Haunted Mirror

Draft of Seditious Intent done! Though it's a really crappy one, I've decided that's okay. I've got Story, we're good for the moment.

Two books I think everyone who ever drops through here should read:

The Face in the Frost (John Bellairs)
one line press? I just finished reading this and am now insanely eager to OWN a copy. Munnies must come first, munnies must come first...

Women Who Run With the Wolves (Clarissa Pinkola Estes)
a book about love, life, and stories from all over that teach us (especially women) about it.

I'll add reasons here once I'm done reading the chillens more Skulduggery Pleasant.
ETA~ I's back! So, without any further ado,

I went to Eureka Springs with my family yesterday. That was fun, and the place is lovely. I'd love to go with people who shop, and also some sort of expendable cash.

But the real highlight of this trip for me is going to be Pea Ridge, a Civil War historic national park, a totally unexpected sort of thing.

I find the Civil War depressing--reading a book about the overarching politics and basic history was enough for me to feel informed on the issue. Delving into the atrocities and such is not appealing to me. This trip was more than an expedition into forest trails and coming across a great abrupt bluff with spars of rock spearing up below. I read the meatier information blurbs avidly, listened to Mr. Docent when he went into the more fascinating branches carefully.

Someone, I think at a Conestoga panel, mentioned that if you want to learn about war, read up on specific battles. They mentioned a few they thought were noteworthy, but I don't write epic fantasy (*much*) and didn't think more of it.

Until watching the video of the battle here (which in a few ways, including scale is a significant one) then driving and looking out over the actual area and putting a picture together in my mind that was so compelling and new of what it looked like to fight a war.

Generalizations are the bane of Truth, you know it?
And specifics are awesome.

I need to open this blog up a bit. Even I find mere status updates boring to write, so I'm going to be reference-queen and start blogging about things I'm thinking about. First:

thegraybook's post on the Deathly Hallows is what to read if you care about that sort of thing. She had a lot of the same ideas I did, and has already articulated them, besides being more cool than me. I will post a spoilerish comment to it under the cut though.

 

Second: Justine Larbalestier's thread on what romance works for "you" was an interesting one, because I certainly have my type and favorite storylines...but if it's plausible, it works for me. I want to know what my associates think, though. Some starting thoughts:

First of all, HP-series romance was a bit boring. This is long established by other people, and I need not argue it here; if you don't agree, I'm glad you were able to enjoy the stories that bit more. It's the possibilities around the edges that make me smile. I was, actually, pleased with the way Ginny and Harry finally get through to each other in Half-Blood Prince; it was a bright spot in the story. A much needed one. Anyway.

 

thegraybook talked about the devastating loss to George, with Fred gone. My solution? That excites me much more than the adorableness of the fact that Hermione will yell just like Mrs. Weasley for Ron?

 

He marries Luna, of course.
Can't you see her as a joke-shop proprietess? Suggesting things by accident and then being thrilled to have helped when her husband comes out with it? Telling people things that they can't figure out if she's serious or not? Honestly, Luna will figure reality out. But she'll still say things that people will not get—and if she doesn't figure it out, what's better than a serious person talking about incredible things, in a joke shop. George may take joy.

Personally, I think I'm most happy with the quiet constancy...this can be masked by the banter-rich conflict romance, which I like a lot. I blame it on the Anne books, where all Gilbert ever wanted was to impress Anne. This seems so sweet to me. And it might have been my first romance-book with any subtlety of the sort. The perfect example is Sense and Sensibility. The only reason I can forgive Edward for being lame (according to my standards) is the fact that he's enduring with a very loyal heart pulling him in two directions. But it's Col. Brandon that makes the book really lovely. He's a deep-seated romantic. He loves Marianne so much he won't demand anything from her, because he's not sure he has anything to give back.

I'll admit I watched the movie first, so Brandon is Rickman in the "whole package", but I honestly didn't even like him at first. He grew on me.

I like the ones that grow on me. And honestly, voices like dark Belgian chocolate help...

That's it for me.

And you?