#preston norton
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i’m reading an amazing book and there’s a character that is unknown (like ‘A’ in pretty little liars) and it’s sooo obvious who it is and it has been for like 180 pages jesus fucking christ i just want to grab the main characters by their collars and shake some sense into them because THE CHARACTER IS LITERALLY ONE OF TGEIR CLOSE FRIENDS AND ITS SO OBVIOUS MY GODS
#the neanderthal opens the door to the universe#preston norton#it’s an awesome book#bookblr#but seriously ITS SO IBVIOUS BY NOW#i just hope no one turns out to have a secret british twin#(pll spoiler) sorry but that show SUCKS#i was forced to watch it during inpatient treatment and i HATE it#books
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Ezra Slevin is an anxious, neurotic insomniac who spends his nights questioning his place in the universe and his days obsessing over Imogen, a nerdy girl with gigantic eyebrows and a heart of gold. The only problem is Imogen’s protective best friend, Wynonna Jones. Wynonna has blue hair, jams to ’80s rock, and has made a career out of tormenting Ezra for as long as he can remember.
Then, on the night of a total solar eclipse, something strange happens to Ezra and Wynonna–and they wake up in each other’s bodies. Ezra soon discovers Wynonna’s huge crush on his best friend, Holden. With no end to their curse in sight, Ezra makes Wynonna a proposition: while swapping bodies, he will help her win Holden’s heart, but only if she helps him woo Imogen.
Forming an uneasy alliance, Ezra wishes he could be more like Wynonna’s badass version of Ezra–but he also realizes he feels more like himself while being Wynonna than he has in a long time …
#YA books#YA fiction#YA romance#queer#queer rep#anxiety rep#insomnia rep#questioning rep#bisexual#bisexual rep#mental illness rep#daily book#fiction#lgbt fiction#lgbtqia#bookblr#Where I End and You Begin#Preston Norton
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Title: Hopepunk
Author: Preston Norton
Genre: YA Fiction | Drama | Friendship | Music | LGBTQ+
Content Warnings: Homophobia | Sexism | Sexual Harassment | Mentioned Self-Harm
Overall Rating: 8.2/10
Personal Opinion: “Hope is an act of resistance” so true. One day, Hope’s older sister, Faith ran away from home because otherwise, she would’ve been sent to a conversion camp. Devastated, Hope and her family tries to find meaning in the act and grow from it. When Danny is disowned by his family after coming out, Hope and her family tries to atone for what they did to Faith by protecting him. This book is powerful and funny and though the lyrics may be fictional, the impact is real.
Do I Own This Book? Nope.
Spoilers Below For My Likes & Dislikes:
Likes:
- The best part of this book is the found family trope. Hope, Danny, Astrid, and Angus are my ideal found family. The way they were there for each other during tough times and told each other that they loved each other openly, I loved that.
Some scenes that resonated with me most were when Hope called Astrid because she was thinking of self-harm and really needed someone to stop her and Astrid told her that the tattoo was a piece of Hope and not Shawn.
Then we also have Angus finding Hope passed out in her own vomit and him telling her that it’s okay to love. Even if they can’t love you back in the way you want, it’s not wrong to love.
Finally, we have Danny sharing that story from when he was 13. Hope had trouble forgiving Charity for outing Faith when she was 13 (I would too) but the truth is, she was 13 and molded by her hyper-religious surroundings. Just like how Danny was influenced by Dylan and Kaleb. All these scenes where they helped Hope just filled me with that good old found family joy.
- Mack is the greatest. A gay man with a husband who owns a bar in a very conservative town and no one gives a shit. He gave Hope a place where she could just express herself freely (karaoke) and allowed her to use his facility for free! Same for Danny! He’s so kind and he does what he can for LGBTQ+ youth and that is just beyond admirable.
- Frank is great too! He saved Astrid’s drums for her. And his niece is at Change Through Grace and he loves Hope Cassidy and the Sundance Kids for giving hope to those kids. And he kept showing up throughout the book to help Hope and the team.
- Mr. Britton is a big old teddy bear who I want to hug. He protected Hope from expulsion and tried everything within his power to get Alt-Rite banned from Battle of the Bands. And he’s a huge fanboy of Deja which I find hilarious and also so wholesome. But yes, the way he protected Hope from expulsion is by far one of my all-time favorite scenes. He got video of the incident, sent it to HR and the superintendent and I was legitimately cheering for him the entire time.
