Sustained Criticism

Amazon reviews are always interesting, the majority of reviewers never seem to agree with me. And I never read them before I purchase, but look at them to compare when I'm finished reading. Most of you know that my guilty literary pleasure is Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta series. I had to read something undemanding in-between part one and two of Anna Karenina.

The Scarpetta Factor is unlike the other books in the series. It's focused on the characters rather than the mystery, which I prefer. Which is why I so rarely read crime, and why Cornwell But looking at the amazon reviews Cornwell's fans appear to hate it. It does deviate from her usual form, but I prefer this. Her characters aren't bad, and she is finally letting them take control.

The writing is better than usual, as well. It's even elegant at times. Cornwell introduces characters and plots seamlessly, the dialogue is good and from what I can tell it is fairly realistic. One of the things I enjoy about her is her ability to capture emotion (I am rather tempestuous myself, and don't believe anyone can be as flat as people are occasionally portrayed). While it is not always beautifully written, she does deal with emotions and they are important.

Now I can't decide whether to move on to DeLillo's Underworld, or go back to Tolstoy. Decisions, decisions, which a minute will revise.

My two guilty pleasures are Harry Potter fanfiction and Particia Cornwell novels. This fanfic, is allegedly bad and the characters out of character, but it is 'written' in watercolour pictures. It's orgasmically postmodern. And, gods, the art is beautiful. I would buy this if it were only available for purchase. Don't read, just watch.

I have sadly discovered a way to do grad school in England without ending up in debt to over my ears, so now I'm back to indecisive. Entire grad school, or exchange? Going to England means I have to work, really work. And that is such a blah prospect.

I'm sick of doing a ton of subjects that hold no interest. University was supposed to mean interesting subjects, delving into the soul of literature and theory. Not this half-arsed crap. I think I'm beginning to regret not working and studying law.