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jadekirk

Between Love and Madness Lies Heartofdavid

That pretty much sums you up!

The Slogan Generator

Current Mood: curious

David Sylvian Update
So David Sylvian's new solo album is to be called "Manafon", due out this summer. Best I can come up with is it's the name of a Welsh village. But a new website of the same name shows a design (stag head with the letter M between the antlers - like the look of it), with a link back to Sylvian's website. http://www.manafon.com/

Hmm.

Wonder if there's any connection to the poets R.S. Thomas and John Betjeman, which would link things back to the village of Manafon.

Current Mood: curious

Just A Weird Thing I'd Forgotten About
Last week I went to the doctor for a follow-up to the blood coughing and I thought I might have blown a tonsil because I had one last gush (after nearly 2 weeks) of blood. By last I mean last, I couldn't force-cough another drop out. Doc recommended I see an eye/ears/nose/throat specialist at a gastroentology clinic that I've been to before back in 2003; going on February 4th.

Anyway, at the regular doc's clinic, I picked up a couple of brochures about male breast reduction surgery; struck me as very interesting if weird. There were a couple of before and after shots. I didn't think any of these guys (who by their bodies appeared to be in their 20s/30s - faces were blurred) had big man-boobage problems - I've seen (and known, lol) worse. The after shots weren't drastic changes - there was still definite boobage. It didn't seem to be worth it, imo.

I have two brochures. Anybody want one? XD

Carry on.

Current Mood: okay

I Like the Way Kids Think
Lots of tricker-treaters today, I'd guess about a 100 kids, if not more. Largest group was 16 kids at one time!

Best surreal kid moment. 3 year old (I'd guess) boy dressed as Batman Dark Knight. Spoke very clearly "Trick or Treat!" As I was placing candy in his bag, he asked "Got any lions in your house?" "No, no lions here", I answered. "Okay. Thank you", he replied, and waved bye-bye to me as he walked down my driveway. Dad was waiting at the sidewalk, in full costume as Superman (and filling out the blue tights very nicely). He was laughing. So was I.

Current Mood: amused

Busy With Business
Musical journey today - Smokey Robinson and The Miracles (Best of)and The Legendary Pink Dots (Stained Glass Soma Fountains). I think they go well together. However, if I was a DJ, would anyone else care to listen to my selections? Doubtful. Also, Hawkwind's "Quark, Strangeness and Charm", just the one song, because I developed a song brainworm while passing through the drive-thru at White Castle's.

Bought mountains of paper goods at K-Mart - the monstrous 16 roll pack of Scott's toilet paper (bought 2 packs), and the 12 roll pack of Bounty paper towels - both items were sale priced too good to pass by, although neither were the reason I went to K-Mart. The electronics department was my destination, where I picked up an answering machine (handset/machine with an extra portable phone). Found a pair of shoes too, black leather lace-ups - nothing special, just good walking shoes, look a little like an athletic shoe but sleaker.

Took a spin to Barnes & Noble, and this time I actually bought something! Got the latest issue of "Q", with a brief Simon and Nick interview (plus full page pic of the two) - but also had a big spread on Oasis which I was interested in reading.

Had to go to Walgreen's, mom needed her constipation medicine (Milk of Magnesia Cherry Flavor). The store was packed with oldsters - it was flu vaccination day. Got milk. Got an alarm clock - old fashioned wind-up kind, the only kind I like - my old one is confused because the hour hand never 'sits' properly at the number, it's off kilter to the point that its becoming difficult to determine what is the correct hour.

Didn't knock anything over in the stores. Haven't done so for a while. I suspect I'm due for a major display knock down catastrophe.

Oooo, now Smokey's crooning "baby lets cruise...let the music take your mind..." - mmm. Love his voice.

*sips coffee and daydreams*

Current Mood: calm

NICK!!!

September 25, 2008 at The Hospital Awards (whatever those are).

