I am (a Shadow)
Cigarette-thin paper
Torn
from an exquisite manuscript.
Faded.
Letters
from long forgotten scrolls
Immaculately inked.
Dark then, now greyed
On yellowed backdrops of once
Crystal white.
A corrupted nib –
Near blunt –
Near Extinct.
Near.
But not yet.
Not yet.
Category: LoveLit
Panic with the Bingo!!!
This is one of the reasons why I purchased a screaming goat.
They are totally worth the money!!!
ARRRRGH!!!
RIGHT IN MY GODDAMN EAR!
Here’s a re-cap…
So, in 2024, I discovered Reddit. Yes, I know, but as I always say, I’m always late to parties (and when I’m there you can find me in the kitchen.) When I discovered Reddit, I discovered r/fantasy and then the yearly book bingo challenge they run there. Which is awesome!!! I have to get this out there – this is a really, really good challenge – it’s organised well, the categories are varied, the recommendation threads are amazing (and very enabling – my TBR list is about 50 times longer now!)
I can’t do anything the easy way, and it’s a challenge, so I challenged myself. Not only did I decide to do the Hard Mode for each category, but I also decided to choose all authors that I’ve never read before (easier than it sounds because I was very limited, even though I was quite well-read) – go me!
Anyway, I’ve said most of this before in my intro post to the 2024 Bingo review section, so I’m not going to repeat everything, BUT, and this is a BIG but, I’m having a BIT of a panic, because I’ve still got SEVEN books left to read, and it’s already the end of February! In fact, there’s only FIVE weeks until the challenge closes. And a couple of them are BIG books (a lessons learned post will be forthcoming at the end of the challenge) and I’m trying to stop worrying – ’cause hey, it’s supposed to fun, right? It’s not going to be fun if I STRESS about it, so I’m just have this little worry-rant, so I can stop doing that!!
This screaming goat is coming in really handy!!!!
Existence
One score and nine years ago
(OK, that’s a tad dramatic, but…)
An entire existence –
as it was –
Obliterated
by ink on paper and
Blue-green hues evaporated
in the scent of tender wood, whisky and spice.
(And then again, before)
that existence –
as it was –
Fabricated
in snapshots of
Skewed perception and ransomed
in paper and words and broken promises.
(And now?)
Existing –
as it is –
Existing.
Written January 2024
A Long Way for Cozy Sci-fi
Fleeing her old life, Rosemary Harper joins the multi-species crew of the Wayfarer as a file clerk, and joins them on missions throughout the galaxy. Looking forward to a simpler life, she soon discovers it’s not what she was expecting; everyone has secrets, and there’s more than enough to keep her busy.
The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
Published 2014 via Kickstarter
Bingo Category – Space Opera (Hard Mode)
This comfy, cosy, Firefly-esque space opera hits the spot in terms of an easy going, character focused novel. The plot is good, the writing is good, the characters are fully fleshed out and feel real, and plot arcs get resolved. It’s all very satisfying. I enjoyed it, but it almost felt too cosy. The stakes were relatively small, everyone was polite and nice and friendly and mostly everything was resolved in a nice, polite, friendly way. I know there is loads of love for Becky Chambers and I’m not surprised, because what she writes is great, but this book and most likely the rest of the series, is just not for me.
boc-hord 