Hello there :) It's been a while, hasn't it? In fact, it's been... 10 days. Actually, that's not that huge of a gap. I've done worse.
So I am nine days into National Novel Writing Month (affectionately referred to as NaNoWriMo, for the uninitiated), and have faced - and still am facing - what I think has been the worst kind of unexpected roadblock: a cold. It's a little thing, the common cold, but it can seriously mess with your routine sometimes. Luckily, I wrote a lot in the pre-sickness days, so if I'd missed my quota while sick, I would've probably been able to get to 50k in time.
Fortunately, I managed to write my quota or more each day, even when I had a really awful sore throat. Go me! /shameless self-promotion
Warning: TMI ahead. I will talk about sinuses and stuff.
To start with, I got a sore throat from my dad, which went away and then came back as a full-on sore throat and post-nasal drip thing. I would start talking to my mom, and then after a few seconds I would have to gulp back this painful grossness in my throat. It felt a bit like acid reflux, which I don't get very often, but when I do it's a pain in the ass. After lots of disgusting but relatively effective cough syrup - which didn't do much for me during the day, but at night it helped me sleep well - the sore throat went away, to be replaced with a stuffy nose that runs out of one nostril (a very weird sensation, I must say), and some coughing and sneezing. Right now, my ears feel like they're plugged up, but that might be an air pressure thing because it's getting warmer where I am, and later in the week it will drop back down to single-digit temperatures (in Celsius, that is, because single-digit temps in Fahrenheit would be freaking COLD). I'm still stuffy, still coughing and sneezing, and my left nostril is still dripping like a faucet. I guess I won't be going to the library tomorrow.
Okay, TMI over.
While I've been battling my cold and doing NaNo, I've also been reading a book from the library - The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. (Because I'm writing dystopian, I feel I need to take a break from The Hunger Games for a little bit.) I'm not sure if I can finish it by the 23rd, which is when it's due back, but I finished the third chapter yesterday so maybe I can do it after all. Of course, I could also keep it out late to finish it if I want to, and then pay the fine. I'd like to avoid fines if I can, though. I still have Dogsbody and A Wizard of Earthsea out of the library, too, but I can probably renew Dogsbody again, and I think I can renew Earthsea. If not, I'll add them to a wishlist - or, if I get another Chapters Indigo gift card from my grandparents, I could buy them.
That's all for now - I should go eat something, seeing as all I've had to eat and drink today is coffee, hot chocolate, and a popover.
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Friday, November 9, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Frankenstorm and Diana Wynne Jones
So, I'm sure you all have heard about this Frankenstorm that's been going on. I'm okay - we got hit with rain and winds, but my neighbourhood appears to only have a few garbage cans knocked over and some small branches on lawns. Other areas had trees uprooted, and a woman died in Toronto after she was hit by a store sign, which is terrible. My thoughts go out to those effected by Hurricane Sandy and/or the Frankenstorm.
Last night was the first night of the fall that I decided to break out my duvet. I might have been warm enough without it, but I figured it would best to be safe and put in on my bed. I was quite toasty under all those blankets, so much so that I kicked off my slipper socks and pushed the sleeves of my sweatshirt up on my upper arms. If the dogs hadn't needed letting out when they did, I probably could've slept longer.
It was a little windy this morning, but right now the trees outside seem to be fairly still. It's still quite damp and cold, of course, so I may spend the evening curled up under my duvet with a book. Actually, I may be in the living room, where it's warmer, crocheting another swatch while my parents and my brother watch Sons of Anarchy (I don't really watch the show - it's a bit gory for my taste, even though the storyline is interesting), or reading either The Hunger Games or my library book, Dogsbody by Diana Wynne Jones.
Speaking of library books - it's happened again. Too many books are coming in for me to pick up. I have The Fault in Our Stars by John Green waiting for me, and A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin in transit. I probably won't be able to renew The Fault in Our Stars, though, because it's too new of a book and a lot of people have placed holds on it (I think it's fifty-odd holds for twenty-odd copies), and I may not be able to renew A Wizard of Earthsea either, so I'll focus on Dogsbody. I'll probably read a chapter or two of TFIOS, to see if I like it, and maybe do the same with Earthsea.
I think I'm going to love Dogsbody, just from the synopsis and the fact that Neil Gaiman wrote an introduction for the edition I'm reading. Though I haven't read any of his works yet (I picked up Interworld, which he co-wrote, at a book sale at Indigo, so I'll probably read that soonish), I saw the movie adaptation of Coraline and the episode of Doctor Who that he wrote, and thought they were both fabulous. I definitely trust his opinion of literature.
Since picking up Dogsbody from the library, I've felt the itch to try reading Howl's Moving Castle again. I got about halfway through it, but then I got side-tracked, then I started it over again, and got side-tracked again... I start too many books, that's the problem. But when I finish a book or two, and I feel less guilty about my reading habits, I'll start it over again.
Last night was the first night of the fall that I decided to break out my duvet. I might have been warm enough without it, but I figured it would best to be safe and put in on my bed. I was quite toasty under all those blankets, so much so that I kicked off my slipper socks and pushed the sleeves of my sweatshirt up on my upper arms. If the dogs hadn't needed letting out when they did, I probably could've slept longer.
It was a little windy this morning, but right now the trees outside seem to be fairly still. It's still quite damp and cold, of course, so I may spend the evening curled up under my duvet with a book. Actually, I may be in the living room, where it's warmer, crocheting another swatch while my parents and my brother watch Sons of Anarchy (I don't really watch the show - it's a bit gory for my taste, even though the storyline is interesting), or reading either The Hunger Games or my library book, Dogsbody by Diana Wynne Jones.
