...in love.
I can barely keep my internet connection with all this cruddy weather, but I had to share this movie quote I heard tonight. *Note: I know I am waaaay behind on reading everyone's blogs...I'll get caught up, I promise...when I can keep an internet connection for more than 5 minutes at a time (unnerving).
Anyway, most of my T.V. stations were out tonight, so I watched Turner Classic Movies. I love old movies--I'm always amazed how there seems to be an endless supply of old movies I haven't seen.
Tonight, they were on a "revenge" theme...woman scorned--that kind of thing. After The Heiress, starring Olivia de Havilland (excellent movie), they aired a film I had never even heard of: The Lady Eve, starring Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda. I suppose you would call it a romantic comedy.
There was one line in particular that really had me laughing: Barbara Stanwyck, scorned and in love, decides she needs to see her true love again for reasons I won't reveal, just in case you want to see the film one day. Though her father tries to deter her, she says:
"I need him like the ax needs the turkey." Of course, Barbara delivers the line beautifully.
Classic.
What kind of ax is she? The charming kind, of course--she didn't need a blade when she had wit and grace...that turkey didn't stand a chance. The ending was adorable...and, yes, they live happily ever after. If you haven't seen The Lady Eve, definitely give it a try--it's a classic.
Mad-Eye's Mad Eye
I want you to look at the three images I have on this post and see if you recognize any similarities.
Let's start with the first image, the ancient Egyptian Eye of Horus.
The Eye of Horus was an amulet of healing and resurrection. One of the most revered and powerful amulets in ancient Egypt, the Eye provided protection from evil. It was a symbol of royal strength and assisted in the rebirth of the deceased.
As the granddaddy of apotropaic amulets, meaning a talisman that turns back harm or evil, the eye amulet was so popular that it spread throughout the region and the centuries, morphing and adapting to various cultures, but always retaining the staring single eye. It is truly very old magic.
The Eye still exists in various incarnations even today. It is very popular throughout the Middle East, especially in Turkey where it is known as nazar boncugu. In Turkey you will still see this amulet nailed over doors to homes, decorating the hulls of ships, and pinned to the clothing of young children, placed there protectively by their loving mothers.
Now let's look at Mad-Eye's mad eye.
From Goblet of Fire:
Hmm. An all-seeing round eye with the colors of black, blue, and white... Ya think there's a connection?
A few years ago, when E.L. Fossa of Wizarding World Press pointed out to me the similarities between JKR's creation and the Turkish nazar boncugu, I felt a bit dimwitted. Here I was, married to a Turk, having lived in Turkey many years, with many boncuks hanging in my house, on my keychain, or pinned to my children's clothes when they were babies, and I'd not made that connection. Yet, I was only then learning how to look below the surface in a Harry Potter novel.
If I'd had any remaining doubts that JKR intended for the reader to make these connections, it was was when she had Umbridge nail Mad-Eye's glass eye to her office door that cinched it for me. On the surface, that was just a bit odd. And you can bet, whenever JKR is doing something that seems odd or slightly out of place, that she's getting at a deeper meaning, most likely using a mythological reference.
But ... why would JKR pin a benevolent amulet onto a character who in the first book is a Death Eater and fraud? I think there's an initial reason, and then a deeper one that leads to the underlying mystery of the series.
First the initial reason -- the Eye of Horus, as well as its descendant, the nazar boncugu, are amulets that represent protection from an all-seeing divinity. In Goblet of Fire, pseudo Mad-Eye (aka Barty Crouch, Jr.) fills this role. He sees all, knows much more than any other character what is truly going on, and is bent on protecting Harry and getting him through as champion in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Unfortunately, all this protection is aimed at providing Harry as a sacrifice to his lord and master, Voldemort.
However, in the end, despite himself, Crouch's protection works effectively. It is Barty Crouch as Mad-Eye who taught Harry how to throw off the Imperius curse, an ability that helps Harry survive his encounter with the Dark Lord and return safely to Hogwarts.
As writers, we have the option of working sub-textual meaning into our stories. If we do so with skill and resonance, as JKR has done with Moody's eye, then we've provided a whole new layer for the reader to engage within our pages, time and time again.
So, why would JKR draw so much attention to this ancient Eygptian amulet? I have a theory and it points to the Horcruxes. But that's a huge 'nother post. I'll try to do it this weekend, so check back.
Wouldn't you love to hang Moody's magical eye on your door? Win a Turkish evil-eye bead by following this blog..
Photo credits:
Eye of Horus
Nazar Boncugu
Mad-Eye Moody
Door with Boncuk, Turkey
Let's start with the first image, the ancient Egyptian Eye of Horus.
The Eye of Horus was an amulet of healing and resurrection. One of the most revered and powerful amulets in ancient Egypt, the Eye provided protection from evil. It was a symbol of royal strength and assisted in the rebirth of the deceased.
As the granddaddy of apotropaic amulets, meaning a talisman that turns back harm or evil, the eye amulet was so popular that it spread throughout the region and the centuries, morphing and adapting to various cultures, but always retaining the staring single eye. It is truly very old magic.
The Eye still exists in various incarnations even today. It is very popular throughout the Middle East, especially in Turkey where it is known as nazar boncugu. In Turkey you will still see this amulet nailed over doors to homes, decorating the hulls of ships, and pinned to the clothing of young children, placed there protectively by their loving mothers.
Now let's look at Mad-Eye's mad eye.
But it was the man's eyes that made him frightening.
One of them was small, dark, and beady. The other was large, round as a coin, and a vivid, electric blue. The blue eye was moving ceaselessly, without blinking, and was rolling up, down, and from side to side, quite independently of the normal eye -- and then it rolled right over, pointing into the back of the man's head, so that all they could see was whiteness. (p. 184-185)
Hmm. An all-seeing round eye with the colors of black, blue, and white... Ya think there's a connection?
