It's finally happened. A rant. But I can't help it; this just pissed me off!
So it's 9:30 in the morning. I've just woken up, I sleepily turn on Star Trek: Voyager as a procrastination method and I'm trying to ignore how much homework I have. I settle in on Facebook, enjoying my episode and the phone rings. And I'm thinking, "Of course, I get settled in, so the phone rings."
"Hello?"
"This. Message. Is. For. [we'll call her Stacy Bouqet]. If. You. Are. Stacy Bouqet. Please. Press. 1. If. You. Are. Not. Stacy Bouqet. Please. Press. 2." I hate telemarketing machines. I press 2.
Before I go on, here's something you might want to know. I've been a telemarketer. I worked in my private, christian high school (for $10.75--GOD, I miss those days--dinner was provided too...) calling alumni and "friends" of the school to ask for money and I got shouted at, screamed at, and told priest molestation stories. I don't think my high school actually has any "friends" and most of the alumni hate it too. And now, in college, I work in Admissions, calling prospective students and telling them how awesome it is here and I get yelled at by angry, over-protective parents, or asked awkward questions about our policies on the "Muslims and the homosexuals" (bashes head against desk). So I feel telemarketers. I still don't like them, but I try to be nice, because they have one of the shittiest jobs on the planet.
Back to my story: I FINALLY get a person on the line to tell them, no really, I am NOT Stacy Bouqet, which I have told you before, and I would really appreciate you taking me off your list.
The FIRST thing I hear on the phone is, "...probably the only white person working here."
"Hello?" I say
"Can I talk to Stacy Bouqet?"
"She doesn't live here." Okay, yeah, that could have been nicer, but I'd just woken up, and it takes me about fifteen minutes to be a nice person in the morning. I was still at minute 5.
"....you're not rude." She says.
I couldn't believe it. I'm thinking, "Does she know I can hear her? Well, let's find out!"
"Thank you!" I said a bit louder, "I'm sorry, but you've called here before and--" And she hung up on me.
Seriously? Why must people be rude? Maybe I wasn't the nicest I could have been, but I didn't start the conversation off with "probably the only white person working here." I don't care if you hate your job; the nicer you are to people the nicer, most of the time, they are to you. It's common sense.
I cannot wait for them to call back again. 'Cause they will. And I will be ready.
AJ
P.S. A review of "A Storm of Swords" is forthcoming within the next month or so, hopefully. It will depend on how busy school work gets!
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
"A Clash of Kings" by GRRM
Hello all! On my recent choral venture to the Lone Star State (the Space Cows say hi), I finished George R. R. Martin's "A Clash of Kings."
Image courtesy of George R.R. Martin's Website (http://www.georgerrmartin.com/), Bantam Hardcover Edition, 1999.
"A Clash of Kings" is the anticipated sequel to "A Game of Thrones," following the story lines of several different families, all warring for the right to rule the Seven Kingdoms. The family Stark wars against the family Lannister for rights to rule in the North. Two brothers battle for the throne. A young girl wanders through a strange country with her dragons, trying to make her way home so she can take back her rightful kingdom.
So, basically, there's a lot going on.
I enjoyed this book, though not as much as the first one. I found some story lines (i.e. Arya's and Jon's) a little....slow, personally. I dreaded coming upon one of them and seriously considered skipping a few of them (though I didn't). The further you get into those particular story lines, you can tell that GRRM is trying to set up something very important for the future, building some anticipation (for example, the continuing theme of wolves in Arya's story line--I wonder where that's going?), but that doesn't really make it any more interesting for me.
I was upset that Robb wasn't more in this book. He's a key player, but has maybe two chapters. Not that I'm really interested in reading a lot of battle chapters, but it would have been nice to know what was going on in his head and at his meetings during certain events. Instead, you learn what he's doing through other characters, mainly Caitlyn and Tyrion. Daenerys was also sorely lacking in this books--being one of my favorite characters in the series, I looked forward to reading her chapters, but they were few and far between. Despite that, however, the chapters from her POV in the book were mostly action-packed and really forwarded her story line.
The highlights of this book were definitely Tyrion's, Daenerys's, Sansa's, Bran's, and Davos' story line. These were the most riveting, the one's you looked forward to, the most action-packed. I found the other 4 POV's featured a bit slower and harder to get through. Tyrion's constant clashes with Cersei and the rest of his family really make you root for him.
