iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Melissa, Baroness of Nonsuch @izzyamar.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

In fact, this is the post I made on Mastodon about it when I finished it.

After absolutely devouring Patrick Rothfuss's "The Name of the Wind" I was excited to read the rest of the books in the Kingkiller Chronicles. The only one my library had on the shelf was the novella, "The Slow Regard of Silent Things". I curled up in bed last night and read it all in one go, and I'm not only disappointed, I'm angry about it.
The style is completely different from the first novel. I initially chalked it up to the fact that this novella focuses on a single character, who's gone crazy and lives underground. Maybe he was trying to write differently to reflect her mental state? I'll give some latitude there - I can see going that route. HOWEVER, there emerged a pattern that took me so far out of the book, that was so poorly and ham-fistedly written into this that I'm literally angry about it.
This book is 149 pages (including illustrations) and takes place over the course of 6 days. There's no dialogue; it's just documenting the day to day of this character. It's a cool way to go with a story like this, and I'm fine with that. What I'm not fine with is this:
"...washed her face and hands and feet" - pages 4, 36, 41, 46, 58, 62, 67, 121, 123, 146
"...washed herself" - page 21
"...rinsed her hands and feet and face" - pages 82, 93, 101, 120
"...went to rinse her sooty hands. She rinsed her face and feet" - page 104
"...rinsed her sooty hands. She rinsed her face and feet" - pages 105 and 110
"...rinsed her face. She rinsed her hands and feet" - pages 114, 115, 115 (again), 119
"...washed her face. She washed her hands and feet" - page 145.
On page 81: "she would wash her face and hands - " but she couldn't because there was no soap. (Later in the book, though, the author takes 8 pages to detail the process of her making more soap, which is a whole other thing.)
So, over the course of 6 days - just 6! - she washed or rinsed herself 23 times, and it was more or less phrased the same way each and every time.

130

Melissa, Baroness of Nonsuch @izzyamar.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

And I put the duvet cover on by myself so that deserves a standing ovation.

A photo of my made bed. Lots of pillows, stuffed animals, and pink blankets.

010

Melissa, Baroness of Nonsuch @izzyamar.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Not gonna lie - these are my fantasies, too.

Two glasses of chocolate milk on a table. The text on the image reads: Every man has 2 fantasies.

Having a glass of chocolate milk.

Having another glass of chocolate milk.

110

Melissa, Baroness of Nonsuch @izzyamar.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

For context, this is what the table looks like when they’re there.

A cafe table littered with multiple shopping bags, multiple cell phones drink containers, napkins, and various personal effects.

000

Melissa, Baroness of Nonsuch @izzyamar.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

When you take Ambien for sleep (which I do) you are often visited by the Ambien walrus, who may hide your car keys, or make you eat snacks, or add things to your online shopping carts. In 2023 he inspired me to write and sing him a love song.

010

Melissa, Baroness of Nonsuch @izzyamar.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

This is the “personal protective equipment” I had to clean a human waste biohazard.

Me, wearing a garbage bag over my clothes, that goes down to my feet I have two surgical masks on my face, and a pair of yellow rubber dish gloves.

000

Melissa, Baroness of Nonsuch @izzyamar.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

BREAKING: The Beets will not be opening for Ed Sheeran.

The Beets, the fictional cartoon band from the animated show, “Doug”

031

Melissa, Baroness of Nonsuch @izzyamar.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I lived in NYC for almost 20 years. I am a parallel parking champion.

A small blue car, parallel parked between 2 SUVs, with about two inches of space on either side.

020

Melissa, Baroness of Nonsuch @izzyamar.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

#MonochromeMonday I wish I knew where these people are now. I think (I hope) they'd like this photo.

A black and white photo of a couple lighting a paper lantern over a flame. She is shorter than he is, and she's looking up towards the flame with a beautiful smile on her face. He is looking down and has a serene expression. The dark night sky is lit up with dots that look like stars, but are actually paper lanterns floating above.

010

Melissa, Baroness of Nonsuch @izzyamar.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I’m in my 40’s, yet I feel both seen and attacked.

000

Melissa, Baroness of Nonsuch @izzyamar.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

No cheating. Share the last photo of the sky from your camera roll.

