Erm, literally, as Nothing Like the Sun happens to be the title of my story in the A Summer’s Day anthology, which hit the virtual bookshelves yesterday. 🙂
It is, of course, based on Sonnet 130, and if you’d like to hear the sonnet spoken, you can listen to Daniel Radcliffe and Alan Rickman having a sonnet-off – but for my money, Stephen Fry’s version is the best.
And here, before we entirely forget what we’re here for, is the snippet from my story:
I’d been ignoring my laptop all morning. Well, I had so little to look forward to these days; why not build a little anticipation for one of my few remaining pleasures?
There was a message in my inbox. Dead_Pool_Ringer, you have a new message from BoyNextDoor. It was time stamped only three minutes ago.
Heart thumping in ridiculously clichéd fashion, I clicked.
A Summer’s Day is available in ebook: Amazon | Smashwords
Don’t forget to check out the rainbow snippets Facebook group for more little excerpts from a whole host of talented authors.
![locknut_200x300[4]](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/904/40247243490_3a97895e2a.jpg)
JL Merrow 
Love that last line!
(And I preferred Alan Rickman’s version. I could curl up inside his voice.)
Alan Rickman had a marvellous voice, but I prefer Stephen’s version for the way he really seems to mean the words he’s speaking. 🙂
And thank you! 😀
I love all three versions. They all made me feel very different things. Daniel Radcliffe’s had almost a surprised quality, as though he were just discovering how much he loves this woman. Alan Rickman’s was a touch sad, but had a mature feel like a man who is speaking of his long-time love. And Stephen Fry’s was playful and fun, something somewhere between the other two. It’s amazing how different voices bring such different tones to the exact same poem.
Anyway…the snippet is also fun. I love their screen names and how excited Dead_Pool_Ringer is to open his mail. 🙂
Oh, exactly, re the different versions! I love the way you describe DanRad’s, which was my second fave. As an Alan Rickman fan, it surprised me I didn’t like his more, but for me, although beautifully spoken, his rendition lacks emotion.
The (excellent) Shakespeare exhibition at the British Library has a similar bit where you can listen to around 8 famous versions of “To be or not to be…” and I was surprised by which ones were my favourite there too. (David Tennant scored MUCH lower than I expected on my personal scale!) Going off topic a bit, you could also read an early version of the soliloquy, which was significantly different (and not nearly as good, IMO). Fascinating to see a “first draft” by such a famous hand!
Oh, wow! The Shakespeare exhibition sounds wonderful. Makes me sad to be a whole ocean away, LOL.
I may possibly be overlaying their actual ages a bit on my listening, but Daniel Radcliffe’s voice has kind of a bright quality to it which I just love. I think I liked his best, but I agree that Alan Rickman’s was my least favorite by just a little.
All three versions are great but I’ve been in love with Alan Ruckman’s voice since forever so… The screen names are really great. As well as the rest of the story. 🙂
Aw, thank you! I do love Alan Rickman’s voice, but as this is a sonnet that really speaks to me, I like it best when read with real feeling – or, possibly, just with the tone and emphasis how I hear it in my head, which Stephen Fry nailed. 😉
I want to know how checking messages could be the highlight of anyone’s day!
Jerome’s been something of a hermit since being disfigured in a fire. He’s not dealing all that well, alas.
Hey thanks for those links! And the snippet is fun.
😀