Saturday, September 23, 2006

New Moon


The difference between New Moon and Twilight? This time I recognized as I was reading that it was melodrama. This doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it, but it didn't erase everything else in the world to me as the last one did. I really liked Jacob, and I'm glad we got to see more of him, but I was irritated with Bella for not realizing more quickly that vamps aren't the only scary beastie out there. I, in my audience omnipotence, saw it coming in the first book, so it was rather painful waiting through half this book before she figured it out. I mean, hello? It just isn't logical that there would only be one mythical creature that turns out to be real, you know, once one gets past the logic of any existing. Seems like it would be something I would have asked Edward about sometime in the first months of the relationship. But hey, that's me.

And, I really missed the Cullens. There's a sparkle there (and I'm not talking about their skin) that makes the book...I'm still, nevertheless, dying to see what happens next. I want to discuss the ending, but hesitate to give any spoilers. harrumph.

Friday, September 22, 2006

Classic Reference

I stole these from Diane C, a fabulous (I think that I'm beginning to use that word too much...) colleague of mine. They are her favorite reference questions from kids:

Girl looking for the birth date of the Mother of God. Father standing around in an entirely useless manner. I wonder what wires got crossed...

Boy looking for the Gestational period for Dragons! Diane tried very hard to explain that it really depended on the author...

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Book Group, episode 2


Weight of Water by Anita Shreve. Not really something I'd normally choose to read, but my first choice for Book Group got turned down by the overlords, as they have their own designs on that title, so I had to choose quickly. I didn't really enjoy it. Most of the characters were unlikeable, which, ok, whatever, you can't like everyone. The time shifts were jarring and came without warning. I can make an argument saying real life is never as structured as a novel; suddenly displacing a reader better mimics how certain things in life trigger memories and thoughts regardless of what is really going on around you. But what really bugged me about the novel? It was cold. Not just because the setting was stark, although that didn't help. But our narrator was of the "Just the facts, ma'am" philosophy, and the book tended to read like dry non-fiction. I wasn't emotionally invested. At all.

The book group (3 new people this time! yay!), pointed out something I hadn't realized. Our primary narrator, Jean, never talks much about herself; her past; her emotions. I was so irritated with the obvious distance she created between herself and the story that it didn't even occur to me that we really knew next to nothing about her. While I know that Shreve has a very loyal following, I'll only give this book to those who enjoy a good depressing read. Myself? I don't think I need to read anymore Shreve.

Jean, a photojournalist, is sent to cover a scandalous double ax-murder that happened in 1873 on a remote rock off the coast of Maine. She brings along her family and as she delves deeper into the murder she begins to see parallels between the past and the present, with equally disastrous consequences.

The ladies, while not overcome with love for the title, did seem to be glad to have read it. And they said they'd come back for the next one, so, really, I can't ask for more, can I? =D

Small Boulders Work Too

The Wisdom of Kristy B:

"We shouldn't date boys, we should throw rocks at them."

Yeah, that pretty much says it all.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

This is me, not so much with the talking.


I realize that I'm among the last in the blogosphere to read this book, so I'll keep my comments to a minimum. Actually, I don't feel like any comments. It can speak for itself.

Favorite Bit, Ananka in the library: "I headed for the computer terminals set against the back wall. A man was hunched over one of the desks. Hearing my footsteps behind him, he glanced over his shoulder and quickly tapped one of the keys. An image of three little puppies frolicking about a garden popped up on his computer screen. I sat down at a terminal and tried to get to work.

'Say, cutie pie, do you like puppies?' hissed the very creepy man at the next computer.

'Only if they're cooked medium rare,' I informed him. I've found that in certain situations, it's best to come across as a little loony. 'Now get lost before I ask the librarian to have a look at the Web sites you've visited today.' I was only acting on a hunch, but that man jumped out of his seat as if I had set him on fire. Avoiding my eyes, he snatched his belongings and scurried out of the library" p 158-9.

