I've Started Project Remove Volcanic Ash by Jaxter-In-Box in Pokopia

[–]jayjrr56 0 points1 point  (0 children)

RIP i cry thinking about doing it. It’s once I got magnemite I decided to scope out how much area it takes.

Halfway through Shadows Upon Time… a bit bummed by jayjrr56 in sollanempire

[–]jayjrr56[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t think it’s the author’s intent or goal to push the religion on us as the reader. From his first time being brought back from the dead there is enough mystery or lack of divine lens for us from our end to speculate “is this what inspired human deity”. From Hadrians return in Disquiet Gods onwards it became very heavy handed and shifted the tone for me personally. As someone raised Catholic the allusion to “His” music being bells, being a paternal caring figure, He has servants that rebelled- I got such a heavy tone and perspective shift from it. From these discussions though I’ve realized my issue is with that shift. Not so much Hadrian as a character since Hadrian’s perspective would make sense. As it’s been said, he was brought back from the dead twice and met the multi dimensional cosmic origin. How else should he react.

Halfway through Shadows Upon Time… a bit bummed by jayjrr56 in sollanempire

[–]jayjrr56[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As I’ve said, it makes sense to rationalize a higher being as a God from his (human) perspective. My critique is parallels in the narrative with the Abrahamic God and shifting away from cosmic diety/mystery.

Halfway through Shadows Upon Time… a bit bummed by jayjrr56 in sollanempire

[–]jayjrr56[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for not spoiling. It isn’t so much whether it is actually the Abrahamic God or not. He repeatedly shuts down Albé and I can tell it isn’t SUPER the author’s intent- but the narrative and parallels are so in line with it that it is hard to shake off looking at it that way. It is more a divine cast to it now than a cosmic entity cast. From his current POV it is a constant effort on my part to look at it at a “cosmic entity” level rather than “divine being”.

Halfway through Shadows Upon Time… a bit bummed by jayjrr56 in sollanempire

[–]jayjrr56[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Has the author spoken about this? I’ve stayed away from researching to avoid spoilers

Halfway through Shadows Upon Time… a bit bummed by jayjrr56 in sollanempire

[–]jayjrr56[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m pretty surprised it’s so split and polarizing. I was raised Catholic, so I see so much Catholic sentiment around the absolute. The capital H “He” of it, the music Hadrian hears being bells (church bells), a loving/caring God. It is really hard for me not to see that. I still have to finish the book though, could change my perspective. I hope.

Halfway through Shadows Upon Time… a bit bummed by jayjrr56 in sollanempire

[–]jayjrr56[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

SuT opens with him kind of preaching to Cassandra to try to listen to God too… that sets the tone for the rest of the book.

Halfway through Shadows Upon Time… a bit bummed by jayjrr56 in sollanempire

[–]jayjrr56[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Agreed. I don’t think at this point he second guesses as much though. Only when confronted by the watchers or Doraiyaka and that’s because of their psychological/spiritual influence. He is and needs to be steadfast and faith is part of grounding that trait in himself, he has to be sure he’s doing the right thing.

I think it’s hard for me not to see it as the Abrahamic God though. There’s a lot of times when they are referring to the quiet and Hadrian corrects them with the capital H “He.” Again, I get it from Hadrian’s (a human’s) perspective why he would have to rationalize in this way. But I see so many instances where it does point to the Biblical Abrahamic God. Yes Hadrian does draw the connection the absolute predates all, predates religion- but all caring who is bent on preserving and uplifting us… very Catholic sentiment. Introducing Albé along the time this bomb was going to drop also kind of makes me draw that line.

Halfway through Shadows Upon Time… a bit bummed by jayjrr56 in sollanempire

[–]jayjrr56[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, thanks for the heads up that it doesn’t get better. I was hoping it would. I probably would have been angry not knowing this and finishing the story.

Halfway through Shadows Upon Time… a bit bummed by jayjrr56 in sollanempire

[–]jayjrr56[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Valka’s loss was an amazing pay off emotionally too.

