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Jan. 20th, 2009
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Jan. 20th, 2009 02:38 pmStar Trek: First Contact chocolate bars, 4 out of 6 in a series, in Donna's freezer since 1996.
Star Trek: First Contact chocolate bars, 4 out of 6 in a series, turn up on Jael's dining room table in 2009.
Star Trek: First Contact chocolate bars, 4 out of 6 in a series, surprisingly not too bad considering they are twelve years old and counting.
Star Trek: First Contact chocolate bars, 4 out of 6 in a series, turn up on Jael's dining room table in 2009.
Star Trek: First Contact chocolate bars, 4 out of 6 in a series, surprisingly not too bad considering they are twelve years old and counting.
(no subject)
Jan. 20th, 2009 03:23 pmBook 5: Song of the Silent Harp, 414 pp
I have always felt, and I still do, that "Song of the Silent Harp" could stand alone. Of the five books in this series, it's really the only one where romance and the typical formulae for Christian fiction seem to have been mostly ignored. It doesn't need the following four books to remain a good book in its own right, and it really is a very good story and is, I feel, pretty original for the genre.
Not like I'm widely read in Christian fiction, but I do know most of it makes me hurl.
It's always interesting though to come back after years and re-read something simply because your perceptions and maturity will change so much in between, say, age seventeen and, say, age twenty-five. There are things I don't think I really picked up on before or really understood on a personal level. I always found Evan to be a bit soppy back in the day, for instance, and now I think just the opposite. He is actually quite a strong and believable character - the kind of man you'd actually marry rather than the kind of man the romance novels want you to think you'd want to marry. That was a mouthful. Anyway.
I also found Nora's character really annoying and pessimistic throughout most of the first book, something I don't recall noticing before, either. And I think I felt very connected to Daniel Kavanagh on many levels back in the day, and I still do.
All in all, a grand story.
Book 6: Heart of the Lonely Exile, 384 pp
I used to really hate this one - probably the most. Granted, throughout most of my Emerald Ballad career, my interest lay almost solely with Morgan and Finola, and I thought Evan and Nora were unbearably sappy and retarded, and I wasn't a big fan of Michael at all until later, and even then he wasn't a big deal.
Things I liked about it now:
1. Evan and Nora. Yes, they do become almost unbearably sappy, but I guess because of the kind of man Evan is, I just was happy to see them end up together. There were things about their relationship that reminded me of Mr Baldwin and me, particularly the little part about how Evan does not belittle Nora for not knowing things. That goes both ways in my marriage. We're both smart, but in almost polar-opposite ways, and I've never felt like I have to be ashamed to admit I don't know what he is talking about, and I hope he feels the same way.
2. Tierney. I don't think I really understood his character before because you don't always see yourself as you are, but I have a better idea now of what is going on in his head because so many similar things were going on in my own head at about the same age as he is in the books. No further commentary on that just at the moment.
Things I don't really like about it now:
1. Fascinatingly, Morgan and Finola. While I still enjoy that part of the story after a fashion, I don't really care for the melodramatic aspect of it so much, which is really the aspect that makes it interesting.
2. She seems to try to make her Catholic characters Almost Protestant in their ideas, which I think is ridiculous, as if she's trying to make these characters more palatable to a Protestant audience, while still not offending Catholics. When you're a Catholic priest, I would presume you are one because you believe what the Catholic church teaches. If you lean toward what Protestants believe, you wouldn't BE a Catholic priest.
I have always felt, and I still do, that "Song of the Silent Harp" could stand alone. Of the five books in this series, it's really the only one where romance and the typical formulae for Christian fiction seem to have been mostly ignored. It doesn't need the following four books to remain a good book in its own right, and it really is a very good story and is, I feel, pretty original for the genre.
Not like I'm widely read in Christian fiction, but I do know most of it makes me hurl.
It's always interesting though to come back after years and re-read something simply because your perceptions and maturity will change so much in between, say, age seventeen and, say, age twenty-five. There are things I don't think I really picked up on before or really understood on a personal level. I always found Evan to be a bit soppy back in the day, for instance, and now I think just the opposite. He is actually quite a strong and believable character - the kind of man you'd actually marry rather than the kind of man the romance novels want you to think you'd want to marry. That was a mouthful. Anyway.
I also found Nora's character really annoying and pessimistic throughout most of the first book, something I don't recall noticing before, either. And I think I felt very connected to Daniel Kavanagh on many levels back in the day, and I still do.
All in all, a grand story.
Book 6: Heart of the Lonely Exile, 384 pp
I used to really hate this one - probably the most. Granted, throughout most of my Emerald Ballad career, my interest lay almost solely with Morgan and Finola, and I thought Evan and Nora were unbearably sappy and retarded, and I wasn't a big fan of Michael at all until later, and even then he wasn't a big deal.
Things I liked about it now:
1. Evan and Nora. Yes, they do become almost unbearably sappy, but I guess because of the kind of man Evan is, I just was happy to see them end up together. There were things about their relationship that reminded me of Mr Baldwin and me, particularly the little part about how Evan does not belittle Nora for not knowing things. That goes both ways in my marriage. We're both smart, but in almost polar-opposite ways, and I've never felt like I have to be ashamed to admit I don't know what he is talking about, and I hope he feels the same way.
2. Tierney. I don't think I really understood his character before because you don't always see yourself as you are, but I have a better idea now of what is going on in his head because so many similar things were going on in my own head at about the same age as he is in the books. No further commentary on that just at the moment.
Things I don't really like about it now:
1. Fascinatingly, Morgan and Finola. While I still enjoy that part of the story after a fashion, I don't really care for the melodramatic aspect of it so much, which is really the aspect that makes it interesting.
2. She seems to try to make her Catholic characters Almost Protestant in their ideas, which I think is ridiculous, as if she's trying to make these characters more palatable to a Protestant audience, while still not offending Catholics. When you're a Catholic priest, I would presume you are one because you believe what the Catholic church teaches. If you lean toward what Protestants believe, you wouldn't BE a Catholic priest.
(no subject)
Jan. 20th, 2009 07:20 pmIf nothing else good comes out of this administration, at least Michelle Obama dresses well.
Supposing that was Cindy "$300,000 Ugly Outfit" McCain up there today.
Just supposing.
Shudder.
Supposing that was Cindy "$300,000 Ugly Outfit" McCain up there today.
Just supposing.
Shudder.
(no subject)
Jan. 20th, 2009 08:50 pmSpot deserted me a while ago. I cannot seem to get warm. I've been sort of lost in space all day. Blah.
I should go up and straighten the bed a bit so we can actually use it tonight.
Oh, and the left-hand middle finger of doom that has had a sewing machine needle run through it, a kitchen utensil gouge it, and innumerable other atrocities? Today it got pinched trying to open the kitchen window. It now has a bruise under the nail and it hurts. I would take a picture and show you, but it would be considered very rude if I did.
Bed. I can amuse myself with Finola and Morgan until Dan is done working.
I should go up and straighten the bed a bit so we can actually use it tonight.
Oh, and the left-hand middle finger of doom that has had a sewing machine needle run through it, a kitchen utensil gouge it, and innumerable other atrocities? Today it got pinched trying to open the kitchen window. It now has a bruise under the nail and it hurts. I would take a picture and show you, but it would be considered very rude if I did.
Bed. I can amuse myself with Finola and Morgan until Dan is done working.