Undead and Undermined

***Spoilers if you haven't read the previous nine books - though I'll try to be vague.***

Though I want to throw all kinds of love at the book, typing the the title of the post has me thinking... How is Betsy undermined in Undead and Undermined? By Laura?  Certainly not by Sinclair or Tina (not since the beginning of the series.)  Maybe by Marc?  By Garrett? Okay, maybe now I get the undermined. Sometimes it helps to see my thoughts in writing.

I'm really enjoying the way that the Undead series is going.  I know there are a lot of people who are not, but I think they're in the minority. If Betsy stayed the same ditz she was in Undead and Unwed the series would get stale.  Betsy is growing.  She's learning more about herself and what she's capable of. Asking for the shoes, the final confrontation with the Marc-Thing, her realization at the end about Laura, they are not the thoughts of Betsy in Undead and Unwed or even Betsy in Undead and Uneasy.  I was started to get annoyed with Betsy's behaviour too, how could she remain the same airhead for so long? That's probably why there is such a big gap between me reading book 7 and book 8. I know not everyone feels this way, but I'm glad MaryJanice Davidson is allowing Betsy to change. Betsy (and Davidson) still loves shoes, but I think Betsy is finally taking being the vampire queen seriously.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

I enjoyed The Hobbit: the Desolation of Smaug more than I thought I would, though I did expect to at least like it.  I found An Unexpected Journey a little long. Though this second movie was only a few minutes shorter than the first, it felt shorter. There weren't as many scenes of the group crossing the countryside. There was a lot more action.  Perhaps there was more action in the movie than was in the actual book, but after An Unexpected Journey I've kind of given up on The Hobbit movies being like the book.  It's similar enough and though Legolas was not it The Hobbit I enjoyed seeing him and his bow. However, (SPOILER) love triangle with a dwarf? Really?  I like it, but don't like it at the same time.  I know they probably added the female elf to get a female into the movie, but only to be in a love triangle.  Hmm...

There were a lot of things I loved about this movie.  It was beautiful.  I actually really liked the elven prisons. I thought Legolas's relationship with his father was interesting and the King's perspective on the outside world.  I loved Bilbo.  I loved the dwarves staying with Kili... I love Kili in general.  I loved the piles of gold and the things peaking out of the gold.  I love that the movie kept me excited.

I was sorry that I didn't get to see The Desolation of Smaug in theatres.  Timing and children were at play here.  It looks like it would have been worth it.  I'm glad to have finally seen the second Hobbit movie and I'm looking forward to the third.

Not This Again

Is there something fundamentally unemployable about me? Someone please tell me if there is.

I'm unemployed, AGAIN!  How does this keep happening to me?  By posting this, am I telling the internet I'm not employable?  I swear I am.  I'm a hard worker.  I'm smart.  I'm polite and friendly.  I could post my friggin' résumé up here....  Though this happened two weeks ago, I'm still mad.

Okay, so, it's not as though I liked the job.  It was not me.  It was too mean.  I ate lunch by myself, which I tried to make a good thing and read a lot, but it wasn't nice and I didn't feel comfortable.  I didn't seem to have friendly chats with people, though I tried.  That's what you do with new co-workers, right?  You try to get to know them. I don't know if anyone was trying to get to know me.  I had moody co-workers.  I was frustrated by the lack of training.  I didn't feel like I belonged.  So, when the boss told me I wasn't a good fit, I couldn't say that he was lying.  My issue was that the reason he gave had nothing to do with my work or working ability, my intelligence or task completion.  It was all based on feelings. I talked to my Dad. He apparently had a similar issue in his working life.  He told me, whenever you work for a privately owned company, they could hire and fire as they saw fit because it was their business. It didn't matter if your work was perfect, if they didn't like you or their friend didn't like you, they'd let you go. I think that's what happened here.

What do I do?

Again I'm going to look for work... because I enjoy that so much.  I'm going to be pickier this time because I'm tired of not being employed for long.  I want permanence and stability.  Even though people will be interviewing me, I'm going to be interviewing them too.  I'm looking for a non-moody employer with proper HR procedures and a comfortable working environment.

Bah!

The Last Policeman

The Last Policeman was good. I had a feeling it would be good, but it was better than I thought. I first encountered Ben H. Winters as the co-author of Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters and then with Android Karenina. When I saw that he wrote a new non-regency, non-romance novel, I was eager to check it out. Luckily, Goodreads helped me with that by giving me The Last Policeman as a first reads win. Also, how could I resist a pre-apocalyptic mystery?

Though I knew who the killer was after the second encounter with the character (while suspecting him during the first)*, the mystery was very interesting. It was an examination of typical motives or scenarios, with the added aspect of how those things changed in the current world climate. There's an added desperation with the knowledge that this potentially planet-killing asteroid is going to impact in six months. Behaviour changes, as do thought processes, risk assessments.  

