Month: March 2013

A Man and a Cat Walk Into a Bar…

On By cherylmahoneyIn Fiction Friday1 Comment

I’m always sharing my reading news around here…  Meanwhile in writing news, I’m currently working on three novels–which is making my head spin a little!  Two are at different points in the revision stage, and one is still being planned.  In the midst of all that, naturally the logical thing to do is work on a short story.  Though at least it’s a short story related to one of the novels!

It uses characters from the novel, but the story is meant to exist independently.  I wrote most of it, only to get a bit stuck maybe 75% of the way through.  So I thought I’d toss the first page up here and see if sharing it inspires me to write that last stretch…

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When Jasper and Tom walked into the tavern, they attracted no immediate attention.  It may have looked a little odd when Jasper opened the door for the orange cat and let him walk in first, and even odder when Tom made an efficient line between the tables, chairs and boots directly to the bar, springing up to sit on top of it.  But the tavern’s inhabitants were intent on their drinks and their conversation, and didn’t pay any mind to the newcomers.

Jasper followed Tom to the bar, where the tavernkeeper looked them both over, didn’t comment on the cat on his counter, and just said, “What’ll it be?”

“One ale and a bowl of milk,” Jasper answered, prompting a snicker from his nearest neighbor.

But it wasn’t until Tom said, “And have you got any fish?” that heads starting turning.

Jasper hid his grin behind the mug of ale the tavernkeeper had handed him.  Eventually the fun of shocking people with a talking cat was going to wear off, but after a month of traveling with Tom, it was still amusing him.

“I, uh, yeah, I think we do,” the tavernkeeper managed, staring at the tabby.

“Excellent.”  Tom sat down, sticking his nose in the air with his most regal attitude, plainly aware that the entire room was looking at him.  “One order of fish, please.  Any kind will do, only not too spicy.  Spicy food makes me sneeze.”

“Right,” the tavernkeeper said.  “So…d’you want it raw?”

Tom bristled, tail lashing.  “No, cooked!  What do you think I am, a savage?”

“He thinks you’re a cat,” Jasper pointed out.

“That doesn’t mean I can’t have refined taste.”

Welcome to the Land of Oz

On By cherylmahoneyIn Fantasy, Juvenile, Reviews12 Comments

Welcome to OzI’ve lately been slowly rereading the Oz series by L. Frank Baum.  This is at least my third or fourth time through, over the span of…maybe 18 years.  Everyone knows the first one: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.  It’s less well-known that there are another thirteen books in the series–and even more if you count the non-Baum ones, which I don’t.

Fourteen would be a bit many to tackle in one review 🙂 but I’ve been discovering that it’s surprisingly easy to divide the series into sections, mostly trilogies.  So today let’s look at the first three–I’d like to call them the “Welcome to Oz” Trilogy.  Though new characters are introduced throughout, these first few introduce the principle players, not to mention the setting, which is frequently a character in itself.

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The Wonderful Wizard of Oz bears some resemblance to the movie…and some differences.  Kansas farmgirl Dorothy is picked up by a tornado and carried away to the magical land of Oz with her little dog Toto.  There, her house lands on a wicked witch, she acquires a pair of magic slippers (silver, not ruby), and sets off through Oz with a Scarecrow, a Tin Woodman, and a Cowardly Lion.  Eventually she meets the Wonderful Wizard, kills the Wicked Witch of the West, and goes home by slipper power.

That all sounds like the same plot as the movie…but the difference is focus.  While the movie ties neatly together with both Glinda and the Wicked Witch appearing early on, and the Witch providing an ongoing threat, they come in later on in the book.  Dorothy spends more time simply wandering about on adventures, without the drive and the urgency of the movie.  Growing up, I actually never liked this book–and I think the problem was that I was comparing it to the movie.  This most recent read-through, I was finally able to look at it more separately, and it is a rather charming (if unfocused) fairy story.

