Book #11 – The Legend of Drizzt: The Collected Stories, by R.A. Salvatore

April 1, 2015Mere Leave a comment

This review will be short and sweet, just like one of these collected stories! Okay…they’re short…but not sweet. I mean, they’re perfectly good stories, but anything by Salvatore is pretty action packed with little time for what I would call “sweet.”

I’ve never read R.A. Salvatore before this, but I’ve seen his name and books all over the place. He’s pretty much a standard in the fantasy writing world, especially for anyone who may play Dungeons & Dragons. He pretty much invented the Dark Elf hero (aka Drizzt). If you’ve ever played a game of D&D or World of Warcraft, these books might be up your alley.

The collected stories are probably better suited for anyone who has read the series since these pieces follow main characters or link to big plot lines. However, I picked it up as a free Audible deal thinking it might be a good intro to the series without too much of a commitment on my part. PLUS, the audiobook is read by various celebrities: Felicia Day, David Duchovney, Weird Al, Danny Pudi, Wil Wheaton, etc.

It certainly served as a good introduction, and it was a lighthearted change from my normal fair; a good break in between the longer texts where I usually live. The readers were great for the most part, though sometimes celebrities just shouldn’t read audio books (I’m talking to you Ice-T…seriously). Wil Wheaton was phenomenal as a reader, and he certainly had one of the BEST stories to display is range. Having played D&D myself, I also really felt like one of our late night campaigns had come to life in Salavatore’s work. In that regard he succeeds!

On the other hand, it’s really just not my type of book. No real depth or character development, and yes, I realize these are short stories so that happens. But the battles, monsters, action tales, while good for a late night role playing campaign with a bunch of friends and some D20s aren’t really what I consider my ideal reading. I like more “uumph” more “meat” more…”MORE.” I definitely recommend these books for a certain audience. They are fun, well written, and extremely detailed. However, the introduction is probably enough for me.

Though I kind of miss playing D&D now…

If I Were a Book Character I Would Be…

March 5, 2015Mere Leave a comment

How could I forget World Book Day?! How?! Something must be wrong in my head…Thankfully, it doesn’t matter that much since I pretty much make it a point to honor books and their influence on my life each and every day. Therefore, it’s never too late to have a little bit of fun!

Over on The Bookie Monsters, Tash shared a short and sweet post about the character she would choose to be (Matilda, FYI which I totally love). So, why not join in?

If I were any book character I would be:

Jenna from Sister Light, Sister Dark and White Jenna, by Jane Yolen.

If you’ve read any of my (very few) posts, I have mentioned these books multiple times, so this shouldn’t be surprising. They were such a formative part of my youth, especially of my reading identity, or for my entire identity really.

The main reasons I would love to be Jenna are:

First and foremost, she kicks ass. She is young when this prophecy is thrust upon her, and though she is not necessarily the “go conquer the world” girl, she is about protecting her people and writing the wrongs of the land. Basically, she’s an Amazonian princess. Think Xena, but less cheesy.

I’ll admit, I wanted to BE Xena as a kid. I didn’t crave the clothes really, but I did love how she was a tough woman beating down all the slimy guys around her. And no, I’ve not turned out to be a man hater. Perhaps this is why Jenna resonates with me so. In an all female society, she does not hate men like many around her or become the doting housewife. Yolen makes Jenna into someone who wants, deserves, and ultimately finds an equal partner to fight alongside her, save the kingdom with, and eventually rule with her.

The second reason I would love to be Jenna is because of her shadow sister, her “sister dark,” Skada, who can only appear at night by moonlight or lamplight in the shadows.

Seriously, I just love the 80s art work! I know there are two other editions now, but *sigh* I can’t get enough of these original covers.

This is the magic of the Dales, of the women who raised Jenna, who can call forth these shadow halves. For an only child, it was powerfully alluring. I always wanted a sister. To be able to have a partner in crime that is nearly a second skin still sounds wonderful. (I mean, I’ve gotten close with my husband but still…).

Wrap all of this together with the songs, legends, history, and folklore that ties the main tale together, and it is a world I would not mind experiencing. I’m only sad to see some reviews of these books aren’t that positive (ehem, Goodreads), so maybe it doesn’t hold up that well. But for me, being White Jenna with her sister Skada, is still a dream, and a clear explanation of who I have indeed become in the real world. Yolen made magic happen for me. So Jenna will remain part of my shadow self forever.

