OUTSIDE and LIFE (because they are one and the same these days)
I ain't gonna lie. It has been a very frustrating week in the field though I'll let you decide if that really would even register on the scale of bad. I had to abort two surveys in the middle and take a 20 minute break in the middle of another because of weather and some bison that were feeling capricious. I am down to the final ten days to get my field work done and deadlines and pressures back at the office are starting to mount. I got a nasty-gram from the deputy head of the agency about something I hadn't done in the allotted time frame (because it requires a good bit of internet access and the time frame was established the day before I went into the field for 6 weeks with no internet). Hence why I am back in civilization to spend a day in the office tomorrow. Yippee! My job is awesome and I'm lucky to have it and have the opportunity to
run around in the prairie as part of it so while I may whine a little I try not to really complain but the nomadic life? I am done with thee!
I love blue flowers.
They're pretty.
I'm not sure if you can tell but it is raining where I am standing, taking the picture. A mile to either side of where I was, it was blue skies with hardly a cloud. I paused my survey and just stood there for 15 minutes and got rained on while looking resentfully at the nearby blue sky.
Is it just me or can anyone else imagine a hand rising from the lake holding an enchanted sword...
These are the bison. They are standing right smack dab in the middle of my survey parcel looking at me nervously. For good measure, the herd was split and the other half was lounging right in the way of the survey parcel's exit. That, along with a brisker wind than I was expecting, scuppered my survey ambitions for today:(.
WATCHING, READING and BLOGGING
Watching
Nada. The thing I am most looking forward to when I am done with my field work is binge watching season 4 of Longmire on Netflix!
Reading
Finished Last Week:
Abarat by Clive Barker: It reminded me a lot of The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland... which in turn reminded me of Alice in Wonderland. Fun, strange book though it lacked something...forward momentum perhaps...which kept me from loving it.
A Kiss for Midwinter by Courtney Milan (Brothers Sinister 1.5): A novella in this romance series that tells the story of Minnie's best friend Lucy Charingford. It was okay.
Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor: I loved this middle-grade/ YA novel that takes place in Nigeria and am super excited that it is the first in a series! Not that I need to get sucked into any more series...
The Interrupted Tale (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #4) by Maryrose Wood: This series, ya'll! I seriously can't imagine anything more charming and delightful than it! It's middle grade fiction about three children raised by wolves and their plucky governess. The audio read by Katherine Kellgren is the best thing ever.
Robinson Crusoe
by Daniel Defoe: So maybe some day I'll pick this up again? Until then
it will sit here on the currently read and look encouraging.
The Founding (The Morland Dynasty #1) by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles: This is the first
book in a series that follows a single British family through numerous
generations into modern times. This first book takes place in the early
15th century. This is such a fascinating idea and I have high hopes
but I have to say the characters in this first book are shallow and are
doing nothing for me.
Of Noble Birthby
Brenda Novak: Despite the presence of pirates it
is not making me happy mostly because of deficient humor and boring main
characters.
This week is up in the air as I expect only to be in internet land for a short time but that could change.
May you always have walls for the winds,
a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,
and all your heart might desire.
The Duchess War by Courtney Milan
Publication Year: 2012
Genre: Historical Romance, roughly Victorian Era
Series: Brothers Sinister #1
Awards: RONE Award, Historical Post-Medieval (2013)
Format: eBook bought
Narrator: NA
The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan
Publication Year: 2012
Genre: Historical Romance, roughly Victorian Era
Series: Brothers Sinister #0.5
Awards: RONE Award, Best Historical Novella (2013)
Format: eBook bought
Narrator: NA
WHY: I am very picky about my romance reads so I am always on eagle-eyed look out for new authors. Milan has come up several times in several places as a talented writer of historical romance with feminist sensibilities. Sign me up!
First of all, I am reviewing two stories here. The Governess Affair is a novella that precedes the first Brothers Sinister book and it explains how two of the characters are connected and why they have the issues that they do. It's a good place to start. In it, Serena Barton is a governess who has recently lost her position because a noble guest at her employer's house, the Duke of Clermont raped her and got her with child. She is now determined to shame him and get what she needs to care for her child. She must first figure out how to outsmart the Duke's ruthless man of business, who, of course turns out to be a much better man than his employer.
Fast forward almost 30 years and the illegitimate and legitimate son of the evil Duke are fast friends and are brothers and more than name. The Duchess War's time frame is more Victorian than Regency era England and struck me as a little past Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South but before Edith Wharton's Buccanneers. What? You don't define historical periods by fictional settings? Anyway, this book focuses on Robert Blaisdell, the current Duke of Clermont as he struggles to right his father's wrongs and be a better person. His mind is engaged by a sharp-tongued and rather plain looking wallflower who obviously harbors many secrets. They have many obstacles to their inevitable union because of her scandalous past and very low social status. They make it work but not without a lot of strife.
