Browse the Garden

Monday, September 30, 2013

The pond in the middle of the mall




Okay, so it's not like I've never been to the mall before, but I walked by this fountain countless times and wondered what it would be like to sit there for awhile. My first choice was the food court, but it only made me hungry. I bought a cookie, went downstairs and noticed people sitting around the fountain. There was an empty bench, so I thought "why not?"

Setting the scene: The fountain near the food court
People walking past the fountain, barely even noticing it, other than not walking in it. Children running, jumping and trying to touch the water, and their parents warning them not to get too close and to settle down. 

The first thing I notice is the fake bird call. It goes off about every five minutes. Fake nature. The next thing I notice is the echo. It's all around the fake pond. The escalators, and the second floor people are chatting away, some looking over the railing and some just walking by. This place is a crossroads. People rush by absorbed in conversation and ignore the four vendors standing at their booths, texting, chatting with people or just staring at the wall. 
I sit down, and a family sits across from me with the fountain between us. A red haired father, mother and a boy around seven eating a lollipop and leaning against the fake rock formation. He stares at the water while talking at fifty miles an hour. He exaggerates a slump and stands up to stretch, lollipop still in hand. 
I look around and notice the vendor behind me telling her two kids, a dark haired boy and girl, not to wander too far. They choose the fountain, right in front of my bench, and make a game of trying to touch the water before their mother notices. The boy runs around the fountain, while the girl finds a place to sit at the edge of the water and let her hand hover over the water, as if she's debating whether she should make a splash.
Another family with a few rowdy boys joins the fake watering hole and start running and jumping around it, much to their father's dismay. He scolds them saying, "Don't you notice those kids sitting quietly by the water?" His question hangs in midair as the kids run away from the fountain and make a game of jumping the strangely shaped tiles meant to look like rocks. 
A few guys around my age walk past me. I only catch a piece of their conversation, something about a Bengal tiger, and then they're gone. Up the escalator and out of sight. 
I notice that a few people are looking at me. Some of the families, probably wonder why I'm sitting by a fake pond scribbling in a journal when I could be shopping. I smile at some of their confused expressions. As most of them walk away, including the two families. A mother and her two young daughters stand at the edge of the fountain. 
She hands each girl a coin. "Now make a wish, and it might come true." She says, watching the girls grin and babble about what they want to wish for. 
I already know the rule. You can't tell anyone your wish or it won't come true. 
As I watch the girls decide, then throw the coins in the water, I decide that I want to make a wish of my own. I finish my scribbles, fish around my purse for a coin, and find a shiny nickel. Not a penny, but I decided it was good enough. I look in the pond as I think of a wish. Most of the pond floor is covered in pennies. Some are bright and shiny, while others are dull. I even notice some quarters. "Expensive wishes." I say to myself. But I don't see any nickels. 
I look around, No one's watching. 
I smile, close my eyes and flick the coin in the water. It lands in a pile of pennies with a plop and I walk away.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Observations in a cafe




Setting the scene: A cafe.
People, going about their lives. Some are studying. Most of them are using laptops. One is on a smart phone. Then there's me, sitting at a small table with a pen and a journal.

My order: hot chocolate with pumpkin
I'm trying something different after all. 

