GoodReads

Because I haven't had a chance to keep up with reviews here as much as I'd have liked to, I've transferred my list of books over to GoodReads. I'll be posting reviews here using their widget in the future, and hopefully that will help me keep up with things a bit better!

In the meantime, check out my progress on my challenge here: http://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/162582

In a Heartbeat

Tonight, my husband and I went to the movies.  This is definitely not unusual for us; we see a lot of movies, particularly this time of year.  We've seen perhaps fifteen or sixteen so far this year.  Tonight we went to see Limitless, one which we've been looking forward to for a while.  I love movies about writers, and this one had an interesting twist to it.  If you could unlock the limits of your brain, how fast could you write a book?  In Limitless, a struggling writer is given a new drug, which gives users the ability to unlock 100% of their brain's capability, instead of the 20% the average person uses.  He's able to finish his book in four days - take that NaNoWriMo winners!

The writing aspect of the movie turned out to only be a small part, with plenty of mystery and drama as the main character moves on to more money-oriented pursuits, such as playing the stock market and engaging in corporate intrigue, while being stalked by unsavoury characters both from his past and present.  Unfortunately for one man in the theatre, the adrenaline rush of chase scenes on the big screen proved a little too much.  We watched as a woman ran out of the theatre, and returned with the manager and a couple of other people in cineplex uniforms.  A few minutes later, police were on the scene.  There weren't any unruly patrons in this particular theatre, so I tore my eyes away from the screen (during one of the more exciting moments involving central park and using a little girl wearing ice skates as a defensive weapon) to check out what was going on.  They were surrounding a man as the agitated woman circled, getting more and more anxious.  

Their voices were hushed and I have to give kudos to the theatre staff for being so very un-disruptive during a serious event.  They seemed to think the man had died at first, but found a pulse just before paramedics arrived and immediately removed the man from the theatre.  While I was curious, it was none of my business and so that was the end of it for me.  I do hope that he is doing well, and is well cared for wherever he wound up.  Luckily, there is a hospital only a matter of blocks from the Sunridge theatre, so I am sure he made it to medical care quickly.

It's amazing how an ordinary day at the movies can be an incredibly tragic event in someone's life.  My heart breaks for the woman who was the companion to the man who was carried away.  It only takes a moment for your whole life to change, so lets be grateful for every lovely one we have with one another.

Now: More books!  A few days overdue this time because I was waiting until I had more to say, rather than just posting a list of titles.  

36. Scared to death Staub, Wendy Corsi

37. Skipping a beat : a novel Pekkanen, Sarah

38. Three weeks to say goodbye Box, C. J

39. Oogy : the dog only a family could love  Levin, Larry (Laurence M.)

40. The Fall: The Strain Trilogy Book Two del Toro, Guillermo

Sarah Pekkanen is one of those authors I never would have discovered outside of this challenge.  I picked up her first book on a lark sometime in January I believe - it was one of the first in the challenge - and loved it so much I sought out her second.  I really recommend her for interesting reading.  For those who liked Left Neglected along with me, I think you'd enjoy this book - Skipping a Beat - too, which is all about how changes in our lives take place due to circumstances sometimes beyond our control, and sometimes by choices that at least seem like the right one to make, and whether or not all "good" changes turn out positively in the end.  It also touches on redemption and forgiveness without being preachy or over-handed.

But the book I just can't stop thinking about is Oogy.  It's the true story of a dog who, as a puppy, was used as a bait dog by people who fought dogs, and was left for dead after being horribly injured.  He was rescued by a police officer, and through a few turns of serendipitous fate, wound up with just the right family to love him.  If you have ever adopted a rescued dog and considered researching his history, you'll relate to this book. (I've often wondered about our little Ivy maniac's history).  Heck, if you've ever loved a dog, you'll relate to this book.  It's also a short-ish, quick read and is extremely uplifting and makes you just feel all gooey and happy inside, so ya'll don't have an excuse.  You can finish this in a couple of quick evening sessions.  Have a dog on your lap while you read, if you can.  You will want lots of doggie hugs and kisses while reading, trust me.

Happy reading, writing, and moments of happy heartbeats.

Amazed by Life

Last night, plagued by insomnia, I was poking around on Facebook, and on a lark, did a search for someone I used to know many, many years ago.  Faced with a page of results, I clicked on I think what was the third one down at random, and it said Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO.  Wow, well that was the home town of the person I used to know, so I sent off a tentative message asking if he was the someone I thought he might be, someone I met in Central America when we were both teenagers.

Believe it or not, it was.  Some force in the universe must have been guiding my mouse.  I'm absolutely in shock and awe.  I know I shouldn't be.  I've found other friends from my high school era on Facebook.  Heck, I've found friends from grammar school there, too.  This, though, it really shocked and surprised me in a beautiful way.  Sometimes life offers you the most amazing little surprises.

