Greetings,
I decided to check this blog the other day and I saw that I haven't posted in a while. And in the interim, I haven't really even thought about this blog of mine. That made a question arise in my mind - Have I lost my passion for this? Then, another question - Should I even do this if I have?
Don't get me wrong. I know there are a ton of things we do in life without passion. But those tend to be the things we have to do, whether we like it or not. This blog, however, is not something I am required to, nor have I ever been. I have always written this blog just for fun. I started off with that intention and I have kept it. True, I wanted to share my opinions on trivial pop culture things and things that lean more in the direction of high art. And yes, I'll admit it, I was hoping that the writing I did on here might lead to bigger and better things as far as my career goes. But in the end, I just wanted it to be something I could do and enjoy.
After a while, that is exactly what it became. I did enjoy writing this blog, and soon enough, I even became passionate about it. I worked hard when I put these posts together, some times more than others, but I really cared about what I was giving to the public. After a while, though, I stopped caring as much. I would just post things that I threw together at the last minute and I'm not sure they were up to any kind of standard. And that makes me disappointed in myself. As I've often said, I know I don't have a ton of readers who come here, but I am extremely grateful for those who do. And I do NOT want to give any of those people crap to read, not when they take their valuable time to see what I'm doing. It's not fair, and frankly, it's disrespectful to them. To you, who are reading this right now. If I'm going to write something for people to read, whether it's my books or this or anything I put out there, I want it to be the best it can be. And I'm not sure if I've been doing that lately.
So, the question arises again, should I keep doing this if I have no passion to do it? For now, I think the answer is no. Now, I have not lost my passion for writing at all. In fact, it has been all the work I've been doing on my numerous other writing projects that have kept me away from this blog on a regular basis. And I tried. I tried to get on a set schedule for my posts, but then, it became something of a chore. A chore that I felt obligated to do, rather than something I had a great time doing, which was once the case. And while I do consider all of my writing to be my job and the most important work of my life, all the other writing I've been doing has also been very fulfilling. This? Not so much.
Therefore, I've made a decision where this blog is concerned. I am stepping away for a while. Maybe a long while. Maybe for good. Like I said, I'm not as passionate about it as I once was and since the only one making me write here is myself, I think it would be best if I stopped. At least, for now. Will I come back? I might. I might try to get back into it again. Whether or not I will or if that will lead to anything else or if I will continue at that time, I don't know. I just know that I want to write for the right reasons. And it has to be the right reasons for me and for the writing itself. When I write, whatever I write, I want to put my heart and my soul into it. I should expect nothing less from myself or for myself.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, June 18, 2018
Monday, May 14, 2018
Inspired To Kill - TV Movie Review
Greetings,
Everyone knows I love a good movie about writers. What you may not know is that I also love Lifetime movies. Now what do you think happens when you put those two things together? That's right. You get a very happy ME! So, I decided to pick one of the writer/Lifetime movies to discuss here today, and the winner is . . . Inspired to Kill. Get it? Inspired? Because writing! Also, someone is probably going to die. Let's do this.
Inspired To Kill is a 2017 TV movie about a woman named Kara, played by Karissa Lee Staples. After a personal tragedy, she decides to move far from home to get a fresh start and also pursue a career as a writer. When she arrives, she meets another woman named, Charlie, played Olivia D'Abo (YAY!), who rents Kara a room and gives her a job at her local coffee shop. Kara also meets a myriad of other people, ranging from a nice guy at work named Jason (Matthew Atkinson) to an obnoxious guy at work named Tony (Daniel Booko) to an extremely skeezy professor (Jay Pickett) who teaches her writing class . . . and who wants to teach her other things, apparently. Ick. So, yeah, things are a bit hit or miss with her in the 'new friends' department.
But then one day, by pure chance, she becomes acquainted with a handsome stranger and fellow writer named Paul, played by Antonio Sabato Jr. They immediately hit it off and begin spending all their time together, although, he remains an allusive mystery to all the people in Kara's life. Ironically, at the same time, people start dropping dead around her. Is it a coincidence or is it something more sinister and close to home? Now if there's one thing we've learned in the history of Lifetime movies, it is that we must always be suspicious of the mysterious, handsome stranger and keep him at a safe distance. (And yet, so many Loki fangirls in the world.) But is that answer too obvious? I don't know. I guess you'll have to watch it. Yeah, this is the hard part about reviewing a movie that has a mystery to it. You can only say so much.
