Reader Re-Route

Ugh, I feel really bad about this...I said in my last post months ago that I was having issues with Blogger's compatibility with my browser and in the meantime, I set up a new book blog on WordPress. Well, I thought I would be able to get back to this one once the browser was updated, but you see how that turned out. Since things are going to be really quiet over here, I thought I might as well give you guys a heads-up. If anyone is still reading this blog, and wants to keep reading something, my new center of operations is The Humble Book Nerd at WordPress. I'll try to get back over here someday!

Your pal,

A-P

I'M BACK!!

Hallelujah! Blame a faulty computer and an outdated browser for the silence, but I have returned! *throws confetti* Anyone glad to see me? (Don't feel obligated to answer, it's a rhetorical question. I promise, I won't get my feelings hurt.)

Also, I have a new name! :)

Your pal,
Angel

Review: A Game of Thrones - George R. R. Martin

A Song of Ice and Fire, book one

 In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes of the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom's protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

MY RATING: 4 STARS

I've spent ages searching for my next epic fantasy fix when I'm on break from Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings. I tried Paolini, Goodkind, Brooks, and Jordan, and none of them panned out. Then, then, I found Martin.

It doesn't seem right to call this "fantasy," though, as there is hardly any magic present at all. The prologue snagged me, but that seemed to be where the mystic stopped and the intrigues began. Plots, subplots, counterplots, and all the scheming, backstabbing, secrets and betrayal you can fit in over eight hundred pages (count 'em! Eight hundred!) The best part, it was all so swiftly executed, there was no way I was able to guess what would come next. I haven't made so many wrong predictions since Rebecca!

There are a LOT of perspectives used, but each is so interesting and distinct from the others I had no trouble keeping up with them. I admit to skimming a lot of the descriptions, though...GRRM seems to be as fond of describing things as Robin McKinley. I adored Arya and Dany and only wish there could have been more chapters with them. I began by disliking Sansa quite a bit, but my love for her evolved as the story progressed; I just couldn't help myself, and I can't explain without including spoilers! Tyrion Lannister didn't take long to become my favorite, sarcastic, clever underdog that he is (no pun intended, I promise), and he tied with Catelyn Stark as the most complex character of the piece. I'm still not sure about Jon, though...I could go either way with him, depending on how he evolves. As for Ned Stark, I liked him so much I knocked a star off my rating on his behalf. Confused? I'll leave it with this: Martin is a much better writer than Suzanne Collins, and that makes pulling a stunt like she did in Mockingjay that much more unforgivable.

I appreciated the book's human aspect most of all. It's not black-and-white, good versus evil. There's gray matter. We're a flawed species, and Martin sure as hell didn't neglect that detail. Honorable men sire bastards, good warriors make bad kings, the best intentions have the worst consequences. It's not that the lines between right and wrong are blurred, but that humans in general always tend to see themselves in the right, which leads to no end of trouble. One of my favorite quotes was from one of my least favorite characters, "The things I do for love..." Again, I can't say more without spoiling it, but it serves as a good example of what I'm talking about.

A Game of Thrones was gritty, brutal, intense, and occasionally offensive. It was true to life and preached nothing, but rather seemed to hold up a mirror and say "take a look at yourselves" while still providing an excellent escape. If the rest of the series is up to this standard, I'll be more than satisfied.

But I'm still not giving out that last star. 

Your humble book nerd,
Angels

2013 In Review

Well, it's been a weird year around here...let's do a quick recap.

Reviews
Angels read...
Ophelia by Lisa M. Klein
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
The Opera Ghost Unraveled by Michelle Rodriguez
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern
Vamphyrric by Simon Clark
The Pirouettes That Angels Spin by Michelle Rodriguez
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
Daydreaming Roses and Fairytale Monsters by Michelle Rodriguez
Love Changes Everything by Kelly McQuinn
Night World, No. 1 by L.J. Smith
Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach
Manifestations of a Phantom's Soul, Volume 2 by Michelle Rodriguez
Chanson de l'Ange Book One: Orphan In Winter by Paisley Swan Stewart

and watched...
Beowulf and Grendel

Featured Artists
Lindsey Stirling
Bob Dylan
Evanescence
George Strait
Sugarland

Featured Lyrics
Broken - Seether feat. Amy Lee
Carnival of Rust - Poets of the Fall
Storybook Love - Willy DeVille
Love Song For a Vampire - Annie Lennox
Gravity - Sara Bareilles
Your Love Will Kill Me - Daniel Lavoie
Water From the Moon - Celine Dion
The Red Strokes - Garth Brooks
All the Love A Heart Can Hold - Sherrie Austin
Neon Moon - Brooks and Dunn

