Book review - 'Beyond the Wildlands' by Lana Axe

 

Rating: 1/5 stars

Plot:

"An elf of the Wildlands recounts his adventures in this fantasy short story.

Jhinn, an elf from the wooded area known as the Wildlands, has lived an adventurous life. A master with a bow, he has joined forces with a human army to rid the forest of savage trolls. During training, he falls in love with a female warrior named Aurelle who has taken up her axe in defense of their homeland. After the battle, the pair journey together to begin new lives, though Jhinn prefers a life of crime.

Follow along as they embark on an adventure full of excitement, greed, and tragedy"

-from 'Beyond the Wildlands' on Goodreads

Review:

I don't really know what I was expecting from 'Beyond the Wildlands'. I bought it because it seemed mildly interesting and was free from Amazon and I started to read it because it seemed short and relatively light in plot. 

First impressions weren't great. You know that message that English teachers drill into you when you take creative writing classes 'show don't tell'... well, it seemed that this story could have done with listening to that advice. The sentences are unbelievably short and repetitive in form which makes for quite a dull read, really. 

As for the plot. Well, there is a plot there and, in fact, reading it, this piece feels like a plot summary as opposed to an actual story. I think the plot could have been good but it just wasn't executed right at all. It felt as though you were rushing along without getting involved with anything that was happening. I know that this is a short story but I can't help but asking if this was the correct medium for the piece. I feel that this length would be about right to cover the first battle 'scene' (and the lead up to that event), certainly not the full life time that it attempts to cover!

All in all, perhaps the flaws could be put down to the fact that this is a short story not a novel. Perhaps, if the thing had been longer it would have been better expanded upon and explored but as it is, I felt nothing for the characters and had nothing invested in the plot. The style of the piece would stop me from trying anything by Axe again, and I certainly wouldn't spend money on her longer works which is a shame because they have received some positive reviews. Oh well. We can't all like the same authors!

I feel really bad but I can't really recommend this book at all. However, it's 18 pages long and free for kindle so there's not much to loose!

Success!

Before you read this and think that the above title means I've got into the university, I'll just make it clear: I still don't know!

However, for me, the last couple of days have been a great success. Firstly, and most importantly for me, I managed to catch two flights, several trains, and go through the entire interview day without being at all ill. Although the incapacitating levels of illness have been a recent development, it's been a long, long time since I've been able to do something 'exciting' without feeling at least somewhat ick. Seven years, to be exact. I've even managed to eat two full meals during this time. Does this mean that I'm cured? Well, it suggests that the tablets are starting to have an effect and I am really, really pleased. I mean, any change is a positive. 

Success number two comes in the fact that the plane wasn't cancelled, or even delayed. In fact, talking to the person on check in, ours was the first plane that wasn't delayed so that was lucky. Actually, less of a success, but I had some issues checking in as the machienes were saying my passport expired February 2014... it's pretty new and expires February 2024! All the same, it did cause some chaos and confusion!

The only photo I took is a fuzzy through-the-window shot. So. Many. Bikes.

The other main success was the fact that I had a really good day at the university. It wasn't exactly what I expected as the activities seemed to be centred around ensuring that we, as prospective students, knew what to expect from the course. The 'interview' part of the day consisted of two meetings with different, and seemingly random, members of the university, discussing parts of the application. Again, this seemed to be centred around ensuring that we as students would know how to work within the system and with our individually identified weaknesses when attending the university. I really don't know what we were being judged on here, if anything, and really wonder whether the majority of the decisions were made prior to us being invited to interview. I honestly don't know!

One thing that I really did like about the day was that it allowed me to meet a lot of the prospective students and I got a feel that, if I was offered a place, I could have a really good time socially. There were people with very similar interests, and on a similar academic level, from many different walks of life... I could really have a good time, I think. Of course, that is one of my main concerns about Glasgow University, along with the 5 year course in Glasgow. That said, Glasgow is more established and has better facilities. Urgh... I'm really confused... can't I mush the two together? I think I'm more confused now because I've seen both and they're very real!!

Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself right now as I haven't been offered a place to study in Amsterdam (nor have I been rejected yet!)... they're going to be sending an email out within the week, apparently. Eek. Considering I'm going up to Glasgow later this week, I'm going to have a lot of information to process and a lot of big choices to make. It's all so exciting but a little frightening too.

A week and a half to go!

Gosh, it feels like all things are go right now.

