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I just started reading Chely Wright's Autobiography, Like Me. My sister passed it on to me, after she had read through it, with a very high recommendation. Having put off reading other suggestions from my sister, like Chaz Bono's Bio, I felt I should attempt this one. So far it's been a very quick read but quite compelling as well.
Chely Wright was one of my favorite Country Music artist's back in the day. I used to sing along to "Single White Female" and her rendition of "Jezebel" to the top of my lungs while driving to and from classes or work. When I took my sister to see her country music fav, Terri Clark, Chely Wright was one of the opening acts. She put on a show with so much heart, I couldn't help but be impressed. Granted we were at the local Army Base for their summer concert series for the troops, so all the artists were giving their very best. In her book, Wright talks about how important it is for her to go and perform for the military personnel in combat locations as well as at those back at home.
Her discussion of the Country Music Industry is eye-opening and, so far, I feel like she adheres to the school of thought that if you can't say something nice about someone it's best to not say anything at all. She talks about the bad behaviors of some music executives and artists at promotional parties but she never names names or goes into specific detail. She does, however, talk very warmly about her friendship with Vince Gill and Amy Grant as well as other country music stars. Chely talks about her relationship with Brad Paisley and her own regrets in regards to her behavior towards him. The respect she still has for Paisley is very obvious and it is very reassuring to know that the persona most of these stars present to the public isn't that far off from who they really are. I will just say right now that SheDaisy and Rascal Flatts gained a lot of respect from me after reading a few chapters in Chely Wright's book.
She also talks very openly about her journey to become a Country Music Star and her internal struggle with being a Lesbian in a very conservative atmosphere. She talks about knowing she was different from a very young age and how that conflicted with the message she was getting at church and from the small town community in which she grew up. There are times when I want to weep for the things this woman has had to endure. The title of the book really covers a lot of ground. Like me, for those that are like her and struggling with different identities in a complex world. Like me, for those that have felt they weren't good enough and just needed someone to bolster their self-confidence.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who may be or ever has struggled with coming out. I would also recommend this book to anyone dealing with their own issues about a relative coming out. And last, but not least, any Chely Wright or Country Music fan who would like an insider view.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Mary Poppins by Dr. P.L. Travers
I recently picked up a copy of the original Mary Poppins by Dr. P.L Travers (Illustrations by Mary Shepard) at Book Thing in Baltimore, MD. It's a favorite movie of my sister's, has been since she was little, and I figured I would check out the book that inspired it. So far, the movie is pretty faithful to the original story. However, in addition to Jane and Michael there are a set of twins that never made it into the film. (They are babies in a pram for most of the book, so I understand why they were left out entirely.) Also, as of yet, they do not mention the Mom being a Suffragette, though Mary Poppins plays on Mrs. Banks' desire to be modern and fashionable. The chalk adventure is only with Mary Poppins and Bert, a.k.a. the Matchman, on her day off. Bert usually takes Mary out for Tea on her days off, but on this particular day he had not made enough money to do so.
It is, however, at his suggestion that he and Mary pop into the chalk picture and they do end the day by riding Carousel Horses across the country side. Mary Poppins still slides up the banister when the children first meet her. She still has a very large Carpet Bag that's bigger on the inside. And she still spoons out different flavored medicine from the same bottle, though the babies get plain Milk out of it. Some of the lines in the movie are directly out of the dialogue in the book as well.
So far, I am only a few chapters in, but the style is very simple. Each chapter is like its own little short story and would make for excellent bedtime reading with a little one.
It is, however, at his suggestion that he and Mary pop into the chalk picture and they do end the day by riding Carousel Horses across the country side. Mary Poppins still slides up the banister when the children first meet her. She still has a very large Carpet Bag that's bigger on the inside. And she still spoons out different flavored medicine from the same bottle, though the babies get plain Milk out of it. Some of the lines in the movie are directly out of the dialogue in the book as well.
So far, I am only a few chapters in, but the style is very simple. Each chapter is like its own little short story and would make for excellent bedtime reading with a little one.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
December Reading List 2010
The Writer's Tale: The Final Chapter by Russell T. Davies & Benjamin Cook (11/14/10) - Started 11/15/10
Changeless by Gail Carriger (10/16/10) - Started 10/24/10
Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas (6/01/10) -Started
The Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (05/01/10) - Started
The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl (07/01/10)
The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl (07/01/10)
A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin (08/01/10) - Started 10/25/10
Lamb by Christopher Moore (11/01/10)
Harry Potter Series Re-Read (9/01/10)
Changeless by Gail Carriger (10/16/10) - Started 10/24/10
Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas (6/01/10) -Started
The Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (05/01/10) - Started
The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl (07/01/10)
The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl (07/01/10)
A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin (08/01/10) - Started 10/25/10
Lamb by Christopher Moore (11/01/10)
Harry Potter Series Re-Read (9/01/10)
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
National Novel Writing Month - November 30, 2010
Another NaNoWriMo is coming to a close and I have, yet again, failed to complete the 50,000 word goal set by the contest. I haven't really lost anything, just the bragging rights, and I got a few great ideas to develop into something. Of course, who knows when that will be.
Clearly the problem with me writing is the lack of discipline. Though, I do work two jobs which makes dedicating time to write a little difficult. I don't want to stay up late to meet word deadlines only to feel exhausted at my paying jobs the next day. Yet somehow, J.K. Rowling was able to do that and raise her kids so I should really stop finding excuses.
Hope everyone out there had a better turn-out than I did!
Clearly the problem with me writing is the lack of discipline. Though, I do work two jobs which makes dedicating time to write a little difficult. I don't want to stay up late to meet word deadlines only to feel exhausted at my paying jobs the next day. Yet somehow, J.K. Rowling was able to do that and raise her kids so I should really stop finding excuses.
Hope everyone out there had a better turn-out than I did!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
The Writer's Tale by Russell T. Davies & Benjamin Cook
Also, please see the following quote I discovered in Russell T. Davies book, The Writer's Tale, on Page 42 of the paperback edition:
"That's the thing about writing. It's all doubt. Doubts about plot, story, character, etc, let in every other doubt, the real doubts, about yourself, your very self."
I could not identify with this more than I do right now. Sitting down and trying to push through National Novel Writing Month but running into the walls of my own self doubt. I get caught up in whether or not this is a good story, are the characters interesting, can I possibly do this at all. I think I've even resigned myself, more than once, to the idea that maybe I am not a writer at all. Of course, it is this self doubt that is keeping me from continuing. In this part of Davies' book, he is talking about embracing everything in order to write. How the mundane things about his day to day existence make their way into his writing. That there is this soup of creativity in his head with ingredients from science fiction as well as reminders to call mom on her birthday. It's your life experiences that make you who you are and help to make your characters richer and more believable.
What I am liking most about this part of the book is that we see the sheer panic he's feeling as he approaches his deadlines. It's nice to know that famous writers go through the same highs and lows that the yet unpublished wannabes authors experience in the same process. It definitely gives one the feeling that anyone with a desire to sit down and create could do what Davies' is doing. It's just sticking with it and pushing through those self doubts. Feeling one's fears and doing it anway.
