#and what happened with thomas' death is the biggest thing he try to get redemption on imo | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

just-an-enby-lemon · 1 year

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I would like to hear about your post arkham Knight au

Okay first off: thank you.

Now I'm sorry this will be rambly as hell.

Basically it focus on the Batfamily after Bruce faked his death and came back as a more unhinged vigilante. Bruce is clearly in a bad mental state and it's slowly losing his humanity to became just the vigilante minimazing his contact with his family bar Alfred and just not fine. I want to portray Bruce as simpathetic but still an asshole. I hate to portray Bruce being low key a bad person but Arkham Bruce doesn't give me much choise so I'll try to make so he got worse with time and he still can go back (after all redemption is a huge thematic on my AU).

Since different of Bruce he never faked his death and it is impossible to not go from Bruce Wayne is Batman to Dick Grayson is Nightwing Dick is dealing with the repercurtions of having his secret identity outed and on what to do with his recent surprise inheritange. He is still mostly focused on Bludhaven and it's working himself to death between the media chaos, the hero work, the humanitarian work and trying to support his family somehow. He is really tired and it's not truly holding it up.

After quitting being the Arkham Knight and nkw without any direction Jason decides to travel to discover himself not noticing he is following Bruce's path. On his travels he mets and starts helping Nyssa Raatko on her mission to dismantle what survirved of the League of Assassins. Is there that they discover Ra's better kept secret. Thalia had a son with Bruce before her death in Asylum. Damian was specially isolated after his only support system was taken from him (first with Joker killing Thalia and now with Ra's death because of the destruction of the Lazarus Pit). They decide to find the child and with a lot of convincing seven years old Damian Wayne joins his aunt and his adoptive brother on their jorney. Jason is now thinking on what is going to happen when he inevitably has to tell Damian Bruce just faked his death and introduce the two of them.

Tim and Barbara who are not a couple nor will be. Are the ones whose lifes were least changed by Batman identity revel. Their biggest problem is that their undying faith in Bruce is waverimg. They keep their jobs as Robin (now Red Robin) and Oracle but between Bruce's use of the fear toxin amd him just getting more distance is hard for them. Specially for Tim since he lacks a suport system and (in this AU) is only a teenager. He and Barbara do get close but like Tim's isolation and Dick just having no time makes so Barbara ends picking the space and acting like his older sister.

Now the actual star of the game. Duke, Cass and Steph. Specially Duke. Now while I won't write the backstory I planed for them on the arkhaverse here. Steph and Duke got very disapointed with what used to be their hero Batman over the years and it got worse with this new fear toxin based vigilante.

Duke is not the "sane one" of the batfam even though memes show him like that he is the braver one. He is smart and unstopabble and a leader and just like he leaded the "we are Robin" moviment he decides to become a true hero a d starts to fight to help improve peoples lifes after the Joker virus and the fear toxin attack, helping on reformation. He may not have Bruce's recourses but he is smart and determinated and he actually believes in rehabilitation. Basically without a Batman to help. Orphan Duke Thomas becomes a hero all alone (actually doing what Riddler theorized from Batman and stealing things from the Rogues) and he talks to people in foruns and calls them to action and to help. Stephanie Brown is inspired by it. They became quick online friends and so when she starts as Spoiler they became a duo. One that becomes a trio as without Bruce, young assassin runaway who doesn't want to kill and speaks little ends up meeting them and Cassandra as Orphan becames the final member of their aliance (since this Cass learns words with Steph and Duke while she has the same personality as she speaks more and more the way she speaks is vastly different from cannon).

That is more of a quick resume. But of you have more answers over the plot or some characther (listened here or that exists on the arkhamverse fell free to ask).

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immaturityofthomasastruc · 3 years

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To be fair, despite the atrocious writing of Chloe (being even worse than before) and Zoe (being a Mary-sue),...Zoe only really appeared in two episodes (three if you count Optigami). Believe me, I understand and agree that Zoe is a Mary-Sue, but honestly? There’s still part of me that has grown a soft spot for her and wants to give her a chance to develop as a character. However, in NO WAY that means that I don’t agree with Chloe’s character assignation.

