Some surrealness.

Love this piece. (:

Actualmente...

Abandon - Meg Cabot (306 pages)
The Iron Queen - Julie Kagawa (358 pages)
Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher (42 pages)
_________________________________
Total for this week... 706 pages.
Last week's total: 138 pages.

El gran total de todos los totales: 5881 pages.


Sentences of the Week:
3rd place) "Go ahead, laugh. ...Oh, well. I thought it was funny." - Thirteen Reasons Why

2nd place) Then you repeated those magical, dreamlike words, "I'll catch you." - Thirteen Reasons Why

1st place) "Will you be all right, Grim?"
Grimalkin glanced over his shoulder and a smile curved. "I am a cat." - The Iron Queen

Being a cat lover and owning a cat who I think would say things like that on occasion if he could, I appreciated this line.

The Great Return Race and What's Happening Next

So, I went to renew my book last night (The Iron Queen) from the Aboite library, only to find that I could not, due to the fact that there was a hold on it... About 2/3 of the way through with a due date of tomorrow...well, needless to say it was either turn it in then or try to finish it without skimming.

Thus, the Great Return Race was born.

And ended some time during 3rd period today. So it wasn't really even worth naming...but that's what I did. (:

So, The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa, the third in her Iron Fey series, was just as good as the first two. (: For some reason, this one took me more time to get through than the others as I've been working through this book for a little less than two weeks. In this, Meghan Chase (main character and daughter of the Faery King, Oberon), previously banished from Faery, is summoned back to help in the war against the Iron Fey. This novel, I found to be very symbolic in terms of creativity and passion vs. the march of continuous progress. It represents the creative mind as a dying breed, which, in reality, it sadly is. The resolution was also pleasantly symbolic in what must happen for creativity and technology to coexist and advance.

I could also apply it to myself because I both appreciate technology and find it interesting, but the products of creativity are what make up my hobbies and what my life revolves around. The Iron Queen is also, as the previous two, a simply entertaining story.

Up next will either be Club Dead, the third book in the Sookie Stackhouse series, or Thirteen Reasons Why, an independent novel surrounding the suicide of a high school girl, who recorded the thirteen reasons why she killed herself and then sent them to either her boyfriend or a boy that wanted to be her boyfriend. I honestly can't remember, but I'll have a more complete description soon. I have a feeling by the end of the novel though, I'm not going to like this girl at all.

Ah, and whilst looking for a good art quote to do part of my sketch journal on this month, I ended up finding a page of art all done on Moleskines. At first, I was reminded of the ink that descended on mine, but these... I clearly have to step up my game. (:

Here's the link should you want to see other awesome pieces done on the pages of a Moleskine.

Great book. Just sayin'.

A dark twist on the myth of Hades and Persephone, Abandon by Meg Cabot takes place in modern times and is centered around a seventeen year-old girl, Pierce Oliviera. Two years prior to when the story takes place, she died.

Yes. You read that correctly.

Luckily for her, her heart restarted and she came back from the dead, but not before she caught a glimpse of what lay beyond. In the underworld she visited, she met John Hayden, a dark character she remembered from a chance encounter with him in a graveyard at her grandfather's funeral when she was seven years old.

Though she believes because she's left the world of the dead, she no longer has to worry about it, she is very, very wrong. For though she fears John, he's not the worst thing out there by a long shot. And although she is unaware of the other dangers that lurk, they are far from unaware of her.

Personally, I loved this book. I love how it ties into myth and all the subtle nuances and twists it contains throughout the story. I also found myself really fond of the characters by the novel's close, both sympathetic for what they've gone through and liking each (that the reader is supposed to like) as a person. This was the first book I'd read by Meg Cabot and I was a little iffy at first. However, it's a great twist on an ancient story and well worth reading. (:

In short, I'll be getting the sequel as soon as it comes out.

I Tried

Song lyrics. One of mine. (: Written August 22nd, 2011.
Comments (good or bad) are loved.


