Category Archives: discussion

Review: Blood and Absinthe by Chloe Hart

Posted on by
3

These three novellas all packaged into one are your standard paranormal romance fluff that is the sort of mindless fun that you’d expect from anything that can be described as “standard paranormal romance fluff”. They weren’t really well written and I wasn’t in love with any of the characters but I didn’t hate any of them either. The novellas asked nothing of me and that was exactly what I was looking for.

Plus, I got them from a book bub blast for 99 cents.

The first of the three novellas follows Liz, a faery warrior whose job it is to keep dark paranormal things out of the world. She is forced to work with her nemesis Jack (who is a vampire) to fight a particularly awful demon. It turns out that they both are crushing on each other. The next sentence is a little spoilery in account of this story was kind of formulaic. It also turns out that Jack can lend Liz his super vamp strength so that she can kill the demon if they spend one night of passion together.

The second story follows Celia, Liz’s friend, who is a mage faery and a vampire named Grant. Celia makes a discovery about the faery absinthe that all of the fae use occasionally to up their strength and connect them to their magic. She goes to Grant for protection when she realizes someone is trying to kill her. Intrigue, mayhem and romance ensue. Fun times.

The final story follows Jessica, a faery princess and Vampire assassin Hawk as they try to save magic and keep the human world from being overrun with demons and other evil faeries. There was a lot of hotness early on in this one but I’ll admit that I didn’t finish it because I was kind of bored with the whole world by this point.

I do have one bone to pick with these stories (and in romance novels in general). Sometimes, the sexy bits of these books are problematic in that they show sexual encounters that should not be considered consensual (even though we, as readers with access to the thoughts and feelings of the characters know that that the encounters are consensual). This happened at least once in these novellas: a character was under the influence of a spell or some kind of drug or was having a waking dream and got all hot and heavy with another character. In the worst of these instances, when the non-magicked/drugged/dreaming character realized that they were having sexy times with an incapacitated person they chose to pretend like the incident never happened. This led the other character to wake up and realize that it had happened and to be confused about how to go forward. When I read the novella, I found it enjoyable. But, after I had finished reading it, I felt very uncomfortable with how this had played out. I was uncomfortable because this was a terrible modeling of how people should treat each other in relationships. If you accidentally have magical faery sex with someone who thinks they’re asleep and dreaming your reaction to realizing they thought they were dreaming shouldn’t be, “Well, I’ll just pretend like this didn’t happen.” At the very least, you should make sure that they are physically and emotionally okay. (Or, you know, turn yourself in for sexual assault.) This has been an issue that has been discussed a lot recently with the release of 50 Shades of Grey. It is an important topic to critique and discuss because literature and art allow us to explore our world in a safe space. If the representations that we encounter are problematic, we need to talk about why they are problematic and how they could have been made better. I’m not saying that Chloe Hart should have written any of her scenes differently. They were hot and they served the story and the reader even if they didn’t serve the characters. But, these novellas don’t exist in a vacuum, so it is worth discussing things that make us uncomfortable.

These novellas were fine and they were quick reads but I won’t be reading anything else in the series. Meh.

Not sure how I feel about this

Posted on by
1

So I think we all know this was going to happen.  The show Game of Thrones was going to end before the final book is published.  However, I think many of us, were hoping that the show’s ending would be different then the books.  It’s doesn’t seem like it will be.  Show runners, Dan Weiss and David Benioff confirmed the show is heading towards the same endgame as George is with the book.  I’m not sure how I feel about this.  In one way, we are going to miss out on George’s meticulously detailed story telling and no longer will have the benefit of knowing what’s coming on the show. On the other hand, it means we get to experience the show with a fresh take that we couldn’t before since we had an idea of where the characters stories go.   So there’s good and bad in both options.  First we will get a condensed version of the story and outcome and then we will get a more detailed account of how Westeros was won or lost.  And let’s be honest, I’m going to watch the show and read the final books anyway so why stress how I find out how it ends?  I have seen a movie and then read the book after to see how they compared so this isn’t anything new to me or to many other people. So I guess after typing this all out, I feel alright about this.

So how do you feel about this?  Are you upset that the books will now be spoiled? Will you still read them when they come out? Or are you like me, who’s now just going to go with the flow?  Let us know in the comments below.

