book fail (reader or author?), Wall-E, TV, fic rec

[rose_griffes]

Books: I started three books that I didn't finish: Blood Oranges, by Drusilla Campbell, My Most Excellent Year, by Steve Kluger and We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates. The first two just didn't click for me; the characters didn't draw me in. As for Oates' novel, well, it became clear very quickly that a key plot point would revolve around the sister getting raped. I just wasn't in the mood, especially since my previously-mentioned Oates-induced book trauma was also strongly connected to rape*. It's an important topic, but I'm not sure I want a whole novel full of sadness and anger over it when I was so thoroughly traumatized by a short story by Oates with that theme.

*That short story was SO COMPLETELY HORRIFYING that I still can't bring myself to describe what actually happened to the POV character. This is one case where I doubt your imagination is worse than the tale. The novel seemed very different--a realistic story rather than horror. But, uh, nope. Nope nope nope. Sorry, Oates, this is not a novel that I'm going to read.

So then I read two fluffy romance novels by Susan Elizabeth somebody (Johnson? Found one of the books, it was Phillips!) that had fairly likeable and distinct characters and I rather enjoyed them both.


I finished watching Wall-E. The ending didn't erase the melancholy brought on by the first part. I'm not sure why it didn't work for me when so many people loved it, but... yeah. Too bleak. I didn't hate it, and rather liked Wall-E himself, but it's not on my rewatch list. I could, however, read fic. I've already seen a couple of Wall-E/BSG crossovers on AO3 which were quite good.

I don't think the sadness was the problem; I really enjoyed watching Up last year, also by Pixar, even though I had to pause ten minutes in to bawl on the couch for a bit before continuing. (And I bawled again the other two times I watched, and I thought about writing "Ellie and Carl's prom date" fic.) Hm. *shrug* Brains are weird and emotions don't make sense.


Moving on... Thanks to nicole_anell's recommendation, I ended up watching the two hour introduction of AMC's The Killing. I was planning to listen to a nicely predictable murder mystery while paying bills. Instead I ended up watching with rapt interest, postponing the bill-paying for another night.

I do have one niggling problem with it. I'll just say it: I've never been a big fan of the workaholic character who neglects his/her family life. I don't like the stakes being raised so high for this particular crime that Sarah Linden makes choices that negatively impact her family (present and potential future). Yes, her boss started it. He's also partially responsible for Linden's negative perception of Holder, which adds to her reasons to stay a bit longer.

Her child missing a few days of school during a move isn't going to make her worst parent of the year. (No prizes for best parent award, just for the record.) Her fiancé will either get over it or he won't. But there will always be another murder victim.

I think my first reaction about it was probably stronger than this warranted, though ,which might have something to do with my massive CKR crush. Thinking about it helped a bit; for example, what were her plans were for work in Sonoma after the wedding? Initially I had assumed that she would apply for a job with the police force there, but if she had planned to do something different, it could explain part of the compulsion to do this one last case right. Even though there's always another murder victim, it cuts closer when the victim is so young... particularly when the victim has such a 'normal,' connected, loving family, something that Linden probably hasn't seen much over the years. Plus Linden may have the growing realization that giving up her job in Seattle is a bigger step than she wants to take at this point.

Of course, speculating leads to me making sad faces for poor Nice Fiancé Callum Keith Rennie. 'Cause I think he's gonna get the short end of the stick here. Pooooor CKR; he finally gets to play a nice guy and he's probably going to be dumped for it. *laughs*

Not really related, Callum Keith Rennie is fifteen years older than Mireille Enos. (Huh. Her real-life husband is even older. She was four or five months pregnant with their first child when they filmed the first episode, hence the many open jackets she wore.)
And yes, I watched Rennie's introductory scene twice. He must have a contract that demands at least one scene per role in which he's kissing a woman while she's pushed against the wall. Too bad his part isn't listed on IMDB, because I'm curious if he'll show up in later episodes.

What I did like: Linden. Sarah Linden's thinky face. A LOT. The Larsen family and every scene with Michelle Forbes. The utterly creepy way Holder got information from those girls. (I'm still simultaneously freaked out and fascinated by it.) Linden's relationship with her co-workers. How Holder seems to be so deliberate in his mannerisms, but he apparently can't turn it off. The layers of possible motivations for this particular crime.

Political Dude is a bit too saintly at this point. We'll see how that plays out. I'd say it's worth watching if you like thoughtful, slow-paced murder mysteries. Oh, and it hasn't been too gruesome for me. Yet.

(There was a bloody handprint on the wall at the end of the second hour. It looked wrong--I've gotten too accustomed to Fringe's handprint logo with the extra finger. Hee!


I got distracted from my plan to grab my season two Fringe DVDs and ended up watching the first episode of Slings & Arrows on Netflix. My opinion so far: if I loved the theatre, I'd probably enjoy it a lot more. As it is, I'm a casual fan of the theatre and have little interest in what goes on backstage unless there are characters I love who are affected by it. At some point I may watch the second episode, just to give it fair trial.


Last: Battlestar Galactica stories! We're still posting stories at bsg_remix and this remix of one of my comment fics has some keen perceptions about Kara as seen through Jean Barolay's eyes.

Lots of fantastic remix stories there right now! Yay, remix!

