Greetings,
So, like yesterday, I am clarifying where this band comes from. Even though, unlike The Misfits, I don't think that The Stingers have a real world counterpart. Actually, I think they kinda dressed a lot like that band, Stryper, what with the black and yellow theme, but whatevs. I just wanted to be consistent, so there you go.
Anyway, as fans know, this group showed up in the third and final season of Jem & the Holograms, with a bunch of songs written, yet again, by Barry Harman. Yeah, I have to keep giving this guy credit. And whilst I enjoy the songs of the previous cartoon bands I discussed, I must say, I think Mr. Harman saved his best stuff for last, because I kinda like these songs more than the others, over all. Sorry. Gotta be honest.
Also, with this new group, we get some new singing voices, of course. Providing the vocals for the ladies, Minx and Rapture, we had the late, great Vicki Sue Robinson, of "Turn the Beat Around" fame and beyond. And we had Gordon Grody, a very accomplished singer and vocal coach as the voice of the animated greatest love of my life, Riot. What? I loved Riot. He was my first bad boy crush. He was all handsome and arrogant, and he had a fabulous wardrobe, awesome hair, and some serious "Daddy Issues", which means he just needed a hug. He was basically a precursor to Tom Hiddleston's version of Loki. Wait, didn't I mention Loki yesterday? Weird, because I hate those movies. Apologies. Anywho, let's get this list started.
#10. "The Stingers' Theme" - To be fair, the only reason why this song made the list is because, if it wasn't, I'd only have nine songs. Yeah, The Stingers didn't have a massive body of work. I mean, this list is pretty much their debut album. And whilst I can get a kick out of this one, it's certainly not the best.
#9. "Are You Feelin' Alright?" - You gotta love a song where it's about asking if someone is alright...due to extreme niceness. For real, that's what the episode was about. One of the members was acting nice, and the other two were not having it. Well, they did, after all, have an image to uphold, so I'll let it slide.
#8. "Take It Or Leave It" - Did I mention Riot was a little arrogant? Yeah, so were his band mates. In other words, they're awesome, you're not. And if you don't like how they behave, you can just move yourself on. Personally, I liked it so I stayed...and took it.
#7. "All In The Style" - This song has the lyrics "Sparkle, shimmer, twinkle and buzz". I'm sorry. Do you need another reason why this one is amazing? Yeah, I didn't think so.
#6. "Perfect Match" - This song always made me question Riot's feelings for Jem. I mean, he says he loves her, but according to the lyrics, it seems he only wants to be with her because he thinks she's as perfect as he is. Fortunately, I am also perfect, so, Riot, if Jem doesn't want you, I'm right over here.
#5. "It's a Hard, Hard Life" - That's right. Not a hard KNOCK life. Just a hard, HARD life. I say The Stingers have beat Annie and Company on this one. Also, it gave us some great back story on the band, with the help of the visuals of the show, of course. It gives a good reminder about the days when people couldn't get famous by way of the YouTubes. Good times, indeed.
#4. "Destiny" - This is the one song where Ms. Vicki Sue Robinson really gets to shine as she gets to do some solo singing in the verses. This is a excellent tune, and it makes me wish they used her even more.
#3. "Mind Games" - Not better than John Lennon's. Darn close, though. And as far as beats go, I'd say this one has the best of all of them. Too bad it's about messin' with people's minds, and in the case of the episode from whence this came, they were messin' with an old lady. Stingers, come on now. I know The Misfits tried to kill people a few times, and you're trying to keep up, but that was just mean.
#2. "Under My Spell" - I absolutely love the melody in this song, especially the bridge. I think it's the bridge. I don't know. Look, you'll know what part I like best when you hear it. Also, this song was featured in the episode where Riot kinda kidnaps Jem and whisks her away to a deserted island so they can live there forever, just the two of them. That does it! I'm dying my hair pink, because, apparently, everything lovely happens to people with pink hair!
#1. "Let Me Be" - So, not only is this my favorite song from The Stingers, this is my favorite song from the entire series. True story. It is just perfect, especially for the episode in which it is played. Which also happens to be my favorite episode of the entire series. True story again. It's just so good and it makes my heart feel warm and all that, which is something I love from music. Therefore, many thanks for this one.
So, those are my favorite songs by The Stingers. And since I've come to the end of this little series, honoring the music from the wonderful cartoon series, Jem & the Holograms, let me finish with this. Whilst the songs that came from this show may not have shaken the world, they were one of the first things that made me fall in love with music. And as cheesy and overly nostalgic as some people may want to label them, I'm grateful to those behind this show that created them and brought them to me, to provide some of the few good memories I have from my childhood. Yes, I am extremely grateful indeed.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Friday, February 10, 2017
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Top Ten Misfits Songs (from the series Jem & the Holograms)
Greetings,
So, as you can see, I had to clarify which Misfits I am discussing today. Apparently, there's more than one. But if you read my post yesterday, you already knew what was coming. Today, we will be ranking what I consider the best songs from the archnemeses of the Holograms, the Misfits. Now THEY said that their songs are better, and sometimes they were correct. I mean, there's some fun in the badness of our villain band here.
Once again, credit to Barry Harman, the songwriter, and the singing voice of Pizzazz, Ellen Bernfeld. Perfect choice, by the way. Her vocals had sass, in the best way, just like The Misfits. So, let's get into this music, shall we? Or as the aforementioned, Pizzazz, would probably say, "We're gonna talk about this music, whether you like it or not...BECAUSE I SAID SO!" Off we go!