We’re introduced to a lot that’s fun here, and the characters are delightful.  At the same time, there were some things that Baum hadn’t quite figured out yet.  For instance, he all but directly says that the emeralds in the Emerald City are illusion, and that the Wizard didn’t really give Dorothy’s companions their various rewards, but just humbugged it.  This takes a turn in later books–in the later volumes, the Emerald City really is covered by gem stones, and the brain, heart and courage bestowed by the Wizard really are magical.  While I like the message that Dorothy’s friends had all they needed all along…I do also like the more magical version of events.  Though at least Baum maintained the magic in this book to the extent that the story didn’t all become a dream sequence at the end!

The ramblingness of the book is the most serious problem, and while this is good, I don’t actually think it’s one of the strongest volumes–strangely, when it’s the best-known!

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In the second book, The Marvelous Land of Oz introduces new characters.  Dorothy isn’t in the story at all, and the hero instead is Tip, a boy being raised by Mombi, an evil witch.  Tip runs away with Jack Pumpkinhead, a stick-man with a Jack O’Lantern head, which Tip made and Mombi brought to life.  Their adventures eventually lead them to an alliance with the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman against an army of girls who have conquered the Emerald City.

Between the threat of Mombi and the possibility of war, this is one of the more exciting installments.  The characters are also particularly entertaining, the ones mentioned above as well as a giant, highly-educationed Woggle-Bug, a strange flying contraption called the Gump, and a return appearance by Glinda the Good Witch.  The army of beautiful girls armed with knitting needles (really) sets off my feminist instincts a bit, but they’re counterbalanced by Glinda’s far more capable female army.  The ending of the book is bizarre to say the least–I won’t give it away, but I’ll say that sometimes you have to just go along with Baum and not ask too many questions…

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Ozma of Oz is Book Three, and one of my favorites of the series.  Despite the title, which refers to the new Queen of Oz, this is largely a Dorothy book.  She gets lost at sea and washes ashore in a magical country near Oz, swiftly reuniting with old Oz friends who are on a journey to the Nome King to rescue the Royal Family of Ev.

This one is full of images and moments that have stuck with me all out of proportion to their importance–though maybe I should just say it has memorable moments.  There’s a wonderful bit early on when Dorothy finds trees laden with lunch boxes and dinner pails.  She picks ripe ones, opens them up and finds entire meals growing inside.  It’s not an important scene, and yet it’s so delightful and whimsical.  It encapsulates the magical things that can happen in Baum’s world.

Later on, Dorothy encounters Princess Langwidere, who has a collection of different heads and interchanges them at whim, the way people normally change hats or jewelry.  It’s weird and wonderful and just a bit creepy!

When the party from Oz reaches the Nome King’s cavern, he explains that he’s turned the Royal Family of Ev into knick-knacks, and invites each rescuer to search among his collection and try to choose the correct ones–at the peril of being turned into knick-knacks themselves.  That story element of having to choose the right enchanted object from a collection has definitely threaded itself into my mind, and is directly responsible for a chapter in my novel–though my heroine had to select the right enchanted fish.

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Baum’s books are whimsical and magical and full of funny, fascinating characters.  There are very few rules and anything is possible.  The first one has some flaws, but on the whole these first three in the series are excellent.  They’re rarely highly dramatic or very deep, but they’re entertaining and bright.  These are wonderful pieces of classic fantasy I highly recommend.

Other reviews:
Story Carnivores
Sarah Reads Too Much
Booksessed
Dark Chest of Wonders
Anyone else?

Buy it here:
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Marvelous Land of Oz
Ozma Of Oz

…or the movie version 🙂

Stonehenge Post: Hidden Horrors and Disappointing Reveals

On By cherylmahoneyIn Ruminations1 Comment

Stonehenge 2I have a new post up today on my writing group blog, about learning from a writing device that doesn’t work.  I’m not usually a reader of horror because I don’t like being disturbed…but there is one way to tell a horrible story that ends up not bothering me.  Though that’s not at all what the author intended!  Come by and read the post, and then let me know if this is just me, or if you have the same experience with Hidden Horrors…

Rapunzel’s Revenge

On By cherylmahoneyIn Fantasy, Reviews10 Comments

Rapunzel's RevengeIn between sections of Les Mis last week, I picked up the far lighter Rapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale.  I’ve loved Shannon Hale’s novels, and naturally I was intrigued by a graphic novel retelling of “Rapunzel”–and apparently one with a very awesome heroine.

