Medb's Montage

Baking Cakes in Kigali

2009-08-05T22:25:00.003-04:00

Baking Cakes in Kigali
Gaile Parkin
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Press (August 18, 2009)
5/5 stars

Angel Tungaraza moved to Kigali, Rwanda from her native Tanzania when her husband took a job at the local university. An accomplished cake maker, Angel adds extra income to her large family and gives herself much joy by making custom-ordered cakes for friends, neighbors, and strangers who have heard the good word about her fabulous creations. In addition to being a "professional someone" (as she would call herself), Angel is Mama to her five orphaned grandchildren, confidant of friends and strangers, and a true example of a good woman.

Each chapter centers around one of Angel's cakes, giving the reader shorter stories inside the larger story. It is a story of family, of community, of all manners of love and reconciliation, and of course, of beautiful cakes. I wish I could explain the plot better, to show how desirable a read this is, but I simply can't. Suffice it to say that it is a surprisingly complex plot, despite this books benign face, with Angel facing several interesting ethical issues as well as the range of various good, bad and amusing situations.

Ms. Parkin uses the fact that Angel is an outsider to Rwanda to easily explain the current situation and the bloody past of this country. It never feels contrived; the explanations happen very naturally--as does most everything in this book. . . It all feels very natural. Customs are clarified, situations set up, the reader gently led here and there and yet, it just feels "real" and lifelike, always smooth and believable. Even the conversations, held in a manner so different from Western conversations, become so real that when a Westerner does appear, using typical Western speech, it seems brash and out of context.

This is truly a masterpiece, a first novel of the highest quality. It is a lovely, heartwarming book that sparkles with gentle wit, at times tugs the heartstrings, but is above all, a joyful experience. I can not recommend this novel highly enough. What a pleasure, what a delight. I expect to see much more of Ms. Parkin in the future.

The Dud Avocado

2009-07-30T02:15:00.004-04:00

The Dud Avocado
Elaine Dundy
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: NYRB Classics; 2nd printing edition (June 5, 2007)
5/5 stars

The Dud Avocado tells the story of Sally Jay Groce, fresh out of college and ready to live life to it's fullest in Paris. Once in Paris, she goes "more native than the natives" trying to cram as much "living" as she can in two short years. Sally Jay's attempts to live it up lead her into many roles, from mistress to actress to homebody, and she embraces every role with gusto--usually with disastrous results.

Dundy's 50 year old classic is fresh and witty, and sometimes a bit racy, and her prose is as close to perfection as one can find. Add this to Sally Jay, a protagonist so alive and real, and it is easy to see why this book gained such a following upon publication.

Here is an excerpt from chapter 3, one of my favorite bits, to give an example of the delicious flavor of the Dud Avocado:

At eleven o'clock that night, in one of my dangerous moods--midnight-black, excited and deeply dreading (as opposed to one of my beautiful midnight-blue ones, calm but deeply excited), my nerves strung taut to singing, I arrived at the Ritz, only to discover all over again what a difficult thing this was to do. I tended to loose my balance at the exact moment that the doorman opened the cab door and stood by in his respectful attitude o f"waiting." I have even been known to fall out of the cab by reaching and pushing against the handle at the same time that he did. But this time, however, I had disciplined myself to remain quite, quite still, sitting on my hands until the door was opened for me. Then, burrowing into my handbag, which suddenly looked like the Black Hole of Cacutgta, to find the fare, I discovered that I needed a light. A light was switched on. I needed more than a light, I needed a match or a flashlight or special glasses, for I simply couldn't find my change purse, and when I did (lipstick rolling on the floor, compact open and everything spilled--passport,m mirror, the works) I couldn't find the right change. We were now all three of us, driver, doorman and I, waiting to see what I was going to do next. I took out some bills, counted them three times in the dark until I was absolutely certain that I had double the amount necessary, and then pressed it on the driver, eagerly apologizing for overtipping. Overcome with shyness I nodded briefly in the direction of the doorman and raced him to the entrance. I just won. Panting and by now in an absolute ecstasy of panic I flung myself at the revolving doors and let them spin me through. Thus I gained access to the Ritz.

I guffawed out loud so often throughout the Dud Avocado; I read parts aloud to my husband; I laughed at and cried with Sally Jay. . . in short, I lived this book. It was pure joy to read, and one that I will certainly read a second time.

The Child Thief

2009-07-29T09:32:00.004-04:00

The Child Thief
Brom
Hardcover: 496 pages
Publisher: Eos (August 25, 2009)
3/5 stars

The Child Thief is a retelling, of sorts, of the story of Peter Pan. Peter, the Child Thief, steals children from this world to take into his world to use against his enemy in the long-going war in Avalon. To take a child through the Mist into Avalon, the child must go willingly with Peter, so he spends considerable effort winning the child over. Peter only picks the runaway, the abused, the abandoned child--the ones who would be eager to escape this life for the next.

The stories of the children he "steals" are full of violence and abuse (sexual, emotional, physical) and despair, all told in grim detail. While they are glad to escape from the lives, the new life Peter grants is not all that much better.

In this version of his story, Peter is not the typical hero, but is a selfish, complex, nearly amoral character. His back story is told in flashbacks through out the book, as the reader gradually comes to learn what influences have made him as he is.

Brom's writing is excellent, hence the third star. With his complex characters and thorough descriptions, he continued to propel me through the pages long after I had lost interest in the bleak, sometimes terrifying, plot. Despite not being able to enjoy this book, I would be interested in reading more by the author; his storytelling was just that good.

This is a dark, graphically violent and generally disturbing book, full of profanity and pain. In my opinion it is not one that should be given a general YA label; in fact, it is more appropriate for adults. I would advise parents to read it before giving it to a YA reader.

Anniversary by the River

2009-07-26T17:37:00.030-04:00

We celebrated our anniversary a little early yesterday (it will be on Tuesday) with a lovely day down by the river, taking photos and then riding the riverboat. (click on the photos for full-sized images; it opens in this same page though, so you'll have to click back)

It was at this very spot, 8 years ago, that he leaned over and said, "Wanna slip off and get married next Saturday?". I don't remember exactly what I said or did, but it must've been an affirmative.

Three ladies on kayaks; the colors were just lovely on the river.

My newly colored (Shocking Blue by Manic Panic), wildly windblown hair.

Lovely summer blossoms:

This couple just struck me as cute:

Architecture and monuments are my favorite things to photograph.

I like ducks a lot. Not as much as bats or turtles, but a really big much.

They sell fish food at the steamboat gift shop, and believe me, the carp expect it! They begin congregating, coming from fathoms deep, as soon as people start walking over the bridge to the steamboat office. Feeding them was amazing; they are huge and there are so many of them it felt a bit like a horror movie. Stoney snagged a quick video with his camera; be glad there is no sound as it was really gross! The ducks give a good size reference. These monsters were HUGE! (Don't fault Stoney for the poor video. Every time we upload it anywhere, it gets stretched larger than it is and that makes it look bad. But, you'll still get the point!)

The riverboat was fantastic! So relaxing and so much fun. An immemsely enjoyable hour and a half! I was excited to see that the paddles really do propel the boat. They were fascinating to watch.

We passed under three bridges, twice each of course, allowing me a lot of bridge photography from an angle I don't normally get to see. That might have been my favorite part of the whole trip, the bridges. Well that and just enjoying Stoney's company in a new place. That is always fun.

A fellow passenger enjoying the river:

It was a lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon, and I think we're going to make it an anniversary tradition.

The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School

2009-07-23T15:00:00.004-04:00

The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School
Laurie Halse Anderson (Author)
Ard Hoyt (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (June 23, 2009)
5/5 stars

In The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School , we meet Zoe and her lovely, wild, untamed red locks. Her hair is so voluminous that, as a baby, she needed two strollers; one for herself and one for her hair.

Not only is her hair plentiful and beautiful, it is also talented. Her hair can turn on the tv, pet the cat, pour juice AND play on the computer--all at the same time. . . while Zoe sleeps!

When Zoe started school, her Kindergarten teacher loved Zoe and her tresses, giving chores to the hair while the students napped. Unfortunately, one Zoe's first day of First Grade, her new teacher lets her differing views be known immediately. "School has rules," says Ms. Trisk, "no wild hair in my class." Naturally, this stirs up the rebel in Zoe's hair, and to Zoe's embarrassment, her hair does all sorts of naughty things to annoy Ms. Trisk.

Will Zoe, her hair and Ms. Trisk find a happy medium?

I'll go ahead and tell you: Yes! This book is about compromise and individuality, how both parties can give and take with a satisfying outcome. Though Ms. Trisk is in the wrong, there is never a question about Zoe, or her parents, following Ms. Trisk's instructions. I liked this, in that it isn't showing a rebellion against a teacher, rather a willingness to compromise.

The illustrations are lovely. Zoe's amazing hair is not a vivid, overpowering red, but rather a true to form orangey red that one sees on people daily. His illustrations are also light and engaging, adding more depth to the story.

I think this is a delightful book and could certainly give across a message of cooperation, especially if discussed afterward. For younger children, who might not understand such a message, the amusing story and lively illustrations will make a pleasure to read.

Another About Me List

2009-07-23T00:10:00.002-04:00

I've been playing over on facebook, and this is one of the listy thingees I did tonight. Figgered I'd add it over here too. :) They are always fun to do.

1. What time did you get up this morning? Around 12 noon, don't pay much attention to clocks in the summer, which is not technically morning.

2. How do you like your steak? I don't eat red meat. I am as vegetarian as my body's needs will allow me to be.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? It was Wall-E, last summer with my best friend, Bee, and her hive of kiddos. Before that. . . Goblet of Fire or Matrix 2 or the Return of the King. Whichever came last.

4. What is your favorite TV show? Don't watch TV, but it would have to be the Prisoner from the 60's.

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Alaska, preferably the southeasterb bits around Juneau.

6. What did you have for breakfast? Read number one; I didn't have breakfast. Unless the soy milk I had before I went to bed at 4 this morning counted.

7. What is your favorite cuisine? Indian, the spicy the better, and my esophageal reflux just has to sit back and cry about it. (Believe me, it's worth it!)

8. What foods do you dislike? Red meat, mushrooms, mayonnaise, probably more stuff that I can't think of at the mo'.

9. Favorite Place to Eat? Mela in Asheville (EXCELLENT Indian), Tomato Head in Knoxville (nummy vegetarian)

10. Favorite dressing? Band-aids. I don't do salad dressing; should add that to my list of things I don't eat.

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive? We share an Escort and a Taurus, both plastered with "kill your tv" propaganda, as well as various other excellent stickers, like Marley, the Dead, "question the answers", and more of the same. I like our cars. I came with the Escort, all but about nine miles were put on by me, and my parents gifted us their Taurus when Mom got a new one.

12. What are your favorite clothes? My Chaco sandals, my loose and comfy hippie skirts, and my collection of humorous tees.

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? After Alaska would come a literary tour of Britain.

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? Always half full, if not full. I have little patience for half-empties.

15. Where would you want to retire? If not Alaska, Hot Springs, NC.

16. Favorite time of day? Evening, when it cools down and the light is all red and purple.

17. Where were you born? St. Joesph's Hospital, Asheville NC

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? none, now, but of them all, I prefer hockey.

19. Who do you think will not tag you back? This is a tag-free zone tonight.

20. Person you expect to tag you back first? See above.

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this? Everybody's response. I'm curious to the point of nosiness.

22. Bird watcher? Sure, when I'm outside. Not as a hobby, though.

23. Are you a morning person or a night person? Night, emphatically. When my sleep study was done, I didn't hit deep sleep until 4 or 5 am, if that tells you anything. My body rhythm is up all night, sleep all day.

24. Do you have any pets? Life without pets is a sad life indeed. We currently have three kitties. My most special kitty died in May and I miss her unbelievably. But, as it always is, the pain of the loss is more than made up by the joy of the memories.

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? I started a new Warrior over the weekend and am leveling him up right and left. . . Oh, not that kind of news huh? Naw, nothing new or exciting. I live a gloriously dull life and wouldn't trade it for an exciting one EVER.

26. What did you want to be when you were little? Detective!

27. What is your best childhood memory? Dad reading Dr. Seuss to me.

28. Are you a cat or dog person? I was a dog person until I married Stoney and he introduced me to the joys of being a cat mom.

29. Are you married? Blissfully. Stoney (Bryan) and I just about to hit the eight year mark and have been honeymooning every day of it. Being married to your best friend can NOT be beat.

30. Always wear your seat belt? Always and nag others that do not.

31. Been in a car accident? I've been hit twice, but minor both times--though one time it was while test driving an Infinity. LOL

32. Any pet peeves? Bad grammar and punctuation, bigotry, people that make decisions or have firm opinons when they have not educated themselves about the issue, people that park shopping carts in the parking lot instead of putting them up, anytime the rules are not followed. . . Look, I have Asperger's Syndrome, so I expect things a certain way and sometimes I have a hard time accepting when they are not, though I'm trying hard to be more tolerant. But, that means that I have a HUGE list of pet peeves. Be glad I don't go around with a notebook writing it all down! LOL

33. Favorite Pizza Toppings? artichoke hearts, green olives, and black olives.

34. Favorite Flower? Daisies. I do so love daisies.

35. Favorite ice cream? Madagascan Vanilla, target's store brand Archer Farms, followed by nearly anything good ol' Ben and Jerry can produce.

36. Favorite fast food restaurant? If I have one, I guess it's Petros, or maybe Chick fil a.

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test? twice, maybe three times, it's been a while. But, in my defense, it IS hard to do a three point turn in a 1964 Mustang that doesn't have power steering.

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Amazon.com

40. Do anything spontaneous lately? Yup.

41. Like your job? Love it. I am one of the few people I know that can truly say they love their job with a passion.

42. Broccoli? Aw yeah.

43. What was your favorite vacation? The weekend we spent in Lexington, VA; we stayed in a lovely B&B and it snowed.

44. Last person you went out to dinner with? Depends on if you are defining "dinner" as the evening meal or the noon meal. Last evening meal was, of course, Stoney. Last noon meal was Bee and her hive.

45. What are you listening to right now? B is for Marley. . . he found it for me!! :D

46. What is your favorite color? Green, the lighter the better or limeish.

47. How many tattoos do you have? One but it is made up of seven individual bats. I am very proud of it and am strongly contemplating my next.

48. How many are you tagging for this quiz? See number 19.

49. What time did you finish this quiz? Well, there is still one more question, so I'm not actually done, now am I? But it is currently 12:06 and I assume it will only take me a few minutes to write my answer to the last one, so probably 12:08 or thereabouts.

