Chez Aloysius

Dave and I have been playing the video game Lake for quite a while and finally (sort of) finished it last night. You play as Meredith, a high-flying software engineer in the mid-1980s, who moves back to her home town to take over her dad's mail delivery job while her parents are on holiday (which makes zero sense!).
The main part of the game is walking or driving around the beautiful lakeside town, delivering letter and parcels. The scenery is gorgeous and it's mostly very relaxing - though the controls for driving the van were a bit tricky, so neither of us was a particularly good (or safe!) driver...
You also meet and interact with various of the residents - some people Meredith already knows and some she doesn't - all of whom have storylines that unfold over the course of the game.
There are certain decisions to be made along the way, which affect where the game ends up - but unfortunately, our version kept sticking partway through the end-game cut scenes, so we weren't able to finish it off ourselves, which was very annoying.
We watched a video showing the different possible endings, but it wasn't as satisfying as being able to see it through ourselves. Ah, well! Overall, it was a fun game to play through together and we both enjoyed it.

Sounds Fake But Okay is a nonfiction book discussing the ways in which people on the ace/aro spectrum navigate a world that centres sexual-romantic relationships over and above other types of relationships. It looks at all different aspects of life, mostly from the perspective of its two authors, who have a podcast based around the same topics.
It wasn't exactly what I thought it was going to be - it was more personal and less informative, though that did flip in certain chapters and I definitely learned a lot and it made me think a lot.

Not a great day for reading!

My Cat Yugoslavia by Pajtim Statovci just wasn't for me - the opening couple of chapters were very off-putting in terms of viewpoint character, writing style and content for various reasons and I just didn't see any purpose in trying to persevere.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill was a huge disappointment as I'd heard very good thing, loved the other book of hers I've read, and had this one on my TBR for a very long time. But it's a very weird combination of an overly simplistic and whimsical tone (which diminishes the emotion of what's happening), and dense language and too-complex concepts (which jar against it being middle grade). The premise also made very little sense, which I found annoying. Very sad about this one.

Queen Lucia by EF Benson is a 1920 comic novel about a 40-year-old woman trying to retain her status as 'queen' of the English village where she resides. It pokes fun at people who care too much about what other people think of them, as well as those who keep getting sucked into ridiculous fads. There's rather more commentary about the characters and their silly mannerisms and habits than there is actual story, and I didn't get on very well with the style and presentation of said characters, so I DNF'd it.

Beyond the Burn Line by Paul McAuley is a far-future set story about uplifted animals and revelations about human and AI interference in their development. It covers themes of fear and oppression of the 'other', generational trauma, climate change and the desire of those in power to suppress artistic expression that may not adhere to the way they want things to seem. It's very much a book of two halves, with some interesting connective tissue between them. I really enjoyed it, though the ending felt very abrupt and I'm not sure I wholly agree with the message I thought was being relayed.


A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara follows 'reaper' Kathy, a woman in her early 40s who believes she is doomed to destroy all her relationships. You really have to just go along with the concept of a company that 'processes' souls after they leave their bodies, since the worldbuilding around how that works and how it came to be is nonexistent. That aside, though, this is an excellent book with great characters, a heartfelt throughline of what it means to be in a successful relationship, and lots of emotive and realistic development of said relationships, along with the rather silly but very entertaining plot. Definitely recommended.


The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood just didn't do it for me - the first 100 pages were the same morning told three times from the perspective of three different women, culminating in them meeting for lunch, during which someone reappears from their past, whom they thought was dead. There was way too much detail about every item of clothing worn by every character, every small action undertaken by said characters, and every location, thought and impulse they experienced over the course of a few hours. There was also way too much emphasis put onto how terrible Zenia was, without any real detail about how or why. By the time the third recap of the morning started, I realised I didn't care and stopped reading.


The Two Doctors Gorski by Isaac Fellman is an interesting novella about a young woman trying to become a respected academic in a magical field, after her reputation has been ruined by her previous supervisor (and lover). There's a lot of institutional and personal misogyny - though protagonist Annae certainly behaves unethically at times and is very flawed (though that certainly doesn't excuse the treatment she receives). Though the magic is viewed by the characters as scientific, there's no real explanation of how it works, but that didn't really bother me. It was quite disturbing in places, and I'm not wholly sure what it was trying to say, but it kept me interested throughout and went to some interesting places.

