Beyond Strange New Words

Desperately Wanting Wednesday: Series I Need to Finish

2012-02-22T18:38:00.000+01:00

Desperately Wanting Wednesday is a feature hosted by Parajunkee not only forreleases that you're waiting on, it’s also for already released novels that youjust haven’t purchased yet, or gotten to.

I've just come acrossthis today, and I thought how cool it is. I had to join in and share with you theseries I desperately need to finish. I rarely manage to read a bookright after is is released, so I'm usual behind the rest of theworld. This is even more so with the series, because I either have towait for the books to get them from the library or buy them. In the latter caseI almost always buy book after book and not the entire series atonce, because I don't want to waste my money if I happen to start hating theseries somewhere in the middle, and, secondly, because I have to be careful withmoney in any case.

So, here are the series Ireally, really want to finish:

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (from book #2 on)

Immortals After Dark by Kresley Cole (from book #6 on)

Sookie Stackhouse by Charlaine Harris (from book #9 on)

Languedoc Trilogy by Kate Mosse (book #3)

The Magdalene Line Trilogy by Kathleen McGowan (book #3)

What are the series YOU desperately need to finish?

When the Duke Returns by Eloisa James

2012-02-20T19:55:00.001+01:00

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): Married by proxy as a child, Lady Isidore has spent years fending offlecherous men in every European court while waiting to meet her husband. She’sdetermined to accept him, no matter how unattractive the duke turns out to be.When she finally lures Simeon Jermyn back to London, his dark handsomeness putsIsidore’s worst fears to rest – until disaster strikes.

The dukedemands an annulment.

Forsakinghis adventuresome past, Simeon has returned to London ready to embrace the lifeof a proper duke, only to find that his supposed wife is too ravishing, tooheadstrong, and too sensual to be the docile duchess he has in mind. ButIsidore will not give up her claim to the title – or him – without a fight.

MY OPINION:

Through thefirst 80 pages or so I really hated the female characters in this book. Theheroine, Isidore, is hell-bent on losing her virginity and preoccupied withspeculating about Simeon’s sexual (dis)abilities. Her mother-in-law, theDowager Duchess, is a stingy woman who has completely lost touch with realityand only cares about propriety.

Additionally,this book is the last book of the series and I haven’t read any of the previousbooks. It wasn’t a big problem, since every book focuses on a differentprotagonist, but the story of Isidore’s friend Jemma seemed redundant to me. Iunderstand this part was included in the book to conclude Jemma’s story arcwhich had been explored in one of the preceding books in the series, but I think in thiscase it would be perhaps better if each book was an entity on its own.

But then,as I almost lost my nerve with this book, things got better. As Simeon andIsidore start getting to know each other, the readers can see deeper into theirpersonalities. They have some funny dialogues. Isidore slowly proves to be acaring, resourceful, and independent person who knows how to solve problems onher own.

Therefore,I came to like the book as a whole by the end, mostly due to Simeon’s andIsidore’s relationship development, which the author handles very well. Ienjoyed a slightly different ending from the usually abrupt and-they-lived-happily-ever-after ending. Instead, thestory is a little prolonged and offers a short glimpse of the future.

RECOMMENDATION: When the Duke Returns is an undemanding, funny, andrelaxing read if you can stand annoying female characters in the beginning andhave some patience to get to the good part.

Now, I need your recommendation. If you have read any of the previous books in the series (Desperate Duchesses), do you recommend I read them, or there is no point doing that as I have already read the final book in the series?

Booking Through Thursday – Fan Fiction

2012-02-17T15:36:00.002+01:00

A while ago,I interviewed my readers for a change, and my final question was, “Whatquestion have I NOT asked at BTT that you’d love me to ask?” I got some greatresponses and will be picking out some of the questions from time to time toask the rest of you. Like now.

Pepca asks:
Have you every written any fan-fiction? If yes, why and for which book(s)? Ifno, would you like to and for which books(s)?

For that matter, doyou ever READ fan-fiction??

Let me first just jump up and down and squee a little because that is my question Deb picked this week. It’s only fair Ianswer it, right?

I haven’t really written any prosefan-fiction. I wrote some poems inspired by some films and TV shows, but in Slovene,not in English. However, there is quite some fan-fiction in my head – lots oftimes when I wish something was different in a book or a film I imaginemy own version, but I somehow fail to put it down in writing.

Up until recently, I haven’t read anyfan-fiction, but lately I sometimes read fan-fiction based on The Vampire Diaries (be it the TV showor the books).

The Avenger (Time Raiders #3) by P. C. Cast

2012-02-15T17:31:00.001+01:00

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): The Time Raiders project sends Alexandra Patton, a reluctantpsychic, back to 60 AD Briton – a world where she can barely understand theaccents, let alone its culture of brutality and superstition. Armed only withher "freakish" ability to talk to the dead, Alex must use all hergifts to entice Caradoc, a savagely sexy Druid warrior, into helping hersucceed in her mission.

What theydiscover along the way is pure passion.

Now, tornbetween duty and the man of her dreams, should Alex return home if given thechance? Or dare she risk everything to begin anew in this strange and mysticalland?

MY OPINION:

The Avenger has both good and bad sides.

What I liked:

- the wayAlex’s ability to communicate with ghosts is dealt with – especially how itis accepted by an ancient/pageant society in contrast to modern civilisation.I think this is quite credible.

- Alex’sview upon the Celts and their life.

- I reallyliked the fact that Alex is a strong heroine – she neither whines nor bragsabout her ability/curse.

What I disliked:

I didn’tactually hate anything. However, the book felt somewhat rushed and there weretwo things I missed. Firstly, I would like to learn a little more about some ofthe characters, particularly Boudicca and her daughters. I would also love tosee Caradoc’s view on “the future”, i.e. the present time, and I think theauthor missed a great opportunity for an exceptional plot element by omittingthat aspect altogether.

Nevertheless,the positive things outweigh the shortcomings in The Avenger and make it a compelling read.

RECOMMENDATION: Those who love historical/time travel romancewill most probably find The Avenger afast and entertaining read which is hard to put down. Also, despite being a part of series, The Avenger is in fact, as well as the other Time Raiders books, a book which can be read as a stand-alone.

I’ve Been Tagged!

2012-02-14T18:50:00.000+01:00

Sarah from Sarah Says Read posted this cooltag and she also tagged me, so here I go. I am taking her as an example andgoing about this in a more causal way, too.

Whatto do

1. Post rules.

2. Post 11 fun facts about yourself.

3. Answer questions from the person whotagged you.

4. Make up 11 questions for people you tag.

5. Tag 11 people. (Yeah, I ‘m not taggingeleven people.)

6. Let them know they’ve been tagged. (I’malso not bothering to do this… if you see the post and see that you’ve beentagged, great. Feel free to join in or not.)

11fun facts about myself:

I’m an only child, so I when I was little I made up three imaginary siblings – two brothers and one sister – I played with them everything you can think of, such as board games where I made moves for four people.

When still in pre-school, I invented “English”– a bunch of meaningless words I taught to an imaginary class. Who would have thought I would later become an actual English teacher?

Another one from my childhood: my eight-years senior cousin was teasing me by “throwing” cats on the floor – when really they just jumped off his lap, but I thought it hurt them and I kept scolding him for that.

I used to help herding cows when I was on vacation on my uncle’s farm.

I was kicked out of children’s choir due to allegedly being tone-deaf. Of course, I had been assigned to sing soprano. I joined an adult choir six years ago – now I’m singing alto and guess what – obviously I ’m not tone-deaf.

Even though I can cook complicated (and delicious) meals, I am a lazy cook, so most often I rather just stick to the basics.

I have nightmares if I read about scary or violent things or watch film with such content, so I avoid doing that before going to bed.

I get so immersed in my thoughts I tend to go past people I know on the street without greeting them. Luckily, my friends know this and they don’t take offence.

I love winter. The weather I like best: sunny, snow on the ground and below zero (°C). It’s even better if I don’t have to shovel the snow and go anywhere – but the weather is worth the trouble.

I’m an over-thinker.

In relation to number 10: I hate phoning. On the phone everything goes so fast and I often forget to say something because I don’t have the time to think about what to say or how to say it. So, if I have to do an important work or some official issue related phone call, I write down a list of points I have to tackle.

Sarah’squestions:

1.Do you like where you live?

Yes. I like my apartment, it’s just theright size and it overlooks fields, so it feels very secluded and peaceful, althoughI basically live along a main road, and I’ve got really close to the bus andthe store, which is great.

2.What would you do if you were omnipotent?

I wouldn't want to be omnipotent, becausethe wish for power alone corrupts people. But if I were, I’d make everyonethink more about other people then about themselves. I think that would prettymuch solve all the problems in the world.

3.What’s your favourite holiday?

Christmas. Easter comes right behind.

4.What music did you like to listen to 10 years ago?

That was my rock phase, I think.

5.What are your favourite websites?

I can’t think of any in particular. Okay,at least not any which hasn’t got to do with book blogging or The Vampire Diaries.

6.What’s your favourite plant or flower?

I love carnations – not the ones you buywhich don’t have a scent at all – but the real home-grown dark red carnationswith a sweet scent. I used to grow myown when I still lived in a house.

7.Do you have any pets?

Yes. I have had a cat for almost six yearsnow. You can read (almost) all about her in Cat Diary.

8.What are some of your favourite TV shows right now?

Another easy one – you know what comes infirst: The Vampire Diaries. Thenclosely behind follow: White Collar, Terra Nova, and my new-ish discovery, Downton Abbey. Oh, and NCIS.

9.If you could jump into any book, which would it be?

If you read this blog regularly, you alreadyknow the answer: The Lord of the Rings.But, as someone on the blogosphere put it, preferably after Sauron has beendefeated.

10.What’s your favourite joke?

I’m terrible at remembering and/or tellingjokes.

11.If you could buy anything right now, regardless of the price, what would it be?

Hmmmm…Books, of course … and a place to putthem in. :D

11questions for you to answer:

Which fictional character would you be and why?
Which is your favourite animal?
If you could live in any time and place in history, apart from the present, when and where would it be and why?
What is one thing you are not good at but you wish you were?
If you could write (and enforce) any law, what would it be?
Do you remember the first book you bought by yourself and which was it?
Which was your favourite subject in school?
Which recent film would you recommend waching?
Which was the last book that was completely mind-blowing for you?
Do you read while eating (or vice versa)?
What is your favourite time of day?

Thepeople I’m tagging:

Irena @ This Miss Loves to Read

Jillian @ Random Ramblings

Jo @ Fluidity of Time

Chrystal @ Snowdrop Dreams of Books

Jennifer @ Book’d Out

Lisa @ Lisa Loves Literature

Nimue @ Endlessly Bookish

and if anyone else wants to participate, fell free to do so.

Teaser Tuesday #13

2012-02-14T13:22:00.000+01:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

MY TEASERS:

"But it was too late for prayers and promises now. Her fate had been sealed from the moment, seven weeks ago, when she'd been dumped at the feet of the arrogant beast beside her, trussed up like a feastday partridge."

A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught, p. 4

All Together Dead (Sookie Stackhouse #7) by Charlaine Harris

2012-02-13T19:45:00.000+01:00

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has her hands fulldealing with every sort of undead and paranormal creature imaginable. And afterbeing betrayed by her long-time vampire love, Sookie must not only deal with anew man in her life-the shapeshifter Quinn-but also contend with thelong-planned vampire summit.

The summitis a tense situation. The vampire queen of Louisiana is in a precariousposition, her power base weakened by hurricane damage to New Orleans. And thereare some vamps who would like to finish what nature started. Soon, Sookie mustdecide what side she'll stand with. And her choice may mean the differencebetween survival and all-out catastrophe.

MY OPINION:

As usuallyin this series, Sookie annoys me a little in this book. In All Together Dead I particularly disliked Sookie’s getting all self-righteous, deciding who gets to live or die. If Sookie was a real personwe would probably get along and be polite to each other but I would beher best friend.

However,Sookie is not the reason I keep reading this series, I keep reading it becauseof an interesting take on the supernatural world and creatures and because ofsuspenseful plots.

What Iliked about All Together Dead is thevampire politics with all their glamour and intrigue. The plot is dynamic andkeeps you glued to the book from start to finish. There is a lot of violence andsome scenes are pretty gory.

Even thoughSookie is not my favourite character, I will keep reading the series, because Iwant to find out more about this kind of supernatural world. And I am alsocurious if Sookie gets together with Eric (but don’t tell me if you happen toknow, I want to be surprised).

RECOMMENDATION: This is a fast and easy, but compelling readwhich lovers of paranormal, especially fans of the series, would enjoy.

Book Nook #8

2012-02-12T10:55:00.002+01:00

Book Nooks

*Every weekend*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)
Hosting through April 2012: The True Book Addict (@truebookaddict)

Show us something pretty!

Commentary: This looks so cute, the colors are joyful and there is enough light. It seems like a soft, perfect cocoon to curl in and read.

Details: Location and artist unknown, not given in the original post.

Source.

Join in: Add your own Book Nooks post.

Follow Friday #5

2012-02-10T12:41:00.001+01:00

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

Today’s question is: “Whatwould you prefer: reading your favourite book over and over again until you gotsick of it OR reading 100s of mediocre books? And why?”

MYANSWER:

I haven’t read any superb book for a while– last month or so. I mean, I liked the books I read, but there wasn’t any thatwould shake my world, take my breath away, make me think about it for days andweeks….you know what I mean.

If I didn't read mediocre books, I wouldn't have fond my favourites, which would be a shame. I guess the middle was is the right way, that's why I read new books and and reread my favourites, after all.

However, if I had to choose, I’d rather read my favourite book(s) over and over again than read 100s of mediocre books. In any case, my favourite books are the books I want (and I do) reread again and again.

Definitely Dead (Sookie Stackhouse #6) by Charlaine Harris

2012-02-08T15:07:00.002+01:00

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): As a person with so few living relatives, supernaturally giftedLouisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse really hated to lose one. But shenever thought it would be her cousin Hadley, a consort of the Vampire Queen ofNew Orleans. Since Hadley was a vampire, she was already dead – weird! And now,as unexpected heir to Hadley’s estate, Sookie discovers that someone doesn’twant her snooping around, going through Hadley’s possessions and her past. Butwhy? And who?