Inspired this bad haiku:

Chocolate coating
With creamy interior
Yummy candy Nick

Current Mood: crazy

The Secret Questions Meme from _lethe_
The rules:

1. There are 30 questions, which I have in my possession, but only my answers are published below.
2. Next to each number, using only those individuals who appear on your flist, write the user name of the person who best fits the question.
3. Answer each question with only one user name.
4. Don't reveal the questions to anyone who hasn't agreed beforehand to publish their answers in their LJ. In other words: If you request the list of 30 questions from me and I send them to you, you must answer the questions and publicly post your answers in your blog.
5. Never reveal the questions publicly.

***

1.

airmiles
2. n/a
3. n/a
4.

bigferret
5.

underthesun73
6.

melabonbon
7.

underthesun73
8.

dassha and

_lethe_
9.

pheylan and

alannahjoy
10.

staybeautiful
11.

lady_icarus
12.

lady_icarus
13.

lolavox
14. n/a
15.

maldeluxx
16.

_lethe_
17.

maldeluxx
18.

s4pb
19.

ultra_chrome
20.

_lethe_
21. n/a
22. n/a
23. n/a
24. ?
25.

pheylan
26. n/a
27.

airmiles
28.

pheylan
29. n/a
30. I wish I knew everyone better.

Went with my first instinct on these, the questions could also fit many others.

Current Mood: contemplative

Books Read 2008 - July 16 - August 31 - Part 4 (last)
58. Concourse – S.J. Rozan – 287 - mystery - A
Another thrift shop treasure, new author for me. Bill Smith is a PI, posing undercover as a security guard in a nursing home in the Bronx. He's been hired by an old friend who runs a security business - one of the guards was beaten to death. Is his old friend wrong in thinking there's more to the incident than a gangland thrill kill? Oh yeah! Gangs, conspiracies, politics, graft...all sorts of good things. Rozan (a woman) won the Shamus award for this novel. What a fantastic blend of emotion and action! Everything about this novel is great - dialogue, characterization, pacing, plotting - I was very impressed and very entertained. Never slacks, never lacks. I must read more by her.

59. The God Eaters – Jesse Hajicek – 442 - gay fantasy/romance - A-
I bought this novel on a whim through Amazon. It's a Lulu.com book - self published. I've read a few books from this publisher and not been impressed...until now. This is a very good gay fantasy. The setting comes across like the old American West, but it's never stated as such - I thought it was more like a parallel universe. Through the ages, various gods have been reincarnated, at times battling it out, with the winner absorbing the powers and essence of the loser. There aren't many of the old gods left. The human population has a percentage of people with powers, such as healers, empaths, firestarters, and many more. It is a strict and religious world, one religion, with insurgents and protesters being punished. Those considered most dangerous are imprisoned - which means they are taken to have their powers tested and plundered by the authorities. There is Kieran, dark, handsome and violent, a killer and former drug addict, son of a whore, 19 years old. There is Ashleigh, red-haired and freckled, meek and mild, bookish, arrested for writing and distributing anti-government pamphlets, 18 years old. They are cell mates. Despite the odds and their differences, they become friends, and are attracted to each other. I can't say more without giving away too much of the plot. This book swept me in. It's about hardships, survival, beating the odds. It's about government, control and theology. It is fascinating. The relationship between Kieran and Ashes (nickname) is so believable, so true...sighs. The writer is a 35 year old guy - this is his first book - I hope he writes more. Super.

60. Beyond Sleep – W.F. Hermans – 311 - A+
I got this as a birthday present this year from

_lethe_. I read ten pages and had to set it aside. When I next picked it up, I finished it in one go. I loved this book! A 25 year-old Dutch geologist, Alfred, sets out to take part in an expedition (his first) in Norway. His quest is to prove a theory that meteors are responsible for some of the ice holes in the region. Any thing that could go wrong...goes wrong, from the start to finish. Its a comedy of errors without let up. Alfred keeps pushing on, bumbling his way through most of the time, trying to figure out what last went wrong while finding himself in a new predicament. But he never seriously thinks of stopping, and for that, you have to like him. To stop would be defeat and loss of all purpose - what would he have left? For all the internal complaining, arguing, puzzlement, anger...he's not a defeatist. Yet he isn't a blind optimist either. He's normal but he's out of his element and he's trying to make something of himself, even though it probably isn't what he really wanted out of life. I think some people would find him stupid for his lack of planning and his naivete, but I didn't. I found him endearing, actually. There's a lot of humor but I never wanted to laugh at Alfred, he had my sympathy because I found I could relate to him (a lot). He's basically an okay guy, he tries, he tries very hard, but things just don't work out. My description doesn't do justice to the story or Alfred. Very insightful writing...JUST READ IT!

