Pleasures of Working From Home

I often wish I had an actual office somewhere.  Someplace where all of my history books and other assorted research crap could live.  However, right at the moment I'm doing laundry and making toasted bread crumbs all while doing research for the American West Center.  Couldn't do that at an office.

Anti-Romance Novel Rant

So about a week ago I read a romance novel.  No, not a novel with a romantic plot, which in my opinion is a totally different animal, but a regular old romance novel.  I haven't read one for years, mostly because I think that the majority of the mainstream ones are inappropriate reading for a person who's trying to live the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I still think that. In addition, my experience with most of the Christian ones is that they aren't very well written, and tend to cast religiously minded women in stereotypical molds.

However,  this book didn't look particularly trashy and it was set somewhere interesting, and I needed a fluffy read so I gave it a shot.  I did finish the thing, but I didn't enjoy it, except for one aspect - all of my various multiple personalities (Mormon Girl, Writer, Feminist) were in complete agreement that the thing was pretty much total crap.

The Mormon Girl in me did not enjoy that she did in fact have to turn pages to avoid an inappropriate scene at the end of the book.  She was also annoyed at the extreme emphasis on the physical.  Yes, I'm glad my husband thinks I'm cute, don't get me wrong, but the idea that romantic love is almost entirely about how hot the other person is drove me insane.  

The Writer in me was annoyed that a book with such clearly cliched plot and characters is published, and that the author of this book has been on the freakin' New York Times bestseller list. 

The Feminist, like the Mormon Girl, (nice to know they can be friends), was also annoyed with the emphasis on the physical as the be all, end all of romantic love, and was equally annoyed that the man in the story seemed to want the woman only because 1) She made it easier to deal with his kid 2) She was hot 3) She could cook and 4) She was 'wounded' and needed saving.  Not that any of those things are bad qualities necessarily, but for them to be the only things a guy likes about a girl?  Bleck.

And I'm now remembering that a lot of romance novels really are like this.  There are exceptions of course (Shannon Hale's Austenland comes to mind), but overall I think this book was representative of the genre.  Even most of the Christian romance novels are pretty much in this mold, they just skip the inappropriate bits. 

This has made me really glad that my reading habits have changed.   I wonder how much of the depression of my single years was exacerbated by allowing these ideas to be constantly shoved into my head.

Fictional Characters #9 - Chicks in the Thick of It

[This post contains big fat spoilers for Robin McKinley’s Outlaws of Sherwood, and Terry Pratchett’s Monstrous Regiment.  If you care, skip those entries]

Eowyn (played by Miranda Otto in the Lord of the Rings films)

I love the Lord of the Rings movies, but after the first one I couldn’t help wishing there were more women in it (preferably human).  Then, in the second film, along comes Eowyn.  There are a number of reasons I love this character, but I think the most important one is that she pulls off being both tenderhearted and tough-as-nails, and somehow keeps both firmly in place while falling in love with a man she can’t have.  It’s pretty brilliant in my opinion.

Princess Leia (played by Carrie Fisher in the Star Wars films)

Ok, so there are some hair and fashion choices we could live without (Cinnamon roll hair and metal bikinis? Please.)  Still this blaster toting, rebellion leading, Hutt strangling, scoundrel kissing woman is not your average pop culture princess.  Thank goodness!

Hari (from The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley)

I love the Twilight books (as earlier entries in this list will attest), but what sometimes drives me nutty is that they can be so wildly popular and get made into films while a book like The Blue Sword, and a cinema ready and fabulous character like Hari stays so far out of the mainstream.  If Elizabeth Bennet and Aragorn had a literary child it would be Hari, half proper Englishwoman, half sword-swinging hero.

The women of Monstrous Regiment  (by Terry Pratchett)

I found it hard to believe this book was written by a man.  I mean that as a compliment.  The absolute empathy and sheer awesomeness of the bevy of women in this book is amazing.  In one bit they are women masquerading as men masquerading as women, and it’s beyond hilarious.  Oh, and if you’ve ever wondered how trolls flirt, this book will teach you. 

