Unending Self-Discovery in Alter Ego

Alter Ego
By Caramel Column Inc.

"Who am I?"

This game is for those who want to analyze their personality, those with an interest in literature, philosophy, or psychology, and those who are continuously searching for themselves.

Tap whispers to gather EGO. Use the EGO you have gathered to progress in the story and take personality tests. Use what you learn in the game to see yourself in a new light.
There are multiple endings based on the choices you make. Your interpretation changes the nature of the in-game world.

"This is our story: yours, and mine."

Re-Reading on GoodReads

As most of you should know by now, I'm participating in the 2012 Reading Challenge on GoodReads.

Now, GoodReads (GR) has been a great site for cataloging what books I've read, am reading, or want to read. I've created shelves for genres, lists for my challenges, and even gathered books I was forced to read in school. It has a huge listing of editions, summaries, and reviews. And if you hadn't noticed, I link to it all the time in my reviews, sidebars, and even have the app linked to my Facebook page!

But there is one thing that I wish they had...

A Re-Read Option

Has anyone else noticed that missing feature?

I tend to re-read books a lot. When the latest sequel comes out I like to re-read the entire series. Or perhaps it's for a reading challenge or book club. And heaven forbid reminiscing over an old favorite.

As it stands now, I can see a few different options to handle my re-reading.

Option 1: Don't count re-reads at all. Makes things a lot simpler, right? Unfortunately, this counts against my GR-sponsored reading challenge, as the "Date Finished" must contain the current year. I suppose I could say, 'computer be damned,' and make my own counter but...where's the validation in that?

Option 2: Change reading dates to current/last time read. I then add a personal note that tells me the last time I read it. Unfortunately, changing the dates read not only removes the book from my GR timeline, but also my Facebook one. It also gets complicated when I try to remember when I first read a book after I've re-read it a few times.

Option 3: Read/Review multiple editions of a single book. Unfortunately, that option hinders more than it helps. Firstly, it adds a copy to my overall books list, which is silly if anyone else looks through and finds 15 copies of the same book. Secondly, it clutters shelves if I label them with genre/theme/etc.. And lastly, it's confusing when I actually have read multiple editions (print & audiobook versions) of one book.

Obviously, I'm not a coding expert, so I can't say it'd be an easy thing to change. But here's the review form as it stands now. As you can see, under the main review space, there's "Date Finished" and "Date Started" followed by "Number of Times Read".

Now, here's the second part of the review form. As soon as you click the "I Own A Copy" box, a new section opens up, letting you fill in more information.

Why couldn't they add a "I've Read This More Than Once" bump-out?

I know I'm not completely alone in this, as there is a Suggestion Topic on GR specifically addressing the re-reading issue. Feel free to add your own two cents on the topic there, too.

But before you go off and do that, what do you think? How do you handle re-reading books? Is GoodReads the premiere book cataloging site, or do you use something different? Let me hear you howl!

Marching Into The Black

I know, I know - another week without posts. Don't worry, I'm still here, just had a week-long temp job (yay!) interfering with my reading (boo!). But I'm back on track and am excited to reveal some more reviews, an upcoming release, and a little of what else I've been up to lately.

On the e-reader front, I think I'm narrowing down my search. I've been introduced to the possibility of an inexpensive tablet, which I could then personalize with whatever reading apps I wanted. I'm still not sure about backlighted reading, so I'm kinda thinking about getting a Kindle Fire from Best Buy for their trial period. See if I use any of the apps, and am okay with the backlit screen, then downgrade if I have any issues. Then again, I may fall in love with it - who knows?

In case you've been living under a rock in the last few months, you've no doubt heard about the internet protection, anti-piracy acts being voted on by various and sundry governments. SOPA was struck down or at least deferred for a time, but that hasn't stopped other bills, like ACTA, from reaching other governments and in some cases actually getting approved.

Some artists/activists/internet users have had enough and have proposed a Black March:

So what are your thoughts? Are you for or against the ACTA-type bills; will you go on an entertainment strike; is this whole thing being blown out of proportion? Sound off in the comments below!

E-Reader Suggestions?

Got a question for y'all...

As you may or may not have noticed, here at The Wolf's Den, I don't usually read many e-books. It's not that I have anything against them, I just don't own an e-reader. Now, I have accepted some e-books for review now and again, but I read them at my computer.

