Nora Gray is the main character in this story. She is annoying to me from the first chapter on. I never warmed to her as a character. I suppose I couldn't relate to her. I guess I just couldn't get into this one. Like the last book I read, Nora's Father died suddenly and Nora is learning to deal with the death.
Nora is trying really hard to make her normal life work. Then suddenly she is seated next to a guy named Patch in Bio class and all hell breaks out in her life. Nora is a stronger version of Bella from the Twilight series. I suppose this is why I disliked this book so much, it reminded me of Twilight a lot.
Am I asking too much when I ask that characters don't go from hostility to love in a matter of days? I have never made such a fast progression. I am not stupid enough to think I am in love after a few weeks. I really wish these type of books would stop thinking I, the reader, am retarded.
I struggled to get through this book. It was predictable from start to finish. I disliked every character. I also disliked the Fallen Angel talk without the mention of a God. Don't get me wrong, I am not even close to religious but I think if you have religion in your book you either have to have a clear explanation of the theology you are babbling about or pick a generic one that people already know. I found myself thinking back to what I know of Fallen Angels in a variety of contexts and this story didn't really jive with any of them and there wasn't further discussion other than mentioning a heaven.
I would recommend this book to people who want mind numbing cliched predictable crap. Basically, this might be a good read by the pool since you really don't have to pay attention to it very much.
While writing this post I am listening to Massive Attack - Mezzanine.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
The Truth About Forever is about a teen named Macy. She is learning to be "fine just fine" after the sudden death of her Father. Macy feels the need to be the perfect daughter her Mother never had in Macy's sister. Macy is living the cookie cutter dream. Perfect boyfriend, perfect grades, prefect job... perfect perfect perfect. There is just one thing, Macy is actually not perfect. She has just being going through the motions of being perfect.
Macy as a character is actually pretty easy to relate to. She is the average kid trying to get through something not so average. She was close to her Father and since his passing she has held the stiff upper lip for her Mother.
Of course, a boy comes along and makes things not so perfect. Wes, is the cliched misunderstood artist type. Tattoo and all. I liked this character even with him being so predictable. I am a sucker for the artsy type though. While "normal" girls lusted over jocks and the "normal" hot guy, I was always getting slimy over the art guys. I don't know what it is about a man who is rough around the edges and creates art that gets me going. Anyway, apparently I have this in common with Macy. She is attracted to Wes from the first time she sees him.
I won't give away why they connect so much but I will say I like the development of the story. I liked the way that this story started, progressed, and ended. It definitely had some eye rolling cliched moments but over all I dug this book.
I would recommend this book to those who have a soft spot for pink books like I do. I would recommend this book to girls who are trying really hard to be something they are not.
While writing this review I am listening to Massive Attack Mezzanine.
Macy as a character is actually pretty easy to relate to. She is the average kid trying to get through something not so average. She was close to her Father and since his passing she has held the stiff upper lip for her Mother.
Of course, a boy comes along and makes things not so perfect. Wes, is the cliched misunderstood artist type. Tattoo and all. I liked this character even with him being so predictable. I am a sucker for the artsy type though. While "normal" girls lusted over jocks and the "normal" hot guy, I was always getting slimy over the art guys. I don't know what it is about a man who is rough around the edges and creates art that gets me going. Anyway, apparently I have this in common with Macy. She is attracted to Wes from the first time she sees him.
I won't give away why they connect so much but I will say I like the development of the story. I liked the way that this story started, progressed, and ended. It definitely had some eye rolling cliched moments but over all I dug this book.
I would recommend this book to those who have a soft spot for pink books like I do. I would recommend this book to girls who are trying really hard to be something they are not.
While writing this review I am listening to Massive Attack Mezzanine.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Goals Goals Goals...
So I have started the weight release goal for my 30 for 30 and so far have lost 1 pound. Go Malinda! I am counting calories which blows but is super enlightening. I have an app on my phone that makes it very easy to keep track of what I am eating. It is also helping me watch my cholesterol. I come from a long line of heavy folk and have many a bad eating habits. I don't want to jump into a program that is too radical to keep up. So I have altered my path and thus far it isn't easy but it is doable.
