Wednesday, September 12, 2007

I just read Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman - incredible book, incredibly fast read. If you like fantastical literature even a smidge, you'll love this book. Hie thee to the market and pick one up.

Now I'm in the middle of Terry Pratchett's The Color of Magic, which is also magically delicious. Or is it deliciously magic? Read it and tell me what you think.

Best of all is Good Omens which is a brilliant collaborative work by Gaiman and Pratchett. One of my all-time favorites.
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Saw Stardust recently and loved it. The film was based on the Gaiman book of the same name, which I haven't read. Great movie.

I also just saw and loved The Prestige. I always intensely disliked Christian Bale, but in recent years I've decided he's brilliant. Call it stealth weirdness or something, but it snuck up on me. I think it was his wickedly funny turn as the eponymous "American Psycho" which was a Bret Easton-Ellis novel whose irony seemed lost on much of the society it lampooned. Anyway, the important thing is CB got it, vamping to Whitney Houston tracks and talking about the latest fragrance from Ralph Lauren whilst preparing to fricasee the prostitute in the next room. Yeah, irony, but kinda funny irony, kinda scary. Whatever. Most people need a new irony chip installed, anyhoo.

re: The Prestige - why is it I want to slap Scarlett Johansen around a bit? Could it be the several British accents she used in this film? Hmmm...
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Most of the pinata mess is cleaned up, and now I've started to crochet again for the first time in years. What'll I make next...?

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I liked Neverwhere better than Good Omens, me thinks. Both great though. I bet we could think of lots of reasons to slap ScarJo.
Happy crocheting... A

DBA Dude said...

As Colour of Magic is the first Discworld novel I am assuming that this is the first one that you have read?

If so I envy you, I own all of them and he is of the few writers who can make me laugh out loud while reading. The ones with the witches or the Night Watch rank high among my favourites. You have a lot of great reading ahead of you.

Some quotes:

“You can’t go around building a better world for people. Only people can build a better world for people. Otherwise it’s just a cage.”

“Sometimes I really think people ought to have to pass a proper exam before they’re allowed to be parents. Not just the practical, I mean.”

“Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.”

Anonymous said...

I'm still reading Harry Potter. I only manage to read a chapter and a half before I fall asleep. May take me until Christmas to finish.

I love to crochet. I'm working on a baby blanket with hat and booties to match. I don't know anyone having a baby, but who knows, anything can come up with having older kids, nieces and nephews.

phlegmfatale said...

Neverwhere may be close to a tie, but it's the subject and theme of Good Omens that so hit it out of the park for me. Delightful.
Speaking of, do you have my copy of Good Omens? Mama be needin' her book back.

dba dude - Indeed, other than Good Omens, this is the first Pratchett I'm reading. Yes, I sensed immediately that I have lots of brilliant reading ahead. That was quite a momentous realization, actually. Quite exciting. Those are incredible quotes. And he makes me laugh, too - I've snorted a few times so far.

lainy - Some of the Harry Potters were a more fast read for me than others.
Crochet is fun! Someday I'll have to start doing something more elaborate than making a chain. I've got miles of the stuff laying around. *just kidding*

I was thinking how much smarter knitting is - those long pointy sticks would make a much more effective weapon in a pinch. Maybe one should just keep knitting needles laying about the house, just in case. Yup, people keep having kids- you're sure to have SOMEONE to give that stuff to, sooner or later.

Anonymous said...

yes, meant to bring it Mon, forgot, maybe Sat. A

LawDog said...

Stardust is one of the few books/movies where I actually prefer the movie version over the book.

phlegmfatale said...

Thanks, sis!

lawdog - Wow, that's high praise, indeed, for a film. I thought Stardust was a stunning film. Loved the human, flawed characters. I think this is my favorite Robert DeNiro performance ever - seeing such a badass get in touch with his kinder, gentler side was a hoot. Being a movie buff, it's definitely in my top 50, and possibly in my top 25 of all time. I need to make that list, one day.

Dick said...

I'll be interested to read what you have to say about mine.

FHB said...

God, I wish I had time to read a book. One of these days. Used to consume them mightily on the ships back in the day. Too much goin' on now.

Unknown said...

Yeah, Scarlett was a little annoying in the film -- I can't stand it when American actors bungle other accents. Why not just use a Brit, it's like anyone probably went to see that movie because she was in it.

I liked Stardust too and am disappointed that it hasn't performed very well at the box office. I guess it was just overshadowed by all these sequels this summer.

Lin said...

Oh, oh, oh, you do crochet?! Given your results with that tank pinata, could I send you enough steel wool to crochet me up a full-sized Unimog?

FatQuarterQuiltFarm said...

CROCHET!!??????
Well now ...aint you a Renn-a Sonse woman?????
I'ts getting kinda chilly up here in the evenings just south of the Great Lakes.That touch of Fall is creeping in...
I busted out some knitting myself ....a couple of days ago.(as a quilting distraction) I once tried to learn to crochet but my left hand was too dumb to hold the yarn....but it can work a knitting needle?????Too bad cause I've always loved granny squares....
Happy yarn fondling....

Kate said...

Sounds like you had a great time with the pinata party! What a cute picture!

Crocheting, eh? I've forgotten what little I knew about that, and have been sticking to my knitting. Remember, you need to post pictures when you finish a project! ;)

phlegmfatale said...

dick -I'll be interested to READ yours!

fhb - well, you're busy having a life. It's a fair tradeoff, I think. You'll cram in time for books again soon, I'll bet.

becky - yeah, there were plenty of comely English lasses who would have done nicely. Didn't realize it hadn't done well at the box office, but that won't keep me from buying the dvd

lin - I think I could crochet steel-wool, but methinks something the scale of a Unimog would guarantee me a case of carpal tunnel syndrome, which would put my crafting career right in the crapper! Otherwise, I'd be delighted to accommodate you. Then again, postage on that thing would be hell. And back.

schnoobie - I'm as handy as a handle on a pig! Yup, I taught my teacher to crochet in the 4th grade, actually. It's fun and easy. This time, though, I really want to learn picot. I started a piece tonight in that very fine gauge yarn, and it's starting off fairly well. I'm excited! WOOHOO!

I wish we had a proper winter down here - it'd be great to make sweaters and actually use them. Oh well, maybe a throw for the sofa...

kate - yeah, the whole pinata thing was a blast! I really NEED to learn to knit one of these days...