2015 Books

1. The Ask and the Answer- Patrick Ness
2. Monsters of Men - Patrick Ness
3. Divergent - Veronica Roth 
4. Insurgent- Veronica Roth
5. Allegiant - Veronica Roth  
6. Work - Louisa May Alcott
7. The Song of the Lark - Willa Cather
8. The Member of the Wedding - Carson McCullers
9. Kindred - Octavia Butler 
10. Dreaming In Cuban - Christina Garcia
11. My Year of Meats - Ruth L. Ozeki
12. Tracks - Louise Erdrich
13. The Dark Tower - Stephen King
14. The Year of the Flood - Margaret Atwood
15. The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
16. Throne of Glass - Sarah J. Maas
17. The Chimera Vector - Nathan M. Farrugia
18. Maze Runner - James Dashner
19. Maddaddam - Margaret Atwood
20. The Scorch Trials - James Dashner
21. Pines - Blake Crouch
22. Wayward - Blake Crouch
23. The Last Town - Blake Crouch
24. The Death Cure - James Dashner
25. Storm Front - Jim Butcher
26. Armada - Ernest Cline 
27. 1984 - Orwell, George 
28. Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
29. Fool Moon - Jim Butcher
30. Grave Peril - Jim Butcher
31. Summer Knight - Jim Butcher
32. Death masks - Jim Butcher
33. Blood Rites - Jim Butcher
34. Dead Beat - Jim Butcher
35. The Martian - Andy Weir
36. Proven Guilty - Jim Butcher
37. White Night - Jim Butcher
38. Turn Coat - Jim Butcher
39. Aurian - Maggie Furey
40. Harp of Winds - Maggie Furey
41. Richard III - William Shakespeare
42. Monstrous Regiment - Terry Pratchett

My Year of Meats - Ruth L. Ozeki

If you happen to be an omnivore that is completely uninterested in knowing what happened to your steak or pork chop before it hit your table, this may not be the book for you.

From the back cover: When documentarian Jane Takagi-Little finally lands a job producing My American Wife!,  a Japanese television show sponsored by an American meat-exporting business, she discovered some unsavory truths about love, fertility, and a hormone called DES. Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe, Akiko Ueno, a beleaguered Japanese housewife, struggles to escape from her child-craving husband. When Jane's and Akiki's lives intersect, the deepest concerns of our time are illuminated: how the past informs the present and how we live and live in an ever-shrinking world.

So, whoa. Seriously, as I stated above, if you don't want to know anything about how meat gets from the farm to the table, this is not a book you should pick up. If you think eating organic is only for hippies and soft hearted liberals, well you're wrong, and this book is also not for you. It is definitely fiction for feminists, which I adore to the very core of my being. I also enjoy fiction that can be entertaining and educational without being overly obvious about it. The writing shows Ozeki did some seriously in depth research--she even includes her resources in the back of the book. I am not one to panic over much of anything, though I'm slightly paranoid about getting sick (thank you, Stephen King). We should definitely panic. There are things to panic about. And we are eating them. Willingly chewing up and swallowing un-prescribed antibiotics and hormones. We're setting ourselves up for an epidemic, which most of the population refuses to acknowledge. My parents think I am ridiculous for only consuming organic meat and dairy, but I think they are ridiculous for ignoring signs that are definitely right in front of us. This is a book about exactly that--the research is there, the science hands us the nasty truth.... We shrug, and shovel more crap into our mouths.

I could continue to get even more preachy, but I will end with saying that the novel speaks volumes both culturally and socially. Ozeki writes well, spinning a clear story that is funny and shocking. It will definitely inspire mindful eating, if you're already open to the concept.

Armada - Ernest Cline **SPOILERS**

I wanted to like Armada. I did, I swear. I like Ready Player One, regardless of the somewhat not quite poor writing. With Armada, I expected to see Cline evolve--and to a certain degree, he did. He wove a semi-decent plot twist, trite as it was, into an unbelievably huge trope of geekdom. Where RP1 was believable, Armada was not. During the entirety of the novel, I was completely unable to suspend my disbelief and enjoy the story. RP1 gave us OASIS and things within it that were completely possible because it was a video game. In essence, I am comparing Armada to Pixels. It is a video game-geek dream come to life for the main character. Wade from RP1 was a more sympathetic character because he's caught in a life of poverty and he was relatively well rounded as a three dimensional character. Zach Lightman, on the other hand... Never grew, never matured. Just continued to be amazingly awesome at video games and that was the entire book. His emotional turmoil never came to a head--he was constantly angry at either his father or the situation, which is understandable given that he thought his father was dead and the situation at hand was the end of the world.

My other big issue with Armada: the use of the manic pixie dream girl. This is by far the most ridiculous and anti-feminist fiction tool there is. I fucking hate it. Zooey Deschanel happens to play them with alarming frequency, much as I love her and her show, New Girl. But I hate that type of stock character--and no, I do not think that Jess is a MPDG. She is quirky and weird and I adore her.

