What do you see there falling? Do you hear it, too?

[sovay]

I spent my afternoon at the doctor's, but fortunately I spent it with new books, which had just arrived as presents from my godmother: dg nanouk okpik's Corpse Whale (2012) and Dolores Hitchens' Sleep with Strangers (1955) and Sleep with Slander (1960). I am charmed that the first of the two hardboiled mysteries came slightly beat-up-looking, since it matches the protagonist, a knight whose armor would work up to tarnished on a good day:

The man on the step was in the act of lighting a cigarette. Rain lay in his hair, which was hatless, and which also, though obviously once reddish, now had faded to a tawny rust laced with gray. He had a lean, sharp, intelligent face. The hands that cupped the match wore a look of mobile strength. He was tall; his height was lessened by his being somewhat stooped.

Home, I have just finished eating a bagel with chopped liver and am listening to the CD of Black Belt Eagle Scout's The Land, The Water, The Sky (2023) with a cat gently pulling at my hand to pet him. Last night muccamukk linked the trailer for Starz's Mary & George (2024), causing spatch to comment, "For people who saw The Favourite and said, 'Needs more balls!'"

Comments

[asakiyume]

"Rain lay in his hair" is a great way of saying it; love that.

[theseatheseatheopensea]

I hope your doctor's appointment went well, and I'm glad to know that your day had cats and music and books! And I like the idea of matching beat-up books and characters!

[radiantfracture]

dg nanouk okpik's Corpse Whale (2012)

Oo very cool - how is it?

I spent my afternoon at the doctor's,

Ugh, not cool at all.

Starz's Mary & George

Hi I believe this is for me thanks (I did like the Favourite)

[anna_wing]

I looked up Dolores Hitchens and was immediately side-tracked by her extraordinary name...

[selkie]

We saw that trailed and I said "WHAT THE SOFTCORE STUARTS IS THAT," so. We don't have Starz, alas!

Hello, I am glad your doctor's appointment was reassuring. Would you like some ear protection for this void. For the screaming.

[bluecatartist]

I read that as "now had faded to a tawny rut laced w. gravy." My interest was piqued! Gravy? But in his hair... Oh. Not gravy.
Old books have that... you know what I mean, it's hard to describe. A slightly beat up book that matches the protagonist is just right.