#neil larsen

[harrisonstories]

Above: A current photo of the Row Barge Pub in Henley, Inbetween: George Harrison smiling in a pub in 1978 (whether it's the Row Barge or not is unknown) Photo by: Olivia Harrison, Below: George and Olivia Harrison with Dot Mitchell and her husband Norman at the Remenham Club in Henley, mid-1970s.

George Harrison + The Row Barge Pub

"We [Palin, Eric Idle, and George Harrison] all walked down to the local pub -- where we drank Brakspear’s Henley Ales and played darts." - Michael Palin, Oct. 1975, Diaries 1969-1979

"George heard that it was the birthday of Dot Mitchell, then the landlady at The Row Barge, his local public house. He called her to one side and, teasingly, told her to hold out her hand and close her eyes. Then, he dropped three perfect, impossibly valuable rubies into her hand. ‘Have a nice birthday,’ he told her.” - Eric Idle (1978)

"There’s a photo of George on the wall with Edward Heath -- he signed it to the guy who owns the place, 'To Norman, a little fellow everybody likes -- George and little Eddie'. They have a D. Horse sticker on the counter. A bit later this older couple came in, Phyllis & Tom. We went over and sat with them all night [...] They said that after Dhani was born George came in a lot and was so happy and proud and was telling everyone about him [...] [Phyllis] said she saw George just before Xmas carrying a Christmas tree on his back up the hill to F. Park -- some Hindu! [...] George had this hat on once and she said she liked it, and he gave it to her! She has a photo of her dancing with him that she said she’d show us next time we came." - WALH fanzine issue #25 (1979) [x]

"George and I had gone down to the pub that night to relax and get a little drunk. It turned out to be Norman’s birthday, so he closed the bar a little early to celebrate, and we stayed along with a few of Norman’s friends. After a few rounds, someone produced a guitar, gave it to George, and George proceeded to play every Beatles song he could remember." - Neil Larsen, Circus Weekly (April 1979) [x]

“George himself was a generous and intelligent man who suffered no fools, and he was always very private. He used to enjoy a drink at the Row Barge pub in Henley but he didn’t go into the town as much after John Lennon was shot.” - George Rob (Friar Park stonemason) [x]

"So my friend Nicole told me a story of how she used to work in the pub where George Harrison would bike to regularly and how one christmas instead of tipping all of the waitresses there like usual he bought every single one of them a small diamond necklace. They were all so stunned and thankful and oh my god so happy and he hugged them all and he said his wife helped him pick them out. And oh my god how can you not love this man." - niceboulder [x]

"I was in the pub one night [in 1986/87] -- as you do -- I got talking to the landlady behind the bar, and I go, 'Is that George Harrison's house across the road?' She goes 'Yeah. Oh, he does come in here occasionally.' I'm just [sarcastically] yeah 'course he does, kind of thing.

So I was talking, and some of the people I was with were talking, and suddenly this bloke comes in. Bit scruffy-looking at first. I looked at him and thought, 'I know him. I know him. I really do know him.' He was polite. He acknowledged everybody. He just said something like, 'Good evening, all,' and he walked into the room in the back. Now this room at the back, nobody else could go in. It was a private room.

So I looked at the landlady, and she goes, 'Yeah that was George Harrison,' and I go, 'What, really?' She goes 'Yeah'.

Then many years later after George had died, apparently, he left some money in his will -- I don't know how true this story is, but I think he left something in his will to the landlady of this pub because she kept that room at the back just for him. Nobody else could go in. People with him could go in, but members of the public couldn't. I think it was like George's little hideaway where he could just be himself, and obviously having to go across the road to the pub sort of thing probably made him feel a bit more normal? If that's the right word." - Beatle Dave [x]

[protoslacker]

As long as decolonial theory’s culturalist ban on universals is not itself challenged and overthrown, the material roots of colonialism and imperialism cannot be traced back historically and socially to their ultimate source: capitalism.

Neil Larsen at Jacobin, Reprinted from Catalyst: A Journal of Theory and Strategy. The Reactionary Jargon of Decoloniality

Cloaked in an impenetrable jargon, “decoloniality” dehistoricizes and culturalizes colonialism. It’s a political and intellectual dead end for socialists.

Review of The Politics of Decolonial Investigations by Walter D. Mignolo

I'm farirly ignorant and thin skinned, so negative reviews often rankle me. But, sometimes a scathing review can be thrilling. I found this critical review to be thought provoking.

