I can't believe it's been months since I've looked at my blog. Guess I got busy this summer with various projects and then into the fall. I wasn't able to keep up my book list, but perhaps I'll start up again soon as Lost is about to return for it's (sob!) final season. It's just as well though that it's ending. I so hate feeling addicted to a tv show - even if it's been the most tremendous viewing experience I've ever had. Six years a long time to devote to a show. It's been a great ride - although I'm worried about how the writers will end it. What if the ending is a great disappointment? I guess we'll see.
As far as books go, this summer I read the Millenium series by Stieg Larsson. The first book, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was good, but the 2nd and 3rd books were tremendous. The 3rd book isn't out in the states yet, but English copies run rampant in Europe. I bought the 3rd book through Amazon - wouldn't normally send so much, but it was my birthday present to myself.
Speaking of presents, my Christmas present to myself was an elliptical machine. Last week I purchased one and set it up myself. It works great. I'm so excited to have a little gym right in my house now. I can work out whenever I want.
Anyhow, I wish a happy holiday to everyone! Please take care and perhaps I'll start blogging about books again soon.
Peace,
r.r.o.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Evil Under the Sun & Everything That Rises Must Converge
Just finished a short Agatha Christie novel Evil Under the Sun, seen in Lost. Sawyer was reading this book in the episode where they killed off Nikki and Pablo (two annoying characters the writers tried to introduce - the Lost audience hated them. ) In the novel Evil Under the Sun, the strangled body of a glamourous movie star is found on a beach of an intimate, private beach resort. It's up to the famous detective Hercule Poirot, conveniently vacationing there, to solve the mystery. It's an easy, fun read - the twist of plot is quite clever - and of course, the villian is the least suspect of all the island's guests. But I can't give any more away. Does this novel shed light on Lost's intricate plots? No, but was fun to read nonetheless.
Been working my way through the short story collection Everything That Rises Must Converge, by Flannery O'Connor. I was most intrigued by this book since it was being read by Jacob on the very last episode this season. I assumed that because Jacob was reading it, that it must be important to the plotting of Lost. The stories in the book have been extremely depressing though. The characters of these stories are morally ambiguous at best, and sorta grotesque. I don't recommend reading this book.
I've read three stories, including the title story "Everything That Rises Must Converge". Lostpedia writes "The collection's stories are generally in the style of O'Connor's Southern Gothic, portraying grotesque characters, problematised familial relationships, and examining the role of religion in the internal and interpersonal lives of her characters." I sincerely hope that the writers of Lost are not too strongly influenced by this book. I want to see Lost end on a very satisfactory note, even if it ends sadly. None of these stories by O'Conner end well - they all end rather ambiguously - just like the ambiguous characterizations portrayed in the stories.
Well, that's my reading for now...still working on The Third Policeman and am excited to think about it and blog about it - once I finish it.
Peace,
R.R.Orr
Been working my way through the short story collection Everything That Rises Must Converge, by Flannery O'Connor. I was most intrigued by this book since it was being read by Jacob on the very last episode this season. I assumed that because Jacob was reading it, that it must be important to the plotting of Lost. The stories in the book have been extremely depressing though. The characters of these stories are morally ambiguous at best, and sorta grotesque. I don't recommend reading this book.
I've read three stories, including the title story "Everything That Rises Must Converge". Lostpedia writes "The collection's stories are generally in the style of O'Connor's Southern Gothic, portraying grotesque characters, problematised familial relationships, and examining the role of religion in the internal and interpersonal lives of her characters." I sincerely hope that the writers of Lost are not too strongly influenced by this book. I want to see Lost end on a very satisfactory note, even if it ends sadly. None of these stories by O'Conner end well - they all end rather ambiguously - just like the ambiguous characterizations portrayed in the stories.
Well, that's my reading for now...still working on The Third Policeman and am excited to think about it and blog about it - once I finish it.
Peace,
R.R.Orr
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Reading books this summer...
has been fewer than usual. I spent a week in Washington DC on a mission trip with 27 teenagers and five other adults. It was a great trip - we toured around the city visiting soup kitchens, shelters, food banks, and spent a day cooking at DC Central Kitchen http://www.dccentralkitchen.org/ who cook over 4000 meals a day and ship them out to various community organizations, shelters, etc....It was an amazing experience, and I highly recommend people to visit the kitchen and volunteer sometime. It was just too much fun.
We also went to the movies, had time to explore the Mall, went out to eat 3 nights, and saw a delightful play at the Kennedy Center called "Shear Madness", part play, part improv.
During that time, I was reading "The Language of Bees" by Laurie R. King. It's not on the Lost book list, but was a fun mystery novel nonetheless, if you enjoy the Sherlock Holmes genre.
