Author: bardofupton

Queer, autistic, disabled, non-binary, mixed race, demisexual, asexual/graysexual, aromantic. My pronouns are they/them. All work original to and copyright by me, except where otherwise noted.

Reading project, week ending 19 Apr 2020

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What have I read this week?

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami

This is a novel about a man named Toru Okada. His cat is missing, his wife is becoming distant, and he’s getting weird phone calls. I didn’t finish this because I wasn’t really interested in it. I read about half to see if I could get into it, but it’s just not my thing.

© bardofupton 2020

Writing project, March 2020

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This month’s word is flight, meaning “the act, manner, or power of flying” or “an act or instance of fleeing or running away; hasty departure”. Sorry it’s late, life is kinda distracting at the moment. And it’s very short, too, for the same reason.

————–

Flight.

I always thought it would be the coolest superpower. Just, y’know, speeding through the air, all alone, up above everything and everyone.

The reality is not like that.

It’s cold, the air is full of crap (and don’t get me started on the insects if you fly low), and I constantly get lost because it turns out I am not good at judging distances or recognising landmarks.

So yeah, I can fly, but the truth is, I’d rather take the bus.

© bardofupton 2020

Reading project, week ending 22 Mar 2020

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What have I read this week?

Harley Merlin and the Secret Coven (Book 1) by Bella Forrest

This is a fantasy novel about a young woman named Harley who has magical abilities who finally meets someone else with similar powers. I quite enjoyed this; the story was fun although Harley could be annoying as a main character. I might read more in this series.

All Systems Red: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells

This is a science fiction novel about a security android that calls itself Murderbot and has hacked itself to have free will. I enjoyed this; Murderbot is an interesting character and the plot was interesting. I will definitely read more in this series.

American Ghosts and Old World Wonders by Angela Carter

This is a collection of short stories. I found this a bit of a mixed bag; I really liked some of the stories and didn’t like others.

Cyber-Killers edited by Ric Alexander

This is a collection of short stories by various authors on the theme of cyberspace and killing. I enjoyed this; most of the stories were interesting.

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk

This is a novel about an elderly woman named Janina Duszejko who lives in a small isolated village in Poland. I enjoyed this; the characters are interesting, although the main character’s viewpoint took a bit of getting used to. I’d read more by this author, though

The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra (A Baby Ganesh Agency Investigation) by Vaseem Khan

This is a detective novel about a man named Inspector Ashwin Chopra who inherits an elephant on the day he retires from the police force in Mumbai. I really enjoyed this; Inspector Chopra is an engaging protagonist and the story is interesting. I would definitely read more in this series.

© bardofupton 2020

Reading project, week ending 15 Mar 2020

~ bardofupton

What have I read this week?

Under the Hat: Tales from the Cauldron edited by Jonathan Strahan

This is a collection of short stories about witches by various authors. I enjoyed this: there were a lot of different takes on the basic concept, and they were all interesting.

The Lost Sisters: A Folk of the Air Novella by Holly Black

This is a fantasy story about three sisters who are living in Faerieland, and the different ways they deal with their situation. I enjoyed this; it was an interesting take on the fairy tale form, and I’d definitely read more in this series.

© bardofupton 2020

Reading project, week ending 8 Mar 2020

~ bardofupton

What have I read this week?

Vicious by V. E. Schwab

This is a superhero novel about a man named Victor who gains powers and the effect that has on his life. I enjoyed this; it’s well-written and the characters are interesting. I would definitely read more by this author.

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

This is a science fiction novel about the religious nation of Gilead, and three women who are heavily involved in it. It took me a little while to get into it, but I ended up really enjoying it. I’d read more by this author.

What Color Is My World? The Lost History of African-American Inventors by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Raymond Obstfeld

This is a children’s book about African-American inventors. I enjoyed it and learned a lot from it. As a children’s book, it’s written in a very simple style, but still engaging.

© bardofupton 2020

Writing project, February 2020

~ bardofupton

This month’s word is hair, meaning “any of the numerous fine, usually cylindrical, keratinous filaments growing from the skin of humans and animals; a pilus”.

It’s a little bit late, sorry.

————–

Hair. It’s the first thing anyone notices when they meet me. Not the colour, although the rippling rainbow hues are noticeable. Not the length, despite it falling below my waist. No, what people notice about my hair is that it’s alive. It’s always in motion, and has a bit of a flair for the dramatic. Plus, it loves hugs. If I hug you, you get a bonus hair-hug too.

Nobody’s ever been able to explain it. I was born this way, apparently. The other kids nicknamed me Medusa, but that’s not right because my hair’s not snakes. Plus I’ve never turned anyone to stone. My hair did choke someone, but he attacked me first.

Sometimes I wish I had normal hair: I can’t style it, because it doesn’t like hairspray, or gel, or having pins or clips or even a fricking hairband. I can wash it, and that’s about it. It does have preferences in shampoo, though: it likes citrus scents.

What else can I say about it? It’s hard to explain what it’s like, since I’ve never known any different. Sometimes it gets me in trouble, like when it gets excited in a shop and knocks things over. Sometimes I get angry with it, like when everyone else has a cool new hairstyle and I can’t even put mine in a ponytail.

Overall it’s fine. I always feel like a bit of an alien, though. I can’t forget it’s there, not even for a minute, and it makes me self-conscious. I can’t forget that I’m different.

Would I change it? Yes, in a second. I just want to be like everyone else. I want to walk down the street without being stared at. I want to cut my hair into funky styles and dye it amazing colours. I want to wear hats, and have someone run their hands through my hair.

I want to be normal.

[Sigh]

It’s okay, I know it could be a lot worse. After all, my brother is a magnet for insects. He can’t step out of his sealed room without being covered in clouds of bugs. I’d much rather have freaky hair.

I’d still rather be normal, though. If I had the choice.

© bardofupton 2020