The other day I went to the doctors (I managed to get an appointment, hurrah!) and have been put on some daily medication to see if this helps with my general illness. It's a low dose and the idea is, if it causes a positive change then they can mess around with dosage etc. later. However, if it doesn't work at all then we're onto all the horrible invasive tests so fingers crossed it works. That said, I'm really chuffed that this doctor has said she'll go onto invasive testing after this one because the last lot just seemed to put me on drug after drug with no real method to the madness. Hopefully, we're moving forward to some kind of management system!

Of course, my general health slowly getting back on track had to herald general illness as the whole family seem to have been struck down with the lurgy! Actually, for once, I, touch wood, seem to have got of lightly. Although I spent most of yesterday in bed I feel almost better now and have regained my voice, and got rid of the throat pain, overnight... just in time to sing tomorrow! 

However, just because the people around me are having to put life on hold because of general ick doesn't mean that life's stopping. I realised earlier that it's a week and a half until my university interview and 'meet and greet' day. I am actually pretty nervous. Okay, I'm frankly half terrified but what ya gonna do, eh?

On the plus side, I went into town with my mother and managed to find a coat that I'd been eyeing up with Aimee in a size eight and in the sale so I now know what I'm wearing to the interview (of doom!). Actually, I managed to get a lovely knitted and embroidered coat thing in the sale too so I had quite a successful day that day, as far as clothes go!

I don't know how to title this so let's call it "Aimee"

Curry and naan and a happy Aimee.

Last weekend, well a couple of days ago, I got to stay with my annoying childhood best friend and might-as-well-be-a-sister Aimee, having not seen her since Christmas (and then only for two minutes as I dropped off her gift).

As always, we had a wonderful time. An unsuccessful search for clothes for my university interview turned into a pretty successful spice shopping time. Seriously, we found the most beautiful delicatessen  which sold all sorts of foods from around the world, as well as local things, and would practically be my home if I lived anywhere nearby! Actually, in finding the above link for the blog I have found out that they have an online shop... bye bye bank account.

Rosé in tumblers - that is class!

Naturally, a lot of the time was spent cooking and eating. I think that both of us enjoy using our meet ups as a chance to try and make/eat new things. This time was no different with the first night being a beautiful pork bolognese that Aimee has made previously and then reheated. Saturday was Havanah throwing random things together to make a mild curry that Aimee could enjoy. Sunday was an attempt at a variation of Kaiserschmarrn for brunch, which was all done by hand and by the end of the whisking we were both knackered. The roast we had later was a bit more traditional but by the end of the weekend we could both safely say we had made at least one new dish!

This should give you some idea about
the amount of tea drunk!

The rest of the time was spent chatting and messing around. Our favourite online game (mature as it may be...or not!) was pretty much constantly on because we realised that it gave us something to do while actually interacting. It also was something we could do at three a.m. when the flat upstairs decided an out of tune sing-along was in order! I also gave Aimee a quick hour long 'lesson' on tin whistle, inspired by my last visit where she said she wasn't musical! Not only did she pick up a tonne of stuff quicker than expected but she nearly refused to give me my instrument back! Meanie!!

Aimee being musical.

So basically, I had a wonderful weekend. It's been the coming back home that's been hard and I am feeling a bit down again. Dad moved back in on Sunday which is a good thing but very strange and tense. Something that I won't go into because it's a little complex has happened with regard to the university and I now think they have tiered the applicants with me being in the lower tier. This means I'm going to interview knowing thinking that I have a lower chance than others. It's not the end of the world because they may offer me a place still and if they don't it's their loss!

However, yesterday I worked out that the main thing that is bringing me down is that I am completely fed up with my health. It's been nearly seven years since my stupid illness thing started and I am still without diagnosis. Not only that but it's got progressively worse so that now I am ill more than I am well and am severely limited by things. I can't go out without worrying that something is going to happen and those worries are justified because it's only one in five times that I won't have a problem. I think the health thing is what's really affecting me because it's possible to battle the world and the bad things in life (and if I'm honest I get more than my fair share of bad luck) but when I can't trust my body to work for me... it's not a good thing. I went to the doctors today and was told that I can't even get a non emergency doctor's appointment until the 27th, and am abroad then for my interview, so I guess this is just going to have to classify as an emergency and I'm going to try and get an appointment on Friday. 

Seriously, when I get my health back on track this world ain't gonna know what hit it ;-)

Seeing the musical 'Ghost'

Last night, a couple of days before the end of the tour, I finally managed to do something I had desperately wanted to do, see the musical Ghost.