50. Coffee Drinker? If it's sweet "frou frou" coffee, yes. Working man's coffee, no thanks.

Autism and Me: Sibling Stories

2009-07-13T21:22:00.006-04:00

Autism and Me: Sibling Stories
by Ouisie Shapiro
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company (March 1, 2009)
Recommended reading level: Grade 4–6
5/5 stars

Autism and Me: Sibling Stories is a short, but lovely book, directed at the young siblings of children who have been diagnosed with Autism.

These one page essays are written by the typical siblings about their relationship with their brother or sister with Autism. In the essays, the children are generally quite honest--one admits to being embarrassed by his brother--but yet they all show that despite the differences these pairs still have a loving relationship. The amazing photos show the pairs doing activities that can be done by both, and show the maximum affection that can be shown in each case.

I work with children with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome, and I know from personal experience that the typical sibling/atypical sibling relationship is a top concern for most parents--as well as the typical siblings. This beautiful little book would be a good one for the typical sibling of this age group to read (perhaps with the parent) so that he/she will know that his/her case is not unique and that others out there have succeeded in this same situation.

Granted, siblings older than this age group may not find it appealing, may feel that it sugar coats and may want a book that talks more about how to actually deal with a sibling with Autism. That is not this book, nor should the reader wish it to be. This book is directed at a younger audience, meant to give encouragement to that particular demographic who is wondering if brother or sister will ever really play with, or love, or even notice them.

I will be recommending this to the families of my preschoolers to read with older sibling in the recommended age group and I am appreciative to the author, and her niece and nephew, for the creation of this fine little book.

Edit: I am bowled over by the negativity that this book has gotten on amazon for the very reasons that I gave it a positive review, and by some who say they work with children with or have siblings who have Autism. Perhaps, as an adult on the spectrum myself, I am more inclined to see the need of a positive outlook? Regardless, I found this to be a wonderful book for the intended audience.

Not My Frivolous Usual

2009-07-11T21:42:00.002-04:00

It's been a lovely relaxing day. Other than a trip to the yard for cats to nibble grass and barf it up, I've not left the house. Lovely, lovely, lovely. I really could be a hermit, you know. During the summer, it's nothing for me to go all week without opening the door.

Yesterday, was busier, though, and Thursday. . . Well, Thursday I felt like I was caught in a tsunami.

My great-aunt, a very special lady who has always treated me with great love and affection and has shown my husband the same, died Tuesday afternoon. She was an octogenarian, had lung cancer, and had chosen not to pursue treatments. We saw her in May, then again in about four weeks later, and it was obvious that she was starting to fail. It was also obvious that she was ready for death in a way that I have never witnessed. Most people won't understand this, but that's okay. She was ready, willing, for death. I have never seen a person that did not have something holding them back. Not her. And not in a morbid, "I just want to die" way either. She was very cheerful, and happy to live, but also, just as happy to die. I wish I could explain it better. It was so beautiful.

I got to participate in this death of hers in a way that I didn't anticipate, and would not have agreed to, had I had a choice.

Three of her grandchildren have been gifted with singing voices, and without meaning to be vain, I have been given that same gift. Not an operatic voice, or even a pop star voice, but the voice of my foremothers: an Appalachian, folk, or even bluesy voice. It's generally perfect for a capella, and I remember singing for my grandfather's graveside funeral, when it carried just perfectly.

I don't like to sing in public, though. Anxiety hits like you wouldn't believe and I'd rather just sing for Stoney and the cats and myself.

On the way to Althea's birthday gathering in June, I knew in my soul, my spirit, my inner most being, that I was to sing "Swing Home, Sweet Chariot" for her. No way, was my reaction. Not gonna do it. That is morbid.

If you don't know the words, it contains a reference to getting to heaven before me. . . much better for a funeral. Much better to not sing it at all, was my thought. And fought with that other part of me the whole 1 1/2 drive over that. Never mentioned it to Stoney. Too personal and besides, I was not going to do it.

She asked her grandson to sing, which he did marvelously. And I knew. I had to give her that gift, that song, or die.

I stood up, in front of twenty or so close and distant family members and told her how I'd been fighting it, but that I needed to sing her this song. I cried. I sang. Her daughters smiled and cried. She beamed at me, through the whole thing. Yes, I'll get there before you, her eyes said, and I can't wait.

I didn't want to be a part of that, but I was, and I was blessed as a result.

Her passing was quick; she was actually ill for only a week or so and then her heart just stopped. It was the most beautiful death I've ever encountered--and I generally find death ugly, and mean, and unfair. She set a new standard that I doubt I'll ever see again.

So, Thursday night, Stoney and I made a quick trip up to the funeral home. He was unable to get off work for the funeral on Friday, but we wanted to show support to her family, who are so good to us.

I've got stuff to tell about our yummy meal afterward, complete with pics, but it seems to frivolous, so I'll save it for later.

The Marriage Bureau for Rich People

2009-07-09T13:51:00.005-04:00

The Marriage Bureau for Rich People
Farahad Zama
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Putnam Adult (June 11, 2009)
4/5 stars

With The Marriage Bureau for Rich People, Mr. Zama brings the reader into the colorful world of present-day India, where some marriages are still arranged and caste and/or religion can still be a factor in deciding a good match.

Our protagonist, Mr. Ali is retired and his retirement has begun to weigh on both him and his wife. To fill out his free time, he opens a marriage bureau. This will function as a time saver and be more discreet for those who would like to advertise for a match for themselves or their children. Mr. Ali will do the advertising, screen the replies, and start a sort of "club" with a large base of eligible matches. It seems like a good idea, and it is. After a few months, his Marriage Bureau for Rich People is boomimg and his free time is free no more--from one extreme to another!

With Mrs. Ali's help, he hires a very pleasant, respectable young woman, Aruna, to help him as secretary and her story is added to the threads of the plot. Along with Aruna's very interesting story is that Mr. and Mrs. Ali with their son and several side stories of clients that lightly touch the main stories.

To begin with, The Marriage Bureau for Rich People is a bit slow, and feels as if the author is trying too hard. It is easy to see, in the first pages, that this is his first novel. But as it progresses, it becomes a charming, lovely little story with the feel of a Jane Austen novel. It is refreshing and a delight to the senses; it is also a pleasure to learn so much, in a positive manner, about caste and religion in present-day India. Reading about the marriage ceremonies was a pure delight.

I will be honest, I do not like romance novels, but the romance that was gradually slid into this novel was similar to that of my favorite author, Jane Austen, so I was pleased with it, and not annoyed.

Over all, despite it's slow start, I found this a delicious little book and give it a high recommendation. I had to give it only four stars, instead of the five stars that it emotionally elicited, due to the slow start and sometimes not perfect writing. I do hope to see more from Mr. Zama, as he has a wonderful way of bringing the reader into his world.

Curse you, Lord Cucumber!

2009-07-06T15:53:00.004-04:00

It started innocently enough (as most things do), with a cucumber (as most things do not). A lovely, small, dark green, appropriately bumpy, beautiful cucumber. Now, I know that cukes generally give me indigestion, but, was I gonna let that stop me from eating this perfect specimen? Heck no.

I lovingly washed it, sliced it up in gorgeous, not quite circular rounds, loaded it with salt and ate it, making "this is SO yummy" sounds as I did so. I even offered some to Stoney. He had one measly piece, saying something inane like "I like cucumbers, but not how they taste later". I waved him off, and ate my delicacy.

I remember commenting to myself an hour or so later "Hey, no burps! Must be a burpless one! No indigestion from THIS baby!" and smiled to myself thinking how wrong Stoney was, how badly he missed out, but that's okay 'cause that meant more for me.

I went to be early, with a good book that I shall review later, and read till this side of midnight (or maybe that side, who knows really) and settled in for a lovely sleep. I was so proud of myself. Bed early, sleep at a decent time. . . That meant I would be up at a good time and accomplish a LOT of my needs-to-be-done-this-summer list.

But, oh, that cucumber had it's own agenda.

I don't know what time the dreams started, but I awoke around 2 am, in misery from a dream about having severe reflux--the kind that sent me to the hospital a few summers ago. It was a relief to wake up from that painful dream. For about 0.2 seconds until I realized the reason I was dreaming such a dream was that my esophagus was on fire.

Did I say on fire? I wish I could convey how it really felt. You'd have nightmares just READING about it.

"Curse you Lord Cucumber!" I muttered as I stood up. As soon as attained uprighness, I belched. What an understatement. I mean I BEEEEELLLLLLCCCCHED. It was like a baking soda volcano had just let loose. Remember Charlie and Grandpa in Willie Wonka's factory? When they drank that soda pop they shouldn't have? THAT is what it was like!

I walked about ten steps and WOAH, there went another belch. I was rather proud. If I could do that on command, I'd be ever so popular with the middle school crowd.

After that overture, it was a let down not to puke or die or anything, but I just took my reflux med, drank some soy milk, ate 4 generic tums dealies and went back to bed. Stoney had awakened and congratulated me on my belches. Even he was impressed, so you KNOW they were good.

Then, it was time to build Mount Pillow. THE most uncomfortable way to sleep. Next to sleeping flat on my back when reflux is flaming. So, I built the pillow mound, and spent the next few hours fitfully trying to get comfortable.

Result? Once it finally died down, and I was able to climb down from Fluffy Mountain and sleep in the bed like a real person and get some good sleep, it was late. Real late. So, I either sleep right through the alarm or failed to set it last night (anything is possible) and didn't get up until afternoon and had to rush around to accomplish SOMETHING today. And it's all the fault of that little innocent looking cucumber.

I sent the other two with Stoney to his work today. Let those demons find someone else to torture.

>.< Ooo! Cupcakes!

2009-07-05T02:43:00.005-04:00

Friday was a lovely day. Stoney was off work, so we had lunch out and did some grocery shopping. Lunch was at my new favorite restaurant, which has The Best hummus EVER. It is so garlicky, it's still fighting with my tongue when it hits my stomach. YUMMY!

After that, it was the local organic farmer's market. Oh, how I wish I had taken my camera. The colors were amazing! It just seemed that Friday the flowers and vegetables were more colorful than ever before. The little eggplants, in particular, stand out in my mind. Still young, not a deep purple, but a lavendery color. Gorgeous. As always, there were vegetables that I had heard of, but never actually seen, and certainly couldn't cook and probably wouldn't eat if I could. But that's part of the fun.

We've decided maybe we should raise chickens. Home grown eggs get a good price. How hard could it be?

I know, I know. . . but seriously, when we have our own place and can be a bit self-sufficient, I think we'll try chickens. Not for us to eat; neither of us like farm eggs (I can barely stand eggs in the best of times) but other people just seem to love them. Plus, I think it would be fun. It's part of our running away dream anyhow.

After admiring everything and then buying some tomatoes and a few cucumbers (can you believe that I PAY for indigestion??), we headed over to Earth Fare, our local health food (but so much more store). Got more of that Thai Chicken soup that Stoney is in love with at the mo and I found some super yummy Vegetable Curry out of their deli. Had it for lunch today. Yowza! We got some naan too, so lunch was incredible today, with his soup and my curry and the naan, followed by the last half of my cupcake from their bakery. Luckily, except for the cupcake, it will be repeated tomorrow.

Sad about the cupcake. Wish I had more. I love cupcakes more than any other sweet, if they are good cupcakes. I don't like a light, fluffy cake. I like a dense, moist cake. Think homemade pineapple upside down cake. That kind of cake. And Earth Fare makes their cupcakes just like that. Totally heavenly. The icing is good too. I always get a cupcake when we go. Like a kid getting a cookie at the grocery store. It's part of the trip. I look forward to it from the time it is decided that we're going and I wonder, in the back of my head the entire time until I am actually in front of the bakery case, just what flavor cupcakes they will have today. Strawberry cake is my favorite, when they make it. Oh, to die for! Friday, it was yellow cake with chocolate icing. Still, worth a major felony.

Then comes the long, interminable ride home until I can actually EAT the cupcake. We had to stop at the regular grocery store to pick up a few other things (namely my favorite brand of cheese and some olives for salads and a bag of ice because you can't drink ice water unless you have ice, now can you?) so that made the wait SO much longer.

I try not to throw the groceries down and dive into my cupcake. I have to have SOME maturity. So, it's put up the groceries--an unbelievably long process--change into comfy clothes and then. . . ah yes, then, with the soy milk on the table beside me, fork in hand, I eye it up for just a minute in the sweet certainty that the cupcake is MINE! Then, it's nom nom nom.

So, Friday was a fantastic day, what with hummus and cupcakes and the like.

Until the pipe broke under the kitchen sink, but I've already told you how awesome Stoney is about stuff like that. Takes it in stride and good humor, no problem. At least once a year we have a holiday disaster; if this is our holiday disaster, I'll take it. We just put an empty kitty liter bucket under it, mopped up the floor and Stoney fixed it this morning. Easy done.

Today has been a lazy day. Other than his venture to Home Depot, we've stayed in and gamed all day. Lovely, lovely, lovely.

And now, today is really tomorrow, and he's asleep and the cat's are asleep and I SHOULD be asleep, but I just keep thinking about how much I wish I had another cupcake.

Addendum. . .

2009-07-02T16:34:00.000-04:00

to previous post.

I'll have you know that I just showered. So, in case you thought I was dirty or lazy, I have showered TWICE in TWO days. See!! And for no real reason either. So there.

Mainly About Showers

2009-07-02T14:27:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was a totally wasted day. After not sleeping at all Tuesday night (seriously), I finally fell asleep sometime after 5:30, while Stoney was getting ready for work. Threw the whole day off. When I did get up, all I did was brush my teeth, step in a hair ball, drink some water, run through email/twitter/blogs, write a post and then eat breakfast. By that time, Stoney was home, so I took a shower. Which took about half an hour. You know how it is, when you've not showered in a coupla days. Just seems to take forever to get all the grime--

Wha? You don't know? Well, then you're A) not a gamer geek, B) not afraid to shower behind a curtain you can't see through or C) not all of the above. I am C. I'll admit it. I go days without showering--but only if I'm at home. I won't go in public without a bathe. That's too hippie even for me. (Notice I didn't say ANYTHING about shaving my legs.) We're especially bad about it on the weekends, Stoney and I, as we'll start gaming as soon as we get up and game until we collapse 12 hours later, sleep and repeat.

Of course, given our current shower curtain condition, I can't shower without him home anyway. I MUST have a clear shower curtain. Oddly enough, this phobia developed long before I saw Janet Leigh get sliced and diced; that just clinched it. Our actual curtain is clear--a lovely clear curtain with black and white designs from Target, totally diggable--but when I bought this last liner, I just wasn't paying enough attention. It's so opaque Jobba the Hutt could be outside it and I'd never know.

