Nerd Church - Celebrate the Small Stuff

You know what I've figured out? Everything means something.

Seriously, butterflies are small, aren't they, and look at how much joy and beauty they bring to the world. Cupcakes are small, and I enjoy the hell out of those.

The small stuff, then, actually feels like the big stuff.

I know that better than most - when you've got depression/anxiety, you sometimes feel like even the tiniest problems are an ocean away from solvable.

A chip on your favourite mug is just proof that the world hates you. An awkward conversation with someone you haven't spoken to in years is proof (to you, at least,) that you fail as a person. Not being able to find something you're looking for at the shops is proof that you can't be trusted with even the smallest of tasks.



But, somehow, these are the parts of the small stuff that you have to leave behind. Or at least downgrade in your head from BIG RED PROBLEM, to 'meh, that's a pain - but I can fix it.'

I know that that's easier said than done. But I find one of the ways to do it is by paying more attention to the good small stuff.

Cats have the sweetest little noses. Cupcakes are tasty. Butterflies are beautiful. You have other mugs. There's other stuff at the shops.

via GIPHY

(Because... Internet.)

And your small victories?

The fact that you got through that conversation (terribly, awkwardly, but you got through it, unless you're still talking, of course.)

The fact that you found something to smile at today - that bird, that flower, that book.

The fact that you did something - no matter how small - towards some bigger goal.

via GIPHY

(Who doesn't need Brendon Urie being random in gif-format?)

 

Over the last few weeks, I've been lucky enough to reach a few milestones with this blog:

• Over 500 followers on Twitter
• Over 10k page-views
• My first followers on Bloglovin

And you know what? This may still be a small blog - but it's growing. And I did this myself. And I'm going to celebrate it.

And thank you to everyone - honestly.

I don't think you understand just how much a simple 'like,' follow, retweet, or page-view, can help bring a smile to my face. It's proof that there are people out there who care. And that rocks.

(Special mentions for my lovely fellow-bloggers, for my bestest bestie, and for my No 1 Twitter follower in terms of 'likes,' Arbind Paonam.) 

It may seem small, but the small things? They matter.



Nerd Church is a weekly post where I go off on one about... pretty much whatever is going on in my head that week (but I like to fancy it up by calling it 'issues.') Feel free to continue the discussion, but as always, please link back here ;)



Like this post? Try these:

• Nerd Church - The Importance of Chillaxation
• Nerd Church - What To Do When The Mean Girl Finds Success

Review Time! - Swan Boy by Nikki Sheehan

Title: Swan Boy

Author: Nikki Sheehan

Genre: Kids, Contemporary, Magic Realism

Amazon: UK - USA

A few starting notes:

I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher, Rock the Boat, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I was offered an ARC of Swan Boy by the publishers (who are pretty nice people, all in all, but I'm not going to let that affect my review.)

It sounded interesting, so I decided to take them up on the offer.

uifhngionriondfkgnrnhtlg - I AM SO GLAD I AGREED TO READ AND REVIEW THIS BOOK!

Premise:

Johnny's dealing with a lot right now: new house, new school, looking after little brother Mojo, and trying to get over the death of his father.

So what Johnny doesn't need is a bully to contend with.

He also doesn't need all this stuff with swans to deal with right now.

But... swans... there's something about them... more specifically, there's something about them and Johnny. Together.

Things are going to get interesting.

Best bits:

OH MY GOD THIS BOOK!

Where do I start? Where do I even start?

Basically, I loved this book. It is excellent. The characters were fantastic and the plot was interesting (as well as pretty bizarre in places - and I like me some bizarre-ness.)

Little Mojo, Johnny's brother, damn near broke my heart at various points.

Somehow, Sheehan perfectly shows us this hurt and confused little boy, in the heart-wrenching way of a 5-year-old who's lost his father.

The magical aspects are beautiful. The weaving into the story of the swans and the music and the dancing worked so well.

But the main strength of this book? The writing.

Sheehan's writing is beautiful. Worthy of comparison to The Book Thief (UK - US,) in its lyricality, its beauty, and the strength of its sparse prose.

If you read this blog a lot you may have noticed me mention sparse prose.

If you don't have a clue what I'm on about, let me explain: some writers are capable of using the words they don't say without over-burdening the words that they do.

Simple sentences that carry the world in the white spaces. That's what I mean by 'sparse prose.'

Not many people can carry it off: Markus Zusak does it, Joe Hill does it, and, weirdly, James Franco does it (although in verse not prose.)

Turns out, Nikki Sheehan can do it too.

Not so great bits:

Bad points about this book...

Umm...

Well, there are some issues which could upset people: bullying, isolation, bereavement, and a dash of violence.

The swan poo bit on the first page kind of grossed me out.

