Any Direction > Recent Status Updates

Yes, I do have other things to read, but I’m in now. This book is not about birds, but is intensely bird themed. The parts mimic the magpie poem (which has lived rent free in my head since learning about it), and everyone has bird name. I am charmed and also invested because it’s all getting very mysterious. Money is on Larkin Gadwall, that man has two birds in his name… very suspicious.

Bella being stronger than Edward- Hot.

Got to the famous loch-ness monster line, and even though Jacob is still annoying, “Nessy” is a cute nickname for a ridiculously named child. (Though thank goodness it was a girl because Edward Jacob is even worse somehow.)

Jacob and Leah could have been a thing! Just everything about this is so messed up. The alphas forcing commands, Leah’s bizarre commentary on being a genetic dead end, Jacob and Rosalie being terrible to each other, Jacob’s immaturity, the fact that we are spiraling to imprinting on an infant. Please, put me back in Bella’s brain!

One thing I appreciate about Twilight is that there is vampire lore and some thought is put into how things work, but was not expecting that the altered chromosome count of vampires seen in Discovery of Witches potentially originated here! Also, how much personal science equipment does Carlisle own? Or is he mooching hospital equipment?

Becoming my “favorite” question for literature. Does this book hate women? It seems like we could be getting a Rosalie/Bella relationship building moment and instead we get Jacob yelling at Leah. Poor Leah! Also, my Wolfsong is gay Twilight werewolf fanfic theory is only being more confirmed. I’m dnfing the next book that contains the word “alpha” because I can’t stand this forced to follow dynamic.

K, that honeymoon was so much more tame than I thought it’d be. Actual sex- fade to black. The amount of furniture breaking- not unsustainable. Not sure to be relieved or disappointed. Now, we’re in Jacob’s section and it’s bad, but much like most of this entire series, not as bad as bad I feared it would be.

Vampire fantasy unlocked. Swimming without needing to breathe. I would like a book about deep sea marine biologist vampires (or ghosts) please!

Wedding thoughts: Jacob is the WORST, so glad everyone else recognizes that even if Bella doesn’t. Book Charlie is inferior to movie Charlie, and it is continually disappointing. I was worried for a second that Bella wasn’t going to have an “I look pretty moment”, but she did! The sexual tension between her and Edward is ridiculous. This cursed sex scene better happen soon, so we can move on!

I read books 1-3, Amber Spyglass was reserved on Libby so detour. Edward look, Bella doesn’t get to escape the marriage rituals, so neither do you.

Bird fact check: Ospreys are not the same thing as eagles. I get that we needed to make the mistake the first time for clarification purposes, but now that we’ve clarified it should be an osprey. As osprey and eagles generally don’t get along, I imagine Sayan Kötör may be offended at Pullman’s misleading language.

Why are all my favorite kid’s book series depressing? Have one book end in tragedy, Fine. I’m recalling that 2&3 also end in tragedy and knowing that is souring the read a bit. Not remembered but also souring is Asriel maybe being not a bad guy? In premise, God is evil, sure, but the other side is hubristic, war-mongering, child-sacrificer? Where are we going here? Lyra, Pan, Will, and Lee still great though.

I will also comment that these books are third person omniscient, and I am not confused despite the lack names at the top of each section 👀. Audiobook commentary: Hester’s voice sounds like Dolly Parton, which, as she’s the rabbit soul of a good natured Texan, tracks. Each chapter starts with like midi pipe organ music? It fits, but it does catch me off guard.

Gotta say Will’s neutral good-had to become my parent’s parent trauma is a pretty good balance for Lyra’s chaotic good-my parents abandoned me and are evil trauma. Real reason I’m commenting: Subtle Knife original cover: one of my favorite covers ever. The best Christian child could not resist. (Then again, I’m also entranced by Warriors covers so maybe I’ll just read anything with a cat painting.)

Scenario for fellow academics to ponder: you are in a fantasy world doing research and get captured by armored bears (like you do). What are you thinking about it and is it worrying about getting scooped by your academic rival (like the guy in this book)? I’d like to say no, I’m thinking about how not to get killed by armored bears. Though, I think I’d be lying, and it’s making me reflect on my priorities.

A non-all inclusive list of things that exist in this parallel universe in order of most fantastic to least: little soul animals, talking polar bears, witches, the northern lights, blimps, Oxford University, and Wells Fargo.

Forget the God is evil stuff, the real thing this book convinced me of was that I want my soul to be a real life animal that glares at me when my judgement is bad. Now, the gender lore of the demons is not quite clear yet: I believe the subtext is that if you have a same sex demon you are gay, but what if you’re a gender queer, panromantic, asexual?! What gender is my demon, 1995 Philip Pullman!!

My Catholic elementary school banned a total of two books during my education: This and Da Vinci Code. (It corresponded with film releases. 🤷) Joke was on them because I’d already read the full darn series by the time the ban was enacted and the religious critique was way over my head (at least for books 1 and 2). Been meaning to do this reread for years. What scandels shall I uncover?

This book is really weird about food. Tova asks how long it’s been since anyone prepared such a lovely meal for her. I don’t know? Didn’t you just go to a fancy restaurant a couple chapters ago. Aren’t you continually going on about how you have too many casseroles? I get that this meal is nicer, but it kind of just seems like Tova’s picky, forgetful, self-centered, and ungrateful.

Okay, I watched the Netflix film, and I came in knowing that this was going to be fluffy af, but you’re telling me that the entire thing is not narrated by the octopus! I’m irrationally mad about this.

Rowan doesn’t even own a television.

I shouldn’t have picked this up and now, should probably DNF. But I keep seeing it, am still looking for environmental fiction, and hope that McConaghy improves. But we are in multiple povs, and all of them aren’t telling us info that they know. The word “undies” keeps being used, and unless you are writing sex scenes you don’t get to reference underwear this much and if you must, call it something else!

I don’t hate a heist. I don’t love them either, and the last heist book I read was really bad, not because of the heist but in general. I don’t know if I’m going to like this or not.

Potentially unpopular opinion: I love a 1st person narrative from multiple perspectives. Is it a bit disingenuous because the author can’t truly overhaul their style and redundant to have two people in the same situation telling the story? Yes. But I love hearing someone’s genuine feelings about a person and then having the gaze flipped. It’s especially effective in an enemies to lovers like romance.

Look, Olivia, you think flower farm sounds made up? The job in the first romance I ever read was a “color consultant”. She told people what color clothes matched their complexion. She spent the entire book giving away free consultations in her small town and this was a sustainable enterprise. Know what genre you’re in!

“yews don’t break they bend”. This is accurate yew trees are known for their flexibility used to make bows or whatever, so 👏. But also, how long has she been sitting on that line?

Kiela’s anti-social tendencies were stretching my suspension of disbelief. However, this “party” that is just reading in a fancy room and eating cake. 10/10 want to go.

Is this book profound? Probably not. But I am having a most excellent time. Thus far, this is exactly what I want in a fantasy to be.

She got a microwave!