Sooooo
Starting at the beginning of September 2014 I read A Clash of Kings, Storm of Swords, Feast for Crows, and Dance with Dragons. These being a THOUSAND PAGES EACH, I didn't finish until mid March. Which is cool. They were fun. I really don't know what to say. I really didn't know what to do with my life upon finishing, like, GRRM won't write any faster now that I'm done so all I can do is wait patiently for the next books.
There was like 2 weeks where I really just did not know what to do, I played Skyrim and watched fantasy movies to fill the void. I was really feeling historical fiction so I finally picked up The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier. Honestly this was my least favorite of her books. I guess I just couldn't vibe with the main character enough, I didn't understand her attraction to a totally racist douche and I didn't understand her moral compass. Like sometimes she was a hecka boring Quaker who babbled on about quilts and was devout to her faith, and then she randomly loses her virginity prior to marriage with this guy she has talked to like 2 times? I don't know.
I just reread The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky for the first time in a WHOLE DECADE?! Ew I am getting old. I feel like I probably enjoyed it more this time around, after having been through high school and all of those experiences. I feel like a lot of Charlies experiences mirrored mine and his friends reminded me of all those dumb people I thought were the bomb. I can't remember if I read that in 8th or 9th grade but I feel like it heavily influenced my openness to new things (like drinking rum and coke at my first football game and getting my belly button pierced by my friends' hippie older brother in one fucking night jesus) and finding sanctity in those moments where you feel infinite, when you drive your car over big hills with the windows open, where you stay up till sunrise talking and eating doughnuts in the park, where you sneak out the window and run through sprinklers. It was nice to read this book and relive these things and YEAH I cried at parts but so what. It was very touching, the characters were very real. I liked it again.
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Friday, August 29, 2014
Oh my gosh this is so sad
Well, I graduated from college!! FINALLY.
I thought that would allow me more time for reading and doing all of the things that I love, but this whole summer I have been super busy busting my ass working 5/6 days per week and working on my Etsy, moving for the first time in 3 years, and planning a super special trip to Europe (kind of...ehhhh- I leave in less than two weeks and not much planning has happened). Excuses, excuses. I will admit that this has been my worst year for reading EVER! Until a few weeks ago...
So in March, my friend from school insisted that I read Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I was hesitant at first: though I've been wanting to read it for awhile, I was always too afraid to buy it or check it out from the library because it is always categorized as "Romance". Although there were many parts that were definitely smutty, it was a very fun read.
The months passed and I read halfway through like 5 books without finishing them...
Finally things started to settle down in mid August after being fully moved in and having some spare time to enjoy. After lending Ali Daughter of the Forest, she bought Son of the Shadows and Child of the Prophecy by Juliet Marillier, the remaining books in the Sevenwaters trilogy. I loved Son of the Shadows. Liadan was a really cool main character, having admirable traits such as loyalty and honesty. As with the prior book I was intrigued by the familial relationships. I totally just love the setting of the forest, and the druidic, environmental, and celtic mythology influences in the writing. I found that it was quite similar in plot to Outlander which was a little confusing for remembering which book was which- the main character a brunette curly haired healer, gets kidnapped and falls in love with one of her captors.
I wasn't as impressed with Child of the Prophecy. I didn't like the whiny, dishonest, insecure main character, who didn't seem to have many redeeming traits beyond being super magical and beautiful. TBH I didn't really like any of the characters other than Finbar who had a minimal role in this book. It barely took place in the forest. I guess it was interesting to view the drama of the previous books from a different point of view but at the same time the different point of view (Lady Oonagh) was clearly flawed and psychotic so it wasn't really like a sympathy check. Also the ending was kind of dumb, like she is marrying this guy who wants to travel the world and be adventurous and awesome but he is stuck on this island with no other company other than her and her children- and she hopes that one day her daughter will marry a shipwrecked sailor because she will have no other company?? It is so vastly different from #1 and #2 that it just didn't settle well with me.
