A Day in the Life #32

So...I have this incredibly unlucky talent. Anytime there is a parade in the city I'm currently living in, I don't know about it. So I literally walk out the door and am MOBBED by people and it's like I've just stepped into a Disney World line or something. It's super disorienting. (And also I ALWAYS work on said days. I made it on time today somehow though!)  So...happy early St. Patrick's Day everyone!

On the other hand there's a reason I try to avoid parades (particularly the St. Paddy's day ones) - here's a look at a typical St. Patrick's in Chicago. In fact, that's only a small part of Chicago.  (The 10:45 PM report miiiight be the best thing I've ever read on one of these.) I LOVE reading the posts on St. Patrick's Day! This blog does a report every year and it's always hilarious. And now I can doubly enjoy it since I am in no danger of having to wander out in that mess!  I do feel really, really bad for the cops though. It's a rough time for them.

Otherwise..not much has been happening on my end. A lot of grunt work in getting things together for some job applications/auditions, the cats are still fighting, and it's finally sort of warm!  So you know...mostly good stuff?

Also I saw the cutest thing EVER:

Bookish Things

Discussions

LITERARY REFLECTIONS: WHERE MY GIRLS AT (PART I) - I had never actually noticed this before - I mean I definitely noticed that bisexuals are very rarely depicted in any media I've come across, but I hadn't noticed that there are significantly more gay men than lesbians.
Fixed by Camel: On Gender, Books, and Children - This is something I'm thinking a lot about as I have created this picture book reading monster, and I'm trying to pick up at least one book that he might not have picked up because it looks girly. Not sure about the success so far though...
No Boys Allowed: School visits as a woman writer - I can't remember the last time I was so infuriated by something. It's just...SERIOUSLY PEOPLE.


Specific Books/Authors

Book Event—Marie Rutkoski and Sara Rees Brennan - I would have KILLED to go to this!
QUEEN OF SHADOWS COVER REVEAL, TOUR DATES, (MINI) QOS EXCERPT, & MORE! - I'm not even going to say anything. This is my reaction: :-D !!!!!!!!!!!
The Winner’s Crime‘s Marie Rutkoski On YA Heroines, Romance, and That Next Book - Such a good interview! And I waaaant this book!!!
Read Two Never-Before-Seen Fairy Tales by the Grimms’ Favorite Folklorist - Because I will always post all things fairy tale.
Brian Jacques’ Spirit Lives on, Here is a Weasel Riding a Woodpecker - YES!!! I seriously squeed when I saw this.
“Are they going to say this is fantasy?” (Ursula K. Le Guin) - So this doesn't make me feel any fonder for Kasuo Iziguro..

Terry Pratchett

Revisiting Terry Pratchett’s Discworld taught me why I love reading

What Terry Pratchett said about death

Redditors are making sure Terry Pratchett's name lives on forever

Terry Pratchett was a true great, the equal of Swift

Terry Pratchett: 50 best quotes

Blogging

Why Books and Cats are the Perfect Companions - This is so cute!  ...and so true. You try reading when an 18 pound cat decides that he needs to be closer to you and decides to lay on top of your arms!  Lily is usually content to just curl up in my near vicinity though, so she's a bit better with the reading.

A POETIC BREAK - I just cannot express to you how gorgeous Nafiza's writing is. Go read this.

How a book club is helping to keep ex-offenders from going back to jail -
Authors Who Need To Collaborate Their Fantastic Braincells And Cowrite Books - I thought I was just going to nod like "yeah that would be pretty cool"...and I was SO WRONG.  I NEED these to happen. ALL OF THEM.  (Rick Riordan and Lemony Snicket? Veronica Roth and Pierce Brown?? I'd read the hell out of those books!)
The 8 Essential Kinds of Books That Every Kid Should Own - I couldn't agree more! (And it's nice having a list without specific books)
15 YAs That Get It Right - Books on difficult topics that just really nail the experience.
How a book club is helping to keep ex-offenders from going back to jail - Incredible.
Writing Women Characters as Human Beings - A really great post! One of the best ones I've seen on the topic.
PSA: BOOK DRIVE FOR CHILDREN WITH AN INCARCERATED PARENT - This is really, really awesome! 

Nonbookish Things

Is Ladyhawke the Best Fairy Tale of Them All? - This is a REALLY interesting look at how LadyHawke is constructed (trope wise) and how it throws them all out the window.
Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk Raising Funds for New Series: “It’s the Quickest Way to See Us Back on a Spaceship” - OH MY GOD GUYS!!! It sounds like in a lot of ways it'll be like The Guild (As far as seeing famous geeky people in a geeky show). I am SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS!!
It’s Buffy The Vampire Slayer’s 18th Anniversary! Share Your Favorite Episode Here - Yup this pretty much covers all my favourite episodes - Once More With Feeling, The Body, and Hush.
Marvel Movies Need to Step Up Their Soundtrack Game - Yes, yes SO MUCH YES. Soundtracks are absolutely imperative for me to really, really love a movie.

