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Meme: Seven Deadly Sins of Reading
Nov. 3rd, 2025 03:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shewhostaplesLust, books I want to read for their cover:
I'm not particularly drawn by book covers, actually. I suspect it comes of growing up reading through piles of Golden Age detective fiction with appalling 1970s covers. Don't get me wrong, there are some gorgeous covers out there. But, publishing being what it is, the moment a lovely one comes out, there are a dozen others riffing off it by the time I get round to reading it, which rather dilutes the effect.
Pride, challenging books I've finished:
My e-reader got me through Le Tour Du Monde en Quatre-Vingts Jours and Vingt Milles Lieues Sous Les Mers in French, and War and Peace (in English, except for the bits that are in French).
Gluttony, books I've read more than once:
Oh, goodness. I think I used to re-read more than I first-time-read when I was a child and a teen. I've slowed down since but there are still plenty I return to for comfort. A non-exhaustive list: almost all of the Agatha Christie mysteries; ditto Sayers; the Sadlers Wells series up to Principal Role; most of Swallows and Amazons (I don't think I've ever returned to Great Northern?); a lot of Noel Streatfeild (favourites: probably The Bell Family and White Boots as well as Ballet Shoes); the three Zenda novels; some of Jane Austen; some of John Buchan, particularly the Dickson McCunn series; I Capture the Castle; Cold Comfort Farm; early Libby Purves; Starbridge and St Benet's... Things I've first encountered after leaving home and returned to:the_comfortable_courtesan; Eva Ibbotson's romances; The Count of Monte Cristo. What I used to do when I was a child, and don't do so much any more, is re-read and re-read favourite scenes within a book.
Sloth, books on my to-read list the longest:
Les Misérables.countertony and I had a pact to read each other's favourite French door-stoppers. He read an abridged translation of The Count of Monte Cristo, and I stalled quite early on, so we both failed. I've done quite well this year at clearing out the Guilt Books, mostly obtained via BookCrossing, that I don't actually want to read but have been sitting on my shelves because somebody else thought I should. The exception is the Emma Donoghue historicals which I do want to read but which I suspect of being depressing. But I have acquired all my father's Anthony Hopes and Francis Brett Youngs so am feeling guilty about not reading (most of) those instead.
Greed, books I own multiple editions of:
I have a few duplicated across ebook and hard copy: either I have enjoyed the ebook version and found the paper version cheap in a charity shop (e.g. Acts and Omissions, or the book has maps or family trees or something else I want to keep flipping back to (e.g. The Duke is Dead), or conversely I have discovered that the hard copy is huge and unwieldy and I am much more likely to finish it in pixel format. As far as duplicated paper versions go, I'm not too bad. Usually I find a nicer copy and pass the nastier one on. But I have two copies of The Jungle Book because they are both inscribed by different ancestors. I seem to have duplicates of Huntingtower and The House of the Four Winds because I don't have Castle Gay in the red hardback Nelson edition. And I have a paperback Greenmantle because it is the same edition that my father had as his travelling copy. (Greenmantle is an excellent travelling book. However appalling the weather or the Bahnchaos, Richard Hannay is having to deal with something worse.)
I also have a duplicate copy of Above Rubies: Eliza Ferraby's Story volume 2, which I would be delighted to pass on, but I want it to be appreciated and it doesn't feel like the best jumping-on point for the Comfortable Courtesan saga. If anyone would like it, please shout.
Wrath, books I despised:
The Henchmen of Zenda. I was looking forward to this so much - I have enjoyed every other K J Charles that I've read; The Prisoner of Zenda is one of my favourite books - and I was so disappointed. ( Read more... ) Anyway, it's little more than, but still something more than, "ships the wrong guys".
Envy, books I want to live in:
Hmm. The problem with living in books is that generally things are all set up very nicely and then something happens and you have to go and sort it out. It might be fun to visit Ruritania and Evallonia, but I've had plenty of fun elsewhere with an Interrail ticket. The food and the scenery are very tempting in Mary Stewart and the Chalet School, but in both you have to dodge deadly peril and coercive men trying to marry you. I wouldn't mind being a grumpy Tove Jansson artist and living on a Finnish island. I'm pretty sure I actually live in a Catherine Fox novel*. Could be worse. Could be Starbridge.
*Overheard yesterday:
Verger 1: We'll add it to the long list of things that need fixing.
Verger 2: It wouldn't be the Church of England if it wasn't held together with gaffer tape.
I'm not particularly drawn by book covers, actually. I suspect it comes of growing up reading through piles of Golden Age detective fiction with appalling 1970s covers. Don't get me wrong, there are some gorgeous covers out there. But, publishing being what it is, the moment a lovely one comes out, there are a dozen others riffing off it by the time I get round to reading it, which rather dilutes the effect.
Pride, challenging books I've finished:
My e-reader got me through Le Tour Du Monde en Quatre-Vingts Jours and Vingt Milles Lieues Sous Les Mers in French, and War and Peace (in English, except for the bits that are in French).
