#very joan of arc esque very fun.

[melancholiaenthroned]

best part of nimona is them unwhiting those guys worst part is them removing the timeskip. where is the timeskip what happened i though you guys loved timeskips. and breakups and betrayals and letting wounds fester i though you guys loved festering wounds. and men with long hair. im am glad they arent white anymore though i just saw their book designs again and got jumpscared

[alexsfictionaddiction]

Alex Recommends: July Books

Ok, first things first -I am delighted to announce that as of October, I will be a postgraduate student of Information and Library Studies. I am really excited about where this new adventure is going to take me and I’m hoping that it will lead to a career for the rest of my life. This has come after months of inquiries and work experience, so I’m delighted that it has finally paid off!

In July, I went on my first ever hen do. That’s a bachlorette party to American readers! Next month, I will be a bridesmaid at the wedding of two of my best friends and I can’t wait for that. It was really lovely to spend time with my closest girlfriends and celebrate moving into a new phase in our lives. Sometimes, I forget that we’re in our 30s now and that the next few years will almost certainly bring some big changes. It’s a strange time!

It is getting insanely hot here in the UK. We’ve had a few scorching days recently, including a day where it reached 40 degrees Celcius, which I believe was the hottest day ever here. I have to remind readers who don’t live here that in the UK, air-conditioning isn’t everywhere. Our houses and buildings are built to hold in heat rather than keep us cool. So, you can imagine how unbearable it was for us to have to endure such high temperatures. I think we are due some more warm days in August too but I’m really hoping it doesn’t reach that level again. 

In the mean time, I’ve been reading a lot of excellent books that I have to share with you. There is a great mix this month, so I’m pretty sure that you’ll find something to devour!

-Love, Alex x

FICTION: Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola.

Kiki Banjo hosts the popular student radio show Brown Sugar at Whitewell University. She avoids relationships and does her best to make sure that the African-Caribbean women of her university don’t fall for the campus players. Enter Malakai Korede, who Kiki kisses to get rid of her own situationship but then sees listening figures for Brown Sugar nosedive. To get her listenership back up in time to apply for a fantastic professional opportunity and to rescue her reputation, Kiki begins a fake relationship with Malakai, who definitely won’t steal her heart. Kiki and Malakai are very easy to root for and I loved that female friendship and taking down the patriarchy reigns supreme in this cute, heartwarming rom-com. I really appreciated the glimpse into the world of Black creatives and the struggles they face, as this felt very authentic. A really fun, easy read!

HISTORICAL FICTION: Joan by Katherine J. Chen.

In 1412, France is rapidly losing its war with England. The king has vanished and the country’s hopes lay at the feet of a teenage girl, hell-bent on victory and peace. Joan is an epic story of resilience and unimaginable strength. I knew little about Joan of Arc before reading this captivating novel but I now know that she was a woman that everyone can aspire to emulate. It’s a truly heartbreaking tale but the stroke of hope at its end reminded me that the even the darkest times eventually pass.

MIDDLE-GRADE: The Double Trouble Society by Carrie Hope Fletcher.

Maggie and Ivy have been best friends their whole lives and they’re always looking for adventure. Crowood Peak has a dark history of missing children and it’s apparently happening again. The strange thing is that the adults don’t seem to notice. Hokum House has long been empty but now, it appears to have someone living there. Someone who looks a bit witchy. Could she be the key to discovering the truth about the missing children? This whimsical, magical story is so cute and thoroughly engaging. With themes of sisterhood, found family, empowerment and love conquering all, The Double Trouble Society is wonderfully cinematic. I can see it being an adorable Halloween-esque animation! Perfect for fans of Robin Stevens’ Wells & Wong series but with a healthy dose of witchiness!

FANTASY: Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson.

As young girls, Helena, Elle, Leonie and Niamh joined HMRC, a secret government department founded by Queen Elizabeth I. Decades later, Helena is High Priestess of the coven but the others have left the outdated organisation behind. Now a powerful warlock has been captured by authorities and causes a huge problem for Helena. Can the four witches come together to do what’s right? Or will tradition be more important? This heart-rending, unique witch book explores transphobia and sisterhood. There are some great characterisations, dealing with themes of bigotry, acceptance and fighting for what’s right. It leaves us on a huge cliffhanger too, so I can’t wait for the next instalment!

THRILLER: The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell.

