I dropped it. How sad. I attended two classes and knew it wasn't what I was looking for. I'm still pursuing other ways to learn. This class just wasn't it and a huge financial investment for something that wasn't going to give me what I need anyway. I'm not a quitter by nature and this feels strange, but I'm also practical.
Well, I don't have to worry about passing up the continuing education classes I wanted to take that were on the same night as this course. I guess there's a silver lining after all. =D
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
An Early Birthday Present a Day Late
I'm SO excited!!! I've been wanting to do this since I heard it was coming to Utah, and Ed's giving it to me for my birthday! *dances a jig*
We're going to see Tarzan at the Tuahcan in southern Utah. You can check it out by clicking here. You can see images of the beautiful outdoor amphitheater here.
SQUEEEEEE!!!!
It's an early birthday present because I found out about it early, but it's a day late because the show is actually the day after my birthday. =D
Hmmm...my birthday is also International Talk Like a Pirate Day, so church is going to be interesting that day ...
Oh, dear. They better not ask me to talk in church that day!
*dies*
We're going to see Tarzan at the Tuahcan in southern Utah. You can check it out by clicking here. You can see images of the beautiful outdoor amphitheater here.
SQUEEEEEE!!!!
It's an early birthday present because I found out about it early, but it's a day late because the show is actually the day after my birthday. =D
Hmmm...my birthday is also International Talk Like a Pirate Day, so church is going to be interesting that day ...
Oh, dear. They better not ask me to talk in church that day!
*dies*
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Mockingjay - Additional Commentary
I'm part of a book group that has been discussing this series online. Here's a comment that I think says a great deal for me (much better than I expressed it myself):
Another friend of mine put it very well. She said that she felt like Collins took us very far down the rabbit hole, but then didn't pull us all the way out.
That's exactly how I felt - like there was too much violence and not enough hope to bring it back to balance.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Mockingjay Review
If you have read the first two books in the Hunger Games series but haven't read the concluding book, then you will want to stop reading to avoid spoiling yourself.
First thing, let me make it clear that I LOVE(d) this series. The Hunger Games and Catching Fire are well written and the stories compelling. I was very vested in the characters and looking forward to the release of the last book.
I should also note that I listened to Mockingjay, and I don't always pick up things as well in that medium. So, once I've digested the story for a few days, I'll go back and read it on paper and see if I feel differently.
Here are my initial impressions.
* I didn't particularly like the book (and some parts of it I LOATHED). I found the storyline disjointed. Collins was all over the place. Whereas the first two books were very focused, Mockingjay was not.
* Where did the strong Katniss go? She was so angry in the first book about her mother's emotional abandonment when her father was killed in the mines, yet Katniss did the same thing in this book (and the end of Catching Fire actually). I got so tired of the angst. Where was the strong Katniss who stepped up and took her sister's place in the games? Where was the girl who stood up to the Capitol and decorated and sang goodbye to Rue? It was so tedious the way Katniss persisted in blaming herself for everything--so much of which she had absolutely nothing to do with. On the one hand she recognized she'd been a pawn before and was a pawn now and yet it was all her fault? Ugh!
* In the earlier books I was led to believe Gale had more character. When he got involved in the development of that loathsome weapon, I lost a lot of respect for him. That device is the kind of thing they're using in the middle east, and he went way down in my estimation that he would even consider using it. The fact that a device of that design was what killed Katniss's sister Prim, I believe, means there's blood on Gale's hands. I so desperately wanted someone to speak up and say that by even considering weapons like those made the rebels no better than the people in the Capitol. You can't walk in crap and not expect to stink when you're done.
* I think that having Katniss vote to continue the Hunger Games against the children of the Capitol leaders took away Katniss's moral character and made her completely unsympathetic to me. She became a hypocrite. In the epilogue she whines about her children (and what's with calling them "the girl" and "the boy"--don't they have names?) learning about the Games in school and knowing their parents had been a part of them. How about telling them that you wanted to continue that travesty? Not only did it completely compromise her character, the storyline went nowhere because the Games were not continued! Showing that served no purpose. We already knew President Coin was just another scumbag like Snow. We didn't need to sully Katniss (and Haymitch who followed her suit) by having her agree to that while giving a lame excuse that it was for Prim (who would never have agreed to that). Katniss, agreeing with Johanna and Enobaria? She didn't seen any red flags there about her reasoning?
