rose_griffes | Christmas list meme thingy

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Christmas list meme thingy

I started that Christmas wish list thing a while ago. Haven't had time to think about it lately so I'm just going to do a quick revision of what I already wrote and post it. Too bad if I think of something I want more later!

Step One:
- Make a post (public, friendslocked, filtered...whatever you're comfortable with) to your LJ. The post should contain your list of 10 holiday wishes. The wishes can be anything at all, from simple and fandom-related (fic, icons, etc.) to medium ("I wish for ____ on DVD") to really big ("All I want for Christmas is a new car/computer/house/TV.") The important thing is, make sure these wishes are things you really, truly want.

- If you wish for real life things, make sure you include some sort of contact info in your post, whether it's your address or just your email address where Santa (or one of his elves) could get in touch with you. [Note: Your home address is not required!]

- Make sure you post some version of these guidelines in your LJ.

Step Two:
- Surf around your friendslist (or friendsfriends, or just random journals) to see who has posted their list. And now here's the important part:

- If you see a wish you can grant, and it's in your heart to do so, make someone's wish come true. Sometimes someone's trash is another's treasure, and if you have a leather jacket you don't want or a gift certificate you won't use--or even know where you could get someone's dream purebred Basset Hound for free--do it.

You needn't spend money on these wishes unless you want to. The point isn't to put people out, it's to provide everyone a chance to be someone else's holiday elf--to spread the joy. Gifts can be made anonymously or not--it's your call. There are no guarantees with this project, and no strings attached. Just...wish, and it might come true. Give, and you might receive. And you'll have the joy of knowing you made someone's holiday special.

my list: (not in any particular order)

1. A fanvid about the Sixes done to the song 'Arlington' by The Wailin' Jennys. Caprica, Gina, Natalie.
I lied; this is number one for a reason. But everything else really is in no particular order. *g*

2. Also, a fanvid with Vienna Teng's song 'My Medea.' Kara/Leoben would work for this... or just Kara... or Kara/Lee... or Boomer... or almost any of the messed-up people on Battlestar Galactica.

3. A list of ~~books~~ novels you've loved and the reasons why. Yes, I'd love to find new stuff to read in your list, but it would also be fun to chat about any of the ones I've already read, too. (I'm a bit partial to fantasy and mystery novels, but I'm definitely not exclusive. *g*)

4. Idiot-proof, easy recipes for bread pudding (with sauce! preferably not containing alcohol because then I'd have to buy some just for the recipe) or any other decadent, secretly easy starchy desserts. Oh, same thing with cheesecake! I made my first cheesecake the other day and didn't mess it up, so I'm feeling a bit more adventurous.

5. DVD-ish commentary on any fic of mine. Or just give me a detailed comment on what worked/what didn't...
*adds the 'so vain' tag to this post*

6. Pushing Daisies meta. Or good PD fic, including crossover fics. Actually I think I'd prefer crossover fics, just because the (very small amount of) regular fic is a bit too sappy-sweet, generally speaking.

7. Icons: I have a tragic lack of icons relating to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel and LotR and Firefly. Point me to some or make some just for me... funny icons are better than regular, but I like all kinds.

8. Italy or France picspam, with photos taken by real people, not professionals. Unless you happen to be a professional photographer. I really like pictures with people in them and pictures of things that aren't as well-known as, say, the Eiffel Tower. Picspam of other places would also be awesome, especially if you could tell me some anecdotes about your visit there.

9. BSG fanfiction! Er... huh, it's really hard to think of what I should ~~demand~~ ask for. You guys know what I like! Gen! Some het, no NC-17 stuff... Crackfic is particularly awesome, but I don't have a lot of patience for really long crackfic.
Leoben in crackfic!

10. My own Captain Carrot (Ironfoundersson). Failing that, I'll take Helo. If you can obtain either of these commodities, I'll give you an address and pay for shipping. :D

There's NO GUILT attached to this list. I had fun making it; if you enjoy trying one of the things on my list, great. If not, that's okay, too.

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Yay, wishes! A surprisingly challenging list, but one can always find something. I want to do number 5! See? Do I get to choose which fic? I am so excited to do this. In the comments or do you want an e-mail?

Yays!

