tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27643523.post8864405273604710025..comments2024-03-20T23:54:23.673-07:00Comments on The Great Raven: Black Spring by Alison Croggon. Sydney: Walker Books Australia, 2012Sue Bursztynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09362273418897882971noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27643523.post-21032163020323366912013-07-09T23:01:22.481-07:002013-07-09T23:01:22.481-07:00Your guest post on anything you like is open any t...Your guest post on anything you like is open any time you wish; I like to support fellow writers. Just email me when ready. Sue Bursztynskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09362273418897882971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27643523.post-5084310990273880182013-07-09T21:23:42.750-07:002013-07-09T21:23:42.750-07:00:) If I didn't have five deadlines this month,...:) If I didn't have five deadlines this month, I might take you up, though it would be more about I thought that detail meant, than about actual research. In the end it's a fantasy novel, so the reality has to work on its own terms, and that's going to differ with every reader. Btw, if you ever want to email, a contact email is on my Theatre Notes blog. Cheers!Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27643523.post-36852403568242356092013-07-09T20:02:24.211-07:002013-07-09T20:02:24.211-07:00You know, Alison, we could go on discussing this f...You know, Alison, we could go on discussing this forever. I'd be happy to offer you a guest post on this blog about the research process you did for this novel or anything else about your writing you'd like to discuss. If you're interested email me (the email address is on the contact bit) - I can't do it the other way, as you don't seem to have any contact details on your own web sites.Sue Bursztynskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09362273418897882971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27643523.post-3179557481692477062013-07-09T19:18:46.926-07:002013-07-09T19:18:46.926-07:00Thanks Sue - just to be clear, I don't questio...Thanks Sue - just to be clear, I don't question your right to respond to the book however seems right to you! I just wanted to clarify that point. I've changed a few details (wizards, obvs, but also others) but in economic terms, that's pretty much how it worked. And speaking more widely, those with power have never worried overmuch about the deaths of those they exploit, even now. Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27643523.post-42623667203869286722013-07-09T01:37:18.769-07:002013-07-09T01:37:18.769-07:00Welcome to my blog, Alison!Fascinating to hear abo... Welcome to my blog, Alison!Fascinating to hear about the Albanian Blood Tax, and that there actually was a government that had no problem wiping out taxpayers to raise cash. I still don't think it adds anything to the novel. But that's me. Others might feel that it does say something about the universe you have created.Sue Bursztynskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09362273418897882971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27643523.post-75791363063711015592013-07-09T01:11:10.506-07:002013-07-09T01:11:10.506-07:00I read online that she was inspired by the use of ...I read online that she was inspired by the use of vendetta in Albania, which also provides the geography. I suspect, though, that in Albania it's a cultural thing, not something set up to raise money for the rulers. Still, the book is worth a read - why not see if your library has a copy?Sue Bursztynskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09362273418897882971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27643523.post-19686479309869220472013-07-09T01:11:00.546-07:002013-07-09T01:11:00.546-07:00Hiya - Thanks for reading my book. I don't usu...Hiya - Thanks for reading my book. I don't usually comment on reviews, but on the question of vendetta: the Blood Tax was actually a real thing in Albania (I didn't make it up), and was used by the novelist Ismael Kadare to critique the economic exploitation of the poor. Which is why I used it too. Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27643523.post-73799159121235964662013-07-09T00:57:33.077-07:002013-07-09T00:57:33.077-07:00Sounds like an interesting book. I haven't act...Sounds like an interesting book. I haven't actually read Bronte so I have nothing to compare it to but I think I already agree with you about the illogical use of the vendetta in this one. Lanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00002224549199474383noreply@blogger.com