tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85995671807424461502024-03-05T07:10:16.744-08:00just add books ...Reader, dreamer, fangirl, film fan, TV addict, nascent gamer, chocolate fan, cat-owned, mum.Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.comBlogger626125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-14304662626617073372015-06-10T23:53:00.001-07:002015-06-10T23:53:19.552-07:00Meet the new blogger ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJORMTTl4__zjHVmjUIpxYIgktDq58KwGqiJnggoAzWa8bIjhAvjyxL8hhnl-IIaJpFOkqevbivvMG3O0_Ttxn-wHRtkhKmHBaO-J1aczK4QUn5Pgo2dMDTzAjlExeiN5FwmKzUBCLjXWy/s1600/Butterfly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJORMTTl4__zjHVmjUIpxYIgktDq58KwGqiJnggoAzWa8bIjhAvjyxL8hhnl-IIaJpFOkqevbivvMG3O0_Ttxn-wHRtkhKmHBaO-J1aczK4QUn5Pgo2dMDTzAjlExeiN5FwmKzUBCLjXWy/s200/Butterfly.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
... same as the old blogger ....<br />
<br />
<br />
this is a bit scary, after nearly ... eight years in the same place. But I felt the need for a change, a makeover and a new address that was a bit more accurate for me.<br />
<br />
So, if you will, go over here ................ http://lifetheuniverseandcats.blogspot.co.nz/ and say hi :-)<br />
<br />
Same old me, brand new address.Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-53799116242217741282015-06-06T22:36:00.000-07:002015-06-06T22:36:38.945-07:00The restless reader<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkV1fA-ijPowbHz6OYz6sprPt_i3kOEVDaK9gqKZW1JlRFAMzWJd30vpo1P27dQ_pfTWOY0xYDjqok1uyMvR1g8_Q8OOxr_qb9dZipcw5qxln68c9snbmwRGoKQc0qep5gkCeHzVr2sVQc/s1600/books+June+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkV1fA-ijPowbHz6OYz6sprPt_i3kOEVDaK9gqKZW1JlRFAMzWJd30vpo1P27dQ_pfTWOY0xYDjqok1uyMvR1g8_Q8OOxr_qb9dZipcw5qxln68c9snbmwRGoKQc0qep5gkCeHzVr2sVQc/s200/books+June+7.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
I have - so far - been having a pretty good reading year. I've been trucking along nicely, and keeping pace with my goodreads challenge.<br />
<br />
I've read some good books, some great books (STATION ELEVEN) and some ... other books.<br />
<br />
But, now, I find myself in that unenviable position: What's next? The fuzzy photo on the left is all of the books I have on my bedside table at the moment. One pile of my own books, and one pile of library books.<br />
<br />
Misery is on there, for the June readalong, hosted by the ever lovely Care of https://bkclubcare.wordpress.com/ and I had aspirations to start it today. I got about 10 pages in. I've read Misery before, and I do love it, but for today, my brain went "meh." So it's on the shelf, for now. I have a terrible unweildy omnibus which contains Misery so I might see if my library has a more hands-friendly copy and go from there.<br />
<br />
My lunchtime ibook reading is Reaper Man by Mr Sir Terry Pratchett, and that's going okay. The book itself is wonderful of course, funny and sharp-witted and all of the best things. I took it with me today when I took spawn to the playground and my brain went .. "meh."<br />
<br />
It's not you, lovely books, it's me.<br />
<br />
I've had six months of excellent reading, and as I said previously, some excellent books, but I have hit that dreaded thing: The Wall.<br />
<br />
Well, okay, I haven't hit it very hard, obviously, as I still have books on the go, it's more like .. I've stubbed my toe on the corner of the wall, and now I'm wary of touching the wall again because the wall means pain.<br />
<br />
The wall.<br />
<br />
(Sorry).<br />
<br />
I want my momentum back, is what I'm saying. I want the wall to bugger off. Or better yet, crumble into dust at my feet. I realise that I haven't hit the other dreaded thing yet: The Slump, but I've been having such a good reading year so far, that I want to avoid that at ALL COSTS.<br />
<br />
So. I'm thinking what I can do to dodge the evil slump, where it lurks in the swamps behind the Wall.<br />
<br />
Old favourites?<br />
Something entirely new?<br />
Non-fiction?<br />
Something I haven't thought of yet?<br />
<br />
Any ideas? :-)Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-68582397043570770252015-06-01T01:05:00.001-07:002015-06-01T01:05:41.197-07:00Dragons and wardens and cross stitch ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxu_WCzsHNCwnJa4lUViFhnyi5vVSRCNZPneyN1mlbegEqhWLCPBuWFafjDZbOzgk0RO7lrHuuF9_KCQjJM998SyX02OQ94dVAj4DXw2xZdJamIK9IcwKu3L3geC8mbEMnk0su7ULZ7vH6/s1600/inspiration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxu_WCzsHNCwnJa4lUViFhnyi5vVSRCNZPneyN1mlbegEqhWLCPBuWFafjDZbOzgk0RO7lrHuuF9_KCQjJM998SyX02OQ94dVAj4DXw2xZdJamIK9IcwKu3L3geC8mbEMnk0su7ULZ7vH6/s200/inspiration.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Hosted by the lovely Trish, here: http://www.lovelaughterinsanity.com<br />
<br />
So, a few months ago, I ventured into video games for basically the first time ever.<br />
<br />
I never played them before because I'm absolutely terrible with gaming consoles. I can't use them for some reason.<br />
<br />
But THEN somehow I found out you could also play using mouse/keyboard and so I thought "well, I'll give it a go, see what happens."<br />
<br />
(Stay with me.)<br />
<br />
What happened was I bought Dragon Age Origins and Dragon Age 2 in a bundle that Mighty Ape had on special at the time. I leaped in with Dragon Age because I'd seen people talk about Inquisition, and I thought "hey, that sounds like fun," and ... well, the rest is history, sort of.<br />
<br />
I started playing in December and ... what, seven months later? I'm finally nearly at the end of the game. Go me, right? (THIS IS ABOUT CREATIVITY I SWEAR JUST BEAR WITH ME).<br />
<br />
Now, I tend to get enthusiastic about things that I love.<br />
<br />
Cats, for example.<br />
STATION ELEVEN.<br />
Whittaker's artisan sea salt and caramel chocolate.<br />
<br />
And I am very very very enthusiastic about Dragon Age. So much so, that I went poking about on Etsy recently, looking for cross-stitch patterns of the Grey Wardens' motto.<br />
<br />
(Told you it was about creativity.)<br />
<br />
I found a couple of patterns, and they were ... nice. But not what I wanted.<br />
<br />
So, for the first time ever, as someone who cannot draw a stick person, I'm embarking on creating my very own pattern.<br />
<br />
I'm not actually .... creating it, as in drawing it from scratch because that way madness lies for us all.<br />
<br />
It's more ... a cobbling-together.<br />
<br />
The Grey Wardens motto is this:<br />
In peace, vigilance. In war, victory. In death, sacrifice.<br />
<br />
Also, in the legend of the game, the original Grey Wardens would fly into battle on griffons. So I want to incorporate that, too.<br />
<br />
I started with the alphabet. For the "I" on each sentence, I wanted something a little bit elaborate - and I found a free cross-stitch alphabet that suited my purposes. (I found it by googling 'free old english cross-stitch alphabets'). Here's the link: http://www.needlework.com/old-english-alphabet/<br />
<br />
For the rest of the motto, I wanted something with a tiny kick to it, but nothing too elaborate.<br />