A few years ago, when E.L. Fossa of Wizarding World Press pointed out to me the similarities between JKR's creation and the Turkish nazar boncugu, I felt a bit dimwitted. Here I was, married to a Turk, having lived in Turkey many years, with many boncuks hanging in my house, on my keychain, or pinned to my children's clothes when they were babies, and I'd not made that connection. Yet, I was only then learning how to look below the surface in a Harry Potter novel.
If I'd had any remaining doubts that JKR intended for the reader to make these connections, it was was when she had Umbridge nail Mad-Eye's glass eye to her office door that cinched it for me. On the surface, that was just a bit odd. And you can bet, whenever JKR is doing something that seems odd or slightly out of place, that she's getting at a deeper meaning, most likely using a mythological reference.
But ... why would JKR pin a benevolent amulet onto a character who in the first book is a Death Eater and fraud? I think there's an initial reason, and then a deeper one that leads to the underlying mystery of the series.
First the initial reason -- the Eye of Horus, as well as its descendant, the nazar boncugu, are amulets that represent protection from an all-seeing divinity. In Goblet of Fire, pseudo Mad-Eye (aka Barty Crouch, Jr.) fills this role. He sees all, knows much more than any other character what is truly going on, and is bent on protecting Harry and getting him through as champion in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Unfortunately, all this protection is aimed at providing Harry as a sacrifice to his lord and master, Voldemort.
However, in the end, despite himself, Crouch's protection works effectively. It is Barty Crouch as Mad-Eye who taught Harry how to throw off the Imperius curse, an ability that helps Harry survive his encounter with the Dark Lord and return safely to Hogwarts.
As writers, we have the option of working sub-textual meaning into our stories. If we do so with skill and resonance, as JKR has done with Moody's eye, then we've provided a whole new layer for the reader to engage within our pages, time and time again.
So, why would JKR draw so much attention to this ancient Eygptian amulet? I have a theory and it points to the Horcruxes. But that's a huge 'nother post. I'll try to do it this weekend, so check back.
Wouldn't you love to hang Moody's magical eye on your door? Win a Turkish evil-eye bead by following this blog..
Photo credits:
Eye of Horus
Nazar Boncugu
Mad-Eye Moody
Door with Boncuk, Turkey
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare [Review]
Published by: Walker Books.
Format: Paperback.
Released: 31st August 2010.
Rating: 4/5.
Official synopsis: "Magic is dangerous - but love is more dangerous still... When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray arrives in England during the reign of Queen Victoria, something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Friendless and hunted, Tessa seeks refuge with the Shadowhunters, a band of warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons. Drawn ever deeper into their world, she finds herself fascinated by - and torn between - two best friends, and quickly realizes that love may be the most dangerous magic of all."
Clockwork Angel is the first book in The Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare, which will serve as a prequel series to her award winning series, The Mortal Instruments. And it's the first thing written by Clare that I have read. And I have to say that it didn't disappoint at all!
The writing is absolutely fantastic. It's so smooth and fluid, it didn't even feel like reading. If anything, it felt like I was watching a movie! Such skill!
The plot is fantastic and as it's my first exposure to Clare's world of Shadowhunters, vampires and evil, it made a great impression on me.
The setting is fantastic. I love the use of Victorian London. It just feels perfect. The dingy streets, the descriptions, it's just perfect. I also like the time aspect of the story. I like that Tessa was horrified when Charlotte is wearing trousers (as any self respecting Victorian lady would be!) and when Sophie, a servant, talks back to Will. Both situations actually made me laugh.
To begin with, I wasn't very keen on Tessa. I liked the opening, I thought it was very engaging and it made you question why it was happening, it made you want to read on, but I wasn't instantly drawn to the character. But as the book progressed, I really started to like her as she came out of her shell more. There's definitely a lot of promise for the character she's going to develop into and I cannot wait to see that happen over the next 2 books.
The clockwork soldiers actually creeped me out. They were seriously scary. The idea of them - every time they popped up they reminded me of the Clockwork Droids from an episode of Doctor Who. Their mechanical ruthlessness.
This book would of gotten a 5 out of 5, but I found the earlier part of the book pretty slow going, and it took a little while for me to actually get into it. But once it picks up, it's a sprint till the very end. The ending of this book was fantastic and has definitely left me eager to read the next book in the trilogy, Clockwork Prince, out late next year! I shall also be getting copies of the 3 published Mortal Instruments books so far and devour them! Make sure you get this book. It's brilliant!
My thanks to Sean at Walker for my copy!
Mean Magnifier Returns
The Mean Magnifier's resurgence is the primary reason for my last post, featuring my new very favorite song, King of Anything. If you haven't read about The Mean Magnifier, please check her out here--warning: you might want to slap her: The Mean Magnifier
You know that feeling--when you're actually having a good day...sun is shining, air is fresh, you're sporting a new outfit and matching handbag--things are good...you feel oh-so-spiffy. Does that feeling ever last? Nah, not when Mean Magnifier is on the prowl.
"Hun! Hun! So good to see you--it's been too long," screeches Mean Magnifier, wrapping her way-too-long nails around my shoulders. "How have you been? You look precious--look at you! Like a little baby!"
Peachy. "Doing really well. How are you?" Like I need to ask.
"Oh, everything is perfect, as always. My kids love school and my hubby makes me breakfast in bed every weekend. I guess he figures I'm worn out, if you know what I mean...well, I guess you don't really know what I mean. But, I'm sure you will one day...maybe."
I swear, she's the exorcist kid.
"Now, I heard about (the one that wasn't). That must have been a shock for you, poor thing. You were really counting on him, weren't you? Now he's left you out in the cold...and for an older woman of all things," she says, laughing.
