Gay Soap Opera: barrier of language or...

[reviews_and_ramblings]

... how my twisted humor can be sometime misinsterpreted?

Today I stumbled upon a post by Carol Lynne: http://ohgetagrip.blogspot.com/2009/05/pros-of-series-writing.html. It was a nice post on how to build a series to "captivate" the reader book after book. I believe Carol Lynne is quite a master in this tecnique, since I'm an eager reader of her two continuous series, Cattle Valley and Campus Cravings. I tagged the series "Gay Soap Operas" and for me it was a big compliment, since every single book is a little story in a biggest overview, and while reading a book you are giving details on the life of the other inhabitants of the community (to work better these series have to be set in a small community, like a village or a small town, where everyone knows everyone). A book could be better than another, but in the end you buy and read all of them since you don't know if something is happened in a specific book to one of your favorite character (that usually makes a small cameo appereance here and there) and above all you don't know if an important detail for the story of a future character is given.

What surprised me is that Carol Lynne at first was hurt from my tagging her books Gay Soap Operas, and I didn't know it, and it wasn't absolutely my aim to offend her... for me it was a compliment! I have tags as "Breeches Rippers" (that actually was not my invention, but it was born from a chat with Erastes); years ago if you said to a romance author that her books were Bodice Rippers, it was a big offense; now historical gay romance authors are happy when I tag their books Breeches Rippers... see how the perception changes?

But what happened with Carol made me think... when you read that I tag a book Gay Soap Opera, you give a negative connotation to my words?

Anyway I wrote this post for two main reason: 1) to reaffirm that I don't post about book I don't like. I have 622 books in my reading list, some of them I haven't had the time to read and some of them I don't like at first impression, and they slid down the reading list. If I post on a book is since I liked it or at least I found something interesting in it. 2) to reassure readers and authors that it's not easy to offend me (even if I had my rants and all of you know how badly I can react to them); but if you don't like something I wrote, please tell me, I'm more than ready to a) explain you my reason b) listen to yours.

Comments

[cornflake2912.livejournal.com]

Hi there :) I am quite new in your LJ and I really enjoy all of your posts. What I wonder was: Have you ever written a review for Deviations by Chris Owen? Or did you read and not like it? I was looking for your review and couldn't find one.

Sorry if this is off topic.

All the best from Germany!

cornflake

[cornflake2912.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I agree with Antonella about the Soap Opera. It has indeed a negative touch... at least for me.

Have a nice weekend!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Mmm... see, I didn't realize it. For me it was absolutely not negative, but probably it's since I saw few soap operas and the one I saw, I liked. Elisa

[cornflake2912.livejournal.com]

Maybe we have to define first: What exactly is a Soap Opera? QAF? Dante's Cove? Hm...

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

As the World Turns, Days of our Lives, General Hospital... the daytime ones, I believe. I haven't seen QAF, but it was a night time, right? so probably it was more like Friends, a tv fiction? Elisa

[cornflake2912.livejournal.com]

You haven't seen QAF? Oh my, you are missing something :) You have to watch it! It will open your eyes in a lot of ways ;) You are reading the most amazing books but give your eyes a rest and enjooooy Queer as folk :) I promise, you won't regret it.

@ Soap Opera: Yes! Like Friends and Sex and the City I guess?

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

The problem is that 1) I really haven't time to do anything else other than reading and blogging ;-) 2) a bird told me that QAF has not an happily ever after :-( Elisa

[cornflake2912.livejournal.com]

Never enough time, never enough. I wish for more, too, sigh!

QAF has a happy ending in a kind of way. But it's not that important... the characters are so interesting and very well developed that you will enjoy the ride so much, that you will understand the ending. It just has to be that way, you know?

Just like Brokeback Mountain: The movie doesn't end good, but it will affect you so deeply that it will stay in your mind forever.

Also books which have a happy ending are wonderful and nice to read, but I guess you will confirm that the one with a sad or not so good ending are the one you will always remember. Because it touched your heart.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I read the first Deviations when I still didn't have a LJ, so I didn't review it. Actually I have the four books, but BDSM is not my thing, and so I never read the following one. Can't say that I didn't like them, since really I never start to read them, and truth be told, usually I like Chris Owen's work. So maybe sooner or later I will re-read the first book and the following one. Elisa

[cornflake2912.livejournal.com]

I just wondered, because actually they seem to be one of the most popular books by Chris Owen, right? I am very interested in BDSM books and I am reading your reviews about those books eagerly. Thanks!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

> I just wondered, because actually they seem to be one of the most popular books by Chris Owen, right?

Yes they are ;-) And from what I read in the first one, and all the various comments around, they are quite good. So if you trust a second hand opinion (means that it is what I listen around), you can give them a try. Elisa

[cornflake2912.livejournal.com]

Oh no, I already read them a few thousand times, because they are fantastic!! But I would love to read a review :)