When I read a book that I don't like. I hold a grudge. And I won't read that author anymore. I'll never read another Charles Frazier book after "Cold Mountain." Another Ian McEwan book after "Atonement." Another Virginia Wolff book after "Mrs. Dalloway."
But. When I find a really good book, I find it difficult to transition to another story. I want to read more about THOSE characters. Or even read a book that is just like it. So, one of the things that I tend to do is read every book that that author wrote. Did you know that there is even a name for this tendency? It's called Glomming.
For me. One of the markers of a really good book is one that will send me to the internet. Sending me there so that I can research a little more. And one of the books that first sent me there was Philippa Gregory's "The Other Boleyn Girl."
When I first picked up that book, I really didn't think I would like it. The time period was really boring to me. It was all those names and dates. And my history classes never engaged me after ancient times. But now I know what the problem was. They were missing the sex part of the story.
The entire time I was reading about Mary and Anne Boleyn. I was just shocked. Shocked just because I didn't realize. Didn't realize that adultery was so out in the open. That a husband would not mind being cuckolded. If it was the king. That a family would openly push their daughters into such a liason because it would actually mean family presitge. This I was never taught in school.
So, when Showtime started their soap opera...otherwise known as "The Tudors." 
I put it into my netflix queue. And this weekend, I finally started watching it. I have found my research has paid off. Because I know the cast of characters. And their motivations. I am really enjoying it. How could you not enjoy seeing Henry Cavill. Nekkid. In every episode.
And as I was watching it. I thought that the colors were really interesting. Very artistic. Creative.
The series starts with the French killing the English ambassador in Italy. All of the French seem to have this blue hue to them. The English a greenish tinge. It made it easy to tell who was who. A very dramatic effect. And I thought it was strange that I have never read about the color filters used in the filming. I mean. Even the horses have a purplish tinge to them.
And as I am watching, my mom comes into the room. Sees what I am watching. And says that the same cinematographer must have done the movie "Little Children." Which she had watched last weekend on the dvd player. Because that movie was also filmed all in purple and lime green.
And I began to realize that there was a problem. With the color on the DVD player. And that maybe the Tudors weren't supposed to look artsy. Or glorious in all their shades of greens and purples.
Maybe the filming was more realistic. Not quite aesthitic. Or with an artistic flair. But more like this:
After a bit of research. And the employment of my personal tech support (I swear that when I renew my marriage in front of Elvis in Vegas, tech support is going in the vows. Along with carrying stuff. And squashing bugs.). We discover the culprit. I don't think it would surprise you to see that it was a cat. Who pulled out a cord.
So...what about you? Do you hold author grudges? Do you glomm? Is there a time period you like to read about? Or not? Do you watch "The Tudors?" Have you entered the contest?
Theme song: Cyndi Lauper - True Colors - Because I might have to actually watch "The Tudors" unplugged. I kinda like the artsy effect. And just between you and me - I almost used Herman's Hermits "Henry VIII, I am." But decided not to punish you like that.
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