file under: books Posted by Jen at 4:33 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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file under: books Posted by Jen at 2:00 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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Since it is the day before a softball game and it's raining, I present to you a softball haiku:

softball--a dream that
never becomes realized
because it rains so

Last night I had a dream where I was a Transformer-like Eliza Dushku (yes, I was listening to the soundtrack to Transformers last night--why do you ask?) and I really wanted to read the as-yet unpublished manuscript of some famous author--dunno who. I could get anywhere I wanted because I was pretty and rich and then could, you know, transform to get out of there. So I go to this author's place, grab the manuscript, but the police come before I can leave. Thus, I run out of the house, throw the ms. in the air, become a car, and careen off, but the policeman shoots and knocks off the license plate. Since I am a bibliophile, after the policeman has given up the chase, all he finds is the piece of plate with part of a plastic plate protector. The partial plate says OO, and the plate protector says "ublic Lib"--get it? The plate reads BOOKS (or something similar) and the protector promotes some city's Public Library.

And then I told it all to Eliza Dushku, who was apparently at a garage sale with me. Go fig.

On a serious note: one of my favorite authors (and one who probably played a part in my wanting to be a fantasy author), David Eddings, passed away last night. He will be missed. I brought the first book in the Elenium, The Diamond Throne, with me to work to read in memoriam.

  The Diamond Throne, David Eddings
file under: books , dreams , getmoving , reallife Posted by Jen at 9:47 AM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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And here lies the vast importance of the novel, properly handled. It can inform and lead into new places the flow of our sympathetic consciousness, and it can lead our sympathy away in recoil from things gone dead. Therefore, the novel, properly handled, can reveal the most secret places of life: for it is in the passional secret places of life, above all, that the tide of sensitive awareness needs to ebb and flow, cleansing and freshening.

from Ch. 9 of Lady Chatterley's Lover, D.H. Lawrence.

Got a bit of a bombshell today when my roommate informed me that she won't be renewing her part of the lease. There's only a month left on the current one. I've been looking at condos, even have a realtor and a banker guy, but I don't know how this is going to work out in a month. Do I sign the lease and find a subletter when I find a new place? Not sign the lease and hope something works out? Sigh.

file under: books , reallife Posted by Jen at 7:20 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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I love the silly little things, and I really envy the people who had the time to make this. It's Mousetrap for Cadbury Creme Eggs.

Happy release day for Jim Butcher's new Dresden Files book, Turn Coat! And yes, I have it already, and I shall read it...now!

  American Pie, Don McLean

file under: books Posted by Jen at 11:32 AM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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Check out this amazing video that, as Nathan Bransford put it, shows what it's like for a writer. Great music and really cool special effects, too:

World Builder from Bruce Branit on Vimeo.

I need to write more.

  White Knight, Jim Butcher
file under: books , writings Posted by Jen at 12:09 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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Because I'm a geek, here's a list of what I've read this year. I'll keep updating the page all year, so I can finally write one of those "books I've read last year" posts when the New Year rolls around again And if you really wanted to, you could click on the book covers and buy a book from Amazon, and I'll get a few pennies

Check it out.

Oh, and happy half-birthday to me. Tomorrow it's off to a bachelorette party! Whoo! Hope I planned enough fun. I probably don't have to worry...drinks are fun no matter what, and I bet that's mostly what we'll do Huzzah Leo!

  A Kiss Before the Apocalypse, Thomas E Sniegoski
file under: books , celebration Posted by Jen at 5:40 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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This is pretty cool - an anniversary video featuring stop motion using book covers.

This Is Where We Live from 4th Estate on Vimeo.

Via Nathan Bransford.

file under: books Posted by Jen at 10:09 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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Sometimes I forget how much I love it.

Take right now, for example: I have this idea for this year's NaNo that it will have a quasi-Victorian setting, maybe based on reality, maybe a little steampunk, so I looked up books on Victorian history. For those keeping score, that was when Queen Victoria ruled England, circa 1840-1870. I now own three books on Victorian history, because not only are the books full of information and juicy little tidbits that will pad out my daily word count nicely, but sometimes they're just hilarious. I'm sure that someday people will look back at our time and wonder what we were thinking, because that's what's happening when I read these. And I'm having fun. I like learning. History can be interesting!

But I'm not the sort of person to seek out nonfiction books normally. I have to have a good reason. And research for NaNo is a pretty darn good reason.

This is why I know I could be a professional writer. Because I don't mind the research. It's quite fun to absorb all the bits of information during the research phase then have them suddenly coalesce in a somewhat coherent whole during the draft phase.

Here's to research. May it never get boring.

And here's to me, who got a whole lot of books (and the 2nd season of Heroes), because it's that little thing known as my birthday. Huzzah.

  The Hound and the Falcon, Judith Tarr and Inside the Victorian House, Judith Flanders
file under: books , celebration , reallife , thoughts , writings Posted by Jen at 12:33 AM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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Yes, I finished another book in less than six hours.

Last year it was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows...this year it was Breaking Dawn, the fourth book in the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer.

I went to the midnight release party at my neighborhood Borders with my friend Josh. It wasn't that big of a deal, but there was a trivia contest with stickers as prizes and a costume contest. Josh had to wear a pink wristband (so did I, to show we preordered and thus got to get in line before some number of people there, but I didn't have to worry about my masculinity being threatened). We sat around and talked about writing and authors and the new Star Wars animated movie coming out, and I had a Vampire's Kiss smoothie (aka strawberry ). Then it finally got around to being 12:01 am and we got our books. I picked up Randy Pausch's book The Last Lecture and another YA book that had come out in paperback, and every!single!one! was on sale, because two were hardcover bestsellers and thus at a discount, AND I had a coupon for the other! Discounts for the win!

Since I'm catsitting for a friend who wants me to stay at her place a few times while she's away, I headed over there instead of home (there were happy kitties to keep me company, so it was all good). Started reading around 12:45 am or so. Found a good place to stop around 4:10, slept for four hours, got back into it around 8:30, and finished around 10:30. So approximately 5 1/2 hours for 754 pages. Yes, I am that insane. At least this time around I slept in the middle

Then Mike and I went to a pool party thrown by one of his coworkers, which was fun, if not exactly the most relaxing thing to do when one is going on four hours of sleep. And now I'm having a late dinner of sweet and sour tempura chicken and rice, and watching Shark Week. Life is good.

A very short review after the jump.

Nothing too spoilery here, but I liked it, mostly. There were some parts where I groaned and thought to myself, "I can't believe the author actually went there" during the just-a-smidge unbelieveable end of the first part, or "wait a minute, did I miss something" during the romantic bits...not that I expected anything graphic, but it's been a long time since the "closing the door" method has been so abrupt. I feel that she tied things up pretty well, though there could certainly be more. Bella is still a Mary Sue character that somehow still manages to get me to feel for her. I'm still a member of Team Edward. I'm sure at some point I'll reread it, but it will be a good long while. If you read the books with any sort of thought process going on in your head you probably figured out how the books would end long ago, and I bet you wouldn't be far off.

file under: books Posted by Jen at 9:42 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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So you might have noticed I was trying to read 10 books during the month of July.

Well, I did read 10 books, but according to the rules of the game (books started in another month but finished in July and rereads count only as half a book) I only read six.

Regardless, I'm happy with my haul, because I finished off the Twilight series (this is the fourth time through them all) before the 4th book comes out this weekend, and I reread one of Carol Berg's series before I'll meet her again at Worldcon next weekend. I only read three new books, but I do want to note that there was about a week at the beginning of July (before I heard about the game) where I was trying to catch up on my magazine reading, since I am perpetually behind in my Newsweeks. So I really only had three weeks to read all that.

I'm really excited about Worldcon. I should have plenty of money, thanks to my curbing of my Borders appetite, and it's in Denver, which is one of my favorite places. I'll get to meet a couple of my favorite authors (the aforementioned Berg and Patrick Rothfuss and maybe even George RR Martin), attend some neat programming, and hopefully take a trek or two around Denver. Hopefully I will not get altitude sickness or forget anything.

Just have to make it through one more weekend of catsitting for my friend, and then it will be off to Worldcon--"One mile closer to the stars"!

btw, happy birthday to Harry Potter (likewise, JK Rowling)!

  A Dark Knight, from the Dark Knight soundtrack
  Flesh and Spirit, Carol Berg
file under: books Posted by Jen at 10:27 AM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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Free book! I read this a couple of months ago, and I really liked it. It's a fast-paced thriller with lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing. And now you can read it too...for free! For the next few days, anyway, so click ye now and read!

Browse this book

Add to your site

Buy this book

Visit the author's site at www.jasonpinter.com.

  Twilight, Stephenie Meyer
file under: books Posted by Jen at 9:41 AM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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Found through Writers Unbound, which brought back memories of the Pizza Hut Book-It program, where you had the summer to read a certain amount of books and if you did, you got a free personal pizza. Needless to say, I had no problem earning the gold stars.

So here's a challenge to me in July...read 10 books. Shouldn't be too hard, especially since I'd like to reread most if not all of Carol Berg's books before Worldcon...

