Questions and Rulings

[Rusalka, Moderator]

So if one shoe is okay, is one eye?

[Lisa]

Thanks Jmom!

[Laura]

I have a similar question to Rusalka's. Would this work for either head or eye?



I bet it would be ok for head, but I'm looking for an eye ruling, please.

Thanks.

[jaxnsmom]

Rusalka wrote: "So if one shoe is okay, is one eye?"

Ok, as long as it really shows up.

[jaxnsmom]

I guess it would work for eyes, but I hope it gets used for head. It's the best head cover - I love it. I added it to my tbr based on the cover :)

[Gail]

Hi jmom - does a seamstress count for the crafting one, or does the crafting strictly have to be a hobby, rather than something one does for a living? I was thinking of Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress.

[Casceil]

Jmom, what do you think about this one? I saw it as shoes. Rusalka saw it as legs. Does it work for either, neither, both, or none of the above?



Possibly I see it as shoes because the bird perched on one shoe is a little like an exclamation mark.

[jaxnsmom]

Gail wrote: "Hi jmom - does a seamstress count for the crafting one, or does the crafting strictly have to be a hobby, rather than something one does for a living? I was thinking of [book:Balzac and the Little ..."

I'm thinking more of crafts like knitting, cross stitch, scrapbooking, quilting, making soap or candles. I don't see a seamstress as doing a craft.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

My bad. Sorry :)

[jaxnsmom]

Rusalka wrote: "My bad. Sorry :)"

?? What have you done now?

[Rusalka, Moderator]

jaxnsmom wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "My bad. Sorry :)"

?? What have you done now?"

Lol just generally making a nuisance of myself.

I suggested to Gail she get a ruling on that book, and turns out I wasted everyone's time, as she was right to begin with.

SO don't mind me everyone :D

[jaxnsmom]

Casceil wrote: "Jmom, what do you think about this one? I saw it as shoes. Rusalka saw it as legs. Does it work for either, neither, both, or none of the above?

"

The legs blend into the rocks so much that they're hard to judge (sorry Rusalka). But I'll give you the shoes.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

HAH! lol updating the spreadsheet.

Public service announcement - do not listen to me!

[Lori Z]

jaxnsmom wrote: "Gail wrote: "Hi jmom - does a seamstress count for the crafting one, or does the crafting strictly have to be a hobby, rather than something one does for a living? I was thinking of Balzac an..."</i>

So is this a no because seamstress is her occupation or no because sewing is not a craft? I was going to read [book:Reap What You Sew for the craft because she's a librarian who her hobby is sewing and its usually a big part of the story with her sewing circle. Most of my other craft books, their craft is their occupation so I figured they would be a no.

[jaxnsmom]

It's a no because it's her occupation. Your book sounds like it qualifies.

[Lori Z]

jaxnsmom wrote: "Gail wrote: "Hi jmom - does a seamstress count for the crafting one, or does the crafting strictly have to be a hobby, rather than something one does for a living? I was thinking of

So is this a no because seamstress is her occupation or no because sewing is not a craft? I'm asking because I was going to read Reap What You Sew for crafting because the character is a librarian who sews and its usually a big part of the books with her sewing circle friends. Most of my crafting books the characters craft is also their occupation, such as scrapbook store or quilting store, etc...

[jaxnsmom]

Lori - If any of the customers are involved in more than a minor way, then that book would qualify. Is that what you're concerned about?

[Lori Z]

Oh, sorry I double posted. No, I was more worried that sewing wouldn't fit the criteria of crafting, after I saw this part of your answer to Gail, I'm thinking more of crafts like knitting, cross stitch, scrapbooking, quilting, making soap or candles.
So I thought I should get a ruling just to be safe.

[Janice, Moderator]

jaxnsmom wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "My bad. Sorry :)"

?? What have you done now?"

Hahahaha.... it's not "What have you done?". It's "What have you done NOW?"

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Lol story of my life

[jaxnsmom]

Janice wrote: "jaxnsmom wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "My bad. Sorry :)"

?? What have you done now?"

Hahahaha.... it's not "What have you done?". It's "What have you done NOW?""

