solarmelange

solarmelange t1_jdhthe7 wrote

Reply to TIL that Chinese Food was introduced into America during the California Gold Rush, starting in 1848. As 30,000 immigrants had arrived from the Canton region of China, the restaurants gave the predominantly male population a connection to home and provided gathering places for the Chinese community. by jdward01

Chop suey was the go-to dish they sold to Americans, based on a dish that translates to "miscellaneous leftovers."

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solarmelange t1_jc9x6ru wrote

Reply to comment by TheINTL in [OC] MCU vs. DCU in Rotten Tomatoes by theotheredmund

I actually thought the fact that they tried to differentiate themselves from Marvel by having all their movies being dark and gritty was the biggest problem. Along with being actually physically dark to the point you can't see what's happening. I would follow the early Marvel pattern of each hero having his own story style for individual movies, with rare teamup movie. Batman movies should always feel a bit film noir and Batman should get his hands dirty on occasion. But heros like Superman or the Flash should have fun and uplifting stories and should always find a way to be fully good.

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solarmelange t1_j6974yo wrote

Reply to "Write what you know." What does this actually mean? by UniqueThingOfEarth

Honestly, yes, I would anticipate that any romance written by someone who has never had one will inevitably feel inauthentic. (Also, a lot of romance novels feel inauthentic in general.) That is not to say don't write it, as practice will make it better, but it will likely take you more effort to get those parts right.

Your homework is to date people. That will improve your writing. If you have trouble getting dates, just lower your standards.

Also, even if you have a weakness, it does not mean you will not be successful. I read a lot of sci-fi, and it was a male dominated field for a long time. A lot of the writers write just terribly inauthentic female characters, but I can still enjoy the novels.

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solarmelange t1_j2evs85 wrote

Reply to What if the experiment in Flowers For Algernon succeeded? by Sttocs

That makes no sense. He would want to find some middle ground. A key point was that when he was super intelligent, that made him just as different from others as being a moron had and therefore just as unable to relate to people. His driving need is human connection.

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solarmelange t1_j2ersvx wrote

Reply to I just finished Ready Player One and I have mixed opinions by [deleted]

The entire point of the book was to remind you of stuff you liked from the 80's but have forgotten about. That's it. There is nothing deeper to it. It did a good job of that, but it is also not at all rereadable because of that. Also, I thought Wil Wheaton was a bad pick for the audiobook, because he was one of the most hated characters in TNG, and since you are already in that reminiscent mindset, you can't help but remember how bad he was back then.

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solarmelange t1_j2e36gk wrote

Reply to How to popularize a book? by mklubeck

Honestly? Paying for a popular YouTuber to review it is probably the best bang for your buck these days. But also book signing tours do still help. And conventions. And giving it away absolutely will work, particularly to people who work at book stores or libraries, basically anyone who is highly likely to have opportunities to recommend books. Giving it away at conventions is also helpful. Getting recommendations from popular authors is also huge. And of course, nothing compares to the sales you get from a TV or movie adaptation. LOL

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solarmelange t1_j2bbuek wrote

Reply to When to buy book series? by CornerOk5337

I like to do a lot of research and then buy the book outright. I mostly read standalone novels even though my favorite two genres are sci-fi and fantasy. Also, I am a slow reader. The only times I will buy multiple books at once is when not doing so will cause me to not get a matching set of books. I much prefer hardbacks or at least trade paperback over paperback copies.

Also, I tend to give books away when done with them. I don't want a huge collection of books for when I move.

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solarmelange t1_iswpzs1 wrote

Reply to What literary characters are very useful as adjectives. by Hargelbargel

There are way too many. Some that I very commonly hear used as comparisons:

  • Lolita
  • Ahab
  • Romeo & Juliette
  • Shylock
  • Lear
  • Sherlock Holmes & Watson
  • James Bond
  • David & Goliath
  • Lazarus
  • Adam & Eve
  • The devil, Satan, Lucifer
  • Falstaff
  • Gatsby
  • Ebenezer Scrooge
  • Peter Pan
  • Merlin
  • Frankenstein & Frankenstein's Monster
  • Big Brother
  • Holden Caulfield
  • Hercules
  • Icarus
  • Gilgamesh
  • Achilles
  • Helen of Troy
  • The Cowardly Lion & Others
  • The Count of Monte Cristo
  • Jean Valjean & Javert
  • Dracula
  • Oedipus & Electra
  • Robinson Crusoe
  • Doctor Faustus
  • Willy Loman
  • A person from Porlock (does that count?)
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