Noteworthy Posts
Michelle Gliottoni-Rodriguez sings "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again"
The Opera Ghost Unraveled book trailer
Angels sings "The Change"
Favorite Phan Videos
Angels has a birthday party!
Opera Macabre book trailer
"The First Choice"
It's HUMP DAY!
Angels tallies up some statistics
Interview with Michelle Rodriguez
Angels gives a writing tip
Advice From the Phantom
Chanson de l'Ange arrives!
Leroux readings

Well, that seems to be everything important, and it's not that much...maybe things will be better this year! I've already decided to scale back the posts, and I mean it this time! It's going to be mostly reviews, with occasional music and writing posts, and of course more Phantom stuff. I still have to finish the phan challenge!

Your pal,
Angels

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

We've still got a lot of steam left in this party! Who cares that it's almost one o'clock?!

Sideways - Dierks Bentley

Beer Money - Kip Moore

Drink the Night Away - Gaelic Storm

Auld Lang Syne -Kevin Walsh

Happy New Year, guys!

Your pal,
Angels

Review: Chanson de l'Ange Book One: Orphan In Winter - Paisley Swan Stewart

Chanson de l’Ange by Paisley Swan Stewart is a 3 volume epic retelling of The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. Drawing inspiration from The Opera Ghost in all his incarnations through book and film; and remaining faithful to key story elements from the classic original, the author weaves a haunting tale of Christine Daae’s companionship with the mysterious Angel of Music.

Book One~Orphan in Winter: opens with the tragic death of ten year old Christine Daae’s father, ushering in dramatic changes when she is left in the care of Madame Louise Giry. Christine makes her new home in the The Paris Opera’s conservatory where she encounters a bohemian world of singers and dancers, and where she is visited by the unseen Angel of Music.

MY RATING: 5 STARS

FINALLY! Years and years of patience have been rewarded! I haven't even been waiting as long as some readers, and certainly not as long as the author herself. Ten years of love and labor are richly paid off. Congratulations, Swannie!

Book one sets the stage for what is bound to be an amazing journey into the world of The Phantom of the Opera. One of the things I missed in Gaston Leroux's original was more detailed characters. There is solid framework in the rather short novel (too short for my liking!), but Erik, Christine, and Raoul remain archetypes. I wanted deeper psychological profiles, and Paisley didn't disappoint me. The focus of Orphan In Winter is the beginning of Christine's relationship with the Angel of Music and her slow entrance into adolescence and adulthood, so I'll start with her.

Christine is usually portrayed as an insipid, insufferable child, complete with the trademark Sarah Brightman vacant stare. Paisley brushes that aside, showing us a lost little girl grieving her father and so desperate to have him back that she clings to his final promise to send an angel to watch over her. The Angel appearing while she is still a child makes her seem less gullible and more like a kid believing in Santa...and when Santa remains a constant presence for seven years straight, it's no wonder she still believes in him. She inspires empathy and love--I would call her one of the few Christines that have inspired such feelings apart from the original. She is fanciful, not simple, and her slow awakening to womanhood is remarkable.

Which brings me to Erik. Very well-written, capturing all the power, mystery, and tragedy of his character. He is a complex man, to say the least, and difficult to write, and it spells disaster for any writer who fails to pull him off...fortunately, Paisley did. His eroticism and masculinity were thrilling indeed, but I was even more moved by his changing feelings for Christine. He becomes her benefactor on a whim, like he has nothing better to do, then comes to care for her as a guardian until his love becomes the obsessive, consuming passion that drives him onward. A gripe I always had with the '04 movie's attempt at a backstory was how it contradicted what the audience already knows about Erik, and I appreciated how neatly Paisley sorted out that tangle. I would have liked to see more of his dark side, since he is by no means a selfless, benevolent, rational man, but the story has only just begun...

