I'm going to try to publish reviews of this series' episodes (that's Doctor Who, Series 6, starting today if you didn't know, look it up on BBC America if you have the channel) as they're aired. As I've never really done anything like this before, this is going to be a little adventure, but that's good! I'm still kind of figuring out how this is going to go, but if you are interested, read on. Here's a few pointers on how this reviewing business is going to be run.
1. My reviews will be spoilery. There's no real point in reviewing an episode if I'm not allowed to discuss the details of said episode, right? Therefore you probably shouldn't check out my reviews unless you have already watched the episodes. Unless you really want to.
2. Pictures? It's always fun to read reviews with screencaps, isn't it? I'm toying with the idea of including relevant photographs in each review. It'd be a bit more complicated and more work for me, but it also might be more fun. If you have a preference, let me know!
3. My review; my thoughts only. I'll write my reviews before reading anyone else's, because otherwise I'd probably be tempted to explore other people's ideas and what they took from the episode instead of just my reaction. My reviews will be my honest first reaction to what I just watched, so if that means I miss something obvious that all other reviewers on the internet noticed then I'll just be honestly ignorant . . . we can all laugh about it later XD
4. Classic Who, New Who, it's all just Doctor Who. I am a fan of the show as a whole, and so I don't really differentiate between the old episodes and the new episodes; they're all a part of the same canon and I have favorites all over the place. So I'm not going to restrict my digressions to just New Who episodes; I might mention things from Classic Who if parts of the new episodes remind me of something, like Eleven's adorable Troughton handrubbing in 'Victory of the Daleks'. If you haven't seen any Classic Who, you should, but I don't think my occasional references will be too confusing :)
5. Talk back! Feel free to argue with what I say/geek out/list your favorite quotes of the episode/ask for clarification/correct my mistakes/etc. in the comments! I'm going to be doing this for fun, but also because I love Doctor Who, and I know some of you who read my blog love the show as well. Let's all have fun together!
And with all that said, I am not sure what the posting schedule will be yet--maybe every Sunday, maybe every Monday--but I will be doing by best to keep the schedule regular. My first review, for "The Impossible Astronaut", will be up soon.
(PS: Happy Easter, everyone!!)
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
A humorous Easter prelude
During Good Friday service this evening I was sitting with my five-year-old brother, Elhendur, on my lap. He's a very clever, imaginative, and goofy little boy, and halfway through the service was extremely excited when he noticed that my grandmother and aunt were sitting two pews behind us. He grimaced and grinned in their direction for a while, trying to get their attention, and after a few minutes my aunt evidently noticed him, but my grandmother did not.
"I'm going to keep staring at her," he whispered to me, "until she sees me." Whereupon he fixed this ghastly stare and impossibly wide grin on his face and commenced his leering. This lasted about seven minutes, until his five-year-old patience wore thin and more drastic measures were apparently called for.
He tapped me on the arm. At this point in the service there was a hymn being sung and the priest had gone to bring in the Eucharist from where it was in repose after being taking out of the church in a procession the night before for Holy Thursday. So things were somewhat lulled. Still, I was somewhat distracted because I was listening to the choir--which was remarkably good tonight--and so only paid the cunning little guy half my attention.
"Say this," he was telling me. "Say: hibbly dibbly hobbly doo, I make Booma look at you!" ('I' meaning me, and 'You' meaning himself, and 'Booma' being the name my siblings and I give to my grandmother (long story.).)
Not thinking much of the request (I have really weird siblings, okay?), I did as he asked, in a church-appropriate undertone. He looked intently to where my grandmother was sitting, still oblivious.
After a moment he sagged in disappointment against my front, clearly put-out that nothing of note happened. But ever the optimist he then leaned back, looked up at me thoughtfully, and remarked musingly:
'I think you need a broom.'
And that was when I suddenly was very glad that the choir was singing loud enough to prevent anyone else from noticing that my younger brother had just been encouraging me to attempt witchcraft in the middle of the Good Friday church service.
Little kids. You gotta love them.
. . . Even when they matter-of-factly reveal that they think you are a witch in the middle of Mass.
