Disqus - Latest Comments for becksue

Re: There’s a Weird, Sexist Problem in Fantasy That We Need to Talk About

roguie — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 11:03:44 -0000

No. Not automatically.

Re: There’s a Weird, Sexist Problem in Fantasy That We Need to Talk About

roguie — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 15:14:43 -0000

I'm inclined to agree with this. I, a woman, brought the beginning of a fantasy story to my writing group a couple years back. The narrator was an eighteen year old human girl living amongst the fairies. More than one member of the group commented that it was a "nice start to a YA novel".
This made me uncomfortable for a few reasons. One being, I was not intending it to be a YA novel, and I wasn't happy having it pigeon-holed that early in the process. Another reason was a sex scene I was working on. I don't know that teens shouldn't be exposed to sex, but I work with middle schoolers, I know first hand: teens aren't the only ones reading YA. I wouldn't want an eleven year old reading what I was working on.
I fully believe my writing group was so quick to label that story YA because it was a) about a teenage girl, b) being written by a fairly young-looking woman, and c) fairies. Include these three things and it MUST be for young readers.

Re: Viktor Krum is Hermione’s Best Canon Love Interest and I Will Go Down With This Ship

roguie — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 17:52:26 -0000

When I wrote Harry Potter fanfiction in college (before the last few books were out) I wrote a couple stories that focused on grownup Hermione reconnecting with Viktor Krum because of how nice he was to her and I loved that.

Re: Romantic Heroes I Wouldn’t Date

roguie — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 11:11:23 -0000

Fred, huh? I had a theory when I was originally reading the books that Hermione and George were going to date, but I totally accept Fred.

Re: The 10 Scariest Books You’ve Read

roguie — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 22:40:52 -0000

The scariest book I've ever read is Ring by Koji Suzuki.

Re: Your Beach Book Doesn’t Have to Be a “Light Read”

roguie — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 17:19:16 -0000

I tend to choose books on a whim. At the beach last summer I read The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, and I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai.

Re: 7 Books (and One to Avoid) for the Avid Hiker

roguie — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 11:07:47 -0000

I am Outdoorsy Lite, but some of my friends are Outdoorsy Heavy and were pretty wild about Into The Wild by John Krakauer some years back.
But, more interesting than that, I had a roommate who devoured the Barefoot Sisters' books. Have you read anything by Susan Letcher and Lucy Letcher?

Re: Riot Recommendation: Stories of Rekindled Romance

roguie — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 11:47:12 -0000

I'm going to second Persuasion. I think it's the best. Two people who think they no longer have a chance with the other person, yet they both desperately want it.
But, if we look at drama there's also Much Ado About Nothing where we have two people who once were too proud to admit they had feelings for each other until they're forced to confront their own feelings.

Re: Poster for the new THE GREAT GATSBY movie

roguie — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:11:51 -0000

It's Baz Luhrmann: I hope there's an unnecessary song+dance number.

Re: Rue, Race, and The Hunger Games

roguie — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:48:24 -0000

This is the weirdest thing. That people have gotten upset over this is bizarre. Yes, we can only read within our own frame of reference, but the mere fact that Rue's skin color is blatantly stated makes the uproar over the casting decision super weird.

And it does happen all the time, like she says here, with no difference made to the story. In the movie The Losers the character Roque is black; in the comic books he's white. Patrick Stewart once played Othello in a production that reversed the ethnic distinctions. Gray Grantham in The Pelican Brief is a middle aged white man who when described isn't nearly as attractive as Denzel Washington. And everyone loves Morgan Freeman in Shawshank. Doesn't make a difference to the story.

Re: A Dude’s Guide to The Hunger Games

roguie — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:51:08 -0000

Hah, most of these are how I felt about the book too! I think most guys I know who have read them felt this way too.
About to lend my copy to a twelve year old boy who I think will enjoy it for these exact reasons.

Re: A Reader’s Drinking Game, First Edition

roguie — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:03:30 -0000

The Hunger Games: I'm going to suggest something like Cinnamon Whiskey or Goldschlager.

