Posted on November 10, 2013 in Books
Hello, everyone!
It’s my first post in weeks. I’ve had a very busy time lately. I’ve been spending it mostly working, cooking, socializing and doing chores for a house sit. I have not even finished a book in two weeks. I’ve been without a knitting project for even longer.
I have been reading this weekend and hope to finish tomorrow: Anne Bronte’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. This was my Classics Spin book from September, but I never got around to reading it. I started it weeks ago, but I haven’t been able to pick it up until this weekend. I am enjoying it even for its gritty realism.
Tomorrow is Remembrance Day in Canada and gratefully, I get tomorrow off from work so I can take time to read. Blogging won’t resume on a regular schedule for a couple of weeks.
When I can blog again, I hope to write about some of my cooking and baking adventures. I have had many the past couple of weeks. I realized that I am a worse food blogger than I was a few years ago. I just don’t have the energy or time to make food, photograph it and blog about it on a daily basis. I’ve lost count of the recipes I have tried, but there will be at least one cookbook review out of it and a couple of posts on sourdough bread.
If anyone else is still reading the blog, how is everyone doing?
Posted on October 10, 2013 in Books
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Another captivating novel from Neil Gaiman. I think my favourite Gaiman work will always be the Sandman series, but I do love his novels. I continue to love them more and more. As a novelist and following his career over the last decade, I feel his writing has improved.
This novel was dark and twisty similar to his recent works such as Coraline and The Graveyard Book. There is always a theme of children and adults, growing up and magic. There is a deep theme in this book and others about the thin line between children and adult and who we are really.
He’s improved more and more as a writer. His writing has become more beautiful over time, and definitely one of my new favourite novels of his.
I think Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli could make a great adaptation of this work. I can dream.
Read October 6, 2013.
Make Good Art
This is little booklet is a speech Gaiman delivered at the University of Philadelphia in 2012. It’s been designed by a graphic artist so there is a strong visual element. I found the speech quite inspirational and it reminded me of things I’ve been thinking about. While it focuses on art specifically, you can apply some of the principles to every day life. I am considering getting it for my best friend who is an artist and would appreciate the speech.
Read October 6, 2013.
Posted on October 4, 2013 in Books
It’s rather funny that there is an actual a niche fanfiction industry from Pride and Prejudice. I’ve read a few of these novels now, and even more so, fanfiction. I saw this come up on my GR and I thought, why not?
This novel is, in fandom words, mostly fluff. It’s many happy moments between the two families. Lots of people being happily married after. The “Darcy is a cheap drunk” trope is employed and there are babies. New characters are introduced toward the end with a plot with a Scottish tint, but most of this story is happy Darcy times.
As far as published fanfiction goes, it was alright. It had cute moments and most of the canon characters were in tact. I did find issue with some anachronisms and the original characters. Also, the second half of the novel focussed a lot on Miss Bingley, one of my least preferred supporting characters.
There are sequels, but my library does not have them. It was a nice P&P sequel, but I don’t think I would commit to it as a series.
Read September 21-30 2013.
Posted on October 3, 2013 in Books
Which is better (or preferred) … stories with multiple character points of view? Or stories that stick to just one or two at most? And, why?
This question reminded me about the popular Song of Fire & Ice series by George R. R. Martin which does the multiple character POVs to the hilt perhaps to the annoyance of some readers. I don’t think it’s bad when an author can do it well. Martin does for the most part, and the format of multiple POVs works very well for movies or TV shows since you can see how the stories and characters come together. In a book, it can be more difficult to do successfully I think. In many ways, I feel like I know and like a couple of characters more than the other so when time is focused on ones I like less, it can drag a little bit. Ensemble dramas work well on TV because there is something for everyone, but even then, I can’t stand how certain central characters get overlooked or pushed aside for others.
Multiple POVs also work well in comics and graphic novels. I think for world building, fantasy and sci-fi, it is a very good technique. For other things, I do not mind the convention of knowing a couple of characters very well.
What are your thoughts?
Posted on October 1, 2013 in Books
Neil Gaiman is one of my favourite graphic novel authors. I have read Sandman and 1604. When I found out, he wrote a Batman novel, I knew I had to try to read it.
I grew up watching “Batman: The Animated Series” and the DC Animated Universe. I am very fond of “Justice League” and “Justice League Unlimited”. As a result, Batman is one of my favourite fictional characters, and my Batman will always be Kevin Conroy’s. I have read some of the Batman popular novels, but I have never been a true comic book reader.
This review is mostly about things that aren’t this graphic novel. There is not much to say about it really. It’s not bad, but it’s the kind of work you have to read for yourself.
This is a “last” Batman story. There won’t ever be one of those really, but it’s an interpretative work about the life and legacy of the Batman. I liked some of the moments and it was metaphorical at times. I think some true Batman fans will understand appreciate the sentiment behind it.
Not an essential Gaiman work, but interesting Batman appreciators.
Read September 21 2013.
Posted on September 29, 2013 in Books, Fitness, Food
Happy Sunday! It’s been a few weeks since my last Salon. Actually, I’ve become quite busy lately. I am too tired and fatigued to read on the weekdays, and I must run errands or have social engagements on the weekends. I have managed to read at least one book per week, but just barely.
Today, I am reading Marsha Altman’s P&P sequel The Darcys & the Bingleys. I really should be reading my Classics Spin book Anne Bronte’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. I will start that, but I must consider the over two dozen books from the library. I bought a couple of cookbooks and a calligraphy book the other week too. I still have at least 30 books unsorted in the house that I got this summer.
