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misericordiae

@ misericordiae @literature.cafe

Posts
7
Comments
215
Joined
2 yr. ago

  • iHave a Lovesick Teacher

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  • (I don't even speak English every day anymore, so I could be wrong).

    You're not wrong. I think some of it is the difference between casual speech and formal writing (people are more likely to say "after being" but write "after having been", especially in published work)**, but some of it is also just poorly phrased. It makes enough sense to a native speaker to get what the problem is asking, though.

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    ** I think the first may be correct in some cases, but idk the rule.

  • What book(s) are you currently reading or listening to? May 12

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  • Still reading The Pastel City by M. John Harrison. The writing style doesn't quite jive with me, but it's packing a lot of story in a short page count, manages to be evocative, and is well-paced. Liking it so far.

  • What book(s) are you currently reading or listening to? May 05

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  • I'll give it a look, thanks!

  • What book(s) are you currently reading or listening to? May 05

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  • I started The Pastel City by M. John Harrison last night; it's been on my list for so long I don't remember why it's there. Kind of a Dying Earth setup, where it's thousands of years after the fall of civilization, and a medieval-style society has blossomed in a world full of rusting. ancient tech. I'm barely out of the prologue, so no real impressions yet.

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    Finished Extremity by Nicholas Binge, which is about a police investigation into a billionaire's death that goes sideways in very scifi ways. It sounded really good, but it wasn't really a mystery, wasn't long enough to lean into the tension it tried to do, and swerved into a subgenre I'm not fond of. It's not bad, just not for me.

  • Featured

    2026 Bingo Recommendations List

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  • Hmm I think the post links may be messed up; I'll poke Jaymes.

    Glad to help--I hope you find something fun to read next!

  • Featured

    2026 Bingo Recommendations List

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  • Clicking on the name of a square on the Storygraph challenge page** should bring you to a page that shows every book that's been added to that square (by me or other participants). For instance, here's the A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words page. They do take a second to load all the way, especially when there's a lot of books in the list. Does that help?

    ** clarifying edit

  • Featured

    2026 Bingo Recommendations List

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  • As always, this year's Storygraph challenge is pre-seeded with over 400 example books from a variety of (99% fiction) genres and subjects! Each square on there has at least 10 works that qualify only for regular mode, plus 10 more that also qualify for hard mode.

  • Official Turn In Post for Bingo 2025!

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  • D:

  • What book(s) are you currently reading or listening to? April 28

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  • Finished The Cadaver Client by Frank Tuttle. Fantasy PI is hired by a ghost to find his (living) wife. Fun adventure, pretty light; good palate cleanser after 1984.

    Currently reading Extremity by Nicholas Binge. I'm a little unsatisfied with it, but I think it's a me-not-it kinda thing. Maybe the last 30% will change my mind.

  • Official Turn In Post for Bingo 2025!

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  • Thanks for taking part again! Nicely done.

  • Official Turn In Post for Bingo 2025!

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  • Awesome! How hard did you find it?

  • Official Turn In Post for Bingo 2025!

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  • Congrats!

  • Cooking Challenge #002

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  • I've never had roasted barley outside of barley tea, so not sure if I'll get the flavors right, but I'm thinking hearty salad. Roast a pan of bell pepper and kabocha (or similar squash) with a clove of garlic. Cook/drain a little toasted barley (not a ton, just a pleasant amount for texture/flavor) while that's in the oven. Greens, roasted veg, cooked barley, conveniently leftover chicken, thin-sliced green onion, sprinkle of dried cranberries. Roast garlic goes in the vinaigrette.

  • What are you cooking #001

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  • Not OP, but I would have thought a basic pantry included staples like rice, cheap dried beans, and pasta (probably elbows or shells, since they're pretty versatile).

    I'd also do mac & cheese, the same as theirs, but with different seasonings: a little sauteed, minced onion or a dash of onion powder; a tiny bit of mustard for creamier cheese sauce; and a dash of black pepper.

    PS: This is great! I hope you do these regularly.

  • Official Turn In Post for Bingo 2025!

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  • I did two cards this year: one was fully hard mode, and the other was fully regular mode (meaning the books couldn't count for hard mode). It was fun (and valuable playtesting), but also a lot. Prolly not gonna do that again.