You tread the path of fools and villains
The difference being your self-convictions,
Spinning about, without self-control,
Unsure just how you got here-

within this place of fire and water
And under both, you’ll fly to the slaughter
You, the pilot to your plummeting plane,
And I, the speed bump in your way

Ring-ring, the doorbell sings.
Knocking all over my window panes.
The clang of prison bars show
the extent of your charms

I trip you up, so unexpected,
on this road of hurt down which you are headed.
You brush aside my words, but I don’t blame you
when all you’ve known is deceit

Pin me to the polygraph,
flip the switch now, I’ll only laugh
as all the blips and beeps finally sweep
my heart into your ears

I’ll grow on you like moss on a boulder
if you’ll only stop and remain forever more
with me, away, from your dark chosen goal,
calm, serene, away from here

Pin me to the polygraph,
flip the switch now, I’ll only laugh
as all the blips and beeps lastly sweep
my heart into your ears

Take my face between your hands
and bury it under golden sands
‘cause the mask I wear can not compare
to what you hide behind

Pin me, take me… Pin me, take me…
Oh, pin me, take me…

Pin me to the polygraph,
flip the switch now, I’ll only laugh
as all the blips and beeps lastly sweep
my heart into your ears

Take my face between your hands
and bury it under golden sands
‘cause I will still exist, whereas you’ve mis-
placed yourself

‘Cause you’re still going, fully knowing
what you’ll become.

Everyone... And no one, at once.

Tonight, I went to the 7:30pm performance of Cirque du Soleil's Quidam with my mom. Honestly, it was probably one of the most beautiful and enthralling things I've ever had the privilege to see. The stunts were amazing, the story was deep and moving, and the costumes/setting work were beautiful and eye-catching. I was so glad to have the opportunity to see it because not only did it awe me, but it has given me so many new ideas to use in my art.

I'm exhausted yet still stunned all at once, so I'll say it one more time: Quidam was enchanting and an experience I'll not forget any time soon. (:

If the title has you a little confused, it's the definition of Quidam, an original word constructed by Cirque du Soleil. Curious as to its meaning, I Googled it just now and it represents the feature character in the show, who represents "everyone, and no one, at once." Honestly, the character of Quidam reminded me of a Hayao Miyasaki creation. (: I loved him the moment he set foot on stage!

And here he is! --

Currently...

Way too busy lately.

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim (106 pages)
The Iron Queen (28 pages)
________________________________________
This week's total... 134 pages.
Last week's total: 912 pages

The totalest total of all this blog's totals: 5175 pages.


Now for the Sentences of the Month awards...

In 4th place... I knew I was supposed to be happy, but part of me felt personally assaulted. Like he'd been a negligent prince, yet I still believed in the monarchy. - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim

In 3rd place... But rural northern Louisiana wasn't too tempting to vampires, apparently; on the other hand, New Orleans was a real center for them--the whole Anne Rice thing, right? - Dead Until Dark.

In 2nd place... "You love each other--anyone can see that, looking at you--that kind of love that can burn down the world or raise it up in glory." - City of Fallen Angels

And the winner is...

1st place... "It's not a file hidden in a birthday cake, but it'll keep my hands from falling off." City of Ashes

This was the winning sentence because, standing alone, it is so absurd. It still makes me laugh and I have to say it's a great quote. Even in context it doesn't make complete sense. (: On a sidenote, this quote came from Cassandra Clare's City of Bones series, which is an awesome series. I probably already recommended it once before, but I will again. Excellent story. <3

Art at the Tip of a Pencil

Something kind of pointless (no pun intended) that I really wish I could do. o:



If you would like to take a look at more of Dalton Ghetti's creations or read about him, I've attached his official website here. (:

"Vincent" by Don McLean

Beautiful song. (: It's actually somewhere in my playlist if you'd like to have a listen.

Starry, starry night...
Paint your palette blue and gray,
look out on a summer's day
with eyes that know the
darkness in my soul.

Shadows on the hills;
sketch the trees and the daffodils,
catch the breeze and the winter chills
in colors on the snowy linen land.

Now I understand
what you tried to say to me
and how you suffered for your sanity,
and how you tried to set them free.
They would not listen,
they did not know how...
Perhaps they'll listen now.

Starry, starry night...
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze,
swirling clouds in violet haze
Reflect in Vincent's eyes of China blue.

Colors changing hue,
morning fields of amber grain,
weathered faces lined in pain
are soothed beneath the artist's
loving hand.

Now I understand
what you tried to say to me
and how you suffered for your sanity,
and how you tried to set them free.
They did not listen,
they did not know how...
Perhaps they'll listen now.

For they could not love you,
but still your love was true.
And when no hope was left in sight
on that starry, starry night,
you took your life
as lovers often do...