Human remains have been found on the banks of the Thames and DI Samuel Owusu finds that the bones are linked to a cold case from 30 years before. Lucy Lamb fled London years ago but now she’s finally back with her children. However, her brother has taken off in search of the boy who was so prevalant in their past. Rachel Rimmer has just heard that her husband Michael has been found dead in his house in France and the police have some questions for her. As these mysteries unravel, it becomes apparent that they share some intricate connections. Following on from The Family Upstairs (yes, you do need to read that one first!), The Family Remains is a complex family drama with a lot of moving parts. There are some fascinating characters embroiled in themes of conspiracy and revenge with a very satisfying ending.

[faraway-wanderer]

BOOKS BY ASIAN AUTHORS MASTERLIST #stopasianhate

In light of recent events and the growing anti- Asian hate in the US and UK over the course of the pandemic I wanted to put together a masterlist of books by Asian authors. Obviously, it’s not extensive and there are HUNDREDS out there, but supporting art by Asian creators is a way of showing support; read their stories, educate ourselves. It goes without saying that we should all be putting effort into reading stories of POC and by POC because even through fiction we’re learning about different cultures, countries and heritages. So here’s some books to start with by Asian authors!

Here is a link also for resources to educate and petitions to sign (especially if you don’t read haha). It’s important that we educate ourselves and uplift Asian voices right now. Your anti-racism has to include every minority that faces it.

https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/

for UK peeps, this is a good read: We may not hear about the anti Asian racism happening here, but it is definitely happening. https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/culture-news/a35692226/its-time-we-stopped-downplaying-the-uks-anti-asian-racism/

 THE BOOKS:

·         War Cross- Marie Lu ( the worldbuilding in this is IMMENSE.)

For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. 

·         Star Daughter- Shveta Thakrar

A beautiful story about a girl who is half human and half star, and she must go to the celestial court to try to save her father after he has fallen ill. And before she knows it, she is taking part in a magical competition that she must win!

·         These Violent Delights- Chloe Gong (I told my little sister to read this book yesterday bc she has a thing for a Leo as Romeo- so if you want deadly good looking Romeos, badass Juliet’s and to learn about 1920s Shanghai- this is for you.)

The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery. A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. A Romeo and Juliet retelling.

·         The Poppy War- R.F Kuang (My fave fantasy series just fyi- it’s soul crushing in the best way. Rebecca Kuang is a god of an author).

A brilliantly imaginative talent makes her exciting debut with this epic historical military fantasy, inspired by the bloody history of China’s twentieth century and filled with treachery and magic, in the tradition of Ken Liu’s Grace of Kings and N.K. Jemisin’s Inheritance Trilogy.

·         Loveboat Taipei-  Abigail Hing Wen  (Really heartwarming and insightful!)

When eighteen-year-old Ever Wong’s parents send her from Ohio to Taiwan to study Mandarin for the summer, she finds herself thrust among the very over-achieving kids her parents have always wanted her to be, including Rick Woo, the Yale-bound prodigy profiled in the Chinese newspapers since they were nine—and her parents’ yardstick for her never-measuring-up life.

·         Sorcerer to the Crown- Zen Cho (if anyone is looking for another Howl’s Moving Castle, look no further than this book)

At his wit’s end, Zacharias Wythe, freed slave, eminently proficient magician, and Sorcerer Royal of the Unnatural Philosophers—one of the most respected organizations throughout all of Britain—ventures to the border of Fairyland to discover why England’s magical stocks are drying up.

·         Emergency Contact- Mary H.K. Choi (very wholesome and fun rom-com!)

For Penny Lee high school was a total nonevent. When she heads to college in Austin, Texas, to learn how to become a writer, it’s seventy-nine miles and a zillion light years away from everything she can’t wait to leave behind.

 ·         Jade City- Fonda Lee (I am reading this currently and can I just say- I think everyone who loves fantasy and blood feuds in a story should read this.)

JADE CITY is a gripping Godfather-esque saga of intergenerational blood feuds, vicious politics, magic, and kungfu. The Kaul family is one of two crime syndicates that control the island of Kekon. It's the only place in the world that produces rare magical jade, which grants those with the right training and heritage superhuman abilities.

 ·         A Pho Love Story- Loan Le

When Dimple Met Rishi meets Ugly Delicious in this funny, smart romantic comedy, in which two Vietnamese-American teens fall in love and must navigate their newfound relationship amid their families’ age-old feud about their competing, neighbouring restaurants.

