You know how anticipation can result in disappointment? Well, I just got home from Eclipse and I have to say that in my opinion it is technically and performance-wise the best movie of the three. I was not disappointed. Where Hardwicke's Twilight was impassioned but flawed, and New Moon was cold and a chapter by chapter recount, Eclipse strikes a balance between action and emotion. Slade was the right choice and he makes some unexpected choices right, RIGHT, from the start.
It is the best and most believable performance by Pattinson with the widest emotional range we have seen. As he has filmed other movies it appears he has been learning and Slade is apparently a director good at eliciting the emotions he is after from his actors. In this film Pattinson is not simply acting as if he is being tortured. And, Stewart's skills are also better with a much wider range as well. Bryce Dallas Howard is sadly lacking a certain quality that Rachel LeFevre had -- but I cannot pin it down. She is an inadequate replacement for Lefevre. Lautner's physique continues to impress and his range has also improved but perhaps not as much -- of course not that many emotions are required of him.
The technical shots including one at the near start of the film are the best, probably more expensive but exquisitely produced and directed.
Dakota Fanning, still a young waif who probably needs no pasty faced enhancement, gives a shallow rendition of a shallow creature who is more sadistic than ever. The rest of the Volturi are minimally involved.
I have to hand it to the other Cullens, especially Facinelli, who I have come to respect more. The wolf pack is less terrible at acting and the history-of-the-tribe scenes are very well done. The Tent Scene --awesome. The ring, disappointing but more likely than that posited in the book. The flashbacks were good and give depth to Rosalie's and Jasper's character. The acting range of the wolf pack when they are wolves has definitely improved as has the realism.
The story proceeds as fans know it will, no Deus Ex Machina, just as there wasn't for Bree Tanner in her novella. Not to gory but enough action to keep the guys from falling asleep. A great date movie.
What are you sitting there reading this for -- get to the theater NOW!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Bite Me by Parker Blue Got Its Teeth Into Me
I read Bite Me by Parker Blue (Kindle Edition) Sunday and found it a delightful cross between Chick-lit and Young Adult with a soupcon of danger and mayhem. There is a bit of sexual tension, but much less than the average teen with access to HBO will have seen. The main character is just 18 the day the story opens; she is part succubus a pat she keeps tamped down, usually. Succubi need the lust energy pervading sex and violence. Since the vampire population is mostly mean and nasty, she fights instead of, well you know. There is some poignancy because Val has a mother with the brain and emotional capacity of a flea but like all mother-daughter relationships it has the capacity for love and pain. In this case the pain is meted out liberally and you can't not feel for Val as parental rejection smacks her upside the head.
It is a fantasy world indeed where an 18 year old can get along as well as Val does when she forcibly thrust into it. She makes great friends who would do more for her than her own mother would. And, in the end, she learns that she has to accept herself in order to feel whole.
But, it is a fantasy world and so we accept her ability to move through the adult world as part and parcel of this alternative San Antonio filled with vampires and demons living amongst its citizens. But Parker Blue crafted Val's world with the edge and sass that kept me up until one in the morning. As with many of the chick-lit and YA books I have read, the characters are lightly drawn and plot drives the story. My personal feeling is that for teens, this gives them space to draw themselves into the picture. But, at least the "good" characters end up being the good guys at the end and the bad guys get their just desserts. The dumb, unfortunately stay stupid.
If I had a rating system, which I don't, I would give this a 5 out of 5 for teens and a 4 or 4.5 for adults. It would be a great book to read with your teen as it isn't pedantic but certainly opens some topics up or discussion.
Later today my "Twi-pals" and I are off to see Eclipse. We are not midnight show gals; my DH and I rarely even stay up for the ball to drop on New Year's Eve. And, also we aren't crowd-people. I am really hoping it is good. I am not into disembowelment or decapitation so if that is happening I will have to close my eyes.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
STRANGER THAN FICTION
But with British Diction
Apparently, Ancestry.con has found fangs in a couple of closets, the Princes Royal, the Prince of Public Popularity and the writer that made a time of day the byword of an empire:
As much as this story belongs on the third page of The Onion, it actually comes straight from the Associated Press. Last night a team of genealogists announced that they had uncovered a distant familial relationship between Twilight star Robert Pattinson and the Transylvanian Prince Vlad III (a.k.a. "The Impaler") - the inspiration for Bram Stroker's Dracula.
Ben Landy, Hollywood.com, Thursday June 24, 2010
keep reading for even more weirdness!-MORE-
THE TWILIGHT SAGA ON FB SAID THIS IS A MUST!
Hot off the Facebook Twilight Saga Press
It said see this before you see Eclipse!
I am so obedient I am watching it right now.
It said see this before you see Eclipse!
I am so obedient I am watching it right now.
The End of Innocence - True Blood
Well, here I am truly at a loss for words. No, really, I went to edit a post and lost the entire thing that I had spent hours writing yesterday. In truth it has made me feel a bit sick.
I will try to regain it from my memory, but I can't possibly believe I will regain it's former brilliance.
Three episodes into its third season, a few folks, including me and my husband and a reader or two, have proclaimed disappointment with the HBO series. Something that held us enthralled for two seasons seems to be missing. After discussion with another blogger, Julia B., I posited a theory that while in the Harris book series upon which the television series is based Sookie maintains her innocence (not her physical innocence) longer and that we were attracted to both series by the innocence of seeing this new world where vampires, and apparently countless other supes have been residing and living side-by-side with us. It is her eyes we see through in the books, and in the series it takes maybe up to book seven where we suddenly notice that Sookie has been maturing as she experiences the wider world through her association with the supernatural.
Sookie went wide-eyed and trusting into the world Bill Compton offered. And, like a sponge she soaked up that world. She began to see her ability as a gift rather than a disability. And, in the most recent book we began to see that she had become a bit hardened to the terror of fairy tales.
Now, in the series, after just two seasons, she is no longer just the kooky bar maid, she has become jaded. She is now as jaded in her world as we in ours. And, we miss that trust she had that vampires were just people with different needs. We miss seeing the world that way. Her innocence was amazing considering what she heard and knew.
Harris's Sookie would not say, "They took someone I love from me, and I was taught to fight back." WHO taught this Sookie to fight back? Gran? I. Don't. Think. So. Jason would have taught to shoot then run off with the gun, and her folks are dead. Gran was just a sweet old southern lady who would have taught Sookie to turn the other cheek and ask the Lord first, and then friends, for help. Harris's Sookie, would not be fearlessly shooting a gun at a werewolf. She may have learned how to use a gun, after all, look what she does to poor Debbie in the book series. Of course, that woman had gone so far beyond the pale that even Gran may have killed her. But, at that point Harris's Sookie calls on Eric for help, not for information or tactical enforcement of the Vampire-Sheriff code, but help. This Sookie, the series Sookie doesn't even retch when Eric bites out a werewolf's jugular. She and he just bury him on top of a fresh grave! She even learns that little trick and cleans the blood out of the parlor rug.
And, I am not so sure series-Sookie is actually all that intent on finding Bill. She was unsure when he proposed, maybe we are actually seeing guilt over that trip to the Ladies' Room, "If I had just said yes, they wouldn't have kidnapped Bill." Anyway, Bill who? I think I am heading for Team Alcide. I like book-Eric more than TV Eric. TV Eric is not the Norse God that Ms. Harris suggests; I do think they are working on that though (try some better makeup). But, the urgency to get Bill back isn't really there.
And, I don't know, does Bill have just that one move in bed? I don't even know how to describe it, chopping wood, pile driving. It's just Unh, unh, unh and then a bit of blood-sucking. No foreplay?
And, what is with him and Lorena. Ick. I wish he had twisted her head right off, but she seemed to like it.
Another problem with the series is that the Sookie story, which is what got us all to to turn to HBO in the first place, is just part of the world of Bon Temp. In the book series the side stories are on the side; we generally only see them first hand through Sookie, if she is not there they are mostly recounted through her or to her. In the TV series we hardly see any Sookie. First we see a new bunch of characters, then Tara and another new guy, then the crazy coroner (Dr. Flox for Star Trek Enterprise) , then Jason, then Sookie, then Pam , then Eric and LaFayette, then Bill and another new guy, etc.
From a series that was pretty much about Sookie and through her eyes it has gotten a bit too diffuse. Fewer stories and fewer new characters are needed. But, hey, keep Alcide. Maybe the series will coalesce around Sookie and Eric and/or Alcide getting together.
HBO has come up with a few new videos to try to convince us that all is as it should be. HBO is undergoing site maintenance at the moment (I believe it is just to tick me off), but it would seem the link is at www.hbo.com. If that link is changed because of the site maintenance I think you can easily find them by going to HBO's home page and selecting True Blood. Just continue selecting until you get to videos for True Blood.This site has lots of graphics and cast interviews: http://truebloodguide.com/category/cast-characters/. It is where I found that nice picture of Alcide.
