Things!
I am a mostly proud, albeit often bemused, Canadian citizen. This means I feel compelled to mock, tease, and generally annoy anyone living south of the 49th. (We shall conveniently ignore the fact that this grouping technically includes me, as my strange, strange island home dips into Washington State.) That said, I don't have anything against the people living in the United States-some of my best friends are Americans! ;)
I just happen to belong to that odd brand of third cousin twice removed-the kind that seem vaguely familiar when they show up at the UN family gathering slathered in patchouli and whinging about the lack of veggie burgers. (This would be the west coast bias coming out.) Or wearing overalls and making lots of noise about softwood lumber. (Cue Lumberjack song.) Or something.
Okay, no, we're totally the annoying younger sibling who loves to take the piss out of big brother. (Or is it sister? Why assign countries a gender, anyway? I never did understand that...)
So, because I inflicted weird Canadiana on you people three days ago, I shall counter it briefly with a couple of awesome (or at least amusing) American things.
First, the necessary I spent several hours this evening mocking this on IM. I could copy and paste the highlights, but I really feel that it speaks for itself. (Hint: think hysterical thirteen year old girl at Bible Camp!) There may be a prize for anyone who makes me laugh at their commentary.
Now, take a deep breath: this will be like crawling out of glacial waters into a desert oasis in which each grain of sand is a scorching, glittering word of wisdom and tendrils of steam rise off of the waters of contemplation.
Brain crackage may occur if you don't ease in, and since I am rather fond of you, dear flistly people, I would like to prevent intellectual whiplash as much as possible.
And, since I am nothing if not skilled at multi-tasking (or at least pretending to multi-task), I now provide you with two months of book post!
31) Dragonhaven - Robin McKinley
This book taught me more about parenting-especially teen parenting-than anything else possibly could, short of actually reproducing (ew). Considering it was about a fourteen year old boy and his dragon, this is indeed a feat. Like all things McKinley, the writing is gorgeous, the characters very real, and the plotting works. How I love/hate that woman.
32) Devil's Cub - Georgette Heyer
It's Georgette Heyer. I don't feel explanation is necessary.
33) Time and Materials - Robert Hass
See this post.
34) City of Glass - Cassandra Clare
Oh, shut up. I know what you're thinking, and I couldn't not find out how the series ended. Even if I had a pretty good guess. But I was entertained and reconciled to the ending, almost in spite of myself.
Oh, Simon, you stud.
35) Human Wishes - Robert Hass
More Hass love. Such a heart-stopping way with words. My pithy prose cannot begin to describe it.
36) The Inimitable Jeeves - P.G. Wodehouse
See Heyer disclaimer above. No way I couldn't love it.
37) The Demon's Lexicon - Sarah Rees Brennan
I thought I had this book pegged fairly early on-but no. It keeps tossing out the twists, but they never come without some form of hint and build-up, and I love how it balanced out the necessary angst with humour.
38) Making History - Stephen Fry
Although quite a lot of this book is disturbing, as well as being an interesting meditation on the cultural changes that resulted from the Second World War, I cannot think of this book without going all jelly-like at the knees. /shallow
(Did anyone else who read it pick up on the 'Steve' thing? I was highly amused by that...)
39) Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - Seth Grahame Smith
Thoroughly enjoyable, but I won't annoy you with my thoughts on how all musical references were replaced by fighting and/or ninja references.
40) The Hippopotamus - Stephen Fry
I think this may be my favourite Fry novel (but this depends largely on my mood). Ted is definitely one of my favourite characters of all time-he's not at all the sort of character that I would expect to love, but there is something charming in the bluntness of his narration and he has those moments of genuine kindness dressed up to look like grumpiness or womanising, like the therapy bit with Patricia... So much nuance.
Oh, and it's the source for my new favourite quote: "There's none so evil-minded as those with a moral mission, and none so pure in heart as the depraved." Oh, Tedward. Je t'adore.
41) Moab Is My Washpot - Stephen Fry
See this post.
42) The Stars' Tennis Balls Stephen Fry
I didn't love this one as much as his others, but I did still love it. And it inspired me to buy a copy of The Count of Monte Cristo, which is now sitting on my coffee table where I can eye it curiously until I have a chance to read it.
43) Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
This book? Amazing. You'd think that a novel about a young man hopping a train during the depression and joining a travelling circus would be silly, contrived, or over-the-top. Allow me to assure you that it isn't.
What it is, is moving, beautiful, and painful. The author captures the voice of an old man perfectly, in all its humour and grumpiness... And the ending? Brilliant.
44) North by Northanger - Catherine Bebris
Cute, funny, and fitting. The characters felt like themselves, the plot was clever, and I loved the way that Northanger Abbey and P&P were woven together.
45) The Waste Land and Other Poems - T.S. Eliot
I hadn't read any Eliot since high school-tragic, really. Rather like with Hass, we shouldn't rely on my words to describe his...
46) Life, The Universe and Everything - Douglas Adams
It's Douglas Adams. This should tell you everything.
47) So Long and Thanks for all the Fish - Douglas Adams
My favourite Hitch-Hiker book, except maybe The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, which has references to structuralism. Funny, sweet, and Arthur learns to fly.
48) Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves - P.G. Wodehouse
See previous Wodehouse comments.
