Reading stuff!
Dec. 30th, 2018 12:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lunabee341.
Healthier Gluten-Free: All-Natural, Whole-Grain Recipes That Get Rid of the Refined Starches, Fillers, and Chemical Gums for a Truly Healthy Gluten-Free Lifestyle by Lisa Howard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Mom gave me this for Christmas, and I really like it. Very good introductory material (avoid gluten, break down of gluten-free grains, how to bake without gluten, etc).
This is really heavy on the baking (and is mostly savory rather than sweet which is unusual for any cookbook that focuses on baking), but it has a lot of really neat recipes.
I'll enjoy cooking from this one.
View all my reviews
2. I just finished Order of the Phoenix.
Rereading this as an adult, I am struck by how bleak and horrific the plot is. Molly watching that boggart turn into the dead bodies of everyone she loves just wrenches my heart. Sirius trapped in jail again (the jail of his past and of his severed relationships with his family and, of course, the physical confinement of not being able to leave Grimmauld Place). Harry (and his friends as well) being left in the dark, not told what's going on, really exemplifies that powerlessness of childhood, the impotent anger of not being taken seriously. The claustrophobic horror of the whole book--all of them shut up in Hogwarts or Grimmauld Place with Voldemort slowly circling--is oppressive.
And, see, this is why I can't fault Hermione for jinxing the sign up sheet at all. They are at war. They are children living in a war zone who are expected to fight in that war. They're not playing games; they're not being petty; they're trying to save their own lives.
On this reread, Hagrid's situation really stood out to me in a way it never has before. The whole situation with Grawp can be played for laughs or serve to further characterize Hagrid's misjudgment or function as a deus ex machina to get Harry and Hermione out of danger, but there's more to it than that. I never really thought about it very deeply before this read, but this whole series is about abused little orphan boys trying to find a family--Snape, Harry, Voldemort, Dumbledore even to a certain extent (he's not abused, but he's certainly trying to find family after his dad gets sent to Azkaban and his mom dies and his sister dies), and Hagrid. Hagrid's been mistreated and misunderstood all his life, and he's lost his entire family. He so desperately wants Grawp to be a brother to him, but Grawp can't be his brother, not really. It hurts my heart so deeply as Hagrid tries in vain to forge a real relationship with him.
Ginny does actually mention being possessed by Voldemort in this book, and I appreciated that call back. The way it's written indicates that the lack of mention in the text thus far is because the series is from Harry's POV, and up until this novel, he and Ginny haven't been the kind of friends that talk much to each other. Their friendship deepens in this book; Ginny has a much larger role, and on this reread, I see the set up for her future relationship with Harry much more clearly. The first time I read, it seemed to come out of nowhere, but I see the scaffolding now, and I don't know if that's because I already know they end up together or because I'm paying more attention.
Love every single thing with the twins. Absolutely adore them making it their mission to destroy Umbridge.
I do think it's interesting how little concern most of them show about shoving Montague into the vanishing cabinet and his lack of improvement after he reappears.
You know, I can read a good Dumbledore is an evil, power hungry asshole who's keeping Harry from becoming Wizard Jesus Merlin Slytherin Duke of Cambridge and President of the United States of the World and enjoy the hell out of it. LOL But I vastly prefer the Dumbledore we get in this novel, the one who fucks up because he's trying to protect Harry, the one who makes bad choices because he doesn't want to hurt someone he loves, the one who is mighty indeed but who doesn't know everything.
Such a fantastic read.
3. Have some more Yuletide:
Deadwood
Never Call Retreat
Deadwood
Alma Garrett/Al Swearengen
If you read nothing else from the collection this year, you should read this fic. Whoever wrote it has the voices down exactly; I can hear each of the characters in my head as I read along. This is funny, and no matter what you may think of the pairing, 100% in keeping with the spirit and characterization of the show.