I really admire and respect
Courtney Milan but at least based on these two books, I'm not sure she is destined to be on my list of favorites.This book was really good and I appreciated so
many unique elements about it.The
heroine is not terribly attractive, there’s a great female friendship
portrayed (among others), the hero is a virgin (gasp!) and the sex is not immediately mind
blowing.The plot is a little
far-fetched but complex and interesting.At one point she does that thing I hate where it appears a big conflict
will ensue because one of the partners stupidly and incomprehensibly withholds
some information but then she subverts that annoying trope by diffusing the
conflict and using it as an “important learning moment” for the character.
As much as I admired he book however, I didn't love it.Mostly this is 100% a personal preference thing.Basically, my preferences in romance are incredibly and
ridiculously shallow.Sure, I want a
unique, independent sassy female lead and for the characters to be developed
enough that I care about them.But
that’s about as much depth as I want.Reality?Has no business being in
my romance novel and if it isn’t making me laugh or smile affectionately at the
witty banter in between swoons I want none of it.Milan definitely includes some humor in the
book, there are a couple of scenes, interactions between Robert and his friends,
that made me laugh out loud. However the overall feel of the book is too
weighty for my preferences.I repeat,
it’s ALL ON ME and I didn’t dislike the book, not by a long shot but I was not
delighted or swept away by it.That
said, I am totally interested in reading the next two books in the Brothers
Sinister series because I was VERY intrigued by the other three characters that
will be focused on: Oliver, and particularly Sebastien and Violet.Sebastien is an evolutionary biologist!! Eep!
FINAL VERDICT:A little too weighty for my romance-reading taste
but a well-written and unique book so if you’re not as shallow as I am (so…most
people) you’ll likely love it! I will be continuing the series. 3 out of 5 Stars.
Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier
Publication Year: 2007
Genre: YA Fantasy
Series: Wildwood #1
Awards: NA
Format: Audiobook on CD from Library
Narrator: Kim Mai Guest
WHY: Appallingly and against my usually vigilant rules, I accidentally read book 2 of this series (Cybele's Secret) first. I didn't love it but was intrigued by the mentions of events in book 1. Plus I generally like Juliet Marillier and fairy tale re-tellings.
From what I've read Wildwood Dancing is Juliet Marillier's first foray into young adult fiction. The setting is a feudal Transylvania and the primary source for the story is the fairy tale, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, though several changes are made and pieces from other stories and region appropriate folklore are also used.
Wildwood Dancing tells the story of five sisters who are allowed access to the fairy world and its revels during every full moon. This is a secret part of their lives and brightens up their otherwise content but rather mundane lives. Their story is told from the point of view of Jena, who is the second oldest sister (15 years old) and "the responsible one". Their mother is dead and their father is very ill and must spend the winter in gentler climes than the mountains of Transylvania in order to have any chance of recovery. The five sisters are on their own for the winter, with Jena and her older sister Tati left in charge. Almost immediately problems start to arise mostly in the form of their overbearing and chauvinistic neighbor and cousin Cezar and a forbidden love that develops between Tati and one of the more enigmatic denizens of the fairy kingdom.
As I have experienced with Marillier before, she does a good job of interweaving magic into a very believable and detailed "real world". The detail and life she breathes into what is otherwise a short folk tale is nothing short of wondrous. The life of the sisters, their relationship with others and the community they are a part of all feel very down to earth and historically accurate. The magic is entwined with the setting in a very natural way that is easy to imagine. This is a real strength of the book and was probably what I enjoyed most.
While the world building is easy to admire and praise, my feelings about almost everything else in the book are more complicated. I liked the book better after I had finished and digested it a bit but I have to admit to feeling frequently frustrated by it while listening. Most of my frustration can probably be chalked up to me being a pretty unfairly curmudgeonly reader of YA so take it with a grain of salt:).
While Jena is, for the most part, a wonderful main character; opinionated, ambitious, nurturing and perhaps a bit of a control freak. She's admirable but flawed. Unfortunately, I found her (and her sisters) at times insanely frustrating. The main element of her character arc that I struggled with was how naively she acts despite her exposure to a much wider world than most. This is really a pitfall of all fairy tale re-tellings. We the readers are usually very familiar with the tropes and themes that frequently dominate fairy tales and as such can see circumstances coming from miles away, while by necessity the characters living in the story shouldn't be expected to know these things and be wiser for them. When the witch of the wood tells you to "trust your instincts", listen to her and don't assume she's fond of meaningless platitudes! Even if a character's ignorance makes sense it doesn't change the fact that their blundering makes them look stupid. Again this is likely down to me being too critical a reader. However, there are also scenarios where Jena refuses to consider the possibility of something because it seems "impossible", all while she is traveling through a magic portal in her bedroom to the land of the fairies. Seems like that would open one's mind to all possibilities? Maybe a little? The fact that she is so dismissive of things that seem no more outlandish than her monthly experiences frustrated me to no end. It came across as heavy handed storytelling, and maybe aimed at a younger audience than typical YA?
