Perhaps a little morbid of me, but I have been thinking a lot about death lately. I am a Christian, and I believe in life after death. I believe in eternal life with God after death. But there's still a part of me that wonders if life isn't just a cosmic joke. A part of me that fears that black oblivion of death. I think sleep is a good thing, but there are other things that I would prefer to do. I sleep because if I don't I am tired and I don't function well. The reason why I write this is because I think of death sometimes like sleep. If there is life after death (which I believe and choose to believe in), then death is just a long nap. But if for some reason death is the end, then it's a really scary thought that there's no waking up from that dark cloud of nothingness. My problem is that I am a worrier. I am pathological about it, actually. I am so bad about it, I memorized most of the scriptures that deal with worrying. It's like in that movie Inventin...
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More Matheson Thoughts I found Nightmare at 20, 000 Feet and Other Stories at my excellent public library. The titular story is the basis for The Twilight Zone episode with William Shatner. Well if you like the show, read the book. Your heartbeat stays erratic the whole time. I love the detail in which Matheson describes the harrowing experience the protagonist has. He knows the gremlin is there but the darn thing disappears when he tries to point him out. The flight crew gets more and more convinced that the protagonist is off his rocker. But he knows he's sane. He is frightened out of his wits, but knowing that he's the only hope for the plane. The reluctant hero comes up with a plan to save the plane because the gremlin is steadily and I must add gleefully, tearing it apart. The climax is short, quick, wonderfully executed. You heave a sigh of relief when the story ends. This volume has other classic stories. Another truly affecting story is Slaughter House. Two very clos...
Kim Harrison and Her Dead Witch Walking and Danielle's Ramblings Therein I have to say that this book blew me away. I had reservations about reading it because I am a Christian and we are supposed to avoid witchcraft. I love horror and the supernatural. Always have. But I try to draw lines that I won't cross in my reading and tv watching. Happily this book did not compromise my beliefs. Rachel, the protagonist is a witch in the same way that a person could be a fairy or sprite. She's born a wtich. Instead of being a Wiccan, she simply has magical powers. Now I am not trying to condemn those who chose to follow the Wiccan religion. That's that person's decision. However I don't necessarily want to read about it. I prefer the direction that Happy Potter and Dead Witch Walking takes that some people are born with the power to make magic. Anyway, I have been on a paranormal detective kick that I have always sort of had (grew up watching The Night Stalker). And in ve...
Veils of Slk by Mary Jo Putney: One Great Victorian Exotic Romance I'm just about done with this book and it's excellent. For those of us who love exotic settings check this one out. It takes place in India in 1841. The hero has lost an eye and spends part of the book impotent. It's so cool to have a hero who is far from perfect but just scrumptious. I really loved Ian and I think I might be adding him to my list of scarred/imperfect hero favorites. The heroine is also admirable. She's of Russian birth but raised as an Englishwoman and has issues with passion because of her wild and crazy parents. She is the kind of woman a man like Ian needs. She's a true helpmate and a strong woman. They meet when she's trying to protect the camp from a maneating tiger. She almost shoots him in the process. Their relationship develops beautifully as they meet each other's needs. Ian was imprisoned for years and was terribly abused, kept in the dark and starved. His cellmat...
Continuing My Classic Horror Journey Hello, I finished I Am Legend by Matheson. It was really good. Neville is a very interesting protagonist. You really want to root for him that he will survive. I don't want to spoil you, but the ending will definitely hit you like a one-two punch. I definitely wanted a different one. Nevertheless it was one of the best short stories I have ever read. I finished I am Legend more than a year ago. It had such an effect on my psyche that I had to put the book down. Let me tell you a secret. I am a bit of a whimp when it comes to horror. Yet like the worst masochist, I adore horror. I love being scared and that feeling of unsettledness that settles in your stomach like a heavy meal. Anyway, I felt like I wanted to finish it, because I really liked Matheson's writing. And I paid a lot of money for the book ;) I pulled it out this summer after the big move and read some more. There were some excellently written st...
