dreamy abstraction

Reading List 2011

2012-01-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year! I hope 2011 was a good year for you. Here, once again, is the list of what I read this past year. You can find 2010 here, 2009 and 2008.

Nose Down, Eyes Up by Merrill Markoe
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
Robopocalypse by Daniel Wilson
1984 by George Orwell
Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich
Creative, Inc. by Joy Deangdeelert Cho and Meg Mateo Ilasco
Evermore by Alyson Noel
A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff
Switch: How to Change When Change is Hard by Chip and Dan Heath
Immortal by Gillian Shields
Soulless by Gail Carriger
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
Peeps by Scott Westerfeld
Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Fall of Giants by Ken Follett
Fallen by Lauren Kate
The Joy Diet by Martha Beck
Thereby Hangs a Tail by Spencer Quinn
I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
Get Lucky by Katherine Center
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz
Ruined by Paula Morris
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
Ninth Grade Slays (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod Series #2) by Heather Brewer

Happy reading!

Nose Down, Eyes Up

2012-01-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

I read Walking in Circles Before Lying Down and thought it was so much better than this one. There wasn't enough dog here and the main character was an ass. I didn't like him. Go read Walking, it's much more satisfying.

The Alchemist

2012-01-02T04:13:00.000-07:00

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Many have said this is the best book they've ever read. While it was intriguing I wouldn't say it's the best ever. It's a fable about following your dream. There are many truths in the story but nothing new. I read it in a couple days (which is lightning fast for me) and it was enough remind me to keep going, working towards my dreams.

Finger Lickin' Fifteen

2012-01-01T16:02:00.002-07:00


Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum is at it again. I've been reading these books for years (years!) and while they aren't high-lit, they're very entertaining. I'm a little behind as it's up to 18 now. If you're looking for something fun to read and laugh a little, go back to the beginning and read One For the Money.

Linger

2011-12-31T15:22:00.000-07:00

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

This is book two of the Mercy Falls trilogy. The first is Shiver. Considered young adult and written with more maturity than most in that category.

World War Z

2011-12-07T15:18:00.000-07:00

The Zombie Apocalypse is upon us. A pandemic that destroys most of the human race. This is told as recollections from survivors around the world. It's easy to read and, at times, chilling.

Robopocalypse

2011-11-30T17:08:00.000-07:00

Robopocalypse by Daniel Wilson

In the not-too-distant future, technology takes over the world and begins exterminating the humans. I love apocalyptic stories, the what ifs that seem so plausible. This one is no different.

1984

2011-11-16T05:03:00.000-07:00


1984 by George Orwell

Um, I don't think I really need to write a "review" per se. I think the books reputation speaks for itself. But I will say that this is the first time I've read it. I really wanted it to end differently but it ended the only way it could.

Forest of Hands and Teeth

2011-11-11T04:23:00.000-07:00

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

I love zombies, and vampires, and supernatural stuff. They're fun to read. So I was drawn to this zombie novel for young adults. It started off really good. The idea of how this town of people had lived for generations was fascinating. As the story wore on I found the main character, Mary, to be terribly self-absorbed. To a point that I wanted to slap her. So it's a decent book, and there are more that follow (although I don't think Mary is the main character in the next one) so I may pick them up down the road. This was an easy and fast read.

Wicked Appetite

2011-11-08T04:12:00.000-07:00


Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich

If you're a fan of Stephanie Plum (and why wouldn't you be?) Check out this first book in a new series from Janet Evanovich. I actually laughed out loud a couple times.

Evermore

2011-11-04T16:07:00.001-07:00

Evermore by Alyson Noel

Meh. It's not awful, I did read the whole thing. But, I had the distinct feeling I had read this book before. At least in the beginning.

A Vintage Affair

2011-11-04T15:59:00.005-07:00

A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff

The description from Amazon: "Phoebe Swift’s friends are stunned when she abruptly leaves a plum job to open her own vintage clothing shop in London—but to Phoebe, it’s the fulfillment of a dream, and her passion. Digging for finds in attics and wardrobes, Phoebe knows that when you buy a piece of vintage clothing, you’re not just buying fabric and thread—you’re buying a piece of someone’s past. But one particular article of clothing will soon unexpectedly change her life.