<br />
My Saturday night stitch-and-watch friend has a book of alphabets, so I've borrowed that for the lettering of the rest of the motto. On the book cover to your left, it's the small green one, second alphabet down. It's simple, but still has a bit of a curl to it.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoCM9mgigyUY1s7n0FZEEZDk1MQdWyXWIZUHsPqGkAElwVnHkKgDJ9L4A0y2y0T3DYY4-w44SSTB-WG6mGee2Tdjg5iLGByHsfZ2tXS7ZbrDsgs9EeXO_BIYBxmjhgRfMVQl8T3NtSUHK/s1600/alphabet+chart2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoCM9mgigyUY1s7n0FZEEZDk1MQdWyXWIZUHsPqGkAElwVnHkKgDJ9L4A0y2y0T3DYY4-w44SSTB-WG6mGee2Tdjg5iLGByHsfZ2tXS7ZbrDsgs9EeXO_BIYBxmjhgRfMVQl8T3NtSUHK/s200/alphabet+chart2.jpg" width="145" /></a> <br />
The final piece of the puzzle was the griffon. So I googled once
again - <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgKsa3XM5YqODnV2Hi3DgTqeIpL6Wz9A9IBh3fUdIdiCaxvFUyHBB0BHw0cX95Sq-WndIeXBdnlYEG2KSkr5fZvLmOVPlv78GhGGtcJlXdGs2-zPwCUsrYbUXrD7kkrup-JYQDpXOdbPq/s1600/Grey_Warden_Gryphon.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgKsa3XM5YqODnV2Hi3DgTqeIpL6Wz9A9IBh3fUdIdiCaxvFUyHBB0BHw0cX95Sq-WndIeXBdnlYEG2KSkr5fZvLmOVPlv78GhGGtcJlXdGs2-zPwCUsrYbUXrD7kkrup-JYQDpXOdbPq/s200/Grey_Warden_Gryphon.jpg" width="200" /></a>Dragon Age griffon - and found one that, as far as I know, falls
under fair use. I'm not planning on selling the final product, so I
saved the image and ran it through a free pattern generator. I guessed
at the colour numbers - I chose 15, but may do it again with 10 because
it's all shades of blue and grey, which is going to be the colour
palatte for the whole thing.<br />
<br />
<br />
Wait, I lied. There's
one more piece - I have to decide whether I'm going to do a border or
not. To keep my options open, I went through some of my magazines, and
found a simple graphic one that would work. It's a bit thin, is the only
thing, but other than that, it should work all right. Plus, I'm just
doing this for myself, so if I mess it up, I'm not disappointing anyone
else.<br />
<br />
My friend suggested starting with the words, so I
would know how big the border would need to be, which is good advice.
My 'vision' is to have the griffon in the lower-right corner, below the
motto, then encase it all in a border. Because of the griffon's colour
palette, everything will be done in varying shades of blue and grey.<br />
<br />
I'm
thinking of making the "I's" of each line a darker shade than the rest.
I'm debating whether to do the rest of the motto in a different shade
of blue, do blue/grey for each line, or something else.<br />
<br />
I may end up stitching the griffon first, just to see what colours are available.<br />
<br />
Now that I type all of that out, it strikes me as ridiculously ambitious - lol.<br />
<br />
Will that stop me? (Signs point to no.)<br />
<br />
I sketched out a rough design (I stole Spawn's crayola felts and scribbled on a page to help with visualsation. As you'll be able to see, my artistic skills are ... well. You'll see ...<br />
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So, what's inspiring you this week?<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgKsa3XM5YqODnV2Hi3DgTqeIpL6Wz9A9IBh3fUdIdiCaxvFUyHBB0BHw0cX95Sq-WndIeXBdnlYEG2KSkr5fZvLmOVPlv78GhGGtcJlXdGs2-zPwCUsrYbUXrD7kkrup-JYQDpXOdbPq/s1600/Grey_Warden_Gryphon.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>
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Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-86386049489363928152015-05-25T01:16:00.000-07:002015-05-25T01:16:22.143-07:00It's Monday ... <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-vj7jINDNaLqWXtD2MLsrY2lBxbjAMl_OmB00cIKscbQBtHcwrFnY1KNPvXdK3yLIoJAThKGnKooZ0aKZLmbZEzvxNjNr6k6Ugm5gksMZcbOTOWxnM5LmxiVWPXVQE0h4j7Rmop48OpD/s1600/itsmonday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-vj7jINDNaLqWXtD2MLsrY2lBxbjAMl_OmB00cIKscbQBtHcwrFnY1KNPvXdK3yLIoJAThKGnKooZ0aKZLmbZEzvxNjNr6k6Ugm5gksMZcbOTOWxnM5LmxiVWPXVQE0h4j7Rmop48OpD/s200/itsmonday.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
... what are you reading?<br />
<br />
Hosted by the lovely Sheila at http://bookjourney.net/ or you can jump on the #IMWAYR hashtag on twitter to have a nosy.<br />
<br />
Since our last instalment, I have given up on both books I was reading last time, finished two other books and am digging into Discworld again.<br />
<br />
Hurry Up and Wait by Isabel Ashdown has a great premise and I'm sure it's a really good book, but I got to a point with it where it felt like nothing was happening and I troughed (opposite of peaked). The same thing happend with Prince Lestat, which I wanted to like, I really really did but it's so .. random and halfway through it starts going off on very odd tangents, so it, too, is on the Perilous Shelf for now.<br />
<br />
After that, I picked up Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi and ... well, I did finish it, because it was super-easy to power through. Did I like it?<br />
<br />
Um.<br />
<br />
I liked the premise a lot, but some of the prose, which did more than flirt with the colour purple, it let the colour purple fill its whole dance card and scandalise the local matrons was a sugary, sugary, giant sugar pill to swallow. It was a lot.<br />
<br />
It had a likeable lead, a nice love-interest and an engaging psycho. I just. Also, I went looking for book two on Goodreads and I see people are now talking Team Nice Love Interest and Team Psycho.<br />
<br />
Nothing makes me Seacrest out of a series faster than a love triangle. Especially since, in book one, TEAM PSYCHO HAS HER KIDNAPPED AND HOLDS HER HOSTAGE. Like. I get that he has Daddy issues or whatever, but that doesn't excuse bad behaviour!<br />
<br />
Anyway. For my lunchtime reading at work, I'm rolling with Reaper Man by the late, redoubtable Mr Sir Terry Pratchett. I'm working my way through Discworld in chronological order. It's slow going but every time I read a Discworld novel I marvel at my own stupidity in not reading them years ago.<br />
<br />
I'm loving it, is what I'm trying to say.<br />
<br />
Over the weekend, I devoured A Touch of Stardust by Kate Alcott. It's about a girl with Big Dreams who comes to Hollywood in the 1930s to try and make it as a screenwriter. She gets tangled up in the lives of Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, and also witnesses history in the form of the making of Gone with the Wind.<br />
<br />
I really enjoyed it - it reminded me of Longbourn in a way - a cosy, historical read.<br />
<br />
Up next, on my workmate's recommendation, is I Am Pilgrim, by Terry Hayes.<br />
<br />
What are you reading? <br />
<br />
