Rambling Thoughts

Teaser Tuesday...Romping through the Highlands

2012-01-31T11:12:00.000-08:00

I'm trying to pick books that will be quick reads and that I can finish before I leave on vacation this weekend. Having said that, this week's teaser comes from Jude Deveraux's The Duchess, one of the many books in the Montgomery series and NOT to be confused with the Keira Knightley film of the same name.

"She sat there for a long while, breathing the sweet, cool Scottish air and looking at the hills. After a while she turned and saw that Trevelyan was staring at her. He seemed able to read her thoughts, but she had no idea what he was thinking" (65).

This book started off really slow...thankfully it's started to pick up (100 pages in). Now I have until Friday night to finish it, along with grading a massive stack of essays and poem responses. Joy to my burning eyes ;)

Speaking Loudly by Staying Mute

2012-01-30T22:47:00.000-08:00

I picked up Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak at the Friends of the Library book sale over the holiday season (along with about 20 other waiting-to-be-explored worlds). I've been contemplating reading this book for a long time after discussing it with my dear friend, Ashley, who had this as part of her required curriculum while teaching at a high school in the area. I thought it sounded intriguing and horrific. Honestly, I was shocked that the school board had approved this book for the curriculum, while some ban such books as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Night (though, thankfully, not in Oregon).

Speak is a book filled with so much silence that has never been so deafening and loud. Melinda, an incoming freshman, starts the year with zero friends and a terrible, debilitating secret...she was raped by an upperclassman over the summer. Everyone at school knows her as a narc for calling the police during a party and proceed to make her life miserable, including her former best friends, while she tries desperately to deal with something so horrific that she becomes increasingly introverted and removed from her social surroundings. Melinda's only saving grace comes in the form of her art class and an amazing instructor, Mr. Freeman (a fitting and ironic moniker). It is through her various attempts at representing a tree that Melinda is eventually able to silently vocalize her trauma. In addition to being completely alone in the terror that is high school, Melinda's own parents are not even active members of her very fragile life. At the end of the book there is finally a brilliant showing of fight and survival that has been slumbering within Melinda for the entire book. It's satisfying and justifying.

I found this book provoking and incredibly important. This should be required reading in high schools, and middle schools for that matter, across the US. The veil that is pulled over rape victims and the hushing that is done is appalling. Perhaps through thoughtful discussions of this book and by requiring students to feel what Melinda felt, we can take a step in the right direction of rape prevention and reporting. It's an important and valuable read.

"The tears dissolve the last block of ice in my throat. I feel the frozen stillness melt down through the inside of me, dripping shards of ice that vanish in a puddle of sunlight on the stained floor. Words float up" (198)

They did adapt this into a screenplay and make a movie. I don't remember EVER hearing about it. Interesting. It is now in my Netflix queue and I WILL be watching it.

Teaser Tuesday...Back into Cassia's World

2012-01-24T19:28:00.000-08:00

I have to admit...I have been SUCH a blogging slacker these past few weeks. I could blame this on the term starting up at the beginning of the month, but that's really not a good enough excuse (honestly). I'm sitting here and I have three books that I've finished and need to post reviews for. Those three books have been sitting next to my computer for nearly two weeks. See what I mean?! Terrible...just terrible.

Anywho...enough of my slacker-tude. It's Tuesday and we all know what that means: Teaser! I'm just about done with Steven Tyler's book, so this teaser comes from the book I'll be starting as soon as I finish that one, Allie Condie's Crossed, the sequel to Matched.

"Xander smiles and in the expression I see surprise and cunning and happiness all mingled there together. I've surprised Xander--and myself. I love Xander in ways that are perhaps more complicated than I first expected" (36).

I can't wait to see Cassia break through her glass world!! Definitely excited for this read.

Teaser Tuesday...Conversations with Steven Tyler

2012-01-17T16:20:00.000-08:00

I've finally picked up another book that will work for my A-Z Reading Challenge (the never ending reading challenge), Steven Tyler's Does The Noise in my Head Bother You?: A Rock 'n' Roll Memoir. This book has been in my closet for several months; it's one I picked up for next to nothing during the sad days of our local Borders liquidation. So I figured that I would finally start it (fitting seeing as how he's the main guest on Ellen today...and AI will be starting tonight, I think) and offer up a teaser since it's Tuesday :)

"I love going out on that stage. You come out of your dressing room, head down that gray cinder-block corridor with bodyguards and road manager flanking you, up a ramp, onto the stage, and there you are--twenty-five thousand Blue Army Aerosmith faithful out there waiting for you to light the fuse. It's a high that I'm not sure ever goes away" (153).

What a ROCK GOD!

Breaking the Rules of the Match

2012-01-16T23:54:00.000-08:00

I loved, Loved, LOVED this book! Ally Condie's Matched, the first in a trilogy, was absolutely phenomenal. I can not recommend it more. A young adult installation, Matched is set in a futuristic society where, basically, your entire life is mapped out for you by government officials, the Society. There is no free choice or free will. You dress alike. You live alike. Your career choice is made for you. You stay the course to keep in the good graces of the leaders.

The story starts with Cassia Reyes on the day of her seventeenth birthday. At the age of seventeen, all children, unless otherwise chosen, are "matched" with their ideal life-partner. The government bases the choice on what will produce the strongest offspring. At her matching ceremony she is surprised to find out that she already knows the person she's been matched with; an unlikely occurrence. When she finally views her match card a few days later, something strange occurs and another face she knows is presented to her. Thus follows Cassia's struggle with her trust of the Society she has always believed in and who her real match should be...the one announced at the Matching Ceremony or the second person who appeared on her screen. Throughout the story Cassia is constantly questioning which one she feels more for and the government is becoming more and more a part of her life...in ways that are abnormal for the citizens of Oria. As the story comes to a close there is massive upheaval in Cassia's life as well as the lives of the entire community. People are displaced and a darkness hangs in the air.

Needless to say, I can't wait to read the second book in the series, Crossed.

Scotland's Brimming with Love

2012-01-16T20:29:00.000-08:00

Hands down, my favorite book in the 44 Scotland Street series so far! Alexander McCall Smith's Love Over Scotland takes the reader back to those quirky characters on Scotland Street, as well as bringing in a few more to mix things up. There is a lot that happens to each of the characters in this installation and all come out in a different place than they started.

Pat finally has a viable love interest...or two, though one might not be as honest as the other, and has started at the university studying Art History. Domenica is off on her anthropological study of pirates in the South China Sea. Angus is missing Domenica tremendously. New character Antonia Collie, an old friend of Domenica's, is subletting her flat in Scotland Street while she's away. Angus does not like this. Poor Bertie has been forced into yet another extra-curricular activity; one that provides him with utmost embarrassment: the Edinburgh Teen Symphony. Embarrassing because Bertie is not a teenager...he's not even a preteen. His very pregnant mother, Irene, is still as delusional as ever. Stuart, Bertie's bowled over father who had so much promise at the end of the last book, has fallen back into his submissive ways, alas. Big Lou has saddled herself with a philandering chauvinist...whom everyone but her sees through. And Bruce has moved to London in pursuit of greener pastures.

As the story unfolds there are a series of events that take place: Pat falls for a wolf...not in sheep's clothing; Matthew's feelings are revealed; Domenica gets lost at sea and finds some music; Angus's dog, Cyril, is dog-napped and goes on an adventure of his own; Bertie gets lost in Paris and makes some friends; Big Lou loses a lot of cash; and the mob comes to town. Yikes!

I, honestly, loved every aspect of this story. In fact, there was only one thing that I was slightly disappointed in. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I missed the presence of Bruce...egotistical Bruce with his clove scented hair pomade. Who would have thought?!

Compromising in the Highlands

2012-01-12T19:33:00.000-08:00

Ah...another easy smut novel to breeze through. Jude Deveraux's Highland Velvet was one of my 50 cent finds at the Friends of the Library book sale and I thoroughly enjoyed it. One reason being that it was quick to get through (as all romance novels are) and another reason was because it was set in Scotland...I LOVE SCOTLAND!

Velvet follows the arranged marriage (or marriage for services rendered to the king) of Stephen Montgomery, a British aristocrat, and Bronwyn MacArran, a Scottish clan leader. Of course these two don't see eye to eye at all. For one thing, Stephen is convinced, before meeting Bronwyn, that she is absolutely hideous and Bronwyn is a very strong, independent woman who is used to being a leader of men. These two butt heads from the very beginning and continue to argue despite the fact that they are falling deeply in love (obviously). There are trials and tribulations added to their constant bickering, but this forced the two to rely on each other more than they thought possible. And, of course, it ends happily ever after...if you think living in the 1500s gives you an ever after ;)

I've been reading more and more of Deveraux's books lately and, for the most part, have really enjoyed them. I'm finally branching out from my Nora Roberts obsession! Good deal! Another plus in this area...this book is part of a series (though you don't have to read them in order) that follows the four Montgomery brothers on their journey to love.

Love in Boonsboro

2012-01-12T17:36:00.000-08:00

I don't know what it is about books written by Nora Roberts (excluding her alter ego, JD Robb), but I love every single one of them! It probably has a lot to do with the fact that they are easy to read, they keep you engaged, and they end happily. Always pluses in my mind and a nice change from the books I normally pick up to read :)

Nora Roberts' The Next Always, the first book in her new Inn Boonsboro trilogy, begins with the story of Clare and Beckett. Beckett, his two brothers, and his mother have purchased a landmark building in their hometown of Boonsboro and are working to restore the building to its former glory. Clare has moved back to Boonsboro after the death of her husband, who was killed in Iraq, with her three young sons. Beckett and Clare grew up together and Beckett has always been in love with Clare, though he probably didn't classify it as love when he was younger. As the two begin to form a deeper relationship, there are past issues that arise, including a man who thinks he has authority over Clare's life. In addition, while restoration is taking place in the inn, the upheaval in the building causes strange, unexplainable things to happen.

Though Roberts' books, recently, have started to veer more toward the supernatural and unexplainable, I still look forward to reading them. Also, despite the fact that nearly all the series have the same structure and whatnot, I still enjoy them. A guilty pleasure for sure. I enjoyed this installation and can't wait for the second in the trilogy to be released in May!

A Slice of Life in China's Cultural Revolution

2012-01-11T17:19:00.000-08:00

“I was carried away, swept along by the mighty stream of words pouring from the hundreds of pages. To me it was the ultimate book: once you had read it, neither your own life nor the world you lived in would ever look the same.”

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, Dai Sijie's novel about General Mao's attempt at re-educating the youth of China by taking them from their families and placing them in rural areas, was a beautiful slice of Chinese life. I had mixed feelings upon finishing this novel. First, I loved how easy this book was to read. It has a lovely flow that lends itself to quick sessions of concentration and interruptions. Second, the story of Lou and the narrator's experience living and working on Phoenix Mountain is a heartwarming one of discovery, self-awareness, and lost innocence. As a reader, you want to see how the story will turn out and what will happen next. Sijie's portrayal of forbidden books and the lengths avid readers will go through to obtain any and all reading material is one I was able to identify with. I couldn't imagine never being able to read again. I think I would probably die of boredom and become severely depressed. I need that method of escape!

On the downside...I wasn't as impressed with the novel as the other members of my book club. Everyone seemed to really like this book. I was in the more "meh" area of contentment. Yes, it was entertaining at times. Yes, it was a quick read. Yes, it had some beautiful scenes. But, overall, I wanted more to it. I was dissatisfied with the characters. I was dissatisfied with the ending. I guess you could say I was dissatisfied.

Despite my lack of enthusiasm for the entirety of the novel, it was adapted into a film version and released in 2002. It's now in my Netflix queue and I do plan on watching it.

Teaser Tuesday...Speak No Evil

2012-01-10T18:09:00.000-08:00

I started Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak last night, a book that has become required reading in a lot of high schools across the country, and am quickly being sucked in to the encompassing silence and fear that permeates through the pages. This is a quick read...a heavy read...an important read for anyone.

"I feel like the Prince of Darkness has swept his cloak over the table. The light dims. I shiver. Andy stands behind me to flirt with Emily" (90).

Learn from it!

Teaser Tuesday...Adventures in Arranged Marriages

2012-01-03T17:11:00.000-08:00

This week's teaser comes from Ally Condie's Matched, the first in a series!

"I smiled back.  There's no point telling her that I'm thinking about the wrong boy.  No, not the wrong boy.  Ky may be an Aberration but there's nothing about him that is defective.  It's our Government and their classification system and all their systems that are wrong.  Including the Matching System" (220).

I'm kind of excited for this read :)

Top Ten Book Releases I'm Looking Forward to in 2012

2011-12-30T15:25:00.000-08:00

There are always so many books that I look forward to reading. I have about a zillion on my To-Read list and, honestly, the list continues to grow every single day. Now, to add to that list, here are the ten books that are being released in 2012 that I am definitely looking forward to:

Though this is NOT the book cover (it hasn't been released yet), I am definitely looking forward to Pittacus Lore's The Rise of Nine

Release: August 2012

Again, no book cover released, but here's a map of the town where the trilogy takes place. Nora Roberts The Last Boyfriend is the second in the Inn Boonsboro trilogy.

Release: May 2012

A retelling of Jane Eyre? Sign me up! Margot Livesey's The Flight of Gemma Hardy sounds awesome!

Release: January 2012

This book sound fascinating and is set in my favorite era: WWII. Ramona Ausubel's No One is Here Except All of Us

Release: February 2012

Jenny Lawson's Let's Pretend This Never Happened sounds absolutely hilarious!

Release: April 2012

Though I've never read anything by Sophie Kinsella, I've Got your Number sounds good.

Release: February 2012

I love the cover art on this one, plus it sounds really good. Patrick DeWitt's The Sisters Brothers.
Release: February 2012

8.

I tried to win an advance of this book in a drawing. Still want to read it. Bonnie Jo Campbell's Once Upon a River.
Release: June 2012

9.

Another cover with a boat! This one's a murder mystery though. Sounds intriguing. Camilla Lackberg's The Stone Cutter.
Release: May 2012

10.

Alex George's The Good American sounds really, really good! Definitely looking forward to this one.
Release: February 2012

And there you have it, the top ten books I'm looking forward to seeing released. Of course they'll just get added to my To-Read pile until I can get around to them. But I will get around to them!!

Top Ten Book Villains of 2011

2011-12-30T14:10:00.000-08:00

Now this is probably the easiest post in this week long event. Counting down my top ten villains is a piece of cake! In descending order:

10. Solomon from Red Riding Hood. He's pious and such a hypocrite. I hated him from the moment he appeared in the book.

9. Precious Jones's Father, and Mother for that matter, from Push. Truly atrocious people. I think allowing your husband to perform such acts, or turning a blind eye to the situation, is equally as punishable as the acts themselves. Despicable.

8. Kronos and the Titans from Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian. Gods bent on destroying the World...those definitely count as villains in my book.

7. Lestat from Interview with the Vampire. He's a selfish non-living being. Very selfish.

6. The entire town of Martirio, Texas from Vernon God Little. Jumping to conclusions and accusing innocent children of crimes they had nothing to do with is pretty villainous. Yes?

5. Ruth from Never Let Me Go. She could give lessons in egotism. She's self-centered, narcissistic, and mean. I couldn't even forgive her despite the fate she was destined to.

4. The Mogadorian leader from The Power of Six. He just seems like an ueber-villain! Having already destroyed Lorien, he's now on a warpath to destroy Earth.

3. Irene Pollock from the 44 Scotland Street series. Irene is so blind to the needs of her son. She's intent on making his life miserable, though she doesn't see it that way.

2. President Snow from The Hunger Games. What a heartless leader! How can someone in power subject innocent children to such measures? Wow!

1. Miss Hilly Holbrook from The Help. She definitely takes my number one spot for evil villains. She's a piece of work and I was so ecstatic when she ate that pie!

Top Ten Book Boyfriends of 2011

2011-12-30T13:41:00.000-08:00

This topic is hard for me because I haven't really fallen for many characters this year; at least characters that fit this category. However, there are about five I can lump together to get something down on this list. Here goes:

1. Undoubtedly goes to Peeta from The Hunger Games. He's amazing in all the right ways.

2. Joe Morelli from the Stephanie Plum series. I love Joe so much more than Ranger. He'd be my pick for sure :)

3. Peter from Red Riding Hood. He's dark, mysterious, and...broody.

And that's pretty much it. I feel like a failure in this post, but I've got nothing else. It could possibly be due to the copious amounts of medication racing through my veins. Damn you holiday cold!!!!

Top Ten Covers of 2011

2011-12-27T16:00:00.000-08:00

Day two of the Top Ten event is dedicated to the loved covers that have come out throughout the year. Now, according to the rules, just because I've chosen a cover does not mean I've actually read the book. However, I am planning on reading all of these books at some point in the near future. So...here goes!

Ransom Riggs' Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Patrick DeWitt's The Sisters Brothers

Daisy Goodwin's The American Heiress

Alice Hoffman's The Dovekeepers

Beth Revis' Across the Universe

Karen Russell's Swamplandia!

Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus

Tina Fey's Bossypants

Haruki Murakami's IQ84

10.

Alexi Zentner's Touch

And there you have it. Look for tomorrow's installation of Top Ten Book Boyfriends! Woohoo!

Teaser Tuesday...Spreading a Little Love over Scotland

2011-12-27T15:38:00.000-08:00

It's Tuesday and that means it's time for a teaser! Today's teaser comes from Alexander McCall Smith's Love Over Scotland, the third installation in the 44 Scotland Street series.

"The pain from the scorpion sting seemed to have abated somewhat, and when she looked down at her left foot she saw that the swelling also seemed to have subsided. She felt a strong surge of relief at this; obviously the scorpion was not too toxic, and she was not going to die, as she had feared earlier on" (218).

Oh the antics these characters manage to get themselves in to. Good stuff. Happy Tuesday everyone!

Top Ten Books of 2011

2011-12-27T15:28:00.000-08:00

I find it so difficult to narrow books down into top 10 lists, but I've decided to participate in a wonderful event for this week which requires me to do just that. Ugh! Regardless, I will endeavor to be discerning and only list the ten that the post requires (though I could go on and on, I'm sure). So, without further ado, here is my haggled-over list of the top ten books I've read in 2011. Though not all of these books necessarily came out in 2011, I read each of them over the past year.

1. Chris Bohjalian's Trans-Sister Radio...I loved this book from the moment I opened it. It's provocative, thoughtful, and oh so controversial. Great read!

2. Julia Glass' Three Junes...This book stayed with me for months after I finished it. Glass does a beautiful job at portraying each character and fully developing everything. Brilliant.

3. Kathryn Stockett's The Help...Um...HIGH-LARIOUS and heart-warming! That's all. I loved, loved, loved this book so much. It's a must-read!

4. Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games trilogy...That's right! Three in one. Booyah! I simply fell in love with this series the moment I cracked the spine of the first book. They are magical and definitely pull you into another world. So good!

5. Alexander McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street...I think I loved this book so much because it took me back to living in Europe. Oh how I miss it. A lovely read.

6. Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go...Seriously thought-provoking and surreal. This book really makes you question what you would do when presented with life-altering decisions.

7. Pittacus Lore's The Power of Six...I was so excited for this book to come out! It was so much better than the first book in the Lorien Legacies series and I can't wait for the next one!

8. Rick Riodan's The Last Olympian...Ah the final installment of the Percy Jackson series. It was great and I loved every minute of it!

9. Nigel Farndale's The Blasphemer...An interesting read that spanned decades. I really enjoyed this novel of redemption and self-discovery.

10. Sapphire's Push...Whoa! This book/memoir was a punch to the gut. So heartbreaking and raw. It's an emotional read but definitely worth it.