"I'm going to keep staring at her," he whispered to me, "until she sees me." Whereupon he fixed this ghastly stare and impossibly wide grin on his face and commenced his leering. This lasted about seven minutes, until his five-year-old patience wore thin and more drastic measures were apparently called for.
He tapped me on the arm. At this point in the service there was a hymn being sung and the priest had gone to bring in the Eucharist from where it was in repose after being taking out of the church in a procession the night before for Holy Thursday. So things were somewhat lulled. Still, I was somewhat distracted because I was listening to the choir--which was remarkably good tonight--and so only paid the cunning little guy half my attention.
"Say this," he was telling me. "Say: hibbly dibbly hobbly doo, I make Booma look at you!" ('I' meaning me, and 'You' meaning himself, and 'Booma' being the name my siblings and I give to my grandmother (long story.).)
Not thinking much of the request (I have really weird siblings, okay?), I did as he asked, in a church-appropriate undertone. He looked intently to where my grandmother was sitting, still oblivious.
After a moment he sagged in disappointment against my front, clearly put-out that nothing of note happened. But ever the optimist he then leaned back, looked up at me thoughtfully, and remarked musingly:
'I think you need a broom.'
And that was when I suddenly was very glad that the choir was singing loud enough to prevent anyone else from noticing that my younger brother had just been encouraging me to attempt witchcraft in the middle of the Good Friday church service.
Little kids. You gotta love them.
. . . Even when they matter-of-factly reveal that they think you are a witch in the middle of Mass.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
My life's shifting again . . .
On Monday I begin registering for my Fall classes, and as simply as that I am back in the university-going game. It's been a long time, and my life feels somewhat surreal at the moment: I devote my time to my writing and my family and my dance right now, and yet begin to feel subconsciously the pull of Hawaii and the duties of academia that await me there. There is a great pall of impermanence over everything I do at the moment, which is somewhat disheartening. I hate feeling the sand slipping under my feet.
Another event which has reminded me of how fragile things are is the sad news of the passing of Elisabeth Sladen, our Whovians' own Sarah Jane Smith. The character she played (along with Donna Noble and Tegan Jovanka) was my favorite female Doctor Who companion. The fact that her death comes so soon after that of Nicholas Courtney a.k.a. The Brigadier (who was, along with Jamie McCrimmon, Harry Sullivan, and Rory Williams my favorite male DW companion) just compounds the tragedy. If you haven't watched any episodes with these two, do so as soon as possible, you don't know what you're missing.
On the subject of Doctor Who, is anyone else excited about the new series beginning tomorrow? Well, okay, I know that there are many, many excited people out there, but HOW excited are you? I am absolutely bursting. I'm also very proud that I've managed to keep away from spoilers all this time--no mean feat for me, alas. There's some fish fingers in the fridge; I should make custard tomorrow and take video of me giving the combo a go, that'd be a laugh!
I've probably read over 2,000 pages this month already, which is fantastic. I'll have lots of books to talk about in my next Book Review post. Speaking of which, I'm open to suggestions on what to post about in this blog, since I'm usually either too busy or too lazy to come up with interesting topics on my own (yes, I'm a woman of extremes). A monthly writing update? More in-depth book reviews, perhaps a post for each book (I can always delve deeper when discussing the written word)? More artwork? Television or film discussions? Random day-in-my-life posts? Let me know in the comments!
Well, I'd best be getting to bed now. Tomorrow I have to get up early--maybe make that custard--clean up a bit--dance--maybe run, if this dratted cough will let me--paint--write--and read some more. Good Friday is always very quiet, a time for staying at home with family, for busying oneself with good works, and for a little bit of private contemplation. Then comes Holy Saturday--I've promised my younger sister I'll help her make a cake for Easter, or rather supervise as she attempts to bake one for the very first time, and then of course there's Doctor Who! And then comes wonderful Easter, a holiday I have not celebrated at home with my family for two years now.
. . . And first thing in the morning on Monday is my class registration. See what a jumble of the future and the present my life is contorting itself into at the moment? I need a TARDIS.
