tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59205867198212527192024-03-05T01:36:15.356-07:00In The Bookish DarkThere is no happiness like mine.Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-7880976050947440522009-02-10T09:00:00.000-07:002009-02-10T09:06:17.818-07:00Weather"What on earth do you think you're doing?"<br /><br />"What?"<br /><br />"Don't play the innocent with me!! <span style="font-style:italic;">Look</span> at that!"<br /><br />"Look at what?"<br /><br />"Provo, Utah, United States!"<br /><br />"Okay..."<br /><br />"What do you have to say for yourself?"<br /><br />"I really don't know what you're getting at."<br /><br />"Look down there! South Provo! East Bay!"<br /><br />"Oh."<br /><br />"What on earth do you think you're doing!!"<br /><br />"Well, you were busy further up..."<br /><br />"You still didn't have any right! It's February! This month is mine! And so is most of March and at least some of April! Just because you're mother's favorite -"<br /><br />"Forgive me for being born the eldest! Look, I didn't mean to - to - infringe on your territory or anything. I just thought a little bit of sunshine -"<br /><br />"<span style="font-style:italic;">A little bit of sunshine?</span> That girl is wandering around, <span style="font-style:italic;">outside</span>, in a short sleeved shirt!"<br /><br />"There are crazy people who do that sort of thing -"<br /><br />"Not that one."<br /><br />"Okay. Fine. I"m sorry. I didn't think you'd get so - aw man, hail? What are you, a child? And wind? Windy hail?"<br /><br />"You gunna scold me for throwing a temper tantrum?"<br /><br />"No, but I really thought you were older than that."<br /><br />"We can't all be mother's favorite."<br /><br />"But you don't have to act like a spoiled brat!"<br /><br />"Fine. I'll soften it to snow."<br /><br />"Good lad."<br /><br />"And it will snow half the night and into tomorrow, to make sure you don't get any ideas."<br /><br />"If you must be that way."<br /><br />"I must. Now get out of here."Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-20969636854135359942009-02-06T14:33:00.000-07:002009-02-06T14:33:01.131-07:00Subject: whatever yourselfTo: writerboy@mmail.com<br /><br />From: rockjosh@mmail.com<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">July 6</span><br /><br />all i know is that she's a decent girl and unhappy because of you. and she's hot. can't forget that. you're being at least a little bit of a jerk, you must admit. especially with the whole 'lost phone' business.<br /><br />and maybe i prefer my letters lowercase. to hell with conformity, especially where grammar is involved.<br /><br />joshMichelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-48551640007998315952009-02-06T13:01:00.000-07:002009-02-06T13:01:01.253-07:00Subject: I'm like lightningTo: ForTheMountain@mmail.com<br /><br />From: writerboy@mmail.com<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">July 6</span><br /><br />I'll admit it; I do check my email obsessively and respond quickly. Responding quickly is the part of being a writer that gets in there and does what needs to be done, writes what needs to be written, and proofreads what doesn't really need to be proofread. Checking email every five minutes is the part of being a writer that tries to put off any actual writing as long as possible. However, no matter how neurotic I might be, I don't care if it takes you a while to respond. I really don't, I promise.<br /><br />I'm going to argue about number 2 with you next time I see you in person. Be prepared.<br /><br />I have to admit that I am only a mild fan of the Bard myself. That's how I know I'm a little insane for being in the English major for any length of time. Musicals, though... what is so cool about a play that has everyone bursting into song all the time? I don't get it.<br /><br />My dreams are odd, too, but I cut out most of the really odd stuff before I actually start trying to put it to paper. You should see some of my summaries if you're looking for 'odd.' And I keep trying to spell 'odd' with two o's for some reason.<br /><br />I can well believe you got some pictures of me last night - you got pictures of <span style="font-style:italic;">everything</span> last night - but I doubt that they're good. Unless your use of the word 'good' really meant something along the lines of 'hilariously bad.'<br /><br />I don't suppose you and your friends could plan to have an impromptu party on Friday and then invite me? I have some friends I'd like to avoid.<br /><br />MattMichelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-60206240243132762382009-02-06T12:36:00.000-07:002009-02-06T12:36:00.965-07:00Subject: SurprisedTo: writerboy@mmail.com<br /><br />From: ForTheMountain@mmail.com<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">July 5</span><br /><br />Well that was quick. Severe is my chastisement; I don't get back to you for a week, and then you reply in under half an hour. And I hope 'posthaste' means 'as soon as you get this' and not 'immediately,' because I am not one to check my email obsessively. Sorry. You'll just have to wait a few hours/until the next day after work for me to read things.<br /><br />Of course I'm not kidding about number 2. ; ) And yes, everyone is a little bit crazy, so I suppose that is normal. If you must be so specific.