Comics Wrap-Up - A Massive Talent

 

It's Thursday, January is a long month, let's get some superhero-y comics-y goodness!

Nerd Church - Beautiful Failure

Warning: some discussion of Anxiety and Depression, brief ref. to abusive friendship

I'm not a fan of failing.

And I know, I know, all the dude-bros and productivity coaches and all that will be like, 'failure is a stepping stone to success!' or some sh**, but it doesn't change the fact that I don't like failing.

I mean, no-one likes failing, if we're being perfectly honest.

I, especially, don't like being Wrong (yes, with the capital W,) - my Anxiety and Depression (more of those capital letters,) tend to latch onto being Wrong and run with it.

Friday Fics Fix - Doctor Who and Self-Care, Because Why Not?

 

'Knock, knock, knock on the door. Three times, not four, and the door isn’t blue. It’s red, glittering in baubles of sunlight cast over its fresh coat of paint. The Doctor is safe.'

 

So far, I'm loving the way Dr Who is headed with Russell T. Davies back at the helm.

Side-note: Welsh people (which Russell T Davies is,) say Dave-iss, not Daveys. Please, for the love of God, respect that. (And check out this Legends of Tomorrow clip for pronounciation, complete with accent.)

Also, Welsh people with common surnames will use middle initials or names to distinguish themselves from other people with the same name. Don't miss out the initials/names when talking about them, please and thank you.

Comics Wrap-Up - We're Out Here Pretending

It's Thursday, I am writing most of this post one-handed because my cat won't let me stop holding him - apologies in advance for any typos; let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Nerd Church - Putting Self-Care At The Top Of My To-Do List

I've had to remind myself so many times, over the years, that it's best to take things one step at a time.

...That I only have two hands.

...That I actually get more done when I relax.

And yet... it's still so hard to do.

Friday Fics Fix - FrostIron, AKA: No-One Can Say I'm Inconsistent

 

'"What's the matter, Cap?" Tony replied absentmindedly, an arm wrapped firmly around the god's torso to steady him. "Never been to a frat party?"'

 

Let's start this year how we mean to continue - with some angsty FrostIron! 😅

...No-one can say I'm inconsistent, tbh.

(Fandom notes:

FrostIron is a romantic and/or sexual relationship between Marvel's Loki and Iron Man Tony Stark. It works and I will go down with this ship.

Ship is a relationship - geddit?)

Comics Wrap-Up - Baron Something-or-Other

It's Thursday, it is 2024 and this year better behave I swear, and this is Dora Reads - so let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

The Bookish Diversity Link List 2024

 

Your resource for all things bookish diversity is back! 

Welcome to the 9th (Hell yeah!) Bookish Diversity Link List, 2024.

Given how bad my 2023 was, I'm happy I managed to keep last year's list going. 

I still think there's need for a resource which points to cool and good quality diverse bookish things - even if I sometimes struggle to add as much to it as I'd like.

Looking at the world as a whole, I'd say we def. need to keep championing the marginalised and diverse communities and voices wherever possible. Because garbage fire. 😅

So, here I am, once again, doing my small bit to keep things moving forward. I hope you find it useful.

Poetry: Free Verse

Originally published in the Medium Publication 'The Brain Is A Noodle' for the writing prompt 'write the poetry that’s in your heart, break the rules, be yourself (wait, this sounds like Ms. Frizzle’s line, oops! She’s an iconic inspiration for us all.)' set by the lovely Lucy Dan.

I decided to fill the prompt by writing an unedited poem - the only things I changed from the first draft were formatting and typos.

...You can tell that it really is unedited because even now, over a year later, I want to remove the line 'Oh burgeoning soul' 😅

Month(s) in Review(s) - October + November 2023

 

Yes, this post covers two months.

No, I have not done that before.

But I was already pretty busy/lacking in time in October, and then November...

Well, my criteria for a 'good month' in the hellstorm of 2023 is one where no-one I care about (human or animal,) dies, almost dies, or has a life-changing diagnosis.

Nerd Church - Entropy

 

Sometimes you just need to take things a step at a time.

Sometimes it's just about putting that one metaphorical foot in front of the other - not doing too much, not trying too hard. 

Just. Keeping. Steady.

Because in a universe that tends towards entropy, stasis is progress.

Entropy, just to letcha know, is a scientific concept/rule...

Friday Fics Fix - My Stand-Out Fics of 2023

 

Since F3 is going on its regular break in December, I thought that now was a great time to give you my stand-out fics of the year!

- That's not the same as the best fics of the year. 

It's more... the ones I can still remember when stressed and tired at the end of November 😅 (Expect a lot from the last few months, ngl.)

Remember to please check out the orginal rec'ing posts for Content Warnings and SPOILER status.

