2:58pm, 24th January
January 24th 2008 04:20
Category: No Category
I just finished reading 'The Eyre Affair' by Jasper Fforde, and thus have nothing left to read... it is my hope to browse through T's second hand bookshop in Randwick today and find a good book to keep me occupied until Monday. And then off to Japan we go...
I considered acquiring a copy of Atonement, but I feel like I've already seen the movie, and there won't be any surprises in the book as a result. I suppose the quality of the writing might constitute a valuable surprise, but I'm still in a state of surmise over this possible inclination. I don't want to swim with the tide, either, or get caught in the novel's equivalent of those sweeping Dunkirk scenes.
'The Eyre Affair' made for entertaining reading, even though I kept raising my state of disbelief. I enjoyed the science fiction book more than I thought I would, as I tend to be suspicious of fantasy conventions. I probably won't get the sequels, but I am vaguely curious as to what they might involve.
I must say that I enjoyed the book that is on the agenda for the upcoming English course, Dreams of Speaking, more, as it had a more literary flavour and the lead character had greater interiority. I'll look forward to studying it in class.
I woke up this morning with Pingyao (an ancient Chinese town) on my mind, and determined to find out more about it.
The first page I came across was the Wikipedia - those guys have excellent Google status, don't they? It was from this page that I bring you the below shot, captured at sunrise.
I can't wait to travel there from Beijing/Xian, especially in conjunction with Dalian, which only has a 100-year history. I will be able to capture some of the contrasts of China on this trip of mine, and thankfully I'll be spending most of it alone. (It's due for the month of July.)
I'm also thinking of exploring Tianjin, which has many attractions and has been under the rule of about eight different countries, making for fascinating foreign influences.
Speaking of traveling, I've been exploring the guidebooks to Naples & the Amalfi Coast and Barcelona vigorously, have written down or highlighted the sites I wish to see, and am now alert for any possible alterations of our schedule. It's very exciting to realise that Monday is the day when I will depart for the Northern Hemisphere - only four days away!
I've returned to my old idea of a choose-your-own-adventure for my book-in-progress... I think it was reading Italo Calvino's Mr Palomar that made me conceptualise of a longer running narrative, but while the attraction of it is significant, there's no reason why I have to sacrifice cover-to-cover narrative development just because I'm doing a CYOA. This metamorphosis has helped me revamp my CYOA theory, and I can't wait to create the text, no matter how long it takes.
I considered acquiring a copy of Atonement, but I feel like I've already seen the movie, and there won't be any surprises in the book as a result. I suppose the quality of the writing might constitute a valuable surprise, but I'm still in a state of surmise over this possible inclination. I don't want to swim with the tide, either, or get caught in the novel's equivalent of those sweeping Dunkirk scenes.
'The Eyre Affair' made for entertaining reading, even though I kept raising my state of disbelief. I enjoyed the science fiction book more than I thought I would, as I tend to be suspicious of fantasy conventions. I probably won't get the sequels, but I am vaguely curious as to what they might involve.
I must say that I enjoyed the book that is on the agenda for the upcoming English course, Dreams of Speaking, more, as it had a more literary flavour and the lead character had greater interiority. I'll look forward to studying it in class.
I woke up this morning with Pingyao (an ancient Chinese town) on my mind, and determined to find out more about it.
The first page I came across was the Wikipedia - those guys have excellent Google status, don't they? It was from this page that I bring you the below shot, captured at sunrise.
Foggy Pingyao
I can't wait to travel there from Beijing/Xian, especially in conjunction with Dalian, which only has a 100-year history. I will be able to capture some of the contrasts of China on this trip of mine, and thankfully I'll be spending most of it alone. (It's due for the month of July.)
I'm also thinking of exploring Tianjin, which has many attractions and has been under the rule of about eight different countries, making for fascinating foreign influences.
Speaking of traveling, I've been exploring the guidebooks to Naples & the Amalfi Coast and Barcelona vigorously, have written down or highlighted the sites I wish to see, and am now alert for any possible alterations of our schedule. It's very exciting to realise that Monday is the day when I will depart for the Northern Hemisphere - only four days away!
I've returned to my old idea of a choose-your-own-adventure for my book-in-progress... I think it was reading Italo Calvino's Mr Palomar that made me conceptualise of a longer running narrative, but while the attraction of it is significant, there's no reason why I have to sacrifice cover-to-cover narrative development just because I'm doing a CYOA. This metamorphosis has helped me revamp my CYOA theory, and I can't wait to create the text, no matter how long it takes.
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Comment by Nina
You've reminded me that I started reading Jasper Fforde's 'Well of Lost Plots' and never got around to finishing it... although I haven't read 'The Eyre Affair' so there will probably be some things in it that won't make sense.
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
I fully intend to enjoy my trip, thank you for the encouragement!
Ah yes, I remember 'Well of Lost Plots' was one of the sequels - number 3 or 4, I think... I should hope that you can start anywhere in the series without missing out on too much vital information, but then again Jasper F's books might be different.
His style is very quirky, isn't it? I'm still making up my mind about 'The Eyre Affair'!
Hope you are well, and great to see you on Orble, too!
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Tracy
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
Lovely to see you, hope you are well...
I'll have to post some pics up when I return then, won't I?
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I'm well,thanks. Yes, I think you might have to post some
Have fun,
Tracy