Hee! I posted partly because I knew you'd be pleased. Of course, ~~demanding~~ asking for stuff I actually want--not all that hard, once I started the list.

I want to do number 5! See? Do I get to choose which fic? I am so excited to do this. In the comments or do you want an e-mail?

Yes, you can choose which fic. Posting it, putting it in the comments, sending an e-mail... any of those are fine. But only if you have time--don't worry if you're too busy. Holidays are so crazy. It was nice to take a little time and just think of fun things I want to have.

I will be coming back to this list later...I want to do number 3! I love talking about books! Especially fantasy books. And possibly the DVD-commentary too...because I like talking about fic too.

Yes, please talk about books! Whenever and wherever (your LJ, here, whatever works for you). I always read people's book posts, even if I don't make any comments.

First, I do not make icons but I know someone who does btvs and firefly icons, among many other things:

visualthinker11.

Second, fantasy books! I would love to hear about your favorite fantasy books too, but here are a few of mine.

1. Diana Wynne Jones: Howl’s Moving Castle
I love so many of her books, but Howl’s Moving Castle is something special. It’s got so much packed into such a short book: an awesome heroine (and a rockin’ old lady!), a delinquent but oddly appealing romantic interest, an intriguing plot to go along with the intriguing world, drama, suspense, action, a ton of humor, and a talking fire demon. What more could you ask for? Plus DWJ gives us some of the best chapter titles ever. I will never forget the green slime. Or the weed killer.

I was very disappointed by the movie though. I suppose it might have been a good movie if it were just a movie, and not a movie of this book. But it just was not the book. At all.

2. Ursula K. LeGuin: Earthsea Cycle
I read the first two books in this series when I was little, and I think I was too young. I had been operating under the misconception that these were children’s books because my sister had read them. Anyway, I really liked the first book and then...was confused by the second book and dropped the series after that. Until this summer, when a friend gave me Tales from Earthsea, and another friend saw it in my suitcase. He (Friend #2) was immediately all “You have such great taste!” and then he borrowed the book and finished it in about 2 days, while I worked through the first story in the book. The language was so stunningly, achingly beautiful that I realized I was missing something, had been missing something when I first tried to read Earthsea. So I dug up my sister’s battered copies of the books and raced through Farthest Shore and Tehanu. I really liked Farthest Shore, but I loved Tehanu. Tenar and Ged were pretty cool, but I cared so much about little Therru...it was just heart-breaking. And fantastic. I think that LeGuin is one of the finest contemporary writers in this genre. Her craft is just astonishing—I dare you to find a single word that seems unnecessary. Every syllable is perfectly chosen and placed. Plus, you know, she does have the coolest name.

I also saw the Sci-Fi original movie of Earthsea and it was one of the worst things I have ever witnessed. It was also hilarious.

3. George R.R. Martin: A Song of Ice and Fire
Martin doesn’t have LeGuin’s way with words, in my opinion, but his characterizations are brilliant. Every chapter is a specific person’s POV, and in the first book there are about 5 or 6 POVs. I was so drawn in by these characters—admittedly I liked some of them more than others (read: Tyrion, Arya, and yes, Catelyn—what? I like Catelyn Stark) but Martin really made me care about these characters. And really made me hate some other characters. And then...in the second book...one of those characters I had loved to hate suddenly had a POV. His characterization was entirely consistent and believable, but when I saw things through his eyes and felt what he was feeling I started to care for him too. Yeah, he’d done some terrible things, but now he’s one of my favorite characters. There’s another character, too, who has come to fascinate me. He has not yet gotten a POV, but in the first book we mostly saw his actions through two characters’ eyes. Then, in the third book, we saw him through a third character’s eyes and their interaction was so revealing and before I knew it I cared about him too. So that’s why I love ASOIAF.

4. Terry Pratchett: Wyrd Sisters
It’s really hard to pick a favorite Discworld book, but I’m awfully fond of Wyrd Sisters. I love Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat so much. They are so funny, and Granny Weatherwax is another grouchy old lady who kicks ass (see: Howl’s Moving Castle). Plus, I’m a dork so I love all the Shakespeare references.
One of my favorite exchanges ever:
“Is this a dagger I see before me?”
“No milord, it’s me handkerchief. You can sort of tell the difference if you look closely. Not as many sharp edges.”
Oh Pratchett, you are awesome.