[longliverockback]

George Harrison Gone Troppo 1982 Dark Horse ————————————————— Tracks: 01. Wake up My Love 02. That’s the Way It Goes 03. I Really Love You 04. Greece 05. Gone Troppo 06. Mystical One 07. Unknown Delight 08. Baby Don’t Run Away 09. Dream Away 10. Circles —————————————————

Gary Brooker

Jim Brown

Ray Cooper

Herbie Flowers

George Harrison

Mike Horan

Alan Jones

Jim Keltner

Neil Larsen

Jon Lord

Dave Mattacks

Mike Moran

Billy Preston

Henry Spinetti 

Willie Weeks

* Long Live Rock Archive

[mayzi33]

GUYS GUYS GUYS GUYS GUYS GUYS GUYS TMM PEOPLE I GONNA CRY

@furashuban IN THE TMM SERVER MADE THIS AMAZING DISCOVERY

THE MAGIC MISFITS ANIMATED SERIES IS CANON YALL

THIS INTERVIEW TURNED A YEAR OLD JUST RECENTLY ON AUGUST 8TH

YOU GUYS ITS CANON ITS HAPPENING I GONNA SCREAM

OKOK LETS DISCUSS THIS- HOW DO YALL THINK THE SERIES WILL BE LIKE????

Do you think it will be the books' stories but animated???

Another story set after the books???

Maybe just a series of shorts???

AAAAAAA THERES SO MANY POSSIBILITIES BUT HONESTLY IM ALL IN FOR ANY OF THEM JUST GIMME TMM CONTENT GIMME GIMME AAAAAAAAAA

[pikablob]

Today I found an actual cryptid in the wild: one of the weird UK Magic Misfits hardbacks. I don't know why these have their own cover art, or why it's so incredibly cursed; I assumed it was a licencing issue, but all the illustrations inside are still the Lissy Marlin originals (and the paperbacks over here use the US cover art), so I don't know why they didn't just use her cover art for these??

I very nearly bought this; part of me is still tempted to go back for it XD

[dorothy-troyanovsky]

Magic misfits fans I have one question. Did you happen to notice that Dante and James refer very strongly to the relationship between Neil and David?When I thought about it, it went something like this in my head:

Mmmmmm, I love such references ❤️, but FUCK THIS IS GORGEOUS! (sorry for the obscene language).

What do you think about it?

[marleneoftheopera]

Holiday Audio/Video Gifts!

For the holiday season, here are some audio gifts from various shows and one Phantom video! The link to them is here and the info is below the cut:

Happy holidays and I hope you are all having time for some rest!

Audios

POTO

Jon Robyns, Paige Blankson, Joe Griffiths-Brown, Kelly Glyptis, Matt Harrop, Adam Linstead, Francesca Ellis, David Kristopher Brown, Maiya Hikasa August 22, 2023; London

Tim Howar, Harriet Jones, Nadim Naaman, Lara Martins, Nicholas Garrett, Arvid Larsen, John Ellis, Valerie Cutko, Kelsi Boyden March 19, 2023; Greece

Josh Piterman, Corinne Cowling (u/s), Danny Whitehead, Katy Hanna (u/s), Ross Dawes, Kris Manuel (u/s), Sophie Caton (u/s), Paul Ettore Tabone, Georgia Ware October 17, 2019; London ​Matinee.

Jeremy Stolle (u/s), Samantha Hill, Greg Mills (u/s), Michele McConnell, Richard Poole (u/s), Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Christian Sebek, Kara Klein, Scott Mikita (u/s) March 9, 2013; Broadway Matinee performance.

John Owen-Jones, Deborah Dutcher, Matthew Cammelle, Bruce Montague, Charles Shirvell, Margaret Mary Kane (u/s), Janet Murphy, Jeremy Secomb, Lucy Middleton January 5, 2002; London

Love Never Dies

Tam Mutu, Celia Graham, David Thaxton, Daniel Dowling August 25, 2011; London Tam Mutu's last performance.

Les Miserables

Christopher Jacobsen (u/s Jean Valjean), Stewart Clarke (Javert), Katie Hall (Fantine), Will Callan (Marius), Lulu-Mae Pears (Cosette), Amena El-Kindy (Eponine), Luke Kempner (Thenardier), Claire Machin (Madame Thenardier), Dejan Van der Flyert (Enjolras), Alex Shaw (Gavroche), Clohe Sullivan (Little Cosette), Tom Hext (Grantaire/Majordomo), Adam Pearce (Bishop/Claquesous), Ellie Ann Lowe (Factory Girl), Jordan Simon Pollard (u/s Foreman/Bujon), Matt Dempsey (Bamatabopis/Lesgles), Annabelle Aquino, Hazel Baldwin, Emily Olive Boyd, Ben Culleton, Matt Hayden, Sam Kipling, Anouk Van Lake, Harry Lake, Ben Oatley, Jonathan Stevens, Phoebe Williams, Ollie Wray September 28, 2023; London 15,000th show in London and the 5th show for the new company.