As I find with most mysteries, I found the beginning a bit slow as we got to know the young detective Henry Palace, the victim, Peter Zell, the other detectives, the suspects and people in Henry's life. That did not last long. Soon, we were in the thick of things. There was suspicions proven, disproven and all the while Henry's sister, Nico, calling and calling.  I loved the storyline with Nico.  I have to know what happens with her and what she's doing.

I'll find out one day.  I didn't know it when I first was interested in the story, but The Last Policeman is the first in a series. Countdown City is book two and already out. Book three, World of Trouble will be published in July and I have a feeling I'll be wanting that book too.  

*I could have been wrong. Also, figuring out who the killer was, wasn't about evidence. I was thinking about who the writer would choose, who would be surprising, not-obvious/least suspected, etc.   

Before I Re-Read Lives of Girls and Women

For the Classics Club Spin, the randomly generated number decided I was reading Lives of Girls and Women, a modern and Canadian classic that I love. I first read it probably thirteen years ago (yikes!)  It cemented me as a lifelong Alice Munro fan and I've since read several of her works, though not all of them. The goal of the Spin is to have the book read and the post ready to go up on April 2nd.  I was so excited though, that I immediately went to the shelf, just so I could look at the book.  What was the first thing I noticed?  Bright pink Post-its.

I read Lives of Girls and Women for a Canadian Literature class back in University.  It was a wonderful, amazing class and I read some amazing literature.  I don't remember if I wrote an essay or anything about Lives of Girls and Women, but from the quantity of Post-its, I thought it was important that I keep notes.  I haven't looked at any of the notes yet.  I'm not sure I want to.  This isn't the first book I've ever re-read.  It is not even the first that I've found a little note I made in the book.  This is the first time I've picked a book to re-read and it is FULL of notes.  What I'm wondering is, how will this affect my reading of the story.  Will I let my old thoughts influence my new thoughts?  Will I wonder, what was I thinking, oh so long ago?  More than just my love of the story itself, these notes have me excited to re-read Lives of Girls and Women.  Has anyone had a similar experience?  Finding old notes while re-reading a book?

Side Note: This is probably why I haven't re-read The Handmaid's Tale. 

Undead and Unfinished

Half the time, I love time travel stories; half the time I hate them.* Going back into the past or forward into the future can be very revealing. You can learn more about a character's motives and personality.  We certainly learned a lot about Tina's loyalty and Sinclair's persistence with Betsy in Undead and Unfinished. When MaryJanice Davidson first wrote Undead and Unwed, she probably didn't think nine books later she would write a time travel story to explain more about Sinclair and Tina.  I wonder if nine books ago, Davidson knew where the Book of the Dead had come from or if time travel inspired her.  The glimpse into the future was very intriguing. One thousand years is a long time and clearly a lot can happen. I wonder if Davidson is planning on more time travel. I know that Book 10, Undead and Underminded is related to Betsy and Laura's time travelling escapade, but will there be more messing about the time line?

Here's where I'm a little more sketchy when it comes to time traveling in Undead and Unfinished.  It wasn't consistent.  This may get vaguely spoilery, so be warned...  Betsy and Laura go to several different times periods in which they are directly affecting Betsy's timeline (and Laura's indirectly, as she is Betsy's sister).  In three of these ventures into the past, Betsy needed to be there.  If she wasn't, things wouldn't have worked out the way they were supposed to, she was there, because she was always there; it was predetermined.  In one instance, however, Betsy goes back to a time when she merely regrets her actions.  She stops herself from doing something bad, which is great, but has surprising consequences when she returns to the present.  Her return home is part, "Thank goodness we can tell you the truth: we met you in the past." and "How did that happen?/This is different."  I don't mind that Betsy changed her past in itself, what I'm not a hundred percent happy with is that there was one trip different from the others.  I suppose that when she went into the future, it confirmed that events were not fixed and things could be changed... but I don't know.  I was happy with the result to the story, at least.

The end of the book, the epilogue, is really what made the story for me. I really enjoyed the entire novel, but those last pages, bam! So good. Very unexpected. I don't think I can wait very long before I read Book 10. 

*Examples...

Hate: Due to time travel, the last season of Fringe is not remembered by any of the characters. So frustrating. 

Love: The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells, time travel used as a social commentary in the class system of Wells's era.

The Thousand Orcs

The Thousand Orcs is the first book in R.A. Salvatore's trilogy The Hunter's Blades, which is also the 14th book in The Legend Of Drizzt series. There are 25 books, I think.  It's a lot of books to read, but I've enjoyed each one and I expect to enjoy them all until Salvatore stops writing them. I started reading the series years ago, but it has been a long time since I read a Drizzt book, at least a year. I don't know what created the delay. Maybe I was really satisfied by the last book. Maybe there were too many other books got in the way. I'm going to start reading them more often again. Perhaps I'll catch up to my Hubby soon. 

