100. The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 1: The Faust Act
This volume collects issues #1-5.
What a great premise: Every ninety years, twelve gods incarnate as humans. They are loved. They are hated. In two years, they are dead.
The art is wonderful and there is some very clever dialog, but the story line does not quite deliver on the premise. A little too choppy, with lots of dangling plot lines that did not come together in a cohesive manner. Still, a quick and fun read, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the next installment has a more cohesive plot. Rating: 3 stars.
101. The Underwater Welder
Book blurb: The Underwater Welder is a graphic novel about fathers and sons, birth and death, memory and reality, and the treasures we all bury deep below the surface.
The black and white art is really sketchy, maybe almost too sketchy for my tastes, but surprisingly it works really well for this story. The characters are tragically fleshed out, and the exploration of how childhood trauma haunts us was wonderfully done. Rating: 4 stars.
102. Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas
When I was in primary school, we had to read a book titled "Great Men and Women". Do I need to mention that Gandhi was the only person of color in the book? At least there were two women: Marie Curie and Florence Nightingale. I am glad that times have changed in that respect, and that young people can find books that are somewhat more representative today.
In my home the name Leakey was used as often as the name Kardashian seems to be used by the media today, so imagine my delight in learning that Louis Leakey played a key role getting these women scientists started on their careers. There are some Goodreads reviewers who are unhappy with Leakey's stance that women would be better in the field because they were "more perceptive and more patient than men." Doesn't bother me one bit. Women getting a leg up because of a sexist attitude is actually a refreshing change.
This is a graphic biography of sorts about the three greatest primatologists of the last century: Jane Goodall (Chimps), Dian Fossey (Gorillas), and Biruté Galdikas (Orangutans). It is not non-fiction as the book blurb proclaims. In the afterword the authors state: "Some of what you just read is fiction." There are holes in this story, huge gaping holes, and when the lives of the three women intersect, the text is often confusing as to who is saying what. But I say that as an adult reader, and I plan to add the books in the bibliography to my TBR list.
This book is targeted for a young adult audience (read tween), so the art is cute and colorful, and the timeline and events highly simplified. This would be a fun way to introduce kids (especially girls) to these three ground-breaking researchers who each made profound contributions to primatology and to our own understanding of ourselves. Rating: 4 stars.
August 31, 2015
August 27, 2015
Cinemascope: Being Mortal
Cinemascope is a regular blog post where I will share with you movies and TV shows I think are worth watching.
Released in 2015.
Plot line: In FRONTLINE’s Being Mortal, Dr. Atul Gawande, a surgeon at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, uses patient stories to illustrate modern medicine’s greatest paradox: medical advances may have diversified our options for extending life, but they have made accepting death harder than ever before. Doctors are expected to save lives, and patients are expected to fight death. So how does this dynamic change as lives grow longer, and chronic diseases become more prevalent? In life, Dr. Gawande points out, there are two big “unfixables”—aging and death—and quantity of life does not necessarily equate to quality.
This Frontline documentary, based on the book with the same title, is an unflinching look at death and how both patients and doctors are often unable to have the tough conversations needed at end of life. I found it both insightful and educational - we often think that doctors know what is best for us, but there are tradeoffs that only we can make for ourselves.
You can see the Frontline episode here. If you have yet to see it, this is a show worth watching.
August 24, 2015
Recent Reads
97. Seabiscuit: An American Legend
I have seen, and loved, the movie based on this book several times, and as I tend to enjoy non-fiction reads during the summer, decided to dive in. I listened to the audiobook which is wonderfully narrated by George Newbern.
This is narrative non-fiction at its best. I loved everything about this story. The characters, both human and horse, are broken but not out. The pacing of the story is excellent, and there were moments that I was on tenterhooks waiting to see what would happen next. Given that I already knew the outlines of the story and how it would end, that is some dang great writing. The book is so much better than the movie, in that it fleshes out the story of the characters, and captures a sense of place and time in America really well. I even learned that The Biscuit and I have some things in common: we both like to eat and take long naps.
The one thing I did miss out on with the audio, are the photos in the book. Well, Google to the rescue. And if you have yet to see it, go now and and watch the video of the matched race between Seabiscuit and War Admiral and see if you don't get choked up.
I listened to this story on long walks, and found my pace picking up each time Seabiscuit was racing. Even if you are not interested in horses, or horse racing, I would highly recommend this one. Rating: 5 stars.
98. The Dovekeepers
How could I not pick up this book based on this blurb: Blends mythology, magic, archaeology and women. Traces four women, their path to the Masada massacre. In 70 CE, nine hundred Jews held out for months against armies of Romans on a mountain in the Judean desert, Masada. According to the ancient historian Josephus, two women and five children survived.