·         Rebelwing- Andrea Tang

Business is booming for Prudence Wu. A black-market-media smuggler and scholarship student at the prestigious New Columbia Preparatory Academy, Pru is lucky to live in the Barricade Coalition where she is free to study, read, watch, and listen to whatever she wants.

·         Wings of the Locust- Joel Donato Ching Jacob

Tuan escapes his mundane and mediocre existence when he is apprenticed to Muhen, a charming barangay wiseman. But, as he delves deeper into the craft of a mambabarang and its applications in espionage, sabotage and assassination, the young apprentice is overcome by conflicting emotions that cause him to question his new life.

 ·         The Travelling Cat Chronicles- Hiro Arikawa

Sometimes you have to leave behind everything you know to find the place you truly belong...

Nana the cat is on a road trip. He is not sure where he's going or why, but it means that he gets to sit in the front seat of a silver van with his beloved owner, Satoru. 

 ·         Super Fake Love Song- David Yoon

From the bestselling author of Frankly in Love comes a contemporary YA rom-com where a case of mistaken identity kicks off a string of (fake) events that just may lead to (real) love.

  ·         Parachutes- Kelly Yang

Speak enters the world of Gossip Girl in this modern immigrant story from New York Times bestselling author Kelly Yang about two girls navigating wealth, power, friendship, and trauma.

·         The Grace of Kings- Ken Liu ( One of the Time 100 Best Fantasy Books Of All Time!)

Two men rebel together against tyranny—and then become rivals—in this first sweeping book of an epic fantasy series from Ken Liu, recipient of Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy awards.

·         Wicked Fox- Kat Cho

A fresh and addictive fantasy-romance set in modern-day Seoul.

 ·         Descendant of the Crane- Joan He

In this shimmering Chinese-inspired fantasy, debut author Joan He introduces a determined and vulnerable young heroine struggling to do right in a world brimming with deception.

 ·         Pachinko- Min Jin Lee

Richly told and profoundly moving, Pachinko is a story of love, sacrifice, ambition, and loyalty. From bustling street markets to the halls of Japan's finest universities to the pachinko parlors of the criminal underworld, Lee's complex and passionate characters--strong, stubborn women, devoted sisters and sons, fathers shaken by moral crisis--survive and thrive against the indifferent arc of history.

·         America is in the Heart- Carlos Bulosan

First published in 1946, this autobiography of the well known Filipino poet describes his boyhood in the Philippines, his voyage to America, and his years of hardship and despair as an itinerant laborer following the harvest trail in the rural West.

 ·         Days of Distraction- Alexandra Chang

A wry, tender portrait of a young woman — finally free to decide her own path, but unsure if she knows herself well enough to choose wisely—from a captivating new literary voice.

·         The Astonishing Colour of After Emily X.R Pan

Alternating between real and magic, past and present, friendship and romance, hope and despair, The Astonishing Color of After is a novel about finding oneself through family history, art, grief, and love. 

·         The Gilded Wolves- Roshani Chokshi

It's 1889. The city is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. Here, no one keeps tabs on dark truths better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. When the elite, ever-powerful Order of Babel coerces him to help them on a mission, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance.

·         When Dimple met Rishi- Sandhya Menon

Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways.

·         On Earth we’re briefly Gorgeous- Ocean Vuong

Poet Ocean Vuong's debut novel is a shattering portrait of a family, a first love, and the redemptive power of storytelling.

·         Fierce Fairytales- Nikita Gill

Complete with beautifully hand-drawn illustrations by Gill herself, Fierce Fairytales is an empowering collection of poems and stories for a new generation.

 BOOKS BEING RELEASED LATER THIS YEAR TO PREORDER:

·         Counting down with you- Tashie Bhuiyan- 4th May

A reserved Bangladeshi teenager has twenty-eight days to make the biggest decision of her life after agreeing to fake date her school’s resident bad boy.

How do you make one month last a lifetime?

·         Gearbreakers- Zoe Hana Mikuta- June 29th

Two girls on opposite sides of a war discover they're fighting for a common purpose--and falling for each other--in Zoe Hana Mikuta's high-octane debut Gearbreakers, perfect for fans of Pacific Rim, Pierce Brown's Red Rising Saga, and Marie Lu's Legend series

·         XOXO- Axie Oh- 13th July

When a relationship means throwing Jenny’s life off the path she’s spent years mapping out, she’ll have to decide once and for all just how much she’s willing to risk for love.

