And Superior Justice disappointed me. It turned into a character piece with interruptions for murder, and the scenes of the pastor counseling people tended to go on a little long. Being as he's a Lutheran Reverend, of course it would be a Christian-centered viewpoint. But then I noticed the character focusing on women dressed in "a mannish button-down shirt" or having "mannishly short hair." And the final straw, the several pages where a psychologist whose practiced attempted to "cure" gays explained how he went about it and the pastor being interested and not challenging any of it.

I started skipping pages at that point, and then he turned into Steven Segal after he was framed for murder, and, well.

Witty dialogue and erudite characters can't make up for everything.

I am now reading Clockwork Scarab, a steampunk story about the hitherto unknown younger sister of Bram Stoker, who turns out to be the equivalent of Buffy, and the hitherto unknown niece of Sherlock Holmes, daughter of Mycroft, which is very funny after seeing Game of Shadows, are recruited by Irene Adler to find out who is killing young aristocratic women. Ridiculous on the face of it, but it's being matter of fact about a steampunk world with the Fae in it, and, by the way, we've got an accidental time traveler from the modern world who seems to be coping surprisingly well in a world where he's surprised to find out Sherlock Holmes is real and where he can distract pursuers with his iPhone.

Miss Stoker is reluctantly admitting that Miss Holmes is quite bright and clever, and Miss Holmes is grudgingly impressed at how well Miss Stoker kicks butt. Miss Stoker is surprised to discover Miss Holmes dislikes dark underground places, and Miss Holmes is baffled at why Miss Stoker freezes at the sight of blood, given her vocation. As Miss Stoker says, "Vampires don't bleed."

They're both trying to live up to their families' reputations, and it's at least competently written.

RIP Zilpha Keatly Snyder.

The police are baffled, the management's frantic, the watchmen will not stay,

All the scientific investigators gave up and went away,

And they all pretend that they can't be certain, for no one wants to say,

that the ghosts, little ghosts who lost their childhood

Have been sent to Alcott's to play.

-The Fishbowl Song

I just finished Gone Girl. Holy shit.

I'm really not sure how to feel about the fact that my parents know the author's parents.

Huh, really? They're still in KC, I believe.

As are my parents. That bit in the acknowledgements where she thanks her parents for "always taking the time to harass strangers into buying" her books apparently applies to friends as well.

Also, I've worked with the actress who plays Margo in the movie. It was kind of cool being able to imagine her in the role as I read the book.

Aurelia, I thought the actress who played Go was excellent.

I need to see this movie!

I'm really not sure how to feel about the fact that my parents know the author's parents.

Gillian Flynn seemed delightful when she was on Wait Wait. FWTW.

I don't doubt that she's lovely. Actually... if my dark humor ever gives my parents pause, now I can just say, "not as dark as Gone Girl".

And now that I've just seen the movie I absolutely agree that Carrie Coon was wonderful as Go, as was the movie as a whole. I had forgotten that it was directed by David Fincher. He certainly never makes anything less viceral.

Carrie Coon is amazing in The Leftovers! I was excited when I heard she was in Gone Girl (which I still haven't seen!)

I really look forward to seeing more of her work!