Songs From The Movies.....
8 September 2025 09:19 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
disneydream06From the 1985 comedy movie, "Clue".
The song is used during the closing credits, but this video shows off the movie and is more fun...
The song is used during the closing credits, but this video shows off the movie and is more fun...
Monday At The Movies.....
8 September 2025 09:10 amdisneydream06This Week's Movie Quote...
J.: I can't remember what my parents look like.
Last Week's Movie Quote...
Brody: You're gonna need a bigger boat.
Yes, of course, it comes from the fishy, "Jaws".
It is celebrating it's 50th Anniversary.
Are you ready to go back into the water?
Those Who Knew or Guessed Correctly...
hoobird
gushgush
i
meathiel
mrdreamjeans
thoughtsbykat
pink_halen
sidhe_uaine42
legalmoose LJ
christalin80
starwatcher307
adminbear
fairy69version2
merlinwon
man_of_snows
thewayne DW
murakozi
gwendraith
legalmoose DW
joseph_teller
J.: I can't remember what my parents look like.
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 5
Which Movie Does This Quote Come From?
View Answers
A.I. Artificial Intelligence
0 (0.0%)
The Color Purple
1 (20.0%)
The Empire of the Sun
2 (40.0%)
I Don't Have A Clue...
2 (40.0%)
Last Week's Movie Quote...
Brody: You're gonna need a bigger boat.
Yes, of course, it comes from the fishy, "Jaws".
It is celebrating it's 50th Anniversary.
Are you ready to go back into the water?
Those Who Knew or Guessed Correctly...
hoobird gushgush i meathiel mrdreamjeans thoughtsbykat pink_halen sidhe_uaine42 legalmoose LJ christalin80 starwatcher307 adminbear fairy69version2 merlinwon man_of_snows thewayne DW murakozi gwendraith legalmoose DW joseph_teller Interesting Links for 08-09-2025
8 September 2025 12:00 pmandrewducker- 1. Greens now leading Labour amongst LGB voters
- (tags:LGBT polls politics UK )
- 2. Palestinian prisoners are being starved, Israel's top court says
- (tags:food palestine israel OhForFucksSake )
- 3. How Britain built some of the world's safest roads (The death rate per mile driven has declined 22-fold since 1950.)
- (tags:death safety uk driving GoodNews )
Monday Update 9-8-25
8 September 2025 12:59 amysabetwordsmithThese are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Mantra
Today's Cooking
Poem
Green Energy
Birdfeeding
Crafts
Birdfeeding
Artificial Intelligence
Philosophical Questions: Economy
Climate Change
Neighborly Request
Today's Adventures
Friday Five
Birdfeeding
Follow Friday 9-5-25: Internet
Food
Affordable Housing
Birdfeeding
Bad Advice
Hobbies: Sewing
Wildlife
Education
Hard Things
Let's Boycott Mississippi has 54 comments. Affordable Housing has 41 comments. Robotics has 68 comments. Food has 37 comments. "Philosophical Questions: Looks" has 53 comments.
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
summerofthe69 has concluded. See Closing Ceremonies for a list of all works. The Amnesty post is also up.
"An Inkling of Things to Come" belongs to Polychrome: Shiv and needs $200 to be complete. Shiv attends the first session of his Worldbuilding class.
The weather is still mild to warm and quite dry. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a gray catbird, a male rose-breasted grosbeak, and a gray squirrel. Currently blooming: dandelions, pansies, violas, marigolds, petunias, red salvia, verbena, lantana, sweet alyssum, zinnias, snapdragons, blue lobelia, perennial pinks, oxalis, moss rose, yarrow, firecracker plant, tomatoes, tomatillos, yellow squash, zucchini, morning glory, purple echinacea, chicory, Queen Anne's lace, sunflowers, cup plant, firewheel, cypress vine, sunchokes, sedum. Tomatoes, ball carrots, cucumbers, and groundcherries are ripe.
Mantra
Today's Cooking
Poem
Green Energy
Birdfeeding
Crafts
Birdfeeding
Artificial Intelligence
Philosophical Questions: Economy
Climate Change
Neighborly Request
Today's Adventures
Friday Five
Birdfeeding
Follow Friday 9-5-25: Internet
Food
Affordable Housing
Birdfeeding
Bad Advice
Hobbies: Sewing
Wildlife
Education
Hard Things
Let's Boycott Mississippi has 54 comments. Affordable Housing has 41 comments. Robotics has 68 comments. Food has 37 comments. "Philosophical Questions: Looks" has 53 comments.
summerofthe69 has concluded. See Closing Ceremonies for a list of all works. The Amnesty post is also up."An Inkling of Things to Come" belongs to Polychrome: Shiv and needs $200 to be complete. Shiv attends the first session of his Worldbuilding class.
