Mieville is an absolute living treasure–and I don’t say this only because he works in comics and D&D Adventures–his stories are so completely innovative it makes you feel sorry for other writers trying to work the same vein in literature.
This book is a very easy read with one rather simple conceit that slowly develops and deepens as the book goes on. Also, this may be his best work in characterization–the diversity of the characters (particularly the female characters) is super great.
Who would think a Raymond Chandler who done it could be this much fun–completely recommend this book and author to anyone who can read…
I went to the Hollywood Bowl with Melissa, Willie, Jennifer, Carey, Shannon, and Jonny to see the lead singer of the Pretenders. She is one of my all time favorite old school punkers & I was going to see if she was a witch and if her power had been stolen by the patriarchy. I am not sure what I learned.
We stopped by Silver Lake Intelligentsia for some very good coffee and other snacks–this was a VERY good move.
Melissa and Wilie got this horrible drink–they loved it (Willie complained about the cost)–I ignored it. A dude at the next table was reading a Cthulu book and I did not talk to him–this is a change–I do not automatically engage with TRPG Folks like I used to.
Later, before the show, there would be other snacks–also, horrible.
Venue was perfect–I mean seldom have I seen it better–actual fog by the Hollywood sign and everything.
The opener was a the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra playing late period Ellington–first and third movements of the Black Kings stuff–I do not know it well & it seemed to be trying to hard–it had swing, but did not swing if that makes sense–to much of a PSA.
Here is the setlist
The Star Spangled Banner
Three Black Kings (Balthazar Movement)
Three Black Kings (Martin Luther King Movement)
Naima
I’m a Fool to Want You
Caroline, No
Once I Loved
I Get Along Without You Very Well
Brass in Pocket
How Glad I Am
Wild Is the Wind
Absent Minded Me
…
My post show comment was that I needed Robert Hilburn.
We went and had Thai Food after the show.
Hynde has not been limited by the Patriarchy. She is a witch. But, and here is the tricky part, she seems to have a VERY complicated view of her past–like she hates the little punk she was which is odd in a time when everyone seems to have had a Hardcore youth. She actually lived it in London, but seems to want to forget it happened or ignore its significance or down plays it impact to her as a women. This show was not a continuation, it was a running away–an attempt to flee who I think she really is (a persona she KNOWS that I love), but not in a your wrong kind of way, but just in a “kids will never understand” kind of way…and there WERE a surprising number of DUB moments.
To say I was confused would be an under statement.
Here is someone that may have understood it more thean I did.
Ugh. I think that this was a well written modern murder mystery for fans of the Dark Side of Law and Order–structurally, I found it interesting with some fantastic pacing and excellent details.
however, I had a sense that I was being manipulated the entire time I was reading the book. Like that the author was simply toying with me–This is the first book by Mr Landay I have read and I did not have any trust in him as an author–basically, I was paranoid he was messing with my emotions in a way that I would not like.
Not my Genre, and not my book–but for some that enjoy a solid who done it with a modern feel this might be a fun summer read…
The boys and I went to see this at the AMC Tustin District theaters. We had a blast– the movie was great, Cody was slight freaked-out–after we had sushi at Ra which was fun.
This is a super good documentary on one of my all-time favorite filmmakers–he hit right when I needed him and to see the respect that he has since earned is very enjoyable.
The movie is a rather light fare with reflections and anecdotes, but it is very worth watching.
The City & The City by China Miéville
David Given Schwarm 