Thérèse Bell, an elderly Frenchwoman, has an impressive clothing collection. But among the array of elegant suits and couture gowns, Phoebe finds a child’s sky-blue coat—an item with which Mrs. Bell is stubbornly reluctant to part. As the two women become friends, Phoebe will learn the poignant tale of that little blue coat. And she will discover an astonishing connection between herself and Thérèse Bell—one that will help her heal the pain of her own past and allow her to love again."

I loved this book. I was a bit skeptical at first but I got pulled in by the story of the Frenchwoman. Phoebe is a likeable character and as the book unfolds you begin to understand why she does some of the things she does. The very end was wrapped up a little too tidily but otherwise was very well written, easy to read and enjoyable.

Immortal

2011-09-02T14:35:00.000-07:00


Immortal by Gillian Shields

Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies is elite, expensive, and unwelcoming. When Evie Johnson is torn from her home near the sea to become the newest scholarship student, strict teachers, snobbish students, and the oppressive atmosphere of Wyldcliffe leave her drowning in loneliness.

Evie's only lifeline is Sebastian, a mysterious and attractive young man she meets by chance. As Evie's feelings for Sebastian blaze with each secret meeting, she begins to fear that he is hiding something about his past. And she is haunted by glimpses of a strange, ghostly girl—a girl who is so eerily like Evie she could be a sister. Evie is slowly drawn into a tangled web of past and present that she cannot control. As the extraordinary, elemental forces of Wyldcliffe rise up like the mighty sea, Evie is faced with an astounding truth about Sebastian, and her own incredible fate. (source)

Soulless

2011-08-19T13:33:00.001-07:00

Soulless by Gail Carriger

Soulless is a Victorian-era story of werewolves, vampires, ghosts, and a preternatural named Alexia Tarabotti. I love Alexia, she's stubborn and opinionated.

Here's the first part of the books description: "Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette" (source).

4 out of 5 stars

The House of the Spirits

2011-08-17T13:07:00.003-07:00

How long do read a book before you decide you don't want to keep reading. It doesn't happen to me too often, but when it does I try to give it about 100 pages before I give up. That's about how far I made it into The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende.

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

I think it's that I just didn't like the characters.

So, I moved on.

I CAN recommend another book by Isabel Allende, Zorro. Fabulous. Go read that one.

The Maze Runner

2011-08-01T14:02:00.002-07:00

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

In two words: Loved It.

This is the first in a series and I can't wait for the next one. Like most firsts in series' this spent some time with setting up the situation, which can slow a story down. I liked Thomas, the main character. The supporting characters didn't develop much depth, but I think there's still time for all that to unfold. There are two more books after all.

Here's the description:

"When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind." (source)

Did you read it? Did you like it?

Happy reading.

The Book of Lost Things

2011-07-10T16:05:00.001-07:00

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

I loved this book. I read it slowly, a chapter or two at a time. There was so much imagery, I would stop after short bursts of reading to process it.

David is the main character. He's about 12 years old and his mother dies. David's father meets a woman named Rose and soon they move from London to her home in the country. Before too long, a new baby has arrived and David feels angry and resentful to Rose and Georgia for taking his father away from him. At their new home, David's room is filled with books and they begin to whisper to him. One day, David is outside and looks up at the house. There he sees a strange and crooked man walk past a window. He thinks it might be his imagination, but is equally certain that it's not.

One evening, David decides to wander down to a sunken garden on the property and enters a narrow space that looks like a crack. He's then pulled into a strange yet familiar world.

This is in the Fairy Tale category and draws on many familiar stories from the Brothers Grimm. I don't want to say too much because it's hard to tell about the story without giving it away. I will say that the characters are well written and all are interesting. I think it's categorized as young adult. I recommend this book with a word of warning. It can be pretty graphic.