Gluttony, books I've read more than once:
Oh, goodness. I think I used to re-read more than I first-time-read when I was a child and a teen. I've slowed down since but there are still plenty I return to for comfort. A non-exhaustive list: almost all of the Agatha Christie mysteries; ditto Sayers; the Sadlers Wells series up to Principal Role; most of Swallows and Amazons (I don't think I've ever returned to Great Northern?); a lot of Noel Streatfeild (favourites: probably The Bell Family and White Boots as well as Ballet Shoes); the three Zenda novels; some of Jane Austen; some of John Buchan, particularly the Dickson McCunn series; I Capture the Castle; Cold Comfort Farm; early Libby Purves; Starbridge and St Benet's... Things I've first encountered after leaving home and returned to:
the_comfortable_courtesan; Eva Ibbotson's romances; The Count of Monte Cristo. What I used to do when I was a child, and don't do so much any more, is re-read and re-read favourite scenes within a book.Sloth, books on my to-read list the longest:
Les Misérables.
countertony and I had a pact to read each other's favourite French door-stoppers. He read an abridged translation of The Count of Monte Cristo, and I stalled quite early on, so we both failed. I've done quite well this year at clearing out the Guilt Books, mostly obtained via BookCrossing, that I don't actually want to read but have been sitting on my shelves because somebody else thought I should. The exception is the Emma Donoghue historicals which I do want to read but which I suspect of being depressing. But I have acquired all my father's Anthony Hopes and Francis Brett Youngs so am feeling guilty about not reading (most of) those instead.Greed, books I own multiple editions of:
I have a few duplicated across ebook and hard copy: either I have enjoyed the ebook version and found the paper version cheap in a charity shop (e.g. Acts and Omissions, or the book has maps or family trees or something else I want to keep flipping back to (e.g. The Duke is Dead), or conversely I have discovered that the hard copy is huge and unwieldy and I am much more likely to finish it in pixel format. As far as duplicated paper versions go, I'm not too bad. Usually I find a nicer copy and pass the nastier one on. But I have two copies of The Jungle Book because they are both inscribed by different ancestors. I seem to have duplicates of Huntingtower and The House of the Four Winds because I don't have Castle Gay in the red hardback Nelson edition. And I have a paperback Greenmantle because it is the same edition that my father had as his travelling copy. (Greenmantle is an excellent travelling book. However appalling the weather or the Bahnchaos, Richard Hannay is having to deal with something worse.)
I also have a duplicate copy of Above Rubies: Eliza Ferraby's Story volume 2, which I would be delighted to pass on, but I want it to be appreciated and it doesn't feel like the best jumping-on point for the Comfortable Courtesan saga. If anyone would like it, please shout.
Wrath, books I despised:
The Henchmen of Zenda. I was looking forward to this so much - I have enjoyed every other K J Charles that I've read; The Prisoner of Zenda is one of my favourite books - and I was so disappointed. ( Read more... ) Anyway, it's little more than, but still something more than, "ships the wrong guys".
Envy, books I want to live in:
Hmm. The problem with living in books is that generally things are all set up very nicely and then something happens and you have to go and sort it out. It might be fun to visit Ruritania and Evallonia, but I've had plenty of fun elsewhere with an Interrail ticket. The food and the scenery are very tempting in Mary Stewart and the Chalet School, but in both you have to dodge deadly peril and coercive men trying to marry you. I wouldn't mind being a grumpy Tove Jansson artist and living on a Finnish island. I'm pretty sure I actually live in a Catherine Fox novel*. Could be worse. Could be Starbridge.
*Overheard yesterday:
Verger 1: We'll add it to the long list of things that need fixing.
Verger 2: It wouldn't be the Church of England if it wasn't held together with gaffer tape.
the extremely dramatic end to my writing drought lately
Nov. 1st, 2025 08:02 pmlannamichaelsIt's a beautiful day to start a Westing Game reread just to see how much of it was being done by Sidney Sikes behind the scenes. (Obviously he's the limping person Chris sees, and very likely the one whispering to Turtle.)
Pay no attention to the 6K words of fic I did not have two days ago.
(You want a rare pair, I suspect I am the only person who ships Sam Westing/Sidney Sikes) (the fic is not about that. The fic is about Alice Deere) (okay not really)
"The Tadfield Satanic Nones." (Good Omens) G
Oct. 30th, 2025 05:46 pmlannamichaelsTitle: The Tadfield Satanic Nones.
Author:
lannamichaelsFandom: Good Omens - Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett
Rating: G
Archives: Archive Of Our Own, SquidgeWorld
Summary: Apart from the name, Warlock Dowling was an unlikely rock star.
( the best ever death metal band out of denton will in time both outpace and outlive you (hail satan!) )
No, you won't remember it, write it down
Oct. 29th, 2025 06:50 pmlannamichaelsOn Sunday, I heard Hotel California on the radio and suddenly knew it would be a great fanvid and could see it all unfold beautifully in my head. I was going to write it down but decided against it.
Today I'm like "okay I am not a vidder but maybe I could do that in drabble form" and CANNOT REMEMBER WHICH FANDOM IT WAS.
:(
guess I may go with "what's the funniest thing" (Jane Austen).
EDIT: I remember! I remember! Complaining works! ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW.
ABC fics!
Oct. 28th, 2025 11:43 amfacethestrangeI've been seeing this meme around a lot, so let me revive my dw for five minutes just to do it. :D
How many letters of the alphabet have you used for starting a fic title? One fic per line, 'A' and 'The' do not count for 'A' and 'T'.
