I'm better now.

[sarea]

Okay, am I the very last one to know that Daniel Handler is Lemony Snicket, author of the Series of Unfortunate Events series??? I've been meaning to check that out anyway, but now that I know the author of the series is the same guy who wrote The Basic Eight, I've decided it's a must. Particularly since they're already making a movie out of it. I was just saying to Jade that Lemony Snicket couldn't possibly be a real name, but I didn't know it was a pseudonym for Daniel Handler. I thought Lemony Snicket was a Brit!! Who knew. Anyway, have ordered the whole paperback set from eBay. Those of you who've read it -- what do you think? No spoilers, but general impressions would be good. :D

And since I was in a spending money kind of mood, I also ordered two CD sets of the same music: Bach's Unaccompanied Cello Suites. The first performed by Yo-Yo Ma, the other by Janos Starker. The one thing I did love from Master & Commander was the music, and after I downloaded the Prelude from Suite No. 1, I knew I had to get more like it.

Why? Because it's really, really, REALLY hard to find music I can wake up to. It all gets old very quickly, and the music I love when I'm up and about tends to be v. irritating (and invasive) first thing in the morning. The cello suite, on the other hand, has just the right amount of tranquility and brain jump-starterness.

Also ordered Roswell S1, even though it was totally highway robbery. And JEM arrived today! Hehehehehe. DVDs: the only way to watch TV.

Comments

[leiliaxf.livejournal.com]

Yo Yo Ma has a new cd out of Vivaldi--I just picked it up for $15 at Borders. V. nice.

I have a bunch of his CDs--the cello is just a very soothing instrument, I think.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

I really resisted buying a bunch more, because I tend to get too overzealous about these things, but if I like these CDs as much as I like the first cello suite, then I undoubtedly will. I need a little culture in my life. <g>

[rainpuddle13.livejournal.com]

I tried to reading the Lemony Snicket books, but I couldn't get into them. I bought the first one and the first Artemis Fowl book at the same time last spring. Adored AF, but couldn't stand LS. But then again, the first time I tried to read HP, I didn't like it at all. I didn't even make it past the first chapter of SS :P Obviously, if I'd known there was Draco Malfoy waiting for me several chapters in, I would have plowed on. I have sense read HP a zillion times over :P

Maybe if I try LS again, I might feel differently...

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

AF is on my list, too, but it's on the backburner whereas LS shot up to the top because of the Daniel Handler association (I had enjoyed one of his adult novels very much). And I loved the HP books from the start. And the SoUE series sound twisted, just like me. So given all that, I think I'll do okay w/ them. ;)

[lissannej.livejournal.com]

I love the Series of Unfortunate Events -- have only got the first nine or so, but I adore them. Black, but amusing. And yes, I knew Lemony Snicket was Daniel Handler, although I've not read any of his adult stuff.

*hugs you*

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

"Only got the first nine or so" -- HEEHEE! Babe, there are only 10 published at the moment, so I think you're doing well. ;) I should have clarified -- I didn't get the entire set, only the first 3 "sets" -- in other words, the 9 books you have read. It always seemed the sort of thing that I would enjoy, but after discovering it was Daniel Handler behind it, I had to get them because I'd enjoyed The Basic Eight so much. He's only written two adult novels, but while I have the second, I haven't read it yet.

Plus, I figure, these books must be popular for a reason, surely...

*HUGS*

[jade-okelani.livejournal.com]

Buck up. You were obviously not the very last person to know, because you, after all, told me.



JEM! Jem is excitement, ooooooooh, Jem! Glamour and glitter! Fashion and fame! Jem!

It is possible I am also too excited about Jem on DVD. I've gotta go cruising used shops, man.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Thanks, babe. I know I can always count on you to know even less than me. That is a comforting thought.

Shut up, you got Roswell S1 for $25.

[ropo.livejournal.com]

I have the first Lemony Snicket book and was reading it aloud to denyeverything1, Syntax6, and jade_okelani, ages ago at the Garden of Oz, and I seem to remember them being all aghast while I liked it. Meanwhile, I've heard of Lemony Snicket but never of Daniel Handler. So.

Edited to say: Jade says that she was liking it, too. I must've misremembered. Which is not unusual.

[jade-okelani.livejournal.com]

I admit to also being aghast (so as not to pain Robbie's memory), but not in the way denyeverything1 and Syn were -- they were aghast in the "omg stop reading, seriously, stop" way, and I was aghast in the "it's like a train wreck I can't look away from" way.

So, already intrigued by them, now that I know the author leads a double life, my curiosity is downright insatiable! Basic 8 is so next on my list, and then Lemony Snicket, you crazy fictional bastard, here I come.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

I do not understand how a book that can aghast "normal" people can be a children's book, and then go on to be so popular that there are more than 10 books (so far) in the series. WTF?

Lemony Snicket is def. more popular than Daniel Handler. He's only written two adult novels, but I reaaallly enjoyed The Basic Eight, which was rec'ed to me by corianderstem. This was a couple of years ago, so I was able to get the hardcover of TB8 for $7 or something ... when I looked on Amazon last night, you couldn't buy it there, and all the used sellers were asking $35-79! :O And I'm sure it's only that high because of Lemon Snickety.

[sugarjet03.livejournal.com]

I love the cello suites! There is something special about the cello as an instrument, I believe. It's just so passionate and mellow at the same time. I really don't know how to describe it . . . Just gorgeous.

~Erin

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that makes two of us. <g> I couldn't really put into words why it's really good wake-up music, other than by saying what my normal wake-up music is like. The cello is such a ... buttery-sounding instrument, not all high-pitched like a violin. When I hear Suite No. 1 in the morning, it's like I'm lying on a lounge chair on a beach somewhere, watching the sun come up. It's just totally relaxing and beautiful, and that's lovely to wake up to. :D

[hiddenhibiscus.livejournal.com]

I've read them with my v. precocious seven year old daughter and we love them! (She actually started them on her own at 6, and I caught up and we shared the last several books.) They are great fun.

[pyroqueen67.livejournal.com]

Series of Unfortunate Events is awesome! Oh, they are soo good. Funny, but sad and scary at the same time.

Hey...I didn't know that Lemony Snickett was Daniel Handler...*shock*

[asl0versgo.livejournal.com]

I've read I think the first three. They're dark, to put it mildly. They don't end happily, but you get so absorbed with the plot because you WANT it to end happily -- that's why you keep buying the books.

[areasontorun.livejournal.com]

I read some of the Unfortunate Events books. They were out of order but I enjoyed them. You can definitely tell that they were written as children books which is a reason that one of my friends won't read them.
I really like the Artemis Fowl books though. hehe

Roswell!!

[(Anonymous)]

I bought Roswell S1 DVDs too. Yes, and it was a highway robbery, but totally worth it cause it's Roswell. :D