All that grumbling aside, one of the main things that frustrated me while I was reading, but then became kind of awesome upon reflection, was the character of Tati and her love for Sorrow. Tati remains an exasperating character but I realized that, purposefully or not, Marillier had set up an elegant contrast between Tati's romance and Jena's. Tati's relationship with Sorrow is straight out of a fairy tale or medieval tales of romantic love. They fall in love at first site and become instantly obsessed with each other even though they've only spent 3 nights in each others' company. Tati becomes unable to do or think about anything other than Sorrow and ceases to be able to function in normal life. She becomes selfish and completely self-absorbed. When troubles arise, she stops eating until she starves herself to the point of death putting her family and her beloved in grave danger as well. Jena, on the other hand, falls in love with her hero over many years of friendship. When troubles arise, she continues to function mostly at full capacity and takes care of all her responsibilities. She is then brave and assertive and is the one to address and fix the problems between her and her fella. It's a lovely contrast between the courtly love that has been idealized in the past and a more modern and healthier approach to relationships. Kind of cool even if I did want to shake Tati every time she was on the page!
The story is also really engrossing and I found myself looking forward to being in the car and getting more of it. I got really sucked in and it was the auditory version of a page turner. The narrator, Kim Mai Guest did a lovely job. She spoke with a slight accent/lilt to her voice that really worked for Jena. She also did a seamless and mostly non-cartoonish job voicing all the male characters and the strange denizens of the wildwood.
FINAL VERDICT: Recommended to anyone who likes richly imagined fairy tale re-tellings. I found it to be a little uneven particularly in it's portrayal of characters but I'm not sure this would be an issue for the targeted reader. 3.5 out of 5 Stars.
A periodic post recording my ever so slightly obsessive watching of Longmire
The latter half of season 3 sees a lot of drama and signals some really major changes for almost all of the characters.Cady finds her legs as a litigator, Henry is freed, Branch goes through hell and back only to discover his true enemy is closer to home, Vic's marriage dissolves but her persecution ends and Walt stays really busy and stressed but is finally brought to a place where he can say goodbye to his wife, Martha. For me this is an incredibly strong set of episodes and I gave 4 out of 5 of them a grade of A or A-. I'm obviously a fan of season 3!
Here's my thoughts on the episodes:
*************
Episode 3.6 | Reports of My Death
Short Synopsis: Walt re-enacts Weekend at Bernie's after finding a dead body in the town square who may be the long lost heir to a fortune.
Short Review: A slightly lackluster episode but it does post some interesting quandaries about family loyalty, wealth and happiness. Walt works mostly on his own this episode which is also kind of a bummer. GRADE: B
Random Thoughts:
It's no fun seeing Henry so down in the dumps and angry. It' a big contributor to the overall grimness of this season.
What WAS Walt like when he was 12??
So I guess Branch and Nighthorse are officially broken up?
What do you think about Welles? Selfish asshole or brave idealist? He's probably somewhere in the middle. I do feel some sympathy for Penny and think Welles is somewhat cruel to his brother and sister. After all they were all in the same boat and he escaped without a backward glance to them.
Well Branch is breaking up with everyone in this episode - I think he and Vic are also through.
Vic: "Don't you compare yourself to Walt!" Branch: "I forgot. You two have a special relationship." I think Branch probably idolizes Walt as much as Vic but he's been corrupted by being raised by Barlow.
Branch actually makes a pretty coherent argument defending his actions but there is also a big helping of self-justification.
Episode 3.7 | Population 25
Short Synopsis: Vic and Sean stumble into a really bad part of rural Wyoming on their way to vacation and end up getting kidnapped by anti-government extremists.
Short Review: There is a lot about this episode that doesn't make sense but that doesn't change the fact that it is Tense with a capital 't' and very exciting. Grade: A
Random Thoughts:
Vic and Sean just really don't fit even when they are trying.
Vic's lack of respect for her husband comes out in the patronizing way she talks to him and controls the situation after the accident. Her plan is actually kind of ridiculous - Sean has the better idea but she has to take charge and act. Interesting that Chance points out the lack of logic to Vic walking to his house when they had a phone.
Walt to Gorski: "If you hurt her, you're a dead man."
So anti-government extremists eat fried bologna sandwiches. Who knew?
Gorski: "The names out here. We just don't get them out East."
I actually kind of like Gorski in this episode which highlights how inconsistent and ridiculous this whole Vic storyline has been. I like it because it causes Vic and Walt to become more personally entangled BUT it is kind of a mess. They seem to be rolling with the idea that Gorski's a little off therefore we can have him act inconsistently and explain it away as he's crazy. He and Walt actually make a pretty great team.
So why does Chance think that Sean isn't Vic's type right off the bat? Sean is kind of preppy looking but it's not like Vic has her shitkickers on or anything. Sean is actually pretty ballsy in the initial scene with Chance.
