23 July 11

A basically perfect day, beginning with hearty diner breakfast followed by fruit wine at Elephant Island, and five or six other wineries thereafter. Bistro lunch. Lounging and swimming in the lake. Driving to Okanagan Falls for ice cream at Tickleberry's. Dinner at the pub. Reading in bed.

invalid & W1L 026: Write one leaf about looking at the sky.

In case anyone was interested in my medical history, I had my Tdap vaccination today (the day I'm writing this, which should be like ten days ago now). The nurse told me my arm would be sore for the next few days.

Add this to the fact that several days straight of zealous friendship bracelet-making has left me with tendonitis in both hands/wrists/arms, and we have an uncomfortable technology hiatus. (Why is technology so dependent on fully functional fingers? I have never been less than able-bodied in my life, and I was afraid I'd developed carpal tunnel syndrome judging by the tingling and shooting pains up both my arms and was trying to imagine life less my hands. It made me feel like a child or a very old person.

I suppose we leave this world the same way we enter it.

This post has become unexpectedly somber.

Have an outfit nearly identical to this recent one.)

Jacket: mother's, H&M. Ron Weasley t-shirt: gift. Skirt: secondhand, gift. Tights: generic. Shoes: Keds.

P. S. Happy birthday, Harry.

I write stuff after the jump.

22 July 11

We started our Okanagan wine tour in Summerland after driving up the Coquihalla in the morning. This is Jesse outside of Dirty Laundry, taken with the Pentax.

Graphic Novel Review: Fables vol 15 – Rose Red

The Dark Man is an elemental being, a focus of all the Fear, Hate and negative energy in the universe has invaded our world looking to destroy the Fables. He has already leveled Fabletown, their hidden village within New York City, and he’s now erecting a tower in its place – a castle disguised as a hotel, from where he will amass his power and feed on the dark emotions of the world’s people.

The Fables meanwhile have escaped to the Farm, a place where the non-human Fables have lived away from the prying eyes of humans. But the place is now overwhelmed with the refugees, and things are deteriorating fast as different factions begin to vie for power. The only one who might be able to defuse the situation is Rose Red, who back in volume 1 had been sent to the Farm for penance and had earned the respect of many Fables as the Farm’s leader.

But Rose has been slowly allowing herself to fall apart ever since the death of Boy Blue, whom she loved but never realized until it was too late. She is visited by an apparition, who may be her mother, and at long last we are shown her tale – from her abandonment to her quest for revenge against her sister Snow White. Will she finally be able to overcome her past and help stave off the disaster that threatens to overwhelm the Farm?

Meanwhile, Totenkinder the witch has become a young woman again, and she is seeking answers in the homelands for how to defeat the Dark Man. But will all her research be enough to finally give her what she needs to defeat this new adversary?

After a fantastic run, the last couple of volumes of Fables had not been doing much for me, so I knew that Rose Red might be make-it-or-break-it time for this series. The good news is, it came through with flying colors. Whereas I found the last couple of volumes to be mostly forgettable, here was a very focused story. There are some wonderful things about the Fables series in general, the way it focuses in on characters who had been secondary in a prior volume and makes them the focus of the next, often along the way giving them a chance to overcome their current circumstances and become a hero. Rose Red continues that theme and it’s a welcome return and reminds me of many of the best previous arcs in the series.

Likewise though, Fables knows how to surprise the readers. Even as one character gets some redemption, others show surprising twists to their character – changing your perception of previous events and opening up many new possibilities for the future. Beyond that, this particular volume ended much differently than I thought it would – a surprising twist that really throws a wrench in things and provides a nice twist while at the same time being very complimentary to where this series began.

I’m a believer again in Fables, and will be sticking around to check out the next volume as soon as it’s available – something I wasn’t so sure of prior to reading Rose Red. This is one of the best arcs in the story, ranking up there with my favorites, and if you’ve stuck around this long it’s well worth reading.

jellyfish & W1L 025: Write one leaf about the last day of the month.

On the morning that I wore this outfit, I was almost late to class because I was reading The Shoebox Project.

Jacket: mother's, H&M. Polo shirt: brother's, American Eagle. Shorts: mother's + scissors. Tights: gift. Black and white oxfords: Miz Mooz. Rings: Rapunzelsgold on etsy and Forever21.