MY OPINION:

The sixthbook in this series is pleasantly familiar and novel at the same time.

Thefamiliar part is Sookie’s repeated yammering about her poverty and having todeal wit the supernatural world. It’s somewhat annoying from time to time, butI can live with it. I liked that Sookie’s behaviour where men are concerned is moreguarded in this book than in the previous instalments.

I enjoyedlearning about the vampire hierarchy and the parts about witches wereinteresting. Also, this book is different form the rest of the series in notsticking to one major plot but having multiple intertwining plotlines withoutcreating confusion.

Despiteplenty of action, I think this book is less turbulent. Perhaps I got thatfeeling from Sookie contemplating a lot about the ‘normal’ aspects of life –family, friendship, love – instead focusing solely on the supernatural world.

Naturally,Sookie saves the day in the end, finishing the story without any cliff-hangersbut still leaving room for another story.

RECOMMENDATION: For the fans of the series, this is an easy andfamiliar read to relax with.

Cat Diary (15): Inspiration

2012-02-05T12:07:00.001+01:00

This is an occasional Sunday feature where my cat, pardon, Her Majesty the Cat offers her more or less gracious insight in my (and her) life through her eyes.

Were you wondering why there hasn't been a cat diary post for ages? It's because that maid of mine (you might know her as Pepca) wasn't inspired to write as nothing special was happening. Oh, please. I'm offended, of course. How could she not be inspired what to write when I'm trying so hard on daily basis?

For example, she could mention how helpful I was with monitoring her decorating the place for the holidays (and putting the decorations away afterwards).

Then, there was a period of time, just at the beginning of January, when all you could see outside was fog. It was pretty boring, I must say. It came so far I even gave some attention to alpine skiing broadcasts on TV.

Also, I found myself a new, peaceful sleeping spot on the bottom shelf of the hallway wardrobe (it has a sliding door which I can open by myself). It's not really my fault that Pepca thought she had to move her shoes from that shelf onto another. For my sake, she could leave the shoes right where they were, I felt very comfortable lying on top of them.

And finally, if nothing else, she could mention I am a hundred percent successful at keeping my New Year's resolution, which was to make Pepca laugh at least once a day.

I think that is plenty of inspiration to write about, don't you? Phew!

Wishing you lots and lots of inspiration, till next time,

Film Review: Cowboys and Aliens (2011)

2012-02-03T20:14:00.001+01:00

DIRECTOR: John Faverau; CAST: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford…

SUMMARY (from IMDB):A spaceship arrives in Arizona, 1873, to take over the Earth, starting withthe Wild West region. A posse of cowboys and natives are all that stand intheir way.

MY OPINION:

When Ifirst heard of this film I knew it was bound to be good. And it is. It bringsthe western and science-fiction together very well.

The keyingredients for success are typical: a rich arrogant rancher, his haughty sonwho can do just about anything due to the dad’s position in town, a suspiciousoutsider with a search warrant on him, one feisty lady, a gang of robbers, andof course an ever-present threat of a fight with Native Americans. Now addalien invasion. And we have a winner.

Initially,the premise of the 19^th century settlers of the West being able toput up a fight with their old-fashioned weapons against an advanced alientechnology seems silly. However, the scenario is presented in such a way itmakes the story believable. Naturally, the beginning is far from promising forthe cowboys’ side, but the strategy they gradually develop makes it a fairfight which they – no surprise there – win in the end. The crucial factor isthe expected joining of several opposing parties against the common enemy,making “united we stand, divided we fall” the moral of the film.

Despite thepredictable ending, the film is thrilling, and it kept me on my toes. It is thekind of a thriller I like – just enough scary to startle me a few times but notgive me any nightmares.

RECOMMENDATION: This blend of western and science-fiction is asuspenseful and believable approach on a premise of the 19^th centuryalien invasion.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: an Eclipse Novella by Stephenie Meyer

2012-02-01T15:07:00.001+01:00

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of BreeTanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse,and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits. In anotherirresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tellsthe devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close inon Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettableconclusion.

MY OPINION:

Note: Thisreview contains mild SPOILERS, including for The Twilight Saga through Eclipse.

As a hugefan of The Twilight Saga, I had to pick up this Eclipsenovella eventually. The Short Second Lifeof Bree Tanner tells the story of the vampire newborns who attack theCullens in Eclipse.

The life ofBree and the vampires like her is very different from that of the Cullens. Breelives in a constant fear among perpetually fighting vampires, always thirstyfor blood. However, Bree is an intelligent girl, and she uses every bit of thatintelligence to survive.

Thus, sheeventually forms two doomed friendships: with Diego, an intelligent vampire, capable of self-restraint just as herself, and with Fred, a strange loner with an unusualtalent.

The events in The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner are wholly synchronised with those in Eclipse. ThroughBree’s observations, Meyer complements the parts of Eclipse concerning Victoria, Riley, and the Volturi. Seeingeverything, especially the Cullens, through Bree’s eyes is fascinating.

My onlycomplaint about this novella is that I wanted it to be longer. Although I knewbetter, I grew to love Bree, and I was sad to say goodbye to her. I would loveto read more about her. Well, maybe Meyer writes Fred’s story some day, I woulddefinitely read that.

RECOMMENDATION: Twilight fans will love this. Even if you aresceptic about picking it up because you know how it ends, it is well-worthreading it.

Book Nook #7

2012-01-28T15:41:00.001+01:00

Book Nooks

*Every weekend*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Show us something pretty!

Commentary: Since it's pretty cold here, I would love to be somewhere like this. It looks warm and cozy and blue is a calming and relaxing colour, and there is lots of space for books. I also love the fact that there is a lot of light in the room.

Details: Location and artist unknown, not given in the original post.

Source.

Join in: Add your own Book Nooks post.

The Vampire Diaries as The Lord of the Rings

2012-01-27T22:07:00.000+01:00

If you read this blog regularly you knowhow much I love The Lord of the Rings.You probably also know I am a big fan of TheVampire Diaries. The other day, I was reading this post at The Salvatore Boarding House whereStephanie compared TVD to LoTR :

Stephanie: Doyou think if we got wizards to replace the witches it’d make the show 100xbetter? I mean wizards HAVE to be more competent than witches, right? I meanGandolf the Grey totally became The White Wizard because he got shit done.
Cin: Stephanie, you keeptalking about LoTR’s and I’m going to find you and kiss you. Seriously.
Stephanie: LoTR’s and TVD arepretty similar, right? I mean Stefan is obviously Frodo, Klaus is Golum (but ahot one at that), and that damn necklace is the ring that must be destroyed. Icould probably make comparison’s to LoTR’s all day

Presented with this fabulous idea, I couldnot resist thinking about it and making comparisons on my own.

This is what I've come up with:

SPOILERALERT: This post from now on contains SPOILERS forboth LoTR and TVD – that is, for those of you who haven’t read LoTR and aren’twatching TVD.

Let’s start with the evil of all evils – Sauron.My whole TVD-isation of LoTR is based on who the TVD variety of Sauron is. I’mgoing with the theory of big bad so far seeming to be Mama Original Witch, also known as Esther, or her spirit.

As the power of Sauron lies in the Ring,Esther’s power lies in her necklace. Hence, the necklace, just as the Ring, mustbe destroyed.

The mission to destroy the Ring falls upon Frodo. Stephaniesuggested Stefan as Frodo. However, Frodo inherits the Ring from Bilbo, whostumbles upon the Ring by accident/fate. Now, Stefan acquired the necklace byaccident after Rebekah had lost it, so that would pretty much make StefanBilbo, not Frodo. But as Stefan doesn’t retire in a home (read: Rivendell) I wouldn’tmake him Bilbo. But first, let’s see: who did Stefan give the necklace to (justas Bilbo gave the Ring to Frodo)? Elena. So, I’m going with Elena as Frodo.

Frodo wouldn’t achieve much without somehelp from Sam.Elena definitely needs her own Sam. Well, considering that it’s Elena, she coulduse not one, but two Sams. Who can think of anyone always tailing Elena, gettingher out of trouble (and into trouble), I ask you? But of course: the Salvatorebrothers. Yep, I've just degraded the Rippah and his crazy, impulsivebrother into hobbits. Hey, they should be flattered; Sam is a kick-ass hobbit.Besides, Stefan and Damon could also stand in for Merry and Pippin, who oftendo something stupid, but save the day in the end.

The Ring/the necklace is connected with twomore characters. Sauron gave rings to mortal men who turned evil and became theNazgûl with their leader, the Witch King of Angmar, also known as the Wraith-King.Esther gave her necklace to Rebekah, who in my opinion will not think twiceabout siding with mommy even if it meant turning all evil, thus paralleling theWraith-King.

Next, the Ring was long possessed by Gollum,a not-thoroughly evil creature, who is hated by everybody, rejected by hisfamily, miserably lonely. Reminds you of someone? Someone like a bastard son, fora long time one of his kind, longing for friendship and family, but lackingskills to form true bonds with other people, therefore wrecking havoc andbringing violent death everywhere he goes? Klaus. In the end, Gollum is the crucial factorfor the destruction of the ring – led to this by stalking Frodo. I cancertainly see a possibility of Elena having to join forces with Klaus to beatthe greater evil, which will probably be fatal for Klaus just as it is forGollum (though, I wouldn’t mind keeping Klaus and his charming villainy around forever).

Moving on, we need some more people on thegood side. First of all, someone must call the meetings, head the discussions,organise fundraisers and expeditions, make sure the tradition is recorded andproperly observed. In short, someone with nothing better to do to but chair theCouncil. We need Elrond. Who better and more experienced in looking importantand giving speeches than….ta-da: Carol Lockwood!

Then, Frodo and his friends need someone whocan handle weapons; after all, there are orcs or enemy vampires or, even worse, Klaus’s hybrid armyall around. In other words, they need someone as skilful as Legolas.It would be great if he were in good spirits, too. Can you imagine someone likethat, whistling away on the road in the morning after having a shot or two of bourbon for breakfast: “…merrily, merrily, merrily, I’m walking through theforest / I’ve got a bow and a quiver full of wooden arrows…Wait! What’s there?Let’s shoot some orcs, I mean vampires, I mean… whatever!” SPROINK! *THUMP*It’s Alaric!Who else?! So, now we know why he doesn’t have to eat (too often), he’s an Elf,a sip of miruvor(the Elvish drink they brew in Rivendell) = bourbon is enough to sustain him.

Speaking of someone able of handlingweapons, the Wraith-King needs a lesson about underestimating women. It’s Eówyn who defeatsthe one whom no living man can kill. I-’m-angrier Caroline would do the job more thanwell, I believe.

Some TVD characters are rather difficult toassociate with LoTR, but I’m making some speculations, anyway.

Jeremy could sort of parallel Gimliand his love for pipe weed and axe wielding (though Jeremy is much nicer to lookat).

Katherine could be a twistedversion of Galadriel– the kind of Galadriel who would take the Ring.

Then there is Denethor, with his bad parent I-am-disappointed-in-youattitude. Rings a bell? I’m thinking Bill Forbes.

The hundred dead witches mightequal theSleepless Dead, although the latter are much more efficient.

Boromir and Tyler have some things in common,both (subconsciously) doing what they know is bad.

Could Bonnie go all evil, thus becoming like Saruman?

Gandalf is…unparalleled. This is the biggest problem. I don’tthink there is anyone in TVD who could equal Gandalf. So, we will have to wait and seeif there appears someone worth and capable of Gandalf’s greatness.

Do you think I’ve forgotten someone? Forinstance, Aragorn?I haven’t. But I had to save the best for the end.

Finally, there has to be someone whopossesses great knowledge, someone to guide the hobbits (and all other helplesscreatures), someone brave to lead the armies, someone to kindle hope when everyonedespairs, and someone moral to rule over the free people of the world in theend. Who would that be? There is only one who can be all that: ELIJAH!

That's it. I had so much fun doing this. So, if you’re familiar with LoTR and TVD,what do you think? Any suggestions?

Disclaimer: I donot own any of the photos used in this post.

Note: I’ve beeninspired by posts and comments from all over the place, but especially: The SBH, Vampire-Diaries net, Thomas Galvin’s blog, and Vampire Diaries Online.

Dracula, My Love by Syrie James

2012-01-25T18:41:00.002+01:00

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): A vibrant dramatization, told from Mina’s point of view, brings to lifethe crucial parts of Stoker’s story while showcasing Mina’s sexual awakeningand evolution as a woman, and revealing a secret that could destroy her life.Torn between two men – a loving husband and a dangerous lover – Mina strugglesto hang on to the deep love she’s found within her marriage, even as she isinexorably drawn to Dracula himself, the vampire that everyone she knows isdetermined to destroy.

MY OPINION:

I havenever read Bram Stoker’s Dracula. But, I have heard of Dracula in other booksand in films, and he was clearly evil. So, I was intrigued by the premise thisbook sets of Dracula not being at all that bad.

Dracula, My Love is a retelling of Stoker’s story from MinaHarker’s point of view. Syrie James captures the spirit of the late 19^thcentury writing style perfectly, making the setting and the characters come tolife, and the book reads smoothly and effortlessly.

I wasdelighted to get to know Mina, a modern, open-minded, independent woman. She isrebellious, but still irreproachable, and that is a difficult composure tomaster.

Dracula isan old type of a vampire, very powerful and dangerous, yet mysterious andcharming, all in all, a complex character.

Van Helsingis a typical fanatic – bent on achieving his purpose of banishing what hebelieves is evil at all costs. He is an arrogant man, who thinks he knowseverything, and will not even consider the possibility of being mistaken.

Jonathan isa brave and ambitious man, who rose from rags to riches with a lot of hard workand some luck. He loves Mina, but for some time puts the propriety before hislove for her, which made me dislike him at first, but then he comes around andbecomes quite a sympathetic character.

I enjoyedthe twists and turns of the story. Mina’s and Dracula’s version of the eventsmirror what is known to other people very well.I had someproblems with certain details, but I expected those would be solved by the endof the book and everything would fall together into a satisfactory whole. I wastotally on Mina’s and Dracula’s side the whole time, rooting for them.