Rules say books started in June and finished in July count as half a book. So I'm already up .5:

0.5: Midnight Never Come, Marie Brennan (July 02)
1.5: The Last Guardian of Everness, John C Wright (July 10)
2.0:Son of Avonar, Carol Berg (July 13) (re-reads count as half)
2.5: Guardians of the Keep, Carol Berg (July 16)
3.0: The Soul Weaver, Carol Berg (July 19)
3.5:Daughter of Ancients, Carol Berg (July 23)
4.0:Twilight, Stephenie Meyer (July 25) (getting ready for the Breaking Dawn release on the 2nd!)
4.5: New Moon, Stephenie Meyer (July 27)
5.5: The Guilty, Jason Pinter (July 2
6.0: Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer (July 31)

I'll update when I finish a book.

  Closing Time, Semisonic
  The Last Guardian of Everness, John Wright
file under: books Posted by Jen at 3:07 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes.
--Erasmus

Also, as you see by the picture, Jim Butcher's new Dresden Files book, Small Favor, comes out today. Normally, I would come in a little late to work, having run by Borders when it opens at 9. But the Borders I normally go to had an underground water main break at the end of February. 18 inches of water on the first floor (which is where the sci-fi/fantasy section is, sob), enough that it buckled the floorboards. So it's been out of commission for a while, which is SO SAD. I'm having Borders withdrawal. Not all hope is lost, though. There is a Barnes and Noble nearby, and a Waldenbooks in the mall. However, I have a 40% off coupon for Borders/Waldenbooks, so I don't want to go to B&N. But the Waldenbooks doesn't open until 10. Woe. So I have to wait until after work to get the book. I guess I'll deal. It's just a book. *goes off and cries, especially since she forgot her lunch today*

Of course, once I finally get the book, that means that the afghan, which currently has ALL 64 FREAKING SQUARES crocheted and two whole sections sewn up, will have to wait. I will finally have a large project to show off! If Mike's cat doesn't claim it all as her own, of course...

  The Blood King, Gail Z Martin (at least until I get Small Favor)
file under: books , celebration Posted by Jen at 9:51 AM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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So if you've been reading this blog for a while, you might know that the writer's group that I participate in has written an anthology of short stories based on landmarks of St. Louis. I'm in it, with a modern day faerie tale that takes place at the Muny (the Municipal Theater in Forest Park, the oldest and largest outdoor amphitheater in America, with trees growing out of the stage...)

And by golly, the book is out! You can check out the page at www.toastedraviolibook.com (though there's not much there at the moment) which has a link to buying the book online, do a book search on Amazon for Toasted Ravioli, or (the best way) ask me for a book in person. That way you get a discount and a signed copy and I (or the group) gets more money.

Or better yet, come to our first signing this Saturday (tomorrow, eek) the 26th of January at Legacy Books, 5249 Delmar (at Union) from 12 pm to 5 pm. All the authors will be there, so you can get a full complement of signatures on your new book, and the authors will read from their work. There should also be a Q&A session for the curious.

I hope to see you there!

  No Such Thing, John Mayer
  Hood, Stephen Lawhead
file under: books , celebration , reallife , writings Posted by Jen at 12:40 AM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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I got three hours of sleep last night thanks to this wonderful book. Carol Berg stays at the top of my favorite authors list with this one, because it kept me reading from 8 pm until 5 am. Yes, 5 am. Oh, there were interruptions of dinner and a chat with the roommate and Pirates 3 (it was quiet in the apartment, what can I say? I have to stare at Orlando), so I could have finished sooner, I suppose.

Not quite the less-than-six-hours marathon of finishing HP 7, but close. I never wanted to sleep. I begrudged the time it took to shower and get ready for bed. Valen is as real to me as anyone, and I could see him in my mind as he leapt and danced, which is not at all usual (a phrase often applied to Valen in the book). I have a hard time visualizing characters, but my hands are itching to take a shot at drawing what I see for him.

I felt like a bad fan. I knew this book was coming out and I was looking for it, but I didn't know the exact release date, so I was actually a little late getting it. It wasn't until Carol sent out her sweet little email yesterday that I knew it was even available, and you can be sure that the hours I had to wait until I could leave work and head off to Borders were pretty darn long. But I have it now, and I'll be riding the high from reading it for a while.

I had to finish. It was too wonderful to stop, and I honestly didn't want to. Well done, Carol. Words can't express how happy I was to be reading it. It makes me want to write that well, and I hope I come close. I love Valen so much right now. For once, my speculations were right, but the story never made it too obvious.

So nice to read the rest of the story I got a glimpse of during those private readings with Carol at Archon in August. What a fitting conclusion to Flesh & Spirit.

Sleep deprivation will hit me a little later, but it was worth it.

  John Mayer, "Say"
  on to "Iron Kissed," Patricia Briggs, after last night's B&B marathon
file under: books , celebration , fantasy , reviews Posted by Jen at 10:25 AM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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Today is a very good day. Pirates 3 comes out on dvd, Jim Butcher's latest Codex Alera book, Captain's Fury, comes out today, AND I had a 40% coupon for a dvd box set, so I am up to Season 5 of Buffy.

Jen is a happy girl. If only work wasn't in the way. I'll still probably finish Captain's Fury before the day is over, regardless.

And maybe Saturday, a Pirates marathon at Mike-of-NaNo's apartment. Whoo!

  Captain's Fury, Jim Butcher
file under: books , celebration , movies , orlando Posted by Jen at 10:06 AM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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Check this out: I have written 11724 words of Forging the Forest (working title, anyway), and I needed to hit 11667 today. Go me! I'm on track and ahead by a few. I believe, in the four years that I've been doing NaNo, this is the earliest I've ever been ahead, if indeed I've ever been ahead before the month was almost over...let's see if I can't stay this way.

My cousin's wedding was wonderful, I got my dress sewn and was complimented numerous times on it (though they're all family, so dunno how much of that was just familial bias or awe at the fact that I actually, yanno, took the time to sew something versus an actual appreciation of the design of the dress), finished knitting the fingerless mitts (though they, and the HP scarf, need to be blocked), and my mom's show went well last weekend. She's got another one this weekend, so if you are in the Lou and need some christmas presents, stop on by...

and I finished Elemental Magic, a romance anthology which includes a short story by my favorite author Carol Berg. So sweet to realize the characters are (SPOILER) characters we (sort of) know. Hers was quite the best in the book. I could be biased, I realize.

I wrote 2400 words today. Not quite as good as yesterdays almost 3k, but pretty darned good. I almost don't know what to do with myself. Guess I'll get a little extra sleep.

What did you do today?

  Why Georgia, John Mayer
  Guess I should return Austenland to the library. Back to Leven Thumps 2.
file under: books , celebration , reviews , writings Posted by Jen at 12:12 AM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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(doo da, doo da)

...but I can't tell you or Carol Berg will kill me, haha. This weekend at Archon I had the privilege of hearing some of the beginning of Carol's next book, Breath and Bone at a private reading. According to her, I'm one of about 7 people who know. Sweet! The book comes out in January, and I'm even more keen to read it now than I was after the end of the first book in the Lighthouse Duet, Flesh and Spirit when it came out in May. Excuse me while I squee.

Archon (the St. Louis sci-fi/fantasy/comics/pop-culture convention that's really in Collinsville IL) was very good. I debated about going for quite a while, because it was so expensive this year. Archon 31 was also NASFiC, since Worldcon was awarded to a non-North American site (Yokohama, Japan). It was, therefore, a national con and not a regional one, and theoretically worth more, I guess. I have very limited con experience, so I can't tell you if it really was bigger than normal (though some of my new con friends say it wasn't). I knew Carol Berg would be there, and I really wanted to see what she had to say. I took at look at the programming and decided that it would be worth it to pay that much, and indeed, it was. Thank goodness I have a car that could make the forty-mile round trip now.

There were quite a few writing panels, and I've got many notes which are going to live in my manuscript folder. It was pretty cool to interact with authors and agents, some of whom I've only encountered on blogs. And it's doubly cool to actually talk with the authors, most of whom are really nice and surprisingly approachable, especially for a shy girl like me (unless I'm talking about myself, sigh. then I seem to run on forever). It was wonderful to actually have a discussion with one of my favorite authors about writing (Carol sat down with me for an entire hour) and get some great advice. I was really intending to sit down this evening and write some on my novel, but the computer thwarted me with its one-two punch of slowness and browser-crashing in the middle of my entry, sigh.

It wasn't just writing. I went to panels on Harry Potter and Firefly, attended a workshop on Irish Ceili dancing and belly dancing, and saw the SFWA Musketeers demonstrate fencing techniques.Saw my cousin Brian, but didn't get to attend any of his panels. The writing panels really made it worth it, even if the days were looong.

I had a couple of mini-epiphanies about the novel while at panels, so that's good. I've just got to get the damn thing going. I can't believe how far I haven't gotten in the story, sigh. The workshops are going to be helpful, though, especially ones like Writing Realistic Violence and Plots that Work. And of course Carol's very good advice. I still can't believe I got to monopolize an author like that. She was very nice about it. I felt awfully stalkerish. Some people want to meet movie stars or sports celebs; I geek out over authors. She had some helpful hints for the anthology which I need to follow up on, and she had a dedicated cadre of fans that followed her around the whole weekend, so I made some new friends. Thank you, Carol, this weekend meant alot to me.