·         She who became the sun- Shelley Parker-Chan- 20th July

Mulan meets The Song of Achilles in Shelley Parker-Chan's She Who Became the Sun, a bold, queer, and lyrical reimagining of the rise of the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty from an amazing new voice in literary fantasy.

·         Jade Fire Gold- June C.L Tan- October 12th

Two girls on opposite sides of a war discover they're fighting for a common purpose--and falling for each other--in Zoe Hana Mikuta's high-octane debut Gearbreakers, perfect for fans of Pacific Rim, Pierce Brown's Red Rising Saga, and Marie Lu's Legend series

  Keep sharing, signing petitions and donating where you can. The more people who are actively anti-racist, the better. And if your anti-racism doesn’t include the Asian community then go and educate yourself! BLM wasn’t a trend and neither is this. We have to stand up against white supremacy, and racism and stereotypes and we have to support the communities that need our support. Part of that can include cultivating your reading so you’re reading more diversely and challenging any stereotypes western society may have given you.

 Feel free to reblog and add any more recommendations and resources of course!

[concerthopperblog]

Review: 'Willie Nile Uncovered' Taps a Wide Array of Artists to Pay Tribute to an Underheralded New York Treasure

Every so often you'll hear a musician described as “your favorite artist's favorite artist.” This usually denotes a musician who, despite being lauded by some of the industry's titans, has inexplicably remained a cult favorite without breaking fully into the mainstream. It's hard to think of any artist who fits that description more than Willie Nile. The man who is sometimes described as the Poet Laureate of Greenwich Village counts among his fans and admirers the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Little Steven Van Zandt, Lucinda Williams, and Richard Thompson. So, when a two-disc tribute album was announced for Nile, titled Willie Nile Uncovered, many probably expected an all-star cavalcade of Hall of Famers whose purpose was to raise Nile's notoriety in the community at large. Instead, Willie Nile Uncovered is a mix of well-known, if hardly household, names, but moreso a group of either fellow long-time club troubadours or young and hungry artists.

The formula works well for the album, with many of the highlights coming from the lesser known artists. One example is “Hell Yeah.” Opening the album's more rock-oriented first disc, it features Emily Duff. It's no surprise to anyone who is familiar with Duff's work that she's a highlight of the project. If there is any artist on the disc who compares most closely to Nile, it's Duff. A fellow New Yorker, both Duff and Nile embody a kind of punk-meets-folk style of blue collar roots rock that perfectly meshes with the grittier side of New York City. Duff brings a touch of Muscle Shoals and just a bit of Memphis to “Hell Yeah,” but at its core, she sounds like a mix of Nile, the punk-rock snarl of Joan Jett, and the devil-may-care free spiritedness of Wanda Jackson.

In some cases, the less-known artists benefit greatly from getting some of Nile's best songs. One of these is another album standout, Iridesense's Cheap Trick-esque interpretation of “History 101.” It's my personal favorite Willie Nile song, lyrically the one that tips its hand most fully to the satirical absurdism of John Prine's “Jesus, The Missing Years” (not coincidentally a favorite of mine among the Prine catalogue). Full of historical references melded with literary, folk story, and rock and roll cats, leading Abraham Lincoln and Long Tall Sally to invent rock and roll, only for Joan of Arc to serenade God with an electric guitar before being burned at the stake.

XL Kings also make the most of a Nile favorite, “That's the Reason.” The song in its original form was a tribute to early rock and roll, both in its 45 friendly brevity (2:30) and its jangly guitars and sing-along chorus. XL Kings push this tribute to 11, going into full Buddy Holly cover band mode, bringing fun-loving pop in heaping helpings. Fellow New York road warriors Leland Sundries bring a bit of, no surprise, Bo Diddly blues to the B.B. King meets The Band fan favorite “The Day I Saw Bo Diddly in Washington Square.”

That isn't to say the veterans don't get their moment. The album's lone Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, E Street Band guitarist Nils Lofgren, reminds everyone just how timeless Nile's social commentary songs are as, while written across a wide swath of Nile's 40 year career, they all work well as a commentary on the current inhabitant of the White House. “All God's Children” is a rock and roll gospel anthem, made even bigger here with a full choir backing up Lofgren's signature drawl and guitar licks. In this case, it came from Nile's sublime 2018 album Children of Paradise, so very well could have been about our current Commode in Chief. But beyond that, it's a touching tribute to the poor and forgotten minors, the voiceless victims of political infighting. Lofgren throws all he has to give into lines like “sing for the the nameless ones, hungry and downhearted. Sing for the peacemakers to finish what they've started.”

