I don't really have anything to say, so I'll just post up the next part of my 2009 list. Not a whole lot has been added. I slacked a little bit. :redface: * Read before **Read already this year. JUNE 2009 Persuasion - Jane Austen Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte The Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls Talk to the Hand - Lynne Truss Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen *What Do You Say To A Naked Elf? - Cheryl Sterling The Nanny Diaries - Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus Girl, Interrupted - Susanna Kaysen Gathering Blue - Lois Lowry Messenger - Lois Lowry One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kesey JULY 2009 To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee Kaimira: The Sky Village - Monk & Nigel Ashby His 'N' Hers - Mike Gayle Marked - PC Cast & Kristen Cast Betrayed - PC Cast & Kristen Cast Chosen - PC Cast & Kristen Cast Untamed - PC Cast & Kristen Cast AUGUST 2009 Why We Suck - Dennis Leary (audiobook) Odd Thomas - Dean Koontz (Audiobook) Brother Odd - Dean Koontz (audiobook) Forever Odd - Dean Koontz (audiobook) Hunted - PC Cast & Kristen Cast (audiobook) Shutter Island - Dennis Lehane (audiobook) Left Behind - Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins (audiobook) SEPTEMBER 2009 **Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card (audiobook) Down The Rabbit Hole - Peter Abrahams (audiobook) Sherlock Holmes: A Study In Scarlet - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (audiobook) Speaker For The Dead - Orson Scott Card (audiobook) Journey To The Center Of The Earth - Jules Verne The Scarlet Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne OCTOBER 2009 Heaven: Season One - Mur Lafferty (audiobook) I believe I'm currently at number 55 with Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. I don't feel like I cheated with audiobooks because they are still technically books, plus the physicals books more than make 30.
It's been awhile since I've posted, but I thought I might do another update on my resolution to finish 30 books by the end of the year. I did slack off quite a bit after January, but I'll definitely reach 30. I'm hoping to make up for lost time in the next few months and really make up for my lack of reading. Anyway, here's what I've read since the last post. MARCH 2009 The Dresden Files: Fool Moon - Jim Butcher The Fool, The Stick, and The Princess - Rachel Pollack (short story) The Dresden Files: Grave Peril - Jim Butcher A Cold Dish - Lisa Tuttle (short story) Herding Instinct - Susan Dexter (short story) The Goblin King - Bruce Holland Rogers (short story) Hard Autumn - Bruce Holland Rogers (short story) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - F. Scott Fitzgerald (short story) Cool Air - H.P. Lovecraft (short story) The Beast In The Cage - H.P. Lovecraft (short story) Dark Jewels: The Invisible Ring - Anne Bishop APRIL 2009 World War Z - Max Brooks May 2009 Good Omens - Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman Inkheart - Cornelia Funke (audiobook) Inkspell - Cornelia Funke Inkdeath - Cornelia Funke (audiobook) Coraline - Neil Gaiman Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery JUNE 2009 Persuasion - Jane Austen I've already read Inkheart and Inkspell, so I don't count them towards my 30, but I had to re read them in order to read the third in the trilogy, Inkdeath. I also don't count the short stories.
As I have stated in my previous blogs, I made a New Year's Resolution to read at least 30 books this year. It seems I am well on my way to reaching that goal, and possibly even surpassing it. What follows is the list of books I've managed to knock of my list so far. I did not enjoy all of them, and you will find an asterik (*) next to them. If you wish for me to go into greater depth as to why I didn't like them, or what I like about those I did enjoy, do not hesitate to ask. Also, the first two books on the list, the ones under Dec 08 were not technically read in the 2009 time frame, however, I've deemed the reading time (after dec 27th) to be close enough, and after the initial decision of having a resolution, satisfactory enough to include them in the list. (holy run on sentence, batman.) I will post another list in the coming weeks or months to keep you updated (because I know you care so much ). My Progress So Far: DECEMBER 2008 *Tuesdays With Morrie - Mitch Abolm My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult JANUARY 2009 The Tales of Beedle the Bard - JK Rowling Sweetness in the Belly - Camilla Gib *A Brave New World - Aldous Huxley Conversations with a Fat Girl - Liza Palmer 1984 - George Orwell Second Glance - Jodi Picoult Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card *The Namesake - Jhumpa Lahiri Prelude to Foundation - Isaac Asimov Foundation - Isaac Asimov FEBUARY 2009 The Dresden Files: Resoration of Faith (short story) - Jim Butcher The Dresden Files: Storm Front - Jim Butcher Also, I'd just like to make a case for my dislike of 'A Brave New World'. The writing was the most difficult part to get past. It was terrible and most of the things written were unnecessary so it took me quite some time to make it through. I had to keep setting it aside to read other books. Also, the way the story was told could definitely have been better and more captivating. Had the plot line been more interesting, I would have found it easier to make it past the writing. In the end, I highly admire the message behind it all. This is what I loved about the book. I was left disturbed and worried for the future of humanity. And that, in itself, is enough to make me keep the book. I would not, however, read it again.
for I have returned. Yes, I seem to have some sort of consitant internet access now. This mean I get to hang around here more often. Yay! Anyway, I don't have much to say right now, but I will be a more active member now that I have the tools and the time. Also, I'll soon be posting a list of the books I've read so far; putting those toward my New Year's Resolution goal. It's late, so I'm gonna stop now before things become incoherent. Just wanted to say it's good to be back.