Book #8 – Wool: Omnibus (Silo #1) by Hugh Howey

March 5, 2015Mere 1 Comment

Well, I promised to get caught back up on the books I’ve finished this last month and here I am! I can’t think of a better place to start than with perhaps one of the best pieces of dystopian fiction to emerge in recent years. The popularity of Hunger Games started a surge on the market of dark, futuristic worlds where “ordinary folk turned heroes” fight for justice, equality, etcetera, etcetera…I’ve always enjoyed dystopian tales, so I’m OK with this trend. However, as with all fads, the true gems of the bunch are few and far between. Wool by Hugh Howey is one of these diamonds.
Howey started this series as a novelette, self published on Amazon. It received such high praise that fans clamored for more, and the book was born. Wool is actually a collection of these first 5 short stories and is book #1 in the Silo Saga (you can rest assured I’ll be reading the other two soon enough!). The 5 stories tie together into one nearly seamless tale about living within the strict boundaries of a highly controlled society. When those rules are challenged, and the the lies that built them addressed, everything and everyone must either change or ultimately be destroyed.

Without giving too much more away, the story is essentially set on Earth, sometime in the distant future, where society lives underground after some unknown long-ago disaster destroyed everything on the surface and filled the air with toxic chemicals. This space underground is a huge silo, 144 floors deep. Every once and a great while, someone breaks the law by saying they want to go outside. They are sent outside to Cleaning, an act in which they clean the sensors/cameras on the top of the silo (which give the upper levels a view of the bleak landscape outside) and summarily die from exposure (even in their cleaning suits). One Cleaning sets a series of events into motion which bring the lies to the surface and the Silo to it’s knees.

Art by Jasper Scheurs

The dystopian idea of people left to survive underground indefinitely is a great sociological exercise. Howey uses this experiment to his advantage to explore how society and culture is constructed or created; how the pieces work together but eventually wear around the edges to create gaps. What happens when the entire world is built on falsehoods? Who do you trust and how do you deal with the sudden confrontation of this altered world?

Character development in Wool is also very solid. You probably know by now, I’m big into strong, or at least realistic, female heroes. Howey succeeds at this as well. Jules is a wonderful character: strong, believable, and vulnerable in the right ways. She is a born leader with clear morals and beliefs about building and maintaining her community. Her rise, fall, and dangerous adventures in the silo unite all the stories. Jules is the vehicle for change who is believable for her imperfections as well as her honorable actions.

In the end, go read this book. It may stand for a long time near the top of my favorite books.

Top Ten All Time Favorite Books (from the past 3 years)

March 3, 2015Mere 2 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish, with a new list prompt each week. What a wonderful way to try to get back in the writing rhythm.

This one will be quick, since I didn’t know about the weekly list until today! In no particular order, here are the top ten books I’ve read in the last 3 years (some may actually be a little outside of that time frame, but it’s all relative anyhow).

1. The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood, is one of my more recent reads. I can’t believe it took me this long to get to this feminist classic. I’ll be reviewing it more in detail soon.

2. The Feminine Mystique, by Betty Friedan. Keeping up with my constant focus on gender studies and persisting stereotypes of domesticity, it is of course fitting that I’ve read Friedan. She is a must if you are interested at all in the feminist movement or gender studies in general.

3. The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery. I read this probably closer to 5 years ago, but it resonates with me still. Few novels have such beautiful language and bring out such sincere emotions.

4. The Way of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson. Few people can create complex new worlds like Sanderson. Here, he is in his element, setting up a world and an epic fantasy series that promises to be more than divine!

5 & 6. The Name of the Wind & The Wise Man’s Fear, by Patrick Rothfuss. For now I lump them together, since Rothfuss is still writing the series. Talk about true character development and depth!

7. Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakauer. This book about Everest is a little outside my norm. Recommended by a friend, I couldn’t have enjoyed it more. Krakauer really brings to life the longing for conquering Mt. Everest while displaying the complexities of increased commercial climbs and the horror of one of the deadliest days on the mountain.

8. The Art of Asking, by Amanda Palmer. I’ve reviewed this book already just back in January. I still love it. I still maintain that the message is valuable for all of us.

