Jasmin Kapsal > Recent Status Updates

I have a feeling that Ada was crying because of Nico. I don’t think the house is influencing him, I think he’s just growing up and the move is difficult for him. Martha is quite weird, I feel like she must recognise Millie, the fact she was going through her draws is quite suspicious. I feel like maybe Suzette is behind Martha’s nosiness. Millie is still annoying

If I’m being honest, I quite like Janice. Although I agree, she’s a bid odd, I think she’s harmless. She’s exactly as she’s described to be, a lonely, stubborn and kinda anxious old woman. On the other hand, I don’t think I trust Enzo around Suzette. Especially since he promised to tell Millie when he was going round and hasn’t. Idk seems kinda weird to me.

The story is okay but i don’t really like Millie. I think she’s meant to be quirky and fun but she’s coming off like she’s ‘not like the other girls’. I know she’s the main character but it’s too much, kinda making me cringe to be honest. As for the others, Enzo and the children are chill. Suzette is meant to be disliked and I hate her, people like that are insufferable

I feel really bad for Frances, I feel like Rooney does a great job at making you empathise with the characters. I can literally feel how Frances feels and it feels horrible. I think Nick was always going to go back to Melissa. Also Bobbi is still confusing, one moment she acts like she hates Frances but the next she’s sympathetic towards her and says she loves her

I’m really glad this whole tense period has blown over and Nick actually spoke to Melissa (not saying that I agree with the affair at all). It’s really nice to see Bobbi and Frances finally getting along again but their relationship is confusing in the way that we have no clue if they still have romantic feelings for each other. I’m just glad they’re getting along and they Frances feels better mentally

I feel really bad for Frances, she has such low self esteem, I feel like she really needs to let go of Nick and Bobbi and find herself. I still think Bobbi is an asshole, again it’s like she doesn’t care about anyone but herself. My distaste towards her increased when she refused to listen to Frances whilst watching a documentary. What kind of friend does that?

I think Melissa definitely knows about Nick and Frances having sex but it’s confusing that she acts like she hates him but also loves him at the same time? Their relationship is quite weird anyway, given that she’s cheated on him before. I feel she has no right to feel jealous when she’s kissed Bobbi and possibly has feelings for her too. I hope we find out more about the incident. Valorie is an absolute ass.

I’ve enjoyed hearing about France’s and Nick’s relationship. I find Bobbi still a bit performative and the way that France’s tries to exclude herself from the group, saying she’s different or emotional cold, is a bit cringe. I’m enjoying the book a bit more. I kind of feel like Melissa and Nick have made a game out of their interactions with Frances and Bobbi by seeing who can string along who more.

I’m coming round to the story more and was enjoying reading. Whenever Bobbi was present though it makes me annoyed, I just feel like she’s a bit performative with this I hate men thing. Rooney does a good job at making you feel like you’re there with the characters, I can almost feel the stress Frances feels and the tension between her and Bobbi when she’s with Melissa. They’re like school bullies kinda

So my first thoughts are that Frances and Bobbi (especially Bobbi) are really dislikable. Bobbi is just an asshole, it’s clear that she only cares about herself and doesn’t really care about Francis. She’s just rude to her and dismisses her a lot. France’s is less dislikable but the way she submits so easily to Bobbi is annoying. I’m not really enjoying this so far but I’ll be open minded and continue

It’s so interesting to learn about how we cultivated yeast and how it cultivated us. Merlin makes the task of making cider seem appealing to me even though I don’t drink regularly lol. I think that’s one of the things that makes a non fiction book good, the ability to inspire the readers. I’m sad I’ve reached the epilogue of the book as I’m really enjoying it. At least I’ve still got more to read!

I really think that radical mycological solutions are the key to saving the world. Mycoremediation provides us with the opportunity to reverse some of the damage caused by industrial waste and pollutants and Mycofabrication allows us to sustainably produce products and could even help with homelessness. This really does give me hope that we can make the world a better place both environmentally and economically.

This book has been changing my perspective of plants entirely. It may sound stupid but before, when I saw a Forest, I just saw each plant as they were. Since reading this book, when I look at a Forest I can imagine all the connections between the plants, all thanks to Mycorrhizal fungi, and it makes life a lot more colourful! I wish more people viewed plants and fungi in this way

It makes a lot of sense that mycorrhizal fungi had a big role to play in the carbon levels of the prehistoric atmosphere. I had no idea that the mycorrhizal fungi involved with a plant directly impacts both its appearance and taste. It’s interesting to know just how sophisticated and complex mycorrhizal fungi are and it’s really worrying how we’re completely neglecting them in agricultural practices.

It’s so cool how cordycepts infects ant, this whole time I thought they infected the brain. Learning about how psilocybin was perceived, used over time and became widespread was also very interesting, specifically reading about how it affected different people and how they became enchanted by it. I really do wonder if we see the world at its truest when using psychedelics. This is by far my favourite chapter

I’m fascinated by the idea of panspermia. As someone who enjoys sci-fi, more specifically biological sci-fi, it’s really interesting to know about.I also had no idea that lichens were so complex. I knew that they were extremophiles but found it so cool to know that some can even survive in space! I would love to know more about how the composition of a lichen can change its appearance as well. So far 5/5

I found it so interesting how humans use fungal networks to identify the most efficient routes and I didn’t know you find more mushrooms after rain because the hyphae inflate with water but it makes so much sense. A lot of these things we observe but just take it as is instead of trying to understand why it happens. This book makes me think more of why things happen and I love it for that.

So far this book is a 10/10. I love how Merlin narrates both his stories and factual information. It’s really easy to digest, I feel like sometimes non fiction books can be too confusing because they’re so wordy and the author wants to come off as intellectual. I had no idea that some fungi hunt nematodes. That’s so interesting

I’m hooked. The way he’s so passionate impassions me too. Im already learning new things about fungi and symbiotic relationships, I had no idea leafcutter ants were feeding a fungi. I thought they were storing food for themselves. I also had some knowledge about how extensive fungal networks could be but I had no idea they bleed into every single aspect of life. I’m can’t wait to read more of this book