There are too many highlights on this album to feature them all without this becoming a 2000 word album review, so I'll keep it short by pointing out some other standouts. Jazz-folk artist Jen Chapin brings a serenity to “The Crossing.” Veteran rocker Elliott Murphy puts an arthouse film soundtrack spin on “Les Champs Elysses.” Bongos frontman Richard Barone actually sounds a lot like Nile on his cover of Nile's love letter to his home, “Streets of New York.” And that just cracks the surface.

Would Willie Nile Uncovered have been a better album if these songs featured the all-star cast it probably could have pulled with little effort? It's impossible to know. It certainly would have been an album with a lot more publicity. But from interviews with Nile I've read and from my own few brief e-mail interactions with him myself, I think this might be the album he'd like more. What better way to pay tribute to one of rock and roll's great unheralded poets than with a set of songs by some of the nation's other unheralded poets? If Nile's career has been built on a small, but cultishly loyal, fanbase, why not try to build up a cult fanbase for others who have taken his songs to heart? The album is, after all, called Willie Nile Uncovered. In one interpretation, that could be ripping away the veil that hides Nile's 40 year history of whip-smart lyrical genius. In another, it could be interpreted as uncovering some artists who deserve more recognition, using the songs of Willie Nile as a gateway. In either interpretation, this album will be a delight for Willie Nile fans, and a decent primer for those who don't know him but are curious, although with the double album price tag, the browsers may want to utilize Spotify first. That's not something I ever recommend due to their terrible payout to artists. I do so here because I am that confident that a couple of spins of this album will lead to buys of Nile's catalogue, as well as a few from the featured artists.

[gayleontologists]

doppelbangin replied to your post “i was planning on being sexy hamburglar for halloween but now all i...”

a. sad to miss out on sexy hamburglar but this is also an excellent choice; b. have you seen the buzzfeed ladylike video where kristin dresses as sexy joan of arc? very fun; c. i bet crochet would lend itself rlly well to a chainmail-esque stitch! keep me posted with your crafting!!

maybe i’ll still do sexy hamburglar if i go to more than one halloween party. i did that a few years ago -- one for a party and one for trick or treating day. i have not seen that video!! i will have to check it out :)

also yea, i’m hoping that with the right size hook and yarn it should actually look pretty good. i feel like it could get it to look like links fairly easy, i just need the time to actually crochet the dang thing (hard with 2 jobs, school, and volunteering at the museum lol)

[thoughtsonthotss]

MET GALA

OMG so the Met Gala happened last night and unless you’ve been living under a rock or something and have no idea what the Met Gala is, it’s basically a big celebration of fashion at the Metropolitan Museum in NYC, hosted by Anna Wintour and Vogue, and every year there’s a different theme. This year’s theme was Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination. And as you expect, people came to SERVE! US! LOOKS!

This post is dedicated to all of my favourite looks of the night, in no particular order (except the first one), so gather ‘round my huntys, and without further ado, here are my uneducated fashion opinions.

Gigi Hadid

Now I know what you’re thinking, “how can this extremely problematic Hadid sister be my favourite look of the night when Riri was there?”. WELL lemme tell you, not only did she come on theme, but her dress was so damn original. Anybody could’ve done the cross, or rosary, or throw a halo on, but Gigi came as a damn stained glass window! This dress is so stunning I can’t even comprehend it’s beauty. I love the one shoulder/off the shoulder thing it’s got going on there, as well as how the stained glass feature goes down her leg. This is probably the most beautiful dress I have ever seen and don’t think I am even worth being in it’s presence (as if that would ever happen), like it feels wrong to even stare at it. 

Rihanna

 RIHANNA CAME AS THE DAMN POPE. SHE IS THE POPE OF THE MET GALA. I don’t think I have ever seen anything more iconic than that. She knows that she is the queen of the Met Gala, and of course, had to come as the queen of all the christians as well. This ensemble is literally flawless, it is who she is as a person. Look at all of the embellishments , all the beads, on the coat, dress, skirt, HAT!! Rihanna knows how to work any red carpet, but this particular one is her bitch.

Blake Lively

Now, Blake Lively is no stranger to the Met Gala either. She has been known as the second in command to Queen Riri (idk if I just made that up or not). If we know anything about Ms. Lively though, it’s that she doesn’t come to play, she comes to slay. Word is it took Versace designers OVER 600 hours to put together the bodice alone and it’s easy af to understand why. Look at all of the damn beads!! This dress is a literal work of art and I’m sure some day it’ll be put on display is some fancy dress museum. I absolutely love the two shear panels that show off Blake’s legs. She looks like the most beautiful tapestry of all time. Versace, you have out down yourself. 

