Reading: For myself, None Shall Sleep, a 1980s-set YA procedural along the lines of Silence of the Lambs—I’m about halfway through and delighted that I have access to the sequel, which is due out in June. And speaking of sequels, I’m also excited to have an advance copy of the sequel to The Agathas on hand—I adored the first one. For book club at work, I’m also about halfway through Fleishman is in Trouble.
Watching: The big one is that Season Five of The Last Drive-In premieres tonight. I’ve had the theme song in my head ALL. WEEK. Also on deck: Josh has been dying to revisit Alien, but neither of us felt like digging through the attic to find our copy… but it must be meant to be, because I found the DVD in the library book sale.
Thinking: I’ve been feeling like starting a reading project along the lines of read a horror novel set in every state, or read through an author’s entire run, or read through a decade, read 20 books that are currently being targeted by censors, etc., etc. Buuuut, I also know that I tend to get really really into the planning part, and don’t always follow through? Leaning towards at least starting a list today, because regardless of what I do, combing the internet for good reads is fun.
What about you? Where are you at in any or all of these departments?
Ah! I'm so glad you're enjoying NONE SHALL SLEEP. I often think about Simon being referred to as a "great white spider in his cage." Guh. So good, so creepy.
This week I finished a reread of WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE, which remains great (although I wish that Merricat took out Charles at the end--I've heard they added that in the most recent movie). I also read T Kingfisher's newest A HOUSE WITH GOOD BONES, which I enjoyed even though her horror novels have a little more a formula than her fantasy. This one was missing the main character's cute animal sidekick/emotional support creature (but there was a pet vulture owned by a side character that probably counts).
On None Shall Sleep: If I finish this book and don't immediately rewatch Manhunter, I'll be VERY surprised. Also, I can't be the only person who finds it incredibly distracting that their handler is called Agent Cooper, can I??? I love how something about the narration FEELS like a book from the era? (I haven't put my finger on what exactly it is, but yeah, it doesn't feel like a book from the 2020s set in the 1980s, it just feels like a book set in the 1980s, but kind of out of time, too. Does that even make sense??)
On Merricat: YES. I'm due for a re-read, and I've been meaning to watch that movie—because I love the book AND Crispin Glover.
On Kingfisher: I hadn't realized this one was out, so I just requested it from the library. You are truly DANGEROUS for my TBR, lol.
Oh, I totally pictured Kyle Maclachlan throughout. Any excuse for my brain to think about Twin Peaks, it takes!! And I agree about it feeling like the 80s. There's something about how stripped down the narration is. Ugh, the craft of it all. Shower Elle Marney in money and book deals!
Look, you populated my TBR from the original blog for many, many years, it's only fair that I start cluttering yours in return.
I haven't watched Twin Peaks for a couple of years—we usually rewatch at least the first season every fall—so maybe my brain is telling me that it's time, heh.
And fair enough about the early blog years, hahaha, I'm loving all of these recommendations. I've really missed this aspect of the online book world. <3
I am reading Life is Hard for "life stuff" joint yoga group and writer's room book club -- I picked it without having read it, and while it is good, the author is a little annoying at times? Can I say that? Don't tell anyone. I'm sure he's very nice. LIFE IS HARD.
And for fun reading Alexis Hall's new one. Just started The Diplomat on Netflix and it is exactly what I wanted.
Along the lines of your feelings about Life is Hard, reading Fleishman is in Trouble is reminding me exactly why I don't read a ton of contemporary realistic adult capital-L Literary Fiction? I feel like I *occasionally* have to pick one for library book club to give the folks who DO love it a break from my other genre picks, so here we are. (And I'm finding it engrossing, sure, but I also want to dropkick almost all of the characters into the sun. Which I get is deliberate, but woof.)
I'll add The Diplomat to my list—this is the second time today it's been mentioned, so now I'm even more curious. I should probably finally try The Americans, too?
Oh, I hear that, I'm not a before-bed reader at all—when I'm headed to bed, it's pretty much 0 to 60 snoozetown. And after a big drive like that, I'd be entirely shagged out as well. Most of my reading happens in the early morning—I'm one of those up-at-four people—or during the day on the weekends.
I'm sorry that you're traveling for a funeral—I hope that your travels are safe & that it all goes as easily as possible. Be safe.
Ah! I'm so glad you're enjoying NONE SHALL SLEEP. I often think about Simon being referred to as a "great white spider in his cage." Guh. So good, so creepy.
This week I finished a reread of WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE, which remains great (although I wish that Merricat took out Charles at the end--I've heard they added that in the most recent movie). I also read T Kingfisher's newest A HOUSE WITH GOOD BONES, which I enjoyed even though her horror novels have a little more a formula than her fantasy. This one was missing the main character's cute animal sidekick/emotional support creature (but there was a pet vulture owned by a side character that probably counts).
On None Shall Sleep: If I finish this book and don't immediately rewatch Manhunter, I'll be VERY surprised. Also, I can't be the only person who finds it incredibly distracting that their handler is called Agent Cooper, can I??? I love how something about the narration FEELS like a book from the era? (I haven't put my finger on what exactly it is, but yeah, it doesn't feel like a book from the 2020s set in the 1980s, it just feels like a book set in the 1980s, but kind of out of time, too. Does that even make sense??)
On Merricat: YES. I'm due for a re-read, and I've been meaning to watch that movie—because I love the book AND Crispin Glover.
On Kingfisher: I hadn't realized this one was out, so I just requested it from the library. You are truly DANGEROUS for my TBR, lol.
Oh, I totally pictured Kyle Maclachlan throughout. Any excuse for my brain to think about Twin Peaks, it takes!! And I agree about it feeling like the 80s. There's something about how stripped down the narration is. Ugh, the craft of it all. Shower Elle Marney in money and book deals!
Look, you populated my TBR from the original blog for many, many years, it's only fair that I start cluttering yours in return.
I haven't watched Twin Peaks for a couple of years—we usually rewatch at least the first season every fall—so maybe my brain is telling me that it's time, heh.
And fair enough about the early blog years, hahaha, I'm loving all of these recommendations. I've really missed this aspect of the online book world. <3
I am reading Life is Hard for "life stuff" joint yoga group and writer's room book club -- I picked it without having read it, and while it is good, the author is a little annoying at times? Can I say that? Don't tell anyone. I'm sure he's very nice. LIFE IS HARD.
And for fun reading Alexis Hall's new one. Just started The Diplomat on Netflix and it is exactly what I wanted.
Along the lines of your feelings about Life is Hard, reading Fleishman is in Trouble is reminding me exactly why I don't read a ton of contemporary realistic adult capital-L Literary Fiction? I feel like I *occasionally* have to pick one for library book club to give the folks who DO love it a break from my other genre picks, so here we are. (And I'm finding it engrossing, sure, but I also want to dropkick almost all of the characters into the sun. Which I get is deliberate, but woof.)
I'll add The Diplomat to my list—this is the second time today it's been mentioned, so now I'm even more curious. I should probably finally try The Americans, too?
Oh, I hear that, I'm not a before-bed reader at all—when I'm headed to bed, it's pretty much 0 to 60 snoozetown. And after a big drive like that, I'd be entirely shagged out as well. Most of my reading happens in the early morning—I'm one of those up-at-four people—or during the day on the weekends.
I'm sorry that you're traveling for a funeral—I hope that your travels are safe & that it all goes as easily as possible. Be safe.
Yeah, I get that—100 is a good run for sure.