All Consuming : sungoddess

A story about "Wormwood"

nobody@allconsuming.net (sungoddess) — Mon, 23 Jan 2006 09:09:08 GMT

Wormwood

by G. P. Taylor

This book was a little difficult for me to read… I don’t know why, but I just wasn’t able to get into it.

So I’ve pretty much given up on it…

A story about "The Merlin Conspiracy"

nobody@allconsuming.net (sungoddess) — Sun, 25 Dec 2005 13:48:12 GMT

The Merlin Conspiracy

by Diana Wynne Jones

It was a good read ultimately… the suspense was well kept and maintained, and my only complaint was the end, which seemed a little ‘put together’ so she’d have excuse to write more stories about this group of characters…

However, the story was well written in all other respects, and enjoyable. Excellent for mid-teens, but a good read for anyone.

A story about "The Dark Tower"

nobody@allconsuming.net (sungoddess) — Sun, 25 Dec 2005 10:42:04 GMT

The Dark Tower

by Stephen King

My brother harassed me to read The Gunslinger for two years but once I did I was hooked.

I’ve read the entire series at least once, and the first four books about six or seven times. I was satisfied with the way it ended, because it makes me want to re-read it again and again.

It’s very much like Lord of The Rings, in that each re-read allows the story to resonate at deeper levels. I’m in the process of re-reading the series at the moment. I’m just about finshed Wizard and Glass. What a joy to finally have the remaining three novels for the first time (well, sorta) to add to the re-reading process. I am looking forward to tucking into The Wolves of Calla. Now that I know how the story ends, re-reading it is phenomenal, because Stephen King maanges to maintain the story’s threads right down to the end. It’s quite stunning. Well worth it. Well, well worth it indeed. Do it! Do it twice! Do it over and over!!

A story about "The Dark Tower"

nobody@allconsuming.net (sungoddess) — Sun, 25 Dec 2005 10:34:05 GMT

The Dark Tower

by Stephen King

http://www.43things.com/entries/view/132358

Addictive "American Gods" (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (sungoddess) — Sat, 24 Dec 2005 08:40:18 GMT

American Gods

by Neil Gaiman

This is a compelling tale of what happens to the gods when they’re no longer loved and honoured.

In Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, Shadow, gets out of prison the day he finds out his wife died in a mysterious car crash.

In short order, as an ex-con with few options, he finds himself getting entangled with incarnations of all manner of god, goddess and magical creature. And boy do they take the piss out of him.

The story, while it doesn’t lead to a whole lot of gasping when the story twists and turns, instead creates a compelling and believeable picture of the reality of ancient gods living among the living, and weaves the magical, profane, sacred and real together in a lovely stew. Gaiman’s storytelling ability is excellent, and the tale bobs and weaves with the best of them, without losing one inch of suspense or for that matter, without suspending belief one iota.

I could not put the book down and found myself reading into the wee hours of the morning, eyes burning me with the boulders in them, determined to continue reading.

Excellent read!

A story about "The Merlin Conspiracy"

nobody@allconsuming.net (sungoddess) — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 15:39:04 GMT

The Merlin Conspiracy

by Diana Wynne Jones

So I’ve been reading this story for the last day or so, and it’s completely captured my imagination.

Although this is a novel aimed at the 10 to 14 set, I am finding the story so well written that I am being immersed in the story.

It’s been good fun so far and I’m just on page 140.

Addictive "American Gods" (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (sungoddess) — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 11:41:43 GMT

American Gods: A Novel

by Neil Gaiman

This is a compelling tale of what happens to the gods when they’re no longer loved and honoured.

In Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, Shadow, gets out of prison the day he finds out his wife died in a mysterious car crash.

In short order, as an ex-con with few options, he finds himself getting entangled with incarnations of all manner of god, goddess and magical creature. And boy do they take the piss out of him.

I could not put the book down and found myself reading into the wee hours of the morning, eyes burning me with the boulders in them, determined to continue reading.

Excellent read!

See more progress on: read gaiman’s “american gods”

How "Roti" changed my life

nobody@allconsuming.net (sungoddess) — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 20:10:13 GMT

Roti

To me, roti is part of the essence of being Trinidadian. It’s my favourite food, and buss-up-shot is my favourite kind of roti.

