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The bigger problem is, unfortunately, that AIG is tied up in every other insurance company out there. Without getting into too much insurance detail, either AIG reinsures another company, or the other company reinsures AIG. Reinsurance is like insurance for insurance companies--If AIG goes down--well, it could get VERY interesting.
Insurance professionals have been saying for at least a year that in the soft, weak insurance market that at least one seemingly stable company was going to go down--every year we lower premiums, and it just can't continue. I see lots of accounts where the premium for the account =100 (for example) and the losses for the prior year = 150. If you're bringing in 100, and paying out 150 every year--well, you can see what happens.
The fact that AM Best downgraded AIG is a BIG, BIG deal. I'll be watching the WSJ very carefully.
Do you need to worry about your personal insurance? No. You'll be fine. But isn't it interesting that after Eliot Spitzer did so much damage to AIG that the NY insurance commissioner is encouraging just the same behavior that Spitzer was litigating against? Hmm.
M
Oh, I just don't have the energy to write individual reviews.
Death Angel, Linda Howard : Yay! This gives me hope that my favorite authors can have a slump and then come out with a good book. There's been lots of discussion that this is Howard's best book in a long time, and I have to agree. Howard writes great dangerous heroes, and Simon's up there with my favorites--a truly morally ambiguous man. I liked the heroine a lot too, I think she did a good job of making an unsympathetic person sympathetic. And unlike Blair, I didn't want to beat her to death with a bat. (Just hated that Howard character. Just hated her.) Yes, there's some stupid stuff in here, and no, this isn't as good as her best books, but a good read.
Catch of the Day, Kristin Higgins and Just One of the Guys, Kristin Higgins: Catch of the Day pissed me off. Both are romance novels written in first person, which is a frustrating POV a lot of the time. Definitely in the case of Catch of the Day. Especially since the hero didn't really make an appearance until about halfway into the book and he really didn't show up a lot after that! Just One of the Guys was much better, and I would recommend it. However, please note that whoever designed the covers and wrote the back blurbs clearly didn't read the books, because the dogs are random and not anything like the dogs in the actual books and the cover blurbs don't really match the novels either.
Scream for Me, Karen Rose: Another recommended book, this one a romantic suspense with serial killers and the usual horrific stuff that happens. It was okay. I just don't like these kind of books. At some point you just wonder how much more "original" an author writing about serial killers can be. I know they have to make their serial killers "more horrible" than anyone else's, but uck. I don't like that.
Uncommon Magic, Laura Kinsale: I don't know how I missed this one, but apparently I did. The thing I love and hate about Kinsale is that she doesn't feel a need to tie up all her loose ends and explain everything. I liked Faelan and Roddy, and especially Faelan (rowr), but I'm not going to pretend that the supernatural stuff was, well, um, well--okay, let's be honest. It was stupid. If you liked the plotline of My Sweet Folly, this is in the same vein. Without the letter writing.
Meredith
I thought that was pretty funny. Wasn't it Family Guy where Meg thought you could get pregnant if a guy stuck his penis in her ear?
Maybe that's what Bristol thought could make you pregnant. I know we are "supposed to leave the candidate's children out of the race" and lord knows 17 year olds have their own minds about things, but I do think her pregnancy--when you take into concideration Palin's aggressive abstinence policy--is fair game in that sense.
Here's hoping I didn't jump the gun on Kirsten's post--which will be ten times more awesome than mine. I just keep picturing Palin's discussion with her daughter ("didn't I tell you not to mess around with boys that way?" "Mom, I know, it just fell in there! I didn't know what to do!")
Contrast this with my mom's more liberal but far more effective method of "abstinence training", and I quote:
"M, if you have sex, use a condom. In fact, use two. Because with your luck, the condom won't work. And you will RUIN, I mean RUIN, your ENTIRE LIFE and the boy's life and the child's life and my life and your brothers life and everyone will be so horribly disappointed in you. Plus, it's going to hurt that first time. Like, a lot. Really, really bad."