<br />Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-87481725288430736282015-05-18T01:18:00.000-07:002015-05-18T01:18:04.053-07:00Inspiration on Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUf-CqNsmzRnkHmP_gqbDvXAPidzNGegUGX-2D2mTNBx3nEeTgE4b6FLj9l_383p9xO2nkIMuNqkmijyNp6SS0_myfEvEVEdlstboZ7rJYxz9W4OFHvDSItwTQesN90jgkjk0S3wbHGVAd/s1600/inspiration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUf-CqNsmzRnkHmP_gqbDvXAPidzNGegUGX-2D2mTNBx3nEeTgE4b6FLj9l_383p9xO2nkIMuNqkmijyNp6SS0_myfEvEVEdlstboZ7rJYxz9W4OFHvDSItwTQesN90jgkjk0S3wbHGVAd/s200/inspiration.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9IHyi7rJN3LZ3hoQpYYKvkZzx6-hfQ2TEy6upDtQ69cUxS9yKSaqyryfPFVnhoXF5xJn9ps9nSVZ0afxZVzafTyoP6VQybzd8r67ZEl9_DT4ZFS5v11xEi0gqCJm_uFzHce7qurgkbEv7/s1600/Small+x-stitch+May+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9IHyi7rJN3LZ3hoQpYYKvkZzx6-hfQ2TEy6upDtQ69cUxS9yKSaqyryfPFVnhoXF5xJn9ps9nSVZ0afxZVzafTyoP6VQybzd8r67ZEl9_DT4ZFS5v11xEi0gqCJm_uFzHce7qurgkbEv7/s200/Small+x-stitch+May+18.jpg" width="200" /></a> From Trish at http://www.lovelaughterinsanity.com/ comes Inspiration on Monday for all things creative.<br />
<br />
I want to start blogging more (it's like the continuous goal - lol) so I'm Making an Effort.<br />
<br />
I learned cross-stitch about .... 20-odd years ago, when I was at University. My flatmate taught me, and I had no idea how easy it was because with fiddly creative things (embroidery, knitting etc) I generally have 10 thumbs.<br />
<br />
But tiny coloured x's? That I can do!! I have more examples, and in later posts, if I don't get distracted by shinies, I'll talk about other projects.<br />
<br />
Right now, I'm working on a gift for a friend, who is a huge X Files fan. It's from https://www.etsy.com/nz/shop/pixelsinstitches on etsy.<br />
<br />
I used to do a lot of x-stitch for gifts, etc, but now I mostly work on things for myself and as I say to my stitching friend - who works far quicker than me - it's about the journey now, and not the destination.<br />
<br />
However, once in a while I have the urge or a reason to work on a gift, hence the pic above.<br />
<br />
I have a few I'd like to finish, and I'd also like to get into more fandom stitching. I really want to do a Rivendell chart, but I can't find one. D: And also the Grey Warden's oath from Dragon Age: Origins.<br />
<br />
I.... have rambled enough. :-)<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-87692645374891301692015-05-10T21:40:00.001-07:002015-05-10T21:40:34.240-07:00It's Monday ....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hosted by Sheila here: http://bookjourney.net/ or track the #IMWAYR hashtag on twitter, to add to your TBR :-)<br />
<br />
I hit a mini-wall for the first time this year a couple of weekends ago. I looked around and went "huh", because for the first time I didn't know what I wanted to read next.<br />
<br />
So, of course, I went to the library. I picked up a few graphic novels, and some sundry other books.<br />
<br />
I read Hawkeye Vol 1: My Life as a Weapon, and absolutely loved it. This is the Hawkeye that should be in EVERYTHING Avengers - damaged, introspective, impulsive ... did I mention damaged?<br />
<br />
Other than that, I started Hurry Up and Wait by Isabel Ashdown. I'm only a few pages in because I started it today, but it's promising so far.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, I asked spawn to go and get me a book from my room, figuring he couldn't do worse than I have been lately in choosing reading material. He came back with Prince Lestat by Anne Rice because he thought the writing on the cover looked 'cool'.<br />
<br />
Good enough.<br />
<br />
What are you reading?Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-36054785844838278502015-04-25T05:21:00.001-07:002015-04-25T05:21:25.058-07:00Readathon hour one meme<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?<br />
Reading/cheering from Middle Earth<br />
<span style="line-height: 1.5;">2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.5;">Probably Keeper of the Keys by Janny Wurts<br />
</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.5;">Crispy M&Ms<br />
</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">4) Tell us a little something about yourself!</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.5;">I started gaming recently and am now 100 per cent totally obsessed with Dragon Age Origins. I've never played any kind of computer game before and now I'm already trying to decide what to play next.<br />
</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">5) If you participated in the
last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? I'll try and actually read more - lol If this is
your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to? Chatting! I mean. Reading. Obviously. And cheering. Go #teamfrodo!</span>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-22232476300981789182015-03-23T00:24:00.002-07:002015-03-23T00:24:43.018-07:00It's Monday ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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... what are you reading?<br />
<br />
Your meme is hosted by Sheila, here: http://bookjourney.net/<br />
<br />
I finished Pet Sematary on Saturday, after making a pretty big push to get through the bulk of it. Yay for #gangstercats!<br />
<br />
I'm trying to get back into a habit of reviewing books, so will post one up later in the week. Ultimately, though, I found it creepy and sad over out-and-out scary.<br />
<br />
I've also dived into The Half-blood Prince for Sheila's Harry Potter readalong, and I'm hoping to have that series finished - if not by Sunday, then by next Wednesday, which is about when the readalong itself finishes.<br />
<br />
I haven't reviewed the books or done any posts - I thought I might do a vlog right at the end, though, so ... stay tuned.<br />
<br />
My lunchtime reading is Written in Red, by Anne Bishop. I remember inhaling the first three books of her Black Jewels series in one weekend several years ago (there are other books in that series but I haven't picked them up) and I loved it. Written in Red - while a very different book, is written in the same engaging way and all I want to do is sit down somehwere and consume it all in one go.<br />
<br />
Coming up, of course, is The Deathly Hallows. Other than that I have The Miniaturist and Bel Canto out of the library. So possibly one of those, or maybe Keeper of the Keys, book two of the Cycle of Fire by Janny Wurts, a trilogy I somehow failed to finish many years ago but Ms Wurts is a favourite author from way back, so I'm excited to get back to that again.<br />
<br />
What are you reading?Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-75154410339024203042015-03-15T16:05:00.000-07:002015-03-15T19:25:42.133-07:00So, the X FactorETA: Natalia Kills and Willy Moon fired:<br />
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo-KmOd3i7sNormally I don't blog about TV shows, but I have Thoughts and Feelings and so I've decided to share them.<br />
<br />
By now, it feels like the whole world knows what happened on X Factor NZ last night. In case you missed it, this happened:<br />
<br />
https://youtu.be/eU9H_e6PDi8<br />
<br />
Stuff story:<br />
http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/67405073/x-factor-bullying-outcry-over-natalia-kills-attack<br />
<br />
With reality shows - especially talent shows - I feel like we all enter into the same, unspoken social contract: we all know that there is going to be manufactured drama, that the producers/judges are going to push for preferred contestants.<br />