I'll leave the link to those original rec. posts when I finish up talking about each fic.

Comics Wrap-Up - This Masterpiece

 

It's Thursday, I am existentially tired, so let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Nerd Church - Short Story: Mornings Dawn, Whether You Want Them To Or Not

 

Originally published in the Medium publication Promptly Written, for the quote-prompt '“Some people live just looking for someone to die for.”― Dominic Riccitello' set by Ravyne Hawke.

Warning: this story deals with grief a lot, as well as generally discussing death and related topics.

Mornings Dawn, Whether You Want Them To Or Not

Image by Martina Bulková from Pixabay

Friday Fics Fix - Living Art, Right There

 

'O.B’s fingers freeze. He’s quiet for a moment, before moving to turn off his device. He turns to face Mobius.'

The end of series 2 of Loki was stunningly beautiful - and so is some of the fanfiction that's been inspired by it.

Yes, no sooner was the streaming streamed than the fandom picked up pen and pixel and set out to process, explore, enjoy, revel in, congratulate, commiserate, and everything in between.

Living art, right there.

Comics Wrap-Up - Still Pretty Extra

It's Thursday, I am so tired and stressed, so let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Nerd Church - With Respect (Remembrance, and The Call For Peace)

Warning: this post discusses war, death, and atrocities

Some people in the media and politics somehow think that's it's disrespectful to protest for peace on this particular weekend. This post is my response to them.

Friday Fics Fix - 5 More Of My Fave Novel-Length Fics

 

I love novel-length fanfiction.

I am forever in awe of the dedication you have to show to something to write a full novel-length fanfic (especially if you're not planning on changing the names and selling it as an original novel like E. L. James 😅)

I gave a list (which you can see here,) about a year ago, of 5 of my favourite novel-length fanfics - and I figured it's time for another one! (Because I read a truly horrifying amount of fanfiction, lol.)

Remember to please check out the orginal rec'ing posts for Content Warnings and SPOILER status.

Some of these fics deal with difficult topics, so def. check the CWs!

I'll leave the link to those original rec. posts when I finish up talking about each fic.

Comics Wrap-Up - Where The Hell Are We?

 

It's Thursday, I'm tired, let's get some superhero-y comics-y goodness!

Nerd Church - The Writer Diaries: The Words Need To Be Out There, Somewhere

Warning: brief references to Depression and Anxiety

A lot of the time, when I write, it's not so much a choice as an exorcism.

(Metaphorically, ofc 😅 )

Don't get me wrong - I love writing.

But sometimes it's the case that, if I don't do it, these words are gonna rattle around my head and drive me to distraction.

Not necessarily in a bad way. It's just... they gotta come out, y'know?

Friday Fics Fix - Angels, Demons, Cinnamon-Rolls

 

'Crowley was out doing... something -- Muriel did not know whether he was actually gluing coins to the ground or whether that was an obscure joke.'

 

I love Good Omens - which, in a nutshell, is a TV series on Amazon Prime where an Angel and a Demon get up to shenanigans to a soundtrack of Queen music.

...They're also possibly in full M/M love with each other. They have this whole will-they/won't-they/are-they-already-and-just-don't-know-it, thing going on. Canonically.

(Fandom notes:

Canon is the 'official' stuff that happens in the book/film/whatever)

Comics Wrap-Up - I Left This Place For 5 Damn Minutes!

It's Thursday, somehow we've reached November, so let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

The 9 Year Blog Anniversary Post!

 

Yes, I've been at this, right here on Dora Reads -

(or it's previous name of 'Diary of a Reading Addict' aka DORA - and I do not miss typing the full thing out all the time 😅) 

- for a full NINE FREAKING YEARS!

Nerd Church - Short Story: Bex Is On Her Own

Originally published in the Medium publication Promptly Written, for the following prompt set by Ravyne Hawke:

Use any or all of the following concepts for a story:

— ancient runes/ruins
— a ghostly appearance
— danger is afoot!

Content Warning: I’m not sure what happened to this woman, but I don’t think it was anything good — I felt like I should add a warning, but it was kind of difficult to figure out what for exactly. So just be *waves hands* generally careful!

Bex Is On Her Own

A horror-ish short story

Friday Fics Fix - Because Incubus

'Tony froze and leaned back to study Bucky's face. He didn't seem to be exaggerating. Tony felt something dark and cold settle in his chest. He cradled Bucky's face with gentle hands, but his voice was hard as iron when he asked, "Honey, is there someone I need to take care of?"'

 

This week's fic is random af.

...I'd go as far as to say it's bordering on crack - don't get me wrong, it's not crack. But if you stand on your tippy-toes and look over the fence, you can probably see crack from here.

