Feb. 3rd, 2021 09:08 am

Concept Album based on Frankenstein & Mary Shelley

bunnyboo: A portrait of Mary Shelley (shelley)
Hi, everyone! [personal profile] cornerofmadness commented on my "Finished Frankenstein" post with a link to a really cool concept album by Valentine Wolfe based on the work of Mary Shelley (with Frankenstein being heavily featured as inspiration).

Here's the link to their official YouTube playlist for the album, and here's the link to their website where you can play the full album for free! I've also included a video embed below to my favorite track, "Victor's Confession".


Thanks again to [personal profile] cornerofmadness for letting me know about this awesome album!




  • Current Music: A Voice in the Dark - Valentine Wolfe
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Feb. 2nd, 2021 01:01 pm

Finished Frankenstein & Thoughts

bunnyboo: A portrait of Mary Shelley (shelley)
So I know I said I was going to split up my previous post in two, but I ended up finishing the book—might as well combine the two posts I was planning to make! I cut down on the quotes this time because I think the previous entry was hard to read with all the bolding and notes. (I tried, at least.)

 

( Spoilers for a 200-year-old book within... )

 

I had a lot of fun analyzing this and putting together little mini-essays. Hope you had some fun reading them. The next book’s commentary will be less English major-y. I’m still deciding on what to read… If all else fails, I’ll read Watership Down.

  • Current Mood: accomplished
  • Current Music: Fences - Paramore
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Feb. 2nd, 2021 10:49 am

Progress on Frankenstein, Part 6

bunnyboo: A portrait of Mary Shelley (shelley)
Hello again, friends and neighbors. I’m in the home stretch now! I found the entire book available online, legally and for free, on Project Gutenberg so I don’t have to type out every quote. Yay!

It did make me go a little quote crazy though.

 

( Spoilers for a 200-year-old book within... )

I’m going to break up this post into two because this one is really huge. See you then!

  • Current Music: Sons & Daughters - The Decemberists
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Feb. 1st, 2021 12:21 pm

Progress on Frankenstein, Part 5

bunnyboo: A portrait of Mary Shelley (shelley)
There’s a lot to unpack here. (Oh, how I hate the word “unpack.”)

Let’s dive in!

( Spoilers for a 200-year-old book within... )
  • Current Mood: thoughtful
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Jan. 29th, 2021 03:35 pm

Progress on Frankenstein, Part 4

bunnyboo: A portrait of Mary Shelley (shelley)

Oh, it’s getting good. Well, uh, better, that is to say. The book's been consistently good.

( Spoilers for a 200-year-old book within... )
  • Current Mood: excited
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Jan. 29th, 2021 11:03 am

Progress on Frankenstein, Part 3

bunnyboo: A portrait of Mary Shelley (shelley)
Hello again, friends and neighbors! I am just speeding through Frankenstein. According to GoodReads, I’m a quarter of the way through already! I really respond to these kinds of stories, I guess.

( Spoilers for a 200-year-old book within... )

Wow, this was a long entry. Fun fact! I wrote this all in a Word document instead of directly in the editor for the first time. I kind of like it, kind of don’t, but it does keep me from getting into mischief while at work… sort of. ;) I’m hoping to post my Snowflake Challenge #15 today, but I should be quiet for some of the weekend while I repair Lyra. Long story short, the stuff that kept her eyes in turned to goo somehow and when I removed it, I took out her eyelashes and part of her face paint by accident! I can at the very least give her new eyelashes (which is something I’ve been meaning to practice anyways), but there’s not much I can do about the face paint. C’est la vie (one of my favorite phrases that I’ve just learned to spell). I might put another outfit together too to practice collars—depends on how frustrated I get with putting on lashes. I’d also like to post pictures of these eyes that a friend sent me to test out but that might not get posted until sometime next week.

Have a great weekend, and stay safe out there!

  • Current Mood: accomplished
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Jan. 28th, 2021 02:02 pm

Progress on Frankenstein, Part 2

bunnyboo: A portrait of Mary Shelley (shelley)
Frankenstein is going a lot easier than I thought it would be. Maybe my reading skills are improving!

