Bracelets and Brooding: Two Books
Subtitle: Thoughts on literary material imbibed recently
What Would Buffy Do?
On the whole, rather disappointing. Mostly a book of surface-y observations, though done with a commendable wit.
Pros: neatly organized, deals with a lot of good themes.
Cons: Very bad at defining terms - uses words like "good" "redemption" "evil" "love" without attempting to say what they mean. When these things are as hotly debated as they are in Buffydom, I think there should be some show of trying to address what these ideas mean, especially in a book focused on spirituality and ethics.
The use of quotes tends to be irritating to those who know the context of the lines. For example: "What can't we face if we're together" is blithely quoted to indicate the importance of community, but that lyric is actually Buffy's attempt to distract the Scoobies from her apathy. Though the sentiment is true of the show, the line is a bad way to point it out. Another instance: "As adept as you are as a Slayer, there are always new things to learn." True, true. But the context is Giles' betrayal of Buffy in "Lies My Parents Told Me." Just doesn't work for me as an approbation of mentors.
The chapter I had most trouble with was the one on change as positive. While I agree that change is almost always an opportunity to mature, the author seems to ignore instances of negative change, even when she brings them up later, as she does with Willow's change from able to deal with extreme emotional pain to her lack of such control. I think the idea of progress or growth would be more fitted for approval, not change sans delimiter.
Of course, growth and progress imply an end or goal, which may be too restrictive. Oh, well, can't expect everybody to agree with me. And shouldn't.
Overall, fun but frothy read. "Foamy."
Amazon link
Five Seasons of Angel: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Discuss Their Favorite Vampire
Though on the whole, I enjoyed this compilation of essays, it's definitely uneven, with the best essays usually being light-hearted spoofs, rather than serious insightful commentary. More a "flashes of light" than "shining like the sun" type of book. The book has several pieces of analysis, character studies of Angel, Lorne, Doyle, Lindsey, Wesley, Spike, and Cordy, as well as the aforementioned spoofs. In total, there are 21 essays, listed and noted about below:
"Angelus Populi" Really forgettable essay about Angelus being the mother of all bullies, with much personal angst.
"That Angel Doesn't Live Here Anymore" Angel of Buffy vs Angel on, well, Angel. Interesting, but overstated - I think there's more continuity in the character than the author states.
"Angel by the Numbers" The highlight of the book - reminiscence of a crew member (Assistant Chief Lighting Technician for seasons 1-2, Chief Lighting Technician for 3-5) on Angel. Personal, funny, touching, and in the end, deeply moving as he drily lists statistics and memories from the show.
"Welcome to Wolfram and Hart: the Semi-Complete Guide to Evil" Spoof, pretending to be the contents of a Wolfram and Hart employee's briefcase, including a manual, with notes from the PTB on the end saying that they should be more like WRaH to be more successful. The funny. :-)
"Jasmine: Scariest Villain Ever" Kind of shrill screed against religious fanatics. Some good points, and not too unbalanced, but not terribly enjoyable to read.
"A World Without Love: The Failure of Family in Angel" Ultimately an essay which wastes most of its space summarizing what happened on the show. Yawn.
"It's Not Easy Being Green and Nonjudgmental" Lorne character study - very cute and enthusiastic, but a bit too much on the "everyone's ok, let's get along." Rather like Lorne himself. Makes the claim that Lorne allows the series to claim there are no absolutes. Uh huh? Why are we watching this show again? Nice study, lacking philosophy.
"Angel: An Identity Crisis" "Grr Arg" essay - obviously by someone who didn't bother to check a lot of their facts (like saying that Connor has no plausible reason for being conceived - "The Trial," anyone?) about how Whedon doesn't follow traditional stereotypes about vampires. Oh, to hear Angel gripe about coffins...
"Parting Gifts" Doyle study - unfortunately gives Angel, Wes, and Cordy short shrift, but nice look at the dead Irish guy.
"Why We Love Lindsey" Hmm, I wonder what this essay is about - oh, I know, about how Lilah is so cool! I wish. Seriously, Lilah was a fascinating character, and much more convincing (and prettier) lawyer than Texan singer boy (who does have a gorgeous voice, I admit). Plus, she had the best line about white, black, and the grey the author of this essay loves so much in Lindsey.
"It's a Stupid Curse" Interesting look at Angel's curse - but ultimately poorly reasoned, seeing the soul as a personality, rather than a symbol for a conscience.
"The Good Vampire: Spike and Angel" Okay look at the two, but seems to think Angel's all white and Spike's the grey one, which doesn't really fit. But it has a great line about Spike: "Spike's peculiar but quite real sense of justice is perpetually affronted by the anfairness of it all [Angel's getting everything he wants]" - one of the rare moments I actually learned something about the show from the essays.
