Interesting and amusing diversions

[panik]

wot I found on the electric interwebs.

6 writers who accidentally crapped out masterpieces.

Why oh why does SF never get the Booker?

Well, they tell me it's Saturday. I suppose they could be lying but then, why would they bother, you know? But then the Met office said it would be sunny and they lie! for it is darkly grey and ominous and suspiciously warm.

A sleepless night after a tiring week has left me a well-knackered bunny. I had planned to use this day wisely and well in printing out the 3rd draft of Entanglement and doing that all-important 4th edit but I'm mildly scared I'll find that it's wall to wall shit now it's been sent to an agent and then worry. Why do that to myself, I cannot help but ask? Also the continuous interruptions - water meter man, post men, couriers, an itinerant hedge cutter - have done nothing to help my resolve to stare at the wall work on the book.

So, all of the above plus the aforementioned tiredness and my natural inklination to idleness leads me to endlessly peruse Twitter, t'internet and my current crop of reading, some self-chosen, some chosen for me (and for which I shall have to write reviews alas). For the bookly minded, these be:

Breath, Tim Winton. Surprisingly readable and really good.
Makers, Cory Doctorow. Frighteningly long.
Day After Night, Anita Diamant. A review copy and not my cup of tea at all ('Extraordinary true story', internment, Polish Zionist, Holocaust! run away, run away!!!) but I shall do my duty and hope (but not expect) to be pleasantly surprised.
The Thirteenth Tale, Diane Setterfield. Been wanting to read this for ages but work keeps getting in the way.
Vineland, Pynchon. Ditto.
The Men Who Stare at Goats, Tom Ronson

Tea now, I think. I'm currently working my happy way through a box of Twining's Lemon Grove which I hadn't had before and is surprisingly delicious. It tastes of lemon Opal Fruits which can only be a Very good thing. New Californication on the box tonight, also a repeat of the Robbie Coltraine, John Sessions Boswell thingum.

In short, life is currently pleasing me in a sound and goodly way, I hope she is doing the same for you, too, my esteemed and doxilicious flist. Here, have a sprinkling of pink sugar-dusted, sparkly cherry-vanilla kisses. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Whatever Mark's using in the bath, it smells bloody awful.

ETA: Too good not to share (Caution, contains Dan Brown).

Comments

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

If you can get thru Vineland, I'll send you a cookie.

[gillyp.livejournal.com]

Not into Pynchon then? :o)

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

No, I've read almost everything he's ever written, but I've never been able to get thru that one!

[gillyp.livejournal.com]

That's interesting, most people seem to think it's his most readable. Ultimately all a matter of taste of course, I've had to fight my way through every Jane Austen I've ever been made to read.

[mscongeniality.livejournal.com]

I've never read Anita Diamant, but my mother loves her. I'm not sure if that's a recommendation or not so I wish you luck of it.

[vamysteryfan.livejournal.com]

Loved the Dan Brown article. I've read most of his books but he is an aggravatingly bad writer

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

The piece about Dan Brown is wonderful. Amen to every word *g*

The Beeb lied to us too - grey and grotsome with damp bits, they told us. Huh... we have gorgeous hot sun, pale blue skies, and I have just about every article of clothing in the house out on the line. We shall go naked, comely, but clean.

[j-amanda.livejournal.com]

Maybe we could enter Dan Brown in the next Bulwer/Lytton contest. Pseudonymously, or not.

http://www.bulwer-lytton.com/

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

Particularly appreciated the take on Frankenstein, which I am teaching to my freshmen right now . . .

[elmyraemilie.livejournal.com]

I adored Diamant's "The Red Tent," but I am completely allergic to anything having to do with the Holocaust. It's a thing I can't bear to look at. Far too horrifying to consider in any kind of detail.

Please do tell us about the one with the goats, though, when you've finished. It's the kind of title that makes me buy a book without knowing a thing about it.

I am going to go take a nap now. It's Saturday, and I deserve it.

[gillyp.livejournal.com]

The Men who stare at goats has just been made into a film with George Clooney. The weirdest thing about it is it's not fiction! *g*

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

I love Tim Winton's writing, and enjoyed Breath. Have you read Cloudstreet? It's his best by far, IMO.

[gillyp.livejournal.com]

No, I'd never heard of him till I was sent Breath to review. I'll admit, reading the cover blurb, I wouldn't have picked it off the shelf, left to myself but it was surprisingly smooth and readable. I'll put Cloudstreet on my 'to read' list then.