61. The Butler Did It - Kasey Michaels - 395 - romance/humor - B-
Fluff. Regency era London. A young marquis has exiled himself to the family's country estate for five years after injuring a friend in a drunken duel. In the meantime, the servants at the London estate have been very industrious, letting out rooms for those of the lesser gentry who would like to spend a few weeks in the summer in a true mansion. The master comes home and discovers the plot, and the Clifford family who are currently in residence. The daughter is looking to find a husband among the proper set. To avoid the embarrassment of having his friends know that the servants got the better of him, the Marquis allows the family to stay. It's a bit of Upstairs/Downstairs. Enjoyable but nothing special.

Current Mood: busy

Books Read 2008 - July 16 - August 31 - Part 3
54. Obedience (A David Brendstetter Mystery) – James Hansen – 202 - mystery - B
I discovered this gay mystery series at the thrift shop, have read three in the seris so far. Brendstetter is a white, 60-ish gay PI, recently retired and ready to start in on all the household projects he's been saving up for years. He lives with his lover, a black television reporter in his early 20s. Their relationship is cute but very believable; they're very protective of each other and quite romantic - seems like it wouldn't work but it does. The relationship is the best part in this book. I found the mystery, involving the Korean Mafia and Korean businessmen, rather tedious at times. Parts about the Korean culture (traditions and familial roles) were interesting, but the characters weren't. The part about the boat people living at the docksides of the Korean businesses (big shipping culture stuff) was cool - one Korean businessman, the first person killed, was their landlord and now they will be displaced. A bit of a disappointment in comparison to the other books I've read in the series, but I would be willing to read the rest.

55. The Nerd Who Loved Me – Vicki Lewis Thompson – 404 - romance/humor - B
Thompson writes these "Nerd Who" books, good light reading. This one is set in Las Vegas. The nerd is the accountant at the casino. A showgirl with a young son also works there, and is his neighbor at the apartment complex where he lives. She struggles financially and barely gets by. Nerd was raised by a showgirl, so he knows the life. His mother, now retired and living in a retirement community where a group of former showgirls also live, wants her nerdy son to get married. He is in love with the showgirl, but too dorky to do anything about it, except offer to babysit her son in the evenings when she is working. The child's father, a lazy slob who is set to inherit his father's millions if he produces a wife an heir, tracks down the showgirl with the intent of kidnapping his son (who he's shown no interest in up to this point). It is nerd to the rescue, with the help of his scheming mom and her friends, and mom's boyfriend (who everyone thinks is involved with the Mafia). What I like about this series (I've read a three) is that the nerd is a true nerd - cute/good looking but doesn't know it, a clutz, awkward around women, socially inept and all the other nerdy (loveable) characteristics (always wears glasses, lol). He gets the girl in spite of himself, someone who sees his worth. Yeah, I like a good romance where the people aren't perfect. The young boy is adorable - nerd in training!

56. Much Ado In Maggody (An Arly Hanks Mystery)– Joan Hess – 256 - mystery/humor - B
Arly Hanks is the female Sheriff of Maggody, small town in Alabama. Quirky characters and whacky humor are the trademarks of this series. A young upstart (an executive's son) is changing the way things are run at the bank. He gets offed. Nearly everyone wanted to kill him. Blackmail, trailer parks, beehive hairdos, green bean casseroles, a preacher hoping for a witches orgy and lack of air-conditioning - it's all part of the fun. Easy reads but never dumb reads - just what a cozy mystery series should be.

57. Betsy and Joe – Maud Hart Lovelace – 282 (re-read) - young adult - A
Lovelace's Betsy series goes from the time Betsy is 5 years old, through high school and college, through a world cruise and until she gets married. The setting is a small town in Minnesota at the turn of the 20th century. I loved this series as a child, loved the picture of how life was back then. As in the Anne of Green Gable books, the females are strong, smart, independent and believable - they don't bend to society's rules, they work with the rules - individualism and ambition are highlighted. I was looking for something to read among the boxes, found this, and settled in for a bit of nostalgia.