Happily, I was not disappointed.  This takes “Rapunzel” as its jumping-off point, but mostly tells an original story.  Mother Gothel did steal Rapunzel as a small child, but in this version she’s using her magic to rule over the surrounding country, and keeping Rapunzel’s real mother as a slave in her mines.  When Rapunzel discovers the truth and reacts defiantly, Mother Gothel locks her up in a tower…where an effect of Mother Gothel’s growth magic causes Rapunzel’s hair to get longer and longer.  This Rapunzel rescues herself, and sets off to fight Mother Gothel and free her mother, joining forces with a good-hearted if slightly inept young man named Jack for a series of adventures.

There’s a bit of an Old West flair to this magical world, not the least in Rapunzel’s outfit.  She puts her hair into two braids and uses them as ropes or as whips, as the situation calls for it.  The idea of Rapunzel using her hair as a weapon is pretty awesome.  It’s a little similar to Tangled, but this Rapunzel has a lot more control of her hair than Disney’s Rapunzel.

I rather enjoy the gender role reversal too.  Jack has his talents, but he’s not as good a fighter as Rapunzel–and seems to be remarkably well-adjusted about that fact.  They’re clearly partners and mutually respect each other…and it’s fun to see the girl be the more aggressive half of the partnership.

This is an excellent, light retelling of a fairy tale–with an awesome, braid-toting heroine!  I’ve already got the sequel on request from the library.

Author’s Site: www.shannonhale.com

Other Reviews:
Fyrefly’s Book Blog
EA Younker
Tales Old as Time
Anyone else?

Buy it here: Rapunzel’s Revenge

It’s…Not Quite Monday, But What Are You Reading?

On By cherylmahoneyIn Ruminations, What Are You Reading?10 Comments

itsmondayAs usual, I’m joining in a little early for the Book Journey meme, “It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?”

I haven’t had much to report here recently, because I spent two weeks reading Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.  I turned the last page Friday evening–loved it, won’t even begin trying to unpack it here.  Stay tuned for a review (maybe more than one…it’s long, you know?)  In between volumes of Les Mis, I had some fun with graphic novels, and The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury.

Looking ahead…yesterday at the library I picked up Scarlet by Marissa Meyer, Book Two in her series of sci fi fairy tale retellings.  I waited literally months on the library hold list for Book One, Cinder, so for this one I was smart and got on the list much earlier.  Scarlet just came out in February, and I’m excited to jump in–apparently it brings in Little Red Riding Hood!

I also have Imagined Lives: Portraits of unknown people, a collection of short stories inspired by, well, portraits of unknown people.  I’m fascinated by paintings, especially portraits, and this collection is put together by my favorite museum (ever!), the National Portrait Gallery in London.  Plus I saw a TED talk by one of the authors referencing the book, and have been intrigued ever since–and without even realizing that Terry Pratchett contributed a story!

After those two, I’m hoping to read Marie, Dancing by Carolyn Meyer–if Amazon and the Post Office cooperate with my plans and get it to me!  I’ve read it before and it’s a pretty good historical fiction story about the model for Degas’ statue, The Fourteen Year Old Dancer.  I must confess, though, I’m mostly interested in a reread for the sake of what it can tell me about life in the Paris Opera House, circa the 1880s.  There’s not so much as a hint of a reference to Monsieur Phantom, but he was inhabiting the same time period…and I recently have been failing utterly to find an actual history book that will tell me about the Opera in that time.  So I’ll see what fiction can offer!

That sums up my immediate plans…what are you reading? 🙂