My overall rating is: 4.5 Stars. I took half a star off for pacing problems. I found many chapters very slow and chewy...and not in a delicious nougaty way, more like...dry meat chewy. But despite some pacing problems, it's an enjoyable book. I would definitely recommend it!
I am starting "A Storm of Swords," the third book in the series and will hopefully finish it within the next month or so to review. I'm also planning on reviewing Madonna's new music video, and I'll be reading a good deal of 19th century British Literature, so I will be putting some reviews up of what I read, as I read it. So be expecting those within the next couple of months. I also just pre-ordered Melanie Rawn's "Touchstone," coming out February 28th, 2012--a little birthday present for myself.
Happy reading!
AJ
"A Clash of Kings" is the anticipated sequel to "A Game of Thrones," following the story lines of several different families, all warring for the right to rule the Seven Kingdoms. The family Stark wars against the family Lannister for rights to rule in the North. Two brothers battle for the throne. A young girl wanders through a strange country with her dragons, trying to make her way home so she can take back her rightful kingdom.
So, basically, there's a lot going on.
I enjoyed this book, though not as much as the first one. I found some story lines (i.e. Arya's and Jon's) a little....slow, personally. I dreaded coming upon one of them and seriously considered skipping a few of them (though I didn't). The further you get into those particular story lines, you can tell that GRRM is trying to set up something very important for the future, building some anticipation (for example, the continuing theme of wolves in Arya's story line--I wonder where that's going?), but that doesn't really make it any more interesting for me.
I was upset that Robb wasn't more in this book. He's a key player, but has maybe two chapters. Not that I'm really interested in reading a lot of battle chapters, but it would have been nice to know what was going on in his head and at his meetings during certain events. Instead, you learn what he's doing through other characters, mainly Caitlyn and Tyrion. Daenerys was also sorely lacking in this books--being one of my favorite characters in the series, I looked forward to reading her chapters, but they were few and far between. Despite that, however, the chapters from her POV in the book were mostly action-packed and really forwarded her story line.
The highlights of this book were definitely Tyrion's, Daenerys's, Sansa's, Bran's, and Davos' story line. These were the most riveting, the one's you looked forward to, the most action-packed. I found the other 4 POV's featured a bit slower and harder to get through. Tyrion's constant clashes with Cersei and the rest of his family really make you root for him.
My overall rating is: 4.5 Stars. I took half a star off for pacing problems. I found many chapters very slow and chewy...and not in a delicious nougaty way, more like...dry meat chewy. But despite some pacing problems, it's an enjoyable book. I would definitely recommend it!
I am starting "A Storm of Swords," the third book in the series and will hopefully finish it within the next month or so to review. I'm also planning on reviewing Madonna's new music video, and I'll be reading a good deal of 19th century British Literature, so I will be putting some reviews up of what I read, as I read it. So be expecting those within the next couple of months. I also just pre-ordered Melanie Rawn's "Touchstone," coming out February 28th, 2012--a little birthday present for myself.
Happy reading!
AJ
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Rating Criteria--What I'm Looking For!
So, I thought people would be interested to know where I get my rating system from. 5 stars? What does that mean? What do they represent? I'm glad I asked! On my way back from my recent venture to the Lone Star State, I broke it down:
1 Star for Creativity/Originality
1 Star for Character development/design
1 Star for Plot development/design
1 Star for Pacing
and 1 Star for Detail
These five things represent the 5 most important factors in a book, in my opinion. Without these things, I find a book a little dry and unbelievable. So when I'm reviewing books, I'm looking carefully for these aspects in the novel.
So! Having said all that, I'm working on a review of "A Clash of Kings" the second book in the "Song of Ice and Fire" series by George R.R. Martin and it should be up within the next couple of days!
1 Star for Creativity/Originality
1 Star for Character development/design
1 Star for Plot development/design
1 Star for Pacing
and 1 Star for Detail
These five things represent the 5 most important factors in a book, in my opinion. Without these things, I find a book a little dry and unbelievable. So when I'm reviewing books, I'm looking carefully for these aspects in the novel.
So! Having said all that, I'm working on a review of "A Clash of Kings" the second book in the "Song of Ice and Fire" series by George R.R. Martin and it should be up within the next couple of days!
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