#slate-book-review

[just-late-roman-republic-things]

Review: Cleopatra, Daughter of the Nile by Kristiana Gregory.

I won't claim that this is a good book, but it is one that I, personally, enjoyed.

It's a year in the life of Cleopatra as a preteen, and was aimed at preteen girls who read a lot way back in the 1990s. So this is a very sympathetic, somewhat nerdy Cleo who's just trying to survive while her older sisters jockey for power and her father struggles with alcoholism, all in the shadow of the Romans threatening to annex Egypt for themselves.

I liked the prose, even when I reread it as an adult. I like the worldbuilding and characterization, and a lot of the passages are still very moving to me. The plot is a bit thin, and Cleopatra doesn't exert much influence on the conclusion, but I found the rest of it good enough to forgive. Again, this is aimed at 10-12 year-olds.

There's just one problem with the book. One little paragraph. Teenage Cleopatra shares a romantic kiss with Mark Antony, who's in his 20s. It wasn't unusual for the time period, and nothing further happens, but I'd still expect the narrative to point out how weird this is in some way, and it doesn't.

Yeah...

Now, I don't believe books always need to explicitly state Bad Things Are Bad. I find that patronizing. Baby jlrrt understood that scene was just a cute fantasy for the sort of girl who gets a crush on her math teacher, the kind you never act on, but it's fun to daydream. I think most preteens would understand that, too.

But I also know that if I were a parent, I'd want to know about that scene before letting my kid read this, and I'd want to talk to my kid about it afterward. I'd ask them what they thought of the book, whether they thought the kiss was appropriate, and how they might distinguish safe dating partners from dangerous people. It could be a good opportunity for them to build their media literacy skills, and to learn about healthy relationships.

Some people will say "It's just fiction, fiction has no effect on reality." Others would say a book like this shouldn't exist because it could be a bad influence. Personally, I don't fall into either of those camps.

I think people who worry about kids getting abused should spend more time listening to kids, showing interest in their hobbies, and encouraging their critical thinking skills and boundaries. The most effective way to prevent child abuse isn't to ban depictions of it, but to give kids safe, supportive adults they can reach out to. Adults who treat kids' opinions and boundaries with respect, so the kids can learn to recognize people who don't respect them. And media like Cleopatra: Daughter of the Nile can be a safe way to bring up these topics, so the kids can recognize and avoid dangerous people in real life. Be thoughtful about it, is what I'm saying.

Anyway, that's just what I think about giving this book to kids. If you're mature enough to read this essay, and you want to read the book for yourself, go wild. The one weird passage here is nothing compared to Huckleberry Finn, Lolita, or hell, all the age-imbalanced relationships in Masters of Rome.

[amphiptere]

no offence to the trope at large but I find that the vast majority of the time stories have unnamed main characters, it would change absolutely nothing if they did have a name, so it feels sort of pointless.

[happytheunhappyflower]

BOOK REVIEW

SPOILER WARNING

Author: Emma Slate

Title: Wreck and Ruin

Series: Blue Angels MC

Chapter #: 32

Spice: 🌶🌶🌶/5

Humor: 🪅🪅🪅/5

Quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Comments:

This book was what I like to call a well rounded book.

Everything just toed together with a bow and didn't leave me unsatisfied.

Not on KU, but it wasn't to expensive. Go read it and see what you think.

[esonetwork]

'Vampire Seige At Rio Muerto' Book Review By Ron Fortier

New Post has been published on http://esonetwork.com/vampire-seige-at-rio-muerto-book-review-by-ron-fortier/

'Vampire Seige At Rio Muerto' Book Review By Ron Fortier

VAMPIRE SEIGE AT RIO MUERTO By John M. Whalen Flying W. Press Available at Amazon 230 pgs

When New Mexican rancher, Don Pedro Sanchez’s only daughter is turned into one of the undead by an outlaw vampire named Kord Manion, he’s forced to end her existence by driving a stake through her heart. His anger is unabetted, he then hires monster hunter Mordecai Slate to find Kord Manion, capture him, and bring him back. A twisted obsession consumes Don to punish the vampire with his own two hands.

Because of the generous offer of gold, Slate reluctantly takes the job; though he’s never had to bring back one of his prey back alive. It is a cause for concern. Ultimately he finds the outlaw’s hideaway in a small Mexican village. They then manage to kidnap Kord from older brother Dax Manion, who leads a crew of seven vampire riders. Locking Kord half unconscious in a chained coffin in the back of his wagon, Slate then starts his long desperate journey back to Don Pedro’s hacienda.

Along the way, he crosses paths with a lovely young woman and while helping her escape three Mexican outlaws, is wounded. Half unconscious from the loss of blood, Slate and Marie, the girl, detour to the nearly deserted town of Rio Muerto where they hope to find a doctor and refuge. Slate is all too aware his time is running out. He knows Dax Manion and his posse are hot on his trail.

