h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I quite enjoyed it, but when I tried to apply some of it in my writing, the first poem (A33040027 for the masochistic) came out very Janet and John. Too much rhyme for my taste.

It's very hard to use some of those older, more rigid forms without everything getting terribly twee.

sprout

Iambic pentameter is like two billard balls falling down stairs.

>>Dry as a nun's wasn't it?

I could have done with it drier. Far too soggy!

but, yes, sprout...it was good to the extent that it teaches the 'formal' aspects of poetry, and rightly makes the case (maybe over-makes it?) that they're important to a poem's meaning. Unfortunately, I've not found a better book on this. (Any suggestions?)

>>Iambic pentameter is like two billard balls falling down stairs.



>>It's very hard to use some of those older, more rigid forms without everything getting terribly twee

Well, yes - and thank **** for post-Hopkins sprung rhythm. But I guess it's important to know what form you're deviating from...in the same way that the greats of reggae and ska knew they were playing R&B backwards.

True. And I guess it's the mark of some of the ancient greats that they write truly meaningful, impact poetry within those constraints.

sprout

I'm currently reading Rapunzel's Revenge - Fairytales for Feminists

>>And I guess it's the mark of some of the ancient greats that they write truly meaningful, impact poetry within those constraints.

Wheras we've thankfully forgotten the 99.9% of crappy doggerel written within the same constraints.

Ed sed: "it was good to the extent that it teaches the 'formal' aspects of poetry, and rightly makes the case (maybe over-makes it?) that they're important to a poem's meaning."

Yep, it did over-make the case - but then I think that was entirely his intention. I think he feels that the see-saw has gone far enough on one side, so the harder he tugs on the other side, the better.

I wouldn't entirely agree, but the terse, economical language we value so much today is just a passing fad as was the flowery elaborate baroque stuff of yesterday.

But I do agree with the flabby writing. It was a tad (?!) self-indulgent, and much as I found it worth reading for the good bits, I doubt it would have been published if it was written by Stephen Bloggs or Joe Fry.

Oh dear. I've started a Stephen Fry backlash.

There're too many repeats of QI on TV, too.

Did I mention that I have just read The Wave by Morton Ruhe in anticipation of seeing the film shortly. Quite chilling.

It sounds interesting!

I've been reading volumes two through five of the Piers Anthony series "Incarnations of Immortality" that a co-worker loaned me. I'm actually glad I borrowed them, rather than purchasing. They're light and entertaining reads, but while I like them, one read through is going to be enough for me.

In this series, Anthony takes certain human characters and has them assume "supernatural" offices of death, time, "fate", war, nature, evil and good. It's an interesting concept, and I enjoy the way Anthony's world uses both magic and modern technology. I'm a little disappointed that the author needed to borrow from other mythologies so heavily- he really pushes the concepts of heaven, hell, purgatory, and that people are "born good" or punished for the "sins" of their parents.

finished the Peel biography - I can't really recommend it

Picked up The Colour of Magic for a second read in anticipation of watching the TV version over Easter.

I want to see that!

i will read the 712 posts i missed at some point. but barry trotter books? love them read them all and im a big harryn potter fan

reading the grapes of wrath by john steinbeck at the minute

I'm almost done with Three Cups of Tea, and I've started The Hobbit. I read it several years ago, but now my oldest is reading it in school and I thought he might like to discuss it. I don't remember much of it at all.

Psychocandy : Post 5892

"I'm a little disappointed that the author needed to borrow from other mythologies so heavily- he really pushes the concepts of heaven, hell, purgatory, and that people are "born good" or punished for the "sins" of their parents."

Yes, but when you read the whole series, it's central themes are the nature of "good" and "evil", and whether they are static or fluid, according to current morality.

Having said that, it does get laid on a bit thick.

Still reading "Europe: A History" - Now up to Charlemange. Very important historical figure, but me it's another boring bit. I may very well stop again and read "Molecular Gastronomy", which my kitchen manager has lent me.

I'm still enjoying the books- since my co-worker is willing to loan them all to me, I'm definitely going to read them all. I'd have been a bit disappointed if I ran out and paid for them, though, because I doubt I'll read more than once.

>>Molecular Gastronomy", which my kitchen manager has lent me.

What kitchen would that be? El Bulli? The Fat Duck?

I meant