Mindy Kaling

Next up, I want to talk about my dear, sweet, Mindy Kaling. BUT SHE AIN’T SWEET. This look makes me want to scream out “Elizabeth, you better run girl, your reign is over! Mindy Kaling is snatching that throne from you!”. I love how regal and classic Mindy looks, but of course, the POP is that huge crown on her head. Not a tiny tiara, Mindy is a queen and she knows it. This fierce woman is wearing the fiercest crown I have ever laid my eyes on. I also am living for how the back of this dress looks like a damn cape, and those contrasting gloves. UGH. I am in love with Mindy Kaling and don’t care who knows it.

Jared Leto

Now ladies and gents, THIS is how you show up to the Met Gala, on theme, as a man. I’m not sure if he’s trying to channel his inner JC (jesus christ), but I am really feeling this modern day take on it. That hair, that beard, that crown, that scarf thing that priests wear. I’m loving this look and the pink bow shirt undernearth his suit. I truly love this and am very impressed by this look.

Zendaya

If you’ve made it this far, then I’m sure you know that Zendaya is the up and coming mini Ri when it comes to slaying the Met. She is channeling all of the Joan of Arc vibes and I LOVE it. She is such a feminist and I am so jealous of all the teens who get to have her as a role model and a positive female celebrity to look up to. I love how she is the badass saint, yet she is a modern day badass. Old meets new. I still can’t believe she came as this stunning human being, in this stunning wig, and stunning silver dress, and everyone knowing who she is channeling. Literally so cool.

Chadwick Boseman

Our boy Chaddy was serving us a damn look! I am soo for these guys finally starting to dress up a little more than just a suit. Like, I mean a nice fitting suit looks great and all, but there’s just no oomph. But this! This has all the oomph I need. I love this white suit, and cape combo. Oooh those gold shoes are amazing. I also loved how he stayed on theme, with the gold accents and crosses. Keep it up man, because I was seeing King of Wakanda tonight.

Cardi B

I know that I just did a post featuring Bardi, but omg I LOVE how she paid homage to Beyonce with her Met Gala look!! A queen in the making paying tribute to an established queen! I love this! Women supporting one another. Cardi looks like damn royalty, look at her cradling that lil bump! A princess is being born! I am loving the sides of this dress!! I love this shape! Victorian-esque with a modern twist. So beautiful.

SZA

Aaand lastly, we have the ever stunning SZA. If there had been a “most whimsical” award, SZA would have won it that night. This dress is just so beautiful, elegant and fun at the same time. She looks like a fairy princess. I am in love. I also really love how her boots match the bodice of the gown, maybe it’s even a full jumpsuit with an attached skirt? Either way, I’m living for this tulle AND her halo. The world is her oyster and I’m just swimming around.

Anyways, those are just my humble opinions, please don’t burn me at the stake for liking Gigi’s dress the best. 

*An earlier version of this post said that Joan of Arc was a biblical character, but she is actually a Saint.

[pickingstars-blog1]

Replies under cut:

welcome-to-my-mind-shed a réagi à votre billet “the problem with series 10, for me, is that it never ultimately...”

I really loved series 10, right up there with series 9 in my opinion. I hate it when I don't like something and I wish I would. I'm sorry you didn't like series 10 very much. All I can say is I hope series 11 is all that you wish it to be. :)

Thank you! I’m glad you loved series 10! I didn’t dislike it at all, it was just a bit sort of...same old same old. I’d have just loved something self-contained but meaty and emotionally complex, which is something I think every other series has given us! I’m pumpppeeed for series 11! It’s probably a year away and yet...I want everything now. New companion reveal/Thirteen’s costume reveal/filming photos. It’s all coming and I’m beyond excited!!

steamedbunns a réagi à votre billet “the problem with series 10, for me, is that it never ultimately...”

i find that s10 is my favourite capaldi season, probably because i had more of an open mind when watching it than I did with his earlier ones. but yeah, I don't think I'd actively go back and rewatch episodes. I wouldn't buy the dvd set like I did for most of elevens episodes. they were fun but not particularly gripping.

