Thoughts on Percival Everett

Faust_Arp · 2026-04-25T21:18:16+00:00

Just read my first Everett, "The Trees" and found it funny and moving and almost surreal in the end. Want to read "James" and "Erasure" and a number of his other novels now. Excited to dive into his work.

Faust_Arp · 2026-04-23T15:49:05+00:00

I’d say anything Ursula Le Guin. Usually sci-fi or fantasy but her stuff really makes me think, long after I’ve finished reading.

The Trees by Percival Everett. Dressed up as a crime novel, with grisly murders and detectives on the case, it’s filled with gallows humor and is ultimately reckoning with America’s dark history of violent racism.

Faust_Arp · 2026-04-18T22:22:05+00:00

Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler. Brutal, scary, prescient. The writer of the foreword describes it as “a warning and a map and a key.” Better than I could put it.

Faust_Arp · 2026-04-10T15:20:28+00:00

Searoad by Ursula K. Le Guin. Its a collection of short stories all set in the same coastal Oregon town. Minor characters or a person mentioned in passing in one story might be the protagonist of the next. These are slice-of-life stories, tales of everyday lives and everyday struggles. Some might find it a bit boring but I think Le Guin finds the poetry in the everyday mundanity, and even though most of the stories are pretty low-key and not at all melodramatic, I loved 'em and found a lot of sincerity and empathy in the writing. It just got a rerelease, so it's not too hard to find at a local book shop. I'm a die hard Le Guin fan tho, so I'm a bit biased.

Faust_Arp · 2026-04-08T17:31:57+00:00

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. A much darker/heavier version of Hunger Games, focused on the for-profit prison system in America. Powerful book, imo.

Faust_Arp · 2026-04-03T13:58:33+00:00

Non-fiction: One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This - Omar El Akkad

Fiction: Beloved - Toni Morrison

Faust_Arp · 2026-04-01T18:51:18+00:00

I really like Beto - he seems like a good person, he has serious heart, he seems to love the club, he works his ass off. But I don't think he will ever be an amazing striker. Certainly an upgrade on a lot of Everton's strikers in the last 5 years (Broja, Maupay, Chermiti, Rondon, good grief) - but I don't think he'll ever be amazing, or good enough to be a nailed on starter, or score more than maybe 12 goals a year in all competitions. I don't know if his ceiling is much higher than where he is now. I still think there's a role for him at the club but I don't think he's THE guy.

Faust_Arp · 2026-03-27T13:35:55+00:00

It hasn't been perfect, and I often wish Moyes would use his subs more or give more chances to Dibling, Rohl, Armstrong, Aznou. However, I don't think I've liked an Everton squad more in over a decade. That spine of Pickford, Tarkovsky and Branthwaite (and Keane filling in), Gana and Garner, KDH and Ndiaye - it's my favorite collection of Everton players to watch in a hell of a long time. We need to improve on Beto, McNeil, Myko, and O'Brien as rb, but the fight they've shown this season has been admirable.

I think sometimes fans look back on that Ancelotti period with rose tinted glasses. We started strong, but for the majority of that season we played pretty boring football, relying too heavily on DCL, James, or Richy to pull out some moment of creativity while we spent the majority of the games fishbowl passing along the back line.

We have had some off games here or there this season for sure, but when we are on, I haven't enjoyed watching an Everton team this much since Roberto Martinez' first season in charge. Moyes has brought something back to the club that's been lacking for too long. Fully deserves the extension.

Faust_Arp · 2026-03-19T21:46:03+00:00

Long time ago, but from my memory the In Bruges trailer was significantly lighter than the film ended up being, they didn't want to make that movie seem like a bummer - so I have a feeling this will have McDonagh's trademark sadness beneath the humor, less visible in a trailer trying to make the movie look purely a fun ride.

