A Clever Question and the New Release I've Been Waiting For: Saturday Links

It's easy to think of the character in literature you would most want to be (Lizzy, from Pride and Prejudice, of course!), but what about the character you would most not? The New Yorker asked a clever question last week related to this topic, and the answers it elicited gave me a few chuckles, and perhaps even a chortle or two.

In last week’s contest, we asked for the worst jobs in literature. Not actual jobs, necessarily, but jobs implied by the text. Granted, the notion is a bit abstract, which is why we were pleased to find that readers took to it so naturally. An example? This, from @RBDeac: Rip van Winkle’s alarm clock. Or this, from @momattt: Hamlet’s motivation coach.... (read more)

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And speaking of characters randomly culled from classic literature, I am ridiculously brimming over with excitement that N.D. Wilson's next book in the YA Ashtown Burials series is going to be released next week. Tuesday, September 11, to be exact. It's called The Drowned Vault and it follows up The Dragon's Tooth which I read and reviewed in March of this year.

This week I read a pre-publication review of Wilson's upcoming release on Random Musings of a Bibliophile and felt giddy with excitement.

In The Drowned Vault Wilson takes the interestingly intricate world he built in The Dragon's Tooth and kicks it into high gear. Or even higher gear as the first book was pretty intense to begin with. The story is an action packed adventure from start to finish. There is a lot going on and a huge cast of characters to keep track of. In addition to the characters we  already know and love (or fear), a whole host of new ones are introduced including Gilgamesh and Arachne. Yes, THE Gilgamesh (as in Epic of) and THE Arachne (as in the myth). There is now not just one super creepy evil villain to deal with, but two. Not to mention the large group of people whose apathy and fear are causing trouble for the heroes. Then there are all the historical references too, which are great fun if you catch them. The genius of Wilson's writing is that he manages to write well developed characters while maintaining a plot that is in hyperdrive. Most writers can do one or the other. It is a rare talent that can do both.... (read more)