Forty Stories, edited by Cal Morgan

It’s been a long time since I participated in Short Story Monday.  I missed it.  So I thought I'd come back with what is probably my longest Short Story Monday post ever.

Forty Stories is a unique (and fantastic) short story collection put together by Calvert Morgan from Harper Perennial.  Forty Stories is the balance that Cal Morgan felt he "owed" us for the year he started, but didn't finish over at Fifty-Two Stories.  Fifty-Two stories was a great site, a place where you could read a new, free, short story each week.

Forty Stories is free too.  Harper Perennial made a PDF available online at the Fifty-Two Stories website and announced that on July 17^th, the stories would also be available to download as an ebook in various formats (iBook, Kindle, etc.)  I downloaded the PDF immediately (I was so excited), then downloaded the free ebook on the 17^th of July too.

I'd feel bad not writing something about all of the stories.  Honestly, each one was worth reading.  However, forty separate reviews seemed like a lot. So I'm going to make them “twitter” size. Each story comment is going to be 140 characters or less. 

1.    Ambivalence, by Ben Greenman - Great story. Though I certainly hope my hubby didn't do anything like that before we got married.

2.    Amy Having a Heart Attack, by Sharon Goldner - Umm. This one was a little off. Well-written, but I had no sympathy for the main character.

3.    The Anarchist of Darwin, by Michael Ramberg - Even though the main character was nuts, I could sympathize with him.

4.    Another Terrible Thing, by Catherine Lacey - It was an interesting story.  Though I felt like something more startling should have happened between the main character and her husband.

5.    Barnicles of the Fuzz, by D. Foy - Not sure I understood this one.  Is it about the characters? What's the point?

6.    Baselines, by Adam Wilson - It's a story about repetition.  Well done. I liked that it was snowing.

7.    Because you Asked, by Karon Luddy - Another story in lists? At least I understood this one. They are interesting answers.

8.    Before The Trip, by Adetokunbo Aviola - Had me on the edge of my seat. Very exciting.

9.    The Beginning of the Summation of Our Dead, by Blake Butler - Felt more like free form poetry, with a plot. Interesting. I can see why people would like it.  I still think it needs paragraph/stanza breaks.

10. Birthright City, by Eliezra Schaffin - An interesting look at Jewish tradition and at the growing up of a girl who doesn't fit in.

11. Can a Corn, by Jess Walter - A little morbid and sad.  Definitely attention-grabbing.

12. Confluence, by Mesha Maren. - It was a depressing story. I kept waiting for something bad to happen.

13. Djeser Djeseru (Splendor of Splendors), by Paula Younger - I'm not sure how I feel about this one. I really liked Patty, but why did the driver turn out to be sleazy? The Egyptian Christian was good, but not the Muslim? I understand that he was trying to get out of Egypt and was using her. I suppose this is the same problem I've had with portrayals of Muslims in some writing.  (I know this is bigger than “twitter-size”, but the story really bothered me.)

14. Eighty-six Ways To Cross One Desert, by Alexander Lumans - An interesting way to write a story. I liked it, but I'm not sure I understood it.

15. Everyone Loves Someone Who Doesn't Give a Fuck About Anything, by Jane Faulds - I don’t really like stories with swearing in the title. It was a good story with some serious dysfunction.

16. Fire Weather, by Brady Hammes - I feel sorry for Kate, though she seems increasingly apathetic. Phil is crazy.  Great story.

17. A Girl, by Lindsay Hunter - Interesting story.  I wish they found her. I like closure.

18. Glossolalia, by Kyle Minor - An unlove story...

19. God's Plan, by Daniel Brown - It's a sweetly sad story, but there is hope and potential at the end.

20. Granaby, by Brandon Hobson - What an utterly depressing story. It was well written and there's more to the main character than what we learn here.

21. Graveyards, by Scott McClanahan - Is this really non-fiction?  It has a ring of truth.

22. Head Down, Palm Up, by Mitchell S. Jackson - A somewhat depressing story, but it also left me disconnected from the main character.

23. Hers, by O.A. Lindsey - What a depressing, sad story.  I almost couldn't finish it.

24. The Highline Highway, by Nathan Oates - A unique and interesting story. Glad to have read it.

25. House Guests, by Alan Rossi - A great story with a crazy ending. Another unique one.

26. I Like Looking At Pictures of Gwen Stefani, by Elizabeth Crane - I love Gwen Stefani, but I don't think that was the point of the story. It was looking and seeing.