Not related to story, the cover is gorgeous. I recognized the artist right away as Robert Ryan. I want to keep the book just for that reason.

Have you read The Book of Lost Things? What did you think of it?

Peeps

2011-06-30T12:07:00.000-07:00


Peeps by Scott Westerfeld

First off, if you're freaked out by germs, rats, or sewers or if you have vivid dreams, read with caution. I am freaked out by rats. However, I don't have vivid dreams (that I remember) and this book gave me weird dreams.

It's no secret that I love vampire stories. I also love Scott Westerfeld's books. Here, vampirism is a virus. Vampires are parasite-positives, or Peeps, and one of the symptoms is cannibalism which is where the vampire legend comes from.

I love the different take on an old theme. I enjoyed the book and it's an easy read. The Last Days is the sequel. I look forward to it.

Keep writing Mr. Westerfeld.

happy reading!

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress

2011-06-12T13:13:00.000-07:00

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress (A Memoir of Going Home) by Rhoda Janzen

Rhoda Janzen has written her story about returning home after a couple life-altering experiences. "Home" is a Mennonite community in California.

This book actually made me laugh out loud more than once. My favorite part was a little section she referred to as "the top five Shame-Based Foods for Mennonite youth lunches." The capitalization is hers, not mine. She writes about her family in such a way that you get a real sense of all their idiosyncrasies and weirdnesses (no, that's not a word) but you can tell that she loves her family and they all accept each other the way they are. And, rather than being mean-spirited or condescending, it's endearing.

The book jumps around a bit from present-day to the past, but I didn't find it difficult to follow. As her story unfolds, you get a real sense of where she came from and what it means to her to have returned to this community after many years away.

I love memoirs. Especially those of "ordinary" people (as opposed to celebrity memoirs). I believe everyone's life has a story to be told and this is no exception. I hope to hear more from Rhoda Janzen.

Hush, Hush

2011-06-04T16:46:00.000-07:00


Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush, Hush is the first in a series. It's an easy read with a nice flow to the story. It was easy to pick up and read quite a bit in a short period. Aside from being totally readable, I found Nora, the main character, to be completely annoying. But, most 16-year-old girls are totally annoying.

Patch shows up in her science class mid-year and is assigned to be Nora's partner. He's mysterious, totally aloof, and uncooperative. He seems bent on making Nora uncomfortable and defensive, which she is. Yet, for some reason, she's drawn to him. He feels dangerous to her and she even believes he means her harm. So why WHY does she continually seem to be seeking him out, even if only mentally? She tries to pretend indifference, yet is obviously not. Patch seems to draw her into dangerous (!) situations and she knows it but, for some reason, follows along.

Of course, there is a little mystery that comes along with the story. There are some supernatural events that begin happening once Patch shows up. Nora has weird hallucinations like totaling her best friends car on a dark rainy night, or her bedroom being ransacked. She also begins to hear a voice inside her head. Not "voices" but a voice ...

Nora's best friend, Vee, is a dolt and I don't really understand why they're friends.

The story ends kind of abruptly and it's all wrapped up with a tidy ending. The follow-up, Crescendo, should prove to be interesting how the story moves along. Am I going to read it? I'm not sure yet. But if I do, you'll hear about it here.

Happy reading!

To Be Read

2011-05-30T15:16:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to check in and share a little photo of the pile of books I have on hand to read. This doesn't even count what I have on my wish list or the few I have on my Kindle.

Happy reading!

Fall of Giants

2011-05-17T10:51:00.003-07:00


Fall of Giants by Ken Follett

I had the goal of finishing this nearly 1000-page tome by the end of April. I did not. I spent nearly six weeks on it but the payoff was good.

