The first is the happy news that after three rejection letters and a small edit to my query letter, I have a partial manuscript in the hands of a very likable agent. Also, I have not yet heard back from two of the other agents that have my query. At this point in time, although I'm quite impatient when it comes to other people responding to me, no news is good news. I wait with baited breath.
The second is an update on my audio-book situation. I've been attached to my iPod whenever my in-put in conversations and mental computing skills are not needed by the general public. Basically, when I'm driving, walking, gyming, working at the archive, or eating.
Since my last post I've listened to the following:
All three books in His Dark Materials, an astounding series by Philip Pullman. *hearts, stars, and horse shoes* This series is an OMG sort of series. It's way up there on my likability scale in language, content, characterization, and plot. I would recommend it to anyone, adult and child alike, and I think the man is a genius. Pure. And. Simple. Not to mention, I think the lay-out is similar to a number of my own books... So, I can see myself sitting down and having a spot of tea with Mr. Pullman about making people think about things that make them uncomfortable.
The first five books in Christine Feehan's Dark Series. Brilliant in theory, sub-par in execution. Feehan is good with back story and coming up with quirky things to say, but after five books, you get sick of the same character dynamics and repetitive sex scenes. There were times that I promised myself that if I heard the same adjective or scene set up one more time, I was going to kill myself.
The biggest transgressors: male obsession with touching hair and messaging neck, derivatives of silk and satin, pure male, like a great predatory 'insert sharp toothed animal here', and -of course- her flat stomach, narrow rib cage, long hair, and big eyes. BLEH It's fun once, but when all your characters start looking like interchangeable frail, anorexic Barbie and steroid induced berserker Ken dolls, there is an issue.
Despite that, the books were like cheese doodles. My definition of a cheese doodle: fluffy junk that tastes like crap with mildly appealing stuff on top of it. My definition of a Feehan book: fluffy junk that reads like crap with a mildly appealing plot line. Cheese doodles may look a little different from each other, but they still taste and digest the same. I could repeat that in terms of a Dark novel, but I think you get the picture. However, as much as I don't particularly like cheese doodles, I find myself eating them time and again. I kind of had that problem with Feehan's books. You get attached to the Carpathian males, and even though I'm a feminist and I hate the male-female dynamics of her books, I find myself digressing back to my socialized gender role and wanting to coddle Feehan's men.
And don't even get me started on the voice actress for the Dark Series, Juanita Parker. Besides occasionally messing up who was doing what to whom and confusing me for a millionth of a second, acrosst? Yes, she pronounced ACROSS as ACROSST...every single time. IN FIVE BOOKS. Didn't anyone correct the poor woman after the first one? I mean, I suppose I should leave room for the possibility that she has a speech impediment or something, but really? Really? She did so well all the rest of the time, I guess that's what bugged me.
I'm currently making my way through the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. I will admit that I have only read half of the books and thought it was high time that I actually made it through the whole series. I'm reminded, once again, of how much I love The Magician's Nephew. I will admit to liking the whole series so far, but will review it in entirety upon its completion. I'm currently on The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and will be finished with the series by Thursday.
If you want to know what stories get me all squirmy inside, you simply have to imaginatively address spirituality, creation, or the supernatural. At least at this moment in time.
The next series will be The Twilight Saga. *shudders* I really don't want to, but I feel like it has become a necessity in my market, so please don't judge. I've heard some horror stories and I can bet I'm probably going to be ranking on it when I'm finished a few weeks from now. But, after that will be some Laurell K. Hamilton and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, so I'll try not to dig my eyes out with a spoon.
