Bec Says

After Julia Gillard’s recent vow to start being herself, and the cynical reaction that remark drew from certain quarters, I did a lot of thinking about people and their personas. In her excellent article in The Courier-Mail this week, Karen Brooks examined Gillard’s comments and made some very sensible (and thought-provoking) points. You can read it here but here’s an excerpt:

But what is real anyway? We all hide our real selves in varying degrees. It’s a form of privacy, self-preservation and it’s also our right. We cannot be real all the time and nor should anyone expect us to be. It’s how we are able to juggle the variety of social relations we have. It does not mean we’re any less true to ourselves or others.

I agree with that and wonder what you think? Don’t we sometimes conceal aspects of ourselves and modify our behaviour, in keeping with certain social etiquette and different environments? I guess the rules are a bit different for pollies but it is interesting to consider how much of ourselves we really show the people we know.  Has social networking changed this? Do you share more with distant acquaintances on your Facebook ‘friends’ list than you would if you were seated together at a function? Are we entering into a more confusing atmosphere of masks and revelations? I remember reading an article in Marie Claire magazine a while ago, in which the journo described current teens and 20-somethings as ‘Generation Exhibition’, owing to their apparent need to share all their goings-on in public forums. Do you consider yourself part of that group? Is it a fair title? In the same article, the writer described a girl who’d blogged about a trip to London; she’d made it sound like she was having a blast. In reality, she confessed, it was a total wash-out and a miserable period of her life. Why, then, this desperate need to appear to be super-happy and leading the most exciting life ever?   

How much of your true self do *you* reveal to other people? Does it change? If you do wear ‘masks’, is it for diplomacy’s sake? Are you just telling Auntie Marjorie that you *love* that koala sweater she knitted from her Woman’s Day pattern to save her feelings? Are you only posting the good stuff on your blog because you think misery makes for boring reading? Are you taking down your Justin Bieber posters before certain friends arrive just because you want to make the environment nicer for them? And tell the truth: those outrageous photos from the fabulous party you went to last Saturday night….are they a true reflection of the amazing time you had?

Music:

Foo Fighters – The Pretender

Lene Marlin – Disguise

I have to admit, I approached Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely with more than a little trepidation. While I was growing up, the Point Horror series was at the peak of its popularity, and the emphasis there was definitely on the supernatural side of things, rather than the sexual chemistry between the two main characters.

Since reading a certain series of books within the past two or three years, I’d begun to think that plot in YA novels now comes second to how totally hot the main male character is, and how much the female protagonist wants him. Wicked Lovely, the first in Melissa Marr’s bestselling series of the same name, was a refreshing change.

The novel revolves around faeries, and one teenage girl’s ability to see them, despite the fact that most humans can’t. The trait is hereditary, and her grandmother has passed down rules to keep the girl, Aislinn, safe: never let on that you can see faeries, never speak to them, and above all, never attract their attention.

The story begins when, despite following the first two rules, Aislinn inadvertently breaks the third: the Summer King of the faeries, weakened by his lack of a Summer Queen, decides that Aislinn must be his. The novel details Aislinn’s struggle against this fate, and her desire to hold onto her life, family, plans for the future, and her human boyfriend. Refusing, however, will have dire consequences for the faeries and the world in general…

This novel’s strongest point is definitely its protagonist. Aislinn is a very positive role model for teenage girls; instead of giving herself over to the inevitable and allowing herself to be seduced by the Summer King, Keenan, she rejects the plans he has for her and makes her own decisions. She has a sensible head on her shoulders when it comes to drugs, alcohol and sex, and there’s definitely a lot to relate to in her character.

The concept of faeries running around the world, completely invisible to humans and wreaking havoc amongst their own kind, really did appeal to me. There has been such a huge focus on vampires and werewolves in teen fiction lately that it was good to read something a little different, where the supernatural race is mostly mischievous rather than intense.

The one thing I did feel let this book down was that the plight of the faeries didn’t feel all that severe. The Summer King seemed more confused and petulant at Aislinn’s resistance than dismayed and desperate. It was never properly specified what would happen if Aislinn refused, and the Winter Queen, the book’s antagonist, didn’t seem to have a focused goal except to stop Aislinn becoming the Summer Queen. A little more depth and detail would have helped, here.

Overall, though, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. There were some fantastic little moments between Aislinn and Seth, her friend-turned-boyfriend, and the faery lore was well-researched and explained. I’ll be picking up the next book, Ink Exchange, the next time I’m wandering around the local book shop!

Wicked Lovely – Melissa Marr

11 September 2008 by Harper Collins

Paperback, 336 pages

ISBN: 9780007263073 (ISBN-10) 0007263074

Just popping in to say that I have seven pages left on my rewrite before it goes back to my editor, and we should sight the cover in early September. Even though the publication date is still not until March next year, I finally feel like things are happening. Soon I’ll be starting book 2!

14 year old, Nick Gautier (pronounced Go-Shay), son of a dancer, poor as a church mouse, heart of gold, and smart mouth like whoa, has to learn how to harness his untested powers to avoid a life of horror and unimaginable cruelty.

It’s amazing what you can learn when you listen to your parents.

Unfortunately for Nick, his mate Madaug has been paying a little too much notice at the dinner table and created a race of live zombies out of the school football team. ~Not that there’s really that much difference before and after… Well, except for the whole wanting to eat your brains thing.~

In Infinity, there are undertones dealing with bullying, the abuse of power, the inequality between the wealthy and the poor, and breaking through stereotypes. Kenyon succeeds in giving her characters the attitudes they need to get through life, no matter what it throws at them. They’re believable and well grounded; I’m sure we all know someone like Nick. His quick wit is the cause of heaps of laugh out loud moments, especially when his sass sparks his Mother’s wrath.

The path to hell is paved with good intentions, let’s hope Nick can get a clue before his life goes to hell in a hand basket. This is a fast-paced ride, so hold on tight.

If you’ve been following the Dark-Hunter series you’ll be watching for characters who starred in the other books, to pop into this series.

Keep an eye out for the Barbeque Sauce wielding, Charonte Demon, Simi.

She has got to be my favorite Kenyon Character of all.

Future books will be electrifying in the ‘Chronicles of Nick‘.

Next in the Series is ‘Invincible‘, due in 2011.

X Belinda X

Infinity: Chronicles of Nick – Sherrilyn Kenyon

May 25 2010 by St Martin’s Griffin

Paperback, 480 pages

ISBN 0312599072

(ISBN-13): 978-0312599072