Current Mood: contemplative

Books Read 2008 - July 16 - August 31 - Part 2
51. What She Wants – Lynsay Sands – 357 - historical romance/intrigue - B
Picked this up because I wanted a mindless read, started it the night mom went to the emergency room at the beginning of August. Knew I wasn’t going to get much sleep and wanted something to help me relax - turned out to be a surprisingly good book. Set in medieval times, a young woman is raised in isolation under the guardianship of an older man who she calls Uncle – there have been several attempts on her life. A young soldier inherits his uncle’s estate, with the stipulation that he must marry this young woman. If he doesn't, he gets the property but not the funds and riches that go with it. They meet and clash, but eventually get together. There is romance and a lot of sex, but the intrigue and politics are very well done. The heroine is feisty and a woman of her own mind, believable because she was raised by an elderly wise woman, and had only limited contact with other adults (an elderly soldier/body guard, an occassional visit from her guardian) – she has no idea (and doesn’t give a damn) how proper young ladies are supposed to act, and she doesn't miss what she's never known. The soldier, Hugh, has little concept of protocol/society's expectations and accepts her as she is, with some trepidation but also with amusement. Most of the women he's known have been whores, bar maids, servants - women of a rougher type - so 'a lady' is a new experience, and his clumsy attempts to be courtly and a proper gentleman are endearing (dorky). The cover illustration is of the ‘heaving bosom’ variety – further proof to avoid judging a book by its cover. (I bought this book at the thrift shop - seems I get most of my books there or at the library - to send to my aunt in Canada).

52. A Cold Heart (An Alex Delaware thriller) – Jonathan Kellerman – 413 - psychological thriller - B+
One of the better books in the Delaware series. Delaware, a psychologist, can be rather an anal figure, almost prissy at times and when this is played up it gets very annoying. This book settles for dealing with Alex's heartache and recovery from a breakup with long time love Robin. Milo Sturgis, Alex's best friend and a gay LAPD homicide detective, is his usual sympathetic and interesting self. A female detective and her new uptight and eerie partner are the highlights. Several murders of artists (painter, forgotten guitar legend, pianist, up and coming punk/goth singer...) have occurred over a period of about 6 years - seemingly unrelated until Alex steps in as homicide advisor and puts together a theory, supported by the female detective and Milo, that possibly a fanzine editor is behind the murders - when the artists sell out, they get killed. Not quite but it points in the right direction. The bizarre new partner is a fascinating character, pivotal, and learning about why he is the way he is, is another mystery, just as good as the main one. Kellerman has always been hit or miss for me based on how fussy Alex is in the book - this one was as good as I've ever read by him.

53. The Man Who Understood Cats (A John Thinnes Mystery) – Michael Allen Dymmoch – 230 - police/psychological procedural - A
Love when I come across an author new to me whose writing is wonderful. A thrift shop buy based on the title. John Thinnes is a Chicago homicide detective, a Vietnam vet, and his marriage is crumbling. An accountant for a firm specializing in rich clients has apparently committed suicide. Thinnes doesn't buy that theory, despite the evidence. Neither does the accountant's psychologist, James Caleb. Caleb is the cat man in the title - he has a couple of cats and thinks of people in terms of cat behavior - interesting stuff and a treat for cat lovers. Caleb is gay, which is important to the plot. Thinnes and Caleb form an uneasy alliance to discover the real killer - this alliance later turns into a friendship. Police corruption, homophobia, shady business accounting, all set in a Chicago that seems like the Chicago I know - and I like reading books set in places I'm familiar with, lol. Real and gritty. Going to look for the rest of the series at the library.

