For Song of Ice and Fire fans:

Two reread projects that just came to my attention, each with a very different focus:

A Blog of Ice and Fire is from a first time reader of the series, who has decided to snark his way through the books. He seems to be on a temporary break now, but I have to say, this is, hands down, the most hilarious take I've ever seen on the series. Bonus points for the best character summaries of Varys and Littlefinger ever.

A Game of Thrones 10th Anniversary Reread is considerably more serious. It's written by a long term fan reading the series for the 10th time, noting his various reactions and observations along the way.

And in more book news...

It's Banned Books Week.

Banning books alternatively infuriates and amuses me - infuriates because I can't stand the idea of anyone banning any books, amuses because in my experience, what happens when books are banned is just this:

Kid: That book's BANNED??? AWESOME! WHERE CAN I GET IT!

Which is how I came to read Huckleberry Finn.

Anyway, I doubt I have to persuade most of my readers that banning books is pointless, so instead I'll urge you to read one of the books on the "10 Most Challenged List": The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini. Brilliant book: far from banning it, I'd rather we insist that everyone read it.

Sigh

It will surprise no one that having thoroughly messed up the surprise, I also made a mockery of the birthday cake, which looked vaguely like a donut, but, well, wasn't. Ah well.

At least dinner was excellent, and to my joy, it is NOW COOL, which may not seem deserving of capital letters to all of you, but trust me, here, it deserves capital letters. And probably sparkly things. And now that I think of it, a donut.