Saturday Procrastination
Nov. 3rd, 2007 12:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
erastesHappy Birthday ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
treva2007! I don't think i've ever actually heard from you, but hope you have a good day anyway!
I just received "Maurice & Alec in America" which I'd really been looking forward to reading, and was puzzled why it was self published. I think I know now, Despite the writing (from a quick flick through) being really good, it's A.U. (Alternative Universe) and the author blatently admits this. He says he didn't want to be hidebound with English speech and made the character American from when they arrived. He's also created some American family for Maurice, as far as I can see - but the worst of it is - for some peculiar reason - he's jumped forward ten years. He gives reasons for this too, namely the Great War, but sheesh - wouldn't that have been a great premise for a sequel? I always thought it was terrible that Maurice would have (probably) come back to be an officer, met up with Clive again - and Alec would have been sent into the ordinary ranks. Such potential... This messing with the timeline is probably the main reason it was self published.
So really, this is fanfic, pure and simple, but as the writing does look pretty good I will read and review, just not yet, got too much else to do, but would be interested in anyone's insights if they've already read it.
Good grief. Beowulf? Why the smeg isn't that going straight to DVD? Ray Winstone???? Who's deluded sense of imagination thought that he would be at all good in that part? "Oi've cum ter kill yer Monsta" *ashamed*
Character meme - gacked fromevremonde
1. Choose a few of your own characters (five at the most).
2. Make them answer the following questions.
3. Then tag three people.
4. Feel free to go ahead and add some questions yourself.
Ambrose (from Standish)
Michael (from Transgressions)
Valerie (from Junction X)
How old are you?
Ambrose: I'm 24, by the end of the book.
Michael: God has granted that I shall live 21 years and no more after today.
Valerie: Not that I should admit this, but I'm 36
What's your height?
Ambrose: In stockinged feet, 5 feet and 10 inches, sir.
Michael: I am as tall as my maker made me, no more no less.
Valerie: Is this relevant? Don't you know? It's all on public record - on my tennis record if not in ... the newspapers...
What are you?
Ambrose: What am I? A man. You might call me other names. I've been called them all before.
Michael: God's instrument.
Valerie: Broken
Do you have any bad habits?
Ambrose: (looks like he might have been about to smile, but the impression is gone as fast as it begins)
Michael: No
Valerie:* I fail to see... Oh. All right. I probably spend too long at the tennis club.
Are you a virgin?
Ambrose: Sir, I can't help but wonder why you need this information? I am unmarried as you can plainly see and there are no women in our family.
Michael: That is an answer I shall give my God.
Valerie: (raises one blonde eyebrow) Did you not see the twins?
Who's your mate/spouse? If not, got anyone in mind?
Ambrose: I live in companiable comfort with Mr Rafe Goshawk. (Pauses) Yes, so you haven't been uninformed, I see. You would have read the scandal sheets.
Michael: I cleave to no-one now. I have only found one that I thought was worth my attentions and he proved to be a vile sinner.
Valerie: I am... was married to Edward.
Do you have any kids?
Ambrose: No. We have some deer in the park, but no goats at all.
Michael: This is a prison cell, do I look like I have any possessions?
Valerie: Are you an American? You aren't very intelligent, are you? First you ask if I am a virgin, then ask if I have children, when the twins are sitting right there.
What's your favorite food?
Ambrose: I've been recently very spoiled, but I particularly enjoy pork and apples
Michael: Food keeps the body alive. It is sinful to be gluttonous.
Valerie: Anything that reminds me of summer.
What's your favorite ice cream flavor?
Ambrose: I admit to not having had it more than once, in Italy, and enjoyed it immensely. Rafe is refurbishing the ice-house and we hope to be able to make some next summer.
Michael: I don't know what you mean
Valerie:. Out of strawberry, vanilla and chocolate? Chocolate.
Have you killed anyone?
Ambrose: No. NO! I feel responsible... but - my God no.
Michael: He wasn't a human. None of them were human. The commandment doesn't apply to demons or the possessed..
Valerie: No. I.... no.
Have any secrets?
Ambrose: I have things that I will never tell Rafe, if that's what you mean.
Michael: From whom? My heart is open to God. He know all of my heart and mind.
Valerie: After the newspapers finished with me? What do you think?
Do you hate anyone?
Ambrose: If I have any loathing for anything, it has to be the English justice system. Having been through it first hand, it's a barbaric and vile system, killing children, transporting families for the smallest of crimes. It lets the corrupt and the powerful become more corrupt and more powerful. Things must change.
Michael: Hate is a sin. You can have no hate for sinners, only pity and God's merciful release.
Valerie: Yes. Of course. What do you think?
Do you love anyone?
Ambrose: Yes. Of course. My sisters, always. And Rafe and his son are my world now.
Michael: I love the Lord God
Valerie: What kind of question is that? Who doesn't love anyone? My children of course. That's why I have to move away, so that I can look after my children - help us all move on.
