Dragonlady

Anne McCaffrey died yesterday at her home in Ireland.  She was a wonderful, wonderful person and a spellbinding storyteller. I read The White Dragon for the first time when I was ten years old, and have been an avid fan of Anne and Pern ever since.  I used to stop in at her online chatroom, The Kitchen Table, years ago to visit and talk with fellow fans and writers, and often Anne herself would pop by.  She was funny and earthy, engaging, and had a robust sense of humor.  It really did feel as if we were all sitting gathered round a kitchen table in the Irish countryside, fire crackling nearby and teakettle whistling, while we talked the hours away. 

I will miss her.  But I have my beloved Dragonriders of Pern collection so I can visit whenever I find myself missing her most.

Sliante, Anne. Beannaithe.

Cover Art: All The Weyrs of Pern, by Anne McCaffrey

Sucked (heh) In

I am mortified at myself. Truly aghast.  Shamed.  I can no longer hold my head up and face my friends and family.

I started reading the Twilight saga. 

My background as an English major and a reader of erudition has taken a nosedive into the morass of popular culture, and for that I am chagrined.  But you know, I have to admit--grudgingly--that it's a pretty darn good story. Not the best written novel I've ever come across, but the story...surprisingly compelling.  I've been avoiding the whole Twilight-Edward Cullen-Robert Pattinson frenzy ever since the books came out, and then when the film debuted--Well, I sniffed, I just don't see the point.  Wasn't it some kind of teen/tween-oriented bullshit anyway?

Silly me. Never turn your nose up at anything, chilluns.  You might find yourself eating your words with a side salad and a glass of wine.

Off to read now.  And yeah, I've already seen the first movie. Waiting for the second one to come out on DVD.....

Sigh.

Irish