<br />
They know that we know, and we know that they know we know, and generally speaking, if reality talent shows are your thing, everyone is happy.<br />
<br />
However. That. That is not what happened here. Not remotely.<br />
<br />
Joe Irvine performed Cry Me a River, a cover of a Michael Buble song; a singer who has made his career work by moving into the Rat Pack's wheelhouse and settling in. It was a good choice for, in my opinion, one of the less-strong singers on the show.<br />
<br />
Joe's judge/mentor Mel Blatt obviously worked hard with him, as did the show's stylist, and Joe looked and sounded the best he has so far. (Once again, in my opinion.)<br />
<br />
"Constructive" criticism on a reality show like the X Factor can take many forms - it can actually be constructive; a judge can say, for example, that they thought a song was wrong for a particular contestant; or they can hone in on pitch, or stage presence - any number of things.<br />
<br />
If the judge in question is cast as the "asshole" judge, or as I like to call it, the Simon Cowell - then they can dig deeper and present opinions that go against both public opinion and that of their fellow judges.<br />
<br />
And that's fine. That's part of the contract we all enter into. We know that's coming. We expect it; we anticipate it. Someone has to be the villain.<br />
<br />
However. There is a difference between being cast as Simon Cowell and offering up unpopular opinions and so-called constructive criticism and personal attacks.<br />
<br />
Joe Irvine sang fine. He looked great. He could have expected a round of "well done's" with perhaps some suggestions for improvements. Instead, what he got was a vitriolic personal attack out of nowhere, and a stack of unwanted drama.<br />
<br />
By all means, TV3, manufacture drama to boost ratings. That's fine. We know you're going to do that. But what happened last night is not fine. It's not even in the same neighbourhood as fine. It's not fit to shine the bottom of fine's shoes.<br />
<br />
It was a vile display of bullying, and wherever it came from, whether Natalia herself, or from a producer tipping her to amp the drama somehow, it should never have happened.<br />
<br />
Surely we are all civilised enough to understand that it's not okay to let loose on someone like that? Critique the performance. Hell, critique his outfit, even though it fit perfectly with the theme of the song. But accusing Joe of "copying" Willy Moon? Because ... Joe is tall and he wore a suit? Not to mention Willy Moon weighing in and basically calling Joe a serial killer.<br />
<br />
I'm trying to rise above, and not get personal but let me tell you, if I had to walk home alone on a dark night for whatever reason and I could choose between Joe or Willy to get me home safely ... well, let me just say I'm not crossing the road with Willy Moon.<br />
<br />
I keep asking myself what should happen now. I see chatter all over twitter and facebook and comments on stories that Natalia Kills and Willy Moon should be fired. And, yes, probably. What they did - what they <i>chose</i> to engage in on live television was nowhere near any kind of criticism. Instead, they chose the route of schoolyard bullying, picking on the most vulnerable character on the show.<br />
<br />
We've all seen Joe cry it out after Bo-Rap, and at boot camp. We shared in his absolute delight in getting to go to Thailand, and to making it to the live shows.<br />
<br />
And now. Joe's delight and joy is marred by a vicious, vicious attack out of nowhere. Natalia and Willy might as well have charged the stage and kicked Joe in the shins.<br />
<br />
At the very least - AT THE VERY LEAST - TV3 needs to make them both apologise - publically, and profusely. A few weak tweets that TV3 doesn't condone bullying is not going to slice the chicken here.<br />
<br />
Actually, they should apologise, and then withdraw. And I do understand that it's hard finding judges for a show like X Factor, and a shake-up like that would hurt their contestants, but honestly, their contestants are going to suffer the backlash from this anyway. Someone - likely from Natalia's team - is going to go home tonight, whether their performance warranted it or not.<br />
<br />
Ginny Blackmore put her hand up on twitter. There's a decent replacement for Natalia.<br />
<br />
As for Willy Moon .... well, Benny Tipene is around. There's a narrative that you could spin pretty easily, given Benny was the runner-up on X Factor last time. Or how about Neil Finn? He wouldn't do it, I don't think, but Neil Finn interacting with Brendon Thomas and the Vibes would be TV gold.<br />
<br />
The golden rule, for me, is don't be a dick.<br />
<br />
Why is that so difficult for some people to grasp?Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-422762520163287022015-03-05T22:19:00.000-08:002015-03-05T22:19:19.305-08:00I'm sorry panko<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, Trish over at http://www.lovelaughterinsanity.com/ has a cookbook challenge, wherein you cook from your cookbooks like, once a month or something.<br />
<br />
I went through the cookbooks that I do own, but they're by like ... chefs. I mean, I own a cookbook by Gordon Ramsey. It's nice to look at and all but I'm not auditioning for Masterchef or anything. So, accepting that EVERYTHING EVER in ALL the cookbooks I own is well above my skill level, I naturally turned to pinterest.<br />
<br />
I searched chicken recipes that I had saved, that were more like .... do this thing and do that thing, and less .... okay first butcher your organic free range very posh chicken, then butterfly the legs and the wings and ... anyway. You get where I'm going with this.<br />
<br />
So I found a recipe for panko-encrusted chicken drumsticks and went "I can make that." THEN I went, "But do I have to buy panko? Isn't that just fancy breadcrumbs for wankers?"<br />
<br />
And. Well. Maybe. BUT. Panko is DELICIOUS. It is crunchy and textural and tasty and all good things. I drafted Jeremy to make chips, which he shallow-fried in a frypan and they were also crunchy and delicious.<br />
<br />
The panko is full of seasonings like garlic and smoked paprika and parmesan so it's basically a flavour party for your mouth. I did have issues with the timing of the cooking, because I'm an idiot, so next time I'm going to make chicken tenders and use the same crumbing.<br />
<br />
Recipe: http://www.thetwobiteclub.com/2014/06/oven-fried-panko-crusted-chicken.html?m=1<br />
<br />
I'm on a mission now. A quest, if you like. It may or may not involve cookbooks - likely from the library, but it will certainly (probably) involve pinterest.<br />
<br />
Also, chicken.<br />
<br />
But probably not Gordon Ramsey. I love you Gordon Ramsey but ... yeah.Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-53430240940240706702015-03-01T15:46:00.001-08:002015-03-01T15:46:37.720-08:00This can only end badly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Jill over at https://somewhereinabook.wordpress.com/ is hosting a Pet Semetary readalong.<br />
<br />
Details are here:<br />