Cecily (from The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley)

Just putting her name on a list is a big fat spoiler since she starts out as “Cecil.”  I think it’s interesting that it’s the character of Cecily, not the character of Marian that makes this list.  Not that Marian isn’t spectacular, she is, but my favorite part of this book is the relationship between Cecily and Little John, and the way that Cecily (uh, like Eowyn and the Monstrous Regiment, what is it with these girls?) pulls off the big gutsy move in the end. 

And there it is, the list is done.  I thought this series of blog posts was going to bore the crap out of people, but I’ve got more comments on these posts than anything I’ve done.  Thanks everybody for being so nice to me!

Fictional Characters #8 - Hero Collection

Han Solo (played by Harrison Ford in Star Wars and assorted sequels)

Several of my favorite movie lines of all time belong to this character.  “Wonderful girl! Either I’m going to kill her or I’m beginning to like her.”  As a kid I always wanted to be Han Solo’s other sidekick, and that feeling has never quite gone away.

Jack Sparrow (played by Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean and assorted sequels)

From the moment he steps off his sinking ship onto the dock, Jack Sparrow makes me laugh.  Is he a nut job?  Absolutely.  Morally questionable?  Absolutely.  Entertaining?  Absolutely.

Wolverine (played by Hugh Jackman in X-Men and assorted sequels)

In my opinion Wolverine is the runner up in the “Who’s the best super hero” debate.  (Tracy would probably put him in first place, and I’ll forgive him for that.)  My first real exposure to the X-Men world was this film, and they rightly put Wolverine at the heart of it.  The grouchy, slouchy demeanor combined with his protective affection for Rogue was a heroic combination.  Plus, how cool or those claws?

Aragorn (played by Viggo Mortensen in Fellowship of the Ring and assorted sequels)

We have a joke at our house that if Tracy has any competition (which he doesn’t) it’s Aragorn.  It’s not just the swash buckling sword fights, though I always love those, Aragorn is humble, kind, and devoted to his true love.  How can you not like a guy like that?

Indiana Jones (played by Harrison Ford in Raiders of the Lost Ark and assorted sequels)

I have Raiders of the Lost Ark practically memorized and I’m not ashamed to admit it.  If I ever own a dog, it’s going to be tough not to name him Indy.

Fictional Characters #7 - Literary Lasses

Jane Eyre (from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte)

I’ve read this book several times, but it had been awhile, so a few months ago I downloaded the audio version from the library, and found myself hanging on every word.   While the romance in it is good stuff, I found myself even more moved by Jane’s absolute confidence in herself and her convictions even though she is “poor and plain” and has grown up without anyone to love or take care of her. 

Jo March (from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott)

I think it’s interesting that Jo is played as the unconventional one of her sisters, and yet she’s the protagonist and the one that I think most girls in America identify with.  In fact, I remember my grandma telling me that she always liked Jo.  Plus Jo wants to be a writer.  So of course, she makes my list.

Thursday Next (from The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde)

The Thursday Next novels are difficult to describe, part mystery, part urban fantasy, but not really either.  They’re set in a world where literature is as popular and mainstream as professional sports.  One of the best things about them is the character of Thursday Next, a literary detective with a quirky past and even quirkier family, she’s the glue that makes these wacky novels work.

Elizabeth Bennet (as played by Jennifer Ehle in the mini-series Pride and Prejudice)

I’ve written before about the fact that I struggle to read Austen, but I generally love the movies they make from Austen.  The very best of those is the BBC’s 1995 miniseries of Pride and Prejudice.  I’ve heard a lot said about Colin Firth’s Mr. Darcy, and don’t get me wrong, he does a great job.  But in my opinion, the movie only works as well as it does because Elizabeth is so likeable.  Believable for her time period and yet completely accessible for modern women.  It’s just lots and lots of fun.

Rory Gilmore  (played by Alexis Bledel in Gilmore Girls)

It’s not often I’ve had the experience of watching network television and wishing I was as well read as one of the characters. While I might not have always agreed with her life choices, it was nice to see the depiction of a teenage girl whose primary goal in life was to get the best education she could

Fictional Characters #6- A Mom, Some Dads, and other Dudes in Charge

Lorelai Gilmore (played by Lauren Graham on Gilmore Girls)

One of the things I love the most about Gilmore Girls is the depiction of an intelligent, hard working mom who is her daughter’s best pal and biggest fan -  maybe because I’m lucky enough to have a mother like that. (Thanks Mom!)