Analyzing The Top Ten On one of my romance groups, the moderator asked us to look at our list of favorites and say why we loved them. I looked at mine and this is what I came up with: 1.Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase --I could write a thesis on how wonderful this book is. Most of all I love the hero. Dain is a strong, masculine, sexy but oh-so vulnerable hero who has more money and land than he knows what to do with. But he really truly needs to be loved. Dain must be one of my all time favorite heroes. His story is so sad I could weep. But he's a bad boy. He claims only to love himself. However, it's soon made clear that he hates himself because no one ever showed him that he was worthy of love. Jessica, the heroine is so amazing. If I could pick a romance heroine I would want to be friends with I would pick her. She is strong and independent. She had the fortitude to go after the man she wants, take him warts and all, but clean up the mess in his life, and heal his heart...
What makes a man a man? This is a question asked by many women and men. Is a man manly if he throws his weight around, swares, scratches his nether regions, sleeps with as many women as possible? Or is he simply a man because he has one X chromosome and one Y chromosome and is physically mature? I've always had a bee in my bonnet about this. I don't like macho, sexist men. I like alpha heroes in books, but sometimes they can be too much to swallow when they are uber-alpha heroes. The caveman act only appeals so much. I can admit that some guys are really hot because they just seem so male to me. I don't think it's the same as being macho. In my mind, there is definitely a difference. Nothing wrong with a little possessiveness in a hero, but complete jealousy is kind of scary. Also bossing the heroine around, trying to control her and dominate her, and dismissing her because she is a woman is out for me. It makes me want to reach for the frying pan and knock some sense i...
Musings on Romance, Fantasy and Sexuality--Part I A Virgin: To Be or Not To Be! Whew, I have been neglecting my blog terribly. I guess I needed something that I really wanted to write about. Well I found it. Last night I was on the All About Romance website (one of my favorite places to hang out) and reading the discussions about many issues, including sexuality. I think that many good points were raised. Romance lovers took the time to discuss things that drove them crazy about romance novels. I have certainly read a romance novel or two that made me cringe or even want to toss it across the room. Who hasn't? If you would like to know what makes my hair stand on end and smoke come out of my ears, see my archived post on romance novel don'ts. So after reading the numerous theories, pet peeves, and suggestions on AAR, my mind was sent into pondering about romance novels and reality versus fantasy and the sexuality quotient. In this post, I will ramble on about the virgin heroine...
A Four Movie Weekend I guess all the stars were in alignment because I saw not one or two, but four movies this weekend. My movie going experience was initiated on Friday afternoon with The Brothers Grimm. I later saw The 40 Yr Old Virgin the same night. On Saturday I saw The Cave. And I completed the movie block with Sky High on Sunday afternoon. Thankfully, I enjoyed all four movies. See comments below: The Brothers Grimm Visionary, captivating, and somewhat creepy. It was a Terry Gilliam film, with the requisite strange humor, characters and imagery. It even had a Gilliam veteran in Jonathan Pryce. Matt Damon and Heath Ledger did a great job playing close, but not always harmonious siblings. Heath (Jake or Jacob) is a dreamer and a scholar of folktales. He has his head in the clouds and it drives his pragmatic brother Wil, short for Wilhelm (Matt Damon) crazy, although he utilizes his brother's knowledge of folktales to concoct hoaxes to squeeze money out of superstitious villa...
2005 Top Ten Romance Couples For one of my groups we had to list our top 10 couples from romances. I had to do some thinking because I've read so many romances with great couples in them. After a few days of pondering I decided that most of the couples were actually old favorites, none of which had been bumped off for newer couples. A super romance couple needs to have the following qualities: Mutual respect Everlasting, fathoms deep love and devotion An intense connection Fiery chemistry The ability to convince the reader that they will be together until the day they die 1.Wolf and Mary--Mackenzie's Mountain by Linda Howard 2.Sebastian and Jessica--Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase 3.Derek and Sara--Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas 4.Daniel and Elise--Iguana Bay by Theresa Weir 5.Carter and Bailee--The Texan's Wager by Jodi Thomas 6.Jack and Anne-All Through The Night by Connie Brockway 7.Julian and Grace--Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon 8.Mary and Sebastian--A Well-...