PS: I am currently again obsessed with the amazingness that is Jamie McCrimmon. Thanks for that, Linden :D
Another event which has reminded me of how fragile things are is the sad news of the passing of Elisabeth Sladen, our Whovians' own Sarah Jane Smith. The character she played (along with Donna Noble and Tegan Jovanka) was my favorite female Doctor Who companion. The fact that her death comes so soon after that of Nicholas Courtney a.k.a. The Brigadier (who was, along with Jamie McCrimmon, Harry Sullivan, and Rory Williams my favorite male DW companion) just compounds the tragedy. If you haven't watched any episodes with these two, do so as soon as possible, you don't know what you're missing.
On the subject of Doctor Who, is anyone else excited about the new series beginning tomorrow? Well, okay, I know that there are many, many excited people out there, but HOW excited are you? I am absolutely bursting. I'm also very proud that I've managed to keep away from spoilers all this time--no mean feat for me, alas. There's some fish fingers in the fridge; I should make custard tomorrow and take video of me giving the combo a go, that'd be a laugh!
I've probably read over 2,000 pages this month already, which is fantastic. I'll have lots of books to talk about in my next Book Review post. Speaking of which, I'm open to suggestions on what to post about in this blog, since I'm usually either too busy or too lazy to come up with interesting topics on my own (yes, I'm a woman of extremes). A monthly writing update? More in-depth book reviews, perhaps a post for each book (I can always delve deeper when discussing the written word)? More artwork? Television or film discussions? Random day-in-my-life posts? Let me know in the comments!
Well, I'd best be getting to bed now. Tomorrow I have to get up early--maybe make that custard--clean up a bit--dance--maybe run, if this dratted cough will let me--paint--write--and read some more. Good Friday is always very quiet, a time for staying at home with family, for busying oneself with good works, and for a little bit of private contemplation. Then comes Holy Saturday--I've promised my younger sister I'll help her make a cake for Easter, or rather supervise as she attempts to bake one for the very first time, and then of course there's Doctor Who! And then comes wonderful Easter, a holiday I have not celebrated at home with my family for two years now.
. . . And first thing in the morning on Monday is my class registration. See what a jumble of the future and the present my life is contorting itself into at the moment? I need a TARDIS.
PS: I am currently again obsessed with the amazingness that is Jamie McCrimmon. Thanks for that, Linden :D
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Book Reviews for March
I only have three books for you from March, but as of this writing I have four books on the way that I ordered from Barnes and Noble as well as only one chapter each to go before I finish "North and South" and "The Mists of Everness", so there will be PLENTY of reviews for April, I think.
All March books are also by the same author, John C Wright. I got basically all his books for my birthday, and he also authored last month's Book of the Month, "The Golden Age" (have you read it yet?). As each of his books are about 400 pages long, this means getting through three of his books in one month isn't that shabby :)
Orphans of Chaos
I found this book to be a bit disappointing, actually. The premise (four young people are kept trapped in a British boarding school only to discover that they are children of Titans, kept prisoner and hostage by the staff of the school--who are in fact mythological characters like Boreas and Grendel) was great, and this is perhaps Wright's strongest book stylistically, especially in how alive he makes his first-person female narrator; she's perhaps the most completely believable narrator I've read since "David Copperfield". There is, however, a lot of innuendo as well, and crass sexual jokes made by the teen male characters, etc., which really dragged the story down in my opinion. Which is a pity, because the easter eggs for mythology fanatics like myself are also numerous and greatly enjoyable and the narrator's voice is, as I said, superb.
The Phoenix Exultant
Just as strong as the book it is a sequel to, "The Golden Age", this was a novel completely enjoyable from beginning to end. Which is a real marvel because really, NOTHING REALLY HAPPENS. The scene rarely changes. It's very talky. And yet, and yet, and yet . . . it works, really works. I really liked the greater role given to Daphne this time, and look forward to reading the conclusion of the series.