And there you have it, my top ten choices of 2011. There are undoubtedly more that I could add to this list, but I was able to limit myself (though it took days to come up with a succinct list). Happy holidays everyone!

Life on the Equator Sounds Not So Awesome...

2011-12-21T16:12:00.000-08:00

This book sounded so promising. Again, borrowed from a friend, I was looking forward to reading it. However, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. Yes, there are some entertaining events and some funny instances (I actually laughed out loud a few times), but overall it was a disappointment...for several reasons.

Sex Lives follows the South Pacific adventures of J. Maarten Troost and his girlfriend, Paige. Paige gets a job working for the Kiribati government and Troost decides to hang onto Paige's coattails when she goes. What follows is a historical analysis of the people of Tarawa and the island nations of Kiribati, in addition to Troost's adventures and misadventures of island life. That's about it.

I think the main reason I disliked this book was because of the author. Yeah. He comes off as a complete pretentious ass. Oh so you don't have to work. Good for you. Oh, you can turn your nose up at student loans and credit card bills. Have a cookie. Ugh. It was almost as if Troost purposely wrote in such a way as to alienate his reader by making himself sound important and carefree. His sentences are convoluted, meandering, and meaningless. I've read much better travel literature and I think I'll stick with that.

Tip of the week: don't read this one.

I Like My Coffee Black (Book #19)

2011-12-21T15:58:00.000-08:00

Book number 19 in my ever-occurring, never-ending A-Z Reading Challenge is Alexander McCall Smith's Espresso Tales. This is the second book in the 44 Scotland Street series and I have to say, though enjoyable, I didn't like it as much as the first in the series.

Espresso finds us back on Scotland Street with all of the previous characters, plus a few that are featured more prominently than in the previous book. Most of the characters are still who they were in the first book, though some of them have had a few mishaps and setbacks. Bruce is just as egotistical as ever, but there were instances in this book that knocked him down a peg or four. I liked that fact (perhaps that's mean of me). Pat is finally making a decision about her future and starting to voice her opinions and ideas to those she's surrounded by (Bruce mainly). She also meets someone...kind of. Domenica is still the voice of intuition and stories that prevails over the entire story. Bertie is a year older and going to a primary school that he isn't thrilled about in the beginning. Irene is still cuh-razy, but she does have a little development toward the end of the novel. Cue Stewart, Irene's husband, who manages to finally stand up to his overbearing wife and assert some authority. Bravo! Matthew, Pat's boss, must come to terms with the actions of his father and embrace the fact that he might be good at owning a gallery. Then we have the Dunbarton's. They're incredibly boring. That's all. While I did like this installation, I'm looking forward to reading the next one.

Take me back to the bagpipe filled streets, please!!

Explosive Eighteen is Lacking a Spark

2011-12-21T15:47:00.000-08:00

Oh Janet Evanovich...perhaps you should wrap up Stephanie's story OR finally make a few decisions about her character development (or lack thereof as of now). I really wanted to like Explosive Eighteen. I really did! Unfortunately, it's more of the same ole shtick with a ho-hum plot. We left Stephanie in a great place in the last book in the series: going on a Hawaiian vacation with a mystery man. Now, my hope was that the mystery man would be Morelli. I wasn't let down in this case...kind of. There was a really weird turnout to poor Stephanie's tropical vacation and she was hesitant to talk about why it was cut short and why there was a distinctive tan on her ring finger. Say what?! I won't give anything else away.

This installation of the Stephanie Plum series involves our heroine in an international jewel heist, a case of mistaken identity, and lending a hand to mortal enemies. It also finds Stephanie, like always, trying to choose between Ranger and Morelli. Blah blah blah blah. Yeah. It was okay.

Why I Love...Trans-Sister Radio

2011-12-21T15:36:00.000-08:00

It's that time of the week again when I go on and on about why I love something. This week's post is about my favorite book read during 2011. Now I could definitely dedicate this entire post to The Hunger Games because I absolutely loved that trilogy...a lot, but I think that I am going to go for something off the beaten path. Because of that, my favorite book read in 2011 was Chris Bohjalian's Trans-Sister Radio. This book was so amazing, heart-wrenching, and provocative.

I posted a review of this book when I read it in March and have continued to think about it since then. Bohjalian's gentle dealings with gender ideals and identity are handled so beautifully in this book that they, at times, leave the reader a little speechless. The story-telling by each of the characters lends a gorgeous layering to the novel. I honestly couldn't recommend this book more...or anything by Bohjalian for that matter.

Runners Up
~Kathryn Stockett's The Help
~Julia Glass' Three Junes (my original choice for this post but, after contemplation, is definitely a runner up)

Why I Love...TV and Movies

2011-12-14T22:44:00.000-08:00

I'm notorious for believing that books are far superior to their TV and movie counterparts. This is a known fact and, undoubtedly, true in nearly every single instance. However, there are those rare occasions when TV shows and movies do a damn fine job at portraying the original print version; that's why this post is dedicated to my favorite show from a book and my favorite movie from a book (I couldn't pick just one).

TV SHOWS
It seems that there is a definite trend in today's newly developed shows. That trend is taking popular books (mainly those geared toward young adults) and creating popular television shows from them. Case in point: The Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, and so on. I can honestly say that I have heard great things about all of these shows, but I have yet to watch a single episode of any or read a single book. On the other hand, there are three shows developed from books that I absolutely love (in descending order):

HBO's True Blood. This is a tremendously brilliant show. If you love vampires, sex, blood, shape shifters, sex, witches, and did I mention sex, then this is the show for you! That's right. Based on Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire series, True Blood has managed to capture the hearts of nearly everyone who's caught an episode of it. It also doesn't hurt that the actors are incredibly good looking (for the most part). Now there is a negative...the books are atrocious! Terrible! Awful! I started to read the first in the series, Dead Until Dark, and couldn't even get through the first chapter. That's pretty bad because I am the type of reader who tends to plow through despite how awful a book might be (I always seem to think that it might turn around if I keep reading). Despite that, I will still watch the show. Good stuff.

Showtime's Dexter. I absolutely LOVE Dexter. I love that he's a blood spatter analyst. I love that he's quirky. I love that he's damaged. And I love that he kills people (only bad people...for the most part) in hygienic ways. This show is dark, broody, bloody, and oh so good. I will forever thank my roommate, Courtney, who "forced" me to watch this show one scorching summer (we only had one room with air-conditioning...her bedroom) and I've never looked back. Dexter was adapted from Jeff Lindsay's Darkly Dreaming Dexter, which I've never read. I have a sneaking suspicion that the books wouldn't be nearly as good as the series so, in this instance, I'll stick with the show.

The number one slot for favorite TV adaptation of a book has to go to AMC's The Walking Dead. Only in its second season, this show is fantastically amazing. Based on the comic books, The Walking Dead, by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard, the series follows a group of people who have been thrown together in truly cataclysmic circumstances: a zombie apocalypse! Say what?! They have to continually fight for their survival against nearly impossible odds. Sometimes having to kill one of their own. It's heart-wrenching. In addition, the make-up department is phenomenal! They are true artistic geniuses. I haven't read the comics, as I'm not really a comic book reader, but I'd probably enjoy them. I definitely recommend this series if you haven't seen it.

Movies

Now movies are a completely different story...literally. I tend to find that when books are adapted into full-length films, they're done to the detriment of the actual novel. There are always sacrifices that are made and scenes that end up on the cutting room floor and, inevitably, the fans of the book are disappointed. Nowhere is this more true than in the Harry Potter franchise. Don't get me wrong, I still love the movies, but they don't even hold a candle to the original novels. However, there are those brief gems that manage to do justice to the books they were based on. Again, in descending order:

JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Tolkien's novels are rich with detail and layered with complex descriptions (sometimes daunting to the reader) and Jackson did his job when he envisioned the world of Middle Earth. He was able to capture the mood, the characters, and the elements that are present throughout each novel. They are a great escape whether literary or visually. The movies are simply amazing.

There are few authors that can match Chuck Palahnuik's commercial satire. He's biting and witty and spot on. Nowhere is this more evident than in Fight Club. I loved this book when I read it for an undergrad fiction course (after the movie had come out) and still love it. I also loved the movie more. That's saying something. It's brilliantly acted by the truly awesome Edward Norton...and Brad Pitt wasn't too shabby either (hello beat up Brad and a truly gorgeous ab shot). The movie was able to portray, perhaps more vividly, the true satirical genius of the novel. It reaches out and grabs the viewer, forcing them to scrutinize their own lives. Epic.

I don't think that anyone or anything can top Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice; at least not in my book. Both the BBC version and the Hollywood version are beautifully shot, wonderfully acted, and heartwarming in their entirety. I love both and will watch either whenever I get the chance (though I have to set aside a good chunk of time for the BBC version). Austen's critique and portrayal of class systems and relationships are relevant to today's society, though perhaps not as rigid as they used to be. It's definitely a novel and movie(s) that can and will stand the test of time. I love anything and everything to do with Pride & Prejudice and can not recommend it more.

And there you have it. My top picks for adaptations of books. The ranking order for movies could definitely change by March...I am so incredibly excited for The Hunger Games!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Movies that are infinitely better than the original books:

~Anything written by Nicholas Sparks (A Walk to Remember, The Last Song, The Notebook)

Teaser Tuesday...Balzac Reminds Me of Van Wilder

2011-12-13T14:18:00.000-08:00

So I realize that I was a complete slacker last week and didn't post a "Why I Love...Wednesday" or a book review (and I did finish two books!). I'm going to remedy that this week...haha. Regardless, it is Tuesday and it's times for a teaser. This week's teaser comes from Dai Sijie's Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, which I am starting for one of my book clubs.

"Lou broke the silence. 'I expect they're books,' he said. 'The way you keep your suitcase locked up and hidden away is enough to betray your secret: you've got a stash of forbidden books.'" (49).

I've had this book on my To-Read list for ages and am so glad that it was chosen for our selection this month. Yay!

Teaser Tuesday...A Short History Lesson

2011-12-06T18:17:00.000-08:00

And I'm finally home from proctoring my last final of the term AND participating in a massive Writing 115 grading session. My brain is mush and I am in rare form. It's a wonder I can even write a coherent sentence, let alone an entire post. But, since it's Tuesday, a teaser is a must! Today's blurb comes from Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything. Thank you Wallace Books for this literary gem!!

"Perhaps nothing speaks more clearly of our psychological remoteness from the ocean depths than that the main expressed goal for oceanographers during International Geophysical Year, 1957/8, was to study 'the use of ocean depths for the dumping of radioactive wastes'. This wasn't a secret assignment, you understand, but a proud public boast. In fact, though it wasn't much publicized, by 1957/8 the dumping of radioactive wastes had already been going on, with a certain appalling vigour, for over a decade. Since 1946, the United States had been ferrying 55-gallon drums of radioactive gunk out to the Fallarone Islands, some 50 kilometres off the California coast near San Fransisco, where it simply threw them overboard" (342).

SAY WHAT!!!! This book is truly fascinating! Thank you, Bill Bryson! And now I am abstaining from reading anything for a bit...maybe...

Why I Love...Stand Alone Novels

2011-11-30T19:06:00.000-08:00

It was a beautiful, sunny day here in the PNW, though I forgot to take a picture of it (I even thought to myself while I was driving home from work: "take a picture of the sky because it's an amazingly nice November day. That doesn't often happen here"). However, that has absolutely nothing to do with today's post. I just thought I'd share :)

Instead, it's time for "Why I Love". This week's topic is....series or stand alone novels. Intriguing and important! While both have their positive and negative attributes, I have to give the honor to those novels that can stand alone. Those that don't depend on anything else to make them complete. Those that come full circle within the given pages. It's so satisfying in that respect.

Don't get me wrong, I love a series just as much as the next girl (Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, The Hunger Games, and Stephanie Plum to name a few), but there's something about a stand alone novel that pulls you in and keeps you there while satisfying you completely by the time you've finished. There is a sense of completion and a feeling of...zen...for lack of a better word. I like the fact that you don't have to wait impatiently (in my case) for the next portion to come out and there are no real cliffhangers, besides between chapters.

In fact, when I list out a few of my all-time favorite books, all of them are stand alone novels:


Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind...I first read this in the 8th grade and, soon after, became obsessed with anything and everything having to do with the Civil War.

W.G. Sebald's Austerlitz ...I read this novel in an undergrad course taught by a great instructor (and mentor) named Kit Andrews. It's a brilliant novel with rare paragraph breaks and photographs throughout.

Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children...Again, I read this book in a senior course in undergrad taught by the great Gavin Keulks. This was the ONLY book we read the entire term. It's dense and awesome! Rushdie had a magical complexity that he weaves throughout this novel.

Italo Calvino's The Baron in the Trees...Another course taught by Kit Andrews introduced me to this writer. This was the first book I ever read by Calvino and it is among my favorites. Nearly all of us have spent time climbing trees as children, Cosimo (the lead character) just takes this childhood pastime to new heights.

...and I could go on and on into infinity...seriously.

Every single one is not part of a series. They're all epic in their own way and every single one has fully developed, complex characters that could easily fill a series but doesn't need to. So...three cheers for the stand alone novel!!!

Teaser Tuesday...Evidently Cannibals are Sexy...

2011-11-29T16:10:00.000-08:00

Today's teaser comes from a book lent to me by a friend, J. Maarten Troost's The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific. It's a travelogue, and we all know how much I enjoy travel and people who write about travel. However, I don't think that the island of Tarawa, where Troost heads, would necessarily be my destination. But who knows, it could be intriguing!

"But we had a few illusions and no one, certainly not Kate, a walking spout of bilious bile, was going to deprive us of what we wanted to see. We had traveled far, uprooted our lives, moved to the end of the world, and there was no way we were going to concede that we had made a mistake." (35)

Sounds fascinating...and comical!!!

Tarawa, a remote South Pacific island in the Republic of Kiribati

Top Ten of 2011 Event

2011-11-27T12:43:00.000-08:00

Yet another great thing to participate in!!!

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The Low-Down

Monday 12/26 – Top 10 Books I’ve read in 2011

Tuesday 12/27 – Top 10 Book Covers of 2011

Wednesday 12/28 – Top 10 Book Boyfriends in 2011

Thursday 12/29 – Top 10 Characters in 2011 (This can be anything you’d like to make it for characters. You can post your favorite Villains, etc. Just be sure that this post is character based.)

Friday 12/30 – Top 10 Books I’m looking forward to in 2012 (Also on this day, we’ll each be adding some kind of a recap of the total number of books read, pages read, etc. This part of the post is optional. Feel free to add any stats you’d like to share with everyone. So, if you’d like to also include some end of year stats, feel free to join us!)

I came across this on a site that hosts a few meme's that I participate in and thought it sounded like a great idea, so I decided to join in. It's hosted by a few other blogs and there's a complete explanation at the link that follows. Sounds like fun to me! Here's the link to participate if anyone is interested!

An Encounter with the Jersey Devil...Among Others

2011-11-27T12:17:00.000-08:00

I just finished a Stephanie Plum between-the-number novel, Plum Spooky, and have to say that I enjoyed it for the quick read that it was. I've read a few of the in between novels and have always been a little disappointed in them. I think this stems from the fact that Morelli and Ranger are not prominently present. Such a tragedy. However, I did find this one entertaining, even without those two, and despite the fact that there was a certain amount of the paranormal/science fiction aspect to it. Not too shabby.

The novel centers around Stephanie (obviously) and her rather inept attempts at capturing a high-bond skip: Martin Munch. There are a couple lesser skips that she runs down during this long search, Gordo Bollo is a rather comical one who enjoys throwing fruits at Stephanie to escape, but the majority of the time is spent trying to ferret out Munch. Munch has fallen in with a scary guy, Wulf, who is busy eluding Diesel, a guy who randomly appears in Stephanie's apartment on occasion before disappearing just as quickly. Diesel and Stephani, along with a rather entertaining monkey named Carl who likes to flip everyone the bird and is entrusted into Stephanie's care, work together to track Munch and Wulf down and get into many scrapes along the way. Some of the highlights of these events are getting lost in the Barren Pines woods, falling into swamps, being in the cross hairs of a tomato fight, traveling with a guy who farts fire, being kidnapped and threatened about becoming a sex slave, and blowing up a mine. It's an entertaining jaunt.

Ultimately, I did enjoy this between-the-numbers selection. And even if I hadn't, it only cost me a dollar to purchase. Thank you Dollar Tree!

Why I Love...W.P.B.!

2011-11-23T17:49:00.000-08:00

Well, hello Wednesday. It's nice to see you again! I'm getting a little bit of a late start on my "Why I Love" post this week because it's so hard to come up with one favorite book family, which is this week's topic. Now, because I couldn't narrow it down enough to not include these three families, I simply ranked them in order!

The Weasleys

This should be a given for anyone who knows me (and for anyone who's read some of my past posts) because I always manage to weave in a little Harry Potter reference somewhere in my discussion. However, this one is completely applicable. Every single Weasley family member is so fully developed, even those who don't show up often. The dynamics between the members are beautifully portrayed and each character is lovable in their own way (even Percy at times). The Weasley family is one that makes the most of their situation, doesn't begrudge anyone who might have more in a monetary sense, and loves each other unconditionally. It's such a wonderful display of family and all the intricacies that come with it. They're amazing.

The Plums

Though not your typical lovey-dovey family, the Plums from the popular Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich is hilarious enough to land them among my favorites. There's Stephanie, the divorced pseudo-bounty hunter, her mom, the full-fledged Italian peacemaker who cooks a mean roast and mashed potatoes, Stephanie's dad, a retired postman who uses his car as a taxi service and watches a lot of baseball, and Grandma Mazur, Stephanie's mom's mom who is crazy as all get out and brassy as hell. I think she's my favorite. The dynamics in this family are almost the complete opposite of the Weasleys. They argue, fight, and bicker almost continuously, but the underlying love is apparent. They're an entertaining bunch.

The Bennets

It's no surprise that Jane Austin's Bennets are counted among some of my favorite book families. Although there are times when I dislike some of the members, as a whole I have to say that they are wonderful. There is an undying love that is displayed between the children and the elder Bennets and this love is tried several times throughout the novel. Despite the drawbacks and hurdles, the Bennets stay true to each other regardless of their circumstances. What a lovely bunch (of coconuts).

I'd Rather Murder this Book on the Eiffel Tower than Read It Again

2011-11-22T18:22:00.000-08:00

Claude Izner's Murder on the Eiffel Tower is TERRIBLE!!! If you pass one book over during this holiday season, make sure it's this one. Oh man. So bad!

I borrowed this book from a friend last week and it sounded promising. She said it was different, had an odd voice to it, and that she was waiting to make up her mind about it. That should have been a sign. Alas, I read the whole thing...and feel like I've lost a few braincells while doing so.

The novel follows a group of middle to high class individuals through Paris during the 1889 World Exposition Fair (the one where the Eiffel Tower was unveiled). What follows is a case of whodunnit. There is a murder...and then another...and another...and another...yet they are all chalked up to the work of killer bees by the police. What?! Unless you are a character from NBC's Grimm, this is simply not plausible. Victor Legris, a bookseller, is present at the first murder and soon embarks on his own personal investigation when another body shows up. He begins to suspect nearly everyone he comes into contact with; namely Kenji, his adoptive father for all intensive purposes, Tasha, an artist/reporter and Victor's love interest, Danilo, Tasha's opera singing neighbor, and a few others. Eventually the reader does find out who the killer actually is and why they chose to murder the people that they did.

