Evynne McFarlane-Cobb > Recent Status Updates

Rocky time, babyyyyyy

Still funny, still interesting, no Rocky yet but we’re getting there. Some of the science (especially the astrophysics and math) goes over my head but it’s still understandable based on Ryland’s reactions/laymen explanations. Obviously need to finish it first but I might prefer the book over the movie. It’s able to take its time fleshing out the story.

Funny, engaging, well-researched from what I can tell and have heard but I wouldn’t really know firsthand. Still exciting to see reveals even after seeing the movie.

Author speaks on loneliness and the sting of rejection from a “civilized world”, despite their disconnection from themselves and the earth. Some forms of connection, like queerness, are punished and subjugated. Hyper-individualism and superiority (or the illusions of either) are praised while the sense of humanity falls to the wayside. Fascinating takes on the mars missions, as well as crows.

Good so far. Whimsical, melancholy, a little tropey but that’s what I’m here for.

Very emotional and spiritual read so far. Inspires a deeper respect for nature and your place in it. I should probably stop killing bugs.

Just finished the Repairer of Reputations, one of the longer segments of the book. It had a slow build with a sudden, violent climax and twist at the end, as gothic horror tends to do. I liked it. Definitely a slow burn that I struggled to come back to sometimes but not a bad read and I plan to continue for Call of Cthulhu campaign inspo.

Getting more into the direct and obvious vampire territory, though there’s still a LOT of use of dramatic irony. Pretty sure they haven’t even said the word vampire and I’ve been hearing about them since chapter 0. In short, very typical for a gothic horror story lmao. Excited to see the climax.

Still very cute and calm. Explores some DND speciesism which is unexpected but handled with a lot of nuance so far. Primary focus is still the coffee shop but tensions are rising between Viv and co. and the local thugs. Scalvert’s stone keeps coming up as the thing bringing Viv good luck. Actual magic or just the thing she needed to be brave and start a new life for herself?

Fun, mysterious, very gothic/romantic style of writing. You can tell it was written in the 1800s with how it talks about class and race. VERY gay. Like, shockingly direct in how gay this all is. Another case of vampire as a metaphor for queerness?

Slice of life coffee shop in a DND setting. Very cute and down to earth, themes of recreating yourself and finding peace. Some plot stirring up in the background but the main focus is on the shop so far. Pretty sure Viv and Tandri are going to end up together, which I’m excited to see.

Ominous and odd so far. On the “Repairer of Reputations” section and the POV character is a little freak (which I love).

Fun and whimsical but not as interesting as I was hoping it would be. Tolkien’s second person narration and use of repetition is sometimes endearing, sometimes tiresome. Descriptions of nature are the best part so far.

Touching, abstract, and more of a feeling than anything concrete. Some poems are unremarkable and some make me cry on the very first read. Makes me appreciate the differing structure between her poems; adds to flow and storytelling.

Getting into the parts I know less of, but I still feel like I’m digesting if all pretty well. Starting to realize my own therapist might be using some of this stuff… lol.

Good. Onto pillar three, becoming more technical and in the process rather than just initial accessing. It’s still a very client-driven model, though.

Very good! The reflective exercises continue to be insightful, and the Neuro-Affective Relations Model puts the therapist/client relationship in a completely new light.

Good so far. The explanations are accessible enough to someone who isn’t formally educated in psychology (yet), but has a casual interest. There are reflective exercises every few pages so you can get a personal grasp on the concepts they cover.