Speaking of library books - it's happened again. Too many books are coming in for me to pick up. I have The Fault in Our Stars by John Green waiting for me, and A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin in transit. I probably won't be able to renew The Fault in Our Stars, though, because it's too new of a book and a lot of people have placed holds on it (I think it's fifty-odd holds for twenty-odd copies), and I may not be able to renew A Wizard of Earthsea either, so I'll focus on Dogsbody. I'll probably read a chapter or two of TFIOS, to see if I like it, and maybe do the same with Earthsea.
I think I'm going to love Dogsbody, just from the synopsis and the fact that Neil Gaiman wrote an introduction for the edition I'm reading. Though I haven't read any of his works yet (I picked up Interworld, which he co-wrote, at a book sale at Indigo, so I'll probably read that soonish), I saw the movie adaptation of Coraline and the episode of Doctor Who that he wrote, and thought they were both fabulous. I definitely trust his opinion of literature.
Since picking up Dogsbody from the library, I've felt the itch to try reading Howl's Moving Castle again. I got about halfway through it, but then I got side-tracked, then I started it over again, and got side-tracked again... I start too many books, that's the problem. But when I finish a book or two, and I feel less guilty about my reading habits, I'll start it over again.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
My cat is an alarm clock
I woke up this morning to hear two things - somebody in the shower, and a dog whining to be let out - followed by a third: my cat, Mouse, meowing pathetically to be fed her wet food.
At around 5:52 AM.
Because my cat doesn't understand the concept of time.
So, I let the dogs outside, gave the incessantly meowing cat her food (she tried to follow the dogs outside twice; I had to shoo her away), put the dogs back in their beds, and tried to get back to sleep. Then the person in the shower let the dogs out again, and Smiles (our Jack Russell) came downstairs and jumped on my bed. We had a bit of a snuggle until I decided to finally get up.
So, in short, I'm a bit tired. I have to sort out things to sell for when we do a yard sale, so that'll be fun to accomplish when I'm slightly sleep deprived. I think I might sell the Klutz scrapbook I have, because it's a bit young for me now. It'll break my heart to do it, but I think I have to. And anyway, I can always use the mini scrapbooking kit I have, as well as buy a nicer one from Michaels.
I also have to cull some magazines. So far I've set aside a bunch of knitting magazines to sell, and I'll probably sell all of my Cricket magazines as well as my other magazines from the same publishing company. Again, my heart breaks to do it, but they're young for me, and they're taking up a lot of space.
As far as knitting goes, I haven't picked up my sock in some time. I don't want to start the heel unless I feel I'm awake enough, and I always seem to want to knit in the late evenings. I should probably work on finishing my Ravenclaw scarf, too - I think I'm on the last, or maybe the second-to-last stripe, then it's just weaving in ends and doing the fringe. The scarf is huge (I'm not sure if it'll fit under my winter jackets), but if nothing else I can wear it around the house. I think the pattern is supposed to be huge, though, because I remember reading some comments on Ravelry that were mentioning how big their scarves turned out to be. I suppose too big is better than too small, though.
My reading is going slowly, but I'm making headway in The Hunger Games. My goal is to finish it before the DVD comes in at the library for Mom to pick up. The only trouble is that I may not get to read my library books before they have to go back, because I want to put my focus mainly on The Hunger Games. I can always check the library books out again, though: the newer catalogue has a "recently returned" list, so it's easier to find stuff you just had out.
At around 5:52 AM.
Because my cat doesn't understand the concept of time.
So, I let the dogs outside, gave the incessantly meowing cat her food (she tried to follow the dogs outside twice; I had to shoo her away), put the dogs back in their beds, and tried to get back to sleep. Then the person in the shower let the dogs out again, and Smiles (our Jack Russell) came downstairs and jumped on my bed. We had a bit of a snuggle until I decided to finally get up.
So, in short, I'm a bit tired. I have to sort out things to sell for when we do a yard sale, so that'll be fun to accomplish when I'm slightly sleep deprived. I think I might sell the Klutz scrapbook I have, because it's a bit young for me now. It'll break my heart to do it, but I think I have to. And anyway, I can always use the mini scrapbooking kit I have, as well as buy a nicer one from Michaels.
I also have to cull some magazines. So far I've set aside a bunch of knitting magazines to sell, and I'll probably sell all of my Cricket magazines as well as my other magazines from the same publishing company. Again, my heart breaks to do it, but they're young for me, and they're taking up a lot of space.
As far as knitting goes, I haven't picked up my sock in some time. I don't want to start the heel unless I feel I'm awake enough, and I always seem to want to knit in the late evenings. I should probably work on finishing my Ravenclaw scarf, too - I think I'm on the last, or maybe the second-to-last stripe, then it's just weaving in ends and doing the fringe. The scarf is huge (I'm not sure if it'll fit under my winter jackets), but if nothing else I can wear it around the house. I think the pattern is supposed to be huge, though, because I remember reading some comments on Ravelry that were mentioning how big their scarves turned out to be. I suppose too big is better than too small, though.
My reading is going slowly, but I'm making headway in The Hunger Games. My goal is to finish it before the DVD comes in at the library for Mom to pick up. The only trouble is that I may not get to read my library books before they have to go back, because I want to put my focus mainly on The Hunger Games. I can always check the library books out again, though: the newer catalogue has a "recently returned" list, so it's easier to find stuff you just had out.
Monday, May 14, 2012
"I'm not dead yet!"
Hello! Sorry for the lack of posts, I've been crazy busy.
