Bus trips, House and Book Memes.

[owlbeer]

I went on a bus trip (or pub crawl, if you prefer) over the weekend and had a fantastic time. For some reason, I've never had a really bad time on one. It was just - you know those nights when you realise how much you love your friends and have an altogether wonderful night? That was last night. And yes, I was drinking, but not that much.

Funny thing is, at 5pm I was seriously against going out at all (so tired) and if it wasn't for this particular friend, I would have probably tried to get out of it. So glad I didn't.

Today has been far lazier and involved Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon (so good), watching Fahrenheit 911 on DVD (Dad rented it), a rather fantastic episode of Top Gear (caravan conkers *dies*) and a scarily enjoyable epsidoe of Taggart. I don't know what it is with me and British murder mysteries/police dramas, but it's something.

I also have been reading through the posts on pagingdrhouse. Mmm, commentary. There are some very interesting posts in there, and they've made me think. Bearing in mind I am hopelessly spoiled for everything in this season, up to the season finale (*grins at darkeyedwolf*) and have only actually watched 'Maternity' through 'DNR' as well as 'Histories' and 'Cursed'.



In relation to this post about whether House was turning into a 'soap opera'.

I can't address a lot of the points as I haven't actually seen the Volger arc but it did make me think about some things I've been considering as I pace around the house thinking of the show (oh, come on, I can't be the only one who does this ... anyone?). House is not actually fantastic TV in and onf its self. I think West Wing, Without A Trace and Spooks are all better shows, but there's just something about House that sucks you in and doesn't let you go. Whether it's the glorious snark or House and Wilson and their huge amount of issues. The 'mystery of the week' in most cases (and there are exceptions) do little for me, but the characters have just sucked me in. So badly. I blame numerous people, not the least being Hugh Laurie and Robert Sean Leonard.

Also, there was discussion (in the last two comments mostly) about people thinking that 'love is the answer' for House, whether you're talking House/Wilson or House/Cameron or even House/Stacey.

Now, I kind of fall into that camp, but not so much as 'love is the answer' as 'love might help, a little.' House and Wilson have huge amounts of issues between them and I think they can help each other, but only so far. The rest is up to them and most of me thinks that it just isn't going to happen. I almost hope that too. Maybe it's just me being an angst whore, but I just can't see House's ending being all roses, at all. It simply isn't that simple. I'd hate to see (or read) if it was.

Random Superfical Comments:

- When I just saw the promos for this I was kind of irked by Hugh Laurie's American accent, but now, hearing his real (perfectly acceptable and rather lovely) accent is kind of odd.

- In a vid I have seen clips (with sound, voice-overs in vids *loves*) of the 'Wilson packing his office' scene in 'Babies and Bathwater.' Much love to RSL, though I do agree with those who have said that Wilson was being a little irrational in that scene, but then Wilson was seriously pissed off. Still, so much love. So long until it airs.

- In said vid, I also heard RSL singing. Dude. Must find that MP3 somwhere.



Finally, gacked from elspethsheir

Prose or Poetry?

In general, prose, but I definitely like reading a good poem now and then. Sometimes I’m just in the mood to read them.

Book(s) you're reading now:

Heh. As in books I currently have some form of bookmark in that are sitting in a pile on the table beside my bed?

Cryptonomicon – Neal Stephenson (the book I’m primarily reading).

Otherland: Volume One: City of Golden Shadow – Tad Williams
Northern Lights – Phillip Pullman
The Queen’s Conjuror – Benjamin Wooley
Nineteen Eighty-Four – George Orwell
Unleess I’m very much mistaken: My Autobiography – Murray Walker
The Three Musketeers – Alexandre Dumas
Second Foundation – Isaac A Asimov
Daughter of the Empire – Raymond E Feist and Janny Wurts
Rubicon: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Roman Republic – Tom Holland
The Dreadful Judgement: The True Story of the Great Fire of London – Neil Hanson
The Illiad – Homer (translated by Robert Fagles) - (such a pretty copy)
Black Hawk Down – Mark Bowden
Without Remorse – Tom Clancy
The Dante Club – Matthew Pearl
Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury
The Lost Prince – Bridget Wood
Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky
The Nameless Day – Sara Douglass
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader – C.S Lewis
The World Inside – Robert Silverburg (I did not take the idea of my username from the title of this book, though it is a weird coincidence).

They really are all just sitting there, I swear. That is so very, very sad. I need to read more and actually finish some of these.

Last book you've read:

If we mean book in the strictest sense:

Spirits in the Wires – Charles de Lint

If you count graphic novels as books:

Y: The Last Man: Vol 3 – One Small Step – Brian K Vaughan

Next book you're going to buy/read:

One of the books from The Book Pile of Doom up there. I keep telling myself not to buy more books but, in a big shock, I have been unsuccesful.

Book you've read the most times:

It’s definitely a book by David Eddings, but I couldn’t tell you which one. Those books were (and in little ways, still are) the book equivalent of ‘comfort food’ to me.

Longest book you've read:

The longest book on by bookshelf that I’ve read in its entirety is Neal Stephson’s ‘Quicksilver’ which is 927 pages long, but I think I may have read longer than that, but I can’t remember what it was if I have.

Book you've read in the shortest time (relative to the number of pages):

‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,’ I think, but there is a couple that might give it a close run for its money.

One book you wanted to read that disappointed you:

Shards of a Broken Crown – Raymond E Feist (I think that’s due mostly to extreme character dislike. I hate Patrick, so very, very much).

Have you read books in a language different from yours?

No, but I would definitely like to. Need to learn the languages first of course, or just learn German a bit better.

Writer you've read the most books from:

David Eddings, I think, as I can easily think of at least 18 of his I’ve read off the top of my head. Combination of obsession and being 12 and 13.

Some books you like (not necessarily your faves):

Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
Night Watch – Terry Pratchett (Vimes!)
Quicksilver – Neal Stephenson
The Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde
The Eyre Affair (and sequels) – Jasper Fforde
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Spirits in the Wires – Charles de Lint
The Murder Room – P.D James
The Sapphire Rose – David Eddings
Monstrous Regiment – Terry Pratchett
Magician – Raymond E Feist
Rage of a Demon King – Raymond E Feist
The Pursuit of Happiness – Douglas Kennedy
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – J.K Rowling
Animal Farm – George Orwell
In the Hands of the Goddess – Tamora Pierce (Alanna/Jonathon OTP! *coughs *)
Daughter of the Forrest – Juliet Marillier

3 books you don't like:

Tess of the D’Urbervilles – Thomas Hardy (*stabs* So. Boring).
The Great Gatsby – F Scott Fitzgerald. (Just, didn’t get the big deal, but I am open to reading it again and seeing if about five years has changed anything. It’s been five years since I read this. Wow).
Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte (I was 13. I’m prepared to give it another go).

And yes, I read all of those for high school English. Interesting pattern, or not. ;)



This has gone and made me feel under-read for some reason.

*snerks at 'Current Music'* How apt.