Rediscovering Johanna Lindsey Well things have been crazy this summer, thus I am very behind on my blog entries. After discovering the wonderful local library, I was happy to find that they had a copy of the newest JL book, Marriage Most Scandalous. As of late I have not been reading this author as much because I was a little underwhelmed with the last books I read by her: The Present, Joining, Say You Love Me. I have still been collecting her books except for the last two but they have been very far at the bottom of my tbr pile. This definitely saddens me as she was my favorite author for many years. I would use my meager funds to buy her paperbacks right when they came out. And I would read them over and over again. But when I heard about Marriage Most Scandalous I was intrigued. The hero was described as a mercenary which made my ears perk up. I love dangerous romance heroes. What can I say? I was tempted, despite my limited financial funds to buy the book when it came out (from Wal...
I am a sad girl today... I recently found out that one of my all time favorite historical romance writers, Connie Brockway, is retiring indefinitely from that genre. I cannot express how sad it makes me. She writes those kind of books that go down like a seven course meal and leave you feeling satisfied but ready for the next offering. She has that wonderful mix of passion, intelligence, humor, and historical accuracy that is one of a kind. I remember reading my first book by her, All Through The Night, and thinking wow! Jack Seward was one of the first deeply flawed characters outside of Anne Stuart novels that I became acquainted with and soon fell in love with. And as she expressed in a recent article at All About Romance, her heroine Anne also had those wonderful imperfections that made her an interesting and unforgettable character. She is a cat burgular of all things! How cool is that? I will always remember the scene where she holds him down on a chair at swordpoint and...
Thirty I'd Flee With For my Johanna Lindsey book group we have to name those books we'd take with us if there was a catastrophe. Ironically I had to keep JL off my list because there were other authors I wanted to take more. I hate these things....Obviously if I'm a bookworm, I can't just limit my collection to some books. I own over 3000 mind you! Here are mine. 1.Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase 2.The Shadow and The Star by Laura Kinsale 3.Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas 4.All Through The Night by Connie Brockway 5.A Well-Pleasured Lady by Christina Dodd 6.Rules of Engagement by Christina Dodd 7.Some Enchanted Evening by Christina Dodd 8.The Texan's Wager by Jodi Thomas 9.The Mercenary by Cherry Adair 10.Ritual Sins by Anne Stuart 11.Iguana Bay by Theresa Weir 12.Special Gifts by Anne Stuart 13.Angels Wings by Anne Stuart 14.Mr. Impossible by Loretta Chase 15.Seize The Fire by Laura Kinsale 16.Lord of Danger by Anne Stuart 17.Night Shadow by Laura Renken 18...
That writing bug has hit me again... I am finally recovering from a really, really long spell of writer's block. I have some good ideas swirling around in my brain. Think "Dreamcatcher", Jonesy's brain. That's how mine is. Well I'm wanting to do a Victorian Historical Romance series with a serious action/adventure edge. I'm thinking it's going to have some elements of the Orient, complete with stolen swords. Actually I have at least ten Victorian books in me since I love that time period. There's so many opportunities. Egypt, China, and that's not even talking Scottish men! Think Gerard Butler and a bluestocking spinster chock full of Victorian moral sensibilities. Intriguing.... Now I just need to set my arse down and write. Also I discovered a new classic Horror writer: George MacDonald, who happens to be a Christian writer. I need to pick him up. He has a book called Lilith, based on the old myth about Adam's wife. It's guaranteed to...
When You're Laid Up In Bed...It's A Great Time to Get Some Reading Done. Or so I found. It started with a sore throat and I ended up staying bed for practically a week. I think I had the flu. Finally I went to the doctor and he said I have iron deficiency anemia and maybe a cold. Okay. Anyway I finished reading about 18 books from 3/18-3/29. That's always cool because I love to read. Here is a list of my reading: To Wed A Scandalous Spy by Celeste Bradley A+ Wild At Heart by Patricia Gaffney A+ The Care and Feeding of Pirates by Jennifer Ashley A++ The Temptation by Claudia Dain A The Knave and The Maiden by Blythe Gifford A- Fallen by Emma Jensen B+ A Notorious Love by Sabrina Jeffries A The Reasons for Marriage (Short Story in Rogue's Reform) by Stephanie Laurens B+ The Forbidden Lord by Sabrina Jeffries A A Marriage Worth Waiting For by Susan Fox B+ The Ugly Duckling by Brenda Hiatt A Some Enchanted Evening by Christina Dodd A++ The Sun And The Moon by Patricia Ryan ...
