tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70766892023-10-21T00:16:40.255+08:00Book GobblerI love books. And movies. And TV. I gobble them all.Liz Taihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17309936941955146689noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1113964797048043672005-04-20T10:36:00.000+08:002005-04-20T10:39:57.050+08:00The state of this blogWell, it has been forever since the last post, has it?<br /><br />The thing is, I'm not sure if I want to maintain this blog anymore. The main reason is because I don't have the time anymore. I do the work of three people at my job, and at the same time, I maintain four blogs. You heard me, four blogs. Excluding this, which means I have five blogs altogether.<br /><br />I have thought of shifting Book Gobbler to my main site, which has its own fancy domain and everything, but that could 'blow my cover'. ;) You see, on my other blogs, I don't reveal who I am. But it's so much more convenient if I have everything under one roof ...<br /><br />So, I'm not sure if I'm going to post here much anymore. Let's see how things go. I may create a subdomain after all, and think, well, to heck with everything - let people know who I am.<br /><br />Let's just see. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1111575689249390392005-03-23T18:57:00.000+08:002005-03-23T19:01:29.253+08:00The Music I luv<p><strong>1. What is the total amount of music files on your computer?<br /></strong>Er ... so sad, but I can count only five mp3 files. I don't download music much. :P</p><p><strong>2. The CD you last bought?<br /></strong>Like Daphne, I haven't bought one in suuuuuuch a long time. But does cassettes count? I bought Gwen Stefani's Love, Angel, Music, Baby. She rocks.</p><p><strong>3. What was the last song you listened to before reading this message?<br /></strong>Oh-oh, it was on my Internet radio, some obscure rap artiste - I didn't see who it was.</p><p><strong>4. Write down five songs that you often listen to or that mean a lot to you.<br /></strong>* Andrea Bocelli's <em>Someone Like You </em>and <em>Time to Say Goodbye</em>. These two songs make me melt into a puddle of goo. I swear, if someone sings like that to me, I'll marry him on the spot (or at least, jump into bed with him). </p><p>For a rocking time, I love Gwen Stefani's <em>What You Waiting For </em>because she just oozes attitude.<br />Sarah Maclachlan's <em>When She Loved Me</em> always makes me sniff. Also, I can relate personally to what the little doll was singing about. Waaah ...</p><p>Nirvana's <em>Smells like Teen Spirit</em>. Man, they were the group that got me into Alternative music - all that angst, anger and rebelliousness in that song. It was me (at least 5 years ago, in college :).</p><p><strong>5. Who are you going to pass this stick to (3 persons) and why?</strong><br />Er, first of all, I'd need to know who reads this obscure little blog! :D The first three persons who leave a comment here ...<br /></p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1111571812766344152005-03-23T17:48:00.000+08:002005-03-23T17:56:52.766+08:00Grumpy meI had to do some business at MPSJ today. I walked five minutes to the entrance under the fiery sun because I had to park my car far, far away and take a roundabout way to the door because they were doing some construction works. (Rant: There's this nice gate at the front of MPSJ that will lead us to the doorstep of the main entrance but it's always locked. Whylah?? Is the gate for decoration purposes only?)<br /><br />And when I got there, what did clerk tell me (granted she was very nice while doing so)? I didn't bring the right form.<br /><br />Right, so I spent another five minutes trying to get back to my car, muttering all the way.<br /><br />Then, when I got back, I discovered that my dog's urinary problem - ala blood in the urine - is back with a vengeance, so my worry went up a few notches. My dog can sneeze and it'll send me into a frenzy.<br /><br />Called the vet, and he said to collect the medicine. What did you know that USJ decided to live up to its nickname (Ultra Super Jam) by throwing up a big huge jam. Why? Because workers decided that it'll be just fine and dandy to close two lanes from the main road along SS19 for some construction work.<br /><br />Then, couldn't find a darn parking spot at the vet. Had to double park. On the way out, some taikoh with a bad sense of depth and space kissed the front of my car with his bumper. The damage would've been worse if I had not smacked the hood of his car three times. Didn't even say sorry. Ceh.<br /><br />Because of all this, was not that early for work. So, grumpy me walked into work today. Hmph.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17309936941955146689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1111410205729925502005-03-21T21:02:00.000+08:002005-03-21T21:03:25.733+08:00Sepet wins Top Prize! Yay!I'm really glad that director Yasmin got the nod when her movie <em>Sepet </em><a href="http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/3/21/nation/10473081&sec=nation">won</a> the Grand Jury Prize at the 27th Creteil International Women Directors Festival.<br /><br />When I heard that this was the same director who was responsible for the fuzzy-wuzzy, <em>muhibah</em>, and oh-so-good to watch Petronas festive greetings ads, I was pretty sure it'll be good because it would be the most Malaysian movie ever.<br /><br />For one, although Spinning Gasing, another local movie, was laudable because it dared to broach "touchy" topics, I felt it was weird that everyone spoke English.<br /><br />Here, according to reviews, characters speak Malay, Chinese, English (I think). Just like how Malaysia is, a <em>rojak</em>* of languages and cultures.<br /><br />I've got to admit that I'm a bad girl, I've not watched Sepet. I truly want to - anyone want to go with me - once I make the time that is! Hopefully this Friday, when I'm off, I'd make the trip.