But, listen up HBO, this blog's writer and some friends are not too happy with what you are doing with the series. Sookie's story is the main course and your portions are too small.
Friends, what do you think is wrong with True Blood this season if anything?
I will try to regain it from my memory, but I can't possibly believe I will regain it's former brilliance.
Sookie went wide-eyed and trusting into the world Bill Compton offered. And, like a sponge she soaked up that world. She began to see her ability as a gift rather than a disability. And, in the most recent book we began to see that she had become a bit hardened to the terror of fairy tales.
Now, in the series, after just two seasons, she is no longer just the kooky bar maid, she has become jaded. She is now as jaded in her world as we in ours. And, we miss that trust she had that vampires were just people with different needs. We miss seeing the world that way. Her innocence was amazing considering what she heard and knew.
Alcide
Joe Manganiello
Harris's Sookie would not say, "They took someone I love from me, and I was taught to fight back." WHO taught this Sookie to fight back? Gran? I. Don't. Think. So. Jason would have taught to shoot then run off with the gun, and her folks are dead. Gran was just a sweet old southern lady who would have taught Sookie to turn the other cheek and ask the Lord first, and then friends, for help. Harris's Sookie, would not be fearlessly shooting a gun at a werewolf. She may have learned how to use a gun, after all, look what she does to poor Debbie in the book series. Of course, that woman had gone so far beyond the pale that even Gran may have killed her. But, at that point Harris's Sookie calls on Eric for help, not for information or tactical enforcement of the Vampire-Sheriff code, but help. This Sookie, the series Sookie doesn't even retch when Eric bites out a werewolf's jugular. She and he just bury him on top of a fresh grave! She even learns that little trick and cleans the blood out of the parlor rug.And, I am not so sure series-Sookie is actually all that intent on finding Bill. She was unsure when he proposed, maybe we are actually seeing guilt over that trip to the Ladies' Room, "If I had just said yes, they wouldn't have kidnapped Bill." Anyway, Bill who? I think I am heading for Team Alcide. I like book-Eric more than TV Eric. TV Eric is not the Norse God that Ms. Harris suggests; I do think they are working on that though (try some better makeup). But, the urgency to get Bill back isn't really there.
And, I don't know, does Bill have just that one move in bed? I don't even know how to describe it, chopping wood, pile driving. It's just Unh, unh, unh and then a bit of blood-sucking. No foreplay?
And, what is with him and Lorena. Ick. I wish he had twisted her head right off, but she seemed to like it.
Another problem with the series is that the Sookie story, which is what got us all to to turn to HBO in the first place, is just part of the world of Bon Temp. In the book series the side stories are on the side; we generally only see them first hand through Sookie, if she is not there they are mostly recounted through her or to her. In the TV series we hardly see any Sookie. First we see a new bunch of characters, then Tara and another new guy, then the crazy coroner (Dr. Flox for Star Trek Enterprise) , then Jason, then Sookie, then Pam , then Eric and LaFayette, then Bill and another new guy, etc.
From a series that was pretty much about Sookie and through her eyes it has gotten a bit too diffuse. Fewer stories and fewer new characters are needed. But, hey, keep Alcide. Maybe the series will coalesce around Sookie and Eric and/or Alcide getting together.
HBO has come up with a few new videos to try to convince us that all is as it should be. HBO is undergoing site maintenance at the moment (I believe it is just to tick me off), but it would seem the link is at www.hbo.com. If that link is changed because of the site maintenance I think you can easily find them by going to HBO's home page and selecting True Blood. Just continue selecting until you get to videos for True Blood.This site has lots of graphics and cast interviews: http://truebloodguide.com/category/cast-characters/. It is where I found that nice picture of Alcide.
But, listen up HBO, this blog's writer and some friends are not too happy with what you are doing with the series. Sookie's story is the main course and your portions are too small.
Friends, what do you think is wrong with True Blood this season if anything?
blood spatter orig. Ryan Lupin
What's Urban Fantasy? Tracy Cooper-Posey tells you
Great post by one of my favorite author bloggers: http://tracycooperposey.com/what-exactly-is-urban-fantasy-and-how-does-it-fit-the-romance-landscape/ On her blog there is also a fabulous post about What to do with your old books - very creative!
Monday, June 28, 2010
NYT Book Review: The Passage | BLOG BOOSTER
First things first: The New York Times Book Review offered a look at The Passage By Justin Cronin, reviewed by Mike Peed.
At 766 pages this Ballantine Books offering is, as Mr. Peed says, "a doorstop." And, it is the first in a trilogy! In this book, vampires take over the world after being created in 2018 by the government.
It is unusual when the NYT takes the fantasy genres seriously, so it might be good to sit up and take notice. But, 766 pages means a long, long read.
BLOG BOOSTER
I have been thinking about our super blog hops. They are a tremendous boon for all of the book bloggers out there. But, I also want to help all our readers discover new blogs: funny blogs, serious blogs, big and little blogs. I hope that by doing this we can increase our non-blogger readership.
So each week I want to feature a couple of blogs for readers to take a look at. Here are the first three:
I just started following a Bibliophile's Paradise. This Mom, student, write Navy wife has a clean and professional looking blog with a variety of books featured. I think you will enjoy her reviews.
A blog to watch, Starmetal Oak Book Blog caught my eye right away for its unusual name but I am impressed by it's organization and quality. She features a variety of literature, fantasy, Sci-Fi, YA, and Historical.
My momma always told me my mind was in the gutter so when I saw The Gutter Girls I figured I would fit right in. Hot, and steamy describes this book blog and ladies may I recommend a glass of ice water near by to cool you off! Adults only!
If you would like to be featured by me in a BLOG BOOST. Please email me at steph@fangswandsandfairydust.com with BLOG BOOST in the subject line.
Describe your blog, why it is special and maybe something about your goals for your blog.
if you have a button/badge please send the code.
At 766 pages this Ballantine Books offering is, as Mr. Peed says, "a doorstop." And, it is the first in a trilogy! In this book, vampires take over the world after being created in 2018 by the government.
It is unusual when the NYT takes the fantasy genres seriously, so it might be good to sit up and take notice. But, 766 pages means a long, long read.
BLOG BOOSTER
I have been thinking about our super blog hops. They are a tremendous boon for all of the book bloggers out there. But, I also want to help all our readers discover new blogs: funny blogs, serious blogs, big and little blogs. I hope that by doing this we can increase our non-blogger readership.
So each week I want to feature a couple of blogs for readers to take a look at. Here are the first three:
I just started following a Bibliophile's Paradise. This Mom, student, write Navy wife has a clean and professional looking blog with a variety of books featured. I think you will enjoy her reviews.A blog to watch, Starmetal Oak Book Blog caught my eye right away for its unusual name but I am impressed by it's organization and quality. She features a variety of literature, fantasy, Sci-Fi, YA, and Historical.My momma always told me my mind was in the gutter so when I saw The Gutter Girls I figured I would fit right in. Hot, and steamy describes this book blog and ladies may I recommend a glass of ice water near by to cool you off! Adults only!
If you would like to be featured by me in a BLOG BOOST. Please email me at steph@fangswandsandfairydust.com with BLOG BOOST in the subject line.
Describe your blog, why it is special and maybe something about your goals for your blog.
if you have a button/badge please send the code.
AND THE WINNER IS:
One winner out of 2 entries for Zan Gah and Zan Gah the Beautiful Country. The winner is:
Congratulations! Please email steph@fangswandsandfairydust to give me a
name and address where I can send your two books before midnight EST Wednesday June 30, 2010. To both entrants, thank you for entering the contest.
ksunshine1977
Congratulations! Please email steph@fangswandsandfairydust to give me a
name and address where I can send your two books before midnight EST Wednesday June 30, 2010. To both entrants, thank you for entering the contest.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Let's Do Bad Things
Are you ready -- TRUE BLOOD 40 minutes: http://www.hbo.com/true-blood/episodes/3/27-it-hurts-me-too/video/preview.html?autoplay=true&cmpid=ABC123
I'm No Fun at All: Just a Bubble Bursting Old Hag
When I first saw this magazine I thought it was a parody. There were lots of pics of people who may actually believe that they are vampires or that dressing up like a vampire somehow brings them closer to the fantasy characters they revere (there is a difference between a costume party and going through life in a costume).
In a sense Bite Me is a parody of over-indulging in our enjoyment of fantasy. I do, and have always loved fantasy and sci-fi, but you can love it, even be a bit obsessed, and still know where fantasy begins and ends.
You can even be a bit overly obsessed -- camp out for five days for the premiere of a movie, eg. Eclipse, but when the premiere is over you know to go home, take a shower, and go back to school or work and talk about how much fun you had, how grotty you felt after not getting a shower for a few days, how cool it was to see the actors, etc. But, if you used a year of rent or mortgage payments, gave up your employment or a scholarship, to fly around the world to camp out for five days to see Robert or Taylor or Kristen, and when you go home you will have been evicted and turn to drugs and prostitution then you have lost touch with reality. If you actually think Edward is leaving Bella to marry you then you have experienced a complete disconnect.
