Thank you for saying so ❤️

This feels quite minor compared to most of the stuff here, but something that has stuck with me.

I was on holiday with my parents when I was younger - maybe around 12 or 13. We were on a short boat trip, and I noticed my dad was wearing a baseball cap. In my mind I had this cute scene of me taking the hat off his head and putting it on myself, and all of us laughing. Kinda wholesome. But the second I reach for the hat he whacks me hard around the back of my head. I was more confused than anything - why did he instantly resort to violence? I hated the injustice of it; the image in my mind of doing something fun, something you’d see other families doing, but then the actual result being the complete opposite. I never understood it, but then I’ve never had much in common with my dad.

I’ve just finished reading through Batman Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth (written by Grant Morrison with artwork from Dave McKean), which a friend lent me after we’d been discussing the Arkham games. It was pretty cool, full of symbolism and gorgeously creepy artwork. The actual narrative I found confusing though. Thankfully there’s a copy of the original script at the end with annotations that explains everything!

For my book club I’m most of the way through Nevada by Imogen Binnie. It’s been fun so far, with an endearing/easy-going writing style that reminds me of a blog post. Some really great insights into coming to terms with being trans.

And I’m also halfway through An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro. This is another one that a friend lent me a while back and I hadn’t got around to reading. But I’m going to a festival this week, and I didn’t want to bring my Kobo in case it gets damaged or stolen, so I opted for a physical book. I’m doing an admin shift during the festival which tends to involve sitting around not doing much for an hour or so at a time. May as well do some reading! Anyway this book has felt quite cosy and charming; I like Ishiguro’s prose.

Don’t kink shame :<

Apologies are useless if your actions stay the same?

I’m fairly convinced that these kinds of posts are purposefully confusing purely for engagement farming

Batman Arkham Asylum… damn guess I’m getting drugged by Scarecrow and being forced to deal with supressed childhood memories while lunatics try and attack me 😭

Yes

Unless it stands for funko pop hole, then I don’t want to know

I get babybels for my boyfriend each week and yeah they’re pricey! But unwrapping them is fun and they’re a handy way to transport cheese for hikes and stuff :3

I’m glad they use paper now instead of plastic

That looks really fun, thanks for the heads-up! The occult element looks quite interesting too. Roleplay as Circe!

Whoa I read this comic earlier this year!

Her home did not sound particularly fun - it was a funeral home!

Wait is funhole short for funeral hole??

hopefully this one is better

Something about exploring the same areas with a fresh take on it really appealed to me. Plague Knight was my favourite!

I hadn’t heard that about the company. I hope they’ve done well from Mina, because they’re a really talented bunch of devs.

One thing I really loved about Shovel Knight was the DLC in which you played as different characters with abilities that completely changed the feel of the game. I hope they do something similar for Mina!

Thanks for sharing! I’ve just read through it and I agree that the writing and pacing is really great. It touches on some interesting ideas about taboo, exploitation and I suppose… hidden lives.

What did you make of the ending? Spoilers:

Mina is great! Excellent combat and movement mechanics, great chiptune soundtrack as always from Yacht Club. I have found it more frustrating than Shovel Knight (by the same devs). I think partially because of the Dark Souls-esque loss of currency when you die. Dying feels like it has more of an impact in this compared to SK, and it’s more of a time sink too (having to traverse back to a certain area and pick up items again).

That said, it’s very satisfying when you do finally beat a boss. (I made some progress on that front yesterday, still a bit more to go though).

I need to finish Mina the Hollower - I’m at the final boss (I think), and I’m gradually whittling away the boss’ health bar but I’m guessing there’ll be multiple phases…

I’ve also been playing through Botany Manor. From what I can tell, I don’t have much left of the game. But that’s not a bad thing - it’s been charming throughout and sometimes a short but sweet experience is exactly what you’re after.

FFXII has been on my Steam wishlist for a while - I should give that a go sometime. The battle system sounds fascinating!

I read through All Systems Red by Martha Wells last weekend. Very fast-paced and fun! I’ve got the next couple of ebooks in the Murderbot series to read from a bundle, so I’m looking forward to that.

I’ve started On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong. Poetic, with some hauntingly beautiful imagery so far.

Somewhat furry adjacent, but I think the covers the Noss books are gorgeously illustrated. The second book in particular, which I’m hoping to read this year, is a favourite of mine:

I’ve met the artist and she’s lovely!

Thanks! I’ve definitely seen charity shops in the UK run by them, but I wasn’t aware of the bucket