kate rothwell

So I'm reading a book set in a clever world and containing an interesting bunch of support characters. Thing is, the book is in first person and the heroine is not nearly as smart as her world--or anyone else in it. How can that happen? How can the author who was intelligent enough to come up with a whole bunch of cool systems and personalities not give her main character the common sense of a mosquito? Mosquitoes have an excuse. I could understand if she came equipped with a mosquito's need to feed. (Now THERE'S some shapeshifting no one has explored) but she just acts out impulse and rage and the Desire to Prove Herself. Even early Stephanie Plum looks like a genius compared to this one. My theory is the world inspired the author and she spent more time playing with that then her character's motivation. The pluses outweigh the minuses. I just bought the second book and I'm giving her another chance. At least there's some funny stuff in there. And maybe she...

okay a list! And because I make reference to a couple of books, I think it can be labeled SBD. favorite halloween story? Dragon's Halloween by Dav Pilsky favorite halloween scene? The one in the movie version of To Kill a Mockingbird. favorite candy? Almond Joy because Mike and my kids hate those so I get some. least favorite thing about Halloween? People trying to scare me with movies. I do NOT like horror movies. No, no, no. I have enough adrenaline going on, no need to get more flowing. And this time of year, there are lots of horror movies everywhere. Although I do like that Vincent Price movie about the wax museum. And who could dislike Bette Davis's cheesey wonderfulness in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane ? So the old campy ones I watched with Gretchen Glick are fine. The others with blood and guts and buxom teenagers getting axed, not so much. least favorite candy? Snickers. And yet I eat them. Maybe that's why I don't list licorice because I won't touch ...