Book hauls and misc

[rachelmanija]

I am in Santa Barbara, where I picked up some packages that had arrived a while ago. I was delighted to find Runaways # 2, which I had special-ordered when I discovered that # 2 was out of print, though 1 and 3 are easily found. This is an American comic about teenagers who find that their parents are super-villains. I'm not crazy about the art, but I really like the story.

Also, and totally unexpectedly, three mix CDs from lnhammer. Thank you so much! They look great. Larry, are you familiar with Dave Carter and Tracy Grammar? If not, I will put some of their songs on yousendit when I return.

This was supposed to be a business trip, but I was relieved when I couldn't get any appointments because I really really need a break. So I stopped in at McConnell's famous ice cream parlor. They sell ice cream in pints in supermarkets, but they're a local company. I was tempted by cinnamon, Bordeaux strawberry, island coconut, and my usual favorite cinnamon stick, but my eye was caught by the sign advertising fat-free hot fudge. "Do you have normal hot fudge?" I asked hopefully. When informed that they did, I had that with vanilla bean ice cream.

Then I went to Paperback Alley and bought a bunch of Laura Kinsales for rushthatspeaks, and these for myself:

XXXHolic vol 3, by CLAMP.

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind vol. I, by Hayao Miyazaki. I believe that this is his only manga. I haven't seen the movie.

Sargasso of Space, by Andre Norton. Dane Thorsen gets a berth on the Solar Queen, then chips in to buy a planet, sight unseen. I have no idea why I don't own this, since I've read it a gazillion times from libraries, so I remedied that.

Octagon Magic, by Andre Norton. She wrote a series of children's and YA "Such-andSuch Magic" fantasies, of which my favorite is Dragon Magic. I am pretty sure that I haven't read this one, about a girl and a magic dollhouse.

The Hidden Heart, by Laura Kinsale. This one's for me, since I haven't read it yet. I got rushthatspeaks Shadowheart, My Sweet Folly, and Seize the Fire.

Miss Whittier Makes a List, by Carla Kelly. Miss Whittier is the sole female aboard a British man o' war. Hey, sailor.

The Great Santini, by Pat Conroy. Closely based on his relationship with his hateful father, I believe. I am a great fan of that deliciously over-the-top Southern Gothic Prince of Tides, even though...



...Once you've had the entire family raped by escaped convicts who are then devoured by a Bengal tiger, anthing else is going to be anti-climactic.

Comments

[larryhammer]

Hope you like the mixes. I've probably heard something by Carter & Grammer, but I don't place any tunes with their names; I've been told before I should track them down. I gather they reside near Eastmountainsouth and Mary Chapin Carpenter in musicspace.

Nausicaa, like Porco Rosso, is good but flawed. Miyazaki matches the effects he was aiming for with those two in Princess Mononoke and ... well, think of Castle in the Sky without the castle.

---L.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Let me put it this way: Vienna Teng (via yhlee and coffee_and_ink was my favorite musical discovery of the last six months, and Carter & Grammar are my favorite since her.

[larryhammer]

Heh. And my favorite musical discovery since Vienna Teng (also six months ago) is Michelle Cross. (I'd count Roth d'Lux now that their CD is actually out, but really I was onto them from their demo EP last year.)

<jots Carter & Grammer on his list>

---L.