Crazy how time slip away from you. In the past month, I have been to India, decided it wasn't for me, and came home early. But I shan't bore you with that, and to be perfectly honest, I've explained it so many times now I'm a bit sick of talking about it.
I've been doing some reading list reading. 'The Arte of English Poesie'.
In the words of my father regarding Shakespeare "anything that old has GOT to be boring".
He's damned right, about Shakespeare and this old-as-dust volume on rhetoric.
On another literary note, I've rediscovered my love for 'The Wheel of Time' by Robert Jordan. Oh dear God. He writes the way I want to write. Meticulous details, characters that really grab you. Sure, in the past say 7 books or so he's kind of went a bit crazy with the plot. There's simply too much of it, in short, and there's a general feeling amongst fans that his descriptions are overlong and his women are unrealistic.
I disagree on all points. I *love* Jordan's writing dearly - even with all those slashes of cream, even with Rand's slightly emo-ish bent. Its such an amazingly fully-realised world, absolutely awespiring.
Of course, RJ died of amyloidosis and left the task of completion of his work to Brandon Sanderson.
With all due respect to RJ...WTF?!
I've read the first chapter of the new book "The Gathering Storm" (abbreviated to TGS, which makes me giggle and think of 30 Rock!), as published on the Tor website. It reads like fanfiction. I know that RJ's style was never going to be imitated perfectly, and indeed imitating it is probably a bit silly, but I had never imagined such a wild departure from the style I know and love.
I'm debating about buying the prologue now...of course, curiousity will probably overwhelm me and I probably will buy it, even if only to distract myself from the horrors of rhetoric.
Monday, 14 September 2009
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
My current love object
K, I admit it. I'm not really 'into' music. That sounds stupid, but generally I don't collect albums/obsess over a particular band. I like the music that I like.
Which is why, when this wonderful album, was brought to my attention, I had no idea who Robert Plant or Alison Krauss. Well, no, I knew Krauss from the 'Oh Brother, Where Are Thou?' soundtrack. I had no idea that Robert Plant was of Led Zeppelin fame. Embarassingly.
So, a treat for our ears:
Which is why, when this wonderful album, was brought to my attention, I had no idea who Robert Plant or Alison Krauss. Well, no, I knew Krauss from the 'Oh Brother, Where Are Thou?' soundtrack. I had no idea that Robert Plant was of Led Zeppelin fame. Embarassingly.
So, a treat for our ears:
Sunday, 9 August 2009
Catholicism & All That Jazzzzzz....
So I'm an Irish Catholic. Yes. THAT type of catholic. The crazy kind.
I admit, however, that I am the type of Catholic that, if my mother isn't with me, wont kneel if I don't feel like it - for example, if I'm too hungover, period-ridden, or just plain tired. I will retreat to the back of chapel after communion and hover by the door until the mass is over. My catholic guilt - and God knows there have been tracts written about this complex - wont let me leave straight after communion. God will know!
At Oxford, I don't go to mass. I don't have time. Sunday is my deadline day, which usually means I work Sunday morning. Oddly enough, away from Ireland I don't feel so dreadfully guilty about not going to mass. I think because in Ireland Catholicism is bound up with cultural identity. Especially North, where I come from. A lot of people will disagree, but I think in old communities, were there is a living memory of oppression, not to practice your faith is very much connected to spitting in the face of history.
Of course, if you are born Catholic you can never really quit. Even if you stop practicing, your name will always be written in a dusty book in the Vatican claiming you as theirs. Excommunication is an escape route but I'm not quite sure what you'd have to do to warrant it - something pretty bloody bad, I'd imagine, and a high price to pay to escape Catholicism.
What annoys me, however, is the label 'lapsed Catholic'. I think its become a bit of a fashion accessory, and, forgive me if its my upbringing thats talking, but I find it goes hand-in-hand with intellectual snobbery. For a lot of people, to claim you are 'a lapsed Catholic' is the intellectual equivalent of getting a handbag dog ala Paris Hilton. If you really genuinely don't believe, that's absolutely fine. What I heartily disapprove of is those people who adopt the face of 'lapsed Catholicism' so they can sneer or be condescending, to be utterly disrespectful.