I have a great concept for a painting working around my noodle and now I just need a sunny weekend day to make it come to life.
The boyfriend got a call today informing him that he has been hired at the University of Utah hospital. While the money isn't much more than he is currently making it is at least in the field he wants to be in. So YAY for him! My own job hunting hasn't been going awesome thus far and I have been frustrated. I am revamping my resume and hopefully that will bring new life to my hunt. So if anyone knows of any jobs out there that you think I would be rockin for please let me know.
I have a great concept for a painting working around my noodle and now I just need a sunny weekend day to make it come to life.
The boyfriend got a call today informing him that he has been hired at the University of Utah hospital. While the money isn't much more than he is currently making it is at least in the field he wants to be in. So YAY for him! My own job hunting hasn't been going awesome thus far and I have been frustrated. I am revamping my resume and hopefully that will bring new life to my hunt. So if anyone knows of any jobs out there that you think I would be rockin for please let me know.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
In short: We follow 17 year old Andy through her emotional tail of her brother's death, her potential suicide, and the heart ache of the French Revolution as she relearns history through the diary of another.
This is not a feel good book. That is not to imply it isn't good, because it is written quite well. I enjoyed the style of Jennifer Donnelly quite a bit. We are instantly curious about this girl Andy who seems way too intense for no reason. We find out later she was present at the accidental killing of her little brother. She has grown up with an eccentric Mother and absent Father. The only thing Andy can hold on to is her music.
Andy can kick some serious ass on the guitar. In this way she reminds me of several musicians I know. All of whom started playing the guitar when they were teenagers at the height of depression. Music is something that I lean on as well. I don't play, but I listen to music every second that I can. I can relate to getting lost on three or four chords of a song.
There is a fair amount of French Revolution history in this book. It made me realize how much I had forgotten about the French Revolution. I went back in my history lessons and expanded them to assist me with the sections of the story that take place in 1795 in Paris.
While, as I said previously, this is not a light read, it is worth the read. I wouldn't recommend this to someone who is currently depressed. There are A LOT of depression triggers in this book if you are prone to the doom and gloom I would be careful of your own mood while reading this book. I always wished that more book reviews gave heads up to us depressives.
I was listening to Norah Jones while writing this review.
This is not a feel good book. That is not to imply it isn't good, because it is written quite well. I enjoyed the style of Jennifer Donnelly quite a bit. We are instantly curious about this girl Andy who seems way too intense for no reason. We find out later she was present at the accidental killing of her little brother. She has grown up with an eccentric Mother and absent Father. The only thing Andy can hold on to is her music.
Andy can kick some serious ass on the guitar. In this way she reminds me of several musicians I know. All of whom started playing the guitar when they were teenagers at the height of depression. Music is something that I lean on as well. I don't play, but I listen to music every second that I can. I can relate to getting lost on three or four chords of a song.
There is a fair amount of French Revolution history in this book. It made me realize how much I had forgotten about the French Revolution. I went back in my history lessons and expanded them to assist me with the sections of the story that take place in 1795 in Paris.
While, as I said previously, this is not a light read, it is worth the read. I wouldn't recommend this to someone who is currently depressed. There are A LOT of depression triggers in this book if you are prone to the doom and gloom I would be careful of your own mood while reading this book. I always wished that more book reviews gave heads up to us depressives.
I was listening to Norah Jones while writing this review.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
School blues....
So... paying for school has been a huge issue for me the entire time I have been going to school. I have only taken grants and loans when shit got desperate. I have tried to solve my money issues by myself. Skip forward many years later and I am out out out of options. I am now applying for scholarships and more FASA just to get two classes paid for. Yep, I am two classes away from getting my AS. Which may not be impressive to you, but I have worked really hard on getting even that far.
It isn't likely that I will be able to get FASA. I have too many credit hours. I have gone through the appeals process once before and it isn't likely that I will be successful a second time. I am hoping that a scholarship comes through but I am not holding my breath. So I will have to wait until next year, or perhaps the one after that to graduate.
