Mini-Review! - God Help the Child by Toni Morrison

Title: God Help the Child

Author: Toni Morrison

Genre: Contemporary, Magic Realism* (*ish)

Amazon: UK - USA

Verdict:

This was a pretty damned awesome book.

And, I'm told, by pretty much everyone, that Toni Morrison's other books are even better - so I'm totally going to check out more!

This follows Bride, who always felt unloved by her mother, Sweetness, as she tries to deal with her falling-apart relationship with boyfriend Booker.

It's really quite difficult to explain what this book is about - except childhood, and how it relates to everything else.

Because Bride's childhood, Booker's, even Sweetness', affects everything that comes after. And in Rain, the girl adopted by the hippie couple, we see the current face of a traumatised child.

Huge warning guys: child abuse is a big theme here.

There is child abuse of every type in this book - emotional, physical, and sexual. There's even some child murder.

It's handled well - but I figured I'd let you know in case that's going to be a problem for you.

There's also a butt-tonne of swearing.

Generally though? This book is fantastically well written, and infinitely readable.

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads

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Nerd Church - We Are Strong

It's been a rough week for millions of people. There is nothing I can say to change that.

America's new president is a symptom of the worst of what people are capable of. There's always been bad cr*p in this world, my dearest nerdlets.

BUT life is not all grimness and despair. I promise you.

Because just as there are millions of people who have done something terrible, there are millions of people who will stand up and make themselves heard, make themselves counted, and make the world a better place.

Sometimes it seems like I spend a lot of time on this blog combatting the ills of the world.

But if that's what I have to do, I will do it. I will keep typing until it's not needed any more.

Because I'll let you into a secret - we are strong.

All those who are scared, who are worried - we are here for you.

All those who are marginalised, victimised, persecuted - we will stand up for what's right in your name.

via GIPHY

There is good in this world. I strongly believe that.

Please never give up, because there are people out there sending you all the love that they can.

There are people who care.

There are people who will do everything that they can to turn this world around. Join us. And make the world beautiful.




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• Friday Fics Fix! - For You, America

Friday Fics Fix - For You, America

OK, I think we've all had about enough of the curse of 2016 now.

But on the plus side, 2016 is also the year we're not gonna let the as*holes win. We may have lost some serious battles, but the war? The war is ours guys.

(And if you have no idea what I'm talking about? Go look at... pretty much any news website or channel.)

So, let's have a piece of fanfiction that shows the good in the world, yes?

(And if you think that what happened in the US this week is good, then we can't be friends sweetheart.)

via GIPHY

You know the hero that somehow always ends up pulling me through the sh**? It's Captain America.

Now, Cap, in the Marvel Universe (aside from the recent Hydra Nazification, which I refuse to accept as canon because - no,) is a figure of hope and rebellion.

Yep, Cap's a rebel. Hence Civil War. #TrueStory.

via GIPHY

Cap's also great at pointing out when people are subverting the symbols that they claim they're standing up for.

And Cap? Well, the guy who, in his very first appearance, punched Hitler in the face, would probably be smacking Trump right now. (And would never turn into a Hydra Nazi #JustSaying.)

via GIPHY

So, let's have Cap standing up to some homophobia shall we?

This fic is a little clunky in places, but read it through to the end. It's worth it, if only for the last 2 lines.

So, this week's fic is:

Darling, Where's My Suit? by honestlydarkprincess

Enjoy, I'll see you next week for more fanfiction.

Remember that there are millions of people throughout the world wishing you all the luck and love in the world right now.






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Comics Wrap-Up - Something Strange

Film Trailers

A bunch more Doctor Strange trailers/clips for you guys:

I actually saw Doctor Strange on Monday - it was awesome BUT there are two things which CAN'T be ignored:

Tilda Swinton's character is whitewashed. (I love her, but it's true.)

And this film fails Bechdel.

via GIPHY

Get your act together Marvel.

-0-

And there's a new Wonder Woman trailer:

Looks pretty cool, and clears up that this is supposed to be WW1 not WW2.

(The uniforms still look more WW2 in places guys, I know, but *sighs* anachronisms)

-0-

And the trailer for Logan came out last week!

This is the wonderful Hugh Jackman's last film as Wolverine :'O

It looks really awesome, and I always love me an Old Man Logan storyline.

(Oh, and the reason he looks older than Prof X? That's because he is older than Prof X - see X-Men Origins: Wolverine for details ;P )

Single Issues

This week I read Suicide Squad #1 of the 2011-2014 run. (US link)

One thing in particular I liked about this issue? Diablo doesn't speak much English in stressful situations (because why the hell would he?!)

Graphic Novels

This week I reviewed Who Killed Kurt Cobain?: The Story of Boddah by Nicolas Otero (UK - US.)

It's an interesting read, but I did have some issues with it. Check out my review here.










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Reading Roald Dahl in Welsh (Part 2)

You may remember, dearest nerdlets, that I'm attempting to read 5 books in the Welsh language in 2016, using translations of Roald Dahl.

Why Roald Dahl books? Well, a) he's a Welsh author, what could be better? and b) I already know the story, so am less likely to get completely and utterly confused.

So, this time around, it was Matilda.

Turns out Matilda is a damn sight harder than Moddion Rhyfeddol George (George's Marvellous Medicine) - so thank God I know the story in my sleep!

The translator, once again, was Elin Meek, and once again she did a great job.

