Shan Rambles

So naturally the writing style is very clear and simple, and I don't mind it, every once in a while it's nice and relaxing to read something that doesn't specifically intend to drown a reader in confusing nuance and a constant barrage of overwhelming detail. It's a simple, straightforward story, set in the year 1615, about a 14-year-old basque boy who gets hired onto a whaling ship, and the whole story is told from his perspective.

I'm halfway through it now, and at this point of the story the whaling ship of the story has reached Iceland, and the sailors are weirded out by the local turf houses. Someone voices disbelief that these people would really live underground, like some kind of gnomes, and asks whether these folk are even christian. Someone else, who has actually been this far north before, affirms that they are - of a sort, at least. They are some sort of lutherans. And underground-dwelling heretics or not, they're pretty reliable people to work with.

Considering that the book is written in finnish, for finnish children, who are also lutheran by vast majority, the deeply catholic basque sailors' views of Icelanders are obviously not intended or illustrated as the objective truth. People who are otherwise good, intelligent and well-meaning can be completely ignorant about people whose like they have never met or even heard of before.

I really dislike some of her other views but to me they make her more interesting and well written. Her whole self identity seems to revolve around being helpful, so she does stuff like take away George's autonomy when he doesn't want help, and then gets offended and hurt when he doesn't want it. I know people like that, who try so hard to "help" that they take your freedom away and take control of your own life, instead of letting you watch out for your own health. They get pushy with you about your own life because it's "for your good". I hate that about her, but it's a super interesting character flaw. It makes sense with her writing too; her mom was not there for her, so she had to grow up quickly to take care of Pam. Penny has been through a lot and is probably depressed as hell, but instead of being suicidal she copes by always working, always pouring herself out for others, and probably, not taking care of or thinking of herself bc she's been taught by neglect that she doesn't matter unless she's being useful (for example: she says shes not used to such kindness when you give her a loved bday gift); utilitarianism is ingrained in her but only about herself. She doesn't view the kids or her mother as lesser bc they're not useful.

I also don't agree with her views on alcohol but they're very understandable given her life

And that's all evident in how she anticipates George's struggle with the mail and helps. She thinks she's doing a good thing, and to some it is a good thing to help without being asked when we think someone needs help, ie. being a good samaritan. But life doesn't work like that because actions are about more then outcomes.

It's the same thinking with the cleaning cutscene too. She accepts your help because she sees what you are doing as a kind thing that will make the job easier (and I think she actually means her appreciation for the help, instead of accepting because she feels it's "correct"). But Pam comes home and is embarrassed that Penny would let someone else clean their home.

Then with the kid cutscene, I think that her motive for kids is revealed if the farmer answers "I guess so. It's a natural urge." Because she replies, "Yes... the urge to care for something innocent and helpless. It makes sense that we'd feel that." And that feels kinda yucky to me, personally. Because children are so much more then that, who grow into people much more then that. It, just like a lot of the things Penny does, feels like an idylic idea of correctness stemming from complex places irl.

This is the adorable cat Clio🐾

It's Clio's Birthday! 🥳

She just turned 3! Please wish her a happy birthday

It's Clio's Birthday! 🥳

She just turned 3! Please wish her a happy birthday

It's Clio's Birthday! 🥳

She just turned 3! Please wish her a happy birthday

Your tabby cat makes me excited to see my tabby kitten all grown up!

Even with some perspective stuff happening and two different poses, I think it's clear that Tubs, my largest cat, is quite a lot bigger.