Recent reading
Jul. 13th, 2025 04:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet by Jennifer Homans (2010). I read this as background/research for potential Étoile fic writing, and it has been very informative. It covers the history of ballet from its emergence in the court dances of seventeenth-century France, through its development in various places through time, trends and arguments, the influence of other dance styles, its success and declines, etc. etc. Lots of interesting and useful little titbits, both generally and fannishly (I especially like the influential eighteenth-century French ballerina Marie Sallé, who—in a period when female dancers were more or less expected also to be courtesans and mistresses—developed a reputation for universally rejecting male attentions, and on her retirement 'lived quietly with an Englishwoman, Rebecca Wick, to whom she left her modest worldly belongings'; on the fannish side of things, I think I see why Maya Plisetskaya is Cheyenne's fave); I also enjoyed the discussion of how ballet has developed and been reinterpreted in widely diverse cultural and political contexts (the court of Louis XIV; post-Revolutionary Paris; the Romantic nineteenth century; the twentieth-century US and USSR). Homans, a former ballet dancer turned historian, is ideally placed to write a book like this; she writes very much from a perspective informed by direct practical experience of dance, and doesn't hesitate to express her artistic and professional opinions, especially in the final chapters on the flourishing of ballet in twentieth-century America. At the end she argues that ballet, having fallen from those heights, has entered a decline which is probably terminal, perhaps due to its incompatibility with modern culture. I don't know what to make of that; at least I'm sure the characters and presumably the creators of Étoile would not agree! I have seen very little actual ballet in my life—I must go and remedy that soon—and I'm sure someone more familiar with it would have got more out of this book than I did, but still a very worthwhile read.
Re-read Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (2020), gradually over the last eight weeks with the JSMN fandom read-along Discord that
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Dr Wortle's School by Anthony Trollope (1881). Having finished the Barsetshire series last year, I wanted to keep up my tradition of reading a Trollope each summer but was dithering over where to go next; I didn't want to launch into the Palliser books, his other famous series, because from the sound of it they have less of the elements I enjoyed most about Barsetshire (church politics and rural society) and more of the elements I was less interested in (London and the nobility). In the end I picked a title from his bibliography on Wikipedia on the basis of, that sounds interesting, I'd like to see what he does with a school setting. Well, it is about a school setting in a sense, though it's not what you'd call a school story; Dr Wortle is a very Barsetshire-ish country clergyman who also runs a small preparatory school, so I managed to pick well for myself there. But if this book is half Barsetshire, the other half turns out to be a Wilkie Collins novel: the main plot turns on a reveal entertainingly similar to the inciting reveal in No Name (but made in hilariously non-sensation novel fashion: early on in the book Trollope spends several paragraphs telling the reader 'now, authors usually draw this sort of thing out for the drama and suspense, but I'm not going to do that, I'm just going to tell you the big twist now; perhaps some readers will find this boring and fun-ruining, in which case I suggest they put the book down'). It is an interesting example of how different authors with different priorities tackle a similar scenario: besides Trollope not being a sensation novelist, this story kind of returns to the themes of The Warden in being very much about the social consequences of scandal and the practical importance they have, whereas No Name is all about the legal consequences and the social effects that follow as a result. I liked it! I especially liked the character of Dr Wortle, who is principled and determined on following his conscience in the face of social pressure and serious threatened consequences, but who is also dictatorial, prone to poor judgement and not always actuated by purely charitable motives; I think Trollope is too sympathetic to his failings, but I nevertheless liked how he portrays his protagonist's complexity. The book is let down by a particularly annoying Victorian love subplot which increasingly eclipses the main story towards the end, but aside from that it was worth reading.
Recent Reading
Jul. 13th, 2025 08:26 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
(The last time I napped, come to think of it, was after my last work conference, in which not only was I sleep deprived all week, but I came down with a case of literal hives on the airplane home. Ugh.)
Anyway. None of you are here to hear about all that. ;-)
Lois McMaster Bujold, A Civil Campaign (1999)
Read aloud with
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This was one of my favorites from my first read of the series; I'm happy to say I liked it even better on re-read. I'm not sure how well it can be read as a stand-alone, as it assumes a working knowledge of Komarr. But I do like the strong ensemble of characters, and that the conflicts are mostly social and personal, instead of military or mystery. (Which does not stop it from rising to an action-packed climax at the end: I believe Grrlpup and I read the final three chapters in one day!)