49) Mostly Harmless - Douglas Adams
I can't believe it ended like that. I had read it before years ago, but I don't remember that... that... argh. And I'm not sure I can bring myself to read the Eoin Colfer continuation when it comes out.
I just happen to belong to that odd brand of third cousin twice removed-the kind that seem vaguely familiar when they show up at the UN family gathering slathered in patchouli and whinging about the lack of veggie burgers. (This would be the west coast bias coming out.) Or wearing overalls and making lots of noise about softwood lumber. (Cue Lumberjack song.) Or something.
Okay, no, we're totally the annoying younger sibling who loves to take the piss out of big brother. (Or is it sister? Why assign countries a gender, anyway? I never did understand that...)
So, because I inflicted weird Canadiana on you people three days ago, I shall counter it briefly with a couple of awesome (or at least amusing) American things.
First, the necessary I spent several hours this evening mocking this on IM. I could copy and paste the highlights, but I really feel that it speaks for itself. (Hint: think hysterical thirteen year old girl at Bible Camp!) There may be a prize for anyone who makes me laugh at their commentary.
Now, take a deep breath: this will be like crawling out of glacial waters into a desert oasis in which each grain of sand is a scorching, glittering word of wisdom and tendrils of steam rise off of the waters of contemplation.
Brain crackage may occur if you don't ease in, and since I am rather fond of you, dear flistly people, I would like to prevent intellectual whiplash as much as possible.
And, since I am nothing if not skilled at multi-tasking (or at least pretending to multi-task), I now provide you with two months of book post!
31) Dragonhaven - Robin McKinley
This book taught me more about parenting-especially teen parenting-than anything else possibly could, short of actually reproducing (ew). Considering it was about a fourteen year old boy and his dragon, this is indeed a feat. Like all things McKinley, the writing is gorgeous, the characters very real, and the plotting works. How I love/hate that woman.
32) Devil's Cub - Georgette Heyer
It's Georgette Heyer. I don't feel explanation is necessary.
33) Time and Materials - Robert Hass
See this post.
34) City of Glass - Cassandra Clare
Oh, shut up. I know what you're thinking, and I couldn't not find out how the series ended. Even if I had a pretty good guess. But I was entertained and reconciled to the ending, almost in spite of myself.
Oh, Simon, you stud.
35) Human Wishes - Robert Hass
More Hass love. Such a heart-stopping way with words. My pithy prose cannot begin to describe it.
36) The Inimitable Jeeves - P.G. Wodehouse
See Heyer disclaimer above. No way I couldn't love it.
37) The Demon's Lexicon - Sarah Rees Brennan
I thought I had this book pegged fairly early on-but no. It keeps tossing out the twists, but they never come without some form of hint and build-up, and I love how it balanced out the necessary angst with humour.
38) Making History - Stephen Fry
Although quite a lot of this book is disturbing, as well as being an interesting meditation on the cultural changes that resulted from the Second World War, I cannot think of this book without going all jelly-like at the knees. /shallow
(Did anyone else who read it pick up on the 'Steve' thing? I was highly amused by that...)
39) Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - Seth Grahame Smith
Thoroughly enjoyable, but I won't annoy you with my thoughts on how all musical references were replaced by fighting and/or ninja references.
40) The Hippopotamus - Stephen Fry
I think this may be my favourite Fry novel (but this depends largely on my mood). Ted is definitely one of my favourite characters of all time-he's not at all the sort of character that I would expect to love, but there is something charming in the bluntness of his narration and he has those moments of genuine kindness dressed up to look like grumpiness or womanising, like the therapy bit with Patricia... So much nuance.
Oh, and it's the source for my new favourite quote: "There's none so evil-minded as those with a moral mission, and none so pure in heart as the depraved." Oh, Tedward. Je t'adore.
41) Moab Is My Washpot - Stephen Fry
See this post.
42) The Stars' Tennis Balls Stephen Fry
I didn't love this one as much as his others, but I did still love it. And it inspired me to buy a copy of The Count of Monte Cristo, which is now sitting on my coffee table where I can eye it curiously until I have a chance to read it.
43) Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
This book? Amazing. You'd think that a novel about a young man hopping a train during the depression and joining a travelling circus would be silly, contrived, or over-the-top. Allow me to assure you that it isn't.
What it is, is moving, beautiful, and painful. The author captures the voice of an old man perfectly, in all its humour and grumpiness... And the ending? Brilliant.
44) North by Northanger - Catherine Bebris
Cute, funny, and fitting. The characters felt like themselves, the plot was clever, and I loved the way that Northanger Abbey and P&P were woven together.
45) The Waste Land and Other Poems - T.S. Eliot
I hadn't read any Eliot since high school-tragic, really. Rather like with Hass, we shouldn't rely on my words to describe his...
46) Life, The Universe and Everything - Douglas Adams
It's Douglas Adams. This should tell you everything.
47) So Long and Thanks for all the Fish - Douglas Adams
My favourite Hitch-Hiker book, except maybe The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, which has references to structuralism. Funny, sweet, and Arthur learns to fly.
48) Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves - P.G. Wodehouse
See previous Wodehouse comments.
49) Mostly Harmless - Douglas Adams
I can't believe it ended like that. I had read it before years ago, but I don't remember that... that... argh. And I'm not sure I can bring myself to read the Eoin Colfer continuation when it comes out.