27. I'll Take You There, by David Williams - The difference between religion and faith.

28. In The Manner of Water or Light, by Roxane Gay - There is truth, the search for it, the real and the one we tell ourselves so we can move on.

29. Jailbreak, by Matt Stewart - Short and sad. If you knew your children would turn out this way, why have them?

30. Jon and Maeve, by David Backer - Amazing story!  A unique plot and characters.  They felt real.  The situation felt impossible and plausible at the same time.

31. Miss November, by Matthew Norman - I loved this story.  It was sad and sweet and very relatable.

32. Most Wanted, by Eric Raymond - It was too sad.  I kept thinking he was going to find her in the faces of one of the random girls.

33. The Mountain Population Is Me, by Shane Jones - Change is bad?  I really liked the story and I feel as though it is trying to teach a message, but I don't know exactly what.

34. opal one, opal two, by Tessa Mellas - Beautiful sentences, but difficult to understand. Haunting? Grief?  Also, no capitals!

35. A Plain Kiss (Letters To Allison), by Jamie Quatro - Very sad.  She just wants something to happen, but she's too afraid. Also, I hate the violin teacher.

36. Plank, by Kayden Kross - Not sure I like stories told in second person. Makes me feel like there is no main character.

37. Poof, by Joeseph Scapalleto - Umm, did he just throw his nephew.  A great, quick story.

38. Some Kind Of Rugged Genius, by Greg Bardsley - I loved this story!  It is unique and you do not see the end coming.

39. What Good Is An Ark To A Fish, by Kelli Ford - An apocalyptic story about family.  Beautiful and sad.

40. You Can Touch This, by Jim Hanas - A somewhat tense story. I was afraid for the zombie at the end, but it seems that it worked out for them. Also, as a mother, how could you forget your kid??!

The stories are great.  I know there were some of them where the story might have bothered me, but none of the stories were poorly written, so I’m taking those few negative reactions as subjective.  I can't express how much I enjoyed this wonderful, diverse assortment of plots and voices. I can't encourage people enough to download it.  This free ebook might just lead you to your next favourite author. 

Also, thanks to John Mutford at The Book Mine Set for hosting Short Story Monday.

Word of the Week!

It’s been over a year, but I’ve decided to start up my Word of the Week again.  I miss it.  I miss sharing with you all the words that come up in my various reading.

All of this week’s words come from Forty Stories, a collection of short stories put together by Cal Morgan from Harper Perennial.  (My thoughts on the stories will be posted on Monday.)

Haploid vs. Diploid
image from here

From Barnacles of the Fuzz, by D. Foy (Forty Stories)

Jitney (Kindle location 742):
A small bus or minibus which typically operates service on a fixed route, sometimes scheduled.

Haploid (Kindle location 742):
Of a cell of nucleus having a single set of unpaired chromosomes.

From Djeser Djeseru (Splendor of Splendors), by Paula Younger (Forty Stories)

Corniche image from here. (c) Arnaud Clerget

Corniche (Kindle location 1876):
A road cut into the edge of a cliff, esp. one running along a coast.

From Eighty-six Way to Cross One Desert, by Alexander Lumans (Forty Stories)

Alacritous (Kindle location 2207):
Brisk, speedy, with alacrity, quick and eager.

Everyone Loves a Person Who Doesn’t Give a F*$# About Anything, by Laura Jane Faulds (Forty Stories)

Pulsatile (Kindle location 2346):
Pulsating or vibrating.
Characterized by pulses.

Tinnitus (Kindle location 2346):
The perception of noise such as a ringing or beating sound, which has no external source.
Rung, jingled, having been jingled.
Cried, screamed, having been screamed in a shrill voice.
A ringing, jingling, tinkling.
(I didn’t realize this was going to be such a complex word.)

Granaby, by Brandon Hobson (Forty Stories)

Dyspneic (Kindle location 3382):
Afflicted with Dyspnea; possessing unhealthy breathing.

Impetigo (Kindle location 3444):
A contagious bacterial skin disease forming pustules and yellow crusty sores, chiefly on the face and hands. It is common in children and infection is often through cuts or insect bites.

Head Down, Palm Up, by Mitchell S. Jackson (Forty Stories)

Semaphore

Semaphore (Kindle location 3745):
A system of sending messages by holding the arms or two flags or poles in certain positions according to an alphabetic code.

Hers, by O.A. Lindsey (Forty Stories)

Sclerotic (Kindle location 3943):
Of or having sclerosis.
Becoming rigid and unresponsive; losing the ability to adapt.
Of or relating to the sclera.

