Sometimes you walk into the bookstore just to pass a few minutes. Sometimes, you already have a full shelf of books you have not read, but you are in the neighborhood and you don't see the harm in stopping for a minute or two. Sometimes, money is a little tight so extra books need to be seen as low priority purchases. Then, sometimes you find a first edition Nabokov and realize that groceries are overrated. 

Many Things: Immediately after LosCon I learned I needed 2nd foot surgery to take out the hardware that had kept my wee, formerly smashed bones together (just did that---am on the mend), had a slew of contacts/projects to follow up on and maintain, received the new SUNDARK: An Elle Black Penny Dread e-book cover :D, which you can see in the pic included (it's LIVE at all e-book venues, but hasn't aggregated to BookLikes just yet), and I continue to work on the latest manuscript, secret for now, because keeping it so is just one way for me to get it done. I see a wrap-up by end of December, with apologies to my poor editor, who should have had the doc weeks ago.

The latest manuscript is my Charm School series in fiction (WAIT, WASN'T I SUPPOSED to keep that SECRET?), and I'm finding that because I'm writing in a contemporary fantasy setting, the writing is Faster. No need to check too many historical facts, except for correlating when the Norman invasion in what was England happened and what time period the Huns overran the eastern Roman Empire (500 yrs earlier). Chinese dynasties and dress styles were researched too, but not to the extensive, obsessive depth I'm usually capable of (FREEDOM). No need to run to Etymology Online to find out if I've written dialogue that would not have been heard in 19th c. Victorian London. I'm happy, Ecstatic I tell you, to be able to write the story and get it done, when as a graphic novel I'd probably be only on page 4---and looking at another year or so of drawing something people would finish reading in 5 minutes.

This story I'm working on was the one I'd always meant to follow "Hotroddin' To Hell And Back!", which still needs to be wrapped up in the comic book series. When there was a very low period in my life where I had to give up being an artist (long story having to do with hand injuries), I really saw no way for the story to ever be brought to life. I was only practicing writing fiction at the time, when my thumbs cooperated, and it was very hard to 'see' the story as something other than sequential art. Very hard to let go, shall we say, of my old injured self and become something unknown and new. I also could have offed myself during my Black Period and then we'd have never seen any of what I wanted to tell. :-p But I didn't, we are here today, it is being written, Words Alive to more depth, knowledge, and exploration far different from Drawing, and the girls, Bunny, Fairer Than, and Dean are living, speaking, doing, and making the story quite amazing. To me. And this is why I am thankful and happy.

Which means I may be hit by a truck in an hour or so, when I visit the doc, so let's hope that doesn't happen. The rest of the story hasn't been sent to the beta-reader yet. :-p

Now why did I link to Nabokov? Because I'd just bought the book on mp3 CD, seeing as I never give myself leisure time to really Read, not even to pause and look at the Kindle. Which is why I've unfinished reading commitments, though I'll always read a non-fiction work for research purposes. Theodora Goss shared this on her FB (and certainly feel free to Friend her there or at her Tumblr):

"There are three points of view from which a writer can be considered: he may be considered as a storyteller, as a teacher, and as an enchanter. A major writer combines these three—storyteller, teacher, enchanter—but it is the enchanter in him that predominates and makes him a major writer … The three facets of the great writer—magic, story, lesson—are prone to blend in one impression of unified and unique radiance, since the magic of art may be present in the very bones of the story, in the very marrow of thought … Then with a pleasure which is both sensual and intellectual we shall watch the artist build his castle of cards and watch the castle of cards become a castle of beautiful steel and glass."

—Vladimir Nabokov

Someone in the thread recommended "Ana or Ardor", and after reading what it's about, I felt it fitting to give myself a break and listen to it when it comes in.

I hope you too are in the midst of building such things, or enjoying them. :)

all the best, ~eee ^v^

In their travels, Lolita and Humbert visit the ghost town of Shakespeare, New Mexico. The town is real. Billy the Kid used to wash dishes in the kitchen at Stratford Hotel.

More info here.

I just finished Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov and I wanted to write down my thoughts about it. 

First of all, I can understand why this book is a modern classic. Nabokov's writing is fluent and poetic, which is very impressive since English is not his first language. I was pretty amazed by his writing style. The subject of the book is quite risky, because it could all turn into some raunchy mess. Which luckily did not happen. I did felt slightly uncomfortable when Humbert molested Lolita.

But unfortunately I have to say that this book was not for me. I didn't like the main character, Humbert Humbert at all. I couldn't sympathise with him or relate to him because he is a pedophile and very selfish. At moments I got so annoyed with his dramatic character. This all made it very difficult for me to read the book. I even got tempted to put it away but on the other hand I did wanted to finish it.  

What also bothered me that it was very one sided. Everything seemed to be in Humbert's favour until the very end. Which seemed rather unlikely to me. 

So all in all, I was impressed by the writing style but there was just no way for me to really get into the story basically because of the main character. 

I might read the book again to give it a second chance but not for now. I really wanted to like it more. 

I do think that parents could learn from this book. They should be careful who they let around their child. Even if it is someone who seems like he has the best intentions.