The Boy Who Lived Forever, an amazingly nuanced and non-sensationalized look at fanfic. Loved this paragraph:

Diversity: the fan-fiction scene is hyperdiverse. You'll find every race, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, age and sexual orientation represented there, both as writers and as characters. For people who don't recognize ( Read more... )

( Read more... )

I enjoyed listening to an interview with the author of a New Yorker article about George RR Martin and his fans because I like non-bashing discussions about fandom by non-fans. I love how the author, who deals more with literary fiction, is fascinated by the serial nature of his work and how it creates a relationship between the author and fan, but ( Read more... )

I finally got to see the new Jane Eyre today and really enjoyed it. I had some issues with it (that I'll get to later), but the movie accomplished what the book hadn't...It made me sympathize and care for Jane and Mr. Rochester. They were repressed yet passionate, and really quite witty. I felt a distance to the book, which made the dramatic events ( Read more... )

I was struck by the following excerpt of the book Emily, Alone by Stewart O'Nan on Fresh Air:

On formal occasions like tonight [Henry] would stand behind her like a valet ... She'd find him admiring her in the mirror, and while she discounted his adoration of her beauty - based, as it was, on a much younger woman - she also relied on it, and as ( Read more... )

I watched the 1996 TV adaptation of Emma starring Kate Beckinsale as Emma and Mark Strong as Mr. Knightly this weekend. I now feel a lot more positive about the book. I found Emma (the character) hard to stomach in the beginning, but Kate Bekinsale does a great job (her expressions are priceless) and I quickly softened towards Emma. By the end I ( Read more... )

I witnessed an amazing moment of group stupidity just now. I was waiting to cross a six lane street where it intersects a four lane street. Just as the light changes, I see an ambulance making its way on my side of the street. It looks like I might be in the way if I start crossing if the ambulance goes straight instead of turning to the four lane ( Read more... )

Wow. I idly checked on Abe Miyuki's current status and found out that a very old manga of hers, Kimi wa boku wo suki ni naru, is being reissued under Ciel (Volume 1 is out already, apparently the entire series will come out in three volumes)! According to one review Hakkenden will also come out under Ciel??? I have no idea if this is true. I just ( Read more... )

A Civil Contract is a very odd book. I thought it was good, I really enjoyed reading it, but I don't love it. It's about a guy in the army fighting Napoleon who goes back to England when his father dies. He inherits the title and all, but finds out that his father had been very, very bad with the money and that he was basically ruined. Instead of ( Read more... )

Finished the first DVD box of Avatar (up to episode 20). For the most part enjoyed it quite a bit. Definitely liked the main characters more. Sometimes things were a bit too pat, but as I liked how good the kids were I didn't get too annoyed. ( more )