Just a Brief Moment to Say a Few Words...

Well, I have been watching the news from Canada, and I have to say that the weather is not looking too promising down South! I have only ever faced one hurricane in my short life, Hurricane Juan, and for us, it was bad! But, so rare for us that we have books out about it... We get blizzards, maybe some ice storms, but I have never lived in a place where I had volcanoes, hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes as a plausible and slightly regular thing!

Blizzards come with the territory. People from warmer climates come here and they won't drive in a few snowflakes... If you SAW the weather conditions I drove in last winter... Sometimes I would come home and my road wouldn't be plowed and there would be snow drifts everywhere and I had to force my poor little car down that road! And then, because the plow had gone by at some point and time, my driveway would be so blocked in that I would have to park in the middle of the road to shovel myself in the driveway. Then, try and get enough power in my little car to succeed in getting it out of the road. That's what it is like living in Canada. While not the same thing as a hurricane, there have been some bad storms over the years and we would be without power in the middle of the winter... You think you can't live without air conditioning? Try living without heat... I remember when Ontario and Quebec had their bad ice storms and the power was out in some places for more than just a few days!

Anyways, I sort of got off topic. I just wanted to tell everyone to stay safe if this storm is going to be coming near you! Hopefully it will not be as bad as Katrina...

So frustruating!

So, I have been going through peoples' lists for the R.I.P. Challenge and I really want to read The Terror by Dan Simmons. I have since it came out but didn't want a hardcover! Anyway, today I receieved a gift card to Amazon and I went to go add it to my cart... It takes 1-3 months to ship if I want the paperback! That's just annoying. I still don't want to pay just over twenty for the hardcover, so now what am I going to do... I was hoping for instant gratification, you see. I had a really bad day and I want a book next week, not 1-3 months from now!

This has been my vent.

Carry on!

Now I need to decide what I want... You know I had a REALLY bad day when buying books is not improving my mood.

Short Story Friday... For the First, and probably last, Time

I'll admit it... I am not a big fan of short stories. I hardly ever read them, actually. They are just over too fast and I often find myself wishing for more. If you look at my sporadic history of book reviews, you will see just how rarely short story collections appear in my lists. I did have to read a short story this week, though, because it is technically the first part of Patricia Briggs new series and I wanted to know what was going on before I started Cry Wolf, which arrived in the mail yesterday! (As did the other three books I ordered. Yay!)

Instead of the back cover thing... Go to Patricia's web site to read an excerpt!

Anyway, what can you really say about a novella? Not much! It was only like 70 pages... If I talk too much, well, then you won't even have to read it and then people will be getting mad at me for ruining it for them, etc, etc... In any case, it was a promising beginning. I think this series is going to be a bit more of a romance-type thing than the Mercedes Thompson series, but that is not necessarily a bad thing! I suppose I can handle a bit of romance. Especially since this series will be my tiding over series while I wait for new Mercedes' books.... (February is soooo far away!)

Here's the thing... Those that read my blog should know by now that while I read a lot (don't say it, I know this should be past tense, but shhh), I don't really back anything that I don't love. I love Colleen Gleason, so I do interviews and give things away. I love Michelle Moran, so I am dedicating a week to her in September (details to come soon!). And, I love Patricia Briggs because I am willing to read ROMANCE to tide me over until the new Mercedes book. Now, if that is not the best way to tell someone what I think of an author, I really do not have any other way to put it. That being said, reading Colleen Gleason means visiting the romance aisle. Do you know I didn't even know where it was in the bookstore when I bought her first book? That is how much time I spend there... (I keep mentioning Colleen because I am catching up with her right now! In reading, I mean. I mean, there I am mentioned in the acknowlegments and I haven't even read the book! Do I suck or what?!?)

Anyways, I didn't read the rest of the stories in the anthology because they don't really interest me. Am I making a mistake here? Anyone else read them and think I should spend time on them, or what? Thoughts?

So, now I can start Cry Wolf, which means walking around with this cover.... You know, if the person on the cover is the woman I just read about... Well, she's not what I expected at all!

And in the meantime, Patricia has another story coming out in an anthology in December. I will read it, but man, I wish she would stop doing that to me! I won't read the other stories.... And then *drum roll* NEW MERCEDES BOOK IN FEBRUARY!!! Yay! I have no idea why I am such a fan girl about her series... probably because I am actually caught up in it instead of a bunch of books behind, like I am with most series... A bunch of books behind, I mean, not caught up.