Granted my tom cat, General, usually guards me when I'm in the shower. Really, he does. He takes up a post on the rug in front of the heater (I prefer to think he's guarding me, not waiting to trip me up or just soaking all the heat from the heater) and stays with me until I leave the bathroom. But honestly, what good is a 9 pound fluff ball gonna do against a determined psycho killer? He might put of a vacillating one, but if the psycho is determined. . . There is a chance that General MIGHT accidentally trip up the would-be-murderer as s/he makes a lunge for the curtain, causing the knife to fall and then I'd be able to grab it and defend myself, but most likely, s/he'd be using a gun instead and just shoot me from the door (which I NEVER shut when I'm showering no matter if the curtain is clear or not!) so I really shouldn't count on it. It's just better to have a clear shower curtain. That has magically deterred any would be attackers for all these years. But right now, my curtain is NOT clear, and I have to wait until Stoney is home to shower. Which is what I did yesterday. And it took, like, half an hour, cause I hadn't showered in a coupla days.

Happily, Stoney never mentions when I don't shower. That is generally because he hasn't showered either, but during the summer when I'm home and he's not, he still doesn't notice because he smoked for 20 years and his sense of smell is kinda dead and I have to be really ripe before he could smell me and believe me, I will have showered by then.

It's not that I don't LIKE to shower. I do. I use Zum bar soaps from Indigo Wild and that makes every shower a lovely experience. I like the Tea Tree-Citrus the best. Very potent stuff! Stoney likes the Sea Salt and the Rosemary. The Grapefruit is yummy too. Warning: don't get the Cinnamon or the Peppermint to use for anything but your hands. IT BURNS! I bought some of it at Christmas and YOWSA! I'm still using the last half bar of Cinnamon for hand washing in the bath room. It's great because my hands smell like cinnamon for a long time afterward and that makes me think of spicy desserts.

Thinking of which is making me hungry. I go eat now. (Looks like I've wasted another day. . . )

Jane Eyre: The Graphic Novel

2009-07-01T17:43:00.006-04:00

Jane Eyre: The Graphic Novel
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Classical Comics (January 6, 2009)
2/5 stars

Though very easy to read, and engrossing (due to the original story), Jane Eyre: The Graphic Novel owes a lot of flaws to its medium. The darkness and style of the art (typical graphic novel art, I might add) was only appropriate for some of the novel and made it seem much more dreary than it is.

Also, due to the format and need to make the story fit into a smaller book, much (and some of it important, to a frequent Jane Eyre reader anyway) was left out. This made the book seem, to me, choppy and not fully explained. I wondered at times if I would understand the action or reasons if I had not already read the full book many times.

While this might be a nice introduction to a classic for some younger readers, I really would not recommend it.

Is it already Wednesday?

2009-07-01T14:53:00.006-04:00

Nearly broke the key off in the door going out to feed the Outside Critters. Worrisome moment. I don't feed them as often as the kitties, but they certainly eat well when I do. Today they have French herb Quinoa which wasn't as herby as it smelled AND I cooked it too long, some black grapes that weren't up to snuff and left over creamed corn from a restaurant last week that I just never got around to eating. If I put it out early enough, the birds will get to eat some, they'll like the grain and maybe the grapes, before the night shift comes in to demolish anything left. We have possoms (my favorites), raccoons (Stoney's favorites), skunks and even an occasional fox. Makes for lovely night watching; we have a large window over looking their feeding place. Sometimes we can hear the raccoons when they come visiting. Sometimes we'll look once and the food'll all be there, look a short while later and it's all gone. I like to think of our home as an animal sanctuary. Find peace, all who enter these grounds.

Except ants of course. They aren't animals, and they don't count in the "all". I hate and fear them. Sprayed around the door while letting the cats eat grass this morning ("this will make EXCELLENT barfs!") and so of course, I came in with one on my neck just now. Mean, NASTY critters. I hates 'em! They're very fast and they'd run all over me before I could stop it. And they bite and sting and get in my food. I hates 'em!

Posted a comment over at the Bleat. Lileks recently watched Lolita and I tried to convince him of the need to read the book. (my review is here.) If I ever teach a college lit class (unlikely given my predilection for special ed preschoolers), I will assign Lolita. Then maybe, just maybe, one or two will actually READ it and see it for what it is. An AMAZING novel. Or if I ever find a lamp genie or magic wand (more likely than the lit class) I'll wish for educated people with a bent (notice I did NOT say prejudice) against it to suddenly decide to read it. I bet that 75% or more would come away just awed by it, and in love with Nabokov's writing, just like I did. Every time we go to the used book store, I buy anything by him I can. The man has such an amazing way about him.

I should be reading some of the Nabokovs I have stacked on my to-be-read shelf this summer, but instead I have been sating myself in the world of Vlad Taltos by Steven Brust. Good fantasy stuff. He has built a fabulous world that I have completely bought into and love. Vlad is an assassin, witch, tough talking, loud mouthed, very real fella living in a world that doesn't necessarily appreciate his qualities. He has some great friends, some great enemies and a wise ass, killer familiar. Jhereg is the first in the series if you're interested. I like how Brust doesn't tell all about his world, or even Vlad, in one go. You just get hints sometimes, sometimes he backs up the series and gives up a book out of sequence, but it's all good. Great series. I'm reading his latest Vlad book right now and sad that I'll have to wait and see when the next one comes out. There are two more short series I can read though, in the same world. Good stuff.

Matter of a fact, I like Vlad so much I made a Mii for him on the Wii. Looks just like I imagine him. Except for being a Mii, of course. Made one of Severus Snape too. Proud of those. Here, I'll show you. That's me beside Severus and that's Lady Teldra (from the Brust novels) beside Vlad.

I miss Severus. I would go back and read the HP books, but then I'd eventually get to the last one and he'd die again and I'd be all sad again, so what's the use. And don't tell me to watch the movies. I quit after number 3. They aren't cannon, Snape doens't look like Snape and the costumes. . . DIDN'T YOU GUYS READ THE BOOKS????

I could go on, but I've not had lunch, General is stealing food from the girls and the horrid Mii music is still playing and needs to be turned off.

Clover Tiwg and the Magical Cottage

2009-06-30T14:31:00.010-04:00

Clover Twig and the Magical Cottage
Kaye Umansky, author
Johanna Wright, illustrator
Roaring Brook Press: 18 August 2009
Ages 9 and up
4/5 stars

Clover Twig and the Magical Cottage is the U.S. publication of Ms. Umansky's novel that was called Clover Twig and the Incredible Flying Cottage upon publication in the UK in April.

In it, we meet Clover Twig, an unusually neat and responsible pre-teen who is applying for a job with the town witch, Mrs. Eckles. It is obvious at once that Mrs. Eckles needs Clover's housekeeping skills and Clover's large family would certainly benefit from the wages. Clover and Mrs. Eckles take a liking to each other, she is hired and the adventure begins.

Mrs. Eckles has an evil sister, who covets Mrs. Eckles' ramshackle old cottage, simply because it is not her own, and has been trying for years to steal it. Clover, the cat Neville, and the extremely clumsy delivery boy Wilf find themselves in a battle to keep the cottage for Mrs. Eckles, while she is away at a Fair.

When spelled out like that, the plot doesn't sound like much, and some of it is fairly standard children's fantasy--as well as bearing a likeness in some parts to at least one of my favorite authors. On the other hand, there are some good laugh-out-loud bits, the children are likable and when Ms. Umanksy writes about cats, well, it is obvious she knows cats! Also, just when I thought I knew exactly what was going to happen, I received a plot surprise here and there which rounded out to a pleasant story, with an amusing and gratifying ending.

On the whole, as an adult who sates herself in fantasy as often as possible, this wasn't an exceptional book. However, I would think that a child, still fresh to the genre, would be enchanted and thoroughly amused. I would certainly recommend it to the young pre-teen, especially female, reader.

The Furious Longing of God by Brennan Manning

2009-06-18T20:39:00.004-04:00

Brennan Manning
Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook; (March 1, 2009)
5/5 stars

Manning's writing style in the Furious Longing of God is very personal--sometimes it feels too personal, as though he were a very intimate friend talking straight to me. This fabulous little book is not centered around any one denomination, only around the love of God, for us little ragamuffins. It is a profound book, a moving book, a much needed book for those of us buffeted by doubt and in need of trust.

This is not be Manning's most polished book, and at times it seemed a little bit choppy. However, he still brought all of it together so that the ending pointed back to his beginning so beautifully.

I highly recommend this, or any Manning book, to Christians not bound by religion and looking for a true relationship with a loving God.

A Good Day

2009-05-25T16:43:00.004-04:00

I have the best husband in the world. Not just because he willingly inspects all the odd topical skin dealies I worry about. Not just because he plays board games and computer games with me. Not just because he laughs at my jokes and makes jokes so that I will laugh. Not just because he understands me in a way that no one else has or ever will.

Today illustrates why I have the best husband in the world.

We were on our way home from shopping at three different stores. I'm a vegetarian, he's not, and grocery shopping for us both can sometimes take a while. We're on the interstate and our car starts vibrating like crazy. We both began to do the "ahhhhh" routine, letting the vibration make our voice go, well vibratey, and laughing like hyenas over it. Yeah, he knew there was something wrong with the tire, but he knew he could probably get us home safely before disaster struck. He stayed chipper and we got off the interstate just a few miles from home.

We made it soooo close to home (a mile? less?) when the tire just couldn't take it any more and *insert horrid noise here* let us know. Stoney, still as cheerful as ever, pulled off the road and started changing the tire. I got out, not wanting to sit in the AC while he was out in the sun sweating, changing a tire, and tried to make myself useful. He starts jacking up the car, looks over his shoulder at me with that mischievous grin I love so and said, "What, no photos? You're not twittering this?" We both did some more hyena action, I grabbed my phone, took and twittered this:

He did all the hard work, while I twittered and took photos, including our Towel Day 2009 photo:

We ALWAYS know where our towel is--in the car in it in the trunk in case of emergencies, like today when it was used a LOT!

Stoney put on the spare, making jokes and being his wonderful self and we packed up the trunk to go. Only to discover that the blasted spare was leaking! What did he do? Did he get sullen, or mad, or mean? Nope! He just said, "Well, we're close to home, we should be able to make it."

It was bumpy ride towards the end, but he never faltered, never got frustrated, annoyed or mean. We pulled into our drive way, chuckled about our latest adventure and took in the groceries. And while he showered off the grime and dust and sweat, I thought, I'm so lucky: even having a flat tire is a good day with him. Yeah, I sound sappy, but I have the best husband in the world.

Haiku

2009-05-12T20:06:00.005-04:00

Stoney wrote this beautiful haiku for me, one evening on the way to pick me up from work. It's the most beautiful poem ever!

Riding in my car,
Her fingers keeping the time,
Her hair is purple.

From the Amos Photoshoot

2009-05-10T17:35:00.009-04:00

Visited my best friend, Bee, and her hive of children and pets today. I pulled out my phone to show off a pic of Cleopatra and the kids started to beg to have their photo taken "doing this". Which started a massive photo session of kids and pets. There are two dogs and two cats, and one cat in particular, Amos, takes a lot of grief very good naturedly. What a cat!

Amos being made to hug the dog.

Amos playing air drums.

Howdy Ma'am!

Cowboy pin-up Amos!

And my personal favorite. . . Is he bemoaning the fact there are two girls in this family?

Let Them Eat Cake

2009-04-03T23:00:00.004-04:00

Patra helped me bake a cake tonight. Well, let me clarify. . . she helped me clean up the batter afterwards.

Free Games Daily

2009-03-08T11:31:00.004-04:00

If you're a gamer (casual and otherwise) like me, this might interest you. Game Giveaway of the Day really does give away a new game daily. It came recommended from a site I trust and when I tried it, all worked as it should. They have had some really good casual games in the past, as well as some okay ones. I'm going to keep my eye on it!
Game Giveaway of the Day

Buttons

2009-02-03T13:57:00.004-05:00

The Coraline site has a fun and eery thing to do. . . Add buttons to your eyes. Just like the Other Mother. This was the only photo of me glasses-less, and I don't think it looks quite scary enough, but it was still such an icky-yet-thrilling, rather sick thing to do, I had to share.

On a side note, if you've not read the book, do! Especially before you see the movie. It should be totally creepy and tons of fun. The book terrified me in parts but I enjoyed the terror. I'm interested to see how it follows through in a movie.

Oh, and while we're talking about creepy and buttons. . . Let Neil Gaiman tell you about them. He does it so much better than I:

Twittering

2009-02-03T13:24:00.002-05:00

Thanks to a link to an article on Neil Gaiman's blog, I discovered that both he and one of my favorite actors, Stephen Fry, use Twitter! The article lists the top 50 followed celebs (that do their own twitting) on Twitter. Quite interesting!

I've been saying for a while, that I need to find a better app, mod, what have you, so I can have twitter running and not have to go to the the web page to read my twits. I have good friends (like Deb) that twit a lot and it is so nice to see what's going on. It would be fun to follow Gaiman and Fry, as well, a little free entertainment, if you will. I'll add looking for mods on my list of things to do. . .

By the way, the Gaiman twitter in the article is just great. “Clues you're twittering too much : during an interesting dream, you think "I must twitter this", and start looking in dream for your phone.”

Completely off topic, can you imagine just how hard it is to type when you have a kitty sleeping on your chest?

The Graveyard Book

2009-01-26T21:14:00.002-05:00

Gaiman's Graveyard Book just won the Newberry Award!! Woot! Now in the past, I have had quite a bit of disagreement with them over their choices, find some of the winners just plain losers as far as books go. This one, however, they got right. The Graveyard Book is sweet and sad, it's about life and death and growing up. The few places that did work as well as others were totally made up for by the vast and overwhelming grace of the rest of the book. Told in short stories, instead of chapters, it is the story of Nobody Owens, who toddles his way into the graveyard away from his family's murderer and is taken in by the Owens (a wonderful dead couple) in particular and the entire graveyard in general. What he learns of life and love and the world is a wonderful lesson for us all. It's a five star book and deserves this honor. I'm so pleased!

Read Neil Gaiman's excited response here.

My GamerDNA

2009-01-14T19:27:00.003-05:00

The Explorer motto: "No stone unturned!"
Description:
It's not so much the wandering around and poking about, but that euphoric eureka moment the Explorer strives for. The joys of discovery do not necessarily involve geography, real or virtual. They may derive from the mental road less traveled, the uncovering of esoteric or hidden knowledge and it's creative application. Explorers make great theory crafters. The most infinitesimal bit of newness can deliver the most delicious zing to an Explorer.
* Explorer Achievers have been there, done that and have the t-shirt...in fact they have a plethora of t-shirts, badges, trophies and other rewards. EAs are the completionists of the gamer world. They like to find new places, quests, easter eggs, unlocks, maps etc. and check them off as have, visited or beaten. Like real world travelers, EAs enjoy collecting memorabilia that helps them relive their experiences later.

Yup, that's me and that's how I game! :D I'm a HUGE explorer and am ALL about achievements, reputation, and the like. I love to game. . .

