People, places and what triggers you to make faces

Monday, August 22, 2011

Next Big Thing: Jason Momoa

You may have noticed him in that horrendous show Baywatch Hawaii but it's only with HBO's TV series Game of Thrones that you think Whoa Momoa. When the camera shows him in his first scene, looking at his future wife with contempt, arrogance and a flicker of desire, you know instantly that the Actor has arrived. Now if only Hollywood won't typecast and worry because he's not like Tom Cruise (omg, like anyone wants another megalomaniac and religious nut like Cruise?! The fact that he's a good actor is secondary, I no longer want to see his movies and that's the point, isn't it?), I can tell you where he will make a bigger mark than he does in Conan the Barbarian: the movie version of JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood.
Been reading GoT and I gotta say it's interesting, wonderfully imaginative and well-written but George does tend to go on a bit, doesn't he. I need some kind of closure after I finish a tome, and if you're just going to keep carrying on like a lush at a cocktail party.....
Of course, Jason's allure is only enhanced when you know he's married to the stunning, other-worldly Lisa Bonet and that he has two babies. How sweet is that.
PS. That's Sean Bean on the book cover there and I was rather thrilled to hear he was recently in a bar brawl where he was defending a woman's honour. (Not so thrilled to read that the same woman had once filed charges against HIM for assault. What the what?!) But what I really like about Sean is that he once said he wasn't into the pap and party circus because he couldn't imagine that that was it, that was as high as you could reach. There has to be more, really there does.
Reminds me of Anderson Cooper's chilling account of his brother's suicide, when the boy asked his mother "Will I ever feel again?" before flinging himself off a balcony in front of her eyes. That's a question we must never ask ourselves - or the pavement would be littered, wouldn't it.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

In love with a Zsadist


So ok, I'm in love, a couple of times over. Recently, I received a treasure trove from Flipkart and gloated over it for a week before I started reading. While I began with the delicious Kresley Cole, I became immersed in JR Ward's books before I knew what had hit me, and it's been like a drug ever since. The last time I felt so excited and light as air was when I read Ignatius' story in A Confederacy of Dunces, and since the author offed himself right after he wrote that, I was denied any further fixes.

But Ward never stops; she is, of course, one of the lucky ones who found her calling and as any writer of worth (haha, inside joke) knows, the story tells itself. But the author's sensibilities is the crucible it must go through and lor' luv 'er, Jessica knows what matters in this world and sinks herself deep into love, loyalty, the pain that forges character, loss and courage. The thing, though, is this: Each is doled out with such a level of intensity that the reader is thrilled to the toes. You know, that's what matters in daily life, not what you do but how deeply you feel. Cutting roses for a bouquet? You better feel the petals and inhale the fragrance and poke at the soil and admire your stretch of garden and imagine the way the arrangement will play out on the wooden table in the kitchen. You thought you could just cut and run? Sure you can, if you're brain-dead.

It's the same with friendships. You just want to hang with people you don't really give a damn about and listen to them warble about their kids and their job and the game Saturday night but at least, hey, you aren't alone? They are a waste of space and you are wasting your time. Instead, get into a band of brothers who fight the good fight and fall in love with all the lightheartedness of a boulder. You will have a favourite and his name will be Zsadist, with his inner core of sweet and an outer layer of pure intimidation. It's his suffering that calls out to you, though, and the way he deals with it, like a man. Your next favourite will be V, short for Vishous. Goatee, light eyes, smart and sexy as hell. Then there's Rehv whose screaming masculinity and absolute power comes close to, I don't know, mainlining H? He's also got purple eyes.

And then it's, surprise, surprise, the gay boys Qhuinn and Blay. Now I have no particular interest in the gay scene but after reading the conversations between Q and B, I want a whole book dedicated to them. They are so cool, so strong, so in love, so honourable. Ward, I'm sorry to report, has said she might do a novella because she has to keep her (straight) fan base in mind.

I also draw the line at the very wimpy female characters who hum and haw their way through these warriors' lives, but I especially dislike Jane, V's chosen. I hear Ward was not satisfied with V's story either and I can tell her why: Jane is just not the right mix for him, even though Ward has made her almost masculine keeping V's tastes in mind (subtle touch, LOVE his relationship with Butch). I like Rhage, Wrath, Beth, Butch, John and Bella, and I can tell Ward does, too. She, and the reader, don't much care for Phury, though. He's just too damn needy is what it is.

One point of embarrassment: awful proofing in the BDB books and Ward doesn't seem to know the difference between wretched and retched and on http://www.lovevampires.com/jrward.html, she seems to think roll means role (unless that's the interviewer's problem).....what the what?!

But honestly, if these books aren't made into movies it would be a crying shame.