<br /><em> </em>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1110621066918547122005-03-12T17:41:00.000+08:002005-03-12T17:51:06.923+08:00Popular warehouse sale<span style="font-weight: bold;">Venue:</span> Summit shopping centre, USJ, Subang Jaya, Selangor<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Date: </span>From today until March 20<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Time:</span> Starts at 10am<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Discounts:</span> until 70%, 90% for Popular members<br /><br />I have to say that I practiced great restraint! I still spent RM200 over thanks to the huge and s0-heavy-that-it'll-cave-someone's-head-in National Geographic coffee book (~RM49) and House Beautiful's <span style="font-style: italic;">Decorating ideas for small spaces </span>(~RM79). Bought three decorating mags for RM5 each (yes, I love interior decorating) and a couple of paperbacks.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Big deals:</span> Some paperbacks are being sold for RM10! Some starting at RM5, particularly <span style="font-style: italic;">Angel</span> (the television show) and <span style="font-style: italic;">Buffy</span> novels. And the books being sold at RM10 are not those crappy books you never want to read but books by popular authors ... Vince Flynn's <span style="font-style: italic;">Seperation of Power</span>, David Baldacci (spelling wrong, pretty sure) etc.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fantasy books</span>: This is purely for <a href="http://eyeris.blogspot.com">eyeris</a>. Yes, there are some scattered here and there. I bought one for RM10. They're selling some of Terry Brook's books for RM10 as well. The selection isn't as fantastic as the Time's warehouse sale, but it's close to good.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Non-fiction:</span> So many it boggles the mind. Good selection, but prices not so good ...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What's not so good:</span> The queues are damn long and damn slooow. I would say, avoid the Sunday crowd! But you might miss some good books, I guess. I don't know, but this seems to be the case for Popular sales ... they only have three counters open ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1109942963307720852005-03-04T21:27:00.000+08:002005-03-04T21:29:23.306+08:00Big newsSo, I got this news right, and I can't tell anyone. Not anyone that don't know what I'm talking about. I mean, that'll be like stupid right?<br /><br />So here I am steaming about the Big News with no one to talk to. Drat.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1106741661126401442005-01-26T19:53:00.000+08:002005-01-27T00:08:07.386+08:00Knowing your classics<a href="http://daphne.blogs.com/">Daphne</a> caught me mixing up my Russian authors today. Yes, I confess, I can't tell between Tolstoy, Dostoevsky and Chekov! Not that I claim to have read any of them. "Russian authors" is a category I keep telling myself I'll get to but never do. Instead I'm always stuck at Austen and am determined, somehow, to stay there.
<br />
<br />Oh, yes, <em>moi </em>was very embarassed despite knowing that I mix my authors and books on a regular basis. ;) In real life, this little handicap translates into not remembering people's names - gosh, at the most inconvenient times.
<br />
<br />But the very big truth is that I don't know my classics very well since I only deign to read them only once, and usually finish reading them with great relief.
<br />
<br />I think the only classic fiction I've truly enjoyed was George Eliot's <em>Middlemarch</em> (which took me half a year to finish! But I think is the best way to savour her book) and Jane Austen's <em>Emma</em>. I read <em>Northanger Abbey</em> and <em>Mansfield Park</em>, but I honestly forgot 90% of it except for some vague rememberances of it being this or that. Oh yes, I loved F. Scott Fitzgerald's <em>The Great Gatsby</em>. Lovely, tragic story.
<br />
<br />I love short story writer Katherine Mansfield, and attempted at short story writing for a while until I realise that it's quite difficult to make a point in a few words. But if you asked me to give an example of some of her stories, I'd probably lamely say, "You know, the one where they discuss something over tea in the Garden" (It's called <em>The Garden Party</em>, by the way) or "The one where this housekeeper found a coin in this gentleman's place" (oh, this I still can't remember).
<br />
<br />I think the other book I want to finish reading badly is <em>Les Misereables by Victor Hugo. </em>I have no idea, actually, whether I reached the ending! (Because, yes, again, I've forgotten about 90% of what I read.) Hey, wait! I remember reading this particular segment where the hero - which, I of course can't remember the name - rescued his adopted daughter's boyfriend because he was part of the rebellion. Ok, so I did read that far. ;) Hee.
<br />
<br />Should I remedy the situation, I wonder? Hmm ... well, maybe after reading Su Tong's <em>My Life as Emperor</em>. (Translation: Maybe never!)
<br />
<br />Okaylah, as a challenge to enrichen myself, I'd attempt (close eyes and pick a random name) ... uhm ... oh hell, I'll read <em>Crime and Punishment</em>. Written by Fyodor Dostoevsky. See? I can get it right.
<br />
<br />No, I didn't google it up!
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1106726950053728232005-01-26T15:53:00.000+08:002005-01-26T16:09:10.053+08:00Review: The Aviator<img hspace="10" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v372/liztai/posteraviator.jpg" align="left" vspace="10" />I wrote a <a href="http://star-ecentral.com/movies/grade/details.asp?pid=763">short review</a> about the biopic a week (or two) ago.
<br />
<br /><strong>Is it worthy of an Oscar?</strong>
<br />Not that my opinion is going to matter, but yes and no. The competition for "Best picture" this year is stiff as usual, but if I had my way I want <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/movies/search/movie/title/*http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&cf=info&id=1808592826">Hotel Rwanda</a> to win. It has a stronger message, a worthy message, and boy was the acting top notch.