Based on the film of the same name, the musical sees lovers Sam and Molly separated by a seemingly random robbery-shooting in which Sam is killed. While Molly attempts to come to terms with the loss, Sam remains trapped on Earth as a ghost, one of many who walk among us. However, when he discovers that he was in fact the target of the shooting, and that Molly is in danger, Sam attempts to communicate with her with the help of a (not so) phoney psychic, Oda Mae.

The show ran for, I think, just over a year in the West End but it was the Hungarian production that first caught my eye and prompted me to buy the soundtrack (Original cast CD) and I slowly but surely grew to love the songs and particularly their portrayal of the human aspects of love and loss. In fact, my mother and I have ended up in floods of tears while listening to that soundtrack in the kitchen but that's another story.

The UK tour production has some changes from the original production. No doubt there are other changes (as this is the first time I have seen the production, I'm not sure) but the most obvious are a few lyrical changes and a few song changes. "Ball of Wax" is changed to "You Gotta Let Go" and this change is positive, I think. The ghosts are more obviously attempting to help Sam come to terms with things and encouraging this. "I Can't Breathe" is now a reprise of "Unchained Melody", although I think it was to the same tune as "I Can't Breathe" but don't quote me on that. I don't understand what they were trying to do here. I don't see any weakness in the original lyrics and I certainly don't see the point of having the lyrics to "Unchained Melody" here. The other major change came in the form of "Life Turns on a Dime", mainly in Carl's part which was reminiscent of "Here Right Now". Personally, I feel that the original version is better with regards to Carl's characterisation but I don't think it matters, especially if you haven't seen/heard any other versions.

Anyway, moving onto the production itself and the cast. I must admit that during the first few scenes (and my mother said the same thing) I was cringing. It was not good. The cheesy New York accents really detracted from the performance, luckily they got weaker as the play went on, and you couldn't hear a word that was being said because the sound was fuzzy. Actually, that balance was out most of the time and you were lucky if you could hear the soloists over the chorus and/or band. Rebecca Trehearn (Molly) and Stewart Clarke (Sam) sounded positively out of tune during the first number but, to be fair, I think this was down to the tech team more than anything because there was dramatic improvement. By Sam's death the pair I had started to warm to the pair and I think you were more able to empathise and enjoy their stage time. I loved Trehearn's portrayal of the mourning Molly, in particular. Her body language was great.

I think the crowd's favourite had to be Wendy Mae Brown (Oda Mae Brown) who was simply wonderful. She oozed charisma and she owned the stage whenever she was on it. Of course, playing a larger than life character has to help with that but seriously, wow.

Because this 'review' is getting long and rambling enough as it is, I won't go into everyone's performance but the rest of the cast who played named character were excellent (David Robert's Carl was wonderfully nuanced and Stevie Hutchinson really impressed me as the Subway Ghost). The ensemble were also wonderful both vocally and with their dancing!

However, it was the tech that sold the show. As people who know me will know, I have a vision problem that makes projections very uncomfortable and that means that I can't see in 3D at all (along with other things). The projections were painful for me which is in no way the responsibility of anyone to do with the show... However, I could actually see some aspects of the projections partially in 3D which is truly wonderful. That says something about how perfect the design must have been. Similarly, a lot of the tricks and illusions used during the show were things that I knew how to do but even with that knowledge, which should make it easier to spot what's being done, they appeared flawless. To be fair, that part is complimenting both cast and tech but oh well, organisation. The best bit: the illusions and technology use was constant and amazing yet it always added to the show as a whole and never detracted.

I have to mention the sound once again because I really do feel that the actors have had a rough deal in this review because of things that were largely outside of their control. The general balance sounded out and certainly the volume was bizarre. Some songs were painfully loud without there being any reason (I know that sometimes one might want higher volumes to overload senses etc), and the vocals seemed distorted at times when they simply shouldn't have been. The chorus were great but if they were singing at the same time as a soloist there's no way you could hear that soloist. The band was also great but goodness did they overpower the singers. During the interval I heard a lot of people wondering what was going on because they hadn't been able to hear a lot of the words. What a shame.

Complaints about sound aside, perhaps it's the biggest compliment that despite this, everyone seemed to have a really good evening. And, if the amount of sniffing and smudged mascara eyes was anything to go by, the show really managed to connect with the audience even when the missed half the nuance of the script. Their enjoyment must have come mainly from the visual affects and the acting and isn't that the greatest compliment you can give?