Until Harry arrives. . .
My current reading is eclectic. . .
One is The Vaults of Time, by Stephan A. Schwartz, a book about the application of psychic viewing to archeology, and two are books about the history of cowboys in Kansas, by Jim Hoy.
At my left elbow is a collection of poetry by the two-term Poet Laureate, Billy Collins, titled, The Trouble With Poetry.
The trouble with poetry is
that it encourages the writing of more poetry,
more guppies crowding the fish tank,
more baby rabbits hopping out of their mothers
into the dewy grass.
Collins is very funny, and charming as can be. I once saw him give a reading to 1,000 people in Kansas City, Mo. One thousand people at a poetry reading!
Down on the carpet to my right is a well-loved book I've had for years, a collection of poems by, and biography of, Emily Dickinson.
Presentiment--is that long Shadow--on the Lawn--
Indicative that Suns go down--
The Notice to the startled Grass
That Darkness--is about to pass.
Emily's no stand-up comedienne, but like Billy, she sure does tell the truth
Tomorrow, I'll start that new book by that little known author J.K. Rowling. Will you? Maybe I should post a special Harry Potter thread, just for those who've finished the book, so we don't have to worry about spoilers.
I hope you have a perfectly wizard day, and I'll see you in the comments. Y'all.
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24 comments:
Have I mentioned that I really like this place you guys have been helping me to create? I never know what you're going to say, I just know I'm going to be amazed, amused, touched, interested, and impressed.
Just have to say that now and then. If you want to see a sweet tribute to you, check out the last comment from yesterday, from Sally.
Now I'm all verklempt. Sniff.
Coffee! French Roast this morning.
Good morning Nancy.
I got an early start and then decided a nap was in order. So I'm starting again, although this time not as bleary eyed.
Who knows it might be a complete slack day today.
I was just over at your blog, family man, reading about disappearing relatives and appearing plumbers. I have no doubt you have earned your slackdom today, not that a person EVER has to earn it. . .:)
What am I reading right now?
Let's see, the sixth Harry Potter, since I want to be read up when my copy arrives in a couple of weeks--we picked up the British editions of the first two book before the rest came out and have been trying to keep the set matched.
Dawkins'The Selfish Gene, The Oxford Companion to World Mythology, Truss' Eats Shoots & Leaves, Pat Wrede's Talking to Dragons, How to be a Canadian by the brothers Ferguson, plus two or three things that I started and haven't decided whether or not I'll finish.
Kelly, I had to look up Talking to Dragons, 'cause it's such a wonderful title. The description on Amazong makes me want to start with Book One. I don't care that it's a children's series--I frequently check out the Young Adult section, because of the great writing there, so why not the children's section, too.
Are you reading it because you love the series, or for other writerly reasons?
I'm awaiting my Deathly Hallows delivery in the a.m.
Just finished reading Scott Lynch's Lies of Locke Lamora - brilliant! Also picked up New Moon by Stephanie Meyer, sequel to Twilight - YA, neat twist on vampire romance.
Of course, I also need to be doing the whole writing-the-second-book thing. ::g:: When one has a very demanding full time job, the majority of writing gets done on the weekend.
I like the idea of an HP post. We've started a pool at the office about certain events, but can't really collect on it until everyone reads the book.
Ooo, interesting recommendations, Maria. Thanks.
I don't know how writers with other jobs do it. Hat's off to you. Wizard hat, of course.
I'm reading it because Pat's a fabulous fun writer and the other three books in the series were a hoot. She's one of Dr.Mc's favorites and I've enjoyed everything of hers that I've read. She's also gracious and fun to talk to even if you've only met her in passing as I have. BTW, her enchanted frying pan story is side-splittingly funny.
Lies of Locke Lamora is on my to-read pile. Scott's a really good guy and lives about fifteen minutes from me.
This oldish book on the crossroads between archeology and psychics is fascinating. A handful of big name archeo's--such as one known as the Father of Canadian Archeology-- have used psychics with remarkable success, but the combo is so waaay outside the current scientific paradigm that it literally "can't" exist. So by ignoring it, and even them, it doesn't. :) Handy, that.
I think I had alittle too much butterbeer. I re-read Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince in the past couple of weeks in preparation for the final book. Planning to go get it tonight but have commitments over the weekend so don't know when I'll get to reading it. I may have to do a total news blackout in the meantime, though, because I refuse to be spoiled on this one. It seems like the newscasters are itching to give away secrets.
