Child 44:
by Tom Rob Smith
““—Isn’t this how it starts? You have a cause you believe in, a cause worth dying for. Soon, it’s a cause worth killing for. Soon, it’s a cause worth killing innocent people for.” Continue reading
Tag Archives: Mystery
Amelia Peabody Series:
Funny Things I Love About Asian Dramas
20 May
Random collection of funny things I love about Asian Dramas:
- That their plots can end up so intricate that they need maps.
Seriously, an honest-to-God sample plot might read:
“Instead of a love triangle, we bring you the love hexagon where two people are murderers (of each other’s parents, though they don’t know that), one is just coming back from America after being falsely accused of the others’ crimes, two girls are sisters but love the same man even though two other men love them better because that one man loves the girl who married his best friend for his money . . . . Oh and there is golden treasure from the ancient Joseon period hidden in a haunted well and protected by a bad guy who knows some badass kungfu and is protected by the mayor.”
- The fact that only really evil people or really cool people who studied in America (or just abroad) bring out guns.
Someone brings out a gun and everyone freezes in shock ~ apparently only trigger-happy American-trained people would ever bring a gun to the knife/pipe/bomb/chemical weapon fights that they usually have in the shows. There are two reactions: “Soooo Cool!” or “Do you want to die? Why would you even pack that!?! We’re all going to die!” The number of times I’ve watched a crime drama where all the police run out to a terrorist event with a baton and knife, but NO GUN, amuses me. And the really cool stars don’t need a gun at all. Apparently, it’s still more respected to fight mano-o-mano there.
- The Fact that Everyone is Remarkably Oblivious To People Tailing Them.
It doesn’t matter if you are a bad guy or a good guy, no one notices people tailing them. Driving right on my bumper in a giant yellow/orange van with ginormous logos on the side? Don’t see you. Sitting on my porch under a blue umbrella when I walk up into my house? Don’t see you. Wearing a white suit in a dark place hiding behind a skinny pole? Don’t see you. Standing creepily right behind me in the dark glaring? Don’t see you. Walking two feet behind me down seven different streets wearing a purple dress with giant orange polka dots? Don’t see you. It’s like watching a baby hide their face but leave everything else exposed – except the adult actually can’t see them!
Book Recommendation: “The Amelia Peabody Series”
4 MayAmelia Peabody Series:
by Elizabeth Peters
“A dismal silence fell. “It looks bad,” Cyrus muttered. “Now what do we do?”
Everyone looked at me. It was most gratifying.”
Elizabeth Peters’ wonderfully comedic series is one of my all-time favorite historical reads ~ I have most of the books, and I love re-reading them all. Amelia herself is a snarky, but practical feminist; she insists the men dress up for dinner, but strides through ancient tombs in her self-designed pant suits. A woman determined to survive on her own, Amelia takes off alone on an adventure round the world to the utter horror of her family members. It isn’t clear who is more surprised when she then falls in love with a determined, but surprisingly romantic Emerson–her or her disapproving brother. Continue reading
“She was free in her wildness. She was a wanderess, a drop of free water. She belonged to no man and to no city” ~ Roman Payne
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