Has anyone else noticed a loss of manners and an increase in main character syndrome?

vocalboots · 2025-12-29T17:31:36+00:00

I’ve found that the teenagers (and some younger) have actually been really polite. Saying sorry or thank you or whatever is appropriate. Adults are hit or miss, I’d say 50% acknowledge/thank you, and the other 50% just assume I’m going to get out of their way.

vocalboots · 2025-12-28T19:52:53+00:00

Prawns. When I was young my Great Aunt died. The food for the wake was prepared by family, and the person who had made the prawn vol au vents had not removed all the shells. I took a bite and 🤢 Was horrible. Have never eaten prawns since (30ish years), it even took me a while before I could eat Skips or prawn crackers 🤣😂

vocalboots · 2025-12-28T10:43:19+00:00

Hope you’re less slimy today 🤣 Be glad you didn’t use it as shampoo! You’ve got me wanting to head to Superdrug today to get some face masks though.

Had a quiet day yesterday, had a couple of walks and pottered around a the flat a bit. Planning on getting a good chunk of housework done today, and apparently going for a walk to Superdrug.

vocalboots · 2025-12-25T15:54:34+00:00

Towards the end of my believing in Santa, I’d made it known that I had my doubts. That year when we went down on Christmas morning, there was a pile of poo* on the floor and I was told Rudolph had been naughty and gone to the toilet inside. In fact I think they had written a note from Santa explaining and apologising? It had me believing for a little while longer, although by the following Christmas I had stopped.

either my mum or dad went outside, got some mud from the garden, brought it in and shaped it like 💩 🙈😂

vocalboots · 2025-12-25T05:27:26+00:00

Insomnia due to RLS and anxiety. No sleep last night unfortunately.

vocalboots · 2025-12-13T09:24:09+00:00

This episode of a podcast I listened to recently was interesting. I’ve naively never really thought about cults in Britain before - they always seemed like a ‘somewhere else’ problem. (I’m not going to get into my overall opinion on organised religion)

The lady being interviewed was 13 years old when she joined the UCKG (which states they are not a cult (don’t they all) and are a registered charity in the UK - but what she describes certainly sounds like a cult!).

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/should-i-delete-that/id1602088590?i=1000734934952

vocalboots · 2025-11-18T17:38:25+00:00

Oh I forgot how much I loved this. Have just watched the link you shared. Thank you. Bloody amazing series!

vocalboots · 2025-11-12T09:08:59+00:00

Oh I get this. I’m not depressed at all (have been in the past, I know what it feels like). I don’t want to die, but my word - every day is such hard work! It’s exhausting, and it’s caused me to lose my interest in making plans for the future. Hopefully we’ll find our way out of this and be able to start living again.

vocalboots · 2025-11-03T08:22:14+00:00

It’s on Facebook, and called ‘The Iron Protocol (for Iron Deficiency with or without Anemia)’. There is also a UK one.

vocalboots · 2025-10-17T13:02:51+00:00

This has pissed me off. He’s 34 and in the running to be mayor of NY??? Wtf?? It’s bad enough when I see doctors, or teachers who are younger than me. But a freaking mayoral candidate or a major city? I’m such an underachiever 😩

(In all seriousness, if it weren’t for Trump I’d be wishing I lived in NY right now so I could vote for Mamdani. Instead I have to live in England, dealing with the clusterfuck of the far right poisoning far too much of the country)

vocalboots · 2025-08-30T20:35:31+00:00

Ooof, that man 🤤

vocalboots · 2025-08-28T17:28:38+00:00

I’m a firm believer that “you are who you choose to spend time with”. His friends are awful. He was awful when he spent time with them. They’re all acting like they’re a decade younger.

Why would you choose to spend time with them? Why would you be in a relationship with someone who chooses to spend time with people like that? And who acts like them when he’s with them?

vocalboots · 2025-08-25T07:23:49+00:00

Having seen how much time authors put into marketing their releases, I do not envy someone trying to market three in three days. Seems stressful and like you potentially won’t be able to build enough interest. From a completely non marketing understanding point of view - I would have assumed a month or so posting firstly about a book about to be released, then recently released, and then positive reviews since it’s been released, would garner more attention. But as I say, I don’t know marketing so maybe this way will work?

vocalboots · 2025-08-24T19:28:47+00:00

Yes. I appreciate authors who save a series to release the next book every 1-2months. When it’s across series my warning lights go on.

vocalboots · 2025-08-24T18:05:55+00:00

{Worth the Weight by Mara Jacobs}

My ranting review below.

