SO!

[sevendeadlyfun]

Do you ever have one of those nights where you can't sleep and you have a million different things you could (and should) be using this "free" insomniac time on but you just can't because while you're not tired enough to sleep, you're too damn tired to actually do anything?

Yeah, I'm there.

I cannot recommend enough The Ask by Sam Lipsyte. I'm reading it to my husband because I am determined to bring back reading aloud as a leisure time activity. I have fond memories of my favorite stories as a child being full of people reading aloud: Ma Ingalls, the Marches, various characters in Dickens and Austen. Plus I like reading out loud. I get to be all dramatic and the center of attention.

Anyways, the novel is based on the premise: How will Generation X have a midlife crisis when they've completely refused to grow up? For an incredibly funny (and ohmygod on target) summary of both the both and the question, read A.O Scott's review in the NY Times. As he puts it I see you rolling your eyes. That’s right, you: the one in the fake-vintage rock ’n’ roll T-shirt and thick-framed glasses reading this on an iPhone at the sidelines of your daughter’s soccer game. But you know exactly what I’m talking about, pal. (And by the way: stop trying to be a hip alterna-sports dad. Just cheer, for God’s sake.) TRUER WORDS, MY FRIENDS. TRUER WORDS. Also, when I read that, I was on my iPod Touch so there was a whole guilty blush alterna-sports Mom moment that I'd like to gloss over thankyouverymuch.


But trust me - it is exactly the sort of sardonic the world is fucked and I feel fine bitter is the new black story you'd expect. It's Daria gone south for grown-ups. It's...oh, just read it.

Still plugging valiantly away on the next chapter of Ashes. I'm a whole, WOW, four sentences in. It's like I don't even know what I'm doing. And I don't, so I remain spot on there.

Got a kernel of an idea for my first 50ficlets idea from anxiety_junkie. I could be writing that, but it sounds like work. However, as a preview, it's an Angel thinking about Ghostie!Wes post-return from the Fall. Yeah, that's almost the whole story right there, innit? Also I have several art ideas for fantas_magoria and still_grrr but those also come suspiciously close to effort.

Well, back to sitting around doing not much and waiting to become exhausted.

Comments

[brunettepet.livejournal.com]

You already had me with the review, but It's Daria gone south for grown-ups totally clinched the deal. The book sounds right up my alley.

I hope you become exhausted enough to sleep any minute now.

[sevendeadlyfun.livejournal.com]

It really is so bizarrely on target for those of us just hitting the end of our official youth. I told my husband the other day that it was hard to watch Daria (which is now downloadable from iTunes and how much do I love that?) with the Monster because having your seven year old sitting next you makes it hard to be a disaffected youth.

This book is definitely all about that type of sentiment. I have a hard time not laughing while I read because it's so...bitter angsty screw you love me and sarcastically unashamed about all of those things.

It is love.

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes please. Something for fantas_magoria would be nice. It's Doppelgängland and who doesn't like an umlaut?

My sleep patterns are absolutely out the window, and no sign of any regularity until after Eldest Stepdaughter's wedding reception this weekend. I am the mother-on-the-ground for all the event planning. However! I do get dribs and drabs of story in the early morning cracks, so I'm not complaining. Yet.

Feel rested soon, darling!

[sevendeadlyfun.livejournal.com]

Rested may be asking too much. How about conscious and functional? Will that do?

*hugs*

I will definitely get something done for fantasmagoria this week. Promise.

[anxiety-junkie.livejournal.com]

Wow, you sound...exactly like I felt when I emailed you last night. :P

[sevendeadlyfun.livejournal.com]

Does that mean I can pass the buck and blame you for all of this?


No?

GRUMP. It should definitely be someone else's fault. Then I can rail against the unfairness of life instead of accepting responsibility for my issues. I way prefer railing.

[jaded-jamie.livejournal.com]

Yes I have one of those night, I've had a hundred thousand LOL

So thank you for the rec, your review has sold me and I'm gonna get it \0/

[sevendeadlyfun.livejournal.com]

Of all of my friends, I knew you'd understand. And let me know how you like it. I keep trying not to laugh out loud while I read because it's so...hyperaware of how bitter angsty love me hate me it is. It's the book equivalent of a smart, adorable child who knows it is both smart and adorable.

IDK, it's awesome.