I agree that at first glance a fantasy world seems so much more interesting than the real world. But, look, Stephenie Meyer's characters face some really tough issues which even their super-strength and speed cannot counter. Bella is faced with losing her parents to be with Edward. She even gets stomach flu and spends a weekend harking up her guts. Her boyfriend breaks up with her, and her best friend rejects her for a while as well.
In another book series, Harry Potter, imagine poor Harry's delight, cowering in his cupboard, at learning he was a wizard, and possibly the most important of all wizards. But, he also has to deal with really tough issues: people dying or being injured through their association with him, bullies, and getting in trouble with teachers. And, don't forget, the event that made him really special, losing his parents, also causes him the greatest pain. Life is not all hunky dory on the other side of the veil. Let's not forget that our first fantasy stories, fairy tales, were cautionary.
But, Bite Me offered some useful links, event information and such. Some of the links were defunct or grossly out of date. It had apparently developed out of some people who attended a big Vampire Costume Ball.
I know that I may get hooted off my web page for this -- after all, we should be able to express ourselves in the way we dress! That is certainly true within a socially accepted norm that prevents our self-expression from being detrimental to our future. Like the older person I am I have the strange ability to look back at my rather misspent youth and see my foibles and missteps. And, trust me, there were so many missteps I am lucky I didn't break my life permanently. I know my husband isn't Edward, or any of the men in any of the fantasy romances I read. But, he has the advantage of being a real person who is a good man who loves me and doesn't care how many fantasy books I read as long as I know where the book ends and we begin.
A Blog Tip I wish I could tell you where I learned this trick, but as an "older person" I also have the strange ability to forget stuff! It may have been ikupilli - see the link below.
When you visit another blog, instead of just leaving a url why not leave a link that will allow the blog owner to click it to visit you. When you enter the code it is better to be in HTML mode as I have noticed that the extra stuff that tends to snag onto code and mess up your page is less likely to show up that way.
<a href="Blog url starting with http://"><Blog Name></a>
It will come out looking like this except of course, that it will be your blog link and not mine.
Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Thank Goodness, The Game is Not Afoot!
The question arises of whether one needs to read a book in its entirety to recommend it. If I am at the gym, slogging away I either need to read, watch something on my ipod, or talk to a friend to make it tolerable. When I am reading a real* book, the question is always "Oh, what are you reading? Do you like it?" Would I then say, well, I haven't finished it yet so I can't tell you." No, I would say something about whether I was enjoying it or "giving it a chance," or hating it but it was necessary that I read it because there would be a quiz later. So, can I recommend a book to you then that I am enjoying? No? Okay.....No, really, I was pleased to be asked, of course one is always pleased to be asked (except for money), to review via ARC from Titan Publishing a "New" Sherlock Holmes book The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Seance for a Vampire by Fred Saberhagen. It is being published by Titan, known for film//TV tie ins and graphic novels but is breaking into the "regular" (is there a term for a a non-graphic novel other than "novel"?) book world. The new book, Saberhagen has published quite a lot, and is having a banner year with quite a few books coming out.
I would recommend it on the basis that I am currently enjoying it. It is somewhat unique in that for quite a bit of the book so far Holmes has been absent and Watson and a distant relative of Holmes have been handling the action. One thing I like is the language, Holmesian/Edwardian, but not in a way that I feel mired in it. Another positive is that the phrase, "the game is afoot," has not yet been used. Its US Price of $9.99 (UK 7.99 Euro and Canada, $11.95) is pretty reasonable these days.
If you like to mix Vampires and mystery; enjoy well-known and established characters involved in new ways, don't mind a little sadness and a bit of danger, by all means give this new Holmes a try. I will let you know if anything changes in the next 100 pages and I come to hate it!
This book was an ARC from the publisher without guarantee of review and with assurance to publisher of complete impartiality. I did not receive compensation for the review.
In between reading I am still doing two blogger hops. I plan to share with you the some of my favorite blogs each week - my blog roll is on a separate page; my favorite weekly choice(s) will be a post. It is great that bloggers follow each other, but I want even non-bloggers to see some of these other dedicated readers and reviewers.
And, my contest for two books to read with your middle grader, Zan-Gah and Zan-Gah and The Beautiful Country can still be won by you! CLICK HERE
* When I am reading from my Kindle the question is usually, "Is that a Kindle? Do you like it?" My response is always that I love, LOVE my Kindle.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Why Vampires??? AND
On the Eclipse BLACK Carpet
Don't we all ask this question; okay maybe it's our friends and family posing the question. It is Geek Speak magazine proffering a response. I got info on this from Queen Betsy's creator, MaryJanice Davidson's Facebook post so it is not as if I were wearing my keyboard out searching. Click HERE for the article.
It is long but has a compendium of authors and their series as well as short reading bites from our favorite authors. This is actually a great feature.
Eclipse's premiere was last night in LA at the Nokia Theater. The attention to detail began with the carpet being black rather than red. Although, if I think about it either color would be appropriate.
MySpace and U stream/YouTube must have been collaborating on the effort -- I had a tough time finding better coverage. My Spaces three hosts Ali Najad, Taryn Southern and Shera Lazar. The two female hosts were beautifully attired, especially Sheera Lazar. The male host wassomewhat informal. It was so loud with screaming fans the hosts could barely hear each other but they did a nice job and seemed to get on well. Ali Najad had a brief reunion of sorts with high school class mate Edi Getheni and Taryn got friendly hugs from a newly shorn Jackson Rathbone with whom she had done a film in their distant past (for kids in that age group that means 5 years).
Nikki Reed,
AmericanSuperstarMag.com
It seemed to take forever (the video is much faster) as they had a short interview with lots of people: Jodelle Ferland, who looked stunning in a black gown with perfect makeup, Peter Facinelli, Stephenie Meyer, Director David Slade. Several of the Volturi, Gil Birmingham (long, black hair loose and a formal suit), the Wolf Pack, Ashley Greene in a sort of multi-layered, silver, strapless sheath, Dakota Fanning a pale dream in a light peach dress, Anna Kendrick, impeccable as ever, Kellan Lutz, Elizabeth Reaser in an updo wearing an incredibly short black dress. Nikki Reed's dress, light blue, feathery Dior (I believe she said) was leaving a trail of feathers as she walked. She actually brought a few of her siblings with her.
Boo Boo Stewart, the youngest new wolf brought his sister and mom, and his mom made his sister's gorgeous dress! Julia Jones looked absolutely fantastic, of which she was glad since she feels her character, Leah Clearwater is quite unattractive! Tinsel Corey who plays Werewolf-Alpha Sam's girlfriend looked serene. Charlie Bewley (Demetri) has a super posh, plummy British accent and looked puckish.
Justin Chon looked very odd with spiky, blond hair. Mike Welch was kind and thoughtful with the interviewers. Christian Serratos (Angela) looked fantastic in a black dress and with a gorgeous coif.
And, finally, super natty in a maroon suit, Rob was upbeat and optimistic. Taylor in a black formal suit was glad to be wearing a shirt at last. And, last, but surely not the least, Kristen, who impressed me by really listening, stopping to think and answering a question about Bella. She looked great to in a one shoulder, heavily constructed and textured short white dress.
Screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg echoed my feeling that in fantasy, you really have to obey the rules of the world you are in!
It was really interesting; probably hype, but echoing through the entire cast, was how wonderful and kind they all were, what good friends they had become, how much they were like a family, all that.
I think we want to think of them that way, and it could certainly be true. Let's hope so.
I hear good things about this movie -- supposedly it is the best so far. I can't wait to see!
It is long but has a compendium of authors and their series as well as short reading bites from our favorite authors. This is actually a great feature.
Eclipse's premiere was last night in LA at the Nokia Theater. The attention to detail began with the carpet being black rather than red. Although, if I think about it either color would be appropriate.
this is a ustream video from YouTube and the author is kristenstewartweb
MySpace and U stream/YouTube must have been collaborating on the effort -- I had a tough time finding better coverage. My Spaces three hosts Ali Najad, Taryn Southern and Shera Lazar. The two female hosts were beautifully attired, especially Sheera Lazar. The male host wassomewhat informal. It was so loud with screaming fans the hosts could barely hear each other but they did a nice job and seemed to get on well. Ali Najad had a brief reunion of sorts with high school class mate Edi Getheni and Taryn got friendly hugs from a newly shorn Jackson Rathbone with whom she had done a film in their distant past (for kids in that age group that means 5 years).
NY Daily News
Nikki Reed,
AmericanSuperstarMag.com
Boo Boo Stewart, the youngest new wolf brought his sister and mom, and his mom made his sister's gorgeous dress! Julia Jones looked absolutely fantastic, of which she was glad since she feels her character, Leah Clearwater is quite unattractive! Tinsel Corey who plays Werewolf-Alpha Sam's girlfriend looked serene. Charlie Bewley (Demetri) has a super posh, plummy British accent and looked puckish.
