I haven’t really written much in weeks, probably a couple thousand words at the most for a new story that hasn’t really gone anywhere other than a few intro pages. It’s not that I don’t have inspiration, I do. I have a ton of cool story ideas from post-apocalyptic to magical fantasy to horror. The problem is that I find myself in a strange place after having written my last book, which was based on a completely different and unique idea. Now I am worrying whether it was too different.
Too different from what, you ask? Well, the market, or what agents and editors say is hot in the market (especially for debut authors). So here is the dilemma – agents and editors claim to want fresh but it’s fresh with a caveat. They want fresh but not so fresh that it’s not completely identical to everything else selling in the market. Does that sound like a contradiction of terms to you? That’s because it is. How do you find an idea that’s like everything else but still fresh?
I am starting to think that this doesn’t really exist unless I copy what one other young adult author revealed was her secret strategy – to take any (non-original) story and switch up the gender of the characters, giving publishers what they want but being “different” enough. But that doesn’t make it fresh to me, underneath it’s just the same old thing. Wouldn’t readers see right through that? Interestingly, it has worked for her – she’s a best selling author of two young adult books. So is that what agents and editors want, a mash-up of already done, already “proven” ideas? Sounds like it but I don’t think that that’s what readers want, at least I’d like to hope so. I’m a voracious reader myself and when I come upon a new book with an interesting unique different idea, I’m intrigued. Simply put, the world is a diverse place, we need diverse material. Pick any book from the Hugo Awards list and you’ll see some of the diversity I’m talking about.
Anyway, that’s only a snippet of my creative dilemma as I’m sure there are other implications tied in to this like the economic climate (editors not willing to risk their jobs for unknown authors or publishers looking for tried and true), the changing landscape of the publishing industry and the digital ebook revolution, or simple economics of the cost to produce versus sales return. More than likely it’s going to be the Indies (Independent Publishers) that are going to be the ones to find the new stuff or take a chance on niche markets/ideas, but still, that’s but a sliver of the whole. It’s an undeniably daunting prospect for any unconnected unknown writer. The odds are simply not in their favor.
That said, I’m debating whether to do a test project and write the book that fits the mold. Is that selling out? Not entirely sure…but if it means selling something, I don’t have anything to lose. What’s the alternative? To do it yourself and own the onus? That’s certainly an option but that’s a very complicated discussion meant for another time.
Not super fresh, I thought. Fresh Blood definitely had its moments, but overall it just didn’t get there for me. Maybe it was because I expected a TON more from the second to last episode of the season.
Firstly, it’s disappointing that they basically gave away how they were going to kill Russell in the previews for next week but I guess the snapshot of Godric is a little sweet spot for us to look forward to considering they gave pretty much everything else away (i.e., Russell is dead).
Secondly, how are they going to wrap up (if at all) all of the other miscellaneous subplots that have for the most part been somewhat lame this season? Let’s enumerate: 1) Crystal and Jason and her meth/were-panther family, 2) Tara’s rage at everybody (although was the cathartic sex scene between her and Sam in this episode supposed to be a loose end tied up?), 3) Lafayette and Jesus and their whole weird super-natural (and now diabolic???) relationship, 4) Arlene and her baby (although maybe that’s for next season now that her “evil” baby didn’t die), 5) Jessica and Hoyt (in hindsight though as I write this, maybe that one has been wrapped up because they’re back together, although Hoyt’s mother and Summer are devilishly plotting to break them up), 6) Claudine and her fairy bunch, and lastly but not least, 7) The Authority – at least give us something to chew on between seasons. Pretty pretty please!
The shining moments between Crystal’s were-panther appearance and the completely bizarre Wiccan scene between Holly and Arlene to get rid of Arlene’s baby, was of course the confrontation scene between Eric and Russell when he offers him the sun, as well as the last part of the episode where the whole trick with Russell, Eric, Sookie and Bill comes together.
Bill: One caveat gentlemen. If you drain her completely, that’s the last fairy blood you’ll ever drink.
Eric: Hm, good point.
Russell: We are schooled. Onward to adventure!
Sookie: If this is you trying to help me, thanks for nothing.
The scene in the bar when drunken Sam completely loses it was actually also pretty funny. In a messed up way, it was cool to see the normally pulled-together Sam falling apart and swearing at everyone, even poor gentle Terry who tries to tell him that it’s just the liquor talking.
Sam: Get back in the kitchen, you shell-shocked mother-[BLEEP]!
Even so, I laughed so hard because that is exactly how Terry looks to me…shell-shocked. I actually also liked wrap up of the story between Jason and Kitch, and the whole secret that he’s using V to be able to play football longer and stronger, and that all the coaches know about it. Probably something that will go into next season unless Jason goes ballistic on them in the last episode. The part where Tara tells Andy that she knew about Eggs was cool, and I liked how Andy comes back and just explains about Maryann.
