by Jane | May 9, 2014 | Write Here Write Now
Madwoman or spiritualist? The way in which you define Imp will determine the genre in which The Drowning Girl: A Memoir belongs. One view is that Imp is a madwoman, and everything that happens to her can be explained as delusion. Even the fact that Abelyn, Imp’s girlfriend, once saw the mysterious Eva could be explained as Imp’s delusion. However, there are indications in the “Back Pages” at the end of the book that Eva may have, in fact, been supernatural.
The Drowning Girl is an interesting book to read. The author Caitlin R. Kiernan lets us into the mind of India Morgan Phelps (Imp) through writings in Imp’s journal. It’s quite a ride as Imp tries to discover what is real and what isn’t. But the book is not only ramblings by Imp, but also short stories written by her and a constant breaking of the fourth wall, which combine to make this work quite unique.
My only issue, if you can call it that, is confusion as to the genre. Much of the book centers around Imp’s encounter with a naked woman (Eva) by the side of the road. If you believe that Eva is a supernatural creature, it is fantasy. Otherwise, it is literary. And based on Kiernan’s writing, I would have no problem placing it in the literary category. It is beautifully written and focuses directly on Imp and her travels through her own mind. But questions still remain in the mind of the reader: Who or what is Eva? Does she really exist? And if so, how many Evas are there?
Yet, however you define it, it’s well worth a read. Although the back-and-forth accounts of Imp can be confusing, that only brings us more into the mind of a schizophrenic and how she thinks. It’s a wonderful book. Thank you, Ms. Kiernan for allowing us to know Imp.
by Jane | May 7, 2014 | Write Here Write Now
This post is the first of a new series comparing books and the movies based on them. People are often saying that books are better than movies, and I want to find out why. The first book/movie I have decided to analyze is World War Z.
One thing that I am very aware of is that the way you view the two versions of the same stories is dependent on which you experienced first. I saw the movie World War Z first, despite all my friends’ warnings against it. They were right. I hated it. Brad Pitt is a good actor, but this was a terrible vehicle for him. In the movie, there is a disease that reanimates people when they die, then they swarm around, eating any meat they can find, animal or human. Of course, if a person is bitten, he or she dies and turns into a zombie and rises to infect more people.
The problem with the movie was that I just didn’t care. First, there were the people. I felt some sort of empathy for Gerry Lane, played by Brad Pitt, but I hated his family. They were wooden and stereotypical, giving Mr. Pitt nothing to work off of. Also, I hated the fast zombies. It wasn’t until I read the book that I realized the zombies were supposed to be fast, but it didn’t work for me in the film. Slow zombies are scary; fast zombies are comical.
That being said, there were a couple of things I liked about the movie. One was the special effects, especially the scene where the zombies are climbing on top of each other to scale the wall into Jerusalem (one of the very few scenes stemming from the book). Unfortunately, the zombies reminded me more of cockroaches than of anything really scary.
The second thing I liked was the scene where Gerry Lane was in the zombie-infested wing of a health facility working on a cure. There was some real tension and suspense in that scene, reminiscent of the movie Alien and its sequels. This was really the only part I enjoyed. Even the ending left me cold. They had made progress against the zombies, but were far from eradication, a result move-goers expect. (I just found out there is to be a sequel, which is probably the reason the zombie crisis was not resolved.)
Now to the book. I picked up the book (written by Max Brooks) only because the friends who told me the movie was bad, told me the book was good. OK, this time I listened to them. However, I was very surprised when I started reading. Gerry Lane was nowhere to be found, and the whole focus of the movie (finding the antidote) was also not in the book. Huh?
This is why the order in which you experience the book and movie is important. The book is written as a series of interviews detailing the experiences of people around the globe at the beginning, middle, and end of the zombie war. There is no main character — we don’t even know who the interviewer. So, I spent the first third of the book wondering where Gerry Lane was and when the real action would start. After a while I realized that wasn’t going to happen and sat back to enjoy the book as written.
It wasn’t suspenseful; it wasn’t a book of horror. The dispassionate style of writing may even take it out of the realm of science fiction and into literary fiction. After all, it is a New York Times #1 Best Seller, so it isn’t just a book for readers of genre. Also, rather than relying on plot, it is more concerned with the human condition, a hallmark of the literary novel. Once all my preconceived notions were gone, I enjoyed the book.