Yeah that’s kinda the way I see it too. It was fun, I had a good time, but nothing substantially gripping, (World Enough and Time/The Doctor Falls notwithstanding!). For me, my fav Capaldi series is s9. Regardless of what you think of the stories themselves, (I think the Zygon two-parter is well-intentioned, but messy at best, insulting at worst...), series 9 did something super interesting and different with it’s structure, and took a lot more risks with it’s storytelling throughout, even Sleep No More had a good high-concept Black Mirror-esque premise, while, naturally, Heaven Sent was a huge risk worth taking, and the ‘forgettable’ The Woman Who Lived is at least emotionally driven and stylistically unique thanks to its lyrical dialogue ...  plus like. I’m a sucker for that Twelve/Clara dymanic. Plus that glorious finale. Plus that Twelve development. It’s just wonderful to me!

lullapiee a réagi à votre billet “the problem with series 10, for me, is that it never ultimately...”

I understand you here. I was a bit 'meh' with some of the episodes this season and had no wish to re-watch them- namely the Empress of Mars and Knock-Knock. I'm not sure why this is but I just didn't find them that gripping and so the element of re-watching them isn't there. However, I am warming to the season by forcing myself to re-watch from the start. I'm hoping this time around I might get a better feel for the episodes and might enjoy them more.

I’ll certainly do that too at some point! I mean you’re talking to the person who agressively hated the Moffat era until they did a rewatch post The Time of the Doctor and then, well, everything changed! I absolutely find that when removed from the in-the-run-up hype and the week-to-week...waiting...things feel so much better so fingers crossed I find something super memorable in it too! 

gallifreyland a réagi à votre billet “the problem with series 10, for me, is that it never ultimately...”

I feel exactly this way too! It was fun while I watched it and I loved the finale, but the middle episodes just feel kind of average to me in retrospect. I think it might be because this series was a bit lighter on the 'powerful emotions' stuff – all the eps you mention above have a powerful emotional element, whether it's fear or love or the sadness of saying goodbye. S10 it seems saved it all up for the finale (which was great!) but it sort of suffered around the middle imo.

Yes exactly! The emotional element was missing. I think a lot of that has to do with the side characters tbqh? Heather/Penny/Erica/Hazran are the only side-protagonists I remember, (All four of whom are Moffat written so like..no surprises there!), And from them like...Heather and Hazran were from the opener/finale and...Penny and Erica are just dropped for no explicable reason like you would think given the story is a 3-parter that they’d have both played a role in The Lie of the Land but...nope! Toby Whithouse just...drops the ball so hard from literally every angle that even the story-specific side characters just flat-out...dissapear! Maybe I’d add the LGBT+ teen Romans from The Eaters of Light to the mix, but I’d have to watch it again. Without memorable, consistent side-characters with episode arcs then where are our emotional hooks? It can’t come from Bill and Twelve every time! Where is our Nancy or Elton Pope or Joan Redfern or Jenny or Liz 10 or Rita or Merry Gejelh or Ada Gillyflower or Kate Stewart or Ashildr? I feel like we really didn’t...get one...this series...which is probably a massive reason why it’s so eh in my mind!

florencedrunk a réagi à votre billet “the problem with series 10, for me, is that it never ultimately...”

Ultimately, I think the problem is that they trusted the Monks Trilogy to be that, but because of The Lie of the Land the previous two episodes (which are rather good episodes, in my opinion) deflated like one of Oswin's soufflés.

Agree 1000% - Extremis is wonderful, and Pyramid is at the very least conceputally interesting with some great set up for potentially iconic villains. yet. it’s totally. utterly. wasted. in The Lie of the Land, which is effectively one of the worst episodes of Doctor Who ever, in my book. So much potential squandered. So many plot points just? leading nowhere, (is it ever explained why the Monks can cure The Doctor’s sight? Or where they come from? Or...anything about them beyond ‘ooh here they are for a 10 second montage of them doing vague...electrical...stuff’, they literally do nothing in their big climactic episode 3 finale. It’s laughable). so much...character assassination...(Why is Bill so trigger-happy this episode?  Not just in shooting her teacher/mentor/best friend 4 times but in??? wanting to beat up Nardole? Like?? Where the fuck did that come from?? You could try and argue 6 months of opressive despotism but when the entire point of the episode is about how Bill manages to hang on to her good-old-happy-go-lucky self despite all that it just makes no sense! What part of wanting to “beat the shit out" of Nardole is in any way in character for Bill Potts? And then there’s...The Doctor...merrily standing by while the human population is tortured and exterminated by invaders under an opressive reigime, and merrily partaking in said murderous opressive reigime before...calling the human race “annoying” for??? forgetting everything that happened? and running off to NASA totally guiltless of the months of mass torture he was complicit in.) Not even Missy can salvage it, thanks to some horrendously unconfident, patronising, writing. “You’re so Caliente!  That’s Spanish for hot!” yeah thanks for explaining the joke that was totally neccessary! (that said the “pretty shapes in the smoke/your version of good” speech is A* A* so...) But yeah no overall that episode is just a hot mess...