But I could have told you, Vincent,
this world was never meant
for one as beautiful as you...

Starry, starry night...
Portraits hung in empty halls,
frameless heads on nameless walls
with eyes that watch the world and can't forget,

like the strangers that you've met:
the ragged men in ragged clothes.
A silver thorn, a bloody rose
lie crushed and broken
on the virgin snow...

Now I think I know
what you tried to say to me
and how you suffered for your sanity,
and how you tried to set them free.

They would not listen,
they're not listening still...
Perhaps they never will.

Books that make you go "meh."

I recall raving about Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. Though it is an interesting book and I appreciate that David Sedaris manages to write a nonfiction recollection of events in his life in the style of a novel, this just must not be what I want to read right now because it is dragging on and on...

Don't get me wrong, it's an interesting story. It's also an interesting turn on nonfiction/autobiographies. I'm just not in the mood right now. I have at least five fiction adventures waiting on my bedside table at home, all of which I've subconsciously picked up and read the first page of out of curiosity. Time to move onto other things. (:

The content of David Sedaris' book mentioned above was essentially about his life: his alcoholic mother, four sisters, the group of not-so-great friends he fell in with in school, and his father, who makes an investment in a new house in order to keep everyone happy. I read 162 out of 257 pages, so their arrival at the house is about where I stopped.

Like I said, good, just not my cup of tea at the moment. (:

In my lineup of books I'll be reading shortly are...
The Iron Queen - Julie Kagawa
Abandon - Meg Cabot
Thirteen Reasons Why
The Gunslinger (Dark Tower Book 1) - Stephen King
Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare
"Hare Moon" - Carrie Ryan

Yup. (:

Tuesday Claim Hunt!

1. In this flash mob by Todrick Hall, the mischievous and adventurous expressions, jubilant sounds, and bustling moves, show the explosive creativity and confident energy of the dancers. (from "The Average Life of a Teenage Bookworm")

2. Leonid Afremov's vibrant use of color, flowing appearance, and realistic, silky texture illustrates a feeling of whimsical relaxation and majestic euphoria. (from "Bud in the Garden")

3. In the album art for United Paper People‘s Kisschasy, the foreboding colors, overwhelming space, and perilous actions reflect a sense of destructive loneliness and irrational wonder. (from "Intrusion of the Soul")

4. During her routine, Shawn Johnson displays powerful tumbling, gracefully swift dance, intense expression, and representative attire; which sets forth a confidently energetic, yet cheerful routine. (from "Bookworm Days")

5. In this scene from Grease, the director's melodic sound, crazy setting, open facial expression, and clean clothing expresses a sense of intimate playfulness, romantic energy, and loving animation. (from "Twilight")


The blog that I liked the most for this assignment was Intrusion of the Soul, for both the "artifact" she chose (which really caught my eye) and her claim. (:

Here's this...whateva-you-wanna-call-it assignment. (:

Observe

Color: potent, flowing, contrasting, bright, refreshing
Space: even measures of positive and negative space
Texture: contrasting, smooth
Lighting: gradual, natural, effortless
Visual Movement: exploratory, traveling
Depth
Composition: textural gradualness, moving toward the light, pathway


Infer

Dreamlike, tranquil, glossy, vivacious, calming, rich, luscious, fresh, rejuvinating, free.


And...ze claim!

This refreshingly bright photograph taken in the environmental center reflects an existence of both dreamlike tranquility and effortless freedom.

I kinda slacked off this week... o.o

Compared to last week, anyway. Oh, well, I'm still above the requirement, so I'm all right with that.

The reading goes like this...
Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris (279 pages)
Living Dead in Dallas - Charlaine Harris (291 pages)
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim - David Sedaris (56 pages)
Book of Useless Information (286 pages)
_____________________________________________
For a grand weekly total of... 912 pages.
Last week's total: 1369 pages.

The true grand total of all grand totals: 5041 pages.


Quotations of the Week:
1) This was pretty exotic stuff for a telepathic barmaid from northern Louisiana. - Dead Until Dark

This line ended up as my favorite simply because it made me laugh. Laughter is the best medicine and I was having a really bad day when I read this. (:

2) I knew I was supposed to be happy, but part of me felt personally assaulted. Like he'd been a negligent prince, yet I still believed in the monarchy. - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim

I loved the metaphor here, it came together perfectly considering the plotline so far and making good connections is something I strive to do both in everyday thoughts and in my own writing. Therefore, I appreciate good figurative language when I see it, especially imagery and metaphor. This one basically popped off the page at me.

