Hi friends,
Today is Sunday, time to look back in the rearview mirror and talk about my week in and out of the blog. As usual I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted for years by Kimberly @caffeinatedreviewer .
In my private life
I went to the doctor’s appointment that had been rescheduled three times this Monday and it was …reassuring! I had some nasty fright that women can get and this was a follow up check so I was not pleased when it was postponed because of the lockdown.
We’ll have another thorough check in six months and if everything looks the same, we’ll go back to a yearly check.
So yes, that’s a relief!
My daughter has finished her exams at university and that means that she has a lot of time on her hands and is becoming …BOSSY! She is cleaning, gardening, vacuuming and is always on our backs to “put that thing in its place” or “drive me to the store to buy some plant” or …. while we all just want to be left in peace 😀
Now let’s get to the title of this post: me being ranty on the blog and on IG.
You will see below that I just HAD to write a post about speaking up or not as a blogger. If I presonally feel that I must speak up for some things and cause, I can’t tolerate that other bullies people who choose not to do so on social media! If you are not screaming about Black Lives matter on social media, it does not mean that you disagree nor that you are not being actively busy supporting this outside of social media! Hence my rant below.
The second “rant” was on Instagram after I had been made aware of the social media storm created by JK Rowling’s words on transgender women. If you want to know what’s all the fuss about, read this article by the BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-53002557
When I was made aware of her stance, I honestly asked myself if I wanted to go on with posting a picture about Harry Potter’s books or not.
That’s crazy how an author’s word can not only hit the gender group concerned but can also hit YOU personally if you are a fan of that author’s books and characters! Harry Potter is iconic and suddenly I FEARED other’s people extreme reactions if I DARED still post about the books.
I decided to post and if you are interested in my reasoning just read it here (click on the picture to read the post):
So yes this week has been weird thanks to what is happening on social media. It seems that these “media” look more and more like a jungle. And I am convinced that the key is just to be kind and respectful with each others. The world would be so much better!
To finish on a high note, I had an amazing day yesterday creating two new funko pops inspired by The City of Brass by SA Chakraborty: Nahri and Dara!
Nahri did not take much work as the funko was basically “her” so I added some glittery painting and painted her eyes.
For Dara though, I had to create long hair, a curved sword, a shirt and paint these super tiny tattoos on his left temple of a wing crossed by an arrow and the ladder scale rungs on his left palm, creeping up his arm and back. I also had to rebuild his left arm as the original funko had him hide a loaf of bread along his left forearm like, glued to the arm! So when I removed the bread there was a big hole in the arm!!!
This was my basic funko for Dara.
And this is the final product
On the blog this week (click on the graphic to read the post)
I only posted two reviews this week but one discussion post (see rant above) and two meme!
Lingus by Mariana Zapata was a little bit like a soufflé: extremely pumped up in the beginning while warm from the oven and deflated by the end. Note that I gave a “harsh” note because it’s Marians’s book and that I know that she can do so much better AND it has to be said that it was also her first published book. She’s improved heaps after!
Reap the Shadows by Annette Marie was excellent, 4,5 stars like every book in that Steel and Stone series!
On Tuesday I gave you books on my TBR because of some of you (I DISH guys!) 😉
On Wednesday you got my rant
On Friday it as a new Face-Off with “bodice ripper” (loooove that expression ).
On the blogosphere and in the literary world
I did blog hop this week guys!!!!
Jacob is also talking about the artist and the art after JK Rowling debacle
https://booksandpixels.com/2020/06/10/separating-art-from-the-artist-j-k-rowling/
The Orang Utang Librarian asks what makes a book “important”.
https://theorangutanlibrarian.wordpress.com/2020/06/11/what-even-is-an-important-book/
Katie explains how to recognize a YA book
https://nevernotreadingblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/11/what-is-a-young-adult-book/
Lashaan is wondering if audiobooks are for you
https://bookidote.com/2020/06/09/audiobooks-are-they-for-you/
And just to have you laugh, some light post from Kim
On the Lighter Side ~ Signs of the Times
That’s it guys! Now do tell me how was your week?
Thanks for reading
Sophie
Glad your appt went well! Your funkos are adorable. You should sell commissions on Etsy.
Lol, I think I said enough in my comment on your discussion post not to add anything here beyond I can’t give up Potter. I have too many memories – good memories – tied up in that series but I am perfectly capable of dissociating it from its creator. Daniel Radcliffe’s letter on the topic was wonderful.