Andy: Well I don’t feel like a hero. I never wanted nothing like this to happen. It was all Maryann. He [Eggs] was innocent. God help me. If I could do it again, if I could go back and just get a hold of Jason’s gun, if Eggs would just listen and put the knife down, but he…he was bound and determined to die. I couldn’t stop him. Jason didn’t know. I’m sorry. Tara, I’m so sorry.
Honestly I think that was all Tara needed to hear that somebody was sorry that Eggs had to die. That was a good resolution of that piece.
It was good to see poor little Tommy back-pedaling like crazy when Sam fires him and kicks him out, especially how quickly he usually is to fire off his mouth. Bet he didn’t see that one coming!
Tommy to Sam: Wait. I lost my temper. It’s…it’s nothing. I’m sorry. See, see, I ain’t mad anymore!
Absolutely loved the last few minutes of the eposide when Eric turns around to Russell when they’re outside in the sun with his face is competely blistered and burned, and he snaps the handcuffs on Russell’s hand before Russell can escape.
Russell: You traitor! [BLEEP] madman!
Eric growling: Be brave. We’ll die together.
Thought Eric was very much like a Viking prince in that moment, facing death so courageously.
The final episode, which looks super-exciting based on the previews (Godric!!!), will air in two weeks on September 12, at 9pm on HBO. As a final note, loved the In Memoriam of all the vampires/creatures who met the True Death, from Maudette to Godric. Classic gory True Blood moments!
I’d really like to say that Nanny McPhee is back and better than ever, but honestly I didn’t think that this sequel was as good as the first. Sure, there were a few poignant moments as well as some decent laugh-out-loud ones in Nanny McPhee Returns, but overall, it didn’t have much of the magic of the original Nanny McPhee.
Rated at 77% on the Rotten Tomatoes tomatometer, I honestly expected more given that the tomatometer is usually in line with what I think about most films. In this case however, I think it was a bit off. I’d probably put Nanny McPhee Returns at about 50%.
Nanny McPhee returns at Aggie’s behest (the baby from the first movie played by Maggie Smith) to help a young mother (played admirably by Maggie Gyllenhaal) with her three unruly children and their two spoiled cousins while their father is away at war. As usual, a scary-looking Nanny McPhee appears when she is needed but not wanted, and leaves when she is wanted but no longer needed (with hotness makeover complete). She has five lessons to teach these five youngsters, and goes about doing that in her unique stick-thumping manner. Although it’s a tad bit violent and reminiscent of a tween Fight Club when the children are beating the crap out of themselves, Nanny McPhee does manage to complete the first of her lessons. But then, toss in a creepy uncle who wants the children’s mother to sell the farm to save himself from debt (and the two heifers after his kidneys), an inanely random bomb diffusion, a weird blackbird addicted to putty, an unsightly (really unsightly) amount of poo, and a forged telegram that their father has been killed in action, and I’m not sure that the outcome can be anything amazing. Instead, it’s a hodge-podge of random events with a ton of fairy dust thrown on top of it to disguise its complete lack of anything magical.
That said, I didn’t leave the theater saying that this movie was terrible. It did have some redeeming moments too, like when the children stick up for each other, or their mother’s unswerving unconditional love (at moments when most mothers would go completely ballistic, like when they ruined her cherished wedding veil), or when their father comes home at the end because his son knows it “in his bones” that his father isn’t dead. Overall however, it just wasn’t near anything as good as its predecessor.
Emma Thompson is wonderful as Nanny McPhee, but the main storyline completely undermined how incredible she is in this role. I can certainly appreciate that this film is of course directed toward kids, but I just didn’t feel the magic. Don’t get me wrong, the actual magic was there – fairy-dust-making stick thumps, synchronized swimming piglets, sky-writing barley, and flying motorbikes, along with disappearing moles and unibrows. It just didn’t feel as original and extraordinary as the first film which also seemed to have more of a more fluid and emotionally-connective story. The magic went far deeper. The pacing of the film also felt odd to me, dragging along in parts and racing along in others which made it seem very fragmented and choppy. Things happened too much at random, and then didn’t get resolved or were ignored.
Nanny McPhee Returns does convey the right messages to children like not fighting, sharing, helping others, as well as more adult messages like taking leaps of faith, but it just didn’t come together for me as much as I wanted it to. I would rate Nanny McPhee Returns 2 out of 5 stars. Younger children will enjoy it, and as other reviewers have said, parents will probably enjoy their delight more than any of their own from watching the film themselves. I’d say wait for DVD.
I have never been disappointed by a Jack Reacher novel, until now. In fact, I own every single one of the Jack Reacher novels. All of them, and I love them all equally. But not anymore…I guess the other shoe had to drop sometime with 61 Hours.
