Reading and Watching

[lunabee34]

1. I finished The Cursed Child.

I wish this was written as a proper book instead of as a play, but I love it even so. I love that Harry is flawed; I love that he is depicted as struggling with parenting and other aspects of his life because of his childhood trauma. Albus and Scorpius are absolutely delightful, and their friendship is just as endearing as the original Trio. Love Ginny in this. Makes me so happy that Ron and Hermione are always in love in every incarnation of the universe even if they don't always end up married (that reality where they die finally admitting their love for each other and kissing chokes me up). I wish I could see the play; I know I would love watching even more than reading.

This play reads like all the awesome fanfic that came out after book 7 when fandom decided that, of course, Albus was gonna be in Slytherin, and, of course, he and Scorpious were gonna be besties (AsS, anybody? LOL). Throw in AUs and time travel, and it's like they made it for me!

I'm sad because it's all done. No more HP to read. Now I have to decide where to pick up: on my reread my own shelves project (which could either go with finishing the Joe Abercrombie series or starting the Paolo Bacigalupi) or by reading some of the newer books I've acquired.

2. We saw Mary, Queen of Scots. I know every little about the history of this time period, so IDK how historically accurate it is. I've read that the meeting between Elizabeth and Mary is made up, but IDK about the rest of it. I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would; it hadn't even really been on my radar, but some friends wanted to see it. The two leads are fantastic (Robbie's physical transformation is out of this world; wouldn't have even believed it was her if I hadn't known; she's looking a bit like Pennywise by the end of the thing). What struck me most is the solidarity and commonality between the two queens and how deeply they both feel that; they feel a sisterhood that no one else can understand and Elizabeth in particular has a great deal of sympathy for Mary. I was also struck by how sexist and awful everyone around them is. Elizabeth's advisors demean her behind her back, but they never successfully counter her; it makes her hold on power seem extremely lucky, like a turn of the wheel, as opposed to Mary's bad luck. The movie also highlights Elizabeth's refusal to marry and have children as extremely important to her grip on power. I do love that none of the men who fuck Mary over get what they want either; none of them get to be king. Because I don't know my history, I was afraid the uncle would assassinate her son, but he lives and takes the throne and I assume is the King James who commissions the KJV of the Bible.

Also, Saoirse Ronan is incandescently beautiful. OMG.

Comments

[chelseagirl]

Yes, he is.

[lunabee34]

Cool! I looked up the wiki on him and he got to drink and eat himself into oblivion at 58 rather than meeting some violent end. LOL

[nyctanthes]

Which Bacigalupi are you thinking of (re)-reading?

[lunabee34]

The Drowned Cities which I haven't read, The Wind Up Girl, and I think Pump Six must be on the Kindle.

[nyctanthes]

I've been bouncing off a lot of books recently, finding it hard to get in a reading groove in the new year. But I think The Ship Breaker series might be a good choice for me. Thanks for reminding me of it!

[lunabee34]

No prob! Have fun. :)

[havocthecat]

I think a key flaw of the wizarding world is that there seems to be NO THERAPY EVER in it. How is this not a thing? How? I don't know. But how is it that no muggle child ever thought, "I know! I will take Freud's theories (or someone's, depending on era) and apply them to the wizarding world WITH LEGILIMENS or a pensieve or WHATEVER the fuck works?"

It seems like there would be a lot less trauma in that case.

But anyway. I do wish that it had been written as a book.

[lunabee34]

I know! I don't understand why more things from the Muggle world *aren't* incorporated into the Wizarding world. I mean zippers are yay!

I love that In Loco Parentis fic which argues that the only way the Muggle world can have so little effect on the wizarding world is because of concerted and clandestine efforts by wizards, even those like Dumbledore and the Hogwarts teachers and Ministry officials like Arthur Weasley who on the surface appear to champion the rights of muggles.

[ariadne83]

I would pay SO MUCH MONEY for a Pensieve to store my worst memories!

[lunabee34]

That would actually be really interesting. Would you realize it was gone? Would there be a palpable hole there? Or would it be like it never happened at all?

[ariadne83]

Good question! Hmm I think you'd be aware that it was gone, because you'd remember where you put it?

I already have holes in my memory so that part doesn't bother me.

[lunabee34]

I think if I knew that the hole was one I'd deliberately made, I'd be okay with it, but IDK. I can't wrap my head around how it would feel.

LOL

[archersangel]

i say read something new.

[lunabee34]

I am! I started a book about cheese!