luck
The Neverending Story
This week on Novel Ideas, we discuss The Neverending Story by Michael Ende, a fantasy/YA classic that many people remember fondly from their childhood. Of course, we never read it as children. Listen to the episode to hear us talk about classic v. modern YA, Mary Sue characters, fate and luck and how they effect problem solving, and world building. And possibly feminism. We also discuss generic hero boys, Fantastican revisionism, unannoying Tom Bombadil, and the power of love.
The music bump is Frank Mantooth’s version of “Imagination,” a tune that I used for a previous episode but didn’t remember until it was too late. If you never listen again, I won’t blame you.
The Neverending Story – Three Dub
Recommendations:
A story full of ideas and imagination that isn’t fully developed and ultimately goes nowhere.
Gabs: 6/10 for the first half, 3/10 for the second half.
Ben: 3/10 for going 200 pages past the point where I cared.
This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged 3 dub, classic v. modern YA, deus ex machina, Ende's Game, Fantastican revisionism, fate, friendship, gender balance, generic hero boy, high v. low fantasy, imagination, luck, Mary Sue, Michael Ended, motivations, Novel Ideas drinking game, overpowered characters, power of love, pride, reader requests, set up without resolution, SO MANY IDEAS, static characters, The Neverending Story, translations, unannoying Tom Bombadil, unintended consequences, unnecessary half a book, world building, year in review.
The Joy Luck Club
As promised, Novel Ideas returns with episode number two for this week: The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. This is a book that is not easily summarized, as its narrative follows eight different women through various episodes in their life, not particularly linked by any continuous plot threads. Listen to the episode to hear us talk about genre vagueness, embarrassing parents, marriage, and character authenticity. We also discuss losing your mojo, baby hatin’, murder by anorexia, and what really defines your “second best bed.” And of course, feminism, though through a very positive lens this time.
The music bump is “Mah-Jong” by Chicago (yes, that Chicago).
The Joy Luck Club – China Is Not America
Recommendations:
Ben: 8/10 One point for each cotagonist.
Gabs: 9/10 Just as enjoyable as Ender’s Game, but in a very different way. Also gets a gold star for being full of interesting, complicated women.
This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged "women's" fiction, Amy Tan, authenticity, baby hatin', character complexity, communication barriers, cultural divides, disappointing children, east v. west, embarrassing parents, family, feminism, gender balance, generational divides, genre vagueness, historical perspective, losing your mojo, luck, mother-daughter relationships, murder by anorexia, second best bed, septagonists, The Joy Luck Club, Tiger moms, types of marriages, unequal equality, visiting the dark farm, we are not Chinese.
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