Armada reads more like a conspiracy theory/science fiction nerd celebration than anything else. Not only is Zach's mom a great mom--single widow who put herself through school and raised a child on her own, but she is also gorgeous, and she plays video games. Not only is Zach a super nerd, he is also apparently a total badass, because hey, let's kick the school bully's ass so badly in grade school that it follows me all the way to my senior year in high school. On top of all of this, there is the notion that civilians could possibly fight a war waged with such advanced technology and there be a lack of mass hysteria is beyond ridiculous. Cline paints an overly optimistic view of humanity in the face of a global crisis. Katrina was a disaster, not just because it was a hurricane, but because an entire community went crazy and our government was stupid about it. So, invading aliens and a global attitude of team work? No. Just no.

Suffice to say, I hated it.

Go Set a Watchman

My thoughts on Go Set a Watchman are completely separate from the matter of whether or not Harper Lee wanted this published or not. The ability of Lee to approve the publication is important, and frankly, as someone who writes… I cannot imagine having my words published without my consent. As readers, we have no idea on this matter, though we have suspicions.

My point here is to give some thoughts on Go Set a Watchman in relation to To Kill a Mockingbird.

I somehow missed reading To Kill a Mockingbird until I was in my mid-twenties—I chalk that up to the fact that I switched to a smaller school my freshman year and ended up in honors English where we read something different. Fans of To Kill a Mockingbird are rabid in their dislike of a very racist portrayal of Atticus Finch in Go Set a Watchman. I think that the Atticus Finch in Mockingbird is the same man we see in Watchman. The difference is that they eyes that are on him are different. Scout is different. Suffice to say I spent the last half of the book crying because my adoration of Atticus Finch has been crushed, but I still like him--he remains a man of principle and openness, and for the time it is set in, he's a good man that does right and seeks true justice. I would argue that because Lee was asked to write a second draft of stories strictly from Scout’s childhood perspective, we end up seeing two versions of Atticus Finch. When you look at the first draft in comparison to the second, I think it only serves to highlight the brilliance of Lee—she knew that the idealized version of Atticus that Scout had was only what Scout saw. The grown up version of Scout that we meet, Jean Louise, is a woman who thinks and has her own opinions. She is a different person from her peers in Maycomb.

For me, the part that hit hardest was how Scout had changed. She did not realize that she was the one who had changed, and I have experienced that. I have parents that have vastly differing views from my own, which leaves us little to discuss during holidays. The only thing my father and I can solidly agree on is how much we detest Tom Brady and the Patriots. My mother, to whom I always looked up to and adored is (to me) a completely different person than who she was when I was growing up. But, is she really? Or is it me that is different?

Again, the argument of whether or not it should have been published isn’t happening on this blog. I feel like the problem readers have with Watchman is that they so desperately wanted Atticus Finch to be the ideal from Mockingbird. The (albeit fictional) reality is that Atticus was never as idealistic as Scout set him up as. White people have a problem with that—Atticus Finch is their fictional idolized pillar that yells “See?!? We’re not all racist!” We feel good because Atticus did right by the Black man. And white people have a hard time accepting that it is necessary to acknowledge our Privilege. After reading Watchman, I realized that Atticus was doing right by the law. The law is what was important to him. At heart, we still want to see Atticus defending Tom Robinson as an act of defiance in the face of racism and segregation at the time it is set it. In Watchman, we get a grown up Scout that represents what many of us in the South feel. We have relatives and people we know who use racial slurs and are so judgmental that we cringe during every holiday get together. What Go Set a Watchman is: a heart wrenching reminder that you can never truly go home once you leave.

If you’re looking for a good book, read it. If you’re looking for something comforting and non-confrontational, I suggest you look elsewhere.

Oryx & Crake / Year of the Flood - Margaret Atwood

I finished Oryx & Crake in record time sometime last year. It is a truly frightening tale, not in the sense of good versus evil or a horror story. Rather, it is a very realistic look at the direction the human race has taken and the road we seem to be speeding down. I am not up on my science, though I do know we have made some medical advances in many different areas. One thing I do know is that people in general are wearing down their resistance to antibiotics and it has been speculated that we're due for an outbreak of some type. Hence my lack of antibacterial soap at home and hesitance to leap to antibiotics right away for anything.

Oryx & Crake is exactly that--between Corporations that produce medicines and others that produce food in a manner that is even more horrifying than our current methods of hormones and antibiotics that make chickens four times as big as they were twenty years ago... It is not much of a leap to go from how the world is now to the world that Atwood builds in Oryx & Crake.

It took a second try to wade through Year of the Flood, mostly because not only alternates characters, but also includes sermons from Adam One. We see events leading up to and after the disaster in Oryx & Crake from the points of view of two different women loosely connected to Jimmy and Glenn (or Snowman and Crake, if you like). Admittedly, I often skimmed through the Adam One sermons. Towards the end, they actually included information regarding the state of the world and should probably not be skimmed over, but that's just me.