It is obvious in the scene that Vic cares about Sean and is genuinely scared for him.
Katee Sackhoff does an excellent job of losing her shit when she thinks that Walt may be in the body bag. You can pretty much see her marriage dying right at that moment.
So why do we even get the scene with Branch at the scene of the accident? He does nothing of importance and we never see him again.
Vic: "God I hope so, you crazed nutjob."
So the final vibe from Gorski is 1) that he actually did care for Vic and 2) he realizes that Vic has "lost everything" (as he wished for in the last episode he was in) with the presumed death of Walt.
This episode was apparently longer than the others and it could actually have used at least 5 more minutes to explain what happened to Branch and really deal with the fact that Vic, with a serious concussion and a traumatizing experience, heads back into the fray to go after Walt.
Vic and Walt Update: So I think a lot of folks feel like this is where Walt shows his feelings and there are perhaps a couple of subtle things that suggest that Vic is special to him but again I think most of Walt's actions, including the duel challenge, he would take for anybody in danger from Chance. He almost blew the whole rescue earlier in the day to save an unknown state trooper - if Gorski hadn't been there, Walt, and Vic with him, would likely be dead. So I don't really see that most of his actions really reveal any preference or personal feelings for Vic. The two things that might be indicators? 1) His quote above to Gorski threatening to kill him if Vic was hurt - perhaps not meant to be taken literally but there is a lot of force in Walt's delivery. 2) He takes his eyes off of Chance for several seconds to lock eyes with and watch Vic as she is driven away. This episode, does more to solidify even further that Vic is in love with Walt. It's not just admiration and attraction. She loves him. And Sean knows it now too.
Episode 3.8 | Harvest
Short Synopsis: The murder of a local impoverished farmer doesn't add up but Walt and company have a hard time figuring out exactly what happened.
Short Review: So this episode was always going to get a great review from me on the strength of the first scene alone! Thankfully the rest of the episode earns that good rating. Branch has seriously burned all bridges, and Vic is faced with the same decision she had in Philadelphia. There is all kinds of angst in this episode. The "mystery" is also quite poignant and highlights Walt's compassion. GRADE: A
Random Thoughts:
Why has Branch turn into such a Grade A asshole. Vic was just kidnapped and terrorized and he's stuck in his little private world. And then there's his response to Cady.
Poor Ferg. Does Walt send him out to do the grunt work because he doesn't think he's ready to be the primary deputy on a case like this? Is he trying to get some alone time with Vic? If so he doesn't use it...
Walt's response to Vic's announcement that Sean is demanding her resignation is very cold. I think he's over-compensating because what he'd like to do is beg her to stay and he knows THAT wouldn't be professional.
After she leaves in a huff and Ruby comes in he actually looks fairly peevish.
I'm actually really surprised that Sean just goes along with Vic's seduction and then HOLY foot in mouth Vic. Final nail in coffin for Sean and Vic, that.
So what do you think of Nick Holman's attitude?
Walt's affection for Bob and the speech he gives him is touching and shows just how compassionate and empathetic Walt is - he has that perfect combo of tough guy who can wall off his feelings with a strong sense of duty and compassion.
Cady about Branch: "When I look him in the eyes all I see is this dark mean unstable man."
I love the final scene as Walt rolls in, sees Vic's clean desk and then his dread at her handing him a letter.
Poor Walt - One deputy going completely off the rails, best friend on trial for murder, having to duel crazed extremists in order to free his other deputy of whom he's overly fond of on top of all his cases. Man needs some down time.
Vic and Walt Update:Finally, Walt shows his hand. Up until the first scene of this episode Walt has done nothing definitive to reveal that he has anything but professional and perhaps friendly feelings toward Vic. His reaching out to Vic is prompted by the traumatic situation they've just been through but also a couple of other things. I think that what happened, and the fact that Vic is sitting with him and not her husband suggests to him that she has feelings for him. Up to this point, while Walt is not lacking in confidence, I think he was blind to Vic's feelings because he couldn't imagine her having feelings for him because of their age difference. The situation and his realization of her feelings push him past his natural repugnance of flouting marriage vows. It's also quite obvious that Vic needs a hug. And it's a really lovely hug.
Episode 3.9 | Counting Coup
Short Synopsis: Branch has yet another sighting of David Ridges which sends the whole Sheriff's department into an uproar. Meanwhile, Henry tries to burn the Red Pony down.
Short Review: The last two episodes of this season are busy. This episode does a good job of finally resolving the David Ridges story line and in dramatic fashion - the showdown with Walt is impressive. Grade: A-
Random Thoughts:
Poor Ferg.He's trying so hard but he's clueless. Has he not noticed Branch's wacko behavior. And then Uh Oh. It's not like Ferg is wrong to challenge Walt but... REALLY bad timing. And Walt throws a little hissy fit. Hee!