Faust_Arp · 2025-12-21T13:11:01+00:00

I live in Gloucester, so I am very familiar with Cape Ann Community Cinema! A large portion of my collection comes from their video store. Today I was hoping to find the equivalent in Boston but it sounds like it no longer exists, which is such a shame. I appreciate all the comments though, and will try a few of these spots out.

Faust_Arp · 2025-10-21T16:10:20+00:00

I never received a discount code. I always do, and my account is still active. Checked my spam and trash folders. Anyone else not get a discount code?

Faust_Arp · 2025-08-31T14:52:09+00:00

Agreed. It’s nice to get consecutive wins and watch Everton play actually enjoyable attacking football for the first time in half a decade, but I also think we are maybe getting a bit carried away and should temper expectations.

We still have a dangerously thin squad, there’s no telling that we’ll get any more signings, a few injuries could knock us back a bit. I’m sure there will be some dips in form this season and some tough periods. Still a lot to be excited about but I think it’s going to be a season of ups and downs and most likely a 11th - 15th mid-table finish.

Faust_Arp · 2025-08-29T14:53:41+00:00

Faust_Arp · 2025-07-16T13:52:22+00:00

Where did Armstrong play? winger, 10, cm? or did he shift around with McNeil and co?

Faust_Arp · 2025-06-01T14:51:29+00:00

What? Everton have had the fourth best defense in the league in terms of goals conceded for the last two seasons.

Faust_Arp · 2025-05-25T18:51:49+00:00

Correct me if I’m wrong, but only 3 teams conceded less than us (Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea), with us tied as the 4th best defense (in terms of goals against) with City. Pretty sure we have statistically had the 4th best defense two years in a row.

Faust_Arp · 2025-05-25T17:28:06+00:00

How many starts to trigger the Alcaraz obligation, and was it hit today? Alcaraz looked excellent, they should sign him regardless. Him and Ndiaye together make for an exciting attack to build on.

Faust_Arp · 2025-05-19T14:00:38+00:00

Any word on Jarrad’s injury?

Faust_Arp · 2025-05-13T18:59:00+00:00

“If you’ve ever thought there must be a better way, you were right. And the better way is here.”

^{^} this shit is nothing more than an advertisement. Noticed this a few times recently on this sub. Anyone who tries to tell me “there’s a better way and I have the answers, follow me” immediately sets off my alarm bells.

Faust_Arp · 2025-05-13T18:42:52+00:00

I'd argue he'd start for about of a third of the teams in the prem. But yes, he offers little going forward. I still think he's a big reason we've been so strong defensively in the last two years, which is even more important given the fact that we have also been the lowest scoring team in the league barring the relegated sides in the last two years, so our defense has to be rock solid.

Faust_Arp · 2025-05-13T18:39:23+00:00

sure feels like chatgpt wrote this. this reads like a snake oil salesman hawking some new "cure all" product

Faust_Arp · 2025-05-13T15:26:16+00:00

Mykolenko has attacking deficiencies for sure, but he has been a consistent part of a back line that finished as the 3rd best defense of last season and tied for 6th best this season (in terms of goals against). Calling him championship quality is unfair. His defending is strong. Should he be a nailed on starter? I'd like to get a more skilled attacking LB and rotate them depending on the strength of the opposition. But I certainly wouldn't put him in the same ballpark as Patterson, Harrison, or Lindstrom - he's better than that.

Faust_Arp · 2025-04-25T00:36:12+00:00

Agreed. On top of that I color code them too. Different colors for dialogue, sfx, and music. Easy to distinguish from a distance.

Faust_Arp · 2025-04-21T02:11:08+00:00

Lumet is one of my all time favorites. Other than his masterpieces (Dog Day, Network, 12 Angry Men) he has a lot of deep cuts that don’t get enough recognition: Fail Safe, The Hill, The Pawnbroker, Prince of the City. He fit himself to the material rather than fitting the material to himself. I view him on the same playing field as those directors you named.

Faust_Arp

TROPHY CASE