There is something in eating with both hands, in the spicy mix of curried potato, channa (chick peas), bodhi, bahji, pumpkin, mango, pommecythere, chicken, goat, beef, pork and shrimp (depending on how you like yours).

Although roti comes from Trinidad’s East Indian immigrant population, it has become part of the cultural landscape (along with doubles) and certainly a part of my life…

Without roti, I think my life as a Trinidadian would be immeasurably lessened, and my palate would have remained uneducated in the high art of bellyism.

A story about "The Emperor of Ocean Park"

nobody@allconsuming.net (sungoddess) — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 16:53:37 GMT

The Emperor of Ocean Park

by Stephen L. Carter

I liked this story, but I was a little disappointed at the end, but understood why…

Well written, if a little repetitive.

A story about "A&W Root Beer"

nobody@allconsuming.net (sungoddess) — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 16:51:24 GMT

A&W Root Beer

by Cadbury Schweppes

Disgusting!

A story about "Diet Coke"

nobody@allconsuming.net (sungoddess) — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 16:50:38 GMT

Diet Coke

by Coca-Cola

Nasty evil shit….

A story about "Black Hawk Down"

nobody@allconsuming.net (sungoddess) — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 16:45:10 GMT

Black Hawk Down

by Ridley Scott

As films go, this was a well made one, however I have a real problem with the depiction of the Africans in this film and politically I think it’s propaganda for America justifying it’s foreign policy. At the end of the movie, I wanted those Africans to kill every last one of those arrogant American soldiers. However, my politics aside, the acting was good and the film was well shot. Still bullshit though.

A story about "His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (sungoddess) — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 00:32:44 GMT

His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass)

by Philip Pullman

Once again, for the third time this year, I’m reading His Dark Materials.

I find Ms Lyra Belecqua compelling and her world irresistable.

I am sad to hear that they’re making films and changing up the story… these are books too good to spoil man. Anyway, rereading yet again for my own amusement.

See more progress on: Read His Dark Materials Trilogy by Phillip Pullman

A story about "Imago (Book Three of the Xenogenesis Series)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (sungoddess) — Sun, 07 Aug 2005 15:54:34 GMT

Imago (Book Three of the Xenogenesis Series)

by Octavia E. Butler

I’ve been trying to read this whole series for just over a year, and I’ve read two and three quarters of the novels, but not in order.

I started reading Adulthood Rites, but then that got lost one night and I haven’t seen it to buy once since then. Then I read the first novel, Dawn. I just finished Imago, but it makes reference to things that happened in Adulthood Rites, that I haven’t finished reading as yet.

As it is, Octavia Butler is very difficult to find to buy anywhere in London. What you get is always The Parable of The Sower, or The Parable of The Talents, but never, ever anything else.

:sigh: Onward ho!

A story about "Mojo: Conjure Stories"

nobody@allconsuming.net (sungoddess) — Sun, 07 Aug 2005 15:50:57 GMT

Mojo: Conjure Stories

by Nalo Hopkinson

Earlier this month, or late last month, Nalo had a book sale through her blog and I bought four books from her. Mojo Conjure Stories an anthology that she edited, Tesseracts Nine: New Canadian Speculative Fiction also an anthology she edited with Geoff Ryman, and Dark Matter : Reading the Bones edited by Sheree Thomas, and which contains Nalo’s short story “The Glass Bottle Trick”. I also got a literary journal called Social Texts with essays on Afrofuturism, but I don’t see anything by Nalo in it. The other three books were all autographed, and since I’m such an admirer of La Hopkinson’s pen it meant a lot to me. I’m eating through Mojo . Both Mojo and Dark Matter contain short stories by a writer Kiini Ibura Salaam, whose writing I have found cropping up in my life every so often, and whose ability I find stunning. I would love to read a full length novel of hers, but am yet to find one. At any rate, I’m chomping through Nalo’s package of books, now glorious additions to my whopping collection spread over three countries.

See more progress on: Read all of Nalo Hopkinson’s Novels

A story about "Jeff Wayne's Musical Version Of The War Of The Worlds"

nobody@allconsuming.net (sungoddess) — Tue, 02 Aug 2005 22:37:24 GMT

Jeff Wayne's Musical Version Of The War Of The Worlds

by Jeff Wayne

SCLZZZZZZZ.jpg" align="left" hspace="15" vspace="15">

When I was a little girl, living at the bottom of Risk Road, on the beach, my Auntie Gillian lived a few houses down the beach at Alvaro.