(Courtesy of theBartle Test of Gamer Psychology)

More about The Millionaires

2009-01-11T16:36:00.000-05:00

A commenter on Amazon "found it creepy and weird" that I reprinted Mr. Majors' email. I used it to back my points, as one might use correspondence from a more well known author to back up points in a published thesis. Had I not shown the email in full, I would have been accused of cutting and pasting it to suit my purposes. *shrugs* One can't win when one writes a negative review.

The Millionaires by Inman Majors

2009-01-08T19:28:00.000-05:00

The Millionaires tells the story of two brothers, J.T. and Roland Cole, of questionable reputation, bringing the World's Fair Expo to Tennessee in the 1980's and delving into gubernatorial politics.

While the actual prose itself was mechanically well-written (though the lack of quotation marks for spoken words kept me backtracking to see if a character was thinking or speaking, which was annoying), for me there was no real spark of life in the characters. Then there was the odd "cut scenes" between chapters. They were laid out like a movie script, not easy to follow and, far from segueing the chapters, felt stilted, distracting and unnecessary. Also the "New South" feel was, to a life-long Southerner, not realistic and somewhat stereotyped.

In addition to this, there was the problem of the plot. It is, quite frankly, an almost to the date and circumstance retelling of the life of C.H. and Jake Butcher. The Butcher brothers were quite famous in the 1980's, at least in Tennessee. Just like J.T. and Roland Cole, they were banker brothers of questionable reputation who brought the World's Fair Expo to Tennessee (Knoxville, Knox County in real life, Glenville, Glen County in the book). Jake Butcher ran for Governor, like his fictional counterpart Roland and the brothers were investigated just like in the book.

Some things in the book were such exact copies of the real life Butcher brothers that it was worrisome. Just one example: Jake Butcher built an impressive, tall, mirror walled bank with lovely fountains in downtown Knoxville that is a landmark of the Knoxville skyline--the tallest building in town. Here is a description from the book of Roland's bank:
"It was a damn awesome sight, the building, from any angle or vantage point you might choose for the viewing. Standing on Franklin Street, Roland's angle was straight up, like looking at a plane overhead. What he saw were twenty-nine stories of green mirrors on a shiny, rectangular tower, the mirrors catching and reflecting the sun's light and sending it in darting rays across the shadowed and dreary downtown below. Was there a better phrase than dwarfing the skyline? Obliterating the skyline? Inventing a skyline?"

Nothing on the Advanced Reading Copy credits the real life Butcher brothers with inspiring Mr. Majors by their life, so my husband (who was unable to finish the book, stating it just got "too boring") emailed him on our behalf to get the scoop. Mr. Majors replied, "I anticipate that reviewers in Tennessee will note the parallels in the novel to real life events" and "when I talk about the book to folks who aren't familiar with Tennessee, I mention the inspiration for the plot" and no, "the publisher will not be including a note about the book's inspiration." He goes on to say, that he "never pictured real people as I was writing the book, not for one second or one sentence" Wow. That's rather hard to believe, given things as detailed as the example above and the fact that he just admited that C. H. and Jake Butcher ARE the inspiration for the plot. . . This answer gave me a sense of unease, a distrust of the author that made me even less able to sink into his narrative.

Overall, with the writing style and my mistrust of the author, I was unable to enjoy this book or read it as closely as I generally do. Granted, I had a hard time getting over the obstacle of seeing the storyline so obviously the uncredited life of the Butcher brothers--and the fact that, knowing that, I already knew what happened. Would someone without my knowledge of Tennessee history enjoy this book? I don't know, but I did not see enough other redeeming qualities to think so.
__________________________________
Here is Mr. Major's email in full:
I anticipate that reviewers in Tennessee will note the parallels in the novel to real life events. When I talk about the book to folks who aren't familiar with Tennessee, I mention the inspiration for the plot, so that's warranted (and expected) if your wife mentions it in her review.

To answer your question, the publisher will not be including a note about the book's inspiration. The main reason being that I never pictured real people as I was writing the book, not for one second or one sentence. So though the plot may be inspired by real life events, the characters and scenes are all invented. A note, it seemed to me, would lead readers to believe that I had some kind of inside scoop on real events or actual people when I don't, and would distract them from the primary themes I'm trying to explore.

I was interested in writing a book about brothers (I have one that I'm very close to), ambition, and that large group of people my parents age who moved from southern farms and small towns to the city, and the effect that move had on them. There's a lot of my brother and me in the Cole brothers and a lot of my dad and uncles. So if the characters in the book are acting/thinking/feeling like any real life counterpart, the last name would have to be Majors. Looking at things in the rearview, the late seventies and early eighties seems like a really specific point in time in the south to me. This was still pre-cable, pre-sunbelt migration on a massive scale. I wanted to capture this moment in time just before the south tipped once and for all away from being a truly heterogenous region. That my father's generation would be in middle of that, this generation of farm boys and kids from small towns, as the south became urbanized and suburbanized and lost much of its rural heritage !! and identity, was really interesting to me. So basically, I just used the plot to explore themes I was interested in (the nature and cost of ambition/competitive but loving brothers/the changing south). I wasn't interested in writing about real people or telling biography or history, but in themes, and trying to find characters in which to express those themes.

I'm guessing I'll be answering questions about real life correlations from here on out. To his dying day, Robert Penn Warren swore that Willie Stark was not, in fact, Huey Long in All the Kings Men. Not sure how many people believe him, but I do.

Na na (x8). . . Bat Girl!

2008-12-28T16:23:00.005-05:00

After more than a year wanting it, and several months in the planning stage, I finally have my very own bat tattoo!

In answer to all the questions I know I'll be asked. . .
Yes, I nearly passed out, but not because it hurt or there was blood or anything like that. I had just been so dog-gone nervous that the anxiety did some sort of funky thing with adrenaline and blood sugar and I got all light-headed. I was embarrassed, but was told it was a common thing.

No, it didn't hurt. The most "hurty" part of it was on the upper arm when it felt like, maybe an injection. It doesn't hurt now, feels like a bit of a sunburn is all.

It took around two hours and after that first 5 minutes of light-headedness, all was a walk in the park. Mark (of Liquid Dragon in Asheville, NC) did a fantabulous job!

Now, I've just got to continue loosing weight and tone up those flabby arms!

Holiday Humor

2008-12-24T20:38:00.001-05:00

This has become my favorite humorous holiday song and I think Jonathan Coulton is verging on comic genus. He's got more funny stuff out there, if you check out his site.

I prefer the first video myself, as Spiff made it using World of Warcraft skins/animations so it's doubly funny to me. The second one is good too, though. And the song. . .well the song cracks me up every time I hear it.

My Little Girl by Tim McGraw and Tom Douglas

2008-12-23T14:33:00.002-05:00

My Little Girl
by Tim McGraw and Tom Douglas
illustrated by Juilia Denos
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 21, 2008)

The story is simply and easily told: a Dad and daughter day of doing nothing in particular, but having fun just doing those things together.

While the story idea is nice and is something we taught our daughter--that "doing nothing" can be a very special day--the story itself was a bit too sappy sweet for my taste. I'm sure there are super lovey dad's out there, but for most women that I have known, this was not the case. Given that as my guideline, this book may not be for every Dad and daughter, especially if the child in question is old enough to wonder why her dad isn't like the one in the book. Furthermore, it just didn't feel "natural" to my mind.

One minor point that niggled at me was the dog. I couldn't understand why the dog's odd (un-child friendly and not read-out-loud friendly) name was included. McGraw family dog? Douglas family dog? It just felt out of place and baffled me.

The art work was lovely! Bright and flowing water colors and very real and personable looking characters. I was enchanted by it. Ms. Denos did a fantastic job. She deserves 5 stars for her art, and I wish there was some way to rate illustrations alone. Without her art, this would have only been a 2 star book.

I honestly think that they are planning on using Tim McGraw (and Faith Hill's preface) as the selling point for this book, and got the feeling the book was more about them (how much they love their children and family life) than it was about a general dad and daughter.

Holiday Book Give-Away

2008-12-12T19:47:00.001-05:00

HarperCollins is having a HarperHolidays book give-away. You have to nothing more than choose which gift pack you'd like to win and enter your name and address. It's always worth a shot. :D

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

2008-12-12T14:26:00.003-05:00

After hearing Twilight raved about by three young women of varying age (20-something, high school senior, and a 14 year old), I decided it was time to give it a try. I'm all for books that get the non-reading into reading and all three of these ladies were non-readers now hooked on reading these books.

What I found was a YA romance, well-written, but with just not enough paranormal "omph" to hook me and make me forget that I was reading a YA romance.

I'm not a romance reader--my personal feeling is that romances (book, TV or movie) tend to give susceptible females false expectations for relationships. Our typical YA readers most certainly fall into that category and this book most certainly paints a unrealistic relationship picture. Of course, as a published romance-writer friend of mine points out, that's why a lot of people read romances. As long as they are able to understand the difference between "romance" and real life. . . but it has been my personal experience that this is not usually so. Hence, my unkeen-ness on reading such a silly romance story. But, if a story line and fantasy world can grab me enough (J. R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood, for instance), I'll read your most R-rated sappy romances and happily.

Twilight just didn't grab me. Meyer, while she writes smoothly and well-enough, did not present a fantasy world that was believable to me. If you are going to break with fantasy-world tradition, give some good reasons and make it work (again, thinking of J.R. Ward's adult paranormal romances). I was not convinced; yes, vampires are perfect and beautiful because they are designed to be the most perfect predator. But, there is no explanation for that breaking of fantasy rules--other than the obvious fact that they NEED to be perfect and beautiful because they are the good guys and the heroes. This may seem like a picky point to some, but to a serious fantasy reader, it's a serious problem. One just one of many.

Why is it, other than she needed a teenage hero, that a hundred year old vampire has not mentally, emotionally and otherwise developed over the age he was when he turned? I simply can not imagine a hundred year old vampire falling for a teen, except to think "yuck". It just seems wrong to me, sorry.

And then there is the plot-turning action toward the end. . . I won't spoil it for those that haven't read it yet, but I wasn't convinced at all. None of it felt believable. It felt like simply another plot point but in to throw hero and heroine together.

When all is said and done, it was nothing more than a YA romance with some paranormal thrown in. No matter how smoothly it flowed, and it did, and how well she writes in general (paranormal lines, excluded), it was not an out-of-the-ordinary experience for me.

Now, I'm not downing the fans or this series. I don't like romance and it takes special books to make me look over the romance element and get involved (*thinks J.R. Ward, again*). This just was not one of them. I am thrilled that she is reaching a non-reading audience and I hope that audience branches out and reads more and hopefully even other genres. It just wasn't for me.

Snow

2008-12-06T12:56:00.002-05:00

We had our first (only?) snow of the season this morning, so naturally we had to take the kitty kids out to play in it. This is Cleopatra, with my bed head in the background (and yes, I did change colors; I went with Manic Panic's Wildfire just a couple of days ago!)

Passport Into the Wild

2008-10-23T19:37:00.003-04:00

Passport Into the Wild
by Jack Hanna (4/5 stars)
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 72 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (September 30, 2008)

This book has the reader "travel with" Jungle Jack across the seven continents as he shares adventures and photos. It comes with a "passport" and stickers that are to be used at the end of "exploring" each continent, along with questions to answer and stir up young minds.

Each continent is given a fact page, and four pages of photos with notes, the center of which fold out into 40-inch wide double pages. The photos are bright and fascinating and the information, while sometimes seeming basic, is still quite interesting. It is a book that a child will return to again and again through-out several years.

My only complaint is that is so very short. Other than that, it is a lovely book and can be very educational while still being entertaining. It would make a wonderful gift for children interested in animals.

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Thanks to Amazon for this Amazon Vine book to review.

Boogie Knights

2008-10-23T19:25:00.004-04:00

Boogie Knights (4/5 stars)
words by Lisa Wheeler and pictures by Mark Siegel
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books (August 5, 2008)
Seven knights are sleeping tightly when they are awakened, in ones or twos, by odd music and sounds. As they go to investigate, they each discover the rockin' Monster Ball. A side story, told only in pictures, shows the little prince also trying to see what is going on and meeting a ghost princess in the bargain.

The tale is told mostly in rhyme, with some cute lines and some groan-worthy puns. There are times when it seems like the actions just aren't explained well enough, and times when the story-rhymes just don't seem to flow. The fun repetition sounds and bouncy word play make up for a lot, though, and will make it very enjoyable for children in the 4-6 age range, especially those still learning to read or that love the sound of words.

The illustrations, on the other hand, are wonderful--a solid 5 stars. Expressive and beautifully colored, these illustrations could probably tell the story on their own, as they do in the parallel story of the prince and princess.

An enjoyable book overall, I would expect the words and pictures to make it a favorite for many of the pre-school crowd.

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Thanks to Amazon for this Amazon Vine book to review.

Fabulous Halloween Book Giveaway

2008-10-19T23:03:00.001-04:00

My friend, Deb, is having an wonderful Halloween Themed Book Give-away! It requires a wee bit of creativity, but I know you can do it. :D Go check it out and see if you find my entry while you are at it. I was quite proud of it. :D

Jack and the Box

2008-10-14T17:35:00.003-04:00

Jack and the Box
Art Spiegelman (1/5 stars)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Raw Junior, LLC (October 21, 2008)

In this bizarre, "first comic for brand-new readers", Jack (a rabbit) is given a box as a gift from his parents. What comes out is a creepy, unappealing Jack-in-the-box type character that startles his parents, and scares Jack quite badly. The parents laugh it off and Jack politely thanks them (is this a subtle teaching to not address our fears) and tries to play with the toy. This toy, far from being a positive influence on Jack, brings out anger, fear, and eventually what might be a good time but looks more like a Seuss-ian want-to-be frantic playtime in which a lamp is broken but no one has to face consequences.

Jack and the Box is listed as for ages 4-8. Now, if you've ever been around kids, you know that this is a rather broad age spectrum. What is appropriate for age 4 is not necessarily appropriate for age 8 and vice versa. This book, to my mind, is not suitable for such a broad range. As a matter of a fact, I'm not certain it's suitable for young children at all. Fans of the author, perhaps, or teens that like creepy books, but not for "brand-new readers" as the front cover claims.

If I sound negative about Jack and the Box, it's because I feel negatively towards it. I found it an unpleasant reading experience and would not read it to a child. This opinion is based on several readings (I hoped it would get better), because I don't take it lightly when I give such a negative review. However, I feel that this book is just not right for the age group it's intended--perhaps the author or publisher has no real experience with children?--and that it would genuinely be scary for some. Each individual parent would need to make that decision for their own child, of course. However, even as an adult, reading for only for myself, I was totally unimpressed, and quite a bit creeped out.

Another review of Nation

2008-10-11T14:06:00.002-04:00

Debi pointed me to a review of Nation which eloquently expresses what I've been thinking. Do yourself a favor and read this review. She says what I haven't been able to frame into words yet.