The second volume of My Brother's Husband by Gengoroh Tagame follows straight on from the first, continuing the story of Mike's time in Japan with his late husband's brother and niece. It's very sweet, particularly the growing affection between Mike and Kana, the little girl. It also continues Yaichi's journey of self-analysis regarding his attitudes towards homosexuality in a way that felt important and satisfying.
This is a great short series of manga volumes that looks at relationships in a very interesting and realistic way, with no neat answers but a lot of heart. Highly recommended.


Fae and Fare by pirateaba is the second instalment of the Wandering Inn series, and it's sooooooooo long. I had to take several breaks to listen to other audiobooks along the way, but I did finish it and I'm glad I did. The world is fascinating and I love a lot of the characters, and there are so many intriguing layers to the storytelling. But it's just all too much, with so many volumes and each of them being so very long. I also find a lot of the voices in the audio narration really annoying (which makes sense because the characters they represent *are* annoying) - but it adds and extra barrier to wanting to continue with the series. So I think I'm done - for now.


Song For Medusa by Grace Desmerais is a sapphic graphic novel retelling of the Medusa myth, with reframes her as the victim of the vagaries of the gods and the fear that lives in men. It's well-drawn and very involving. I felt really invested in both Medusa and Princess Cyrene, and I loved how the story eventually came together. The use of ancient Greece as a setting, with the gods taking an active role in proceedings, was good overall - though I'm not sure I wholly agree with the presentation of their involvement. I really enjoyed this, though - a lovely story that doesn't shy away from hard topics.

Sing Fox to Me by Sarah Kanake
This tells the story of teenage twin boys, who are left with their grandfather in a remote area of Tasmania.
It was very well written, especially with the four viewpoint characters having very distinct voices.
But it was very depressing and pretty unpleasant. I kept going until over halfway through, hoping for a sense that things might get more positive by the end, but the gory animals deaths got too much and I ended up DNF-ing it.


The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon
Well-written, layered, intellectual – about history and culture and religion and discrimination and complex relationships and personal morality and challenging authority – but I just couldn’t persuade my over-stretched brain to get into it.
I gave up when I realised I’d spent two days not reading because I didn’t want to read this book.


Neon Gods by Katee Robert
I was not expecting to enjoy this book, but I wanted to give it a try after hearing other people talk about it.
It's a 'dark retelling' of the Hades/Persephone myth, set in a modern-day city 'ruled' by the Thirteen, who take on the names of various Greek gods and goddesses when they accept their roles.
The writing isn't fantastic - there's a lot of repetition and it's a bit basic.
The world-building is almost non-existent and what is there makes very little sense.
But there's a pleasing level of self-awareness at certain points, suggesting it's not meant to be taken wholly seriously - though I don't imagine you're supposed to find it as funny as I did, especially in the first half.
It has a reputation for being quite transgressive and I was expecting a lot of toxic aspects to the romance - but it's actually mostly really sweet, and the sex is pretty vanilla (despite early discussions of BDSM) - with a satisfying emphasis on consent and pleasure on both sides.
There are only two sex scenes in the first half - then another seven in the next 100 pages. But the last 100 pages don't have any at all (except for the final scene) - and that's also where the plot really ramps up and the climax (no pun intended) is exciting, tension-filled, and had me very much wondering how it was all going to work out in the end.
I loved Hades (he's basically John Wick, which is a big draw for me) - and also Hermes for the humour and straight-talking.
As mentioned, the setting of this story makes almost no sense at all - but I really enjoyed this anyway, and I'm actually keen to read on in the series.

I fully leaned into the chaos of the Fringe on day three! I spent all day at the marvellous Greenside @ George St venue, and went to (nearly) as many shows as possible.

Carpathyo: Becoming the Future You:
At a 10:15am show, advertised as "blending movement, storytelling and meditative stillness", I was not expecting pole dancing!
But the graceful, flowing movements of the performer, alongside the reflective voiceover and encouragement to be in the present moment turned out to be exactly what I needed after a late night (and slight overindulgence) the night before.
I gave myself up to the vibes and the intention and found it very restorative - and also the most beautiful costume I've seen at the Fringe so far!


