Miscelleneous

[maderr]

Tea Beej, when she bought my luffly teapot and mug also bought me a handful of tea. One of my favs is the Bourbon Street Vanilla Rooibos. I know very little about tea, though I'd love to learn and intend to someday, but I do know this tea is yummy yummy. You can taste the bourbon vanilla really well without it being too strong, the almonds, ah so many nummy subtleties I could even begin to explain. Most revitalizing when you come home, make yourself do chores, then sit down and realize you have no energy left to write. ^__^

Pictures. Finally uploaded all my latest pics. They're all hopelessly pointless but I am pleased. I love the way the snow one turned out.

Peter Pan. Oddly enough, I was annoyed about something pertaining to this story the other day and tygati bringing it up again today reminded me. There was an officially licensed sequel put out in October, and I remember seeing it in the bookstore (and I would link to it, but I can't find a site that actually gives the premise, just blathers about the hospital releasing the license blah blah fucking blah). And I realize no one cares but me; every time I rant about this shit I get a proverbial pat on the head and "there, there." I should just give up trying. Peter Pan was not some pretty, wonderful, magical boy who did no wrong. He was a selfish fucking brat who had no concept of anything but himself at the end of the day. As most young, poorly raised children are wont to be. I remember reading the premise of the sequel and being vastly disappointed. Again, though, no one cares but me. It's better, apparently, completely fucking butchered with Peter as a glowing star. Whatever. I give up. I started my own sort-of sequel idea once, and I plan to rewrite it and finish it at some point. That will satisfy me and the world can have its shiny! Peter Pan.

Iris. It's utterly depressing that I have two Iris books sitting here on my desk (one a novel, the other a comic collection) and have no desire to read them. I motherfucking hated the short stories (minus Tsaiko's) and just the premise of the novel does not please. I bought them because I can't help myself, and I will cave and read at some point. But honestly - don't we ever get tired of that "homosexuality is against the law" as a premise? Come on, please. That's such a goddamn pathetic effort at creating tension and whatall.

Then again, I keep getting rejected. Do I really have the right to say anything anymore?

Huh. Somehow I've completely managed to depress myself. Off to torture Beraht now.

Comments

[rykaine.livejournal.com]

You can taste the bourbon vanilla really well without it being too strong, the almonds

Now, is that bitter almonds or just almonds? 'Cause, y'know...

I should do a picture cache sometime.

I care about your opinions regardings books and stories and "childhood favorites". I also want you to fucking get on with your Peter Pan story.

But honestly - don't we ever get tired of that "homosexuality is against the law" as a premise? Come on, please. That's such a goddamn pathetic effort at creating tension and whatall.

Yes and agreed. But then again, aparently we all keep buying the bad fiction even though we know it's bad or gonna be bad, so I would hazard the point isn't really get through, is it.

[maderr.livejournal.com]

O_o In light of the most recent episode of 24, you bring up a good point. BRANDIE!!!

You should ^__^

You are ever exempt, my Sammikins ^___^ And yes, ma'am <3



...............okay, okay. I'll try to stop buying bad fiction. But I ca'nt bitch about it if I've never read it.

[rykaine.livejournal.com]

ooh, I wasn't even thinking about 24 when I said that. urk

I will. ^_^

Yay!

I'm just saying; we seem to be sabotaging ourselves. It's like, "it's not exactly good, but hey, at least our genre's finally being published, right?" No. We should still have standards, y'know.

There's a reason my collection is as small as it is. I'm tired of bullshit, sub-par fiction that we're all willing to buy because OMGmanseckssqueequalityonlyrankssecondormaybeeventhirdbecauseOMGmanseckssquee. There's no way in hell I'd pay for a bodice-ripper that poorly written/executed, so why the hell am I going to for my slash? Manga like Stallion and Saihoshi should be tossed in the fire, not spouted about in reviews like the absolute best shit ever.

And I'm sorry, Connections was an absolute insult. You can't tell me that half of those were seriously the best they could fucking find. Especially when over half of them end in that goddamn ambiguous, not quite sad but really not very happy way.

We're being taken for fools, and by god, most of seem to content with that.

[/insane rantage]

[jolena.livejournal.com]

*looks innocent*

Did you says something? Here, have some more tea while you yell.

[tsaiko.livejournal.com]

Yeah! I'm glad that you liked my short story. To be honest, I haven't read any of the other stories in the book. Every time I try I remember that I have a story in the book and then I decide I don't want to realize mine is the only one that sucks. So I don't read any of them. Really, I'm such a wimp.

I seriously don't get the "homosexuality is against the law" premise. It seems like such a cop-out Then again, I don't write anything but fantasy/sci-fi (with very few exceptions) so I can make reality whatever I want. And usually, I want reality to facilitate butt sex.

Peter Pan

[alani-an.livejournal.com]

I remember seeing the sequel and saying to myself, 'yeah right'. No one else I know really cares so I understand what you're saying.

[jolena.livejournal.com]

I never read the book, but I remember you telling me about it, and I remember that movie we saw together. I wasn't impressed by either. I hated how they made being old (really just grown-up) seem like such a crime.

Like when Hook was flying? And the worst thing they could focus on was his age. Not that he was a pirate or that he killed people, but that he was old.

There's nothing wrong with growing up, but there is something wrong with always being a child. Children are inherently shallow, their attention wonders from sparkly to sparkly. Staying that way indefinetly isn't fair to those around you, especiall when you're the supposed leader of a group like Peter Pan was.

I can't believe they made a sequel. One day they'll learn to leave well enough alone.

