Reviews and other things..
Jun. 4th, 2023 09:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. Have been gaining an audience on my word press blog - by switching over selected writings posted on Ao3 to it. Aided by linking it to my Instagram account, as opposed to FB and Twitter (which no longer will permit it).
(All of this is saved on my dreamwidth journal btw, it's just impossible for anyone to find unless you have the wherewithal to go year by year through my archive. Why? Because I suck at tagging and indexing things. My brother told my mother once that I missed my calling - I should have been a research librarian. The poor boy doesn't know me as well as he thinks. If he did, he'd realize why that wouldn't work. You already know why - you've seen my attempts at on dreamwidth - and I suck at it. I can't index and file to save my life. Archivist and research librarian aren't my strengths.)
But I am working on it. Word Press has categories. So I'm just sticking with meta, reviews, and simple subgenres for now.
Note, since Ao3 is suspended. I can't delete the content. Or cut and paste it. I can however "copy" and past it to the word press blog, complete with formatting code. SquidqeWorld doesn't seem to take the html code, but Word Press does. I think the reason is that Word Press has rich text, and Squidge World only has HTML? Word Press is a touch more sophisticated, and it's like Dreamwidth - in that the journals are owned and run by me. Also its free. If I want more doo-dads, and pretty stuff - I pay. I just want plain vanilla (which honestly I'm fine with - techy, I'm not - plus I'm not a designer (that's my brother and sister in law) and I'm a minimalist in all things anyhow. As long as people can read it easily - I'm happy. I let my writing and art work stand for itself.
But building an audience online for my work is kind of necessary - if I ever want to self-publish novels or anything again. It's the best way of marketing oneself.
So if there's a silver lining to the whole A03 fiasco, this may be it - it's motivated me to make my work available to a much broader audience and on more platforms. I've discovered a whole new audience for my work - and am being careful which posts I share with them. The Buffy/Angel stuff is kind of dated. It can stay on Ao3 and Squidgeworld.
Also under my own name, not my fandom/dreamwidth pseudonym.
2. Finished The Citadel on Amazon Prime. Which was better than expected, and rather interesting.
I kind of figured it out before the reveal - but not that long before it. And that was actually a good thing - because it means it tracked and the writers built in enough clues for me to figure it out. People think it is better to not figure out the mystery or the twist in thriller or drama and be shocked by it. That's not true. If anything it is the opposite. The phrase " I never saw that coming" or "that shocked me" isn't always a positive response. Usually it means there's a huge plot hole that you can drive a truck through, or the audience was hoodwinked by a self-indulgent writer who was more interested in being clever than well telling a story. Or in some cases being shocking. (I'm looking at you Joss Whedon, Lost writers, Ron Moore, and GillianAnderson Flynn (sorry) who wrote Gone Girl.)
Telling a good story - requires that audience is along for the ride, and is kept in the loop. Not wandering about trying to figure out what the fuck you are up to, or lost in the verbiage. You lose your audience - they won't come back, they will wander off and watch or read something else. It's not as if there isn't enough things for them to read or watch at the moment. They've plenty to choose from.
So if you can't find a way to make the twist work - don't do it.
The Citadel's twists work - however, they are kind of tropey, or been done before. The series reminds me a lot of Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne novels.
And Le Carre's spy series. The hero at the center of the piece, much like their heroes, is more anti-hero than clear hero. And since we are in his point of view, we are to a degree mislead, because he's an unreliable narrator.
I think where the plotting fails is the need to show multiple perspectives, not just the protagonist (Kyle Conroy/Mason Kane). Robert Madden is excellent in the dual roles of Kyle and Mason, in that he's appealing in both. We like the character, even if it becomes increasingly apparent that maybe we aren't supposed to?
While predictable in places, it's also kind of trippy and fun. And I rather liked the twisted ending, where Conroy stares at himself in the mirror, the Kane and Conroy sides on either side of it, starring back at him, and Kane's wife, and Conroy's bracketing him. He of course chooses Conroy, because Kane is too painful. Turning his back on Kane, and the woman who barely knew him.
It's not long. Six episodes total. Fast action. Fun. And well cast. Written by the Russos who did Civil War, Winter Solider, Infinity War and Endgame - it has the same fun trippyness of those films. Without the superheroes of course, no instead we have a world populated by spies and spycraft.
