Book Review: Empress Of The Night

Catherine The Great is arguably one of history's greatest women.  She reigned as Tsar of all the Russias from 1762 until her death in 1796.   Canadian Author Eva Stachniak looks back at Catherine's life, and loves in her latest novel: Empress of the Night.

The novel opens in the hours before her death at age 67.  It goes inside Catherine's head as she struggles to realize what's happening to her body; she's conscious and unable to speak.  The story is told from her point-of-view looking back on her life from the moment she first arrived at court as a little girl, to her assumption of the throne following a coup against her husband. These flashes are interspersed with sections of time in the present as servants, and family move around her.

The novel keeps a good pace, which, is unexpected because of how easily moving between time periods can become confusing.  The incredible details speak to Stachniak's research into Russian history.  Long descriptions of the palaces, and traditions give readers a feeling of the grandeur of a Russian Empire at its peak.

As a history buff I loved it.  Being able to see inside Catherine's head is a unique perspective to find out what she thought of her life.  The way the author used an active voice throughout moved the story along well.  There was even a dose of romance as she looked back on her lovers, specifically Gregory Potemkin who made the most impact on her life.

A good read for people who are curious about Russia in its prime, and a key figure who made it that way.

Novelists at Work: Update 2.

Lately I haven't been keeping to my 2 hours, or 1,000 words today.  There have been times when I've felt I've written myself into some corners and had to either go back and delete or change what I've done. Other times when I've found myself blocked with how to get one character to where they need to be.

Progress to date:
Pages: 60 up 10 from the last time
Words: 27570 (up 4,498 from my first entry)
Problems/issues: The whole deleting/changing things frustrates me because it keeps me from that goal of one thousand/ day.  But I figure: Why can't this be such, and such a way? And it's the author's prerogative to change stuff they don't like.

Editing and insecurity will always be with me.  Reading through the latest 15 page chunk I made few changes but am feeling pretty good about what I wrote.  But will an Editor agree? Will it make sense with the final story?  How have you dealt with this?

 

Bitten Finale Review

Bitten ended its first season Saturday night.  The series is based on the "Women of the Other World books written by Kelley Armstrong.  It focuses on Elena Michaels (Laura Vandervoort), the world's only female werewolf and her quest to be normal.  She's living her life as a photographer in Toronto when she's pulled back in by her pack.

The first season stuck close to the book with the possible exception of the finale.  The good guys won the final battle at Stonehaven (of course), but there was a twist.  The bad guy trying to take over the house was none other than Jeremy (Greg Bryk)'s  father; William (James McGowan). The other twist was that final scene where Elena screams after finding   Phillip (Paul Greene's) (?)'s head in her bed.

I didn't watch this show regularly.  I watched a few episodes in the beginning, and then really got into it the last 3, or 4 episodes.  As a season, it seemed there were episodes where nothing much happened to advance the plot.  And I didn't care enough to go back and watch them online when I missed an episode.  If there's a season 2, the consistency in writing needs to be addressed.  I think the episodes should be treated as chapters and the writers should ask how they can move the story forward. 

There were times when I didn't buy Laura Vandervoort as Elena; she played her too black and white sometimes, and  I didn't get the sense of the character's duality.  The other characters with the exception of Jeremy, and Paul weren't that interesting to me.  And that was nothing to do with the actors, mostly the writing.

A second season only works if it's less about Elena.  I'd love to see more of the Jeremy/William storyline, and Logan/Rachel
 .
Bitten Musings:

-I don't know if I'd watch second season.  Based on the second part of season 1, yes... first part no.

-Is there a chance Jeremy had Phillip killed, and the killer double-crossed him by working with William?

-Is there a chance  Phillip's still alive? (remember there's only the flash of the head in her bed).  There's a lot more drama to mine there between him and Elena.

-Is Rachel about to become a werewolf as part of William's sick plot.. maybe see what happens when a pregnant woman is bitten?

No Make-Up Selfies

The social media trend going around started by a British cosmetics company Escentuals last October to promote breast cancer awareness.  Women would sign up and gather sponsors to go without make-up for a certain period of time, take a picture of themselves and post them on social media.

The trend has hit North America; I've seen a lot of my friends' photos without make up.  You're all gorgeous by the way I have nothing against those pictures.  It makes a little more sense to me now. But I still have trouble seeing what the point is, and that's why I haven't done mine yet. 

On one hand, it is a small gesture with a bigger message: The old look good, feel good mentality.  Maybe the thinking is if we look our worst, and feel our worst we might have a small idea of what women with breast cancer go through.  Another message here: Beauty is only skin deep.  There are women who might see these pictures of their friends and family and realize you're beautiful make-up or not.  Your looks don't define who you are.

Even though it's a small gesture with potentially positive messages, I wonder if it trivialises what women with cancer go through.  The fear, and uncertainty after finding out, the brutal treatment protocols, which for some  means losing a breast. Like it or not for women breasts are a big symbol of what it means to be a woman.   The idea that all we have to do is post a picture of ourselves without makeup and somehow that demonstrates empathy with the cause is a little superficial.

There is definitely a selflessness in wanting to bring attention to a cause, and fundraise for a cure.  But, I wonder if we haven't gone from the selfless to the selfish with this one.  I haven't seen one picture of my friends that hasn't been greeted with positive comments, which, is a good thing.

I understand you have to bring attention to a cause no matter what methods.  I just wonder if we haven't gone too far with this one.

