Wild Thing, or This, That, and the Other

Lion

Lion (Photo credit: @Doug88888)

Walking down the street to meet Husband…I get in the car, and he’s laughing.  “You look like un animal!” This is how Mrs Fringe knows it’s time for a haircut.  For now, I stuck a clip in my hair.  But I’m going to follow this thought for a bit.

I did take a few days off after finishing the first draft, and just read.  One of the books I read was The Wolf Gift, by Anne Rice.  She is one of those authors who provokes strong responses among her readers.  You love her or hate her.  I love her.  I’ve heard for years about her not taking editorial suggestions anymore.  Have I seen it in her books? Maybe, sometimes, but nothing enough to interrupt the suspension of disbelief.  With Rice, I’ve fallen in love with angels, vampires, mummies, witches, castrati, New Orleans, the gens de couleur libres, and became fascinated by thoughts of the early life of Christ.  Yes, her prose tends towards purple, but wow, can she tell a story.  And sexy.  Leaving her erotica books out of it, her writing, her characters, ooze sensuality.  Not my writing style, but as a reader I adore her details and world building.

I have to say, I was disappointed in The Wolf Gift.  The MC didn’t feel believable, even before he turned into a werewolf.  And I couldn’t suspend disbelief for the whole were/woman secksy times.  Even putting smell to the side (very hard for me to do), how in the world were they kissing when he had a snout?  I watch True Blood, love it (no, don’t love the books it’s based on), but when Sookie and Alcide were smooching, he was in human form.  Guess I’m just a prude–who needs a haircut, so Husband isn’t accused of  kissing a mangy lion.

I’ve begun the process of reading my manuscript, cleaning up noticeable, small errors; making more notes for things I want to add or change, and writing an expanded outline based on what’s there. Playing with the idea of adding another character and subplot, I feel like the story is missing…something.

But I’m taking it slow, it’s too soon to rip it apart completely, I need some distance.  I’m worn out, and I suppose this post reflects the way my brain has been unfocused over the past week.  Flower Child has been focused on her art, drawing a lot of trees, so we’ve both been paying attention.  The other day, I took some more bad NY wildlife photos.  Obviously, I have to share them here.

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20 comments

  1. Ok your description of certain tidbits of the Wolf Gift leaves me torn between throwing up in my mouth and really curious. No, upon further reflection, “snout” brings me straight back to gag. Lol.

    Trees for FC, eh? I’ll have to see if there are any particularly pretty ones to show her. I love that she’s been involved in her art!

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    2. I know werewolf fiction is big in paranormal romance right now, but this is the first were-story I’ve read, so I have no idea if it’s within the “norm” for the genre or not.
      If you aren’t a diehard Anne Rice fan, don’t begin with this one. 🙂
      FC would LOVE if you posted a tree pic for her. Some of her drawings are really impressive to me. Depending on the day/time, kwim?

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  2. The quieter version of a pigeon is a mourning dove, yes it is a cardinal, the aggressive loud ones are starlings – nice set there! So much variety. I enjoyed Rice’s take on Christ – gave me a lot to ponder, she did a great job of showing a human side.

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    1. 🙂 Thank you! These were taken in the late afternoon, during a light rain. I’ve learned that’s a good opportunity to spot some different birds, without needing to go too far into the park.
      Love that you’re able to give me the names. The starlings are fun to watch.

      I loved Rice’s books on Christ. 🙂

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      1. I read on another blog that birds have an internal barometer – the know when the weather is going to change so they feed a lot at the beginning of a rainstorm. The colors more intense during a light rain. Starlings are nest stealers, but the are fun to watch, so aggressive and noisy.

        I really liked the way Rice put skin on Christ, the internal battle of the joys of life against divine purpose. I think it’s too simplistic to think his temptations occurred over 40 days in the desert – that he wrestled with nothing before or after that point.

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        1. The idea of birds having an internal barometer is interesting. I was assuming it’s easier for them to get food when the ground and surfaces are wet. Who knew?

          Completely agree about Rice’s exploration of Christ. Before I read the first one, I was torn. A diehard Rice fan, I just didn’t see how she was going to pull it off, blending her return to her Catholic roots with her style of writing. But she did, and for me, she addressed much of what I wanted to see addressed in a fictionalized account of his early years.

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          1. Yes, I think Rice filled in the pieces to make a complete story that showed humanity without diminishing divinity – not something that would be easy to pull off. I think I need to get those books back out again.

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  3. I read Rice’s first vampire book, tried the second and gave up and haven’t read anything of hers since… found her plotting a bit too long-winded.

    Maybe a human/wolf kiss is a nose rub when the wolf is more wolfish and a snog when the wolf is more human? 😉

    I have problems with hubby complaining about my mane, too – I cut mine last week, it was driving me crazy – catching underneath me when I tried to sleep or lean back on a chair. I usually cut my hair every summer, but it didn’t happen last year for some reason quite beyond me.

    Good luck with your manuscript. A lot of work, I’m sure.

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    1. Rice is definitely not a style everyone enjoys. 😉 But no, there was definite wolf human snogging. Did I mention eww?

      I think Husband thinks my hair is funny, more hair than person. Of course, he’s bald, so haircuts are a distant memory for him now. :p

      Thanks for the good wishes with my manuscript, I appreciate the support!

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  4. Never read Rice, but those blue birds…they are here, so they must be everywhere. They steal sugar packets, and ketchup packets (so much sugar) right off the tables in restaurants while you’re sitting there. They usually give you a, “And, what’cha gonna do about it?” look, take a packet, another look, then fly away. Must be New Yorkers.
    On my Way….

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    1. I would not be happy, that would put them into pigeon category for me. Though our squirrels are the most aggressive, fearless critters you can imagine.

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  5. Hope the hair thing came out O.K. We’ve been internet-less, and I’m going to have to tell Huz there’s some new posts on your blog. Photos of the new doo?
    On my Way…

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  6. Yeah, that’s a cardinal. If your hair looks like the lion’s mane, keep it. It’s a look that’s coming back. Re-write the MS, and do it backwards. Maybe there will be a “The Walrus Was Really Ringo” or a “Charlie is God…Charlie is God…” refernce in there.
    later…

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      1. Got computer working again. Had a Tico tell me I looked like a 1970s rock star last night at happy hour. Told him I looked like Phil Spector in the morning, Rod Stewart until 5:00, and Keith Richard until I pass out. I’m channeling Groucho Marx.
        Later…

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