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Month

June 2011

43 posts

You should read this. No, really, it contains awesome news.

Literature Creep is turning six months old soon. Frankly, I’m feeling less than stellar about having to take so many breaks from posting here. The natural conclusion?

Giveaway!

Since not all Lit. Creeps are alike, I’m aiming to put together three packages over the next week or so. You will not know what these packages are themed or contain until later this month. However, chances are in your favor that there will be something you’ll enjoy.

This giveaway is specifically for those who are following before I make the three separate giveaway posts. Yup, just for my current creeps.

Further details to come.

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Jun 13, 20114 notes
#Giveaway!
Jun 13, 20115 notes
#Dark Horse #Dark Horse comics #I love my libraries #Oregon #PSU #Portland State University #comic books #libraries #Portland State
Jun 13, 20111 note
#comics #Nancy Drew #graphic novels
“If I’ve learned one lesson from all that’s happened to me, it’s that there is no such thing as the biggest mistake of your existence. There’s no such thing as ruining your life. Life’s a pretty resilient thing, it turns out.” —Sophie Kinsella, The Undomestic Goddess
Jun 13, 201112 notes
#Sophie Kinsella #The Undomestic Goddess #life #mistakes
The Narrative of John Smith by Arthur Conan Doyle to be released → arts.nationalpost.com

Through the character of John Smith, a 50-year-old man confined to his room by an attack of gout, Conan Doyle sets down his thoughts and opinions on subjects including literature, science, religion, war, and education.

From the article and news that’s been release about the novel, it seems that this is more of an introspective look at a young Arthur Doyle. In the beginning, as writers, we are not always so adept at stringing an audience along. Arthur Doyle’s notoriety is due in large part to his outstanding Sherlock Holmes series, written after The Narrative of John Smith. It will be interesting to compare the difference in writing and storytelling. 

Jun 13, 20113 notes
#Arthur Conan Doyle #Sherlock Holmes #The Narrative of John Smith #new books
Jun 13, 20119 notes
#lit #books #Sherlock Holmes #Arthur Conan Doyle
“I’m allergic to family occasions. Sometimes I think we’d do better as dandelion seeds-no family, no history, just floating off into the world, each on our own piece of fluff.” —Sophie Kinsella, Twenties Girl
Jun 13, 201118 notes
#Sophie Kinsella #Twenties Girl #family
On hiatus for... a while

literaturecreep:

image

Well, this is the official answer to the majority of asks I’m getting that seem to start with “where are you?/why aren’t you posting?/is everything ok?”

  • Serious family medical issues are happening
  • Those books above: 3/4 of the reading I have to finish before July
  • First round of editing on my behemoth single spaced manuscript 
  • Sadly, I could keep these bullet points going with reasons

I don’t want to give a definite date as to when things will pick up here. Of course, I’m not leaving, but I am busy and really stressed. I figure things should gradually get easier over the next few weeks and you’ll start seeing more regular posts. Wish me luck.

Also, don’t forget to catch up on all the lit. creeping you’ve put off until summer! :) Feel free to submit things and leave questions/comments/whatever in the ask.

Reblogging for those who haven’t seen. The queue is set.

Jun 13, 20112 notes
#admin note
“I have this disease late at night sometimes, involving alcohol and the telephone.” —Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five
Jun 13, 201122 notes
#Slaughterhouse-Five #Slaughterhouse five #Kurt Vonnegut #drunk dialing #alcohol
Raised by Women by Kelly Norman Ellis

I was raised by
Chitterling eating
Vegetarian cooking
Cornbread so good you want to lay
down and die baking
“Go on baby, get yo’self a plate”
Kind of Women.

Some thick haired
Angela Davis afro styling
“Girl, lay back
and let me scratch yo head”
Sorta Women.

Some big legged
High yellow, mocha brown
Hip shaking
Miniskirt wearing
Hip huggers hugging
Daring debutantes
Groovin
“I know I look good”
Type of Women.

Some tea sipping
White glove wearing
Got married too soon
Divorced
in just the nick of time
“Better say yes ma’am to me”
Type of sisters.

