Book Review: Fangirl

As a fanfiction reader (since 2007), writer (unofficially since 2003, officially since 2005, publishing since 2008- but that’s a whole other story) and just general fan of fanfiction, I was intrigued by the idea of a novel that features fanfiction predominantly.

Fanfiction isn’t something that is really seen in pop culture, unless it’s to single out “nerdy” characters or to mock those who write it (this is sometimes done with more affection than others). Futurama, Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, and Supernatural are just some shows that have mentioned fanfiction.

Most people still don’t know what it is. Or if they do, they think it’s either 50 Shades of Grey- type stuff (which even if I don’t read it, I know there’s a lot of it out there); or crap written by 12-13 year olds (again, there is a lot of that out there. A lot. It's true. I look back at my early stuff and shudder. Shudder, I tell you.) Or, for some reason, if people are aware of fanfiction, it’s always the slash pairings they’re aware of. Or maybe that's just the people I meet... 

So I was really intrigued and excited about the concept of Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell. Where the main character is an 18 year old girl starting college who writes fanfiction for the immensely popular and pop culture phenomenon, Simon Snow series (which is a Harry Potter type series. Another reason this book caught my interest).

Let me just start by saying, I have related to many fictional characters in my time. Anne Shirley, Jo March, Beth March (yes, both March girls. And sometimes Meg. But never Amy), Hermione Granger, Elphaba Thropp are the foremost.

And now, there’s Cather Avery.

Yep, Cather. And her twin sister Wren (Cather-Wren, Catherine. Get it? There’s a story behind that. You’ll have to read the book to find that out!)

She’s an 18 year old girl, starting college and moving away from home for the first time. She’s obsessed with Simon Snow and has been for years; and for the first few weeks she lives off protein bars and peanut butter she’s stashed in her room because she’s too afraid to ask where the dining hall is and how it works.

This is so me (although Simon Snow is Harry Potter and Delta Goodrem- and now Wicked. And I didn’t live out of home until I started teaching. And my stashed food would be nutella and protein bars. But I have been known to do ridiculous things to avoid new situations and what I deem are stupid questions. My last school, it took me a month to get up the courage to ask where the staff toilets were).

The other difference is that Cath’s main pairing that she ships is Simon and his roommate/nemesis Baz, whereas I don’t write or read slash fic. But the point is, I get this girl. 

Wren has decided to enjoy college life, doesn’t seem as into the Simon Snow fandom anymore and doesn’t want to share a room with her twin- for the first time in their lives. I don’t have a twin, but I get the feeling of sibling rejection. Or just rejection, really.

sob

The world is eagerly awaiting the eighth and final Simon Snow book to be released, which brought back all the feels from the time we spent waiting for Deathly Hallows to be released in 2007. To this day, I don’t know if I’ve ever dreaded and simultaneously wanted something so badly in my life… except maybe when we were waiting for Deathly Hallows Part 2 to come out in cinemas.

Cath has been working and posting her version of the final book, Carry On, for two years and is determined to finish before the actual book is released.

She is really excited to take a Fiction writing class at college, from a real author… only to discover her teacher doesn’t like fanfiction.

The novel focuses on Cath’s journey through her first year of college, between classes, boys, friends and family issues. She really finds herself and learns to stand on her own feet throughout the novel, which is really great to see. Cath comes a long way, in a much shorter time than it took me.

In between the chapters are excerpts from the Simon Snow books, and Cath’s own fanfiction.

If I had one criticism about Fangirl, it’s that the fanfiction is excellent. Really, really good. Aside from the subtext of romance in Cath’s fanfics between Simon and Baz, it’s hard to separate canon from non-canon. And whilst there is some well-written, very well-written and amazingly well-written fanfiction out there; my experience with fanfiction (especially in a big fandom like “Simon Snow”, or Harry Potter) the majority is not that amazing. Or maybe that’s just on Fanfiction.net. 

Even if something has a lot of reviews and people following it, doesn't necessarily mean it's well-written. God, I sound like a snob. Sorry, I don't mean to. If I could find that much fanfiction of that high quality, I would be a very happy girl. And just to be clear, I place my own works at the “well-written, sometimes parts very-well written” level.

So that’s my biggest criticism of Fangirl. The fanfiction is too good. Which tells you that this is an excellent book.

Of course, it’s not a book without a love interest; and for a brief moment it looks like Cath will get two. Levi is her roommate’s charming boyfriend. Nick is a guy in her writing class she works with. You will be very happy with her choice. Or I was, at any rate.

And my list of fictional guys (to compare) is Gilbert Blythe, Harry Potter, Fiyero Tiggular and Ted Mosby (yes, I would be the mother. Gladly. I’m a sucker for a romantic guy, ok?). Oh, and Mr Darcy. Because he’s Mr Darcy (although I have a soft spot for Colonel Brandon from Sense and Sensibility).

Whether or not you’re a fanfiction fan, Fangirl is a great book. If you’re not that familiar with fanfiction, it may give you a better understanding of what it is and how it works (or just a understanding of it). If you are a reader/writer of fanfiction, definitely give it a shot!

Don't Tell the Bride: The Wedding Reception

Here is Elphaba and Fiyero's first dance song, Let me call you sweetheart.

And because I can, here is the song in the context I first fell in love with it- in Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story. It was Anne and Gilbert's wedding song, and then he went to WW1 and became a POW and she was singing the song when they were reunited, and it makes me cry every freaking time.

Both the wedding and the reunion scenes are below.

Don't Tell the Bride: The Wedding Day

Here's the 2 songs mentioned in this chapter, both by Faith Hill.