The Thousand Orcs was exactly what I wanted from a Drizzt book. There was action, adventure and emotional turmoil brought to us by the Companions of the Hall. It was a book that had more mature companions, individuals who had grown, learning more about each other and themselves. There was also a sense of "ends" in the story. At first it was about the endings of particular ways of life. Bruenor's adventures, Torgar in Mirabar and Regis's quiet life. Catti-Brie and Drizzt were starting to see ends. Only Wulfgar might be the exception, though you could interpret his new found confidence as the end of his instability. 

Speaking of Wulfgar, he has a beard in this book, part of his maturing. Though this novel was published ten years ago, I couldn't help but picture Thor. Wulfgar wields a hammer, is large in stature and makes battle cries as he sweeps his hammer through enemies. The hammer is even enchanted to return to Wulfgar when thrown, though it's more like teleportation than telekinesis, if you know what I mean... There are worse people to picture than Chris Hemsworth. 

I'm happy to have returned to the Legend of Drizzt series. I'm looking forward to reading The Lone Drow and seeing how crazy Drizzt goes. 

The Spin Number is...

...20!

Will I read it this time? I definitely think so. I've been looking forward to re-reading Lives of Girls and Women since I first read it over a decade ago. It's why I put it on my classics list. Just the thought of it being my Spin book makes me want to pick it up and read it right now. Is it weird that I want to hug it?

What's your Spin book? Are you looking forward to it?

Deconstructing Meals

I am the mother of two beautiful, wonderful, crazy children.  My daughter is 4 1/2 and my son is 2 1/2. What does that mean for me (and most parents) during meal times?  Picky eaters.  They're not as overly picky as I've seen some kids, but they're still pretty particular.  They're children; this is not unexpected.  What it can be is infuriating.  I refuse (REFUSE) to make more than one meal.  I know some parents do, one meal for them, another for the children.  No.  Not me.  To me, that's a waste of what little time I have after I get home from work.  It's also important to me that we sit together for meals.  That can't happen if I'm stuck making two dinners.

However, I still want them to eat.  One day (just a few weeks ago), my Hubby suggested deconstructing our meals for them.  What does that mean?  I made Chicken Fajitas.  An easy meal to deconstruct. Instead of putting everything in a tortilla and handing it to them, I put each item in its own serving dish so they could see what was being put on their plates. They ate all of it. The tortilla, the chicken, the vegetables. ALL of it.  They ate each component separately, but that didn't matter.  I only made one meal and I didn't have to fight to get the kids to eat it.  I figure anything that's going in a wrap or pita is easy to separate into its components.  Recently, I served pasta on one side of the plate and the sauce on the other.  Done.  Gone.  This week, I gave them deconstructed stir-fry.  Rice noodles, chicken and veg separated. Ate it all, the end.  

Do they always finish every single scrap of food on their plate?  No and I don't expect them too. They get full and we can [usually] tell the difference between genuine fullness and fussiness. After all, adults sometimes put more food onto their plates than they can finish.  I'm still using chili powder or teriyaki sauce or whatever; I do not spare the spice. They are just able to see the pieces of the whole before they consume it.

Image from here.

Recently Amanda at Food Riot wrote about only making one meal for her family. I love the title of her post, Mean Parent Confessions: My Kids Eat What I Serve Or They Don’t Eat.  I agree with all of it, every word.  In addition to not wanting to make two meals, I don't want my kids to be fussy/picky when we go out, as children and when they get older.  I feel like the Deconstructed Meals is a good way to get them to eat like us too.  They see us put all the parts of the meal together and often they copy what we do.  (For those who don't know, kids copy their parents.) Some foods they like to keep it separate (and that may translate into adulthood as my mother-in-law still likes plain pasta with the sauce on the side.)  As long as I'm making only one meal and they're eating it.... and maybe there's a reason there are so many partitioned children's dishes.

Do you agree?  Disagree?  How do you get your little ones to eat?

*Note: I do not mean "deconstructing" the way chefs seem to be doing lately.  It's not like I'm aiming for my kids to be trendy with their meals.

Another Spin Around The Classics

I don't know what it is about the Classics Club Spin that attracts me.  I think I like the encouragement it gives to keep up with my classic reading.  To be honest, though, I didn't read my last spin book.  I just wasn't feeling the book at the time and I didn't want to force myself to read it, because I knew then I wouldn't enjoy it.  I've decided to seperate my list again the way I did last time, with an additional category at the bottom.  I guess I really like doing things my own way. I'm also hoping I'll actually read the selection on this spin's list. We'll find out what book on February 10th and hopefully I'll have it read by April 2nd!