<br /><br />Psh, who needs classics? I must admit that I have never been really fond of Shakespeare. I mean, yeah, great writer, but man they're hard to get through on paper. And only a little less hard on stage. Give me a flamboyant musical any day of the week and leave Shakespeare to those who are stuffy like that. ; )<br /><br />Okay, how on earth do you <span style="font-style:italic;">plan</span> an <span style="font-style:italic;">impromptu</span> party? Just asking. Though I am glad you like my friends. I'll drop you an email next time we plan to get together - it's usually spontaneous, but you're so on top of your email that it probably won't matter that I don't have your phone number.<br /><br />Dreams? Really? I mean, I'd heard that ideas come from there, but... I dunno... my dreams are always pretty odd. Your ideas are odd, too, but not nearly as odd as my dreams. <br /><br />And speaking of photography, I got some great ones of you last night. Remind me to show them to you sometime. Well, I suppose I could send them to you... nah. Too lazy. ; D<br /><br />AbbyMichelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-57585086647848253942009-02-06T12:23:00.000-07:002009-02-06T12:23:00.917-07:00Subject: *sigh*To: writerboy@mmail.com<br /><br />From: the_cute_one41@gotmail.com<br /><br />I know you've never been a phone person, but you have always been an email person. You can't live without checking at least once an hour. So I'm starting to think that you're ignoring me. I feel loved.<br /><br />~MillieMichelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-33503439658379038702009-02-06T10:15:00.000-07:002009-02-06T10:15:00.423-07:00Subject: WhateverTo: rockjosh@mmail.com<br /><br />From: writerboy@mmail.com<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">July 6</span><br /><br />You must be kidding me. Do you even listen to/read yourself? "[S]ure, she offended you. [S]he offends everyone. [S]he doesn't really mean it." First of all, have you ever heard of the shift key? Secondly, doesn't the fact that she offends everyone rather contradict you saying that she doesn't really mean it?<br /><br />I don't care how much she likes me; I do not appreciate her attitude. And I'm surprised to see you standing up for her like that.<br /><br />MattMichelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-46048463744813367272009-02-06T10:03:00.001-07:002009-02-06T10:03:00.417-07:00Subject: you childTo: writerboy@mmail.com<br /><br />From: rockjosh@mmail.com<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">July 5</span><br /><br />okay, jasmine is not leaving me alone. she keeps calling me, wanting to know what is wrong with you and why you're lying to her and avoiding her... not cool, bro. get her off my back. and quit sulking. sure, she offended you. she offends everyone. she doesn't really mean it. and she really does like you, a lot. also, if you don't get your butt in gear and talk to her, she's going to hunt you down at your apartment.<br /><br />don't say I didn't warn you.<br /><br />joshMichelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-20394411635806225472009-02-05T16:55:00.000-07:002009-02-05T16:55:00.357-07:00Subject: ...To: writerboy@mmail.com<br /><br />From: the_cute_one41@gotmail.com<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">July 5</span><br /><br />Oh, that is so not going to cut it, sweetheart. Explaining why you weren't answering your phone was only a part of my email, and a very small part at that. Why did you leave the party? And where on earth did you go? I drove past your apartment on my way home at four in the morning and your car wasn't there.<br /><br />EXPLAIN.<br /><br />~MillieMichelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-1552106988702205202009-02-05T15:35:00.002-07:002009-02-05T15:35:00.650-07:00Subject: Huzzah for answers!To: ForTheMountain@mmail.com<br /><br />From: writerboy@mmail.com<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">July 5</span><br /><br />You must be kidding about number 2. Please tell me you're kidding about number 2!<br /><br />Also, it seems that you consider the 'normal' people to be the ones that realize they're a little bit crazy. Am I right?<br /><br />See, that's what I've been thinking. So I suppose I'm right, now that you're independently backing me up. I love writing, but all those theories... and then there's the fact that I've never really been a fan of most of the so-called classics. Call me a heathen, but I just don't go for those things.<br /><br />I suppose I should have never even considered the English major. I <span style="font-style:italic;">am</span> a little insane.<br /><br />Never mind about the situation I was asking about - I've scrapped the idea for now.<br /><br />I actually loved your friends, by the way. I seem to have gotten myself mixed up in a crowd that thinks the amount of fun being had depends on how much noise is being made. Your friends know how to have fun at a reasonable volume. I wouldn't mind getting to know them better - I don't suppose you have any post-Fourth parties in planning? Even impromptu ones?<br /><br />I get my story ideas from everywhere. Most mornings I get on my computer soon after waking up to write down a brief summary of my dream. Some great stories have come from my subconscious. I sometimes find a person that I think is really interesting, turn them into a character, and build a story around them. Sometimes they just pop into my head. I remember one day I was wandering across campus listening to some music and suddenly got an idea for a story. When you're a writer, story ideas are everywhere. It's just like photography - you see things that other people don't.