I MUST

Gah! I miss Merlin fandom so much.

2016-09-19T03:43:15Z

That is all.

Ed Sheeran's new video makes me long for a Merlin fic based on it.

2014-10-07T22:00:42Z

Just watch this video and listen to the lyrics and tell me that it doesn't just beg to be turned into a Merlin fic, yeah?!

Someone please write this... please. :)

A CRITICISM ON THE CRITICISM OF YA LITERATURE

2014-09-26T13:02:46Z

A brilliant critical piece on how critics excuse their mysogeny when criticizing YA Literature. If you never read another article on this topic, this article is the one to read.

QUOTE I LOVE:

And there it is. ”Boys adventures and female sentimentality” defines YA fiction. Because even though this book was written in 1960, we still use the phrase “female sentimentality” like it’s perfectly appropriate.

But apparently when describing YA fiction, it is.

Because this is the insidious undercurrent of all this head-shaking. YA literature, after all, is thought by anyone with a three-book-deep knowledge of the field to be the province of female authors and the silly teenage girls they write for. The books are simple, with simple world views, and they definitely do not address “appropriate subjects for sophisticated pieces of narrative art.” Because how could literature written for and about teenage girls be sophisticated pieces of narrative art?

CLICK HERE FOR THE ENTIRE ENTRY. (It is long but seriously people, this article is important -- the entire thing -- so take about five to ten minutes to read the entire thing and click through the credited research because these arguments and points need to be made and then share it. Please.)

8,000+ LJ Emails

2014-09-24T16:46:12Z

Are you one of those people that doesn't throw away anything? I tend to be until I move. Given that my family moves about every 4 years now whereas previously it was every 6 months to a year, what I hoard can be ridiculous.

Recently though, having moved from St. Louis to here in Florida, I purged a lot but had not done the same for my email accounts. Looking back is such a sad thing for me and lonely and LJ has been one of those places where I could go and know with some certainty that my friends would always be there despite the change in my address. Not so much anymore though... is it? That's not really the case with how ghost townish LJ is nowadays and so today, I deleted around 8,000 emails that had collected in my LJ folder.

I deleted four years of fun conversations and comments and the memory of persons who are long gone from here. Some of you still remain and I appreciate you all. I don't think I like handling the realization that LJ has lost that community vibe that helped me through my last two moves.

Anyway... I just wanted a place to document my feelings and thought if anyone would understand the desolation of letting those LJ emails go, someone here would.

Fairest by Marissa Meyer (Surprise Addition to the Lunar Chronicles)

2014-06-18T15:57:46Z

If you want to read my reviews of the first two books in the Lunar Chronicles, click HERE.

Omigosh… just O-M-G, there are no words for the squee here right now. Marissa Meyer has written a prequel of sorts to the Lunar Chronicles series. A surprise story for all of us who have wondered… why is Queen Levana so evil?!

“I’m thinking of this book almost as a gift to the readers who have become so involved in the world and the characters: ‘Here’s this thing you weren’t expecting!’ ” Meyer says of Fairest, which she’ll be discussing during a live Google video chat for fans on Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET/6 PT. (x)

I adore this series. Remember? And am so excited about the fourth and final book coming out November 2015, called Winter. Now based upon the information released today, fans of the Lunar Chronicles will really need to read Fairest before the final novel. (Which makes it actually five books total!)

Fairest begins when Levana is 15 years old and covers about 10 years of her life, ending about a decade before Cinder is set.
For years, Meyer has been telling readers that Levana is psychotic but for good reasons, and the book promises to reveal those as well as delve into her psyche and the factors in her life that led her to want to rule Earth.
When fans first meet her, the author says, “she’s showing signs of crazy, but in large part that’s because she’s grown up in a really poisonous household and she has a very cruel older sister who’s been mentally and physically abusive to her her whole life.

Hmmm… sounds like Queen Levana has had her own fairy tale life where she was the heroine. An interesting concept given how much I loathe her in the Lunar Chronicles so far. Is this a story of letting the bad influence you to be badder or will all be revealed in a happily ever after?