9. The Diviners, by Libba Bray. 1920s supernatural horror. Really. What isn’t to like?! Bray sets up a supernatural-historical-world blend like only she knows how. I couldn’t see all the twists (yeah!), and I cannot wait for Book #2. Please hurry!

10. Kushiel’s Dart, by Jacqueline Carey. Really, I recommend the entire trilogy (Phedre’s Trilogy). For some, the first book starts slow. However, I love the complex political building Carey does here. The series only get’s stronger.

11. Fire, by Kristin Cashore. Again, I could go on forever about the entire trilogy (Graceling Realm), but instead I’ll just mention my favorite of the three. All of them are great, but this one is perhaps the most consistent.

Random musings from an absentee blogger

March 2, 2015Mere Leave a comment

Do you ever have that crazy itch for change? It’s like a constant nagging, no, it’s a little tug, pulling on that loose thread you’ve meant to remove from your favorite sweater. The tugging can go on for ages as the thread slowly unravels overtime, until one day enough of it is missing to finally make you notice that you’re no longer very warm.

Well I’m not as warm as I once was… and not just because of the awful weather we’ve been having lately.

It doesn’t help that change is forcing itself upon me. Don’t get me wrong, this is mostly good, just damn uncomfortable. You see, as much as we need change, none of us ever seem ready for it. We may even crave it, but that sweater is do damn comfy, it’s easy to avoid putting on a new one.

This is why I’ve neglected the blog for three weeks. I’ve been spending time reflecting, probably too much. Writing usually seems to help, so it would’ve done me some good to write sooner, but a lot of these changes are private things I can’t air. Therefore, they wind up woven in my offline journal, and this little blog focused mainly on reading takes a temporary backseat. But tonight I’m trying something new by sharing some of these thoughts. Seeing where it leads, and yes the regularly scheduled reading review program will return shortly.

Sometimes I look at a landscape, and I lose my breathe. It may be simple, a lone winter bare tree sprouting in the midst of a golden prairie.

It might be the mundane.

Snow covered woods blurred through the window of a moving train.

It could even been the majestic urban tourist viewpoint.

Such as a New York City from the top of Rockefeller on a cold February morning.

Each of these moments, minute and fleeting, tugged at that fraying sweater of my cozy little life. Silly, I know, but don’t you sometimes just feel those paused breathes around you? That simple silent call of “Look here! This is you! Inside. Feel it? Feel you? Now look there. All of that. You’re part of it. What are you going to do about it?”

I’m tired of looking though, and I do fear some of the leaps I need to take, the decisions I need to make to move forward. But that fear also pushes me, because I can’t ignore it anymore. I feel the cold of stagnation. The inspiration I once found in the world around me has returned. Little tree hugger hippie me, feeling what was around me has grown up. And maybe, just maybe, I’m finally ready to let the flower child self meet adult me. Maybe if I put the two selves together, my new whole can tackle putting on a new sweater, slough off the old, and begin again.

So there…those are my random musings. They dance around my overly self critical mind, and sometimes come out as nonsense. Perhaps this will help clear the clutter a bit. Perhaps one of you will understand, and together we can both get somewhere in the middle of all of this thing called life. (And perhaps I really just need Spring to hit so I can stop being a shivering shut in…that may also be a factor in my current mood… just a little).

Reader Questionnaire and Random Musings

February 10, 2015Mere Leave a comment

I found this over on bluchickenninja’s blog awhile back, but I haven’t had the time to follow suit until now. It just felt like a fun little writing exercise, and I’ve been silent on the blog for a few days due to, well, life stuff (good life stuff, just stuff). Feel free to follow suit on your own writing exercise.

1. What is your favorite book?

Like most avid readers, this question is nearly impossible to actually answer. Really?! JUST ONE?! Still, I do have a few that I point to as “keystone” books for shaping who I am. Jane Eyre, which I read in the 6th grade, remains a turning point for me as a reader.

Who DOESN’T want a Jane Eyre baby book?!

Jane Yolen’s Sister Light, Sister Dark and White Jenna were equally as pivotal.

2. What are your goals? For the year? For your life?

First, to get healthier. I know this is an ongoing goal, but I’m really focusing on it right now.