The weather is still mild to warm and quite dry. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a gray catbird, a male rose-breasted grosbeak, and a gray squirrel. Currently blooming: dandelions, pansies, violas, marigolds, petunias, red salvia, verbena, lantana, sweet alyssum, zinnias, snapdragons, blue lobelia, perennial pinks, oxalis, moss rose, yarrow, firecracker plant, tomatoes, tomatillos, yellow squash, zucchini, morning glory, purple echinacea, chicory, Queen Anne's lace, sunflowers, cup plant, firewheel, cypress vine, sunchokes, sedum. Tomatoes, ball carrots, cucumbers, and groundcherries are ripe.
Moons
8 September 2025 07:28 ampoliphilo I went and stood in the street at a spot where i knew I should be able to glimpse the rising Moon but while there was clear sky to the west the east was heavily clouded- so no eclipse for me. Pity.
I received some compensation this morning when I drew the curtains and there hovering over the hills was the full Moon- all big and yellow- on its way down to the Americas.....
I received some compensation this morning when I drew the curtains and there hovering over the hills was the full Moon- all big and yellow- on its way down to the Americas.....
Physics
8 September 2025 12:55 amysabetwordsmithThis video demonstrates how the location of mass affects travel downhill.
If you want to build a wheel, put as much of the mass as close to the hub as possible for more efficient travel. Here is an old wagonwheel. See how the center is built up? That's not just to strengthen the area around the axle, it makes the wheel work better.
If you want to build a wheel, put as much of the mass as close to the hub as possible for more efficient travel. Here is an old wagonwheel. See how the center is built up? That's not just to strengthen the area around the axle, it makes the wheel work better.
Mantra
7 September 2025 11:03 pmysabetwordsmithWe were watching Miraculous Ladybug tonight, and one of the characters said something that sounded very useful to me: "My anger is mine, but I am not my anger." It seems like an effective way to acknowledge any overwhelming emotion without letting it run away with you.
Today's Cooking
7 September 2025 10:24 pmysabetwordsmithToday I'm making Ultimate Ginger Cookies. Currently the dough is in the refrigerator chilling. :D
EDIT 9/7/25 -- These turned out as molasses spice gingersnaps, quite zesty. They're tricky to bake because you have to take them out while they still seem quite raw in order to leave them chewy. If they're starting to set up at all, they are crunchy when cold. However, if you want to make a gingersnap crust or crumble -- or you just prefer crunchy cookies -- that's the way to go.
The earlier "ultimate ginger cookies" recipe I had was a lot lighter than these, but I couldn't find that one. I'll probably try again for a version of that, but these really are excellent molasses spice gingersnaps.
EDIT 9/7/25 -- Last batch is out of the oven. \o/
... I am tempted to make apple crumble with the crunchy ones.
EDIT 9/7/25 -- These turned out as molasses spice gingersnaps, quite zesty. They're tricky to bake because you have to take them out while they still seem quite raw in order to leave them chewy. If they're starting to set up at all, they are crunchy when cold. However, if you want to make a gingersnap crust or crumble -- or you just prefer crunchy cookies -- that's the way to go.
The earlier "ultimate ginger cookies" recipe I had was a lot lighter than these, but I couldn't find that one. I'll probably try again for a version of that, but these really are excellent molasses spice gingersnaps.
EDIT 9/7/25 -- Last batch is out of the oven. \o/
... I am tempted to make apple crumble with the crunchy ones.
Poem
7 September 2025 08:50 pmysabetwordsmithI finished one of my unfinished poems from a while back. \o/
"When Everyone Around You Has Theirs Bowed"
Story Date: Sunday, April 6, 2014
Summary: Therapy for men's genital injury tends to focus on loss, but Marvis Willing knows the proud history of eunuchs.
304 lines, Buy It Now = $152
"When Everyone Around You Has Theirs Bowed"
Story Date: Sunday, April 6, 2014
Summary: Therapy for men's genital injury tends to focus on loss, but Marvis Willing knows the proud history of eunuchs.