The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare by MG Buehrlen

2014-06-17T23:16:12Z

Remember when I said I'd post reviews and such for bookish pursuits. Here you go... this book looks brilliant. I have not read it yet, but just talking to the author, MG Buehrlen, I have a good idea that I am going to love this series.

Here's a sneak peek at my write-up. If you want to read the full account, click HERE.

Not that MG has anything but amazing to talk about given her debut novel’s appearance on the scene. Born of an idea that has pattered around in her brain since she reached sixteen years, MG happily took her time to craft this first of four novels in the Alex Wayfare series: The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare.

As we spoke about influences and favorite timey-wimey things (oh yes, Whovian… is she) — MG broke down the truly inspirational from the multitude of things she has loved, watched for the sake of time travel research — and came up with two contributing inspirations out of them all: Quantum Leap and David Ives’ play, Sure Thing.

Quantum Leap led to her exploring the idea of time travel through the projection of your soul. Your body is left behind and the essence of you is projected into another body somewhere in time. You have to fit in and avoid outing yourself with the language you use and how you behave in your new environment. This struggle comes into play in 57 Lives. Alex, the lead character in this series, “stands out,” said MG. Like the lead in Quantum Leap “she is waking up in this person and being forced to live out the cultural requisites.”

That doesn’t even sound remotely easy based upon what I remember from Quantum Leap. Wow… that’s gotta be a fun prepping session or at least I hope there is some since in Quantum Leap they winged it A LOT. In fact, in 57 Lives, Alex isn’t going it alone and has a mentor who helps her transition timelines and all the in-betweens. An interesting concept given the idea of soul projection rather than physical incarnations being transported through time. Alex can walk between time, go into limbo. Wild, huh?

2 for 1 Review: Dangerous Creatures Series

2014-06-12T02:56:56Z

So yeah… the past two Fridays, I have cheated a bit on the two-for-one deal going on here in this column. I know, I know… last week was a novella and a novel and again… yep… this week too! I am reviewing an e-novella and a novel. Hold up though! A novella requires reading though, yeah? So it’s not as long, sometimes we have to mix it up to bring you the most awesome of things the fastest we can.

And the Dangerous Creatures Book tour wrapped up last night [May 29, 2014] and what better way for me to promote the giveaway we have than by reviewing the e-novella, Dangerous Dream that you must read to really get a good feel for the behind-the-scenes plot going on at the start of the book, Dangerous Creatures.

You’re probably shaking your head at that headline now that you know this review only includes an e-novella and one novel. You’re wondering, “What books?” because right now you’re only hearing about a book and a half – a quarter maybe? However, let me tell you that Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia have made it known to the world that Dangerous Creatures is only the first in a series of books about Ridley and Link… but if that’s not good enough for you, then I am hear to tell you that this book, Dangerous Creatures ends on the cliffiest of cliffhangers and OMIGOD… there’s no way the story ends there. Okay? Yeah. I am taking deep, calming breaths as I type this out. You know how I feel if you’ve already read the book too.

Have I peaked your interest now? Nope… no going over that cliff yet?

CONTINUE READING at Fangirlish and please comment there. Thanks.

Shameless Plugging to Come... Soon and Frequent

2014-06-12T01:33:18Z

Hi dear friends who may still frequent or flit in here and see what's going on on LiveJournal since they have been absent. You all are amazing for managing life and friendships online as well as off. Not that I have been totally silent. You can find me over on twitter every once in awhile.

However, this journal has been pretty much a part of the void too long.

So here I am saying hello. How are you all? Interested in reading book reviews? Because despite my howdy right now, mostly I hope to interest you all in reading... reviews... of books that I am blogging about over on Fangirlish and see if I cannot build some buzz for them.

Anyone up for a little bookish pursuit?

To the hope someone will be inspired to write Merlin/Arthur or Stiles/Derek fan fiction

2014-03-11T18:53:46Z

THIS VIDEO IS ADORABLE... STRANGERS KISSING FOR THE FIRST TIME:

PLEASE?!

Bang, Bang preview

2013-10-05T01:39:05Z

Has anyone any interest in this remake? I adore Bonnie & Clyde and am enthralled with this video. Both the leads are favorites of mine too. Actually I usually am impressed by William Hurt and Holly Hunter too.