That’s a lot of words.  I doubt each week will have that many.  In Forty Stories there are so many great authors writing fantastic stories, that I’m not surprised I had to look up more than a few words.

Learned any new words lately?

*Definitions from Wikitionary and Kindle app.

I Almost Didn't Blog About This....

There's a clothing store in India called.... Hitler.  Seriously!  WTF????  Click the link below for more information.

KiSS 92.5 | Toronto's #1 Hit Music Station

*I didn't include the picture because I didn't want it to appear on my blog.
**Seriously, how could this guy think it was a good idea????
***I had a difficult time even typing the name out.  So very offensive.

A Cocktail & Conversation -- Naughty Authors & Its Affects On Us As Readers

I wanted to highlight a new feature on The Broke and The Bookish.  Each week they'll be talking about a different bookish topic, sharing their opinions.  I found this week's topic really interesting and something I've discussed with friends before.  Tahleen's link is also really... informative.  Click the link below to be taken to the discussion.

The Broke and the Bookish - A Book Blog For The Eclectic Reader: A Cocktail & Conversation -- Naughty Authors & Its...:  Every Wednesday here at the Broke & The Bookish is going to be A Cocktail & Conversation time. We'll pose a question to 2-3 members of ...

(Too bad I'm at work and can't have a cocktail... or can I?)

Top Ten Bookish Confessions (or Something Close To It)

I almost didn’t join in this week, but I’m trying not to become a hermit…  The Broke and The Bookish are asking for my Top Ten Bookish Confessions.  I don’t know if I have any “confessions”.  But here are the top ten things I do because of my love for books.

1. I do not dog ear pages.  The idea of doing it makes me cringe.  If I don’t have a bookmark, scrap of paper or whatever, I look down at the bottom of the page and try to remember the page number.  If that doesn’t happen, the next time I pick up the book, I flip until I find somewhere close to where I left off.

2. I don’t do library fines.  That’s probably because of my book-buying addiction.  Even if I borrow a book, if I like it, I’ll end up buying it.

3. I buy more books than I can read.  I can’t help it.  They’re so pretty.  Especially if they’re on the sale table, it makes it so much more tempting.

4. I refuse to give books away.  Okay, not refuse.  But of my hundreds of books, my hubby asked me to get rid of some so we could make some room (for new books, he did the same thing), I only picked out about eight.  I haven’t actually gotten rid of them yet either.  They’re on the floor of the bedroom.  I was thinking of giving them away here…

5. I never crack the spine.  Sorry.  I know there are people who love the look of a well read book, but I don’t.  I like to keep them pretty.  If I lend a book and the spine comes back cracked, I am obviously unhappy (my hubby is worse).  It’s mine; you should return it in the same condition it was in when you took it (like anything else you might borrow).

6. I talk about characters in books like they’re real people.

7. I never lie about whether I’ve read a book or not.  I won’t fake it just to look smart/cool/popular/whatever.

8. I never lie about whether I like a book or not.  Even if I know everyone else has liked it.

So I know I’m “admitting” these things, but I’m not “confessing” them.  They’re not secrets.  Many of them I’ve mentioned on my blog before.  Though most books I read are fiction, I’m not fictional in my reactions to them.  Fiction may be pretend, but there is a lot of truth in it too.

Too deep for Top Ten Tuesday?

Talking About Myself: A Quick Bookish Survey

I saw this quick little update/list over at The Broke and The Bookish yesterday.  I’ve read three of the five books Kelly mentioned.  It’s a nice, fun update, but I had to really think about number five.  For someone who has a slight book obsession, I haven’t gotten that many bookish gifts in the last year or two. 

1.  Book I Am Currently Reading:  Forty Stories, edited by Cal Morgan.  Forty Stories is probably the main reason I’m doing this survey.  I just want to tell everyone about it.  The ebook is a FREE collection of forty short stories by forty different authors.  Some have books out, some don’t.  They are fantastic stories (I have about a fifth of the book left).  I think these are the authors at their best.  They are intense, fascinating stories and I’d be happy to read a book by (almost) all of these people.

 

2.  The Last Book I Finished:  City of Glass (Mortal Instruments 3) by Cassandra Clare.  So good!  (Review here.)

3.  The Next Book I Want To Read:  I haven’t quite decided which book I’d like to read.  It will likely be either Insurgent, by Veronica Roth or Prismatic by Sarah Elle Emm (won on Goodreads).

 4.  The Last Book I Bought:  I actually just ordered a bunch of books from Chapters that were on sale.  Yay, sale!  I bought Cinder by Marissa Meyer, The Good Man Jesus and The ScoundrelChrist by Phillip Pullman and The Fall (The Strain Two) by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan.  I also bought a copy of Wither (which I already own) as a present for someone.

