(no subject)

BOOKS.

I am so close to the end of my "read all the books" list I can taste it.

I tried reading Egalia's Daughters by Gerd Brantenberg, which martinius recommended. I thought the conceit was very clever: a novel set in a culture where gender roles are reversed, but with a focus on the damage gender inequality does. I couldn't really get into the story; it seems like it would make a good short story but gets a bit tedious as a novel -- either that or the focus was so heavy on the conceit that the characters got short shrift. Perhaps it's just that I'm not the target market for this book; I'm already aware of most of what it's trying to point out.

I did manage to get through The Levee by Malcolm Shuman, which I think someone else recommended though I've lost the name. (If it was you, let me know and I'll edit to credit.) It's a decent read, but it felt a bit limp in the end. I was startled to find out Shulman is an experienced novelist, because I read a lot of stuff in this one that gave me a "first novel" vibe.

( The Levee by Malcolm Shuman )

Final Verdict: The Levee is a quick read, but it's not a very deep read, and I suspect it might be something of a beach read. It's not the kind of book I can imagine most people wanting to get through more than once.

(no subject)

Friday Fanfic reccs!

After I attended Wait Wait Don't Tell Me last week, ladyvyola linked me to a very amusing zombie parody, Wait Wait Don't Eat Me.

Lovers Of Mere Moments by heypeterpanda -- During the fight on the Helicarrier, Tony and Steve have a moment. It's essentially just a quick kiss during battle, but unlike most fics where they magically don't hate each other it's rational (for a given value). It comes from a kind of messed-up place with regards to Steve and his complicated relationship with the Stark family, and I love that. Teen and Up, Steve/Howard, Steve/Tony.

They Know by determamfidd -- After being forced into a brief telepathic bond during a fight, the Avengers freak out in a variety of ways. They solve this problem with an orgy. This sounds like a PWP, and certainly it is wall-to-wall everyone-fucks-everyone, BUT it's also a very interesting study of Bruce's relationship to the other Avengers and to the Hulk. It's sex but not just sex -- it's told from Bruce's POV and there's a lot to dig into within the story. NC-17, Everyone/Everyone, and warning for mindfuckery and description of trauma.

Finally, I know this is old but I just found it -- Scarlett Johanssen and Mark Ruffalo did a Vogue shoot in May, and there's a great behind-the-scenes video with lots of classic glamour (and a leopard).