(no subject)

[oyceter]

Yup, it's me. It's been quite a while (read: ten days, which is forever in online time). Life has mostly been downhill. Unlike most people, LJ seems to be good for my mental health, or posting a great deal in LJ seems to indicate that my brain is still up and running. Unfortunately, my brain mostly hasn't been this past week or so. I've started reading at least ten books and don't feel the inclination to finish any of them, and, of course, I am behind on the book posts.

Of course this means I bought more books, ostensibly to cheer myself up, even though I have half a billion unread books sitting around already.

Loot includes:

- Watase Yuu, Fushigi Yuugi (vol. 1, in Japanese, which means it will take ten times longer to read but is luckily about ten times cheaper than translated, especially if you get it used. Ahhh, why is there not a Bookoff around me?)
- Justine Larbalestier, The Battle of the Sexes in Science Fiction
- Sarah Dessen, The Truth About Forever
- Diana Wynne Jones, A Sudden, Wild Magic (not too good so far)
- Michael Ende, Momo (I can't remember who I was talking to about Michael Ende's non-Neverending Story book... but I was, and anyway, I found it)
- Emma Bull, Bone Dance (finally found it in the used bookstore after a year or so of waiting!)
- Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling, eds., The Tenth Annual Year's Best Fantasy and Horror (amazingly on sale for just $6 new)


P.S. minnow1212, I got your package, thank you!

ETA: Apologies to yhlee, coffee_and_ink, and rachelmanija! The articles have indeed been photocopied and will hopefully be mailed soon, along with sundry other items.

Comments

[yhlee.livejournal.com]

IMO A Sudden Wild Magic, if I'm remembering the title correctly, is a notably weak Wynne Jones. I cling to Charmed Life!

I found Momo heavy-handed reading as an adult (http://www.livejournal.com/users/yhlee/157310.html#cutid2), although maybe it's better in the German (I tend to doubt it, because part of the heavy-handedness has to do with the themes). I suspect I'd've enjoyed it more as a child, when some of the heavy-handedness would have bothered me less; it was still worth reading once, at least.

[oyceter]

I am very much disliking this DWJ so far... I think I shall have to reread Fire and Hemlock or one of the Chrestomanci books to remember why I like her. It just feels very sort of eighties-early-nineties Piers Anthonyesque, if that makes any sense at all.

[yhlee.livejournal.com]

Yah, completely understand. I feel no urge to reread that one.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

I think it's her worst book. It's also the only one she wrote for an adult audience. I see a connection there...

[gwynnega]

Hope you feel better soon. But at least you have new books!

[oyceter]

Thanks! And new books are always fun.

[livinglaurel.livejournal.com]

Books! Books can at least help ease troubles....Bone Dance is one of my favorites, ever. I'm glad you got it.

[oyceter]

I'm very much looking forward to reading Bone Dance!

[livinglaurel.livejournal.com]

It's SO good. It is one of my comfort books. ((sudden fear you won't like it....If you don't, feel free to say so!))

[bhadrasvapna.livejournal.com]

Hugs to you. It's been awhile since I've had the inclination to read or write. I've mostly just been doing crafts and chatting.

And shopping. Craft shopping. It's my drug of choice. Somehow it doesn't feel as decadent if I'm shopping with a purpose. I made an Easter wreath for the door and I'm making a wedding present for two of my very good friends. Their house is all nautical, so I got a lighthouse basket and lined it with blue tule that has sparklies on it. It looks like the night sky. I trimmed it with chord and filled it with goodies from main. To finish the whole thing. I stuck fake seaweed in it.

All this to try to keep depression at bay. It only worked as long as I was doing something. Whenever I stopped, there it was again. Maybe today I can channel it into a little bit of writing.

Hope you feel better soon. Remember this too shall pass.

[oyceter]

Thanks. I'm knitting a good deal, actually... just finished a scarf, yay.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

I just read The Truth About Forever. I guess you know that Sarah Dessen is writergrl. I think she's really great at creating characters that have a nice twisting kind of complexity and are caught in situations that are unusual but manage to tap in to common feelings. This one's especially nice on the issues of self-worth, which I suppose underlies most YA fiction. Love the supporting cast, also. I'm betting you finish it if you start it.

Dessen teaches creative writing at UNC, within driving distance of where I live. I've been trying to figure out if I could take a class from her--if she'd let me in, if I could get there, etc. It would be a great treat. Kij Johnson is my real hero, but Kansas City is just too far.

And I think it may have been you who once recommended The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley. Finally got that read--dont' know why I waited so long. Loved it. Thanks, if it was you.

[oyceter]

Yeah, I think I've ventured over to her LJ once or twice.

And that would be so cool if you could get in a class with her! I very much like her voice so far.

Not sure if I was the one who recced The Hero and the Crown to you specifically, but I always rec McKinley when I can. I love all her books so very much. I'm so glad you liked it!

[oracne.livejournal.com]

BONE DANCE is cool.

[oyceter]

Definitely looking forward to it.