Entries tagged with “Reading” from Chilling Words
Glorious day (or night rather) I am back on Pacific Standard Time, and I got to drive home in the dark. On Sunday I happened to mention to a friend that I would have to drive home and hour in the dark now, and at the time I was not sure what I thought of it, but tonight, my first night of driving, I think I can say I am quite happy to be doing it. There is a strange joy I now take on my evening commute, a little joy of nostalgia, though it be only one year old. Last year I was driving home in the dark, happy to have a full-time job, arriving at home to build a fire and relax in my house, secure in the knowledge that I could keep it and our hardest times were behind us.
Last year around this time I was driving home while listening to books on tape; I listened to “Sharpe's Trafalgar”, a couple of Anne Rice's vampire books (“Interview with the Vampire” and “The Vampire Lestat”), and Terry Pratchett's “Moving Pictures”. Last year I had just launched Promethean Logophile and was anticipating my first attempt at NaNoWriMo (which starts tomorrow). I can still remember the joy of coming home to a warm meal, cozying up to a warm fire, and creating a cozy little world of my own. These are all warm memories, and they all came flooding back as I was driving home tonight. Sure they were not perfect days (as evidenced by my non-participation in NaNoWriMo this year) but they brought a sense of joy and a slight eagerness to do it again. I might have to pick up another Anne Rice book, and maybe my muse will return and I'll get some more writing done. Regardless, I think I'll enjoy my commute home a little more these days, and I certainly won't mind the dark.
Weeks back I stumbled upon the Dargon Project and have been happily reading my fill of fantasy literature ever since. I was surprised to find this project has been around for 20 years, which in my mind makes it the Internet's best kept secret. The stories, thus far (for I am reading all the back issues first) have been quite entertaining, and might actually be playing a part in my efforts to write fantasy fiction. For anyone interested in fantasy, I would recommend checking this out. It has been captivating my imagination, providing me with much enjoyment, and keeping my small flame of "authorly" hope alive.
The lights are low, they glow warmly the light flowing through the room in a manner reminiscent of candlelight. The air is still, peaceful, and calm, but not lonely; inviting, friendly, comfortable, cozy, like a pair of old leather gloves, like a quiet old friend, the room, the air, the lights, and the chairs call your name. The very atmosphere beckons you to find a good book, an ageless companion, suspend your sense of time, and lose yourself in an unfolding story. The room is alive, it is benevolent, like a kindly old gentleman, waiting patiently for you, knowing your coming is inevitable, and he yet has all the time in the world.
Tonight I accomplished some relaxation, but it turned into a bit of a frustration. While it was not a "simple pleasure" my wife and I watched Monk and enjoyed it. When we returned to live TV X-Files was playing. I have not seen that show in years, and yet it still holds the same fascination it once did. We watched it for a spell, then decided to finish the show because it got us hooked. It is not too often that a story can get me hooked, making me keep watching to see how things turn out, but X-Files did, and has in the past. This made me realize and recognize that I am craving a really good story, an intricate story with intrigue and suspense, and maybe a good conspiracy (only because when done right a good conspiracy offers both intrigue and suspense). A part of me wants to read more H.P. Lovecraft to satisfy that desire, another wants me to re-read "The Count of Monte Chriso" but a larger part wants a new story I do not already know, a new author I am not familiar with. I'd even love to watch a new show that dramatized it, as long as I get a good story.
My friends probably see me as a man at odds with the movie industry. Time and time again they listen to me critique and rant about this movie or that movie. Often times I find myself engaged in an argument about the merits of a particular film, and I'm usually the one pressing the attack against the movie. After watching a rather popular, even famous, movie last weekend I began to put myself to the question in order to give a definitive answer for my attitude toward films, movie theatres, and the craft of storytelling in general. While this is by no means complete, I hope to show what things I find important, what things I disagree with, my rational behind my decisions, and a driving passion of mine.
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