Really Mini-Reviews! - Swing Time by Zadie Smith and The Woman In Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

What have I got for you today?

Some more awesome-sauce Really Mini-Reviews!

So, here are my reviews of Swing Time by Zadie Smith, and The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware:

Friday Fics Fix - Harry and Draco and a Fic I Love For Reasons Unknown

'They began to acknowledge one another in the halls, not in a way that anybody else took any degree of notice to, but as their silence slowly became louder to one another they spoke in hushed whispers in empty corridors and alcoves and in the back of the library.'

I don't know why I like this week's fic.

There's just... something about this fic. I don't know why.

There's not much of a plot. The prose is over-dramatic and over-flowery in places. And I have no idea what's going on with the characterisation.

Sorry, that's not much of a ringing endorsement is it?

Maybe I'm not explaining it right. Cos this fic totally rocks.

Why? Well, because... because... I have no f**king clue. It's somehow amazing though.

Nerd Church - The Basics of Self-Care

(Warning: this post includes frank discussions of a variety of mental health problems, including references to suicidal thoughts, and self-harm.)




May is Mental Health Month in the US, and 14th-20th May is Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK.

You've probably heard, at some point in the course of your internetage, the phrase 'self-care.'

Hopefully, what you've heard has been positive. Unfortunately, you may have heard others mocking people who practice self-care, or calling it selfish.

Self-care is not selfish. Self-care is vital for everyone.

Just as everyone has both mental and physical health, though not necessarily mental or physical health *problems,* likewise everyone can (and should) practice self-care as a way of keeping yourself as happy and healthy as possible.




Disclaimer time: I am not a medical or mental health professional. I'm a blogger with personal experiences of mental health problems - OK? OK

Friday Fics Fix - The Sense of Things

I found a fic which has synaesthesia in it dammit!!!!

For those of you who don't know, synaesthesia is: a) a melding or running together of two senses, and b) something that I have.

Really Mini-Reviews! - Riot Days by Maria Alyokhina and Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming

I don't read many memoirs.

When I do, they've got be that little bit unusual. That little bit extraordinary.

Friday Fics Fix - Show Your Scars

Fanfiction's gonna change the wooooooooorld! XD

Cos fic authors - nerds, fangirls, fanboys, and non-binary fan folks - look at the stigma and the cr*p of previous generations, and say NO!

No to stigma on mental health. No to body image stigma. No to silence on sh** that hurts people!

*takes a deep breath*

Friday Fics Fix - Overloaded

Sensory overload can occur with several different disabilities.

Most commonly, it occurs with ADHD, Autism, Fibromyalgia, and Anxiety Disorders. It can also occur with migraines and many other conditions.

I get it with migraines (and I'm going to be honest, the Anxiety and the synaesthesia probably don't help with this.) It is a freaking b**ch.

Anxiety vs Blogger

(Warning: This post is about depression and Anxiety, and the demonstration of a negative thought spiral.)

First off: I'm OK. I've had a rough-ish few days (not too bad, but bad enough,) but I'm OK.

There is no need to worry about me.

Sometimes, much as blogging has saved my life, it can contribute negatively to my mental health.

I don't need to take an extended break - honestly, I'm fine. I love blogging just as much as I ever have, and, overall, it's good for me.

And the problem wasn't really blogging - it was the Anxiety.

But I did need to 'write it out.' This is the result of that.

Friday Fics Fix - Something Trashy

Dumpsters! Friendship! Diversity! What more could you want?!*

I've told you before, my dearest nerdlets, about the awesomeness that is the 'dumpster brothers' meme/trope/sub-fandom/whatever!

But, in case you need some refreshment: Clint Barton (Hawkeye) and Matt Murdock (Daredevil) combine their odd habit of ending up in dumpsters to become friends!

(Yes, it's usually as random as it sounds!)

*Don't answer that.

Mini-Review! - An Untamed State by Roxane Gay

Title: An Untamed State

Author: Roxane Gay

Amazon: UK - USA

Verdict:

This book is an open wound.