Tough Traveling: Fae

Hosted by Fantasy Review Barn

Each Thursday, inspired by ‘The Tough Guide to Fantasyland’ we have in hand, we shall tour the mystical countryside looking for adventure and fun (and tropes) from all over fantasy.

This week’s topic is FAE

Surprisingly not in the Tough Guide.  How can this be?  Fairies are a constant in the fantasy world and it is time they get their own week.  Give us your Fae, be they sweet or nasty.

This is a weekly post that I often see over on Stephanie's blog, and I've been meaning to join in for AGES.  And this week is Fae, which is MY THING, so how could I not do this one?  (Pictures link to the books' Goodreads pages!)


I'm very picky about my Fae. They aren't magical cute beings - they are nasty, tricky, completely inhuman, and have intricate long plotted power plays. And generally think mortals are toys.  So it's clear who fills the most obvious and who I think absolutely nails this the best:

 

Holly Black is the absolute monarch among Fae stories.  Her character nail the brutality of the fae.  I hold all my other faerie tales up to this standard, and while many have come almost up to this level, I still haven't found anyone who's bested this series for it.  (Incidentally my rules for vampires are generally on the same principle as my fair folk*, and Holly Black has written one of the only vampire books that qualifies for this. I also haven't read many vampire books, so there's that.)

*It depends how the world is set up.  Vampire Academy books for example are built on a completely different mythology than normal, and The Finishing series is also not supposed to be that way.  But traditional vampires as we've come to think of? I don't want de-teethed vampires. They need to be bad. (I'm not opposed to the occasional swoon. But only if they're still bad.)

That being said, there are still plenty of Faerie books I've loved.

This book was totally not what I was expecting! I thought it was going to be fluffy fun times...but this book takes the Fair Folk seriously. As they should be taken.  So I was pleasantly surprised (but of course had my heart stomped on too...) when I started this one.

I'm pretty sure Fae show up in all of Marillier's book at least to a small extent.  These fae aren't brutal the same way Holly Black's are, (Or what I've seen of Kerstin Hamilton's) but they are impassive to humans and far-thinking. And they play a bigger role in the later Sevenwaters books.  

Ok, admittedly I actually didn't like this book. That ending PISSED. ME. OFF.  That being said...Brom SUPER nails the brutality and child-like cruelty that I picture my Fae having.  I mean solidly nails it. Which is why it's on this list even though I didn't like it.  In fact, these Fae are right up there with Holly Black's ... I just got angry enough at this that I refuse to include on my list of...pretty much just Holly Black. Or really, definitely just Holly Black haha!'

Ok, technically it's been so long since I reread this one that I can't remember what the Fair Folk were like in it. But since I've loved it since I was a child, my guess is that they are just as tricksy as I like...but perhaps not as brutal. Being a children's book and all.  Though you never know, they very well might be - children's books are often not all fun and games, and this one definitely deals with some STUFF.

Ok another disclaimer - I read the first three books of this in high school and some how have exactly 0% recollection of this. Except that I'm pretty sure I really, really liked it.  So statistically speaking...it's likely this had Faeries I like? It definitely has faeries, but if I included every book I read with them, this list would never end.

Honorable Mentions

The Raven Boys - So technically this doesn't have any Fair Folk.  But there are certain aspects of the mythology (I don't want to say much because SPOILERS. So. Yeah.) that definitely feel like a book with the Fair Folk.

Neverwhere - Gaiman doesn't have what I would traditionally consider Fae in his books...but they all have characters that are very, very similar.  This one definitely comes the closest to what I'd call Fae. Actually I probably would call them Fae. But I've already put it down here, so it's going to stay down here.

A Great and Terrible Beauty - The way magic works and what you find in the other world definitely feels Fae. This might actually also technically belong not on the honourable mentions.  WHATEVER I'VE BEEN UP SINCE 5 AM. I can put these wherever I want them!

Tell Me Tuesday #3

  

Created by LaLa in the Library

Guys....

I have a confession to make.

I...went to the library website to check something. And...well...one thing led to another..and I just couldn't stop myself.

I checked out like FIVE EBOOKS.

