girl_76 | Reading

rocky41_7 posting in

The most recent commute audiobook was The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, of The Night Circus fame (although admittedly I have not read that one yet). This is a fantasy novel about Zachary, a young man swept into the drama of a secret underground society and the mysterious figures who surround it.

I finished this book on Sunday morning, catching the last 7 minutes of a whopping 19-hour runtime over breakfast, and since then I've settled into a relative disappointment. On paper, this book has so many things that should make it an ace in the hole for me: Book lovers! Cats! Secret magical societies! Queer characters! Women who are something Other taking control of their destinies! And yet, overall, this book just did not land for me.

As is a risk, I think, with all stories that are about the power of stories, The Starless Sea comes off a little pretentious and self-important. It is a book lauding the unmatched importance of books. I felt aware at various points throughout the book of how hard it was trying to appeal to people like me, who would enjoy the idea of a dark-paneled underground room with endless books and an on-demand kitchen, and this sense of pandering did take away from it at times.

However, it also does some interesting things with regards to what it is like to be the person in a story (such as the fate of Eleanor and Simon, once their part in the story is done) as well as the risks of valuing preservation over change and growth. Without giving too much away, there is a secret society in decline, and a woman so determined to prevent its downfall that she ends up causing significant harm to the organization she's trying to save because she is unwilling to accept that an end comes for all things. I enjoyed this theme and I felt like it was echoed well throughout the story, and in many ways it's easy to sympathize with her ultimate goals, if not her methods.

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stel posting in

addme

Name: stel

Age: 18+, somewhere between the DS and the 3DS

I mostly post about: things happening in my life and anything i'm making/thinking about

My hobbies are: drawing, writing, making/listening to music, playing guitar, making websites. i've also been trying to get back into learning japanese lately

My fandoms are: undertale/deltarune is the most consistent, but i do get super into other media now and then (some others: oneshot, ace attorney, steven universe, inscryption, murder drones)

I'm looking to meet people who: i jive with, and hopefully share some of my interests/hobbies

My posting schedule tends to be: every few days, depending on how busy i am

When I add people, my dealbreakers are:

those who support or feel neutrally about trump
anti-queer, racist, etc.
those who post/interact heavily with dead dove content
- incest and minor/adult ships make me very uncomfortable

Before adding me, you should know: i'm very bad at talking to people (possibly neurodivergent) but i do try my best

likeihadaheart posting in

dear_mun

Of all the guys in the Organization...

Hey, mun. You sure picking me up's a good idea? You know I'm only going to cause you trouble, right?

yourivy posting in

addme

Why, hello there, lovely people of Dreamwidth! My friends list has become a little quiet as of late, so I thought I'd try and find a few nice new individuals to get to know :)

Name: Tina

Age: I turn 37 years old in 20 days - you do the math :P

I mostly post about: my daily life (including pictures), anything that goes through my head and I feel like reflecting on, things I've done, occasional travel reports, weekly "What are you reading Wednesday" posts. My journal is very much a "real life" one, since I am not into fandom - it's more than okay if you are, though!

My hobbies are: Reading, listening to music, podcasts (mostly True Crime), taking walks, doing jigsaw puzzles (I just finished a 1000 piece one of the Iguazu Falls in South America), travelling, going to concerts, hanging out with friends, trying out new restaurants/cafés...

~~My fandoms are:~~ I don't have fandoms, so I'll just list a few favourites of mine

Music: lately I have been really into The Warning, The Last Dinner Party and Taylor Swift. Other bands/artists I like are: Within Temptation, Nightwish, Tegan & Sara, Amy Shark, Bring me the Horizon, A Day to Remember, Alan Doyle, Great Big Sea, Derina Harvey Band, Emilie Autumn, Kellie Loder, Freya Ridings, Ice Nine Kills, Florence & the Machine, Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan, DeathbyRomy...I love a great variety of music! Feel free to recommend me something you'd think I'd like ;)

Books: "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov, "The Wrong Boy" by Willy Russell, "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides, "The Future Of Another Timeline" by Annalee Newitz, anything by Eowyn Ivey, anything by Charlotte McConaghy (I can't wait to get my hands on her new one which just came out!), "The Kangaroo Chronicles" by Marc-Uwe Kling, "Orlando" by Virginia Woolf, and lots of thrillers/murder mysteries. I also admit that I still have a bit of nostalgia for the Harry Potter series, although I cannot with a good conscience read/watch/buy anything related to them anymore, for known reasons...

