You break the ice at parties, but I break down

[sovay]

My sleep schedule has deranged again. I fell asleep after six in the morning and had a series of vivid, complex dreams whose plots mostly did not survive the transition to waking. I dreamed of a contemporary version of Bagoas, wearing a necklace of ancient silver coins. One of them had his lover's profile stamped on it. Alexander was immortal, but there was something vampiric in it, like Tanith Lee's Scarabae. I dreamed of flooded catacombs or underground canals, receding into time. The building overhead was a movie theater, showing The Wizard of Oz (1939). There were boats tied up where the Somerville has the Museum of Bad Art. I dreamed of reading a novel or a series of novels written contemporaneously with Dorothy L. Sayers, frequently recommended to fans of Wimsey in the same vein as Margery Allingham's Campion, but I can remember nothing about the mysteries or the series detective, just a secondary character standing in a crowded room, looking around at the company with a tight, tensely blank expression on his face. He's just had something unforgivable said to his face; the reader doesn't yet know if it's true, which is a different question from whether it should have come out sneeringly at a party. Afterward one of the other guests referred to him as "poor Mr. Cornelius," the kind of pitying dismissal that made me feel for the character whether I was supposed to or not. I wish I could remember anything at all about the resolution of the book.

Last night with sairaali and M. was lovely. Saira had a recipe for sweet potato soup from Cook's Illustrated and my latest orthodontist's appointment has left me basically living on soup for the foreseeable future, so we made it with all the toppings—maple sour cream, mirin-sautéed mushrooms, cider-candied bacon, scallions instead of chives—and it was savory and filling and the special tip about soaking the sweet potato for twenty minutes in warm shallot-and-thyme broth did not in any way result in a thinner soup, but it was really delicious purée. Before dinner, I did a handstand with M.'s assistance and Saira's coaching, which marks the first time since elementary school. It was fun. The point at which my inner ear rotated upside down felt exactly like the horizon flip of a looping roller coaster. I would need much better upper body and core strength in order to manage it alone. After dinner, we watched the first two episodes of the third season of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (2012–), which I enjoyed and am still sorting some of my reactions to, because stylistically it feels like a set of classically elaborate Golden Age mysteries taking place in a world with much more nuanced gender issues than Agatha Christie or Ngaio Marsh. I like the dynamic between Phryne and Jack, how even if he's not coping very well with her tendency to bang random dudes in the middle of investigations, it doesn't prevent him from working with her and he doesn't try to make her stop. Their unresolved sexual tension is visible from space. Does anyone here recommend the books? I'm aware of their existence, but have never read any.

Today I am not building a bonfire, because I don't live in the right countries for it. My mother traditionally celebrates Guy Fawkes by watching V for Vendetta (2005). Have a song about fire: Jill Tracy, "Make It Burn." I need to do some practical things with my afternoon.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Does anyone here recommend the books?

yes, I like Kerry Greenwood, and not just the Phryne Fisher books. The only drawback is that they are only in trade paper here and they tend to be expensive.

[lilysea]

I really like Dot and Phryne and Mac. I love the costumes and the sets. I will keep watching the show if they make more of it.

But the show unfortunately tends to fall down when it comes to gay and lesbian characters (fridged!) and Asian, Russian or Italian characters (stereotypes!)

It's kind of like a really delicious chocolate mousse, but with sand in it...

[genarti]

That soup sounds amazing, and I don't even care for sweet potatoes much. How does one even make cider-candied bacon? Or was it bought in cider-candied form?

[martianmooncrab.livejournal.com]

Does anyone here recommend the books?

yes, I like Kerry Greenwood, and not just the Phryne Fisher books. The only drawback is that they are only in trade paper here and they tend to be expensive.

[kraada.livejournal.com]

Since it's Guy Fawkes day and you will appreciate the image:

While trick-or-treating along our street we ran into a group of about a half dozen early teenagers. They were each wearing identical Guy Fawkes makes and V for Vendetta style capes.

All except one. And that compatriot happened to also be the tallest among them, at approximately six feet. He was dressed as a bright yellow banana.

His was the only costume that our daughter remarked upon as she was trick-or-treating. And it was clear from the crowd's reaction that Mr. Banana was receiving more accolades than the nameless group's coordination.

[moon-custafer.livejournal.com]

even if he's not coping very well with her tendency to bang random dudes in the middle of investigations, it doesn't prevent him from working with her and he doesn't try to make her stop.

I hope they're random dudes who aren't actually *part* of the investigation, because otherwise, that does sound like it could lead to some conflict-of-interest.

[alexx-kay.livejournal.com]

"I dreamed of flooded catacombs or underground canals, receding into time. The building overhead was a movie theater, showing The Wizard of Oz (1939)."

Might you lately have been reminded of the end of the second Dr. Phibes movie?

"Today I am not building a bonfire, because I don't live in the right countries for it."

The last Bonfire I went to was one Marian held at The Buttery. The fire department came and made us put it out. But the friendly fireman suggested that, if we wanted to try again, if there was food on top of it, it would be classed as a non-illegal *cooking* fire :-)

[dormouse-in-tea.livejournal.com]

I adore the books, but here is your warning: the characters are not really the same people. The books are cozies. I LIKE the people in the books, but if you wish to read the books for more of the same relationships you see on screen you are going to be SEVERELY disappoint. Spoilers if asked for, but suffice it to say I adore Dot even more in the books.

[swan-tower.livejournal.com]

I am given to understand that in the books, Phryne is poly, whereas in the TV series it has come across more as a tendency toward casual sex. Having not read the books myself, I've no idea what that means for her dynamic with Jack -- but OH MY GOD YES visible from space, and they might have done something about it by now if it weren't for Aunt Cockblock Prudence.

I do have thinky thoughts about Phryne's promiscuity and also her flagrant disregard for the law in the context of that relationship; I feel like the show sometimes walks riiiiiiiight up to the edge of Phryne's free-spirited nature turning into a callous disregard for Jack and his feelings/professional standing/etc. But season three made me feel better about that issue than season two did, so I'm still happy overall.

[schreibergasse.livejournal.com]

Everyone had to remind me it was Guy Fawkes' Day. Embarrassing.

I made the German baked bean recipe thing: it came out more soup like, so it is probably edible for Sovays (although not 'Spatchels, unfortunately.) Call me if you want to come by and eat some at some point.