In summary, it’s not an overly complicated plot. Reacher stumbles into a scenario, as he always does, where he lends his assistance to the local police force after of course confirming he isn’t the bad guy. Someone’s moving a lot of meth in their area, and they think it’s a bunch of bikers squatting on an abandoned ex-Air Force base which has miles and miles of underground space beneath it. They are right but they need to find the big guy, the one behind it all, a drug lord named Plato, before he kills their only witness (Mrs. Salter). Reacher gets help from his old MP team and it’s new CO, Susan Turner, to find out more about the base. After a few predictable kills (Mrs. Salter and Reacher’s police force buddy), the final showdown occurs in the base with the drug lord who gets triple-crossed by his own guys and some unnamed random Russian guy, and ends with Reacher running for his life to escape a massive explosion.
Mr. Child, you are a talented writer no doubt, you had me turning page after page and wanting more Reacher just as you always do, but you broke one simple cardinal rule. Reacher does not get the girl. I’ve never been rooting for two people to come together more than I did for those two. I felt really cheated because there was an unconscious build-up with Susan Turner looking into his file and getting more involved with him mentally and emotionally (and vice versa), especially during their last telephone conversation…and then you just ripped it away! Uggh!
Normally I close a Jack Reacher novel with a sense of “that was freaking awesome!” Not this time – I honestly wanted to hurl the book across the room, because not only was I denied any kind of actual face-to-face with Reacher and Susan, I don’t even know if my hero is even still alive. The book ended far too abruptly with Reacher trying to get to safety and Susan being shipped off to Afghanistan and all major agencies cold-casing the whole thing. On top of all that, the plot was way too predictable and so were the surrounding characters. I had Chief Holland pegged as the killer from the second he started being over-solicitous to Mrs. Salter.
As with all of Lee Child’s novels in this series, the writing was fast-paced and brilliant, but I felt inordinately let down by the content. Then again, maybe my expectations of Jack Reacher are abnormally high.
I would give 61 Hours probably 2 and a half stars, if only because despite it all, I still love Reacher.
Normally when I get accosted in book stores by women older than me raving about a young adult book they’ve recently read (and I mean raving, she couldn’t stop), I usually nod and carefully inch my way backwards scanning for nearby exits. That was the case with The Hunger Games. Needless to say, I didn’t immediately buy the book at Barnes and Noble, and got the heck out of dodge. A few days later, scrounging around for something different to read, I came upon The Hunger Games, so I purchased it. Boy, am I glad I did. I finished that book in 3 hours flat. It was different for sure. It was exciting. It was heart-pounding. It was sweet. And it was good.
Suzanne Collins is a solid writer. The language flowed well, especially after the first tenth of the book which didn’t really grab me initially, and at times I really got pulled in by the descriptions of the territory so much so that I had to go back and re-read little things I missed on the previous page. I’m also a chronic speed-reader, so I’m sure that didn’t help when I got engrossed.
The Hunger Games is set in a post-apocalyptic future where there are no longer U.S. states but twelve districts surrounding a Capitol in a country called Panem. The Capitol is full of excess and gluttony and wealth, while each of the twelve districts has to fight for basic necessities like grain and water and oil. District 12 is the last district, and is the poorest. Each year, as a punishment for a prior rebellion of the districts against the Capitol, two young people (one boy and one girl aged 12-18) are chosen from each district to fight to the death while it is all broadcast on live TV. If you’re like me and are thinking of The Condemned, a 2007 film, where a bunch of death-row convicts are placed on an island and have to fight to the death streaming live over the internet, with the winner getting a free pass out of jail, I will tell you that it was quite similar in concept. Even down to the sponsors of the event sending floating parachutes with weapons or food to the combatants to give them an edge.
The big difference of course is that these are teenagers fighting to survive. But conceptually, it is pretty much identical. The main protagonist is a girl called Katniss who is headstrong, clever, protective of her family, hostile yet compassionate, and multi-dimensional. She is fierce, and she had me at hello. When her little sister’s name is drawn in the selection for District 12, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She along with another boy who has loved her since they were children, Peeta, head to the games at the Capitol. As part of their strategy, they are coached to go into the games as a pair (and not traditionally as solitary fighters because there can only be one winner). Not unexpectedly, this connection is what saves them both in the end.
The first thing I noticed once they got to the Capitol was the huge dichotomy between life in the Capitol and life in District 12. One favors a life of indulgence and excess, the other one of hardship and suffering. I thought Suzanne Collins did a great job of communicating this and it was one of the many things that gave added depth to the book. This was a world that I could really sink my mind into.