The story begins before the start of World War I, continues through the war and finishes a few years after. The main characters are British, Welsh, German, American, and Russian. Some are real-life historical characters but the main characters are fictional. I found this in an Amazon.com review (3 stars): "... all of the significant characters are constantly meeting in the most unusual places and ways. I understand that the resolution of the First World War caused much change, but the characters simply interact in ways that are almost Forrest Gump-like in their ability to be where the evolving action is happening." Well said. Once (or even twice) could have been believable but this happened several times throughout the story. The more-likely scenario would have been characters being near the same place at the same time and never crossing paths.

I will admit that some of the war scenes got a little old, but I understand the need. The war lasted many years and the reader needed to get into the feeling of the long separations and loss people experienced. Sometimes it worked and other times the emotion wasn't there. All in all, the book could have easily been about 200 pages shorter. The characters were spread a little thin so we could've done with fewer. For example, the Russian brother who went to America and married a wealthy Russian girl. This part of the story felt totally unrelated to the rest of the characters and the larger story. He was an unlikeable character and I kept reading in hopes that his part in the larger scenario would evolve, but it fell flat.

This is book one in the Century Trilogy. Book two comes out in 2012. I read on Ken Follett's website that book two will cover the period of World War II and involve the children of the characters in book I.

Can you recommend any historical fiction covering the early 20th century?

Fallen

2011-04-08T20:53:00.001-07:00

Fallen by Lauren Kate

There's something strange about Sword and Cross reform school. When Luce arrives after her boyfriend dies in a mysterious fire she feels out of place. She's new and everybody seems to know each other so of course she doesn't fit in.

I had a feeling early on that there was something unusual about the school. Luce sees Daniel and feels inexplicably drawn to him. He is rude and dismissive but she can't stay away. At one point she asks him if they know each other from someplace else. Cam is gorgeous and uber nice, but she can't stop thinking about Daniel. Daniel and Cam seem to hate each other. Strange love triangle.

Then the shadows arrive. Luce has seen them most of her life and they always leave her with a sense of foreboding. She has strange and vivid dreams. The "strange" begins to spill over into her waking life. I began to wonder if the people around her know what's happening, or if maybe she was a little crazy.

Usually when reading the first book in a series I grant a little leeway to the story, knowing that there will be more to come. I really love the concept of this one. I am hoping that the plot tightens up a bit and we don't spend quite so much time in Luce's head filled with self-doubt.

Torment is book two, out now. Passion comes out this summer. I am certainly checking them out.

Thereby Hangs a Tail

2011-04-04T09:54:00.000-07:00

Thereby Hangs a Tail by Spencer Quinn

This is book two in a series. I read Dog On It last year and there's a third title that follows this one; To Fetch a Thief (which I haven't read yet). The stories follow the private detective partnership of Chet and Bernie and are told from Chet's perspective. Chet is a dog. So see? Great premise.

I love dogs. I love detective stories. There's something about these that just don't quite do it. I enjoy thinking about the world from a dog's-eye-view and the first book was great fun. I found myself struggling to get through the second one. Maybe it was just the story, about an abducted show dog named Princess. I found it a little tedious.

The third one is in my to-be-read pile, and I'm sure I'll read it. I hope I enjoy it as much as the first one, I hope I hope. Because, if it doesn't measure up I'm afraid I'll have to stop with the series. Life is too short and there are way too many really good books out in the world ...

Have you read these? Do you feel the same?

I Am Number Four

2011-03-22T15:24:00.001-07:00


I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

I love alien/sci-fi/supernatural/futuristic stories. The premise of this story is good: Number Four arrived on Earth when he was a child, a refugee from his home planet of Lorien. He's on Earth accompanied by his protector, Henri. There are eight others like him. They do not know each other. They are all protected by a charm to shield them from being killed by the Mogadorians; the species who destroyed Lorien. The Mogs are on Earth searching for the nine because they are the only ones who can defeat them.

In a nutshell.

I enjoyed the story and the characters were likable. It was a fast read and entertaining (the film is a totally different story, however). There were a couple places in the middle when the pace slowed a bit and it took most of the book to establish the characters and their "situation." The final climax of the story didn't last long and seemed to end kind of abruptly. So I feel the delivery was a little clumsy, but, overall, it was a worthy read.

