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Entry tags:
life, black widow, books
I was unexpectedly off work yesterday as it was Veteran's/Armistice Day and the new company has it as a holiday. The acquisition closed early (I'm assuming because of some corporate tax shenanigans because it certainly wasn't because the actual mundane details like paycheck timing or insurance enrollments were ready to go) so we've spent the last few weeks in a head-spinning transition phase. I got a crazy project done right before this all kicked into high gear (in retrospect, the VP who was pushing for the ridonkulous release date probably had her ear to the ground and knew she wanted to get it out the door before we weren't just us) but then I really haven't done anything since because every day has been consumed with what we're supposed to do to become employees of the new company, but it usually takes three false starts before we get the processes communicated correctly.
So, that's been "fun".
In fannish news, the kids and I got take-out and watched Black Widow together on my actual birthday. There might also have been some Rekorderlig involved (though, sadly, no edible glitter.)
I would have really enjoyed the movie a hell of a lot more if they hadn't killed Natasha off in Endgame, but that's always going to be my sticking point, so nothing new there. Florence Pugh was as entertaining as everyone had said, and I quite liked the grl*powr aesthetic of it all. I just would have liked it a lot more if it hadn't been such an afterthought to the MCU timeline. But I'll be happy to pull it into my personal canon for writing fic.
Also, I meant to post book stuff Wednesday, as is traditional, but I was exhausted by all the work-related stuff and spent the day off dealing with car issues (did need new tires, -$700 USD /o\; did not need new struts/something else, +$2600 \o/ \o/), so let's have it this morning before the rest of life decides it wants to suck up all my energy.
finished
(editor's note: After months and months of not finishing anything, I HAVE SOMETHING TO PUT IN HERE!! wheee!)
Battle Royal, Lucy Hale -- Another of her breezy, fun romances. She writes an excellent opposites attract trope and this one was no different. It's more-or-less Paul Hollywood vs a more whimsical Christina Tosi + crazy cocktails + a minor royal wedding. There's a lot of edible glitter involved, too (though, sadly, only in the kitchen.) So, you know, basically catnip for me.
The Ex-Hex, Erin Sterling (aka, Rachel Hawkins) -- Described on the author's twitter while she was writing it as Hocus Pocus but they f*ck, which is pretty spot on. Nicely seasonal and set up in the North Georgia mountains, so I had extra fun figuring out where she was setting things. Also breezy and fun. (See the theme there?)
reading now
Beowulf, trans Maria Dahvana Headley, narration JD Jackson -- aka, the 'Bro' translation. Definitely helped by the excellent narration of the audiobook, though I think that's really how you should 'read' this no matter what the translation.
Into the Dark, Claudia Gray -- This month's![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
swbookclub pick and I am trying to actually read on time & participate. ::is determined:: My first High Republic era book of the new canon.
Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts, Kate Racculia -- Also somewhat atmospheric, given that there are (as noted) ghosts and all. I'm halfway through and while I'm not sure if the actual plot has started, it's a very entertaining story. I just had to take a break b/c of job-related stuff and let it go back to the library but I'm next up on my re-borrow.
The Companion, E. E. Ottoman -- Started this a while ago and have stalled for no discernible reason so I'll not give up on it yet.
Between Two Kingdoms, Suleika Jaouad -- a recommendation from Beach Week, and one that I was engrossed in, but I had to take it slowly as it hits a little too close to home with relationship issues during extended, life-threatening illness (it just landed back in my library inbox, but I think I will let it go to the next person in line as I'm still not sure I'm up for more of RL in my escapist reading.)
The Jane Austen Society, Natalie Jenner -- I barely started this when there was a whoosh of library holds coming in, so it's on the back burner.
There are so many more that I've gotten maybe 20 or 30 pages into, but until I pick them back up, I'm not counting them here. (and let's not even talk about the other 10+ physical books sitting in a stack next to my reading chair. Anything that looks remotely tempting, I'm grabbing b/c my brain is swiss cheese at this point and I never know what's going to work.)
next
I would not blame you if you look at that in-progress list and say words to the effect of 'are you kidding me?' but see above, re: who knows what's going to work these days?