This is exactly my sweet spot. I visited Masada many years ago, and was moved by the history and significance of the place. And here was a book recounting that story through the eyes of four women. How could I not love it?
And yet I did not. Yes, there were portions that entranced me. The writing is often poetic and lyrical, but the voices of the four women were indistinguishable, and I often had to remind myself which narrator was telling the story. The author has clearly done her research, and I loved the sense of time and place she captured, but there was too much repetition, and this book would have been a better read if the editor has snipped away anything that did not add to the story line. While the women were all strong and very progressive for their time, they were not well fleshed out, and blurred one into the other. There are huge coincidences in this story that boggle the mind, and yet I quickly read on to the end, snacking on Medjool dates to help soothe me for what I knew would not end well.
Still, it is always interesting to read about historical events told through the eyes of women, and this is a quick, if upsetting, read. Rating: 3 stars.
99. China Days: A Visual Journal from China's Wild West
I'm a fan of illustrated journals, and enjoyed this one. This is a visual journal complied from the author's sketchbooks and annotated photos, and is an interesting look at life in rural China. The photo of a dog transport system stopped me in my tracks. I have seen cows, pigs, chickens transported, and have never had quite the same reaction. A quick and colorful read. Rating: 3 stars.
I have seen, and loved, the movie based on this book several times, and as I tend to enjoy non-fiction reads during the summer, decided to dive in. I listened to the audiobook which is wonderfully narrated by George Newbern.
This is narrative non-fiction at its best. I loved everything about this story. The characters, both human and horse, are broken but not out. The pacing of the story is excellent, and there were moments that I was on tenterhooks waiting to see what would happen next. Given that I already knew the outlines of the story and how it would end, that is some dang great writing. The book is so much better than the movie, in that it fleshes out the story of the characters, and captures a sense of place and time in America really well. I even learned that The Biscuit and I have some things in common: we both like to eat and take long naps.
The one thing I did miss out on with the audio, are the photos in the book. Well, Google to the rescue. And if you have yet to see it, go now and and watch the video of the matched race between Seabiscuit and War Admiral and see if you don't get choked up.
I listened to this story on long walks, and found my pace picking up each time Seabiscuit was racing. Even if you are not interested in horses, or horse racing, I would highly recommend this one. Rating: 5 stars.
98. The Dovekeepers
How could I not pick up this book based on this blurb: Blends mythology, magic, archaeology and women. Traces four women, their path to the Masada massacre. In 70 CE, nine hundred Jews held out for months against armies of Romans on a mountain in the Judean desert, Masada. According to the ancient historian Josephus, two women and five children survived.
This is exactly my sweet spot. I visited Masada many years ago, and was moved by the history and significance of the place. And here was a book recounting that story through the eyes of four women. How could I not love it?
And yet I did not. Yes, there were portions that entranced me. The writing is often poetic and lyrical, but the voices of the four women were indistinguishable, and I often had to remind myself which narrator was telling the story. The author has clearly done her research, and I loved the sense of time and place she captured, but there was too much repetition, and this book would have been a better read if the editor has snipped away anything that did not add to the story line. While the women were all strong and very progressive for their time, they were not well fleshed out, and blurred one into the other. There are huge coincidences in this story that boggle the mind, and yet I quickly read on to the end, snacking on Medjool dates to help soothe me for what I knew would not end well.
Still, it is always interesting to read about historical events told through the eyes of women, and this is a quick, if upsetting, read. Rating: 3 stars.
99. China Days: A Visual Journal from China's Wild West
I'm a fan of illustrated journals, and enjoyed this one. This is a visual journal complied from the author's sketchbooks and annotated photos, and is an interesting look at life in rural China. The photo of a dog transport system stopped me in my tracks. I have seen cows, pigs, chickens transported, and have never had quite the same reaction. A quick and colorful read. Rating: 3 stars.
August 20, 2015
Cinemascope: Crimson Tide
Cinemascope is a regular blog post where I will share with you movies and TV shows I think are worth watching.
Released in 1995.
Released in 1995.
Plot line: You can almost hear the studio pitch meeting echoing throughout Crimson Tide like the sonar on the soundtrack: "It's The Cain Mutiny on a nuclear submarine!" When radio communications problems aboard the USS Alabama prevent the sub from receiving its orders clearly during a tense confrontation with Russian warships, Navy officer Denzel Washington faces a huge ethical dilemma: countermand the orders of legendary Captain Ramsey (Gene Hackman) to fire nuclear missiles, or follow his command and risk launching an unprovoked nuclear war. It's really an actors' picture, and the fun is in the fireworks between Washington and Hackman, each of whose characters articulates solid reasoning behind his decision. There are no easy villains, and there's no easy way to tell right from wrong - that's what makes the nuclear stakes so terrifying.
I've been watching submarine movies lately, and recently watched this one again. This is a really good movie. The acting is superb and the story telling - alas, they don't really tell stories this well any more.