Wowzers

2008-10-11T11:31:00.002-04:00

Finished Nation by Pratchett last night. It was quite powerful, sometimes sad, always beautiful, very moving and inspiring and I'm just too fresh from it to write the review. To be honest, I'm not sure HOW to review it. 5/5 stars, yes, but how to convey the depths? I'm sounding sappy, but. . . It was fantastic in a sweet, sad, truthful, joyful way. There's no way to put that into words that make sense and can be an actual review, especially since it's a YA book that deserves a cohesive review. I'm stumped for now, but let me just say that those of you that are afraid to try him because of his Discworld stuff should try this one. It's not Discworld and it's wonderful.

I'll try to do better later.

No, Really!

2008-10-05T22:06:00.002-04:00

So, this morning I dreamed. . .

You're not going to believe me, when I tell you this but I promise, I'm not making ANY of it up, 'kay. 'Kay. Here goes.

I dreamed that Fred Thompson and David Lee Roth were this car together one night and they were driving along real fast, only I was one of them, cause when I dream I always dream first person. (No, I don't know which one I was, I just know that I was one of them.) So we/they were scorching this country road one night in some fast car and got pulled by the police.

I don't remember the gist of the police biz, but Roth was driving and did the talking and the end of the matter was that both were going to jail for being drunk. Thompson looks at Roth and says, "I hope you got cash, cause I don't have enough to get us both out!" (meaning bail money).

Then, the dream pans out, and it's a commercial, and a voice over dude says "American Express--for when you need to have enough to get both you AND your friend out of jail."

No. I don't want it psychoanalyzed. Thanks.

NonFiction Challenge Complete

2008-10-05T21:50:00.003-04:00

I completed the NonFiction Challenge last month! :) I just posted one of the reviews (look below this post) and I need to finish up the review for Cider with Rosie, since it was an amazing 5 star book.

You can see the recap of my NonFiction Challenge here.

Zero: the Biography of a Dangerous Idea

2008-10-05T21:16:00.005-04:00

Zero: the Biography of a Dangerous Idea
Charles Seife (3/5 stars)
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (September 5, 2000)

In Zero: the Biography of a Dangerous Idea, Seife first gives the history of the zero, in mathematics and social history, as well as it's non-history (why it was rejected in some cultures). He explains the resistance of the Greeks to the idea of the zero, why the Catholic Church rejected the zero and also how it was used in much earlier societies. These first chapters are well worth reading, blending history, math and mathematical history in a fascinating tale.

From there, the author begins to blend the idea of zero with other "dangerous" mathematical ideas (including "infinity"), and with his intermingling of ideas he looses the persuasiveness of his argument. It's hard to follow and/or believe that "zero" did this or that, when the zero he is talking about isn't actually "zero". Confused? So was I. He seemed to loose his focus and clarity from around chapter 6 to the end.

There are some rather high mathematical principals and examples throughout the book, which were difficult for me (not the world's best mathematician) to follow, and Seife often assumes that if one is reading Zero, then one is a mathematician, not a layman. This occurred more often in the later chapters which were troublesome in other ways, so I might just not have been as willing to try to understand the math, as I was having a hard time understanding the author's arguments.

On the whole, Zero: the Biography of a Dangerous Idea felt like a thesis that was expounded out to be a full-length book. It would have been much better, in my opinion, if Seife had stopped at around chapter 5, the first chapters being where his knowledge, insight and humor shone through.

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Read in September for both the Nonfiction Challenge and as "Z" for the A-Z Title Challenge.

NonFiction Challenge Update, among other things

2008-10-01T20:15:00.002-04:00

I DID finish it! I read Zero: the biography of a dangerous idea and Cider With Rosie, both last month. I just polish up my reviews of them. I'm struggling with allergies and coworkers and not enough hours in the day. And then a friend loaned me a vampire series which I sucked down (excuse the pun) in just over a week; it was cheezy and awesome and deserves some mention, but I can't remember the author and am too lazy to google it so I'll look it up and blog it later. I hope. Funny thing is that I inadverdantly did Carl V's RIP challenge because of them. LOL

And then there's that alternative history series I read that I loved so much I just can't figure out how to review it. And two mediocre children's books from Amazon Vine. And isn't this Buy a Friend a Book Week? Or is that next week? I gotta go look it up. I'd link but that would mean moving in my chair and I can't do that at this moment.

But the good news? One of my kiddos pee-peed in the potty today after a week long power struggle, another said "apple" yesterday, and a third is nearly read to move into a class with typical kids full time. Life is GREAT!

Gettysburg: the graphic novel

2008-10-01T19:21:00.003-04:00

Gettysburg: the graphic novel
by C.M. Butzer (1/5 stars)
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 80 pages
Publisher: Collins (December 23, 2008)

Gettysburg: the graphic novel gives a very brief account of the battles that took place, and then dedicates the rest of the book to the building of the National Cemetery and the speeches by Edward Everett and President Lincoln at the dedication of Gettysburg National Cemetery.

Presented in graphic novel style, this book could have been a wonderful illustration of these most decisive days of the United States' Civil War. Instead, it appeared as a odd piece of "feel-good" propaganda, giving the idea of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address as setting in motion a whole chain of civil rights movements. Apparently the author did not research the Emancipation Proclamation very much; Lincoln freed the slaves in the Southern states (states he had no jurisdiction over at that time) and did nothing for the slaves in the Northern states that were still in the Union. It's interesting to note that at the time of the war, there were more "Free Blacks" (as they were called) in the Southern states than they were in the Northern states.

And, with such a focus on slavery, a child that reads this novel is going to come away with the untruth (that is still being taught in our schools) that slavery was the cause of this war. States Rights were the issue, not slavery. But, Butzer is very specific in letting the reader know that the "repulsive institution of American slavery" is the direct cause of the war.

In addition, Gettysburg: the graphic novel is grossly biased in favor of the Union side, to the point still referring to the Confederacy as "Rebels"! Is this a contemporary account? Or an educated historical rendering? Or, perhaps neither. Butzer also misrepresents, hopefully accidentally, General Lee's orders to forage for food by illustrating it with looting. Anyone who has studied General Lee and his armies knows that he did not allow looting and that provisions were paid for, granted it was in Confederate money, but that is still not the looting that was illustrated.

Gettysburg: the graphic novel is also, unfortunately for a book supposedly drawing on "primary sources", cursed with historical inaccuracies. For example, the gatehouse to Evergreen Cemetery is shown as being built as part of the Gettysburg National Cemetery. That gatehouse was built in the 1850's and was standing when the battles were taking place. Perhaps he meant to show that it was being fixed from the damage? So it's just an error by negligence and not an outright falsehood then?

Sadly, the bibliography was not included in the ARC, because I would like to have seen the sources Mr. Butzer used that listed Lincoln's African-American Valet, William Johnson, as his "friend" (as well as on several other points). I think this was another case of the author attempting to color the reader's view of Lincoln.

Overall, this was a poorly written book and while it not might fool a reader who has previously studied up on the subject, it should not be given the chance to fool readers who don't have prior knowledge. Giving this to our children to read is placing prejudice and inaccuracy in their hands in the guise of truth and I adamantly advise against it.

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Thanks to Harper Collins for the Advanced Readers Copy.

Red Rum

2008-09-20T13:45:00.009-04:00

I'm in the process of cleaning up after my husband's murder spree, and let me tell you, it's a hard job!

Okay, maybe that's not EXACTLY true, but regardless, what I'm doing is certainly a deterrent to doing any actual bloodletting in the future!

Stoney was making chili, turned around to add the crushed tomatoes and lost his grip on the can. Bang! Splat! It hit the floor so hard that the bottom of the can is dented and the tomatoes. . . well, the ~~blood~~ sauce went EVERYwhere! Truly, it covered about 20 feet, into the next room and nearly into the next! We were amazed it didn't hit me!

Here, in my to-scale, amazingly detailed, wonderful drawing, you can see where all it did go. The wall and fridge and cabinets and floor of the kitchen, then into the living room floor, on its wall and across the living room ceiling and on the far living room wall. It stopped right in the doorway to the office, with just a few splats, where I was sitting all innocently with my back to the mishap.

The most amazing thing is how it even got BEHIND the calender in the kitchen. BEHIND it. Wow!

I'm cleaning while he goes to get more tomatoes (I have the lesser of the two evils, believe you me!) and have discovered that Clorox wipes are doing the best job, but it's still a pain to stand on a step stool and rub tomato guts out of textured ceiling! On the bright side, the fridge outsides are the cleanest they've been since we got it!

The Toss of a Lemon

2008-09-14T02:26:00.005-04:00

The Toss of a Lemon
Padma Viswanathan (4/5 stars)
Hardcover: 640 pages
Publisher: Harcourt; 1 edition (September 8, 2008)

The Toss of a Lemon is the beautifully written, gently told lifetime story of Sivakami, a Brahmin woman, and her household. The reader follows Sivakami from her marriage ceremony in 1896 at ten, through her widowhood at eighteen, her establishment of her own household (against custom) and then watches the paths taken by Sivakami and her children and grandchildren until death in 1962. The focus easily changes between Sivakami and other family members, presenting a full and fascinating picture of a Brahmin household and of life in India at that time. This was a book I read slowly, not because it was tedious or difficult to read, but because I wanted to savor it, and not miss any, even minor, detail.

Unlike many historical novels, The Toss of a Lemon is very realistic in that, though there are many major historical events happening, they are not generally immediately effecting Sivakami and her family. This was quite refreshing and gave this novel the feel of real life.

In a way, I was reminded of the novels of Jane Austen, in which not a whole lot happens that might be considered earth shaking and yet, one must keep reading. Sivakami and her family were so well fleshed out, their lives so fully drawn, that I grew to know them, and their domestic concerns were of great importance to me, as well. And while it is a family epic, so to speak, I was not overwhelmed by length of the story or by many changes in characters.

The one discordant note in this lovely work is that Ms. Viswanathan tended to switch back and forth between present tense and past tense verbs. I found that to be distracting and as a result, could not give The Toss of a Lemon a full five stars.

Despite that, The Toss of a Lemon is truly a wonderful book that brought alive a time and place and culture of which I had no previous knowledge. I most certainly recommend this!

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Despite the fact that Ms. Viswanathan is not a Indian citizen, I'm choosing to use this book for "India" for the ORBIS TERRARUM Challenge. She used her grandmother's own stories as a base for The Toss of a Lemon and did quite a bit of research. I learned so much about India through this book that I feel I can safely use it for that challenge.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine program for the Advanced Reading Copy! :)

Meet AquaWoman

2008-09-13T18:40:00.003-04:00

I was able to get my hair appointment bumped up to Thursday night, so I've got new hair color now! :D Off with the purple, and on with the Atomic Turquoise.

Mandy did an awesome job bleaching in new highlights, which I then went home and colored. Well, Stoney colored them, cause he's The Man.

The photo doesn't do the color justice, since it was a bit cloudy out today and the camera just couldn't catch the depth of the color. I'll try again later when we have sunshine. But, I LOVE it! It's my new favorite--go Manic Panic!

Goody Two Shoes Here

2008-09-12T22:16:00.002-04:00

I saw the link to test blogs over at B&b ex libris and had to check mine out, too. I had "no bad words" at all in my blog. None of the even questionable things that made the hubby's PG. Really funny, actually, considering the books I post about, etc. I guess I'm more of a gentlewoman than I thought!

It's Alive!

2008-09-07T21:33:00.003-04:00

Yeah, um, I'm still alive. Big time stress at work makes for big time tiredness at home. I have over 200 email messages I've not read, I'm behind on book reviews AGAIN (blast it all, I just got caught up!) and the dishes are being sneaky and trying to pile up. But, each year, my classroom each year is my all consuming focus and I tend to let everything else (book reviews, house organization, correspondence, etc) slide, with the exception of immediate family, until the summer. I don't regret that and wouldn't for a moment change it. I just wish I could add about two more hours into the day so it wouldn't happen! And it's not that I'm a workaholic, I was never like this about any other job, it's just that these kiddos are always in the back of my mind when they aren't on the forefront and I spend a lot of time in though brainstorming how to help certain things or looking for materials for other things or just being doggone tired from all the expended energy of the day. But, it's worth it. How many other people get to say "I LOVE my job" and really mean it?

I'm changing my hair color at the end of this month and realized that I had never posted a photo of my recent color. It's been purple since November and no photos! Here's one Stoney took in July. I had blue for the months in between green and purple, but as far as I can find, there were no photos taken. Ah well.

Your author sporting Purple Haze by Manic Panic.

Finished a REALLY good ARE; most of the review is written, just needs to be polished. I'll get that up soon I hope, because it was a super book and deserves to be read! I have just a few pages left and I'll be done with my non-fiction challenge. (And then I'll have two reviews to post for it *bangs head on desk*.)

The Pirates! In an Adventure with Communists

2008-08-26T20:56:00.005-04:00

The Pirates! In an Adventure with Communists
Daniel DeFoe 4/5 stars
Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Pantheon (October 31, 2006)

In this, the Pirates! most recent escapade, they find themselves in London with the Pirate Captain mistaken for, and arrested in lieu of, Karl Marx--due to the beard of course. This horrible case of mistaken identity--Marx's beard is no where near as luxuriant as the Pirate Captain's beard!--leads to a strange adventure in which the Pirates attempt to clear the Communists of some extremely bad press (including claims of drowning kittens). Can-can girls, opera singers plus deranged genius equal excitement for these nameless pirates, but with such a spirited leader (and thankfully a second-in-command with his head on straight), the Pirates are sure to save the day.

As with the other Pirates! books, this is a lighthearted story with lots of laugh out loud bits and is just plain quirky fun. It's not, however, as fully enjoyable as, say, the first Pirates! book. At times, it felt a bit strained, and I went paragraphs without exploding in laughter, as I've come to expect from Defoe. It also lacks a strong conclusion and has a weaker plot that the first two. That's not to say it wasn't good, but it fell just short of great.

One of the best things about the Pirates! books is the funny little lines Defoe uses for title chapters. They a) have nothing to do with the chapter and b) are different between the table of contents and the chapter title. This gives an extra little dimension of fun to the reading.

If you like silly fun, give Defoe a try. I recommend the first book, The Pirates! in an Adventure with Scientists.

The Almost Moon

2008-08-24T00:02:00.001-04:00

The Almost Moon
Alice Sebold 4/5 stars
Hardcover: 304 pages (out in Paperback - Sep 8, 2008)
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (October 16, 2007)

Helen Knightly has spent all her life looking after her mother, Clair, in some form or fashion, being tied to her in an unhappy, unhealthy, unrelenting relationship that has taken a toll on her in various ways. Now, Clair's dementia has reached the point that something has to be done; she is going to have to leave the house--a task that was psychologically painful and difficult for Clair--as she is no longer fit to stay home by herself. Helen is relieved and anxious at the same time and as she deals with her mother's vitriolic tongue and loose bowels, she surprises herself by smothering Clair.