A tiny crescent moon visible in the early morning sky. The clouds are shades of pink and dark blue.

010

Melissa, Baroness of Nonsuch @izzyamar.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

It’s fall drink time at my cafe, and I created the one we’re featuring this season! It’s called Sweater Weather Chai. A cozy chai latte with spiced brown sugar and a sprinkle of cardamom. It’s yummy 😊

A large white mug filled with a yummy looking tea latte. It’s sitting in front of several potted plants in a sunny window.

021

Melissa, Baroness of Nonsuch @izzyamar.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Post something Random, or you'll have an awful September.

A small black sign with the words “Ass Biscuits” on it in tiny magnetic letters.

020

Melissa, Baroness of Nonsuch @izzyamar.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

#MonochromeMonday A small crowd gathers for a late-night snack. Manhattan, September 2023.

A black and white night time shot of a group of people gathered around a brightly lit food cart on a New York City street. Some people are standing still, others are walking through the scene. There are cars and tall buildings in the background. A sign above the food cart reads "Welcome"

032

Melissa, Baroness of Nonsuch @izzyamar.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

I know most people will insist (rightfully) that their pet is the best. But seriously - Gato is the most amazing creature. The sweetest, kindest, gentlest stink goblin ever. He’s not just a cat, he’s my familiar. I adore him. #ACatCalledGato

A close up photo of Gato, a floofy black cat with large yellow-green eyes. He is bathed in golden light, and looking intently at something off-camera.

132

Melissa, Baroness of Nonsuch @izzyamar.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Human artists, use only one piece to convince people to follow you! #MelissaMakesPhotos

A photo from inside The Vessel, an architectural sculpture in NYC. The structure is hive shaped and open at the top, and looking up from the bottom, there are the tops of skyscrapers framed within the opening of the structure. It’s all lit up in shades of blue and red.

121

Melissa, Baroness of Nonsuch @izzyamar.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Once again, honking with malicious intent.

010

Melissa, Baroness of Nonsuch @izzyamar.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

When Brent was here, we had food from El Diablo Burritos twice. They’re a Delaware-only burrito place kind of like Chipotle, but (in my opinion) better. Decided to get them again tonight and I feel like I’m about to pop. They don’t egg around with their burrito bowls. I still have half left!

An open takeout container, containing a massive burrito bowl: chicken, brown rice, black beans, guacamole, cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, corn salsa, pineapple habanero salsa, cilantro, and salsa verde. It looks like a big sloppy mess, and it kind of is, but it’s delicious so it’s fine.

120

Melissa, Baroness of Nonsuch @izzyamar.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Seems like there's a lot of awful shit happening right now.

Dave Chappelle as Tyrone Biggums, a "crackhead" with white, blistered lips, asking "Y'all got any more of that good news?"

111

Melissa, Baroness of Nonsuch @izzyamar.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Post you from a different era in your life.

Me, aged 21 or so. I’m wearing a very short black dress, black tights and black Doc Marten boots. I’ve got my hands on my hips and I’m posing in front of a silver car in the parking lot of Borders Books, where I worked at the time.

060

Melissa, Baroness of Nonsuch @izzyamar.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

First rule of Fit Club: You *always* talk about Fit Club.

Two blue Honda Fits, parked next to each other in a parking lot.

230

Melissa, Baroness of Nonsuch @izzyamar.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

I wanna go shoot more stuff like this. This is from 2000 or 2001. The last time I was in London.

Wellington Arch. A massive marble arch structure in Hyde Park in London England. There are Corinthian columns, and the structure is topped with a bronze statue of the Goddess of Victory riding a horse-drawn chariot.

010

Melissa, Baroness of Nonsuch @izzyamar.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

It’s a photo, innit? Took this in another lifetime. Almost every photographer who ends up in the DUMBO area of Brooklyn ends up taking a version of this shot, and I’ll be honest - I’ve always been pleased with how mine turned out.

A cobblestone street in Brooklyn, flanked on each side with brick buildings. At the end of the street, the Manhattan Bridge stands tall above the city. Framed in the uprights of the bridge, the Empire State Building looms in the distance.

231