Allow me to explain: I'm taking a night-school course, so my week is occupied by assignments. I haven't posted for so long that I got freaked out by Blogger's new look - it took me a minute to find the 'new post' button. Clearly I need to post a little more often.
I haven't gotten much knitting done, but I hope to start something for the Ravelympics in July. I'm thinking of making a pair of socks, since I've never made socks before (and thus it would be a good challenge), and they're easy to store in a bag. Also, I could use an extra pair. My feet eat socks. I wish I were kidding.
On the reading front, I started reading The Hunger Games a month or two ago after much insistence from my friend. However, I'm not adding it to my Goodreads reading list, because I don't want to get caught up in keeping track of my page number and getting bogged down because I haven't been reading it very quickly. I think I read faster if I'm keeping track of my page number. As of today, I've read the first two chapters (yes, I read slowly :p), and I'm loving it so far.
That's all for now. Hope to be able to post again soon :)
edited to fix an error
Allow me to explain: I'm taking a night-school course, so my week is occupied by assignments. I haven't posted for so long that I got freaked out by Blogger's new look - it took me a minute to find the 'new post' button. Clearly I need to post a little more often.
I haven't gotten much knitting done, but I hope to start something for the Ravelympics in July. I'm thinking of making a pair of socks, since I've never made socks before (and thus it would be a good challenge), and they're easy to store in a bag. Also, I could use an extra pair. My feet eat socks. I wish I were kidding.
On the reading front, I started reading The Hunger Games a month or two ago after much insistence from my friend. However, I'm not adding it to my Goodreads reading list, because I don't want to get caught up in keeping track of my page number and getting bogged down because I haven't been reading it very quickly. I think I read faster if I'm keeping track of my page number. As of today, I've read the first two chapters (yes, I read slowly :p), and I'm loving it so far.
That's all for now. Hope to be able to post again soon :)
edited to fix an error
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Recovery time...
Sorry for the long break between posts. I've been busy recovering from my wisdom teeth surgery.
You might remember me mentioning that I was having my wisdom teeth pulled. Well, on Monday, it happened. Fortunately I was knocked out for the procedure, so i have no memory of it. I remember the events beforehand, but not the actual procedure. I'm glad, because when I'm awake for these kinds of things, I get all panicky.
I'm feeling a lot better than I did Monday afternoon. The swelling in my face has gone down a lot, I can open my mouth enough to chew soft foods, and I can talk somewhat normally. I'm still sore, but not as sore. And I reserved a bunch of manga from the library to keep me occupied while I heal up, and I started a simple garter stitch scarf out of Bernat Boa to keep me from getting too bored. I have called the scarf 'Goldfish scarf' on Ravelry, because I'm knitting it on a larger gauge than what the yarn label calls for, and it looks lacy and fish-scale-like. I also found out that, when I was swatching for this scarf, my 5.5mm circular needle is actually a 7mm (?!). I was surprised and kind of bummed out. But the needle was on sale, so it might've been a mistake in the packaging.
In other news, I had to take Hereafter back without finishing it. I'm disappointed, but I can always get it out of the library another time. I started reading a Tamora Pierce book, though - Tris's Book, the second in the Circle of Magic quartet. I didn't feel much like reading any of my other books, because they were all either very big, or urban fantasy books, or dystopians. And I didn't feel like reading dystopia or urban fantasy. I'm only a page and a bit into the book, because I was quite tired yesterday - when I was watching Lorna Doone, I'd lost the energy to knit. Can you believe that?! But anyway, back to the book. I've been meaning to read a Tamora Pierce book for a while, so it's kind of refreshing to read one of her books after so long - I think the last one I read all the way through was Emperor Mage, and that was at least a year ago, if not two.
I should probably get off the computer and eat soon :p I'll post pictures of the scarf when it's finished, I hope!
You might remember me mentioning that I was having my wisdom teeth pulled. Well, on Monday, it happened. Fortunately I was knocked out for the procedure, so i have no memory of it. I remember the events beforehand, but not the actual procedure. I'm glad, because when I'm awake for these kinds of things, I get all panicky.
I'm feeling a lot better than I did Monday afternoon. The swelling in my face has gone down a lot, I can open my mouth enough to chew soft foods, and I can talk somewhat normally. I'm still sore, but not as sore. And I reserved a bunch of manga from the library to keep me occupied while I heal up, and I started a simple garter stitch scarf out of Bernat Boa to keep me from getting too bored. I have called the scarf 'Goldfish scarf' on Ravelry, because I'm knitting it on a larger gauge than what the yarn label calls for, and it looks lacy and fish-scale-like. I also found out that, when I was swatching for this scarf, my 5.5mm circular needle is actually a 7mm (?!). I was surprised and kind of bummed out. But the needle was on sale, so it might've been a mistake in the packaging.
In other news, I had to take Hereafter back without finishing it. I'm disappointed, but I can always get it out of the library another time. I started reading a Tamora Pierce book, though - Tris's Book, the second in the Circle of Magic quartet. I didn't feel much like reading any of my other books, because they were all either very big, or urban fantasy books, or dystopians. And I didn't feel like reading dystopia or urban fantasy. I'm only a page and a bit into the book, because I was quite tired yesterday - when I was watching Lorna Doone, I'd lost the energy to knit. Can you believe that?! But anyway, back to the book. I've been meaning to read a Tamora Pierce book for a while, so it's kind of refreshing to read one of her books after so long - I think the last one I read all the way through was Emperor Mage, and that was at least a year ago, if not two.