Ruby: "All you did was treat Branch the way you would want to be treated. Problem is, he's not you." Truth.
Walt is NOT happy when Branch attacks Vic. BUT he still gives Branch the benefit of the doubt which Vic does not.
Looks like Walt is kind of dreading coming to work these days. And again...Oh Ferg. Walt didn't assault Branch, he just pulled him off of Vic and put him in the cell.
Nice callback to the earlier snippet of information that David Ridges was a frequent blood donator at the Res clinic.
It kind of looks like Walt rehearsed his whole speech to Vic. His delivery is perfect..."The truth is Vic...I want you to stay."
Vic: "You got a pen?"
Seriously, it's one crisis after another. This is a truly very grim episode. I think it's Walt's turn to have a nervous breakdown.
The showdown between Walt and Ridges is seriously intense and Ridges seriously almost gets Walt - driving his car off, then attacking on horseback. A clever set up.
Episode 3.10 | Ashes to Ashes
Short Synopsis: So many things are mostly resolved. Miller Beck's killer is finally identified. It's enough to get Henry off but it's clear that the killer is just a pawn and that there was a conspiracy behind Walt's wife's death. Also Branch gets suspicious and paranoid with a new quarry.
Short Review: Cady comes into her own in this episode and it is awesome to see. Paired with Walt and Henry's emotional releases and the cliff hanger ending, it would have been a crime to not continue this show. Grade: A
Random Thoughts:
I really adore how Walt handles Branch. He honors his need for closure while firmly making it clear that he, Branch, still has a lot to answer for.
And seriously, Walt was just in a battle for his life and he just calmly drives himself back into town and logs the body into the morgue.
Walt is adorably protective of Vic here. Looking at her while he makes it clear Branch will not be coming back to the office any time soon, telegraphing clearly that going after her was the most unforgivable thing Branch did. Aww....
There was some mildly disgusted chatter that of course now that Vic is free there was going to be a big smooch between Walt and her. Instead he (accidentally) punches her in the face. That's why this show is so awesome. It also just kind of breaks the slight awkward tension between them.
The scene in the Red Pony is one of my favorites - all the interactions are funny and Vic's rather intimate way of tending to Walt's wound and the fact that Walt doesn't even register it as something weird or awkward is awesome. Cady on the other hand does a double take.
So how great is it to see Henry and Walt working together in this episode? Super great! I love them together and they are particularly good here.
Cady's smackdown is epic and I love that she gets to do it. I've enjoyed her character a lot this season.
Henry's first visit is to Hectors wall:(. Poor Hector. Henry takes the jar of pleas - does this mean Henry is going to take up Hector's mantle?
Oh...the scene between Walt and his wife. Really great scene and Robert Taylor knocks it out of the park. It is a little odd that he doesn't bring his daughter along but we needed this scene as did Walt.
And that ending. Holy Sh*&. Thank god for Netflix picking up season 4!!
Vic and Walt Update: In this episode, it feels like things have shifted between them. There's a settled intimacy and comfort between them. Nothing's happened between them but with Vic free and Walt likely in no doubt of her feelings for him, it's no longer a taboo idea so I think they have relaxed a bit. I also like to think that one reason for Walt finally beginning the process of letting his wife go, is the prospect of new love. His decision is more complicated than that for sure but I don't think Walt would truly feel right pursuing something with Vic when his wife still haunts him.
**************
Despite the slightly grimmer and more emotionally charged tone of this season, I still found it immensely entertaining and I like where the show is going. Folks that want a straight police procedural probably got a little disgusted, but I like a mix that includes relationship complexities and longer story lines.
Season 4 drops September 10 on Netflix and from what I've seen so far, my extreme excitement has not been diminished. The overall theme of the season is second chances which fits so well with where all the characters are at, at the end of season 3. Branch, if he's alive, will be out from under his father's thumb (maybe) and needing a new career, Vic is divorced and ostensibly free of her Philadelphia stalker, Henry has been exonerated and has his freedom back, Cady has gone from unemployed to gaining some confidence as a courtroom lawyer and Walt has ostensibly finally said goodbye to his wife though perhaps not to avenging her. I love the idea of each of them struggling with how to do the right thing with their second chance. Should be a very interesting season!
What am I hoping for? I hope we don't lose Branch and that he gets back to his old self (before David Ridges) a little bit. I'd like to see Cady continue to be bad ass and perhaps re-kindle some romance with Branch. I'm interested in the idea of Henry picking up Hector's mantle as vigilante and how that might bring he and Walt into conflict. I'd like to see more character development for Ferg. Finally, I'd like to see more air time/storylines for Vic and of course an exploration of a relationship between her and Walt. Walt has always been the center of the show and I don't have any specific hopes for him except that he really be over his wife's death (fat chance) and that he, at least once, makes a bit of a fool of himself over Vic because she deserves that, having to deal with his stoicism. More generally, I'd like to see more about the people and life on the reservation.
