200 anniversary of Grimm's Fairytales!!!

Oh my gosh! I just found out that today Grimm's fairytales turns 200!!! What an amazing milestone :)
The Google doodles are paying tribute to the Grimm brothers by showcasing Little Red Riding-Hood as a flip book of the story in the doodle along with images of Little Red and the wolf. The national post has an article on the Brothers Grimm and their amazing literary works as well. They cite that Grimm"s fairy tales turns 200- and they're just as creep as they were in 1812.
Absolutely true.
if you're interested in checking it out just click the links below:
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&tbo=d&site=webhp&source=hp&q=Grimm%27s+Fairy+Tales&btnG=
http://www.nationalpost.com/m/wp/arts/blog.html?b=arts.nationalpost.com/2012/12/20/grimms-fairy-tales-turn-200
Very cool that I'm reading Grimm's right now and today is a celebratory day for these literary giants.
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159 pages down... 521 to go

Last night I made it to page 159 of the monster Grimm's collection, and I've encountered a few of the classic fairy tales along with many others i'd never heard of before.  Up to this point I have read the following tales:

The Frog Prince
The Cat who Married a Mouse
Fairy Tell True
The Youth who Could Not Shiver and Shake
The Wolf and the Seven Young Kids
Faithful John
The Good Bargain
The Wonderful Fiddler
The Twelve Brothers
The Rogue's Holiday
The Enchanted Stag
Hansel and Grethel
Rapunzel
The Three Little Men in the Woodsa
The Brave Little Tailor
The Fisherman and his Wife
Cinderella
The Riddle
The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage
The Widow's Two Daughters
The Seven Ravens
Little Red Riding-Hood
The Town Musicians
The Singing Bone
The Three Golden Hairs
The Lady-Bird and the Fly
The Maiden Without Hands
The Three Languages
The Clever Elfe
The Tailor's Three Sons

I thought you'd be interested in knowing that Cinderella was not helped by a fairy Godmother in the Grimm's telling... rather it was nature that helped her. For instance, the birds come to her aid when she has to complete the impossible tasks given to her by her evil step-mother- she is promised that if she picks up every last seed from among the ashes she can go to the ball... Furthermore, trees play a large part in this story- she kneels praying before a tree and says a little rhyme to get a dress for the ball- "shake and rustle, little tree, throw gold and silver over me" - and there is no mention of midnight being the cut off time, rather she escapes the prince after each ball (cuz she goes to three) by being clever and hiding in a tree or behind the woodshed and the animals bring her old rag clothing to her and take her fancy dress and slippers away in time and the prince and her step mother each time find her asleep on the hearth. Interesting right?

Little Red Riding-Hood is much the way I knew it as a child, but the artwork included in the book is at times a bit suggestive- even though Little Red was a very small child..

Check out the pictures below of both of these classic tales along with some pics of specific text from both tales.. The first few are from Little Red Riding-Hood, the majority are from Cinderella and the last 2 pictures are the contents of the book, up to where I've read. Enjoy!

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All is not lost..

I know I haven't been around lately, I'm afraid that it is far too easy to fall behind on my reading. Especially since it is the Christmas season and besides the usual crazy 9-5 in the office I've got double mass duties. But its all good. I know I absolutely failed on Heart of Darkness... Joseph Conrad has vanquished me. I'm not entirely giving up though, I just decided that in lieu of the circumstances, I'm going to leave it unfinished for the time being and pick it up again in the new year. Hopefully then I'll have the energy to tackle Conrads daunting phrasing.

I know what you're thinking.. she's breaking her own rule! I know I promised I was going to read each book cover to cover and not move on to a new text until I finish the one in standing but I feel that Conrad is best read when one is in the correct and interruption-free moment. Which is not the weeks before Christmas.

Therefore, I am happy to announce that as of 11:30pm last night, I have completed 56 pages of one of the thickest texts on my bookcase...

The complete (unabbridged) Grimm's Fairy Tales

This text is 655 pages in length, involves over 300 fairy tales and is a big leather bound, gold tipped giant! While so far many of the folk stories involve brothers and sisters trying to live happily, or end with the fair maiden being married to a prince or king, they are still very interesting to read. It helps that so far the longest story was only about 3 pages (with a pic 3/4 page picture somewhere in between). The way in which the Brother's Grimm recounted the tales they had collected from around Germany is simply astounding... the classic tales of Hansel and Gretthel or Rapunzel that I know from childhood are often not as innocent as they seem now that I'm actually reading the original texts..