Second, reading a minimum of 48 books for this year and writing in this blog regularly. So far, I think I’ll come out ahead!

3. Are you a writer? If so, tell me about your work.

This is a bit of a loaded question. I assume it means, “are you a published or attempting to be published writer.” I’m certainly not published, and I’m not certain I’m trying, but I do consider myself a writer. A writer of poetry, critical thought, ideas, life. Aren’t we all writers of a sort on here? Words and writing feel like part of my blood and breath, and that in turn describes “my work.” Usually spur of the moment tales, dark dreaming landscape stories and poems. I have more ideas and outlines than full creative monsters, but then again, being here is already helping me develop that further.

4. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Just one place?! Iceland. Ireland. The Mountains (any mountains). On another train trip…maybe through the mountains.

Via Trains & Travel with Jim Loomis

5. What was the last movie you saw in the theatre and was it worthwhile?

American Sniper. This past weekend for my brother-in-law’s birthday. I almost went into full analytic mode about the movie here. The only thing that stopped me was getting home from the movie at Midnight. And, yes, it was worth it.

6. I’m curious, are there any books that you’ve tried to read and simply couldn’t finish? This is a no judgement zone.

Under the Dome by Stephen King. Don’t get me wrong, I like him, just NOT that book. Middlemarch by George Eliot.

7. Are you currently working on a new book/project right now? If it’s secret, you don’t have to tell me about it. If so, however, I hope it’s going well.

Again, not a professional writer, so no. But I do have a few ideas in the work (mostly random children’s tales). Also, I need to finish editing my “poem” A Salmon Named Ella.

A salmon named Ella
And Nelson Mandela
One fine sunny Cape Town morn,

Deeply were talking,
While swimming and walking,
About why the fish was so forlorn.

8. If you could live in any of your favorite books, which one would you choose?

Jane Eyre, possibly or Harry Potter because, come on…

9. Are there any book-to-movie adaptations that you think are just incredible? That you absolutely hated?

Going back a bit, Contact by Carl Sagan is pretty good, though it cuts a lot of the hard core science for the movie. Also, the 2006 BBC miniseries Jane Eyre, is AWESOME. The 2011 version, not so much. Eragon is also butchered in the film.

10. What do you look for in a book that you want to read? What’s the first thing to capture your attention?

I’ll admit it, I have a type: strong female character, unique world (dystopian/fantasy), well written prose. I do read other things, but these are the ones that grab me first.

11. If you’re an author, what do you do when you first get an idea for a book?

Again, doesn’t apply, but my problem is that I spend hours upon hours obsessing, thinking, dreaming up the story…without writing.

12. How do you feel about different genres? Romance? YA? Sci-Fi? Poetry? Do you have any favorites? Any least-favorites?

I’m open to almost anything, but I’m not big into crime stories (Tana French’s books being an exception) or generic romance. I do love YA, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Autobiography, & Historical Fiction.

13. If you could meet any writer in the world, dead or alive, who would it be?

Jane Yolen. Yes, she trumps Bronte on my list because she was kind enough to answer questions for a folklore project through e-mail when I was in college. SO. COOL.

14. Do you prefer Fiction or Non-Fiction?

Fiction. But I never underestimate the power of a very good non-fiction book.

15. Are there any characters that everyone loves that you can’t stand? Or vice versa?

I hate…HATE Catherine and Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights. Please…let them rot.

Also, I don’t like Twilight so I therefore despise all of the characters.

16. What do you like to do besides reading/writing?

Spinning (yarn), making soap, cooking, baking…lots of bread. Sometimes hiking, crocheting.

17. If you could be remembered for one thing, what would it be?

Apparently turning my house slowly into the witch’s house in Hansel & Gretel.

18. What is your favorite guilty pleasure book?

Anne Bishop’s Dark Jewel’s Trilogy.

19. Do you have a reading goal set for this year?

Stated earlier: 48 books! On numbers 8 & 9 for the year right now.

20. Tell me anything about yourself that I haven’t asked. Random fact. Weird human trick. Whatever.

I am obsessed with weird animals. I want a random animal farm one day. Sheep, alpaca, chickens, goats, you name it. I’ve wanted a pet skunk since I was a kid. I would name him Broccoli. I also think armadillos are awesome and want an armadillo basket (a taxidermied basket).