“Vampire Siege at Rio Muerto” is a fast-paced, action-weird western thriller that never lets up for a second. Whalen is deft at creating iconic Western figures as if they had just stepped out of a 1950s black-and-white movie. By adding the horror element, he weaves a wonderfully original pulp adventure that is a joy from the first page to the last. The result is a truly great read.

[femalebookworm]

A friend shared a photo of a book she was reading and as she paraphrased it all in one sentence, I was like ok, I’ll put it on my TBR list. I particularly couldn’t understand the wording on the book itself, but friend was adamant of it being beautifully written and all I needed was a few chapters and I would kumbaya it soon enough. And so, I did it under the cover of darkness, said download. Not proud. But it was during the pandemic on my early symptoms day of Covid, and with being bed bound and not being able to breathe I forgot about it. And as you know, I’m sort of back and it was the next on my downloaded books on Kindle.

I did the impossible too, and read some of the reviews. Not gonna lie, I was afraid to not get any of what it was being said. I was warned of how different the style of writing was… so, let’s go. Also, kudos that I managed to finish reading this book before November ended. Oops

Anyway, I took 5ever to fall into a place of enjoyment. Jenny Slate’s way of writing ain’t my thing. I wonder how long it took her to write this, cause some chapters were quite easy to follow her train of thought but others left me so confused I didn’t know if I put the kindle down or simply pushed through. I managed to agree with a few of her takes, I managed to feel sorry for her, I managed to cheer for her growth. I managed to read a chapter and say, “WTF, woman?”, I managed to read a chapter and shake my head yes, keep going. And then I managed to read chapters where I couldn’t possibly connect with the words on e-paper. I tried. I even read it twice. Some chapters were only a few paragraphs, like this review. Others were bigger. Others were only 10 words, and nothing more.

I am happy to have seen growth. I love when people connect within and ditch the old and embrace the new, and do it like a caterpillar to butterfly transformation. I do not know Jenny Slate. I have only watched “her” on Zootopia (apparently) and my all-time favorite: “Secret Life of Pets”. That dog (yes, HER character) has always been my favorite from those two movies. Least, was the bunny (thank you to IMDB for helping me place the voice to the person; and I’m genuinely surprised — she was not what I was expecting!).

I hope this “review” helps you; but it’s not a book for everyone, I particularly, and personally, dislike autobiographies (as you know, or not), so… it was interesting. In my eyes, this book could’ve been shorter and more straight to the point, IF it were fiction. More fluid. It felt like she stopped writing for a while, then came back inspired, then fell into a whole, went away again, whole and then inspiration again… if you like this sort of rollercoaster, this is a book for you. Reminder: autobiography-type. If it ain’t your groove, don’t move.

(Sorry for any typos, on a phone)

[sandythereadingcafe]

#REVIEW TOUR:

KNOT FOR A MOMENT (Slate Omegaverse 1-3) by @DevynSinclair at The Reading Cafe:

'Adding this author to my favourite author list now '

http://www.thereadingcafe.com/knot-for-a-moment-slate-omegaverseby-devyn-sinclair-review-tour/

[lilibetbombshell]

[o-the-mts]

Book Review: Little Weirds by Jenny Slate

Author: Jenny Slate Title: Little Weirds Narrator: Jenny Slate Publication Info: Hachette Audio, 2019  Summary/Review: I’m familiar with Jenny Slate mainly as the creator and voice of Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.  I also tend to conflate her with Jenny Lawson (after reading this, I think the two Jennys would get along).  So that was my knowledge heading into reading this autobiographical…

[rosaurasaurio]

A better literary culture would be one that’s not so dependent on personal esteem and mutual reinforcement. It would not treat offense or disagreement as toxic. We wouldn’t want so badly to be liked above all. We’d tolerate barbed reviews, some quarrels, and blistering critiques, because they make our culture more interesting and because they are often more sincere reflections of our passions.

Against Enthusiasm. The epidemic of niceness in online book culture. By Jacob Silverman. Slate, August 2012.

[heavenlyyshecomes]

misc readings

On books and reading!