https://somewhereinabook.wordpress.com/2015/02/28/are-you-ready-to-rumble/<br />
<br />
I saw the chatter on twitter in passing and thought "hmmmm another readalong. I'm already behind on Harry Potter. I started Pet Semetary once before and didn't finish it .... LET'S DO IT."<br />
<br />
This despite the fact that I nope'd out of watching Penny Dreadful when one of the characters snapped a cat's neck to feed a vampire. I mean, I know it wasn't REAL but. Still. I have my limits.<br />
<br />
I'm hoping that Pet Semetary is more .... zombie animals rising up and less .... animal torture. Plus, I do love Stephen King. And I DO own the book ... these are terrible reasons but they're also MY reasons so.<br />
<br />
I'm, er, I'm in.Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-16338966395933033112015-02-15T18:24:00.002-08:002015-02-15T18:26:04.637-08:00It's Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Your meme is hosted by Sheila here: http://bookjourney.net/<br />
<br />
I've slowed down a bit on my reading, which always seems to happen a bit after the initial head-rush of January. I'm going to try to maintain at about one or two books a week, see how I go.<br />
<br />
I finished Bird Box by Josh Malerman yesterday, and liked it quite a lot. It's a fast read, but somewhat sad and very spooky at the same time. Malorie - the only woman left from a household of adults who had gathered together after mysterious events led to people committing horrific acts - has finally gathered her courage to find a better life for herself and her two children. She just has to get down the river without being seen - or, without sight. Good stuff.<br />
<br />
I'm about halfway through On the Beach, which is good but is about as uplifting as standing at a bus stop in the rain and the next bus is half an hour away. And it's windy. And there's no shelter. This is getting away from me.<br />
<br />
Up next is Order of the Phoenix for Sheila's readalong, which I am well behind on but I persist.<br />
<br />
What are you reading?Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-22234426232800146442015-02-10T23:17:00.001-08:002015-02-10T23:17:32.148-08:00Cooking it up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here's a great idea, from Trish of http://www.lovelaughterinsanity.com/ - a cookbook challenge.<br />
<br />
I am no kind of cook, in any way, shape or form. I have a few basic recipes that I fall back on and that's about it. However, if I do push myself juuuuust that little further, I do enjoy the process.<br />
<br />
And, I own cookbooks. I own cookbooks in the same way a magpie might own a diamond ring. It knows that the ring is pretty, but it has no idea what it's for. That's .. pushing the metaphor but I hope you know what I mean. Cookbooks are pretty! They have deceptively attractive layouts! Photos of food! What's not to like?<br />
<br />
So. As a non-cook, I own cookbooks. I look at them every day, but I admire them in the same way I admire horses and snakes - very carefully and from a safe distance.<br />
<br />
So stumbling over Trish's challenge is sort of perfect. Pet the snake! (Er. Anyway.) I don't want to get carried away with impossible dreams, so my plan is to pick one recipe once a month that I feel I'm capable of. It won't be soon - it'll probably be in a couple of weeks, but I'll take photos of the carnage, er, the results and link up with Trish's monthly .... linking thing.<br />
<br />
Er.<br />
<br />
Bon apetit?Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-81997724296245547932015-02-08T23:35:00.001-08:002015-02-08T23:35:59.227-08:00It's Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Your meme is hosted by Sheila here: http://bookjourney.net/<br />
<br />
It's been nearly a month since I did one of these - or blogged at all. I was haing an existential blogging crisis, then I decided to stop that.<br />
<br />
Anyway. What am I reading?<br />
<br />
I had a pretty decent reading January; getting through about 10 books. The standout read for that month was, I think, Graceling, which I liked very much of a lot.<br />
<br />
For this month, so far, I've finished Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel and honestly I think it's going to be my favourite read this year. It's so, so, so very good and I wish I had many copies so that I could hand it out to people on the street and earnestly explain why they should read it.<br />
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You. You should read it, if you haven't. It's great.<br />
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Um. Anyway. I'm still pottering away at Sister Carrie, although I fell well behind on Care's readalong. However, it's a decent lunchtime read and I'm enjoying it, so I persist. Other than that I've picked up On the Beach by Neville Shute. I've never read him, but several of his books came to me via my mother, a few years ago, and this one has been on my radar for a while.<br />
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Up next is Order of the Phoenix, because I realised I"m also falling behind on Sheila's readalong, but I shall persist, if not prevail.<br />
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What are you reading?Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-3040836072424966732015-01-11T23:16:00.001-08:002015-01-11T23:16:37.861-08:00It's Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Your meme is hosted by Sheila here: </span><a href="http://bookjourney.net/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">http://bookjourney.net/</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I had a reasonably productive week, I think. Well. Weekend, anyway. I read Cold Feet by Jay Northcote, a sweet gay romance story about best friends trapped in a Welsh cottage over Christmas. I WONDER WHAT THEY GET UP TO THEN. It was lovely, a nice slice of escapism.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I also finished Parasite by Mira Grant, which I also liked a lot. There was a twist right at the end that made me keen to seek out book two. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Of course, I have Goblet of Fire on the go, and I’m about 100 pages in to that for Sheila’s readalong.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And the lovely Care at </span><a href="https://bkclubcare.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">https://bkclubcare.wordpress.com/</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> is hosting a readalong of a novel called Sister Carrie, which I had never heard of but barged in on anyway. It’s my lunchtime reading on my ipad, and so far, so good. </span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What are you reading?</span>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-72337362339167039462015-01-08T00:14:00.001-08:002015-01-08T00:14:30.446-08:00Health updates and a cat thing.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As some of you know, I had a health hiccup in April of 2014. By “health hiccup” I mean I had the period of doom for three weeks and wanted to kick puppies. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I had blood tests and a smear test, and that all came back normal. The lovely doc also wanted me to have a vaginal scan (woo hoo) and that was scheduled for November. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I finally had it last month, and they found …. nothing. Not even fibroids. Just nothing. My body was just messing with me because it could, which. THANKS A LOT.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Though I am grateful that it turned out to be nothing more than a random aberration.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The cat thing. I didn’t talk about this on here, because I wasn’t sure if it would ultimately be worth its own post or not, but one of our cats - Morgana - brown tabby and lapcat extraordinary - went missing. She just … vanished. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I duly called around the vets, and called the SPCA and put an ad on Trade Me but nothing was forthcoming.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Then, one morning, about a week after she went missing, I got up early to go to the loo, and was greeted by some rather frantic meowing. I had to go back to get my glasses because I was 100% sure that was not the meow of any of the cats currently in residence. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I was correct. It was Morgana - brown tabby and lapcat extraordinary - popping up like nothing ever, meowing her face off and demanding cuddles.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A very minor miracle, but I still think of it as fairly miraculous.</span></div>
Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-89783693435058273772015-01-04T23:16:00.002-08:002015-01-04T23:16:59.213-08:00It's Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Your meme is hosted by Sheila here: </span><a href="http://bookjourney.net/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">http://bookjourney.net/</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Let’s see … I had a reasonably productive reading week last week. It helped that I only worked Monday and Tuesday. Back to “normal” this week.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">On Wednesday I went to see The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies and thought it was the best of the three. I still have issues with a 300 page children’s book being turned into three overly long movies, as much as I love The Lord of the Rings movies but THAT ASIDE …. Battle of the Five Armies was pretty good. I also accidentally started shipping Bard and Thranduil, so that was entertaining.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The week before that, I took spawn to see Big Hero 6 on Boxing Day and absolutely recommend it, it was great. Spawn loved it too, and I think it’s the first movie he’s been to that he hasn’t complained about being overly long.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Uh, anyway. Last week, I finished The Miseducation of Cameron Post on iBooks, and it was great. It’s a coming-of-age YA novel about young girl who’s just lost her parents, and she’s starting to explore her sexuality. When she’s outed, her born-again aunt sends her to a conversion therapy school.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">That’s a terrible summary but it’s a great, great read.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I also, finally, finished The Two Towers in the world’s slowest LOTR re-read. I’ve got a bookmark in Return of the King but haven’t cracked it open yet.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Right now, I have Parasite by Mira Grant on the go, and I’m really enjoying it. I just need to pick something on my iBooks to read at work. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What are you reading?</span></div>
Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-40926212296707837312014-12-31T19:38:00.001-08:002014-12-31T19:38:25.885-08:00Happy new year and all that<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Goodness, it's 2015. That's come around rather quickly, hasn't it?<br />
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I didn't do very much to ring in the New Year - just beetled on with my annual LOTR re-watch and a new cross-stitch project, which is always my very own end of the old year/start of the new year ritual.<br />
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Of course, I start thinking about all of the things I could do in the new year, all of the possibilites ... it does feel like turning to a fresh page, doesn't it? There's nothing on there yet, but by the end of the year it will be packed with memories - photos and movie tickets, memorable quotes, lists of books and films and TV shows and Stuff that Spawn Says. Well, mine will be. Also, cats. Always cats.<br />
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The photo today is of my optimistic TBR bookcase. There are 85 books on it, and of course I won't get to them all this year, but I'm hoping to make a reasonable dent at least. I'm also going to try and not buy books if I can. Well - not NEW books anyway because they are so very expensive. Bargain, secondhand and withdrawn library books are fair game, however.<br />
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My goodreads goal for 2014 year was 75 books. I managed 62 - https://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/1100497 - which isn't a bad effort. I did fall behind but I'm not losing sleep over it. So I'm going to aim for 75 books again, with a hopeful tilt at reading more diversely.<br />
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Which means I'll be going in for the More Diverse Universe challenge later in the year, assuming it's all go again - I hope so. :-)<br />
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Other than that I'm not signing up for anything right now. That's part of the trouble with the new year - you feel all earnest and energised and like your cape/hair are blowing gently in the breeze but then you remember things like Real Life and distractions and you kind of go, wait, hang on, I have some VERY IMPORTANT nothing to do right now and .. uh, anyway.<br />
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Later on I'll likely sign up for Carl's OUAT and RIP because I always do that and then I forget I've done that and fail anyway, but I love the IDEA of the challenges so much, so there's that.<br />
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And I'm in for another readalong with Trish's readalong gang, although I've consistently failed out of the last two but never mind. Also next up is Goblet of Fire, for Sheila's Harry Potter readalong. Goblet of Fire is my favourite of the Harry Potter books, so I'm looking forward to that.<br />
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I am going to try, if I can manage it, to make 2015 The Year of the Series. I'm terrible with series - I'll read one book and then not pick up the next one for months and years and wonder what on earth is going on. THIS year, all going to plan, I'm going to read Stephen King's The Wasteland and also Isaac Asimov's Foundation series. I'm also going to search for two series by writers of colour, to balance out the white dude-ness.<br />