Does she not have nice covers? I can't see I need to look at half-dressed women, but I mean, other than that the covers are nice and bright and eye-catching... You know, I am so un-girlie when it comes to this stuff, I HATE being caught with covers that look like that... I mean, I have a rep to protect... and people keep thinking I broke down and became a 'typical girl' and started reading romance novels. Now, please don't get me wrong, romance novels can be good, I just like action and adventure more than a guy and a girl (and difference variations on that theme) getting it on for a million pages. But, I do read J.D. Robb and things of that sort, so it is not like I am TOTALLY against it... It is just not my thing. And, I mean, I do go in the romance aisle for Gleason books.... So, see, I am not trying to be rude, so don't get mad at me!

The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

I decided to read one of my picks for the R.I.P. Challenge early... Carl said it was okay and I have wanted to read this book for a long time, so I went with it!

A fast-moving, eerie...tale set on Halloween night. Eight costumed boys running to meet their friend Pipkin at the haunted house outside town encounter instead the huge and cadaverous Mr. Moundshroud. As Pipkin scrambles to join them, he is swept away by a dark Something, and Moundshroud leads the boys on the tail of a kite through time and space to search the past for their friend and the meaning of Halloween. After witnessing a funeral procession in ancient Egypt, cavemen discovering fire, Druid rites, the persecution of witches in the Dark Ages, and the gargoyles of Notre Dame, they catch up with the elusive Pipkin in the catacombs of Mexico, where each boy gives one year from the end of his life to save Pipkin's. Enhanced by appropriately haunting black-and-white drawings.

The reason I wanted to read this book is because it is a movie! For years, every Halloween I have seen it on television and, more often than not, sat there and watched it! I had no idea it was a Ray Bradbury book, or I likely would've read it long before now! Anyway, I finally did find it at a second-hand bookstore and have been waiting to read it for the R.I.P. Challenge. I did not see the movie on television last year and I think I tried to find a DVD copy and did not have much luck, but at least now I have the book to read.

As I was reading the book I was, of course, comparing it to the movie. One of the big changes they made is that this is just a group of boys. In the movie there is a girl included, as well. I like that aspect a lot better. To be honest, I think I like the movie better, but it is hard to say because it has been a couple years since I had the chance to watch it. Moving on... This book is a bit like historical fantasy because the boys travel back in time to see where their Halloween costumes originated from. It is a history of Halloween book told in a fun way. Whille the book is dark, I found the movie darker. But, I might watch the movie again and find that what I remember is not actually the truth. It is hard to say!

To sum things up here. I did like this book. It is interesting to learn the history of Halloween and some of its favourite costume ideas. Instead of just droning on, though, there is a story which makes it seem less like a history lesson. Halloween has always been one of my favourite holidays, even though I am not big on the treat aspect, so I love Halloween-related books. I really need to read more of them! I have a bunch from when I was a kid... I am almost tempted to dig them out for this year...

This, That, and the Other Thing...

I will be the first to admit that I am not a big television watcher. I might put it on for background noise, but I hardly ever pay attention to it. I am pretty good at television trivia, though, which is rather surprising. I think it is because I retain my friends rambles. That's the only reason I can think of why. So, my friend has the complete set of Soap, which was a television show that was on the air from 1977-1981. I had heard of it before, but never watched it with any real interest. Somehow, though, my friend has me watching it with them, and while it is really one of the stupidest television shows ever... I love it! (What else is stupid is I just noticed it was raining out!) It turns out that I have actually seen episodes of it before, probably as reruns on television. In any case, we are on the fourth, and final, season, so I thought I would offer my thoughts on the show.

Here is the show in a nutshell. We have two sisters: Jessica Tait and Mary Campbell. The show is about their respectable families. Jessica is married to a womanizer and has three children. Mary is married to a man who thinks he can make himself invisible and has two children from her first marriage. Her first husband was killed. Her second husband also has two children from a previous relationship. Jessica is probably the ditzest person I know. Dealing with her would drive me crazy! But, as a character in a show I cannot help laughing! She went on to play Mona in Who's the Boss. The total 180 in characters is pretty impressive. Mary is the only one in the show that is not really a comedian. She sort of brings everything together and keeps it kind of calm.