I should probably get off the computer and eat soon :p I'll post pictures of the scarf when it's finished, I hope!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
How I spent my summer thus far
O hai :)
I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with summer. I like that I don't have to do as much school-related stuff, and that I have more time to read. However, I don't like the climate: it's hot, it's humid, I don't have a lot of summery outfits, and I sunburn easily. And let's not forget the bugs...
Still, though, last week was awesome for me, because I got to visit my sister last Saturday - and I got a little bit of reading done, too, because she lives about an hour and a half's drive away (sometimes an hour and forty-five minutes, depending on traffic, but last Saturday the traffic was pretty good).
It was a bit tricky to read on the way there, though, because the van was jolting around a bit. Overall, I think I only got a couple of pages read, but my book isn't due for another couple of weeks so it's all good. We got a bit turned around when we were trying to find my sister's apartment, but we found the way eventually.
We said hello to her cats (I got to finally meet the younger kitty, who is adorable :D), had a look around her place, then went out for lunch to a nice Japanese restaurant. I tried some of the sushi that my sister and my mom picked out, except for the raw stuff. The only ones I didn't like were one of the maki and the tamago (sweet egg on rice with a strip of nori around it). The textures of both bothered me. But my sister ordered a two-piece serving of the cooked shrimp on rice (ebi, I think it's called), which I love, for me. I think my dad ate the other one though :p We got tempura as well, and some gyoza, edamame, and beef and green onion rolls.
For dessert, all of us except Dad ordered ice cream - red bean for me, green tea for Mom, and I think my sister got vanilla. Then we ordered two sweeter tempura - banana, with chocolate sauce drizzled on it, and one called something like 'milk dumpling tempura'. The milk dumpling one was like a cross between custard and a doughnut, like an elephant ear (or beaver tail, as they're sometimes called). Both were delicious.
After that, we walked through the local mall. We went to the Lush store, where my mom bought some stuff for herself, then we browsed a bit in Costa Blanca and H&M. Then we went back to my sister's place and hung out with the cats, then headed home.
So that was my weekend: pretty awesome.
The book I'm reading from the library is Hereafter by Tara Hudson. So far it's pretty good - but it's also big, so I'm worried I won't finish it in time for when it has to go back. Fingers crossed...
I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with summer. I like that I don't have to do as much school-related stuff, and that I have more time to read. However, I don't like the climate: it's hot, it's humid, I don't have a lot of summery outfits, and I sunburn easily. And let's not forget the bugs...
Still, though, last week was awesome for me, because I got to visit my sister last Saturday - and I got a little bit of reading done, too, because she lives about an hour and a half's drive away (sometimes an hour and forty-five minutes, depending on traffic, but last Saturday the traffic was pretty good).
It was a bit tricky to read on the way there, though, because the van was jolting around a bit. Overall, I think I only got a couple of pages read, but my book isn't due for another couple of weeks so it's all good. We got a bit turned around when we were trying to find my sister's apartment, but we found the way eventually.
We said hello to her cats (I got to finally meet the younger kitty, who is adorable :D), had a look around her place, then went out for lunch to a nice Japanese restaurant. I tried some of the sushi that my sister and my mom picked out, except for the raw stuff. The only ones I didn't like were one of the maki and the tamago (sweet egg on rice with a strip of nori around it). The textures of both bothered me. But my sister ordered a two-piece serving of the cooked shrimp on rice (ebi, I think it's called), which I love, for me. I think my dad ate the other one though :p We got tempura as well, and some gyoza, edamame, and beef and green onion rolls.
For dessert, all of us except Dad ordered ice cream - red bean for me, green tea for Mom, and I think my sister got vanilla. Then we ordered two sweeter tempura - banana, with chocolate sauce drizzled on it, and one called something like 'milk dumpling tempura'. The milk dumpling one was like a cross between custard and a doughnut, like an elephant ear (or beaver tail, as they're sometimes called). Both were delicious.
After that, we walked through the local mall. We went to the Lush store, where my mom bought some stuff for herself, then we browsed a bit in Costa Blanca and H&M. Then we went back to my sister's place and hung out with the cats, then headed home.
So that was my weekend: pretty awesome.
The book I'm reading from the library is Hereafter by Tara Hudson. So far it's pretty good - but it's also big, so I'm worried I won't finish it in time for when it has to go back. Fingers crossed...
Friday, July 15, 2011
Aaaaand finished!
So, I finally finished Blood and Chocolate :)
I like the book and the movie for different reasons. For instance, I didn't like Book Aiden as much as Movie Aiden - maybe it has something to do with the age difference between the movie characters and the book characters. I'd like to re-watch the movie, because I haven't seen it in a while and I can't remember much of the plot.
Now, to finish I Capture the Castle... the problem is, I saw the movie before finishing the book, so I know how it ends :( But the book is better than the movie, although I liked the movie quite a bit. I was annoyed that they made Cassandra's brother Thomas a lot younger for the movie, though - in the book he's about fifteen, but in the movie he's more like eleven of twelve.
I still have an itch to start a new book, even though I have others to finish. I'm trying to stop myself from starting another book until I finish I Capture the Castle - I only have ninety-ish pages to go, and the font is pretty easy to read.
So those are my latest book adventures. Hopefully by the time I post another book-related blog post, I'll be finished I Capture the Castle!
I like the book and the movie for different reasons. For instance, I didn't like Book Aiden as much as Movie Aiden - maybe it has something to do with the age difference between the movie characters and the book characters. I'd like to re-watch the movie, because I haven't seen it in a while and I can't remember much of the plot.