<br />
<br /><strong>Your favourite scenes?</strong>
<br />When Howard Hughes shot that airplane battle scene for Hell's Angels. Awesome.
<br />
<br /><strong>Is it worth my hard-earned RM9?</strong>
<br />You do get value for money - it is three freaking hours long.
<br />
<br /><strong>Does that mean its too long?</strong>
<br />Sometimes, especially after drinking too much Coke.
<br />
<br /><strong>Is DiCaprio hot?</strong>
<br />Whatever rocks your boat, baby.
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1104559693181246822005-01-01T13:58:00.000+08:002005-01-01T14:08:13.183+08:00Sin City rocks!<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v372/liztai/sincity.jpg">
<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">This is for you fanboys out there</span> ...
<br />
<br />Now, this looks like a movie that respects the material. I have not read Sin City, but a check at the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401792/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxzZz0xfGxtPTIwMHx0dD1vbnxwbj0wfHE9c2luIGNpdHl8aHRtbD0xfG5tPW9u;fc=1;ft=21;fm=1">Sin City</a> section at IMDB reveals that:
<br />
<br /> <blockquote>After a poor Hollywood experience in the early-'90s, Frank Miller refused to relinquish the movie rights to any of his comic works, "Sin City" in particular. Robert Rodriguez, a longtime fan of the comic, filmed his own "audition" for the director's spot in secret. The footage, shot in early 2004, featured Josh Hartnett and Marley Shelton acting out the "Sin City" short-story "The Customer is Always Right". He presented the finished footage to Miller with the proclamation: "If you like this, this will be the opening to the movie. If not, you'll have your own short film to show your friends." Miller approved of the footage and the film was underway. Rodriguez also screened the footage for each of the actors he wanted to cast in the film - all of whom are reported to have been instantly amazed. </blockquote>
<br />
<br />There's <a href="http://www.imdb.com/rg/title-tease/trivia/title/tt0401792/trivia">more news</a> there as well.
<br />
<br />Have a look at the <a href="http://www.ultimatedvd.org/en/trailers/Details.aspx?Trailer_Id=2142859618">trailer</a>. It's super cool as well. I'm probably going to convert it to VCD so that I can watch it in all its glory on TV. You can tell I have too much time on my hands.
<br />
<br />Everyone looks as if they belong there. Benicio del Toro looks cool as well as Bruce Willis. I wonder who Hartnett and Wood is playing.
<br />
<br />A fan did complain that Jessica Alba was miscast as Nancy. Why? Apparently because she won't take her top off. Now, I know you fan boys are dissapointed, but hey, I will testify from what I saw on the trailer that she gyrates, slithers and wriggles very well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1104558983520759972005-01-01T13:37:00.000+08:002005-01-01T13:58:26.533+08:00Keanu as Constantine? Who were they kidding?<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v372/liztai/constantine.jpg">
<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Neo, part deux.</span>
<br />
<br />While at Kinokuniya recently, I decided to browse through <span style="font-style:italic;">Constantine</span> graphic novels to get a feeling who this Constantine person is.
<br />
<br />When I first saw the <a href="http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1808403553&cf=trailer">trailer</a>, I thought it was kinda cool. I didn't think Keanu Reeves could act to save his life, but I didn't know anything about Constantine then. So, hey, I thought - he was good as The One, so this may be no different.
<br />
<br />After reading some of the books (cough) by browsing through them at Kino, I echo <span style="font-style:italic;">Constantine</span> fan sentiments: <span style="font-style:italic;">WTF? Keanu as Constantine?!</span>
<br />
<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v372/liztai/constantinereal.jpg" align=right vspace=10 hspace=10>First, Constantine is English.
<br />b) he cusses like there's no tomorrow
<br />c) he oozes attitude
<br />d) blonde
<br />
<br />Keanu isn't a good Constantine fit because:
<br />a) he looks like a yuppie fresh out of a Starbucks refill
<br />b) he's not blonde.
<br />c) attitude? My pooch has more attitude.
<br />
<br />Some people say it's just not fair to evaluate the movie before it's even released, but if you can't even get simple basics right like the fact that his secret name is Ged, not Sparrowhawk, you git (sorry, wrong movie adaptation) then this movie has no reason for existing.
<br />
<br />Who would've made a good Constantine:
<br />a) Ralph Fiennes
<br />b) Paul Bettany
<br />c) <span style="font-weight:bold;">Not</span> Brad Pitt. Okay, maybe Brad could do. As long as he can pull off a convincing accent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1104557683048985582005-01-01T13:30:00.000+08:002005-01-01T13:34:43.046+08:00Book Gobbler and Movie GobblerI've decided that since I gobble both in equal quantities (who am I kidding, I think I gobble way too much TV and movies) I'd from now on blog about it here as well.
<br />
<br />So, does that mean a name change? Hmm? Book/Movie Gobbler? Or maybe just keep it as it is with a little disclaimer at the bottom? ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1103615655794104772004-12-21T15:27:00.000+08:002004-12-21T15:54:15.796+08:00What to read?I have nothing to read. Now, if you saw my library, you'd probably give me a hard rap on my head. Let me rephrase that. I have far too many books to read. I can't decide <span style="font-style:italic;">what</span> to read! Argh!
<br />
<br />I need something to capture my imagination again. Something fantastic and fun ... right now I've run out of ideas what to read.
