Making typographers everywhere happy ...

I just finished Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, a book that ended much-too-abruptly for my liking. I certainly hope Susanna Clarke has a sequel in the works.

(John Childermass and Stephen Black were my favorite characters, incidentally.)

However, I'm most inspired to blog about the book's final page, which includes precisely two lines about the book's author and ten lines about the books's typeface.

And there was much rejoicing.

Alternative blockbuster titles – Spoiler alert!

I love J.K. Rowling. I love the Harry Potter books. I have, heretofore, been mostly impressed with the Harry Potter movie franchise.

However, the cinematic installment of Goblet of Fire left me supremely disappointed.

There were good points: Fred and George were hilarious, Neville finally got the screen-time he deserves, Ginny had lines (!) and Radiohead rocked. Cedric's death and his father's grief were handled exceptionally well.

My quibble is not with the actors ... they were excellent. Rather, I continue to be amazed with what the film-makers deem obsolete. And fail to understand why the film critics have liked this installment so much more than the others. (88% on www.rottentomatoes.com.)

Chalk me up as an obsessed fan-girl if you will. Take these with a grain of salt, if you must. But I dare you not to agree or add your own to the following list:

• Harry Potter and the Complete Waste of Brilliant British Actors

• Harry Potter and Superfluous Dragon Screen-Time

• Harry Potter and the Deadbeat Godfather (a.k.a. Sirius!Briquette)

• Harry Potter and the Characters Without Motives

• Harry Potter and the Amazing Disappearing Backstory

• Harry Potter and the Non-Canon Hogwarts Staff

• Harry Potter and Important Plot Points Delivered as Throwaway One-Liners

• Harry Potter and The Unexplained Menacing Hedges

Still here...

I feel as though I haven't blogged in forever. I'm trying to spend less time on the computer since my mini-sabbatical. I was also down with a nasty cold last week, and I am still going to sleep early each evening. I seem to be dog-tired most days after work.

I'm traveling for work this Sunday through Thursday, so I'm trying to get my apartment cleaned, bills paid and other things in order before departing.

I'm also, hopefully, planning a pre-Goblet of Fire party at my apartment for the 18th, but there are loose ends I need to tie up before firmly committing to that.