Tempting to watch it again, knowing what I know now.
3. I've picked up audiobooks now on the following:
* Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood - Maureen Ryan's expose on the behind the scenes shenanigans on various television sets.
* An Oral History of the Behind the Scenes Drama on the Television Series Moonlighting - and why it fell apart. [Thanks to avrelia.]
* The Making of Some Like it Hot by Tony Curtis, and various others.
* Dying of Politeness by Geena Davis (which is her memoir about Hollywood and gender politics.)
I've a lot of audiobooks. Most are free. The last two were on sale and under $8.
I'm kind of addicted to them now. I can listen while doing laundry, making dinner, eating dinner, eating lunch at work....it's lovely. Prior to the pandemic - I couldn't understand the appeal, post-pandemic? I'm in love with the things.
Also bore you all with my recaps of them. Because I'm incapable of reading these things apparently without sharing my reactions to them.
I'm not really nerdy - nerdy is when you get into the minute trivial details, I don't. But I am very geeky - since I can got on at length on various weird topics.
4. Amazon has royally pissed me off again.
I ordered a new air purifier, and replacement filters for it and my existing one. I spent two-three days hunting the right one and making the decision to purchase it. It was not cheap. But cheaper than most.
Amazon: We delivered it on Friday and Saturday!
Me: Uhm it's not here.
Amazon: Yes, it is - see here's a picture of it sitting in your mail room.
Me: That's not the mail room in the lobby of my building. I have proof. [Takes a picture of my lobby - which is obviously not the lobby floor in their picture, and obviously not the floor of the building in which they left my package and post to FB then upload to my computer and send to Amazon]
Amazon response to my email: Sorry, you can't reply to this email message it is for information purposes only, go here instead.
Clicks on link to ChatGpt
Amazon: How was your delivery?
Me: (choices are Great, not great) Selects Not great.
Amazon: What was the problem?
ME: (Choices are: damaged, not in package, refund, not delivered..) Selects Not delivered.
Amazon: According to our records it was delivered to your mail room - see here's a picture.
Me: Selects It was delivered to the wrong address
Amazon: Oh we're sorry about that. But we can't do anything until after Monday, June 5. You can either order a new one, and get a refund for the old one after June 5 or get a refund on June 5. Also good news, often neighbors will bring it to you if they got it by mistake.
I attempt to report the other two. Same response.
I consider getting a real person and not ChatGpt, because clearly that's what this is.
Amazon: Are you sure about this? You realize we aren't authorized to give you a refund until June 5 or thereafter, right?
On my walk to the grocery store, I pass three Amazon Prime trucks and have to restrain myself from vandalizing them with my key. I'm furious. I also restrain myself from giving the empty trucks the finger. I do not understand this - they managed to deliver my neighbors packages - which have been sitting around untouched for three-four days.
Wales calls.
I tell Wales that I got sidetracked this morning with the damn package, and as a result didn't make to church or the photoshow she had invited me to attend. I was pissed with myself and in a bad mood.
Wales: Can you go get your package from the other lobby?
Me: I don't know which lobby it is in. I just know it's not mine. They didn't give me the address. They just sent a picture of the package sitting in a foreign lobby at my address.
Wales: They've done that to me too - I totally get it. I've had things stolen too.
Me: Yup that's happened too. They said the neighbor may bring them over - but I doubt it, they are big.
Wales: So they basically gave someone else a free air purifier on your dime?
Me: Well not mine. They will refund me and they will eat the cost. I got proof.
Wales: Oh, they will most likely believe you.
Me: This is their fault.
Wales: No kidding, they overwork their employees, pay them low pay, and voila..
Me: Also, the addresses are put in tiny print. This is on them. I want a new purifier, and they are eating the cost of this one.
Stupid Amazon. I needed that air purifier and those replacement filters. My allergies are driving me nuts.
(All of this is saved on my dreamwidth journal btw, it's just impossible for anyone to find unless you have the wherewithal to go year by year through my archive. Why? Because I suck at tagging and indexing things. My brother told my mother once that I missed my calling - I should have been a research librarian. The poor boy doesn't know me as well as he thinks. If he did, he'd realize why that wouldn't work. You already know why - you've seen my attempts at on dreamwidth - and I suck at it. I can't index and file to save my life. Archivist and research librarian aren't my strengths.)