As with The Handmaid's Tale, Atwood builds a dystopia that is believable and feasible based on the reality of our society. If I am honest, her writing scares and thrills me all at once. I'm currently not quite halfway through Maddaddam, and my thoughts are ambivalent at this point. Oryx & Crake is worth picking up all on its own, but I can never leave a series unread. Regardless of whether you want to experience the entire series, it is an apt look at what we are doing to the world. It could very well be our future, as we look at the destruction of ecosystems and the crazy flooding I'm currently experiencing.

I love the characters, they are all so relatable, especially Toby and Ren. They stand out in a set of novels where they live in a society that places extreme value on scientific and mathematical skills with no regard for anything else, except profit. Perhaps this is why Atwood's fictional world goes to hell in a hand basket. Both Toby and Ren belong to God's Gardeners, an eco-group within the novel. Even it has a dark side, as part of the group branches off and helps cause the literal end of the world. Right now, we're ruled by oil and those backed by big oil. We have other options that will likely not be used in my lifetime. Yet, it begs the question: what exactly are we doing? Our lifestyles are not sustainable. I can even attest that I have no desire to give up my twenty minute morning showers or evening soaks. I drive a gas guzzling sports car. I vote sporadically at best. I recycle only sometimes. This is how we reach the end of the world, isn't it?

Plated: In where I order food from the interwebs and follow directions...

I adore things that make my life easier. Smartphone, check. Car that is fancy enough to give me an oil life percentage, check. So, it would stand to reason that ordering food from the interwebs and cooking would be a snap... Check, check, check. I was pretty doubtful when I stumbled across an article about Plated. Since it was only going to cost $24 and there is no obligation to keep receiving boxes (I'm looking at you, Julep), I dove in.

My order shipped Wednesday and I got it via FedEx this afternoon. It came in a regular ol' box that was niftily insulated. I've even got some extra ice packs to show for it... Even though the next time I move, they'll likely get thrown out. Essentially, Plated sends you enough ingredients for strictly 2, 4, or 6 servings. I see this as absolutely a plus, but not a plus for me personally. However, if you're a frequent business traveler and want to impress a lady or man person during the weekend, it seems like a perfect idea! Or if you're going to have guests and want to cook a couple meals for them during their stay. But, for a lady person on a budget... Mmm, I can see this not being a regularly feasible option.

One thing I really love about it is that it forces you to make a choice between what is being offered... and once it is in your possession, that's what you've got to make. I would never have gone out of my way to make Chicken Tikka Masala, but that was one of the options in my trio of meals. And it was fucking delicious. I've had the boxed, frozen Chicken Tikka Masala from Trader Joe's, and it was so spicy that I was unable to finish the dish. The ingredients from Plated, along with their recipe made for an excellent dish with loads of flavor and a healthy kick that wasn't so spicy that it became inedible. I even went with the suggested side of sauteed spinach, which was something I would not have made if left to my own devices. Now, if you're a vegetarian or have food allergies, not to worry! You are completely able to tailor the meals to your preferences. Since I am an eater of ALL THE THINGS, I ended up with a chicken, pork and beef. I've only made the Chicken Tikka Masala as of this posting, but my other two options look really tasty as well.

According to the Plated website, your order will stay appropriately cooled for up to 24 hours after delivery, which is perfect. I actually didn't run the super-important-school related errand I had to run today because I was afraid of the box sitting outside in the lukewarm sunshine. Since FedEx delivers any time before 8 pm, I reluctantly stayed home... And by reluctantly, I mean I watched Gilmore Girls. Since my apartment complex will also receive deliveries for me, I really don't have to be worried if I get home after it is delivered during the day. No biggie!



Another big thing that has been on my mind lately is eating meat that is hormone, antibiotic, and cruelty free. I have been eating a ton of fish. Thankfully Kroger has a pretty good array of pre-seasoned fish filets that allow me to whip up dinner in under 30 minutes. Tonight's chicken dish took me close to an hour to prep and cook, so it is definitely not something I would undertake during the week, unless I was trying to impress someone... Which, let's face it, my liberal minded, feminist, two stepping, omelet cooking, tall, and handsome hasn't made it into my life yet. As I am a foodie, this isn't a problem. Plated sources antibiotic and hormone free, and (according to them) try to source from family owned farms. Points to Plated for that. Their seafood is sustainable, points again.

Orders over $50 ship for free, which is something I like. They do sell out, so prepare to be a little disappointed. I was looking at the menu and eyeballing some lamb chops. No lamb chops for me. I was able to update my potential order for a different delivery date in order to get some of those fancier options that have beef, pork, duck, or chicken.

Prices can vary depending on what you choose. I played with my basket and ended up with two meals that cost $100. This is definitely not going to be something I do on the regular, but I absolutely will be checking out the menu on a weekly basis and seeing what looks interesting. You can cancel your subscription with no fuss, or you can just elect to skip the week or receive a box every other week. I love this concept and it is something I'll do again every so often to brush up on my cooking repertoire!