Some of you are probably thinking I fell of the face of the Earth. Some of you are probably thinking I may have gotten bored of the site. Some of you may be thinking nothing at all seeing as I wasn't around long enough to make a name for myself. The truth is, I lost my internet about a month back and haven't been able to get back on until now. I'm at the local library with a limited amount of time, so I won't be able to look around. It's a shame, I've been itching to get back on. I love reading these forums and I really miss it. I should be getting my internet back in about a month, so maybe I'll see you guys around then. Miss you, Mandie
A few weeks ago, as I was leaving work, a couple of people from The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (ie. mormons) came up to me. They weren't looking to convert me, just to spark an interest in hopes that I would research for myself what I believed. They asked me if I had any questions about the afterlife or anything relating to their religion. At the time I shook my head, took their brochure and went home to laught about it (not that the reason they were there, the fact that it was late a night in a plaza parking lot). Since then, I've found myself actually comtemplating some questions. Why don't I believe? Why don't I ever really think about it? Did I believe in a higher power as a child? Do I believe in one now? For the past few years I've labelled myself an agnostic. Not believe myself, but not shunning others who do as well as keeping an open mind about the possibility. I never really put much more thought into it, and didn't look deeper into soul searching. If I ever had questions, I turned to science -- biology, chemistry, astronomy, pshychology. I found reassurances in the almost on deniable. It's mind blowing to think that all of the ingredients for life came together by chance. That this infinitely beautiful universe is completely random and not created by some guy sitting on a pedistal pointing his finger at all of us. I find comfort in that randomosity. I'll always keep an open mind to the possibility of a higher power of some sort, but my true faith will always stay with science and advancements in that field. Hold a pen at arm's length up to the sky at night. Behind that tip of that pen lies at least ten thousand galaxies. How amazing is that? I know my mind is blown.
I've decided to make a list of resolutions this year. I normally avoid doing this because I know I'll never accomplish them. However, I've realized if I make them achievable, to the point that there's no excuse not to do them, then they will get done. This is what I have come up with. Complete my online course within 6-8 months (if mail time allows): I recently began an online course for Hotel and Restaurant Management. I'm looking forward to a career in the Hospitatlity Industry and this is my first stepping stone. I'm not one to go to class, so I figure working at my own pace is better. I will use this course to get myself a better paying job, preferrably in a hotel of some sort, where I can save money to go to a full time school. One major trip out of province: I've travelled very little in my 22 years. When I was much younger, my family took a road trip to PEI, but I don't remember much of it at all except breif flashes of a dollar store, and torrential downpour while setting up our tent. I've also been down to florida, but again, this was when I was younger. I may have the chance to travel t BC for an extended period of time, and I might do this. This of course is conditional: finances and love life are two major ones. Even a week long trip would be fantastic. Anything to get me out and about for a bit. Read at least 30 NEW books: I am a very active reader, however, in the last year or so, I've found myself avoiding picking up books for one reason or another. I've decided to remedy this by creating a reading list for 2009. I figure I could probably read a book a week, but for the purposes of this list, I'd rather allow for unforseen events. So I cut the number down to 30. It's easily achievable, and it also makes for a lot of room for variety. I've also put a condition on this one: they have to be books I've never read before. I have a tendency to re read books I love. If I decide to read a book I've already read, I will not be allowed to count this towards the thirty. I have a reading list made up and I'm thinking of making that my next post.. or at least one in the next week or so. Save at least $2000: I'm terrible at saving money. The minute I have it I need to spend it. The tail end of this year, however, I managed to have 1000 dollars in my bank account at one time. This was a very first, not including the year i recieved financial aid for school. I'm planning on moving to Toronto by the end of 2009 and would prefer to have a cushion, for just-in-case moments. This is where this goal comes in. Anyway, that's all I have so far and, I believe, as much as I will have. I don't want to make the list too long, otherwise I'm stepping into imcompletion territory.. -Mandie
I've decided to put this blog to use. I have no idea what I will be using it for, but I figure I should probably start off with an introductory post. There isn't much to know about me. My name is Mandie, and I live in Ontario, Canada; not far from Toronto. I recently turned twenty two and am starting to feel old, but only because I feel like I was sixteen only yesterday. I suppose you could say I've been writing since I was a kid, but it never really hit me as something I would enjoy doing until I was around 19. Early in my highschool career, my friends and I were fooling around with writing novels. My characters were all 'Mary Sue's' and I was never able to get past the first chapter. Then, on night I was laying in bed unable to turn my brain off (damn my insomnia) and suddenly had the urge to start a book. I had been playing around with simple poetry at the time, so my prose was a little jumpy. Eventually I got into the swing of things and quite enjoyed it. Of course, my low attention span got in the way, and I gave up after a few chapters. I've picked it up a few times since then. Rewritten a chapter here, overhauled a character there, but never got anywhere with it. Then last year I cam across NaNo. I was a few months late, but decided to do it on my own. I actually managed to get up to 16000 words and was very proud of myself. Again, I dropped it. Are we noticing a pattern? So once again, I find myself immersed in the world of writing. I find no illusions that I will be here for long. I'm fully aware of my tendency for phases. I do, however, intend to enjoy my time here. These forums seem like a helpful and supportive community and I look forward to meeting new friends. I think that's as much as I have to say for now. Hopefully, I stick around and give you guys another blog.