Alvaro was a big house, I forget how many bedrooms, but I seem to remember six for some reason. The living room of the house stretched the length of the house and had a twenty foot ceiling (at least it seems that way in my memory). There were French doors that led out to the verandah, and doors that led out into the yard.

My brother and I spent a lot of time with Auntie Gillian when we were growing up. Her and UT. It is mostly at Alvaro I got to know UT. It is mostly at Alvaro, UT and I were at the height of our ‘war days’.

This is all stage setting.

In truth I want to tell you that this evening I found a key to my memories of Alvaro. And it was, Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War Of The Worlds.

Auntie Gillian had a copy of it—in those days it was vinyl—and my brother and I played it almost every time we went over there. We’d sit there, listen, read, play, whatever, but I remember it being in the background during many of our visits (many times many) to Auntie Gillian’s house.

In fact, it is when we were teenagers and Auntie Gillian and UT were living in Tog Tip in Holder’s Hill, that I think I last heard it.

So today when I went to Tesco’s to get toilet paper and a new toothbrush, I happened to pass the shelf with all the music on it, and there it was… a collector’s edition of Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War Of The Worlds.

I saw it and exclaimed, followed immediately by a pang of grief for Auntie Gillian. I bought it and am listening to it, riding a wave of memories.

I’m enjoying it, even though it’s been almost twenty years since I’ve heard it. It’s a progressive rock affair, and it’s got a Moody Blues feeling too, but that’s probably owed to Justin Hayward’s involvement. He’s not alone, Phillip Lynott of Thin Lizzy, Julie Covington and David Essex provide additional vocals to the saga and Richard Burton narrates.

The album is almost hokey 70’s… sounds dated, but again, it’s been nearly thirty years since it’s release. However, this is rock opera….. and it’s interesting despite the obvious dating of the sound. If I didn’t already have it as part of my childhood’s soundtrack, I think I may never have found this album. But as it is, I do and I have, and it’s a pleasure to listen to it again after all these years.

It’s a spooky concept album, and I remember being little and listening enthralled, chills running up and down my spine.

That said, this definitely is not for every one. If there ever was an acquired taste, this album falls into that category. However, sci-fi fans, H.G. Wells fans and well, fans of Jeff Wayne might be interested in this interpretation.

A story about "Wolves of the Calla (The Dark Tower, Book 5)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (sungoddess) — Sat, 23 Jul 2005 11:04:22 GMT

Wolves of the Calla (The Dark Tower, Book 5)

by Stephen King

I just finished “The Wolves Of Calla”, and I am about to go dig “Song Of Susannah” out of the box it’s packed in (in preparation for my eighth move in a year).

It’s kind of weird how fast I’m reading these books. It’s like re-reading makes them go faster.

A story about "Song of Susannah (The Dark Tower, Book 6)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (sungoddess) — Sat, 23 Jul 2005 11:03:52 GMT

Song of Susannah (The Dark Tower, Book 6)

by Stephen King

I just finished “Song of Susannah”. I feel beat up. More than any of the others, that one kept me up until a ridiculous hour this morning. I just couldnt put the thing down. It’s when I realised I was falling asleep no matter how hard I had fought that I gave in.

“Susannah-Mio, divided girl of mine. Parked her rig, in the Dixie Pig in the year of 1999.”

I understand what people say about King writing himself into the story, but for some reason I understand why he did it. As a literary device, I find it’s so jarring as to be brilliant.

Because where were my brother and I when we found out Stephen King had been hit by the white van and in critical condition, not expected to survive?

I think we were at home, but we looked at each other and the first thing either of us said, and I now forget who said it, was, “That’s it. He’ll never get to finish The Dark Tower.” I remember the heart hurt, because I was horrified to think that this story was going to remain undone.

It’s amazing that he survived, and it’s funny, but it made reading the remaining three books richer for knowing that he came back from that and finished the story.

In “Song of Susannah”, when King shows up in the story, and clearly becomes part of the quest to reach the Dark Tower, as odd as it was, it seemed right to read it.

Say what, Sai King has me along for the duration.