304 lines, Buy It Now = $152
Hello!
7 September 2025 08:28 pmspringsodas posting in addmeName: Star/Soda
Age: Late 20s
I mostly post about: Fanart, fanfiction, character/story development, personal ramblings
My hobbies are: Illustration, writing, collecting figures, plushies, and other merchandise (both official and fanmade)
My fandoms are: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003, IDW, 1990, Splintered Fate), Pokemon, plenty of other animated TV shows and video games I won't bother listing
I'm looking to meet people who: Share my interests, are open-minded and respectful, and otherwise pleasant and chill to be around.
My posting schedule tends to be: Aiming for at least once a week, possibly more frequently depending on how chatty I feel or if I have art/writing I'd like to share
When I add people, my dealbreakers are: I do not tolerate any form of bigotry. AI "art" and "writing" is also a major no-no, and I have a few major squicks on the shipping front that I prefer to avoid as much as possible. In addition, I will not subscribe to or add users to my access list who are under the age of 18.
Before adding me, you should know: For the moment, none of my entries are locked and anyone is free to subscribe. If an entry has potentially sensitive/triggering content, there will be a warning beforehand. Anyone is free to comment on my posts as well; however, I prefer to interact with others who are at least 20 or older, and will not be responding to comments by minors.
Age: Late 20s
I mostly post about: Fanart, fanfiction, character/story development, personal ramblings
My hobbies are: Illustration, writing, collecting figures, plushies, and other merchandise (both official and fanmade)
My fandoms are: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003, IDW, 1990, Splintered Fate), Pokemon, plenty of other animated TV shows and video games I won't bother listing
I'm looking to meet people who: Share my interests, are open-minded and respectful, and otherwise pleasant and chill to be around.
My posting schedule tends to be: Aiming for at least once a week, possibly more frequently depending on how chatty I feel or if I have art/writing I'd like to share
When I add people, my dealbreakers are: I do not tolerate any form of bigotry. AI "art" and "writing" is also a major no-no, and I have a few major squicks on the shipping front that I prefer to avoid as much as possible. In addition, I will not subscribe to or add users to my access list who are under the age of 18.
Before adding me, you should know: For the moment, none of my entries are locked and anyone is free to subscribe. If an entry has potentially sensitive/triggering content, there will be a warning beforehand. Anyone is free to comment on my posts as well; however, I prefer to interact with others who are at least 20 or older, and will not be responding to comments by minors.
Green Energy
7 September 2025 02:11 pmysabetwordsmithThese clear windows can secretly produce solar power
Cholesteric liquid crystal coatings enable transparent, unidirectional solar concentrators compatible with modern windows.
Scientists have created a transparent solar coating that turns ordinary windows into clean energy generators without affecting clarity. Using cholesteric liquid crystal layers, the coating redirects polarized sunlight to the window edges where solar cells collect it. A small prototype already powered a fan, and full-sized windows could boost efficiency 50-fold while cutting the need for costly photovoltaic cells.
Useful, if it's affordable.
Cholesteric liquid crystal coatings enable transparent, unidirectional solar concentrators compatible with modern windows.
Scientists have created a transparent solar coating that turns ordinary windows into clean energy generators without affecting clarity. Using cholesteric liquid crystal layers, the coating redirects polarized sunlight to the window edges where solar cells collect it. A small prototype already powered a fan, and full-sized windows could boost efficiency 50-fold while cutting the need for costly photovoltaic cells.
Useful, if it's affordable.
Birdfeeding
7 September 2025 01:46 pmysabetwordsmithToday is sunny and mild, a beautiful fall day. :D
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 9/7/25 -- I took some pictures around the yard.
I picked 6 groundcherries.
EDIT 9/7/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 9/7/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 9/7/25 -- I hauled out the hose to water the new picnic table and the septic garden.
EDIT 9/7/25 -- I watered the patio plants, old picnic table, and house yard plants.
EDIT 9/7/25 -- We reeled up the hose.
I watered the telephone pole garden and the savanna seedlings.
Crickets are singing.
As it is now dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 9/7/25 -- I took some pictures around the yard.
I picked 6 groundcherries.
EDIT 9/7/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 9/7/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 9/7/25 -- I hauled out the hose to water the new picnic table and the septic garden.
EDIT 9/7/25 -- I watered the patio plants, old picnic table, and house yard plants.
