If you're in literature circles, have read lit news, or have any interest in the Harry Potter series at all, then you've no doubt heard the news that JK Rowling dropped a couple weeks ago.
For anyone not already in the know, it seems she regrets not pairing Harry and Hermione in the series, instead writing Hermione with Ron (and Harry with Ginny).
“I wrote the Hermione/Ron relationship as a form of wish fulfillment. That’s how it was conceived, really. For reasons that have very little to do with literature and far more to do with me clinging to the plot as I first imagined it, Hermione ended up with Ron.”
[JK admits Harry should have wed Hermione]
I'd seen the news here and there, on Facebook and dA and such, but didn't really think much of it. So J.K. had second thoughts on her writing, big deal.
It wasn't until I read an article on Bookish that I realized what everyone was getting out of sorts about.
For those of you who don't know, I am a Potterfan. I own two copies of each of the books (one hardcover and one paperback), I have two shelves dedicated to HP-related nick-knacks and swag, and I've attended a convention half-way across the country.
So it should come as little surprise to most of you that I own a wand. I've owned a wand since my senior year of high school when I received an Alivan's wand for my birthday. As I'm not really one for cosplay, it's mostly been a shelf-sitter, though I did take it with me to Chicago for the Terminus convention in 2008. Still, on my trip to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter I had every intention of buying a new wand, one that was 'official', but after a horrendous experience on the Hogwarts ride I declined supporting the park further.
Fast-forward to last year and the release of Pottermore. My favorite section thus-far has been the extensive wand-lore section, detailing each wand wood Ollivander uses and why. The site assigned my wand as Laurel, which fits me pretty spot-on:
It is said that a laurel wand cannot perform a dishonourable act, although in the quest for glory (a not uncommon goal for those best suited to these wands), I have known laurel wands perform powerful and sometimes lethal magic. Laurel wands are sometimes called fickle, but this is unfair. The laurel wand seems unable to tolerate laziness in a possessor, and it is in such conditions that it is most easily and willingly won away. Otherwise, it will cleave happily to its first match forever, and indeed has the unusual and engaging attribute of issuing a spontaneous lightning strike if another witch or wizard attempts to steal it. [Pottermore]
And so I've been doing my best to save money to one day purchase an accurate wand, either from Pottermore or some other artisan. In fact, there are quite a few wandmakers (and artisans of other spiffy HP crafts) on deviantART, and I've taken to following a few both there and on Facebook.
One of the artisans, Rumble and Roar Wandmakers [Facebook, dA], held a contest a couple weeks ago and I was lucky enough to win one of his basic in-stock wands. Between the available wands [Oak, Poplar, Cherry or Walnut] I decided that Oak was the best fit:
A wand for good times and bad, this is a friend as loyal as the wizard who deserves it. Wands of English oak demand partners of strength, courage and fidelity. Less well-known is the propensity for owners of English oak wands to have powerful intuition, and, often, an affinity with the magic of the natural world, with the creatures and plants that are necessary to wizardkind for both magic and pleasure. The oak tree is called King of the Forest from the winter solstice up until the summer solstice, and its wood should only be collected during that time. It is said that Merlin’s wand was of English oak (though his grave has never been found, so this cannot be proven). [Pottermore]
And upon its arrival late last week, I became the proud owner of two wands:
The Rumble and Roar wand is on the left, the Alivan's is on the right. As you can see, each is very distinct and has its own endearing characteristics.
The RaR Oak wand is hefty—not too heavy, not too light. The handle stretches nearly half-way up the wand, giving it a good balance in the hand. The longer handle does make it look a bit stubby, but as I tend to rest my index finger just below the double rings, I'm pleased with the increased area providing me a stronger and more confident grip.
The visible wood grain is simply gorgeous. There's no mistaking this for a resin or clay wand by a cursory glance. The feel of the wood is unmistakable as well. It's sanded down and coated, yes, but there's still the rough natural feel of wood and the grain throughout the handle and shaft. What's more, this is one solid piece of wood. It's been coated in different finishes, but you can tell that the grain not only continues from top to bottom, but is seamless as well.
Finally, though it's not easy to tell with a picture, the wand is not perfectly finished. In a 360 degree rotation, there are inconsistencies: the top section of the handle, just before transitioning to the shaft, is not the same width all the way around; the wand proper doesn't taper off uniformly toward the tip; and in the right light you can see a noticeable ridge near the top of the wand. But in my eye, this only serves to highlight the wand's uniqueness, its character, its handmade charm. It simply seems more authentic to the technically inept wizards of olde that a wand wouldn't be completely smooth, evenly tapered, or without a crook, bow or notch here and there.
The Alivan's Cherry and Maple wand, on the other hand, is practically flawless. It's been sanded down so finely that I can only find one teensy rough patch at the tip. Most of the wood grain (though I don't know if those trees have as distinct patterns as oak) has either been sanded away or coated over, such that the couple distinctions on the handle look more like flaws or damage than part of the wood itself.
The wand is extremely light, probably half-that of the oak despite its increased length. This could be because the wand is thinner overall, and for more of the length (having a shorter handle), or because cherry and maple are simply not as dense (again, I don't really know woods). The significantly shorter handle does give it a more traditional appearance, but it is slightly too small to fit my hand throwing off the weight ratio slightly. It feels more like a toy than a tool.
Finally, there's the fact that it is made up of two separate woods. While this does give a very striking and pleasing appearance, there is the fear of a separation. I admit that I have tested the connection a bit and found a little give when twisting. Granted, I'd never try or want to try to actually break the wand, but it does seem more likely than if it were one solid piece. On my cross-country trek, I had this wand wrapped up in more padding than I did my laptop.
