a flask of wine, a book...
Thursday, 8 December 2005 10:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
freckles_and_doubtEncyclopedia Entries R Us. Yesterday and today, Tanith Lee and Terry Pratchett. I appear to be cornering the market in fantasy/fairy tale crossovers. Two interesting points manifested themselves: (1) it's impossible to be both coherent and definitive about Pratchett in 500 words, and (2) very few academics actually write on him. This is another niche I could see myself filling, once I have struggled out from under the approximately six dozen other projects currently occupying my attention.
In between the above, I also, in the last few days, read the first four of Alexander McCall Smith's Number One Ladies' Detective Agency series. Somewhat to my surprise, I am utterly charmed by these. I expected them to be twee, patronising and politically correct, but in fact they're gentle, endearing and beautifully paced. However, I am not entirely sure that I am at one with the ideological premise of a white expatriate male writing about a black Botswanan woman, however charmingly. The books are effectively (and possibly deliberately) complete antidotes to African political realism, which means, basically, they're fantasies, thus explaining why I like them.
The mad social whirl is setting in - must be the end of the year. I made dinner tonight for my Friendly Psychologist and jo&stv, providing masses of lasagne (and the Evil Landlord supplying the usual free-flowing wine) in honour of the aformentioned FP's birthday tomorrow. And, in fact,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
starmadeshadow's birthday today. Millyuns of happy returns to both ladies. Tomorrow I start cooking for Saturday's Yule event, although, in fact, I'd rather be writing 1000 words on Tolkien. No accounting for tastes.
The Army of Reconstruction have finished the garage. It has doors, windows and all mod cons. I think they'll spend tomorrow doing last-minute touch-ups, and then I can fire them out of cannons in a spririt both of cleansing and of retribution. The garden is not a happy place. It's quite a nice garage, though.
In between the above, I also, in the last few days, read the first four of Alexander McCall Smith's Number One Ladies' Detective Agency series. Somewhat to my surprise, I am utterly charmed by these. I expected them to be twee, patronising and politically correct, but in fact they're gentle, endearing and beautifully paced. However, I am not entirely sure that I am at one with the ideological premise of a white expatriate male writing about a black Botswanan woman, however charmingly. The books are effectively (and possibly deliberately) complete antidotes to African political realism, which means, basically, they're fantasies, thus explaining why I like them.
The mad social whirl is setting in - must be the end of the year. I made dinner tonight for my Friendly Psychologist and jo&stv, providing masses of lasagne (and the Evil Landlord supplying the usual free-flowing wine) in honour of the aformentioned FP's birthday tomorrow. And, in fact,
starmadeshadow's birthday today. Millyuns of happy returns to both ladies. Tomorrow I start cooking for Saturday's Yule event, although, in fact, I'd rather be writing 1000 words on Tolkien. No accounting for tastes.The Army of Reconstruction have finished the garage. It has doors, windows and all mod cons. I think they'll spend tomorrow doing last-minute touch-ups, and then I can fire them out of cannons in a spririt both of cleansing and of retribution. The garden is not a happy place. It's quite a nice garage, though.
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Date: Friday, 9 December 2005 10:23 am (UTC)As for the Tolkien, sat around this morning talking about what tack to take on the T section in next year's Literary Myth Hons course (which section
Has the garage blocked out you room windows on that side. If so do you still have any light?
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Date: Friday, 9 December 2005 10:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Saturday, 10 December 2005 07:45 am (UTC)Alas, at last look neither movie franchise had the intention of releasing Serenity; it's not on the schedules up to February, at any rate. I have ordered the DVD, which is out in Feb.
Strangely, the new garage has not materially affected the light in my bedroom; the courtyard outside my bedroom doors is just the right size, and makes me a very safe-feeling self-contained unit.