Reading insecurity, katy waldman, slate

The deep space of digital reading, paul la farge, nautilus

The curse of reading and forgetting, ian crouch, new yorker

Why read the classics, italo calvino (pdf)

How reading is like love: italo calvino on the ecstasy of surrendering to other dimensions of experience, the marginalian

Just read the book already, lauren miller, slate

Treasure the books no one else seems to love, molly templeton, tor

Papyralysis, jacob mikanowski, los angeles review of books

How to nurture a personal library, freya howarth, psyche

Brief notes on the art and manner of arranging one's books, georges perec

If I don't remember what I read, did I read it at all? molly templeton, tor

Never do that to a book, anne fadiman, slate

Mary oliver on how reading saved her life and the greatest antidote to sorrow, the marginalian

On the pleasures and solitudes of quiet books, emily st. john mandel, the millions

Being a better online reader, maria konnikova, new yorker

How 11 writers organize their personal libraries, emily temple, literary hub

How many errorrs are in this essay? ed simon, the millions

Adrienne rich on resistance, the liberating power of storytelling, and how reading emancipates, the marginalian

How we read series, wired

Fiction detective: on literary citation and search engine sleuthing, sophie haigney, the drift

our autofiction fixation, jessica winter, the new york times

[wilbursoot-updates]

Review: In Tampa, Bleachers, Lovejoy, more expand cult followings at 97X NBT

Wilbur is mentioned in this article!

It’s a harsh reality to face, but even when you’re on your way to the top, it’s hard to convince peers and casual followers to check out your side projects and alternate passions. How many “Stranger Things” fans knew that Finn Wolfhard once fronted indie-rock quartet Calpurnia, or that Gaten Matarazzo portrayed Gavroche in "Les Miserables" on Broadway for a time?

Then you look into less mainstream figures with a cult following. You know, people like Wilbur Soot.

The 27-year-old Lovejoy frontman started as a YouTuber who heavily indulged in playing Minecraft. He put Lovejoy together in 2021, and did a debut U.S. tour—which skipped over Florida—earlier this year. But naturally, 97X—Tampa Bay’s largest alternative rock radio station—booked the boys to play a slot at its 22nd annual Next Big Thing, and surprisingly, on a bill that also included The Black Keys, Lovejoy’s presence was the talk of the entire day.

After NBT repeat offender MisterWives got through an uplifting, hour-long set (which opened with an onstage proposal), filled with lyrics of self-love and a keyboardist rocking a kilt, fans could see Wilbur Soot and company heading over from where the tour buses were parked backstage, and went crazy before any introductions could be made.

While MisterWives was onstage doing a final soundcheck before its set, Lovejoy took a few minutes to be interviewed by Radio Sam, and moments later, fans emptied a pretty good chunk of the bandshell, just to get an obstructed view of Soot hanging out on the balcony, waving to fans as if he were the King of England.

Once Lovejoy’s set finally rolled around at 5:15 p.m., the screams were so piercing that I thought we’d be unable to hear most of its set. Soot, wielding a white Fender Telecaster led the band into “Call Me What You Like.”

“This just in, Clearwater: I am a fucking dumbass,” Soot wailed, lamenting the paranoia that will linger for the rest of his life. But paranoia wasn’t a word in Soot’s vocabulary in terms of his experiences in Florida. He would compliment the glowing styrofoam “tubes” in the crowd, our warm-but-bearable December climate—compared to England’s weather conditions—and the mostly friendly interactions he has had with people while in town.

“I was in a Publix yesterday,” he recalled. Soot was in the process of retrieving a sugar cookie, when the bakery employee behind the counter flat-out told him that his British accent was weird.

“I was just like ‘sorry!’” he giggled. He’d lightly punch himself in the face during “Concrete,” keyboardist Alan Osmundson would switch to trumpet on a handful of tracks (“Sex Sells”), and “Portrait of a Blank Slate” made a smooth segue into set closer “The Fall.”

[breelandwalker]

Witchcraft Exercise - Spring Cleaning

There’s a marked tradition of cleaning and airing out the house in the springtime when the weather warms. As you’re dusting and tidying and getting rid of winter stagnation, take some time to do the same with your craft.

Clean and organize your workspace. If you have an altar space or a shelf where you keep bottles and jars and the like, remove everything from the surface and give it a good dusting. Take the opportunity to rearrange things or swap out pieces if it suits you. If you have ritual tools that don’t often get cleaned, check them for signs or rust or wear and give them a bit of love. Repair things that need fixing, if you can. If you have an iron cauldron that you use for fire magic, get a wire brush or some steel wool and gently remove any burnt residue left inside.

Sort through your supplies. If you have lots of candles and crystals and small items laying about, consider getting some small totes or craft organizers to keep things tidy. Divided storage boxes for beads or scrapbooking supplies are great for small items, and shoebox-sized caddies are perfect for taper, chime, and votive candles. Organizing things will make your space easier to navigate and also gives you a proper idea of what you have on hand. Which might help you resist impulse purchases the next time you’re out shopping for witchcraft supplies. While you’re tidying, be sure to discard any rubbish, candle stubs, wax blobs, herb scraps, bits of string, incense bases, and so forth that might be cluttering up the place. 

Discard things that are too old or worn to be useful. Dried plants and seasonings can usually be kept for 1-3 years if they remain in sealed containers. If they have no scent anymore or smell musty or mildewy, discard them and sanitize the container. If you’re using supermarket spices, you can use the expiration date on the container as a guide. Powdered material will likely last longer than whole herbs or cut-and-sifted material. One helpful tip is to put a purchase date on packets or bags of herbs when you buy them, or to put a little date sticker on your jars of herbs when you refill them. (Anyone who’s worked in food service will probably be familiar with the concept of container dating or day-dotting.)