Justin Chon looked very odd with spiky, blond hair. Mike Welch was kind and thoughtful with the interviewers. Christian Serratos (Angela) looked fantastic in a black dress and with a gorgeous coif.
And, finally, super natty in a maroon suit, Rob was upbeat and optimistic. Taylor in a black formal suit was glad to be wearing a shirt at last. And, last, but surely not the least, Kristen, who impressed me by really listening, stopping to think and answering a question about Bella. She looked great to in a one shoulder, heavily constructed and textured short white dress.
Screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg echoed my feeling that in fantasy, you really have to obey the rules of the world you are in!
It was really interesting; probably hype, but echoing through the entire cast, was how wonderful and kind they all were, what good friends they had become, how much they were like a family, all that.
I think we want to think of them that way, and it could certainly be true. Let's hope so.
I hear good things about this movie -- supposedly it is the best so far. I can't wait to see!
BLOGGER HOPS
This is the list from Parajunkee's View: You're next
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Hot of f Facebook! Venom and Other Good Things
Twilight ECLIPSE RED CARPET
Eclipse Premiere Red Carpet Show will be streaming live on http://www.youtube.com/officialtwilightfilm or on the facebook linked blog: Fangs, Wands & Fairy Dust on FB
Tonight on YouTube and other assorted websites. See the stars, Hear the cheers! See dedicated fans who have been camping for days!Really.
The YouTube channel has everything Eclipse.
Amazon has everything Eclipse you can buy! Everything Eclipse!
Tonight on YouTube and other assorted websites. See the stars, Hear the cheers! See dedicated fans who have been camping for days!Really.
The YouTube channel has everything Eclipse.
Amazon has everything Eclipse you can buy! Everything Eclipse!
Whatcha' Reading?
Forum Foibles
Whatcha Reading? Forum Foibles
It is that time of week where I tell you what I am currently reading, recently read and what is next.
Then you tell me what you have on your bedside table and bookshelf!
I started reading Laurel K. Hamilton's Guilty Pleasures, described as the novel that introduced Anita Blake. I previously read flirt, so I think I will start chewing my way through these.
I was checking out Laurel K. Hamilton's web site today and learned that she decided to take a year off from writing the Meredith Gentry series. So the next book will not be available until 2011. While I love her writing; her prose can be positively lyrical, I find her forum quite off-putting. It has rules such to the effect of: you will not speculate or ask questions on LKH's personal life but you may mention things she has mentioned in the forum; You will not ask LKH who she thinks will play a character in a movie, etc.
I was a volunteer-moderator for a pretty big-time author's forum and hehad no such rules; when we had a question we thought he might not want to answer we showed it to him, if we thought it inappropriate we discarded it. I have no idea if this is her doing or that of the organization. My general feeling was that there were too many rules and I was afraid I would break one inadvertently and that we really weren't welcome. I will probably be kicked out for having spoken.
Author forums are good for answers to questions like "when is the next Meredith Gentry book coming out." Sadly, due to spammers, fewer and fewer authors maintain them. Since the author I worked for answered every single question himself, and was particularly kind to young writers, I feel it is a loss.
So I am about halfway through and I am really enjoying it.
I have five pages of unread books on my Kindle. I have to cull them before I choose what is next. I might try a Gena Showwalter book, any suggestions?
I have reviewed the other books I read this week: Hello Gorgeous, A Touch of Dead and Zan-Gah, but I also read Diane Mott Davidson's Fatally Flaky. I like her mysteries and found this one a bit less church-y which I like. I always think if I want religion I will read religion.
Your Turn: What have you got going on?!
In the meantime, between writing and publishing, I had the time (I woke up at 4) to finish the first in the Anita Blake series, Guilty Pleasures. I feel a bit as if I am missing something -- how the world got the way it is in the book. But other than that I really enjoyed it; found it bittersweet. Unlike Meredith Gentry, Laurel K. Hamilton's other heroine of recent times, Anita is not really likable in a "I want to be BFFs," kind of way. She is a good person, all for justice, a female supernatural Jack Bauer, but she is not warm and fuzzy. You can find Laurel K. Hamilton's books by clicking here LKH on Amazon.com
It is strange that I am not enthralled with her character and yet I want to read the next book. (I have read the first and the second to last Flirt. I feel as if I am behind at school because there are so many books I have yet to read!
Next up: The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Seance for a Vampire
by Fred Saberhagen which the publisher asked me to review. It is from Titan Books and I was given the copy I am reading.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
His Cross to Bear: Heartthrob Vampire
June 18 this article about Rob by Brooks Barnes appeared in the NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/movies/20pattinson.html
Don't forget my contest posted today.
Don't forget my contest posted today.
Weird Wednesday: Zan-Gah by Allan Richard Shickman
My first CONTEST!
Books received from Publisher, Earthshaker Books. First book read. Young Adult 11 and up
I did explain to the publisher that these books were pretty far from my genre and that I know nothing about children. The only supernatural thing really is a connection between twin brothers and I though that was a pretty tenuous support for an argument that it contained fantasy; also the main character feels he sees mysterious shapes in stones that no one else sees. So this is a weird Wednesday review in that it is way out in left field.
This is a nice book about a time for which we have only the findings of paleo-anthropologists and archaeologists. It reminded me of about 5th grade units when we would study a continent and then had to write a report on it. And, while it doesn't speak down to children it has that particular tone that I associate with kids' books. I don't have any idea whether kids like that tone. It has some great vocabulary words in it. And, the plot is interesting enough so you would enjoy reading it and discussing it with your child.
It is about a young man whose act of bravery elevates him in the mind of his clan. He goes off on a long journey with many dangers from which he almost doesn't return. I like how the young man works at building his skills through thought and practice - a great lesson. And, that was what I felt the most that it is a nice book, pleasant to read, with little or no fantasy component, and many lessons, well stated lessons but lessons that a smart kid will know are lessons.
So, my first two print books received from a publisher are what I have for my first contest - Zan-Gah and Zan-Gah and the Beautiful Country. Both are signed by the author, Allan R. Shickman. Zan--Gah was read but is in excellent shape and the second book is unread.
I did explain to the publisher that these books were pretty far from my genre and that I know nothing about children. The only supernatural thing really is a connection between twin brothers and I though that was a pretty tenuous support for an argument that it contained fantasy; also the main character feels he sees mysterious shapes in stones that no one else sees. So this is a weird Wednesday review in that it is way out in left field.
This is a nice book about a time for which we have only the findings of paleo-anthropologists and archaeologists. It reminded me of about 5th grade units when we would study a continent and then had to write a report on it. And, while it doesn't speak down to children it has that particular tone that I associate with kids' books. I don't have any idea whether kids like that tone. It has some great vocabulary words in it. And, the plot is interesting enough so you would enjoy reading it and discussing it with your child.
It is about a young man whose act of bravery elevates him in the mind of his clan. He goes off on a long journey with many dangers from which he almost doesn't return. I like how the young man works at building his skills through thought and practice - a great lesson. And, that was what I felt the most that it is a nice book, pleasant to read, with little or no fantasy component, and many lessons, well stated lessons but lessons that a smart kid will know are lessons.
So, my first two print books received from a publisher are what I have for my first contest - Zan-Gah and Zan-Gah and the Beautiful Country. Both are signed by the author, Allan R. Shickman. Zan--Gah was read but is in excellent shape and the second book is unread.
- One entry per email address, if I receive more than one only the first will count.
- You MUST be a follower of this blog.
- To enter, please leave a comment with an email in it where you may be contacted.
- If the winner doesn't respond to email within calendar 3 days I will move on to a new winner. If I email you on Monday you have Monday to midnight Wednesday to get in touch.
- Winners will be chosen by a physical draw from a basket.
- Contest Closes Sunday, June 27, 2010 at Midnight.
- Blogger retains right to refuse any entry that is spam or inappropriate.
- USA mailing addresses only.
She has three great blogs at Tome's Devotee
Six things about me:
I have 4 cats
My favorite TV show is True Blood!
I love Pilates but am currently sidetracked by an injury
I am a couch potato
The injury is also keeping me from weeding my gardens!
Badass Bookie
Always With a Book
Dark Faerie Tales
Epiphany of Imperfection
ErotRomReader Janna
I have also been sent
from Addy and Harry at:Paper Between Our Fingers
To see my previous VB award post please go to my June 15 post .
Thanks Paula, Ada and Harry!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Two for Tuesday
MaryJanice Davidson & Charlaine Harris
I L.O.V.E. MaryJanice Davidson. Se has done for Paranormal Chicklit what Sophie Kinsella did for compulsive shoppers. We are out of the closets readers of PNCL! So, I went to the library this week, having told them the week before that they were sorely lacking in the Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy, and event the Classical Fantasy genres, and lo! there were several new books for the asking. Oooh, a MaryJanice Davidson book, Hello Gorgeous!
