I live in a world of fiction.
Apparently I have starved myself of proper reading in the past year or so because I've recently become painfully addicted to reading fiction. I mean, I read a lot in general, just with the amount of fanfiction I take in in a given day (hey, don't give me that face), so it isn't like I am not reading fiction *at all.* But ever since I borrowed Angels in America and American Gods from Tuller and Alec, respectively, it has been a little crazy. Like, I can't go to bed at night without reading a book (or comic book, I'll get to that later) for at least 45 minutes, preferably an hour. I really sleep better when I do. Craziness.
So, I recently finished American Gods. Well. Whew. Wow. Other short words that begin with "W." I really don't have any more words other than I AM NOW A NEIL GAIMAN FANGIRL. Anyone who can come up with a book so beautifully creative and well-written I am morally obligated be a fangirl of. And maybe give a kidney to. To the extent that I spent two hours last weekend camped out at the local Borders reading the novella Gaiman wrote continuing the adventures of the main character (because while I am a fangirl, I am a broke fangirl). So. Good. Guh. My favorite characters in American Gods were Mr. Ibis and Buffalo Man. And Mr. Jacquel. And Bast. And Horus. And Odin's ravens. And Zorya Polunochnaya. And Buffalo Man, again, because he was awesome. I *heart* Buffalo Man. And the Thunderbirds, can't forget the Thunderbirds! Reading the book was really creepy because a bunch of the time was spent in Wisconsin in places I have been to. Yes, the House on the Rock exists and it is that crazy. Yes, Spring Green and LaCrosse are real towns. Also something I noted... Gaiman's structure in that book (I can't comment on any of his others since I have not read them yet) reminded me a lot of Frank Herbert's Dune with the quotations at the start of each chapter, although Herbert's were from books he made up and Gaiman's are usually all from real texts. As Spock would say, "Fascinating."
Keeping the Gaiman kick in mind, I have borrowed Neverwhere from the Villanova library and I hope to read Good Omens soon. I also found out that the 'nova library had a copy of the Superman: Red Son trade paperback and I just couldn't resist getting that. I've been meaning to red it for years now and I finished it in one sitting tonight. Anyone who likes comics at all should read it. If Watchmen had not existed before this, Red Son would have been truly groundbreaking. As it is, it is incredibly well-written and utterly captivating. If you liked Watchmen you have to read this. Even if you don't like comics, I would still suggest reading this. Not only is the main storyline fantastic, but the appearances by Wonder Woman, Batman, and the Green Lantern make it even better. ESPECIALLY BATMAN'S HAT. :D Read it to see what I mean. Or Google it. Or something. THE HAT.
I have also started reading Sandman because I feel that I should now that I've been Gaiman-baptised, and I am totally in love with the overall style. I can see why Yoshitaka Amano did art for that one novella - it suits his own art style perfectly. I am quite familiar with Amano's work, both for the Vampire Hunter D series an elsewhere, and it is amazing how perfect both the images and concept created by Gaiman and the entourage of artists that made the original Sandman (McKean, Kieth, and Dringenberg, among others) blend with the world Amano creates with his dreamlike lines. And I am a sucker for Amano's work, so making the leap into the world of Sandman is a lot of fun for me from an artist's perspective. Amano has this perfect artistic style for fantasy-horror that just fits works like Vampire Hunter D and Sandman. I mean, I bow to Sam Kieth's pencils and Miek Dringenberg's inks, but I would give a limb to see more of Sandman done by Amano. All in all, I give Sandman two thumbs way way up and I can't wait to read more. Sexy sexy.
And I should get to bed now. Here's to pleasant dreams. :)
So, I recently finished American Gods. Well. Whew. Wow. Other short words that begin with "W." I really don't have any more words other than I AM NOW A NEIL GAIMAN FANGIRL. Anyone who can come up with a book so beautifully creative and well-written I am morally obligated be a fangirl of. And maybe give a kidney to. To the extent that I spent two hours last weekend camped out at the local Borders reading the novella Gaiman wrote continuing the adventures of the main character (because while I am a fangirl, I am a broke fangirl). So. Good. Guh. My favorite characters in American Gods were Mr. Ibis and Buffalo Man. And Mr. Jacquel. And Bast. And Horus. And Odin's ravens. And Zorya Polunochnaya. And Buffalo Man, again, because he was awesome. I *heart* Buffalo Man. And the Thunderbirds, can't forget the Thunderbirds! Reading the book was really creepy because a bunch of the time was spent in Wisconsin in places I have been to. Yes, the House on the Rock exists and it is that crazy. Yes, Spring Green and LaCrosse are real towns. Also something I noted... Gaiman's structure in that book (I can't comment on any of his others since I have not read them yet) reminded me a lot of Frank Herbert's Dune with the quotations at the start of each chapter, although Herbert's were from books he made up and Gaiman's are usually all from real texts. As Spock would say, "Fascinating."
Keeping the Gaiman kick in mind, I have borrowed Neverwhere from the Villanova library and I hope to read Good Omens soon. I also found out that the 'nova library had a copy of the Superman: Red Son trade paperback and I just couldn't resist getting that. I've been meaning to red it for years now and I finished it in one sitting tonight. Anyone who likes comics at all should read it. If Watchmen had not existed before this, Red Son would have been truly groundbreaking. As it is, it is incredibly well-written and utterly captivating. If you liked Watchmen you have to read this. Even if you don't like comics, I would still suggest reading this. Not only is the main storyline fantastic, but the appearances by Wonder Woman, Batman, and the Green Lantern make it even better. ESPECIALLY BATMAN'S HAT. :D Read it to see what I mean. Or Google it. Or something. THE HAT.
I have also started reading Sandman because I feel that I should now that I've been Gaiman-baptised, and I am totally in love with the overall style. I can see why Yoshitaka Amano did art for that one novella - it suits his own art style perfectly. I am quite familiar with Amano's work, both for the Vampire Hunter D series an elsewhere, and it is amazing how perfect both the images and concept created by Gaiman and the entourage of artists that made the original Sandman (McKean, Kieth, and Dringenberg, among others) blend with the world Amano creates with his dreamlike lines. And I am a sucker for Amano's work, so making the leap into the world of Sandman is a lot of fun for me from an artist's perspective. Amano has this perfect artistic style for fantasy-horror that just fits works like Vampire Hunter D and Sandman. I mean, I bow to Sam Kieth's pencils and Miek Dringenberg's inks, but I would give a limb to see more of Sandman done by Amano. All in all, I give Sandman two thumbs way way up and I can't wait to read more. Sexy sexy.
And I should get to bed now. Here's to pleasant dreams. :)