I really was hoping for Chloe’s character development, redemption and more Queen Bee, but as much as we all dislike it, seems like that’s not happening at all anytime soon. I personally have a soft spot for both Zoe and Chloe and PRAY for their characters to get better, but I understand the hate for both. However, people seem to forget the mastermind behind them that’s making them like this: Thomas ASStruc 🙄

Thomas expects us to try to see things his way ALL THE TIME and expects constant praise for DOING HIS JOB, but then not only acts like this, but isn’t “blocking out negativity”, but “blocking out anyone who disagrees with his line of thinking instead of trying to understand where WE are coming from”. I don’t hate Thomas nor the show (I think it’s decent), but I don’t agree with some of his ways of thinking or some of the ways he handles the show in writing. He promotes forgiveness...only for a grown man and a psychopathic lair but not for the FOURTEEN spoiled rich girl with redeemable qualities and with the mom issues? He appears to care about Sabrina’s mistreatment by Chloe, but then does NOTHING about it or give her more screentime? He wants people to AUTOMATICALLY like Zoe, but doesn’t give her more purpose other than replacing Chloe???

People say “ReSPEct the creators or don’t watch the show”, but how can you really respect someone if they don’t do the same for you OR their characters? Also, I find it pretty unfair that anyone who complains about the show is looked down upon instead of people AT Least TRYING to understand. Hate and criticism are completely different things and people have the right to not be ok with the writing of ML, even if it’s something they like. You CAN criticize something you love you know.

It’s clear that like a lot of things in this show, Zoe is an interesting character conceptually. I like the idea of a more down to earth sibling to contrast with the more high-maintenance Chloe. I seriously want to like Zoe, but from what I’ve seen in “Sole Crusher” and “Queen Banana”, I really don’t see her as much of a character and more as a way for Astruc to rub in the fact that Chloe is most likely never getting a redemption arc and that he’s such a smart writer for wasting everyone’s time.

I don’t hate Astruc either. I have defended him from more unfair criticism at times like with the Brazil hero controversy and even called out people who send death threats to him or his family. At the end of the day, Astruc’s biggest crime is being kind of a jerk on Twitter.

It is entirely possible to separate the art from the artist. Everyone hates Butch Hartman for multiple reasons, but nobody really hates the shows he’s worked on like Danny Phantom or The Fairy OddParents. So many fandoms nowadays treat any form of criticism as an attack to their show. Go on the RWBY Subreddit and make a post criticizing Robyn Hill. I guarantee you’ll get some kind of backlash within minutes.

Yes, there are some takes on Miraculous Ladybug that I disagree with, but people have the right to express different opinions like that. I simply want to criticize problems I personally have with the show, and I don’t want to tell anyone that they are factually wrong for liking it. I simply want to explain why I feel the show does certain things wrong

#immaturity of thomas astruc #iota #thomas astruc #thomas astruc salt #zoe lee #vesperia #chloe bourgeois #queen bee #queen b

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monsieur-hadrien · 4 years

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Quarantine Harry Potter Fanfiction *READING LIST*

I’ve spent the past months reading copious amounts of fanfiction and now my amount of AO3 bookmarks is absurd. I really need to share these because if I don’t I think I might implode. Drarry-centric but not all!

These are in no particular order nor is there a particular time frame that these were all posted. I have a little bit of everything in here just you wait.

On Punching Gods and Absentee Dads by Enigmaris

56 Chapters, 247k Words, Complete, no slash, T Rating

Marvel, Norse Mythology, Harry Potter Crossover

TW: Past Abandonment

Harry finds out that his dad is alive, has been the whole time. Instead of being overjoyed, Harry's disgusted. His dad left earth and abandoned his friends. Every painful thing he's ever gone through can be traced back to one man. Now Harry's got super strength he can't control and an almost unnecessary amount of magical power. His dad might be living it up with the Avengers now but not for long. With the help of his friends, Harry comes up with a plan for revenge. Get ready Avengers, Harry's out to punch a god.

