I want to torture you. I used to love it, and it's been a long time. I mean, the last time I tortured someone, they didn't even have chainsaws.

Angel ,'Chosen'


Literary Buffistas 3: Don't Parse the Blurb, Dear.

There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."


Volans - Jul 18, 2006 9:54:04 am PDT #1065 of 28095
move out and draw fire

Am I Corwood's wife? Huh, I never knew.

That was another book that came with "discussion questions" bound in at the end. WHATever.

So many people have recommended The Time Traveler's Wife (and L'Engle's A Wrinkle In Time), that I've been meaning to get it (both of them) for a while.

You could save time by just reading A Wrinkle in the Time-Traveler's Wife.


Topic!Cindy - Jul 18, 2006 10:09:33 am PDT #1066 of 28095
What is even happening?

I didn't read The Time Traveler's Wife (or all of Nilly's post), but my wife loved parts and hated other parts.

t Natter Corwood, I saw your video of your son dancing to The Bird the other day, when I was very stressed out, and for the moments I was watching it, I felt all better. TOO MUCH CUTE!!!


Hayden - Jul 18, 2006 10:24:30 am PDT #1067 of 28095
aka "The artist formerly known as Corwood Industries."

He's selflessly trying to cheer up the world through dancing and reading Hand Hand Fingers Thumb, Cindy. Glad you enjoyed it!

Am I Corwood's wife? Huh, I never knew.

My goal is a Buffista wife in every town by 2008. Then we can start our messianic doomesday cult!

Out at lunch today, I sat at the counter next to a young woman who was holding (but not yet reading) the Haruki Murakami novel Kafka on the Shore. I said something like, hey, that's a great book. From her snooty reaction, you would've thought I'd asked her about her sign and if she was into roller disco. I wonder if she'd been previously beset by Japanese fiction-loving lechors.


Topic!Cindy - Jul 18, 2006 11:24:54 am PDT #1068 of 28095
What is even happening?

He's selflessly trying to cheer up the world through dancing and reading Hand Hand Fingers Thumb, Cindy. Glad you enjoyed it!

I so did, and he's just such a beautiful, beautiful boy. I'm not sure he got so big though, because I can clearly remember your announcement of his birth, like 8 days ago.


Hayden - Jul 18, 2006 11:52:41 am PDT #1069 of 28095
aka "The artist formerly known as Corwood Industries."

I've completely lost my ability to tell time, but he's just about 18 months old now.


Frankenbuddha - Jul 20, 2006 4:17:34 am PDT #1070 of 28095
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"

Apparently, there's a new Pynchon novel on the way. Or is there?!??!?!?


Kathy A - Jul 20, 2006 7:06:51 am PDT #1071 of 28095
We're very stretchy. - Connie Neil

Guess who just finished Watership Down, after all the discussion about it upthread? Excellent book, and an even faster read this second time around (I first read it in 8th grade). IIRC, my fave rabbit back then was Fiver, but this time I totally dug Hazel-rah. He's the perfect leader--willing to listen to others and trust their instincts, but also able to keep his followers together, ready to take risks, and able to cultivate allies of the most unusual sort.

Bigwig still rocks, though.


Katerina Bee - Jul 20, 2006 12:05:20 pm PDT #1072 of 28095
Herding cats for fun

OOooh, I'm glad you liked the rabbit characters as much as I did. WD was a fine book.


Ouise - Jul 21, 2006 5:20:00 am PDT #1073 of 28095
Socks are a running theme throughout the series. They are used as symbols of freedom, redemption and love.

I read Watership Down eight and a half times the year I was ten. Halfway through the ninth time, I suddenly got tired of it. I haven't read it since, but can still remember most of what happens.

I've been thinking going back to it. I'm always nervous about doing that and not liking it as an adult, but it does seem to be holding up for others. Hmmm


Hayden - Jul 21, 2006 7:28:35 am PDT #1074 of 28095
aka "The artist formerly known as Corwood Industries."

From Slate:

We earlier wondered aloud what the deal was with the fleeting appearance on Amazon.com of a synopsis of Untitled Thomas Pynchon. Was it a) a brilliant and deranged gag; b) a brilliant Barnum-caliber stunt; c) a screw-up. If you were playing at home and chose c), then we congratulate you on your perspicacity and enviable lack of cynicism. Pynchon wrote the description of the book, which is titled Against the Day, himself. Its initial posting was premature. (Also, your exceedingly polite reporter regrets any earlier implication that Penguin Press' publicity chief disavowed knowledge of the synopsis itself, as opposed to its presence on the Web site.)

I wonder what the starchy Pynchonologists who weighed in on Amazon and Pynchonoid that it was obviously a work of lesser talent aping Pynchon now think.