Sunset Boulevard

Nicole Scherzinger (Norma), Tom Francis (Joe Gillis), David Thaxton (Max von Mayerling), Grace Hodgett Young (Betty Shaefer), Ahmed Hamaad (Artie), Tyler Davis (Sheldrake), Charlotte Jaconelli (Johanna), Jon Tsouras (Cecil B. de Mille) September 28, 2023; London

Rebecca

Laureen Jones (I), Richard Carson (Maxim de Winter), Kara Lane (Mrs Danvers), Sara Harlington (Beatrice), Neil Moor (Giles), Piers Bate (Frank Crewley), David Breeds (Ben), Alex James Ward (Jack Favell), Shrley Jameson (Mrs Van Hopper), Nicholas Lumley (Colonel Julian) September 27, 2023; Off-West End

POTO Video

Ian Jon Bourg, Olivia Safe (u/s), Kyle Gonyea 2001; Hamburg, Germany VOB files. One of the most legendary Phantom's opposite one of the youngest Christine's!

[astronicht]

oh, I'm a bit late to this because I'm backreading your Fellowship liveblog, but there's been a lot of scholarship done on Tolkien's use of astronomy! Kristine Larsen has a whole lot of journal articles on it though a lot of them are related more to the Silmarillion

No such thing as late, here! And thank you so much for this fun info i am reading the first article of Larsen's I came across ("The Sun, the Son, and the Silmarillion") and I'm laughing a little bit because I once had an old professor despair at the lack of academic work on early medieval cosmology. BUT LO AND BEHOLD, in Tolkien scholarship, people are out there doing it! Right now!

It's not the same thing, ofc, and Tolkien isn't actually trying to recreate early medieval cosmologies, so much as recrafting and reworking them and putting in something of his own. Still! While i am definitely more wobbly on Norse stuff, I have never seen, taking an example from this paper, anyone suggest that a viking cosmology might have something to do with the shape of a ship! (Which I am learning today that Tolkien used, not for Vikings ofc but for Middle Earth). Again, maybe this is a known thing I don't know about, but I have read lots of musings about the importance of the shape of a ship (turns up a lot in Norse grave archeology) and many more musings on how hard it is to picture a Norse cosmos, and I feel like I should have considered these two things together! At least once! Neat stuff.

(I personally like the suggestion (made by an unnamed Icelandic scholar noted in Neil Price's The Children of Ash and Elm) that the world-tree (a central-pillar motif) is tied to the image of the Milky Way stretched across the sky. If you've ever sat out on a floating dock under a nearly unpolluted night sky in northern Ontario (a very similar environment and latitude to Scandinavia), this starts to make sense, whether it's actually historically substantiated).

Anyway, thank you a bunch for this!

[wordsinhaled]

pressed — a Dream-perspective Dreamling playlist

notes: so uh. this is basically... a response to neil's ask about dream & calliope's wedding, in playlist form, because... yeah. so... 12 songs for dream's vulnerability when it comes to falling in love. it's songs from dream to hob. it is... big emotions. the mortifying ordeal of being known. etc. etc. -tracks- ginger and pear - pressed nick mulvey - fever to form the staves - steady rosemary & garlic - i'm here fenne lily - top to toe roo panes - know me well jono mccleary - darkest light wolf larsen - if i be wrong tuvaband - unknown axel flóvent - forest fires liza anne - lost billie marten - heavy weather

- lyrics below the cut -

ginger & pear // pressed

bring me home pick me and press me in the big dictionary you keep on the shelf i belong nestled and swaddled  in words, to preserve me for years and when winter arrives, i'll still be here and when spring comes around, i'll still be here pressed in the shape that you found me most beautiful paper thin and petals like laces, i wait until it's time to unveil me maybe now i'll be delicate at least for a season or two and when summer arrives, i'll still be here and when autumn comes blowing, i'll be here pressed and beloved, or forgotten that's all up to you paper thin and veins on display, i wait until i'm transparent and ready maybe now i'll be knowable i can learn not to ache for your hands

nick mulvey // fever to the form

'cause the very thing you're afraid, afraid of it keeps you clean but unclear - clean but unclear is the dirt that you're made, you're made of and that's nothing to fear no, it's nothing, my dear but how do i know what you're thinking? maybe i thought it before maybe that's why i'm at your window hear me at your door singing, "give me some more" oh, fever to the form won't you hear me at your door singing "give me some more"? 'cause you were never empty and we've been here before

the staves // steady

steady, steady, steady you steady touch our love so much, i'm sleepless rabbit in a snare, why you sleeping softly in your bed? when unruly wild blood is pumping, why you running scared? and the line will read that i was never here can you see from where you're standing and the line will read that i was never here can you hear where i'm coming from?