But damn, the cover of Bang, Bang by Nico Vega is probably my favorite thing ever right now. Her voice is divine!

I hope you make it all right...

2013-07-17T19:47:45Z

I heard this song last night and LOVED it.

A Kiss for Luck and We're on Our Way...

2013-07-02T21:23:53Z

Traveling tomorrow in the car with two kiddos and in desperate need of some upbeat music. Don't care if its top twenty or new, indie or house music... I needs anything fun, funky and motivating. Leave links or recommendations in the comments. I'll be checking them periodically all night, because I have the hardest time sleeping before a long road trip.

THANKS!

No words, just pure love for this video.

2013-05-15T14:09:54Z

She's got freedom in the 21st century...

2013-04-14T23:51:11Z

and sentences for the 21 first lines meme taken from alba17 and nympha_alba

The harsh spray of cold water doesn’t come even though Merlin instinctively braces himself for it as his body jerks into wakefulness. [Merlin]

Ed wishes he could convince the two stupid boys on his sofa of how blind they are. [1D]

Fate’s a bitch and everyone knows it. [Teen Wolf]

Society would lead you to believe there are reasons boys like other boys and grow up into men who live out such abominations freely. [Downton Abbey]

Light refused to peel his eyes away from the falling detective. [DeathNote/ACD Sherlock]

The intimate act cannot be described with words. [A Room With A View]

“Stiles?” His dad asks. [Teen Wolf]

She’s not surprised he calls out to them. [Hunger Games]

His home, Albion, screams out in agony, feeling the loss keener than Merlin thought possible, making him vomit up his breakfast. [Merlin]

It’s Spencer’s smile that gives him away, every single time. [P@tD]

The actor is beautiful. [DeathNote]

There were days that the Tardis was much too small for the both of them. [Doctor Who]

The thing with time is… it’s always running and running is fun. [Doctor Who]

Mello bolted upright in bed, immediately aware that Matt was no longer beside him. [DeathNote]

The mansion was completely innocuous and picture-perfect as only a Victorian-era mansion could be on an idyllic countryside estate. [DeathNote]

"I could love this secret agent man…" [DeathNote]

Light Yagami felt the contents of his stomach spill out onto the ground, but his head was far from empty. [DeathNote]

The whole point of an all male Shakespeare troupe means things run smoother, more streamlined. [Merlin]

Arthur's tired of feeling penned in and stuck in this rut of being shuffled between nana and tutors and knights – who knock him about with a sword – like he's a squire and not the crown prince, and so he's decided to run away. [Merlin]

They’ve not stowed themselves away very secretly. [Merlin RPF]

Merlin looks frozen, but he's wiggling, stretching over the edge of their seat like they aren't fourteen stories high or whatever... it's crazy high and Arthur's stomach lurches like it might fall out, like Merlin's going to do if he doesn't quit angling himself downwards with half his body to peer at the chair below them. [Merlin]

Hangin' Tough

2013-03-12T11:58:44Z

Right now, life's whipping my ass.

Also, please send up prayers for my son. He's been really sick and is on medication again that stunts his growth. It's not the first time and the last time he had to be on it, they checked his growth plates and they were already hardening. He just turned nine and I am not dealing well.

Surgery for me has been postponed because boy health scares are more important. My biopsies came back clean, no cancer, but still yet another growth way too large to leave be. Overall, any good vibes and thoughts sent out would be greatly appreciated.

Miss you all! Hope everyone else is dealing better than I.

My Google Account Hacked!

2013-02-10T22:49:12Z

My Google mail account was hacked and they're sending out emails featuring an radio station of some sort. Since I do send out very short emails with just a link, some of my friends could be fooled by it. However, I do usually always personalize the subject line which this email is not doing.

All my passwords have been changed but please, if you get something of this sort of email from me, delete it. Thanks.

LOVE ACTUALLY

2013-01-23T04:19:06Z

Still sick... recovering but still sick and have been to see three different doctors already this year with two more on the schedule in the next ten days, and yet I am watching Love Actually and lying in bed snuggled in my duvet about to eat toasted Triscuits with Pepper Jack cheese and life is good.

Wishing you all the best for this new year!