Novels

1. Alias Grace, by Margaret Atwood

2. Animal Farm, by George Orwell

3. Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut

4. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, by Anne Brontë

Short Stories / Novellas

5. Sherlock Holmes: A Study In Scarlett, by Arthur Conan Doyle

6. The Big and The Little, by Isaac Asimov

7. Dracula's Guest, by Bram Stoker

8. The Man Who Loved Islands, by D.H. Lawrence

Poetry / Theatre

9. Lady Lazarus, by Sylvia Plath

10. Queen Mab, by Percy Bysshe Shelley

11. Cyrano de Bergerac, by Edmund Rostand

12. Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller

Children’s / Young Adult / Juvenilia

13. Tales of Angria, by Charlotte Brontë

14. Grimm's Fairy Stories, by Jacob Grimm & Wilhelm Grimm

15. The Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum

16. The Tale of Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix Potter

Re-Reads

17. Middlemarch, by George Eliot
18. The Stone Angel, by Margaret Laurence
19. Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery
20. Lives of Girls and Women, by Alice Munro

The Book Jar

Where are the little
slips of paper?

I've seen a lot of posts and pictures in the last year or so about Book Jars. Recently, I saw one on Book Riot and I've seen them around Pinterest. Book Riot and many of the pins on Pinterest refer to The Book Jar Page from Alex In Leeds.

I really like the idea of making a book jar. It's one I've started to consider.  I would not make one divided by genre, as part of the fun for me would be not knowing anything at all.  However, I don't know if I could stick to the slip of paper I pulled out. I've mentioned before that I can be a moody reader. If I didn't feel like reading that particular book, how many pulls would I give myself? Should I put a limit on myself? 

One Book Riot commenter mentioned the Goodreads feature of randomizing your "to-read" shelf (which isn't an option for the apps).  I thought that was a good idea; you just click on the to-read shelf and you have a book.  The problem I have is that I don't own everything on my "to-read" shelf, plus some of the books I have listed there are not even published yet, so going out to buy or borrow isn't an option. What do you do then?  Do you move down the list until you reach a book you own? Do you keep hitting refresh until a book you own pops up?  Plus, I also like the tactile sense of paper in a jar.  

If I make one, I wouldn't use it all the time. I'd likely only use it of I were in a slump or having a book hangover or for when I simply can't decide. I'd let myself have at least 2 (probably 3 or 4) pulls in case I wasn't feeling the first book. Having a hundred (or more...) unread books on your shelves can be pretty daunting. Maybe this would make my decisions easier. I wouldn't do it of it made it more difficult. Maybe I'll be putting another Book Jar post up here soon. Anyone out there have a book jar?

Why I Don't "Panic" About How Much I Have To Read - Though Sometimes I Get A Little Lost

I've noticed during my time blogging, but especially the last couples months (end of the year, beginning of new year), bloggers apologizing for "falling behind" with their tbr piles or panicking because they haven't read as much as they wanted or promised.  I understand this panic/worried feeling.  I've felt it too.  When did I start feeling it? Honestly, I don't think until after I started blogging. I felt the need to keep up with other bloggers.  I was setting goals and I had to stick to them. Last year was the second time I used the Goodreads reading goal gadget and I admit to feeling happy with myself as I watched the bar move to completion, then increasing my goal and then surpassing my increased goal. It can be very exciting.

In 2013, I had less time to read.  That's partly because of the job I had. There was no lunch room, so I ate at my desk, with plenty to distract me.  I would get work related phone calls, that couldn't be ignored like I could with an email or fax.  I suppose I could have chosen to ignore the phone calls, but I didn't think my employers would be happy about that.  So, there were many lunch breaks that I didn't read at all.

The other main reason is that I have small children that like to take all my attention.  There are no lazy afternoons spent with a book, there is play, go, eat, change clothes, brush hair, diaper, etc. ad infinitum. By the time I get to bed, I'm exhausted.  Reading before sleeping is one of my favourite things, but lately, I can only manage 15 mins before my eyes unfocus and I have to put the book down before I fall asleep with it in my hands.  Sometimes I can't even manage that and pass out before I even crack the book open.  Then I had my employment issues keeping me down (thankfully not any more).

Are these excuses?  Yes and no.  Does it really matter?  No.  I'd like to read more, but if my head and heart aren't it in, if I'm too exhausted, if real life does what it does and gets in the way, that's okay.  It's okay if I didn't read as much as last year.  It's okay if I missed two or ten books I meant to read.  It's okay to pick sleep over reading.  I can't panic or worry about that.  I love books, they are a huge part of my life. However, if they become something I "worry" about, if they cause me stress instead of relaxation, then I'm doing something wrong.  The books I read are my escape, not my responsibility.