<br />
<br />As I stand, blur, at my library scanning for books to read I came upon a few possible choices:
<br />
<br />1. <span style="font-style:italic;">Queen's Gambit</span> by Deborah Chester
<br />2. The Nanny Diaries
<br />3. Number 10 by Sue Townsend
<br />4. Star Trek Voyager: Spirit Walk (pt 1)
<br />
<br />(Scatches head.) I don't feel particularly inspired by this list. hmm.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1103555101258371102004-12-20T22:52:00.000+08:002004-12-20T23:05:01.256+08:00Review: Return of the King extended edition <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v372/liztai/faramir.jpg">
<br />
<br /><i>Faramir giving his future wife an adoring look. Yeah, you got that right. It's <b>me</b> he's looking at.</i>
<br />
<br />So, I'll spit it out - I'm dissapointed. Now, before <a href="http://eyeris.blogspot.com/">eyeris</a> gets a heart attack, let me explain myself.
<br />
<br />I shouldn't have read the book before seeing the movie. Then the dissapointment wouldn't have been so acute. It doesn't help that my favourite chapter in Return of the King is The House of Healing and The Pyre of Denethor. Pete Jackson mangled that pretty good.
<br />
<br />In the extended edition, The Houses of Healing is a blink-and-you-will-miss-it sequence. Instead of Aragorn healing Faramir, Eowyn to prove to the Gondorians that he is indeed the King returned, we get a "set up" for Faramir and Eowyn to exchange cow eyes at each other. (grumble)
<br />
<br />Hey, I love Faramir and Eowyn being together and all that. Faramir is one of my fav characters. However, in the movie, Eowyn seemed so ... frivolous to have gotten over Aragorn so fast. And I agree with eyeris when he said that the Extended Edition made Aragon more ... wussy.
<br />
<br />The Houses of Healing, if it had been done right, would've lent additional strength to Aragorn. Same with the ghosties at the Dimolt (sp?). What I don't get is why must Pete extend the battle scenes even more? Honestly, one could scrape a few minutes from those scenes to do justice to the Houses of Healing or other crucial scenes.
<br />
<br />Also, now I get why <a href="http://daphne.blogs.com/books">Daphne</a> is so irritated with movie-Gimli. In the EE, he seems even more like a clown. Yeesh.
<br />
<br />I didn't get to see Faramir and Eowyn wed! (bawl) The scene was shot, y'see.
<br />
<br />Also, as I was watching the documentaries in the EE, apparently they also shot scenes about the fate of the rest of the team. There's a scene of Gimli looking at jewels and one of a very delicious-looking Legolas (with longer, more pristine hair if it's possible) walking in what could only be the forests of Ithilien. After the War, he helped rebuild Ithilien with Faramir.
<br />
<br />Ah, what could be! Pete, if only you could've just scraped 5 minutes of extended battle to allow us to see these scenes. But boys will be boys ...
<br />
<br />PS: I will never ever read a book before the movie again. I mean, look what happened to <span style="font-style:italic;">Legend of Earthsea!</span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1103554241687424272004-12-20T22:46:00.000+08:002004-12-20T23:10:13.043+08:00Legend of Earthsea ... baaaad.Well, oy. So I managed to see the SciFi <a href="http://earthsea.scifi.com/">miniseries</a> through (cough) unofficial means. Let's just say that the first ten minutes of the show I'm already saying: "Man. This sucks."
<br />
<br />The acting is so bad you can't believe, the script stinks and I didn't even wait long enough to watch the other sections. I know my friend Chris would go ballistic with the mangling of one of her favourite books.
<br />
<br />Just hop over to <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407384/usercomments?start=0">IMDB comments for <span style="font-style:italic;">Legend</span></a> and you'll see rows upon rows of incensed reviewers complaining how baaad this show is.
<br />
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1103173160199556212004-12-16T13:50:00.000+08:002004-12-16T13:17:27.956+08:00Ursula is not pleased<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v372/liztai/earthsea.jpg" align="left" hspace="10" vspace="10" />The <a href="http://www.scifi.com/">Sci Fi channel</a> just screened the miniseries <span style="font-style: italic;">Legend of Earthsea</span> (on Dec 13 & 14, I believe), based on Ursula K. LeGuin's book and the news has not been pleasant. First, at <a href="http://www.theonering.net/">One Ring</a>, a <a href="http://www.theonering.net/perl/newsview/8/1103151264">commentary</a> on the series had this paragraph:
<br /><blockquote>But now the finished film has screened, and I've been getting emails from people whose opinions I respect saying things like 'I watched it and I was sick to my stomach after seven minutes.' I can't stand by and let it look as though TORN will recommend and promote any rubbish just because it's a well-known fantasy series.</span></blockquote> Ouch! However, the sternest rebuke came from LeGuin herself, who was more than a little annoyed when the director of the flick claimed that he was true to the book and that he knew what Ursula's vision of the whole </span>Earthsea</span> universe was. LeGuin wrote a "reply" <a href="http://trashotron.com/agony/columns/2004/12-15-04.htm">here.</a>
<br />
<br />Daphne and her husband, who have both read the Earthsea series (yes, you can guess I have not read it) said that the one thing they're annoyed with is that the cast was mostly white. As LeGuin says:</span>
<br /></span><blockquote>Most of the characters in my fantasy and far-future sf books are not white. They're mixed, they're rainbow ... This color scheme was conscious and deliberate from the start. I didn't see why everybody in sf had to be a honky named Bob or Joe or Bill. I didn't see why everybody in heroic fantasy had to be white (and all the leading women had "violet eyes"). I didn't even believe it ... Ged with a white face is a lie, a betrayal -- a betrayal of the book, and of the potential reader. A brown face might hurt sales in the short run, but my books are long-distance runners, and for the long haul, only the truth will serve.</blockquote>Ah. The <span style="font-style: italic;">race</span> issue.