Atticus Finch (played by Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird and from the book by Harper Lee)

The American Film Institute ranked Atticus Finch as the number one hero from American film.  Yes, that's partly because he’s a crusading lawyer fighting for a black man in the Jim Crow south. However, Atticus is also a hero because he’s a terrific father.   One of my favorite lines, “If you just learn a single trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”  

Charlie Swan (from the Twilight books by Stephenie Meyer)

One thing I enjoy about the Twilight books is that the adults aren’t played as ogres.  One of my least favorite things about the Twilight books is that Bella lies to her father, because he’s clearly such a first rate guy, laid back, patient, and willing to put up with a lot of crap from his teenage daughter.  Speaking of Twilight…

Carlisle Cullen (from the Twilight books by Stephenie Meyer)

I have a theory that beyond the obvious love triangle, the reason that these books are so popular with girls are the number of really good men that Bella has in her life.  Not only does she have two great boys to choose between, but she also has two extra "families" to get to be a part of.  There are great father and brother figures coming out of the woodwork (or um…woods) in these books.  Of these, I think the most intriguing is Carlisle Cullen, a man so determined to be good that in spite of being a vampire, he’s a doctor.  Talk about willpower and determination.

Aslan (from the Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis)

The only animal on my list (well, unless you count Chewbacca), but then Aslan isn’t really an animal so much as a symbol of sacrifice, faith, love and hope.  And he's a talking lion.  Cool.

Captain Picard/ Professor Xavier (played by Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: the Next Generation and X-Men)

These are really the same character aren’t they?   I mean I know there are subtle differences, but one thing is clear.  If you’re headed into unknown territory, in either a spaceship or a superhero battle, you clearly want a character played by Patrick Stewart in charge.

Fictional Characters #5 - The Super Club

It had to happen, everyone who knows me knew that it did, right?  So I decided to lump them all together, with the exception of Lex, who clearly belonged in the Villains category. 

Superman/Clark Kent (best played by Christopher Reeve in Superman)

I almost listed these as two separate characters.  In some version Clark Kent is the disguise, and in other versions Superman clearly is.  Yet at heart they are all the same. I’ve been thinking about why this character is so interesting to me, and there are a lot of reasons, but I think the main reason is that in most stories, as in real life, power corrupts.  Superman however, is depicted as being the most physically powerful person on the planet,  and yet largely, to borrow a word from a recent episode of Smallville, “incorruptible."

Lois Lane (best played by Margot Kidder in Superman)

When I was a teenager, this is who I wanted to be when I grew up.  As a grown up, I’ve realized I’m not quite that willing to incur the wrath of those around me.  Still, when I feel nervous I try to channel my inner Lois Lane, and sometimes it actually works.  

Perry White (as played by Lane Smith in Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman)

The only Perry White that is really dear to my heart is Lois and Clark’s Lane Smith.    It’s probably why when I think of a Perry White catchphrase I think not of the standard “Great Caesar’s Ghost” but Lane Smith’s boisterous “Great Shades of Elvis!”  When Lane Smith died a few years ago, I was honestly sad for a moment.  He was tough and cranky, but also funny and vulnerable, truly becoming a key player in the series, rather than merely “the boss”. 

Chloe Sullivan (as played by Allison Mack in Smallville)

As I’ve said before I have a serious love-hate relationship with Smallville, but the computer hacking, girl-next-door Chloe is Smallville’s true contribution to the Superman universe.  I also think she’s an example of a character that was so surprisingly good, the writers and creators of the show didn’t know what to do with her.  Five times more interesting than their Lana Lang, I still think we should have had a year or two of a Clark and Chloe relationship.  There’s no law that says that Clark didn’t have a girlfriend between Lana and Lois, right?  I’ve always thought the writers and creators of Smallville missed the boat on that one. 

Oliver Queen/The Green Arrow (as played by Justin Hartley in Smallville)

This guy deserves his own show, or at least better material. (Another reason for the “hate” part of the love-hate relationship).   Still, if I laugh out loud while watching Smallville, 10 to 1 it’s over something this guy said, and he’s the only character from Smallville who helped inspire a character in one of my own books.