Status Updates From Stille im August

She's swinging more strongly into the gothic aspect and I really wish she focused more clearly on this because I love the gothic turn but it's also kinda jarring since she spent so long in the first part Not introducing it

The novel lapsed back into academic writing for an in-verse paper extract and I could almost feel Ms Hau breathing a deep sigh and relaxing into her usual style hfksdfkdf

Naming your Atenean character "Blue" is funny as fuck I'll give her that. Though despite the in-universe explanation for Lia's social awareness I'm still so put off by it. Especially because I've heard of her exact type & have talked with people who are already rich but still less rich than her from UPD, and they are already crazily blithe & uncaring. What more a haciendera girlie?

Ms Hau ily but you have used the word "deadma" at least ten times already

Finished Pt.2, which showed more of their childhood in Banwa under the sugar famine. I wonder why much of the flashback scenes were given to Racel, leaving Lia much with the political chitchat.

Part 1 done. I mostly forgot aready what happens in this from my first read. Racel's perspective much more expansive and interesting but I want to see how Lia's arc continues. Jam-packed with commentary on contemporary export labor conditions.

p.20 - 6/21/26

Racel speaks first person, fragmentary. A bit wary about the narrative voice, because how much of it was actually the character's and how much was the editorializing. Engaging nonetheless.

Lia was in third person. Interesting technique in highlighting difference. I would need to see how this difference comes into play.

Why do I have a slower cadence in reading this?

Engaging. But not exactly as mesmerizing. It made me miss Singapore though, with its Iloilo film as nostalgia.