I was of the super depressed variety when I figured out I wouldn't be able to finish school this year. I have come to terms with it now. Sometimes I wish I had a wealthy tuition fairy who took care of these things for me. But really, I am glad that I only have a few thousand dollars in student loans. I am glad that it really will only be another year before i can graduate. I have waited this long, what is one more year?
So I have been working on my 30 for 30. I am having a hard time getting back into the writing mode. I have tried at least 30 poems but haven't finished them. I have been doing better with writing in my journal but not as much as I need to.
It isn't likely that I will be able to get FASA. I have too many credit hours. I have gone through the appeals process once before and it isn't likely that I will be successful a second time. I am hoping that a scholarship comes through but I am not holding my breath. So I will have to wait until next year, or perhaps the one after that to graduate.
I was of the super depressed variety when I figured out I wouldn't be able to finish school this year. I have come to terms with it now. Sometimes I wish I had a wealthy tuition fairy who took care of these things for me. But really, I am glad that I only have a few thousand dollars in student loans. I am glad that it really will only be another year before i can graduate. I have waited this long, what is one more year?
So I have been working on my 30 for 30. I am having a hard time getting back into the writing mode. I have tried at least 30 poems but haven't finished them. I have been doing better with writing in my journal but not as much as I need to.
Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban By JK Rowling
I am re-reading all the Harry Potter books as a part of a read a long with
This is the first book in this series that I actually enjoyed reading the first time I read it. The first two books were slow and really juvenile. I know they are kids books, but I had been told over and over than adults could enjoy these books as well. This is the book that I started to believe that.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione don't bother me any where near as much in this book as they have in the other books. We get a better understanding of the Dark Lord and the people he surrounded himself with in this book.
We meet Professor Lupin (Mooney), Peter Petegrew (Wormtail), and Sirius Black (Padfoot) in this book. Professor Lupin and Sirius Black are some of my favorite characters. I feel bad for Lupin because he has had a hard time of it with being a werewolf. He is a softer and more thought provoking character as you would from a stereotypical werewolf. Sirius Black as it turns out was best friends with James Potter and is actually Harry's Godfather. I like that Harry, by the end of the book, has a Father figure to talk with and look up to. Harry has been so desperate for connection that is nice to see him finally see someone as family. Wormtail, is just a wormy dude who betrayed his friends and he is the lowest of people. He reminds me of wormy people who flip flop between popular kids in high school.
The writing in this book is greatly improved from the first two. I found myself slipping right into the story and forgetting everything around me. When a story can draw me in effortlessly I really dig it. So often I have to force focus on things that I am reading. I have to say that this book has more of a dark tale to it. We learn about Dementors and those fuckers are creepy!
Soooooo, who would I recommend this book to? I would say anyone who digs the fantasy or kid book thing.
I am listening to Wolf Gang as I write this. You should check them out.
This is the first book in this series that I actually enjoyed reading the first time I read it. The first two books were slow and really juvenile. I know they are kids books, but I had been told over and over than adults could enjoy these books as well. This is the book that I started to believe that.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione don't bother me any where near as much in this book as they have in the other books. We get a better understanding of the Dark Lord and the people he surrounded himself with in this book.
We meet Professor Lupin (Mooney), Peter Petegrew (Wormtail), and Sirius Black (Padfoot) in this book. Professor Lupin and Sirius Black are some of my favorite characters. I feel bad for Lupin because he has had a hard time of it with being a werewolf. He is a softer and more thought provoking character as you would from a stereotypical werewolf. Sirius Black as it turns out was best friends with James Potter and is actually Harry's Godfather. I like that Harry, by the end of the book, has a Father figure to talk with and look up to. Harry has been so desperate for connection that is nice to see him finally see someone as family. Wormtail, is just a wormy dude who betrayed his friends and he is the lowest of people. He reminds me of wormy people who flip flop between popular kids in high school.
