Slap my hand now!

Anya ,'Empty Places'


We're Literary 2: To Read Makes Our Speaking English Good  

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."


Katerina Bee - Sep 29, 2005 9:10:09 am PDT #9201 of 10002
Herding cats for fun

Oh man. It has everything "Hyperion" did and then some. Big sweeping everything and characters with lots of heart. I am about ready to tear the hardback copy of "Olympus" from DH's hands if he doesn't hurry up and finish already.

We couldn't find our copy of "Hyperion" and thus added it to an Amazon order. Now we both wanna read that one again.


Jars - Sep 29, 2005 9:52:18 am PDT #9202 of 10002

Say, anybody read "Ilium" by Dan Simmons?

Yes! And I just finished the sequel a couple of weeks ago. God, loved the first one, even with the faint whiff of pretentiousness. I thought the sequel was good, but I didn't think the ends tied up as neaty as I'd like. Yeah, I love the classical stuff, am less solid on the Shakespeare, and handwave through the Proust.

I've read Hyperion, but can't for love nor money find any of the sequels.


JohnSweden - Sep 29, 2005 11:28:44 am PDT #9203 of 10002
I can't even.

Thanks for the Dan Simmons reminder. I'm another who loved the Hyperion books (and plenty of his other stuff too), and hadn't gotten around to Ilium. I think Neil Stephenson ate the $40+ monster hardback part of my brain. I'll have to scout around for a paperback Ilium.


Laura - Sep 29, 2005 6:42:49 pm PDT #9204 of 10002
Our wings are not tired.

Had book group tonight. Presented 4 books for next time at my house and we chose The Drowning Tree by Carol Goodman. I stressed that I wanted to get away from the disturbing or depressing. It had to be something that none of us had read too, so tricky.

10 thumbs down on the book we discussed tonight. How to be Good by Nick Hornby. Hated it. But it did generate a lot of discussion. My take was that I felt like I was reading a blog. The type of blog where the writer is pretending to be sincere and is totally making the shit up. The voice was only convincing from time to time. It had moments, but too few and far between.


Volans - Sep 29, 2005 9:23:40 pm PDT #9205 of 10002
move out and draw fire

What did you guys like about "Hyperion?" I read the series, and felt like it got off to a promising start, but didn't live up to that promise. It just sort of got weird. I wondered if I missed some symbolism or something...help?


DavidS - Sep 29, 2005 10:24:42 pm PDT #9206 of 10002
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

I wondered if I missed some symbolism or something...help?

Okay, remember the part with the snail in the blender? That was Jesus.

I hope that helps.


Volans - Sep 30, 2005 12:05:23 am PDT #9207 of 10002
move out and draw fire

Okay, remember the part with the snail in the blender? That was Jesus.

Huh. I could've sworn that was you at work.


billytea - Sep 30, 2005 4:02:50 am PDT #9208 of 10002
You were a wrong baby who grew up wrong. The wrong kind of wrong. It's better you hear it from a friend.

Raq! You have a Banjo Patterson tag! I'm very impressed. There was a wombat caught on camera trying to prevent the Crocodile Hunter from fathering any more children.


Volans - Sep 30, 2005 5:59:18 am PDT #9209 of 10002
move out and draw fire

There was a wombat caught on camera trying to prevent the Crocodile Hunter from fathering any more children.

And people ask why I like wombats.

Oh, and yeah, Banjo Patterson is my homie. I have a problem with tearing up every time I hear "The Man from Snowy River" (Slim Dusty's recording).


DavidS - Sep 30, 2005 9:21:42 am PDT #9210 of 10002
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

Huh. I could've sworn that was you at work.

I frappe for your sins.