Molly Ringle's Blog, page 26

I'm dipping my hands in your TILL.

Around this time of year, we see a lot of "X days 'til Christmas" signs, which drives me crazy. I've brought it up before, and I know as a linguist I'm not supposed to have language-usage pet peeves at all, but we all have them anyway and I can't resist saying it one more time:

It's not 'TIL. It's TILL.

GO AHEAD, I WILL WAIT RIGHT HERE WHILE YOU LOOK IT UP.

I've fought nearly every editor I've ever had on this. I know, I know, the spelling of words changes with the times, and maybe my side will lose this battle. But I must try, for I dislike introducing punctuation into words when it isn't necessary. And don't give me that argument about how "till" also means (verb) "plow the land" or (noun) "cash register," because those are never going to be confused with a preposition in daily usage.

In the meantime...



If TILL was good enough for C.S. Lewis, it's good enough for you.

Oh yes, I'm ornery today. Look out. (But, all the same, happy holidays!)

Deathly Hallows Part 2: movie notes of random

SPOILERS AHOY!! (I didn't think anyone still lived who didn't know how the Harry Potter series ends, but on Facebook I was proven wrong. So. SPOILERS, YARR!)

1) Maggie Smith rocks. By stepping out between Snape and Harry early in the movie, and dueling Snape straight out of the castle, she once again proves her awesomeness without even saying a word. Is there insurance I can buy to make sure I, too, have the steel and charisma of Dame Maggie when I'm elderly?

2) I find it ridiculously entertaining when actors get to do disguise-potion identities, such as Helena Bonham Carter pretending to be Hermione pretending to be Bellatrix.

3) Young Snape in his Pensieve flashback (which all of a sudden resembled one of the more romantic Tim Burton movies) is pretty much designed to make us Gothy-hearted types fall in love with him. But I do think it annoying and unjust--or just stupid on Snape's part--not to let us, or practically anyone else, see that attractive side of him, like, ever. Okay, so he was a double agent and had to be noxious to the good guys. But I don't know; he seemed to actually hate them. And that irks me.

4) I'm so glad the Hermione/Ron kiss didn't involve a house-elf discussion. However, getting drenched by dead-basilisk-infused water doesn't seem like the tidiest time to mouth someone else's face, either. Oh well.

5) Why am I crying so much at this movie? Why is Rupert Grint making me cry most of all? I was not prepared for his reaction at finding Fred. Sidenote, however: if you didn't know about Fred, and you were watching the film on a computer screen (which I was), you might've had trouble figuring out who they were kneeling and sobbing over. It's a bit subtle. But since I did know, it was very very sad and effective.

6) LOL at That Awkward Moment When Lord Voldemort Hugs You. Jeez, I never felt sorrier for Draco. (But I was proud of him for clearly not wanting to step forward and join the Dark Side.)

7) Neville's speech was another weepy point. But I wanted to step in there with a wet washcloth and interrupt him to take care of his head wound. It's a mom thing, perhaps.

8) Signs I'm getting older: Daniel Radcliffe looked handsome to me all middle-aged up. More so than usual, even. He also resembled youngish Michael Douglas a little that way. Huh. Odd.

And finally, irrelevant to this particular movie but still funny...

Great indie novels I read in 2011

Instead of a "Best novels I read this year" post, as I've done in the past, I'm going to do things a bit differently and list only the small-press and self-published novels I've read. These authors are not only lovely people, each and every one (and I know because I've either met them or corresponded with them online), but will appreciate it far more if you support them, whereas Liz Gilbert ain't gonna notice if we boost another few copies of Eat Pray Love. (Which I did read this year, and mostly liked, but hey, you've already heard of that.)

Go see my Goodreads profile if you want to find the reviews for *all* the books, famous or not, that I've read lately. Otherwise, here are the indies that can use your help and are actively seeking avid fans. Most are available as paperbacks, and all (I think) as ebooks, and please do find one that'll make a great gift for someone you like--or a treat for yourself. So, in no real order...



