Monday, April 20, 2009

In Response to King of the Wild Frontier

Dear Wendy:

I'm thinking you have the type of books I love pegged pretty good now *g*. I think you've picked up that all my favourites have wounded in some way kind of way, hero. And *g* to set the record straight, it's not disgust, it's amused disbelief that you have all these great books sitting around so long without being read. But since I'm getting in the same predicament these days myself with a TBR pile that is, for the first time ever, starting to frighten me, I'm sure there is someone out there thinking Kristie, Kristie, Kristie!

And of all the ones I've strong-armed you into reading, I think Ride The Fire is the one you have given the highest grade to. For that I am very pleased. Ms. Clare does indeed have a wonderful way of weaving history into her books and making it interesting.

And I am also wondering if you have seen the movie Last of the Mohicans with Daniel Day Lewis. To me, although different, they have a remarkable similar kind of 'feel' to them - considering one is a movie and the other a book.

And you are so right - "This is not a sunshine happy puppy dog rainbow kind of book" :-) And that's one of the reasons it's so highly placed on my favourite list. If given my druthers, I 'druther have a dark story then a light and fluffy one. That first chapter is HARD to read!!

And I'm not sure about the turgid thought thing. After my son came for a visit this evening (and to help me open my mail) we had a very mind boggling (for me anyway) conversation about male turgidity. I wasn't sure he was trying to put one over on his old mother or being more open then he has been since he was seven - but I know now that young men think of turgidity. A LOT. (Of course he totally freaked - which I found very amusing- when the conversation switched to my sex life - or lack of one. I think he quite honestly thought older people 'got over it'. I told him to wait until he was in his fifties and then revisit that thought again)

And again you are right - what makes a book a 'keeper' is an illusive and mysterious thing and one I can't explain either - except I know when I've read one.

In conclusion, knowing you are either a) a harsher judge, or b) I'm an easier sell - not sure which - a B+ is heck of a darn good grade and I'm glad you recommend this one!

We shall see in July which one I can nag you about next. I have a couple in mind (heh heh heh) because what would it be if I didn't Wendy, Wendy, Wendy you with a least one book.
And I am also thinking that you could possibly have an opportunity to do it back to me this time.

Yours truly,
Kristie J

PS: The only complaint I have to make is now I'm going to have that darn Disney Davey Crockett song running through my head for the rest of the evening. Hopefully it will be gone by morning.

10 comments:

azteclady said...

July? RWA?????












*whispering* I may be there /*whispering*

Kristie (J) said...

*whispering back* That would be so totally awesome!!

Wendy said...

Oh, I have no doubt that men have "turgid" thoughts - I just thought Nicholas' were a tad too purple. All those years on the frontier, I thought he should be more....hmmmm...abrupt I guess. But then that wouldn't fit the story very well given how gun shy Bethie is around men. And really, who can blame the poor girl!

A B+ is very, very good on the Wendy scale. Basically it's as good as it gets without being a keeper. This one just wasn't a keeper for me. Still a darn good read though.

And I have seen Last Of The Mochicans! Yep, the same kind of frontier, colonial feel as in this book. I love these frontier-style stories because the danger is very real, and so often it's hero & heroine against seemingly insurmountable odds. Makes the HEA that much sweeter.

And by default, you can always nag me about the Candice Proctor books I have in my TBR :)

Kristie (J) said...

heh heh heh - that's one of the ones I was thinking of!!

Wendy said...

Oh, and in case anyone cares my review of Ride The FireAnd sorry about the Davey Crockett earworm Kristie! I literally struggled to think of a title for that post, and when I thought "frontier" it was the first thing to pop into my head.

Unknown said...

Hi Kristie!

Excellent post, I love the Last of the Mohicans with Daniel Day-Lewis and Madeleine Stowe. It tells an great story of struggle of the early frontier life and the ever present worry of the Indians. You're right, it's not a sunshine happy puppy dog rainbow kind of movie or book (I've never read to book), but it makes it that much better.

Loved it.

Dottie

Kristie (J) said...

Dottie: Well then! Ride the Fire is a book you simply HAVE to read. Nicolas is just yummy, yummy, yummy! And as Wendy said at her blog, although it is part of a series, it can be read very well as a standalone book.

Wendy: *laughing* Well, I did do a trip through YouTube for nostalgia after that and I ended up replacing it with the theme from The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh.

Kati said...

Kristie - I have to laugh, because you know that you and I have more or less the same reading tastes, when it comes to historicals. You've never steered me wrong. So my jaw hit the floor when I realized Wendy had given a book you recommended a B+. I think I might have actually chortled and thought, "Kristie is gonna be THRILLED!" LOL!

orannia said...

Hmmm, I think I might have to hunt this down (after reading Wendy's review of course :)

I LOVE The Last of the Mohicans. I should re-phrase, I love the book The Last of the Mohicans...and I love the movie that goes by that name (but which I call Hawkeye).

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