A [collective noun] of Unas

[altariel]

I've read two books this week that each contained a character called Una. One was Provocation by Charlotte Grimshaw, a hard-boiled-ish crime thriller set in Auckland. The other was The New House at Winwood, by Clare Mallory, a girls' school story set near Dunedin. Two Una-tastic novels, both set in New Zealand. Neither Una was particularly brilliant, to be honest, which was a slight disappointment. Let's pretend that they're called "Yoo-na" then.

As an aside, The New House at Winwood was just great: it read like a political thriller. Winwood School has a new head, who has - in the term prior to the book starting - carried out all kinds of changes: tighter rules on sweets and sports and going into town and, worst of all, she has built a new house, accommodating forty new girls. The girls from the two old houses swear they will have nothing to do with the girls from the new house. But the Head has a number of cunning plans up her sleeve, not least moving two of the most popular old girls over to the new house, and making one of them head girl... So, really, a book about putting down a rebellion and generating a political consensus. Inspired. Loved it.

While we're on the subject of people called Una, here's that meme:

"Take a picture of yourself right now. Don't change your clothes. Don't fix your hair. Just take a picture. Post that picture with no editing. (Except maybe to get the image size down to something reasonable. Don’t go posting an eight megapixel image.) Include these instructions."

I went to bed with a migraine last night, and I've spent the day in bed reading paperbacks. So this is what I look like the day after a migraine, having spent a day in bed reading paperbacks. (You should be able to see the bed and a pillow behind me.) I look more like one of my brothers than I usually do. Oh, and you can see the new specs of repute.

Comments

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

You look brilliant, unlike the Yoonas. The pillow co-ordinates nicely with your eyes.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

And with a small piece of blu-tack on the wall behind my head!

[thanatos-kalos.livejournal.com]

A [collective noun] of Unas

but-- but-- but 'una' means 'one'! You must be singular!

(aside: you got your hair cut! it's nice. :)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I admit I don't think of myself as a herd animal. An "instance" of Una.

Thank you! I get myself sheared once a quarter!

[toft-froggy.livejournal.com]

You look remarkably unruffled for someone who's spent the day having a migraine and reading paperbacks. I like the glasses! They're very cool and sharp.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

By gum, you should have seen the dark pits that were my eyes yesterday. The day in bed has made all the difference.

I'm pleased with the specs too! I made mraltariel come along and help me pick them, and we went straight for the same pair. I got some prescription sunglasses too. My first new specs in over ten years!

[kendokamel.livejournal.com]

You look much better than I do after a migraine! (;

(Hope it's gone, entirely, too!)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Oh I looked ghastly yesterday! It's pretty much gone, thank you, just a faint echo around my eyes. Another night's sleep should clear it up.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Good for your brothers. They should feel honoured.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

All six of us (+ mum) have exactly the same nose. It's weird in group shots.

[katlinel.livejournal.com]

The Awful Book about which I was ranting at the weekend also made reference to an Una - Una Dillon of bookshop fame in this case.

I am glad Clare Mallory continues great, even if the Yoo-na wasn't. Hurrah for the cunning Head and her machinations of society.

*hugs* for migraines and I hope they have gone far far away. I think you need more sleep.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I've had a lot more sleep this weekend and I'm feeling an awful lot better as a result. Also been flat on my back reading which is generally a good way of becoming more relaxed. Next up: Carnival.

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

You look remarkably calm and collected - after a day in bed I usually look something like a cross between Miss Piggy and the Creature from the Black lagoon.

With long hair.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I'd had a pretty good night's sleep and spent quite a pleasant day reading. The day before I'd looked... actually, rather like the Unas from Stargate, it transpires!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

You haven't changed at all! (Well, except for the glasses but I don't remember the other ones.) You look very serious and intellectual whereas I'm spaced out and woolly after a migraine.

That book sounds great! I shall see if the library has it. It should. I had no idea there were school stories set here.

Did you watch SG1? There's a race called the Unas (singular and plural), a member of which was in the second ep I watched which was a brilliant standalone story of communication between two species with no common language: wonderful SF.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I probably have more silver hairs than I used to! They're more obvious when my hair is longer.

I'm sure you would be able to find Clare Mallory's books in local libraries. I hadn't heard of her until Girls Gone By started reprinting the books: as soon as I saw she was a New Zealander, I knew I'd have to try them. From her biography she sounds a remarkable, talented, clever woman.

I never watched SG1: the picture of that Unas is exactly how I felt while the migraine was upon me. That sounds like a good episode: reminiscent of the TNG episode 'Darmok'.

Your eyes are open whilst there's daylight streaming in

[(Anonymous)]

That seems a remarkable accomplishment, considering either the headache or the day spent reading.

What should a multiplicity of Unas be called? An Uniad?

Dwim

Re: Your eyes are open whilst there's daylight streaming in

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I was a lot more relaxed after a day flat on my back reading low-stress novels. There are still dark patches under my eyes, though.

Up-thread there seems to be a move towards a singularity rather than a multiplicity of Unas. It makes me feel slightly like a black hole.

[gair.livejournal.com]

Those glasses are awesome.

Also glad that The New House At Thingummy was good - we must lend you Leith and Friends (another of her school stories, also a giant influence on gerald and supergay)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm pleased with them.

I liked but wasn't blown away by Clare Mallory's Merry books, but the last couple have just been terrific: Juliet Overseas and this one. Can't wait to get my grubby hands on all the rest (GGBP seem set on republishing the lot.)

There was a midnight feast in this one, and nobody got caught. They just had the feast, and that was it. Yum! I think some of the older students worked it out, but didn't have the heart to shop them in, because they were all such troopers. Aw!

What I also like is that - so far as I can remember - all her books have a moment when a sixth-former (usually) looks at a teacher and perceives her as a human being for the first time (rather than a teacher or abstract authority figure). Lovely.

[temeres.livejournal.com]

Since the most famous Una must be Ms Paloma Blanca, the collective noun could be 'dovecote'.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

You would not believe how often that song got sung at me when it was released!

[redstarrobot.livejournal.com]

Utterly gorgeous, you know.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

You should see my older sisters, they're stunners.

A day late and a dollar short...

[dkpalaska.livejournal.com]

... is what I always seem to be, but I had to comment since this is such a lovely picture, even with the stern professor look. For some reason I always mentally pictured you (as much as I actually had an image) with long hair. And a mischievous, knowing smile.

Wonderful glasses, too - they look awesome on you. Thanks for doing the meme!

Re: A day late and a dollar short...

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you :-) I don't usually photograph very well. My hair's at its shortest (just had it cut) but never gets as far as shoulder length - too thick. mraltariel doesn't think this is a good likeness because it doesn't have the mischievous smile ;-)

[the-wild-iris.livejournal.com]

Ah, you have a lovely fearless gaze in that photo. And glasses nothing like Sarah Palin's.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

glasses nothing like Sarah Palin's

Oh, that would have been awful, if I'd picked new specs and then she'd popped up with the same ones, stealing my thunder!