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Books update
I read a bunch of Regency Romances in, like, two days. It was sort of refreshing. And then some more WWII stuff.
I also tried to read a few other things. They did not go so well.
- The Wedding Ghost by Cindy Holbrook (very cute, and a much better book than the hideous cover made it seem)
- Defiant Mistress by Marian Devon
- A Heart on His Sleeve by Marian Devon
- A Season of Scandal by Marian Devon
- M'Lady Rides For a Fall by Marian Devon
- Lady Harriet Takes Charge by Marian Devon (ngl, Marian Devon is like popcorn for my brains. I actually tried to get rid of some of these, and failed.)
- The Sinister Spinster by Joan Overfield writing as Carolyn Madison (for once, I didn't loathe the whole 'dudes autocratically protect their women', probably because both Elizabeth--and later, Elinore--read them the riot act everytime they tried it, and managed to protect themselves admirably without help. I'm impressed as Overfield usually leaves me cold.)
- Moving Pictures by Kathryn & Stuart Immonen - I'm not sure what was actually happening in this? Like, it was compelling, but at the end, I don't really have any idea what happened. I can make guesses, knowing about Nazi war atrocities, but. Not helpful.
- Guts (The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster) by Kristen Johnston (entertaining and sad and amusing all at once)
- Courtney Crumrin and the Fire Thief's Tale by Ted Naifeh
- Women of Valor: the Rochambelles of WWII by Ellen Hampton (very good book, also, Florence Conrad is amazing. I'm a bit worried about what would happen if Vera Atkins, Florence Conrad and Jackie Cochran were ever in the same room together. Possibly an implosion of competence and intelligent thinking resulting in the end of the war. idek. Also, there should totally be a movie about Florence Conrad, as even earlier in the war her exploits were awesome [buying ambulances and supplies! Driving ridiculous amounts to help the wounded! Badgering people into doing their goddamn jobs rather than being lazy!]. Sadly, she's an older woman and there's no romantic angle, so it wouldn't ever get made. War movies are for dudes, obvsly.)
- Star Trek: The Next Generation 'The Last Generation' - Trade Paperback of Picard running a resistance? I'm all for it. The book had too much Wesley and not enough surprise!femslash, but it was all right. Also, Sulu. Because he's amazing.
- Fairy Tales for Angry Little Girls by Lela Lea (pretty run of the mill "blah, blah, fairy tales suck" cartoon versions. Though, to be fair, some of them are pretty gross)
- The Originals: The Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron of World War II by Sarah Byrn Rickman - This about Nancy Love's group of female pilots. Interesting to see the other side--they weren't all enamored of Jackie Cochran (who should totally have a movie about her, even if I'd probably dislike her)--and I'm not sure I blame them? Also, there's a bit towards the end where Cochran's quoted as saying something about how disappinted she was that these women didn't go on to Do Anything. And, uh, no, honey, that's because unlike you, none of them are married to a millionaire with tons of social/political connections.
- Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things by Ted Naifeh
Tried to read:
Blood Law by Jeannie Holmes. Problem is, the female lead keeps getting upstaged and shut-down by the Men around her who all know better than her. In fact, the end of the book is her getting suspended and forced to work with the dude she used to be engaged to. And there's so so much power imbalance shit I want to find the author and smack her. NO, IT IS NOT SEXY WHEN YOU ARE FORCED TO WORK WITH YOUR EX AND HE HAS ALL THE FUCKING POWER IN THE SITUATION. In fact, it's really kinda gross that the professional boundaries aren't even allowed. I wanted to like the book, the beginning gave me all sorts of hope! And then, that. Nonononono. I should have stopped when the third scene was two Men Talking about what is Right For the Little Woman (who of course has zero fucking say in it). SO GROSS. (and the sequel ends with her ex-lover brain-washing/wiping her--and murdering someone and claiming her as his and it's ew ew ew. GOOD FUCKING GOD. WHAT. Yes, I read the end of the second book to see if it would be slightly better. It wasn't.)
The Drowning City by Amanda Downum. No big reason, I just didn't click with it (I'd started it, then went and read the entirety of The Laurentian Spy, so...)
Phoenix Rising by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris. idk. I just lost interest after it was obvious it would be an Urban Fantasy Romance. I'm very meh on the concept. Also, the cover art is really... telling. Dude's all dressed. Chick's in her undies.
