Maddy Carr > Recent Status Updates

Guys, Victor Frankenstein is just the worst.

A fascinating history of capital punishment in the US. It was published in 2003, so obviously it doesn't have the most recent information, but has lots of good information, especially about the social movements and ideas that shaped the death penalty.

Ooh, the "assembling a crew" scene. Now heist cliches, those I can get behind!

I'm trying to get over my completely irrational prejudice against epic fantasy, and I like Sanderson on the Writing Excuses podcast, so why not? But apparently I have a kneejerk reaction to even just the trappings of epic fantasy because my brain hit "Lord whoever" in the second sentence and my eyes glazed over. Still! Onward!

"Why should so many nonhuman species have preceded us on the planet? Good question. We might just as well ask why... if he was interested in redeeming *all* people from their sins, why did He allow scores of generations to pass unsaved before He sent His divine son?" Miller asks this rhetorically, like it's an answer to the objection but, uh. I think that's a pretty good question, actually?

I don't know if I can finish this. I keep spending all my time being annoyed at the narration. It's due back tomorrow, and I'll be damned if I'm going to pay a fine on it.

This woman writes like someone who is too fond of the sound of her own voice, if that makes sense. Stop trying to be clever for two seconds and let me learn about science, damnit.

I have no particular desire to write poetry, but I would like to *understand* it better. Also, Stephen Fry.

This book is kind of blowing my mind, in the most delightful way. I know Ken Miller gives lots of reasons why people are reluctant to believe in evolution, but it's just so damn *cool* I have a hard time empathizing.

You guys. You guys. What is this.

Oh, Dawkins. I was almost 100% with you until you said that being raised Catholic was as bad or worse than being molested by a priest. You were doing so well! Ugh.

I can already tell the timeline on these books is going to drive me a little nuts, because I'm pretty sure Strachey has been 40-mumble for about 16 years as of this book.

Sometimes Stevenson gets downright Dickensonian with his names, and I kind of wish he'd either do more or less of it. 'Crockwell' for a crooked shrink- I'm not sure if I'm amused or if it's too OTT.

Reading Stevenson's introduction, I have to say- I mean, I like the movies; I like them a lot. But sometimes reading the books I wonder if the movie makers really... didn't like Stevenson or something? Because sometimes they do things in a way directly opposite from the books in what seems like a very pointed way.

So far, this is the only one that's had *any* resemblance to the movies besides the names, and it's really driving home how much better the *writing* is in the books. It's weird that they didn't use any of the lines- internal monologue might be hard, but the banter is way better.

Timmy is my favorite. <3

"but there's also a saying in the Bible that God helps those who help themselves." No, there isn't.

"If only I had known what great deeds and accomplishments Dad had already quietly done and was doing with the family fortune for the betterment of the underprivileged around the world." *snort*

This book is written like a screenplay. *checks back cover* ah, it started as one. It would make a better movie. It would be a bad movie, but better than this book.

Martians = violent space communists. Well, it *is* the Red Planet.

Hn. Agree that education is important in preventing crime, but I feel like truancy is more a symptom than a cause? idk

"Come; let us squeeze hands all round; nay, let us all squeeze ourselves into each other; let us squeeze ourselves universally into the very milk and sperm of kindness. Would that I could keep squeezing that sperm for ever!" ..Oh, Herman Melville.