As should seem pretty obvious at this point, I've been struggling with my blogging of late. There are a variety of reasons for this and coupled with a reading slump it's made for a pretty deadly cocktail. I have an annoying tendency to backslide into self-pity and frankly I'm beginning to annoy myself. So
this recent blog post by
KristieJ couldn't have come at a better time for me. It was a bit like a kick in the teeth. So I'm going to strive to do better with blogging, even if the posts may be pithy and inconsequential at times, but hey - at least I'll be posting.
Something. No promises that they'll all be that enlightening, but when have my blog posts ever changed the world?
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I've been so out of my rhythm lately that my blogiversary went by without my notice. For those keeping track at home, February 28 marked this blog's 12th anniversary. Apparently the
traditional anniversary gift for 12 years is silk or linen. The modern gift is pearls.
Dude.
My blogiversary is the equivalent to an erotic romance novel. I am so proud! ::wipes tear::
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When Colleen McCullough passed away it occurred to me that not only had I never read
The Thorn Birds, but I've also never seen the
TV mini-series. There are a few reasons for this. 1) I have this aversion to any book over 400 pages long. I blame this on reading difficulties I had as a child and I think it just flat-out carried over. Plus, I'll be honest - I'm a less is more kind of girl when it comes to fiction. I see big, long, saga-like tomes and my first thought is "verbal diarrhea." 2) To totally date myself, I was in grade school when the mini-series was first televised. And even though Mom did eventually own it on VHS, I never had the inclination to watch it. Tragic love stories weren't really my bag as a teenager. I preferred mysteries - so those
Perry Mason TV movies were more my speed.
Anyway, I decided I would listen to The Thorn Birds on audiobook.
All 18 CDs of it. I'm almost done with disc 15. Oh people, I have
so much to say. Most it involving frothing at the mouth and sputtering nonsensically.
So. Much. To. Say. So yes, expect a blog post riddled with spoilers in the near future. You've been warned. And yes,
There Shall Be Spoilers! Hey, you've had since 1977 to read the book - so I figure spoilers are totally fair game.
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Baseball is back! Spring training games are kicking off this week and even though I'm already
beyond tired of hearing about the butt-hurt Yankees and Alex Rodriguez.....
BASEBALL IS BACK!!!!
At this point I have no idea how my Tigers are going to do this year.
Max is gone. That handsome young man,
Rick Porcello is gone. But
Iglesias is back and we have
another handsome Cuban joining the roster. There will be another round of
Tigers Meet Harlequin posts prior to the start of the season. I just....need to figure out who those lucky Tiger players will be. And, you know, come up with story ideas. I'm not ruling out recycling some guys I've already "written" books for,
but I'm hoping to avoid that (although I have potential new ideas for Miggy,
Victor and possibly Verlander....).
I'm currently pondering if this is the year I can work in an amnesia plot. We'll see how clever I'm feeling. Hopefully divine inspiration will rain down upon me.....
22 comments:
Congratulations on your 12th anniversary.
I have found a regular schedule, with posts of every stripe, works best for me. And irregular schedule would mean that I'd fall off the wagon. I post twice a week, one is a picture with historical detail and the other is a post on writing/reading/history/pub industry/etc.
Let me warn you: I love Thorn Birds. Love! :) So the more you talk, the more I'll talk.
I'm looking forward to your Thorn Birds post, even though I know nothing about it. I just like it when you froth at the mouth. ;)
Keira: The Thorn Birds has been a great audio listen and the narrator has done a nice job - a must when you have to get through 18 CDs! We'll see what I think of the ending. I have SO much I want to say about it right now, but am holding off - and it's the sort of book that I think is ideal for a spoiler-riddled post. 1) It's old and 2) so many people read the book, loved the mini-series or both. I'm hoping for robust discussion :)
Library Girl: Oh, there will be frothing. I've had "issues" LOL. But it's definitely a book I admire - just from a storytelling/writing standpoint. I mean, it's pretty remarkable actually. It's no wonder that it brought McCullough so much fame.