What is your job?
Ambrose: I was a tutor, once. I don't need to work now to support my family.
Michael: I was a Witchfinder, and a good one.
Valerie: I didn't work. Edward was the breadwinner in our house of course
Boy or girl?
Ambrose: Impertinent question, sir. However I think you know the answer to that, already
Michael: *scowls*
Valerie: I don't know what you mean.
What do you do to relax?
Ambrose: I study, continue my studies. I don't ride well, but Rafe and Sebastian are teaching me, although I don't find it very relaxing yet. I also am learning to fish, which Sebastian thinks is boring, but Rafe insists is good for the soul.
Michael: I pray
Valerie: Relax? With the reporters still ringing me every day?
What's something that you like?
Ambrose: I like Christmas, when I'm surrounded by everyone who means so much to me. Almost everyone...
Michael: I would like tomorrow to come more quickly.
Valerie: I would like to have this house sold.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Ambrose: I wanted to be a great scholar, to have my papers on botany and fossils published. Perhaps it might still happen. I wanted to own the house my Grandfather lost at cards.
Michael: I always knew that I wanted to spread God's word. God's actual word, not the hypocrisy that most people accept.
Valerie: A tennis player - and I was, a good one too, for a while.
What's your favorite clothes/outfit?
Ambrose: *smiles* It's decadent of me, but since Rafe bought me my first good clothes, I do love silk and velvet.
Michael: I wear clothes to cover my shame, I take no pleasure in what I look like
Valerie: I've had enough of this interview.
(and the bonus question: ) What would you change - if you could change one thing in your life?
Ambrose: That what I love wasn't a crime, for we'll never be safe.
Michael: That I had not gone to the Assizes with Matthew Hopkins that day.
Valerie: I wish that they had not moved in next door, of course - of course! How could I wish for anything else? Get out! GET OUT!
treva2007! I don't think i've ever actually heard from you, but hope you have a good day anyway!I just received "Maurice & Alec in America" which I'd really been looking forward to reading, and was puzzled why it was self published. I think I know now, Despite the writing (from a quick flick through) being really good, it's A.U. (Alternative Universe) and the author blatently admits this. He says he didn't want to be hidebound with English speech and made the character American from when they arrived. He's also created some American family for Maurice, as far as I can see - but the worst of it is - for some peculiar reason - he's jumped forward ten years. He gives reasons for this too, namely the Great War, but sheesh - wouldn't that have been a great premise for a sequel? I always thought it was terrible that Maurice would have (probably) come back to be an officer, met up with Clive again - and Alec would have been sent into the ordinary ranks. Such potential... This messing with the timeline is probably the main reason it was self published.
So really, this is fanfic, pure and simple, but as the writing does look pretty good I will read and review, just not yet, got too much else to do, but would be interested in anyone's insights if they've already read it.
Good grief. Beowulf? Why the smeg isn't that going straight to DVD? Ray Winstone???? Who's deluded sense of imagination thought that he would be at all good in that part? "Oi've cum ter kill yer Monsta" *ashamed*
Character meme - gacked from
evremonde1. Choose a few of your own characters (five at the most).
2. Make them answer the following questions.
4. Feel free to go ahead and add some questions yourself.
Ambrose (from Standish)
Michael (from Transgressions)
Valerie (from Junction X)
How old are you?
Ambrose: I'm 24, by the end of the book.
Michael: God has granted that I shall live 21 years and no more after today.
Valerie: Not that I should admit this, but I'm 36
What's your height?
Ambrose: In stockinged feet, 5 feet and 10 inches, sir.
Michael: I am as tall as my maker made me, no more no less.
Valerie: Is this relevant? Don't you know? It's all on public record - on my tennis record if not in ... the newspapers...
What are you?
Ambrose: What am I? A man. You might call me other names. I've been called them all before.
Michael: God's instrument.
Valerie: Broken
Do you have any bad habits?
Ambrose: (looks like he might have been about to smile, but the impression is gone as fast as it begins)
Michael: No
Valerie:* I fail to see... Oh. All right. I probably spend too long at the tennis club.
Are you a virgin?
Ambrose: Sir, I can't help but wonder why you need this information? I am unmarried as you can plainly see and there are no women in our family.
Michael: That is an answer I shall give my God.
Valerie: (raises one blonde eyebrow) Did you not see the twins?
Who's your mate/spouse? If not, got anyone in mind?
Ambrose: I live in companiable comfort with Mr Rafe Goshawk. (Pauses) Yes, so you haven't been uninformed, I see. You would have read the scandal sheets.
Michael: I cleave to no-one now. I have only found one that I thought was worth my attentions and he proved to be a vile sinner.
Valerie: I am... was married to Edward.
Do you have any kids?
Ambrose: No. We have some deer in the park, but no goats at all.
Michael: This is a prison cell, do I look like I have any possessions?
Valerie: Are you an American? You aren't very intelligent, are you? First you ask if I am a virgin, then ask if I have children, when the twins are sitting right there.