Oh yeah, I like weird taxidermy…Just look at the hat in my profile picture.

Books #5 & #6: “Kitty & the Midnight Hour” and “Kitty Goes to Washington,” by Carrie Vaughn

February 4, 2015Mere Leave a comment

We’ve finally stumbled onto one of my guilty reading pleasures. Usually, I’m not a big on urban fantasy or werewolves, but Carrie Vaughn’s Kitty Norville series caught my attention a few years ago. I must admit, I was hooked quickly. I’ve never finished the series, but I have the first four as audiobooks, and I’ve listened to each multiple times. In fact, #5 & #6 on my list for 2015 are the first 2 of the series and my third time through each.

Carrie Vaughn’s series follows Kitty Norville, a radio talk show host who also happens to be a werewolf. The Midnight Hour traces the rise of her show, the public outing of her werewolf-ness (though most don’t believe it) and the the power struggle with her Alpha and her pack. Kitty Goes to Washington takes her to a Senate committee hearing in DC where she encounters a different way to live as a werewolf, a good vampire ally, and the political and religious trappings of it all.

The series is not particularly complex, but it is one of those “candy” series, as I call it. Addicting, quick, and heartpumping stories (especially as audiobooks). They make for something lighthearted to read when you don’t want to think too much. I picked these up for their third read because after finishing Rothfuss, I didn’t want to quite get his world out of my brain right away.

Kitty is a fairly independent character, and Vaughn paints her struggle for independence and self value very realistically. I think that is part of what draws me back to the stories. Kitty isn’t a superhuman hero or weak, sexually hungry animal. Instead, she’s clever with a sharp tongue and a calm demeanor (when she’s focusing). She’s a great listener, thus the radio show success, and she works to build a tight knit group around herself for support. Of course, there is some ass kicking, a little bit of sex, and a lot of wolfishness, but Vaughn doesn’t really overdo the wolf nature of her characters. The two bleed together cohesively. The action, however, can be a bit unbelievable. I mean really, just how many problems can one person encounter? However, I guess I can say the same thing about Buffy or Angel or Supernatural. When you’re in the limelight or at the center of some larger mythological plot, the trouble often looks for you.

Like many of these long series, the Kitty Norville series does run the risk of getting repetitive, which is the reason I’ve never gone past book 4. I can tell the action and the relationships may start to struggle. I still want to know more, see where it leads, one day. For now though, it’s time once again to move onto other books.

If you want something lighthearted, quick, and just plain fun, pick up Vaughn’s books.

Book #3-The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

January 28, 2015Mere 1 Comment

It should be stated somewhere that you can tell how much a book has gripped you by how fast you power through the audiobook version. 42 freaking hours!!!! Yes, that is the length of the audiobook version of my third book for 2015. Usually, listening is reserved to drive time (about 1 hour/day) and sometimes cooking. So, a 42 hour book should take me over a month to complete…obviously, this is NOT the case here. I started it after Christmas and could not stop listening which lead me to finish it in about 3 weeks! This phenomenal book is, of course, Patrick Rothfuss’ The Wise Man’s Fear.

The Wise Man’s Fear is Day Two of The Kingkiller Chronicles, the first in the series being The Name of the Wind which I finished back in November. I’ll try to limit the spoilers in the following review.

The series follows the the story of Kvothe (pronounced quothe with one syllable). As an adult, he is hiding as Kote, a simple innkeeper, but his life is legendary. Chronicler, a scribe, uncovers who he is and requests to hear the entire true story. Kvothe obliges, promising to tell his story over the course of three days. Each book is therefore set as ONE day of the story, and occasionally shuffles back and forth between the past (narrated by Kvothe) and the present period in the “quiet” inn.

The Name of the Wind follows Kvothe’s boyhood as one of the Edema Rue (troupers that perform plays and music) into his turbulent youth after the slaughter of his family and his eventual admittance into The University a couple of years later, where he studies arcane magics, science, letters, etc. His talent and quick wit are as great at getting him into trouble as they are at getting him out of it. The story is one of an impatient and clever boy making his way in a world where he normally would have little access.

