Sunday Quote - How To Write a Damn Good Thriller

"Villains (...) are self-centred creeps." (p. 41) 

I don't know about you, but I absolutely adore reading books on writing. I think I'd be reading them even if I wasn't writing myself - it's just so very interesting to see how stories are built, how they can be constructed (and deconstructed) one element at a time. James Frey is excellent at explaining how stories work, why they work, and - more importantly - when and why they do not work. I've read a few of his books and they are all brilliant (How to write a damn good...). If you like reading books about writing, these are definitely a good bet!

Sunday Quote - The Still by David Feintuch

"Look upon me, and rue your treason!"

The Still is one of my all-time favourite books. David Feintuch is a great writer (I'm also rather partial to his sci-fi series, the Seafort Saga), and his books are of the kind I pick up again and again. In fact, I've read The Still so many times I had to go out and buy another copy because my original one was falling apart.

The book itself is the coming-of-age story of Prince Rodrigo of Caledon, a rather unlikable, arrogant fellow who nonetheless grew on me - he's flawed, there's no question about that, a spoiled brat, definitely, but he's not without redeeming qualities. When events thrust upon him the need to grow up and become a man rather faster than he ever wanted to, he needs to learn to step up and take his place. It's a rather painful, sometimes cringe-worthy process, and I'm still not entirely sure if one can consider Rodrigo a good man at the end of it, but that's part of what I like about the story. He's not perfect, and probably never will be - but things happen, and he changes in spite of himself.

This book is not lyrical, it's not pretty, it's not perfect, nor does it have the dark, almost cruel edge of many modern fantasy novels. It's classic in style and easy to read, and I will no doubt pick it up again one day. Another plus: it's not part of a long series of books, though there is a sequel (The King ).

I Am Groot

Hello my dearies and welcome, once again, to the blurb of my life.

I've recently come to the realisation that I'm not very communicative. This is, considering I'm supposed to keep up the blogging, something of a problem. A busy summer, work problems, an annoyingly perky Mr Muse who likes to play peek-a-boo (which he probably learned from my goddaughter, the rascal)(or maybe he taught her, who knows), and me still struggling with the whole celiac thing do not add up to a particularly happy Tessa. A not so happy Tessa equals a Tessa who does not communicate well.

Hence, I Am Groot. Without the cool voice, or the green-thumb-superpowers (I have something of a black thumb, in fact - any plant given to me invariably dies, unless it happens to be basil. Basil likes me) (is there a basil-groot?).

Do you have your Groot moments, too?


ps. I only saw the movie today (it came out reaaaally late in my corner of the world) and LOVED it. If you haven't seen it yet, GO NOW!