I admit to getting lost.  I get the blues or I fall into a slump.  I read a string of depressing stories and I don't know how to pick a happy book.  It happens.  I don't know what to read next and suddenly I've started three or four books when I typically only read one (maybe two) at a time.  Do I let it stress me out? No. Because when it is time for me to pull out of the slump, I will.  I'll grab an old favourite or I'll just take a break.  More likely than not, it's real life affecting my reading life anyway. 

I guess what I want to say is that I don't have to read a certain number of books or write a certain number of posts or whatever, in a year.  If I don't, maybe you don't either.  Reading, blogging, etc. shouldn't be work (unless it actually is your job).  It should be fun.  Yay, fun!

UR, by Stephen King

Stephen King's Ur was fantastic. It had a bit of a slow beginning, but after Wesley gets the Kindle, the story is amazing. I really enjoyed Wesley's journey over the 60+ pages of Ur. He goes throughout some highs and lows and emotional extremes. I also really enjoyed Robbie. He was more than what he appeared to be and those are often my favourite kind of characters.

King published this novella in 2009. It revolves around a Kindle, back when Kindles only came in white. Was that really only 5 years ago?  Kindles and ereaders in general have come such a long way. Plus, all the apps to read on phones and tablets... the cloud readers for desktop and laptop computers... Five years doesn't seem like a long time to me, but I guess it is when it comes to technology.

Wes and Robbie did the right thing, even though they were going against the Paradox Laws.  I thought the concept of Paradox Laws was really interesting, something I hope King explores in other stories.  I also thought the "people" who enforced the Paradox Laws were interesting.  The Tower, the King, it was all very exciting for me when I got to that part.  Anything that touches on The Dark Tower series seems to make me happy.  It was a great surprise.  Ur was created for e-reading.  A 60 page story wouldn't be published on paper, but it's great as an ebook.  Reading it on a Kindle might actually add to the creep factor, especially if you could get a pink skin or cover (do they have those?)

Ur is a great read for any Stephen King fan.  I think it would also be a good story to jump in with.  It's short(ish) and creepy.  It revolves around a relevant topic and has relatable characters.  King is one of my favourite authors and Ur was a great representation of his style and sensibilities.  I wonder what story of King's I'll read next.

Sleepy Hollow

I'm slightly obsessed with the new television show, Sleepy Hollow.  I never intended to watch it.  I thought a time travelling Ichabod Crane sounded ridiculous.  I was wrong.  I was flicking though the channels when John Cho caught my eye.  You might know him from Harold and Kumar and Star Trek.  I stopped to see what he was doing.  The answer: Sleepy Hollow.  He is not the star of the show.  His character, however, is quite interesting.  The stars are Tom Mison (Ichabod Crane) and Nicole Beharie (Abbie Mills); they are lovely.  It also starts Orlando Jones, who is simply fantastic in his role as Captain Frank Irving.

I've had to wait a month for a new episode.  Now I'm getting one tomorrow, but from what I hear, there are only three more episodes in the season, with the show ending this month.  Really?  Why isn't the show going until the spring?  These shows with short seasons drive me crazy.  One of the things I really like is the blend between "monster of the week" and an over-arching story for the season.  Every monsters gets us towards the final goal, but many of the episodes can stand alone.  Sleepy Hollow has good mystery, a cast that's not bad to look at and great stories.  I hope the next three episodes are as great as I expect them to be and next season comes along quickly.

Champion

Champion was an absolutely fantastic conclusion to Marie Lu's Legend series.  I couldn't put it down. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about reading it.  I had to finish it, so I wouldn't have to wonder about June and Day anymore.  I'm going to try to be vague about the details, but spoilers might ensue...  

The ending was fantastic.  I would never have guessed what Lu chose to happen with June and Day.  It was unique and I think it was special.  SPOILERS!!  I'm so glad we got to see them as adults.  I loved June's brief history of what happened after the final battle with the Colonies.  It was probably one of the best "Epilogues" I've ever read.  Though, I was sad when they didn't sail off into the proverbial sunset. Honestly, I almost cried, with Day lying there and June holding him. Spoilers contained.

I think I mentioned this when I read Prodigy, but I really enjoyed the two "versions" of future America.  The Colonies are very different from the Republic.  I'd be really interested in reading a story (novel, short story, whatever) from the perspective of someone living in the Colonies.  What do they think of the Republic? What are their daily lives like?  How do they struggle?  Would they rebel like the Patriots?  I would have loved to read a story about Kaede's life.  She was an amazing character.

