Words, Words, Words, Words

Philip Hensher in The Guardian has summed up quite nicely and far mor eloquently how I feel about movies made from books.

The rationale behind this is, evidently, that fatuous comment that if Dickens were alive today, he'd be writing for EastEnders; a remark that can only be followed by the reflection that if Dickens did write EastEnders, it would be so very much improved in quality as to be unrecognisable.

Any of my Brit friends watching Bleak House? There was a 'dramatisation' of Our Mutual Friend a few years ago, and, being optimistic after the fairly faithful rendition of P&P (you know which one) I thought perhaps a corner had been turned and it would be just as good. It wasn't. Apparently this one is, mostly, good. Except for the sticklers like me and Philip Hensher.

Frankly I think Dickens shares with Pratchett* Both of them are such master wordsmiths that filming their stories creates a pale imitation at best. Their voice is lost, and with it, much of what makes the stories great.


*or should that be 'Pratchett shares with Dickens'?

Hey, One in three has bought a book just to look intelligent.

I blame Oprah for the whole important book thing. I love the woman, but I don't think she's a natural reader, and therefore worries too much about what she is reading, because she doesn't want to look stupid.

I will admit to a sort of book snobbery - Whenever I travel I like to have several books on hand with which to pass the time, and, though I will pick books I want to read and that look interesting, I confess to heading to the 'literature' section of the library/bookshop rather than the popular fiction section, so I look all kinds of smart whilst sitting in the airport.

Of course I think the great secret about good literature that many people don't seem to understand is that they are, first and foremost, good stories. People may see me reading and think, 'gosh, she's reading Tolstoy! What an intellectual!' not realising that what I'm actually reading is a romance novel, where one couple ends up happily ever after, while the other ends tragically with the tragic heroine tragically throwing herself in front of a train.

And I'm sure if someone discussed the symbolism of the storm tossed waves in A Tale of Two Cities to Charles Dickens, he'd roll his eyes. Granted his stories were sometimes his way of ranting about society, but he still did it in such a way that people were clamoring for more in ways that would make the Lost fandom look apathetic.

And, apropos of nothing, I just got Charlie a chess set from a garage sale, along with a book called 'A Children's Book of Chess'. I think he'd be good at it. The book is interesting. It explains the pieces by illustrating what the pieces correspond to in real medieval times. For example, it says that a pawn can move two spaces in its first move because a pikeman would most likely feel a bit more daring and reckless with the entire army behind him, but the further out he goes, the more careful he would be.

It also says that the reason a pawn can only attack diagonally is because of the way they held their pikes behind their shields - they would be poking out to the left or right, not the front.

Also, 'freelance' came from the type of Knights who were not working for anyone in particular. Mercenaries.

I did it last year with Terry Pratchett and it was pretty cool, so anyone who likes Neil, I recommend siging up. It's free: Barnes and Noble University

My house is officially decorated for Halloween. I'm pleased because I dug through the Attic of Doom and actually found some Halloween stuff I haven't seen in ages. So yay. Still can't find this little ornament I know I have - it's one of those buildings that light up. It is very cute, and I wish I knew where it was. Sigh. Still, I found my Halloween tree thingys and my table cloth and some cool candles. Perhaps I shall take photos and bore share them with you.

Meanwhile, we got Charlie's Halloween costume today. He is going to be, in his own words, "A Human Torch!" It is a really cute costume. The best bit is it comes with this flamey-hat thing, so he doesn't need a mask. And at Christmas, he can be Heatmiser.

my husband brought Home the Simpsons 1st season DVD because he said he got it cheaply at this store where he buys cheap DVDs. It occured to me that I've been watching The Simpsons my entire adult life, as it started the Christmas after I graduated college. Scary.

It also occurs to me I really shouldn't watch medical dramas like House, because today my neck hurts and I thought, "Oh no! Meningitis!"

In other Television news, I'm pleased to say I get the new Logo channel. It's the world's first all gay network, so naturally they had a Xena marathon. Quite the coincidence, since I bought those Xena books yeterday.

I was a bit surprised, though. Most of the epsiodes had to do with Ceasar, which is all fine and dandy, but there are plenty of other episodes that I personally think would be more appropriate for this channel - the ones that hint very strongly at Xena and Gabrielle's, ahem, close relationship. But whatever. I just hope it will be a permanent part of the line up because I really love that show.

What can I tell you that isn't<\i> television related? Not much, sadly. Been that kind of a day.

It's 7:30 and dark out and my brain thinks it's bedtime. Sad, no?

So...went to the book festival, and again I just have to say how much I love my town. Gotta love a town that shuts down main street to celebrate books. Several people were there shilling their books they obviously self-published, which I thought was interesting. Briefly pondered about doing that myself next year. I don't know, though. The self-publishing things seems like cheating to me. Although, with the internet and all, it's really kind of a different market any more.

I did buy a few books. Ready to laugh at me? I bought 3 Xena novelizations. Until now I've only read Xena fan-fiction so I'm sure I'll go through the entire book wondering when the Gabby/Xena slash is going to kick in. Well, hopefully they left the sub-text in.

Got my hair cut, and then we went to The Pop Shop for lunch. My new favorite place, as you can tell. One of the waitresses waved at me because she recognized me. Sort of embarrassing. I'm happy to report all the service problems seem to be solved, and the food is as yummy as ever.

The other thing I love about my town is the fact that you could toss a stone in any direction and hit a same sex couple. We were at this park and this male couple were there with their adorable little girls. I kept thinking I wish I could force people like George Bush to see this - 'Look, a loving, committed couple spending time with their children. Not exactly ripping at the fabric of our society, is it?'