And thenthe last 60-70 pages happened. As much as I loved the book up until those lastchapters, I hated the ending. Let me make it clear – I have no problem withtragic endings, or inconclusive endings, or with 180 degrees turns at the end.But this one made me angry, because it destroyed several plot and characterelements up until then. In my opinion, the ending ruined the book as a whole. Thereare three crucial elements that lead to this.

Firstly,the fight against vampires in this book has an old-fashioned, religiousundertone, which I do not like. To me scattering the Host crumbs into earth issacrilege, and I do not think evil would be fended off by such an act. I know,you will say, this is fiction, but still, it bothered me. I do not like howthis book sticks to the concept of condemning one kind of ‘people’ (i.e.vampires) just on the bases of what they are, and not on the basis of how theylive.

Secondly,another thing I hated in the book is stupidity. I can accept that aninexperienced 19^th century woman would not know or realise certainthings about life. But please, an intelligent, educated woman and five men whothink themselves sophisticated and all being as ignorant as towards the end ofthis book downright angered me. SPOILER: Nausea, messed-up sleeping schedule,loss of appetite on one hand and weird food cravings on the other hand aresurely a sign of a woman turning into a vampire, right? Not a chance she couldbe pregnant, nope. Oh, my. END OF SPOILER

Thirdly andlastly, the Dracula’s behaviour at the end shows a great inconsistency of hischaracter in comparison to his personality in the rest of the book. It seems asif the author could not decide what kind of character Dracula should be – if wewere not in the 21^st century I might even think the ending underwentreligious censorship.

I thinkthis is the longest review I have ever written. I apologise for such a rant. Eventhough I was upset and disappointed by the ending I am glad I read the book, becausethe rest of it was a delightful read.

RECOMMENDATION: I think lovers of paranormal romance and gothicnovel would certainly enjoy this book. My dissatisfaction with the ending,affected by my personal set of beliefs, should not discourage you from givingit a try. You might find the ending to your liking.

Winter Mini-Readathon Wrap-up

2012-01-23T13:15:00.001+01:00

So, this was a crazy day for me. Let's wrap it up. Here are my answer's to Sarah's questions:

1. How many books and/or pages were you able to read?

99 pages of The Avenger by P. C. Cast.

2. About how many hours were you able to read for? (Were there many distractions, breaks, etc?)

Approximately an hour and a half. I had this other thing that took longer than expected and I was beat afterwards due to driving around all day and stuff, so I'd have probably just gone to bed if it hadn't been for the mini-readathon. It was a good motivation for reading, so basically 99 pages in an hour and a half is a success to me.

3. Do you have any likes/dislikes about the 12-hour readathon, compared to a 24-hour readathon?

I haven't done any 24-hour event yet because I virtually can't dedicate so much of my time in one day, so 12-hour readathon is great. It's easier to fit 12 hours somewhere in my schedule.

4. Favorite and least favorite books that you read today?

I read just approximately one third of The Avenger by P. C. Cast, so I can't talk about favourites. So far, I love this book.

5. Do you have any suggestions for things you’d like me to do differently if I host another mini-readathon?

Not one I can think of right now. I am looking forward to another one (if you decide to host one). I hope I don't have anything else on the same day, so I can fully enjoy it.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

I had fun this time too, despite being tired and not having enough time to do a proper 12-hour readathon. I loved your challenges ideas, although I only did three - I'm still figuring out how to save a wordle screenshot (either I'm doing it wrong, or my computer is too messed up to obey me, probably both). Jenn's challenge - to cast a book your reading - is interesting, I have perfect faces in my mind for the characters in The Avenger, but I suck at remembering actor's names and i don't have time to search through the web.

Overall, I had a great time. Thanks for hosting this, Sarah!

Winter Mini-Readathon Mini-Challenge #3!

2012-01-23T10:25:00.001+01:00

The challenge was: make a word 'read' from any kind of objects in the house, take a photo of it and post it.

This is a perfect chance to show off my bookmarks. Apart from two, I made the bookmarks myself some years ago from an old calendar.

Winter Mini-Readathon

2012-01-22T12:00:00.000+01:00

Today, Sarah at Sarah Says Read is hosting Winter Mini-Readathon.

1. Tell everyone three random things about yourself:

- I love winter.
- I watch What a Girl Wants almost every time it's on TV.
- I get the best ideas at night.

2. Is this your first readathon?

No.

3. Do you have any specific goals for today? (# of books or pages to read?)

I had a choir event today, but I couldn't not sign-up for this, hoping to be able to catch a few hours of reading time. The event took longer than it was supposed to. So, the new plan is to try to read 50 pages of The Avenger by P.C. Cast.

4. Do you have any specific snacks, drinks, or books planned?

Snacks and drinks - no. Books: The Avenger by P.C. Cast.

5. What hours do you plan on reading during?

Noon to midnight, or better said: as much as I can before midnight.

Film Review: Monte Carlo (2011)

2012-01-20T18:38:00.000+01:00

DIRECTOR: Thomas Bezucha; CAST: Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester, Katie Cassidy…

SUMMARY (from IMDB):Three young women vacationing in Paris find themselves whisked away toMonte Carlo after one of the girls is mistaken for a British heiress.

MY OPINION:

This is a typicalcomedy of mistaken identity with predictable complications. It is a good filmto give your mind a rest, but not much more.

Naturally,there are some beautiful scenic views of both Paris and Monte Carlo. Thedresses are pretty, the romance is sweet, the secrets are revealed, the bad getpunished, the good are rewarded, and the love wins.

On thewhole, this is a nice, undemanding film to relax with. And yes, there are somelaughable moments.

RECOMMENDATION: This is a family-friendly relaxation film. Don't expect to blow your midn off, but if you need a distraction after a difficult day Monte Carlo might just do the trick.

Mood and Criticism

2012-01-19T17:19:00.000+01:00

I have not beenat my best lately, as you might already know if you follow my tweets. I am having some healthproblems in addition to the usual chronic health conditions, so my mood is swingingfrom not-so-good to very bad most of the time. But that’s not what I wanted towrite about.

I have come tonotice that when I read something in a bad mood I am much more critical thanotherwise. I am more likely to notice mistakes and they seem less tolerable tome. I pay more attention to character flaws and/or plot holes. I am bothered bythings that would not bother me (so much) otherwise. I do not laugh at things I would ifI were in my normal or good mood.

So, you what do you think? Do you think a reader’s mood and criticism towards acertain book are connected? Have you noticed anything similar in your reading?Do you enjoy some books less when you fell unwell than you would otherwise?

I am verycurious about your opinion. Feel welcome to sound off in the comments!

Flight of the Falcon by Susan Geason

2012-01-18T16:34:00.002+01:00

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): Set in eleventh-century Normandy, this adventure novel is anintriguing glimpse of the life of a young noblewoman in the early Middle Ages.Sybilla St-Valery, the daughter of a nobleman and soldier, has been stayingwith relatives in the Duke of Normandy’s castle. When news of an imminentEnglish attack reaches them, Sybilla must undertake a dangerous journey home toher mother and the family estate. But these are treacherous times to be on theroad. En route, she is kidnapped by her father’s enemies, who demand thatSybilla’s mother hand over the deeds to the St-Valery estate in exchange forher daughter’s safe return. With only her faithful hound, Hannibal, and falcon,Merlin, to help her, can Sybilla escape her captors and reach St-Valery beforeher home is lost?

MY OPINION:

This is thekind of book I would read when I was ten or eleven. All right, obviously I would read it now too (since I did), but you know what I mean.

Flight of the Falcon is a short historical adventure novel, which I read in an hour. It is a grippingread with some unforeseeable twists. I liked the heroine, Sybilla. She is asmart girl on the verge of womanhood. She is a little rebellious, butgood-natured, and self-reliant.

Moreover,this book is also educational, especially for children and teenagers who comeacross it as the first representative of the genre. It provides some historicalfacts about France and England in the eleventh century as well as an insightinto the life of people and of what was expected of aristocrat girls at the time.

I thinkchildren and teenagers would find this book a suspenseful and rich read both for theplot and the characters. Since I have read lots of historicalfiction, this book seemed very simplified to me, but I still enjoyed it as a relaxationread.

RECOMMENDATION: Flightof the Falcon is an entreating book for readers of all ages who likereading about history and adventure.

Film Review: Midnight in Paris (2011)

2012-01-13T18:57:00.000+01:00

DIRECTOR: Woody Allen; CAST: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody…

SUMMARY (from IMDB):A romantic comedy about a family travelling to the French capital for business.The party includes a young engaged couple forced to confront the illusion thata life different from their own is better.

MY OPINION:

The firstthings that strike the viewer of Midnightin Paris is beautiful scenery and heart-warming music. However, this filmis about much more than a trip to Paris.

The filmdeals with existential issues: the acceptance of the present situation andmaking the best of it. Another important focus of the film is writing, orperhaps art and creativity in general.

The cast isamazing, the film is full of famous names who give a great performance. Those whoespecially stood out to me were Kathy Bathes as Gertrude Stein and Adrian Brodyas Salvador Dali.

Midnight in Paris is a film filled with nostalgia and famousartists. It is delightful to watch, comic and serious, also giving the viewersome food for thought.

RECOMMENDATION: Midnight in Paris is film full of beauty, with agreat cast and a wonderful and instructive story.

Booking Through Thursday – Interview, Part 2

2012-01-12T11:51:00.002+01:00

But enough about interviewing other people. It’s time Iinterviewed YOU.

1. What’s your favourite time of day to read?

I most likelyread in the afternoon or in the evening when I have peace and quiet.

2. Do you read duringbreakfast? (Assuming you eat breakfast.)

No. I used to,but then I started going online during breakfast.

3. What’s your favourite breakfast food? (Noting that breakfast foodscan be eaten any time of day.)

Pancakes. ButI eat them very rarely because I’m too lazy to make them in the morning.

4. How many hours a day wouldyou say you read?

I strive forat least one, but depends on how much other things I have to do.

5. Do you read more or lessnow than you did, say, 10 years ago?

Ten years agoI was at the university and I mostly read study books and material, which Idon’t count as reading. I read much more now.

6. Do you consider yourself aspeed reader?

Not really –I read a book a week. I do have occasional reading flashes when I finish a bookin a day.

7. If you could have anysuperpower, what would it be?

Teleportation. Wouldn’t that be cool? Notto mention it would save me a lot of time and strength.

8. Do you carry a book withyou everywhere you go?

No, noteverywhere. I only take a book with me somewhere if I know I will have time toread.

9. What KIND of book?

Depends. If Ihave to carry it around in a bag all day, then a paperback, because it islighter. But if I go by car, I rather take a hardback because it is lessdestructible. Mostly I just take whatever I’m reading at the time, regardlessof the format.

10. How old were you when yougot your first library card?

If schoollibrary counts, then 7. I got my first public library card at the age of 13 or14.

11. What’s the oldest book youhave in your collection? (Oldest physical copy? Longest in the collection?Oldest copyright?)

Probably, eitherone of my grandmother’s Bibles, or church songbooks, or cookbooks that shehanded down to me.

12. Do you read in bed?

Yes.

13. Do you write in yourbooks?

Nooo. Ofcourse not.

14. If you had one piece ofadvice to a new reader, what would it be?

Don’t getdiscouraged if you don’t like what you read. Keep trying different things untilyou find something you like.

15. What question have I NOTasked at BTT that you’d love me to ask? (Actually, leave the answer to this onein the comments on this post, huh? So I can find them when I need inspiration!)

I haven’t participated a lot in BTT for awhile, so I’m not sure if this has ever been asked:

Have you everywritten any fan-fiction? If yes, why and for which book(s)? If no, would youlike to and for which books(s)?

The Recruit (Cherub #1) by Robert Muchamore

2012-01-11T19:08:00.002+01:00

SUMMARY: James is an eleven-year-old boy whose mother unexpectedly dies. He is separated from his sister, the only person he loves, and put into a juvenile facility until social services could find him a foster family. However, after getting into a lot of trouble in school and with the police, a mysterious organisation called Cherub approaches him with the offer to join them and become a secret agent. Thus, James sets in an unpredictable journey of adventure and growing-up.

MY OPINION:

This was anunusual but entertaining read for me. TheRecruit is an action-packed book I could not put down, and I read it in oneday.

Thecharacters quickly grew on me, especially James. James is a smart, but troubledboy who always finds himself a trouble. Though he does not lack any materialgoods, he suffers from being emotionally neglected, which results in aggressive outbursts.Eventually, he realises this will not bring him any good. He recognises hislast chance for making something from himself, and he takes it. Doing so, hestarts his way towards maturity.

James, aswell as other children, act older then they are, due to their life situations. On the positive side, theyare street-wise, know how to survive, and they look after each other. However, on the negative side, there is a lot of violence and bad behaviour, such as smoking, drinking,and using moderately strong language.

The Recruit is a suspenseful page-turner. It is a fantasywork which deals with family relationships, friendship, growing-up, and takingresponsibility for one’s actions through an adventure story.

RECOMMENDATION: This is the kind of book I imagine teenageboys would enjoy – I am thinking from the age of 14 or so on – and everyoneelse who loves this kind of a book.

Bout of Books 3.0 Start Line & Updates

2012-01-09T15:14:00.000+01:00

Amanda of On a Book Bender hosts the Bout of Books 3.0 readathon from January 9 - 15, 2012.

My Goals:

I have a pile of books ready at hand, so I have plenty of choice for different moods. I will most likely tackle one or more of these:

The Recruit by Robert Muchamore
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer
Definitely Dead (Sookie Stackhouse #6) by Charlaine Harris

Back-up books:
All Together Dead (Sookie Stackhouse #7) by Charlaine Harris

UPDATES:
(I’ll also update on twitter @StrangeNewWords, and you can find me on Goodreads):

The format is adapted from Amanda's.

January 9:

The books I’ve read today (and the number of pages): The Recruit (320)

Number of pages I’ve read today: 320

Total number of pages I’ve read: 320

Today #insixwords: Neglected blogging, read one whole book.

January 10:

The books I’ve read today (and the number of pages): The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner (190), Definitely Dead (51)

Number of pages I’ve read today: 241

Total number of pages I’ve read: 561

Today #insixwords: Already reached weekly goal. Surprised myself.

January 11:

The books I’ve read today (and the number of pages): Definitely Dead (146)
Number of pages I’ve read today: 146

Total number of pages I’ve read: 707

Today #insixwords: Still going strong, reading-wise. Otherwise: whatever.

