So, it is party time again, folks!

[wiseheart]

Each year this time, we launch my virtual birthday party, which starts on October 1 and ends on October 9 at midnight, sharp. The goals of the party are to post as many comments and collapse as many threads as possible, on as many new pages as we can. It is always great fun, as you can see if you check out the similar entries of the last few years.

This year, I'll also throw the real party at mid-time - and post the recipes of all the food that will be there for you, so that you can all participate if you want to. Virtual food has no calories.

Fandom-related discussions are as welcome as the ones about coffee or chocolate (just to name a few favourites from previous years), and, of course, pictures and recipes of birthday cakes. ;)

So, drop by, tell your story, post your pics or silly poems, ask questions you always wanted to ask and have a good time!

Soledad, in excited expectation




Oh, and by the way, to provide birthday gifts hobbit-style, I've got a revived story and a Kansas 2 update for you.

Enjoy!

Comments

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

Tolkien was probably my first offline fandom, way back in the 1980s, but I got online & into fanfiction with Blake's 7 in the 1990s. Most of the Tolkien fans I knew loved the films a whole lot more than I did, so I didn't get to complain very loudly.

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

Sounds like an easier way - I seem to be wandering round in circles a bit at the moment, and staring at comments, trying to think of replies - rather out of brain at the moment, I think.

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

*nods*
I quite liked the first one, rolled eyes at some of the changes (especially Arwen) and things being missed out - liked the extended version more. Then had real problems with the second, especially the character assassination of Faramir, and all the excessive battle scenes. And the third was still a disappointment from there (evil Denethor, all the fighting, no scouring of the Shire, etc).

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

One needs to be invested in Miles & Simon (& Alys, & Gregor) for Memory to have its impact, I think. I agree wrt CVA; also, I didn't like the heterosexualising of Byerley, who I'd read as queer.

I must try to finish Sharing Knife -- before YT sign ups if possible, though I'm going to be frantically busy &/or away from home for much of that time.

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

Indeed, the first one was on the whole positive. I particularly enjoyed the Shire & Rivendell settings. Most of the changes (Glorfindel-Arwen; Bombadil; moving Boromir's death) made at least some sense.

But the cinema version of TTT was simply awful. Faramir was one of my favourites and I couldn't forgive that. And the warg fight/horse kissing -- don't get me onto that.

And, oh god, RotK -- suffice to say, Denethor was another of my favourites.

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you need a coffee -- I certainly do!

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

and Arwen being randomly dieing...

Denethor is such a great and under appreciated character - just because he went wrong at the end - he managed to lead Gondor and hold Mordor at bay for so long. It is one of the things that makes me so sad that there is not more interesting Denethor stories in fandom.

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

I've got myself more tea - lots of honey and lemon. I really want to zap this cold and cough soon.

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

One needs to be invested in Miles & Simon (& Alys, & Gregor) for Memory to have its impact, I think.
Yes. It really builds on everything.

also, I didn't like the heterosexualising of Byerley, who I'd read as queer.
I'll probably have to reread at some point, because I still saw him as queer through it - just in a relationship of some sort with Rish. I may have been reading what I want into it, I know reading something for the first time I often miss things (one of the things that make rereading so much fun).

I must try to finish Sharing Knife -- before YT sign ups if possible, though I'm going to be frantically busy &/or away from home for much of that time.
*nods* Where are you at?
I should not say much about it, because spoilers, but the fourth book is very much my favourite.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

The episode I found most horrible was "The Pilgrim of Hate". That is my all-time favourite among the novels, and the character rape they did in that one was outrageous.

In general, it was very cheaply made (filmed in Hungary, no less), practically everything took place in the same cottage with slightly different decoration. And I didn't find Jacobi a good choice. I used to know an old Benedictine brother who was just like Cadfael, but Jacobi was too aristocratic-looking for the part.

I preferred the first Beringar (Sean Pertwee), too. That was another character turned inside out; and I missed the Cadfael-Beringar friendship. It is such an important element of the books, and it was completely omitted from the series.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I don't know Bujold at all - never seen any books over here. Apparently, I've missed something really interesting.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I hear you! I always wanted to be a professional sci-fi and fantasy writer, perhaps historic novels, too. But I had to realise early on that in our system I won't have a rat's chance, and so I became a teacher. Which I would like very much, if they would let me do my job and not make my life hell with idiot restrictions and nepotism.

Oh, and I wanted to be a nun, too, for almost 20 years! I even spent nearly 3 years in a convent in Germany, before finally giving up on the idea.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I admire you for daring to start something completely new.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Sounds lovely. Why do you have to live on the other side of the planet? I'll never get the chance to visit you, especially with my flying fobia.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

That would have been two years ago, when LJ ate the party. We were up around 1600 or so, I think, but there were a lot more people participating.

However, I find I don't really care about breaking any records. I'm having such a nice time with you lovely ladies, such interesting conversations, that the rest doesn't count.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Yes, she used to send guests to my parties. :)
Of course, that was before the arrival of the little princess.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I absolutely, positively agree with both of you. And I was so disappointed that so very few people were of the same opinion!

The Hobbit movies are evey bit as blasphemic. Interestingly enough, there, too, the second one is magnitudes worse than the first. I am already afraid of the third part.

Generally, the artwork is splendid, the writing is rubbish (save for the lines stolen from Tolkien), the canon rape is painful, and with the exception of Sean Bean and Martin Freeman, none of the actors really managed to convince me.

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

Generally, the artwork is splendid, the writing is rubbish
Yes. Although even the artwork fails at some points.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

espresso_addict asked about the previous record: it was in 2012, with 1328 comments, on 6 pages. Then LJ decided to crash our party, and we tried to reconstruct it, reposting the comments still in our inboxes. The reconstructed party then had two separate entries, one with 765 comments on 7 pages and one with 617 comments on 3 pages. But that was partly a forced thing, to show that we can boast the numbers. I much prefer this year's party with the lively discussions.

In 2011, we had 943 comments on 7 pages. In 2010, it was 742 comments, on 6 pages. In the earlier years, it was even less, despite that we had twice as many party guests. This year's party is fantastic!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

It does, but it is easier to overlook, due to the hectic filming and the rubbish 3D stuff. It annoys me to no end.

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

Indeed, she's not been on LJ much since V day.

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

They are very good books, but not often in bookshops even here.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

And who could blame her? Seeing how adorable the little one is? Probably a lot of work, too. Small children usually are.

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

Ah, I don't think we're going to beat that! A thousand is a good round number to aim for, though.

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

Having met her, briefly, she's a huge amount of work -- tho' extremely charming -- I must admit it didn't make me feel broody.