- Deja Williams is an icon. A local celebrity who just decides to manage a high school band. But not just any high school band, a band with a message of hope. Of changing the world for the better.
- And I just want to say, all three performances by Hope Cassidy and the Sundance Kids were iconic. First outside Change Through Grace. Then outside the feminine resource center to counter Alt-Rite’s protests. And then the final one at Inclusive Prom. And the lyrics of each of those songs were so impactful and inspiring in my honest and humble opinion.
- There’s a lot I can say about the Cassidy parents. But what I really want to say is that I love how mom changed. It’s a darn shame that it took her daughter running away for her to realize how wrong she was but in a way, that is proof that she loves her children. She had genuinely believed she was trying to save/protect Faith but when Faith ran away, she realized she was actually the one hurting her. So the way she tried to atone was by welcoming Danny into their household and protecting him. And it was badass. She really treated him like one of the family and it just makes me tear up.
- Mr. Cassidy is a good guy too. I don’t really get how he ended up with the missus when she was the way she was. But the way Mr. Cassidy shared his love of rock music with Hope was so wholesome and sweet. I want more of that in parent-child relationships.
- Hope’s favorite movie is Shrek. I think that is very iconic of her. Shrek is a good ass movie. And the fact that Astrid wanted to cheer up her friend by watching it was so sweet. Bless her.
- The comedy in this book hits just as good as Norton’s other book, Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe. But the funniest scene in this book is by far when Hope walked in on Danny shirtless and he just fucking slams his laptop closed like he was watching porn. I absolutely lost it. And then I lost it even more when it was revealed he wasn’t watching porn but was just watching a Western.
Dislikes:
- Who do I start with? Actually, it definitely has to be Dylan Roger. Sexist, racist, homophobic, just overall a real charmer. The best parts of this book were knowing that both Hope and Charity beat him up. Now if only Faith could’ve made it three for three with the Cassidy sisters. Seriously though, what a disgusting, vile little man.
- Then there’s the police, the Rogers, and Principal Reilly. Oh my god, they were all so blatantly bigoted, I wanted to puke. Reilly was worst of all but it was just so satisfying watching Mr. Britton strip away his power over Hope in that one scene. I was legit cheering, going “Yass King!” when Britton told Reilly that there was video proof of Dylan sexually harassing Hope. And then Mrs. Cassidy went and slapped him too and my god, I wanted her to get him again. Get him for me!
- Shady Shawn too. He’s not the worst but oh my god, when he said that the thing he and Hope had in common was that they were both white and straight, I had a conniption. Unfortunate that he never got a comeuppance for his complicitness in Alt-Rite besides the girl he likes pushing and screaming at him. I kind of wish he would see the error of his ways. But you know what, just forget him. He’s inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. What’s scary is I know people like Shawn though. People who are like “both sides deserve to exist” and no, tolerating intolerance is just asking for the tolerant side to get hurt or worse. Because the intolerant side doesn't want us to exist. Fucking Shawn. Fuck you and your hypothetical Confederate flag.
- Now for a real complaint that actually concerns the writing and not the content. The ending was lacking. I like the quote “Hate is blind but love can see,” but it just didn’t feel enough somehow. I don’t quite know how to explain it. I think it’s because I wanted to see Faith go to her parents and for them to apologize. Her mom for wanting to change her and her dad for not doing enough to protect her. I guess I wanted a final confrontation between Danny and Dylan too? Although I don’t know what I would gain from that. Maybe I just wanted to see Danny triumphant over Dylan.
- Also Danny and Hunter feels like a loose end to me. What were they? Were they a secret couple? Because that’s what Dylan seemed to imply. But we never got a confirmation nor a denial. But if Hunter was into Danny once, what the fuck is up with him being complicit with Alt-Rite? Same for Mavis! I get that she was hurting and using an unhealthy coping mechanism but did she hear/see the lyrics being sung? I get that she was only in it because her old childhood friend was in it but I could never.
- Andromeda and Tanks through Space and Time was overhyped. I don’t know, it just felt like the passages didn’t really contribute to the overall book. I do like that when Angus showed Hope the book, we were like GASP, it’s the book! But I kind of feel like it’d have been enough for Faith to mention the title of her book. No need to give us the novella within the book. That space could’ve been used to show a real conversation between Hope and her mom. Or Mack with Hope’s mom. Or even Charity with the whole family. I’m not saying it was a waste of space, it was just hyped up to be this amazing, life-altering piece of lesbian sci-fi and to me, it just felt like it was interrupting the real action.
