50 Book Challenge

I saw this 50 book Challenge on Facebook and naturally had to jump on it. The idea is to read 50 books in 2012.

Some context: I regularly buy books as gifts. I loved 'Ink Heart' largely in part to the underlying message of taking care of books.  I have a select group of book buddies whom offer reads. I am known by name in 2 books stores in town (one new, one used). I collect book quotes with vigour. I smell books before I read them. I have a Harry Potter tattoo. Kvothe is my Facebook banner. I have a turtle of enormous girth in my garden. There is a book in EVERY room in my house. I give care instructions when lending out my books (IF I lend out my books).

So, ya. I was down to do a book challenge.

And since this is my blog, my record of the clutter in my head, here is where I will track my progress. (Too bad I can't count December... just read some awesome books-including "Kite Runner"-Khaled Hosseini, "Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse"-Robert Rankin & "Wise Man's Fear" by Patrick Rothfuss and I LOVE talking about Kvothe!!!!)

1. 11/22/63-Stephen King. Oh I loves me some Uncle Stevie! Many of my very favourite books come from this man (Dark Tower series, The Stand, It) and he did not disappoint with is one! It`s another case of wanting to continue to hear a characters voice after the book is done. Like "The Stand" (another character voice I miss hearing) there is no possibility for a sequel but I enjoyed the time I had with Jake. Also, fellow fans of "It"-you may want to pick this up, and be pleasantly surprised. Highly recommend!
PS: For the record, I noticed the reuse of the name Jake in reference to a character who leaves their own time / space. There are other worlds then these.

2. Lord of the Rings-Fellowship of the Ring
3. Lord of the Rings-Two Towers
4. Lord of the Rings-Return of the King.  Classic series, I had tried to read them before but I couldn't get into them... didn't even get through Fellowship to tell you the truth. But I decided to give it another go and found this time much different. My guess is that playing in the genre with book series like "A Song of Ice and Fire"-George RR Martin, "The Kingkiller Chronicles"-Patrick Rothfuss and the "Inheritance Sequence"-Christopher Paolini, set me up to get along better with LOTRs.
Wow, the Ents got screwed in the movie. Just Sayin'.

5. Pawn of Prophecy
6. Queen of Sorcery
7. Magician's Gambit
8. Castle of Wizardry
9. Enchanters' End Game- David Eddings. This series, better known as the Belgariad, feels to me like Fantasy  reading for beginners. They are easy reads, highly entertaining and I think a bit of an influence for many of my favourite, more current, series. Example: I can't help but see *Silk as a less evolved **Locke Lamora complete with hand language and false face talents.

10. Guardians of the West
11. King of the Murgos
12. Demon Lord of Karanda
13. Sorceress of Darshiva
14. The Seeress of Kell-David Eddings.   The Malloreon series is the follow up to the Belgariad and is just as entertaining and continues with the same characters you enjoyed from the first series (A few new ones as well, of course).

15. Belgarath the Sorcerer-David  & Leigh Eddings
16. Polgara the Sorceress =David & Leigh Eddings. For fans of the above mentioned series-these 2 books tell the story of the Eternal Man and his daughter. Very interesting to see the story from their point of view and to witness major events in their history. Read only AFTER the two series otherwise they won't make much sense and won't be nearly as entertaining.

17. Internet is a Playground-David Thorne. OMG. You may know him as the 'spider guy who paid a bill with a drawing' but he is so much more.... I laughed my arse off through this compilation of his pranks / correspondence and recommend this to anyone who needs a good giggle and enjoys wit.

18. Lies of Locke Lamora
19. Red Seas Under Red Skies-Scott Lynch. Absolutely among my favourites. ALL TIME faves-and for someone who reads as much as I do, that's saying something! These two books are apart of the 'Gentleman Bastard Sequence' (the third due out... well, it's been due out for a while. The release date keeps getting pushed back but as long as it lives up to the first 2, I'll wait happily) and if you enjoy wit, creative use of language, humour and a good heist-you NEED to read these.

20. Great Expectations-Charles Dickens. I guess there is a reason that this book and stood the test of time-wow. One of the few books that made me want to reach in and shake a protagonist while also causing me to pause and ponder a paragraph. Well done sir, I tip my hat. And wish I could hug Joe. I loves me some Joe.