"That's the thing about writing. It's all doubt. Doubts about plot, story, character, etc, let in every other doubt, the real doubts, about yourself, your very self."
I could not identify with this more than I do right now. Sitting down and trying to push through National Novel Writing Month but running into the walls of my own self doubt. I get caught up in whether or not this is a good story, are the characters interesting, can I possibly do this at all. I think I've even resigned myself, more than once, to the idea that maybe I am not a writer at all. Of course, it is this self doubt that is keeping me from continuing. In this part of Davies' book, he is talking about embracing everything in order to write. How the mundane things about his day to day existence make their way into his writing. That there is this soup of creativity in his head with ingredients from science fiction as well as reminders to call mom on her birthday. It's your life experiences that make you who you are and help to make your characters richer and more believable.
What I am liking most about this part of the book is that we see the sheer panic he's feeling as he approaches his deadlines. It's nice to know that famous writers go through the same highs and lows that the yet unpublished wannabes authors experience in the same process. It definitely gives one the feeling that anyone with a desire to sit down and create could do what Davies' is doing. It's just sticking with it and pushing through those self doubts. Feeling one's fears and doing it anway.
Monday, November 15, 2010
The Writer's Tale by Russell T. Davies & Benjamin Cook
I am currently reading The Writer's Tale by Russell T. Davies & Benjamin Cook. I just received it yesterday in the mail and, after struggling through an eight-hour shift at my part-time job, I was able to dive in last night. It was much larger than I expected and the format was not accurately described in the Amazon description. I assumed it was going to be a memoir about the last full season and subsequent TV specials; written in prose and telling a story from start to finish. It's actually an epistolary novel that covers the entire final season. I'm already about sixty pages into the book and loving it. Have you ever wished you could read the e-mails exchanges of this writer or that artist? Somehow get inside their head and understand the genius that lives there?
Started with the intent of writing an article about the writing process that takes place for a hit television show, I can understand how it quickly became the textbook size tome that it is. It appears to be an unedited dialogue between Head Writer for Doctor Who, Russel T. Davies, and Benjamin Cook. Written through e-mails Davies is explaining his writing process as he is crafting Series 4, David Tennant's last full season, of Doctor Who for the BBC. Davies is also constructing series 2 of Torchwood and The Adventures of Sarah-Jane (Both Spin-offs of Doctor Who) at the same time, so there is a bit of a bleed-through on his thoughts and ideas.
What has struck me the most, at the very beginning of this book, is the honesty with which Davies writes. His e-mails to Benjamin Cook are full of a self-doubt one would not expect from a successful television show writer. (Davies has created several shows in addition to resurrecting Doctor Who.) He talks about his procrastination problems and looming deadlines for the shows. Mistakes he's made in his life have served as inspiration for his art. And we even see him repeating story formulas from the previous seasons as a means to get over writer's block. Knowing how the fourth season turned out, I am anxious to see how he came to those decisions from his original ideas. (For those Doctor Who Fans out there: apparently Donna's character was not intended to return for an entire season, merely a one off story or role in the finale.) I'll keep you posted on the developments or interesting quotes I may come across.
Started with the intent of writing an article about the writing process that takes place for a hit television show, I can understand how it quickly became the textbook size tome that it is. It appears to be an unedited dialogue between Head Writer for Doctor Who, Russel T. Davies, and Benjamin Cook. Written through e-mails Davies is explaining his writing process as he is crafting Series 4, David Tennant's last full season, of Doctor Who for the BBC. Davies is also constructing series 2 of Torchwood and The Adventures of Sarah-Jane (Both Spin-offs of Doctor Who) at the same time, so there is a bit of a bleed-through on his thoughts and ideas.
What has struck me the most, at the very beginning of this book, is the honesty with which Davies writes. His e-mails to Benjamin Cook are full of a self-doubt one would not expect from a successful television show writer. (Davies has created several shows in addition to resurrecting Doctor Who.) He talks about his procrastination problems and looming deadlines for the shows. Mistakes he's made in his life have served as inspiration for his art. And we even see him repeating story formulas from the previous seasons as a means to get over writer's block. Knowing how the fourth season turned out, I am anxious to see how he came to those decisions from his original ideas. (For those Doctor Who Fans out there: apparently Donna's character was not intended to return for an entire season, merely a one off story or role in the finale.) I'll keep you posted on the developments or interesting quotes I may come across.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
National Novel Writing Month - November 2, 2010
We are only on the second day of NaNo and I am already behind. My total word count for yesterday: 326. The saddest part is when I went to verify the word count on the official NaNo site. They keep track of writing streaks and failure streaks, so I am already showing a failure streak of 1 day and I'll need to write 1710 words a day for the rest of the 29 days to make up for not meeting my 1666 word count for the first day.
On one hand, it's a very handy calculator that helps me adjust my goals. On the other it's kind of depressing to see how far behind I've already gotten. The problem is that I already hate where my characters are and I don't want to start all over again, though that is probably the best course of action. Let me know if you have any helpful hints.
On one hand, it's a very handy calculator that helps me adjust my goals. On the other it's kind of depressing to see how far behind I've already gotten. The problem is that I already hate where my characters are and I don't want to start all over again, though that is probably the best course of action. Let me know if you have any helpful hints.
Monday, November 1, 2010
November Reading List 2010
Changeless by Gail Carriger (10/16/10) - Started 10/24/10
Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas (6/01/10) -Started
The Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (05/01/10) - Started
The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl (07/01/10)
The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl (07/01/10)
A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin (08/01/10) - Started 10/25/10
Lamb by Christopher Moore (11/01/10)
Harry Potter Series Re-Read (9/01/10)
Thursday, October 28, 2010
National Novel Writing Month 2010 - The countdown begins
Only 4 days left until the official start of National Novel Writing Month. For those of you who are unaware of this crazy contest, please check out their official website at http://www.nanowrimo.com/.
I have been on the fence about ideas, but think I have committed to the Disney Princess meets Sex in the City one. Obviously, they will be characters of my own making but I am basing them on the personalities of the Disney Princesses. My main focus in research right now is to figure out what alcoholic drinks I think each of these ladies would order on a girls night out. It's giving me a bit of insight into what I think each of their characters will be. I welcome any suggestions, so far my list is as follows:
Snow White: Candy-Apple Martini
Cinderella: Godmother (Amaretto and Rum)
Mulan: Cricket (Grasshopper with Vodka)
Aurora (aka Sleeping Beauty):
Tiana:
Jasmine:
Belle:
Ariel:
Pocahontas:
I have been on the fence about ideas, but think I have committed to the Disney Princess meets Sex in the City one. Obviously, they will be characters of my own making but I am basing them on the personalities of the Disney Princesses. My main focus in research right now is to figure out what alcoholic drinks I think each of these ladies would order on a girls night out. It's giving me a bit of insight into what I think each of their characters will be. I welcome any suggestions, so far my list is as follows:
Snow White: Candy-Apple Martini
Cinderella: Godmother (Amaretto and Rum)
Mulan: Cricket (Grasshopper with Vodka)
Aurora (aka Sleeping Beauty):
Tiana:
Jasmine:
Belle:
Ariel:
Pocahontas:
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The Sinful Life of Lucy Burns by Elizabeth Leiknes
The premise sounded very interesting: An 11 year-old Lucy Burns sends a letter addressed to "To Whom It May Concern" in an effort to save her sister's life. It's not until she's in college that the full contract is revealed. In exchange for her sister's life and continued well-being, Lucy must agree to be a facilitator for Hell: she will be given a list the damned that she must usher off to their eternal fate. Written around the Faustian Archetype, Lucy must find a way out of her contract with the devil if she ever wants a normal life.