The Hambledown Dream, Dean Mayes. Two young men's souls, one living and one dead, fuse into one body, linked by a passion for music and the love for a certain woman in Australia. Will he find her again, across the borders of death (not to mention the International Date Line)? Literary fiction meets paranormal romance. Made me weepy in a happy way.

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Dark is the Sky, Jessica Chambers. This was such a skillful "ensemble cast" novel, full of all kinds of characters in a dysfunctional family. I was gripped by both the sympathy for their sufferings and misunderstandings, and the burning need to find out what exactly happened on that tragic day that damaged everyone so thoroughly. Intricately plotted, and written with a gorgeous sense of setting, this book is a sure bet for those of us who grew up on darkly romantic stories like Rebecca.



Shadow of a Distant Morning, William Topek. I don't usually like film-noir-ish detective stories, but this one rocked. The protagonist was super-smart, funny, and human, and the plot was devilishly intricate, while the violence was kept to tasteful levels. Great historical detail too. Come visit Kansas City in 1934--but bring a bulletproof vest.



Tallis' Third Tune, Ellen Ekstrom. Beautifully written, this novel takes the ordinary life of a twentieth-century woman and turns it into a poignant, surreal ride through the afterlife and our own world. Makes you ponder what you'd do differently if given the chance to alter your past. And, of course, makes you hope our heroine will find a way to end up with that one romantic, sweet musician who got away. (This year I also read Ellen's Armor of Light--a magical-historical retelling of the legend of St. George and the dragon. Tolkien fans, give it a try!)



Counterpoint: Dylan's Story, Ruth Sims. Oh, fans of historical slash, this one's for you. Nineteenth-century Englishmen in love against all odds, while trying to pursue respectable careers in music. What's a virtuoso to do? Non-graphic as far as the sexual content, but still highly romantic--and heartbreaking at times.

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Letters from Wishing Rock, Pam Stucky. When Ruby, stinging after a broken engagement, moves to a quirky little Puget Sound island town where everyone lives and works in one big apartment building (which is in fact the town's *only* building), she knows life is about to change. And Pam Stucky shows the change--along with some trips to Scotland and other far-flung locations--in a story told entirely in the form of emails; a modern epistolary novel. With some free recipes. Delightful overall, with a "Northern Exposure" vibe.



Between, Cyndi Tefft. Outlander fans, take note: those of you into historical Highland men in your paranormals, sexy accents and kilts and all, try Cyndi Tefft's book on for size! Modern college freshman Lindsey, upon her death, meets such a fellow in the realm between heaven and Earth, and they're instantly attracted to one another. But the rules of "between" mean they'll have to be torn away from each other...unless they can find a loophole.



Priscilla the Great, Sybil Nelson. Got a smart, sassy middle-school kid on your gift list--or anyone, really, who enjoys fun superhero stories like "The Incredibles" or something Joss Whedon might write? Snap up this book, which has some truly funny, and definitely original, twists on the usual "kid superhero" tale. Adventure for the whole family!



Roeing Oaks, Kristina Emmons. Here's a good one for fans of sweet historical romance. Emmons begins with the unusual (though historically factual) premise of auctioning off one's wife, and follows through into the disinherited daughter's mission to reinstate justice to her family. Luckily there's a kind and mysterious rich man willing to assist her...cue the Cinderella romance!



Amber Frost, Suzi Davis. Ready for an all-out young-adult swooningly romantic paranormal novel? Well, here you go--and it's set in our beautiful Northwest but is blessedly free of vampires and werewolves! The paranormal element is still quite magical, but subtler and more original. The young hero's skin does NOT glitter, I am happy to say. Rather, he has black hair, tattoos, earrings, and regular warm blood in his veins, on top of a private-school uniform, and possesses a sweet and philosophical temperament with just a hint of danger. Totally squee-worthy. Sequel is now out, too! I am excited.