Raoul, the Vicomte de Chagny. I can't clear out of here without saying something about him. Oft abused, usually the victim of horrific character assassination by extremely biased writers that refuse to give him any credit whatsoever. I was ready for all of that when he showed up in the last half of the book, but I was delighted with the accurate portrayal! A sensible, caring, impulsive young man head over heels in love with his childhood playmate. After seeing him trampled so many times I've taken to carrying pom poms for him, and I'm glad he wasn't written into an abusive/alcoholic/unlovable loser we've seen so often (by simple virtue of his not being Erik! What gives?)

To wrap up my discourse on characterization, I applaud Paisley's portrayal of the Girys! They were precisely what I've imagined, and I love that they play a key part!

The rich detail and stunning imagery are wonderful, but what I loved most about Orphan In Winter was the budding romance paired with the disturbing aspects of Erik and Christine's relationship. It's complex, as it should be. She has known him as an invisible Angel. He's been a father figure to her, and so twined with the memory of her father that any idea of a romantic relationship seems, well, disturbing. Music remains the binding force between them, and Christine's song "The Bleeding Rose" serves as a brilliant theme, tied to her past and foreshadowing the triangle to come. Ending with Christine's debut in Faust was absolutely breathtaking, and thank God I had Book Two ready to pick right up!

Chanson de l'Ange outstrips most Phantom retellings I've read. There is a genuine love and understanding of the story that is too often lacking, making it all the more amazing when you find it. I put it on the shelf directly next to Gaston Leroux with select other retellings, and there it will stay. If the other books are half as good, they will have earned it! 

***

Your humble book nerd,
Angels

Leroux Readings

Ah, my dears, I have some jewels for you! Recordings of readings from Leroux by YouTuber MaskedLion! I can't even describe them, you just HAVE to listen!

Dying of Love monologue

Dressing Room Confrontation (all right, so this is from Kay, but it's still good!)

The Unmasking Scene (you'll have to settle for a link. Sorry.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuyLzYvaq8o

Your pal,
Angels

 

Review: Manifestations of a Phantom's Soul, Volume 2 - Michelle Rodriguez

I'm slacking over here, I know...forgive me!

Continue a journey through the catacombs of the opera house in the epic love story of The Phantom of the Opera. Published author Michelle Rodriguez brings you 10 more of her most loved stories, previously posted for the “phans”, and a few from her vaults. There is something for everyone on the pages of Manifestations of a Phantom’s Soul, volume 2 as a man seeks to prove he is more than the portrait of his face and that love can transform a soul.

MY RATING: 5 STARS

I can't say anything about Michelle's writing that I haven't said before, and yet I can't say enough in praise of it, either. She consistently remains among my favorite authors, and this collection is excellent proof why, with her best and most daring Phantom retellings to date. As with the original Manifestations, I'll break this review down with a few comments on the highlights of the collection.

"Haunted" - a previously unpublished story that was definitely a surprise. Michelle crosses territory not usually covered and puts in it a bittersweet light. The outcome is bleak, but she rarely leaves off without some ray of hope, and this is no exception. I appreciated Erik's view on how faithful music always is to him, and yet it's still a cold comfort without Christine. This line in particular got me: "But he beckoned insanity and convinced it to possess him to every corner and fingertip. When she nodded and set her hand in his, it felt real, and he knew he was crazy and welcomed it."

"Ordinary" - another unpublished one, another bittersweet one that ends with hope, and another of her famous filler fics. This one flip-flops the original obsession angle, putting Christine in Erik's shoes and makes him her obsession, which intrigued me right away. The masquerade theme made this one, just as it made "Monsters and Masks" in the previous Manifestations, and Christine's earthbound angel costume felt perfect in the light Michelle painted the story. I loved the imagery of an angel chasing Red Death across a crowded dance floor, and the story opens up some interesting questions about what it would truly mean for Erik to be ordinary. Exquisitely done!