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Someone Else's Music
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Basil/Dorian, Henry/Dorian
Oh my, the Victorianists had such a good Yuletide this year. This fic is exquisite, lush and beautiful and grotesque and achingly, gloriously horrible--in short, all the attributes of the novel.
Healthier Gluten-Free: All-Natural, Whole-Grain Recipes That Get Rid of the Refined Starches, Fillers, and Chemical Gums for a Truly Healthy Gluten-Free Lifestyle by Lisa HowardMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Mom gave me this for Christmas, and I really like it. Very good introductory material (avoid gluten, break down of gluten-free grains, how to bake without gluten, etc).
This is really heavy on the baking (and is mostly savory rather than sweet which is unusual for any cookbook that focuses on baking), but it has a lot of really neat recipes.
I'll enjoy cooking from this one.
View all my reviews
2. I just finished Order of the Phoenix.
Rereading this as an adult, I am struck by how bleak and horrific the plot is. Molly watching that boggart turn into the dead bodies of everyone she loves just wrenches my heart. Sirius trapped in jail again (the jail of his past and of his severed relationships with his family and, of course, the physical confinement of not being able to leave Grimmauld Place). Harry (and his friends as well) being left in the dark, not told what's going on, really exemplifies that powerlessness of childhood, the impotent anger of not being taken seriously. The claustrophobic horror of the whole book--all of them shut up in Hogwarts or Grimmauld Place with Voldemort slowly circling--is oppressive.
And, see, this is why I can't fault Hermione for jinxing the sign up sheet at all. They are at war. They are children living in a war zone who are expected to fight in that war. They're not playing games; they're not being petty; they're trying to save their own lives.
On this reread, Hagrid's situation really stood out to me in a way it never has before. The whole situation with Grawp can be played for laughs or serve to further characterize Hagrid's misjudgment or function as a deus ex machina to get Harry and Hermione out of danger, but there's more to it than that. I never really thought about it very deeply before this read, but this whole series is about abused little orphan boys trying to find a family--Snape, Harry, Voldemort, Dumbledore even to a certain extent (he's not abused, but he's certainly trying to find family after his dad gets sent to Azkaban and his mom dies and his sister dies), and Hagrid. Hagrid's been mistreated and misunderstood all his life, and he's lost his entire family. He so desperately wants Grawp to be a brother to him, but Grawp can't be his brother, not really. It hurts my heart so deeply as Hagrid tries in vain to forge a real relationship with him.
Ginny does actually mention being possessed by Voldemort in this book, and I appreciated that call back. The way it's written indicates that the lack of mention in the text thus far is because the series is from Harry's POV, and up until this novel, he and Ginny haven't been the kind of friends that talk much to each other. Their friendship deepens in this book; Ginny has a much larger role, and on this reread, I see the set up for her future relationship with Harry much more clearly. The first time I read, it seemed to come out of nowhere, but I see the scaffolding now, and I don't know if that's because I already know they end up together or because I'm paying more attention.
Love every single thing with the twins. Absolutely adore them making it their mission to destroy Umbridge.
I do think it's interesting how little concern most of them show about shoving Montague into the vanishing cabinet and his lack of improvement after he reappears.
You know, I can read a good Dumbledore is an evil, power hungry asshole who's keeping Harry from becoming Wizard Jesus Merlin Slytherin Duke of Cambridge and President of the United States of the World and enjoy the hell out of it. LOL But I vastly prefer the Dumbledore we get in this novel, the one who fucks up because he's trying to protect Harry, the one who makes bad choices because he doesn't want to hurt someone he loves, the one who is mighty indeed but who doesn't know everything.
Such a fantastic read.
3. Have some more Yuletide:
Deadwood
Never Call Retreat
Deadwood
Alma Garrett/Al Swearengen
If you read nothing else from the collection this year, you should read this fic. Whoever wrote it has the voices down exactly; I can hear each of the characters in my head as I read along. This is funny, and no matter what you may think of the pairing, 100% in keeping with the spirit and characterization of the show.