Too true! ☺

[Camilla]

Looking for a ruling on whether We Never Talk about My Brother is accepted as magical realism. It has been shelved as such by a few readers and would seem to fit. I'm always a bit lost with the magical realism genre, not quite sure what properly belongs there.

[Mariab]

Camilla wrote: "Looking for a ruling on whether We Never Talk about My Brother is accepted as magical realism. It has been shelved as such by a few readers and would seem to fit. I'm always a bit lo..."

almost anything written by lationmerican authors

[jaxnsmom]

You're only supposed to choose books that are an easy yes or no for me :) I know I shouldn't include things I'm not sure about, but I do it every time.

Definition - magical or unreal elements play a natural part in an otherwise realistic environment. Could that be any more ambiguous?!

Gene Wolfe said, "magic realism is fantasy written by people who speak Spanish," and Terry Pratchett said magic realism "is like a polite way of saying you write fantasy".

Does it look like most of the stories fit, or just a few? If you think they do, go for it! And I'm curious what you'll think of it, it sounds really interesting.

[Dawn]

Camilla wrote: "Looking for a ruling on whether We Never Talk about My Brother is accepted as magical realism. It has been shelved as such by a few readers and would seem to fit. I'm always a bit lo..."

I've read this one Camilla and I'd say that it meets the magical realism criteria. I think all the stories in the book would.

[jaxnsmom]

That's good enough for me.

[Gail]

Thanks for clarifying about the seamstress, jmom - hehe, it was indeed Rusalka who led us astray there, but it's fine because we've now got that task covered with a Miss Marple book, and Miss Marple does plenty of knitting!

[Gail]

Regarding magical realism in general, it's not necessarily Latin American and it's not the same as fantasy. The first one I read was The Passion, which is set in Venice and by a British author. It's like realistic fiction with a touch of surreal in it.

[Gail]

Although there is probably some overlap with fantasy, so some books might get classed as both.

[Gail]

The online Britannica describes it as 'Magic realism, chiefly Latin-American narrative strategy that is characterized by the matter-of-fact inclusion of fantastic or mythical elements into seemingly realistic fiction.' That's how I would describe it - the magical elements are introduced into a realistic setting in a matter-of-fact way, as if they were quite normal and natural.

[Camilla]

jaxnsmom wrote: "That's good enough for me."

Okay, great, thanks! I'll slot it in then. The other option that I had for this slot was Practical Magic, which I think would fit as well (but since I would need to get the latter from the library vs having the first one sitting in my TBR closet, I'm choosing the easy way).

[Camilla]

And just realised I need anotheer clarification:
Robin Hood and Maid Marian: read a fantasy (no vamps, werewolves, witches): does it mean all other fantasy creatures are accepted, as long as any of the above are not present? I'd like to read Some Kind of Fairy Tale for this, and it seems to contain fairies only, as far as I can tell.

[Camilla]

Another question (I'm only asking these to be able to finalise my Toppler list, sorry if I'm a pain):

Almeta and Kermit - Read a book where a human and other life form interact (Vampire, werewolf, witch, robot, alien): just wanted to get clarification on the term "interact". Do you want one of the main characters to be human and another one to be the other life form, or is it enough that e.g. humans are milling around but not as main characters? And what constitutes interaction: is talking enough or do you require that there is more of a hanky-panky type of interaction?

[Gail]

Oh, gosh, it didn't occur to me it might have to be a hanky-panky interaction! I was thinking of anything involving humans and other life forms communicating in some way, including conflict and war. I was thinking I might read The War of the Worlds for that one - would that count, jmom? Otherwise I can read it for sci-fi, of course.

[Sarah]

Loving the questions this toppler are bringing up. Your question Camilla made me laugh! Not sure I'd want to read a book about a human and a robot getting it on! I suspect interaction just means more than one race coexisting, forming friendships, at war with each other, falling in love with each other etc. rather than just the latter but I guess wait for J'mom to confirm.

[Mariab]

Exactly Gail. The MR is no fantasy, but meant to take the fantastic elements as serious

[Gail]

Mariab wrote: "Exactly Gail. The MR is no fantasy, but meant to take the fantastic elements as serious"

Yes - thanks for confirming that, Mariab, because I was getting a bit confused there with the different definitions, and wondering if I'd always undersood it wrongly!