I will say, speaking of the plot, I enjoyed the interesting twists, and, whilst variations on said twists may have been done before, I liked the way that they put the whole thing together. I know some people aren't wild about the often predictable conclusions of movies like this, but to be fair, they put in multiple predictable conclusions, so you're constantly going back and forth trying to figure out which one they're gonna use. At least, I was. And the one they chose, I was quite satisfied with.
Along with all that, I also liked the acting here. Everyone did a good job with the material and played their parts well. Obviously, as you can tell by the aforementioned "YAY!", I love me some Olivia D'Abo, and I was really impressed by the young leading lady, Karissa Lee Staples, who I had never seen in anything before, but now I'm kind of interested in seeing what else she can do. Oh, and if these two don't do another movie wherein they play sisters or something, I will be very upset. Because they look SO MUCH alike.
Inspired to Kill is pretty much everything you want in a Lifetime movie. It's fun and entertaining and a bit over the top at moments. But again, that's what we want. And it's about writers, which just adds another sprinkle of awesome. So, if you're into these kind of movies, this is definitely one you'll want to check out.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Everyone knows I love a good movie about writers. What you may not know is that I also love Lifetime movies. Now what do you think happens when you put those two things together? That's right. You get a very happy ME! So, I decided to pick one of the writer/Lifetime movies to discuss here today, and the winner is . . . Inspired to Kill. Get it? Inspired? Because writing! Also, someone is probably going to die. Let's do this.
Inspired To Kill is a 2017 TV movie about a woman named Kara, played by Karissa Lee Staples. After a personal tragedy, she decides to move far from home to get a fresh start and also pursue a career as a writer. When she arrives, she meets another woman named, Charlie, played Olivia D'Abo (YAY!), who rents Kara a room and gives her a job at her local coffee shop. Kara also meets a myriad of other people, ranging from a nice guy at work named Jason (Matthew Atkinson) to an obnoxious guy at work named Tony (Daniel Booko) to an extremely skeezy professor (Jay Pickett) who teaches her writing class . . . and who wants to teach her other things, apparently. Ick. So, yeah, things are a bit hit or miss with her in the 'new friends' department.
But then one day, by pure chance, she becomes acquainted with a handsome stranger and fellow writer named Paul, played by Antonio Sabato Jr. They immediately hit it off and begin spending all their time together, although, he remains an allusive mystery to all the people in Kara's life. Ironically, at the same time, people start dropping dead around her. Is it a coincidence or is it something more sinister and close to home? Now if there's one thing we've learned in the history of Lifetime movies, it is that we must always be suspicious of the mysterious, handsome stranger and keep him at a safe distance. (And yet, so many Loki fangirls in the world.) But is that answer too obvious? I don't know. I guess you'll have to watch it. Yeah, this is the hard part about reviewing a movie that has a mystery to it. You can only say so much.
I will say, speaking of the plot, I enjoyed the interesting twists, and, whilst variations on said twists may have been done before, I liked the way that they put the whole thing together. I know some people aren't wild about the often predictable conclusions of movies like this, but to be fair, they put in multiple predictable conclusions, so you're constantly going back and forth trying to figure out which one they're gonna use. At least, I was. And the one they chose, I was quite satisfied with.
Along with all that, I also liked the acting here. Everyone did a good job with the material and played their parts well. Obviously, as you can tell by the aforementioned "YAY!", I love me some Olivia D'Abo, and I was really impressed by the young leading lady, Karissa Lee Staples, who I had never seen in anything before, but now I'm kind of interested in seeing what else she can do. Oh, and if these two don't do another movie wherein they play sisters or something, I will be very upset. Because they look SO MUCH alike.
Inspired to Kill is pretty much everything you want in a Lifetime movie. It's fun and entertaining and a bit over the top at moments. But again, that's what we want. And it's about writers, which just adds another sprinkle of awesome. So, if you're into these kind of movies, this is definitely one you'll want to check out.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, May 7, 2018
Tale Foundry - YouTube Channel Review
Greetings,
There are a million stories out there that have been told a million times over the years, the decades, the centuries. Most of us have heard them all and might have trouble finding interest in them anymore, even if the stories themselves remaining interesting. Therefore, we must rely on the special ones among us to find a new and creative way to relay those stories to the masses and make us embrace them and get lost in them once again. Enter Tale Foundry.
"If fiction were a material, we would be its manufacturing plant."
This quote appears on the Patreon page for Tale Foundry, and I would say it's pretty darn accurate, especially after I've watched and listened to so much of their work. This is another of the YouTube channels that I inadvertently came across whilst I was looking for other things. Probably urban legend stuff and whatnot. Anyway, one of their videos came up on under "Recommended" and I decided to give it a shot.