Now, having read the book, I feel for screenwriters Matthew Michael Carnahan and Damon Lindelof, having to create a movie-worthy plot out of it. They had to start from scratch, using the basic premise of the book, and create something entirely different. I assume director Marc Forster had something to say about it as well. But like I said, for me, the movie fell flat, and I can’t imagine what the sequel will be like. Hopefully, I won’t have to see it.
by Jane | May 2, 2014 | Write Here Write Now
At the beginning of the book Insurgent, the sequel to Divergent, most of the Abnegation faction and some of the Dauntless have taken refuge with the Amity. Tris is there with her boyfriend Tobias (also known as Four), her brother, and a few friends who survived the attack. But there are also enemies there: Tobias’s father Marcus, who is planning something with the leader of Amity, and Peter, who had tried to kill Tris in the earlier book.
But the real problem is that Erudite is looking for the Dauntless. Tris and Tobias must leave Amity headquarters and travel around the City, taking sanctuary where they can find it. Sometimes in unlikely places. Sometimes with unlikely people. Throughout the book, Tris is unsure whom she can trust, including her boyfriend Tobias and members of their families. There are twists and turns, deceptions and counter-deceptions. I would love to tell you more, but don’t want to give any spoilers.
My only issue is that there is a sluggishness here which wasn’t present in the first book. The two protagonists go from one locale to another, meet different people, get betrayed, repeat. I prefer books that constantly move forward, while this one doesn’t seem to do so. Don’t get me wrong. Insurgent isn’t a bad book; it may just be that it pales in comparison with Divergent. Tris’s decision she must make at the beginning, her initiation into Dauntless, her feelings toward Four: all these elements kept that book moving for me.
But having said that, there is a big surprise waiting at the end of Insurgent, which alone makes it worthwhile, There are also some important events occurring in this book, necessary to move the series along. So, by all means, read Insurgent. You’ll need the information for the final book Allegiant, which I will review next month.
by Jane | Apr 18, 2014 | Write Here Write Now
The Killing Moon by N. K. Jemison is the story of a world in which mercy killing is supervised by the religious group Hetawa and carried out by members of that group known as Gatherers. “Dreamblood” is then drawn from these “tithes and can be used to heal other people. Unfortunately, because the collections can also include people who are corrupt, it opens the door to use these killings for political reasons. And that is exactly what the Prince, ruler of Gujaareh, is doing.
There are three main characters. Ehiru is a Gatherer who is starting to question some of his assignments, and Nijiri is his wide-eyed apprentice. On their first assignment together, they are sent to collect a tithe from Sunandi Jeh Kalawe, an ambassador from Kisua, a land where Gatherings are considered murder. These three band together to try and uncover the treachery misusing the Hetawa.
This book reminds somewhat of Throne of the Crescent Moon, another Nebula nominee that I reviewed earlier, partly because of the desert setting and partly because of the relationship between Ehiru and Nijiri. In both books, there is a somewhat contentious relationship between apprentice and mentor. In The Killing Moon, Nijiri must learn to trust Ehiru as they fight against the evil in the land.
I enjoyed this book, although it wasn’t what I would call a page-turner. Each of the main characters had lessons to learn and sacrifices to make. A moderate amount of suspense, along with very strong characters, kept me interested.
by Jane | Apr 11, 2014 | Write Here Write Now
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas is the story of Celaena Sardothien, an 18-year-old assassin imprisoned in the salt mines of Ardolan. She is released in order to compete for the position of King’s Champion. If she wins and serves the king for four years, she will be granted her freedom. Twenty-three men stand between her and the prize, but two men are there to help her: Prince Dorian, her sponsor, and Chaol, the Captain of the Guard, who acts as both her trainer and guard.
Though under constant guard, Celaena manages to make a friend, Princess Nehemia, from a land recently conquered by Ardalan. But she also has many enemies, not just the other candidates and their sponsors but also a jealous woman who doesn’t like the way the prince looks at Celaena.