Over the next 24 hours, Helen behaves as irrationally as any human being would, becomes entangled more and more in a web of lies and (through memories) exorcises some of the demons of past as she deals with the mental illness of her family.

Sebold has done an incredible job of writing about mental illness, and as an author she passes no judgments, gives no advice, just has Helen tell her story and leaves the rest to the reader. In Helen, one sees a character so human and unpredictable that it was almost uncomfortable at times to read her thoughts, feeling like an intruder or eavesdropper.

I read several negative reviews and I think it was really Sebold's amazing talent that prompted these. Those readers that complained about this or that action of Helen's appear to have been expecting Sebold to pass the appropriate (to them) moral judgments on said action and when she didn't these readers assume she condones these actions. Other readers couldn't believe Helen would act the way she did, having apparently never acted irrationally under stress themselves, and didn't see the deep realism of Helen's character acted out in her irrationality.

I found it a very moving book and at times it was too emotionally taxing and I had to take a break from it. It's hard to say I "liked" it, because, how can one "like" a story about mental illness in all it's dirty, real life, day-to-day struggles. I was reminded of Nabokov's Lolita--I didn't "like" the subject matter, but loved the book. This is another instance of that. The Almost Moon, while not for everyone, is a emotion-packed, realistic novel from a very talented author.

My friend, Deb, passed her copy onto me to read (you can read her review here) and I'd like to pass it on to someone else. After all the adamant negative review on amazon, I'd like to see what other people have to say about. If you're interested in reading it, especially in reviewing it (even if it's just a line or two), leave me a comment. I'll wait till this time next week and if more than one person are interested, I'll do a random number generator and send it out.

Ugh

2008-08-18T23:01:00.002-04:00

Just ate half the tub thingee of Ben and Jerry's Karamel Sutra and now I feel sick. And the worst part is that it's bed time. What a horrid thing to do. But, I'm hoping that confessing it will A) make my tum feel less yucky and B) make the calories go away.

Excellent day at work. New kiddo was a Baby Genius; we're up to 5 in our Asperger's class. All boys, all bright, all adorable. :D I love going to work!

Another day without reading a single word in any book. I have a stack of overdue library books, several of which are half read, and a bunch of half written reviews that just WON'T become polished into something more interesting than a high school book report. Still working on them. But I didn't buy any this weekend. :P Didn't leave the house, actually. . .

Cleopatra is still not well; third time to vet, still no change. I'd chat about it more but am too tired right now. I'll just say that those of you that pray, add a little prayer for my baby.

In other news, I had falafel for lunch and it was yummy.

I go now--go groan and moan in bed with a belly ache. Night y'all.

Hate That Cat

2008-08-14T19:42:00.005-04:00

Hate That Cat
Sharon Creech 5/5 stars
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Joanna Cotler (September 23, 2008)

Wow! What a lovely book! I was taken from laughter to tears and back and finished with a sense of absolute satisfaction. It's a simply stunning book!

It it told all from the point of view of Jack's writing journal, directed to his teacher Miss Stretchberry. Apparently, Miss Stretchberry was Jack's teacher last school year (during the book Love That Dog), but not having read that book, I'm going only on what I've picked up from Jack's journal. His class in school is learning poetry, and through Jack's attempts and one sided conversations with his teacher, the reader learns so much about Jack, his relationship with Miss Stretchberry and his family--and about poetry!

Ms. Creech tells more in this one sided story that many books tell for all their omnipotent narrators! It was a thrill to watch Jack grow emotionally, to see how his poetry progressed, to see his family through his eyes, and to be a part of the gentle, gradual changes in Jack himself.

This would be a wonderful book to read out loud with a child, in part because of some of the beautiful wording and language in this book that so deserves to be shared but also because some rather important elements are implied (perhaps known if you read the other book?)and younger readers might have a more difficult time processing the clues. Otherwise, I cannot begin to recommend this book enough, even for adults, and look forward to reading the poets she mentioned as well as Ms. Creech's other books. As soon as this is published (September 23, 2008), I recommend purchasing it for yourself or your children!

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ARE copy reviewed for Harper Collins Children's.

The Good Thief

2008-08-11T23:08:00.003-04:00

The Good Thief
Hannah Tinti 4/4 stars
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: The Dial Press (August 26, 2008)

Ren has no memories of, or even idea of, life outside the orphanage with the monks. He was left there as an infant and has spent all his eleven years imagining who he might be, and why he is missing a hand. Then one amazing day, Benjamin Nab appears, claims him as his long-lost brother and his life makes a drastic change from the comforting, if sparse, routine of the monastery to a whirlwind life involving crime, confidence trickery graverobbery, Resurrection men, hired murderers, a motherly housekeeper, a mysterious dwarf, a sinister factory owner and--most importantly--the answers to his past.

Ren is a wonderfully sympathetic character while Benjamin Nab is, I hate to admit it, an attractive rogue that one can't help but like despite his crimes. Ben's partner Tom has a deep sadness that shows itself in depression and drink and comes out slowly over the course of the story. The minor characters are well-written and engaging, Mrs. Sands, for example, with her hinted back story. And while I was able to figure out most of Ren's history about 3/4 of the way through the story, that made it no less enjoyable or thrilling.

I had some qualms about half way through the book, thinking that petty crime was being a bit too glorified, and perhaps wasn't going to be shown as "not okay", but I was satisfied in the end; it wasn't preachy or moralistic but the life of crime was shown to be of no benefit. I was also quite pleased with how Tinti chose to end the book--I'll not say more than that but any other way and I would have thought less of Benjamin.

Overall this was a wonderful story that will appeal to children and young adults (and adults, of course!) who enjoy a sometimes dark adventure with well written characters and a sound plot line.

Weekend's Over. . .Already?

2008-08-10T22:54:00.002-04:00

Oh man, the weekend's over, I've a stack of books to review (why, oh WHY don't I review them immediately instead of starting another book?), laundry still to wash and numerous "get-ready-for-work" duties not yet done. *groan*

On the other hand, I DID take a stack of around 20 books to the used bookstore.

Of course, I came home with fifteen and the hubbie with five. . .

Our kiddos start school tomorrow. One will not be there for certain, he's a T-Th only kiddo, but the other four should be. I'm excited! A class of five little boys between three and four years-old, diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome should be SO much fun! Two of them are my students from last year, so I'm thrilled about that, one of them I know slightly from his previous class and the other two just turned three, so this is their first school experience. Can't wait to see how tomorrow goes!

more about Sonny's House of Spies

2008-08-07T22:22:00.003-04:00

Debi read Sonny's House of Spies and enjoyed it too. :D Here's the link to her lovely review. This book really is a good read--see if you can find it!

Debi's review

Booking Through Thursday

2008-08-07T22:03:00.004-04:00

1. Are there any particular worlds in books where you’d like to live? Tolkien's world, without a doubt, and be a Shield Maiden of Rohan. Also, Discworld, though I'm afraid the humor of it is lost on the actual citizens, with the possible exception of Vetinari--but I would love to live in Lancre with Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax.

2. Or where you certainly would NOT want to live? Any world created by Dean Koontz--terror and scary things live around every corner and drive all the vans.

3. What about authors? If you were a character, who would you trust to write your life? Diana Wynne Jones, because it would most certainly be magical and humorous. Terry Pratchett, for the same reason. I really like Neil Gaiman, but he'd have me literally in hell and back again and I'm not sure I'm ready for that. Christopher Moore is another top favorite of mine, but again, I'm not really eager to be having personal relationships with sea monsters or become embroiled with cargo cults or be "helped" by loony gods.

July 2008 Reading List

2008-08-05T20:17:00.000-04:00

Bloody Red Baron by Kim Newman
Incredible book that deserves a review that I can't seem to write. . .

Sonny's House of Spies by George Ella Lyon
my review

The Evolution Man, or How I Ate My Father by Roy Lewis
my review

Automated Alice by Jeff Noon
my review

Tideland by Mitch Cullins
my review

Amphigorey by Edward Gorey
Some were funny, but some of them. . . well, I just didn't get the joke! :(

The Pirates! In an Adventure with Communists by Daniel DeFoe
review hopefully coming soon

Gideon the Cutpurse: Being the First Part of the Gideon Trilogy by Linda Buckley-Archer
my review

The Almost Moon
review coming soon

Back to Work part II

2008-08-04T19:49:00.002-04:00

Not bad, not bad. Emotions ran pretty high for me all day, but all in all I think I will work well with this teacher and okay with the other TA. The teacher is very excited and is looking forward to a class of just kids with Asperger's Syndrome. We'll be focusing on structured play (my speciality), social skills and the like so it should be a good year. I told Caroline about wanting to look into the grants for going back to school and she encouraged me to do it. So, come this spring, I will! I'm sure it's too late for this year and besides, I feel rather committed to this year, the teacher and plus I'm getting two of last year's kiddos in my class! J, whom I loved and cried when he left, and L who had just started but has SO much potential. So, I'm feeling pretty positive right now. Very sleepy, put positive.

I'm also three book reviews behind, having just finished my book for the 1% challenge, which is also non-fiction. I've GOT to get these reviews posted. But it won't be tonight. I'll be in bed in less than an hour, I can promise you!

Thanks to all for the well wishes for today! (((hugs)))

Back to Work

2008-08-04T05:48:00.002-04:00

Vacation is over; it's back to work time. I woke up at 2:30 this morning and never could go back to sleep, nervous, excited, worried. Had a good long chat with Caroline last night, so I feel much better about it, but it still doesn't ease up the emotions.

Kids won't start back until next Monday, so we'll have a whole week to get our classroom set up and all in readiness for them. I can't wait to see my young'uns from last year! There are several of them that I really missed this summer and several of them that I will miss this year, who will have moved on to other classes or other schools.

It's been a great summer though! I got quite a bit accomplished. Nothing like what I had planned, of course. Only about a third of my house cleaning/organizational project got finished, but I still feel pretty good about it. I threw bags and bags of stuff away, gave away some things, sent three boxes of kitchen stuff to the basement and at least five boxes of other things to the attic. We've been resisting the urge to have more "things" and over the spring moved into the next phase with it--having less things around us. It's been great and quite freeing! Many of these things have sentimental value or other value or for other reasons we just weren't ready to part with them quite yet, but I boxed them all up carefully and put detailed lists in page protectors and taped them to top of the boxes for easy future reference. Pretty much every thing of a knick knack, bric-a-brac, collectible type nature has been or soon will be packed up, along with memorabilia and mementos. We're keeping out just a few that will fit on two separate small shelves, and all else will be stored away. I have a feeling that, as time passes, it will be easier to part with more of it.

Stoney hurt his back, so until the steroids and anti-inflammatories kick in, bookcase building has had to be put on hold--my back doesn't let me move furniture by myself either! I still haven't gotten even half my books in my LibraryThing, but I'm working on it slowly. That's a project I continue into the school year, I hope.

It's been a great two months for reading--I've read a total of twenty books and finished two reading challenges! Hopefully I can keep up with my challenges even during the school year. Work just exhausts me--I don't know if it's because I work with special needs kiddos, because I give so much or because I just don't have the ability to mulitask very well. I'm hoping the new addition of thyroid medicine will help out.

So, I'm off to the shower and to start a new school year--after a cup of Starbucks: no way I can make the whole day with out a large dose of caffeine, and I rarely use the drug but today it will be a necessity!

Moody Monday: Schadenfreude

2008-08-04T05:41:00.003-04:00

This week's Moody Monday is Schadenfreude (a malicious satisfaction obtained from the misfortunes of others). This certainly isn't a good photo, in quality, composition, the like, but oh how it fits the subject!

It's my Cleopatra, who was playing with a Q-tip which, unfortunately, got stuck on her crooked tooth. Like any good Momma, I got out the camera before I helped her out.

Disappointments Abound

2008-08-01T20:39:00.005-04:00

Got our classroom assignments in the email a short while ago; I'm being moved to another teacher. I don't want to work with another teacher. I work with the best and I don't want to work with a teacher that doesn't have the same philosophy of teaching that I do, that doesn't command my respect, that doesn't (to be honest) know more and better than I do about teaching special ed preschoolers.

Vain, you think? No, I've just worked with the best, that's all.

Frankly, I'm devastated. Of, course, I got moved around last year too and it all worked out okay in the end, but. . . I don't like the feel of it this year.

I've been saying for years that I need to get the special ed teaching masters and come back and be the lead teacher myself. I just wanted a few years under Caroline to learn as much from her as I could, soak it all up, try to get as second nature about it as she is. This may push my hand. There are some grants I can apply for--the time may be now, depending on how the year unfolds.

Gaiman Giveaway

2008-08-01T20:33:00.002-04:00

On Gaiman's journal, he linked to a giveaway for his latest book. The rules were to write last words for the following:

1. A famous (or infamous) living character of your choosing

2. Someone on the very cusp of dying in a very stupid manner

3. And you, personally — in the brief moments before you shuffle off this mortal coil.

Here are my entries:

1. Virginia Woolf, on walking into the river, “At last, I can be my own self, have my own room, be free. . .”

2. Stupid Person’s last words, “Here, hold my beer!”

3. My last words will most likely be, “But I’ve still got another chapter left to read!”

Number two is an old joke between Stoney and I, that has gone on for years now--we always imagine nearly every stupid thing that happens in our area to start with those four words. LOL

Anyway, put on your thinking caps and see if you can win an advance copy. I've not read all his books, by any means, but I do dig him! I've got two in my to-be-read shelf right now. :D

Double Woot!!

2008-08-01T18:08:00.002-04:00

Got my first two books from the Amazon Vine program today. I'm really excited and pleased that they sent me an invite! Oh, sure, I know that lots of people get invited to receive and review AREs, and that it's nothing hugely special, but I'm just glad to be one of them! :D (Besides, two free books a month, with nothing more required than a review. . . Pshaw! Easy done, mates!)

Woot! CueCat!

2008-08-01T17:28:00.005-04:00

My CueCat came from LibraryThing today and it is awesome! It is going to save me mondo amounts of time in the adding of books to my library catalog. I am SOOOO excited! So easy, too. Just plug it in, and scan the bar code. Granted, LOTS of my books don't have bar codes--or even ISBNs. . . or even publication dates--but many do, so this will make it a cakewalk. Here's an image of it that I borrowed from the Wikipedia:

(I had to borrow the image, as my CueCat is plugged into the slot that my digital camera output is normally plugged into; some rearranging may have to be done.)

It's history is simply amazing; even if you have no interest in owning one for LibraryThing, reading the Wiki article might be of interest, giving an insight into the fickle world of computer gimmicks.