rosemary & garlic // i'm here

here we found a place to stay build a house in the woods you'll find it safe it's small, though the light comes in then you say that it has a fire within then you sketched the trees and a path underneath for those who leave and i am a lover and a friend to you a part of your palette, a shade of blue i am i am here here i am here and i have you grateful by my side you are all my colors and my light

fenne lily // top to toe

tell me i'm a time you'll miss feelings always change like this but you are all the words i need to explain myself, it seems so i'm changing all my days to make your nights won't you take me to your bed? i should have said i need you more

roo panes // know me well

well, you know me with that ancient gaze you strip me down with yesterday's eyes you know me as i was but see me as i will be and i still had a lot of growing when you took me and you shaped me with those hands you know me better than myself, make me better than i am you know me well, you know me well, you know me well when i think upon my past i see i loved you many years before you came in my hopes and my dreams with the wax and the moon wane what can i fear when i know that i walk by your side? you're the fortress within which i've got nothing to hide none can take me; i'm the tower the world couldn't fell 'cause i'm stronger when i know you know me well

jono mccleary // darkest light

you have been strong in my mind today my love is dying to be on your way why am i always drawn to the darkest light? it seems that i believe i can help it shine so let me see the lines upon your face invite me in to dance in your darkest place to dance in your darkest place can we dance in your darkest place?

wolf larsen // if i be wrong

what if i'm wrong, what if i've lied, what if i've dragged you here to my own dark night? and what if i know, what if i see there is a crack run right down the front of me? what if they're right, what if they're wrong, what if i've lured you here with a siren song? but if i be wrong, if i be right let me be here with you tonight ten thousand cars, ten thousand trains there are ten thousand roads to run away and i have been wrong, i have been right i have been both these things all in the same night so if i be wrong, if i be right let me stay here with you tonight

tuvaband // unknown

fear showed me how fragile this is i seem to lean back on my heels and i want to meet you halfway but i cannot yet would you wait for me? until the unknown would you wait for me until the unknown?

axel flóvent // forest fires

i'll be there in the summer 'cause your heart isn't safe you won't go - you're not a runner so you won't run away if you could follow your heart gently there wouldn't be this mess your dreams are incredibly loud tonight you're creating forest fires i can't change your thoughts, my dear i can't change your fears but if you want i'll travel near to make it disappear

liza anne // lost

i'll be lost if i love him lost if i don't oh, it seems i'm my own worst enemy i'm doing it to myself and i can't muster up the courage to say it's best that i leave i can't muster up much of anything when i'm feeling you breathe he's the sweet of a morning kiss but there's a poison it holds sticking thorns into my spine but i won't let go sticking thorns into my sight but i keep my eyes closed i'm doing it with my own heart i won't let it mend i'm doing it to myself

billie marten // heavy weather

when the sun rises heavy, if it rises at all meet me there across the water and we'll start an endless storm rain falls in love together we walk the english winter so caught up in one another because if we're under thundershowers the rain is ours and we are lovers of heavy weather come on, lightning, try to strike us we might be frightened, but we won't run we'd be so happy if we were fearless and in the darkness, we will become rain falls in love we fall in love

[nymphlamp]

Before, Thereafter

Mission Objective: Meet Your Agent

Summary: Meeting you a second time, for the first time. Neil wrestles with an impending revelation. Reader loves a good French wine. Inspired by the Meeting Neil scene that still keeps me up at night.

Warnings: yearning (ofc), mentions of alcohol(ism), mild angst, and a single cuss🫢🤭

This story was written with a black reader in mind (anyone is of course welcome to read). 1.6k+ words. Gif credit (x).

Name: Neil_ Current Location: Clos Maggiore_ Mission Objective: Meet Your Agent_

He affords himself these little luxuries – the city square is preferable to the slower, solitary moments in his flat. Routines at the local café and bar remind him that he is in fact still alive, an anchoring thread woven into the fabric of a bustling present.

The small measure of life he pours into his glass—it helps to make the evening bearable again. Another one of the many standard perks of standard operating procedure.

On this night Neil is glassy eyed, tight-jawed and fidgety, but the live band plays a dreamy, soft jazz tune he can get lost in.

Perhaps, this is where the world ends. 

This particular restaurant has an archway that serves as a stage before the main crowd of tables and chairs. From his seat at the bar he counts fourteen strangers who enter – two blue-tie professionals, three couples, a questionable age gap and a few indistinct… something or another. His ears catch on to a sound, a laugh, practiced and familiar and sobering near the coat check.

The piano ascends into a melody of soft crescendos. You arrive to a halt beneath the archway. Neil straightens his posture, silently reciting his lines like a broken prayer.

It is a lovely sight – this daydream a quiet harmony of fabric and painted green limestone. Your dress must be made of satin, he wonders, maybe silk, and you hold the poise and sculpted elegance of an agent newly trained, high alert fresh behind your eyes.