#Booklr#Booksbooksbooks#Book Blog#Book Recs#Book Review#Hopepunk#Preston Norton#LGBTQ#Queer Books#Queer Lit#Queer Representation
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[Where I end and you begin][Preston Norton]
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Titolo: Where I end and you beginScritto da: Preston NortonTitolo originale: Where I End And You BeginTradotto da: Tania SpagnoliEdito da: Giunti EditoreAnno: 2024Pagine: 416ISBN: 9788809962040
Ezra è ansioso, insonne, insicuro e innamorato perso di Imogen. Dopo essersi tormentato per anni – una vita – prima di farsi avanti con lei, ha finalmente trovato il…
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#2024#fiction#Giunti Editore#LGBT#LGBTQ#Narrativa#Preston Norton#Tania Spagnoli#USA#Where I End And You Begin#Young Adult
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A Review of Neanthadral Opens The Door to the Universe
Mild Spoiler Warning & Trigger Warning for Discussion of Suicide & Abuse
Can you believe it? I literally finished it under 24 hours, like all four hundred pages under a damn day (well technically, I started it yesterday at like seven pm and finished it at four pm today). That was how addictive it was, I just kept reading through it. Flipping through it. I couldn't believe I thought my sister was ridiculous for buying this.
Unlike most YA novels I've read, our protagonist (Cliff Hubbard, AKA the titular Neanderthral) narration is entertaining. He's self deprecating, but he isn't pathetic. He doesn't really put himself down for attention, he's just shaped that way.
Before the story started, his brother, Shane, committed suicide and that pretty much made his life worse. Then, his life took a turn for the... greater weirder when one of the school's assholes Aaron Zimmerman got a concussion and told Cliff God came to him with a list. A list on how to fix the school.
I was never one for religious books, or books with religious themes. I'm just not interested. But this one handled it well! (And most of the supporting cast are err... atheists, so that's also unique. One of the main characters turns agnostic by the end, no elaboration on that.)
Cliff is huge, as in GIANT huge (that's where his cruel nickname comes from), but don't let that fool you. No matter how much his dad tells him to join the football team, he's basically a nerd at heart. (Although he can beat an asshole up easily. I'm not sure if he needs the football team as much as the football teams needed him).
I didn't really get most of the references, but I was so invested in Aaron's and Cliff's bromance. Their friendship went from 'Yeah, I only went along with his List for the jokies' to 'I would DIE for Aaron (well he never said that, but you can assume that)'.
They act like straight teenage guys, you know, ass, boobs and girls, but they also got a lot of chemistry together. Honestly, they're one of the few bromances I don't find myself shipping romantically. I just love them.
I forgot to elaborate on his list, but they were basically pointers on how to make their school better;
Put an end to Niko (one of the bullies obviously)'s bullying
Call the JTs (group of crazy Christian teens) to repentance
Remind Mr. Spinelli (an asshole teacher of theirs) why he chose to teach.
Show Frankie's gang (notorious gang of drug dealers) a better way
Find and stop HAL (a hacker)
Yes sir, I busted the book out!
Of course, it's left ambiguous on if Aaron did see God. Weirdly, the book also implies that Shane had a hand in transporting the message to him? The book does lean towards it being the result of his brain damage, but personally I liked to think there was a God sending him a message. Not a traditional God in our religions, no, I think a God.
Granted, I am an atheist so I don't have a horse in this race.
But seriously. Aaron got the best character development in this book. He went from a handsome, sexist douchebag to a well... handsome, loveable douchebag. Seriously. It wasn't just the concussion changing him, he really does change for the better. Albeit, he's still a teenager so he got a far way to go in terms of change but this is still better than nothing.
And did I mentioned Tegan, Cliff's girlfriend? I was worried she'd be those girlfriend characters that are only used to further the protagonist's development, but she has her own arc, personality, and hurts.
If I was a straight man, I'd fall for her. That's a queen.
But this topic does touch on some heavy topics. They may be hard to read through. For one example, Cliff has flashbacks to Shane's graphic suicide a few times. So, it might be triggering for any readers sensitive to that.
Cliff's dad also physically abuses him a lot, so that's also another sensitive topic the book touches on. But don't worry, his life gets better from here. A lot better. Everything I discussed in this post is just a tip of the iceberg, the four hundred page novel is a LOT more than that.