I'm only doing one fandom (Guardian and Guardian RPF) because I can. :D I didn't look at any art until I did all the letters, and then I added art for the two letters that didn't have fics (J and V). (And whenever there were options to choose Zhubai, I chose Zhubai, ngl. :D Many letters had 5+ fics to choose from btw, asdfhdjkl;)
I have nothing for U (I have no idea how, it's such a useful letter, and now I want to name a fic un[something] asap ;D), X (even though I've possibly started actual fics with 'Xiao Bai' or 'Xiao Wei', but not titles) and Z (I have definitely started fics with 'Zhao Yunlan' and possibly 'Zhu Yilong' too). (I'm getting a kick out of the fact that these four names are 4 out of 4 of my blorbos. :D)
So 23/26! And now onto the actual list:
A - As My Fingers Tremble (Zhubai, E, ~2K words)
B - But I Know Where to Start (Zhubai, M, ~1K words)
C - Caught You (drama Weilan, E, ~200 words)
D - Do You Want Me to Mean It? (Zhubai, G, ~1K words)
E - Emphatic No (novel Weilan & Daqing, T, 300 words)
F - Five More Minutes (Zhubai, G, ~700 words)
G - Gods Gone Wild (novel Kunlun/Zhao Yunlan, E, ~700 words)
H - How Do You Want Me? (Zhubai, E, 300 words)
I - I Look Over at You and See Sunshine (Zhubai, T, ~900 words)
J - Just Come Home (no fic -> honorary art; novel Weilan, G)
K - Kissing It Better (Zhubai, E, ~2K words)
L - Late (Zhubai, G, 200 words)
M - Match Made in Science (Lin Jing/Ye Zun, G, ~300 words)
N - No Coming Back From That (Zhubai, T, ~400 words)
O - Only Ever You (drama Weilan, E, ~2K words)
P - Poems on Your Skin (drama Weilan, E, ~2K words)
Q - A Quiet Celebration (Zhubai, T, ~300 words)
R - Ruby Insides (novel/drama Weilan, M, 200 words)
S - So Much More Delicious (Zhubai, M, ~400 words)
T - Taking What's (Not) Mine (Weilanzun, E, ~1,5K words)
U
V - Very Lucky (no fic -> honorary art; Zhubai, G)
W - When Dreams Come True (Zhubai, T, 300 words)
X
Y - You Melt Like Sugar (Zhubai, M, ~400 words)
Z
How many letters of the alphabet have you used for starting a fic title? One fic per line, 'A' and 'The' do not count for 'A' and 'T'.
I'm only doing one fandom (Guardian and Guardian RPF) because I can. :D I didn't look at any art until I did all the letters, and then I added art for the two letters that didn't have fics (J and V). (And whenever there were options to choose Zhubai, I chose Zhubai, ngl. :D Many letters had 5+ fics to choose from btw, asdfhdjkl;)
I have nothing for U (I have no idea how, it's such a useful letter, and now I want to name a fic un[something] asap ;D), X (even though I've possibly started actual fics with 'Xiao Bai' or 'Xiao Wei', but not titles) and Z (I have definitely started fics with 'Zhao Yunlan' and possibly 'Zhu Yilong' too). (I'm getting a kick out of the fact that these four names are 4 out of 4 of my blorbos. :D)
So 23/26! And now onto the actual list:
A - As My Fingers Tremble (Zhubai, E, ~2K words)
B - But I Know Where to Start (Zhubai, M, ~1K words)
C - Caught You (drama Weilan, E, ~200 words)
D - Do You Want Me to Mean It? (Zhubai, G, ~1K words)
E - Emphatic No (novel Weilan & Daqing, T, 300 words)
F - Five More Minutes (Zhubai, G, ~700 words)
G - Gods Gone Wild (novel Kunlun/Zhao Yunlan, E, ~700 words)
H - How Do You Want Me? (Zhubai, E, 300 words)
I - I Look Over at You and See Sunshine (Zhubai, T, ~900 words)
J - Just Come Home (no fic -> honorary art; novel Weilan, G)
K - Kissing It Better (Zhubai, E, ~2K words)
L - Late (Zhubai, G, 200 words)
M - Match Made in Science (Lin Jing/Ye Zun, G, ~300 words)
N - No Coming Back From That (Zhubai, T, ~400 words)
O - Only Ever You (drama Weilan, E, ~2K words)
P - Poems on Your Skin (drama Weilan, E, ~2K words)
Q - A Quiet Celebration (Zhubai, T, ~300 words)
R - Ruby Insides (novel/drama Weilan, M, 200 words)
S - So Much More Delicious (Zhubai, M, ~400 words)
T - Taking What's (Not) Mine (Weilanzun, E, ~1,5K words)
V - Very Lucky (no fic -> honorary art; Zhubai, G)
W - When Dreams Come True (Zhubai, T, 300 words)
Y - You Melt Like Sugar (Zhubai, M, ~400 words)
Fanfic meme, A to Z
Oct. 27th, 2025 12:38 pmscripsiGakked from all over my f-list.
Rules: How many letters of the alphabet have you used for starting a fic title? One fic per line, ‘A’ and 'The’ do not count for 'a’ and ’t’. Post your score out of 26 at the end, along with your total fic count.
Whenever a letter has more than one fic, I have shamelessly chosen the one I felt most to share. Leaning towards one-shots, and trying to spread the fandoms around.