Neil observes the way you scan the floor, counting heads, mapping exits, assessing potential weaponry, locking eyes with him from across the floor. You slow down. He hears the quick winding circuits fire, that burning upheaval that has him breaking away first (always first, it's less volatile that way) unhooks himself from the pretty lure of silk and satin back to the band.

You seem lost, he thinks, you look beautiful, something so obvious to him in the past, blaring as it stands now but, to preserve a friendship, a professional working relationship, it was best not to dwell on it. A reverence left untouched (the policy is to suppress). 

You walk across the room until you find your seat, and something rests in the soft curve of your shoulders that whispers quietly, bold and warm like aged amber oak, it seizes his attention for just a moment. He shakes his head until his thoughts compartmentalize and the mission at hand is at the forefront of his brain, until he's balanced, focused, his mind clear again.

Neil unwraps himself from the spot he’s made home for the past hour. He approaches your table. A wave of nausea hits him but he ignores it, heat searing his cheek like he’s walking into an unraveling pit of fire. 

“A meeting should be in order,” Neil’s voice is delicate. He settles into the seat opposite you, unbuttoning his suit jacket, “with a local Danish investor, should there still be room for two,” he adds. He sees lucid reflections of yesterday smeared in hues he is suddenly blind to, realizes for a moment, he can say anything – everything. Watch a temporal progression collapse to rubble before his eyes, mirrored shards of void and dust, fractured to splintered nothingness and suddenly, the end of the world seems such a trivial, breakable thing, doesn’t it? He stretches out a hand, introduces himself softly, “I’m Neil.”

Cold-cutting caution in your eyes, you state your name. Direct, succinct. “I need to reach Peder Larsen,” you assert, pulling your hand back.

Neil searches for the tiniest trace of recognition in your expression, “Reaching him once won’t be the issue. He keeps a tight inner circle.” 

You're evaluating him, “Once is all I need.” His soft blue-gray eyes make you ponder. “You're my date,” you state, more a declaration than a question.

A twitch of his mouth, doubt clouding. “Not what you expected?” Neil matches your tone, half joking, half gauging. He averts his eyes to his now-empty cup.

The music quells the silence, soft chatter and clinking glass.

“I wasn’t expecting much of anything, to be honest,” you answer. You finish your wine, a satisfied smile playing on your lips as you lean back in your chair, toying with the stem of your glass. “Understanding how any of this works…” you tilt your head to the side. Neil looks flushed, like he’s just seen a ghost. “I’m better off checking myself into an asylum.”

He chuckles then, softly, “You'll get used to it.” Proceeds with measured caution, eyes narrowed. "How are you in a hostage situation?"

"Been in plenty."

"Have you ever participated in one?" he clarifies.

"Yes,” you laugh tenderly at the question, “and I'd prefer to use my weapon as a last resort."

“Of course.” The music simmers down into a quiet high hat solo. He signals to a passing young waiter, and points to his glass. “Vodka tonic, and a bottle of Château Margaux, if available, please. Thank you.”

You lift your head up, waiting for the waiter to move out of earshot.

“Château Margaux,” you repeat, voice steady and composed, betraying none of the underlying uncertainty he hears (but he knows that cadence all too well). 

“Yes,” he confirms without missing a beat. A glint of mischief appears in his eyes, careful, provocative, waiting. He watches the conflicting curiosity burn in yours, then unease, as if you’re bracing yourself, another cheek searing, high rising, crackling flame, and Neil feels obligated to extinguish it. “What is it?” he asks calmly, his voice a soothing balm.

“Lucky guess.”

“Yes, well,” Neil decides to choose his words very, very carefully in this moment. “This restaurant has the propensity to attract a very distinct crowd of French wine enthusiasts.”

"Do I assume the appearance of a French wine enthusiast?"

"You assume the appearance of someone who enjoys good wine, yes."

You fall silent for a moment. “Well, I prefer the profile of Italian.”

A smile blooms across his lips. He shakes his head. “No, you don’t. Rhone. Rioja, maybe. But never Italian.”

“You seem to be well informed.” 

“It comes with the landscape, I’m afraid.” Neil says, adding offhandedly, "it'd be fairer to say I never did expect to become such an expert on the region of various grapes."

“What else are you an expert on?” cutting again, jarring against his desire to calm the unrest toiling behind your eyes, stop the gears from turning so incessantly.

Neil blinks, a deliberate pause before he answers.

“From the time I’ve sat down,” he begins, voice steady, “until now, you’ve conceived of several ways to incapacitate me within seconds, without causing a scene, using nothing more than the items within your arms reach.”