Maybe I'll fit in a little writing before it's time for bed...

(incidentally, this is entry 700 for this blog. Sheesh. I know not all of them are pithy and meaningful, but it seems a large number to me...)

file under: books , celebration , fantasy , writings Posted by Jen at 10:25 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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12:32 am to 6:18 am. I watched the sun come up as I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Well, damn, JK. You did a good job. The ending was pretty exciting. Satisfying, even.
Gonna put this next behind the cut just in case people don't want to know, but it's not all that spoilery, especially if you already read the Washington Post review, like I did.

I hate that you killed off some of my favorite characters, and did so callously. I'm glad that you answered questions. I'm glad you picked things up from long ago. I'm so glad I reread the books before this one. I hate that it's the end. And I had to laugh at the music on my iPod as I finished the final chapters: Transformation, from Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and Resurrection, the final song in the soundtrack of The Passion of the Christ. Sometimes irony likes to be as subtle as a hammer.

And now it's time for bed, since I actually have things to do today.

  The Shadow Proves the Sunshine, Switchfoot

file under: books Posted by Jen at 6:21 AM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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I'll let you know when I'm done.

  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
file under: books Posted by Jen at 12:32 AM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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Just finished the 6th Harry Potter book (to the accompaniment of the 5th movie soundtrack, natch), and so am ready for the midnight release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows this weekend. I'm totally dressing up. It will be fun. And perhaps good that I didn't manage to finish my Gryffindor scarf, as it will be in the mid- or upper-90s Friday, and unlikely to cool off much before midnight...

Found a bookmark in my copy that mentioned HBP's release date, and found it sort of scary that I started rereading the book for only the second time almost exactly two years to the day I read it on release day. Weird. Was rather more warm to it this time, what with taking two days to read it rather than only eight hours...I've got some thoughts, and I'm remembering how much I miss or hate certain characters. JK Rowling still has some odd ideas about teen romance (or perhaps I just had an abnormal experience in high school) but she's not *quite* as bad as George Lucas.

It will be interesting to see that one made into a movie.

Did a lot of web design over the weekend and today. October is going to be a good month. And I'm seriously (Siriusly) thinking of going to Archon, since I'd have HP friends going...gotta decide soon. Deadline is Friday.

Time for bed.

  Fireworks (OotP soundtrack), Nicholas Hooper

file under: books Posted by Jen at 12:23 AM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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Tuesday night, I met Jim Butcher, author of the Dresden Files and the Codex Alera, and have two books signed by him and actually interacted with the man, and that made me a happy girl. (Until my class presentation partner emailed me a totally changed presentation at 11:30 pm, but that's another story.)

Jim's a really funny guy. And he seems like he cares about his readers. He spent about an hour on Q&A, various insightful questions by readers who obviously care about his stories I was seated right next to him, since I sort of sidled up along the side of a bookshelf so I could set my bookbag down (I was carrying my laptop and a bunch of papers for the presentation. I did *some* work, honest). The speaker for his mic was next to me, so it was a little loud, but not terrible.

I was so proud I had the courage to ask a question. I'm not usually that bold. But he's very approachable. I asked how he comes up with the twists at the end of his books. He answered that what normally happened is that he piles up every bad thing he can on his main character, then figures that he'll get out of it somehow. He sends off chapters to his beta readers (man, what I wouldn't give to be a part of *that* group) and every so often he'll mention, 'see, I *knew* he'd get out of it somehow,' and someone will write back saying, 'you mean you didn't know beforehand?' So I feel better about my stuff if a famous best-selling author doesn't know how his stuff will end either.

There were probably fifty to eighty people there (I'm terrible at estimating, though), so the signing line wasn't too long. I brought White Night and Cursor's Fury and stood behind a lady who works for an internet service provider as a tech. Which I should look into, because more money would be nice. (Though, on the upside, I got a very positive annual review from my boss today, so perhaps a raise is on the horizon?) The lady knew about NaNo, which always amazes me. I have met so many people who don't know what it is that I have a little spiel that I spin out to inform them

When I got up to the table where he was signing, Jim was very nice and said how are you, etc, and I told him thanks for writing the books and that he's an influence on m writing and I've got 65k of a novel I hope to finish this year. And he didn't sound at all exasperated when he told me to make sure that when I finish this one to write the beginning of the next. Which I've already done, actually I hope that when I'm a fancy published writer I can be as generous to my fans as he is to his.

Side note: the neurobio presentation went pretty well, aside from some random technical difficulties. We had a video clip that should theoretically have been embedded in the presentation, but every time the file switched computers, it wouldn't show up. It's not that hard to Insert>>Movie, so I wasn't too worried. I stopped by my lab before class to print out slides and outlines and bibliographies, and I inserted the movie again and did a cursory check over the file. Things seemed fine.

Get to class, check out the file, and lo! the movie works. Cool. Close the file (which was a bad idea, I guess) and when it comes time to actually present, does the movie play? Of course not. No big deal, just play it off the desktop.

The fun part was when, in the middle of the pres, some slides randomly lost their text. All of them were slides with pictures on them, so at least they weren't blank slides, but there's a reason there's text on the slides...to remind you what to say. Luckily my partner had an old printout of slides, so we were able to present *some*thing, but that sure was annoying. I don't think it was a mac-pc conversion issue, because that hadn't happened before, but maybe it was a difference between M$2000 and XP. Most of the slides with missing text hadn't been edited in a few days, so I don't know where the text went. Weird.

I did make a mistake on the identity of a receptor on a slide that lost its text, but I at least figured it out. I think my partner might have introduced more slides than I, but perhaps it was simply that the slides he presented had more information on them, and he read them, slowly, instead of *presenting.* Eh. I answered questions, though, and presented better. I think. I knew more about the slides because I typed most of them up. Hope it showed. Had a few people ask questions where I was able to say, "and that's the next slide," so I had good flow. Nice to know that I can still be good at some design elements.

  And Now We Are Free, Gladiator soundtrack
  Moonshine, Rob Thurman
file under: books , funny , writings Posted by Jen at 5:51 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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I read a book yesterday. Now, before you say, oh, that's boring, she does that every day (which is true enough), realize that I read an entire book yesterday. Specifically, Jim Butcher's new Dresden Files book, White Night.

He's got tight pacing. His characters are very human, no matter that they've got magical powers. His world is real, and I can see it. You care about what happens. And you know what? He actually answers questions that the series had posed earlier. Thank you, so much.

I read it fast enough that I can't remember all of it, which is a failing of mine, but I don't mind that much because it makes it easier to re-read Thank you for the funnies and the heart-pounding moments, thank you for Toe-moss and Marcone and Lash.

One day I will get something written that causes such emotion.

  Switchfoot, Awakening, from Oh! Gravity.
  Revelation, Carol Berg (since I'm already done with White Night)
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...of the hundreds of books that I own. Perhaps one day I will figure out where to put this in the sidebar...until then, it gets an entry.

  Medalon, by Jennifer Fallon
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Today is the last biochem class before the final (which isn't cumulative, thank God), but since we didn't have class last week due to really inclement weather (that's the first time, excepting 9-11, that I have ever had a class cancelled at WU), there isn't a way to make up the lost class without adding time to tonight's lecture. So I will have freaking 4 and a half hours of biochem tonight, including the study session beforehand. And if he gives us more than one break during the hour-extended lecture, I'll eat my hat. Well, not really, since I like my hat and it's managed to stay with me, so far, with only a few moments of loss...

needless to say, that's a really long night. And of course, with the final only a week away, I've got to be serious about studying. Glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, sugars, dear Lord how am I going to remember it all? And then I see something in the text that I've been working with at work and I never knew anything else about it other than how to process it, and I feel ashamed.

Anyway, the title of the entry refers to the sad, wrenching feeling I had this morning as I laid aside my new copy of Cursor's Fury and did not put it in my bag to bring with me. I can't bring books to work when I'm supposed to be studying. I've learned that much, at least. But it's so pathetic that I'm so addicted to reading that I want that book, right now. It's so hard to study when that book (well, not specifically this book. Any good book will do) is sitting there, waiting to be read. I have to tell myself that I own the book, it will be there for me when I get back and done with this crazy class, but damn if I don't still want it.

I guess it's better to be addicted to books than, say, smoking. Good thing I don't do both. I'd be in the poorhouse. You know that Borders Rewards thing? It's embarrassing to think of the amount of Holiday Saving Rewards that I amassed this year, because that means I spent an atrocious amount of money at Borders. I probably pay the salary of one of their workers with all I spend there.

I need to find a job that lets me write fantasy and read other people's fantasy. I would be set.

  Look Where We Are Now, Teddy Geiger

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Elantris

by Brandon Sanderson

It's a good fantasy novel, and inspirational to boot (it's the author's debut novel, so there is hope for me). The world is well built and easily imagined. The characters are fleshed-out enough that you understand their motivations, except, of course, when the twist comes about...