Anyways, then Ali checked out Beauty by Robin McKinley from the library. I'm certain I read it when I was younger but I couldn't remember any of it, I probably liked it. Even after reading and disliking the Blue Sword four summers ago, I thought I would give the author another shot. I was disappointed to find the characters blah, the plot slow and not very engaging, with a weird pace. I kind of want to give her other Beauty and the Beast book written 20 years later a shot but at the same time I don't want to waste my time.
Then Ali checked out like 6 books and I was on a roll, so I read The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. I really liked this one! The bad characters were infuriating and the drama was enticing. Hale is an excellent storyteller with a knack for pacing action and garnering the readers interest. Some of the characters were a bit flat but the story was enough to keep me going. It was just adulty enough to keep my interest, and the love between Ani and Geric was cute. I feel like I totally would have loved this as an early teenager.
Then I read Princess Academy by Hale as well. I'd heard of it but was reluctant to read it because of the stupid title- envisioning something along the lines of the Princess Diaries. However, I liked this one as well. Like the Goose Girl, this book read like a folktale. It was simple and sweet, and had very strong themes of family, friendship, teamwork, cooperation, loyalty, love, and hard work. I loved that Miri's physical traits were never really described, and she had a lot of character. She was caring, funny, and smart. I feel like book characters are never really funny so that was really cool to see. I connected a lot with her haha. Also her love with Peder was cute too, Hale seems to have a knack for writing uncomfortable and exciting first loves. I think the only downside to this book was the ending, the plot with Britta was like a little weird. Also it was a little bit too childish for my taste, but it's definitely a book I would have enjoyed in elementary school. When the 19 teenage girls were abducted by grimy ass bandits I just found it a bit unbelievable that none made a single suggestive comment or action, but hey that's children's fiction for you, and it was kind of refreshing to not have to deal with the added stress of the situation.
I thought that would allow me more time for reading and doing all of the things that I love, but this whole summer I have been super busy busting my ass working 5/6 days per week and working on my Etsy, moving for the first time in 3 years, and planning a super special trip to Europe (kind of...ehhhh- I leave in less than two weeks and not much planning has happened). Excuses, excuses. I will admit that this has been my worst year for reading EVER! Until a few weeks ago...
So in March, my friend from school insisted that I read Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I was hesitant at first: though I've been wanting to read it for awhile, I was always too afraid to buy it or check it out from the library because it is always categorized as "Romance". Although there were many parts that were definitely smutty, it was a very fun read.
The months passed and I read halfway through like 5 books without finishing them...
Finally things started to settle down in mid August after being fully moved in and having some spare time to enjoy. After lending Ali Daughter of the Forest, she bought Son of the Shadows and Child of the Prophecy by Juliet Marillier, the remaining books in the Sevenwaters trilogy. I loved Son of the Shadows. Liadan was a really cool main character, having admirable traits such as loyalty and honesty. As with the prior book I was intrigued by the familial relationships. I totally just love the setting of the forest, and the druidic, environmental, and celtic mythology influences in the writing. I found that it was quite similar in plot to Outlander which was a little confusing for remembering which book was which- the main character a brunette curly haired healer, gets kidnapped and falls in love with one of her captors.
I wasn't as impressed with Child of the Prophecy. I didn't like the whiny, dishonest, insecure main character, who didn't seem to have many redeeming traits beyond being super magical and beautiful. TBH I didn't really like any of the characters other than Finbar who had a minimal role in this book. It barely took place in the forest. I guess it was interesting to view the drama of the previous books from a different point of view but at the same time the different point of view (Lady Oonagh) was clearly flawed and psychotic so it wasn't really like a sympathy check. Also the ending was kind of dumb, like she is marrying this guy who wants to travel the world and be adventurous and awesome but he is stuck on this island with no other company other than her and her children- and she hopes that one day her daughter will marry a shipwrecked sailor because she will have no other company?? It is so vastly different from #1 and #2 that it just didn't settle well with me.