3) [the last fact in the book] About 97 percent of all statistics are made up. - The Book of Useless Information

I stared at the page for a minute and said aloud, "Well, great. Thanks a lot." And then I laughed once more. x)

How goes that readin'...

Well, 'kay.

So this week, I've read...
- Dead Until Dark and Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris
- Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris
- The Book of Useless Information

Starting off with the Charlaine Harris books, you may have heard of these in conjunction with the HBO series, True Blood. This is the basis of that show and I'll say this right now, the books are so much better than the show.

The series is called The Sookie Stackhouse books, named after the telepathic main character who works as a waitress in a bar called Merlotte's in her hometown of Bon Temps, Louisiana. Vampires have just "come out of the coffin," so to speak and are surrounded by mounds of controversy and prejudice by humans. Some of them are as good as vampires can be, some are really, really bad.

This series has been compared to the Twilight Saga on multiple occasions by Twilight readers who have obviously never read a Charlaine Harris novel. The only similarity I can find between them is that yes, the main characters are a vampire-human couple and they do have some issues in their relationship. But that's where the similarities end.

DEFINITELY recommended. They're great and in a genre all their own.


Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim was a book I simply wasn't sure about. I picked it up, looked it over, thought that it could be an interesting read and then looked at the library code on the side.

I almost set it down because the code claimed it was nonfiction.

However, deciding that I need to get over this fear of nonfiction at some point, I checked it out. And I actually love it. David Sedaris is revolutionary in my mind because he has made an apparently nonfiction work read like fiction. There are many, many times I forget that what I'm reading isn't just a story imagined up by the author.

Definitely, definitely recommended, especially if you feel compelled to give nonfiction a shot, but you are like me and shy away from it. I swear, it's unlike any nonfiction book you have ever read.


And, at last, one of my greatest loves, The Book of Useless Information. Not only does the society who writes these books have a cute squirrel on all of their covers, but I have learned so much just by flipping through this book. Filled with random, silly, and sometimes what-worthy facts that you really don't need to know (ever), it's very, very entertaining and, guess what? I'd say it counts as nonfiction. (:

I've also found that a lot of the facts in these books come up as questions on game shows like Who Wants to Be A Millionaire. So this would be helpful if you should ever aspire to be on a game show.

Recommended because, hey... Who doesn't like randomness?
Or, I suppose if you don't want to read it, I try to flip to a random page almost every day, pick a fact I like, and post it as a status. If you're friends with me already, you probably just realized who I am, haha. (:

It's Friday, I'm in love.

A song by The Cure. (:

So, this week I've managed to read...
The Looking Glass Wars - Frank Beddor. (358 pages)
The Iron Daughter - Julie Kagawa. (359 pages)
The Lady of the Storm - Kathryne Kennedy. (354 pages)
In the President's Secret Service - Ronald Kessler. (262 pages)
Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris. (36 pages)
_____________________________________________
For a grand weekly total of... 1369 pages.
Last week's total: 1420 pages.

The true grand total of all grand totals: 4129 pages.


Quotations of the Week:
1) "It's all in your head," Genevieve said.
"I know," said Alyss, and despite the traumas of the past, the uncertainty of the future, she wouldn't have given up this moment for anything. "Isn't it wonderful?" - The Looking Glass Wars.

This segment, I just liked because the "wonderful" part tied into the whole story. (: Even though I didn't particularly like the book, it was a good ending.

2) "If people had a clue of what their presidents were really like... They would scream." - In the President's Secret Service.

Because it's true. I was shocked and appalled at some of the stuff I read in that book.

3) But rural northern Louisiana wasn't too tempting to vampires, apparently; on the other hand, New Orleans was a real center for them--the whole Anne Rice thing, right? - Dead Until Dark.

This just struck me as funny. (: Plus I plan to read some Anne Rice sometime soon.

Evaluatin' Some Books!