Kindred - Octavia Butler

I know there are sub-genres within sub-genres, along with crossover genres. Some work, some don't. Kindred works, and it works well. A friend asked to see the back of the book, and laughed as he read the classification at the top: science fiction/African American literature. I use the term friend very loosely, as we were out on a date and one date later, he called me creepy for keeping a gun underneath my bedside table and also mansplained rape and stalking statistics in my area as being very low. Anyway, that is neither here, nor there.

I would definitely approach Kindred as an excellent piece of historical fiction and African American literature. Set in 1976 and over several years in the antebellum South, it shows the comparative aspects of relationships between black and white people both in time and in relation to one another. Hopefully that made sense. From the back of the books: Dana, a modern black woman, is celebrating her twenty-sixth birthday with her new husband when she is snatched abruptly from her home in California and transported to the antebellum South. Rufus, the white son of a plantation owner, is drowning, and Dana has been summoned to save him. Dana is drawn back repeatedly through time to the slave quarters, and each time the stays grow longer, more arduous, and more dangerous until it is certain whether or not Dana's life will end, long before it has a chance to begin.

I feel that marking it as science fiction reaches a little, but I get why. Regardless, Butler writes well and descriptively, giving Dana depth and emotion--making her a truly likable character. Actually, I like all the characters, even Rufus and Dana's husband, though he falls a little flat. His reaction annoys (by annoy, I mean that it shames me into recalling I benefit from white privilege). I'm actually reading this for two different classes, both within Women's Studies. Within Feminist Theories, we've not touched on the book yet, but I am eager to see it from that approach as well--and may already be seeing it from that kaleidoscope perspective, in that Dana is black, married to a white man and has to deal with the disappointment of her family that she has married a white man. We have already touched on Kindred in my other class, U.S. Women of Colors--and hit it from more of a historical perspective. I'd definitely pick up Kindred if you are interested in historical fiction. If you are a die hard sci-fi nerd, well, it's really historical fiction. Good historical fiction, which means a lot coming from me. 

Ready Player One Sequel?

Firstly, I have mixed feelings about this.

What was wrong with Ready Player One? Well, not a lot. But, enough to make it slightly painful to read. It had a strong start and it struck me as a very friendly book to a wide range of audiences. It hit all the high points that you could possibly imagine within the nerd kingdom. My gripe is the romance aspect. It was just eye roll inspiring.

As I stated in my initial review of RPO, I like Cline's writing. And I loved the nuanced aspect of touching on literally every nerd thing. And I do mean ALL OF THE NERD THINGS. I fully give it a 7/10 - would read again. But, I am really hoping for more evidence of his great writing.

Just leave out the teen romance.

Divergent trilogy - Veronica Roth **SPOILERS**

I've been under the weather all week, so I was able to finish the first two books in record time. Once I had recovered a bit (and had to subsequently go back to work), the third one took me until today to finish. On the whole, the entire series has given me a love-hate feeling.

Starting with the hate: the Tris/Tobias dynamic annoyed me to no end. Granted, it was not as cheesy and teen-lust fueled as Ready Player One, but I just didn't like the way they came across. Teenage love moves at the speed of light, and that was reasonable in Divergent. However, I feel like the constant lying to one another and his habit of keeping Tris out of the loop to protect her... Well, I just got overly annoyed by it. While they do eventually come to an understanding and their relationship takes a healthier tone later, I just didn't like it.

The story was certainly entertaining and I had a lot of trouble putting down the first two books. If I am honest, I was secretly thrilled at having a fever and needing to stay home from work on Tuesday to finish Insurgent. I am fairly certain that my dissatisfaction with the series, on the whole, lies within book three. I just couldn't really get behind the dystopia within a dystopia. The Abnegation secret, and then the Bureau's interference within their "experiment" felt a little too manufactured. I'm not certain what outcome would have felt more likely, more natural to me. But, the thought of the Factions inside the city being a monitored experiment wasn't it.

Final opinion: not on par with Hunger Games, enormously better than Twilight. I think I need to go back to reading classics for awhile, and hope I can find some better inspiration there.

Chaos Walking Trilogy - Patrick Ness

Summary: In Prentisstown, you drown in your own Noise and the never ending Noise of other residents, pets and wildlife included. Todd is a short month from his birthday, the most important one of all, where he will be considered a man. He is the last boy, and he finds that there has been a terrible secret hidden. So he runs.

I could not help but breeze through the first novel, and even the second. The third was a little less gripping, as I had begun to feel like I knew what was going to happen between the Mayor and Todd. All of the characters started out well, especially Todd and Viola. They linger on the cusp of innocent childhood, only to be shoved into adulthood, where they have no choice but to evolve into survivors, fleeing from their fellow man.