I know what you're all thinking - ....so what? Why would we care about that? But Elizabeth! You promised you weren't going to check out a single book until you read the books you have at your place (at least enough so you could move the ones out of the suitcases)! We're so disappointed in you!!

But hey, at least I actually finished a book of my real shelves this week before I broke down? AND I'm reading a book for review (who cares that the third book in this series is now out. Or soon to be out.  AGH I'M A FAILURE!!)

So on that note..here's what I've been reading!

I finished Hyperion this week, and while I struggled in the beginning, I'm really glad I read it.  For once I was actually probably more invested in the mechanics of the story telling than the story telling itself. Not that I didn't like the story telling, I was just fascinated with the author's choices in how he chose to tell the stories.  I'm definitely looking forward to making my way through this series!

The Winner's Curse was so much fun! I loved the time Rutkoski spent laying the groundwork for world building.  The romance wasn't my favourite, but I also didn't hate it, and I pretty much loved everything else.  Unfortunately...it doesn't look like my library is getting the next book!!! Usually they show up as on order if they're coming out soon...and now it's out...and so far NO. PENDING.  So it looks like I might have to buy this one if I want to read it *sighs* (And I at least haven't broken my no book buying ban. Yay me!)

I'm a little under 3/4 of the way through Red Rising now. I am really enjoying it so far, but I'm in the middle of something that I am currently not sure how it is going to fit into the story as a whole. And it's a verrryyyyy long tangent, so it must not be a tangent. I guess I was just not expecting this much time being spent on the (war games) part?  It's still good though, and brutal. I do like that the author is having the MC deal with some gray areas, it makes it much more believable.

And here's what I checked out from the library (and therefore will be reading soon....just because I wasn't supposed to doesn't mean I shouldn't take advantage of it, right?)

 Because I've been waiting FOREVER for this book to be available so I can finish rereading the series.

Because I haven't read a romance novel in what feels like FOREVER (I'm pretty sure it's only been a month haha) and Tessa Dare's books are NEVER available at the library!

Because it's had great reviews and I just wanted a fun historical fiction read. (And apparently the Tessa Dare novel wasn't going to fulfill that need?)

Top Ten All Time Favourites (from the past 3 years)

Hosted by The Broke and Bookish

Ok, so I couldn't narrow it down to 10. Which is kind of crazy...I can't believe how many favourite books I've read in the past two years!  I didn't actually go farther than 2013, because that's the first year I kept track of what books I'd read at all.  (Well ok I slipped ina  couple I read in 2012 because I definitely remembered reading them then)   So here they are: the best of the best from the past 2 years!

The Wee Free Men (Discword) by Terry Pratchett

If you like Diana Wynne Jones and Douglas Adams, then this is definitely a series for you. Particularly the Diana Wynne Jones part of the equation - it's got all the markers for a fairy tale-style story like hers, with the same sense of humor, just a touch more of the ridiculousness you encounter with Douglas Adams.

 

Terrier (Beka Cooper) by Tamora Pierce

Considering the number of times I mention Tamora Pierce on the blog, is it any surprise I loved this?  I'd thought I'd read this book before, just not the rest of the series, but upon discovering the audiobook at the library (which is EXCELLENT by the way), it's clear I hadn't read it before. I'm STILL waiting whoever hasn't returned the now 3 weeks overdue last book in the series, but this is solidified as one of my favourite series from Tamora.

Dark Currents (Agent of Hel) - Jacqueline Carey

This is actually one of my newest reads - and it's all thanks to my secret santa! It's just so fun. Mythology, paranormal...ity?, diversity in race, body shape, AND sexuality?  I mean come on. It's basically perfect.

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Honestly, I can't even really articulate what this book means to me. It basically wrecked me and had me questioning so many things I hold to be true.  The only other novel I can think of that had me spinning this way was The Amber Spyglass, and I read that for the first time over a decade ago. So needless to say, it's not a frequent occurrence. I'm not even sure I'd recommend this to most people, but I feel that the people who do connect with this book, connect with it hard.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

It's like Cirque du Soleil was captured and put into a novel. It's beautiful and dark and mysterious.  Definitely not for people who need a fast-paced plot, but for those who don't mind waiting, this book is beautiful.

 

The Forest of Hands and Teeth (#1) by Carrie Ryan

The heroine in this is fearlessly selfish, and I love that about her. It's rare to see heroines who are so uncompromising in what they want (unless they're villains).  This book can actually be read as a standalone, and while I thoroughly enjoyed the other two books in the series, I prefer pretending this is a standalone because of its ending and how perfect the book is as a single entity.