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My plan, such as it is, is to read one series book, another book, second series book, another book .... you get the idea.<br />
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So for 2015, I'm hoping to read more widely and diversely, actually make my goodreads goal, FINISH at least, say, four? series, read more graphic novels and uh...<br />
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Oh. Non-reading. I want to finish two cross-stitch projects. One for myself that I've been working on on and off for about 10 years, and one for a friend, that I started this week.<br />
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And, I don't know, save a puppy from a burning building maybe<br />
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What do you want your 2015 to look like?<br />
<br />Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-12369849260034169682014-12-27T19:29:00.002-08:002014-12-27T19:29:45.528-08:00An anniversary, sort of<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I realised last week that on Friday, I would have been blogging here for seven years. I meant to do a post on Friday, but sunk into post-Christmas laziness instead. Yesterday I went out into the real world (went to a friend's), and so here I am, hastily writing a post before I forget.<br />
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My modest goal, at the time, was to have somewhere to record an also modest goal of reading one classic novel a month, and maybe a space to write some reviews.<br />
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Over the years, of course, my focus has shifted slightly. Some years I've hardly blogged at all. This year, I made more of an effort because I do like my little corner, but I've ... I can't really say expanded. I don't really post many reviews, but that's fine. I half-decided to try this new thing instead, where I talk about life and books and cats and spawn and general things.<br />
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It's sort of working.<br />
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Seven years ago, I poked my nose over the book-blogging fence. There wasn't anyone at first I could say "hi" to, but I went out in search of other bloggers, and memes, and put myself out there as it were.<br />
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This tiny space has never, and will never be a place people visit for deep and insightful reviews, or posts. But I hope in my ramblings about books, cats, spawn and life in general, people find something to smile at, and something they recognise.<br />
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Onward, yes?<br />
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Yes.Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-78320391843835217052014-12-21T23:01:00.001-08:002014-12-21T23:01:19.039-08:00It's Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Your meme is hosted by Sheila here: </span><a href="http://bookjourney.net/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">http://bookjourney.net/</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I missed last week because I forgot to put the post up. I had it written early and efficiently and then I forgot. Oop. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Anyway. I finished Prisoner of Azkaban yesterday for Sheila’s readalong, so I’m going to dig into Bag of Bones over Christmas for Trish’s readalong. Festive, no?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I also have Hogfather by Mr Sir Terry Pratchett to read, and it’s out of order for my Discworld read all of the books, but it’s Christmas, so that might showup as well.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The week before, I read Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein - it’s a sort of sequel to Code Name Verity and is just as heartbreaking in its own way.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I also read The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami. It’s not a very long book at all - really a very well illustrated short story - but it’s chilling and odd and heartbreaking.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I was picking at Throne of Glass on iBooks but I sensed the presence of a love triangle looming, and some of the plot points were puzzling, so it’s gone on to the metaphorical perilous shelf for now.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Instead, at lunchtime, I’ve picked up The Miseducation of Cameron Post, which is so far, so good.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What are you reading?</span></div>
Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-21231786015578398742014-12-06T17:56:00.002-08:002014-12-06T17:56:58.105-08:00BOBalong!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbrtc7TK5JHLyLE6kJALPlhOOV1hgaJ7QPzxcRv5pT-GAZzpLHp4QnE3vlskm1IR6OnlHK0O1doxp7RkH0XCf2GeDhxI3IZWN62sGG60oiV6KWLdX85ABbtoeK2TVkR346z9mFBjnnWQ3/s1600/bobalong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbrtc7TK5JHLyLE6kJALPlhOOV1hgaJ7QPzxcRv5pT-GAZzpLHp4QnE3vlskm1IR6OnlHK0O1doxp7RkH0XCf2GeDhxI3IZWN62sGG60oiV6KWLdX85ABbtoeK2TVkR346z9mFBjnnWQ3/s1600/bobalong.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLboWZA9dQ5ia194Nf9XIJSQO4SEqdpmRAlY4kWMMt8Srx65B8xXpr5zYmYIyRcvnoIjvXarJlMyIDlzrkYciJPrx3ARqGHUW0ldpuxIEJdWpzVUbxr3kv2_Jl55dnYgy0x0Yo0abN-DjI/s1600/readalong-gang-christmas-e1417399933980.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLboWZA9dQ5ia194Nf9XIJSQO4SEqdpmRAlY4kWMMt8Srx65B8xXpr5zYmYIyRcvnoIjvXarJlMyIDlzrkYciJPrx3ARqGHUW0ldpuxIEJdWpzVUbxr3kv2_Jl55dnYgy0x0Yo0abN-DjI/s1600/readalong-gang-christmas-e1417399933980.png" height="152" width="200" /></a>I failed out of Trish's Drood readalong pretty hard, but I promised myself I'd be back for this one, so here I am - ready for some Stephen King.<br />
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I just finished Revival, which I liked a lot and I'm eyeing the Dark Tower series for January maybe, so I'm definitely in a King place.<br />
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I read Bag of Bones many years ago and remember enjoying it very much, so this is a very timely readalong because I have been meaning to re-read it for some time.<br />
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If you want in on the fun, the link is here: http://www.lovelaughterinsanity.com/2014/12/bag-of-bones-readalong.html<br />