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Someone Else's Music
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Basil/Dorian, Henry/Dorian
Oh my, the Victorianists had such a good Yuletide this year. This fic is exquisite, lush and beautiful and grotesque and achingly, gloriously horrible--in short, all the attributes of the novel.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-30 08:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-12-31 01:28 am (UTC)If you like to bake from scratch, it might have some fun things Pip would like in it.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-31 04:40 am (UTC)I recently reread all seven books and it's interesting how much of it reads differently with foreknowledge. Also I was a bit surprised at how the movies have subtly re-shaped what I remembered from the books.
no subject
Date: 2019-01-01 03:05 am (UTC)I am the same as you; the movies and books are conflated in my mind.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-31 01:08 pm (UTC)Must look for the Dorian Gray story.
no subject
Date: 2019-01-01 03:06 am (UTC)I think you'll like the Dorian one.
no subject
Date: 2019-01-01 01:32 pm (UTC)1. No one has empathy for trauma in these books. Everyone is supposed to get on with their lives. Lily sees things that no one else can see and so believes things no one else believes and get horribly bullied for it? Get on with your life. Become a hero anyway. Neville was abused by his family when they thought he was a Squib (who drops someone out a window!) and lived in the constant knowledge of what his parents were experiencing? Get on with life. Become a hero anyway. Wormtail was bullied by his "friends" and looked down on by his "allies"? He became a weak villain, posthumously justifying everything they did to him.
How could the kids have empathy for Ginny's trauma, for the girl who broke and told the secrets about Dumbledore's Army, for someone trapped in a vanishing cabinet? They'd never seen it modelled in any adults. They'd never once been shown kindness or understanding for breaking when it all got to much to bear. They'd only been rewarded for hiding the pain and acting normal. How could they empathize when they'd never seen it done?
2. There is a special place in my heart for the character who knows what they're doing is wrong, knows the price for doing it is losing their own soul, and does it anyway. The military commander who lies to someone they're sending to die. Who promises the spy their recruiting that they won't have to kill anyone. The one who is willing to bear any cost to do what needs to be done. Not the true believer who thinks there's no cost. The one who knows the price and pays it anyway.
I don't know if Dumbledore was that sort of hero, but I like to think he might have been. The text doesn't say.
no subject
Date: 2019-01-02 05:43 pm (UTC)I think you are absolutely right that the Wizarding World relies on this pull yourself up by your own bootstraps mentality that allows for the comforting of friends but not a concerted, systematic effort (like mental health care) to deal with the fall out of trauma.
I also think their whole world view is skewed re: pain. I've been noticing this reread just how many terribly painful magical accidents and jinxes and etc they all endure, and everybody just acts like that's normal and fine and not nightmare fuel. I think the idea that you can splinch your leg off and then reattach it just fine or regrow all the bones in your arm just dandy or whatever makes them all just think that only those things which cannot be surmounted like death or insanity amount to much.
Me? I think I'd forgo the chance to learn magic if it meant regular and excruciating pain.
Just once I'd like to read the fic where people are traumatized by the genuinely traumatizing magic accidents that happen to them as children.
no subject
Date: 2019-01-03 08:31 am (UTC)I suppose the later books have a bit of a theme of empathy for your enemies (Snape, Dudley). To my mind the best handling of that theme is in Series of Unfortunate Events, which teaches you to understand and to break the cycle without expecting forgiveness. Harry Potter reaches for that, but I feel like it misses the mark somehow?
That fic would be fantastic and terrible in one. Please write it.
no subject
Date: 2019-01-05 02:49 am (UTC)Maybe I will try my hand at that story; I did make a New Year's Resolution to write more fic!
no subject
Date: 2019-01-05 11:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-01-05 03:35 pm (UTC)Perhaps it will be treat to myself when I finish the project of doom for work which one way or another, for good or ill, will be done at the end of this month, and then I can throw up and cry and be finished with the damn thing. LOL
no subject
Date: 2019-01-05 07:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-01-06 12:52 pm (UTC)