[Book Reviews] The good, the bad, the useful, and the wise

[thewronghands]

Four book reviews here. There are spoilers under the cut for my review of "Gladiatrix", which I hated. But I couldn't explain *why* I hated it without getting into its various failures, and that gives away (angrymaking, possible trauma-survivor-problematic) plot points. So if you care in future about reading a really awful book without spoilers

Comments

[larksdream]

and have a brutal mud wrestling match while mostly naked, ending in trying to choke each other to death

o_O

OIC.

Four empty bowls out of five. (The fifth bowl is also empty.)

*snerfle*

[thewronghands]

Yeah. The whole book is just a study in "well, my heroine is going to be SO HOT and SO BADASS"... in his mind. It's like he's writing his fantasy girl, who is far superior to any actual woman. Ugh. There's got to be some name for that, where it's not Mary Sue projection of yourself but is instead a projection of the person you'd want to date.

I forgot to include the part where she's told that she has to prostitute herself to the Roman governor! At first she objects because she was after all a virgin priestess of Athena, but then she's all "oh well fine" when they suggest that they'll put the Greek women in nicer houses if she does. Whaaaat? And then the Roman governor doesn't rape her anyway, because unlike the sadistic Nubian trainer, the Romans (who are the whole reason she's a slave who has to fight for her life) are so very nice and civilized.

Graaaah.

[larksdream]

There's got to be some name for that, where it's not Mary Sue projection of yourself but is instead a projection of the person you'd want to date.

Marry Sue. :o)

[thewronghands]

Hahaha! Neologism win!

[rialian]

===Earwig Attack!

===Put "Bordertown" into "Funkytown" song....(runs for cover....)

===(Yes I have the book...I am quite fond of Bordertown, and was thrilled to see this come out.)

[thewronghands]

Hahaha, awesome.

[spider88]

Wait -- weren't the Spartans Greek? Those are not pale, hairless ladies.

[thewronghands]

Yep, they're Greek. He basically made her as pale as a marble statue. You know, like a Greek woman who fought and trained outside all her life would obviously be. I don't even know how that works, no. (Badly?)

[elenbarathi]

Albinism? But an albino who fought and trained outside in the Greek sun would have skin like a lizard with leprosy, so that doesn't work either.

[spider88]

Hahhahahah. Indeed. Hadn't even thought about that part. No mention of peeling sunburn, then? Magical sunscreen lotion?

[madrun]

re: Gladiatrix

*giggling uncontrollably*

Please for the love of all things holy, please post this exact review up everywhere public so people can see it. Powells? B&N? Amazon? Please?

[thewronghands]

It does kind of spoil the whole 'plot', though, and people might take badly to that. Even when the source material is terrible, people get upset at unwanted, unwarned spoilers.

[spider88]

You aren't spoiling anything! You're saving them the trouble! :D

[miss_adventure]

Precisely! It would be for the good of all, really.

[elenbarathi]

Ah, Bordertown; I'd have moved there in a red-hot minute when those books first came out.

"If the way between the worlds opened and I could pack up and go, would I? I'd go for leaning up against the gates of Faerie, but it would be a particular kind of horrible to realize that I was among a sea of churning teenagers whom I once was and am no longer. And they might annoy the hell out of me. I'm not looking to find myself, I'm looking to have adventures. I don't want to have aged out of something I loved."

Word. I wouldn't want to go now; it's been quite a long time since I was a churning teenager, and they would definitely annoy the hell out of me. Reluctantly I must admit that I've aged out of the 'adventure stage' too - the prospect of subjecting my body to a lot of discomfort and danger no longer seems like fun to me, no matter how awesome the scenery or how leet the skills gained. I don't think I'd even move to Middle-Earth if the Gate opened up now; all my work and all my folk are here.

Great reviews of The Unthinkable and From

[thewronghands]

Yeah, the "my folk are here" does tend to take on weight with age, for me. I have obligations that are heavier, and my partners would be less likely to pack up and come with me, and then you have a really horrible choice. (This, from the woman who got all mad when her partner said they'd leave her for space in a hot second. But in that hypothetical, I would not have been allowed to come with them. Still, desertion for a dream stings.)

"The Unthinkable" is particularly excellent for advice. Telling people what to do in a loud, demanding voice with accompanying hand gestures apparently breaks through the fog of confusion for a lot of people. Hindbrain obedience to authority kicks in, and people obey command voice. This saves lives. Not all, but often.

I hope he enjoys his time at the monastery and finds it fruitful!