Once the actual games commence, following an Olympic-style introduction ceremony, it’s all about survival and not getting killed. I found myself becoming so tied into Katniss and what she was feeling each second of the day during the ordeal that I could not put this book down. When she was hurt, I felt hurt. When she was sad, I felt sad. Kudos to the author for being able to weave this kind of reader response with such finesse. In the end, after finding and losing allies, almost dying, avoiding some pretty tight situations, and yep, falling for her District 12 partner, Katniss and Peeta make it to the end, and in an unprecedented turn, are declared twin winners. The plot is pretty intricate so I know that I am leaving out a lot of other little plot things here, but that wouldn’t be fun, would it? Giving away all the good stuff that makes this novel a keeper? You need to go read it yourself and get lost in this world. It is worth it.
One thing that I loved about this book was that it had a beginning (started a little slow, I have to admit), a middle, and an end. I really cannot stand books that end on cliffhangers expecting you to go buy a sequel to find out what happens. That’s not fair to readers at all. That’s like watching a movie that ends telling you to “tune in for the sequel.” Um, no thanks.
I would rate The Hunger Games 4 out of 5 stars. Great read with lots of cool twists, and solid characters that you can really connect with and feel something for. No one-dimensional Sallies here. The action is literally non-stop, and you will react emotionally to this story even though it’s sci-fi fiction. It’s gritty and raw and dramatic. I enjoyed it immensely, so yes, an indirect shout out does need to go out to the raving lunatic fan in Barnes and Noble. Thank you, crazy lady, you made my day by bringing my attention to this book.
If you’re looking for Victoria’s Secret, this isn’t it. I still don’t know what that particular secret is. The one I’m talking about has been out for a while now and is less about lingerie and more about positivity.
The Secret is one of those things that you need to remind yourself about from time to time, especially when you get bogged down in the day-to-day grind which can wear you down to a tiny, disgruntled, emotionless nub. After finding myself in such a place, I picked The Secret up from my bookshelf and re-read it the other day. I know that many people may think that it is new-age hogwash or something thereabouts, but there’s really something to be said for the power of positive thinking. Positive thoughts attract positivity and negative thoughts, negativity. It’s simple and it’s powerful.
Case in point. I bought three cups of coffee yesterday from Dunkin Donuts, one of them was a tall ice-decaf, the other two were hot medium regulars. My instant thought was how horrible would it be if one of these tipped over in my car. And then, that was like wildfire in my brain no matter how much I tried to tell myself otherwise. I made it all the way home and dropped the iced coffee off to a neighbor. In the one minute drive to my own house…you guessed it, one of the two remaining cups tipped over and flooded my passenger seat just as I pulled in front of my house. Newman! It’s a small example, but it got me to thinking. If I hadn’t obsessed about it – basically putting it out there that I subconsciously wanted it to happen, then would things have been different?
So what’s my point, you ask? Well, stop for a second. Let’s not obsess about the power of thought and will, and being all skeptical about making things happen by thinking about them. We know you’re not Harry Potter. But at the end of the day, do you want to be that grumpy, unhappy person that nothing good ever happens to? I don’t. I want lots of good things in my life. And if that means that I need to push positivity out and make myself a human super-soaker of the stuff, then I’m game. Seriously, do you have anything to lose? Get a smile on, think about all the good things you already have and be grateful for them, visualize all the things you want, and put it out there!
I’m a couple weeks late after the newest Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows trailer came out but I only saw it when I went to see Inception. It looks like it’s going to be phenomenal! I do have to say though that this whole splitting the last book in a series into two movies is just wrong. Harry Potter, Eclipse…I mean come on…we’ve bought and read all the books, we’ve gone to all the movies, we’ve bought the DVDs…do you have to stretch the beejezus out of the last one? Come on!
Rant said, the Harry Potter trailer looks awesome. I could almost be convinced that it would be worth it to see it in two parts. Almost. All I can say is that they have to do it right – and not just stretch it out painfully so that they can make the two movies. They both have to have standalone substance.
Holy crow, True Blood! Blood, guts, gore, and more. Way to wake Tara up! I think I am now a little afraid of her badassness – biting Franklin in the neck and then bludgeoning his skull to flatness with a grisly-looking spiky hammer! Outstanding! Although I do have to say that I don’t think Franklin is dead because all I was thinking was “cut his head off, Tara, cut it off!” Between that, burning, and staking, it’s really the only real ways to kill one of those sneaky suckers. Love how she takes charge to rescue Sookie and then they tandem kick the bejeezus out of the guard. That was just spectacular. I think I almost liked Tara in that moment. Almost.
Eric didn’t really impress me much in this episode but I guess he’s tortured by other things like almost-forgotten family vengeance. I did enjoy him putting the beat-down on Sophie-Anne.
Eric: “I’m older and stronger than you…I only submitted to you in the past because of respect…I will rip your head of and throw it in the pool, and I will have fun doing it!”
Hiss hiss, snarl snarl.
