Gone Clubbing
What’s Jack up to? First Jack’s all full of the Christmas spirit giving us all sorts of trouble as we try and decorate the tree and just when I try and pose him to snap a few pics he goes and turns into Ebenezer Scrooge. What’s with all the attitude Jack? Too funny.Although I’m a writer I’ve never been one to claim to be literary. I guess you could call me a snob in that way. I love romance and am proud of it. I was mad for Jackie Collins growing up, loved Sydney Sheldon, went through a period where I devoured all the Danielle Steele I could and then came Bridget Jones and my love affair with chick lit. Oh, sweet heaven I’ve found my voice!
So when I read the article in this weeks New York Times style section Fought Over Any Good Books Lately? I was struck but by the two flat out disses at chick lit.
Check this one in reference to a woman leaving her book club because she hated the selections, “Breaking up isn’t so hard to do when it means freedom from inane critical commentary, political maneuvering, hurt feelings, bad chick lit and even worse chardonnay.”Excuse me, what did Chick lit ever do to hurt anyone and how about chardonnay? Yeesh you’d leave a club because you look down on a person’s taste in wine. Oh please don’t come to my house. You will so hate me and my love of sweet white zin. That’s right I said it. I like white zin, historical romance, chick lit and the classics. The complete works of Jane Austen is on my nightstand shelf in case of emergency or duress. You never know when the need of Mr. Darcy will break out and you must combine chick lit with a classic. What is to be done with me?
Now to the second beauty. But I have to backtrack a bit. First off, there are book group facilitators that are paid to lead suburban book club discussions and keep unruly clubbers in line and lead the discussions. Who knew? The members pay the facilitators 250-300 dollars annually. Cool job I guess, but I’m having trouble getting my head around this concept. Groups of adults needing another adult who is not the author or the publisher to lead them in the discussion. In their own homes. Sort of be the expert and make sure no one person takes over the discussion.
Hmm… am I being too critical to think that this sounds like book club baby sitting? If I am tell me. Is this working for any of you out there. Have you tried it?
Oh, but to the second diss. This one is from a facilitator: Another woman decamped because she wanted to read more chick lit. “I hate to sound ponderous,” Ms. Bushell said, “but I have a certain moral obligation. I don’t feel I can be paid for leading a discussion about ‘The Devil Wears Prada.’”Moral obligation against THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA? What Tha-?! And how many weeks was THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA on The Times bestseller list? Pla-ease.When is this going to end? Life is way too short and times are too hard for us to not just get over ourselves and lighten up a bit. There is a place for a little bit of everything and no need to put other people’s tastes down. I feel that I have a moral obligation to say this and not to drink wine that cost a lot but taste like crap.
I’m leaving you with two questions today:1.What did chick lit ever do to you?2. What do you think of book clubs today?I hope you had a wonderful weekend. I did!Best,Kwanafirst image from kwana and jack
second from The New York TimesLong Suffering Heroes
How do you feel about the long suffering hero in a romance novel? I’ve just finished two books. The first following The Quest was BROKEN WING by Judith James and the second was SEDUCE ME AT SUNRISE by Lisa Kleypas.
Both books though very different in subject matter struck me as similar in the fact that they both contained the Long Suffering Hero and that got me think if I really enjoyed the suffering hero as a character or do I go for more of “the rake” or “the bad boy”? Now I know on some level every effective character has to have some flaw or thing that he suffers over or he’s just flat. What I’m talking about here is the hero that feels he’s just so bad that he’s no good for the heroine or that super sweet do-gooder. Please don’t give me that guy. I’d just hurt him.
I’ll start with BROKEN WING and Kristie’s Ramblings on Romance Quest. This was an interesting book for me to get my head and heart around.Without a doubt I enjoyed it. A lot. I was pulled in right away and totally engaged. The author takes the tough subject matter of child prostitution and marries it with an innocent blossoming love story and an epic adventure. The love letters that she writes in the book are some of the most beautiful pages I have read in a long time. But for me I was frustrated by the very long suffering hero and the heroine that suffered right along with him. I wanted someone to stand up and be strong and fight. That said, I would still recommend the book. It’s an interesting love story that I’m still thinking about today. The historal detail is amazing. So am I a Quester? Kristie what do you think?