(If you haven’t seen it: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/2020/06/08/daniel-radcliffe-responds-to-j-k-rowlings-tweets-on-gender-identity/)
I wasn’t a big fan of Lingus either… Gave it 3 stars. I read it after Winnipeg, Lukov, Wait For It etc and found it completely lacking compared to them. You could tell it was her first novel but what I DID enjoy was that you could see the sparks… The little glimpses of magic that would make her other books so wonderful.
Your funkos are awesome, btw!
Thank you for the funko pops! And yes I saw Daniel ‘s letter and I thought that he is amazing!!!!!!
Things happened probably at the most wierdest time.. it’s good that it makes us change our minds and see how much things are different when your skin is darker — but with the covid and everything else, i was already in a bad place mentally and that was quite a slap.. i even wondered if I wanted to keep living in such a world, how can people just DO something like that?!
What a relief that all ended bring good with you!! It’s definately so much more anxiety-inducing to want your results back and have that postponed and have the wonder of if there’s something bad about your body.. and then not having the solution right away if so.
Omg thoses new funkos you made looks amazingly!!
Thank you Kristina!!!!
Ahh yes, the wonderful social media platforms! Nothing like discovering how venomous everyone can be behind their gadgets as they speak their minds and amplify their thoughts on countless matters. I can definitely see the impact on fans of Harry Potter who feel betrayed by an author who believes something that is far from what everyone is fighting for. It’s such a sad reality. 🙁
Exactly Lashaan! For every good man or woman on social media you have another one being so much louder and nastier!
Speaking of all the Rowling issues, did you see Radcliffe’s response? I think it is super awesome and we should focus on it, rather than the crap Rowling is spewing.
“I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments have caused you. I really hope that you don’t entirely lose what was valuable in these stories to you. If these books taught you that love is the strongest force in the universe, capable of overcoming anything; if they taught you that strength is found in diversity, and that dogmatic ideas of pureness lead to the oppression of vulnerable groups; if you believe that a particular character is trans, nonbinary, or gender fluid, or that they are gay or bisexual; if you found anything in these stories that resonated with you and helped you at any time in your life — then that is between you and the book that you read, and it is sacred.”
I love it because he is saying its ok to love the books even if you disagree with the author <3 And Harry Potter has had such a profound impact on so many lives it would be a shame to lose that.
Yes I have seen his comment and I thought that he translated perfectly how I felt and how probably so many fans felt too!
Glad to hear your doc appointment went well, Sophie! With the Rowling fiasco, I think Daniel Radcliffe couldn’t have said it better. I’m still a HP fan, but I can separate the artist from their art.
Yes Daniel saved the day Teri!
I saw someone who said if you follow so and so unfollow me and I thought no…. social media has been crazy and while it helps get the word out, is also seems to have opened up the floodgates to disregard anyone whose opinion doesn’t reflect yours or to attack without discussion. I have far too many memories attached to the Potter series to stop reading and loving them.
Exactly Kimberly. I think we should all respect other’s opinion and have a safe and polite debate if need be. But no bullying!
Social media really is a viper’s pit sometimes. I try to avoid it as much as possible, but sometimes it’s hard to avoid. I get frustrated with the constant rants about what we are and aren’t allowed to post, who we should and shouldn’t be following, etc. On my personal twitter account, one of my friends chastised me because I was still following JK Rowling. First of all, I hardly ever use social media so I was late hearing the news about what she had said and done. Second, why is it that person’s business who I follow or don’t follow? I agree with you — it would be so much easier if people would be nice, respect each other, and stop policing what others are or aren’t doing.
Exactly Suzanne! Let’s have people clean their own house first.
Yes… I tend to steer away from making my blog a mouthpiece for any of my political opinions – it’s not that kind of blog, for starters. It’s all about the books I read – and while some of those may well reflect my personal ideas, a lot of them don’t… A great post about a difficult issue, Sophie:)
I love your funko figures – especially as I completed reading allll about Nahri and Dara this week… I hope the coming week is a good one.
Thank you so much!! Have a great week too!
Social media is the kind of madhouse that should be avoided at any cost, since for the larger part it seems to be the meeting place of “ranters & ravers” of any kind. The only place I feel comfortable with is the book-blogging community, where I’ve met only people interested in discussing our common interests and exchanging so-very-polite comments on reading material. An island of peace in a world gone mad…
I do think book blogger are more civilized in general Maddalena!
Love those funkos! As for speaking up, we should if we want to do so. I have had issues with the lives of some authors/movie makers I’ve enjoyed, and sometimes I simply decide to speak up about their behavior, but not necessarily dismiss their work. I guess that depends on how much I enjoy what they create.