A. All That You Love Will Be Lost (Doctor Who, Ninth Doctor & Nyssa of Traken)
B. But A Dream (Victoria, Queen Victoria/Lord Melbourne)
C. A Conversation In the Drawing Room, And Other Letters to Mrs. Strange (Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Emma Pole/John Childermass)
D. The Devourer (Peter Pan, Captain Hook)
E. Elizabeth’s Child (Emily of New Moon, Elizabeth Murray)
F. The First Passion, And the Last (Doctor Who, Twelfth Doctor/River Song, Missy/River Song)
G. A Gift For Her Heart (Ivanhoe, Rebecca of York/Brian de Bois-Guilbert)
H. Homeward (The Borgias, Cesare Borgia/Micheletto Corella, Lucrezia Borgia & Micheletto Corella)
I I Always Wanted To Be A Pirate Queen (Doctor Who. Liz Shaw & Delgado!Master)
J. Juliana and John (The Man In the High Castle, Juliana Crane & John Smith)
L. Little Miss Sunbeam (Doctor Who, Delgado!Master & OC)
M. Make Her Yours (The Queen’s Gambit, Beth Harmon/Vasily Borgov)
N. Nothing Interesting Ever Happens in Perivale (Doctor Who, Sarah Jane Smith & Ainley!Master & Third Doctor)
O. Only Forever (Labyrinth, Jareth/Sarah Williams)
P. A Place In the Shadows (Penny Dreadful, Vanessa Ives & Sembene)
R. Requesting Comfort (Agent Carter, Peggy Carter/Ana Jarvis/Edwin Jarvis
S. Susan, Once Queen of Narnia, Always Queen of Narnia (Piranesi & Chronicles of Narnia, Piranesi & Susan Pevensie)
T. Three’s Company (The Mummy, Ardeth Bay/Evy Carnahan O'Connell/Rick O'Connell)
V. Visiting Time (Doctor Who, Delgado!Master/River Song)
W. Wedding Nerves (Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Jonathan Strange/Arabella Strange)
Y Yellow, Sweetie? (Doctor Who, Eleven Doctor/River Song)
22 letters out of 26 covered. I missed out on K, Q, U, and X. But with 123 fics, I'm not surprised I have covered most of the alphabet.
Rules: How many letters of the alphabet have you used for starting a fic title? One fic per line, ‘A’ and 'The’ do not count for 'a’ and ’t’. Post your score out of 26 at the end, along with your total fic count.
Whenever a letter has more than one fic, I have shamelessly chosen the one I felt most to share. Leaning towards one-shots, and trying to spread the fandoms around.
A. All That You Love Will Be Lost (Doctor Who, Ninth Doctor & Nyssa of Traken)
B. But A Dream (Victoria, Queen Victoria/Lord Melbourne)
C. A Conversation In the Drawing Room, And Other Letters to Mrs. Strange (Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Emma Pole/John Childermass)
D. The Devourer (Peter Pan, Captain Hook)
E. Elizabeth’s Child (Emily of New Moon, Elizabeth Murray)
F. The First Passion, And the Last (Doctor Who, Twelfth Doctor/River Song, Missy/River Song)
G. A Gift For Her Heart (Ivanhoe, Rebecca of York/Brian de Bois-Guilbert)
H. Homeward (The Borgias, Cesare Borgia/Micheletto Corella, Lucrezia Borgia & Micheletto Corella)
I I Always Wanted To Be A Pirate Queen (Doctor Who. Liz Shaw & Delgado!Master)
J. Juliana and John (The Man In the High Castle, Juliana Crane & John Smith)
L. Little Miss Sunbeam (Doctor Who, Delgado!Master & OC)
M. Make Her Yours (The Queen’s Gambit, Beth Harmon/Vasily Borgov)
N. Nothing Interesting Ever Happens in Perivale (Doctor Who, Sarah Jane Smith & Ainley!Master & Third Doctor)
O. Only Forever (Labyrinth, Jareth/Sarah Williams)
P. A Place In the Shadows (Penny Dreadful, Vanessa Ives & Sembene)
R. Requesting Comfort (Agent Carter, Peggy Carter/Ana Jarvis/Edwin Jarvis
S. Susan, Once Queen of Narnia, Always Queen of Narnia (Piranesi & Chronicles of Narnia, Piranesi & Susan Pevensie)
T. Three’s Company (The Mummy, Ardeth Bay/Evy Carnahan O'Connell/Rick O'Connell)
V. Visiting Time (Doctor Who, Delgado!Master/River Song)
W. Wedding Nerves (Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Jonathan Strange/Arabella Strange)
Y Yellow, Sweetie? (Doctor Who, Eleven Doctor/River Song)
22 letters out of 26 covered. I missed out on K, Q, U, and X. But with 123 fics, I'm not surprised I have covered most of the alphabet.
Meme!
Oct. 26th, 2025 07:11 pmshewhostaplesNot that I have finished any fic for ages, but never mind that...
Rules: How many letters of the alphabet have you used for [starting] a fic title? One fic per line, 'A' and 'The' do not count for 'a' and 't'. Post your score out of 26 at the end, along with your total fic count.