Kill Your Darlings:
This was such a great show!
It had a large cast in a small space, but it was expertly staged and performed with enthusiasm and a lot of talent across the board. Each performer embodied their character extremely well and everyone got multiple moments to shine.
The story played with many theatre tropes in a clever and very entertaining way in a sharply observed and very funny script.
Really enjoyed it!


Dream Walking:
There was a lot of wonderful world building in this show, which was obviously part of a wider universe of stories involving the dream weavers.
All three performers were energetic and portrayed their characters with enthusiasm - and I loved the dynamics between the teacher and the two competitive students.
The protagonist's arc was an interesting and engaging one - and the dancing in particular was excellent.
I was expecting more audience participation, given the show description, but overall it was both thought-provoking and entertaining.


Stanislavski Can't Save Me From the Apocalypse:
All five performers gave it their all in this intricately plotted and cleverly structured play about things might play out at a theatre camp cut off from civilisation during an apocalypse.
The wider world and the theatre camp kids were invoked very clearly in the way the scenes were staged, and the reverse devolution of the various relationships amongst the camp counsellors was very effectively conveyed in a way that trod the line between humour and horror extremely well.
The earlier scenes went on perhaps a bit too long, but the pacing sorted itself out in the second half, and the note of hope at the very end was especially chilling.


Your Inner Diva is Showing: Self-Love in Sequins:
A classic drag show in all its glory!
The introductory voiceover was genius.
The wig and constume were fabulous.
And Jacqui Randa herself was relatable, funny, sweet, inspiring and deliciously dirty!
Her version of cleansing breaths will absolutely become my go-to method from now on.
And the sing-along sections were wonderfully joyous.
To quote the message on the bright pink pen I used to write my review notes after the show: "Bitch, You're Doing A Great Job!"
Con-drag-ulations, Jacqui - shantay, you stay!


Do You Wanna Go?
This was an exuberant but also poignant one-man musical memoir of one glorious summer in the mid-90s.
David Nehls gave a spirited performance, which wouldn't have been out of place in a much bigger venue (in the best possible way), full of humour, heartbreak, harmony, healing, happiness, humility, hope - and Homer!
Great songs, great references, great feeling and a great message ("Don't listen to the Sirens in your head!"). Wonderfully unapologetic and life-affirming.
"Do you wanna go?"
"Sure!"


Monks:
Anyone who knows me will tell you - I don't like comedy.
I do have a sense of humour (honest, I do!) but it's extremely selective, and pretty much anything billed primarily as 'comedy' will generally leave me cold.
So, why did I go to a show described as a "stupid interactive clown epic", you might ask?
Well, I'd just come out of another show and a venue staff member spotted me and said, "Are you here to see Monks? It starts in two minutes and there are a couple of spaces left."
And, given I was leaning into the chaos of the Fringe, I just nodded and followed her to the auditorium.
And I am *so* glad I did - because this was by far the best show I saw all day (out of eight!) and probably in the top two of all the shows I've seen to date (out of seventeen).
It was gloriously demented, indescribably chaotic, and unashamedly hilarious - I'm not sure I've ever laughed so much for an hour in the my entire life.
The two performers were fantastic - impressively committed in a way that absolutely essential to the success of the show - wonderfully expressive and consistently comical.
The audience participation was next-level (slight warning: I think everyone got pretty wet and the fake blood hasn't come off yet) but I just gave myself up to it (it would be hard not to, I think) and the whole thing was hysterically entertaining.


The Eight Faces of Ellie Morrison:
This was an interesting story about identity, life choices, and the difficulties of complex familial relationships.
With mixed martial arts added in.
Performances were good all round, and I definitely felt the conflict within the protagonist as his arc played out.
Very well staged and thought provoking.

A very generous offer from a friend resulted in an impromptu trip to the Edinburgh Fringe this weekend! I had planned to pace myself, make sure to have lots of downtime and avoid overwhelm - so, of course, I saw five shows on the first day (would have been six if the first one had gone up on time)...

So, onto the reviews!

Interestingly, it wasn't that the collection of shows I saw were a mixed bag - it was that each show individually was a mixed bag within itself - to greater or lesser overall success.