The title of this entry comes from the name of one of the symbols that the characters use to work magic, for lack of a better term. An Aon is the symbol, and Rao means 'spirit.' I'll try a summary: Elantris used to be a city of light and power, its people silver-skinned and glowing and capable of great magic. The Shaod was a mysterious process that transformed ordinary and extraordinary alike into Elantrians, but one day it stopped, and the city has fallen into ruins. Now, instead of becoming godlike, those taken by the the Shaod turn into zombies (okay, not the term they use, but if your heart doesn't beat yet you are still walking around and alive, what else would you call it?), and are shut off from the rest of the country behind the still-standing, tall walls of Elantris.

Raoden is a prince of the land, and he is taken by the Shaod. He struggles to make a 'life' for himself in the ruins of Elantris. Sarene is his betrothed, widowed before she was even married because of Raoden's disappearance. There's an evil monk, an even eviler monk, political intrigue, magic, angst, humor...just about everything I like. The middle part is a bit slow, but has its shining moments. The end is especially good, with all sorts of plot lines coming together and questions asked about what will happen in that world...or even our own.

I'm terrible at writing summaries, so I suggest you pick up a copy and see what I mean for yourself. If nothing else, the image of a glowing Aon hanging in the air will stay with me for a long time. That and the cover of the actual hardcover book itself is green, so you know that makes me happy

I'm looking forward to Mistborn, the author's next book, which is set in a different world than Elantris. It comes out in July. Yay summer reading.

Hopefully I can have a new layout up for you soon. We'll see...

  Convergence: Book One of The Blending, Sharon Green (which I bought for 25¢ along with five others at a craft fair last weekend)
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Proven Guilty : A Novel of the Dresden Files (Dresden Files (Hardcover))

by Jim Butcher

Anyway, last night I went to the St. Louis Writer's Meetup like I do every month, and having heard that the newest Dresden Files book had been seen over a week early (amazon says it's due out May 2) at other Borders 'round the country, I thought I'd have a look. I fully expected this one to be as it normally is and not have it, and a glance at the Butcher shelf proved me right. Sort of. The paperback version of the current penultimate book was also to have come out May 2nd, but there were two copies on the shelf. No Proven Guilty, though. So I thought, okay, my luck isn't that good, but hopefully I perused the endcaps nearby...and there were five copies on one. Sweet!

(What's not so sweet is that I bought duplicates of some magazines I already had. Again. I really need to just subscribe so I stop paying newsstand prices. Twice.)

I also had the interesting dilemma that once I got home last night, I was in the middle of two books by the same author at the same time. I had already reread all the Dresden Files, and had started on the Codex Alera last weekend (the first book was my MCAT escape during the test ). I'd just started the second book yesterday morning. I wasn't expecting to have Proven Guilty until next week, but obviously I took a break from the reread of Academ's Fury to read the new one

Oh, so now you want the review, eh? Possible spoilers. Read on at your own risk...

I tore through this one, pretty much. I started reading around 10 pm, after my meeting was over, and stayed up till (gulp) 3:15 am. I was in bed, though, so at least my body was resting...

I liked this one. Probably not as much as some of the other Dresden Files (I've yet to put them in "most liked" order, so I'm not sure which is my favorite right now) but it was good. Jim Butcher has a way of injecting humor into the most serious of situations, and of dropping bombs on you that were not expected. His writing flows very well, and I think I caught only one copy-editing mistake (that's what you get for first editions, but much, much, better than the first-run hardbacks by Laurell K Hamilton). I have to admit, I'm in awe of the way he can switch from comedic fantastical crime to high fantasy. Reading both series at the same time will give you that insight, I guess

This one didn't give me quite the tingle that others did, though I'm glad we got to see so many bits from other books in the series. Too bad Harry's not getting the romance he needs (no comments on my love life, thanks) and there's still a bunch of questions hanging around. We still haven't gotten the big picture of who (or what) is behind all the maniacal goings-on in the world of that other wizard called Harry, but as I just read, there are 20 predicted books in this series, so I guess it would be silly to unveil that plan for world domination just yet

I really want to know what Mouse is (aside from a Caucasian, hahah) and I would have liked to see more of Bob. And Little Chicago? So all that power went back to Harry. What did he do with it? Was that all that let him get through what he went through? The writing about SplatterCon!!! (misspelled without the exclaimation points) makes me want to get to a con again. Maybe soon. Molly was a nice character, and it will be interesting to see how she and Harry get along. So he can't be in a mentor-apprentice relationship without some sort of sexual tension (ie Elaine)? Hmm.

Of course, now that I've read it, I can't wait for the next one. Maybe we'll see Butters and his amazing polka skills again. Would have liked to have seen Warden Luccio more. Wonder what will happen with the Merlin. Seems like Harry's either being set up to take a great fall or great responsibility. Oh, wait. He already has that...

And speaking of Peter Parker, Jim Butcher is putting out a Spiderman novel later in the year, and the third book in the Codex Alera comes out in December. Joy.

My boss is out for a few days, but I still should get to work. See you on the flip side.

  Academ's Fury, Book Two of the Codex Alera, Jim Butcher
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It's tough working and taking a class, however easy this one might sound. Got a lab practical in just about an hour, and I'm not quite ready for it...and we've been quite busy at work, which is crazy. I get home and I just want to sleep.

When am I supposed to be able to write the great debut novel? sigh.

On the fun side, a book that wasn't supposed to be out until next week is now in my hot little hands, and already read since last night. Alright, it was a really short book, but hey, it's Anita Blake. I tear through those. Thanks to Barnes and Noble for having it early. No thanks to any of the bookstores in town for not having up-to-date MCAT study books. Not that I really need a new one, since I barely got through the ones that I had last year, but I would like an update, you know? sigh.

Wish me luck on the test. I'll be glad when this is over. Joyeux Mardi Gras, if I don't see you...anyone want to come party with me this weekend?

  Pocahontas and Smith, The New World soundtrack (James Horner)

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by Rowling, GrandPré

The St Louis Post-Dispatch review is semi-spoilerish and can be found here.

SPOILER WARNING: This post contains my first thoughts about reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which I finished this afternoon. I bought it last night at the midnight release party, read for about two hours before I went to sleep, then finished it after helping Olga move out, such as it was. She was mostly packed before I got up. I turned the last page sometime around 6 pm. So of the 18 hours that I've owned this book, seven were spent sleeping and two or three hours were spent helping Olga and watching the movie Paycheck. So it took me a little over eight hours to get the whole thing read. It's about 200 pages shorter than the previous book, which was disappointing to me. I mean, I know that the 820 pages of OotP was a pretty hefty doorstop, but dammnit, I like to read! Keep me occupied for more than a day, eh?

But she did keep me occupied for a day, so hats off. Lots of things behind the link. I suppose if you are totally unaware of anything HP there are spoilers everywhere. I do mention who dies, so if you don't want to know that, DON'T CONTINUE READING! Otherwise, please read and let me know how you felt about the book, the direction the series is going, anything at all.

I finished the book not so long ago and I had to sit a moment and just be blank after what I'd read. It was good, and I'm not sorry I bought an HP book in hardcover for the first time, but man oh man oh man.

Random thoughts:
I wonder if JKR is mad that there were a few articles out there speculating that DD was going to be killed? I'm a little sorry I read those, since it seemed that the fact that he died was sort of muted for me. Maybe it's just because the pace of the story at that point, as others have mentioned.

I could just hear the sound of millions of shippers' hearts breaking as I read (myself included, sort of). I'm firmly H/Hr, but I don't mind other ships. But it just seemed like JKR decided to toss everybody in the air and see where they came down. I can see the foreshadowing for some of the pairings but mostly everything seemed rushed. Alas. It seems sort of like the romance was what she cut out to keep the book shorter than OotP. Kinda like the romance in Star Wars Episode III. *gag*

I can't say, in retrospect, that I was entirely surprised by Snape being the half-blood prince, but it caught me off guard while I was reading. I had an early clue that Draco was the one Moaning Myrtle was comforting in the bathroom, but I never dreamed it was for killing DD, even if I pretty much had figured he was the one to die. I will admit that I never liked Snape, but geez. Talk about a double agent. I've always wanted to hate him, but left off because he did seem to help, occasionally, and there was the whole issue of DD's trust in him...I hate to say it, but Harry is so vindicated at the end, and there's nothing but an empty feeling of impotence when everyone realizes it. I'd like to think that perhaps because of the Unbreakable Vow there's still some good in Snape, but I'll let myself hate him a little more now.

I think JKR did what she was supposed to as a writer: she makes you want to read the next book. This wasn't my favorite, but I dearly want to know what happens in the end, and I can't stand the fact that it will probably be another two years before we find out. She didn't do it the way I wanted or expected, which I appreciate. I will agree that it seemed like she took way too many elements out of fanfiction or at least was influenced by the fans that make somewhat insignificant details into great epics. I mean, come on. Who really thought that Blaise Zabini would make it back into the story? I am pleased that she used the name of the charity that Dan R. supports, Demezla House, as a name for one of the Quidditch players.