I use free programs such as Kindle for PC and Adobe Digital Editions. I tend to prefer the Kindle program, but it doesn't accept all formats (PDF), so I'm stuck with either a converted mess or using Adobe for some books. Unfortunately, sitting and reading at the computer has two major disadvantages:

First, I find that oftentimes sitting at the computer gives me too many distractions to allow me to focus on the material I should be reading. YouTube, GoodReads, DeviantArt... I swear I don't have ADD, but——Ooh shiny! Ahem, second, the eye-strain and required seating arrangements (needing to be able to see the screen) don't allow me much in the way of comfort or variety. Frankly, I love reading in bed or sprawled out on the couch—just so many ways to toss and turn and cozy-up while I read!

An e-reader seems like it would answer both of those problems. Plus the fact that I could take my e-books out of the house! The library might be a nice change of scenery now and again. Or maybe when I'm chilling at Powell's?

And that's where you guys come in! I've stayed out of the e-reader scene mostly due to expenses. Now, I'm still not rolling in dough at the moment, so I'm really trying to balance out spiffy gadgets with my budget. Here are a few brands I've heard of, ranging from $79 to $199:
Kindle (Basic $79, Touch $99, Keyboard $139, Fire $199),
NOOK (Touch $99, Color $169, Tablet $199),
Sony (Reader $130),
Kobo (Basic $100, Touch $130, Vox $200),
and BeBook (One $99, S Club $129, Neo $159).

Honestly, I'm kinda leaning towards a Kindle at the moment. I've used the PC software for about a year now, and other than the PDF issues (which I don't know if there's a better option right now) I don't have any huge problems. Plus I already have a lot of free books downloaded, and I'm sure I'll run across other freebees regularly. Plus my library already offers a large selection of e-books in the Kindle format!

So here's my checklist:
Price - Not able to spend tons right now.
Weight/Size - Not a huge issue for me, actually.
Ease-of-Use - I'm pretty tech-savvy, so unless it's a nightmare to use, I should be fine.
Loyalty/Format - I'm not really loyal to one company over another. Powell's and Jan's are indie, and Borders kinda died. But when it comes to formats, how much of a pain is it going to be getting the right book format?
Memory - I'm not planning on replacing my library, this will be primarily for review requests that aren't available in print.
Touch or Not? - Is touch worth it for ease? Or is it a stress headache waiting to happen if it gets scratched?
Durability - Along the same lines as above, I'm pretty careful with my things and I'm not typically clutzy, but will I need a force-field around this thing?
Gadgets - I don't need tons of bells and whistles, but I won't turn them down either. Not really looking at 3G, video, or net-browsing, though music might be a plus...
Extras - Do I need to budget in for extras to get full use out of this? I don't foresee a need for an adapter, but will I need/want a case, light, etc.?

A tall order? Probably. So, what's your vote?



If you could cast your vote above then leave a comment below, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks a bunch, guys. I can't wait to hear from you!

Another Return

Hi all... Been quite a while, eh?

Well, I can say I'm back. I'm sorry to have left for so long.

Good news is I found a job. Bad news is it was only a temporary/seasonal one, and I'm back out in the job market.

I can't promise that I'll be back forever, I don't even know that I'll be here through March. It'll depend on what work I can find and if I can swing work plus this and my other side projects. I have got a schedule I think will allow me to get through my requested reviews I've agreed to, and I really do promise to get through all those.

That's all for now... Look for a new review tomorrow, as well as some more personal posts and questions next week.

Quick Question: What's your favorite/recommended e-reader?

Greetings Again!

Hello!!!

Phew, it's been a while, hasn't it? Sorry to have left you hanging these past couple months. I've been working out some personal things and have only just gotten back around to reading.

I know, I know - "How could you possibly not have been reading!?" you say. Well, the brain does funny things sometimes, like making you think that enjoyable things are too much trouble...

But I've worked through that and am currently in the process of working up my Tamora Pierce Challenge reviews! Okay, I might be a little behind, but better late than never, right? Look for a steady flow of TP reviews coming throughout the month of November, finishing up with a review of her recently released conclusion to the Provost's Dog (Beka Cooper) Trilogy, Mastiff!

Looking forward to getting back in the swing of things. Hope you've all been well. Signing off for now,

~Vicki

Top Ten Tuesday: Why I Love Book Blogging

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke and the Bookish.

Book Blogging...
I've been a part of this community for approximately 14 months now, and I just can't help but love every minute of it. Okay, there have been some ups and downs associated with it, but overall I wouldn't trade anything for it.