The first few pages of my text involves a note from the editor about the Brothers Grimm and their passion for folk tales and provided some information which I did not know. Apparently, the Brothers wanted their stories to be read by both adults and children- hence at times the horrifyingly PG rated content (violence etc)- but they were met with much criticism because parents felt the tales unfit for innocent children.

While I can understand exactly what those parents would have been thinking (the story of the Twelve Sons comes to mind), I think that these stories provide an excellent depiction of society and humanity at its best and worst. Futhermore, I think parents both then and now should make it imperative that children understand the intended morals behind each story- rather than have them stuck in nightmare land because of lack of emplanation and information. Naturally, selectivity, sensitivity and caution must be remembered- not all children respond the same way to certain topics.

None the less, I feel that it is important and just as relevant today as it was then, to read these classic fairy tales on my own and with my children in the future.

So far I am rather enjoying each and every tale... Cinderella is up next!!!

Check out the book...cool right?? :D
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Now the witch is back.. and theres books to read!

My month off from reading was so wonderfully unproductive... yep that's right, I failed NANOWRIMO yet another year. Seems November is just a bad month for me. *sigh* oh well, I intend on completing this years novel anyway but have moved the deadline to September 3rd 2013. Which means I will be simultaneously writing and reading :) I think its gonna go very well. *fingers crossed*

So I've been away from reading for a month and I gotta say I really missed it! I was hating the fact that I couldn't touch a book.. or else id betray my own rules!

I have a guilty conscience though.. I'm afraid that while I didn't break a NANO-rule I did in fact break one of my reading challenge ones.. I got three new books! I know I shouldn't have but I just couldn't resist! I'm going to resist putting them on my book shelf though, no matter how much it might hurt me. Lol

Now I did begin reading my next novel today- I figured what better day to start than the 3rd of the month... happy 3rd month blog-a-versary to me by the way! so my next book is...

                       Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad.

I'm reading the Dover Thrift Edition, unabridged. The novel was originally published in 1902, my books edition is from 1990. Its only 72 pages long so I'm hoping to finish it quickly but there's a hitch.. this tiny book is just packed with huge wordy phrases and big descriptions. Not to mention hosting very unfamiliar vocabulary. *sigh* leave it to me to pick a tricky book.

Anyway I'm in about 15 pages so far and have yet to discover the name of my narrator but am learning more and more about sea travel *hehe*

Well, wish me luck.. stay tuned for the next book which I hope will come quickly!

<3
C

Last two books before November..

I can't believe October flew by so fast... Its like I was so unblinkingly engrossed in the "Anne Series" that the moment I stopped to blink, it was the 30th! Tomorrow is All Hallows Eve- my favourite time of year- and beyond thinking about seeing terrifyingly epic costumes and pumpkins and candy, my thoughts have switched out of reading mode into NANO-mode. in exactly 26 and a half hours I will be officially competing in NANOWRIMO and hopefully beginning the best 50k writing challenge ever. I am going to make it this year... *fingers and toes crossed*

But before I say goodbye to reading for 30 days, I have to post about the last two books I've read in the last 24 hours- a bit of a race to beat the clock... After finishing Anne of Windy Poplars (in 5 days) I realized that there were only two days left in October and considering I'd have to work both days in my church's office, I decided not to begin book 5 of the series.  No, I would simply attempt to read two or more shorter, lighter texts and much to my surprise, I had just two appropriate books in my bookcase :)  

The first novel I read yesterday was...

First Date           By R.L. Stein

R.L.Stein. An Archway Paperback published by POCKET BOOKS, a division
of Simon & Schuster Inc. May 1992