Plus, the 3-hour animated tv-movie of this book is also fantastic. It is word for word. And hilarious.

5. Douglas Adams (yes, he does write fantasy! Of a fashion): Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency and The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul
Now, I love Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy as much as any Adams fan, but I kind of think that his two Dirk Gently books are better. Which is saying something. They’re incredibly funny and clever and they even have some action/drama/suspense too. But mostly I feel like there’s more substance to them than Hitchhiker’s. (Not to diss HGttG, which I do love). Of the two, I think Tea-Time is my favorite, but it’s a close call.

6. Stephan Zielinski: Bad Magic
This book. This book. I don’t really know what to say about Bad Magic, but I’m going to talk about it anyway. It is bizarre and hilarious and has great pop culture references and really random-and-awesome horror/fantasy creatures and the like. The plot is...just about incomprehensible, but it has a flying house and a bullet made of cancer and a character who fucks a jaguar. But mostly I love Rider and his flying house. Damn, now I want to read this book again...

7. Philip Pullman: His Dark Materials
These books were a very important part of my youth. I just love Lyra so much. And Serafina and Iorek... Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter are the best morally ambiguous parents ever. Plus, I just love the mythology of this series. I’m a Paradise Lost fan as well (although I read HDM long before PL), and I love the way Pullman develops the mystery of Dust, and I love the story he tells about childhood and consciousness and maturity. Also, The Amber Spyglass was the first book that ever made me cry (and it opened the floodgates). It makes me cry every time I read it. I went to London to see the stage version of HDM (it was fabulous) and I cried through just about all of the second half. And for the next 24 hours, every time I thought about it I started crying again. So I guess I really like things that make me cry.

4. Hm, I'm not sure I've read Wyrd Sisters. My Pratchett reading has been very irregular--I just started reading them, no pattern to it. But I love Pratchett's many literary references--doubtless some have gone over my head, but... huh, I think the dagger/handkerchief exchange sounds familiar! Maybe I have read that one! (I just finished reading Making Money yesterday.)

5. I LOVE DIRK GENTLY! Which one had the Norse gods, because that one was my favorite. It may be time for a re-read, since I don't remember.
6. I have never heard of Bad Magic or this author. Interesting.
7. I really like the Dark Materials series for the world-building and the characters... but I'll admit it, the end of the third book made me want to throw it against the wall.

Yay, thank you! I love talking about books!

I think my favorite Pratchett novel is probably... well, any of them with Sam Vimes. I'm not sure why I have this extra love for him, but I do. I also like his YA novels with Tiffany Aching. And Death! And Miss Susan... Heh.

Have you read the novel he co-wrote with Neil Gaiman? Good Omens. It involved the end of the world, among other things... Gaiman doesn't do much for me, but I liked this book.

Re: Pratchett
My Pratchett reading has also been quite irregular...I tend to just randomly pick up a Discworld book every once in awhile. And I, embarrassingly, have only read one Vimes book (Guards! Guards!) even though many people have said those are his best. But my favorite characters are Death, Susan, and Granny Weatherwax. And Wyrd Sisters is my favorite of the witches books. It's mostly full of Macbeth references (like the 'dagger/handkerchief' bit), and when I read Macbeth I can't take any of it seriously...

Yes Dirk Gently is amazing! The Norse gods were in Tea-Time, which I think was one of the reasons that one was my favorite...although they've sort of blended together in my mind...I also love that book for its title alone.

You know, a lot of people have told me to read Good Omens. I haven't done it yet, but it's on my list. So...someday!

Also! My favorite sci-fi/fantasy book to rec to others (especially bookish others) is To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis. It's fantastic!

1. Okay, now I'm intrigued by Howl's Moving Castle.
2. I have read a few things by LeGuin--her book of short stories called The Compass Rose is one of my absolute favorites--but I think I may have tried the Earthsea series when I was too young, or I tried them out of order... so I'll have to give them another shot.
3. I've seen these books mentioned a LOT on LJ, so thanks for giving more detail about them.

