Books, books, books...

[icepixie]

You know, I never realized this, having only read Fahrenheit 451 around age twelve and The Illustrated Man not long after, but Ray Bradbury seems to be one of the comparatively few writers who deserves his reputation. I just finished Something Wicked This Way Comes, and the writing in it so evocative of autumn that I wondered if I hadn't suddenly time traveled to October. Of course, the conclusion left something to be desired--hugging the bad guy to death generally does--but it was a story more about the protagonists discovering themselves than of good guys vs. bad, so I'll give it a pass. Most of the things I read last week in the Golden Apples of the Sun collection of short stories were quite good as well. Mmmm, descriptions.

I checked out Dandelion Wine from the library as well, but I'm breaking up the Bradbury deluge with the new collected stories of Roald Dahl. I had no idea he also wrote for adults. So far, there seems to be a big focus on WWII RAF pilots, but then again, I'm only two stories in.

Last week I got about three-quarters of the way through A.S. Byatt's The Virgin in the Garden before giving up. Not-so-coincidentally, it was about that point in the book that I realized all of the buildup was not actually going to lead anywhere, or at least anywhere I wanted to go. I only have forty pages left so I may finish it, but probably not. *sigh* I enjoyed Possession so much! Why hasn't any of her other stuff been as good?

In other news, in the Fraser and Thatcher go to the Yukon fic (henceforth abbreviated F&TGttY, or perhaps just "Yukon fic"), they've made it through the first day and are now sharing a tent very, very awkwardly. (I think the reason I enjoy this pairing so much is because there is so much potential for awkwardness, which of course means FUNNY.) I've got a scene from the Cupid/dS crossover which, if I ever get a couple lines of dialogue right, I may post here since I'll likely never actually finish the whole thing to whet the appetites of whomever might actually read it.

And finally, today one of the job-checkers characterized my rate of getting jobs done as "rockin'," complete with the emphasis. That was rather nice, especially coming after I had to do a monstruously quick turn-around on some fairly major revisions to a job, and so was feeling a bit murderous stressed.

Comments

[alto2.livejournal.com]

I found out Dahl wrote for adults when I read "Lamb to the Slaughter" in 10th grade. Still love it and had my kids read it back in March :)

I tried to start a Byatt book a few years ago and never got very far. Not sure why...couldn't even tell you which one it was anymore.

[icepixie]

I tried to start a Byatt book a few years ago and never got very far. Not sure why...couldn't even tell you which one it was anymore.

Awww. Possession is excellent, if you're looking to try again. I especially enjoy the fact that it's essentially about lit grad students realizing that deconstruction and Freudian analysis are both ridiculous, and thumbing their noses at the academic establishment.

But if you can't get into the book, the movie wasn't half-bad either.

[alto2.livejournal.com]

I saw the movie in the theater (so it's been a while) and have been intrigued by the idea of the book since a high school friend, who was also a colleague a few years post-grad, was reading it. I may give it another go sometime--the idea of thumbing your nose at Freudian analysis and deconstruction is definitely appealing, since I hated both!

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

Have you read Bradbury's Martian Chronicles? You should. It's some of my favorite old skool sci-fi. "The Green Morning" and "There Will Come Soft Rains" are pretty much amazing, and the rest of the collection isn't bad at all. And... now I want to read Bradbury. Except mine are in Knoxville. You're eeeeeevil. As usual. I should find a copy of GAinS next time I'm at McKay's; I haven't read that one...

there is so much potential for awkwardness

Their awkwardness, if harnessed, could power small nations.

And you are indeed rockin'.

[orangetango.livejournal.com]

Something Wicked This Way Comes is in fact my least favorite of the Bradbury writings. In fact, I flat-out don't like it. But I love pretty much everything else he wrote.

[icepixie]

Have you read Bradbury's Martian Chronicles?

I don't think so, but I may have at some point in middle school. The titles you mentioned sound extremely familiar.

You're eeeeeevil. As usual.

Mwahaha. I should go into business. The business of being evil.

I should find a copy of GAinS next time I'm at McKay's; I haven't read that one...

There's more than a bit of mildly-offensive-to-Latinos stuff in there, which boggled a bit, although I suppose was not uncommon at the time, but otherwise it's quite good, yes.

Their awkwardness, if harnessed, could power small nations.

It could indeed. (SO. CUTE.)

And you are indeed rockin'.

:D

[icepixie]

Really? Huh. Was it the hugging-the-bad-guy-to-death part that turned you off? (That was...not so good.)

[vallentine.livejournal.com]

I LOVE Bradbury. I don't think there's a single thing of his that I've read and not liked. Mainly because regardless of the subject matter his writing is so good that I can't help reading. He's the only author that I completely trust; whose writing I won't stop reading even if halfway through I'm not sure I like where the story is going. I recommend reading any and all of his short stories that you can get ahold of. Though I enjoy his novels I think short stories were his forte.

[orangetango.livejournal.com]

I just really couldn't get into the story. And yeah, the ending sucked big time. But in general, the book just didn't really do it for me.

[icepixie]

He is superb at crafting beautiful sentences, yes.

I liked SWTWC more than the short stories I've read, but then again, I have limited experience.