As to the children, Jessica has two daughters and a son. Her oldest daughter, Eunice, is a spoiled little princess who always wants what she wants. She is played out in the relationship with her father and the way she handles her men. The next sister, Corrine, tends to go for men that she cannot have. She is also the intelligent female in the household. Eunice tends to be a bit too much like her mother in brain capacity... Lastly, we have Billy who is sort of lost in all the drama. He is worried that he is going to turn out crazy like the rest of his family, and actually tells one of his girlfriends that... Interesting enough it is her that turns out crazy, but I don't want to give too much away! Jessica's husband, Chester, has a brain but he fails to use it, which gets him in some very interesting situations. He can also be quite a baby, which can be annoying! You want to tell him to GROW UP! The Tait's also have a butler, Benson, who is one of my favourite characters. I guess he went on to have his own show, which might be interesting to look into... He is funny without really trying. He does have to put up with a pretty crazy family, though...

As to the Campbell's. Mary has two sons: Danny and Jody. Danny is hillarious because he is so clueless! The rest of the family (for the most part) uses their brains, so it is pretty funny to watch Danny interact with them and they try to deal with his stupid ideas. He is supposed to be that typical good-looking person with no brain... Then, we have Jody. Jody is played by a rather young Billy Crystal, so he got my vote from the very beginning. He is a very smart guy, but he is a homo-sexual. This is something that is a major theme in many of the episodes. I really like both Jody and Danny. Then, there is Chuck and Bob. Words cannot really convey how much I enjoy those two... You see, Chuck is Burt's son.... Bob is a dummy.... And by that, I do not mean really stupid. What I mean is that he is a doll that Chuck talks. Bob pretty much says everything that Chuck is too scared to say. I just love them. Really stupid when you think about it, but the family forgets that Bob is not real all the time, people try and understand why Bob gets introduced to visitors, and Bob easily has some of the best lines in the show! It is a brilliant idea! The other son of Burt is only in the first season. Burt is hillarious too. He is perfect at timing. Just watching him have a one-sided conversation on the phone is priceless.

I am probably not doing this show justice because I went into it without really knowing anything about it, so I don't want to ruin it for anyone. I am sure lots of people have seen this show before, but if you haven't and you need a good laugh: BUY IT! Or rent, renting is good. What the show is in a nutshell is a show that makes fun of other shows. I am really disappointed that there are only four seasons and that when it ends... it just ends... and not with any real ending either. I suppose it had to make way for the better known shows of the time, but personally, I like this better and am very happy I am taking the time to watch it!

Oh! I forgot the Major! Jessica and Mary's father is also in this show and he believes that the Second World War is still going on!
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Moving on... I was checking my email and Dewey had sent me a very interesting one. It is the link to a newish web site called Field Report: True Life. I do not really write anymore, but once upon a time I was always scribbling things down. Nowadays, I tend to read what other people have taken the time to write about. Earlier tonight I did some browsing. I haven't joined yet because I want to be able to spend some time on there when I do, but what the site is all about is a place where you can win cash prizes for good writing! Now, who doesn't need a little extra cash? They are looking for non-fiction stories, though, so keep that in mind. And if, like me, you don't really have time to write anymore, you can still participate. You see, members choose the winners! So, it is like you are a member of the Academy Awards for non-fiction and you can say afterwards: I voted for that person! Instant gratification... And then, you know, you can ask that person to share the wealth! (Just kidding...) So, be sure to head on over there. For a more in-depth run-through of the site, head over to the Quick Start Guide. If you do decide to submit some writing be sure and let me know! Then, I can say I knew you when...
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Lastly, I started the R.I.P. Challenge early because I really wanted to read The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury. A review will likely be coming tomorrow... I am almost done now!

An Announcement

Just in case anyone that reads my blog might be interested, I was the mod of a message boards called Historical Fiction.org. That site went down on Friday, so there is now a new forum for those interested in historical fiction. It is brand new, even though the members have been together for a while, so it is the perfect time to sign up! You are at the beginning just like everyone else, so head on over to Historical Fiction Online! It has many of the features the old site did, but it is also owned by the moderators, so they have a lot more flexibility! Everyone should stop by and sign up if you are interested!

Something Darkly This Way Comes...

