Anne of Green Gables - Lucy Maude Montgomery
Read: I think there is some sort of law that any female raised in Canada has to read Anne of Green Gables at some point.
Source: e-reader
Finished: June some time
Pages: 270
I had never really wanted to read this book. I kind of sort of knew the general premise, but I knew it had some sort of vague connection to Road to Avonlea which was a show I always despised but would end up watching the last few minutes of since it aired before the Bugs Bunny and Tweety show on Sunday nights.
But, it was one of the free books on my e-reader and I thought, what the heck, I'll give it a go.
I actually enjoyed it. I really wasn't expecting to. I wasn't expecting it to be funny, and I wasn't expecting for the characters to be so relate-able. Anne, who always struck me as an obnoxious little prat when I would see/hear/read something about the book, was just a funny kid with a wild imagination and a runaway mouth. She wasn't trying to be annoying, it just worked out that way.
Am I going to join the legion of crazy Green Gables nuts? Nah. But it was a cute book and I am glad I read it. I might read it again some day.
****
Book count: 7
Page count: 992+270 = 1262
Monday, September 26, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Second half of the Bone Series by Jeff Smith
Rock Jaw: Master of the Eastern Border (Book 5)
Old Man's Cave (Book 6)
Ghost Circles (Book 7)
Treasure Hunters (Book 8)
Crown of Thorns (Book 9)
Read: Because I've always heard good things about Bone when I used to stalk the comic book community.
Source: Christmas Presents from Kim
Finished: 6/26/2011
Rating: 9 out of 10
Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic
Pages: 116+118+150+136+212= 732
Published: 2009 (overall)
This series is really just too good. It is as satisfying a fantasy read as you can get, and in a different form. And I love the use of the drawings to move the story along without any dialogue at all in some parts. The books are sweet, funny, deep and incredibly creative. I highly, highly recommend.
****
Book count: 6
Page count: 260+732= 992
Old Man's Cave (Book 6)
Ghost Circles (Book 7)
Treasure Hunters (Book 8)
Crown of Thorns (Book 9)
Read: Because I've always heard good things about Bone when I used to stalk the comic book community.
Source: Christmas Presents from Kim
Finished: 6/26/2011
Rating: 9 out of 10
Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic
Pages: 116+118+150+136+212= 732
Published: 2009 (overall)
This series is really just too good. It is as satisfying a fantasy read as you can get, and in a different form. And I love the use of the drawings to move the story along without any dialogue at all in some parts. The books are sweet, funny, deep and incredibly creative. I highly, highly recommend.
****
Book count: 6
Page count: 260+732= 992
Saturday, September 24, 2011
I know, I know, I fail.
It's pretty easy to see that my attempt at a standard format to make entries "easier" on me failed miserably. Directly after my posting of Mitch Albom's book, going back and following the format seemed like a huge chore. That, coupled with life, meant that I neglected the blog for a couple of months.
In fact, I neglected to read. Period.
Normally books are my number one escape. I smash through them at light speed and can't wait for more. But the last few months have not been easy for me, dealing with health, pets, work, and the massive changes that life has thrown at me in general.
Well, I did read. I have been reading collections of Calvin and Hobbes, The Far Side, Cathy... comic strips that are completely mindless and the perfect tonic for an exhausted, stressed out brain. I needed pictures and immediate gratification.
But they don't count.
In the last week, though, I've been reading again. I picked up a book that's been sitting on my shelf, just waiting for a re-read. I know it's a book that I enjoy and is light, but piques my deeper interests also. And that's gotten me thinking about the blog again and the fact that, I can come back, admit that my experiment in formatting was a huge fail, and get back to what I like doing. Reading books and jotting what I liked about them.
Tonight, I came across something else. Something that has me EXCITED to read. Something to LOOK FORWARD to. I haven't been excited or looked forward to something in a long time. This feels like a bit of a tonic for me and I am ready to do this. I am stoked.
http://www.bookcrossing.com/
When Mike and I went to a resort in Cuba a few years ago, there was an informal library where guests took books, left books, etc. So I took a couple of books from that library, but left a few that I had brought with me - cheap used book store finds that I wouldn't miss. But there was a bit of a thrill, thinking about them moving on to someone else. Maybe moving on to yet a different part of the world altogether. It reminded me of when I was younger and I liked to hide little treasures for people to find. Small toys or pretty rocks or a quarter. When I was older it turned into moving the lawn ornaments around in suburban yards. I wouldn't damage them, just place them oddly for the owners to find in the morning.