We’re starting off strong with a Marvel crossover fanfic wow. Who knew that crossovers could be done tastefully as 2013 Wattpad kind of ruined it for us. However, this fic changed my mind! This fic is funny as fuck and is just a goodass time. I love a good multi-chapter fic (as you’ll soon see) and this one is a showstopper.

The Man Who Lived by sebastianL

42 Chapters, 254k Words, Complete, Draco/Harry, E Rating

TW: Major Character Death, Graphic Deptictions of Violence

Draco breaks a cup, and one thing leads to another. A story of redemption, tattoos, dreams, mistakes, green eyes, long conversations, and copious amounts of coffee.

With all of the Black Lives Matter protests happening right now, I think that this fic is super relevant. Draco has moved to New York City and is working as a receptionist at a tattoo shop and a mentor for inner city kids, but he accidentally gets forced to work out his differences with Harry, who at this point hates his guts. This fic is pretty serious, tackling themes of mental health, suicide, and police brutality. Every OC in this story is completely lovable and I cried my eyes out many times. When people ask me for a fic reccomendation this is the one I give people. Dare I say that this is my all-time favorite fic.

Warm Bodies by Betty_Hazel

Work in Progress, 37 Chapters as of 6/12/2020, 108k Words, Draco/Harry, E Rating

TW: D/s Dynamics, Graphic Porn, Dubious Relationship with Food

Draco Malfoy has spent his whole life wanting to go down on his knees for other men, and that's by far the least of the depraved things he fantasises about. He's wanted it all for so long that he's stopped believing that there might be someone out there who might be able to give it all to him; it comes as something of a surprise to find that maybe Harry Potter can, and that maybe Harry's looking for something too.

ALRIGHT MY PORN LOVERS THIS ONE IS FOR YOU! Don’t lie I know you’re horny. Somehow this fic is so fucking gorgeous and sweet yet so sinfully hot. It’s literally two boys who have never felt like their emotional needs have been satisfied learning to help and love each other like how much more wholesome does it get. I mean it’s all fine and wholesome until you get to the kinky sex which is WONDERFULLY WRITTEN MIGHT I ADD! I always say that if porn can make you feel something other than just horny, you’ve found a winner, and this story does just that.

Definitely check all the tags and I mean all the tags before you read this, but this is definitely one of my favorite porn with plot stories.

Running On Air by eleventy7

17 Chapters, 75k Words, Complete, Draco/Harry, T Rating

TW: No Archive Warnings

Draco Malfoy has been missing for three years. Harry is assigned the cold case and finds himself slowly falling in love with the memories he collects.

Might I just say that classics are considered classics for a reason. This is one of those stories that has the vibe of high school summer after senior year where all you do is try to escape reality and figure out your place in the world. While the plot is wonderful and the characters are great, I think what shines the brightest from this story is the writing style. It’s so enchanting and poetic with the best one-liners that make your heart hurt. On my AO3 bookmark i captioned it, “This just ripped my soul in half and restitched it together again,” and I still stand by that.

Lokison (Series) and How To Train Your Godling (Series) by sifsshadowheart

Main Story (Lokison): 33 Chapters, 244k Words, Completed, Harry/Various Characters, E Rating

14 Spinoffs/ Sequel Stories, Completed, Harry/Various, Various Ratings

Norse Mythology, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Various Fandoms Crossover

TW: Major Character Death, Graphic Violence, Underage Sex, Spiralling Mental Health

James and Lily Potter had a secret, one which led to Thanatos saving young Harry from a dreary life with the Dursleys and changed the face of the Second British Wizarding War before it ever began.

This story feels much more like a 12 season television show than a two hour movie if you know what I mean. The plot is pretty slow going but the character development and interation makes it worth it. The story blends the lore and events of the HP and PJO to make a completely new story without making it feel like a goddamn recap. The reader follows Harry from when he’s young all the way into adulthood and it’s a fun time to watch him grow as a character and bond with his parental figures. Also some of the spinoffs are really wild and I never would have thought of the pairings but they just work somehow?? My personal favorite spinoff is the Pirates of Caribbean/Calypso and Leo arc like HELLO?! hot pirates. The total word count of the two series is 465k so beware it takes a hot second to chug through this one.