<br />
<br />I believe that many non-readers will still dig the Earthsea miniseries because of the fallout from Lord of the Rings. People are still hungry for fantasy after all. The powers that be chose to cash in on the craze, purity to the book be damned.
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1101960893063094452004-12-02T13:08:00.000+08:002004-12-02T12:14:53.063+08:00Tom Hanks will be The Da Vinci Code's hero<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v372/liztai/tomhanks.jpg" />
<br />
<br />He's a good actor and all, but does anyone out there echo my sentiments that Tom Hanks doesn't <span style="font-style: italic;">feel</span> like a Robert Langdon (spelling? Too lazy to check)? I don't know. I've always thought Robert would be ... <span style="font-style: italic;">cuter</span>. More like Indiana Jones or something. And here's from someone who has not read the book.
<br />
<br />Why have I not read the book? Well, I'm a person that avoids a book if it's hyped up! Maybe it's the snob in me who wants to say, in a plummy Brit accent: "No, I <span style="font-style: italic;">shan't </span>read the book."
<br />
<br />Truth is, I just haven't gotten around to doing it. I tend to be slow when it comes to book trends. I tend to read the "kewl" books months after the publicity has died down. Always waiting for a discount or a second hand book to come out.
<br />
<br />If I'm to start on Dan Brown's books, I most probably would not start with <span style="font-style: italic;">Da Vinci</span> but with Angels & Demons. I kinda like the title.
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1101733261015218832004-11-29T20:45:00.000+08:002004-11-29T21:06:52.966+08:00The trouble with our librariesInteresting article in <a href="http://www.thestar.com.my">The Star</a>'s Kuala Lumpur <a href="http://metro.thestar.com.my/">Metro</a> today. <a href="http://metro.thestar.com.my/">Reading at book stores the rage now</a> (strangely, the online metro said "book sores") basically says that Malaysians prefer to read at book stores than libraries.
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<br />Honestly, this is old news for me. I used to spend every Sunday curled up in the MPH Reader's Lounge reading a book. I try to ignore the snoring dude that always seems to be there whenever I'm there, and read a book on interior decorating or the latest bestseller. The ambience in MPH's Subang Jaya store is the best - way better than the one in Mid Valley where there is barely a place to seat, but I digress.
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<br />The state of Malaysian libraries - at least the ones in Klang Valley - is pitiful. Why do people not go to the libraries? Here are the reasons:
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<br /><ol><li>It's inconviniently situated - the National Library for one, is located on the busy and difficult-to-access Jln Tun Razak.</li><li>The books there are old, old, old. Bestsellers, new books etc are just plain hard to find. I didn't even realise that libraries buy best selling books (until I read book blogs from overseas). I used to think libraries just buy books that you don't see in bookstores!</li><li>Dress codes. No wearing singlets, slippers, short sleeves, short skirts in a library. Didn't know libraries became the moral centres of the universe suddenly.</li><li>There are just too few of them!</li></ol>
<br />Malaysians don't read much. I think below 10% of us read regularly. The first reason is probably the most obvious one: books are damn expensive-lah! Sometimes, if I go beserk, I could spend 1/4 of my pay on buying books! Honestly, if they want a reading nation, they'd have to give libraries a budget for books, and not shelve the expenses for buying books under 'misc'!
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<br />Our only saving grace is from Pay Less Books (a place for 2nd hand books) or rent-a-book stores.
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<br />I'll be in dreamland if libraries:
<br /><ol><li>Are found <em>within</em> the residential area instead of out there in the city somewhere. The more accessible, the more readers you'll get! Walking to the library! What a dream!</li><li>Have new, current, best-sellers on their shelves so that I can save my money.</li><li>Don't have all the nice books under reference section.</li><li>Don't have those silly dress code rules anymore.</li></ol><p>I live in Subang Jaya, and I think it's just absolutely appalling that we don't have a library. (We do have a Multimedia library, but I don't like reading books on computer screens!) If only the powers that be would spend $ on a well-stocked library instead of building useless gardens with giant bird sculptures. </p><p>The best-est library I've ever been to was the library in Johor Baru. That was like, more than 10 years ago (oh no, I really feel my age suddenly). They had <em>Asterix & Obelix</em> comics, for goodness sakes! I used to count the days where I'll get to visit the super-secret adults' section. Too bad we moved to KL - where libraries are so few and far in between - before I could.</p><p>Any bigwigs listening to this rant? If so, please do something about our libraries!</p>
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1101297517487926282004-11-24T19:40:00.000+08:002004-11-24T20:09:28.000+08:00Bad bosses make good storiesAm currently reading Toby Young's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0306812274/qid=1101296777/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/002-7162843-4506454?v=glance&s=books&n=507846">How to Loose Friends & Alienante People</a> and have decided to put aside Marion Zimmer Bradley's stories about Darkover for the tale of the fall of a great man (in his head, that is).