As a villain, the Mayor is a little one sided, never taking on any depth until the second book. I am still unsure how I feel about his part in the story, other than the continual use of him as a foil for Todd. Todd the redeemable and the Mayor being completely nonredeemable. Viola is realistic and strong, a wonderful female protagonist that is scared, brave, and makes very human errors in judgement. The part of the Spackle, the native indigenous race of the new world, in the story becomes larger as it progresses, finally getting an actual voice in the third book. Again, the notion of being redeemable plays an important role here with the Spackle, who is referred to as The Return. I feel like Ness used this formula well, and that the notion of how humans tend to destroy everything was not over done while also not being subtle.

Overall, all three books are well written. I struggled starting out, as they are written from the perspective of an uneducated thirteen year old boy. The purposeful misspelling used to give Todd a voice ended up working very well, as he symbolically showed that knowing right from wrong does not require an education. And also showing that despite his lack of formal education, and growing up surrounded by evil, Todd was able to remain good despite his mistakes.

2014 Books

While I'm not confident that I can keep up with this in 2015, here are the books I read during the past year. It is a short list in comparison to past years, but I drive to work and also have school. Several were rereads, as I was finishing several series and it had been quite some time in between reads. So, Happy New Year!

1. Inkheart - Cornelia Funke 
2. New Spring - Robert Jordan
3. Love In the Time of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
4. Gentlemen & Players - Joanne Harris 
5. Juliet, Naked - Nick Hornby 
6. Crossroads of Twilight - Robert Jordan
7. Knife of Dreams - Robert Jordan
8. Five Quarters of the Orange - Joanne Harris
9. The Gathering Storm - Robert Jordan 
10. Sandman Slim - Richard Kadrey
11. Darkfever - Karen Marie Moning
12. Bloodfever - Karen Marie Moning 
13. Faefever - Karen Marie Moning
14. Shadowfever - Karen Marie Moning 
15. Kill the Dead - Richard Kadrey
16. Devil in the Dollhouse - Richard Kadrey
17. Aloha From Hell - Richard Kadrey 
18. Oryx & Crake - Margaret Atwood
19. Devil Said Bang - Richard Kadrey
20. And the Mountains Echoed - Khaled Hosseini
21. The Scarlet Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne
22. Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
23. Fragile Things - Neil Gaiman
24. The Golem and the Jinni - Helene Wecker
25. The Girl With All the Gifts - M.R. Carey
26. The Gunslinger - Stephen King
27.  The Drawing of the Three - Stephen King
28. The Wastelands - Stephen King
29. Wizard and Glass - Stephen King
30. Wolves of the Calla - Stephen King
31. Song of Susannah - Stephen King
32. The Knife of Never Letting Go - Patrick Ness
33. The Girl With No Shadow - Joanne Harris

Gentlemen and Players - Joanne Harris **Spoilers**

Balls.  I mean, just...  I can't even begin to know where to start.  I already loved Joanne Harris.  I've actually been rereading Five Quarters of the Orange in the middle of reading the last handful of Wheel of Time novels, just to break things up a bit.

But, bloody hell, this thing has such an intricate and twisted plot!  Not only is she touching on class difference, she also shows how easily young minds can be shaped and influenced.  Add in the back story, which the reader essentially gets in alternating chapters where our mystery villain tells us about their time at St. Oswald's, an expensive grammar school where class lines are defined and do not budge.

I actually had to go back and immediately read the last few chapters just to make sure I understood what I was reading.  It seemed so obvious, who the mystery mole was at the school, but honestly, I completely missed it.

I've read a few reviews of the book and critics seem to think that the entire plot was predictable... And maybe I can agree on the aspect that was centered around the need for vengeance and the desire of our villain to topple the institution.  However, the actual identity of said villain?  That one took me by major surprise.  And perhaps I am not perceptive, but I'd like to think I am.

    

Les Miserables - Dallas Summer Musicals

For all of you folks out there that think we Texans don't actually like things like musicals, well you're terribly wrong.  My mother, poor thing, attempted to make me a well rounded child.  She succeeded, but I'm fairly certain the process was not as enjoyable for her as it was for me.  There were several instances at the Houston Symphony where I elbowed her awake (rarely for snoring, but because she was missing Beethoven and Handel.  She's also responsible for my love of ballet.  I was enrolled in ballet classes when I was six or seven, but didn't really enjoy it.  I am not keen on small children in large numbers, and was not when I was a small child.  That same year, she started my collection of Christmas nutcrackers, the first having two tickets to The Nutcracker tucked in the box.  One could say that I probably, most definitely nerded out.  She lives vicariously through me, because she claims she can't sit through anything that long anymore.  Psssh.

This was my first time seeing Les Mis, and I have to say I absolutely enjoyed it.  A previous boyfriend was (and still is) quite fond of the show, and purchased the version with Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway, which was nice, as musicals turned movies go.  It certainly didn't catch my heart then, but this time was certainly different.  Pretty certain I was not the only person sniffling when Fantaine sang I Dreamed a Dream.  There was sniffling on and off on my part.  It's hard to get into the recording of a musical when you've never seen the whole story play out on stage.  It is just so different than seeing it on a screen.  And I have to say that Allison Blackwell, who played Fantine last night was quite lovely and her rendition was touching and I think I must have really heard the song for the first time.  She made it resonate.