The writing in this book is greatly improved from the first two. I found myself slipping right into the story and forgetting everything around me. When a story can draw me in effortlessly I really dig it. So often I have to force focus on things that I am reading. I have to say that this book has more of a dark tale to it. We learn about Dementors and those fuckers are creepy!
Soooooo, who would I recommend this book to? I would say anyone who digs the fantasy or kid book thing.
I am listening to Wolf Gang as I write this. You should check them out.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
So I watched the crap movie with Julia Roberts called Eat, Pray, Love and was not at all impressed with this so called "year long journey" the main character was taking to really figure herself out. I thought this movie was boring at best and highly cliched and irritating at its worst. I found it less about a woman working through her shit (as billed) and more about a romance. Which BLAH at Hollywood! Give me a story that is genuine and don't assume I have to have a hot guy in a movie for me to go see it! (confession.... hot guys don't hurt.... yep I'm a hypocrite)
None of these things apply to the book. I could relate to this writer lady quite a bit. I too have had that moment on the bathroom floor crying and not having any idea how to get myself up. I have struggled with the darkness of depression and learned to cope with it as best as I can. I have also medicated myself once in my depression history with zero luck with it helping me. And a total loss of my ability to express myself. Needless to say, I didn't stay on those meds very long.
Elizabeth Gilbert speaks openly and honestly about the good, the bad, and the ugly all lurking in her closet. She is humble and yet not at all depending on the circumstances. I don't so much relate to a "God" aspect the way that Elizabeth does. I do, however, connect with the voice in your own heart to guide you through the tough bits. I really liked this book. I like the concept of smiling with your liver. And while I half think this means I should drink a little more, I get the concept of letting a smile flow through your body. This is why I have put this on my 30 for 30 list. I want to feel a smile flow through my whole body.
While my personal spiritual journey was completely different; and will always be completely different I can appreciate the hard work. I recommend this book to people who dig the subject of self realization, those going through a spiritual change, or anyone who enjoys good writing. I will put this out there, if you are of the sensitive variety there are several doom and gloom dark moments that can trigger all sorts of internal whatnot. Be prepared, we dive into her icky sicky right with her.
I rocked the audiobook read by the author for this book. I have always been a sucker for writers reading their own work. If you like audiobooks I highly recommend that you get this. You really get a sense of who this woman is through her voice.
While writing this review I have been listening to Adele (19) and the Beatles (Abby Road). What are you listening to?
None of these things apply to the book. I could relate to this writer lady quite a bit. I too have had that moment on the bathroom floor crying and not having any idea how to get myself up. I have struggled with the darkness of depression and learned to cope with it as best as I can. I have also medicated myself once in my depression history with zero luck with it helping me. And a total loss of my ability to express myself. Needless to say, I didn't stay on those meds very long.
Elizabeth Gilbert speaks openly and honestly about the good, the bad, and the ugly all lurking in her closet. She is humble and yet not at all depending on the circumstances. I don't so much relate to a "God" aspect the way that Elizabeth does. I do, however, connect with the voice in your own heart to guide you through the tough bits. I really liked this book. I like the concept of smiling with your liver. And while I half think this means I should drink a little more, I get the concept of letting a smile flow through your body. This is why I have put this on my 30 for 30 list. I want to feel a smile flow through my whole body.
While my personal spiritual journey was completely different; and will always be completely different I can appreciate the hard work. I recommend this book to people who dig the subject of self realization, those going through a spiritual change, or anyone who enjoys good writing. I will put this out there, if you are of the sensitive variety there are several doom and gloom dark moments that can trigger all sorts of internal whatnot. Be prepared, we dive into her icky sicky right with her.
I rocked the audiobook read by the author for this book. I have always been a sucker for writers reading their own work. If you like audiobooks I highly recommend that you get this. You really get a sense of who this woman is through her voice.
While writing this review I have been listening to Adele (19) and the Beatles (Abby Road). What are you listening to?