RE: Sexism, Twitter and Giant Insects

Posted on by
Reply

One last thing on the whole Andrew Smith fiasco.  Maggie Stiefvater said it best on twitter.

https://twitter.com/mstiefvater/status/576773638512340992

https://twitter.com/mstiefvater/status/576773905878269952

https://twitter.com/mstiefvater/status/576774062812372992

https://twitter.com/mstiefvater/status/576774253162397696

https://twitter.com/mstiefvater/status/576774333261078528

https://twitter.com/mstiefvater/status/576774565411610624

The author who said that Maggie was “more familiar with manly car things” was a female author.  It’s also a pretty benign comment that probably wasn’t meant to be sexist but could be taken as that, just as Smith’s comments were.  It goes both ways.  That’s why we have to talk about.  Sexism has become such a part of culture that we don’t even truly realize we do it.

Sexism, Twitter and Giant Insects

Posted on by
5

Author Andrew Smith is having a good year. His last book, Grasshopper Jungle, won a Printz Honor and he’s been getting good reviews on his new book, The Alex Crow.  He’s been called the Kurt Vonnegurt of YA and Grasshopper Jungle has shades of Slaughterhouse-Five with it’s multi-layered plot lines  that are kinda absurd.  However, he started a controversy after comments he recently made to Vice.com  Here’s the quote that got him in trouble.

On the flip side, it sometimes seems like there isn’t much of a way into your books for female readers. Where are all the women in your work?
I was raised in a family with four boys, and I absolutely did not know anything about girls at all. I have a daughter now; she’s 17. When she was born, that was the first girl I ever had in my life. I consider myself completely ignorant to all things woman and female. I’m trying to be better though.

So, he’s saying that the reason that his female characters are one dimensional is because he has had no experience with them so he can’t write them.  By that logic, what experience does he have with giant insects that he was able to make them believable? Anyway, it’s not surprisingly, many women in literary circles took to twitter and other social media and called him out on this comment and in response it seems Mr. Smith deleted his twitter page.  In return, many of the women who criticized have been harassed and bullied for speaking up.  Criticizing someone’s work is not bullying them and nor is having a valid point either. This has sadly become all to common on social media.  Let’s not forget that Gamer Gate is still going on. That many women on the internet are threatened with violence for nothing but pointing out sexist practices and trying to start conversations to change them.

I like this tweet by author Shannon Hale.*

but I feel for women author they really don’t have the luxury of creating one dimensional characters the way men authors do at least when it comes to female characters.  I feel like it a female author wrote male characters the way that most female characters are that they would be undoubtedly called on and probably wouldn’t publish another book. But that’s just me.

I liked Grasshopper Jungle. My only beef with it was the fact that the only real female character in it, Shann was a non-entity.   As I wrote in mini-review of the book earlier this year.

Weird. In one way, it was refreshing to have a novel take on bisexuality in such a head on way but on the other hand, the female lead Shann, is pretty one dimensional. So it’s progressive in one way and a step back in another way.

So one one hand, he wrote a compelling story of a boy struggling with his own sexuality against the backdrop of apocalyptic destruction by giant grasshoppers.  On the other hand, the few women in the story were the girlfriend, who is a none issue besides being the main character girlfriend and mom of the main character’s best friend who is promiscuous. So, in Mr Smith’s own words, he is ignorant of all things women so he’s just not going to put the time into writing them.

So this has turned out to be a longer post then I intended but that’s OK.  We need to talk about this.  We need to talk about the lack of diversity in literature, whether it’s adult fiction or young adult fiction.  We need to stop allowing authors get away with lazy opinions that because they are not female or minority that they can’t possibly write those characters so they don’t and when they do, we should call them out on it and not fear being, harassed, threatened or bullied.  Andrew Smith is good author as he was just recently honored with a prestigious award so he should be held to higher standard but then again all authors should be too.

So I ask you, what is your opinion on this or this topic?  Sound off in the comments below.

*Speaking of Shannon Hale.  Here’s an account from a school visit she recently did where only girls were given permission to hear her talk, not the boys.

Only One More Month, People!

Posted on by
Reply

HBO released a new trailer for Season 5 of Game of Thrones.  Unfortunately, I can’t figure out how to embed the video (I’m sure they did that on purpose) so you are going to have to Click Here To View it.

