Thursday, November 8, 2012

That title?  It's my new favorite phrase thanks to the Disney movie Wreck It Ralph.  Have you seen it yet?

It's stupendous.  Mainly because of the storytelling.  I wasn't one of those blown away by the humor (which relied on puns that went over the kiddunk's heads), or by the political correctness (it's Disney, 'nuff said).  I was charmed by the "finishing line."  And the world building.

Okay, okay.  Yes, this is a book site.  Why am I talking about movies?  I'm getting there...

We know you all read (readers of the world, UNITE.  Bangarang!), and some of you write too.  But did you know that once you cross that line between writing angsty (yet strangely efficient) poetry to novel-length fiction that you will NEVER be able to watch a movie or read a book again without seeing the mechanics?

Yeah, NO ONE ever tells you that.  When you write stories, you can't go back to being fooled by the man behind the curtain.  You ARE THE MAN behind the curtain.  There's no being gullible.  You see the minions working all the strings, and then you imagine BIGGER minions with stronger strings.  You see it all.

But there's hope!  Yes, there's hope.  Every once in a while you read a book that makes you forget that there are strings.

Hello, sweet DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT
You see a movie, and you think it's going in one direction, and you say, "Okay, this is the 'all is lost' minion stringing me along...I see you, minion!  Let's just skip to the end because I'm bored now." And then something magical happens.  The story glitches.  (Glitching is good now, friends).  You forget your way.  You're at a traffic light and you have no idea how you got there.

You are quite happy to be an oversized, smelly oaf riding on the back of a frosting-coated race car on a sugar rope race track.  And you can smell the mentos.

You gotsta love a story that does that.  Ralph, you Wrecked It!!

8 comments:

Kristan said...

I can't wait to see Wreck It Ralph, and even more so now that you've gushed about it! Also, um, totally stealing DOBAS from you.

As for the minions... I guess I gotta make sure mine are outfitted with the latest greatest hi-tech camoflauge. ;P

Stephanie Mooney said...

I love it when the strings disappear, when a story seems more like it's been discovered than invented. That's the best.

Can't wait to see Wreck It Ralph. And I'm absolutely itching to read Days of Blood and Starlight. :)

Unknown said...

@Kristan...yes, hi-tch camo may just do the trick. I have every faith in your tricksy-ness.

@Steph...thank you so much for lending me your book that I have lovingly spoken to, knitted a sweater for, and now made a comfy spot for while it waits for its owner.

Michelle Santiago said...

i recently saw the trailer for wreck it ralph. it didn't seem like a movie i'd enjoy so i dimissed... hmm...

i have not read daughter of smoke and bone but i do have a copy. i am contemplating just buying book 2 since many have been giving the series high praise.

-michelle

Unknown said...

@Chelley...hey, it might not be your thing. And that's cool.

But as for DOSAB and DOBAS, I think Laini Taylor is one of the best storytellers in this generation. I'd be surprised if you didn't like her series. Go to it, darlin'!!

Sara (of the Page Sage) said...

It's official, I need to see Wreck It Ralph! I definitely know what you mean about the "strings." It's the best books that make you forget them until you finish.

Unknown said...

@Sara...I hope you like it! And then we must discuss the genius of Sarah Silverman's character voicing (or whatever it's called).

Ashley @ Book Labyrinth said...

So excited to read this one!!

One book I remember like that is 'The Girl of Fire & Thorns'... I remember reading it and going "wow, I didn't see it going that way" .. which, let's face it, when you read as much as we do is rare.

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Stephanie, Ingrid, Sarah & Kristan — we read, write, discuss and celebrate Young Adult lit.


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The Bitter Kingdom
Wild Awake
The Raven Boys
Mind Games
Eleanor and Park
The Shattered Mountain
The Shadow Cats
Transparent
Froi of the Exiles
Days of Blood & Starlight
Every Day
Jellicoe Road
Finnikin of the Rock
Guitar Notes
The Dead-Tossed Waves
The Crown of Embers
New House 5: How A Dorm Becomes A Home
Bitterblue
The Fault in Our Stars
Pretties


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