You can see the movie trailer here. If you have yet to see it, this is a movie worth watching.
August 18, 2015
CY 365 | July Update
Are you playing along with the CY365 project? You can read more about what I'm doing here.
Here is another week of 2015 Captured.
Here is another week of 2015 Captured.
185/365 - 070415 #July4th #cy365
Started the day with a hike down the Bright Angel Trail, and ended it with fireworks of a different kind. #GrandCanyon #Arizona #Travel #family #nephews
Started the day with a hike down the Bright Angel Trail, and ended it with fireworks of a different kind. #GrandCanyon #Arizona #Travel #family #nephews
186/070515 #Bellagio #cy365
Always love the exhibits in the atrium. Yes, we had an ice-cream stop later, but the sweetest part of today was watching the USA women's soccer team win the #fifaworldcup. #Vegas #family #Travel
Always love the exhibits in the atrium. Yes, we had an ice-cream stop later, but the sweetest part of today was watching the USA women's soccer team win the #fifaworldcup. #Vegas #family #Travel
187/365 - 070615#FreemontStreet #cy365
Hanging with my parents and brothers on a wet evening in the desert. #Travel #family #Vegas
Hanging with my parents and brothers on a wet evening in the desert. #Travel #family #Vegas
188/365 - 070715 #Family #cy365
The older of my baby brothers with my oldest niece and nephew. #Travel #GrandCanyon #Arizona
The older of my baby brothers with my oldest niece and nephew. #Travel #GrandCanyon #Arizona
189/365 - 070815 #Brothers #cy365
My baby brothers sucking it in at the #GrandCanyon. #Arizona #family #travel
My baby brothers sucking it in at the #GrandCanyon. #Arizona #family #travel
190/365 - 070915 #VintageStyle #cy365
If you can't make it to Venice, I guess a trip to #TheVenetian in #Vegas will give you a teeny taste of the wonders that await you in one of my fave cities. #Travel
If you can't make it to Venice, I guess a trip to #TheVenetian in #Vegas will give you a teeny taste of the wonders that await you in one of my fave cities. #Travel
191/365 - 071015 #Sundown #cy365
My nephews soaking it in at the #GrandCanyon. #Arizona #family #Travel
My nephews soaking it in at the #GrandCanyon. #Arizona #family #Travel
August 17, 2015
Recent Reads
95. The Lady and the Monk: Four Seasons in Kyoto
I'm a fan of the author, but this slow travelogue is not working for me at the moment. About 20% done, I find myself reluctant to pick it back up, so I'll shelf it on my DNF pile, fully expecting that I'll revisit it some day in the future when I'm more in the mood for a meditative reflection of life in Japan. Rating: 1 star.
96. Panic in Level 4: Cannibals, Killer Viruses, and Other Journeys to the Edge of Science
I'm a fan of science writing, and with a sub-title like this one, how could I resist? I listened to the audiobook, which was well narrated by James Lurie.
The first thing to know about this collection of essays it that they were all previously published in The New Yorker, and in creating this book the author added to those original essays. And that is the biggest complaint I have about this collection - it needs tighter editing. I've no doubt that I'd have given the original essays a five star rating. This collection had some rambling sections, but I was entertained and educated and for that I'm rounding up my 3.5 rating to 4.
1. The Mountains of Pi.
This is an interesting account of eccentric genius brothers Gregroy and David Chudnovsky, who built a supercomputer from mail order parts in Gregory's apartment. The brothers are interesting for sure, but after this essay, I have a renewed respect for the fascinating number that is Pi.
2. A Death in the Forest.
When I think of extinction, I do not often think in terms of trees. This is an informative essay about the decimation of hemlocks by an insect, and some of the efforts by people trying to save the trees.
3. The Search for Ebola.
There might be a scarier way to die, but while learning about the 1994 outbreak in Kikwit, I could not think of one.
4. The Human Kabbalah.
The Human Genome Project is fascinating, and while I loved the science, I was bored by the long discourse on the political/scientific turf wars.
5. The Lost Unicorn.
The history of seven tapestries and the art and science of how they were cleaned and photographed was interesting. The brothers Chudnovsky play a role in this one too.
6. The Self-Cannibals.
This essay had me running to Google. How is it that I'd never heard of this genetic disorder before? Lesch-Nyhan affects about 1 in 400,000 births, and the symptoms are horrifying.
Rating: 4 stars.
96. Brimstone (Pendergast #5)
This is the fifth book in the Pendergast series, and the first in the Diogenes Trilogy, but since Diogenes does not make an appearance (yes there is a letter), I'm not sure why this is labeled as such.
At this point you are either already a fan of FBI agent Pendergast and his cool Southern ways, or you are not. In this book he reunites with D'Agosta and Hayward, two New York cops he has worked with on earlier books.