On the back:
Cyborg, hmmm kind of paranormal. I took it home and read it. It was fun, very MJD but not at all PNR. Is Cyborg Spy Erotica a genre? Well it is speculative fiction so I guess I can talk about it.
There were only a few characters in the book but even so, there were too many incongruous elements. An heiress who goes to s a state college, does hair and buys a salon where she does hair. Its not the college-and-does-hair that is incongruous, its the heiress-and-does-hair. Even hairstylists I know who are young and happy would leave in a minute if they were heiresses. Granted, most of her money is in a trust but she didn't have to do that. Hair styling is physically exhausting! Then there is the obligatory guy with a castle and private jet who may be a murderer but is well endowed.
It came with a bonus short story I did not read. Frankly, this is not the same caliber as the Queen Betsy series. It is available in paperback and Kindle and large print (for $26). If I had a rating system I would give 3 out of 5.
Another book that was available was Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse − The Complete Stories: A Touch of Dead. Ever self-effacing, Ms. Harris was not sure she could tell a short story about Sookie because of how complex her history is. I think continuity could have become an issue for her. Charlaine tells where each story fits into the time line, but I can't recall what happened when in the books so it didn't matter to me. It would have been difficult, I believe, because as the stories have unfolded after ten books Sookie has done a lot of growing up and had a lot of experiences. It would be difficult to reconstruct her character at a younger age. For Sookie fans, we probably don't care all that much. Charlaine describes the book as being for anyone who wants every last sip of Sookie.
I believe in these stories the Sookie I see is the tougher Sookie we saw in the last couple of books. If has been kind of nice to watch her grow up. Sookie may not received much in the way of formal education but it is apparent that, having survived ten novels and at least this one book of short stories, she is one Smart Cookie. I only wish there were more of these stories on the book - or at least enough to get me to the next True Blood! I would recommend this book to friends.
Thanks for reading!
Book covers used in the spirit of fair use in critique.
On the back:They Want Her To Save The World. As If.
One minute I'm out with my sorority sisters; the next there's a terrible accident (beyond my friend Stacey's outfit) and I'm waking up in some weird clinic transformed into a human cyborg--with a mission: to stop evil and stuff. Uh, hello? I've got a beauty salon to run.
Granted, it is cool to run faster than a Ford Mustang when I need to, even if it's totally hard on my shoes. But then I have to bring in another human cyborg on the run? One who happens to be male, totally gorgeous, smart, funny--and, um, his "enhancements"?--as if!
Cyborg, hmmm kind of paranormal. I took it home and read it. It was fun, very MJD but not at all PNR. Is Cyborg Spy Erotica a genre? Well it is speculative fiction so I guess I can talk about it.
There were only a few characters in the book but even so, there were too many incongruous elements. An heiress who goes to s a state college, does hair and buys a salon where she does hair. Its not the college-and-does-hair that is incongruous, its the heiress-and-does-hair. Even hairstylists I know who are young and happy would leave in a minute if they were heiresses. Granted, most of her money is in a trust but she didn't have to do that. Hair styling is physically exhausting! Then there is the obligatory guy with a castle and private jet who may be a murderer but is well endowed.
It came with a bonus short story I did not read. Frankly, this is not the same caliber as the Queen Betsy series. It is available in paperback and Kindle and large print (for $26). If I had a rating system I would give 3 out of 5.
Another book that was available was Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse − The Complete Stories: A Touch of Dead. Ever self-effacing, Ms. Harris was not sure she could tell a short story about Sookie because of how complex her history is. I think continuity could have become an issue for her. Charlaine tells where each story fits into the time line, but I can't recall what happened when in the books so it didn't matter to me. It would have been difficult, I believe, because as the stories have unfolded after ten books Sookie has done a lot of growing up and had a lot of experiences. It would be difficult to reconstruct her character at a younger age. For Sookie fans, we probably don't care all that much. Charlaine describes the book as being for anyone who wants every last sip of Sookie.I believe in these stories the Sookie I see is the tougher Sookie we saw in the last couple of books. If has been kind of nice to watch her grow up. Sookie may not received much in the way of formal education but it is apparent that, having survived ten novels and at least this one book of short stories, she is one Smart Cookie. I only wish there were more of these stories on the book - or at least enough to get me to the next True Blood! I would recommend this book to friends.
Thanks for reading!
Book covers used in the spirit of fair use in critique.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Off Topic: Janet Evanovich's One For the Money but with tie-ins to Speculative Fiction
Bilingual Ecllipse Interviews
News and Whining
Shooting has begun in Pittsburgh on One for the Money which, according to my source who works for the Evanovich Organization Janet sold in 1993 and has no control over at all.
I knew that Stephanie Plum is being played by Katherine Heigl who is just SO NOT Stephanie Plum if you gave her an IV injection of Mrs. Plum's lasagna! Actually, I am certain she is a fine actress but there are types and there are types. I think Heigl is going to be known for her Izzy character on Greys for a long time. From doctor to bail bond retriever is a stretch.
When I read they began shooting there was no news on who they had cast for Morelli or Ranger. I thought Joe Mangianiello who is playing Alcide on True Blood (there is the tie in) would be perfection (he is pretty near perfect anyway!), but alas if they aren't listening to Ms. Evanovich they sure aren't hearing my lamentations.
Morelli will be played by Jason O'Mara (right photo imdb.com)) who some may recall from Life on Mars, the speculative fiction drama about a present day cop who gets sent back to the 1970s. Lovely guy, good actor, but Italian as my Aunt Siobhan!
So, you're casting for the hottest Italian-American, New "Joisy" male lead role to come down the pike in, maybe forever, and you look to Ireland? There aren't enough American actors, Jersey actors? Morelli is a lot about being Italian and being from Jersey.
Ranger, a hot guy from points indistinct, former special ops... pure, lean, broad shouldered muscle. I thought the guy the cast, Daniel Sunjata (left facebook)was way too skinny and that like Taylor Lautner would need to bulk up for the role but it looks like he had for a recent show he did, "Rescue Me."
Oh well, I guess that is why they call it "acting." Seriously, and especially with a series of books, I get such a picture in my mind of who the characters are (never me). STephanie has always been Sandra Bullock, and Joe Morelli has always been Joe Penny who is not young enough now to play Morelli (he would have been great in '93). Manganiello seemed like a pretty good compromise. O'Mara is nice looking and all but he is going to have to go deep to find Morelli in there.
ECLIPSE
Team Twilight is offering a ton of promo vids and stills; including these interviews with Edward and Jacob from Miami's "Terra"
Shooting has begun in Pittsburgh on One for the Money which, according to my source who works for the Evanovich Organization Janet sold in 1993 and has no control over at all.
I knew that Stephanie Plum is being played by Katherine Heigl who is just SO NOT Stephanie Plum if you gave her an IV injection of Mrs. Plum's lasagna! Actually, I am certain she is a fine actress but there are types and there are types. I think Heigl is going to be known for her Izzy character on Greys for a long time. From doctor to bail bond retriever is a stretch.
When I read they began shooting there was no news on who they had cast for Morelli or Ranger. I thought Joe Mangianiello who is playing Alcide on True Blood (there is the tie in) would be perfection (he is pretty near perfect anyway!), but alas if they aren't listening to Ms. Evanovich they sure aren't hearing my lamentations.
Morelli will be played by Jason O'Mara (right photo imdb.com)) who some may recall from Life on Mars, the speculative fiction drama about a present day cop who gets sent back to the 1970s. Lovely guy, good actor, but Italian as my Aunt Siobhan!
So, you're casting for the hottest Italian-American, New "Joisy" male lead role to come down the pike in, maybe forever, and you look to Ireland? There aren't enough American actors, Jersey actors? Morelli is a lot about being Italian and being from Jersey.
Ranger, a hot guy from points indistinct, former special ops... pure, lean, broad shouldered muscle. I thought the guy the cast, Daniel Sunjata (left facebook)was way too skinny and that like Taylor Lautner would need to bulk up for the role but it looks like he had for a recent show he did, "Rescue Me." 
Oh well, I guess that is why they call it "acting." Seriously, and especially with a series of books, I get such a picture in my mind of who the characters are (never me). STephanie has always been Sandra Bullock, and Joe Morelli has always been Joe Penny who is not young enough now to play Morelli (he would have been great in '93). Manganiello seemed like a pretty good compromise. O'Mara is nice looking and all but he is going to have to go deep to find Morelli in there.ECLIPSE
Team Twilight is offering a ton of promo vids and stills; including these interviews with Edward and Jacob from Miami's "Terra"
Monday Musings Getting Witchy with It
True Blood
Mon·dayn.Abbr. Mon. or M
The second day of the week.
[Middle English, from Old English Monandæg (translation of Latin lunae dies, day of the moon) : monan, genitive of mona, moon; see moon + dag, day; see day.]