Some people may disagree with the way Johnny deals with the bullying, I suppose.

Other than that? I honestly can't think of anything else. I actually wish that I could so that I could pad this section out a bit more...

Verdict:

READ THE BOOK.

(Really, what else is there to say? It was that good.)

It's probably appropriate for ages 11+

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads – Author's Site

Liked this post? Try these:

• Review Time! - Midnight by Jacqueline Wilson
• Review Time! (Yay!) - After Tomorrow by Gillian Cross

Friday Fics Fix! - The Dark of the Night

I'm sorry, my dearest nerdlets, but we all knew that it couldn't last.

 

 

The last few weeks of 'clean' fanfiction (I just realised that I rarely use the word 'clean' on my blog... yeah... I'm so going to hell,) have been a welcome change.



But now, my friends, the idealism is over.

via GIPHY

 

 

We are back to the traditional fanfiction fare (which essentially means sex, sex, and more sex - a word that certainly does appear on this blog. See? I'm going to hell.)



In fact, this week's fic features rape. It gets quite graphic in places, but isn't presented as a good thing - more a trauma that needs to be overcome.

via GIPHY

So let's get this clear:

THIS FIC IS FOR 18+ ONLY. ONLY.

You heard me, and now your parents can't yell at me. Because I warned you.



This is CapsLok (also known as FrostShield - but let's face it, CapsLok sounds so much better.)

(Fangirling note: CapsLok, or FrostShield, is a Loki and Captain America sexual and/or romantical relationship.)

This fic is actually very sweet (once you get beyond the Very. Bad. Things.) Basically, the Marvel Comics villain Nightmare is p**sed off at Steve for some reason.

I assume, since this is part of a series, that there was a reason given in previous fics for Nightmare's p**sed-off-ness. Maybe not. Who knows? Just go with it.

Anyway, Nightmare decides to take it out on Loki - who's now Steve's boyfriend - because messing with loved ones is part of the whole villainy thing.



I really loved the whole focus on Steve-n-Loki's relationship.

via GIPHY

 

 

 

The fic author clearly doesn't ignore the fact that Loki is pretty messed up emotionally and mentally, and there's references to previous events in the fic-series for people who actually bother to read things in order.

I love, love, loved the support that Steve gave him.



So, this week's fic is:

Help by Oudemia

I enjoyed it - and actually thought it was quite well-written. But then, with the amount of fanfiction I read this week, I'm just happy when things are in sentences that I can understand.

Which this is! So, yeah, I liked this one. Check it out if it sounds interesting to you.




Like this post? Try these:

• Friday Fics Fix! - Diamond In The Rough
• Friday Fics Fix! - Try a Li'l Tenderness

Comics Wrap Up - Ever Since We Met

Film Trailers


Couple more X-men: Apocalypse teaser trailers/clips/whatever you wanna call 'ems for ya this week.

POOR KURT!!!! NIGHTCRAWLER IS SO SWEET AND YOU'RE BEING SO HORRIBLE TO HIM. LEAVE HIM ALONE. NOW.

HE'S A SWEETIE, SO YOU LEAVE HIM THE F**K ALONE!!!!!!!

This one was also pretty cool, despite the fact that I'm not much of a Cyclops fan (he can burn through anything... except his eyelids or red-glass. The logic is missing here.)



Film


Just to let you all know - I finally got to see Captain America: Civil War. And I loved it!

People who follow me on Twitter might have noticed that I wasn't having a great day depression-wise on Monday, so thank whoever invented best friends, pizza, and superheroes, that I got to have all three!





Single Issues


I read Avengers #1 The Heroic Age (UK - US) from the 2010-2012 run.

It was enjoyable - although there was much meddling with the time-stream (because that always goes well, doesn't it...) and references to every weird-a*s big Marvel event of the 00s. Of which there were many.

Plus, it was the Bucky-is-Captain-America period, and also includes Steve Rogers.

Just go with it. Honestly, just go with it. It's easier that way. You question wtf is going on in comics and your head will explode.




Other Stuff


I put my two-pennies in on why superhero movies need to be a force for change, with my post 'Be Brave, Be Bold' yesterday, which was at least partially inspired by me going to see Captain America: Civil War.

-0-



Katie Cunningham @ Women Write About Comics wrote an interesting post about LGBTQ+ superheroines - and how younger characters shouldn't always have to be straight.

-0-

Also @ Women Write About Comics is a post by Desiree Rodriguez about the absence of developed maternal characters in superhero shows and movies.

I agree with a lot of the points Desiree Rodriguez makes, but have to argue with her assessment of Agents of Shield's Jaiying in particular, which I think she's over-simplified here.