While book one is very much a coming of age story, The Wise Man’s Fear steps into the realm of adult problems (even if he still is only a teenager throughout). Kvothe continues studying at The University, only to have problems cause him to leave. He adventures into Vintas, another nation, to work for Maer Alveron, the man who is richer than the King of Vint. What follows are several adventures: chasing bandits, entering the Faen Realm, learning the secret art of the Adem mercenaries, and his eventual return to The University.

My vague and stilted summary aside, this series not only contains magic, it is magic. Rothfuss creates a world that is comprehensive, alive, and teaming with possibility. Kvothe is believable both in his likeability as well as in his obvious faults. The author does not shy away from making his hero real and imperfect. After all, he is still just a boy, a young man, and we know from the start that there must be a truth behind the legends.

I’ll admit that in Book One, I struggled with the lack of a strong female character. For as long as I can remember, I’ve focused in on the female-centric stories (I blame my mother…and Jane Yolen). So, I started to assume Rothfuss was the stereotypical fantasy author focusing on a male hero. Book Two proved to me why I should not be so gender specific in my literary choice. Though Kvothe is the central character, Rothfuss supports him with a wide cast, and many of his teachers, leaders, mentors, and friends are women. For me, I enjoy seeing such believable characters, treated primarily as people, not just as gender specific stereotypes. We don’t need an “Amazonian Princess” to have strong women and we don’t need a “Hercules” to have strong men (yes, I’m simplifying things here, but you get the point). Rothfuss’ world is the way I wish most people created characters (especially on TV and in Film): As primarily, verily, HUMAN.

Besides this incredible character creation and vibrant world, Rothfuss spoke to my heart with one other aspect: music. Kvothe’s deepest love is song. He plays the lute like it is his very soul, and the tender detail in which Rothfuss describes the feel of the music, the joy and pain in playing, shows that the author is a musician himself, or has immersed himself in music enough to understand.

I’m a sucker for language, and it is this experiential phrasing that has me hooked on Rothfuss. Now, like the rest of his fans, I have to wait for Day Three and whatever remains beyond.

Bookshelf Scavenger Hunt

January 24, 2015Mere 1 Comment

I couldn’t help myself, the Bookshelf Scavenger Hunt I saw over on bluchickenninja looked like too much fun, so here it goes!

Find an author’s name or title with the letter Z:

Of course it had to be World War Z by Max Brooks. Wonderful commentary on humanity through the use of zombies and a smart example of oral history (even if it is fictional).

Find a classic:

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Yes, the book sculpture is a copy of Jane Eyre! Next to it is my old beat up edition. I have 2 other versions of this book. It will always be an important one for me.

Find a Book with a Key on it:

This one felt like cheating since I have 1-3 of Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez’s Locke & Key. I’m currently rereading book one, so I may finally tackle the other two. Aren’t you proud Annie?

Find something on your bookshelf that is not a book:

I have several things that aren’t books, but I will always love this picture of me and my mom, the music box from my Babushka, and a simple tea cup from Cortney’s bridal shower.

Find the oldest book on your shelf:

So I went with the physically oldest book I own. This edition of Fruit Gathering by Rabindranath Tagore is from 1916. It was a gift for my graduation from Graduate School from one of my professors, Dr. Delmonico, who continues to be one of my closest and greatest mentors.

Find a book with a girl on the cover:

I fell in love with The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi back in 5th grade. It remains one of my favorite stories, and yes, I also have multiple copies of this one (since the cover is falling off of the original).

Find a book with a boy on the cover:

The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories by Tim Burton. Dark, short, and sweet!

Find a book with an animal in it:

Ishmael by Daniel Quinn should be required reading. It is narrated by a gorilla, and it is DEEP.

Find a book with a male protagonist:

American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Not my favorite Gaiman text, but still great!

Find a book with only words on the cover:

Ariel a book of poems by Sylvia Plath. I didn’t think I’d find a book with only words on the cover, but I actually found THREE!

Find a book with illustrations in it:

Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, a 1946 edition with original illustrations. I LOVE the creepiness of the long-necked Alice!

Find a book with Gold Lettering:

My THIRD copy of Huckleberry Finn.

Find a diary (true or fictional):

The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath. I may have a slight obsession with Plath.

A Book written by someone with a common name (like Smith):

James is fairly common! Plus, I get the joy of sharing this beautiful title: Assholes: A Theory.