The first thing I notice is the smell. Comforting, a little stale, but a soft smell that almost reminds me of chocolate. The second thing I notice is the music, easy going not too loud, but still there in the back of my mind. It reminds me that I'm not in a quiet bookstore or even in my own house. I'm in a different building. One where black and white photos of coffee adorn the walls. Armed chairs sit in a circle near a fire place that has no fire. The dusty brown tiles are scrapped and random pieces of paper are scattered under a few tables. 
I walk to the counter and order a hot chocolate. One of the cashiers, a girl around my age, compliments my Beauty and the Beast sweater by saying, "I love your Disney pajamas." Not knowing what to say to this, I smile and nod. The other cashier, a bubbly girl talks all the while as she takes my credit card, swipes it and grabs the mocha cup. She has a random topic of conversation, going from earrings to dance class to Friday night craziness in the cafe. She's quite a character, and he livleiest of the bunch. One a disgruntled lady dressed as a manager, another a guy talking at the drive thru costumers with boredom, and the third the girl who complimented my sweater. I take my chocolate, thanking them and find a place to sit with my notebook and begin writing.
Two people around my age are sitting at a long table adjacent to mine. A few notebooks and a papers covered in notes and possibly math problems are scattered in front of them. She tries to stay focused on the assignment while he asks random questions. Each one moving further away from the assignment and more toward getting to know her. She is fairly clever in her responses. After a while he apologizes for his horrible handwriting.
At the table next to them, a man sits with his laptop, asking a cafe worker for help with the internet. The cafe worker sits next to him, leaning over the table and talking about his own lack of technologiacl knowledge, despite the fact that he looks young, also around my age. The cafe worker starts messing with the laptop, all the while talking about his wife, and the programs he worked on to finish school. Their conversation becomes quieter than the music as two men walk in. 
I look around and notice that the two men are conversing with the bubbly cashier. She asks them what they're up to, and they laugh, mumbling something in response. 
Next to me, a girl sighs. She flips through her smart phone, sipping her coffee occasionally. The armchair she slumps in creaks as she reaches for her purse and puts the phone away. 
My thoughts begin to wander. I decide that I'm tired, after a day of work, and I watch the clock as I decide to give myself until the hour. 
It's too quiet here. Not that it's actually quiet. There are people talking, and it's not a large amount of people, so the atmosphere is nice. But the music has gotten softer, and my eyes feel heavy. 
I stare at my phone, noticing that only two minutes have passed. I start to scribble furiously in my notebook. 
People do this every day. Some people come to the cafe after work, or during their lunch break. Some go through the drive through to pick up their breakfast. All these lives crossing, even for a few seconds. It dawns on me that I may never see these people again, most of them in their own world with their laptop or smart phone. Me in my own little world with my actual notebook and pen. The cashier's bubbly voice drifts in volume with the music. She's either talking with her co-workers or customers. I check the clock again. This was something different I suppose. Just sitting in a cafe, I wonder if I've learned anything. I wonder if I have to. I wonder what it means to live. Am I living? Does life have a definition besides the opposite of death? All these questions dance through my mind, and the fact that I'm tired interrupts them occasionally. I finish scribbling in my notebook and use the last minute to look around without thinking. It's difficult, but I manage. Time's up. 
I  put the notebook away, grab my empty cup and walk out of the cafe. As I go to the car, I wonder why I didn't throw my trash away. 
As I drive home one last thought crosses my mind.
This has been an experience.  

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Trying new things




It started with a book on writing. One of the suggestions to broaden your writing horizons was to take a week and do something you've never done before. Starting tomorrow, I'm going to do just that. Each day after work, I'm going to go to a place I haven't been before, bring  a notebook and actually observe, and maybe even chat with people to try something new.
I'll admit this. I've been in more than a writing rut, and with my current schedule, nothing has helped. 
It's time to work on something I can change. Seriously!

Friday, September 27, 2013

Distance

Distance

I thought it would protect me.
I thought I wouldn't get hurt.
I wouldn't be heart broken.

Now
I regret.
Now
I despair.
Now I watch others
hand in hand
and wonder
if I could have been that way.

If I can have a fairytale . . .

Will I be given the chance?
Or do I need to break my own heart again?
Do I need to move on from something
that never started?

Should I stop
clinging to empty hope?
Or should I start
believing in a fairytale?

Distance
can hurt.
Distance
can complicate.

Distance
has done nothing
but allow me
to break my own heart.



