Wednesday reading, plus an only tenuously related story & a song

[asakiyume]

When I get a free moment, I've been enjoying the stories posted in the New Decameron project that Jo Walton organized, though there are so many that I've got bookmarked that I haven't had a chance to read yet. One I *did* read was Naomi Kritzer's "A Star Without Shine", which begins like this:

Once upon a time, in a very small kingdom, there was a king with one daughter. His wife had died, and he had not remarried. This is not the fairy tale where the king decides to marry his own daughter, don’t worry. This king was a completely different sort of terrible father: he believed that his daughter should earn his love, and nothing she did was ever good enough.

It continues with a companion cat, a wise villager, and an overall quirky, good feel I loved. Since I had also recently read and enjoyed Kritzer's "Little Free Library (totally charming story with an abrupt ending hinting at the possibility of more to come), I think I really should check out her novel.

In long-form fiction, I've got the ARC I mentioned last entry, A Sinister Quartet. Right now I'm on the first story in it, CSE Cooney's "The Twice-Drowned Saint," which is a giant subversion of the notion of angels and an angelic city, and what with its setup of desperate refugees required to make literal human sacrifices to enter (and then once in, the city is no picnic), it definitely has real-world resonances that you could call allegorical except that Cooney is more focused on *personal* drama--individual hopes, ambitions, and prices paid. At least so far--I'm only partway in. (And you can get a taste of the story via the Decameron Project: here.)

I'm also reading The View from Castle Always, by Melissa McShane. People seek out the castle when they need to go on a quest--it is getable-to from anywhere and opens onto anywhere--and leave with a chosen quest item. Unfortunately, our protagonist Ailanthe chooses an item, but then the castle doesn't let her leave. I'm curious to see where it goes--there's lots of potential. Right now the story is reminding me of any time I've ever tried an RPG-style video game: I get stuck at the very first level, unable to figure out how to advance.

Other things on my radar: Aster Glenn Gray's soon-to-be-released The Time-Traveling Popcorn Ball. I've read this story in beta, and it's *such* a great time-travel story, and great on friendship, sibling relationships, family hard times, and sense of place. Also, Sherwood Smith has a third Lhind story available--Lhind the Firebird. I'm still one behind: I enjoyed Lhind the Thief, but still have Lhind the Spy to catch up with.



The office manager for our church phoned up yesterday....

Her: I hear you make masks.

Me (cautiously): I've made some masks...

Her: Well, since the governor has decided houses of worship can reopen, we want to have masks available, in case people happen to come without one. Not that anyone will be that foolish, but, you know, just in case.

Me: Well, I'd be happy to make a few, but I don't have an operational sewing machine right now. I've been making them by hand, and it takes some time...

Her: However many you can make would be great. I've asked other people as well.

Me: All right then... I'll see how many I can make by Friday.

So far I've made two 😑 But today I also had to do a food shop and mow the lawn, so maybe I'll make more tomorrow. Maybe. And when I finish posting this entry, maybe I can work on one.

How does this story tenuously connect with the reading? Well, when I asked Mike for the ARC of A Sinister Quartet, I figured I'd be able to concentratedly read it, since my editing jobs are *very* spotty these days and I don't have other calls on my time. And then the mask task comes along! It's the way life always goes.

Here's a fun song with a cumbia beat: Josefa, by La Fragua Band.

Comments

[sartorias]

This would maybe be the time for an audio book? (I don't care for audio books unless on a long drive, but also when I do craft things. Like the collage I am making for my mom in memory care. I've been listening to PG Wodehouse)

[asakiyume]

You're absolutely right! Maybe I could listen to one of those Murderbot stories....

[sonia]

Thanks for the Naomi Kritzer story link! What a great ending.

I like the song you linked, but the video is way too male gaze-y for me.

[asakiyume]

I'm glad you enjoyed the story! And I agree about the video; it was just a way of conveying the song.

[amaebi]

I am impressed by your generosity in hand making those masks.

I still need to do that. We're still on bandana masks. The justifications are that we really don't go out much nor for very long, outside our property*, and that bandanas go give multiple layers.

I printed out my pattern. I got out the material I will use-- an old flannel sheet and an old cotton tablecloth. (my intention is two flannel inner layers and one tablecloth outer layer, but I suppose I may do one and one.) I need to iron it. Maybe I'll get that done this weekend.

I have ordered National Hockey League and Avalanche themed masks, and the first ones should arrive in a couple of weeks.


* Sheeyun does go to the office and is a Essential Worker, but he only uses his bandana-mask to enter and leave the building, and I suppose go to the loo. Or if someone visits his cubicle, but that's not happening much.

[asakiyume]

I really like the pattern I'm using, which is the pattern that was in the New York Times. It has straps you tie instead of elastics, which is great because you can tie it as tight as you need to fit snuggly, whereas elastic loops--if you guess wrong, then your mask is loose. And it's pleated, which I find a simpler way of assuring you have ample fabric at your nose and chin but not too much fabric by your ears.

But without a sewing machine, I spend literally days making the straps. They're worth it though because they tie and untie beautifully without knotting. ... Mmmmm, but it would be even better to be able to make them faster. I'm reminded of a comment Stillwater Fx, the mermaid tail guy, made on his Instagram. Although he makes those silicone tails, he also makes sewn ones, and recently he got a sewing machine and was just wildly impressed with how much it sped up his work.

The woman at church who asked me if I would make the masks gave me some ribbon to use for the straps, which definitely speeded things up for me. But still, I ended up only making five. When I was delivering them, I ran into another woman from church who had made 50! I was relieved, actually: the church will surely have enough to accommodate any lackadaisical person who shows up without one. But also intellectually I felt a little like... it was kind of a waste of time for me to have done this? Fortunately it was just a brain-thought, no emotion really behind it, I guess because I enjoyed sitting and sewing, even if I felt unable to make anything like a useful number.

And then the healing angel's significant other said a sweet thing. They said, "What you did wasn't useless. If they need fifty-five masks, now they have them." The healing angel's SO just radiates good nature.

This was such a long story! Thank you for saying things that gave me the opportunity to share it!

And really, a bandit bandana is just as good for preventing your water droplets for jumping out at others. And you guys will look rad with your National Hockey League and Avalanche masks. Keep resting please! There's no necessity to make masks unless you feel like it.

[amaebi]

The healing angel's SO is absolutely right. And also five more masks lowers the ante on laundering.

We don't do the bandit. We do this one.

[asakiyume]

Highly effective! Multiple layers of fabric--A+; I like it.

[amaebi]

I love that story beginning.

I'm so glad that sentence forms somewhat resembling those that start traditional fairytales are no longer out of fashion.

[asakiyume]

Totally agree!