    • 1A: Number in the Title HM - Thirteenth by C.M. Rosens
    • 1B: Author from a Different Continent HM - Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono
    • 1C: Featured Creature HM - A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny
    • 1D: Minority Author HM - Small Gods of Calamity by Sam Kyung Yoo
    • 1E: Now a Major Motion Picture HM - The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen
    • 2A: Independent Author HM - A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher
    • 2B: Set in War HM - Old Man's War by John Scalzi
    • 2C: Orange Crush HM - Orange World and Other Stories by Karen Russell
    • 2D: Short and Sweet HM - The Ways of Khrem by D. Nathan Hilliard
    • 2E: Banned Book HM - Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz
    • 3A: Based on Folklore HM - Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline
    • 3B: Title: [X] of [Y] HM - The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo
    • 3C: FREE SPACE HM - Off Your TBR Pile - The Fisherman by John Langan
    • 3D: LGBTQIA+ Lead HM - Golden Terrace, vol. 1 by Cang Wu Bin Bai
    • 3E: Saddle Up HM - River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey
    • 4A: New Release HM - DuMort by Michelle Tang
    • 4B: Alliterative Title HM - The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
    • 4C: Judge a Book by Its Cover HM - Valuable Humans in Transit and Other Stories by qntm
    • 4D: Award Winner HM - Vita Nostra by Marina & Sergey Dyachenko
    • 4E: Gamble, Game, or Contest HM - Liar Game (Volume 1 by Shinobu Kaitani
    • 5A: Steppin' Up! HM - The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
    • 5B: Political HM - The Tomb of Dragons by Katherine Addison
    • 5C: Late to the Party HM - All Systems Red by Martha Wells
    • 5D: Cozy Read - A Case of Mice and Murder by Sally Smith
    • 5E: Jerk with a Heart of Gold HM - Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater
    • 1A: Number in the Title - Gideon the Ninth by Tamsin Muir
    • 1B: Author from a Different Continent - The Formidable Miss Cassidy by Meihan Boey
    • 1C: Featured Creature - Penric's Demon by Lois McMaster Bujold
    • 1D: Minority Author - Days by Moonlight by André Alexis
    • 1E: Now a Major Motion Picture - The Dry by Jane Harper
    • 2A: Independent Author - Teacup Magic: The First Collection by Tansy Rayner Roberts
    • 2B: Set in War - Call for the Dead by John le Carre
    • 2C: Orange Crush - Shutter by Ramona Emerson
    • 2D: Short and Sweet - The Worm and His Kings by Hailey Piper
    • 2E: Banned Book - 1984 by George Orwell
    • 3A: Based on Folklore - Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher
    • 3B: Title: [X] of [Y] - Cathedral of the Drowned by Nathan Balingrud
    • 3C: FREE SPACE - Off Your TBR Pile - Obscura by Joe Hart
    • 3D: LGBTQIA+ Lead - Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite
    • 3E: Saddle Up - Dead Cert by Dick Francis
    • 4A: New Release - The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes
    • 4B: Alliterative Title - No One Will Come Back for Us by Premee Mohamed
    • 4C: Judge a Book by Its Cover - The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion by Margaret Killjoy
    • 4D: Award Winner - The Tea Master and the Detective by Aliette de Bodard
    • 4E: Gamble, Game, or Contest - The Thief by Claire North
    • 5A: Steppin' Up! - Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi
    • 5B: Political - The Secret Servant by Gavin Lyall
    • 5C: (substituted 2024 square 'There Is Another...') A Case of Life and Limb by Sally Smith
    • 5D: Cozy Read - A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers
    • 5E: Jerk with a Heart of Gold - A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

    If you did bingo this year, thank you! We enjoy putting it together, and we hope you enjoy playing it.

  • What book(s) are you currently reading or listening to? April 14

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  • Veeerrryyy slowly making my way through The Cadaver Client by Frank Tuttle, number 4 in a fun series about a PI in a fantasy city. It's nice and light (and very short), I just haven't been reading more than a few pages a day.

  • What book(s) are you currently reading or listening to? April 07

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  • Idk why I've never considered murder mystery short stories, that sounds great! Gonna put that on my TBR.

  • What book(s) are you currently reading or listening to? April 07

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  • I have finally just finished 1984 by George Orwell, and with that, my last bingo square as well. \o/ Overall, I liked it, but found it too drawn out; the book section at the 60% mark especially killed the pacing for me. The appendix about Newspeak at the end was fascinating, though.

  • What book(s) are you currently reading or listening to? March 31

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  • I've barely been reading, so that + being on the section of 1984 that's (mostly) unnecessary info dump means I'm still 2/3 of the way through it.

    I did finish

    A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (contemporary) | bingo: continent HM, adaptation, steppin' up HM, cozy, jerk

    A cantankerous old man's plans are interrupted by new neighbors.

    Not my normal fare, but this was a cute, poignant story about found family and starting a new chapter. I knew nothing about it going in, so I was surprised about Ove's intentions in the first half. A little repetitive in places IMO, but otherwise pretty solid.

  • Books @lemmy.world
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    2024 Bingo stats

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    2025 Book Bingo midpoint check-in

  • Free Video Game Giveaways @feddit.uk
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    Steam

    Bulb Boy, point and click adventure

    store.steampowered.com /app/390290/Bulb_Boy/
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    Rapport, a new (free) Murderbot universe novelette

    reactormag.com /rapport-martha-wells/
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    2025 Locus Awards winners

    locusmag.com /2025/06/2025-locus-awards-winners/
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    2024 Book Bingo Midpoint Check-in

  • Showerthoughts @lemmy.world
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    Black and white are condensed rainbows