EDIT 9/7/25 -- We reeled up the hose.
I watered the telephone pole garden and the savanna seedlings.
Crickets are singing.
As it is now dark, I am done for the night.
Huxleyenne's Theme Hits
7 September 2025 10:32 amhuxleyenne posting in addmeName: Risa
Age: 36
I mostly post about: I ramble briefly about writing, wrestling, people, whatever I'm feeling. I try to save my most crude and raunchy language/ideas for the fanfiction that I write. As a person who's been on the Internet long enough to know what it's like to run a Geocities site, I've seen... oh god. I've seen things. We've all seen things we cannot unsee. Sometimes I can be a little sardonic and grumpy about it, but I have a sense of humor. I'd always rather laugh, even when I'm crying. Not in a toxic positivity sort of way, but more in a way that I don't burden people with too much emotional baggage.
My hobbies are: Writing fanfiction, reading books and wrestling fic, watching emotionally damaged pretty people in tights get into stage fights, cooking and baking, and walking/jogging/hiking as my antidepressant (I've lost 95lbs. I am a weight loss advocate, but I'm neither fatphobic, nor do I view weight loss in an of itself as fatphobic. Let's respect each other, OK?) I'm not nearly the gamer I used to be, but I have dabbled enough in JRPGs, D&D, and Magic the Gathering that we can have conversations about all of these things.
My fandoms are: World Wrestling Entertainment (the superstars, particularly Dusty's kidsf*ck the company, though!), South Park, Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, Final Fantasy (in general, but 9 and 8 are overwhelmingly my faves) Stardew Valley, and gosh. Take me back to 90s/early 2000s Nicktoons and anime all day.
I'm looking to meet people who: I'm looking for chill friends who do their own thing, but take the time to say hello every now and then. I will try to do the same. I've been showing up to DW every day since I registered, so I dare say I'll be around. The only other social media site I use is Tumblr, and I don't do much there other than like and occasionally reblog wrestling stuff. AO3 is the site I'm most active on. I go where the fic goes.
My posting schedule tends to be: I'm aiming to update 3-4 times a week about any thoughts relevant to writing, but I won't force it. If I got nothing to say, then that's that. IRL, my life is super boring. I work. I exist. Not much to say about that. Carving out a little writer life on the Internet is my excitement.
When I add people, my dealbreakers are: People under 18 is a hard no. MAGA is a harder no. If you are an existential threat to my people in the LGBT community, I don't respect that and never will. I will fight this prejudice until my dying breath, including any random internalized sexism/queerphobia that may still linger inside of me.
Before adding me, you should know: I'm just a writer, guys. The current flavor is kinky wrestling yaoi, which you can read on AO3 if you're interested. Other than that, I'm cobbling together a collection of original work. My favorite DW community isfic_promptly, and I plan on posting a lot of fills. I'm still getting used to being back on DW. Apologies if I'm not always consistent.
Age: 36
I mostly post about: I ramble briefly about writing, wrestling, people, whatever I'm feeling. I try to save my most crude and raunchy language/ideas for the fanfiction that I write. As a person who's been on the Internet long enough to know what it's like to run a Geocities site, I've seen... oh god. I've seen things. We've all seen things we cannot unsee. Sometimes I can be a little sardonic and grumpy about it, but I have a sense of humor. I'd always rather laugh, even when I'm crying. Not in a toxic positivity sort of way, but more in a way that I don't burden people with too much emotional baggage.
My hobbies are: Writing fanfiction, reading books and wrestling fic, watching emotionally damaged pretty people in tights get into stage fights, cooking and baking, and walking/jogging/hiking as my antidepressant (I've lost 95lbs. I am a weight loss advocate, but I'm neither fatphobic, nor do I view weight loss in an of itself as fatphobic. Let's respect each other, OK?) I'm not nearly the gamer I used to be, but I have dabbled enough in JRPGs, D&D, and Magic the Gathering that we can have conversations about all of these things.
My fandoms are: World Wrestling Entertainment (the superstars, particularly Dusty's kids
I'm looking to meet people who: I'm looking for chill friends who do their own thing, but take the time to say hello every now and then. I will try to do the same. I've been showing up to DW every day since I registered, so I dare say I'll be around. The only other social media site I use is Tumblr, and I don't do much there other than like and occasionally reblog wrestling stuff. AO3 is the site I'm most active on. I go where the fic goes.
