Research not done

The world is big and complicated. I'm trying to kick out a novel once a year, so even though it may look like I'm doing a lot of research, I'm really only doing a fraction of what I probably should.

For the New Mexico book, most of the book is behind me now. I still have some stuff to look at for WIPP, the Atlas-F site, and even Egtved Girl. But everything else, the scenes are written and there's no point continuing (or even starting, for some things.)

Not going to watch all five seasons of Breaking Bad. Not going to finish The Tewa World View, or the book on nuclear secrecy, not even going to buy Yellow Dirt. Not making another research trip to actually go into Holloman AFB (much less the Atlas-F site outside of Roswell). There's a dozen books I only started (some of them I only read the sample chapters). Not going to finish them.

It is still doing better than the Paris novel. But then, the Paris novel was all about Paris seen through the eyes of others; through film and literature, by visitors, etc. There were several set-piece scenes that explored and unpacked some work connected to Paris, within a Parisian setting. Plus had a little action in it.

The climax takes place on the roof of Notre-Dame des Paris, and references the Hugo novel; how it interpreted this building with its own real history, and how Disney and others in turn interpreted Hugo's novel. Through the lens through the lens.

I didn't finish reading the book and I've never seen the Disney animation.

The sequence at Opera Garnier got closer. Like Notre-Dame, I've been inside myself. And I at least know the Andrew Lloyd Weber score via cast recording. I've never watched Phantom all the way through and I didn't finish the book, either. And as with the Hugo novel, the scene takes note of the many interpretations and expansions throughout the years, from the novel Erik to Phantom of the Paradise.

There's a sneak scene during a Van Gogh show. At least I've seen one of those shows, and I know a little of his art. But, no, I didn't read a biography or really study his art for the scene.

In fact, the last time I can think of that I actually finished ONE book (out of several resources that were available) was the Japan book. I read a book on the Takarazuka Dance Troupe. But I've never seen even a clip of one of their shows, much less all of "Beru-bara" (The Rose of Versailles).

Here's how bad it is, in a nutshell. I bought a coffee table book at the visitor center of the White Sands National Monument. I have barely opened it. It isn't even on my desk as I finish this novel.