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BookJumper

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Everything posted by BookJumper

  1. William of Anorak is actually by far my favourite minor character up to this point and not just because of his fabulous name! Anyway I was about halfway through the book (got me very few sittings to get there, which if you know my deathly slowness you'll realise is a sign of an AMAZING book) but had to press pause on it due to the big essay rush of doom; now that's done with, I'll be picking it right up should kick-start my Fforde Ffebruary Challenge off nicely. Am LOVING it so far, definitely as good as the Thursday Next books, my inner child suggests that maybe it's even better.
  2. What book, more than any other, has... Haunted you? Mary Shelley, Frankenstein or, The Modern Prometheus. Made you weep? Ferenc Molnar, The Pàl Street Boys. Made you laugh? Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Made you ponder? Richard Bach, Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah. Filled you with a new sense of wonder for the world? [can't remember the last time a book, no matter how bad, did this for me]* Angered you? Fyodor Dostoevskij, White Nights. Filled you with passion or longing? Anne Rice, The Vampire Lestat. Frightened you? Stephen King, Carrie. Moved you through every emotion imaginable? Victor Hugo, Les Miserablés. Made you euphoric to be alive? [hard as I try, can't think of one]* Took you away from the real world, so lost within it's pages, that it was a shock to come back to reality? Neil Gaiman, Neverwhere. Made you ache from the exquisite beauty of the written word? Keith Miller, The Book of Flying. Filled you with sorrow for the human condition? Carl-Johan Vallgren, The Horrific Sufferings of Mind-Reading Monster Hercules Barefoot, His Wonderful Love and His Terrible Hatred Filled you with hope for humanity Danny Wallace, Join Me! *is this really depressing?
  3. Ditto all of that I'm not ashamed to say I allowed myself a little of vicarious living through her eyes at the end, either.
  4. Having moved between 3 different cities and 7 houses over the past 5 years, my collection's undergone countless downsizings during which long-unread books, amongst others, were sadly culled the one I have had for the past 2 1/2 years but can't bear to part with as it was expensive and will doubtlessly prove useful at some point in my seemingly infinite academic life is the mammoth Longman Annotated edition of Spenser's Faerie Queene.
  5. Supernatural s06e06 and just that one while I'm having dinner 'cos my essay beckons *grump*. FAO Karsa - so far, I'm not sure about Season 6. It's definitely had its moments and Dean has surpassed himself in adorableness (who would have even thought it possible?), but so far I want to punch Sam in the nose. This normal?
  6. Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz - Pretty Boy Floyd.
  7. Have you ever read Carrie (King's first), Pixie? 'cos that owns a lot of its status as one of my favourite books ever to just how well King had managed to capture a tortured female soul in all its beauty, frailty and fury. I haven't read the Gunslinger yet but knowing from Carrie that even at a young age he could write women if he want to, all I can think of maybe is that character building wasn't central to what he was trying to achieve in that particular instance (yes, I know it should always be central but... you know what I mean)? *adds to mental ToAvoid list* thanks for the heads up!
  8. Though your departure was before my time - welcome back glad you found your way here again, I myself was kept away by a couple months' worth of un-normalcy in late 2010 and man, I missed this place! Do let me know when you start on Titus, I've been meaning to read it for a long time (I loved the BBC Gormenghast, also the series is my Mum's second all-time favourite and she's never been wrong) so maybe knowing someone else is tackling it will give me an incentive .
  9. That's beautiful Kelly - what colour where you thinking of making it? I actually love the typed font of that Gaiman quote (as well as the quote itself, but then I'm a big fan of him as a whole), wouldn't mind something written in that typeface myself - on top of being a writer I'm one of those weird people who think in typed text rather than images, so for me it would be a joint expression of what I like doing most and the very way my brain uses to perceive the world. The more I think of it, the more I'm wanting a line of verse along my writing arm. Need to decide what, though. Something I've written myself wouldn't be a good idea as my inner editor never goes on vacation so I don't want to ink a line on my skin for all time only to turn around and think, 'I could have said that better.' Whatever I end up choosing, it'll doubtless end up being about writing/language/imagination. I'll know it when I read it, I think. I still really want my original quill & inkpot idea to happen and I still really want it on my writing hand, so I've reached a decision right now this second and I'm going to share it with you lot live. It's getting done - as a prize for when I get published. That way it will be sensible, explicable and (most importantly) deserved.