Current Mood: tired

Books Read 2008 - July 16 - August 31 - Part 1
48. Are You Somebody?: The Accidental Memoir of a Dublin Woman – Nuala O’Faolain – 215 - C-
Picked this one off a bargain bin table. Had no clue who Nuala was (a journalist, lecturer, teacher) and still don't have much insight into her literary qualifications. She grew up in a large Irish Catholic family in Dublin, mother an alcoholic, father brilliant but a cad (had a mistress throughout his entire marriage). Father earned a good living (writer and commentator) but farted it all away on his own interests, leaving the mother to scrounge and sometimes prostitue herself. A strange marriage because when they did get together it was wild, noisy lovemaking, followed by the father disappearing again while the mother moaned and drank. Nuala walked in her mother's footsteps, straight into alcoholism and stupid/bad relationships. Detail about each boyfriend who always ended up either abusing her, dumping her, or both. All boyfriends were married of course, and idiot Nuala always thought they really loved her and would leave wife and kiddies for her. Was kind of compulsive reading, this trainwreck way with relationships. In her mid 40s, Nuala decides she is gay and has a long term (15 year) relationship with a woman (Irish journalist Nell Mcafferty), who leaves her just as everyone else in her life did. For all the intimate detail about her heterosexual relationships, she is very close-mouthed about her lesbian affair - how it came about, what it was like to fall in love with a woman, what effect did it have on her to realize she is gay, etc. Although many listings state Nuala was openly bisexual, there is no evidence of this in the book. Fun fact - her mother was expelled from school for improper conduct - she had a lesbian relationship with another student at an all girl school. Low rating because I thought Nuala was stupid, lol. Although we all can be stupid in our private lives, who brags about it? I got the impression she was being boastful about her failings. Maybe looking for sympathy?

49. The Greedy Bastard Diary: A Comic Tour of America – Eric Idle – 315 - B
As the title states, its a diary of his 2004 US tour. Fun anecdotes about road life, comedy life, Monty Python, the birth of Spam-a-lot and much mentioning of celebrity friends. Very interesting and touching accounts of his friendship with George Harrison, who was a huge Monty Python fan and funded the film "Life of Brian." (George had a brief appearance in "The Rutles" film).

50. You Slay Me – Kathy MacAlister – 342 - fantasy/humor/mystery/romance - B+
Aisling works for her uncle’s courier service. When she goes to Paris to deliver an ancient gold dragon artifact, she finds the client has been murdered and a strange man at the scene. Meet Drake Virco, a dragon lord, and the supernatural fun begins. Turns out Aisling is the dragon’s soul mate, and a Guardian to one of the portals to hell. The police suspect Aisling of the murder. Looking for help, Aisling summons a demon to assist her. She gets one of Beelzebub’s outcasts, in the form of a Newfoundland dog named Jim; he talks, he cracks jokes, he slings insults, he humps everything in sight and he falls in love with a Welsh Corgi. Goofy fun, but it is very funny. Jim steals the show, and Aisling is the type of heroine I like – keeps doing things wrong but doesn’t give up - a fuck-up with perseverance. All the characters were interesting, equal parts men and women. Sometimes I try something just for the hell of it, no expectations, and get a treat like this. The mystery part was good too, easy to guess when thought through, but not overly obvious.

Current Mood: tired

Silly #4

We all knew it would happen one day. Jesse's finally dumped Becky, that good for nothing piece of trash. And Darren's been patiently waiting. At last, Jesse is his. Bust out the saddle, Jesse, Darren's ready to ride. Yee-haw!

Current Mood: silly

Books Read 2008
43. Shadows Return (Nightrunner Series Book 4) – Lynn Flewelling – 522 - B

The cover of this book deserves a large photo - that is Seregil, one of the lead characters in Flewelling's Nightrunner series, a slashy fantasy adventure.

In this installment, Seregil and his lover Alec are assigned a diplomatic mission to escort the Queen's younger sister back to her homeland - a test of loyalties for all involved. Seregil, Alec and their travelling party are attacked by bandits. All are killed, except the two heros who are taken to be sold as slaves in the homeland of the enemy. The story is their individual travails, their hopes to reunite, and a dastardly plan by an evil wizard to create...well, I won't give it away. Enough to say that the two lovers do get back together, and the book ends with a very good setup for the next installment, "The White Road", which is set for release next summer.