Yes, I am that kind of Harry Potter fan.*

And I am going to openly admit that

1. I have read a horrific amount of fanfiction in my time, and


2. a lot of fanfiction is horrifically bad (one needs only to be aware of the existence of the pairing that is Dumbledore/Giant Squid), and
   


3. it's kind of unfortunate that (in my experience) most well-written fanfiction is slashy (e. g. Shoebox (although admittedly it seems like the majority of HP fanfiction is slash, and it seems natural that the largest faction of the fandom would churn out the most quality fics)), but only because


4. slash fanfiction has a Reputation, but anyway, the point is that
   


5. reading SBP provided me with an official headcanon for young!James and young!Lily and it is beautiful and full of really sad funerals and jellyfish. I REJECT YOUR REALITY AND SUBSTITUTE MY OWN.
   

(*Actually, if I were that kind of Harry Potter fan, it wouldn't have been my first time reading Shoebox. Although, hey, I've read all 2605 pages of Maya's fanfiction, so JUDGE ME I DARE YOU.)

I write stuff after the jump.

21 July 11

Jeff and I went for dinner at Biercraft (formerly Stella's) on the Drive with my mom and Jimm.

Items Received

Real Vampires Don't Wear Size Six by Gerry Bartlett (Berkeley)



For a vampire, losing weight can be hellish-from the national bestselling author of Real Vampires Hate Their Thighs.

After Glory St. Clair kicked out the demon that had set up shop in her body, she had a serious fallout with longtime lover Jeremy Blade. But before Glory can win him back, she has some issues of the hellish variety to deal with.

When Lucifer himself offers Glory the ultimate temptation-work for the devil and he'll make her a size six-the curvy vampire's not sure if she can resist. But what Glory does know is that somehow, she's going to get back the man she loves and show everyone that real vampires always have more to love.

V is for Vampire: An Illustrated Alphabet of the Undead by Adam-troy Castro and Johnny Atomic (Harper Voyager)



A Is for Arterial Spray,

B Is for Bedroom Window,

C Is for Children of the Night . . .

A humorous and wonderfully illustrated A-to-Z guide that takes us inside the world of bloodsuckers. Learn all about that violent nut Van Helsing, the art of undead seduction, the dangerous myth of garlic, the trouble inherent in vampire real estate deals, the downside of eternal youth, as well as where to aim that wooden stake, with a friendly reminder to . . .

Lock the house and protect your neck!

The Diviner by Melanie Rawn (Daw)



Bestselling author Melanie Rawn's triumphant return to high fantasy.



The only survivor of royal treachery that eliminates his entire family, Azzad al-Ma'aliq flees to the desert and dedicates himself to vengeance. With the help of the Shagara, a nomadic tribe of powerful magicians, he begins to take his revenge-but at a terrible cost to himself.

Ghost Story by Jim Butcher (Roc)



The eagerly awaited new novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Dresden Files series.

When we last left the mighty wizard detective Harry Dresden, he wasn't doing well. In fact, he had been murdered by an unknown assassin.

But being dead doesn't stop him when his friends are in danger. Except now he has nobody, and no magic to help him. And there are also several dark spirits roaming the Chicago shadows who owe Harry some payback of their own.

To save his friends-and his own soul-Harry will have to pull off the ultimate trick without any magic...

Bricks by Leon Jenner (Hodder & Stoughton)



This is the story of a bricklayer. A master of his craft, he keeps its sacred teachings secret. For him a house is the dwelling place of a soul, and a house must be built in the right spirit or the soul inside it will suffer. The building of an arch is a ritual to obtain a right relation with the earth and a connection with the truth. The bricklayer also recalls his previous life as a Druid priest. He talks about the creation of the sacred landscape of these islands; how even a simple stick lying on the ground would tell people the direction they needed to go in; how when people stared at the stars, they were staring at their own mind. This Druid was also a builder of worlds, one of a group of higher beings able to move in an infinite number of universes that create and end constantly. These higher beings are eternal, know everything, and hold everything together. The speak mind to mind. They can prevent battles simply by walking between the two charging armies. The reader sees the world through the eyes of this great, magical being at the time of the Roman invasion, and learns how he tricked Julius Caesar and set in train the series of events that would lead to Caesar's assassination on the Ides of March. But as the bricklayer continues, he worries he is losing his ancient, sacred powers. The vision begins to fray at the edges as we learn how he has recently taken violent revenge on yobs who have mocked him. Is he really connected to a once living Druid priest, or is he gradually losing himself in his own fantasies?