Now if nothing else, Alivan's has blown everybody else out of the water with their packaging and branding.
Your Alivans wand comes complete with two piece blue Collectors Box, Velvet Wand Satchel with satin lining (embroidered with gold Alivans crest)...and a numbered Certificate of Authenticity which (on the back side) details the magical properties of your chosen hardwood. [Alivan's]
So where does that leave me? Well, I have two wands each with their own pros and cons. The Rumble and Roar wand looks authentic and feels sturdy enough for conventions and travel, but does have a rougher texture and is a bit asymmetrical. The Alivan's wand looks much more polished and display-worthy, but is a bit light and seemingly fragile for my liking. For the time-being I'll be holding on to both, though if I find a Laurel wand at LeakyCon this summer, I might consider parting with one...
Regardless of my preferences, though, both companies offer customization and other products (brooms, pipes, WB licensed merch, sonic screwdrivers...), as well as excellent customer service and even the occasional contest for a free wand. So if you're in the market for a wand of your own be sure to check out these Master Wandmakers before you make a decision.
This contest featured six prose pieces and eight poems, offered up by various members and staff from the group, for critique and comments.
The person who critiqued the most pieces won.
I managed to read and critique all 6 prose pieces, but as poetry is not my forte I declined adding my input. It's not that I hate poetry, really, it's more that I don't understand all the rules, types, and tones that poems should/could be, so I don't find myself confident enough to offer my opinions, in terms of critique anyway.
But I'd like to share with you the pieces I did critique, a couple of which are utterly phenomenal, so you might enjoy them as much as I did.
We walked into the room, only to be welcomed by the stench of blood. Suddenly I fell silent; no words could be uttered from my lying mouth. I was shocked to find his body tied up to a cold and hardwood chair in the middle of this deserted room. A grisly and dimmed light hung above his head, swinging to and fro every time the door was opened, threatening to fall and crack open onto his skull. A dim circle illuminated his head, shadowing the rest of his face. This was ironic; it was like he was some sort of subject ready to be questioned, but if he even happened to utter a word, we would beat the crap out of his thin and scrawny frame.
In a land far far away there was a scientist. This scientist was very curious. He nearly knew everything about every thing in the universe. But there was one question he couldn't answer himself. So he built a computer. It wasn't small or pretty, but that did not bother the scientist. The computer should only be able to do one thing. He should answer the question the scientist could not. The when the computer was started, he asked it: "What is the sense of life?" The computer made no sound but several lights started flickering. The scientist was patient, so he waited.
Time passed by and the scientist still waited.
Even more time passed until the computer gave an answer. A small piece of paper slit out of it somewhere. The scientist read: "Too many variables. More input needed."
Today is my first day of being an Angel. I know what you're thinking, a messenger of God, with snow white wings and a halo. Playing the trumpet and shouting the return of God. Well, I can't play the trumpet to save my life. Plus I have no halo and black wings. If you are the sheep and Jesus is the shepherd, we are the shepherd's crook. We are the Angel corps. We fight demons on earth to protect humans. This is my story of how I became an Angel.
They held his funeral three days later. It had been sunny then too. I didn't go. I was too busy trying to exorcise Seth's ghost. I burned sage, but it didn't seem to bother him. Instead, I sneezed.
"It's your fault I'm dead."
I sat on my bed with a red sheet wrapped around me and over my head so it formed a hood. I gripped it closed over my chest. "Stop lying."
He settled across from me, echoing my Indian style so our knees would have touched. Even as a ghost, he was taller than me. "I'm not lying. If I never met you, then none of this would have happened."
"The way I see it you would have died sooner." I glared at some lint on my lap. When he laughed, I jerked my glare up to him.
"You know what I love about this whole thing?" He smiled. "Is that only you can see me. Maybe I am just a figment of your imagination, brought on by guilt."
I smirked right back. "I would have to feel guilt for that."
*For some reason this amazing deviation was moved to storage...so despite it being one of my favorites, you can only enjoy and comment on the copy made for the contest.
Still, do be sure to check it out!*
When they asked me how I could do it, I told them it was like making love.
You start slowly, with your eyes on the skin of your beloved. You take your time. You notice if she is cream or churning butter, any layer of milk fat, really - and if she is, if she's dotted with freckles (and you almost don't want to wait to find the rest.) Or, perhaps, she's semi-translucent and you can see her tiny blue veins on close inspection. You notice that maybe she is none of these things. She may be copper, beer-glass brown, or even two minutes from melting into the night.
The ground is truly beautiful today. The dirt is a lovely, rich brown color. It's not quite muddy but a little damp and sprinkled in fine powder. There are some musty, rotting leaves, littered across the ground like no one cares for them. No one probably does. They are limp like corpses. You can't forget about those pretty little ants though. They track with heavy crumbs on their backs, spinning circles. Beautiful isn't it? So I might as well just keep staring at that loathsome ground and hope he doesn't come over to talk to me. But, of course I'm not that lucky am I? Oh no. Of course he's coming to talk to me. These ants are really fascinating today. Really interesting. More interesting than his face, which I refuse to look at as I have done since I met him.
Like I said, I had a lot of fun with the contest, and I'm sure the other 3 participants did too! If you'd like to check out all the submissions, as well as see some of the comments/critiques we left, head on over to Super Writers Help and check out the contest folder! Also, I hope you enjoy reading some of these fantastic pieces as much as I did.
(Seriously, check out #4 and #5 and show them some MAJOR love. You won't be sorry.)
Hey there. I'm still here. Just working on getting a number of books read and reviewed so I don't feel so pressed all the time. Stress doesn't seem to bode well for my productivity.