<br /><br />Don't worry, I forgive you for not answering. I know life can get crazy. <br /><br />That said, I expect an answer to this email posthaste!<br /><br />(Just joking.)<br /><br />MattMichelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-60328910767205448842009-02-05T15:14:00.002-07:002009-02-05T15:14:00.970-07:00Subject: Answers (finally)To: writerboy@mmail.com<br /><br />From: ForTheMountain@mmail.com<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">July 5</span><br /><br />I hope my friends haven't terrorized and traumatized you too much. They're a rowdy bunch. As you now know firsthand.<br /><br />Anyway, seeing you is finally getting me to answer your last email. And may I say you ask the oddest questions.<br /><br />1. You've met my parents. You be the judge.<br /><br />2. Sixteen.<br /><br />3. In my mind, there are three degrees of crazy: where you think you're sane, where you know you're insane but go with it, and where you're beyond help. It's best to realize you're a little insane and go with it. When I first met you, you certainly thought you were sane, but you seem to be slowly realizing and accepting how wacky you are.<br /><br />4. All I have to say is, "My eyes are fully opened to my awful situation..." ; )<br /><br />5. Why would you want to major in English? Too much non-fun writing. I say go for directing. If that's what you want, that's what you should do.<br /><br />6. I'm a what? And I'm talking to a what? And why? You're going to have to explain this one a bit better if you really want me to give you any sort of answer. Right now I'm a little lost.<br /><br />And with that last question of yours in mind, I want to ask one: where on earth do you get those odd ideas for stories?<br /><br />Feel no need to write back soon - if I can go a week without answering, I deserve a week or more without an answer. ; )<br /><br />AbbyMichelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-20224426480817334062009-02-05T14:15:00.003-07:002009-02-05T14:15:00.944-07:00Subject: rightTo: writerboy@mmail.com<br /><br />From: sassychick@mmail.com<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">July 5</span><br /><br />you liar. youre ignornig me arent you. sulking just like josh says.<br /><br />come on you know i love you. i wish you would quit taking everything i say so seriously and personally.<br /><br />_jas_Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-54655517093207433262009-02-05T13:47:00.001-07:002009-02-05T13:47:01.179-07:00Subject: (no subject)To: sassychick@mmail.com, the_cute_one41@gotmail.com<br /><br />From: writerboy@mmail.com<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">July 5</span><br /><br />I've misplaced my phone. That's why I'm not answering texts or calls. Also, I only woke up an hour or so ago. I was up really late last night.<br /><br />MattMichelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-39676897852541550152009-02-05T12:13:00.002-07:002009-02-05T12:13:00.191-07:00Subject: ?To: writerboy@mmail.com<br /><br />From: the_cute_one41@gotmail.com<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">July 5</span><br /><br />First you leave the party early without saying anything to anyone - we only know you left because Josh caught you in the doorway - and now you won't you answer my calls? You had better explain yourself, dear boy.<br /><br />~MillieMichelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-19189795447034928562009-02-05T04:03:00.005-07:002009-02-05T04:03:02.434-07:00Subject: silly boyTo: writerboy@mmail.com<br /><br />From: sassychick@mmail.com<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">July 5</span><br /><br />you wont answer my texts so im emailing you. perhaps you will answer me now.<br /><br />josh says I offended you. really? what did I say? it seems like im always offending you. i dont mean to. and you know it.<br /><br />_jas_Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-10812665980061068412009-01-24T09:00:00.000-07:002009-01-25T11:37:13.949-07:00Part Five: NamesSome part of me was rebelling. “You never do this,” it was saying. “Never. Why start now?”<br /><br />“Because I may burst with curiosity if I don’t,” I replied.<br /><br />The rebellious part of me considered this. “Nah. I don’t think so.”<br /><br />“I’m doing it anyway,” I said.<br /><br />“You’re not sure about that.”<br /><br />Blast me for knowing all my secrets. “I’m going to,” I replied firmly. “Kindly shut up.”<br /><br />The girl was packing up, still scowling a little. “Excuse me,” I said, rather quieter than I had meant to.<br /><br />She glanced over.<br /><br />“Hi.”<br /><br />“Hello.” She looked a little surprised.<br /><br />“I hope you don’t mind, but I got bored with the lecture and read a bit of what you were working on.”<br /><br />She flushed. Oops. “I liked it,” I said hurridly. “I’m a fantasy reader, and from the bit I read, I’d like to read your book.”<br /><br />“Not in its current state, you wouldn’t,” she said, but she looked a little less embarrassed. <br /><br />“Have you been having trouble with it?”<br /><br />“Yeah.” She finished putting her laptop away, zipped her backpack, and stood up. I followed her example as she continued talking. “I do first drafts really easily, ‘cause with the first draft, anything goes. But then I have to use my other drafts to fix the major problems of the first, and usually that isn’t nearly as much fun.”