Some fingerpopping
Boogaloo dancing
Say it loud
I’m black and I’m proud
James Brown listening
“Go on girl shake that thing”
Kind of Sisters.

Some face slapping
Hands on hips
“Don’t mess with me,
Pack your bags and
get the hell out of my house”
Sorta women

Some PhD toten
Poetry writing
Portrait painting
“I’ll see you in court”
World traveling
Stand back, I’m creating
Type of queens

I was raised by women

Jun 11, 20118 notes
#Raised by women #empowerment #poetry #contemporary poets #Kelly Norman Ellis #self love #black power
Talkin' Back to Mama by Carmen R. Gillespie

Broom in hand, she screamed:
“Gal, I’ll knock your head off
And roll it out the back door.”
Hand on hip, I stood defiant.
How far could a broomswept
head go anyway?

Jun 11, 20111 note
#Carmen R. Gillespie #Carmen Gillespie #poem #poetry #contemporary poets #growing up #defiance #parents
For the Dead by Adrienne Rich

I dreamed I called you on the telephone
to say: Be kinder to yourself
but you were sick and would not answer

The waste of my love goes on this way
trying to save you from yourself

I have always wondered about the left-over energy,
the way water goes rushing down a hill
long after the rains have stopped

Or the fire you want to go to bed from
but cannot leave,
burning-down but not burnt-down

The red coals more extreme, more curious
in their flashing and dying
than you wish they were
sitting long after midnight

Jun 11, 201113 notes
#Adrienne Rich #For the dead #poem #death
Jun 11, 20113 notes
#Lewis Carroll #Through the Looking Glass #Alice in Wonderland
Jun 11, 20113 notes
#rupert brooke #poet
Let the only thing that holds me down be the weight of the books I carry with me.
Jun 11, 2011897 notes
#reading
Jun 11, 201116 notes
#Rupert Brooke #Saturday poetry slam! #poem #poets #death
Chris Colfer's ambitious future → hollywoodcrush.mtv.com

tenacioustoafault:

“He’s writing a script for an independent film called “Struck by Lightning” (he will also star in the project). He’s currently adapting the children’s book “The Little Leftover Witch” as a pilot for Disney Channel. And on top of all that, he just signed a two-book deal with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers according to Entertainment Weekly. The first book will be called “The Land of Stories” and will follow the fairytale-meets-modern-life adventures of two twins.”

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Jun 11, 20119 notes
#Chris Colfer #new authors #YA Lit
Texts From Last Night: Lit. to silver screen edition

The Outsiders

The Hunger Games

Les Miserables

Marvel comics

Jun 7, 2011
#tfln #the outsiders #the hunger games #les miserables #marvel #recommendation
On hiatus for... a while

image

Well, this is the official answer to the majority of asks I’m getting that seem to start with “where are you?/why aren’t you posting?/is everything ok?”

  • Serious family medical issues are happening
  • Those books above: 3/4 of the reading I have to finish before July
  • First round of editing on my behemoth single spaced manuscript 
  • Sadly, I could keep these bullet points going with reasons

I don’t want to give a definite date as to when things will pick up here. Of course, I’m not leaving, but I am busy and really stressed. I figure things should gradually get easier over the next few weeks and you’ll start seeing more regular posts. Wish me luck.

Also, don’t forget to catch up on all the lit. creeping you’ve put off until summer! :) Feel free to submit things and leave questions/comments/whatever in the ask.

Jun 7, 20112 notes
#admin note
Out of the night that covers me: How Jane Austen Taught Me to Be a Man  → xoxosoprano.tumblr.com

xoxosoprano:

By WILLIAM DERESIEWICZ

I was 26 when I read my first Jane Austen novel, “Emma,” the story of a spoiled young lady in Regency England who fancies herself a matchmaker. A graduate student at the time, I was as arrogant as they come and didn’t think there was much anyone could teach me about…

May 31, 2011148 notes
#William Deresiewicz #Jane Austen

May 2011

110 posts

Dr. Seuss Wrote “Green Eggs and Ham” on a Bet that He Couldn’t Write a Book with 50 or Fewer Words

image

“Dr. Seuss wrote “Green Eggs and Ham” on a bet that he couldn’t write a book with fifty or fewer distinct words.

