Category Archives: Books

Death of a Writer

May 28, 2007 – 5:02 pm

I’m not much of a mystery reader, and that’s what Death of a Writer is at its core, so that could account for my mediocre feelings towards the work. I picked it up for the title, kept reading it for the setting and the characters, then finished it, well, because it’s a mystery and I had to know whodunit. In my opinion, it’s a little uneven, with abrupt turns to dark scenes; necessary for a mystery, yes, but very abrupt and seemingly out of place. If it’s your cup of tea, drink it. I would have needed two lumps. Of sugar.

I’ve started these reviews over at Shelfari. It’s a nifty booklovers site, with cool shelves. I’ll probably post the reviews there and here. I mean, why not? Everyone needs to know what I think about their work…right?

Also, it seems like most of the people in the book could have benefited from Death insurance. It’s the opposite of life insurance, so it only pays as long as you keep living. Then they take it all back when you bite the big one.

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Books Funny

My Other Life

May 5, 2007 – 12:37 pm

While ego-googling, I found that I’m actually a "drop-dead handsome costar" in The Prada Paradox.

"Actress Devi Taylor is playing the role of Melanie. Devi has been in the public eye since she was a child star. But after being attacked three years ago, in her own home, by a crazed fan calling himself Janus, she has been in hiding. It has taken a lot of courage for Devi to come back into the spotlight. She takes her privacy extra seriously now. Devi’s home is like a fortress and she lets very little slip to the media. Some of the things Devi has let "slip" are false. This gives her an extra feeling of control over her private life. The only major problem with the picture is that the leading man is her ex-boyfriend, Blake Atwood.

Blake Atwood did not intentionally humiliate Devi on Letterman’s show. He knows the moment the vile words leaves his mouth that he has made a horrible mistake. That mistake costs him Devi’s affection. But Blake is determined to win Devi back, no matter what it takes. Blake just happens to be beside Devi when she gets word that she is the Target and Janus is the Assassin! Knowing that Devi has less than twenty-four hours to solve the clues and find the antidote is tearing him apart. Worse, since Andy Garrison is the Protector, Blake is not allowed to help in any way, shape, or form."

And apparently I’ve been on Letterman.

Although, in real life, I’d much rather be a Professional Golf Equipment Tester. Unfortunately, we both know I’ll never make the pro circuit. Guess I’ll have to settle for being famous without being myself.

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Books Funny Websites Writing

Evil Editor: Critical, Funny, Not-So-Evil

April 17, 2007 – 10:20 pm

Editors have to see what most of us don’t. There may be a gem of a good idea hidden beneath a mountain of prose. Or, there may be mellifluous words that are all sound and no fury. Either way, it’s the editor’s job to point the errant writer to the path of writeousness. (Yes, I know. I can hear the groans from here). The Evil Editor (actual identity unknown) exists to help those that can’t help themselves. He or she serves up four options for your reading pleasure:

Face-Lifts: Query letters for possible books are submitted to the site, posted as-is, then edited and commented upon by the Evil Editor. Often hilarious, but also helpful

Guess the Plot: The EE offers the titles to queried works. Readers write 25 word possible plot summaries. Quite hilarious, and fun to try.

New Beginnings: Authors send the first 150 words of their book to the site. Readers add what they think might comes next.
The Next Line: Like New Beginnings, but it’s usually an excerpt with a lot of dialogue. Readers add the next few lines.
Q&A: Ask the EE a question. Hope for an answer. Pray for your self-confidence.

What’s nice about the site is its wit as well as its value. There’s a method to the madness here, and it will actually help you become a better writer. At the very least, it may give you some good ideas for the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest.

[via the Wunderfool]

[with a nod to advertising pens]

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Books Movies Websites

The Screwtape Letters and Other Lewis Thoughts

February 21, 2007 – 6:20 pm

The Screwtape Letters is coming to a theater near you. If you’re not familiar with the work, it’s a C.S. Lewis classic that looks at an average (albeit mid-1900s British) Christian through the eyes of two demons, one of whom (Screwtape) is assigned to watch and tempt a certain man in order to fulfull his job and make his boss (Wormwood) happy. It’s a strange but thoroughly enlightening book. Coupled with the fact that it’s a series of letters, it will be very, very interesting to see how this is adapted for the screen. I’m certainly looking forward to it.

It makes me wonder if they’ll ever adapt Lewis’ Space Trilogy for the movies. Course, I’m wondering if they’ll be able to get through all 7 Narnia books as well. I certainly hope they do. The Last Battle is my number two favorite in the series. And can you imagine the visuals they’ll be able to achieve in 2056?

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Books

Booklover’s Paradise

October 11, 2006 – 11:09 pm

Join me in a Booklover’s Eden. And no, that’s not a pick-up line, although I should have tried it back in college. Yeah, you’re right, it wouldn’t have worked then either. In fact, the fact that I even think that could be a pick-up line should tell me that I should never try pick-up lines.

On with the linkage: Shelfari.com lets you create a digital bookshelf, write your own opinions of your books, rate them from one to five stars, tag them, and all of that is wrapped up in socially-webbed goodness, meaning that you can get all of your friends involved and see what they’re reading, or just look at collections of other people who have the same books in their collection.

So, for booklovers it’s Eden.

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