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.

[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. :)

[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.

[kendokamel.livejournal.com]

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

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

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Good for your brothers. They should feel honoured.

[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.

[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.

[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.

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

[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)

[temeres.livejournal.com]

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

[redstarrobot.livejournal.com]

Utterly gorgeous, you know.

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!

[the-wild-iris.livejournal.com]

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