January 12:

The books I’ve read today (and the number of pages): Definitely Dead (144)

Number of pages I’ve read today: 144

Total number of pages I’ve read: 851

Today #insixwords: A good blogging and reading day.

January 13:

The books I’ve read today (and the number of pages): Definitely Dead (34), All Together Dead (38)

Number of pages I’ve read today: 72

Total number of pages I’ve read: 923

Today #insixwords: Had to pick up a back-up book.

January 14:

The books I’ve read today (and the number of pages): All Together Dead (31)

Number of pages I’ve read today: 31

Total number of pages I’ve read: 954

Today #insixwords: Blogger ate up my reading time.

January 15:

The books I’ve read today (and the number of pages): All Together Dead (101)

Number of pages I’ve read today: 101

Total number of pages I’ve read: 1055

Today #insixwords: Recharging my batteries for next week.

WRAP-UP:

Books read: 3 and a half
Pages read: 1055

This was a great reading week for me as I read twice as much as my goals were. I haven't had time to write all the reviews, yet. Also, I had wanted to visit other participants' blogs more this time around, but then life interfered, so my socializing was lame, again, but I hope I will improve that next time.

How did you do with your goals? I hope you had fun reading.

And thanks to Amanda for hosting!

Winter Mini-Readathon Sign-Up & Invitation

2012-01-08T22:22:00.000+01:00

A fortnight from today, that is, on January 22, 2012, Sarah at Sarah Says Read is hosting Winter Mini-Readathon.

Here's the scoop from Sarah:

The Sarah Says Winter Mini-Readathon will be on Sunday January 22, 2012.
The object is to read for any 12-hour block on that Sunday. I’ll be reading probably from 10 am to 10 pm, US Eastern time.
There will be 5 mini-challenges, and one bonus challenge (from my sister Heather at All You Need Designs. She also made my mini-readathon pics! Aren’t they awesome?)
One of the challenges will be hosted by the very cool Jenn at Booksessed.
The prize for each of the 5 mini-challenges will be a $5 Amazon e-gift card. This is a little different than the last mini-readathon, so we’ll see how it goes. There are more winners this way! Prize for Heather’s bonus challenge / giveaway will be announced later.
Participating in the challenges will last until 12 PM (Eastern) on Monday the 23rd, and the winners will be announced on Tuesday.
Feel free to spread the word by tweeting or blogging about the Mini-Readathon! If you do a blog post to tell others about it, use the link to that post when you sign up in the linky widget below.
The Twitter hashtag for that day will be #ssrminiread and my Twitter name is @SarahSaysRead.
Sign-ups last until the day of the event.

I participated in her Summer Mini-Readathon and I tell you, it was amazing and fun. So, if you are planning to catch up on your reading and have a great time on January 22, go and SIGN-UP!

Book Nook #6

2012-01-07T14:48:00.002+01:00

Book Nooks

*Every weekend*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Show us something pretty!

Commentary: It's a beautiful and cozy place, it has enough of light and U love the book cases.

Details: Location and artist unknown, not given in the original post.

Source.

Join in: Add your own Book Nooks post.

Film Review: Just Go with It (2011)

2012-01-06T15:20:00.001+01:00

DIRECTOR: Dennis Dougan; CAST: Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman…

SUMMARY (from IMDB):Danny (Adam Sandler) must engage Katherine (Jennifer Aniston), his faithfulassistant, to pretend to be his soon to be ex-wife. Danny must pretend that heis married, because he lied to his dream girl, Palmer (Brooklyn Decker) themost gorgeous woman in the world. To keep the woman he loves, covering up onelie soon turns into many lies.

MY OPINION:

This was one of the funniest romantic comedies I have seen lately. The jokes are not only laughablebut also tasteful, and they made me laugh a lot throughout the film.

The actorsdo their job splendidly. The chemistry between Sandler and Aniston seemspristine and Nicole Kidman excels as Katherine’s (not-so) evil high schoolclassmate.

In additionto the relationship plotline, the film is a satire of people’s obsession witheternal youth and beauty which leads to exploitation of plastic surgery. Thefilm also mocks the fashion of keeping unusual pets. Some stereotypes that areincluded in the film only round up the whole picture.

All in all,Just Go with It is a ratherpredictable film, yet there are certainly some things that catch the viewer bysurprise. Above all, this is a genuinely funny relaxation film mirroring some peculiaritiesof modern society.

RECOMMENDATION: When you feel like relaxing and having a goodlaugh over a well-played comedy, this might be just the right film to watch.

2012 Goals & Ways to Find Me

2012-01-05T18:26:00.002+01:00

This year is already a few days old and it is time to share with you my goals as far as reading and blogging in 2012 is concerned.

READING GOALS

As last year, I am not joining any challenges, except for the Goodreads challenge. My goal is to read 50 books, not counting rereads and books not written and/or translated in(to) English. You can see the books I read on 2012 Challenge tab.

I am planning to do a few rereads of my favorite books.

Also, I am joining a reading project at my library which is promoting reading Slovene books and is running through April, so that will be five more books.

BLOGGING GOALS

I will continue pretty much in the same way for now. So, you can expect:

hopefully 1-2 book reviews a week
Fridays are reserved for film reviews, I have quite a few already written, so January is covered, but then I will see. Maybe I will make it a regular Friday (or every second Friday) feature.
Cat Diary will continue on Sundays, not every Sunday (you've noticed that didn't work, I suppose), but at least once a month.
I will occasionally join memes, such as Teaser Tuesday, Top Ten Tuesday, Follow Friday,...
And as always, there might be some tours, events and occasional posts on whatever book- or blog-related gets on my mind.

Of course, if I think of something else, you will be the first to know.

NOVELTIES & WAYS TO FIND ME

I made some improvements to my blog - nothing big, but it might be useful, so here I am letting you know about it. Also, I have to brag a little with the accomplishment. It might not be a big thing for you, but I needed a few days of stubbornness to figure out the technicalities.

All right, adding the search box was easy and I hope it helps in case you need to find something on my blog.

The second thing took me a few days to figure out, but I did it:

It is high time to give you some more options of following my blog, so here they are. I added a collection of buttons just below the GFC gadget in the left sidebar, so you can subscribe to my updates in a reader or via email or follow me on Twitter or Goodreads, and there is also my contact email address. I just wanted to let you know, in case you find it more useful then the GFC alone.

YOUR TURN

So, what do you think of all of the above? Have you been missing something in my blog? Is there any content (reviews, memes,...) you wish more or less of it? Do you find my blog orderly or is it too cluttered? Is there anything you think I could improve?

You are welcome to express your thoughts and suggestions in the comments and I will try to make this blog better if I can, although it might take awhile.

Vision in White (Bride Quartet #1) by Nora Roberts

2012-01-04T15:02:00.000+01:00

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): With bridal magazine covers to her credit, Mackensie “Mac” Elliotis most at home behind the camera – ready to capture the happy moments shenever experienced while growing up. Her father replaced his first family with asecond, and now her mother, moving on to yet another man, begs Mac forattention and money. Mac’s foundation is jostled again moments before animportant wedding planning meeting when she bumps into the bride-to-be’sbrother…an encounter that has them both seeing stars.

CarterMaguire is definitely not her type: he’s stable, and he’s safe. He’s even anEnglish teacher at their high school alma mater. There’s something about himthat makes Mac think a casual fling is just what she needs to take her mind offdealing with bride-zillas and screening her mother’s phone calls. But a casualfling can turn into something more when you least expect it. And with the helpof her three best friends – and business partners – Mac must learn how to makeher own happy memories…

MY OPINION:

Vision in White is the first in a series of four books aboutfour friends co-owning a wedding planning company called Wows. It is a typicalRoberts’ romance – compelling, heart-warming and funny.

Mackensiecomes from an unstable family, so she believes everything has an expirationdate, nothing lasts. That is why she has trouble forming relationships andtrusting people, apart from her three friends. With her friends’ help she learns tobreak up with the pattern she subconsciously took from her mother and finds herway toward happiness. Nora Roberts is an excellent portraitist of this kind ofpersonal growth and she does not disappoint in Vision in White.

Carter isnot a typical romance hero. He is a teacher, a kind and unexciting man. Atleast that is the first impression. In the course of the story we find out thathe is not all stay-calm-and-quiet: he is tough and he stands up for himselfas well as for people he loves. I liked how he and Mackensie seem the exactopposite, but as the plot unravels, they slowly discover things they have incommon, which helps them both as individuals and as a couple.

Although Vision in White is a predictable read,it is far from boring. Mackensie and Carter quickly become the characters youcare about and it is delightful to watch how their lives work out.

RECOMMENDATION: Vision in White is a sweet, heart-felt romancewhich makes you feel good. It is a fast and relaxing read.

Teaser Tuesday #12

2012-01-03T14:46:00.000+01:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

MY TEASERS:

"I was resolute: none of them could ever know the truth. When I later wrote in my journal, I recorded only a partial, altered version of the previous night's events, pretending I had only had a very strange dream."

Dracula, My Love by Syrie James, p. 254

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T13:28:00.000+01:00

In 2012, I wish you:

Happinessdeep down within.

Serenity witheach sunrise.

Success ineach facet of your life.

Family besideyou.

Close andcaring friends.

Health,inside you.

Love thatnever ends.

Specialmemories of all the yesterdays.

A brighttoday with much to be thankful for.

A path thatleads to beautiful tomorrows.

Dreams thatdo their best to come true.

Appreciationof all the wonderful things about you.

Happy NewYear!

My Life According to the Books I Read in 2011

2011-12-31T20:40:00.000+01:00

Instead ofdoing a long babbling post on how my year was, I am doing a personal, yet stillbook-ish, review of the year in the form of this fun meme, hosted by Christineat The happily ever after:

Describe yourself:

Outlander (Outlander#1) by Diana Gabaldon

How do you feel:

Survivingwith Wolves by Misha Defonseca

Describe where you currently live:

AGreat Place for a Seizure by Terry Tracy

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:

TheForgotten Garden by Kate Morton

Your favourite form of transportation:

Flight of theFalcon by Susan Geason*

Your best friend is:

TheExpected One (Magdalene Line Trilogy #1) by Kathleen McGowan

You and your friends are:

RandomMagic by Sasha Soren

What's the weather like:

Lament (Booksof Faerie #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

What is life to you:

TheStruggle (The Vampire Diaries #2) by L. J. Smith

Favorite time of day:

Nightfall (TheVampire Diaries: The Return #1) by L. J. Smith

Your fear:

Persuasion byJane Austen

What is the best advice you have to give:

RansomMy Heart by Meg Cabot

Thought for the day:

ItMust Be Love by Rachel Gibson

How I would like to die:

TheLuxe (Luxe #1) by Anna Godbersen

My soul's present condition:

Ballad (Booksof Faerie #2) by Maggie Stiefvater

*I read this book this week, but haven't reviewed it yet, hence no link.

Above all, however, I will remember this year as the year of

- this year I fell in love with the show, the music and the books.

Overall, it has been a great reading year.

That's it for 2011 from me. I hope you have had a great year, reading- and otherwise.

and I wish you have a

Happy New Year

in every aspect!

2011 Challenge(s) Wrap-up

2011-12-30T16:43:00.002+01:00

It’s only a day left of this year, so Ithink it’s safe to wrap-up the reading challenges I set for myself in 2011:

· 3 Jane Austen novels: I read two, but I will keep reading them, because I started to likeher writing. ü

· 3 Harry Potter books: failed miserably – read zero. I think I’ll keep those waiting for awhile longer, but I might get to them some time. X

· 50 books: I read 60 books. ü

Total books read: 73

I also read13 books which I did not count in the 50 books challenge because they wereeither rereads or not written and/or translated into English.

Rating stats– according to my Goodreads ratings, though I rated several books withhalf-stars:

Did not rate:1

* notstrange: 0

** a littlestrange: 3

*** strangeenough: 17

**** verystrange: 30

***** beyondstrange: 9

You can seethe list of books I read and their reviews HERE.

I must say I feel good about reaching and surpassing (some of) my reading goals this year. It has been a good reading year.

Dark Needs at Night’s Edge (Immortals After Dark #5) by Kresley Cole

2011-12-28T19:21:00.000+01:00

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): Néomi Laress, a famous ballerina from a past century, became aphantom the night she was murdered. Imbued with otherworldly powers butinvisible to the living, she haunts her beloved home, scaring away trespassers-- until she encounters a ruthless immortal even more terrifying than Néomiherself.

To preventhim from harming others, Conrad Wroth's brothers imprison him in an abandonedmanor. But there, a female only he can see seems determined to drive himfurther into madness. The exquisite creature torments him with desire, leavinghis body racked with lust and his soul torn as he finds himself coveting herfor his own.

Yet even ifConrad can win Néomi, evil still surrounds her. Once he returns to thebrutality of his past to protect her, will he succumb to the dark needsseething inside him?

MY OPINION:

The one thing that bothered me:

Typos. Or are they typos? Could those weirdthe-first-letter-of-the-word misspellings be intentional? Also, magic/magicalis spelled very consistently as magick/magickal.

What I liked:

a) TheWroth brothers. All four of them appear in this book. Need I say more?

b) Itfeels like visiting old friends (and some annoying acquaintances along the way)as many of the characters from the previous books make their appearance, too:from the Valkyries Myst, Kaderin and Nïx, to Mariketa nad Bowen, a couple offamiliar demons, and we even catch a glimpse of the infamous Kristoff.

c) Thoughhe was included at a), he deserves a separate mention as the main protagonist:Conrad Wroth. The warrior who gave himself over to a grater cause turned into athing he had been sworn to fight. The mad blood-lusting vampire on a vindictivekilling spree. Kresley Cole gives an excellent insight in his state of mindbefore and during the recovery from his madness, and it is impossible not to likehim and sympathise with him from the beginning.

d) Néomi.A kick-ass ghost of a kick-ass woman. She is energetic, persistent andresourceful, and she does not wait around for a man to save her but takes thefate into her own hands.

e) Aslowly-built romance. The chemistry between Conrad and Néomi is causing fireworksall over the place, but they get to know each other well and develop deepfeelings for each other before engaging in steamy sex. This is just how I likeit – the focus being on he relationship and love, and sex is there as a bonus.

