Blurgh
I love it when I finally get the chance to read a novel I've been looking forward to reading and I'm not too crazy about it. I do. Especially when said novel has won awards and shit. It makes me feel less like sheep.
I'd had Eternal on my Amazon wishlist (see right) for ages it seems and finally got it from my library so I could read it during Spring Break. I was truly looking forward to it. It had won lots of acclaim, most of the book bloggers I respect made loud READ IT NOW noises, it had fallen fucking angels in it! Now, I know fallen agels are the new mopey vampires, but I'll have you know I've had a thing for them ever since I read that throwaway passage in the Bible about how the angels took a liking to human women and fornicated with them and birthed these giant babies. As I understand it, the Great Flood was supposed to have wiped them out, but this here is just another reason getting a good Rabbinical interpretation of the Book of Genesis would be awesome (also awesome - a gift of matzoh! just sayin). Nobody ever talks about those lascivious angels and their giant progeny, but much mythmaking has been made. The whole idea of angels - not the flowy white robed figures on the covers of books with purple covers - is one of those instant interest hot button items for me.
So I read Eternal, because it was supposed to be smart and clever and has Angels in it! Also, a very campy take on Vampire, I mean Eternal, society that amused me. But there are too many little things wrong with this story, and this disappoints me. For one, I can't help but find the fact that Zachary has been Miranda's Guardian Angel her entire life, so of course, he falls in love with her when she turns the barely legal age of 16, anything but gross. That would be like me falling in love with my godsons. Let's not even touch upon the fact that he would watch her shower(!!!) and sleep (HE WATCHED HER SLEEP), his love is innocent and sweet, not lascivious AT ALL. So even if the relationhsip-building hadn't been weak and rushed, even if the ending - good as it is - hadn't seemed to come out of nowhere, even if the book hadn't ignored several incredibly interesting subplots in favor of rushing to the inevitable conclusion, I still would have found major fault with this book due to the incredible ick factor of the primary relationship. Points for interesting world-building and a decent ending, but not much else.
Last night marked the first part of the two-part finale of LOCI. I say finale because I will be watching no more new episodes after they kill off Goren, or whatever they're doing. I don't have much to say about this episode except what was the deal with the Lieutenant from the Chief of D's office? Did anyone else get a bizarro, alternate universe vibe off this guy? They couldn't send down someone we know? Who the fuck is this guy and why did they cast someone who projects absolutely no charisma or power at all? Also, why is it Dick Wolf productions have such an incredibly high female actor turnover rate? What is he doing to those women?
On a more personal note, Easter is a big deal in my life. It's a major part of my faith, my culture, my sense of place in the world. Unfortunately, due to unforseen, tragic circumstances, there will be no Easter celebration this year. I'll still go to midnight mass, because it is one of the most beautiful services in Greek Orthodoxy, but I don't know what else is happening. Except copious amounts of reading. I hope, however you choose to celebrate, even if it's to welcome the returning Spring and the burst of fresh beauty that overtakes the world around this time, every one of you has a great weekend. &hearts
I'd had Eternal on my Amazon wishlist (see right) for ages it seems and finally got it from my library so I could read it during Spring Break. I was truly looking forward to it. It had won lots of acclaim, most of the book bloggers I respect made loud READ IT NOW noises, it had fallen fucking angels in it! Now, I know fallen agels are the new mopey vampires, but I'll have you know I've had a thing for them ever since I read that throwaway passage in the Bible about how the angels took a liking to human women and fornicated with them and birthed these giant babies. As I understand it, the Great Flood was supposed to have wiped them out, but this here is just another reason getting a good Rabbinical interpretation of the Book of Genesis would be awesome (also awesome - a gift of matzoh! just sayin). Nobody ever talks about those lascivious angels and their giant progeny, but much mythmaking has been made. The whole idea of angels - not the flowy white robed figures on the covers of books with purple covers - is one of those instant interest hot button items for me.
So I read Eternal, because it was supposed to be smart and clever and has Angels in it! Also, a very campy take on Vampire, I mean Eternal, society that amused me. But there are too many little things wrong with this story, and this disappoints me. For one, I can't help but find the fact that Zachary has been Miranda's Guardian Angel her entire life, so of course, he falls in love with her when she turns the barely legal age of 16, anything but gross. That would be like me falling in love with my godsons. Let's not even touch upon the fact that he would watch her shower(!!!) and sleep (HE WATCHED HER SLEEP), his love is innocent and sweet, not lascivious AT ALL. So even if the relationhsip-building hadn't been weak and rushed, even if the ending - good as it is - hadn't seemed to come out of nowhere, even if the book hadn't ignored several incredibly interesting subplots in favor of rushing to the inevitable conclusion, I still would have found major fault with this book due to the incredible ick factor of the primary relationship. Points for interesting world-building and a decent ending, but not much else.
Last night marked the first part of the two-part finale of LOCI. I say finale because I will be watching no more new episodes after they kill off Goren, or whatever they're doing. I don't have much to say about this episode except what was the deal with the Lieutenant from the Chief of D's office? Did anyone else get a bizarro, alternate universe vibe off this guy? They couldn't send down someone we know? Who the fuck is this guy and why did they cast someone who projects absolutely no charisma or power at all? Also, why is it Dick Wolf productions have such an incredibly high female actor turnover rate? What is he doing to those women?
On a more personal note, Easter is a big deal in my life. It's a major part of my faith, my culture, my sense of place in the world. Unfortunately, due to unforseen, tragic circumstances, there will be no Easter celebration this year. I'll still go to midnight mass, because it is one of the most beautiful services in Greek Orthodoxy, but I don't know what else is happening. Except copious amounts of reading. I hope, however you choose to celebrate, even if it's to welcome the returning Spring and the burst of fresh beauty that overtakes the world around this time, every one of you has a great weekend. &hearts