Now…bossy daughters. That’s a whole other thing. LOL. I stayed with my daughter for three weeks after I was hospitalized last year, and she was driving me crazy!!
Thanks for visiting my blog, and have a safe/great week.
Thank you Laurel!
Loving someone’s books and then having them spew hate makes for a mental tug-of-war, especially when you have a book blog!
I like your approach.
Thank you Rebecca!
I’ve pretty much given up on social media. You have people policing what you post and now they police what you don’t post – I say to hell with it all. Honestly it’s probably for the best, as I’m too busy with work, my kids, and just real life in general to be distracted by Twitter, Facebook etc. It’s too dangerous to be led down a rabbit hole! And I am sooooo envious of your Funko Pop crafts, they’re so creative and awesome!
Thank you so much Mogsy!
You are right, kindness should be the way, all would be better and it would cost nothing…
Anyway, on a bright note, your funko are amazing!
Thank you Susy!
Social media IS a viper’s nest sometimes lol. You said that well! And I’m the same. Not everyone acts or speaks up the same way, there are many different ways to be involved, and honestly some of them may have more impact than just screaming on social media and then feeling like you’ve “done” something. So yeah I get you all the way!
Nice Funko’s!
Thank you Greg!
I’m not on social media much and I don’t like posting my personal views on Twitter or anywhere, actually. I don’t like the fights I see. If I want to share my opinion with someone it will be in person where I can talk to them face to face. Too much hate being spewed on Twitter lately. Have a great week, Sophia!
Thank you Rachel and same for me!
So done with Twitter. The fact that they are bullying people into talking and/or unfollowing people just doesn’t work for me. So someone doesn’t feel comfortable speaking up. Is publicly shaming them going to make them MORE comfortable???? Especially since after those people do start speaking up the community acts all put out because they “don’t believe” the person really cares.
But they really lost me at “if you don’t unfollow ____ in 24 hours I’m unfollowing you.” 1) What if that person is IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID and missed the drama? 2) You don’t know why that person is still following them, maybe they are cousins in real life or likes to keep tabs on people with the opposite POV. 3) How is that in any way helping the echo chamber problem on social media? Instead of being the voice for good in that person’s life, you’re isolating them from people with beliefs/values different from their own. 4) If you were really friends you wouldn’t just unfollow someone, so sorry if I don’t give a fuck that someone who doesn’t actually like me unfollows me.
Gosh, can you tell you hit a nerve? lol
Yes katie I can tell! But with my post you can see that they hit MY nerve too LOL
Oh, your Funkos are so adorable! I’ve not been on social media much and missed all about Rawlings. Glad I did now.
Well yes there’s got to be a perk at working as much as you do Laura LOL
Yeah, I’ve been taking frequent social media breaks recently. The arguments are exhausting and not solving much. Your Pops are so cute! You are very talented.
Oh man. Social media is a dumpster fire at times. People need to be kind. And realize there will be many different opinions. I can be friends with people who have different opinions. Although honestly, I won’t ever understand how anybody likes Trump.
Happy reading and stay well!
Thank you Anne and you too!
There’s the idea of separating the artist from their work. I respect a person’s choice to still love the books. I have never read HP, because JKR put me over many years ago, but that’s my thing.
I had no idea sha already put her foot in her mouth many years ago Sam!
I was raised with the advice, ‘If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.’ I think if more people did this there would be a LOT less hurt feelings.
I’m glad your doc appointment went well {{hugs}}
I think that was the soundest advice Jacquie!
I pop in and out of social media and sometimes spend days not on it. I just need a break for right now.
The Pops are super cute awesome job!
I think taking breaks is really wise and healthy! And thank you!
I, too, was so angry about Rowling’s post. I was pleased to see that Daniel Radcliffe spoke up in defense of trans women, though. I think I will probably still post HP stuff occasionally, but when I do so, I will also use that time to share how to support trans people.
Hopefully your daughter will get bored soon!!
Ha! Yes that’s also what I hope Samantha: that she is getting bored.
I have been avoiding social media of late, too much hate and animosity. I just need a break. And people are getting crazier by the day. Your Funko Pops are so ADORABLE!! Love them. Hope you have a good week.
Thank you Renee! You too!
Social media is going crazy right now, worse than usual. I think everyone is stir crazy and it’s the only way to let off steam. I’m trying to stay away Oh wow I love your Funko Pops! How do you make them??
Tammy I have two posts on how to make them so if you search with the keyword funko you should see all of my secrets LOL