Reading, Watching, Bum Scratching
READING
You know, I can remember the very first time I heard the phrase "long time, no see". I was about 12, sitting at the edge of a football pitch in Letterkenny with a friend of mine -- and no, I can't remember who the friend was, because memory is tricksy that way.
A stranger came past and my forgotten companion said "long time, no see" and I thought, "Wow! That is so original of you to think that up..."
None of the above is relevant to anything, except, well, long time, no see, dear diary!
I didn't mean to abandon you, but I've been busy. Writing, you know? Anyway, while we were going our separate ways and not talking, a lot of books have crossed my path, many of which I am not allowed to discuss. But... but here's a REALLY good one...
I'm half-way through Gordon Jackson Bennett's City of Stairs. Yes, you're right! I'm following the trend. I always read the cool and hip-of-the-moment book and, I'm always disappointed.
But somehow that isn't the case this time. City of Stairs is blowing my mind in a way that happens, maybe, once a year. As with 2013's Ancillary Justice, we have an intriguing story that casts light on real world issues, that in turn, deepen the intriguing story. It's going to win all of the awards. It's going to have statues built to it. It is an object lesson in how fantasy world-building can be every bit as thought-provoking as the best that Science Fiction has to offer.
All this, and I'm still only at 45%...
WATCHING
My current pleasure is the bleakest crime drama around: Gomorra. The whole thing is in "Italian" in the same way The Wire was in "English". I like to think I speak both of these languages pretty well, but I can understand maybe 20% of the filth that passes for dialog. So, hurrah for subtitles!
Anyway, everything depicted is horrific enough that my feelings after each episode are: a) bring back hanging, but b) even that would be too good for them. The whole thing is creepy and seedy. I can't put my finger on why it's so brilliant, but after the three episodes it took to snag my interest, I was suddenly a binge-watcher.
Join me! Who needs faith in humanity?
You know, I can remember the very first time I heard the phrase "long time, no see". I was about 12, sitting at the edge of a football pitch in Letterkenny with a friend of mine -- and no, I can't remember who the friend was, because memory is tricksy that way.
A stranger came past and my forgotten companion said "long time, no see" and I thought, "Wow! That is so original of you to think that up..."
None of the above is relevant to anything, except, well, long time, no see, dear diary!
I didn't mean to abandon you, but I've been busy. Writing, you know? Anyway, while we were going our separate ways and not talking, a lot of books have crossed my path, many of which I am not allowed to discuss. But... but here's a REALLY good one...
I'm half-way through Gordon Jackson Bennett's City of Stairs. Yes, you're right! I'm following the trend. I always read the cool and hip-of-the-moment book and, I'm always disappointed.
But somehow that isn't the case this time. City of Stairs is blowing my mind in a way that happens, maybe, once a year. As with 2013's Ancillary Justice, we have an intriguing story that casts light on real world issues, that in turn, deepen the intriguing story. It's going to win all of the awards. It's going to have statues built to it. It is an object lesson in how fantasy world-building can be every bit as thought-provoking as the best that Science Fiction has to offer.
All this, and I'm still only at 45%...
WATCHING
My current pleasure is the bleakest crime drama around: Gomorra. The whole thing is in "Italian" in the same way The Wire was in "English". I like to think I speak both of these languages pretty well, but I can understand maybe 20% of the filth that passes for dialog. So, hurrah for subtitles!
Anyway, everything depicted is horrific enough that my feelings after each episode are: a) bring back hanging, but b) even that would be too good for them. The whole thing is creepy and seedy. I can't put my finger on why it's so brilliant, but after the three episodes it took to snag my interest, I was suddenly a binge-watcher.
Join me! Who needs faith in humanity?
No comments have been added yet.