I really need to read that... Anyways, it is that time of year again! Time for the R.I.P. Challenge. I am all prepared and organized this year, which is surprising, as I have been waiting for this challenge to come around! I have participated in all of Carl's challenges over the years, so this is no exception, of course. I have been reading a bit more lately, too, so hopefully that will mean that I can actually read a lot this year! I think I was still reading half-decent for this challenge last year, so that's a promising thought. So, Carl is encouraging book pools this year, which I have been doing all along anyways, so it is perfect for me! Okay, as organized as I am, I am a bit lacking in the sleep department so hopefully this post makes coherant sense! It has been a one thing after another sort of day, so I have been busy and did not get a lot of sleep in preparation!

On to the challenge. I am going with Peril the First, which means committing myself to reading 4 books between September 1st and Halloween. I think I can handle that! So, my pool, which will change and chances are I will not read anything from because my mood changes with the weather (which today alone changed like ten times), but here is the potentials anyway:
1. The Bleeding Dusk by Colleen Gleason
2. When Twilight Burns by Colleen Gleason
3. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
4. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
5. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
6. Faerie Tale by Raymond Feist
7. Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong
8. Fool Moon by Jim Butcher
9. The Book of Lost Things by John Connelly
10.Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
11.The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
12.The Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susanna Clarke
13.Don't Bet on the Prince edited by Jack Zipes

Yep, so I got that pool from going through everyone elses pools. I'm lazy. haha! I will just see what happens. I probably will start this challenge tomorrow anyways. I will also add pictures when I am more awake!

Books Bought...

I just bought:

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer
Cry Wolf - Patricia Briggs
When Twilight Burns - Colleen Gleason
Morganville Vampires 04 Feast Of Fools - Rachel Caine

Only four books and I only spent a few dollars more than I had to! Yay! I have will-power afterall. The last three were must buys, but the first one I got because of all the reviews I have seen. Normally I avoid this and wait a while to read it so I do not end up disappointed, but I gave in this time...

The Weirdest Thing...

My Amazon Wish List is LONG and here is me with a bit of extra money thinking I would go to the bookstore and buy myself a book.... I WALKED OUT WITH NOTHING! And not once, but twice! And, it is just depressing. It seems if I go to a bookstore with a list in my head, the bookstore does not have anything I want and I just walk out of there disappointed. Now, if I had gone in just to browse I probably would've found ten books I wanted, but that is besides the point.

For example, I STILL don't have Patricia Briggs new book. I thought I preordered it, but I didn't, and not one bookstore actually has it in stock! I could cry! I mean, even in the 'big' city, not a copy to be found. So, I already had it worked out that I was going to have to go online to get it.... Since that book was out of the picture, I have been trying to pick up Colleen Gleason's new book. I still haven't read book three, but I was going to read both of them in a row.... Bookstore does not have it! I knew I did not order that one online, the reason being that they had the first three, so I just assumed they would have the fourth one too! NOPE! I was very umimpressed!

Now, here I am staring at my computer and trying to decide if I should go on Amazon. I have been REALLY good with book-buying this year. I have hardly bought anything! So, I deserve a treat, right? It's just, I start getting books to get the free-shipping, and then I have a hard time choosing (probably because I have hardly bought any books this year and the list is getting really long), and then the next thing I know I have spent way more than I had planned. I mean, I obviously have some will-power because I have hardly bought books all year, but then I have a bit of freedom and the next thing I know I am going crazy! Yeah, who am I kidding... off to Amazon!

A Meme and Some Rambling...

I got tagged by Tanabata to do the 123 Book Meme, and I am actually doing it!

~Start Copy Here~
Instructions:1. Pick up the nearest book of at least 123 pages.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences after the tag chain.
5. Spread this tag to as many people as you can.

Book Tag Chain:
1) Only The Good Stuff, What Simply Works
2) Reflexes
3) A Great Pleasure
4) Color It Green
5) In Spring it is the Dawn
6) The Written World
~End Copy Here~

Okay, so the book I am reading is not out yet, so I am supposed to keep quiet about it until release day. The non-fiction book I have been considering starting is Memoirs by Brian Mulroney. So, I went with that one...

I had been instructed to get his signature on a sheaf of documents, after whichwe had a coffee and chatted in French. I was impressed: here was a successful
premier from a very privileged background, almost fifty-four years of age,
sitting in a hot little room learning conversational French. Language has always
been the great equalizer in Canadian politics and was touched by the sight of
this equable and talented man struggling to learn a language he now desparately
needed in order to campaign and eventually to govern.