Sounds promising, right? Not so. None of the characters have any redeeming qualities. Victor is a bumbling, jumpy idiot, Kenji is a stoic, reserved ass, Tasha is a flat character who offers nothing to the reader. In fact, as a reader you almost dislike every single character; at least I did. In addition to that, the entire storyline was jumbled and confusing. Once the murderer is revealed, the knowledge doesn't make any sense. I honestly didn't even remember who the person was when they was revealed. Awful. Supposedly this is the first in a series and, if that's true, shoot me now!

Please...don't waste your time. Instead, watch Grimm on NBC Friday night's at 9pm. It's awesome and, even more awesome, it's set in Portland!!! Go Oregon!!!! (not the Ducks).

Teaser Tuesday...Bring Me Some Coffee!

2011-11-22T17:09:00.000-08:00

It's a rainy, windy, out of control day here in the Pacific Northwest (seriously...I feel like the roof is going to be ripped off the top of the house right now), but I am a dedicated Teaser Tuesday poster and, fear not, I will not let you down! Today's teaser comes from a book that I am two pages into as I started it this morning and then got distracted by shopping (whoops). My selection is from Alexander McCall Smith's second installation in the 44 Scotland Street series and is called Espresso Tales.

"Stuart looked frantically about the room. It would be possible to make a run for it now, he thought. Lard would be unable to run after them, with that bulk of his, but he had heard sounds out in the hall and he had assumed that there were other men, apart from Gerry, in the house. These gangsters rarely had just one side-kick, he remembered." (177)

And now I want some coffee...

A Shining Knight is Kind of Dim in my Opinion...(Book #18)

2011-11-19T14:15:00.000-08:00

Finally knocked out another book in the A-Z challenge; it's been a while since I've selected a book that will work for the challenge. I originally had a different novel chosen for the letter "K", but I decided to choose something that I knew I could get through quickly in an effort to finish up the challenge. Thank you Jude Deveraux for providing me with such a choice in A Knight in Shining Armor (one of my 50 centers from the Friends of the Library sale).

Reading the synopsis of this novel really presented me with not much to go on. I thought it was going to be a historical novel, but I was mistaken...kind of.

Knight follows Dougless along her journey to love and self-acceptance in 1988. She is on vacation in England with her significant other (a self-centered ass) and his spoiled brat of a daughter. Trouble ensues and she's left to fend for herself without anything to her name. Cue the entrance of Nicholas Stafford, an earl from the sixteenth century. Yeah...the sixteenth century. Both Dougless and Nicholas need something from the other, though neither of them truly discovers what that is until much later in the book. And that's the premise of the novel.

Now, I tend to like historical romance novels. However, I do not really enjoy historical romances with contemporary characters who travel through time and dimensions. Especially when both characters do so more than once. Deveraux, in the "Dear Reader" section (yes, I read those), explains that Knight is her favorite novel and lists several reasons why this is so. That's great and all, but I have to disagree. I was actually disappointed in this book. Yeah, it was okay and it moved along (at times), however I did not like the end and I really didn't like the characters very much. Dougless wasn't a character that I could feel for. I was angry with her because of how weak she was and how she wasn't very self-sufficient. Also, Nicholas wasn't the ideal leading man and I couldn't bring myself to believe their love. To top it off, the end of the book was a let down...for me, at least.

Why I Love...Draco Malfoy

2011-11-16T15:16:00.000-08:00

It's hard to find a specific character in a book that you hate but love at the same time. Most of the time you hate them with a passion, feel indifferent, or, in rare cases, love them despite their many shortcomings. Because of that, this week's "Why I Love" is dedicated to my favorite villain; one that I love despite his MANY shortcomings.

Draco Malfoy. The poor kid! I know, I know. Many people absolutely hate the white-blonde snot, but for some reason I felt sorry for him more than I hated him. For me, Draco was a victim of circumstance. He grew up with parents who demonstrated a hate for the "other" and didn't really know a different view of the world. In many ways, he is like Harry. Whoa...did I just say that? Yes, I did! Though Draco had parents, who loved him in their own way, he was also brought up in an environment that did not encourage outward displays of affection or acceptance. He was stunted in his development at a young age and this definitely effected how he interacted with people and creatures who he did not understand. Growing up in a "superior" household, and constantly being taught that you are better than other people, really does wonders for your psyche. Also, due to his privileged upbringing, Draco was not accustomed to being questioned about his actions or thoughts. This led him to embrace his "God" complex and, when confronted by his peers and whatnot, he acts out (though he does question his motives at times). You especially see this in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Draco has such a wonderful development as the books go on and, despite the fact that he never really moves away from his thoughts of superiority, you do see that he is ashamed of his father at the end of the books. This is a HUGE step for him and one of the many reasons he is my favorite villain.

I could have included many other characters in this post, namely villains that I absolutely hate (Lord Voldemort, Bellatrix, Moriarty, The Voltari, Alec d'Urberville, Sauron, Claudius, and so on), but I contained myself.

Teaser Tuesday...Traveling Back in Time (Kind Of...Sort Of)

2011-11-15T14:27:00.000-08:00

Today's teaser is brought to you by the letter K! I am still trying to get through my A-Z Book Challenge (I keep reading books starting with letters that I've already read), so I grabbed one that will count toward that specific challenge. Though it wasn't the original intention for the letter, I felt like I was so far behind that I grabbed one I knew I could get through quickly. So, because of that, this teaser comes from Jude Deveraux's A Knight in Shining Armor; it's one of my Friends of the Library purchases!

"As she hung up, Dougless realized she wasn't surprised by the coincidence. It seemed that some kind of wish therapy was at work. Every time she wished for something, she got it. She wished for a Knight in Shining Armor and he had appeared (a crazy one who thought he was from the sixteenth century, but a man in armor no less); she wished for money and he had a bag of coins worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. Now she needed reservations to an exclusive hotel and of course they had a vacancy." (60)

I don't normally go for the supernatural type of books, but this sounded interesting (the synopsis didn't mention anything about traveling through time). It's been okay so far. Just waiting for something really exciting to happen. Happy Tuesday!

But Who's the Wolf??????

2011-11-14T15:23:00.000-08:00

Just finished Sarah Blakley-Cartwright's Red Riding Hood and I am not amused! I had, I guess unreasonably, high hopes for this adaptation of the classic fairytale. Alas, I was let down. The story was interesting and kept me involved, however I felt completely let down by so much of the book.

Hood follows the experience of Valerie and the village she lives in. Every full moon a family must sacrifice one piece of their livestock to appease the werewolf who haunts their village. One fateful harvest there is the rarely occurring blood moon. This is where all the action starts. There is a vicious killing of one of the villagers and, literally, all hell breaks loose. The one killing leads to broken loyalties, paranoia, questions of faith, and more deaths. Of course there is also a love triangle between Valerie, Henry, and Peter that plays into the action of the story, but the reader doesn't have to think hard to know who Valerie will end up with. It's a decent storyline, right?

But then things go all wonky. There are loose ends that are never tied up. The identity of the werewolf is never truly revealed. The ending leaves a ton of questions for the reader. There were incongruities with some of the plot lines and some sequences of action did not add up. That's what disappointed me so much. Overall, it was a quick read and, though it left me a little frustrated, it wasn't absolutely atrocious. Meh.

The last page in the book tells you to go to a website to see if this is truly the end of Valerie's story, so, naturally, I visited the website. It offered another chapter that was very abrupt (didn't match up to how the book actually ended) and then reveals who the werewolf is. I still didn't find it convincing.

I still want to see the movie even though I heard it wasn't very good. I do know, based on the Preface, that the book was writing solely based on the screenplay and that the finished movie veers away from that. So...

44 Scotland Street Makes Me Teary-Eyed

2011-11-14T15:10:00.000-08:00

That's right! Alexander McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street makes me teary-eyed. Not because of the plot or characters or anything like that, but because of the fact that I can close my eyes and see exactly what the characters are seeing. I can walk and ride along with them in every aspect. Sad and teary-eyed because I miss it so much. Ugh. Now I don't even want to write this. My dreary day (though fantastic weather-wise with it's overcast skies, slight mist, and chilly breeze) is now reflected with a dreary mood :(

A view of the lovely sky from my backyard today.

Anywho...moving on to the book. LOVED IT! I like the fact that McCall Smith originally created this as a serial and ran it in The Scotsman every week and I can only image how fans reacted. Personally, I would have found it nearly impossible to wait for the next installment to come out. Oh the pins and needles! However, since there are currently five books in the series, I think I'm good for the moment.

44 Scotland Street follows the inhabitants of a recommissioned row house located, fittingly, at 44 Scotland Street (it's a real place, too) and boy are they an eccentric bunch. There's Bruce, the egotistical, chauvinist who makes absolutely no effort to make himself likeable and who thinks the world revolves around him. There's Pat, Bruce's recently moved in roommate who is on her second gap year while trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life and failing miserably. Next is Domenica, the older, single neighbor of Bruce and Pat who has the best stories and adventures to tell to anyone. She is also the character who calls it like she sees it. Then there's Bertie who is five and lives below the other three characters. He's a little boy with entirely too much on his plate, pushed onto him by his overbearing mother, and all he wants to do is go to the school of his choice, play rugby, have a friend, and learn about trains. Bertie's mother, Irene, is his arch-nemesis. She's overprotective, judgmental, and completely delusional when it comes to her son and to life. There are other characters who are integral parts to the story as well, but none of whom live at 44 Scotland Street. Notable mentions are: Matthew, Pat's boss at the art gallery; Big Lou, the proprietress of the cafe that Matthew frequents; Todd and Sasha, Bruce's boss and his wife; and Angus Lordie, a painter and friend of Domenica's.

Throughout the story there are many misconceptions that the characters have about each other. There is also a psychotherapist, a break in and attempted robbery, a lost painting, unrequited love, and an encounter with Ian Rankin to round things out. It's a frolicking, entertaining, and at times angering read, but well worth it. I can't wait to start the second book in the series to see where the characters are at now.

Why I Love...A Multitude of Authors

2011-11-09T15:23:00.000-08:00

As someone who has made books and reading their profession, it is very difficult for me to choose a favorite author. But there are several who stand out in my eyes and that's why this week's "Why I Love" is dedicated to my favorite author...or authors in my case :)

First, and foremost, I have to include Italo Calvino who is a notable Cuban-Italian writer. I first encountered the brilliance that is Calvino's writing in an undergrad English course and have since sought out everything he's written, even going so far as to take a grad course dedicated to him. The first book I read of his was The Baron in the Trees. Pure magical brilliance! He's also written a lot of literary theory and critiques on the notion of time as it's represented in literature. I have to say that my absolute favorite novel by Calvino is If on a winter's night a traveler... which is a unique piece of work in that it doesn't follow the traditional formula of novels at all. The reader is heavily involved and constantly stunted right when they're getting into the story. It's absolute literary genius! I highly recommend it. In addition to these works, Calvino was also involved with a group of writers and mathematicians in a society called Oulipo whose goal was to write stories and novels using mathematical principles and techniques. He's a genius. READ HIS STUFF!

Recently, I have come across a contemporary American author (not normal for me as I tend to gravitate toward European authors) who has completely captured my heart and attention. The first novel I read by Chris Bohjalian was Skeletons at the Feast. This was a selection for my Edinburgh book club, which I will be forever grateful to for introducing his writing into my life, and I loved it for several reason. First, it is set during my favorite era, WWII, and it's a fascinating story. So good. Since that fateful time I have sought and read everything written by him, including his blog where he discusses just about everything in a very engaging way. What I love about his writing is that, in every book that I've read so far, he tells the story from several different people's perspectives. All of his books deal with heavy, interesting, and oftentimes controversial issues and Bohjalian does a brilliant job at making these issues accessible to the reader while simultaneously treating them with the sensitivity that each requires. Ever single time I walk into a bookstore now, I always look to see if they have one of his books that I don't already own. He's amazing.

And, finally, how can I have a post about favorite authors and not include JK Rowling?!? She's absolutely brilliant. I think that I will continue to reread HP for the rest of my life. No joke. The atmosphere that Rowling was able to create in those books is absolutely astounding and I love getting lost in that world. They're so intricate and well done. It was love at first word the moment I opened the first book. Sigh. I also loved that, while I was living in Edinburgh, I was able to haunt her writing spots throughout the city (The Elephant House, The Balmoral Hotel, and other less known places). Yes! On a happy note though, the last installment of the films comes out this Friday!!

Others who should be on the list (but I had to limit myself):
~Paul Celan
~Jane Austen
~Elizabeth Gaskell
~Jorge Luis Borges
~Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
~Nora Roberts

Books Galore!

2011-11-08T13:50:00.000-08:00

This past weekend was the annual Friends of the Albany Library book sale at the fairgrounds and I picked all of these lovely, wonderful, heartwarming books up for a mere 23 bucks! I love this sale and always mark it in my calendar. Also, I could have bought a lot more and spent even longer perusing the tables, but my Powell's tote was full :( Next year I'm bringing two bags! Now I just have to wait for the Friends of the Corvallis Library sale to add to my continually growing selection.

Teaser Tuesday...Beware the Big, Bad Wolf!

2011-11-08T13:36:00.000-08:00

This week's teaser comes from one of my finds from the Dollar Tree that cost me, you guessed it, a whole dollar! Whew...almost broke the bank there! So, without further ado, I give you Sarah Blakley-Cartwright's Red Riding Hood (adapted from the screenplay written by David Leslie Johnson):

"Suzette was thinking she'd rather the visitors begin to leave, but hearing steps ascending the ladder, she still opened the door, moving onto the porch in anticipation and closing the door behind her against the snow.  But when she saw the dark head come into view, she wished she hadn't.  She recognized him even after all these years." (111)

I haven't yet started the book as I'm finishing up another one, trying to finish up grading for the end of the term, applying to a PhD program, and participating in National Novel Writing Month. Needless to say my plate's kind of full, but I have every intention of starting this book by this weekend. Yay for Veteran's Day and a day off to catch up on all of the above!!

Why I Love...A Book in my Hands

2011-11-02T18:29:00.000-07:00

I've been known to read anywhere and everywhere. True statement. There are very few places that I am unable to read; namely cars and double decker buses (found both out the hard way). When I was little, I was able to read in cars, no problem. However, as I've grown older, I find that I tend to get a little motion sickness if I don't watch the road the entire time. Either that, or I have to close my eyes for the duration of the trip. Regardless, I've discovered that I can read just about anywhere aside from those two places. So, because of this, I dedicate this week's "Why I Love" to my favorite reading spot...THE WORLD as long as I have a book in my hands!

I'm quite comfortable hunkering down in any given spot, cracking open whatever book is in my bag, and losing myself in the world it provides. This ability has provided me with many escapes from the everyday world and helped to pass hours and hours. I find this incredibly true when confronted with a seven hour plane ride to Europe...or a fourteen hour one to Japan. Either way, reading on a plane is, honestly, one of my favorite places to read. I don't know why; the seats are uncomfortable; some of the people smell; it's stuffy. But...they bring you drinks, snacks, and food (if the flight's long enough). You never have to get up and get them yourself. I find this awesome (and lazy, but oh well). I also like that I can just pop my iPod in and ignore just about everything around me. It's rare to get that much uninterrupted reading time in. I think that's why I like it so much.

The same concept can apply to train rides as well. I traveled a lot by train when I was living in Austria, and Scotland too, so having a book to occupy my time was always something that I counted on. Though the majority of the rides tended to be fairly short (usually no more than 30 minutes), there were those occasions when my roommate, Lindsey, and I would decide to get out of town for the weekend and hop on a train to a destination anywhere from three to eight hours away. We took one twelve hour train ride (to Venice), but that was an overnighter, so we slept...kind of. I loved sitting by the window in a rushing train traveling through unknown countrysides with a book in my hands and my iPod blasting some great music. It was so relaxing and a wonderful way to while away the hours.


On the train to Glasgow (or North Berwick) from Edinburgh.

Lastly, anywhere that offers a nice, cozy place to plop myself down and read is, naturally, on my list. I like to curl up with a blanket, some coffee (or tea), and a great book. I'm good to go sitting on a couch, in a comfy chair, in bed, or at a coffee shop. As long as I have my trusty book, I don't complain.

My nest at Binks and Shelly's flat in Edinburgh.

I guess you could basically say that I will read anywhere and everywhere. I don't really care where I'm at. I'll pull a book out and just lose myself whenever the mood strikes me.

Portland's a Crazy Little Bitch!

2011-11-01T15:02:00.000-07:00

"I wonder how people think of Portland from the outside. Is it a hippie haven where everyone reads Ken Kesey and hangs out at open mike night? Is it the gray, grungy, junkie-riddled streets of early Gus Van Sant movies? A cheap, trendy town full of myopic record labels and zinesters? Sex worker paradise? Bookstore heaven? A place where New Yorkers come to feel important and/or relaxed? Some wet old logging town that somehow became "one of the best cities in America"?

Yeah, it's all that and a fancy coffee spilled on your Gore-Tex jacket (the same one you soiled with microbrew last night)."

~Kevin Sampsell

What a lovely...and TRUE...introduction to Portland Noir, a wonderful collection of seedy stories set throughout Portland, written by local authors. The collection really does showcase the different sections of the city (Burnside, St. Johns, Mount Tabor, Powell, Oaks Bottom, etc.) and the sub-culture that is inherently threaded through its identity. I really enjoyed reading the dark portrayals and the fact that, in nearly every story, the city functions as a prominent character. A wonderful little read and find in, where else, a Portland used bookstore. Yes!

It's difficult to review a compilation, so I'll just say this: every single story in this collection is wonderful. Yes, some are better than others, but for the most part I enjoyed everything that was included. Some standouts were: Luciana Lopez's "Julia Now," Jonathan Selwood's "The Wrong House," and Gigi Little's "Shanghaied." Great stuff.

"Me, I love good lore. Lore is my favorite kind of story. Because it's not only historical, it's a lie everyone knows is a lie but tells anyway."

~Gigi Little

Teaser Tuesday...Reminiscing about Edinburgh

2011-11-01T14:35:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the week where I put forth a little gem of lovely from whatever book I'm reading (at least the one closest to me at the time). For this week's edition, I've just started Alexander McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street, the first in the series. Yay for Scotland (I miss you)!! And the teaser...

"'Psychotherapy," said Bertie, gazing down at the floor. 'I set fire to Daddy's Guardian.' He paused, and looked up at Domenica. 'While he was reading it.'" (222)

A view of the back of 44 Scotland Street in Edinburgh, Scotland

I'm really enjoying this book so far...for several reasons.

Why I Love...Paperback Books

2011-10-26T16:07:00.000-07:00

With the new development of gadgets that allow you to access books with the simple touch of a button, the entire way that we read has shifted. We now have the ability to carry around thousands of books in one single device. While I like the convenience of this trend, I just can't jump on board. For that reason, this edition of "Why I Love" is dedicated to the paperback book, otherwise known as my favorite book form/format.

I am probably one of the few "literary-driven" people left who does not own an e-reader of any kind. My sister (who doesn't read nearly as much as I do) got one for Christmas and, while I did enjoy playing around on it, I was so much more excited to receive an actual book. One that I could grasp, physically flip through, and smell. These are all traits that I cherish when I think about books or reading.

I like to hold onto books (I carry one with me at all times and normally read multiple books at a time) and feel the weight they give to whatever bag I'm carrying. Of course this is probably not the greatest thing for my back or shoulders, but I always find that something comes up when I need to fill a little down-time during my day. I've been known to read in my car while waiting at the train tracks. While I could do this with an e-reader, it just wouldn't be the same because I'd have to power it up and all that jazz. Not something I would look forward to.

This same notion of having to access power qualifies yet another reason I prefer paperbacks over e-readers. I actually do a bit of traveling and, unlike those who bring e-readers to occupy their time on an airplane, I don't have to power my paperback down. I can continue reading and immersing myself in another world as the plane takes off and lands. Though there is a downside to this, I admit. Because I'm a quick reader, I have to bring more than one book on any trip I take which adds to the weight of my luggage (if I check it). But I don't find that to be too much of a burden, honestly.