I also tried to read a few other things. They did not go so well.
- The Wedding Ghost by Cindy Holbrook (very cute, and a much better book than the hideous cover made it seem)
- Defiant Mistress by Marian Devon
- A Heart on His Sleeve by Marian Devon
- A Season of Scandal by Marian Devon
- M'Lady Rides For a Fall by Marian Devon
- Lady Harriet Takes Charge by Marian Devon (ngl, Marian Devon is like popcorn for my brains. I actually tried to get rid of some of these, and failed.)
- The Sinister Spinster by Joan Overfield writing as Carolyn Madison (for once, I didn't loathe the whole 'dudes autocratically protect their women', probably because both Elizabeth--and later, Elinore--read them the riot act everytime they tried it, and managed to protect themselves admirably without help. I'm impressed as Overfield usually leaves me cold.)
- Moving Pictures by Kathryn & Stuart Immonen - I'm not sure what was actually happening in this? Like, it was compelling, but at the end, I don't really have any idea what happened. I can make guesses, knowing about Nazi war atrocities, but. Not helpful.
- Guts (The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster) by Kristen Johnston (entertaining and sad and amusing all at once)
- Courtney Crumrin and the Fire Thief's Tale by Ted Naifeh
- Women of Valor: the Rochambelles of WWII by Ellen Hampton (very good book, also, Florence Conrad is amazing. I'm a bit worried about what would happen if Vera Atkins, Florence Conrad and Jackie Cochran were ever in the same room together. Possibly an implosion of competence and intelligent thinking resulting in the end of the war. idek. Also, there should totally be a movie about Florence Conrad, as even earlier in the war her exploits were awesome [buying ambulances and supplies! Driving ridiculous amounts to help the wounded! Badgering people into doing their goddamn jobs rather than being lazy!]. Sadly, she's an older woman and there's no romantic angle, so it wouldn't ever get made. War movies are for dudes, obvsly.)
- Star Trek: The Next Generation 'The Last Generation' - Trade Paperback of Picard running a resistance? I'm all for it. The book had too much Wesley and not enough surprise!femslash, but it was all right. Also, Sulu. Because he's amazing.
- Fairy Tales for Angry Little Girls by Lela Lea (pretty run of the mill "blah, blah, fairy tales suck" cartoon versions. Though, to be fair, some of them are pretty gross)
- The Originals: The Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron of World War II by Sarah Byrn Rickman - This about Nancy Love's group of female pilots. Interesting to see the other side--they weren't all enamored of Jackie Cochran (who should totally have a movie about her, even if I'd probably dislike her)--and I'm not sure I blame them? Also, there's a bit towards the end where Cochran's quoted as saying something about how disappinted she was that these women didn't go on to Do Anything. And, uh, no, honey, that's because unlike you, none of them are married to a millionaire with tons of social/political connections.
- Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things by Ted Naifeh
Tried to read:
Blood Law by Jeannie Holmes. Problem is, the female lead keeps getting upstaged and shut-down by the Men around her who all know better than her. In fact, the end of the book is her getting suspended and forced to work with the dude she used to be engaged to. And there's so so much power imbalance shit I want to find the author and smack her. NO, IT IS NOT SEXY WHEN YOU ARE FORCED TO WORK WITH YOUR EX AND HE HAS ALL THE FUCKING POWER IN THE SITUATION. In fact, it's really kinda gross that the professional boundaries aren't even allowed. I wanted to like the book, the beginning gave me all sorts of hope! And then, that. Nonononono. I should have stopped when the third scene was two Men Talking about what is Right For the Little Woman (who of course has zero fucking say in it). SO GROSS. (and the sequel ends with her ex-lover brain-washing/wiping her--and murdering someone and claiming her as his and it's ew ew ew. GOOD FUCKING GOD. WHAT. Yes, I read the end of the second book to see if it would be slightly better. It wasn't.)
The Drowning City by Amanda Downum. No big reason, I just didn't click with it (I'd started it, then went and read the entirety of The Laurentian Spy, so...)
Phoenix Rising by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris. idk. I just lost interest after it was obvious it would be an Urban Fantasy Romance. I'm very meh on the concept. Also, the cover art is really... telling. Dude's all dressed. Chick's in her undies.