The story was just a little too similar to Brendan Fraser's Bedazzled. I had a very difficult time connecting with the character of Lucy Burns. The author's writing style did not make it any easier and I found myself not wanting to continue. I think the problem, for me, started with page one where the author depicts her heroine playing with her older sister. The author has one kid call the other a "retard." I understand that this is how some children talk to each other and I would be completely lying if I said there wasn't a time in my own childhood where I used this word. However, I have grown up and the times they have a-changed. I find this word, along with several other derogatory terms, to be unacceptable in any context. I almost stopped reading there. (I had similar problems when reading Ian Fleming's, Dr. No.) But, out of respect for my roommate who had recommended the novel, I sincerely tried to give this book a chance and pushed on.
Halfway through the book, I felt like the author was telling instead of showing. There wasn't a lot of character development for Lucy and the events of the novel just seemed to be rushed. The reader is told that Lucy likes to take her car to the Snow White Car Wash after she sends a human being off to hell. Then it is unnecessarily explained to the reader that having her car cleaned is like washing off the dirt Lucy feels after fulfilling her part of the Devil's contract. We're told about the relationship Lucy has with her neighbor and we get to see a part of it but, as a reader, I don't believe it. It feels forced for the purpose of the story rather than something organic. The joking banter between the friends is jarring without that natural bond of friendship in place.
I have to be honest, I didn't fully finish reading the novel. Though I skimmed through to the end to see how it all works out and it was pretty much as expected. I cannot recommend this book nor will I discourage someone from forming his or her own opinion about the work. There are more than a few novels I did not personally like that are considered great works of literature. (For example: A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole.) Please check out other reviews on Amazon to determine if this book might be a good fit for you.
The story was just a little too similar to Brendan Fraser's Bedazzled. I had a very difficult time connecting with the character of Lucy Burns. The author's writing style did not make it any easier and I found myself not wanting to continue. I think the problem, for me, started with page one where the author depicts her heroine playing with her older sister. The author has one kid call the other a "retard." I understand that this is how some children talk to each other and I would be completely lying if I said there wasn't a time in my own childhood where I used this word. However, I have grown up and the times they have a-changed. I find this word, along with several other derogatory terms, to be unacceptable in any context. I almost stopped reading there. (I had similar problems when reading Ian Fleming's, Dr. No.) But, out of respect for my roommate who had recommended the novel, I sincerely tried to give this book a chance and pushed on.
Halfway through the book, I felt like the author was telling instead of showing. There wasn't a lot of character development for Lucy and the events of the novel just seemed to be rushed. The reader is told that Lucy likes to take her car to the Snow White Car Wash after she sends a human being off to hell. Then it is unnecessarily explained to the reader that having her car cleaned is like washing off the dirt Lucy feels after fulfilling her part of the Devil's contract. We're told about the relationship Lucy has with her neighbor and we get to see a part of it but, as a reader, I don't believe it. It feels forced for the purpose of the story rather than something organic. The joking banter between the friends is jarring without that natural bond of friendship in place.
I have to be honest, I didn't fully finish reading the novel. Though I skimmed through to the end to see how it all works out and it was pretty much as expected. I cannot recommend this book nor will I discourage someone from forming his or her own opinion about the work. There are more than a few novels I did not personally like that are considered great works of literature. (For example: A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole.) Please check out other reviews on Amazon to determine if this book might be a good fit for you.
Monday, October 25, 2010
The Secret Life of Dolls by Cleolinda Jones
Recently, I have been catching up with a favorite serial of mine: The Secret Life of Dolls by Cleolinda Jones. I stumbled across it when a friend told me I should check out Cleolinda's Twilight in 15 minutes. Finding the Secret Life of Dolls, or SLOD, has been one of the highlights of my internet time-wasting and I was thrilled to discover new entries had been posted.
It's a fictional account of the dolls that live in Cleolinda's room. She happens to be an avid fan of several films/books and therefore has several of the official character dolls. Cleolinda adds her own spice to each of the characters while staying true to their original representations. While Twilight is not one of my favorite books, or movies for that matter, Cleolinda has made the character of Edward into something extremely likable. She is able to point out the flaws of the character as written in the novel even though I can tell she does have a special place in her literary heart for the original series. Other characters that appear in her stories: Elizabeth Swann from Pirates of the Caribbean, Anna Valerious from Van Helsing, Lyra from The Golden Compass, Galadriel, Arwen, Aragorn, and Legolas from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
Basically a type of fan fiction/soap opera, it's one of my guiltiest pleasures. I definitely recommend checking out her website/livejournal and reading through some of her entries.
It's a fictional account of the dolls that live in Cleolinda's room. She happens to be an avid fan of several films/books and therefore has several of the official character dolls. Cleolinda adds her own spice to each of the characters while staying true to their original representations. While Twilight is not one of my favorite books, or movies for that matter, Cleolinda has made the character of Edward into something extremely likable. She is able to point out the flaws of the character as written in the novel even though I can tell she does have a special place in her literary heart for the original series. Other characters that appear in her stories: Elizabeth Swann from Pirates of the Caribbean, Anna Valerious from Van Helsing, Lyra from The Golden Compass, Galadriel, Arwen, Aragorn, and Legolas from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
Basically a type of fan fiction/soap opera, it's one of my guiltiest pleasures. I definitely recommend checking out her website/livejournal and reading through some of her entries.
Monday, October 11, 2010
National Novel Writing Month 2010
I have attempted to win National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)since my friend, Katherine, introduced me to it. (For the record: Since 2004) The goal is to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. It starts on November 1st and ends at midnight on the 30th. In order to meet this goal it is necessary to write 1,666 words a day for the entire 30 days. My friend aims for 2,000 a day so that she isn't as panicked towards the end of the month. The exercise is supposed to free the writer of all responsibility to edit and just allow them to create. As the NaNo website clearly states:
I'm usually good for about 10,000-20,000 words and then I hit a road block from which I never recover. The best year was when I was incredibly passionate about the story and wanted to develop it into an actual (possibly publishable) manuscript. Unfortunately, Ianthe and her protectors didn't make it out of the forest scene I'd written. I still have this one on my hard drive, waiting for inspiration to strike again. The next best year was when I took a cue from Jasper Fforde and created a playground for some of my favorite literary characters. Borrowing his bookworld as the framework, I was able to work out some of my aggression towards the Twilight series. The worst years are when I start with absolutely no idea at all. Though, last year's time machine story wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I've been worried about this year because I haven't had any brainstorms or even a low pressure system threatening to move in. That is, until last night.