Also, I find that, because my job requires so much work staring at a screen and researching on the internet, I don't like to spend my free reading time staring at yet another screen. I do like the fact that there isn't a glare on the e-readers, but I would rather look at a dull page in a physical book and leave electronics behind for a little bit.

I think the main reason that I enjoy a physical book so much is due to the fact that I absolutely love the smell of them. The paper, the ink, the glue...all offer a sense of comfort and nostalgia that remind me of wonderful times when I escaped this world and lived vicariously through the characters on the pages. I remember a time when my dear friend Sandy, who I've been friends with for nearly twenty years, told me, jokingly, to go spend time with my "real" friends (those pesky characters). It's still something we refer to every now and then and laugh about because she has become a more avid reader as we've aged.

These are all reasons that add to my love of paperback books. Plus, I really enjoy breaking the spine :)

I managed to make a nest out of Michelle's bedding and such one day in Edinburgh...note the paperback!

Teaser Tuesday...Oddities in Portland

2011-10-25T16:56:00.000-07:00

This week's teaser is going to be a little different than the normal installation. I was in Portland at one of my favorite coffee shops this last weekend catching up with my German professor from undergrad and a dear friend, Jenna. After our elixir of life get-together, Jenna and I decided to hit up one of my favorite used bookstores in the area (not Powell's...that's on the other side of town) and browse through the book-packed rooms of the establishment. While on this adventure, I came across Portland Noir, a collection of contemporary short stories written by local authors, edited by Kevin Sampsell. So, because this isn't a traditional book, I will be teasing a line from every selection! Here goes:

Karen Karbo "The Clown and Bard"
"Now Charlotte's lying on my bathroom floor, wedged between the hot water pipe and the toilet. Is it laying or lying? Charlotte would know. She has a master's degree and a daily subscription to the New York Times." (19)

Luciana Lopez "Julia Now"
"Henry Lewis laughed out loud, a choking sound that brought up something from deep in his lungs. 'He cheats,' Henry Lewis said. 'You ain't caught him, but he cheats.'" (51)

Ariel Gore "Water Under the Bridge"
"I got up to use the bathroom. No Ladies and Gents at Dots Cafe. Just It, Doesn't, and Matter. I walked into Matter." (55)

Floyd Skloot "Alzheimer's Noir"
"Jimmy can see anyway. He leads me and I follow. The trail rises and dips, follows the contours of the bluff. I think I'm doing well with the tricky footing for an old man. Then I realize Jimmy is carrying me." (76)

Dan DeWeese "The Sleeper"
"The next time I saw the boy, I was glancing through the screen door as I always did, my eye scanning the bright rectangle of light. The adults were there as usual, smoking cigarettes and watching television, but standing at the door was the child in his sleeper, looking back at me." (90)

Jonathan Selwood "The Wrong House"
"She leaves the room and I'm left to ponder why she speaks native Mex slang, who the hell Esteban is, and why the bitch doesn't even know what's in her own medicine cabinet. I look down again at the bullet hole in my hoodie. There's still no blood." (108)

Monica Drake "Baby, I'm Here"
"The tavern air was murky, thick with sweat, beer, and smoke, but warmer than outside. And it was dark. Instant night, in the middle of the day. Scattered popcorn on the carpet was the glow of stars. I looked for the North Star, some guiding light in that mess, like an explorer let loose on a new world." (123)

Bill Cameron "Coffee, Black"
"The only reason I originally agreed to the stakeout was because of her. RJ has been trying to get me involved in freelance investigation since I retired, but it took a coffee case and a fat paycheck to get my attention." (148)

Jamie S. Rich and Joelle Jones "Gone Doggy Gone
"One thing they don't teach you in the movies...when you're running for your life...you don't have the time to think. You just act." (163)

Jess Walter "Virgo"
"Then one day in early October, when we'd stopped having sex altogether, I did it. I goosed her horoscope. Virgo was supposed to have three stars and I changed it to five." (180)

Chris A. Bolton "The Red Room"
"Sometimes they smoked a joint in bed afterwards and she told him stories about all the weird customer incidents at Powell's." (192)

Justin Hocking "Burnside Forever"
"I take a bad slam on my elbow. I lie there for a while, looking at the underside of the bridge, all black and sooty and painted with pigeon shit, like an old cathedral. My elbow turns into a swellbow, the size of a baseball, the way it always does." (211)

Zoe Trope "Hummingbird"
"Inside, I help her decipher the wall of fake wieners." (221)

Gigi Little "Shanghaied"
"I get the egg-on-the-head thing, the kick in the gut, but my eyes grab hold of hers and don't let go. Panic turns so easy into thrill. I stare her down until she turns away." (240)

Megan Kruse "Lila"
"I slept deeper that night than I had in what felt like years. In the dark I reached out and felt the curve of Lila's bare back, the raised scar on her shoulder blade, and then slipped into some dream that later I couldn't remember." (255)

Kimberly Warner-Cohen "People are Strange"
"Whoever said Portland was a friendly city stated it from the comfortable vantage of already knowing people." (257)

And there you have it. A wonderful collection of Noir stories based in Portland that showcase the seedier side of the once very seedy town. It's been quite good so far!

A beautiful view of Portland with Mt. Hood in the background.

Keep it weird, Portland!

Amanda Rogers aka Portia de Rossi (Book #16...or 17...I can't count)

2011-10-24T17:17:00.000-07:00

"It seems to me that it's only since around 1970 that the concept of diet and exercise has existed in the way it does now, which is based on exertion and restriction being the key to weight loss, and yet since then, we have seen an increase in obesity in countries that have adopted it. (These are also the countries where the fast-food industry boomed during that time.) The diet industry is making a lot of money selling us fad diets, nonfat foods full of chemicals, gym memberships, and pills while we lose a little of our self-esteem every time we fail another diet or neglect to use the gym membership we can barely afford." (302)

~ Portia de Rossi

It's interesting, but I've never really thought about dieting as an industry as the above except from Portia de Rossi's memoir, Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain, declares it to be. And, honestly, I have to say that I agree with her. There are so many different fad diets out there that claim you'll lose weight quickly, you'll be in the best shape of your life, you'll feel better than ever. What they neglect to tell the consumer is that, as soon as you stop taking their "magic" pill, you gain everything back...plus some. It really does wreak havoc with your self-esteem, your body image, and your body in general. You do feel like a complete failure. It's disheartening and disingenuous. Shame on you diet industry!

De Rossi does a great job of bringing the reader into the mind of self-denial and delusion that one suffering from anorexia and bulimia believes. Some of the "truths" are absolutely shocking. The extremes that she would go to in order to "look good" for Hollywood were heartbreaking and atrocious. To imagine you were never thin enough at 82 pounds is mind-boggling. The blame she places on her father and her mother at times, only to realize that they had no control over how she reacted to comments and judgments directed toward her, shows the reader the lack of responsibility that she felt toward her condition. I think that her foray into the modeling industry at such a young, developing age was more the culprit than anyone or anything else. To be told at the age of 12 that you have a saggy ass and need to work out has to be devastating and definitely has a negative effect on the body image of a developing teen. It's no wonder de Rossi had such horrific body image issues.

Left: A glimpse at one of her lightest points. Right: A more healthy de Rossi.

She chronicles her struggles with constant weight issues, moving from the most extreme weight loss and weight gain. She also explains the struggle she still faces every day when it comes to her weight. Yes, she's at a healthy weight for her body type and height. Yes, she's finally happy with who she is and where she is in her life. All in all, it's a beautiful journey filled with tragedy...and very few calories.

The Help and a Lesson in Fighting for What's Right

2011-10-20T20:37:00.000-07:00

"You is kind. You is smart. You is important."

After putting off Kathryn Stockett's The Help for months, I was finally forced to read it for one of my many (and ever-growing) book clubs. Thank you Misty (and whoever from the group suggested it be our next book)! I think I put off reading it for so long because of how much it's been touted since it's publication. There has been so much hype and so many people saying how fantastic it is that I was terrified it wouldn't live up to it. That it would fail at impressing me and leave me even more jaded with public opinion (cue Justin Bieber). However, now that I've read it, I can honestly say that this novel DOES live up to everything that's been said about it. It's absolutely wonderful! It is sharp. It is witty. It is sad. It is infuriating. It is so much.

The novel takes place in the early 1960s and centers around three women: Aibileen, Minny, and Skeeter. Two of these characters, Aibileen and Minny, are black maids in the homes of two Jackson, Mississippi families, while Skeeter is a young, privileged, white woman, also in Jackson, who happens to be "friends" with the families Aibileen and Minny work for. Skeeter's goal in life is to become a writer and move to New York; essentially to get out of Mississippi and the pressure she feels from her family and the entire community. She ends up applying for a job at a magazine that she is clearly not qualified for and striking up a "relationship" with the editor of the magazine. This is where the adventure for these three characters begins.

Skeeter knows that, in order to achiever her goals, she must write something that is unprecedented. Something that stirs controversy. Something that forces her to probe social issues. She comes across the notion of writing a book from the perspective of the help through Aibileen. And everything stems from there.

I don't want to give anything away. Most people know the premise of this book due to the trailers of the Hollywood version that was constantly promoted leading up to the film's release, so the above is nothing new. What I will not give away are the intricacies of the relationships that Stockett does a brilliant job of developing. Her characters are deep, thoughtful, complex, and varied. This lends such a richness to the text that it causes the reader to feel like they "know" these people. We identify with them. We feel for them. We want to fight for them. We also cheer for them. I think that's what Stockett wanted. She wants the reader to do all of these things. She wants us to hate Hilly...and boy do we!

“Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realize, We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought.”

Why I Love...Flawed Characters

2011-10-19T18:48:00.000-07:00

It feels like Wednesday's come around all the time now...and you know what that means: "Why I Love..." This week's topic is one that can go so many different ways and include so many different things. But, for the sake of this post, favorite types of characters, I have to say that I love when a character is not perfect, has flaws, and still manages to capture my heart.

There are so many characters that fit this description, but my ultimate #1 flawed character has to be Severus Snape. From the time I started reading the Harry Potter novels, Snape held a special place in my heart. Everyone was convinced, and tried to convince me, that he was evil and a terrible person, but for some reason I had this gut feeling that he wasn't as bad as he was made out to seem. I held onto that opinion and that undying love completely paid off. I think that his final scene in the novels was one of the most difficult for me to deal with. Yes, he had his faults, but underneath his severe, angular exterior was a character with a massive heart and incredibly complex feelings. Because of this, he was always my favorite character in the series. No matter how much I wanted to hate him for how he treated Harry (who, at times, absolutely deserved it), I couldn't bring myself to dislike him. And that's why I love him.

I think that a close second is a new character I've come across: Minny, from Kathryn Stockett's The Help. At first I really didn't like her. I thought she was so mean and always looking for a fight. This feeling completely changed the further I got into the novel. I soon found that she was quickly becoming my favorite character. This happened for several reasons. 1) She stands up for what she believes in. 2) She would rather the wrath and consequences of the book be directed at her than Skeeter or the other maids. 3) She attempts to better her situation at the end of the novel. 4) She is judgmental yet completely loyal. These are all qualities that hinder her, yet completely endear her to the reader.

There are dozens of characters who fit into this category, and plenty that I would count among my favorites, yet these two probably hold the highest honor as of now. I don't think that Snape will ever depart from the top spot of favorite flawed character. There is just something about him that I can never abandon.

Runners Up:
~Oly from Katherine Dunn's Geek Love
~Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark from Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games
~Saleem Sinai from Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children

Teaser Tuesday...Fighting for What's Right

2011-10-18T12:23:00.000-07:00

Today's teaser comes from Kathryn Stockett's The Help. I've had this book for nearly six months now and have kept meaning to read it, but for some reason I always chose something else. I think I was scared that the book wouldn't live up to the hype. Thankfully it was chosen by one of my book clubs and I've had to start reading it. So, without further ado, here's the teaser:

"I cry and cry right there in front of everybody. I look over at Minny, and she laughing. Funny how peoples show they feelings in different ways. I wonder what Miss Skeeter would do if she was here and it kind of makes me sad. I know ain't nobody in town gone sign a book for her and tell her she brave. Ain't nobody gone tell her they look after her." (467)

If you haven't read The Help yet, please do so! My review should be posted in the next day or so. I've got about fifty pages left. Happy Tuesday!

Pittacus Lore Strikes Again! (Book #16)

2011-10-15T13:36:00.000-07:00

“The key to change is letting go of the fear.”

I've been waiting for Pittacus Lore's The Power of Six to come out since I finished I am Number Four a few months ago. And boy was the wait worth it! Personally, the second installation to the Lorien Legacies was so much better than the first in the series.

The book starts by introducing a new member of the Garde, Marina. Marina has been living in an orphanage in Spain with her Cepan, Adelina, for several years. The two of them are at odds because of Adelina's attitude toward the role they have been destined to play since being shipped off of Lorien. Because of this, Marina has constant questions about her legacies and the other members of the Garde and feels like she is completely alone in the fight to save her home planet. Adelina has done nothing to assuage these fears and questions.

The reader is also taken back to where I am Number Four left off. We see the journey of Six, John, and Sam. We know what they're up against and that they are constantly on the move. We discover what was in John's chest, what Henri's letter entailed, and a bit about Six's background. We also find out a lot about Sam and his father. In addition, Sarah almost acts as a ghost that floats throughout the entire novel. She does appear in "person" once in the book and this has catastrophic consequences that set the climax of the novel into motion.

I really liked how this book was laid out. Lore jumps back and forth between the two main story lines to show the progression in time and plot. This gives the novel a sense of continued immediacy and puts you in the thick of all the action on two different continents. Other great things about this novel are the discovery of yet another Garde member (Nine...who has AWESOME Legacies), a surprise tenth Garde member, and the introduction of the leader of the Mogadorian race (Yikes!). Of course the book leaves so much left unsaid and you're almost in a state of panic over some of the unknown aspects and questions. What's going to happen to Sam? Where and who are Five and Seven? Where do they go from here? Needless to say, I CAN NOT WAIT for the next one to come out; there's speculation that it's in April or August of next year. Sooner, please?!?

“I’ve done what Lorien has intended me to do, and that’s to undo damage that’s been inflicted on those who don’t deserve it.”

Imma Gonna Write a Novel, Pa!

2011-10-13T12:51:00.000-07:00

"Writing          a novel is like heading out over the open sea in a small boat. It helps,          if you have a plan and a course laid out." 
~John Gardner

I've always said that I want to write a novel...a good one (hopefully). Really, I'd like to have a career writing novels, drinking good coffee, and traveling, but I just can't seem to bring myself to sit down and write it. I've got ideas; loads of them. Yet, somehow every time I sit down to write nothing comes out. Just blah and a blank page...mostly. It's really a disease that I've had for as long as I can remember. Well, I take that back. When I was in elementary and early middle school I would write short horror stories. This was due to the fact that, at the time, I was OBSESSED with R.L. Stine books. Not the Goosebumps series, but the Fear Street ones. The ones meant for an older audience :) Obviously that's not the vein I want to go in now. I'd like to think that my taste in the written word has become a little more honed.

Anyway, my friend Mandy sent me a link to this great site/organization where, for the entire month of November, all you do is write a novel. No matter how poor it is, your goal is to simply get to 50,000 words. I think I can do that! Since I don't work on Tuesdays, Thursday, or the Weekends (yeah, I have a lot of time on my hands now), I feel that I can spend some time actually trying to achieve this goal. Though I really should spend those days, at least Tuesdays and Thursdays, prepping for my courses and grading papers, I need something not related to campus and teaching grammar/essays. This will become my deviation and means of procrastination!

I haven't yet decided what kind of novel I want to write (Chick Lit, Historical Fiction, Crime Caper, Etc.), so I think that's my goal for today; figure out what I want to write and whatnot! I talked to Mandy the other day and she's way ahead of the game (type of novel, title, character sketches, and I'm sure more), so I need to get my butt in gear.

If you would like to join in on this wonderful adventure (I'm thinking about you, BINKS!), here's the link to the National Novel Writing Month website. Let the writing commence!

Jasmine...It's a Sweet Scent

2011-10-12T16:51:00.000-07:00

I posted a teaser for Jude Deveraux's The Scent of Jasmine yesterday and managed to finish the book yesterday evening. And, I have to say, the book was a pleasant surprise. Most romance novels have a set in stone formula, which this one does stick to, but for some reason I found this book much more compelling than most. I've read some of Deveraux's other novels, but none seem to stick out in my mind. This one does that.

The book follows Catherine Edilean Harcourt, lovingly referred to as Cay, and Alexander McDowell's adventure across the Southern states. Cay has inadvertently placed herself in Alex's protection after helping him escape from prisoner for a crime he claims he's innocent of committing. Along the way they encounter obstacles which must be overcome. They discover certain truths about each other and their respective circumstances. They grow as people.

I think what I like most about this book was the characters. Cay was funny, thoughtful, smart, and a smart-ass. A wonderfully developed character. Alex was lonely, introverted, scared, and angry but, with Cay's help and encouragement, he develops into a warm, caring, funny, roguish leading man. These two were played wonderfully off of each other and showed that first impressions can be deceiving.

Jasmine is part of the Edilean series and, now that I've read this one, I think I want to read the others in the group. We'll see how those stack up. Overall, I enjoyed this quick read after the heaviness of the last book I reviewed. Good work, Deveraux!

Why I Love...Harry Potter!

2011-10-12T16:18:00.000-07:00

“We've all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That's who we really are.”

It's that time of the week again for my contribution to "Why I Love." I thought long and hard about this edition because there are so many series that I love, but, in the end, the choice was obvious. So, my choice for favorite book series goes to...drum roll please...Harry Potter. I mean, come on! How can you go with anything else?!

I remember not wanting to jump on the Harry Potter bandwagon when it first arrived on the scene. And I didn't. It wasn't until a fateful camping trip during the summer before college, well after the third book had come out, that I managed to finish both of the books I had brought with me before the weekend was over. Because of this I had to scrounge around the camper for something stashed away by my mom. Low and behold, I found Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets hidden away in a cupboard with some board games. It was then that my adventure to Hogwarts began and what an adventure it was!

Since that wonderful discovery of all things in the non-Muggle world, I have been a devoted follower of Ms. Rowling and the Boy Who Lived. I have wished that I could attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, whip up a batch of Felix Felicis, hunt for a Horcrux, hang out in the Gryffindor common room, and have dreadful tea with Hagrid. I've wanted to fly on a broom, play Quidditch, visit Diagon Alley, and drink some butterbeer. I've wanted to go on adventures with Ron and Hermione, become friends with Neville, fight with Draco, and be lectured by Professor McGonagall. The closest I got to any of these wishes was an amazing club in college, Dumbledore's Army: The Harry Potter Literacy Club (awesome fun...complete with themed holiday parties and wand making), and living in Scotland for a year.

This was actually before I moved to Scotland. At this time, I was living in Vienna, Austria and took a week long trip to London, Edinburgh, and Dublin before flying back to the States for the summer before Grad School.

But most of all, I've wanted to immerse myself in the wonderful, rich text that Rowling weaves throughout the seven books. Each book adds yet another layer and complexity to the ones that came before it. The Sorcerer's Stone sets the mood and premise. The Chamber of Secrets starts to bring the imminent darkness to the story and shows how far some will go to achieve their means. The Prisoner of Azkaban shows that it's not only Harry who has suffered at the hands of Voldemort and that everything is not always what it seems. The Goblet of Fire brings integral outsiders into the mix and presents the idea of cooperation across borders. The Order of the Phoenix shows the reader that there are people willing to fight for what's right. The Half-Blood Prince opens up the past in a way that leaves the reader with an internal struggle and shows that even those in powerful positions are not immune to the destruction that Voldemort brings. And, finally, The Deathly Hallows takes the reader on a voyage of discovery, salvation, determination, and the ultimate fight between good and evil. Once started, it is impossible to NOT finish this wonderful series.