TV shows: Stranger Things, Wednesday, Son of a Critch (although I still need to watch the latest season!), Law & Order:SVU, Is it Cake?, This Hour Has 22 Minutes. A recent one that's made a huge impression on me was Adolescence, it was both shocking and thought-provoking. In the past I also enjoyed Pushing Daisies, The Nanny & Call the Midwife.

Movies: Anything starring Meryl Streep - I adore her &hearts; I am also a huge nerd for Godzilla and monster movies in general, under which I count all kinds of "animal horror" flicks. They are just fun to watch, even if most of them aren't very good xD
In general, I don't watch as many movies as other people seem to, but some other favourites are: Despicable Me series, Minions (yeah, I know, I'm so ~uncool...), The Secret Life Of Pets, 10 Lives, The Twelve Tasks of Asterix, Kinsey, Forrest Gump, If these Walls Could Talk II, The Chinese Botanist's Daughters, Creep 1 & 2. I like found footage-style horror movies a lot, too, even though I haven't seen that many of those yet. Again, feel free to rec me some :)

I'm looking to meet people who: are kind, empathetic, understanding and funny. While common interests are always a plus, they aren't necessary - some of my best friends I have met on here have had barely anything in common with me when it comes to the things we like :)
I love reading about what you love, what makes you happy, fascinates and motivates you on this journey called life ;)

Honestly, one of my favourite things about people is listening/reading/watching them talk about their passions, seeing their eyes light up and them just being happy and excited. It's wonderful to me in these cynical times when somebody isn't ashamed to show enthusiasm &hearts;

My posting schedule tends to be: daily/weekly/monthly/sporadic/etc.

I aim for at least once weekly, twice when you count my "What are you reading Wednesday". I also try my best to read my friends list and comment at least once a week...these past few months I have been quite stressed with various health problems which made me too exhausted a lot of the time. However, I am getting better and am determined to be a good DW friend now!

When I add people, my dealbreakers are: supporters of Trump and any of his ilk, and generally Far Right politics. I would say the usual bigotry but lbr, who thinks of themselves as a bigot? I am a huge proponent of "live and let live, as long as you don't harm others".

I have a few mental illnesses which means I can be quite sensitive and might post a rant or two once in a while. While I have gotten a lot better over the past couple years, mine is not a ~positive vibes only kind of journal, so if you want that, I am probably not the friend for you. That's not meant to sound mean, but I just want to feel comfortable writing about everything on my mind without worrying that it might become too much for somebody. Hope that makes sense?

Otherwise, I love meeting people from all walks of life - I am a curious person so it's great to be able to get a glimpse into the lives of people from all over the world and all kinds of lifestyles. Journalling has expanded my horizons quite a lot and made me grow as a person, which is fantastic.

Before adding me, you should know: I have a cat called Lucy, who I will post pictures of on a regular basis. So you better like cats :P

Phew, I think I pretty much covered enough ground here! I hope this didn't make anyone fall asleep, lol. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Also, please do comment on here before adding me, thank you very much!

Current Mood: excited
Current Location: Germany, Cologne
Current Music: In The Barn Of The Goat... - Volbeat

marycatelli posting in

books

Chancy by Louis L'Amour

Adventure in the Wild West.

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rocky41_7 posting in

books

Book #7 from the "Women in Translation" rec list: Untold Night and Day by Bae Suah, translated from Korean by Deborah Smith.

Trying to accurately describe the plot of this book is an exercise in futility, so I'm not going to bother. All I can say is it centers around Ayami, a woman who is an actress, or maybe a poet, or possibly both, and is on her last day of work at an audio theater for the blind in Seoul.

This is a book I feel like I'd have to read at least one more time all the way through to be able to really discuss the themes and motifs at play. It's an incredibly cerebral novel that never gives up a clear answer about what's happening. What's real or not real changes from scene to scene. Is Ayami an orphan? Did she have a wealthy aunt? Is she the poet from Buha's youth? Is the director the bus driver? Who really got hit by the bus, and who was the murdered woman in the attic? Is Ayami Yeoni? The book leaves you to your own conclusions.

