Currently Wednesday: 11 December 2019

[calissa]

Currently reading
I finished American Gods just an hour ago and am still feeling profoundly ambivalent about it. The only thing I can think of to say about it was that it was fine.

On the print front, I have started The Night Watch by Sergio Lukyanenko. It's an urban fantasy translated from Russian in which the forces of Light (the Night Watch) and the forces of Dark (the Day Watch) attempt to preserve a balance. This is the third time I've tried to read this book. It's well-paced and interesting enough, but I always seem to put it down at the end of the first part (probably about halfway through the book). I figure if I don't get through it this time, I'm going to jettison the series.

Currently watching
Just finished off season 1 of Upstart Crow, a British comedy about the misadventures of William Shakespeare. Plenty of in-jokes for those familiar with his work. I like the practical, down-to-earth personality of Anne Hathaway. I also have a soft spot for Kate, the daughter of Shakespeare's landlady. She's well-educated and desperate to become an actor but is stymied by the patriarchy.

However, a little of this show goes a long way, so I'm glad there's only six episodes in a season.

Comments

[winterbird]

Honestly, Glen and I really struggled with American Gods. The first season was okay, if underwhelming, but the second season we slogged through just to put it behind us. All I remember is that I got an awful lot of cross stitch done during it! <3

[calissa]

Yeah, the book was also kind of underwhelming. But listening to the audio kept me going for almost half a month and got me through a lot of housework, rather like you and your cross stitch!

[pantha]

Yay, Upstart Crow! It is rather wonderful, right? My favourites are Kate (for your aforesaid reasons) and Robert Greene (because, OMG, his silly over-the-top pronunciation is actually very often OP (i.e. Original Pronunciation) and I absolutely love it).

[calissa]

Oh, how fascinating! I didn't know about the OP. I feel like I need to go back and have a closer listen. His diction is excellent.

[pantha]

If you want to know more about OP, YouTube has an excellent selection of videos with David and Ben Crystal (father/son, academic/actor team, originators of the movement in Shakespearean productions) explaining it. If you search for "original pronunciation" and their names you should get a few.

I might be slightly in love with them...

[calissa]

I seem to recall watching a video of them you'd shared previously and it was both entertaining and informative. Perhaps it's time I had a bit more of a poke around.

[pantha]

They are, at least from all appearances, utter loves and are delightful to watch/listen to. Definitely recommend checking out some more interviews/talks from them.

[onewhitecrow]

What a sky!

...but aye, Gaiman only works for me when someone else is drawing pictures for him, honestly. It rather baffles me that so many people seem to think he's God.

[calissa]

What a sky!

Isn't it glorious?

It rather baffles me that so many people seem to think he's God.

I admit this rather baffles me, too.

[onewhitecrow]

It is! I am always so pleased that you go to the trouble to put new pictures on your posts every time, it's like getting beauriful presents from far away (only without the social stressors and space issues, so win-win).

I watched Coraline for the first time recently, and everyone's all "it's scary! Why is this for kids?!" but it's...honestly a less scary, slightly cooler-in-concept version of Mirrormask? ['why' hands] I was also frustrated because it could have been an amazing (and less thematically bemusing - "appreciate your neglectful parents" seems to be a favourite of Gaiman's) kids' horror film if Wybie was the protagonist rather than Coraline.