We see countless example of man's inhumanity to man every day when we watch the news or read a newspaper. I was led to believe this would be a story about how this group of people (perhaps even just a portion of them--like Katniss and her small group) beat down the evil tyrant while showing the noble side of mankind. She managed to do in the first book. What good is served in becoming the very thing you hate?
* I think some of the characters we came to love who were killed in this book (like Finnick) deserved a little more time in memoriam. I would have appreciated less of Katniss's self-absorbed angst and more of her recognizing and appreciating the good people who sacrificed so much to help her. She mentions them briefly, but it's rushed. I don't mind coming away from a book moved and crying. I don't like coming away from a book agitated and angry.
* The ending was too long in some places and not long enough in others. The transition from Katniss and Peeta barely speaking to each other to having children (just because he wanted them so badly) was poorly done. I know they both needed to heal after what they'd been through, but it's too abrupt. There was magic in some of the images in the earlier books (like the vision of a world where Peeta's children could grow up happily) that are referenced in this one. Unfortunately the beauty from the early books didn't make the jump to this one.
This book could have--should have--been so much more. I'll see if I like it any better in the second read.
Now I have to go and read something really cheery to bring me out of the gray funk I've been in since I finished listening to it.
First thing, let me make it clear that I LOVE(d) this series. The Hunger Games and Catching Fire are well written and the stories compelling. I was very vested in the characters and looking forward to the release of the last book.
I should also note that I listened to Mockingjay, and I don't always pick up things as well in that medium. So, once I've digested the story for a few days, I'll go back and read it on paper and see if I feel differently.
Here are my initial impressions.
* I didn't particularly like the book (and some parts of it I LOATHED). I found the storyline disjointed. Collins was all over the place. Whereas the first two books were very focused, Mockingjay was not.
* Where did the strong Katniss go? She was so angry in the first book about her mother's emotional abandonment when her father was killed in the mines, yet Katniss did the same thing in this book (and the end of Catching Fire actually). I got so tired of the angst. Where was the strong Katniss who stepped up and took her sister's place in the games? Where was the girl who stood up to the Capitol and decorated and sang goodbye to Rue? It was so tedious the way Katniss persisted in blaming herself for everything--so much of which she had absolutely nothing to do with. On the one hand she recognized she'd been a pawn before and was a pawn now and yet it was all her fault? Ugh!
* In the earlier books I was led to believe Gale had more character. When he got involved in the development of that loathsome weapon, I lost a lot of respect for him. That device is the kind of thing they're using in the middle east, and he went way down in my estimation that he would even consider using it. The fact that a device of that design was what killed Katniss's sister Prim, I believe, means there's blood on Gale's hands. I so desperately wanted someone to speak up and say that by even considering weapons like those made the rebels no better than the people in the Capitol. You can't walk in crap and not expect to stink when you're done.
* I think that having Katniss vote to continue the Hunger Games against the children of the Capitol leaders took away Katniss's moral character and made her completely unsympathetic to me. She became a hypocrite. In the epilogue she whines about her children (and what's with calling them "the girl" and "the boy"--don't they have names?) learning about the Games in school and knowing their parents had been a part of them. How about telling them that you wanted to continue that travesty? Not only did it completely compromise her character, the storyline went nowhere because the Games were not continued! Showing that served no purpose. We already knew President Coin was just another scumbag like Snow. We didn't need to sully Katniss (and Haymitch who followed her suit) by having her agree to that while giving a lame excuse that it was for Prim (who would never have agreed to that). Katniss, agreeing with Johanna and Enobaria? She didn't seen any red flags there about her reasoning?
We see countless example of man's inhumanity to man every day when we watch the news or read a newspaper. I was led to believe this would be a story about how this group of people (perhaps even just a portion of them--like Katniss and her small group) beat down the evil tyrant while showing the noble side of mankind. She managed to do in the first book. What good is served in becoming the very thing you hate?
* I think some of the characters we came to love who were killed in this book (like Finnick) deserved a little more time in memoriam. I would have appreciated less of Katniss's self-absorbed angst and more of her recognizing and appreciating the good people who sacrificed so much to help her. She mentions them briefly, but it's rushed. I don't mind coming away from a book moved and crying. I don't like coming away from a book agitated and angry.
* The ending was too long in some places and not long enough in others. The transition from Katniss and Peeta barely speaking to each other to having children (just because he wanted them so badly) was poorly done. I know they both needed to heal after what they'd been through, but it's too abrupt. There was magic in some of the images in the earlier books (like the vision of a world where Peeta's children could grow up happily) that are referenced in this one. Unfortunately the beauty from the early books didn't make the jump to this one.