A — All these weddings, all these years (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Matthew & Charles)
B — Between the Towers (Marieke - Jacques Brel, Narrator/Marieke)
C — Choosing a Tomorrow (Izetta: The Last Witch, Finé/Izetta)
D — dear employment (Romeo and Juliet, Romeo/Balthasar)
E — Educational Visit (Doctor Who, Thirteenth Doctor and fam)
F — False Scent (Doctor Who, Liz Shaw/Isobel Watkins)
G — Grounded (Doctor Who, Liz Shaw & Third Doctor)
H — Home of Strife (I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Romeo/Giulietta)
I — Immortal Gifts (The Count of Monte Cristo/Romeo and Juliet, Eugénie & Lady Capulet)
J — Janus (The Lego Movie, Good Cop-Bad Cop)
K — Kissing the Scorpion (James Bond - Craig movies, James Bond/person whose identity is revealed during the course of the story, which is the kind of thing you can do in Little Black Dress)
L — Ladies of Esteem (Romeo and Juliet, Lady Montague/Lady Capulet)
M — measuring his affections by my own (Romeo and Juliet, unrequited Benvolio/Tybalt)
N — News from Verona (Romeo and Juliet, Benvolio & Romeo)
O — One of these days (The Comfortable Courtesan, Em/Lalage)
P — Partnership (Yuri!!! on Ice, Lilia & Yakov)
Q — The Queen's Quandary (Zenda, implied Flavia/Rudolf R, but really about Flavia)
R — Rather late for me (White Boots, Harriet/Lalla)
S — Skirmish and Retreat (Much Ado About Nothing, Beatrice/Benedick)
T — Thinking of the Days That Are No More (the Summer Tempests remix) (Swallows and Amazons, Peggy/Susan)
U — Under Her Skin (Yuri!!! on Ice, Mila/Sara)
V — Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied (Romeo and Juliet, Friar Laurence)
W — What an Exchange! (Trenuleţul - Zdob şi Zdub & Fraţii Advahov (Music Video))
X —
Y — Yet A Hand To Play (Zenda, Rudolf R/Rupert)
Z —
Only missing X and Z. Clearly I need to return to Zenda. And probably Doctor Who or something.
It's been a horrible cold day, mostly because of the wind. But I am inside and have a cat on my lap.
Rules: How many letters of the alphabet have you used for [starting] a fic title? One fic per line, 'A' and 'The' do not count for 'a' and 't'. Post your score out of 26 at the end, along with your total fic count.
A — All these weddings, all these years (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Matthew & Charles)
B — Between the Towers (Marieke - Jacques Brel, Narrator/Marieke)
C — Choosing a Tomorrow (Izetta: The Last Witch, Finé/Izetta)
D — dear employment (Romeo and Juliet, Romeo/Balthasar)
E — Educational Visit (Doctor Who, Thirteenth Doctor and fam)
F — False Scent (Doctor Who, Liz Shaw/Isobel Watkins)
G — Grounded (Doctor Who, Liz Shaw & Third Doctor)
H — Home of Strife (I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Romeo/Giulietta)
I — Immortal Gifts (The Count of Monte Cristo/Romeo and Juliet, Eugénie & Lady Capulet)
J — Janus (The Lego Movie, Good Cop-Bad Cop)
K — Kissing the Scorpion (James Bond - Craig movies, James Bond/person whose identity is revealed during the course of the story, which is the kind of thing you can do in Little Black Dress)
L — Ladies of Esteem (Romeo and Juliet, Lady Montague/Lady Capulet)
M — measuring his affections by my own (Romeo and Juliet, unrequited Benvolio/Tybalt)
N — News from Verona (Romeo and Juliet, Benvolio & Romeo)
O — One of these days (The Comfortable Courtesan, Em/Lalage)
P — Partnership (Yuri!!! on Ice, Lilia & Yakov)
Q — The Queen's Quandary (Zenda, implied Flavia/Rudolf R, but really about Flavia)
R — Rather late for me (White Boots, Harriet/Lalla)
S — Skirmish and Retreat (Much Ado About Nothing, Beatrice/Benedick)
T — Thinking of the Days That Are No More (the Summer Tempests remix) (Swallows and Amazons, Peggy/Susan)
U — Under Her Skin (Yuri!!! on Ice, Mila/Sara)
V — Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied (Romeo and Juliet, Friar Laurence)
W — What an Exchange! (Trenuleţul - Zdob şi Zdub & Fraţii Advahov (Music Video))
X —
Y — Yet A Hand To Play (Zenda, Rudolf R/Rupert)
Z —
Only missing X and Z. Clearly I need to return to Zenda. And probably Doctor Who or something.
It's been a horrible cold day, mostly because of the wind. But I am inside and have a cat on my lap.
Fanfic Meme - The Alphabet
Oct. 26th, 2025 02:44 pmpaynesgreyStolen from thisbluespirit . Looks interesting.
Rules: How many letters of the alphabet have you used for starting a fic title? One fic per line, ‘A’ and 'The’ do not count for 'a’ and ’t’. Post your score out of 26 at the end, along with your total fic count.
