Bearsnbirds's recent activity

  1. Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books

    Bearsnbirds
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    I just finished Dead Astronauts by Jeff Vandermeer. It was a fever dream of a book to be sure. I didn't realize until part of the way through that It's actually in the same universe as one of his...

    I just finished Dead Astronauts by Jeff Vandermeer. It was a fever dream of a book to be sure. I didn't realize until part of the way through that It's actually in the same universe as one of his prior novels, Borne. Borne was definitely a more straightforward read with traditional storytelling, this one was very eclectic and had whole chapters of phrases just repeated. It was very poetic though and even through all of the interesting writing choices, I did catch the thread of the plot and it really was beautiful writing, extremely visceral.

    I'm fascinated by the whole genre of new weird and have read several of Vandermeer's books. I'm waiting for Perdido Street Station by China Melville to come off hold to try that next. Would love some additional recommendations if anybody else has read stuff from this genre!

  2. Comment on Great shows with interesting premises? in ~tv

    Bearsnbirds
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    Caveat - The OA is totally awesome, and probably one of the most intriguing shows I've ever watched. BUT. They canceled it after the second season on a very very big cliffhanger so it will forever...

    Caveat - The OA is totally awesome, and probably one of the most intriguing shows I've ever watched. BUT. They canceled it after the second season on a very very big cliffhanger so it will forever be unsatisfying.

    3 votes

  3. Comment on Looking for a recommendation similar to Uprooted by Naomi Novik in ~books

    Bearsnbirds
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    I think I may actually have read the first one of this series years ago and really enjoyed it! I'll have to take a look and maybe pick it back up again!

    I think I may actually have read the first one of this series years ago and really enjoyed it! I'll have to take a look and maybe pick it back up again!

  4. Comment on Looking for a recommendation similar to Uprooted by Naomi Novik in ~books

    Bearsnbirds
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    This is great, thank you! I'm going to look for these.

    This is great, thank you! I'm going to look for these.

  5. Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books

    Bearsnbirds
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    I just finished The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean and really enjoyed it. Very decent writing, engaging plot, solid pacing, and creative idea. Kind of surreal fantasy is maybe how I'd describe it.

    I just finished The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean and really enjoyed it. Very decent writing, engaging plot, solid pacing, and creative idea. Kind of surreal fantasy is maybe how I'd describe it.

    3 votes

  6. Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books

    Bearsnbirds
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    I read Nettle and Bone recently too and had the same feeling - I was surprised it won the Hugo with the other contenders it was up against.

    I read Nettle and Bone recently too and had the same feeling - I was surprised it won the Hugo with the other contenders it was up against.

    1 vote

  7. Comment on Looking for music with creative or interesting or skilled violin or fiddle that are not the classics (cello or viola also) in ~music

    Bearsnbirds
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    I'm on mobile and can't link right now, but the two that come to mind are: Sudan Archives - her music uses a lot of viola in a really cool r&b fusion kind of style. It's actually kind of hard to...

    I'm on mobile and can't link right now, but the two that come to mind are:

    1. Sudan Archives - her music uses a lot of viola in a really cool r&b fusion kind of style. It's actually kind of hard to say exactly what her style is, but I highly recommend for creative use of classical instrument.
    2. There's a live performance that goes by Black Violin who do some very interesting new things with the violin.
    2 votes

  8. Comment on Looking for a recommendation similar to Uprooted by Naomi Novik in ~books

    Bearsnbirds
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    Thank you! I totally forgot about her - she was one of my mom's favorite authors!

    Thank you! I totally forgot about her - she was one of my mom's favorite authors!

  9. Comment on Looking for a recommendation similar to Uprooted by Naomi Novik in ~books

    Bearsnbirds
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    I'm pretty stuck in scifi/fantasy and have come to the conclusion I might never read anything else 😅. Thank you for the recommendations! I saw nettle and bone on a list so I have that one in the...

    I'm pretty stuck in scifi/fantasy and have come to the conclusion I might never read anything else 😅.

    Thank you for the recommendations! I saw nettle and bone on a list so I have that one in the queue, and I'll be sure to look the others up!

  10. Comment on Looking for a recommendation similar to Uprooted by Naomi Novik in ~books

    Bearsnbirds
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    Amazing, thanks for the recommendation! I'll have to look at these! They look like they totally fit the bill!

    Amazing, thanks for the recommendation! I'll have to look at these! They look like they totally fit the bill!

    1 vote

  11. Comment on Looking for a recommendation similar to Uprooted by Naomi Novik in ~books

    Bearsnbirds
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    Ah! This is great! Night Circus is another one I'd put into the list. I'll look the rest of these up, thank you so much!

    Ah! This is great! Night Circus is another one I'd put into the list. I'll look the rest of these up, thank you so much!

    1 vote

  12. Comment on Looking for a recommendation similar to Uprooted by Naomi Novik in ~books

    Bearsnbirds
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    Thanks for the recommendation! I looked it and up I will give it a read, but I think that may be missing the mark I'm looking for a bit based on the description. It's a little too....not serious?...

    Thanks for the recommendation! I looked it and up I will give it a read, but I think that may be missing the mark I'm looking for a bit based on the description. It's a little too....not serious? I'm not sure the best way to articulate it. I think the ones I'm looking for are 'serious' without being 'heavy' if that makes sense.

    Regardless, it still looks like a fun read so I'll give it a go. Thanks again!

    1 vote

  13. Looking for a recommendation similar to Uprooted by Naomi Novik

    ~books Ask (recommendations)
    I've stumbled across other fantasy with a similar feeling, but curious if you all have some specific direction to point me in. I've read all of her other books so other books of hers are already...

    I've stumbled across other fantasy with a similar feeling, but curious if you all have some specific direction to point me in. I've read all of her other books so other books of hers are already off the list. I think the qualities that I enjoyed so much about it were:

    • decent writing style
    • light love story that wasn't the total focus
    • well developed characters
    • fun plot that wasnt over complex but still intricate enough to feel satisfying at the end
    • magical element with some novelty to it

    I read a few others in the past that felt the same, the one that jumps to mind is Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier. Something about the plot or writing in these books is really gripping for me, keeps me hooked, and is really satisfying. I'm open to any suggestions you can throw my way, and thank you in advance!

    8 votes