Throw insome typical Valkyrie banter/humour/wrath/etc., intriguing conflicts, and atwisting plot, and you get a thoroughly compelling and entertaining read. Theending is rather turbulent and I needed some time for it to sink in howperfectly Cole’s solution works out. Actually, I have already reread the lastcouple of chapters twice, because the book is just so good. Naturally, there issome open space left, but that is to be expected. After all, the seriescontinues. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book.

RECOMMENDATION: If you like adult paranormal romance, thisbook – or rather, this entire series – is not to be missed.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T15:16:00.003+01:00

I wish everybody a Merry Christmas, filled with peace and love!

Sire (The Vampires of St. Troy #1) by Thomas Galvin

2011-12-22T17:00:00.002+01:00

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): It’s Caitlin’s first night in St. Troy. Her first night atcollege. Her first night away from home. There are two great girls in hersuite, and two cute guys across the hall. And two vampires fighting over her.Now she’s all alone, locked up in an empty room in a monster’s mansion. Andthere are screams coming from outside the door ... Sire is the first book in the new Vampires of St. Troy series,which blends horror, action and romance into a bloody tale that will have youturning pages until the sun comes up.

MY OPINION:

Sire is pretty much everything I look for inparanormal genre. I loved its action-packed plot, fantastic characters, andjust enough romance to make a girl swoon.

Despite afew unobtrusive typos, the writing is more than solid. The language is modernand edgy, spiced up with sarcasm, cynicism, distinctive humour, and some killerpunch lines.

ThomasGalvin wittily combines elements from all over the paranormal genre. It seemsto me he takes the things closest to him from here and there, which also happento be the things I like best, so I am completely partial when I say I love thiskind of a mixture. Additionally, Sireincludes references to numerous literary and television phenomena, which can beappealing to present-day readers if they are able to take a joke againstsomething they like. The way all of the above is put together makes this book a fresh and compelling read.

The plot isfast-paced and the readers never know what to expect. The characters in Sire are in their college years. This timeframegives more freedom and credibility to their actions in contrast to the muchoverused high-school setting.

The main humanprotagonist, Caitlin, is smart, strong, and reasonable. Naturally, she is alsoromantic, and she falls helplessly in love, but she does not let her feelingsblind her or prevent her from trying to do the right / smart thing.

The mainsupernatural protagonist, Michael, is a decisive personage who sets hispriorities and fights for them. And he makes a girl’s heart melt.

I think thereaction of Catlin and her friends regarding their discovery of thesupernatural world is very realistic – it actually shows how paranormalliterature has affected our perception of the supernatural. Many people,including myself, would probably react the same way – I would be scared, butalso intrigued.

Speaking ofscared, there is a lot to be scared of in Sire.The evil characters are really evil and some not-entirely-evil characters do badthings nonetheless. Fortunately, the ruthlessness is contrasted by goodness andcompassion, and the battle between the two sides is what makes you keep readingto the last page.

RECOMMENDATION: Sire is an amazing collage of a littlebit of everything paranormal. It is a real page-turner and a must-read for the fansof the genre.

Cat Diary (14): A Cat Heaven & Happy Holidays!

2011-12-18T12:30:00.000+01:00

This is an occasional Sundayfeature where my cat, pardon, Her Majesty the Cat offers her more or lessgracious insight in my (and her) life through her eyes.

As the yearis coming to an end, I thought I would share something funny to get yourholiday spirit up.

A Cat Heaven

One day a cat dies of natural causes and goesto Heaven. There he meets the Lord himself. The Lord says to the cat, "Youlived a good life and if there is any way I can make your stay in Heaven morecomfortable, please let Me know."

The cat thinks for a moment and says,"Lord, all my life I have lived with a poor family and had to sleep on ahard wooden floor." The Lord stops the cat and says, "Say nomore," and a wonderful fluffy pillow appears.

A few days later six mice are killed in atragic farming accident and go to Heaven. Again the Lord is there to greet themwith the same offer. The mice answer, "All of our lives we have beenchased. We have had to run from cats, dogs, and even women with brooms.Running, running, running; we're tired of running. Do you think we could haveroller skates so we don't have to run anymore?" The Lord says, "Sayno more," and fits each mouse with beautiful new roller skates.

About a week later the Lord stops by to see thecat and finds him in a deep sleep on the pillow. The Lord gently wakes the catand asks him, "How are things since you arrived?"

The cat stretches and yawns and replies,"It is wonderful here. Better than I could have ever expected. And thoseMeals on Wheels you've been sending by are theeeeeeee best!!!"

Pepca foundthis and more fun things about cats HERE.

In othernews, nothing of much interest happened in the last few weeks. I have afeeling, though, that the upcoming holidays will rock. I hope you enjoy yourholidays and you will hear about mine in January.

MerryChristmas and Happy New Year!

Pepca, too!:)

Book Nook #5

2011-12-17T13:00:00.000+01:00

Book Nooks

*Every weekend*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Show us something pretty!

Commentary: This is a perfect spot for a cold day. It's warm, there are plenty comfortable-looking cushions, the colours are pleasant and inviting, and there is enough light for reading.

Details: Location and artist unknown, not given in the original post.

Source.

Join in: Add your own Book Nooks post.

The Little Things

2011-12-16T09:59:00.000+01:00

In the spirit of the season, I am having another Christmas post, today as a part of 2011 Advent Tour. Thisis my first time participating in Virtual Advent Tour, hosted by Kailanafrom The Written World andMarg from Adventures of anIntrepid Reader. Head over to Advent Blog Tour to see the schedule andvisit other participants’ posts.

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, buta state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is tohave the real spirit of Christmas.” – Calvin Coolidge

I was brought up in the spirit of thestatement above. I was taught that the important things are family andfriends, health, and peace in our hearts. The little things and traditions arewhat makes up the festive atmosphere. Here are my favourite things about adventand Christmas:

Christmas Wheat: Where Ilive we have a custom, originating in the countryside, to sow wheat seeds intoa pot one to two week before Christmas. The wheat sprouts before Christmas Eveand it is left to grow until Twelfth Night. It is supposed to bring a richharvest the following year.

Christmas Tree: Most of the decorations have been in the family for as long as Ican remember. My grandmother passed to me a tradition I have not yet noticedanywhere else – putting a little red devil decoration on the Christmas tree –she claimed it was because the devil is everywhere, so he cannot be left out onChristmas – but the decoration should be put somewhere in the back or on theside of the tree, usually peeking naughtily towards the Nativity scene.

This fake tree is alsoalmost as old as I am. The little devil is on the left side.
This was from the last year and has been taken in a hurry, hence a rather low quality.
It looked better with lights on.

A Nativity Scene: It isthe core reminder of what Christmas is about. Traditionally it is set up nosooner than on Christmas Eve, but I usually start a day earlier. Nativityfigurines have also been an old family hand-down.

Snow: Nothing anyone cando about whether we have snow or not, but white Christmas is on everybody’s wish list, as long as itdoes not snow right on Christmas Eve and hinders people (read: me) from goingto Church. And it is completely free.

These small things help me remember how itwas to be a child, carefree and happy. For some time each year, there is something magical in the air which makes all the worries less important and reminds me of everythingthat makes me happy.

Happy Holidays!

The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún by J. R. R. Tolkien

2011-12-13T14:04:00.000+01:00

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): Many years ago, J.R.R. Tolkien composed his own version of thegreat legend of Northern antiquity, recounted here in The Legend of Sigurd andGudrún.

In the Layof the Völsungs is told the ancestry of the great hero Sigurd, the slayer ofFáfnir, most celebrated of dragons; of his awakening of the Valkyrie Brynhild,who slept surrounded by a wall of fire, and of their betrothal; and of hiscoming to the court of the great princes who were named the Niflungs (orNibelungs), with whom he entered into blood-brotherhood.

In scenesof dramatic intensity, of confusion of identity, thwarted passion, jealousy,and bitter strife, the tragedy of Sigurd and Brynhild, of Gunnar the Niflungand Gudrún his sister, mounts to its end in the murder of Sigurd, the suicideof Brynhild, and the despair of Gudrún.

The Lay ofGudrún recounts her fate after the death of Sigurd, her marriage against herwill to the mighty Atli, ruler of the Huns (the Attila of history), his murderof her brothers, and her hideous revenge.

MY OPINION:

The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún was a demanding but rewarding readfor me. Tolkien’s poetic retelling of Norse stories is beautiful and theaccompanying texts provide plenty of interesting information.

Tolkien’spoems are written in alliterative half verse in 8-line stanzas. Resembling theform of Eddaic poetry, they also capture its spirit. The emphasis is on seizingindividual moments, with only a very general feel of the story in thebackground.

Therefore, theadditional texts, especially the introduction, are helpful for the understandingof Tolkien’s poems. Tolkien’s son Christopher provides an extensive commentaryand analysis of both poems, using his father’s notes for his lectures on Norseliterature.

The supplementary texts sound somewhat dry and require a lot of focus. There is alot of information and hypothesising on linguistics, etymology, history and mythology– from Norse and Germanic to Old English, drawing parallels between varioustexts. Some references to possible origins of Tolkien’s ideas for The Lord of the Rings and his otherworks are also included.

On thewhole, The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrúnis far from being an epic narrative similar to The Lord of the Rings. However, the two poems once again revealTolkien’s masterly skill of handling words and are a delightful read. Theadditional texts are slow and somewhat tedious, but as a linguist I appreciatethe data they provide.

RECOMMENDATION: The Legend of Sigurdand Gudrún is not aleisurely read. If you expect an absorbing epic narrative such as The Lord of the Rings you will bedisappointed. Otherwise, itis a great book for those who are interested in Nordic and Germanic traditionand literature.

Book Nooks #4

2011-12-11T10:48:00.000+01:00

Book Nooks

*Every weekend*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Show us something pretty!

Commentary: I love the homey feeling of this room. The armchairs and the bay window seat look comfortable and inviting. Also, the colours fit this time of year very well.

Details: Location and artist unknown, not given in the original post.

Source: I found it on Pinterest.

Join in: Add your own Book Nooks post.

Songs of the Season

2011-12-10T13:48:00.000+01:00

Songsof the Season

Eventproduction by Random Magic Tour

SashaSoren (Random Magic)

December10 – 25, 2011

Welcometo the Songs of the Season music hop! You're invited to join

usevery day from December 10 – 25, to enjoy a virtual roundof carolling.

Youcan visit another blog each day to find another wonderful music

selection,handpicked by a great host. See event schedule here.

Here's my selection for your enjoyment!

Title: All I Want for Christmas Is You

Artist: Glee Cast

Available at: Amazon | iTunes

Commentary: All I want for Christmas is one of my favourite seasonal songs because it reminds us that what matters most is family and friends. I love the Glee Cast version because it is so lively and joyful and coveys a truly festive spirit.

You might also like:

2011 Advent Tour

December 1 – 24: bloggers sharing anything and everything to do with Advent and Christmas. My stop is on December 16.

Goodies

Through Dec. 31, 2011: Win a pretty box of stationery, featuring

quotes by writer Charlotte Brontë and her sisters, who were also novelists. Browse details.

Through Dec. 31, 2011: Win a book-and-DVD set of a romantic drama set

in New York during the Gilded Age. Browse details.

Available starting Dec. 25, 2011: Win a book-and-DVD set of great classic film, Little Women.

A chance to win this delightful gift will be available at the Dec. 25

session of Bookie Brunch,hosted at Jennie's Corner (Host: @JoanieFontana)

***

Event production by Random Magic Tour

Find Random Magic: Print | Kindle

Explore Random Magic: YouTube | Tumblr | Twitter

What is/are your favourite song(s) of the season? Please, feel free to share in the comments!

Film Review: X Men: First Class (2011)

2011-12-09T18:18:00.000+01:00

DIRECTOR: Matthew Vaughn; CAST: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence…

SUMMARY (from IMDB): BeforeCharles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, theywere two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Before theywere archenemies, they were closest of friends, working together, with otherMutants (some familiar, some new), to stop the greatest threat the world hasever known. In the process, a rift between them opened, which began the eternalwar between Magneto’s Brotherhood and Professor X’s X-MEN.

MY OPINION:

I liked X-Men (2000) and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), so it was interesting to me to seehow it all started. It was amazing to see the shaping of the familiarcharacters and some new ones who rounded up the whole story.

The WW IIbackground setting added to the fascinating atmosphere of the film. Thephilosophical stand behind the film concerning the consequences of vengefulnessis very close to my own belief about the matter, so I enjoyed this aspect ofthe film.

Overall, X Men : First Class is a suspensefulprequel to other X-Men films withgreat actors doing a good job in presenting the characters they play. The filmis also visually attractive, the special effects are done well, but withoutunnecessary exaggeration.

RECOMMENDATION: A must-see for those who liked the previous X-Men films.

The Expected One (Magdalene Line Trilogy #1) by Kathleen McGowan

2011-12-07T17:36:00.000+01:00

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): When journalist Maureen Paschal begins the research for a newbook, she has no idea that she is stepping into an ancient mystery so secret,so revolutionary, that thousands of people have killed and died for it.

Twothousand years ago, Mary Magdalene hid a set of scrolls in the French Pyrenees:the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, her version of the life of Jesus and the eventsof the New Testament. Protected by supernatural forces, these sacred scrollscould be uncovered only by a special seeker, one who fulfils the ancientprophecy of L'Attendu – the Expected One.

As Maureenbecomes immersed in the mystical lore of L'Attendu, the eerie prophecy of theExpected One casts a shadow over her life and work, and a long-buried familysecret comes to light. Maureen’s extraordinary journey takes her from the dustystreets of Jerusalem to the cathedrals of Paris to the rocky foothills ofsouthwest France. To search for the scrolls, she must unravel clues that linkhistory’s great artistic masters, dynasties, and scientific minds. Ultimately,she comes face-to-face with Jesus Christ, Mary Magdalene, and a love trianglethat changed the course of history in a deeply moving and powerful newgospel... the greatest story never told.

MY OPINION:

This bookdeals with a very sensitive religious topic. It takes us halfway across theglobe, from L.A. to Jerusalem and France, from two thousand years ago to moderntime. Uncovering long lost secrets, Maureen finds herself in constant danger,not knowing who to trust, but finding friends in unlikely people.