The next one, The Power of Six, comes out in Aug. 2011. I'll probably tune in. Hopefully the writing will be a little tighter.

What about you, did you read it? Any recommendations?

Get Lucky

2011-02-09T16:01:00.001-07:00


Get Lucky by Katherine Center

I'm not one for chick-lit but this was pretty good. It has a feel of self-help wrapped in a fictional story.

The story is about Sarah. She's just been fired from her job and goes home to Texas to visit her sister while she tries to figure out what to do. It turns out Sarah has no idea what makes her happy or what's happened to the past few years of her life working in advertising in New York. She's pretty sure advertising is evil and she wants to do something that really makes a positive impact on the world.

There's an internal dialogue that carries through the book that I enjoyed. There are some very thought-provoking observations that take place in Sarah's thoughts.

It's a quick read that's easy to get through, even if it is chick-lit.

Read any good ones lately?

Curse of the Spellmans

2011-01-30T17:21:00.002-07:00

Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz

If you havent read The Spellman Files go. Go read it now. I'll wait. Done? Great. Now read Curse of the Spellmans.

Izzy Spellman is a ridiculous mess. And her family isn't any better. Actually, the women in this family are all hilarious. Izzy, her younger sister Rae and their mom Olivia are all crazy. But in a lovable way. The men (brother David and father Albert) tolerate them, sometimes barely. From compulsive surveillance, going on "disappearances," and good 'ole BandE, the stories themselves aren't so full of mystery that you're on the edge of your seat. What makes these stories such good reads are the characters and the dialogue. They're page-turners. I actually laugh out loud.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

Have you read the Spellmans? I can't wait to read book three!

Ruined

2011-01-26T12:45:00.002-07:00

Ruined by Paula Morris

New Orleans ghost story.
Need I say more?

I read this very, very quickly. I liked it. But I love a ghost story.

Rebecca is a New York City girl and she gets sent to New Orleans for a few months because her father has to work overseas for a bit.

Of course, she doesn't fit in. She has a teenagers curiosity and immediately does that which she's told not to. She begins to have more questions than there seems to be answers for.

I don't want to give away anything so I won't say much more. You'll figure it out as you're reading, it's not deep mystery, but she's a good character.

Thumbs up.

Any thoughts? Any recommendations for me? I'd love to hear!

Leviathan

2011-01-18T13:37:00.004-07:00

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

This is book one in a new series from the author of the Uglies trilogy (which sort of has four books) and the Midnighters trilogy. Both of which I really enjoyed, which is why I picked this one up. It's a departure from the other two series, I would put Leviathan in the Steampunk sci-fi category. It takes place at the beginning of World War I but the technologies are at times advanced. There are the Clankers and the Darwinists. The Clankers have machines like the walkers which are like piloted walking tanks. The Darwinists have created living creatures that are created from several animals (splicing and cloning) using "life threads" (DNA). They call them hydrogen breathers because they use hydrogen as fuel. Leviathan is actually a flying whale creature.

I love reading "what if" stories so I really enjoyed this one. It's imaginative and the characters are fun, smart and interesting. The mix of historical fact and science fiction is fun. It took a bit for the story to build, probably because the reader had to be introduced to these technologies and the world the characters live in. It's a quick read but it felt like it peaked and ended rather quickly.

I am intrigued enough to read the next story, Behemoth.

Have you read this one? Can you recommend any books I might enjoy?

Happy reading!

The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: book 2

2011-01-06T14:53:00.003-07:00

Ninth Grade Slays is book two in the Chronicles of Vladimir Tod.

I enjoyed the first book in the series, Eighth Grade Bites, which I read a short time ago. Vladimir Tod is half human, half vampire, is one-of-a-kind and is not without enemies. His father broke vampire law by marrying his human mother and many believe him to be an abomination. But, he's still just a teenager trying to survive adolescence and high school.