A Spindle Splintered, Alix E Harrow -- a novella that's only a 3-hour audiobook. File this under atmospheric reads (before we descend into the peppermint madness)
Witch, Please, Ann Aguirre -- yet another seasonal read and hopefully another one that's light and fun. I somehow have never read AA, though she is beloved in Romancelandia so I'm hoping for good things.
hmmm, all those autumn/Halloween books don't exactly explain the cocktail with edible glitter this past weekend (it was called Spells by Twilight) but they definitely form more of a pattern that only my brain understands.
Okay, quitting now! Have a good weekend, y'all.
So, that's been "fun".
In fannish news, the kids and I got take-out and watched Black Widow together on my actual birthday. There might also have been some Rekorderlig involved (though, sadly, no edible glitter.)
I would have really enjoyed the movie a hell of a lot more if they hadn't killed Natasha off in Endgame, but that's always going to be my sticking point, so nothing new there. Florence Pugh was as entertaining as everyone had said, and I quite liked the grl*powr aesthetic of it all. I just would have liked it a lot more if it hadn't been such an afterthought to the MCU timeline. But I'll be happy to pull it into my personal canon for writing fic.
Also, I meant to post book stuff Wednesday, as is traditional, but I was exhausted by all the work-related stuff and spent the day off dealing with car issues (did need new tires, -$700 USD /o\; did not need new struts/something else, +$2600 \o/ \o/), so let's have it this morning before the rest of life decides it wants to suck up all my energy.
finished
(editor's note: After months and months of not finishing anything, I HAVE SOMETHING TO PUT IN HERE!! wheee!)
Battle Royal, Lucy Hale -- Another of her breezy, fun romances. She writes an excellent opposites attract trope and this one was no different. It's more-or-less Paul Hollywood vs a more whimsical Christina Tosi + crazy cocktails + a minor royal wedding. There's a lot of edible glitter involved, too (though, sadly, only in the kitchen.) So, you know, basically catnip for me.
The Ex-Hex, Erin Sterling (aka, Rachel Hawkins) -- Described on the author's twitter while she was writing it as Hocus Pocus but they f*ck, which is pretty spot on. Nicely seasonal and set up in the North Georgia mountains, so I had extra fun figuring out where she was setting things. Also breezy and fun. (See the theme there?)
reading now
Beowulf, trans Maria Dahvana Headley, narration JD Jackson -- aka, the 'Bro' translation. Definitely helped by the excellent narration of the audiobook, though I think that's really how you should 'read' this no matter what the translation.
Into the Dark, Claudia Gray -- This month's
swbookclub pick and I am trying to actually read on time & participate. ::is determined:: My first High Republic era book of the new canon.Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts, Kate Racculia -- Also somewhat atmospheric, given that there are (as noted) ghosts and all. I'm halfway through and while I'm not sure if the actual plot has started, it's a very entertaining story. I just had to take a break b/c of job-related stuff and let it go back to the library but I'm next up on my re-borrow.
The Companion, E. E. Ottoman -- Started this a while ago and have stalled for no discernible reason so I'll not give up on it yet.
Between Two Kingdoms, Suleika Jaouad -- a recommendation from Beach Week, and one that I was engrossed in, but I had to take it slowly as it hits a little too close to home with relationship issues during extended, life-threatening illness (it just landed back in my library inbox, but I think I will let it go to the next person in line as I'm still not sure I'm up for more of RL in my escapist reading.)
The Jane Austen Society, Natalie Jenner -- I barely started this when there was a whoosh of library holds coming in, so it's on the back burner.
There are so many more that I've gotten maybe 20 or 30 pages into, but until I pick them back up, I'm not counting them here. (and let's not even talk about the other 10+ physical books sitting in a stack next to my reading chair. Anything that looks remotely tempting, I'm grabbing b/c my brain is swiss cheese at this point and I never know what's going to work.)
next
I would not blame you if you look at that in-progress list and say words to the effect of 'are you kidding me?' but see above, re: who knows what's going to work these days?
A Spindle Splintered, Alix E Harrow -- a novella that's only a 3-hour audiobook. File this under atmospheric reads (before we descend into the peppermint madness)
Witch, Please, Ann Aguirre -- yet another seasonal read and hopefully another one that's light and fun. I somehow have never read AA, though she is beloved in Romancelandia so I'm hoping for good things.
hmmm, all those autumn/Halloween books don't exactly explain the cocktail with edible glitter this past weekend (it was called Spells by Twilight) but they definitely form more of a pattern that only my brain understands.
Okay, quitting now! Have a good weekend, y'all.
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