28 Doomsday Book

This week I dig into Connie Willis’s time travel novel Doomsday Book. I love this book so much. The issues with time travel are many, but the issues with omniscient time travel computers that somehow know that someone will change things and refuse to send them through are on another level entirely. So you know it has to be good if I will read it over and over again with a fundamental logic hole in it the size of Antarctica.

I also discuss another unnamed novel that has a tremendous betrayal of trust, in that the author lies to the reader. How can that be, when an author’s job is to lie to the reader? Yeah, but authors are supposed to lie in ways that tell the truth, not fake you out then go haha you believed me. I am so mad at this book still, for real. Like the whole premise gets undermined and therefore makes no sense at all.

How to make me mad: undermine your own stupid premise. Gaaaaah!

As I mentioned in the episode, if you want it, let me know, and I'll mail the hardcover copy to you. I do not want this book in my house. I'm MAD at it.

News: I published a new book this week, for you completists out there! The Nerve is available.

 

Get it here! Print or ebook options. Woo!

It’s the most fun of my books by far and I adore the characters. Also the main character deals with a fundamental inability to grasp school that I also have, not coincidentally, whatever its official name is. Don’t let my advanced degrees fool you. I have no idea what they’re talking about most of the time. Anyway we get into that a bit more this week. 

Also discussed the draft of 40/40 as it charges ahead. I’m writing from my college friend experiences and suddenly had to consider that maybe I didn’t happen to find the most incredible people in the world, I just love them??? Nah. They’re the most incredible people in the world AND I love them. I would give up my spot in the lifeboat for you, beloved friends!

Wrapping up end of year lists of accomplishments: mostly chairs. I know. But it’s better to have a list of chairs than no list at all, I guess.

Umpteen chairs, loveseat, an ottoman, a bench, a whole novel draft, a novel published, a book of short stories published; this podcast; learned to crochet and invented a pattern from The Icarus Triptych; learned how to cut down trees by being super brave (and careful) and doing it; grew out bangs, a major accomplishment; let a lot of things go, byeeeee!

Sacred cheese of life!

Obligatory chair photo, finished last night. Daisy can see the back, so yeah, skeptical. I got glue places where glue shouldn't be. The frame was all rotted out which meant upholstering was nearly impossible. And previous people damaged the wood. Tempted to run another line of trim around the gimp to cover the marks they left. 

But OH that gorgeous Victorian wood!!! Look at it, look at it!

If I did get anthrax from the Duncan Phyfe sofa, which I didn't, at least I finished that beautiful chair in a somewhat messy and flawed way. I mean. Perfection is impossible. But I wish I'd gotten just a little bit closer, is all. 

Always true about everything! Oh well! Keep on pursuing and having a blast!