As to tagging, anyone that wants to do it feel free!

I was going to write a book review but I had a busy day. I went to my hometown for the day to do the family thing. My father and brother both live there, my sister was down there visiting all ready, and my grandmother (my mothers' mother) still lives there. I also saw my fathers oldest brother and his wife, which was great because I have not seen them in years! Their grandchildren are so big! There are twelve years between my father and his brother, so my cousins were well into their lives before I was even born. I haven't seen my oldest cousin in like ten years (and he seems to have had hair inserted in some manner because he has more hair than I remember) and then he has two brothers who I do not think I have seen since my grandfathers funeral which was eight or nine years ago. This means that their kids are way older than the last time I saw them and there are a couple children that I have never seen before. So, my aunt showed me pictures and I picked out how much everyone looks like their parents and things. It was nice to at least hear about that family because I never actually see them in person... I am not very close to my fathers' side of the family, which is a shame, but such is life...

Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller

In Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight, Alexandra Fuller remembers her
African childhood with candor and sensitivity. Though it is a diary of an unruly
life in an often inhospitable place, it is suffused with Fuller’s endearing
ability to find laughter, even when there is little to celebrate. Fuller’s debut
is unsentimental and unflinching but always captivating. In wry and sometimes
hilarious prose, she stares down disaster and looks back with rage and love at
the life of an extraordinary family in an extraordinary time.

I chose this book for the 2nd Canadian Book Challenge, Eh! based on my own criteria. Alexandra Fuller went to my university in Canada, and it was because she was at my graduation ceremony that I even heard about her and decided to pick up a copy of her books. I read Scribbling the Cat last year and quite enjoyed it. This book actually comes first, but I think I received the other one in the mail first. (I just noticed she had another book come out earlier this year, I will have to check it out!) So, I finally got around to reading it this year and I am very happy I did. Fuller is one of the most entertaining authors I have read, so I always enjoy her writing. In this book she is writing of her childhood in Africa and she does not sugar-coat it. It is eye-opening, harsh, but at the same time it is entertaining and you cannot help laughing at some of the stories that she tells.

Not having even been to Africa before, it is very hard for me to imagine what it was like to be raised there. Anything I know about the place comes from other peoples' accounts and their lives are a lot different than they are for us over here. Fuller was basically raised in poverty, but she had a lot of experiences in the meantime. She is very global. She is British, but she was raised in Africa, went to university in Canada, and now lives in the U.S. Her parents are still in Africa, though, which is where she got the idea to write her other book. This book goes back to the very beginning and illustrates what life was like for Fuller growing up. We get a very clear image of not just her, though, but also the people in her family and the other people that she was raised around. There are very serious stories outlined in this book, but, at the same time there are stories will have you laughing. Fuller is very good at weighing things out in such a way that you do not get overwhelmed by any one subject.

I really like Fuller's writing style. This book was better than Scribbling the Cat. I quite enjoyed reading it and was a perfect arm-chair travel.

Nightingales Lament by Simon Green

In the Nightside, the hidden heart of London where it's always 3 AM, Detective John Taylor must find an elusive singer known as The Nightingale. Her silken voice has inexplicably lured many a fan to suicide--and Taylor is determined to stop her, before the whole neighborhood falls under her trance. But to catch the swift-winged Nightingale, he'll have to hear the deadly music--and survive.

This is the third book in Simon Green's Nightside series. I first read Green last year for the R.I.P. II Challenge hosted by Carl and found that I quite liked his writing style. It reminds me of a bunch of different series that I have read before, but somehow I find myself liking this series better than the others. So much so that I am trying to track down book four, but where it is an older series I will likely have to order online and I am trying not to do that because I spend too much money when I do that!

So, on to the book. This series is about Detective John Taylor. He is an interesting character. He has a third eye that makes him capable of finding things. So, that understandably makes him a good detective. The only problem is he has a lot of enemies and when he uses his third eye it makes it easier for them to hunt him down. This means he has the power but not it is too risky to use it all that often which means that he also has to act like a regular human being in his profession. In this book he is hunting down a singer who has alienated herself from her family and friends. Her father is worried about her and wants Taylor to check into things and make sure that his daughter is alright. This leads the reader on an interesting journey. All the characters in this series are not what they first may seem, so it means that you never really know what is going to happen next!