While working at my second job, a local retail store, I had an idea. I was dressed as Snow White for the big Halloween debut event the store was running and had to walk down to the grocery store to buy my lunch. Not thinking about this ahead of time, I failed to bring a change of clothes and had to walk through the store still in costume. A little girl was so excited to see Snow White that she ran to get her father and dragged him back to meet me. It was really quite adorable. But it also got me thinking about the Disney Princess Line-up and what if they all lived in a house together. (Maybe a sorority, Real World, or Sex In The City-type group.) Or possibly I could take the Princesses' personalities and use them in characters in a different setting, like a small town or college group of friends. Maybe they are looking back after 20 years and wondering about the course of their lives. So this could be a good start for NaNo, depending on how I can develop these seeds.
Because of the limited writing window, the ONLY thing that matters in NaNoWriMo is output. It's all about quantity, not quality. The kamikaze approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly.
Make no mistake: You will be writing a lot of crap. And that's a good thing. By forcing yourself to write so intensely, you are giving yourself permission to make mistakes. To forgo the endless tweaking and editing and just create. To build without tearing down.
I'm usually good for about 10,000-20,000 words and then I hit a road block from which I never recover. The best year was when I was incredibly passionate about the story and wanted to develop it into an actual (possibly publishable) manuscript. Unfortunately, Ianthe and her protectors didn't make it out of the forest scene I'd written. I still have this one on my hard drive, waiting for inspiration to strike again. The next best year was when I took a cue from Jasper Fforde and created a playground for some of my favorite literary characters. Borrowing his bookworld as the framework, I was able to work out some of my aggression towards the Twilight series. The worst years are when I start with absolutely no idea at all. Though, last year's time machine story wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I've been worried about this year because I haven't had any brainstorms or even a low pressure system threatening to move in. That is, until last night.
While working at my second job, a local retail store, I had an idea. I was dressed as Snow White for the big Halloween debut event the store was running and had to walk down to the grocery store to buy my lunch. Not thinking about this ahead of time, I failed to bring a change of clothes and had to walk through the store still in costume. A little girl was so excited to see Snow White that she ran to get her father and dragged him back to meet me. It was really quite adorable. But it also got me thinking about the Disney Princess Line-up and what if they all lived in a house together. (Maybe a sorority, Real World, or Sex In The City-type group.) Or possibly I could take the Princesses' personalities and use them in characters in a different setting, like a small town or college group of friends. Maybe they are looking back after 20 years and wondering about the course of their lives. So this could be a good start for NaNo, depending on how I can develop these seeds.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Soulless by Gail Carriger
I just picked up a new series, Amazon actually recommended it to me, about Vampires & Werewolves. I know it's overdone at this point and it seems like everyone is jumping on the bandwagon, but I've been interested in this type of literature ever since I read Interview With A Vampire by Anne Rice in high school. The one exception to my fascination with Vampire Literature has been the Twilight Series. In Stephanie Meyer's work, I have found the something that can make vampire stories uninteresting to me, and that is the complete lack of characterization and the less than adequate plot development.
Soulless by Gail Carriger is the first in a series called, The Parasol Protectorate. The description that caught my attention on Amazon was this: "SOULLESS is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking." Something about this just seemed interesting and I have not yet been disappointed. I am only five chapters in, but already we've had a rogue vampire death at the hands of our heroine, Alexia Tarabotti, and a look at the Supernatural Politics present in this alternate representation of Victorian England. There is a definite, what some would call, Steampunk element to the novel that is very intriguing.
What I have learned, thus far, is that Vampires, Werewolves, and other supernatural creatures are well known in Victorian society. There is a government agency run by Alpha werewolf, Lord Maccon, that helps to maintain that balance between good taste and lawless abandon. There is an obvious tension between Lord Maccon and Alexia, but neither one will openly admit to anything more than a severe distaste for the other. Alexia is not a normal human, she has the unfortunate condition of being soulless. This means that the supernatural creatures in London do not have any effect on her. In fact, it's quite the opposite as her touch can restore temporary humanity to whomever is daring enough to come close.
So far, my favorite quote in the book is one having to do with Lord Maccon. In this passage (chapter 2, page 36)Alexia's friend, Ivy, is musing on the Scottish Werewolf:
Soulless by Gail Carriger is the first in a series called, The Parasol Protectorate. The description that caught my attention on Amazon was this: "SOULLESS is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking." Something about this just seemed interesting and I have not yet been disappointed. I am only five chapters in, but already we've had a rogue vampire death at the hands of our heroine, Alexia Tarabotti, and a look at the Supernatural Politics present in this alternate representation of Victorian England. There is a definite, what some would call, Steampunk element to the novel that is very intriguing.
What I have learned, thus far, is that Vampires, Werewolves, and other supernatural creatures are well known in Victorian society. There is a government agency run by Alpha werewolf, Lord Maccon, that helps to maintain that balance between good taste and lawless abandon. There is an obvious tension between Lord Maccon and Alexia, but neither one will openly admit to anything more than a severe distaste for the other. Alexia is not a normal human, she has the unfortunate condition of being soulless. This means that the supernatural creatures in London do not have any effect on her. In fact, it's quite the opposite as her touch can restore temporary humanity to whomever is daring enough to come close.
So far, my favorite quote in the book is one having to do with Lord Maccon. In this passage (chapter 2, page 36)Alexia's friend, Ivy, is musing on the Scottish Werewolf:
He was so very large and so very gruff that he rather terrified her, but he always behaved correctly in public, and there was a lot to be said for a man who sported such well-tailored jackets - even if he did change into a ferocious beast once a month.This is a great example of the tongue-in-cheek dialog and descriptions present in this novel. I am very anxious to see how this all turns out in the end. Undoubtedly, Lord Maccon and Alexia will finally succumb to the secret feelings even they don't realize they have for one another. According to the author's website this is the first in a projected five novel series. I think this may be a series I will keep on my bookshelf, but it will depend on how it develops. Check back in with me later this month to see how things are progressing.
Friday, October 1, 2010
October Reading List 2010
Soulless by Gail Carriger (10/1/10) - Started
Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas (6/01/10) -Started
The Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (05/01/10) - Started
The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl (07/01/10)
The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl (07/01/10)
A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin (08/01/10)
Lamb by Christopher Moore (11/01/10)
Harry Potter Series Re-Read (9/01/10)
I feel like I accomplished a lot in September, even though I added two brand new books to my ever-increasing list. Hopefully, Soulless, will move quickly and I can finish one of the older books on the list before moving on.
I am including links to the books on Amazon's website. It should make them easier to find if any of them sound interesting. I am almost tempted to do chapter by chapter entries like Mark over at Mark Reads Harry Potter. (Warning: Mark's website contains harsh language and is not suitable for children under a certain age.) It would mean I wouldn't go so long inbetween entries for this blog. Unfortunately, I am not nearly that entertaining. Still, it's something to think about.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Jane Bites Back by Michael Thomas Ford
Instead of reading one of the books on my reading list for September, my father presented me with a copy of Jane Bites Back by Michael Thomas Ford. According to the blurb at the end of the book, this is the first in a series.