Yeah, that was way more effective than "you're a bad person, and you'll get VD." I was a pretty old virgin when I decided to "get it over with". Palin had already popped out a couple kids by that age.
M
Meredith
http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/i
This novel was recommended by Ann Somerville in her comment on M/M fiction. I sort of like Ann Somerville, not all her stuff appeals but she has a short story on her website called "Slipping Under" that I thought was a real "thinker" of a story. (That story was in my list of "should reads" but I'm not sure who rec'd it. Not totally worksafe, but the kind of story you'll spend some time thinking about afterwards. Some serious social commentary in that one.)
Anyway, I've gotten frustrated with the urban fantasy and romance that's been coming out lately and thought I'd try something new. Somerville talks about Nunn like she's the goddess of m/m fiction. While I wouldn't wholeheartedly agree, this novel was worth the $9 price tag for the ebook. I wouldn't normally pay that much, not after being so freaking pissed off at paying that for Sara McCarthy's Caine's Reckoning, which was as crappy an erotic novel as I've ever read, btw.
Anyway, to spare the delicate feelings of those who read my LJ who have zero interest in M/M romance--though technically I'd call this slash--I'm putting the LJ cut here:
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I'm giving this a B+ but be aware this is a 300 page single spaced adobe pdf file. I'm guessing that; would be about a 600 page book. Leave your weekend open. :-)
I'm not Kenyon's biggest fan. A couple of the books I really liked (Night Play and Seize the Night) and a lot of the books fell into the "meh" or lower category (though the Penicula joke is still very memorable--from Valerian's book) but in general I'd pretty much given up on this series and hadn't read the last five or so books. But they had this one at the library and I admit to being interested in what was going to happen to Acheron, and why she needed like 700 pages to make it happen. I wanted to know if he ended up with that one chick from one of the other novels (I think she was one of Appolymi's handmaidens?) but no, he ends up with a human, though at least she's greek, right?
This was a slog, make no mistake. And it almost got thrown against the wall. Kenyon's always tried to put a lot of pop-culture refs in her stories and she always makes a big deal about Acheron being goth, but I always got the impression her interpretation of "goth" was someone who shopped a lot at Hot Topic and this book definitely confirms it.
Here's where I checked out completely and almost quit:
Anyway, the book is 3/4 Acheron's life history (picture Zsadist, only with gods) and 1/4 half-assed romance that is not really worth your time. Having said that, there were parts I enjoyed, especially the evolution of his relationship with the heifer goddess Artemis. I thought she did a good job with that. Disappointing was the realization that the series is not complete, which frankly, surprised me. Acheron's happily ever after should be the end of the series. I can't say I care about Nick's ass any more.
Borrow from the library if you have to--but you've been warned.
M
Ok, so as of this Thursday I will have been unemployed for two weeks. The LR is painted, the foyer is almost done, and there's been a lot of interviewing, otherwise I might have gotten more done at home.
I'm getting to the point where I'm feeling pressure, though. If this is anything like my last job hunt, I will get multiple offers. But what to do?
Company one: I interviewed with them last time and they made me an offer. I was concerned about the working environment and my boss, and the other opportunity was more interesting. Fast forward two years, and another interview. New department head, seems nice, has good reputation. Another manager from another office sat in and it was pretty much hate at first sight for me. Much discussion by that manager about how the company needs someone who is not going to throw a hissy fit and go behind people's backs when they are told they can't do something--hmm. Does this mean they have someone on staff like this or just let one go? I was also told that if you are the kind of person who likes the computer systems to actually work, you will hate it here. They don't write the type of business I enjoy, and that's a problem. Also they are about a twenty minute walk from the train station, making my commute each way over 1:15. Pluses: this company has a lot of turnover, so there's a chance to move up if you stick around. Also, really like some of the co-workers--I know them socially. I was told that the guy I hated LOVED me and they are doing the background check so my guess is that like last time, I will get an offer after just the one interview.