Well, I am so glad I did that, because I'm so delighted by what I found. I'm always delighted when I find people who embrace creativity and ingenuity the way that this channel has done. And it's hard, especially now, to be so imaginative and original with our ideas, but they have certainly managed to do that.
So, let me explain how things work at The Foundry. They generally do three part series and also some list videos, both on specific subjects. And if you've read this blog, you know I love me a good list. Anyway, they choose a topic, something from literature or a mythos or folklore from a certain country or whatever they want, and they create three videos. In the first two, they tell you and show you all the information they can on the chosen topic of the day, obviously through words and some artwork. In the third video, they share an original short story inspired by said topic. And that is why I love this channel so much.
There are so many places on the internet that you can go and find facts about whatever subject you want, but they can often be a bit dry and cold. Tale Foundry has found a way to do the exact opposite of that, but, by way of the short stories they write, they also are showing us how we can be inspired by what has come before us. And, as a writer, I find that to be an extremely valuable.
Now I suppose I should discuss the visual aesthetics of Tale Foundry, as they are videos to be looked at. They seem to have kind of a steampunk thing going on, with muted, sepia tones and some images of cogs, which I love, by the way. They also have some artwork in there, as I mentioned, which has a bit of simplicity to it at some points, but when you look closer, it can go deeper. Basically, a lot of it is the epitome of the idea that it takes a lot of effort to make something look effortless. And then, there's the robot that we get to see. Yes, I said robot and he's awesome. He tells us the stories from the actual factory that is Tale Foundry, where he works with a few "humans". I think I got all that right, but just to be safe, go and check it out for yourself. Having said that, I'll wrap up this little review.
I love people who love to be creative and who just dive headfirst into it. Tale Foundry is exactly that. They have grabbed hold of their imaginations and turned them up to eleven. You can see how much heart and soul and effort and work goes into what they do, and as a fellow artist, I am so appreciative of that. I think there's a lot of flippancy in the world of content creators, and so many of them seem to not care very much about what they put out. Well, that is not the case with this channel. They clearly care and love what they do. And for this reason, I have chosen to support them in this small way. I do hope that what I've said about Tale Foundry today will inspire you to go and see the amazing work that they are doing.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Tale-Foundry-Channel
There are a million stories out there that have been told a million times over the years, the decades, the centuries. Most of us have heard them all and might have trouble finding interest in them anymore, even if the stories themselves remaining interesting. Therefore, we must rely on the special ones among us to find a new and creative way to relay those stories to the masses and make us embrace them and get lost in them once again. Enter Tale Foundry.
"If fiction were a material, we would be its manufacturing plant."
This quote appears on the Patreon page for Tale Foundry, and I would say it's pretty darn accurate, especially after I've watched and listened to so much of their work. This is another of the YouTube channels that I inadvertently came across whilst I was looking for other things. Probably urban legend stuff and whatnot. Anyway, one of their videos came up on under "Recommended" and I decided to give it a shot.
Well, I am so glad I did that, because I'm so delighted by what I found. I'm always delighted when I find people who embrace creativity and ingenuity the way that this channel has done. And it's hard, especially now, to be so imaginative and original with our ideas, but they have certainly managed to do that.
So, let me explain how things work at The Foundry. They generally do three part series and also some list videos, both on specific subjects. And if you've read this blog, you know I love me a good list. Anyway, they choose a topic, something from literature or a mythos or folklore from a certain country or whatever they want, and they create three videos. In the first two, they tell you and show you all the information they can on the chosen topic of the day, obviously through words and some artwork. In the third video, they share an original short story inspired by said topic. And that is why I love this channel so much.
There are so many places on the internet that you can go and find facts about whatever subject you want, but they can often be a bit dry and cold. Tale Foundry has found a way to do the exact opposite of that, but, by way of the short stories they write, they also are showing us how we can be inspired by what has come before us. And, as a writer, I find that to be an extremely valuable.
Now I suppose I should discuss the visual aesthetics of Tale Foundry, as they are videos to be looked at. They seem to have kind of a steampunk thing going on, with muted, sepia tones and some images of cogs, which I love, by the way. They also have some artwork in there, as I mentioned, which has a bit of simplicity to it at some points, but when you look closer, it can go deeper. Basically, a lot of it is the epitome of the idea that it takes a lot of effort to make something look effortless. And then, there's the robot that we get to see. Yes, I said robot and he's awesome. He tells us the stories from the actual factory that is Tale Foundry, where he works with a few "humans". I think I got all that right, but just to be safe, go and check it out for yourself. Having said that, I'll wrap up this little review.