Thursday, September 26, 2013

Book Challenge Day 15: Your favorite male character



Jem Carstairs from The Infernal Devices

This was actually a very difficult decision. There are several male characters that I can put in this catagory. Landon from A Walk to Remember, Augustus from The Fault in Our Stars, Costin from Wildwood Dancing, Adrian from Beastly and Dexter from This Lullaby are some of my favorites. But it had to be Jem. 
Jem is not only a shadow hunter, he is also a violinist, romantic and a loyal friend. Jem is faced with a terrible fate. The very poison that he was tortured with has become his drug in order to survive, but it is slowly killing him, and he knows he only has so much time on this world before he is gone. Jem is wise and patient. He is also funny and kind. His character has the most difficult journey in the series, and his choice between living and surviving is a difficult but admirable one. He becomes a very important character in the series, and he was the character that kept me reading. I don't won't to spoil the series, so I won't reveal his fate, but I will say that Jem was my favorite character in the series, because his story was the most human. He had to face his weakness, make a life changing decision and decide what type of life he would have. Jem actually taught me about inner strength that is so subtle, it is hard to recognize at first. Once Jem discovers his inner strength, he doesn't rely on fate. He does what he can to be the hero he always wanted to be. 

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

On writing and Kate DiCamillo




I had the opportunity to get my Tale of Desperaux book signed, and to hear Kate DiCamillo talk about writing, imagination and all things silly. 
I'll admit that when it comes to writing, I've been in quite the slump. Whenever I write something, I feel like I'm only brainstorming. 
Now, I have heard a lot of authors talk about writing. I've read books on writing, I've met local authors at the bookstore and I've been lucky enough to meet one of my favorite authors. 
Kate DiCamillo talked about writing as more of a commitment. I'm glad she didn't just say, "Write." when a kid raised their hand and asked for advice on being a writer. DiCamillo said to make a contract with yourself. If writing is important to you, then you can even write on bad days or during writers' block. Writing has to be important, and in order to make it important, you have to believe in yourself and your writing. Even the most famous author will sit at their desk and ask themselves, "How am I going to write a book in this amount of time?" 
As long as you keep writing, you are proving to yourself every day that you can. This proof is important. It builds your self esteem and comforts you on days where you feel down or don't think that you can write. By writing everyday, you can tell yourself "Well, I did that yesterday." 
I think that this attitude is a successful one. So I'm going to write everyday, but I might try and apply this mindset to other areas in my life. This may be the key to facing my fears and following my dreams. 
Everyone writes differently. No one writer has the same method or muse when writing. As DiCamillo says, "That's the scary part." But once you commit to it, the work gets done little by little, and you have the opportunity to look back on it all and say "I did it!" which is a great feeling. 
Small steps, small commitments, and small changes to your mindset can work wonders and inspire you to be the best at whatever you wish to achieve. 
So I wanted to pass this message on, and hopefully if you're a writer, singer, author or any other profession, this will inspire you and maybe even ease your fears about following your dreams. Commit to small things a day, and step by step with a hopeful mindset, you will get to where you want to be. Commiting to your dream is the key.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Writing Prompt 54: Love is . . .




Love is hope during adversity, and finding perfection in the imperfect. Love is music during silence, and a fairytale during reality. A flower in a field of grass. A mystery. Sometimes love can seem like a rumor or a lie. Sometimes love is a rose with thorns, or a leap of faith. Love is a dance that no one knows the steps to. It's a strange magic that is only felt when you stop expecting it to happen. Love is beautiful. A work of art from a far, and a puzzle from within. 
Love is the whisper of your heart. The feeling that helps you understand why you exist, and what you should do. Love is a game, a story with two points of view and a wish from the heart. Love is light in the darkness and beauty in life. 
Love is never the same for anyone.
What is love to you? 

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Writing Prompt 53: Who inspires you?

So many people inspire me.
My Dad. My close friends and family, and many famous or well known people throughout history and up to modern day.