But that was just a snippet of the old Eric. I know he’s only being a sycophant just to get close to Russell but it’s bordering on skeevy. Definitely a lot of mano-y-mano action in this episode between Eric, Russell and Talbot (little jealous man-wife), and of course, Lafayette and Jesus (hot orderly boy if you’ve forgotten). Speaking of those two, I honestly have to say that that was the best boy-boy kiss I have ever seen on TV. I was totally cheering for Lafayette! Well, until of course he totally ruins it all when Jesus finds out that he’s a drug dealer. Silly Lafayette.
The other sub-plots are moving along but aren’t interesting enough for me to think about with any huge amount of brain space. Sam and family engaged in a shady dog-fighting ring. Blah. Jessica and her random eating habits. Blah. Jason and Crystal’s on-the-sly outdoor extravaganza. Blah. Still think she’s a werewolf by the way.
Can’t wait for next week now that Lorena finally has Sookie in her clutches! Definitely need to see some more of that supernatural killing force from her! And of course more of Alcide seeing that we only got a tiny little teaser of a view….although he was naked after morphing from wolf form so not complaining too hard.
Previews for next week look awesome! True Blood airs on HBO at 9pm on Sundays. Get yours!!
Just a quick post to say that the queries are out. Typically, every agency has rules but you know what, I’m a sales person at heart and I want to sell my product. So I’m out there trying to sell it, hard core. If this isn’t viewed as a business, then that agent is never going to be successful selling your book. They have to passionate about your work, as much as you are, and they have to have sales savvy. Plus of course have lots of contacts, and not the eye kind.
So you probably know by now from my extensive posts on querying agents (shame if you don’t), my query process basically means that I have a researched list of anyone looking for new clients in my category/genre, and then it’s “Hi yo, Silver, away!” That’s the Lone Ranger for you young’uns. Why the list, you ask? Well it’s such a subjective process. So go for anyone who would be a good fit for you and your book. Seriously, what if you get someone on a bad day, and then you’re screwed from the whole agency? Come on. At the end of the day, they’re human too, so make sure you cover your bases.
Repeat slowly – it is a business, and again. It. Is. A. Business. A business to make money.
Everyone in the entire publishing industry views it that way, so why shouldn’t you? I’m not saying don’t respect the rules, but bend them if you have to. I mean this is your dream, is it not? As my Aussie friends say, harden up. Push the limits. And remember, it’s the law of numbers – a rule I learned in Sales 101. The more you send out, the more responses you’ll get, and the greater chance for an offer, or maybe fifteen. I got 8 offers the last time so there’s something to be said for that law. And of course having stellar writing which comes in a close second. Or first. Seriously, that’s first.
Response has been fantastic so far. Lots of interest, so fingers crossed that it will just be about me connecting with the person who’s going to take me to the next level. My Mr. or Ms. Right-Agent. I can’t wait. Wow, this could be like an episode of the Literary Bachelorette or something. *Caution – too much query excitement can cause random delirium and some serious verbal vomit. Thank goodness it’s here and not in el query or el novel.
No kidding. It feels like everything is coming to boiling point. Writing a new book, a literary one mind you…no urban fantasy here, just evil masquerading as nice, normal individuals. Seriously, you don’t need to be a vampire or a werewolf to be inhuman. Strip away those top layers and sometimes you will be disgusted to see what you find in the very people around you. That’s not to say you don’t find good things too, but more often than not, there’s darkness lurking. It’s the human condition.
But I digress.
So between writing my third book, publishing the first one (hoping fervently that it will take off like a rocket), and getting a new literary agent for the second book (new series), it feels like my world is entering hyper-drive! But I’m not complaining! Don’t get me wrong…it’s just overwhelming. But oh so good!
If you’re interested on learning how to query an agent, check back to my links on that subject. I’ll keep you posted on progress of all three. Query-city next week!!
Tara gets out of stupid mode and is actually funny in this episode. Loved her OMG faces when she’s talking to the obviously psychotic Franklin. He is hilarious when he does the “how-fast-can-I-text” thing. What a tool. Hopefully Tara is wily enough to wrap him around her little finger before she becomes the meal du jour slash vampire bride.
Nice twist with Eric showing up (of course Talbot finds him hot!) Thought the back-story when he sees the crown in the king’s collection with him and his father was also neat, which reveals that Eric is in fact a Viking prince. Classic. Just adds in the element of “vengeance” against the house of cards that the old Mississippi King Vamp Russell is building.
Now for the rest of the True Blood sub-plots… Not really sure where the whole Sam and family thing is going, especially with his father’s rage against his little brother. I’m sure there’s a reason but it’s just boring – alright already, tell us what it is. Also interested to see who this mystery girl is that Jason keeps seeing. $50 says that she is a wolf too (or some other kind of super freak). Very happy that Lafayette is going to hook up with the cute orderly who takes care of his mother! Being Eric’s little cabana boy and dealing with his crazy cousin Tara all day long, the poor boy needs some nice in his life!