Magic on the Line by Devon Monk (Roc)



In the secret lockup of the Authority, the council that decides what can and can't be done with magic, an undead magic user has possessed one of the prisoners. He wants his freedom-and then some. Now Allie Beckstrom and her lover, Zayvion, are the first line of defense against the chaos he's about to unleash on the city of Portland...

The Shadow Reader by Sandy Williams (Ace)



A Houston college student, McKenzie Lewis can track fae by reading the shadows they leave behind. For years she has been working for the fae King, tracking rebels who would claim the Realm. Her job isn't her only secret. She's in love with Kyol, the King's sword-master-but human and fae relationships are forbidden. When McKenzie is captured by Aren, the fierce rebel leader, she learns that not everything is as she thought. And McKenzie must decide who to trust and where she stands in the face of a cataclysmic civil war.

Dead Man Walking by Stefan Petrucha (Roc)



After Hessius Mann was convicted of his wife's murder, suppressed evidence came to light and the verdict was overturned-too bad he was already executed. But thanks to the miracles of modern science Hessius was brought back to life. Sort of.

Now that he's joined the ranks of Fort Hammer's pulse-challenged population, Hessius attempts to make a "living" as a private investigator. But when a missing persons case leads to a few zombies cut to pieces, Hessius starts thinking that someone's giving him the run-around-and it's not like he's in any condition to make a quick getaway...

Shadow Fall by Seressia Glass (Pocket)



Truth is the most dangerous weapon of all . . .

Kira Solomon’s life has never been simple. Battling against the Fallen, serving the Egyptian goddess Ma’at, becoming romantically involved with a 4,000-year-old Nubian warrior—these are now everyday realities. But something is changing. Kira’s magic is becoming dangerously unpredictable, tainted by the Shadow she has been trained to destroy.

Matters grow worse when an Atlanta museum exhibit based on the Egyptian Book of the Dead turns out to have truly sinister properties. As the body count rises, even long-trusted allies start to turn against Kira. She can hardly blame them—not when the God of Chaos is stalking her dreams and the shocking truth about her origins is finally coming to light. As one of the good guys, Kira was a force to be reckoned with. But if the only way to stop a terrifying adversary is to fight Shadow with Shadow, then she’s ready to find out just how very bad she can be. . . .

Kindling the Moon by Jenn Bennett (Pocket)



Meet Arcadia Bell: bartender, renegade magician, fugitive from the law. . . .

Being the spawn of two infamous occultists (and alleged murderers) isn’t easy, but freewheeling magician Arcadia “Cady” Bell knows how to make the best of a crummy situation. After hiding out for seven years, she’s carved an incognito niche for herself slinging drinks at the demon-friendly Tambuku Tiki Lounge.

But she receives an ultimatum when unexpected surveillance footage of her notorious parents surfaces: either prove their innocence or surrender herself. Unfortunately, the only witness to the crimes was an elusive Æthyric demon, and Cady has no idea how to find it. She teams up with Lon Butler, an enigmatic demonologist with a special talent for sexual spells and an arcane library of priceless stolen grimoires. Their research soon escalates into a storm of conflict involving missing police evidence, the decadent Hellfire Club, a ruthless bounty hunter, and a powerful occult society that operates way outside the law. If Cady can’t clear her family name soon, she’ll be forced to sacrifice her own life . . . and no amount of running will save her this time.

Basilisk by Rob Thurman (Roc)



Stefan Korsak and his genetically-altered brother have evaded the Institute for three years. When they learn the new location of the secret lab, they plan to break in and save the remaining children there. But one of the little ones doesn't want to leave. She wants to kill...

Water to Burn by Katharine Kerr (Daw)



Secret agent Nola O'Grady is back and ready to save San Francisco from all evildoers, alien and otherwise. With the aid of her bodyguard and lover Ari Nathan, Nola's new mission is to track down and apprehend the mysterious "Brother Belial," head of the now-dispersed Chaos cult-and a possible invader from another dimension.