If you make oils or tinctures or suchlike in your practice, check on these as well. Make sure nothing has gone off or lost its’ potency. Day-dotting your potion containers will help with this as well. A simple sticker with the name of the brew and the date it was bottled will help you keep track of your supplies and know when something needs to be tossed and replaced. (You can also print labels with the ingredients and purpose of the brew if you’re feeling super organized.)

Reorganize your books and resources. Review what's there and see if there are any materials that need to be weeded out, donated, or discarded. Remember that as you grow and progress, some things will become obsolete or may show themselves to be unhelpful or inaccurate. It's okay to remove things from your resource library that no longer serve you if you want to make some space on the shelves.

You can also cleanse your workspace and/or components while you’re tidying if you wish. It doesn’t have to be a full clean-slate-everything-must-go cleansing, but it can be helpful to just clear out stagnation or bring in some freshness and vitality.

Happy Witching! 🧼

Want more witchcraft exercises? Check out the masterpost here and visit my shop for spell kits, books, magical powders, and more!

(If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar, tune in to my monthly show Hex Positive on your favorite podcast app, or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊)

[septembercfawkes]

Sorry everyone, but this story is too entertaining not to share. As you all know, I work in the writing world. And as some of you know, I’m also a major Trigun fan. Well, last month, a Trigun fan twitter account, Bigolas Wolfwood, posted that everyone needed to immediately read the novella “This is How You Lose the Time War” by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. The fandom responded and Time War hit #3 on Amazon overall, leaving the authors speechless.

“I do not understand what is happening but I am incomprehensibly grateful,” Amal responded. “(Also, maybe I should get into a Trigun?)”

Simon & Schuster’s marketing reached out to Bigolas Wolfwood. The producer of Trigun bought and read Time War. And one of the authors’ literary agents decided to watch Trigun. Slate, Tor, TechCrunch and other outlets started writing articles about Bigolas, Trigun,& Time War.

Amal and Max decided to send a signed first edition of Time War to Bigolas. People in the writing community started sharing memes about “praying to Vash” (Trigun’s protagonist) for literary success. “Bigolas” started trending on Twitter. And despite living in two different countries, Amal and Max decided they would actually watch Trigun together, and livestream it.

The Trigun fandom has turned out to be better at selling books than the Nebula and Hugo awards combined (which Time War previously won). “Trigun” started trending under “Finance & Business.” And Bigolas Wolfwood started getting interviews. There was a reprinting of Time War, with Bigolas’ review on the front of it, complete with his Trigun profile pic.

While this was all happening, a reboot of Trigun just finished airing, and a lot of Trigun fans have been upset that the original manga has been out of print for years and are impossible to find (some copies are literally listed for over $100 on eBay—so glad I already have them 😆) When Bigolas was interviewed by Insider, he took the opportunity to beg everyone to read them. He and Insider reached out to Dark Horse (the Trigun’s publisher) about a possible reprinting. Dark Horse responded and said they would have some exciting news for Trigun fans very soon. Everyone rejoiced.

In short, the internet is a strange place! But I’m laughing at these two worlds colliding.

Check out more here: https://www.tumblr.com/cadriona/717078639230025728/cadriona-exsequar-kittydesade-leebrontide

Thank goodness I already have a Trigun setup near my writing desk. Maybe the literary gods will smile on me. I’d share a pic, but I’m out of town today.

[transingthoseformers]

A cursed thought occurred to me: if you combine rodiclash and megarod it maps ridiculously well to a YA novel love triangle

You know those "if Netflix adapted this, here's how it would suck" aus? It's extremely funny for me to think about how this would go if it was a standard YA fantasy trilogy

Rodimus is the "strong female character" YA protagonist that gets called annoying in critical reviews for having personality traits, while simultaneously being criticized as a mary sue blank slate with no personality

Thunderclash is the objectively nicer but "boring" love interest with less screen time, who either gets quietly written out or suddenly has his personality jerked around in the second book so that people like him less

Megatron is the dark and brooding love interest that's clearly a dick in the first book but is obviously the author's favorite, so he gets a tragic backstory and more character development than everyone else in the series

(If it was an anime, Drift would be the same-gender best friend character that a small subset of fans argue had more chemistry with Rodimus than either of the love interests)

Omg nooo (yess)

It's such a parody piece idea

I feel like it should be an anime just for the sake of the teased Driftrod plotline (what would The Fans think of Dratchet?)

Rodimus should be the unreliable narrator too, I don't usually read first person fics but this feels like an amazing time for it

I have quite literally never read the aus you're talking about, but I get the vibe here