Anatomy of a Boyfriend (Anatomy) by Daria Snadowsky

This is a book I would put in the hands of every teenager. It's important, and real, and funny!  It was basically like reading a story of my 18 year-old self's experiences, and I would have felt infintessimely less awkward and mortified about everything if I'd had this book to read first.  I haven't read the sequel yet, and I'm not sure if I want to? Like the above book, I just like this book on its own so much!

Etiquette & Espionage (Finishing School) by Gail Carriger

Ok, do I really have to spell this out for you guys? Steampunk. Paranormal hilarity. Boarding school for assassins. Diversity. IT'S SO FUN!!

The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentlemen Bastards) by Scott Lynch

Oh my GOD this fantasy series is SO. GOOD. SO SO SO GOOD.  I honestly don't even have a clue where it's heading. It has invented the most delicious sounding alcoholic beverage and killed like....all the characters. So you know. Booze and feels = good times!

Feed (Newsflesh) by Mira Grant

This was actually introduced to me by my first secret santa!  It was hands down my favourite discovery of last year (well, ok, it's tied with Marchetta's Luminere Chronicles).  It has also awakened the discovery that I actually LOVE zombie stories...and have decided the nightmares are worth it. (Mostly the nightmares are more like adventures anyway, so they're not too bad).  This story though...like...I can't even tell you what most impressed me because SERIOUS SPOILERS, but I super appreciated the medical background to it. Also it's pro-bloggers, and some serious government conspiracy stuff which I'm always down for in my stories haha!

Throne of Glass (#1) by Sarah J. Maas

And this was tied with Unspoken for my favourite discovery of the year before last!  So I'm assuming if you're reading this right now you are either

A. Related to me and don't read books like this

or B. A blogger, and therefore 99% of you have read this and the last 1% just haven't read it for some unfathomable reason.  So I'm not even going to explain why this series is amazing.

A Cat Called Dog by Jem Vanston

So I'm pretty certain 99% of you have never heard of this book and that's a damn shame.  This was a Netgalley find and is actually the only one that's sparked a conversation with an author for me. (I am in general very, very intimidated by them. So if any of you become authors, I'm probably going to hide in a corner and cower if you look at me.)  The humor is EXACTLY up my alley - again very dry and more than a bit ridiculous. (There's a quote in the link to my review) So basically if you like British humor you should read this.  Or if you like cats.  Or even if you don't like cats.  GO READ THIS PEOPLE I want more books from this guy! 

Ship Breaker (#1) by Paolo Bacigalupi

This is a powerful dystopia. If you want your dystopias more up the alley of The Handmaid's Tale or 1984 - so heavy on the dystopia, light on the romance, and unsettlingly close to reality...this is the dystopia for you.  It's important, and I loved the sequel even more.  (They can be read as standalone novels)

Unspoken (The Lynburn Legacy) by Sarah Rees Brennan

Is there a better character than Kami? No, seriously. I want her to be a real person SO BADLY.  This series is so banter-perfect, and it packs just as much in the feels as it does with the witty lines.  (And it was tied for best discovery for the year before last. Or as I like to call it: The Year of the Sarahs)

Graceling (Graceling Realm) by Kristin Cashore

Ok, if you read fantasy novels and are sex positive, then there isn't a reason you shouldn't have read this book already.  And I've mentioned before that the sequel actually had a really positive influence in my life during a time when a lot of scary stuff was going on, so it's more than just a good read for me.

Kushiel's Dart (Phédre's Trilogy) by Jacqueline Carey

Do you like Game of Thrones? Do like sex positivity? Do like a world where women hold equal power to men?  If you do, you should definitely read this series.  It's an amazing series, and hands down in my top 10 fantasy series I've EVER read. (Considering the level of fantasy I read, that is really saying something)  I really, really wish more people had read this because I think it's important AND an awesome read.  I will also say you have to be open minded to kink - it was a bit of a shock to me when I first started reading it.  But it's done in a well researched and tasteful way - unlike some other BDSM books we may have been hearing about recently....

Finnikin of the Rock (The Lumatere Chronicles) by Melina Marchetta

Ok, technically I fell in hardcore love with this series when I read the second book, Froi of the Exiles.  But it all starts here, and just because I love Froi best doesn't mean that this book isn't totally amazing and worthy on its own.  Yet another book where all I can say really is...if you like fantasy, just read this. Trust me. I don't know a SINGLE person who didn't like it. In fact, I don't know a single person who didn't love it!

A Day in the Life #31 (In which Elizabeth got all the pretty things!)

It's been a while since I've done one of these!  I don't have much to say actually, so I'll keep it short.  But look what I got in the mail!!!