This book could have--should have--been so much more. I'll see if I like it any better in the second read.
Now I have to go and read something really cheery to bring me out of the gray funk I've been in since I finished listening to it.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Wow
Talk about awesomeness! The burning after the procedure was very uncomfortable, but nothing so terrible I'd never do this again, and it only lasted a couple of hours. I slept through much of it.
I can already see better than I've been able to since I was about ten years old.
Ed had wondered if he was a candidate for Lasik until he saw the procedure. Now he's not the least bit interested for himself. He's always been very sensitive about his eyes and was never interested in contacts.
Poor guy. This is incredible!
I can already see better than I've been able to since I was about ten years old.
Ed had wondered if he was a candidate for Lasik until he saw the procedure. Now he's not the least bit interested for himself. He's always been very sensitive about his eyes and was never interested in contacts.
Poor guy. This is incredible!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Night Before Surgery
I'm really surprised at the number of people who have had this Lasik procedure. I went yesterday and had my eyes examined again. I needed to go nearly a month between taking my contacts out and going under the "knife" (figurative for the laser) because it's been about 40 years that I've been wearing hard lens contacts. In the examination, the doctor said my cornea had thickened, which is a good thing. Hard contacts can flatten and thin the cornea. If the tests had shown the corneas had thinned, I might be a candidate any longer.
I've never taken Valium before, and I'm hoping it's as good as they say it is, and I won't really care about what their doing.
I've never taken Valium before, and I'm hoping it's as good as they say it is, and I won't really care about what their doing.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
$$$$$ Sale $$$$$
I'm scheduled to have Lasik surgery on my eyes this Friday, and it's not an inexpensive procedure. I got a fantastic phone call from the staff Saturday explaining that they've got a promotion beginning on Wednesday that will save me $600.
Am I excited?
Am I excited?
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Young Adult Literature
I'm a major fan of YA literature and have been for some time. And literature that's "technically" for children as well. One of the most highly anticipated books among my friends (both in real life and online) is Mockingjay, the third and final book in Hunger Games series.
The New York Times did an article (CLICK HERE) about the upcoming book and the adults who read the series (and other YA/children's books). The article talks about the draw these books have for us.
Some of the YA/Child Lit books (series) I've read over the last few years include:
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins -- Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay (coming out on August 24th)
"introduces sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a post-apocalyptic world where a powerful government called the Capitol has risen up after several devastating disasters. In the book, the Hunger Games are an annual televised event where the ruthless and evil Capitol randomly selects one boy and one girl from each of the twelve districts, who are then pitted against each other in a game of survival and forced to kill until only one remains.
Collins says that the idea for The Hunger Games came from channel surfing on the T.V., and that the Greek myth of Theseus serves as inspiration for the book. She also says that her father fighting in the Vietnam War helped her understand how it feels to fear the loss of a loved one. The book has been released as a paperback and also an audiobook, which was read by Carolyn McCormick. The Hunger Games has an initial print of 200,000 which was bumped up twice from 50,000. The book has been translated into 26 different languages and rights have been sold to 38 countries as well."
The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare -- City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass
"When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Clary knows she should call the police, but it's hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but Clary.
Equally startled by her ability to see them, the murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours, Clary's mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know."
Inkheart Series by Cornelia Funke -- Inkheart, Inkspell, Inkdeath
"The books chronicle the adventures of teenager Meggie Folchart whose life changes dramatically when she realizes that she and her father, a bookbinder named Mo, have the unusual ability to bring characters from books into the real world when reading aloud. Mostly set in Northern Italy and the parallel world of the fictional Inkheart book, the central story arc concerns the magic of books, their characters and creatures, and the art of reading."
Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer -- Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn
These are so well known and in movie form, I don't think I need to say more.
Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordin -- The Lightening Thief, Sea of Monsters, Titans Curse, Battle of the Labyrinth, The Last Olympian
The protagonist is Percy Jackson, who discovers that he is the son of Poseidon, god of the sea. He learns that the legendary beings of Greek mythology still exist and have always existed, including monsters, cyclopes, empousae, Titans, and the Greek Gods, including the twelve Olympians themselves who dwell in Olympus, which is now situated on the mythical 600th floor of the Empire State Building. Percy is frequently attacked by monsters because he is a child of one of the "Big Three": king of the gods and the god of the sky, Zeus, the god of the sea, Poseidon, and the god of the Underworld, Hades, who made a pact after World War II to not have any more children because they were too powerful and unpredictable. Percy meets many other young demigods, both friendly and hostile, who are also in the process of discovering their ancestry and powers.
Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead -- Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss, Blood Promise, Spirit Bound, Last Sacrifice (due out in December)
It tells the story of Rosemarie (Rose) Hathaway, a seventeen year old Dhampir girl, who is training to be a body guard for her Moroi best friend, Vasilisa (Lissa) Dragomir. In the process of learning how to defeat Strigoi (the undead and evil vampires) in St. Vladimir's Academy, Rose finds herself caught in a forbidden romance with her handsome trainer, Dimitri Belikov, while having an unbreakable bond with Lissa.
Artemus Fowl by Eoin Colfer -- Artemis Fowl, The Arctic Incident, Eternity Code, The Opal Deception, The Lost Colony, The Time Paradox, The Atlantis Complex
"...starring a teenage criminal mastermind named Artemis Fowl II. Artemis Fowl, the main character, is a ruthless and extremely intelligent young (human) criminal whose main goal is the acquisition of money through a variety of often illegal schemes. There are many settings in the series, including Siberia, Chicago, Taiwan, Morocco, France and various places in Ireland. One main setting that has been in all the books is the Lower Elements... The author has described the series as "Die Hard with fairies"."
Fablehaven Series by Brandon Mull -- Fablehaven, Rise of the Evening Star, Grip of the Shadow Plague, Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary, Keys to the Demon Prison
Fablehaven is a secret nature preserve protecting the beings of myth and legend from the outside world. The current caretaker, Stan Sorenson, describes it as "a refuge for mystical creatures". Those who live in this large sanctuary, mortal and magical, must abide by a treaty of rules. The most common rules are focused upon "the law of the harvest" or "the law of retribution" meaning, you reap what you sow. If this law in the treaty is broken, you lose the magical protection it provides, allowing for retaliation, which is essentially what drives the plot through the first book. There also exist magical borders that keep most mystical creatures within the preserve, but out of certain domains. The caretaker's house and grounds are within one of these protective boundaries. However, some of these borders dissolve on certain nights, allowing frightening creatures to roam free on the grounds, one of which - Midsummer Eve - occurs in the first book.
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling -- Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, Half Blood Prince, Deathly Hallows
The novels revolve around Harry Potter, an orphan who discovers at the age of eleven that he is a wizard. Wizard ability is inborn, but children are sent to wizarding school to learn the magical skills necessary to succeed in the wizarding world. Harry is invited to attend the boarding school called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Each book chronicles one year in Harry's life, and most of the events take place at Hogwarts. As he struggles through adolescence, Harry learns to overcome many magical, social and emotional hurdles.
The main narrative of the novels is set in the years 1991-1998, with significant memories from the year 1976 (Harry's parents' Ordinary Wizarding Level (O.W.L.) year) and memories from various determinable and undeterminable periods after 1945; though little reference is made to features of any period.
The series is so rich that it appeals easily to readers of all ages, and it amazes me that so many people see them only as children's books. Harry Potter is the series that really took me back, so to speak, into the younger reader's genre. I was even interviewed on TV before the release of the final book--how's that for embracing your inner geek? =D
I'm still working as a moderator at the Leaky Lounge, which is the forum for the Harry Potter news site called The Leaky Cauldron. It's been an amazing ride, and this online experience has helped me to meet people I would never have crossed paths with otherwise. I'm excited to be going to LeakyCon11 next July, where I'll finally be able to meet in person (as opposed to online) many of these people I've known for close to five years. To say nothing of being able to visit the new theme park . *dances a jig*
You know, my HP experience and connection with the people on the Lounge has motivated me, in ways I'd never imagined, to do things I've always wanted to do--such as learning to write. I recently decided the adage that youth is wasted on the young is so very true. What I could have done earlier in my life if I'd had the focus I have now with the energy I had then. I'm going to be 56 next month, and I feel so alive right now.
But back on topic!
I've read (or tried to read) other series including:
Blue Blood vampire series (dreadfully written--I'm amazed they were published)
House of Night vampire series (bleck, interesting premise but went from bad to worse until I just quit reading. Plus they were pretty graphic for a YA series)
Septimus Heap (another little wizard boy--cleverly written but no comparison to Harry)
Leven Thumps (first book was okay, but I wasn't able to get into the second one though I know of many people who love them).