It's in the teen-lit genre, which I love. I wish "they" wrote books like this when I was a teenager. He's a good character and I'm enjoying "getting to know" him.

I think I'm going to order me some Minion Bling.

Happy reading!

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown: part 2

2011-01-03T07:00:00.010-07:00

First, I have to say that I loved Angels and Demons. I also loved The DaVinci Code, but not quite as much. I struggled to finish The Lost Symbol.

Here's why, in a nutshell:
1. It lacked mystery.
2. Really, how many times can weird stuff happen to one guy? Robert Langdon is like a literary Jack Bauer.
3. The characters weren't very compelling. I didn't care if they lived or died, which isn't good when you're trying to read a story about them.
4. It was about 180 pages too long.

I actually started skipping paragraphs when I had about 100 pages left, which is unusual for me. The villain was unconvincing, way, way too weird, and didn't give me a feeling of dread.

I did like the information about the symbology. It's very interesting. I've never been to Washington, D.C. and this makes me want to go more than I already did.

All in all, I think the Robert Langdon series has jumped the shark.

So, I wish I had more to say about it, but I don't. And, I don't recommend this book. Do you agree or disagree with my assessment? Any reading suggestions?

Thanks for reading! See you in the new year.

Reading List 2010

2011-01-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year to you all!
Here is the list of what I've read in 2010. 2009 is here and 2008 is here.

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
Blue Noon (Midnighters 3) by Scott Westerfeld
Open and Shut by David Rosenfelt
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Mockingjay (Hunger Games, book 3) by Suzanne Collins
The Art of Non-Conformity by Chris Guillebeau
The Manual of Detection by Jedediah Berry
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Touching Darkness (Midnighters 2) by Scott Westerfeld
Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer
The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
The Sweet Far Thing (Gemma Doyle Trilogy, book 3) by Libba Bray
The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life by Twyla Tharp
The Secret Hour (Midnighters 1) by Scott Westerfeld
The Anti 9-to-5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube by Michelle Goodman
Demons are Forever: Confessions of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner
Dog On It: A Chet and Bernie Mystery by Spencer Quinn
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot
Catching Fire (Hunger Games, book 2) by Suzanne Collins
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Latte Trouble by Cleo Coyle
Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich
Codex by Lev Grossman
City of Glass (Mortal Instruments, book 3) by Cassandra Clare

If you know of any books or authors you think I might like, leave a comment an let me know! I would love to hear from you.

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

2010-12-15T09:39:00.003-07:00

So I just started this last night. There was a lot of hype surrounding it's release last year so I waited a bit to read it, okay a year. I haven't really heard much about it, which is good because I'm not going into it with any preconceived notions.

Looking back at Dan Brown's two previous Robert Langdon stories, I thought Angels and Demons was much better than that other one ... you know ... The DaVinci Code ... yeah, that one (hasn't it outsold the bible by now?).

Anyway, I'll be back to let you know what I think!

The year is nearly over: Goals for 2011

2010-12-05T11:42:00.002-07:00

I can't believe another year has passed us by. I think a new goal for the new year is to use this space to talk about the books I'm reading. It's such a big part of my life and I'd like to share what I'm reading and give my own reviews of what I have read.

Feel free to share any books you think I may like. I always love to discover new authors, new characters, and the worlds they create and live in.

See you in 2011!

reading list 2009

2010-01-04T12:27:00.005-07:00

Once again, here is the book list for all that I read during the past year, 2009. Some might think it odd that I keep track, but I've done it for years. I'm not quite sure why. My 2008 list is here.

