u/saturday_sun4

Yeah, that's pretty much it.

I've read The Queen of Jasmine Country by Sharanya Manivannan.
I don't mind if it is religious, just no retellings, please.

Prefer books, including visual novels. I find it very hard to concentrate on films and TV these days, so would prefer something written, if at all possible.

Games are ok too, if any exist.

I doubt my lamentable Marathi is going to stand up to the more formal language used in a film or TV show (I can just about manage serials), so would appreciate English (subbed or dubbed), please and thanks in advance.

ETA: I enjoy historical romance, and for the purposes of this prompt, don't mind speculative fic as long as it is grounded within the real world (i.e. not a loose imitation secondary world "inspired by").

Thank you!

Reposted numerous times by now.

It’s a ‘futuristic’ picture book where all the kid’s chores are done for him. There’s chutes that bring up and take away his meals, and likely similar arrangements for laundry. Sort of like a smart house. I want to say the word ‘dumbwaiter’ or a dumbwaiter-style contraption was in the house. They may have lived on the moon. Edit: maybe the Milky Way was mentioned?

I feel like one of the characters’ names was Zero, but I may be getting mixed up with Louis Sachar’s ‘Holes’. I feel like the protagonists (kid + father) have pale moon-like faces, like stylised full moons (e.g. the Luna Park sign).

The first half of the book consists of the morning routine including various chores in the house. The bulk of the book is about going on a space shuttle to visit Luna Park and I distinctly remember their seeing Orion along the way. The book ends with them arriving at Luna Park. Whether it’s Luna Park on Earth, or a space equivalent, I can’t remember.

I believe the author was Australian or Kiwi.

Finished last week:

Junk Shop Blues by Cole McCade for the r/MM_Romancebooks Spring Bingo. Absolutely adored this, and liked the interactions between Seong-Jae and Khalaji even more than last time. I'm hooked on this series.

The Murder Between Us by Tal Bauer - if I hadn't read this just after Junk Shop Blues I might've appreciated the forensic details in this more. Regardless, that's a quibble - the case was interesting and the romance delicious.

The Only Purple House on the Street by Ann Aguirre - cosy romance isn't my usual, but adored this one.

Currently reading:

Small Island by Andrea Levy

Deathless by Catherynne M Valente

Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez for a buddy read

DNF:

Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky

I read this ages ago, perhaps in the 2010s? God starts talking to people from the sky (?) returning (?) and there's a lot about the commandments. There's possibly some kind of cult or club involved, and possibly some reference to celebrities popular at the time. The main characters possibly have to join/form/are already part of some kind of society and have to work out what is going on.

The whole thing is quite irreverent. Think the TV show Miracle Workers.

I tried to read another book by this author and it really wasn't my thing. I'm glad I gave him another chance because, wow, I am loving this series two books in.

The first book is {The Cardigans by Cole McCade} and the series is {Criminal Intentions by Cole McCade}.
MM. The author is, I believe, a Black American trans man.

First, the representation. I love racially diverse rep so having the MMCs be men of colour was fantastic.
Both leads are BIPOC, one is of Korean descent and originally from Korean, one is Persian Jewish.

Second, the plot. Obviously, it's not as meaty as a regular police procedural as the emphasis is more on the detectives spending time together. It's a mystery romance and if you are the kind to enjoy the challenge of a cipher and guess the killer in the first ten pages, this may be a little straightforward, no pun intended, for you.

Please read CWs if you are in any way sensitive to death or discussion thereof. The romance is fine but the mysteries themselves can get violent.

However, I for one found it solid and just loved being along for the ride.

Third, the writing was elegant. Often I find romance books are a bit longer than they need to be. At just over 200 pages, The Cardigans was beautifully written and never belaboured the point. It is very rare for a book to make me laugh. Cole McCade's {Junk Shop Blues} achieves that.

Note: this series is very slow burn, or at least to my normally erotica leaning tastes. It speaks to how excellent the series is that I've been savouring every word. I enjoy them as they are engrossing mysteries with truly interesting (and grisly) setups. The chemistry between the leads is kind of... prickly but it's not overdone at all. It's really well written.

This is a slightly edited version of a gush post I made at the MM Romancebooks subreddit a while ago, so if it looks familiar that's why :) Just read the second book and loved it!

Finished last week:

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones with r/bookclub

Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon for my unthemed card for r/fantasy bingo.

Currently reading:

Small Island by Andrea Levy - surprisingly loving it despite its being out of my comfort zone.

Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky - not too sure about this one. I loved Cage of Souls but this one is starting off fairly slowly.

I know most people will say flying, but man, I am disabled and cannot run. I would (still as an adult) love to run like a cheetah or a horse and then be all healed up again. I normally am not an animal person but that idea was what attracted me to the series.

So so cool.

I am guessing most people would say flying but am curious to see your answers.

(Also please keep it relatively SFW lol.)