It's a good plot, no doubt about it. I think though that Flewelling's execution lacks somewhat, compared to the first three books. The sense of the characters' personalities is strong and never waivers, but the richness of detail...the depth of layering...just isn't there, for me. The action seems a bit rushed and the...space...previously allowed for the reader to absorb and the characters to grow, change, mature (and the readers ability to see that and come to a greater understanding and love for these wonderful people) is a bit slippery and thin. There's a lot of violence in this story, necessarily so as it is important to the plot, and at first I felt it was a bit gratuitous but thinking upon it now this story is about hope lost, and horror, and the constant darkness does keep that emphasis. The ending wraps up too quickly, leaving plot lines and issues brought up in the story unresolved. Gave the impression that things had been forgotten about, but very likely they will be returned to in the next book. Flewilling is very good at tying things together - random details can suddenly come together, giving you that "oh wow, so that's what it's all about!" feeling - I'm hoping that will be the case.

The story did get me on an emotional level. Caught me good at one point when Flewelling surprised me and I burst into tears - that is a rare occurrence for me while reading. I had to pause and wipe them away, my vision blurred - which pissed me off as I couldn't immediately read what happened next, lol.

So I'll call this one a cautious winner. I want to know more! I must know more! Seregil and Alec, so different from one another yet so wonderfully matched, are one of the best gay couples I've ever read - perfect in their imperfections. *sigh* And like I always do, I assign real life persons as my visual reference.

Seregil (David Sylvian from around 1988)

Took me longer to settle on Alec, but Hayden it is.

To tell the truth, I wouldn't mind a period of calm and happiness for these two. They've been through hell this time around and deserve a rest, perhaps a vacation with happy naked frolicking...I'd enjoy reading that!

44. Mirror of Love – Alan Moore and Jose Villarrubia - 114 - A+

This is a recent reprint of an epic poem Moore wrote back in the 80s, updated with photos by Villarubbia. The poem is a monologue to a lover, and tells the history of same sex love. There are many historical/literary references in the poem, and I found the detailed footnote index very useful and informative. Simply as a poem, as an expression of the impact of ignorance and prejudice against homosexual love, as an ode to love ongoing despite any obstacles, it is beautiful, meaningful and touching. The photos are a lovely complement, and the introduction about Villarrubia's staging of this poem as a one man show is interesting.

45. Storm Front (Book One of the Dresden Files) – Jim Butcher - 322 - B

Harry Dresden is a wizard, a bit of a rebel and outcast among wizards. He is also a private detective, and on call consultant with the Chicago police on cases involving the supernatural. The series has a real world setting, but magic and various monsters (like vampires, werewolves, fairies, trolls and demons) inhabit or cross into the world. In this story, someone is committing murders using demon-summoning, and it involves persons associated with the mob.

The entire set up is very reminiscent of the early Anita Black novels by Laurell K. Hamilton, and I understand this novel came about as a writing class assignment to write exactly such a novel. Readers familiar with Hamilton's work will see the comparison (the serio-comic style, the unhappy in love loner hero, the light romantic leanings, the teasing sexuality). Not a bad thing, and I wouldn't label this a copy. I do think Butcher's dorky hero stands on his own and the writing style is very readable - great pacing, good dialogue, interesting characters. It's a decent and entertaining read.

46. Volle – Kyell Gold – 317 - A

Volle (rhymes with wall) has trained to be a spy, in service to his King. Sent on a mission to a neighboring kingdom, he must assume the identify of a Lord and report back any information regarding potential hostile activities. His mission may be for life - he will live in the palace, take responsibility for the town and people connected to his assumed title, form friendships, alliances and love interests. It won't be an easy life, as he is torn between caring for the people he meets but must keep the truth from, and his allegiance to his King. This is a very well done historical novel.

Oh, Volle is gay. And he's a fox. Welcome to the world of anthropomorphic fiction, where animals are the people, and welcome to a world where various sexual preferences (gay, bi, straight) exist just like they do in the real world. And yes, this is erotica, but it's also a damn good story. A fine mix, I think. I was only familiar with this type of erotica through the comic "Genus", and was very pleasantly surprised to find such a solid and believable story. Volle's best friend is Hef, a weasel, who is also gay. Together they visit the brothels, were Volle indulges his preferences for wolves and all felines (his King is lion, and the King in the country in which Volle lives as a spy is a bear). Hef is a true friend, a sounding board for Volle and one of the few people who doesn't seem to have an ulterior motive.

