Found this via It’s All About Books, and since movies are written by writers I think it works for a blog about reading. How many can you guess? Here are the rules: 1. Pick 10 of your favorite movies. 2. Go to IMDb (Internet Movie Database) and find a quote from each movie. 3. Post them here for everyone to guess (if you know them all, please don’t guess every one). 4. Strike it out when someone guesses correctly, and put who guessed it and…
Because I appreciate good writing in all media:
Merry Christmas, everyone! The Superfast Three are snuggled up in our apartment with my parents and my younger brother watching Fargo and waiting to get hungry for round 2 of the Irish ham we enjoyed last night. I got a few books for Christmas this year, fewer than usual because I asked for clothes to accommodate my postpartum body. So the stack was small, but noteworthy: From my dad: An Exaltation of Larks by James Lipton. It’s a compendium of the specific term to refer…
Synopsis: Short stories, essays, and an unfinished novel by Shirley Jackson, queen of American Gothic and author of “The Lottery.” Review: My love for Shirley Jackson has been well documented in this blog, so I was delighted when my husband got me Come Along With Me for my birthday. The collection opens with “Come Along With Me,” the novel that Jackson was working on when she died at the untimely age of 44. At about 33 pages, there isn’t much of a narrative, just a…
I was mighty impressed by Jeffrey Overstreet’s debut novel, Auralia’s Colors, and am so pleased that he had the time to answer some questions for Reading is my Superpower. Check back for the winner of the Auralia’s Colors giveaway! When did you first begin Auralia’s Colors, and what was your inspiration?
As you may be aware, I currently have a part-time job analyzing books and screenplays for a production company. I read the material, provide a detailed synopsis, and then offer my opinion as to whether the material has promise as a feature film. Last night’s work read was an especially challenging one, offering a strong premise but weak-to-infuriating execution, and as I had just given some notes to a writer friend of mine on how to improve her (already-wonderful) work, I got to thinking about…
I’m attempting to write a novel. Well, I’ve attempted to write several novels, at least five that I can think of. This time, I’m attempting to finish a novel. At least a first draft. In the past, I’ve tried free writing on the computer and in a notebook, but I always get bogged down somewhere around 50 pages.
Synopsis: A memoir about a writer’s descent into Ritalin and cocaine addiction while working on the not-supposed-to-be-about-her follow up to her best-selling first memoir. Review: If I could dare to face my obsession with Elizabeth Wurtzel, author of Prozac Nation, I would still not go into therapy because any cure for Wurtzelmania would ruin my taste for things like “Real World: Reunited” and Lindsay Lohan gossip, and I’m just not ready to give up all of my guilty pleasures.
I had brunch yesterday with fellow fast reader Alissa and Carey, who shared such astute insights into Brothers K. The time flew by, as it does when readers get together and get on the subject of books. It was such a pleasure to spend time with people who are as passionate about reading as I am. I got some book recommendations (I think I will be checking out Michael Chabon’s newest) and got to rave about mutual love for authors like Tolstoy and George RR…
My dear friend Megan got to hang out with Jonathan Lethem and learn all about how he came up with the songs for You Don’t Love Me Yet. The piece made me want to reread the book, which I wasn’t crazy about the first time around. Or maybe I’ll just read more of Megan’s stuff. Either way, read the piece here.