This story involves gruesome crimes, the stench of brimstone, Faustian pacts with the devil, and End-of-Days drama, as we move from luxurious Hamptons estates, penthouses of New York City, Florence, and Italian castles. Spontaneous Human Combustion and Pendergast? Color me happy. A fun and quick summer read. Rating: 3 stars.
I'm a fan of the author, but this slow travelogue is not working for me at the moment. About 20% done, I find myself reluctant to pick it back up, so I'll shelf it on my DNF pile, fully expecting that I'll revisit it some day in the future when I'm more in the mood for a meditative reflection of life in Japan. Rating: 1 star.
96. Panic in Level 4: Cannibals, Killer Viruses, and Other Journeys to the Edge of Science
I'm a fan of science writing, and with a sub-title like this one, how could I resist? I listened to the audiobook, which was well narrated by James Lurie.
The first thing to know about this collection of essays it that they were all previously published in The New Yorker, and in creating this book the author added to those original essays. And that is the biggest complaint I have about this collection - it needs tighter editing. I've no doubt that I'd have given the original essays a five star rating. This collection had some rambling sections, but I was entertained and educated and for that I'm rounding up my 3.5 rating to 4.
1. The Mountains of Pi.
This is an interesting account of eccentric genius brothers Gregroy and David Chudnovsky, who built a supercomputer from mail order parts in Gregory's apartment. The brothers are interesting for sure, but after this essay, I have a renewed respect for the fascinating number that is Pi.
2. A Death in the Forest.
When I think of extinction, I do not often think in terms of trees. This is an informative essay about the decimation of hemlocks by an insect, and some of the efforts by people trying to save the trees.
3. The Search for Ebola.
There might be a scarier way to die, but while learning about the 1994 outbreak in Kikwit, I could not think of one.
4. The Human Kabbalah.
The Human Genome Project is fascinating, and while I loved the science, I was bored by the long discourse on the political/scientific turf wars.
5. The Lost Unicorn.
The history of seven tapestries and the art and science of how they were cleaned and photographed was interesting. The brothers Chudnovsky play a role in this one too.
6. The Self-Cannibals.
This essay had me running to Google. How is it that I'd never heard of this genetic disorder before? Lesch-Nyhan affects about 1 in 400,000 births, and the symptoms are horrifying.
Rating: 4 stars.
96. Brimstone (Pendergast #5)
This is the fifth book in the Pendergast series, and the first in the Diogenes Trilogy, but since Diogenes does not make an appearance (yes there is a letter), I'm not sure why this is labeled as such.
At this point you are either already a fan of FBI agent Pendergast and his cool Southern ways, or you are not. In this book he reunites with D'Agosta and Hayward, two New York cops he has worked with on earlier books.
This story involves gruesome crimes, the stench of brimstone, Faustian pacts with the devil, and End-of-Days drama, as we move from luxurious Hamptons estates, penthouses of New York City, Florence, and Italian castles. Spontaneous Human Combustion and Pendergast? Color me happy. A fun and quick summer read. Rating: 3 stars.
August 14, 2015
CY365 | June Done | July Update
Are you playing along with the CY365 project? You can read more about what I'm doing here.
Here is another week of 2015 Captured.
Here is another week of 2015 Captured.
178/365 - 062715 #SmallPlanet #cy365
Dear #NationalGrid, please sent the EMTs to any neighborhood homes more efficient than us, as they must be dead and no one knows yet. #thatshowweroll #efficientandproud
Dear #NationalGrid, please sent the EMTs to any neighborhood homes more efficient than us, as they must be dead and no one knows yet. #thatshowweroll #efficientandproud
179/365 - 062815 #LowLight #cy365
#onmywalktoday #nofilter #sunset
#onmywalktoday #nofilter #sunset
180/365 - 062915 #WaterTaxi #cy365
The sweetest way to get to the airport bar none. #Boston #boats #BostonHarbor
The sweetest way to get to the airport bar none. #Boston #boats #BostonHarbor
181/365 - 063015 #Trouble #cy365
My nephew Jonah and I causing trouble in Las Vegas. #lovethiskid #Vegas #family #travel
My nephew Jonah and I causing trouble in Las Vegas. #lovethiskid #Vegas #family #travel
182/365 - 070115 #SayWhat #cy365
Exploring the desert is clearly not for the faint of heart. Did I mention that my nephews feel the need to hug every snake they encounter? #Vegas #travel #family
Exploring the desert is clearly not for the faint of heart. Did I mention that my nephews feel the need to hug every snake they encounter? #Vegas #travel #family
183/365 - 070215 #LookAtTheseTwo #cy365
Mom and Dad celebrating their 50th anniversary with a road trip. #Sedona #Arizona #family #travel
Mom and Dad celebrating their 50th anniversary with a road trip. #Sedona #Arizona #family #travel
184/365 - 070315 #TheNextGeneration #cy365
My nieces and nephews are growing up so dang fast. #family #GrandCanyon #Travel #Arizona
My nieces and nephews are growing up so dang fast. #family #GrandCanyon #Travel #Arizona
August 13, 2015
Cinemascope: Manhattan (Season 1)
Cinemascope is a regular blog post where I will share with you movies and TV shows I think are worth watching.