This Worship of an Extinct Fire by Lomonaaeren

Oneshot, 30k Words, Draco/Harry, M Rating

TW: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Emotional and Physical Abuse, Deppression

Unspeakable Draco Malfoy has planned for nearly six months how to take down Thomas Linwood, a man who has discovered the secret of converting wizard bodies to pure magic. He was prepared for anything--except the discovery of the missing Harry Potter in Linwood's compound.

This one, I don’t know how it’s not considered a classic. I’ve seen it floating around on drarry tumblr and wow is it good. I especially like the detailed magic system and mechanics that Draco is investigating. How the author managed to have so much detailed and gracefully planned out backstory in 30k words is beyond me. Also gentle Dracoo Malfoy is my favorite Draco Malfoy :) absolute angel mode.

Little Compton Street (One Rainy Night in Soho) by LLAP15 and Writcraft

Oneshot, 66k Words, Draco/Harry, Past Sirius/James, E Rating

TW: Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Light D/s Dynamics, References to Cancer, References to HIV/AIDS

Draco is lonely, Harry hates the press and it won’t stop raining in London. Harry discovers a magical street that’s close to disappearing forever and Draco realises he’s one rainy night in Soho away from finding everything he’s been searching for.

This fic is, in every sense, a masterpiece. Especially for pride month, the story surrounding LGBTQIA+ activism, the AIDS Epidemic of the 80s, and the gentrification of historically queer communities is one that should be read by everyone. Every single place, OC, and historic event has real world ties and is historically accurate, making this fic even more enchanting. Everything about this fic is graceful and slow burning I can’t help but fall in love with it. I’ve only seen this fic once on HP tumblr, but I feel like it should be considered a classic as it is truly a moving piece. This fic is one of the biggest reasons why I became so enthralled with LGBT history and am writing a fic that takes place in a wizarding version of the AIDS epidemic.

Sensitive Touch by Raserwolf

45 Chapters, 194k Words, Complete, Draco/Harry, E Rating

TW: Racism and Racial Slurs, Homophobic Slurs, Ablism and Ablist Slurs, Rape and Sexual Assault, Sensory Overloads and Mental Breakdowns, Extreme Bullying and Hate Crime, Past Abuse, Anxiety Disorders, PTSD wow this is a long list

When Draco Malfoy encounters a struggling and frustrated Harry desperately trying to tie his shoes after a meltdown in the Great Hall, his curiosity regarding the incident leads him to seek the help of the two people closest to Harry: Ron and Hermione.

After even they are shocked to hear the extent of Harry's issues, though Hermione had her suspicions, he discovers more about the man than he ever thought he knew before.

As a Neurotypical, I found this fic to be absolutely wonderful. I don’t know much about the typical traits of those who are one the autism spectrum and how they affect their everyday lives, but from what I was reading in the comments from those who are on the spectrum or who have family who are, this fic was pretty accurate and realistic. Harry, who lives with aspergers, goes without a known diagnosis until 8th year and it’s just heightened by his PTSD and anxiety and ugh I just want to hug the boy. The story follows Harry and Draco and the rest of the 8th year gang through the year and has multiple arcs in which the wizarding world are just dumbass bitches who can’t fucking seem to accept people for who they are. Not only is Harry on the spectrum but he’s also Desi with a purpose and not just mentioned and forgotten which is wonderful. The boys go through a lot of trauma in the story but there’s also a lot of teeth-rotting fluff that I live for. This is one of the fics that I have read and reread because I love it so much.

This definitely is not my full list I have a ton more stories in my bookmarks if you are curious. I’ll probably post a part two to this just cause I have so much and read so often. These, however, are definitely the biggest highlights.