Another week in the wilds of western Iowa is done and I'm back in the cozy arms of my home for a short break. It was hot as snot most of the week and last weekend was plagued by Armageddon-like fog but I did stop and enjoy many wonders.
Many folks don't realize that grass has flowers with petals. This is Indian Grass in bloom.
The prairie is full of these crab spiders in a wide array of colors that blend in with a flower to sit and wait for some poor nectar gatherer to come along.
Hummingbird Moth!
LIFE
It's Labor Day weekend here in the U.S. and I'm taking a breather from field work to spend a few days at home. One of the motivators was that this weekend is the Des Moines Kennel Club Dog Show. Through the blog, I don't know if you have picked up on the fact that I am a serious dog nut. Besides having two myself, I own at least two picture books on dog breeds and can identify most breeds at 20 paces. If I am ever called upon to do a survey of dogs inhabiting a particular area, that's going to be a piece of cake:). (Dang it, now I want cake). Anyhow, as a young person I made a list of all the dogs breeds I'd like to have as companions at some point in my life and one of the saddest things about getting older is I realize a) I'm running out of time! and b) because my preferences run to the-larger-and-hairier-the-better, my actual physical ability to manage such dogs is quickly diminishing. Oh, to win the lottery so I can buy my hobby farm today.
And then of course I always want to have at least one rescue/shelter dog. My two boys are from a local Golden Retriever rescue organization. So yeah. I like dogs. How about you? Do you have any groups of a animals you have obsessive interest in/knowledge of? Do you have any pets? Do you have a favorite breed? Yes, Heinz 57 counts;)!
Finally, this is happening in my little town right now:
Three blocks of the main street is blocked off and lined with classic cars. Ah, small town America.
READING, WATCHING and BLOGGING
Watching
I'm not watching much of anything these days, being out in the sticks, BUT I am SO flippin' excited about the 4th season of Longmire being released on Netflix Sept. 10!! I am also flippin' mad that I will not be anywhere near an internet connection on that date! I'll probably gabble about this a bit on my season 3 wrap up post tomorrow but in the meantime here's the season 4 trailer!
Reading
A few weeks ago I posted a stack of awesome YA audiobooks I got from the library in preparation for being on the road a ton. I'm almost done with all those - I only have 1.5 to go! So I went and got another awesome stack:). I am really trying to make some progress on series of which I am in the middle!
I'm finally continuing on with my Harry Potter re-read. I had stalled for a bit because I couldn't find Goblet of Fire with the other HP audios (in juvenile fiction) at the library and I illogically just assumed it was always checked out. Come to find out, from Goblet of Fire on up in the series, the books are shelved under YA instead of juvenile fiction. I had this revelation while reading the first three books, that J.K. was brilliant to kind of mature her books and their content with her characters. Apparently it's like an established, official thing and I'm a slow revelator:).
Finished (in the) Last Week (and a half):
Three Parts Dead
by Max Gladstone: Despite my real misgivings about the number of
series I'm in the middle of, I picked up a new one. It was great but I feel in love with Tara and looking at how this series works I doubt I will ever see her again:(.
The Duchess War
by Courtney Milan: This is a historical romance novelist that I've
heard great things about. This is my second book by her and while I totally get all the praise, her books and I aren't really getting along.
Wildwood Dancing
by Juliet Marillier: I actually read the second book in this series
first (horrors!) while I was out in the wilds last year so it seemed appropriate to pick up book one this year while out in the wilds.
Robinson Crusoe
by Daniel Defoe: So maybe some day I'll pick this up again? Until then
it will sit here on the currently read and look encouraging.
The Founding (The Morland Dynasty #1) by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles: This is the first
book in a series that follows a single British family through numerous
generations into modern times. This first book takes place in the early
15th century. This is such a fascinating idea and I have high hopes
but I have to say the characters in this first book are shallow and are
doing nothing for me. I made some progress this week in this book!
Of Noble Birthby
Brenda Novak: Despite the presence of pirates it
is not making me happy mostly because of deficient humor and boring main
characters. I also made some progress in this one which I had kind of been avoiding.
Abarat by Clive Barker: Reminding me a lot of The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland... which in turn reminded me of Alice in Wonderland. Fun, strange book.
SUNDAY: Final Longmire post covering season 1-3. This will be about the last 5 episodes of season 3 and speculate a little on season 4.
Beyond that I hope to write and schedule some reviews but not sure what yet.
Hope everyone is having a peaceful and fun weekend!
Ghost Story by Jim Butcher
Publication Year: 2011
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Dresden Files #13
Awards: NA
Format: Audiobook on CD from Library
Narrator: John Glover
I did something I rarely do with
books that I KNOW I’m going to read; I delved into some of the reviews for this
book on Goodreads before reading it.I
think I was nervous about it – Harry being dead?How was that going to work?And a lot of folks really didn’t like it. Thankfully
I was not one of those people! I don’t know how much of my liking for the book was in reaction to the more emo and Happenings-of-Import tone of
Changes which I wasn’t crazy about.Ghost Story, even with Harry dead, had more of the action-packed, devil-may-care tone of your usual Dresden book.