Now, to finish I Capture the Castle... the problem is, I saw the movie before finishing the book, so I know how it ends :( But the book is better than the movie, although I liked the movie quite a bit. I was annoyed that they made Cassandra's brother Thomas a lot younger for the movie, though - in the book he's about fifteen, but in the movie he's more like eleven of twelve.
I still have an itch to start a new book, even though I have others to finish. I'm trying to stop myself from starting another book until I finish I Capture the Castle - I only have ninety-ish pages to go, and the font is pretty easy to read.
So those are my latest book adventures. Hopefully by the time I post another book-related blog post, I'll be finished I Capture the Castle!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Almost finished...
I'm almost done reading Blood and Chocolate.
It's about time, too. I started it a couple of summers ago and just couldn't sit and read it. But for the past month I've made a point of trying to finish it. Now I have about five pages left. Now, to finish Harry Potter 6, and I Capture the Castle...
I think I've decided to read historical fiction when I'm finished with Blood and Chocolate. There's a book that the library has called Crossing Stones by Helen Frost, which is set at the start of the first World War, and I added it to my to-read list on Ravelry and my booklist thing on my library's website, but never got around to reserving it. So, when I've finished Blood and Chocolate, I'm going to reserve it, I think. I also really want to read books I own that my parents got for me at Indigo, and some that I bought with gift cards from my grandparents.
Also, I really want to read some science fiction. This is partly due to the fact that I have a sci-fi story idea that I'm planning, so I want to familiarize myself with the genre. I've watched sci-fi, but have never read any. It would certainly be an interesting change from fantasy novels.
For traditional sci-fi, I'm planning on reading Starship Troopers, and for more of the YA sci-fi, I'd like to read Across the Universe, The Water Wars, and a few others. I'm also interested in dystopian fiction, so I plan to read some of that as well.
So: science fiction, dystopia, historical fiction... got any favourites? Feel free to comment :)
It's about time, too. I started it a couple of summers ago and just couldn't sit and read it. But for the past month I've made a point of trying to finish it. Now I have about five pages left. Now, to finish Harry Potter 6, and I Capture the Castle...
I think I've decided to read historical fiction when I'm finished with Blood and Chocolate. There's a book that the library has called Crossing Stones by Helen Frost, which is set at the start of the first World War, and I added it to my to-read list on Ravelry and my booklist thing on my library's website, but never got around to reserving it. So, when I've finished Blood and Chocolate, I'm going to reserve it, I think. I also really want to read books I own that my parents got for me at Indigo, and some that I bought with gift cards from my grandparents.
Also, I really want to read some science fiction. This is partly due to the fact that I have a sci-fi story idea that I'm planning, so I want to familiarize myself with the genre. I've watched sci-fi, but have never read any. It would certainly be an interesting change from fantasy novels.
For traditional sci-fi, I'm planning on reading Starship Troopers, and for more of the YA sci-fi, I'd like to read Across the Universe, The Water Wars, and a few others. I'm also interested in dystopian fiction, so I plan to read some of that as well.
So: science fiction, dystopia, historical fiction... got any favourites? Feel free to comment :)
Friday, January 28, 2011
Reading list, and Oscar predictions
I mentioned in my last post that I set my reading goal on Goodreads to ten books. I tried to compile a reading list the other night, but found that I was close to going over ten books. So, I shall compile a list of ten books that I want to read this year...
Merenwen's To-Read List, 2011
1. Beastly by Alex Flinn
2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
3. The Boy With the Cuckoo-Clock Heart by Mathias Malzieu
4. Eon by Alison Goodman
5. The Forest in the Hallway by Gordon Smith
6. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
7. Leviathan by Scott Westerfield
8. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
9. Terrier by Tamora Pierce
10. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
There are other books that I really want to read, but might not get to. It depends on how quickly I can read.
On the subject of Oscar predictions, here are mine. I've only seen a couple of the nominated films (Alice in Wonderland and How to Train Your Dragon), though, so I'm just making educated guesses here.
Best Supporting Actress: I think Melissa Leo's gonna take it. I'd like Helena Bonham-Carter to win, because she's one of my favourite actresses, but it sounds like Leo's performance in The Fighter would totally earn her an Oscar. It would be cool to see Hailee Steinfeld win for True Grit, but I have a feeling that Leo will win it. I am disappointed that Mila Kunis wasn't nominated for Black Swan, though.
Best Supporting Actor: I'm not keen on Christian Bale, but then again, I haven't seen his role in The Fighter. My guess is that either he or Geoffrey Rush will take it.
Best Actor: This is a tough one. I like Colin Firth as an actor, in both comedic and dramatic roles (I saw A Single Man on DVD last year, and thought he was pretty darn good in it), but I've heard that Jesse Eisenberg and James Franco did well in their roles. It would be nice for either of them to win it. And then there's Javier Bardem... okay, I'm totally stuck.
Best Actress: I think Natalie Portman will win this one, although Nicole Kidman could take it for her role in Rabbit Hole.
Best Animated Feature: I haven't seen The Illusionist, but I really want to. I don't think it's being played in my area yet, or if it ever will be - I might have to wait for the DVD. I'd really like How to Train Your Dragon to win, though, because: 1) The script was pretty clever, 2) The animation was pretty good, and 3) Craig Ferguson as a Viking - need I say more? Although The Illusionist looks spectacular, from the trailer I saw. Toy Story 3 earned a Golden Globe for Animated Feature, so it might take the Oscar as well. I really don't know.
