Irish Twins Episode Eight:
Does anyone have that deep parental affection for their characters? Heh heh heh, if its rare then I must be very lucky cause I got it bad.
I cant look at this mood board without being suddenly super happy and melty. Like, that feeling you get when you really wanna give someone a hug. And more often than not, that gets overrun by the realization that I cant, even when Isolde and the other characters are suffering bitterly.
A writers life you know? You cant give the characters the love you wish you could because that would be plot armor. No. They have to learn their lessons on their own oftentimes. But also that uncanny ability to connect separate points in the plot/scheme of an article or novel without realizing it... Like I think I just did.
Isolde, Fletcher and the rest of the cast, my desire to help them grow and overcome their hurt springs from a desire to do the same in the real world. It hurts me more than anything else to see pain that I cant fix... which, I mean thats kinda just a guy thing. We wanna fix everything. And when we cant it bothers us. And that's not always a bad thing. I could go on preaching about implications of that but thats for another time... whenever I release Heartcry probably.
In the last few weeks. A close friend was killed in a car accident. Drunk driver, who survived without much of a scratch. And was given bail.
As far as hatred or blaming goes. Ive always found it hard to harbor any ill will. Im overly empathetic. Very much so. My "hatred" is modeled like justice. I just wanna see things worked out to an even and just point. But holding onto anger is not my gig. So, saying that, its hard for me to hold onto stuff like this. It really hurts me deeply to see the destruction it caused and not have a natural expression to deal with it.
Anywho. This friend left behind a wife, five kids and a farm. Its a rough situation all around. I dont really know how else to describe it. Im still a bit shell shocked.
When something painful happens. I tend to reflect and analyze myself deeply. So far, its not been critical, its been a way of exposition for God. And in the aftermath looking back I can see the setup of the lesson that first came to mind.
Live Like You Were Dying. by Tim McGraw. This is a cover by One Voice Children's Choir.
I thought about this because of the way this friend used to interact with people. He may be one of the only guys Ive ever known to live like he was gonna die tomorrow. Or more specifically. To love like it. Love like you were dying... something none of us do. Time is short. Life can be taken on impact. Life can be taken with one missed breath. With one cold or virus. One little insignificant action can take lives. Not to caution against living those actions, but rather to say. What would people you know remember best about you if you died today? Was you last conversation with any given friend or loved one what you would like your last words to be with them?
Love like you were dying. "And I gave forgiveness Ive been denying. Someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying."
This friend who passed away. Always had a wild grin on his face. Always cracking jokes and had scripture ready on his tongue to discuss and sharpen anyone in the group who needed it. Always tossing out meaningful praise and finding ways to make you happier than you already were.
I admired that in him. Even though I feel like I kept too much of a distance. Honestly that might have been a good thing... I dont think I can take too many more lost friends, be that by death or rejection. But, ultimately I feel as thought I didnt invest myself to the fullest and try to love like I was dying. Or like he was... I found myself nervous and unsure how to respond to things like that, because I have found myself dropkicked out of relationships so many times.
I guess I was afraid of getting too close only to be tossed aside or to lose that person.
Anyways Ive ranted about that and now moving on.... I want to announce that we are steadily advancing our efforts with the classic republishing stuff! That might not mean much to you guys yet. They still wont be available for a long while. But they are coming and I will let you guys know each time we make them and... Honestly feedback on these covers would be appreciated!
Lo and Behold! COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO! Arguably the best classic novel of all time... the only reason it wasn't our first design is because we were unsure how to deal with the fact that it was far too long to republish in one novel... Long story short(pun intended) It still is. We had to split it into two volumes. Unfortunately this mockup didnt get the "Part one" that is officially on this version of the cover on there...
Credit to Getcovers.com for designing this!
Me and Megan have settled our Birthday feud for the year. Her reign of twinsy terrorism has come to a swift end... on December 13th I reclaimed my 11 month gain... I say 11 month because the year gap isnt allowed to apply. Especially when she is the same "age" as me for her whole month. Poor lassie.