The focusof the story is the Gospel of Mary Magdalene. For me as a Christian, this partwas a very emotional read. Naturally, I took this thought-provoking materialwith a grain of salt. However, as I see it, no matter how controversial thiswork seems to be, it conveys universal guidelines for everyone: forgiveness,solidarity, and love. The author asks a good question: would this version of Jesus’life make him any less divine? Everyone can answer that only for themselves.

The authordeals with many historical events, personages, and pieces of art. Even though her take sometimes differs from the commonly accepted viewpoint, I think it is valuable forcatching people’s interest and perhaps making the reader study, research, andthink about the issues she addresses.

RECOMMENDATION: This book might not be for someone who iseasily offended by controversial religious views. Nevertheless, The ExpectedOne is a delightful read despite of or exactly because of being a challenging book.

Coming Soon! Songs of the Season Music Hop

2011-12-06T16:00:00.000+01:00

Songs of the Season

Event production by

Random Magic Tour

Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

December 10 – 25, 2011

You’re invited to join us for songs of theseason, a fun music hop from December 10 - 25. I’m going to be hosting onDecember 10, so feel free to drop by to see which song I picked to share withyou. There are lots of great bloggers on the music hop, and so there’ll be somenew and wonderful music picks for you every day. Feel free to drop by and sharesome of your own favourites, if you like.

Here's the schedule, if you'd like to checkit out:

*****Songsof the Season schedule*****

Book Nook #3

2011-12-04T15:57:00.000+01:00

Book Nooks

*Every weekend*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Show us something pretty!

Commentary: This looks like a cozy, peaceful place to read. The view is gorgeous and calming, and I love the brightness. Also, those bookshelves are right at hand, just inviting you to pick something from them.

Details: Location and artist unknown, not given in the original post.

Source: I found it in an article on Trendir, credit given to Safdie Rabines Architects.

Join in: Add your own Book Nooks post.

Film Review: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011)

2011-12-02T16:07:00.000+01:00

Note: Thisreview contains SPOILERS for those who have not read The Twilight Saga.

DIRECTOR: Bill Condon; CAST: Robert Pattison, Kristen Stewart…

SUMMARY (from IMDB):The Quileute’s close in on expecting parents Edward and Bella, whose unbornchild poses a threat to the Wolf Pack and the town’s people of Forks.

MY OPINION:

Breaking Dawn is my favourite book of The Twilight Saga. I was skeptic of the film, though, because the previousfilms based on the series had disappointed me in some ways (you can read aboutit here and here). However, Breaking DawnPart 1 turned out much better then I had expected. It follows the bookquite closely, with only a few additions, and it includes all the key momentsfrom the book.

The initialtwenty minutes or so are pretty average. I had to put some effort in to look pastthe original casting issues and bad hairdos and make-up. In the scene withEdward and Bella the night before the wedding Pattison looks down right ugly.Fortunately, the make-up artists did much better job later in the film.

Some scenesare on my opinion redundant, such as Edward’s confession about his rebelliousdays – I think this should be done much earlier in the films or not at all –and Bella’s reaction to it is too superficial. Otherwise, the few additionalscenes work out well in the film as a whole.

Putting theaforementioned issues aside, this is an enjoyable film. The settings are beautiful, especially the wedding scenery and Isle Esme. The acting is quitegood, and the dialogues are alternatively funny, thoughtful, and grave in allthe right places.

The lovescenes, Bella’s pregnancy, and child-birth are dealt with delicately, theyare realistic enough, but not exaggerated. The emotions are well-conveyed,both script-wise and acting-wise. I love the way Jacob’s reasoning is presented, in particularly in the scene when he thinks Bella has died. Among others, that oneand the imprinting scene are perfect. Bella’s transformation is equally well illustrated.

Overall, Breaking Dawn Part 1 is well-worthseeing. Dividing Breaking Dawn in twofilms was a good idea, as it enabled the film-makers to include all theimportant things without rushing. Even so, I still want more: more of Emmet’sjokes, more of Jacob and Rosalie scowling at each other, more of everything. Ihope we get that in Breaking Dawn Part 2 which I am already looking forward to.

RECOMMENDATION: Twilight fans will enjoy this film. PG-13rating is appropriate, so I do not think parents should drag their 10-year-oldsto the screening.

Advent Tour and Winter Look

2011-12-01T18:55:00.001+01:00

December is here! This is my favourite time of year. I love winter and Christmas atmosphere. As we haven't got a snowflake here, I decided there should be some snow at least on my blog. Hence, it got a brand new winter-appropriate look today.

Today is also the first day of 2011 Advent Tour. It is my first time participating, my stop is on December 16. See Virtual Advent Tour to visit other participant's posts.

In other news, I have seen a lot of films recently, so you can expect film reviews on Fridays, I'm pretty much covered till the end of the year.

I hope you enjoy your December!

Surviving with Wolves by Misha Defonseca

2011-11-30T18:30:00.000+01:00

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): This book was supposed to be an amazing true survival story of a littlegirl whose parents were taken to Auschwitz. She made her way through the woodsof Europe during the WW2 and was later adopted by a family of wolves who tookcare of her. Later she found her way back home but never met her parents again.However, it has been revealed that the author Misha Defonseca (real nameMonique De Wael) made up the whole story. She was not even Jewish. De Wael wasbrought up Catholic but kept on insisting her story was true up until it wasfound out to be a fabrication in March 2008.

MY OPINION:

I read thisbook before finding out that it was made up. I thought it was incredible.Realizing it was all a lie shocked me. I did not know what to think at first.Fictional WW II novels are being written all the time and it is nothing wrongwith making up a story about that time which could be true. What bothers me isthe lie. The author selling this as her own experience, although it was not,casts a bad light on the book. It would be all right if the author justpresented it as her work of fiction.

Nevertheless,I am glad I read this book and I still like it very much. If looked upon as awork of fiction, it is a great book. Some plot elements are exaggerated, but forthe most part Mishke’s story could truly happen. After all, anything ispossible in this world. And I know plenty of strange things that happenedduring WW II that I think this story would certainly be possible in thoseparticular circumstances.

Defonsecaknows her subject well. Her portrayal of Miske’s psyche, her journey, thepeople she meets and the animals’ behaviour is credible.

Mishke’scharacter is amazing. The book is written from Mishke’s point of view. Hernarration fits her character and sounds very natural. It made me see thingsthrough her eyes and feel what she feels. She is not a wild child or mentally challenged.She is just a child fighting for survival, using the logic she has at hand, thelogic based on scarce information she possesses. The way she is treated byadults is very realistic and so are her reactions. All of this makes Mishke alikeable character. Her way of reasoning is plausible and this is what makesthe story sound authentic.

RECOMMENDATION: If you take this book as a work of fiction, Surviving with Wolves is an intriguingnarrative of a story that could happen during WW II. It is a fast read withsome poignant and straightforward passages about people’s nature.

The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ by Philip Pullman

2011-11-28T16:36:00.000+01:00

SUMMARY: (from Goodreads): Part novel, part history, part fairytale, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ offers a radical new take on the myths and the mysteries of the Gospels, andthe genesis of church that has so shaped the course of the last two millennia.With all the magic for which Pullman's storytelling is famed, this provocativeand thoughtful new book from one of Britain's best loved writers promises to bethe highest profile yet in Canongate's acclaimed Myths Series.

MY OPINION:

This bookis an example of a unique approach to presenting the author’s view onChristianity and the Catholic Church. Philip Pullman, a self-proclaimedatheist, presents his view on the ideas of Christianity - the good side, illustrated in the characterof Jesus, whereas the character of Christ represents the Catholic Church - clearly presenting thebad side.

As aChristian, I find it difficult to say anything specific about this book withoutexplaining my religious beliefs. However, a book review is not a place for such a thing. Therefore, I will just say that TheGood Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ deserves recognition for itsoriginality and the author's knowledge on the subject. Hence, I rate it **A LITTLE STRANGE due to its language and creativity. The content is on my opinion impossible to rate, since the book deals with a complex issue resolvable only by everyone on their own, or not even that.

This bookis a highly provocative and thought-provoking read. It asks a lot of questionsand tests the readers’ beliefs. It is the kind of book that demands an openmind and must be taken with (more than) a grain of salt.

RECOMMENDATION: This is a not a book for people who are easilyoffended or not ready to put their beliefs to a test.

Cat Diary (13): Playthings

2011-11-27T17:05:00.000+01:00

This is an occasional Sundayfeature where my cat, pardon, Her Majesty the Cat offers her more or lessgracious insight in my (and her) life through her eyes.

Novemberwas a dull month – cloudy and foggy, nothing to do but sleep. But, a cat has tohave some fun and exercise, which is when toys come in handy.

Now, I havesome balls to chase: a colourful jingling ball, a mini orange basketball,and a soft yellow one, which is my favourite.

Wanna play? It's my jingling ball.

Then thereis always the piece of string Pepca uses to tease me with, and I indulge herwhen I feel like it, so I chase after her and pretend I can’t snatch it fromher. It’s hilarious. Let her run around!

However,the best playthings are those that aren’t intended to be played with, such as Pepca’s ballpoint pens and portable USB-devices (not that I get a chance topoke one of those often).

Don’t beall work and no play! Still, play nicely, till next time,

Book Nook #2

2011-11-26T14:31:00.000+01:00

Book Nooks

*Every weekend*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Show us something pretty!

Commentary: All those bookcases! The combination of wood and red colour creates a rustic ambient with a hint of aristocracy. The seat/bench in the bay window looks comfortable and I love that there is a lot of light.

Details: Location and artist unknown, not given in original post.

Source: I found it on Tumblr.

Join in: Add your own Book Nooks post.

Film Review: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

2011-11-25T17:29:00.000+01:00

DIRECTOR: Rob Marshall; CAST: Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush…

SUMMARY (from IMDB):Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) crosses paths with a woman from his past(Cruz), and he's not sure if it's love – or if she’s a ruthless con artistwho's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces himaboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard(McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn'tknow who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past.

MY OPINION:

I did not findOn Stranger Tides as good as theprevious three Pirates of the Caribbeanfilms. For one thing, I missed Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightly. I enjoyed thefilm, nonetheless.

The storyseems to be a little mellow in comparison to the previous films. It does nothave the same gripping focus, at least not to me. It did not hold me insuspense from the beginning to the end.

Nevertheless,I had a fun two hours. Jack Sparrow is amusing enough and he always saves theday. He always manages to find trouble, too, but that is more or less one andthe same thing.

The part Iliked the most was the mermaid story arc. It added something fresh to the wholebrand. I was bored a couple of times by too long action sequences, but that isjust me – a sword-fight longer than thirty seconds with a predictableoutcome does not enthral me.

All in all,Pirates of the Caribbean: On StrangerTides is the kind of film one would expect after seeing the previous three.Still, it is a good film with great actors and some compelling moments.

RECOMMENDATION: This is a nice relaxation film which makes youhold your breath and laugh a few times. Perfect if you like pirates, action, witty humour, and a pinch of romance.

Phantom (The Vampire Diaries: The Hunters #1) by L. J. Smith*

2011-11-23T16:19:00.000+01:00

*this bookwas written by an anonymous ghost-writer

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): Since meeting vampire brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore, ElenaGilbert has been to hell and back. Now that she and her friends have savedtheir hometown from a demonic sprit, everything can finally go back to normal.But Elena should know better than anyone that Fell’s Church will never benormal. In Phantom, a dangerous newother-worldly threat sets its sights on Elena. And this time she can only counton one Salvatore brother to protect her.

MY OPINION:

I was a little afraid of beingdisappointed by this book as I heard plenty of speculations regarding how it woulddiffer from the rest of the series, but fortunately all my hopes for it havebeen realised and my fear was unfounded. The ghost-writer does a good job,keeping the familiar elements and improving the shortcoming(s) of the previousbooks.

Truly, Phantom has a somewhat different feelthat the rest of the series so far, mainly due to writing which is considerably improved. Apart from two typosand a few awkward formulations the writing is generally good. The transitionsbetween the scenes are smooth and coherent, taking away the messiness andconfusion of the previous books.

Consequently,Phantom may seem less intense thanthe previous books as the plot does not jump from one event to another. Whileallowing the reader to savour the story, the plot remains dynamic andunpredictable, offering plenty of surprises. Nevertheless, Phantom is less frantic (which is a good thing) than other books inthe series, because it gives an equal focus to the plot and the characters.

Thecharacters are the same familiar faces I love, but naturally, they change anddevelop, as they should. Throughout the series, the character that changes themost is Damon, and in Phantom the traitsof his personality already explored and developed in The Return trilogy are shown in their full potential.

Thecharacters’ personalities, emotions, and relationships among them are the basisof Phantom. The set of events forcesthe characters to bring out their most hidden parts, their most secretemotions. The new supernatural evil in Phantomhas everything to do with feelings; hence we get to see the worst of theindividual characters as their negative emotions gets amplified and twisted. Iloved the portrayal of this new supernatural creature – it fits perfectly tothe concept it represents (I can not say which as to avoid spoilers).

Finally, Ihave to say I love how the titles of this series always correspond to the story, yet I can never guess from the title how it is connected to the story andfinding it out always pleasantly surprises me. The same goes for Phantom. I had had my speculations andexpectations, but I still did not guess right. This, in addition to everythingelse I mentioned, makes this book an enticing read.

RECOMMENDATION: If one can keep an open mind and not hate thebook just because it was written by a ghost-writer and give it a real chance, Phantom is a great read, preserving thealready familiar features of the series and at the same time taking it to a newlevel.

Just Some Thoughts

2011-11-22T16:27:00.001+01:00

There are just some miscellaneous books andblogging related things that I want to share with you but they do not reallybelong in any other post, so here they are:

a) Today I’m a guest at Library Mosaic: I’m playing ~~the devil’s~~ Damon’s advocate in Carla’s cool featurecalled Team Smackdown. She features a different team duel every week, this oneis the third and there are plenty more on the list plus she is giving away somegoodies. She could also use some help in defending different teams. So go checkit out!

b) I started The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún by J. R. R. Tolkien yesterday. Iskipped the foreword and introductory notes and went straight to the poetry,but I’m going to read those later on. I am making this the fourth book for theLOTR Read-Along hosted by Loren at The Story Girl instead of The Silmarillion. Though, I might still rereadThe Silmarillion as I love the book,but at the moment I just don’t feel like rereading it.

c) I read Phantom, the eighth book in TheVampire Diaries series, on Sunday. I have the review ready for tomorrow, butthere are two things I want to say about it that don’t belong into a review, soI’m saying them here.