Another enjoyable entry in this series. Hopefully soon I will be able to read the next one and not wait a year!

(As to Breaking Dawn... pfft... I am really not surprised about the direction this book is going! Does that mean I like it? Nope. Just doesn't overly surprise me.)

Picture Sharing

Last Tuesday I went with a friend to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. I have been there plenty times before, but it was still nice to get away! The main reason behind my visit was to go sailing on the Bluenose schooner. I had seen it plenty of times, but this was my first sailing trip. Anyway, I really like the above picture, but it looks really great on my friends flatscreen television! I set it as their background just to see (they run their computer through their television) and we both couldn't get over how great it looks! They might be just being nice, but I like it anyways.

I was looking at my archives earlier and I have only updated fifty something times this year... That's not even half of what I accomplished the previous two years! I am lucky anyone still reads this blog!

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Edward’s soft voice came from behind me.

I turned to see him spring lightly up the porch steps, his hair windblown from running. He pulled me into his arms at once, just like he had in the parking lot, and kissed me again. This kiss frightened me. There was too much tension, too strong an edge to the way his lips crushed mine–like he was afraid we had only so much time left to us.

As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob–knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?

I did it! I managed to finish Eclipse. I started another book afterwards, but then I decided that I should not mess with a good thing and finish Breaking Dawn while I still can. So, I am now a hundred pages into that book and then the series will be done! Did I like Eclipse? Not especially. I was just more interested in whether anything would actually be wrapped up or I was in for another drawn out love triangle book. Romance is fine and everything, but she knew in Twilight that she could not live without Edward, so it just seems silly to spend two books discussing two guys. I know that Jacob has fans, but really, there is so much other stuff she could have done with all those pages! So much wasted potential.

Truthfully, I think I read the books for all the secondary characters. Alice is entertaining. The 'sister' of Edward, she makes for an interesting character. I like her better than Bella. I was also interested to learn more about the Cullen's. Both Jasper and Rosalie's stories were told in detail, while other details were filled in about the other characters. I really like the Cullen's. They make for interesting reads. I am not as big a werewolf fan, though. While some of the characters are interesting, I guess I am more for vampires and their stories.

As per usual, Bella gets herself into a bit of trouble and Edward and company has to come to her rescue. She sure brings out the worst in people! I mean, there is bad luck and then there is Bella... If something bad can happen, it will happen to her! This means that there is a bit of action in the book, and it is readable. Really, the series has so much potential but Bella is annoying and I am just not a love-triangle fan. If she had explored other things I probably would love this series as much as other people apparently do... I did really like The Host by Meyer, so she is not totally wasted on me. I will be back with a review of Breaking Dawn at some point. It depends on if I get through it right away or have to put it aside for a bit...

I Gave In...

Well, I had promised myself I was done with the Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series. Bella just absolutely drives me crazy! I just could not take another moment of her, so I considered New Moon as the end.... And then I started seeing all this talk about Breaking Dawn and how people were not all happy about how it ended.... And then you know I just had to see why that was... So, now I am reading Eclipse. I had started it back when it came out and it annoyed me to no end, but I really want to see why people aren't all thrilled with the ending, so I could either read the spoiler reviews or read it for myself. I decided to read it myself. Will I regret that decision? Maybe, but I am sticking to it. So, I am almost done Eclipse and you just know that I have a few opinions that I just have to share!

First up, BOTH of the male characters annoy me right now. Jacob most of all, but Edward is not my favourite character either lately. Bella needs to get a backbone or stop being so annoying or something. Yes, Bella still annoys me... Were you hoping for a change of heart? I swear she is not capable of doing anything for herself! She needs a guy around to do it for her, and that just annoys me. I like having guys around, but I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself. So, the love triangle is just getting on my nerves. I was really hoping with Edward back things would move on and there would be a new storyline to annoy me.... If things don't get wrapped up in this book I am going to read the spoiler reviews and forget even bothering to read the last book. This is just too drawn out for me. Really, this series could've been a lot shorter.

Anyways, I have no idea why I am reading this book, but I am. I will be finished soon and be back with an actual review. In the meantime, I have to go find a treat to read after the torture! That being said... I probably will still see the movie. I am just not sure if I will go to the theatre to see it or rent it.

