Category: Favorites Friday

Favorites Friday: Star Trek Novels

On By cherylmahoneyIn Favorites Friday6 Comments

Niche appeal on this one, I know…but I’m justifying it to myself because I know I have some Star Trek fans out there.  *waves to you all*

I’m a big fan of Star Trek, especially The Original Series; the first serious novel I ever wrote was a Star Trek one, during high school.  I still think that writing Star Trek fanfiction during formative years of my writing was valuable in a lot of ways, especially writing Spock.  He has such a distinctive voice–he doesn’t talk remotely like anyone else in the story–and I think that taught me so much about stepping into a character’s voice.

I now find myself quite capable of assuming another character’s speech patterns when necessary in writing either dialogue or narration.

See that?  ^ That was Spock’s voice.  But I’m digressing–I didn’t actually mean to write about writing Star Trek, but rather about reading it–though it is in a way relevant, because the biggest turn-off for me in a Star Trek book is when the characters sound wrong.  So, here are several that got it right: Continue reading “Favorites Friday: Star Trek Novels” →

Favorites Friday: Prolific Writers

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Since I’m working on writing a novel this month, it seems appropriate to do a Favorites Friday on very prolific writers–who must be writing their books quickly too.

Most of my favorite authors seem to get a book out about once a year, sometimes less.  And when I’m eagerly awaiting a new installment, that seems like a very long time!  But I can think of three favorite authors (two living, one dead) who seem to manage a faster rate.  I know frequent publishing is normal in the Romance section–but that’s one reason I don’t read romances.  I find it hard to believe an entire genre’s-worth of writers can really publish three books a year without ruining their quality.

But here are three writers who do write good books at an astonishing pace.

Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote over seventy books in his lifetime, typically two a year.  Granted, they almost all have the same plot, but the quality of the writing and of the adventure is solid.  I’ve heard that Burroughs defies everything writing teachers want to tell you about the importance of revision.  He’d typically write a draft, re-read for punctuation and the occasional word change, and that was it.  His novels are practically first drafts.  Once in a while it shows, but most of the time it doesn’t.  And since I’ve read 47 of his books so far, I’m so glad he wrote as many as he did!

Author’s Site: http://www.tarzan.org/

Geraldine McCaughrean knocks me over every time I look at her book list.  It just goes on…and on…and on!  Seriously, check it out–you have to scroll for a long time.  🙂  Her “About Me” on her website says she’s written 160 books (that really is one-six-zero).  I’ve been meaning to read more of her books…so now I just have to decide where to start!

Author’s Site: http://www.geraldinemccaughrean.co.uk/index.htm

L. A. Meyer has a shorter booklist, having written nine books in the Jacky Faber series.  They do come out about once a year, but somehow they feel more frequent–and I include him here mostly because he has a wonderful knack for always having a new book coming out just when I happen to think of looking for one!  Perhaps they feel more frequent than other authors’ books because he only writes one series–so I never have to wait an extra year while he’s writing something I’m less interested in!

Author’s Site: http://clairdeloon.com/

I know there are other writers who write/wrote a lot–Isaac Asimov and Piers Anthony both come to mind as having very lengthy bibliographies.  So, who am I missing?  Any other favorite writers who put books out at a fantastic rate, and still keep up the quality?

Favorites Friday: Stories in Paintings

On By cherylmahoneyIn Favorites Friday6 Comments

Since I seem to have fallen into a theme about pictures this week, I thought it was a good time for a Favorites Friday about art.  I love wandering through art museums, and I’m lucky that I’ve been to some really good ones.  The paintings that most appeal to me tend to be ones that feel like they have a story.

Some, of course, are very specific stories, like a scene from the Bible or mythology, or something with a clear narrative.  But I often find paintings that have a setting or a person that feels as though there must be a wonderful story behind them.

I try to make notes of paintings I like while wandering a museum, so that I can find them online later.  Here are a few of my favorites.