Grrlpup's favorite characters were Dr. Enrique Borgos and his beloved butter bugs, and it is true: it is always a delight when they come on the page. Armsman Pym was also a favorite; she'd very much like to see his pov. (Alas, we do not, as I recall, ever get it in the series. I wonder if anyone has written Jeevsian fic for him?) And once again Lady Alys is serving strong Judith Martin vibes -- I do wonder if Martin was an inspiration for the character.
Lois McMaster Bujold, "Winterfair Gifts" (2004)
Read aloud with
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Taura, my beloved! *hearts-eyes* And I am fond of Armsman Roic, too (although I don't think this satisfied Grrlpup's desire for a Pym-centered story). Quick and sweet read, like a delicious chocolate truffle.
Daniel M. Lavery, Dear Prudence: Liberating Lessons from SLATE.com's Beloved Advice Column (2023)
I don't read many advice columns, but I find them most satisfying when there is an implied code of social logic that underlies them. (Make! The social! World! Make! Sense!) Lavery clearly has such a code, and the code tallies nicely with mine, which made this a pleasant read. I do enjoy the bits where he reconsiders the advice he originally gave; it's nice to know that even confident advice-givers grow and change over time. There's a chapter or two of letters on transitioning and/or coming out, presumably as Lavery himself was transitioning at the time and drawing more of that kind of question than I usually expect to see in a general-topics advice column.
Saeed Jones, How We Fight For Our Lives: A Memoir (2019)
Brief, lyrical, eminently readable memoir of growing up gay and black in the 1990s in Texas, attending university in the 2000s in Kentucky, and the death of his mother in the 2010s. There are some painful topics (gaybashing, homophobia, Christian evangelism, racism, a sexually self-destructive phase, and his mother's aforementioned death), and consequently the material gets heavy at times, but I raced through this in a day, always willing to turn the page and see what other thoughts and experiences he had had.
I also have a gob of Hum 110 bookgroup reading to write up, but I'll save that for their own posts.
New Voices: The Campbell Award Nominees (New Voices, volume 1) edited by George R R Martin
Jul. 13th, 2025 08:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)

The first in a series of anthologies that assemble stories by Campbell Award (now the Astounding) finalists.
New Voices: The Campbell Award Nominees (New Voices, volume 1) edited by George R R Martin
Some things never change...
Jul. 12th, 2025 11:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Two days ago, Twice and Blackpink both had comebacks on the same day: Twice's "This is for" and Blackpink's "뛰어(JUMP)" (links go to the videos, so as not to spam your feed with two embedded videos).
Blackpink's song is a 1-song single, per YG's strategy of keeping Blinks starved for new music from Blackpink, while Twice's song is part of a 14-song album, keeping with JYP's strategy of giving Once as much music as they could possibly want from Twice. I prefer the JYP strategy — at first I was a bigger fan of Blackpink than of Twice, but eventually I got tired of waiting for new songs from Blackpink.
Two interesting things I noticed:
- Twice Jeongyeon has had difficulty meeting the ridiculous weight standards imposed on K-pop idols (i.e. still not fat by any measure), so in recent comebacks Twice's stylists have started dressing everyone but Jeongyeon in midriff-baring tops. I don't know if this was done at the company's request or at Jeongyeon's, but they did it again this time.
- Blackpink's song actually includes the English lyric "Are you not entertained?"
A question about plotting one of my fics
Jul. 12th, 2025 08:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
I've got an idea about the plotting one of my fics, but I'm not sure if the idea I've got right now is the right thing. So. . . if any of you have read my fic "Turning of the Year" — or if you feel like reading it right now — and you'd like to give your input on the future course of the story (at the risk of possibly getting spoiled), send me a message.
Even the pool was 95 degrees
Jul. 12th, 2025 09:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
My brother has a little pool. I spent hours hovering just at the waterline with my head (the rest of me submerged like a manatee) But with the water that hot, it wasn't that refreshing.