I've had a rough time the end of this winter.  I had a bloody awful migraine that had me in bed for four days at the beginning of the month, the worst one I've had in ages.  To top it off, I was severely affected - really, disabled, by the seasonal affective depression that hasn't bothered me since we left Grande Prairie.  It's the lack of winter sunshine, I think.  We don't get much in our new place, and it's been so cold that I haven't been spending much time outdoors.  I cried when it snowed again this week, because I was so devastated that spring hadn't quite sprung.  I created a pink and silver necklace to try to inspire happy, spring thoughts, and it did work to a degree.  But now I have an old friend to catch up with, and a Shakespeare comedy with two lovely people tomorrow night to top it off.  Things are surely looking up.

More books!

Okay, I've given up on making it to fifty by my birthday, but I'm still making progress on the year's goal.

31. The devil in the white city : murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed America Larson, Erik

32. Left neglected Genova, Lisa

33. Trial by fire : a novel of suspense Jance, Judith A.

34. What the night knows : a novel Koontz, Dean

35. The strain  del Toro, Guillermo 

The Devil in the White City was a great read, and I would recommend it highly to anyone interested in Chicago's history, architecture, or serial killers - or all three!  It chronicles the planning and building of the grounds of the World's Fair Columbian Exhibition, with a side plot telling the tale of a con man and murderer who was active in Chicago at that time.  I love history, and this book weaves together stories from historical documents and the author's imagination seamlessly.

The Strain was an interesting read as well - vampires as they should be: scary, mean, ruthless killers (as opposed to sappy, virginal, emo teen stalkers).  This was the first in a trilogy, and I picked it up because it's penned by the same man who wrote the script for Pan's Labyrinth, one of my all-time favourite movies.  It's well-written and interesting, and very very scary.  I'll definitely be reading the next in the trilogy soon.

Losing It

Being blessed with empathy is a mixed bag.  I'm not sure that empathy is even the right word; what I'm grateful for is understanding, a relationship that brings me immense gratitude for my own life and love for all those suffering in the world.

I've been watching much of the footage of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.  Much of it brings me to tears, even photographs have me sobbing.  For every bit of footage of a destroyed house I can feel the horror of a family's loss.  For every terrified and sobbing relative interviewed, I can feel the ache of a parent missing a child.

Horror can be a blessing.  I say that because more than some, and less than others, of course, I can understand the pain these people are going through.  I know what it means to lose everything you have, but I also know that it can mean the opportunity for an entirely new life.

If I could say anything to the survivors of the disaster in Japan, it would be that life goes on.  It is precious because of it's delicacy, and while some losses - particularly people we loved - may seem as though they will never heal, there is always hope.  There is always the choice to step forward.  There is always someone in the world who will reach out a hand to help, and though it may be humbling at first, that love will heal you.  There is hope.  There is life.  There is beauty in the world.  There is a reason to move on.  It seems impossible when everything you've had is gone, but you have your memory, and you will have new moments to preserve.

Our boarded-up bedroom after the fire - the walls were completely gone.

I did not have to be plucked from a rooftop.  I did not have to struggle to find clean water.  I was luckier in so many ways than the survivors of this and other tragedies.  I know and appreciate this every day.  Even more, I appreciate what I do have, and those who reached out to Richard and I with love and support.  Some of you are probably here reading this blog, because many of you are on Facebook.  I think often of the ways you reached out to us, and encourage everyone to reach out, if they can, to others who are suffering.  The smallest things, like toiletries and clothing, can mean the world to someone who has nothing left.

Please support the Red Cross if you are able.  Please give and help where you can.  The people you touch will never, ever forget it.

Books, Books, Long and beautiful Books...

If you get the reference, you also get a cookie.  I made orange shortbread this week in my quest to find the best shortbread ever.  According to my husband, these were pretty much perfect.  They were really, really simple, too.  I gave one to the UPS man who delivered a parcel this week, and he seemed pretty impressed too. He happened to come to the door just as they were coming out of the oven, lucky guy.  Also, the box he was delivering was so abused by customs that I made him stay while I made sure the contents were intact, so the cookie was kind of a bribe.  Would have been bad luck for him if my first try on this recipe was a disaster!

Speaking of books, we finally have an ereader!  We were still cabin-feverish today, and so headed into the city again.  First stop, Second Cup.  Why are their iced espressos so incredibly addictive?  I like them even better than Tim Horton's Iced Capps, which is saying a lot.  Second stop, Chapters, where I immediately found five books I wanted upon walking in the door.  It doesn't help that they have their table with Book Club suggestions right up front... I get stalled there.  I was good though, wrote them all down to be taken out of the library.  Reading this many books in a year is dangerous business if you consider buying even some of them.

We did, however, go home with a Kobo reader.  With the Overdrive system available at our library, I stopped buying audiobooks about a year ago (I was previously a member of Audible.com for many years).  I was curious about the ebook collection, though, since it is so much larger than the audiobook collection, and with poking around a little we both found stuff we want to read in the available books.  Being able to download the ebooks for free makes it a valuable investment, especially for Richard as he travels for work, as he always likes to have a book with him if he's alone, and lugging the enormous hardcover fantasy novels he's fond of into restaurants and the like can be a little awkward.