Other series I've enjoyed that I wouldn't necessarily call children's or young adult (but I believe are classified as such) include the Eragon series and Lord of the Rings. These two series I would rate as "okay" for the former and "amazing" for the latter. The film made of Eragon was horrendous and the trilogy made by Peter Jackson was wonderful.
The New York Times did an article (CLICK HERE) about the upcoming book and the adults who read the series (and other YA/children's books). The article talks about the draw these books have for us.
Some of the YA/Child Lit books (series) I've read over the last few years include:
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins -- Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay (coming out on August 24th)
"introduces sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a post-apocalyptic world where a powerful government called the Capitol has risen up after several devastating disasters. In the book, the Hunger Games are an annual televised event where the ruthless and evil Capitol randomly selects one boy and one girl from each of the twelve districts, who are then pitted against each other in a game of survival and forced to kill until only one remains.
Collins says that the idea for The Hunger Games came from channel surfing on the T.V., and that the Greek myth of Theseus serves as inspiration for the book. She also says that her father fighting in the Vietnam War helped her understand how it feels to fear the loss of a loved one. The book has been released as a paperback and also an audiobook, which was read by Carolyn McCormick. The Hunger Games has an initial print of 200,000 which was bumped up twice from 50,000. The book has been translated into 26 different languages and rights have been sold to 38 countries as well."
The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare -- City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass
"When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Clary knows she should call the police, but it's hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but Clary.
Equally startled by her ability to see them, the murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours, Clary's mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know."
Inkheart Series by Cornelia Funke -- Inkheart, Inkspell, Inkdeath
"The books chronicle the adventures of teenager Meggie Folchart whose life changes dramatically when she realizes that she and her father, a bookbinder named Mo, have the unusual ability to bring characters from books into the real world when reading aloud. Mostly set in Northern Italy and the parallel world of the fictional Inkheart book, the central story arc concerns the magic of books, their characters and creatures, and the art of reading."
Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer -- Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn
These are so well known and in movie form, I don't think I need to say more.
Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordin -- The Lightening Thief, Sea of Monsters, Titans Curse, Battle of the Labyrinth, The Last Olympian
The protagonist is Percy Jackson, who discovers that he is the son of Poseidon, god of the sea. He learns that the legendary beings of Greek mythology still exist and have always existed, including monsters, cyclopes, empousae, Titans, and the Greek Gods, including the twelve Olympians themselves who dwell in Olympus, which is now situated on the mythical 600th floor of the Empire State Building. Percy is frequently attacked by monsters because he is a child of one of the "Big Three": king of the gods and the god of the sky, Zeus, the god of the sea, Poseidon, and the god of the Underworld, Hades, who made a pact after World War II to not have any more children because they were too powerful and unpredictable. Percy meets many other young demigods, both friendly and hostile, who are also in the process of discovering their ancestry and powers.
Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead -- Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss, Blood Promise, Spirit Bound, Last Sacrifice (due out in December)
It tells the story of Rosemarie (Rose) Hathaway, a seventeen year old Dhampir girl, who is training to be a body guard for her Moroi best friend, Vasilisa (Lissa) Dragomir. In the process of learning how to defeat Strigoi (the undead and evil vampires) in St. Vladimir's Academy, Rose finds herself caught in a forbidden romance with her handsome trainer, Dimitri Belikov, while having an unbreakable bond with Lissa.
Artemus Fowl by Eoin Colfer -- Artemis Fowl, The Arctic Incident, Eternity Code, The Opal Deception, The Lost Colony, The Time Paradox, The Atlantis Complex
"...starring a teenage criminal mastermind named Artemis Fowl II. Artemis Fowl, the main character, is a ruthless and extremely intelligent young (human) criminal whose main goal is the acquisition of money through a variety of often illegal schemes. There are many settings in the series, including Siberia, Chicago, Taiwan, Morocco, France and various places in Ireland. One main setting that has been in all the books is the Lower Elements... The author has described the series as "Die Hard with fairies"."