Blood Rights by Kristen Painter (Orbit)



Born into a life of secrets and service, Chrysabelle's body bears the telltale marks of a comarré -- a special race of humans bred to feed vampire nobility. When her patron is murdered, she becomes the prime suspect, which sends her running into the mortal world...and into the arms of Malkolm, an outcast vampire cursed to kill every being from whom he drinks.

Now, Chrysabelle and Malkolm must work together to stop a plot to merge the mortal and supernatural worlds. If they fail, a chaos unlike anything anyone has ever seen will threaten to reign.

20 July 11

This lamp is beside my bed. This photo is terrible.

"Battleship" Trailer

Giveaway! The "Relic Master" Series by Catherine Fisher

Courtesy of Penguin Books (Dial imprint) I have a set of the "Relic Master" series by Catherine Fisher (all 4 books!) to offer for giveaway!



The Dark City

Welcome to Anara, a world mysteriously crumbling to devastation, where nothing is what it seems: Ancient relics emit technologically advanced powers, members of the old Order are hunted by the governing Watch yet revered by the people, and the great energy that connects all seems to also be destroying all. The only hope for the world lies in Galen, a man of the old Order and a Keeper of relics, and his sixteen-year-old apprentice, Raffi. They know of a secret relic with great power that has been hidden for centuries. As they search for it, they will be tested beyond their limits. For there are monsters-some human, some not-that also want the relic's power and will stop at nothing to get it.



The Lost Heiress

Even though Tasceron and its Emperor have fallen, there is a rumor that the heiress to the throne still lives. If so, her life is in grave danger, especially from the Watch. Galen and Raffi must race to find and protect her.



The Hidden Coronet

The coronet, a potent ancient relic, might be the only way to defeat the power that is destroying Anara. But it has been lost for centuries, and only legend tells of its whereabouts. Will Galen and Raffi be able to find it before the Watch does?



The Margrave

Galen and Raffi's quest has brought them to the Pits of Maar. There, below the surface of the world, in the deepest darkness, a most evil thing is waiting for them to come.





Just add your information to the form below to enter (all information is guaranteed confidential and will be discarded once the contest ends) and I will randomly pick one winner by Wednesday August 10th. No multiple entries please-- all multiple entries will be discarded. Open to U.S. entries only.



Good luck!



**Contest Closed**

19 July 11

18 July 11

From the top of Boundary Rd, looking west.

Cece L'amour Launch!

HELLO friends!! My life is officially crazier than ever. I'm going through some pretty bad stuff that I'm not ready to talk about BUT there's also good stuff- I'm launching my Cece L'amour line NEXT WEEK in New York!!!!! Crazy!

Here is one of the ads shot by the amazing Quang Le!

I'll be back to normal soon ;) Thanks for sticking it out with me.

XOX,

"Captain America"- Possibly My Favorite Entry Into the Avengers Saga So Far

I was really looking forward to "Captain America;" the previews looked awesome and I always liked the good old-fashioned square-jawed superhero. So I turned a blind eye to the early reviews and jumped in with both feet-- and found that my enthusiasm was well placed.



"Captain America" is the story of Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), a diminutive guy with aspirations to enlist and fight the Nazis in WWII --despite his physical limitations and continual designation as 4F (unfit for service). But Rogers isn't a gung-ho type who wants to flex his muscles (if he had any), nor is he particularly interested in killing. He just wants to do his share like all the other men going off to war. And it's his persistence in trying to enlist that catches the attention of Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci), the creator of the Super Soldier Serum, who sees in Rogers the combination of humility and tenacity needed to round out the physical strength his serum will give the men to whom it's administered.



With the help of Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper), the civilian genius that founds Stark Industries and fathers Tony Stark, Erskine doses Rogers with his serum and achieves spectacular results. Rogers has a chance to prove his mettle immediately following his transformation, but when he's caught on camera he becomes a symbol of the perfect soldier. Instead of getting his wish to go to the front lines, he's instead chosen to sell war bonds in a Captain America costume. Rogers, not happy with his new role, performs without complaint. But when his best friend is captured across enemy lines, he defies orders and in doing so proves his worth and earns the right to go to war.



