Reading, Snowing, Watching
I'm just back from the fabulous, storm-wracked Boskone and I will post about it when the jet-lag leaves me be. For now, let me just say that I finally understand why nobody cycles in America.
It's been a VERY long time since I've posted what I've been reading and watching and writing and chewing. And that's a shame, because in the last six months or so, I've had some delightful experiences in every area. But here are some very recent sources of fun...
READING
I have just completed Adrian Tchaikovsky's rather excellent Guns of the Dawn. It's a devil-bastard child of Pride and Prejudice and All Quiet on the Western Front, and recounts the story of a war so devastating, that eventually, even the women-folk of a Regency era type country, are called up to defend their homeland.
The action scenes are great, mostly occurring in the second-half of the book. But the best part for me -- other than the moving journey of Emily, the lead character -- is the way Tchaikovsky slowly builds layers of complication into the politics and the psychology of the two warring nations.
Peadar recommends this one.
A few weeks ago, I reread James Clavell's Shogun. What a fantastic book! A real "boy" adventure of clashing cultures, complete with Samurai, Ninjas and vast armies of secondary characters. I must set a reminder to myself to return to it when another 30 years have passed. By then, I might just be starting my first reread of Joe Abercrombie's Half a World -- yet another fine adventure from him, although this one has actual (as opposed to subverted)... romance.
WATCHING
I am currently addicted to The Good Wife. It took quite some time for me to fully grasp what all the fuss was about, but here I am, completely on-board and agog.
Initially, I was put off by the formula, which is the usual American TV staple of "Issue of the Week" + "Over-Arching Plot". Especially, I disjoyed the manner in which so many of the "Issue of the Week" problems were resolved.
However, I have grown to appreciate the cleverness of the conundrums themselves and that fact that a huge number of the court-cases reflect very real situations going on in the world right now. In addition, the show seems to pride itself on giving all sides to a problem a fair hearing.
I also love the subtle way that some of the characters are handled, leaving us to work out for ourselves how somebody is feeling without battering us about the ears with it.
And finally, there is Alicia herself, who, over a number of series goes from a nervous amateur of the Law, to somebody who will confidentally tell an interviewer, "I'm good at my job" with complete assurance, but without arrogance.
However, my true TV love right now, has to be BBC's stunning adaptation of Wolf Hall. Yes, it moves with all the hurry of a glacier on its tea-break, but the characters are amazing, mezmerising, fascinating. Apparently, the real Thomas Cromwell was the Taleban of his day, but what do I care? The fellow on TV is a complex stew of hidden emotions and is always twelve moves ahead of everybody else, but is not without his wounds.
I think the first episode was particularly fine, but I'd be curious to hear what everybody else thinks.
WRITING
I'm working right now on a book that might one day be entitled "The Call". Or "Year 5". Or... "TBD". I gave a reading from it to a small group of friends and paid flunkies at Boskone, which I enjoyed, and I can't wait to get back to it!
But for now, however, it's goodbye! Goodbye!
It's been a VERY long time since I've posted what I've been reading and watching and writing and chewing. And that's a shame, because in the last six months or so, I've had some delightful experiences in every area. But here are some very recent sources of fun...
READING
I have just completed Adrian Tchaikovsky's rather excellent Guns of the Dawn. It's a devil-bastard child of Pride and Prejudice and All Quiet on the Western Front, and recounts the story of a war so devastating, that eventually, even the women-folk of a Regency era type country, are called up to defend their homeland.
The action scenes are great, mostly occurring in the second-half of the book. But the best part for me -- other than the moving journey of Emily, the lead character -- is the way Tchaikovsky slowly builds layers of complication into the politics and the psychology of the two warring nations.
Peadar recommends this one.
A few weeks ago, I reread James Clavell's Shogun. What a fantastic book! A real "boy" adventure of clashing cultures, complete with Samurai, Ninjas and vast armies of secondary characters. I must set a reminder to myself to return to it when another 30 years have passed. By then, I might just be starting my first reread of Joe Abercrombie's Half a World -- yet another fine adventure from him, although this one has actual (as opposed to subverted)... romance.
WATCHING
I am currently addicted to The Good Wife. It took quite some time for me to fully grasp what all the fuss was about, but here I am, completely on-board and agog.
Initially, I was put off by the formula, which is the usual American TV staple of "Issue of the Week" + "Over-Arching Plot". Especially, I disjoyed the manner in which so many of the "Issue of the Week" problems were resolved.
However, I have grown to appreciate the cleverness of the conundrums themselves and that fact that a huge number of the court-cases reflect very real situations going on in the world right now. In addition, the show seems to pride itself on giving all sides to a problem a fair hearing.
I also love the subtle way that some of the characters are handled, leaving us to work out for ourselves how somebody is feeling without battering us about the ears with it.
And finally, there is Alicia herself, who, over a number of series goes from a nervous amateur of the Law, to somebody who will confidentally tell an interviewer, "I'm good at my job" with complete assurance, but without arrogance.
However, my true TV love right now, has to be BBC's stunning adaptation of Wolf Hall. Yes, it moves with all the hurry of a glacier on its tea-break, but the characters are amazing, mezmerising, fascinating. Apparently, the real Thomas Cromwell was the Taleban of his day, but what do I care? The fellow on TV is a complex stew of hidden emotions and is always twelve moves ahead of everybody else, but is not without his wounds.
I think the first episode was particularly fine, but I'd be curious to hear what everybody else thinks.
WRITING
I'm working right now on a book that might one day be entitled "The Call". Or "Year 5". Or... "TBD". I gave a reading from it to a small group of friends and paid flunkies at Boskone, which I enjoyed, and I can't wait to get back to it!
But for now, however, it's goodbye! Goodbye!