Books are my addiction!
In fitness news, I ran a 4KM colour run two weeks ago and no running since. Once again, no time, but it was good. I hope to run more as the weather gets chillier. I am biking about 4 days of the week now. I don’t know if my endurance or legs muscles are better, I am definitely faster and more confident on the road. I’m surprisingly enjoying myself. I even bought some lights for my wheels so I can bike in the dusk.
In knitting news, there is no knitting news. Sigh.
Food news, I started my sourdough starter yesterday! I hope to make sourdough in a couple weeks time. Exciting.
What have you been doing this weekend?
Posted on September 26, 2013 in Books
Are “best” and “favorite” the same thing? If someone asked you “What’s the best book you ever read?” would the answer be the same as for “What’s your favorite?” – BTT
I try to tailor my recommendations to whomever is asking. Bests and Favourites are very subjective. If someone asks me the best book on travelling to certain places, I may offer a travel guide, but my favourite would probably be a memoirs of the same place.
I don’t think I’ve ever been asked what’s the best book I’ve ever read. There are times when I like a book a lot for being well written and beautiful, but it’s not necesarily a favourite. For me, a favourite is a book I really wish to own or reread. For authors, I could say War and Peace and The Death of Ivan Illych are the best of Leo Tolstoy’s work, but Anna Karenina will be my favourite from his works for sentimental and nostalgic reasons.
How about you?
Posted on September 22, 2013 in Books
Well, this was a bit of an annoying read. I started this novel a awhile ago, but then it languished. I always have a problem finishing a book if I don’t consistently work on it in a couple of sittings.
In a rare Heyer situation, I did not like the female protagonist of this novel and I grew to dislike the hero too.I found her impertinent, proud, and arrogant. Even when she was shown a softer side, the first impression the reader gets of her is a beautiful tease. She even takes it to the next level by manipulating more than one man in this novel. I did not understand her plan to revenge herself on Ravenscar. It just seemed way over the top even for Heyer.
I did not like the pairing. Deborah and Ravenscar hate each other at the beginning and they play a dangerous game with each other. I know this is a romance novel and all’s well that ends well, but it’s a bit uncomfortable to read how much they treat each other in the beginning. They keep proclaiming how much they hate each other; it’s not really enjoyable watching them avenge themselves.
It is often fun in romances when there tension and two different (or similar rather) people meet and dislike each other. These two just play one game too many. I don’t find such duplicity romantic especially when they are playing with someone else’s affection.
All in all, one of my least favourite Heyer novels even though I think the supporting characters are mildly amusing. Now I need to read another book quickly to get over it.
Read September 12-21 2013.
Posted on September 19, 2013 in Books
Connected to last week’s—it’s one of the ways writing has changed. Books from a century or two ago spent huge swaths of text describing locations and character traits, but modern writing does all of this in shorthand. You might know a character is short with blond hair and blue eyes, but the author leaves the rest for you to figure out on your own. The writer might tell you the story takes place at a beachside town, but leaves the details to your imagination. Why do you suppose this is? Is it that we have shorter attention spans these days? That, bombarded with video and photos as we are, we don’t NEED every detail of an unknown scene described, because we have a stock of images already in our heads? – BTT
Writings styles have changed in the last one hundred years. Writers use to be written by word, and books did use to be one of the most popular sources of entertainment for those who could read. I also think there is some value in less descriptions in certain ways. There’s a change in how stories are told as well. The physical appearance of the characters are not necessarily as important as who they are and their journeys in the stories. Stream of counciousness or magical realism novels do not offer a lot in the way of physical images either, but perhaps they offer more emotional and intellectual imagery.
It’s not always the details we should worry about, and I can fill in the blank if the writer offers more important things to the story. I like character development, interactions, and plot points more than how the sun shines on the sand. Of course, it is lovely, but not always necessary.
Posted on September 18, 2013 in Knitting & Crafting
Just an update on one of the two leftover sock yarn blankets I’ve been working on. I’ve been working on this current square on and off the last week as I’ve been too busy to knit much.
I started working on this quilt from the book Knitalong in January 2010 with the thought of doing 72 squares which would cover a twin bed. This my 49th square and this month, I’ve decided to stop at 56 squares or 8×7 square quilt.
Continue reading →
Posted on September 16, 2013 in Stationery
It’s finally here. This was a first for me in many ways. My first A5, my first unboxing post, and the most expensive thing I’ve ordered from the internet yet.
I’ve wanted to buy an A5 for awhile now and have been checking the Filofax USA website every few days for a good one. I’ve been happy with my Personal Malden so far even though I’m not completely in love with the colour. I wanted a Personal Ochre, Aqua, Purple or Crimson. I’ve been converted to the Malden cause. Most of the A5’s are not cheap. I just did not like the Original’s elastic pen loops so I thought I may as well go all out with something I knew.
Note: This is an image heavy post.
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Posted on September 13, 2013 in Books
I prefer listening to Sedaris, but I could not track down the audiobook for this at the library. Now that I’ve read most of his collected works, I do think I prefer the later ones. This one was still good and it made me fascinated again with the character of Sedaris’s mother Sharon.
A lot of Sedaris’s stories are really strange, but I feel they are stranger than fiction. It’s hard to make some of this up, and I can see some weird and nasty side of people when reading these stories.
I would not recommend Sedaris for everyone. Actually, I am becoming less snarky as I get older it seems. I am still amused by his way of looking at the world and in the later stories, he is quite genial and mellow compared to the younger version of himself.
Still think he is a unique humorist and a good reader to boot.
Read September 8-9th 2013.