Drink:
1. Do a prepatory shot during the reaping
2. Every time Katniss is conflicted about Peeta or Gale
3. Every time someone helps Katniss without telling her
4. Whenever she mentions the "metallic taste of blood" or it's "sticky sweet smell"
5. When someone close to Katniss dies, pour a little out
6. When Katniss kills someone or something
7. Whenever Haymitch or Katniss are wasted chug a water

Re: Talking about Nipples in Novels

roguie — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:24:04 -0000

It's a highly personal topic and it's always a little weird to read about someone else's sexual encounters -- even fictitious ones. It can be highly embarrassing and awkward. These are actions and descriptions of people that you don't necessarily need to know.
I don't think it's an age thing. I wrote a graphic, sarcastic and facetious piece about "Breaking Dawn" a few months back and the Fella, who is a whole year and more younger than I and, based on other men his age, you'd think would not have a problem reading what I wrote --- was totally uncomfortable and had to stop reading.

Personally, I don't have much issue with it. I think I became desensitized in college while preparing a production of 'The Vagina Monologues'.

Re: How I Learned to Stop Hoarding & Give Away Books

roguie — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:29:18 -0000

A serious lesson I could learn. When it comes to giving up books I have a real problem. I've outlined it here:
http://literarybex.wordpres...

Re: Why Books Are EVIL!

roguie — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:41:40 -0000

In college the "English Girls", as we were known, would sit around a table in the dining hall and discuss literature, somewhat pompously. We'd compare this book with that book and discuss how it was indicative of this time or that way of thinking. And we'd draw examples of this or that from Tolstoy and Hemingway and Austen and Pushkin and Proust... A non-English major friend of mine told me later that she hated hanging out with us because we made her feel stupid.

While these were wonderful times that I can't seem to recreate anywhere or with anyone else, I'm not so proud of that last part.

Re: http://unseengenius.tumblr.com/post/2979641577

roguie — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 19:50:11 -0000

Harley Quinn is probably my favorite Batman villain.

Re: http://ihatepigeons.tumblr.com/post/385947932

roguie — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 22:51:38 -0000

yah, I totally would. So about that whole me marrying your for the taxes thing .. ....
kidding! I won't try to marry you so I can steal your shirt - that would just be silly!

Re: Officially a grown up

roguie — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:29:19 -0000

Haha! Would it require my moving to Portugal? Cause I'm not opposed!

Congratulations on the job, man!

Taxes are really weird like that. My dad is a tax preparer in the States and there are so many qualifications and deductions -- it's more confusing that scoring in gymnastics!

Re: This Lamb Sells Condos - Final Fantasy

roguie — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:46:14 -0000

He IS good, man! One of my roommates just the other day asked me if I knew Final Fantasy (we were listening to Andrew Bird) and I was so excited that she knew of him -- cause he's well good, yah? Then you posted about him and it was amazing!

Re: This Teacher's Life

roguie — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:02:27 -0000

Ah, so it paid off for me to be really wordy in my essays I wrote for you, giving my papers more pages, making them heavier and harder to throw further. Nice!

- Rebecca

Re: Desultory and Disillusioned

roguie — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:35:09 -0000

Very cool.

I love telling that story of the squid and the whale whenever I teach squid dissection to illustrate to the children how large squid can get.

Re: I hate pigeons

roguie — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:06:30 -0000

Its not Luke, right? But Lando having tea with them?

Re: The Clutterbin

roguie — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 17:46:49 -0000

He's a class act.

Re: One of my friend's girlfriend gave him "men's makeup" as a birthday gift

roguie — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:26:32 -0000

Hah, yah, he sounds like a regular guy.

And, I agree, it's a weird present -- from a girlfriend.

Re: One of my friend's girlfriend gave him "men's makeup" as a birthday gift

roguie — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:13:02 -0000

Ha! That's both weird and great.
Maybe she just wants to help him with his "skin condition", or maybe she thinks he's gay.