I love people who love to be creative and who just dive headfirst into it. Tale Foundry is exactly that. They have grabbed hold of their imaginations and turned them up to eleven. You can see how much heart and soul and effort and work goes into what they do, and as a fellow artist, I am so appreciative of that. I think there's a lot of flippancy in the world of content creators, and so many of them seem to not care very much about what they put out. Well, that is not the case with this channel. They clearly care and love what they do. And for this reason, I have chosen to support them in this small way. I do hope that what I've said about Tale Foundry today will inspire you to go and see the amazing work that they are doing.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Tale-Foundry-Channel
Friday, April 20, 2018
Curious Minds by Janet Evanovich and Phoef Sutton - Book Review
Greetings,
There is something extremely comforting about an author that you can trust. Like, when you pick up one of their books, you know what you're going to get, from the quality to the kind of story to how it makes you feel. One writer who fits this description quite well is Janet Evanovich. I've been reading her books for years and I know that I'm always going to have a good time with them.
On occasion, Evanovich has teamed up with other writers. Just last year, I read several installments of the Fox and O'Hare series that she writes with Lee Goldberg, which I love and must get around to reviewing someday. And a couple of years ago, she started another one with Phoef Sutton, the Knight and Moon series. And the first book is the one I'll be discussing today, Curious Minds. And before I forget to mention it, Phoef Sutton? Possibly the best name ever. Moving on.
Curious Minds was released in 2016, and the sub-titular characters are Emerson Knight and Riley Moon. Emerson is a very rich young man, who, in addition to having no shortage of money, has no shortage of eccentricities, who is not exactly tactful when it comes to interacting with people and who is, of course, very handsome. Riley is a graduate of Harvard Law and Business schools, who just started working at a prestigious bank and also has just been charged with checking up on one of their clients. Namely, Emerson.
Right off the bat, Riley is a bit put off by Emerson and his strangeness. But remember, he's handsome, so she also takes notice of that, as well as the way that he likes to have poke a lot of fun at her personality, which runs very much counter to his. Before we know it, we're in the middle of a pretty elaborate plot, with missing gold and missing people, and murder, and conspiracy theories. There's so much . . . stuff, but it's okay, because you just go along for the ride. And it is kind of a crazy ride, helped along by the cast of odd characters that Emerson and Riley come across as they are forced to team up, Scooby Gang style, to solve a pretty big mystery. Oh, and there's also an armadillo. Don't ask. Just read.
I went into this book with high expectations of having a lot of fun, because, as I said, I trust Janet Evanovich. And I certainly did enjoy this book. Especially the characters. Especially Emerson. Yeah, it's official. Much like with the Fox and O'Hare series, the Knight and Moon series has given me yet another book boyfriend. Like I needed another one.
Now, I'd like to talk about how this book is different from others I've read by Evanovich, due to, I think, the collaboration aspect. When I pick up a book by Janet Evanovich, I expect fun. I expect to laugh. I expect something lighthearted but very good. With this series, I got all those things, though not quite as much. The Knight and Moon series, again, much like its predecessor, is a bit more serious than what I expect from this author. Don't get me wrong. She has not done a 180, but there are a few more dark moments and the whole thing is heavier. This is not a bad thing. In fact, I think that all of these aspects put together give the book a very nice balance. So, you're gonna have fun, but you'll also get some tense moments. All of it makes for a pretty entertaining story.
Look, I don't think I have to recommend any books by Janet Evanovich to her fan base and those who haven't read her stuff would probably want to start with the Plum novels. But if you wanna give this one a glance, it's definitely worth it. As of right now, there's only one other book in the series, and I intend to check that one out as well. Hopefully, this is the start of another great literary relationship.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer.
There is something extremely comforting about an author that you can trust. Like, when you pick up one of their books, you know what you're going to get, from the quality to the kind of story to how it makes you feel. One writer who fits this description quite well is Janet Evanovich. I've been reading her books for years and I know that I'm always going to have a good time with them.
On occasion, Evanovich has teamed up with other writers. Just last year, I read several installments of the Fox and O'Hare series that she writes with Lee Goldberg, which I love and must get around to reviewing someday. And a couple of years ago, she started another one with Phoef Sutton, the Knight and Moon series. And the first book is the one I'll be discussing today, Curious Minds. And before I forget to mention it, Phoef Sutton? Possibly the best name ever. Moving on.
