« 2001/12/14 » 1435 | bookreview lordoftherings bridesheadrevisited vilebodies clansofthealphanemoon pkd | | ![[Hwan]](images/journal/hh_white.jpg) Hep.. lytes lent me his copy of The Fellowship of the Ring back on Tuesday, and I've been burning through it, trying to get it done before the film comes out. Well, not really burning through it, I'm only about 1/3 done. But I don't have much time -- Hellcow's coming over tomorrow, and will be around until Wednesday. Tonight I'm supposed to hang with an old old pally wally, a chum from my Montreal/Canadian Space Agency days. Hope to get some Christmas shopping in. Actually I've been doing a lot of reading (when I can, usually on the can! Ha) lately. Lessee.. well, I read a few books in the hospital, there being not much else to do when you're stuck in bed. I finished Waugh's Vile Bodies, which, while funny in parts, vaguely annoyed me -- I hate obvious stupidity. I then switched to Ondaatje's In the Skin of a Lion, which I really enjoyed this time around. It was still rather fresh in my mind actually, as I had only just read it a few years ago. Hmm, after that was Waugh's Brideshead Revisited. I was pleasantly surprised to find myself much more entertained and "into" the book this second time reading it. Much more savourable, appreciated. I'm still not quite satisfied with the ending though, the last page or so sticking out as odd or out of place. I'll look over it again, maybe. I was about forty pages or so into Gibson's and Sterling's The Difference Engine before I got my hands on a copy of the Tolkien novel. Hmm.. and before I went to the hospital I finished Clans of the Alphane Moon, a most amusing sci-fi novel by Philip K. Dick. I like how his novels never dwell on the technology used, but seem to mention them as if in passing, often without bothering to explain the obvious intricacies or physics involved.
[Comment on the above] |
| Réginald (hp)
Why rush the reading of Fellowship? You don't have to see the movie right when it comes out... though I don't blame you for being anxious to see the effects/cinematography.
I love the trilogy; the second book (The Two Towers) is my favourite. Plenty of nitty gritty action, and a great chapter: "The Voice of Saruman".
Anyway, savour it.. I wish I was reading them for the first time again. two-nineteen
you must spend quit a lot of time on that can. that's quite a tome you're trying to finish. those gluten free cookies must go right through you.
lessee. I was disappointed by vile bodies too. i guess i was expecting more of a great gatsby, as the introduction said. there's another good book by waugh... but i can't remember the title. it had a character named paul pennyfeather... damn! what was the title. i remember i thought it was excellent. DECLINE AND FALL. that was it.
Brideshead rev. is a book you should enjoy while not wanting to do anything else. "the langour of youth". Oh how I loved that book. eating fresh figs and mulled wine. and sebastion. a most amusing young man. 'what did lord sebastion want? a brush for his teddy bear. not for brushing, but to threaten him with a spanking when he got sulky' or something like that. i'm very bad at quoting.
clans was the book with the mental hospital planets, right? dick's best book, and there were quite a few, was the man in the high castle. it's also amazing how many of his books are being made into movies lately. not only blade runner, but screamers, total recal, and the minority report.
hmmmm... my library does seem to get smaller and smaller. Mr Scott
I'm about 1/3 the way through FotR myself. My wife just finished it, so I grabbed it up for a refresher. It's weird how much you forget about the details put into the story. Makes you wonder about exactly how much they're going to leave out.
If I had to pick a favourite of the three, I think Fellowship was my favourite, followed by Return of the King, then the Two Towers. I must confess that the first time I read the trilogy (over 18 years ago), I skipped over most of the story in favour of only keeping up with Frodo and Sam... man, when I read it again (about 10 years ago)did I ever realize how much I'd missed!
I really hope they do justice to the story, although from what I've seen, and from the actors they've chosen, I doubt it will fail to impress me.
As for Spidey, I'm looking forwards to it, but I agree that it better be good for the length of time we've had to wait. anonymous
Your movie review thing smells like my dogs turds. Add detail. Just tryin to give yall a tip Mischie
I think you smell like turds. Considering that you commented on something written 4 years ago. We don't want too much detail in Hwan's reviews, just enough to tickle our curiousity and to know his thoughts. girl
hahaha if you ever meet anonymous in person, you'll find he's a surprisingly quiet fellow. :) Growl
it's probably not the same anonymous (Pops)... Mischie
Yeah, i was working on the premise that it wasn't the same one. |
Recent comments | 2010/08/03 Hwan I won't say that all is well (for I don't believe it to be so), but I am better. Thanks to all for asking!
2010/07/20 QYV Expected range for Creatinine for guys is 60 - 110 umol/L
2010/07/20 llamariffic Hmm, macrocytosis here as well, but to be honest I've had it since before I truly embarked on drinking as a proper hobby. Similarly, stopped drinking entirely, and it didn't go away. Just one of those things, I think.
2010/07/19 girl ack!! It's weird to think that I am now a parental unit. It was nice to see you hwan!
2010/05/21 Hwan I recall trying earplugs well back in my undergrad years, to mixed results. My sleep was troubled by feelings of claustrophobia. I also have a, perhaps unfounded, fear of not hearing the essential alarm in the mornings. However, I may give these another go, thanks.
2010/05/21 llamatron Have you tried sleeping with earplugs? My flat faces out onto a main road, so I've started using the standard foam plugs. It took a few nights to get used to them, but they make a big difference.
2010/05/21 girl The original swedish title: "Men who hate women". I'm not sure if it's the fault of the translation, but I never liked the reporter dude.
2001/03/07 Hwan Damn.. it seems Unweb has since died. http://www.gamegrene.com/node/183
2001/03/07 TY SHARDEL YOU CAN TRADE WITH THE UNIVERSE AND ENABLE SOCIAL NEEDS, OR PERHAPS POST WISH LISTS, HUG THE GLOBE LIKE A BIG OCTOPUS... TY
2010/03/24 Hwan I am amused by the John Irving comparison. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Irving#Recurring_themes
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