Things I'm reading, watching, listening to

[brainwane]

I know many people use Wednesday as a regular "post to Dreamwidth about what media you're experiencing" day. I don't necessarily intend to keep up that tradition, but this week I add my voice to the multitude.

Reading: I just finished Phyllis Ann Karr's At Amberleaf Fair which I found via a Jo Walton list of books in which no bad things happen. Indeed it is very low-stakes compared to a lot of fantasy! Leonard heard me describe it and suggested the adjective "cozy". Maybe! It's a short and gentle read, and I enjoyed it in ways that reminded me of the bits of the Steerswoman series where Rowan spends time learning about, like, the Outskirters. Also I have been attempting to close tabs which means reading short speculative fiction and in some cases liking it well enough to bookmark it as a recommendation.

Listening: I've been listening to radio shows and podcasts that play lots of music, like my friend Mike's show on his old college radio station, this chill KEXP mix that reminds me of "Music from the Hearts of Space," and BBC Introducing Mixtape. RIVVRS's "Run" in this episode reminded me of Guster's "Center of Attention".

Watching: We're watching The Repair Shop for comfort some nights while watching dinner -- so soothing, people fixing things -- but also mostly keeping up with the same stuff that skygiants is, the National Theatre and Shows Must Go On plays. This past weekend Leonard and I decided to skip The Sound of Music because I didn't want to feel rushed trying to watch that and do WisCon. And we got about 25 minutes into A Streetcar Named Desire (I've seen a production before, he hasn't) and stopped and will not finish; I don't want to have to deal with watching Blanche duBois right now.

Playing: Just Animal Crossing, still. Less in the past few days because of WisCon and work. I wonder what the next big time-limited thing will be.

Comments

[piglet]

Oh, gosh, I loved Music from the Hearts of Space. Haven’t thought of it in years.

Hearts of Space

[brainwane]

It's still around!!!!!

[sporky_rat]

And we got about 25 minutes into A Streetcar Named Desire (I've seen a production before, he hasn't) and stopped and will not finish; I don't want to have to deal with watching Blanche duBois right now.

I couldn't handle Gillian Anderson's version of the accent. Either do it right or don't do it.

[brainwane]

I presume you mean "or don't do it (in a well-funded and broadcast performance)", right? Not, like, school productions?

[sporky_rat]

Oh yeah, no, amateur/school shows are a different beast all together.

The National Theatre could totally get a few weeks of dialogue coaching in while she was going rehearsal. I mean. Even just listening to local news from Mississippi would have worked.

[jesse_the_k]

I was so disappointed by that performance!

[rachelmanija]

I also really enjoyed At Amberleaf Fair. It's low-stakes but the world building is really unusual and interesting. Also I like low-stakes books.

[brainwane]

:-) I was just thinking of you because I bought Cooney's Plane #116 Is Down! on your recommendation and am halfway through it.

[rachelmanija]

How are you liking it?

Plane #116 Is Down!

[brainwane]

It's a good read! I'm appreciating the realism of all the perspectives -- what people get upset about, how they calm themselves down, who feels entitled to what, how darkly exciting a catastrophe can be for those who have been preparing to fight one. And I am finding many good turns of phrase and bits of hyperbole.

Re: Plane #116 Is Down!

[rachelmanija]

Oh, I'm glad you're enjoying it. I also found it startlingly realistic in that way.

[skygiants]

lol, we also decided we were Not Up for Streetcar and swapped it out for Muppet Treasure Island to compare/contrast with the National Theater Treasure Island we saw a few weeks back. (We also skipped this week's and are trading it out for a different 2011 Much Ado, because we all wanted to see it. But next week we will be back on for Coriolanus!)

I bought At Amberleaf Fair at a used bookstore years ago because I liked Karr's Idylls of the Queen so much but have never read it, perhaps now is the time!

[brainwane]

Oh my household just saw Muppet Treasure Island a few months ago! Leonard's review which may amuse you. I hope you enjoy At Amberleaf Fair, and like you, I'm looking forward to Coriolanus! I attended the recording of a podcast about it once but haven't read or seen it yet.

[skygiants]

Tim Curry IS a human Muppet!

[libskrat]

A good Blanche DuBois is, um, A Lot. I can't imagine sitting through a not-good one rn.