<br /><br />“What draft are you on?” I asked, following her to the door of the classroom. This ‘conversation’ stuff wasn’t nearly as hard as I’d thought. <br /><br />“Third,” she said. “For some people, that means they’re starting to get to the polishing stage. I’m still making huge changes. I was stuck a couple of days ago, until I added another character – though now I have to re-write most of the book. She’s a somewhat important character. I don’t know how I managed to get this far without her, but now that she’s here, I’m dreading the work I have to do to fit her in.” She sighed. “And I have no way of knowing if she’ll be the last huge change.”<br /><br />Well then. Now there’s only one missing piece to the puzzle. “My name’s Kate, by the way,” I said. <br /><br />She smiled. “Kate. I love that name.”<br /><br />“Really? I think it’s kinda plain.”<br /><br />“Not all names need to be exotic.”<br /><br />“Even in fantasy?” I remembered that her characters had mostly normal names.<br /><br />“Even in fantasy. Oh, and I’m Kendra.”<br /><br />I grinned. Jackpot. “Your name is much prettier than mine.”<br /><br />“If you say so.” She shrugged, but she was still smiling. “Where are you off to?”<br /><br />“Just lunch,” I said. “You?”<br /><br />“FA building. I’ll see you in class.”<br /><br />“See you.”<br /><br />And I would. Having found her, there was no way I was going to give up the opportunity to become better acquainted with Kendra Sondson, eventual author of Red-Nosed Dragon.<br /><br /><a href="http://rompwithjoy.blogspot.com/2009/01/existing.html">Part One: Existing</a><br /><a href="http://rompwithjoy.blogspot.com/2009/01/frustrated.html">Part Two: Frustrated</a><br /><a href="http://rompwithjoy.blogspot.com/2009/01/wondering.html">Part Three: Wondering</a><br /><a href="http://rompwithjoy.blogspot.com/2009/01/writer.html">Part Four: Writer</a>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-54381697536776138942009-01-23T09:00:00.000-07:002009-01-25T11:35:09.625-07:00Part Four: WriterThe girl next to me in class was distracted.<br /><br />Normally, I would be too distracted myself to notice, but trying to keep my mind off of the mysterious book had resulted in one of my first efforts to pay complete attention to the lecture. <br /><br />She, on the other hand, didn’t seem to be paying the least bit of attention. She was staring intensely at her laptop screen, sometimes typing, sometimes scrolling, sometimes clicking, always looking a little unhappy. Her notebook was left neglected, with a pen lying across it as if she meant to try to take notes.<br /><br />Her laptop was slightly turned in my direction. Sitting forward, I could almost see what she was writing. I casually leaned back, lightly tapping my pen on my notebook, trying to act as if I was still listening to the lecture.<br /><br />Ah. Now I could see what she was writing.<br /><br />And it was very, very familiar.<br /><br /><a href="http://rompwithjoy.blogspot.com/2009/01/existing.html">Part One: Existing</a><br /><a href="http://rompwithjoy.blogspot.com/2009/01/frustrated.html">Part Two: Frustrated</a><br /><a href="http://rompwithjoy.blogspot.com/2009/01/wondering.html">Part Three: Wondering</a><br /><a href="http://rompwithjoy.blogspot.com/2009/01/names.html">Part Five: Names</a>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-18206918992740040912009-01-22T09:00:00.000-07:002009-01-25T11:34:41.100-07:00Part Three: WonderingI was right. This was the book, the very same book, that I had read before. The title, the cover, the characters, the author, the setting, the magic system - all was the same. So why hadn't the employee found it on the computer? Why hadn't I found it in my trawls on the internet?<br /><br />Well, I suppose things can exist even if they aren't on the internet, even in these days. And sometimes there were mistakes with inventory. <br /><br />But...<br /><br />Something seemed wrong. <br /><br />I tuned the book over in my hands, inspecting the pages and the cover. It all seemed normal, but something was missing... ah ha! The back cover had no bar code! It must be some sort of preview copy... a preview copy that didn't <span style="font-style:italic;">say</span> it was a preview copy? I checked the covers and the first few pages - nope, no indication that it was a preview copy. <br /><br />Then what was it?<br /><br />Feeling oddly guilty, I took the book to a chair instead of a register. I was afraid they'd take the book away from me if I tried to buy it, and I had to read the ending. I flipped through, trying to find my place. It had been in the middle of chapter seven somewhere. Or at least I thought it had been. Seven seemed familiar, but I didn't remember reading the scenes it contained. And there was a character I didn't remember at all. Curious, I skimmed backwards, trying to find where this new character had come from<br /><br />It wasn't until chapter three that she was introduced, but I knew I had read further than that. How had I missed an entire character, specially one that was in every other scene or so? What had this supporting lead come from?<br /><br />I turned to the front of the book and read the first paragraph, holding my breath. It was how I'd remembered. As was the next paragraph, and the next... I relaxed as I read, feeling better now that I recognized everything. Until I hit chapter three where that new character was introduced. What was that?<br /><br />I wandered back to the fantasy shelves and put the book back. Right now I was too confused to worry about never knowing the ending.