maybe you're tired and broken; your tongue is twisted with words half spoken and thoughts unclear

Yesterday I finished reading Ursula Le Guin's 1969 novel The Left Hand of Darkness. I thought I'd read it as a teenager, but apparently I'd just skimmed it because I remembered almost nothing of the story. To say I was blown away is an understatement.

So, I'm wondering: Are there any of you who have read it? There's lots of stuff on the web--essays, study guides (yes, it's on the level of The Catcher in the Rye of being Required School Reading, which tells you how respected it is), but I'd love to actually talk to people about it. Great, great book. Jungian, Taoist-y, it's a love story without sex (although it would have SO worked with sex. :)). If you haven't read it, do it. If for no other reason but to give poor little me someone to gush with.


*ahem*

Anyway, I'd been planning on downloading a copy (through COMPLETELY LEGAL CHANNELS, MR. FBI GUY) this Grateful Dead song ever since Al Franken mentioned it on his show (he had the writer as a guest), and probably because I'd just, just finished TLHoD, the two resonated. The lyrics (and the tune, of course, they DO go hand in hand) resonated with the story for me. Read the book and listen for yourself. Or just listen, because it's a wonderful song.


The Grateful Dead - Box of Rain

( lyrics under the cut )

There are even Annotated Lyrics!


In other news, I'm finally seeing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tonight. I'm a little apathetic, mostly because I don't like Roald Dahl's books much, and even the stills from the original film give me the creeps.

we're just two lost souls living in a fishbowl year after year

Yet another meme, this time gacked from phoenixw:


#1 Reply with your name and I'll respond with something random about you.
#2 I'll tell you what song/movie reminds me of you.
#3 I'll pick an alcoholic drink that we should get sloshed together with.
#4 I'll say something that only makes sense to you and me.
#5 I'll tell you my first memory of you.
#6 I'll tell you what animal you remind me of.
#7 I'll ask you something that I've always wondered about you.
#8 If I do this for you, you should post this on your journal so I can find out yours.



Also, my current music? The Dead do Floyd. It doesn't get any better than this. Not to mention it's SO H/D OTP.


ETA to avoid being Spammier than I already am: Happy Birthday, H.P. Lovecraft, wherever you are....*blats on noisemaker*