laceblade: (Default)
laceblade ([personal profile] laceblade) wrote2008-10-20 02:41 pm

Literary Update

Okay, so Sarah Palin is a good sport. Y/Y? Poehler's rap was bad-ass, and watching Alec Baldwin say what he actually thought was amusing.



For Wiscon Book Club this path month, we read Octavia Butler's Lilith's Brood, which is actually a trilogy comprised of the titles Dawn, Adulthood Rites, and Imago. I made it through the first two books, and about 20 pages of the third. I enjoy Butler's writing in terms of imagery and storytelling. The books revolve around the intersectionality of many topics: gender, sexuality, power struggles, humanity, and horror in encountering and loving an "Other" (in this case, aliens). And yet, while I sailed through the first book, book two was pretty stagnant, and from the bit I read of the third book, it seemed like it would be the same. The latter two set up really interesting premises, but then nothing happened. I think I like a bit more character development with my stories, or maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for them. I should point out that these are some of Gretchen's favorite books, and many people enjoyed them thoroughly.



For my "regular" book club, we read The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly. I actually really love this book, but have only read about a third of it. Unlike Butler's Imago, though I do intend to finish it.



As for books I've actually finished? It's mostly been manga lately. I finished the first volume of the Batman Chronicles today. So much LOL! Hey, is there Batman/Robin slash out there? There must be. I just got the inkling when they took their little oath to fight crime and get each other's backs. I really love the ominous narration in these comics.
Already an almost legendary figure, the cowled shadow of the Batman prowls through the night preying upon the criminal parasite, like the winged creature whose name he has adopted.

A bit more creepily....after Robin was introduced, there was a sidebar for young readers to join "Robin's Regulars." No buttons or badges are needed....one must simply exemplify "Readiness, Obedience, Brotherhood, Industriousness, and (of course) Nationalism."



My part-time job is making me add tons of books to my Requests at the public library, too. Yesterday I bought Tim Wise's Speaking Treason Fluently: Anti-Racist Reflections From an Angry White Male, and it's pretty damn amazing so far. But Tim Wise is always amazing.


There will be a "real life" update soonish. Books always come first, right?

[identity profile] were-duck.livejournal.com 2008-10-20 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
OMF, I've been meaning to pick up that new Time Wise book! I'm glad you like it, maybe I will borrow it from you when you are finished.

I know, working there is like working in a crack warehouse. So many books! So much more affordable than usual!

Just because they are my favorite books doesn't mean you have to like them, you know...

[identity profile] hellocthulhu.livejournal.com 2008-10-20 08:05 pm (UTC)(link)
I think that if the race were closer, the McCain campaign would never have let Palin put in an SNL appearance in a skit like that. But at this point in time, what have they got to lose? Nothing could really make things any worse for them.
ext_6446: (Josh and Donna)

[identity profile] mystickeeper.livejournal.com 2008-10-20 09:54 pm (UTC)(link)
I kind of disagree with that. First of all, the race is still relatively close. Obama's in the lead, but I wouldn't necessarily say he's got it in the bag. According to some polls, he may have lost 3 points in the last 2 weeks.

Also, political candidates go on SNL all the time, and I think it's just to cut loose and have a time. People might go on The Daily Show or Meet the Press to get points, but people don't go on SNL to help or hurt their political campaign.

[identity profile] hellocthulhu.livejournal.com 2008-10-20 10:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, nationally, Obama's only up by a few points... but if you break it down on a state-by-state basis, which is what really counts, he's averaging around 350 electoral votes. fivethirtyeight.com is giving him a 93% win chance right now.

Sorry, I still disagree. "Cutting loose and having a good time" is just another campaign strategy, especially in the middle of such a bitter race. Be more "real", be approachable, come across as the person you'd like to have a beer with. It's all campaigning.
jesse_the_k: Scrabble triple-value badge reading "triple nerd score" (word nerd)

[personal profile] jesse_the_k 2008-10-22 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
I loved the Butler book, but plot is not what it's got. Hardly any at all.

Just saw that Palin's been getting the state to pay for flying her family around. But perhaps the people who find Palin competent won't care?