Yesterday UPS didn't even make a second attempt and I had my signed notice on my door and everything. Fingers crossed that they bother to attempt to deliver today.

John Hodgeman tweets that he is reading A Game of Thrones and somebody tells GRRM who posts it on his lj leading to this fun comment from a fan:

"Hi, I'm a Lannister."

"And I'm a Stark."

"I'm bloodthirsty and ruthless."

"And I'm noble and- AAAAIIIIGGH!"

Which I've spoiler fonted for ah, fairly non-specific spoilage.

OMG Hunger Games. I stayed up half the night earlier this week finishing it, and now I'm halfway through the second. So amazing!

And, another one bites the dust...

I want to figure out how Collins makes so compulsively readable a book that has so. many. problems. Seriously: the world-building makes no sense, it's depressingly gender-essentialist and heteronormative, and the logistics are right out of fairy tales.

And yet I can't stop reading them because she's got the thriller pacing down so well!

If I could just nibble off that part of Collins brain, she could keep the rest. Want.

First of all, I just got a library notice that Blameless is in for me to pick up. I didn't think it was even being released until Sept. 1. But I might drive up there and pick it up (I have the books sent to the library by my office, not home), since...

I stayed up until 3 a.m. finishing Mockingjay. I read it too fast, I know, but I wanted to know what happens. I'm a little okay with it, and a little angry. (Because, seriously? Prim?!? SERIOUSLY?!? God DAMN. That's Minear-esque. It just is.)

I'll say this: Suzanne Collins' method of telling rather than showing is at least more deft than Dan Brown's.

I want to figure out how Collins makes so compulsively readable a book that has so. many. problems. Seriously: the world-building makes no sense, it's depressingly gender-essentialist and heteronormative, and the logistics are right out of fairy tales.

I *so* agree. And she's heavy-handed with the message, too. (What? WAR IS BAD? REALLY?) But I had to finish it.

I am impressed that she pulled off a plot point that made me totally switch my opinion of whether Katniss should be with Gale or Peeta.

Also? I don't know that I'd let a kid under 12 read this one. I *totally* understand that's a generalization, and that it depends on the kid's maturity level, etc. I GET THAT. But I was really taken aback by how brutally violent it is. And dark. Daaaaaaaark. Darkity dark dark. I know that kids can handle dark stuff. I'm just saying that, in general, it's not a book I'd just toss to my kid.

...yeah. I think I'm going to go pick up Blameless, just to balance out Mockingjay, because my head hurts. I need something lighter.

First of all, I just got a library notice that Blameless is in for me to pick up.

YOU FIEND.

pokes at Amazon.com with a stick, whining for my order

I don't know how the Cincinnati library system trumps Amazon!

If it makes you feel any better, I'm not going to pick it up until tomorrow, and I (probably) won't start reading it until Sunday.

Finally! Mockingjay is "in processing" at the library, but only 15 copies so far.