Just an update...

I am at work, so not really supposed to be on the computer. This means that I won't be posting a review, even though I have a few reviews that I haven't typed up yet. I haven't really had much time off lately so my days are all sort of running together and slipping away from me. My most exciting piece of news, though, is I am getting a new computer! It is actually my mother's old computer, she bought a new one yesterday, but it is better than my computer, so I am not complaining. I am giving my old computer to a friend because it still works fine, it is just older. He is not much of a computer user anyways, so it will be perfect for him.

Right now I am reading The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I really like it so far, and because work is dead (it's Sunday afterall), I think I will likely be spending most of my night reading. I like it so far, but I am still pretty fresh into it. I was not going to read it because Bella just drives me crazy in the Twilight series, but a few good reviews changed my mind. I will keep you posted on my thoughts.

The Onion Girl by Charles de Lint

This is the Charles de Lint book that everyone always seems to have read, so I figured it was time for me to get around to it. I have to say that I am really glad I did! I am such a fantasy nerd. I read a lot of other stuff, but I could only read fantasy novels and be the happiest person in the world. I am not sure what it is, maybe just a desire for this world we live in to be more than it is? I have always had a pretty over-active imagination, and fantasy novels have always seemed to fit my ideals. The characters in this book just take my imagination one step further and actually get to live in their worlds. I think that is why I read fantasy, to be truthful, because I want to believe that these things are possible and that there is more to the world that you cannot always see.

Anyways, in this book we have Jilly, who is totally my kind of character. Great English, huh? I didn't have an ideal childhood, so I generally can relate to characters like her. Even if our lives have turned out differently, there are still some things that are at the core the same. Jilly was really fun to read about. Even though she is "The Broken Girl", she is not boring in the slightest. She is vibrant and her character really comes through the pages so that you feel like you know her. That is a mark of both a good writer and a good character. While there are lots of other characters in this book, I find Jilly to be my favourite. She appears in other de Lint books, so I look forward to visiting with her again.

I am not going to rehash the plot because I see this book reviewed quite a bit. I will just say that I really liked this book and that I recommend it. I really should've been getting through my de Lint pile long ago, but I just never seemed to get there. Now I feel like I need to add to it, but I am trying not to buy books... I am sure I will read at least one more de Lint book this year, and I strongly recommend other people do the same.

Other Reviews:
Reading Adventures

Anyone else?

The 2nd Canadian Book Challenge

The 2nd Canadian Book Challenge. Just what I need, huh? I didn't join this the first time around, mostly because I have not really been reading all that much lately and I was staying away from challenges. I decided to join this time around because I own a lot of books by Canadian authors and I really should be reading more. It was actually my theme for the Themed Reading Challenge, so it seemed only fitting to join a challenge about Canada. I am going to be The Free Spirit because it is me and I am very bad at reading books from a list. I am going to try and read both fiction and non-fiction, so we will see how that goes. Just so I have an actual post I picked 26 books off my shelf that I could possibly read, but I am not pressuring myself. Here's the list:

Fiction:
1. Stanley Park by Timothy Taylor
2. Effigy by Alissa York
3. The Horseman's Graves by Jacqueline Baker
4. The Lost Highway by David Adams Richards
5. Conceit by Mary Novik
6. Consolation by Michael Redhill
7. Consumption by Kevin Patterson
8. Scotch River by Linda Little
9. Rush Home Road by Lori Lansens
10.The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnston
11.The Song of Kahunsha by Anosh Irani
12.The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill
13.Eleanor Rigby by Douglas Coupland
14.The Flying Troutman by Miriam Toews

Non-Fiction
1. Witch in the Wind by Marq De Villiers
2. Heart Matters by Adrienne Clarkson
3. Niagara by Pierre Berton
4. Lords of the Lake by Robert Malcom
5. The Acadians by James Laxer
6. I've Got a Home in Glory Land by Karolyn Smardz Frost
7. The Truth About Canada by Mel Hurtig
8. John A. The Man Who Made Us by Richard Gwyn
9. Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller
10.The Masked Rider by Neil Peart
11.Flint and Feather by Charlotte Gray
12.Loyalists and Layabouts by Stephen Kimber
13.Traveling Music by Neil Peart

There was a thirteenth one but I started it already...

