![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
a literary post
"...and whatever walked there, walked alone."
That is the final phrase in both the opening and ending paragraphs of Shirley Jackon's haunted house classic, The Haunting of Hill House, and I believe it's one of the most magnificent arrangements of words I have ever read. In six words, it manages to be mysterious, hopeless, powerful, and above all creepy as hell.
I fully plan to icon it. :D
One of the common story tropes I left out of my list was the ability to see or sense ghosts or spirits or other supernatural phenomena. You have to admit, that's a very common trait in fiction--particularly in manga--but for me, the idea is too ripe with possibility to declare I will never write it. I know I have a good, scary, solid ghost story in me somewhere. No way am I going to cut off that avenue of plot! ^^V
I read The Demon's Lexicon in two days. X3 It felt wonderful to return to Sarah Rees Brennan's writings! It had been 9 months since she ended her fanfic and the publication of her first original novel, and I had gone into withdrawal. As for the book, I heartily recommend it! Have a link! It starts off as a fun YA-style urban fantasy novel, but the final 5 chapters or so--WHOA! I was reminded why I loved her fanfic so much. *squirms with delight* Now I have to wait a year for the sequel! Nrrrrgh! X|
I also want to tell you all about the book I read for my Sci-Fic book club's June meeting: Inda, by Sherwood Smith. Apparently Ms. Smith is a well-known YA writer, but Inda is her first(?) book intended for adults. The beginning is a bit cumbersome, as she really dives in head-first to world building, but stick it out and about a third of the way through, the story takes off and doesn't stop. Not even at the end, which is a killer cliffhanger that had me yelling in frustration. Believe me, the sequel is on my list of Books to Buy. I'd have already done so and devoured it if I didn't have so many other books to read already. *facepalm*
In regards to my own writings, I've been very unproductive the past week. :( I've been rather tired and have barely touched my character design for my short story. I have, though, taken a huge step in the mental aspect of the design. Believe me when I say that is a good thing. Oh yes! My reciprocal portrait of my wonderful artist friend Lexi is also coming along in tiny steps. Apparently I'm incapable of doing a quick color pic, I have to turn it into a massive epic that involves picture reference and research and why can't I just bang out a pic in a couple of hours??? *sigh*
Back to the subject of books, I'm currently listening to the first volume of Diane Duane's Young Wizard series, titled So You Want to be a Wizard. It's good! I like her concept of magic and wizardry, it's rather unique. And don't mistake her for a JKR wannabe, as this book was published in 1983, a whole ~12 years before HP1. *raspberries* I'd enjoyed Ms. Duane's Star Trek books when I was a teenager, so when I heard about her original series and that it was rather good, I decided to check it out. Luckily for me, the library had it in audiobook form, so yay! I had to brave the children's section for this first volume, too. Proof I really wanted to read it! Thankfully the other volumes are all in the YA section. ^^
Next up on my reading list is to finish the final issue of Shojo Beat, as I still have "Vampire Knight" left in it. (I was in the middle of listening to 'Salem's Lot while reading SB, and I was kind of vampired out, so I placed the mag on hold. Then I have to finish the two volume jousei manga series Blank Slate (such shiny art! *eyes sparkle* I know the main character's design is going to influence my short story...) and then...then I need to read my book club's July selection, Day of the Tiffids, and then--who knows? *is excited*
I love books. *hugs them all*
That is the final phrase in both the opening and ending paragraphs of Shirley Jackon's haunted house classic, The Haunting of Hill House, and I believe it's one of the most magnificent arrangements of words I have ever read. In six words, it manages to be mysterious, hopeless, powerful, and above all creepy as hell.
I fully plan to icon it. :D
One of the common story tropes I left out of my list was the ability to see or sense ghosts or spirits or other supernatural phenomena. You have to admit, that's a very common trait in fiction--particularly in manga--but for me, the idea is too ripe with possibility to declare I will never write it. I know I have a good, scary, solid ghost story in me somewhere. No way am I going to cut off that avenue of plot! ^^V
I read The Demon's Lexicon in two days. X3 It felt wonderful to return to Sarah Rees Brennan's writings! It had been 9 months since she ended her fanfic and the publication of her first original novel, and I had gone into withdrawal. As for the book, I heartily recommend it! Have a link! It starts off as a fun YA-style urban fantasy novel, but the final 5 chapters or so--WHOA! I was reminded why I loved her fanfic so much. *squirms with delight* Now I have to wait a year for the sequel! Nrrrrgh! X|
I also want to tell you all about the book I read for my Sci-Fic book club's June meeting: Inda, by Sherwood Smith. Apparently Ms. Smith is a well-known YA writer, but Inda is her first(?) book intended for adults. The beginning is a bit cumbersome, as she really dives in head-first to world building, but stick it out and about a third of the way through, the story takes off and doesn't stop. Not even at the end, which is a killer cliffhanger that had me yelling in frustration. Believe me, the sequel is on my list of Books to Buy. I'd have already done so and devoured it if I didn't have so many other books to read already. *facepalm*
In regards to my own writings, I've been very unproductive the past week. :( I've been rather tired and have barely touched my character design for my short story. I have, though, taken a huge step in the mental aspect of the design. Believe me when I say that is a good thing. Oh yes! My reciprocal portrait of my wonderful artist friend Lexi is also coming along in tiny steps. Apparently I'm incapable of doing a quick color pic, I have to turn it into a massive epic that involves picture reference and research and why can't I just bang out a pic in a couple of hours??? *sigh*
Back to the subject of books, I'm currently listening to the first volume of Diane Duane's Young Wizard series, titled So You Want to be a Wizard. It's good! I like her concept of magic and wizardry, it's rather unique. And don't mistake her for a JKR wannabe, as this book was published in 1983, a whole ~12 years before HP1. *raspberries* I'd enjoyed Ms. Duane's Star Trek books when I was a teenager, so when I heard about her original series and that it was rather good, I decided to check it out. Luckily for me, the library had it in audiobook form, so yay! I had to brave the children's section for this first volume, too. Proof I really wanted to read it! Thankfully the other volumes are all in the YA section. ^^
Next up on my reading list is to finish the final issue of Shojo Beat, as I still have "Vampire Knight" left in it. (I was in the middle of listening to 'Salem's Lot while reading SB, and I was kind of vampired out, so I placed the mag on hold. Then I have to finish the two volume jousei manga series Blank Slate (such shiny art! *eyes sparkle* I know the main character's design is going to influence my short story...) and then...then I need to read my book club's July selection, Day of the Tiffids, and then--who knows? *is excited*
I love books. *hugs them all*