To all the Harry Potter naysayers who refuse to give the series a chance, all I can say is "Shame on you." I, too, was once a naysayer to this series and I can honestly say that I am grateful I changed my mind and caved to the mainstream. These books truly have everything: adventure, friendship, heartbreak, fear, joy, family, and so much more. It promotes the power of doing good and perseverance in the face of darkness; qualities that every single person should strive to accomplish and possess. These are only a few of the many reasons why Harry Potter is my number one choice for favorite book series.

“We're all human, aren't we? Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving.”

Runners Up for favorite Series:
~The Hunger Games Trilogy
~The Stephanie Plum Series
~The Twilight Series (despite the absolutely atrocious writing and overdone plot)

Teaser Tuesday...Smelling of Jasmine

2011-10-11T14:12:00.000-07:00

After reading the truly heartbreaking memoir by Mary Karr, The Liar's Club, I had to choose something light and easy. Because of that, I present an excerpt from Jude Deveraux's The Scent of Jasmine:

"Puzzled by what she'd said, Alex began to hurry across the fields, and Cay stayed with him. After they'd been running in a zigzag pattern for nearly twenty minutes, Cay was tempted to remove the cloak and her gown and run in her underwear. And if she did that, she'd use the Scotsman's knife to cut her corset strings. Right now she needed to breathe deeply more than she needed a tiny waist." (46)

Amen, Sister!!

There's a Whole Lotta Lying Going On (Book #15)

2011-10-10T15:11:00.000-07:00

Mary Karr's The Liar's Club was a very interesting read. I started reading this book at the end of September (along with about two others) for YET ANOTHER book club I've joined (I think I'm becoming a book club junky). This one is actually a campus book club made up of students and faculty. We meet once a month or so to discuss the book and eat food (the bonus of this club). That being said, the club started this book over the summer and I picked it up on September 19th after my summer department meeting. Needless to say, I had a later start than everyone else.

The book is actually a memoir about Karr's rather traumatic childhood. This poor girl grew up with an alcoholic father, an alcoholic and CRAZY mother, and had some pretty horrific things happen to her. From being raped by a neighbor boy to nearly being killed in a car accident with her mother, from being molested by a male babysitter to nearly being detained in Mexico for crossing the border illegally with a clueless adult, you would think that Karr would have a very jaded view of life. Not so. She manages to find the humor in every single situation she presents to the reader. You find yourself laughing despite the tragedies that continually occur. Karr presents a moving picture of her life in East Texas with her word choice and the images and episodes she includes in the text.

There were two aspects of this book that we hashed over in our meeting. The first that came up was the obvious jump from childhood in the first couple sections of the book to a time in her life that was nearly 20 years later. Why the jump? Why skip forward over so much life and then include with this portion? I've come to the conclusion that this purposeful jump toward the death of her father and the death of the Liar's Club as being two things that HAVE to end together. Neither is able to continue if the other is no longer a part of it (this makes sense to those who've read the book; I promise). She had to show that her father's death, the death of the Liar's Club, and, subsequently, her banishment from the Club were ALL connected in a way. The second question that came up and was heavily discussed in our meeting was the title and how is effects the way in which you read or conclude the book. The very title, The Liar's Club, automatically suggests that, maybe, not everything that you read is going to be true. Afterall, Karr was a member of the club. And furthermore, how accurate of a memory does a seven year old have? Something to be considered.

Ultimately, I really enjoyed this book. It was disturbing, heart-wrenching, comical, and sends your heart racing at times. Definitely worth the read.

Why I Love...Elizabeth Gaskell

2011-10-05T15:22:00.000-07:00

Throughout the literary world, there are several authors who are severely underrated. I don't really know why or what causes such authors to be considered "not as good" as those high-brow, canonized writers of literature, but, without fail, those poor, under appreciated authors somehow manage to eek out a loyal following. So, in honor of the hidden gems in the literary world, I am honoring my favorite underrated author for this week's "Why I Love..." edition.

That being said, cue the wonderful, talented, and severely underrated Elizabeth Gaskell. Who? most ask. Well let me tell you! Mrs. Gaskell, as she's often referred to, is a British writer from the Victorian era. Most notable are her novels: Cranford, North and South, and Wives and Daughters. She's also quite notable for writing the first biography of Charlotte Bronte. The majority of her work deals with social issues and the likes. However, she is also a quite accomplished writer of Gothic fiction, prodded on by Charles Dickens and published in his Household Words.

Though most of her work sticks to the parameters of the Victorian norm, she does branch out and actually critiques attitudes, the roles of women, working conditions, and so on. These divergent themes help her to stand out in an otherwise constrained style of writing. In addition, the wonderful BBC production company has turned some of her novels (mainly the ones mentioned above) into absolutely wonderful mini-series and they are definitely worth the watch.

And for a small treat...a portion of the BBC production of North and South (my favorite)!

Texas Trash

2011-10-04T16:40:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just need a romance novel to lose your mind in. Thank you Diana Palmer for providing me with something mindless and fun to read in Nora. Of course, as nearly all romance novels do, Nora follows a pretty predictable pattern: boy meets girl, girl hates boy, boy sets out to get girl, boy gets girl, boy and girl fight, boy and girl make up and live happily ever after. It's pure romance gold!

Nora follows Eleanor "Nora" Marlowe out West from her comfortable, sophisticated, SNOBBY home in Virginia and chronicles her time spent in Tyler Junction, Texas. Here she meets Cal Barton, who might not be exactly what he seems, and quickly falls in love with his rugged persona. There are ups and downs, social constraints, personal heartaches, legal deals gone bad, secrets kept and told, and so much more.

You really don't have to stretch your imagination far in these novels and that's exactly why I pick them up. After spending years reading "college" literature, and continually gravitating toward it, I do like to relax every now and then with a smutty romance novel. Preferrably historical (because I'm a nerd like that). Preferrably set in Europe. Though I don't turn my nose up at those set in the States either...just as long as they're set in the past...the distant past. I also like these books because they are a super quick read (normally less than a day) and, sometimes, you need that quick escape.

What Color Was I Born On?

2011-10-04T16:06:00.000-07:00

Daniel Tammet meets Kim Peek (the inspiration for Rain Man)

Absolutely fascinating. Thought-provoking. Interesting. All of these describe Daniel Tammet's Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant. I picked this up for my Page by Page online bookclub, after originally passing it by in the first place, and am glad that it was the chosen book for the month. I learned so much about the mind of a high-functioning autistic and was enthralled from the beginning.

In Born on a Blue Day, Tammet sets out to explain how his mind works. He thinks in colors, numbers and shapes. All aspects are unique and all hold a special place in his mind and heart. To see (or read) exactly how he approaches life and different situations was eye-opening. The process he has to go through every second of every day is mind-boggling and heroic!

The parts of the book that made me most angry were those where Tammet described how he was tormented by his peers throughout school. It's so heartbreaking to see how he was treated and looked down upon for something he had no control over. Even some of the teachers treated him with disdain. I don't understand how people can be so cruel. I do understand the frustration, but that frustration is ALSO felt and experienced by the person being treated unfairly. Something to think about.

The latter half of the book focuses on his adult life. It ranges from teaching English in Eastern Europe, reciting Pi for a World Record, interviewing with David Letterman, and filming a documentary about his life. All are truly fascinating and worth the read!

Teaser Tuesday...Poor Johnny!

2011-10-04T15:41:00.000-07:00

Excerpt from Jerome Charyn's Johnny One-Eye: A Tale of the American Revolution:

"They tied me to a pole, took paintbrushes out of their britches, dipped the brushes into the caldron, and started slabbering me with tar. I was like a hog that had to be basted on a hot spit. The tar went into my eyelashes, into my hair, into my armpits, into the webs of my fingers, into the fork between my legs, covered my member with a black well. I hollered holy murder. My body was an island of burning skin." (70)

I've been trying to read this book for awhile. One day I hope to finish it! So far, I'm on page 74 of 479. My bookmark's been in that spot for awhile...

Why I Love...Liesel Meminger

2011-09-28T17:46:00.000-07:00

"A snowball to the face is surely the perfect beginning to a lasting friendship."

The Book Thief

Most people have no idea who Liesel Meminger is, but those who have read Markus Zusak's The Book Thief would probably rate her among one of the best characters in the book, if not most books. For that reason alone, she is my Favorite Character.

Liesel...how do I even describe her?! She lives in a time and place that most of us would shudder at...Nazi Germany. After her younger brother's death, her mother sends her to a small town in Germany in order to keep her safe. She is fostered by Hans and Rosa Hubermann, who happen to live, fittingly, on Himmel Strasse (Heaven Street). We come to see Liesel and how she interacts with her foster parents and the other citizens in the area. She even becomes friends with a fist-fighting Jew who hides in her basement. It is during her time in this town that Liesel develops, or hones, her knack of stealing books. And she doesn't discriminate who she steals from. This is such an endearing quality, despite the illegality, especially when her stealing becomes a form of unintentional political statement.

Another aspect that makes this book stand out is that it's narrated by Death. We get to see Liesel and those who surround her through Death's eyes and this adds something special to it. Eventually, Death narrates from a distance as Liesel becomes the eyes through which we see. She develops meaningful relationships with the Hubermann's and with a local boy, Rudy Steiner, who's her age. Her interactions with Rudy are some of the most loveable, beautiful, and tragic scenes throughout the book. And there is one specific moment between them that leaves readers speechless.

You go through so many emotions with Liesel throughout The Book Thief that she feels like a part of you. A long lost friend. A constant companion. A child to be protected. She is all of these things and more.

"The only thing worse than a boy who hates you: a boy who loves you."

The Book Thief

Runner-Up (and rightfully deserved)...Severus Snape. It was so hard for me to not have a tie between these two characters.

Teaser Tuesday

2011-09-27T10:56:00.000-07:00

Excerpt from Mary Karr's The Liar's Club: A Memoir ...

"Daddy had instructed me in the virtue of what he called equalizers, which meant not only sticks, boards, and rocks, but having one hell of a long memory for mistreatment. So I wouldn't hesitate to sneak up blindside and bite a bigger kid who'd gotten the better of me a week before. To my knowledge, I never slouched off an ass-kicking, even the ones that made me double up and cry" (63).

Cat's Eye...Oy Vey...

2011-09-23T08:49:00.000-07:00

Margaret Atwood's Cat's Eye was...was...waaasssss...I don't even know how to describe it. It just was.

It took me a bit to get into this book and it took me even longer to finish it. I can't put my finger on why I didn't enjoy it. It's not like the book was absolutely terrible (believe me, I've read worse), but for some reason it just didn't grasp my attention or keep my attention.

The novel centers around Elaine, an artist...though she prefers to be called a painter because the term "artist" conjurs up pretension, according to her. She's come back to Toronto, her hometown, for a gallery show and, while there, she spends her time wandering around the much changed city. The reader is taken back to her childhood through interspersed chapters and it is these sections that hold the most appeal. Through these episodes you really get to know what drives Elaine and why she left Toronto in the first place. Also, Elaine focuses a lot of her reminiscing on Cordelia, a childhood friend, whom she wants to meet up with during her time in Toronto.

Cordelia is an ever present entity throughout the book. She pops up all throughout and the reader thinks there might be something brewing towards the end. Unfortunately that never pans out. You're kind of left wondering about Cordelia and everything else. Like what the Cat's Eye really has to do with anything besides being a beloved marble. It was frustrating and unfulfilling.

On a more happy note...this weekend proves to be epic! I'm heading out of town ...well, out of state and across the country really...to attend a wonderful friend's Southern wedding!!! Congrats to the happy couple and I can't wait to see you both!!!

Why I Love...Powell's!

2011-09-21T18:37:00.000-07:00

With the recent closing of our local Borders (where I spent a lot of time not only reading, but grading papers and drinking coffee), I have been forced to either frequent used bookshops or venture into ordering my books online. I've never had a problem with either of these options, but I think that Powell's presents the best of BOTH worlds! This is why Powell's is my Favorite Book Institution.

Powell's New and Used Bookstore is located in downtown Portland, Oregon and is simply amazing! Now, the website leaves a lot to the imagination, but let me tell you this place is a treasure trove of awesomness!

First off, Powell's encompasses an entire city block, boasts an awesome coffee shop, has both new and used copies, requires a map and color coded signs to get around, AND you can even get married in your favorite section! Now that's pretty great.

Powell's was opened in 1971, very humbly, and continued to grow into the great entity it is today and now has more than five locations throughout the city (though the largest and most comprehensive is the downtown location). It's said that Powell's is the largest new and used bookstore in the world. You can find just about anything that you're looking for in this mega-bookstore; from hardback to paperback and new books to used books...all on the same shelf. Not only do they have their regular city locations, but you can also find an annex and two satellite stores at Portland International Airport.

I think one of the most amazing things about this bookstore is the experience. Walking through the stacks is an adventure every single time and you never know what you're going to find just around the corner.

I remember my first time entering Powell's. It was in the late fall in college with a couple of girlfriends and simply overwhelming. The smell as you walk in (glue, paper, old books, coffee, and more) is divine. We spent hours scouring the shelves and didn't even make it to every room...or floor.

Now that's a map!!

Again, the directional signs really do help you to navigate the labyrinth that is Powell's.

I highly recommend that, if you're ever in the area, Powell's is near the top of your "Must See and Do" list. It's worth venturing into the city and definitely worth all the money you'll spend on books you simply can't live without. Powell's...simply amazing!!!

Teaser Tuesday (first one)!

2011-09-20T16:13:00.000-07:00

Excerpt from Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant by Daniel Tammet

"Neil did not find it difficult to accept me for who I was. He too had been bullied at school and knew what it was like to be different from your peers. Being a homebody himself he didn't mind that I preferred the quiet and security of home to the commotion of pubs and clubs. Most important of all, he--like me--had reached a crossroads in his life and wasn't sure about the way forward. Through our chance meeting online we had both of us discovered, to our mutual surprise and joy, that thing that had been missing from both our lives: romantic love." (145)

*Look for my review in the next week or so!

Why I Love...Charlotte Doyle

2011-09-14T13:45:00.000-07:00

Once again, this blog I follow has brought forth another great idea. I've decided that, in addition to my book reviews, I'm going to participate (you can too!) in her "Why I Love...Wednesdays" (I'm also going to do her "Teaser Tuesday," but I forgot yesterday...whoops). Not only will this give my blog a little bit more to offer the two of you who read it (haha), but it will force me to post a bit more often. It's like killing two birds with one stone (or post). I like this idea. So, to get started, I've taken the past "Why I Loves" from the Bookaholic and have decided to start working my way through the weekly growing list. Needless to say, I'm a little behind. My first selection is: Favorite Childhood Friend.

This honor goes, undoubtably, to Charlotte Doyle. I remember picking up Avi's The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle when I was in elementary school; I don't recall exactly when, but it was definitely in my younger years. Little did I know how much this book would stick with me and how I would still consider it one of my all-time favorite books.

Charlotte, at the age of thirteen, has just completed finishing school in England and is about to set sail to Rhode Island and home. Instead of the few families that are scheduled to be on the crossing, she comes to find that she is the only female (and passenger) that actually makes it to the ship. As they cross the Atlantic, many adventures ensue. Though I wouldn't necessarily categorize a lot of what happens to Charlotte as an adventure, such as being accused of murder, mutiny, an epic storm, and so much more, she fights through everything with a strength only to be admired and a broadening of her own personal horizons.

I think this is the reason I love her so much. She's passionate, friendly, hard-headed, and a fighter. All things that are not supposed to be a part of someone who's gone to "finishing" school. There is so much action that Charlotte faces while on the high seas that every girl wishes they were her; at least I did. The end of the book even throws a nice twist into everything. It's an epic book with an even more epic heroine. Everyone should read about Charlotte and her story and, I guarantee, you will come through loving her as much as I do. And now I want to read this for the umpteenth time!

Smiling Irish Guys...Yes, Please! (Book #14)

2011-09-09T12:30:00.000-07:00

I quickly plowed through Suzanne Supplee's When Irish Guys are Smiling yesterday around midnight (finishing after getting back from an evening of drinks with a couple friends) and have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. Having picked this book up at, of all places, the Dollar Tree (I found twelve such dollar gems there recently), I'm rather proud of my investment. Even if it had sucked I would have only been out a dollar. Nothing to break the bank! Thankfully, it didn't suck.

The book is technically a young reader (sometimes you need mindless, easy reads) and I was attracted to many aspects of the novel: 1) the cover art is attractive in a cartoon-y way. 2) the title reminds me of my first trip to Ireland with my good friend, Lindsey, in 2008. 3) it makes me reminisce over my time spent living in the UK (sigh...). And 4) I pretty much love anything set in Ireland or Scotland.

Irish Guys is part of an ongoing series called Students Across the Seven Seas, or the S.A.S.S. for short. Each book is about a student, and other students they meet, who semesters abroad in a different location. This is my first in the S.A.S.S. series and I'm sure I'll read more (just for the chance to read something light...and not set in the States).

The book focuses on Delk, a seventeen year old girl from Tennessee who decides to escape her "tragic" life and head to Connemara, Ireland for three months. Along the way she meets new friends, has life-altering experiences, grows as a person, and falls in love (to be expected). Though at times the episodes seem implausible, they do fit with the plot of the story. The one thing I disliked about this book was some of the characters names. Delk and her love interest, Pather, made me constantly refer to them as "Elk" and "Panther" because of the similar spelling. At times this was completely unconscious. Oh well. If the only bad thing I can say about the book are the names, then it's not too shabby.

For who this book is geared toward and for what it was, I found this to be a good read. Nice work, Supplee!

Going Rogue with Sarah Palin

2011-09-08T17:15:00.000-07:00

Though I'm not a big fan of Sarah Palin, or her politics, I was mildly surprised and, at times, impressed with her book Going Rogue: An American Life. She does have a lot of good things to say about big government, the hands-off approach to governing, energy research, environmental issues, and life in general. Though at times a bit preachy for my tastes (I disagree with some of her fundamental principles), but overall she explains herself well...golly's and all.

It's hard to determine how truthful she is being in regards to everything she discusses. I was impressed with a lot of what she's done for Alaska through her policies and certain laws. I think the part that I was most leary about was her recollection of the presidential campaign and how she was treated by "Headquarters." According to Palin, she was pretty much given a gag-order...keep your mouth shut and we'll feed you your lines. I can see this being true. I mean, she looked like a moron in a lot of her interviews (Katie Couric anyone?). This, in Palin's words, was completely done through editing on Couric's part (again, I choose to believe this to be true). I want to believe her, I really do.

All in all, Going Rogue wasn't a bad read. Minus the preachy parts (abortion and sex education mainly), she's engaging, witty, and seemingly down to earth. Whoda thunk it?!

Bianca's Vineyard (Book #13)

2011-09-08T17:00:00.000-07:00

I've had Teresa Neumann's Bianca's Vineyard for a while now, thanks to my grandmother, but have been skipping over it to read other books. I don't know why I did this because it was actually a great read. Neumann is a local author who decided to write a novel about family history. The majority of the novel is based on factual evidence and personal family interviews. There is one portion, which I won't give away, that is only speculated at by Neumann, but what she does choose to speculate is a highly probably scenario.

