"Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom," Cory Doctorow

Don't. Just Don't. If you're interested in postcyberpunk as a genre, pick up "The Diamond Age" by Neal Stephenson. It's in the same grating vein as this book, but one hundred times more powerful and intelligent.

But I will sum it up for you: in a world without problems or worries or pain, people make their own. This guy could be a fantastic writer, but using Disney World as a setting for the whole book? Good God no.

Too much Disney, too much drama, not enough plot.

- Johnny "nutshell"

"Marooned in Realtime," Vernor Vinge

I have nothing to say about my last few books. That's not to say they weren't good, they were, but they weren't stellar. "Ribofunk" and "Oryx and Crake" are both biopunk chronicles. That is, they have all the visceral intrusion of cyberpunk, only the next logical procession. Instead of computer interface, it's proteins and poisons. If you want to know what I think about these, go back and read what I had to say on "Mirrorshades." I'm a total fan of the genre, but I didn't read anything I felt worth relating.

Like I said, I haven't read anything stellar lately. That is, I hadn't. Well, now I've stumbled upon one that is: "Marooned in Realtime" by Vernor Vinge. I say, "I'm going to read 25 pages," then I realize I've read 30. Then, "I'm going to read to page 38," and later I find I'm on page 44. Why?

Somewhere in the 21st century, mankind develops the technology to seal oneself (and occassionally others) off from the worl in an impenetrable bubble, as the name implies, from realtime. What then do you suppose they do upon finding craters where once cities thrived? What would they do when locked inside a bubble for millenia? Or, worse yet, what would the do locked inside a bubble and left to die in a world completely devoid of humans? I'll let you know when I'm done.

No I won't. Read it yourself.

UPDATE (0422.13.02.09): In case you couldn't figure it out, 0422 is the time. And I'm halfway through the book. It's that good.

- Johnny "Joy to the fishes and the deep blue sea...joy to you and me!"

"A Long Way Down," by Nick Hornby.

Ever felt like you've "pissed your life away"? That life was just meaningless? Or so full of crap you couldn't deal with anymore? Ever thought "I'll just off myself, it's what I deserve," or "it's the easy way out"? Because Martin, thought that. He was thinking of just.. jumping of a tower block. Problem is, he doesn't end up there alone. Single mum, Maureen, eighteen year old Jess and has-been rock star JJ end up with the exact same idea in mind. All for different reasons.
And it's pretty tough jumping off a building with people behind you in queue, waiting for their turn to go.

It might all be easier to relate to if you're not too happy yourself, at the moment. Although if you appreciate some good, straightforward British humor, this is just the book for you.

Personally, I really liked it. I'm even less cringe-y about swear words at the moment, cause he uses them quite frequently. And I'm using more British terms right now, too. Bloke, mental.
But then, I'm a tosser, aren't I? xD

xxx
The Gypsy.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live,"

Dumbledore remains up till this day one of my favourite characters. So loony and yet so wise.
I only read this first for tradition's sake, but I have to admit, it never gets boring. Rowling is a genius, pure and simple.
Are you fond of fantasy? Magic? Or just pure, British humor? Then this is definitely a book I would recommend. Not just this one, either, but the whole series, but I'll get to that whenever I decide rereading it all, again.
J.K. Rowling cleverly weaves a plot full of clues she leaves lying around, only most of the time, you don't even know they are clues until the very end. And even then, you're still left with questions. You still want to know more. You're still curious. You reread it, and find out that you hadn't noticed something, reread it again, and there you go discovering new bits and pieces, forgotten or just unnoticed. Clever woman, that Rowling. And I don't go around calling people a genius all that easily, too. I know I'm not eleven anymore, but I would have loved a Hogwarts letter. *le pouteth*

PS: This post's different slightly from the post in my bookspot, as will all my posts be. So don't go "Oh, I've read her opinion already". I might surprise you. ;D

xxx
The Gypsy.

"Slan," A. E. van Vogt

I feel I cannot shake the enthusiasm that comes from having read this book, something so far ahead of its time that only now does it seem that we're reaching the stages of this book's prophesy. That is to say, this book is grim and ruthless and fast, and it reasons so viciously, and yet you want to deny them with every fiber of your being. Something has to have been overlooked, something has to have been wrong, but no. All the clues are before you...and the sum will never be greater than its parts. This is the rallying cry of the first Fans, and their legacy to those who come after.

- Johnny "needs a little coke and sympathy"

"Dr. Bloodmoney," Philip K. Dick

Hydrogen bomb apocalypse, psychic mutants and one man above it all, the last cohesive force of the entire human race, orbiting the Earth. I'd rank this among the greatest works of PKD, along with "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" and "Ubik." Now, it's a little hard to follow first, but just pay close attention to it in the beginning so you can understand the fireworks later on.

Naming a phocemelus "Hoppy?" That's just sick. He really has my sense of humor.

- Johnny "or How I Learned to Love the Bomb"

Oh It's A Beautiful Day in the Neeeeighborhood

Jessie is "actually good, or even brilliant and loyal," and admitted so February 2, 2009. Recorded here for perpetuity.

EDIT: Jessie would like to add that she really said "we." She'd like me to amend that, but it does not actually change that she admitted her own awesomeness. I rest my case. <3

EDIT: Jessie (7:14:53 PM): I are a worthy adversary *dances*

- Johnny "Don't you ever forget it."