Jane Austen has finally gotten her last novel published, after 116 rejections over the last 200 years. Suddenly, she is faced with the issues of plagiarism as her original manuscript turns up in the hands of the Brontes' biggest cheerleader. Bigger problems follow when her maker returns to claim her affections and whatever is she going to do about the local carpenter that keeps asking her out on a date.
Probably one of the quickest reads I've had in a long time. I started it this morning and couldn't put it down. Though, it's definitely what I would call a "Beach Read." There isn't anything complex about this novel; it moves very quickly from one event to another with little characterization. I wish there had been a little more depth to the characters and their relationships. However, it is definitely an entertaining read.
Ford touches on the Bronte/Austen feud that has been going on in English Literature classes for years. He gives a nod to the ridiculousness of things like the Jane Austen Cookbook as well as the cleverly written Pride & Prejudice & Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith in our modern world of cross-marketing and movie tie-ins.
I am definitely looking forward to the next novel in this series and would recommend the book to anyone looking for something quick and easy.
Jane Austen has finally gotten her last novel published, after 116 rejections over the last 200 years. Suddenly, she is faced with the issues of plagiarism as her original manuscript turns up in the hands of the Brontes' biggest cheerleader. Bigger problems follow when her maker returns to claim her affections and whatever is she going to do about the local carpenter that keeps asking her out on a date.
Probably one of the quickest reads I've had in a long time. I started it this morning and couldn't put it down. Though, it's definitely what I would call a "Beach Read." There isn't anything complex about this novel; it moves very quickly from one event to another with little characterization. I wish there had been a little more depth to the characters and their relationships. However, it is definitely an entertaining read.
Ford touches on the Bronte/Austen feud that has been going on in English Literature classes for years. He gives a nod to the ridiculousness of things like the Jane Austen Cookbook as well as the cleverly written Pride & Prejudice & Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith in our modern world of cross-marketing and movie tie-ins.
I am definitely looking forward to the next novel in this series and would recommend the book to anyone looking for something quick and easy.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
David Sedaris is without question one of my favorite authors. His books are great on airplanes, in waiting rooms, the bathroom, or anywhere else that short essays are useful. Each chapter is, of course, its own essay so it's not like you have to keep going back and checking on things you've missed or forgotten. He always makes me laugh, so thankfully I was able to finish this book last night before my surgery. (I can't imagine chuckling would go well with the incisions in my belly.)
I'm not sure if I find Sedaris' stories so endearing because they remind me of my own family or because I can hear my father's voice telling similar ones. This book, Me Talk Pretty One Day, is broken down into two parts: one and deux. The first section is filled with stories about New York and North Carolina where Sedaris lived. Then the second section is about his move to Paris with his boyfriend, Hugh. Some of my favorite stories in this book are:
"The City of Light in the Dark" - Sedaris talks about the movie houses in Paris. This does remind me of my father quite a bit because Sedaris talks about the annoying habits of Americans at the movies. As my father goes to the movies several times a week with his fellow retirees, I hear about these things quite often.
"The Youth In Asia" - The author tells a story about his parents' dog, Melina, and the devotion they show to her. It reminds me of the jealousy I feel towards my dads' dog, Delilah. She really is the center of their world and I never imagined that I would be jealous of an animal when it came to the affections of my two dads.
"The Learning Curve" - Tales of a teaching position in a college creative writing class. I could really sympathize with Sedaris on this one. He talks about his love of Soap Operas and how certain things only happen on certain days. This takes me back to high school days when I would watch them with my sister. The ending 'punchline' is really what makes it though.
"Picka Pocketoni" - An amusing story about the Ugly American in Paris. Sedaris is mistaken for a French Pickpocket and the American assumes no one else can speak English. Highly entertaining read.
I would recommend this to anyone that enjoyed Amy Sedaris' Strangers With Candy show, or anyone that has enjoyed David Sedaris on NPR.
I'm not sure if I find Sedaris' stories so endearing because they remind me of my own family or because I can hear my father's voice telling similar ones. This book, Me Talk Pretty One Day, is broken down into two parts: one and deux. The first section is filled with stories about New York and North Carolina where Sedaris lived. Then the second section is about his move to Paris with his boyfriend, Hugh. Some of my favorite stories in this book are:
"The City of Light in the Dark" - Sedaris talks about the movie houses in Paris. This does remind me of my father quite a bit because Sedaris talks about the annoying habits of Americans at the movies. As my father goes to the movies several times a week with his fellow retirees, I hear about these things quite often.
"The Youth In Asia" - The author tells a story about his parents' dog, Melina, and the devotion they show to her. It reminds me of the jealousy I feel towards my dads' dog, Delilah. She really is the center of their world and I never imagined that I would be jealous of an animal when it came to the affections of my two dads.
"The Learning Curve" - Tales of a teaching position in a college creative writing class. I could really sympathize with Sedaris on this one. He talks about his love of Soap Operas and how certain things only happen on certain days. This takes me back to high school days when I would watch them with my sister. The ending 'punchline' is really what makes it though.
"Picka Pocketoni" - An amusing story about the Ugly American in Paris. Sedaris is mistaken for a French Pickpocket and the American assumes no one else can speak English. Highly entertaining read.
I would recommend this to anyone that enjoyed Amy Sedaris' Strangers With Candy show, or anyone that has enjoyed David Sedaris on NPR.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
September 2010 Reading List
Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas (6/01/10) -Started
The Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (05/01/10) - Started
The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl (07/01/10)
The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl (07/01/10)
A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin (08/01/10)
Lamb by Christopher Moore (11/01/10)
Harry Potter Series Re-Read (9/01/10)
As you can see I have a horrible habit of starting books and not finishing them before I start the next. There are things I really want to read, and I tend to skip between 2-3 books at a time. I definitley want to reread the Harry Potter series again. I haven't done that since Book 7 came out several years ago, so it is long overdue. Especially since I know the ending now and can detect more of the story breadcrumbs J.K. left for herself while writing.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (Revisted)
I was finally able to finish this novel last night. I will say again, that the writer's style is very easy to read. She has a straightforward style that grabs the reader's interest. Rebecca Skloot reports the information as it is presented to her with some commentary of her own. Some of the Lacks family members are in jail or have less than perfect stories, but she doesn't shy away from these details or try to explain them away. It is very clear from her writing that she cares about these people but that she also wants to honor to Deborah Lack's wish that the book tells the true story of Henrietta and her family.
Definitely a book I would recommend to anyone.
Definitely a book I would recommend to anyone.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith
I sort of cheated on this one and bought the book on tape for my road trip to the beach. It was probably the best decision I made the whole week. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith was incredibly entertaining and kept my attention for the entire six hour drive to the Outer Banks. The biggest difference between reading this book and listening to it is that, from time to time, I forgot it was a fictional history.
Seth Grahame-Smith does an excellent job of incorporating vampires into real historical events. The style is very similar to his Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, in that he weaves his own tale into a well known one. From what I can tell, his Lincoln research is very thorough and very informative. Though I am by no means a Lincoln or Civil War expert. This book has actually inspired me to do a little research of my own into the real life events depicted in the novel. My father recently finished Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin, so I may borrow his copy.
