P. C. de Laclos "Les liaisons dangereuses"

The book and one of the movies.

I'm on page 244 out of a grand total of 389... and I don't think I have time to finish this book. I've been reading this since... um, September? Too busy to read at all + had to finish a book of the mandatory reading list (I think I'll write of that, too). You wouldn't believe how much the pile of "To read" books has grown since then. I'm thinking of putting a little list on the side. But now on to the book.

It's a pretty freely formatted book. It consists of letters, informal letters. I read somewhere that not a single dirty word is in this book... but the themes - love, sex, playing with feelings, betrayal, manipulation... you understand what they're talking about but they don't spell it out for you. Makes it quite interesting to read, since nowadays "inappropriate" words are used even when there's no need for it, just to spice it up.

I got to this book after seeing the movie Cruel Intentions (which is one of my favorite movies) which is based on this book. Usually when I see a really-really good film, I want to read the book on which it's based. Nicholas Sparks' "The Notebook" was like that, I think. If there's a book and a movie, it sort of gives you a sense of completeness when talking about the 'world' in which the book/movie takes place. That way there's the text and the pictures to illustrate it.

The movie is set in 20th century USA, while the book is set in the 18th century France. The two main characters, marquis de Merteuil and viscount de Valmont are two schemers, their lives evolve around drama, revenge, conquering the innocent and/or tricky ones. The woman has to act like a lady, pretend to be virtuous while behind the curtains she makes full use of men and plans revenge on an ex. This book is actually the story of that revenge plan, how it works, who are involved and how. The man has a "bad" reputation since his conquests have been relatively public. His mission here is to seduce a married woman, the most virtuous of them all... but he doesn't expect to fall in love.

Merteuil and Valmont also placed a bet on the success of his missions. If he were to succeed, he'd get the only woman he couldn't get: Merteuil herself. Along with 'the good girl' Tourvel and her love story with Valmont, runs the story of miss Volanges (who is promised to Merteuil's ex) and chevalier Danceny.

Merteuil's plan was to make miss Volanges, the goody two shoes, used goods (used by Valmont himself and the lover Danceny) before handing her over to the ex. So they manipulate with miss Volanges, her mother (who trusts the marquis wholeheartedly), Danceny (the fool in love..), and some smaller characters (their servants).

I'm not sure of the ending in the book but the movie ends with Valmont's death and the exposure of Merteuil... the book is actually a bit harder to reach than the movie since the movie was adapted to teenage characters and therefore it was easier for me to relate. It's been worth it, though - the original. That way nothing has been lost in "translation" (note: I'm reading in Estonian, not French, so something must be missing, still).

The whole manipulation thing is quite psychological and I find it interesting to see what people are like. Some are gullible, some are selfish, some are blind about a few things... the bottom line here being that I should try to be somewhere inbetween all of that. It shows what taking advantage of people does to you (it makes you e v i l ...) but it's not terribly moralizing since you can see how it's all done.

It's also nice to read since there aren't many restrictions. It's a simple, yet complex story, if that makes any sense. It's not bound by formatting rules or anything like that. He was free to express himself the way he wanted to. And now I'm free to understand...

And learn.

Robin Hobb

Robin Hobb's bookshelf

Robin Hobb is the second pen name for Margaret Astrid Lindholm Ogden (the first one being Megan Lindholm) - she has divided the names between genres (Lindholm for contemporary fantasy, Hobb for Medieval fantasy). I have read The Farseer Trilogy (1,5 books in Estonian :D) (Assassin's Apprentice, Royal Assassin and Assassin's Quest) and the first book from The Liveship Trilogy (Ship of Magic).

In The Farseer Trilogy she tries to figure out whether one should work towards one's own happiness or the greater good. Should you sacrifice your own needs for the sake of others? Throw away your life for the kingdom?

The whole story is set in a royal household, from the point of view of Chivalry's bastard son - FitzChivalry. I should point out that the royal family member's name represents their nature. We have two opposite characters on the "good" side: Fitz who couldn't see the big picture and Verity who goes on a fatal quest to save his people (he is the King-In-Waiting/later King, even though Chivalry was above him in the line, he gave up his claim to the throne once he found out about his son born outside marriage). On the "bad" side we have Regal who'd do anything for personal gain and pleasure and can't think too far ahead in the future.

In many ways it's an amazing book. You can really relate to it, since there are no 100% good nor bad characters. Everyone has their flaws and that makes it real. The magical realm leaves so many possibilites for what can happen... so you're prepared for anything. Yet usually what comes out isn't what you were expecting... That goes generally for fantasy.