Also exciting news, HBO has partnered up with Apple to launch their HBO Go service as a stand alone service.  As of now, you have to subscribe to HBO via your cable package to got it but now, you’ll be able to get HBO and all of their movies, shows, and documentaries without having to have a cable! The service goes live on April 12.  You know what also happens on April 12?  The premiere of Season 5!  Coincidence?  I think not.  Well played HBO.

Now that we have seen the trailers, what do you expect from this season?  Do you think they will continue to stay faithful to the books or is this the year that they really go their own way?  Sound off in the comments below.

So What is New Adult?

Posted on by
3

I just finished reading A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas and it was good but I’m holding off posting my review until closer to it’s May 5 released date as request of the publisher. (If anyone is interested in, you can download the first four chapters on your Nook, Kindle or other devices for free. I would recommend it) However, that hasn’t stopped me from reading what other people are saying about it.  In some of the few reviews I have read, I was surprised to read that many people are calling this book a New Adult title instead of Young Adult.  I mean what’s the difference. According to good old Wikipedia.

New Adult (NA) fiction is a developing genre of fiction with protagonists in the 18–25 age bracket. St. Martin’s Press first coined the term in 2009, when they held a special call for “…fiction similar to YA that can be published and marketed as adult—a sort of an ‘older YA’ or ‘new adult’.” New Adult fiction tends to focus on issues such as leaving home, developing sexuality, and negotiating education and career choices

Well that clears things up.  So, it’s YA but marketing to adults.  As for focus of issues of home, developing sexuality and education seem to be pretty normal topics for YA to me.  I’ll give them career choices though.  So is this a marketing ploy?  Is it an easier way for parents, librarians and booksellers to recommend books that are age appropriate?  For readers to find more books they like? Or just another way to put books into catergory?

As for A Court of Thorns and Roses the only difference between it and other YA fantasy novels is well sex.  This book contained some of the most detailed sex scenes I’ve read for a novel directed for young readers.  That being said, it also leaves a lot to the readers imagination but goes much farther then other authors have.  If I was still a bookseller, I wouldn’t recommend it for tweens or younger teens not because I don’t think they could handle it but I would be afraid of the parents reaction.  As for me, I’m also an adult who is not at least bit embarrassed to read YA or even children’s lit. It doesn’t bother me if people see me browsing the Teen aisle or reading Cassandra Clare on the train.  Let them think of me what they want.  I’ll read what I want, whether I was target audience or not. I guess that not many people feel the same about it as I do as there articles and articles about whether or not it’s ok for Adults to read YA or not.  I guess New Adult, might assuage some of the fears of people looking down on them because while New Adult may have my cover many of the same themes as YA is supposedly more sophisticated then YA.  RIght?

So I guess I go back to my original question, what really is New Adult Literature? Is it just YA for the college years and older? A new way for publishers to make money? A guilt free pass for adults to read YA? A legitimate new genre?  Sound off in the comments and tell me what you think.

Dear Stackologist: You seem to know about love and reincarnation

Posted on by
Reply

Dear Stackologist,

I read your column and you seem to have some idea of how to deal with love and reincarnation. I have a love and reincarnation problem. Um, the world might end because of my one true love and me. I know, sorry everyone. I really love him, he’s great. Our friends are great. But, in order to save the world I have to be careful and keep a low profile. This has meant that I’ve had to stay away from my family and I really miss them. Do you have any advice for how to keep in touch with your family without blowing your cover?

Sincerely,
Love Gives You Wings

Dear Wings,

Pre-paid cell phone? Hotmail account you and your parents both have a password to that you save messages to the drafts folder in? I don’t know, I’m a blogger not a spy, Jim. I am happy that you are trying to reach out and keep in touch with your family, though. And, I’m happy that you really love your guy and that he is great. I do worry for you, though. Separating someone from their support structure, the people who know and love them is also a tactic used by abusers. Please do find a way to reach out to your family and keep in touch with them. Please be careful with yourself while you’re saving the world.

