I haven't posted in a bit. Sorry about that. I'd like to say that I've been too busy doing the holiday thing, but truly, not so much. Thought I'd post about what I've been reading lately as a change of pace. I am a librarian after all. Books have to factor in this blog somewhere.
I've been on a bit of a paranormal kick lately. As a pre-teen and young teen I read a lot of fantasy novels. As an adult traditional fantasy - wizards, dragons, quests to save the world - just doesn't appeal anymore. I still like science fiction but lately I've been getting my otherworldly kicks from paranormal fiction featuring kick-ass heroines. Werewolves and vampires and djinn, oh my.
If you're a fan of Buffy then you should definitely check out Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn. Originally released as a novella and recently expanded into a full-length novel, Kitty is a kick. Kitty Norville is a DJ in Denver. She's also a reluctant werewolf, turned against her will. While she struggles for a "normal" life Kitty accidentally starts a national phenomenon on the radio with a joke. Suddenly she has people calling from all over the country claiming to have the same problem she does - they're something more then human - and the powers that be don't like the attention.
Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison is a grittier take. Rachel Morgan has decided to set up her own investigation service. Problem is her former employers aren't happy she left. Now with werewolves and demons on her tail, Rachel will be lucky to survive the week. Set in an alternative version of Cincinnati where supernatural beings are part of the fabric of life, this is just the kind of Urban Fantasy I've been loving lately. If you like this one then don't miss the Weather Warden series by Rachel Caine either.
What appeals with all of these is the tough female outsiders who star. Maybe if I'd had been a Veronica, I'd be battling the undead too.
When the first reality shows appeared on tv I swore I'd never be a watcher. But then I started watching Survivor and got sucked in like everyone else. Now I can't get enough of the stuff. I've watched the Surreal Life and whatshername's show where she picked a man to be her boytoy on VH1. I've been sucked into watching Tough Enough on MTV (and wish they'd bring it back). And lately I've been watching Survivor, Apprentice, and America's Next Top Model - and will watch Project Runway 2 when it starts this week.
Though I think of Survivor as the show that started it all. It's not. That honor belongs to MTV's Real World. As each progressively more disastrous season of RW starts I'm there. I watched Paris and Vegas and San Diego and most recently the Austin gang. Each time it starts I hope it will be as good as I remember it being. It never is. And lately it's been just bad. Kids barely past their teens who don't seem to think of anything other then getting drunk and hooking up. And MTV pushes that meme more and more each time. The editing revolves all around who's drunk and arrested this week - and if not that then who's sleeping with who. Is this reality?
The "realest" moments of the entire season came in the reunion show. Danny was mad at Lacey. Nehemiah accused Danny of getting a swelled head (though who could tell under that stupid hat? And what's with his hats anyway? Is the kid bald?) and thinking he's Ben Afleck. Everybody apparently hates everybody else and that wasn't shown in the series. Notice I don't include that nauseating bit of Danny proposing to Melinda and giving her a big diamond ring bought by MTV - how romantic, not.
The Gauntlet 2 starts soon and that one brings back all the reality has-beens MTV has in its stable. Screaming, crying, and fighting will be the rule. Can't wait.
So why do I keep coming back? I haven't a clue. Maybe one of you wise souls can clue me in.