In the meantime, I'll be posting little tidbits of neat bookish things I find around the web.
Pottermore
So Book One (Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone) was released to Beta users last summer, and was finally unveiled to the public earlier this year. It was met with some praise, some critiques, but mostly a lot of burn-out.
Sure, it was exciting (or confusing/disappointing) to get sorted into your house, explore the castle, brew potions and duel your classmates, but in the end it could hold our interests only so long. Even the announcement that the first House Cup would finally be awarded gave me little incentive to come back (though, I was thrilled at the reset of points - gave Huffles a long awaited chance to show our stuff.)
But then the BIG announcement was made: Book Two, Chamber of Secrets, was finally being released. The House Cup winner (Slytherin) even got to explore the book a full day ahead of everyone else! Sure, only the first four chapters have been released so far, but from what I've seen so far, I'm pretty impressed at their improvements.
In Sorcerer's Stone, there was a lot missing. The scenes zoomed in twice, but you could basically see everything as it stood in the first screen, making it all too easy to continue on without knowing to click in to explore further. The sounds (which were added after Beta) seemed overly stock, some of which I recognized from JK's own website. And the interactions, which were only required on maybe 5 pages, were simple point and click. The only one with any difficulty was Snape's logic puzzle, making it the only thing which might have required referencing the book.
Chamber of Secrets, I'm happy to report, has upped the anti. Scenes vary from zooming in, zooming out, entering closed doors, entering shops...and that's only the first four chapters! The sound effects and background noise seemed more varied and tailored to fit the sections, not nearly as stock as Book One. And treasures seem a lot more plentiful - this book takes the scavenger hunt to another level with even more Chocolate Frog cards and Bertie Bott's Beans to find.
But the overall interaction is really where I was impressed. There's a puzzle which actually requires you to reference the order objects are listed in the book. So if you're reading along (which the website strongly encourages) you can solve the puzzle in a few seconds, or if you're one for memory challenges, you can try your hand at making the right order on your own. There's also a very fun de-gnoming the garden game which I've played several times (though it can be extremely difficult on slower internet/browsers).
Overall, if you haven't yet checked out Pottermore, or if you haven't yet ventured back for Book Two, I'd encourage you to try out the new features for yourself! And I'll probably be listing an update when the next section of chapters is released, so stay tuned.
Book Announcements
I'm definitely on board for this new dystopian, though I do hope we get more information on the society than the trailer suggests. I mean, I guess tribal politics and island survival are interesting and all that, but I'm already looking forward to them getting off the island and taking the fight to the streets. But I guess I'm just an urban girl at heart.
This was one of my Creative Writing professors at my college. I definitely be reading (and reviewing) her book in the near future. Even though it's not my usual book preference, I do enjoy reading historicals now and again, and I hope to find a great heroine, too.
So yeah... That last comic I posted? Here's what it turned into.
I came to the realization last week that between having too many characters, too much build up, and too little payoff, that other comic wasn't going to work. I needed to cut the fat (even though I kinda loved the prefect...he might be making a return ;D) and refocus on what really mattered; mainly my main character and her story(s). Sound familiar to anyone?
But yeah, here's Hallow Chandler. Named halfly from my username (HallowSpell149) and halfly after Tris Chandler (who you should totallyrecognize by now), the most awesomest red-head ever. I debated showing her first reactions to the sorting, but I figured that was nothing new. A lot of people have been surprised/disappointed at their sortings, and I don't think I could bring anything original to the table. So instead we have Hallow a little while after settling in. Not to worry, we'll no doubt encounter some of her misgivings in the future.
Possibly a major factor in creating this comic is the fact that the majority of my RL friends (including my sister) are Slytherins, and it's really fun to egg them on. The next comic may or may not address some retaliation. It's so much fun to torture characters.
So, what do you think? Have an idea for a fun (and easy to draw) story line?
Feel free to leave a comment below!
Also, if you do feel inclined to friend me on Pottermore, please comment or contact me somehow to tell me your username so I can nickname you first!
I'm really trying not to have random nameless friends on there.
I've been having a bit of trouble posting as of late. Like you hadn't noticed.
Firstly, my sleep schedule is waaaaaay off the normal rotation. Seems living in a cave (my bedroom is underground and has no windows) allows for sleeping during daylight hours a little too easily. Case in point, yesterday I slept from 10am to 5pm.
As you may guess, sleeping during the day doesn't bode well for functioning during that time. It's a little hard to drive your sister somewhere when you're going through REM. So I've been attempting to get to sleep earlier so I can wake up earlier (waking up is the hardest part of my 'day').
Unfortunately, my brain has decided that lying in bed trying to go to sleep is the BEST time to start coming up with ideas. Of course, I can't guarantee they're great ideas—my brain is starting to 'shut down,' after all. But whether it's my subconscious coming to the forefront, my inhibition/critique center shutting down, or the universe conspiring against me, I don't tend to get a lot of my ideas posted.
Because I'm trying to go to sleep, and it sorta defeats the purpose if I get up and write out (or draw or whatever) what I think of. Again, perhaps that's a good thing since a tired brain isn't known to make the greatest decisions. Plus I've noticed that my language gets pretty convoluted when I'm tired—my internal thesaurus/dictionary is downright horrible.
But here's a few of my sleep-deprived ideas:
A review of House M.D. (and why I stopped watching)
A review of the movie Dragon Hunters (mostly focusing on character stories)
A list of Pokemon teams based on Disney movies (...)
Pottermore OC comics
This post...
So that's my conundrum. Should I get up and act upon my ideas, even if it means staying awake longer? Should I ignore my exhausted brain's ramblings completely? Or should I try sleeping pills in an attempt to recalibrate my schedule back to normalcy? Decisions, decisions...