Any minute her head is going to start spinning.
"I had actually moved on from him quite a while ago."
"Of course you did," she said, much like Rita Skeeter when she interviewed Harry in Goblet of Fire. "Well, I have the perfect man for you. He's handsome, successful, everything you would want. I even told him about you, and he was very interested. Are you interested?"
Maybe her head won't spin after all. "Well, sure, why not?"
"Wonderful! I knew you would be...oh...wait...one little problem...he's not thrilled you are a virgin."
"You told him?"
"Well, hun, you would've had to tell him eventually of your chosen situation," she said, condescendingly.
Any second her head will be zippin' around that bony little neck of hers.
"Yes, I suppose that's true, but it is my thing to tell."
Waving her hands she continues, "Anyway, it really took the wind out of his sails, if you know what I mean. He just wasn't into it."
"Hmm, that's interesting, really," I said.
"Why is that, hun?"
"Because most men get seriously turned on by it."
And that, my friends, is how you put Mean Magnifier in her place without her really realizing it. I made my escape, leaving her completely gobsmacked. It's not my normal practice to toss out a zinger of that magnitude, but she had just taken things too far--and it's not the first time.
"Let me hold your crown..."
You know that feeling--when you're actually having a good day...sun is shining, air is fresh, you're sporting a new outfit and matching handbag--things are good...you feel oh-so-spiffy. Does that feeling ever last? Nah, not when Mean Magnifier is on the prowl.
"Hun! Hun! So good to see you--it's been too long," screeches Mean Magnifier, wrapping her way-too-long nails around my shoulders. "How have you been? You look precious--look at you! Like a little baby!"
Peachy. "Doing really well. How are you?" Like I need to ask.
"Oh, everything is perfect, as always. My kids love school and my hubby makes me breakfast in bed every weekend. I guess he figures I'm worn out, if you know what I mean...well, I guess you don't really know what I mean. But, I'm sure you will one day...maybe."
I swear, she's the exorcist kid.
"Now, I heard about (the one that wasn't). That must have been a shock for you, poor thing. You were really counting on him, weren't you? Now he's left you out in the cold...and for an older woman of all things," she says, laughing.
Any minute her head is going to start spinning.
"I had actually moved on from him quite a while ago."
"Of course you did," she said, much like Rita Skeeter when she interviewed Harry in Goblet of Fire. "Well, I have the perfect man for you. He's handsome, successful, everything you would want. I even told him about you, and he was very interested. Are you interested?"
Maybe her head won't spin after all. "Well, sure, why not?"
"Wonderful! I knew you would be...oh...wait...one little problem...he's not thrilled you are a virgin."
"You told him?"
"Well, hun, you would've had to tell him eventually of your chosen situation," she said, condescendingly.
Any second her head will be zippin' around that bony little neck of hers.
"Yes, I suppose that's true, but it is my thing to tell."
Waving her hands she continues, "Anyway, it really took the wind out of his sails, if you know what I mean. He just wasn't into it."
"Hmm, that's interesting, really," I said.
"Why is that, hun?"
"Because most men get seriously turned on by it."
And that, my friends, is how you put Mean Magnifier in her place without her really realizing it. I made my escape, leaving her completely gobsmacked. It's not my normal practice to toss out a zinger of that magnitude, but she had just taken things too far--and it's not the first time.
"Let me hold your crown..."
Ask HTMiLy: Special Shipping Edition
If you like going to the post office raise your hand.
....
Anyone?...
I'm right there with you. I work full-time, which means that I have very limited hours to get to the post office. If I wanted to pay about $3-4 more and not use the media mail system, I could print postage online, but I'm not willing to pay that much extra.
Well, it turns out that you CAN print media mail postage from your home computer, slap it on a book, and stick it in your mailbox.
Here's how:
Stamps.com
If you are doing a huge amount of mailing, a service like stamps.com may work for you. For a monthly fee, you get to print postage at a slightly discounted rate, get free delivery confirmation, and it comes with a scale.
Endicia.com
This is pretty much the same deal as stamps.com, except they do have a no-fee option. However, it doesn't include media mail.
Don't want to pay a service fee? Here is the secret option number three:
Paypal.com
This requires a PayPal account, but those are completely free, so it's no extra monthly charge. I don't know how to access the shipping section from the main PayPal website, but the link above works just fine, and Media Mail is an option. Delivery confirmation is only 19 cents.
You can print the shipping label on a regular piece of paper and tape that to whatever packaging material you have. It's about as easy as it gets.
What do you need to know about shipping through Media Mail?
Media Mail rates are done by the pound. So, if your book weighs less than a pound, choose the 1 lb. rate. If you are mailing more than one book, or a rather heavy hardcover book, choose a 2 lb rate or heavier. You don't need to have a postal scale to weigh it, just a regular bathroom scale will work.
You can only mail books and other media items through this method. Also, if you are mailing something that is less than 4 oz, it is cheaper and faster to send it through First Class mail.
Now you are prepared to go forth and mail all your packages from the comfort of your own home. Of course, this will cut down on the time you could be spending reading in the line at the Post Office.
Waiting on Wednesday (11): The Search for WondLa
The Search for WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi.
Published by: Simon And Schuster Children's Books.
Format: Hardback.
Released: 1st October 2010.
"Eva Nine was raised by the robot Muthr. But when a marauder destroys the underground sanctuary she called home, twelve-year-old Eva is forced to flee aboveground. Eva Nine is searching for anyone else like her. She knows that other humans exist because of a very special item she treasures ~ a scrap of cardboard on which is depicted a young girl, an adult, and a robot along with the strange word "WondLa". Tony DiTerlizzi honours traditional children's literature in this totally original space age adventure: one that is as complex as an alien planet, but as simple as a child's wish for a place to belong."