There were two things outside of plot twists and ships sunk that surprised me: Draco is mentioned as lying down with his head in a girl's lap, and somewhere in the book, a girl is referred to as a slut. Call me a prude, but I never expected to see those in a HP book. I realize that the book is portraying characters that are well into their teens, but it just seemed that JKR was above using such language. I mean, even Uncle Vernon actually said "what the hell" or some variant thereof, instead of "swearing loudly" as has been used in the past. JKR has had a decade to write these things, though, so I suppose it makes sense that she's using more mature (or immature, depending on how you look at it) language.

I can see how this might have been a tangent of the Chamber of Secrets. We learn a lot about Voldemort's background and about that diary that mysteriously shows up at Hogwarts. I'm glad she didn't try to fit it in there though. There's no way things could have developed properly if she had.

JKR must have some hell of an idea of how it's all going to end to drop so many bombs on us like this. I can't pinpoint why it seemed quite so much different than the previous ones. I'm sure I'll reread it soon, after I've had a while to think about it. Do let me know what you think. Sorry about the length. Wish I had someone to chat about it with. Could be you

  Chariot, Gavin de Graw
  are you kidding? did you read the post at all?
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Dead Beat by Jim Butcher

I am Michael Carpenter. I am one of those honored by God to serve His Will as a Knight of the Cross. My faith is strong, unshakeable -- and deadly to the truly evil. It's my job to seek them out, to get them to change if I can, and to stop them if I must. And I am not alone in this. Never alone. God watches over me and sees that I am sent where I am most needed. I carry the holy sword Amoracchius at my side -- that nail you see in the hilt came from the Cross. The other Knights stand by me. My wife and children are just as fierce as I am -- God help you should you try to find out if it's otherwise. And there are others. Together we all stand, shoulder to shoulder, against the darkness. Our faith has been tried, tested, and proven resolute. No matter the cost, no matter how bloodied you might make us, we will not bow, and we cannot fail. God's Will be done -- on Earth, by our hands.

Who are you? Take the quiz!

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Random thought: Did you know that Charlie and the Chocolate Factory comes out today? I didn't even realize it. I know I liked CCF when I was younger, but Johnny Depp looks so odd in the previews that I don't know what to think. Tim Burton directs, too, which always sort of scares me. Guess we'll see. Going up against HP, though it doesn't stand a chance.

So tonight at midnight is the release of the 6th Harry Potter book. I'm excited. It's about damn time. I decided, since it was the second to last book release, and I really like the books, I would go ahead and buy the hardcover at Harrypalooza, the release party held at Left Bank Books. It costs a little more than Amazon or even Borders, but it's going to be a big party. Streets closed off and everything. People from the Science Center and City Museum will be there doing scientific magic stuff. One restuarant is having a HP-themed menu. Awww. I do get a goody bag with purchase, and since I've already paid I can get it right away. Yahoo. Cece's coming with, which makes me happy. You might know by now I hate going places by myself.

So, at the risk of showing you once again how much of a geek I am, I made myself a Gryffindor robe with an iron-on patch (now that was a fun thing to do *sarcasm*), a tie with markered stripes, and a wand. I don't have anywhere to put the wand, so perhaps that should be remedied, and there are no pockets in the robe which I should have thought about before I sewed up the seams. I feel like I made a graduation robe. It's not quite movie quality, but I'm proud of my efforts. I have fabric for a skirt, but unless I have a lot of motivation in the four or so hours between getting off work and heading downtown, I doubt it will get finished I was up too late and needed to be awake too early to try to finish it last night. Besides, I made Quidditch-inspired tshirts for me and Cece so we can look goofy together. I'll try to get pictures.

Tomorrow after the two of us are exhausted we'll go down to Johnson's Shut-Ins with some of Cece's friends. I'll read on the way Should be fun. Went down there last year with Kate, which was fun, so hopefully the water will be high enough to make some slides.

On a more Sirius serious note, pray for my car and that it's just the battery and not some other piece of heinously expensive part that requires more heinously expensive labor to put in. I realize that in the grand scheme of things, $150 for an alternator isn't bad, but when you just spent twice that for fixing *other* things in the car, it sucks. The repairs are worth more than the car. My dad got me a new battery, so hopefully that's it and the car will work again, but it's sort of like, is this a time bomb or what? Gotta keep a close watch on the dash for those scarily boring warning lights. *hopes car lives*

We won another softball game last night, 14-2. Poor things. It's tough when you're not getting the best pitches *and* you can't quite get the ball in. Oh well. Yay for the statistics to slowly tilt back in our favor. Paige came back into town as well, which made me happy. Cece came over after her first tap dance class *so jealous* and we talked about tshirts and moving and such. Hopefully I can get out early today and work on the things I mentioned above for the costume. I'm such a dork.

Wish me luck with the study. 13 hours to go!

  Problem Girl, Rob Thomas

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[ETA: pass the potato!]

St. Mark is the patron saint of Venice, and as such, you see his symbol, a winged lion, in many places around that region. Sometimes the lion is clutching an open book, sometimes a closed one. Open, it means the statue was carved when Venice was at peace. Closed, Venice was at war. There is a church in town called St. Mark's, and it does indeed have a winged lion on the very interesting architecture-wise chapel. I've never looked to see if it holds a book, open or otherwise, but perhaps if they have art shows again I will be able to find out.

The random trivia above is brought to you courtesy of The Historian, the debut novel by Elizabeth Kostova, a bestseller before it was even released. Damn but I hope my first novel sells like that. Guess I should get it written. Had an idea for Moonstone today while I was aliquoting samples. And who said science squashes creativity?

Anyway, I went ahead and bought The Historian in hardcover on the strength of word-of-mouth and reviews that I'd read about it. I've been breaking my "buy no hardcover books" rule quite a bit lately. Picked up The Traveler as well, after the Writer's Meetup Tuesday. I've got so many books waiting to be read you'd think I'd quit...but I can't. It's an obsession. Both books look to be a good investment. Haven't gotten far in either, but it's a sad fact that even I cannot read two books at once.

And of course, the huge book of the summer, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, comes out on the 16th. (I can't believe it's July already.) I went ahead and preordered it at Left Bank Books, so I'll be going to the midnight release party and meet up with a few other fans from the hp_stlouis livejournal, I hope. I just really wanted to party, and this seems like a fun way to do it. Cece might come too, which would make things doubly fun. It looks like there's going to be a lot going on that night, so yay.

Hopefully I remembered all the things I wanted to say before the power went out unexpectedly for just a second earlier. But that second was definitely enough to turn off every computer and light and electronic device, so I lost what I was typing. I love technology. The funny thing was, I was listening to my portable cd player, but I hit pause just as the lights went out, so I was really confused for a moment as to why my battery-powered player suddenly stopped. Don't you love feeling sheepish?

  Lord of the Dance
  The Historian, Elizabeth Kostova
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Eragon by CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI

I'm just trying to get this book to post. It's odd that it won't go through the standard MTAmazon plugin that I've got for my blogging software. Ah, the vagaries of technology.

Save 50% off of select Posters and Standees at NewLineShop.com!

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On a random note, I finally have my name on the roomnumber panel outside my 'office.' How lovely. I feel all official.

So yeah...the 12th Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter book came out on Tuesday, and I broke my rule of 'buy no hardback books ' for it. Laurell K Hamilton's books are good enough that I'll do that with no qualms. Also, it's 15% off b/c it's a new bestseller, AND I get 10% off for being a member of Waldenbooks. So it's not a terribly bad price. People grew up in this book, in more ways than one. And there was lots of sex. Yeah. Threesomes. Wow. Feels weird to even think that I read it. But it's so much fun! Vampires and werewolves and funky power mishmash. Some people are criticizing her later works because they feel rushed and unedited. This one did seem that way (come on, it's 'retched' as in tossing your cookies not 'wretched' like that poor little homeless kid over there) but I think the story made up for it. I wouldn't want to rush anyone writing, I know how hard it is...but I want my authors to take the time to make things right. All I know is I'm glad I'm easy-going enough to take things in stride so I can enjoy the overall picture. Or focus on the hot guys taking over Anita's life. Bottom line: the book was HUGE (200 pages longer than her last) and fun and worth it. Even if she believes in commas a little too much.

Too bad I missed the signing for the book the day it came out...not only was it the day after my first orgo exam, so all I wanted to do was sleep when I got home from work, it was also the day of a meeting for the Writer's group that I hope I can be a part of, especially if I'm going to try to do NaNoWriMoin a month...but it was also a rehearsal for the Affton School District 150th anniversary Drama Alumni revue. So I get to (sort of) be in a musical again. It's not like we're going to be acting or anything, just singing some popular (and not so popular) selections from musicals that the High School has done over the years. I've only been in oneof the performances at the school and another in show choir in college, and I know of a couple more, but it's a really eclectic mix. Of course they can't please everyone, I just think some of the other songs from some of the musicals would be better choices...ah well. And I realized that as much as I like modern musicals, I haven't heard/seen quite a few of the more popular ones, like Fiddler on the Roof or Hello, Dolly! Or Anything Goes...etc etc. At least we get to sing America from West Side Story.