And a bit more randomness to finish off:
Thank you McDonald's toys!
Just let the awesomeness soak in...
Too bad Disney owns Marvel instead of DC, eh?
Ever since I joined Pottermore and was sorted into Hufflepuff, much to my initial surprise and disappointment, (I've since come to terms with my placement and embraced it) I've wanted to make a comic about it. I mean, what better premise than a girl who hates sunshine, plants, and yellow who is thrown into an environment filled with all three?
Unfortunately, I was not blessed with the artistic bug - at least not visually - and my sister, the artist of the family, is busy with her own projects, so mine fell by the wayside.
Until last week when I decided I'd give it a shot. Hence my absence...
I mapped out the first comic completely. So it was on the back of a library receipt, it didn't have to be perfect, right? Here's basically what the first panel looked like.
Then I took it to paper.
I figured I should be able to sketch out my comic then photograph/scan it in and do only minor tweaking. Thing is, I'm a little too much of a perfectionist and my 'minor tweaking' turned into completely re-tracing it. Which would be fine, if I had a tablet or something, but no, I just have a standard mouse.
So there I was, panel one completed, except for the text. It had only taken 8 hours.
Yeah, 8 hours.
UGH! At that rate, it was going to take forever. Might as well scrap it.
But then I thought, maybe I could streamline everything, just use the line and circle tools to cut out some of the steps. And then I'd be ahead of the next panel through the magic of copy/paste.
So I started over and came up with this.
Not very pretty. And the real kicker is that it took me just as long to do! And I'm still not happy with it.
Serves me right for looking for shortcuts and still expecting quality work.
Now I just have to decide if I'm still willing to put the effort in, or if I should scrap it and leave it scrapped. Why does XKCD make it look so easy?!
Since I'm in the process of re-reading Trickster's Girl before moving on to reading and reviewing its sequel, Traitor's Son, here's a bit of fun I ran into today while visiting one of my favorite comics, xkcd.
First, here's a video that should help provide context for the comic below:
Ah, good olde musicals. If you're in for another tongue-twisting song, check out It Really Doesn't Matter.
I'm sure most college students have felt pretty confused at one point or another, especially when it comes to declaring their major. I didn't declare my major (Creative Writing) until the last minute (Junior year), even though I knew when I applied that's what I wanted.
And now, with the recession, I'm sure many kids that age are wondering exactly what to do. I can't offer much advice, seeing as every person and situation's different, but here's a comic that may make you smile:
Someday I'll be the first to get a Ph.D in 'Undeclared'.
You might want to hit the More Info button for a neat link...
As part of his April 14th publication, Kevin McGill built a high altitude balloon system equipped with an HD GoPro camera, and a mount for the book. He sent it 100,000 feet up, which is considered near space. The near space area is between 65,000 and 350,000 feet.
Kevin explains:
"I wanted to show teens where a book could truly take them.
See, in the near future, fourteen-year-old hero, Nikolas, discovers that our moon is the cradle of all magical civilization. In order to travel there, Nikolas and company have to launch and ride a shuttle to Moon. When they read, they can go 100,000 feet above the Earth's surface, and more!"
Pretty cool, huh?
And besides giving us stunning visuals and a great adventure, Kevin is also offering a free Kindle Fire as the prize for the person who can correctly (or closely) guess the distance between the launch site and the landing site (not including the height of the tree).
Click HERE to enter.
But hurry—the contest ends this Saturday, May 5th!
Nick lives in a time when one can extend their life indefinitely through cerebral downloads, zip from country to country in hovercars, and have every whim taken care of by the ever faithful nannydrones.
Nick hates it.
Aside from the refugee camps, overpopulation, and unchecked consumerism filling every city across the globe, Nick just doesn’t belong. That is when he hears the voice of a woman:
“The Rones lie about their true intent. They enter the city of Huron at the peril of us all.”
Shortly after, his slightly crazed grandfather reveals to him:
“All you’ve ever heard about the Moon is a lie, my dear Nikolas. He was not always a mere satellite, a ghost wandering the stars. In an age before our own, Moon was our twin, and in him bore the whole of magical life. The cradle of this magical civilization was a fantastic metropolis filled with fire-breathing winged lions, volcano-born nymphs, automaton-legged mermaids, and so much magic you can smell it. We called this city Huron, and you, Nikolas, are her steward.”
Meanwhile on the moon, the senior stagecoach driver Yeri Willrow thought he was performing a simple drive and drop for his mysterious passengers, until they are attacked by foul-breath red-eyed creatures. He soon learns that his passengers are a family of automaton-legged merfolk, and he is their only hope. Yeri suddenly finds himself tasked with saving the merfolk or they will fall to the peril of the creature most foul.
Oh, and just in case you were wondering, you should have read this post's title like this beloved Muppet Show intro:
Now, GoodReads (GR) has been a great site for cataloging what books I've read, am reading, or want to read. I've created shelves for genres, lists for my challenges, and even gathered books I was forced to read in school. It has a huge listing of editions, summaries, and reviews. And if you hadn't noticed, I link to it all the time in my reviews, sidebars, and even have the app linked to my Facebook page!
But there is one thing that I wish they had...
A Re-Read Option
Has anyone else noticed that missing feature?
I tend to re-read books a lot. When the latest sequel comes out I like to re-read the entire series. Or perhaps it's for a reading challenge or book club. And heaven forbid reminiscing over an old favorite.
As it stands now, I can see a few different options to handle my re-reading.