I admit, however, that I am the type of Catholic that, if my mother isn't with me, wont kneel if I don't feel like it - for example, if I'm too hungover, period-ridden, or just plain tired. I will retreat to the back of chapel after communion and hover by the door until the mass is over. My catholic guilt - and God knows there have been tracts written about this complex - wont let me leave straight after communion. God will know!
At Oxford, I don't go to mass. I don't have time. Sunday is my deadline day, which usually means I work Sunday morning. Oddly enough, away from Ireland I don't feel so dreadfully guilty about not going to mass. I think because in Ireland Catholicism is bound up with cultural identity. Especially North, where I come from. A lot of people will disagree, but I think in old communities, were there is a living memory of oppression, not to practice your faith is very much connected to spitting in the face of history.
Of course, if you are born Catholic you can never really quit. Even if you stop practicing, your name will always be written in a dusty book in the Vatican claiming you as theirs. Excommunication is an escape route but I'm not quite sure what you'd have to do to warrant it - something pretty bloody bad, I'd imagine, and a high price to pay to escape Catholicism.
What annoys me, however, is the label 'lapsed Catholic'. I think its become a bit of a fashion accessory, and, forgive me if its my upbringing thats talking, but I find it goes hand-in-hand with intellectual snobbery. For a lot of people, to claim you are 'a lapsed Catholic' is the intellectual equivalent of getting a handbag dog ala Paris Hilton. If you really genuinely don't believe, that's absolutely fine. What I heartily disapprove of is those people who adopt the face of 'lapsed Catholicism' so they can sneer or be condescending, to be utterly disrespectful.
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
30 Rock Love
Tina Fey is amazing.
Yeah, ok, so I've descended into utter cliché with my love for what has to be one of the hottest comedians/writers/awesome people at moment. But reallly! There's a reason she's absolutely hot stuff at the minute...and that is because she is awesome/amazing/insert glorifying adjective.
30 Rock is finally (sort of) getting the credit it deserves...its hilarious, underrated, and has the amazing voice talents of Alec Baldwin.
Tina's writing and her creation of Liz Lemon is utter genius, but Alec Baldwin as the utterly sexy Jack "The Voice" Donaghy is omigod-orgasm time.
Moment of soggy underwear. *cough*
In short, Tina's Writing + Alec Guiness & Liz Lemon = Very Happy Me.
Yeah, ok, so I've descended into utter cliché with my love for what has to be one of the hottest comedians/writers/awesome people at moment. But reallly! There's a reason she's absolutely hot stuff at the minute...and that is because she is awesome/amazing/insert glorifying adjective.
30 Rock is finally (sort of) getting the credit it deserves...its hilarious, underrated, and has the amazing voice talents of Alec Baldwin.
Tina's writing and her creation of Liz Lemon is utter genius, but Alec Baldwin as the utterly sexy Jack "The Voice" Donaghy is omigod-orgasm time.
Moment of soggy underwear. *cough*
In short, Tina's Writing + Alec Guiness & Liz Lemon = Very Happy Me.
Friday, 31 July 2009
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
The Woes of Reading
So I've been reading Troilus and Criseyde by Geoffrey Chaucer. Not out of choice, mind you.
But because its necessary for my medieval literature course next year. Apparently, according to both the tutor that will be teaching this course and general literary criticism, it is Chaucer's greatest work.
I disagree.
Granted, I've had baaaad experiences with medieval literature in the past. A crazy tutor who will remain nameless, for one thing, and wasn't always enthusiastic about the literature in the period. But really? This is considered better than The Canterbury Tales?
OK, its definately high romance. Its not very bawdy. Its something a bit classier than the CT. But it really doesn't amuse me in the same way that the CT did.