      R.L. Stein is a favourite teens author of mine.. the Fear Street and the Goosebumps series' are very thrilling, especially when your an over-active emotional pre-pubescent under 15 year old *lol*. I hope children today get to enjoy his novels just as much as people in my generation did...viva the 90's!! In this 165 page thriller we meet Chealsea Richards, a very shy 15 year old who is new in town and desperately searching for love.  Her current wish and deepest hope is to be asked out by a boy and finally experience her "first date".  She meets two boys who are also new in town and they both ask her out. One is a dangerous psycho killer and the other a lonely lost boy ( of sorts)... the trouble for Chelsea is figuring out which one is which. Shes so naive and ignorant and desperate, her senses get skewed and she ends up naming the wrong one as dangerous based on appearances.  Now that I've re-read this book again, and i'm ten years older than the first time i read it I cannot believe how scary open trust in strangers can be and how easily young women can fall prey to dangerous men.  I realize that the world of dating and men can be a terrifying place for someone lacking life experience but the more disconcerting thing is that you just never know the people you meet.. it is easy to be trusting, but also just as easy to be paranoid of the "what if's" in regards to strangers.  When your "moonstruck" in love, its even easier to become blind to the dangers that come with letting someone unfamiliar get so close to you.  *sigh* I personally like to take the optimistic road but re-reading this novel reminded me about the wondrous fearful time of young love and "first dates".  This book is for young adults but even at 22 years of age, I enjoyed it.  It was simple and the plot was easy to follow. I read it in 2 hours. It has a happy ending and gives you some hope in Chelsea and portrays her as somewhat intelligent and resourceful in the end which would be a good boost for any teenage girls.. I'm going to hold onto it and maybe my own children will read it one day.

I followed R.L. Stein up with a 200 page novel entitled...

                                           Sweet Dreams      By Robin Jones Gunn

Robin Jones Gunn. Published by Focus on the Family. 1994

      This novel is along the similar lines of teen-aged romance but with Christian over and under-tones. We meet Christy Miller, her best friend Katie who is struggling with letting go of her non-Christian boyfriend and Christy's perfect bf Todd along with his equally God-loving friend Doug. As a Christian I found myself sympathizing with the struggles of Christy and Katie as they endeavor to live their lives according to God's will. The plot provides great examples for the use of living and witnessing the scripture... For instance, Katie and Christy both have to let go of the men they love because they know that God wants different things for them and they find solace in the fact that "God is near the brokenhearted".  Come to think of it, this book has a lot of parallels to my own life and current circumstances around love and relationships... The two girls help each other remember that it's okay to "let go" and to accept that your first love will always will be an important part of your life and will remain with you. It's reminded me that you cannot let the pains from first loves hold you back from loving again but can strengthen you to go forward when looking for companionship and love. Thanks to re-reading this book I feel a little better about my own decisions regarding faith, spirituality and relationships.  Sometimes the best things we can do for other people is pray for them and give them space and let the Holy Spirit guide them uninterrupted. My favourite character in the novel has to be Doug- Todd's best friend- whom the girls nic-name "Mr. Counselor-to-All-Brokenhearted-Women" (Gunn 152).  He seems to be one of those people who live their lives for the greater good of the world and is set on helping the heartbroken find their way back to God... I think Katie said it best on page 149, "I just so happen to think that being near to God is a wonderfully safe place to be" and I absolutely couldn't agree more.  I am happy to find myself safe near the Lord... *sigh*

Sorry, I went all crazy-christian* there... I just really liked that novel- it made me think.. and its definitely one I'm going to hang on to for my kids.. or at least my niece *hehe* 

Anyway, I've decided to take my temporary bookcase challenge rest here now that these two novels have been read.  I'm not as far along as I had hoped but I am too excited for the start of NANOWRIMO to fret about the September 2013 deadline right now :) 

I shall be blogging about my 50k writing challenge on my other blog and I hope you will follow me:
                          
                                                www.cristinabilich.blogspot.com 

I can't wait to start writing though I am sad to have to stop reading for 30 days... I am going to force myself not to break my own rules.. I will not sneak reading a novel in while doing NANOWRIMO.. I just hope I have the strength to resist the wonderful temptation that reading is ;) 

I hope you will continue to read along with me and in your lives.. check my bookcase list and if anything strikes you do look into it.. if you have any questions about whats on my list, feel free to send me an e-mail or drop me a comment- i'll be checking :) 

Wish Me Luck.. See you all in 31 days!!!!!!!! 

Forward.... Write!

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**NB** when I say crazy-christian I mean it in a completely positive and good way*

P.s Don't worry.. I'll be back! CB

A Pre-November Summary...

Here's a summary of our current position: we're 50 days down, 315 to go and  I've read 8 books to date.