<br /><br /><a href="http://rompwithjoy.blogspot.com/2009/01/existing.html">Part One: Existing</a><br /><a href="http://rompwithjoy.blogspot.com/2009/01/frustrated.html">Part Two: Frustrated</a><br /><a href="http://rompwithjoy.blogspot.com/2009/01/writer.html">Part Four: Writer</a><br /><a href="http://rompwithjoy.blogspot.com/2009/01/names.html">Part Five: Names</a>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-60094303882303092682009-01-21T09:00:00.000-07:002009-01-25T11:26:17.656-07:00Part Two: FrustratedI was getting more worried every moment. I couldn't find the book. I'd tried Googling the title, the author; I searched archives of books old and new; I even tried variations - maybe that employee had been right, and I really hadn't had the title and author correct.<br /><br />Nothing.<br /><br />So either it was a dream, or I was going insane. Neither option really appealed to me, though the first was considerably better than the other. But how could that happen? I'd <span style="font-style:italic;">read</span> the book. I had held it, flipped through it, read half of it, and then had run off to class with the firm idea of coming back when I had time and money to buy it and finish it. It had been a rather good book, too; fantasy, but not cliché; there was originality put in to the magic system, the characters, the plot. Thank heavens that was becoming a slightly more common occurrence on the fantasy shelves. <br /><br />And the writing had been good, too. Not amateur as some books seemed to be, not outright bad as a certain couple of series that Must Not Be Named were, just good writing with original ideas and great characters and...<br /><br />Blast! I really needed a new book to read, and I wanted to finish this one! I had left at a good part, just when the main character was about to start this master plan of his. <br /><br />Oh, well. Back to the bookstore. Perhaps I would find something else. I mean, the place was full of books; surely I'd be able to find one to interest me? A part of me grumbled about never finding the ending of the other, but I tried to ignore it. Never mind that I'd never been able to leave a book alone, even one that Must Not Be Named, until I knew how it ended. Never mind how loose ends and as-yet-unobtained goals haunted my mind. <br /><br />I winced at entering the bookstore - there were, as had there been for months now, entire displays dedicated to the few books of the Must Not Be Named variety. How could these monstrosities take up all this space when better books were stuffed spine-out on out-of-the-way shelves? They should be ashamed, books, authors, and book shelvers alike.<br /><br />I idly wondered if the non-existent book I wanted had somehow voluntarily disappeared, unwilling to share the same space with those that Must Not Be Named.<br /><br />I made my way to the fantasy shelves, as usual, taking care to avoid the information desk and any employees. Salespeople frighten me, especially when they want to sell me something I desperately want to buy. Once to the shelves I put on my 'absorbed' face, which usually kept people from talking to me, and scanned for something good. Something <span style="font-style:italic;">great</span>.<br /><br />There were a few that looked interesting. I pulled one out and glanced at the cover. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Wait a minute... I thought this book didn't exist!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://rompwithjoy.blogspot.com/2009/01/existing.html">Part One: Existing</a><br /><a href="http://rompwithjoy.blogspot.com/2009/01/wondering.html">Part Three: Wondering</a><br /><a href="http://rompwithjoy.blogspot.com/2009/01/writer.html">Part Four: Writer</a><br /><a href="http://rompwithjoy.blogspot.com/2009/01/names.html">Part Five: Names</a>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-14084920102079755772009-01-20T14:13:00.001-07:002009-01-25T11:33:10.934-07:00Part One: Existing"I'm sorry, miss; that book doesn't exist."<br /><br />I stared at the bookstore employee. "Wha - what do you mean? It has to exist! I read it!"<br /><br />"Are you sure you got the title right?"<br /><br />"Yes! I remember the cover, clear as day!" I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. No one was going to want to help me if I became hysterical. Not to mention that getting hysterical over a book was a little odd. <br /><br />It seemed he was trying very hard to stay absolutely polite. "We don't have any record of it. Are you sure you saw it here?"<br /><br />"I'm pretty sure..." I was suddenly horrified. It hadn't been a dream, had it? Me seeing the book here? <br /><br />"I suggest you do a bit of research online. If you find it, come back and we'll be happy to order it for you if we can."<br /><br />"All right." I walked away feeling very odd - embarrassed by how I had reacted, yes, a good deal embarrassed, but also wondering. How could a book that I was so sure I'd read be non-existent?<br /><br /><a href="http://rompwithjoy.blogspot.com/2009/01/frustrated.html">Part Two: Frustrated</a><br /><a href="http://rompwithjoy.blogspot.com/2009/01/wondering.html">Part Three: Wondering</a><br /><a href="http://rompwithjoy.blogspot.com/2009/01/writer.html">Part Four: Writer</a><br /><a href="http://rompwithjoy.blogspot.com/2009/01/names.html">Part Five: Names</a>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-14397373554477639292008-10-20T16:52:00.000-06:002008-10-20T20:28:46.562-06:00A Writer's Perspective: Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpH5-aPMdvQPycI620BITmO21RkaQXamtXNB42AnY7A4qOGdRkxEsCpX_XhjtdzFdiDmyB8U2aq-7cL1egMW9FhbR9hz9kJEowb64-842qmUvs2nvllkv65uwPBNsBldwqMBXdjW2mUQU/s1600-h/0425205681.