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The Thoughts for May 2013

Here, you can browse my erratically updated blog. For the most part, this has become the base for postings about new episodes of our Library Police podcast, but every so often I do a post about something else that's on my mind. If you're really interested in knowing my thoughts about the world, I recommend checking out my Twitter page, to which I post far more frequently. (You can see the latest five posts below.)

I do keep all of my older thoughts pages archived onto the site in case you're truly bored. If you'd like to browse the archives, click here.


The latest thoughts, updates, and news...
Looking for older entries? Click here.

May 22, 2013: The Library Police - Episode 113

This week, we tackle an issue that we've been circling for a while: what makes a 'Young Adult" book young adult? Is it the characters? The thickness? The themes? The pair look at some books with juvenile characters that most definitely do not fit the genre, and look at a few that may fit better than you think. Plus, a fascinating book about science's efforts to explain the afterlife, the sophomore effort by a long time friend of the podcast, and the brilliant new novel by Joe Hill. And to round things out, a discussion of superheroes, old man rantings, and a look at the current season of Mad Men.

Episode 113: Nay to YA?

This week's lineup:

0:00 - 32:00

What We've Been Reading:

  • Gregory Galloway, The 39 Deaths of Adam Strand
  • Eyre Price, Rock Island Rock
  • Mary Roach, Spook
  • Joe Hill, NOS4A2
32:00 - 1:07:12 Nay to YA?: This week, we take a look at exactly what it means to be classified as a young adult book. So often, the classification seems to mean that the book just has teenagers as the main characters, and that's an idea we're both struggling with. So we look at some books that don't quite fit in the classification, and debate if the classification even means anything anymore.
1:07:12 - 1:32:49 Off the Bookshelves: This week, Dietrich takes a look at Iron Man 3, where his mixed reaction may surprise some of you who might expect some more fanboyism. After he shares some thoughts on a surprisingly tough videogame (which prompts some old man commentary from Josh), we move on to some television discussion, including a look at the current season of Mad Men.

To download episode, right-click here and choose "Save As"

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Hope you enjoyed it! Don't forget, in a couple of weeks, we'll be doing our Book Club episode over Gates of Fire, by Steven Pressfield, so read it soon if you want to join in!

As always, we love to hear feedback on what you loved, what you hated, or what you'd like to hear more of, so don't hesitate to drop us a line either at the podcast e-mail address or at my personal address. And don't forget, you can check out our new website at thelibrarypolice.com, or you can browse the archive of all of our podcasts over at www.clydeumney.net/librarypolice. Thanks for listening!

 

May 15, 2013: The Library Police - Episode 112

This week, we try to give some recommendations on the way to get into some very intimidating authors with some very intimidating bibliographies. There's a ton of authors we love, and this week is all about helping you know where to get started with them. And if that's not enough, we talk documentaries about The Shining, great essayists, airplane reads, and much more.

Episode 112: The Gateway Novels

This week's lineup:

0:00 - 23:25

E-mails and What We've Been Reading: We take on a listener suggestion for a science-fiction giant we've never read, and then try to help a friend come up with some light, fun airplane reading. Then, our reads:

  • Robert Pobi, Mannheim Rex
  • David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed in Flames
  • Philip K. Dick, Now Wait Until Last Year
  • Rick Hautala, Glimpses
23:25 - 1:15:01 The Gateway Books: Over the course of our podcast, we've discussed a lot of authors that we love, but many of them have bibliographies that can be, to say the least, daunting. So we come to the rescue and try to give you some gateways into some great authors, from Dennis Lehane to Stephen King, from Terry Pratchett to F Paul Wilson, and more. So bring some notepads and get prepared to spend some money, because you'll get some great recommendations.
1:15:01 - 1:32:44 Off the Bookshelves: Dietrich kicks off the section with a new game that plunges you into the heist genre and a space game that's making his office far less productive. Then, he gives me a great transition by discussing his trek through the AFI top 100 films list. As for me, I take a look at a documentary that looks at The Shining in a whole new light and a fantastic pitch black comedy based on a very true story.

To download episode, right-click here and choose "Save As"

Subscribe via RSS or iTunes

Hope you enjoyed it! Next time, we take a look at what it means to be a Young Adult book, and whether it even means anything as a classification anymore.

As always, we love to hear feedback on what you loved, what you hated, or what you'd like to hear more of, so don't hesitate to drop us a line either at the podcast e-mail address or at my personal address. And don't forget, you can check out our new website at thelibrarypolice.com, or you can browse the archive of all of our podcasts over at www.clydeumney.net/librarypolice. Thanks for listening!

 

May 5, 2013: The Library Police - Episode 111

After far too long of a delay, this week we finally come to our Book Club discussion over The Fault in Our Stars. It may be our most universally loved selection to date, and without spoiling too much, suffice to say that Dietrich and I are definitely to be numbered among the fans of the book. And if that's not enough to whet your appetite, we talk horror reboots, Joe Hill books, and take a look at the new season of Game of Thrones.

Episode 111: The Fault in Our Stars

This week's lineup:

0:00 - 19:11

What We've Been Reading:

  • Joe Hill, "Thumbprint"
  • August V. Fahren, Thursday Thistle
  • John Connolly, The Book of Lost Things
  • Joe Hill, Heart-Shaped Box
19:11 - 56:06 The Fault in Our Stars: This week, we take a look at our current Book Club selection, John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars. It’s a book that has no business being as good as it is, and we spend much of our discussion trying to look at all the ways the book could have been a disaster and admiring the many ways John Green’s choices keep it from doing so. On top of that, a couple of readers chime in with praise for the book’s characters, the plotting, the prose, and even the title, and we use all of that to launch into an in-depth (and spoiler-filled, as a reminder) discussion of this book that seems likely to go down as a modern classic
56:06 - 1:14:10 Off the Bookshelves: A light "Off the Bookshelves" this week, with only a couple of extracurricular activities to talk about. I've got one of them, which is another entry in “horror reboots that should have sucked but don’t” to follow up our praises of Hannibal from last week. But most of this week is spent discussing the new season of HBO’s Game of Thrones, which is struggling to pull everything together in as satisfying a way as the show has managed in the past.

To download episode, right-click here and choose "Save As"

Subscribe via RSS or iTunes

Hope you enjoyed it! Next time, we make an effort to provide gateways to some of our favorite (and most prolific) authors, so bring your wallet!

As always, we love to hear feedback on what you loved, what you hated, or what you'd like to hear more of, so don't hesitate to drop us a line either at the podcast e-mail address or at my personal address. And don't forget, you can check out our new website at thelibrarypolice.com, or you can browse the archive of all of our podcasts over at www.clydeumney.net/librarypolice. Thanks for listening!

 

 

e-mail me at
clydeumney@gmail.com

page updated:
May 22, 2013