Now, i'm going to be taking 30 days off of November to write but I am planning on breaking my own rules and sneaking one or two books in during the month... *shhhh don't tell anyone*

There are still 112 books to be read but if I read a new book every 2.5 days (or less) I will finish my bookshelf on time.  

Let's see how much I can get read between now and 11:59pm on the 31st.

Posts on the "Anne Series" still to come!!!!

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The 10 day countdown..

I just finished book three and cannot wait to begin the next one...

                           Anne of Windy Poplars

Its going to be a delicious read I'm sure! This newly finished book had such a wonderfully happy end, I have great expectations for this next book in the series.

And I just realised that in 9 minutes and 10 days from now I will be starting NANOWRIMO!!! But what to write about?? That is the question! L.M.M has made think about writing a story very close to my own life but I don't know if I can be romantic enough without being bias or falling into melancholic memories and nostalgia. Only time will tell I guess.

I've decided to aim to read 3 more of the series by the 31st and if I can do it stdadily I might even sneak another one in... wish me luck!

"Sunbursts and marble halls may be all very well, but there is more 'scope for the imagination' without them." (LMM iii, 244)
-how right you are Anne, how right indeed!

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Snails Pace Reading-Thats What!

100 pages to go before I finish Anne of the Island and can begin book 4 in the "Anne Series". *Sigh* I'm enjoying the pages immensely but much too slowly I'm afraid.  I've got to read at least 6 more books before the 31st.  I'm nervous about making my year deadline and we're only in the second month of this journey... Well nothing to do but forge ahead.

Perhaps I shouldn't have watched the two movie adaptations this week... and read more. But I really couldn't help myself. While I do have a wonderfully detailed imagination, I thought a little visual stimulation might help my will power.  I was able to read 10 chapters last night before bed.

You wouldn't know it from the movies, but Anne goes to Redmond college and meets the "prince charming" or her dreams who suits her ideals of "tall, irresistibly handsome and melancholic" with the bluenose boy named Royal Gardiner. But what happens to her childhood chum Gilbert? Only time (and further reading) will tell!!!

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Book 8... moving slowly but surely on!

Too tired for fancy intro's tonight. I've decided to read through the "Anne Series" before November, which will knock off about 9 books from my list.  And so...

          Book 8 is                     Anne of The Island                  by L.M. Montgomery 

I apologize for any spoiling this may cause to those of you who haven't yet read this series and would like to... I'd like to briefly update you on whats happening in the series so far. Anne has mellowed some from when she first arrived at Green Gables 5 years ago, and She and Diana Barry are now 18.  Anne and Gilbert are now friends and in fact, Gil is pining away for our determined self proclaimed "spinster" [Anne] who, at the end of book two in the series, only just begins to feel a stirring in her heart when he looks at her.  Matthew Cuthbert has passed away and Marilla's eye sight gets worse and Anne decides to stay home another year to teach.   Both she and Gilbert teach for two years before being able to returning to school.  They will begin at Redmond college in book three and this education is scheduled to last about 5 years. Also, Diana Barry is engaged to Fred Wright and is going to be staying in Avonlea to continue making doilies for her house and Marilla has taken the now widowed Rachel Lynde to live with her at Green Gables along with the twins of her deceased third cousin Mrs. Keith whom she and Anne have been raising the past two years.  

Caught up yet? If you feel i've spoiled it for you, I implore you to actually read through the first 2 books in the series because my brief summary of the story line pales greatly in comparison to Montgommery's wonderful writing. 

I'm only on page 5 of this book, but so far I'm enjoying every word.  Anne and Diana - mostly Anne- are discussing the challenges of growing up and how sad growing old can be because so much changes. Anne has renewed her vow to live as an old spinster unless her "ideal man" actually does come along- I'll give you her description of him in my next post- and is feeling a little left behind by Diana who can't stop looking at her sparkling engagement ring and smiling the "little smile which always had the effect of making Anne feel suddenly left out and inexperienced" (Montgomery 4).  They're just about to run into Gilbert and are beginning to feel the sadness of Anne's going away to Redmond the following week.  