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpH5-aPMdvQPycI620BITmO21RkaQXamtXNB42AnY7A4qOGdRkxEsCpX_XhjtdzFdiDmyB8U2aq-7cL1egMW9FhbR9hz9kJEowb64-842qmUvs2nvllkv65uwPBNsBldwqMBXdjW2mUQU/s320/0425205681.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259373907072647874" /></a><br /><br />I found this book while wandering around the HBLL, following a couple of people from my acting class as they tried to find a copy of the play we're doing a scene from. The new look and bright colors stood out from the usual HBLL fare - scuffed, a bit bent, and mostly pasted inside special one-color covers. I picked it up and read a page or two before following my classmates to the next shelf. Much to my surprise, the book was still in my hands when I got downstairs, so I decided I might as well check it out. And then when I got home I read it instead of doing homework. Oops.<br /><br />The first thing I will say is that the premise is really very interesting. The main character, Harper Connelly, was struck by lightning when she was a teenager and now has the ability to sense where corpses are and, upon getting close enough, witness their final moments. A horrid poverty-stricken past and lack of marketable skills leads Harper to turn this strange ability into a job, with her stepbrother Tolliver coming along to act as bodyguard, support, companionship, and someone to run the check to the bank to keep the person who hired Harper from changing his or her mind about paying. (Apparently many people don't like being told how their loved ones died, despite hiring Harper to find out; the book includes a scene with an old woman who is firmly convinced her husband was killed by his ex-wife and nearly becomes hysterical when Harper informs her that the cat did it.)<br /><br />This lifestyle requires Harper and Tolliver to be almost constantly on the move, especially since Harper has a "get in, find body, get out" mentality. However, when they are called to the town of Sarne to find the body of a teenaged girl, Teenie, things are a bit more difficult than usual. Teenie's been missing for over six months, and many assume her body is somewhere in the woods near where her boyfriend was found shot. The boyfriend's mother wants to clear up the town rumor that the boy killed his Teenie and then shot himself. But when Harper finds the body and tells everyone that Teenie was definitely murdered, and almost certainly not by her boyfriend, she and her brother find themselves in danger.<br /><br />I did a bit of searching before starting to write this, and I was quite surprised to find out that, while this is the first book of the Harper Connelly mysteries, Charlaine Harris was already a well-established author when it was published. The plot line is rather a good one, but the writing seems rather amateur to me. For example, this paragraph: "Tolliver tossed down the aged magazine he'd been riffling through. He pushed himself up from the fake-leather chair. Tolliver's twenty-seven. His mustache has a reddish cast; otherwise, his hair is as black as mine" (Grave Sight pg. 5). First of all, that description of Tolliver's hair color comes out of nowhere, even when read with the rest of the page, and it goes nowhere. We get two sentences about hair color and then back to the plot. It's sudden and unnecessary. Secondly, this paragraph has is but one example of the flow problems that pop up here and there throughout the whole book. Notice that the first three sentences have no pauses and are all rather short. This similarity between them disrupts flow and can knock a reader out of the book, which is what happened to me several times. Very few things annoy me as much as being distracted while trying to read a good book, especially when the distraction is a problem with the book itself.<br /><br />Even with that, however, this is definitely on my Recommended list. The plot is engaging, the characters are interesting (though a couple of the minor ones are a bit flat), and I love the talent that Harper has. <br /><br />Does include profanity and one slightly descriptive sex scene.<br /><br />Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris: 4/5Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-51151779491871041912008-08-14T17:16:00.000-06:002008-08-14T17:37:15.246-06:00Yes, my friends, BYU is in a bubble. Where else would so many young adults be either virgins or married with a bun in the oven, completely clueless when asked where the nearest bar is, and liable to argue about whether a bag with a strap that comes diagonally across the chest is modest? That's bally right: nowhere.<br /><br />I myself am a staunch LDS individual. I go to church, read my scriptures, and heckle feminists and Democrats along with everyone else. (Just kidding about the Democrats. You're all my brothers and sisters. : D) I have been in The Bubble all my life; I was born in Orem, moved to Provo about ten years ago, and have been here ever since. However, I also like to think of myself as a fairly open-minded person, and as such, I am often amused at the mindsets of other people. As this is a blog about books, I will focus on the BYU Bookstore.