Liquid Lunch

21. The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani

nobody@vox.com(JennyExiled) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:09:53 -0500

I really liked this book.

Having spent some time in the Muslim world, many things mentioned - such as the bazaar, hamman and henna - were familiar to me. And I got so involved in the story of the young female protagonist that I finished the book in just one day, staying up late into the night to find out how the tale ended.

If you like historical fiction, this novel set in 17th century Iran is a nice change of pace from the usual tales of wealthy or royal Europeans.

This was the November selection for my monthly book club and I'm really looking forward to discussing it with others.

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20. Pride, Prejudice and Jasmin Field: A Novel by Melissa Nathan

nobody@vox.com(JennyExiled) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:23:37 -0500

Sigh. I let the allusion to an Austen novel in the title fool me into thinking this wouldn't be the usual chick lit drivel. While I did find myself enjoying parts of the book - after all, it does owe its themes to Price and Prejudice, which I love - overall I found the storyline a bit overblown and unbelievable.

With happy endings for EVERYONE.

How often does everyone in both your family and circle of friends wind up neatly paired off? Really, now.

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19. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

nobody@vox.com(JennyExiled) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:07:34 -0400

The Golden Compass, Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition (His Dark Materials, Book 1)(Rough-cut)

Philip Pullman

I really liked this book. I had never heard of it until the movie, which I loved because Daniel Craig can do no wrong and I would go gay for Eva Green in a heartbeat (and the plot wasn't half bad either).

This book has been on my "to-read" list, roughly forever (or 2007, but who's counting?) and I finally got around to it.

So good. So, so good.

One of the things that made the book so unique, of course, was the relationship between humans and their daemons. The connection resonated with me as I think it would with anyone who has ever really loved someone - be that a partner, child, parent or sibling - loved them so much it hurts.

I could say a lot more, but instead I'm going to share one of my favorite passages from the book.

She knew what he was doing. Daemons could move no more than a few yards from their humans, and if she stood by the fence and he remained a bird, he wouldn't get near the bear; so he was going to pull.
She felt angry and miserable. His badger claws dug into the earth and he walked forward. It was such a strange tormenting feeling when your daemon was pulling at the link between you; part physical pain deep in the chest, part intense sadness and love. And she knew it was the same for him. Everyone tested it when they were growing up: seeing how far they could pull apart, coming back with intense relief.
He tugged a little harder.
"Don't, Pan!"
But he didn't stop. The bear watched, motionless. The pain in Lyra's heart grew more and more unbearable, and a sob of longing rose in her throat.
"Pan---"
Then she was through the gate, scrambling over the icy mud toward him, and he turned into a wildcat and sprang into her arms, and they were clinging together tightly with little shaky sounds of unhappiness coming from them both.
"I thought you really would---"
"No---"
"I couldn't believe how much it hurt---"
And then she brushed the tears away angrily and sniffed hard. He nestled in her arms, and she knew she would rather die than let them be parted and face that sadness again; it would send her mad with grief and terror. If she died, they'd still be together, like the Scholars in the crypt at Jordan.

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Um...

nobody@vox.com(JennyExiled) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:08:47 -0400

When did this just become my book blog? Heh.

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18. The Miserable Mill by Lemony Snicket

nobody@vox.com(JennyExiled) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:57:14 -0400

It seems the Amazon search isn't working again. Bugger.

Anyway, I've read yet another in the Series of Unfortunate Events and I rather liked this one.

The end.

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17. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky (FINALLY!!!)

nobody@vox.com(JennyExiled) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:38:24 -0400

The Brothers Karamazov

Fyodor Dostoevsky

I bought this book on Mother's Day 2007. I started reading it in January. I have finally finished it. Hallelujah.

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QotD: Evaluate Your Life Day

nobody@vox.com(JennyExiled) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:19:43 -0400

Today is "Evaluate Your Life Day." So, tell us: how do you think you're life's going so far?

Give me an f'ing break. Seriously.

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Reason #328 That I Need a Job

nobody@vox.com(JennyExiled) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:28:52 -0400

So I can be OCD about work instead of Facebook friend requests and books I'm supposedly reading for pleasure...

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16. Saving Fish from Drowning by Amy Tan

nobody@vox.com(JennyExiled) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:14:55 -0400

Saving Fish from Drowning: A Novel (Ballantine Reader's Circle)

Amy Tan

I read this for my book club, which met today. I love Amy Tan, I really do. But this was not one of my favorites. Don't get me wrong; I definitely enjoyed the book. It's just not quite in the same vein as her other, family-history heavy novels.

Still, it's worth the read. It's quite funny in some parts as a group of tourists make their way through Burma.

I had wanted to read 24 books this year.

It's already October and I'm only up to 16.

Not a good sign, eh?

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I have discovered Hulu.

nobody@vox.com(JennyExiled) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:02:13 -0400

I have not watched television in about three years. Not to say that I never sat down in front of the TV, but when I did it was mostly for a SpongeBob SquarePants marathon.

Thanks to the beauty of Hulu.com (and unemployment), I'm currently hooked on a couple of new series and a few old favorites.

Glee - It's like High School Musical, but with bitter, dysfunctional adults and sex! Yay!

Community - There's not much plot, but I love Joel McHale and Chevy Chase.

Ugly Betty - The new season hasn't actually started yet, but I spent most of the summer catching up on the first three seasons. Yes, I have no life.

The Office - How can you not <3 The Office?

Modern Family - The pilot made me giggle enough to check out the rest of the season.

Cougar Town - I didn't exactly love this, but I'm willing to give it a few more viewings.

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