Here are my Top Ten reasons I wouldn't give this up:

10. Sanity
Blogging helps keep me sane. Well, saner, at least. When I took breaks from the blog, I think I actually suffered more than revived. Yes, the blog can get overwhelming (mostly due to my own procrastination) at times, but ultimately it provides an anchor that I can keep coming back to even when everything else is tossed into chaos.

9. Flexibility
As much as I like schedules and having things done "on time", it sure is nice to be able to push things back when life has other plans. There are no rules or regulations when it comes to book blogging, no time limit, no word limit, no speed limit. It's completely flexible with whatever I want and need to happen.

8. No Boss
Somewhat analogous with #9, having no boss means that what I'm doing isn't being judged by anyone. Well, I suppose my follower-count might be somewhat of a judge, but anyone in this business will tell you that subscribers aren't a measurement for anything. With blogging, you're held to a standard that is only your own, which after years of school, competitions, and then low-tier jobs, it's quite liberating.

7. Winning
I'd be lying if I didn't say I loved winning giveaways/contests. I normally don't consider myself very lucky, so on the off-chance that I actually do get my name drawn in a giveaway, it's just exhilarating and brightens my entire day/week. Then there's the second thrill when the package arrives! So much fun!

6. Motivation
Graduating with a degree in "Creative Writing", then moving to the job market where every writing job demands "7 years professional experience" (don't ask me why it's always 7) can certainly get a girl down. But lo and behold: a place where I can practice and improve my trade!
Who could ask for more?

5. Creative Outlet
Not only in writing posts, but also designing layouts, graphics, color schemes, and even post templates, I've got the perfect canvas for all my creative aspects to shine.

4. Recommendations
There are so many books out there, it's nice to get a nudge in the right direction every once in a while. Or even the wrong direction, just to know not to go back.

3. Discussions
I've seen some sites where 'comments' dive straight into the territory of spam and trolls. It's nice to have a place where it's expected to be sincere and cordial but still honest and open with opinions. And where the prompts and responses both are extremely well thought-out, clear, clever,
and 99% typo-free. Please, sir, can I have some more?

2. Doing What I Love
Really, I couldn't ask for anything better than reading a book and writing about it. Even back in 8th grade, I fell in love with writing book reports; I wrote one that was over 10 pages (granted, most of it was the summary of the book, but still). Over the years the 'study' of books became more intense - trying to find themes, comparisons, reasons for, etc, etc. And yet, I still managed to hang on to my initial love of reading, and grew to accept my own opinions on the matter as worthy of statement. I believe that whatever life throws at me, I'll still make time for book blogging.

1. Community
There's so much I could say about the book blogging community, and I still wouldn't even begin to cover it. Reading and writing are both solitary experiences, but having all of us endeavoring to share our experiences with one another... It's more than a book club, or a fan forum... Oh, I don't know how to explain it without sounding completely corny, so I'll just keep it simple. Book blogging has connected me with like-minded people all over the world: whether it be authors I can aspire to, reviewers I can reflect on, or readers I can relate with, I know am not alone. And that's a great feeling.

Book Blogger Hop (14)

Do you read only one book at a time, or do you have several going at once?

Well, primarily I read one book at a time. Until I have an approaching deadline...in which case I drop what I'm currently reading and pick up what I need to be reading. Or I pull an all-nighter and finish my current read.

I find reading one book at a time easier to keep plots and characters in my memory. Then again, with all the plots/characters I follow in the shows I watch, I don't know that I'm really accomplishing anything differently.

But yeah, if I had my druthers, I'd read only one at a time.

Feel free to post a link to your own blog in the comments,
and be sure to check out other blog-hoppers at Crazy-for-Books!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Had To Buy...But Never Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke and the Bookish.

We all have them. That book that you needed to buy so badly and had every intention of reading it as soon as possible...but they're still on your bookshelf collecting dust or sitting in a pile on the floor.

Because I'm a collector of sorts, I seem to think it's necessary to own an entire series of unread books. So here are my Top Ten Series in order of how many unread books I own...

10. The Wicked Years by Gregory Maguire
2 Unread
To be fair, these books have a ton of hype surrounding them, and I still fully plan on reading them. I own both Wicked and Son of a Witch, but simply haven't had the gumption to crack them open. This feels like a good year... And then maybe I'll finally allow myself to watch the musical!