So far this week, I've read...
The Looking Glass Wars - Frank Beddor
The Iron Daughter - Julie Kagawa
The Lady of the Storm - Kathryne Kennedy
In the President's Secret Service - Ronald Kessler

I'll review them each (in order). That should about cover the 800 word count. (:



Up first is The Looking Glass Wars. The storyline essentially branches from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. However, in this retelling, Wonderland is real and Alyss (the actual spelling of Alice, apparently) is heir to the throne and Wonderland's only hope after her mother and father, the Queen and King, are murdered by her malicious aunt, Redd. Alyss is taken away to go into hiding by the royal bodyguard, Hatter Mattigan, but as they're fleeing Redd's trusted assassin, the Cheshire Cat, they fall through the Pool of Tears: a portal into our world.

Externally, based on cover and synopsis, the book sounded awesome. I was sure I would love it considering how much I loved the original book and Disney movie. It seemed like the retelling I'd been waiting for. However, I was disappointed. I didn't like the writing style or something because, to be honest, it felt like a chore to read it. I ended up finishing it for the page count after my enjoyment of it ceased approximately one third of the way through.

So do I recommend it? Not exactly. I've met a few who loved the series, but I didn't like it. If you can appreciate the writing style and flow, go for it. That's really one of the only things that put me off.



Up next, The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa. In an earlier post, I proclaimed the prequel to this book as "dumb." I've since taken that back because by the end of that first book, I realized that, "Hey... I actually like this." It just took a little while to get used to. In this series, Meghan Chase, a normal girl living a rural life, suddenly becomes confronted with the world of the Fey after her little brother is taken by a being known as the Iron King. Forced to confront both him, the world of Faery, and her mysterious past, she follows her friend Robbie Goodfell through a portal directly into the wilds of this strange, magical land.

I really like this series. It's magical, sweet, and suspenseful all at once, which I definitely did not expect from it upon first glance. As previously stated, it simply takes some time to get used to (at least, it did for me).

I'd definitely recommend it if you like faeries and fighting and moments of unrequited love.



To start off with The Lady of the Storm, I have to say that Kathryne Kennedy is one of my favorite authors. So I have nothing but love for this book. (: It's incredibly gushy with romance and stuff, but it comes with a good plotline, too. Cecily, a very powerful human with a substantial amount of elven blood and power and the best hope for the Rebellion against the corrupted Elven Lords, has her world turned upside-down when, after the smallest use of her magic after years and years of peace, one of the elven lords locates her and begins to send soldiers to destroy her. All the while, Giles, her half-elf protector who has watched over her since she was six and he was fifteen, fights against the threats that come their way until they finally have no choice but to leave the village they reside in.

Basically, it's a love story with a bigger plot to it. Definitely recommended.



Finally, the nonfiction book I read. I loathe nonfiction... At least the bit of it I've had to read in the past. Maybe I'll find something this year that will prove me wrong.

In the President's Secret Service basically goes through telling all the changes (or lack thereof for a while) made to the president's protection after the assassinations and threats on former presidents. It also goes through telling things involving the scandals and oddities that went on with a few specific presidents including Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Reagan.

Quite interesting as it is, nonfiction's still not my thing, but I'm working through it!

Wild art project appears!

Sorta. This was my woven drawing from Adv. 2D last year. Titled, "The Secret Garden." (:

Friday's Update. o:

City of Glass, Cassandra Clare - 553 pages
The Iron King, Julie Kagawa - 363 pages
City of Fallen Angels, Cassandra Clare - 425 pages
The Looking Glass Wars, Frank Beddor - 79 pages
____________________________________
This week's page total: 1420
Last week's page total: 640

Combined with the last two weeks' total, that puts me at...
2760 pages.


And now for las frases fenomenales. (The Phenomenal Sentences)

1) She was as beautiful and awful as a dying season. - City of Fallen Angels

And now because my text won't go off italics, I'll just continue by saying I really liked the imagery of this sentence. It actually made me stop and really think about how the woman they were talking about (which was the Seelie Queen) looked like. I thought of autumn, how as lovely as it is, it's sad because the leaves are dying.

2) "You love each other--anyone can see that, looking at you--that kind of love that can burn down the world or raise it up in glory." - City of Fallen Angels

My reaction to this one was similar to my favorite quote this week. I stopped and thought about it. The line really rang out against everything else and struck a chord with me, I think. Especially the last bit. ("that kind...glory.")

3) "Hope lives eternal." - The Iron King

I just liked this because as simple as the line is, it means so much. And, beyond that, it's true.