Firstly, thereis quite a campaign against this book as it is not written by L. J. Smith butby a ghost-writer. I had expressed my sympathies with L. J. Smith situationbefore and I stand by what I said (the unfairness and all). However, as Mrs.Smith herself said not to boycott the ghost-writer and as I wanted more of thestory and characters, I read the book and I am glad I did (more in the actualreview tomorrow).

Secondly,related to the issue above, I have seen lots of hate toward this book from thepeople who have not read it and only presume it would be bad. I’m happy I didnot cave in under such opinions and checked out the book by myself. The lessonto be learned from this (considering any book): keep an open mind and check itout by yourself if you feel like it. You can still hate it later. But at leastit will be your opinion, not someone else’s.

This is it. Enough of rambling. And thankyou for reading! You are welcome to express any related or unrelated thoughts inthe comments.

Teaser Tuesday #11

2011-11-22T15:17:00.001+01:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

MY TEASERS:

"The Gods gathered
on golden thrones,
of doom and death
deeply pondered,
how fate should be fended,
their foes vanquished,
their labour healed,
light rekindled."

The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún by J. R. R. Tolkien, p. 61

"The guests were many:
grim their singing,
boar's-flesh eating,
beakers draining;
mighty ones of Earth
mailclad sitting
for one they waited
the World's chosen."

The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún by J. R. R. Tolkien, p. 65

Book Nook #1

2011-11-21T16:32:00.001+01:00

Book Nooks

*Every weekend*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Show us somethingpretty!

Commentary: This looks like a comfortable and warm place to read during these cold days. You can even read on the extension of the fireplace for extra warmth: you just need a blanket, perhaps another pillow and, of course, a good book. The orange colour is invigorating and uplifting for the spirit.

Details: Location and artistunknown, not given in original post.

Source: I found it on the manufacturer's site.

Join in: Add your own Book Nooks post.

Book Burning, Really?

2011-11-17T21:19:00.001+01:00

People have different tastes. This is good.The world would be a very boring place if we were all alike. This is also truewhen it comes to books. Recently, I have been reading reviews andratings of the books I read on Goodreads and I noticed that virtually everybook has all the ratings – from one to five stars. Of course some books havemore five-star ratings and almost none one-star rating, and the other wayaround.

So far so good. However, what bothered mewas seeing so much hate some one-star raters expressed towards certain booksthey did not like. The top of it was a commentary that said a particular bookshould be BURNED and the writer of this review says the author of this book wascondemned to hell by writing the book in question.

It is perfectly all right to dislike abook. It is perfectly fine to say so. But I was and still am appalled by thatcomment. Book burning? Such a hateful statement. Are not people entitled toform their own opinion based on their own reading? I think they are, no matterwhich book it concerns.

It made me go over some of my reviews andsee whether I am imposing my opinion on anyone. I think not. I hope not. I trynot to. What do you think? Please do tell me if you think I might be doing this,because it is the last thing I want as I know how awful it looks like.

I dislike some books too. In my reviews Isay why it is so and I usually add who probably would not like the book. But Itry not to force my opinion on others. The same goes for the books I like. Irealize some of my reviews are very enthusiastic, but I think I make it clearenough others may think differently. I also state this in my review policy. AndI wholeheartedly mean it.

Anyone can like or dislike any book andexpress their opinion. But I think it is necessary to allow other people do thesame. Tolerance and peaceful cohabitation in this world starts with littlethings, books included.

What do you think? When it comes to a bookyou dislike or that is against your beliefs, do you discourage other peoplefrom reading it? Or, would you condemn people for reading certain kinds ofbooks?

I must say that judging from the reviews byyou, my fellow book bloggers, this post is preaching to the choir. I have notseen any hateful reviews on any book blog so far since I started blogging morethan a year ago. I am very happy about it.

Now, I am done with preaching and Iapologise for it. Please, feel free to express your opinion about the questions in thispost or anything related in the comments.

A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen

2011-11-16T18:38:00.000+01:00

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): A Doll's House is thestory of Nora Helmer who has secretly borrowed a large sum of money to help herhusband recover from a serious illness. Nora who has borrowed this money byforging her father's signature soon discovers the value of the relationship shehas with her husband, Torvald, when he becomes the director of the bank thatemploys the man, Nils Krogstad, who has lent the money to Nora. When it isdiscovered that Nils has commited a forgery himself, Nils threatens to revealNora's secret to her husband if she does not convince Torvald to allow Nils tokeep his position at the bank. A Doll'sHouse is a gripping drama about a failing, loveless marriage.

MY OPINION:

In thebeginning A Doll’s House just seemedridiculous. I did not like Nora, who acted as a spoiled, wasteful, silly woman.I disliked Torvald even more, because he was treating Nora as a toy, a doll whodoes not have her own mind but has to do everything as he says, thinkingincluded.

AlthoughNora grows a spine and becomes rather likeable at the end, there is one thingabout what she does that I do not approve of. Also, the story line of othercharacters is wrapped up rather quickly and is not entirely convincing.

Nevertheless,this play is an interesting read; it is fast-paced, and the course of actionand the characters are easily imaginable. The resolution is not predictable atall; I never expected it to end the way it does.

RECOMMENDATION: A Doll’s House is an enticing read about a failedrelationship and people pushing after a desired social status.

Guys and Molls: Sing, You Sinners! (and Get Some Goodies)

2011-11-13T12:00:00.000+01:00

Guys and Molls

Event production by

RandomMagic Tour

Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

SWEET MUSIC OF THE JAZZ AGE

Sing, you sinners! Or dance. Or both! Justhave some fun, as we used to do.

And boy did we know how to have fun duringthe 1920s and 1930s! Surely, there were Prohibition and the Great Depression,all the more reason to get some distraction and have a good time.

This was The Jazz Age, and there was jazz being played everywhere: indance halls, roadhouses and speakeasies all over the country. The good wouldcall it the devil’s music in the beginning, but soon everybody would enjoy it.

Now, the kind of jazz that was immenselypopular with the majority back then is now called “sweet music” and the musicthat people consider today as “jazz” was played by minorities and called “hotmusic” or “race music.”

This was also the era of Broadway’s primeyears, opening over 50 new musicals a year. Musical comedies gained theirpopularity not only through being entertaining, but also for their quality, asthe jazz pieces were composed by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and VincentYoumans among others.

Paul Whiteman, known as the King of Jazz,was the most popular bandleader in the 1920s. He was the one who commissionedGershwin’s jazz-influenced Rhapsody inBlue for his orchestra.

This is an abridged version of Rhapsody in Blue, as used in Whiteman’stalking picture called King of Jazz. Click on YouTube description for more information.

One of the most successful singers of the20^th century, Bing Crosby, launched his career being hired for PaulWhiteman’s orchestra. Soon, Crosby’s songs topped bestselling lists.

Outof Nowhere was Crosby’s first number one solo hit:

The main centre of developing “hot jazz”was our good old Chicago, and the leading force of the genre was King Oliverwhose songs are still regularly played, for example Sweetlike This.

You can find more information about KingOliver here.

King Oliver was a mentor to LouisArmstrong, whom he greatly influenced. He was the composer of one ofArmstrong’s most famous recordings, WestEnd Blues:

Louis Armstrong’s band Hot Five popularisedscant singing, that is: improvised singing with wordless vocables, nonsensesyllables or without words at all, which means singers sing improvised melodiesand rhythms, creating the equivalent of an instrumental solo with their voice.The greatest scant singer in jazz history is considered to be Ella Fitzgerald,who was highly influenced by The Boswell Sisters, especially Connee Boswell,immensely popular during the 1930s via recordings and radio. Their #1 hit was The Object of My Affection (find more onThe Boswell Sisters in the description here):

The genre which had a great impact on jazzprior and during the 1920s and 1930s was blues.The most famous female blues singer and one of the best singers of her era wasBessie Smith.

In 1930s, Bessie Smith changed her styleinto something fitting the swing era. Swingevolved from jazz and became a trendy new distinctive style in the second halfof the 1930s. some of the most prominent big band leaders were Harry James,Benny Goodman, and the Dorsey Brothers, who often helped launch the careers ofvocalists who later became famous as solo artists.

One of the most popular songs of the timewas Stardust, recorded by anyone fromLouis Armstrong and Glenn Miller to our very own (allegedly) Frank Sinatra.

Let me conclude with Sinatra’s recording ofStardust with Harry James and hisorchestra.

This Guys and Molls feature has been brought to you by Miss Melody aka Melody Mistress of the Beyond Strange New Words syndicate.

Guys and Molls - Goodies

WIN this hilarious deckof flashcards, and you'll have fun learning how to sling some lingo.

About: Get a line on thisracket: flashcards feature famous one-liners

and slang from 1930sgangster classics. Dish out some gangster speak

and your pals and enemieswill think you were made

for the silver screen. 30movie flashcards, boxed.

Preview: Check out the deck

AND

WIN this great multi-titleDVD, which includes four of the best

gangster movies that wereever made. Host your own 1930s mobster movie

marathon!

About: There are fourvintage films included on this DVD.

The Public Enemy (1931) - A taut, realistic time capsule of theProhibition Era, showcasing James Cagney's powerhouse breakthrough asa streetwise tough guy who rises high in the bootleg racket.The Roaring Twenties (1939) - Screen legends Humphrey Bogartand Ida Lupino star in this soulful study of a gangster whosehard-boiled persona finds itself at war with his compassionate side -a side that will ultimately be his downfall.Little Caesar (1930) - Loosely based on the life of real-lifeProhibition-era mobster, the infamous Al Capone. Edward G. Robinsonrocketed to stardom as a pugnacious hoodlum who murderously rises tothe top ranks of the underworld.Smart Money (1931) - In their only screen teaming, LittleCaesar's Edward G. Robinson leads the way and The PublicEnemy's James Cagney rides shotgun in this brisk tale of barberswho go from cutting hair to cutting in on the gambling racket.(Source: Amazon product description)

HOW TO PLAY - there are four steps, but they're all fun and easyto do:

1. Leave a comment onthis post, giving your take on this question: What was your favoritemusic track of the era and why? Feel free to sign it with your ownmobster nickname or syndicate, or Twitter name.

2. Comment on ANY othersecond Guys and Molls post. (Browse event schedule)

3. Comment on ANY otherthird Guys and Molls post.

4. Share a link to ANYGuys and Molls post on Twitter.

Note: Please remember toinclude email address in entry form so you can be contacted if you win.

Additional info:International. DVD is region 1/NTSC but should play on multi-regionplayer.

Winner will be selectedat random using random.org.

Ends December 15, 2011,midnight, EST.

ENTER TO WIN:

Please enter using Rafflecopter widgetabove, which makes it simple and easy to keep track of your entries. Have fun and good luck!

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

2011-11-09T18:53:00.002+01:00

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): She is pretty and talented – sweet sixteen and never been kissed. He isseventeen; gorgeous and on the brink of a bright future. And now they havefallen in love. But... they are brother and sister.

MY OPINION:

Incest is something usually regarded as abominable. However, I could not find one thingthat would be even remotely disgusting in the relationship between Lochan andMaya. Not one. On the contrary, I felt deep sympathy for these two charactersthroughout the book.

The relationship between Maya and Lochan is well-developped and perfectly paced, their feelings pristine; they are extremely likable characters from the start on. Their love is pure and strong, and seems so right. Despite knowing they had virtually no chance for a happy ending, I really hoped they somehow make it through.

In spite of being centred on Lochan and Maya, Forbidden is also a book about kids who are being let down bytheir parents as well as by the society in general. The latter is notsurprising – institutions are rigid and unfeeling towards particularcircumstances of an individual. Naturally, I wish it could be different. Even more disturbing to me is the attitude of theparents in this book.

I know alittle bit of how it feels to have to grow up too early, to take care ofyourself and your parent instead of your parent taking care of you, though, thankfully, my experience was not as bad as described in this book. This is thereason why I can understand the difficulty of the situation for these kids. Ican relate to their covering up for their mother and their fear of beingseparated. In the end, nothing is more important than family staying together,all the more so if the siblings are the only real family left.

I cannot say how I detest the mother in this book. She is a self-centred, selfish excuse for a mother, a woman who should not have had children, acting towards them the way she is.

Forbidden is not only a well-written, but also a beautifullywritten book. Suzuma’s writing brings the characters to life, her clearlysubstantiated language enabling the reader to understand the charactersfeelings and actions.

Although Iexpected Forbidden to end badly, I did not anticipate it to end in such a way.I cried myself though the last two chapters. The saddest thing of all to me washow everything fell apart because of one silly unfortunate event.

This is a very valuable lesson from this book: it takes only one little thing to ruin everything. It is theeternal “what if” question – what if somebody did something differently. Hence,one of the most important lessons one can learn form Forbidden is to be sensitive to how what we do affects otherpeople.

SPOILER (highlight if you want to see it): The possibility of how differently could the story end if Kit's teacher had not humiliated him – although probably unintentionally – in front of the entire class makes it all the more sad. It is a good reminder, not only for me as a teacher, but for everyone, that even our tiniest, presumably innocent actions can have a devastating effect on other people. END OF SPOILER.

RECOMMENDATION: All I can say is: read this book. Even if you think itis not exactly your kind of read. Even if you think you will be disturbed bysome things. It is meant to be this way. Forbiddengives you a lot to feel, to think about, and to learn.