"Captivated" - holy flying sheep in a ship wreck! This one is more territory that is very, very, VERY rarely covered, and I give Michelle a standing ovation for going there. Not many Phantom writers dare to, whether out of blind love for the characters or fear of backlash from readers, and it's about time we took the blinkers off! There's some intense moral complexity in this one...Erik's actions as a captor are, on the surface, despicable, and yet his motivations are desperate enough to inspire pity. The decisions he makes are appalling, and yet there is always the chance of redemption in his love for Christine. And in the end, it's love and nothing less that matters. Love through desire, and desire through love...yes, you can read between the lines and tell that this one definitely isn't for the faint of heart. But if you like steamy, kinky stuff, forget Fifty Shades of Grey! Don't even give it a thought! This is what you should be reading!

"Forget Me Not" - an amnesia story, as you might have guessed from the title, and one of the most haunting Michelle has ever written, in my opinion. A classic fanfiction twist, and I have to call this one my favorite rendition. If "Ordinary" and "Haunted" are bittersweet, then this one is doubly so. Again, Erik's actions are deplorable, but his motives still drive it home. This is a man desperate for his beloved to love him in return, and it drives him to do desperate things. This one is probably the most tragic Michelle has ever written, because it might have ended happily! If not for another lie, it would have! I don't really blame Christine for her reaction, but my heart still breaks!

"A Twist In My Story" - an oldie, but a goody. I love angry Christine! You never see enough of her in other retellings, as most authors opt for the bland, one-dimensional airhead (thanks a freaking lot, Webber). Christine as Leroux wrote her had backbone, and she was rightfully furious that Erik had deceived her by pretending to be the Angel of Music, and I'm so glad Michelle explored that aspect in greater detail. It hurts to see him trying so hard to make up for the lie and getting nowhere, but I'm 100% on her side in this one. It takes a monster to manipulate someone like that, and his further actions do nothing to atone for it. Under close examination and after deep thought, I'm going to call this one my favorite of the book. Nice psychological insight, and more of the music that binds these two together, no matter how irritated Christine is by that simple fact. Brava!

"Let It Bleed" - no, wait, this might also be a contender for the favorite...Too many people shy away from an Erik that's this aggressive, but I love it! His duality is summed up perfectly here, with anger and rage followed by tenderness and repentance and topped off with a little of his trademark self-loathing. The aspect of the original story that always attracts me is the symbolism of mirrors, and Michelle uses it to good effect here. She brings her story full circle, from a monster reflected in a mirror to a man in need of forgiveness and understanding and back to his determination to be a monster if it means he can have the woman he loves. Christine's line from the musical comes to mind: "It's in your soul that the true distortion lies." Erik in a nutshell!

So, bottom line; if you like The Phantom of the Opera and you want more, you need to give this one a shot. Everyone is guaranteed to find something to love here, and definitely something to think about. The face doesn't make the man. It's what's in his heart and the choices he makes that reveals a flawed but beautiful human being. A worthy addition to any Phantom collection, and I'm already eager for a third volume! 

 ***

Your humble book nerd,
Angels

Lyrics of the Week: Neon Moon

This week's ditty is a little depressing, but it's still a good song.

Neon Moon - Brooks and Dunn

When the sun goes down on my side of town
That lonesome feeling comes to my door
The whole world turns blue

There's a rundown bar cross the railroad tracks
I've got a table for two way in the back
Where I sit alone and think of losing you

I spend most every night beneath the light
Of a neon moon

Now if you lose your one and only
There's always room here for the lonely
To watch your broken dreams
Dance in and out of the beams of a neon moon

I think of two young lovers running wild and free
I close my eyes and sometimes see
You in the shadows of this smoke-filled room

No telling how many tears I've sat here and cried
Or how many lies that I've lied
Telling my poor heart, she'll come back someday
Oh, but I'll be alright as long as there's light
From a neon moon