Nehal Joshi played Jean Valjean, and again, I was really touched by how spirited his performance was.  Joshi was animated, passionate and I truly felt for him as he struggled with accepting his second chance at living a worthwhile life.  Elizabeth Judd was a very sweet and precious Eponine.  It's so easy to get wrapped up in all the elements of the story--being happy for Cosette and Marius, but the Eponine element broke my heart.  Judd gave a perfectly sassy and heartfelt performance.

Costumes were on point, a mix of modern military gear for the prison guards and lovely frippery for the more colorful characters. In short, I loved everything and am already dying to see it again!

Ft. Worth Music Festival

Was out past midnight this morning, on my way home from Panther Island Pavilion.  I had the pleasure of hearing some great local bands (I have to go back and listen to a few, due to having good conversation with a long lost friend).  I also had the pleasure of listening to three bands I had already heard of: Airborne Toxic Event, Dale Earnheardt Jr. Jr. (Yes, there are two Jr.'s), and best of all.... Jimmy Eat World.  Holy crap, it was such an amazing show!  Granted, there were a ton of 30-something's, myself included... And I really expected more jostling.  It was a super tame crowd, not at all what I expected, which was cool, considering I made the choice to wear some toe baring gladiator sandals.  But, it was definitely nothing like the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis show I went to for my birthday.  Again, which was fine.  I, however, danced and sang until I was dead tired last night.

I guess, since m focus was more on the original music I heard from them so, so very long ago (The Middle was during my senior year of high school).  I had, on previous occasions, given a listen to new releases and liked a couple songs, but my taste in music got put up on the shelf for a few years. I've recently dusted off a few things I liked then, and turns out a few things are still good (like JEW), and a few are not...

Anyway, it was a super fun day--I enjoyed my friend, she bought me tons of Rahr Blondes, which were freaking delicious, by the way.  Maybe it was because it was sunny and warm, but I thoroughly enjoyed ever single one, especially after the smoking hot quesadilla we had.  Geesh, I love festival food.  I'm sure it was from one of the many amazing FW food trucks.  Next year, I will most certainly invest in the two day VIP tickets, as I sadly missed Billy Gibbons.

Whiskey Cake

Had a date.  The most important part was the part where I had the food, at this lovely place in Plano, called Whiskey Cake. 

Starting with the appetizer--our server suggested the goat cheese fondue, which was delicious.  I was hoping for the fried green tomatoes, but I couldn't really argue with fondue.  I really like fondue.  Especially if it's the goat cheese variety.  There were olives on the side, and the bread that went with was wonderful.

Drinks were fantastic.  I had a margarita type thing, not sure if it was on the menu, but it was grapefruity and delicious.  Not too sweet, which worked for me.  Date had a drink called a Tennessee Stud with this amazing whiskey that's been aged in port wine barrels.  A little on the strong side for me, but pretty tasty.  He had a sour something that I didn't try, but it did disappear.

Dinner was made of fish, specifically the Texas Striped Bass, which was served over broccoli slaw--I was concerned about that at first, but decided give it a try anyway.  Was definitely a good decision.  Portions seemed alarmingly small at first, but mostly because the fish was on top of the veggies, but it was all just the right amount.  There was also some warm sliced avocado. 

Which brings us to dessert.  Holy crap, Whiskey Cake is aptly named for their wonderful whiskey cake.  It was warm and delicious, with spiced pecans and fresh whipped cream over the top.  Definitely enough for two people... Or just one, if you're eating just the cake.  It was wonderful and I felt that I could die happy afterwards.  I also felt stuffed and quite satisfied. 

Definitely going to have to go back, even if it's just for drinks in a week or two!

Advice on writing

One of my favorite authors, Joanne Harris gave ten tips for writing on twitter yesterday.  I was pretty excited, and kept checking my phone through the day, looking for the updates.  So, here there are.