There are various spoilers in this post for pretty much all of the TV shows/films mentioned, so skip out the bits about ones you haven't seen yet ;)

-0-

I read this post from TV Series Finale (via Forever Young Adult,) explaining that Marvel's Agent Carter is unlikely to be renewed for another series.

Agent Carter is one kick-a*s chick who I truly look up to - and her hair isn't magically OK after a fight.

And now you're telling me that's not 'popular' enough for you?

When are we ever going to be allowed such an utter gem again? Huh?

-0-

Johanna @ Comics Worth Reading gave us her fairly eloquent take on Captain America: Civil War. She makes a lot of uber-relevant points.





Like this post? Try these:

• Be Brave, Be Bold
• Comics Wrap Up - Run Neon Tiger



Be Brave, Be Bold

Imagine the scene: you're sitting in the cinema, with a mate or two.

You chomp on popcorn and slurp at your drink.

You hope beyond hope that the annoying kids behind you will settle down after the trailers (they won't: they will kick your chair, climb over the seats, and talk loudly, but you can hope.)

The film starts. (The kids don't really settle down. Dammit.)

It's a superhero movie - a big one. The big one of the year (although, there are at least four films vying for that title.)

Before long, you're completely engrossed in the story. The bad guys are being bad. The good guys are being good. Stuff blows up. People get hurt, mainly by the good guys.

A dude approaches our hero. They've been fighting, side by side (in a battle which must've cost millions to film.)

The new dude got a bit banged-up in the fight, and title-hero is feeling moodily guilty.

"Hey man," new dude says. "It wasn't your fault."

"It was," title-hero replies, "but thanks..." he sighs heavily.

(The kids behind you are throwing popcorn. You really wish their parents would stop pretending not to notice.)

"Don't," new dude whispers...  and plants a kiss on title-hero's lips.



But the world doesn't end. The kids' parents don't scream. Everyone carries on with their lives.


Could this happen? I mean, really? Could this be a reality some day? (And hopefully someday soon.) Or are the studios too terrified to let one of their main properties be gay?

Because it really gets to something when we're more willing to shoe-horn in a generic blonde female (who deserves to have more character development than she's given, might I add, *cough* Civil War *cough*) than to let a leading man kiss another man in a blockbuster.

As things stand? I really can't see any of the money-making superheroes being permitted to be LGBTQ+ - on page or on screen.

But the amount of fanfiction (yes, I know, I rabbit on about fanfiction a lot, but I have an actual point here, promise) which shows main characters in same-sex relationships shows that there is an interest in change.

You can dismiss this as the wish of a minority of fans if you want - but the amount of fanfiction readers and writers that are out there writing and reading about same-sex relationships and LGBTQ+ issues runs into the millions.

Are the big studios really ready to dismiss the voices of change coming out of fandom? Are the publishers?



Big changes usually start with the comics.

Yes, we now have LGBTQ+ comic-book characters: Mystique, Deadpool, Iceman, Daken, Hulkling, Wiccan, Northstar, Miss America, Loki...

But even Mystique, Deadpool, Loki, and Iceman, are portrayed as straight on film (although there is the possibility of change for Deadpool).

And the others? Great characters, but not ones that even the casual fans will know, let alone the general public.

The lists of LGBT superheroes and villains (although a lot of these 'villains' could be considered anti-heroes,) on Wikipedia are woefully small. Even worse are their scarcity of notable figures.



Would it really be such a shock to have Captain America kiss Bucky Barnes?

...on page or on screen?

Maybe it would be. I'm sure the haters would come out in droves. There are some countries which would probably ban the film.

There would be uproar in several quarters. Free publicity, at the very least. (Moi? Cynical? Pshaw!)

But aren't superheroes supposed to be brave? Aren't they supposed to challenge injustices and support people being themselves (unless yourself wants to take over the world... I suppose.)

So, superheroes, it's time to be brave, and its time to be bold.

It doesn't have to be Cap and Bucky - they're just an example.

But it has to be one of the money-makers, one of the heroes with a following of their own.

It has to be someone on the level of Iron Man, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Thor, et. al. (ooh, look at me with my fancy Latin abbreviations,) or it'll just be the publishers and studios hedging their bets with a less valuable property. That's a cop-out.

Let it be big, and let it be soon. Superheroes are supposed to lead the way forward. And this is the way forward - a brave and bold strike for equality, love, and a shared humanity.

Let's be brave. Let's be bold. Let's change the world.





Like this post? Try this:

• How Superhero TV Shows Are Leading the Way for Diversity

How to Deal With Book Amnesia

'Have I read this before? Maybe. Seems familiar... argh, a generic title! A well-known author! A vague blurb! HAVE I READ THIS OR HAVEN'T I?!'


'Ooh, I've read that series! Which book am I on? Ummm... I wanna say the fourth? Maybe the fifth? The third? The one where thingummy comes into to it...'