"To All the Girls he Loved, Maimed and Banged Before" Cute spoof from "The Love Goddess, Consultant, Wolfram and Hart" in an advice column format, running through all possible love relationships and rating them for Angel. Unfortunately, no one gets a 5 out of 5 (Buffy and Cordy both get 4 - rats. I think they rate higher than that).
"Victim Triumphant" Angel is a victim - that is, not a rebel - and thus is a different hero than Buffy. Interesting idea, but bending the term "victim" a bit past meaningful usage, I think.
"Where Have All the Good Guys Gone?" Grey, grey, grey. Okay, I get it, people have flaws.
"The Path of Wesley Wyndam-Price" Study on Wes - good stuff, and showing his two main traits - failure and fighting for good. He always fails, but he always gets up again to fight for others. I love Wes, and am glad this essay was included.
"Death Becomes Him: Blondie Bear 5.0" Spike profile by Nancy Holder, somewhat dangerous territory as Holder has a tendancy to swing Bangel (though not so muchin "Queen of the Slayers," thankfully). She thinks Spike wasn't a champion in "Chosen," which I debate, but on the whole, a nice look at Spike's arc. Though she didn't like "schmoopy" (I like to think of it as soul-searched) Spike of season seven - a travesty, I tell you. I didn't like snarky Spike of season four, because he was so hurtful, and didn't care about anyone but himself. Not someone you really root for or empathize with.
"Angel or Devil: Playing with Mythology and Folklore in the Angelverse" A much better look at Angel's take on myth - though kind of dry and focusing on external sources. He mentioned the Beast, though, and that makes me happy - I love Angel season four.
"True Shanshu: Redemption Through Compassion, and the Journey of Cordelia Chase" First of two essays on Cordy, this one much nicer, though very short and kind of obvious. Cordy changes (no, really!) from bitch to champion.
"The Assassination of Cordelia Chase" Rant about how season four messed Cordy's character up. Bummer. I'd complain more about Mr. Hormone Connor than Evil Cordy.
"There's My Boy"
Final essay by a sex therapist about Angel and Darla. At first a bit twisted (like its subjects), but ending with the powerful story of Angel, Darla, and Connor's love and it's results. Not sure about her thesis that Darla is "the woman" in Angel's life, but she certainly was important. (Go Cordy/Angel!)
Kay, there you go! Check them out from a library, but I don't recommend buying them - more a quick once through than rereadable material.
Amazon link
What Would Buffy Do?
On the whole, rather disappointing. Mostly a book of surface-y observations, though done with a commendable wit.
Pros: neatly organized, deals with a lot of good themes.
Cons: Very bad at defining terms - uses words like "good" "redemption" "evil" "love" without attempting to say what they mean. When these things are as hotly debated as they are in Buffydom, I think there should be some show of trying to address what these ideas mean, especially in a book focused on spirituality and ethics.
The use of quotes tends to be irritating to those who know the context of the lines. For example: "What can't we face if we're together" is blithely quoted to indicate the importance of community, but that lyric is actually Buffy's attempt to distract the Scoobies from her apathy. Though the sentiment is true of the show, the line is a bad way to point it out. Another instance: "As adept as you are as a Slayer, there are always new things to learn." True, true. But the context is Giles' betrayal of Buffy in "Lies My Parents Told Me." Just doesn't work for me as an approbation of mentors.
The chapter I had most trouble with was the one on change as positive. While I agree that change is almost always an opportunity to mature, the author seems to ignore instances of negative change, even when she brings them up later, as she does with Willow's change from able to deal with extreme emotional pain to her lack of such control. I think the idea of progress or growth would be more fitted for approval, not change sans delimiter.
Of course, growth and progress imply an end or goal, which may be too restrictive. Oh, well, can't expect everybody to agree with me. And shouldn't.
Overall, fun but frothy read. "Foamy."
Amazon link
Five Seasons of Angel: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Discuss Their Favorite Vampire
Though on the whole, I enjoyed this compilation of essays, it's definitely uneven, with the best essays usually being light-hearted spoofs, rather than serious insightful commentary. More a "flashes of light" than "shining like the sun" type of book. The book has several pieces of analysis, character studies of Angel, Lorne, Doyle, Lindsey, Wesley, Spike, and Cordy, as well as the aforementioned spoofs. In total, there are 21 essays, listed and noted about below:
"Angelus Populi" Really forgettable essay about Angelus being the mother of all bullies, with much personal angst.
"That Angel Doesn't Live Here Anymore" Angel of Buffy vs Angel on, well, Angel. Interesting, but overstated - I think there's more continuity in the character than the author states.
