my moral standing is lying down

WHAT IS THIS?! WHAT IS GOING ON?! I FINALLY GOT AROUND TO STARTING BULLET BY LKH AND WHAT! WHAT! ASHER! WHAT! RICHARD! WHAT! JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!!!! I DO NOT UNDERSTAND ANY OF THIS AND MY HEART IS BEATING REALLY FAST AND I AM FULL OF DISTRUST AND WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK!

I'm only a quarter of the way in, and the way this is going it's going to be another day and a half in story-time, but DEAR GOD SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!

(Don't actually.)

I DON'T HAVE ANY ICONS THAT PROPERLY RENDER MY FEELINGS OF SHOCK!


ETA: Some mild spoilers in the comments.

Independent Film Channel (IFC) has optioned the TV movie rights to Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series.

Um.

I'm not sure how I feel about this.

I have been in an amazingly, surprisingly happy mood for the past 5-14 days. I'm not quite sure exactly when it turned into that. But I think this may be the first time in a really, really, really long time, that I'm actually just happy. Energized. (Even though I'm tired from lack of sleep this week.)

There are a lot of things going on around me, but I feel like I'm kind of in a padded cocoon. Mostly made up of my current Laby obsession. But it's not just that. I was afraid it was; I hesitated to put on that Schaft CD and the Buck-Tick CD, afraid that it would wipe my Laby-high away if I listened to anything other than the soundtrack (which I've been listening to nonstop for a week - and I mean, at home, at work, on the subway, etc.). Glad to say that it hasn't.

I don't know exactly what will wipe my high away; I just hope it doesn't happen too soon. I haven't had this feeling of the burgeoning potential of anything, or everything, in me, under my skin for much too long. I don't want to go back to normal.

The hold on LKH's Skin Trade finally came up at the library, so I picked it up yesterday. I hesitated to start reading that too, but it hasn't replaced the Laby-high yet (as of starting it this morning on the train). More to come when I get further into the book.

TRON TOMORROW!!!! Don't be a poophead! Come and join me~!

Friday night I picked up Laurell K. Hamilton’s newest in the Merry Gentry series, A Lick of Frost. Again, this book takes place over the space of a few days. It wasn’t quite as annoying as it could have been, I suppose, since apparently LKH has stopped needing to write sex as 95% of the story. I went to reread my post about the last Merry installment, which made me recall all the things I’d been annoyed about in that book. In any case, there is actually some forward movement in plot that does NOT have to do with her leveling up through sex. I quite enjoyed the new plot points in the story, and I’m interested in where Merry’s tale is going. Some of the things that happened were obviously plot devices in order to take Doyle off-screen and give some of her secondary favorites (namely Frost, but with some Rhys thrown in) some time in the spotlight, but whatever.

There is a semi-conclusion to one of the big issues in the story so far which, although I enjoy what LKH has chosen to do, only re-emphasizes that, contrary to her assertion that she challenges her characters, she does indeed take the easy way out for them. Know why? Of her two long-running series with strong-willed, petite, female protagonists, guess how many are Mary Sues? I'm not making this difficult for you, people. Yes, both of them. It isn't that she hasn't given the readers what they want, because I think the way she resolved this issue is certainly what I was rooting for. But I am kind of resentful of her claim that she challenges her characters. She decidedly does not. What she does is challenge what the mainstream mindset thinks is "normal". And I appreciate that. But let's face it, she's preaching to the choir. Most of the people who were offended by the way the Anita Blake books were going stopped reading a LONG time ago. And they certainly didn't pick up the Merry Gentry books which started out just as "offensive" as the Anita Blake books had become by book 8 or so. Maybe she picks and chooses in what ways and moments she wants to challenge them, but her statement has really just stuck in my craw and I can't forget it.

Terry Goodkind's Confessor: the book to end the Sword of Truth series. I will be sad to see it end, but somewhat relieved at the same time. I'm almost halfway through and while I am enjoying the story, Goodkind's preaching monologues have begun to annoy me. This is not a surprise, of course. Two characters in particular, Nathan and Ann (most especially Ann), have really begun to annoy me. I can't quite figure out if they're acting out-of-character because of certain circumstances within the story or because I just can't remember exactly how their characters used to be, or are supposed to be. It's been a long time since they had a more significant role in the story. Goodkind may also be using them just as slight opposition, and that's fine; I just wish it seemed more in-character. Maybe it's just because I'm just kind of disgusted by Ann's arrogant attitude. As usual, I enjoy any parts of the story from Richard's POV; he has the most interesting thoughts, and most of the action centers around him and his struggles. Other characters are mainly for furthering the plot, or exposition. Sometimes I think that Jagang is too much the evil stereotype "hahaha!" *rubs hands together* kind of character, but I guess it works. I guess he has just enough depth to avoid ruining the story altogether.