The Goose Girl, by William Adolphe Bouguereau

I just love her smile.  There’s so much character in it.  She may be a goose girl, but she’s confident, maybe a little saucy, and I bet she knows a good joke too.

Bouguereau is one of my favorite painters.  The most expensive book I own is an enormous one about his life and work.  I’ve never read it, but I’ve spent plenty of time pouring over the reproductions of his paintings.  He does wonderful things with light and detail, and if you look at enough paintings you recognize his regular models, so they feel even more like characters!
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Dent du Midi Castle of Chillon, Lake Geneva, by Edwin Deakin

Wouldn’t this be a wonderful setting for a story?  Who lives in the castle, and what brings so many boats onto the lake, and does anyone ever go up and explore those mountains looming in the background?

 

The Sandbank with Willows, Magnolia by William Morris Hunt

I love that we only get a glimpse of the two people in this picture.  And I’d love to know where they’re going.

 

The Lake for Miniature Yachts by William Merrit Chase

This story I’m pretty sure I’ve read.  It’s in The Little White Bird by J. M. Barrie, with a lovely comparison between the fun to be had with a fancy yacht vs. a simple stick-boat and some imagination.

 

Portrait of Jean Terford David by Thomas Sully

This man clearly needs to be the hero of a good naval epic.  In fact, he bears an astonishing resemblance to Ioan Gruffudd’s Horatio Hornblower!

Anyone else with favorite art to share?  🙂

Favorites Friday: Animal Sidekicks

On By cherylmahoneyIn Favorites Friday2 Comments

After recently waxing on about Sebastian as my favorite part of The Little Mermaid, why not a look at some other favorite animal sidekicks?  Sebastian got his due time already, so here are five others:

Faithful, from The Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce

Faithful is Alanna’s cat, a mysterious creature with black fur, purple eyes and an uncanny degree of intelligence.  He can talk, but only Alanna understands him–unless he decides otherwise.  I think Faithful is rather the way I imagine all cats would be, if they ever decided to let us past their air of mystery and find out how smart they really are.

 

Dug, from Up

Dug the talking dog is the best part of a really wonderful movie.  I’m so wildly amused by all the dogs’ dialogue.  “My master made me this collar so that I may speak–SQUIRREL!”  So much fun.  And he’s a really sweet character too; he does so ever want to please everyone, and he’s so very bad at it…

 

Zero from Ordinary Jack by Helen Cresswell

Zero is an utterly unremarkable dog.  Unlike Dug, he doesn’t talk, and he’s not very good at learning tricks (unless they’re demonstrated for him).  But he’s still the beloved companion of Jack, who is frequently worried about Zero’s self-esteem.  Jack tries to build up his self-confidence, which he judges by watching the way his ears are drooping.  For being an ordinary dog, he’s a lot of fun.

 

Iago from Aladdin

The only side-kick to a villain on the list, Iago the parrot is a hilarious, sarcastic, very amusing part of Aladdin.  I rewatched this recently, and found that all of Iago’s dialogue sounded far more familiar than everything else–I think I memorized most of it as a kid, and obviously it made a big impression.  There was at least one line in there that I’ve been quoting for years without realizing it started at Iago.

 

 

Fire lizards from The Chronicles of Pern by Anne McCaffrey

None of the individual fire lizards ever stood out to me all that much, but the concept is so cool I have to include them en masse.  Really–pet dragons!  Very loyal pet dragons who deliver messages and like to sing and will sit on your shoulder.  I want one.

Favorites Friday: Male Characters

On By cherylmahoneyIn Favorites Friday1 Comment

First, a bit of business: I’m going to be heading to D.C. next week (thanks to everyone who gave book suggestions!)  I scheduled posts ahead, so you shouldn’t see any drop in content.  But I won’t have internet access, so don’t be offended if I’m not responding to comments!  I’ll read them all when I get back.  🙂  Now, to today’s post…

Two weeks ago I shared five of my favorite female characters, so obviously that must mean that today it’s time for the other half of the population to have their turn.  In no particular order, a few favorite male book characters. Continue reading “Favorites Friday: Male Characters” →