But I am working on it. Word Press has categories. So I'm just sticking with meta, reviews, and simple subgenres for now.
Note, since Ao3 is suspended. I can't delete the content. Or cut and paste it. I can however "copy" and past it to the word press blog, complete with formatting code. SquidqeWorld doesn't seem to take the html code, but Word Press does. I think the reason is that Word Press has rich text, and Squidge World only has HTML? Word Press is a touch more sophisticated, and it's like Dreamwidth - in that the journals are owned and run by me. Also its free. If I want more doo-dads, and pretty stuff - I pay. I just want plain vanilla (which honestly I'm fine with - techy, I'm not - plus I'm not a designer (that's my brother and sister in law) and I'm a minimalist in all things anyhow. As long as people can read it easily - I'm happy. I let my writing and art work stand for itself.
But building an audience online for my work is kind of necessary - if I ever want to self-publish novels or anything again. It's the best way of marketing oneself.
So if there's a silver lining to the whole A03 fiasco, this may be it - it's motivated me to make my work available to a much broader audience and on more platforms. I've discovered a whole new audience for my work - and am being careful which posts I share with them. The Buffy/Angel stuff is kind of dated. It can stay on Ao3 and Squidgeworld.
Also under my own name, not my fandom/dreamwidth pseudonym.
2. Finished The Citadel on Amazon Prime. Which was better than expected, and rather interesting.
I kind of figured it out before the reveal - but not that long before it. And that was actually a good thing - because it means it tracked and the writers built in enough clues for me to figure it out. People think it is better to not figure out the mystery or the twist in thriller or drama and be shocked by it. That's not true. If anything it is the opposite. The phrase " I never saw that coming" or "that shocked me" isn't always a positive response. Usually it means there's a huge plot hole that you can drive a truck through, or the audience was hoodwinked by a self-indulgent writer who was more interested in being clever than well telling a story. Or in some cases being shocking. (I'm looking at you Joss Whedon, Lost writers, Ron Moore, and Gillian
Telling a good story - requires that audience is along for the ride, and is kept in the loop. Not wandering about trying to figure out what the fuck you are up to, or lost in the verbiage. You lose your audience - they won't come back, they will wander off and watch or read something else. It's not as if there isn't enough things for them to read or watch at the moment. They've plenty to choose from.
So if you can't find a way to make the twist work - don't do it.
The Citadel's twists work - however, they are kind of tropey, or been done before. The series reminds me a lot of Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne novels.
And Le Carre's spy series. The hero at the center of the piece, much like their heroes, is more anti-hero than clear hero. And since we are in his point of view, we are to a degree mislead, because he's an unreliable narrator.
I think where the plotting fails is the need to show multiple perspectives, not just the protagonist (Kyle Conroy/Mason Kane). Robert Madden is excellent in the dual roles of Kyle and Mason, in that he's appealing in both. We like the character, even if it becomes increasingly apparent that maybe we aren't supposed to?
While predictable in places, it's also kind of trippy and fun. And I rather liked the twisted ending, where Conroy stares at himself in the mirror, the Kane and Conroy sides on either side of it, starring back at him, and Kane's wife, and Conroy's bracketing him. He of course chooses Conroy, because Kane is too painful. Turning his back on Kane, and the woman who barely knew him.
It's not long. Six episodes total. Fast action. Fun. And well cast. Written by the Russos who did Civil War, Winter Solider, Infinity War and Endgame - it has the same fun trippyness of those films. Without the superheroes of course, no instead we have a world populated by spies and spycraft.
Tempting to watch it again, knowing what I know now.
3. I've picked up audiobooks now on the following:
* Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood - Maureen Ryan's expose on the behind the scenes shenanigans on various television sets.
* An Oral History of the Behind the Scenes Drama on the Television Series Moonlighting - and why it fell apart. [Thanks to avrelia.]
* The Making of Some Like it Hot by Tony Curtis, and various others.
* Dying of Politeness by Geena Davis (which is her memoir about Hollywood and gender politics.)
I've a lot of audiobooks. Most are free. The last two were on sale and under $8.