A - Absurd Distractions (Inuyusha - Kagome&Sesshoumaru friendship fic, Inuyasha, Rin, Jaken, original characters)
B - Be My (Fake) Wife (Star Wars, Rey/Kylo Ren AU, modern setting, unconventional courtship)
C - Caught In-Between (Unnatural History, Henry/Jasper/Maggie polyamory fic, original characters, mystery and romance)
D - Dark Stranger (Arrow, Oliver/Felicity, Felicity/Slade, canon-divergent, Sarah Lance, John Diggle, Barbara Gordon)
E - Eleven Probable Honeymoons with River Song (Doctor Who, Eleventh Doctor/River Song, Amy, Rory)
F - The Flip Side (MCU, Darcy/Loki, Thor, Jane Foster, Coulson, Nick Fury, Clint Barton, Canon divergent, body snatching hijinks)
G - Grave New World (Heroes, Peter/Claire, Sylar/Elle, Noah Bennet, Rene, Angela Petrelli, Alternate universe)
H - Horror Fest (Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge) Sunako/Kyouhei, canon)
I - Impulse (Doctor Who, Twelfth Doctor/Clara Oswald, canon compliant)
J - Just to Make Sure (Harry Potter, Hermione/Harry, canon compliant)
K - Kiss or Kill (Star Wars, Rey/Kylo Ren, canon divergent)
L - Loose Ends (Moonlight, Josef/Mick, canon compliant)
M - Mischief and Tasers (MCU, Darcy/Loki, Avengers, Canon divergent)
N - Noisy Neighbors (Inuyasha, Kagome/Inuyasha, Miroku/Sango, Rin, Kaede, post-canon)
O - The Other Side of Lonely (Arrow/Flash, Laurel Lance/Cisco Ramon, canon divergent)
P - Pound of Flesh (Avatar: The Last Airbender, Azula, Aang, Zuko, canon compliant)
Q - Quite Comfortable (Heroes, Peter/Claire, canon compliant)
R - Redeem (Original/Hebrew Bible, Lilith/Eve in modern times)
S - Silence for Naught (GALS!, Rei/Ran, ensemble, canon-divergent)
T - The Tell-Tale Kiss (Miraculous Ladybug, Adrian/Marinette, ensemble, canon-divergent)
U - Unintended Entrance (Doctor Who, Eighth Doctor/River Song, Charley Pollard)
V - A Valentine for Rosalie (Twilight, Rosalie Hale, Jacob Black, Renesmee Cullen, Emmett Cullen)
W - A Wanderer's Heart (Star Trek: TOS, James T. Kirk/Janice Rand)
X -
Y - Young Avengers Assemble! Ficlets & Drabbles (Young Avengers/Marvel 616, Kate Bishop, Tommy Shepherd, Billy Kaplan/Teddy Altman, Eli Bradley, Cassie Lang, Clint Barton)
Z - A Zero Who Dares - (Fence, Nicolas/Seiji, canon compliant)
25/26 fics! Didn't have one for X. Really hard. I have so many fics haha. Do it if you can!
thisbluespirit . Looks interesting. Rules: How many letters of the alphabet have you used for starting a fic title? One fic per line, ‘A’ and 'The’ do not count for 'a’ and ’t’. Post your score out of 26 at the end, along with your total fic count.
A - Absurd Distractions (Inuyusha - Kagome&Sesshoumaru friendship fic, Inuyasha, Rin, Jaken, original characters)
B - Be My (Fake) Wife (Star Wars, Rey/Kylo Ren AU, modern setting, unconventional courtship)
C - Caught In-Between (Unnatural History, Henry/Jasper/Maggie polyamory fic, original characters, mystery and romance)
D - Dark Stranger (Arrow, Oliver/Felicity, Felicity/Slade, canon-divergent, Sarah Lance, John Diggle, Barbara Gordon)
E - Eleven Probable Honeymoons with River Song (Doctor Who, Eleventh Doctor/River Song, Amy, Rory)
F - The Flip Side (MCU, Darcy/Loki, Thor, Jane Foster, Coulson, Nick Fury, Clint Barton, Canon divergent, body snatching hijinks)
G - Grave New World (Heroes, Peter/Claire, Sylar/Elle, Noah Bennet, Rene, Angela Petrelli, Alternate universe)
H - Horror Fest (Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge) Sunako/Kyouhei, canon)
I - Impulse (Doctor Who, Twelfth Doctor/Clara Oswald, canon compliant)
J - Just to Make Sure (Harry Potter, Hermione/Harry, canon compliant)
K - Kiss or Kill (Star Wars, Rey/Kylo Ren, canon divergent)
L - Loose Ends (Moonlight, Josef/Mick, canon compliant)
M - Mischief and Tasers (MCU, Darcy/Loki, Avengers, Canon divergent)
N - Noisy Neighbors (Inuyasha, Kagome/Inuyasha, Miroku/Sango, Rin, Kaede, post-canon)
O - The Other Side of Lonely (Arrow/Flash, Laurel Lance/Cisco Ramon, canon divergent)
P - Pound of Flesh (Avatar: The Last Airbender, Azula, Aang, Zuko, canon compliant)
Q - Quite Comfortable (Heroes, Peter/Claire, canon compliant)
R - Redeem (Original/Hebrew Bible, Lilith/Eve in modern times)
S - Silence for Naught (GALS!, Rei/Ran, ensemble, canon-divergent)
T - The Tell-Tale Kiss (Miraculous Ladybug, Adrian/Marinette, ensemble, canon-divergent)
U - Unintended Entrance (Doctor Who, Eighth Doctor/River Song, Charley Pollard)
V - A Valentine for Rosalie (Twilight, Rosalie Hale, Jacob Black, Renesmee Cullen, Emmett Cullen)
W - A Wanderer's Heart (Star Trek: TOS, James T. Kirk/Janice Rand)
X -
Y - Young Avengers Assemble! Ficlets & Drabbles (Young Avengers/Marvel 616, Kate Bishop, Tommy Shepherd, Billy Kaplan/Teddy Altman, Eli Bradley, Cassie Lang, Clint Barton)
Z - A Zero Who Dares - (Fence, Nicolas/Seiji, canon compliant)
25/26 fics! Didn't have one for X. Really hard. I have so many fics haha. Do it if you can!
