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Dec. 29th, 2017 04:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. In the round-up of posts regarding best and worst of 2017...this post on Facebook, made me very happy.
2. The best thing that I saw over the holiday weekend was probably the second season of Netflix's The Crown. I don't know how accurate it is, but it's depiction of marriage...was compelling.
Also it provided a great deal of insight into Prince Philip, not to mention family life such as it was. After watching it, I found that I understood a few things better. Such as the fact that Britain is not a Republic or a Democracy, but a Constitutional Monarchy. (Actually nowhere is a pure democracy, as far as I know...I may be missing a country out there somewhere..., we're all either Republics or Constitutional Monarchy's, some are dictatorships (see North Korea and China).) A Constitutional Monarchy -- is basically where the monarchy stands above the political system, they don't rule, but they do have the power to intervene if need be. Elizabeth chose her father's route, which was to not interfere and stay aloof from it all. I have a feeling her sister, and her uncle the Duke of Windsor/Prince of Wales, probably would have interfered more. They liked the power and privileges, while Elzabeth and her father seemed to want nothing to do with it, and were to an extent "reluctant" monarchs. In discussing this with my parents, who I watched it with over the holidays on their huge tv, we agreed that if it had been her sister or the Duke of Windsor in charge -- Britain may have been forced to do away with the monarchy. There's certainly indications of that happening prior to Prince of Wales abdicating the thrown, mainly because he was proving to be a bit of a foreign policy problem (in that he was collaborating with the Nazis and providing them with state secrets.) Reluctant monarchs saved the monarchy in Britain. (Ironic.)
Anyhow the series was tight, informative, and compelling. By far one of the best things I've seen this year.
3. My mother and I agree that Greatest Showman, despite what the critics think, was far more entertaining than The Last Jedi.
And both were more entertaining than the musical "Newsies" whose appeal continues to be lost on me. Why this musical has such a huge fandom, I've no clue. I'm guessing it's the dancing? But the musical adaptation of the Irish film "Billy Elliot" was far better, dance, story, song, etc. And as a film and musical.
We saw the musical "Newsies" at the Arts Center on Hilton Head Island, and almost nodded off during it. My father had to leave towards the end -- too long sitting kills his back.
4. Just finished reading the third in Illona Andrews latest series -- The Nevada Baylor Series, "Wildfire" and it...well, it's okay. No where near as good as the Kate Daniels books. If you didn't like the Kate Daniels series, don't even bother with this one. The writer has a few annoying quirks, that initially aren't but become so over time.
This is a word of warning to writers out there. Be careful of repetitive writing quirks or slang.
If you find yourself always using a specific slang word, phrase, etc - stop it. It takes your reader out of the story or post.
Illona Andrews quirk? Apparently all her characters say "Aha". It doesn't matter who they are -- they think "aha".
If you are doing that? Start editing yourself. Or find someone who will. A good editor gets rid of these things. (Why her editor hasn't caught them is beyond me. But I've been wondering about the quality of editors lately. Or if editors even do editing any longer...)
What I'm reading now
Was re-reading and mainly editing my sci-fi novel to date. (It's not finished, it's getting close though.) Because I can't read anything I write without editing it. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and think everything I write requires substantial improvement.
Anyhow, I decided after some discussion to leave my work in progress with my mother -- to read. She's actually the best reader I've had. Usually can tell me what works and what doesn't work. And rather objectively, believe it or not.
I may live to regret it. We shall see.
So, gave up on that and am reading a rather dull Corporate Contemporary Romance between two economists/financial experts. What's interesting about the book is that it takes place in Sweden and everyone is Swedish. This is rare. Most romance novels either take place in Britain or the US. Rarely do you find one that takes place elsewhere, particularly Sweden. Other than that it's pretty formulaic. Wounded hero, who is a corporate raider, seeking vengeance against the heroine's family.
Heroine with serious Daddy issues (her father is a misogynist and racist power mogul). I was going to give up, then, something about it seemed to provide insight into Trump and his cronies...so I kept going. (The flaw of the hero is his ego or need to be better than everyone who bullied him.)
It's not very good. Although has gotten good reviews...which is odd. I think whoever published this book is an expert at marketing and promotion. Shame they didn't put that expertise towards actual editing and writing.
2. The best thing that I saw over the holiday weekend was probably the second season of Netflix's The Crown. I don't know how accurate it is, but it's depiction of marriage...was compelling.
Also it provided a great deal of insight into Prince Philip, not to mention family life such as it was. After watching it, I found that I understood a few things better. Such as the fact that Britain is not a Republic or a Democracy, but a Constitutional Monarchy. (Actually nowhere is a pure democracy, as far as I know...I may be missing a country out there somewhere..., we're all either Republics or Constitutional Monarchy's, some are dictatorships (see North Korea and China).) A Constitutional Monarchy -- is basically where the monarchy stands above the political system, they don't rule, but they do have the power to intervene if need be. Elizabeth chose her father's route, which was to not interfere and stay aloof from it all. I have a feeling her sister, and her uncle the Duke of Windsor/Prince of Wales, probably would have interfered more. They liked the power and privileges, while Elzabeth and her father seemed to want nothing to do with it, and were to an extent "reluctant" monarchs. In discussing this with my parents, who I watched it with over the holidays on their huge tv, we agreed that if it had been her sister or the Duke of Windsor in charge -- Britain may have been forced to do away with the monarchy. There's certainly indications of that happening prior to Prince of Wales abdicating the thrown, mainly because he was proving to be a bit of a foreign policy problem (in that he was collaborating with the Nazis and providing them with state secrets.) Reluctant monarchs saved the monarchy in Britain. (Ironic.)