I can't believe it's over.  I wish I could know more.  The world of Legend was rich and interesting and grew so much in Champion.  I loved Antarctica.  I would have loved to spend more time there.  The technology seemed fascinating.  The internet searching is something I can see one day happening.  The glasses and points systems were intriguing.  I'd also like to know more about Africa and Canada.  Though mentioned, they don't get visited like Antarctica.  I liked that June was able to see how the outside world views her little country.  She's raised thinking she is a part of a superpower, but it is not true.  I think the history lesson was important for her and us.

Legend is now one of my favourite series.  I enjoyed the world and the characters.  What they go through, the decisions they make and the situations that are thrust upon them are heartbreaking, dangerous and surprising.  Marie Lu might be a favourite author now.  I'm excited to see what she comes up with next.

Batman: The Killing Joke

I didn't mean to read Batman: The Killing Joke in one sitting, but I couldn't put it down.  It wasn't long anyway, just over 60 pages, which is quite short for a graphic novel.  This graphic novel is also different from others in the Superhero genre. Typically, the work starts out as comic books and then is collected into a volume. That isn't what happened here.  The Alan Moore and Brian Bolland came together and produced one work. The Killing Joke is one of the most popular Batman comics.  I was excited when I received it as a gift and I was excited when I started to read it.

I don't know what I expected.  Maybe I still had a book hangover from The Promise.  I found The Killing Joke dark.  It was brutal and violent and we can attribute most of that to The Joker.  I audibly gasped at one point.  It was a great story, reflecting the dark dichotomy of Batman and The Joker.  I had never read a Batman comic before The Killing Joke, though I'm a fan of superheroes.  If you only read one Batman comic in your whole life, this is the one to read.  I might be recommending The Killing Joke a lot in 2014.

Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise

I bought Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise as a gift to myself this year. I'm so glad that I did. The Promise was exactly what I wanted it to be. I loved Avatar when it was on TV and I'm really enjoying The Legend of Korra now. The Promise continues the story (with a bit of overlap) of Aang and his friends, as the journey to peace is not as simple as defeating the Fire Lord. The art is beautiful. The dialogue is fun, witty and entertaining, evoking the tone of the show. I can hear the voices of the characters as I read each page. 

I'm really glad I bought the library edition of The Promise, the authors have included thoughts and insights into the creation of this graphic novel. I enjoyed reading each one and it really comes across how much they loved the show and working on the graphic novel. I'm excited to read the next installment, The Search as the only thing missing from this exciting story was what happened to Zuko's mother. Any fan of the show would thoroughly enjoy The Promise and those who haven't watched the show would still enjoy a great story. 

Gingerale and Orange Juice

Wow.... this post has been sitting in my draft folder for MONTHS!  I totally forgot about it.  I considered deleting it but decided against it. Why?  Because I love Gingerale and Orange Juice.  Mmm.... So refreshing...

A while ago, I read a post from Wandering the Stacks.  It was about the book, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, which I've never read and honestly never heard of until I popped by that blog.  The book itself sounds interesting, but that's not why we're here.

We are here because of Gingerale and Orange Juice. It was a drink mentioned in the book, so Stack Wanderer (don't know real name) decided to try it.  She had never drank that particular combination of beverages before.  It happens to be one of my favourites. I can't believe more people haven't had it. I don't like fruity drinks.  But Gingerale and Orange Juice isn't too sweet.  It's just right. I know many people have drank Champagne and Orange Juice, as I have also.  It's like a non-alcoholic version. Am I explaining it right?  All I really want to say is that if you haven't tried it yet, I think you should.

He Giveth His Beloved Sleep

He Giveth His Beloved Sleep is a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. She is better know for Sonnets from the Portuguese and specifically the poem, How Do I Love Thee?. Browning is a poet who seems focused on death and the end of her life. I found death running through some of the Sonnets and I find it here as well. The poem was interesting and engaging. I liked it and will likely re-read it (it is not very long). It was just a bit depressing for this time of year and I could use something for uplifting.  I really liked the edition I read. It was an ebook, but it seems like it was scanned from an edition published in 1880.  The illustrations were quite interesting.  It was published in the style of a storybook, with plenty of illustrations.  For anyone interested in Browning's work, I recommend reading He Giveth His Beloved Sleep in this type of edition.  The more I read from Browning, the more I want to read from her.

A Note About My Winter Break

I was sick.  I AM sick.  Since about the 19th or 20th of December.  I thought I had a really bad cold and I tried to push through it.  That made all the Holiday dinners a little rough.  I went through the last couple weeks with a filter on between me and the world (I still have it on).  I'm exhausted from not sleeping properly.  It all makes me a little sad, because I didn't get to fully enjoy all the Holiday craziness like I normally do.  I did eventually go to the doctor.  I always take my children to the doctor when they're sick, but me...  I got some antibiotics and other things to make this go away.  But it's still here.  It'll probably be a week before I'm back.  