Mon days adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Monday is the Moon's Day, so it seems appropriate to discuss traditions which celebrate the moon and the heavens. We all count our time by the moon either by the time period it takes the moon to orbit the earth (a month), or by the tides, or lunar phase. Especially today, the first day of summer, the longest day of the year! While some "conventional" traditions or faiths use the moon to decide when certain holidays or events will be scheduled, I will discuss the "unconventional" world of the neo-Pagan belief Wicca.
Wicca is a positive, nature based form of paganism (polytheism). While roots are pre-Christian and its traditions and symbols are based in the natural cycle of life, Wicca as we know it developed sometime during the 20th century.
Wicca has NOTHING to do with Satan. Again, let me say that Wicca. Has. NOTHING. To. Do. with. Satan! Early Christianity was brilliant in its use of "public relations" and "crowd control." It co-opted traditional Pagan festivals and made them into Christian observances. It required fasting Saturday to Mass and then gave out bread, and it took an Old Testament fallen angel, Lucifer and turned him into the Lord of Evil and Prince of Darkness against whom God and Christ struggle to save our souls. Then they gave him horns so he would resemble the horned God Pagans worship in harvest celebrations. While wise women didn't disappear, thank goodness, they didn't hang signs on their doors either. A woman who practised healing with herbs and other "simples" always ran a risk so those who were truly wise kept their heads down.
"Wicca" probably derives from "wise," although some say it derives from a different word which means "performance of sorcery." While Wicca has no formal commandments its rede is "As it harms none do as thou will." Modern day physicians, it is interesting to note, swear to "first do no harm."
Wiccans traditionally revere a male and female pair of Gods, and celebrate seasonal festivals around the equinoxes and solstices as well as other observances. My understanding from my past is that the male and female gods are not seen as omniscient or omnipresent beings but as natural forces that are both needed for creation and sustenance. There are other theistic beliefs within the world of Wicca and it is pretty tolerant.
In popular Western society Witches and Wicca are synonymous. The church invented the myth that witchcraft was satanism - in fact they invented Satan. Of course, this is the same church that said that Jews had horns and ate babies (A lie for which they only recently apologized). Like I said, the church had an uncanny ability to take a fear, codify it and use PR to make it part of people's own beliefs.
Neo-paganism, as Wicca is today, recognizes the need for a balance between male and female forces. But allowing women to have knowledge of healing, or even teaching them to read was a threat to the patriarchal church. I am sure that male-female balance was not perfectly practiced in traditional paganism. Men have more physical strength and women have long been subdued by stronger men and as child-bearers had a certain period of time in which they needed another person to help them (I guess it doesn't have to have been a male).
The church however codified the reduction of women to a vessel, servant and almost non-human. Being a healer, even a mid-wife left one open to all sorts of charges. Paganism hid in the shadows for centuries until a more tolerant society made it possible to come out. Saturday, I was out shopping and came across a car with the license plate "Witch." Times have surely changed!
Druids are a whole other kind of pagan belief system which deserves its own post!
Recently, in fiction, I have noticed a differentiation between Witches and Wicca. I recall the first time I saw this was in Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse books with both her friend Amelia and the coven who attacked Eric; Amelia at an innate gift that she cultivated by training. In The Hollows, Witches are a separate species, and Wicca is something different; almost for poseurs, although some humans have the ability to use Ley lines.The concept of a gift of some sort being a genetic inheritance is evolving in the literature.
But, outside of books, there are still people who will understand that the earth and nature are to be respected, regardless of whether a twitching of the nose does anything to alter the here and now. It is a sad fact of our existence that wherever there have been people with power some will be corrupted by it. Are "wicked witches" practicing satanism? After all, the worship of anything is possible. When we read these PNR and UF and fantasy books there are always those who practise black magic but very rarely have I seen the presence of Satan himself (or in the Queen Betsy books, herself). The Wiccan rede of no harm would imply that using and ability to gain power over others, or by sacrifice, is not acceptable within the tradition.
There are tons of good sites out there with info on Wicca. If you Google "Wicca" you will come up with lots of information. If someone is asking you for money, or mentions Satan then it is not a good site. My references below are strictly information I found useful and not a recommendation. Nor should the non-inclusion of a site be seen as a condemnation.
The Wikipedia Article seems like a pretty good one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiccaI liked the Celtic Connection for its understanding of what happened between the church and Wicca: http://www.wicca.com/celtic/wicca/wicca.htm
The Wikipedia Article seems like a pretty good one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiccaI liked the Celtic Connection for its understanding of what happened between the church and Wicca: http://www.wicca.com/celtic/wicca/wicca.htm
I was fairly confused during last night's episode. I got the whole Sam and his brother thing. Now, there is one screwed up group. What I didn't understand was why Sookie was being sought by the wolves and hence the King of Mississippi? How Nazi's came into it? Whether Bill really set Lorena aflame or was he having a daydream?And, dare we hope? And, where is Alcide and when do we get to see him.
I am not catching any heat at all between Sookie and the Sheriff (hoping it was the wolf she shot and not Eric but she was pretty unflinching with the gun.) I don't recall the Were-Jaguars being drug dealers in the books either but then it was awhile back; we need a book by book synopsis like Diana Gabaldon provided in the Outlandish Companion does anyone know of one?
Have I got an ear worm on a song from the Philadelphia Story with Grace Kelly and Cary Grant, well the melody anyway. I give to you and you give to me, True Blood, True Blood.....
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Awesome Eclipse Behind the Scenes
Swan Song by Jevron Mc Crory
*plus* An Answer to the Question, "What Should I Read Next?"
ECLIPSE
This video is the best preview I have seen to date:
I wasn't looking forward to reading a book that I had not chosen and I had that feeling you get when a friend or family matter wants to know what I honestly think (sure they do)? I often find I just don't want to read them. I did not want to read amateurish writing and then either never speak about his book again or have to pan it. But, the book is only 62 pages long so I figured I could get through it.
I was relieved that the book is readable. It is much darker than I normally like, but McCrory wants to bring the bite back in vampire literature. Even accounting for the darkness the male character is a bit too churlish to be believable − he reminds me of Hugh Laurie's portrayal of Greg House on the TV show, House. House is often too bad tempered to be believed so what do I know, people love him. I almost called this post Dr. House meets the Vampire. The writing is a mellifluous, rolling prose. It is just a bit too verbose or too mannered − as if the writer is trying to impress. He sometimes uses 5 words when one would do. It is written in a dispassionate third-person: a voice that can sometimes sound monotone.
The story line itself is interesting although the progression of the love-relationship, as is often the case, is rapid and the reasoning baffling. There is believability in the setting in London, not surprising as McCrory is from there. You can feel the bustle, and the people and smell the chip shops.
The ending to me was incomprehensible. What happened? Maybe that I am still wondering is a good thing. The writer doesn't always have to reveal all. While I wouldn't say this book is the best out there it is a good effort by a debut novelist It all depends on what you like. I think Mr. McCrory will improve with each published work.
Cover: fair use for critique.
What Should I Read Next?
I must ask this of myself, and my readers, a couple of times a week. Even if one uses a library instead of buying books, time is scarce. How can we decide without wasting time or money, or even having an unpleasant experience? YourNextRead is an online service that can help you out with this. According to the website:
I did not receive any remuneration for blogging this.
What I'm Reading:
MaryJanice Davidson's Off Genre Drop Dead Gorgeous - just finished; surprisingly not paranormal
Just finished Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse short-story anthology A Touch of Dead.
Taking a PNR break with a little Diane Mott Davidson.
Then Laurel K. Hamilton's Flirt.
And, True Blood is on tonight. Woo Hoo!
This video is the best preview I have seen to date:
| http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi4239787545/ |
Katrina Collins isn’t like other musicians, she doesn’t do interviews and no one has ever seen her outside of her musical arena. Her beauty is startling, her effect upon an audience mesmerising. Lewis Morrison isn’t like any other music journalist, as he despises music and loathes musicians. They find each other and their discovery brings hope, redemption, pain, pleasure and death. (Vamplit Publishing)A few days ago Jevron McCrory emailed asking me to review his e-book, Swan Song. After explaining that receipt of the book (pdf) from him would not guarantee a good review I accepted it. It is the first time an author requested that I review his book; and there may be many other bloggers he has asked. That's fine - it is hard to promote a book - it is sales, but it is like selling yourself so you are pretty vulnerable. The book is being e-published by Vamplit Publishing which, by the way, accepts and reads all manuscripts.
I wasn't looking forward to reading a book that I had not chosen and I had that feeling you get when a friend or family matter wants to know what I honestly think (sure they do)? I often find I just don't want to read them. I did not want to read amateurish writing and then either never speak about his book again or have to pan it. But, the book is only 62 pages long so I figured I could get through it.