I almost forgot! the very last booth at the festival was offering free 'stress tests' but when I got closer I noticed they also has Dianetics! Scientoligists in my town! I was slightly tempted to go hear what they had to say, just so I could mock them later, but only slightly.

Well, that's the boring details of my Saturday. I hope everyone had a good day. justleakynow, I hope your day got better, and the house was everything you hoped it would be! slammerkinbabe, I hope the move went well and you and your girlfriend are relaxing with pizza and a bottle of wine!

slammerkinbabe metaquotesed me!* I'm all famous now. Such an ego boost to be metaquoted. Silly little thing, but there you go.

On the Guardian online today there is an article about the new Pride and Prejudice movie staring whatserface and some other guy. I don't have a huge desire to see it, as I don't think a 2 hour movie can do justice to the story line, and also that the Colin Firth version was the definitive version. The author of the article agrees with me slightly and has this to say about the 'new' Darcy: (And watching this new and rather pallid Darcy wandering about his woods, you can't help wondering when the real chap is going to pop out of the shrubbery with his shirt dripping and order the impostor off his land.) Shirt dripping. Hee.

What do you think of this Portrait of JK Rowling? I think she looks really unhappy. I get the whole box/barefoot thing is supposed to show the abject poverty she was living in whilst starting Harry Potter, but I think there ought to be a look on her face that shows she is happily creating a new world. Or something. What do I know about art?





*yes, I know 'metaquotesed' isn't a word. Work with me, here.

You know how Amazon recommends things to you based on what you bought? Well apparently, because I bought the adult cover version of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Amazon.co.uk recommends a Coldplay album for me.

Why? What is the connection between Coldplay and Harry Potter? Anyone?

We got our lovely fast computer back, and it only cost $80 for a new hard drive. So yay and stuff.

Charlie had a great 2nd day with the new minder - she took him to the pool, where he got to play with his best friend. I'm so pleased Charlie is finally having a real summer holiday.

The boyfriend played with Charlie in the pool, and is a lovely young man. Gonna be a teacher.

Anyway, I had a vampire dream last night, probably because I just read a Lauren K. Hamilton book about vampires, but it also occured to me that I dream of vampires when I'm feeling particularly overwhelmed. I think vampires symbolise to me the act of letting go, of having someone else be in control, in charge, and then I don't have to make any decisions. I was wondering if that was part of why they have such a lasting appeal to writers and movie makers and people who like to wear black alot.

It's really odd. Zombies aren't sexy at all. Werewolves, well, Lupin maybe, but over all they are either savage monsters or tragic figures. Ghosts are either scary or vengeful, or both, but never particularly sexy, but Vampires get all the girls. (or boys if you're Anne Rice)I think it does all come back to control, or losing control, which frankly is what sex is about in some ways.

What do you think?

My sister, the one whose doctor thought her unborn baby might have Trisomy 18 has found out that the baby is fine.

So that is a huge relief. Now she can get back to thinking just being happy about the pregnancy.

She is having a girl, and she thinks she wants to name her Mia, which is pretty, and she found this nursery stuff called 'surfer baby' which is absolutely perfect for my sister.

So, big relief.

I meant to mention this yesterday, but I didn't get around to it.

I got the latest Janet Evanovich book - Eleven on Top, on Wednesday, and I had it finished by yesterday morning.

Books that are a 'fast read' are hard for people who are fast readers.

It was very good though - she's on top form with Stephanie Plum's latest adventure, and managed to shake up the formula without spilling anything, so to speak. Joe and Ranger are still the uber-hotties vieing for her affections, and the usual 'wacky characters' are wacky without taking up too much of the main plot's time. And the mystery was well done and not overly predictable. Thumbs up from me!

We went mini-golfing last night, Charlie, Husband and me. Charlie got a hole in one and was over the moon. "I'm so proud of myself!" he said.

Well, I finally got around to calling Comcast to get the high speed thingy sorted out so my phone will work again. My modem and whatnot should be speeding toward me any day now. I am assured that setting it up is easy to do on our own, and was given a number in case it wasn't, so hopefully I'll just have one more weekend of internetlessness at home, and then all will be super and swell.

I ordered the new Janet Evanovich book from Amazon.com as I had a gift certificate, so that is speeding towards me as well. Have yet to order the Harry Potter book, because I want to get a British copy, and keep forgetting to find an online British bookshop that will sell it to me. zakkati offered once to buy me a copy, but I'm not sure how I'd go about getting the money to her. I suppose I could go to the bank and get a traveller's check or something. That seems needlessly complicated though.

At any rate, I'd best get moving on this.

And in the Autumn, I believe two Pratchett books are coming out - Thud, a Night Watch centered story, and another Tiffany Aching story, so hurrah for that.

Speaking of Harry Potter, I have wondered if JK Rowling will stop writing after the 7th book, or if she will try to write an entirely new series. Because she is pretty much doomed to have to live up to herself, and you know critics will not hesitate to say the new books 'aren't as good', or something. It has happened before - look at A.A. Milne, who grew to really dislike his Winnie the Pooh stories, but was pretty much stuck with being the 'Winnie the Pooh' guy for the rest of his life. But that's destiny for you. The Harry Potter books, which I firmly believe will still be read in 100 years time, and destiny doesn't much care that while the author is still living they might want to actually do something else.

ETA: Well I got onto Amazon.com.uk and ordered Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - it seemed to work, and I assume somewhere on the electronic taking of my money from my debit card it will get translated into pounds. I ordred the "Adult Cover" version, because, well, why not? It has a picture of a battered book sitting on a bare table. Nifty, no?