9. Alexander Cold Trilogy by Isabel Allende
3 Unread
Once again, I bought these with the best of intentions. I fell in love with Allende's The House of the Spirits when I was in high school, so when I found out she was writing a YA Fantasy series I had to have them! I've probably moved them around countless times...perhaps this year I'll finally move them to my bedside table.

8. The Raine Benares Series by Lisa Shearin
3 Unread
Okay, this time I have a very good reason for buying them... They were only $2 a piece! How could I possibly pass up such an offer?! I couldn't. And yet, I've told myself that I can't start reading them because they're not as old as the others. Fair's only fair, after all.

7. The Secret Texts Trilogy by Holly Lisle
3 Unread
These three have a bit of mileage on them. They traveled to college and back for a couple years. I've even picked up the first book a couple times with the thoughts of reading it. I might have even read a few pages. And then reality sets in and it goes right back on the shelf.

6. The Belgariad by David Eddings
4 Unread
Right, now we've gotten to the point where I've *gasp* actually started the series! I read Pawn of Prophesy way back in high school, and I remember it ends on kind of a cliffhanger. I also remember it reminded me A LOT of the Wheel of Time series... Don't know why the rest of the series is still sitting there, though.

5. The Shadow Saga by Orson Scott Card
4 Unread
This is a complicated one. I read Ender's Game and the following three books of Ender's Saga back in high school. But see, the series does a bit of a rewind and branches off into Bean's saga with a whole new quartet. Perhaps I'll read Ender's Game again to start off right...

4. Landover by Terry Brooks
5 Unread
I read Magic Kingdom For Sale Sold! from the library, loved it, went and bought the rest of the series. And copy/paste excuse here.

3. Lost Years of Merlin by T.A. Barron
5 Unread
This one...I think I got the first book for cheap from a used book store, then simply collected the rest over time. At least their colorful covers look pretty on my shelf.

2. Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
12 Unread
Wait! Before you say anything, just know that I HAVE read the Dragonflight trilogy and the Dragonsinger trilogy. That's 6 books. I just haven't read beyond that yet.

1. Xanth by Piers Anthony
23 Unread
Yeah...that's right...I have 23 unread books. Once again, I read the first six, then stopped. Well, that's not true. I started the 7th (Dragon on a Pedestal) three separate times, and still never got through it. I think it mostly had to do with not caring about the 2-year-old main character. Seriously? You want me to read about the explorations of a toddler? Ugh! Still, one of these days I'll make it through...


Well, there you have it. I have a grand total of 111 unread books sitting on my shelves (at last count) though I'm hoping the Off The Shelf challenge I entered this year will help reduce that number a bit.

So, what's your list?

Taking A Break

I promise to read all of your blog posts.

I promise to comment on some of them.

I promise to pass along your contests.

But right now I need to get back on track. So I'm announcing a break from Google Reader (and thus other blogs) until Saturday. Unless I get some reading finished before then...

I promise I'm alive, and I'll be back soon.

It's a Bloggiesta!

Hosted by Natasha of Maw Books Blog

I probably would have been better off doing this last weekend...or the weekend before. Ya know, when I pretty much had the house to myself? Still, I've been toying with the idea of doing some more work around here. The updates so far have me at pleased, but I'm still kinda wanting ecstatic!

So here are my goals for the weekend:

1. Work on (more) new graphics
   They're up and ready for previewing!
2. Look into setting up a Blogoversary contest
   Prospects are looking good!
3. Work on Twitter/Facebook links
   <- Check them out!
4. Look into post templates
   Decided against it at this time.
5. Read (Finish Zan-Gah books this weekend!)
6. Prepare guest posts
7. Work on some "rainy day" posts
8. Clean out Google Reader - blogs that are no longer posting
9. Organize Goodreads bookshelves
10. Look into blog promo items like bookmarks/business cards
    Decided against it at this time - maybe when I get a job.
11. Put together a plan and calendar of future posts
    Organized all my reviews and started planning ahead into March with Jenn's Organizing Tips!
12. Make an About Me page
13. Read some more...

Well, I think that's that...Now to get to work! Wish me luck!

Book Blogger Hop (8)

Why do you read the genre that you do?
What draws you to it?

I read mainly Fantasy. This then trickles down into the subgenres of Urban Fantasy, Paranormal (Romance), Supernatural, Fairytales, etc.
I also enjoy reading a lot of Fantasy directed at YA.

Now for the big question...
Why?

For me, reading means escape. It means taking a step out of my boring/depressing/stagnant life and jumping into someone else's for a while. While it's nice to have some similarities between characters and myself, I want something new, exotic, fantastical. I don't want to be reminded of normal life, I want to be whisked away and not think about it.

