Hi it's Wednesday which means this is Kate. Let's get straight down to business because something tells me this is going to be a long one.
Agenda 1: answer some questions already
I like dear beatrice a lot as a name for our blog. I’d probably like it better if we just came out and called it dear bitches but with dear beatrice it also acts as a series of unfortunate events reference. Which means we have a cover story if ever we need it. Always good to keep our options open.
I have to admit though COOL PEOPLE OF EVERY AND ANY NATIONALITY has really started to grow on me, loud and long as it is.
We previously discussed the possibility of ‘the fellowship of the blog’ before Orla returned from the land of wonders, aka nerd camp. I originally suggested this as a joke, just like I suggested COOL PEOPLE OF EVERY AND ANY NATIONALITY as a joke, that were both taken too seriously. I have to admit though, the fellowship of the blog does have a nice ring to it. (You see what I did there? ;) *nods smugly* You saw what I did there.)
I’ll also admit that the only reason I brought that name back up was so I could use that pun. I don’t suggest that we call ourselves that when we could probably be more original.
Danielle also asked a second question last week which was what we should call each other. Here are my suggestions do as you please with them:
1. Blog Bitches
2. Blog Buddies
3. Bonny Bloggers
4. Bosomed Bloggers
5. Bimbo Bloggers
As for the suggestion of blogging with strangers, I know we pretty much decided not to do that but if anyone does ever start a blog of that kind remember me and call it the Blind Bloggers. You can’t imagine how proud I am of that name.
Agenda 2: Remember what your mother taught you
This week’s theme is books that suck so before I get into my book I ought to respond to Danielle’s, as that is the polite thing to do.
I’ve heard before that The Time Traveler’s Wife is quite a disappointing read and it has received many mixed reviews but I have not read it myself. I’m not a fan of romance novels in general, I like a good romantic subplot but when the sole story is about a couple's love I find it really commonplace and boring. I don’t know if this is just me but I find it quite easy to write romantic stories and they’re never a challenge. So I think if you write a whole book on the topic it needs to have some other really important subplot, for example the Fault in our Stars is mainly focused on a young couple but there is a really important other half of the story that focuses on the illness they have both been living with.
If you already have an interesting story it’s easy to incorporate some romance into the characters’ lives and it adds another dimension to their personality. I think the mistake that a lot of romance novelists make is to focus too much on their characters’ love lives. Which sounds funny because they're romance novelist right? But let’s face it, there is nothing sadder than someone who goes on about their significant other constantly, whether in real life or a book. So many main characters in romance novels don’t seem to have a life outside of their lover and if they do it’s only touched upon by the author. That’s the main problem I have with this kind of book.
Agenda 3: Bad Bloody Books
Okay so now on to my most hated book. Divergent.
This is also a very popular novel and has a movie coming out soon(?). I had heard a good bit about this novel before reading it, nothing about the plot just that it was similar to the Hunger Games in that it was dystopian and it had received generally great reviews. I wouldn’t say that because of this I was expecting a really great read because I have a rule of reserving judgment until I’ve finished the book completely and I don’t really trust anyone’s judgement other than my own. But I was definitely let down somewhat by the reviews.
Disclaimer: I was sick at the time of reading and have not read it again because Danielle still has my copy (*cough* nearly a year *cough*) but I don’t think it would have altered my opinion had I been well.
I liked the idea of the factions and the whole storyline was interesting to begin with but what disappointed me was how the author played it out. There were a number of small plot twists (which I won’t go into detail about because I don’t know how many of us haven’t read it and plan to) and one slightly more major, all of which I could see coming from the beginning. It felt like reading a book that had been written for children in that clues and hints were scattered everywhere and there wasn’t even an attempt to make them appear natural. On the first read they were all clearly suspicious and out of place. It frustrated me hugely as I literally found myself waiting for the plot to play out and when it did I couldn’t even feel satisfied that I had figured it out previously. It was the sort of book I would have loved to read when I was a know-it-all little nine year old and and I would take such deep, smug, pleasure from figuring out any sudden change of events prior to their occurrence. It was as bad as reading a summary of a book and then reading the actual thing, or watching the film and then reading.
Maybe if I read it again I’ll appreciate it more because I’ll feel justified in knowing the whole plot but it remains the angriest a book has ever made me. I was literally shouting at the top of my voice at the stupid as fuck characters who couldn’t see the truth that was plainly in front of them. Ugh. Now I’m in a bad mood. I’m going to go make some ice-cream because it’s the healthier option than eating it.
I forgot to do this last week.
MISSION...............................................COMPLETED
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