I've just taken a look at the Wikipedia article and it has some good explanations of the distinction between magical realism and other genres.

'In fantasy, the presence of the supernatural code is perceived as problematic, something that draws special attention—where in magical realism, the presence of the supernatural is accepted.'

I'm wondering now if rereads are allowed - I'd quite like to reread The Passion. It's a quick read and a brilliant book - one of my favourites.

[Sarah]

Rereads have generally been allowed in the past from what I remember as long as you don't skim them.

And as for clear cut definitions on genres, well we could be hear until the end of time. Everyone has a different opinion on what genre a book falls under and what that specific genre covers.

[Camilla]

Sarah wrote: "Not sure I'd want to read a book about a human and a robot getting it on!"

LOL, I was thinking more in the line of the Mercy Thompson series. Hadn't thought that also war is interaction.

[jaxnsmom]

Gail wrote: "Although there is probably some overlap with fantasy, so some books might get classed as both."

Which makes it hard sometimes to make a judgment on a book I know nothing about. I understand what magical realism is objectively, sometimes it just gets lost in translation :)

Mariab was only saying that a lot of Latin American fiction has elements of magical realism, not that it was the only magical realism. Which, I believe, is what your message 80 states.

[Gail]

Oh yes, I know that Mariab was saying that - I wasn't disagreeing with her. I was responding to the quotes you posted - the one by Gene Wolfe saying that it is fantasy written by people who speak Spanish! :-)

[jaxnsmom]

Camilla - It's always great to get a book we own out of the closet :)

Yes, fairies and other creatures are good. Sometimes vampires and such appear, and that's ok, but only as minor characters with no real impact on the story.

For Almeta and Kermit, the interaction must be meaningful, not just a brief chat as the characters run into each other or one as background characters. This could be hanky-panky, or they could be working together, or fighting each other. The Twilight series, Dr. Who, Harry Dresden, the Riyria Chronicles, the possibilities are endless.

Curiosity question - does Mercy Thompson have any meaningful humans?

These are all valid questions about books you plan on reading, so you are not a pain. ☺

[jaxnsmom]

Gail wrote: "Oh yes, I know that Mariab was saying that - I wasn't disagreeing with her. I was responding to the quotes you posted - the one by Gene Wolfe saying that it is fantasy written by people who speak S..."

I posted that tongue in cheek, I thought it was funny that even authors seem to see a lot of this as splitting hairs. Think about how every basic genre has been split into so many sub-genres. It's like plant classifications; kingdom, phylum, class and so forth. For most of us, we just want to enjoy what we read, with a basic classification system. Although for me, maybe fiction should have 'snarky' and 'sincere' sub-genres (there probably is, but with fancier names ☺ ).

[Gail]

Ah, okay - lol, I am not so good at reading tongue-in-cheek, as you can tell! It generally occurs to me afterwards in an 'Ah, oops, maybe they were joking!' sort of way! :-)

[jaxnsmom]

And I can be tongue-in-cheek easier than straightforward a lot of times. Sometimes I forget that the tone of voice isn't translated as part of my posts :)

[Camilla]

jaxnsmom wrote: "Curiosity question - does Mercy Thompson have any meaningful humans? "

Well, I've only read the first one in the series, and in that book there weren't many main human characters AFAIR, more like minor characters, that's why I asked. Still need to gopher for this one.

[Gail]

jaxnsmom wrote: "And I can be tongue-in-cheek easier than straightforward a lot of times. Sometimes I forget that the tone of voice isn't translated as part of my posts :)"

Hehe, with you I do realise it most of the time, because you do it a lot, sort of as your default - although I've never seen you do it with book genres before! :-)

[Rebecca]

Would soap-making count for crafting? The main character in Reflection Point sells handmade soaps and lotions.

[Mariab]

Yep, J Mom, that's rigth

[jaxnsmom]

Rebecca wrote: "Would soap-making count for crafting? The main character in Reflection Point sells handmade soaps and lotions."

Sorry, but not in this case. Here it's her business, and how she makes a living.