Released in 2014.
Plot line: Set against the backdrop of the greatest clandestine race against time in the history of science with the mission to build the world's first atomic bomb in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Flawed scientists and their families attempt to co-exist in a world where secrets and lies infiltrate every aspect of their lives.
I find this behind the scenes look at the men and women at Los Alamos fascinating. My only complaint is that the show seems to shy away from the science and math, which leads to a sort of dumbing down that loses much of the punch of what was happening with nuclear physics at the time. Without that it does seem rather like another show about human dynamics and drama against that particular backdrop, but I'm still hooked.
You can see the season trailer here. If you have yet to see it, this is a TV series worth watching.
August 11, 2015
CY365 | June Update
Are you playing along with the CY365 project? You can read more about what I'm doing here.
Here is another week of 2015 Captured.
Here is another week of 2015 Captured.
171/365 - 062015 #GoldenBlooms#cy365
Flower pots at the marina. My neighbor is the resident green thumb. #nofilter #flowers #nature #urbangarden #beautiful #Charlestown #ConstitutionMarina
Flower pots at the marina. My neighbor is the resident green thumb. #nofilter #flowers #nature #urbangarden #beautiful #Charlestown #ConstitutionMarina
172/365 - 062115 #Viewpoint #cy365
Mishipmen getting ready for a briefing on board the #JuanSebastianDeElcano. #TallShip #BostonHarbor #sailingseason #boats #onmywalktoday #Charlestown
Mishipmen getting ready for a briefing on board the #JuanSebastianDeElcano. #TallShip #BostonHarbor #sailingseason #boats #onmywalktoday #Charlestown
173/365 - 062215 #UrbanGarden #cy365
#onmywalktoday #nature #flowers #lovelies #Charlestown
#onmywalktoday #nature #flowers #lovelies #Charlestown
174/365 - 062315 #Sketchbook #cy365
#sketches #art #draw #journal #watercolor #sakura #strathmore #artsupplies #artjournal #ArtOnTheBoat #Sharpie
#sketches #art #draw #journal #watercolor #sakura #strathmore #artsupplies #artjournal #ArtOnTheBoat #Sharpie
175/365 - 062415#SummerBlooms #cy365
It feels like summer when these #lovelies appear in our garden. #flowers #ilovesummer #nofilter
It feels like summer when these #lovelies appear in our garden. #flowers #ilovesummer #nofilter
176/365 - 062515 #SummerBBQ #cy365
It is all about bbq fruit this season. Salad with bbq pears, salmon pattie with bbq pineapple, and cauliflower rice. #delish #foodie #yummyinmytummy
It is all about bbq fruit this season. Salad with bbq pears, salmon pattie with bbq pineapple, and cauliflower rice. #delish #foodie #yummyinmytummy
177/365 - 062615 #LoveWins #cy365
#itissoordered #canhardlybelieveit #causeforcelebration #slate #lambalegal #scotus
#itissoordered #canhardlybelieveit #causeforcelebration #slate #lambalegal #scotus
August 10, 2015
Recent Reads
92. Citizen: An American Lyric
This short audiobook is superbly narrated by Allyson Johnson.
This book has received rave reviews and awards in the poetry category, and while the language is poetic, it read more like mini-essays to me. How about we split the difference and call it a poetic-mini-essay collection?
If I had a dollar for every time someone called me "articulate", or said "you speak English really good" ..... You know what's exhausting? Constantly calling people out for their actions, or giving someone the benefit of the doubt and trying to educate them. Sometimes you are so exhausted that you have to just let it go. Let it go. Let it go. And then a close friend, a loved one, a cherished one, says something, or worse, does not even see how you are being treated, and your anger flares up again. And so it goes.
"I feel most colored when I am thrown against a sharp white background."
This book is a meditation on race in the United States, a tabulation of racially aggressive encounters both micro and macro, and the life long effects of surviving said encounters. I loved some pieces more than others, and while some of the pieces are specific to black skin versus brown, I related to each and every one. Time to armor up. Again. Rating: 4 stars.
93. A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire #5)
So there is thing that happens that made me mad. Oh so mad. How mad you ask? Well, after reading that section I had a dream where I was yelling at Mr. GRRM while he sat across from me with a snotty smile on his face. I just wanted to knock that silly hat off his head!