Speaking of mail, I actually had a great package week.  My ex-roomie (the one I got hooked on OuaT and non super hero/vampire Whedon) sent me a Dollhouse graphic novel out of nowhere!  AND I got these hella awesome boots from my mom!

 

So all in all, I've had a pretty good month. (Excluding my car breaking down AGAIN. After replacing all four tires, so I didn't have the money for it to collaps on me again. Luckily my dealership was really awesome - probably because I've had to come back every 2 months since I bought it - and waved $500 of the dollars I would have had to pay to have it repaired. They could have really screwed me over, but they were really awesome and helped me out mega time)   So that's it for this week, except for a shout out to Christina Reads YA. If you guys like the bookish links I have on the blog, a good portion of the ones I found for this round up I wouldn't have come across without her weekly round ups!

Bookish Links

Discussions

Down and dirty fairy tales: How this rediscovered stash of darker-than-Grimm stories destroys our Prince Charming myths- Wowwww this is so cool!!
We’re talking about young adult fiction all wrong - YES, so much yes!
The Problem of Being in Public - God I relate to this SO MUCH!! I become such a creeper about wanting to know what other people are reading haha!  ...but I don't like it when people talk to me when I'm reading, because A. they're hitting on me, or B. HELLO this part is SO GOOD DON'T INTERRUPT.
Do Certain Buzzwords Make You Pick Up a Book?- So...yeah. Gillian's buzzwords are exactly 100% my buzzwords haha
How to Respond When Someone Disdains YA - Perfect.
An Open Letter to YA Authors About Sex- So much sex in this week's round up! But I couldn't agree more with this post, and it's important, and authors need to know this is important.
Nerding Out: YA Companions for the Doctor - I approve.
Creating Headcanons: Everyone Does It - I've definitely run into this problem. But most importantly: Hermione as a PoC?? I officially imagine it all the time and wish I'd imagined her that way the whole time.

Specific Books/Authors

Laurie Halse Anderson Thinks Adults Should Be Reading More YA - And lots of other great stuff from our favourite author!
Listening to the Voices of Innocents: Children of War: Voices of Iraqi Refugees by Deborah Ellis - Powerful, and very, very important.

Did You Ever Notice These 11 Things In The Harry Potter Series? - Ok so I'm a masochist and can't stop reading lists that make me cry.  But for real - this list actually had things I hadn't noticed before!Margaret Atwood visits West Point for a frank conversation on gender, politics and oppression - As expected from Margaret Atwood, entertaining and enlightening.
Teenage Jane Austen Wrote Hilarious, Racy Parody Stories for Her Family - Speaking of my favourite authors...(and how adorable is this!!)
Eleanor & Park Author Rainbow Rowell Talks Fifty Shades and Franzen - Actually, she speaks about Carry On more, but in any case, lots of interesting stuff here!
Why I want more unlikeable female characters - Again...ALL THE YESES!!

Fun time bookish stuff

From the Desk of an Evil Queen - Nafiza has written an awesome short story from Snow White's Evil Queen's PoV, and I LOVE IT.

Which Literary Heroine Are You? - I got a heroine I'd never actually heard of before - Lucy Honeychurch. I greatly approve of her last name though!
Your Guide to the Greatest Heroines of Young Adult Fiction - I'm surprised - I actually think I knew way more of the realistic fiction heroines than the fantasy ones, which is weird!
Our Weirdest Fictional Crushes - I'm not the only one who had a super crush on an animated fox?!

Nonbookish Links

Historically Accurate Disney Princesses - Ahhh, these videos are THE BEST.

Power-Playing: Advice To NSFW Fic Writers And Novelists Now That Fifty Shades of Grey Is A Movie - What with all the 50 Shades posts, I thought this post was worth posting

Brits on Brits: Felicity Jones, Keira Knightley, Dominic West and more - AHHHH they're all so adorable!! (And funny)

Your Fave Fantasy is Problematic - A really, really interesting read. It was super enlightening for me

What you're like when you listen to these composers - Ahahaha!!! These are perfect! The Wagner might be my favourite though haha
It’s All Feminism To Me: What The “F” Word Really Means - As someone who has had family members/friends bring up feminism as a BAD thing..I can never have enough people read articles like this.
Be My Eyes - This is really cool! I'm thinking of doing this myself. It's an app that let's blind people video chat when they need help with something you need sight to do (like expiration dates)

Why Do Reboots Cause Such Mass Hysteria? - There are so few reboots that I actually have a strong opinion on, so I don't know how I'd react actually

I think I've posted my favourite group SYTYCD video before, but this choreography gives that one a run for its money as favourite. (It's one of my favourite Imogen Heap song ever)