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camilanade posting in

addme

Name:

camila

Age:

I mostly post about:

whats on my mind, music ive been listening to, pics of my cat and random stuff lol

My hobbies are:

writing, discovering/jamming to music, reading

My fandoms are:

paramore, joost klein, fall out boy, senses fail and armor for sleep

I'm looking to meet people who:

are nice/kind and wont mind showing me new music, books, shows, etc

My posting schedule tends to be: daily/weekly/monthly/sporadic/etc

weekly/sporadic

When I add people, my dealbreakers are:

amy rude people, trump lovers lol, homophobes, racists, etc (basically all the -ists, and -ics you can think of lmao)

Before adding me, you should know: i post in a different language from time to time

Current Mood: excited
Current Music: Looking Up by Paramore

anais_pf posting in

thefridayfive

Today's questions were brought to you by

tallblue.

1. Who was your first crush?

2. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

3. What is your favorite non-sexual thing you like to do with the love of your life?

4. What is one quirky habit your partner does that either annoys you or makes you grin?

5. Do you believe in monogamous relationships?

Copy and paste to your own journal, then reply to this post with a link to your answers. If your journal is private or friends-only, you can post your full answers in the comments below.

If you'd like to suggest questions for a future Friday Five, then do so on DreamWidth or LiveJournal. Old sets that were used have been deleted, so we encourage you to suggest some more!

nine_lives_null posting in

dear_mun

...

No.

Hold on. Hold the fuck on, Mun.

What the hell do you mean there's a sixth movie?! And why the hell are you so excited about it?!

... I hate you so damn much. No, I really mean it this time.

[ooc: Canon is Final Destination 2]

jayregee posting in

addme

Name: Regis

Age:

I mostly post about:

my gay bipolar life with fandom news sprinkled in.

My fandoms are:

Doctor Who, Yu Yu Hakusho, Star Wars, MCU, DCU, Sherlock, Perry Mason, Murder She Wrote, Friday the 13th, Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Gotham, Heroes, Tales from the Crypt, Gravity Falls, Junjou Romantica, Kyo Kara Moah, Monk, Columbo, Poirot, etc.

I'm looking to meet people who:

gay geeks and allies who can be a little kind with a guy with bipolar.

My posting schedule tends to be: daily/weekly/monthly/sporadic/etc

Lately it's been sporadic, but I am trying to fix that.

When I add people, my dealbreakers are:

NO TRUMP SUPPORTERS, BIGOTS OR HOMOPHOBOES,

Before adding me, you should know: My post can have a self-hatred spell from time to time. Just a warning.

mekachu04 posting in

addme

Name: Mekachu

Age:18+
(im closer to 40 than 30 at this point)

I mostly post about: im mostly archiving/backing up my stuff from all over the web, but i want to be more active in dw communities themselves.

My hobbies are: doodles, writing, cross stitch, minecraft

My fandoms are: one piece - kidd pirates mostly. but there's some others that come and go

I'm looking to meet people who: vibe with me. liking the silly little pirate show is nice, but i'm just looking for community of like minded people who want to bounce ideas around with me.

My posting schedule tends to be: i am aiming for at least one post - at least a sketch - every day.

When I add people, my dealbreakers are:

I will block anyone publicly stating they are under 18. I'm an 18+ blog -while i don't get into the smut often, i like to break my toys, and i want to be upfront about that. I'm a hurt/some times comfort writer, and i like me some whump.
Imma ship and let ship kinda person. dont yuck on my yum and i will respect yours just the same, even if i dont get it. If your the type that feels like harassing real people of their taste in fiction, we're best to just pass by without interacting, thank you.
also, Generative AI content creators will be blocked

Before adding me, you should know: i've spent a long time just yelling into the void. i may not knwo how to respond immediately if the void talks back. i'm overjoyed for interaction, but it might take me a minute to respond

i am also still in the process of importing back logs from tumblr, so please pardon the dust.

marycatelli posting in

books

Under the Sweetwater Rim by Louis L'Amour

Adventure, danger, action in the Wild West.

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calzephyr posting in

thequestionclub

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megastalin posting in

addme

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Current Mood: Sexy
Current Location: Hic sunt dracones

ainmhidh posting in

addme

Name: Wren or Ainmhidh

Age: 20s

I mostly post about: Well, really nothing yet! I plan on talking about plurality, alterhumanity, Minecraft, and my other interests, like Livly Island and Will Wood... I talk about this a little more in depth in my introductory post on my journal.

