Brace yourselves...

I'm working on the review for The Red and the Black (delayed that thing long enough, huh?) It will be posted on Friday, so y'all be looking out for that. I thought I could get it done, but like the other review, I couldn't finish it in time. These things can't be rushed, y'all.

I'm also stuck on what writing project to do. It may be back to Invisible, but I can't recall what I was doing or what was going on before I stopped a month or so ago.

Anyway, a review and more Invisible griping is coming y'all's way! Just remember to duck, getting smacked by all that would hurt like a f**ker.

In honor of Banned Books Week...

I'm currently reading Orwell's classic 1984. It is fast becoming another all-time favorite. It might even be a little better than Fahrenheit 451, though I do plan on reading that one once I finish 1984 so I can make a comparison.

Banned Books Week started Saturday, but you can catch up! Here's what you can do:

1. Read a banned book or two (find a list on the interwebz or ask your favorite book-reader friend for recommendations!)
2. Go hug a librarian, teacher, or bookseller (they're the reasons we can still get access to banned books)
3. Give a high-five to writers that you know (let them know that their voices are appreciated)
4. Go hug/high-five/bake a yummy cake/all the above those who fight for banned books to remain in libraries, bookstores, and in classrooms

Want some banned/challenged book suggestions? Here you go!

Fahrenheit 451
1984
A Wrinkle in Time (yes, I know, WTF world?)
The Harry Potter series
To Kill A Mockingbird
Looking For Alaska (yeah, lemme have John Green himself explain it)
Carrie
Beloved
The Handmaid's Tale (sadly, it was challenged in my hometown a few years back. Damn people.)

Happy reading!

Imagine A Title Here

In all honesty, I planned to skip writing a post tonight, but I made a deal to myself to update every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. And so, here I am.

I have nothing much to say, despite my hopes earlier for something more substantial. I'm finishing a book on Shirley Jackon's life, which makes me want to revisit everything by her ASAP. But due to the growing stacks of books, a reread of her bibliography will have to wait.

And I rather not talk about writing. I'm too mad at myself at the moment about my discipline. But yet, I do know one thing for sure: I do miss it.

As usual, being lazy again...

After all the excitement of the other day, I haven't anything to follow up with. Just going through the motions with things right now. But I did want to post something today. Albeit ending up being just random rambles.

I may finish a short story tonight and try to get more into writing in my paper journal. I've been slacking off there lately.

Here's to something more substantial on Monday...

Whoa, Nelly! It's storytime!

Okay, no review today or anything about writing. Instead, I drove my ass up to a William Gibson book signing. It was about two hours (thirty minutes longer 'cause I got sidetracked several times). It took about the same time returning home only because most of the highway going into town was closed off for construction. The cool thing is that driving out of town was one of my goals. So yeah, three down and forty to go! (Yes, last time I counted, I did it wrong. This is why I'm an English graduate.) I should note that I never drove out of town before, not until tonight. And it was nearly four hours total, going to and from!

One more thing: I'm changing goal #34 to: making my own Talking Heads shirt. I need one in my life, so I shall create it.

~

Wait. You dunno who William Gibson is? Get schooled!

So yeah, after waiting twenty minutes, I got my copies of his latest and Neuromancer signed. Pictorial evidence, y'all:

He was pretty cool, and freaking tall too. Like over six feet for sure. He had this leisurely way of speaking, but if you watch this clip of him from the eighties, he's always talked like that:



I asked him what his favorite J.G. Ballard novel was (he mentioned the author during the Q&A, in terms of influences). He didn't have a definitive favorite, but said "all of them were good". That is a valid answer.

So not only did I achieve a big goal, I got to meet the guy who came up with the term "cyberspace". Ace.

Until next time, Hazmat-wearing ponies.

Some numbers to throw at ya!

So far, this year... as of today, I've read sixty-two books. Finished another about fifteen minutes ago (review on Wednesday). Out of that, only twenty I really enjoyed and would highly recommend.

I've also listened to fifty new albums in total. Out of those, only ten I really enjoyed and would recommend. Ouch!

And finally, I've watched forty-six movies. Out of those, fourteen I enjoyed and would recommend.

On a side note, this all doesn't count the ones I've listened to/read/seen before. These are new or newish.

Much like last year, I will list my favorites of the year, along with wrapping up "24 Reviews for 24 Years" and deciding my "Top 25 Favorite Songs".

~

Expect a review on Wednesday on my latest read. Until then, nuclear porcupines.

I have a legit reason for...

the lack of a review for The Red and the Black.

I got an internship. Yep, I did it. Got it. Will be doing stuff with this organization in town. Looking very much forward to it.

And wasn't that one of the forty-three things to do? Yep, it sure was! Number fourteen! The recliner will also be here next week, so there's that too (number eleven, by the way)! Forty-two things to go.

Well, I should've gotten the review done sooner but I didn't want to rush it. Like the Ghosts review, I had to write it in advance and then post it (instead of releasing it that Monday, but by the time it was finished, it was early Tuesday morning).

Anyway, the review is forthcoming. Y'all may have to wait until mid-September for it. In the meantime, I got things to start doing, so see y'all Monday.