Since the language is more complex though, this took me a lot longer to read than Moddion Rhyfeddol George - it did feel just a little bit like I was wading through it.

Still, all the more time to notice the quirks of the language that come with reading a book in translation.

Honestly, I really like reading books in more than one language - it definitely brings different aspects to the fore, and makes you look at things through a different lens.

Plus, you notice funny things that make you laugh nerdishly - like that one of the Welsh words for 'that' is hynny - which sounds like honey. This made a lot of sentences with Miss Honey far jollier and more rhyming than they were in the original.

Oh, and another quirk of Welsh? We have no literal word for 'rat.'

Rats are not rats in Welsh, they are simply 'big mice.' Interesting enough to begin with, no?

Combine that with imagery, and, long story short, Mr Wormwood in the Welsh version of Matilda is, in fact, 'big-mouse-faced,' rather than rat-faced ;)

Mouse = llygoden
Rat = llygoden fawr






I personally think this rat/big mouse debacle is a significant act of denial on the part of my ancestors:

"Oi, butt, was tha' a rat?"

"Noooo.... just a big mouse."

"Are you sure? It looked like a-"

"No. IT WAS A BIG MOUSE, OK?"

"Alright butt, duw! Big mouse it is mate."

via GIPHY

(Honestly, my head is a weird - and very Wenglish - place sometimes)

So, that was my experience of book #2 - book #3, here I come!

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Fluid FAQs: 'What Is Sexually Fluid?' And Other Things You Probably Wanna Know

I'm probably going to end up using a lot of lousy metaphors here. Because explaining fluidity to people who aren't fluid isn't exactly straight-forward guys, so bear with me - I'll do my best!

Also, fluidity is, by it's nature, not something that can be set in stone.

These opinions and experiences are my own - someone else who's fluid may say something completely different and we'll both be right. That's just the way it works.

Also, I may have a completely different view of my own in a week or so's time, who knows?

Review! (Graphic Novel Edition!) - Who Killed Kurt Cobain?: The Story of Boddah by Nicolas Otero

Title: Who Killed Kurt Cobain?: The Story of Boddah

Author: Nicolas Otero

Genre: Graphic Novels, Magic Realism, Contemporary, Biography, Non-Fiction* (*ish)

Release Date: 8th November

Amazon: UK - USA

A few starting notes:

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

If anyone who has bipolar disorder and/or drug/alcohol addiction problems has reviewed this book, let me know and I will provide a link to your review.

This is weird. And probably needs to come wrapped in a 'trigger warning' protective plastic cover.

That said, this was interesting - so let's get down to this review, shall we?

Premise:

Kurt Cobain's suicide note was addressed to Boddah.

Now, given the amount of conspiracy theories over Cobain's death, Boddah's identity and role has been discussed a lot.

The simple truth, though, is that Boddah was Cobain's imaginary friend as a kid.

This is the story of Nirvana, Kurt, Courtney, and Kurt's death - as told by Boddah.

Best bits:

Otero seems to honestly feel for Cobain - which stops the book from feeling as exploitative as I feared it would. (It still does feel disrespectful though - see next section.)

We're encouraged to empathise with a man who was, at heart, actually very childlike and lost.

I felt like the image of Kurt given here was one of an actual human being - as opposed to the caricature or legend that he's become since his death.

This book is also down-right heart-breaking. You are right there with Courtney screaming at Kurt to open the bathroom door, watching him as he slowly self-destructs, and unable to help.

The artwork is serviceable - and the boldness of the more experimental hallucinatory-type panels was sometimes breath-taking.

The way Boddah seems so realistic is impressive. He loves Kurt; when Kurt is gone... the panels where Boddah is left without him are just heart-breaking.

Not so great bits:

Things drawn graphically in this book that people need to be aware of:

• drug-use (including heroin injection and joint smoking)
• sex
• child abuse (physical, emotional)
• guns (and a suicidal fascination with them)
• attempted suicide
• drying-out in rehab
• self-harm (I think... not 100%, I might be misremembering - a lot happened in this book)
• hallucinations
• childbirth
• suicide - including a VERY graphic image of Kurt's dead body.

There's also swearing - but, to be honest, if you can get beyond the things listed above, swear-words aren't going to bother you.

The question of respect for both the living and the dead is a difficult one in this book.

Honestly? (And you guys know I'm always honest with you.) I found it quite disrespectful.

I sincerely doubt that anyone bothered to get Courtney Love's permission to draw her explicitly having sex with her late husband - and that's NOT OK. It's just not.

Likewise, I doubt permission was obtained from any of Cobain's family to show the final distressing panel of his dead body. Again, that's NOT OK.

I DO NOT THINK THE SHOCK-VALUE IS WORTH HURTING PEOPLE. If these were fictional characters, maybe it would be different. But they're not.

You're dealing with REAL people here - have some f**king respect, please!

I felt like Kurt's mental health problems weren't really explained. We got one or two blink-and-you'll-miss-them references to his bipolar disorder, and that is it.

Now, given that Kurt Cobain committed suicide, and there's a chance that Boddah was a hallucination brought on by the bipolar (or, indeed, a hallucination brought on by the drugs, or a combination of the two,) some attention to how his illness will have impacted on both his general mental state, and his susceptibility to drug and alcohol addiction, would have been a good idea.

Verdict:

It was interesting. It was readable. It was heart-breaking.

But there were also issues - and one's which can't be ignored; so give it a read if you want to, honestly, it's pretty fascinating, but do it with your eyes wide open.

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads

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