Neil's heart beats as if surrendering to this theoretical death, an intimate dance into the abyss of possibility. Bound by what oozes from his lips, this stickiness, this trap that has you buzzing, pulled in to the ebb and flow of every word that you regard with distinguished scrutiny.

“I could have a guess as to what you’d reach for first: the plate, a fork, the glass in your hand. But I know you know I’d anticipate an attack. You’ll counter before I have the proper time to react, anyway. ‘Less about the object, more about how you use it.’” Neil smiles. “Either way, I’m a dead man.”

The waiter returns, balancing a vodka tonic and a vintage Château Margaux in one hand and a fresh basket of bread steaming in the other.

The restaurants chatter breaks into rounds of applause over the floor. You and Neil simultaneously thank the young waiter, eyes pinned to the other with the severity of a thin blade against flesh. Neil is convinced you’d kill him right then if not for the presence of this innocent soul.

A new piano piece emerges, followed by low murmuring drums, a soft strumming bass. You sit like statues, waiting patiently as the steady stream of wine pours into your glass.

“Funny how you haven’t yet mentioned an association.” You grab your glass, take sip. Neil's eyes fall to the twist of your lips as you savor the taste.

He breezes in, “I… assure that your questions will be answered–”

“Really?” your eyes widen playfully, mockingly, tempting Neil to come closer, prove it, his arrogance cries for it.

A smile plays at his lips, he’d be lying if he said a part of him didn’t enjoy this lethal game. “Would you much rather me pull a bunny out of my hat?”

Neil see a roiling laugh that threatens. The waiter adjusts the basket of bread to the center of the table, then leaves. “Who do you work for, Neil?” you ask, venom possessing your tone like a wiry virus.

Neil shakes his head. “I can’t possibly get into that now, here.”

“Why is that?” (and there exists a version of you from his past that warns him of such venom – be tactful, Neil, patient).

“In a room full of strangers?” he asks.

“If you do have a profile on me, I don’t see the advantages of working alongside an agent I know nothing about.”

“I see plenty,” Neil says over his glass (unthinking, a misstep, a loose, unfiltered thought).

You hum, impatient and dangerous and seething. Feigned innocence when you ponder over the question, “Isn’t it less about the object?”

“I’m not the enemy,” he reminds you gently. Stops himself short from calling you anything softer or sweeter than your very own name (love, he knows not to do that, not here, not now).

“Then at the very fucking least," you say, exasperated, "tell me how we can get to Larsen.”

[ninja-muse]

Slowly chipping away at my TBR pile this month! As in I read two instead of my  usual one, and both of those last week, when I realized I’d yet to tick that goal off for the month. Plus I managed to read four things off my ARC stack and cross a few anticipated releases off my list as well! Feeling pretty good about all of that, honestly, but also a little burned out on reading. I’m hoping The River Ki will be the reset I need!

And as always, in order of how glad I am to have read them:

Passing - Nella Larsen Irene reconnects with an old friend who does as she pleases. A study of identity, belonging, and how best to be Black in America. - Black cast, Black author,  #ownvoices - warning: colourism, racism including slurs, death

Seasonal Fears - Seanan McGuire The old monarchs of the seasons have died, sparking a competition for the thrones. Melanie and Harry do not want to be part of it, and yet. - protagonist with heart condition, Latin secondary character, 🏳️‍🌈 author - warning: murder

The Grief of Stones - Katherine Addison Thara Celehar is petitioned to solve the murder of an elderly noblewoman, which leads to all manner of other dark secrets. - 🏳️‍🌈 protagonist - warning: references to child sexual abuse and abuse materials

Love in the Time of Serial Killers - Alicia Thompson Phoebe is a spiky loner writing a dissertation on true crime while packing up her father’s house. Sam, the guy next door, is really nice—but maybe that’s just what he wants people to think. - fat protagonist, 🏳️‍🌈 secondary character, Indian- and Korean-American secondary characters - warning: references to dysfunctional/abusive family dynamics, body shaming

The Sandman, Vol. 4 - Neil Gaiman with various illustrators Morpheus must return to Hell to free a woman he once imprisoned. This cannot end well. - 🏳️‍🌈 secondary characters, Black and Japanese secondary characters

The Marriage Portrait - Maggie O'Farrell At fifteen, Lucrezia is married to the Duke of Ferrara against her will. At sixteen, she dies mysteriously. This is her life. Out in September. - warning: child abuse and neglect; domestic abuse, including gaslighting, physical violence, confinement, and less-than-consensual sex

A Lady for a Duke - Alexis Hall When Viola reconnects with her best childhood friend, she finds him broken and grieving her death. Clearly she must help him back to himself, but that threatens to awaken feelings better left alone. Women like her cannot marry dukes, after all. - 🏳️‍🌈 protagonist, 🏳️‍🌈 author

The Rise and Reign of the Mammals - Steve Brusatte The evolution of mammals, from the Triassic to the present day.