The biggest threat to the world, however, isn't the Nazis- but rather a Nazi other than Hitler with a taste for world dominion. Johann Schmidt (Hugo Weaving), the head of Hitler's advanced weaponry division, becomes obsessed with the occult and an object known as the Tesseract. Forming his own organization known as HYDRA, Schmidt pursues power through the possession of the Tesseract and the illicit use of Erskine's serum. Unlike Rogers, Schmidt doesn't have the character traits needed to ensure that he isn't warped by the serum and he becomes increasingly inhuman and dubs himself the Red Skull. Somewhat predictably, but not without suspense or entertainment value, the movie then moves to the inevitable confrontation between the physically equal Red Skull and Captain America.



There are a lot of people who love this movie-- as you'll see through the enthusiastic reviews-- and a few who think it doesn't have enough explosions and CGI. I fit into the first category. Most reviewers will tell you, that while likable, "Captain America" isn't as good as "Iron Man." I get that. Robert Downey Jr. is a great Tony Stark. "Iron Man" has a ton of flair as a character and even a sub-par entry into that franchise is still pretty darn good. Who can compete with the bombastic appeal of Downey in the role?



But, I gotta say, I liked the understated quality of Chris Evans' Steve Rogers. To start, it's important to put the character in context. This is a story that takes place in the 1940's. America was a different place and people had a different set of values. You can't place a guy like Tony Stark into 1940's America and have it make a lot of sense. The closest you can get to that is Howard Stark and he's quite a bit more subdued than his son. Steve Rogers, on the other hand, is the embodiment of the best qualities our young men possessed at the time. He sincerely wants to do the right thing and he isn't going to spend a lot of time with any modern-day angst. He's the kind of guy who puts his head down and gets the job done. So when reviewers go on about how Evans wasn't given enough with the role and how they wish it was more emotive, I think they're putting modern expectations on a story where it doesn't belong. Additionally, when we get a sneak peek at the new "Avengers" movie at the end of this film, I think it's very smart to balance the outrageous personalities of Tony Stark and Thor with the quieter Steve Rogers.



But it isn't just my personal preferences that allow me to like this movie. It's just a good film. It's well constructed in terms of plot; somewhat predictable, but what isn't in a comic book movie without a tragic ending? The performances are strong, from Evans' earnest Rogers to Weaving's insane Schmidt. I did miss Weaving's resonant, bass voice (that I've become accustomed to thanks to the "Matrix" trilogy) as he loses that for an authentic German accent here, but you can't fault his acting ability as he imbues the Red Skull with a convincing bit of menace. And the supporting cast of Tommy Lee Jones as Col. Chester Phillips and Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter add the right touches of humor and sentimentality.



There's no way I could claim that "Captain America" is better than the first "Iron Man" (though I can say that it's better than the second) but I might be able to say it's better than "Thor." What I can say is that I would have a hard time picking a favorite between "Iron Man" and "Captain America" thanks to my own personality. As much fun as it is to watch Robert Downey strut across the screen as Tony Stark, I identify with Steve Rogers more. He's an admirable guy who doesn't set himself up for those uncomfortable moments we've come to associate with Stark. And, as if to reflect the personality of the main character, the overall tone of "Captain America" was distinctly toned-down from that of its sister films. The colors aren't as brash and the CGI isn't as explosive-- and that is a good thing in my opinion. Though the shield that Captain America carries seems like a tame weapon in comparison to the Iron Man suit, and Thor's hammer, somehow it becomes cool in Evans' hands.



"Captain America" isn't the comic book work-of-art that "The Dark Knight" is, but it's a very good addition to the Marvel universe that includes "Iron Man," "Thor" and "The Hulk." I think most fans will put it nearly on the same level as "Iron Man" and whether you prefer it or "Iron Man" will likely depend on if you like the more in-your-face personality of "Iron Man" or the calmer tone of "Captain America."



Though I suppose we don't have to go around picking favorites...

17 July 11

I rode my bike to Mal & Kaylie's and then we went for the by-donation lunch at the temple. Malloreigh left to go play cards and I hung out with Kaylie while she cooked, and then rode home to have dinner with Jeff and watch Being John Malkovich, a thoroughly messed-up movie which I had never seen before.

some just lie there crying for him to come and find them & W1L 024: Write one leaf about your mother.

I'd tell you what I did while I was wearing this outfit, but I don't remember because it was such a long time ago. (It was Spenser's birthday, actually.)

I'm on a horse.

There's a horse on my shirt.

There's a pasty Englishman's torso Daniel Radcliffe on my shirt.

Or maybe a horse.

