Did I mention that I read half of a YA novel a little while ago? And in doing so, I received absolutely no compensation from the author, publisher, or anyone involved in the writing, editing, or distribution of the book? It's called "Scored", and it's a really nice story in the dystopian tradition where something has taken over the world in the wake of an economic crash. n this case, it's a scientific system of "scoring" teenagers through the use of ubiquitous cameras, peer reporting, teacher reporting, and a black box algorithm that crunches all that data into a single numeric score that determines your destiny once it's finalized at the end of high school. There are also the "unscored", usually treated as delinquents or second-class humans for not participating in the system. In any case, the story itself involves a tenured teacher forcing perspective on his students, and one of his honor students discovering the dark secrets of the system that the "unscored" already knew and has propagandized after her score drops due to association with someone who followed her heart. Much of the book then pits her with her unscored male rival trying to figure out how to get back to the point where she can go to college, or how to get her to college even with such an awful score. It reaches the Obligatory Climactic YA kiss between Two Rivals who discover they really have a Thing for each other - nice backdrop painting, with sparks flying from a shattered camera and what looks to be a community riot building in the schools...and then there's a one-page postscript that says "Hey, look, you've achieved your goal, even with your score drop. We loved your essay. Enjoy college, thanks to our grant."
And now you know why I think of it as half a book. All that climax...and then, one page of resolution. There's so much stuff going on out there that demands resolution in addition to the bit of whether the honor student can go to college. I kind of wish the editor had mentioned this to the author - "You have half a story that we'd love to publish. Once you finish it."
That said, it's a wonderful half of a book. (ETA: more description of plot.)
These days, I'm a regular over at Ana Mardoll's Ramblings these days, where I still get a little weirded out that I'm blog-commenting next to published authors (one whose book I read at university and loved. That's Kit Whitfield's Benighted, by the way, and no, no compensation for that plug, either.) I think this is the closest I get to the idea of "fan-X squee" when people look at it. I've also picked up another Dreamwidther, after much poking and prodding for her to get her excellent work on a blog as well. So while![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
amarie24 is a bit new to the blog scene, she's quality on content.
Still kind of "erg" about the whole life thing. I would have written a Shadow Idol entry on "bringing a knife to a gun fight", but it was mostly about how much I don't really like being a Responsible Adult, because I feel woefully unprepared for it, for emergencies, and for the fiscal security that I've been desperately trying to achieve and can't get. (I repeat myself. I know I mentioned this before.) I'm stable, in terms of mental state, but right now, it seems like I'm stuck in the position of "hey, why doesn't anyone notice the things that I am doing that make me awesome? I neeeeeeed my compliments and comments and people giving me praise!" Because, after all, university was the last time when someone told me what the answers were - after this point, they only tell you when you're wrong or close to right.
Hi. Welcome to my brain, peer inside a bit and see all the melancholy. But if you asked me, I'd tell you I was fine. We always say that we're fine, even when we aren't. Social convention says that unless you're physically unable to make the effort and/or give a damn, you always say you're fine when someone asks.
Anyway, lest we ramble on, here's the last part to think about.
"The Nine of Pentacles - Solidarity and self reliance. You are a creature that works well alone, or needs do. You need to be self-assured and confident without the help of anyone else. You are a solitary thing, choosing your own ways and paths over others."
"I am the Cat That Walks Alone..."
And now you know why I think of it as half a book. All that climax...and then, one page of resolution. There's so much stuff going on out there that demands resolution in addition to the bit of whether the honor student can go to college. I kind of wish the editor had mentioned this to the author - "You have half a story that we'd love to publish. Once you finish it."
That said, it's a wonderful half of a book. (ETA: more description of plot.)
These days, I'm a regular over at Ana Mardoll's Ramblings these days, where I still get a little weirded out that I'm blog-commenting next to published authors (one whose book I read at university and loved. That's Kit Whitfield's Benighted, by the way, and no, no compensation for that plug, either.) I think this is the closest I get to the idea of "fan-X squee" when people look at it. I've also picked up another Dreamwidther, after much poking and prodding for her to get her excellent work on a blog as well. So while
amarie24 is a bit new to the blog scene, she's quality on content.Still kind of "erg" about the whole life thing. I would have written a Shadow Idol entry on "bringing a knife to a gun fight", but it was mostly about how much I don't really like being a Responsible Adult, because I feel woefully unprepared for it, for emergencies, and for the fiscal security that I've been desperately trying to achieve and can't get. (I repeat myself. I know I mentioned this before.) I'm stable, in terms of mental state, but right now, it seems like I'm stuck in the position of "hey, why doesn't anyone notice the things that I am doing that make me awesome? I neeeeeeed my compliments and comments and people giving me praise!" Because, after all, university was the last time when someone told me what the answers were - after this point, they only tell you when you're wrong or close to right.
Hi. Welcome to my brain, peer inside a bit and see all the melancholy. But if you asked me, I'd tell you I was fine. We always say that we're fine, even when we aren't. Social convention says that unless you're physically unable to make the effort and/or give a damn, you always say you're fine when someone asks.
Anyway, lest we ramble on, here's the last part to think about.
"The Nine of Pentacles - Solidarity and self reliance. You are a creature that works well alone, or needs do. You need to be self-assured and confident without the help of anyone else. You are a solitary thing, choosing your own ways and paths over others."
"I am the Cat That Walks Alone..."