The Agatha Christie reread: 4.50 From Paddington
Oct. 26th, 2025 07:43 pmscripsiNot only is 4.50 from Paddington (1957) one of my favourite Christie’s, it’s also the one I have re-read the most, and it also has one of my favourites among her characters.
On the train to see Miss Marple, her friend Mrs. McGillicuddy observes a man strangling a woman on a train that is temporarily beside her own. She and Miss Marple report the crime, but as no body is found, the police dismiss it all as a dream. Miss Marple, of course, thinks otherwise. She figures out that the body must have been thrown out of the train on the Crackenthorpe estate, and manages to get help from her friend Lucy Eylesbarrow, who gets a job at Rutherford Hall as a housekeeper.The Crackenthorpe family is a fine collection of Agatha Christie tropes. The elderly family father who keeps a thigh rein on his money. The spinster caretaker, the bohemian artist, the successful businessman, with a wife from a noble but poor family, and lastly the never-do-well son. There is also the daughter who died young, but her husband, the war hero, is around. Another son died in the war, and the dead daughter has a teenage son who sometimes visits. To complete the picture there is also the family doctor who seems very interested in the spinster daughter. Lucy manages to find the dead body secreted away in a barn, and then she and Miss Marple need to find out who she was, and also which one of the many men having access to the estate who is the murderer. Needless to say Miss Marple figures it all out, through there a couple of more murders before that happens.
It’s a pretty solid Christie mystery, but a large reason why I love this book is because of Lucy Eylesbarrow. She’s an attractive woman in her early 30s who, despite being a highly gifted academic, decides to have a career as a short time housekeeper. She’s very good at her job, and is therefore in high demand and is very expensive. I love that Christie, though Lucy, points out that taking care of a home is actually a job that requires a number of talents and hard labour. Whenever I feel household chores are just a drudge, I always feel more motivated after re-reading 4.50 from Paddington, because Lucy thinks doing chores are fun. Lucy also proves to be an excellent detective, and she and Miss Marple make a very good team. I’ve always felt it’s a pity Lucy never returns, she would have made a good returning character.
Mild spoilers below the cut.
( Read more... )
Overall I think Christie does a good job with the characters in this book. Yes, they are a selection of her stock characters, but they still have distinct personalities. Like Emma, the spinster daughter, who isn’t at all down trodden, and clearly has her own life and interests, even if she lives a life as her father’s caretaker. Mrs. McGillicuddy, who we only see at the beginning and the end of the book, is still a real human being, and I think it’s a testament to Christie’s skill as a writer that even if Mrs. McGillicuddy is so briefly described, you are still left with a real person. Someone who isn’t very imaginative, who may not be very generous with money, but who still has a large family who loves her, and close friends who look forward to seeing her.
I’ve seen two adaptations of this book. One from 1987 with Joan Hickson. She was a marvellous Miss Marple, but this particular adaptation is one of the weakest in her Marple series. I don’t mind that there are some cuts and changes in the cast, but several of the characters have significant changes to their characters, and none for the better. I’m especially annoyed with how Lucy is portrayed. On the other hand the one from 2004, part of the Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, is one of the better episodes from that series, even if I don’t think Geraldine McEwan is the best Miss Marple. There are some changes in this adaptation as well, for example Inspector Craddock is made into a relative to Miss Marple.Not that I mind, especially as he is played by the ever charming John Hannah.
On the train to see Miss Marple, her friend Mrs. McGillicuddy observes a man strangling a woman on a train that is temporarily beside her own. She and Miss Marple report the crime, but as no body is found, the police dismiss it all as a dream. Miss Marple, of course, thinks otherwise. She figures out that the body must have been thrown out of the train on the Crackenthorpe estate, and manages to get help from her friend Lucy Eylesbarrow, who gets a job at Rutherford Hall as a housekeeper.The Crackenthorpe family is a fine collection of Agatha Christie tropes. The elderly family father who keeps a thigh rein on his money. The spinster caretaker, the bohemian artist, the successful businessman, with a wife from a noble but poor family, and lastly the never-do-well son. There is also the daughter who died young, but her husband, the war hero, is around. Another son died in the war, and the dead daughter has a teenage son who sometimes visits. To complete the picture there is also the family doctor who seems very interested in the spinster daughter. Lucy manages to find the dead body secreted away in a barn, and then she and Miss Marple need to find out who she was, and also which one of the many men having access to the estate who is the murderer. Needless to say Miss Marple figures it all out, through there a couple of more murders before that happens.
