The Month In Review(s) - March 2016

Ahhh, spring and March and books and reviews :)

Check out all the books I've reviewed this month:

Kids

Midnight by Jacqueline Wilson - contemporary, chick lit
After Tomorrow by Gillian Cross - dystopian

Young Adult

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell - fantasy, paranormal, LGBTQ+ (M/M)

Adult

Mr Mercedes by Stephen King - crime, thriller
Orlando by Virginia Woolf - classics, historical fiction, LGBT*Q+
The True and Splendid History of the Harristown Sisters by Michelle Lovric - historical fiction
The Zoo Father by Pascale Petit - poetry

Graphic Novels

Adulthood is a Myth: A Sarah's Scribbles Collection by Sarah Andersen - humour
The Beauty, Volume 1 - dystopian, horror, sci-fi

Non-fiction

Everyday Sexism by Laura Bates

Friday Fics Fix! - Try a Li'l Tenderness

As you all probably know by now if you've spent as much time down the fanfiction rabbit-hole as I have, there's a lot of sex in fanfiction.

So, it'll come as no surprise when I once again point out that this week's fic is for ages 18+ only. I'm not going to be held responsible if you ignore my warnings.

This week's selection is a piece of FrostShield (aka CapsLok) PWP.

(Fangirl notes:

FrostShield/CapsLok: A Captain America and Loki romantic-al relationship.

PWP: Plot, What Plot; Porn Without Plot; Porn With Plot; etc, etc. Basically, all-out porn.)

So, why did I pick this?

Not for its plot value - there is essentially no plot to speak of.

No, I picked this because it's such a beautifully-and-sexily-written love-scene. It's tender and it's hot.

What we have here is sex with emotion and feeling - something you don't find very often, even in mainstream fiction.

This week's fic then is:

Adoration by Mazuku

Well done, Mazuku, I doff my metaphorical fangirling hat to you. :)



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Comics Wrap Up - Better the Devil You Know

Graphic Novels

This week I read Golem (UK here - US here) by Lorenzo Ceccotti (also known as LRNZ) in its recent English translation - this is a dystopian manga with a blending of Eastern and Western styles.

I had mixed feelings about it - but can't deny the beauty of some of the artwork. Review to follow within the next few weeks. :)

(Is it me, or is there a lot of dystopia in graphic novels lately? ...Maybe it's just the ones that I read.)


Single Issues

Daredevil: Yellow #1 (UK here - US here) is the beginning of a retelling of Daredevil's origins (not the being blind bit, the deciding to fight crime as a vigilante in a yellow and red suit with lil horns bit - after all, it takes more than a blinding to incite you to beat up gangsters in the middle of New York. Takes a bit more motivation, and all that.)

The Daredevil costume only really comes in at the very end here, and is in its original jaunty yellow and red form, instead of totally red.

Still, it's better than a lot of early superhero costumes (the Green Arrow originally looked like he was a reject from Robin Hood: Men in Tights.)

It was an entertaining comic, adequately illustrated, and to-the-point, though it didn't really wow me. But then, it was a first issue, plenty of warming-up to do.


Other Stuff

Smirking Revenge over at Confessions of a Book Whore gave us her take on the Civil War trailer. (And if you're interested, you can read my take on the same here.)

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I read Episode 1: A Young Maiden's Curse of the uber-talented Jessi Sheron's webcomic The Evil Queen.

I highly recommend that you check it out - Sheron is definitely one to watch.

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The Writer Diaries: Micropoetry - March 2016

So, I came across micropoetry when faffing around on Twitter... and me being me, I kind of dove right in there.

Of course, then I figured out that since I tend to write directly into the tweet box (I know that's not normally how it's done but meh, that's the way I roll sometimes,) I was seriously in danger of losing the random bits and pieces of micropoetry I throw onto Twitter in the general clutter of my timeline/profile page/whatever it is you call it on Twitter.

Just to keep something of a record of my random writings then, I figured it'd be a good idea to collate them once a month into a Micropoetry Wrap-up type-thingummy.

Here's what I wrote in March (and one day in February,) -



February 29th

I think my heart is breaking darling
but I don't know why
every time I refresh the page the words remain


March 3rd

#MotherEarthsLastWords
Were ones of regret.
She gave her children everything
And they never loved her.
She still loves them.

March 4th

The Truth? The Truth is
That you never knew.
Every breath in my lungs?
It was for you.


March 8th

We still face
Obvious & subtle discrimination
Major & minor inequalities
Every day,
Needing to scream - this is 2016!

March 11th

do this
do that
end up being judged
whatever you do
just the way things go


March 12th

tomorrow I will see you
I wonder if you'll recognise
the one you left behind to die
guess I'm stronger than you thought


March 13th

do you feel sometimes
like people need to learn
that there are other people in this world too?


March 17th

Hello, my dear Shadow Man!
Yes, I love you still -
Though I can't see my Shadow Man,
I know he's with me still.

