I'm only about 100 pages into the Dark Tower book.
Gah, I'm terrible at focusing on things.
I've decided I'm going to try to read (at least) 50 books between now and February 1st of 2008.
It's unoriginal, I know, but I've always wanted to try.
So I'm going to document it here and write about other stuff in my LiveJournal.
I think I may read Stephen King's second Dark Tower novel first. I'm only about ten pages in right now, so it still counts.
Fred sits alone at his desk in the dark
There's an awkward young shadow that waits in the hall
He's cleared all his things and he's put them in boxes
Things that remind him: 'Life has been good'
Twenty-five years
He's worked at the paper
A man's here to take him downstairs
And I'm sorry, Mr. Jones
It's time
There was no party, there were no songs
'Cause today's just a day like the day that he started
Noone is left here that knows his first name
And life barrels on like a runaway train
Where the passengers change
They don't change anything
You get off; someone else can get on
And I'm sorry, Mr. Jones
It's time
Streetlight shines through the shades
Casting lines on the floor, and lines on his face
He reflects on the day
Fred gets his paints out and goes to the basement
Projecting some slides onto a plain white
Canvas and traces it
Fills in the spaces
He turns off the slides, and it doesn't look right
Yeah, and all of these bastards
Have taken his place
He's forgotten but not yet gone
And I'm sorry, Mr. Jones
And I'm sorry, Mr. Jones
And I'm sorry, Mr. Jones
It's time
I've been a science fiction fan from the moment I began reading real books. My first explorations mainly consisted of Star Trek novels, but I soon branched into what some people consider more "literary" sf. A couple months ago I read Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash. I thought it was an excellent work of fiction. I had heard only good things about one of Stephenson's other works, the Baroque Cycle. A couple weeks ago I used some Christmas money to pick up the first of the series, Quicksilver.
I'm only about eighty pages in, but so far it's been quite an experience. It's full of obscure references to old scientists and science facts. I'm not in far enough to really "get it" yet, but it's been pretty fun so far.
Anyone else read some of Stephenson's stuff?
When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Thank you, Cake, for blessing us with your music.
Last night I finished reading The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde. This was the first novel that I have read by Mr. Fforde. I kept seeing his books in Barnes & Noble and they had always looked interesting. The Big Over Easy was a wonderfully light read. It was funny but still kept some depth. I respect any author that can write a truly humorous work, but still keep a good plot. Mr. Fforde accomplished that. His Nursery Crime series focuses on mysteries involving .. nursery rhyme characters. TBOE involved Humpty Dumpty being killed and Jack Spratt investigating the crime. Many other nursery rhyme characters come into play at some point.
I'd recommend this if you like Terry Pratchett or similar writers.
Last night I borrowed my grandma's copy of Dickens' David Copperfield. I'm a fan of Dickens, but I have never gotten around to Copperfield. It's rather lengthy and time will tell if I actually finish it. I really enjoyed Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities.
I need to start writing some stories. I have problems coming up with plots and then developing them though. I have a feeling no one ever reads these entries, but if anyone has suggestions on how to stimulate writing at all, please share.
Also, I picked up Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips' Criminal #3 today. It's probably the weakest so far, as the story is kind of at a slow point, but it allowed Brubaker to work on some more character development. Phillips, again, produced wonderful art and an absolutely incredible cover. There's also a good essay about Orson Welles' Touch of Evil, a crime noir film.
I'm sick.
I didn't go to school.
It's finals week.
I haven't studied much.
If I go to school tomorrow, it will probably be miserable.
So, Bullet Points #2 wasn't that great. It still felt like a set-up issue.. and there are only 5 issues in the series.
I hope to God that Criminal comes out Wednesday. I'll be very angry if it doesn't.
So, it is Wednesday. Wednesday = new comics. Criminal #3 was supposed to be out today, but.. it wasn't. I haven't seen anything to indicate why. I sent Brubaker a myspace message. No idea if he responds to messages, but I figured it was worth a shot.
Anyways, I still picked up a couple books. I got Bullet Points #2. The first issue was great. J. Michael Straczynski is an incredible writer. The only problem that I have with Bullet Points is the massive amounts of ads. I believe there is a page of ads for every page of comics. I haven't read issue two.. Review later.
I also bought the first issue of Welcome to Tranquility by Gail Simone. I did read that. It was great. This is the first thing that I've read from Simone, but I've only heard good stuff about her. I was impressed by this issue. The premise is stories that take place in a town full of old, washed up superheroes and villains. The first issue featured a villain whose face turns into different 'emoticons' like :-O or :-$. He also verbally says "LOL" at least once. Simone has earned another reader.
Also picked up my reserve of "V For Vendetta" (the graphic novel) from the library. I'll get around to that sometime next week, probably. Still need to finish Adam Strange & some books from the library.. as well as finals next week and some non-graphic fiction I'm reading. So much reading, so little time.