<br />
<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v372/liztai/losefriends.jpg" align="left" vspace="10" hspace="10" />In essence, <em>How to Lose Friends</em> is a long, well-written gossip rag about the glitzy going-ons behind <em>Vanity Fair</em>, a particular magazine I'm rather fond of. And we all love gossip - especially one that mentions a certain well-known draconian <em>Vogue</em> editor.
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<br />I'm talking about Anna Wintour, in case you're not in the know. Some of us in the journalistic world take perverse pleasure at novelists ribbing editors, especially those with a reputation like Wintour's.
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<br />Wintour is one difficult lady, according to Young and to popular legend. It is suspected that the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0767914767/qid=1101297046/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/002-7162843-4506454?v=glance&s=books&n=507846">The Devil Wears Prada</a> based her portrayal of her novel's cruel boss on Wintour - she was once one of her assistants.
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<br />Indeed, after reading Young and Lauren Weisberger's account, I find some similiarities. But I can't remember them off-hand now to list them for you right now. But I can tell you what makes Wintour so "ballsy" to say the least.
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<br />According to Young, Wintour lives like a Queen (she is paid a cool US1mil a year) and uses the company's petty cash account like her own Swiss bank account, she doesn't <em>ever</em> ride in the elevator with <em>anyone</em> (except maybe the Queen of England or anyone worth sucking up to, I suppose), gets annoyed if anyone talks to her without her permission, yada yada yada.
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<br />She makes one of my old bosses - the one I worked with once upon a time in an ad agency not so far away - look like my fairy godmother.
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<br />But hey, maybe Wintour will one day rise up and write a tell-all biography on how wrong Young and Wesberger is. (Shrug)
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<br />For now, we common folks without Prada to wear can enjoy the gossip.
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<br /><em>PS: Another book on bosses behaving badly worth checking out could be <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0312291639/qid=1101297420/sr=8-2/ref=pd_csp_2/002-7162843-4506454?v=glance&s=books&n=507846">The Nanny Diaries</a>. It's currently sitting in my library, unread. But after Young's deconstruction of the politics in <em>Vanity Fair</em>, I'd possibly be more hungry for Bad Boss Lit - so it's probably next on my To-Read list. Also, Sydney Morning Herald has a piece on <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/06/17/1023864402307.html">Bad Boss Litt</a>. Is it the Next Big Genre? Chick Lit, after all, is so yesterday.</em>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17309936941955146689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1101042250195124742004-11-21T20:50:00.000+08:002004-11-21T21:08:21.190+08:00Getting lost in the libraryWas back at the apartment yesterday and decided to pick a book from <a href="http://bookgobbler.blogspot.com/2004/05/books-in-my-library.html">my library</a> to read. My little library is a wonder. It's filled to the brim with books - nearly 1,000 of them, and 60% of them I've not read!
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<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v372/liztai/neskaya2.jpg" align=left vspace=5 hspace=5>Unfortunately, I couldn't decide what book to read. Almost all the books there are worth reading and I want to read it all at once! In the end, I picked <span style="font-style:italic;">How to Lose Friends and Alienate People</span> by Toby Young and a <span style="font-style:italic;">Star Trek Voyager</span> novel.
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<br />I've been reading too many non-fiction books these days (too many of them on politics!). I need to return to the land of imagination once more. So I am reading Marion Zimmer Bradley's <span style="font-style:italic;">The Fall of Neskaya </span>right now. The book has not set my imagination on fire yet.
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<br />There a sense of sadness when I drove away from the apartment, knowing that I left behind all those lovely books alone well I concentrate on just for a few. But I'll be back later ...
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<br />We're quickly running out of shelves for the library. I kid you not, my sister and I have added perhaps 200 over books to the collection just this year. I'm starting to wonder that perhaps I should utilise the space above my toilet for book shelves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1100687866019578842004-11-17T18:30:00.000+08:002004-11-17T18:42:36.760+08:00Su Tong's allure<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v372/liztai/rice.jpg" align=right hspace=5 vspace=5>Some people consider Su Tong China's best writer in the 21st (and 20th) century, and they're right. Well, I consider him that.
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<br />I got to know about Su Tong after watching the immortal Zhang Yimou movie <em>Raise the Red Lantern</em>. Then I found his book, <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/014025644X/qid=1100687972/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_xgl14/002-7162843-4506454?v=glance&s=books&n=507846">Rice</a></em>, and was enthralled. In the book, you get to see the disintegration of a family. I seem to remember with great clarity that one of the characters is really disturbing. She has a feline quality to her character, and an undercurrent of vengeance in her spirit, expertly masked by her drowsy mannerisms.
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<br />Su Tong, in my opinion, just captures the spirit of the Chinese excellently. The tragedy, the sadness inherent in our millenia-history, the blight of our flawed human nature ... he makes it all so beautiful and poetic for some reason.
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<br />But he isn't what I call an easy author to read because sadness just permeates every page of his books ... and I'm the sort that likes to be happy when I read! Hah.
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<br />The most gorgeous thing about my work, and my sister's, is that we both get free books. Can you imagine what amazing luck it was that my sister brought home Su Tong's latest translated novel, <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/140136666X/qid=1100688046/sr=8-4/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i4_xgl14/002-7162843-4506454?v=glance&s=books&n=507846">My Life as Emperor</a></em>, home? Now, if only I could set aside some time to read it (I still have a few "assigned" novels to read and review).