It’s important to know however,
that while it returns the series to more business as usual, it is also an immediate
continuation of Changes.It is the
middle book in a trilogy of connected books that ends with Cold Days.It’s like the massive three episode arc that happens in the middle of many tv show seasons.I tend
to love those deep dive mid-season trilogies and my enjoyment of the strategy here
is also great.In Ghost Story, Harry is
having to face up to his actions in Changes and all the repercussions: there is
a power vacuum with the destruction of the Red Court of vampires which is causing lots of
problems, and he is not around to help his friends deal with it.The book also has some flavor of “It’s a
Wonderful Life”, with Harry realizing just how important he was to his friends,
to Chicago and to the world.The more
mundane purpose of the story is for Harry to work out who murdered him
at the end of Changes – the answer to
that mystery is a big “Dun, Dun, Duuuuun” moment.
The best thing about this book
for me was the exploration of what life is like for the spirits of Chicago - it’s
like a whole new world is opened up.It places limitations on Harry which he is not used to having, including
being unable to do magic at least in any way that effects the physical
world.Figuring things out and being
creative when the chips are down is one of Harry’s strengths so it’s a blast to
watch him work it all out.I also liked
his ghost mentor, Sir Stuart Winchester and the re-appearance of the little medium
Mort, who turns out to be stronger and more heroic than he appears.The pacing is back to normal (I thought it
was uneven in Changes) with the usual impossible deadlines and frenzied action
that makes me turn the pages (metaphorically speaking since I was listening to
it) needing to know how Harry and the gang will save the world this time.
The love wasn’t universal of
course.While I liked the overall answer
to the question “Who shot Dresden?”, I thought the why of it, particularly what
gets a certain heavenly creature involved, was pretty Deus Ex Machina (perhaps appropriate considering the apperance of an angel...).It felt like it was shoe-horned in there because
Harry wouldn’t have taken the actions he did without some prompting. The book also got pretty repetitive in places.If I had to listen to Harry think about how sensitive Molly is and how
thoughtless it was of him to involve her in the fight at Chichen Itza one more
time, I was going to get super annoyed. As it was, I was only mildly annoyed.
And since this book is all about regrets, it makes sense.Finally, while this isn’t particularly a complaint
nor even specifically limited to this book, a new foe is introduced, the Fomor,
and pretty much nothing whatsoever is done with them in this book nor the two
books that follow.I’m sure they will
get their chance to shine later in the series but I get all anxious when characters, plots, or major players are introduced and then they don't go anywhere.
Finally, a note about the
audio.This version was narrated by John
Glover, not James Marsters who had done all the other books.Glover is good but Marsters is better and I
was happy to see that just this year they’ve released an updated audio with
Marsters for continuity’s sake.
FINAL VERDICT:A solid installment with a creative premise
that I think was handled really well.3.5 out of 5 stars.
Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what? If not, why?
Only very occasionally and it can't have any words (so mostly classical). I think it's an introvert thing and my brain doesn't do well with too many stimuli at once.
Do you have a certain type of character that you always love/root for? (I. e., the orphan hero, the bad boy/girl with a heart of gold, the loveable rogue). Why do you like them?
I actually really like all three examples provided in the question:). But to give a less boring answer, I am a sucker for "gray" villains - villains that aren't as bad as they seem or have some depth to them beyond just being eeevvvil. For this reason, I love books that flip well known stories and tell them from the villain's perspective.
Has
your taste in books changed much in the past ten years? Do you find that
you like a certain type of book now better than you did then?
It has certainly changed over the course of my life but in the last ten years? I don't think so. At least not too much. I did start reading romances again after a 15-20 year hiatus. I've also discovered graphic novels in the last couple years. And I've kind of dropped off a little in my reading of "important" books and classics - enjoyment has become more important than enrichment, sadly. I'm getting shallower as I get older. *sigh* So...I guess my taste in books has changed a bit after all! Also another big change, though not really related to book content is that I listen to way more audiobooks these days and that helps me read so much more which is awesome.
What literary trope or cliche do you hate the most? Which one really doesn’t bother you?
The thing about tropes is that all of them can be made palatable, at least to me, in the hands of a good writer. I suppose there are a few that require the hand of a master for me to swallow them. Most of the tropes that bother me are romance related. Alpha Male Heroes in romance. Love triangles particularly with a female character being chased after by multiple hot guys. Conflict that arises from characters not communicating with each other or withholding some crucial piece of information for irrational reasons. I really dislike the whole Italian Mafia, Mobster culture so don't like books that a steeped in that. I joke that I must have been eighty-sixed by the mob in a former life because of how much I don't want to watch or read anything Mafia related.