Fablehaven Series by Brandon Mull -- Fablehaven, Rise of the Evening Star, Grip of the Shadow Plague, Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary, Keys to the Demon Prison
Fablehaven is a secret nature preserve protecting the beings of myth and legend from the outside world. The current caretaker, Stan Sorenson, describes it as "a refuge for mystical creatures". Those who live in this large sanctuary, mortal and magical, must abide by a treaty of rules. The most common rules are focused upon "the law of the harvest" or "the law of retribution" meaning, you reap what you sow. If this law in the treaty is broken, you lose the magical protection it provides, allowing for retaliation, which is essentially what drives the plot through the first book. There also exist magical borders that keep most mystical creatures within the preserve, but out of certain domains. The caretaker's house and grounds are within one of these protective boundaries. However, some of these borders dissolve on certain nights, allowing frightening creatures to roam free on the grounds, one of which - Midsummer Eve - occurs in the first book.
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling -- Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, Half Blood Prince, Deathly Hallows
The novels revolve around Harry Potter, an orphan who discovers at the age of eleven that he is a wizard. Wizard ability is inborn, but children are sent to wizarding school to learn the magical skills necessary to succeed in the wizarding world. Harry is invited to attend the boarding school called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Each book chronicles one year in Harry's life, and most of the events take place at Hogwarts. As he struggles through adolescence, Harry learns to overcome many magical, social and emotional hurdles.
The main narrative of the novels is set in the years 1991-1998, with significant memories from the year 1976 (Harry's parents' Ordinary Wizarding Level (O.W.L.) year) and memories from various determinable and undeterminable periods after 1945; though little reference is made to features of any period.
The series is so rich that it appeals easily to readers of all ages, and it amazes me that so many people see them only as children's books. Harry Potter is the series that really took me back, so to speak, into the younger reader's genre. I was even interviewed on TV before the release of the final book--how's that for embracing your inner geek? =D
I'm still working as a moderator at the Leaky Lounge, which is the forum for the Harry Potter news site called The Leaky Cauldron. It's been an amazing ride, and this online experience has helped me to meet people I would never have crossed paths with otherwise. I'm excited to be going to LeakyCon11 next July, where I'll finally be able to meet in person (as opposed to online) many of these people I've known for close to five years. To say nothing of being able to visit the new theme park . *dances a jig*
You know, my HP experience and connection with the people on the Lounge has motivated me, in ways I'd never imagined, to do things I've always wanted to do--such as learning to write. I recently decided the adage that youth is wasted on the young is so very true. What I could have done earlier in my life if I'd had the focus I have now with the energy I had then. I'm going to be 56 next month, and I feel so alive right now.
But back on topic!
I've read (or tried to read) other series including:
Blue Blood vampire series (dreadfully written--I'm amazed they were published)
House of Night vampire series (bleck, interesting premise but went from bad to worse until I just quit reading. Plus they were pretty graphic for a YA series)
Septimus Heap (another little wizard boy--cleverly written but no comparison to Harry)
Leven Thumps (first book was okay, but I wasn't able to get into the second one though I know of many people who love them).
Other series I've enjoyed that I wouldn't necessarily call children's or young adult (but I believe are classified as such) include the Eragon series and Lord of the Rings. These two series I would rate as "okay" for the former and "amazing" for the latter. The film made of Eragon was horrendous and the trilogy made by Peter Jackson was wonderful.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Man Rules
I've seen this one before, but I think it's funny and has a lot of truth behind it. It's always fascinating to me how different men and women are. I'm not saying that one viewpoint is better than the other because we really need to see from both sides.
There are "rules" from the female side. Here are "rules" from the male side.
Please note.. these are all numbered '1 ' ON PURPOSE!
1. Men are NOT mind readers.
1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
1. Crying is blackmail.
1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work!
Strong hints do not work!
Obvious hints do not work!
Just say it!
1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
[Editorial Comment--they don't get it.]
1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 Days.
1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us..
1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one
1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials.
1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we...
1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings... Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
1. If we ask what is wrong and you say 'nothing,' We will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear..
1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine....Really.
1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball or motor sports.
And in conclusion, I love this humorous take on the differences between men's and women's brains: CLICK HERE
There are "rules" from the female side. Here are "rules" from the male side.
Please note.. these are all numbered '1 ' ON PURPOSE!
1. Men are NOT mind readers.
1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
1. Crying is blackmail.
1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work!
Strong hints do not work!
Obvious hints do not work!
Just say it!
1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
[Editorial Comment--they don't get it.]
1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 Days.
1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us..
1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one
1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials.
1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we...
1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings... Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
1. If we ask what is wrong and you say 'nothing,' We will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear..
1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine....Really.
1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball or motor sports.
And in conclusion, I love this humorous take on the differences between men's and women's brains: CLICK HERE
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
SQUEEEEEE!!!
I got my class and paid the tuition today. Phew!!!
