What's Up?

I haven't been keeping up with my reading. Only just starting Chapter 6 of Abhorsen, when I should really be done with the trilogy by now. I'll reserve my comments for the review, which I don't know how good a job I'll do, but anyway, I can say I'm beginning to feel attached to one character, so that's a good sign. And I'm looking out for the surprises that Nymeth mentioned.

Why haven't I been reading my books? I've been socialising, meeting up with friends and basically spending too much time on the net, obsessing about Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab perfume oils and placing an unbelievably large order for my scents of choice. Right now I can't pull myself away from the downward spiral into compulsively searching for scent lockets. I simply must find a nice, slightly edgy and ornate scent locket to fit my mood. Preferably with Celtic or American Indian symbols but not too expensive, since I've spent too much on the scents. It's a bad thing. I stop buying books to save money and prevent clutter in my too-small living space and end up spending elsewhere instead.

The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason

This was the first email I saw this morning:

"Congrats...you won a copy of The Rest Falls Away! Please let me know who I should autograph it to, and where to send it! Colleen"

Tried to contain myself - I was in the office - but OMG!!! So thrilled by the fact that she'll be autographing it to me, as I requested. She's kind enough to mail it to me all the way here in Singapore. I'm always too shy to go to book signings and not every author is able to travel here to Singapore, so this is a really great gift from Colleen Gleason.

I have Colleen Gleason's blog in my Google reader feed subscription. If you don't already do so, do go over and read it. She has a sequel coming up - definitely excited to see what she has in store in that book. I can't wait to read The Rest Falls Away, so while waiting for the autographed book to arrive, I will try to find a copy at the library.

Lirael Completed

Whew! Read and read and read to the exclusion of all my other projects.

Now I've finished reading Lirael. It was not a surprise - Lirael's parentage. I'm just surprised at the number of characters I've taken a dislike to.

Will be starting on Abhorsen. Several threads are coming together in this final book. I'd like to know the characters a little better by this book. So far it's been much more action than drama. It makes for a good, speedy read but there's something missing for me. I'm not growing attached to any of the characters in the books. I hope Abhorsen will bring not only closure but also deliver meatier personalities.

I've got a couple of art and sewing projects I want to do this weekend. I'm not sure how fast I can go with Abhorsen but I'd like to finish it so that I can return the trilogy to the library by the due date.

Banned Book Challenge

Finally finished Sabriel - what an exhilarating ride! A fast-paced book where the adventures never let up. I'll try to write a review of the entire trilogy when I've completed it. I've started on Lirael. Initially, I was glad the main character is a Clayr, so I can get to know about the Clayr a little more. I was eager to learn the systems that Garth Nix has set up for the Clayr society and the workings of the Clayr. As I read on however, I'm beginning to dislike the Clayr a little but it's probably too early to tell. I have my suspicions about Lirael's parentage but I'll hold off my predictions.

I was being silly last night and signed up at the Banned Book Challenge webpage, pledging to read 3 banned books. Now as I skim through lists of banned books, I'm beginning to doubt the sanity of this endeavour. I've read alot of the books my google search has thrown up and I'm not interested in re-reading them. I've got to find some interesting books to read or I'm going to fail at this challenge. I want to read books that are banned because of the social impact they might have but I'm starting to see that many books are banned for very little good reason at all.

Good Reads

I'm feeling the pressure to hurry up and finish reading the 4 books I borrowed from the library. 21 days aren't enough! I may have to renew the books as I am still on the first book, but I guess that's cheaper than buying the books.


I decided to trim down on book-buying, but it doesn't mean I'm not buying any books. I might have to get the entire series of Tokyo Babylon because I want to read it and the library doesn't have it.





Good Reads is a book networking site recommended at www.lifehack.org . It seems promising, if you look beyond the first few books in the Popular Books list, which seem to be made up of the latest best sellers or the very well-known classics. To me, a good book recommendation site/list will include lesser known books, otherwise, I'd just go see the best-sellers list in the newspapers.

Looking Forward to More Reading

My tiny ibook sorta went bonkers last night and when I did a search at Apple Support, I discovered its batteries need to be replaced. The Good Husband promised to bring the little thing to an Apple shop today and I wonder if they will be able to replace the batteries immediately. The Good Husband has not yet called to update me on the status of this affair, so I'm still wondering. On the other hand, if I don't have my laptop, I'll probably have time to do more reading and crafts. Which is a good thing anyway.

I should add the to my booklist for the Once Upon A Time Challenge, The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly and something by Angela Carter, perhaps one of those gruesome reworkings of fairy tales. And I completely forgot I have a copy of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell so I should get round to reading that too. I've started on Sabriel and it's a very easy book. I got distracted so often this week, otherwise, I think I could have finished it within 3-4 days.

As though I don't have enough on my plate, I'm compulsively adding this, to my to-do list:



I spotted it at Stuff as Dreams are Made on and I couldn't resist. Will think about what books to read for this one.

A Craving For Jane Austen

How is it possible, that with a deluge of books at home and in my bag, I have a sudden pathetic, wistful longing for Pride and Prejudice? I've discarded my mildewed copy from Secondary school, so I'm probably going to have to run to the bookshop to search for another (hopefully cheap). It is difficult to resist such a craving. It comes almost every month (just before a certain time that women are familiar with). I really should just buy the book and flip through it whenever the desire strikes.