( Spoilers for a 200-year-old book within... )
  • Current Mood: good
  • Current Music: The King Will Come - Wishbone Ash
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Jan. 28th, 2021 11:16 am

Progress on Frankenstein, Part 1

bunnyboo: A portrait of Mary Shelley (shelley)
I've decided to do a deeper dive into Frankenstein than I've done with my recent posts. Expect the English major hat! I've also started annotating my copy for the first time in... years... a decade? I was always told to do it but never did in high school. It's actually quite helpful. Teenage Bunny, you strike again!

( Spoilers for a 200-year-old book within... )
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Jan. 28th, 2021 10:24 am

Frankenstein Acquired!

bunnyboo: A portrait of Mary Shelley (shelley)
I've decided that my next book will be Mary Shelley's Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus! It was a book I was supposed to read in college and I, uh, didn't. I'm going in somewhat blind here - only knowing the basic story beats and having never watched a film adaptation other than bits and pieces of Young Frankenstein. My copy includes a foreward by Walter James Miller (which I'll be reading last) and an afterword by Harold Bloom... if that means anything to you.

In any case, I'm looking forward to it!
  • Current Mood: awake
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Jan. 26th, 2021 02:56 pm

Finished The Hobbit & Thoughts

bunnyboo: The symbol of The Eye of Sauron from the cover of The Two Towers published by Houghton Mifflin (lotr)
I very strongly considered calling this post "Reading The Hobbit every few years - there and back again" but then I'd lose my lovely consistent naming scheme.

Well, what can I say that hasn't already been said? The Hobbit was my introduction to one of the well-known and greatest fictional universe of all time. Having only read Fellowship once and none of the following books or supplemental material, I have to say that it's my second favorite fantasy book ever - if Watership Down can truly be called "fantasy."

It's cozy and comforting, even throughout all the danger, because I know (and knew) just from the experience and atmosphere it creates that everything is going to turn out fine. Good triumphs over evil; good exists and can be found everywhere. That's just refreshing after a lifetime of stories that are edgy and dark and "realistic" - sometimes specifically in contrast to Tolkien. That's not to say that they don't have value - I like those kinds of stories in moderation - but when it seems like 99% of western fantasy is a subversion of or response to The Lord of the Rings, it's nice to go back to what started it all.

( Spoilers for an 80-year-old book within... )


Anyways, I'm slowly running out of books to read at home but I have a few more up my sleeve before my stash runs dry. See you next time!

  • Current Mood: good
  • Current Music: Heart Shaped Box - Nirvana
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Jan. 25th, 2021 09:11 am

Progress on The Hobbit, Part 3

bunnyboo: The symbol of The Eye of Sauron from the cover of The Two Towers published by Houghton Mifflin (lotr)
There's been less posts for The Hobbit than the other books I've read, simply because I've been speeding through it - not because there's not things to say! Though, to be fair, I think I'm focusing less on analysis this time.

I really like the authorial voice that Tolkien created. I can just imagine a person sitting in front of a fire in a comfy chair, telling this story verbally with witty asides and a bit of personality. It also adds to the idea that this is a true history of a bygone age. Many imitators have cribbed this style from Tolkien, but I don't think any have done as well or as naturally. I think it has to do with Tolkien being heavily influenced and a translator of folklore (Beowulf being the example I got off of Wikipedia, though he clearly incorporated other Anglo-Germanic stories) - most of which was recorded from verbal retellings.

( Spoilers for an 80-year-old book within... )
  • Current Mood: sore
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Jan. 23rd, 2021 02:26 pm

Snowflake Challenge #12

bunnyboo: A stag looking out on snow (winter 2)
Snowflake Challenge promotional banner featuring a snow-covered green bench in a snowy park. Text: Snowflake Challenge: 1-31 January.

Now this challenge is a blast from the past!


Remember the early oughts? Remember Web 1.0? And Geocities and blinkies? What about Flash games? It was only last month that Adobe Flash finally died its ignoble death.

In the spirit of those times, let resurrect some old LJ memes! (Think Buzzfeed quizzes but with less data mining (not to say that didn't happen)).

