Games without Frontiers
19/04/2023 09:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
izmeinaThere are so many things to squiggle about lately but so many other temptations and distractions.
Firstly, I know that my book hoarding habit is out of control when I look for a book in the library (in this case Ryan Halliday's "The Obstacle is the Way" because I cannot find the copy I bought 6 weeks ago.
But in the spirit of the new 90 day challenge that I have signed up for starting on Monday just gone, I am now taking seriously the need to impose some order on the chaos in my 3 book room lair.
I am currently reading "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" and absolutely loving it. I try not to pig out and usually stick to a couple of chapters a day. This book being a prequel but written after the main Hunger Games story, I can see why Coriolanus Snow is so obsessed with roses, with District 12 and with poisoning his enemies.
It's always interesting when the main character is a villain but written in a way to make the reader sympathetic.
I wonder if there is any fan fiction about the utterly creepy hippity hoppity Dr Gaul? She and Dolores Umbridge would make a most interesting pair. God knows what sort of evil corporation would employ them. Preferably as mortal enemies in competition for the top job.
I don't think anyone would be game to be Brand Ambassador for either of them.
For me, the story is very different this time. When I originally first read The Hunger Games trilogy back in May 2012, I was working at a "Dog eat dog" job where the new boss was absolutely intent in creating a culture of total mistrust and snitching. It was Divide and Conquer on steroids and so few staff could see what she was doing.
I kept asking myself the question - Is it possible to be a decent person in a toxic environment? And if so, how?
I think that is the question that Peeta was obsessed with too. And unlike me, he did not have the option of refusing to play the game.
A fortnight ago a new Vietnamese Banh mi shop opened in one of my usual lurking grounds. They chose the unlikely name of District 1. I think District 11 would be more appropriate. I am a bit of a banh mi junkie but was disappointed with their offerings. The fillings were delicious but the baguettes just totally lack the required crunch.
Which reminds me, I need to get busy planting coriander seeds because now is the growing season and coriander is an essential ingredient in those magical baguettes.
I was hoping that Banh Mizzle at the local university would be open by now. I was there today on a guided tour of assorted artworks but was disappointed to discover that none of the places in the new restaurant strip have opened yet.
Having a university just around the corner certainly is handy for having excellent public transport and an assortment of interesting events. There is also a lot of very interesting public art. Some of it is quite fugly but certainly not boring.
There are also so many inviting spots to sit and read. Lots of little nooks and crannies and weird weeds to admire and snaffle cuttings from.
Firstly, I know that my book hoarding habit is out of control when I look for a book in the library (in this case Ryan Halliday's "The Obstacle is the Way" because I cannot find the copy I bought 6 weeks ago.
But in the spirit of the new 90 day challenge that I have signed up for starting on Monday just gone, I am now taking seriously the need to impose some order on the chaos in my 3 book room lair.
I am currently reading "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" and absolutely loving it. I try not to pig out and usually stick to a couple of chapters a day. This book being a prequel but written after the main Hunger Games story, I can see why Coriolanus Snow is so obsessed with roses, with District 12 and with poisoning his enemies.
It's always interesting when the main character is a villain but written in a way to make the reader sympathetic.
I wonder if there is any fan fiction about the utterly creepy hippity hoppity Dr Gaul? She and Dolores Umbridge would make a most interesting pair. God knows what sort of evil corporation would employ them. Preferably as mortal enemies in competition for the top job.
I don't think anyone would be game to be Brand Ambassador for either of them.
For me, the story is very different this time. When I originally first read The Hunger Games trilogy back in May 2012, I was working at a "Dog eat dog" job where the new boss was absolutely intent in creating a culture of total mistrust and snitching. It was Divide and Conquer on steroids and so few staff could see what she was doing.
I kept asking myself the question - Is it possible to be a decent person in a toxic environment? And if so, how?
I think that is the question that Peeta was obsessed with too. And unlike me, he did not have the option of refusing to play the game.
A fortnight ago a new Vietnamese Banh mi shop opened in one of my usual lurking grounds. They chose the unlikely name of District 1. I think District 11 would be more appropriate. I am a bit of a banh mi junkie but was disappointed with their offerings. The fillings were delicious but the baguettes just totally lack the required crunch.
Which reminds me, I need to get busy planting coriander seeds because now is the growing season and coriander is an essential ingredient in those magical baguettes.
I was hoping that Banh Mizzle at the local university would be open by now. I was there today on a guided tour of assorted artworks but was disappointed to discover that none of the places in the new restaurant strip have opened yet.
Having a university just around the corner certainly is handy for having excellent public transport and an assortment of interesting events. There is also a lot of very interesting public art. Some of it is quite fugly but certainly not boring.
There are also so many inviting spots to sit and read. Lots of little nooks and crannies and weird weeds to admire and snaffle cuttings from.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-21 06:23 pm (UTC)Upon reading your post, I was even tempted to reread the whole book... but curbed it by browsing TVTropes. It appears that I remembered Lucy's name as Lucy Gray Bird. So embarrassing. I also don't remember Tigris at all from the original trilogy. She's such a lovely character. A potential Hufflepuff who would make her House proud.
How's the challenge going? I find it underwhelming so far. The questions in the first email are something I've answered many times on different occasions. I thought there would be more interaction and feedback. Of course, since I refuse to participate in video conferences, I probably shouldn't complain. I'm just focusing on what I do anyway (the game project). I hope to have a proper demo by the end of the challenge.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-22 01:42 pm (UTC)Years ago I read the autobiography of Rudolf Hoess- the commandant of Auschwitz. It was just one giant pity party. Unlike Coriolanus Snow, I just felt not a smidgeon of sympathy for that creep.
Only Hitler was whinier. Albert Speer was much better at public relations.
Actually I love how the prequel picks a monster and makes him quite sympathetic. Being written after the Katniss stories, Suzanne Collins gets to add lots of foreshadowing. Dumping the future president of Panem in District 12 as a Peacekeeper, the stories about the black markets, the Hob, the Hanging tree etc and the origin story of that spooky song in the third book (Are you, are you coming to the tree) and of course the mockingjays all add to the enjoyment.
Come to think of it, Lucy Gray Bird is a pretty good alternative. Only 1 letter off. I will now have to check if she ever got mentioned in the original trilogy. I am sure she must have. Being the only victor from District 12 and all that.
I had assumed the whole time that Tigris was Snow's sister. Only later did I realize that she is a cousin.
At this stage I have reached the part where Lucy and co have invited Coryo to the lake and she was picking little white flowers. I knew exactly where that was going. A bit too in your face with that hint about the plant that Katniss is named after.
And as for the challenge. Let's just say that it's certainly no Hunger Games.
Underwhelming is also the word that I would use. The inner cynic sees it as a ploy to sell more 90 day progress journals ;)
I will go along for the ride since I definitely need some mojo juice now that I have an official deadline for the giant Putz Blitz.
But I am finding that reading "The Obstacle is the Way" is so far offering more inspiration for getting shit done.