Extras (Uglies Trilogy, book 4) by Scott Westerfeld
Untamed (House of Night, book 4) by P.C. and Kristin Cast
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Givenchy Code by Julie Kenner
T is for Trespass by Sue Grafton
Specials (Uglies Trilogy, book 3) by Scott Westerfeld
My So-Called Freelance Life by Michelle Goodman
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon
Chosen (House of Night, book 3) by P.C. and Kristin Cast
The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
A Brush With Darkness by Lisa Fittipaldi
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (year 7) by J.K. Rowling
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich
California Demon by Julie Kenner
Pretties (Uglies Trilogy, book 2) by Scott Westerfeld
The Beach House by Jane Green
Eclipse (Twilight series, book 3) by Stephenie Meyer
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier
The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
Betrayed (House of Night, book 2) by P.C. and Kristin Cast
Scribbling the Cat by Alexandra Fuller
The House at Riverton by Kate Morten
Logo, Font and Lettering Bible by Leslie Cabarga
S is for Silence by Sue Grafton
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Carpe Demon by Julie Kenner
How to be Your Dog's Best Friend by the Monks of New Skete
Walking in Circles Before Lying Down by Merrill Markoe

Happy reading in the new year!

Look what I got!

2009-10-25T10:22:00.002-07:00

For my birthday. Isn't he cute?

My Beautifuls

2009-09-23T14:12:00.003-07:00

Conner

Addie

When I'm not at home I wonder what they're doing.

Creative Exercise

2009-02-25T16:22:00.003-07:00

I saw this on FaceBook and had fun with it. It's a quick creative exercise. So, I thought I would post it here.

1 - Go to Wikipedia. Hit “random”
or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

My random article: Värska

2 - Go to Quotations Page and select "random quotations"
or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four or five words of the very last quote on the page is the title of your first album.

My random quote: more harmful than reasoned errors

3 - Go to Flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”
or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

My random photo:

4 - Use Photoshop or similar to put it all together.

It's a Small World

2009-02-24T09:00:00.011-07:00

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, B.C.

I saw this from Sarah Parrott at Things are better with a Parrott. Tilt-shift is the distortion of a photograph that miniature-izes the subject. From Wikipedia: "Miniature faking is a post-processing technique, which involves selectively blurring a photo to simulate the narrow depth of field found in macro photography and some tilt-shift photography, making the image appear to be of a miniature model."

I played with the tilt-shift maker for about three hours. Some photos work better than others. It seems like photos with a distinct foreground, middle-ground, and background work best. Plus, if people are too close up, it didn't seem to work well.

Here are a couple more favorites from my photos.

Puget Sound as seen from the Space Needle

Public Garden in Boston

Superstition Mountains, Arizona

Thanks Sarah!

Come on, follow me!

2009-02-19T15:35:00.004-07:00

I am continuing the pattern development that I started below over on Apples and Orange. Ultimately, Apples and Orange will be the avenue I take for things such as patterns and surface designs, so I figured I'd start now.

I hope you join in.

Something New

2009-02-17T10:27:00.005-07:00

I have been working on another blog. This new blog, Apples and Orange, is developing into my "own thing." A goal I have is to be my own boss. Since I am a designer, I want to be able to continue doing that. However, I have always wanted to design my own textiles. So, Apples and Orange is going to be the company. I wanted a name that didn't pigeon-hole what I do. One that would allow me and what I do to be organic and evolve over time.

I hope you like it and I hope you join me on my journey.

Surface Design, step 1

2009-01-30T20:53:00.006-07:00

One of my goals is to do surface design. I want to develop patterns and have them printed on fabric. Eventually, it would be great to have the space to do my own fabric printing. But, for now, I'll stick to small scale printing and Spoonflower. I would love to ultimately see my fabric used by others to make wonderful things. I love fabric, but I don't really sew. You'd think it was in my gene's, my grandmother was a seamstress ( a very good one) and she was also super creative. So, I aspire to design fabrics that my grandmother would be proud of.

So, here's a sketch I made that I will begin to develop into a repeating pattern. If anyone has suggestions (now, or as I go through the process), I'm all ears. This is new territory for me.

Books, Books, and more Books

2009-01-29T16:00:00.003-07:00

I LOVE books. I feel like I can never get enough, even though I probably have more than enough (for now, anyway).

I am starting off the year (maybe a little late) with a list of all the books I read in 2008.

Ready?

