posted in This round-up post comes to you in four parts!
Part I: Hey, so how about that FTC thing?
To be quite honest, internets, I’ve been considering it for awhile I have decided I don’t care. Really—don’t care! Whatever you say, FTC! Any organization who will let one of their represenatives muddle out into the thick of a new decision and ram his foot so far down his throat it basically becomes a reverse colonoscopy and then get annoyed with us for our confusion has pretty much lost my respect. I’m not making special arrangements, changing my format, changing how I link to authors or publisher websites, and my disclosures will likely be just as erratic as they’ve always been. I mean, people watched me get into an e-fight with an author over a review copy, if that doesn’t convince people I’m not scared to be honest, nothing will.
Also, my critiques are not commercial speech. Hahahaha, what a joke.
The fact I’m even dedicating more than one paragraph to this malarky pisses me off because of lack of forethought and a gross understanding of how blogging culture works for different types of media. It has only succeeded in spreading false information and stressing already stressed bloggers.
I really have nothing but contempt and don’t feel guilty at all. FTC, you have failed and you are banished from my heart.
Part II: Nerds Heart YA! 2010
I am doing this again because people keep making doe-eyes at me, and to be honest, I want to try to IMPROVE THE PROCESS, but first I thought I would have to set some limits. Scope, I discussed it last time: we need scope. The more I think about it the more I believe that the scope needs to be us. I’m not trying to be conceited, but we shouldn’t underestimate our power as book bloggers to take a book from obscurity and shove it into the limelight. Half the battle is letting people know it exists. To accomplish this, we of course need lots of different input from different blogger communities.
(Okay, whatever, I’m lying, I’m totally being conceited and am not ashamed.)
Obviously, 2009 is not yet over. It won’t be easy to tell what 2009 titles weren’t given their fair shake on the blogs until at least the end of February. As new releases pick up and titles from 2009 start to languish on reading lists, shunned for the new shiny 2010 books that everyone needs to have right now OMG, we’ll know better, but I thought: let’s make some lists! I have created a Google Doc for nominations that is public; if you would like editing privileges to add books, just leave a comment on this post (although you’ll need a google account to edit) and I’ll add your access!
Part III: Tales from the Lit-o-sphere
Snarky Titles Not Included wants your YA SF recs. I can never say no to a good rec list.
Common YA tropes, which is an interesting musing about the Romeo and Juilet effect on YA publishing. I’ll go one further and toss out love triangles, which have been instrumental in sending Twilight soaring through the bestseller lists, as well as The Hunger Games. Man, I really don’t like love triangles, I am a freak (and I still think Twilight should have been about Edward and Jacob’s doomed love. There’s how you could’ve subverted some genre, Meyer! Too bad (for me).
Lee Wind weighs in on the Lambda Literary Awards change. I’ve been waiting for his thoughts, actually, and they’re really interesting.
The Cybils nominations are only open for two more days. I’ve been watching the long lists take shape, and every time I check them the more books get added to my reading list. Damn you, Cybils! XD
Part IV: Around the Internet
I have signed up for NaNoWriMo for the first time. My page is here, and I will definitely not win, I’m just going to set expectations low right off the bat. I will be lucky to get 10,000 words, but I want to start on this manuscript that is totally not marketable at all right now because it lacks vampires, angels, fairies, and a heterosexual romance. It does have dorky astronomy stuff and possibly recreates a scene from Ghost (with Patrick Swayze), though. Harrr. I am writing a story about the myriad ways we destroy relationships and chances for relationships and how we can learn to rebuild—or not destroy at all.
Also, some boys make out a little. Sweet. \o/
KJ sent me the link to Why People Hate the Paperclip, which is an academic paper and hilarious. Guys, I love the internet.
The other night, the boy and I were hungry and I looked around the tubes for sandwich recipes. This is the most delicious sandwich in the history of the world., although I am sure some might disagree. Mmm, bacon. You know I’m not playing when I take time out to say, “LOOK AT THE FUCKING SANDWICH, GUYS!” Oh my gosh, I want it right now.
Earlier this year I read and reviewed Out of the Pocket, which I really enjoyed, since it didn’t propagate the ridiculous idea that being gay and an athlete means you have to be miserable and closeted. Also, guerilla dating, sdlkjlasjdd I laughed so hard (and I wonder if the author would mind if I totally borrowed that concept from him). I ended the review on a pretty sad note, but this post and the article it linked to made me happy, except, you know, sad, since our government is still pretty balls on this issue. Hahaha, why did I vote for Obama again?
This! Although I need to finish my education in the school of Holmes and Watson Are Totally In Love (because seriously, have you read these books? FFS, Doyle!).
I totally didn’t finish my review of The Ask and the Answer today. I have failed. :(
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