Overall, this is one of the few books I'd give a five star. Captivating, emotional, fun story, fun characters, beautiful themes. I adore everything about it. I wish I had read it earlier, but better now than never, right?
Please check it out if you love a YA novel that isn't centered around a romance. It's beautiful, fun, amusing.
And that was all
that unmotivater wrote.
#booklr#book rec#book review#neanderthal opens the door to the universe#preston norton#i love this book sm#readblr
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Where I End and You Begin by Preston Norton
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😈📚 characters from hazbin hotel as books 📚😈
i finally got around to posting all of these on my bookstagram, and i figured i'd post them here too! putting this together was so much fun that i just had to share. full book list below the cut!
👑 Charlie:
- Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
- One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
✖️ Vaggie:
- The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff
- Hopepunk by Preston Norton
🎥 Angel Dust:
- Rented Heart by Garrett Leigh
- Gay Bar: Why We Went Out by Jeremy Atherton Lin
♣️ Husk:
- The Lost Weekend by Charles Jackson
- The Gambler by Fyodor Dostoevsky
📻 Alastor:
- A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers
- Lost Signals by Max Booth III
🧹 Niffty:
- Maid by Stephanie Land
- The Dead Janitor's Club by Jeff Klima
🍎 Lucifer:
- Angels Before Man by rafael nicolás
- Dayspring by Anthony Oliveria
🐍 Sir Pentious:
- Soulless by Gail Carriger
- Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
💣 Cherri Bomb:
- Girls to the Front by Sara Marcus
- We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix
🚬 Valentino:
- Snuff by Chuck Palahniuk
- Getting Off: Pornography and the End of Masculinity by Robert Jensen
📺 Vox:
- Universal Harvester by John Darnielle
- White Noise by Don DeLillo
📱 Velvette:
- The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
- Followers by Megan Angelo
🎸 Adam:
- Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
- Why Men Love Bitches by Sherry Argov
🗡️ Lute:
- Joan by Katherine J. Chen
- The Valkyrie by Kate Heartfield
😇 Sera:
- The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
- Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat
👼 Emily:
- Halo by Alexandra Adornetto
- Blue Skies by T.L. Martin
🥀 Rosie:
- In the Garden of Spite by Camilla Bruce
- Woman Eating by Claire Kohda
👸 Lilith:
- Lilith by Eve Marmery
- Jezebel by Megan Barnard
#hazbin hotel#charlie morningstar#lucifer morningstar#vaggie#chaggie#angel dust#husk#huskerdust#alastor#radiodust#radiostatic#niffty#sir pentious#cherri bomb#valentino#vox#velvette#the vees#lute#adam#sera#emily#rosie#lilith morningstar#appleradio#radioapple#cherrisnake#helluva boss#hellaverse#books
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Speaking in Tongues
Part I
Disclaimer: Not proofread and inappropriate content I guess.
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
Minka's POV
I never tire of premieres. In high school everyone looked forward to the prom, why they looked forward to seeing all your peers on a Saturday, finding the ugliest dress in the store and being monitored by teachers while horrible music played was beyond me. Even in my adolescence I fantasized of premieres instead, spending forever in mamusia's room putting on her makeup and perfume, her dresses and pretending to be interviewed by E! and whoever was hosting the Oscars or the Academy Awards.
My favorite part was always choosing what to wear, fashion is like art to me. You don't just choose what looks cute you choose a palette, a theme, what will make your body flow and strut naturally. It is choosing your personality and displaying your interests, even a simple pair of nomination jeans with a t shirt and a pair of docs decide what you feel for that person and who they are.
I'm the only celebrity without a stylist, dressing myself and doing my hair and makeup is an emotional thing for me, maybe it's the punk rock roots from my now teaching father, but I don't even go to get my hair done. My signature black, bob is of my doing.
It's why there's so much footage of me on camera weeping whenever my ensemble is complimented, I put so much thought and heart into it.
Tonight, beside my friend and director, James, presenting the premiere of Spellbound at the Houdini mansion, I was Minka Farrah, but I was Minka Farrah inspired by Miranda, my malevolent two faced witch, the character I played in the film.
It was a risk to wear the gloves but once I slid them on, it made my Morticia tight dress pop, and with their occult imagery they too told the story. No one could hardly believe I had bought them off etsy, handcrafted and one of a kind, I made sure to heavily promote the artist behind them.