I'm back to the book list though. I purchased a copy of The Third Policeman, by Flann O'Brien as it wasn't in the library. I'll talk more about it at some point, but when I went to Lostpedia to read more about the book and it's tie in to Lost, the reading was extensive. I've decided to read the Lostpedia article after I read the book, because I don't want to spoil the book. However, I've read about a third of the book so far, and the main character and his soul named "Joe" are hanging out at a dreamlike police station...on a strange journey to find the cash box of the man he murdered. It's really sorta stream of consciousness in a way. Reminds me a lot of C.S. Lewis's The Great Divorce, as the character seems to be traveling through an alternative state of consciousness having long bizarre conversations with strange individuals he meets along the way.
I just checked out the collection of stories by Flannery O'Connor Everything That Rises Must Converge, which was seen in the season finale being read by the mysterious Jacob as John Locke was falling out of an 8th floor window. I don't know yet how this book must relate to Lost, but I feel it must be important since Jacob was reading it. Again, I'll have more to say as I read the short stories.
On hold at the library is Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie, which Sawyer was reading at one point on the beach. I'm still plugging away at the list, slowly but surely...
That's the news for now...until next time!
R. Orr
We also went to the movies, had time to explore the Mall, went out to eat 3 nights, and saw a delightful play at the Kennedy Center called "Shear Madness", part play, part improv.
During that time, I was reading "The Language of Bees" by Laurie R. King. It's not on the Lost book list, but was a fun mystery novel nonetheless, if you enjoy the Sherlock Holmes genre.
I'm back to the book list though. I purchased a copy of The Third Policeman, by Flann O'Brien as it wasn't in the library. I'll talk more about it at some point, but when I went to Lostpedia to read more about the book and it's tie in to Lost, the reading was extensive. I've decided to read the Lostpedia article after I read the book, because I don't want to spoil the book. However, I've read about a third of the book so far, and the main character and his soul named "Joe" are hanging out at a dreamlike police station...on a strange journey to find the cash box of the man he murdered. It's really sorta stream of consciousness in a way. Reminds me a lot of C.S. Lewis's The Great Divorce, as the character seems to be traveling through an alternative state of consciousness having long bizarre conversations with strange individuals he meets along the way.
I just checked out the collection of stories by Flannery O'Connor Everything That Rises Must Converge, which was seen in the season finale being read by the mysterious Jacob as John Locke was falling out of an 8th floor window. I don't know yet how this book must relate to Lost, but I feel it must be important since Jacob was reading it. Again, I'll have more to say as I read the short stories.
On hold at the library is Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie, which Sawyer was reading at one point on the beach. I'm still plugging away at the list, slowly but surely...
That's the news for now...until next time!
R. Orr
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Rainbow Six, by Tom Clancy
I'm trying to get back into my Lost booklist - but reading has been slow for me the past couple months. Seem to be kept busy by work, socializing, gardening, art classes, beach trips, and more.
I am half-way through, however, with Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six. A book shown in Lost episode "Orientation" to be sitting on a shelf. The premise is simply, there are some super scientist villians around the world engaged in a secret conspiracy to spread a plague to wipe out humanity in order to cure Mother Earth from her own human plague. The heroes are a team of supersecret black ops specialists called "Rainbox Six" from America and Europe working to uncover the conspiracy and stop the release of the plague. It's readable, fast paced, but not terribly thought provoking. According to Lostwiki, the tie-in to the world of Lost was through the Lost Experience, wehere it was revealed that the Hanso Foundation also planned on spreading a plague to wipe out humanity.
I never really got into the Lost Experience, so I don't really know how that all played out.
Next on the Lost booklist is Aldous Huxley's Island. I've read a couple chapters, but will finish Rainbow Six before getting to involved in Island.
TTFN,
R.Orr
I am half-way through, however, with Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six. A book shown in Lost episode "Orientation" to be sitting on a shelf. The premise is simply, there are some super scientist villians around the world engaged in a secret conspiracy to spread a plague to wipe out humanity in order to cure Mother Earth from her own human plague. The heroes are a team of supersecret black ops specialists called "Rainbox Six" from America and Europe working to uncover the conspiracy and stop the release of the plague. It's readable, fast paced, but not terribly thought provoking. According to Lostwiki, the tie-in to the world of Lost was through the Lost Experience, wehere it was revealed that the Hanso Foundation also planned on spreading a plague to wipe out humanity.
I never really got into the Lost Experience, so I don't really know how that all played out.
Next on the Lost booklist is Aldous Huxley's Island. I've read a couple chapters, but will finish Rainbow Six before getting to involved in Island.
TTFN,
R.Orr
Monday, April 20, 2009
Painting, Art, Nature...
I've taken a bit of a break from my reading list. I've read a couple mystery novels this past month, not on the list - and truthfully - I don't remember their names or what the stories were about. I've been checking out several books on watercolor painting and started a watercolor class at the local art center. It's been wonderful to be involved with color and to create art. The class is great - the instructor gives us instruction on exercises to do - then we get to sit in class about an hour with our own paints and play.