The bet was made in 1960 with Bennett Cerf, the co-founder of Random House, and was for $50.  Interestingly, despite Dr. Seuss, a.k.a. Theodore Geisel, winning the bet by producing one of his most popular works Green Eggs and Ham using exactly 50 words, Cerf never paid up.   Green Eggs and Ham went on to be Geisel’s best selling work, so he made out on it anyways.”

Read the whole article here

May 31, 20118 notes
#Dr. Seuss #lit #Green Eggs and Ham #interesting author fact #Theodore Geisel
May 29, 2011114 notes
#john steinbeck #of mice and men #mister hope
May 29, 20115 notes
#Mister Hope #Oscar Wilde #Fantastic Four #Thing #Marvel
May 29, 20116 notes
#dune #dune chronicles #frank herbert #science fiction #fear
“I’m screwed up, mixed up, messed around, dive-bombing, crashing and burning.” —Jaclyn Moriarty, The Year of Secret Assignments
May 29, 201112 notes
#The Year of Secret Assignments #YA lit #young adult lit #Jaclyn Moriarty
May 29, 20116 notes
#Joseph Campbell
May 28, 201133 notes
#William Shakespeare #The Taming of the Shrew
May 28, 2011
#admin note
May 28, 20116 notes
#A Crazed Girl #poetry #w.b. yeats #william butler yeats #music #passion
Can You See the Pride in the Panther?

Can You See the Pride In the Panther 
As he grows in splendor and grace 
Topling obstacles placed in the way, 
of the progression of his race. 

Can You See the Pride In the Panther 
as she nurtures her young all alone 
The seed must grow regardless 
of the fact that it is planted in stone. 

Can You See the Pride In the Panthers 
as they unify as one. 
The flower blooms with brilliance, 
and outshines the rays of the sun.

—Tupac Shakur

May 28, 20113 notes
#tupac shakur #poetry #black panther party
Solemn Hour

Whoever now weeps somewhere in the world,
weeps without reason in the world,
weeps over me.

Whoever now laughs somewhere in the night,
laughs without reason in the night,
laughs at me.

Whoever now wanders somewhere in the world,
wanders without reason out in the world,
wanders toward me.

Whoever now dies somewhere in the world,
dies without reason in the world,
looks at me.

—Rainer Maria Rilke

May 28, 20113 notes
#rainer maria rilke #poetry
Call and Answer

Tell me why it is we don’t lift our voices these days
And cry over what is happening. Have you noticed
The plans are made for Iraq and the ice cap is melting?

I say to myself: “Go on, cry. What’s the sense
Of being an adult and having no voice? Cry out!
See who will answer! This is Call and Answer!”

We will have to call especially loud to reach
Our angels, who are hard of hearing; they are hiding
In the jugs of silence filled during our wars.

Have we agreed to so many wars that we can’t
Escape from silence? If we don’t lift our voices, we allow
Others (who are ourselves) to rob the house.

How come we’ve listened to the great criers—Neruda,
Akhmatova, Thoreau, Frederick Douglass—and now
We’re silent as sparrows in the little bushes?

Some masters say our life lasts only seven days.
Where are we in the week? Is it Thursday yet?
Hurry, cry now! Soon Sunday night will come.

—Robert Bly

May 28, 20112 notes
#war #current events #relevant #robert bly #poetry
May 28, 201132 notes
#e.e. cummings #A Poet's Advice to Students
May 28, 20112 notes
#ernest hemingway
May 28, 201117 notes
#Donald Hall #poetry #the parthenon #parthenon #Ictinus #Athens #Greece
Late

They have hung the sky with arrows,
Targes of jubilant flame, and helms of splendor,
Knives and daggers of hissing light, and furious swords.

They have hung the lake with moth-wings,
Blurs of purple, and shaggy warmth of gold,
Lazy and curious wines, and curving curds of silver.