That goes back even further to a talk show episode I saw when I was very young. Someone had stolen a small plastic duck lawn ornament from a yard, and then took pictures of it in different locals all over the world and mailed them back to the owners. They loved getting updates on their little duck and then one day, the duck showed up in their yard again. It was a bit more beat up, the colour had faded, but it must have had stories to tell. And someone is doing that with a rubber duck right now. I love it. http://www.unionleader.com/article/20110816/NEWS/708169979
In fact, I neglected to read. Period.
Normally books are my number one escape. I smash through them at light speed and can't wait for more. But the last few months have not been easy for me, dealing with health, pets, work, and the massive changes that life has thrown at me in general.
Well, I did read. I have been reading collections of Calvin and Hobbes, The Far Side, Cathy... comic strips that are completely mindless and the perfect tonic for an exhausted, stressed out brain. I needed pictures and immediate gratification.
But they don't count.
In the last week, though, I've been reading again. I picked up a book that's been sitting on my shelf, just waiting for a re-read. I know it's a book that I enjoy and is light, but piques my deeper interests also. And that's gotten me thinking about the blog again and the fact that, I can come back, admit that my experiment in formatting was a huge fail, and get back to what I like doing. Reading books and jotting what I liked about them.
Tonight, I came across something else. Something that has me EXCITED to read. Something to LOOK FORWARD to. I haven't been excited or looked forward to something in a long time. This feels like a bit of a tonic for me and I am ready to do this. I am stoked.
http://www.bookcrossing.com/
When Mike and I went to a resort in Cuba a few years ago, there was an informal library where guests took books, left books, etc. So I took a couple of books from that library, but left a few that I had brought with me - cheap used book store finds that I wouldn't miss. But there was a bit of a thrill, thinking about them moving on to someone else. Maybe moving on to yet a different part of the world altogether. It reminded me of when I was younger and I liked to hide little treasures for people to find. Small toys or pretty rocks or a quarter. When I was older it turned into moving the lawn ornaments around in suburban yards. I wouldn't damage them, just place them oddly for the owners to find in the morning.
That goes back even further to a talk show episode I saw when I was very young. Someone had stolen a small plastic duck lawn ornament from a yard, and then took pictures of it in different locals all over the world and mailed them back to the owners. They loved getting updates on their little duck and then one day, the duck showed up in their yard again. It was a bit more beat up, the colour had faded, but it must have had stories to tell. And someone is doing that with a rubber duck right now. I love it. http://www.unionleader.com/article/20110816/NEWS/708169979
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Have a Little Faith: A True Story - Mitch Albom
***I am trying out a format for my entries, stolen from the "Lets Eat Grandpa!" blog. I don't know yet if it will stick so, bear with me.***
Have a Little Faith: A True Story - Mitch Albom
Read: it showed up at work one day, and I have always wanted to read Tuesdays with Morrie
Source: Borrowed from Anthony
Finished: 6/22/11
Rating: 9 out of 10
Publisher: Hyperion Books
Pages: 260
Published: 2009
Product Description: (from amazon.ca)
In the beginning, there was a question...
With those words, Mitch Albom launches his long-awaited return to nonfiction. Have a Little Faith is Albom's first true-life story since Tuesdays with Morrie, and like that classic tale, this book explores life through a unique journey: Mitch's search for the right words to eulogize a Man of God.
Albom takes his readers on a stirring, heartfelt mission to honor a last request and send a beloved rabbi off to heaven the way the cleric had done for so many before him. Along the way, Albom--who walked away from a deeply religious background as a young man--rekindles his own faith by sitting with and caring for the wise, funny, but slowly decaying man of the cloth. Together, they explore the things that pull us apart about faith, as well as the universal beliefs that pull us together: God, heaven, doubt, war, atheism,intermarriage, the "us" versus "them" of religion.
Meanwhile, as Albom crafts his cleric's final sendoff, he accidentally engages with an inner-city pastor of a crumbling church, one that houses the homeless and collects no dues--as far from Albom's religious upbringing as possible. Skeptical at first, Albom begins to admire the pastor and his impoverished congregation. And as his own beloved cleric slowly lets go, Albom discovers that a faithful heart comes in many forms and from many places.