The Serpent Bride by Sara Douglass

Rescued from unspeakable horror, Ishbel Brunelle has devoted her life to a Serpent cult that reads the future in the entrails of its human sacrifices. But the Serpent has larger plans for Ishbel than merely being archpriestess, plans that call for a dangerous royal marriage balancing on the edge between treachery and devotion, and an eerie, eldritch warning: Prepare for the Lord of Elcho Falling...

And there are other dangers. For while Tencendor is gone, even its fall cannot destroy the Icarii. As the Tyrant of Isembaard reaches for glory, both StarDrifter SunSoar and his son, Axis, are pulled into the deadly dance of intrigue and sorcery. The DarkGlass Mountain--once known as the Threshold--is waiting, and as the Dark God Kanubai rises from his prison in exile, no one will escape unscathed.

This book was wonderful! I picked it up on a whim one day and found myself falling in love with Sara Douglass' writing style. This book could look overwhelming because of the large size, but it is really very readable and if you have the time to devote to it, doesn't take very long to get through at all. You will want to know what happens next, and, if you are like me, will be disappointed when you get to the end because there is still so much left to be told of the story and I want to know what happens next! As I was reading I kept forgetting this was the first book in a trilogy because so much happens that you almost think that everything will be wrapped up by the end, but then it would sink in that there were two more books yet to come and it would take forever for me to see everything wrapped up. I am the worst with trilogies and series. I have too many on the go, I never seem to finish any of them, but I keep starting new ones!

In this book, there are characters for everyone. At times I thought there were just a bit too many for me to keep track of, especially considering how slowly I was reading this book, but in the end I knew who the central characters were and was able to keep all their stories straight. Douglass writes really good characters. Even when you hate them, you want to see what is going to happen to them next. Her characters all have pasts, which in many cases she covers during the course of the novel, so they become more than two-dimensional characters. You know why they act like they do, you know where they are coming from, and in some cases you know where they are going. Do they still annoying you at times? Of course, but that is the mark of a great writer when you get into the story enough to have opinions about the characters.

This is a novel about evil rising and a group of unlikely characters finding themselves pushed together to triumph over this evil. Or, at least try and triumph over this evil. It is a book where everything happens for a reason. Many of the characters in this book have been living their life waiting for this moment to shine, and we will see if they do in fact shine as the trilogy progresses. I am a bit worried about book two. Considering how far into the story book one went, I can see book two seriously suffering from the 'book two problems' and book three really being the book that everyone is waiting for.

Anyways, I wrote a review of this book when it was fresh in my head, but it somehow got erased, so now I have read a few books since and it is not as fresh anymore. Not to mention, I am a bit rusty on this review writing thing! (Still not on my computer, so pictures will be added later.)

Challenges Completed!

So, slacker me actually managed to finish not one, but two challenges! I am so proud of myself. I have actually been reading a lot more lately, so hopefully my reading mojo is back.

Anyways, for The Once Upon a Time II Challenge I finished:

1. The Serpent and the Rose by Kathleen Bryan
2. Dragons of Spring Dawning by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
3. The Golden Rose by Kathleen Bryan
4. No Humans Involved by Kelley Armstrong
5. The Serpent Bride by Sara Douglass
6. The Onion Girl by Charles de Lint

Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman, Kelley Armstrong, and Charles de Lint I had read before. Kathleen Bryan and Sara Douglass, this was the first time. I liked all of the books, I cannot really say I hated any of them. I plan to read more from all of the authors, so that is always a good sign. I am sitting here trying to figure out what my favourite book was, but I really cannot decide! They were all a bit different, so it is hard to decide which I liked the best.

The second challenge that I completed is the Themed Reading Challenge. My theme was Canada. My list for this challenge:

1. The Princes of the Golden Cage by Nathalie Mallet
2. The Girl in Saskatoon by Sharon Butala
3. No Humans Involved by Kelley Armstrong
4. Ghost Rider by Neil Peart
5. Roadshow by Neil Peart
6. The Onion Girl by Charles de Lint
7. The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

I LOVE Neil Peart's writing. I didn't feel like I was reading non-fiction at all. He is fabulous. I plan to get his other memoirs as treats for actually reading lately. My friend thinks my infatuation is pretty funny because it is not like Rush is a new thing, I had even heard of them before, but I just had never really listened to them before. So, laugh if you want. Otherwise, I enjoyed all the others as well. One good thing about this hardly reading thing is I haven't really read anything I hated this year, so that's saying something.