Cover of book 3 in the Anne of Green Gables series

Inside cover with epitaph by Tennyson

Epitaph reads:
"All precious things discovered late
To those that seek them issue forth,
For Love in sequel works with Fate,
And draws the veil from hidden worth."
                                  -TENNYSON

L.M.M inscribed book three of the series "to all the girls all over the world who have "wanted more" about ANNE".  Simply lovely :)

I hope you're upcoming week is going to be sunny and lovely, not rainy and dismal as mine is appearing to be... *sigh* thank Goodness for the company of "delightful, unpredictable Anne Shirley" and the wonderfully uplifting words of Lucy Maud Montgomery. 

More to come so check back within a fortnight if you're interested. Drop a comment if you're reading more than the first line of my posts.. 

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Such a failure..

I can't believe that I let 6 days go by since my last post... And I still havent finished Anne of Avonlea yet either. *face palm*

Well no more wallowing about in the depths of despair! Time to get things done. Im going to finish the last half of that novel even if it kills me!

Will post next book choice ASAP!!!

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31 days down... 334 to go... and im slowing :(

I triumphantly finished Anne of Green Gables in 3 days to then have my momentum come to a skidding halt! The last 2 days I've been sitting around kinda mopey from the cloudy, foggy weather not feeling like picking up a book. I even went around with book 2 of the Anne series in my hand but couldn't make myself open a page.

*sigh*

I can't be tired of reading yet can I? no I must just be experiencing a moment of procrastination.. come to think of it.. my academic reading used to slow down around this time of year too.. hmmm..

Well, I'm not going to sit around today.. I've got to teach esl, attend a church group meeting and then play at mass tonight which means I've got to get at least 100 pages read in between.. thankfully the bus rides are long and I will have something to do during the lulls in between my appointments of the day.

So I've decided to read Anne of Avonlea as my next book.. book 8 from my bookcase if I'm not mistaken. I have to get into a groove and finish the book by tomorrow... November doth approach and I can't afford to lose any more reading time between now and then!

if you're interested in the Anne Series, feel free to poke and prod in my comments box or through e-mail.. would love to hear from any of my 4-11 daily page viewers :D

Have a thoughful Thursday!
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Talk about speed reading!

Its been so long since I completed 300 pages in 72 hours without delay and it feels just ever so good!

At 11:49pm I finished page 309 of Anne of Green Gables and I am sad yet pleasantly peaceful to have reached the end...

" ' God's in his heaven, all's right with the world,' " whispered Anne softly.

What a deliciously perfect ending!!

Anne and Gilbert are finally friends and even though they suffer a grave loss (don't worry no big spoiler) at Green Gables, Anne remains joyful and hopeful for the future. While the road stretched out straight ahead of her, time always brings about changes...

but for Anne. . .

".. there was always the end in the road!"

*sigh* can't wait to read another novel from L.M. Montgommery's wonderful Anne series :)

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How to devour a book...

I decided to move back towards  literature akin to L. M. Alcott's and began reading another childhood classic.....
  
       Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgommery

...of which I have now read 100 pages, loving every word!

Im 12 chapters in and while I know the story itself by heart thanks to the film adaptation with Megan Follows, it is simply wonderful to read. The writing style that L. M. Montgommery has is deliciously inviting, terribly romantic and gloriously descriptive. Furthermore I would like to add that I find her writing flawlessly enchanting.

In fact, im falling in love with her use of language as I did with Alcott's.... Simply breath-taking.

If you have never read this marvelous tale, I strongly recommend that you do so... Or else you won't realize just  "how much you miss" (55 ).

My copy has the motion picture cover, but it belongs to a set of the Anne novels written by L. M. Mongommery printed by McClelland-Bantam, Inc. It is a Bantam Seal Book, but it does not give me the editions print date. I do have a history of printing but it just tells me the original pring date is 1908 and the second copyright date is from 1935. And that it was printed in the USA. So I have no idea what the print year of this edition is but I shall endeavor to find out :)

Well, I'm off to read another 100 pages or so ;) I can feel your envy from here :p *kidding*

Fare thee well faithful bookworms!

<3

The wanton angel...

Such a wonderful tale spun masterfully by Edward Marston!

