Time for the weekly "all about memememememe" post (except really about books...and music and stuff)
Have some reveiws of books I am not finished reading!
I picked up Craig Thompson's Habibi because that man can draw the shit out of stuff. Each page is an exploration of beautiful things done in ink. However, I have to admit, I am troubled by Hipster White Boy deciding he needs to explain Islam to the (white) masses. I know he spent some time in Morrocco. I'm sure he has nothing but the greatest respect for Islam and its followers. But I can't help but catch a whiff of cultural appropriation, which keeps me from diving full-on into it. So I just look at the pictures and rely on actual Muslims to teach me about Islam, and let those who are from Middle Eastern countries teach me about Middle Eastern geopolitics.
About half-way through Caught Running, an M/M romance recommended by the Smart Bitches (they also got me to read The Iron Duke and turned me onto J. Spencer Fleming's mysteries, so I trust them). I agree that this is surprisingly engaging. The characters have hidden complexities and insecurities (like real humans) and are likeable. You want them to Be Together. However (you knew there was going to be a 'however,' right?), I find myself disappointed by the lack of professionalism in the writing. I expect fiction I pay for to have more sophistication than the fiction I read for free on the internet. Truth. For example: switching POVs within a paragraph, third person narration that relies on descriptors such as 'the science teacher' instead of just using the damn names, stuff like that. Also, I can't help but get the feeling this book was originally conceived as a Stargate AU with baseball. And yet, I am enjoying it. It's a nice break from the Sturm und Drang of my life right now, so I don't regret the purchase, though I think I'll keep my M/M romance reading to the free stuff on the internet for awhile.
Also started Helen Oyeyemi's Mr. Fox, which is a bit of fairy tale-meets cultural criticism-meta that examines our fascination with killing women. I'm not too far into it, but I can think it's going to satisfy all my fairy tale-meets cultural criticism-meta needs. More later.
My favorite recent purchase has to be Peter Gabriel's latest, New Blood, in which he reimagines his classic songs with orchestral music that turns once-pop standards into something resembling the Movie Soundtrack of our Lives. I mean that in a good way. I am a fan of Gabriel (in fact, he has secured a permanent position in my Top 5 for years), so perhaps I will appreciate anything he does without that same criticism I would hand to a novel. Music serves a different purpose for me than reading does. It affects other brainparts, excites or soothes them differently than M/M romance or a graphic novel. Sometimes what I need, without even realizing it, is to hear "Intruder" sung in Gabriel's still amazing voice to the accompaniment of a string quintet instead of a Theramin. Whatever. Definite recommend, especially for fans.
And some long-ass time later, The End.
Oh, anyone interested in an M/M romance featuring a high school coach and Biology teacher? Let me know and it will become yours once I am finished!
I picked up Craig Thompson's Habibi because that man can draw the shit out of stuff. Each page is an exploration of beautiful things done in ink. However, I have to admit, I am troubled by Hipster White Boy deciding he needs to explain Islam to the (white) masses. I know he spent some time in Morrocco. I'm sure he has nothing but the greatest respect for Islam and its followers. But I can't help but catch a whiff of cultural appropriation, which keeps me from diving full-on into it. So I just look at the pictures and rely on actual Muslims to teach me about Islam, and let those who are from Middle Eastern countries teach me about Middle Eastern geopolitics.
About half-way through Caught Running, an M/M romance recommended by the Smart Bitches (they also got me to read The Iron Duke and turned me onto J. Spencer Fleming's mysteries, so I trust them). I agree that this is surprisingly engaging. The characters have hidden complexities and insecurities (like real humans) and are likeable. You want them to Be Together. However (you knew there was going to be a 'however,' right?), I find myself disappointed by the lack of professionalism in the writing. I expect fiction I pay for to have more sophistication than the fiction I read for free on the internet. Truth. For example: switching POVs within a paragraph, third person narration that relies on descriptors such as 'the science teacher' instead of just using the damn names, stuff like that. Also, I can't help but get the feeling this book was originally conceived as a Stargate AU with baseball. And yet, I am enjoying it. It's a nice break from the Sturm und Drang of my life right now, so I don't regret the purchase, though I think I'll keep my M/M romance reading to the free stuff on the internet for awhile.
Also started Helen Oyeyemi's Mr. Fox, which is a bit of fairy tale-meets cultural criticism-meta that examines our fascination with killing women. I'm not too far into it, but I can think it's going to satisfy all my fairy tale-meets cultural criticism-meta needs. More later.
My favorite recent purchase has to be Peter Gabriel's latest, New Blood, in which he reimagines his classic songs with orchestral music that turns once-pop standards into something resembling the Movie Soundtrack of our Lives. I mean that in a good way. I am a fan of Gabriel (in fact, he has secured a permanent position in my Top 5 for years), so perhaps I will appreciate anything he does without that same criticism I would hand to a novel. Music serves a different purpose for me than reading does. It affects other brainparts, excites or soothes them differently than M/M romance or a graphic novel. Sometimes what I need, without even realizing it, is to hear "Intruder" sung in Gabriel's still amazing voice to the accompaniment of a string quintet instead of a Theramin. Whatever. Definite recommend, especially for fans.
And some long-ass time later, The End.
Oh, anyone interested in an M/M romance featuring a high school coach and Biology teacher? Let me know and it will become yours once I am finished!