Hollywood is like the Capitol. Who knew?
Bookshelf Battle
The only site where new bestsellers are forced to do battle for space on a nerd's bookshelf.
Tag Archives: readers
Polonius’ Advice to Laertes – Shakespeare – Hamlet
At some point, you must have heard these infamous words:
“This above all, to your own self be true!”
They originate with the bard himself – William Shakespeare. And “truer” words were never spoken. If you aren’t being true to yourself – i.e. if you are trying to be someone you aren’t, then you are just not going to be happy.
It is a scene that plays out all the time – a parent gives advice to a child who is heading off for college. Here is what Polonius had to say before his son, Laertes, set sail to pursue his studies:
Yet here, Laertes! aboard, aboard, for shame! The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail,
And you are stay’d for. There; my blessing with thee!
And these few precepts in thy memorySee thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue,
Nor any unproportioned thought his act. Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar.
Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel;
But do not dull thy palm with entertainment
Of each new-hatch’d, unfledged comrade. Beware of entrance to a quarrel, but being in,
Bear’t that the opposed may beware of thee.
Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice;
Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment.
Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not express’d in fancy; rich, not gaudy;
For the apparel oft proclaims the man,
And they in France of the best rank and station
Are of a most select and generous chief in that.
Neither a borrower nor a lender be; For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
This above all: to thine ownself be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man. Farewell: my blessing season this in thee!
What say you, readers? Did Polonius give good advice? Bad advice? Discuss in the comments!
Literary Quote – Mark Twain
“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.”
― Mark Twain
Not sure I have anything profound to say about this one, other than I generally find that in life, one often meets many people who feel they have to knock others down just to make themselves look good in comparison. Why do people feel the need to do that? I don’t know.
This quote can definitely apply to writing. Show of hands – how many of you have been laughed out of the room after mentioning you’re working on a novel?
It’s ok. The people who haven’t been bitten by the writing bug will never understand. Just hang out and commiserate with other writing bug bite sufferers.
Steven King – Quote from On Writing
“Writing fiction, especially a long work of fiction can be difficult, lonely job; it’s like crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a bathtub. There’s plenty of opportunity for self-doubt.”
― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
Do you doubt yourself while you’re writing? I know I do. Is that a good thing? Perhaps some of the junkiest books come from folks who believe that nothing but rainbows comes out of their pen? Perhaps some of the best writing comes from people who have toiled away, questioning and self-debating every single, solitary last word choice?
What say you, readers?
What Do You Want to See Happen on Game of Thrones This Season?
Word of Warning – come Springtime, this blog is going to Stark up the place. I pay the Iron Price, but I always pay my debts, Winter is Coming, and so is Game of Thrones.
As I recall from last year, there are a lot of GOT Nerds in the book blogosphere. So I hope to get these posts rockin’ with lively discussions – what is that wacky imp going to do next? Who is George RR going to bump off next?
And where the heck is Lady Stoneheart?
Is it too early to start talking Game of Thrones? Yeah, probably. But what the hell.
What do you want to see happen on Game of Thrones this season?
Hypotheticals only. No spoilers. I haven’t read the books, so I’m only as far as the series. That is probably a sad admission for a book nerd, but so be it.
And if you have no predictions or comments as to what you hope will happen, then just feel free to discuss anything going on in Westeros. Or its neighbors.
Valar Morghulis. Wait till April? This a man cannot do.
George R.R. Martin on Reading
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.”
– George R.R. Martin, A Dance With Dragons
Can the next season of Game of Thrones just start already?
A Good Writer…
…writes a few lines per day?
True or false?
99designs
The site where artists give you several options to chose from when it comes to your self-published ebook cover.
Anyone out there use it? Anyone want to discuss their experience with it? If so, comment away!
It Happens
Just read Stephen King’s It will be turned into a 2-part film by director Carey Fukunaga of True Detective fame.
There was an early 1990’s made for TV version. I recall being scared crapless by it. I’d probably laugh at it now. It did star the late great John Ritter aka Jack Tripper.
Many of you recently noted under one of my posts that you rank this as one of your favorite novels. What do you think. Will Hollywood do It justice?
Ha, see what I did there? I’m so witty…
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