My hobbies are: It's difficult to have hobbies while in college lol. I suppose my hobbies would be drawing, listening to music, Livly Island, video games, HTML & CSS coding...

My fandoms are: I don't really do fandoms these days, but besides Will Wood and Livly Island, I love Vocaloid, Splatoon, and I'm a furry!

I'm looking to meet people who: Share my interests, seem interesting, seem fun to talk to... Any combination of those. I like reading people's personal posts... Let's share our thoughts with each other 🙂

My posting schedule tends to be: I don't have one yet! It'll depend on how much I have to talk about and how many people I'm engaging with here. I've posted twice today, for what that's worth.

When I add people, my dealbreakers are:
* Anti-kink, "anti-proship", etc.
* TERF, anti-LGBTQ+, etc.
* Too much political posting. It just isn't what I'm looking for here!
* I'm not really interested in journals that are mostly fic.

Before adding me, you should know:
* There will probably be complaining on my journal, but I don't plan on having it be all the time.
* I'm brand new here!! So I'm still figuring out the norms and etiquette. Feel free to advise me if you're so inclined.
* I consider myself autistic, queer, and alterhuman. So be cool with those things!!
* I don't consider myself "proship" but I will discuss "dead dove" content on a separate journal.
* I'm not going to make a laundry list of opinions but if there's something you want to know, feel free to ask ^_^

xueyi posting in

addme

Name: Rei

Age: 20s

I mostly post about: Random thoughts. Primarily about my OCs but may pertain to life stuff, something cool I've found, or the current thing I'm into.

My hobbies are: Drawing, writing, worldbuilding, listening to music, reading (both comics and books), and playing games.

My fandoms are: Honkai: Star Rail, Reverse: 1999, Pokémon, Sousou no Frieren, Dungeon Meshi, Undertale and Deltarune, Mii games (Miitopia, Tomodachi Life, etc.), Genshin, Animal Crossing, VOCALOID...

I'm looking to meet people who: Think they may click with me. I don't mind if we don't share interests at all.

My posting schedule tends to be: Sporadic. It heavily depends on whether or not I have friends in that site.

When I add people, my dealbreakers are: Excessive negativity, posts a lot of NSFW (some is okay), or overall is someone I won't click with. I'm very easygoing, so I don't think that's much of a concern.

Before adding me, you should know: I'm more of a listener than a talker, and a bit shy. All of my creative effort goes to my own characters and stories rather than the ones I read about. Please feel free to say anything to me or ask me about anything, so long as it's not flirting.

Add me and I'll add you back! (⁠ ⁠╹⁠▽⁠╹⁠ ⁠)

glassesofjustice posting in

femslash_kink

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rocky41_7 posting in

books

My latest commute audiobook was A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson, a vampire novel that strides along at a brisk 5 hours run time. I have to admit upfront I did not have high hopes for this book. I somewhat warily added it to my TBR list, but I feared tired romantasy tropes that don't hit for me, and that the queerness which had landed it on my radar would turn out to be little more than additional titillation for a straight audience looking for a tale of decadence and indecency. I'm quite pleased to report neither of those concerns came to fruition!

As the title might suggest, there's a level of melodrama in this book you have to accept to enjoy the story. It reminded me in some ways of AMC's Interview with the Vampire in its shameless embrace of all those usual vampiric tropes and in the extravagances of its characters and its prose. Throughout the introduction, I was trying to decide if this was fun, or overwrought. I came down on the side of fun.

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glassesofjustice posting in

femslash_kink

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anais_pf posting in

thefridayfive

Today's questions were brought to you by

silent_r_infork.

1. If you could retroactively erase one TV show from the history of entertainment, which one would you choose?

2. Are you more like your mother or your father?

3. If you could take a year-long vacation, what would you do?

4. Can you think of a reason not to answer this question?

5. What's the nicest thing you've ever done for someone?

Copy and paste to your own journal, then reply to this post with a link to your answers. If your journal is private or friends-only, you can post your full answers in the comments below.

If you'd like to suggest questions for a future Friday Five, then do so on DreamWidth or LiveJournal. Old sets that were used have been deleted, so we encourage you to suggest some more!