Beedle the Bard release date announced

2008-08-01T15:29:00.003-04:00

Rowling's charity foundation, Children's High Level Group, is to publish The Tales of Beedle the Bard in December. According to Border's: "All net proceeds from the sale of the books - expected to be in the region of £4 million / $8 million - will be donated to CHLG." So, those nay-sayers that will be yacking about how she's just out to make more one the Harry Potter label can shut up. She's got a wonderful imagination and I look forward to reading these!

The Border's article says this is the book Dumbledore left to Hermione, and now she has translated these five stories, complete with his footnotes. Amazon raves about the historical backstories--right down my alley! Again I say, I'm really excited! I want to know more about this world, prior to Harry, more about Dumbledore and his peers, more about the pre-Voldimort world. Hopefully this will give a nice taste of that, and be good imaginative fun. I've got to wait till December to find out. . . sigh. . .

Sad, Really

2008-07-29T22:41:00.002-04:00

Either I've got too many books (which my pal Deb would agree to, so she sends her giveaways to me :P), or I'm just too lazy, but I found myself looking to see if I owned certain books using my LibraryThing data base, despite the fact it's WAY incomplete, instead of searching around through four rooms of books and bookshelves.

I can't WAIT to get them all listed in here. It's going to be so wonderful! I've been organizing them again (before I got married and combined libraries they were alphabetized by author and then book title) somewhat by grouping all of the same author together. It's a slow process--as slow as logging them into my online catalog--but it will be so worth it. So far, just one bookcase and some stacks have been put on LibraryThing and organized. I can't wait until we build it's mate (8' tall, 5' wide brick and board bookcases, nothing fancy, just built for sturdiness and bigness) and I'll add books as I put them up. That will free space in other places and. . . it will be great! Okay, enough about books. For the nonce, anyway!

Hmmm. . . Another Potential Challenge. . .

2008-07-29T21:38:00.002-04:00

While visiting Scarlett in the Bell Jar, I noticed another challenge--the 1% Well-Read Challenge. The premise is to read 10 books from the '1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die' List--now I've already read over 100 of them, but. . . Since I have the list already (here), on a whim, I thought I'd see if I'd read any more since the start of this challenge (May 2008).

Well, I'll be doggoned if I hadn't read one a month already! I read Pynchon's The Crying of Lot 49 in May (no review, but some discussion here) and read both the Murder of Roger Ackroyd (awesome and amazing!) and A Confederacy of Dunces in June (my raving review). How about that?!

So, can I read one in these last few days of this month--or at least the early part of next month and continue in the challenge? I own a slew of them that I've not read, so I might just give a try. Many of them are on my too-be-read shelf or are Pre-20th Century works so would cross over to my 888 Challenge nicely, so. . . If I can get around to reading another, I'll just have to join up! (Yes, I'm addicted to a challenge!) I'll keep ya'll posted.

Tuesday Challenge: Bottletops

2008-07-29T16:19:00.003-04:00

29 July 2008
click on photo for full-sized image

for the Tuesday Challenge: bottletops

Gideon: The Cutpurse

2008-07-23T16:28:00.007-04:00

Gideon the Cutpurse: Being the First Part of the Gideon Trilogy
by Linda Buckley-Archer (5/5 stars)
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (June 27, 2006)
Also published as The Time Travelers (US Title)

My husband stopped by the library the other day, to pick up some books that were on reserve for me and came home with this book. The librarians had just gotten it in and, knowing me, added it to my stack. They made an excellent choice!

Peter Schock's birthday treat has been canceled and instead he is forced to spend the day with strangers: Kate Dyer and her family to be exact. Wanting to show off her Dad's Van de Graaff generator, Kate persuades Peter to ride with them to the laboratory where Dr. Dyer works. The hilarity caused by the Van de Graaff generator startles Kate's dog, Molly, who jumps through the office window, gets shocked by Kate and runs down the hallway into another room that houses an experiment. Kate and Peter run after Molly, stumble through swirling light, and awake to find themselves in 1763.

It is their great fortune that their arrival, while witnessed by the fearsome and evil Tar Man, is also witnessed by Gideon Seymour. His account of their arrival helps them to piece together what has happened and he offers to help them find the Tar Man, who has the experimental machine they arrived in and that will hopefully take them back home.

The book is filled with the children's amazement and often disgust at the 18th century, which is quite fun. There are highway men, evil doers, tales of bravery and redemption and change of heart, and many well-written characters that are easy to care about.

As the Kate and Peter try to get home, Kate has unswerving faith in her father's ability to find them but Peter (who's last word's to his father were "I hate you") is filled with doubt and mixed feelings about his family. They, especially Peter, form a strong bong with Gideon and when he finds himself in grave peril, they are only too glad to help him.

This is a wonderful book, full of emotions and action and great story line. I wasn't too keen on the ending, though, feeling that it really didn't need to be made into such a cliff-hanger so that it could be a trilogy. But, then I read what book two is about and I have somewhat changed my mind. I'll hold off on that, perhaps hasty, judgment until I read this next installment.

---------------
I'm using this as the "G" Title for my A-Z Title Challenge, having read the British copy. Thank goodness, as the US title is totally different. Which makes me ask--WHY are the titles different some times? That simply drives me to distraction!! It is very trying to someone that reads British authors; I think there is a new book out, one that I can't find, only to discover that it's just titled differently. I hate it. I demand universal titles!

George Ella Lyon

2008-07-23T14:35:00.001-04:00

How nice! Ms. Lyon posted a comment on my review of her novel, Sonny's House of Spies. :D

Dear Medbie,

I'm the author of SONNY and your review has lifted my heart on this story July morning. I just found out last week that Simon and Schuster has moved SONNY to print-on-demand status. Since it takes six weeks to get the book that way, sales are pretty much dead, yet I don't get the rights back.

So it is particularly life-giving to read that a reader found it, got it, took it to heart, and is sharing it. And that your words sent someone else to the library to look for it.

Thank God for reviewers like you and for libraries!

I still miss Sonny and Loretta, and it makes me smile to know someone else is meeting them for the first time.

All my thanks and best wishes,

George Ella lyon
georgeellalyon.com

This makes me even more eager to read her other fiction, and perhaps her poetry too! :D

Lensday: Movement

2008-07-23T14:09:00.005-04:00

(click photo for full-sized image)

For the Lensday challenge: movement; downtown Greeneville, TN, 25 May 2008.

edit:
You may have to look close, or see it full size.

Childhood Memories

2008-07-19T02:48:00.007-04:00

I was reading a great post by bethany in which she talked about a flavor that takes her back to her childhood and posed the question of what takes us back to our youth.

Ah. . .that's easy for me! Rivers! Little River in Tennessee specifically. It was "my river". I can remember time and again loading up in Dad's truck, sometimes with our dogs, sometimes just the three of us, and riding for a couple of hours to the river. Dad would fish and Mom and I would walk the river bank, or on the rocks, or wade. It was wonderful times.

I've never had a fear of rivers, just the opposite; I've had a life-long love of the clear, running water. The sound, the smell, the cold, cold feel of it. . . All of this is a sense of "home" to me. A reminder of Mom and Dad and good times. Even now, I can't pass Little River without sticking my nose to the window (or out of it) and following the river as long as I can.

The first photo is me, at Little River, sometime around age three. As you can see, I was enjoying "my river". The second was taken there during a cold Thanksgiving day picnic, 2000--more great memories with Dad and Mom! Thanks bethany, for encouraging the remembrance of great times!

Tideland

2008-07-19T02:16:00.007-04:00

Tideland
Mitch Cullin (2/5 stars)
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Dufour Editions (December 5, 2005)

At first I was blown away by Tideland and the protagonist Jeliza-Rose, with no one for company but various pieces of Barbie dolls picked up in a 5/$1 bin at the thrift store, running wild in the wilds of rural Texas. I was enchanted by the Southern Gothic flavor, by Jeliza-Rose's voice--at once childish and yet overly mature for her age--and by Cullin's descriptions that had me right there, running beside Jeliza-Rose watching the lightening bugs and worrying about bog men.

But then he lost me.

He took the grotesque element of Southern Gothic to the maximum; it was as if he set out to add anything that might possibly be appalling or unappealing or just plain, well, grotesque without making it really fit the plot, throwing it in willy-nilly just for the shock factor.

Now, I'm sure that's not the case, but unlike other Southern Gothic authors (Flannery O'Conner springs to mind) who are making a point with their grotesque and unappealing characters and situations, in Tideland, they were just there. It went from a book that, in the first couple of chapters, I was certain would be a 5 star favorite, to being a barely acceptable "okay" by the time I finished slogging through it.

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Read for the "C" author for my A-Z Author Challenge.

Singin' the Blues

2008-07-18T15:09:00.003-04:00

Maggie is hosting a contest in which she encourages us to "develop a blues name". The Blues is (are?) one of my favorite musical genres, so I was eager to apply my mind to this one. After a little thought, I said "D'oh!" and wondered why it didn't come to me immediately!

I would be, of course "Cat Mama Lee". Cat Mama because, well, I AM. Mother to 4 cats certainly qualifies me to be a cat mama, wouldn't you think? "Lee" because it's my middle name (though spelled "Leigh") and nearly every Southern name has a Lee in it somewhere and that just seems to complete the whole Southern or Delta Blues sound of the name.

As Cat Mama Lee, I would want to sing like Bessie Smith or Chris Thomas King: gravelly voiced, sometimes sad, sometimes risque but always true South.

By the way, if you've never heard Chris Thomas King, you really should. He mixes new sounds with old Blues and is a master. Me, My Guitar and the Blues is one of my favorite albums. Another great Blues sound is the Jimi Hendrix album Blues. An amazing album that showcases just how talented that young man was and how he could wring the Blues out of his guitar as easily as he could make it scream rock 'n roll.

Geeky Husband

2008-07-16T18:06:00.000-04:00

Stoney just took this and, uh oh. . . Funny how true these things are some times. Both of us got appropriate answers. LOL

Geek Quiz

2008-07-16T18:00:00.002-04:00

Being a Geek, I figured, what the hay, I'd take this one too. My Geeky decade is:

Most Useless Test Ever

2008-07-16T17:47:00.005-04:00

I just took the self-styled "most useless test ever" and the result is:

edit: Stoney's results:

Lensday: Flower

2008-07-16T15:07:00.006-04:00

13 July 2005
Biltmore Estate and Gardens
(clicking photo will open full size image)

for the Lensday theme: flower

Annie's Vocabulary List

2008-07-16T14:30:00.002-04:00

Debi has a little contest she runs on her other blog. It's a vocabulary game of sorts, where she gives a list of vocabulary words she and her husband have run across during their reading and are giving to their daughter to learn as vocabulary. The point of the game is to use up to 10 of the words in up to 10 sentences. Annie will decide which sentences she likes best that week and award points. At the end of 10 weeks, the vocabulary maven dances all the way to Amazon with $10 gift card in their pocket.

I missed week 1, due to my inability to keep up with what day it is as I follow vampire hours, but I've already posted my sentences for week 2. Go by and read these awesome words--I had to look up a BUNCH--and offer some sentences to Annie. It's all in the name of fun and knowledge, so how can you loose?

This week's vocab list can be found here.

Week 1's list with instructions and Annie's interests can be found here.

This week's entries are due by Thursday morning, so get to writing! :D

The Evolution Man: Or, How I Ate My Father

2008-07-15T22:45:00.008-04:00

The Evolution Man: Or, How I Ate My Father
Roy Lewis (5/5 stars)
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Vintage; 1st Vintage Contemporaries Ed edition (August 30, 1994)

Ernest is young man growing up in a not-so-typical Pleistocene family. His father, Edward, has invented portable fire and is pushing, pushing, pushing for mankind to evolve at at faster rate. Uncle Vanya thinks they are flirting with disaster, what with all this eating of animal flesh and using fire, and what were they thinking coming down from the trees in the first place, but Father continues on his scientific (and otherwise) experiments. These experiments put Ernest and his brothers in all kinds of interesting predicaments (which, frankly, beats beating flints all day long) as they hurry to advance their horde out of the Pleistocene era into a new and glorious future.

This is not a slap-stick funny book, it is an intellectually funny book that also has hilarious moments. I had to go for the dictionary a few times, which was funny in and of itself--getting the dictionary to look up a big word that some caveman is using. It's also an allegory of sorts, a stop and think kind of book. Even while I was laughing my head off about Uncle Vanya warning Father about the dangers of progress and telling him to go back to the trees, I could. . . well, I could see both sides--hear myself in both sides actually. I've never read a book like it, quite frankly. I picked it up because Terry Pratchett mentioned it as his all time favorite book and I can see the attraction. It's one I will have to read again, digest, laugh and think over some more.

Lewis' writing is wonderful; droll, dry wit and amazingly detailed description sandwiched in with just darn good writing. His pictures of family life are so real that I dare say he's warped any historical notions I may have had of the Pleistocene era. Overall, this is just a masterful book, but I recognize that I may not be for everyone because it's a book whose humor is not just laid out for you--you have to think a little too.

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Read for the letter "E" in my A-Z Titles Challenge.

Automated Alice

2008-07-15T22:22:00.005-04:00

Automated Alice
Jeff Noon (2/5 stars)
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Transworld Publishers (December 1, 2000)

Alice, of Wonderland fame, is visiting her Great Aunt Ermintrude and very unwisely lets her parrot, Whippoorwill, out of his cage. Whippoorwill flies into the grandfather clock, and Alice (dragging her doll Celia with her) climbs in after him but ends up in the future--1998 to be exact. The future is populated by people that are mixed breeds of animal and human, and is ruled by the frightening Civil Serpents. To return to her own time, Alice (and her now automated doll, Celia), must find Whippoorwill, her missing jigsaw puzzle pieces, solve the Jigsaw Murder of which she's been falsely accused and hopefully, discover the proper usage of the ellipses.

While Automated Alice promises much in it's early chapters, Noon is unable to deliver more than the occasional clever wordplay. The plot is unfulfilling, almost contrived at points. He tries hard to create the same bizarre feel that Carroll's books have, but is unsuccessful; instead Automated Alice feels frantic and unintelligible. The idea was great, but the delivery was poor.

Southern Reading Challenge: Finished!

2008-07-14T15:03:00.002-04:00

I finished the Southern Reading Challenge with Sonny's House of Spies! :D It turned out to be a wonderful challenge for me, because without it, I wouldn't have read any of the three books I did read! And, of course out of those three, I absolutely LOVED two of them! Thanks to Maggie for hosting the challenge! :D

You can see my finished results here

Sonny's House of Spies

2008-07-14T14:33:00.004-04:00

Sonny's House of Spies
George Ella Lyon (5/5 Stars)
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books (May 25, 2004)
Recommended: Grades 5-8

It's 1947, in a small town in Alabama and Sonny's dad has just walked out on them. "You don't know my daddy," the book begins, and Sonny tells the reader of the day his life changed. He knows there has to be something more to the split up than he has been told, and it puzzles him. A few years go by, and the reader sees small town Southern life through Sonny's eyes as he tries to handle his own life without a father, as well as every day living with his sometimes funny, sometimes difficult family. Sonny deals with heartbreak, pain, and love, familial and otherwise, and at last finds peace within himself regarding his father.