Now in SEDUCE ME AT SUNRISE we have another long suffering hero that can’t get
his head out of the past. First off, I loved this sexy book. But much like the hero in BROKEN WING this hero, Kev, feels that he’s not fit to lick the heroine’s boots. Though he doesn’t mind trying to lick at other parts of her. At times I wanted to reach though the pages and shake him too which I guess says something great for the authors writing. But this hero never got too deep in his sorrow that I put the book down. He was a fighter and filled with non-stop passion. Totally tortured, but acting a bit of a rake. But what pulled it out for me with this book was that the heroine didn’t fall into The Long Suffering Hero trap. She upped the ante and refused to suffer with him. She challenged him and fought against him to pull him out of his shell.So I guess I can take a long suffering hero if he’s got enough bad boy in him to be interesting and strong or the heroine has enough fight in her to challenge him.
What do you all think about long suffering heroes? Are you Team Ashley or Team Rhett? I think you know where I stand.
Um, sorry about that. I just can’t get over Twilight.
Have a great weekend!
Best,
KwanaBewitched- Books vs. Movies
So I got to see TWILIGHT with the DD while in Savannah. I enjoyed it immensely thou
gh not as much as I enjoyed the book. That’s the problem with seeing movies once you’ve enjoyed the book. I find they take out too much of the delicious backstory that you loved.But still, I was bewitched just as much as the rest of 14 year olds, the 25 year olds and the 40 year old women in the theater. We were all pulled into cold grey world of Edward and Bella. I have a feeling that the majority of the women seeing the movie in Savannah had read the books. There was just too much anticipation in the air.
For the record my DH and DS thought it was pretty good too, but I’m sure it was because of the cool fight scenes thrown in just for them.
How do you all feel when you compare movies to books that you have loved? Are you satisfied or slightly disappointed when you don’t get the view that was in your head?
Best,
KwanaI’m on a quest
You know me, I can’t hear about something going on without popping in to see what the fuss is all about. So Kristie’s got this Quest going on over at her and Katie’s blog. You can read about it here. You see she read Broken Wing and went ga-ga over it.Now since The Great North and South Crusade which my lovely PIC hooked me up with came from over at Ramblings on Romance I had to jump on in with the Quest. I mean come on, I will be forever grateful for North and South coming into my life. If you didn’t get on with that, please get thee to Netflix quickly and thank me later.That said, I’m currently reading Broken Wing. I’ll let you know if I end up a quester. Kristie was consumed. Wow. Big word. A lot for a book to live up to. Hmm…So what are you all reading? Up to anything exciting this weekend.I’m currently on the way back from home Savannah after being stuffed better than the Turkey this week.Best,KwanaSo Sleepy…
What’s Jack up to? Brrr… I don’t think Jack’s even enjoying walking in this cold. He stops at the door and look up at us like, “you want me to go out in that?” So cute.
Alas I’ve been captured, drawn into the TWILIGHT web. I’m not done yet, only about 100 pages to go. My eyes would not stay open a minute past midnight last night. It was very funny as the girls in my DD’s dance class flitted by and noticed what I was reading. There were opinions galore.
The movie is out today so I’d better get on it.I can’t imagine being anything but TEAM EDWARD. But who knows what happens in book two? I hear from the DD it’s all about Jacob.
It’s nuts for a 39 year old to be all TEAM EDWARD a 17 year old huh? Talk about Arrested Development. But hey, he’s really over a century that’s the way I’m choosing to see it.
On the upside at least the DD and I have something to talk about for two minutes in between teen/mom meltdowns. That’s nice.
Best,
KwanaUn-Fashionably Late
What’s Jack up to? Don’t let the sweet face fool ya. (he may never forgive the DD for this pic) Jack has been into all sorts of mess. Snipping at everyone lately and full of big time attitude. What’s with that? Could it be the new administration. Is he expecting an appointment? And now, I think he has allergies. Do both of us need them? Ugh. I have to give him eye ointment daily. Now that’s at good time. Uh, not really.
Just call me Ms. Late To The Party, but I’m finally reading Twilight. I’m serious this tim
e. After many, many false starts. I don’t know what’s with me and this book. I pick it up and put it back down. I don’t know why. I think I’m afraid I’ll be as into it as everyone else is and get sucked into another obsession. You know how I get. But check out what Katiebabs said over at her blog. I’m in in the company of the future Pres. So cool!But really I need to see what the fuss is all about and get with the program. Wish me luck. I hope to come out sane on the other side.