Name
one book that you love that no one else seems to have read. Include a
picture and a link so the rest of us can check it out.
Just one? Well I'm totally going to cheat and say check out this Top Ten Tuesday post on "The most underrated books and authors". But to pick just one I'll go with Doc by Mary Doria Russell. She is best known for her novel The Sparrow which is also pretty darn great but Doc is such a gem and I feel like it was a little more under the radar. It tells the story of Doc Holliday and a sequel just came out!
Do you prefer contemporary novels or historical fiction? Why?
Historical fiction definitely. I've never really thought about why actually but I suppose it's because I like history:). That's not a smart ass answer! Honestly, I really have always loved history and I like how fictionalizing it allows for a more intimate exploration of the time period. Also, historical fiction simply feels like more of an escape to me.
If you write (stories, novels, poetry, anything other than blog posts), do you write with the hope to publish, or just for fun?
I don't write any kind of fiction. I do write quite a bit of general interest and scientific articles for work which leads to....
Why did you start your blog? What keeps you posting?
Well, I started because I wanted a creative outlet and a way to work on my writing. First of all I used to be relatively creative when I was younger but felt like I had lost that skill. Also, as I said, I'm not a Writer (with a capital 'W') but I think in the past I was a pretty fair writer just in general. Then I went to grad school for Biology and got all the regular writing beaten out of me as I learned scientific writing which is quite different. It's terse, with no wasted words and all in the passive voice. Then I became a government employee and in that role, I do a little scientific writing and a lot of morphing scientific concepts or ideas into something the general public may find interesting. Hence, my writing has gotten very very confused and I don't feel like I'm very good at any of it any more. The blog got started as a way to flex those writing muscles in a formal way. As I've continued with it, I have enjoyed the more casual writing even more than I thought I would. I also really enjoy being part of the book blogging community and all the great people I've "met" through it. It's enhanced the enjoyment and depth of my reading. That's what keeps me posting:).
If the internet disappeared overnight, how would you feel? Do you think life would be better or worse, and why?
This is an especially opportune moment to answer this question since I've just spent ten days off in the woods with no internet and will spend much of the next month that way. I like to think, because I'm old(ish) and have experienced many years with no internet, that I would deal just fine. That said, I would very much miss the blog and how easy it is to connect with others. I hate talking on the phone so much prefer e-mail as a way of communicating even though I know in many ways it's not as effective. I think it would be very hard to go back to a time before the internet but I think I would adjust. Would life be better or worse? I am not not sure I can say because as soon as I think of something that would be better, I think of another thing that would be worse. I lean slightly towards better only because I think without the immediacy of the internet, the pace of life might slow a little bit which would not be a bad thing.
If
you could have tea (or coffee) and a chat with any author living or
dead, who would you pick? What would you want to ask them?
Again I'll cheat again and refer you to my top ten tuesday post on this topic but as I said in that post, I actually like to know as little about authors as possible. If I have to pick just one, it's going to be a little bit of a cheat because his status as an author is only part of why I'd want to meet him; Aldo Leopold. He is an author and an incredibly eloquent writer. However, he was also a scientist and is the modern father of wildlife management, conservation biology and restoration ecology. He was living and writing in the first part of the century but he embodied and put into the words the idea that humans are a part of the natural community and not above it so we should stop acting like arrogant, thoughtless asshats. Umm... but he said it a lot nicer and more eloquently. I would just like to have a deep conversation with him about how his philosophy evolved and what advice he would have for modern biologists who are facing many of the catastrophes he predicted back in the 1940s. Finally, I'd like to urge folks not to shy away from A Sand County Almanac thinking it might be technical in nature. It's not and it has some of the most beautiful essays about nature that you will ever encounter.
What do you like best about your writing or your blog? Why?
The thing I like most about my blog is probably a reason for it not being terribly popular - it's unfocused. I don't read or post about a single genre or even just about books. It's part book blog, part other media (TV, Film) blog, part garden journal. I like that it's all over the place!
At this point I am supposed to post some questions and tag some other blogs. I am not going to tag anyone but will post some questions that I urge anyone to answer one or eleven of in the comments! Because I'd like to know!!
1. What is your favorite genre of book and why do you think you love it? 2.
What kinds of Characters do you love the most? How about hate the
most? What are your representative examples of these character types? 3. What are your top five TV shows? Movies? Books? 4. Do you judge people based on the books they read even if you think it's not a great thing to do? What kinds of books? 5. If you were in charge of designing a high school reading curriculum what books would be on there and why? 6. What food would be included in a perfect meal? 7. Beach or Mountains? 8. If you could teleport anywhere in the world right now where would you go? (someone needs to invent this technology!) 9. If you had a time machine where would you go? 10. What do you hope people remember you for? 11. What do you wish someone would invent?
Thanks again Rebekah! And to all y'all that make blogging so rewarding and fun!