[(Anonymous)]

I just had to comment on this one, the one day they'll learn to leave well enough alone. I really wish they would, but as long as they make money, and just about anything to do with 'childhood' favorites, like Peter Pan, will. Just look at some of disney's films, where there are 10 sequals, that are basically the same story, just rehashed.

I completely agree with what you said about growing up. Peter Pan wanted to remain a child forever to avoid the responsiblilty that came with growing up. He always wanted to have fun and never have to go to work or get married. So of COURSE he is selfish and self centered. I haven't read the book itself, but to me the movie (with Mary Martin), besides having some good songs was about finally having to accept responsiblilty (on wendy's part) and understanding that something IS lost when you grow up (in this case the ability to go to never never land), but that it might not be such a bad thing (after all, she had some beautiful children)

As for the Homosexuality is against the law, I seem to have a bit of a different view of things than most. I LIKE that premise, in some cases. I view it as most other cliches. Who cares if it IS cliche (and this case does have basis in reality in that in some places it WAS against the law, and in some cases might still technically be), as long as the story itself is good. If the story isn't good (well written, good plot, memorable characters, etc...) then it doesn't matter what cliche if any they use, to me, I won't like it. Now if every book you buy has that premise, then yes, I would say it is a problem, but for me, I wouldn't mind it (I have this vision of a young man and a cop who fall in love and have to flee the country or try to get the law changed.)

As for your stories, please write! I love your stories, especially your lost gods series, and so far I am liking Prisoner. I love kidnapped and the short stories you put out. I WANT MORE! :D


Catherine

[jolena.livejournal.com]

Wendy was another part of the story that I didn't like.

She left Never Never Land and grew up, but she never fully let it go either. Each generation allowed her daughter to become mixed up in it and go through the confusion and heartbreak of loving Never Never Land and leaving it.

I think Wendy was almost worse than Pan. He, at least, was honest about what he wanted. He wanted to be a child forever. Not a respectable goal, but a clear one. Wendy said she wanted to grow up, to become an adult, but some part of her tried to stay in Never Never land and have a little of both worlds. At first by allowing Pan to visit her and, when she grew too old for him, allowing him to visit her daughters.

As for the "homosexuality is agaisnt the law" I don't mind it as long as it's well written. There are some things I'll read no matter what, like detective stories, good or bad I read them. But being illegal isn't one of them. So, if it's well written I'll like it as well as anything, but when it's poorly written and over the top cliche I won't.

And you make a good point. If it sells, they'll make it. And if it isn't pretty enough for the kiddies, they'll change it so that it is by chaning an anti-hero into a hero and a villian whose really more gray than black pitch black. Yay for artistic liscenses.

[sagesae.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I haven't run across that "homosexuality is against the law" premise much but I'll be the first to say I'm picky and don't read around much unless something is recced to me first. >.> Everytime I forget, I wander just slightly off my own beaten path and get driven back by horrid grammer and spelling/bad plots/grisly characters/etc.

And Peter Pan was a little snot. Doesn't mean I don't like him still because it's rare for anyone to write a character who's so selfish and so completely unaware of it. Movies sugar-coated Peter Pan until he was likable to the masses. The book, though, is jumping into childhood without having to be a child. It's imagination and adventure but its also pettiness and inadvertant cruelty. I'm a little sad they made it into a waiting toothache for the masses.

[kiyoshi-chan.livejournal.com]

Love you. Also, we should go tea-house hopping, if we ever get the chance. I've been to one tea-house, but I think it would be entertaining. And just think, we'd have sooooooooooooooo much caffeine in our systems that we'd be able to talk through the night!

...Now if only I could find someway to get us in the same physical location at the same time... *plots*

[yukon-jack.livejournal.com]

I'm not familiar with the books you mention but I kind of get the "homosexuality is against the law" thing. From workshops and readings I've attended or participated in, I've seen a tendency people trying to write outside of themselves to romanticize the most outre element of that culture/society/person.

For instance, how often do you see white folks, especially men, try to write a black character and how often is that character a pimp, a hardcase, a drug dealer, a convict, or some other kind of gangsta? Or I've seen straight people try to write about gays and they get hung up on the Jean Genet/Oscar Wilde (I'd like to point out that this isn't by any means a problem with those writers, Jean Genet's Our Lady of the Flowers is one of the most beautiful things I've ever read) suffering-for-who-they-are convict aspects and decide that the gay experience is rooted in that particular brand of suffering. It's annoying as a reader and it's condescending, but I don't think it's all that uncommon.

Though as the earlier commentor said, a good story will transcend any cliches of background.

[anialove.livejournal.com]

Only summary I can find:

Something is wrong in Neverland. Dreams are leaking out - strangely real dreams,of pirates and mermaids, of warpaint and crocodiles. For Wendy and the Lost Boys it is a clear signal - Peter Pan needs their help, and so it is time to do the unthinkable and fly to Neverland again. But back in Neverland, everything has changed - and the dangers they find there are far beyond their dreams....

Peter Pan has been ruined by various entities for years, unfortunately.

[aqua-eyes.livejournal.com]

I never liked Peterpan. Cos they were mean to the dog. >.>; He reminds me of Howl, but you know, not as hot. ^^;

Huzzah for Beraht torture. ^____^

I have yet to read any iris novels. amazon.co.uk doesn't stock them. :glares: I shall order via bookshop soon. But hey. I like your writing! And I am glad you don't make excuses for tention. NOTHING is more annoying (only excuseable in historical context).