Musings On The Dark Jewels and Silly Metaphors
So, I went to bed at eleven-something and woke up at about four. I can't sleep, so I figured I'd write a post for my live journal. I'm sure everyone is absolutely dying to hear about how I've been.
I've been reading Anne Bishop's 'Dark Jewels' trilogy and the book of stories that comes after it again. Actually, by now, the character of Jaenelle has started to grow on me. Still obviously a self-gratification tool for the author, (who tends to like to throw in at least one character like that in every book), but she manages to go from annoying to sympathetic after...hm. I haven't the slightest clue how often I've read these books. I like them, despite the portrayal of non-magical human beings as somewhat inferior to her decidedly original magic-users,( I admit I like the concept), the general attitude of any Blood character towards killing innocents or people who may or may not be guilty, or just plain murderous rage over things I find unqualified for such a reaction, and the sheer amount of penis references. I mean...wow. Granted, this series is supposed to be on the darker side of fantasy. It's not called 'Dark Jewels' trilogy for nothing. Although, for 'dark' characters, these people are all very much on the light side, tempers and vicious protectiveness aside.
She seems to have a problem writing really threatening villains. Certainly their acts are heinous enough, but they don't quite have the presence or personality to seem anything but pathetic and petty. I read mainly for the plot, the universe, and for the secondary characters. Karla and Wilhemina are favorites of mine, and I admit to having a sort of interest in the character Alexandra, Jaenelle's image-obsessed grandmother. She's the type who has what she considers good intentions which are ultimately selfish when seen from an outside perspective, and because she can't accept the Heroine of the series for what she is, she's considered a bitch. I'm sorry...but if I found out my granddaughter was actually not human, and her true form was that of a girl with unicorn hooves, a tiny horn, claws, and a deer tail, my reaction would be less than favorable as well. However, she is definitely guilty for child abuse by neglect, and she tends to be rather closeminded. She is firmly against the main villain, though, and established her court and firmly holds her land in order to protect her people from the corruption of the Blood. That has to be worth something, in my humble opinion.
There's one little tiny, insignificant detail that really throws me off, and it's just a silly little metaphor used to describe a main character. They say 'he is his father's mirror', in order to say that he's exactly like his father. Don't mirrors give you a somewhat inverted picture of you? If he's the reflection, he should be almost the opposite of the father, not exactly the same. Or maybe he should look exactly the same, but not act exactly the same, like the mirror versions of Lina and Naga in the Slayers movie. Why can't they simply say 'he's his father's son', and have done with it? It means the same damn thing. Or maybe that's not dramatic enough. (I hate metaphors that don't make much sense. I always overthink them, and end up highly confused and annoyed.)
I've been reading Anne Bishop's 'Dark Jewels' trilogy and the book of stories that comes after it again. Actually, by now, the character of Jaenelle has started to grow on me. Still obviously a self-gratification tool for the author, (who tends to like to throw in at least one character like that in every book), but she manages to go from annoying to sympathetic after...hm. I haven't the slightest clue how often I've read these books. I like them, despite the portrayal of non-magical human beings as somewhat inferior to her decidedly original magic-users,( I admit I like the concept), the general attitude of any Blood character towards killing innocents or people who may or may not be guilty, or just plain murderous rage over things I find unqualified for such a reaction, and the sheer amount of penis references. I mean...wow. Granted, this series is supposed to be on the darker side of fantasy. It's not called 'Dark Jewels' trilogy for nothing. Although, for 'dark' characters, these people are all very much on the light side, tempers and vicious protectiveness aside.
She seems to have a problem writing really threatening villains. Certainly their acts are heinous enough, but they don't quite have the presence or personality to seem anything but pathetic and petty. I read mainly for the plot, the universe, and for the secondary characters. Karla and Wilhemina are favorites of mine, and I admit to having a sort of interest in the character Alexandra, Jaenelle's image-obsessed grandmother. She's the type who has what she considers good intentions which are ultimately selfish when seen from an outside perspective, and because she can't accept the Heroine of the series for what she is, she's considered a bitch. I'm sorry...but if I found out my granddaughter was actually not human, and her true form was that of a girl with unicorn hooves, a tiny horn, claws, and a deer tail, my reaction would be less than favorable as well. However, she is definitely guilty for child abuse by neglect, and she tends to be rather closeminded. She is firmly against the main villain, though, and established her court and firmly holds her land in order to protect her people from the corruption of the Blood. That has to be worth something, in my humble opinion.
There's one little tiny, insignificant detail that really throws me off, and it's just a silly little metaphor used to describe a main character. They say 'he is his father's mirror', in order to say that he's exactly like his father. Don't mirrors give you a somewhat inverted picture of you? If he's the reflection, he should be almost the opposite of the father, not exactly the same. Or maybe he should look exactly the same, but not act exactly the same, like the mirror versions of Lina and Naga in the Slayers movie. Why can't they simply say 'he's his father's son', and have done with it? It means the same damn thing. Or maybe that's not dramatic enough. (I hate metaphors that don't make much sense. I always overthink them, and end up highly confused and annoyed.)