Sunday, March 27, 2011
30 for 30
Every year I try to visit my older brother in Seattle for his birthday. He turned 30 two years ago. He made a list of 30 things he wanted to do for his 30th birthday and checked the list off the weekend around his birthday. I am still waiting for his amazing video blog but other than that he made good progress on the list. If I had a picture of the Gothic photo shoot we did in Lakeview Cemetery I would post it here. For those of you who used to Goth out in the 90's, this is the Cemetery where Bruce and Brandon Lee are buried. Yes, this was my idea. Yes, I am that girl. "It can't rain all the time" even in Seattle. Oh man my brother will be ashamed to know me right now. Thankfully, I don't think he reads this blog.
Fast forward two years and now it is time for me to turn 30. 30 has been everywhere lately. Friends are turning 30 everywhere I look. My own birthday (which isn't until December) is coming up a lot in conversation. My friend recently had me out to Denver for her 30th and while I was there I decided something about my own birthday. I am going to do 30 things for my 30th birthday. I am not going to limit myself to the day or weekend of my birthday. I want to make this a year long journey. I am still working on my list. Something about the last five or so things to do is hard to come up with. I will post a partial list at the end of this blog.
So why? Why come up with a list and push myself to work on things? I don't take enough time on myself and my growth. I get too busy with work, school, and all the rest to remember to better myself. I am terrified of getting older. A couple of months ago I found my first gray hair and had a total melt down. I have been putting myself through hell, beating myself up for not being where I wanted to be by 30. This list is a way for me to work on myself and work through my aging issues, and have a little fun while I am at it.
Here is the incomplete list:
1.30 paintings
2.30 poems
3.new job
4.graduate
5.sunrise photo shoot
6.sunset photo shoot
7.blog every week
8.journal every night
9.meditate every day
10.smile every day
11.amends
12.release weight
13.30 drawings
14.travel somewhere new
15.dream bigger
16.learn to smile with my liver
17.find something beautiful about Utah
18.get drunk with my brother
19.dance
20.10 shows
21.leave my comfort zone
22.design and sew a dress
23.swim without being self conscience about my body
24.make serious progress on my book
25.sit on a porch
26.hummingbird tattoo
27.teach myself intermediate algebra
28.reach my book goal of 150 books read this year
29.Spend more time with my friends
30.Leave an impression
Fast forward two years and now it is time for me to turn 30. 30 has been everywhere lately. Friends are turning 30 everywhere I look. My own birthday (which isn't until December) is coming up a lot in conversation. My friend recently had me out to Denver for her 30th and while I was there I decided something about my own birthday. I am going to do 30 things for my 30th birthday. I am not going to limit myself to the day or weekend of my birthday. I want to make this a year long journey. I am still working on my list. Something about the last five or so things to do is hard to come up with. I will post a partial list at the end of this blog.
So why? Why come up with a list and push myself to work on things? I don't take enough time on myself and my growth. I get too busy with work, school, and all the rest to remember to better myself. I am terrified of getting older. A couple of months ago I found my first gray hair and had a total melt down. I have been putting myself through hell, beating myself up for not being where I wanted to be by 30. This list is a way for me to work on myself and work through my aging issues, and have a little fun while I am at it.
Here is the incomplete list:
1.30 paintings
2.30 poems
3.new job
4.graduate
5.sunrise photo shoot
6.sunset photo shoot
7.blog every week
8.journal every night
9.meditate every day
10.smile every day
11.amends
12.release weight
13.30 drawings
14.travel somewhere new
15.dream bigger
16.learn to smile with my liver
17.find something beautiful about Utah
18.get drunk with my brother
19.dance
20.10 shows
21.leave my comfort zone
22.design and sew a dress
23.swim without being self conscience about my body
24.make serious progress on my book
25.sit on a porch
26.hummingbird tattoo
27.teach myself intermediate algebra
28.reach my book goal of 150 books read this year
29.Spend more time with my friends
30.Leave an impression
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
This is Where I Leave You By: Jonathan Tropper
I liked this book. At first I wasn't sure that I would like it, let alone finish it. Sometimes the internal monologue of a Jewish male is pretty far from what I can relate to. I was, sadly, not raised by a crazy Jewish woman. I lived in New Jersey while I was young and I had wished that my Mother was a crazy Jew more than once. As it is she is a crazy Mormon Mother.