I felt so much worry and anxiety with this movie, like any remake. Yes the name is a tad different and James added and took away some things but, it's a classic, a niche cult classic, but a classic all the same. I worked so hard to be the perfect Miranda, taking from the original played by the late Kelly Preston, I also took inspiration from Lisle von Rhuman, and funny enough Miranda from the film Miranda about the mermaid. I was ridiculously overjoyed with the wonderful feedback I got in return.
I was on cloud nine tonight, and then my confidence faded when Tom told me Timothée Chalamet was here tonight. I nearly threw up, that wicked Saxon, he knows the crush I harbor for the greatest actor of our generation. Longing was more a fitting word. He's the first boy in a while who's made me feel…well to not put it lightly, horny, the word ecstasy, inadequate, and…longing, all at once. I don't just want him to hold my throat during a movie, I don't just want him to fill anything considered a hole in me, I don't just want to talk about our influences, I want him to consume me and devour me.
I have never met him, ever. But my brother, Stone, one day mentioned me as his favorite actor or actress of all time on Graham Norton's Show, and at the time I had no idea who he was. So Stone put on Call Me by your Name, and then showed me his Tumblr and the entire Chalaverse and I was hooked. I was very judgmental before watching his Little Women Christian Bale was the only Laurie for me I swore by him, but Timothée Chalamet ruined that for me. I think I went crazy for him watching him play Laurie.
And he's so gorgeous, long and tall and lean, I love skinny partners because it makes their shoulders and hands look even bigger, not the only reason but it's a major one. His hair is romantic and long and curly and just.. he's perfect, his mannerisms his voice, he has me hooked. And to hear that he's here…I mean it makes sense, he's Tom's friend.
I hoped I looked good enough, when I think of him I feel too big for my hair…what if he likes long hair on girls…thankfully there was another photo op with James to distract me, I felt in my element until I turned around to whoever asked for my attention. "Yes?" I still wore a red painted smile laced with a laugh, and when I turned around it fell the mask fell because there he was, and looking at him and smelling his cologne and knowing he approached ruined my Agent Provocateur thong.
I was breathless, speechless. I said nothing and just nodded with a smile.
He tugged his bottom lip in with his teeth and I stared for a moment. "I thought y-you w-were– I mean–" he laughed breathily and ran a hand through his messy curls and I felt light headed. I sucked on my lip and he stared at me for a moment and I must have looked confused because he started to talk again.
''I'm sorry, I'm sorry I'll uh– I'll leave you alone." Before I could even scream for him to stop saying that I never want him to leave me alone, he walked away disappearing in the sea of tuxedos and gowns. What did I say?
Feeling disappointed, I made a beeline to the wine, I had the bartender fill up my glass all the way to the top with red champagne. My favorite, Chandon's red champagne, was a Shiraz of strawberry, raspberry, and cherry notes. It was my absolute favorite and right now I was going down as much as I could to forget how I ran off Timothée Chalamet.
Did I offend him? What was it?
Two glasses of red Chandon later we were heading to the after party at Chateau Marmont .
I was in the middle of talking to Lana when Tom walked up to me. "Hey, what did you do to Timothée?"
I looked confused. I felt confused. "I didn't say one word to him."
''Exactly!"
I furrowed my brows "Tom, sweetie I'm not following."
Tom laughed. "He thinks he offended you or annoyed you. But knowing how you feel about him, it's all starting to make sense." He smirked.
"Oh my God, shut up!" I squealed, which made him laugh louder. "I'll go talk to him, God he must think I'm such a snob!" Why did I have to get starstruck?
"No, no, he just thinks…." But Tom stopped himself, trailing off. I narrowed my eyes in suspicion. "Tom…"
Lana laughed. "Oh I think I know…" She and Tom exchanged a look and a brow waggle before laughing and I let out a cry of frustration. "I hate you both, tell me right now!"
They just laughed harder and I shook my head. "Whatever, I'm going to apologize, do I look okay?" I gestured to my ensemble, honestly no one can say I didn't stick with the theme of the movie, it was an ode to Matt and Miranda's bdsm scene when she gave Matt the false sense of hope that he was in charge of their "relationship". It's a black latex suit, arm, body neck, everything covered, even had on fetish boots, but my breasts were completely out and my nipples covered with black latex pasties to match my black painted lips.
Tom choked on his drink as Lana eyed me with a slow and appreciative nod. "Minka bloody Farrah, the only person on the entire planet that stands there posing shy and cutesy in a fucking bdsm body suit asking if she looks okay!" He laughed in disbelief.