The Boss of You by Lauren Bacon & Emira Mears
Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore
Through the Grinder by Cleo Coyle
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (year 6) by J.K. Rowling
Sacred by Dennis Lehane
Rebel Angels by Libba Bray
Anthem by Ayn Rand
On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
The Gunslinger by Stephen King
Marked by PC and Kristin Cast
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich
R is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Divine Canine by the Monks of New Skete
Dying for Chocolate by Diane Mott Davidson
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls
Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich
Craft, Inc.: Turn Your Creative Hobby into a Business by Meg Mateo Ilasco
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella
Next by Michael Crichton
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
The Cheese Monkeys by Chip Kidd
Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton
To the Nines by Janet Evanovich
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Now, onward!

Bloggers Who Inspire Me

2008-12-31T14:44:00.002-07:00

I thought I'd share a quick, short list of the people (blogs) I look forward to reading every day:

Amy Karol at Angry Chicken (I have her book too)
Alicia Paulson at Posie Gets Cozy
Nicole Balch at Making it Lovely and Pink Loves Brown
Jessica Jones at How About Orange
Von Glitschka at Art Backwash

I read many others, but these are the folks I most look forward "seeing." They are all inspiring creatives!

Western Spaghetti

2008-07-17T15:37:00.004-07:00

So clever, Thanks Poppytalk!

The Girl Effect

2008-07-15T10:28:00.004-07:00

From Poppytalk

Tunnel of Fudge

2008-03-06T16:53:00.003-07:00

The batter of the Tunnel of Fudge cake I made last week. No photo of the finished product, it didn't last very long.

Beginning Again

2007-11-14T10:01:00.000-07:00

Sometimes life gets in the way of plans. I was on a roll drawing pretty regularly (most of it not such good quality, but good exercises) and I got interrupted. Granted, part of it was vacation, but I took my sketchbook with me, I just didn't draw anything.

Anyway, to get back on track ... here is a drawing (with color!) of my breakfast sandwich. I added the color because the line drawing didn't do it justice. For comparison, I took a photo of it (with my phone, the angle is a little different) before I ate it. By the way, it was yummy.

I have to say that food is an interesting subject. Each object is totally unique and much easier to draw realistically than a coffee mug. Asymmetrical is so much more interesting than smooth and symmetrical.

My plan is to get back to it. Even if it's once a week, that's better than not at all. Also, I'm going to do some screen printing. I haven't done any in years and I would like to because I always enjoyed it. I will share examples here when I have them.

Drawing What I See

2007-07-19T21:47:00.001-07:00

Cream Cheese Brownie from Karsh's Bakery

For the past week I have been working on drawing what I see. Just pen drawings, no color, no erasing. This is something I have never been very good at ... drawing what I see from real life. I have always preferred to draw from photos. It has been a good exercise to be patient and draw the lines as I see them and to complete it in one sitting. I tried to draw Addie laying on the floor, but I rushed because I was afraid she would get up. The proportions turned out pretty hinky. I decided it's best to keep practicing on inanimate objects for now. Once I get better at that, I can work on things that are more fleeting. I did manage to draw Robb while he was watching TV. It's kind of rough but, in my defense, he did move a couple times.

Robb watching TV

I realized something about myself a few months ago. I've taken countless art and design courses. I've always done reasonably well in them. I've loved drawing and making things since I was a kid. People have always said I'm the creative one. But, I've always felt that I don't fit with those I view as creatives. The weird part about me is that I've always been good at math and paperwork and linear things like that. I'm drawn to creativity and I love to drink it in.

So, I am working with drawing what I see. Let's see where that leads me.

The Beginning

2007-07-11T18:15:00.001-07:00

So, this is my first blog. I'm not going to presume that anyone is interested in what I say or think. So, I am using this in an attempt to feed my creative spirit.

to muse a state of deep thought or dreamy abstraction. I feel like I am always in search of inspiration. I like "dreamy abstraction," it sounds ethereal.

Now I have to figure out how this thing works ...