This book is about a family shitting Shiva for their recently deceased Father. For those who are unaware Shiva is a Jewish custom of morning for a week with family members. Shiva means seven in Hebrew. You sit either on the floor or close to the floor and people pay their respects by visiting you during this week long period. This family, like my own, has not spent much time all together in quite a while. There is the dysfunction that all families suffer from and then there is the extreme dysfunction.
The main voice of this book is Judd. Shortly before his Father's death from cancer Judd walks in on his wife doing that naked tango with Judd's boss. Judd is floored by the betrayal of his wife and then this devastation is compacted by his Father's death which is compacted, again, when Judd finds out his soon to be ex is carrying his baby.
I can't say that this was a light read by any means. You get right in the thick of Judd's depression and regret. You swim in it with him for most of the book. The last few chapters finally you are pulled up by the hair and things end on a mostly positive note.
The female voices in this book made me think of my friend Albert. If Albert were a Jewish woman, he would have written this book.
I recommend this book to those who can handle a depressing story without it sucking them in too much and those who can relate to mourning. I would also suggest this book to anyone who enjoys a good story. Jonathan Tropper can tell a good story. The individual voices of his characters are all clear, and while sometimes cliched, they are never confused.
This book is about a family shitting Shiva for their recently deceased Father. For those who are unaware Shiva is a Jewish custom of morning for a week with family members. Shiva means seven in Hebrew. You sit either on the floor or close to the floor and people pay their respects by visiting you during this week long period. This family, like my own, has not spent much time all together in quite a while. There is the dysfunction that all families suffer from and then there is the extreme dysfunction.
The main voice of this book is Judd. Shortly before his Father's death from cancer Judd walks in on his wife doing that naked tango with Judd's boss. Judd is floored by the betrayal of his wife and then this devastation is compacted by his Father's death which is compacted, again, when Judd finds out his soon to be ex is carrying his baby.
I can't say that this was a light read by any means. You get right in the thick of Judd's depression and regret. You swim in it with him for most of the book. The last few chapters finally you are pulled up by the hair and things end on a mostly positive note.
The female voices in this book made me think of my friend Albert. If Albert were a Jewish woman, he would have written this book.
I recommend this book to those who can handle a depressing story without it sucking them in too much and those who can relate to mourning. I would also suggest this book to anyone who enjoys a good story. Jonathan Tropper can tell a good story. The individual voices of his characters are all clear, and while sometimes cliched, they are never confused.
Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets By JK Rowling
This is the second book in the Harry Potter series. I am rereading this book as part of a Harry Potter read a long hosted by my good friend
I like this book much better than the first. I love love love the character of Lockheart. He makes me giggle with his arrogance and incompetence. I love that he magics all the bones out of Harry's arm during a quidditch match.
The characters of Harry, Hermione, and Ron are better developed in this book. We get a good look at the dynamic in Ron's family. I really love how real his family is, from the grumpiness to the obvious love from all of them. It reminds me of my own family.
I will say that I don't dig the giant snake and the spider bits in this book. I tend not to enjoy icky icky eeewwww things like snakes and spiders. I do laugh a bit at Ron being terrified at spiders. I like that JK Rowling make the boys in this story a little less obnoxious.
I recommend this book to children and those who don't mind children literature.
I like this book much better than the first. I love love love the character of Lockheart. He makes me giggle with his arrogance and incompetence. I love that he magics all the bones out of Harry's arm during a quidditch match.
The characters of Harry, Hermione, and Ron are better developed in this book. We get a good look at the dynamic in Ron's family. I really love how real his family is, from the grumpiness to the obvious love from all of them. It reminds me of my own family.
I will say that I don't dig the giant snake and the spider bits in this book. I tend not to enjoy icky icky eeewwww things like snakes and spiders. I do laugh a bit at Ron being terrified at spiders. I like that JK Rowling make the boys in this story a little less obnoxious.
I recommend this book to children and those who don't mind children literature.
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