*Silk: Character in the Belgariad and  Malloreon Chronicles, a merchant / thief / master of disguise / guide.
**Locke Lamora: Character in Scott Lynch's series, The Gentleman Bastards.

Calling all Ladies... time to stick together.

After reading an article in a magazine about women in movies, my mind was left to meander the truth of it. Must say, didn't like what I concluded.

1. A womans roll in cinematic adventures are limited.

2. When something is aimed at women, it is usually met with ridicule.

Would you like me to elaborate?

Thanks, I think I will.

Point one. Woman in movies. We watch movies, right? I know I do, so let's look at the "Bechdel Test". (Recently resurfaced) It asks: 

1. Does the movie have at least 2 women in it?

2. Do they talk to each other?

3. Is that conversation about anything other then a man?

Newer criteria:

4. Do the women have names?

Let's look at some box office toppers:

1. Other Guys. Fail.

2. Inception. Fail. While they do have 2 female protagonists, the only conversation they have is about a male character.

3.Dinner for Schmucks. Fail. Two male leads, any girls are present are 'handbags' to the men.

4. Salt - Fail. But is one of 3 movies in the top 20 with a female lead.

5. Scott Pilgrim. Fail.

Looking at the top 20 movies at the box office right now, I see ONE that fits. 'The Kids Are Alright'. Possibly 'Eclipse' if Alice and Bella ever talk about anything other than Edward.

Upcoming flicks? Harry Potter. Fail. Wallstreet, Fail. Social Network. Fail. I just looked at the 98 'buzz' movies for the fall and found 6 that have the potential to pass. (Won't know for sure until I see them)

Of the 10 Oscar Best Picture Nominated films? I see 5  that might make the cut. Re-read the 4 qualifiers, is it so preposterous to have 2 or more women in a movie that talk to each other about anything other than men? (BTW, if  the rolls were reversed, 1 of 10 best pics noms might not make it. 'Precious'.)

Point Two. Ladies, think of any media entertainment that is aimed at us as a demographic. Now think of one that isn't by and large ridiculed. Books, Movies, magazines, TV.... In my experience, I have heard them be the butt of many jokes-because women like them. I don't feel that any of these outlets are substandard and many have merit but are mocked. Why is this? Worst, why do I feel embarrassed liking girlish things? Maybe this is in my own head but I work in a entertainment driven environment (Movie store) and I hear a lot of bashing and mocking to the point where, at times, I won't admit what I like.

Don't get me wrong - I don't like the majority of rom-coms and such fare, but not because they are girly. More so that the scripts are unrealistic and sometimes ridiculous. I live in reality and like my movies to be reasonable if I accept the premise. (For example: if I accept that people live in outer space and there is a large rebellion in the works... then are the actions/reactions of the cast of Star Wars realistic? Is it realistic that a person would cut the belly of a Ton-Ton to save their friend?) If the dialog makes me think "Who would ACTUALLY say that, or who would seriously DO that...?" you've lost me. Also, I freely admit that there are many movies where adding women wouldn't fit in the story. But so very few that do? Really?

I look at the thrashing 'Twilight' gets, and wonder how many of the people bashing it have READ it? Have they even seen the movies? I liked the books-a lot, and my fondness of the movies has wained only because of the media / merchandise blitz that has followed. Eat, Pray, Love (book and movie) has been targeted for no better reason (that I know of)  than it is a story by a girl for girls. The author herself quipped "If women like it, it must be stupid." to make light of the negativity she's been getting.

Why after all this time are our interests still substandard? Women are the majority consumers!!

We can vote right? We have the right to equal pay for equal work, right? Let's also grant ourselves the freedom to like what we like and embrace being feminine and all things that appealing to us?

I'm not trying to be on a soap box here, nor crying the woes of the female world or simpering about being hard done by. I just want to point this out and get your mind meandering as well about the truth of it. 

PS

Seriously, I am going to watch 'Eat, Pray, Love', 'Never Let Me Go', 'The Bridesmaids',  and 'You Again' this year purely to support the few women driven movies there are! Also 'Burlesque' because it's a large female cast AND a musical-I am women, watch me watch musicals, and love it!