It is raw. It is powerful. And, somehow, it finds a way to be beautiful.

Month in Review(s) - January 2018

January felt like a month which put a rocket to my secret* blogging powers.

I don't know why, but I actually really liked the posts I wrote this month! And I'm (finally) beginning to get a handle on the whole 'juggling work, life, blogging, and miscellaneous other stuff' thing.

That said, I've probably just jinxed myself for the year ahead. My life tends to resemble an episode of Milo Murphy's Law sometimes 😅

Friday Fics Fix - Everyone From Harry Potter Has Mental Health Problems, M'k?

You want some Harry Potter fanfiction discussing mental health problems? (Of course you do, is that even a question?!)*

This fic could be heavy sh** for some people, so be CAREFUL when reading my nerdlets.

Friday Fics Fix - Use Your Head

This week's fic made me metaphorically punch the air. Because dudes - yes!

This fic is one of those which you don't need to be all that familiar with the fandom itself to enjoy - which is good because it's from the re-booted MacGyver fandom, which is kind of smaller than most fandoms.

Comics Wrap-Up - And When Your Stitch Comes Loose

Here we are again, time for the nerdiness! 😀

Film Trailers

Another li'l Black Panther trailer for you my nerdlets! This is such a cool looking film!

Warning: flashing images

2017's Top 4 Books (...In The Opinion of Yours Truly)

2017 can't be well and truly dusted off and put back on the shelf* without some input from your favourite Bookish Rebel (moi, ofc,) on the bestest books of the year.

This is TOTALLY MY OPINION ONLY.

Obviously, I can only pick from books I've read. And within that only books published in 2017.

Even given those rules, there's a bunch of books that I've read that I didn't include - THAT DOESN'T MEAN I DON'T LIKE THEM!!!!

This is basically a snapshot of the stand-outs. There were loooooads of other books I could've included - promise!

(My Anxiety kicks in when I think I might be leaving someone/something out that deserves recognition - does it show?!)

*Ha, shelf? Books? Hehe! XD

The Bookish Diversity Link List 2018

Here we go again! My link list of diverse bookish things for 2018.

Just like with the original link list, it'll start small and continue to grow throughout the year.

This year my aim is to get at least one link for EVERY category - so if you can help out, check out the info. below!

Nerd Church - How To Not Be a Jerk To Non-Drinking Guests

It's December - and nearly Christmas. 

This is the time of year that's traditionally filled with party-goers, many of whom will be drinking. But not all.

As a member of the non-drinking group for the last several years, I can tell you that these reactions are fairly typical:

• "But... WHY?!"
• *Stares at me for at least a minute without blinking*
• "I could NEVER do that!"
• "Oh come on, have some fun!"
• "Are you SURE?"
• "Are you like *takes step backwards* religious or something?"

Nerd Church - 10 Self-Care Reminders For When You're Extra-Busy, or Working Extra-Hard

Yep, this is both a self-care exercise and a blogpost. THAT is multitasking 😎

So sometimes, when we're busy, we forget to take care of ourselves - especially mental-health-wise. I'm officially the world's worst for this - I overwork A LOT.

So, here's a few things I have to remind myself of - and I hope they help you too!

Friday Fics Fix - Sleepy Stucky

OK, I know it was Stucky last week, but this is my blog dammit!

Plus I'm currently typing this in the spare quarter of an hour or so that I have free today, while playing my 'getting sh** done' playlist, which contains copious amounts of rock and heavy metal

(Because if anything can get me through this week, it's Avenged Sevenfold and Stone Sour! Lol, I'm so busy and so freaking tired! *laughs slightly hysterically*)

Friday Fix Fics - Hate To Twist Your Mind

Fanfiction is hyped up on emotion.

No, really. I reckon that's why it's such good bibliotherapy - all the emotions are right there, on the ever-loving surface, just waiting to be processed.

We even invented 'all the feels!' as a catchphrase for pretty much all fandom, for God's sakes!