On with it. The liveship book was really hard to get started with. It was one of those books that started with a looooong introduction. I didn't understand a thing (the English-part didn't help either, I though I was misunderstanding text). I'd say pushing it was worth it. I fell in love with the book once I'd gotten used to it. The problem lays in the fact that some people don't really care about finishing the book if the beginning is hard and not too exciting. (A different case entirely is Roger Zelazny who starts with a bang - you have no idea what's going on and you're just thrown into the story which, by the way, is fascinating)

So at first I put the book on my bookshelf and left it there. Only 6-7 months later I finally finished it... and I can't wait for more!

PS. As of Christmas 2008 I am the owner of Liveship Trilogy book 2!

Cassandra Clare

The Mortal Instruments & The Draco Trilogy

Cassie is one of those writers who started out with fanfiction (or fandom) and moved on to original fiction. What is fanfiction? Fanfiction is fiction written in another story's (writer's) settings but the plot is original. Some use same characters, some add their own; some maintain the personalities, some change them to fit their plot; some use the same timeline, some move the story a few (hundred) years back or forth. Since the author has rights for his/her work, fans do not earn any money from their fiction. They're just doing it for fun (their own and also others' - we have come so far that fans also have fans).

The most popular fanfiction subject is 'Harry Potter'. Thousands and thousands (maybe even millions) of stories are based on JK Rowling's stories. For such a long period of time the Harry Potter stories were WIP or work in progress and therefore provided quite some time for speculation or 'retelling the story', changing the past, recreating situations the fans didn't like. The last option created AU's or alternate universes where the fan could change more of the story than when writing relatively canon (sticking close to the original). Now, as the author's storytelling has come to an end, the fans can continue where the author left off.

Clare wrote a trilogy, The Draco Trilogy (Draco Dormiens, Draco Sinister, Draco Veritas. Here an excerpt from the beginning of the story, explaining everything:

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. This work contains quotes from movies and television shows, stories and plays, novels and films. They are cited at the end of each chapter. Other citations can be made where necessary. I collect funny quotes, like a pack rat, and don't always know where they come from. Sometimes I make source errors in good faith, or leave things off by accident. Sometimes I don't know where something comes from, in which case I note it anyway. Let me know any of these things, and I will add the citation.
Author's Notes: This fanfiction is an AU: Alternate Universe. It was written in the year following Goblet of Fire and does not incorporate material from OOTP, HBP or JK Rowling's fansite, all of which post-date it. It posits a universe in which Sirius is still alive, and so is Dumbledore; Fudge remains Minister of Magic, Luna Lovegood does not exist, Blaise Zabini is a girl, Ginny's full name is Virginia, and so on.

Cassie did indeed use a lot of quotes and scenes from others and there was a huge discussion around this 'plagiarism'. This, and her starting her own writing career, were the reasons the trilogy is no longer available online. Most have the stories downloaded to their computer from ancient times... but I think if you search really hard, you'll find someone/somewhere from whom/where you can get them...

But she also added her own 'things': the Magid classification (really powerful wizards among mediocre wizards, you have to be born as one), certain objects (Draco's Epicyclical Charm for example) and spells, HMS Harmony/Dramione ships (the first is Harry/Hermione, the second Draco/Hermione) (shipping means who ends up falling in love and such, so a H/Hr shipper would write a story where Harry and Hermione fall in love) and so on. The story is well written for fanfiction (she is a real writer now, as opposed to many who simply write) with the good grammar (lack of spelling mistakes) and I personally really enjoyed the usage of other quotes (especially ones from Buffy, since I'm a huge fan of that, too). Even though it was good, it's still fanfiction.

Her own stories, though, are a slightly different story. Her genres are urban fantasy and YA literature. Meaning, she writes fantasy novels set in modern world for teens. She has created her characters' a whole parallel universe (things regular human beings can not see...). The Shadowhunters and the Downworlders being the fantastical element here. Currently two out of three in the Mortal Instruments trilogy have been published (City of Bones, City of Ashes; City of Glass) but you can read the first chapter of the third book online, a little peak. Also you can see the titles of the chapters.

She pretty much created something really-really new and her own (like the power runes) and developed it. What I mean is, she didn't get her characters from mythology. In a way, that's a good thing (something new!) but it's also really fun to read some new interpretation of something old.

Also, there's the typical 'you fall in love with the one who you hate at first' but there's an added twist: they turn out to be related! But I've a feeling something's going to change in book 3. There's also the best friend who doesn't really fit into the new world (with your new friends) but who tries anyway (and they get much closer through this experience...) and eventually gets himself turned into a vampire (who, with some help from Jace's blood, can walk in the daylight) but still isn't quite it.

And there's the gay characters! Alec and Magnus, the warlock. They're absolutely amazing (it's great fun when Alec gets a fearless rune and then starts telling the parents that he's gay :D)! And the "How to come out to your parents" pamphlet that Luke/Clary gave Simon so he could get some help with telling his mum that he's a vampire... :D I think I can get a quote, it's fantastic:

"What's that you're holding?" he asked, noticing the pamphlet, still rolled up in her left hand.