This book looks incredible. And it sounds it too! You only have to look at the cover to see that it is beautifully illustrated. And it features some very cool new technology! Go to www.wondla.com to find out more about augmented reality, where you can hold certain pages up to your webcam and watch scenes and images from the book unfold before your very eyes on your computer screen! How cool does that sound?! Cannot wait to check it out for myself!
Getting Your Themes Across - The Unforgivable Curses
If you want to know what JKR thinks the worst thing one human can do to another is, the answer is right there on the page in Goblet of Fire, chapter 14, "The Unforgivable Curses." JKR uses a school lesson to give the reader insight into what is to come in the remaining books, as well as a hint toward the deeper meaning underpinning her stories.
Pseudo Mad-Eye Moody, in his first Defense Against the Dark Arts class in Harry's fourth year, uses spiders to teach the students what they need to be on guard against:
1) the Imperius Curse -- Ron mentions this one. It is cast with "Imperio," and gives the witch or wizard total control over the other person. Mad-Eye says it takes real strength of character to throw off this curse.
2) the Cruciatus Curse -- Neville names this one, and we later learn that this was the curse which drove his parents insane. Indeed Barty Crouch, Jr., aka Pseudo Mad-Eye, was one of the Death Eaters who is responsible for leaving Neville essentially an orphan. Uttering "Crucio" causes total and devastating pain.
3) Avada Kedavra -- As Hermione informs us, is the Killing Curse. There is no defense against it, and only one person is known to have survived it. Harry.
Before the end of the series, we will see these curses used by both Death Eaters and good guys. Harry himself will use the Imperius Curse when he, Ron, and Hermione break into Gringotts in Deathly Hallows. And at the end of Order of the Phoenix, after Bellatrix kills Sirius, Harry tries to cast the Cruciatus Curse at her, but discovers he really doesn't have what it takes to cause another person serious pain. Later, he attempts to use it against Snape after he killed Dumbledore at the end of Half-Blood Prince, then succeeds in using it briefly against Amycus Carrow in Deathly Hallows in defense of Prof. McGonagall.
Presented in ascending order of greater offense, JKR thus informs her reader that, in her opinion, the worst things one person can do to another is to control them against their will, cause them devastating pain, and kill them. She has stated in interviews that she takes death seriously, and that is why you do not see random and casual killing in her stories. Until the final battle of Hogwarts, each death is presented in such a way as to make the reader truly feel the utter and senseless loss.
JKR has also let her reader know throughout the series what she believes about choice: "It is our choices, Harry, that show us what we truly are, far more than our abilities." (PS/SS) That's why taking away one's free will is including on a list with pain and death.
So, with this bit of creative worldbuilding, JKR has created an effective tool for summarizing some of her own key beliefs, crucial themes to the story, and giving clues as to what is to come. By studying her technique, we see that not only is it truly great to work with themes as a writer, but what's even more cool is when these themes can be inserted openly into the story in a creative, interesting, and most importantly, non-preachy manner.
As a writer, if you were to create your own list of 3 Unforgivable Curses, what would they be? Would you include the same ones as JKR, or would yours have a different construction? How would they fit into your current WIP?
Have you created your own piece of worldbuilding to insert into your story that gives your reader insight into your themes and foretell what is yet to come? And having created such a tool, who will use it? How will it look different from use by your hero to your antagonist?
Picture credit.
Pseudo Mad-Eye Moody, in his first Defense Against the Dark Arts class in Harry's fourth year, uses spiders to teach the students what they need to be on guard against:
1) the Imperius Curse -- Ron mentions this one. It is cast with "Imperio," and gives the witch or wizard total control over the other person. Mad-Eye says it takes real strength of character to throw off this curse.
2) the Cruciatus Curse -- Neville names this one, and we later learn that this was the curse which drove his parents insane. Indeed Barty Crouch, Jr., aka Pseudo Mad-Eye, was one of the Death Eaters who is responsible for leaving Neville essentially an orphan. Uttering "Crucio" causes total and devastating pain.
3) Avada Kedavra -- As Hermione informs us, is the Killing Curse. There is no defense against it, and only one person is known to have survived it. Harry.
Before the end of the series, we will see these curses used by both Death Eaters and good guys. Harry himself will use the Imperius Curse when he, Ron, and Hermione break into Gringotts in Deathly Hallows. And at the end of Order of the Phoenix, after Bellatrix kills Sirius, Harry tries to cast the Cruciatus Curse at her, but discovers he really doesn't have what it takes to cause another person serious pain. Later, he attempts to use it against Snape after he killed Dumbledore at the end of Half-Blood Prince, then succeeds in using it briefly against Amycus Carrow in Deathly Hallows in defense of Prof. McGonagall.
Presented in ascending order of greater offense, JKR thus informs her reader that, in her opinion, the worst things one person can do to another is to control them against their will, cause them devastating pain, and kill them. She has stated in interviews that she takes death seriously, and that is why you do not see random and casual killing in her stories. Until the final battle of Hogwarts, each death is presented in such a way as to make the reader truly feel the utter and senseless loss.
JKR has also let her reader know throughout the series what she believes about choice: "It is our choices, Harry, that show us what we truly are, far more than our abilities." (PS/SS) That's why taking away one's free will is including on a list with pain and death.
So, with this bit of creative worldbuilding, JKR has created an effective tool for summarizing some of her own key beliefs, crucial themes to the story, and giving clues as to what is to come. By studying her technique, we see that not only is it truly great to work with themes as a writer, but what's even more cool is when these themes can be inserted openly into the story in a creative, interesting, and most importantly, non-preachy manner.