#10. "Gimme Gimme Gimme" - "Gimme, gimme, gimme, or I'll take it and make it mine!" Okay, right off the bat, we see that The Misfits may not have the best messages to their songs. But they're the villains, so it's cool. Also, this gives us some insight that maybe one of the members is used to getting everything she wants, i.e. "Daddy, I need to buy a music company!" "Sure, why not?"
#9. "Outta My Way" - This one here is the first song we get from The Misfits. Again, very appropriate to prepare us for things to come. And when you see them coming, for realsies, outta their way. See, how nice I am, to warn you.
#8. "Surprise, Surprise" - I think my favorite part of this song is the little "Heh, heh, heh" that we can hear. It sounds a little creepy, but that's a good thing in my book. Also, I would prefer this song to "Pop Goes the Weasel" when I'm cranking the handle on a Jack in the Box. Personal tastes, just sayin'.
#7. "Listen Up" - When some people say, 'Listen up', you do it. This is one of those times. And apparently, according to this song, it's the end of my career. Which I would be worried about. If I had one. Sad face.
#6. "Makin' Mischief" - If I had to dub any song by The Misfits as their theme song, I would say it's this one. I think, for most fans of the show, it's the one we think of first when we think of them. It certainly reminds us of their love of shenanigans and hijinks...and sometimes capital crimes. And since "mischief" and all, this also might make a good theme song for Loki.
#5. "We're Off and Running" - They sang this song whilst on a roller coaster. I know I shouldn't bring up the 'video' that went along with it, but even without that, I would love this song. And yes, ladies, you are looking stunning.
#4. "Takin' It All" - We're gonna call this the cousin song to #10! Except it's much better. Ironically, they sang this right before they lost a competition. Of course, they rarely win, so when else would they sing it.
#3. "Free and Easy" - So, we've established that the members of The Misfits can act ever so slightly entitled and they also don't doing work much. So what a perfect song to describe how they want to live! For real, in the episode, they literally have a conversation about how work sucks and all that right before they sang it. And for someone who is stressed...A LOT!...I can't really disagree with the message of this song entirely.
#2. "I Like Your Style" - This song was the first one they performed when they got a new member, who happened to be a saxophone player, and they really take advantage of that here. It sounds fantastic and I love the chorus melody. This is one of those times when you know the songwriter was not messing around.
#1. "Universal Appeal" - "In my own mind's eye, I am the sky, so why should I be shy, when I've got universal appeal!" I mean, does that not just sum it all up for how The Misfits feel about themselves? They're rad (because 80's) and you're not. End of story. Seriously, though, I love the lyrics of this song a lot, and the music fits it perfectly. Top tier, indeed.
And there you have my favorite songs by The Misfits. I must say, if they and the Holograms were around IRL, I would have a tough time deciding which one I liked better, since both have a collection of great songs. Gee, I hope another group doesn't show up with music that blows both of them out of the water! Ha, ha, ha! Yeah, see you tomorrow.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
So, as you can see, I had to clarify which Misfits I am discussing today. Apparently, there's more than one. But if you read my post yesterday, you already knew what was coming. Today, we will be ranking what I consider the best songs from the archnemeses of the Holograms, the Misfits. Now THEY said that their songs are better, and sometimes they were correct. I mean, there's some fun in the badness of our villain band here.
Once again, credit to Barry Harman, the songwriter, and the singing voice of Pizzazz, Ellen Bernfeld. Perfect choice, by the way. Her vocals had sass, in the best way, just like The Misfits. So, let's get into this music, shall we? Or as the aforementioned, Pizzazz, would probably say, "We're gonna talk about this music, whether you like it or not...BECAUSE I SAID SO!" Off we go!
#10. "Gimme Gimme Gimme" - "Gimme, gimme, gimme, or I'll take it and make it mine!" Okay, right off the bat, we see that The Misfits may not have the best messages to their songs. But they're the villains, so it's cool. Also, this gives us some insight that maybe one of the members is used to getting everything she wants, i.e. "Daddy, I need to buy a music company!" "Sure, why not?"
#9. "Outta My Way" - This one here is the first song we get from The Misfits. Again, very appropriate to prepare us for things to come. And when you see them coming, for realsies, outta their way. See, how nice I am, to warn you.
#8. "Surprise, Surprise" - I think my favorite part of this song is the little "Heh, heh, heh" that we can hear. It sounds a little creepy, but that's a good thing in my book. Also, I would prefer this song to "Pop Goes the Weasel" when I'm cranking the handle on a Jack in the Box. Personal tastes, just sayin'.
#7. "Listen Up" - When some people say, 'Listen up', you do it. This is one of those times. And apparently, according to this song, it's the end of my career. Which I would be worried about. If I had one. Sad face.
#6. "Makin' Mischief" - If I had to dub any song by The Misfits as their theme song, I would say it's this one. I think, for most fans of the show, it's the one we think of first when we think of them. It certainly reminds us of their love of shenanigans and hijinks...and sometimes capital crimes. And since "mischief" and all, this also might make a good theme song for Loki.
#5. "We're Off and Running" - They sang this song whilst on a roller coaster. I know I shouldn't bring up the 'video' that went along with it, but even without that, I would love this song. And yes, ladies, you are looking stunning.
#4. "Takin' It All" - We're gonna call this the cousin song to #10! Except it's much better. Ironically, they sang this right before they lost a competition. Of course, they rarely win, so when else would they sing it.
#3. "Free and Easy" - So, we've established that the members of The Misfits can act ever so slightly entitled and they also don't doing work much. So what a perfect song to describe how they want to live! For real, in the episode, they literally have a conversation about how work sucks and all that right before they sang it. And for someone who is stressed...A LOT!...I can't really disagree with the message of this song entirely.