It’s a pretty solid Christie mystery, but a large reason why I love this book is because of Lucy Eylesbarrow. She’s an attractive woman in her early 30s who, despite being a highly gifted academic, decides to have a career as a short time housekeeper. She’s very good at her job, and is therefore in high demand and is very expensive. I love that Christie, though Lucy, points out that taking care of a home is actually a job that requires a number of talents and hard labour. Whenever I feel household chores are just a drudge, I always feel more motivated after re-reading 4.50 from Paddington, because Lucy thinks doing chores are fun. Lucy also proves to be an excellent detective, and she and Miss Marple make a very good team. I’ve always felt it’s a pity Lucy never returns, she would have made a good returning character.
Mild spoilers below the cut.
( Read more... )
Overall I think Christie does a good job with the characters in this book. Yes, they are a selection of her stock characters, but they still have distinct personalities. Like Emma, the spinster daughter, who isn’t at all down trodden, and clearly has her own life and interests, even if she lives a life as her father’s caretaker. Mrs. McGillicuddy, who we only see at the beginning and the end of the book, is still a real human being, and I think it’s a testament to Christie’s skill as a writer that even if Mrs. McGillicuddy is so briefly described, you are still left with a real person. Someone who isn’t very imaginative, who may not be very generous with money, but who still has a large family who loves her, and close friends who look forward to seeing her.
I’ve seen two adaptations of this book. One from 1987 with Joan Hickson. She was a marvellous Miss Marple, but this particular adaptation is one of the weakest in her Marple series. I don’t mind that there are some cuts and changes in the cast, but several of the characters have significant changes to their characters, and none for the better. I’m especially annoyed with how Lucy is portrayed. On the other hand the one from 2004, part of the Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, is one of the better episodes from that series, even if I don’t think Geraldine McEwan is the best Miss Marple. There are some changes in this adaptation as well, for example Inspector Craddock is made into a relative to Miss Marple.Not that I mind, especially as he is played by the ever charming John Hannah.
When you want an AU but everyone else who wants that AU wants it for different reasons
Oct. 23rd, 2025 07:59 pmlannamichaelsIn my reading of Game Of Thrones fic, I developed an urge for fic where Elia Martell Targaryen (why some married women are only referred to by their maiden names and some are always only referred to by their married names, I do not know) and her kids don't die. It would be interesting to see what it would change!, I thought. Surely it doesn't need to change a huge amount necessarily, but it would great to see it!
And so I went looking and found a bunch and it turns out.
It turns out that when you want fic where legitimate claimants to a throne survive, you get a ton of fic about Targaryen restoration. You get so many fics that are love letters to the Targaryens.
I don't care about Targaryen restoration! I don't like the Targaryens and see no reason why I should! (Except for Aemon, the Targaryen maester who is still alive at the Wall, I allow that he's really intruiging.)
Also I will admit the first time I saw the pairing of Jon Snow/Rhaenys Targaryen, I had a full blown "why? why the fuck?"
But yeah I get it, if Jon Snow is her long lost half-brother, then it's true Targaryen heritage to ship them. I don't see it, I don't even like the ship, and it's interesting how I have no problem whatsoever with Jon Snow/Sansa Stark, who were raised as half-siblings, but my reaction to Jon/Rhaenys is "I'm completely uninterested in reading this". Also I'm not really into Jon/Daenerys.
Maybe it's the whole enforced-incest of the Targaryens? IDK.
But also.
Reading the fic.
Okay so I am never going to read the books, I have long since been warned off from all the grimdark rape, and I am never going to watch the show, ditto.
I did not realize how small the amount of time the Targaryens have actually been ruling in Westeros. They only showed up like 300 years ago???? In a setting where people are like "my family has been ruling in this one spot for 10,000 years" or whatever, the Targaryens are new kids on the block who showed up with dragons, conquered everyone, had several (!) really bad rulers, constantly married each other (in violation of the local religion, and no one else was allowed to copy their behavior because they're special), seemed to do very little marrying out to the locals because who needs to shore up support, dealt with civil war/rebellion, lost their dragons, had a really fucking awful last king, and then, surprise, they were overthrown.
And you want those folks back? You are nostalgic for the wonderful days of the people who showed up five minutes ago and were generally terrible?
Also blowing my mind was, okay, I had been told over and over again that Baratheons all look a certain way since time immemorial and so that's why obviously if you look into it, Cersei's kids can't be Robert's.
But the Baratheons were founded as a new house by a Targaryen bastard. The looks of the Baratheons are the opposite of the Targaryens. Also this is also only like 300 years ago, and Westeros seems to enjoy a society where there are several pathways to ensure that only one or two of your sons are allowed to have children (maesters, the wall, endless wars).
So all this is kind of amusing from a "reading fic without knowing canon" perspective, the slow unfolding of, oh my god, what is going on in this canon. But also the mismatch of people who have actually read/watch this canon and what they want to write (Targaryen restoration, Targaryen incest) vs. me who has not done that, and what I want to read.
But actually what I want to write is a fic where Jon Snow actually is Ned Stark's bastard. Ah, yes, I see here that "Ned Stark is very honorable". Uh-huh. Well, he had an affair with a woman who is a sex worker/laundress/woman who was interested before his marriage and then, because he is so honorable, he took the child in and raised him, rather than leaving Jon Snow to live in poverty.
This explains nothing about why Ned Stark wouldn't tell Jon Snow about this mother but I'm sure we can come up with something (the mother was already married? who cares).
But I'm not writing this, entirely because I have no idea of a plot to go along with this. Oh and also I'm not reading/watching this, but I wrote an MDZS drabble without reading the book/finishing the show.