Here's my current list of them in no particular order:

The entire team behind the Lizzie Bennet Diaries, especially Bernie Su, Hank Green, Jenni Powell, Margaret Dunlap, Rachel Kiley, Kate Rorick and Jay Bushman
Ashley Clemments (Actress who played Lizzie Bennet)
The entire team behind The Autobiography of Jane Eyre, especially Nessa Aref, Courtney Christensen, Christina Bialik and Shaan Rahman
Alysson Hall (Actress who play Jane and script writer for the series)
Walt Disney (The maker of Mickey Mouse and animated and live action movies)
Hayao Miazaki (Creator of many animated films from Japan, including Howl's Moving Castle)
Ridley Pearson (Author of adult mysteries, and the Disney series Kingdom Keepers)
Rick Riordan (Teacher and Author of the Percy Jackson series)
Sarah Dessen (A mother and a YA author)
Sarah Beth Durst (A fantasy and YA author)
John Green (YA author)
Neil Gaiman (Fantasy author)
Tamora Pierce (Fantasy author)
Julliet Marlier (A fantasy and YA author of Wildwood Dancing)
Peter S. Beagle (Fantasy author of The Last Unicorn)
J.R.R. Tolkein (Author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings)
J.K. Rowling (Author of the Harry Potter series)
Kate Morton (Author of Mystery/Fiction)
Gail Carson Levine (Author of Children's Lit Fantasy Stories including Ella Enchanted)
Alex Flynn (Author of Beastly)
Jane Austen (Author of seven well known novels)
Natsuki Takaya (Author and Artist for Fruits Basket)
The Hong Sisters (script writers for Korean Dramas including You're Beautiful)
Park Shin Hye (Singer and Actress)
Suzy (Singer and Actress)
Amy Adams (Singer and Actress)
Emma Thompson (Actress)
Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko (Creators of Avatar the Last Airbender)
Kazushige Nojima and Daisuke Watanabe (Writers of Final Fantasy X)
Tetsuya Nomura (Writer/Creator of Kingdom Hearts)
Mary Hoffman (Author of Fantasy/ YA series Stravaganza)

I'm sure there are more. Here's my Pinterest board dedicated to amazing people from history who inspire me:
http://www.pinterest.com/sarahbelle624/people-who-inspire-me/

Who inspires you?

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Hitsuzen




"Nothing in this world is a coincidence. Everything is Hitsuzen."
Yuuko
Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles

Hitsuzen Definition:
"A naturally foreordained event. A state in which other outcomes are impossible. A result which can only be obtained by a single causality, and all other causalities would necessarily create different results." 

Thursday, September 19, 2013

What really matters




I learned a valuable lesson today. It's better to be honest right away than let things build up in your mind. I'm so lucky to have wonderful friends and family who understand when I'm being ridiculous and who encourage me to be upfront and honest. 
I have this really bad habit of viewing everything negatively. It's a pain, and more often causes more problems than I know how to deal with. But I'm working on what I can do to break this habit, and to just enjoy life more, than constantly expect negative outcomes and always be on my guard. 
Believe it or not, always being negative saps a ton of energy, and often makes small things seem huge in your eyes. I'll admit that this is one my faults, to blow things out of proportion and let them sit there, unresolved until I eventually blow up.
It's not one of my best qualities, and certainly not one of my favorite things to admit. But I find that the more I face my faults, and the more I do to improve them, the less energy I waste and the more I can enjoy the things that really matter in life.  

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

To Someone I Miss

Disneyland was where we met,
And I'll admit I do regret
Not getting to know you or being able to stay.
I believe I still do feel that way.
Everything was brighter with you around.
Laughing and smiling was a wonderful sound.