Curious Minds was released in 2016, and the sub-titular characters are Emerson Knight and Riley Moon. Emerson is a very rich young man, who, in addition to having no shortage of money, has no shortage of eccentricities, who is not exactly tactful when it comes to interacting with people and who is, of course, very handsome. Riley is a graduate of Harvard Law and Business schools, who just started working at a prestigious bank and also has just been charged with checking up on one of their clients. Namely, Emerson.
Right off the bat, Riley is a bit put off by Emerson and his strangeness. But remember, he's handsome, so she also takes notice of that, as well as the way that he likes to have poke a lot of fun at her personality, which runs very much counter to his. Before we know it, we're in the middle of a pretty elaborate plot, with missing gold and missing people, and murder, and conspiracy theories. There's so much . . . stuff, but it's okay, because you just go along for the ride. And it is kind of a crazy ride, helped along by the cast of odd characters that Emerson and Riley come across as they are forced to team up, Scooby Gang style, to solve a pretty big mystery. Oh, and there's also an armadillo. Don't ask. Just read.
I went into this book with high expectations of having a lot of fun, because, as I said, I trust Janet Evanovich. And I certainly did enjoy this book. Especially the characters. Especially Emerson. Yeah, it's official. Much like with the Fox and O'Hare series, the Knight and Moon series has given me yet another book boyfriend. Like I needed another one.
Now, I'd like to talk about how this book is different from others I've read by Evanovich, due to, I think, the collaboration aspect. When I pick up a book by Janet Evanovich, I expect fun. I expect to laugh. I expect something lighthearted but very good. With this series, I got all those things, though not quite as much. The Knight and Moon series, again, much like its predecessor, is a bit more serious than what I expect from this author. Don't get me wrong. She has not done a 180, but there are a few more dark moments and the whole thing is heavier. This is not a bad thing. In fact, I think that all of these aspects put together give the book a very nice balance. So, you're gonna have fun, but you'll also get some tense moments. All of it makes for a pretty entertaining story.
Look, I don't think I have to recommend any books by Janet Evanovich to her fan base and those who haven't read her stuff would probably want to start with the Plum novels. But if you wanna give this one a glance, it's definitely worth it. As of right now, there's only one other book in the series, and I intend to check that one out as well. Hopefully, this is the start of another great literary relationship.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer.
Thursday, April 19, 2018
Tori Amos: In the Studio by Jake Brown - Book Review
Greetings,
I have to admit it. I am a bit of a "Behind the Scenes" voyeur. I love knowing what happens behind what happens. It's just one of my things. I am someone who always watches the special features on a DVD and don't even get me started on how a great commentary track can thrill me. And, of course, I gravitate toward books that let me delve into those worlds, too. And that is just the experience I got when I read Tori Amos: In the Studio.
I am a huge admirer of Tori Amos, something I have made abundantly clear here, so that is why I got this book for myself. It was published in 2011 and written by music journalist, Jake Brown, who has written quite a few books like this about various artists and styles of music. And this was so well done that I am seriously considering checking out some more of his work.
In this book, we get some insight into Tori's early life and then we start getting into the musical career. All of it. Including a not so great first album. No, not the acclaimed Little Earthquakes, but something else that true Tori fans know about. It was a pretty low . . . a very low point for her, but it ended up giving her a push to figuring out who she wanted to be as an artist. Mostly, by figuring out what she did NOT want to be. See, that's why we must never fear failures, because they create the steps we climb to our own success. Oh, and when that album came out, some article had referred to her as a bimbo. To which she responded in an interview I once saw, "Fair enough." I love you, Tori.
Anyway, each chapter of this book deals with her individual albums, but it stops just short of Night of Hunters, sadly, as that is my favorite album by Tori. Still, I was so drawn in to what was being written about her work. It goes pretty in depth when it comes to her process and things that inspired her music on each of the projects. And if you know anything about Tori, you'll know that the stories she can tell about her process as an artist and where her ideas come from can be just as intriguing as the songs themselves. So, no surprise, I loved reading everything she had to say about that.
I suppose if I had a complaint it would be that I wished it was longer. Because this is not a long book at all, especially considering how much time it covers and who it covers. It could have been three times longer and I absolutely would not complain about that. There were a lot of quotes and stories from Tori herself, and all of that was interwoven very nicely with the writer's take on everything. So, yes, I would have been happy to read even more of it.
As a music lover, I am always interested in how an artist works and what inspires them, regardless of who the artist is, though I have my favorites. But I would recommend this book to others who enjoy knowing about a songwriter's process, especially if you're a fan of Tori Amos, or are interested in her story. This book was a fascinating read and truly let's you get into the head of the artist, even if it's another artist who is holding open the door.