5.  The Last Book I Was Given:  The Dark Tower:The Gunslinger – The Little Sisters of Eluria, by Stephen King (plus many others).  I haven’t read it yet because it’s based on a short story that he wrote that is in the collection, Everything’s Eventual.  I have the collection beside my bed.  Why haven’t I read it yet?  I don’t know.  Maybe that should be my answer to number 3.

Thoughts?  Leave a link if you answer the questions on your site or answer them in the comments below.  Be sure to check out the answers from The Broke and The Bookish too!

It’s Always Difficult To Pick Favourites

My blog has been around a long time.  I started it back in 2006.  Six years!  I’ve read a lot of books.  As The Broke and The Bookish have requested, I’ve narrowed it down to ten (or thirteen).  You can see the progression, looking back at 2006 to now, how much more verbose I am in my reviews.  I’ve also read across the genre and age spectrum.  In no particular order, here are the Top Ten Favourite Books I’ve Read During The Lifespan of My Blog.

1. A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseinni
2. To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
3. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, by Gregory Maguire
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J.K. Rowling
5. 1984, by George Orwell
6. Wicked:  The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gregory Maguire
7. The Dark Tower III:  The Waste Lands, by Stephen King
8. The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins (re-read)
9. Dead to the World, by Charlaine Harris
10. The Gum Thief, by Douglas Coupland
11. The Paper Bag Princess, by Robert Munsch
12. Wither, by Lauren DeStefano
13. World War Z, by Max Brooks

I couldn’t do it!  I couldn’t just pick ten.  What are your favourite books that you’ve blogged about?

* Some of the early reviews seem to not have any spoiler warnings on them.  Oops!

*All book links lead to my reviews.

The Book World to Real Life – Could They Make It?

This week’s topic from The Broke and The Bookish made me think.  A lot.  I considered what obstacles the couples had to overcome, as well as the foundations of their relationships.  I didn’t want to just throw together a list of romantic couples, that would be too easy…  So here we are, my Top Ten (Eight) Couples Who Might Make It In The Real World.

1. Ron and Hermione (Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling) – I know it’s almost cliché, but clichés exist for a reason.  They work through the antagonistic feelings to become friends, then from friends to more.  They would be those friends you have to dinner with who tell you how they hated each other, but now, it’s funny to think back on.

2. Eddie and Susannah (Dark Tower series, by Stephen King) – I know they’re not exactly a well known “romance”, but they are a couple that went through a lot.  Not even death could stop them from being together.  Eddie didn’t see Susannah as disabled, he saw her as someone he could love forever.  In the end, they did get a chance to make it in the real world and you’re left with the feeling that they do.

3. Lizzy and Darcy (Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen) – I know everyone will probably have Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy on their list.  But I don’t care.  They are a great couple.  It wasn’t love at first site and that makes is so much more real.

4. Katniss and Peeta (The Hunger Games trilogy, by Suzanne Collins) – I think it’s the epilogue at the end of Mockingjay that really makes me feel like Katniss and Peeta could have a real relationship in the real world.

5. Becky Bloomwood and Luke Brandon (Shopaholic Series, by Sophie Kinsella) – Though exaggerated for the books, Becky and Luke seem to have real problems, like working too much or shopping too much and they work through them.

6. Sookie and Sam (Sookie Stackhouse series, by Charlaine Harris) – Yup, that’s right, I said Sam.  Bill lied and Eric is too selfish.  After Deadlocked I think that’s who Sookie is going to end up with.  Sam is kind and has been a good friend to her no matter which crazy vampire or shifter she’s dated.

7. Jane and Rochester (Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë) – If you want to read about a woman who doesn’t change her values just to be with a man, then read this book.  They still end up together.

8. Henry and Clare (The Time Traveler’s Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger) – I know this has been on a lot of lists too, but even without the time traveling, I think they could make their lives work.

That’s it.  Eight.  I can think of lots of couples in books, but I doubt the staying power of their relationships.  I thought of adding Harry and Ginny, but thought one Harry Potter couple was enough, so I picked the one I thought more likely to work.  I know there are people who picked Edward Ferrars and Elinor Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility, but if this were the real world, Elinor would have found someone else ages before Edward came around.  Except for the first two, I kind of doubt my own choices too.  Relationships in the real world are difficult, wonderful and amazing, but difficult.

What do you think?