I had planned to go to the whiskey rebellion festival tomorrow but it was only friday/Sat. That's weird but oh well (it was too hot for festivals) I wanted to go to the Pittsburgh Pickle festival. (points to the too hot thing)
So what are you all doing this weekend? Anything fun?
Daily Check In.
Jul. 12th, 2025 06:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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How are you doing?
I am okay
13 (59.1%)
I am not okay, but don't need help right now
9 (40.9%)
I could use some help.
0 (0.0%)
How many other humans are you living with?
I am living single
8 (36.4%)
One other person
10 (45.5%)
More than one other person
4 (18.2%)
Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.
Huh
Jul. 12th, 2025 12:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
2010: Melbourne, Australia
2011: Reno, USA
2019: Dublin, Ireland
2020: Wellington, New Zealand
2024: Glasgow, Scotland
(I was nowhere near the ballot in 2009, Montreal)
At a guess, those are years where vote totals were a bit lower?
( Read more... )
Hurt/Comfort Exchange creator reveals
Jul. 12th, 2025 05:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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I, meanwhile, was pleased to match on The Warm Hands of Ghosts and Laura/Pim again. It's a good pairing for the angsty kind of hurt/comfort where the hurt (of both characters) is bigger and more complicated than the comfort can fix, but it still matters...
A Relapse and a Respite (2411 words) by regshoe
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Warm Hands of Ghosts - Katherine Arden
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Laura Iven/Penelope "Pim" Shaw
Characters: Penelope "Pim" Shaw, Laura Iven
Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Unresolved Feelings, Wrapped in blankets while hurt/sick
Summary:
The flu isn’t quite done with Laura, after all; Pim takes care of her, but she has other things on her mind too.
Books Received, July 5 — July 11
Jul. 12th, 2025 08:47 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)

Four books new to me.Two are SF, one is fantasy, one is a mix of both. I don't see anything unambiguously labelled as series works.
Books Received, July 5 — July 11
Which of these look interesting?
Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate by Marisa Churchill (December 2025)
12 (33.3%)
Spread Me by Sarah Gailey (September 2025)
13 (36.1%)
The Forest on the Edge of Time by Jasmin Kirkbride (February 2026)
13 (36.1%)
The Universe Box by Michael Swanwick (February 2026)
16 (44.4%)
Some other option (see comments)
1 (2.8%)
Cats!
29 (80.6%)
lab results are in
Jul. 12th, 2025 08:57 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
2. ( Stranger Things recs )
Fandom Friday
Jul. 11th, 2025 09:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
So have the fannish 50 fandom recs including a story by me. But before that you might find this to your tastes
Alan Tudyk Launching New Podcast with Nathan Fillion called ‘Once, We Were Spacemen’
Title: Bad Reputation
Fandom: Hazbin Hotel
Summary: Husker needs some new security after an attack on his casino and he was always on the lookout for new acts to entertain his patrons. He could handle Arackniss when dealing with the security issues. However, entertainment meant he needed to turn to hell’s newest overlord now that Valentino was gone. All Angel Dust brought to his new role was his bad reputation and his never ending boundary crossing. Husker was not looking forward to this.
Rating: teen
Author Note - written for Overlord Husk week day 6 wild card and for spikesgirl58s 6 words challenge. The words were Bikes, Fragile, Legs, Theory, Efficacious, & Imminent
( Story at above link or under here )
Dead Hand
The Ace Of Hearts Teen Wolf
Taking Care Of Business Torchwood
Anywhere With You FAKE
a knife between your ribs. The Murderbot Diaries
Our bestie SecUnit! The Murderbot Diaries
you’re so pretty, it kills me Arcane: League of Legends
All About the Accessories Stargate Atlantis
Munch. The Murderbot Diaries
solemnly swear 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV)魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù
Safety in Numbers The Murderbot Diaries
Taking Care Of Business Torchwood
Reborn Buffy the Vampire Slayer
A Night With Diglett Pocket Monsters | Pokemon (Main Video Game Series)
Let’s Dating Nerd The Owl
Rocky Road Deadpool (Movieverse)/X-Men
Chris Reaches Out 911
Killcode The Murderbot Diaries
Birthday Cookies The Owl House
Fevered Faint Sherlock Holmes (1984 TV)
Voxtimization Hazbin Hotel