Love and Full Moons,
Becky the Writer
I have to admit it. I am a bit of a "Behind the Scenes" voyeur. I love knowing what happens behind what happens. It's just one of my things. I am someone who always watches the special features on a DVD and don't even get me started on how a great commentary track can thrill me. And, of course, I gravitate toward books that let me delve into those worlds, too. And that is just the experience I got when I read Tori Amos: In the Studio.
I am a huge admirer of Tori Amos, something I have made abundantly clear here, so that is why I got this book for myself. It was published in 2011 and written by music journalist, Jake Brown, who has written quite a few books like this about various artists and styles of music. And this was so well done that I am seriously considering checking out some more of his work.
In this book, we get some insight into Tori's early life and then we start getting into the musical career. All of it. Including a not so great first album. No, not the acclaimed Little Earthquakes, but something else that true Tori fans know about. It was a pretty low . . . a very low point for her, but it ended up giving her a push to figuring out who she wanted to be as an artist. Mostly, by figuring out what she did NOT want to be. See, that's why we must never fear failures, because they create the steps we climb to our own success. Oh, and when that album came out, some article had referred to her as a bimbo. To which she responded in an interview I once saw, "Fair enough." I love you, Tori.
Anyway, each chapter of this book deals with her individual albums, but it stops just short of Night of Hunters, sadly, as that is my favorite album by Tori. Still, I was so drawn in to what was being written about her work. It goes pretty in depth when it comes to her process and things that inspired her music on each of the projects. And if you know anything about Tori, you'll know that the stories she can tell about her process as an artist and where her ideas come from can be just as intriguing as the songs themselves. So, no surprise, I loved reading everything she had to say about that.
I suppose if I had a complaint it would be that I wished it was longer. Because this is not a long book at all, especially considering how much time it covers and who it covers. It could have been three times longer and I absolutely would not complain about that. There were a lot of quotes and stories from Tori herself, and all of that was interwoven very nicely with the writer's take on everything. So, yes, I would have been happy to read even more of it.
As a music lover, I am always interested in how an artist works and what inspires them, regardless of who the artist is, though I have my favorites. But I would recommend this book to others who enjoy knowing about a songwriter's process, especially if you're a fan of Tori Amos, or are interested in her story. This book was a fascinating read and truly let's you get into the head of the artist, even if it's another artist who is holding open the door.
Love and Full Moons,
Becky the Writer
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova - Book Review
Greetings,
I am someone who very much appreciates the arts, even the type of arts that I don't partake in. Or that I'm not necessarily good at. So, I do enjoy some crossing over of mediums when it comes to that. So, it was inevitable that I would pick up a book by a writer who clearly has an appreciation for the art of painting. It was also inevitable that I would pick up a book by a writer who I have enjoyed in the past. Therefore, after wanting to do so for a very long time, I finally read The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova.
The Swan Thieves is the 2010 follow up to Kostova's wildly successful book, The Historian. A book, mind you, that I have already reviewed and very much enjoyed. Again, her writing delves into history, but this time her focus is more on the world of art, specifically paintings, as I mentioned. The story here starts when a renowned artist, Robert Oliver, is arrested because he nearly attacks a painting in the National Gallery. Subsequently, a psychiatrist named Andrew Marlowe is called in to take over the care of this new patient. While Oliver reveals little to nothing about himself or his motives, Marlowe is forced to dig deeper than he ever has for answers. In his search, he discovers a few people who have had an impact on Oliver, one that would even be considered an obsession to him, and Marlowe realizes that they are as much of a mystery as Oliver himself.
As with her previous novel, Kostova does a bit of time jumping in this, as well as changing perspectives quite a bit. We get the perspective of Marlowe, as well as two women in Oliver's life. Those are the present day stories. But we also are told the story of characters from the far past, through narrative as well as letters, which tie in to the present, and tell a very compelling tale. Interestingly enough, we don't get much of anything from the view of the artist Robert Oliver, which leaves him as much of a mystery to us as to the people around him in the book. But, in regards to all this aforementioned jumping around, it's not that confusing at all. We always know the where, the when and the who.
One more thing that Kostova carried over from The Historian is her attention to details. Her books are very detailed and that lends itself to the descriptions and the actual writing. The good news here is that all those details didn't bog down the progression of the story as much as it could have. Now, when I talked about her first book, I did mention this way of writing with her and I also may have mentioned that, despite how well it's written, one more trip to the editor might not have been the worst idea. Just to help the whole thing move a bit more. I didn't have that issue with this book, personally. In my opinion, whether it was because of better editing or a better story or something else, I found it much easier to get through and I read it much more quickly. To me, that's a very good thing, although, I do like to take some time with her books, just to let all the good detailing and info sink in. True, I would not put anything of hers on a 24 Hour Readathon TBR.