1. Have you read any Diana Wynne Jones before? She's written some (imo) great stuff. But Howl's Moving Castle is really special.
2. Hmm, maybe I'll check out The Compass Rose. I've got to read some more LeGuin. And the Connie Willis book! I've never heard of that one, but I'm always open to new books.

The Connie Willis book is one I've described as: the best time travel mystery romance comedy novel I've read. Heh.

Captain Carrot!

I was just so irrationally excited to hear someone on my friends list mention Pratchett, I had to say something.

This was fun to read, btw. If I can get the time, I see one thing on this list that I think I could do. I won't say, so you can be surprised.

Hee! I just love Captain Carrot and his earnestness. It's funny that I'm not a bigger Helo fan, actually... but reading and watching are such different experiences anyway. PRATCHETT rules the universe!

And if you have time for a surprise, excellent. If not, that's okay too!
this icon is a Pratchett quote!!!!!

This is not quite what you wanted for # 8, but I didn't have my digital camera back when I lived in Italy, so I can't make that happen.

Yay, heading over there next!

Okay, Christmas is almost over and I'm not making promises or anything... but do you have an MP3 for that song in #1? I'm always looking for a good song to vid the Sixes to and it might be a good project for 2009.

Edited 2008-12-24 03:35 (UTC)

The first time I bought a Wailin' Jennys CD was for my dad... handily enough, since I'm at my parents' house. :-)

http://www.sendspace.com/file/69otx4

Also, I have lots and lots of ideas for this song and the Sixes. If you want to know any of my thoughts, just ask. No obligation to use them.

it was really weird having vid ideas coursing through my brain, since they're not my usual medium

Oh, go for it! (And thanks for the file!) So far the only song that's given me a Caprica-Six vid germ has been "Optimistic" by Radiohead, and I keep feeling like I should put it off until the series and/or her storyline ends.

I'm going to send you an e-mail--I'll use the address in your profile, plus your lj e-mail, so it should get to you one way or the other.

Hi! I know I'm late to this party but I have recs (and um that Medea song--yeah I can totally, totally see a Kara/Casey vid to that...with maybe a bit of Lee and a little Hera sprinkled on top? Stay tuned friend, stay tuned.)

BUT FIRST, I must rec:

leiascully's awesome PD fic, Alpaca One For You, which is Emerson + Olive + knitting and really great narrative voice all rolled into one (and it's a friendship fic featuring Emerson, so you know, sweet but not too sickly sweet)

For novels, I will rec (briefly as possible) my two favorite finds of 2008 which happen to be fantasy/sci fi and mystery respectively:

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. It's a YA novel about a tough, scrappy heroine--think a younger, less bitter Starbuck maybe?--in a post-apocolyptic dystopia--hints of BSG with its twelve colonies and a thirteenth that was extinguished--who must kill other teens in a competition of survival that's filmed as a reality show. I loved the heroine and the world-building is fantastic and there's a love triangle and politics/civil rights angle--and the only bad thing is that this is only the first in a trilogy and the next one won't be out till next fall.

Also, the mystery author Tana French, whom I just discovered this year, even though she won the Edgar last year with her debut In the Woods, is great. Both In the Woods and the sort-of sequel The Likeness (same characters but totally stand-alone plots) blew me away with their rich, atmospheric voice, vivid characterization, and a bit of unreliable narration, which I always enjoy.

The first book revolves around Rob, a cop whose best friends were abducted when he was a child in an alarming incident he can't fully remember. He's investigating a new murder case with ties to that old one.

Rob's partner, Cassie, is the heroine of the second book, which involves a woman who could be her doppelganger and is using an old police alias she used, and who gets killed, and Cassie has to drop into the woman's life to get to the bottom of the crime. (Somewhat reminiscent of Donna Tartt's The Secret History)

I talk a little bit more about why I loved both these books here on my LJ.

Ooh, I'd be thrilled if you used My Medea for a project! (Let me know if you need an mp3 of it; I'll have access to it soon-ish.)

I loved Alpaca One For You. It's adorable.

I've heard a lot about The Hunger Game. I'll look into it soon!

Never heard of Tana French, but I'm always on the lookout for new mystery novelists... I seem to like to read a bunch by the same author in spurts. Yay, books! THANK YOU!

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Christmas list meme thingy

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