Buddy Read: Jess, Heather, and Karly

[Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~]

Oh, me too. I may be all moved, but I've been busy unpacking and painting walls and trying to feed the kids. It feels like I'll never get caught up on my reading! :(

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)*]

I got no reading done, either. The camping trip was good but not exactly relaxing..... I was reminded this weekend why I don't number many females as friends, present company excluded. :/

[Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈]

I'm very much with you on that. I've had two bartenders leave in the past month so I've had to train two new people AND cover all the shifts I lost coverage for. I haven't even been able to cook lately (my primary job) so I've been really stressed. I have a zero drama tolerance in my kitchen so when I'm cooking, I don't have to worry about it. Out front is a horse of a different color. I worked five straight double bar shifts in a row and finally got a day off today. Sorry to bitch and moan but its been so stressful. I do have a few female friends, but only a few. Girls create way too much drama for me.

I needed some alone time today and drove to Maryland to go to 2nd and Charles (an amazingly amazing barter-friendly nerd store) and bought a crap ton of graphic novels and comics, a few books, some video games, and vinyl. I know they aren't of any challenges or anything, but graphics and comics are all I can seem to get into right now, so I'm going to start reading them tonight.

[Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~]

Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈ wrote: "I'm very much with you on that. I've had two bartenders leave in the past month so I've had to train two new people AND cover all the shifts I lost coverage for. I haven't even been able to cook ..."

Sorry you've been so swamped! FIVE double shifts, that sounds awful! :(

That store sounds awesome though!

[Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈]

Oh it's fantastic. You take in your old books, video games, DVDs and vinyl and they give you credit for it so you can get new stuff. They have everything! I could get lost in that store all day.

[Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈]

I actually enjoyed Puss in Boots better than the previous two, but I was not a fan of the writing style which was at times first person (Puss's POV) and omniscient third person. It made the tale very distracting. I enjoyed Puss and Tabs as characters much more than the humans.

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)*]

I'm sorry you've been so bogged down at work, jess!! On the upside, I should be able to finish DT IV tonight and start this buddy-read ..... sorry I've been the lamest.

[Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈]

I've missed you karlypants. You've not been the lamest.

[Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~]

Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈ wrote: "Oh it's fantastic. You take in your old books, video games, DVDs and vinyl and they give you credit for it so you can get new stuff. They have everything! I could get lost in that store all day."

We have a store like that! I've never actually tried trading books (they have a small selection) but I have sold my DVDs and CDs a few times. I usually take the cash though, lol.

[Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~]

Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈ wrote: "I actually enjoyed Puss in Boots better than the previous two, but I was not a fan of the writing style which was at times first person (Puss's POV) and omniscient third person. It made the tale v..."

I hated that too. And she switches tense and pronouns all throughout the rest of the stories, so you're in for a huge treat!!! Not. ;)

[Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~]

I actually just finished this and am going to try to write a review now. Sorry the buddy read didn't exactly work out but at least we have a few lined up for the rest of the year! :)

[Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈]

I just read "The Erl-King" and it was MY FAVORITE of the bunch by a mile. It kinda kicked me in the guts and was a gorgeously written piece.

Angela Carter does have an odd style. At times its beautiful and poetic, but at times I think its a mess and makes her tales confusing and alienating.

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)*]

I hope this reading slump ends very soon, it's beginning to thoroughly piss me off now.

Miss you too, Jess :(

[Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈]

I'm actually going to try to finish this one tonight or tomorrow. I NEED to clear things out of my currently reading pile which has gotten quite out of hand. I think I start reading something, and then can't really get into it so I switch to something else, can't get into that one, so I start reading another thing until I have a slew of unfinished books next to my bed.

ARGH!

[Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈]

Ok, so The Snow Child....WTF?

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)*]

I completely agree, Jess!! I need to do like-wise!

Also, that sounds disappointing.

[Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈]

It is like only a page long and just.....bizarre.

[Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~]

I know, and (view spoiler)[the necrophilia? (hide spoiler)] What the hell???

[Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈]

OMG I know!!!!!!!!! Some of her sexual themes are just plain strange. (view spoiler)[like the whole getting naked thing in The Tigers Wife (hide spoiler)]

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)*]

I'm finally starting this on my lunch today :D (now that you two are almost done it)

[Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈]

I still have 30% or so to go. I won't be done till Friday probably.

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)*]

Heather *Thermonuclear Bomb of Death* wrote: "I agree about The Bloody Chamber. Although I felt [spoilers removed] and I wish there'd been more reasoning behind the husband's actions."

I just finished 'The Bloody Chamber' and I completely agree with both of your spoilers, heather & jess!