This is book #5 in the A Song of Ice and Fire series (aka Game of Thrones), and at this point you are either gritting your teeth and committed to the bitter end, or you have already bailed. I'm a member of the former camp.
I'm not even sure how to summarize this story. There are more characters in this series than the Bible. If that is not true, I want to see proof, preferably documented as illustrated family trees with crest and motto information. This book is over a thousand pages, and it felt like I was introduced to about that many new characters. The key I've learned is to simply let all these people with strange names wash over me, and see who comes up again.
My current working model is to think about these books as a Game of Thrones Facebook group; there are people whose status updates you eagerly await and read with delight, and then there are those you'd de-friend if you could. There are sections of this book that are fantastic, but also large swathes that are a slog. I know (hope) that when (if ever!) the author completes this series all these threads will come together. Rating: 3 stars.
94. Therefore, Repent!
This short audiobook is superbly narrated by Allyson Johnson.
This book has received rave reviews and awards in the poetry category, and while the language is poetic, it read more like mini-essays to me. How about we split the difference and call it a poetic-mini-essay collection?
If I had a dollar for every time someone called me "articulate", or said "you speak English really good" ..... You know what's exhausting? Constantly calling people out for their actions, or giving someone the benefit of the doubt and trying to educate them. Sometimes you are so exhausted that you have to just let it go. Let it go. Let it go. And then a close friend, a loved one, a cherished one, says something, or worse, does not even see how you are being treated, and your anger flares up again. And so it goes.
"I feel most colored when I am thrown against a sharp white background."
This book is a meditation on race in the United States, a tabulation of racially aggressive encounters both micro and macro, and the life long effects of surviving said encounters. I loved some pieces more than others, and while some of the pieces are specific to black skin versus brown, I related to each and every one. Time to armor up. Again. Rating: 4 stars.
93. A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire #5)
So there is thing that happens that made me mad. Oh so mad. How mad you ask? Well, after reading that section I had a dream where I was yelling at Mr. GRRM while he sat across from me with a snotty smile on his face. I just wanted to knock that silly hat off his head!
This is book #5 in the A Song of Ice and Fire series (aka Game of Thrones), and at this point you are either gritting your teeth and committed to the bitter end, or you have already bailed. I'm a member of the former camp.
I'm not even sure how to summarize this story. There are more characters in this series than the Bible. If that is not true, I want to see proof, preferably documented as illustrated family trees with crest and motto information. This book is over a thousand pages, and it felt like I was introduced to about that many new characters. The key I've learned is to simply let all these people with strange names wash over me, and see who comes up again.
My current working model is to think about these books as a Game of Thrones Facebook group; there are people whose status updates you eagerly await and read with delight, and then there are those you'd de-friend if you could. There are sections of this book that are fantastic, but also large swathes that are a slog. I know (hope) that when (if ever!) the author completes this series all these threads will come together. Rating: 3 stars.
94. Therefore, Repent!
| This graphic novel has such a fantastic premise: What if the religious right, are right? Once the Christians have floated bodily into the sky, life goes on pretty much as usual for the immoral majority, except that magic works, if you're willing to risk demonic mutations. Unfortunately it does not deliver on that promise. The artwork is really great, but the story is way too convoluted, with too many sub plots that seem to lead nowhere in particular. It actually felt like I was reading an abridged version of a complex and wonderful story. Rating: 2 stars. |
August 7, 2015
CY365 | June Update
Are you playing along with the CY365 project? You can read more about what I'm doing here.
Here is another week of 2015 Captured.
Here is another week of 2015 Captured.
164/365 - 061315 #ihavethisthingwithfloors #cy365
#onmywalktoday
#onmywalktoday
165/365 - 061415 #BunkerHillDayParade #cy365
What I stumbled upon #onmywalktoday.#charlestown
What I stumbled upon #onmywalktoday.#charlestown
166/365 - 061515 #BirthdayGirl #cy365
Cold and rain has beached the birthday girl, so the clambake in the sand has morphed into lobster rolls at home. #delish #foodie #lobstah
Cold and rain has beached the birthday girl, so the clambake in the sand has morphed into lobster rolls at home. #delish #foodie #lobstah
167/365 - 061615 #BagpipesAndKilts #cy365
A touch of Scotland in #Charlestown.#BunkerHillDayParade #latergram #nofilter
A touch of Scotland in #Charlestown.#BunkerHillDayParade #latergram #nofilter
168/365 - 061715 #TallShip #cy365
We've got a new neighbor! Juan Sebastian De Elcano is a four-masted topsail schooner in the Spanish navy. She is a beauty. #BostonHarbor #boats #sailingseason #onmywalktoday
We've got a new neighbor! Juan Sebastian De Elcano is a four-masted topsail schooner in the Spanish navy. She is a beauty. #BostonHarbor #boats #sailingseason #onmywalktoday
169/365 - 061815 #Visiting #cy365
Visiting our new neighbors. #TallShip#BostonHarbor #onmywalktoday #boats #sailingseason #Charlestown #JuanSebastianDeElcano
Visiting our new neighbors. #TallShip#BostonHarbor #onmywalktoday #boats #sailingseason #Charlestown #JuanSebastianDeElcano
170/365 - 061915 #HolyMoly #cy365
Check out the size of the lines on the #JuanSebastianDeElcano. Clearly I need to amp up my gym workout! #sailingseason #TallShip #boats #BostonHarbor #Charlestown
Check out the size of the lines on the #JuanSebastianDeElcano. Clearly I need to amp up my gym workout! #sailingseason #TallShip #boats #BostonHarbor #Charlestown
August 6, 2015
Cinemascope: Seabiscuit
Cinemascope is a regular blog post where I will share with you movies and TV shows I think are worth watching.