High Fantasy takes me away to a world where anything is possible. In worlds where magic is in charge, everyone seems to have more of a fighting chance. Sure, there's sometimes some tricky vocabulary to tackle, but once that's done it's easy to forget everything and become lost in the pages.

Urban Fantasy/Paranormal/Supernatural books tend to be rooted in our world, but contain fantasy elements. I love werewolves, vampires, wizards, witches, demons, angels, superheros, villains, and the like because they take a small part of what I'm familiar with, but have so many more possibilities. When I'm reading these, it's hard not to glance around for traces of magic lurking just out of vision.

Young Adult fiction reaches me because in many cases I'm still young and inexperienced. Though I'm 5-8 years older than a lot of the characters, I still feel I can relate to their problems, their questions, their pain. And in that way, I'm with them through their triumphs, too.

So to me, reading is an escape.
It's exciting, it's eventful, it's not anything I'll ever experience.
Except through a book.

What about you? What do you read, and why?

Feel free to post a link to your own blog in the comments,
and be sure to check out other blog-hoppers at Crazy-for-Books' blog!

Fill In The ______ 2010

Found this fun activity via Consumed by Books, who found it at The Book Rat.

Pretty much you just answer the questions using the name of a book you've read in 2010. You can go for serious answers that most closely match what your real answers would be, or you can go with the funniest ones you can come up with for your available titles.

I went ahead and linked my answers to my reviews (except for 1, which was from before I started reviewing) so you can check them out if you're curious.

Have fun!

Describe yourself:
Moon Called
What can I say? I'm a night-owl.

Describe where you currently live:
Northanger Abbey
Okay, not really. But I am in the north.

What's the weather like?
Heat Wave
Can below freezing be considered a heat wave?

If you could go anywhere, you would go to...
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Now that would be fun!

Your favorite form of transportation is...
Personal Demons
They're speedy, eco-friendly, and automatically reduce the number of other idiot drivers.

Your favorite time of day is...
Homecoming
It'd be a lot better if I had a job to be coming home from.

Your best friend is...
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
What better friend than a book that tells you not to panic?

You and your friends are...
Wizards at War
Don't worry—we made a truce for the holidays.

You feel...
Mostly Harmless
As opposed to Very Nuclear.

Life is...
Paranormalcy
Chocolates are nice, but hawt shapeshifters are nicer.

Your greatest fear is...
The Strangers Outside
Unless it's Ed McMahon and his crew—I want my giant check!

You would prefer to die by...
Fire
Wait, what?! O_O

Your soul's present condition is...
High Wizardry
I swear I'm high on life...

What is the best advice you have to give?
So You Want to Be a Wizard
I hear it's a very lucrative field!

Thought for the Day:
So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
Now I can open up my own fish store and supplement my writing! As soon as I have my nose removed.

You can find the full list of books I read this year HERE!

Hope You All Have A Safe And Happy New Year!