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wazafam · 3 years

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When most people think of anti-hero or villain teams in the DC Universe the immediate group that comes to mind is the Suicide Squad. It's certainly a novel concept: A bunch of street-level villains getting bombs stuck in their head and sent out on the kind of missions that no one else is crazy enough or desperate enough to attempt. It's resulted in some pretty classic comics too. No disrespect to Rick Flagg and company, but DC's got a much better villain team on its roster; a gang of damaged or outright deranged misfits who take on some of the most twisted quests ever to pop up in the DCU, that's when they're not hooking up stabbing each other in the back. Behold, the Secret Six in all their unstable, lovable glory.

While a TV adaption was once optioned by CBS, the Secret Six has always been an obscure title. The team originally started as a spy comic of sorts in the 1960s, followed by a reboot in the 80s. The most beloved and interesting version of the team came to form with writer Gail Simone's Villains United mini-series, created as part of the Countdown to Infinite Crisis tie-ins.

Related: The Suicide Squad's Biggest Mystery is Finally Explained By DC

Led by a disguised Lex Luthor under the moniker of Mockingbird, the team consisted the Suicide Squad's own Deadshot, and a cadre of D-list villains and new creations like Catman, Cheshire, Knockout, Ragdoll, a random Parademon, and Scandal Savage. While many team-members would be killed off over time or switched with more high-profile characters, Catman, Deadshot, Scandal, and Ragdoll remain mainstays of the team through all of Simone's initial run on the series. While they initially started as villains bent on world domination, in truth, the Six are a lot closer to outlaws or mercenaries. They take on various jobs, some heroic and some outright despicable. Really anything that puts meat on the table. It should also be worth noting that they're all a bunch of weirdos.

Villains United proved to be lightning in a bottle that would spawn an entire run. The series about a group of oddball characters that don't fit in with heroes or villains struck a perfect balance between black comedy and character-driven drama. Every character in the series gets such a unique and fitting characterization. Deadshot is a pornstache personified; Floyd Lawton has never been as skeezy or charming as he is under Simone's pen. Ragdoll is essentially a violent contortionist version of Dean Craig Pelton from Community. Scandal Savage is the badass lesbian ninja and daughter of Vandal Savage, who serves as team leader and voice of reason throughout the series. Lastly, Catman is probably the most remarkable character on the team and the closest thing to the protagonist of the series. Before Secret Six, Thomas Blake was written as an overweight loser who was eaten by a talking Gorilla in Brad Meltzer's Green Arrow series. Simone rewrote the character from the ground up and created one of the most layered and cool Batman knock-off's ever. He also snarls like a cat when he fights.

Related: Harley Quinn Claims Deadshot's Power in DC's Suicide Squad

Apart from the main four team members, Bane and an immortal banshee named Jeannette round out the team for the rest of the series. While Jeannette is simultaneously a frightening and charming character with a unique backstory, Simone's take on Bane is one of the best. Secret Six sees Bruce Wayne's greatest foe trying to turn a new leaf. He's kicked his steroid habit and is acting with utter honor, Bane also immediately tries to be an upstanding father figure to any distressed young woman he sees, resulting in a hilarious running gag throughout the series.

Secret Six is a mature book in every sense of the word. It's packed to the brim with sex and violence, to the point where it's absolutely incredible that DC allowed some of the stuff in the book to happen. Catman bites a man's face off, there's a sex scene between Mad Hatter and one of his hats, and almost everything that comes out of Ragdoll's mouth is jaw-droppingly obscene. But apart from all the blood, and bad words that usually get things pulled off TV, Secret Six features intricate character development and some very grown-up storylines. They find themselves rescuing a group of enslaved Amazons (after they're hired to guard the prison of course). Catman's infant son is kidnapped by a group of psychotic criminals, leading him onto a bloodthirsty rampage. Scandal grapples with the death of her girlfriend for a large part of the series. Then of course there's that trip to hell.

Related: Batman: Bane Just Returned in the Last Way Fans Expected

"The Secret Six goes to Hell" may sound like the title of a schlocky horror movie, but it reads like something far different. Each character comics to the realization that they're damned no matter what. While Deadshot and Ragdoll aren't particularly shocked about their own fates, it's a surprise for the rest of the team. For Bane in particular, it's heartbreaking. The series had served as a moving redemption story for the Man Who Broke the Bat, discovering that he won't truly change is a pretty haunting conclusion. However, he's since proven to be pretty irredeemable.