Absolutely loved the end of this episode where Bill goes completely nuts against Cooter and his vampire guard. And then the piece with Sookie using the strange power that first came to light against the maenad from last season was very cool. Mr. Vamp King definitely likes that considering he probably wants to use Sookie for his own ends. That little clap thing he did was extremely creepy.
I finally managed to get in to see Eclipse over the weekend. I can honestly say that from Twilight to New Moon to Eclipse, the movies have definitely improved. But of course, boatloads of money will do that for you. I’m still not a huge fan of Robert Pattinson *gasp* but I’m very impressed with Taylor Lautner in this go-around. I found him to be very interesting (and hot) as Jacob, and am now wavering in my self-professed “vamp-girl-for-life” persuasion.
Rated at 54% on the tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes, the film did have some great moments, like the fight scene between the vampires and the wolves which was exciting and fast-paced. I’m not sure I’m a fan of the diamond bodies – something about it just doesn’t resonate with me but that could be because I’m a crumble-to-ash-when-staked kind of girl. Old school. Nonetheless, in the new school, it was still pretty cool.
The core of the novels, I didn’t really enjoy the love scenes between Bella and Edward as much as I did when I’d read the books. In the film, I found them long and drawn-out. They were tedious and sappy, and I wanted to get to the action sequences. Something about Edward in this movie also felt a lot older to me – he didn’t seem as young as he did in the other two movies. Maybe that’s what made the love scenes seem awkward. Not entirely sure. I did like the interaction between Bella and Jacob – they were far more interesting. Plus you can’t help rooting for Jacob – the little underdog…er…wolf.
I also really enjoyed the back stories of each of the Cullens, and I especially liked Jasper’s story. I thought he was really great in this film – loved his humor and found that he reminded me of Louis from Interview with a Vampire at times (when he was conducting the training of the vampires and werewolves to fight the newborns), which was very cool.
Overall, I’d say it was a decent representation of the novel, and a film that most Twihards will enjoy. Me, I liked all the action scenes, Jacob’s constantly shirtless tanned body, and the nice one-liners throughout.
Edward: Doesn’t he own a shirt?
Not to mention the first kiss between Jacob and Bella which was so funny.
Charlie: What’s going on?
Jacob: I kissed Bella. And she broke her hand. Punching my face.
Classic. Love Charlie!
The film had both good and bad moments, but overall I enjoyed it. I thought that Xavier Samuel who played Riley also did a good job of being Victoria’s little minion. But in the end, he dies, poor thing. Dakota Fanning as Jane, in the little we did see of her, does a great job combining the little girl looks with stone cold killer. Got chills from that one…nice. Not sure who the other two Volturi were but didn’t care too much on that front. Jane and Felix were enough for me.
Overall I would rate Eclipse, the movie, 3 out of 5 stars. It was fun and stayed true to the book which fans will love. Couple that with Edward’s broodiness and cool vampire hair, and Jacob’s chiseled abs, and well, you’ve got box-office millions. Enjoy!
So the last episode of True Blood entitled Crimes was pretty decent. LOVED the dream that Eric had about Sookie, but loved even more the look that was on his face when he woke up. Classic. Normally it’s about humans dreaming about vampires not the other way around! He was completely shaken!
Definitely got my fill of Alcide as he steps in to help Sookie find the man/werewolf who kidnapped Bill. On that note, funny to notice that the same hot/cold metaphor comes up – cold for vampires, hot for werewolves. Obviously it’s not a new thing.
Sookie: Oh my god, you’re so warm.
Alcide: It’s a were thing, we run hot.
This just brings me to my rant of the day which of course is that everything to do with vampires and werewolves has been done. Even in this episode, they talk about Sookie being a telepath and not being able to hear Bill, which is the same thing between another vamp popular couple, Bella and Edward. He can’t hear her thoughts. There’s rarely anything new, well except of course for sparkling fairy-dust vampires. But I digress.
The best part (and saddest) about this episode was Bill being so cold to poor Sookie – “You are no longer of concern to me,” and telling her that he’d just been with Lorena. Ouch. That was stone cold. Despite his iciness to Sookie, Bill has definitely gotten his sexy back – how hot does he look when he gets angry and smashes Lorena in the face? Fantastic! I am liking the new Bill…
Apart from the whole plot movement of the Mississippi king vamping out his blood to the werewolves (which hopefully is going to come back in a huge way because you have to imagine that if dealing V to humans is so bad, giving it to the werewolves is even worse), the episode was very entertaining. Tara is still as dumb as ever but maybe one of these days she will surprise me, and Franklin is just plain psycho. The sub-plot of Sam and his family is a little boring but I’m sure they have a purpose. Love that Sam hired Jessica to do some waitressing (and of course Arlene’s reaction – “I’m the only redhead!”) And of course the magistrar vampire dude laying the law down on Eric by punishing Pam is pretty cool.
