I succumbed...
It’s late June. Nearly half the year is over! I’ve been in a slump lately (writing, life in general), but I feel like I’m starting to emerge from it. Time to set some goals for Q3 and make the most of the rest of the year. In other news:
I have finally succumbed and bought a blanket hoodie. Does it look ridiculous? Yes. Am I living in it? Also yes. It’s winter in NZ and my house is cold, okay?
I watched the K-drama, My Liberation Notes. First two episodes, I was absolutely hooked. That moment at the end of the second episode where Mi-jeong approaches Gu was so powerful, so emotional... Unfortunately, it was all downhill from there. Such a disappointment! I can’t recommend this K-drama. Except for Son Suk-ku. He’s a revelation and I will definitely be seeking more of his dramas and movies. I also loved the OST!
After that disappointment, I probably won’t be watching any more K-dramas for a while. Instead, I’m in a video game phase at the moment. Rune Factory 4 and Fire Emblem Warriors Three Hopes are keeping me entertained right now. I’m eagerly looking forward to the release of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 next month.
Word Count update: 43,119. Admittedly, a lot of those are very rough words, as I experimented with fast drafting for a while. However, I decided yet again that writing fast doesn’t suit me. I’m back to writing slowly and thoughtfully, and committed to at least four twenty-minute pomodoros of writing per day.
I’m really struggling to find romance books I’m interested in at the moment. Could someone please recommend a book to me where the characters speak normally to each other and not in quips and sarcastic remarks? I DNF’d Beach Read because of this. Ugh.
Link roundup
‘After lockdown, things exploded’ – how TikTok triggered a books revolution [The Guardian]
Have teenagers taken control of publishing? With some authors notching up a billion views, we look at how TikTok is electrifying the world of books – creating bestsellers, reviving classics and rescuing neglected genres
Tracing the Romance Genre’s Radical Roots, from Derided “Sex Novels” to Bridgerton [Literary Hub]
With the new season of Bridgerton airing, the topic of the romance genre’s purpose, perils, and pleasures has become a topic of conversation, once again.
From Afar: Orcs as romantic heroes [Roswell Daily News]
If, like me, your first encounter with an orc was in the movie version of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings,” you may have trouble visualizing them as romantic heroes.
Harry Potter References Removed from Bestselling Gay Romance Novel. Good. [The Mary Sue]
While much of the news about Casey McQuiston’s bestselling 2019 novel Red, White, and Royal Blue has been about the casting due to Amazon Studios picking up the film rights, the novel is being discussed again in relation to a quiet change to recently printed and future editions. Five overt references to Harry Potter were removed in recent prints and digital copies.
What I read
Red Dragon
by Thomas Harris
The first horror book I’ve read in a long time and it didn’t disappoint. Despite some gruesome and scary scenes, it was still an easy read. Less Hannibal than I was expecting, but the main antagonist, The Tooth Fairy/The Red Dragon, was pretty freaky. It surprised me how much we got to see from the villain’s POV. Even though I enjoyed it, I probably won’t read the other books in the series because I didn’t love it.
Drama High
by Michael Sokolove
This is the true story of a passionate drama teacher at a low socio-economic high school in the USA who touches the lives of his students with his outstanding theatre programme. His shows are so good they have caught the attention of broadway producers and he has been selected to pilot shows such as Les Mis and Rent for a high school cast. The book follows Lou Volpe and his students through a couple of their productions, exploring their lives, the poverty in their small town, and the importance of the arts in education. Tears were literally leaking out of my eyes at the end of this book. Bravo. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in books about education and the arts.
Dropped: Beach Read by Emily Henry
Currently reading: Unsouled by Will Wight