Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Two Fer

Two Line Tuesday

First from my reading this week ...

" ... Tell about what we're gonna have in the garden and about the rabbits in the cages and about the rain in the winter and the stove, and how thick the cream is on the milk like you can hardly cut it. Tell about that George."

That excerpt comes from the classic, Of Mice and Men by John SteinbeckI enjoy going back and rereading some of the classics. I tend to enjoy them more now that there is no homework involved
And from my own work.

MERRY CHRISTMAS – HAPPY HOLIDAYS – SEASONS GREETINGS - At least the slogans made sense and didn’t look half bad, but the cross-eyed reindeer she’d drawn reminded him of a retarded Great Dane, Frosty looked like a giant pile of lumpy mashed potatoes - even with the top hat, and Santa? If Jabba the Hut and Burl Ives had a love child, Dwayne figured it would pretty much look like the hideous rendition of Ol’ Saint Nick now painted on his store window.

The above description comes from an as yet untitled story I've been playing around with. The story may or may not become my next novel project. I can't quite decide. matter of fact i plan to blog tomorrow or the next day about my commitment issues and why I still have settled on a book length project to follow up Plundered Booty with.

Be sure and check out the Women of Mystery blog for links to more participants in Two Line Tuesday.

15 comments:

Melissa Amateis said...

The love child of Jabba the Hut and Burl Ives? Oh. My. GOODNESS. If I had been drinking something, it would have been all over my keyboard. LOVE that line.

Clare2e said...

The Steinbeck dialogue is so great. If you'd never seen or heard it performed, you'd still know just what Lennie's like.

Your new project's off and running like a retarded greyhound, I'd say :) I like it!

Charles Gramlich said...

The Jabba the Hut, Burl Ives line had me laughing too. Man that image is gonna stain.

David Cranmer said...

Good stuff. I have to agree with Melissa and Charles. Jabba and Burl Ives is a winner!... Steinbeck is one of those authors I know more from the film versions. I went the cliff notes route in high school. I think it's time to add him to the must read list.

Michele said...

Ha! Love that line, too.

Lana Gramlich said...

The description of the reindeer sounds like a drawing I once did for a personalized Xmas card years ago. It was horrible...

Miladysa said...

I love Two Line Tuesday - I must remember it next week!

The Steinbeck quote took me back to my school days and as we were literally forced to read Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath they are not favourites of mine. Perhaps I should revisit them willingly one day.

That second quote is hilarious!

G. B. Miller said...

It's funny.

It took me years (decades if you perfer) to understand anything about "Of Mice and Men".

Never quite understood it when watching cartoons. It took reading of the book in high school and the excellent (in my eyes) movie adaptation with Burgess Meredith and Lon Chaney, Jr.

As for the opening story paragraphs, why do I feel that something quite bizarre, yet interesting, may be born from it?

Robin said...

When I was little, all I read was "horsey" books...I got Steinbecks' "The Red Pony" and after the vultures pecked the ponys' eyes out I vowed to hate him forever (sorry if I ruined the ending...not as funny as Titanic huh?).

I remember the movie "Of Mice and Men" and what an impression that made..."tell me about the rabbits again george?". Hated it too.

Grapes of Wrath...hated it too. Ergo...superb author. Haven't forgotten him have I?

I don't have to like him to soooo want to be him! His imagery, characterization...and general psychosis stuck with me.

Yeah, he was genius..the bastard!

Loved your imagery on the "love child" more details please!

Angie Ledbetter said...

Great lines from your WIP. C'mon, take the leap. Make a book!

alex keto said...

I recognized those two lines immediately. Of Mice and Men is one of the great books of all times.

And surprisingly, the movie with Gary Sinise and John Malkovitch was just as good. That doesn't happen often

Phats said...

"a retarded great dane" HAHAHA that made me laugh loved it.

Did you get the email i sent you?

Lauren said...

Your line about Christmas is great and so original! What a great mental image and a clear look into your POV character's mind. I love it

Rick said...

That quote from Steinbeck is one of my favorite-ever quotes- that and the one where Lennie asks to be told about the rabbits. Because you quoted it, I will be compelled to read whatever you write.

Unknown said...

I like your line a lot!

I still have mixed feelings on Steinbeck, though. I haven't read any since tenth grade, and the idea of doing it for fun rather than reading requirements kind of confuses me.