As a writer, if you were to create your own list of 3 Unforgivable Curses, what would they be? Would you include the same ones as JKR, or would yours have a different construction? How would they fit into your current WIP?
Have you created your own piece of worldbuilding to insert into your story that gives your reader insight into your themes and foretell what is yet to come? And having created such a tool, who will use it? How will it look different from use by your hero to your antagonist?
Picture credit.
One Lovely Blog Award Winner!!!
My week started with a truly awesome surprise: One Lovely Blog Award from the wonderfully kind Me, Myself, & I .
In order to accept this award, I need to do the following:
1. Give Credit to the person who bestowed it and post a link to their blog: Me, Myself, & I: You are truly a treasure, thank you so very much for thinking of my blog. It means so much.
2. Pass the award on to 10 new blogs you have discovered
3. Contact the recipients and let them know.
Here are the 10 blogs I have chosen for this award (I'm trying to pick different blogs from those who have already received this one, just to spread the love):
1. Alessandra
2. Average Girl
3. Aunt of 14
4. R.R. Jones
5. Jen (Ink drops)
6. George Wells
7. Miss Innocent
8. Annie
9. Rebekah
10. Queen
Frankly, I pass this award to everyone following my 'lil blog--you all are amazing and special. :o)
In order to accept this award, I need to do the following:
1. Give Credit to the person who bestowed it and post a link to their blog: Me, Myself, & I: You are truly a treasure, thank you so very much for thinking of my blog. It means so much.
2. Pass the award on to 10 new blogs you have discovered
3. Contact the recipients and let them know.
Here are the 10 blogs I have chosen for this award (I'm trying to pick different blogs from those who have already received this one, just to spread the love):
1. Alessandra
2. Average Girl
3. Aunt of 14
4. R.R. Jones
5. Jen (Ink drops)
6. George Wells
7. Miss Innocent
8. Annie
9. Rebekah
10. Queen
Frankly, I pass this award to everyone following my 'lil blog--you all are amazing and special. :o)
Soul Eater by Michelle Paver [Review]
Written by: Michelle Paver.
Published by: Orion Children's Books.
Format: Hardback.
Released: 6th September 2006.
Rating: 5/5.
Official synopsis: "Torak has survived the summer and his heart-stopping adventure in the Seal Islands. He and Wolf are together again. But their reunion is all too short-lived. As mid winter approaches Torak learns the worst from the White Fox clan - Wolf has been snatched. In a desperate bid to rescue him Torak and Renn must brave the frozen wilderness of the Far North. They tread a deadly dangerous path as they step into a world of deceit,treachery and lies and come face to face with the the most powerful and feared mages alive. Cruel Thiazzi, the Oak Tree Mage, Seshru the Viper Mage, beautiful and manipulative, and Nef the gruff Bat Mage - here too is Eostra, the mysterious Masked One - all of them bound by their desire for all creatures to bow before them. Under the dark wings of night Torak confronts vengeful ice bears, mistrust, broken promises and a terrifying evil. Another step is taken on his quest to destroy the Soul Eaters, but with it comes the burden of an utterly chilling secret of his own... Dazzling entertainment, seamless storytelling - the third adventure in Torak's quest to vanquish the terrifying Soul-Eaters."
Soul Eater is perhaps when my adoration of Michelle Paver really took off. I'd adored Spirit Walker and simply could not wait for the next book. And then something special happened. I won a competition on The Clan (the official website, for those that don't know. It's brilliant and I'm a moderator there now!) to actually go to London for the official book launch in Waterstone's on Oxford Street, to actually meet Michelle Paver! I could not of been more excited. And boy what a day.
Michelle was amazing. She actually spoke to us all individually before the signing and actually signed copies of Wolf Brother and Spirit Walker for us while we were actually waiting for the event to start. She was so nice and friendly that I loved her even more. I'd met a few authors before her and none had really made an impression. It felt like they had to be there and didn't really want to be, but Michelle was just amazing. In subsequent meetings with her, I've been surprised that she remembers details you think she'd forget about conversations you've had, in person and by letter (I am a constant pest to her mail bag! :D). But anyway, Soul Eater!
This book is when, for me, it got really dark. There were dark moments in the previous two books, but this one was something on a completely different level. It was dark and evil, chilling, more or less from the word go.
Soul Eater sees Torak go to the Far North in the dead of winter. Wolf has been taken, and Torak must embark on a journey to rescue his friend, but on his way, he comes closer to the dreaded Soul-Eaters than ever before. In this book, we get our first glimpse of the Soul-Eaters and they are a terrifying bunch, in particular, the horrifying Eostra, the Eagle-owl Mage.
And the cover art really stepped up a gear with this book. The previous covers were fantastic, but this cover is something of phenomenal proportions and is simply stunning! John Fordham does a fantastic job. As does the illustrator Geoff Taylor who crafts the beautiful images at the start of every chapter, and the maps at the front and back of the books!
As this series goes on, the research just becomes all the more evident. And with this book, it is plain to see that Michelle has first hand experience of the terrain and conditions in which the book is set. The descriptions of the setting in this book are, for want of a better word, breath-taking. Michelle paints the scene beautifully and this book makes for an excellent read, and leaves you begging for more!
Oh, So THAT'S Why I'm Different...
Gobsmacked girl: "You've seriously never done that?"
Me: "Seriously, I never have."
Startled girl: "Every girl has done it."
Me: "Maybe not every girl."
Startled girl: "Clearly."
Gobsmacked girl: "So, you have NEVER screamed and fawned over a celebrity? Seriously? Never? Not even when you were little or a preteen or a teenager?"
Me: "No, never, not even when I was little, preteen, or teen."
Gobsmacked girl & Startled girl: "That's so weird. Every girl has gone ape over a celebrity or an athlete."