The Last Guardian of Everness
Book of the Month time! This is the best 'modern settings' fantasy I've read since "Prospero's Children", and it's the rare high fantasy set in America, too, which I found quite interesting. It involves manipulating and traveling in dreams, lots of dreaming, as well as an exploration of what happens when the realms of dream and reality bleed together; it's a tale of a very classically influenced version of the apocalypse; it's got magical weapons and corrupt military; yet MORE cameos by such literary and classical figures as Lancelot (sensing a pattern in Wright's work now?); and I will never be able to look at seals the same way again (SHUDDER). There are moments of superb beauty, of frantic action, and moments that scared me more than any book has scared me since I read either "And Then There Were None" or "The Golem's Eye"--I can't remember which I read first :D
The characters are all very well done, and in many ways more alive even than characters in his later books, for they are imbued with a bit more personality instead of philosophy; one of his weaknesses is that of Asimov: The inclination towards using the characters to illustrate a story instead of inhabit it. Thus far he hasn't gone too overboard though, but I'd say that "Everness" fits the standard fantasy novel as far as characters go a bit more cleanly than, say, "The Golden Age". All in all, a fantastic read. It really transports the reader, which is what all good fantasy should do, after all! A warning for language, but other than that I think it was pretty clean. I'd recommend it.
All March books are also by the same author, John C Wright. I got basically all his books for my birthday, and he also authored last month's Book of the Month, "The Golden Age" (have you read it yet?). As each of his books are about 400 pages long, this means getting through three of his books in one month isn't that shabby :)
Orphans of Chaos
I found this book to be a bit disappointing, actually. The premise (four young people are kept trapped in a British boarding school only to discover that they are children of Titans, kept prisoner and hostage by the staff of the school--who are in fact mythological characters like Boreas and Grendel) was great, and this is perhaps Wright's strongest book stylistically, especially in how alive he makes his first-person female narrator; she's perhaps the most completely believable narrator I've read since "David Copperfield". There is, however, a lot of innuendo as well, and crass sexual jokes made by the teen male characters, etc., which really dragged the story down in my opinion. Which is a pity, because the easter eggs for mythology fanatics like myself are also numerous and greatly enjoyable and the narrator's voice is, as I said, superb.
The Phoenix Exultant
Just as strong as the book it is a sequel to, "The Golden Age", this was a novel completely enjoyable from beginning to end. Which is a real marvel because really, NOTHING REALLY HAPPENS. The scene rarely changes. It's very talky. And yet, and yet, and yet . . . it works, really works. I really liked the greater role given to Daphne this time, and look forward to reading the conclusion of the series.
The Last Guardian of Everness
Book of the Month time! This is the best 'modern settings' fantasy I've read since "Prospero's Children", and it's the rare high fantasy set in America, too, which I found quite interesting. It involves manipulating and traveling in dreams, lots of dreaming, as well as an exploration of what happens when the realms of dream and reality bleed together; it's a tale of a very classically influenced version of the apocalypse; it's got magical weapons and corrupt military; yet MORE cameos by such literary and classical figures as Lancelot (sensing a pattern in Wright's work now?); and I will never be able to look at seals the same way again (SHUDDER). There are moments of superb beauty, of frantic action, and moments that scared me more than any book has scared me since I read either "And Then There Were None" or "The Golem's Eye"--I can't remember which I read first :D
The characters are all very well done, and in many ways more alive even than characters in his later books, for they are imbued with a bit more personality instead of philosophy; one of his weaknesses is that of Asimov: The inclination towards using the characters to illustrate a story instead of inhabit it. Thus far he hasn't gone too overboard though, but I'd say that "Everness" fits the standard fantasy novel as far as characters go a bit more cleanly than, say, "The Golden Age". All in all, a fantastic read. It really transports the reader, which is what all good fantasy should do, after all! A warning for language, but other than that I think it was pretty clean. I'd recommend it.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Ho-hum.
Book Review post for March will be posted soon. Nothing much else to report except I've begun figuring out my class schedule for the Fall, and the Series 6 Doctor Who trailer that came out a few days ago looks amazing.
I'm tired all the time lately. Not sure if it's because I'm coming down with something or because I've been going to bed at about 3 AM every night.
. . . Eh, it's probably both of the above.
I'm tired all the time lately. Not sure if it's because I'm coming down with something or because I've been going to bed at about 3 AM every night.
. . . Eh, it's probably both of the above.
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