Links of interest, tidbits, and AGoT
Just a few things I want to preserve here so I can find them easily later:
Games
Organ Trail (that's not a typo): A funny little web game that combines Oregon Trail with zombies.
Gadgets
Fortune Magazine lists 10 ways Android beats iOS, Windows, and everything else:
I can only assume that the author of the article wasn't aware of the Daylight Saving Time issues that iPhone users have experienced at the time the piece was published. :)
Television
The television show Psych is doing a special Twin Peaks episode featuring several members of the original cast, including Sheryl Lee and Sherilyn Fenn. Rumor has it that the episode will be called "Dual Spires," and will air on 12/1/2010, but IMDB is subject to change. I've set a reminder to myself to record it.
Books
I finished My Man Jeeves. This is the first P.G. Wodehouse book I've read, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well the material has stood the test of time. There's no real depth to the tales, just light wit and entertainment. The work is in the public domain, so I alternated between reading the e-book and listening to the Librivox recording. I found it to be a good choice as an audiobook, as I could often finish one story a day (half on my morning commute, and the rest in the evening). I've already downloaded another book of Jeeves stories. I might choose something else if they weren't free, but at the price, they're worth my commute time. :)
I also listened to The Adventure of the Priory School, which was a nice, quick tale - a typical Sherlock Holmes story. Actually, Sherlock Holmes seems to be in vogue again, given the recent movie and the television series. I keep hearing good things about the latter.
I'm on page 176 of A Game of Thrones. I've only ever given up on maybe three books in my life because I wasn't enjoying them and saw no hope for improvement (Red Storm Rising is the only one that immediately comes to mind, but there could be others). There are books I've put down because I wasn't in the mood for them at that particular moment, but plan to revisit (Watchmen, for example -- I know that's worth reading), and books for which I just became too busy and need to find time to restart at some point (Water for Elephants is just above me on the shelf), but those are pauses, not outright rejections.
Right now, A Game of Thrones is getting close to being put down for Red Storm Rising reasons, but I'm trying not to give up. I'm someone who gladly reads books for friends, if for no other incentive than the opportunity to discuss them afterward. However, I really dislike Martin's decision to shift between so many characters right out of the gate: to me, the narrative feels very disjointed. It's like pinball: one never knows where the ball will land, and as soon as it does, you're racing off to another bell or whistle. I feel that this structure makes it more difficult for me to connect with the characters and get acquainted with the world.
Edit: I just remembered one other I put down because I thought it was highly unlikely that I'd enjoy it: Lord Foul's Bane. The Thomas Covenant books had been recommended to me by several people, but I totally hated the main character, and the further I read, the worse it got. I also couldn't stop snickering over Lord Kevin. Even so, I may still give it a second try someday for love of my husband.
Speaking of reading for other people, I'll do a lot for my friends. I even read a couple of crappy Harlequin romance novels back in high school because a friend begged me to do so and, hey, we didn't have the intarwebz back then. I'm glad to discover someone who's a reliable referral source: lexmaniac (The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye); mumpish (Lamb); Portia (The Weight of Water). My beloved husband got me into Robert Jordan. Generally, I really enjoy seeing what other people like to read: I find it gives me a little insight about their preferences. My parents' friend, Joanna, recommended The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, and while I found it only so-so, it provided me a little information about her, so it was valuable.
Given that so many folks I know have recommended AGoT, I suppose I'll stick with it. Even if the only reward is the post-novel analysis, there's some entertainment in that, at least. :)
For more book discussion, you can find me on Goodreads.
Cooking
In other news, I'm beginning to prep my grocery list for Thanksgiving. I've already ordered the turkey, which we'll pick up on Sunday, November 21st.
Games
Organ Trail (that's not a typo): A funny little web game that combines Oregon Trail with zombies.
Gadgets
Fortune Magazine lists 10 ways Android beats iOS, Windows, and everything else:
- Maps and navigation
- Notify bar
- Widgets
- Carrier choice
- Hotspot
- Screen size selection
- Voice actions
- Fastest browser
- More/Better buttons
- Google Voice
I can only assume that the author of the article wasn't aware of the Daylight Saving Time issues that iPhone users have experienced at the time the piece was published. :)
Television
The television show Psych is doing a special Twin Peaks episode featuring several members of the original cast, including Sheryl Lee and Sherilyn Fenn. Rumor has it that the episode will be called "Dual Spires," and will air on 12/1/2010, but IMDB is subject to change. I've set a reminder to myself to record it.
Books
I finished My Man Jeeves. This is the first P.G. Wodehouse book I've read, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well the material has stood the test of time. There's no real depth to the tales, just light wit and entertainment. The work is in the public domain, so I alternated between reading the e-book and listening to the Librivox recording. I found it to be a good choice as an audiobook, as I could often finish one story a day (half on my morning commute, and the rest in the evening). I've already downloaded another book of Jeeves stories. I might choose something else if they weren't free, but at the price, they're worth my commute time. :)
I also listened to The Adventure of the Priory School, which was a nice, quick tale - a typical Sherlock Holmes story. Actually, Sherlock Holmes seems to be in vogue again, given the recent movie and the television series. I keep hearing good things about the latter.
I'm on page 176 of A Game of Thrones. I've only ever given up on maybe three books in my life because I wasn't enjoying them and saw no hope for improvement (Red Storm Rising is the only one that immediately comes to mind, but there could be others). There are books I've put down because I wasn't in the mood for them at that particular moment, but plan to revisit (Watchmen, for example -- I know that's worth reading), and books for which I just became too busy and need to find time to restart at some point (Water for Elephants is just above me on the shelf), but those are pauses, not outright rejections.
Right now, A Game of Thrones is getting close to being put down for Red Storm Rising reasons, but I'm trying not to give up. I'm someone who gladly reads books for friends, if for no other incentive than the opportunity to discuss them afterward. However, I really dislike Martin's decision to shift between so many characters right out of the gate: to me, the narrative feels very disjointed. It's like pinball: one never knows where the ball will land, and as soon as it does, you're racing off to another bell or whistle. I feel that this structure makes it more difficult for me to connect with the characters and get acquainted with the world.
Edit: I just remembered one other I put down because I thought it was highly unlikely that I'd enjoy it: Lord Foul's Bane. The Thomas Covenant books had been recommended to me by several people, but I totally hated the main character, and the further I read, the worse it got. I also couldn't stop snickering over Lord Kevin. Even so, I may still give it a second try someday for love of my husband.
Speaking of reading for other people, I'll do a lot for my friends. I even read a couple of crappy Harlequin romance novels back in high school because a friend begged me to do so and, hey, we didn't have the intarwebz back then. I'm glad to discover someone who's a reliable referral source: lexmaniac (The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye); mumpish (Lamb); Portia (The Weight of Water). My beloved husband got me into Robert Jordan. Generally, I really enjoy seeing what other people like to read: I find it gives me a little insight about their preferences. My parents' friend, Joanna, recommended The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, and while I found it only so-so, it provided me a little information about her, so it was valuable.
Given that so many folks I know have recommended AGoT, I suppose I'll stick with it. Even if the only reward is the post-novel analysis, there's some entertainment in that, at least. :)
For more book discussion, you can find me on Goodreads.
Cooking
In other news, I'm beginning to prep my grocery list for Thanksgiving. I've already ordered the turkey, which we'll pick up on Sunday, November 21st.