"that flighty temptress"

[eldritchhobbit]

* Julie Phillips' biography of a science fiction legend, James Tiptree, Jr.: The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon, has won the National Book Critics Circle Award for best biography of 2006.

* From Marvel Comics land: R.I.P., Captain America?

* Harold Bloom has gone off again on Harry Potter. (This is not the first time: see here and here, for example.) In the process, he asserted, "I cannot think of a major work I have not ingested." Somehow, I get the suspicion that our definitions of "major work" would differ.

* And last but not least, re: my own recent news, here are couple of press releases about my husband, making it official:
* Yesterday's press release (LRC)
* Last week's press release (BU)


"...let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure."
Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Comments

[estellye.livejournal.com]

Dr. McAlexander's comments are just lovely! It seems your husband is well appreciated for his contributions, as are you. That must make both of you feel very positive, though sad too, I am sure. But knowing you are being wished well makes it easier to look forward to the new adventure, doesn't it?

I love that quote from HP&tHBP!

[mamomo.livejournal.com]

As someone who loves lit crit and canonical literature, I still cannot stand Harold Bloom. When he's writing about something that he actually likes (usually Shakespeare), he can be an engaging read, but most of the time he's too busy looking down his nose at everything. I love books by dead white European guys more than most people, but I also love pop culture and I hate when people are snobbish about it or insist that it's what's wrong with society. I could rant about this all day, but I'll spare you. ;)

[melissagay.livejournal.com]

Harold Bloom. :::::sigh::::: He just makes me tired. I cannot think of a single nice thing to say about his views on literature. Maybe he's nice to his pets.

Speaking of things that make me tired, it now just seems like Marvel Comics is actively *trying* to alienate its fan base.


And last but not least, re: my own recent news, here are couple of press releases about my husband, making it official

...Official that you have a non-imaginary husband, that is!!!

:D

(Ok, I'll let that joke go now.)

[dannyboy8406.livejournal.com]

I don't know why people feel they have to harp so on Harry Potter.... its not really that different from any other fairy tale out there.... I suppose these people actually reading the books and seeing what they're about is totally out of the question?

BTW congrats to you and your husband on the new position!

[agentxpndble.livejournal.com]

Congrats Larry!

...and his brilliant wife...

Well said. ;-)

[dodger-winslow.livejournal.com]

The icon ... just cause I've missed you.

[dracschick.livejournal.com]

I like when Harold Bloom talks about Shakespeare. I have that book and it's really good IMO.

[sittingduck1313.livejournal.com]

Sounds like this Bloom fellow wants to be the next Edmund Wilson (who AFAIK is only remembered for being a total *&^*^@ on Tolkien and Lovecraft). :P

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I was quite pleased with the kind comments. You're right, it's a bittersweet thing, but it's definitely a good thing, and being wished well does make it all the nicer. :)

I love that quote, too!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Yep, we're definitely on the same page!

[valancourtbooks.livejournal.com]

Oh well, Harold Bloom's books are already in the rubbish bin, and those that aren't will be a few years after he's dead, when he ends up totally forgotten. Harry Potter will long outlast him, at least...

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Well said!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Good point! And it's hard to read Wilson now without laughing...

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I think that's what frustrates me so much. He can write very compelling, fascinating analysis about Shakespeare and other material he considers to be part of the canon. Unfortunately, he dismisses entire genres as unworthy of consideration -- as the potential downfalls of civilization, in fact.

All that is to say, I agree with you about his work on Shakespeare. :) The man knows his stuff!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you so much! I've missed you, too!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Aw! *blushes* Thank you!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I suppose these people actually reading the books and seeing what they're about is totally out of the question?

Ha! Good point. Heaven forbid they should read what they're criticizing!

Thanks for the congrats, as well.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Maybe he's nice to his pets.

*snort*

it now just seems like Marvel Comics is actively *trying* to alienate its fan base.

That's so frustrating! Isn't a Captain America film in production? I thought it was odd timing to kill him, when he's due for the silver screen -- unless, of course, a carefully timed "resurrection" follows. That would be rather shameless, though.

...Official that you have a non-imaginary husband, that is!!!

LOL! I've got to bring him and introduce him to everyone, definitely. He swears he met you at Past Watchful Dragons, but of course I was probably running around somewhere else like a spaz, so there's reason you would've known it was him. I need to get him a special nametag or something. ;) I told him he needs to defend his nonfictional status, though. Ha!

[melissagay.livejournal.com]

Oh, my goodness!!!! Yes, I *did* meet him at Past Watchful Dragons! I had totally forgotten, in the craziness that was the convention! I get so disoriented when I meet a whole bunch of people in one day. ::sigh::

Well, I think Larry has successfully defended his nonfictional status.

Re: the shamelessness of Marvel Comics-- put nothing, NOTHING past them. There's a reason the term "Marvel death" was coined! Ah, well, they've lost my business for the moment (not just because of this stunt, but because of a string of bad decisions over the past year or so). I'll refrain from waxing too geeky, but the whole Civil War thing was a great idea so poorly executed that they might as well have put George Lucas in charge. Now I have to go lie down with a cold compress. While it achieved Marvel's goal of increasing short-term sales, I fear it was at the expense of long-term customer loyalty. But I can save that rant for another time. :)

[fungus-files.livejournal.com]

I couldn't comment on Larry's news until I'd done some research about Hickory, NC. I was gratified to see that there is indeed a Krispy Kreme in town where you and Squidster could meet up for your geek-out!

The oddest thing is that the news is wonderful and Larry will whip L-R into shape in no time and it's fab to hear about your plans post-move to NC...but I got really sad about you guys leaving your amazing, cosy house. Do you know where you're going to be living in Hickory yet? Will Virginia have enough property to lord over in her inimitable style? Ok, ok, will curb the barrage of qs for now. Just when you think that an ocean can protect you from my fabulous knot of (vicarious) anxieties... :P

[fungus-files.livejournal.com]

I was probably running around somewhere else like a spaz

I cannot imagine you doing this! lol. In my head you glide around on a cloud of efficient calm and savvy generosity. :D

[fungus-files.livejournal.com]

[sorry, spamming your LJ today]

Oh, and about our friend Harold B.: If he wasn't around, Lit.academics couldn't include in their presentations a raised eyebrow and arch comment that starts, "As Harold Bloom would say, snark snark snarky snark..."

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

LOL! Thanks for the vicarious anxieties, but no worries! Larry designed the house in which we live now, and he still has the plans; we can build it again, only this time in view of the mountains! (Assuming we don't find something we like even better - I'll admit, I don't expect to do so.) It will take time, of course, but everything that's worthwhile does. In the meantime, we'll do our best to find enough land to let VA be her queenly self in style. :)

Not only is there a Krispy Kreme (you rule!), but multiple Mexican restaurants (a requirement for us), bookstores, and more than one Starbucks. I'm all set. :)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

LOL!!!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

LOL! Oh wow, do I ever have you fooled. ;)