The book is written in a way that suggests it is being told to the reader, as well as Egisto's son and his wife, through flashbacks from Bianca in her 80's. We know this because the font and boldness of these sections gives personal reflection from Bianca and foreshadows what she will eventually reveal. She takes you back to the beginning of what changed the course for this family, mainly one brother of the Bertozzi family moving to America in order to help his Italian family, and continues to present day.

Moving to America is a big deal at this time in history (1913) and Egisto, the brother moving, must find a wife before he leaves. He's had his heart set on a specific woman but, after her father veto's Egisto's decision to marry outside of the Church, he must come up with an alternative. This decision alters the family in unseen ways.

We follow the the Bertozzi family through good, prosperous times and through absolutely desolate, terrible times (mainly World War Two and mental breakdowns). We also come to learn about Egisto's wife and her family. All of this plays importantly into the people of this novel.

Bianca's Vineyard is a novel that portrays the human condition and family ties beautifully. I was surprised by how much I actually liked this book and would not hesitate recommending it to others. Good choice, Grandma!

Three Junes=Best Book I've Read in 2011!

2011-08-29T16:49:00.000-07:00

Julia Glass' Three Junes is by far, hands down the BEST book I've read this year. It was the 2002 winner for the National Book Award for Fiction and definitely deserved it. I picked this book up for my scattered Edinburgh bookclub and I can honestly say that it's my favorite of all that we have read in the past nearly three years (ugh). It makes you laugh, cry, smile, and think. That's what makes this book so good.

The story centers around the McLeod family, natives of Scotland, and follows members across continents, years, relationships, sexuality, heartache, anguish, and happiness. It's told in sections from the perspective of the patriarch, Paul, his oldest son, Fenno, and Fern, a woman who manages to weave herself into the lives of these two men without much effort and who, after the first section of this book, the reader does not really think about again.

We first meet Paul in 1989 and are welcomed into his personal anguish over the death of his wife. He ventures to Greece as a way of grieving and it's in this place that he meets Fern. The reader is taken into Paul's thoughts and feelings as a widower. His story is interspersed with flashbacks of life before his wife's death. We learn how they met, how he courted her, how they made a living, how they raised a family, and how their lives unfolded and played out before it ended. Paul's time spend in Greece was an integral part in setting everything in motion.

Next to come to the front of the narrative is Fenno, who we meet again in 1995. Fenno has moved to New York and become the owner of a small, independent bookstore. Through Fenno's telling of the family story we meet the brothers of the McLeod family and are given brief glimpses into their lives as individuals and as an entire familial unit. We are shown how life was for the boys growing up and how they coped with their mother's death. We are also shown how they cope with the death of their father and all the questions his death brings with it. This section is the most hefty of the three and gives the reader the most insight into Fenno and the complications he encounters as a member of this family. It is also the most heartwrenching of the three sections.

In the last section, we are brought forward to 1999 and are given an entirely different perspective of life. It is here that we encounter Fern as a narrator. Just like the McLeod family, she has endured heartache, though a very different kind. It is exactly ten years since we first met Fern through Paul's eyes and now we meet Fern through her eyes. She brings an entirely new aspect to the novel and gives us a fresh glimpse into the McLeod's through her conversations with Fenno and David, his younger brother. We are caught up on what's happened to the family since Fenno's narration. The budding friendship between Fenno and Fern gives the novel a sense of completion and a feeling of something coming full circle.

Traveling across landscapes...languages...lifetimes...gives this novel something special. The word choice and complex feelings that Glass flawlessly writes are, without a doubt, superior. She invites the reader into this world, no different from the one we are actually living, and gives them a bird's eye view of this family. Their struggles are our struggles. Their heartache is our heartache. Everything they are, we are. It's brilliant. Read it!

Never Let Me Go (Book #12)

2011-08-25T21:05:00.000-07:00

I finished Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go a few days ago and have not had the time to write about it until now. I read this book for one of my online book clubs and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. The novel centers around Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy; three people who have been friends since they were small children. It is through Kathy that the reader travels through the lives of these three and experiences the many ups and downs that each character goes through.

Having read the synopsis, you are not given much detail about the plot of the novel. Really, the only thing the reader knows is that they're going to be exploring the characters through flashbacks narrated by Kathy. You don't know much about the characters except that they are "special" in some way and how they cope with what they learn as they grow up.

Ishiguro really makes an effort to flesh out all three characters, but he does the best with his narrator. Obviously we get to "know" what Kathy is thinking and feeling continually and we can only speculate at why Ruth and Tommy do the things they do. Because of this, Ruth comes off as a completely narcissistic, selfish, cold-hearted person. I honestly disliked her immensely throughout the book. Tommy, on the other hand, is a character that you feel for. You want him to be liked. You want him to be an artist. You want him to love Kathy. And he does and is...in his own way. Kathy is the glue of the trio. She holds them together and keeps each one in their element. She's there for the other two even when they are not there for her. This is what makes her a reliable narrator.

As the reader gets further into the novel, they realize exactly what is going on and just how "special" these children are. By the time we are brought back to present day, there is a kind of amped up immediacy to the story. We know that it's nearing the end; not just because there are fewer pages left, but because all things in this novel must end. In a way it feels that the story is Kathy's way of getting it all down on paper so that we will never let her, or their story, go.

Ishiguro brings up so many huge questions in this book. These span from scientific developments, human interaction, compassion, acceptance, innocence, education, and society as a whole. It's thought-provoking and very "now." Definitely worth the read...and now to see the movie (even though it received poor reviews)!

Smokin' Seventeen Fizzles

2011-08-15T18:02:00.000-07:00

Having just finished Janet Evanovich's Smokin' Seventeen I have to say that I was disappointed. Yes, it's better than the last book in the Stephanie Plum series, but they've just gone downhill for the past seven or eight books. I hate to say that because I loved the first few, but after a while you just have to make a decision. The love triangle is getting old, the skips all sound the same, the characters don't evolve. It's monotonous!

This book finds Stephanie, yet again, attempting to catch skips with her sidekick Lula, going back and forth between cop Morelli and security system designer Ranger, and being hunted down by a couple of people who want her dead. It's entertaining at times (mainly when Lula is involved) and has some good scenes sprinkled throughout, but overall it's rather hum-drum. The book does end on a nice cliffhanger that leaves the reader wondering who she is going to take with her on vacation and hints at a final decision made between Morelli and Ranger. My fingers are crossed that it's Morelli, but that's just because I picture him looking like Christopher Meloni (Elliot from Law&Order: SVU).

One positive to the series...they're making a movie from the first book, One for the Money, starring Katherine Heigl and a couple others. I'm not convinced of the casting as of yet...

She-Wolves and Ruling the World

2011-08-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

Who knew that reading about Medieval queens could be so interesting! I just finished Helen Castor's She-Wolves: The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. Castor, a historian from the UK, writes this history book with a real narrative flair that draws the reader in and presents true accounts without being boring or humdrum as so many historical books are. The readability makes this nearly 500 page book a rather quick read and keeps you interested the entire time.

As the title suggests, Castor focuses the book on four prominent ruling queens prior to that of Queen Elizabeth, the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. She starts the book with Mathilda, only surviving child of Henry I and eventual Empress of England, and chronicles her struggle to maintain order in the kingdom that she ruled for a few short months after her father's death. She then jumps forward and examines Eleanor of Aquitaine, who lived to a ripe age of 81 or 82...nearly unheard of during the Middle Ages. Eleanor was originally married to the Louis VII, King of France, but left him and married Henry II of England just six weeks later. The couple went on to have five children. Eleanor would eventually fight for her one surviving son, John, to rule. Castor then moves on to Isabella of France, the one who coined the term she-wolf, who was married to Edward II and considered a great beauty. Isabella's place as Queen was constantly under scrutiny due to Edward's rumored homosexuality and his relationship with Piers Gaveston. Though the couple did produce two children, their relationship was rocky from the beginning. This eventually led to Isabella having a supposed affair with Roger Mortimer and the two managed to overthrow Edward. Isabella then ruled, badly, on behalf of her son until he came of age. Next to be discussed was Margaret of Anjou who was married to Henry VI. Margaret's life as a ruling figure was constantly filled with battles. She continually defended the crown in the name of her husband, who suffered from bouts of insanity and, in order to ensure that her son inherited the crown, Margaret fought constant wars waged by her opponents throughout the kingdom (Wars of the Roses). Her son, on the brink of ruling, would die in a battle against the very person who wanted to take his throne. This lead to Margaret's imprisonment and eventual ransoming to France and her cousin, Louis XI. She lived out her days as a poor relation to the king and died at the age of 52.

Castor bookends all of this turmoil with the events that led to Queen Elizabeth's journey toward ruling England. She chronicles the death of Elizabeth's half-brother, Edward VI, his bequeathing the throne to his cousin, Lady Jane Grey, instead of his sisters, and the war that this brings about. Eventually, Elizabeth's older half-sister, Mary, daughter of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, would come to rule with an iron fist until her death in 1558. After Mary's death, Elizabeth came to rule and restored the country to its Protestant heritage and provided the people with faith in its ruler.

The novel is an interesting study in the human condition, politics, religion, and feminism. A very engaging combination that investigates how women struggled to prove that they were worthy of the crown in a time where men were the end-all, be-all of nearly every aspect of life. Well worth the read.

And how's that for a quick history lesson?

The Murderer's Daughters

2011-07-08T17:14:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading Randy Susan Meyers' The Murderer's Daughters for one of the book clubs I'm involved in. This was our June pick, though we had to extend it to July due to everyone having such a packed month and being unable to finish it. I was happy when this book was chosen because it's been on my To Read list for awhile and I just hadn't gotten around to actually reading it.

As the title suggests, the story follows the lives of Lulu and Merry, the daughter's of a murderer who just happened to kill their mother and tried to kill Merry and himself while at it, and spans thirty years of their lives. As would be expected, their lives are anything but normal. Immediately after the murder, their father is thrown in jail and the girls go to live with their maternal grandmother. When she dies they are foisted onto their mother's sister and her husband only to be shoveled out to an orphanage quite quickly. They experience several disturbing situations while living at the orphanage and it is during this time that their personalities and means of survival really develop.

Once the girls are fostered out of the orphanage, their luck changes in terms of monetary gain. Yet this gain does nothing for their emotional well-being. Lulu becomes more angry and defiant, relying on nobody but herself and controlling everything she can. On the other hand, Merry becomes the prized doll of the foster family; the one child who constantly strives for approval and to be wanted. These personality traits follow the girls into adulthood and definitely shape how they run their lives.

As time goes by, Merry continues to visit their father while Lulu refuses to acknowledge his existence. Both of these reactions act as the girls' coping mechanism with the tragedy of their past. The death of their mother, as can be expected, completely disallows the girls the ability to live a "normal" life, yet they make the best of it.

In the end, I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. I liked how Meyers told the story from both of the girls' perspectives and spanned the years to show the development and growth that both went through. The one thing that I didn't like was the end. It left me wanting to know what was in the boxes. Overall, worth the read.

I am Number Four...and I want a Legacy!

2011-06-28T19:13:00.000-07:00

Originally part of my A-Z Reading Challenge, though removed because I was on a long waiting list at the library, Pittacus Lore's I am Number Four was worth the wait. The story follows the life of Lorien Garde "John Smith" and his Cepan (keeper/trainer), Henri, as they try to evade the Mogadorian race who are hunting the remaining Garde down one by one.

John's been on Earth for ten years after escaping, along with eight other Garde members and their Cepan's, the total annihilation of his planet and has done well staying hidden and blending into society, but when he and Henri move to Paradise, Ohio, things change in unexpected ways. Having moved constantly since arriving on Earth, John's become socially isolated and doesn't make the effort to meet people when he settles into a new place. Queue the entrance of Sam and Sarah.

Of course this wouldn't be very entertaining if the novel just followed the nomadic life of John; so he's given a love interest, Sarah, a new friend, Sam, a school bully, Mark, a unique pet, Bernie Kosar, and a fight to survive against the Mogadorians. There are significant loses that John must deal with throughout the story, one that weighs heavily on both him and the reader, and several that deal with growing up and identity.

The novel left me wanting to know so much. What's in the letter? What's in the Loric chest? Where does John go from here? What's Six's story? What role is Sam going to play now? Will we see Sarah again? Where are the other members of the Garde? Needless to say I can't wait for the release of The Power of Six and the continuation of the Lorien Legacies! Now to see the movie, which stars one of my favorites, Timothy Olyphant!

The Free World...Sure Costs Alot (Book #11)

2011-06-25T11:14:00.000-07:00

I had to check David Besmozgis's The Free World out twice just to finish it (stinking two week limit and other responsibilities). I just got it back this past Thursday and finally finished the last 200 pages or so and I have to say that I really enjoyed this book.

The novel centers around the Krasnansky family; three generations of Russian Jews. Their goal throughout the entire book is to escape the Iron Curtain and make it to the West and the "Free" world. The story is told from several different perspectives; mainly Samuil, the patriarch of the family, Karl, the straight-laced oldest son, Alec, the charismatic playboy and youngest son, and Polina, Alec's wife. There are other members of the family who've made the journey: Emma, Samuil's wife and Karl and Alec's mother, Rosa, Karl's wife, and Zhenya and Yury, Karl and Rosa's sons. The journey they go on eventually lands them in Rome, Italy. It is here that the majority of the story plays out and truths are discovered within the family.

Samuil becomes increasingly introverted and anti-social as the family's stay in Rome is continually increased and he takes to writing his memoir and wandering the streets of a town outside of Rome alone. Karl gets a job working for a corrupt Italian auto mechanic and becomes more standoffish toward everyone in his family. Alec continues his playboy ways and starts seeing another emigree, a much younger emigree, behind his wife's back. Polina takes a job as a saleswoman at a leather shop and continues to write letters to her sister who is still in Riga, Latvia. Emma, Rosa, and the boys become extremely involved in the local Jewish community and spend most of their time acting in plays and attending other activities.

As the novel progresses, and the time in Rome increases, all of the relationships within the family become more strained and hostile. Truths are discovered about the true nature within and between the members of the family. Some characters are forced into situations and actions that would normally not be part of their makeup. Towards the culmination of the novel there are deals gone wrong, hospital visits, infidelity issues, and a funeral. The story ends with a letter from World War 2 that told Samuil about his brother, Reuven's, death. It's read by Alec and it's the only letter written in a language that he can read.

The novel definitely leaves the reader wondering if the family will ever make it to the "free" world, but there is the glimmer of hope that the funeral has given them that leads the reader to believe that it is only a matter of time before they are granted their visas and are able to leave Italy for good. In the end I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. Well done Bezmozgis!

Vernon God Little (Book #10)

2011-06-24T16:07:00.000-07:00

It took me quite a while to finish this book. I don't know if it was the style, the language, or the story in general that kept me from getting settled and engaged. DBC Pierre's Vernon God Little was the 2003 winner of the Man Booker Prize, the award for the very best literature written for that year. Somehow I don't think I agree with this decision. Yes, the book is good, but I did not think that it was great. There were so many great novels published in 2003, and, forgive me, but Pierre's isn't the best.

The novel centers around Vernon Gregory Little and the aftermath of a school shooting, of which he is accused of participating, in small Martirio, Texas. The reader is taken on a journey encompassing Vernon's thought process, attempted escapes, border crossings, and eventual incarceration. All of these segments are separated into five acts that chronicle the events leading up to the conclusion of the story...the trial and it's consequences.

Yes, there are several instances that cause the reader to gasp or yell out in indignation, but for the most part I found the story to be uncompelling and unbelievible. The language used is intended to be colloquial, yet at times there are terms that slip into the vocabulary that are definitely not indigineous to American English. Perhaps this is a reflection on Pierre's own upbringing (Australia, Texas, and Mexico City).

The one aspect of the language that I did enjoy was the evolution throughout the book. There is a definite shift in tone and maturity that Pierre showcases brilliantly through Vernon's development as a character. For this alone I applaud the writing.

Ultimatley I would rate this book as a C...maybe a B- if I'm in a giving mood. It will be interesting to see how they develop this into a film...because they are.

And So It Ends...Mockingjay (Book #9)

2011-05-09T16:19:00.000-07:00

I have been having a hard time coming up with a way to even start my review of Suzanne Collins's Mockingjay, the final book in The Hunger Games trilogy. It's almost like letting go of a beloved friend...though perhaps not as devastating as the final installation of Harry Potter, in which I sobbed almost uncontrollably at 3am. Once again I must warn you...if you have not read the two previous books in this trilogy, read no further!!!

The revolution against the Capitol is in full effect and Katniss Everdeen is, currently, on the losing side (the rebels). She's been recovering from the 75th Annual Quarter Quell Hunger Games in the underground city of District 13, along with fellow survivors: Finnick and Beetee. District 12 has been destroyed and people are dead and dying. All of the districts are rebelling against the Capitol, save a few, and are meeting heavy opposition. The fate of the districts lies in the hands of District 13 and Katniss. Will she join the revolution and take on the mascot's position? Essentially, will she become the symbol of the revolution (the Mockingjay)? This is a question that Katniss continually asks herself throughout the beginning of the text before eventually agreeing to become the poster child and unifying force of the people. Of course she accepts in her own way and demands a few things in return.

During all of this we know that Peeta Mellark is still a prisoner of the Capitol. We also know that he's being tortured in several ways for information about the districts and about Katniss. What we don't know is that this torture will have affects that can never be undone completely. The Peeta Mellark that went into the 75th Games will not be the same Peeta that comes out.

Eventually a plan is put into place to rescue Peeta and any other surviving Tributes that have been taken prisoner by the Capitol; namely Johanna, Enobaria, and Annie. Katniss is not allowed to go on this mission, but Gale, Katniss's childhood best friend and perhaps more, is. Peeta, Johanna, and Annie are all rescued during a risky and costly mission, but Enobaria is not. Once the trio is returned to District 13, the level of trauma suffered becomes apparent rather quickly. No longer is Peeta able to see Katniss as the girl he's been in love with for years. Instead, he sees her as a Muttation and the biggest threat to the survival of the Capitol. It takes everything that District 13 can offer to attempt a reversal of the damage done to Peeta. While Katniss struggles with the emotions Peeta's transformation evoke, she must also train and prepare for the invasion of the Capitol that is fast approaching.

Once the mission has been set into place, the location of the book changes from District 13 to the outskirts of the Capitol. There are major preparations and enforcements prepared to take on whatever the Capitol dishes out. Originally, Katniss's unit sets forth to film propos, promotional videos, for the rebels. What they walk into is something that sets the climax of the novel into motion. Instead of mere filming, the group is forced to take the lead role in the invasion of the Capitol. They are able to survive the onslaught of artillery that's thrown their way, with minor losses in the beginning. As they travel deeper into the bowels of the city center, more are lost. Some that leave the reader a little speechless. New evils are introduced and new tactics are used to survive.

As the novel draws to a close, the action focuses specifically on the center of the Capitol and President Snow's mansion. It is here that one of the most shocking and tragic episodes takes place. This event sets Katniss into revenge mode and we realize that she can't and won't be stopped in her mission. Collins does throw quite a few unexpected turns and twists into the end of Mockingjay. So many, in fact, that it lends the feeling of a race at the end. You don't quite know who to trust and what's happening until it's already happened and then there is no place to go but forward...into larger questions and bigger disasters.

By the time everything is said and done, destruction surrounds everything and everyone. Nobody is exempt from the tragedies that befall the citizens of Panem. Even the Epilogue throws a shocking twist into the mix. Though, despite this twist, I felt that it was the most fitting end and it renews a lot of the broken hearts that accumulate throughout the three novels. Ultimately, I have to say that Collins wrote three brilliant novels, each a complete entity unto itself.