"Oh, this?" She held it up. "How to Come Out to Your Parents."

He widened his eyes. "Something you want to tell me?"

"It's not for me. It's for you." She handed it to him.

"I don't have to come out to my mother," said Simon. "She already thinks I'm gay because I'm not interested in sports and I haven't had a serious girlfriend yet. Not that she knows about, anyway."

"But you have to come out as a vampire," Clary pointed out. "Luke thought maybe you could, you know, use one of the suggested speeches in the pamphlet, except use the word 'undead' instead of—"

"I get it, I get it." Simon spread the pamphlet open. "Here, I'll practice on you." He cleared his throat. "Mom. I have something to tell you. I'm undead. Now, I know you may have some preconceived notions about the undead. I know you may not be comfortable with the idea of me being undead. But I'm here to tell you that the undead are just like you and me." Simon paused. "Well, okay. Possibly more like me than you."

"SIMON."

"All right, all right." He went on. "The first thing you need to understand is that I'm the same person I always was. Being undead isn't the most important thing about me. It's just part of who I am. The second thing you should know is that it isn't a choice. I was born this way." Simon squinted at her over the pamphlet. "Sorry, reborn this way."

Clary sighed. "You're not trying."

"At least I can tell her you buried me in a Jewish cemetery," Simon said, abandoning the pamphlet.

This was from City of Ashes.

I consider her my idol for she uses/writes (the terms) 'urban fantasy' and YA (the latter being used by their whole writing group, though I'm sure there are others) that have inspired me quite a lot (those being the genres I'd really like to cultivate myself). She's a simple girl who likes to write and that gives me hope. I can do that!

Either way, her stories are great fun to read and I can relate to them. Well, some parts of the stories. :D The relating part is what makes YA literature so much more fun to read than stories involving adults. Can't wait for the end of the series...

Stephenie Meyer's "The Twilight Saga"

The book and the movie

The books in question form a tetralogy (Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn). First three and two thirds of the last book are written from Bella's perspective; one third of the last one from Jacob's perspective. She also started writing Midnight Sun, Twilight from Edward's perspective (but due to copyright violations, it most likely won't be finished). I really enjoy the genres, urban fantasy (fantastic novels set in modern, urban settings) - cultivated also by authors like Cassandra Clare and JK Rowling - and young adult literature (also Clare, John Green, Maureen Johnson, etc).

For the record: I'm not going to post a summary of the saga here since it only takes a few seconds to type the author or the title into a search engine and find hundreds of summaries, perhaps better than I would've been able to write.

The storyline evolves around vampires and werewolves/shape-shifters (the fantasy part in the story). The author has put some effort into creating her own rules (separating 'myth' from 'reality') in this fantastic universe by taking bits from classical mythology concerning those creatures and adding some of her own (a conversation between Bella and Edward in Twilight, chapter 9 goes through most of those but little things are revealed throughout the series). In a way, it's refreshing and also leaves the author's fingerprint on the story (one could compare the way vampires are described in stories by Bram Stoker, Anne Rice, Meyer; television series Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, etc - they all have something in common, yet also something to set them apart).

The story's about (dangerous) love, sacrifices and power. How much are you willing to give up for your own happiness? How much are you willing to give up for someone you love? Your own mortality? Will those sacrifices be regretted when looking back at them in a few years? What are you willing to do to gain power? How far are you willing to go? Is it worth sacrificing personal relationships? Those are pretty good questions to ask, and to answer. You get a set of answers from this book... perhaps everyone should create a set of their own. It's up to them.

What bothered me a bit is the way Bella was depicted: selfless, modest, clumsy, yet observant, a good character through and through (like she didn't have any faults; too black-and-white). How do you relate to that? I don't consider myself a model of a perfect character and therefore unable to fully understand her motivations. Besides, nowadays nobody expects fictional books to be moral textbooks... I would've preferred a slightly more realistic (instead of a romanticistic) approach to the characters (à la Robin Hobb, for example).

Other than that, I enjoyed the book. It was well written: the story developed at a good pace, an excellent adaption of the mythology, an intriguing storyline, focus on some details, description of the narrator's feelings (the tone of the story depended on who was narrating)... It would appear that Harry Potter has competition (at least in USA).

The first novel ("Videvik") has been translated into Estonian by Marge Paal and the second one ("Noorkuu") should get published by the end of the year...

As could be seen in the top of this post, the movie Twilight is to be released Nov 21st in USA (no telling on when or even if the film will finally make it to Estonia). The director is Catherine Hardwicke ("Thirteen", "Lords of Dogtown"), the main stars Kristen Stewart ("Panic Room") and Robert Pattinson ("HP and the Goblet of Fire" - Cedric Diggory).