I pouted. "A simple yes would have sufficed.'' He shook his head. "Where is he?" I asked.
"In the bathroom having a smoke." I took a deep breath, some of Tom's IPA and headed to the French styled bathroom. I knocked and a muffled "Occupied.' Spoke through the door.
"Um Timothée? It's me, uh Mink-" Before I could get my name out the door was opened and he stood there towering over me gorgeously in all his Capricorn glory, a black vintage fit blazer open, a white tooth shirt and faded jeans with combat boots, a necklace wrapped around his neck seductively and rings adorned the long, skeletal fingers that held a cigarette. He smelled like a writer, cigarettes, espresso, and alcohol. There was a spicy cologne with a hint of sweetness and a small amount of sweat. I wanted to eat him. His verdant eyes were naturally and dreamily hooded, but right now a little wide as his raspberry lips hung parted.
I blinked and bit my lip as I twisted my fingers. "I wanted to apologize, Tom told me you thought you annoyed me–"
"I'm gonna kill Tom-"
"But you didn't! I was just…I love your acting so much, I was caught off guard…I'm so sorry, I can't believe I was so rude–"
"N-No, you weren't. " He finished softly with a breathy laugh before leaning against the doorframe. Stop posing or I'll drop to my knees.
I felt elated when I noticed his eyes roam my outfit, but then a little fear lingered in those depths of satisfaction. What if he thinks I'm too easy? He probably likes classy girls, he dated Lily-Rose Depp for God's sake.
"You like my acting?" A smile tilted his lips up.
I shrugged with a smile. "You probably hear that all the time." His eyes drifted from my mouth to my pasties, maybe I should have worn something else.
But he stepped aside and gestured in. "Please, join me, there's a lovely seat on the toilet."
I giggled. "But then where will you sit?"
"In the tub of course."
@meetmyothersouls @sufferingstarlight
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Also!! If you’ve watched Your Name and liked it, esp the bodyswapping element and the concept of two people’s identities becoming blurred at the edges as they share each other’s lives, then I highly recommend the book Where I End and You Begin by Preston Norton. It’s by far my favourite bodyswapping story and although the tone is different from Your Name, the exploration of identity through bodyswapping is similar and I think it’s for sure worth a read.
#just watched your name and LOVED it#and it reminded me of one of my favourite books of all time#bodyswapping trope i love you <3#your name#kimi no na wa#where i end and you begin#books#kk talks about stuff
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Joel McCrea, Claudette Colbert, and Rudy Vallee in The Palm Beach Story (Preston Sturges, 1942)
Cast: Claudette Colbert, Joel McCrea, Mary Astor, Rudy Vallee, Sig Arno, Robert Warwick, Torben Meyer, Jimmy Conlin, William Demarest, Jack Norton, Robert Greig, Roscoe Ates, Chester Conlin, Franklin Pangborn. Screenplay: Preston Sturges. Cinematography: Victor Milner. Art direction: Hans Dreier, Ernst Fegté. Film editing: Stuart Gilmore. Music: Victor Young.
There are few scenes in movies that I cherish more than the encounter of Gerry (Claudette Colbert) and the Wienie King (Robert Dudley). Then again, The Palm Beach Story is filled with things I cherish: The wonderfully enigmatic opening credits, which must have had people sitting through the film twice to comprehend. The way William Demarest drawls out "bangbaang" when he's pretending to shoot targets on the train -- before the rest of the Ale and Quail Club arrives with loaded shotguns to blow the hell out of the club car. J.D. Hackensacker III's (Rudy Vallee) inexhaustible supply of pince-nez. The fetching outfit Gerry fashions from a pair of men's pajamas and a bath towel, using the pajama shirt as a blouse, the pants as a kind of snood, and the towel as a wraparound skirt -- as she remains blithely unconscious that the word "Pullman" is emblazoned on the backside. The way Sig Arno as Toto steals every scene he's in, even if he's only standing in the background. Mary Astor's giddy, horny Princess Centimillia. The sly fun poked at Vallee's past as a crooner. The way Sturges finds something funny for even bit players, like the cops on the street, to do or say. Joel McCrea and Colbert are of course peerless at this sort of comedy. I do have to admit that I'm a little distracted every time I watch Colbert on screen, tracking the way she always manages to get on the right side in every scene, the better to show off the preferred left side of her face. I wonder, though, if Sturges and cinematographer Victor Milner didn't pull a trick on Colbert in the scene in which Gerry is sitting at a dressing table: Though she's on the right side of the screen, the only view we get of her face is a reflection in the mirror of her supposedly inferior right profile. The Palm Beach Story is not as sexy as The Lady Eve (1941) or as satiric as Sullivan's Travels (1941), but it remains for me an inexhaustible delight.
