From the LA Times:

A memorial service for science fiction writer Octavia E. Butler will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church, 1180 Lincoln Ave., Pasadena.

I finally finished a fucking book. One not in MP3 form, that is.

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is complete. I liked it, but I'd have liked it more if the narrative:atmosphere ration had been a little higher. I got who Norrell and Strange were, and how they related pretty early on. I can't quite call it fluff, but there was a lot of...oh, nuanced reiteration that my impatient self could have done without.

I was quite surprised by how much I felt for Drawlight once Strange got his hands on him-- I swear my eyes pricked with tears when he panicked that he wasn't going to be able to fulfill all three tasks because he didn't know what one of them was. Of course, I was sitting in the neurologist's waiting room at the time, handling my own sensations of uselessness.

And, quite sappily, I'm dreadfully happy that Jonathan met up with Arabella once before the book's close-- and can only assume that the promise made to/by that fairy lady on the dancefloor would mean something in a putative gazillion page sequel. In fact, I was wondering if he'd remember that she'd told him Uskglass's name, but I have no bones with how it actually turned out.

Connie, if you're around, did you see last night's Daily Show? Jon interviewed the author of Misquoting Jesus, and it was obvious that he was really fascinated by the book--it was one of the more serious and informative interviews I've seen on TDS. Problem is that now I want to read the book, and I have neither the time nor the money for it!

Oh, I hadn't recalled who recommended Misquoting Jesus but I requested it from the library and just got it yesterday. I haven't opened it yet.

Just finished Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler. It was my first Butler novel and I enjoyed it quite a bit. In the beginning, I must admit, it took me a little while to get past the squick of an 11 yr old female (in appearance, anyway) having sex with a grown man .

Once I moved past that, the story kept a nice flow and now I'm thinking of getting another Butler novel. Will need to check bank account when I get home and see what I can afford.

Connie, if you're around, did you see last night's Daily Show? Jon interviewed the author of Misquoting Jesus, and it was obvious that he was really fascinated by the book--it was one of the more serious and informative interviews I've seen on TDS. Problem is that now I want to read the book, and I have neither the time nor the money for it!

No, I didn't see that! Fiddle.

If you do think you've got time to read it, I can lend you my copy.

Thanks, I might just be contacting you after I move next month!

Nicole, libraries tend to have OEB books. Or I could just lend you some of mine when you are in SF in May (hooray!)

Thank you, Katie!!! Libraries and I are unmixy. I have the tendency to do fine the first few visits and then BAM! suddenly I'm that girl that never quite makes it back to the library to return the books. (I'm good about mailing back loaned books, however.)

and then BAM! suddenly I'm that girl that never quite makes it back to the library to return the books.

This is, of course, one of the defining Buffista traits. Shocking to me, but it's fairly widespread.