Released in 2003.
Released in 2003.
Plot line: True story of the undersized Depression-era racehorse whose victories lifted not only the spirits of the team behind it but also those of their nation.
I've watched this movie a couple of times, and watched it again recently. This is a really good story with wonderful characters and actors.
You can see the movie trailer here. If you have yet to see it, this is a movie worth watching.
August 4, 2015
CY365 | June Update
Are you playing along with the CY365 project? You can read more about what I'm doing here.
Here is another week of 2015 Captured.
Here is another week of 2015 Captured.
157/365 - 060615 #Fawn #cy365
Look who I met #onmywalktoday. He/she came right up to me on his/her not quite coordinating spindly legs. #naturalbeauty #nature #deer #backyardfauna
Look who I met #onmywalktoday. He/she came right up to me on his/her not quite coordinating spindly legs. #naturalbeauty #nature #deer #backyardfauna
158/365 - 060715 #InMyHands #cy365
Today #ontheblog I posted a short video of my pared down supplies for travel and art journaling. Link in profile. #artsupplies #artjournal #sketchbook #sketches#sakura #strathmore #watercolor #micronpen #pittpens
Today #ontheblog I posted a short video of my pared down supplies for travel and art journaling. Link in profile. #artsupplies #artjournal #sketchbook #sketches#sakura #strathmore #watercolor #micronpen #pittpens
159/365 - 060815 #InMyLap #cy365
Sometimes the best place for my sketchbook is in my lap. Unwinding with a watersoluble pen and a water brush. #art #sketches #artsupplies #Fortitude #strathmore #portrait #draw
Sometimes the best place for my sketchbook is in my lap. Unwinding with a watersoluble pen and a water brush. #art #sketches #artsupplies #Fortitude #strathmore #portrait #draw
160/365 - 060915 #WhereIStand #cy365
In my studio with my sketchbook and some watercolors. #art #sketches #draw #artsupplies #artjournal #strathmore #watercolor #micronpen #sakura
In my studio with my sketchbook and some watercolors. #art #sketches #draw #artsupplies #artjournal #strathmore #watercolor #micronpen #sakura
161/354 - 061015 #WhereAreTheBees #cy365
#onmywalktoday passed this lovely plant. I wait every year for the blooms, and then cautiously step in to smell them. Have noticed this year that I don't need the caution as there are no bees around. That cannot be good. #flowers #nature
#onmywalktoday passed this lovely plant. I wait every year for the blooms, and then cautiously step in to smell them. Have noticed this year that I don't need the caution as there are no bees around. That cannot be good. #flowers #nature
162/365 - 061115 # CurrentlyReading #cy365
Trying out the #CrossingMidnight #graphix this week. Interesting story and illustration style. #bookstagram #summerreads #librarybooks
Trying out the #CrossingMidnight #graphix this week. Interesting story and illustration style. #bookstagram #summerreads #librarybooks
163/365 - 061215 #Sunset #cy365
The party boats have gathered for the sunset canon. Another beautiful day on the water. #BostonHarbor #sailingseason #onmywalktoday #nofilter
The party boats have gathered for the sunset canon. Another beautiful day on the water. #BostonHarbor #sailingseason #onmywalktoday #nofilter
August 3, 2015
Recent Reads
88. Sketch!: The Non-Artist's Guide to Inspiration, Technique, and Drawing Daily Life
"The process that you go through, be it for ten minutes or three hours is the drawing. Like a visually impaired person has to feel someone's face with their hands to tell their features, I sit and gradually take in the details of a place or a person through the pen. While taking pictures with an SLR or smartphone is great fun, I feel involved on a much deeper level through the act of drawing. I sometimes walk through or past places I have drawn and am so well acquainted with them that I have the uncanny feeling of having lived there."