I think it's kind of sad that I am still looking forward to whatever Goodkind's next endeavor will be. He builds worlds and main characters too interestingly for me to resist, even when I'm more than annoyed with his preaching.

Oddly enough, I have come to feel similarly about LKH and Terry Goodkind, though for different reasons. And that's something I never even guessed I'd come to say; I don't think anyone would think to compare these two particular authors. I really enjoy reading both LKH's and Goodkind's series, but there is a certain quirk in the writing of either author that just bugs the hell out of me. In LKH's case, it's that her protagonists are Mary Sues; she tends to incorporate what I'm assuming are real-life experiences or epiphanies into whatever book she's currently writing (which means that Anita Blake and Merry Gentry will also have the same personal epiphanies at around the same time), and her "I challenge my characters" claim. In Goodkind's case, it's that he writes his amazing stories around socio-political essays. And then has his characters reiterate those themes in monologues whenever there's any fucking chance. And by monologue I mean two-and-a-half pages' worth of beat-me-over-the-head-with-your-credo. Again.

I have actually turned this particular installment of my occassional book review into an essay myself, and for that I apologize somewhat. It's just such a shame that two authors whose ability to create an interesting story is so amazing, are SO influenced by their personal lives and social views in SUCH AN ANNOYING WAY (and this is coming from someone who AGREES WITH THEM), that they cannot help but preach instead of tell their awesome stories! I realize that it doesn't make sense to ask for a complete separation of an author from her work, but there are ways to make it more subtle as well as not treating your readers like they're a bunch of hick idiots who need to be beaten over the head with your philosophy.

I get it already. Jeez.

taken from koyappi

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 4-7 sentences on your LJ along with these instructions.
5. Don't you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest (unless it's too troublesome to reach and is really heavy. Then go back to step 1).
6. Tag five people.

I picked up LKH's The Harlequin today. Oddly enough, when I spotted the meme on my flist and checked my book, I saw that I'd been on page 123!

One minute leopardman, the next human again. If I hadn't seen Chimera shift from one form to the other like water spilling back and forth between hands, I'd have said Micah was the best at shifting I'd ever seen.

Micah looked up at Richard. "Nathaniel would have been trapped in leopard form for hours."

I couldn't see Richard's face because I was turned to Micah, and it seemed like too much effort to turn my head the other way. But I heard the disbelief in his voice. "It's supposed to cost if you change back before six hours, sometimes longer. Aren't you exhausted?"

Continuing in the vein of alternating between reading some manga/some novel-type stories, I picked up LKH's anthology of short stories, Strange Candy. Acutally, it is quite the interesting little collection of urban fantasy, D&D fantasy, and lightness. I enjoyed reading the variety the collection contained. The very last story is set in Anitaverse, but I haven't actually read it yet. I'm not even sure it's from Anita's POV, although I think it is. In any case, this was a good read, and I'm (oddly enough) quite relieved that sex was practically nowhere to be found. ^^

After that I went to B&N and, in a panicked moment of "OMG, I've nothing to read!" bought Sara Douglass's Beyond the Hanging Wall, which I had read an exerpt of on her website, and which takes place in the same world as the Wayfarer Redemption series, but on the other side of the ocean or something. I enjoyed it; it was a pretty simple and very enjoyable read, without the drama and epic-ness of her other stories. It was a change to be able to read about a young boy who, although he had special powers, really wasn't so much different than the rest of the world. No amazing leadership abilities, etc. The one who fits that description (because, of course, the typical "hero" must be around somewhere) is actually the one who was saved by the boy and his accomplices. Very satisfying and yet shorter than I would have expected. THE FOLLOWING IS A SLIGHT SPOILER: As I'm coming to see is somewhat typical of Douglass, the girl ends up with the "beast" in the story (who is not the villain). But I appreciate it, because no one else does it, and dammit, the beast is usually sexier than the hero.

I also picked up volume 20 of Samurai Deeper Kyo. I had picked up vol 19 a month or two ago, but wasn't in the mood to read it. Well, I read vol 19 yesterday and am in the middle of 20 today, and OMG, of course it's as awesome as it always is! I love Kyo soooo much. I am both looking forward to and dreading the end of the series. Oh, also, I wanted to mention how Yuya is definitely one of my favorite female characters. Because she's hanging out with a whole bunch of strong, talented, dangerous guys, it's pretty obvious that she isn't the strongest. But the mangaka makes her a strong (and NOT stupid!) character even so. It makes me so happy. =D She's so cool~.