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I am a bit sick of stir fry and fried rice as I've been having fried rice for the last couple of weeks. I have 500g chicken mince, a jar of Vegemite (I don't eat toast), mild English mustard, miso paste, tahini, a jar of Patak's Rogan Josh. These have been sitting in my fridge/freezer for ages untouched.

Other things I have that I can use with them: gf pasta, butter, basic Indian masalas, gochugaru, gochujang, a few potatoes, rice noodles, onions, garlic, salt and pepper, lemon juice, vinegar, Birds Eye frozen corn/carrots/peas, frozen broccoli, rice, fish sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, olive oil, vegetable oil, 2-3 eggs, toasted sesame oil, assorted Indian masalas (powdered, yes, yes, I know, but it's cheaper).

Happy to buy things as needed for recipes, but also want to waste less and plan actual meals lol. I used to be bad with wasting ingredients and am trying not to do it any more. Plus groceries are getting v expensive.

I guess I could make keema with the mince but I'm not in the mood atm. I want new ideas and it's still disgustingly hot here despite supposedly being autumn.

Like salad ideas or something would be nice.

Diet:

Love dal but not the biggest fan of sabzi/poriyal (as in Indian vegetable fry, like the dish - fine with vegies in general).

Can take or leave karela (bitter gourd) and fresh dill (shepu/suva).

Gluten intolerant.

I don't eat ox, beef/veal, gelatine, or cow rennet (gelatine where I am is all cow), but can sub vegetarian or non-beef options where required.

I like prawns and fish but not really other seafood. I can try it but I don't think I would enjoy it.

Located in Australia.

Thank you in advance!

Edit: Title should be "My bra feels like it is worsening my LPR".

Currently wearing Underwire, Berlei Lift and Shape Size 12F.

Went to Myer a few months ago and they said my fit was fine, but I'm not convinced. With PPIs it's under (more) control but still I start coughing after a long day of wearing it. Is there anything I can do to help whilst trying to lose weight and changing diet or am I just doomed forever lol. I have been wearing these bras for ages but now I'm thinking it's not a good fit for me long term. I do not want LPR back again. They are just tight and feel uncomfortable around the band.

Now I fully accept it is my responsibility to lose weight but I also want a comfy bra. I am sick of underwire.

Does anyone else have this issue and what did you do to help.

Bras from Myer aren't cheap and I'm not exactly rolling in cash right now, so I don't want to throw them away or buy new ones unless I am convinced this is the issue or unless I am wearing the wildly wrong bra. Shipping from basically anywhere costs $$$$$$$$.

Happy to provide measurements if helpful.

There is absolutely no way I'd feel comfortable going out braless so please do not suggest this <3

tl;dr bra may be contributing to LPR and even if not, long term I'd like to swap to non-underwire and something that feels better/less constricting.

Thanks ladies!

Maybe "motivation" is not the right word. But you know what I mean. Examples like The Nanjing Massacre being a notable one, and also the rape of Phan Tai Mao in the Vietnam War.

What conditions could lead to these kinds of behaviours? What was the context here?

Yes, I know the historical context varies a lot from place to place, but in general what is the thinking that compels a male soldier to go and rape a young woman, barely out of her teens? Psychologically, what is going on?

Obviously, yes, they are terrible people, but what is the twisted thinking that goes on these men's minds that allows them to do this? Why are there almost ALWAYS male-motivated SA incidents in war situations? Why do they see women as property?

Another week over - what are you guys reading?

Finished last week:

The Mysterious Double Death of Honey Black - ended up being 3 stars for me.

Currently reading:

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones for one of my r/fantasy bingo cards (BIPOC authors). It's dragging a bit towards the middle, but I'm reading it with r/bookclub so that helps.

The Last Witch of Scotland by Philip Paris - not started yet, but it's due back at the library in a couple of days so I'll see how I like it.

Not much else really - my reading has slowed down this week as I read longer/denser books for fantasy bingo.

That's it, that's the post. <3

Not trying to dunk on anyone who has had romantic relationships in the past... but I haven't, and thank god for it!

So happy to be aromantic. So happy that I knew myself well enough to know that romance was not for me, and realised early on that single = bliss.

And if you are in Australia or NZ, how is your ANZAC day public holiday shaping up?

Finished last week:

The Blighted Stars - by Megan E. O'Keefe for the r/fantasy bingo. What a book, solid 5 stars. It was the perfect blend of romance, horror and sf.

Currently reading:

Among the Stars and Bones - Ungodly Hour Productions (audiodrama) S2

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones for another of my r/fantasy bingo cards (BIPOC authors). Glad I gave him another chance, because I find this much easier to follow than the book I tried before.

Joy Moody is Running Out of Time by Kerryn Mayne - this starts with a ridiculous premise that I'm having trouble buying into. I'm sticking with it because I liked Lenny Marks, but it has me shaking my head.

The Mysterious Double Death of Honey Black - looks to be a historical mystery. I read far too much romance last year and it's nice to get back into hisfic.

DNF

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese - stunningly written but literary fiction without an overarching plot just isn't my cup of tea.