Option 1: Don't count re-reads at all. Makes things a lot simpler, right? Unfortunately, this counts against my GR-sponsored reading challenge, as the "Date Finished" must contain the current year. I suppose I could say, 'computer be damned,' and make my own counter but...where's the validation in that?
Option 2: Change reading dates to current/last time read. I then add a personal note that tells me the last time I read it. Unfortunately, changing the dates read not only removes the book from my GR timeline, but also my Facebook one. It also gets complicated when I try to remember when I first read a book after I've re-read it a few times.
Option 3: Read/Review multiple editions of a single book. Unfortunately, that option hinders more than it helps. Firstly, it adds a copy to my overall books list, which is silly if anyone else looks through and finds 15 copies of the same book. Secondly, it clutters shelves if I label them with genre/theme/etc.. And lastly, it's confusing when I actually have read multiple editions (print & audiobook versions) of one book.
Obviously, I'm not a coding expert, so I can't say it'd be an easy thing to change. But here's the review form as it stands now. As you can see, under the main review space, there's "Date Finished" and "Date Started" followed by "Number of Times Read".
Now, here's the second part of the review form. As soon as you click the "I Own A Copy" box, a new section opens up, letting you fill in more information.
Why couldn't they add a "I've Read This More Than Once" bump-out?
I know I'm not completely alone in this, as there is a Suggestion Topic on GR specifically addressing the re-reading issue. Feel free to add your own two cents on the topic there, too.
But before you go off and do that, what do you think? How do you handle re-reading books? Is GoodReads the premiere book cataloging site, or do you use something different? Let me hear you howl!
Since not everyone is familiar with the term, I'll go ahead and lay it out for you. I read, analyze, and write about books. I give my opinion on characters, setting, genre, style, and sometimes even covers. I say what works, what doesn't, and what I'd like to see.
In short, I criticize.
Back - back foul demon! Burn the witch! Don't come anywhere near me!
Yeah, I know you're all thinking it. What gives me the right to rifle through someone's hard work and put its flaws on display? Who do I think I am, slandering authors with false interpretations and quotes made out of context?
I'm a writer.
Yeah, of nothing but muck and lies.
No, no, I mean I write my own fiction. Or at least I did.
What, couldn't take some of your own medicine?
Yes and no.
Huh?
Like most writers, I crave exposure. I want my work out there, read by the masses and enjoyed. DeviantArt, my blog, they're both small outlets where my writing can be seen.
But, as most writers have discovered, exposure can be a double-edged sword. With the good results (loved it! you're great!) come the bad (wow, this is horrible! use spell check next time!). These one sentence wonders are usually good for a 2-minute burst of joy/anguish, then are forgotten.
Moving past these frivolous 'reviews', we move into the longer, more thought-out comments that every writer craves. Unfortunately, you can still get long, eloquent descriptions of how you stink. Case in point, here's a comment on one of my pieces I'd written for class, revised for a challenge, and posted on DA:
I don't want to spend more time in a character's head than necessary; pathos is something to be avoided anyhow, not embraced.
Might I also point out that simply re-writing a story to increase the potency of the effect it already has does not qualify as a revision.
And I don't want to know a character that's going to be murdered a page or two away. I mean, yeah, there's some clumsy writing and some of the detail selection is careless and awkward, but to taunt the reader with a character and then to kill them off is some nerve. I mean, a lot of the breadth here could be summed up in a few good, short, strong paragraphs instead of the engrossing play-by-play the reader is treated to. That way we're not bored and ready to quit by the time the male thief is murdered and don't feel irked with the writer for essentially misleading us and thus wasting our time by teasing us with the eccentricities of a thief we never get to fully explore.
Bottom (yet superfluous) line: Tricking the reader is a cardinal sin, and allowing the reader enough rope to hang themselves with is just plain carelessness--its not much better, but it is excusable, and I think that's the case here. If the story is about the female thief, which it appears to be, then for Heaven's sakes -don't- have the male thief be the object of third-person limited! Don't even use third-person limited at all! Such a beginning requires the use of the omniscient narrator, that way a switch between subjects/people occurs without a second thought, and the narrator is allowed to keep distance between characters the reader isn't supposed to bond with.
Yours Sincerely, [name redacted]
Ouch.
Out of all of the critiques I received on that piece (10 plus replies), his by far hit me the hardest. It was actually hard enough that I wrote a scathing reply about how nothing said was constructive and he stunk as a reviewer. Not quite in that language, but that was the gist. I was hurt and I didn't care who knew.
That's right, I've been there.
So why the hell would you do that to us/other writers?
I'm not finished.
There are also critiques that are actually helpful, more along the lines of, "I liked this, but I didn't understand that," or, "I think you need to work on your dialog tags - it feels choppy when you use he said she said over and over again," or, "I wish there was a bit more buildup to the kiss - I didn't feel it was believable quite yet." These offer that blessed balance of good and bad that gives the writer encouragement, while still pointing out their weak spots.
This is the kind of critique I try to give every time I write. "I really liked ___, it made this a joy to read. Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling ____ which was kinda distracting. But on the whole, I think you have a great plot/character/style and I hope to see more from you in the future."
Well, that's not so bad...
Right?
But what about stuff that's already finished and published? They can't go back and fix what you catch! You're attacking defenseless authors & books at that point.
Firstly, I'm flattered that you think best-selling authors are reading or feeling the backlash of my reviews. And even those independent authors are tougher than you think.
Secondly, I treat my reviews just like I do my critiques. I try my hardest to present the good with the bad. And if that fails, I emphasize emphatically that I'm stating an opinion which is solely my own and may in all likeliness differ for other people.
Yeah right.
Okay, here's an example I handled just recently. Over the course of two days I read Crushed by K.C. Blake, an independently published book that she sent me for review. I didn't like it.