Company two: Start up that's only been doing business since May. Small office, I'd be the third person hired. Able to work from home at least part of the time; four weeks vacay to start. Really clicked with the other two employees and the guy who would be my boss. Challenge is that this is not the best time to start a business. I get the impression this company may not be around for long. Who knows. There will be a lot of pressure to write business, since I won't be inheriting everything--all from scratch. Completely paperless. I've had one interview, and two phone interviews, one with the head of the company, who said his boss was "disappointed" in the amount of business written by the new company. This would be an opportunity, if the company can stay afloat, to move up fast and get involved in the type of work I eventually want to do (product development and legal). The only thing is you'd really be fighting to stay in the game, and that the head of the company asked me what date my severance halted. I'm not sure why he asked that but it bothered me.
Company three: This is the job all my former collegues would like me to take. I met the CEO a few months ago and was really impressed with him. I clicked with the guy who would be my boss. The company has a great reputation. Here's the catch: I would be all by myself in the Chicago office. Most of the Chicago business is written out of somewhere else, but they feel like they need a face in Chicago to really ramp up their production. Also, the other people in the Chicago office--other departments--are so quiet. I didn't really click with them. Concerned I would be the odd man out both in Chicago and in regards to the full team in the other location. Lots of talk about how stable the company was, seems like I heard that before, from my prior employer. I'm well aware if they laid people off, as the newbie I'd be first to go. They are flying me out for another interview. Not paperless; but the company is going to be around a long time.
Company four: Came out of left field today, I have an interview on Wednesday. Good reputation, but has some questionable employees--who knows.
If you have any comments, I'd be glad for them. In this market it's hard to know where to go--everyone's struggling. I'm lucky to have so many choices--most companies haven't started laying off people and no one is leaving their jobs right now to try something new. I'm tempted to take the job that offers me the most $ and vacation and suck it up for a year or two, and hopefully then the market will have shifted to something better.
M
So Thursday I came into work and was immediately laid off. The head of the office called me in, shut the door, and I saw the HR person and I exclaimed: Oh, crap.
Because "thank god" isn't really the right thing to say in that instance, right?
My employer was very generous, and E and I have been here before (multiple times) so we are totally prepared from a financial standpoint. Now it's just an issue of getting enthused about another job, and putting out the feelers to get one. Given that it has never taken me more than a month to get a new job in my field, I'm not so worried.
One of the pluses of getting let go as opposed to just changing jobs--everyone wants to help you find a new job, there's no resentment or disappointment in your leaving to go somewhere else.
Good news for you, though--Book Reviews forthcoming. I finally have time.
M
I have literally had zero time to do anything lately. This is becoming a major problem, as evidenced by the spazzy way that Sullivan has been behaving (Ozzy's always confused, so that's nothing new). E's been out the door before 7, home at about 8 it seems (last night he came home at 9!). I leave at 7, home by 5:30, snarf down some grilled chicken and rice, out the door for spin class, home, shower, crash, the poor dogs. We're never home. Poor us. I hope this is not a portent of things to come.
P.S. Those who know, E's 39th b-day is today, please feel free to harass and/or drop him a Happy Birthday. I cannot BELIEVE my husband is 39. That is amazing. That just can't be right. Of course, he never looks his age. I did manage to find time to make cupcakes yesterday for said birthday which right now is a major accomplishment.
Anyway, megastoat did another book meme:
I discovered today by Googling my first and last name, that my Livejournal was the first returned result. Which bothers me. So I'm making it private/friends only. I don't understand how that works since my Name isn't anywhere on my livejournal!!
Something to think about....
M
In my opinion, this is the best romance novel written in the past 20 years. Bar none.
( Read the review )So, anyway, Cruisie's sort of known for having more normal sized heroines, and for taking fairy-tales and twisting them into her novels. I believe "Bet Me" is the whole Frog/Prince story. It's by far her best book.
( Read the review )
This may in fact be my favorite romance novel of all time, kicking "Flowers from the Storm" off it's perch. And that book has been my favorite since college, so that's really saying something. This book never gets old.