Granny cardigan: secondhand, gift. Elven Brooch: Noble Collection LotR merchandise. Equus t-shirt: gift. Rings: estate sale + Rapunzelsgold on etsy. Jeans: mother's + scissors. Tights: generic. Boots: Steven by Steve Madden.

For anyone who's been reading... I'm going to run out of Write One Leaf responses soon because I can't write as quickly as I'm posting them. (I'm stuck on #34, which is the same one I got stuck on last time I tried to do this...) Here's one about my mum, because Daniel Radcliffe's pasty torso/the horse on my Equus t-shirt combined with my Elven Brooch make me an honorary Brit.

I write stuff after the jump.

Movie Review: I, Robot (2004)

Detective Dale Spooner (Smith) is hot on the trail of a possible homicidal robot case, which no one will give the light of day due to his outspoken anti-robot prejudice. But what he does find, when it's almost too late, will change the way the world views its electronic servants.

First of all, I never really got these future cyborg movies. Of all the shapes we can and have given robots to date, why humanoid? I understand the occasional humanoid, for one purpose or another, but how many functions would be more easily served with robots in different shapes? How many robots out there right now, working in hospitals or under water, or building cars, human-shaped? Not a one.

While we're on the subject of all these movies... that's exactly what this is. Terminator, The Matrix, I'm sure you could name a couple more. This is a perfect example of cut-and-paste movies: take 2 genres that work, in this case, robot invasion and Will Smith, and stick them together. Nothing wrong with that, when it comes to making a good movie, just makes it physically impossible to get a perfect score out of it. Not very original, though there are plenty of ways to go worse.

Despite the lack of originality, I have to say this is pretty entertaining. Maybe that's just me as a Smith fan speaking; there's not much other draw to this movie. There are a few funny moments ("Which one?" "One of us") and a few decent action scenes, but that's about it. It's a one man show, and they just happened to pick the right man to pull it off.

The effects are, of course, modern CGI, though not as bad as some. It's a good use of CGI effects: they're actually imitating something they can realistically imagine, and so it doesn't look like complete crap (even if the robots don't exactly look real either). They're far from awesome, but the robots also aren't the type of effects where you watch the whole movie thinking about how stupid they look (the Green Goblin immediately comes to mind as an example, though there are better ones out there).

Overall, you either like it or you don't. Analyze it, there's nothing in it for you. The originality is lacking, the acting in general isn't very inspirational. If you liked the Men In Black movies, you'll probably like I, Robot too, though don't expect it to be nearly as good.

variations on a trench coat: Faith, with the pink ribbons & W1L 023: Write one leaf about something you’ve lost.

It's strangely fortunate that this outfit coincides with today's Write One Leaf response, because my pink-beribboned ponytail combined with religious under/overtones reminds me of a famous short story I read in high school, which is why I call this variation on a trench coat...

Variation X: Young Goodman Brown

As you can see, I'm clutching my copy of Never Let Me Go in this photo. That's because I wore this outfit over 3 months ago, when I was still reading NLMG. I am a timely and relevant blogger.

CONFESSION: I don't remember what "Young Goodman Brown" was about. A dude and his wife and maybe some witches or something. I know I liked the prose...

Hair ribbon: no idea. Green thermal: Kohl's. Floral dress: Ross. Tights: BP Nordstrom. Striped socks: Target. Galoshes: Hunter.

I write stuff after the jump.

Book Review: Choices of One by Timothy Zahn

It is a dark time for the Rebellion. Rebel forces are searching for a new base of operations, and find that the Choices of One shape the futures of all.

In the wake of the destruction of the Death Star, an Imperial governor on the edge of the Unknown Regions has approached the Alliance leadership and offered up a well mined moon as a new home base for them. But can he be trusted, or is this actually a well-set trap for the Rebels who are now being actively hunted by Darth Vader.

Meanwhile, the Emperor has gotten word of his possible defection, and so dispatches his enforcer Mara Jade to determine the truth and respond with appropriate action. Mara knows she’s working in the unknown where all potential allies may be working against her – so she brings along the former Imperial soldiers now known as the Hand of Judgement as backup.