#2. "I Like Your Style" - This song was the first one they performed when they got a new member, who happened to be a saxophone player, and they really take advantage of that here. It sounds fantastic and I love the chorus melody. This is one of those times when you know the songwriter was not messing around.
#1. "Universal Appeal" - "In my own mind's eye, I am the sky, so why should I be shy, when I've got universal appeal!" I mean, does that not just sum it all up for how The Misfits feel about themselves? They're rad (because 80's) and you're not. End of story. Seriously, though, I love the lyrics of this song a lot, and the music fits it perfectly. Top tier, indeed.
And there you have my favorite songs by The Misfits. I must say, if they and the Holograms were around IRL, I would have a tough time deciding which one I liked better, since both have a collection of great songs. Gee, I hope another group doesn't show up with music that blows both of them out of the water! Ha, ha, ha! Yeah, see you tomorrow.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Top Ten Jem & the Holograms Songs
Greetings,
If you read my analysis on the songs of last year, you'll know I was incredibly displeased. Thus, I was motivated to get into my metaphoric time machine and head back to a period in my life when music made me happy. Specifically, my childhood. And, believe it or not, said childhood was rather dominated by the music of one show: Jem & the Holograms.
I've talked about this show before, like when I listed my favorite episodes, but an important aspect of the series was the music, of course. So, I decided to share with you all the ones that are my personal favorites. Now, keep in mind, all these songs are about a minute or so long, as they were being incorporated into a half hour show, so there's not a ton to say about them. Still, there was quite a bit of care put into them by the writer Barry Harman, who, with the exception of the theme, wrote all the songs. ALL OF THEM! That...is impressive. And let us not forget the wonderful singing of Ms. Britta Phillips, who was the musical voice of Jem, herself.
So, let's get started with my Top Ten Jem & the Holograms songs. Off we go. Wait, no. I mean...Showtime, Synergy! Oh, quiet! You know you would have said the same thing. Carry on!
#10. "Love Will Show the Way" - There's something very haunting about the melody of this song, whilst also having some hopeful lyrics. It's tough to mix those things and have them fit together well, but mission accomplished here.
#9. "Only the Beginning" - So, this is the first song we heard from Jem & the Holograms, aside from the opening credits. And it literally was only the beginning. No false advertising here, my friends. None at all.
#8. "Can't Get My Love Together" - Well, for crying out loud, Jem/Jerrica. I can't imagine why you're having this problem. Oh, wait. Yes, I can. All things considered, plot-wise, this tune could make me roll my eyes, but it is a lovely, heartbreaking song. Can't ask for more than that?
#7. "Deception" - And to continue on that subject...Now THIS should have been the theme song for the show. And if you've seen the series, you'll know why. You also would have gotten my references for the previous song. Yeah, there might be a tad bit of dishonesty between characters. Just sayin'. At least, we got a good song out of it. Hooray!
#6. "Dear Diary" - I like diaries, even though I've never been good at keeping one. At least, not in the traditional sense. But, as a writer, I like the message in this song, talking about how valuable and comforting writing things down can be. It is. I know.
#5. "Straight From the Heart" - Whilst singing this song, the group was wearing attire with a "Martinique Look". It was a plot point in the episode. Anyway, as per usual, they tried to match it with the music. And, again, it's a great message about how people aren't always what you expect and they might have something wonderful to share with you.
#4. "You Already Know" - I get such a kick out of the melody for this song. It's very upbeat and playful, with what I feel is something of a late 50's, early 60's kind of style to it. It's just a fun love song about a couple in love. So sweet.
#3. "Let the Music Play" - So, this song is from the land of Shangri-La. What? Hey, just because Josh Gates can't find it doesn't mean that no one ever did. Anyway, amidst the sea of 80's glam rock that we love from this show, this song really stood out. It is a legit gorgeous piece of music, and it just makes me feel comforted when I hear it. And since I think that was the point, excellent work!
#2. "When It's Only Me and the Music" - I guess we can just call this the theme song for the character, Danse. Because I'm pretty sure the only times I heard this song on the show was when she was, well, dancing. Even in space, as the lyrics dictate. Joking aside, this is a lovely song, and the lyrics and melody are a perfect fit for each other.
#1. "You're Always in My Heart" - Oh, My Feels! Yeah, I'm not one to be ruled by such, but we are dealing with something nostalgic here, so it's okay. And there are plenty of feels in this song. It's basically a song for their father who passed away, and I get misty-eyed for real when I hear this one. But it also has a heartwarming aspect to it. I mean, there are few things more beautiful than promising to never forget those you love and those who loved you.
And there you have it. My favorite songs from Jem & the Holograms. Mock the hardcore 80's-ness of this show all you want, but some of that music was very good. It certainly holds up for me after all these years. But it didn't stop with just the titular group. Oh, no. We've got two more bands to get through. So, tune in tomorrow, to hear what I think of one of them. And if their songs are, indeed, better.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
If you read my analysis on the songs of last year, you'll know I was incredibly displeased. Thus, I was motivated to get into my metaphoric time machine and head back to a period in my life when music made me happy. Specifically, my childhood. And, believe it or not, said childhood was rather dominated by the music of one show: Jem & the Holograms.
I've talked about this show before, like when I listed my favorite episodes, but an important aspect of the series was the music, of course. So, I decided to share with you all the ones that are my personal favorites. Now, keep in mind, all these songs are about a minute or so long, as they were being incorporated into a half hour show, so there's not a ton to say about them. Still, there was quite a bit of care put into them by the writer Barry Harman, who, with the exception of the theme, wrote all the songs. ALL OF THEM! That...is impressive. And let us not forget the wonderful singing of Ms. Britta Phillips, who was the musical voice of Jem, herself.