'Yeah, I've read that book. I wanna say vampires? Werewolves? Oh, of course, assassins - no, I have read it. I must have... I've marked it as 'read' and rated it on Goodreads.'


'No, I don't think I've read that... I reviewed it?!?! Man, I really don't remember this at all.'

Does any of this seem familiar? If so, my fellow book-amnesiacs, you are not alone, much as I wish you were.

The problem is, I read so much that the boundary-lines tend to become a bit blurred. I mix up details, titles, series, or just plain can't remember the damned thing.

Plus, I've asked everyone I know, and no-one can remember what happens at the end of Oliver Twist. No-one. On this planet. I'm certain of this.

After (spoiler) Nancy goes to the big wh*re-house in the sky, everyone just has white-noise about the rest of the details.





But help, my dear nerdlets, is at hand! Here are some slightly-sarcastic tips on dealing with book amnesia!

• Look back over your Goodreads - you might have marked the book or series as 'read' or 'to-read,' (or if you have a blog, you might have actually reviewed it... oops.) Checking the details may spring-board your memory. Or not. Whatever.

• Ask someone else. My mother asks me whether she's read books from the library before. I tend to remember them better than she does. I think this is possibly because she's not paying attention.

• Find a list of the series online and work out what happens when and where. You'll then be able to figure out which books you've read. Probably. Being honest, this doesn't always work. I can never remember which Kathy Reichs books I've read, no matter how much I love them or how many times I read the blurbs.

via GIPHY

• Just re-read it. Sometimes it's easier. If you remember it half-way through, you can always stop.

• Look at different versions of the cover - maybe you can't remember because it looked different?!?! Right?!?!

via GIPHY

• Ban authors from naming books generic titles like 'Blood' or formulaic titles like 'City of...' - it makes it much harder to tell the damned things apart, and really, you're authors - come up with a different title before I mix your book up with the other guy's. Please.

• Ban authors from naming books different titles in different same-language countries. Dudes, I get if it if it's a translation, but giving a book two English titles? Just confusing.

via GIPHY

• Also ban them from releasing a new edition of the same book with a different title. (What did I ever do to you?)

• Look up the ending to Oliver Twist. Re-write it a hundred times. Stick it on post-it notes around the house. And then forget it anyway. BECAUSE NO-ONE KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF OLIVER TWIST.

Like this post? Try these:

• My Contemporary YA TBR
• Books On My 'To-Buy' List

Nerd Church - Use Your Vote, Raise Your Voice

We had some elections here this week.

One thing became abundantly clear to me - not enough of us vote.

Because, while the turnout was what is considered 'good,' it was still under 50% of voters. If less than half of the people are speaking - how do you know what the majority wants?

 

 

What really disgusted me though was that UKIP won 7 assembly seats.

Maybe that doesn't sound like that much to you. We only have 60 seats in the Welsh Assembly. That means that UKIP holds over 10% of seats. They have never held an Assembly seat before.

As an explanation to you non-British folks: UKIP are a bunch of bigoted idiots who think Britain should leave the European Union because... foreigners.

And apparently foreigners are bad. That is the extent of their logic.

They claim to not be racist, homophobic, sexist, and/or bigoted. I don't believe them.

Their leader is Nigel Farage - think Donald Trump levels of douche-bag-ish-ness, with more tea and visits to the pub, and the likeness of a toad. Oh, and more cunning.

Part of me really doesn't understand how UKIP can be voted in in Wales - their values are so very different to ours, that it just doesn't seem like a good fit.

In fact, to me it seems an affront to the blood of the land that these idiots dare to represent it.

I could understand Welsh people voting Conservative more easily than I can understand them voting UKIP (and every inch of my red socialist blood shudders at the thought of voting Conservative - but at least that's a choice I can understand people making.)

UKIP stand for intolerance. They stand for non-inclusiveness. They blame litter on immigrants. That is not my Wales.



But if less than half of voters actually vote, then how can we stop the far-right?

Truth is, we can't. Because the far-right is excessively good at frog-marching people down to the polling station.

So we need to vote. Everyone, everywhere - not just here in Wales, or here in the UK.

 

 

 

Speak up, and make sure your voice is heard.

Otherwise, it'll be hello Prime Minister Farage and President Trump - and we'll end up sending our children to fight in the Hunger Games.

Actually, the Hunger Games will probably be preferable to what those two rich prats have in store...


(Dear USA: I must point out that most of the rest of the world would very much prefer if Trump did not become President. Respectfully yours, Everyone.)






Nerd Church is a weekly post where I rant about discuss various issues. Feel free to continue the discussion, but as always, please link back here, and be respectful :)



Like this post? Try these:

• Nerd Church - More Tolerance, Please?
• Nerd Church - A Rant Of Moral Magnitude