I'm kind of addicted to them now. I can listen while doing laundry, making dinner, eating dinner, eating lunch at work....it's lovely. Prior to the pandemic - I couldn't understand the appeal, post-pandemic? I'm in love with the things.
Also bore you all with my recaps of them. Because I'm incapable of reading these things apparently without sharing my reactions to them.
I'm not really nerdy - nerdy is when you get into the minute trivial details, I don't. But I am very geeky - since I can got on at length on various weird topics.
4. Amazon has royally pissed me off again.
I ordered a new air purifier, and replacement filters for it and my existing one. I spent two-three days hunting the right one and making the decision to purchase it. It was not cheap. But cheaper than most.
Amazon: We delivered it on Friday and Saturday!
Me: Uhm it's not here.
Amazon: Yes, it is - see here's a picture of it sitting in your mail room.
Me: That's not the mail room in the lobby of my building. I have proof. [Takes a picture of my lobby - which is obviously not the lobby floor in their picture, and obviously not the floor of the building in which they left my package and post to FB then upload to my computer and send to Amazon]
Amazon response to my email: Sorry, you can't reply to this email message it is for information purposes only, go here instead.
Clicks on link to ChatGpt
Amazon: How was your delivery?
Me: (choices are Great, not great) Selects Not great.
Amazon: What was the problem?
ME: (Choices are: damaged, not in package, refund, not delivered..) Selects Not delivered.
Amazon: According to our records it was delivered to your mail room - see here's a picture.
Me: Selects It was delivered to the wrong address
Amazon: Oh we're sorry about that. But we can't do anything until after Monday, June 5. You can either order a new one, and get a refund for the old one after June 5 or get a refund on June 5. Also good news, often neighbors will bring it to you if they got it by mistake.
I attempt to report the other two. Same response.
I consider getting a real person and not ChatGpt, because clearly that's what this is.
Amazon: Are you sure about this? You realize we aren't authorized to give you a refund until June 5 or thereafter, right?
On my walk to the grocery store, I pass three Amazon Prime trucks and have to restrain myself from vandalizing them with my key. I'm furious. I also restrain myself from giving the empty trucks the finger. I do not understand this - they managed to deliver my neighbors packages - which have been sitting around untouched for three-four days.
Wales calls.
I tell Wales that I got sidetracked this morning with the damn package, and as a result didn't make to church or the photoshow she had invited me to attend. I was pissed with myself and in a bad mood.
Wales: Can you go get your package from the other lobby?
Me: I don't know which lobby it is in. I just know it's not mine. They didn't give me the address. They just sent a picture of the package sitting in a foreign lobby at my address.
Wales: They've done that to me too - I totally get it. I've had things stolen too.
Me: Yup that's happened too. They said the neighbor may bring them over - but I doubt it, they are big.
Wales: So they basically gave someone else a free air purifier on your dime?
Me: Well not mine. They will refund me and they will eat the cost. I got proof.
Wales: Oh, they will most likely believe you.
Me: This is their fault.
Wales: No kidding, they overwork their employees, pay them low pay, and voila..
Me: Also, the addresses are put in tiny print. This is on them. I want a new purifier, and they are eating the cost of this one.
Stupid Amazon. I needed that air purifier and those replacement filters. My allergies are driving me nuts.
no subject
Date: 2023-06-05 05:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-06-06 02:36 am (UTC)Sorry about your situation, that sounds awful.
no subject
Date: 2023-06-05 03:50 pm (UTC)Also about the allergies. A friend was hoarse and coughing for hours yesterday as we chatted because of pollen issues. She's hoping for rain soon to dampen it.
no subject
Date: 2023-06-06 12:21 am (UTC)I did, as a long shot, ask the neighborhood community board on FB. But I doubt I'll get much of a response.
no subject
Date: 2023-06-06 01:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-06-06 12:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-06-06 02:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-06-06 02:25 am (UTC)Now, now. Don't blame Gillian Anderson for Gillian Flynn's bad writing.
no subject
Date: 2023-06-06 02:34 am (UTC)Sigh, Amazon is apparently having a bad weekend? I feel sorry for the guy who's getting fired, but not Amazon. And dear god, that women wouldn't open the door to either you or the postal worker? Apparently she didn't want the dogfood?
(Although, I will state that Amazon is a god-send to frustrated writers who can't get nasty traditional publishers to publish them. So there is that.)