March 18th

I asked for your #heart,
You told me no.
Don't go, dear Shadow Man,
Please don't go.

March 28th

I throw words out into the dark
Like tiny fireflies
Hoping to spread light

March 29th

I love you, dear stranger,
Just for being you.
Wherever you may be,
You may count on the love
Of a stranger like me



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Review! - Everyday Sexism by Laura Bates

Title: Everyday Sexism

Author: Laura Bates

Genre: Non-fiction

Release Date: 5 Apr 2016 (This Edition)

Amazon: UK - USA

A few starting notes:

I received a free digital review copy of this book from publishers St. Martin's Griffin via NetGalley. NetGalley provides review copies from publishers in exchange for fair and honest reviews.

The opportunity to review this book came up ahead of the release of a new special hardcover library edition from Thomas Dunne Books for St. Martin's Griffin.

Now, from the start, I'm going to be honest - this is the most difficult review I have ever written.

You know why? Because this book is about sexism and feminism - and, apart from the fact that I could talk about this book for literally hours (this is a fairly long review, just a warning,) people tend to get just a little bit f**king crazy on both sides of this debate.

So, at the risk of people yelling at me/misinterpreting what I'm saying, let's give this a shot!

Premise:

You think sexism doesn't exist in the 21st Century? Think again.

This book, from the founder of the Everyday Sexism Project, Laura Bates, sets out to make clear what women all over the world have to face every single day.

Best bits:

Laura Bates doesn't strike me as a f**king crazy sort of person - she strikes me as pretty cool, all in all. She's funny, chatty, and has a nice writing style - she's also hugely passionate about the project, and that passion shines through throughout.

You know the scary part about this book? I wasn't surprised by most of it.

Being catcalled or wolf-whistled? Been there. Being felt-up or leered at? Been there too. Having my opinions dismissed because I'm a woman? Damn right I've been there.


The thing is - I agree with what Ms Bates says. We brush it off.

We don't make a fuss. And in that way, it's made to seem normal - something we should just learn to live with; which, in 2016, is disgraceful.

We wonder if we're over-reacting, or even imagining things: I can remember a more mature dude leaning over while walking past me in the street, in order to look down my jumper - I didn't say anything, because what if he was just... I don't know, losing his balance?

It sounds silly, but he was walking alongside a lady of about the same age, who was right next to him, and didn't react at all.

We were the only people walking there (I live in a semi-rural town, complete with lack of foot-traffic in the middle of the day,) so I figured I must have misinterpreted a simple stumble, or have been imagining things, or whatever.

But then, I'm short with relatively ample breasts. It's not the first time someone's taken advantage of the height difference to 'lose their balance' around me, and it wasn't the last either.

Bates uses facts and figures to put across her views admirably, eloquently, and logically. Even when you don't agree with her on a point or two, it's easy to see where she's coming from - and to respect her opinions as valid.

The statistics are truly disgusting. The violence against women, the attitudes towards women, and the discrimination against women, is simply unacceptable.

And the interviews, tweets, project stories - they all combine to create a picture of what women go through on a daily basis, simply because they're women.

Women in the workplace, in higher education, online, still have to battle against out-dated attitudes in order to get on in life.

Anyone who thinks that sexism no longer exists needs only to read some of Ms Bates' personal experiences - the horrendous online abuse she has received, the actual fears for her safety - to realise that sexism is all too horrifically real in the modern age.

And, personally, I'd like to thank Ms Bates for all that she's had to go through to give women a voice.

Not so great bits:

I don't agree with everything in this book - if I did, I'd actually be Laura Bates, and then the name on my birth certificate would be wrong.

Nothing wrong with a little respectful debate though - something I'm sure Ms Bates would agree with.

Just for example: I think it's ok to refer to people as dudes and chicks. And, if I'm feeling in a particularly insulting mood, I'd be more than willing to refer to people as b**ches, just as I refer to them as b*****ds. I'm an equal opportunities foul-mouth.

I also think that when it comes to media representation of women, that, sometimes, the portrayal of women as being sexually desirable is acceptable in context - just as all Marvel fangirls have, at some point, admired Captain America's a**.

At the same time, I totally agree that there needs to be less objectification and over-sexualisation in general. It's the amount, the intention, the taste in which it was done - all, unfortunately, very wibbly-lines kind of things.

For me, it all comes back to context: was this important to the plot? How much screen-time/screen-area was focused on the sexualisation?

Did it belittle the gender of the character? Is it out of character? Was it gratuitous? Was this pose even physically possible?

But there's definitely a point in what Ms Bates says - it's everywhere.

When looking for stock photos I could use to 'break up' the text of this review a little, I typed 'women' into stock photo sites.

The amount of beds and underwear involved (as well as legs, thighs, butts, etc.) made me wonder if I'd accidentally found my way onto a soft-porn site (I hadn't.)

This is a legitimate problem - we just have to be very careful not to stifle art and creativity while we're at it.