Oh, if you lose your one and only
There's always room here for the lonely
To watch your broken dreams
Dance in and out of the beams of a neon moon

The jukebox plays on, drink by drink
And the words of every sad song
Seem to say what I think
And it's hurt inside of me ain't never gonna end

Oh, but I'll be alright as long as there's light
From a neon moon

Oh, if you lose your one and only
There's always room here for the lonely
To watch your broken dreams
Dance in and out of the beams of a neon moon

To watch your broken dreams
Dance in and out of the beams of a neon moon
Oh, watch your broken dreams
Dance in and out of the beams of a neon moon


Your pal,
Angels

NaNoWriMo 2013

I'm behind on the post, but not on the event! National Novel Writing Month is here again! My goodness, where has the time gone?

Since I'm already in the middle of a novel (about 170 pages into it, so far), I'm going to skip that part of the challenge, along with the 50,000 word count. That just ain't happening. And I'm not going to be stupid enough to try and edit three novels in thirty days ever again, either. I thought I'd shake it up this year...one poem a day, every day for two weeks, then a short story per week for two weeks. I'm alternating between the two, and I've already got my first two poems done.

Wish me luck for the rest of the month, and for my fellow scribblers, the best of luck to you!

Your pal,
Angels

Book Trailer: Bellman and Black - Diane Setterfield

Now, here's an example of where I think a book trailer fell flat. It's fast and sleek, but...it doesn't tell you anything! If I hadn't read the summary first, I would have been perplexed! Let's try an experiment. Watch this:

Bellman and Black - Diane Setterfield

Now tell me if you want to read the book? Of course you don't! You don't know what it's about! To spare you the confusion, here's the blurb: "Bellman & Black is a heart-thumpingly perfect ghost story, beautifully and irresistibly written, its ratcheting tension exquisitely calibrated line by line. Its hero is William Bellman, who, as a boy of 11, killed a shiny black rook with a catapult, and who grew up to be someone, his neighbours think, who "could go to the good or the bad." And indeed, although William Bellman's life at first seems blessed—he has a happy marriage to a beautiful woman, becomes father to a brood of bright, strong children, and thrives in business—one by one, people around him die. And at each funeral, he is startled to see a strange man in black, smiling at him. At first, the dead are distant relatives, but eventually his own children die, and then his wife, leaving behind only one child, his favourite, Dora. Unhinged by grief, William gets drunk and stumbles to his wife's fresh grave—and who should be there waiting, but the smiling stranger in black. The stranger has a proposition for William—a mysterious business called "Bellman & Black . . ."

I think it sounds good, but who in the world made that video?!

Your pal,
Angels

CHANSON IS HERE!!!!

All three books of Chanson de l'Ange were officially released last Wednesday, and my copies arrived today! WOOT WOOT!

Who's ready for a read-along?

Your pal,
Angels

30 Week Phantom Challenge: Week 5

What is your favorite part of the stage version?

NOT A FAIR QUESTION! Who has just ONE favorite part?!

 I'll break it down in Act 1 and Act 2. First one is definitely "Music of the Night." Not only is it one of my favorite songs, period, it's one of the most beautiful scenes in the whole production in either the show or the movie. And I think my favorites IN the scene are Gerard Butler and John Owen-Jones. Both have such magnetic auras, they command your attention, and while they have very different voices, they both give me shivers.

Act 2..."The Point of No Return" all the way through the Final Lair. It's impossible to break that one down. So much passion and drama, and oh my Lord, the feels! The feels! As for favorites, I'm sticking with GB and JOJ. Hugh Panaro is high up there as well, but Gerry and John have the ability to tear me apart and leave me a blubbering, emotional wreck.




Your pal,
Angels

Happy Halloween!

We've got tornadoes and other nasty weather in the forecast, but we can still have fun over here, right? It's not Halloween without Hocus Pocus!

I Put A Spell On You - Hocus Pocus

Happy Halloween! Stay safe!

Your pal,
Angels

TV Spot Wednesday

A two-fer for Halloween!

GEICO witch in a broom factory

Snickers horseless headsman

Happy Halloween!