I never connected with the main characters, I noticed a couple continuity errors, and I thought there needed to be a lot more polishing overall. I also had a personal issue with the way the main character handled one situation. And I wrote as much in my review.
At the end of my reviews, I always have an Overall & Recommendation section in which I summarize my feelings and generalize who I think would enjoy that book. Here was my final summary for Crushed:
Overall, I was disappointed with Crushed. I thought the story concept was interesting, the mystery surrounding the villain was engaging, but the main characters and writing left me wanting to get it over with. I'd recommend it to those who like YA Paranormal-Romance, but are tired of the vampires and werewolves ruling the scene. Sex, language, and violence are negligible, so I'd say it's appropriate for the middle-school crowd as well as high-schoolers.
Though not my favorite book, Crushed was an engaging introduction into a world of powerful witches, a world I would like to visit again. The second installment, Witch Hunt, features a brand new cast coming into their own trials and triumphs. And while I wasn't too enthused about this particular game, it gave me enough that I may just try my hand at the next one.
Approximate Reading Time: 5.5 hours
I posted the full review here, GoodReads, and DA, plus the final paragraph alone on Smashwords (where she'd originally uploaded it). My GoodReads and Smashwords reviews also received 2-star ratings.
Ouch.
Yeah, I know.
I don't know what made me dislike Crushed so much, but I did. Maybe it was having just read an amazing professionally-published book just before it. Maybe I wanted to read the next book on my list too much. Maybe it was never connecting with the main character. Or maybe I was just in a pissy mood.
To make me feel even worse, it seemed like absolutely everyone else who'd read it (and reviewed) rated it at 4 or 5 stars. What was my problem?
What was your problem?
I don't know. But I wasn't going to lie about it. I wasn't going to suddenly say, "Wait guys, just kidding, I loved it!" Cause I really didn't. But I felt like I needed to fix my review...so I did:
Overall, I was disappointed with Crushed. I thought the story concept was interesting, the mystery surrounding the villain was engaging, but the main characters and writing left me wanting to get it over with. Sex, language, and violence are negligible, so I'd say it's appropriate for the middle-school crowd as well as high-schoolers. While Crushed and I had our differences, I think it could make an enjoyable read for those who like YA Paranormal-Romance, but are tired of the vampires and werewolves ruling the scene.
Approximate Reading Time: 5.5 hours
P.S.
Though not my favorite book, Crushed was an engaging introduction into a world of powerful witches, a world I'd like to visit again. The second installment, Witch Hunt, features a brand new cast coming into their own trials and triumphs. And from the sample I've downloaded from Amazon, I'm already looking forward to reading more.
So you see, I do try to promote the book I read, even if I wasn't too thrilled myself.
But why do it in the first place? What makes you so great?
Honestly? Nothing. I just enjoy reading and writing about what I read.
And why I do it? Well, in theory, I'd love my reviews to spark conversations. I kinda miss the book-fueled conversations we'd have in school, even if they were assigned reads. And even outside of school, I met some great friends while bonding over Harry Potter. By sharing what I read, I'd love if my work somehow facilitated a bond like what I have with my friends.
I'd also love if my reviews prompted someone to read and enjoy a book they'd otherwise not have read. When I was in school, we were forced to read so many depressing books. One year we even had the theme "Man's Inhumanity Towards Man", for which we read A Farewell to Arms, Of Mice and Men, Night, and The Crucible one right after the other. I remember thinking to myself, "No wonder some people hate reading! If this is all they're ever made to read, I'd hate reading, too."
So I'd like to think I'm doing my small part in promoting good literature. I may not reach thousands, or even hundreds of people, but I'm doing what I love.
And if, in the process, I step on some toes or ruffle some feathers, I'm sorry. I always try to be as polite and tactful as I can be, but in the end I'm not going to stifle my opinion. If someone has a problem with what or how I write, please critique me!
And that's why I critique and review. So...we good?
Please do let me know what you think.
Love, hate, agree, disagree - I want to know!
Sunday was my grandfather's 76th birthday (yay!) and in celebration we decided to take him out for lunch. I'd never been to Applebee's, and he was in the mood, so we decided to try it out.
(Note, this is not a rant against Applebee's. It just so happens to be the setting.)
Now, my grandpa is a retired minister, which means (at least) two things: he's extremely outgoing, and he's capable of being very loud. His hearing isn't what it used to be, so he generally enunciates everything very pointedly and projects his voice louder than what it might need to be. Since we were in a noisy restaurant with talking and music going, this trait came in especially handy: we had no trouble hearing or understanding him throughout the meal.
Our server was probably around my age (early twenties), maybe a little younger. I don't know if he was having a bad day or if his personality was generally stiff, but he didn't reciprocate much of the jolliness that my grandpa tried to include him in.
When ordering, my grandpa made a joke that he wanted a candle in his shrimp dish. The server chuckled confusedly and asked what he was talking about. "What do you mean a kindle?" All three of us said simultaneously, "CANDLE," which he still looked awfully confused about. Grandpa finally explained that it was his birthday and he was just joking. "Oh, well, I don't think we have any candles, but save some room for dessert." Oh well, indeed.
Later, after we'd started in on our entrees, he came over to check on us again. And again, Grandpa tried to engage him: "Say, is there any way to get your music in here to play Seventy-Six Trombones?"
Server looks extra confused this time. He glances around the room as he says, "Uh, I'm not sure-"
Grandpa cuts in to explain more of the joke. "It's my 76th birthday, you see, and I thought that song would be fitting," he says with a big grin and a chuckle.
