Monday, January 24, 2005
Four Words: Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter
I know this is supposed to be the vintage reader, but when I read Ten Things That Indicate Your Plot Might Need Some Work, that was the phrase that came to mind. Especially when I got to Number 10.
I know this is supposed to be the vintage reader, but when I read Ten Things That Indicate Your Plot Might Need Some Work, that was the phrase that came to mind. Especially when I got to Number 10.
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Drain pipes, Brownie uniforms, pinups, and Uncle Ed
Does anyone come here for anything other than frozen drain pipes, Brownie uniforms, pinups, and Ed Muscari?
BTW, the frozen drain pipes saga is here.
Does anyone come here for anything other than frozen drain pipes, Brownie uniforms, pinups, and Ed Muscari?
BTW, the frozen drain pipes saga is here.
Thursday, January 20, 2005
DINKY HOCKER SHOOTS SMACK!
Oh yeah. I just had to follow that link in the post below to M. E. Kerr's web site, where I came across the title that drove me nuts for years: DINKY HOCKER SHOOTS SMACK! I always remember it just that way, all caps. I think on the copy I had (a Scholastic edition, perhaps, although I can't imagine that title making it past the Scholastic propriety cops who were still reprinting stuff like My Sister Mike in the late 70s) it was written in yellow letters, on a brick wall. Catchy cover, awesome title.
The reason it drove me nuts is that I saw it and didn't understand it. I didn't know what "smack" was, and thought maybe it was a novel about hockey with an onomatopeic title: Dinky Hocker Shoots! Smack! Then there was the name itself: who's Dinky? Boy or girl? Is that really somebody's name?
After several years of looking at the book longingly--I can only imagine that I must have intuited that my mother would freak out if she caught me reading it, or maybe ask me to explain the title or something (I'm sure she wouldn't have known what smack was either)--I finally read it. I must have been in at least 9th grade, because the guy in the book whose name I can never remember reminds me of my friend John, who I didn't meet until then. Just the other day I was remembering him (the character, not John) saying to Susan ("Dinky"), "You're better than you think you are, ta dum, ta dum, ta dum."
I still haven't read the source of that, which I seem to recall was a Vonnegut novel, but every once in a while I think of it, and it makes me feel better.
The thing about M. E. Kerr was always the titles, though. Yes, her novels were about things that my mother just refused to talk about: sex, weight, drugs, Nazis. But it was the titles that drew me in: If I Love You, Am I Trapped Forever? and I'll Love You When You're More Like Me. Only Paul Zindel ever did more provocative and intriguing YA titles. Titles that just make you want to read the book to figure out what the hell it means.
Oh yeah. I just had to follow that link in the post below to M. E. Kerr's web site, where I came across the title that drove me nuts for years: DINKY HOCKER SHOOTS SMACK! I always remember it just that way, all caps. I think on the copy I had (a Scholastic edition, perhaps, although I can't imagine that title making it past the Scholastic propriety cops who were still reprinting stuff like My Sister Mike in the late 70s) it was written in yellow letters, on a brick wall. Catchy cover, awesome title.
The reason it drove me nuts is that I saw it and didn't understand it. I didn't know what "smack" was, and thought maybe it was a novel about hockey with an onomatopeic title: Dinky Hocker Shoots! Smack! Then there was the name itself: who's Dinky? Boy or girl? Is that really somebody's name?
After several years of looking at the book longingly--I can only imagine that I must have intuited that my mother would freak out if she caught me reading it, or maybe ask me to explain the title or something (I'm sure she wouldn't have known what smack was either)--I finally read it. I must have been in at least 9th grade, because the guy in the book whose name I can never remember reminds me of my friend John, who I didn't meet until then. Just the other day I was remembering him (the character, not John) saying to Susan ("Dinky"), "You're better than you think you are, ta dum, ta dum, ta dum."
I still haven't read the source of that, which I seem to recall was a Vonnegut novel, but every once in a while I think of it, and it makes me feel better.
The thing about M. E. Kerr was always the titles, though. Yes, her novels were about things that my mother just refused to talk about: sex, weight, drugs, Nazis. But it was the titles that drew me in: If I Love You, Am I Trapped Forever? and I'll Love You When You're More Like Me. Only Paul Zindel ever did more provocative and intriguing YA titles. Titles that just make you want to read the book to figure out what the hell it means.
O. M. G.
Honestly, I had no idea that one of my favorite YA novelists, M.E. Kerr, was also a pulp writer. Thanks to Sarah Weinman, now I do. And now I'll have to start looking for all those Vin Packer books I've missed...
Honestly, I had no idea that one of my favorite YA novelists, M.E. Kerr, was also a pulp writer. Thanks to Sarah Weinman, now I do. And now I'll have to start looking for all those Vin Packer books I've missed...