A guy I used to know told me about a girl (over 25 years of age) he dated who went gaga over Bon Jovi--like date-ruining gaga.
Here's the deal: Celebrities are people, just like you and me. They go to the bathroom, get gas, get colds & snotty noses, puke, pop zits, and every other embarrassing HUMAN thing.
Little story: Went to see Whitney Houston in concert back when she could still sing (before the erratic behavior). We had orchestra seats--we were so close, I could see if she had white powder around her nose (she didn't). Her opening act was a group called 112. When they started singing Anywhere, these scantily clad girls next to me started screaming, throwing their hands in the air, and jumping up and down. I was nearly knocked out by a flailing boob.
While dodging wild arms and narrowly escaping the flying breasts, I subtly grooved to the music, when one of the leads walked across stage, pointed to me, and started singing some, um, suggestive lyrics (the part about she's calling me...that's all I can remember, aside from blushing intensely). An odd lack of screams caught my attention: the previously attention-seeking girls next to me looked like they were going to crush me; the look in their eyes was borderline mad. I was fairly alarmed.
Moral of the story: Maybe the band member saw me because I was actually listening to the music and appreciating it, rather than screaming my fool head off, trying to get the guys on stage to show me attention. Maybe, just maybe, some celebrities actually prefer being treated like human beings, rather than fish in a tank that people point and gawk at...just saying.
Apparently, my lacking need to scream and fawn over celebrities makes me different. Fine by me. Now, that's not to say I wouldn't blush a little or have some sort of hormonal reaction if I ever met Johnny Depp...but those are purely biological reactions to rather effective stimulation.
Me: "Seriously, I never have."
Startled girl: "Every girl has done it."
Me: "Maybe not every girl."
Startled girl: "Clearly."
Gobsmacked girl: "So, you have NEVER screamed and fawned over a celebrity? Seriously? Never? Not even when you were little or a preteen or a teenager?"
Me: "No, never, not even when I was little, preteen, or teen."
Gobsmacked girl & Startled girl: "That's so weird. Every girl has gone ape over a celebrity or an athlete."
A guy I used to know told me about a girl (over 25 years of age) he dated who went gaga over Bon Jovi--like date-ruining gaga.
Here's the deal: Celebrities are people, just like you and me. They go to the bathroom, get gas, get colds & snotty noses, puke, pop zits, and every other embarrassing HUMAN thing.
Little story: Went to see Whitney Houston in concert back when she could still sing (before the erratic behavior). We had orchestra seats--we were so close, I could see if she had white powder around her nose (she didn't). Her opening act was a group called 112. When they started singing Anywhere, these scantily clad girls next to me started screaming, throwing their hands in the air, and jumping up and down. I was nearly knocked out by a flailing boob.
While dodging wild arms and narrowly escaping the flying breasts, I subtly grooved to the music, when one of the leads walked across stage, pointed to me, and started singing some, um, suggestive lyrics (the part about she's calling me...that's all I can remember, aside from blushing intensely). An odd lack of screams caught my attention: the previously attention-seeking girls next to me looked like they were going to crush me; the look in their eyes was borderline mad. I was fairly alarmed.
Moral of the story: Maybe the band member saw me because I was actually listening to the music and appreciating it, rather than screaming my fool head off, trying to get the guys on stage to show me attention. Maybe, just maybe, some celebrities actually prefer being treated like human beings, rather than fish in a tank that people point and gawk at...just saying.
Apparently, my lacking need to scream and fawn over celebrities makes me different. Fine by me. Now, that's not to say I wouldn't blush a little or have some sort of hormonal reaction if I ever met Johnny Depp...but those are purely biological reactions to rather effective stimulation.
My Cowboys WIN!!! FINALLY!!!!
Hurray!!! No depression, no mourning period necessary! No Tylenol followed by Advil when the Tylenol doesn't cut it. Nope, not this weekend. Why? Because my Cowboys looked like the team they can be and handled the Houston Texans, winning convincingly.
Let's keep it goin' 'Boys!
Makeup Magic Monday: Laura Mercier Loose Powder
Do you want your skin to look like pure velvet or silk? Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder is by far the best I have ever tried. I discovered it years ago (while reading an article about Julia Roberts, who apparently swore by the stuff) and have never turned back. Just a dab will set your makeup all day without making you look cake-y or overly made up. Throughout the day, your skin will still retain that dewy, fresh look (if it gets on the oily side, just re-touch with the puff only or use a blot powder that doesn't add makeup, like M.A.C.). Oh, and it lasts FOREVER.
Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder can be purchased at Neiman Marcus, Sephora, Nordtsrom. $34
Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder can be purchased at Neiman Marcus, Sephora, Nordtsrom. $34
NEWS: Cover for US Forever Released
Just a little while ago, Maggie Stiefvater revealed the US cover art for Forever, the third and final book in The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. I really enjoyed the first 2 books, Shiver and Linger (reviews here and here) so am looking forward to this, and seeing what our cover looks for. The UK has black and white covers so looking forward to seeing that variation of it. But for now, you can see the US cover below in all it's red glory! It's published July 2011!
Cover of the Week
Hi guys! So I've decided to have a Cover of the Week feature! Which is pretty self-explanatory. My favourite covers, featuring for a whole week. Simple.
And this week, we have a real beauty kickstarting it off! Angel by L.A. Weatherly!
It's out this Friday and I wanted to highlight this beaut of a cover! I really like the colours used, and the girl looks very very creepy! And I really like the font they use for the title. Very cool!
Entangled by Cat Clarke [Review]
Published by: Quercus.
Format: Paperback.
Released: 6th January 2011.
Rating: 5/5.
Official synopsis: "'The same questions whirl round and round in my head:
What does he want from me?
How could I have let this happen?
AM I GOING TO DIE?'
