How could I not? They’re wonderful books. Great story, great characters, great writing. If they’re not among my favorite books of all time, they’re close. The omnibus edition from Subterranean Press is a delight to own, though it could have used a bit of proofreading.
And I just had an odd experience reading them for the third time, which probably says more about my memory than the books. When I’ve talked about the books with folks over the last few years, I’ve always said that I thought the first was the best and the third the worst. And I think most of the people I’ve spoken with have agreed. But this time I thought just the opposite. I found myself chafing a bit at the repetition of the first book, and really enjoying the mystery of the third.
That’s something new. I’ve changed my mind about books or series as a whole on rereading them before, but I can’t remember ever changing my mind about books in a series. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and The Silver Chair have been my favorite Narnia books for forty years, Tarzan of the Apes and Tarzan and the Ant Men my favorite Burroughs for even longer. Which makes me wonder if I did, in fact, prefer Huaghart’s stories in chronological order before. Or did my memory, when talking about them with other people, pull a switch on me somewhere in time so that I fell into line with everyone else?
Memory is so plastic.
How about the rest of you? Which (more…)
Another great piece by Roger Cohen in the NYT today. Whatever else one may want to say, he’s been out there reporting from Tehran’s streets for the last 2 weeks.
While I’m trying to figure out this Wordpress thing, here’s a link to my old site.
Old Site.
I should have loved this movie, and I did enjoy it. I love a good caper flick, especially with the cop and the bad guy going at it cerebrally. But the ending to this one left me completely unsatisfied. Except for Denzel, of course.
First thought - Blaming it on the Nazis is so 20th century. Can we retire them as the villains who justify anything now? It’s a new century - we have terrorists for that cliche now. Anyway, I’d like to hate the victim for some reason other than the fact that he collaborated with the Nazis.
Second thought - I need to like the crooks if they get away with it. I didn’t. They were violent and hurt innocent people. No sympathy from me right there.
Third thought - The structure was a complete mess. Why not start the movie after the heist and do flashbacks? That’s how The Usual Suspects did it. (Now there’s a movie I can love.) Instead I felt as if Mr. Lee was taunting me to figure the whole thing out as soon as possible by revealing the hook in the first scene. I don’t like being taunted, even if I figure it all out immediately.
Not really that bad, but I was hoping for a lot better.
Very interesting piece in the NYTimes, in which both the expected and the unexpected prevail.
Filched from The Daily Dish.
“The ogre does what ogres can
Deeds quite impossible for man.
But one prize is beyond his reach
The ogre cannot master speech.
About a subjugated plain
Among its desperate and slain
The ogre stalks with hands on hips
While drivel gushes from his lips.”
W.H. Auden
Nellie caught her first bird today. Trapped it under the porch but never actually took it into her mouth. Too delicate to eat something so wet and bedraggled, I suppose.
The bird is recovering in a bush on the front stoop, where the dog can’t get at it.
While I’m trying to figure out this Wordpress thing, here’s a link to my old site.
Old Site.