My posting schedule tends to be: I'm aiming to update 3-4 times a week about any thoughts relevant to writing, but I won't force it. If I got nothing to say, then that's that. IRL, my life is super boring. I work. I exist. Not much to say about that. Carving out a little writer life on the Internet is my excitement.
When I add people, my dealbreakers are: People under 18 is a hard no. MAGA is a harder no. If you are an existential threat to my people in the LGBT community, I don't respect that and never will. I will fight this prejudice until my dying breath, including any random internalized sexism/queerphobia that may still linger inside of me.
Before adding me, you should know: I'm just a writer, guys. The current flavor is kinky wrestling yaoi, which you can read on AO3 if you're interested. Other than that, I'm cobbling together a collection of original work. My favorite DW community is
fic_promptly, and I plan on posting a lot of fills. I'm still getting used to being back on DW. Apologies if I'm not always consistent.
Ladies Bingo 2025-2026
7 September 2025 02:42 pmpurplecat posting in ![[site community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/comm_staff.png){kind=small}
dw_community_promo
Ladies' Bingo Round 2025-2026 (Round 13) Sign-ups
Event Description:
ladiesbingo is a bingo challenge for creative works about the relationships between women. It runs for seven months (from September until March). The motivation behind the community is to encourage people to make creative works focused on female characters and their relationships.
Round 13 (2025-2026) is now open.
Interesting Links for 07-09-2025
7 September 2025 12:00 pmandrewducker- 1. This is why we don't read the Golden Age of science fiction any more.
- (tags:scifi history society )
- 2. Ghost sharks grow forehead teeth to help them have sex
- (tags:sharks teeth sex headline )
- 3. The tax-evading Princes Street shops costing Edinburgh taxpayers thousands
- (tags:tax Edinburgh fraud shops OhForFucksSake )
Book 46 - David Barber "When the Fat Lady Sings"
7 September 2025 09:57 amjazzy_daveDavid Barber "When the Fat Lady Sings: Opera History As It Ought To Be Taught" (Sound And Vision)
The subtitle says it all: Opera History as it ought to be taught. (Although it's really about the composers rather than their operas.)
As with his other books, it is a humorously engrossing book. You don't have to be a big opera buff to enjoy this exhilarating and entertaining book. If you feel down, this will definitely perk you up.
The subtitle says it all: Opera History as it ought to be taught. (Although it's really about the composers rather than their operas.)
As with his other books, it is a humorously engrossing book. You don't have to be a big opera buff to enjoy this exhilarating and entertaining book. If you feel down, this will definitely perk you up.
Book 45 - Iain Banks "Transition"
7 September 2025 09:41 amjazzy_daveIain Banks "Transition" (Abacus)
Banks usually splits his novels between contemporary fiction and science fiction, but here he publishes what is obviously a science fiction story under his 'contemporary' nom de plume. I'm unsure of the reasons for this, but it is certainly his most enjoyable novel in quite some time, an improvement on The Steep Approach to Garbadale, which was just The Crow Road reheated.
The story, told from the point of view of several characters, but mainly that of a man called Temudjin Oh, is about an organisation called The Concern, which intervenes in the affairs of alternate realities for supposedly benign reasons. They do this using the talents of 'Transitionaries', people who can flit between realities with the aid of a drug called Septus. With me so far? Good.
But the head of the Concern's central council, Madame d'Ortolan, has her own agenda, and Oh finds himself a hunted man. A renegade called Mrs Mulverhill comes to his aid, and he finds himself caught in a power struggle for control of The Concern. It's an ambitious storyline and thankfully free, for the most part, of Banks's recent penchant for making his characters mouthpieces for his political rhetoric.
Banks is no stranger to mixing genres; his earlier novels, such as Walking on Glass and The Bridge, featured fantasy elements, but here the whole story is fantastical.
However, I do have reservations. The structure is fragmented to say the least, and the start of the book is very confusing. You're not sure what's going on, and it takes perseverance to get a grip on the story. As ever, Banks can tell a good tale, but what I'd really like is for him to return to the form of Espedair Street or The Crow Road - brilliantly told contemporary fiction. However, well worth reading.
Banks usually splits his novels between contemporary fiction and science fiction, but here he publishes what is obviously a science fiction story under his 'contemporary' nom de plume. I'm unsure of the reasons for this, but it is certainly his most enjoyable novel in quite some time, an improvement on The Steep Approach to Garbadale, which was just The Crow Road reheated.