Bliss:
(Pleasance Courtyard - Grand)
Billed as 'the biggest new musical' of the Fringe, Bliss tells the story of four princesses trapped in a tower, who break out and discover that perfection isn't all its cracked up to be.
Ten out of ten for enthusiasm and energy - this was a lot of fun, though perhaps not as innovative as it's making itself out to be. Having said that - I should be glad that 'anti-patriarchy, anti-perfectionism' fairy tales no longer feel innovative!
The chorus were definitely the stars of the show for me - doing a difficult job (managing all the set changes whilst also singing, dancing and acting) extremely well, and I was glad they all got to shine with distinct characters in the second half.
The only real downside for me was the guy who played the fairy godfather, who didn't seem quite as committed as the rest of the cast.
But definitely a good start to my Fringe experience!


More Tales From Your Queer Elder:
(Greenside @ George Street)
This was a spoken word and dance show with an inspiring performer telling deeply personal stories from her past.
It took a while to get going for me, but totally got me in the second half and had me choking up several times. By turns funny, sad, uplifting, inspiring, beautiful and very heartfelt, I was the glad for the opportunity to experience Lucia's warm and inclusive performance style.
I particularly enjoyed the mid-show Tarot reading and the part where she danced with the spirit of her ex-girlfriend.
In the third part of the show, a voiceover asked, "Lucia, what do you tell your queer elders?"
Lucia replied, "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."
And so I say - thank you, Lucia!


Miscast Sondheim:
(Greenside @ George Street)
My biggest problem with this cabaret-style show was that it felt misrepresented in its advertising:
"What happens when you take Sondheim’s most beloved music and turn it on its head? Ingénues become villains, villains deliver delicate ballads, and comic sidekicks step into tragedy. Miscast Sondheim is a joyous celebration of the classics as you’ve never seen them before, reimagining iconic numbers."
And yes - the demographics of the performers were unexpected in terms of the roles being played (colourblind casting, gender-flipped or queer retellings) but the songs themselves were performed exactly in the way you'd expect, rather than their presentation being changed in some way.
That aside, this was pretty mixed in terms of performance - not helped by very inconsistent microphone levels - though it was mostly good.
Standouts - Agony, Broadway Baby, Ladies Who Lunch


Helen Shapiro - Walkin' Back:
(Greenside @ George Street)
This was one I was particularly keen to see - a biopic of the start of Helen Shapiro's music career when she was a 15-year-old schoolgirl - and I really enjoyed it.
The singing was excellent from the whole cast - with Lily Martin (as the young Helen) and absolute stand-out. The original songs that largely told the story were also extremely good and very catchy.
The acting across the board was a bit stilted, not helped in any way by pretty terrible staging and blocking, which had the performers very static and sometimes obscured.
The ending also felt a bit abrupt - given that the story was being told by an older version of Helen, I would have liked a bit more information about what happened to her later in life - but overall the show was entertaining, interesting, well-told - and Lily Martin's voice was phenomenal!


Hole! The Musical:
(Underbelly @ Bistro Square)
This was the only show I received a recommendation for before I came to Edinburgh - from a new acquaintance who'd seen it during its London run the week before.
Given it's about a doomsday cult who think they need to wear buttplugs at all times, I was apprehensive...
But I am so glad I was prompted to go to this because it was one of the best performances I've ever seen! Not one of the best *shows* (though the show was also very good) - but the two performers were incredible!
They gave us 80 minutes of exuberant and unhinged storytelling without a break - with keyboards, Foley sound effects, great singing and acting, and a lot of heart - really impressive!
It was both hilarious and heartwarming (though it dipped for me in terms of the humour here and there) - by far the best show I saw all day - I even bought a t-shirt!


So - day one complete and pretty successful overall!
Sunday should be a bit more relaxed (ha!) since my shows are book-ended by other commitments - but I'm definitely looking forward to seeing some more good stuff.

Somewhat bizarrely for me, I found myself reading Allen Ginsburg this afternoon.
Loved some of it, hated some of it – often within the same poem.
Definitely appreciate the passion and the bravery – but a lot of it is not for me.
Some really beautiful imagery and feeling, particularly around being a writer.
Also some quite unpleasant and often challenging aspects, which definitely made me uncomfortable – but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
I certainly didn’t understand all of it, but the bits I did understand definitely made me feel something,
Written in the 1950s, but so much of it still so true today.
My favourite was Sunflower Sutra.