100th Post & Book Blogger Hop (6)

~~~POST 100!!!~~~

I want to thank all of my followers:
Thanks for sticking with me
through good times and bad,
I couldn't have made it this far without you.

When you read a book that you just can't get into, do you stick it out and keep reading or move to your next title?

Wow, that's a great question, one that I haven't yet come up against as a reviewer.

In fact, the only reason I've 'given up' on books in the past was due to time constraints: the book was due back at the library or I had another requirement for school. Now that I'm running on my own schedule and truly reading for the fun of it... I don't know what I'd do.

However, here's what I think I'd do.

I give every book at least 50 pages to hook me.

After that...

If it's a book I own (either have bought myself, or won in a giveaway) and I can't get into it, I might put it down for a while. Maybe I'll pick it up again later, when I'm in a different mood. Maybe I'll try to power through it. Or, maybe I'll give up and give it away/sell it. It will probably depend on what 'the problem' is.

If I pick up a book from the library and just can't get into it, I'll probably return it without much guilt and simply not review it. I might revisit it if I have it recommended to me, or read a stellar review, but I'm not completely committed to completing or reviewing it.

If I was given a book specifically for review (from author, publisher, or an ARC) and I didn't like it, I think I'd push through anyway and finish it. The only reason I can see not finishing a book is if there's something in it that made me physically ill (detailed or extreme gore or sickness has made me nauseous in the past) and had nothing else that drew me in. I've never had an experience where I've hated a book, so I can't say how I'd react. But if it's a matter of boredom, not clicking, or slight discomfort with a book, I can and will most likely still finish it.

What about you?

Feel free to post a link to your own blog in the comments,
and be sure to check out other blog-hoppers at Crazy-for-Books' blog!

S is for Speed

If you've been following my blog for the past, oh, couple weeks at least, you've probably noticed that in my reviews I include my Approximate Reading Time for each book. And, if you've paid attention to any of my times, you've probably caught on that I'm not the speediest of readers.

Sure, I can usually finish a book in a night, two if it's longer or more complex, but I'm not what I'd call a speed-reader. My mom, for example, can finish a 300pg romance in a couple hours (with the TV on). I'd clock my own speed at about...double read-aloud speed. Pretty slow, yeah. But I was quite content with my own speed for a long time.

Then I entered college...and had 4-5 classes all expecting tons of reading. One of my lit classes actually expected an entire classic book (think As the Sun Rises, or Absalom, Absalom) read in a week. Now I wished I could read faster. But, even with the professor's encouragement that 'skimming is okay,' I could never do it.

Skimming a book is like watching a movie on mute. Sure, you get the gist of things, but there's a whole other level of depth that you're missing out on. The mood, the environment, the tension... I can't ever reach that when I skim.

Suffice it to say, I fell behind a lot in class readings.

Now that I read on my own time, a part of me still wishes that I could blaze through a book in a couple hours. There's so much else I want to do—want to read—that being able to read and review a book before midnight would be great!

And yet...I've found that my slower pace affords me a few perks too. For one, there's that mood thing I talked about earlier. Sometimes the pacing of a book is breakneck on its own, and other times it's slow and sensual—I like being able to tell the difference. For another, I actually remember just about everything I read. My mom, on the other hand, can barely name the characters of some of the books she reads (and not out of complexity, either).

So, I guess I can't crank out a book review every day or two (or not even once a week [lately]). And, I guess my Approximate Reading Times might be off... But at least I'm enjoying myself!

Alright, how fast do you read? Are you a skimmer? Or do you savor each and every word?

Some S Books I've Read:

A Spiritual S Group:

The S Font:

L is for Lifetime Learner

My dad, Kevin, has graciously offered to guest blog today and offer me a little time to regather my thoughts. So, if you'll kindly lend your attention to him today...


In a few weeks, I turn 53. That's older than dirt according to my two daughters, one of which you all are regular blog readers (well, until now—maybe not after my post). And I'm guessing that while Vicki has a wide range of ages that read her blog, most are probably near her age.

I am an avid reader, but I mostly read non-fiction. What I read just makes Vicki fall asleep, but I can't help it. To me, reading some new management technique (like how to recruit and hire technical people), information about a computer security exploit, or something new about open source software is exciting. I get jazzed learning new things—especially new things that I can put into practice.

While I read non-fiction to learn, I realize that people who read fiction are also learning. They are learning about historical events, events that could happen with enough imagination and determination, or about whole new worlds.

Most of us ended our formal education, or did we? Nearly at age 53, I can assure you that you never stop learning something new. Whether what you learn is some new computer algorithm or how to cast a spell, you still learn. Never give up on that.

