tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post8076008586624666324..comments2023-05-24T08:06:43.882-04:00Comments on Romance Writer's Revenge: Venturing Out of My Comfort ZoneTerri Osburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17176989488447450585noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-70164557356180527152013-06-25T23:09:20.023-04:002013-06-25T23:09:20.023-04:00Hey, she asked about a report on it, too!
But he...Hey, she asked about a report on it, too!<br /><br /><br />But here is the link... http://www.amazon.com/Mindless-Eating-More-Than-Think/dp/0345526880/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372216120&sr=8-1&keywords=mindless+eating+by+brian+wansink<br />Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01517092592545660754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-87158514194984355122013-06-25T22:54:37.318-04:002013-06-25T22:54:37.318-04:00A link to the book, Mo. A link to the book!A link to the book, Mo. A link to the book!Terri Osburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17176989488447450585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-48110133467037540022013-06-25T22:52:26.362-04:002013-06-25T22:52:26.362-04:00Really? On a sociology book? I...well, maybe I can...Really? On a sociology book? I...well, maybe I can find a way to relate it to how writer's can lead readers where they want to...Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01517092592545660754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-83217233885946626052013-06-25T15:50:11.898-04:002013-06-25T15:50:11.898-04:00Well, SHARE, Mo--or do you want me to request you ...Well, SHARE, Mo--or do you want me to request you do a book report on it next Tuesday for the review day! <br /><br />Hellie Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03933713255844695337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-12954922379583453602013-06-25T15:47:44.947-04:002013-06-25T15:47:44.947-04:00This book studies the science behind it. Not just ...This book studies the science behind it. Not just the philosophy. The tricks used to manipulate us to eat. Stuff you just don't consider. Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01517092592545660754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-4986631243562567742013-06-25T14:53:33.301-04:002013-06-25T14:53:33.301-04:00Mo, Mindless Eating is fascinating. We touched on ...Mo, Mindless Eating is fascinating. We touched on it very lightly in my first meditation class (missed the 2nd class--see: RASH), but it was very fascinating when you actually stop to concentrate and be present for what you're eating, you can be satisfied with less. Hellie Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03933713255844695337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-90716389966043941872013-06-25T14:52:20.553-04:002013-06-25T14:52:20.553-04:00Terri, glad you asked what technosuckfest was. Terri, glad you asked what technosuckfest was. Hellie Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03933713255844695337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-62905461440464025772013-06-25T14:52:03.137-04:002013-06-25T14:52:03.137-04:00Pat, since you're a frequent reader of sci-fi ...Pat, since you're a frequent reader of sci-fi (and therefore knows what blows and doesn't blow), I bow to your expertise regarding star allotment. :) However, compared with my "knowledge" of sci-fi, in general the story, characters, et al, seemed fine. I also haven't seen Firefly, so if I had--and liked it as much as true fans do--I probably would have been more disagreeable about the book, like I am with books that imitate Harry Potter in some way. Or a historical novel that's supposed to be funny like Julia Quinn but is funny in a slapstick goofy way rather than the smarter way I associate with JQ. <br /><br />Ratings are funny things. They're basing against your feelings about a slog of information you have at that time...and may change later for good or ill. <br /><br />The Hearts of Darkness sounds cool because I dig those cultures so it would be neat to see that world-building in play. <br /><br />I'm with you though--it still needs to be a STORY about something-someone and not just idea or a cause about something. Hellie Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03933713255844695337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-891320769302926222013-06-25T13:44:45.735-04:002013-06-25T13:44:45.735-04:00Techno-suckfest is my term for hard SF that is abs...Techno-suckfest is my term for hard SF that is absent all characterization and coherent plot, and is all about some big fucking idea. Or in the case of <i>The January Dancer</i>, a mix of purple prose and techno-babble about quantum physics. I lurves my science and devoured Brian Greene's <i>The Elegant Universe</i>, but that was non-fiction. I want my fiction to have story and characters.P. Kirbyhttp://www.patriciakirby.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-2606917406681121072013-06-25T13:40:21.415-04:002013-06-25T13:40:21.415-04:00Yeah, Hels, it's drastic. Which is why I'm...Yeah, Hels, it's drastic. Which is why I'm reading a lot. Educate myself. This doc has known me for 15 years, so I do have to take her opinion seriously. No rushing into anything!<br /><br />The Mindless Eatng is fascinating!Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01517092592545660754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-53110141916906963702013-06-25T13:33:29.671-04:002013-06-25T13:33:29.671-04:00Okay, I must know what a techno-suckfest is. LOL! ...Okay, I must know what a techno-suckfest is. LOL! Love that term. (I don't read sci-fi, so if that should be self-explanatory, my apologies.)Terri Osburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17176989488447450585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-75288904823986083712013-06-25T13:30:33.012-04:002013-06-25T13:30:33.012-04:00Heh. Grimspace, for me, was 2.5 stars, and as I sa...Heh. <i>Grimspace</i>, for me, was 2.5 stars, and as I said at Goodreads, rounded up to 3-stars, as a pity fuck.<br /><br />Was majorly disappointed with that one. All kinds of WTFuckery going on. Less Star Wars and more a lifeless clone of Firefly/Serenity. Oh, well.<br /><br />Hmmm. Since I wander all over the place, genre-wise, I don't have a significant comfort zone. Just finished <i>Walk Two Moons</i> (Sharon Creech), a youngish-YA, or maybe older Middle reader, which despite the accolades, I found sweet, but a little flat.<br /><br />Currently reading <i>Hearts of Darkness</i> (Kira Brady), which is PR, a genre that usually doesn't blow up my skirt because...alpha heroes, ick. But, so far, the world-building is a cool mixture of Norse, Native American and Mesopotamian mythology. Feels like a good mystery. I hope it doesn't devolve into endless sexing in later chapters, because...snore.<br /><br />About to start <i>Cold Magic</i> (YA?), by Kate Elliot, but it's fantasy, so firmly in the comfort zone.<br /><br />Downloaded John Scalzi's (a not misogynistic SF writer) <i>Old Man's War</i> because it was dirt cheap. It falls a little into my not-comfort zone, because other than Sara Creasy's <i>Scarabaeus</i> books, most SF I've read (Grimspace, cough) has been a disappointment or a techno-suckfest (<i>The January Dancer</i>, ugh, awful).P. Kirbyhttp://www.patriciakirby.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-74781755507329834992013-06-25T10:12:46.353-04:002013-06-25T10:12:46.353-04:00Considering how you usually feel about paranormal ...Considering how you usually feel about paranormal woo-woo stuff (i.e. vampires, werewolves, et al), yes, I would say this is outside your typical norm, but you raved about RENEGADE so it's not surprising you've kept reading--and it's a testament to Nancy's writing that she makes each book as good (or better) than the last. There's an interesting blend of hard work, luck, and chemistry that makes a series work. Hellie Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03933713255844695337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-87223842330419808292013-06-25T09:56:03.387-04:002013-06-25T09:56:03.387-04:00I guess what I'm reading is out of my typical ...I guess what I'm reading is out of my typical comfort zone, but I can't resist Nancy Northcott's Mage series. She sucked me in with the first, RENEGADE. Finished the novella, PROTECTOR, a couple nights ago, then flew right into my ARC of the next one, GUARDIAN. I've been dying for Dr. Stephen Harper's story, and now I have it.<br /><br />Mages with magical powers fighting ghouls (which are really foul) and demons. Totally not my thing until now. Nancy makes these books read more like contemporaries that just happen to have some magical stuff going on. Love her voice. Terri Osburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17176989488447450585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-41635916918775935082013-06-25T09:51:55.244-04:002013-06-25T09:51:55.244-04:00Mo, those sound like excellent books. I do like no...Mo, those sound like excellent books. I do like non-fiction books about creativity (and writing), just for the benefit of reading of new ways to think of things or do things I haven't tried yet that might make me a better writer (besides writing--or maybe what I'm reading helps me write MORE which makes me a better writer. Whatever.)<br /><br />Yes, weight loss surgery is definitely a drastic change. Holy cow. It seems doctors are offering that more and more now as a solution. I remember when they only offered it as a solution if a candidate was like 400 pounds...but it seems like they'll be offering it as a solution to those who need to lose only 40 pounds rather than 200+. I assume they have a good reason for it, but it just seems alarming to me. Hellie Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03933713255844695337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-12655526069232383982013-06-25T01:32:02.712-04:002013-06-25T01:32:02.712-04:00Well, I've been reading a fair amount of non-f...Well, I've been reading a fair amount of non-fiction. An online class I'm taking required the reading of Twyla Tharp's <i>The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use if For Life </i>. And it's good.<br /><br />I also am reading <i>Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think </i> by Brian Wansink... It is fascinating!<br /><br />I actually had my doctor suggest to me surgery as an option toward weight loss and so I figured I needed to know a hell of a lot more before I even think about it... So I read <i>The Sleeved Life: A Patient-to-Patient Guide on Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Weight Loss Surgery</i> by Pennie Nicola...again, interesting and very informative. Certainly made me think twice about making such a drastic change in my life.<br /><br />So! I'm reading a fair amount of non-fiction. Which is really a different way to open up my writing again...but I desperately need to work on my panel presentation and since it's non-fiction, reading this stuff is helping.Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01517092592545660754noreply@blogger.com