. Spinning .

LITERATURE: Hard-Boiled Wonderland – Finale

susan — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:48:00 +0000

Overall, this book probably demanded more concentrated reading than I was able to give it. While I did not lose the trail of the stories, I obviously was not so enamored of them that I let some other things go by undone. It was a fantastic concept of a futuristic world–yet set in a completely [...]

LITERATURE: Hard-Boiled Wonderland – Telling?

susan — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:21:29 +0000

Not nuts about this, after over 350 pages and into the home stretch, that Murakami appears to explain all the goings on that up until this time, we are guessing and forming our own opinions about. Starting with Chapter 25, (the odd numbers are within the past, I believe) and going through 27, and 28, [...]

LITERATURE: Hard-Boiled Wonderland – At Long Last

susan — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:29:00 +0000

Finally, I’ve reached a concept in the book that really struck me. This dialog between the narrator and his shadow, the shadow slowly dying, still planning its escape, yet anxious to relay what he’s learned since separated from the narrator: “Just now you spoke of the Town’s perfection. Sure, the people here–the Gatekeeper aside–don’t hurt [...]

REALITY?: Elections and Such

susan — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:03:35 +0000

I didn’t listen to the State of the Union address last night; didn’t even read the full text the next day as I usually do. Nor have I been following the GOP primaries. The time to listen to politicians is certainly not in an election year when lies fly like bullets. My concern in upcoming [...]

LITERATURE: Murakami’s Hard-Boiled Wonderland and The End of the World

susan — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 19:42:23 +0000

First of all, let me say that I’ve been reading this book like forever, or at least it seems that way. To be fair, my mind had been retrained to seek the immediate resolution of flash fiction and thus a novel-length book was suddenly overwhelming unless it was quick-paced action that required little involvement from [...]

LITERATURE & REALITY?: Getting Back Into Reading

susan — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:57:16 +0000

Well yes, I guess the last full novel I read was “The Namesake” back in April 2011. And yes, shortly thereafter I started Murakami’s Hard-Boiled Wonderland and The End of The World but in truth, I’d only made it 200 pages in by the end of the year. Well of course I’ve been reading! Short [...]

REALITY?: Greetings!

susan — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 17:41:23 +0000

With a Photoshopped version of the snowstorm…

REALITY?: Looking back on October 29th

susan — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:04:17 +0000

LITERATURE: The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology

susan — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 14:53:36 +0000

Help the children by your purchase (all proceeds to charity) and read some beautiful and heartbreaking stories by buying the e-book “The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology” available at Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes & Noble–and yes, I’m proud to be included here! Purchasing info at: http://the-lost-children.blogspot.com/ The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology

REALITY?: Redistribution

susan — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 23:18:00 +0000

Let’s say I agree that the money and wealth at the top 1 or 2% needs to be equally redistributed to the remainder of the populace. No matter if that money was ill-gotten or earned by hard work. Sounds good no? Since I’m not in that top percentile, I’d make out well. And, that extra [...]