Moïra Fowley - "Eyes guts throat bones"

Amazing short stories.  Weird ones, supernatural, magic realism.  I should keep an eye out for more books by her.

So many amazing bits here. "Playing house" is amazing. All of them are.

"Saying its name breaks it" reminded me a lot of that Dutch story about the school and being snowed in and the outside world is gone (or is it)... and *that* in turn reminded me of that amazing book where the world is slowly freezing over.

"Rath" reminded me of that wonderful "Troll Bridge" story by Neil Gaiman, when his writing was still captivating me.

I had a friend who was a mirror. Hold a candle up to her and you'd see the light reflected. Tall and white and straight. I had a friend who was a candle, started tall and ended up a wax splat on the floor, spent. I had a friend when the power went and because she was lit we didn't need a torch.

The Sandman

Enjoyable enough, but a bit too much the overwhelming CGI action we all expect these days.

The "24/7" diner episode is great, although the separate episodes with their sub plots work less in a series than in the graphic novel.

Good Omens (mini series)

Kinda enjoyable, but not very good. Too Neil Gaiman ish. Anti-christ boy defeats his father, the Devil, by simply saying "you were never my father." The whole Good of Intent always winning of the baddies. David Tennant is okay but his snakey devil is becoming a boring character. Also, of course no real drama, nobody really dies, and the usual Gaiman jokes. Only watch when you're hungover.

Neil Gaiman - "The Graveyard Book"

Had this for a few years, never bothered to read it. I noticed I have become a bit... less interested in his writing. It's great writing, don't get me wrong, but... maybe I read too much of it in too short a time. Two books I would reread: "Neverwhere", that one never fails to amaze me, and "American Gods", which I am not sure I understood completely.

The Graveyard Book, besides some wonderful drawings, is nice. Finished it in two days. It bothered me a bit though. it was... too simple. Why is Bod that special one? How does the Honour Guard and the Jacks relate? Jack Frost I got... but are the other Jacks famous Jacks?

But, the writing was well crafted and it was a lovely little story.

Neil Gaiman - "A Calendar of Tales"

12 tales of the months, prompted by answers of twitter readers to his questions.

Not every tale is as good, but some are gripping and almost every one shows his talent.

Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman

amazing evening in L.A.. Her songs I've heard before, but his reading live always is amazing. They're fun to see live together, though I must wonder how much of it is a trick.

Dresden Dolls - "Sing"

After reading a wonderful review of the reunion of the Dresden Dolls by by Neil Gaiman (http://blog.amandapalmer.net/post/1498306391/neil-gaiman-reviews-the-dresden-dolls-halloween-gig-for) listening to "Sing" again... shivers.

Sing for the bartender sing for the janitor sing
Sing for the cameras sing for the animals sing
Sing for the children shooting the children sing
Sing for the teachers who told you that you couldn't sing
Just sing

[...]

Sing cause its obvious sing for the astronauts sing
Sing for the president sing for the terrorists sing
Sing for the soccer team sing for the janjuweed sing
Sing for the kid with the phone who refuses to sing
Just sing

Life is no cabaret
We're inviting you anyway

You motherfuckers you'll sing someday...
You motherfuckers you'll sing someday...
You motherfuckers you'll sing someday...

Neil Gaiman - "Harlequin Valentine" & I Monster - "Neveroddoreven"

Reading "Harlequin Valentine" (from the "Fragile Things" collection) while listening to I Monster's "Neverroddoreven" (starting with "Heaven") is a wonderful combination and quite helps to get into writing mode.

Evelyn Evelyn (live @ Arendbergschouwburg in Antwerp)

Missed their concert in Amsterdam because of "11 minuten" play.

Loved it! As burlesque as expected. Bit sad that it was a seating area, so the crowd was rather timid. They commented on this, but I am not sure whether they'd always do that.

warning: total fanboy moment

Afterwards, the signing, and yes Neil Gaiman was there. Total fanboy moment (even slightly worse than when meeting Tim Burton at the 25th AFFF). I'm not sure what I said to him, but I got his autograph and I shook his hand twice and I was a total fool and it changed my evening and life.

Sorry 'bout that, but that's what it felt like. And it made me realise again I need to write write write.

Sandman Comics - 01 "Sleep of the just"

took some time to get into reading comics again. the BOLD letters, the short phrases. drawings are wonderful. story typically Gaimanesque. Wonder how it develops.