They have hung my heart with sunset,
Lilting flowers, and feathered cageless flames,
Death and love: ashes of roses, ashes of angels.

-E.E. Cummings

May 28, 20116 notes
#e.e. cummings #poetry
Saturday Poetry Slam - Get Ready

Also, I’ll be going on a hiatus. Under the cut for more information.

Read More →

May 28, 2011
#admin note
May 25, 201128,290 notes
#Relevant #Colin Firth #Reading
Interesting Author Fact

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Danielle Steel may be known for the titillating romance empire she’s built over a span of nearly four decades, but her own love life is a far cry from the perfect romance story. She’s been married five times—one of her husbands was a bank robber convicted of rape and another was a burglar with a heroin addiction.

May 22, 20116 notes
#romance #authors #interesting author fact #Danielle Steel #love #marriage
May 22, 201111 notes
#Anna Karenina #Leo Tolstoy #Sofia Tolstoy #War and Peace #author #interesting author fact
May 22, 201115 notes
#John Green #Looking For Alaska #YA lit
I think I might try to build a TARDIS replica

It would make a fantastic book closet.

May 21, 20111 note
#Doctor Who #admin note #books
May 21, 20117 notes
#Robert Service #Robert W. Service #poet #poetry #writer #my inner life
The Lady's First Song

I turn round
Like a dumb beast in a show,
Neither know what I am
Nor where I go,
My language is beaten
Into one name;
I am in love
And that is my shame.
What hurts the soul
My soul adores,
No better than a beast
Upon all fours.

—W.B. Yeats

May 21, 2011
#The Lady's first song #W.B. Yeats #love #poetry #william butler yeats
“My love is like to ice, and I to fire:
How comes it then that this her cold so great
Is not dissolved through my so hot desire,
But harder grows the more I her entreat?
Or how comes it that my exceeding heat
Is not allayed by her heart-frozen cold,
But that I burn much more in boiling sweat,
And feel my flames augmented manifold?
What more miraculous thing may be told,
That fire, which all things melts, should harden ice,
And ice, which is congeal’s with senseless cold,
Should kindle fire by wonderful device?
Such is the power of love in gentle mind,
That it can alter all the course of kind.”
—Edmund Spenser, My Love Is Like to Ice
May 21, 20117 notes
#love #desire #poetry #edmund spenser #my love is like to ice
May 21, 201112 notes
#Robert Frost #birches #poetry
May 21, 2011
#poetry
Epitaph

When I shall be without regret
And shall mortality forget,
When I shall die who lived for this,
I shall not miss the things I miss.
And you who notice where I lie
Ask not my name. It is not I.

—J.V. Cunningham 

May 21, 20115 notes
#epitaph #J.V. Cunningham #poetry #lit
Border Line

I used to wonder
About living and dying—
I think the difference lies
Between tears and crying.

I used to wonder
About here and there—
I think the distance
Is nowhere.

—Langston Hughes 

May 21, 201116 notes
#Langston Hughes #Border Line #poetry #lit
A Little Girl Lost

Children of the future Age,
Reading this indignant page,
Know that in a former time
Love! sweet love! was thought a crime.

In the age of gold,
Free from winter’s cold,
Youth and maiden bright,
To the holy light,
Naked in the sunny beams delight.

Once a youthful pair,
Filled with softest care,
Met in garden bright
Where the holy light
Had just removed the curtains of the night.

Then, in rising day,
On the grass they play;
Parents were afar,
Strangers came not near,
And the maiden soon forgot her fear.

Tired with kisses sweet,
They agree to meet
When the silent sleep
Waves o’er heaven’s deep,
And the weary tired wanderers weep.

To her father white
Came the maiden bright;
But his loving look,
Like the holy book
All her tender limbs with terror shook.

‘Ona! pale and weak!
To thy father speak.
Oh the trembling fear!
Oh the dismal care!
That shakes the blossoms of my hoary hair.

—William Blake

May 21, 20112 notes
#William Blake #A Little Girl Lost #poetry
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