It's been a few years since I took a class (after too much teenaged drama at home, I put off taking--and then dropping--anymore classes until the kids were all growed up), and I've experienced a bit of a choke factor with the cost of one dang class. It's almost double what it was ten years ago.
And this is for the class I have to take so I can take the class I want.
*sigh*
Good thing tuition is a tax write off.
It's been a few years since I took a class (after too much teenaged drama at home, I put off taking--and then dropping--anymore classes until the kids were all growed up), and I've experienced a bit of a choke factor with the cost of one dang class. It's almost double what it was ten years ago.
And this is for the class I have to take so I can take the class I want.
*sigh*
Good thing tuition is a tax write off.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Old Movies
As I've been working around the house, exercising, or getting ready for work I've been pulling out some of our old VHS movies and having a watch.
My Science Project
This one was better than I remembered. It's cheesy, yes, but I've seen much, much worse. How's that for an overwhelming endorsement?
Baby Boom
I LOVE this movie! When I had my children, they changed my life. This film does a great job of showing how women who think they want it all can actually have it--just not necessarily quite the way they imagined it. It's a great example of thinking out of the box.
Cast Away
I hadn't watched this movie in many years, and I forgot about how touching it was when he finally got to meet up with his love, Kelly (who, thinking he is dead, has moved on). I don't think Ed ever got how important it was for Kelly to make the decision to leave with Chuck.
When David and Erin were very small, and we were SO poor, I would walk around KMart and load the shopping cart with things they needed. I'm not talking about extras, I'm talking about underwear and socks. I'd end up having to put them all back on the shelves because I didn't have the money to buy them. But there was a certain peace that came from going through the motions. Crazy? Maybe. But I always think of that experience when I see Helen Hunt's character decide to leave her husband and baby to go away with the love of her life. She doesn't of course, but it's like she had to make the decision to put it to rest, even if she couldn't follow through with it.
Ghost
*sob* 'nuff said.
My Science Project
This one was better than I remembered. It's cheesy, yes, but I've seen much, much worse. How's that for an overwhelming endorsement?
Baby Boom
I LOVE this movie! When I had my children, they changed my life. This film does a great job of showing how women who think they want it all can actually have it--just not necessarily quite the way they imagined it. It's a great example of thinking out of the box.
Cast Away
I hadn't watched this movie in many years, and I forgot about how touching it was when he finally got to meet up with his love, Kelly (who, thinking he is dead, has moved on). I don't think Ed ever got how important it was for Kelly to make the decision to leave with Chuck.
When David and Erin were very small, and we were SO poor, I would walk around KMart and load the shopping cart with things they needed. I'm not talking about extras, I'm talking about underwear and socks. I'd end up having to put them all back on the shelves because I didn't have the money to buy them. But there was a certain peace that came from going through the motions. Crazy? Maybe. But I always think of that experience when I see Helen Hunt's character decide to leave her husband and baby to go away with the love of her life. She doesn't of course, but it's like she had to make the decision to put it to rest, even if she couldn't follow through with it.
Ghost
*sob* 'nuff said.
Writing .... and Learning
I've been hoping to take a creative writing class this Fall, and I'm a little frustrated. I'm on the waitlist for my class (which is a prerequisite for the class I'd really like to take). As I get closer to the start of the semester, and I'm realizing I might not get in, I'm ready to pull my hair out! I'm faced with serious logistics problems if I have to wait until next semester to take the class. I've got a grandbaby coming in February which will require time away AND Ed and I are doing on a cruise with his brother and sister-in-law in April--about the time I'd be in finals. That makes it less likely I'll be able to take a class next semester.
So it could actually be summer 2011 before I can take the dang class.
Oh. It might actually be fall 2011, since I'm slated to go to LeakyCon11 in July of 2011. Ugh! So much to do and so little time!
I did sign up to take a continuing education class online from BYU--though I'm not sure what to think of the first writing assignment. I'm supposed to grade it myself. Huh? I was provided with criteria for the grading, but I'm hardly unbiased. *sigh* I'll have to see how it goes. I warned my son Paul that he may have to grade it using the criteria, too.
I've also signed up to take a session at UVU called The Book Academy, which is an all-day seminar. Should be interesting -- I hope.
I was searching for some hints on a writing issue I was struggling with, and I came across this blog post. I'd seen his blog before because a friend in Australia (hey Donna!) linked to it on her site. But this particular installment of Nathan's (and especially the comments of his readers) was very informative.