Best Original Score: Am I the only one who's annoyed that Alice in Wonderland didn't get nominated for this category? The movie had a really awesome score! Hmm... I think Inception might take it - it got the Golden Globe, and Hans Zimmer wrote it. Zimmer seems to be one of the most popular film score composers. I'm not too familiar with his work - I only just found out via Wikipedia that he did the score for Sherlock Holmes, and I liked that score. I think he'll get the Oscar.
Best Director: It's a three-way tie between Darren Aronofsky for Black Swan, David Fincher for The Social Network and the Coen brothers for True Grit. I'm not sure if Tom Hooper will win for The King's Speech, but I'd be happy if he won. It looks like a good film.
And finally...
Best Picture: Wow. I'm really not sure. Shall we say... three-way tie between Black Swan, The Social Network and The King's Speech? Or then there's 127 Hours. And Inception. Oh dear, I do believe I'm stuck.
...I'm suddenly aware that this post is very long. I should probably go now. Bye!
Merenwen's To-Read List, 2011
1. Beastly by Alex Flinn
2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
3. The Boy With the Cuckoo-Clock Heart by Mathias Malzieu
4. Eon by Alison Goodman
5. The Forest in the Hallway by Gordon Smith
6. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
7. Leviathan by Scott Westerfield
8. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
9. Terrier by Tamora Pierce
10. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
There are other books that I really want to read, but might not get to. It depends on how quickly I can read.
On the subject of Oscar predictions, here are mine. I've only seen a couple of the nominated films (Alice in Wonderland and How to Train Your Dragon), though, so I'm just making educated guesses here.
Best Supporting Actress: I think Melissa Leo's gonna take it. I'd like Helena Bonham-Carter to win, because she's one of my favourite actresses, but it sounds like Leo's performance in The Fighter would totally earn her an Oscar. It would be cool to see Hailee Steinfeld win for True Grit, but I have a feeling that Leo will win it. I am disappointed that Mila Kunis wasn't nominated for Black Swan, though.
Best Supporting Actor: I'm not keen on Christian Bale, but then again, I haven't seen his role in The Fighter. My guess is that either he or Geoffrey Rush will take it.
Best Actor: This is a tough one. I like Colin Firth as an actor, in both comedic and dramatic roles (I saw A Single Man on DVD last year, and thought he was pretty darn good in it), but I've heard that Jesse Eisenberg and James Franco did well in their roles. It would be nice for either of them to win it. And then there's Javier Bardem... okay, I'm totally stuck.
Best Actress: I think Natalie Portman will win this one, although Nicole Kidman could take it for her role in Rabbit Hole.
Best Animated Feature: I haven't seen The Illusionist, but I really want to. I don't think it's being played in my area yet, or if it ever will be - I might have to wait for the DVD. I'd really like How to Train Your Dragon to win, though, because: 1) The script was pretty clever, 2) The animation was pretty good, and 3) Craig Ferguson as a Viking - need I say more? Although The Illusionist looks spectacular, from the trailer I saw. Toy Story 3 earned a Golden Globe for Animated Feature, so it might take the Oscar as well. I really don't know.
Best Original Score: Am I the only one who's annoyed that Alice in Wonderland didn't get nominated for this category? The movie had a really awesome score! Hmm... I think Inception might take it - it got the Golden Globe, and Hans Zimmer wrote it. Zimmer seems to be one of the most popular film score composers. I'm not too familiar with his work - I only just found out via Wikipedia that he did the score for Sherlock Holmes, and I liked that score. I think he'll get the Oscar.
Best Director: It's a three-way tie between Darren Aronofsky for Black Swan, David Fincher for The Social Network and the Coen brothers for True Grit. I'm not sure if Tom Hooper will win for The King's Speech, but I'd be happy if he won. It looks like a good film.
And finally...
Best Picture: Wow. I'm really not sure. Shall we say... three-way tie between Black Swan, The Social Network and The King's Speech? Or then there's 127 Hours. And Inception. Oh dear, I do believe I'm stuck.
...I'm suddenly aware that this post is very long. I should probably go now. Bye!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Reading Goals
One of my goals for 2011 is to read more. I'm trying to finish up the novels I started a while ago, but I also want to start and finish a good amount of books this year.
Fortunately, Goodreads now has a feature where you can set a goal of how many books you want to read in 2011. Because I read so slowly, I decided on 10 books - Mom recommended that number last night when I told her about the Goodreads feature. I think it's a reasonable enough goal for me, and I can always go past the goal if I think I can.
Speaking of last night, Mom gave me a brief lesson in long division last night. It was late - about 11:00 - so my brain wasn't at its sharpest. But perhaps I'll actually remember what she taught me.
Mom also got out some books on math by Danica McKellar (she played Winnie on Wonder Years). At first I was skeptical about them, because they're written for girls to enjoy math more, so I thought they'd be overly-girly, but I was wrong: I flipped through the middle school math book, Math Doesn't Suck, and it has some useful tips. I know some of the math in Math Doesn't Suck, like factoring numbers in algebra, but I might still use it to brush up on decimals and percents, because I never did work through decimals and our Key Curriculum book on percents got lost somehow.
I cast off the bobble pillow a week or so ago :) It's not quite done yet, though - I have to buy a pillow form yet, and then it'll have to be seamed up. I'm still happy, though, because it's one less project on the needles.
That's all for now. I'll post again soon :)
Fortunately, Goodreads now has a feature where you can set a goal of how many books you want to read in 2011. Because I read so slowly, I decided on 10 books - Mom recommended that number last night when I told her about the Goodreads feature. I think it's a reasonable enough goal for me, and I can always go past the goal if I think I can.
Speaking of last night, Mom gave me a brief lesson in long division last night. It was late - about 11:00 - so my brain wasn't at its sharpest. But perhaps I'll actually remember what she taught me.