I, also, had never read any bluebeard so it was entirely new and surprising.... however I would have liked a why?! Isn't there usually a why?

[Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~]

Not entirely sure there's a why ... I've read at least one Bluebeard retelling and can't really recall. (view spoiler)[I wonder if there's one where his new wife is like, "Oh, you're a murderer? I'm cool with that!" And he's like, "Sweet, I don't have to kill you now!" And they live happily ever after.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)*]

Bwahahahaha, that spoiler..... O.o

Mayhaps he is just a sadistic fuck and that's all we're supposed to surmise.

[Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~]

Probably. Like Jess and I were saying, he must be a total control freak. Giving her keys to everywhere in the house and telling her not to use one of them. He could have just not given it to her, but he had to test her obedience or something like that.

Regarding the spoiler, I would like to see that in a retelling! Occasionally I do like for villains to win or people to turn to the dark side. ;)

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)*]

Have you seen the show 'Daredevil'?? I think you would probably like Wilson and Vanessa's relationship lol.

Of course he has to test her.... And the punishment for disobedience, as in all fairy tales with a dark theme, is death :p (view spoiler)[ just not for her! (hide spoiler)]

[Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~]

No, watching new shows is such a commitment, lol. I'm intrigued now, though. Did you ever watch "Heroes"? I liked the relationship between Sylar and Kristin Bell's character (I think her name was Elle??).

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)*]

I've watched some of it, not all. I LOVE Zachary Quinto as Skylar .... Gah!

[Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈]

I watched the show briefly. I think that Sylar was my favorite part of it.

You know they're bringing it back?

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)*]

I did know that.... although, I've never gotten around to watching it all (Chris has)... I always found it difficult to see Milo as anything but 'Jess' from Gilmore Girls lol

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)*]

Oh, I finished 'The Courtship of Mr. Lyon' last night... it was a very standard retelling of The Beauty & the Beast, nothing to write home about.

[Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈]

I loved the first season of heroes, liked the second, and then it all went downhill.

I agree on "The Courtship". Nothing new or unique.

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)*]

Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈ wrote: "I loved the first season of heroes, liked the second, and then it all went downhill.

^^ This!!

I'm posting my review as I go.... because my memory is lousy! I found Carter's version of BatB LESS dark than the Disney version... which is pretty lame, actually.

[Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~]

I only watched "Heroes" because some friends of mine were into it. I think I ended up watching most of the first two seasons.

[Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈]

I should be reading on my extremely rare FRIDAY OFF....but Ive gotten caught up in pinterest.....reading slumps suck.

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)*]

I understand all too well, Jess ..... I chose to watch 'Pitch perfect' rather than read one night last week O.o

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)*]

What the heck.... is 'The Tiger's Bride' another version of BatB?! Or am I entirely lost here..... why two in a row?

[Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈]

Yeah....and kudos for having at least a more original ending, but thumbs down for being bizarre and having decipherable plot.

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)*]

I'm not done it yet..... but what's with the "i'll let you ravish me once with a sheet over my head" business? That's not in any version I've read.

[Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈]

My comment is supposed to be *no* decipherable plot. #typingfail

Yeah the whole thing is fucking weird. And not erotic which would have been so much better.

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)*]

Agreed!! I finished it, and just ugh!!

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)*]

But yet, somehow, WAY better than 'puss n boots'! I hated puss's narrative voice....

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)*]

AND 'The Erl-King' is my favourite so far!!! The woodland descriptions?! I could read those all day! However, the pronoun swap at the end is demented and glaringly incorrect.

[Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~]

Karly *The Vampire Ninja & Luminescent Monster* wrote: "But yet, somehow, WAY better than 'puss n boots'! I hated puss's narrative voice...."

THANK YOU. I agree. It's not even that it's from a cat's perspective, but I hate that type of narrative voice in any story. I know I've read that style before.

That pronoun swap and changing tenses thing bugged the HELL out of me too. And it wasn't just in that story, but in at least a couple others afterward. It must be like a stylistic experiment or something but for me it didn't work.

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)*]

All I have to say about 'The Snow Child' is a careening screech followed by a dumbfounded WTF?

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)*]

Yeah, it's becoming obvious to me that Carter isn't a consistent writer. I think 'The Snow Child' was a shock factor thing but dammit what the fuck was even going on in her head?? O.O

[Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~]

Yeah, it was like she just wrote down an idea, and not a very good one ....

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)*]

Precisely! 'Lady of the House of Love' is much better, although I am finding it difficult to figure out what it's retelling...

[Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~]

Sleeping Beauty, I think. Although I didn't figure that out myself, I saw it in another review, lol.

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)*]

Huh.... I did not get that at all..... I suppose it makes sense, in a very obscure way.