I was relieved that the book is readable. It is much darker than I normally like, but McCrory wants to bring the bite back in vampire literature. Even accounting for the darkness the male character is a bit too churlish to be believable − he reminds me of Hugh Laurie's portrayal of Greg House on the TV show, House. House is often too bad tempered to be believed so what do I know, people love him. I almost called this post Dr. House meets the Vampire. The writing is a mellifluous, rolling prose. It is just a bit too verbose or too mannered − as if the writer is trying to impress. He sometimes uses 5 words when one would do. It is written in a dispassionate third-person: a voice that can sometimes sound monotone.
The story line itself is interesting although the progression of the love-relationship, as is often the case, is rapid and the reasoning baffling. There is believability in the setting in London, not surprising as McCrory is from there. You can feel the bustle, and the people and smell the chip shops.
The ending to me was incomprehensible. What happened? Maybe that I am still wondering is a good thing. The writer doesn't always have to reveal all. While I wouldn't say this book is the best out there it is a good effort by a debut novelist It all depends on what you like. I think Mr. McCrory will improve with each published work.
Cover: fair use for critique.
What Should I Read Next?
I must ask this of myself, and my readers, a couple of times a week. Even if one uses a library instead of buying books, time is scarce. How can we decide without wasting time or money, or even having an unpleasant experience? YourNextRead is an online service that can help you out with this. According to the website:
At YourNextRead we only feature books you have told us you have read, enjoyed and recommended for others to read. We believe that people are the best analysers of the intangible connections which link great books together. So we thought of a simple way to recommend books - the thumbs up/down button you see in our "map of books". By clicking on the thumbs up/down buttons you tell YourNextRead and, more importantly, the world that these two books are recommended as similar. If you don't like any suggestion you see on the screen, then you can always click on the thumbs down button, though please only do this if you have read both books :DTo see if this is useful, I signed up and did a search. I found it somewhat confusing. But the idea is good. Give it a shot − it is a free service.
I did not receive any remuneration for blogging this.
What I'm Reading:
MaryJanice Davidson's Off Genre Drop Dead Gorgeous - just finished; surprisingly not paranormal
Just finished Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse short-story anthology A Touch of Dead.
Taking a PNR break with a little Diane Mott Davidson.
Then Laurel K. Hamilton's Flirt.
And, True Blood is on tonight. Woo Hoo!
Cassandra Palmer aka The Pythia aka Herophile aka a Good Read
I just finished book two of the series Claimed by Shadow, and read Touch the Dark a month or two ago. Both books are by Karen Chance and are part of the Cassandra Palmer Series. The strange tales of Cassandra Palmer, orphaned by the very vampire who raised her to be his own personal Cassandra. A "Cassandra" comes out of Greek mythology, Wikipedia (not the world's most reliable reference but good enough to tell us this) says:
In Greek mythology, Cassandra (Greek: Κασσάνδρα, "she who entangles men", also known as Alexandra) was the daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy. Her beauty caused Apollo to grant her the gift of prophecy. In an alternative version, she spent a night at Apollo's temple, at which time the temple snakes licked her ears clean so that she was able to hear the future. This is a recurring theme in Greek mythology, though sometimes it brings an ability to understand the language of animals rather than an ability to know the future. However, when she did not return his love, Apollo placed a curse on her so that no one would ever believe her predictions. She is a figure both of the epic tradition and of tragedy, where her combination of deep understanding and powerlessness exemplify the tragic condition of humankind. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassandra)The whole deep understanding and powerlessness mentioned above is a pretty good description of what Cassandra feels as this Pythian power, part of the Oracle of Delphi lore (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythia) seeks her out as its heir. In the world in which Cassandra Palmer lives there is a vast network of Supernatural beings who work together at MAGIC, a sort of paranormal United Nations (only the UN works better!), to protect humanity. In particular, there are Fae, Gargoyles, Golums, Mages, Witches, Were-creatures, Zombies and Vampires. There are also random Greek mythological creatures that pop up, occasionally to act as a Deus-ex-Machina* for Ms. Palmer. In addition to prophecy, the Pythia seems to have the power to shift through time and space to set events right, or to escape. Since Cassie was not trained to be the Pythia she is unaware of all her powers.
The books are lots of fun interspersed with somewhat more tragic moments in her past, present and future. She is very likable and the people with whom she journeys through life are either likable or despicable. The only thing I found hard in the books was following who was trying to kill whom and why and the other action, whether Cassie was in her body or that of another person when she shifts back in time. There are many people who want her and some of her friends dead. It is just hard to know which is which. Then sometimes, the person who was attempting to kill her becomes a trusted ally.
I enjoyed the book. There is some heat in the first book, but because Cassie has to be chaste to be made Pythia, no real heat until the second book. Then I had a hard time figuring out how they made love since the male was wrapped in bandages almost like a mummy. He sounded cute and she had to complete the ritual of losing her virginity to fully become the oracle of legend so I let it slide.
My TBR pile (lives in my Kindle and on top of my dresser) is getting pretty high so while I do recommend this series, it may be a while before I get the time to finish it. But, don't let me stop you. I think my confusion issue may stem from me not being a tremendously careful reader, so that may not bother you. Also, if I hadn't allowed so much time to pass between books I may not have felt lost.
If I had a rating system I would give this four out of five for sympathetic characters and a great story.
By the way Ms. Chance's website has some portraits of the characters in the books under "Freebies"
http://www.karenchance.com/books.html The book covers are used under the Fair Use policy in the process of critiquing the books.
*This term comes to me from stage craft class, in 1979. In Greek tragedy, when there was no way out, a chariot would fly down and save the threatened being. I believe it happens in Medea. It literally means God from the Machine.
Nordstroms & Eclipse
At this point, anyone who is into Eclipse probably knows who-what-why-where-when-and-how any Eclipse events will be going down. BUT! Nordstroms is having parties and advanced screenings as well as appearances by cast members. They all seem to be at West (or left) coast stores, but I am thrilled to link you to them anyway. Click on the Nordstroms.
BTW does anyone besides me think it is strange that Nordstroms is in a deal with Summit for these events and have specially branded clothes and other items? IT shows how much buying power the more youthful members of the population have. I know there is a lot said about those of us who are a trifle older than the teenage target demographic for the movies but, you have to remember that ther are even more of them. We just stand out because we are, well, older. I keep getting invites to join AARP and if the invitations came with premiere passes, first class airfare and 5 star lodging I might even join!
BTW does anyone besides me think it is strange that Nordstroms is in a deal with Summit for these events and have specially branded clothes and other items? IT shows how much buying power the more youthful members of the population have. I know there is a lot said about those of us who are a trifle older than the teenage target demographic for the movies but, you have to remember that ther are even more of them. We just stand out because we are, well, older. I keep getting invites to join AARP and if the invitations came with premiere passes, first class airfare and 5 star lodging I might even join!
Friday, June 18, 2010
An Eclipse Post and Sam Explains His Encounter with Bill!
I saw this Eclipse bit yesterday and it is hillarious even if it is necessary:
It is necessary to have rules, I do get that, but somehow it is incongrous that we should need a large page of rules for getting tickets for a film at Midnight. Maybe this is part of the "Adult" POV I claim to have but, I cannot see any reason to camp in a parking lot for 9 days in order to see a movie. Now if Tiffanys were to give away 2 carat solitaires in perfect diamonds - I might camp a couple of days, but, nah, I probably wouldn't even then.
Gender Preference in True Blood
In this link there is a written interview where Sam Trammel discusses his character's liaison with Bill:
http://www.hbo.com/true-blood#/true-blood/episodes/3/25-bad-blood/interview/sam-trammell
In researching this, I discovered that he was born in Louisiana (1971, New Orleans) which is fitting.
Here he discusses his dating life:http://truebloodnet.com/sam-trammell-of-true-blood-talks-about-dating/
If you have read the books you know there are several same-sex relationships among the characters, and we know that at least two gay characters will be introduced this season. The queen is sexually ambivalent, Pam has come out, and Lafayette, well I don't think there was ever a closet that could have contained that beautiful man. When asked by the NY Times about her orientation my memory says she said she was not that interesting!
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE – FAN LINE UP AND CAMPING
It is necessary to have rules, I do get that, but somehow it is incongrous that we should need a large page of rules for getting tickets for a film at Midnight. Maybe this is part of the "Adult" POV I claim to have but, I cannot see any reason to camp in a parking lot for 9 days in order to see a movie. Now if Tiffanys were to give away 2 carat solitaires in perfect diamonds - I might camp a couple of days, but, nah, I probably wouldn't even then.
Gender Preference in True Blood
In this link there is a written interview where Sam Trammel discusses his character's liaison with Bill:
http://www.hbo.com/true-blood#/true-blood/episodes/3/25-bad-blood/interview/sam-trammell
In researching this, I discovered that he was born in Louisiana (1971, New Orleans) which is fitting.