When I looked at my tags page, there were 159 entries tagged ‘meme’ which I guess is because memes were what I used to say when I didn’t know what to say. In the early oughts, I wasn’t new to the internet, but I was new to the interactive version of it presented by LJ and its clones. In order to seem interesting, I did a *lot* of memes.

As I explored back in my journal, I found a lot of memes that are now defunct, but I wish were still functioning. Like the Friends Icons collage, which seemed to be a bit of code that gathered all your friends’ default icons into one picture. And Quizilla seems to be a Teen Nick site now. Other links looked extremely sketchy.


In your own space, resurrect an old meme. Have fun with it! Which is the goofiest meme you can think of? Put on your party hat and be silly!!

I'll be doing the "Which Historical Lunatic Are You?" quiz, found here. I never did this one back in the day. I was mostly on Quizilla, but that is probably a desolate wasteland by now.

I am...


 
( Results under the cut... )
 



...Hm. I really wanted Diogenes. If I wasn't me, I would want to be him. ...And if he wasn't Diogenes, he would want to be him too. ;)






And, hey, what the heck - I'll do the "I Write Like..." thingy too. Double effort. I used my "Finished Jane Eyre & Thoughts" post because it's a good length, and I was really proud of the analysis I did of the book.






Huh, I wasn't expecting that. Defoe was most famously the author of Robinson Crusoe. Interesting.
  • Current Mood: groggy
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Jan. 21st, 2021 09:59 am

Progress on The Hobbit, Part 2

bunnyboo: The symbol of The Eye of Sauron from the cover of The Two Towers published by Houghton Mifflin (lotr)
One thing that a lot of The Lord of the Rings clones forget about Gandalf is that he's actually kind of arrogant (or at least projects the image of being so) and quite sassy. I like that about him. I think the natural inclination is to make your wise, powerful, magic user just generically a "good guy" with very few personality traits - all the better for them to be plot dispenser to your heroes. (Harry Potter fell into this hole with Dumbledore and then climbed out again with the last few books, something I really appreciate.)

Specifically in The Hobbit, Gandalf serves as the kind of person that Thorin Oakenshield wants to be - powerful, really all that - but isn't quite there yet and doesn't have the skills to back it up. Both those personalities are also a foil to Bilbo who's more humble and less forceful - serving to highlight him when he does impressive things or shows bravery.

...I am having a hard time remembering the names and details of all these darn dwarves though.
  • Current Mood: geeky
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Jan. 20th, 2021 01:38 pm

Progress on The Hobbit, Part 1

bunnyboo: The symbol of The Eye of Sauron from the cover of The Two Towers published by Houghton Mifflin (lotr)
I'm not even an official page in the book, but I have to talk about the small author's note in my edition. It just perfectly sets the tone for what's to come. 

"This is a story of long ago. At that time the languages and letters were quite different from ours of today... (2) Orc is not an English word...Orc is the hobbits' form of the name given at that time to these creatures... Runes were old letters originally used for cutting or scratching on wood, stone, or metal, and so were thin and angular. At the time of this tale only the Dwarves made regular use of them, especially for private or secret records. Their runes are in this book represented by English runes, which are known now to few people." (I)

Presenting this as a historical account, introducing linguistic concepts in a way kids can understand, actually connecting the writing system of Middle-Earth to one of our own, introducing the runes and explaining them - it's all perfect! My childhood edition didn't have this, and I think it was a big loss. 
  • Current Music: Red - King Crimson
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Jan. 20th, 2021 11:24 am

Plot Bunnies of Days Past

bunnyboo: Pride, Prejudice, and Plot Bunnies (plot bunnies)
Hiya! Thought I'd share some my story ideas/plot bunnies of yore to shore up my word count. They're unfinished and messy, but if any of these jump out at you, grab them and run with them!



Fan Fiction

"Joanna Lives" (??)
  • An AU where Joanna Lannister survived Tyrion's birth and is disabled
  • A softer Tywin
  • Cersei and Jaime's relationship slowed down (still happens)
  • Tyrion growing up tolerated and loved (by Joanna)
  • Actually wrote the first chapter of this - if you want it, let me know!