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The Gentleman and the Rogue, Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon. Last but certainly not least, male/male lovin'! Yaaaaay! Yes, it's erotica, be warned. But it's well-written erotica. It has, like, an actual plot, and realistic, likable characters. (And sizzling Scenes of Adult Intimacy. Aplenty.) Bonus points for the authors' research on street cant of the times. The linguist in me enjoyed that.

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Now. Weren't those some beautiful book covers? I tell you, great work is being done out there. Round of applause to authors, indie publishers, and cover artists! Happy holidays!

A small thought on Charlotte Bronte novels

teenybuffalo , in discussing Charlotte Bronte's Villette, made this insightful remark comparing it to the Jane Eyre/Edward Rochester relationship:

"Lucy and Paul Emanuel have the same kind of abusive-relationship-played-for-laughs that Jane did with Mr. Rochester. In this iteration, I felt really uncomfortable with it, even as M. Paul reenacts a lot of the same bullshit Mr. Rochester tends to pull: he locks Lucy in the attic to learn her lines for a play, puts her in humiliating situations with third parties, finds fault with her character, plays head games, etc. The funny thing is that when Rochester and Jane Eyre go through this, I actually really enjoy it, because they do. They're both positively kinky about how much they like tormenting each other, and I never quite take it seriously when they call each other ugly and screw with each other's minds. With Villette, though, the fun has gone out of the game for the equivalent characters."

Jane and Edward are kinky! Hah, they are! I never thought about it like that, precisely, but it's totally true. They're kind of proto-BDSM, in a way--and actually, the same can be said for a lot of Brontean romances. (Oh hi, Cathy and Heathcliff; or do you two fall into actually-BDSM?)

Meanwhile, agreed about the utterly depressing nature of Villette. As commenters over there said, the novel is well worth reading--once. But Jane Eyre, oh, how many happy double-handfuls of times will we women read that one in our lives?

Come here. Tell me something happy.

2011, it would appear, has not been very nice to most of you. In fact, it's been cruel. Quite a few of you have lost a parent, or another relative, or a close friend, this year. Several more have had scary medical diagnoses, for yourselves or a loved one. And we won't even talk about finances.

Suffice to say, if you feel like you've been alone in your sufferings, believe me, you haven't been. There's a LOT of it going around. And aside from the "misery loves company" angle, you also haven't been alone in the sense of being unremembered. I, for one, have been thinking of you and feeling for you. And I am stepping up to demand of the Powers That Be: hey, Powers, make the bad luck leave the good people alone! Make 2012 better! Make things better NOW, in fact!

But, regardless of the answer the Powers have in store for us, we can take a moment and focus on the good things we do have. So, please, come here and do that. We can all bask in each other's good news for a change.

If you wish, you can start with the bad things ("Sucky Thing X happened this year, but..."), but you don't have to share that if you aren't comfortable. What I do want every commenter to share is something good that's happened to you lately. It can be small ("I made a pretty decent loaf of banana bread") or big ("Cushy new job with minimal hours and six-figure pay!!"). Whatever it is, we'll congratulate you.

So okay, here's mine. I have nothing grave to report from the year, thank goodness. My two little guys keep bringing home illnesses to set us back, but they've all remained at the nuisance-but-not-serious level; and though the kiddos annihilate my free time, they're intelligent and cute and hilarious and affectionate, and on the whole I'm very lucky. Plus right now I'm re-reading Middlemarch and watching Downton Abbey for the first time, both of which cast a lovely glow upon my life. And I'm making some delicious Southwest corn and sweet potato soup this evening.

Now you!

Link of funny: Breaking Dawn in 15 minutes

I haven't actually read Breaking Dawn nor seen the film, but if it's as cracktastically Gothic as Cleolinda Jones' parody indicates, I might eventually have to. I mean, that's totally an improvement on the tepid I-won't-bite-you-until-we're-married previous three books.