Insightful, stirring, humorous, and heartbreaking, Have a Little Faith will make readers explore their own beliefs, and perhaps realize how much more we are alike than different. And as Albom fulfills his cleric's last request and tearfully asks God to welcome the man home, this book will surely become everyone's story.
Overall Impressions:
I may not be a religious person, but I have always found religion and spirituality an interesting topic. I love to learn about different religions and see how people practice theirs. You don't have to be a religious person to be familiar with Mitch Albom's famous books, Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven. So it pretty much goes without saying that Mitch Albom is a famous author, and for good reason! He weaves a fine tale, even if it is non-fiction.
I liked this book largely because no subject was off limits. He asked his Rabbi, Albert Lewis, all the hard questions, and got pretty realistic answers. There's some fine lessons and great quotes to be taken from this story, the vast majority of which you don't need a man of God to explain to you - it's all just good sense. It is amazing how often good, old fashioned logic and sense get left behind when religion is involved. And that's just plain silly. You can be religious and logical, all at the same time!
Positives: This is an uplifting, easy to read, feel good book, even though if the subject matter is a sad. Some of the personal stories are heartbreaking, but the whole thing comes through with a positive message. Gotta love that.
Negatives: I honestly found little fault in this book. If you are looking for an in-depth study of religion, or if you find vague morality discussions frustrating, this is not the book for you.
For the majority of people who are not terribly jaded it is a worthwhile read.
Other books I've read by Mitch Albom: Zip. Zilch. Nadda.
****
Book count: 1
Page count: 260/15000
Have a Little Faith: A True Story - Mitch Albom
Read: it showed up at work one day, and I have always wanted to read Tuesdays with Morrie
Source: Borrowed from Anthony
Finished: 6/22/11
Rating: 9 out of 10
Publisher: Hyperion Books
Pages: 260
Published: 2009
Product Description: (from amazon.ca)
In the beginning, there was a question...
With those words, Mitch Albom launches his long-awaited return to nonfiction. Have a Little Faith is Albom's first true-life story since Tuesdays with Morrie, and like that classic tale, this book explores life through a unique journey: Mitch's search for the right words to eulogize a Man of God.
Albom takes his readers on a stirring, heartfelt mission to honor a last request and send a beloved rabbi off to heaven the way the cleric had done for so many before him. Along the way, Albom--who walked away from a deeply religious background as a young man--rekindles his own faith by sitting with and caring for the wise, funny, but slowly decaying man of the cloth. Together, they explore the things that pull us apart about faith, as well as the universal beliefs that pull us together: God, heaven, doubt, war, atheism,intermarriage, the "us" versus "them" of religion.
Meanwhile, as Albom crafts his cleric's final sendoff, he accidentally engages with an inner-city pastor of a crumbling church, one that houses the homeless and collects no dues--as far from Albom's religious upbringing as possible. Skeptical at first, Albom begins to admire the pastor and his impoverished congregation. And as his own beloved cleric slowly lets go, Albom discovers that a faithful heart comes in many forms and from many places.
Insightful, stirring, humorous, and heartbreaking, Have a Little Faith will make readers explore their own beliefs, and perhaps realize how much more we are alike than different. And as Albom fulfills his cleric's last request and tearfully asks God to welcome the man home, this book will surely become everyone's story.
Overall Impressions:
I may not be a religious person, but I have always found religion and spirituality an interesting topic. I love to learn about different religions and see how people practice theirs. You don't have to be a religious person to be familiar with Mitch Albom's famous books, Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven. So it pretty much goes without saying that Mitch Albom is a famous author, and for good reason! He weaves a fine tale, even if it is non-fiction.
I liked this book largely because no subject was off limits. He asked his Rabbi, Albert Lewis, all the hard questions, and got pretty realistic answers. There's some fine lessons and great quotes to be taken from this story, the vast majority of which you don't need a man of God to explain to you - it's all just good sense. It is amazing how often good, old fashioned logic and sense get left behind when religion is involved. And that's just plain silly. You can be religious and logical, all at the same time!
Positives: This is an uplifting, easy to read, feel good book, even though if the subject matter is a sad. Some of the personal stories are heartbreaking, but the whole thing comes through with a positive message. Gotta love that.