And as to my 111 books challenge:

26. Seeking Peace: Chronicles of the worst Buddhist in the World Pipher, Mary

27. Lost Boy Jeffs, Brent

28. In The Woods French, Tana

29. Baby, we were meant for each other : in praise of adoption Simon, Scott

30. Hull zero three Bear, Greg

Three out of five non-fiction - that`s unusual for me, it`s usually only about 10% of what I read, but these three were all exceptional, particularly Lost Boy.  I`ve become interested in the subjects of polygamy and fundamentalist Mormon sects after becoming addicted to the TV drama Big Love, now in it`s last season. I read maybe three or four fictional books set in various fictional sects last year, including The 19th Wife which is spectacular, if anyone is interested in the same area.  Reading about the real life difficulties of a boy - a relative of the infamous Warren Jeffs no less - growing up in fundamentalist Mormonism was shocking, though.  I`ve always thought about the plight of the girls and women, but never much about the boys.  Many of the difficulties that boys face are chronicled, including losing most of the girls their age to relationships with much older men and, for those that do marry, having to figure out a way to support a large family on what is likely a low income because of a lack of education.  This was definitely fascinating and I highly recommend it.

In the Woods was another book I positively loved.  If you like Irish books and/or mysteries, this should be high on your to-read list.  I found it through my friend Sarah on Facebook, who recently wrote how much she liked the sequel to In the Woods, which I'll be requesting next... probably shortly after I finish writing this entry, actually.  It was another book about missing children and forested areas next to their home, a familiar subject after just reading The Weight of Silence, but entirely different from that novel, both from the POV of narration and the writing style, as well as of course the setting and the plot.  Both are worth a read, in my opinion, but this one might edge out the previous one a hint because of my genealogical connections to Ireland.

I believe in Grammar Nazis!

"I don't believe in guns."  Really?  My grandpa-in-law has some, I can take you over and show you some time.  They're real, I swear!

"I don't believe in gambling." Wow.  Have you ever heard of Vegas? It exists, I swear!

Okay, so I know this is a little thing, probably even tinier than the "hopefully" thing that dashed my husband's nerves to pieces when I would say things like, "Really?  You are going to go to the restaurant while full of hope for dinner?"

Personally, I don't particularly enjoy gambling and think it's a waste of money, and I don't carry much affection for guns, though they have their place in this world, but I do believe in them both.  'Cause, you know, they exist and all. I don't know why, but I've been noticing this particular little grammar faux pas showing up everywhere from movie dialogue to conversations with other people lately.

I worry sometimes about the future of the English language.  It's already confusing enough with all the little colloquialisms and regional slang, but when common errors become accepted parlance it's enough to make the grammarian in me shudder.  Woefully, not hopefully.  What common errors in grammar make the Grammar Nazi in you come out?

On Interaction

I want to take a second to say thank you, sincerely, to everyone who has commented here on my blog or on Facebook about my entries here.  There are times when I've felt a little bit like I'm tossing my words off into a great black void.  It's weird; if I don't show anyone my work - like those novels I wrote and lost in our fire before showing a soul - I don't feel nervous at all.  But it feels strange when you're writing and know it's out there somehow, that people can read it, that they might have read it.  Maybe they hated it! Oh god, maybe they think my writing reeks!  Maybe they think I'm a crazy pretentious nutcase!  No, that's only my husband and only because I do thinks like call him obdurate, and then he has to tell me he'd be offended if he knew what I was talking about.

Don't worry, I explained, and he agreed that my assessment was actually correct.

I've finished another five on my trek to read 111 books this year.  My goal to read 50 before my birthday might actually be in sight, though I have a feeling I'll fall a tiny bit short on that one.  Less than a month and a half to go and only halfway...

21. Sickened : the true story of a lost childhood Gregory, Julie

22. Hush: a novel White, Kate

23. The weight of silence Gudenkauf, Heather

24. Sh*t My Dad Says Halpern, Justin

25. Killer takes all Spindler, Erica

I need to not read memoirs involving child abuse any more.  Sickened had me sobbing through a great measure of the book, and feeling the need to go rescue the children in the tale and take them home and smother them with kisses and care.  I know the author is an adult, older than me as a matter of fact, but that didn't change the way my heart reacted.  No more of those for a while.

The Weight of Silence was positively wonderful, on the other hand.  It's a tale of abuse, and secrets, but is fiction so it didn't wreck my heart so horribly.  It's also full of suspense and twisty story lines to keep anyone intrigued.  The tale follows two little girls, best friends.  One has not spoken since she was four years old, due to a traumatic event she witnessed.  One reads her silent friend easily, and has become her voice.  When both mothers awake to discover their children missing one morning, vanished into the woods behind their homes, the ensuing search outs most of the family secrets they both hold. I recommend it highly.

Also, for those wondering how on earth I'm getting through so many books so fast, it's just a matter of setting priorities and choosing books over things like TV and net surfing and games and such.  Because some of the books are audio, I'll listen while I walk, clean the house, cook, work on needle craft or paper crafts and so on.  I have given up on a lot of TV, and haven't even watched one episode of American Idol this year, which will probably shock a good lot of you that've known me for a while.  Plus, I'm choosing all titles that really grab my interest, so that makes it fun.  A challenge like this shouldn't be a chore, but a blessing.