Coming soon! Guys and Molls (November 10 – 17)

2011-11-08T15:55:00.000+01:00

Guys and Molls

Event production by

RandomMagic Tour

Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Scheduleof events

November 10 – 17, 2011

November 10

vvb32reads (@vvb32reads)

Lit noir – Fictional henchmen

November 11

This Miss Loves to Read (@MissIrenne)

Concrete shoes and tommyguns – How to talk like a gangster

November 12
Double feature
vvb32reads (@vvb32reads)

Secret doors and liquidfire – Speakeasies

and
Theater of the air – Radio show: Angels with Dirty Faces

November 13

Beyond Strange New Words (@StrangeNewWords)

Sing, you sinners! –Vintage mobster music

November 14

I Love Books (vlog) (@Booklover_622)
TheBook Addict (blog) (@Christina_622)

Mob rules – A mafia codeof honor
and
Splashof our Worlds (@SplashOOWorlds)
Rogue's gallery – Top 15 vintage mobflicks

November 15

The True Book Addict (@truebookaddict)

Kings of the boardwalkempire – Atlantic City's real-life wise guys
and
Reviewsfrom my First Reads Shelf (Twitter N/A)
Jimmy Blue Eyes and the Wizard of Odds –Mobster nicknames

November 16

Story Wings (@StoryWings)

The bitter end – Assassinatedgangsters
and

Inky Pages - Coffee and a Good Book (vlog)(@inkypages)
InkyPages (blog)
From ink to screen – Mob movies basedon books, short stories or plays

November 17

Spellbound by Books (@Meeka_21)

Pinstripes and fedoras –Gangster fashion

And event goodies!Details available on event posts.

*****COMING SOON*****

November 10 – 17, 2011

*****************************

The Queen of the Damned (The Vampire Chronicles #3) by Anne Rice

2011-11-05T12:27:00.000+01:00

SUMMARY: The Vampire Lestat, a rock star, is preparing fora concert in San Francisco. Across the globe, various individuals, mortal andimmortal, are disturbed by a chilling dream of red-haired twins, which theycannot explain. The Queen of the Damned is walking. Death is everywhere. Thedestiny of both mankind and vampires is at stake.

MY OPINION:

This bookwas for the most part a slow read for me, but some things are so good they arebetter when savoured slowly, and this was such a case due to mainly tworeasons.

First ofall, the stories of various characters in the beginning seem rather looselyconnected. However the different parts soon come together, forming each ontheir own and as a whole a compelling plot.

Secondly, Rice’swriting tackles many philosophical and ethical themes, which made me pausefrequently, reread a paragraph, and think about the issue it deals with. I likeit how Rice exposes various questions without giving her answers but ratherleaving it to the reader to come to their own conclusions. In this way she dealswith feminism, nature of genders, warfare, poverty, inequality, the potentialsfor peace in the world, and how people justify means to an end. There is a lotof symbolism in The Queen of the Damned,drawing parallels to history and religion.

The mostsurprising theme in The Queen of theDamned was cannibalism. Although this is an occurrence normally consideredrevolting, Rice provides a logical background to the concept, which makes itvirtually consecrated.

There isnothing black and white in this book; the characters are not simply good orevil, but rich in complex personal features. Akasha aka the Mother is a perfectexample of such a character. Thus, one cannot hate her and can certainly seeher reasoning despite knowing she is wrong.

Finally,the solution of the main conflict in the book is simple, yet unforeseen andtherefore ingenious. Hence, I was satisfied with the ending which at the sametime left me craving for more.

RECOMMENDATION: The Queen of theDamned is anamazing book, because it reaches beyond the borders of paranormal intophilosophy and ethics, and I highly recommend it both for its plot andcharacters and its power to make you think of several timeless issues. However,it contains explicit scenes of violence, and if you have a sensitive stomach,you should probably not read it before meals.

Apologies and Plans

2011-11-02T12:42:00.004+01:00

Nothing happening?

You haveprobably noticed that I have not been posting as often lately as I used to. Incase you are wondering what is going on, I think it is only fair to tell you, my readers, why I post fewer reviews and why I hardly participate in memes.

The reasonfor this is that I have not been feeling very well lately, both physically andemotionally. I am dealing with some problems and, as all of you I guess, I havea lot of real-life things to do, such as tutoring, taking care of my mother, do the errands and the usual household things. I am also trying to continuewith my WIP. So, I just do not have as much time to read as I would like to, hencethe lack of reviews. Additionally, autumn, especially November, is not aparticularly good time for me, as the ever shorter and ever darker days have avery depressing effect on me.

The lack oftime is also the reason for my infrequent participation in memes, since I donot have the time to visit other blogs, even if I might find the time to do thepost. It just does not seem fair from my part to just post and not visit around. Thesame goes for my lack of commenting. I do still read your blog posts, althoughsometimes with a few days of delay, and I try to comment, but sometimes I justdo not have the time to write a quality comment. But I really do enjoy readingyour posts.

I hope youforgive me for all these things, which will continue in November, I am afraid.

However,not all is black. I have a few really great books on my to-read pile for thismonth and I will try to post at least a review per week. I have finallyfinished The Queen of the Damned, soyou can expect the review on Friday or Saturday.

Also, thereis a cool event coming up, which I am going to be part of, but more about thatsome other time. And as this year is coming to a close, I am thinking throughsome plans for this blog in 2012, which I will let you know about and also askfor your opinion sometime soon.

Finally, Ithank you for your patience and sticking with me, and I hope you will not gettired of waiting for some coolness and run away (but no hard feelings if youdo). Things will get better, and I think you will be able to enjoy some thingsI am planning for this blog soon. Plus, December is close, my favourite month, so that will surely cheer me up, and consequently my blog.

Oh, and I have just noticed I say that I do not have the time much too often in this post, I am sorry for that, too.

Bout of Books 2.0 Wrap-up

2011-10-31T19:01:00.002+01:00

The second Bout of Books readathon, hosted by Amanda of On a Book Bender wrap-up:

Facts:

My minimum goal was to read 500 pages during the readathon.

Achievement: 368 pages or 74%
Books read: The Pillars of Society by Henrik Ibsen (my review)
2/3 of The Queen of the Damned (The Vampire Chronicles #3) by Anne Rice

Overall impressions:
Although I didn't read as much as I had planned, I had a great time. I basically focused on reading as much as I could while doing all the other things I had to do, so I participated only in one challenge (Book Spine Poetry Challenge), but it was fun. The whole experience was great - as always it's great to be a part of something that big and knowing other people doing this, too. So, thanks to Amanda for hosting!

Cat Diary (12): Halloween Costume

2011-10-30T21:48:00.000+01:00

This is an occasional Sundayfeature where my cat, pardon, Her Majesty the Cat offers her more or lessgracious insight in my (and her) life through her eyes.

Halloweenis almost here, and though we don’t have a tradition of celebrating it aroundhere, I was thinking about what I would be for Halloween. And I came up with this costume:

Ta-da!

I’ve beeninspired by Stelmaria, Lord Asriel’s beautiful, strong, loyal, and in every waykick-ass snow leopard daemon from HisDark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman.

Grand, isn't it?

Get yourself a fancy costume and/or some candies and have lots of Halloween fun,

Bout of Books Day 3 Challenge: Books Spine Poetry

2011-10-26T22:43:00.003+02:00

It's Day 3 ofBout of Books readathon and Actin' Up with Books hosts Book Spine Poetry Challenge and Giveaway.

It's such a cool challenge, I had to join in. Here is my book spine poem. I added a few words andwrote everything out under the picture. The second book from the bottom is Valley of Silence by Nora Roberts. Ithas a silver reflecting print and it is visible very poorly. The words that occur onspines are in italics and those few I added are in normal font.

A Forbidden

Ballad

for The Queen of the Damned,

Dead as a Doornail:

Shadow Souls

Wake Unto Me

in The Lowlands of Heaven,

How Huge is the Night

in the Valley of Silence

where I Love You to Death.

I had so much fun doing this! It is a great way to end the day. What do you think of it?

The Pillars of Society by Henrik Ibsen

2011-10-24T18:27:00.000+02:00

SUMMARY: A small coastal town in Norway. A respectablefamily hiding scandals. Long lost relatives who come from America disturb thepeace of “decent” people. Progress is threatening to shatter the secludedsociety.

MY OPINION:

This is aplay about double morality of the people who are supposed to be an example foreverybody else because they are the “the pillars of society.”

What I liked: Ibsen’s course of events flows very naturally,and the characters are transparently and multi-dimensionally outlined. Theending is surprising and cathartic for the characters as well as for thereader, and it made me smile contentedly.

What I disliked: The false glorification of some people who arethought to be better than other people and the whole double-standard ruleslimiting an individual’s happiness. Also, I was bothered by people who thoughtthey knew what was best for other people.

Generally,this is a great illustration about a hypocritical society, the people whoappear to be something they are not, and the people who want to dictate otherpeople’s lives. The play clearly expresses Ibsen’s criticism of such society,and presents his opinion on how things should be, especially with the ending.

RECOMMENDATION: This is a short, but compelling read aboutsociety’s double standards. I think everyone who wants to read a sociallycritical book with a cathartic ending would like The Pillars of Society.

Bout of Books Readathon 2.0 Starting Line & Updates

2011-10-24T16:19:00.001+02:00

Amanda of On a Book Bender hosts the second Bout of Books readathon from October 24 to October 30.

My Goals:

I will try to do my average amount of reading and read at least an a hour day or 50-100 pages a day. Although, I hope I'll manage to read more than that. Nevertheless, 500 pages is my minimum goal for the week.

I have a pile of books ready at hand, so I have plenty of choice for different moods, but I am mainly planning to finish Forbidden, which I started yesterday and read 30 pages, read The Pillars of Society, which is really short, and read around 100 pages of The Silmarillion. But basically it all depends on how I feel and how much time I have to read.

The books to choose from:

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
The Pillars of Society by Henrik Ibsen (my review)
The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien
Dark Need's at Night's Edge (IAD #5) by Kresley Cole
How Huge the Night by Heather and Lydia Munn
The Queen of the Damned (The Vampire Chronicles #3) by Anne Rice
Surviving with Wolves by Misha Defonseca
The Expected One (The Magdalene Line #1) by Katheleen McGowan

Updates:
(I’ll also update on twitter @StrangeNewWords, and you can find me on Goodreads):

The format is adapted from Amanda's.

October 24:

The books I’ve read today (and the number of pages): The Pillars of Society (108)

Number of pages I’ve read today: 108

Total number of pages I’ve read: 108

Today #insixwords: A most enjoyable two-hour waiting/reading.

October 25:

The books I’ve read today (and the number of pages): The Queen of the Damned (66)

Number of pages I’ve read today: 66

Total number of pages I’ve read: 174

Today #insixwords: Reading so fabulous I forgot to update.

October 26:

The books I’ve read today (and the number of pages): The Queen of the Damned (13)
Number of pages I’ve read today: 13

Total number of pages I’ve read: 187

Today #insixwords: Thirteen (pages) is my favourite number:)

October 27:

The books I’ve read today (and the number of pages): The Queen of the Damned (45)

Number of pages I’ve read today: 45

Total number of pages I’ve read: 232

Today #insixwords: This book is getting seriously gripping.

October 28:

The books I’ve read today (and the number of pages): The Queen of the Damned (116)

Number of pages I’ve read today: 116

Total number of pages I’ve read: 348

Today #insixwords: Got a lot of reading done.

October 29:

The books I’ve read today (and the number of pages): The Queen of the Damned (20)

Number of pages I’ve read today: 20

Total number of pages I’ve read: 368

Today #insixwords: Only one, yet gripping, chapter read.

October 30:

The books I’ve read today (and the number of pages): --

Number of pages I’ve read today: 0

Total number of pages I’ve read: 368

Today #insixwords: Great social life but no reading.

Beyond Strange New Words

Desperately Wanting Wednesday: Series I Need to Finish

When the Duke Returns by Eloisa James

Booking Through Thursday – Fan Fiction

The Avenger (Time Raiders #3) by P. C. Cast

I’ve Been Tagged!

Teaser Tuesday #13

All Together Dead (Sookie Stackhouse #7) by Charlaine Harris

Book Nook #8

Follow Friday #5

Definitely Dead (Sookie Stackhouse #6) by Charlaine Harris

Cat Diary (15): Inspiration

Film Review: Cowboys and Aliens (2011)

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: an Eclipse Novella by Stephenie Meyer

Book Nook #7

The Vampire Diaries as The Lord of the Rings

Dracula, My Love by Syrie James

Winter Mini-Readathon Wrap-up

Winter Mini-Readathon Mini-Challenge #3!

Winter Mini-Readathon

Film Review: Monte Carlo (2011)

Mood and Criticism

Flight of the Falcon by Susan Geason

Film Review: Midnight in Paris (2011)

Booking Through Thursday – Interview, Part 2

The Recruit (Cherub #1) by Robert Muchamore

Bout of Books 3.0 Start Line & Updates

Winter Mini-Readathon Sign-Up & Invitation

Book Nook #6

Film Review: Just Go with It (2011)

2012 Goals & Ways to Find Me

Vision in White (Bride Quartet #1) by Nora Roberts

Teaser Tuesday #12

Happy New Year!

My Life According to the Books I Read in 2011

2011 Challenge(s) Wrap-up

Dark Needs at Night’s Edge (Immortals After Dark #5) by Kresley Cole

Top Ten Favorite Books I Read in 2011

Merry Christmas!

Sire (The Vampires of St. Troy #1) by Thomas Galvin

Cat Diary (14): A Cat Heaven & Happy Holidays!

Book Nook #5

The Little Things

The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún by J. R. R. Tolkien

Book Nooks #4

Songs of the Season

Film Review: X Men: First Class (2011)

The Expected One (Magdalene Line Trilogy #1) by Kathleen McGowan

Coming Soon! Songs of the Season Music Hop

Book Nook #3

Film Review: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011)

Advent Tour and Winter Look

Surviving with Wolves by Misha Defonseca

The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ by Philip Pullman

Cat Diary (13): Playthings

Book Nook #2

Film Review: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

Phantom (The Vampire Diaries: The Hunters #1) by L. J. Smith*

Just Some Thoughts

Teaser Tuesday #11

Book Nook #1

Book Burning, Really?

A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen

Guys and Molls: Sing, You Sinners! (and Get Some Goodies)

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

Coming soon! Guys and Molls (November 10 – 17)

The Queen of the Damned (The Vampire Chronicles #3) by Anne Rice

Apologies and Plans

Bout of Books 2.0 Wrap-up

Cat Diary (12): Halloween Costume

Bout of Books Day 3 Challenge: Books Spine Poetry

The Pillars of Society by Henrik Ibsen

Bout of Books Readathon 2.0 Starting Line & Updates