David Bowie's Nothing Has Changed

For those of you who do not know, David Bowie released new songs and a new compilation album is due out soon.

The new songs he released are called "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)," which I was not able to find anywhere to listen to it--but it will be released officially later this month. The other is called "'Tis a Pity She's a Whore." Admittedly, I did not think much of the title. And I hoped DB would not disappoint me.

I did listen to it a couple of times, as you can do here: 'Tis a Pity She's a Whore. I do not care for the lyrics, though I thought the music was well enough. I did a little more research because it is supposed to be an artistic reflection centered around WWI. According to the David Bowie (Official) Facebook page, Bowie said of this song: “If Vorticists wrote Rock Music it might have sounded like this." I would imagine he is right.

Apparently, there was a play by the same title written by John Ford in the 1600s. The play centers around a complex incestuous relationship. I know little more than that except that it was controversial at the time and pushed aside for centuries.

Otherwise, I think DB is trying to reflect in his new album, Nothing Has Changed, not only his music, but some sort of historical context? I don't know, I haven't come to any good conclusions. It may be easier to see a point when the album arrives. I know there will be "unreleased" songs on there, which were actually on the album Toy. This article: David Bowie box set to feature new and unreleased music talks about the different tracks that will be on the album.

Image from David Bowie (Official)

I feel hesitant because the new song feels rough to my sensibilities. However, it took The Next Day a while to grow on me, but it did just that (minus a couple of songs that I find difficult to listen to. Namely "How Does the Grass Grow," which I find disturbing and "Boss of Me," which I simply don't like.) Turns out that, despite the dark nature of the song "The Next Day," I actually grew to love it. And I always liked "Where Are We Now?" Anyway, I have hopes that the new songs will grow on me and mean more to me later. DB has hidden depths in a lot of his music that manages to speak to me, even through weird/questionable lyrics. That is part of why I am a fan: his music (usually) means something. Here's hoping.

"First they give you everything that you want
Then they take back everything that you have
They live upon their feet and they die upon their knees
They can work with Satan while they dress like the saints
They know God exists for the devil told them so
They scream my name aloud down into the well below."
~"The Next Day" by David Bowie. This is the part that finally made me like the song.

Rattie Remembrance

I went to the Facebook page for Mesa Veterinary Hospital here: Mesa Facebook Page and dug up a few treasures.

Remus after his surgery in his collar. Which he hated.

He was a big boy!

Aww, look at this big cutie!

Yep, vet pictures. Gotta love it. My vet sent me a card following Remus's death (actually, following the deaths of all of my critters) and both of his vets wrote nice messages and they included a picture of the gal holding Remus in his collar. Which was so sweet and made me cry all over again.

I miss my ratties. Life is sad without them. I still look over to where their cage was. I catch myself walking towards their table before I remember that there isn't anything there. I don't have to save noodles and snacks anymore. It's just sad and a big adjustment for me. I am so used to worrying about them or thinking about them that it is hard to break that habit. I would give just about anything to have those things back.

I love and miss my rats. I just hope that they are together again and happy.

Halloween Book Review Twitter Style

My friend Charlotte (here is her blog: Small and Trivial), sometimes does book reviews in Twitter fashion. That is, she writes a review in 140 characters (or so). I like that idea and decided to steal it and use it for my Halloween reads!

 In the Stone Circle by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel

An old favorite ghost story about a young girl, her family, and the ghost haunting their rented house in Wales. Cristyn and her new friends try to unravel the story of the restless spirit.

An old favorite, but targeted at a much younger audience. Four stars.

Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

A surprisingly Halloween-y story filled with monsters, zombies, ghosts, werewolves, poltergeists, and spirit possessions. Audio read. The last installment of Heroes of Olympus. Loved it.

Again, younger target audience, but I love these books. Five stars.

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

Creepy and unnerving by turns. The story of two sisters in a long line of witch-y women dealing with life, love, death, family, and restless spirits. Occasionally disturbing and scary for me, but overall a good read.

I put this book down for two years, but did return to it. Three stars.

Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich

Our favorite bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum, teams up with mysterious Diesel to track down vaguely supernatural criminals. Very entertaining and fun. I laughed out loud a few times.

First Between the Numbers book I have read. Four stars.

In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters

Historical fiction surrounding WWI. Mary Shelley's sweetheart dies, but his ghost returns to her for help. During the commotion, the war is ongoing and the Spanish Flu moves in rapidly. A fast read.

Startling and spooky, but good. Four stars.

Sabriel by Garth Nix

A re-read via audiobook as read by Tim Curry, which makes it pretty great. Creepy and occasionally gross story concerning my least favorite Halloween residents: zombies. Sabriel must defeat the greatest enemy any Abhorsen has faced.

Beautifully written and I am in love with the bells. Five stars.

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by Josephine Leslie AKA R. A. Dick

A re-read of an old favorite. Not spooky or creepy, but it is a ghost story of sorts. Heart-warming, old fashioned, and beautiful. I didn't quite finish it by Halloween, but that's OK.

This book is close to my heart. Five stars.




Anyone else read any good Halloween-y books? I think next year I will go for classics like Dracula and Frankenstein. Sadly, I have never read these. They will be perfect for next year. I already have something to look forward to.