1. Build a world that your reader wants to visit - that is, that satisfies an as-yet unfulfilled desire - for instance, freedom; adventure; exploration; the ability to break the rules and conventions of the society we inhabit. This does not necessarily mean an ideal world - dreams and fantasies are often dark and challenging, hence the amount of fantasy dealing with war, conflict, apocalypse (all cathartic experiences, viewed from the security of the printed page).
2. Set down your rules, and stick to them. It’s fine to break the laws of physics in fantasy literature, but you do need to show consistency. If you’re writing a world in which magic works, you need to establish the laws of magic. Is it something innate? Can it be learnt? Are runes, incantations, spells, potions involved? Even fantasy needs to have its own internal logic, otherwise the suspension of disbelief becomes impossible.
3. Seek emotional realism. Whatever the setting of your story, at its heart lies a human connection between reader and writer. Fantasy speaks to us on a deeply emotional level, dealing with subconscious wish-fulfilment and the exorcism of personal demons. Just because this is fantasy doesn’t mean it can’t be emotionally real. Use your own experience to make your feelings work for you.
4. Make your characters human at heart. That means creating empathy between them and the reader - whether they are elves, wolves, rabbits, dwarves, anthropomorphic space machines or aliens from the planet Targ.
5. Archetype, not stereotype. With such a strong foundation in folk-tale and fairy story, it’s easy to confuse the difference between archetype and stereotype. The first is an expression of the hidden dreams and desires of the human subconscious, articulated through traditional figures in story. The second, a gateway to cliche. Avoid.
6. Give familiar tales a twist. Don’t be afraid of breaking traditional conventions, of rewriting legends, or taking folk tales and making them yours. They are yours. They are also mine, and everyone else’s. You (and I, and we) have the right to tell them any way we like. Traditional stories need to evolve and grow in order to stay alive. Own them, and make them live.
7. Find out what makes your society tick. Does your fantasy world run on money? Magic? Tribal interactions? Philosophy? Slavery? Religion? War? Is there a king? A government? Gods? How do these things affect your characters and their journey through the narrative?
8. Think about the details. Every country or fantasy world has sayings, food, folk-tales, dress, weather, weapons, slang, customs, smells, plants, birds. Without writing a guide book, try to immerse yourself (and your reader) into this new environment. Just because it’s fantasy doesn’t mean it can’t be real.
9. Don’t confuse fake with fantasy. That means getting your facts right if you want to write about authentic-sounding weapons, ships, armour or other quasi-historical details. Sound research into these things makes for more convincing fantasy.
10. There’s more to this than Middle-Earth. With infinite worlds to choose from, your inspiration doesn’t always have to come from mediaeval England. In the same way, urban fantasy doesn’t always have to be set in New York. Vary your landscapes; expand your horizons.

Sherlock - Series 3

Can we just take a moment here and mouth a silent "Fuck you, Moffat." whilst also loving the man?  I can't decide where to even begin.  I mean, the Molly kiss?  And then... it was just a bloody freaking THEORY?!?! Gah!  Granted, the only part of that theory I even remotely liked was the Molly kiss.  Mostly because I am still rooting for her.

And then, let's see... Sherlock ruining THE question.  And I have to agree with Moffat--John leaping up, uttering curse words and trying to throttle Sherlock is better than fainting.  I mean, we're grown men, after all.  Not delicate, prissy debutantes.   

New Spring - Robert Jordan

As always, after coming up for air from a Robert Jordan novel, I find myself at a loss for words.  Not only did he write beautifully, I always find myself quickly attached to all of his characters all over again.  However, in this case, the focus stayed on three main characters and was very short in comparison to every other book in the Wheel of Time series. 

Oh, the insight!  I cannot think of any other writer I like that builds such thorough and culturally rich worlds to visit.  And the fount of knowledge Jordan possessed is apparent in every single word.  I know, I know.  I am definitely indulging in a bit of hero worship.  I will warn you: if you think George. R.R. Martin has a large cast of characters and that annoys you, I do not suggest picking up this series.  If that doesn't bother you in the least.... PROCEED!  I am nowhere near done with this series, I need to pick up book 10, but burnt myself out (see what I did there?) reading the first nine back to back.

Anyway, if you love lush descriptions, infinitely intricate plots, high fantasy... Well, the whole series (thus far) is beyond fantastic.  If you've never heard of it, or heard of it but never looked into it, don't freak out when you find out Robert Jordan passed away in 2007.  His wife pegged Brandon Sanderson to finish the series based on Jordan's extensive notes and plot details that were shared with family.  I've read a little of Sanderson's work and think he should fit the bill nicely.  I mean, Jordan's wife (and editor) chose him, so that should say quite a bit.  The cast of characters is vast and most of them are important at one point or another.  The plot lines twist more than... Well, honestly, I can't think of anything twistier than a plot line written by Robert Jordan.  I think it would be safe to begin with New Spring, though I am unsure if that is actually wise.  It gives insight to things I missed or did not pick up on that definitely make me reconsider a thing or two, plus it puts several characters in a light that I wasn't ready to see them in, as far into the series as I am.  I almost feel like I have to start completely over... But that it much too daunting a task.

Inkheart - Cornelia Funke

I am quite pleased by the first book of 2014.  I know it isn't new, but is definitely new to me.  I spent most of my childhood reading fantasy novels that were not really meant for my age group, so I missed a large number of the very good books I would have read then and possibly would have still read while in college.  I was too busy wading through Wheel of Time and basically any other sword & sorcery book I could get my hands on.

Once I was an adult, the concept of reading young adult novels seemed ridiculous.  Thankfully, Eragon and Harry Potter cured me of the notion.  I'm still selective in what I choose to read that is YA, since Twilight irritated me and anything similar (read: simpering, whiny "heroines" with a penchant for unhealthy relationships) does not appeal to me. 