Of course, the Civil War is used as front for a secret war between feuding Vampires and their human counterparts. John Wilkes Booth had more motive than in real life. And the deaths of family and friends throughout Lincoln's life are not always accidental or the result of the rough frontier life. I only wish I had gotten a copy of the novel as well so I could see the photographic "evidence" supplied.
Definitely a book I would recommend to the Vampire fan. Lincoln purists may not appreciate this approach to their hero but it could be an excellent way to interest the younger generation in history.
Seth Grahame-Smith does an excellent job of incorporating vampires into real historical events. The style is very similar to his Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, in that he weaves his own tale into a well known one. From what I can tell, his Lincoln research is very thorough and very informative. Though I am by no means a Lincoln or Civil War expert. This book has actually inspired me to do a little research of my own into the real life events depicted in the novel. My father recently finished Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin, so I may borrow his copy.
Of course, the Civil War is used as front for a secret war between feuding Vampires and their human counterparts. John Wilkes Booth had more motive than in real life. And the deaths of family and friends throughout Lincoln's life are not always accidental or the result of the rough frontier life. I only wish I had gotten a copy of the novel as well so I could see the photographic "evidence" supplied.
Definitely a book I would recommend to the Vampire fan. Lincoln purists may not appreciate this approach to their hero but it could be an excellent way to interest the younger generation in history.
Friday, September 10, 2010
The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad
One of the major books on my list to finish while on vacation was The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad. I'd started it a few years ago after seeing the Christian Bale/Bob Hoskins remake. What I found most interesting was the way Conrad described the terrorist, The Professor. It really made me think of the September 11th attacks in the US. Here is a novel that was written around the turn of the 20th century which explores similar themes we were dealing with at the turn of the 21st century. The Professor, portrayed by Robin Williams in the film, cares nothing about governments or religion claiming to be a true anarchist. His only desire is to create the perfect detonator for the explosives he carries on his person at all times. (Apparently, this novel was a favorite of the Unabomber.)
But the Professor is just a background character in the seedy underbelly of London. The real focus is on Mr. Verloc, his wife. Winnie, and her special needs brother, Stevie. The tragedy is not in the actions taken by the terrorist group or even Winnie's final act, but in the way Verloc misused his brother-in-law. Winnie and her mother, having told Stevie that Mr. Verloc is a "good" man, gave a very willing servant to a desperate man. This trust, both Stevie's child-like trust of the adult figure in his life and the trust of a wife in her husband, is betrayed and results in Stevie's death.
Definitely a fantastic read and not as difficult to navigate as Conrad's Heart of Darkness. It does skip around in time throughout the narrative, but that only increases the reader's ability to comprehend the severity of the crimes perpetrated.
But the Professor is just a background character in the seedy underbelly of London. The real focus is on Mr. Verloc, his wife. Winnie, and her special needs brother, Stevie. The tragedy is not in the actions taken by the terrorist group or even Winnie's final act, but in the way Verloc misused his brother-in-law. Winnie and her mother, having told Stevie that Mr. Verloc is a "good" man, gave a very willing servant to a desperate man. This trust, both Stevie's child-like trust of the adult figure in his life and the trust of a wife in her husband, is betrayed and results in Stevie's death.
Definitely a fantastic read and not as difficult to navigate as Conrad's Heart of Darkness. It does skip around in time throughout the narrative, but that only increases the reader's ability to comprehend the severity of the crimes perpetrated.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
I heard this interview on NPR with the author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot, and had to go out and order the book. (I found it on Amazon for a reasonable price and am currently awaiting its arrival in the mail.) One of the most important contributions to modern science and medicine and the common person knows very little about it. In 1951, a poor African-American woman in Baltimore was diagnosed with cervical cancer. While undergoing treatment, her doctor takes a tissue sample for George Gey, the head of tissue-culture research at Johns Hopkins. Gey had been trying to grow a line of human cells, for testing, and had been unsuccessful for almost 30 years. Apparently, it was pretty standard practice to take tissue samples from patients without permission and not yet an issue legally. Henrietta Lacks' cells are unique in that they were able to divide and replicate infinitely, thus allowing Gey to achieve his goal.
According to the interview on NPR, the first major disease treated using the HeLa (the name given to the cell line, using the first two letters of the "donor's" first and last name) cell line was polio. Jonas Salk used her cells to create and distribute his Polio Vaccine. The invention of which almost earned Salk his own national holiday in the United States. Though something we take for granted today, Polio was an epidemic in this country at the time and the vaccine was a true miracle.
It seems amazing that the contribution from one person has led to so many
medical advances; that so many lives have been saved and hardly anyone outside
of the medical community knew her name. In fact, she is buried in a family plot
without a headstone and today, her children can't afford health insurance that
would allow them access to the medicines she helped develop. It was certainly
the genius of the scientists that created the cures, medicines, and vaccines but
how much of that would have been possible without her cells?
So, I am looking forward to reading Rebecca Skloot's book. The interview said she focuses
not only on the impact the HeLa cells had on the medical community, but also on
what that meant to her family when they discovered where the cells had come
from. The book took ten years to research and write, mostly due to the author
having to gain the trust of the Lacks Family. I'm also hoping the author's
writing style is easy to read and not full of medical descriptions I know very
little about.
According to the interview on NPR, the first major disease treated using the HeLa (the name given to the cell line, using the first two letters of the "donor's" first and last name) cell line was polio. Jonas Salk used her cells to create and distribute his Polio Vaccine. The invention of which almost earned Salk his own national holiday in the United States. Though something we take for granted today, Polio was an epidemic in this country at the time and the vaccine was a true miracle.
"Ms. REBECCA SKLOOT (Author, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks"): (Reading)
I've tried to imagine how she'd feel, knowing that her cells went up in the
first space missions to see what would happen to human cells in zero gravity
or that they helped with some of the most important advances in medicine:
the polio vaccine, chemotherapy, cloning, gene mapping, in vitro
fertilization." - from Book Probes: 'Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks' on
NPR.org
It seems amazing that the contribution from one person has led to so many
medical advances; that so many lives have been saved and hardly anyone outside
of the medical community knew her name. In fact, she is buried in a family plot
without a headstone and today, her children can't afford health insurance that
would allow them access to the medicines she helped develop. It was certainly
the genius of the scientists that created the cures, medicines, and vaccines but
how much of that would have been possible without her cells?
So, I am looking forward to reading Rebecca Skloot's book. The interview said she focuses
not only on the impact the HeLa cells had on the medical community, but also on
what that meant to her family when they discovered where the cells had come
from. The book took ten years to research and write, mostly due to the author
having to gain the trust of the Lacks Family. I'm also hoping the author's
writing style is easy to read and not full of medical descriptions I know very
little about.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Find your Hogwart's House
The sorting hat says that I belong in Hufflepuff!
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot, and treat them just the same."
Hufflepuff students are friendly, fair-minded, modest, and hard-working. A well-known member was Cedric Diggory, who represented Hogwarts in the most recent Triwizard Tournament.
Take the most scientific Harry Potter
Quiz ever created.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Practical Magic By Alice Hoffman
Practical Magic is one of my favorite movies from high school. So, naturally, when I saw the original novel, by Alice Hoffman, on my bookstore shelf, I had to pick it up. Many of the story elements are the same; the sisters are still unlucky in love, Jimmy is still buried in the back yard, and the aunts are still magical. But there are several differences which make the book and movie two entirely different creatures.