Looking forward to next week, now that Eric has a timeline to find Bill.
These last two episodes of True Blood felt more like plot movers than anything especially with the Eric/Godric flashbacks and the Bill/Lorena flashbacks, although there were a couple exciting moments in both episodes.
I forgot to mention Sam’s search for his family in my last post but that’s because it just wasn’t as interesting as anything else. It’s pretty obvious that they are going to cause trouble for him so it’s just watch and wait at this point. Also Jessica’s three episode affair with her dead trucker is very grating. It’s like, come on already. We get it. He’s dead and rotting, and she’s grossed out. Move on. However I do like Pam’s role in Jessica’s development. Love her dry sarcasm and unwilling “motherly” role, which is the antithesis of what she is.
So first of all, what is with the vampire royalty turning up everywhere? There’s a king and queen of every state? Plus a sheriff? That’s a lot of law for a lot of underworld lawlessness going on! Like kidnapping poor Bill. Not sure I like the king of Mississippi and his annoying consort, Talbot. The jury’s also out on the new slimy looking vampire who seduces Tara (she’s so dumb!) to get closer to Sookie.
But I do like the fact that Arlene is pregnant with Terry’s kid – because I KNOW that something good is coming out of that one. I mean fast-growing fetus? Oh yes, Mr. Terry is no ordinary human is my guess. I would even venture to say that he’s a werewolf. Speaking of werewolves, LOVE that Joe Manganiello (Owen on One Tree Hill) is playing Alcide. Hot!
Definitely looking forward to this Sunday’s episode if only to see more of him!
The last thing I need to mention is the sex scene between Bill and Lorena. Now that was awkward to even watch. Ouch. Guess he really, really hates her. From the previews of the next episode, looks like Bill only succeeds in pushing Sookie closer to Eric. Flame on peeps! Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned by her vampire lover!
Ok, so it’s been back for a few weeks but if you’ve been following my blogging, you would know that I have been in Europe where True Blood is barely in its infancy, conception stages even. Either way, I very smartly DVR’d True Blood while I was away and am now about to embark on a lovely mini-marathon. The best thing about my 3 episode extravaganza? No waiting between episodes! Woohoo!
Episode 1 – Bad Blood aka “Conscience off, Dick on”
OMG #1: Eric naked
OMG #2: Stackhouse naked
OMG #3: Eric naked. Um, sorry, got distracted.
Not a bad first episode to the new season at all, especially with the introduction of the werewolves. Tara is as annoying as ever, and I am still waiting for Lafayette to get his spunk on. I enjoyed seeing more of Pam – I find her a very interesting character. She’s got some nice sass. I must admit I felt a wee thrill when she got up in Lafayette’s face, and said, “I am no hooker. That was a very…very long time ago.” Classic.
So far, I am also really enjoying the dynamic between Eric and Sookie. I love the little undercurrents between them, and it’s nice to see Eric’s…um…sensitive side. Jessica is cool too and I am excited to see what happens with her.
I do have to say that when I saw the werewolves, I felt disappointed. I mean they were just plain old wolves. That’s been done. In Twilight, the wolves are just basically giant wolves. In Blood and Chocolate, they were plain wolves as well. Call me old school, but when I think of werewolves, I think of half-man, half-wolf creatures. Lycans all the way. But I will give props to the director for including the 5 minute Post Mortem at the end – solid move, especially since they explain why they went with the plain wolves as the were-form, and the fact that they use real wolves on set is cool. Plus, Stephen Moyer’s (Bill) accent was so hot, that I think I would have loved anything he said about those wolves period!
So on this past weekend’s trip to the romantic oasis of Lugano nestled in the south of Switzerland in the Swiss Alps, I got hit with a hot bolt of inspiration – I am going to write Lena’s story.
Lena is one of the supporting characters from my novel Bloodspell, and she is an intriguing bit of work, especially since she was my main male character’s first love back in the eighteenth century. In Bloodspell, Lena is standoffish and powerful, but she came from somewhere…she was a vulnerable girl once. I want to write about that. At the very least, I’ll jot down some notes, but I’m definitely feeling it.
Although it is now known as the Monte Carlo of Switzerland because of its range of jet-set visitors, Lugano (resting on the shores of the magnificent Lake Lugano) has been populated since the Stone Age, and has been claimed by the Italians, the Swiss, and the French all at some point during its long history, making it great food for thought…and writing this story!
Being inside a glacier is no joke. It is breathtaking and awe-inspiring! My journey to the glacier high in the Swiss Alps began on a tour bus in central Zurich that wound its way down to Lucerne through lush countryside and gorgeous mountains until it came to a stop at the base of Mount Titlis. It took three sets of cable cars and various stages of ear-popping to get to the very top of the mountain, where the light rain had turned to snow and the temperature dropped from 70 degrees to a bone-chilling 24.