The Rebellion sends along various teams to conduct their own investigations as well. Luke Skywalker assigned to the rebel ambassador in hammering out the details of the potential deal, but finds himself wrapped up in a plot way over his head, where he’s being set up as a patsy. While looking into the potential base of operations, Han and Leia come across another secret base within the mines, one that might have something to do with a warlord named Nuso Esva operating in the region.

Nuso Esva is seen as a huge potential threat by Captain Thrawn, but who is actually the better tactician, and who will outmaneuver whom?

I found Choices of One to be very refreshing read, in fact I think it’s Tim Zahn’s best book since Vision of the Future. Not only that, he proves again why he is the author to beat in the Star Wars Expanded Universe (EU) with this novel. There is a fantastic moment - I hesitate to call it a twist - just near the end of the book that puts the whole thing on a whole new level. It's one of the only Star Wars books I can ever remember wanting to go back and reread immediately.

The plot is a little like a cold war spy film, with intrigues and a tense undertone to the whole affair. This is the kind of book that someone who has walked away from the EU (or never tried it) could easily pick up and enjoy.

But for long-time readers, many minor plot points start to bear fruit in this book. Hints that have been made in the past about the Chiss facing other threats start to come to a head. Zahn addresses retcons he himself has made over the years. He addresses the Empire of the Hand and we start to see how and why it was created. There’s a discrepancy that exists (though somewhat unacknowledged) in the 501st (during the movie era versus far later in the timeline) which is given a possible explanation in Choices of One. And there's a few really cool, unexpected cameos early in the book.

The Hand of Judgement has more personality than I remember from Allegiance, where Zahn first introduced them. These former Stormtroopers are fully realized characters now, interesting with individual characteristics this time around. After Allegiance I’d have been happy to never hear from those characters again, but upon finishing Choices of One I find myself hoping that we picking up with these characters in another book.

Thrawn is given a worthy nemesis in warlord Nuso Esva. For those, like me, who’ve questioned some of Thrawn’s appearances since the original Thrawn Trilogy and how different his character has seemed – Thrawn in Choices of One makes far more sense to me, and matches well with the character I remember.

It is also said that Zahn mostly just builds off his own prior writings/additions to the Star Wars Expanded Universe – and yes, that can be said about this book as well. As I said near the beginning though, that kind of take can be kind of refreshing – he takes the time to fill in areas of the saga and ultimately it’s also the reason his books are far more approachable for new readers (or lapsed readers) than other Star Wars books might be.

The hardest part for me in writing this review has been in keeping away from the surprise, it’s something any reader should do their best to avoid being spoiled on because it's worth discovering on your own while reading it. Choices of One is a great "one-shot" single book adventure - even as it could be both a continuation of the story from Allegiance, and could be used as a stepping stone to the next novel, should Zahn choose to use it as such. It has all the classic elements of Star Wars in it, with some great space battles and lightsaber-wielding, a rousing swashbuckling adventure. This is one of my favorite Star Wars novels, hands down, and I highly recommended it both to long time readers and those who are just looking for a single Star Wars story.

16 July 11

We hosted a no-pants party and although the day was stormy and lame, the turnout was quite good! Never underestimate the draw of doing (vegan and regular) jello shots while pantsless.

15 July 11

I moved my lavender outside because it hasn't quite been the same since it got knocked over, and it was taking up a lot of windowsill space. It seems to be doing better out on the front stoop.

"Dream House" Trailer

Ooooh, this looks good. Scary.

"The Amazing Spider-Man" Trailer

Giveaway! "Prince of Thorns" by Mark Lawrence

Not too long ago I wrote how the beginning of Prince of Thorns made me uncomfortable. But after reading several very complimentary reviews I have to acknowledge that I have probably totally misjudged this book. I can live with being wrong-- but I can't stand the idea that I might have been unfair.



So, in the interest of fairness, I'd like to offer a copy of "Prince of Thorns" for giveaway (courtesy of Penguin Books) so that you may have the chance to read the book for yourself. I also need to give a quick nod to Mark Lawrence-- a great guy who showed nothing but respect for my point of view.



Product Description

A stunning fantasy debut from a major new talent!



When he was nine, he watched his mother and brother killed before him. By the time he was thirteen, he was the leader of a band of bloodthirsty thugs. By fifteen, he intends to be king...