Great people are never forgotten.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Things I forgot about until I played Kingdom Hearts again




Sora is random.
Tidus looks so cute as a kid ^_^
Goofy goes through potions like water.
Dodge Roll is your best friend.
Sora can't jump very high in the beginning.
All the different trinity marks!
The post cards in Traverse Town.
One of my favorite places in Kingdom Hearts is the Lady and the Tramp fountain ^_^
The good mushroom heartless ^_^
The Gummi Launch site was featured in Disney Town in Birth by Sleep
The weird faucet in the bizarre room in Wonderland
The barrel trials at Olympus Colosseum >_<
Cerberus is the first really difficult boss fight -_-
You don't get warp drive until way later in the game :(
From the Gummi Ship Space kind of looks like the inside of Monstro o_0
The fairy godmother from Cinderella is in this game!
The slide of Hollow Bastion.
The first key blade you can get is Jungle King from Deep Jungle
Clayton's creepy expressions.
The pretty underground cave in Traverse Town.
All the Ansem Reports!
The moving rocks in front of Merlin's cottage.
The spooky bell in Traverse Town.
When fighting heartless in high places, it is very easy to fall off the tree, building or random platform.
I am not looking forward to winning the Hades cup again.

Monday, September 16, 2013

The road to dawn




In Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories, Riku is forced to deal with the darkness inside him, as Ansem demands to control him through darkness. Throughout the game, Riku is asked the same questions: "Will you go toward light? Or will you give in to the darkness?"
One of Riku's best lines in the whole game, in my opinion, is in Kingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drop Distance, where he is once again questioned about light and darkness. He made this decision when Diz stood at the crossroads and told Riku to choose between light and darkness. Riku came up with his own answer, and learned to accept both light and darkness. His choice is more than a choice of magic. Riku chose to accept the past and look toward the future. He has decided to use what he has in order to get to where he wants to be. His quote is a powerful statement that confirms he is in balance and he won't be pressured by darkness anymore. Riku's quote is both powerful and hopeful. His decision is brave and his alone. 




My Declaration




It's time I trusted myself.
It's time I took charge.
I WON'T be manipulated
I WON'T be used.
I will become strong
with each mistake I make.
I will learn something new
each day.
I will choose 
to follow my heart
pursue my dreams
NEVER LOOK BACK
Live
THE LIFE I WANT

I will stop
WORRYING ABOUT NOTHING
APLOLOGIZING ABOUT EVERYTHING
SETTLING FOR NO REASON
lying to myself
Pretending to be fine.

I'm going to learn 
to say
NO

I'm going to learn
to say 
YES

I'm going to be
WHO I WANT TO BE

To learn 
What I have
and
What I can CREATE

It's time to live.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Every now and then . . .




Every now and then
              you need to break down.

Every now and then
               you need to tell yourself the truth.

Every now and then
               you need to deal.

Every now and then
               you need to cry.

Every now and then
               you need to let things go.

Every now and then
               you need to take things as they come.

Being patient.
Ignoring your own wishes.
Comparing yourself to others.
What good does it do?

When life is a series of steps,
that everyone takes at their own pace.
That the world works itself out sometimes.
Why worry?
Why be cruel to yourself?

Why go through life
without allowing things to happen?

Can believing in the world
banish all worry and doubt?

Book Challenge Day 14: Book from your favorite writer



Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier

I've mentioned Wildwood Dancing and Cybelle's Secret countless times, but I haven't blogged about Heart's Blood which is Marillier's version of a Beauty and the Beast story. It has a darker tone in the plot than her other novels, but this adaption was intriquing and creative. 
The story is set in Ireland, and involves the Norman invasion in the twelveth century. The main character Caitrin is a runnaway looking for a job as a scribe, and she comes across Whistling Tor. She learns of the dark magic surrounding its mysterious master Anluan and the secret of his family. 
The story has elements of a gothic novel and reminds me of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. The story also reminds me of another novel, written by Peter S. Beagle called Tamsin, which mentioned a similar type of dark magic. 
I enjoyed this story, and I came across it recently. 
This book is perfect for fans of Fantasy, Jane Eyre and Beauty and the Beast. 