Here he discusses his dating life:http://truebloodnet.com/sam-trammell-of-true-blood-talks-about-dating/
If you have read the books you know there are several same-sex relationships among the characters, and we know that at least two gay characters will be introduced this season. The queen is sexually ambivalent, Pam has come out, and Lafayette, well I don't think there was ever a closet that could have contained that beautiful man. When asked by the NY Times about her orientation my memory says she said she was not that interesting!
For Bloggers: Sign off link
I love the hop and visiting the blogs, esp. when you have visited mine! This amazing designer has tutorials on how to accomplish the most amazing blog things. go to Cute n Cool Blog Stuff -- Ikupilli for the code and instructions. She also sells ready made graphics and such in etsy. I got a sheet I used to make this (left) with Photoshop.Then start a cheat sheet. This is a ms word (or other software) document code you might use again and again. If you find that the blog won't save highlight whatever you copy in and hit whatever un-format button your blog editor uses. HTML has a nasty habit of code dragging the formatting code you don't see with it when you copy. I know there is something out about cheat sheets thatis betters, but this is what I use.
I have one other hint. Renting your Domain name is cheap and you can easily feed through it. If you wait and start getting search hits the price will go up when someone else buys it. I rented mine for two years from GoDaddy and it was nothing. A friend started generating Google hits and now hers is $1,400!
So, sorry if you aren't a blogger and this is like, "I want Twilight why is she spewing HTML code at me!"
Bloggers Unite to Blog Better
So Far today I am doing two - The first is new to me from Parajunkee.com below and then for the 4th time I am doing the Book Bloggers Hope from Crazy-for-books.com. Thanks to both these generous people for the work this takes.
More later!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Extra, Extra, True Blood Gets in on the Act
There are two new videos up on HBO True Blood. This will autoplay the music video first. Hey HBO owns it so I guess its their prerogative. And, right now they probably don't want Eclipse stealing all their thunder. I love Hype Wars!
It occurs to me that noone under 40 understands the meaning of "Extra, extra, read all about it!" Before the internet and even before TV (yes the middle ages) when news only moved as fast as the radio, newspapers would print an "extra" edition when something big happened. It was the equivalent of a "Special Report." You know, "We interrupt the program you want to watch to tell you about the President's colonoscopy."
Well, this is better than a colonoscopy*. Joe Manganiello, who will be playing werewolf Alcide (above - Although Joe will only turn 34 this December: Taylor Lautner that six pack is harder when you aren't 18 years old! ) is my new online crush, and I think perhaps the quest for the Stephanie Plum Mysteries', Joe Morelli should end at his door. Janet Evanovich doesn't follow my blog, (or, does she?) but check this guy out! Yeah, I was bad and snagged this shot out of an Italian newspaper but in the spirit of fair use: TV Shows 4 Fans – Telefilm USA-ITA, Reality e tanto altro…Tutte le News della Tv a portata di click… (Reality and "more", All the TV news brought to you wth a Click). They did a great job and I had to clip out a papparazzi shot of him which was too explicit.
I think there is some major chemistry between Anna and Joe (plays Alcide).
The classic hip hop Snoop is putting down that I'm picking up in this music video is possibly more explicit than sex on the show or on the Tudors ( there is one bleep)! Well, Sookie does have lots of free time during the day.
Enjoy! Tomorrow is the start of the Book Bloggers Hop hosted by Crazy-for-Books.
*Some of you may not have been born when President Reagan's colonoscopy revealed polyps and we were treated to models of how it all worked during the nightly news.
It occurs to me that noone under 40 understands the meaning of "Extra, extra, read all about it!" Before the internet and even before TV (yes the middle ages) when news only moved as fast as the radio, newspapers would print an "extra" edition when something big happened. It was the equivalent of a "Special Report." You know, "We interrupt the program you want to watch to tell you about the President's colonoscopy."
Well, this is better than a colonoscopy*. Joe Manganiello, who will be playing werewolf Alcide (above - Although Joe will only turn 34 this December: Taylor Lautner that six pack is harder when you aren't 18 years old! ) is my new online crush, and I think perhaps the quest for the Stephanie Plum Mysteries', Joe Morelli should end at his door. Janet Evanovich doesn't follow my blog, (or, does she?) but check this guy out! Yeah, I was bad and snagged this shot out of an Italian newspaper but in the spirit of fair use: TV Shows 4 Fans – Telefilm USA-ITA, Reality e tanto altro…Tutte le News della Tv a portata di click… (Reality and "more", All the TV news brought to you wth a Click). They did a great job and I had to clip out a papparazzi shot of him which was too explicit.
I think there is some major chemistry between Anna and Joe (plays Alcide).
The classic hip hop Snoop is putting down that I'm picking up in this music video is possibly more explicit than sex on the show or on the Tudors ( there is one bleep)! Well, Sookie does have lots of free time during the day.
Enjoy! Tomorrow is the start of the Book Bloggers Hop hosted by Crazy-for-Books.
*Some of you may not have been born when President Reagan's colonoscopy revealed polyps and we were treated to models of how it all worked during the nightly news.
Thursday Evening Extra Eclipse- SHORT CLIP & New Interviews w/Taylor, Kristen, Rob
I came across this and thought you might enjoy this. Kristen sounds so mature for someone who recently turned twenty. Taylor is also fairly mature for an 18 year-old. Rob is the oldest of the three at the ripe old age of 24. I hope these three "kids" keep their noses clean after the Twilight Saga is behind them and the spotlight is off. They are really centered and talented. Rob has gone through his "drunk" stage of life where he admits that trying to go out on his own was a good excuse to drink a lot.
Enjoy this Thursday Evening Extra!
Eclipse Galore NEW TRAILER "EPIC"
There are many videos, stills, posters and you name it available at Movie Phone INCLUDING, but not limited to, a NEW TV Trailer "EPIC". This should get you there: http://bit.ly/bY37gJ
I will see if I can find an embeddable copy but I have a feeling if it was not embedded before it will not be. 13 days!!!!
I will see if I can find an embeddable copy but I have a feeling if it was not embedded before it will not be. 13 days!!!!
Grave Secrets by Charlaine Harris
But, I digress. I had never read a non-Sookie Stackhouse book by Ms. Harris and I don't know if expected the book to be more like the Sookie Stackhouse series so I was surprised and pleased to learn that Ms. Harris writes well in more than one style. Grave Secrets is pretty far from Bon Temps' strangely forested, wetly Louisianan backdrop as you can get and still be in that same area of the South. It mostly occurs in Dallas with a little roaming about. But, it is just plain different from the Sookie books as well.The writing style is brisker than the Sookie books too. The main characters are business like − they have things to do. The characters are a bit less parochial (not living in "parishes" as one would in Louisiana might be part of that. But, Harper and her step-brother-slash-significant-other, Tolliver, have been traveling around for a while as her having been struck by lightning as a teen left her with the ability to learn what the last moments of life were for a dead body, and that ability is the basis for their consulting business. Harper and Tolliver were raised under extremely unpleasant circumstances and the family situation is rather complex. One sister, Cameron is missing and presumed dead, two others live with an aunt and uncle and Tolliver's brother is out on his own. They have a friend, Manfred, psychic who is intrinsic to the mystery.
I say mystery because this is primarily a mystery and not a paranormal romance or fantasy. It has two paranormal components, Harper's and Manfred's whose abilities are important to solving the mysteries. But, there are no spells, elves, fairies, or were-creatures; just two people that have gifts like any other person has only theirs are psychic. They are sort of like the guy on the TV show, Numbers only in Numbers the math is actually more essential to the show and the story line. In this case, the team could just be people with an uncanny knack for solving crimes like Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. Except, their upbringing has left Harper and Tolliver quite damaged.
The book is tight and very well written. The characters have a little more depth to them than the characters in the Sookie Stackhouse series seem to, or at least, fully human they behave in more predictable ways. There is a line on page three that is a very nice detail and which shows how observant Harper is; perhaps observant enough that her "gift" is secondary:
Since Every day on a ranch or farm is a working day, I hadn't been surprised to see that the big house felt pretty empty, and the only glimpses I caught of other people had been distant ones. (Charlaine Harris: Grave Secrets, page 3, Berkley Prime Crime, NY 2009)I enjoyed the twists and turns offered in the plot, and I was somewhat surprised at the end. I really liked the book, and would recommend it but with the caveat that you do not go in expecting a tale of the supernatural.
Photo of Charlaine Harris © Caroline Grayshock.
Taken in New York; September; 2004
Cover Art used under fair use.
I WON! I WON!!!
I Won A Comment Oskar from http://tracycooperposey.com. A monthly event so be sure to check her out and she also writes under the pen name Teal Ceagh. She gets excellent reviews and her blog posts are thoughtful and make commenting a breeze!
Cover Art used under fair use.
I WON! I WON!!!
I Won A Comment Oskar from http://tracycooperposey.com. A monthly event so be sure to check her out and she also writes under the pen name Teal Ceagh. She gets excellent reviews and her blog posts are thoughtful and make commenting a breeze!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)