Sam (Hissing Potatoes) > Recent Status Updates

"I felt deeply vulnerable exposing how I organized my thoughts--the symbols, the systems, the templates, the cycles, the lists. To me, these were the many crutches invented to support a faulty brain."

The interpretation of Hebrew letters as shapes the characters can relate to is really gorgeous. I've loved the consistent undercurrent throughout the book of how deeply important letters/words are.

I can't breathe from this VERY NSFW story a character is telling about a scribe who pleasures his bride by using "his tongue like a quill to write the names of Elohim *down there*." O_O XD

Definitely in season 2 want more of the Geralt who says "I'd sit on a scorpion with my bare backside if I knew it would help him [Dandilion]." Which, of course, Jaskier refers to as his "lovely bottom." :-D

The friendship between them seems less contentious in the book than the show, which I like, but there's still a heavy level of emotional disconnect in the book.

It's frustrating to read Geralt and Yennefer sharing a bath and sexy eyes while Jaskier's somewhere barely able to breathe. The vibe bounces between "Geralt getting frustrated about wasting time with small talk/etc" and "Geralt taking a deliberately long time fastening her dress so he can enjoy her smell" while his friend dies.

"Yennefer, although attractive in her own way, couldn't pass as a great beauty" he says after pages of trying to stare at her bathing via soap bubble divination.

I'll suspend my disbelief for many things but not for the existence of a single plant that's "an antidote to every known toxin and venom."

Lille/Dana Meadbh's appearance is the most confusing deus ex machina I've ever read. A beautiful eternal goddess-figure appears and whispers with her mind or something and suddenly the elf in the right about how he and his people have been treated agrees with Geralt's insults and condemnations? Every elf does a complete 180 and abandons their very valid points?

There's a huge difference between Geralt purposely trying to recruit for the Witcher's ranks vs jokingly claiming a surprise and getting what he asked for. The show made it more of a thing for him to try to control/avoid destiny, whereas he embraces and understands it in the book. Personally I like the show version a little more since it's more rewarding when Geralt finally gives in and starts his found family.

Coodcoodak disrupting Pavetta's instinctive power trip by sounding like a demonic zoo—with a bagpipe no less—is my favorite thing in this book.

Geralt and Calanthe's dialogue trying to one-up each other on saying things without saying things is well done.

Renfri seems to exist to be considered a monster (from being raped!!!) and to die so Geralt can learn a lesson about lesser evils (which isn't made very clear in later stories btw) and I'm disgusted.

The misogyny. The immediate previous story was about a dude living in the woods with a curse and Geralt specifically says he's not a monster. But Geralt remains neutral when a woman *allegedly* cursed and treated like shit by Stregobor and others...isn't clearly not a monster? This wizard has been, is, and will continue to be an evil on mankind, Geralt fully acknowledges it, but says they should both just let it go.

Nivellen has me in stitches. "You got lost. Well, unlose your way." "So what am I? Cranberry pudding? The virtue that a miller's buxom daughter lost in spring?"

Well a bunch of cap-and-goggled engineering students (all girls) strapped onto the deck of a dirigible spending the journey drinking tea from specially made teacups to prevent spillage is the most gloriously steampunk thing I've ever read.

Carr-Gomm explains how some writers stressed that the God and Goddess aren't a literal gender polarity but a representation of Masculine and Feminine divine principles. Oh yes, because calling a thing by its synonym somehow makes it different. 😡

"Somehow" ancient pre-microscope people knew the mechanics of fertilization because you're applying modern knowledge to interpret their sculptures? 😒 I'm calling BS until I see some reliable sources, mister.

Aud is literally that terrifying person in movies who somehow finds you after you've done everything to hide and is perfectly calm, casually flipping a coin and leaning against the wall, because they have all the power and you both know it.

The discussion throughout the book on self-defense and the systems of greed and patriarchy in place that keep women scared is so important.

LOL Aud trying to explain her friendship with Dornan. To be fair, the killing for his girlfriend thing only happened once. I love them so much.

"Compassionate anger" is my new favorite idea, pass it on.

Definition: "an energy current of kindness that is vital to overthrow the forces that seek to disempower the vulnerable in society"

"There is no use of female and male energy or accompanying tools. Instead, we use the underlying energies that are typically associated with either masculinity or femininity, such as aggression or kindness."

YES dividing up emotions/characteristics by gender never made sense to me in the 1st place. Just use the characteristic in question instead of unnecessarily masking it behind a broad and inaccurate bucket label.

Greer writes that human awakening into wisdom "ultimately brings the Earth itself closer to the fulfillment of its own tremendous destiny," end chapter. Big bold words clearly meant to impress but don't add up to his previous definition of destiny as the power pulling the soul toward its potential. What spiritual potential is Earth striving for? Greer doesn't discuss at all :-/

I have long since been enamored of William Blake's poetry. Knowing he was probably involved or at least familiar with Druidic affairs suddenly puts a lot of puzzle pieces in place.

"But they were all he took, those tankards. And only those for love of his friends."

Merchanty Swift how DARE you mouse your way into my heart like this.

"You'd like them, I think."

The voice of the prologue is so perfect that this final, understated, sweet line has me emotionally compromised. I'M 5 PAGES INTO THE STORY WHAT IS GOING ON

(I'm not even PMSing I swear)

As if the premise and mice names aren't cute enough, as if the cover art and illustrations aren't the very definition of whimsy, as if the map doesn't promise little mice adventures and have a distance scale of "as the crow flies," chapter 2 is blessed with the utterly cozy title of "Tea at the Bookish Mouse." I haven't even started the story yet and I'm already charmed to the core.

Witchcraft is dangerous because it's empowerment and people in power fear that critical thinking. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

"The point of myth is to inspire us to find our own truths and craft our own stories, build our own myths and practices, and give us principles to use as a guide. And that, dear folks, is no fiction."

This discussion of myth as (powerful) metaphor closely mirrors some reflective journaling I did a few months ago. Both weird and totally awesome to see my thoughts on the page.