Writer's Confession: My first novel

Since January I've been working seriously on a manuscript for a novel.  Creative writing has always been kind of a hobby on the side of my real job as a Reporter.  It's been a way of working out the creative part of my brain that sometimes gets a little ignored while I'm more worried about getting someone's quote right.

I haven't told many people until now, because I've often thought myself it was silly... and if I think that way I figure others might too; so it's been my little secret for a while.  I've also been asking myself if this is being used as an escape from the ever-present frustration of job-hunting; something I can control in the middle of an endless list of factors I can't.  The answer to that is yes, but so what?

There is something fulfilling about creating my own world.  It's been cathartic: I create characters who do, and say things I can't or won't.  I escape for a couple of hours there and return able to deal with pressures, and frustrations associated with job hunting.  And you know what else? It's fun too.  I have the attitude that I have fun writing, and editing this novel maybe there are people out there who will have fun reading it too.

So that's why I'm writing it.  I'm posting about it as a way to share the experience with other writers; what I'm doing wrong... what I feel I'm doing right.  Most importantly though I'm blogging about it for myself. I want to track my progress on a weekly basis as a way of reminding myself that even though it may not seem like it I am making progress.

Title: Lost& Found (tentative)
Genre: Horror/fantasy with a dash of romance
Summary: His girlfriend's disappearance plunges Detective Andrew Foxton into the supernatural world.
Pages: 50 as of March 24, 2014
Words: 23072
Problems encountered: Editing- I've been editing in 15 or 30 page chunks, is there a better way to do this?
Knowing when enough is enough with editing.  I've been going on instinct... when I can read a section and only change a word or two then I'm finished.
Character names: Is it okay to have more one person of the same name?

One thing I'm doing right: Pacing.  Each chapter advances the plot in some way.

I hope you follow me on this crazy ride.  Constructive feedback is welcome, and appreciated.

  

Downton Abbey Season Finale Review

In a switch from previous seasons, the Christmas Special actually took place during the summer.  It's the "Society Season," and time for Rose to be unveiled to London's upper classes.  The entire family are at the Crawley's London house, and are joined by Cora's mother, and brother (played by Paul Gimatti and Shirley MacLaine) from America.

The question of Bates' involvement with Green's death is finally answered.  Mary chooses not find out, and burns the ticket to London found in his jacket.  Mary meanwhile has two (or possibly three if you count Evelyn Napier) suitors jostling for her hand in marriage.  She finds out Charles Blake (Julian Ovenden) actually has money to his name which changes her perception of him.  Following her introduction to the King, he appears at Rose's party to take the first dance. The Dowager Duchess Violet had a great 'cat fight' scene with Martha. Edith decides to take her future into her hands, and brings the baby back to give her to the farmer we met in the first episode.

The servants take advantage of the break, and a day by the seaside is arranged. Daisy is invited to become Harold Levinson's cook (which position Ivy ends up taking).  Baxter broke free of whatever hold Thomas had on her, and looks to be on the road to happiness with Moseley. Thomas is trying his best to spoil it though. The final shot of the episode was one of the most  memorable of the series: Carson, and Mrs. Hughes playing in the waves.

Downton Musings:

Season #5? Looks that way; there's a listing for it on IMDB. Part of me hopes it's the last.  These dramas are usually better quality over quantity.

-I wish the stunt casting would stop; Downton Abbey doesn't need Shirley MacLaine, and Paul Gimatti to be a success.

-Baxter and Molesley are cute.

-Mary bugs me: In this episode, it's as if the writers hit the reset button with Mary, and her love affair with Matthew never happened.  Now she has three possible suitors, and it's as if it's a game to her to play one off against the other.  Character development would be nice.

-Character Development 2: Thomas:  Season 3 was a big arc for him; we found out he was gay, he was beaten up, and generally reviled by the other characters for it.  Would've loved seeing some more of the consequences, and a peek into what it must have been like for a gay person in the '20's.  Instead we get plotting, scheming Thomas who spent a couple of episodes in America.  What a waste!

-Give him a kiss: I would've kissed Charles Blake (Julian Ovenden) before he left the house in the morning. 

-Is Gregson dead? or a spy?

Happy tenth Facebook

Facebook is turning 10.  Did anyone see that coming?? I didn't- there wasn't even a reminder alert on my timeline, or my Outlook Calendar.  None was sent to my phone either.

Birthdays are a good time to take stock.  Where would we be without Facebook? How many friendships wouldn't exist without it? How many posts wouldn't have gone viral? It's amazing how much one website has changed the world.

I've loved Facebook, and I've hated it.  Loved it because it's put me in touch with old friends, and kept me in touch with family. I've loved it too because it's become priceless as a marketing tool; I can't count how many times I've linked to my own writing on my timeline. As a page manager myself I can appreciate it as an incredible communication and marketing tool.  At times it's brought different issues to my attention through friends' posts, and made me think about life a little differently.

I've had times where I 've been irritated by Facebook too. It has tended to make outrage a little too easy. All someone has to do is post a story, state their opinion.  Then everyone else gets angry too, and when someone enters with a different opinion you can get easily slammed. It becomes too easy to turn on the mute button when you see something you don't like.

I'm irritated by the over-sharing part of Facebook.  I don't need to know how your bare pregnancy belly looks, or even what you ate for lunch.  These are details that aren't exactly vital to how the world works.  I'm irritated by the random friend requests I still get from people, even though I've clamped down on my privacy settings. 

Love or hate,  it's been quite a decade.  I look forward to see what it comes up with next.

Happy Birthday Facebook!