The Life of Pi - Yann Martel

Life of Pi by Yann Martel


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Okay, four stars because I'm still thinking about the book and it's been a couple of days since I actually finished it.

This is another of a stack of books that I'm determined to FINALLY read. I picked it up on a recommendation, as I do alot of books, and I think I even lost the original copy I bought and then ended up with this one.

Anyways, I enjoyed it. ALOT. I especially liked the last chapter, which is a transcribed interview, so the book tells us between Pi and a couple of gentlemen from the shipping company.

I am still thinking about which story do I believe, which I believe is the point. The beginning says that it's a tale that will make you believe in God, and I don't believe that was true for me.

I will say that it's worth the time to read and while it took me a while to finish it, it was just time constraints that I had not that the book was uninteresting.

Keep your eyes our for meerkats. And, I'd add it to your to-read pile if you have not yet.

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Yeah, I'm still thinking about it and I LOVE that in a book.

Discovering Music...

I love music. I always seem to have something running in my head. Sometimes I imagine that this is the soundtrack of my life - like if I was in a movie. Wouldn't that be cool? Okay, most days, not so much, but I do really enjoy music.

I get excited when I find a new band to listen to. I don't care if they are "current" or whatever, just new to me. NPR radio shows have helped me discover so many bands I would never have come across otherwise.

Today, it was Midlake, a band out of Texas. I love, love, love them. There are releasing a new album at the beginning of next month and I have it pre-ordered on iTunes already. I'm in the process of downloading their last album - Trials of Van Occupanther. Check them out on iTunes or Myspace.

Their sound is described as psychedelic folk in one of the reviews I saw - which would have scared me a bit, if I hadn't already heard a preview of them on the radio. It's fabulous.

I like to be diverse in my musical selection, but I definitely have a tendency to focus on a genre or particular type of sound for a while before moving on to something and then integrating whatever I find into my collection.

These guys fit right in with what I've been jamming to lately. Iron and Wine, Peter, Bjorn and John, Rob Thomas, Josh Groban, Pearl Jam, Gin Blossoms, to name a few. Maybe those don't really all fit together but in my world they do.

I can't wait until the whole thing is downloaded and I really start listening to them.

So what's on your playlist at the moment???

Saturday Book Review - Soul fo the Fire - Terry Goodkind

Soul of the Fire by Terry Goodkind


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I am on a mission to catch up on this series, since I cannot remember why I stopped reading it in the first place. Also, with the new tv show, I find myself trying to remember what I've read. I vaguely remember the chimes. The big question are in the world or not? Is the magic really failing or not? And what's Zedd up to? These are the questions that Kahlan, Richard, Cara and another figure from Richard's past must answer if they are to save the land of Anderith from the invading army of Jagang. I find myself liking to return to series, especially longer ones, with decent character development. It's like sitting down and catching up with your friends about what they've been up to for the last ten years or so. In Kahlan and Richard, but as I am so drawn with the peripheral characters, I like to see what they been doing.I like Goodkind's style, it's easy, fluid and not overly flowery as some authors can get especially in books of this size. The stories move along, and while there is a conclusion of sorts, you are still left with plenty of questions that makes you want to read the next book.Not anything that has changed my world, but definitely provided with some lovely hours of imagination. Thanks Mr. Goodkind.

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**As an aside, I will be branching out a bit as my reviews go along. I have a goal to read a bunch of Dickens this year; some Daphne du Maurier thrillers among others. This is just the first in a line of hopefully fun reviews. And also fulfills my goal of blogging more.**

Happy Blogging!

He only looks cute...

But, truly he is a minion of the underworld. At least that is how it has felt the last few nights. I made the mistake of moving my bedroom furniture all around to give myself more space. More space = more play time, at least to the two little devils that also sleep in my room. Felix, pictured here and his sister, Feisty, have the last two nights not allowed me any sleep! The first night I attribute primarily to the newness and the fact that someone left a lamp on in the living room so they thought it was time to play.

Last night, they played. They played ON my bed. Ever tried to sleep when cats were tossing their toys at you??? It doesn't work well. I'm a little cranky today and definitely crossing my fingers that this stops before classes start in a couple of weeks, because I will ABSOLUTELY need sleep then.

To recover, I'm re-watching LOST season 5 in my sleep-deprived delirium. It's vastly entertaining and I highly recommend you all try it. I anticipate at some point I will pass out during the day, probably at my keyboard or in the middle of an art project and wake up drooling...

Hope you are all getting the rest you need. Happy Blogging!

A little moonrise ....

I'm not sure why I didn't share this pic the other night. I love the way the moon is rising over the horizon as the sun is setting. Totally gorgeous. So serene and the clouds make the whole scene slightly surreal and magical. As if through those funky pink clouds a dragon could burst through or something. Okay, maybe not a dragon, but it's my imagination and I'd like to see a dragon. Of course, it would be of the more rare, non people eating variety. Otherwise, I could not enjoy the view for very long.

I may take a shot at painting part of this scene. I like the colors and the challenge it would be. I would simplify it quiet a bit, since as a painting it might be a bit cluttered.

I need to get out and get some new photos taken for my upcoming drawing class. It's difficult since what I love in my photos is not necessarily what will look amazing in a sketch or a pastel. Such a different way to look at the world. Sigh...

I'm hoping to rope the family into a trip through Death Valley in the next few days. It's nice and cool out there and I love seeing all the ruggedness. I'm even falling in love a little (gasp!) with the desert out there. Who would have thought?!?

Happy Blogging!