The Right Thing To Do

After jumping between two or three different fics since I finished writing Don't Tell the Bride, I think my brain has finally decided to stick with one.

Which means my next fic (meaning multi-chapter fic) will (hopefully, officially) be The Right Thing To Do.

Summary: It's a matter of honour, of doing good. But sometimes doing the 'right thing' hurts more than anything. Especially when it comes to love. As they graduate Shiz, Fiyero is dreading it. He knows what comes next- marriage. But he knows he can't marry a woman, when he's in love with her best friend. While everyone is spending the summer at Kiamo Ko, waiting for an announcement, Fiyero decides he can no longer live a lie. And then all hell breaks loose, and no one will escape being hurt. All in the name of doing the right thing. AU.

I say hopefully because while, at the moment, I am on a roll (ie. I've done three chapters), this is a fic that's been planned since May 2012 and it's been hard just to get to this point.

It was inspired by a Gilmore Girls scene (no, I'm not telling you which one because that would give away the plot twist), and the reason it's been so long is not because it involves research (for once. It's a refreshing change!); but just because... well, it has some things that are going to be unpopular. Not in a "Elphaba-has-cancer" way, just... it's not your typical "Elphaba and Fiyero get together, have some drama and live happily ever after" story that is generally my thing.

I mean, there will be a happy ending (it is me, after all); but it was hard to work out the ending to make it Fiyeraba, happy and resolve the plot.

Even now, there's times I'm unsure about it; because I want it to be realistic and not seem too easy. But I've run the plot by about 10 different people and they all think it's fine and will work. So I think I just have to keep reminding myself of that!

This story is high stakes for me. Maybe more so than Come What May, and we all know how that story goes.

Anyway, I just wanted to update you all on what's coming up. My goal is to have finished this by my birthday in May. We'll see how it goes!

That Awkward Moment When....

... you accidentally steal someone else's birthday cake.

Yeah. This happened. And it was really, really awkward.

One of my new colleagues had a birthday today, so a group of us went out to dinner to celebrate. We had all finished eating and were just chilling at the table and talking, when this really amazing looking cheesecake is brought out and over to our table, complete with candles.

No one admitted to buying the cake, but we all sang Happy Birthday regardless. They hadn't brought out serving plates or a cake knife, so we just sat there for a few minutes, talking about this cake that came from nowhere. We considered maybe it was a complimentary cake from the restaurant for the birthday, or maybe someone just wasn't owning up to arranging it, or maybe it had been organised by the Head of the Faculty, who couldn't make the dinner.

Finally, they brought out the plates and knife, so we ate the cake. It was delicious.

About halfway through, someone noted the table behind us kept looking over and were whispering, and maybe it was their cake. But they didn't say anything, so we just laughed about the idea and wouldn't that be awkward?

When we had all finished eating (and someone had had seconds), the waiter walked past- like the tenth time he had done so since bringing out the cake), and then.... the lady at the table behind us stops him and tells him that yes, the cake we had just eaten was theirs.

And then they asked the birthday girl why she would accept a cake that wasn't hers? She explained that it was actually her birthday, and our boss had mentioned a surprise because he couldn't make it, so we just assumed the cake was it.

After that it got really awkward, so we paid and left.

It was a genuine accident, and we just assumed that if it was their cake, they would have said something before we had eaten it. The restaurant apologised to the other table and took the cake off their bill, so they weren't out of pocket but.... Awkward.

We managed to laugh about it after, but still... so awkward.

Don't Tell the Bride: The Rings

I have a little of gold jewellery, but I prefer silver. (My Dad once said I'm his favourite because I prefer silver over gold- which is cheaper). But my favourite thing is the white-gold ring my parents got me for my 21st birthday. 

Fiyero's Choice:

Fiyero's ring for Elphaba

The Ring Fiyero chooses for himself

Elphaba's Choice:

Elphaba's choice- simple silver.

Don't Tell the Bride: The Wedding Favours

Here's all the songs that Corin took his lyrics from.

1. "The Power of Love"

The power of love is a curious thing
Makes one man weep, make another man sing.
Change a hawk to a little white dove
More than a feeling, 
that's the power of love.

If you don't know this song, A) be ashamed, and B) go watch Back to the Future. ASAP.

2. "Chapel of Love"

Going to the chapel
and we're gonna get married.

This song is annoyingly catchy, just FYI. Also, Father of the Bride (The remake with Steve Martin, Diane Keaton and Kimberly Williams-Paisley is a great movie featuring this song, and you should watch that. Before you watch Back to the Future because this is better).

3. "Listen to your Heart"

Listen to your heart, listen to your soul.

Inside you'll find the answer, to take you to the place you need to go.

Listen to your heart, your heart will let you know.

No matter where you are, the truth is never far, 

just listen and your heart will lead you home.

No movie with this one. This is by Anthony Callea, original Australian Boq. He was runner up on season 2 of Australian Idol, but he totally should have won. And has done much more than the girl who did win that season. This is his version of the winner's single, as performed on the show.

4. "Wheel of the World"

God put us here on this carnival ride
we close our eyes never knowing where it'll take us next.
Babies are born and at the same time, 
someone's taking their last breath.

Because Carrie Underwood is awesome.

5.  "Affirmation"

I believe the sun should never set upon an argument,
I believe we place our happiness in other people's hands.
I believe that junk food tastes so good because it's bad for you,
I believe your parents did the best job they knew how to do.

By Australian band Savage Garden. They were big in the early 2000s (and maybe late 90s... I definitely remember them being around in 2000 and they were big).