I have been thinking lately about how stories grow and also about how the fact that they do so in much the same manner as nature should come as no surprise since people frequently talk about the “kernels” from which their story grew: little bits of almost nothing that blossomed into something enormous, alive, andContinue reading “Story Kernels and Trinitarian Art”
Author Archives: jlodom
The Everlasting Trope: Battle Couple
When I was younger (a teen or so) and someone asked me what sort of things I find to be “romantic”, this was roughly my answer: “Sitting together, shoulder-to-shoulder before some great battle, drinking coffee next to a fire in the dark. Preparing for the danger to come, knowing what the other was thinking orContinue reading “The Everlasting Trope: Battle Couple”
In Other News: Twin Birth Story
Okay so this isn’t usually the sort of blog post I write (and it is also the reason I haven’t written one in a long time) but when I found out I was pregnant with my “fourth” and ever-so-casually went to my first prenatal appointment–I mean, none of this is new to me by now–allContinue reading “In Other News: Twin Birth Story”
2019 in Books
Well, this wasn’t my best year for reading. I had shimmering visions of reading two or three times as many, but things both good (writing!) and challenging (a move) managed to interfere. Here is the somewhat shorter than usual list: Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers: A Lord Peter Whimsey murder mystery. I don’t reallyContinue reading “2019 in Books”
20 Reading Questions
So I am very, very tired (I have a 3 year old, an 18 month old, and I am in my first trimester, you see) but I wanted to write something today so I decided to do a bit of a more straightforward post. I saw this “20 Reading Questions” meme on twitter, and IContinue reading “20 Reading Questions”
Philosophy in Fantasy
Fantasy novels almost always come with some philosophy mixed in. Sometimes it’s just as light as two cloves of garlic in the dish, because that taste was never meant to be the star…sometimes it’s as pungent as thoum. Thoum is made of nothing but raw garlic, oil, lemon and salt. It will clear out yourContinue reading “Philosophy in Fantasy”
Currently Reading
Thanks to my project-loving husband, I now have a literal ‘currently reading shelf.’ He was feeling antsy, and desperate for a project for which no materials would need to be purchased. Thankfully we had 3 little wood crates left over from the shoe-storage solution he built a year ago. From them he made a lovelyContinue reading “Currently Reading”
On Tropes and Subversions Thereof
In case it isn’t already obvious, I like to analyze tropes. Whether or not I do it effectively is another question altogether, but I am fascinated by what draws certain people to certain tropes. What makes one person roll their eyes, stirs deeply the heart of another. What makes me shrug, might make you swoon.Continue reading “On Tropes and Subversions Thereof”
The Everlasting Trope: The “Crew”
Ah, the “Crew.” Think The Magnificent Seven or The Seven Samurai. Or Firefly. Ocean’s 11. Take your pick. I know there are a few more recent fantasy-type novels which feature this trope. The rag-tag band. A motley crew. A found family of misfits. So on and so forth. This trope is very hit-or-miss for meContinue reading “The Everlasting Trope: The “Crew””
To-Read 2018
This is not a comprehensive list, but just a smattering of the things I am going to try to prioritize this year: Middlemarch, George Eliot: Last year’s “Big Book” was The Brothers Karamazov. This year I will endeavor to make it through this behemoth. I know precious little about it, other than that the authorContinue reading “To-Read 2018”
J. L. Odom 