City of Glass (Mortal Instruments #3)

Mild/Vague Spoilers…

City of Glass had the feel of the end of a trilogy.  It wasn’t because I knew it was the third book; I also know that there are two more books after it.  Much of the feeling came with the climax and the ending.  The battle, the relationships, the deaths, all had an underlying tone of finality.  Maybe Cassandra Clare wasn’t sure that The Mortal Instruments series would continue afterward.  There are obviously openings to continue, Sebastian/Johnathon, Simon/Maia/Isabelle, plus Clary’s training, but there wasn’t the cliffhanger ending like the second book.  
Obvious Spoilers…

I knew that Jace and Clary weren’t actually brother and sister, not just because I had a difficult time believing that a writer would do that, but because of all the little hints given throughout this book and the second.  The way Clary recognized Sebastian; I knew it had to be him instead, especially after the kiss.

No More Spoilers…

Cassandra Clare did not disappoint with the third book in her Mortal Instruments series.  There was one death I didn’t see coming, however (people who have read the book will know what I mean.)  It was heartbreaking, but that’s what a good writer does.  No character is safe.  

I think this might be a nice place to take a break.  There are five published books in the series.  I’ve now read three.  I want to read the other two very much, but I’ve always been a reader who likes variety and without the gnawing questions at the end, like with books one and two, I think I’m going to read another book or two before coming back to the series.  Plus, I have a feeling that City of Fallen Angels will be like a beginning to a new trilogy within the series (and book number six won’t be out for a while.)  I’ve read other series where the writers do this, create a story arch over a few books within a longer/ongoing series.  It’s nice to be left eager for the next book, but it’s also nice to think that the characters will be happy for a little while.

Update!

I have a job!  Yay!  I’ve been tense about being unemployed and that my money was going to run out soon, but I don’t have to worry about it anymore.  Thanks to everyone who sent me kind words.  It’ll be nice to finally relax and not wake up and job hunt every day.  I don’t start for another few days, so I’ll actually get time off to enjoy with my family!  Yay again!

Faces of Tomorrow / Faces of Time

Remember the "Roots of Empathy" program I participated in with my son?  I wrote several blog posts chronicling that journey.  Though there was a classroom full of unpredictable kindergarteners, it was worth every moment.  The founder, Mary Gordon (or at least someone working for her), sent me a book.  We all know how much I love books.  Couriered to my home, they sent me, Faces of Time, a photo book of babies!  I love babies.  Mary Gordon's daughter, Melanie, is the photographer.  Baby faces!  

Faces of Time is the second in a series.  The first book, Faces of Tomorrow , is a collection of baby faces, from various cultures, in various expressions.  That one was given to me way back in October when I first signed up for the program.  Faces of Time features Canadian Aboriginal babies, First Nations, Métis and Inuit.  I didn't even realize the babies were aboriginal until I read the "thank you" letter that came with the book.  Honestly, these babies remind me of mine.

I am trying to find these books online!!!!  

Babies love faces.  It's something I learned with my first child.  Faces are full of expression and contrast.  That's why babies are always grabbing at your face, it's just so interesting!

Okay.  So, I'm expressing how cute these books are.  They're simple and nice.  I can't find them at a single retailer.  You can order Faces of Tomorrow through the Roots of Empathy website, but that's it!  Why?  Why are the Gordons making it impossible for their books to be found by the general public?  Do they want to books to have a more exclusive feel?  Are they expensive to reproduce, so they only make enough to fill orders through the website and to give to parents like me?  I'd like to know.  These books are nice, I'm recommending them here, but without a way for anyone who reads this post to easily get their hands on a copy.  Besides ordering the first book, Faces of Tomorrow through the website, I can't find another way.  It almost makes me like the books less.

City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments 2)

I have to resist the urge to run downstairs and get the next book in Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series.  City of Ashes was so exciting.  The story was different from the first book.  The characters are growing and changing.  New, interesting, frightening characters are coming into the mix.  There are still mysteries to figure out.  City of Ashes had everything I was looking for and more.

Let me be vaguely spoilery for a minute, so I can talk about what I just finished reading…  

I can’t believe what happened to Simon.  I didn’t see that coming.  I saw Maia coming, but not the other stuff, which makes him even more interesting.  I’m excited to see how his character develops in the next books.

Jace, seriously, I wanted to yell at him to shut up so many times.  I suppose part of reading these books are remember that the characters are teenagers.  Sitting in the restaurant and talking about how he never lets her talk, then not letting her talk is so frustrating.

Also, best cliffhanger of a last line ever.  I’ve read a few series where the end leaves you longing for the book, but none that throws a last punch like that.  That moment, with Madeline and Clary was perfect.