So, let's get started with my Top Ten Jem & the Holograms songs. Off we go. Wait, no. I mean...Showtime, Synergy! Oh, quiet! You know you would have said the same thing. Carry on!
#10. "Love Will Show the Way" - There's something very haunting about the melody of this song, whilst also having some hopeful lyrics. It's tough to mix those things and have them fit together well, but mission accomplished here.
#9. "Only the Beginning" - So, this is the first song we heard from Jem & the Holograms, aside from the opening credits. And it literally was only the beginning. No false advertising here, my friends. None at all.
#8. "Can't Get My Love Together" - Well, for crying out loud, Jem/Jerrica. I can't imagine why you're having this problem. Oh, wait. Yes, I can. All things considered, plot-wise, this tune could make me roll my eyes, but it is a lovely, heartbreaking song. Can't ask for more than that?
#7. "Deception" - And to continue on that subject...Now THIS should have been the theme song for the show. And if you've seen the series, you'll know why. You also would have gotten my references for the previous song. Yeah, there might be a tad bit of dishonesty between characters. Just sayin'. At least, we got a good song out of it. Hooray!
#6. "Dear Diary" - I like diaries, even though I've never been good at keeping one. At least, not in the traditional sense. But, as a writer, I like the message in this song, talking about how valuable and comforting writing things down can be. It is. I know.
#5. "Straight From the Heart" - Whilst singing this song, the group was wearing attire with a "Martinique Look". It was a plot point in the episode. Anyway, as per usual, they tried to match it with the music. And, again, it's a great message about how people aren't always what you expect and they might have something wonderful to share with you.
#4. "You Already Know" - I get such a kick out of the melody for this song. It's very upbeat and playful, with what I feel is something of a late 50's, early 60's kind of style to it. It's just a fun love song about a couple in love. So sweet.
#3. "Let the Music Play" - So, this song is from the land of Shangri-La. What? Hey, just because Josh Gates can't find it doesn't mean that no one ever did. Anyway, amidst the sea of 80's glam rock that we love from this show, this song really stood out. It is a legit gorgeous piece of music, and it just makes me feel comforted when I hear it. And since I think that was the point, excellent work!
#2. "When It's Only Me and the Music" - I guess we can just call this the theme song for the character, Danse. Because I'm pretty sure the only times I heard this song on the show was when she was, well, dancing. Even in space, as the lyrics dictate. Joking aside, this is a lovely song, and the lyrics and melody are a perfect fit for each other.
#1. "You're Always in My Heart" - Oh, My Feels! Yeah, I'm not one to be ruled by such, but we are dealing with something nostalgic here, so it's okay. And there are plenty of feels in this song. It's basically a song for their father who passed away, and I get misty-eyed for real when I hear this one. But it also has a heartwarming aspect to it. I mean, there are few things more beautiful than promising to never forget those you love and those who loved you.
And there you have it. My favorite songs from Jem & the Holograms. Mock the hardcore 80's-ness of this show all you want, but some of that music was very good. It certainly holds up for me after all these years. But it didn't stop with just the titular group. Oh, no. We've got two more bands to get through. So, tune in tomorrow, to hear what I think of one of them. And if their songs are, indeed, better.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Saturday, January 28, 2017
The Gospel of Loki by Joanne Harris - Book Review
Greetings,
Have you ever heard the term "Unreliable narrator"? Well, in case it's not obvious, this means that the person telling a story might not be the most trustworthy person in all the land. Now this is the kind of thing that can go either way. Some people, when reading a story, want the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, whilst others find some mystery and even entertainment value in a narrator who, shall we say, embellishes things a bit. For myself, I am one who enjoys the truth, but if the narration interests and amuses me enough, I'll take some stretching of it. And that might just be what a reader will get in The Gospel of Loki.
The Gospel of Loki is a 2014 novel by Joanne Harris, who might be best known for the book Chocolat. It was a movie. There is chocolate everywhere. I love it. But I digress. This book is a retelling of many stories from Norse mythology about Thor and Odin and Asgard and all the...lovely characters within, all told from the lips of - you'll never guess - Loki! Hence, my discussion of the "Unreliable narrator". I hear Loki can be a trickster. I heard it a lot in this book. I also heard that, apparently, one of his other names is Dogstar, which made me wonder if this is where Keanu Reeves got the name of that band he used to play in. Just wondering.
Anyway, the point of having these stories told by the supposed villain, I think, is because they tend to be told by the supposed heroes. That's probably how they get their respective titles. Now, don't get me wrong. This does not exactly portray Loki as the good guy, but it does allow him to show us the people who we assume to be the good guys from a different angle. And while he may be biased against them, it doesn't mean he's making everything up. Even if he is, though, he does so in a very amusing manner. That's probably the best thing about this book - the way the narration and his dialogue are written. Quickly enough, you get used to his manner of speaking, but then he throws in a surprise, like quite a few modern pop culture references, like the word "chillax". I'm not making this up. Although, that modern speaking makes you wonder when exactly this story is being told. I like that, because it's part of the mystery.
Also, this book doesn't exactly have a traditional plot. As I mentioned before, it more tells a lot of different stories, again, ones we know from Norse mythology, but from a different perspective. The thread is the narrator, which gives it some cohesion and structure. I suppose the plot, such as it is, could be the story of Loki's life. And I enjoy it this way, as it keeps things interesting.
