Ooh, check out N.K. Jemisin’s “The Broken Earth” trilogy.

The story opens with a cataclysmic event followed by shifts in how it’s narrated that sometimes results in brutal circumstances being treated with a jarring casualness. And while there is a lot of worldbuilding at the beginning of the first book, I thought it made sense pretty quickly and I suddenly found myself in a world of survival and power struggles. Add in a magical ability to manipulate the earth and it’s an incredible fantasy series.

It is dark and grim and unpredictable. It mixes unspeakable cruelty with moments of brilliant kindness. The characters are complex and so beautiful connected.

…I think I need to go read this series again. I had almost forgotten how much I love it!

This is an easy and flavourful dish that keeps well as leftovers. The coconut milk allows the sun-dried tomatoes to really shine and creates a depth of flavour.

I usually serve this over plain rice with a side of roasted sweet potato (seasoned with cumin, chili powder, tumeric, and salt, roasted at 425 for 15-20min).

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons oil

• 1 small yellow onion, sliced

• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped *

• 4 large cloves garlic, sliced

• 1 tablespoon peeled and grated fresh ginger

• Finely grated zest of 1 large lemon

• 1 hot red pepper, or pinch red pepper flakes

• 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas

• 1 pound baby spinach

• 1 (13 to 14-ounce) can coconut milk

• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, plus more as needed

• 1 teaspoon ground ginger

• 1 teaspoon salt, plus more as needed

• Fresh cilantro leaves (optional garnish)

Directions:

Heat the oil or ghee in a large, deep Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until the onion is beginning to brown, about 5 minutes.

Add the sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, fresh ginger, lemon zest, and red pepper, if using. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add the chickpeas and cook over high heat for a few minutes, or until the chickpeas are beginning to turn golden and are coated with the onion and garlic mixture.

Toss in the spinach, one handful at a time. This will take about 5 minutes; stir in a handful or two and wait for it to wilt down and make room in the pot before adding the next handful.

When all the spinach has been added, add the coconut milk, lemon juice, ground ginger, and salt. Bring to a simmer, then turn down the heat and cook until the chickpeas are warmed through, about 10 minutes.

Taste and season with more salt and lemon juice if needed.

Source: https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-braised-coconut-spinach-chickpeas-with-lemon-recipes-from-the-kitchn-164551#post-recipe-8941

I am referring to when people simply stand on the floor without making any attempt to actually engage.

The shuffling and swaying that you dismiss as “not dancing” IS their attempt to engage.

Dancing isn’t as common anymore. A lot of people have no idea how to dance. Swaying to the music is how those people dance because they don’t know any actual dance moves and don’t know how to make it up.