Mushrooms!

This article from The Sun Literary Magazine is blowing my mind. Take a look - Going Underground: Paul Satmets on the Vast, Intelligent Network Beneath Our Feet.

The Line Between

I read The Line Between by Peter S. Beagle for the Mythopoeic Award Challenge. This is the second book I've finished out of the seven I agreed to take on. Its a book of short stories so how about I review them individually?

1. Two Hearts is the sequel to The Last Unicorn. Apparently Mr. Beagle is working on a sequel. I'm probably the only person in the world who's not looking forward to this. I like how the characters were left in the last book thank you very much. The story isn't bad but it didn't do it for me. Probably because I'm a grouch.

2. Four Fables. Meh.

3. El Regalo I adored. Make this one into a book instead! A sister discovers that her annoying little brother is a witch - a very powerful one. Of course, that doesn't stop him from being a typical obnoxious little brother. It makes for a really good story.

4. Gordon the Self-Made Cat - all about a mouse who decides to become a cat. Too cutesy for my taste.

5. Quarry is a prequel to another book of Beagle's that I haven't read. It was really good though - all about two outsiders running from some scary folk. I may have to pick up "The INnkeeper's Song just to discover what follows.

6. Salt Wine was good and creepy. All about the dealings with a male mermaid which are apparently called "merrows" and are as ugly as the mermaids are bewitching. Very well done.

7. Mr. Sigerson is a Sherlock Holmes-ish tale. Not a bad story really. It deals with an investigation into some strange dealings with a cellist and his wife. However, had the notes not said that this was him playing with the Holmes character, I never would have realized it. Maybe I need to add some. Holmes and Watson into my reading.

8. A Dance for Emilia - really touching and lovely. I want to dream of the kind of dance that takes place in this story.

So it was a bit of a mixed bag. Enchanting in some places and a pure slog in others.

Chock full of movies and books

I'm still adoring Georgette Heyer. False Colours was pretty adorable. Its the tale of identical twins. When the heir goes missing, his brother takes his place to meet his intended's family. Sounds like typicall romance fare, right? But it is so much more clever and adorable. Heyer is far more Jane Austen-like; its a story about society and manners and people. Absolutely no bodice-ripping. In fact the most action in a typical Heyer novel might be a kiss - and a rather chaste one at that.

I particularly adored the characters of Lady Denville, the twins' mother, and her devoted Sir Bonamy. A very fun and fluffy romp!

Anne of the Island did not disappoint. I love it so much! I know that before very long, I'll have to buy this entire set for myself. I think Anne and all her neighbors will need frequent revisits. For now though, I still have whole bunches more sequels to look forward to. (Also I get to mark another book off my 101 list at the right).

We watched The End of the Affair the other night. Normally, any movie with the dashing Ralph Fiennes in it is a hit with me. Sadly, that wasn't so this time. I found it pretty predicatble and overly melodramatic as well as hard to care much for the two characters. Eh! Two saving graces though - the first was Julianne Moore's wardrobe which I covet and the second was the way Ralph's character's eyes glittered all angry and devastated when they met in the restaurant after two years. I must admit that caused a few small heart palpitations for this girl.

Stardust was so much fun! All adventure and romance and comedy and beautiful vistas. Good job! This is one that worried me from the start. I really like this book and the trailers looked pretty blah. But it wasn't blah at all.

And the whole way through I was coveting the witch's pretty yellow gypsy wagon, but that's to be expected.

My new favorite web comic

I'm really hooked on tge web comic Anders Loves Maria. Start at the beginning and read all about the rocky relationship of this adorable Swedish duo. Be warned though - I don't think I'd consider it a work-safe read.

Reading and watching

Why did it take me so long to get around to reading the Anne of Green Gables series? They have so much more detail than the super wonderful movies. Anne of Avonlea continued al the wonderfulness much to my heart's content. I'm so enjoying these books!

We're almost to the end of Monarch of the Glen. We recently finished watching the 6th season on dvd. Its still good and well written, but seeing cast members leaving one by one is pretty sad.

I enjoyed watching Dan in Real Life - mostly because I think Steve Carell is terrific. The movie is very similiar to The Family Stone but ever so much more likeable (even with the obnoxious Dane Cook).

Skinny Love

Right now. Absolutely right now, you must go and take a listen to the live version of Bon Iver's Skinny Love. Its so raw and good and makes me want to listen to it over and over and over again. In fact, I think I will.

Oh my!

We watched The Namesake last night. What a great movie! It was so sweet and touching and funny and beautiful and true.

Really really wonderful! Go watch it straight off.