I've been getting out and hiking - many trails around my house are so easily accessible. I honestly think walking/hiking is my favorite thing to do in the world. There's a beautiful trail that just goes along the river for a couple miles - it's so beautiful and very peaceful.
I planted marigolds and yellow summer squash in my garden - and many seasonal annual & perennial flowers in the flower garden. I'm eagerly waiting for the seeds to sprout, the vegetables to grow, the flowers to bloom.
I've also had some home repair projects this month - new windows in my bedrooms. It's such a relief to have windows I can open in my house to let in the fresh air.
All these things seem to take me away from reading...I had checked out Heimlein's Stranger in a Strange Land, but had a difficult time getting into not - not because of the book itself, but rather the busyness I feel.
(Stranger in a Strange Land is a science fiction novel by Robert Heinlein. The novel tells the story of a human, Valentine Michael Smith, who is raised by Martians on Mars until his young adulthood, at which time he returns back to Earth. The plot revolves around Valentine's interaction with earth culture. In Lost - This novel shares its title with Season 3's episode 9, "Stranger in a Strange Land". Also, Jack's tattoo means "He walks among us, but he is not one of us." The novel's protagonist is in the same circumstances.)
I hope I have an opportunity to get back into the novel - but for now - I'm content to just watch Lost on Wednesday nights. This season only had four episodes to go...it's been exciting. I can't wait to see where this season ends. I'm such an addict.
I've been getting out and hiking - many trails around my house are so easily accessible. I honestly think walking/hiking is my favorite thing to do in the world. There's a beautiful trail that just goes along the river for a couple miles - it's so beautiful and very peaceful.
I planted marigolds and yellow summer squash in my garden - and many seasonal annual & perennial flowers in the flower garden. I'm eagerly waiting for the seeds to sprout, the vegetables to grow, the flowers to bloom.
I've also had some home repair projects this month - new windows in my bedrooms. It's such a relief to have windows I can open in my house to let in the fresh air.
All these things seem to take me away from reading...I had checked out Heimlein's Stranger in a Strange Land, but had a difficult time getting into not - not because of the book itself, but rather the busyness I feel.
(Stranger in a Strange Land is a science fiction novel by Robert Heinlein. The novel tells the story of a human, Valentine Michael Smith, who is raised by Martians on Mars until his young adulthood, at which time he returns back to Earth. The plot revolves around Valentine's interaction with earth culture. In Lost - This novel shares its title with Season 3's episode 9, "Stranger in a Strange Land". Also, Jack's tattoo means "He walks among us, but he is not one of us." The novel's protagonist is in the same circumstances.)
I hope I have an opportunity to get back into the novel - but for now - I'm content to just watch Lost on Wednesday nights. This season only had four episodes to go...it's been exciting. I can't wait to see where this season ends. I'm such an addict.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Dark Horse, by Tami Hoag
Lost Reference: This book is found in Jack's book shelf in his office while he is speaking with his father in A Tale of Two Cities.
Dark Horse is a fairly straightforward procederal mystery. A young woman is kidnapped, and another is murdered, at a horse racing track. Along comes an ex-cop with a bitter past to infiltrate the horse world and find out who the villain/villains may be. The novel was fairly well written and an enjoyable mystery.
It may relate to Lost in the sense that like many Lost characters, the main character of this novel has a haunting past - and is looking for some kind of redemption and a reason to continue. Redemption of character is a major theme in Lost as many of the show's characters struggle with their past "sins" while trying to solve the mystery as to why they are on the island.
Dark Horse is a fairly straightforward procederal mystery. A young woman is kidnapped, and another is murdered, at a horse racing track. Along comes an ex-cop with a bitter past to infiltrate the horse world and find out who the villain/villains may be. The novel was fairly well written and an enjoyable mystery.
It may relate to Lost in the sense that like many Lost characters, the main character of this novel has a haunting past - and is looking for some kind of redemption and a reason to continue. Redemption of character is a major theme in Lost as many of the show's characters struggle with their past "sins" while trying to solve the mystery as to why they are on the island.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Battlestar Galactica
Watched Battlestar Galactica: Final Frakking Special last night. I've had my frustrations with this show the past couple seasons - but watching this special put it all in perspective. The show is all about the characters. This space drama has been amazing to watch. I'm mourning the loss of this show and missing it already. It's been an amazing series - one of the best shows on tv. As much as I really look forward to the final episode of the show this Friday, I really hate to say good-bye.
As far as the crazy/psychotic behavior of all the characters this past season: To be honest, I don't know how much better I would behave if I were one of only 36,000 human survivors left after near-total annihilation of the human race.
I look forward to watching the series all over again on DVD.
As far as the crazy/psychotic behavior of all the characters this past season: To be honest, I don't know how much better I would behave if I were one of only 36,000 human survivors left after near-total annihilation of the human race.
I look forward to watching the series all over again on DVD.
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