17-year-old Grace wakes up in a white room, with table, pens and paper - and no clue how she got there. As Grace pours her tangled life onto the page, she is forced to remember everything she's tried to forget. There's falling hopelessly in love with the gorgeous Nat, and the unravelling of her relationship with her best friend Sal. But there's something missing. As hard as she's trying to remember, is there something she just can't see? Grace must face the most important question of all. Why is she here? A story of dangerous secrets, intense friendships and electrifying attraction."
This book is amazing! There. I've said it. Entangled is amazing.
When it first came through my postbox I was a bit sceptical. I am not the biggest fan of pink, and seeing so much pink was shocking! But they always say "never judge a book by it's cover" so it didn't affect my reading experience. And boy what an experience! This book is more twisty than any book I think I have ever read. So many times, when little tidbits were revealed, I'd make a guess, connect the dots, and then something else would happen and I'd change my guess. And then again. And again. And by about the fifth time I decided to give up guessing. But I have to say, I didn't guess the ending. Not at all. This book kept me guessing right until the very end. It is very clever and perfectly written.
It's so engaging. Right from the first page I was drawn in. It was annoying whenever I had to put the book down as I just wanted to read on! Why was this girl locked in a room? Why has she been given a seemingly endless supply of pens and paper? Who is Ethan and what does he really want?
Grace's voice is perfect. Absolutely perfect. Some books, when narrated by one person, in first person, the narration is a bit sketchy, not always consistent. But in Entangled it is perfectly clear that Grace is on every single page. The perfect voice of a teenage girl. I know Cat herself was a teenage girl at some point, but to get it into written word cannot of been all that easy. So this is testament to what an amazing writer she is. (Yes Cat, you're amazing!).
I wasn't that much of a fan of Grace in the beginning however. She was loud, and brash and to start off with, she kind of annoyed me. Every time something good was happening, she spoilt it. But as I read on, I really started to empathise with her, and began to connect with her, to understand her. I understood that her behaviour and attitude has a hidden reason, and that underneath she's just as vulnerable and worrisome as the rest of us.
I like that the cast for this book is pretty small. It allows us to focus on them all the more rather than have to keep remembering who this person is, what that person did and why this person is where they are. There are 7 characters in total but only 3 main ones. Nat. Sal, and of course, Grace.
One thing that I really liked about this book is that it showcases just how much your opinions on someone can change with the slightest event. Entangled is certainly thought provoking and made me think a lot about how I view my family and friends.
I cannot stress enough just how much I love this book, and Cat for writing it. It actually touched me. I really don't know what more to say, other than do not miss this. Please! It's just too brilliant to miss! It's out on 6th January (2011) so put that date in your diaries, pre-order it, save Christmas money. Whatever you have to do to get this book. Do it! You will not regret it! A stunning debut that is beautifully and lovingly crafted! I cannot wait to see what Cat writes next!
Thanks to Parul at Quercus for my copy!
In My Postbox #20
In My Mailbox idea from Kristi @ The Story Siren, and all links take you to Amazon UK.
Well it's that time of the week again! Suday. And that means it's time for In My Postbox! I got some really exciting books this week, so here goes!
FOR REVIEW:
"Pack life is about order, but Bryn is about to push all the limits, with hair-raising results. At the age of four, Bryn watched a rabid werewolf brutally murder her parents. Alone in the world, she was rescued and taken in by Callum, the alpha of his pack. Now fifteen, Bryn's been as a human among werewolves, adhering to pack rule. Little fazes her. But the pack's been keeping a secret, and when Bryn goes exploring against Callum's orders, she finds Chase, a newly turned teen Were locked in a cage. Terrifying memories of the attack on her parents come flooding back. Bryn needs answers, and she needs Chase to get them. Suddenly, all allegiances to the pack no longer matter. It's Bryn and Chase against the werewolf world, whatever the consequences. A thrilling new YA adventure, with an electrifying link between a tough heroine and an exciting boy-were at its heart, Raised by Wolves will leave you howling for more."
I hadn't actually heard of this so it was a nice surprise when it came through my postbox the other day. The cover is very cool. Very shiny. Looking forward to having a read! Thanks to Quercus for this one!
Before We Say Goodbye by Gabriella Ambrosio.
"It is seven a.m. on a spring morning in Jerusalem. Eighteen-year-old Dima trudges through the mud to college and reflects on many things, including her forthcoming marriage to her cousin Faris. Seventeen-year-old Myriam skips school to sit on the tree-lined hill overlooking the city and think about her friend Michael, whose death she still mourns. And Dima’s and Myriam’s families – one Palestinian, one Israeli – go about their ordinary, separate lives; for today is like every other day. Yet in seven hours’ time, everything will have changed. For ever."
This sounds absolutely amazing and I cannot wait to get started. The cover is brilliant! Thanks to Sean at Walker for this!
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare.
"Magic is dangerous - but love is more dangerous still... When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray arrives in England during the reign of Queen Victoria, something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Friendless and hunted, Tessa seeks refuge with the Shadowhunters, a band of warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons. Drawn ever deeper into their world, she finds herself fascinated by - and torn between - two best friends, and quickly realizes that love may be the most dangerous magic of all."
Really looking forward to reading this one. It's huge! Such a big book! Thanks, again, to Sean at Walker for this one!
So there you go! Those are the lovelies I got this week! What did you get? Hope you have a great week.
Also, just as a (pretty pointless extra), when I was taking my post that you see at the top of this post, 2 thirds of my cats would not move at all. So I took a pic of them next to the books seeing as they seemed so keen to get into it! Haha. The one with white on her face is Smudge, and the totally black one is (mine, me and my sisters have one each) Pepsi. Both are looking petty evil. Huh. Oh well. Haha!