In the movie, Sally, played by Sandra Bullock, moves back in with the Aunts after her husband, Michael, dies. She is subjected to the same prejudices and teasing she experienced as a child and longs to be accepted by the townsfolk. Her sister, Gillian, returns to comfort her sister and brings along her own troubles. In the novel, Gillian leaves as a young girl and vows never to return to the East Coast, only calling her sister once a week when Michael dies. Gillian believes she is unworthy of love and so finds the worst types of men. For Sally, it is her husband's death which prompts her to leave the Aunts and seek out a better life for her children. In the movie, Sally is depicted as an outcast from the town yearning for acceptance. In the book, she finds acceptance and structure in a small town in New York, turning her back on everything magical and clinging to a "normal" life. Her daughters grow up never knowing about the magic the Aunts would perform for the desperate townswomen. It's only when her sister, Gillian, shows up that things start to go awry. In the movie, the Aunts leave Sally and Gillian to clean up their own mess whereas in the book, it's the Aunts who are called in to save the day after Sally and Gillian discover they are unable to handle it alone.
The novel flows very easily from one idea to another. We get everyone's thoughts and fears with an omniscient narrator. While telling the story of Sally and Gillian's struggle to deal with their past and accept a future, we also learn about the first Owen's woman to live in New England. We learn about the Aunts and their first loves as well as the hopes and dreams of Sally's daughters. Gillian and Sally are both able to find honest love and, in turn, be open to it. It's a great lesson in being careful what one wishes for. From the townswomen that visit the Aunts in the dark of night, to the Owen's women's desire to avoid similar fates. It's about being open to life and the possibilities of love; leaving your past behind you and moving toward something positive.
The ending isn't the same as the big hollywood ending one sees in the movie, but it's equally as satisfying. A fairly quick read, great for the beach.
In the movie, Sally, played by Sandra Bullock, moves back in with the Aunts after her husband, Michael, dies. She is subjected to the same prejudices and teasing she experienced as a child and longs to be accepted by the townsfolk. Her sister, Gillian, returns to comfort her sister and brings along her own troubles. In the novel, Gillian leaves as a young girl and vows never to return to the East Coast, only calling her sister once a week when Michael dies. Gillian believes she is unworthy of love and so finds the worst types of men. For Sally, it is her husband's death which prompts her to leave the Aunts and seek out a better life for her children. In the movie, Sally is depicted as an outcast from the town yearning for acceptance. In the book, she finds acceptance and structure in a small town in New York, turning her back on everything magical and clinging to a "normal" life. Her daughters grow up never knowing about the magic the Aunts would perform for the desperate townswomen. It's only when her sister, Gillian, shows up that things start to go awry. In the movie, the Aunts leave Sally and Gillian to clean up their own mess whereas in the book, it's the Aunts who are called in to save the day after Sally and Gillian discover they are unable to handle it alone.
The novel flows very easily from one idea to another. We get everyone's thoughts and fears with an omniscient narrator. While telling the story of Sally and Gillian's struggle to deal with their past and accept a future, we also learn about the first Owen's woman to live in New England. We learn about the Aunts and their first loves as well as the hopes and dreams of Sally's daughters. Gillian and Sally are both able to find honest love and, in turn, be open to it. It's a great lesson in being careful what one wishes for. From the townswomen that visit the Aunts in the dark of night, to the Owen's women's desire to avoid similar fates. It's about being open to life and the possibilities of love; leaving your past behind you and moving toward something positive.
The ending isn't the same as the big hollywood ending one sees in the movie, but it's equally as satisfying. A fairly quick read, great for the beach.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
I read these novels a long, long time ago. It was a favorite series of a guy I dated and, as he didn't read fiction that much, I figured it was worth a look. I remember enjoying the book, though I found the first installment incredibly dull before they reached Rivendell. It was only because I had seen the first film in the trilogy that I continued at all. This outing has proved to be everything I hoped it would be. I had hoped that, after reading The Three Musketeers as an adult, I would find The Lord of the Rings much more enjoyable and nuanced. I was not disappointed.
This time around, I took the time to read the introductions and prologue. What amazes me is the attention to detail that went into the creation of Middle Earth. Entire languages, migration patterns, architectural evolutions were thought out. Granted, Tolkien was a Medieval Scholar (particularly Beowulf), and you can see that echoed everywhere in the novel. So I am sure a lot of his background information for the different races of Middle Earth were based upon the real life history of Europe. Still, to put that much thought into one's characters is inspiring.
One thing I found most interesting was that they were written in the late thirties and early forties; I had assumed they were much older than that. He writes in his introduction that his intention was never to create an allegory and that to find any, i.e. traces of Hitler or the Nazis in Sauron and his armies, is based on what the reader brings to the text and not what the author has written. I wonder what Tolkien thought of C.S. Lewis, as he states very clearly in his introduction that he doesn't appreciate allegory at all.
I've been comparing the book to the movies this time around and find that while the exclusion of Tom Bombadil makes sense in the interest of time, it is very disappointing to the book lovers. The passage of time in the book is very different from the movie as well. Certainly, since Tolkien has infinite pages to write about an event this makes sense. There is a sense of urgency created in the movie which isn't felt in the book until much later in the story.
All in all, a beautifully written novel with fantastic characters. I will be heading on to Two Towers soon. Though I may have to take a slight detour for this interesting title I've recently heard about on NPR, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.
This time around, I took the time to read the introductions and prologue. What amazes me is the attention to detail that went into the creation of Middle Earth. Entire languages, migration patterns, architectural evolutions were thought out. Granted, Tolkien was a Medieval Scholar (particularly Beowulf), and you can see that echoed everywhere in the novel. So I am sure a lot of his background information for the different races of Middle Earth were based upon the real life history of Europe. Still, to put that much thought into one's characters is inspiring.
One thing I found most interesting was that they were written in the late thirties and early forties; I had assumed they were much older than that. He writes in his introduction that his intention was never to create an allegory and that to find any, i.e. traces of Hitler or the Nazis in Sauron and his armies, is based on what the reader brings to the text and not what the author has written. I wonder what Tolkien thought of C.S. Lewis, as he states very clearly in his introduction that he doesn't appreciate allegory at all.
I've been comparing the book to the movies this time around and find that while the exclusion of Tom Bombadil makes sense in the interest of time, it is very disappointing to the book lovers. The passage of time in the book is very different from the movie as well. Certainly, since Tolkien has infinite pages to write about an event this makes sense. There is a sense of urgency created in the movie which isn't felt in the book until much later in the story.