We're only going to have one rehearsal a month until December or January (the show is in January) so we'll see how it goes. One of the songs they chose from 'my' years in high school worked wonderfully as the duet that it's meant to be in the show, and they were hoping to get the leads who sang in that show to do this one, but they haven't showed up at practice. Apparently this month's rehearsal was the second one, and they only realized that I was still in town after I showed up at the track/football field rededication. I guess that's a good thing...it was so weird to be back in the choir room, learning music. Been a long time, and things have definitely changed. All of my schools seem quite different than what they had been when I was there. I guess it's that one constant: Change.

Thank goodness it's the weekend. BTW, I passed my first orgo exam. Now we'll have to see how much the curve is blown during the rest of the semester, and whether I can pull my ass out of B-/C+ territory. Pray for me.

Oh, and tomorrow, I'm welcoming prospective roommates at the apartment, with Kate along for moral support. Thanks Kate. Pray that I meet someone nice, and that it's not a tough decision between mediocre applicants. Wish me luck!

  Delirious?: White Ribbon Day

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Yay! Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix comes out in paperback today! As soon as I'm done voting I think I'll head over to Waldenbooks and get my copy (There's a fun little Lego game here, although it seems to go pretty slowly on my computer. Maybe it's just me.

And if you go here you can read a spoiler from the Goblet of Fire script...exciting! GoF was always one of my favorites of the series. I can't wait to see it onscreen. Yay Harry Potter!

Don't forget to vote for me in the website competitions today...the links are below the post! I really need your help this week!

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Yes, it is indeed Harry Potter's birthday. And yes, I know he's a fictional character, but gosh darnit he's one of my favorites. And I know I'm a little late, as it's already tomorrow in Britain and nearly tomorrow here, but it's the thought that counts, right? Here's a little quickie I whipped up for my favorite boy wizard:

Saw the Bourne Supremacy with Ross last night. It was a fun movie, and the theater was nearly full even though it was the second weekend of release, so yay for Bourne. I thought it was good, probably better than the first, if a little more convoluted. They had you going 'huh?" for quite a bit in the beginning, trying to figure out who's killing whom and why, but the action sequences were great. Two car chases, wow. And I have to say, Karl Urban looked so much better in this one than in Chronicles of Riddick Two LotR alums in BS, actually...Bourne meets up with an assassin buddy of old and lo and behold it's Marton Csokas or however you spell his last name, aka Celeborn-the-elf-of-the-few-words-and-husband-of-Galadriel. Also known as the anarchy-advocating rebel of xXx. and wtf! Marie!?! sigh. either there's not going to be a sequel (which is stupid considering the aforementioned full theater), or they're just going to invent it out of the whole cloth, being as they changed most of the plot of the second book. Oh, I know the first one wasn't really like the book, stripped down, etc, and the books are infinitely better than the movies, but still. I admit I haven't finished the second book and maybe there are more elements that I'm not aware of that they did include in the movie, but it sure seemed like they were veering off on their own tangent. That's ok, I guess. Books are good when they can stand on their own. Ah well.

Ross and I talked...alot. I'm amazed at the breadth of the topics we discussed. Problem is I'm not all that good at discussion, what with not having too many strongly-held beliefs, whereas Ross is going to (Wash U, natch) law school in the fall. But it was interesting nonetheless. It's fun to have conversations ranging from religion to politics to school to weather to old ladies cursing. And I had my first mocha Kalhua freeze (yes, a coffee drink!). I never drink coffee of any type (the smell used to make me sick, really) but it wasn't bad. Mostly the bitterness was covered up by the mocha And I believe Ross when he says he isn't normally a bad driver. He just happened to have some bad directions

And Tim Schneider (my crush from middle school/highschool and the hs salutitorian) and his wife just had twin boys, so congrats to them. Apparently they were nine weeks early so send some prayers and well wishes their way!

Guess I better get this in before midnight, and finish my dinner. Toodles...

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I can't believe it's July already! And Independence Day is this weekend...seems like the year has gone by awfully fast! All of my Three of my movie premieres have gone by! Here's to King Arthur and I, Robot.

So that entry I posted a few days ago about the title of the 6th Harry Potter book is true. It will be called Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, who is neither Harry nor Voldemort for those of you curious. I can't wait to read it...hopefully, hopefully it will be out soon. Too bad JK Rowling doesn't keep her readers quite as updated as LK Hamilton...

No softball game tonight, in honor of the holiday, I guess. So we're going to the batting cages near my house, which is an odd coincidence. I mean, there've got to be many batting cages around, but they choose Tower Tee Then we'll go to Fortel's Pizza Den, which will mark the, oh, fifth time in a little over a week that I've had pizza for dinner. Maybe I'll just skip the pizza and have toasted ravioli. Yay St. Louis treat!

Have a good one if I forget to blog tomorrow. Celebrate your Independence! And yay holiday on monday

  Josh Groban: Remember Me (Troy Soundtrack)

file under: books , celebration , getmoving Posted by Jen at 5:12 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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So I bought more books on saturday. This should hardly be surprising nor really merit an entry, but I'm a little bored and the journal is looking empty. The main thought is that I'm reading a lot these days, which is not a bad thing. The other main thought is that I've discovered some pretty good fantasy books that have been around for a while, I've just never gotten around to reading them (or simply didn't know about them). And there's that little bit of sadness (silly, I know, but there nonetheless) for not jumping on them sooner.

And here's where I try something...dunno what it will do, and basically I'm going to just be editing for a while...I'm reading Stone of Farewell right now, which is the second of Tad William's Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy. It's a really intelligent fantasy series, but it is taking me forever to read. Each book is over 700 pages, and the last "book" is actually split into two 800+ page novels because it's so damn long! That's ok, I love long books, and I like the fact that I'm getting something good for what I paid, but it just keeps going! Really though, shouldn't complain because any book that can keep me reading for that long is certainly worthy of mention.

I have to say that I'm really enjoying the third Harry Potter soundtrack...it's got this beautiful flute part that's just achingly haunting. the whole score reminds me of some medieval play, which is odd since the story is supposed to take place in modern times, but it somehow fits the movie perfectly. I actually was inspired to try and figure out the melody on my ocarina flute, which admittedly I am not good at, but I think I got it...makes me want a bigger flute And to learn how to play guitar, lol. One of these days.

(from the Outback Jack slang glossary)
Kangaroos loose in the top paddock - Intellectually inadequate.
Mad as a Cut Snake - Crazy
Not the full quid - not bright intellectually.

Funny how they felt the need to make sure you know how to insult someone's intelligence.

file under: books Posted by Jen at 9:47 AM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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I finished Fool's Fate last night. What an amazing story. It was the last book in a trilogy which was itself the last set in a nine-book arc...so it was sort of sad, reading to the end. You know, end of the line and all that. But still, I couldn't put it down. I suppose there was a pretty good sense of completion. Everything just seemed to fit together well. I guess Ms. Hobb has a wonderful editor It's definitely inspiring to my writing. And guitar playing, oddly enough... The story of FitzChivalry Farseer and his adventures have come to an end. Or so she says....There's a lot of darkness in these books, but there's always some levity somewhere, a bright spot to show you that yes, good will triumph, though not without suffering. I just wish I could write as well as she does. Maybe someday...I highly recommend this series to anyone the slightest bit interested in fantasy, magic, medieval-seeming settings...it's beautifully done. I picked up this 600+ pager on Saturday afternoon and I finished it last night before I slept. A good way to finish any book, in my opinion

I get to see Hidalgo with Molly on Sunday. That makes me happy. More Viggo on a horse!

file under: books , reviews Posted by Jen at 6:03 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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Heh. Did I get your attention? Actually those are two totally unrelated items, but you know me, I love alliteration and a catchy subject line.
Anyway, both items pertaining to the title happened Wednesday night, so I guess they are somewhat connected.

So, re: sushi...never had it before wednesday. Leo loves it, and other people I've talked to really like it, so putting my childhood bias about eating raw fish aside, I decided to let myself try it. Kenichi (the funny Japanese guy who isn't in our lab but does a lot of experiments with us anyway) was taking Mark (the now part-time guy tech in the lab) out to dinner. Not sure why, and they're the type of guys who can't say two words without insulting each other, but neither seems to mind. Anyway, going out to dinner, and I got invited. We were thinking about the Cheesecake factory, which would have been great, but then Mark mentioned how he liked japanese food so we decided to go to Sekisui, a relatively new place on Grand. When I told them I'd never had it before that pretty much sealed it. And I must admit, it was pretty good. We had a LOT of food! Eel, flat fish fin muscle (eep, but good), california rolls, dragon rolls, spider rolls...st louis rolls! I am not quite sure what was in all of these things, but they were good regardless. Now, I'm not a big fan of fish in the first place, so I probably won't be going again soon...also it's expensive! I caught a glimpse of the check and it was over $100...thank goodness Kenichi is a nice guy and paid for it We managed to finish off everything we got, and Mark said something along the lines of 'I didn't think you'd be able to eat all that.' eh. From him, who eats all the time, I guess it was sort of a compliment...didn't quite know how to take it. Whatever. We were all hungry by the time the food finally got there! So final verdict: good, but will probably never be my first choice.