The Twisted Citadel by Sara Douglass

Tencendor is no more. The land is gone. But a few SunSoars remain, and a new foe walks the world.

In a time of magic and danger, three new heroes have stepped forward—Ishbel Brunelle, priestess of the Serpent Coil; Isaiah, the Tyrant of Isembaard; and Maximilian, the Lord of Elcho Falling. Yet despite their best efforts, the Dark God Kanubai has risen. And worse yet, war approaches—backed by the evil, insidious DarkGlass Mountain, hordes of insatiable Skraelings ravage the land.

While the trio struggles to keep its armies and alliances alive, the SunSoars have their own challenges, including the chance to rejoin the magical Star Dance at long last, and the appearance of the Lealfast, long-lost kin to the Icarii. The Lealfast and the Icarii may be friends . . . or deadly enemies. And as tensions rise between the two races, Axis SunSoar revives his elite Strike Force in a desperate bid to stop the darkness.

After reading The Serpent Bride by Sara Douglass, I knew that I was going to have to spend some time with more of her books. It just so happened that soon after I finished that book the sequel came out. The only bad thing about that is that since I have read it already I have a very long wait ahead of me for book three! In the meantime I will likely be reading some of her older stuff.

One of the things I was worried about in regards to this book was that it would suffer from second-book problems. Generally the second book in a trilogy is a bit dull because it goes back and develops everything that was started in the first book. There is not usually much action involved, which can lead to a dull read. People told me that Sara Douglass was not like this, and I readily agree with them at this point. This book was just as much a page-turner as the first one and I know for sure that I am hooked on her writing style. Trilogies that I have loved the first book have been destroyed for me because I find the second book so boring, so it was wonderful to dive into this book and not be disappointed.

In this book, lots of loose ends are tied up and yet there is still plenty to happen in the last book. We do see much more of the main characters that were introduced in the first book, but they are always busy, so it is not just character descriptions. A few new characters have come to the forefront as main characters, so it was refreshing to have new characters to read about, as well as the ones that I so enjoyed in the first book. Ishbel has grown on me, as well, she did not annoy me at all in this book, while with the first book I found her ways a bit annoying at times. She has really grown up for this book.

The Lealfast are introduced in this book. A couple of them were bit characters in the first book, but we did not really know what they were all about. In this book they make a strong appearance and really add an interesting dynamic to the book. I will be interested to see in what direction they carry the story for the third book. They play strongly into questions of identity, with half their blood being of the allied forces and the other half coming from the enemy. This split identity makes them very interesting characters. While we know a lot of the time what they are thinking, the main characters are not always aware of what is going on. It will be interesting to see in what direction Douglass takes the story.

There is a lot to look forward to with the third book. Some people think that the answers are obvious, but readers know that there is a lot that could happen within those pages. I am very excited to see what happens. I once again strongly recommend Sara Douglass!

I got this book from Harper Collins Canada. I am very grateful to them! Normally I link to the actual book on their site, but as of right now the URL is taking you to a blog instead of the book site... Not sure what is up with that!

A Meme

I rarely - if ever - get tagged for memes anymore, but I thought I would do this one even though I wasn't. Weird, I know,

Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?
I have just always read... Old photos of me I am holding books. My first word was book. I was determined to learn how to read pretty much since I was old enough to hold a book myself. A book is such a common feature with me that my family thinks it is weird when they go days without seeing a book in my hand in some capacity.

What are some books you read as a child?
My reading has not changed a lot now from when I was a child. I sort of skipped young adult books in many cases... I am the worst person to really ask about picture books too. I was read them when I was a kid, but I only remember reading the young reader chapter books for the most part. I have a reading worm from when I was in the first grade, I really should drag it out. When I was in the second grade I was stealing books from my mother, and then the fantasy kicked in. Chronicles of Narnia is probably the book from when I was a kid. For something a bit younger, it would probably be Beatrix Potter. One of her books was given to me when I was born and I have the whole set in these pretty boxed sets. Oh, and Golden Books. I had a lot of those! Otherwise, it was fantasy and science fiction. And I was older (like now) before I went back and read the books I should've been reading back then. I was in a hurry to grow up, I guess.

What is your favorite genre?
Fantasy, of course. I read science fiction, historical fiction, and books by or about Canadians. I also have read a lot of non-fiction this year... memoirs, history, and travelogues with motorcycles involved for whatever reason.

