First, some exciting news that just HAS to be shared!! I FINISHED THE FIRST EDIT OF MY NOVEL!!!!! *falls, exhausted, into a chair*
Finally, after months and months of procrastination and slaving over my writing, it is finished. The first edit. Also known as "The Re-write." Now I just have to type half of it into the computer, editing as I go, then go over it once more, then have Mom go over it, then have Mom go over it with me, then go over it ONCE more, then it will be completely finished! I'm hoping to have this project completely done by the middle of September. Then I can have a full month and a half before NaNoWriMo 2012 to plan and plot my spy novel! More on that later....The final sentence (of the chapters - there is an epilogue after this sentence):
Finally everything was in
order and Sebastian, Antony, Jamie, Dogberry, Verges, and Talia – who was
coming for a visit - piled into Sebastian’s carriage and drove home to Illyria.
What do you think? Is that a good ending sentence?Second piece of news, I finished #2 of the Vancouver Sun books, The Secret Garden. Review time (proceed with caution, there may be spoilers)!
Title: The Secret Garden.
Author: Frances Hodgson Burnett.
Date published: 1910/11.
Synopsis: Mary is a spoiled ten year old who has lived her whole life in India. When her parents die she doesn't care, she only wants to have everything her own way. Mary is sent to live with her uncle in Yorkshire England in Missistwaite Manor. When she arrives she finds the house quiet and pretty much deserted. Her uncle does not want to see her and is away often. Mary makes friends with one of the serving girls who tells her stories of the moor and her family and of Mary's uncle Craven.
10 years ago his wife died and her garden was shut up. Mary is determined to find the garden.
Add in Dickon, an "animal charmer" and Colin, Mr. Craven's sickly son, and you get a great story!
My rating (1-10): 7 out of 10 stars.
Did the book engage my attention? Yes! I wanted to keep reading.
Age group: All ages - 6 or 7+ - all who would understand the story and up.
Why I liked the story: The Secret Garden is a story about growing - whether it be growing things like plants or growing into a better person. Both Mary and Colin (and Mr. Craven) start the story sour, spoiled, selfish, and self centered. When I first started the book and I was introduced to Mary I was thinking, "What an odd main character... She's so horrible! Detestable!" But as I kept reading she grew on me as she began to grow.
Mary (and the others) started to realise that life wasn't all about them and that they needed to change their behavior. Throughout the book you could see them change - great character development.
I loved how funny the book was - especially when Mary first met Colin and when Mrs. Medlock recruited her to come yell at him! That was funny.
It was a heart warming story and had some great lessons in it. It was also well written.
Most of the story focused around the secret garden and even though I myself really don't like gardening all that much, the story, as I said before, was about things growing. The author wrote the book so that even people who don't like gardening will enjoy the story.
The book was filled with fun, interesting, NOT-perfect characters, which made it enjoyable to read. I especially liked Ben Weatherstaff and Mr. Craven (if though he was barely in the book - I would have liked to see more of him).
Why I disliked the story: My biggest problem with this book was that near the end, Colin gets up and begins to walk and get well and everything... But he gives all the credit to "magic" and not to God. He's never been to church in the book, but it did worry me a bit that he talked so much about magic and that the magic was in him making him strong and making everything grow.
When Dickon's mother comes to visit the secret garden and Colin tells her about the magic, she said something along the lines of, "I suppose you can call it magic, although I know it by a different name. I suppose people in France and Germany call it something different." It is obvious that she is talking about God, I just wish she had said it instead of kind of skirting around it. And maybe I'm just making a big thing out of something little.... But I think that when you are talking about God, you should call him God, not magic. Especially not magic.
That was my biggest problem.... Another problem was that Dickon seemed to charm all the animals that he was around and he also seemed to make plants grow. Instead of calling this a God-given gift, it was attributed to magic as well.
Something else that impacted me was how cruel everyone seemed to Colin. He was told his whole life that he was going to die. I think it's horrible that any child should grow up with that. But it was kind of a plot point so I won't say too much about it.
Will I read this book again? Yes, I think I will read it again eventually! Although I might skip the magic part....
Live long and prosper!
YIPEE!!! Congratulations on finishing the re-write!!!!! That is always good. I hope the rest of the edit goes nicely. And yes, I do like the end sentence, it seems like a good ending.
ReplyDeleteMy sister loves The Secret Garden. I've yet to read it. I know, naughty me.
The cliche hero. *Grin* I like that! I think everyone can use a good over dose of cliche in their life and it should be Kirk. (Modern day cliche can drive one batty, but somehow, if it is from old movies it is just fun. It makes them what they are I suppose.)
I too am excited for the second Star Trek because of Benedict Cumberbatch. That is my only reason for planning on seeing it. I want to see him as a super evil Khan...BUT if he has those bugs I WILL find him and add him to my torture list along with Moffat. Who thinks up things like bugs in the ear? That isn't right.
Still, even though I think he is very nice in real life and can play a very good guy...Sherlock...I think he has the ability to pull off a creepy bad guy whom one will completely dislike. David Tennant has that talent too.
Oh! Andy Serkis plays the sax?! That is cool!
Yes, some men, they aren't cute in the way girls squeal about. They are handsome. Like the chap who plays Thor. I'd sooner call him handsome then cute. Besides, if I called him cute he might punch me, and that would hurt.
But Martin Freeman. He's like little boy cute, as you said. And some chaps just can't help it.
Yes! Petition is good. Only we would have to get the Brits to sign. Not many Americans would care. Sadly. Americans need to read and watch more British related things.
Eh, if they did any of the Doctors the Sixth out of their picks would be the best. I don't think, from what I've heard, the Seventh was as funny and Eight spent most of his time with no memory. He was more sad and serious when he did get it back. I think, if they don't cast Cumberbach then casting a Doctor would be grand. But it would have to be the right one. I vote for Tom Baker or Tennant. I've seen nothing with Baker yet but everyone says he was one of the best Doctors. He's Matt Smith's favourite I believe. I'd go with Tennant's favourite, the one with the celery plant he wore all the time, and who is now his father-in-law, but they say that Doctor liked to pout. It was part of his character and made him lots of fun, but I don't think pouting fits Calculus. He was more of the, if you did upset him he would yell at you and chase you about. I'd love it if it was Baker. (I think they need to pick soon and let us know. They've kept it secret for a long while now.) I liked the profession from Indiana Jones 4, but I didn't think he was British...
I can kind of see why Doyle hated Sherlock. Kind of. I mean, from what I read Doyle did a lot of things. Fought in wars, knew how to box and fence, and he wrote lots of books he put a lot of work into. But no one cared about any of it. All they cared about was Sherlock. And he just wrote those for money mostly.
You're right, Herge was writing Tintin for a long time. I wonder if an author can ever get tired of a certain character...I suppose if they can then Herge would be the one who did. I shall have to hope they were friends, and therefore he had no reason to kill him.
Yep, my wrists are all back to normal, as normal as they ever get 8-D
Aw, you're right! Those actresses do look alike. I wonder if lots of people look somewhat alike but we only notice actors because we see them lots...
Whoops! First edit comment from your mother....How could Talia climb into the carraige if she was coming for a visit? Is she there already? Hmmm....
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the re-write! Now...for more rewriting! Trust me, it never ends.
ReplyDeleteI like your ending sentence. It seems a little long, but who can hate a long sentence?