Anthropomorphic fiction might sound bizarre to some, but it's really no different than reading a book where the characters are of different races and nationalities and have physical characteristics connected to those things. The erotica is totally balanced in the plot - it isn't porn for porn's sake. Sexual relationships can and do occur between species but mating and marriage are only within a species.

Volle falls in love with a soldier (a cougar), a guest at the place on a mission he cannot reveal. Volle nearly comprises his own mission as his emotions get the best of him. The spying, plotting and double-crosses are complex and intriguing. What rich detail of the history and peoples in this novel. Religion and faith play key roles - Volle has strong faith which he relies upon, and the way religion and its significance are woven into the plot is super - the various beliefs and churches - and also very touching.

The story continues in a second book, "Pendant of Fortune", which I plan on reading. There are a few line drawings in the book, done by Sara Palmer.

47. Schooled in Murder (A Tom and Scott Mystery) – Mark Richard Zubro – 295 - D

I love the Tom and Scott series by Zubro. I didn't love this book, didn't even like it. The basic plot is a good one - the murders at the high school were Tom teaches, and the politics involved in the public school system, the clashes between staff and administrators, the affairs (both gay and straight) among the staff, the homophobia. But...it comes across as a soapbox rant about what is right and what is wrong with the US public schools; not surprising as Zubro was a high school teacher all his life until his retirement last year. But for me, he forgot to keep a balanced focus on the characters. Tom comes across as he always does, a bit anal and righteous but still loveable. Scott may as well have been left out - he appearances during the course of the story are negligible and there is nothing, in my opinion, that shows and furthers the relationship, which has always been essential in prior novels. I was very disappointed. The best plot won't work without good characterization, and for me that must go beyond illustrating the good guys and the bad guys.

47/50 (total books goal) = 94%
15,009/15,000 (total pages goal) = 100.06%

Current Mood: busy

Silly #3

The Vacuum Boys. Don't they look like they're having a great time? The guy up front takes special pride in his ability to handle any vacuum attachment and is ready to demonstrate exactly how he does it. The guy in the back has reached a level of bliss known only to those intimate with vacuums.

Tiny boat though for four guys, but then they are close friends. However, I don't think vacuums are very seaworthy.

You know you want to hear it.

Note - They're actually a modern band. Love the retro style of this cover!

Current Mood: silly

Because I Am Silly #2
I've decided to embrace my silly side. Yes, I can be a very silly person, and there is nothing wrong with that.

And so, I can find amusement and pleasure in sharing my silliness.

For example, I experience joy thinking about this album. I've never heard any of the music, but it doesn't matter for all the joy is in the name and picture.

Poor Pete Feldmann and The Very Lonesome Boys. Although they may be lonely, they are tough and wild men, who have a cabin in the woods where they celebrate their machismo and ease their loneliness...together. They look pretty cheerful to me, especially the guy on the left with his busy hands beneath his shirt.

Current Mood: silly

Books Read 2008
Rating scale - A, B, C, D, or F

41. Durable Goods – Elizabeth Berg – 192 pages

No book or story will ever be good in my mind without good characterization. I have to find some way to identify with the main characters. I can recognize them in myself or in people I know. At the very least, I must be able to imagine that such a person exists as described - the way they think, act, and speak seems real. Whether I like the character or not is irrelevant.

I have a problem with Berg's main character, a 12 year old girl. Katie is the younger daughter of an army officer. The family often moves and making and leaving friends and disrupting the school year is difficult. The mother recently died, and the father is a cold and violent man. He beats his daughters, the older one (Diane) receiving the worst of the beatings. The violence tends to be unprovoked - he might not like the way a daughter says "Yes sir" or how she sits in a chair. The older daughter, 18, runs away with her boyfriend after another beating occurs when she refuses to move one month before her high school graduation - she has made arrangements with the parents of a friend that she could stay with them until graduation, but the father won't hear of it. The younger daughter goes with her sister, only to decide after many hours and many miles to return to her father.