Not a remix, but there's a compelling ongoing fic, Children of Gods, a BSG/Hunger Games mash-up. BSG characters, AU background and timeline, some of the ideas from the Hunger Games... y'all know how picky I am about teenage Kara Thrace in fic. I find this version of her plausible and interesting, and the differences in her background feel organic, especially to this story. Here's the prologue. You can use the 'next entry' arrow to advance, if there's no link to the next chapter. Seven chapters up so far, a new one every week.

I haven't even hated Bill Adama in this yet! His over-the-top dramatic reaction works for me here, without making me want to shove him offscreen off the page.

I'm pretty sure this fic will continue to earn its "Mature Audience" rating, because, well, if you take the Hunger Games to its logical worst, it's not going to be for a young audience anymore. Also, if you prefer Tom Zarek with hints of grey rather than a nice, shiny shade of black, you might find this story a bit frustrating. He's emphatically a villain here, and I'm looking forward to a gruesome, slow death for his character. (I'm bracing myself for a horrible death for Sam. *sobs* And Laura. And possibly Zak.)

I don't think you'd have to know The Hunger Games for this to make sense, just the BSG characters. Key ideas: horrifying arena deathmatch with teenagers! Revolution against evil government that sanctions the spectacle!

Poor LJ is still having problems. Mirror of this entry here on DW.

Comments

[lunar47.livejournal.com]

I have things to say but I'm so exhausted right now that they'll come out incoherent. I'll be back later to properly comment on the Killing.

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

Looking forward to your thoughts, if you have a chance to come back!

I hope you're enjoying it so far. I love me a good murder mystery, and this one has atmosphere as well as the murder, so yay!

[daybreak777.livejournal.com]

I liked Wall-E okay. The movie is not a rewatcher for me like Toy Story 3 (I'm buying that one, maybe all of them! :-)) but I really liked the character of Wall-E. I was gently spoiled about the world, so maybe that's it. Or maybe I'm just partial to post-apocalyptic worlds? That might be more of it. :-) Our world isn't heading to a good place the way we're going and I thought it was clever to make that the backdrop for the film. Did little kids even get that out of it? Who knows?

There is fic! Thanks for the reminder!

Huh. I didn't have a problem with Sarah's workaholism. She's really into her job. Her son and fiance didn't seem to be acutely suffering from it. And she really did want to go to California. Maybe she did want a change. But I think she sensed that she was the one that would do this case right. I shudder to think of those parents in the hands of Sarah's partner alone. The thought makes me a bit queasy, actually.

I LOVE Sarah's thinky face!!!! It got me from her looking at the pig. I'll follow her anywhere. This is how it happens. :-)

SLINGS AND ARROWS!!!! Did you read my reviews? Keep going! I didn't get the Canadian-British humor of it and wasn't paying much attention until about the fourth episode. But once the arc finished? I won't spoil it for you, but I had to watch the rest of the series. The first season was the best, I think. Let us know what you think!!!! I love the two British guys who sing the theme song too. I want to say 'Cheer up, duckie' to practically everyone and have to forcibly restrain myself. :-)

I commented on some remixes! There are some wonderful stories there. I think I'm going to round up my guesses soon. There are two I'm quite sure I know who wrote but I'm usually wrong and might be again now.

CHILDREN OF THE GODS!!! Gosh, that fic makes me want to write an epic. Not really, but it's so much fun to read! And noes! Sam wont' die yet! Shhhh!!!! And I actually saw Tom as more grey in that story than I thought on my own. Hmmmm.

LJ is having problems, but I'll stick with you yet, LJ! I'm glad LJ is supporting free speech in Russian. I'll go down with this ship! But I will back up my LJ with LJ Archive. It seems prudent. Gotta save the fic and fic comments, you know. Then go down with this ship if that's what happens. :-)

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

I still can't decide why Wall-E didn't work for me; we all know I often enjoy the post-apocalyptic thing. Maybe it was the odd juxtaposition of ruined world with cute anthropomorphized robots. I'd rather take my darkness straight, thanks.

I shudder to think of those parents in the hands of Sarah's partner alone. The thought makes me a bit queasy, actually.
Initially, me too. But I think there's something there--he's got the horrifying mannerisms and ethics, but he also has that way of thinking that could work well for him as a homicide detective. (He certainly doesn't function as a moral center for the story being told as a whole, though.)

Side note: did you know that the actor playing Holder is Swedish? His mum is, anyway, and he was born in Sweden. His dad is American.

I actually saw Tom as more grey in that story than I thought on my own. Hmmmm.

Huh. Tom is definitely a man who doesn't hesitate to sacrifice (others) for a goal, but on BSG he seemed to have a respect for Laura that would preclude anything like what happens to young Laura in this fic. I dunno. (I guess I've bought into the AU aspect of it enough, but I have some Zarek fans on my f'list who would probably quibble over his actions in the story.)

[nicole-anell.livejournal.com]

I've never been a big fan of the workaholic character who neglects his/her family life.
I agree I'm wary about where that's heading -- if she and CKR do not survive (relationship-wise) at the end because of her being too wrapped up in her work I will not be happy. But in a way I like the idea of her being compelled to stay on this case even though she was on her way out and has this other life calling to her.

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

I've gone straight to assuming the worst outcome; that way I won't be too disappointed if their relationship doesn't survive.

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

Glad I put it aside, then. I've done that with several books this year, which is unusual for me, but... no point wasting my reading time on books that aren't enjoyable.