See also: Important Back-to-School Message

Judging by what I saw on a patron's terminal last week? Ew. Totally ew.

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Job Congratulations!


For whatever reason, I was one of the first in my group of library school friends to graduate. Now, all of a sudden, just about everyone seems to be seems to have landed their librarian jobs, so congratulations are in order!

First of all, my dear bff Sarah (whose blog you see on the top of my friend list to the right) has moved down for a children's librarian position in Florida, or as she terms it, Paradise. She's blogged about her first week there, and I'm very happy for her - even if she managed to find a locale that couldn't be farther away from me, barring actually leaving the country (or me moving to Alaska).

Continuing on my friends list to the right, Rachel will be joining me in Washington State!!! Granted, she'll be a good 5ish hours away, but hey! I'm so not complaining! Yay! I might even hop over there for turkey-free Thanksgiving with her, her husband Brandon and our friends Kristy (congrats were given to her earlier in this blog) and Jay! She'll be a most rockin' youth librarian.

Kip, who's blog regularly shames me for its intelligence (and can be found on that oft-tauted list) seems to have landed a position as an adult librarian at my former place of employment. Not that I heard that from him (yes, I know you read this, and yes, that should make you feel guilty, Kip). Either way, I'm happy for him!

While we are on library school friends that don't tell me anything, I hear Cassie has some librarian position somewhere in Chicago where I'm sure she's using her ample Spanish skills! Go, Cassie! Chicago is one of my Favorite cities. I hope you are doing well, Cass. I have no idea if she reads this blog.

Liz. When I think of Liz it cracks me up. Mostly because we majored in the same undergrad program at GVSU and were friends then. We lost track of each other, only to shockingly find ourselves together in our first semester of Library School. While she graduated before me, she's moved on to her second (and far more interesting job, IMHO) as a librarian with teen duties at the place of my former employment, coincidentally under the iron rule of my lovely Aunt Lori, the assistant branch manager, which we all just realized recently in a moment of hilarity. Good hire, Lori.

Brian. Ah Brian. The most normal guy I ever encountered in Library School (Kip you are normal too, Brian's just more...typical or something). The kind of guy who says, I'll email/call you soon and doesn't actually do that. But it's ok, he's still my friend. Brian has finally left that dinky academic library and found a grown-up librarian job at a shiny university I am quite familiar with. Way to go, stranger!

Shane & Sara. One of my older friends (dating back to High School), Sara and her husband Shane have found new jobs and moved to the Windy City along with Cassie (though the three do not know each other). They are not librarians, as it would be weird if I only had friends inside of my profession. Really weird. Anyway, they are wonderful, and I'm happy for them. Here's to being back in the Midwest and closer to family! (Shane's blog can be found on the right. He often posts funny things. Like the super gross bacon snack bar on the Kraft website).

Anyway, to all my dear friends: Congratulations! We can no longer pretend we aren't adults. Good luck with that transition.

If that photo strikes you a little bit wrong, but you can't quite figured out why, count the fingers. I'm sure he's hoping to avoid Inigo. ;)

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

The melding of two great things. My life is complete.


Runaways, which is the best graphic novel/comic series EVER (or so I say), will be going through an interesting transition soon. Brian K. Vaughn will be passing the torch and writing duties to none other than Joss Whedon!(!!!) Don't read to the end of the article if you aren't totally up-to-date with the series. There's a bit of a rude awakening. Also, illustrator (artist? whatever) Adrian Alphona will be replaced by Michael Ryan.

Sunday, September 10, 2006

UGH! Choices!

What do I do!? Watch Season 2 DVD of Veronica Mars?! Or Read New Moon?! They're like, BOTH my favorites? OH, however will I choose?

--OR--

Friday, September 08, 2006

Mmm, Danish...