Me Again

So, I am not sure if I am in any better spirits than I was last time I posted, but let's pretend, shall we? This week has started an interest in looking for a new job. I think I have a very nice resume, but I have the hardest time getting interviews for jobs. It's very annoying. One of my friends has this knack for getting these awesome jobs and I cannot figure out what the differences are between my resume and hers. In any case, I have started the job hunt again. My friend found a job that he thinks I should at least try for, but like I said, I have a hard time getting people to pay attention to me. I have all the necessary experience and I know I can do the job, but it is getting the other people to know that which is the problem. So, that is where I find myself this weekend. Updating my resume and applying for a few jobs and hoping that something good comes my way! Wish me luck.

How is everyone else doing these days? I am still hardly reading, so no big news there. I am just busy all the time and my book gets neglected. I did read a fair bit last night, though, so I am proud of myself. I work a shift tonight that I might get some reading done. It's crazy. I am bored at my job. There is nothing to do and I am not a sit around and do nothing person. The one job that I know I am applying to for sure, you actually do things. I would actually be busy my entire shift! I keep switching jobs thinking that they will be more demanding, but it never works out that way. Maybe this job wouldn't be my dream job, but it is better than what I have right now. Anyways, I am just appearing to say hi. Until I get reading again, I don't really have a lot to say! I never ended up seeing Indiana Jones, which makes me sad, but I did see Chronicles of Narnia, so that is one of the movies I was excited about.

Back to the resume updating. Wish me luck!

How Quickly Things Change....

Well, I had been having a good year so far, but everything changed in the last couple days. It is amazing how quickly your whole world can be turned upside down. I likely will vanish again, mostly to get my head together, and then I probably will be around a lot more than I have been lately. That is both a good and a bad thing... Is it impossible for anything truly good to happen to a person, or is it just fate that the moment everything is going well, it all crashes and burns around you....

What Was Old Is New Again

I have found this year that while my reading and computer-usage is at an all-time low, I have managed to explore some music that I never really listened to before. I like a lot of, what my friends say, weird stuff. My best find of 2008 by far was Rush, which I have mentioned several times on here lately. Earlier this week, though, my friend was playing a Boston CD. There are several Boston songs that I have heard before and know all the words to, but I have never really listened to them before. Now I am addicted to one song: Higher Power. I love that song and I guess I have never heard it before, so I have been playing it over and over again. Now I wish I had paid more attention to Boston before. My music friend keeps saying that I just like all this stuff because he does. He is crazy, but at least at the core he knows that. I am not really the sort to like something just because other people do. I just am paying attention to things that I never really noticed before.

He ruined Cold As Ice by Foreigner for me, though. He sings and his version is way better than the original. I had not listened to Foreigner in a while, so I popped the CD in the other night and listened to that song and I was just disappointed! I was really sad because I like Foreigner, but he sings a much more raunchy (sp?) version that just sounds ten times better. I find the Foreigner version boring! Crazy, huh? I have to stop listening to him sing, he keeps ruining my songs. I guess that is the problem when a lot of the songs he sings are songs I like. It is so great that he doesn't read my blog, because that would go right to his head! haha.

I am still trucking along with Sara Douglass. For the page length, it is actually quite a quick read. If I sit down with it for some quality time a couple times, I should have no problem finishing it. That being said, I rarely have the time to just sit down with a book and have no other distractions. Ah, well, such is life.

On to other things. It seems I have returned to the blogging world just in time for Etsy Week over at Stainless Steel Droppings. Perfect timing, I think, because I love art. Especially art with a bit of a fantasy feel to it. Anyways, I was just looking through all the different art pieces today, and I was thinking that so far I think Jennifer Gordon is my favourite artist he has showcased. Her art is fabulous! (In the Dreaming)

I am not sure what it is that sets her above the others that he has shown, but I love it. The themes, use of different mediums, and even the titles really speak to me. I am very tempted to head over to her web site and browse, but browsing can be expensive! I have her bookmarked for a future shopping experience, though. Isn't she wonderful, though?

