THE DAY
It’s what I spent the day doing, devising work-arounds for the situation into which I’ve written myself. Granted, this is only the outline, but if it doesn’t work here . . .
So that was it. Well, and I totally spazzed because we’re having a gazillion people over on Saturday and I’m thinking where am I doing to put all those warm bodies? And just what can I whip up cocktail-wise ahead of time so I don’t spend all my time playing bartender? I found a couple recipes. Made one last night, the Full Windsor (Scotch, apple brandy, sweet vermouth, Benedictine, Peychaud’s and Angostura bitters), and just tasted it now after it was thoroughly chilled. Really quite yummy. So I’m thinking that, Sazeracs for a crowd, Caipirinhas, and maybe a cocktail called Evenings in Kingston. That, along with wine and beer . . . I’ve done due diligence in terms of two-carbon fragments.
Probably make a cake, too. Something chocolate.
WRITING OUT LOUD
UNTITLED HORROR/SF BOOK
(Previously had 1500 in outline)
Day 1: 2400 (outline) Day 11: 500 Day 22: 1000
Day 2: 2400 (outline) Day 12: 1600 Day 23: 2300
Day 3: 2000 (outline) Day 13: 1860
Day 4: 2000 (outline) Day 14: 1800
Day 5: 0 (Nu, I was busy) Day 15: 1750
Day 6: 2400 Day 16: 1400 (dang)
Day 7: 1500 Day 17: 1690
Day 8: 0 (but a lot of Day 18: ?250?
plotting and reading done)Day 19: 0
Day 9: 1500 Day 20: 2200
Day 10: 1600 Day 21: 2300
Blog Post: 330
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What I’m Watching:
Still on The Americans. Terrific show, and does take my mind off my knee (which is still very displeased with me).
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What I’m Reading:
All about Russian prisons and branding practices in the 19th century. Also a short piece of Kate Marsden, a nurse from the Victorian era who trekked across Siberia to treat lepers in Yakutsk (and all over).
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What I’m Listening to:
Nothing tonight. I did have a long discussion with a neighbor about classical announcers, though. He’s from Maine, and so remembers Robert J. Lurtsema, an announcer–now long dead–out of Boston who had the most lugubrious voice ever but knew a hell of a lot about music. Woke up every day to those birds.
I read Ashes because I love books with alot of suspense, adventure, and zombies which is what I received from reading this. However, I came across many problems I could not ignore.
After reading Ashes, I suddenly lost interest and I found myself struggling to finish this particular book. I was disappointed at the fact that it wasn’t explained how Ellie was lost and yes, I know she was taken, but what did Alex and Tom do to find her? The reader has no idea because a huge timeskip happens and the two have already come to terms that Ellie is gone. Thus, the reader misses out on an opportunity to watch both characters develop by trying to figure out how to find Ellie or how they give up and believe she is never coming back.
I also do not like how descriptive the book can be over the smallest things. I love imagery and creating a perfect image inside my mind but it is possible to be “too descriptive.” I found myself reading 3 pages on what an infected or “zapped” dog looked like while the sanctuary Alex discovered, did not have the same luxury as the dog. I wouldn’t have been upset if only different scenery and places were described more than the characters because there were many points in time where the area the group was traveling became difficult to picture because there was little detail.
These were just some of the few problems I had with this book and I have to honestly say, I do not like reading this book. I am not writing this to disrespect the author in any type of way. I am writing this to share my opinion like many others and to receive a response on why the author chose to write in the way she did. I would gladly appreciate a response as it provides me and clearer understanding on things I may have missed while reading. Thank you!
No worries, Nicholas. Sometimes a book is your cuppa; sometimes it isn’t. That happens to me all the time.