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Oh dear
It appears from my referer log that many, many, many of you are suffering with frozen drain pipes. Here's my saga from last year, in which I ended up using hot water, salt, and gravity to thaw a frozen drain pipe:
http://www.vintagereader.com/2004_01_18_archive.html
It's a cold, cold week. Yesterday the high here was 7. Yes, 7. When I left for work it was 0. Fahrenheit.
Fortunately, we don't have any frozen drain pipes this year (yet, at least). I like to think it's because I a) stuffed an old comforter around the basement window in the room where the pipes are; and b) didn't drip water down the pipe to keep the supply pipe from freezing. The supply pipe is on its own. Although I have been doing more laundry in the evenings to warm the room up a little.
I hope the tips help out with your frozen pipes...
It appears from my referer log that many, many, many of you are suffering with frozen drain pipes. Here's my saga from last year, in which I ended up using hot water, salt, and gravity to thaw a frozen drain pipe:
http://www.vintagereader.com/2004_01_18_archive.html
It's a cold, cold week. Yesterday the high here was 7. Yes, 7. When I left for work it was 0. Fahrenheit.
Fortunately, we don't have any frozen drain pipes this year (yet, at least). I like to think it's because I a) stuffed an old comforter around the basement window in the room where the pipes are; and b) didn't drip water down the pipe to keep the supply pipe from freezing. The supply pipe is on its own. Although I have been doing more laundry in the evenings to warm the room up a little.
I hope the tips help out with your frozen pipes...
Monday, January 17, 2005
Charlotte MacLeod
One of the best of the "cozy" writers, who also wrote as Alisa Craig, has died at 82.
One of the best of the "cozy" writers, who also wrote as Alisa Craig, has died at 82.
Saturday, January 15, 2005
More great vintage cards
Okay, it's been several years since Retro went under, and I'm almost over missing the Postcard Depot. Especially since I've discovered that Dover does vintage e-cards.
While you're there, look around for more great vintage stuff, like reprints of classic books, art books, history books, clip art books full of vintage images, and more. I love Dover. And right now they're having a sale.
Okay, it's been several years since Retro went under, and I'm almost over missing the Postcard Depot. Especially since I've discovered that Dover does vintage e-cards.
While you're there, look around for more great vintage stuff, like reprints of classic books, art books, history books, clip art books full of vintage images, and more. I love Dover. And right now they're having a sale.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Good stuff, good price
I just discovered History Magazine, a nicely priced magazine about neat things.
I just discovered History Magazine, a nicely priced magazine about neat things.
Sunday, January 09, 2005
More free fonts
Some really wonderful vintage-inspired fonts: Chank.
(I'm finding this morning's links on Bradley Schenk's resume, which has a wealth of great stuff).
Some really wonderful vintage-inspired fonts: Chank.
(I'm finding this morning's links on Bradley Schenk's resume, which has a wealth of great stuff).
Saturday, January 08, 2005
Thundering Cliches
The fiction editors of Thrilling Detective list some things they never want to see in a story again.
The fiction editors of Thrilling Detective list some things they never want to see in a story again.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
More recommendations
The new year should be full of good reading. I'm not even through last year's TBR list yet. Oh well. Another one via Ed's Place, this one from Terrill Lankford, who didn't seem to post it on his own site; I'm guessing it's from his mailing list.
The new year should be full of good reading. I'm not even through last year's TBR list yet. Oh well. Another one via Ed's Place, this one from Terrill Lankford, who didn't seem to post it on his own site; I'm guessing it's from his mailing list.
Rumors of my blog's demise...
Well, okay, so I don't have enough readers to warrant actual rumors, but anyway, VR should get more attention in the coming months, as I've gone on a political news fast again and am spending less time in a state of total outrage over things I can't do anything about, and more time reading, writing, reading about reading and writing, and writing about writing and reading.
That's how I've come to discover Ed's Place, a blog by one of my favorite mystery novelists, Ed Gorman, and have found a recommendation there that I must follow up on: Geraldine Bradshaw. I've never read anything at all by Calder Williingham (I don't think I've ever even heard of him), but this sounds like a really good start.
Well, okay, so I don't have enough readers to warrant actual rumors, but anyway, VR should get more attention in the coming months, as I've gone on a political news fast again and am spending less time in a state of total outrage over things I can't do anything about, and more time reading, writing, reading about reading and writing, and writing about writing and reading.
That's how I've come to discover Ed's Place, a blog by one of my favorite mystery novelists, Ed Gorman, and have found a recommendation there that I must follow up on: Geraldine Bradshaw. I've never read anything at all by Calder Williingham (I don't think I've ever even heard of him), but this sounds like a really good start.
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