Read it all: http://m15m.livejournal.com/22931.html

Excerpt of hilarity:

EDWARD: So… big white bed. Four-poster. Alice said to spring for the filmy white drapery so it can flutter in the sultry tropical breeze. She says there's always a sultry tropical breeze. This kind of place, it comes standard. I feel cold. Do you feel cold? Maybe we should go for a swim first. In the warm, tropical water. Because it's warm. And I'm cold. I'm babbling. Are we going to have the sex any time soon?

BELLA: *looks down, shuffles feet, bites lip*

EDWARD: OH MY GOD YOU'VE BEEN HUMPING MY LEG FOR THREE WHOLE MOVIES NOW WHAT IS YOUR DEAL

One more Bella vs. Buffy

I didn't technically "grow up" with Buffy (Anne Rice's vampires, maybe, which is a whole different kettle of undead fish), but this is still pretty awesome.

Marauders, Azkaban, and you

Finished re-reading Prisoner of Azkaban, and I have a few questions for those of you who have spent more time thinking about this book than I have:

1) Isn't it a tiny bit early for Lupin to embrace Sirius as if they were brothers? Okay, Lupin does ask first whether Sirius "switched" (the secret-keeper deal), and he did see Pettigrew seemingly alive and well on the Marauder's Map. But up till that moment, he supposedly believed Sirius guilty just like everyone else did, and he hasn't actually seen Pettigrew transform back into himself yet. So wouldn't he suspect that Sirius and Pettigrew were still tricking him somehow--or both on the Dark Side, but feuding with each other--and demand a rather more in-depth explanation before hugging him? Still, the hug is such a great surprise moment, I hate to deprive them of it.

2) For that matter, why doesn't Sirius go to Lupin earlier on and tell him the truth? Or at least leave him a note advising him to take a good look at Ron's rat? If Sirius is sneaking in and out of Hogwarts, he could manage it (or have Crookshanks deliver the note).

3) If Harry sees his super-awesome scene-saving Patronus by the lake the first time around, then why don't the other changes he and Hermione bring about with the time-turner also happen the first time around? Why doesn't Buckbeak get saved? (Or do we know for sure he is actually executed the first time? Hmm.) Etc. Time travel never makes sense, and drives me crazy, which is why I don't write it, though it is fun to read or watch.

4) Anything you think I should mention in the condensed parody version? Now's your time to be fun and silly and potentially get your name in the credits. Meanwhile, Happy Halloween!

Much Ado about Joss

Joss Whedon must have heard some of us complaining about the way he rampantly abuses and kills off characters, because he has just filmed a comedy! (There are a zillion news links you can find about this fast-breaking story. That's just one.)

It's Much Ado About Nothing--yes, the one by Shakespeare--and is apparently set in basically modern day, and stars Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof as Beatrice and Benedick. Yay! We finally get to see Fred and Wesley (as it were) acquire the romantic happy ending they, uh...well, I don't want to be spoilerish, but the end of the Angel series involved a lot of tears and "NOOOO" on many of our parts.

This time, of course, Joss didn't write the material himself; he used Shakespeare's. But he chose a Shakespeare *comedy*, at least, rather than a tragedy. True, it's "comedy noir," as he points out--that bit about "Let's pretend Hero is dead!" is pretty dark. But it ends up all right, and that's more than we can say about practically all the relationships we cared about in the Buffyverse. So thank you for this, Joss. It looks delicious and fun and I can't wait to see it, and it's good to say "Squee!" about a Whedon project again without feeling some dread that it's gonna hurt.

Me on other blogs

Over at Jelly Loves Books today, I got to do a guest post laying out my favorite romantic pairings from literature. See who I chose (Cosette/Marius instead of Eponine/Marius? Uh-huh, that's right, I said it!), and enjoy some pretty quotes to go with them.

And at the WovenStrands blog, they're doing a giveaway of RELATIVELY HONEST (ebook format). It's open only another few days, so go get your name in the entry form.

Back to drinking rooibos tea, watching foliage change colors, and pondering my next move toward literary world domination.