"Vernon Dursley and The Bureaucratic Nonsense"
  • Dudley's child is a wizard
  • Vernon Dursley takes it upon himself to "fix the problem" by going all Karen on the Ministry
  • "I'll have you know that I'm a very important person. You WILL fix this, or so help me, I'll go straight to the top!"
  • Eventually ends up tolerating his wizard/witch grandchild... or is memory wiped. Who can say?


Original Fiction

"Briar Rose"
  • Originally meant to be a short story, then morphed into a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure text game
  • In a post apocalyptic world (specifically an alternate reality where the "1983 Soviet nuclear false alarm incident" wasn't caught by Stanislav Petrov), a scavenger comes to a small town and learns of a local legend - the sleeping beauty.
  • The "sleeping beauty" is rumored to be a cache of pre-apocalypse medicine, a secret society of super humans, a living pre-apocalypse politician, an underground utopia, or even an old, still operational computer system.
  • In reality, it's a secret bunker full of unexploded nuclear devices which have been abandoned for decades - and might just go off.

"In A Cave, Dreaming"
  • A society of humanoids, living below the surfaces in icy caves
  • Society is based off of Native Alaskan and Arctic cultures
  • A mysterious river that flows deeper into the caves, sometimes bringing objects of great value and power from upstream
  • A race of "deeper dwellers" who resemble humanoid bats
  • A sentient planet??
  • An Earth-like world, made icy by a harsh Ice Age??

Untitled 1
  • A virtual world of children in stasis
  • Children are the terminally ill offspring of the rich and powerful, given a world in which to live while they wait for a cure
  • Virtual world has been corrupted by the vengeful daughter of a "charity case" who lashes out at those who looked down on her in life
  • She's actively killing off the others by removing them from life support
  • Think Lord of the Flies meets, I dunno, The Matrix?
  • Actual story might take place decades after the kids were put in stasis (centuries?)
  • Protagonist is a technician, either sent in to solve the killings or as part of an archival/discovery/archeology team

Untitled 2
  • Short story
  • Woman gives birth to an iguana
  • No one else sees it that way
  • Does she kill it? Does she grow to love it? Does she just give up?
  • Current Mood: awake
  • Current Music: Cockroach King - Haken
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Jan. 19th, 2021 11:25 am

Finished Emma & Thoughts

bunnyboo: A portrait of Jane Austen (austen)
Hello! I actually finished Emma on Friday, but I got too lazy to post anything about it.

( Spoilers for a 200-year-old book within... )

As for my next book, I'm thinking of a little something that starts with "The" and ends with "Hobbit."
  • Current Mood: accomplished
  • Current Music: Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy - Fall Out Boy
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Jan. 13th, 2021 03:42 pm

Progress on Emma, Part 6

bunnyboo: A portrait of Jane Austen (austen)
( Spoilers for a 200-year-old book within... )
  • Current Mood: calm
  • Current Music: Angel's Theme - Buffy the Vampire Slayer soundtrack
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Jan. 13th, 2021 10:15 am

Snowflake Challenge #7

bunnyboo: Backshot of Tyrion Lannister from Game of Thrones (tyrion)
Snowflake Challenge promotional banner featuring a wrapped giftbox with a snowflake on the gift tag. Text: Snowflake Challenge January 1-31




For today's challenge, there's a twist! The seventh challenge is:


Is there a challenge you've seen in the past that's no longer being run, and you wish it was? Or maybe one you've heard about in some other fandom that would be perfect for yours? Is there a challenge you'd love to see, but can't seem to find? Now's your chance to fill that void. Do you wish there was more (fill in the blank) in fandom? This could be something specific to your favorite fandom, or something more all-encompassing. Have you always wanted to try something, but needed that extra push?

This can be something as widespread and huge as Fandom Snowflake, or as tiny and intimate (but equally awesome and important) as challenging yourself to do something. Think small! Think big! It's all good!

In your own space, create your own challenge. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

I've been meaning to do a post like this for awhile, so why not for challenge seven! My challenge for my readers, should you choose to accept it, is "Who are your fictional 'crushes?' What character(s) do you really have a connection with?"

