Friday Fics Fix! - Diamond In The Rough

Sometimes, you come across fan-fiction which is so well written and thought-provoking that you forget it's not written by a professional author.

(That is, until the odd spelling, grammar, or formatting, mistake breaks the illusion. Though that seems to happen increasingly in published books as well, so c'est la vie.)

This week, I came across an extended series-work on ao3 (for those who don't know, these can be interconnected stories, or a chronological series, usually based around a single theme, story setting, or character relationship.)

The Remember This Cold series by Lise is a series where Loki and Steve (Captain America) have a romantical thing going on.

Much of this series is not graphic in terms of both the violence and the sexy-times, but a fair bit of it is definitely graphic - so will be labelled 18+ by me (stay in school, don't rob old people, look both ways before crossing the street...)

To be honest, I think at this point that Loki has hooked up with each and every one of the Avengers in a variety of dirty ways within the realms of fanfiction.

They've also hooked up with each other. So it's fine. Everyone has sex with everyone. Deal with it.

(If you can't deal with it, then I suggest you run from fanfiction very, very, quickly.)

I didn't know what to call a Loki/Steve relationship - it's slightly less common than, say, Frostiron, Stony, or Stucky.

I did find this post on Tumblr listing a variety of ship names for the Marvel Cinematic Universe - it was exceedingly helpful (and that's praise from a seasoned fangirl.) I think I'm going with FrostShield, or maybe CapsLok.

Back to the point (because there was a point, wasn't there? Not sure any more.) Lise writes Steve and Loki's relationship as a nuanced and mature deal-y - they aren't straight in there with the butt action.

I haven't read all of the parts (there's a lot of fics in this work,) but I've bounced around them, and I love the subtlety and complexity of the characters and their relationship, and how other people react to this emerging romance. Honestly. This is good.

And that makes me very, very, happy.

Because that's why I started reading fanfiction and writing my Friday Fics Fix - to find the diamonds in the pile of shakily written porn. And I've found one here. It makes all those hours of fic-reading worth-while.

Comics Wrap Up - We Could Be Immortals

TV Trailers

Some more Legends of Tomorrow-y goodness in preview of the spin-off series from The Flash and Arrow. Still looking good at the moment! Fingers crossed!

Movie Trailers

 

 

And then you have the Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice trailer. Which... it looks mad as a box of frogs, doesn't it?

 

Jesse Eisenberg is pretty cool. I live in hope for the rest. Honestly, I do - I hope it manages to pull the cat out of the bag.

 

Maybe though, just maybe, DC needs to calm down, and stop eating food that's past its expiration date. Then everything will be fine. (Nods and smiles reassuringly.)

 

Graphic Novels
Sons of the Devil Volume 1 by Brian Buccellato (US link) is a gritty noir-ish graphic novel with intrigue and mystery.

A sinister cult falls apart in California in 1989. In the present, the troubled Travis is looking for answers about his past - answers that may end up affecting his life and those around him. It's really awesome. (Check out my full review for more.)

Single Issues

Moon Knight #1 (2006-2009) (US link) is a moody and atmospheric issue featuring one of Marvel's less well-known characters. The Moon Knight has a devoted fan following, but not much press outside the comic world.

There's a beautiful sadness to this issue - and a real setting-up for the rest of the series. It's pretty good, and is one for anyone who likes the darker, vigilante-type, superheroes (Daredevil, 'The Dark Knight' incarnation of Batman, etc.)

Review Time! (Yay!) - Carnevale by Michelle Lovric

Title: Carnevale.

Author: Michelle Lovric (M. R. Lovric.)

Genre: Historical fiction, Romance.
 

USA Link.

A few starting notes:

I'd previously read The Book of Human Skin by Michelle Lovric (US link) - which I loved. So when I saw this, with its bold and eye-catching cover, in my library, I picked it up (that really does make me sound so easily distracted... which I can't really deny...)

Premise:

Fictional painter, Cecilia Cornaro, tells the tale of her life and loves in the Venetian Republic as it slowly disintegrates. What unfolds is a description of her two greatest love affairs - with Casanova, and Lord Byron.