(Fandom notes:

Crack fics are the most random, surreal, and bizarre of fics. They are cracked (to give it the non-drug-related definition.) 

Think terminally online meets Alice in Wonderland, or else the Sasquatch sequence in Tenacious D's The Pick of Destiny, and you're more-or-less there.)

Comics Wrap-Up - That's The Guy?

It's Thursday, I am tired, this is Dora Reads - so let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Nerd Church - The World In A Spin

 

I recently took up spinning my own yarn from wool - because apparently I wasn't doing enough weird old-timey crafts for my brain's liking.

So, yeah, in addition to my previous heritage (i.e. ye olde timey,) crafts - knitting, weaving, embroidery, and cross-stitch - I now also spin wool fibre into yarn.

...Honestly sometimes my brain just, entirely out-of-the-blue, is like, 'we should learn how to abseil while painting stained glass windows!'* and I'm just like, 'yeah, sure, why not?'

(I do some non-heritage crafts too. Because I am like this, apparently. 😅)

*Don't panic, it hasn't actually suggested doing that. Yet.

Anyhow, it got me to thinking - we don't know enough about how stuff gets made, about where stuff comes from.

We in the modern world - especially in the West and the global North - have become so far removed from the means and methods of production that we can't even fathom it any more.

(Can you tell I was raised by South Wales Valleys (i.e. Socialist,) working-class hippies? Yeah? Great. 😅)

Friday Fics Fix - A Spooky-Season LGBTQ+ Ghost Story Rec List

 

Who doesn't love a ghost story?

...Don't answer that! 😅 I know they're not to everyone's taste. 

But I love 'em - and there are some pretty awesome fanfic ghost stories out there (both spooky and not-so-spooky,) so I figured I'd remind you of a few of my faves

I was originally not planning on making this a specifically LGBTQ+ list, but this is fanfiction...

...so it turned out literally 100% of the fics I picked were LGBTQ+ in some capacity! Woo! Lol. 😅

As always with these rec-lists, check out the original rec'ing post for my full list of Content Warnings.

...Also check the rec posts for SPOILER status for the fics, m'k?

Comics Wrap-Up - There's A Special Kind of Comfort In The Darkest Things

 

It's Thursday, this is Dora Reads, it's still looking very 2023 out there, so let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Month In Review(s) - September 2023

September.

(Yes, I know we're halfway through October - I have a lot of metaphorical plates spinning, and sometimes I drop one 😅 )

Iesu Effing Grist, September.

Well, it wasn't the worst month of this year - by a long shot. But it, uh... it crammed a whole lot of stuff in there.

...I am very, very, tired.

Nerd Church - My Kind Of Horror

Warning: this post discusses all kinds of general horror themes (as you probably guessed,) as well as briefly mentioning mental health problems

I love horror - films, books, whatever, I am there.

Perhaps that's a bit stereotypical, given I'm a Queer millennial smol emo child with mental health problems, but I figure being scared of fulfilling stereotypes just gives them more power over me - and stereotypes can shove it, tbh - so here we are! Lol.

Friday Fics Fix - Sam and Bucky Undercover(s)

'They were supposed to be roommates.'

So much the SamBucky! Lol.

OK, so as you can probably tell from that, this is a The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (TFATWS) SamBucky fic. 

Because I remain TFATWS trash.

Comics Wrap-Up - A Sentient Chair

 

It's Thursday, the world is very 2023 out there, let's check out some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Nerd Church - Short Story: Some Space

A short story originally published in the Medium publication 'Promptly Written,' and based on a prompt by Ravyne Hawke.

The prompt:

Write a ‘moody’ piece around the following:

— out of this world
— wonderstruck
— a dark night

Some Space

Path descending towards the Rhondda Valley by Gareth James, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Friday Fics Fix - Izzy Hands Is Being Haunted

 

'His captain just looked sad, like he'd failed Izzy in some way.'

 

OH MY GOD THIS FIC!!!!

krhguergjopwrgm';¬!

...sorry, had to fangirl over the page a bit there. This fic is so good. 

Like - page-turning, stayed up an extra hour to read some more, good.

Comics Wrap-Up - They Have To Kiss At Some Point

 

It's Thursday, somehow we have reached October, so let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Nerd Church - My Spotify Playlist Is Calling Me Out

...Algorithms are rude, actually.

Friday Fics Fix - The Way The Fics Fall

'He had failed them.

He had failed all of them.'

 

 

I haven't rec'd The Umbrella Academy (TUA) in a while - which is strange but, *shrugs* sometimes that's just the way the fics fall, y'know?

Also there seems to be a very Five-centric trend in TUA fics atm (or at least the ones I've come across.) 