The story, told from the point of view of several characters, but mainly that of a man called Temudjin Oh, is about an organisation called The Concern, which intervenes in the affairs of alternate realities for supposedly benign reasons. They do this using the talents of 'Transitionaries', people who can flit between realities with the aid of a drug called Septus. With me so far? Good.
But the head of the Concern's central council, Madame d'Ortolan, has her own agenda, and Oh finds himself a hunted man. A renegade called Mrs Mulverhill comes to his aid, and he finds himself caught in a power struggle for control of The Concern. It's an ambitious storyline and thankfully free, for the most part, of Banks's recent penchant for making his characters mouthpieces for his political rhetoric.
Banks is no stranger to mixing genres; his earlier novels, such as Walking on Glass and The Bridge, featured fantasy elements, but here the whole story is fantastical.
However, I do have reservations. The structure is fragmented to say the least, and the start of the book is very confusing. You're not sure what's going on, and it takes perseverance to get a grip on the story. As ever, Banks can tell a good tale, but what I'd really like is for him to return to the form of Espedair Street or The Crow Road - brilliantly told contemporary fiction. However, well worth reading.
Book 44 - Billy Bragg "The Progressive Patriot: A Search For Belonging"
7 September 2025 09:28 amjazzy_daveBilly Bragg "The Progressive Patriot: A Search For Belonging" (Black Swan)
Billy Bragg is a well-known singer-songwriter and activist, and this is a very personal account of English identity. He examines both the history of dissent in England and his own family history as a way of examining how he came to his own views, and rounds it off with a passionate plea for a proper, modern Bill of Rights in this country as a way of countering the rise of fascist organisations like the BNP (British National Party), who have been particulalry succesful, until recently, in his own East End of London. It's an interesting account of Englishness (rather than what it is to be British, for the Welsh and Scots seem more secure in their own identity), but it is rather uneven in the way it is written. At times, the account becomes too personal, almost autobiographical, with long sections on the rise of Punk music and his part in the music scene of the time. Interesting in itself, but too much detail compared to the more measured historical analysis of English identity.
Perhaps I was expecting more of the latter and not expecting the depth of autobiography; I certainly enjoyed that part more and became restless when the focus switched back to his own family. Probably this should be two books, not one, each one a little more focused.
Billy Bragg is a well-known singer-songwriter and activist, and this is a very personal account of English identity. He examines both the history of dissent in England and his own family history as a way of examining how he came to his own views, and rounds it off with a passionate plea for a proper, modern Bill of Rights in this country as a way of countering the rise of fascist organisations like the BNP (British National Party), who have been particulalry succesful, until recently, in his own East End of London. It's an interesting account of Englishness (rather than what it is to be British, for the Welsh and Scots seem more secure in their own identity), but it is rather uneven in the way it is written. At times, the account becomes too personal, almost autobiographical, with long sections on the rise of Punk music and his part in the music scene of the time. Interesting in itself, but too much detail compared to the more measured historical analysis of English identity.
Perhaps I was expecting more of the latter and not expecting the depth of autobiography; I certainly enjoyed that part more and became restless when the focus switched back to his own family. Probably this should be two books, not one, each one a little more focused.
Book 43 - A. K. Blakemore "The Manningtree Witches"
7 September 2025 09:27 amjazzy_daveA. K. Blakemore "The Manningtree Witches" (Granta Books)
Sadly, I could not get into this novel about witchfinder Matthew Hopkins and his investigation of witches in Manningtree during the English Civil War. It was doubtless quite beautifully written, but most of that beauty was expended on place and visuals, rather than on trying to understand the characters. It felt emotionally detached and a little boring. Unfortunately I think I have recently responded this way to several novels by contemporary poets. It is probably a "me problem" not a "them problem," but I have found that several poets approach novel writing in ways that just don't gel with me as a reader.
Sadly, I could not get into this novel about witchfinder Matthew Hopkins and his investigation of witches in Manningtree during the English Civil War. It was doubtless quite beautifully written, but most of that beauty was expended on place and visuals, rather than on trying to understand the characters. It felt emotionally detached and a little boring. Unfortunately I think I have recently responded this way to several novels by contemporary poets. It is probably a "me problem" not a "them problem," but I have found that several poets approach novel writing in ways that just don't gel with me as a reader.