Best bits:

Lovric has clearly researched her primary male leads - Casanova and Byron - very well.

 

Separating man from myth (was Casanova black? what was Byron really like as a person?) is almost impossible with these figures, but Lovric simply uses this mythologising as a theme, and for detail, uses the interpretations of history which most suit the plot and characterisation of the novel.

 

This is a novel of myths and masks, and whether we really know the people behind them; Lovric weaves themes around themselves with skill and style, making for a book filled with intensity, emotion, and dubious morality.

 

Lovric's writing is lush and detailed - every inch of prose has its own rhythm and flow. Her style and talent evoke vividly the late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth centuries - and the exoticism and mystique of Venice.

 

Venice is almost another character here - I hear that a lot about places in books, but it seems true in this case - as if Venice (or 'La Serenissima,') is an active participant in the events. Plus, the (often risqué) Venetian proverbs are great.

Not so great bits:

As can be imagined in a book which features two of history's greatest (and most notorious) lovers as main characters, there is a lot of sex. Rarely is this gratuitous or graphic, but it's there. There's also a bunch of swearing.

 

More uncomfortable though is the amount of abuse in this book. This book has descriptions of, or references to, pretty much any type of abuse you can think of: emotional, physical, sexual, animal, child...

 

Often the reader is made unwillingly complicit: Cecilia is a very young teenager throughout her affair with Casanova, and, if anything, the sexual relationship between teenager and significantly older man is glamorised and romanticised.

Looked at objectively (and in a modern light,) it's creepy, but the book somehow manages to turn it into this beautiful love, which Cecilia holds onto as the ideal relationship - not sure I'm all that comfortable with this.

 

There are other issues here which might be distressing to some readers - homophobia, incest, the loss of children, and suicide, for example, all feature.

 

It should also be mentioned, briefly, that real historical figures commit fictional offenses - this is fine in terms of plot and story, but the reader should remember that the real Byron and Casanova did not act like this towards Cecilia, because there was no real Cecilia. (It's that tricksy man and myth thing again!)

 

This is also a very long book (over 600 pages,) which may put off some readers.

Verdict:

While there are certainly moral issues with this book, it's still magnificently written, and an exceptionally good read.

If you're looking for a tale of love, loss, and the intoxicating Venice, you will find few other books which succeed in taking you away to this time and this place so vividly.

 

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA - Goodreads – Author's Site

Christmas Movie Binge

Ok, I'm the Reading Addict. But I also love a Christmas movie. Because I will take advantage of any excuse to be Christmas-y! CHRISTMAS!!! (Ok, I'll be good and get back to the post.)




Looking for Christmas films to binge on?

I got you covered. I watch a ridiculously large amount of Christmas films: here's some of my favourites.





The Muppets Christmas Carol


A Christmas classic if ever there was one - this is one of the awesome-est films you will ever watch.

We got Muppets. We got Christmas. We got a kid-friendly adaptation of a classic of literature that might just spark fond memories for years to come.

I watch this every year, and have done since I honestly can't remember when. I love it. It's just amazing.







White Christmas

The classic Christmas film.

Featuring the amazing Danny Kaye and the smooth Bing Crosby (ain't nothing wrong with a bit of Bing,) this is pure Hollywood. Vera Ellen dances amazingly, and Rosemary Clooney just has that 1950s style.

The songs are some of the best you'll ever hear - to say nothing of the title song. Ahhh! I plan on watching it again and again and again!





Mickey's Once and Twice Upon A Christmas

This is actually two feature-length Disney specials/films.

Made up of little stand-alone Christmas stories, featuring Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy, this will please big kids, little kids, and everyone in between.

These are cute and sweet, and can be watched in sections if you're short on time. I love them.






A Christmas Carol

Another 'A Christmas Carol' adaptation (funnily enough,) but very different to The Muppets' version.