Learning how to write well (I hope that's the end result anyway) is sure a lot of work. Especially a lot of work, considering that I started down this path, so I can do a better job, when I write my personal history as part of doing my genealogy.
If I wasn't having so dang much fun, I might be tempted to give it up. I just wish I'd started all this when I was younger. I'm so worried I won't come up with a finished project before I die.
How's that for a morbid thought?
Oh, well. If it exercises the gray matter, it's gotta be a good thing. Right?
So it could actually be summer 2011 before I can take the dang class.
Oh. It might actually be fall 2011, since I'm slated to go to LeakyCon11 in July of 2011. Ugh! So much to do and so little time!
I did sign up to take a continuing education class online from BYU--though I'm not sure what to think of the first writing assignment. I'm supposed to grade it myself. Huh? I was provided with criteria for the grading, but I'm hardly unbiased. *sigh* I'll have to see how it goes. I warned my son Paul that he may have to grade it using the criteria, too.
I've also signed up to take a session at UVU called The Book Academy, which is an all-day seminar. Should be interesting -- I hope.
I was searching for some hints on a writing issue I was struggling with, and I came across this blog post. I'd seen his blog before because a friend in Australia (hey Donna!) linked to it on her site. But this particular installment of Nathan's (and especially the comments of his readers) was very informative.
Learning how to write well (I hope that's the end result anyway) is sure a lot of work. Especially a lot of work, considering that I started down this path, so I can do a better job, when I write my personal history as part of doing my genealogy.
If I wasn't having so dang much fun, I might be tempted to give it up. I just wish I'd started all this when I was younger. I'm so worried I won't come up with a finished project before I die.
How's that for a morbid thought?
Oh, well. If it exercises the gray matter, it's gotta be a good thing. Right?
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Summer Storm
Holy cow! I'm sitting here on my bed (with my WiFI Internet and my laptop) watching Mother Nature's fireworks show. Amazing. Lightening, thunder, and now a gentle rain as the worst of the tempest has moved to the east.
A few years ago, we added a large window to our bedroom and having two (one to the south and one to the east) made this experience like watching a major motion picture filled with special effects. I couldn't make up my mind which vista to view, and the sharp claps of lightening and roars of thunder coming in the two open windows was surprisingly "surround."
Too bad my camera's not the kind that could have captured this in the dark.
When I was a girl, we spent two years in the Philippines, and Typhoon Ella hit us dead on. We were living on Sangley Point across Manila Bay from the city, and we were without electricity for a week. The power of the winds blew over a huge number of trees on the base. When the Eye passed over us, we all went outside to examine the damage for ourselves, and the Shore Patrol had to drive around and warn everyone to return to their homes because the storm wasn't over. The direction of the wind in typhoons and hurricanes changes depending upon which side of the Eye you're on, so when the second half hit, the winds forced many of the fallen trees upright again. Unfortunately they couldn't be saved once their roots had been ripped from the ground.
I love extremes in weather; I find them exciting. It's humbling to see the force of nature in its fury, and it also makes me feel grateful. Grateful that I can watch from the comfort and security of my home, but also grateful for the majesty of this world.
It's wonderful to be alive!
A few years ago, we added a large window to our bedroom and having two (one to the south and one to the east) made this experience like watching a major motion picture filled with special effects. I couldn't make up my mind which vista to view, and the sharp claps of lightening and roars of thunder coming in the two open windows was surprisingly "surround."
Too bad my camera's not the kind that could have captured this in the dark.
When I was a girl, we spent two years in the Philippines, and Typhoon Ella hit us dead on. We were living on Sangley Point across Manila Bay from the city, and we were without electricity for a week. The power of the winds blew over a huge number of trees on the base. When the Eye passed over us, we all went outside to examine the damage for ourselves, and the Shore Patrol had to drive around and warn everyone to return to their homes because the storm wasn't over. The direction of the wind in typhoons and hurricanes changes depending upon which side of the Eye you're on, so when the second half hit, the winds forced many of the fallen trees upright again. Unfortunately they couldn't be saved once their roots had been ripped from the ground.
I love extremes in weather; I find them exciting. It's humbling to see the force of nature in its fury, and it also makes me feel grateful. Grateful that I can watch from the comfort and security of my home, but also grateful for the majesty of this world.
It's wonderful to be alive!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Flesh
Ever wonder at what grade level you write? As a new student of fiction writing I'm curious. Thought you might be as well.
CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE
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