Life's a Show And We All Play Our Parts

Life has been hectic the last week, what with finishing stuff for Abunai! this weekend and trying not to get swept away by it all.
Luckily surcease from stress is close at hand when I pick the next paperback or hardcover from the never ending pile.

Alice Sebold - The Lovely Bones

The story starts off bittersweet, with the entire premise being that it is not a detective novel, but one of acceptation. Young Susie Salmon dies at the hands of her neighbour and the rest of the book is spent with her watching from the heavens, commenting on everybody's actions, even judging them for what they do.
The book continually shifts focus from her family to her classmates and even towards her murderer.
I am truly wondering how Mr. Jackson will turn this into a heart rending film, with the same sort of magical realism that breathes throughout the book.

From literature to penny dreadful


Mitchell Graham - The Fifth Ring

Young boy living in rustic village comes into possession of a ring of great power, which reveals its powers to him bit by bit.
Sounds familiar? That was exactly what I thought when I picked it up from the bargain bin.
I started reading it out of sheer curiosity, trying to figure out whether it was as plagiaristic as I suspected. Unfortunately it was, but it reminded me more of Jordan's first book than Tolkien's. Fortunately, you can get through it quite quickly, making it an amusing read if you have the patience to read a rehash.

It's Something Unpredictable, But in the End it's Right

This weekend was the most wonderful one I had in a long time.

Friday was the main event: the wedding. Everybody that attended dressed in style, rode out to the hotel where we awaited the arrival of the happy couple. A brief lunch break was in order and then we were off to the actual ceremony. They both uttered the two most important words that were to be spoken that day. With the second "I do!" still ringing through the air, the applause resounded throughout the guests and the groom could kiss his lovely wife.
We moved on to a side room to congratulate the newlyweds and their relatives, after which we headed out for group pictures and a healthy helping of wedding cake.

Whilst they headed into the Efteling for more pictures, the rest of the guests retired to 't Maoske, where we were busy with the sound check for the band, talking with everyone we had not seen for a while and simply kicking back for a bit until the married couple would arrive.

They were welcomed with songs and cheers, were guided to their seats, after which they were laden with wedding gifts, too diverse to even try to enumerate.
After that came dinner, delicious and filled with conversation. And it was then that the groom finally heard from his bride where they would be spending their honeymoon.

The evening was filled with even more joy, as well as 150+ guests. Good music, plenty of drinks and even better company got me going throughout the night.
The band did (what I would consider) its best gig ever, with everyone blowing out all stops, rocking until the cows came home.

Then we partied some more, until - as all things must come to an end - finally we all had to return home. And I am quite sure that every single person who was there had the time of their lives.

It's Seven o'Clock And I Want to Rock

I finally had some time to read some of the books from the last couple of years worth. I headed in the right direction with the Dark Tower, re-reading The Drawing of the Three, in English this time, to get me some continuity once I get around to reading The Waste Lands. After that it was on to Chuck Palahniuk's Fight Club. I had seen the movie, but the book was a bit more visceral. (although the translation I read was a bit literal at points, detracting a bit from the gritty atmosphere by making me chuckle)
But alas, Bookfest - bringer of cheap birthday gifts and lots of papery goodness - was in the neighbourhood once again, filling my bag with books and my queue with said books. On top of that, I really want to read Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones before I go watch Peter Jackson's adaptation.
Fortunately, these still only amount to a grand total of ten odd books, which could be cleared in less than a week, if I put my mind to it.

Tonight the band will have their grand rehearsal, the last one before the big gig tomorrow evening. We are certain to rock and roll all night. (and the party the next day as well)

T-minus 30 hours and counting