Mom also got out some books on math by Danica McKellar (she played Winnie on Wonder Years). At first I was skeptical about them, because they're written for girls to enjoy math more, so I thought they'd be overly-girly, but I was wrong: I flipped through the middle school math book, Math Doesn't Suck, and it has some useful tips. I know some of the math in Math Doesn't Suck, like factoring numbers in algebra, but I might still use it to brush up on decimals and percents, because I never did work through decimals and our Key Curriculum book on percents got lost somehow.
I cast off the bobble pillow a week or so ago :) It's not quite done yet, though - I have to buy a pillow form yet, and then it'll have to be seamed up. I'm still happy, though, because it's one less project on the needles.
That's all for now. I'll post again soon :)
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
I just sneezed on my arm.
So... yeah :p
Anyways, now that I'm not busy, I can reveal my diabolical knitting plan...
Merenwen's Knitting Plan!
Stuff to finish:
1. Calorimetry (I've only got two rows and the bind-off to do, but I'm procrastinating ;P)
2. Irish Hiking Scarf (only got a little bit left to do)
3. Ravenclaw scarf (about 45% done)
4. Fingerless gloves (need to be seamed)
Stuff to start:
1. Lacy Baktus (I'll have to finish the Calorimetry first, because I need the circular needle)
2. Lacy Waves Scarf (I can start this at any time, but I'd like to finish my Irish Hiking Scarf first)
3. Boneyard Shawl (again, I can start this at any time, but I want to finish other projects first)
I think I'll use my Patons Decor in 'Woodbine Ombre' fur the Lacy Baktus, Red Heart Super Saver in 'Light Sage' (the colour I used for my cat/mandrake blanket) for the scarf, and Decor in light blue (can't remember the colourway name) for the shawl. Fun! :D
I also have an itch to read a gazillion books. I think it's because the weather is cooling off, because I think I read more during fall and winter than in the summer - and any books I read over the summer are light, like manga or girly novels. I still have to finish Blood and Chocolate (I know, I'm lazy), but I really want to start my most recent library selection, Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly. It's about a girl names Drea who has symptoms of Asperger's and joins a band with two classmates who don't judge her. You can read the full synopsis on Goodreads here.
I also want to read Terrier by Tamora Pierce, but I also want to read her Tortallan quartets from the beginning - a 'book marathon', if you will - because I feel that if I read the last Immortals book, The Realms of the Gods, right away, I might have to go back and re-read parts of Emperor Mage. I also have $10 birthday money from my estranged grandmother, which I might spend on a paperback or hair stuff. I can't decide.
Eh, I should probably be doing GED work... or maybe I'll eat lunch first. I feel like making a tuna melt for lunch again.
Anyways, now that I'm not busy, I can reveal my diabolical knitting plan...
Merenwen's Knitting Plan!
Stuff to finish:
1. Calorimetry (I've only got two rows and the bind-off to do, but I'm procrastinating ;P)
2. Irish Hiking Scarf (only got a little bit left to do)
3. Ravenclaw scarf (about 45% done)
4. Fingerless gloves (need to be seamed)
Stuff to start:
1. Lacy Baktus (I'll have to finish the Calorimetry first, because I need the circular needle)
2. Lacy Waves Scarf (I can start this at any time, but I'd like to finish my Irish Hiking Scarf first)
3. Boneyard Shawl (again, I can start this at any time, but I want to finish other projects first)
I think I'll use my Patons Decor in 'Woodbine Ombre' fur the Lacy Baktus, Red Heart Super Saver in 'Light Sage' (the colour I used for my cat/mandrake blanket) for the scarf, and Decor in light blue (can't remember the colourway name) for the shawl. Fun! :D
I also have an itch to read a gazillion books. I think it's because the weather is cooling off, because I think I read more during fall and winter than in the summer - and any books I read over the summer are light, like manga or girly novels. I still have to finish Blood and Chocolate (I know, I'm lazy), but I really want to start my most recent library selection, Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly. It's about a girl names Drea who has symptoms of Asperger's and joins a band with two classmates who don't judge her. You can read the full synopsis on Goodreads here.
I also want to read Terrier by Tamora Pierce, but I also want to read her Tortallan quartets from the beginning - a 'book marathon', if you will - because I feel that if I read the last Immortals book, The Realms of the Gods, right away, I might have to go back and re-read parts of Emperor Mage. I also have $10 birthday money from my estranged grandmother, which I might spend on a paperback or hair stuff. I can't decide.
Eh, I should probably be doing GED work... or maybe I'll eat lunch first. I feel like making a tuna melt for lunch again.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
A brief-ish update
Hi. Sorry if my last post sounded weird; I was feeling very unusual when I wrote it.
I'm still stressing about my relatives and their behaviour, but I reserved a book on film-making from the library so that should keep me busy. I also have The Manga Guide to Molecular Biology out of the library, which is cool. I'm only a few pages in and haven't really gotten into the basics of the subject yet, but I think I'm gonna love it. It's making me want to dig out my anatomy book again - actually, when I flipped through the Manga Guide the other day, I saw an illustration of a cell and actually recognized some parts of it from my anatomy colouring book. I don't remember what they were exactly, but the names and shapes looked familiar. It was kinda cool.
I can't seem to get into a novel I have out of the library. It seems really interesting, but my brain just won't relax enough to let me read. I'm thinking of starting another Tamora Pierce book, because I used to zip right through most of her books. I have Terrier, which I tried starting twice but couldn't get into; and Realms of the Gods, which my parents bought for me at Indigo but I never got around to starting it. I might start Realms because it's a Daine book, and I just love Daine's personality.