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Books read in July 2022
IN THE HANDS OF THE RIVER by Lucien Darjeun Meadows
CLEAVE by Tiana Nobile
TAPROOT by Keezy Young
HEAVEN by Mieko Kawakami
ALONE IN SPACE by Tillie Walden
STEP ASIDE, POPS by Kate Beaton
YOUR EMERGENCY CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED AN EMERGENCY by Chen Chen
WHERE I END & YOU BEGIN by Preston Norton
#books#books read#reading recommendations#arcs#galleys#library books#poetry#small press#graphic novels#novels#ya#fiction#comics#illustration#tiny books#ink#watercolor#mini books
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favorite books I’ve read this year:
When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Fan Club by Erin Mayer
How Star Wars Conquered the Universe by Chris Taylor
Venomous by Christie Wilcox
Live, Laugh, Kidnap by Gabby Noone
Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin
Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao
Hide by Kiersten White
Hopepunk by Preston Norton
Severance by Ling Ma
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M. Valente
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
Sheets by Brenna Thummler
So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson
Babel by R.F. Kuang
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A fun game for non-Brits to play.
In the Southwest of England is a lovely county called Somerset. Its biggest claim to fame is being pleasant and rural, full of farmers who drink cider and talk with accents that to Americans make them sound a bit like pirates but to Brits are stereotypically 'hickish' (see e.g. Samwise and Merry's accents from the LOTR films, only stronger). The stereotype is epitomised by a band called The Wurzels, who are popular all over Britain and form part of a larger genre called 'scrumpy and western' (Brits stifle your laughter, it's real).
Somerset also features an array of fun bi-partite village names, something that seems particularly common in the South West of England relative to elsewhere. So, after a recent visit I decided to play a game: Somerset village or famous Brit!
Shepton Beauchamp
Barrow Gurney
Graham Norton
Cheddon Fitzpaine
Preston Plucknett
Timmy Mallett
Upton Noble
Queen Camel
Rodney Stoke
Jane Seymour
Denholm Elliott
Charlton Mackrell
Stanton Drew
Alan Titchmarsh
Good luck!
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Rest in peace Those Who died deserves this honor of their names that's why this is Thursday edit April 18th to remember the legacy of the Angels that died Jesus healed them and they went on to heaven home in the sky
Rebecca Jeanne Riley, Sally Ann Chesebro, Jane Eilish Preston January 3, 2017 - October 3, 2020, Calla Adelaide Andrus, Gabrielle Renae “Gabby” Barrett, Lauren Victoria “Tori” Windsor Whetzel, Gabrielly “Gabi” Magalhães de Souza, Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, Terence Pinder the 18 year old that was shot and killed in 1800 block of Hicks Street, Star Hobson, Saffie-Rose Brenda Roussos, Lily Peters, Olivia Pratt Korbel, Elizabeth Shelley, Sara Sharif, Charlotte Figi, Jersey Dianne Bridgeman, Charlotte Bacon, Charlotte Louise Dunn, Emily Grace Jones, Ava Jordan Wood, Olivia Engel, Josephine Gay, Emilie Parker, Jackie Cazares, Makenna Lee Elrod, Eliahna Torres, Nevaeh Bravo, Layla Salazar, Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, Jailah Nicole Silguero, Bianca Devins, Catherine Violet Hubbard, Taylor Jean Moore, Destiny Norton, Destiny Riekeberg, JonBenèt Ramsey, Kelly Ann Fleming, Judith and Maria Barsi, Heather Michele O'Rourke, Lucille Ricksen, Indie Rose Armstrong, Rachel Joy Scott, Skylar Annette "Sky " Neese, Tristyn Bailey, Olivia Dahl, Lily Rose Diaz, Riley Faith Steep, Rylie Nicholls, Ava Martin White, James Bulger, Amerie Jo Garza, Maite Rodriguez, Alexandria Rubio, Joan of Arc, Jimmy the Crow, Dickey Betts, Kinsleigh Welty, Gracie Perry Watson, Inez Clarke Briggs, Annie Kerr Aiken, Grace Budd, Sloan Mattingly, Audrii Cunningham, Happy Birthday Isabella Nardoni, Bella Claire Callaway, Calla Adelaide Woods, Rose Pizem, Riley Ann Sawyers, Riley Ann Fox, Anne and Margot Frank, Shan'ann, Bella&CeCe, Lallie Charles, Isobel Elsom, Jordan Rosales, Jeremiah, Ava Cole Nichols, Pauline Adelaar and Peter Fuchs, Anna D. Crnkovic, Irmgard Christine Winter, Olga Chardymova, Eliza Adalynn Moore, Lois Janes, Louis XVII, Sarah Payne, Alicia Lynn Clark, Mercedes Losoya, Norah Lee Howard, Sandra Cantu, Jessica Lunsford, Sierra Lynn Newbold, Samantha Bree Runnion, Samantha Davis, Dr. Jeremy and Avielle Richman, Beatriz Mota, Danielle Van Dam, Baby LeRoy, Shirley Temple and more kids
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📚 for the ask game?
