LITERAL REMAINS

Hey everyone, what’s shakin’?  I’ve been, well, I’m not going to lie to you, I’ve been kind of lazy lately.  I know, I shouldn’t be, but I’ve had so many distractions the last couple of weeks or so, I just haven’t done a darn thing.  Do any of you ever get to a state of being where you feel like you have to force yourself to do stuff?  I’ve been like that.  I need to work on this and that, but it’s just so much easier not too.  Plus my nephews have been hanging out around here at the ole homestead, and I can use them as an excuse for my unspecified debility.

But anyway, I digress.  I like what I do here at Literal Remains.  I enjoy reading books and watching movies, and then letting all of you know what I thought about said book and/or movie.  Even the bad ones.  I guess that’s what I do to relax, though the bad books and movies can get my blood to boiling.  I mention all of this simply because I was asked recently, by more than a couple of people, what I do in my spare time, what I do to relax, unwind.  I like to read, books that is.  And I like to watch.  Movies.  What are you guys into?  What are you reading?  What (movies/shows) are you watching?  What musicians are you listening to?

I thought I would share a little about what I’m into at the moment while I have a little time before I report to work.  So, here I go….

I start every new calendar year, for the most part, with a reading list, a reading project if you will.  I generally have a list of books that I want to read, and naturally several books get added to list all the time.  Last year my endeavor was to read all of Robert E. Howard’s original Conan stories.  I did it, I had a good time.  I love Conan.  This year, my list has gotten way out of hand.  Big time.  You see, last year I bought all of these Indiana Jones novels (reprints from the nineties), there’s like twelve of them.  I saved them to read this summer, because, you know, Dr. Jones is action and adventure.  I’ve read five of them so far, and I hope they get better.  There is some nice stuff in them, they are adequate little pulp stories, but they’re really nothing to write home about.  I could have already them all, but I’ve been reading stuff for this site, and everything else, so that’s put a damper on those books, not that I’m complaining.

Also, on the list for this year was The Complete Sherlock Holmes.  That’s right, all of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Holmes stories in one volume (thank you Barnes & Noble, and Aunt Jady who gave it to me for Christmas last year).  I’ve not read the first page yet.  I’ll get to it.  Before too long.  I also have a three volume (so far) collection of Conan the Barbarian comics that I’ve yet to read.  I’ll get to them also.  And I am slowly, but surely, working my way through Ian Fleming’s original James Bond novels.  Plus I’ve got other books to read and review for the site.  I have plenty to do, when I feel like it.

Currently, on the movie front, I am completely fascinated by Watchmen:  The Director’s Cut.  It’s not perfect, but I like it better than the theatrical version (I liked it too, just think this one is slightly better).  Maybe I’m just glad we have a Watchmen movie that doesn’t suck.  Maybe I need to see the theatrical version again?

And on the music front, these are the CD’s in my car right now:  Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, The Rolling Stones, U2, The Cure, The Who, Led Zeppelin.

So, I guess I’ll talk to you folks later.  I’m thinking of doing some work.  At some point.

Peace.

John
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