-The Stackologist

Dear Stackologist,

I recently spent some time in prison. It’s complicated. As I’m sure you’re aware, the government is corrupt and has been targeting minority populations for oppression, marginalization and extermination. Before I was, uhm, released from prison, my keeper and I had a chance to get to know each other and come to trust each other. I see him as a strong ally in my fight against a corrupt government. I also maybe see him as a bit more. (I think he feels the same way, too.) However, I’m afraid to admit to my feelings because I think my friends will see our relationship as nothing more than Stockholm Syndrome. I just don’t know how to approach this topic with them.

–Prison Tat

Dear Prison Tat,

Life is complicated, isn’t it? I think it’s great that you were able to find an ally (and maybe more!) in such a horrifying situation. I also think it is wonderful that you have kept strong ties with your friends. I think you have to ask yourself some hard questions but it sounds like your head is in the right place and I feel like you’ll come to the right decision for you. First, are you afraid that your friends will think you have Stockholm Syndrome because part of you also might feel that way? Really examine your feelings and their origins. If you think you might be coming to identify with your captors then I think you may want to consider a cooling off period without you ally with benefits. If you aren’t, and your feelings, like the world around you, are complicated but coming from a good place, then you should consider being honest with your friends and frankly discussing your feelings. Discussing your feelings with people who care for you will let them know you still trust and value their opinion. It may also help you gain new perspective on your situation. Most of all, it will help to reinforce your support system and if you’re about to take on a corrupt government, you’re going to need that. Finally, we here at Stacks Exceed Life Expectancy have always found that the traditional view on Valentine’s Day, where you focus on romantic love, is misguided. Saint Valentine was martyred for marrying people who was told not to marry. He stood up for what he believed in and fought the power. Today is a day for bold and revolutionary acts. So, today, we here at Stacks Exceed Life Expectancy stand up with you against your corrupt government and say:

Vive la Révolution!

Yours,
The Stackologist

Dear Stackologist: Life is Full of Tough Choices

Posted on by
1

Dear Stackologist,

I am married. I thought I would be happy to be married to my husband.  He is exactly the type of man I should be married to as we come from the same background and status but he isn’t my true love.  That belongs to my father’s ward.  He would be unsuitable to marry, I know but we are kindred spirits.  We used to run all over the moors together.  I think what makes me the most unhappy is that my love has ran off with my husband’s sister and married her.  I think I was much happier when he was mine and mine alone.  Am I wrong to be so down?  I just might die if I can’t have him.

Lonely on the Moors.

Dear Moors,

First of all, I feel like you got married for the wrong reasons.  While it might be important to please your family, this is your life and not theirs so if you are not happy with your husband then maybe it’s time for a divorce.  Chances are, if you are not happy neither is he.  As for your other issue, I’m not sure you really love him but want to possess him.  That’s not exactly healthy.  If he has gotten married, you should respect his decision but again I do worry about his reasons for marriage too but that’s for another letter.  Also I’m a little worried about you saying you will die without him.  No man is worth dying for.  Life is full disappointments and you must learn to live with them.  Nor can you expect someone to stay single just because you want them too.  You moved on, you have to allow that they will move on, too.

Sincerely,

Stackologist

Dear Stackologist,

I really like this guy but we sort of met under unusual situation.  He’s funny, and charming and also an addict.  He traded in doing drugs and alcohol for another vice, so to speak, but he still partakes in self destructive behavior.  I couldn’t take it. I could not stay and watch him destroy himself. So, I left. I moved to California with my Mom.  I have my own problems to deal with like my brother’s death and my parent marital problems (they’re divorcing).  I don’t need to his on top of that.  I thought I was getting over him when one day he showed up at my job.  Now all the feelings I had for him are back but I’m not sure I can trust him. He says he is no longer doing what he was doing but I just don’t know.  I’m not sure I can let him back into my life.

Ugh. I can’t believe I’m one of those letter-writing girls

Dear Letter-Writer,

I think it’s brave that you saw that you were in a bad situation and you took yourself out of it.  It’s not easy, especially when it involves someone that you care about. It sounds like you are going through a difficult time right now and by taking him out of the equation you are on the right path.  I think this is one of those cases where the only person that can truly help them is them.  It’s obviously difficult now that he is back in your life.  You want to believe he is better and maybe he is but more importantly, how are you?  Who is supporting you? Who is helping you cope with your brother’s death and your parents’ separation?  I think you need to deal with you first before him.  If he cares for you, then he will wait for to get yourself back together.

