Cowboys & Aliens

A movie came out this summer that I wanted to see. It was called COWBOYS & ALIENS. I still haven't had a chance to see the movie, but after reading the book I'm glad I didn't take my kidlet to it unawares. Think of it as a cross between a Western and ALIEN (the sci-fi movie)/SUPER TROOPERS and a horror flick. At least that was the impression the book left me.

Anyhoo, I was walking through Target and saw the book on the shelf and bought it. This was what so many agents/publishers are clamboring for--something that was familiar or the same, but different. I wanted to understand the hype.

The first thing that struck me was that this book is a novelization. What that means is a screenplay was written, the movie was shot or in the process of being shot, and the powers that be decide someone needs to write the book. I don't know the order of things here, I'm just guessing, but TOR publishing was contacted and then they snagged a writer who has novelized stories before. Even though I haven't seen the movie, I've seen enough clips to know who the characters are and which actors portray the main ones.

I think novelizing a movie is less common than making a screenplay out of a book, but don't quote me on this.

The second thing that struck me was that the Point-of-View (POV) was omniscent, which means the  narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all of the characters in the story versus just the main character in the scene. Or to put it a little more bluntly--this could be considered 'head-hopping', especially if it is done a lot in a scene.

This book head-hops, in my opinion. but after awhile it didn't bother me quite as much. Perhaps it was because I knew this was a novelization and the reader was sort of like the camera filming the scene. For example: amnesiac Jake thinks this, ". . . opened his eyes again, strikingly blue eyes that glinted like cut sapphire." Yeah . . . he wouldn't have a clue what color his eyes were. nuf said.

After I finished the book I realized something else. The character (amnesiac Jake Lonergan) who is introduced on the first page and featured throughout the book and ends the story, isn't the main character. The person with the strongest GMC (goal, motivation, conflict), and has more to gain and lose in this story is Dolarhyde. Dolarhyde grew in character and learned to forgive himself in this story. Jake had already changed the direction of his life PRIOR to the aliens taking him.

Hm, interesting. There was a lot about the way this story was written that irritated me, but I still finished it. There was a little more internal narrative (Jake) in some places that was a little overdone, so I skimmed it--mainly because the author tried to make Jake the one who had the greatest conflict when he didn't. It did make me cry near the end when a secondary character died and Dolarhyde finally realizes what he had and lost.

But will I reread the book?  No.

It isn't a 'keeper', so I'll give away.

Later, Peeps!

Got Head Cold, Need Books

My head is stuffed full of snot and I really don't feel like writing.  Heck, I don't feel like doing much of anything.  I don't know about y'all, but when I get a sick I just want to curl up with a good book for a few days.  Christmas stories are my novels of choice this time of year.  One of my goals this year was to read 50 books,  I just crossed over the 40 book mark and I doubt if I'll make it, but you never know. 

Here's a thought: Maybe I'll raid my daughter's stockpile of middle grade books--then I should hit the 50 book mark by the end of the year.

I've also been known to watch movie marathons for days on end.  Recently, my choice has been the Harry Potter movies--gotta get ready for the Deathly Hallows, ya know.  I can't wait to see the new Disney movie, Tangled either.  The previews look wonderful and fun.  It's twisted fairy tale, which puts it in the unique category.  I mean, how many movies have hair as a character?  Well, there was that Fairy Oddparents episode when Timmy Turner's hair got a mind of it's own and it started taking over the world, but that's another story. 

So what movies do you want to see over the holidays? 
And do you read Christmas stories during the season? 
If you want to read a fun anthology then you need to pick up WOLFSBANE AND MISTLETOE, edited by Charlaine Harris (she of Sookie Stackhouse fame). the only thing these stories have in common is werewolves and Christmas.  Reading an anthology of short stories or novellas is great way to discover new to you authors.

Write on! . . . not today, but later after the full moon . . .

First 'Official' Day of Summer!

Today is the first official day of summer as Friday was the kiddo's last day of school and weekends don't count. So, of course, I wake up at four frickin' thirty in the morning, finally gave up on going back to sleep at around five-fifteen. True, I'm an early riser but six o'clock is my normal time. This was just too nuts.

Rachel has an eye appointment this morning, but so far we don't have anything else scheduled. I promised to take her to the zoo afterwards. We have a nice zoo, but it's a two hour jaunt, if that, not including drive time. I want to stop by our Air and Space Museum to check out their summer programs for kids since it's close to the zoo--one stop shopping my fave.

I did enroll her in two summer camps. She has a two week break before she starts the first one, which is a week long soccer camp at TU (Tulsa University) that features the University's soccer coaches and players teaching these kids. She did half-days last year and loved it. I'll let you know after they run her butt off during the all day camp this year whether or not she loves it.

Two weeks off and then zoo camp called Meet the Predators. Tulsa Zoo also changed their half-day camps to full day ones, which makes it easier on the parents, plus they are offering before and after camp care for the parents who need it. Last year, I took my computer and parked myself at one of the picnic tables with a handy dandy plug and wrote. It was nice overlooking the lake while I wrote about demons and evil critters.

I did look into another camp this year, it's at Phibrook Art Museum. They had a variety of topics, but the classes were half-day for two weeks and over $250--OUCH! And that was for members! The hassle and money factor might be more than the educational worth.

And during Rachel's free time when she's not at camp: dollar or free summer movies, the zoo or aquarium (both with season passes), swim lessons (we have a pool at home), 3rd grade curriculum exercises, summer reading program through the library, and I bought her a book and supplies on how to draw dragons :-). And, of course, inviting friends or her cousins over for an overnight or just a day in the pool.

I don't see us taking a big vacation this year, though we will do some weekend jaunts to Silver Dollar City and Branson. And Rach expressed an interest in fishing, so we might have to get out on the lake to hook some sunfish.

Some where in there I'll have to find time to edit my gnome story.

Write on!