While there are lot's of very dark moments in Secret Six, the tone of the book is never dreary or bleak. A slice-of-life feeling is prevalent in the series that is absent from the bombastic, multiverse shattering world of superhero comics. It's not uncommon to see members of the Six eating dinner together or chilling out in a hot tub. One issue sees Catman pick up a tub of ice cream for a depressed Scandal Savage. Deadshot and Jeanette end up in a fairly healthy and supportive relationship together. And speaking of romance, the other members of the team set Bane up on a date and it's as hilarious as it sounds. Refreshing little asides like this differentiate the book even further from standard superhero fare.

Related: The Real Reason DC's CATMAN Has Basically Disappeared

There will never be another team like the Six. No other series from the Big Two will ever be packed with this much humor, tragedy, and outright weirdness. Where else can you see a joke like Catman transform into a compelling character or Vandal Savage get stabbed in the neck with some chopsticks by his own daughter? Where else can you see Bane try to make his team-mates go on a diet or Deadshot get in a Western style duel with Deathstroke? And on that note, there's even a one-off issue that sees an Old West version of the team, and it's awesome too. Gail Simone created one of the ultimate villain comic book teams. A unique series about a group of terrible people who love each other taking down worse people that don't. The Secret Six is one of the funniest and most badass teams in all of comics, and they don't need to be implanted with bombs in their necks to do it either.

Next: Suicide Squad Could Be Adding The Perfect Batman Villain

DC Has Another, Better, Suicide Squad | Screen Rant from https://ift.tt/3rtwB2V

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vermiculated · 7 years

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books 2016: december and conclusions

The End of Everything - Megan Abbott

The Singing Bones - Shaun Tan

The Historian - Elizabeth Kostova

John Aubrey, My Own Life - Ruth Scurr

The Tale of Raw Head and Bloody Bones - Jack Wolf

Morvern Callar - Alan Warner

The Wonder - Emma Donoghue

Where The Jews Aren't - Masha Gessen

Lord of the White Hell, book two - Ginn Hale

The Skeleton Box - Brian Gruley

I read 188 books in 2016; most of them were not good. I have however almost entirely ceased reading books which I know not to be good, and am merely happening upon these sub-adequate examples of literature in the normal course of reading.

what did you like, t u v? a couple of things, behind the cut.

War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy trans Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky fiction, this was pretty good!

Water Dogs - Lewis Robinson fiction, one of my faves. obliteration does tend to linger between the sentences, and the picture of a family riven apart and yet, still together is as fine as any in nineteenth century English lit where everyone had to live in the same house forever. At this point, I love it because I've loved it in the past.

Rosalie Lightining - Tom Hart non-fiction, I cried. I didn't mean to, but I cried until my eyes hurt. Words and pictures about the mire of grief. It's a graphic novel about the loss of the artist's child, so: warnings for death.

Magic for Beginners - Kelly Link fiction, the title story is the ya movie that should have been made in lieu of "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" or Harold Bloom or whatever nonsense dude art-meaning book has been swept up now in cultural importance. read it here.

The Lonely City - Olivia Laing non-fiction, not quite so grisly as "The Trip to Echo Spring" but that's only saying that the life stays inside the bodies. I preferred the personal narrative segments to the art historical ones, since I think Laing's gift is the in-dwelling of concern, how we return to our unhappy fascinations when we say we would rather do anything other than that.

Leftovers - Laura Wiess fiction, a reasonably good Megan Abbott pastiche with some real moments of genuine human feeling glistening through the typical hyper-involved ya plot. Wiess has a keen eye for teen girl desperation, how every moment feels like the biggest moment; instead of building this up through sporting accomplishments and efforts at rightness, Wiess explores a noir iteration: what if the best thing you could be was bad for someone else? Features sexual experimentation, a real moral black hole involving rape, and car crashes.