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Book Challenge Day 13: Favorite Writer




Juliet Marillier

This was an extremely difficult decision. First, let me list a few writers that are runners up: J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, Jane Austen, Sarah Dessen, John Green, Robin Mckinley, Sarah Beth Durst, Gail Carson Levine, and Mary Hoffman.
Among other writers, I have never thought of choosing a favorite, because each writer brings their own elements to their stories, and in many cases they can't be compared to writers. 
To me, writing is not just an activity. It is a way of life. There are so many layers to writing, and each author brings something unique to their stories.
But once I examined the number of times I read these authors' books, Juliet Marillier won. 
What I enjoy about Marillier's stories is the element of folklore and the powerful voice of the protagonist. She combines mythology, magic and the coming of age story into a powerful epic. Of the books I have read by her, I become completely emmersed in the world and the main character's role in the story. Listening to the character tell their tale is magical. 
Reading Juliet Marillier's writing reminds me of the stories I want to write, and the strong voice I want the main character to have. So with many favorite authors on my list, I chose Juliet Marillier because her stories balance the human condition with the elements of folklore. 
If you're curious, here's her website:

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Book Challenge Day 12: A book you used to love but don't anymore



Eragon or the Inheritence Cycle by Christopher Paolini

I used to love reading this series. With Paolini being published at age fourteen, it gave me hope that my stories might amount to something one day. I currently own all of the books in this series, but I was disappointed in the ending, and the note in the last book, and I feel like I can't read them anymore. It may not be fair of me to say that I can't believe an author would fall out of love with their own story. I understand that there is a lot of pressure to release novels, eventhough I have yet to experience that myself, but I am sad whenever I see this series. To hear Paolini's account of the journey he went on while writting these novels, it seems he became sick of his own story, and that, as a fellow writer, leaves a bad taste in my mouth. 
I think of Tolkien, who even when he was pressured and bribed to write more of The Lord of the Rings told the world he wouldn't write anymore. He knew the story was finished. J.K. Rowling said something along those lines about the Harry Potter series as well. 
So even though I enjoyed reading Eragon and followed the protagonist through the entire story, I don't believe I'll be able to read it again. The fact that the author became burdened by this story makes me feel sorry for both the author, and the story itself. 

Sunday, September 8, 2013

The Swan's curse




She saw her reflection in the water, and she could still hear the wicked laughter of the sorcerer who imprisoned her there. Odette, once a princess, was now a swan. She didn't know if any of her family survived, or if the prince she came to love would ever find her. It was a cruel curse, but when was there ever a generous one? Would he remember her? Or would she slowly fade from his mind, replaced by a new princess. She could only wish night after night that he would find her, or even believe that she was still somewhere in the world searching for him.
Although she had to wait, she did go on adventures. She learned to fly, soaring over the lake. She would be human again, only for the course of one night under the full moon. There wasn't enough time for her to escape on foot. 
She made friends by the lake, and she told them stories. She asked them to help her find the prince. She ventured to the forest, terrified that the sorcerer would find and kill her. But she had a dream. She had a wish. Nothing could stop her from following her heart, and nothing could convince her that she would stay a swan forever. 
Of course she had her doubts. The castle was far, and the lake was miles from it, with a towering waterfall standing between her prison and the world. She knew that the world wouldn't break her curse. She would have to find the cure on her own. So she sang. She told stories, and each day she ventured further from her prison, and closer to the castle. As she flew, she became stronger. She could fly further from the lake, and need less time to rest her wings. 
And so, day by day, night by night, Odette searched for the prince. With each story she grew stronger, and with each journey she drew closer to her destiny. But she could not have done so without hopes and dreams. 

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Origami and Happiness




My Dad just posted this commercial on his Facebook, and it made me smile. He taught me how to fold paper cranes and many other neat origami animals. We even have some origami christmas ornaments we put on the tree every year :) 
When I graduated High School, he folded 1000 paper cranes for me that I will keep forever. This commercial reminds me of my Dad, and it makes me smile. Enjoy!