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<br />Meanwhile, if you want to try reading Su Tong, do start out with the novella <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0140260307/qid=1100687972/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/002-7162843-4506454?v=glance&s=books&n=507846">Raise the Red Lantern</a></em>. It's one of his finest.
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17309936941955146689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1100246005811647092004-11-12T15:49:00.000+08:002004-11-12T15:53:25.810+08:00Review: A Cold Heart by Jonathan Kellerman<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v372/liztai/cold.jpg" align=left vspace=5 hspace=5>Whoowee! Like, how long since I graced this blog already? Never mind, don't answer that.
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<br />Since reading Michael Connelly, I've been delving more and more into mysteries. Discovered a new author called Jonathan Kellerman while going through the books cabinet at the office and decided to have a go. Honestly, he isn't as good as Connelly. However, he is sure prodigious! He must've written a bazzilion mystery books, most of them featuring the psychologist/nosy detective Alex Delaware.
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<br /><em>A Cold Heart</em> is my first Kellerman read. Here's my review: <a href="http://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2004/11/12/features/9006233&sec=features" target="on_top">Careers cut short</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1098064402010523082004-10-18T09:46:00.000+08:002004-10-18T09:57:21.626+08:00Where art thou?The problem with having a lot of books is that sometimes I can't find them! Just a while back, I was hunting high and low for a particular book I suddenly had the intense desire to read. I couldn't find it even after numerous searches as was about to buy another copy when I saw it tucked in one dark corner of the library.
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<br />I have only about 1,000 books. Okay, it may seem a lot to some, but to those with libraries, this seem like a mini library. My library probably wouldn't expand beyond 1,300 because I usually try to keep it 'under control' by selling some of my books away. Usually what I call 'bad buys'. Books that I wouldn't even think of reading again.
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<br />Anyway, the book that I've lost this time is Dave Barry's latest book which I can't remember the name. Wonderful. I'm due to review it and I can't find it! Argh.
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<br />Well, probably just have to take apart my library to find it somehow.
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<br />Another solution is that perhaps I should try a systematic arragement of my books next time and to create a 'borrower's record'. I lend my books out often, but typically, can't remember what I lent or to whom!
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<br />Wonderful librarian, aren't I?
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<br />(Which makes it doubly ironic since I was really one in school.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1097835815173012912004-10-15T18:10:00.000+08:002004-10-15T18:41:58.136+08:00Anne Rice strikes back at nasty reviewers<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v372/liztai/blood2.jpg" align=left vspace=5 hspace=5>As a book reviewer, I try to remember that behind the book I'm reviewing is a person who has poured heart and soul (well, most of the time) into the writing of the novel. So you can say I'm nice most of the time in my reviews.
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<br />Now, Anne Rice's latest book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/037541200X/qid=1097836034/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/002-1514417-0384856?v=glance&s=books">Blood Canticle</a> has drawn sharp reviews, to put it mildly, from some of the readers at <a href="http://www.amazon.com">Amazon.com</a>. Some, supposedly, who were avid fans of hers. In a surprising turn of events, Rice struck back, posting a reply to all the nasty comments on Amazon.com:
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<br /><blockquote>Now, if it doesn't appeal to you, fine. You don't enjoy it? Read somebody else. But your stupid arrogant assumptions about me and what I am doing are slander. And you have used this site as if it were a public urinal to publish falsehood and lies. I'll never challenge your democratic freedom to do so, and yes, I'm answering you, but for what it's worth, be assured of the utter contempt I feel for you, especially those of you who post anonymously (and perhaps repeatedly?) and how glad I am that this book is the last one in a series that has invited your hateful and ugly responses.</blockquote>
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<br />Together now: <em>Ouch.</em>
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<br />To tell you the truth, Rice's later novels have not matched the standard she has set with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0345313860/qid=1097835397/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/002-1514417-0384856?v=glance&s=books">The Vampire Lestat</a>. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0345422392/qid=1097835560/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-1514417-0384856?v=glance&s=books">Vittoro the Vampire</a> was my last Rice book. It wasn't terribly bad but I felt as if I was reading a Young Adult version of Rice's vampire series, devoid of the complex relationships that entraced me earlier. After a while, they even got repetitive. I was supposed to read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0345443683/qid=1097835397/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-1514417-0384856?v=glance&s=books">Blackwood Farm</a> but it was <em>so</em> bad - it appeared to be the stream of consciousness ramblings of a vampire, and I've had enough of Virginia Woolf since college - that I had to return it, saying: "Uh-uh. If I review this, I'll trash this so bad it'll set sales plunging."
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<br />Another reason why I returned it was because I didn't want to end up having to read it all!
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<br />So, should Rice have dropped that comment like she did? Well, I can understand why she could be peeved. Criticise the book but not the person, says I. But dropping a comment like that does paint an image of 'bad loser' all over her. Several blogs commented on what she did: <a href="http://www.cynical-c.com/archives/2004_09.html#001648">Cynical-C Blog</a> and <a href="http://browriter.blogspot.com/2004/09/anne-rice-speaks.html">Weirdwriter</a>
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<br />Read the nice long list of reviews at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/037541200X/qid=1097836034/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/002-1514417-0384856?v=glance&s=books">Amazon.com</a>. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1093010193237284352004-08-20T21:49:00.000+08:002004-08-20T21:56:33.236+08:00The Pleasure of My Company by Steve Martin<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v372/liztai/book.jpg" align=left vspace=5 hspace=5>So, Steve Martin is an author too, but is he any good? <em>The Pleasure of my Company</em> is his second fiction, the first being <em>Shopgirl</em> - which I have not read.