Cassandra Clare has me firmly in her clutches.

Image Use

This image is public domain.

I know I just started it, but I'm not continuing with my Pin of the Week.  It seemed like so much fun and something that I would enjoy doing, but I recently became concerned.  I read a blog post from a writer who was sued for using a photographer's picture.  The photographer sent her a "do not use" notice, so she promptly took the picture down.  This was not good enough for that person and they sued her.  She may be a published writer, but many of us know, that unless you're a select few, Stephen King, Cassandra Clare, Charlaine Harris, etc., you're not making a lot of money.  She was being sued for much more than she had.  She was also just doing what most other bloggers seem to do.  Google search an image and plop in a blog post.  As long as you're not making money from the image, what's the harm, right?  Apparently, though some people (most, it seems) don't mind, there are those that do mind and they might sue.

This got me thinking about all the random pictures and images on my own blogs.  For Loni’s Eye, where I talk about books, movies, babies and life, most of the pictures on my blog seem safe.  There are book covers, movie posters and pictures either I or friends of mine have taken.  I’ve started to go through the blog, but for the most part, I think I'm okay.  (It’s going to take a little while though, since I started blogging in 2006.)  On Loni's Storm, where I talk about my writing, writing articles and other writing/author related subjects, it's a little different.  Many of the posts have no images, but many do, to make it look more interesting (it's one of the first things bloggers learn).  Now, after reading this and a few other similar articles, I'm going to go through the blog thoroughly and either use my own photos or use images from a free source.  I've read about using Creative Commons and Wikimedia Commons, but I need to read more about them first.

From what I've read, it seems like getting sued is very rare.  On one blog I read, the blogger wrote about mixed messages.  This person ran a fashion blog.  They were at an event and someone actually told them to just take pictures of their site, even though on the site it says not to lift any images.  I don't think this category of blog could even exist if the bloggers didn't take the pictures off designers' and stores' websites.  It is much easier to critique something (positively or negatively) if there is an image to refer too.  The same sort of thing goes for other types of blogs too (I love/hate this travel destination, I love/hate this restaurant, I love/hate this book).  I think anything that’s an advertisement is okay because, you’re only spreading the word (whether positively or negatively).

You can use the Pinterest logo only
if it links back to their site.
Pinterest has copyright rules too.

Where does that leave sites like Pinterest and Tumblr?  They exist because of photos.  I’m not sure how Tumblr works since I’ve never used that site.  I do have a Pinterest account (which I’m a little addicted to.)  I’ve pinned over a thousand images.  They range from yummy food to fun geekdom.  I have places I want to see and things that make me think.  There’s humour and of course, there are books.  I hope I’m not infringing on anyone’s copyright.  For legal reasons, but also because I would hate to take someone’s work.  So I’m going to go through all my Pins.  All one thousand-plus of them.  It’s going to take a while.

I figure I’m okay if I repin from publishing houses like Random House or Harper Collins.  I also hope I’m okay if I repin from George Takei and Nina Garcia.  Then there are some other people, authors, bloggers, friends and randoms that I follow.  Those are the repins that I’m going to have to look at most closely in the future.  I will also only pin something from sites with “pin it” buttons or if it says that it’s okay to share.

That’s a lot of pictures to go through.  Two blogs and Pinterest.

If anyone has any thoughts on the matter, I’d like to know.

The Magician’s Nephew

WARNING:  If you haven’t read any of the other Narnia books, especially The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe you might want to skip the middle of the review.  Those few points are going to be spoilerific.

The Magician’s Nephew is the first/sixth book in the The Chronicles of Narnia series.  It was written by C.S. Lewis sixth, but it is what we now call a “prequel”.  Once all seven books were published, Lewis requested that they be re-ordered according to the Narnian timeline, putting The Magician’s Nephew before The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.  It was the author’s request and it was complied with.  If you want to know the order of the books in which they were published, you have to look it up.

I like that I read The Magician’s Nephew sixth.  I liked all the discoveries I made and “gasp” moments when the events connected more and more with The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and the other books.  They were fun, happy moments of discovery.  So, while I respect anyone’s choice to read them in the Narnian order, I really enjoyed (so far, since I have one more book to go) the experience of reading them in publication order.

Okay, so here are the spoilers!

The birth of Narnia!  Wow.

We get to see where The White Queen comes from!!!!  Ahh!  The moment when I realized that was fantastic.  I suspected almost immediately after Digory and Polly met Jadis, but it was so good to get that final confirmation.

