My mother reviews 'The Stepsister Scheme.': seanan

My mother reviews 'The Stepsister Scheme.'

I went holiday shopping with my mother yesterday. Always an entertaining experience, since she's essentially tireless, shameless, and the only person I know willing to go through the entire bottom-of-the-barrel clearance section at Rasputin's with me. As we were driving to the mall, the following exchange took place. (I started transcribing as we talked, and I take good shorthand, so this really is close to verbatim.)

Mom: "I finished that book you gave me. I really liked it."
Me: "You mean The Stepsister Scheme?"
Mom: "Yeah."
Me: "Good! Did you bring it back?"
Mom: "No, I forgot. I just can't believe a guy wrote it. Is he a little light in the loafers maybe?"

(We pause while I giggle hysterically. Then:)

Me: "No, Jim's married. He has kids."
Mom: "Oh. Well, it was really good. He describes things really well."
Me: "Well, I'll tell him."
Mom: "You tell him your mother gives it a thumbs up. Now he just has to write another one."
Me: "He has. It's called The Mermaid's Madness. It'll probably be out next year."
Mom: "Good! Because I want to know--"

(There is a longer pause while my mother gives opinions on the book that would count as spoilers if they were posted here. Also, because I spent half of her diatribe laughing too hard to write.)

Me: "I'll let him know."
Mom: "I couldn't put it down. It's one of those books you can't put down. I got home at three in the morning and I was reading the damn thing. I was like you in your bed with the flashlight when you were a kid."
Me: "That's awesome."
Mom: "I really liked how he handled--"

(Another long pause while Mom goes on about the book. Also, more laughter.)

Mom: "So I figure people will like it."
Me: "Good."
Mom: "On second thought, maybe you shouldn't tell him I read his book if it's not out yet."
Me: "That's what ARCs are for. They help build word of mouth, and that sells more copies."
Mom: "Oh. Well, I'll tell everybody they should buy it."

There you have it. The Stepsister Scheme: it kept my crazy mother up all night. (Also, she would pause for the rest of the day, say 'Cinderwench,' and just start giggling.)

bkwrrm_tx

December 15 2008, 18:43:27 UTC 8 years ago

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This sounds like my mom and me when we would geek out over books. I miss that, but I can't *wait* for this book.

Cinderwench? Could become a new catch phrase. *g*

seanan_mcguire

December 15 2008, 19:11:53 UTC 8 years ago

It's a good book. Although I'm now tempted to ask my mother to review other things. Air. Rocks. My plastic Audrey II. She was better than most comedies.

(Also, remember to not be able to wait for Rosemary and Rue, too, okay? Pleeeeeeeeeease?)

December 15 2008, 20:50:50 UTC 8 years ago

Girl, there's a post-it stuck to my monitor with the name, and date, so I can request it from the library. *g*

jerusha

December 16 2008, 02:54:21 UTC 8 years ago

Date? We have a date for Rosemary and Rue?

December 16 2008, 02:55:19 UTC 8 years ago

Well, more of a 'keep checking and fill in the rest later' kind of thing. *g*

December 16 2008, 15:19:36 UTC 8 years ago

I promise, the second there's an actual date that I'm actually allowed to tell people, it'll be announced.

antonstrout

December 15 2008, 19:08:57 UTC 8 years ago

And you just know this is going to go to Jim's head... after all this time I've spent trying to crush his fragile ego...sigh

December 15 2008, 19:12:40 UTC 8 years ago

Well, my mom did ask if he was gay. That's got to count for something, right?

I have a copy of Dead To Me! Actually on my desk, since it's earmarked as today's 'read this.' I may loan it to my mother. I have a new hobby, and it is her.

December 15 2008, 19:13:12 UTC 8 years ago

Good point!

December 15 2008, 19:15:33 UTC 8 years ago

Seriously, she asked if he was gay, I discovered that I can't breathe Tootsie Pop...

jimhines

December 15 2008, 19:19:02 UTC 8 years ago

FWIW, it's far from the first time the question has been asked. Heck, I think my wife has even wondered on occasion ;-)

December 16 2008, 15:20:02 UTC 8 years ago

...I have not seen this icon before, and it has filled me with the glee.

December 16 2008, 16:10:07 UTC 8 years ago

::Grin:: That one was made shortly after Rowling announced that Dumbledore was gay.

December 17 2008, 21:59:00 UTC 8 years ago

You make me happy sometimes.

sylvia_rachel

OK, I already wanted to read it, but now I really want to read it. Also, I want to read more book reviews by your mom :D

December 16 2008, 15:20:42 UTC 8 years ago

I'm kind of tempted to just keep handing her books and transcribing what she says about them. Trouble is, that risks breaking my usual 'no bad reviews' rule, as she sometimes jumps the rails in exciting ways.

mariadkins

December 15 2008, 22:41:38 UTC 8 years ago

I like your mom! :)

December 16 2008, 15:20:51 UTC 8 years ago

So do I.

brainstormfront

December 17 2008, 14:59:16 UTC 8 years ago

After a review like that, I had to come from jim's blog and say hello and add you to my Friends list. I'm not here as often as I used to be, as I'm blogging at my own website. Still, your (and your mom's) review are priceless.

Steven
www.steveneschend.com

December 17 2008, 22:00:15 UTC 8 years ago

Oh, hi! Also, welcome, and stuff.

My mother's nuts. Shortly after this, she had a good rant about potato bugs (created by Satan) and the publishing industry (staffed by angels who appreciate her baby's [my] genius, and run by devils who won't let me give her a publication date). And then we went to Mervyn's. A week before Christmas.

Anyway, hi!

opheliastorn

January 7 2009, 03:18:12 UTC 8 years ago

Over from Jim's blog - no chance we could get a spoiler-ful version of the review, I suppose?

January 7 2009, 15:56:13 UTC 8 years ago

Oh, I'll be doing a spoiler-ful version one shortly, but my mother's would have required a lot more transcription. Alas.

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My mother reviews 'The Stepsister Scheme.'

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