The River of Silver - S.A. Chakraborty Deleted scenes and other side stories from the Daevabad Trilogy. Out in October. - Middle Eastern and Egyptian cast, Muslim author

Witchmark - C.L. Polk When a witch-in-hiding dies in his care, Miles is drawn back to the world of magic he fought hard to escape. Meanwhile, his solider patients are exhibiting disturbing and violent symptoms. - 🏳️‍🌈 protagonist, 🏳️‍🌈 love interest, Black secondary character, 🏳️‍🌈 and Black author, 🇨🇦 - warning: family annihilation, mild homophobia

Aces Wild - Amanda DeWitt Jack and his asexual friends decide to take down the casino owner who put Jack’s mom in jail. Out in September. - 🏳️‍🌈 main character, 🏳️‍🌈 secondary characters, Deaf secondary character, 🏳️‍🌈 author, #ownvoices

The Carpet People - Terry Pratchett When the force Fray destroys their village, the Munrungs must cross the Carpet to find safety. There are mouls in the hairs, though, and they’re up to something.

Tread of Angels - Rebecca Roanhorse When her sister is accused of murder, Celeste has two days to prove her innocence. Out in November. - 🏳️‍🌈 secondary characters, Black and Pueblo author - warning: racism, classism, colonialism

Mint Chocolate Murder - Meri Allen Riley’s hired to serve ice cream at a gallery opening at a local estate, only for the star photographer to be found dead in the dungeon. - major Black secondary character

Currently reading:

Rogues - Patrick Radden Keefe Long-form true crime journalism. - warning: mass shooting, plane bombing

The River Ki - Sawako Ariyoshi with Mildred Tahara (Translator)    The lives of three women living along a Japanese river during the first half of the 20th century. - Japanese cast, Japanese author, #ownvoices

The Penguin Complete Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle Victorian detective stories - major disabled character

 - warning: colonialism, racism

Stats


Monthly total: 14
 Yearly total: 104 + 1
 Queer books: 4
 Authors of colour: 3 
Books by women: 9 
Canadian authors: 1
 Off the TBR shelves: 2 
DNFs: 0

January February March April May June July

[ireadyabooks]

Spring your Shelves into Warmer Weather! 📚

See ya, winter! ✌️ Bring on the beach reads. 

We’ve pulled together some page-turning book recs, perfect for the beach, plane, or staycation all spring long!🌷🌻🌼

This Time It’s Real by Ann Liang 

When seventeen-year-old Eliza Lin’s essay about meeting the love of her life unexpectedly goes viral, her entire life changes overnight. Desperate to hide the truth, Eliza strikes a deal with the famous actor in her class, the charming but aloof Caz Song. She’ll help him write his college applications if he poses as her boyfriend. Caz is a dream boyfriend. But when her relationship with Caz starts feeling a little too convincing, all of Eliza’s carefully laid plans are threatened. Can she still follow her dreams if it means breaking her own heart?

Rosewood by Sayantani DasGupta

Eila Das is used to following her head, rather than her heart. When she meets Rahul at Rosewood, a summer camp where campers are being scouted for the hit Bridgerton-like TV show, she experiences…feelings. Between the drama of the show and the drama of the camp, Eila will have to keep her wits about her to make it through the summer. But when she has to choose between her head and her heart, what will she do?

The Half-Life of Love by Brianna Bourne

Flint Larsen has known exactly when he’s going to die since he was eight years old and half-lifed, a small twinge that tells a person when they’ve lived half their life. He plans to spend his final days back in his hometown with his parents, quietly waiting to die. But then he meets September Harrington, an utter explosion of brilliance and fun, and all his plans fly out the window. September has dedicated herself to curing the half-life, landing a coveted internship at the world-renowned Half-Life Institute. When their worlds collide, it feels like the start of an epic, once-in-a-lifetime love. Only Flint can’t bring himself to tell September he’s dying, and September’s keeping secrets too. 

The Feeling of Falling in Love by Mason Deaver 

Just days before spring break, Neil Kearney is set to fly across the country with his childhood friend (and current friend-with-benefits) Josh, to attend his brother's wedding—until Josh tells Neil that he's in love with him and Neil doesn't return the sentiment. With Josh still attending the wedding, Neil needs to find a new date to bring along. And, almost against his will, roommate Wyatt is drafted.At first, Wyatt (correctly) thinks Neil is acting like a jerk. But when they get to LA, Wyatt sees a little more of where it's coming from. Slowly, Neil and Wyatt begin to understand one another… and maybe, just maybe, fall in love for the first time…

A Girl’s Guide to Love & Magic by Debbie Rigaud

Cicely Destin lives for the West Indian Day Parade, the joyous celebration of Caribbean culture that takes over the streets of her neighborhood. She’ll get to hang with her stylish aunt, an influencer known for dabbling in Haitian Vodou.And maybe spot her dreamy crush, Kwame, in the crowd. But fate has other ideas. Before the parade, a rogue, mischievous spirit seems to take possession of Cicely's aunt during a spiritual reading. Cicely hardly knows anything about Vodou, or how to get someone un-possessed. But it’s up to her to set things right--and the clock is ticking. She'll have to enlist the help of her quick-thinking best friend, Renee, and, as luck would have it...Kwame.