This delightful book is full of inspiration, tips, and wonderful sketches. The author walks you through supplies, how to start, drawing exercises, and ends with a list of A-Z prompts. I dare anyone to read even a couple of pages of this and not pull out a piece of paper and draw something. I'd recommend it to all creative souls, and anyone who wants to see more clearly the spaces they inhabit. Rating: 4 stars.
89. Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea
Book blurb: In early 2001 cartoonist Guy Delisle became one of the few Westerners to be allowed access to the fortress-like country. While living in the nation's capital for two months on a work visa for a French film animation company, Delisle observed what he was allowed to see of the culture and lives of the few North Koreans he encountered; his findings form the basis of this graphic novel.
I love travelogues of all kinds, and was intrigued by this one. People who live and work in a foreign country often have interesting observations of the local culture, so I was looking forward to reading about the insights the author had on this trip. Unfortunately he does not seem to make a distinction between the North Korean regime and the North Korean people, and while I found some of his observations interesting, there is a disturbing amount of racist and misogynist comments in this book. I'll give the author the benefit of the doubt, and assume that he was trying to be funny, but it just did not work. There were glimmers of how good this book could have been, but unfortunately the reader learns more about the author's prejudices than about the country he visits. Rating: 2 stars.
90. Crossing Midnight, Vol. 2: A Map of Midnight
This volume collects issues #6-12.
Twins Toshi and Kai continue down their separate paths, each with a different objective. Toshi starts training to serve her new master, and Kai gets enmeshed with the enjokosai - middle to high school age girls who go on dates for money. It's legal in Japan, but a supernatural slasher is voicing disapproval in the bloodiest ways imaginable.
This is an interesting story with Japanese cultural aspects that I find fascinating, and I look forward to finishing the trilogy with the next installment. Rating: 3 stars.
91. Crossing Midnight, Vol. 3: The Sword in the Soul
This final volume in the series collects issues #13-19.
Kai is trying to find and save her his sister, but Toshi has had her memories erased, and has a new assignment - kill Kai. You just know this is not going to end well. We learn more about the backstory about how the twins are the way they are, and I loved the explanation. War is inevitable, and this is a fun and satisfying conclusion to this graphic novel series. Rating: 3 stars.
"The process that you go through, be it for ten minutes or three hours is the drawing. Like a visually impaired person has to feel someone's face with their hands to tell their features, I sit and gradually take in the details of a place or a person through the pen. While taking pictures with an SLR or smartphone is great fun, I feel involved on a much deeper level through the act of drawing. I sometimes walk through or past places I have drawn and am so well acquainted with them that I have the uncanny feeling of having lived there."
This delightful book is full of inspiration, tips, and wonderful sketches. The author walks you through supplies, how to start, drawing exercises, and ends with a list of A-Z prompts. I dare anyone to read even a couple of pages of this and not pull out a piece of paper and draw something. I'd recommend it to all creative souls, and anyone who wants to see more clearly the spaces they inhabit. Rating: 4 stars.
89. Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea
Book blurb: In early 2001 cartoonist Guy Delisle became one of the few Westerners to be allowed access to the fortress-like country. While living in the nation's capital for two months on a work visa for a French film animation company, Delisle observed what he was allowed to see of the culture and lives of the few North Koreans he encountered; his findings form the basis of this graphic novel.
I love travelogues of all kinds, and was intrigued by this one. People who live and work in a foreign country often have interesting observations of the local culture, so I was looking forward to reading about the insights the author had on this trip. Unfortunately he does not seem to make a distinction between the North Korean regime and the North Korean people, and while I found some of his observations interesting, there is a disturbing amount of racist and misogynist comments in this book. I'll give the author the benefit of the doubt, and assume that he was trying to be funny, but it just did not work. There were glimmers of how good this book could have been, but unfortunately the reader learns more about the author's prejudices than about the country he visits. Rating: 2 stars.
90. Crossing Midnight, Vol. 2: A Map of Midnight
This volume collects issues #6-12.
Twins Toshi and Kai continue down their separate paths, each with a different objective. Toshi starts training to serve her new master, and Kai gets enmeshed with the enjokosai - middle to high school age girls who go on dates for money. It's legal in Japan, but a supernatural slasher is voicing disapproval in the bloodiest ways imaginable.
This is an interesting story with Japanese cultural aspects that I find fascinating, and I look forward to finishing the trilogy with the next installment. Rating: 3 stars.
91. Crossing Midnight, Vol. 3: The Sword in the Soul
This final volume in the series collects issues #13-19.
Kai is trying to find and save her his sister, but Toshi has had her memories erased, and has a new assignment - kill Kai. You just know this is not going to end well. We learn more about the backstory about how the twins are the way they are, and I loved the explanation. War is inevitable, and this is a fun and satisfying conclusion to this graphic novel series. Rating: 3 stars.
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