Training is hard, but Celaena manages to pass test after test, while forming an unlikely relationship with the Captain. The problem arises when competitors begin to be slaughtered in a grotesque and unnatural manner. With the help of her friends and a long-dead monarch, Celaena discovers secrets in the castle. Through these discoveries, some questions are answered but even more are raised.
Throne of Glass is a very engaging book, told through Maas’ excellent writing style. The training and competition remind me of both Divergent and The Hunger Games, but Throne of Glass brings us more. There is treachery all around Celaena, and she is unsure at times who she can really trust. She also must deal with the two men in her life, while learning about political maneuverings and forbidden magic. All these elements lead to a build-up of tension which keeps the reader involved and is resolved at just the right time.
An excellent book, which leaves me anxious to read the next in the series: Crown of Midnight.
by Jane | Apr 4, 2014 | Write Here Write Now
Ironskin by Tina Connolly has been compared to Beauty and the Beast and Jane Eyre. It has also been called steampunk. I don’t believe it is any of these, simply the best fantasy novel I have read in quite some time.
Jane Eliot is known as an Ironskin because she wears an iron mask to protect against the curse of rage that she received during the war against the fey. There is a mix of technologies in this book, which is why some people consider it steampunk, but unlike steampunk, there is no real emphasis on this mixture. The reason for it is the war with the fey. Since most advancements were bought from the fey they are no longer available, and most people have been forced to return to horse-and-buggy and candlelight.
Jane comes to work for Edward Rochert as governess for his little girl Doria. Instead of having a curse, she seems to have some fey powers which she cannot control. It is Jane’s job to stop her from using them so she can develop the use of her hands.
Edward is a widower and an artist. As in Jane Eyre, he is looking for a wife and Jane starts to develop a crush on him. Unlike the Bronte novel, rather than a mad wife locked in the attic, Edward keeps secret the origin of his daughter’s power, as well as his true profession. Little by little, Jane begins to understand what these secrets mean and fears for her safety and that of her charge.
This was a book that flowed excellently and I did not want to put down. A very good choice for a Nebula nominee. The winner must have been very special to have beat this one out.
by Jane | Mar 14, 2014 | Write Here Write Now
Divergent is the first book in the Divergent Series by Veronica Roth. The major character is a girl named Beatrice Prior, who is later known as Tris. She lives in a dystopian world where people are grouped into factions: Abnegation, Erudite, Candor, Amity, and Dauntless. Each faction has its own rules of behavior and perform certain jobs for the city.
Children are born into a faction, but can choose to change factions during an annual ceremony when they are sixteen. But before they are allowed to choose, each child is put through a test to determine which factor they belong in. It is then that Tris discovers that she does not truly belong in any one faction, but is Divergent, which the test administrator tells her she must hide, because it is very dangerous.
During the ceremony, Tris decides to leave Abnegation for Dauntless, where she goes through a vigorous initiation process, learning to fight with her hands, guns, and knives. One of her trainers is known as Four, and her growing relationship with him and her discoveries about what it means to be Divergent make up the rest of the book.
This book had me involved from the first page, learning about Tris world, the factions, and the hard choices Tris has to make. Tris learns valuable lessons about friendship, family, and who she can and cannot trust. Nothing is ever easy for her, and the resulting plot twists keep the reader engaged at every turn. I highly recommend this book.
by Jane | Feb 21, 2014 | Write Here Write Now
The Captains is a documentary produced and directed by William Shatner, in which he travels around the country and to England to interview all the actors who have played Star Trek captains from Patrick Stewart to Chris Pine. When I first added this film to My List on Netflix, I was skeptical about watching it, not knowing exactly how it would play out. And frankly, I was afraid it be too much Shatner. I was pleasantly surprised.
The film is a very candid look at the experiences of these actors during the filming of their TV shows and movies, as well as the effect of the work itself and the Star Trek phenomenon on their personal lives. All the actors are quite different people, something that is well-reflected in their interviews. For instance, Kate Mulgrew spoke of how the experience affected her as a woman, and Avery Brooks sang most of his answers while playing jazz piano. Scott Bakula had a different perspective on science fiction TV due to his run on Quantum Leap, while Chris Pine brought the viewpoints of a new generation.