(The Other Side of Yesterday)

Don't get me wrong, the other artists are all great too in their own ways, but Gordon's work just seems to call to me. Be sure to head over to Stainless Steel Droppings to see the rest of the artists and more from Jennifer.

On another note.... I am going to see Indiana Jones tonight! Yay! My friend asked me if I still wanted to see it at theatres, and I said yes, but no one wants to go and I hate spending money to go to the movies alone. No matter how much I want to see a movie, it just is not worth it to me. So, he is taking me! I love my friends, they do come through for me in the end. He likes Indiana Jones, but he wasn't sure if it was worth seeing on the big screen. I didn't see the original three on the big screen, so I mostly want to go just because I can. And, I did see some reviews, so I am trying to not get TOO excited so as to not be disappointed... Who am I kidding, I was counting down the days until this movie came out. This and Prince Caspian were the two movies I was most looking forward to this year.

And, I got distracted by Jennifer Gordon's website... My mind is running through whether I have anywhere to hang any of her art. See, I knew this would happen. Carl is evil on the pocket book, huh? But we love him. I imagine I can get away with one piece from her, but then I would have to narrow it down! I better get off the computer now or I will be here all day. Have a great day everyone! (Maybe two pieces... The other one would get lonely, right?)

If anyone still reads this blog.... HI! I dropped off the face of the planet again. I am really bad for that this year! Anyways, I am alive. I am trying to finish my last Once Upon a Time book and I need to do a wrap-up post for the Themed Reading Challenge. Then I will at least have accomplished two reading goals for the year. Yay! I hardly touched a book all May because of a crazy work schedule and hardly ever being home. Such is life, I suppose. Right now I am reading the fabulous (I hope) Sara Douglass for the first time. I started with The Serpent Bride. I am aware that this is not the first book I should be reading, but it had such a pretty cover... I am still very fresh into it, but I am enjoying it so far. I am hoping it will be my last read for the Once Upon a Time challenge because I REFUSE to not finish! I mean, this is me! Up until this year fantasy was my bread and water and now I am struggling to find time to read it. It is just crazy. Then, I will hopefully finish all the books I have started and not finished this year. The pile is a bit crazy. I just get busy and distracted and more often than not, forget that I even have a book on the go....

Anyways, I saw the new Chronicles of Narnia in theatres the other night. It was really good! I think I liked it better than the first movie. I had started to reread the book beforehand, but it did not happen, and I started to rewatch the movie and that did not happen either. Such is life. My friend managed to finish the movie, though, and he said that it made it all that much better seeing the new one. I told him to shut up. I still haven't seen Indiana Jones, but I really hope to get there before it leaves theatres... I managed to rewatch the first two movies, but I have not had a chance to watch the third one. Maybe this weekend. I know that the movie is not getting the best reviews from everyone, but I am trying to ignore people's thoughts until I see it for myself!

Something that has been on my mind of late is what it is to be a girl. My friends have been pointing out lately that I am not very girlie, and I find myself wondering what exactly that means. I mean, I am a girl, so does that not guarantee that however I act is girlie? My guy friend even said that he is more girlie than I am. And, several times lately I have had people comment on how my new jacket has made me dress more girlie... So, I ask, how was I dressing before? I mean, I guess I am not the most ordinary girl out there. I was not waiting in line to see Sex and the City, I am a huge Trekkie, I love fantasy novels, and I am told that I like music that generally has a large male audience. I have no idea what has sparked all these observations, but I have been hearing them lately. It is not like I don't want to be a girl, it is more that I just don't want to be one of those fake, plastic girls that are so common. I am just trying to decide whether I should take everything people have been saying lately as a compliment or not. I am just me, and while I am not perfect, I like me. I have issues with myself once in a while, of course, and I am sure there are things that I really need to work on, but at the same time I am who I am. Just something that has been on my mind lately.

I know I am behind in a lot of things, and I do apologize for that. I hopefully will catch up on things soon! No promises, though.