Now I don't know when Joanne Harris began writing this book, but if you'll notice the release year, it seems to have come out in the wake of us getting the version of Loki from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Of which, I am not the biggest fan. Thus, I am forced to use a word I despise, and that word is..."fan ficcy". Okay, that might not be an actual word, but it is in reference to, of course, fan fiction, much of which has spawned about Loki since the release of the movie Thor and especially The Avengers. Now this book's concept might fit well into that type of writing, but it goes beyond that. It almost seems like it has the feel of a fan fiction type story, infused with actual knowledge of Norse mythology, all through the filter of someone who is a legit good writer. Look, fan fic people, I am not calling you all bad writers, far from it; I'm just saying those sites tend to not be visited for stellar literature but rather for fun. And possibly titillation. Wow. That's a word I never thought I'd use in this blog. Anywho, whilst we're on the subject of such things, you might want to use this book to challenge yourself. Like I dare you to get through three pages before you start hearing the voice of Tom Hiddleston attached to every word. If you can, you are a better person than I am.
In conclusion, I think anyone, who is into the whole Loki phenomenon, will probably give this book a chance. But I'm hoping that people won't shun it for the exact same reason of said phenomenon. I mean, these stories have been around for hundreds of years, and yes, re-tellings are kind of "in" right now. But the quality of The Gospel of Loki goes beyond any literary or cultural fads. It's done by a great writer who has given an entertaining voice to a kind of character that rarely gets to do the talking. I say it's worth a read.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Have you ever heard the term "Unreliable narrator"? Well, in case it's not obvious, this means that the person telling a story might not be the most trustworthy person in all the land. Now this is the kind of thing that can go either way. Some people, when reading a story, want the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, whilst others find some mystery and even entertainment value in a narrator who, shall we say, embellishes things a bit. For myself, I am one who enjoys the truth, but if the narration interests and amuses me enough, I'll take some stretching of it. And that might just be what a reader will get in The Gospel of Loki.
The Gospel of Loki is a 2014 novel by Joanne Harris, who might be best known for the book Chocolat. It was a movie. There is chocolate everywhere. I love it. But I digress. This book is a retelling of many stories from Norse mythology about Thor and Odin and Asgard and all the...lovely characters within, all told from the lips of - you'll never guess - Loki! Hence, my discussion of the "Unreliable narrator". I hear Loki can be a trickster. I heard it a lot in this book. I also heard that, apparently, one of his other names is Dogstar, which made me wonder if this is where Keanu Reeves got the name of that band he used to play in. Just wondering.
Anyway, the point of having these stories told by the supposed villain, I think, is because they tend to be told by the supposed heroes. That's probably how they get their respective titles. Now, don't get me wrong. This does not exactly portray Loki as the good guy, but it does allow him to show us the people who we assume to be the good guys from a different angle. And while he may be biased against them, it doesn't mean he's making everything up. Even if he is, though, he does so in a very amusing manner. That's probably the best thing about this book - the way the narration and his dialogue are written. Quickly enough, you get used to his manner of speaking, but then he throws in a surprise, like quite a few modern pop culture references, like the word "chillax". I'm not making this up. Although, that modern speaking makes you wonder when exactly this story is being told. I like that, because it's part of the mystery.
Also, this book doesn't exactly have a traditional plot. As I mentioned before, it more tells a lot of different stories, again, ones we know from Norse mythology, but from a different perspective. The thread is the narrator, which gives it some cohesion and structure. I suppose the plot, such as it is, could be the story of Loki's life. And I enjoy it this way, as it keeps things interesting.
Now I don't know when Joanne Harris began writing this book, but if you'll notice the release year, it seems to have come out in the wake of us getting the version of Loki from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Of which, I am not the biggest fan. Thus, I am forced to use a word I despise, and that word is..."fan ficcy". Okay, that might not be an actual word, but it is in reference to, of course, fan fiction, much of which has spawned about Loki since the release of the movie Thor and especially The Avengers. Now this book's concept might fit well into that type of writing, but it goes beyond that. It almost seems like it has the feel of a fan fiction type story, infused with actual knowledge of Norse mythology, all through the filter of someone who is a legit good writer. Look, fan fic people, I am not calling you all bad writers, far from it; I'm just saying those sites tend to not be visited for stellar literature but rather for fun. And possibly titillation. Wow. That's a word I never thought I'd use in this blog. Anywho, whilst we're on the subject of such things, you might want to use this book to challenge yourself. Like I dare you to get through three pages before you start hearing the voice of Tom Hiddleston attached to every word. If you can, you are a better person than I am.
In conclusion, I think anyone, who is into the whole Loki phenomenon, will probably give this book a chance. But I'm hoping that people won't shun it for the exact same reason of said phenomenon. I mean, these stories have been around for hundreds of years, and yes, re-tellings are kind of "in" right now. But the quality of The Gospel of Loki goes beyond any literary or cultural fads. It's done by a great writer who has given an entertaining voice to a kind of character that rarely gets to do the talking. I say it's worth a read.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, January 16, 2017
Hey, Boo: Harper Lee & To Kill a Mockingbird - Documentary Review
Greetings,
I recently heard that someone was, yet again, trying to have the book To Kill a Mockingbird banned from schools. Yeah, this happens every so often with this and other great works of literature, probably because someone just doesn't get it. So, what better way to respond than to discuss a documentary wherein some very respected people and writers praise the ever loving heck out of this excellent book and its author.
Hey, Boo: Harper Lee & To Kill a Mockingbird is a 2010 documentary directed by Mary McDonagh Murphy. It does what any good biographical doc would do, taking us through the life of its subject, Nell Harper Lee, informing us of her family life, her friends, and those who helped her along the way. So, we learn of her youth in Monroeville, Alabama, where she lived with her family, including her father who was a lawyer and the inspiration for Atticus Finch and her older sister, Alice, who was interviewed in this at the age of 99. It was also where she met another young future writer by the name of Truman Capote, their friendship playing a huge role in two films of the mid-2000's. We also get to hear some of the interviews she did during the early stages of her success, as well as a behind the scenes look at the film adaptation. And of course, there is discussion of her reclusivity after the fact, how and why she never published a book again (this was before Go Set a Watchman was found), and how everyone knows that, despite that, they are sure she never stopped writing. Of course, she didn't stop. She was a writer. We never stop.
