Another book review

The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner


My rating: 1 of 5 stars
I know it's very early (on page 12) but I'm not impressed with this book so far. For starters, there is a sentence that ends with "a symbolic symbol of defeat". This just struck me as very poor writing - you don't need both words "symbolic" and "symbol" because by definition, a symbol IS symbolic!

I plowed on, determined to give it a chance. But then came to a point when the women of the conquered moors committed suicide and Catalina's (Catherine) eyes were covered to protect her innocence since she is the youngest. This confused me because just prior, the entire royal family rode through the battlefield where the dead and dying still lay. Surely this is no less horrific than watching someone commit suicide?

Additionally, I'm not even sure I believe that the children would be present at the battlefield upon victory. In this book, Juana described her childhood as mainly living in tents alongside battlefields. She even describes the sounds of battle as the sounds she fell asleep and awoke to and in the background of her tutoring. It just doesn't sound very realistic to me - surely the children would be safely tucked far away in a grand house or palace?

I haven't completely written it off yet, only because it gets so many good reviews both here and on Amazon. But this book has a lot to make up for if my opinion on it is going to improve.

Update: I thought if there were no more issues like this, I could enjoy finishing it. But there are. On page 17, the author actually uses the phrase "I could care less"! Not only is this an extremely modern term that has NO place in a novel set in the 15th-16th century but technically, it's not even correct grammar. I'm not even a grammar guru or anything but I still know a phrase like this in a book like this is just appalling. I'm shocked that not only would an author use this term but that it would go unspotted by the editor!

This is more subjective but not long after that, Juana is told she will marry Philip of Flanders. Despite having been betrothed to him since childhood, Juana is shocked. I just found this unrealistic. Although I'm sure leaving your home and family for a foreign land to marry a man you've never met would be distressing and daunting - but it was not uncommon so I'm confused by her shock. Juana follows up her shock with a childish whine "But why me?" I just found this really annoying and it didn't make me like her character at all.

Juana then goes on to try to persuade her father to not marry her off to a foreigner. He uses some very see-through reverse psychology and frustratingly, it works. It doesn't say much for Juana's intelligence and again, it doesn't make me like her character.

Sorry, I know I'm only on page 39 but I gave this book more than enough chances - continuing to read even after what I saw to be at least 5 major flaws. The sixth was the last straw. My husband says life is too short to read books you don't like so I'm giving up on this one.

View all my reviews >>

Michael McIntyre!

I was so excited to see comedian Michael McIntyre last night and he didn't disappoint! I was a little worried because his delivery style borders on "over the top" so it's possible that he could get carried away with his success and fame (he's hugely popular over here) and wind up being annoying rather than funny. But that hasn't happened! At least not yet. At one point, I was laughing so hard, I literally had tears in my eyes! And I got a shirt that says "I'm absolutely gazeboed" which is one of his many catchphrases from his most popular act that made him famous. You can see it here, it's the first joke!

Salford Quays by Day and Night

So my little photoshoot on the balcony the other night has inspired me to take more photos around the Quays. It's such a nice area and there's so many photo ops just waiting to be had, shame on me for not taking advantage of it sooner. I've named the project "Salford Quays by Day and Night" because I plan to do a ton of photos both at night and during the day. I don't plan on them all being HDR though. But HDR does work well with night shoots and I'm doing the night side of right now.

There's a chance they could be used promotionally for work at the rugby club too.

So here's the next one in the series:



I'm not as happy with it. Mainly because I framed it too tightly which left very little room for lens correction (the building in the background is still slightly tilted but I couldn't correct it anymore or I'd be cropped off the corner of the theater). I'll probably reshoot it but it'll do for now.

Unfortunately, it's raining tonight and tomorrow we're seeing comedian Michael McIntyre so the next photo will have to wait.

I'll leave you with a video of Michael McIntyre Live at the Apollo:

View from my balcony

You may have noticed my awesome new blog header. I thought the side bar was getting too cluttered so I moved my awesome self portrait to the header instead. I know, I'm so humble, aren't I?

And speaking of humble, here's an awesome HDR I did of the Salford Quays from my balcony.



I know, I'm awesome.

The Lost Symbol (belated)

Finished reading this about a month ago but only got around to sharing my thoughts about it now! Slight spoiler warning.

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was a bit disappointed to see The Lost Symbol follows Dan Brown's formulistic plotline of "academic expert teams up with attractive single woman whose "father figure" is somehow involved (usually injured or killed and often a leader of a "secret society") to unravel an earth shattering secret while on the run for their lives. But that is my only complaint.

Though not always 100% factual, the general concepts that Brown presents in his books always introduce me to new ideas and information I had never come across before and The Lost Symbol is no exception. Criticize his writing skills all you want, the theories that some of his novels are based on inspire probably millions of people to get on the internet and research it themselves. How many books have accomplished that? There is obviously something worthy about his material.

The theory of Intention in particular struck a cord with me. In a way, the concepts are familiar ones: prayer, positive thinking, even a bit of Karma. But to learn there are scientific studies going on as we speak which could potentially prove the benefits of such acts? Have I been living in a cave or is this really as groundbreaking as it sounds?

Though I can't credit Dan Brown with the idea or studies of Intention, I can thank him for bringing it to my attention in a fun, entertaining, action-packed story.

View all my reviews >>