Anyways, then Ali checked out Beauty by Robin McKinley from the library. I'm certain I read it when I was younger but I couldn't remember any of it, I probably liked it. Even after reading and disliking the Blue Sword four summers ago, I thought I would give the author another shot. I was disappointed to find the characters blah, the plot slow and not very engaging, with a weird pace. I kind of want to give her other Beauty and the Beast book written 20 years later a shot but at the same time I don't want to waste my time.
Then Ali checked out like 6 books and I was on a roll, so I read The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. I really liked this one! The bad characters were infuriating and the drama was enticing. Hale is an excellent storyteller with a knack for pacing action and garnering the readers interest. Some of the characters were a bit flat but the story was enough to keep me going. It was just adulty enough to keep my interest, and the love between Ani and Geric was cute. I feel like I totally would have loved this as an early teenager.
Then I read Princess Academy by Hale as well. I'd heard of it but was reluctant to read it because of the stupid title- envisioning something along the lines of the Princess Diaries. However, I liked this one as well. Like the Goose Girl, this book read like a folktale. It was simple and sweet, and had very strong themes of family, friendship, teamwork, cooperation, loyalty, love, and hard work. I loved that Miri's physical traits were never really described, and she had a lot of character. She was caring, funny, and smart. I feel like book characters are never really funny so that was really cool to see. I connected a lot with her haha. Also her love with Peder was cute too, Hale seems to have a knack for writing uncomfortable and exciting first loves. I think the only downside to this book was the ending, the plot with Britta was like a little weird. Also it was a little bit too childish for my taste, but it's definitely a book I would have enjoyed in elementary school. When the 19 teenage girls were abducted by grimy ass bandits I just found it a bit unbelievable that none made a single suggestive comment or action, but hey that's children's fiction for you, and it was kind of refreshing to not have to deal with the added stress of the situation.
Friday, January 3, 2014
End of the Year
Well, more than just end of the year! I can't believe how little I've updated and worse how little I've read. I just didn't have the time at all with school in session. I didn't even try with all the reading I had for classes. I will likely have even less time this coming term, which means I will probably be missing out on a lot of sleep.
So I feel like I read The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan in June but forgot to post about it? It wasn't that memorable, it was just another basic story about a kid who turns out to have secret powers and trains until he is a very good sneak or something. I enjoyed it as a light summer read but considering how much I've forgotten about it I'm gonna say it wasn't that good.
I started Water Wars by Vandana Shiva after taking a globalization class in the spring, and even though it was short I got distracted and never finished it. Amazingly when I signed up for Environmental Sociology in the fall, it was actually required reading so I finally got to finish it. It was pretty good, very informative and straight to the point. It was very effective and easy to read. I feel like it was a basic introduction to a bunch of really complex issues. I would love to read more by Shiva, she seems to be an expert in just about everything.
Then at the very beginning of winter break I read another book that I had started several times in the past and never got past the first few chapters, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. I really enjoyed it this time around, I was always saving it to read when the weather was just as moody and dark as the book felt, so it was really cool to read. It was terribly depressing and everything went wrong for everyone and everyone was terrible, that was the only problem I had. Other than that it was fun to read because it was just so over the top dreary. I didn't even find it romantic, which I think I was supposed to, because I just couldn't tolerate how dumb everyone was.
Then I read A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid on the plane to California because I'd read an essay from the book in the Env. Soc. class. It was good, just sad and thought provoking. It makes one consider privilege and position and transparency as a traveler. It is specifically about the island of Antigua but the corruption and mess that was left behind after British Imperialism is probably applicable to the rest of the world. Like Water Wars, it was a short book that left me wanting to read other books on the topic!