This is motion-capture animation (where actors act out the parts and then the animation is layered over them, so to speak,) featuring some fabulous performances by Jim Carey.

This film is also hugely true to Charles Dickens' original - sure, there's the odd bit of deviation, but overall this is Charles Dickens' book made film.

There are significant stints of dialogue lifted directly from the book, and the creepy characters of Ignorance and Want are included in all their poverty - allowing the true morality of the story to really hammer home.

Want To Spread Some Christmas Magic?

There is a wonderful charity here in the UK called Post Pals (eagle-eyed readers will notice I have a permanent button linking to them at the bottom of my blog.)

Post Pals mails ill children and their siblings gifts, letters, and cards, to create smiles. It's as simple as that.

A reason to smile during a very difficult period in their lives can make a huge difference to a kid who isn't very well.

So, I figured I'd write a little post to try and drum up some support and/or Christmas cards.

It would be lovely if you could choose a few 'pals' you feel you have appropriate Christmas cards for, and send it to the 'care of' address on their profile page.

Or you can help spread the word by telling others who may be interested, or making a small donation. Post can be sent throughout the year, but obviously, Christmas is uber-special and the perfect excuse to spread some love!

Review! (Graphic Novel Edition!) - Sons of the Devil Vol 1

Title: Sons of the Devil Volume 1.
(US Link.)

Author: Brian Buccellato.

Genre: Graphic Novel, Horror.

Series: Sons of the Devil.

 

Release Date: 8-10 Dec 2015.

A few starting notes:

I received a free digital review copy of this book via NetGalley. NetGalley provides review copies from publishers in exchange for fair and honest reviews.

 

I had never heard of this series - but the cover art looked pretty awesome, with a gritty, half-noir kind of vibe. So I decided to give it a shot. Impulsive reading pays off!

 

Premise:

In 1989, a cult was broken up in California. It was lead by a man named David. He had plans for his children; he had 'work' to complete.

Travis has lived the life of a foster-care orphan. He has a short temper. He has court-ordered therapy. He has a whole bunch of mystery surrounding a photograph of the man who might be his father - a man with eyes just like his: one red, and one blue.

Best bits:

The art keeps that cool, lush, half-noir, thing going throughout - it matches the tone, and looks pretty awesome.

The story is intriguing - we know that there's something seriously sinister going on, and the layers are peeled back to reveal just a tantalisingly small amount of the truth at a time. It definitely keeps you reading.

Overall, the book has a fab gothic/horror/freaking weird vibe. As that's my kind of thing, I definitely enjoyed it. It's likely to appeal to people who enjoyed The Crow (US link,) V for Vendetta (US link) - y'know, the grittier side of things.
 

Not so great bits:

It probably goes without saying, but if you're not a fan of horror, demons, and bloody violence, this is probably not for you.

There's the occasional feeling of disjointedness (you know, the 'who was he again?' 'what's he doing?' kind of feeling,) but it's exceedingly small.

Verdict:

An intriguing and absorbing graphic novel for those who like their plots sinister and sinuous, their art lush and noir-ish, and their graphic novels awesome.

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA - Goodreads – Author's DC Comics Profile

Nerd Church! - Christmas is For Everyone

I admit that I don't think much about religion in the traditional sense. That's part of the reason that I do a 'Nerd Church' post every week - to provide a little bit of moral discussion that doesn't require a denomination, just a touch of nerdiness (non-nerds are also welcome!)

I adore Christmas. Completely. Utterly. Christmas rocks.

Maybe I lean more towards the pagan than the Christian, and maybe not, but regardless the message remains the same - light, and life, and being kind and generous to people...

Ahhh! Isn't it just beautiful! (Sorry, having a starry-eyed, naïve, moment - I know that's not all that common with me. Normally I'm cynical as all sin - but - it's Christmas!!!!!!)

Anyway, my point was that Christmas is beautiful and wonderful, and doesn't require a huge amount of organised religion for enjoyment.

Everyone can enjoy Christmas.

Even Harry Potter celebrates Christmas - and who has the slightest clue what religion wizards are?