Catching Fire (Book #8)

2011-05-07T21:00:00.000-07:00

CAUTION: SPOILER ALERT!!!

Seriously...if you haven't finished or even read The Hunger Games do not continue reading! I warned you...that's all.

Suzanne Collins's sequel to The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, does exactly what it sets out to do: catches everything on fire. The reader is brought back into Katniss Everdeen's life as she gets ready to embark on her Victory Tour, along with Peeta Mellark, her District 12 co-champion, for winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games. They survived and outlasted 22 other tributes from various districts by employing a tactic that showed, though unintentionally, a strong sense of rebellion toward the Capitol, thus placing the two of them (more-so Katniss) on the governments Black List, all so they could return home and live in luxury. Little does Katniss, or anyone else know, that luxury is not exactly on the agenda. Yes, when the duo first return home, they are given new homes in the Victor's Village of District 12, along with their mentor and previous Hunger Games winner, Haymitch Abernathy, but that is short lived.

The pair, together with Haymitch and several other individuals from their Hunger Games prep team, are required to take part in the Victory Tour of the districts. As they journey through the districts, inevitably getting closer and closer to the Capitol, they witness varying levels of unrest in several. This escalates in District 8. Once Katniss and Peeta make it to the Capitol, they must put their "game faces" back on and impress the citizens and prove to the leader, President Snow, that they aren't a threat to security. Unfortunately, Katniss is unconvincing in Snow's eyes.

While this is playing out there is also the question of the Quarter Quell. Every 25 years the makers of the Hunger Games put together a special series; a ramped up version of the Games, if you will. The rules are different for every one, have been planned out since the beginning, and are revealed at the Capitol after the final interviews from the Victory Tour. The 75th Annual Quarter Quell Hunger Games are a whopper.

As Plutarch Heavensbee, this years Head Gamemaker, reads the rules laid out for the Games, a shock falls over the entirety of the districts. Only previous Victors will be fighting; one male and one female tribute from each district. This, inevitably, throws Katniss back into the Games by default as she is the only female victor from District 12. Peeta then volunteers to be the male tribute for the district and the two of them are back in the Games.

Once again there is the fight for survival as soon as the victors are all thrown back into the Games. Only this times it's more difficult for them to kill one another because they all know each other. There are new horrors introduced and new parameters that the Gamemakers have included within the arena and time is running out. Several of the players team up and work together, thus prolonging their survival. But, as this is not the goal of the Games, things are forced to escalate. Those paired up with Katniss, namely Peeta, Johanna, Finnick, and Beetee, put together a trap to kill the remaining victors, but things go array.

Katniss ends up performing a very bold, and decidedly defiant, act against the Capitol which causes the entire arena to explode and leads to mass confusion among the players. As she's transported from the arena, both reader and character alike question what's happening and where she's being taken. We eventually find out that she's been evacuated by rebel forces to District 13, the district that supposedly doesn't exist, along with Finnick and Beetee, because District 12 has been destroyed by the Capitol. Peeta, instead, is taken to the Capitol.

Thus ends Collins's Catching Fire. We are left questioning what will happen to Katniss and to Peeta. Along the way there are deaths of characters beloved and hated alike. We must remember that a revolution is coming...

Holy Hunger Games (Book #7)

2011-05-02T18:41:00.000-07:00

WHY!!! Why did I wait so long to read this?!? Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games, the first in the trilogy, is absolutely brilliant and impossible to put down! The young adult novel is set in a post-apocalyptic America in which there is one government (very Communistic) ruling over 12 scattered districts. It centers around Katniss Everdeen, a sixteen-year old girl from District 12 who volunteers to take Prim, her 12-year old sister's, place in the annual Hunger Games. In the games, two tributes, one boy and one girl, are selected randomly from each district. These 24 tributes are then required to fight to the death in an undisclosed location in order to return home. This is done for several reasons: to ensure complete control of the government and as a reminder to the districts of the power that the goverment holds over them.

The acts that these children, ages 12 to 18, are required to withstand in the Games are absolutely atrocious. The fact that the ruling community broadcasts the entire fight live across the country further lends to the absolute barbarism that Collins describes. Her new-age approach to the eyes and clout of Big Brother forces the reader to question their views on authority and how far they would go to survive. Honestly, I don't know if I could be as brave as Katniss is, or as cunning. She's absolutely brilliant. You really feel for the characters in the book and HATE those in charge. In fact, you even hate some of the tributes.

I can't go into much more detail because it would give everything away and I really think that people should read this themselves. It's a very quick read and well worth it. I loved it so much that, as soon as I finished, I jumped in my car, drove to Borders and bought the second and third in the series...in hardback. That's saying something! Also, as the film version comes out sometime next year, everyone should be prepared. I'm interested in seeing how they approach this and my mind is still unsure about the casting...

Gutsy Women (Book #6)

2011-05-02T18:20:00.000-07:00

Marybeth Bond's Gutsy Women: Travel Tips and Wisdom from the Road is just that, a book of traveling tips and tidbits specifically geared toward women of all ages. The book is divided into chapters that walk you through preparations for packing and departure, for eating, shopping, and meeting people, and designated traveling types. Interspersed into each chapter are quotes from well-traveled writers that pertain to the section. Some are entertaining, some are true, and some are unnecessary.

Bond opens the text with a quote from Alexandra David-Neel, a French explorer and writer, who stated that "travel not only stirs the blood...it also gives birth to the spirit." Honestly, I could not agree more. As a fellow traveler, I can attest that the times where you venture into unknown territory, though at times frightening, leads to some of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Whether searching for a fellow traveler in the middle of the night by candlelight in a Bavarian forest or dodging fireworks and inebriated people in a city-wide festival during Silvesterferien in Vienna all while trying not to get vomitted on, you can not help but to soak in the spirit of the place you are and celebrate the unique experiences that they bring.

I think that the most promising, and entertaining, chapters fell in the middle of the text. The chapter dedicated to eating, "Dining on the Road," offered a lot of sound advice and a very apt truth to travel: "some people travel specifically to eat, and one of the best ways to gain an understanding of another culture is through its cuisine." This is so spot on! I found that while traveling through Venice, Italy I was more willing to spend money on food (especially gelato!) than I was on any souvenirs or the like. This was also clearly evident when I went for a week-long visit to the South, specifically Gulfport/Biloxi, Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana. I didn't buy anything...except food! And let me tell you, it was well worth it!

I found that a lot of the tips Bond includes are very common sense. But then, she does gear this toward both those who've never traveled and those who are seasoned in the backpacker's paradise of musty clothes and bleary eyes so she has to cover the entire range of traveling tips. Probably one of the most practical, and ingenious, tips she gives on safety is to buy one of those rubber doorstoppers. They're cheap and highly effective if you feel unsafe while sleeping in a foreign place.

Gutsy Women closes with an entire list of references that range from books and magazines to services and organizations and even packing lists broken down in to several areas (clothing, hygiene, medical, documents, and miscellaneous). Ultimately, this would be an ideal selection for a first time traveler, but I feel like it was all old hat. However, it did make my feet itch and my wallet burn!

Patterson is a First (Book #5)

2011-04-29T20:21:00.000-07:00

I've recently joined yet another book club; this one being formed by a longtime family friend, Misty. It's strictly an online forum and a place for, what seems to be, a bunch of mothers to get together and discuss books once a month. Now, I don't really fit into this category, but I am a book lover and I'm pretty sure that's why Misty invited me to join. It was decided that the easiest way to determine who chooses books and when would be to make an alphabetical list and go from there. Needless to say I'm rather far down on the list. Our first chooser was Betty and she decided on James Patterson's 1st to Die. I can't recall if I've ever read anything by Patterson, I'm pretty sure I haven't, so this was my first sojourn into the bestseller's world of murder and intrigue.

I picked the book up from the local library and got ready to settle in. 1st to Die is the first novel in the Women's Murder Club series. These aren't normally what I choose when I select a book to read, though I have read some John Grisham books and the like, but I am all for broadening my literary horizons. It's a fast-pace cop thriller with a female narrator; unusual. The reader enters the novel on the balcony of Detective Lindsay Boxer's San Francisco apartment. Boxer is having a rather rough day, which I won't spoil, in the prologue and it sets up a lot of questions: why is she doing this? is her life really this bad? what really happened in the Mandarin Suite at the Hyatt? We are then taken back to the beginning of the entire ordeal and brought up to speed with short, quick chapters that clip right along.

The main premise of the novel is the hunt and capture of a trans-continental serial killer who specifically targets newlyweds. There are a few murders that take place, each with differing methods and locations, that lead the investigators in different directions and constantly bring up new questions. There are also subplots that weave throughout the novel involving Lindsay. These range from a change in partner, a medical situation, and her ability to trust.

We eventually meet the other members of the Women's Murder Club: Cindy, a sassy, daring news reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, Claire, the city's Medical Examiner and Lindsay's best friend, and Jill, the Assistant District Attorney. All four women bring something different to the table and contribute equally to catching the serial killer that has the nation stunned.

Patterson throws in a couple twists that leave the reader with a gaping mouth, but for the most part it's a fairly predictable novel. I did enjoy reading it though because, sometimes, you just need a little mindless entertainment to slow your mind down. Thank you Mr. Patterson.

The Vampire's been Interviewed (Book #4)

2011-04-29T19:55:00.000-07:00

I've recently killed two birds with one stone: reading Interview with the Vampire for both my A-Z Reading Challenge and for my scattered Edinburgh book club. This was pretty much a decided factor as the four of us were sitting around a table at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans last month enjoying cafe au laits and beignets (delicious). I have to say that the book pleasantly surprised me. Though written and published by Anne Rice in 1976, I had never read the book. Of course I'd seen the movie adaptation and, though I loved it at the time, since reading the novel I am completely disappointed in the movie. There is so much that happens in the novel that is not included in the film and vice versa. Yes, the movie is good, but the book is so much better.

The novel starts with Louis consenting to an interview with a reporter who is only ever referred to as "the boy." It is through this medium that Louis tells the story of how he became what he is. He takes us back to the streets of his youth and recounts what his life was like before he was bitten. He takes us through his meeting with Lestat, his encounter with a mortal Claudia, the relationship between the three of them after Claudia is turned, two attempted murders, travels through Eastern Europe, Parisian opulence and the introduction of Armand, and back to New Orleans. In a sense, the novel comes full circle.

Rice's way with words and descriptions immediately draws the reader into the nightly realm of Louis and the "people" he surrounds himself with, or doesn't. We are constantly feeling everything that he feels, which seems to go against every other vampire that is introduced to the reader. Unlike Lestat, Claudia, Santiago, and Armand, Louis still embraces his human characteristics and feels that hunting people is sickening and wrong. He is in constant turmoil over the inner struggle he goes through every night. At times he can come across as a little "woe is me", but for the most part the reader can really empathize with him.

Louis's interview is separated into four parts, each representing a different time and location throughout his existence. I have to say that parts one and three were probably the most compelling. They suck you in and keep you reading until the sun starts to rise, at which point you are forced to put the book down and hibernate in a coffin of your making. Bring on the night!!

So Brave, Young, and BLAND (Book #3)

2011-04-13T12:20:00.000-07:00

I was so looking forward to reading Leif Enger's new novel, So Brave, Young, and Handsome. Unfortunately, it did not stack up or compare to the beautiful story of Peace like a River, his first novel. Yes, at times the story clipped along at a brisk pace, but those instances did not occur until the second half of the book.

The story starts with Monte Beckett, a writer attempting and failing at his second novel, his son, Redstart, his wife, Susannah, and Glendon Hale, the mysterious boat builder and river navigator. These characters come together in a rather predictable fashion and it stays like that in the beginning. Soon Hale reveals that he will be leaving to make reparations with his ex-wife in Mexico and asks Beckett to come along. Thus begins a cross-continental journey from Minnesota to California.

As the two set off the reader slowly begins to learn more about each character. We find out that Hale has been a fugitive for the past few decades for a range of crimes and that Beckett believes that he is a one-hit-wonder in the literary world. Both are on a journey of salvation, in a sense, traveling mainly by water (typical in the salvation/journey of life realm). Of course they encounter obstacles and detours along the way, mainly when they have to travel by car, picking up a young mechanic (Hood) and are pursued by an ex-Pinkerton detective (Siringo) whose mission is to capture Hale at all costs. It's once they pick up Hood that the story finally gathers momentum and engages the reader.

The trio makes their way to the Hundred and One ranch, a traveling rodeo show, where Hood is determined to live and thrive. It is here that the real action begins. There's an accidental death, a flood of epic proportions, and several cases of backstabbing. This forces the travelers to go their separate ways for a time and gives the reader a glimpse into the mind of Siringo, as he now becomes Beckett's main traveling companion.

Several minor characters pop in and out of the story and lend further depth to the main characters. The reader meets figures from Hale's past who help to shed light on how and why Hale is the way he is. We also meet characters who bolster Beckett's personal worth and courage. Both characters are forced throughout the story to reflect on their decisions and actions and make amends along the way.

Hale and Beckett both eventually make it to California, their final destination after new information sends them in this direction. It is here the pair end their physical journey and come to terms with their emotional one. It is also in California where all of the characters are reunited in a sense.

Overall, I have to give this novel the following grades: a C- for the first half and a B for the second. As a whole I would rate this a high C or low B. It wasn't on par with Enger's first novel and fell short of keeping me engrossed in the actions. Better luck next time.

Are You There, Vodka? (Book #2)

2011-04-01T18:34:00.000-07:00

The second book in my A-Z Book Reading Challenge, and the first on the actual list, Chelsea Handler's Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea was a light, enjoyable read and a good break from the heavier novels that I've been attracted to lately. I've read both of Handler's other novels, My Horizontal Live and Chelsea, Chelsea Bang, Bang, and have enjoyed all of them. This choice was a nice mixture of episodes from Handler's seeminly insane life. I swear that woman gets into more hijinks than I can imagine! Whether it's getting jumped by a bunch of high school gangster wannabe's or having a midget con artist bum money off her to bail her deadbeat husband our of jail, Handler has a knack for making the reader laugh out loud throughout the book. She starts the collection with an outrageous lie about starring in a movie with Goldie Hawn that she tells to the school in order to be accepted. This, of course, leads to more problems that she must lie her way out of in order to avoid further humiliation. I think that my favorite chapter has to be Prison Break which explains her getting pulled over for a DUI and then subsequently getting arrested for fraud because her sister claimed she stole her identity (by using her id to get into bars). This set a fairly high bar and, I must say, Handler delivered the entire way through. I also thoroughly enjoyed the chapter that included a birthday party for a woman she hardler knew and the re-gifting of a present given to her by another friend also in attendance. Ultimately, this was a pretty good read and I must say that I'll continue to read whatever Handler writes!

There are most definitely secrets

2011-03-30T11:11:00.000-07:00

Though not read for the A-Z Reading Challenge, I just finished Chris Bohjalian's newest novel, Secrets of Eden, a murder/mystery/thriller type. I've loved everything that I've read of Bohjalian's, but for some reason this one didn't capture my attention as quickly as the previous novels. It's not bad, but it wasn't great either. Of course by the end I was shocked and most definitely thrown for a loop with the twist he provides, but I didn't like the fact that it took me that long to become engrossed in the story.

Like most of Bohjalian's novels, Secrets of Eden is told from several different perspectives, four to be precise, and peppered with excerpts from the writing of Heather Laurent. One thing to keep in mind when reading Bohjalian's novels: the characters are not always what they seem.

The first character is Stephen Drew, the local pastor in the community. He is the character that informs the reader that the murder/suicide of Alice and George Hayward has taken place and shaken the small Vermont community he presides over. As Drew explains what's going on in the town, and his own personal feelings about what has happened, the reader is able to get a glimpse of who Drew "might" be. We discover that, after the tragedy, he is having a crisis of faith and that he might have been more involved with members of Hayward family than he should have been.

The second perspective we get is that of Catherine Benicasa, the deputy state attorney. She's been assigned to examine the incident because of suspicions that have arisen in the initial investigation, such as the bullet's trajectory and the blood alcohol levels in George Hayward's system. This, coupled with Drew's rather abrupt exit of the town, leads Benicasa to believe that he was somehow involved in the event.

The third character introduced to the reader is Heather Laurent, an author of books involving angels and how they are real entities that enter into peoples lives when they most need them. Originally she is in the area for a book signing and speech but, after reading about the story in the local paper, she becomes intrigued with the event and decides to go to the town. This, along with the fact that her childhood is eerily similar to what has just taken place in Vermont, causes her to become a suspect in the investigation as well. Also, she becomes involved with Stephen Drew.

The last character introduced, and perhaps the most compelling of the four, is Katie Hayward, the teenage daughter of Alice and George Hayward. Through Katie the reader learns of the aftermath of the investigation, what has happened in the town, and how she is managing to cope with the loss of her parents. We also learn the truth about the night in question. I must say that Katie's chapters were the ones that pulled me in and shocked me the most. They were definitely the icing on the cake...with sprinkles.

As a whole I have to say that I was a slightly disappointed in this selection. Though well written and at times compelling, I was left wanting until the very end. Thankfully the ending of Secrets of Eden was such that my opinions were elevated somewhat. Overall grade: B+

T=Trans-Sister Radio (Book #1)

2011-03-15T09:39:00.000-07:00

Finally, the first book finished on the A-Z Reading Challenge! I feel slightly accomplished. And without further ado:

Chris Bohjalian's Trans-Sister Radio was simply fascinating. I've read a few of his other books and this one did not disappoint. The thing that I like about Bohjalian is that none of his books touch on the same topic. Yes, similar themes run throughout every book of his I've read, but the way in which he approaches those themes is remarkably refreshing. Because of this, and his writing style, he's quickly become one of my favorite contemporary writers.

In my latest foray into this author's work I ventured into the world of the transgendered male. The novel is told from the perspective of the four main characters: Dana, the transgendered lead, Allison, Dana's lover, Will, Allison's ex-husband, and Carly, Will and Allison's nineteen year old daughter. Interspersed between each of the different viewpoints are excerpts from a NPR interview ran on the All Things Considered program which tells the story of Dana and Allison's struggles to be a couple in a small Vermont town.

One of the aspects that I truly enjoyed while reading this novel was the characters' constant allusions to what would transpire. The reader is always kept in the loop and is able to speculate the events that are soon to occur. While this may seem like something that most don't like in their literature, Bohjalian's presentation fits the themes and the stylistic structure in which the novel is written. You truly feel for these characters and those feelings continually change as the book progresses: anger, sadness, incredulity, pain, happiness...it runs the gamut.

I think that the part of the novel I found most interesting, and angering, was the portrayal of the school and townspeople's attitude toward the relationship between Dana and Allison. The fluidity of personal and professional life is constantly called into question and ethics and morality are heavily depicted. As an educator, I found myself most definitely on the side of Allison. Yes, we should act as a moral compass for the students who attend our classes, yet where do you draw the line? Where does privacy start? That's the question constantly asked throughout this novel and it's one that, because of the delicate nature of the subject and situation, is never fully resolved.

As a reader you are able to see Dana and Allison's relationship run the course and you also receive a glimpse of their lives after the dissolution of their relationship. We're told from the beginning that the two don't end up together, but Bohjahlian definitely offers the reader a wonderful twist that, as a close reader, you would speculate.