If you look at my icon, I think you can figure out my answer! I have a massive "crush" on Tyrion Lannister from A Song of Ice and Fire / Game of Thrones! I love his character and his portrayal by Peter Dinklage in the television show makes him even better!

I really felt a connection with him when reading the books - the social ostracization (perceived in my case for the most part, incredibly real in Tyrion's), the adoption of a "joking" and self-deprecatory persona to "deflect" others' criticisms and judgement, the practicing of what to say and what to do in social situations. Not only that, but he got to be badass at times and fight back! Plus he got all the best lines and jokes. 

Once the television show started, I absolutely adored Peter Dinklage in the role. He was perfect. A secret of mine - I actually got too embarrassed to watch Dinklage in other shows because I had such a crush on him. 

Hope you enjoyed my little confession. If you feel comfortable, share what characters you have a "crush" on or feel a connection with in the comments!

  • Current Mood: embarrassed
  • Current Music: Tight Pants - Jimmy Fallon & Will Ferrell
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Jan. 12th, 2021 11:37 am

Progress on Emma, Part 5

bunnyboo: A portrait of Jane Austen (austen)
I finished the first volume! 

( Spoilers for a 200-year-old book within... )
  • Current Mood: contemplative
  • Current Music: Dude Looks Like A Lady - Aerosmith
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Jan. 11th, 2021 05:03 pm

Snowflake Challenge #6

bunnyboo: Two tan rabbits in a field (rabbits)
Snowflake Challenge promotional banner featuring a cup of frothy coffee or hot chocolate on a plate with a piece of greenery and a cozy comforter with a sprig of baby’s breath. Text: Snowflake Challenge: 1-31 January.

 

Welcome back! Snowflake Challenge #6 is:


One of my favourite things about fandom is screaming, "Did you see that amazing thing!" to someone and having them scream back at you (hopefully positively) that they have now. Sometimes, it's about the canon itself, but a lot of the time it's about fan works our community has made. In that spirit, today is the day to sing the praises of our fellow fans' hard work and creativity.

In your own space, rec at least three fanworks that you didn’t create.

I don't engage much with fanworks anymore, but here's some recs for various fandoms and media!

Like dark fic? Like Harry Potter? Want to see some time travel shenanigans? Try Sisyphus by esama. I'm sure most people have already read it, but I come back to it now and again.

Want more Harry Potter time travel shenanigans? Try A Question of When by vlad the inhaler. Romilda Vane tries to get Harry's attention - over and over and over again.

Want something lighter, something fun, something that isn't quite a fanwork but a "hatework?" Try Noiseless Chatter/Philip J Reed's ALF retrospective where he slowly devolves into madness over a forgotten 80s show.

Not necessarily a "fanwork" as it is a channel dedicated to a community, but I recommend Muñecas, Poupess, and Dolls' channel where she discusses dolls of all kinds. It's interesting - at least to me! I specifically recommend her "Why are BJDs Expensive?" video.

Another video link - check out Foxcade's Futurama Retrospective | A Turbulent Past if you're a fan of the series. It's a great explanation of the rise, fall, and rebirth of one of the most iconic sci-fi shows ever made.

One last video, I promise. Even if you're not a fan of Persona or Persona 4, check out Hiimdaisy's comic based on the series in video form!

Like The Lord of the Rings? Want to see it through the eyes of a group of D&D players and a worn-out DM? Try out Shamus Young's DM of the Rings webcomic. I especially recommend the rest of his blog as well for video game and programming content.

Finally, I have to give a shout-out to two sites - Ranch Story Blog and Ushi No Tane - for their coverage of the Harvest Moon, Rune Factory, and Story of Seasons games over the years. Ushi No Tane was one of the first sites I remember ever visiting as a kid, and Ranch Story Blog has been around long before their tumblr account. I'd gladly recommend them for gameplay guides, artwork, and interview with the developers!

I think that's all I have for this challenge. Thanks for reading! Feel free to share your fanwork recs in the comments. I'd love to see what people, well, love!

  • Current Mood: excited
  • Current Location: Closer - Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox
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