Friday Fics Fix - Returning to Haven

 

'Duke’s grateful for the small loading dock in the back of the Gull, with its concrete ramp and rolling service door. They rarely take shipments large enough to even warrant having the thing, but it’s remarkably useful for smuggling grizzly bears into the building'

I love (and really miss!) the TV show Haven - a gothicky, horror-y, sci-fi (and SyFy,) series that ran between 2010 and 2015.

It's ostensibly based on Stephen King's novella The Colorado Kid - I've read The Colorado Kid, there are very, very, few similarities.

Instead, it's like a kick-a** mash-up of random elements of Stephen King-ery. Which I love. So much.

Comics Wrap-Up - Did You Wanna Be An Icon?

 

It's Thursday, I'm still in local Lockdown, moving into Welsh national Lockdown tomorrow evening... let's get some comics!

Nerd Church - Hate Crimes Are Bad, Right?

(Warning: this post discusses hate crime and bigotry, including racism and Transphobia.)

Last week (ending yesterday) was National Hate Crime Awareness Week in the UK.

Which means that there's been a lot of very productive hashtags -

(no, I'm not being sarcastic - it's possible for hashtags to change the world, and you know it,) 

- and shows of support from various institutions. 

And it's largely been a very nice, if sometimes luke-warm, effort by said institutions to show solidarity with marginalised groups. Which is good, obviously.

Or... at least I thought it was obvious. 

Because I thought it was obvious that hate crimes are, y'know, bad.

But apparently that isn't obvious to everyone.

Because someone, somewhere, dearest nerdlets, will always find a way to be a jerk. 

Never more so than on social media.

Friday Fics Fix - Lost and Found

(Warning: this post discusses Homophobia/general Queerphobia, and negative stereotypes of LGBTQ+ people.)

'Watching David watching him and not really knowing if he was only picturing David there, or if David actually was there.'

If you've faffed around the nerd part of the Internet, or the bookish part of the Internet, or the Queer part of the Internet, (amongst others, I'm sure,) you'll know that it's spooky season, i.e. October leading up to Halloween 👻

A lot of Queer people love horror and/or all things Gothic. I mean LOVE it.

Even if, as a genre, it's always had a somewhat love/hate relationship with us, painting us as either villain or deserving victim in more shameful stereotypes than I have the energy to go into here. 

And even that was often a coding (i.e. implied,) rather than explicitly Queer characters.

Month in Review(s) - September 2020

(Warning: this post discusses Coronavirus/Covid 19, Transphobia and JKR, and mental health)

September was weird. I think that goes for much of 2020, but September felt especially 2020-ish.

In August, Wales was down to a very small number of Coronavirus cases. We had it in control. 

By the end of September, over half of our population was in Lockdown, and remain in Lockdown. That includes yours truly.

Comics Wrap-Up - Oh, We Can Beat Them, Forever and Ever

 

It's Thursday, it's still 2020 - let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Everything I've got for ya this week is in the 'Other Stuff' category - as always, we'll blame this on Loki.

Friday Fics Fix - The Detective's Dreams

 

'The mirth drains from his eyes, his face. Lowering his mug, his eyes following it, Sherlock asks, “What if your worst days are your fault, and only yours? Would you deserve it then?”'

Ready for some semi*-emotionally-healthy BBC Sherlock fanfiction?

Well, whether you are or not, that's what you're getting. 😛😉

*Look, it's emotionally healthy compared to the series, but there's still a sh**-tonne of co-dependency and poor coping mechanisms, ok?

Comics Wrap-Up - Fabulous Kids Today, They're All Being Who They Were Born To Be

 

It's Thursday. It's October 2020. Let's get some comics-y goodness!

Everything I have for you this week is in the 'other stuff' category, for which we shall blame Loki.

Friday Fics Fix - Fluffy Legends

 

"Huh, who would have guessed a warlock of your measure could be swayed by snacks? And here I thought my charms were your only weakness,” she said.

Who wants some fluff?

I think we could all do with fluff. Especially when it's superhero fluff!

Nerd Church - On LGBTQ+ Own Voices

 

If you follow me on Twitter, you might've seen my thread about the current discussions surrounding #OwnVoices LGBTQ+ content.

If you haven't seen my thread, and/or don't understand a word I just said, then don't worry - I'm about to break it down for you, and also expand - because I'm just that nice to you.

Friday Fics Fix - Tony And Bucky In A Horror Trope? Why Not, I Guess!

 

'“Oh, my God,” Tony hisses. “Aren’t you like the greatest assassin the world’s ever seen? Why are you struggling so much with a stupid knot?”'

 

I actually have no idea WTF I just read - but I kind of love it.