"We are fortunate men"
"We are!" Said Nicholas with feeling.
"Alexander Marwood is a menace but remember this, Nick. Better the devil we know than the angel we do not!" (278-9)

It took me longer than expected to read because of being busy working, but thoroughly worth my while. I am both relieved and sad to have come to the end of its pages. The passage quoted above comes directly from the end of chapter 12- the books final chapter. I was entertained to the height of my senses! I laughed and cried out in anger or surprise, I wept bitterly for losses and sweetly for gains, couldn't put it down and didn't want to finish it.  Marston's writing is easy to fall into while remaining difficult enough to retain ones interest.. his use of the time period language really helped me (as reader) get into the historical, social and cultural mood. I felt able to identify with not only the players, but everyone from Lord Westfield to Leonard and from Cordelia Dartford to Rose Marwood. The characters were wonderfully genuine and believeable, so much so that the readers own loyalties and feelings toward each individual person changes and sways from time to time.  Simply fantastic writing!

I intend to locate and read the other numerous works in Marston's Nicholas Bracewell series.

Another Sunday come, another week done.. and another book read. Monday comes and bringeth along book 7!

<3

one more down,,,

I should stop making promises more often... miraculously I finished the remaining 140 pages last night!! *high five*

Now if I could only decide what to read next.... supernatural chills or romantic thrills... 

.  .  .

well I think I'll work my way backwards in time and read a book that's both suspenseful and romantic.. My faithful readers, I give you. . .

The Wanton Angel  by Edward Marston

My sister purchased me this book for Christmas when I was in the middle of my high-school years.. I was extremely interested in the Elizabethan era and Shakespeare had become a fortified passion of mine- that year in English Lit we studied Hamlet. Edward Marston writes Elizabethan mysteries and this particular text is the 10th in his critically acclaimed series featuring Nicholas Bracewell.  I have not read any of the other 9 works of this series but I intend to look into it after i'm through with my bookcase. 

The copy i am reading is hardcover, published by St. Martin's Press, 1999. It's 279 pages and fairly large print... I anticipate being finished by tomorrow morning. 

as always, If you want any more information or have questions etc. don't hesitate to e-mail or comment :) 

<3

promises...promises

It is becoming more and more apparent that I should stop making promises with you and myself about the finish dates for my books. Its been three days and I am on page 254 of 394 of V.C Andrews  

Daughter of Darkness... *sigh* It's a fairly fast paced read, I was simply too occupied to do more than a 100 pages this weekend.  I hope to have it finished by tonight, since it's only 140 pages to go. *fingers crossed* 

I've still to decide with title to choose for book 6 on my list... it's either going to be a pure and wholesome coming of age, or another wonderfully dark and delicious supernatural thriller. OR maybe I'll start making my way through one of the thick texts... But i'd rather be able to read it from cover to cover... hmmmm decisions decisions.

Never the less, I hope to be finished book ten by the end of this week... Although I seem to be failing at keeping my day count, wish me luck! 

<3

Along the same lines of supernatural..

After having finished the collection of supernatural shorts, my spark of interest for the otherworldly became a flame which I have decided to fan into an all out fire! As such, I've chosen a lengthy, yet satisfying title for book 5, written by one of my top favourite authors...

             Daughter of Darkness by V.C.Andrews

395 pages of delicious intoxication, I cannot wait to sink my literary fangs into!

I couldn't wait to jump headlong into this tasty morsel of literature and am now well into the first 50 pages.

Allow me to provide you with the first page after the cover:

                                  First Taste

- My sister Ava smiled at me. "Maybe you don't realize it yet, but the change has begun in you, Lorelei. Don't tell me you don't feel it in yourself."
"I do, Ava, but I'm not sure what it is I'm feeling exactly"
"You're feeling the power" she said.
"What is the power?"
"The gift that makes it possible for you to do for Daddy what your sisters, what I, have done for him. Its not just being attractice. You will mesmeriza, capture, and fascinate. You'll get to feel like a goddess, like the puppeteer pulling the strings and making men dance. You had a taste of that last night, didn't you?"
"Yes."
She smiled and nodded. "I remember my first taste of it. It was truly like drinking from the Fountain of Youth. The energy, the strength, the confidence in yourself that you feel right now will never die."
"You make it sound as if we're immortal."
Ava smiled.

I am so excited to be reading this text again and I hope you will be just as thrilled to come along with me through it here.

The verson I am reading was published by Pocket Star Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, 2010. If you're interested in getting to know more about the author or would like suggestions about which of her series to read, drop me a comment or email.

My goal is to have this completed by tomorrow evening so as to stay on track. 394 pages in 36 hours... no problem!

<3

Thank you P.N. Elrod!!