Not only was I unable to fully partake in the Holiday fun, but I also didn't read.  I didn't blog.  I didn't play any of the awesome games I now have in my house.  I barely moved.  There was me, the couch and a fuzzy blanket.  I can't believe I came to work today.  At least I'm not busy.  I miss the couch, though.  I'm not even sure what I'm typing here makes sense.  It's taking a lot of effort.  There's so much I want to do, but the urge to lay down and sleep is taking over.  The end of the work day can't some soon enough.

Did you get any time off?  How was it?

This Little Piggy, by Craig McGray

This Little Piggy by Craig McGray was disgusting. McGray did not hold anything back. It was one of the most graphic stories I have read in a while.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to read, so I opened up one of my reading apps, scrolled around with my eyes closed and landed on this little story. Did I really feel like reading a horror short story, no, but I'm glad I did. I downloaded This Little Piggy ages ago and never got around to reading it. I'm glad I finally read it, but now I'm looking for something light and fluffy. 

This Little Piggy had a few great surprises.  The characters are not who you think they are when you meet them. The scene was dark. Disgusting. Appropriate to the story being told. I might read more from McGray, though I'll have to be prepared for graphic. 

Annual End of Year Book Survey – 2013 Edition!

This is the third time I’ve done Jamie’s End of Year Book Survey.  I really enjoy it.  I like looking back each year at my life in books. I've been above normal busy, so my answers might not be as long as normal, but it’s still fun.  If you do a survey, leave a message in the comments so I can come visit!  Make sure to visit Jamie's site, filled with links to more book surveys!

1. Best Book You Read In 2013?

This one is so difficult.  I read some amazing books in 2013.  I’m going to list five that I loved.... Redshirts, by John Scalzi; The Deception of Livvy Higgs, by Donna Morrissey; Prodigy, by Marie Lu; MaddAddam, by Margaret Atwood; The Little Sisters of Eluria, by Stephen King.

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

This one is actually more difficult than the first question.  I loved everything I read this year.  I was surprised by a lot of books, but none of them disappointed me.  You can check out my Goodreads list for 2013.  All except one book is four or five stars.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2013?

I was surprised by how much I loved Soak, by Kerri Cull.  It’s a short book of poetry, and it had a coherence I didn’t expect.

 4. Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most in 2013?

I’m going to do a three-way tie for this one: Redshirts, by John Scalzi; The Deception of Livvy Higgs, by Donna Morrissey; Horns, by Joe Hill

 5. Best series you discovered in 2013?

Legend, by Marie Lu.  I just got a copy of Champion and I can’t wait to read it!

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2013?

I’m cheating again: Marie Lu, John Scalzi & Morgan Rhodes.

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

The poetry I read this year was out of my comfort zone, Sonnets From The Portuguese, by Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Soak, by Kerri Cull.  Both have really encouraged me to read more poetry.  The God Box, by Mary Lou Quinlan was also out of my comfort zone as I don’t read a lot of non-fiction or religious material, but I found the feminist angle in the second half of the book interesting.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?

I’m going to echo Jamie at The Perpetual Page Turner and say Prodigy, by Marie Lu (and Legend too!)... and Redshirts... and All The Wrong Questions.... and The Cuckoo’s Calling ... I’ll stop now.

 9. Book You Read In 2013 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

I don’t re-read a lot, but if I did I’d read... Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Graphic Novel, by Seth Grahme-Smith

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2013?

Everything’s Eventual, by Stephen King

11. Most memorable character in 2013?

June, from the Legend series

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2013?

The Deception of Livvy Higgs, by Donna Morrissey & Villette, by Charlotte Bronte

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013?

All of them?

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2013 to finally read?

Emma, by Jane Austen

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2013?

“…as the online world became more and more pre-edited and slicked up, and as even its so-called reality sites raised questions about authenticity in the minds of the viewers, the rough, unpolished physical world was taking on a mystic allure.” (pg 169, MaddAddam)

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?

Shortest: The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams

Longest: Villette, by Charlotte Bronte

17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

Allegiant, by Veronica Roth – ‘nuff said.

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2013 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).

Livvy Higgs & Gen from The Deception of Livvy Higgs

Toby & Blackbeard from MaddAddam

19. Favourite Book You Read in 2013 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

MaddAddam, by Margaret Atwood & Carrie, by Stephen King

20. Best Book You Read In 2013 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:

Falling Kingdoms, by Morgan Rhodes

21. Genre You Read The Most From in 2013?

I think fantasy, in one form or another.  YA, Adult, Urban, High....

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2013?

I don’t think I have a new fictional crush.  All my loves are still the same...

23. Best 2013 debut you read?

The Cuckoo’s Calling, by Robert Galbraith.

24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2013?

Newfoundland & Nova Scotia during WWII in The Deception of Livvy Higgs.

25. Book That Was The Most Fun To Read in 2013?

Redshirts!!

