Tag: CRWMPodcast

CRWMPodcast

CRWM #00: Welcome!

Geoff W

Come Read With Me 6Welcome to MY world. This is the introductory episode of my new podcast, Come Read With Me. It’s a bit rambling and I can guarantee the three episodes I’ve already recorded (with other people) are much more entertaining!

As I say in the episode and as I said during my four-year blogoversery celebration, this episode is to primarily get the feed up and running on iTunes! I’ll let everyone know when that is live, but until then enjoy it. I hope you have as much fun listening as I’ve had recording the first few episodes. I of course have to give a special thanks to Caroline, Caitrin and Patrick for being the guinea pigs and Josh for the idea and encouragement. The theme music was provided by Hariel on YouTube who built an excellent rendition of Come Fly With Me in Garage Band! Let me know your thoughts and hopefully I’ll be able to eventually do remote discussions!

*Side note, the graphics are temporary and if you can do a better one that would be awesome! I struggled to get my idea across but in the end I liked what I chose even if it is super cheesy and simple.

CRWMPodcast, Updates

Four Years: Part 5 – Come Read With Me

Geoff W

The Oddness Moving BookcastAs I mentioned on Sunday, and have alluded to on numerous occasions over the past few months I’ve been planning something for quiet some time. For those of you that have followed The Oddness of Moving Things for a while, you might remember the Oddness Moving Bookcast I tried to do last August. If you don’t remember them, you can find them here and here. That’s the artwork over to the right.

I only made two episodes even though I’d drawn up plans for at least three or four, but what I didn’t realize was how difficult it was to fill 10-to-15 minutes on my own. Don’t get me wrong, I love talking to myself, but between having to talk to myself for 10-to-15 minutes and then listen to myself over and over while editing, needless to say I gave up pretty quick.

Click here to continue reading.

Books

Book 284: The Fall of Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos #2) – Dan Simmons

Geoff W

What a follow-up! After reading Hyperion, the first in the Hyperion Cantos, I immediately moved into the second! So glad Alex gave us both of them or I wouldn’t have known what to do, or I would’ve gone out and bought it. Although the style changed from the first novel, this one was just as strong and incredibly intelligent. There are definitely spoilers after the next paragraph so you’ve been warned.

The start of this book was a bit more confusing than the first, again it starts in the middle of the story, but with different characters. Rather than immediately going back to our seven pilgrims and their stories, Simmons introduces us to Joseph Severn, another cybrid (originally a John Keats), and brings in the character Meina Gladstone, CEO of the hegemony and mentioned many times in the previous book. There are of course other characters and they all add to the amazing story, but the core group remain the same.

Click here to continue reading.

2014 Challenges, Books

Book 283: Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos #1) – Dan Simmons

Geoff W

If there is a novel that could make someone fall in love with and/ or enjoy Science Fiction, this is the novel. My friend Alex gave Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion, along with a couple of other books, to our house for Christmas. When I asked him which ones I should read he specifically said these and boy was he right! I was so excited finishing this one up, while I was purchasing a guidebook for my sister I picked up the third book in the Hyperion Cantos (four books) and will definitely read all of them.

This review WILL NOT contain spoilers, but no promises for the rest of the Cantos. The way I read, I read an entire series as one story and sometimes blend things together not knowing what comes from which particular installment, but the first one is always easiest to keep spoiler free. What was most exciting about this novel and what kept me so interested was Simmons’ intelligence and writing ability!

Click here to continue reading.

2014 Challenges, Books

Book 272: The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid’s Tale #1) – Margaret Atwood

Geoff W

[Check out my review of Margaret Atwood’s much awaited seque, The Testaments, here.]

I can’t believe it’s been over five years since I last read this incredible novel. But thinking about it as I write this I’m not too surprised. I last read this while working on a paper for my MA and that paper didn’t go well, because I apparently didn’t “understand how to apply gender theory” and I was given the opportunity to completely re-write the paper.

I was incredibly pissed at the insult, because that’s how I took it, and I spent a lot of time rewriting the paper in such a way as to insult my professors and the program. In no uncertain terms I stated that gender theory does not preempt every other theory and that scholars needed to be incredibly careful of over-stepping their bounds. I did eventually receive a passing grade and they invited back to pursue a PhD (I declined), but it left a sour taste in my mouth.

Click here to continue reading.