Inkheart is magical and whimsical without being silly.  I love Mo and Meggie's relationship, mostly because it was similar to my mother and I and our love for books.  All of the characters have depth and experience quite a bit of development, with the exception of Mo.  I don't particularly feel like he needs anymore development, as he felt more like a tool to service the plot.  And I think Funke used him exceptionally well.  I especially enjoyed Elinor as well, with her attempts to stay stuffy and distant with Meggie.  Losing her library humanized her ad brought out the best in her, since she lost the one thing in the world she had to hide behind. 

It did drag a bit towards the middle, but I feel like it was part of setting up for the rest of the series.  On the whole, I really did like it. 

2013 In Review

2013 had a lot of new (to me) things in the realm of television/Netflix.  Plus, I changed jobs, so that led me a lack of discounted used books from Hastings and on to getting to explore my two favorite Half Price Books on a regular basis. 

I joined the ever growing trove of Whovians, so in a matter of three months I met Nine and Rose, met Ten, lost Rose and then met Eleven and Amy.  I also met Sherlock and John Watson and am now even more in love with Martin Freeman.  I have yet to begin The Walking Dead, but am excited to start Breaking Bad at some point soon.  Battlestar Gallactica is also a new favorite.

Most Memorable Current Series Episodes:
1. New Girl - Table 34: Jess and Nick kiss, and she does my favorite/most relatable Jess speech.  It was the moment I had been waiting for since I watched the first season on Netflix and then struggled to catch up for the third season.  They are by far, my favorite television couple.  Also, the whole moonwalking away thing--hilarious.











2. Sleepy Hollow - The Golem: Man, if you aren't watching this, you need to get caught the fuck up.  It's got a slow build, but it packs a punch.  This was the last episode of 2013.  Frankly, the week they skipped due to the World Series, I was screaming at Fox because I absolutely could not wait to see the next episode.  It really does start off slow, the pilot starts with a lot of actual action, but the plot unfolds perfectly through The Golem.  I have to say, that when I found out Ichabod had a kid, I was quite surprised, and I had a brief moment of, Awww. 

3. Doctor Who - The Rings of Akhaten: It was hard to pick this one, as I'm just not sold on Clara yet and I was honestly still reeling from losing Amy and Rory.  In fact, this episode and Angels Take Manhattan were shown back to back (I think, I might have dozed off) on Christmas day, which made it even more difficult to like Clara.  Mind you, I do like her.  I'm just not sold on her.  Yet.  Anyway, I did love the part where Eleven offers up the sum of all his experience as a Time Lord, it just wrenches the heart.


Movies!
Man, I am behind on movies.  I have to be taken, and that doesn't happen often.  Anyway, my list:

1. Iron Man 3 - Love, love, loved it!  Though, I did (willingly) sit between two comic book nerds who argued the nuances of the movie versus the comic book.  Thankfully, they didn't do it during the movie, else they'd of been broken in half.  I've never read the comic books, but I loved the movie itself.  They just keep piling depth onto Tony Stark and RDJ just does it brilliantly!

2. Superman  - Several people I spoke to afterwards had issue with this particular Superman, but I liked it.  I guess I don't have that issue with continuity or sticking to a story I already know, as I grew up knowing about Superman, watching Lois & Clark, and the animated cartoons.  So, I am not bothered when things change.

3. Star Trek: Into Darkness - This was bloody good.  I mean, seriously fantastic.  Benedict Cumberbatch as Khan was amazing.  And of course, there was Simon Pegg who makes a perfect Scotty.  I know a lot of Trekkies got their knickers in a knot over the whole continuity issue.  But, for me, I consider it cannon.  It isn't that difficult to believe that Spock changed things.  And I totally get the fact that Abrams made it into a huge, action packed THING, but it was still amazing.  I loved it.  I'm one of those people that don't get overly bothered by things that are and aren't cannon.  I just have a hard time dealing with movies versus books.

I know I missed a lot of great movies, but I just don't make it to the movies that often.

Books!

My number of books for 2013 was quite low.  Again, Netflix.  I've no intention of giving it up, but I do intend to devote more time to reading.  I mean, it's not like I'll catch up on Supernatural in time for it coming back on shortly.  And BSG isn't going anywhere...

Best book of the year... Had to be Ready Player One.  I've never gone too deeply into science fiction, but this one really just hits you with the immense amount of nerdiness AND a pretty heavy dose of sci-fi.  Granted, I still roll my eyes as the unnecessary amount of stress placed on the Art3mis-Wade/Parzival relationship.  I guess it was pretty spot on, love and teenagers often don't make for the best recipe, even in the real world.  I should just shut up and be glad that Wade recovered enough from their temporary break up to save the world.  But, I still can't get over his Lloyd Dobler behavior.

My best discovery of the year, that would be the Dark Tower graphic novels.  I love getting more back story on Roland and what happened to his original ka-tet.  I' nowhere near finished, as I'm trying to get them all in hard cover without paying full price at B&N.