Classic Horror Stories: Entry No. 1
This weekend I read a volume of short stories called Classic Ghost Stories published by Dover. It was interesting how diverse this particular genre could be. There were stories that were sad, funny, literary, and downright chilling. Probably the most terrifying story was “The Judge House” written by Bram Stoker, best known for the story Dracula, which spawned a whole genre by itself.
There were actually moments in the same story where I laughed almost in the same breath as shuddering from the chill running down my spine. This is likely due to my joy at being scared by a good story. It is a sort of masochistic impulse, that desire to see how badly a story can scare me. I like stories that genuinely inspire fear in me. But it is equally entertaining to take the journey with the writer and to see exactly how they plot and plan their frights. Like “The Judge House”, Jerome K. Jerome definitely achieved that purpose with “A Ghost Story”. “...
Let's Talk The Men From Down Under
For purposes of simplification, I will discuss both the Aussies and the Kiwis in this talk. They are the actors from Australia and New Zealand that made me realize that Great Britain is not the only place from which actors with accents that make me happy cometh. These guys are good-looking, great actors, and have a laid back vibe that is unique to them.
The Aussies (Australians)
1.Hugh Jackman
2.Guy Pearce (born in England but grew up in OZ)
3.David Wenham
4.Simon Baker
5.Russell Crowe (he was born in NZ but grew up in Oz)
6.Trevor Goddard (God rest his soul)
7.Will Snow (he plays the fine Lord John Roxton on The Lost World on tv)
8.Heath Ledger
9.Eric Bana
10.Dominic Purcell (born in England but grew up in OZ)
11.Mel Gibson (born in NY, US but moved to Oz as a child)
12.Julian McMahon
13.Paul Mercutio
14.Noah Taylor
15.Hugo Weaving
16.Anthony LaPaglia
17.Jonathan LaPaglia
18.Costas Mandylor
19.Jesse...
Why Keanu?
I remember the moment when I realized that I would always love Keanu Reeves. It was during the opening credits of Point Break. The rain was falling down and this beautiful soaking-wet, young man came out and started shooting these targets. There is this one scene where he looks over his shoulder: the epitome of male beauty. That's how it started. Before that I saw a few of his roles and I like him but Point Break was the starting point of my one-sided love affair. Ever since then, Keanu has held a special place in my heart. I've gritted my teeth when people have disparaged his acting, calling him "Ted", again and again. Saying that he sounds like a surfer dude. I've rolled my eyes at peoples' comments about him being untalented. I've tried to ignore peoples' mean-spirited innuendoes about him being gay. And still I've loved him. And I always will. Why do I love him? Let me try to tell you.
1.He is totally unique--w...
Black History Month
This is the month dedicated to remembering all the accomplishments that Black people made in this country. Too bad it's just one month. I want to definitely take advantage of the opportunity this month and every month. Because of my Black forefathers and mothers I can vote, work, live, and be free in this country. And not just Black people benefitted from the actions of these courageous people, this whole country and every American did too. Did you know that Charles Drew came up with a way to store blood products as plasma? He was a Black man. He did this for all people, not just his own people. And the powers that be had the nerve to say that the blood had to be stored according to race because they didn't want Whites getting blood from Black people. Crazy but true.
Did you know that the first person to reach the North Pole was a Black man? His name was Matthew Henson. Although he was denied credit by his colleague, he did reach the North...
My Favorite Movies It's very hard indeed to pin down a certifiable movie buff like myself to what are her favorite movies. But for you I will endeavor to elaborate on them. Keep in mind you will most likely see movies that are not on many peoples favorite list. But it's my blog, so who cares if others don't agree with me. So here they are, not particularly in order: 1.Armageddon 2.The Matrix 3.The Matrix Reloaded 4.Speed 5.A Walk In The Clouds 6.The Replacements 7.The Empire Strikes Back 8.The Incredibles 9.X-Men 10.X-2: X-Men United 11.Swordfish 12.Van Helsing 13.A Room With A View 14.The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring 15.The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers 16.The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 17.Lethal Weapon 18.Daredevil 19.Snatch 20.The Lady and The Tramp 21.Mulan 22.The Mummy 23.The Mummy Returns 24.Gone in 60 Seconds (Nicolas Cage) 25.Face/Off 26.National Treasure 27.Phantom of the Opera 28.Great Expectations (Ethan Hawke) 29.Elekt...