10,000 feet above, I stood outside my jacket clutched to my neck, the wind gusts tossing around heavy drifts of snow like clouds of talcum powder, and I stared down the mountain awed. I was at the top of the world. For a brief moment, I wished I had a pair of skis pointed downward, and then as a wind gust slammed into my body like a WWF champion, I had a change of heart. I made my way inside, cowed.
It was time to head into the belly of the beast. I made my way along a narrow platform and pushed open the makeshift doors that led into the glacier. The walls were varied hues of gray and white with shimmering pieces of ice here and there, and cold to the touch as you would expect. What I didn’t expect was the sheer size of the caves that twisted into smaller caverns and winding tunnels until they merged into the darkness beyond. In some areas, I stood in total darkness! Freaky! I was inside a giant ice-cube! I even saw some ice blocks carved into the side of the glacier, like the ones that would build an igloo.Of course, man-made but still very cool.
What an incredible experience! And a boatload of story inspiration and ideas, which of course as you know by now is my M.O. Stay tuned, maybe one of these days, I’ll link back to this post.
The Lion of Lucerne is a memorial sculpture in Lucerne, Switzerland commemorating the 760 Swiss soldiers killed during the French Revolution in 1792 while serving Louis XVI. It was designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen, and sculpted out of the sandstone rock in 1820/1821 by Lucas Ahorn. The monument is dedicated Helvetiorum Fidei ac Virtuti – To the loyalty and bravery of the Swiss.
The dying lion is portrayed impaled by a spear, covering a shield with marked with the French fleur-de-lis (symbol of the French monarchy). Beside the lion is another shield bearing the Swiss coat of arms. The inscription below the sculpture lists the names of the soldiers who died.
Mark Twain spoke of the fatally-wounded lion saying that it was “the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world.”
Had a drink at one of the most legendary cafés in Zurich. Circa 1911, the Odeon has been patronized by such figures as Einstein, Lenin, Mata Hari, Mussolini, Puccini, and James Joyce, along with countless other famous artists, poets, musicians, and writers. A Bohemian landmark, the Café Odeon is located on the open Limmatquai plaza in Old Town, and is one of the most centrally-located spots in the city.
I’m hoping that a little bit of creative genius dusted off on me as I stepped through the doorway of this historic café.
Finally had a chance to read Uglies by Scott Westerfeld after my thirteen year old neighbor recommended it to me several months ago. It was a quick read, a few hours at the most. Overall I enjoyed it, especially the bits about the hoverboard since I am an avid surfer. That was definitely cool.
The story is based in a futuristic world where everyone becomes “pretty” when they turn sixteen. They undergo a type of surgical operation (like plastic surgery) and are made super-model beautiful. However, what they don’t know is that they are also changed in the way that they behave and think. They are changed outside and inside.
Tally Youngblood discovers this when she is forced by Special Circumstances (another kind of cruel pretty) to unearth a hidden band of rebels known as the Smokies who have run away and refused to turn pretty. Two of the leaders of the Smokies know a terrible secret – one that can unhinge everything that the pretty world is based on. The operation changes the way that you think and creates lesions on the brain like a cancer. So basically, being pretty is like being infected. It’s a very cool concept.
So cool story, and cool elements within the story like the hoverboards, bungee-jackets, and the Specials. Scott Westerfeld is also an awesome sci-fi writer so you know it’s going to be interesting and have a ton of excitement. That said, in Uglies, I did not really feel the main characters at all, and I was surprised that I didn’t connect with any of them – not Tally, not Peris, not David, not Shay. They felt very one-dimensional, like pawns in a play moving together just to set up the next sequence. They didn’t seem real to me and neither did their interaction with each other. Even the main protagonist felt wooden, and while the author does a brilliant job of moving through the story, I just didn’t get what drove her. She irritated me a lot too, and I wasn’t quite sure why. Her relationship with David was not at all believable – I didn’t not feel anything between them whatsoever. Nor did I feel that the jealousy between Tally and Shay, after David gives Tally his gloves, was real. It felt too staged, like, ok that was predictable. Best friend is jealous when BFF steals her crush….um, boring.
The final scene at the end was pretty cool – the daring escape and rescue but once again I felt a sense of confusion to learn that David’s father was dead. I think what bothered me the most was that I didn’t feel anything about his father being dead, and I really wanted to. Which goes back to what I said before about not caring about any of these characters. Which is a pity. Because the novel concept is so cool. Dammit.
Overall I would give Uglies 3 out of 5 stars. Great concept, solid writing and language, but bland characters with little heart. May be better suited to a younger audience, like 10+. I’m definitely intrigued enough to read Pretties, so check back for my review of that. Hoping for the best!