But also surrounding that. We both got into moodboards... if you could tell from the moodboard for soldie at the top.... I love them way too much... I FREAKING CANT STOP MELTY-ING RIGHT NOW! HELP!!!!
Here comes Fletcher- well- Malcom.... I dont really know who he is. So far he has evaded all understanding cause this kid thinks he was just "Created" his life is the Truman Show except... they use that negligence of who he is to use him as a plant in the real world. *slaps hand over mouth*
Megan will agree with me on this... Garunteed... I need to shut up more often... *cackles*
Oh woopsie! Wrong board... That is Fletcher... Malcom is coming in one sec.....
Yeah. Very sad. Poor fella left a boy came back a man. A man with a mission to protect her from the wickedness surrounding her. Merlin only knew too well that when protection blossomed into unrequited love that it would be impossible to break his warrior. As an analysis. I think Merlin knew that his plant would break free of the tree that dropped the seeds to plant him in Isoldes life again. But the beauty of it is that this boy is still doing his job for Merlin whether he works for him or not. Love is a bond that cannot be bent easily.
Malcom/Fletch is one of those characters who is super intelligent and analytical but acts on a moments notice. Able to apply enough of that to make their moves swift and decisive. This also means slip-ups. But the way that he is always considering others around him makes him a wonderful friend. Always observant and gets a feel of what the room needs before its ever spoken.
Yeah. But I have really liked moodboards... even more interesting to me was using them to make visual character arc trackers. Just made my heart and my brain happy.
Current Reads!
Im in the middle of Anna Karenina. By Tolstoy.
First published in serial form between 1873 and 1877, it tells the tragic love story of the aristocrat of the title and her lover Count Vronsky. As they pursue their relationship, Russian society shuns Anna, making her increasingly paranoid and distressed, as her marriage to Count Karenin falls apart and he threatens to take her son, Seryozha, away from her if she continues her affair.
Multi-stranded, Tolstoy's commanding work covers many themes, including the Russian feudal system, social hypocrisy, the family and, above all, passion. |
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Thats right a big old fourteen-billion page novel that 99% of the population probably can't comprehend... thats the only kind of flex I can make these days with Megan reading up a storm over here so let me have my moment of pride unspoiled.....
*crickets*
Thank you.
Anyways. It is an adult novel for sure. Not in direct content. I always love the classics because they aren't gratuitously written. Nothing explicit. The give you a full picture of the scenario but never directly show trash.
This book has direct themes of Adultery. Social obligation vs passion. and the dangers of love and/or passion unchecked. As well as a host of other familial struggles. Each from a different POV. I find Tolstoy to have a beautiful grasp of life. and of the most exquisite unnamed feelings and emotions tied to all of the scenarios of life. His writing is rich and exquisite in its psychological analysis and understanding of the world during the time period.
Tolstoy is a master. For most folks? I dont recommend. Either for the sake of crazy slow pacing and length and the headache it often takes to comprehend Russian fiction. Or for the themes. I think the themes are very beneficial and bolster relational wisdom and values. But I also know that most of my friends are probably not ready to shift into themes that are so touchy. Even if they are represented in an extremely safe and clean way.
There is a little bit of swearing, not enough that I can recall more than twice in the first 500 pages(where I stopped). Characters have expressly wrong ideologies that they share and exhibit throughout the novel. There is a little bit of violence and of course the ever present plot following an adulterous couple. Which is eventually punished. And there is definitely alcohol present and people do get drunk on numerous occasions. Though, it is often portrayed negatively.
Its about Count of Monte Cristo level on all fronts.
500 pages in
Book Two!
Echoes After Death by Esthrousalem J Storylark! One of our Collective authors! Check out her introduction post: HERE!
And meet the Main Character of "Echoes After Death" HERE!
Peace has been disrupted. A bloodthirsty desert tribe, well known as the Skruits, have captured the Jolidean range and now rule tyrannically, terrorizing the people of Jolidene. After failing to save and protect those she held dead, Horizon Willems and her remaining friend Jack Winterce learn to survive in the dangers of their rulers. The life Horizon once knew is gone. Every decision is life or death, or she and Jack might face the same fates their families did.
