themselves. The layout of the book is simple, making One Hundred Demons an ideal starting point to people who are new to the comic’s genre. In this book, you will be introduced to a waterfall of colors, childlike art, themes, and messages we might have come across through our lives.  Lynda Barry uses a straightforward writing style that provides a strong, distinct narration that guides readers to connect textual and visual narrations through One Hundred Demons. Overall, Lynda Barry’s One Hundred Demons is a perfect start to the comic’s genre, whether or not you are looking for some philosophical reading or just for fun reading. One Hundred Demons is fascinating, definitely worth reading. One Hundred Demons by Lynda Barry is definitely the perfect start on a positive note to start understanding comics and find closure with a comic book.

- Zeshan Khandaker