All in all, a beautifully written novel with fantastic characters. I will be heading on to Two Towers soon. Though I may have to take a slight detour for this interesting title I've recently heard about on NPR, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse by Robert Rankin
I've just finished a most interesting book. It's called The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse by Robert Rankin. The title alone was worth the $10.95 for this British Import. Set in Toy City, it follows the adventures of Jack and Eddie, the bear. Someone is killing the Pre-adolescent Poetry Characters, a.k.a. Nursery Rhyme Characters, one by one in a most amusing manner. The best part is definitely Eddie, the Teddy bear, who hates to do teddy things instead preferring to solve murders and use the sawdust between his ears. He loves to get drunk but, as he's filled with sawdust, it takes an awful lot. As is typical with most detectives, he doesn't have a lot of money so he can never afford to get properly drunk. So he drinks as much as he can afford and then stands on his head so the alcohol will actually get him drunk.
Simply written, though very humorous. It's like a cross between Douglas Adams and Jasper Fforde. A lot of twists and turns at the end which make the end impossible to guess. After reading the Maltese Falcon, I found this much more entertaining as it draws heavily upon the Detective genre. Definitely not a book to be shared with little ones. Also an interesting discussion of Theology, albeit in Toy terms. Hopefully I'll be heading on to the second book in the series, The Toyminator, soon.
Simply written, though very humorous. It's like a cross between Douglas Adams and Jasper Fforde. A lot of twists and turns at the end which make the end impossible to guess. After reading the Maltese Falcon, I found this much more entertaining as it draws heavily upon the Detective genre. Definitely not a book to be shared with little ones. Also an interesting discussion of Theology, albeit in Toy terms. Hopefully I'll be heading on to the second book in the series, The Toyminator, soon.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
I finally, after the insistence of my sister, read the original Wizard of Oz.
It truly is a fantastic story. It reminds me a bit of the old Grimm's Fairy Tales, in that there were some darker aspects to the novel. The Tin Woodman, for instance, is a highly romantic character because of his history. He was working on building a home for his sweetheart, so he could propose marriage, but her mother didn't want the match and went to the Wicked Witch of the East for help. The WW of E enchanted the Tin Woodman's ax so that he slowly chopped off his own body parts until he was completely made of tin. Without his heart, he forgot about his sweetheart.
It seems that they put the Good Witch of the North and the Good Witch of the South into one character, Glinda, in the the movie. After Dorothy melts the WW of W, and the Wizard disappears in his balloon, she is not immediately greeted by Glinda and told the way to go home. First, she must travel through another part of Oz to get to the Southern Good Witch. This is where she learns the secret of her shoes.
I was surprised that, along the way, each of her companions finds a home of his own. I liked that Baum decided to tell his audience what the other characters would do after Dorothy's departure. The movie is structured to support the idea that Dorothy dreamed the whole thing, so it doesn't matter what her fictional friends do after she returns to Kansas. I was also surprised that the character of Boq, from Gregory MacGuire's Wicked, actually has a basis in the original novel. He is a minor, throwaway character as Dorothy leaves the munchkins. But he has a name that was borrowed for MacGuire's character.
I used to think that the movie, Return to Oz, was creepy and not in keeping with the Oz tradition. I was proven wrong by the actual novel. The original movie was not in keeping with that tradition and Return to Oz was a return to the darker, yet uplifting, story of Dorothy and her friends.
This is definitely a novel that I would read at bedtime with a child. It has scary parts, but it doesn't dwell on them, and is both entertaining for adults and easy for younger readers to understand.
It truly is a fantastic story. It reminds me a bit of the old Grimm's Fairy Tales, in that there were some darker aspects to the novel. The Tin Woodman, for instance, is a highly romantic character because of his history. He was working on building a home for his sweetheart, so he could propose marriage, but her mother didn't want the match and went to the Wicked Witch of the East for help. The WW of E enchanted the Tin Woodman's ax so that he slowly chopped off his own body parts until he was completely made of tin. Without his heart, he forgot about his sweetheart.
It seems that they put the Good Witch of the North and the Good Witch of the South into one character, Glinda, in the the movie. After Dorothy melts the WW of W, and the Wizard disappears in his balloon, she is not immediately greeted by Glinda and told the way to go home. First, she must travel through another part of Oz to get to the Southern Good Witch. This is where she learns the secret of her shoes.
I was surprised that, along the way, each of her companions finds a home of his own. I liked that Baum decided to tell his audience what the other characters would do after Dorothy's departure. The movie is structured to support the idea that Dorothy dreamed the whole thing, so it doesn't matter what her fictional friends do after she returns to Kansas. I was also surprised that the character of Boq, from Gregory MacGuire's Wicked, actually has a basis in the original novel. He is a minor, throwaway character as Dorothy leaves the munchkins. But he has a name that was borrowed for MacGuire's character.
I used to think that the movie, Return to Oz, was creepy and not in keeping with the Oz tradition. I was proven wrong by the actual novel. The original movie was not in keeping with that tradition and Return to Oz was a return to the darker, yet uplifting, story of Dorothy and her friends.
This is definitely a novel that I would read at bedtime with a child. It has scary parts, but it doesn't dwell on them, and is both entertaining for adults and easy for younger readers to understand.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
I've just finished reading this fantastic book, The Graveyard Book. They really tricked me into reading it and by they, I mean Neil Gaiman. He has the first 3 chapters up online for anyone to read. As I was bored the other day, I decided to see what it was all about. Of course, I couldn't stop after just 3 chapters. Trickster, he is.
It begins with triple homicide, though not nearly as gory as one would think. A baby boy's family is killed while he crawls to safety in the nearest graveyard. The boy is promptly adopted by a set of ghosts and a vampire is stationed as his guardian. They protect the boy from the killer and dub him Nobody Owens, or Bod for short. The next few chapters detail his adventures growing up in the graveyard under the protection of the spirits and "otherworldly" creatures who reside there. Obviously, there is a bit of a show-down at the end (Between the graveyard inhabitants, Bod, and the killer).
The ending is both happy and sad. He grows up and figures out what kind of man he will be. Gets to go and pursue all of his dreams, but as with everything it comes with a cost. Excellent, excellent story that I thoroughly recommend to anyone. Some of the danger may be a bit much for smallish ones, but can easily be modified if read aloud at bedtime. Halloween would be an excellent time to share this story. The adventures are really the best part. Each chapter is like it's own little story, but really they are pieces to a puzzle that is revealed at the end.
As it is written for a younger audience, it is a very quick read. Still, have fun with this one.
It begins with triple homicide, though not nearly as gory as one would think. A baby boy's family is killed while he crawls to safety in the nearest graveyard. The boy is promptly adopted by a set of ghosts and a vampire is stationed as his guardian. They protect the boy from the killer and dub him Nobody Owens, or Bod for short. The next few chapters detail his adventures growing up in the graveyard under the protection of the spirits and "otherworldly" creatures who reside there. Obviously, there is a bit of a show-down at the end (Between the graveyard inhabitants, Bod, and the killer).
The ending is both happy and sad. He grows up and figures out what kind of man he will be. Gets to go and pursue all of his dreams, but as with everything it comes with a cost. Excellent, excellent story that I thoroughly recommend to anyone. Some of the danger may be a bit much for smallish ones, but can easily be modified if read aloud at bedtime. Halloween would be an excellent time to share this story. The adventures are really the best part. Each chapter is like it's own little story, but really they are pieces to a puzzle that is revealed at the end.
As it is written for a younger audience, it is a very quick read. Still, have fun with this one.
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