That's one the fab-est things about fanfiction, dearest nerdlets, it's so very, very, random. 

And it can surprise you. Even when you've read what has to amount to thousands of fics.

Comics Wrap-Up - I Sell The Fact That I Can't Be Bought

 

It's Thursday - which means it's time for some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Entirely unintentionally, everything I have for you this week is either Batman or Batwoman related.

It's all also in the 'Other Stuff' category - Loki moves in mysterious ways, dearest nerdlets!

Friday Fics Fix - Padfoot and Moony's Guide to Raising Harry Potter (Ft. Diverse Representation!)

 

Note: For the foreseeable future the only Harry Potter fanfiction I'll be rec'ing will have Trans+/NB+ characters. 

I understand if you don't wanna read any posts about Harry Potter whatsoever, and I hope I'll see you when I'm rec'ing from a different fandom.

“Sirius, when is the last time you slept? Or ate a proper meal? Or took a bath? Don’t even bother answering that last one. You smell like something died in your hair..."

 

To rec this fic, I basically just wanted to go:

AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...until you read it.

But I realised that's both exhausting and requiring of context. (Dammit!)

Month In Review(s) - August 2020

 

August was way too hot - I'm too Welsh for this cr*p!

Seriously, I melt above 24C. That's plenty enough for me. So between 27C and 30C is literal hell to me. Thank God it's cooled down a butt-tonne now.

Anywho, I cut back on blogging in August (and you can see how that went here,) but I somehow wrote more reviews and bookish content than I have in a long time *shrugs*

I wrote 2 whole reviews dearest nerdlets! In one month! Lol.

Friday Fics Fix - Klaus and Ben's Guide To The Parenting Of Dead Children

 

'Ben started laughing too. “What’s the matter, Klaus? Nonbinary ghost child should be right up your alley.”

That laughter was contagious, and Klaus gave in. “You know what? You’re right. Nonbinary ghost child is right up my alley. Good for you, kid!”'

Yes, we are talking Umbrella Academy...

But hang on a sec -

!! Please do NOT the SPOILERS !!

I'm only about half-way through series 2 of The Umbrella Academy, so please no spoilers! 

Diolch yn fawr iawn fy nghariadau!/Thanks v. much my loves!

Comics Wrap-Up - Traded My Honda For A Panther, I Just Got A Crib In Wakanda

 

Whew! A whole month without any Comics Wrap-Up posts, dearest nerdlets! Didja miss me?

You know the drill: it's Thursday, the world is a dumpster fire, let's get some superhero-y comics-y goodness!

We got a whole bunch of stuff this week, due to online conventions/reveals/all that jazz!

From My TBR: 15 Young Adult and Middle Grade Books By Black Authors

 

(Warning: this post references racism and police brutality)

There are three important reasons for me writing this post:

1. Black Lives still Matter.

2. It's always a good time to highlight diverse books.

and 3. There are so many amazing Black creators out there, who don't always get the recognition they deserve.

So here's a small selection of some of the Young Adult (YA) and Middle Grade (MG) books on my TBR list that were written by Black authors.

For those of you who don't know the book-blog lingo - a TBR is a 'to-be-read' list. Mine is immortal and cannot be stopped. Send help.

For those of you who are British like me, and/or haven't heard the book blogging term, Middle Grade books are those aimed at (roughly) ages 8-12, or 8-14, depending who you ask.

(Quick disclaimer: obviously, I haven't read these books, just their synopses, so I don't know what they're like in terms of content, quality, etc.)

I hope you find something to add to your own TBR, and remember to support Black authors, and other Black creators.

There're so many talented Black authors out there who deserve our attention!

Review Time! - Queer As A Five-Dollar Bill by Lee Wind

(Warning: this post discusses Homophobia and bigotry, including physical violence)

Title: Queer As A Five-Dollar Bill

Author: Lee Wind

Genre: YA, Contemporary, LGBTQ+ (Gay & M/M)

Amazon: UK - USA

Review Time! - Can Everyone Please Calm Down? by Mae Martin

Title: Can Everyone Please Calm Down?: A Guide To 21st Century Sexuality 

Author: Mae Martin

Genre: Non-Fiction, YA (NA crossover appeal), LGBTQ+, Memoir(-ish)

Amazon: UK - US

Month in Review(s) - July 2020

July was a month that happened.

Is it bad that all of the months have just kind of squidged into one and I can't remember what happened in July vs what happened in June?

Can I blame the Dyscalculia for that, d'y'think? Or is it just me? (It's probably just me.)

Anyhow, this is your reminder that the Coronavirus situation is NOT over, and you need to keep taking all the hygiene and distancing precautions.

(People who think 'it's all over' are... ARGH!) 

#StaySafeDearestNerdlets