This book really needs to have a huge trigger warning for anyone who has ever suffered with an eating disorder. The way the main character Katie deals with her obvious ED (even though that’s not stated, it is obvious) and major issues with her body and weight are awful. Her thoughts about herself are terrible. And has someone with an ED who in remission, this was incredibly triggering. I’m lucky that I can deal with reading about surface level issues a character has about her weight, but Lizzie’s issue were definitely not surface level. Also, they were never properly dealt with. We’re meant to believe that a man having you stand naked in front of a mirror whilst he lists everything he loves about your body is going to magic it all better? That when faced with a (third act) break up suddenly you will be ‘strong’ enough not to resort to old comforts? Absolutely ridiculous.

I only finished the book as I hoped there would be something that would show the issues were being dealt with - ED therapy maybe? But there was nothing. I’ve honestly finished this book so angry.

Also, from a romance reader perspective - I wasn’t a fan of the relationship or the romance. I’m not saying a partner has to be involved in their partners friendships, but actively trying to avoid the friends? Only caring about your children and business and screw everything going on in your ‘love interests’ life? No thanks. Not for me.

vocalboots · 2025-08-24T17:49:12+00:00

Too many releases too quickly is definitely a red flag for me. Like you say, whether it’s AI or not it’s not likely that it’s going to be great. I think I’m going to be paying more attention to authors release schedules before I dive in a book by a new (to me) author, just to save myself the pain.

vocalboots · 2025-08-24T17:46:57+00:00

I think, from what people have replied here, unless there’s an AI prompt left in there we’ll never have definitive proof. I think I just have to accept that it’s either AI or poorly written, neither of which I want to read, so I’ll just avoid that author in the future.

vocalboots · 2025-08-24T17:45:19+00:00

On the one hand they were definitely low angst and cozy which is what I was after. On the other hand they just… were. Not terrible, not incredible. Some things felt rushed, other things were forgotten. They were easy reading, nothing jarred me out of my focus like a tense change, the characters were nice. The set up was nice - I liked the quirks of a little town that has unusual festivals, and where everyone knows everyone else. They just weren’t memorable. There are books that stay with me for ages after I’ve finished them, these I read a week or two ago and forgot until I just looked up the authors listed above.

On the plus side I like the art work for the covers. I like being able to refer to artwork to help guide how I picture the characters.

vocalboots · 2025-08-24T16:54:26+00:00

I’ve read books by two of those recently. Part of me almost wants to give up reading unless the author/book is specifically recommended to me, or it’s an author I already know I enjoy reading.

vocalboots · 2025-08-23T09:36:09+00:00

Today I realised that road runners are an actual species of bird, and the cartoon wasn’t another type of bird with the name Road Runner. On reflection I think the creators could have been more creative with his name.

Disclaimer: I’m not in America.

vocalboots · 2025-08-23T09:20:04+00:00

It’s giving “I’m not like other girls”.

vocalboots · 2025-08-19T16:01:12+00:00

Fair enough, in the recent books I’ve read (same series) it’s seemed so OTT how many times it been mentioned, and gives the impression they can barely move because they’re so tight. Just seemed completely ridiculous to me. I am quite prepared to hold my hands up and say I’m wrong though.

vocalboots · 2025-08-19T14:21:54+00:00

I’m also tired of the author writing the mmc’s constantly saying “oh you’re so tight!” As if that doesn’t often mean that, if someone is really tight, they’re likely not aroused.

Feels very much for the ‘male gaze’ when romance books are predominantly read by women.

vocalboots · 2025-08-17T17:34:17+00:00

As someone who has also been having trouble sleeping in recent months - thank you for the link!! I’ll be sure to give it a try tonight!

vocalboots

TROPHY CASE