In addition to the basics of telling Harper Lee's story in a traditional way, it is interspersed with interviews of many acclaimed writers, such as James Patterson, Scott Turow, James McBride, Wally Lamb, just to name a few. Also, we hear from Mary Badham, the woman who played Scout in the film, Oprah, because she's Oprah and Tom Brokaw, because why not. There are just a load of great discussions from so many people, and I loved hearing everyone's take on the story, how it affected them throughout life and how Harper Lee was such an inspiration in so many ways. They even showed a class where young people were talking about the more difficult aspects of the book. It's almost like they can handle it. It's almost like it's important for them to be able to discuss these things. And that is for anyone trying to get this book taken away from them.
Now when it comes to the style of this documentary, I must say I liked the simplicity of it. The interviews were mainly done in the "talking head" way, but every time a new subject came up, the words appeared on the screen in typewriter font with the sounds of the machine bringing them to life. Simple, but effective, which I think is a perfect for the subject of this film.
But let's be honest. My favorite part of this documentary was the interview with the aforementioned Alice Lee. She just brought a smile to my face each time she appeared. At her old age, her hearing was not good and her voice was strained, but it was obvious that her mind was doing just fine. She was so articulate and she recalled all the memories of her youth with her family, as well as everything that her little sister sister, Nell, had gone through. She was a delight.
By the way, here's a little heads up. There is another documentary floating around called Harper Lee: From Mockingbird to Watchman. It's the same as this, but with about five extra minutes talking about the finding and publishing of the Go Set a Watchman manuscript. Honestly, you can watch either, since I'm pretty sure the same people are behind it, but I chose to review this one, because I like this title better. It's got "Hey, Boo" in it, for crying out loud. Was there even a choice?
In conclusion, if you love To Kill a Mockingbird, or books in general, this is a must see. It has great interviews and information, but it also has so much heart and so many wonderful things are said about the book. If nothing else, it shows how powerful the written word can be, even so powerful that it can change the world. And it's just one more thing that makes me very proud to be a writer.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I recently heard that someone was, yet again, trying to have the book To Kill a Mockingbird banned from schools. Yeah, this happens every so often with this and other great works of literature, probably because someone just doesn't get it. So, what better way to respond than to discuss a documentary wherein some very respected people and writers praise the ever loving heck out of this excellent book and its author.
Hey, Boo: Harper Lee & To Kill a Mockingbird is a 2010 documentary directed by Mary McDonagh Murphy. It does what any good biographical doc would do, taking us through the life of its subject, Nell Harper Lee, informing us of her family life, her friends, and those who helped her along the way. So, we learn of her youth in Monroeville, Alabama, where she lived with her family, including her father who was a lawyer and the inspiration for Atticus Finch and her older sister, Alice, who was interviewed in this at the age of 99. It was also where she met another young future writer by the name of Truman Capote, their friendship playing a huge role in two films of the mid-2000's. We also get to hear some of the interviews she did during the early stages of her success, as well as a behind the scenes look at the film adaptation. And of course, there is discussion of her reclusivity after the fact, how and why she never published a book again (this was before Go Set a Watchman was found), and how everyone knows that, despite that, they are sure she never stopped writing. Of course, she didn't stop. She was a writer. We never stop.
In addition to the basics of telling Harper Lee's story in a traditional way, it is interspersed with interviews of many acclaimed writers, such as James Patterson, Scott Turow, James McBride, Wally Lamb, just to name a few. Also, we hear from Mary Badham, the woman who played Scout in the film, Oprah, because she's Oprah and Tom Brokaw, because why not. There are just a load of great discussions from so many people, and I loved hearing everyone's take on the story, how it affected them throughout life and how Harper Lee was such an inspiration in so many ways. They even showed a class where young people were talking about the more difficult aspects of the book. It's almost like they can handle it. It's almost like it's important for them to be able to discuss these things. And that is for anyone trying to get this book taken away from them.
Now when it comes to the style of this documentary, I must say I liked the simplicity of it. The interviews were mainly done in the "talking head" way, but every time a new subject came up, the words appeared on the screen in typewriter font with the sounds of the machine bringing them to life. Simple, but effective, which I think is a perfect for the subject of this film.
But let's be honest. My favorite part of this documentary was the interview with the aforementioned Alice Lee. She just brought a smile to my face each time she appeared. At her old age, her hearing was not good and her voice was strained, but it was obvious that her mind was doing just fine. She was so articulate and she recalled all the memories of her youth with her family, as well as everything that her little sister sister, Nell, had gone through. She was a delight.
By the way, here's a little heads up. There is another documentary floating around called Harper Lee: From Mockingbird to Watchman. It's the same as this, but with about five extra minutes talking about the finding and publishing of the Go Set a Watchman manuscript. Honestly, you can watch either, since I'm pretty sure the same people are behind it, but I chose to review this one, because I like this title better. It's got "Hey, Boo" in it, for crying out loud. Was there even a choice?
In conclusion, if you love To Kill a Mockingbird, or books in general, this is a must see. It has great interviews and information, but it also has so much heart and so many wonderful things are said about the book. If nothing else, it shows how powerful the written word can be, even so powerful that it can change the world. And it's just one more thing that makes me very proud to be a writer.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige - Book Review
Greetings,
So, in my last blog post I talked about a new show that gives a darker interpretation to the story of OZ, but today, I am gonna do something totally different and talk about a BOOK that gives a darker interpretation to the story of OZ. I am so versatile! And very perceptive because I knew that starting that Reading Challenge was going to lead to more book reviews, and here we are. Anyway, enough about me. Let's talk about Doroty Must Die.