Find a book that has a close up of an object on it:

Graceling by Kristine Cashore is a great first book in a beautiful trilogy. I HIGHLY recommend it, especially if you want strong female characters and an uncommon take on the normal terms of YA romance.

Find a book on the shelf that takes place in the earliest time period:

I scoured my shelves, with several set in Roman times, unspecified religious historical periods etc. However, Gilgamesh pretty much trumps all.

Find a hardcover book without a jacket:

Can’t go wrong with Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen!

Find a teal/turquoise coloured book:

Do these count? This was difficult! Lots of blues, but few I’d count as teal/turquoise.

Find a book with stars on it:

Might be difficult to tell, but there is a galaxy scattered across the cover of Jane Yolen’s Sister Emily’s Lightship. A wonderful collection from one of my favorite authors!

Find a non-YA book:

Another one of my favorites, and definitely not YA. Possession: A Romance by A.S. Byatt is a beautiful literary homage.

Find the longest book you own:

I went with two options here. First is The Norton Anthology of Western Literature topping out at 2660 pages. But, I thought it only fair to find my longest continual story (not an anthology or text book), so I’ve included Stephen King’s The Stand which has 1141 pages!

Find the shortest book you own:

The Gashlycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey. I’m not sure if it truly is the shortest, but it is certainly one of them.

Find a book with multiple POVs:

Another tough one to decipher. Does it need to be in multiple voices? Can it be just focused on multiple characters? I went with one that has a shared narrator but focuses independently on two separate characters. It also has some of the most beautiful language. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery.

Find a shiny book:

Really, I could have picked several, but I went with Neil Gaiman’s The Absolute Death, a collection of all the Death stories from Sandman.

Find a book with flowers on it:

Easy. Briar Rose by Jane Yolen.

I find myself wanting to add more to the hunt. Perhaps I’ll create another one sometime, just because I can!

How to Prevent the Kitteh Revolution Through the Power of Books!

January 23, 2015Mere Leave a comment

We all know the Kitteh Revolution is inevitable. However, there are many steps we can take, as pet owners and book lovers, to deter the uprising for as long as possible. Use these simple steps to help make your home a revolution free home!

When arranging one’s library, provide your kitties with access to their own books. Low shelves stacked with several “cat-appropriate” materials are best. Mysteries and classics are safe choices. Korben has a preference for Twain.

“Yes, Huckleberry Finn is a good choice.”

Avoid books with dogs/wolves or really any “non-cat” animals and romances. Tales about revolution are best kept on the high shelves (wouldn’t want them to get any ideas).

Low, deep shelves are also important to provide comfortable ~~reading~~ napping spaces. If you find books on the floor by the low shelves, leave them. Replacing the “secret entrance” to said ~~reading~~ space will only outrage your cat, creating library chaos and leading us closer to the revolution.

“That part on the river just got really…really…slow…” *yawn*

If you have a blanket, or three, leave them scattered in the library. Even if you don’t own any, go buy some! We want to keep kitties happy to prevent destroyed books as well as our future well being. Fuzzy blankets are a great tool at keeping your fluffy companion docile. An open book on or near the blanket is a even better option for a feline pillow.

“Ah, a comfy choice. Yes human, you shall be spared when the uprising begins”

If your kitteh decides to use any book you may have open, and I do mean ANY, recognize the action for what it is:

A formal threat, gauging your reaction in order to decide your eventual fate.

“What are you going read now, Human?”

Your choices are:

Leave book and cat for as long as he/she desires. No use in trying to read around a fat furry blob.
1. The neutral option.
Submit to cat’s requests for attention via petting, belly rubs (only the allotted magical 3 rubs), or clawing time.
1. This will earn you positive feedback and help insure your survival.
Pull the book away or shove the cat off your precious reading material.
1. Hint: DON’T CHOOSE THIS OPTION IF YOU WANT TO LIVE!

If you want to go out of your way to provide a happy, revolution free space for your cats while utilizing your books to their ultimate ability, you can create the Literati-Kitty’s dream playground through various piles, towers, nap spots, etc.

“King.Of.Everything.”

Remember, a happy cat who thinks he’s in charge is one less who will join up when the rebels come calling! So my friends, use the power of literature to keep your kittens content! Only we together have the power to prevent the Kitteh Revolution!!

Merely Creative

Learning. Creating. Growing.

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