Now though, I’ve been eyeing up the Dark Tower, the final ‘chapter’ in this story, and having put down “Song of Susannah” mere minutes ago… I feel beat up. I’ve read the first six books of this series in just under two weeks, and “The Dark Tower” dwarfs the other six. More than that, the print in my hardcover version is small…

I am sure the sun will not go down in London tonight before I pick it up and start to read, but right now… my mind is completely swirling with King’s story so far.

I think I am going to clean my flat, before I start the next leg of this little run of book lunacy I’ve engaged in over the last week.

A story about "The Dark Tower (The Dark Tower, Book 7)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (sungoddess) — Sat, 23 Jul 2005 11:03:22 GMT

The Dark Tower (The Dark Tower, Book 7)

by Stephen King

That’s it. It’s done. It took me two weeks and about half a day to read all seven books in Steven King’s Dark Tower.

Again, like before, “Wizard & Glass” was achingly sad and heartbreaking, “Song of Susannah” deeply disturbing, and the immense, phenomenal “The Dark Tower” did what no book has no other has ever made me do. There are very few stories I read that move me deeply, but this story does that and I am glad to have read it all these many times.

Pages 374 through 392 of The Dark Tower brought me to tears. Not slight weeping either. My heart ached as I read.

I will likely have another stab at re-reading it later this year, because I’ve been reading the ones I have twice a year since I first read The Gunslinger six years ago.

Now that it is done, I am sad, I am glad… it has done to me what all good stories should do to it’s readers… made me feel. King’s ability to characterise is quite astounding.

Funnily enough, I am unmoved in any way to read anything else he has written other than The Stand, which I think is his only other really brilliant piece of writing. (Although I thought IT was amazing too, but I NEVER want to read IT again, that shit frightened the bejesus out of me!) None of his other writing even tickles me into wanting to read.

Two weeks of steady immersion in Roland of Gilead’s world has kind of cast a light over everything. I don’t know how else to describe it. Not even The Lord Of The Rings ever made me cry, but those passages between 374 and 392 did it both times I read them.

I don’t know if I can describe this story as pleasant; it’s much too grim for that. Masterfully managed by Sai King, the story has a sense of reality to it. You are there. You experience the characters fears and victories. And pleasant or unpleasant, the story rings true in an odd way, and King manages to make it real in some vital way.

It’s a story with a satisfying crunch.

Say thank ya, big big!

A story about "The Dark Tower Boxed Set (Books 1-4)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (sungoddess) — Sat, 23 Jul 2005 11:02:20 GMT

The Dark Tower Boxed Set (Books 1-4)

by Stephen King

That’s it. It’s done. It took me two weeks and about half a day to read all seven books in Steven King’s Dark Tower.

Pages 374 through 392 of The Dark Tower brought me to tears. Not slight weeping either. My heart ached as I read.

I will likely have another stab at re-reading it later this year, because I’ve been reading the ones I have twice a year since I first read The Gunslinger six years ago.

Now that it is done, I am sad, I am glad… it has done to me what all good stories should do to it’s readers… made me feel. King’s ability to characterise is quite astounding.

I don’t know if I can describe this story as pleasant; it’s much to grim for that. Masterfully managed by Sai King, the story has a sense reality to it. You are there. You experience the characters fears and victories. And pleasant or unpleasant, the story rings true in an odd way, and King manages to make it real in some vital way.

It’s a story with a satisfying crunch.

Say thank ya, big big!

A story about "The Dark Tower Boxed Set (Books 1-4)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (sungoddess) — Sat, 23 Jul 2005 11:01:45 GMT

The Dark Tower Boxed Set (Books 1-4)

by Stephen King

I tried to resist a while and could not. Got up, cleaned my flat and then dived right into “The Dark Tower”.

On page 121 this morning. I’m terrible… At any rate, the ka-tet are together again, and plotting their final push towards The Dark Tower.

The print is just so damn small… for an almost life-long wearer of glasses, it is difficult work.

Let’s just say, reading this series is often like a quest in itself, oui?

While the world has gone Potter mad, Big Mami knuckles down to the grim story that is The Dark Tower.

Alright mates, back into the fray. Chin up, grit the teeth… the story pulls one on. I’d like to finish by Friday… then I’d have read all seven books in two weeks.