If you aren't learning something new each and every day, you are either dead, or should wish that you are. Read! Enjoy what you are reading. Show real passion for whatever you do, but never stop learning. Trust me, life is way too short.

Now, what did you learn today?

Some L Books I've Read:

A Lovely L Group:

The L Font:

Northanger Abbey Chapters 1-9 #NARead

I'm taking part in a read-along group hosted at Reading with Tequila. For the next few weeks we'll be taking a few chapters each week and blogging/chatting about them. This first week was just the first 9 chapters (about 50 pages), so there's still time to sign up and join us, if you're interested.

~ Northanger Abbey ~

by Jane Austen
Chapters 1 - 9

Catherine Morland is a heroine. You know, one of those unfortunate girls who have to deal with awful families, are locked up in castles, or have to overcome deadly plots, but manage to power through it all and fall madly in love with an extraordinary boy? Only problem is her family is lovingly ordinary. Oh, and she lives nowhere near a castle. And she doesn't seem to have anyone plotting against her. And none of the boys around town seem to be anything extraordinary.

And, what's more, Catherine is lacking the heroine's mind and skill. She's never attended to animals or plants, music evades her interest, lessons come at a normal speed, drawing is merely doodling, and she has never once known something inherently.

But all that could should will change when family friends Mr. and Mrs. Allen invite Catherine along on a trip to Bath. Surely this is the adventure she's been waiting for. These two will soon prove to be wicked, and she'll be locked up and finding her handsome hero in no time!

Or they could be two very agreeable people who bear the girl no ill will and have in mind her best interests.

Drat. Well, if her companions are set on being agreeable, she'll just have to find a dreadful situation to overcome. Surely there should be plenty of those in Bath! Shouldn't there?

Here's the storyline so far:

Catherine and Mrs. Allen know no one in Bath, and are thus extremely uncomfortable at the social balls they attend. After a few of these unfortunate experiences, Catherine is introduced to a handsome, humorous, good-natured young man named Mr. Tilney. After a delightful conversation and a parting of ways, she is eager to meet him again.

However, at the next ball-type-thing he is nowhere to be seen. Mrs. Allen despairs that they are once again friendless in this city. Luckily an old acquaintance, Mrs. Thorpe, surfaces and (re)introduces herself and her daughters. The eldest, Isabella, realizes that Catherine is the sister of her brother's best friend, and the two are soon inseparable. They share a love for the Gothic (especially Udolpho), and, of course, for twittering on about prospective boys, especially the elusive (and that much more appealing) Mr. Tilney.

When both their brothers (James Morland and John Thorpe) make a surprise visit, the duo quickly becomes a quartet, each paired off with the other's sibling. Catherine is pleased to finally have someone to fill the role Mr. Tilney had vacated (both as an interest and a dance partner), until Mr. Tilney makes his return! Now she's stuck running around with John, who is becoming less and less agreeable, when she would most like to become more closely acquainted with the mysterious and charming Mr. Tilney.

What is a heroine to do!?*

I'm finding the whole novel rather enjoyable so far. Heh, I've even started adopting the language style—I usually find it hard not to. Though it's much more slowly paced than the books I've just come off of, I can't help but enjoy Austen's sophisticated snarky humor.

She expertly describes the two brothers, John and James, as complete asses, without actually coming right out and saying it. And trust me, they are asses. The way they talk about women to women is just...bitch-slap worthy: "'[John] is as good-natured a fellow as ever lived; a little of a rattle; but that will recommend him to your sex I believe...'" Ugh! Makes me want to toss the book across the room on the off-chance that he might feel it.

I think what makes reading this the most enjoyable is drawing parallels to other literature. Northanger Abbey is a satire or parody of the Gothic novel, after all. I haven't read The Mysteries of Udolpho, which is what they most constantly refer to, but there are a few more modern books I'm finding particularly fitting. Twilight happens to be one of them.

I can see my follower list dwindling now... But just think about it for a second. A heroine (Bella) is thrust into an uncomfortable environment (boring old Forks/a supernatural war), and manages (dramatically) to cope the best she can. Suddenly, this mysterious boy (Edward) appears and she knows there's something different about him, something dangerous. Still, despite the danger, she pursues him. He reveals his secret (vampire), it is revealed that she possesses a unique skill (mental blockage), and they fall irrevocably in love with each other. Together they must defeat the villains (James, Victoria, the Volturi) who seek their destruction.

According to Wikipedia:

Prominent features of Gothic fiction include terror (both psychological and physical), mystery, the supernatural, ghosts, haunted houses and Gothic architecture, castles, darkness, death, decay, doubles, madness, secrets, and hereditary curses.

The stock characters of Gothic fiction include tyrants, villains, bandits, maniacs, Byronic heroes, persecuted maidens, femmes fatales, monks, nuns, madwomen, magicians, vampires, werewolves, monsters, demons, angels, fallen angels, revenants, ghosts, perambulating skeletons, the Wandering Jew and the Devil himself.