I'm still left off in the middle of Douglass's Druid's Sword, but I'm not so inclined to finish it just yet. I'm still trying to get over the disappointment I felt about it when I first picked it up.

Last, but not least I also picked up Hugh Laurie's The Gun Seller. It's very amusing so far, although it isn't as interesting as I'd hoped (so far). I will continue to read it, but it may be one of those books that I read while reading other things as it isn't enough to hold my complete and utter attention just yet.

I felt this one needed its own post.

I finally picked up Laurell K. Hamilton's Danse Macabre, the latest installment in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series. Although recently it's been less about the mysteries and the baddie-hunting than it has been about her leveling up. It's like an RPG -- every time she levels up, instead of getting a new Limit Break or Overdrive, she has to fuck someone new, or at least fuck someone old but in a new way.

Hey, I'm all for the hot sex (especially in THIS book because aslfjlfjsljdfNOSPOILERNOSPOILERlasjlfajsl! If you want to know, just comment.), but I wish there was a teeny bit more plot in there.

I was somewhat apprehensive about reading this one. I remember reading mixed reviews, and probably more on the bad/disappointed side than not. But so far (about 150 pages in), I don't have too much to complain about.

Except Richard. Oh, Richard. I wish his membership in the triumverate was as easily transferred as a club membership.

Well... so maybe I do. But I'm being entertained at the same rate that I'm being annoyed, so it seems to be cancelling out, and I'm just interested in seeing what happens by the end of this book.



What next? At the rate she's going, she's just going to have to become a god. ^_~;

Unfortunately, I'm working at the UN again. I really wish I wasn't. This time around I'm doing something a little different -- working for Juha and Miguel in M&E (Monitoring and Evaluation). They have me doing CV analysis into database form. (Anyone who knows MS Access is more than welcome to give me tips/advice/etc.) If they were paying me less, I would have been able to resist taking the job. But I need the money, and with me, logic always outways emotion -- even if it's my own emotion. =( I'd really rather not be working here -- with my hair boring black, and dressed like every other yuppie who works in midtown. What I really need is a job that's at least semi-interesting, pays decently, and allows me to wear casual and/or rock-style clothes, dye my hair unnatural colors, and have piercings.

I've gotten back into reading again, for which I'm eternally grateful. I'd stopped in the middle of Jacqueline Carey's Banewreaker and was unable to pick up another book for a few months. But then I was telling Maryann about LKH's Anita Blake series and realized that I hadn't read the latest installment. So I rushed home to read it! It was better than the last couple of books, but LKH has really dropped in quality of plot lately. It's disappointing, although I still have (some) hope. Her Merry series is only slightly better.

Mercedes Lackey, on the other hand, is just as good as she ever was (if not better). Co-written with James Mallory, To Light a Candle, the second part in her Obsidian Trilogy, is even better than the first book. I'm trying to restrain myself as much as possible from racing through the 500+ page book.

I've been thinking a lot lately about having visited Japan a month ago. I'm really missing it -- I had so much fun being there and hanging out with Yoshi. And I think Yoshi's friends, Scott and Stephanie, made it even more fun than it would've been. I know that I'm definitely going to go back before Yoshi comes back to the US for good; it would be really nice to see them again, though. I don't know about Stephanie, but I do know that Scott won't be in Japan at the time. =(

I had this conversation with Maryann about speaking the language while in a foreign country. She said that while she was in Germany, she really picked up a lot, and it was easier to pick up stuff. Makes sense; you never really learn a studied language until you've immersed yourself in it, ne? I think I'd like to do the JET thing sometime in the future. Not right now, though. I found that while in Japan I was a lot more willing, and comfortable, speaking (or trying to speak) in Japanese than I am here in the US. It's weird. Even if I had to ask Yoshi for help in saying something, I just felt less pressured to... get it right? I dunno. But it was really nice. I really want to go back, but I'm going to really try and take some lessons before I do. I'd like to have a little more foundation in grammar, and some vocabulary first.

Awww. I really want to be back there with everyone!

On a side note: Maryann brought back an album by a German band, Oomph!, which I've completely fallen in love with -- they play the type of music that I consistently like -- somewhere between rock and Industrial. ::sigh:: It's sooooo goooood. I've been listening to Varheit oder Pflicht nonstop. I mean that literally (and I've been learning some German because of it, which is cool). She brought back one of their older albums, Defekt, but I don't even know if how much or little I like it because I can't stop listening to VOP!