( Read the Review )These books inspire a lot of passion in readers, myself included. And considering how many romance novels come out every year (a whole heck of a lot) that's really saying something.
I love the author picture on the back inside cover. Her innocent, white-bread demeanor is an amazing counterpoint to the content of these novels.
These are vampire books--no other supernatural critters involved, except for the lessers, which I will get to discussing later. These are vampires done thug-style, as if the undead were a bunch of massive, ripped, viciously macho men who wore only leather and listened only to rap music.
Doesn't bear much resemblance to Anne Rice's fancy-pants vampires, does it?
Oh, it's more complicated than that, and she clearly thought a lot about how she wanted her world to function, and how she would differentiate her vampires from all the others out there.
She does a good job of that. Some of her ideas are creative as all get-out. Her concept of "transition"--that vampires don't actually become, well, vampires, until they are around 25 years of age--is pretty clever, especially considering that her not-yet-vampires are asexual, scrawny man-boys that a 98-lb weakling could take down. The idea that vampires only drink from their own kind--I like that too.
Ward's vampires are morally questionable at best--which I love. The fact that recreational drug use is casually accepted in her novels is an interesting departure. (Call it what you will, but what they smoke is definitely the vampire version of marijuana.) Some of them drink a lot. Their sex lives are extreme, in some cases, disturbing. One of them is seriously into self-mutilation (or at least a good flogging by someone who cares).
But, oh, they're so damn cool. There's one scene in "Lover Eternal" where one of the characters pulls a tootsie pop out of his long leather coat and sticks it in his mouth.
The visual alone is wonderful--and the way she writes it, well, seems natural and very real.
A lot of what she writes feels very natural--their physical expressions, hand gestures, habitual motions--all ring true.
But…
As with all created worlds, there are issues. I personally HATE the names: Wrath, Rhage, Vishous, Phury, Zsadist, Tohrment.
I mean, really. I don't expect them to be named Bob, but still.
She also attempts to create a language for the vampires, which we see in phrases and individual words: some work, and some don't. The ones that work aren't based on anything but imagination. The ones that don’t: they are the words that "sort-of" sound like english, but are spelled differently (see names listed above for examples.)
Her use of the word "males" instead of men and "females" instead of women. It's a little jarring after a while.
Her villain plotline--and the villains themselves, called lessers (another word that I don't think works, simply because it is sort of an english word)--is excreable.
Sorry, JR Ward. I skip every chapter with these characters. They're just icky, and not in a fun way. And the sexual abuse angle of the Omega--it doesn't work, sorry.
And, oh, after reading the first book again, I realized that your male characters supposedly have NO body hair, but they still shave their faces. Huh?
I mentioned in an earlier post that JR Ward is starting to push the line with her use of "urban" slang. It's a tough thing to do, especially since it goes in and out of style so fast, it can make certain things feel dated.
What is fascinating to me, though, is that the first book started with an almost total focus on the love story. Her second book, was about half love story, 1/3 young vampire story, and 1/3 the pre-quel of "Lover Awakened". Her third book was evenly split between four or five different plotlines.
Wonder what the next one will be like.
Dark Lover: JR Ward
2005
Basic Premise: A reluctant vampire king fulfills the final wish of a murdered friend: to ease his half-human daughter through her vampire transition.
The introduction to JR Ward's world, this book deals mostly with setting the stage and telling the love story of Beth and Wrath. You get a taste of all the other vampires and start to invest emotionally in her tortured human cop, Butch--who is the star of the as-yet unreleased book coming next, by the way. Wrath and Beth are a good couple, not a lot of angst compared to many books: I felt this was a good book, but by no means the kind of book to obsess over.
4 out of 5: Vampire 101. Pros: Interesting characters, and Ward doesn't feel the need to explain herself all the time--you get to put the pieces together. Cons: Not as "hard" as the other books; see the other general criticisms above.