  

Book Challenge 11: A book you hated



Pamela or Virtue Rewarded by Samuel Richardson

I had to read this for college, and my professor praised it, and he did often comment that women belonged in the kitchen. He hated any strong female characters, so you can imagine what I thought of his opinion. Pamela was horrible. That poor fourteen year old girl, being stalked by a man more than twice her age. It was a terrible read, and I'm glad I didn't have to write an essay on it.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Bewildered




So many chioces.
So many roads.
All these directions
Have me in overload

Where do I go?
What do I do?
Where do I belong?
When will I find love true?

What should I be doing?
To whom should I turn?
When will this become clear?
What bridges do I need to burn?

The past
The future
The present

A fork in the road
Which path has my name on it?
Why am I so lost?
Confused
and torn.

How can I find
the reason I was born?
What I'm meant to do?
Who I need to be?

Why are the questions
overwhelming me?

Am I not living?
Am I not alive?
Is that why I feel
I have yet to thrive?

Bewildered


Book Challenge Day 10: Favorite classic book



                                                The Arabian Nights told by Scheherazade

This is an extremely difficult question. I have so many classics that I love. Peter Pan, Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Persuasion, Jane Eyre, The Secret Garden, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, Dune, (The list goes on forever).
I finally settled on the Arabian Nights, because I love the stories, and the idea of stories within stories. Scheherazade is a powerful narrator and the protagonist of her own story. Her tales have lessons,  and they involve action, adventure and romance. One of my favorites is the Mermaid Julnar, and the Black Pegasus story. These stories are so imaginative, and they inspired me to make layers of stories in my own tales. I guess to me Arabian Nights is a story that represents the art of storytelling, the power of language and the bravery of Scheherazade.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Pride and Prejudice: The Lizzie Bennet Diaries Edition






I came home from work today to a wonderful surprise! For backing up the LBD DVD project, I was given a copy of the Lizzie Bennet Diaries version of Pride and Prejudice with a forward by Hank Green! The inside has black and white photos of various episodes and the cover art is from episode 80! I love it, and I will hopefully get an opportunity to meet the cast and crew and have them sign it for me! This was a great ending to a rough day ^_^

Monday, September 2, 2013

Thinking of you, wherever you are





Book Challenge Day 9: A book you thought you wouldn't like, but ended up loving



Snow-walker by Catherine Fisher

I picked this book up on a whim, and ended up loving it on the spot. It's filled with Norse mythology and reminds me of East of the Sun, west of the moon. Kari is probably my favorite character, because he is a snow-walker, and the ice prince of the north. What I loved about this book was the adventure. The main character Jessa was a strong, brave and resourceful girl who accepted Kari for who he was, and taught the people of the north to trust the Jarl, or ie people, again. Not only was the story unique, but the characters were amusing, and the events were a mix of action and comedy, with some mystery thrown in for good measure. This book inspired my own tale of East of the Sun, West of the Moon. 

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Book Challenge Day 8: Most overrated book



The Notebook by Nicolas Sparks

I'll begin by saying that this is my opinion, and it relates to the novel. I will add that the movie had its moments, but it was too sappy for me at times. (Yes a Disney fan said that. But for the record, Disney isn't sappy to me.)

The novel is very different from the movie. It begins way after Highschool, when Allie has to make her choice on who she's going to marry, and she runs into Noah again. 
I just didn't understand the story of this novel. I did feel bad for Allie's loss of memory, but when I turned to the last page, my reaction was "really?" 
I just felt like the story was trying too hard to get my attention, and it miserably failed. Yes, I read the book, but in my opinion, this book was nothing compared to A Walk to Remember (probably my favorite novel by Nicolas Sparks, possibly ever) and it really felt sappy and way too emotional for me to believe the story at times. 
It might have been the way it was written, but I just didn't understand what the big deal was about it. It was more of a soap opera than an actual story.