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so busy! tons to do, so my reading suffered. also, the historical books take so much longer to read... still editing my own novel as well. with the amount of rain we've had, you'd think i'd have done more...
also, June's listings are now up (backdated for later convenience). what with the move and the insanity following it, there was no time for this account of my life til now. read it here.
Books: (fyi, my reviews of all these can be found on the chapters website)
* Kushiel's Mercy by Jacqueline Carey - the best of the sequel books, by far. despite my expectations, she's managed to keep the series alive and mostly true-to-form. still one of my favorite authors out there.
* The Glassblower of Murano by Marina Fiorato - a deep-rooted longing for Venice always makes me pause when i come across any novel set there: the first-time author is a little hesitant, a little unsure with her plot and her characters... but the city glows, by far the most fascinating character in the book.
* 100-Mile Diet by Alisa Smith & J.B. MacKinnon - read it. i was intrigued by it when it first became popular, but it took catching a few episodes of the TV show on Food Network to get me hooked: eating only foods grown within 100 miles.
* Thirteen Orphans by Jane Lindskold - a new series based on a really interesting premise. well-written with strong characters and an original plot. i'm waiting impatiently from the 2nd volume (but hoping she doesn't drag it on too long, like the Wolf series.)
* Greek Fire, Poison Arrows and Scorpion Bombs by Adrienne Mayor - fascinating concept, but she succumbs rather quickly to the historian's obsession with listing facts and figures rather than trying to figure out the why and whatfor of things.
New Movies:
* Fiddler on the Roof (1971) - it was on TV. that's the best i can say about this.
* Pretty in Pink (1986) - Molly Ringwald. why do i persist in watching these movies? better than the last one though.
* Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) - far better job than most of the recent HP movies, if only because it didn't feel quite as jumpy and stitched together. as the movies get darker and the characters get older, they've lost some of the appeal, however. i'm intrigued about how they'll manage the last one...
*** i don't usually list TV series here, but this is worth a special mention: Castle!! watch it! i'm thoroughly addicted and have watched all 10 episodes in a week. i am very, very sad that Season 2 doesn't start for a while... but ecstatic that there will be a season 2! woot, Nathan Fillion!!
Music:
Olafur Arnalds - self-described Neo-Classical. i've only heard his piano work so far, but i'm in love. favorite track: Ljosid
William Fitzsimmons - folk/alternative: a guy and his acoustic guitar or keyboard, for the most part. soothing. favorite track: Please Don't Go
Other:
random explorations throughout Ottawa and Gatineau, trying to find the good restaurants, the free exhibits, the fun little stores.
best discovery: Crystal Dawn, a little esoteric shop on Dalhousie. enthusiastic staff, lots of stones, good atmosphere. one of those must-have shops for me, something to fill the need Mélange Magique stopped fulfilling years ago.
also, June's listings are now up (backdated for later convenience). what with the move and the insanity following it, there was no time for this account of my life til now. read it here.
Books: (fyi, my reviews of all these can be found on the chapters website)
* Kushiel's Mercy by Jacqueline Carey - the best of the sequel books, by far. despite my expectations, she's managed to keep the series alive and mostly true-to-form. still one of my favorite authors out there.
* The Glassblower of Murano by Marina Fiorato - a deep-rooted longing for Venice always makes me pause when i come across any novel set there: the first-time author is a little hesitant, a little unsure with her plot and her characters... but the city glows, by far the most fascinating character in the book.
* 100-Mile Diet by Alisa Smith & J.B. MacKinnon - read it. i was intrigued by it when it first became popular, but it took catching a few episodes of the TV show on Food Network to get me hooked: eating only foods grown within 100 miles.
* Thirteen Orphans by Jane Lindskold - a new series based on a really interesting premise. well-written with strong characters and an original plot. i'm waiting impatiently from the 2nd volume (but hoping she doesn't drag it on too long, like the Wolf series.)
* Greek Fire, Poison Arrows and Scorpion Bombs by Adrienne Mayor - fascinating concept, but she succumbs rather quickly to the historian's obsession with listing facts and figures rather than trying to figure out the why and whatfor of things.
New Movies:
* Fiddler on the Roof (1971) - it was on TV. that's the best i can say about this.
* Pretty in Pink (1986) - Molly Ringwald. why do i persist in watching these movies? better than the last one though.
* Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) - far better job than most of the recent HP movies, if only because it didn't feel quite as jumpy and stitched together. as the movies get darker and the characters get older, they've lost some of the appeal, however. i'm intrigued about how they'll manage the last one...
*** i don't usually list TV series here, but this is worth a special mention: Castle!! watch it! i'm thoroughly addicted and have watched all 10 episodes in a week. i am very, very sad that Season 2 doesn't start for a while... but ecstatic that there will be a season 2! woot, Nathan Fillion!!
Music:
Olafur Arnalds - self-described Neo-Classical. i've only heard his piano work so far, but i'm in love. favorite track: Ljosid
William Fitzsimmons - folk/alternative: a guy and his acoustic guitar or keyboard, for the most part. soothing. favorite track: Please Don't Go
Other:
random explorations throughout Ottawa and Gatineau, trying to find the good restaurants, the free exhibits, the fun little stores.
best discovery: Crystal Dawn, a little esoteric shop on Dalhousie. enthusiastic staff, lots of stones, good atmosphere. one of those must-have shops for me, something to fill the need Mélange Magique stopped fulfilling years ago.