And re: seduction, I finally got the new Laurell K Hamilton book from the library: Seduced by Moonlight. Kate will be happy to know that I read it in two days, including working hours. It's a pretty quick read. A good story, this is the third book in the Merry Gentry series. This series is the 'other' series LKH writes, and I still like the Anita Blake books better, but she does have a way of grabbing onto your interest and not letting go. I'm glad I didn't buy this one, however. It was just a little too short and didn't really...end, I guess. I will say that LKH is very good at making you want to know what's going to happen in the next book and makes you want to know now! sigh.

I'm a little peeved at this moment because I just found out that the last book I have on request arrived at the library today. Unfortunately the library is only open til 5 on fridays so even if I left now it would be a stretch to make it on time. And since Mom's art show is tomorrow it's doubtful that I'll be able to make it then either...ah well. I WILL pick up Fool's Fate and learn what happens to FitzChivalry. It just might be monday before I can launch into that one...which is probably a good thing, considering I still have four other books to read that I've kept out for nearly three weeks now. Newton's Cannon is suprisingly good for an alternate scientific universe yarn.

One of these days I'll figure out the amazon plugin so I can *ahem* plug those books.

file under: books , reallife Posted by Jen at 4:56 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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Today was the second day I encountered this random guy wearing pink Converse sneakers on the way to work. You have to be pretty secure with yourself to wear pink, but a guy in pink sneaks? Ah well. If it makes him happy...

But in case you're wondering about the title of this entry, the book to the side I purchased on Christmas Eve while I was out at Chevy's with my mom. I started reading it that night and finished it late Sunday morning. So I read a little over a hundred pages a day. Not spectacular pacing, but better than I usually do, and I have the excuse of a holiday in there as well. But this writer, Robin Hobb...her previous two trilogies are amazing, and the trilogy Golden Fool is a part of is wonderful as well. You just keep reading and reading, wanting to know what happens but not wanting it to end...or that's just me, perhaps. But it is inspiring read such books, it makes me want to write something that would move people that way. I hope that someday I can see my name on the cover of a book that I'm proud of. Wouldn't it be nice if my New Year's resolution was to finish the book? Hah. I need new computer before I'd feel comfortable doing that. And I still need to figure out how it ends Any ideas? Take a look at what I've got so far (for public viewing, anyway... there's more chapters that only special people see. You have to email me if you want access for them...) and let me know what you think! Last night I turned on the comp only to just reread some of what I'd previously written. I do sound much different now than when I started. I'll have to go over the whole thing someday and change lots...but for now, just get a draft. A huge draft. I wonder how many pages it is already. All the chapters are at least ten pages long, typed single-spaced, and there's six plus a prologue finished...many thousands of words already and so much left to go. Would be nice to finish chapter 7 before the end of the year, but as that's in a little over a day I don't think it will happen...

I want the third book of the Tawny Man trilogy to come out now! Sigh. If only I lived in England it's already out there, but here we have to wait for February. So impatient am I! Better get writing on my own in the meantime...

file under: books Posted by Jen at 4:02 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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It really bugs me that I can't find my copy of Cryptonomicon. I have no idea where it is. I hope that with the cleaning of my room so I can make my room at the apartment messy I'll find it. But I couldn't find it earlier last month when I was thinking of letting Uncle Johnnie borrow it, so I am not so optimistic about my prospects. It's a terribly good book, but *huge*. About 900 pages, I think. Some of it even went over my head, and in a book I like, that's odd. It's about math, sort of. Breaking codes. And if you know me, you know I don't like math. But he makes it interesting. Wish I had a math teacher like the author. But the reason I'm looking for this book is that the sort of sequel just came out, and since I read Crypto...over a year ago I'd like to read it again before the new book comes to the library. Eh. Just a rant.

Hi Leo!

file under: books Posted by Jen at 2:34 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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Because people have posted this.

Bold means I've read it:

1984, George Orwell

The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho

Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll

Animal Farm, George Orwell

Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy

Anne Of Green Gables, LM Montgomery -long ago.

Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer

The BFG, Roald Dahl

Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks

Black Beauty, Anna Sewell

Bleak House, Charles Dickens

Brave New World, Aldous Huxley - We had to read this over the summer before junior or senior year of high school. Then we had to discuss it all year. I hated it.

Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh

Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding

Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres

Catch 22, Joseph Heller

The Catcher In The Rye, JD Salinger

Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl

A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

The Clan Of The Cave Bear, Jean M Auel

Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons

The Colour Of Magic, Terry Pratchett

The Count Of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas

Crime And Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky

David Copperfield, Charles Dickens

Double Act, Jacqueline Wilson

Dune, Frank Herbert

Emma, Jane Austen

Far From The Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy

Girls In Love, Jacqueline Wilson

The God Of Small Things, Arundhati Roy

The Godfather, Mario Puzo

Gone With The Wind, Margaret Mitchell - Er. Part of it anyway.

Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman - FAVORITE!

Goodnight Mister Tom, Michelle Magorian

Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake

The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck

Great Expectations, Charles Dickens

The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald

Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett

Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, JK Rowling

Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, JK Rowling - and OotP, as well

His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, Douglas Adams

The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien

Holes, Louis Sachar

I Capture The Castle, Dodie Smith

Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte - argh. eight grade english.

Kane And Abel, Jeffrey Archer

Katherine, Anya Seton

The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, CS Lewis - and the rest of the Narnia series

Little Women, Louisa May Alcott

The Lord Of The Rings, JRR Tolkien

Love In The Time Of Cholera, Gabriel Garcia Marquez

The Magic Faraway Tree, Enid Blyton

Magician, Raymond E Feist

The Magus, John Fowles

Matilda, Roald Dahl - one of my favorite books.

Memoirs Of A Geisha, Arthur Golden - signed copy, natch.

Middlemarch, George Eliot

Midnight's Children, Salman Rushdie

Mort, Terry Pratchett

Night Watch, Terry Pratchett

Noughts And Crosses, Malorie Blackman

Of Mice And Men, John Steinbeck - I think we read this in hs english.

On The Road, Jack Kerouac

One Hundred Years Of Solitude, Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Perfume, Patrick Suskind

Persuasion, Jane Austen

The Pillars Of The Earth, Ken Follett

A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving

Pride And Prejudice, Jane Austen

The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, Robert Tressell

Rebecca, Daphne Du Maurier - Spooky.

The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett - Another all-time favorite, along with A Little Princess

The Secret History, Donna Tartt

The Shell Seekers, Rosamunde Pilcher

The Stand, Stephen King

The Story Of Tracy Beaker, Jacqueline Wilson

A Suitable Boy, Vikram Seth

Swallows And Amazons, Arthur Ransome

A Tale Of Two Cities, Charles Dickens

Tess Of The D'urbervilles, Thomas Hardy

The Thorn Birds, Colleen McCollough

To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee

A Town Like Alice, Nevil Shute

Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson

The Twits, Roald Dahl

Ulysses, James Joyce

Vicky Angel, Jacqueline Wilson

War And Peace, Leo Tolstoy

Watership Down, Richard Adams

The Wind In The Willows, Kenneth Grahame - I think I read this years ago...

Winnie-the-Pooh, AA Milne

The Woman In White, Wilkie Collins

Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte

Bold means I've seen it:

The Godfather (1972)

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

The Godfather: Part II (1974)

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) - of course.

Schindler's List (1993)

Citizen Kane (1941)

Casablanca (1942)

Seven Samurai (1954)

Star Wars (1977)

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

Memento (2000)

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Rear Window (1954)

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

The Usual Suspects (1995) - This movie has the best ending ever.

Amelie (2001)

Pulp Fiction (1994)

North by Northwest (1959)

Psycho (1960)

The Silence of the Lambs (1991) - one of the spookiest movies.

12 Angry Men (1957)

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

Goodfellas (1990)

American Beauty (1999)

Vertigo (195

The Pianist (2002)

Sunset Blvd. (1950)

Apocalypse Now (1979)

Some Like It Hot (1959)

The Matrix (1999)

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

Taxi Driver (1976)

The Third Man (1949)

Paths of Glory (1957)

Fight Club (1999)

Das Boot (1981)

L.A. Confidential (1997)

Double Indemnity (1944)

Chinatown (1974)

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

The Maltese Falcon (1941)

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001)

Saving Private Ryan (199

All About Eve (1950)

M (1931)

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

Raging Bull (1980)

Once Upon a Time in the West (196

Se7en (1995)

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000)

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

2001: A Space Odyssey (196

La Vita e bella (1997)

American History X (199

The Sting (1973)

Touch of Evil (195

The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

Alien (1979)

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

Rashomon (1950)

Leon (1994)

Annie Hall (1977)

The Great Escape (1963)

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (194

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

The Sixth Sense (1999)

Jaws (1975)

Amadeus (1984)

On the Waterfront (1954)

Ran (1985)

Braveheart (1995) - one of my most favorite movies...start of my scottish craze + Chris...