Negatives: I honestly found little fault in this book. If you are looking for an in-depth study of religion, or if you find vague morality discussions frustrating, this is not the book for you.
For the majority of people who are not terribly jaded it is a worthwhile read.
Other books I've read by Mitch Albom: Zip. Zilch. Nadda.
****
Book count: 1
Page count: 260/15000
Friday, June 24, 2011
I gave in to the temptation.. June 20th, the challenge began
I was really trying to wait until July 1st to read anything, for the purposes of the 15,000 pages challenge. July 1 was just such a nice, even date that is easy to remember.
Plus, Canada's Birthday so.... yeah.
But I couldn't do it! I couldn't not read! And I knew I would reading and missing out on "wasted" pages that could have been attributed to my page count.
So the count officially started on June 20th. I am thoroughly enjoying the three books that I am reading, and it feels like they're going pretty quickly. This pleases me.
*channels Mr. Burns*
...Excellent.....
Plus, Canada's Birthday so.... yeah.
But I couldn't do it! I couldn't not read! And I knew I would reading and missing out on "wasted" pages that could have been attributed to my page count.
So the count officially started on June 20th. I am thoroughly enjoying the three books that I am reading, and it feels like they're going pretty quickly. This pleases me.
*channels Mr. Burns*
...Excellent.....
Sunday, June 19, 2011
CALLING ALL COMPUTER NERDS! Need computer buying help
In the past when I have purchased computers, the main consideration behind their specifications was Simming. So I would purchase them with the intent of having an ATI graphics card put in, if it wasn't already part of the package deal. I fought tooth and nail for the last one I bought, the guy was really pushing me for an NVIDIA. Sorry, ATI only for me, bucko. (NVIDIA cards are notorious for not working well with The Sims 2, for some reason)
So now I am possibly in the market for a new computer. Well... I pretty much am for certain, as my beast is coming up on the three year mark and it has gotten really laggy and tired, (had it custom built and had problems with it early on) and I don't want to spend money on this thing when it's a perfectly good excuse to get a new one. Plus I want Windows 7 so by the time I upgraded the system and buy the new OS, I might as well just buy a whole new machine.
The Sims 2 is my main game of choice (The Sims 3 just did not get my attention, I don't like the look of the game in general, plust it still doesn't have pets and that just doesn't roll with me) but I do like some of the shockwave games and such, plus I've been admiring Starcraft 2 from afar for a while.
(system requirements: http://us.blizzard.com/support/article. ... leId=26242 )
I don't really do any heavy gaming, though, and not usually for any real extended period of time. So I don't need a major gaming machine, or anything. But I do like to run my games on high specs and performance in that respect does matter to me.
I've been kind of scared away from http://www.TigerDirect.ca by a friend who says that most people in the industry avoid dealing with them at all costs due to a previous snafu of them refurbishing Dell PCs and selling them as new. But if anyone sees a system on there I should be seriously considering, I'd like to know.
I don't want to spend more than $700 (before taxes) on the new machine. So right now I am looking at two very different ones.
I am wondering if it is technological blasphemy to even consider getting a Dell, and I hate to admit that I've seen a system that has grabbed my interest. I have heard that the quality of their systems has improved leaps and bounds since their "Dude, you're getting a Dell!" days, but I've been carrying around a bias against them for a long time, LOL
http://www.dell.com/ca/p/xps-8300/pd
The 8GB of ram and the dedicated graphics card is really selling me on this one. In my price range I'm not seeing many systems with more than 4GB and because everything is being sold with Windows 7 64bit and the OS itself requires 2GB, I really do want some extra memory. Plus, it includes shipping, (will have to see if they only ship with Canada Post, hahahaha) and it has pretty good ratings.
On the downside, the graphics card is not a gaming level card, but it should take pretty much anything I'm going to throw at it, since I'm not hard core, right?
I know with hard core gamers, power supply is a big consideration. But for my casual level of gaming, is it something I really need to consider? Is a larger power supply just a good idea all around?
If so, I am looking at this computer:
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_ ... _id=037503
It has an admirable graphics card, and a beefed up power supply, but only 2x2GB - not the 8 I would prefer. But if I don't need the power supply, then I don't want to greatly increase my electricity bill for no reason.
But, I'm pretty open to suggestions. As long as they don't include buying a mac or building my own computer.