Your pal,
Angels

Lyrics of the Week: All the Love a Heart Can Hold

This week I'm focusing on one of many favorite songs from a favorite (and underappreciated, so far as I'm concerned) artist, the lovely Sherrie Austin. We met her at a CD signing for the release of her second album, and she was lovely!

All the Love a Heart Can Hold - Sherrie Austin

I was a lonely woman
Mine was a faithless heart
Broken, cold and empty
Hiding like a lost child in the dark

Your touch was a revelation
A light so my eyes could see
Love like a new religion
Made a true believer out of me
Its power brought me to my knees
Amen, I can live again, laugh again

You got me feeling a wild as a mountain fiddle
High as that old moonshine
Sweet as honeysuckle on the vine

I want to sing like a gospel choir
Hang on the highest note
Emotion overflowing in my soul
You give me all the love that a heart can hold

Maybe, I've got an angel watching over me
Or maybe the Good Lord sent you
Or maybe you're just some kind of destiny
My sweet little 'meant to be'
Amen, I can laugh again, dance again

You got me feeling a wild as a mountain fiddle
High as that old moonshine
Sweet as honeysuckle on the vine

I want to sing like a gospel choir
Hang on the highest note
Emotion overflowing in my soul
You give me all the love that a heart can hold


Your pal,
Angels

Les Miserables - Breath of Life

I swear, I'm going to get my review up soon, and it's going to be nice and long! In the meantime, enjoy this video.

Les Mis - Breath of Life

Yeah, I still can't stop listening to this song. I love the use of colors, effects, and juxtaposition, along with the timing. And do you notice how the video tells the story as it goes along, based on what clips are shown? It's not random, but done in an orderly fashion. Bonus points!

Your pal,
Angels

Book Trailer: Manifestations of a Phantom's Soul - Michelle Rodriguez

This next one is coming to you from me. Not just in the blog, but on the whole. I made it!

Manifestations of a Phantom's Soul

I'm reading Volume Two at the moment, and it's amazing!  Expect a review soon!

Your pal,
Angels

30 Week Phantom Challenge: Week 4

Who is your least favorite character overall?

 That would be Joseph Buquet in any version he pops up in. He's only mentioned in the novel as the stagehand who hanged himself in the cellar (correction: discovered in the cellar, because we all know what really happened, don't we?). In the musical, he's a gossip in the wrong place at the wrong time. I don't buy how Joel Schumacher tried to play him off as a sleaze in the movie so it seemed like he deserved what he got, when he got it, and while I've heard theories that Buquet in the movie was a threat to the girls of the ballet--and for some reason, Christine in particular--again, I don't buy it. I just don't care about him. He's such a minor part of the story, hardly more than a plot point when you think about it.

Your pal,
Angels

Lyrics of the Week: The Red Stokes

Forget Bryan Adams. Forget even the Phantom of the Opera. THIS is beyond question my favorite song I've ever heard. I've heard a lot that compares to it, but THIS is the song.

The Red Strokes - Garth Brooks

Moonlight on canvas, midnight and wine
Two shadows starting to softly combine
The picture they're painting
Is one of the heart
And to those who have seen it
It's a true work of art

Oh, the red strokes
Passions uncaged
Thundering moments of tenderness rage
Oh, the red strokes
Tempered and strong
Burning the night like the dawn

Steam on the window, salt in a kiss
Two hearts have never pounded like this
Inspired by a vision
That they can't command
Erasing the borders
With each brush of a hand

Oh, the red strokes
Passions uncaged
Thundering moments of tenderness rage
Oh, the red strokes
Tempered and strong
Burning the night like the dawn

Oh, the blues will be blue and the jealousies green
But when love picks its shade it demands to be seen

Oh, the red strokes
Passions uncaged
Thundering moments of tenderness rage
Oh, the red strokes
Fearlessly drawn
Burning the night like the dawn

Oh, the red strokes
Passions uncaged
Thundering moments of tenderness rage
Oh, the red strokes
Fearlessly drawn
Burning the night like the dawn

Steam on the window, salt in a kiss
Two hearts have never pounded like this

***

Your pal,
Angels