Sadly, this brief synopsis does nothing for the book. Telling a skeleton outline of the plot with no spoilers and none of Lyon's amazing writing is so unjust! This is an amazing book, with prose that sometimes verges on poetry. Lyon had me laughing out loud with Sonny's predicaments on one page, near tears on another, and spellbound from the sheer beauty of her language so often. She captures the feel of the South so well and so subtly that there are bound to be references that will pass by those uninitiated to Southern culture.

I couldn't NOT share a few lines that caught me especially:

"It was a sleepy kind of morning, the air like bathwater."

"Like some reversable cloth, Mama's laughter flipped over into sobs."

"We just stood by the shiny gray coffin with its handles like fancy toilet-paper holders and said "Yes" and "No" and "Thank you" and breathed whatever breaths came by: mint, onion, tobacco, whiskey, and bad."

"All the windows had been propped open, but it was one of those afternoons when the air lay on top of you like a big cat, and no waving of cardboard Jesus-at-the-door fans could make it get up and move."

My main regret is that I fear the intended audience will not be interested in the subject and that some of the emotional dimilemas may really be too mature for grades 5-8. It would be more appropriate, I think, for older YA readers. I would suggest that a parent of younger readers read it first (I give it a full recommendation for all adult readers) and then decide when/if it's appropriate for their child at that age.

Another quibble is that the dust jacket blurb is not very appealing; I only chose to read it because it took place in the South and I needed another book for my Southern Reading Challenge. I really can't see a child picking this up and saying, "oh, this sounds just what I've been wanting to read". It will most likely take an adult pushing it on them to get a child to read it. A new, more interesting cover would be advised.

But, as far as the book goes. . . It's a five star read for older YAs and adults. Masterful writing all the way through; I will be looking up her other novels right away.

Amazing. . .

2008-07-08T16:24:00.003-04:00

how quickly that peace can turn into kitties begging for popcorn!

Peace

2008-07-08T16:05:00.001-04:00

I really can not imagine anything more peaceful that what I have right now:
A silent house, hearing two of the cats sleep, no outside noises intruding.

LibraryThing

2008-07-07T15:19:00.004-04:00

I discovered LibraryThing a few years ago; actually it was a couple of weeks after it went public. I played with it a bit, loved it, became a life time member, and then promptly got busy and didn't go back to cataloging my books. I never really forgot about it, I just didn't go back and finish. Then I noticed b's link to her library on it one day and thought I'd give it another try.

Wow! He's added some awesome new features since I had last played over there!! :D

So. . . I've been spending a lot of my time over there cataloging. It's SOOO much fun for a person like me, on the spectrum, who loves to organize and catalog and who it totally in love with her own books. I don't know if I'll be able to get them all cataloged before the end of summer or not (I can't believe how quickly the time is going!), seeing as how I've yet to finish one bookcase, but I'm having tons of fun! If you don't already use LibraryThing, go check it out. You might just love it, too!

You can see my profile and my library, if you like, and down at the bottom of the column at your right there --->
is a random assortment of my books. Clicking on the words "my library" on that widget will take you to (you guessed it) my library, but clicking on the book face will take you to amazon.

(I will still the goodreads widget, since I read so many books from the library, ie books I don't actually own, that it makes sense to use it to list my currently reading and to-be-read lists that way.)

The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless

2008-07-07T14:49:00.004-04:00

The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless by Ahmet Zappa
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (July 25, 2006)
5/5 stars

In this delightful book, Minerva McFearless discovers that her family has been monsterminators for generations--fearlessly fighting evil so that children can sleep safely in their beds. Naturally, she and her younger brother Max want a piece of the action, but their dad think they are too young for such dangers. So, behind his back they secretly study the Monstranomicon and learn all they can about the horrible monsters and how to battle them.

And thank goodness they do, because the more than vile Zarmaglorg has his minions kidnap their dad and only Minerva and Max can save him! Well, with some help from Ms. Monstranomicon and the mysterious Mr. Devilstone.

While there are spots in this book that might be more trite than others, the author's enthusiasm fills it so full that one can't help but enjoy it. His subtle (and not always so subtle) puns, plays on words and borrowing from other authors (I'm sure Lovecraft would have to have loved the Monstranomicon) make it a treat for adults reading it, while the descriptions of the monsters and the monster repellents in the Monstranomicon have to be enjoyable for everyone.

The real gem of the book, though, it's crowing glory is the illustrations. Every page is illustrated lushly, well amusingly anyway, with childlike drawings of monsters, sepia photographs of the action, and various detritus from like moths, rocks, monster blood and gumballs. I couldn't wait to turn the page to see just what would be on the next two pages, and would it have anything to do with the plot, and if so, what? Again, I have to say that Zappa's love for his project is so obvious and his love , and the incredible amount of work that went into the illustrations, glosses over any small faults that The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless does have and rounds it out to a 5/5 reading experience.

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Read for the "Z author" in my A-Z Author's Challenge

BAFAB!!

2008-07-02T21:38:00.002-04:00

WOOT! It's BAFAB week again! I BAFAB, do you?

Blatant Self Promotion

2008-07-02T16:13:00.005-04:00

Just a reminder to my super internet pals:

If you make go to Amazon through that link over there -->
(and down a bit)
and then make your purchases, I get credit. :D It's kind of like feeding my reading habit!

Hmm. . . on second thought, maybe that's not such a good idea. . .

June 2008 Reading List

2008-07-02T00:22:00.004-04:00

Beautiful Boy by David Sheff
my review

Mountain Jack Tales by Gail Haley
book discussion can be found here

Sky Burial by Xinran
my review

the Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
Awesome and amazing!

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
my review

The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
The latest installment of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series; another great volume in a series I hate to see end.

Anno Dracula by Kim Newman
I'll be posting by review of this fantabulous book soon!

A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
Read this to finish the Once Upon a Time Challenge.

Tweak by Nic Sheff
my review

The Vesuvius Club by Mark Gatiss
This started out great but ended just okay. I don't really recommend it.

Rattle His Bones by Carola Dunn
Another Daisy Dalrymple mystery, and not nearly as good as the others; of course this could be because I read it all in one setting, into the wee hours of the night. . .

The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless by Ahmet Zappa
my review

Beautiful Boy and Tweak

2008-07-02T00:14:00.005-04:00

Beautiful Boy is David Sheff's memoir of living with a drug addicted son. He tells of first discovering Nic's addiction, while still in his teens, and of the heart-break of various rehabs and set-backs. Throughout the book, David tries to be quite open and honest, admitting where he could be at fault for Nic's addiction (upbringing, family history, the like), agonizing over what he could have done differently and in the end trying to give hope to other families that might be experience the same.

There were times that this well written, quick read was a painful experience. David's expression of Nic's addiction and it's effects on his (David's) life--the strain it put on his marriage, his attempts to protect his two younger children from Nic, the range of emotions that came with Nic breaking into their home--was so absorbing that I read half way through in one sitting. Then, I was so emotionally spent, I had to put the book down for a few days. I felt that I was sharing some of the anguish he felt, as he worried over Nic, and when I finished reading Beautiful Boy, I felt a spark of hope. It is a book I am certainly glad I have read.

But, I still hesitated to pick up Nic's book, Tweak. I waited several weeks, giving myself time to let some of David's personal feelings about Nick not be so fresh. I wanted to give Nic's book as un-opinionated a reading as I could, while still comparing his version of events to his father's.

Tweak was not just open and honest, it was painfully frank. Nic does not hide the fact that he loved doing the various drugs, that they felt good, that he liked who he was on drugs--maybe not what he did to others, but that concern only came when clean. He craved that feeling, and time and again, even after a year or more of being clean, he would give in with really no fight at all. He struggled to find himself, outside of drugs, but kept feeling like maybe there wasn't a "him" without drugs.

Tweak pulled me in emotionally in a way that Beautiful Boy did not, probably due to Nic's conversational tone of writing--certainly not polished, like David's, but very, very personal. I became so emotionally involved that, at what would be his final relapse, I was so angry at Nic, I had to put the book down. I had to step away emotionally and remind myself that I was truly NOT involved in this young man's life and that--I had read his father's side--it WAS going to eventually turn out all right. Where I felt sympathy for David with Beautiful Boy, through reading Tweak, I was family, I was the betrayed. Tweak is that powerful of a book; it can pull you in that strongly and as such is a book most certainly worth reading. (But I do recommend reading Beautiful Boy first.)

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Both were read for both the Nonfiction Challenge and for my Recommended Reads list for the 888 challenge. I also included them in the title portion of my A-Z Reading Challenge. I wonder, is that over using them, challenge-wise?

On Milkshakes and Mysteries

2008-06-23T15:32:00.003-04:00

Making milkshakes is a mystery to me. I mean, sure I can put the milk in the blender and plop in the ice cream and then hit the button, but. . . I never get it quite right. There must be instructions somewhere, some secret that other people know that I missed. By the time I finally get the proportions of milk to ice cream adjusted, I've got enough to serve me and all four cats (which would please them just fine), but that's not what I wanted. I just wanted a simple, one serving milkshake.

What's the secret?

I obviously had my nose in a book when the Milkshake Mystery was explained to mankind.

Team Hoyt

2008-06-23T15:18:00.002-04:00

This is so inspiring on so many levels--and not just because of how beautiful Dick is as a father. I hope that parents of children with disabilities can see people like Rick and realize that life is not over. Rick is the reason I work in special ed preschool. There is such a beauty that can be overlooked, and these parents did not. Like I said, this is so beautiful, inspiring and, be warned, tear jerking!

Wonderful Pratchett Interview

2008-06-18T18:41:00.003-04:00

Many thanks to Carl V (of the Once Upon a Time Reading Quest) for pointing me to this great interview!

One of my top 20 favorite authors, Neil Gaimon, interviews one of my top 5 favorite authors, Terry Pratchett. Excellent interview, with a bit about the new book coming out (a non-Discworld kids book; I can't wait!) and some touching and honest bits about his Alzheimer's--not to mention the hilarious and oh-so-Pratchett bit about helping the Brownie Scouts kidnap him. Great stuff! Thanks, Carl!

Once Upon a Time II: Completed!

2008-06-17T21:25:00.006-04:00

I have completed the Once Upon a Time II Reading Quest. :D I finished it over the weekend, by reading A Midsummer Night's Dream, as sort of a bonus for "Quest the Third". I had read it before and enjoyed it then and now. I have always loved the Elizabethan language, and prefer to read Shakespeare and Spencer and the like out loud when I have the time. I didn't do that this time, but still savored the sounds of the words in my head.

This was a delightful challenge, and I especially enjoy the, well, challenge of finding books for the fable and mythology categories. I hope it's held again next year--it's one I will certainly do again!

For a recap, here is what I read:

Quest the Second:
Fable:
Mountain Jack Tales by Gail Haley
read 2 June 2008
This was a mediocre retelling in which the author chose to have a narrator tell the tales in an Appalachian dialect. I am an Appalachian mountain girl myself, and still had occasionally difficulty understanding. I can only imagine the reaction from one who did not grow up hearing this language. The tales themselves were clinical, sterile retellings with no life in them and the overall result was a dismal disappointment.

Fairy Tale:
Snow by Tracy Lynn
read 13 May 2008 | my review

Fantasy:
Horns and Wrinkles by Joseph Helgerson
read 19 May 2008 | my review

Mythology:
Dream Angus: The Celtic God of Dreams by Alexander McCall Smith
read 26 May 2008 | my review

Quest the Third:
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
read 14 June 2008

edit: After re-reading the requirements for Quest the First ("Read at least 5 books that fit somewhere within the Once Upon a Time II criteria. They might all be fantasy, or folklore, or fairy tales, or mythology…or your five books might be a combination from the four genres."), I realized that I have completed that one as well, with my 13 June completion of the most excellent alternate history fantasy Anno Dracula. Go me!

Big Book Giveaway

2008-06-13T13:08:00.005-04:00

My friend Deb is having a HUGE (read 5 sets of 14 books each) book giveaway over at the Book Blog. Go over and take a look!

It's tied in with her other project, TwitterLit, where, twice daily, she posts an intriguing first line of various books. If you've never seen TwitterLit, you should--it's rather addictive!

Sky Burial by Xinran

2008-06-11T14:54:00.006-04:00

Sky Burial
Xinran
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Nan A. Talese (July 19, 2005)
5/5 Stars

Sky Burial is based on a true story as it was told to the author, Xinran, by the principal character, Shu Wen. Wen's young idealist husband is an Army doctor in 1950's China, sent to Tibet during the time of China's "liberation" of Tibet. They had only been married three weeks when he left, and around 100 days after his departure she received a letter stating he was dead. The lack of explanation of death gave her a hope that perhaps he really wasn't dead, just lost, and she joined the Army as well, in her husband's unit. Herself a dermatologist, they were only too glad to of her request to be sent to Tibet--doctors were much needed on the front. Shortly after reaching Tibet, however, Wen is separated from her unit and spends the next thirty years wandering with a family of nomadic Tibetans, never giving up hope that she will find the answer to her husband's disappearance.

The writing is sparse and without a lot of descriptions, and whether it is intentional or because Xinran is in fact a journalist and not a novelist, it works wonderfully for both the untamed Tibetan landscape and the slowly unfolding, sometimes bleak but always beautiful, story.

The reader follows Wen, amazed at her tenacity as the years go by, at her unwillingness to give up against such odds. As she becomes more and more comfortable in her Tibetan ways, the reader sees Wen falling in love, unknowingly, with Tibet--and does the same, openly embracing this wild country. Like Wen, the reader can not give up hope, knowing there will be an answer to Wen's search, because such determination and love does not go unrewarded.

Subtitled "an epic love story of Tibet", Sky Burial is just that--a love story of a woman for a country as well as her husband; a love story of the reader for Tibet, for Wen, and for Xinran for giving such a gift.

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Read for the ORBIS TERRARUM Challenge. View my progress here.

ORBIS TERRARUM notes:
This book caused me to love and desire to visit Tibet, gave me an understanding of customs I never knew existed and created in me a yearning for the people of Tibet that I just can't put in words. Tibet is moving to my top ten Must Visit places, thanks to this book!

World Clock

2008-06-11T14:37:00.003-04:00

I saw somebody's blog today, with a regular clock and followed the link and found this handy little widget. (Wish I could remember who, so I could say thanks!) The really neat part is that you can click on whatever time zone you want, to see the time there. SOOO cool!