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<br />To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect from reading this book. I'm generally a person who likes some pleasure from my reading experience, or rather, for something interesting to happen in the story or to the character. (Which is why I tend to gravitate towards fantasy, with it's high-falutin' plots and extraordinary events and characters.) Although interesting things do happen to Daniel Pecan Cambridge (the main character) it isn't something I'd call very exciting.
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<br /><a href="http://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2004/8/20/features/8651614&sec=features">My review</a>, which appeared in today's <em>The Star</em> (especially if you want to read the last line!).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076689.post-1092884004358187222004-08-19T10:21:00.000+08:002004-08-19T10:58:18.046+08:00When you're out of money, read fanfictionWell, that's not necessarily true, of course. I read fanfiction even if I have money to buy more books! It's <span style="font-style:italic;">free</span>, it's there, and it's utterly fun. <a href="http://www.fanfiction.net">Fanfiction.net</a> is a great place to start your fanfic hunt, though there are some sites out there, run by adoring fans, that can be leagues better in story selection.
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<br />If you're a wee bit clueless what fanfiction is, it is fiction based on the characters of a television (usually) show. However, fans have written fanfiction based on certain books as well, such as <a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/list.php?categoryid=382">The Lord of the Rings</a>, <a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/list.php?categoryid=224">Harry Potter</a> and even comics like <a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/list.php?categoryid=28">X-Men</a>.
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<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v372/liztai/love.jpg"> <span style="font-style:italic;">
<br />Wanna see Aragorn ditch Arwen and hook up with Eowyn instead? Never fear! It's merely a fanfiction away!</span>
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<br />I discovered fanfiction through my sister, who was reading Sailor Moon fanfiction. I thought the whole exercise was incredibly weird at first, but nevertheless curiosity won out and I tried my hand at reading Star Trek fanfiction, and I got hopelessly hooked from that day onwards.
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<br />The one fascinating thing about fanfiction, and the whole addictivness of it all, is that you see your favourite TV/Book characters placed in situations you would never see on television.
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<br />Like seeing Chakotay and Capt Janeway having a wild, romantic night out in the holodeck. Or Gil Grissom (of CSI) doing the liplock with Sara Sidle.
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<br />I'm not much into the whole romance thing, but am more interested in the action/adventure aspect of fanfic.
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<br />But finding good fanfiction can be a painful endevour at times. Since most fanfics are written by fans, not all of them are great writers. Some fanfics are downright painful to read. Characters are out of character, and although I'm very forgiving of spelling and grammatical errors (since I'm no Grammar Queen myself), these errors do get tiresome after a while.
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<br />I notice that certain shows attract better writers and stories for some reason. Shows like <span style="font-style:italic;">X-Files, Stargate: SG-1</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">Star Trek</span> have a wealth of good stories. Don't be surprised to find novel-length stories. But for some shows, especially those with a big teen audience like <span style="font-style:italic;">Buffy, Angel, Smallville</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">The O.C.</span>, finding good fanfiction can be an incredibly frustrating endevour. Maybe it is for me since it's always about who is with who, who is in love with who, and who wants to sleep with who.
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<br />Yes, there's a whole debate on whether fanfic is legal or not. However, fans are not stopping anytime soon, worshipping their favourite characters on stories they've created, placing them in weird, weird, weird situations.
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<br />And when I mean weird, it's usually in the pairing department. Fanfic writers love to pair up their favourite characters. Sometimes it something all of us want. Sometimes it's something few of us ever want (Boromir + Faramir [Lord of the Rings] love relationship anyone? Incest is not taboo in the fanfic world). Fanfic writers can sometimes speak in code, and for the first-timer, they'd probably get confused by the various terminology used. Such as:
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<br /><ul>
<br /><li><span style="font-weight:bold;">slash:</span> male and male relationships </li>
<br /><li><span style="font-weight:bold;">UST:</span> Unresolved Sexual Tension. Used a lot in the X-files universe!</li>
<br /><li><span style="font-weight:bold;">Hurt/comfort:</span> Where a character gets hurt, and another comforts the poor fella </li>
<br /><li><span style="font-weight:bold;">Smarm:</span> Imagine tough-looking guys talking about their feelings and dreams around a campfire and you'll get the idea.</li>
<br /><li><span style="font-weight:bold;">sibcest</span>: Let's not even go there.</li>
<br /><li><span style="font-weight:bold;">fluff: </span>A story of little substance, but read/written merely for the heck of it.</li>
<br /><li><span style="font-weight:bold;">Smut: </span>I don't think this needs translation
<br /></li></ul>
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<br />Pairings are indicated by "/". For example, if you have written a story where Scully and Mulder are lovers, you indicate: S/M.
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<br />Fans have even invented cute little names to indicate their favourite pairings. In the smallville universe, the Clark and Lana Lang pairing is "Clana". Hehe.
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<br />Well, since I've joined a gym, and my expenses will inevitably go up, one of the first things I'd have to cut from my spending bill is books. So ... looks like it's a raid at the fanfiction archives for me from now on!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17309936941955146689noreply@blogger.com0