But yeah that was all the books I read last year I guess. It's a bummer I got sick and lazy for the rest of break because I could have gotten a lot more reading done, and I'm scared I won't be able to finish the book I started recently before the term starts in a few days. I have like 3 other books that I started in summer and never finished because school started, so I did a lot more reading than is apparent in my final count [not to mention textbooks and scientific papers!]
So TOTAL BOOKS READ THIS YEAR IS 12
That is soo sad ugh! But whatever, this year I buckled down and was in school full time every term and was working too. This has probably been the busiest most stressful year of my life, and as far as art, reading, movies, music, spirituality, hiking, sewing, and everything else I love goes: I really didn't accomplish a lot. My mind has been so occupied with keeping sane under all the pressure that I just haven't had time for anything. I'm so excited, after this term I will be in school part time, and after that I graduate. After that, who the fuck knows: I don't really care I just want to chillll!!! I want to travel and make art and contemplate the mysteries of the universe!!! So this year I hope my book count will be wayyyy more. Unless I get tied down with work which I am going to try to avoid. But anyways, I will probably not post again for more than three months and that is acceptable with the amount of classes I am taking. Hasta la pasta for now.
So I feel like I read The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan in June but forgot to post about it? It wasn't that memorable, it was just another basic story about a kid who turns out to have secret powers and trains until he is a very good sneak or something. I enjoyed it as a light summer read but considering how much I've forgotten about it I'm gonna say it wasn't that good.
I started Water Wars by Vandana Shiva after taking a globalization class in the spring, and even though it was short I got distracted and never finished it. Amazingly when I signed up for Environmental Sociology in the fall, it was actually required reading so I finally got to finish it. It was pretty good, very informative and straight to the point. It was very effective and easy to read. I feel like it was a basic introduction to a bunch of really complex issues. I would love to read more by Shiva, she seems to be an expert in just about everything.
Then at the very beginning of winter break I read another book that I had started several times in the past and never got past the first few chapters, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. I really enjoyed it this time around, I was always saving it to read when the weather was just as moody and dark as the book felt, so it was really cool to read. It was terribly depressing and everything went wrong for everyone and everyone was terrible, that was the only problem I had. Other than that it was fun to read because it was just so over the top dreary. I didn't even find it romantic, which I think I was supposed to, because I just couldn't tolerate how dumb everyone was.
Then I read A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid on the plane to California because I'd read an essay from the book in the Env. Soc. class. It was good, just sad and thought provoking. It makes one consider privilege and position and transparency as a traveler. It is specifically about the island of Antigua but the corruption and mess that was left behind after British Imperialism is probably applicable to the rest of the world. Like Water Wars, it was a short book that left me wanting to read other books on the topic!
But yeah that was all the books I read last year I guess. It's a bummer I got sick and lazy for the rest of break because I could have gotten a lot more reading done, and I'm scared I won't be able to finish the book I started recently before the term starts in a few days. I have like 3 other books that I started in summer and never finished because school started, so I did a lot more reading than is apparent in my final count [not to mention textbooks and scientific papers!]
So TOTAL BOOKS READ THIS YEAR IS 12
That is soo sad ugh! But whatever, this year I buckled down and was in school full time every term and was working too. This has probably been the busiest most stressful year of my life, and as far as art, reading, movies, music, spirituality, hiking, sewing, and everything else I love goes: I really didn't accomplish a lot. My mind has been so occupied with keeping sane under all the pressure that I just haven't had time for anything. I'm so excited, after this term I will be in school part time, and after that I graduate. After that, who the fuck knows: I don't really care I just want to chillll!!! I want to travel and make art and contemplate the mysteries of the universe!!! So this year I hope my book count will be wayyyy more. Unless I get tied down with work which I am going to try to avoid. But anyways, I will probably not post again for more than three months and that is acceptable with the amount of classes I am taking. Hasta la pasta for now.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Godz
Just read American Gods by Neil Gaiman. It was good I guess. The pacing was kind of weird, it was really slow at parts. I liked the incorporation of mythology and folklore. I guess I'm not that into modern fantasy but it was still pretty cool. I have been having difficulty with enigmatic ideas lately so it was difficult to put a lot together and think critically about it. I don't know what's wrong with me, but only the most basic things make sense to me these days. I'm sure if I were in a different mindset I would have a deeper appreciation of this book.