Digory is the professor that the Pevensies in during the war!  That’s so awesome!

The wardrobe!  Wood from Narnia!  Amazing.

No more spoilers.

All these moments made me so happy and so excited, that I couldn’t contain them.  These are the reasons that I’m glad I read the books in publication order.

There is one more thing I have to mention.  This is probably one of the only Narnia books I’ve read that I don’t have any complaints about the girl.  In the first book especially, I felt like the girls weren’t “as good” as the boys.  Yes, Lucy had a pivotal role in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, but Susan was marginalized.  Even though she is second oldest, she wasn’t to fight in the battles.  War wasn’t for women.  Each time Lewis made those sorts of comments, it made me cringe.  Maybe his feelings towards the role of women changed in the years between his first book and the sixth.  

In The Magician’s Nephew it is Digory that is influenced by emotion (over his dying mother).  Digory gets angry, pushy and hurts Polly.  The bad decisions (from the two children) are his.  Polly is the one who thinks things through.  She tries to stop Digory and she helps him.  Polly is more logical and less emotional than her male friend.  It made me so happy.

What are you waiting for?  If you haven’t read The Chronicles of Narnia start now.  If you have read it, then you know what I’m talking about.  These are great books and The Magician’s Nephew reminded me of what I love the series.  The Last Battle is the last book I have left.  I’ve drawn out the series for long enough, I think.  I’ll be reading The Last Battle soon.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Select Poems

"It is an ancient Mariner,

And he stoppeth one of three.

'By thy long grey beard and glittering eye,

Now wherefore stopp'st thou me?'" (lines 1-4)

I recently read The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.  I was feeling the need for something classic.  I've also been feeling lately that I've been neglecting my poetry needs.  I read the Kindle edition of Rime of The Ancient Mariner, which comes with "selected poems" and a very lengthy introduction.

A quick note on "Introductions", the ones with the capital "I".  I don't often like them.  I find them mostly at the beginning of classics. Sometimes they are utterly boring.  The ones that aren't boring sometimes give away the plot!  It makes me mad.  After learning my lessons, I've started skimming “Introductions,” then after the book (or poems in this case), I go back and read the parts I’m actually interested in. Sometimes they do offer an insight into the story, sometimes I'm bored to tears and I just skip it again.  The Introduction to this collections various poems were good (though not necessary).  I found they did help, but I recommend reading the specific poem discussions after you've read the actual poem instead of before.

I read The Rime of the Ancient Mariner first about 11 or 12 years ago.  I remember really liking it.  As with a lot of poetry at the time, I found The Rime of the Ancient Mariner to be a story told in verse.  It's all about the Ancient Mariner and the curse he has brought down upon himself and his crew by killing the lucky Albatross.  It's a ghost/paranormal/angels & demons sort of story.  It would probably make a very scary movie (if done right).  It has one of my favourite lines of all time:

"Like one, that on a lonesome road
Doth walk in fear and dread,
And having once turn’d round walks on,
And turns no more his head;
Because he knows, a frightful fiend
Doth close behind him tread." (lines 446-451)

It gives me chills. Coleridge could certainly turn a phrase. If you like giving yourself the creeps and you like poetry, then The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is for you.

In the collection were several other poems by Coleridge.  I'm not going to talk about all of them, just a quick blurb on two.  The first is, Kubla Khan.  If I didn't mention it, I'd be remiss.  Kubla Khan is full of vision and everything you can imagine during an Opium trip.  It's a beautiful poem that will continue to endure the test of time and fascinate generations of scholars.

One of my favourites (I liked it better than Kubla Khan), is Christabel.  It's another creepy story.  It's lovely and again, full of supernatural elements.  It is also unfinished, though it has a conclusion.  Coleridge wrote that he considered it unfinished.  What else did he need to say though?  You should not pick up strange women after praying in the woods at night.  Why would you pray in the woods at night?  Crazy nobles.  

After reading these poems, I've come to realize how much I enjoy poetry that tells tales. I’m also reminded of how much I enjoyed studying the Romantic era during school.  I think I’ll be looking up one of my favourite Romantic poets (and Coleridge’s friend), William Wordsworth.  If you’re hesitant about reading poetry, I think something like The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a nice place to start.  It’s easy to follow what is happening and though it’s a “long” poem, you can easily read it in one sitting.

The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knights Rises was awesome!  It might be my favourite of the three Christopher Nolan/Christian Bale Batman movies.  This final film was a fantastic end onto the trilogy.  I thought all the actors were wonderful.  There was depth, change and surprises.  Certain things I predicted or foresaw as the story played out, but not in a bad way.  Other things were unexpected.

