Lots of reasons to pick up this book. Great contemporary writers (Elizabeth Crane, Tod Goldberg, Julianna Baggott, the editor John McNally, among others) you may already be reading, great introduction to others you haven’t read (my list of books to check out just grew exponentially. no joke.). High school humiliations: so preciously painful when thinking of your own, so histerically hilarious when reading of other people’s. What’s not to love?
Author Archives: Duff
In Concert: Arcade Fire.
A complete 180 from the first time I saw them. Then: Huge outdoor venue, dusty field, no sound control (Lolla 2005); now: small indoor space with lights show, intense acoustics, assigned seats much closer to both the band and the speakers. This is a great band to see live: consistently better live than on the albums. Best when all 10 (11?) of them are completely rocking out.
Totally enjoyable enervating evening. But not entirely thrilled: current favorite song “Intervention” = not as powerful live as it should have been (better on the album! sacrilege!)! Need to pump up the amps on the organ!! My co-attendee: liked “Funeral” much better than the current album so enjoyed the concert but wasn’t thrilled with the song selection. But given that it’s a tour for the second album, had to expect that.
Opener: Electrelane. Four rockin’ chicks. Mostly music / only some lyrics. Loud, intense, sassy. I’ll be buying their album.
Big Screen: Away from Her
You’ve got to know going in, if the movie is about Alzheimer’s, you might as well bring a box of kleenex with you. Julie Christie was great, and still so beautiful and luminescent at 65. First time writing & directing by Sarah Polley = pretty impressive.
That said, it was one of those movies that while totally going with the story and enjoying it while watching, afterward I just kept thinking about certain of the plot manipulations and how unnecessary they were. i.e., I could see a reason for them being there, but felt my reaction to the chain of events and the situation would have been just as powerful/effective WITHOUT those external plot manipulations. And if they stick out as manipulations, then do they really work? Worth seeing, will definitely look forward to Polley’s next project. But think there were several things that could just be dropped out of the plot without any discernable loss to the viewer’s experience.
In Concert: Morrissey
Positives: His voice is fucking just as amazing and gorgeous as it was 20 years ago. His backing band was pretty damn good.
Negatives: Oh, the ridiculous stage contortions. The ultimate drama queen. The vogueing with the mike. The incessant playing with the mike chord: was he practicing his ribbon routine for rhythmic gymnastics?
Apparently, in my old age, I am even more cranky and judgemental than I realized. I’m all about the tunes, and not so much about the ‘tude. Found it kinda laughable in fact, in those few moments when I didn’t find it annoying.
That said, I have never forgotten exactly where I was and who I was with the very first moment I ever heard the Smiths. And seeing Morrissey live, even now, even with all that, brought it all screaming right back. And that’s something.
Fiction: “The Submerged Cathedral” by Charlotte Wood
An intense love story written in very sparse prose. Love found, love interrupted*, love tortured, love regained. *Thanks to twisted family relationship dynamics, but of course.
One of the pile of books I bought in Australia A YEAR AGO. Holy crap, it’s been over a year. How is that possible?
Really enjoyed the imagery in this book. Characters with deep imaginations: priceless.
Protected: Boiling it all down.
Protected: Fiction(al philosophy): “The End of Mr. Y” by Scarlett Thomas
Fantasy: “Wizard’s First Rule” by Terry Goodkind
Book 1 of the Sword of Truth series that I earlier read Book 10 of (doh!). Also the debut novel by the author.
Really like some of the characters, but felt some, Richard in particular, were a bit stiff at the beginning. Having read Book 10 already, I think it’s stiffness on the part of a first-time author, and he will loosen up as the series goes on.
Loved learning more about the Mord-Sith (awesome!) Samuel creeps me out and totally reminds me of Golom or whatever his name is in lord of the rings (precious! my precious!). Looking forward to more.
A testimony for doubt…
by one who is proven wrong in other aspects in the end. So is he wrong about this?
Faith is a device of self-delusion, a sleight of hand done with words and emotions founded on any irrational notion that can be dreamed up. Faith is the attempt to coerce truth to surrender to whim. In simple terms, it is trying to breathe life into a lie by trying to outshine reality with the beauty of wishes. Faith is the refuge of fools, the ignorant, and the deluded, not of thinking, rational men.
–“Chainfire” by Terry Goodkind
Fantasy: “Chainfire” by Terry Goodkind
You’ve got to love how I am always picking up series mid-way (or more than mid-) through. But I swear to you, I bought this in the airport, and there was NOTHING on it to indicate that it was…Book TEN of a series (and Book 1 of a within-series trilogy). Um Hello Publishers, thanks a bunch!
However, due to a wicked spell, everyone but Richard has completely forgotten Kahlan’s existence…so not having read any of the previous books really put me right in the same boat with most of the characters! Lots of great magic and spells, and vast expanses going on here. Warriors and fighting and mysteries and betrayals. Wow!
Loved this and it’s been awhile since I found a new fantasy series to get involved in. Time to get Book 1 and find out who these people really are.