Speaking of obsessions… I just finished another Elizabeth Hoyt. Yeah, I’ve got a problem. Admitting it is half the battle. This one was To Taste Temptation. The tension was high and it took a while for it to get really sexy, but when it did. Oh it did and well. I already know I’m fighting a losing battle with myself not to dash off to the bookstore for a least five minutes and get the next book in the series: To Seduce a Sinner. That darn Elizabeth’s gone a set it up so well too with two character that I’m dying to see get together. Sigh. I’m in big trouble here.
Best,KwanaP.S. Don’t forget TOP CHEF tonight.
I Need A Hero
What’s Jack up to? Jackster is chilling this morning. Having taken his walk with the DH in the chilly 30 something degree air he’s gone back to napping for a bit. That’s quite a life you’ve got there Jack.
I need a hero. No, not that hero. If you ask me we all need that hero. Here’s hoping. Early voting is going on in many states and there are already long lines and problems with machines. Sigh.But right now I’m talking about a great sexy literary hero to get your mind off all of that and I found some in these historicals by Elizabeth Hoyt. Have you read her Prince series? They are delicious books with the most intriguing, unconventional, heroes you will ever read.
THE RAVEN PRINCE, THE LEOPARD PRINCE and THE SERPENT PRINCE. Yummy.
Sadly, I’m up to the Serpent Prince, the end of the series, but I’ll be going on to read her next, The Legend of the Four Solider Series. Oh, my poor DH, will he ever get me to turn out the lights at a decent hour? I don’t think so. Sorry, Love, those book lights just don’t do it for me.
Best,
KwanaBrain Freeze
What’s Jack up to? Right now Jack’s chilin. I think he’s dog tired. Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Blame it on Pelosi everybody else is.
Really, I’m the one whose dog tired. It’s what happens during a one sock moment (scroll down) also this middle of the week holiday has thrown me off. One day of school and two days off has me thrown. It’s day two of the kids at home. I don’t know why at 14 they think of me as, Julie their cruise director. I somehow messed up there.
That said, I can’t think of much interesting to say today (not that I’m interesting on other days) so I’ll leave you with this video since Bridget Jones always makes me smile (Colin too).
Oh, and wouldn’t it be lovey for Helen Fielding to come out with something new. A new Bridget! Anybody hearing anything. I’m not ashamed to admit Bridget change my life.
Best,
KwanaYou Call That Reading?
What’s Jack up to? The wild one did the run out the door and down the block trick yesterday. After much calling my DH finally lured him back by opening the car door and getting him to run in. Sucker.Folks are always shocked then they find out that Jack actually went to 6 weeks of doggy obedience school. And passed. What up with that? Think he was a part of that no child left behind deal? Sigh.
I’m so excited. After being about 242 or something in line my number was finally called and I got a hold of the audio version of Janet Evanovich’s Fearless Fourteen on CD. I promise once I’m as huge as Ms. Janet and am up to number 14 in my series I won’t hold it against any of you for waiting it out for the library copy and not buying my cd from the bookstore. That said I’ll have Fearless Fourteen loaded in my iPod in no time and have Stephanie, Lula, Ranger and Joe to look forward to on my walks with Jack. Yippee!I may have asked this question here before, but how many of you out there listen to books on tape or cd? Do any of you do like me and put them on your iPods? And do you consider it really reading or do you get a slightly dreamy/movie effect like I do from it. I’ll admit it’s a different feel than actually reading a book. But with my TBR (to be read) pile teetering on burying me or causing my divorce and the fact that there are just so many books I want to get to, books on CD are a wonderful time saver and loads of fun with the right narrator.What do you all think out there? What type of books do you listen too? I’ll stop back later. Right now Jack and I are going for a walk!
Best,
Kwana.Christmas in August
What’s Jack up to? The DD is home and Jack could not be happier because now he has someone to spar with. He’s happy to constantly chase behind her growl and nip at her heels. For some reason with her he is like a true sibling. It’s very strange.Look at what finally arrived on my porch yesterday. I go for a drive to the city to pick up the DD and when I get home my long awaited books from San Francisco are on my porch. I almost crashed into the mailbox I was was thrilled. Inside were all the lovely books I stood in line for at the publisher hosted signings at RWA. So totally worth it eh? It’s like Christmas in August. A romance lovers paradise. I am one happy girl right now.
Hey, It’s all research to be a better writer. Nora said so!best,Kwana