The book is mainly focussed on the UK and US, though it does mention other countries at various points; this may make it less interesting to those who don't live/have interest in either the US or Britain.

I also got a little over-whelmed by the switching between US and UK, and the amount of statistics - but I struggle with both geography and stats due to suspected dyscalculia, so it may honestly just have been me.

This book is difficult reading - simply because of the amount of rape and violence discussed - both through personal stories and statistics. It's something that had to be written - but it doesn't make for pleasant reading.

Verdict:

Everyone should read this book. Every man and every woman. Because, despite the fact that I disagreed with a few minor points, this is an important book. A book that tells a truth we need to hear.

I mean it. Everyone should read this book. Every man. Every woman. Every parent. Every grandparent. Everyone.

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads – Everyday Sexism Project on Twitter

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The Playlist Shuffle Tag

I was tagged to do this by the lovely Emma-Jane at The Book Crunch. Check out her blog, it's very cool :)

Here are the rules:

• Put on your music (either on your phone, computer, etc.)
• Press shuffle
• List the first fifteen songs that play

I'll link to Youtube, and also to Amazon US and UK in case you feel like buying any of this (I'm an Amazon associate.)

My taste in music tends to be quite rock/punk/emo (by which, obviously, I mean awesome!) so, fair warning. :)

Also, there's probably a lot of swearing in various places.

1. The Killers - Miss Atomic Bomb | Amazon: UK - US
2. Brandon Flowers - Only the Young | Amazon: UK - US
3. Panic! At the Disco - This is Gospel | Amazon: UK - US
4. Panic! At the Disco - Miss Jackson (feat. Lolo) | Amazon: UK - US
5. Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know? | Amazon: UK - US
6. Foo Fighters - The Pretender | Amazon: UK - US
7. The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army | Amazon: UK - US
8. The Killers - Just Another Girl | Amazon: UK - US
9. My Chemical Romance - Welcome To the Black Parade | Amazon UK - US
10. Thirty Seconds to Mars - The Kill (Bury Me) | Amazon UK - US
11. Linkin Park - Numb | Amazon UK - US
12. Foo Fighters - Learn To Fly | Amazon UK - US
13. The Offspring - The Kids Aren't Alright | Amazon UK - US
14. Green Day - Basket Case | Amazon UK - US
15. System of a Down - Chop Suey | Amazon UK - US

I've been listening to most of these since I was a teenager :) Most of the nerds at my school loved rock, so I was in good company.

There's honestly not a single song there that I'm embarrassed of - and if you haven't heard some of them, then what are you waiting for?! :)


Right, I have no idea who to tag - so if you want to do it, do it!


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Nerd Church - The World Keeps Turning

I argued with myself a lot about what I should write about for this week's Nerd Church - Easter? Or Brussels?

I decided to go with both. (Bare with me, I think this will work!)

Life

Christians use this time of year to celebrate rebirth - as did their pagan ancestors, via bunny/hare goddesses such as Eostre. And similar metaphors/personifications for the things that bunnies (ahem) do.

It's the time of year where there are cute fluffy lambs, cute fluffy chicks, and flowers beginning to bloom.

Death

But life doesn't come without death. And death is unhappy, unpleasant, heart-wrenching.

This week we were reminded, through the blood and tears of Brussels, that death is often cruel, unexpected, seemingly nonsensical.

Yet Christians see death at this time of year, and say that it is not the end.

Maybe you agree with this, maybe you don't.

But the fact remains that life goes on - the flowers that were dead in the winter rise again in spring. Children are born in the same hospitals where the elderly leave this world.

In Celtic tradition, the beginning is the end, and the end is the beginning. Both are the same - existing and not existing at once.

That's why Celtic crosses have a circle around the middle and intricate knot designs to prevent endings. Stuff that ended wasn't good in Celtic religion, and if these new Christian folks wanted them to take up the cross, then the symbol needed a PR job.

We actually still use Celtic crosses in a lot of our cemeteries in Wales, Scotland, Ireland, etc., (although they tend to be less intricate than the one in the picture here.)

OK... I've gone off on one about Welsh culture again, haven't I? Focus Cee, focus.

My Point

My point is that even after the most devastating events, life goes on. There is hope. There is love.

The way to spoil that though? By turning instead to hate.

The internet was full of hate after the attacks - the hurt hate of those who wish to hurt others in return, the blind hate of those following others' example and repeating words which scar and hurt and cause yet more hate to fester.

Hate just teaches others to hate (- as was shown when Microsoft's AI, Tay, became a racist Nazi sexbot after less than 24 hours exposure to Twitter.)

Isn't that what terrorists want? For hate to breed more hate? For death to result only in more hurt, more death?

Hate can never be conquered by more hate - it just prolongs the cycle. But if you turn instead to love - well, that's the way forward.

So Happy Easter! Try to be nice to each other.


Nerd Church is a weekly post where I ramble on about various issues of various types. Feel free to continue the discussion, but please link back here.


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