Pandarus is hilarious, granted, but surely he's a bit gay for Troilus? Yeah, ok, 'chivalric brotherhood' and all that jazz, but it makes me quirk a smile and hope that those two end up together instead of drippy Troilus with not-really-that-keen Criseyde.
I don't think I would like Criseyde if I met her in real life. She's one of those annoying girls that isn't interested in a guy until they show an interest in her and then she's "oh, I might as well, I suppose,". Except she's still reluctant when she commits to him - the girl isn't keen, just flattered by male attention.
Arrragh.
The CT is just light-hearted good fun by comparison. And really...is it so much to ask that we be entertained by literature, rather than have didactic messages and be smothered by sybolism and all manner of heavy literature devices-and-meanings?
But because its necessary for my medieval literature course next year. Apparently, according to both the tutor that will be teaching this course and general literary criticism, it is Chaucer's greatest work.
I disagree.
Granted, I've had baaaad experiences with medieval literature in the past. A crazy tutor who will remain nameless, for one thing, and wasn't always enthusiastic about the literature in the period. But really? This is considered better than The Canterbury Tales?
OK, its definately high romance. Its not very bawdy. Its something a bit classier than the CT. But it really doesn't amuse me in the same way that the CT did.
Pandarus is hilarious, granted, but surely he's a bit gay for Troilus? Yeah, ok, 'chivalric brotherhood' and all that jazz, but it makes me quirk a smile and hope that those two end up together instead of drippy Troilus with not-really-that-keen Criseyde.
I don't think I would like Criseyde if I met her in real life. She's one of those annoying girls that isn't interested in a guy until they show an interest in her and then she's "oh, I might as well, I suppose,". Except she's still reluctant when she commits to him - the girl isn't keen, just flattered by male attention.
Arrragh.
The CT is just light-hearted good fun by comparison. And really...is it so much to ask that we be entertained by literature, rather than have didactic messages and be smothered by sybolism and all manner of heavy literature devices-and-meanings?
Sunday, 26 July 2009
Things What I Like
Hello again readers, all 0 of you!
Was just thinking... I don't watch a lot of television. I don't really get the television-worship evident in shows like The Simpsons and...well, the Simpsons.
Well (I also use the word well an awful lot - I think in the right context it can be used to great effect!). I don't watch a lot of television on TV, admittedly, but devour it on my laptop. I miss those Friday nights when I was ten and dad and I settled down to watch Friends and Frasier, back when you could only get them once a week and Friday nights on Channel Whore was GOOD stuff.
Which brings me to the first thing I really like on TV...
Frasier. Oh my, that man, with his twinkling blue eyes, receding hairline and his slightly effeminate ways. *sigh* Lovely.
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy. Originally intended as an adult show, and you can see why. My sister used to watch it. I wish she still did, as I can't watch it alone without being mocked.
Was just thinking... I don't watch a lot of television. I don't really get the television-worship evident in shows like The Simpsons and...well, the Simpsons.
Well (I also use the word well an awful lot - I think in the right context it can be used to great effect!). I don't watch a lot of television on TV, admittedly, but devour it on my laptop. I miss those Friday nights when I was ten and dad and I settled down to watch Friends and Frasier, back when you could only get them once a week and Friday nights on Channel Whore was GOOD stuff.
Which brings me to the first thing I really like on TV...
Frasier. Oh my, that man, with his twinkling blue eyes, receding hairline and his slightly effeminate ways. *sigh* Lovely.
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy. Originally intended as an adult show, and you can see why. My sister used to watch it. I wish she still did, as I can't watch it alone without being mocked.
Friday, 17 July 2009
Happy happy movie times =)
Julie & Julia - am I the only one who thinks this looks like amazingly good fun?
THIS however looks absolutely awful:
Its 'Antichrist', Lars Von Trier's new movie, and apparently got a very mixed reception at Cannes.
I read about it in the Sunday Times and it seems unnessecarily grotesque. There's a point when the wife masturbates her husband until blood comes out of his penis, and then she cuts off her clitoris.
Oooh-er.
The very thought makes me clench my thighs together in sympathetic pain.
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