A Jar of Happy on the Shelf

[jackofallgeeks]

So, last night Anastasiya called me up and, at one point, gave me a hard time because I'd "had it bad for Suzannah" before I'd met her (Anastasiya). I knew this, but apparently she hadn't.

It never occurred to me that Anastasiya might have thought that I'd broken up with her because I met Suzannah and thought she was 'Better.' I thought of quite a number of things that she might think (for a while, Anastasiya had a bit of venom for me), but that never occurred to me because I'd known that situation from the beginning. I think maybe she's got a little more closure on that, now.

Anyways... I'm reading The Giver and I really like it. I read about 130 pages yesterday, and I'll most definitely finish it sometime today. It's given me a little bit more of a starting-off point for that story I keep saying I want to write. After The Giver, I plan on reading this book of short stories by H.P. Lovecraft, then Salem's Lot, then The Divine Comedy (which I'll need to get a copy of). Then I'll tag on more books to the list as I go.

I'm liking this. I've always wanted to read more, but this is probably the first time I've actively worked toward said goal. It's great because, at my uncle's, there's really nothing else to do *but* read. I just need to keep myself a little more disciplined with video games and the internet, and take more time to read. I think I'd be happier for it.

Similarly, I think I should take pains to get back to running regularly (*rimshot*). I think that would make me happier, too, and exercise is good.

And to come full-circle, I might as well finish with Suzannah. I think about her a lot. I hope her arm heals alright.

Comments

literature

[jeffe42.livejournal.com]

It makes me sick....all these folks that are so gung ho on S. King....he is such a lousy writer!! Great ideas, but terrible at his craft. I am starting to think this last few years will be known as the age of medicority.

Now H. P. Lovecraft is a writer. Talk about someone with command of the language and the human psyche! That's what good writing is all about....he grips your inner core and shakes the s--- out of it with but the right word correctly placed. A modern E. A. Poe. But don't stop with his short stories....I mean they are alright, but you must read the full length stuff....he's just great, a modern classic.

You want the best and most definitive of short stories, got to Herman Mellville....that's right, he wrote short stories, is the uncontested master of them as far as I"m concerned (oh, granted a much different venue than Lovecraft....).

good reading...:) Jeff

Re: literature

[jackofallgeeks.livejournal.com]

Oh, mediocrity indeed! I've been mostly-unimpressed with contemporary writers. Is that the correct term, contemporary? Anyways, I've never read anything by King -- no, I take that bake. I was once stranded at my uncles and had nothing to due but read one of his books out of series. I didn't like it very much -- it was out of series, and had far too much profanity. Profanity turns me off.

Still, Salem's Lot is supposed to be about vampires, on of my many fascinations, and for that much I'll give it a shot. I may even try out some of Kings other books, if I like this one, but I'm not picking him up because I think he's a good writer.  :p

Lovecraft I've heard good things about, so I'm looking forward to reading him. I want to read more Poe, too, but i'm not sure where to start; I've read some of his most famous short stories a few times, but he has a lot of works I've never heard of. But that aside -- I don't think I've heard of anything by Lovecraft that I would consider anything but a short story. He's done otherwise?

I've read some Mellville, but I can't think of any of them off the top of my head. I'll keep him in mind -- I have aspirations of being Well Read, so I'm taking efforts to read everything. In particular, I want to read The Classics, so I can get all the tasty literary allusions -- step one, figure out what The Classics actually are.

Re: literature

[dikaiosunh.livejournal.com]

I happen to like Stephen King, but I'm not sure it'd be fair to dismiss 'contemporary writers' on the basis of not liking him or his kindred. King plays a role in the literary ecology more like Dumas than Melville (comparing him to Lovecraft is fair... but I honestly don't think Lovecraft had all that much on King's better work - in fact, 'well-crafted' is one adjective I *wouldn't* apply to his language; in general, I think King is the better technician... though he's gotten flabby now that he no longer needs to listen to editors. But I digress, and I'm going to start a fight if I keep going.).

I've already inundated you with reading suggestions, so I won't add any contemporary writing to the list (even though some of the good stuff has definite fantasy/SF elements/overtones).

Re: literature

[jackofallgeeks.livejournal.com]

Mmm, I don't mean to dismiss contemporary writers much in the same way I don't mean to dismiss "magical realism" -- I've had rough experiences with each, though, and that sets up a bias which needs to be overcome, is all.

I'll definitely be coming back around for more suggestions when I start looking for more books to read. I plan on making a list. *nods to this*

[surichan.livejournal.com]

Aw, pay no attention to all that rot. King may not be so good at writing these days, but his older books are gold, gold, gold. And this is coming from the girl who doesn't like "contemporary" writers. So what if he suffers from a little diarrhea of the typewriter? I still swear by his earliest books as being able to draw me in in ways most books can't.

I'm reading Firestarter now, and am enjoying it immensely.

[jackofallgeeks.livejournal.com]

Hey, i'm taking your work on Salem's Lot. We'll see what my opinion is after I'm through there. More likely than not, we'll prolly have a discussion about which others of his I might be interested in.

Re: literature

[jeffe42.livejournal.com]

Well, with all due respect to others, I just can't compare S. King to someone like Dumas in the same breath....King is a hack, pure and simple. The only thing he did close to decent was the Shining. And to say he is as good as Lovecrat is ludicrous (I cant spell all that well:)...'nough said.

As to contemporaries that write well...I think Lawerence Durrell (sp?) is one of the finer writers of the last century...he may be still living. My favorite of his is the Alexandria Quartett. They did a movie of one of the books in it...Justine I think. Also try Tunc by L. D...it is a kind of sci-fi, interesting. He wrote many other things, all of them superb. He is one of the best at the craft.

Dont forget Saul Ballow, Samuel Coleridge....., Oh, man my mind boggles with them all. I will send you what I think are some of the best after we get back from the beach. I am just to rushed to think right now.

\:) J.

Re: literature

[dikaiosunh.livejournal.com]

Well, just because Dumas is an *old* hack doesn't make him any less of one... He played to basically the same niche as King: heavily plotted genre tales for a mass audience, with thin characterization and somewhat sloppy attention to detail.

Re: literature

[jeffe42.livejournal.com]

Do you really refer to Alexander Dumas? Surely not....if so, some of what you say is true, though we dont know for sure about his take on life at the time, now do we? :)

However, for how one word followed another, there still is no comparison to King. King just has no craft....Dumas, perhaps was a bit lazy, but he had the craft. :) J.

[sugarpoisonappl.livejournal.com]

more things you should read:

terry pratchett's discworld series ... absolutely fantastic combination of british humour and fantasy. he's one of my favorites. and his other books are good too, from what i hear.

terry brooks - i've read some of his magical kingdom of landover novels, and some of shannara, which i thoroughly enjoyed. he's written a lot that i haven't read yet ...

mercedes lackey is good as well ... i've read some of hers, though it was years ago.

frank peretti. he's a christian author, but his work isn't cheezy like some of the stuff that's out there ... i recommend "the oath" for starters if you're interested.

melanie rawn. i have her dragon prince trilogy, and it's very nice.

can't think of anything else off the top of my head ... i could ask my sister *lol* but she's read a lot of stuff i haven't, so i couldn't personally vouch for it.