[ricardosousalemos]

Joan of Arc: He's Got the Whole This Land Is Your Land in His Hands

“We’ve never had an audience that gets any validation of its coolness through liking us,” Tim Kinsella writes of Joan of Arc. That’s putting it delicately. For a good stretch of their two decade run, Joan of Arc were the most hated act in emo, unpopular with listeners, critics, and at times seemingly their own record label. Revisiting reviews of their old albums is a crash course in just how vicious music criticism could be around the turn of the century. The group attracted that special kind of vitriol reserved not for bands that piss people off but for those that seem to be trying to piss people off; especially for fans of Kinsella’s previous band Cap’n Jazz, Joan of Arc’s low-passion art-rock seemed like a personal insult. Few of Kinsella’s peers seemed to relish destroying the trust they’d cultivated with their fans quite so much.

At some point—probably around 2000’s The Gap, certainly by 2003’s In Rape Fantasy and Terror Sex We Trust—Kinsella began to own the fact that the average listener despised this group. With its unsteady lineup and blurry genre focus, the group had never really operated with clear parameters anyway, so Joan of Arc became the default outlet for Kinsella’s most contentious ideas. On paper, there’s a certain logic to that: When people have no expectations for your band, you’re free to do just about anything, and to go to uncomfortable places a band with a reputation to preserve might steer clear of. That’s on paper, though. In practice, Joan of Arc never had all that much great music to show for their scorched-earth approach. Kinsella has downplayed some of his more disagreeable instincts on his recent records, most prominently on the crowd-pleasing sophomore album from his Owls project. But he also made a broader appeal on Joan of Arc’s 2011 offering Life Like, a satisfyingly straightforward rock record a lot more listeners might have given a chance if it hadn’t come out under the Joan of Arc moniker. Lest anybody get the impression that Kinsella has begun to seek approval with age, though, Joan of Arc’s latest troll manifesto He’s Got the Whole This Land Is Your Land in His Hands offers a nasty reminder of Kinsella’s ability to ruffle feathers by playing up one of his most off-putting qualities: his humor. It plays like Kinsella’s belated answer to the smirking whimsy-pop of the Unicorns, but without the inclusive spirit, and it may be the most overtly irritating thing he’s ever done. He’s Got the Whole is an album designed to test the limits of your nerves from its sing-songy very first line: “What the faaaaaahhhhh-uuuuuuuck?”

And so the silliness commences. “Pizza and cunnilingus both give me heartburn,” Kinsella snickers over some seasick electro-clash on “This Must Be the Placenta.” Elsewhere he pledges to “kill the little Hitler in my heart” on “Stranged That Egg Yolk” and milks a jingle-like chorus out of the rhyme “I know how the nicest guy in ISIS feels” on “New Wave Hippies,” before unloading any surplus zingers in an MC Paul Barman-esque word spray on “Ta-Ta Terrordome.” Throughout it all, he’s accompanied in tunelessness by singing guitarist Melina Ausikaitis, who cheers him on with off-kilter injections and takes a couple of eccentric lead turns on “Two-Toothed Troll” and “Never Wintersbone You,” the latter of which begins with some beat poetry about Phil Collins.

Ausikaitis brings a weird energy to the record, and, really, just the mere presence of any energy at all is enough to distinguish it from most Joan of Arc albums. But lack of energy has never been Joan of Arc’s biggest fault. You can write off the band’s aimless drone or meek art-rock experiments of the past as an acquired taste. The more glaring problem has always been Kinsella himself, and the satisfaction he seems to take from refusing to let the listener in on his jokes. He’s Got the Whole is presented as good fun, but it’s only fun in a one-sided, “why are you hitting yourself?” sort of way. It’s an album that seems to exist primarily to be disliked, and it couldn’t seem prouder of itself for achieving that sad goal. Credit Joan of Arc for this, though: 20 years in, they’re still finding new ways to alienate and infuriate.