Lover Eternal: JR Ward
2006
Oh, she's bringing it on, now! Here's where I start to really get into her creation….
Basic Premise: A woman fighting life-threatening cancer enters an entirely new world after helping a teen who repeatedly calls in to the suicide hotline center she volunteers at. A vampire with a serious curse finds solace.
Oh, Rhage. How I would wax poetic on your wonderfulness as a romance novel hero. In my mind, you are Fabio at his most Fabio-ness, a stud among men.
(Ok, not everyone finds Fabio as good -looking as I do, but leave me my fantasy, please. And then scroll down to my earlier post on Fabio and go look at his painted covers from the 80s-90s, and join me in my Fabio love.)
Rhage is far from perfect, although his nickname is "Hollywood" for his "movie-star looks" (whatever that means). He's a sex addict. (and I don't mean that as a joke.) He's got a serious anger management problem. Occasionally, he turns into a man-eating dragon monster thingie.
I like Rhage so much that I accepted the fact that he breaks one of the cardinal rules of romance novels about 1/3 of the way through the book: I don't normally get past those sorts of things. I won't spoil it for you. You'll know when you read it.
I'm even going to go so far as to actually QUOTE parts of the book. I've got it bad for Rhage. His response to Mary when she worries about her ability to truly contribute emotionally to their relationship--he says (and this is not accurate, I'm sure) "Take everything. Take anything. But take SOMETHING." (aww.)
5 out of 5: A top ten romance novel for me. Pros: A seriously wrenching plotline, really scary relationship issues, and the introduction of John to the vampire universe. Cons: Ok, maybe the resolution doesn't work as well for me as it should. I'm willing to forgive and forget. For Rhage. But only for him.
Lover Awakened: JR Ward
2006
Oh, the paroxysms of joy people went into when this book came out! I have never seen so many people get so nuts about a book that they actually attack people who criticize it. (I made the mistake of posting a review on Amazon.com. Never again. I got fricking hate mail!)
Yeah, it's Laura Kinsale's "Shadow and the Star" all over again. I obsessed over that book when it came out, waaay back in 1991. It was my favorite book forever. So I guess I understand people thinking this is the best book of all time.
Why are we so obsessed with men who are sexually abused? What does that say about us? I mean, really?
Basic Premise: Well, this deserves a couple "basic premises", because it has two major plotlines. First, the love story: When an emotionally damaged vampire saves a woman who challenges his well-ordered, miserable life, he's forced to make a choice: continue dying inside, or let her in and allow himself to heal. The Second plotline: John finds a new family when the vampires bring him into their fold.
So, seriously, what's the deal? The deal is that in the two prior books, Zsadist is put out there as absolutely the scariest thing on two legs: even the vampires are afraid of him. As his brother Phury states, "He's not broken, he's ruined."
Well.
Yeah, this is completely heart-wrenching. The guy doesn't even have a name for his penis--he calls it "it" or "the thing". Sex--just the foreplay part--makes him vomit. (we saw that in the prior book, by the way.) He's a mess. Don't read it if you don't have a tissue handy. This is not a happy happy romantic story.
But John makes it all ok, because just when we think we can't take anymore of Z's pain, Ward gives us a chapter on John, and we can relax for a while. I love John--he'd better be getting a book of his own.
Be warned, though: Ward makes it clear in this book that she has no compunction about killing off beloved characters. Prepare yourself.
4 out of 5: I'm ducking right now, because someone is throwing things at me for not giving this a 5 out of 5. People are wacko about this book.
Pros: Heartwrenching romance, a great secondary plotline. Cons: I felt a little bit exploited at the end, to be honest. Maybe she took the sexual abuse angle just a little too far?
The next book is about Butch, the human, and Marissa, the former blood partner of Wrath--and it looks to be another great book. As long as there is more John, I'll be happy.
But JR Ward, couldn't you please have more Beth/Wrath and Mary/Rhage in your sequels? I felt like once their book was done, they just disappeared. It made me sad.
Happy reading
M