So now I am possibly in the market for a new computer. Well... I pretty much am for certain, as my beast is coming up on the three year mark and it has gotten really laggy and tired, (had it custom built and had problems with it early on) and I don't want to spend money on this thing when it's a perfectly good excuse to get a new one. Plus I want Windows 7 so by the time I upgraded the system and buy the new OS, I might as well just buy a whole new machine.
The Sims 2 is my main game of choice (The Sims 3 just did not get my attention, I don't like the look of the game in general, plust it still doesn't have pets and that just doesn't roll with me) but I do like some of the shockwave games and such, plus I've been admiring Starcraft 2 from afar for a while.
(system requirements: http://us.blizzard.com/support/article. ... leId=26242 )
I don't really do any heavy gaming, though, and not usually for any real extended period of time. So I don't need a major gaming machine, or anything. But I do like to run my games on high specs and performance in that respect does matter to me.
I've been kind of scared away from http://www.TigerDirect.ca by a friend who says that most people in the industry avoid dealing with them at all costs due to a previous snafu of them refurbishing Dell PCs and selling them as new. But if anyone sees a system on there I should be seriously considering, I'd like to know.
I don't want to spend more than $700 (before taxes) on the new machine. So right now I am looking at two very different ones.
I am wondering if it is technological blasphemy to even consider getting a Dell, and I hate to admit that I've seen a system that has grabbed my interest. I have heard that the quality of their systems has improved leaps and bounds since their "Dude, you're getting a Dell!" days, but I've been carrying around a bias against them for a long time, LOL
http://www.dell.com/ca/p/xps-8300/pd
The 8GB of ram and the dedicated graphics card is really selling me on this one. In my price range I'm not seeing many systems with more than 4GB and because everything is being sold with Windows 7 64bit and the OS itself requires 2GB, I really do want some extra memory. Plus, it includes shipping, (will have to see if they only ship with Canada Post, hahahaha) and it has pretty good ratings.
On the downside, the graphics card is not a gaming level card, but it should take pretty much anything I'm going to throw at it, since I'm not hard core, right?
I know with hard core gamers, power supply is a big consideration. But for my casual level of gaming, is it something I really need to consider? Is a larger power supply just a good idea all around?
If so, I am looking at this computer:
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_ ... _id=037503
It has an admirable graphics card, and a beefed up power supply, but only 2x2GB - not the 8 I would prefer. But if I don't need the power supply, then I don't want to greatly increase my electricity bill for no reason.
But, I'm pretty open to suggestions. As long as they don't include buying a mac or building my own computer.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Changes afoot.
You may be noticing some changes, around here. Most notably, the name of the blog has changed. "Moon's 50 Books" and "50 Books in a Year" worked nicely for my first challenge, which was very obviously to read 50 books in the span of 52 weeks. So, that's done now. In fact, I surpassed that goal and now I am keeping myself from reading because I want a nicely rounded out start date for my next challenge.
My next challenge will be to read 15,000 pages in a year, and I'm aiming for a July first start date. If you allow 300 pages per book, it still works out to be 50 so, yes, I'm essentially doing the same thing. I'm curious to see how different my book count is at the end of it all, though.
So, a change in challenge, means a change in name. I didn't want to rename it "15,000 Pages in a Year" or something equally lame, because a) that's boring and b) I am thinking there might be a side challenge here and there. We will see.
A pat on the back and bragging rights go to whomever can tell me what "My Kingdom for a Good Book!" is based off of.
The only other real change you'll see around here is, obviously, the look of the blog. Something book related seems appropriate, but we'll see how long the current style sticks. I'm still fiddling a bit
My next challenge will be to read 15,000 pages in a year, and I'm aiming for a July first start date. If you allow 300 pages per book, it still works out to be 50 so, yes, I'm essentially doing the same thing. I'm curious to see how different my book count is at the end of it all, though.
So, a change in challenge, means a change in name. I didn't want to rename it "15,000 Pages in a Year" or something equally lame, because a) that's boring and b) I am thinking there might be a side challenge here and there. We will see.
A pat on the back and bragging rights go to whomever can tell me what "My Kingdom for a Good Book!" is based off of.
The only other real change you'll see around here is, obviously, the look of the blog. Something book related seems appropriate, but we'll see how long the current style sticks. I'm still fiddling a bit
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