But a series of events forces her to lead the Jolidean rebellion in attempt to restore what was lost. Always seeming a step behind the Skruits, and barely stumbling through leading her fellow Jolideans and new found friends, Horizon begins questioning her abilities. Can she keep them alive and lead them to victory, or will they all die? Or worse, they die while she lives with the burning knowledge of her weakness?
Ive been meaning to read this book for months but just recently had an opening in my budget to purchase it.
So far Ive liked the depth. Ive enjoyed how detailed the storyworld and character development. Its Dystopian/Fantasy in my estimation. Its non-magic which I appreciate. I prefer not to read too much magic type-stuff.
There is a fair bit of violence if anyone had guessed. Other than that? Nothing. Not yet anyways. Though I doubt much else could be there. There seems to be a romance subplot but Ill have to follow that through to the end before I report on it.
160 page in
Recently Finished!
The Emily Starr Trilogy by L M Montgomery.
EMILY OF NEW MOON
Emily Starr never knew what it was to be lonely until her beloved father died. Now Emily's an orphan, and her mother's snobbish relatives are taking her to live with them at New Moon Farm. She's sure she won't be happy Emily deals with stiff, stern Aunt Elizabeth and her malicious classmates by holding her head high and using her quick wit. Things begin to change when she makes friends: with Teddy, who does marvelous drawings; with Perry, who's sailed all over the world with his father yet has never been to school; and above all, with Use, a tomboy with a blazing temper.
EMILY CLIMBS
Emily Starr was born with the desire to write. As an orphan living on New Moon Farm, writing helped her face the difficult, lonely times. But now all her friends are going away to high school in nearby Shrewsbury, and her old-fashioned, tyrannical aunt Elizabeth will only let her go if she promises to stop writng! All the same, this is the first step in Emily's climb to success. Once in town, Emily's activities set the Shrewsbury gossips buzzing. But Emily and her friends are confident -- Ilse's a born actress, Teddy's set to be a great artist, and roguish Perry has the makings of a brilliant lawyer. When Emily has her poems published and writes for the town newspaper, success seems to be on its way -- and with it the first whispers of romance. Then Emily is offered a fabulous opportunity, and she must decide if she wants to change her life forever.
EMILY'S QUEST
Emily knows she's going to be a great writer. She also knows that she and her childhood sweetheart, Teddy Kent, will conquer the world together. But when Teddy leaves home to pursue his goal to become an artist at the School of Design in Montreal, Emily's world collapses. With Teddy gone, Emily agrees to marry a man she doesn't love ... as she tries to banish all thoughts of Teddy. In her heart, Emily must search for what being a writer really means....
Easily some of the best fiction Ive ever read. And in case you were wondering why I have so many positive reports about reading? Its because I only read the best. *cackles*
The first book was not as good as the second one. This may have been due to me using it for a report and I ended up reading the book in two days and writing my report simultaneously.
Book two was brilliant and sweeping and made me very happy. I recommend it with a purple passion... whatever that means...
Whatever the case the third book did super well until the end. I feel like the end just got dropkicked on the reader... and I understand Montgomerys predicament... but she would have been better off to just let Emily be where she was by the end of the last section before Teddy came back. The Heroine was content and ready for life at long last. Her arc was finished... but she had to do a year long time skip and show you how it was resolved... I dunno. My romantic heart loved it. My critical reader mind caught it and made a complaint.
Anyways. Perfect set of novels... the only usage of anything negative is about a dozen uses of the KJV Donkey. Not for the use of the animal but in dialogue soooo... That was a slight bummer. And Ilse got tipsy... but so did Diana Barry. We cant really blame them, can we now?
At this point Montgomery is like... My Hero.. Her romantic and emotional expression is one of the most perfect things ever. I envy her and endeavor to replicate it in my own fashion.
Anyways... that should be enough for today. FAREWELLETH FRIENDS! IF YOU READ THIS FAR THEN YOU REALLY ARE CRAZY. Good job though. Thats a real accomplishment *raises coffee mug in salute*