My hubby and I were surprised to see that the movie was rated PG.  We expected a PG-13 rating.  For a few minutes, I think we were concerned that a PG rating would mean the movie would somehow lack something.  It did.  Blood.  People got shot and stabbed (a lot), but there were never any bloody pools beneath the bodies.  You never saw exactly where the bullet holes were.  A gun was fired and someone fell.  That’s it.  I don’t think it took away from the story-telling though.  I didn’t even realize it until the movie was over.  I suppose by doing that (among other things I’m unaware of) they were able to keep the film PG.  Still, I’m not sure I’d take a five-year-old to see this movie.

There is so much I wish I could talk about, but it would spoil the movie.  I have to say that I loved the ending.  It was an end full of possibility.  It was an end I didn’t quite expect.  I know it isn’t exactly comic book accurate, but I think it stayed true to the version of Batman that Nolan and Bale created.

Side note:  If anyone wants to make spoiler filled comments below, I’d happily talk about anything in the movie.

Pin Of The Week!

Here’s my Pin ofthe Week!!!

I give you Renting A Glass Igloo In Finland!  I pinned it from someone else’s board, but the original site is actually The Wall Street Journal.  I didn’t know that when I picked the pin… not that it would have made a difference, I guess.  I just looked at the image and thought, I want to do that!!  I want to spend the night in a glass igloo under the Northern Lights.

Happy Pinning!

Forty Stories, Free!!

A while ago, I started reading the site, Fifty-Two Stories.  Each week they (Cal Morgan) would post a new short story.  Well, some time ago, this stopped happening.  To make up for it, Cal Morgan and Harper Perennial put together Forty Stories.  It is a collection of short stories from various authors.  It was on their site (and still is) as a free PDF download.  As of yesterday, it is available for Kindle, iBooks and other retailers that I don’t use.  There’s an article about it on The Atlantic Wire.  


I think I might start reading a short story a week again.

Divergent (Divergent #1)

I devoured Divergent.  That’s right.  DEVOURED.  I haven’t read a book that quickly since The Hunger Games.  I feel a little late to the party.  I was a bit wary going into Veronica Roth’s Divergent, though I think my expectations were high.  I heard all the buzz; I’m always a little hesitant with books that have a lot of hype.  Then a friend, who has very similar reading tastes to mine, gave this book five stars on Goodreads.  In a comment for that rating, she called it better than cheese.  She loves cheese!  Without doubt, that was what really made me want to read it.

Divergent was exactly what I needed.  It folded me into the world of Beatrice and the factions.  I forgot everything around me and all I wanted to know was what was going to happen next.  I know it gets compared to The Hunger Games a lot and there are similarities.  Female lead.  A segregated population (Districts/Factions).  Violence.  A teenager being asked to kill people.  But these are different worlds.  Unlike other dystopian novels I’ve read, I can’t actually see our world becoming like the world in Divergent.  However, these characters never leave the city.  I wonder what the rest of the world is like.  I hope to find out in the next books.

Another difference I really liked:  NO LOVE TRIANGLE.  Roth could have easily put one in.  There was almost the set-up for one, but Tris was focused.  Her entire world was about passing the initiation.  When she did let herself feel things, she only had eyes for one man.  Because of their backgrounds, their relationship seemed so natural.  The conflict in Tris’s life involved staying with her family, doing the right thing, and degrees of violence (should I shoot him in the head or the foot?).  There was never a struggle about which guy should she coose.  Tris was great.  So was Four.  He’s not what I’ve come to expect from a male lead.  I like being met with the unexpected.

I don’t feel like I need to go on.  A lot has been said on Divergent already.  I’ll read Insurgent soon, just not right away.  I have a lot to do over the next few days and if the sequel is anything like the first book, I don’t want to be consumed again.  I’m itching to read it though.  I almost picked it up and cracked it open when Divergent was finished.  

Pin Of The Week!

I joined Pinterest a little while ago.  Maybe it’s just a fad, maybe it’s here to stay.  Right now, I’m addicted.  There are so many beautiful, hilarious, amazing pictures being pinned (many of them on my own boards ), that I want to share them.  I’ve decided to choose my “favourite” Pin of the Week and showcase it on my blog.

Now, I say “favourite” because it is sincerely difficult to choose.  Mostly I picked the Pin that called out to me.

This week I give you the Surreal Forest of Romania.  I pinned it from someone else’s board, but the original site is Colossal Art and Design. 

Happy Pinning!