Slow River - Nicola Griffith fiction, because I am not a good reader I flipped to the end and I didn't understand it at all! which is, for bad readers, the mark of good fiction: lots of stuff is going to happen. The ultimate in the redemptive power of a job and the strangenesses of certainty. Warnings for rape, kidnapping, and suicide.

Farthest Field - Raghu Karnad non-fiction, creative non-fiction about the Indian Army. The best parts of the book are the tightly-focused sections detailing the military careers of Karnad's three great-uncles; the re-creation of the Battle of the Tennis Court is like watching a Terence Malick movie on ecstasy. Gets more interesting the more you are interested in the Burma campaign.

Frederick the Great - T C W Blanning non-fiction, Timmy Blanning back at it! Trenchant psychological analyses and first-rate diplomatic history, I probably would have enjoyed it even if had been otherwise terrible for its early and evenhanded chapter on Frederick's sexual preference. Blanning has a good ear for anecdote, and a very fine sense of what to limn, where to refocus so the glory doesn't blind the reader.

Wonders of the Invisible World - Christopher Barzak fiction, time for a SPECIAL YA SUPPLEMENT if you liked "the raven cycle," then try "wonders of the invisible world." It's about two kids, one of whom has magical fate powers and secretive parents and the other of whom is handsome, good at baseball, and has an unhappy home situation, YET MYSTICISM, and they are childhood sweeties who have to solve a CURSE and they drive around northern Ohio when not frenching. Engaging regionalism! I keep on telling people that it's what Ronan/Adam could have been and I am not wrong!! I mean, no one I've told doesn't read this blog so I am bragging but HONESTLY it was a delight. if you like horsey things, try Alwyn Hamilton's "The Rebel of the Sands." It has a fantasy world which doesn't involve generic fantasy Europe! a hero who is a superbabe and has moral complexity even as he fights fascists! a crossdressing heroine who doesn't always catch what is going on and remains very brave! if you like Megan Abbott, I agree. if you like novels about how strange a concept is gender, I also agree. if you like your protagonist dying -- no one likes that, can we fucking stop writing it. if you like ya, I'm sorry I tried!

From Doon With Death - Ruth Rendell fiction, another classic fave. Quite possibly the only time I will tolerate "the lesbian did it!" as the solution to a murder mystery, and geez, if you haven't been running across that plot (still! in the late year twenty-sixteen) then you are luckier than I. The early Wexford novels are all good, it's just that my library bought its own copy of this one over the summer.

Heartbreaker - Maryse Meijer fiction, short stories about power relations. "The Fire" and "Fugue" fold into themselves and offer a world of disorienting morality, where right things are not desirable things.

The Turn of the Screw - Henry James fiction, read this aloud and the ending comes up SO FAST and SO SCARY. I really noticed how subtly James moves all the pieces into place on the landscape: it's a tableau which has irremediable consequences, all that fineness and skill turned to the darkest kind of human activity.

February - Lisa Moore fiction, Northeastern Gothic. A nice line in the tight internal world of a heroine like one of Mary Robison's, and fundamentally optimistic even as the title of the book is about the death of the heroine's husband. Suffers for its pov switches, but the bulk of the story is the heroine's and she's kind and scared and a good voice to have.

Grand Illusions - David M Lubin non-fiction, do you want to grieve over art? over war? There's a beautiful sequence of Man Ray's observation of dust on a Duchamp to Edward Steichen's aerial photography over French battlefields. The chapter on wearable art, or prosthetic face-plates is fascinating in the history of the body and what is acceptable or good to the eye. The most delightful thing about this book is that last year I read his monograph on Sargent, and it was not good, and this is SO MUCH BETTER, and COLOR PICTURES.

Between Women - Sharon Marcus non-fiction, a partly-yoked study of women's life-writing and women in novels.

Far from the Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy fiction, the requisite SAD HETEROSEXUALS IN WESSEX novel for the year.

my new year's resolution is to read some books in the coming year. aim true, t u v, aim true.

#books 2016 #these are always so NEGATIVE i do in fact like books.#i hope i do anyway!#strong motif: i like stuff which i've read before

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