Anyhow the series was tight, informative, and compelling. By far one of the best things I've seen this year.
3. My mother and I agree that Greatest Showman, despite what the critics think, was far more entertaining than The Last Jedi.
And both were more entertaining than the musical "Newsies" whose appeal continues to be lost on me. Why this musical has such a huge fandom, I've no clue. I'm guessing it's the dancing? But the musical adaptation of the Irish film "Billy Elliot" was far better, dance, story, song, etc. And as a film and musical.
We saw the musical "Newsies" at the Arts Center on Hilton Head Island, and almost nodded off during it. My father had to leave towards the end -- too long sitting kills his back.
4. Just finished reading the third in Illona Andrews latest series -- The Nevada Baylor Series, "Wildfire" and it...well, it's okay. No where near as good as the Kate Daniels books. If you didn't like the Kate Daniels series, don't even bother with this one. The writer has a few annoying quirks, that initially aren't but become so over time.
This is a word of warning to writers out there. Be careful of repetitive writing quirks or slang.
If you find yourself always using a specific slang word, phrase, etc - stop it. It takes your reader out of the story or post.
Illona Andrews quirk? Apparently all her characters say "Aha". It doesn't matter who they are -- they think "aha".
If you are doing that? Start editing yourself. Or find someone who will. A good editor gets rid of these things. (Why her editor hasn't caught them is beyond me. But I've been wondering about the quality of editors lately. Or if editors even do editing any longer...)
What I'm reading now
Was re-reading and mainly editing my sci-fi novel to date. (It's not finished, it's getting close though.) Because I can't read anything I write without editing it. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and think everything I write requires substantial improvement.
Anyhow, I decided after some discussion to leave my work in progress with my mother -- to read. She's actually the best reader I've had. Usually can tell me what works and what doesn't work. And rather objectively, believe it or not.
I may live to regret it. We shall see.
So, gave up on that and am reading a rather dull Corporate Contemporary Romance between two economists/financial experts. What's interesting about the book is that it takes place in Sweden and everyone is Swedish. This is rare. Most romance novels either take place in Britain or the US. Rarely do you find one that takes place elsewhere, particularly Sweden. Other than that it's pretty formulaic. Wounded hero, who is a corporate raider, seeking vengeance against the heroine's family.
Heroine with serious Daddy issues (her father is a misogynist and racist power mogul). I was going to give up, then, something about it seemed to provide insight into Trump and his cronies...so I kept going. (The flaw of the hero is his ego or need to be better than everyone who bullied him.)
It's not very good. Although has gotten good reviews...which is odd. I think whoever published this book is an expert at marketing and promotion. Shame they didn't put that expertise towards actual editing and writing.
no subject
Date: 2017-12-29 10:09 pm (UTC)Huh. Is the author Swedish, or did they just want a semi-exotic location with white people in it?
no subject
Date: 2017-12-29 11:32 pm (UTC)Simona Ahrnstedt is a bestselling author, licensed psychologist and cognitive behavioral therapist. Her novels are published in 19 countries including her native Sweden, where she has been credited as the country’s first major romance author. As her novels have swept bestseller lists in Sweden and throughout Europe, she has become an international spokesperson for books by women, for women, and about women.
At least according to Good Reads.
Like most romance novels it focuses on gender inequalities, toxic masculianity, and classism or class inequalities. Also racism.
In the cutthroat world of Sweden's financial elite, no one knows that better than corporate raider David Hammar. Ruthless. Notorious. Unstoppable. He's out to hijack the ultimate prize, Investum. After years of planning, all the players are in place; he needs just one member of the aristocratic owning family on his side--Natalia De la Grip.
Elegant, brilliant, driven to succeed in a man's world, Natalia is curious about David's unexpected invitation to lunch. Everyone knows that he is rich, dangerous, unethical; she soon discovers he is also deeply scarred.
The attraction between these two is impossible, but the long Swedish nights unfold an affair that will bring to light shocking secrets, forever alter a family, and force both Natalia and David to confront their innermost fears and desires.
The description is sort of formulaic, but the setting and culture and writer are rather different. (ie. A Swedish psychologist and feminist is writing it.)
no subject
Date: 2017-12-30 08:18 am (UTC)the long Swedish nights
Jeez. OK, so the answer to my question - is she Swedish or is the publisher just looking for an exotic location - appears to be "both". :)
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Date: 2017-12-30 03:18 pm (UTC)There's the explicit sex scene...by candlelight. (The heroine feels the need to light a lot of candles in the living room before they do it again. I spent the whole time wondering if she'd burn down her apartment. Sort of wish she had, that would have been different.) The billionaire hero with whip marks on his back and an ax to grind, cares mainly about money and getting revenge little else. (But eh, wounded.) However, his best friend is Lebanese, (also wounded) and a billionaire, who has a past with the heroine's best friend (a blond haired lawyer with Marilyn Monroe's body). Everyone is filthy rich and works in high finance. (Sort of makes me want to read the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo books...which also depicted this world, just not as kindly.)
I wonder sometimes about the stories our cultures export to each other. I mean I know neither of these stories is a fair or realistic depiction of Sweden. But I wonder if others do?
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Date: 2017-12-31 08:43 am (UTC)(Also, considering how many USians seem to think Sweden is a communist nightmare, I don't mind the odd story about rich assholes getting translated too...)
no subject
Date: 2017-12-31 01:57 pm (UTC)I wouldn't consider this indicative of Sweden or any place it's set in -- the characters feel a bit stock. But, I'm also reading a translation.
no subject
Date: 2017-12-29 10:46 pm (UTC)Editors don't edit. It's a lost art.