[hiya-im-mary]

There Is No Post

Please Listen To This Song:

[longliverockback]

George Harrison Somewhere in England 2004 EMI ————————————————— Tracks: 01. Blood from a Clone 02. Unconsciousness Rules 03. Life Itself 04. All Those Years Ago 05. Baltimore Oriole 06. Teardrops 07. That Which I Have Lost 08. Writing’s on the Wall 09. Hong Kong Blues 10. Save the World 11. Save the World [demo] —————————————————

Gary Brooker

Ray Cooper

Herbie Flowers

George Harrison

Jim Keltner

Al Kooper

Neil Larsen

Dave Mattacks

Mike Moran

Ringo Starr

Willie Weeks

* Long Live Rock Archive

[mayzi33]

TMM FANDOM

You know how each of the misfits (well, except for Olly and Izzy ig-) represent one playing cards' suits?

In case you don't know, Carter is Diamonds, Leila is Clubs, Theo is Hearts, and Ridley is Spades. Each of their books not only have these suits in their covers, but those symbols also appear at some point in each of their stories.

So- I'm not sure if everyone knows that already, but I did some researsh on those symbols, and apparently they all represent MANY different things, and most of them fit each of the misfits! So here's a RESUME of some stuff I found:

♢ Carter - Diamonds ♢

The Diamonds suit (also called: Gold, Star or Coin in different places) represents the element of earth. Back in middle ages, this symbol used to represent the Clergy. So, it is often associated with wealth, jewels and business.

Overall, Diamonds suit represents effort, realism, result of action. In someone's personality, it describes the person as sensitive, realistic, operative and enduring. However, it can have both a bright side and dark side to it.

Bright side: "The Good Parent". Protective, kind, strong, caring, that forgives and offers protection.

Dark side: "The Step Parent". Strict, possesive, seductive, destructive, that prevents any development.

♧ Leila - Clubs ♧

The Clubs suit (also called stick, wand, clover) represents the element of fire. In the midddle ages, it represented the peasants. Being associated with hard work, humility and spirit.

Clubs usually represent willpower, inspiration and enthusiasm. In terms of personality, it also has a bright and a dark side.

Bright side: "The Hero". Dynamic, self confident, brave, independent, willing to take risks.

Dark side: "The Mercenary". Brutal, hunter, insentive, power-hungry, that enjoys to influence and put people down.

♡ Theo - Hearts ♡

The Hearts suit ( Cups, amphora) represents the element of water. In the middle ages, it would represent the bourgeoisie. Being associated with art, creation and divinity.

Hearts represent emotion, love and ideas. Again, bright and dark sides.

Bright side: "The Prophet". Sentimental, wise, inspiring, the warm assistant in life.

Dark side: "The Doormat". Seducible, vain, fanatical, prossesed by the thrist of power.

♤ Ridley - Spades ♤

Last but not least, the Spades suit (gladius, axe, spear) represents the element of air. In middle ages, it represented the military. Being associated with intelligence, power and action.

Spades represent maturity, balance and strenght. Once again, bright and dark side.

Bright side: "The Intelectual". Pratical, shrewd, rational, the one that enchants.

Dark side: "The Pretentious". Cold, ruthless, cynical, the eternal adolescent.

Now, I don't know about you guys, but I think all of these fit the misfits really well. I'm not gonna elaborate so the text won't get too long, but if you have any questions on why I think so I'd be happy to discuss it!!

Neil Patrick really doesn't miss a single opportunity for detail. I bet he also did a research before adding those suits to the misfits' stories knowing that they fit them so well. Just another proof of how much of a well written and well thought story The Magic Misfits is!

[pikablob]

Question for the Magic Misfits fandom:

I’ve seen some stuff about Ridley lately, so I wanted to ask (and I hope it’s okay to) - do y’all headcanon she was born with her disability, or that she used to be able to walk and lost the ability due to something in her past (an accident, illness, etc). As far as I know canon gives 0 indication, as all she says is not to ask (which could indicate that there’s a history there… or that she’s just sick of people asking, which I for one think would be completely valid). So, what do y’all think?