Which I don't have any problem with (this week's fic is Five-centric,) but where is my Queer Queen Klaus?! (Lol.)

Comics Wrap-Up - Loving It, TBH

It's Thursday, the world is very 2023 out there, let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Nerd Church - The Writer Diaries: Blogging Ain't Easy!

Blogging takes a lot of time and work.

I don't wanna be one of those 'poor me, blogging is so difficult' bloggers, because at the end of the day, if I didn't love it, I could find plenty of other ways to spend my time.

But bloggers do a whole lot more than you might think.

Friday Fics Fix - Let Me Explain

 

'He’s engulfed in the shadow of midnight wings. In the dim lantern light, Izzy examines the damage.'

 

Yes, I'm rec'ing an Our Flag Means Death (OFMD) fic for the second week in a row.

(You can check out last week's F3 here, if you want.)

It's just what the universe wanted, dearest nerdlets, what can I say? The blogger is beholden to the universe's whims 😅

So, this is the fic the universe gave me for this week. 

I don't know why - presumably someone, somewhere, needs to read it. Which is weird, but we live in a weird world, and I was raised by hippies.

Comics Wrap-Up - Only Jason Momoa Can Make That Hideous Costume Look Good

It's Thursday, this is Dora Reads, so let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Nerd Church - Short Story: The Greatest Thieves

A short story originally published in the Medium publication 'Promptly Written'

The Greatest Thieves

...do not take jewels.

Image by Enrique Meseguer from Pixabay

Friday Fics Fix - Blackbeard's Bedraggled Attack Dog

 

'Izzy stared at the doily, trying to imagine where on the high seas they might have stolen that from. Izzy looked up to find Bonnet looking at him meaningfully, then down at the sandwiches. And back.'

  

First thing's first: it's my birthday today! (15th Sep)

Woo!

If you feel like doing so, you can buy me a birthday coffee here. But don't worry, I'll still love ya if you don't 😘

OK, back to our regularly scheduled fandom-ing:

Yes it's some Our Flag Means Death (OFMD) this week!

It's a well-written fic, and you know I have no choice: I must rec. These are the rules. *nods sagely*

Comics Wrap-Up - Plot-Holes and Pitfalls

 

It's Thursday, September is making me melt (ridiculous heatwave here in the UK,) so let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Nerd Church - To Love A Loki

 

(Warning: this post discusses low self-esteem and self-hatred. It also briefly mentions self-harm.)

With series 2 of Loki creeping ever-closer (eep!), I thought I'd discuss something about series 1 that tends to get missed in the online talky-talks (aka 'The Discourse™.')

Before we go any further though - this post is gonna have SPOILERS for series 1 of Loki.

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERRRRSSS!!!!!

Friday Fics Fix - The Moon Is Real Frickin' Mysterious

 

"He says hi," says Marc. "And he really likes how this alliance is working so far -- new age of the world and all that, very exciting -- but, if you could just...respect the right of the moon to be real frickin' mysterious? Please?"

Before we get into this week's F3 - what do you all think of the new graphic?!

I've been meaning to update the graphic for Friday Fics Fix for a long time - I was still using the one I threw together on a whim around 2015/2016-ish.

I hope you like it!

OK, back to our regularly scheduled fandoming:

This is a Marvel's Moon Knight fic!

I love Moon Knight, and sadly there aren't that many good Moon Knight fics out there (disagree? Please rec!) - but this week's fic is awesome!

Comics Wrap-Up - Yep, They're Dead To Begin With

 

It's Thursday, it's September, this is Dora Reads, and CWU is back back back! So let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Month In Review(s) - August 2023

 

Warning: brief mentions of mental health problems

August.

...August actually wasn't that bad.

Which is freaking awesome as far as I'm concerned!

(In case you don't know: my 2023 has sucked.)

I mean, my mental health hasn't been brilliant - but so much better than in July - and I had a migraine which is really not fun.

But honestly given what this year has been like, and that my migraines are linked to changes in stress levels, it's really not surprising.

7 Asian Historical Novels From My TBR

*This post contains affiliate links for Amazon.com (US) - I receive a small commission from qualifying purchases made using these links*

Since my To-Be-Read (TBR) list is always growing exponentially -

and I may never get the time to read every book that's on it (or even a fraction of all the books that's on there - there's like 1000 books, Send. Help.)

- from time to time I like to throw together a list focussing on some of the diverse titles on there.

Partly to spotlight these books, and partly to remind me what I want to read and why I wanted to read it! 😅

This time around, it's time for a TBR post for some of the Asian historical novels on my list.

These are all (to the best of my knowledge) both set in Asia, and written by Asian authors.

(Obviously, since this is a TBR, I haven't read any of these - they might be amazing, they might be awful, they might be anywhere in between!)