Thanks to this brilliant authoress (teehee),  my love for supernatural romantic suspense thrillers grows and grows and grows!!

If you are looking for a sampling of paranormal fiction, I strongly suggest you pick up either of the two collections of short stories that P.N. Elrod has edited. I am going to be on the look out for My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding myself but I can verify that my bookcase book #4 provides pleasure at every page turn.

The collection of short stories within this text were wonderfully varied on their paranormal characters which I feel really helped me (as reader) move from one short to the next.  I intend to do some website hunting and will be looking into the other (and primary) works of fiction created by these brave, amusing and fantastic authors.

I'm still not caught up yet on my list, but I remain optimistic.  I will be 35-40% completed as of October 31st. Because if not, I'll fall truly behind and won't allow myself to give my full attention to national novel writing month November..

*fingers all crossed and holding* wish me luck!

Now.... cultural fiction or another suspenseful supernatural romance thriller??

<3

Moving right along to book number 4 :)

Changing the genre a little I give you...

           My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon

Published by St. Martin's Press NY, January 2008, it is a collection of new short stories, edited by P.N Elrod. It includes 9 shorts by 9 of todays "hottest paranormal authors" in, what I assume to be, response to the following question found on the back of the book:

"What newly married couple doesn't dream of a romantic retreat where they can escape the world for a while- but what happens when supernatural forces intrude on their wedded bliss?"

Sounds thrilling no? This editor also put together a collection prior to this one called my big fat supernatural wedding which I will be on the look out for...

Oh that this too human flesh would melt and transform me into that otherwordly shape which pleases me so!

Well, its 357 pages in total but I am looking forward to reading every word!

Wish me luck... Come my bookworms of the night!

Another day, another title..

I just finished the last page of Ever After and this final line was bitter-sweet for me...
"Danielle snuggled in close, breathing in Henry's clean, woodsy scent and pressing her cheek against his. Happily ever after. . . what a romantic way to begin the rest of their lives together. It sounded almost like a fairy tale." (Loggia 184)
Beyond the fact that it consisted of less than 200 pages and was a rather large font, I really enjoyed this novel to the fullest. It was wonderfully paced and did my poor scarred heart some real good. Thank you Wendy Loggia for putting the magic of fairy-tale love back into my life!!! :)
Well, since this book ends with a marriage, its only fitting that I follow it with my next text...
               
<3

I give you... Book Three!

Ladies and Gentlemen, without much further ado I disclose to you the choice for my next bookcase text...

                                                  Ever After- a Cinderella story    

It is a novel by Wendy Loggia, based on a screenplay by Susannah Grant, and Andy Tennant & Rick Parks and is a major motion picture from Twentieth Century Fox.

The copy that I will be reading has the movie poster cover, which usually I dislike but since I did not purchase this text I had no say in the matter. My sister gave it to me and who am I to turn away a good read... talk about  a literally judging a book by it's cover. 

The book was published by Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group Inc, NY- the text copyright 1998 by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.  It was printed in the United States of America, September 1998.  

I have seen the motion picture but am really hoping that it proves my theory right as I believe that the book is almost always better than the film adaptation. No matter how lovely Drew Barrymore may look picking truffles. 

It is my up most desire to have this text read by tomorrow evening, and as it is 184 pages, I cannot foresee there being any obstacles. 

Wish me Luck!

<3

Book two finally finished :)

It took ten days but I finally made it to the end of Luisa May Alcott's Little Men I am very glad for it. It is an unforgettable read and I was entertained and pleased throughout it's entirety. Often times, I worry that I'm going to get halfway through a novel and find it boring or find my interest waning but this wondrous tale had me completely and thoroughly capture.  Though I had to read it in small bits when I found five minutes to myself, I was thrilled. I would sit smiling, crying and laughing out loud to myself, captured in the beautiful prose and held breathless with anticipation of the next moment of "boyish" fun to be had with Jo, the boys and the little ones. The author was quite clever in including morals to every moment in the story but in ways that did not bother or bore the reader. In fact, I feel that it enhanced the plot and made you fall deeper in love with each and every "ruddy faced little chick" that Mother Bhaer kept under her wings. 