I suppose I ended up liking this book better than her first, which is an opinion that not everyone agrees with. But, for me, I was just drawn in to the story and the characters more than I was in The Historian. By the way, I'm not knocking that first book. I still think it's great. I just had more of an emotional connection to this one.
In closing, I would recommend The Swan Thieves, especially if you like Elizabeth Kostova's other work or if you're a fan of the world of artists and painters. It deals a lot with what a person can go through because of a gift they may have and how it can effect their whole life. As a type of artist myself, I can certainly relate to that and appreciate it greatly.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I am someone who very much appreciates the arts, even the type of arts that I don't partake in. Or that I'm not necessarily good at. So, I do enjoy some crossing over of mediums when it comes to that. So, it was inevitable that I would pick up a book by a writer who clearly has an appreciation for the art of painting. It was also inevitable that I would pick up a book by a writer who I have enjoyed in the past. Therefore, after wanting to do so for a very long time, I finally read The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova.
The Swan Thieves is the 2010 follow up to Kostova's wildly successful book, The Historian. A book, mind you, that I have already reviewed and very much enjoyed. Again, her writing delves into history, but this time her focus is more on the world of art, specifically paintings, as I mentioned. The story here starts when a renowned artist, Robert Oliver, is arrested because he nearly attacks a painting in the National Gallery. Subsequently, a psychiatrist named Andrew Marlowe is called in to take over the care of this new patient. While Oliver reveals little to nothing about himself or his motives, Marlowe is forced to dig deeper than he ever has for answers. In his search, he discovers a few people who have had an impact on Oliver, one that would even be considered an obsession to him, and Marlowe realizes that they are as much of a mystery as Oliver himself.
As with her previous novel, Kostova does a bit of time jumping in this, as well as changing perspectives quite a bit. We get the perspective of Marlowe, as well as two women in Oliver's life. Those are the present day stories. But we also are told the story of characters from the far past, through narrative as well as letters, which tie in to the present, and tell a very compelling tale. Interestingly enough, we don't get much of anything from the view of the artist Robert Oliver, which leaves him as much of a mystery to us as to the people around him in the book. But, in regards to all this aforementioned jumping around, it's not that confusing at all. We always know the where, the when and the who.
One more thing that Kostova carried over from The Historian is her attention to details. Her books are very detailed and that lends itself to the descriptions and the actual writing. The good news here is that all those details didn't bog down the progression of the story as much as it could have. Now, when I talked about her first book, I did mention this way of writing with her and I also may have mentioned that, despite how well it's written, one more trip to the editor might not have been the worst idea. Just to help the whole thing move a bit more. I didn't have that issue with this book, personally. In my opinion, whether it was because of better editing or a better story or something else, I found it much easier to get through and I read it much more quickly. To me, that's a very good thing, although, I do like to take some time with her books, just to let all the good detailing and info sink in. True, I would not put anything of hers on a 24 Hour Readathon TBR.
I suppose I ended up liking this book better than her first, which is an opinion that not everyone agrees with. But, for me, I was just drawn in to the story and the characters more than I was in The Historian. By the way, I'm not knocking that first book. I still think it's great. I just had more of an emotional connection to this one.
In closing, I would recommend The Swan Thieves, especially if you like Elizabeth Kostova's other work or if you're a fan of the world of artists and painters. It deals a lot with what a person can go through because of a gift they may have and how it can effect their whole life. As a type of artist myself, I can certainly relate to that and appreciate it greatly.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
Blackbird Singing: Poems and Lyrics, 1965 to 1999 by Paul McCartney - Book Review
Greetings,
As you may know, perhaps because I've mentioned it here, April is National Poetry Month. Naturally, I had to read a couple of poetry books just for the occasion. And on the first day of the month, I read one that I've owned for quite a while and have merely glanced through but never dug deep into. It was about time that I did a proper reading of Blackbird Singing by Paul McCartney.
This book was released in 2001 and, as you can tell by the full title, it contains lyrics and poems that he has written from 1965 to 1999. Why nothing before that? Well, in my opinion, when it comes to lyrics written pre-65, I think even Paul wouldn't know where the McCartney ends and where the Lennon begins. Yes, their collaborations, partnership and friendship were that strong. At that time. If you are an admirer of The Beatles, you'll know that it was around the mid-sixties that the Paul songs and the John songs became pretty distinct, even though they were all labeled Lennon/McCartney. But enough about that.