"Actually, I've never heard of it. Is it some sort of classical-"
"IT'S FROM THE MUSIC MAN!" my mom and I practically yell. "You know, the musical?" my mom adds.
"Oh... Nope, I've never heard of that."
If I don't look it on the outside, I definitely feel disgusted on the inside. Grandpa, meanwhile, dismisses the server from our awkward conversation again. "I was just kidding about the music. Thanks for checking in."
Since when is The Music Man
an obscure reference?!?!
And so, to prevent such atrocities from happening in the future, I share with you the following videos. Mind that these are all from the original 1962 movie staring Robert Preston, Shirley Jones, Buddy Hackett and an adorable young Ron Howard. Of course, if any of these great songs interest you, be sure to check out the full movie!
I know, I know - another week without posts. Don't worry, I'm still here, just had a week-long temp job (yay!) interfering with my reading (boo!). But I'm back on track and am excited to reveal some more reviews, an upcoming release, and a little of what else I've been up to lately.
On the e-reader front, I think I'm narrowing down my search. I've been introduced to the possibility of an inexpensive tablet, which I could then personalize with whatever reading apps I wanted. I'm still not sure about backlighted reading, so I'm kinda thinking about getting a Kindle Fire from Best Buy for their trial period. See if I use any of the apps, and am okay with the backlit screen, then downgrade if I have any issues. Then again, I may fall in love with it - who knows?
In case you've been living under a rock in the last few months, you've no doubt heard about the internet protection, anti-piracy acts being voted on by various and sundry governments. SOPA was struck down or at least deferred for a time, but that hasn't stopped other bills, like ACTA, from reaching other governments and in some cases actually getting approved.
Some artists/activists/internet users have had enough and have proposed a Black March:
So what are your thoughts? Are you for or against the ACTA-type bills; will you go on an entertainment strike; is this whole thing being blown out of proportion? Sound off in the comments below!
Well, I can say I'm back. I'm sorry to have left for so long.
Good news is I found a job. Bad news is it was only a temporary/seasonal one, and I'm back out in the job market.
I can't promise that I'll be back forever, I don't even know that I'll be here through March. It'll depend on what work I can find and if I can swing work plus this and my other side projects. I have got a schedule I think will allow me to get through my requested reviews I've agreed to, and I really do promise to get through all those.
That's all for now... Look for a new review tomorrow, as well as some more personal posts and questions next week.
Quick Question: What's your favorite/recommended e-reader?
Perhaps you've seen the couple on Britain's Got Talent who played Titanic's My Heart Will Go On. Perhaps you've just heard ringing now and again at Christmas time.
Or perhaps you've seen the episode of Fox's show, New Girl, which happened to feature the instrument(s) known as handbells. As much as I like the show and appreciate their efforts to include a fairly unknown instrument, I can't say I approved their methods. Most of the sound produced may have been handbells (though it mostly sounded synthetic) but none-to-little of it matched what the actors onscreen were playing.
So, for those interested, here's a little informational rant summary on handbells.
Handbells, as indicated by their name, are a series of bells which are held and played by hand. To play, the ringer has to either hit the bell with an external mallet (like a xylophone or marimba) or swing the bell so that the inner clapper strikes the bell surface. There are other techniques to produce sound, such as plucking or the "Singing Bowl" technique, but these are mostly only in advanced groups. Clanking may occur when two bells bump into each other, so most ringers space them out as far as possible (but still within reach).
As with any percussion instrument, the sound only stops when the surface stops vibrating. Typically handbells are dampened on one's chest, or by laying it down on the padded playing table.
Each bell is sized for a specific pitch, much like a piano's strings. In fact, handbells are often colored off of piano keys, either by their handles or the handguards (disks separating handle from bell) being white or black. Thus, to achieve a full octave of 13 notes (C to C), you need to have 13 bells.
Because of the amount of hardware required, handbells are usually used by groups of ringers, forming a handbell choir. Beginners often start with 1 or 2 notes/bells, and their accidentals (sharps & flats). More advanced ringers may move to 4-in-hand (2 bells per hand) or even 6-in-hand (3 bells per hand) in the upper octaves, but the ringing techniques are much harder because of trying not to 1) clank the bells together or 2) play 2 notes at once.
Some ringers are skilled enough to be able to handle more bells by themselves, such that entire octaves or more are played by 1 or 2 people. This greatly reduces harmonics and undertones, since most bells are being played singly to produce the melody. You will see the majority of groups consisting of at least 4 or more.
Ringing techniques may alter the sound slightly, but really there is very little variation on how the note can be manipulated once struck. Swinging the bell back and forth can create a Doppler effect (a dimming then increasing in volume), or twirling the wrist while ringing creates a slight variation in sound, but the note never truly changes pitch or gets louder after being struck.
Handbells are most traditionally found at churches, but lately they've started moving into schools and outside organizations. Hillsboro, Oregon's Ring of Fire started as a school group, and has performed at events ranging from news shows to NBA games to Boston Pops concerts.
Bells of the Cascades is a non-profit organization that plays everything from Sleigh Ride to Pirates of the Caribbean. There really is a wide range of music available now, and even more can be made available if more music arrangers would get on the ball.
Though I have yet to find any phenomenal videos that really capture the sound of handbells well, below are a few that I've found to be entertaining or at least a proper showcasing of techniques handbell choirs use.
I've played handbells off and on for the past...oh, 10 years or so. They really are a lot of fun, and a great activity for those who've always wanted to learn music but haven't had the aptitude or courage for a solo instrument or voice. I've known people that couldn't even read notes who would play along by highlighting their music for when their left/right hand plays.
If you're interested in joining or forming a handbell group, I'd recommend checking out Handbell Musicians of America or searching for one in your country or local area.