Dorothy Must Die is a 2014 novel by Danielle Paige that tells the story of a young girl from Kansas who gets swept away to a strange land. No, not that young girl. Well, not yet. The young girl in question this time is Amy Gumm, a teenager living a less than stellar life where she is bullied and has a neglectful mother. But alas, when a tornado hits her trailer, she is taken away to OZ, a place that she is well aware of. See, in her world, The Wizard of Oz, the books, the movie, it all exists, and now Amy is finding out that all the fairy tales were true. But not exactly as she knows them. Turns out, the famous Dorothy went full on Mean Girl...to put it lightly, and took a lot of people with her. This is no spoiler, by the way. It's pretty much the selling point. In short, everything is turned upside down from what we know, and Amy is recruited in a war to defeat Dorothy, hence the title. Whether or not Amy is ready, willing or able to carry out her task is something that she and the readers will have to stay tuned to find out. For a while, because this is the first book in a series of, currently, three books, but I believe a fourth is coming out this year.
The tough thing about doing a re-imagining of a well known and beloved story with well known and beloved characters is to, obviously, bring something new to the table. With a story as old as OZ, that can be a bit difficult, especially since quite a few things have been done with other stories where characters we love become villains and vice versa. So, how did this one do?
Well, whilst the story could be slow at times, I think overall it had some interesting ideas. I liked getting to know a new heroine, who, while having a few flaws, still came across as someone you want to root for. That is quite important in a book like this. And I was very impressed with the imagery. I mean, to be honest, OZ always had a darkness factor to it, but the author really went out all with describing the horrible things that our once lovable protagonists have become involved in. I particular was struck by the passages about the lion. So, warning. There are quite a few scenes of graphic violence in this book. Not gratuitous, in my opinion, but actually, necessary to get the point across. Basically, if you can't make it through Return to Oz, might want to hold off on this. But if you like upping the creepiness of OZ, I say go for it.
While it's not perfect, I found it to be a good read, and it certainly kept me interested. At least, enough to read the next book in the series. And since I know that it's a series, I can forgive the ending coming about quite abruptly. Knowing that more is coming makes it okay that I maybe didn't get exactly what I wanted in this book, rather than if it had been a standalone.
So, if the plot of Dorothy Must Die intrigues you, I don't think you'll be disappointed. It's a unique take on a familiar story, with interesting and mysterious characters that will leave you, much like the protagonist, wondering who you can trust. I hope that it continues to hold my interest throughout the series.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
So, in my last blog post I talked about a new show that gives a darker interpretation to the story of OZ, but today, I am gonna do something totally different and talk about a BOOK that gives a darker interpretation to the story of OZ. I am so versatile! And very perceptive because I knew that starting that Reading Challenge was going to lead to more book reviews, and here we are. Anyway, enough about me. Let's talk about Doroty Must Die.
Dorothy Must Die is a 2014 novel by Danielle Paige that tells the story of a young girl from Kansas who gets swept away to a strange land. No, not that young girl. Well, not yet. The young girl in question this time is Amy Gumm, a teenager living a less than stellar life where she is bullied and has a neglectful mother. But alas, when a tornado hits her trailer, she is taken away to OZ, a place that she is well aware of. See, in her world, The Wizard of Oz, the books, the movie, it all exists, and now Amy is finding out that all the fairy tales were true. But not exactly as she knows them. Turns out, the famous Dorothy went full on Mean Girl...to put it lightly, and took a lot of people with her. This is no spoiler, by the way. It's pretty much the selling point. In short, everything is turned upside down from what we know, and Amy is recruited in a war to defeat Dorothy, hence the title. Whether or not Amy is ready, willing or able to carry out her task is something that she and the readers will have to stay tuned to find out. For a while, because this is the first book in a series of, currently, three books, but I believe a fourth is coming out this year.
The tough thing about doing a re-imagining of a well known and beloved story with well known and beloved characters is to, obviously, bring something new to the table. With a story as old as OZ, that can be a bit difficult, especially since quite a few things have been done with other stories where characters we love become villains and vice versa. So, how did this one do?
Well, whilst the story could be slow at times, I think overall it had some interesting ideas. I liked getting to know a new heroine, who, while having a few flaws, still came across as someone you want to root for. That is quite important in a book like this. And I was very impressed with the imagery. I mean, to be honest, OZ always had a darkness factor to it, but the author really went out all with describing the horrible things that our once lovable protagonists have become involved in. I particular was struck by the passages about the lion. So, warning. There are quite a few scenes of graphic violence in this book. Not gratuitous, in my opinion, but actually, necessary to get the point across. Basically, if you can't make it through Return to Oz, might want to hold off on this. But if you like upping the creepiness of OZ, I say go for it.
While it's not perfect, I found it to be a good read, and it certainly kept me interested. At least, enough to read the next book in the series. And since I know that it's a series, I can forgive the ending coming about quite abruptly. Knowing that more is coming makes it okay that I maybe didn't get exactly what I wanted in this book, rather than if it had been a standalone.