High Noon (1952)

Fargo (1996)

Blade Runner (1982)

The Apartment (1960)

Aliens (1986)

Toy Story 2 (1999)

Strangers on a Train (1951)

Modern Times (1936)

The Shining (1980)

Donnie Darko (2001)

Duck Soup (1933)

The Princess Bride (1987)

Lola rennt (199

City Lights (1931)

The General (1927)

Metropolis (1927)

The Searchers (1956)

Full Metal Jacket (1987)

Notorious (1946)

Manhattan (1979)

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

Graduate, The (1967)

I've only seen part of the Godfather Part II, and I really have no interest in seeing any more of it or any of the other pre-/sequels. Just not a mob fan. Course, now they'll probably put a hit out on me so I can be suitably impressed...

file under: books Posted by Jen at 5:46 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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about not being spoiled for who dies in HP #5. But a girl who signed my guestbook provided a link to her site, which I visited, cause I'm nice like that. She does have a disclaimer on her site that says it contains spoilers for OotP, so I went to close the window, but caught sight of the splash graphic at the top of the page. It said "Tribute to -----" or somesuch, and yep, that's who died. Arrgh. Hon, if you're gonna have spoilers, put the disclaimer *before* the images that spoil! sigh. Although I wonder if this person is really gone. Oh, I know, they say that this one really is out of this world, but it just doesn't seem like it's final to me. I mean, in GoF, the person who dies seems really dead, you know, body on the ground and everything. This time...I don't know. Maybe just wishful thinking.

Finished the fifth book around 10:30 this morning. Only had to read about 30 pages, cause I was up til 2:30 reading. Silly me. I probably could have finished it last night, but I couldn't keep my eyes open. It was nice to have part of it to read this morning. Went by much quicker than I expected. I figured it would take me four days, at least three, to finish, cause it took me three to read the 4th... but just about two days, that's it. Probably cause I read all day at work on Friday. Good, fast paced, definitely darker. Lots of characters. Some you really love to hate. Glad I got to read it now, but yeah. Definitely waiting to buy the paperback.

Mom had a booth at Heart Hands & Voices today. I think it was a success...I didn't really work it (bad me) I was fletching arrows. All five finished. They're never gonna fly straight, indeed I'd be surprised if they flew at all, but that's not really the point, is it? Two green and three yellow, canon be damned. That's what I had oh, if you ever need a quill pen, let me know. I'll cut you one from the many I've got left. Red, blue, some yellow, fake turkey. white or black. Your choice!

Costume check:
Clothing. (Mostly) Done, will have to do if I run out of time.
Vambraces. Done.
Leg Wraps. Done.
Shoulder straps for quiver. Tooled. One needs staining. Attach lower steadying strap, front buckle. Side buckle?.
Belt. Needs tooling. Attach buckles.
Quiver. Peacock painted. Knife case made, needs attaching. Straps!!!
Arrows. Shafts painted, need fletching and cutting to size. Nock. Tips?
Knives. Hafts need cutting, rasping. Cut "blades" and cover with silver tape.
Cape. Done; needs holes for quiver straps.
Pin. Baked, needs pin back.

Sew the gosh-darn clasps on the shirt!

Busy Jen tomorrow.

file under: books , lordoftherings Posted by Jen at 2:41 AM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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So, last night (er. Tuesday night, anyway) the eleventh book in the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series came out. And since the lovely author, Laurell K Hamilton, lives in StL, we got to have the first book signing I wasn't able to get to the bookstore until about a half hour before she was supposed to start signing, so I got a really high line number. As I have a job interview tomorrow (pray/cross your fingers/send good vibes my way) and I need to get to bed, I'll give you the really short version: it took over four hours to get my books signed. Sheesh. Not that I don't love the lady and her books but good Lord that's insane. So I basically mucked around a bookstore all night. They even kept the place open for at least 45 min after closing time so we could all get our books signed. Strangely enough I couldn't seem to read the book too much while I was waiting (I perused other items in the store) and I think it was because I was in too much of a hurry to get to the store so I didn't bring my cd player. Sigh. I love to read to music. I know that weirds some people out, but I need something in the background. I didn't get home until a little after midnight. Ah well. And then I stayed up reading half the book...and with an amazing show of willpower, I managed to shut it and go to sleep. Only to wake up and read the rest of it. It's shorter than the last, which is disappointing, but other parts of the book more than made up for that. And now I really wish she was only writing the one series so the next book will come out very quickly...alas I think we have to wait at least a year and a half. More if/when I have time.

So I said I'd keep this short. Hah. Ok. One more good thing. Finally got the Children of Dune soundtrack. Track 8: Inama Nushif has been on repeat for the last few hours. mmm.

btw, did you notice there are now smileys available for your enjoyment?

file under: books Posted by Jen at 12:32 AM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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If I were cool I'd have a giftie for you all, but alas, I am not cool. So you'll have to settle for nothing.

I haven't failed.....I've just found 1000 ways that don't work!

~ Thomas Edison

Hopefully tonight I'll be at Barnes & Noble getting the new Anita Blake book signed by Laurell K Hamilton herself. Here's hoping I get there on time and I meet people and she's nice. Damn but I hope the new book is good, and something that I'm hoping for is in there...you should read them I'll have to take the last book with me for a little light reading while I'm waiting

btw, I know I said I'd have a new layout. the layout is actually done. but the php stuff isn't. I think I'll have to do it in stages. Egad but I hate modems.

file under: books Posted by Jen at 12:40 AM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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So I started the tenth book in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series on monday night. I finished it last night at about 1:30 am. So that's two books since friday. Man, I couldn't get enough. I was just a little disappointed at the ending of the tenth book, but if I tell you why I'd ruin it for you. But damn, getting there was great. I don't know when the next book comes out and the website hasn't been updated for a while. I'll have to wait till paperback though. Did I tell you how much I detest buying hardcover books?

I bought the entire series so far last night. Now I have all ten We'll see how long it takes me to get through all of them.

See, this is why I started rereading the Lord of the Rings in September; I knew there would be other books occupying my time occasionally. This way I'll always have something to read

It was a good day at work. There were bands in my PCR. This is a good thing, smile and nod. And vote for my site! Come on, I'm in last place *sniff*

Good night, all... ce'arra *in case you're wondering, I want to write even more now cause Laurell K Hamilton lives in St. Louis. I want to be just like her Hope my writing gives people shivers like hers does to me.

file under: books Posted by Jen at 6:48 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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So I've really gotten into this series of books. Written by Laurell K Hamilton, I guess you'd say they're horror/sci-fi/fantasy, but whatever genre they are, the book that I'm reading, Obsidian Butterfly (it happens to be the 9th in the series, and man am I glad that I've got the 10th as well) not only has a cool name but gives me the shivers to boot. Any book that can send that thrill up and down my body goes straight to the top of my hot-damn-o-meter. And it's about vampires and shape-shifters and magic and is almost too gory. Thank God it's a book and not a movie. I seriously need to buy all the books.

tangent: sigh. I remember when books were three dollars each, even for the larger paperbacks. I bought these two at a drugstore, so they were discounted, but they're normally $7.50 each. Egad, when did printing 596 pages start to cost so much?

The funny thing is, I'll probably go out and buy all of them instead of waiting for them if I ordered them online. Besides, I'm weird and want them all to have the cover designed the same way. Yes, analness can have its price. Go buy the books anyway.

file under: books Posted by Jen at 11:40 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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so I'm reading this book called Transformation, by Carol Berg. Now, if you know anything about me, you know that this excites me greatly. I don't know what it is, I guess I have a transformation fetish. There are just times when I'm reading that my imagination takes over and I can feel it, I can feel it in my bones, my body throbs, I can feel the pain or the pleasure or whatever you think it is. This book is one of them. There need to be more books like that... One day my story will be comme &ccdil;a. I swear. Forgive the ramble. I feel weird saying that though, cause it's a very private feeling, something that I've never shared with anyone other than my ex. but if you know of any good transformation stories, let me know.

Thank you, May, for your email. I'm glad you like it. And I will finish it, if nothing for nothing else than to say I have a completed novel. And you'll be the first to get a signed copy If anyone is very interested in reading the next unfinished chapter, please let me know.

file under: books Posted by Jen at 11:15 AM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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Yes, I realize he's just a piece of fiction, but he's a damn well written piece of fiction. And the fourth book came out yesterday, so I had to get it. And The Bourne Identity. I love bookstores. I should just work for a bookstore and get loads of books. Of course, I'd never make any money cause it would all go to books. Sigh. I almost wish you could read more than one book at a time. I don't mean read one book for a while and then read another then go back to the first, I mean two streams of novels would go into your head at the same time. But notice I said almost. Then you wouldn't get to enjoy them so much, and you'd have less to read later. Books will never go out of style. They're the original portable

today was a load of work for nothing. The bacteria still haven't taken up the DNA in the right way or something like that. All that work so we can take a picture to see that nothing's like the way it should be. Arrgh. Which means I have to pick more colonies. Another day of fun for Jenn.

Lammster and Kitt... thanks for your commenting sprees

I really really want: Carol Berg's Transformation and Revelation, Dave Matthews Band's Busted Stuff (which is a studio version of The Lilywhite Sessions, go fig), Goo Goo Dolls' Gutterflower. And I really really really x1000 want the Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring DVD (theatrical and collector's editions), the dvd player to play it, and the Art of the Lord of the Rings coffee table book. Donations cheerfully accepted.

file under: books , fantasy Posted by Jen at 9:49 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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