"Angel by the Numbers" The highlight of the book - reminiscence of a crew member (Assistant Chief Lighting Technician for seasons 1-2, Chief Lighting Technician for 3-5) on Angel. Personal, funny, touching, and in the end, deeply moving as he drily lists statistics and memories from the show.
"Welcome to Wolfram and Hart: the Semi-Complete Guide to Evil" Spoof, pretending to be the contents of a Wolfram and Hart employee's briefcase, including a manual, with notes from the PTB on the end saying that they should be more like WRaH to be more successful. The funny. :-)
"Jasmine: Scariest Villain Ever" Kind of shrill screed against religious fanatics. Some good points, and not too unbalanced, but not terribly enjoyable to read.
"A World Without Love: The Failure of Family in Angel" Ultimately an essay which wastes most of its space summarizing what happened on the show. Yawn.
"It's Not Easy Being Green and Nonjudgmental" Lorne character study - very cute and enthusiastic, but a bit too much on the "everyone's ok, let's get along." Rather like Lorne himself. Makes the claim that Lorne allows the series to claim there are no absolutes. Uh huh? Why are we watching this show again? Nice study, lacking philosophy.
"Angel: An Identity Crisis" "Grr Arg" essay - obviously by someone who didn't bother to check a lot of their facts (like saying that Connor has no plausible reason for being conceived - "The Trial," anyone?) about how Whedon doesn't follow traditional stereotypes about vampires. Oh, to hear Angel gripe about coffins...
"Parting Gifts" Doyle study - unfortunately gives Angel, Wes, and Cordy short shrift, but nice look at the dead Irish guy.
"Why We Love Lindsey" Hmm, I wonder what this essay is about - oh, I know, about how Lilah is so cool! I wish. Seriously, Lilah was a fascinating character, and much more convincing (and prettier) lawyer than Texan singer boy (who does have a gorgeous voice, I admit). Plus, she had the best line about white, black, and the grey the author of this essay loves so much in Lindsey.
"It's a Stupid Curse" Interesting look at Angel's curse - but ultimately poorly reasoned, seeing the soul as a personality, rather than a symbol for a conscience.
"The Good Vampire: Spike and Angel" Okay look at the two, but seems to think Angel's all white and Spike's the grey one, which doesn't really fit. But it has a great line about Spike: "Spike's peculiar but quite real sense of justice is perpetually affronted by the anfairness of it all [Angel's getting everything he wants]" - one of the rare moments I actually learned something about the show from the essays.
"To All the Girls he Loved, Maimed and Banged Before" Cute spoof from "The Love Goddess, Consultant, Wolfram and Hart" in an advice column format, running through all possible love relationships and rating them for Angel. Unfortunately, no one gets a 5 out of 5 (Buffy and Cordy both get 4 - rats. I think they rate higher than that).
"Victim Triumphant" Angel is a victim - that is, not a rebel - and thus is a different hero than Buffy. Interesting idea, but bending the term "victim" a bit past meaningful usage, I think.
"Where Have All the Good Guys Gone?" Grey, grey, grey. Okay, I get it, people have flaws.
"The Path of Wesley Wyndam-Price" Study on Wes - good stuff, and showing his two main traits - failure and fighting for good. He always fails, but he always gets up again to fight for others. I love Wes, and am glad this essay was included.
"Death Becomes Him: Blondie Bear 5.0" Spike profile by Nancy Holder, somewhat dangerous territory as Holder has a tendancy to swing Bangel (though not so muchin "Queen of the Slayers," thankfully). She thinks Spike wasn't a champion in "Chosen," which I debate, but on the whole, a nice look at Spike's arc. Though she didn't like "schmoopy" (I like to think of it as soul-searched) Spike of season seven - a travesty, I tell you. I didn't like snarky Spike of season four, because he was so hurtful, and didn't care about anyone but himself. Not someone you really root for or empathize with.
"Angel or Devil: Playing with Mythology and Folklore in the Angelverse" A much better look at Angel's take on myth - though kind of dry and focusing on external sources. He mentioned the Beast, though, and that makes me happy - I love Angel season four.
"True Shanshu: Redemption Through Compassion, and the Journey of Cordelia Chase" First of two essays on Cordy, this one much nicer, though very short and kind of obvious. Cordy changes (no, really!) from bitch to champion.
"The Assassination of Cordelia Chase" Rant about how season four messed Cordy's character up. Bummer. I'd complain more about Mr. Hormone Connor than Evil Cordy.
"There's My Boy"
Final essay by a sex therapist about Angel and Darla. At first a bit twisted (like its subjects), but ending with the powerful story of Angel, Darla, and Connor's love and it's results. Not sure about her thesis that Darla is "the woman" in Angel's life, but she certainly was important. (Go Cordy/Angel!)
Kay, there you go! Check them out from a library, but I don't recommend buying them - more a quick once through than rereadable material.
Amazon link