My favorite interview, though, was between William Shatner and Patrick Stewart. I always enjoy watching Patrick, simply because he is such a gentleman, but I also enjoyed this interview because there seemed to be a connection between the two, not as much present with the other captains. Maybe its because they worked together, or maybe its because they are closest in age. All I know is that it worked.
In all of the interviews, Shatner put forth his own viewpoints and feelings about the franchise, but he was really forthright during the sessions with Patrick. For part of this interview, Patrick was talking and Shatner responding and for part, Patrick was responding to Shatner in almost an avuncular fashion.
Shatner’s openness during this interview, and to some extent for the entire film, is very important for two reasons. First, it seems to answer much of the criticism that he has endured over the years. For instant, that he is arrogant, doesnt care about the fans, and (yes) that he overacted on Star Trek TOS (The Original Series). Second, it makes us look at him in a new way.
An exclamation point on this film was footage of a Las Vegas Star Trek convention, where he seem walking through an open room, talking to attendees and getting into pictures without being asked. This, in addition, to his talk with Patrick Stewart, make me believe that either his arrogance has been exaggerated, or that he himself, as he recounted, changed as a result of preparing for that interview.
Other highlights of the film were filmed interviews with one other member of each cast (except TOS), which shed more light on the captains, and also Shatners humor (as when he waited in a cardboard box on the streets of New York for the interview with Kate Mulgrew.)
I would highly recommend this film and am hoping to attend the next convention in Las Vega myself. Maybe William Shatner will stop me in the lobby for a photo op.
by Jane | Feb 14, 2014 | Write Here Write Now
I recently came across an old issue of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) Bulletin, and saw that it featured the 2012 Nebula nominees and winners. Lately, I have been reading a lot of young adult works, since that is the genre I want to break into. So, I thought reading the Nebula nominees would be a good way for me to get back into mainstream science fiction and fantasy.
The first book on the list was Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed. It is the story of an old ghul hunter, Adoulla Makhslod, his assistant Rassed, and the lion shapeshifter Zamia, whom they meet along the way. In the city of Dhamsawaat, a man calling himself the Falcon Prince, a Robin Hood-type character, is wreaking havoc among the nobility, while at the same time, there is a supernatural danger to the land that only Adoulla (also known as the Doctor) and his friends can conquer.
I found this a very interesting book, easy to read, and very rich in that it took multiple perspectives throughout. It starts out with an action scene, has two or three in the middle, then a large, explosive one at the end. The rest of the book seems to be these three and two other friends (Dawoud and Litaz) planning their strategy (much to Zamias disappointment). Further complications are the feelings growing between Rassed (a dervish sworn to celibacy) and Zamia (who only wants revenge on the fiend who murdered her tribal band) and Adoulla’s realization that he may be getting too old for this type of work. Much internal conflict is generated by these situations, and this, paired with the external conflicts of evil they must face, keeps the book interesting.
Though I, like Zamia, would have preferred more action and less talking, The Throne of the Crescent Moon is definitely worth a read. Ahmed writes well and knows how to tell a story. I would pick up another book by him in an instant.
This post was originally published on the writing group site Write Here Write Now, which is no longer active.
by Jane | Jan 1, 1970 | Write Here Write Now
Severed Souls by Terry Goodkind is the sequel to The Third Kingdom. In this book, Lord Hannis Arc, the spirit of Emperor Sulachan, and their army of the dead are heading toward D’Hara to wrest control of the Empire from Richard Rahl. Meanwhile, Lord Arc’s former subordinate Ludwig Dreier is hatching his own plan to grab power. Unfortunately, Richard and Kahlan are still in the Dark Lands with the evil of the Hedge Witch Jit in their bodies, and unless they find a containment field in a few days where they can be cured, they will die.
D’Hara has to be warned of Hannis Arc’s approached and Richard and Kahlan must be cured. What a dilemma!
Severed Souls finds Richard and Kahlan in a battle for their very lives surrounded by dark forces. The book explores Richard’s efforts to travel through the Dark Lands, find a cure, and stop two evil men and their troops of the dead. It is a page-turner with an unexpected ending. The series concludes with Warheart. You’ll be grabbing it off the shelf to find out how everything finally resolves.