<br /><br />First off, the oft-heard "I can't believe they sell this here!" Ahem. Yes. We do. We do sell art that can be seen as inappropriate: books of photos, some of which are of immodest/semi-clothes/naked people. We do sell books with swear words and books that talk about sex. Speaking of which, there are still <span style="font-style:italic;">far</span> too many copies of Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn hanging about. We do sell books about, and yes, even <span style="font-style:italic;">obviously supporting</span> other religions. I myself have recommended He's Just Not That Into You, a book that is 1% swear words, 4% stuff about sex, and 95% great advice that is applicable to any girl, LDS or heathen or in between. (Which, yes, we sell at the bookstore.)<br /><br />This is okay. Seriously.<br /><br />Next up, yes, we do carry People magazines and the like. Quite complaining about it. (And yes, they are meant to be <span style="font-style:italic;">bought</span>, not just read while one sits in the Bookstore and then returned to the shelf. Sheesh.)<br /><br />Lastly (yeah, short list), there is the issue that has me almost constantly rearranging books in the art section. Y'see, it's the art section. Some art is of naked or seminaked people. This is, apparently, Bad, and I should not draw attention to these books. Or so some people think. How do I know they think this? Because when I put a book face out that has on the cover a piece of art that includes full or partial nudity, I almost always return to find it turned back in again.<br /><br />Come on, folks. It's art, and usually depicted completely un-erotically. <br /><br />P.S. Fun fact: Breaking Dawn came out about a week and a half ago. We have already sold over a thousand copies.Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-25427361385812574372008-08-13T15:43:00.001-06:002008-08-13T16:36:12.306-06:00Books and BoredomSo, mates, despite flying off the shelves every since the Epic Release of the Epic Fourth Book, there are still <span style="font-style:italic;">far</span> too many copies of Twilight books hanging around the Bookstore. Please, go buy them so I'll stop finding them <span style="font-style:italic;">everywhere</span>!<br /><br />In other news, the sale this Saturday is 25% off bargain books. BARGAIN BOOKS. The ones that are ridiculously cheap anyway. Sure, sometimes there isn't much of a selection, but... I take that back. As long as you're willing to browse, there will be something to buy. So do it! Personally, I'm planning on a boxed set of Jane Austen, three children's books, and one of those "101 things to do with ____" cookbooks. I love those things. <br /><br />Oh, and I'll be manning the General Book section aaaaaaaaaaalllll Saturday. The whole day. Really. More or less by myself. <br /><br />I'm going to be <span style="font-style:italic;">so bored</span>.Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-47923312630275041322008-08-06T20:32:00.000-06:002008-08-06T20:55:36.728-06:00WARNING! THERE ARE DEFINITELY SPOILERS AHEAD!OH GREAT HEAVENS ABOVE!!!!<br /><br />You thought I didn't like Breaking Dawn when I posted the last post? YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET!!<br /><br />I have been told, by a couple of different people, more about the the plot of that cursed book. Every bit more that I heard has only made me more upset.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1. Sue name for the Sue baby.</span><br />First of all, WHAT IS UP WITH 100 YEAR OLD SPERM MAKING A BABY? No. Just no. I don't see how someone thought this was plausible! In any way, shape, or form! And then there's the oh-so-helpful deus ex machina baby-growing-in-a-few-weeks. Heaven forbid Bella, aka Queen of all Mary Sues, should have to have an actual pregnancy. That would interfere with becoming a vampire! Can't let that get away! And then the name... Reneesme? Reneesme? <span style="font-style:italic;">Remees-freakin'-me?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">2. Neatly wrap up all loose ends.</span><br />That heartbroken Jake? Ah, don't worry about him. That baby that could have proved to be something of a problem for Bella (read: a real plot)? No problem. Jake, meet... ah... must I really say the name again? And, uh, you kid? Meet Jake. One imprint, stupid nickname, and near murder later, MaryBellaSue hands over the dear kid to Jake. Takes care of them.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">3. Avoidance of all plot.</span><br />What? Volturi? Aka another possible problem for Bella AKA possibly an interesting plotline to follow? Activate Vampire!Bella powers!<br /><br />Takes care of <span style="font-style:italic;">that.</span> Whew! Close call! We were <span style="font-style:italic;">that close</span> to a real plot getting in the way of more Bella/Edward time!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4. Bella/Edward time.</span><br />Stop with the sex plzthx.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">5. Bella.</span><br />Need I say more?<br /><br />Oh, dear. Oh Meyer. Oh STE-PHAN-IE Meyer.<br /><br />I hate you.Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-23404719661194987822008-08-03T10:47:00.000-06:002008-08-03T21:33:57.201-06:00CAUTION. THERE MAY BE SPOILERS AHEAD. REALLY.I'm not going to do it.<br /><br />I refuse.<br /><br />You can't make me.<br /><br />Never never never in my long long life.<br /><br />Oh what, dear friends, am I referring to?<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Dear</span> Sister Meyer's latest book. <span style="font-style:italic;">I will not read it.</span><br /><br />Why why why? Why must this Twilight dreck be forced upon us? Why the hot Edward? Why the Sue!Bella? Why the entire far-too-perfect Cullen clan? Why the sparkling???