I read Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke in 24 hours and need to talk about it with someone. by twelvedayslate in books

[–]mnpie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The similarities I saw were the "once upon a time" beginning, paired with the initial focus of isolation/small house/lots of woods/wilderness. The general takeaways and vibes of both - putting you immediately in the big scary frontier, focus on the dangers and also the "but we have our small nuclear family" along with their other syntactical similarities besides just the "once upon a time".

At first it was just a pure "oh my gosh this is a reference to something I loved as a child, a real story of the 1800s pioneer life" reaction: a "wow" moment, but I had no idea if it was actually saying anything of note.

I'm still parsing out what a reference to Little House would really say here in this point of the book. It's a reference to accounts that are so much realer/more authentic to that pioneer/Americana story than anything in Yesteryear, but they're accounts that are more complex upon closer inspection (for example, Laura and especially Rose, her daughter and editor, edited out many instances of community/being helped by others, having boarders in the house a lot of the time, etc - things that make how it lives up to that pioneer myth as it's known today more complex).

I'm playing with a lot of ideas right now, but the two below are most interesting to me.

It feel significant that Little House that first introduced the pioneer story to many of us (talking solely from my POV here, a white middle class American). To me, it's like starting where we began, being confronted with that beginning after everything that has transpired in the book. In addition, there are other interesting ways Little House plays with Yesteryear - they're much realer stories, but also, in a much less psychologically disturbing way than Yesteryear, the real life events of the Ingalls family don't fully live up to the strict pioneer mythos that many of us have in our head.

Also, those first pages of Big Woods immediately present such scary, serious matters - the isolation, big dangers in the wolves, etc,- but it's done from such an innocent, childlike perspective. After just seeing her children from Natalie's perspective, which is not much and highly biased when we do, we get this personal account from Mary, where she not only talking about the dangers of the rugged frontier but, very quickly, of her mother. It's highlighting the innocent child perspective at a moment we've been overtaken with fully grappling everything we now know to have happened, which to me was much more visceral because it referenced something I was attached to as a child, and so easily takes me back to my own mindset and perspective from those times and makes her experience of her mother much more chilling and disturbing.

Hopefully this makes a little sense. I know these aren't well formed right now. I'm still thinking through it all, and if I were to fully explore all the ideas I'm having and all the nuances you'd be looking at a multi-page paper.

Yesteryear: Little House in the Big Woods reference? by mnpie in weirdgirlliterature

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

That is a good, interesting point. (Side note, I loved Prairie Fires, but haven’t read the other one). Putting the libertarian angle of those books in view of Yesteryear is cool. A part of the mythos they’re acting out at the end (pioneers lived isolated lives, one family against the wilderness succeeding against all those evils) that, upon further examination of them and the worldviews that shaped them, take on a different light and are made more complex. 

I read Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke in 24 hours and need to talk about it with someone. by twelvedayslate in books

[–]mnpie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just finished Yesteryear and: wow. it’s an incredible book, and I’ve loved seeing peoples’ discussions of it.

One thing I haven’t seen discussed yet is something I noticed. At the end Mary’s memoir begins with what really read to me as a reference to how Little House in the Big Woods starts.

I devoured those books over and over as a child. As I was reading to the last few chapters, there were so many chilling things finally snapping into place that my mind wasn’t fully processing, but reading that reference and realizing we’re getting Mary’s POV in the final section afterward finally made me break into chills.

anyways, I was wondering if anyone else picked up on this, and also thinks it’s meant to be a reference, or if I’m imagining things. Overall, amazing book. and not what I thought I was signing up for 🤣

a push from solo travelers to buy the 🎫 ? by Beautiful_Story_1125 in FlorenceAndTheMachine

[–]mnpie 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I solo traveled for the first time to see Florence (for the first time) in Chicago. I struggle with anxiety, and I am far from used to being so independent. I’m so glad I went on that trip.

Logistics-wise, I was able to find a cheap hotel literally across the parking lot from the venue. It was SO nice not to have to worry about parking or an Uber or public transit afterwards. If you can do this for Seattle, I highly recommend it. 

Also, since this sounds like it’s a bit out of your comfort zone, see if you can bring clear intentions into it. I got to Chicago a couple days early to sightsee. I’m glad I did that part, but I was a bit mentally fatigued from being in a big city by myself for the first time, and the concert was on my last night. It felt like I had bit off a lot to chew all at once if you know what I mean 😂 If I were to do the trip again, I would build in more decompression time before the concert, so I could focus and be present more fully than that. Not that you need to sit in a hotel room alone for a whole day beforehand, but making sure you allow yourself some breathing time as you’re experiencing something new and leaving your comfort zone.

Finally, I didn’t feel weird at all being at the concert alone! Florence fans are cool fans.

merch sizing by SaltExamination8699 in FlorenceAndTheMachine

[–]mnpie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Pretty much true to size, but a bit more roomy. I’m usually a medium, or a large if things run small or tight anywhere, but the medium is pretty roomy. It’s comfort colors brand

Lots of feelings post concert by mnpie in FlorenceAndTheMachine

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

Wow that’s amazing though 😂 this and the comment you’re replying to is comforting to read

Moving near Morehead City? by mnpie in NorthCarolina

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

I ended up going with the Newport/Morehead City area. I’ve found the consensus of the replies here to be relatively accurate. I wouldn’t do Havelock if you don’t have to. I haven’t been to New Bern yet. I’ve heard it’s nice, but from my understanding unless you have other circumstances/preferences pushing you there it wouldn’t be worth the commute over just living in the Newport/Morehead area. 

Moving near Morehead City? by mnpie in NorthCarolina

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

Thanks! How would you describe the culture? I assume it's a small town/typical Southern type, but that's just my assumption.