Wendy
I love, and I do mean love(!!!) your Tiger Harlequins. Moar, please...
And I do know i am in the very tiny minority--but 'thornbirds', shmornbirds...
(ducks out of sight now)
I'm with Barb - I can't wait for the Tigers HQNs! This winter has been too long. I need some baseball (even if it's played in the snow)!
Holy CD player Bat Woman? 18 discs?? You could probably travel across the country up and down and right to left in the time it would take to listen to that many. I am so looking forward to reading what you have to say about the book.
And 12 years. Who'd a thunk it eh? Ive been around 10 so you beat me by 2
I love the annual Tigers Harlequins!!
I just hope my Brewers can keep it together for a WHOLE season!
Congratulations on your 12th anniversary.
I can't wait for your Thornbird post. I watched the mini-series back in the day - I think it was round about the time we got a splurge of Harlold Robbins ones too - and my mum worried that her wee lassie might get corrupted but she let me watch it anyway. It made my toes curl back then, and not in a good way, so I'm really looking forward to your thoughts.
Wendy, congratulations on your blog's anniversary! I hope it carries on for 12 more. :)
I've read Thorn Birds. I didn't dislike it totally, only some parts, but it didn't "stay" with me either, you know. Curious to read what your thoughts are! lol
Holy smokes, TWELVE years? I am...in awe. Absolute awe.
And I cannot tell you what it means that you are here, still. *clings* please do not every go away!!!!
Thorn Birds: Oh yes, please--so much to say over here as well! (hint: ranty rant coming on)
Wow, 1983 the miniseries was. Yeah, I watched it; I was in high school. My mom LOVED Richard Chamberlain. Later it was revealed he batted for the other team. I think she was heart broken. I read the book then and all I can remember of it is to say I read the book then. :) I don't really get the falling for priests thing. But I do love honkin' huge books. Goes back to my SFF epics days mostly but I remember also reading Gone with the Wind and Centennial and so forth. Centennial was a good miniseries too but the book starts at the beginning of the earth so I think that could have probably been edited somewhat.
Barb: I'm appreciated The Thornbirds, but as far as sagas go I think I'm more a Lonesome Dove girl....
Rebe: I am so ready for baseball! Assuming my TV provider hasn't lied to me, I think I *might* get to see my first spring training game on Friday.
Kristie: I'm averaging 1 CD per day during my work commute - but I had a week off in between when I went on vacation. I'm so close to finishing it!
Tracy: I honestly have NO idea how the Tigers are going to be this year. At this point I'm just hoping my bullpen isn't a dumpster fire like last year.
Marguerite: LOL! Yeah, I'm having issues with the "romance" to say the least. But I'm really enjoying the whole sweeping saga vibe. My sister told me the mini-series is really faithful to the book. I'm glad I've read the book (OK, listened to it), but I'm not sure I'll take the plunge on the mini-series.....
Sonia: It's been an interesting book for me to read so many years after the fact. It very much strikes me as a "book of it's time." McCullough really nailed the saga-soap-opera feel with this story.
AL: LOL! Oh yes, there will be ranting. Partly on the "romance" and partly because McCullough seemed to hose the few characters I wanted to like. I wonder if there is such a thing as Thorn Birds fanfiction? Wait, maybe I don't want to know.....
PK: Your Mom can take comfort in the fact that she wasn't alone. Many a woman of a certain age wept a few tears when Chamberlain came out :)
I have a sister who LOVES big books. When she was a teen she would go to the library, find the biggest book she could and think to herself, "Oh good - this will take me more than a day to read." LOL I had some reading difficulties as a kid and was always intimidated by big books. Those difficulties are long gone but I think I still bear the psychological scars!
To this day, my mother refuses to believe that Chamberlain is anything but a straight, yet single, dashing bachelor of a certain age.
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