Book Three of The Shamer Chronicles, The Serpent Gift is translated from the Danish, by the author Lene Kaaberbol. I was impressed with the first two, The Shamer's Daughter and The Shamer's Signet but this one let me down a little. It was very good in the end, but it could have done quite nicely with about 75 - 100 pages cut out of it. It's a children's book that rings in at 377 pages, and while I've got nothing against long books, I generally prefer it when the plot doesn't strand me in a predictable and pointless location for a third of the book. It gave her time for some character development, but I seriously doubt that it couldn't have been accomplished elsewhere in the novel. But hey, who cares what I think? Hell, right now, I barely care. Not to let my negative attitute seep into my always chipper blog or anything. Clearly, I know nothing, as Booklist gave it a starred review. Of course, in their plot description they completely skip over the action in the section I'd have cut, so perhaps I'm not all that out of line...

Either way, in this third installment we find Dina still without control of her Shamer powers, but they have happily settled into a quite life. Until, (where would we be without an 'until'?) Dina catches the eye of a mysterious man in the market who begins to stalk the family with a surprising secret (well, surprising if you're like, 10).

With the exception of that which I have already noted, the book was still very good. I might even read the 4th, The Shamer's War sometime after it comes out later this month.

Though I must admit, it drives me crazy that although these have to be translated from the DANISH, we can get these BEFORE we can get more of Australia's Ranger's Apprentice, and those are already in English. It's Flanagan's novels that have me on the edge of my seat, not so much Kaaberbol. 10+

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Commentus Interuptus


Because it seemed like the 'cool' thing to do, I switched to Beta Blogger. This means that if you are a fellow blogger, you've been experiencing, er, problems with commenting. As I do so enjoy your comments, there are several ways to get around this; the most easy being just comment using "other" or "anonymous" and sign your name. Or, if you so desire you can merge your blogger account into Beta (which you'll probably have to do eventually). Or, you could just wait it out until Blogger straightens itself out. But, please don't let any of this discourage you from commenting on my Music Frustrations, My Phone Situation, Or My Book, er, Expeditions! Comments make my day and are a HUGE part of what makes blogging fun.

Sorry for the inconvenience, and I promise, now that I've swore at Blogger a whole lot, I'll go back to commenting on your blogs, too. Minus the easy linkage to my blog, of course.

Also, for those of you with my phone number - My Phone Is Now Here! It's happily charging, but hopefully, by the time I get back from work (I'm on lunch now) it will be a fully functioning link to humanity! Yay! So, after 6:30 PST / 9:30 EST tonight, I can again receive (and make) calls!

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Topics Heretofore Avoided by this blog

I used to possess grudging respect for John Mayer. He seemed pretty normal. I even bought one of his albums, and enjoyed it. In general, I like artists who get famous by writing and playing their own music, so I respect them. But now. What is he thinking? Jessica Simpson?! Come to your senses, man! Just Look Up! The spell will be broken! seriously.

Also, on my way to work this morning (arguments can be made that I live under a rock) I heard the James Blunt song "Goodbye My Lover" for the first time. That is without a doubt the saddest, most painful song I have ever heard. I now must own it, so I can, when necessary, wallow with skill. But not over John Mayer and Boobs Simpson. Michael Buble was edging John out in my heart anyway. sigh.

Sunday, September 03, 2006

Sing-A-Long!


I don't want to be a big whiner or anything, but not having a phone really sucks. In light of that fact I've been singing the Snow White song "Someday My Prince Will Come" with the lyrics changed. Where the raven haired beauty says "Prince" and "love" insert "phone" and "cell," etc.

Someday my phone will come
Someday I'll find my cell
And how thrilling that moment will be
When the phone of my dreams comes to me
It’ll whisper I love you
And steal a tale or two
Though it's far away I’ll find my cell someday
Someday when my dreams come true...


Ok, You get the picture. I'm clearly insane.

Hopefully Disney won't sue me... Not having a phone was especially painfull this weekend as I normally spend a good chunk of the time taking advantage of free weekend minutes and the only days the time difference works out ok between here and EST. Here's hoping there's a lovely box awaiting my return today...