I also promised myself that I would get through the His Dark Materials trilogy. Every time I start it, another book or something comes along and distracts me.
Hi, Man E! You gotta cut back on that butterbeer. :)
I totally forgot until I saw a reminder today that there is a 3-D version ending to the new HP movie. I wanted to see it again anyway, to catch some of the wonderful magical details, but now I know I MUST see the 3D version.
Hmm, what old movie would you love to see in 3D? Just off the top o' me head, I'll pick Jurassic Park. Can you imagine Psycho in 3D? Or, snort, Last Tango in Paris.
I have a few books going, which is a new trend for me. I'm usually a one-book-at-a-time girl. But I'm reading Virgin of Small Plains for pleasure (woo-hoo!), with Updike's Rabbit, Run, and Secret Life of Bees in the wings (doing research for my current story). Just finished Koontz's Intensity (studying pacing). I have a box of others that will come with me on the trip that I need to read next.
Somewhere in there I'll squeeze in HP, but it might be a while - sigh. You can go ahead and discuss it...I'll just stick my fingers in my ears (la la la la). :-)
Blush.
I hope you like it all the way through, Beth.
Off to lunch!
I brought back chocolate cake. Who wants?
(sitting up)
Chocolate Cake?
Ha! Missed your chance, Catharine.
;p
Actually, I'm sweating with guilt after going out to lunch -- the 3rd time this week.
I've GOT to find a lunch place that doesn't make fatty food.
I have so many books on the go right now if I starting listing them I'd be here til next morning ... lol
But I have to say that my complete works of Emily is on my mantle ... w/in easy reach ... along w/ The Alchemist, Cat People, and A Man Without A Country for no particular reason -- just b/c they're there.
Oh, and speaking of poetry, one of the books I'm currently reading is Body of Work -- amazing so far.
That should be start listing them ...
My brain has already left for the long w/e ... :)
I'll be reading that little book, maybe at 12:02 am. Unfortuantley I'm in the middle of Tad Williams' 4 book Otherland series. I prefer to read one book at a time. A bounty of good books.
Olivia (if you don't see this here, I'll ask on yuour blog, too), I looked up Body of Work on Amazon, but what they have doesn't look like poetry. (It's about dissecting a cadaver.)Can you tell me more?
Hi, b2. Many of us seem to like fantasy and sci fi a lot.
Happy weekend to you! Draw something purty. :)
So the NY report (where I'm visiting for a couple weeks) is that the countdown to midnight was NUTS. From around 10-10:30 I wandered Times Square where a huge countdown sign towered above Toys R Us; hundreds of people already in line. All eyes were on the countdown to midnight. People walked around giving Harry Potter quizzes with prizes, lots of costumes.
I got a call that a meeting with a friend was called off at Union Square where Jim Dale (voice of Potter on the audio books) would speak. Friend said you can't get in line and even if you did it would be after 1am before we'd get a book. I didn't want the book tonight, I just wanted to watch. So, friend and I have a plan to meet tomorrow, buy our books, and stand in line for illustrator autograph. But I moseyed over to Union Square B&N just to watch. There were three huge crowds totalling thousands. One crowd was in line to get the book and play inside. One crowd watched this crowd standing near the door (and blocking the street) hoping to get in after the line went down. Another crowd stood across the street watching the other crowds. I walked into and out of all crowds (including getting on someone's camera asking a Jew for Jesus who was preaching the evils of Harry Potter why we all had to take five minutes to talk to him about Jesus but why he kept refusing to talk to the cameraman about Harry Potter. I was just asking!).
At 11:45 the crowd began to squash together. Harry Potters' ran around fighting Voldemorts' all over Union Square. At 11:55 a Prof Macgonawhatshername came to the door and told everyone to stand back! At 11:59:40 a live countdown began, funny lightning strikes went off inside the store, and the crowd cheered! Within five minutes a police escort had to help a woman out of the crowd with the first book, soon followed by a college-age kid (the originial 14 year olds who started this phenom) who ran the length of the street holding up his copy. Then all over Union Square appeared Harry Potter books. I stopped into a Starbucks and at every table people had already jumped into the book. One young woman was on page 25 before I was out of line (again... the original tweens who kick-started this thing, now all grown-up). I got on the Subway around 1:30 to head back Uptown, and on this packed train I figure 50% of everyone at least had the book or was reading. It was the talk of New York, and quite a sight to see.
All I could think was that publishing may likely never see another night like this.
Jason, amazing! I'm moving your comment to the head of the new line. We'll see if others have Potter reports today. . .
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