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In Lieu of What Are You Reading Wednesday
Aug. 6th, 2014 12:48 pmStill beyond buried at work so not actually 'reading' anything. But, I had an Amazon pre-order that came last night.
Generally like an author. See they have a book coming up. Pre-order.
I did this with Sherry Thomas, who wrote a few books that I enjoyed (but who can be hit-and-miss). Anyway, I saw a few months ago that she had a new book coming out and pre-ordered. Recently, she had posted a .99 e-novella that was labeled "prequel" to this book, it so I got it to go with the novel (saving it for when I will read the novel).
The novel was auto-delivered yesterday and I poked around it last night (aka: read the ending) and took a glance at the 'prequel' (which was really "The hero and heroine's backstories... or at least the heroine's backstory, long before the hero and heroine ever meet. And they don't meet in this "novella' (that's as long as a novel) at all..." 'prequel'
A few thoughts on initial examination:
-- the .99 cent "novella" is not a novella. It has almost the same word count as the novel.
-- The non-novella is not a romance (despite its Amazon category)). This is the Anglo-Chinese heroine becoming...well... a NINJA!
-- Read a smattering of the (post-prequel) novel (aka: the end chapters) and ... I'm not sure how much of this is a romance either. It may have a love interest, but the last chapter seemed very heavy on the female ninja being on the 'hero's journey' (male love interest is on the other side of the planet, in England, doing who knows what because he wasn't important to the plot, while she's in China finishing the adventure-mystery plot on her own and then he barely arrives by the final scene of the novel (post action) for final romantic reconcilliation/denouement. (I consider this to be gender reversal as this is what female roles are often reduced to in male-lead action movies).
What this cursory look-see is coming off as is...
Well, it 'reads' very "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" or "House of Flying Daggers"
For Reference of what I mean: House of Flying Daggers Trailer...
Huh. This is not the novel that I had expected. I am intrigued, however.
I haven't read a novel set in colonial China since high school when I read 'Moonraker...' something-or-other which also had an Anglo-Chinese heroine, only that one was the Boxer Rebellion (no William the Bloody, Angelus, Dru, or Darla in sight...)
On initial glance this looks like Thomas' trying to either expand genre (not your usual historical romance) or try a new genre (whatever this Chinese genre is called).
The Chinese character names look a bit daunting at first glance, though.
I've seen a few movies like this (Crouching Tiger..., House of...) but have never read a novel quite like this.
Generally like an author. See they have a book coming up. Pre-order.
I did this with Sherry Thomas, who wrote a few books that I enjoyed (but who can be hit-and-miss). Anyway, I saw a few months ago that she had a new book coming out and pre-ordered. Recently, she had posted a .99 e-novella that was labeled "prequel" to this book, it so I got it to go with the novel (saving it for when I will read the novel).
The novel was auto-delivered yesterday and I poked around it last night (aka: read the ending) and took a glance at the 'prequel' (which was really "The hero and heroine's backstories... or at least the heroine's backstory, long before the hero and heroine ever meet. And they don't meet in this "novella' (that's as long as a novel) at all..." 'prequel'
A few thoughts on initial examination:
-- the .99 cent "novella" is not a novella. It has almost the same word count as the novel.
-- The non-novella is not a romance (despite its Amazon category)). This is the Anglo-Chinese heroine becoming...well... a NINJA!
-- Read a smattering of the (post-prequel) novel (aka: the end chapters) and ... I'm not sure how much of this is a romance either. It may have a love interest, but the last chapter seemed very heavy on the female ninja being on the 'hero's journey' (male love interest is on the other side of the planet, in England, doing who knows what because he wasn't important to the plot, while she's in China finishing the adventure-mystery plot on her own and then he barely arrives by the final scene of the novel (post action) for final romantic reconcilliation/denouement. (I consider this to be gender reversal as this is what female roles are often reduced to in male-lead action movies).
What this cursory look-see is coming off as is...
Well, it 'reads' very "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" or "House of Flying Daggers"
For Reference of what I mean: House of Flying Daggers Trailer...
Huh. This is not the novel that I had expected. I am intrigued, however.
I haven't read a novel set in colonial China since high school when I read 'Moonraker...' something-or-other which also had an Anglo-Chinese heroine, only that one was the Boxer Rebellion (no William the Bloody, Angelus, Dru, or Darla in sight...)
On initial glance this looks like Thomas' trying to either expand genre (not your usual historical romance) or try a new genre (whatever this Chinese genre is called).
The Chinese character names look a bit daunting at first glance, though.
I've seen a few movies like this (Crouching Tiger..., House of...) but have never read a novel quite like this.