Cover VS Cover: Angel by Cliff McNish
Hardback//Paperback
I reviewed this book back when I started up this blog, and thought that it was about time that it featured in a Cover VS Cover war. This week it's not the UK vs the US. It's the hardback edition, versus the paperback edition.
I adore the hardback cover. It's the one that I own and it just looks amazing. The colour. The angel itself. The font used for the title. The mystery and eeriness of it. It's just perfect. It kind of makes me think of a cold winter night, the colour of it. Dusk on a misty December day. I know it sounds weird but that's the image it conjures.
The paperback, it just as nice. But there's just something about it that doesn't appeal to me and I can't put my finger on why. It's got the same font which I love. But the angel just doesn't feel right. I know the story is dark, and it's referring to the dark angel, but for me it makes it too clear, while the hardback cover is somewhat misleading which I like.
So this week, I have to go with the hardback! What about you? Which do you prefer?
JK Rowling - Oprah TweetParty!
Are you as excited as I am about the possibilities coming out of next week's (Friday, Oct. 1) JK Rowling interview on Oprah? Could the announcement of her next novel be forthcoming? Don't you want to squee together with a bunch of like-minded fans?Let's all Tweet together and share the excitement of this rare interview. Use the hashtag #JKROprah on Twitter when the program airs Friday, October 1! (as well as leading up to next Friday!)
Spread the word.
Does anybody get the show sooner than 4 pm EST? Let me know!
I'll keep you up to date here and on Twitter:
@HP4Writers on Twitter
Watch new clip on last words of Deathly Hallows here:
http://harrypotter.scholastic.com/
And an earlier clip posted at JKR Fan's blog:
http://www.jkrfan.com/
See these posts for more details on the announcement:
The Daily Snitcher
Mugglenet
The Leaky Cauldron
Friday's Celebrity Frisky Virgin: Susan Boyle
People tease this woman mercilessly, which is so sad, especially considering she seems to be a truly, genuinely good human being--something people seem to take for granted these days. Oh, and did I mention she can sing like an angel? Susan, 49, has stated she is still a virgin. I don't know if she is looking for love or if she is content living just as she is, but whatever she wishes, I hope everything comes true for her.
NEWS: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 Trailer!
The theatrical trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 has been released! And it's as amazing as the trailer released a few months ago for both Part 1 and 2. Check it out below in it's full glory! I cannot wait to see this film!
Spirit Walker by Michelle Paver [Review]
Published by: Orion Children's Books.
Format: Hardback.
Released: 7th September 2005.
Rating: 5/5.
Official synopsis: "Thousands of years ago an orphan boy and his wolf cub companion challenge a demon bear that threatens to destroy their world forever. With the help of the World Spirit, Torak destroys the bear, but his beloved Wolf is lost in the ensuing avalanche. And Torak's quest is far from over. A strange, creeping sickness, silent and deadly, is threatening the Ravens. Word arrives that the Seal Clan have the cure and Torak must face a lonely journey to find it. On the Seal's Island he stumbles into a world utterly unlike his own. Here life moves to the rhythms of the sea, the Seals build shelters from whale bones and skim the waves in fast, beautiful kayaks. And here Torak is welcomed by the kindly Seal Mage, Teneris, and kinsman, Bale. But all is not as it seems - Torak must keep his wits about him to judge who might be friend or foe. As in 'Wolf Brother' Michelle Paver's sheer passion for her story set in a world of myth and natural magic, shines through in this skilfully woven, exciting and brilliantly satisfying second instalment of the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness. Dazzling entertainment, seamless storytelling - the second adventure in Torak's quest to vanquish the terrifying Soul-Eaters."
Spirit Walker is the second book in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness and begins a few months after the end of Wolf Brother. Torak is living somewhat happily with the Raven Clan, but then people throughout the Forest begin to fall ill with a terrible illness. Rumors spread that the cure is by the sea, and Torak goes in search of it.
This book takes the reader away from the pine-filled air of the Forest, and delivers the out into the open, crisp air of the Sea and the Seal Islands where Torak meets his kinsman, Bale, and the Seal Mage, Tenris.
If you think that it cannot get any bigger after Wolf Brother then you are wrong wrong wrong! There's more action than you can shake a stick (or should that be spear?) at.
Again the research is astronomical. The little elements just make you appreciate the scale of work involved for Michelle when she creates one of these amazing books.
I love that in this one we get to see the orca's (killer whales to you and me) often referred to as hunters in the book. The fish, the different ways of catching and preparing prey/food. The skinboat. Everything about this book has a fresh feel to it. It makes for an amazing reading experience.
Also in this book, Torak discovers his powers. Not going to say any more about that... but I will say it's not like a supernatural power!
Again the research is astronomical. The little elements just make you appreciate the scale of work involved for Michelle when she creates one of these amazing books.
I love that in this one we get to see the orca's (killer whales to you and me) often referred to as hunters in the book. The fish, the different ways of catching and preparing prey/food. The skinboat. Everything about this book has a fresh feel to it. It makes for an amazing reading experience.
Also in this book, Torak discovers his powers. Not going to say any more about that... but I will say it's not like a supernatural power!
This book holds some importance to me. Physically. It was given to me by my nan, and was the last thing she gave me before she passed away. I can't help but think about her when I read it, so that just makes me love it even more.
I love the cover art for this one. Blue is my favourite cover and it looks brilliant in the flesh.
Just whatever you do, do not miss this series. I cannot stress how much you are missing out on if you do not read these books. I cannot get my love for them out enough! They are perfect reads.
I love the cover art for this one. Blue is my favourite cover and it looks brilliant in the flesh.
Just whatever you do, do not miss this series. I cannot stress how much you are missing out on if you do not read these books. I cannot get my love for them out enough! They are perfect reads.
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