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2013?

And The Mountains Echoed, by Khaled Hosseinni

27. Book You Read in 2013 That You Think Got Overlooked This Year Or When It Came Out?

Falling Kingdoms, by Morgan Rhodes.   I just didn’t get the same level of buzz about it as some other YA novels.

2014-books

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2013 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2014?

The Raven Boys, by Maggie Stiefvater

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2014 (non-debut)?

Since I just read When Did You See Her Last?, I think I’m focused on the next book in the All The Wrong Questions series.

3. 2014 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

I don’t know... none? All?

 4. Series Ending You Are Most Anticipating in 2014?

Ignite Me, by Taherah Mafi

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2014?

I hope to find a better reading/writing/life balance.

Thanks for making it through the whole survey!  What are your answers to these very important questions? Let me know if you’ve completed this survey or have any other end-of-year posts.  Happy Holidays!

When Did You See Her Last?

I had a great time reading the second book of Lemony Snicket's new series, All The Wrong Questions. When Did You See Her Last? was a fantastic, fun novel.  I couldn't put it down.  It was an entertaining, clever, happy and sad.  I loved it.  When I read the first book I was excited and not disappointed. I very much enjoyed Who Could It Be At This Hour? It was so much like A Series of Unfortunate Events that I had to find out when book 2 would be released.  When I got my hands on it, I couldn't wait to find out what was happening to young Lemony Snicket and the people of Stain'd-by-the-Sea.

Snicket writes that All The Wrong Questions is going to be four tales about how he asked four wrong questions (though apparently he's coming out with a book, 2.5).  The stories tell you why these were the wrong questions to ask and what Snicket should have asked instead.  I think it's a clever way to form a story, through specific questions and whether they are right or wrong. In Snicket's case, the answers tend to lead to more questions (which is probably why they were the wrong questions to ask in the first place.)

Like A Series of Unfortunate Events, the adults do not listen to the children. Even Snicket's chaperone, who is supposed to be training him, dismisses him. Snicket has had an "unusual education" and she is aware of that.  I also enjoy the calling out of parents who think their child is perfect, but is a troublemaker. It's so frustrating when the adults don't listen to the children, or underestimate them.  I love Moxie, Ellington, Pip, Squeak and all the friends young Snicket makes.  I can't wait to read more about all of them in book 2.5 and three.

The Time Machine

I love The Time Machine.  I loved it the first time I read it and I still do.  I read The Time Machine a long time ago, in my second year of University and it is when I became a fan of H.G. Wells. It led me to read The Island of Dr. Moreau and War of the Worlds and contributed to my interest in classic science fiction and fantasy.

The Time Machine is Wells's science-fiction commentary on the social classes of his time.  It's a brilliant, sad, exciting story.  It's also a very short novel, practically a novella by today's standards, and Wells packed in a lot.  The unnamed narrator travels to the year 802,701 AD.  There the world is very different from what it was in the 19th century.  People aren't quite people anymore.  The Time Traveler (who some posit could represent Wells himself) goes through many different theories before arriving at the "correct" one in the end. (Are we actually sure it's correct?  The Time Traveler has skipped over more than 800 000 years of evolution, though his final theory makes the most sense from his perspective.)  

The Time Traveler goes through a change over the course of his experiences with the Eloi and the Morlocks. I think his friends, especially the narrator go through a change as well, as they listen to the Time Traveler's story.  There's a mystery left in the end and I think it was fantastic.  I can't recommend The Time Machine enough to fans of science fiction and classics.

Horns

I've been thinking about what to write for Joe Hill's novel Horns for a while now.  I really enjoyed it.  It is a haunting, chilling tale.  Joe Hill creates characters you love, you empathize with, then they're gone.  Merrin, the girl who dies (part of the premise of the book) is a great girl.  Hill makes you love her.  While you are getting to know her, it's sad, because you know she's going to die and you know how.  It's awful, but in a way that serves the story. The novel is fantastic, though I found myself putting it down when I felt emotional.

I loved Ig Perish.  He was amazing, quirky and sweet. I was always rooting for him. I wanted Iggy to be happy. I wanted him to get justice (revenge). I wanted the truth to be known. Iggy was a fantastic, engaging main character and I was excited to be with him through his journey. I also enjoyed Ig's brother Terry.  He was an interesting character, thought to be the ideal son, but changes and becomes more. Many of the characters were more than what they first appear to be.  Of course, Ig's new ability is what allows us easy access to their inner most thoughts.

Horns has definitely made me a Joe Hill fan.  I picked up Heart-Shaped Box not that long ago and I'm eager to read it now.  I've also been hearing fantastic things about NOS4A2 and if it's anything like Horns, I'm excited to read that too.

Also, movie.  I'd like to see it.