I’m driving to Austin tomorrow morning for World Horror 2011. It takes a little over three hours, depending on the traffic. I have to be there by 12:30 to pick someone up at the airport. I’m just about ready for the trip, except for packing and stuff like that. I’m mentally packed, at least.
Finished Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson last night. The title comes from Emily Dickinson, who is also quoted in the text, as are a number of other poets and writers. I liked the book a lot. Detailed review to follow, including my ruminations on the meaning of a birthmark shaped like Africa (or India). Not sure what I’m going to read next. Probably the 20 or so short stories I have to read for the contest I’m judging. Not sure I’ll get much reading time between now and Monday.
I’m still keeping up with Law & Order: LA, and it’s limping along as a moderately good show. Could have done without the random Kardashian cameo, but I guess a certain number of celebrities are expected to pop up in a show based in L.A. And at some point they’re going to have to get past Molina’s character being a perpetual liability to the police force instead of an asset. Always good to see Paula Malcomson (Sons of Anarchy, Deadwood, recently Fringe), and the case ended up being like something Ross MacDonald would have written.
Apparently The Event posted good numbers last night, though it aired against a rerun of Castle so that might have been a factor. They really surprised me on a couple of fronts. First, I thought the president was playing possum, that he’d sussed the VP’s plan and was laying a trap for him by pretending to be dying. Nope. Looks like he might be toast. Then I thought Blake would come up with the required proof to keep Jarvis from taking the oath of office, but that didn’t work out, either. Looks like Martinez will either have to make a recovery or else Blake will have to bring down the new president. And if Martinez dies, that whole subplot about his wife maybe being an alien will have been for nothing.
I’m not convinced by Leila’s father’s behavior. He doesn’t seem to have much affection for his daughter. Sure, he stepped up when she was in danger, but he seems cold. I really like what the weapon turned out to be. That’s one surefire way to get rid of a significant percentage of the population without caring who they are one way or the other. Survival of the fittest, I guess. And yet it seems very American-centric. Why send the virus from Russia to the US when China and India are so close at hand and would seem like the logical starting place from which to cull the population?
I also want to book passage on whatever method of conveyance Sean and Vicky used to get from France to Murmansk in the blink of an eye. Have to admit that Vicky somehow manages to look good even in complete biological hazard gear.