-Stackologist

Dear Stackologist: Love Advice for the Young and Literary

Posted on by
Reply

During this week ending in Valentine’s Day, we here at Stacks Exceed Life Expectancy will be offering our advice to any heroines or heroes who see fit to send us a missive.

Dear Stackologist,

My fiance and I have reached a sticky spot in our relationship. We’re going to be married before the end of summer and we’ve never…you know. Whenever we talk about it, he tells me that he doesn’t think we’re ready, that he’s worried about the state of my soul and he’s also really worried that he’ll hurt me. (He’s very strong!) I see his reasoning, I guess. If he’s worried about my soul, I should just let it go. But, I’m ready to move on to the next stage of our relationship and it is frustrating! help! I’m not sure what to do!

Vamps4Eva

Dear Vamps4Eva,

A relationship is about give and take. Sometimes, you don’t get exactly what you want but that’s okay because your partner is happy and there will come a time when you’re happy but they didn’t get exactly what they wanted. If you are happy enough with the compromise, then you can go ahead and continue on with the relationship as is. If you aren’t happy with the compromise, you should tell your partner how you feel. You should use I-statements (“I feel this…”)

My bigger concern is this: He is very strong and concerned that he’ll hurt you and he is telling you what to do with your body. You are in charge of your body. No one else is. And, I recommend being wary of anyone trying to warn you off because “they might hurt you”. This is a move often made by abusers to put themselves in a position of power over someone. They warn you off, you keep on, and then when something bad happens instead of dealing with the bad, getting angry, leaving, a victim will blame themselves for not listening to the original warning and stay and possibly get hurt more. I recommend talking to someone, a family member, a friend and making sure that you really are safe.

Finally, I know this is a hard to think about, pending nuptials and everything, but sometimes relationships fail because you and your partner want different things. Sometimes those things can be part of your physical relationship. It is a huge bummer but it is better that you realize it before the wedding than after. Think really hard about if this relationship is really what you want and really meets your needs, physical and emotional. Relationships are about compromise, but you can’t compromise on your needs.

-The Stackologist

Dear Stackologist,

I recently met this dude and he’s super hot and we get along really well together and I think I’m falling in love. Maybe for the second time? I discovered recently that in my past life he was indirectly responsible for my death. I also just discovered that he was directly responsible for a recent wave of genocide against my people.

But, I know he’s been abused by his father and he may have started the genocide as revenge for my death. I’m so torn. How do I reconcile my anger with him and my love for him?

–Blue from head to toe

Dearest, Blue,

Wow. I am so sorry, well, sorry doesn’t even cover it, to hear about the genocide against your people. That is a serious trauma and I recommend that you seek some counseling for that. And, if sounds like your dude might also be suffering from some trauma related to your death. I recommend that he also seek some counseling. It sounds like what you need is to have a serious discussion (or series of discussions) about his involvement in the genocide and possibly your death. And, you need to decide what you are willing to forgive and what you’re willing to live with. Sometimes, things don’t work out not because of how we feel but because of bigger concerns. But, sometimes they do.

-The Stackologist

GoT! What might have been and What might be.

Posted on by
Reply

Who knew I would be writing about HarperCollins twice in one week? It turns out HarperCollins London’s office is moving into a swanky new office.  According to this article, there are conferences rooms named in honor of their authors, Hilary Mantel and George R.R. Martin. And it’s the Martin room that interests me.  This room has on display the original letter that Mr. Martin wrote to his agent about the plot of The Song of Ice and Fire.  The final paragraph has been blacked out keeping the ending a mystery, for which I am glad about.

Some kind soul took pictures of the letter and posted it on Tumblr. I don’t think I have to say this but I will, Spoiler Alert.  While many of Mr. Martin’s original ideas did not come to pass, some still might happen.  Including the five characters who Mr. Martin originally intended on surviving the whole series.  I give you a hint, all five are currently still alive though may not be for much longer.  So, click at your own risk. 

For those who found the letter to hard to read or too lazy to read it,  MilfordAcademy summarized the letter on the blog Oh No They Didn’t.  Again, don’t read unless you really want to know. You’ve been warned!

So what do you think?  Who wishes some of what he originally planned had happened?  There’s a few things I definitely do and other’s I’m very glad never happened but I guess there is still time.