What's your favorite food?
Ambrose: I've been recently very spoiled, but I particularly enjoy pork and apples
Michael: Food keeps the body alive. It is sinful to be gluttonous.
Valerie: Anything that reminds me of summer.
What's your favorite ice cream flavor?
Ambrose: I admit to not having had it more than once, in Italy, and enjoyed it immensely. Rafe is refurbishing the ice-house and we hope to be able to make some next summer.
Michael: I don't know what you mean
Valerie:. Out of strawberry, vanilla and chocolate? Chocolate.
Have you killed anyone?
Ambrose: No. NO! I feel responsible... but - my God no.
Michael: He wasn't a human. None of them were human. The commandment doesn't apply to demons or the possessed..
Valerie: No. I.... no.
Have any secrets?
Ambrose: I have things that I will never tell Rafe, if that's what you mean.
Michael: From whom? My heart is open to God. He know all of my heart and mind.
Valerie: After the newspapers finished with me? What do you think?
Do you hate anyone?
Ambrose: If I have any loathing for anything, it has to be the English justice system. Having been through it first hand, it's a barbaric and vile system, killing children, transporting families for the smallest of crimes. It lets the corrupt and the powerful become more corrupt and more powerful. Things must change.
Michael: Hate is a sin. You can have no hate for sinners, only pity and God's merciful release.
Valerie: Yes. Of course. What do you think?
Do you love anyone?
Ambrose: Yes. Of course. My sisters, always. And Rafe and his son are my world now.
Michael: I love the Lord God
Valerie: What kind of question is that? Who doesn't love anyone? My children of course. That's why I have to move away, so that I can look after my children - help us all move on.
What is your job?
Ambrose: I was a tutor, once. I don't need to work now to support my family.
Michael: I was a Witchfinder, and a good one.
Valerie: I didn't work. Edward was the breadwinner in our house of course
Boy or girl?
Ambrose: Impertinent question, sir. However I think you know the answer to that, already
Michael: *scowls*
Valerie: I don't know what you mean.
What do you do to relax?
Ambrose: I study, continue my studies. I don't ride well, but Rafe and Sebastian are teaching me, although I don't find it very relaxing yet. I also am learning to fish, which Sebastian thinks is boring, but Rafe insists is good for the soul.
Michael: I pray
Valerie: Relax? With the reporters still ringing me every day?
What's something that you like?
Ambrose: I like Christmas, when I'm surrounded by everyone who means so much to me. Almost everyone...
Michael: I would like tomorrow to come more quickly.
Valerie: I would like to have this house sold.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Ambrose: I wanted to be a great scholar, to have my papers on botany and fossils published. Perhaps it might still happen. I wanted to own the house my Grandfather lost at cards.
Michael: I always knew that I wanted to spread God's word. God's actual word, not the hypocrisy that most people accept.
Valerie: A tennis player - and I was, a good one too, for a while.
What's your favorite clothes/outfit?
Ambrose: *smiles* It's decadent of me, but since Rafe bought me my first good clothes, I do love silk and velvet.
Michael: I wear clothes to cover my shame, I take no pleasure in what I look like
Valerie: I've had enough of this interview.
(and the bonus question: ) What would you change - if you could change one thing in your life?
Ambrose: That what I love wasn't a crime, for we'll never be safe.
Michael: That I had not gone to the Assizes with Matthew Hopkins that day.
Valerie: I wish that they had not moved in next door, of course - of course! How could I wish for anything else? Get out! GET OUT!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-11-03 12:42 pm (UTC)That makes me so wild about Maurice. I agree entirely that there is a wealth of potential in taking the lads into the territory of the war. (I have a feeling Maurice would be a conscientious objector but serve driving ambulances or something, whereas Alec would be in the trenches.)
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
no subject
Date: 2007-11-03 01:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-03 01:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-03 03:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-03 04:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-03 04:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-03 07:30 pm (UTC)Not sure what to think about the Maurice book (he's American in the novel???), but I'd like to hear what you say about it.
no subject
Date: 2007-11-04 01:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-04 09:01 am (UTC)No, they aren't American, but the author says:
First of the stipulations that I vowed, Maurice & Alec would no longer be English, but would be Americans once they landed on the shore of their new homeland. Whatever Forster might have wished, it is Maurice's resolve to be American and to enjoy a new freedom that would govern my creativity. I had no desire to be bound to English vocabulary,habits or customs that would no doubt have crossed the ocean along with them. Though trained as a historian
And this is one more case of me rolling my eyes because that sentence almost always means the author is saying it's OK for them to write whatever garbage they want.
even because o fhte knowledge of how much care that would take, I disavowed the formidable task of mastering an English setting, a burden which would surely lead to my failure. Instead, I claimed what poets have often assumed, literary license to create characters who might just as well be American-born, even as I pulundere whatever of their history suited the fate my novel held in store for them.
So - meh - sounds like AU fanfic to me.