Friday, July 19, 2013
No legs and trees
So thus far this summer I have read The Wild Trees by Richard Preston and Double Take by Kevin Connolly. I liked the Wild Trees because it made my forest visits so much more intriguing knowing how the study of canopies came about. Learning about the biological components of redwoods and their surrounding ecosystem was really neat, and made me yearn to go to California. I loved that the book was full of passion and romance [a sex scene in a tree?!?] but it all felt a little bit scattered. I didn't find it to be profound or incredibly intriguing, but I did like it alright.
Double Take was pretty cool. I had to read it for my senior capstone [which I am leaving for tomorrow morning!!!] and it was one of the few books read for school that I was wild about. I finished it in like 3 days, partly because I had to, and partly because it was a fun and easy read, offering a perspective I have never been exposed to before. I feel like even if Kevin had legs the story would still be interesting because this guy is my age and has traveled around the world and competed in skiing tournaments and all that. It was a book I would have never picked out at the book store, but I enjoyed it.
I just bought a few fantasy books to bring with me tomorrow, I hope I can complete them!
Double Take was pretty cool. I had to read it for my senior capstone [which I am leaving for tomorrow morning!!!] and it was one of the few books read for school that I was wild about. I finished it in like 3 days, partly because I had to, and partly because it was a fun and easy read, offering a perspective I have never been exposed to before. I feel like even if Kevin had legs the story would still be interesting because this guy is my age and has traveled around the world and competed in skiing tournaments and all that. It was a book I would have never picked out at the book store, but I enjoyed it.
I just bought a few fantasy books to bring with me tomorrow, I hope I can complete them!
Monday, June 17, 2013
Into the Wild
There isn't much to say. I started this in spring break and just finished it today. Final fucking ly.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Grace
So yesterday I finished Graceling by Kristin Cashore, wide eyed and gripping my seat at Starbucks. Other than the main character Katsa and the message the book sent about femininity and strength [I'm not going to be too critical here] that I bitched about in my last post, I actually really liked this book. I am starting to wonder if I will ever get to a point in my life where I'm no longer interested in books geared towards teenagers, but in the mean time I'm going to relish the fact that I don't have to worry about people reading over my shoulder during sex scenes.
I really liked that Katsa was a flawed character. She could have very easily been written into a Mary Sue, but her inability to control her grace and her insecurity about her future and her choices gave her dimension. I also really liked that this book offered originality in a genre that has more than its fair share of borrowing. The universe had the familiarity of high fantasy books but the way the magic worked made it unique. It was refreshing to read something new. It was also a very fun book with good pacing that kept me on my toes the whole time. BTW that is what I realized was OFF about Eaters of the Dead: the pacing. All of the action was condensed into like one chapter at the end and it just felt really weird, I dunno.
Anyways, I was looking up pics of different colored eyes online and I found out that Mila Kunis is graced. I wonder what her grace is??
I really liked that Katsa was a flawed character. She could have very easily been written into a Mary Sue, but her inability to control her grace and her insecurity about her future and her choices gave her dimension. I also really liked that this book offered originality in a genre that has more than its fair share of borrowing. The universe had the familiarity of high fantasy books but the way the magic worked made it unique. It was refreshing to read something new. It was also a very fun book with good pacing that kept me on my toes the whole time. BTW that is what I realized was OFF about Eaters of the Dead: the pacing. All of the action was condensed into like one chapter at the end and it just felt really weird, I dunno.
Anyways, I was looking up pics of different colored eyes online and I found out that Mila Kunis is graced. I wonder what her grace is??
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