Do you have a favorite novel?
Not just one... Man, even a list is so hard because I read so many books! A favourite I have had for years is A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. Others include The Chronicles of Narnia, Phantom by Susan Kay, The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, The Host by Stephenie Meyer... so many!

Where do you usually read?
Wherever I can find a spot. In bed or at work is the common places, but there is really no order to my reading.

When do you usually read?
When I am working, before I go to bed, whenever I have a few minutes to myself and I have a book handy...

Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?
It wouldn't be otherwise!

Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction?
It depends on how readable it is. If it is a bit dry I probably read it slower.

Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library?
I buy mostly. Or get books from very nice publishers!

Do you keep most of the books you buy? If not, what do you do with them?
I keep most of them, yes.

If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them? Were they some of the same ones you read as a child?
No children.

What are you reading now?
The Twisted Citadel by Sara Douglass is my main read right now.

Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list?
I used to, but it is really outdated!

What’s next?
Whatever strikes my mood first...

What books would you like to reread?
That list would be so long!

Who are your favorite authors?
Isabel Allende, Madeleine L'Engle, David Gemmell, Robin Hobb, Sara Douglass, Douglas Coupland, Patricia Briggs, etc...

Just a few things....

Well, I just worked six backshifts in a row! It was sort of tiring because I have never done it before, so I just didn't feel like doing a lot of things. The best part of it, though, was reading! I am reading The Twisted Citadel by Sara Douglass. I read The Serpent Bride earlier this year and loved it, so picking up a copy of the next book was a must-do. I was a bit worried I wouldn't like it because it is the second book in the trilogy, but I worried for no reason. It is not full of action, but there is enough going on that Douglass keeps your attention. I think she is quickly becoming one of my favourite fantasy authors. I was making really good progress towards finishing a couple books, but life, as usual, got in the way. It depresses me that I read so little now, but I am trying not to think about it.

I find myself thinking when I get to the end will it bother me more that there are so many books I wanted to read that I never got around to or will it bother me that I missed out on so many chances to go out and do things with friends and family because I stayed home with my book. The first like 22 years of my life was spent hiding behind a book. I was social, but when I got caught up in a book, I didn't need to be social. While I will always love to read and I am still reading great books, there are so many other things I want to do. Even with my crazy work schedule I managed to get to two movies this week (which never happens!), had a BBQ with my best friend, went to a bar to listen to some karaoke (and sang twice), went to Halifax and spent the night with a group of friends, went out to lunch with a friend and their brother, etc. That is with working SIX backshifts! I am pretty impressed with myself, I must say. Did I read six books? Nope! But, I managed to have fun amidst a really horrible work schedule. Sounds good to me!

Anyway, on to the movies. I don't really do movie reviews, so you are going to have to take them as they come... The two movies I saw were Mama Mia and The X-Files: I Want to Believe. I was supposed to see Mama Mia another time but when we went it was sold out! It was crazy busy at the theatre that night. You couldn't even park! Anyway, so I finally saw it. In a nutshell, I ended up liking it! I was a little worried in the beginning because I am not super fond of the little blondes acting (you know, the daughter... I am totally blanking on her name). She was a little too forced and I was worried the movie was going to be that way, but it turned out to be a fun movie. It was funny, it had catchy music (but don't tell anyone I just said that), and it put people in a good mood. Sounds good to me! Plus, I was really really tired and managed to stay awake during it, so that is saying something!

The other movie I saw was a necessary thing. I LOVE The X-Files. When Star Trek went off the air that was really the only television show that I would make an effort to watch, so I had to see it in theatres. I dragged my friend with me. They said it was not worth the money, but, well, I was not taking no for an answer so it is just tough! I cannot say I loved it, but I was just so happy to see Scully and Mulder together again that I did not really care what it was about. I will be buying it, of course. I wish more of the older cast members had been worked into the movie, but even without them I still enjoyed the movie.

I am very sad to admit that since Star Trek and X-Files went off the air... I have not found a show that I had to watch. I rarely watch television anymore. There are a couple shows that I will watch if I am thinking about it, but it has been all this time since I loved a television show. I mean, it's been a few years since The X-Files went off the air. So, I am very lucky this year. I get some Scully and Mulder, and then sometime soon I get a new Star Trek movie. While I am not a big fan of the Original Series, you know I will still be there to see the new movie...