📚 book
NEANDERTHAL OPENS THE DOOR TO THE UNIVERSE BY PRESTON NORTON RAHHHHHHH
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Norton Motorcycles honours Beatrice Shilling
Norton Motorcycles honours Beatrice Shilling with 1938 Norton International at opening of Coventry University building.
Norton Motorcycles has presented its heritage collection 1938 Norton International at the official opening of the Coventry University’s Beatrice Shilling Building.
A pioneering mechanical engineer in both the fields of motorsport and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), in 1934, Beatrice Shilling became one of three women to win the Gold Star at the Brooklands circuit, completing a lap with an average speed of 101mph on her very own Norton M30 500cc.
In her honour, Coventry University has named its new Faculty of Engineering, Environment & Computing building after the famous engineer and motorcycle racer.
The official opening of the building was delayed due to COVID and rescheduled for 8th March on International Women’s Day, as well as what would have been Beatrice’s 114th birthday, and so the celebration of Shilling’s accomplishments within STEM and motorsport is timely.
For the event and to recognise the significance of Shilling’s contributions, Norton presented its 1938 Norton International – a close relation to the Norton M30 – from the heritage collection that usually resides within the foyer of the company’s Solihull headquarters.
The celebration welcomed as special guests Beatrice Shilling’s great-niece Jo Denbury and her daughter Saskia Preston, as well as Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE, Co-founder and CEO of Stemettes, the award-winning social enterprise focussed on inspiring and supporting girls, young women and non-binary young people in STEM.
A woman in a man’s world: Life of Beatrice Shilling
1909 – Beatrice Shilling was born in Waterlooville, Hampshire.
1923 – At age 14, Beatrice reportedly bought her first motorcycle quickly learning to strip and rebuild its engine to improve the bike’s performance.
1929 – Having worked on motorcycles throughout her youth, Shilling was keen to pursue this passion and went on to study electrical engineering at The University of Manchester.
1932 – After receiving her Bachelor’s degree, Beatrice stayed on for a further year gaining a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.
1934 – A competitive motorcycle racer, Beatrice became one of only three women to win the Gold Star at the Brooklands circuit, finishing a lap with an average speed of over 100mph on her Norton M30 500cc. This was the fastest lap ever to be achieved in her time.
1936 – Unafraid to compete in a male-dominated industry, Beatrice was recruited to the Royal Aircraft Establishment (R.A.E.), writing manuals for aeroplane engines.
1939 – Three years later and Beatrice is promoted to Technical Officer, charged with carburettor research and development. It was at this point, World War II broke out and Beatrice’s expertise became crucial to the war effort. Working closely on the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine used in the Spitfire and Hurricane, Beatrice developed the R.A.E. restrictor to prevent the aeroplane engines from becoming flooded with fuel when entering a steep dive.
1949 – Beatrice was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by King George VI.
1956 – Beatrice joined the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and was elected as an Associate Member. This was in addition to her long-standing membership of the Women’s Engineering Society.
1959 – Following World War II, she turned to racing cars with her husband George, including at Goodwood Members’ Meetings where they scored several high-placed results.
1969 – After retiring, Beatrice received an honorary doctorate from the University of Surrey.
1990 – Beatrice Shilling passed away at the age of 81 leaving a legacy of exceptional contribution to engineering and motor racing.
For more Norton Motorcycles check out our dedicated page Norton Motorcycles News
or head to the official Norton Motorcycles website nortonmotorcycles.com/
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