feat: TOS

1 files changed, 58 insertions, 23 deletions

diff --git a/content-org/brain-rot.org b/content-org/brain-rot.org
index 0898a99..7e2abd9 100644
--- a/content-org/brain-rot.org
+++ b/content-org/brain-rot.org
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ CLOSED: [2024-03-24 Sun 22:27]
 :PROPERTIES:
 :EXPORT_FILE_NAME: time-of-contempt
 :EXPORT_HUGO_CUSTOM_FRONT_MATTER+: :abstract My review of the second book in the Witcher saga
-:EXPORT_HUGO_PAIRED_SHORTCODES: img-r
+:EXPORT_HUGO_PAIRED_SHORTCODES: img-r rating
 :EXPORT_HUGO_CUSTOM_FRONT_MATTER+: :aliases '(/blog/2024/andrzej-sapkowskis-time-of-contempt //brain-rot/witcher/andrzej-sapkowskis-time-of-contempt/)
 :END:
 
@@ -641,10 +641,10 @@ It's not that I've never read any of The Witcher, but somehow I always stopped a
 Last year I've decided to finally fix this.
 I am a proud nerd for crying out loud!
 
-#+attr_shortcode: "sapkowski-time-of-contemt.jpg" 
-#+begin_img-r
+#+attr_shortcode: 3.5 "sapkowski-time-of-contemt.jpg" 
+#+begin_rating
 The classic cover
-#+end_img-r
+#+end_rating
 
 /Time of Contempt/ is the second part of The Witcher Saga, but it's also the 4th book about Geralt and his world.
 Let's ignore the short stories for a second and let's talk about this book in context of The Saga.
@@ -783,14 +783,20 @@ I hope that Ciri's plot will develop in interesting ways, as her teenage rebelli
 [fn:toc] vide [[/brain-rot/witcher/andrzej-sapkowskis-time-of-contempt/][my review]]
 
 
-*** TODO The Tower of the Swallow (1997)
+*** DONE Tower of the Swallow (1997)
+CLOSED: [2024-05-25 Sat 22:11]
+:PROPERTIES:
+:EXPORT_FILE_NAME: andrzej-sapkowskis-tower-of-swallow
+:EXPORT_HUGO_CUSTOM_FRONT_MATTER+: :abstract My review of the fourth book in the Witcher saga
+:EXPORT_HUGO_PAIRED_SHORTCODES: rating
+:END:
 
-It's hard to overestiate how popular the Witcher books were amongst polish youth.
-Everyone talked about it, books were circuveling everywhere.
-And yet I never read it.
-Now, in 2024 I am soo close to no longer being a /bad pole/.
+It's hard to overestimate how popular the Witcher books were amongst polish youth in the 90s.
+Everyone talked about it, the books were borrowed everywhere[fn:nerds].
+And yet I have never read it.
+Now, in 2024, I am so close to no longer being a /bad Pole/.
 
-/The Tower of Swallow/ starts with throwing everyting I was expecting after reading /Baptism of Fire/.
+/The Tower of Swallow/ starts with throwing out the window everything I was expecting after reading /Baptism of Fire/.
 Rats? Nope.
 Mages? Some.
 Ciri? Lots.
@@ -800,20 +806,49 @@ Sapkowski's craft improves with every book and I could not be happier.
 Let's start with the bad.
 This book ignores most social commentary, which is a huge letdown.
 With each passing book there's less and less of that.
-Instead we're getting better story, charactes become more interesting and the story is gripping.
+Instead, we're getting better story, characters become more interesting and the story is actually gripping.
 They are /better/ stories, but /worse/ books.
-If it wasn't for the huge increase in quality of the story, I'd be dissapoonted and my day would be ruined.
-
-- chronology and structure
-- ciri torment
-- ciris anger
-- gruesome scenes
-- war
-- no longer witcher
-- games weaken it
-- takes most of what was good in previous and expands on it
-
-
+If it wasn't for the huge increase in quality of the story, I'd be disappointed and my day would be ruined.
+
+Now, the good.
+
+First thing that may surprise the reader: chronology is also thrown out the window.
+We learn most of the story from Ciri's gossip /after/ it happened.
+Guess Sapkowski became a bit bored with winning all the awards by just being there, so he tried to make it more difficult.
+At first, I though that this will remove all the suspense - we know that Ciri will survive, but it fits the story.
+It's not about if she gets through, but rather who she will be afterwards.
+
+And this is the second thing.
+/Tower of Swallow/ aimes at different audience, I guess?
+Not only is it not about social commentary, not only is not about things Witchers do, but it is no longer an adventure story (for a huge chunk of the text).
+Ciri is having a very terrible time here.
+She is captured, tortured and abused.
+And even though Sapkowski makes it very clear that no sexual abuse is happening, it's still far from what I would expect.
+#+attr_shortcode: 4.25 "sapkowski-tower-of-swallow.jpg" 
+#+begin_rating
+Cover
+#+end_rating
+The character of Ciri is also changing.
+She is (rightfully) angry, spiteful and thirst for vengeance.
+Basically, a teenager with a sword.
+
+The books becomes more and more gruesome.
+Now, I love edgy stuff so every time Sapkowski describes mutilation, I am all for it.
+It is, however, a stark change from the early Witcher stories.
+We've got no humor, no fun.
+Just pain and suffering.
+Even Geralt at one point says that he is no longer a Witcher hunting monsters.
+It's a completely different story.
+And even if it's less adult oriented, with all the subtext removed - but it's more serious at the same.
+The stake are higher, the risks are bigger.
+I dig it.
+
+But the biggest problem at this point is CD Projekt.
+We've got the games which take place /after/ the books.
+We know that all the destruction, that everyone is talking about, will not have real consequences.
+But even if this makes the entire series a bit pointless, it is still a pleasure to read.
+
+[fn:nerds] at least amongst us, nerds.
 ** Persona
 :PROPERTIES:
 :EXPORT_HUGO_SECTION: brain-rot/modern-games/persona