<br />Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-50988663387783666032014-11-30T23:31:00.002-08:002014-11-30T23:31:41.124-08:00It's Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcXDGg1c6KechjJsAhn-hZmlCZGBnTcCbSSjKS0ghuLA25yLXHeDnBwacyfxFODXzlq4VdEh0XX9tqDaNTT_igHMaPx8gLNFM6MFCikcye3nFTqObsAyyu8t54ERvmCEjteCIA74CcPRL/s1600/itsmonday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcXDGg1c6KechjJsAhn-hZmlCZGBnTcCbSSjKS0ghuLA25yLXHeDnBwacyfxFODXzlq4VdEh0XX9tqDaNTT_igHMaPx8gLNFM6MFCikcye3nFTqObsAyyu8t54ERvmCEjteCIA74CcPRL/s1600/itsmonday.jpg" height="193" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Your meme is hosted here: </span><a href="http://bookjourney.net/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">http://bookjourney.net/</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I finished Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets for Sheila’s readalong/re-read. I’m going to do a big post at the end. Actually I think that I might even do a vlog, and just ramble for a bit - lol.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Other than that I still have Stephen King’s Revival on the go, and I’m hoping to finish it this week. We’ll see. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My lunchtime read on iBooks is Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. I like the premise, and the writing is decent, so, so far so good.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">After that, of course, is Prisoner of Azkaban for the readalong, and then … I’m not sure. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I went to the library on Saturday and I’ve got a bit of a stack going on there. I also bought The Miseducation of Cameron Porter on ibooks on the recommendation of a friend.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There are a few others on the horizon, but I can’t think of any right now.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Oh!! Trish’s readalong for December - more Stephen King! I’m definitely joining in for this one. We’re reading Bag of Bones. It’s been many years since I picked it up but I’m definitely looking forward to it.</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What are you reading?</span>Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-49626529225738217092014-11-16T23:32:00.000-08:002014-11-16T23:32:08.804-08:00It's Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Your meme is hosted by Sheila here: http://bookjourney.net/<br />
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I had to stop and think for a minute - what AM I reading?<br />
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I finished The Enchanted, by Rene Denfeld, a short but very powerful novel, narrated by an inmate on death row. It's infused with a lot of magic realism, I think, and it's also very hard to describe. It's well worth a read, though.<br />
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Stephen King's new book, Revival, came out last week, so I have that on the go as well.<br />
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My lunchtime reading is a novel for $2 that I found on iBooks called UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn. It's not the best book ever, but it's readable and nice and easy for workday lunches.<br />
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I did start Bloodlines by Richelle Mead, which I was liking a lot but I realised it's a spinoff from The Vampire Academy novels, so I want to go back to the start on those.<br />
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And, of course, up next is Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets for Sheila's readalong.<br />
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I've decided, I think, not to do a post for every book, but to do a wrap-up post at the end. I'll see how I go.<br />
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What are you reading?Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-26624829041181242422014-11-15T16:44:00.001-08:002014-11-15T16:44:19.418-08:00Challenging times<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love reading challenges. I mean, I think I love the IDEA of reading challenges more than the challenges themselves, though that never stops me from rampantly signing up.<br />
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Patrick is out at a birthday party, so I'm using this small, unexpected window of peace to do an update post.<br />
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I definitely failed out of the 2014 TBR challenge hosted here: http://roofbeamreader.com/ - I think I read four or five of the books I'd pulled off my shelves, but I'm going to re-do my TBR shelf and sign up again, because hope springs eternal and all that.<br />
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I have, however, managed to do reasonably well on the women writer's challenge, hosted here: http://www.peekabook.it/2013/12/2014-women-challenge.html<br />
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I signed up to read at least 20 books by women writers, and so far I've read 31, out of the 54 books I've read this year. I still need to work on diversifying my reading, but it's a decent start, I think.<br />
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If that's on offer again next year, I'll definitely sign up again, with a focus on diversity. And, of course, I'll try and dovetail it with the More Diverse Universe challenge: http://www.aartichapati.com/<br />
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Two challenges I consistently fail out of are Once Upon a Time and RIP, and I don't know why because sci fi and fantasy and horror/suspense are some of my favourite genres. Perhaps 2015 will be my year.<br />
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Who knows, right? <br />
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<br />Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599567180742446150.post-15928844201698648422014-11-09T23:49:00.000-08:002014-11-09T23:49:09.516-08:00It's Monday ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sheila hosts the meme here: http://bookjourney.net/<br />
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I'm eleven books behind on my goodreads challenge, apparently. Hrm.<br />
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Anyway. I had a reasonably productive week last week, I think. I read Fox Forever, which is the last book in the Jenna Fox Chronicles and it was a satisfying end to the series. I highly, highly recommend The Adoration of Jenna Fox, and while I didn't like the two sequels quite as much, I did enjoy them.<br />
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I also read Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone for Sheila's Harry Potter readalong. I just finished watching the movies, and intended to re-read the books after, so the readalong was very timely.<br />
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I also read The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison and by "read" I mean "inhaled it in two days and then made whale noises into a cushion." It's so so SO GOOD.<br />
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Right now, I'm reading The Enchanted, by Rene Denfeld, which is good so far, and also short, which is what I need at the moment.<br />
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Up next, of course, is The Chamber of Secrets.<br />
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What are you reading?Mareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928083444845381275noreply@blogger.com11