So, see where I'm coming from? It's actually almost too easy to compare Northanger Abbey with Nightlight, the Harvard Lampoon parody of Twilight. At least, so far. We'll see how much further the comparison goes. In the meantime, I'm finding it pretty hilarious drawing comparisons between Bella and Catherine.

Next up, chapters 10-15!


* This recap was originally as long as the entire post is now. But I figured most people interested in this post were or would soon be reading the book themselves, so I annotated it immensely.

Book Blogger Hop (4)

Tell us about the book(s) you are currently reading!

Well, alright then.

For the first time in a long time, I'm actually reading two books at the moment:

~ Northanger Abbey ~

by Jane Austen

I'll be reading this one for a while, actually. See, I'm taking part in a read-along group (hosted at Reading with Tequila) and we're taking a few chapters each week and blogging/chatting about them. This first week was just the first 9 chapters (about 50 pages), so there's still time to sign up and join us.

Catherine Morland pictures herself a heroine, but is finding it quite difficult to play the part. She's not all that skilled, no one is acting villainous toward her, and she can't even find a dashing young man to fall hopelessly in love with. The book is actually a sort of parody of gothic novels, so I'm finding it quite humorous. Especially if I think of it in terms of Bella of Twilight...or perhaps more appropriately, the parody book, Nightlight.

~ City of Bones ~

by Cassandra Clare

Okay, so I'm not even a full chapter in yet. Forgive me, but I felt I needed a break after the reading binge I forced upon myself with the Young Wizards series. Still, I am intrigued at the premise, if not a little miffed that the demon's been snuffed out before I can get to know him. Yes, I'm a demon sympathizer, but what do you expect when you've been writing about one for nearly 5 years?

When Clary Fray heads out to a nightclub, the last thing she suspects she'll do is witness a murder. Much less a murder of a demon by three teens covered in strange tattoos calling themselves Shadowhunters.


Feel free to post a link to your own blog in the comments,
and be sure to check out other blog-hoppers at Crazy-for-Books' blog!

Mars Magic

Finally! The moment you've been waiting for! The latest installment of the Young Wizards series! There shouldn't be any spoilers below EXCEPT details concerning who is still alive at the beginning. If you've followed the series so far, these shouldn't come as any surprise to you. If, however, you are one or two books behind, it might take away some of the suspense.

~A Wizard of Mars~
Young Wizards
Book 9
By Diane Duane
Amazon ~ Powell's

Earth has always had an interesting relationship with the red planet. Be it dreams of exploration and colonization, or nightmares of giant space-invaders, Mars seems to have always held a special (and frightening) place in our minds.

And we're not alone. Other species in our galaxy have felt this strange connection to Mars as well. But even their science is at a loss. Looks like it's up to wizards to find some answers.

Problem is, wizards have been looking for answers for over 200 years! And still nothing has surfaced to shed any enlightenment on the situation. Well, until now.

Nita, Kit and a few familiar faces are assigned to the Mars study team when a strange item is uncovered. Kit's been a little over-enthusiastic about Mars lately, and so wastes no time in doing a little...independent study. When the artifact suddenly releases a strange wizardry, it's up to Kit and his buddies to set things right before other, non-wizardly eyes see things they shouldn't.

Meanwhile, Nita's got some problems of her own. Dairine's been fired up ever since Roshaun vanished, traveling to Wellakh every chance she can, and it's starting to worry Nita and her dad. Then there's the training she's doing to try and hone her oracular powers, which is going just swimmingly, thank you very much. Oh, and Kit's constant trips to Mars are beginning to verge on obsessive, making Nita wonder if there's something more going on up there.

Sometimes it's a pain to be right.

Wizard's Holiday puts Wizards At War

Here is the last duo of installments of the Young Wizards series. Only the latest release left to go after this. There shouldn't be any spoilers below EXCEPT details concerning who is still alive (and possibly narrating) at the beginning of each book.

If you still haven't finished any previous book and you DON'T want to know who's still alive and who isn't, DO NOT READ ON!

~Wizard's Holiday~
Young Wizards
Book 7
By Diane Duane
Amazon ~ Powell's

Nita's ready for a vacation. A real vacation this time. Not something forced on her by her parents or The Powers That Be. At least Spring Break has arrived. Two whole weeks off from school, with nothing but voluntary wizardry to take up her time. Still, even that might be nice to get away from...

Good thing Dairine has done her research. Apparently there's a sort of Wizard Exchange-Program in place so that wizards can witness other species' techniques of wizardry without having to deal with the Lone Power.

Nita and Kit jump at the chance, and soon enough they're in the opposite arm of the galaxy, on the planet of Alaalu. White, sandy beaches, hardly any storms, a barter economy, no garbage, an absence of death and pain, flying sheep...it's a paradise!

Meanwhile, Dairine and her dad get to host three alien exchanges: Filif, a walking, talking Christmas tree with a love for brightly colored clothes; Sker'ret, a giant, purple centipede with an unending hunger for any matter; and Roshaun, a humanoid prince with an attitude that sends Dairine up the wall.

But, whether in the paradise of Alaalu or in the chaos of home, when wizardry's involved, nothing's ever as it seems.