Sleigh Ride performed by Bells of the Cascades at an informal concert.
Disney Music including Mainstreet Electrical Parade, How Do You Get to Wonderland?, Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?, Part of Your World & Parade Reprise.
Born This Way by Lady Gaga. Performed as a solo in 4 parts - this has especially great close-ups of technique!
Ring of Fire, an all-teens group, performing for a TV special.
Carol of the Bells similar to Mannheim Steamroller's rendition, played by the Golden Bells of Atlanta.
Phew, it's been a while, hasn't it? Sorry to have left you hanging these past couple months. I've been working out some personal things and have only just gotten back around to reading.
I know, I know - "How could you possibly not have been reading!?" you say. Well, the brain does funny things sometimes, like making you think that enjoyable things are too much trouble...
But I've worked through that and am currently in the process of working up my Tamora Pierce Challenge reviews! Okay, I might be a little behind, but better late than never, right? Look for a steady flow of TP reviews coming throughout the month of November, finishing up with a review of her recently released conclusion to the Provost's Dog (Beka Cooper) Trilogy, Mastiff!
Looking forward to getting back in the swing of things. Hope you've all been well. Signing off for now,
Thank you for sticking with me through these tough couple of weeks.
I am happy to say I'm on the mend both physically and mentally.
Who knew being sick could take such a toll on your mental resolve!
Anyway, I just wanted to say that I probably won't be posting much again this week. I've decided to take a few more days "off" and use them to focus on reading. You've all probably noticed that book in the corner hasn't changed in a while. But rest assured, come April I plan on having at least 4 of those "upcoming" books reviewed!
You may have noticed that I've been a bit less active in the last week or so. Long story short, I've been ill.
Therefore, even though technically the In The Storm Giveaway is set to end at the end of today, I'll be extending it another week. Hopefully I'll be feeling better then.
So, in closing, click the link above or below to enter for a chance to win an e-copy of Karen Metcalf's speculative fiction novella.
I was reading a post about someone fondly remembering his time working in a bookstore. To quote a phrase or two:
I was surrounded by great books all day, and I could always snatch a few moments to write during the work day. Now, I worked a lot, six and sometimes seven days a week, without taking a break or vacation for five years. But those stolen moments during the day were wonderful. It made each work day somehow more alive.
Now, he's talking specifically about jobs vs personal writing time, but it got me thinking...
I visit a Borders store on average once a week. As soon as I walk into the store I'm usually greeted by an employee and asked if there's anything I need help finding. If this conversation isn't made near the door, I'm usually addressed as I'm wandering. Sometimes I'm asked multiple times (by different people). Employees are seldom stationary (unless working a busy register) and always seem to have a book or three (or a stack) in their hands to re-shelve. Even those 'stationed' at the information desk (recently renovated into an e-reader/e-book station) seldom stay there for long unless working with a customer. Actually, the few times I have needed help, there was no employee in sight and I ended up going up to the register (though I think this was due to the holiday rush and being understaffed).
From having worked in the customer service industry, I'm pretty used to the "connect with customers" angle that stores often try to enforce. It was the same where (movie rental store) I worked - we were supposed to say "hello" to everyone who walked in the door, offer our services in locating their wants, and suggest other selections that they might enjoy. Customer Service is about the customer...and what will make them come back and spend more.
Of course, just down the street from my local Borders is another bookstore that I visit quite often. Not quite independent, but not a corporation either, Powell's New & Used Bookstores are a proud staple around here, well, at least among the book-buying community. Often a cross between a warehouse (in size and inventory) and a coffee shop (in coziness and atmosphere), their stores are pretty much made of awesome.
The inventory of the stores is pretty even: Both have comparable new/current releases; Powell's has a good selection of older and used books while Borders has music and movies. However, the one difference that stands out (and what Bryan's Post made me think of) is the employee protocol.
Powell's employees don't usually make an effort to engage their customers. They either stay at the registers or they're stocking the shelves. They don't dress in uniform, and they're actually sometimes hard to spot if you don't happen to see their "Ask Me" sticker. Even if you do happen upon one in the aisles, they're more likely to apologize for needing to squeeze by than ask if you need help. And yet, I don't feel any less welcome there. Because there's usually someone posted at a register or information desk, they're easy to find. And if you do have a question, they're always very knowledgeable and friendly.
As far as working at a store goes, I think either one of these would be great. But I guess I'm curious...
Which would you prefer to shop at?
Assuming you're dealing with knowledgeable staff, would you rather the hands-on but endlessly-busy workers, or the hands-off but easy-to-locate workers? Have you ever felt intruded upon by inquiring employees, or been reluctant to bother those behind the Desk Of Power?
So, I turned on the TV today while I fixed and ate my breakfast.
Not too exciting, I know. But wait for it...
Wait for it...
Wait for it......
BLAM!
A commercial comes on for James Patterson's newest Maximum Ride novel, Angel.
Now, though I have seen this series at bookstores, I haven't read any of it. I've never had any interest in reading it.
But now...
Perhaps I'm intrigued by the people running around with wings (which I had no clue of before). Perhaps I'm just easily swayed. But now I kinda want to read it...
Is this the power of TV? And if so, why aren't they using it more often!? I mean, the last commercial I saw for a book was...Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows back in 2007. Not that it really needed it, but I'm sure the commercial didn't hurt things.
So what do you think? Is TV a powerful weapon in book-selling? Would you be more interested in a book you saw on TV? Or is the whole thing a waste of time since bookish people don't watch TV anyway?
from Best Buy for their trial period. See if I use any of the apps, and am okay with the backlit screen, then downgrade if I have any issues. Then again, I may fall in love with it - who knows?