<br /><br />I admit it, mates; I read Twilight and rather enjoyed it. Then, despite not really wanting to, I read New Moon and Eclipse. (Kinda. Not all the way through; I would pick it up, open it in a random spot, read a few pages or whatever, and then put it down. I eventually read most of the content this way. Enough to get a pretty good idea.)<br /><br />But I'm not even going to do that with Breaking WindImeanDawn, at least not if I can help it. (Yes, I know it's juvenile. But I got it from my parents.)<br /><br />So here's what happened. We left camp early on Saturday so we could get home early enough for me to run to the Bookstore and take advantage of the wonderful wonderful sale - 25% off fantasy novels in General and Children's Book. (I got Elantris and Mistborn [Brandon Sanderson], Night Watch and Maskerade and Carpe Jugulum [Terry Pratchett].) While I was there, I noticed the displays and displays, plus some displays, of Breaking Dawn. Oh, and the older Twilight and New Moon and Eclipse, plus some Host, were also hanging out. And there were displays. Many of them. Seriously. (I left for the campout rather sad I couldn't work the party Friday night, but as I stared at the Milky Way through a ten-inch telescope, the party became rather insignificant, and by the next day I was very glad I had skipped it.) Anyway, I was, being myself, overcome with curiosity (what got me to finally pick up the second and third books, despite very much not wanting to). <br /><br />I walked over to one of the displays, trying to look very nonchalant. I opened the book and read the chapter titles. I felt a little - worried? annoyed? when there were so few for such a big, fat, huge, brick of a book. Then, having read the first chapter like everyone else who cannot resist the siren call of these books, I did what I do best: open the book in the middle and read a bit. <br /><br />Okay. That paragraph was odd. Let's try again.<br /><br />Um, no. Different paragraph?<br /><br />Who <span style="font-style:italic;">are</span> these people, and why are they here?<br /><br />That's it. I'm skipping to the end.<br /><br />That's right folks, I did what I did with HP 7. (And yes, there were mobs of HP fans with pitchforks when I said this about that book.) I read the end. THE END! Oh, and what did I see? Nothing I didn't expect to see! Bella is a vampire, she and Eddie boy are happy as pie, she has a shield talent, and they have figured out a way for Edward to read Bella's mind. The end. Oh, and they're reminiscing about their honeymoon. Ick.<br /><br />And, unlike reading the end of Harry Potter 7, reading the end of Breaking Dawn did not give me a feeling of peace with that particular universe and a plan to read the book eventually. No, reading the end of Breaking Dawn only made me feel like I should hurl the book across the room. Or scream. Or laugh hysterically. Thankfully, I did not quite decide I should give up on quality and in-depth writing for my own novels and go for cheap cliches in hopes some children's publisher would pick me up. I'm looking at the publishers of both Eragon and Twilight here, though I would take Twilight over Eragon any day. But that's a topic for another day.<br /><br />So there it is, mates. I will not read that book. Ever. I <span style="font-style:italic;">will</span> go see the Twilight movie, but I will be deeply ashamed and in disguise. And I will purify myself directly after.<br /><br />Do you think I mentioned Bella, Edward, the Cullen family, Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, and the Twilight movie enough for my readers to go up? I can hope!Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920586719821252719.post-53185591805643089302008-07-15T17:35:00.000-06:002008-07-15T17:47:59.889-06:00Do Me a FavorOh, my dear dear BYU Bookstore. You had to do it, didn't you? You <span style="font-style:italic;">had</span> to take my money. And then some. Oh, Bookstore, why do you torment me this way?<br /><br />The Saturday sale is no big deal this week (at least to me). Utah and Western American history books or something. But, oh, there's a sidewalk sale, of many many... Bargain Books. The red stickers, the low prices, the "last chance! 50% off!" table... I thought I was done yesterday, when my father and I went through the books (after I spent all morning carrying heavy boxes and cutting apart empty boxes, earning many scrapes and scratches in the process) and paid together, both using the 20% markdown I got for helping set up as well as the 30% discount we owe to his job. But no! Today I was sent (by a supervisor who has apparently only recently realized I'm a competent employee) out to the tent to put away lost books. Which happens to be a never-ending project, by the way. And as I wandered around trying to find the plies I <span style="font-style:italic;">know</span> I've seen <span style="font-style:italic;">somewhere</span>, and put wandering books back in their places, and help people cart 50 pounds of books up to gift wrapping on the third floor, I found some books that I had somehow missed yesterday but <span style="font-style:italic;">had to have.</span> Such as a helpful baby names book, a couple of children's fairy tales, and a boxed set of Sherlock Holmes.<br /><br />So I bought them.<br /><br />I shall not be able to eat for the rest of the week...Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13641912225585936582noreply@blogger.com0