the grasshopper lies heavy

I have not written in my journal for 10 days.

Unfortunately, nothing has happened.

I have been working, and reading. When I find time I'll play some FFXII [beat that fucking dragon finally]. I think Ive read at least 3 books since I last wrote here, including the Godfather.

After that I read the Picture of Dorian Gray. I enjoyed it very much. It was the first Wilde novel I have read, not the one I wanted too, but the only one they had available at Bookmans. I enjoyed the prose, as I do most of the pre/turn of the century writers. I read some reviews on amazon about people saying that he "thinks he is clever", which shocks me. I found him to be quite clever. I love reading satire, and I love witty satire all the more. I thought that Wilde's criticism of Vanity and Society to be relevent, even today. I have no doubt that there are at least four people in Scottsdale who have the same sort of curse/blessing that Dorian did. Anyway. I enjoyed it. I will seek out Wilde's other work at a later time.

The Story of B was next on my reading list. There really isnt anything to say about Daniel Quinn that hasnt already been said. He has an amazing power in his writing. I wouldn't call them novel's as so much Guides to Understanding the World Around and Within You. But I guess novel fits better. Oh well. I enjoyed Ishmael more, overall, for a few reasons. The first is that It felt like I have already read the Story of B. I knew the issues that Quinn was talking about, and they didn't require the explanation. But by no means does that mean I did not like the book. I love the main plot, about the threat of a very real Antichrist, and the sect of Laurentians ominously keeping watch. Waiting to send a messenger to absorb the message, then to judge for the church. Religion, Science and the essence to keep them seperated has always plagued me. And in a good, intellectual way. The way any good argument is supposed too. I was not looking for a new answer in Quinn's book, I knew that there wasn't one. There is no answer, there is only action, which is a main theme in the book as well. I loved the book in the sense that it was like all the pretentious talks my friends and I used to have under the pink Arizona sky in my old backyard, and I'm glad that someone has taken the preemptive and already had one written and published. I guess my dislike for the book comes from my misanthropic view of humanity, society and the such. But let it never be questioned that I do not love the human race and what it is capable of, but that I hate what humanity has poisoned itself with. Final verdict, read this fucking book. Then read Ishmael.

As of last night I finished a Dan Simmon's book I have never seen, or heard of for that matter; 'Fires of Eden'. I got to admit, I have a man-crush on Dan Simmons. As does anyone who's read him I believe. I was in bookmans, browsing the horror section looking for my usuals of Bloch, Campbell, Lee and Simmons when I saw 'Fires of Eden'. I inspected the book, having never heard of it, and read the synopsis on the back. Let me simplify for a few sentences. Strange disappearances in a Hawaii resort lead a group of people to believe that the Hawaiian Dark Gods are stirring. Thats all you get. Thats really all you need. Its Dan Simmons. I devoured it in a few days, as is the usual ritual for a new Simmons book, and I was not disappointed. Again. Nor do I think he will ever let me down. If you like Simmons, read this if you can find it. His next book is called 'Drood' and is a historical fiction-biography of Charles Dickens, told by his friend and fellow writer Wilkie Collins. Or Bootsy Collins. I don't recall. Either way, I want to kiss that mans feet. One of the most interesting parts of Fires of Eden is that it is told in present day [or what was present day] and in the late 19th century. The main character's Aunt Kidder left her a journal, recording her [supernatural] account of her visit to the Sandwich Islands. She is

Now, as of about 20 minutes ago, I finished another book. 'The Man in the High Castle' by Philip K Dick. This is the first time I've been able to finish it too. All the times before I got to the same part, Juliana and the Wop, and I have to return it or it gets stolen or is burned to appease some God on high. A while ago, I went to Borders to see If I can find any books I wasn't able to find carousing the local bookstores. Which happens often. [Now I knew that going in here I should be ready to spend an arm or a leg, which i ended up doing] I ended up getting this beautiful American Classics PKD book containing 4 of his novels from the 60's. 'The Man in the High Castle', 'The 3 Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch', 'Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?' and 'Ubik'. The pages are bible thin, and the paper exquisitely white. I feel the need to wash my hands before groping its pages. All four novels were chosen by Johnathan Letham, with his own Notes and Chronology in the back. The Chronology is expertly written. My favorite piece is below :

1969 : Receives phone call from Timothy Leary who is attending John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 'bed-in' in a Montreal hotel. Leary puts Lennon and Ono on the phone; they discuss their admiration for the novel The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch and their desire to adapt it to film

Fantastic. Anyway, I finished the 'MitHC' a little while ago, and of course, Dick stews in my brain. I, of course, cannot recommend his books, but I hope that you look for them yourself.

Fucking 35 minutes left. When I read this again It will be days from now, if not then hours, and I will be here no more.

Decided to write down critique, or review of the books that I read to keep them fresh. I can make a list of well over 200 books that I've read and wouldn't be able to tell you the main characters name and plot twists unless I was allowed to flip through them. That dosen't seem honest, so you [I] will have the accounts as they progress.

I think the relay operators are getting more leaninant. Or give less of a shit then when I worked at 2wire. I didnt have to say go ahead, and the operator talked to me like I was really talking to the client.

Oh well. Apparently no ones been doing any emails for the last 2 hours so back to work I go. For 25mins.

until next time.