It's time for Prince Honorous Jorg Ancrath to return to the castle he turned his back on, to take what's rightfully his. Since the day he was hung on the thorns of a briar patch and forced to watch Count Renar's men slaughter his mother and young brother, Jorg has been driven to vent his rage. Life and death are no more than a game to him-and he has nothing left to lose.



But treachery awaits him in his father's castle. Treachery and dark magic. No matter how fierce, can the will of one young man conquer enemies with power beyond his imagining?



Just add your information to the form below to enter (all information is guaranteed confidential and will be discarded once contest ends) and I will randomly select a winner by Thursday August 4th. No multiple entries please. All multiple entries will be discarded. Open everywhere.



Good luck!



**Contest Closed**

Book Review: "Mechanique" by Genevieve Valentine

One of the best things about blogging is the exposure to books I wouldn't have known about if it wasn't for the various relationships forged along the way. One of my favorite authors (Alex Bledsoe) recently recommended the book Mechanique: A Tale of the Circus Tresaulti by Genevieve Valentine and once I read that the story was about a "steampunk-flavored circus," I was in.



Mechanique is a meandering story, much like the circus it depicts. Set some time in a distant future in a world torn apart by bombs and fractured into townships led by petty government men, the Circus Tresaulti comes to town amid a minor fanfare of colorful posters and a parade through town to display their magnificent mechanical parts. You won't notice the slightly tattered condition of the circus tents as you marvel as the strongman with a clock set in his scrap-metal spine or the men who use their long, powerful steel arms as the swinging trapeze.



This isn't your usual circus in more than the obvious ways. It isn't the gears that sets these performers apart, it's their hollow, copper bones and the strange agelessness that comes with them. There's a magic that the ringmaster possesses, with her griffin tattoos, that no one quite understands. She weaves her spell over acrobats and jugglers, but it's the musical, haunted wings that really draw in the crowds-- at least they did once upon a time. Now the wings are a dream to those who fight over them.



But a larger enemy has an eye on the circus now... and he wants the boss's secrets to built the perfect army.



"Mechanique" is one of the most unique stories I have ever read because of the way it was written. When I say 'meandering' I mean it. The narrative jumps around quite a bit and the timeline is rather confusing at first. It took me a good fifty pages to get a grip on the story. And it isn't just the timeline that's confusing. Valentine uses a parenthesis throughout the book to offer asides in the story and it confusing until you catch on to the rhythm of the book. But then a strange thing happens; you get caught up in the story and the confusion melts away.



Everything about this story skips around, perhaps in sympathy with the nomadic lives of the circus performers themselves. First there's Boss: the ringleader with the mysterious capability to grant hollow bones and immortality. Panadrome: the one-man band who is never without his instruments. Elena: the hard leader of the trapeze artists who may or may not hide a caring heart behind a cold exterior. Little George: the barker who desperately wants to get his bones and belong to the circus once and for all. Ayar: who took the bones against his will to save his partner Jonah. And Alec: the man who wore the musical wings crafted of bone and gold who slowly went mad with their tormented legacy. Many of the performers are former soldiers who take to the unsettled life in the circus because it has it's own stability and sense of family.



The things that could be a detriment to the book end up being its strength because the unusual style adds to the sense of magic. It has a flair and flow that's hard to describe but easy to recommend. It's not one of those books that bombards you with action, though it has more than its share. Valentine parcels out the accounts of the characters and their histories and leaves enough of the setting as a blank page for us to fill in with our imagination. Some things never change, like the character of the "government man"-- some truths are obvious to any reader. Just as the cost of war is also universal at any time and any place. And it's the combination of the surreal circus superimposed over the dystopian landscape that makes "Mechanique" stand out in such a memorable way.



I really liked "Mechanique." The combination of the circus with the steampunk elements works so well. It's just a genius combination. And I think that the marriage of style and substance utilized in this work takes it beyond something interesting and turns it into something special.



4 and 1/2 out of 5 stars.

14 July 11

I went to see midnight Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 with Steph, Amanda, Alice, Aaron, and Raffi at Metrotown. Amanda and I got there at 7:30 and Steph had been there since quarter to six and there were still loads of people ahead of us. Finally getting to sit in the theatre seats was an amazing experience.
The movie was one of the most epic things I have ever seen. At one point you could basically hear everyone in the theatre crying. Were it not for the cheesy epilogue ending it would pretty much be perfect. I got home at 3am and got up for work at 7:30 and it was so worth it.