Books, Taylor Swift, and other hyperfixations
Sometimes characters have to make impossible decisions. This often manifests as them having to choose between their best friend or their love interest, or deciding which of their children gets to live, or rescuing either their family or millions of strangers. This happens to protagonist Todd Hewitt in The Knife of Never Letting Go, the first book in… Continue reading MAKE-YOU-CRY MONDAY: The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
I wasn't going to write about this, but I changed my mind because I'm outraged. I'm not sure if there's a cultural difference at play--maybe it's a Mormon thing--because I can't imagine parents in the United States who would actually do this to their child. In the original Pride and Prejudice, Lizzie rejects the odious Mr.… Continue reading TERRIBLE PROSE TUESDAY: Boundaries
Many of my friends don't like "Into the Woods" because after Act 1, it stops being fun. The musical transitions from a lighthearted send-up of fairy tale tropes into a dark examination of heavy themes, such as death, betrayal, and infidelity. Oh, and throw in an absentee father because Stephen Sondheim had issues with his… Continue reading MAKE-YOU-CRY MONDAY: No More
I watch some shows that aren't the best. It's rare that I find a TV show that I like that's actually good. For example, despite what nostalgia would have me believe, Digimon is terrible. My friends love Marvel; I'm undecided. I didn't start taking Marvel seriously until "The Avengers" came out, so call me a bandwaggoner… Continue reading Why I love “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”
Love triangles are a fixture of many romances. I have mixed feelings about them, but I have no problem with another character posing an obstacle to the main love story, especially if it's done well (see Clockwork Prince.) As this book is a modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice, it's only fitting that the heroine of Jenni James' Pride… Continue reading TERRIBLE PROSE TUESDAY: Obvious villain is obvious
Today's montage is infamous for its ability to make everyone cry, save for one heartless friend of mine who said, "What's the big deal? It's not like she died young or something." "Up" is my favorite Pixar movie and the first time I saw it, it ruined my life. The only other movie to make me… Continue reading MAKE-YOU-CRY MONDAY: Married Life
Dear Janna Nickerson: I will leave you alone soon. I promise. But not today. I'm not here to poke fun at the death of a parent. I don't think losing both parents in the same day is funny. I do think in many stories it's unnecessary and only serves to up the angst quotient. In… Continue reading TERRIBLE PROSE TUESDAY: Death by plot necessity
Oy. Here we go. Rolling up my sleeves for some strong personal feelings. These are tears of rage. I'm not Jewish, for the record. I can't claim that as part of my ancestry. Today's scene is from Fiddler on the Roof, and the basic premise is this: Tevye's daughter Chava marries a man who isn't… Continue reading MAKE-YOU-CRY MONDAY: Chava rejected
Narrative Paradise 