Ultimate comment: definitely worth the journey into a thoughtful, sensitive approach to an extremely controversial topic. A+

The Moviegoer...didn't go

2011-03-09T16:10:00.000-08:00

I've recently finished reading Percy Walker's The Moviegoer for my scattered book club from Scotland and I have to say that it left me wanting...a lot. I can't put my finger on what I didn't like about this book; perhaps it was my lack of interest in any of the characters or the writing style that disappointed, despite the fact that it won the National Book Award for Fiction.
I had such high hopes for this read for many reason. 1) I will soon be heading to Biloxi and New Orleans to meet up with the above mentioned book club, 2) I tend to like novels set in the South, and 3) the synopsis sounded intriguing. Alas, I was let down.
As a breakdown to why I didn't enjoy this read I offer the following: the characters bored my to death...and I wish it had done so to Kate! I feel that the major failing in this work rests in the complete lack of kinship the reader feels with any of the characters presented, much like Flaubert's characters in A Sentimental Education. Binx is a scatter-brained cad who rests on his laurels and wants to lay every woman he sees. Kate is a manic-depressive, bipolar disaster who needs constant attention and approval. Together they present the reader with nothing. They simply fade into the words on the page. There are other minor characters: Sharon, Binx's secretary and latest sexual conquest, Binx's Aunt, who offers some of the better lines, as well as some others too minor to mention.
Yes, there were instances of shining stardom, but those were so few and far between that, when they did happen, they quickly became lost in the ho-hum.
In the end there were a few notable quotes that I pulled from the mire that was The Moviegoer:
1) "Before, I wandered as a diversion. Now I wander seriously and sit and read as a diversion" (70). What a perfect way to describe Binx...a constant diversion.
2) "All the friendly and likeable people seem dead to me; only the haters seem alive" (100). Too bad Kate didn't take her own advice here.
3) "At night the years come back and perch around my bed like ghosts" (144). One of the more haunting images that Percy invokes. Much more in the spirit of New Orleans and what one would expect.
Despite my complete dislike and disappointment in this book, I am extremely excited to venture to the South and explore the glossed over locations that Percy peppers throughout the text. Here's to Southern Shenanigans!

A-Z Book Challenge

2011-02-25T18:19:00.000-08:00

My good friend Mandy recently sent me a link to a wonderful book challenge run by The Thoughts of a Book Junky! blog and I've decided that I'm going to participate for several reasons: 1) because I love to read, 2) because I've set a goal to read 100 books this year, and 3) because it seems like a fun way to bust through the very long list of books to read that I continually add to. So, without further ado, I present my list:

~~A-"Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea"--Chelsea Handler~~
~~B-"Bianca's Vineyard"--Teresa Neumann~~
~~C-"Catching Fire"--Suzanne Collins~~
D-"The Diplomat's Wife"--Pam Jenoff
~~E-"Espresso Tales"--Alexander McCall Smith~~
~~F-"1st to Die"--James Patterson~~
~~G-"Gutsy Women: Travel Tips and Wisdom for the Road"--Marybeth Bond~~
~~H-"The Hunger Games"--Suzanne Collins~~
~~I-"Interview with the Vampire"--Anne Rice~~
J-"Johnny One-Eye"--Jerome Charyn
~~K-"A Knight in Shining Armor"--Jude Deveraux~~
~~L-"The Liar's Club"--Mary Karr~~
~~M-"Mockingjay"--Suzanne Collins~~
~~N-"Never Let Me Go"--Kazuo Ishiguro~~
O-"On Chesil Beach"--Ian McEwan
~~P-"The Power of Six"--Pittacus Lore~~
Q-"Quiet, Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian"--Scott Douglas
R-"Rebecca"--Daphne du Maurier
~~S-"So Brave, Young, and Handsome"--Leif Enger~~
~~T-"Tran-Sister Radio"--Chris Bojahlian~~
~~U-"Unbearable Lightness"--Portia de Rossi~~
~~V-"Vernon God Little"--DBC Pierre~~
~~W-"When Irish Guys are Smiling"--Suzanne Supplee~~
X-"Soldier X"--Don Wulffson
Y-"You Don't Look Like Anyone I Know"--Heather Sellers
Z-"Zoli: A Novel"--Calum McCann

And there you have it. To further keep myself motivated, I vow to post a review of every single book that I read from this list...along with others I read in between! Happy reading!!

2010-09-14T22:53:00.001-07:00

From December 2006

Thoughts ravage and race through the labyrinth of my mind, weaving unchartable patterns that even the most seasoned veteran would be unable to navigate. Not knowing where they should go, what they should be doing and finding no exit. Only traveling for lack of something better or more productive to do. Why must they wreak such havoc without an outlet? Why must I continually deny the fact that I want to cry to the heavens? Yell out my frustration in order to actually feel, actually experience some form of emotion, instead of consciously blocking all sensory preceptors to avoid the impending hurt. Such is the plight of the tough exterior that I constantly front. Nobody really knows how I feel…or who I am. Do I even know? That is my decision, one that has taken its toll and forced me deeper into the shadows of my soul, further distancing me from the world that seeks to ease the constant confusion of everyday life.

Once, as a child, I felt that the world was laid at my feet merely waiting to be conquered, that I was perched on the edge of something truly fantastical. I could be and do anything, as the cliché goes. Now, as a pseudo-adult, I find that the world has conquered me. I am searching through darkness, running blindly into oblivion and not knowing where the final stop of the terrifying ride will be. What am I meant for? What do I stand for? Who am I? That’s the real question: who the hell am I? Am I the child/grandchild that, daily, makes my family proud? Am I the friend who always lends a listening ear? Am I the girl in the corner of the crowded bar that simply wants to disappear? Am I the One? I don’t think that I will ever know the answer to these umbrella questions that hang in the air around my aura. That is a fact that I have come to terms with, though perhaps not accepted. Why should I accept it? What is the point of accepting when you yearn for change? Something new, something unexpected, I want to dazzle! Shine on like an inexhaustible star that has not reached the end of its existence. One day…perhaps.

As for the present, I have come to terms with the darkness, with the unintelligible. I have embraced the banausic in life, content to live in silence and detachment with the outcasts of the world, a black sheep. Bullshit! Why lie? I have an inner restlessness which longs to be unshackled, to roam and run free. I want to stand on the cliff of life as I did as a child and feel the breeze caress my skin, running light and gentle kisses across my face, sweeping invisible fingers through the hair that whips around my head, embracing my body with desire and utter faith. Elevating the beauty that lies beneath the surface of my skin…waiting, dormant. That’s the truth of the matter. It beckons me and I ignore it. Why? Fear of the unknown, unwillingness to change, fear of what those around me might think. All of these and more stop me from standing on that cliff and basking in the whispered breath of God.

I crave the release that is waiting just beyond my reach. Inches away from the tips of my fingers lay the answers to all of my questions, the truth to what I seek. If I could only stretch, aggrandize, my inquiries far enough, maybe I could grasp that which is just past my perception, snatch it to my heart and hold on for dear life.

2010-09-14T22:48:00.000-07:00

From December 2006

As the black clouds roll across the sky, like demons chasing the glittering sun, I watch the expressions of those on the street change to grotesque grimaces in abhorrence of the inconvenience that this presents to their day. They are unable to embrace the beauty that such a day brings to the world. The ability to sit inside and not feel forced to venture into the winding streets that constantly confuse.
Through sipping my coffee and trying to decipher the German-language newspaper that lies in front of me, I casually glance out the window during intervals of my misunderstanding. I notice that the street is slowing emptying under the torrents that are now pouring down. Of course there are those few individuals who brave the storm and welcome the coming downpour. It is these people whom I envy. Why are they able to dance in the rain that cleanses their souls? How are they able to forget their cares and allow their bodies to become saturated with such a gift? I want to be one of these people…no, I yearn to be one of these people. Instead, I have become one of those who run from the rain, the nuisance that the storm presents. I no longer welcome the fun associated with puddle-jumping that I did in my youth. Now, I think of the after-effects that jumping in said puddle would have on my life, such as wet clothes and shoes and having to do laundry. When all along, I should have been running straight at that puddle and diving in.
As this thought runs through my already cluttered mind, I turn my gaze back to the paper in front of me and feel a tear slide slowly down my face, dropping into the milky-black substance that fills my cup. The ripple effect takes place and seems to flow into eternity, or at least to the edge of the mug. As it collides with the yellow walls, it folds back on itself and disrupts the beautiful, perfect circle that my lone tear had created. Once again, the world makes sense in regards to outside influences ruining what is stunning.

It's Been So Long!

2010-09-14T22:36:00.000-07:00

I'm going to start this thing up again. I feel that I need to...a compulsion. I've got some older stuff that I'll be posting and, eventually, I'll come up with something new to put on here. I'm in a creative mood, so who knows what will appear!! Yay for new beginnings and starting again.

My Life Has Become a Series of Countdowns...

2008-07-15T17:33:00.000-07:00

55...the number of days until I fly home...
38...the number of days until my dissertation is due...
0...the number of words I have written on my dissertation...
37...the number of texts I have reviewed for my dissertation...
54...the number of texts I still have to review for my dissertation...not counting the ones in the National Library...or the ones I have to translate...
15...days I've been "researching/reviewing"...
7...days I've actually researched/reviewed...
0...level of stress I feel...which is nice!
Goal: have my dissertation written by August 10th (26 days) at the latest. Fingers crossed that this actually happens.

After this, I have to grow up and become an "adult"...we'll see about that. I'm such a slacker!

Aye, Avas!

2008-04-24T17:27:00.000-07:00

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -----Mark Twain

Food for thought. I really think that Mr. Twain (aka Samuel Clemens) had it spot on. Makes me want to do thousands of things, but mainly it makes me want to be a pirate! Now what's so wrong with that? Drink up me matey's, yo ho!

PS...I'm a knitting machine!

25 and counting...

2008-03-06T14:44:00.000-08:00

So it seems as if it has been years since I've posted anything. And it has...well, almost. Things are progressing ever so slowly in the good ole UK. By progression, I mean that the time is going by and, yes, I finally have a supervisor for my dissertation. Yikes...but in a good way. That said, I now wonder if my topic can actually garner a 60 page paper. May have to write five chapters instead of three. Ha! Most people who hear the foundations of my topic seem interested. But that could just be a polite front, to which I kindly say "Bugger off ye wee, mindless morons!" Haha. Other than that, not much going on. I will celebrate the fantastic-ness that is my birth this weekend. The quarter century mark. Whoa. Quarter century and what exactly have I accomplished with my life besides loads and loads of student debt and a bit of world traveling? Ah well...at least it's been fun. Maybe it's just me, but this post seems utterly eloquent and thought-provoking. Of course that could be due to the copious amounts of Guinness (and rum) that are now coursing through my veins...or it could be that I am just that good. I'm going to go with the latter. Makes me feel better..."Here honey, have some whiskey. Makes ya feel better!" How wise the old crone is. Those who understand this reference will get a kick...perhaps even a laugh. Haha. Those who don't, well they deserve a "betch slap." Oi...I need to walk away from the computer before it incriminates me in some fashion. Maybe an outpouring of feelings, as I never divulge those, or something else utterly devastating to my psyche in the morning. Ah the lure of the internet and the loosening of my tongue/mind/morals/conscience when alcohol is involved. Alright...the floodgates have opened...must jet! Cheerio dahlings!

Subtraction

2008-01-16T09:21:00.000-08:00

Long fingers wrap around my hand as we enter the tunnel of candy-apple red walls
Your crystal-clear blue eyes smile at me with the innocence of youth
A single red rose, an 'I love you' on the phone and then 4 years pass.
We walked next to each other draped in the same eye-popping red that warm June
Ironic how that worked out
You smiled at me again with those familiar clear blue eyes
I turned right, you turned left and then another five years...maybe more.
Your eyes are haunted now
They're still blue, but they no longer sparkle with the innocent youth they once did.
Can we go back?
Back to those days in red halls and warm, star-filled nights?
Back to youth?
It was all so easy then...

It's a Love-Hate Relationship

2008-01-14T18:39:00.000-08:00

The more time that I spend living in Europe, the more I realize how much of an Oregonian I am at heart. As much as I love living abroad (Vienna was amazing and, I find it safe to say, Edinburgh is even better), I will always return to, and feel a special connection to, my 'home' in the Pacific Northwest. Though this is true and will always remain a fact, I have compiled a list of reason why I love and hate (or severely dislike) living in Edinburgh. I could do this with Oregon as well, but for now we'll stick with the current situation.

Reasons why I love Edinburgh:
1. I love Scotland in general. The countryside is absolutely gorgeous and it's a great place to live. The Highlands have, by far, been my favorite physical attribute which the country has to offer. I only hope to see them toward the end of summer in order to witness hills that are completely and fantastically covered in bright purple heather.
2. Scottish people! I have come to the conclusion that Scottish people are the NICEST people one will ever meet. They are quick to smile and start a conversation. Quick to help and offer a kind word whenever. It's a pleasant thing to be standing in line at Tesco and have a random conversation with the old man/woman behind you over the weather...even if you can't understand a word they say.
3. Free Museums! The fact that museums do not charge admissions is fantastic as it allows more people to see exhibits that are being presented and does not exclude poor Uni students who would not be able to afford to see the treasures within otherwise. Bravo to the Brits for this one!
4. Edinburgh's architecture, history and culture that is present in everday life. The city is saturated with all three...and more!
5. The fact that you can walk down the street anytime of the day (business hours moreso) and see at least three people playing the bagpipes dressed in traditional Highland garb. The sound of the bagpipes echoing off the concrete buildings always brings a smile to my face.
6. Enjoying a pint (or several) in a pub next to the fire with a bunch of local older men while a football match plays on the telly on a Sunday afternoon.
7. Black Medicine Coffee Shop and the fact that its identity is torn between that of a tribal Native American decor and a reggae Rastaffarian lounge. The coffee's great and the staff are fantastic as well!
8. The Spicebox! Curry is freakin' phenomenal and it's by far the best in town...plus, they deliver!
9. The charity shops that are on every corner (and in between). Similar to a Goodwill or Salvation Army in the States, but proceeds go to Research foundations for everything under the sun. There is even one for animals across the street from my flat. The best is when you find one that sells books for extremely cheap (i.e. paperbacks for 1 quid and hardbacks for 2 quid).

Reason why I dislike Edinburgh:
1. The disorganization of the Uni in general. From the administration, to the registrar...all the way down to the program management. You'd think that the Uni was new instead of a few hundred years old.
2. How bloody expensive life is in the United Kingdom.
3. The treacherous ice on the sidewalks at 1am when trying to trek uphill from New Town to Old Town. You do this at your own risk and accept whatever consequences are thrown your way with a slight grimace and a self-preserving laugh.
4. The sheer and utter lack of good peanut butter! Can not be found anywhere in the city.
5. Pigeons! Flying, disease-infested rats with wings that wake me up every morning despite the 2 pence pieces that people chuck at them out my window.
6. The fact that it's pitch black by 4:30 in the afternoon. Thankfully this is slowly changing as the days go by.
7. The GHETTO in which I live. For how much I flippin' pay, you'd think that it would be slightly better than it is, but such is Uni housing.
8. My terrible sleeping habits. I don't think that they've ever been so haphazard and insomniac-esque in my entire life...yet I do nothing productive whilst in the throes of my insomnia episodes.
9. The Uni library! It is not condusive to studying in any way. It is constantly overrun with loud undergraduates and there are NEVER enough copies of the books you need or they don't even carry what you're looking for. This makes it extremely difficult to do the reading for class.

Upon completing this list, I've come to the conclusion that the good outweigh the bad by miles! How many opportunities do you get to study at a top Uni in the United Kingdom? Honestly! Although I may say I dislike several aspects about living in Edinburgh and attending the Uni, I wouldn't trade it for anything...but I will still return to Oregon when I'm finished. Oh Oregon...how I yearn for your hay-fever inducing valleys and downpours that rival the rainfall of Scotland (true fact!). I'll see you in due time...in due time.

A whole lotta nothing!

2007-11-20T08:48:00.000-08:00

Seeing as how I have not posted anything in forever, I decided that today would be a good day. Granted, I have nothing to talk about besides the fact that I am slowly becoming apathetic to school...maybe more, but I'm writing this nonetheless. I have essays looming over my head that I should be working on (finishing actually), yet can't find the drive to start them. Maybe it's an unacknowledged interior feeling...maybe it's the Scottish weather...maybe it's nothing, but that's the gist of it. Anyways, sorry this was pointless but I was told that I needed to write something soon...consider this your present...haha. Later!

"Head" Writing

2007-10-22T11:18:00.000-07:00

I have recently come to the conclusion that I am a "head" writer. What, you may ask, is "head" writing? I'll get to that, but first I have to start back at the beginning...

As a child there were several things I wanted to be when I grew up. A writer, a teacher, an artist, a librarian, a lawyer; the list goes on. And several things I loved to do: play school where i would force my little sister to "learn" what I had been taught at school (perhaps this is why she did so well throughout elementary school), jump rope (the glories of a multi-colored beaded rope and light up shoes were a real crowd pleaser during performances around the state), read (I wanted to open a neighborhood library in my playroom...the main collection consisting of the Babysitter's Club series and the Golden Disney books. I just knew that there was a growing demand for these in the population of that small town, especially among the kids, all 12 of us, the majority of them being boys), draw (I wanted to design dresses...all kinds), write (though at the time I wrote mostly horror stories inspired by R.L. Stein...not the abysmal "Goosebumps" series, but the good stuff, the "Fear Street" series), and Barbie...I know, I know...the cliche of the little girl with her anatomically impossible blonde Barbie complete with Dream House (including a pull-string operated elevator) and the bubblegum pink convertible. I always wanted the Barbie Camper, but never received it. It was quite a tragedy.

Along the lines of Barbie, there were always a few things that bothered me. Why, I thought, did I always receive a blonde Barbie? I desperately wanted a Barbie with anything BUT blonde hair. So one year I asked for Totally Hair Barbie (she had hair all the way down to her feet) and specified that I wanted the Black one. I was so pleased when I received this Barbie. She was beautiful in her blue and neon green technicolor micromini dress with glorious black hair, brown skin and brown eyes. Finally!! Sister received the blonde one. But my obsession with the anti-blonde didn't end there. I wanted a Ken with brown hair. I hated the blonde Ken with a passion. I don't think they even made a Ken without blonde hair at the time, I hadn't seen one, but I told my parents nonetheless and, low and behold, I was presented with a brown haired Ken doll. I was ecstatic and took him out of the box immediately. He actually had hair, where blonde Ken had a painted plastic head. This was even better! But then tragedy struck. As I was changing Ken into a day outfit, his tuxedo was not appropriate for a drive through the country, his leg broke off! I tried desperately to reattach his leg, but was unable to perform such a miracle. Sadly, brown haired Ken was lost to me. He was placed in the toybox never to be seen again. So it was back to the blonde Ken and the "perfection" that he and Barbie represented. I also remember trying to replace blonde Ken with a "transformed" Skipper. One time, I cut all of Skipper's hair off and colored what remained with a brown marker. Goodness!

Anyways, back to the point. Though I was interested in several things as a child, my ambitions have slightly changed over the years. I stopped playing with Barbie's (subsequently losing my drive for a brown haired Ken doll), I moved on from the jump rope team, I no longer wanted to design dresses, I didn't want to be a librarian (though I wouldn't mind running a quaint used bookstore/coffeeshop/cafe somewhere rustic). The two things that have remained are teaching and writing. I'm working on the teaching aspect, but it's the vein of writing that has me constantly stumped. This is where the "head" writing comes in. I find that I write profound and complex things...in my head! Especially while lying in bed at night surrounded by darkness and silence. Yet when I go to actually write my thoughts down, they come out sounding uninspired and amateur. Why? Who knows. I wish there were a way to record my "head" writing without actually writing. It seems that as soon as the pen touches the page my brain melts, flows away from my thoughts and I'm left building bridges that are never able to convey exactly what I want to say. One day I hope to conquer this obstacle to my writing, but for now I'll settle with composing amazing prose in my head and writing the mediocre.

That's all for now...