Inspired by a subthread in the post on sci-fi and fantasy tropes. A few books I've liked:

Iron Widow: a YA novel set in a fantasy version of medieval China. The main character has more than one love interest and from what I remember has a nice little spiel about resisting the social pressure to choose. I won't give any spoilers where it goes but I'm looking forward to the sequel this year.

Sing for the Coming of the Longest Night: a cute little winter soltice tale about two metamours that begrudgingly team up to go rescue their respective partner from a magical realm.

The Giddy Death of Gays and the Strange Demise of Straights: a bit of a chaotic story with a whirlwind cast of characters trying to make sense of all the heterodox ways that they love each other, amid a rising homophobic backlash. This one is a little rough around the edges as I believe it's self-published but has great showcasing of some unique kinds of connection. Set in Wales.

As for movies I haven't seen many, but Professor Marston and the Wonder Women is very cute, despite falling into some thruple tropes. Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice gets a shoutout for being a very well-made, early (1960’s) take on sexually open relationships.

What have you enjoyed?

I made it 546 kilometres in 19 days, with ~350 left to go. Idk if my water filter failed or there was a hygiene slipup, but I woke up Thursday feeling super fatigued and that quickly slipped into beaver fever symptoms (or some kind of infection/parasite).

Now I've spent the last few days recovering on the couch and picking up reading again. Still feels like a big achievement, but I had a bit of a short time window to finish the trail. Now I'll probably be too busy for the rest of the warmer season and have to wait until next year.

I mean something like marketplace or kijiji, but not necessarily monetary. It's probably a ridiculous question but I'm curious if anybody's been exploring this space.

It's definitely an uncomfortable and painful show for 95% of the screen time, but I couldn't help but love the writing, acting, cinematography, soundtrack and pretty much everything else. I really wasn't sure how much I liked the finale and it's particular kind of left turn (don't spoil it) but now that I'm about a week out from seeing it I think it's an incredibly strong finish.

I'm curious what anyone else thought of it.

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10/10 would not recommend because it's dangerous and irresponsible, but boy that was a hell of a ride. All I want for Christmas is more trains of every kind

I just watched it last night. I thought it was a pretty incredible film conceptually and visually.

I can also understand its purchase in the West, as I feel like it glorifies pre-USSR imperial Russia, and there are only thin references to anything in the 20th century (the most notable and darkly trippy of these being the soldier digging his own grave during the siege of Leningrad).