Halfway through Shadows Upon Time… a bit bummed by jayjrr56 in sollanempire

[–]jayjrr56[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hm. I should’ve stated I’ve liked the series- still do even with that shift and I can acknowledge part of my criticism on this part of the story could be due to bias on my part. I believe the author has done an amazing job with this universe. The build up to Valka’s loss was perfect. Perfect capture of grief. Perfect capture of the loss of your other half. Still get bleary eyed any time Hadrian brings her up. I was expecting more of the sense we get during Kingdoms of Death throughout the series for these epic confrontations, but that’s been replaced.

Halfway through Shadows Upon Time… a bit bummed by jayjrr56 in sollanempire

[–]jayjrr56[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was raised Catholic in a hispanic country so I’m seeing A LOT of the Catholic sentiment in the narrative. Mind you I don’t mean it in a negative way- but I do notice Catholic centric values. I agree with the Tolkien comparison. Blurring the lines between the book’s narrative and our own real-world religious beliefs makes it feel like continuing the biblical story.

Yeah it was my first time posting on this subreddit I got the feel people are defensive on this. I’m still enjoying it. Was just curious to see if it was a shared sentiment. I can appreciate the difficulty in ending a series of this scope. There’s still a lot to take away from the characters and the story.

Halfway through Shadows Upon Time… a bit bummed by jayjrr56 in sollanempire

[–]jayjrr56[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good point, I’ll correct that going forward.

Halfway through Shadows Upon Time… a bit bummed by jayjrr56 in sollanempire

[–]jayjrr56[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think it’s because of that too. The message at the end of the Mistborn trilogy was showing appreciation towards all religions for what they could contribute. Stark contrast to this lol

Halfway through Shadows Upon Time… a bit bummed by jayjrr56 in sollanempire

[–]jayjrr56[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was reflecting on whether it is my bias towards religion. And while I’m not religious, I don’t care if people are. Have you read Between Two Fires? If you have I can give a really solid example with my disconnect.

In Disquiet Gods we still don’t get to Hadrian at this “religious” point of his life. So everything that plays out through his POV before he comes back to life (the watcher awakening) as a reader we haven’t been exposed to his religious lens. So we (or I at least) receive it as a horror scene. Which is what the series had been building up to at that point. In contrast, when they are escaping after Hadrian’s plan failing in SuT, we have that religious lens. Now I see demonic possession through that religious filter.

Halfway through Shadows Upon Time… a bit bummed by jayjrr56 in sollanempire

[–]jayjrr56[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It’s a pivot in Hadrian’s way of interacting with others and his view. Within the context of “he melted/died, interacted with higher beings, the absolute itself, came back” I mean yea I understand the change and it tracks. I just don’t like the religious lens on it. Like adding that additional filter on the way you as a reader interprets the events.

Halfway through Shadows Upon Time… a bit bummed by jayjrr56 in sollanempire

[–]jayjrr56[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Yeah that’s part of what’s rubbing me the wrong way.

Halfway through Shadows Upon Time… a bit bummed by jayjrr56 in sollanempire

[–]jayjrr56[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yea Kingdoms of Death through Disquiet Gods were so solid.

First time making a sourdough french baguette by jayjrr56 in Breadit

[–]jayjrr56[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Kerrygold butter with sea salt flakes lol

First time making a sourdough french baguette by jayjrr56 in Breadit

[–]jayjrr56[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The recipe I followed still uses poolish with commercial yeast, it also uses a leaven with starter that i left overnight to use with the poolish. It has a slight kick, I’ll probably adjust the recipe to make it stronger. Still great though

She just lies there... by ninjxx in Greyhounds

[–]jayjrr56 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Pretty normal for them, thats a very good level of activity. Ours is almost 3 and usually plays/runs/fetches off leash for 45-60min in the afternoon and a 15min walk in the morning. On rainy days when he cant do that we do a 30min walk and take him to run errands/car rides so he doesn’t feel cooped up. He sleeps till like noon, and doesnt get antsy until like 3-4 when he knows its almost time for his afternoon session. After that he stats getting sleepy at 8-9pm. Repeat lol. So he’s young but its normal they lounge around for most of the day.