Set during the early 1960s, the physical abuse of the children is noticed by neighbors and teachers, who don't do anything. This is how I remember it too, having gone to grade school during the 60s and early 70s. There were kids who were obviously beaten, came to school marked and bruised - sometimes went home that way as there were abusive teachers as well - corporal punishment being allowed and welcomed by parents in Catholic schools of the day. In those days, all kids got spankings - kids were raised the same way parents had been raised, the old spare the rod and spoil the child thing. The unfortunate ones got beatings.

What I don't understand or relate to about Katie is how she seems such a shadow of a person; she seems to have no real interests, dreams or desires except for copying those of her friends, often half-heartedly. She fantasizes about talking to her mother and wishes for her to return. Her memories of her mother are of a beautiful, loving woman, however she also recalls how mother would pretend to not hear or see when beatings took place, never trying to defend her children and never offering comfort after - she was an enabler who was enamored of her husband (he never showed any aggression towards his wife, as far as the reader knows). At the end, Katie decides to return home because she feels bad for her father, how sad he will be all alone - this doesn't make any sense to me at all - why she should all of a sudden care about him when during the story her feelings for him are fear, bewilderment, resentment - she feels no connection to him but now she does.

Written from Katie's perspective, there is a shallowness and vapidness, a lack of realistic emotion in relation to people and events. I've read books like this before, tales of abused children, and many have been quite good. Not this one. D

42. Vapor Trail - Chuck Logan - 400 pages

A serial killer known as The Saint (after the Saint Nicholas medallions left in the mouths of the victims) is stalking and killing alleged pedophiles in the St. Paul area. Vietnam vet and ex-cop Brockner is brought in by police to help solve the crime. It is believed by that another cop, an alcoholic named Harry, might be withholding information about the killings or even have insight on who the killer might be - many on the force suspect it is Harry himself, who was involved in a case where a teacher charged with molestation was acquitted, only to be murdered two days later. There's a lot of interesting background story about the characters, detail that is relevant to the current situation, including the personal dispute between Harry and Brockner. Chapters show the killer in action, and details and clues are too obviously red herrings - it is easy to figure out who the real killer is, although how the mix-up and confusion lead to a false resolution are well done. I never read anything by Logan before but I'd be willing to pick up another book by him. My only complaint was the too quick resolution - as gradual as the storytelling was up to that point, the whoosh and rush at the end felt lacking in depth and emotion, although factually satisfactory. B

Progress:

42/50 (total books goal) = 84%
13,439/15,000 (total pages goal) = 90%

Current Mood: good

Happy Birthday Mr. Sylvian!

It was 50 years ago today...

Current Mood: bouncy
Current Music: Fire in the Forest - David Sylvian

The Letter-Song Meme

lady_icarus put me to the test with the letter "P" for this meme - "Comment and I'll give you a letter. In your journal, list 10 of your favorite songs that begin with that letter."

1. Private Life - Pretenders
2. Pulling Punches - David Sylvian
3. Play With Fire - The Rolling Stones
4. Palomino - Duran Duran
5. Penny Lane - The Beatles
6. Pulling Mussels (from the shell) - Squeeze
7. Photograph - Def Leppard
8. Princes of the Universe - Queen
9. Playground Martyrs - Steve Jansen - a new favorite
10. Puff the Magic Dragon - Peter, Paul and Mary

Current Mood: worried
Current Music: Someone is mowing their lawn...

Shouting it Out!
Happy birthday

maldeluxx!!!

Current Mood: crazy
Current Music: Dr. Who - Gary Glitter version brainworm

Spreading the Love of Slash!
I'm pleased to let you know about a sister community to

japan_stories over at Great Journal, Japan_stories!

As well as containing stories of slashy goodness, we encourage posts with poetry, artwork, as well as discussions and information requests related to Japan and slash fanfiction. It isn't a replacement for the LJ community but an addendum where we hope to find new readers and writers, and build a second archive.

Great Journal works almost exactly like Live Journal (coding instructions are identical), which makes things very easy for anyone interested in joining the new place. Like here, you must have your own journal (which is free).

So please come visit and join!

X-posted at

japan_stories.

Current Mood: busy
Current Music: Christian Says - Tones on Tail