I'm thinking of writing a blog post of books I recommend, because I've read some books that are really awesome. And I like writing reviews of books.
Oh yeah, and I sliced my fingernail - I was trying to snap a thread, and it sliced my left pinky fingernail. It was a clean break, though, so my mom was able to super-glue it back together and cover it with a band-aid.
I watched The Men Who Stare At Goats today. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, actually. I laughed quite a bit. And I got to hear one of my favourite songs - 'Itchycoo Park' by the Small Faces - in it.
I'm still stressing about my relatives and their behaviour, but I reserved a book on film-making from the library so that should keep me busy. I also have The Manga Guide to Molecular Biology out of the library, which is cool. I'm only a few pages in and haven't really gotten into the basics of the subject yet, but I think I'm gonna love it. It's making me want to dig out my anatomy book again - actually, when I flipped through the Manga Guide the other day, I saw an illustration of a cell and actually recognized some parts of it from my anatomy colouring book. I don't remember what they were exactly, but the names and shapes looked familiar. It was kinda cool.
I can't seem to get into a novel I have out of the library. It seems really interesting, but my brain just won't relax enough to let me read. I'm thinking of starting another Tamora Pierce book, because I used to zip right through most of her books. I have Terrier, which I tried starting twice but couldn't get into; and Realms of the Gods, which my parents bought for me at Indigo but I never got around to starting it. I might start Realms because it's a Daine book, and I just love Daine's personality.
I'm thinking of writing a blog post of books I recommend, because I've read some books that are really awesome. And I like writing reviews of books.
Oh yeah, and I sliced my fingernail - I was trying to snap a thread, and it sliced my left pinky fingernail. It was a clean break, though, so my mom was able to super-glue it back together and cover it with a band-aid.
I watched The Men Who Stare At Goats today. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, actually. I laughed quite a bit. And I got to hear one of my favourite songs - 'Itchycoo Park' by the Small Faces - in it.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Hyper kids and baked beans.
It'll all make sense in a minute. First, the hyper kids.
Yesterday went alright, until we got to Chapters. First, though, we went to Costco. Mom got pissed off because she stopped, turned, and went back to look at something, and I instinctively turned to follow. She yelled at me to "Follow your dad!" So Dad and I browsed and complained about Mom.
Winners was bad for Dad. He turned and wrenched his leg, so he was hobbling around for the rest of the night. He was still okay to drive, though, it was walking that gave him trouble.
Chapters was the worst. Dad told us he'd sit in Starbucks while we looked at books, because of his leg. Mom and I had to dodge kids, because there was a fundraiser or something going on. I think the kids were part of a choir, because they gathered on the stairs and sang 'We're All in This Together'. Gah. I'm so sick of all that music from High School Musical. I didn't get anything, because I couldn't really look at any books because we had to keep dodging kids. Plus, I hate crowds. Always have, always will. When I was little, I used to get so edgy around crowds, loud buses, etc. Buses don't bother me now (just the bus drivers who act like they own the road), but crowds still bother me. When we got home, I took an Advil and went upstairs to write.
And then, I saw that my parents had eaten perogies, and didn't ask me if I wanted any. That made me so mad. So, I had leftover baked beans.
I woke up this morning with the worst gas I've had in months.
And then I discovered later that morning that Mother Nature inflicted her stupid curse on me.
So, I had gas and cramps this morning. I took an Advil and drank some water, and when the cramps went away I ate a banana. Then I read Terrier, ate a sandwich, drank some awesome caramel hot chocolate, read Terrier some more, and then at noon I put it on BBC Canada so that Mom could watch EastEnders.
While I was reading Terrier (which is an awesome book by Tamora Pierce, by the way), I was listening to music on a few Galaxie channels. I can't wait till the holiday channel is added on Monday :)
Yesterday went alright, until we got to Chapters. First, though, we went to Costco. Mom got pissed off because she stopped, turned, and went back to look at something, and I instinctively turned to follow. She yelled at me to "Follow your dad!" So Dad and I browsed and complained about Mom.
Winners was bad for Dad. He turned and wrenched his leg, so he was hobbling around for the rest of the night. He was still okay to drive, though, it was walking that gave him trouble.
Chapters was the worst. Dad told us he'd sit in Starbucks while we looked at books, because of his leg. Mom and I had to dodge kids, because there was a fundraiser or something going on. I think the kids were part of a choir, because they gathered on the stairs and sang 'We're All in This Together'. Gah. I'm so sick of all that music from High School Musical. I didn't get anything, because I couldn't really look at any books because we had to keep dodging kids. Plus, I hate crowds. Always have, always will. When I was little, I used to get so edgy around crowds, loud buses, etc. Buses don't bother me now (just the bus drivers who act like they own the road), but crowds still bother me. When we got home, I took an Advil and went upstairs to write.
And then, I saw that my parents had eaten perogies, and didn't ask me if I wanted any. That made me so mad. So, I had leftover baked beans.
I woke up this morning with the worst gas I've had in months.
And then I discovered later that morning that Mother Nature inflicted her stupid curse on me.
So, I had gas and cramps this morning. I took an Advil and drank some water, and when the cramps went away I ate a banana. Then I read Terrier, ate a sandwich, drank some awesome caramel hot chocolate, read Terrier some more, and then at noon I put it on BBC Canada so that Mom could watch EastEnders.
While I was reading Terrier (which is an awesome book by Tamora Pierce, by the way), I was listening to music on a few Galaxie channels. I can't wait till the holiday channel is added on Monday :)
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