So, if the plot of Dorothy Must Die intrigues you, I don't think you'll be disappointed. It's a unique take on a familiar story, with interesting and mysterious characters that will leave you, much like the protagonist, wondering who you can trust. I hope that it continues to hold my interest throughout the series.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Thoughts on Emerald City
Greetings,
So, when it comes to remakes and reboots, I am generally not a fan, as I have often said before. However, I always have an open mind when something new comes along, because sometimes these things seem to be interestinh..or they just happen to star one of my favorite actors...or both. Anyway, when I started to see promos for Emerald City, I thought two things: First, 'Someone's doing another OZ thing?', and second, 'This looks kinda neat'. So, last night I decided to check it out, and here are my brief thoughts on the first episode. There was a second, but we're doing an official premiere discussion. So, there.
We start in modern day Kansas, where we meet Dorothy, played by Adria Arjona. At first, it looks like she's a doctor of sorts, but she's only twenty, so I'm thinking she's a med student or something. Or else this is also a Doogie Howser reboot. Anyway, she was adopted long ago, and now she lives with other family members. Then, a tornado cometh and sweeps her away to OZ...in a cop car of all things. With Toto, who appears to be a German Shepard on this go round. Good times.
As she begins to explore, she runs into some interesting characters, some good, some bad, some who knows. Whilst that is going, we, the audience, also start meeting some interesting characters. Again, good, bad, who knows. And be warned. They are not the same as you may know them from other adaptations. But what did you expect? They made it clear that this would be darker, and it is. Although, I didn't expect to see a brothel. Yeah, that happened apparently. So, in case it's not obvious, this probably is not for the little kids.
I will say this, though, I enjoyed the cast quite a bit. Everyone seems well-suited to their roles. Our Dorothy is quite good and likeable, which is important. Florence Kasumba portrays The Witch of the East, who was wickedly delightful, if that's even a thing. The wonderful Joely Richardson does a fine job portraying Glinda, and Oliver Jackson-Cohen portrays Lucas, who I'm pretty sure is supposed to be the Scarecrow, but he doesn't exactly look it. I must say that I was very enthralled with Ana Ularu who portrays The Witch of the West. She totally creeped me out, but I was also captivated by her. Someone has skills! And, of course, we have Vincent D'Onofrio as The Wizard. Yes, he is the main reason I decided to watch this. What about it? I thought he was great, but I am so confused about the accent he was doing. I just can't place it, so I better do some research or it will eat at me something fierce. But whatever, he was still worth watching.
Now this whole series was directed by Tarsem Singh, who also directed The Cell and Mirror, Mirror, so, no surprise, the whole show looks amazing and extremely cinematic. Seriously, however you feel about the movies he has done, they all look stunning. There's just a really good feel to the whole thing. Oh, and the wardrobe is fabulous! For real, I hope someone makes some jewelry or regular people clothes inspired by this show.
So, in closing, whilst I am not jumping up and down over Emerald City, I am intrigued enough to keep watching through how many episodes they've already done, and perhaps, beyond. We'll see how it goes. Frankly, I hope it continues to get better, because, if they give us a good story to follow, things should fall into place, and we'll have a great series on our hands.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
So, when it comes to remakes and reboots, I am generally not a fan, as I have often said before. However, I always have an open mind when something new comes along, because sometimes these things seem to be interestinh..or they just happen to star one of my favorite actors...or both. Anyway, when I started to see promos for Emerald City, I thought two things: First, 'Someone's doing another OZ thing?', and second, 'This looks kinda neat'. So, last night I decided to check it out, and here are my brief thoughts on the first episode. There was a second, but we're doing an official premiere discussion. So, there.
We start in modern day Kansas, where we meet Dorothy, played by Adria Arjona. At first, it looks like she's a doctor of sorts, but she's only twenty, so I'm thinking she's a med student or something. Or else this is also a Doogie Howser reboot. Anyway, she was adopted long ago, and now she lives with other family members. Then, a tornado cometh and sweeps her away to OZ...in a cop car of all things. With Toto, who appears to be a German Shepard on this go round. Good times.
As she begins to explore, she runs into some interesting characters, some good, some bad, some who knows. Whilst that is going, we, the audience, also start meeting some interesting characters. Again, good, bad, who knows. And be warned. They are not the same as you may know them from other adaptations. But what did you expect? They made it clear that this would be darker, and it is. Although, I didn't expect to see a brothel. Yeah, that happened apparently. So, in case it's not obvious, this probably is not for the little kids.
I will say this, though, I enjoyed the cast quite a bit. Everyone seems well-suited to their roles. Our Dorothy is quite good and likeable, which is important. Florence Kasumba portrays The Witch of the East, who was wickedly delightful, if that's even a thing. The wonderful Joely Richardson does a fine job portraying Glinda, and Oliver Jackson-Cohen portrays Lucas, who I'm pretty sure is supposed to be the Scarecrow, but he doesn't exactly look it. I must say that I was very enthralled with Ana Ularu who portrays The Witch of the West. She totally creeped me out, but I was also captivated by her. Someone has skills! And, of course, we have Vincent D'Onofrio as The Wizard. Yes, he is the main reason I decided to watch this. What about it? I thought he was great, but I am so confused about the accent he was doing. I just can't place it, so I better do some research or it will eat at me something fierce. But whatever, he was still worth watching.
Now this whole series was directed by Tarsem Singh, who also directed The Cell and Mirror, Mirror, so, no surprise, the whole show looks amazing and extremely cinematic. Seriously, however you feel about the movies he has done, they all look stunning. There's just a really good feel to the whole thing. Oh, and the wardrobe is fabulous! For real, I hope someone makes some jewelry or regular people clothes inspired by this show.
So, in closing, whilst I am not jumping up and down over Emerald City, I am intrigued enough to keep watching through how many episodes they've already done, and perhaps, beyond. We'll see how it goes. Frankly, I hope it continues to get better, because, if they give us a good story to follow, things should fall into place, and we'll have a great series on our hands.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
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