In Blackbird Singing, you'll find many familiar songs that Paul wrote during his time with The Beatles, with Wings and from his solo career. Good luck trying not to hear the melodies in your head as you read them. If you can, you're a stronger person than I am. Truth be told, I am known for loving a good and complete set of liner notes when I buy an album. Seriously, if there aren't lyrics in there, I can get a bit miffed, because I actually enjoy reading lyrics. So, naturally, these familiar words were the ones I gravitated to more so as I was working my way through this book.
Now, what about the poetry? Well, it's certainly not bad. A few, I think, were actually very good and very moving, even. That description particularly applies to the poems that are clearly personal to him, subject-wise, such as being about his late wife, or his family, or lost friends. And like most writers, he shines when he can tap into the deepest parts of himself. But here's the thing about Paul McCartney, according to me and, perhaps, a few others. I've always felt that he was far better at the music part of songwriting than the lyrical part. He's kinda like the opposite of me. Although, don't get me wrong. On his worst day of verse writing he's probably better than most so-called songwriters on their best. Still, when I think of Paul, I think more of his melodies than words. I'm saying that I believe that his words shine the most when they are attached to his music. This is probably why, whilst I did enjoy this book and I enjoyed reading those words with merely an accompaniment of silence, I didn't get as much of a feeling from them as I would had I been reading lyrics or poems from someone like Leonard Cohen or Tori Amos.
But, again, the word 'bad' would not be found anywhere near this collection.
So, would I recommend this? I'd say yes if you are a fan of poetry and if you're a fan of Sir Paul, it would be a nice add to your collection. I'm not saying you have to rush to get to this one, but it's a nice easy read and all those classic song lyrics might hit you right in the nostalgia. I'm glad I own it. I'm glad I read it. And if you like yourself some good, old McCartney, I think you'll feel the same way.
Wow, this review was short as heck. But so are poems, usually, so there you go.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
As you may know, perhaps because I've mentioned it here, April is National Poetry Month. Naturally, I had to read a couple of poetry books just for the occasion. And on the first day of the month, I read one that I've owned for quite a while and have merely glanced through but never dug deep into. It was about time that I did a proper reading of Blackbird Singing by Paul McCartney.
This book was released in 2001 and, as you can tell by the full title, it contains lyrics and poems that he has written from 1965 to 1999. Why nothing before that? Well, in my opinion, when it comes to lyrics written pre-65, I think even Paul wouldn't know where the McCartney ends and where the Lennon begins. Yes, their collaborations, partnership and friendship were that strong. At that time. If you are an admirer of The Beatles, you'll know that it was around the mid-sixties that the Paul songs and the John songs became pretty distinct, even though they were all labeled Lennon/McCartney. But enough about that.
In Blackbird Singing, you'll find many familiar songs that Paul wrote during his time with The Beatles, with Wings and from his solo career. Good luck trying not to hear the melodies in your head as you read them. If you can, you're a stronger person than I am. Truth be told, I am known for loving a good and complete set of liner notes when I buy an album. Seriously, if there aren't lyrics in there, I can get a bit miffed, because I actually enjoy reading lyrics. So, naturally, these familiar words were the ones I gravitated to more so as I was working my way through this book.
Now, what about the poetry? Well, it's certainly not bad. A few, I think, were actually very good and very moving, even. That description particularly applies to the poems that are clearly personal to him, subject-wise, such as being about his late wife, or his family, or lost friends. And like most writers, he shines when he can tap into the deepest parts of himself. But here's the thing about Paul McCartney, according to me and, perhaps, a few others. I've always felt that he was far better at the music part of songwriting than the lyrical part. He's kinda like the opposite of me. Although, don't get me wrong. On his worst day of verse writing he's probably better than most so-called songwriters on their best. Still, when I think of Paul, I think more of his melodies than words. I'm saying that I believe that his words shine the most when they are attached to his music. This is probably why, whilst I did enjoy this book and I enjoyed reading those words with merely an accompaniment of silence, I didn't get as much of a feeling from them as I would had I been reading lyrics or poems from someone like Leonard Cohen or Tori Amos.
But, again, the word 'bad' would not be found anywhere near this collection.
So, would I recommend this? I'd say yes if you are a fan of poetry and if you're a fan of Sir Paul, it would be a nice add to your collection. I'm not saying you have to rush to get to this one, but it's a nice easy read and all those classic song lyrics might hit you right in the nostalgia. I'm glad I own it. I'm glad I read it. And if you like yourself some good, old McCartney, I think you'll feel the same way.
Wow, this review was short as heck. But so are poems, usually, so there you go.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
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