Finished reading: The Life to Come by E.M. Forster 📚
Interesting collection of short stories by E.M. Forster only published after his death. Significant coded homoerotic themes.
Finished reading: The Tomb of Dragons by Katherine Addison 📚🌈
I absolutely devoured this book. The latest (last?) book in the Cemeteries of Amalo series, brings a conclusion of sorts to the tale of Thara Celehar, a Witness for the Dead, and one of the most self-deprecating and adorable queer characters in fantasy for many years. Delightful and satisfying.
Dins with Dins Birthday Dinner
Sensational birthday dinner at @lashoppe_nz by @dinswithdins
One of the best, most delicious and enjoyable meals of my life.
Thank you to Bill for organising, Sam, Dan and Duane for joining us, and Sam Dinsdale for a magical experience.
Menu in the last picture.
Bill Hastings: Book Critic
Bill casts his eye over two books he recommends for good reading. The books discussed are: Orbital by Samantha Harvey and Ted Lasso and Philosophy.
Ode to empty can of Kingfisher found on a windowsill at Middlemore Hospital
In shaded light, up in the corner
Royally perched on a sill
Not in the middle, to the side
A pale resemblance of itself
The sparkle’s gone; the fizz, no more
It’s empty now, its job is done
This one won’t fish for compliments
But don’t kick the can
Just let it rest a while,
Respite; in dusty repose
(Requested by Victoria Luff)
Ode to a Lost Pal
You were left outside
All alone
The party’s over
And you are left behind
They’ve all moved on
Now you are an empty vessel
A memory of a night
Abandoned on the stairs
Finished reading: Mother and Sons, Inc. by Kathryn Reyerson 📚
Very interesting historical study of a medieval widow and her business and family interests in pre-Plague southern France.
Finished reading: Tournament by David Crouch 📚
Excellent history and resource for information on historical medieval tournaments.
Finished reading: The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera 📚
Not sure what I thought about this one. Much of it I enjoyed, but I felt the story was undermined but the ability of the central antagonist’s ability to completely alter reality, including unmaking the past - how can a coherent story be told in this way ?
Today’s mail
Man Alone (John Mulgan)
A Queer History of the United States (Michael Bronski)
Faithbreaker (Hannah Kaner)
At Swim, Two Boys (Jamie O’Neill)