  10. Oh good, glad to know it's not just me Nat I agree with you entirely - the funny bits are needed to counterpoint the tragic elements. Much in the same way, I might add, that tragic bits are needed in comedy. A professor of mine always says that all comedies are tragedies averted, and exactly the same thing in reverse could be said for tragedies. I also went to see Greg Doran's RSC production of Hamlet (twice actually, although this was in no way planned... long story), and I too thought Tennant was quite good. Not the best serious Hamlet I've seen, but his funny bits were funnier than I've ever seen them performed. I must say, I'm absolutely fine with fans - my sister's one and if it hadn't been for her, I would probably not have made it to the play either time - so long as, like she does, are aware and respectful of the fact that Tennant (like Patrick Stewart before him) was a Shakespearean actor first and a cool dude in space after . Just had my Debating Shakespeare training today, by the way going to help coordinate a group of GSCE kids argue about Macbeth at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust next week, can't wait.
  11. Q. Is this the end of the book? Short answer No. Long answer Physical books have existed for a sizeable proportion of the history of civilization, and they're not about to die out now. every time they've been actually or metaphorically burned, they've always risen from their ashes, their hold on the collective imagination stronger than ever. Digital books have their place - they have uses. But the value of physical books transcends the notion of mere usefulness. Books are tactile, olfactory, emotive experiences that cannot be constrained within the confining boundaries of an electronic devices. Electronic devices are there to make life simpler in select instances, not to take the place of experiences central to being human. Most writers will type up novels because it's practical, but that's not to say the preciousness of the art of writing by hand is lost on them. Similarly, just because the variety and instantaneity offered by ebooks is convenient doesn't mean people are about to forget the joy they used to find in the printed word. Amazon's own figures demonstrate this: it's not that traditional book sales are suffering in their competition against ebooks, for sales of both book types are up. This makes me hope in a glorious future for books, and nothing less.
  12. Thanks for the huggage, Paula I need them. Me bereft. FAO Karsa, I'm prepared to have mixed feelings about S06 by the way - the friend who recommended Supernatural to me in the first place told me it should have ended 5 seconds before the end of Season 5, and not having seen how 6 pans out yet I reluctantly tend towards agreement. I thought that when would have made a great ending; I hope I'm wrong though it's not like I want it to be over.
  13. Just finished watching the Season 5 finale of Supernatural. I'm officially an orphan.
  14. Cass's dirty mac would be most welcome on my shoulder, I can assure you *resumes glomping of Misha Collins*! I know, isn't he horrible? Makes me want to call him names I'd have to ban myself for.
  15. Supernatural, Season 5, Episode 13 (and just maybe a couple more). Wants a Castiel of her very own to sit on her shoulder *goes all starry-eyed*!
  16. Coffecoffeecoffe (homemade cappuccino actually, I froth my own milk and everything). That huge DeLonghi filter baby is the best thing I've ever bought in my life, like, ever. Yumyumyum, wakeywakeywakey!
  17. ... whoa, guys! How gorgeously useful you all are baked potato, pasta bake, homemade salad, couscous and soup in particular all sound like very ingenious ideas, I shall experiment with the recipes / ideas you have given me and report back on my success (well, I'm hoping for success, anyway)! Unfortunately I don't really have days when I don't have anything on (I know, what a gripping life I do lead...), but I will try a little - or a lot of - bulk cooking should one ever appear on the horizon I do, I should perhaps precise, eat lunch. Most days, even. Just doesn't seem to matter much though, I always run around so much / use up so much brain-juice in the afternoon that no matter what I've had during the day, I still get home feeling I could just gobble up one of the small children I live with.
  18. Love your new elvish tat Univerze Whitegold, that poem on your back is so moving, what a touching tribute to your loved ones. Just about everyone at my new uni possesses a tattoo, usually Shakespeare-related, so I am feeling quite left out. As soon as I stumble upon a paying job, I think now's the time.
  19. Ciao Valeria, benvenuta! Ti garantisco che non troverai un'altro forum di gente così simpatica ed appassionata, credimi ne ho provati tanti e dopo esser arrivata qua un paio d'anni fa non me ne sono scollata più... Talk to you soon, compatriota !
  20. A can of Monster Ripper Energy Juice left over from my last all-nighter essay session !
  21. Will be having my dinner in front of an episode of four of Supernatural in a minute - must. get. to. the. end. of. Season. 5 *glomps Dean & Cass*!
  22. I saw Black Swan and The King's Speech at the cinny on Saturday; they were respectively good if disturbing and genius in its quintessential Britishness.
  23. Only the Young - Pretty Boy Floyd. Man, I love hair metal.
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