The Rum Diary - Thompson

I started this book over the weekend, I'm nearly half-way through.

Hunter S. Thompson wrote Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (which I've read, seen the movie a dozen times--its an excellent representation). The Rum Diary is sort of similar in tone, though slower in pace. Fear and Loathing sort of lurches aimlessly through the drunken, drug-addled haze of nonsense. The Rum Diaries is more of a drunken meandering about Puerto Rico.

Both books have an interesting lack of plot. This one seems more focused on the situation of the other characters in the same bizarre environment as opposed to the influence of the environment on the anti-heroes of Fear and Loathing. Both are filled with purposefully purposeless nomads seeking some sort of elusive fulfillment. Happiness is certainly beyond them, but a vague peace may be attainable.

I love Thompson, I'll let you know how it all finishes out.

Welcome to the Monkey House - Vonnegut

I just finished this short story collection. It was great. Some random stuff some really good stuff.

"Welcome to the Monkey House" was fantastic. I've passed this book on already.

Next up, Hunter S. Thompson's the rum diary.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

From the NY Times Paper Cuts blog: "Like a DVD loaded with extras, the book includes the original text of the Regency classic juiced up with 'all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem.'"

Aparently the opening line is "It's a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possesion of brains must be in want of more brains."

I haven't read Pride and Prejudice, but I'm still not sure how I feel about this new "reworking" of the classic book. Thoughts?

Good Trash

I know we here are really bad at challenges, but I had to come here and post this:

Now, I read Flowers in the Attic and two of the sequels back in the day, and they are some of the best trashy novels ever. This totally makes me want to reread Flowers.

Go here for more info: http://reviewerx.blogspot.com/2009/01/vc-andrews-movement-reading-challenge.html

Currently Reading

I don't have a new review to post, because I haven't finished a book in the last month. Longer than that, probably. I got this new social life thing and it's really cutting into my reading time. But, here is a summary of what I have been reading, but not finishing:

1- Snow Falling on Cedars. I'm pretty sure I mentioned this before. I think I'm just going to take it back to the library, I'm not going to finish it right now. I'll get it again someday, but I'm too distracted by Jane Austen and the 3 awesome books I got for Christmas.

2- Northanger Abbey. My first Austen, and I'm loving it. I started reading it last week when our power was out (couldn't find Cedars in the dark) and I was really enjoying it. But then Christmas rolled around and now I'm distracted by...

3- Good Omens. So far, very good. The story is, basically: What if, in The Omen, Damien was accidentally given to the wrong family? Hijinks ensue. I also have The Keeper and Wicked lined up (this is actually the first year I've recieved books off my amazon wishlist... we should keep this up).

So there. You have a taste of what's to come. Please Please Please, somebody else post about what they've been reading. I feel like I'm talking to myself up in herr.

Somebody has to post...

It's been a while since anyone has posted, as I'm sure you've noticed. I'm currently reading Snow Falling on Cedars, but I've misplaced it which sucks because a) it's a library book, b) I'm going on a road trip this weekend, so I'll have lots of reading time, and c) it's really good!

Anyway, while we all work on reading whatever it is we're reading, here's a fun Seriously Random List from Pajiba!:

The Five Most Obnoxious Literary Fads 

My personal favorite literary fad isn't listed (I mean, of course not, I'm not obnoxious!), but it is mentioned in the comments: The Babysitter's Club. In the comments there is a lot of discussion about which BSC character you were, and I'm trying to remember which character I was like. I'm pretty sure I was a Mary Ann (because she was shy) and Jessie (because she was a dancer). I wanted to be Claudia because she was all artsy and had her own phone. So, which Babysitter were you?

We Have Always Lived in the Castle

-Miranda

Despite a perfectly creepy title, Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle isn't really very creepy. The book follows the three surviving members of the Blackwood family, all of whom are varying levels of crazy. Uncle Julian is the eldest surviving Blackwood, he spends most of his days trying to remember every last detail from the day the rest of the Blackwoods died (arsenic in the sugar bowl). Weakened from the poison, he is confined to a wheelchair and is often confused. Sometimes he thinks Constance is his late wife, Dorothy, and sometimes he thinks Merricat is dead. Constance is a very quiet girl who never goes too far away from the house (never past her gardens). Since she didn't have any of the sugar, she was accused of killing her family members, but was later aquitted at trial. She avoids leaving Blackwood Estate because she knows the town still thinks she's guilty. Merricat (Mary Katherine) is the narrator, and is the youngest Blackwood, 18, and she is the only member of her family that goes into town. People in the town stare and whisper, and young boys tease. Merricat is clearly a little crazy, and seems to not have matured passed the age of 12.

The book is subtle, a lot happens but it's not really a plot driven book. It's really mostly a character study of these three people, the lives they lead after a terrible tragedy. It's not really a mystery, it's fairly obvious who the murderer was, but it's a decent read. And, at 214 pages, it's a nice quick read. But, if you want to read something by Shirley Jackson, I recommend The Haunting of Hill House, a much better and creepier book.