May News 2021

Or is it Mew News? Or Meow News?

Whatever.

Got the second dose of the Astra Zeneca vaccine today. Most people who got the second dose of AZ already said that there were no or almost no side effects, but, of course, I’m not them, so I’m waiting to see what will it be like for me.

And that’s why the current mood is:

Any other news?

The story I sent to a contest wasn’t chosen (which is, to be honest, what happens almost every time I send a story to a contest, so I’m used to it), so I posted it on my blog in Serbian. I know, I know, I could have tried offering it to someone else, but I’m lazy.

And other than that, it’s the usual. Well, right now, I’m resting after the vaccine, but other than that, it’s working, reading, watching stuff…

Currently reading: Necronomicon by H. P. Lovecraft. To be more specific, one of the local versions of Best of Lovecraft, the third edition. I’ve read those stories before (and, if you’ve ever read Lovecraft, you know what I’m reading, too), but I was inspired to grab this book after the graphic novel I had read before that.

Recently read: H. P. Lovecraft’s At The Mountains of Madness by Gou Tanabe. It’s got 4 parts, or 2, depending on the edition, and it’s great. I mean, as an adaptation, it’s pretty good; visually, it’s really, really good, and the illustrations spreading over 2 pages are brilliant.

And we’re talking about showing unimaginable horrors, among other things. And strange areas that make people feel uneasy, at best. And… Well, if you’ve read At the Mountains of Madness, you know the tone and the mood this graphic novel is meant to show…and it succeeds.

Go on and read it. Stare at it. Love it.

Speaking of love…

Currently watching: Love, Death & Robots, season 2. I’m about halfway through, and so far, Snow in the Desert is the best episode. Animation is beautiful, and the story is…well, it succeeds in telling a lot about human condition in just 15 minutes, about loneliness, about being different, about…I’m not going to spoil it for you, go on and watch it.

Overall, I’d say that the first season was better, but this one is still good, and well worth your time.

Currently working on: right now, resting, otherwise, work, when there’s any. And in the meantime, struggling with my TBR pile, but you’re probably all familiar with that. So many books, never enough time…

That’s it for now (I’ve managed not to have another belated post, yay!), see you next time!

Belated March News 2021

What can I say, I don’t feel like writing. Or doing anything.

I mean, I do write. When there’s work, or on my blog in Serbian, where I mostly write about the books (and sometimes comics) I’ve read.

But most of the time, I don’t feel like writing. Living in interesting times? The times are dull, and are just making me like people less and less.

Current mood? Look at the picture above.

Anyway, news?

I got the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine; the next one is 12 weeks after the first one. I’ve waited for a bit longer than 3 weeks after the first dose, and then checked the antibodies. I’ve got them, a pretty decent number, so the vaccine is doing something. My reaction to the vaccine wasn’t exactly pleasant, but it was over in a few days, and wasn’t a big deal. And after checking the antibodies, I’ve dared to visit a doctor for a check-up (everything is fine). And since I was out and about already, I got myself some books and comics.

Other than that, it’s waiting and sometimes working and reading. And sometimes practicing speed reading.

I expected something to happen in March, but it didn’t. Oh, well, it will happen at a later time. One way or another.

So…

Currently reading: Blindness by Jose Saramago. I’m tired of the pandemic, and I’m reading about a mysterious epidemic of blindness? Well, yes. It’s a good book. And relevant to what we’re going through (some countries more than the others). But mostly, it’s a good book. Creepy and not pleasant, but good.

Recently read: Punisher 4: Barracuda by Garth Ennis. It’s violent. Very violent. And fun. And a really nice read after seeing a bunch of people acting like stubborn rebellious idiots during a pandemic. I mean, I’m not going to shoot them or something, but getting away from them and back home, and reading Punisher episodes written by Garth Ennis feels good.

Also recently read: a bunch of books and some comics. One comic book (Le Chat du Rabbin) and 11 books in March alone, including two books by Elena Ferrante (her first and the last one), some Japanese horror stories (great), The Magus by John Fawles (weird, interesting, good), Twins Trilogy (The Notebook, The Proof, The Third Lie) by Agota Kristof (a lot more weird, and wild, and strange, and really good), Herland by Charlotte Gilman Perkins (one of the first feminist utopias, really interesting), Autonomous by Annalee Newitz (some important issues, and some strange and not exactly healthy couples), a collection of stories by Aliette de Bodard (some were really fun, like the most unusual version of Sherlock and Watson I’ve seen so far, with Watson being a mindship suffering from PTSD), The Seventh Function of Language by Laurent Binet (if you’ve enjoyed The Name of the Rose, you might like this one, too), Embassytown by China Mieville (complex, unusual, really good)… It was a good month for reading.

Currently watching: well, nothing. I’m reading. Possibly way too much. American Gods are over, they say there won’t be another season, which means they’ve left it all hanging on a tree… Hopefully there will be another season, somewhere, or a movie.

Currently working on: work, when there’s any. When not, well, I think you know what I’m doing.

That’s it for now, hopefully April News won’t be a belated one.

Tuesday News 21/04/2020

Warmer weather is here, the 84-hour curfew is over. The regular 17h-5h curfew (when did such a thing become regular?) got a bit shorter, from 18h to 5h.

It still feels like the officials have no idea what they’re doing. There will be summer school, there won’t be summer school, they plan to slowly open some businesses (understandable if we’re talking about economics, but I won’t be visiting my hairdresser anytime soon, it will be too risky; I got my hair cut at home), the elderly are now allowed to go for a short walk thrice a week…

Still chaotic. Still annoying.

Current mood:

And other than that?

Working, no longer stocking up on necessities, reading…

Currently reading: The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie. I’ve just started, so I can’t say much about it.

Recently read: House of X/Powers of X by Jonathan Hickman. Marvel’s alternate timelines are not my cup of tea, but this one was well done.

Also recently read: Black Mother Earth by Kristian Novak. Excellent author, excellent book about a pathological liar who can’t remember his own childhood…and then he starts remembering, and… Not an easy read, but a great book.

I’ve also read some Serbian comics, a Serbian avant-garde novel,  The Wages of Fear by Georges Arnaud (about guys driving trucks full of nitroglycerine and hoping they don’t explode), and Le mauvais demiurge by Emil Cioran (great essays and thoughts if you’re in a dark or sarcastic mood).

Currently watching: other than a course on designing landing pages, nothing.

Currently working on: work for pay, when I get it, plus some blogs (working on them or planning to work on them).

That’s it for today, hopefully it won’t be 2 weeks before the next one.

And hopefully I’ll stop feeling so tired all the time.