The final chapter provides a wonderful summing up of both this novel and of Little Women with regards to character and plot development and the tying of loose ends. Laurie "Teddy" Laurence reminds Jo that her work with the boys at Plumfield is as successful as her and her sister's work with him back in their childhood days.  L.M Alcott brings the following conclusion forward to her readers: 

"...the good Professor and his wife were taken prisoner by many arms, and half hidden by the bouquet of laughing young faces which surrounded them, proving that one plan had taken root and blossomed beautifully in all the little gardens.  For love is a flower that grows in any soil, works its sweet miracles undaunted by autumn frost or winter snow, blooming fair and fragrant all the year, and blessing those who give and those who receive." (253) 

*sigh* two words- Simply Beautiful

Well, it's off to the next book and I've decided to choose at random for the time being rather than go through alphabetically.  This decision taken in the hopes of my ability to read through the next few texts quickly so as to get back on schedule in order to accomplish my deadline. It's been 12 days since I began this endeavor and I am only 2 books down... 118 texts to go. *sigh*  Just to see where I stand in terms of having fallen behind, I have to read through the remaining 118 texts in 293 days. Approximate reading speed should be around 2.5 days per text. 

Well, that's reasonable enough!! I shall rise to face this challenge as courageously and strong-willfully as ever :)


Happy Reading To You All 
<3 

Still on book two :(

Im afraid that this year long bookcase expedition isn't off to the greatest start. Im still reading L.M Alcott's little men and at a slow pace at that.

We've been working around the clock on my parents bedroom and the work is finally half finished. Hence my lack of reading lately. I hope to be back on track by the end of the week and to read doubly fast the remainder of this month. *fingers crossed*

-_-

<3

8 days down, 358 days to go... and I'm already behind

So Im only on book two of my large reading list.. and sadly, am already behind...

Even though I've been reading Little Men every chance I get, there just haven't been enough chances for me to get very far I'm afraid. 

I've spent the past 3 days tearing apart my parents bedroom furniture and rifling through bags of accumulated memories and "stuff", lending my spare time to the important task of finishing and editing my brand new short stories!! That's right! I've been a short story writing fiend lately... especially at 2 am when insomnia hits. When not covered in dusty pictures and marital paraphernalia, I can be seen wandering about in my Colombian macrame shawl with my black Moleskine and a ball point pen.  Suffice to say, I've been neglecting my reading and writing up a storm! 

I'm taking the GO bus to TO today and will be returning tomorrow so during my 2 hour bus ride I intend to speed read my way through the remaining half of the novel.  

Oh! I almost forgot to tell you!  I was taking public transit yesterday and trying to read through the last pages of chapter 7 when this elderly lady sitting to my left eyed my book.  She then proceeded to ask me whether or not my copy was a first edition and had me check the front inside cover pages where upon we found no date of print or copyright or publication.  The elderly woman informed me that she was an avid collector of first editions and even possessed a first edition of Little Women. She guessed that my book was probably printed in the late 1930's judging by print, paper type and cover quality. I haven't the slightest clue about the edition of this book, as all I have to go off of is an indication of where the book was printed.  However, i will endeavor to search out this hidden information and am rather excited at the prospect of owning a first edition of this novel.  Interesting, no? 

Any who, I hope my next post involves a description of my inhuman speed read completion of this novel  and perhaps some interesting bus banter during my trip. 

Wish me luck.. 

Happy reading!

<3 

First Wednesday of September and...

     To date, I've read just over 90 pages of L.M. Alcott's Little Men and loving every word of it.  The only trouble with the book is that I find myself repeatedly and totally lost in reveries about having children and sitting on the side of hills in a fancy frock watching them play with their father - who incidentally is looking more and more like Prof. Bhaer as the day dreams roll on- while I write beautiful words down on parchment.  I hope to get my head out of the clouds soon enough to start reading seriously but it is so easy to get lost in the lovely pages of prose. Take a look at the wording of this quick and simple opening passage for instance: 

     "When Nat went into school on Monday morning, he quaked inwardly, for now he thought he should have to display his ignorance before them all.  But Mr. Bhaer gave him a seat in the deep window, where he could turn his back to the others, and Franz heard him say his lessons there, so not one could hear his blunders... He was truly grateful for this, and toiled away so diligently.  Thinking that a lesson in learning to help one another was better than arithmetic just then, Mr. Bhaer, told them about Nat, making such an interesting and touching little story out of it that the good-heartened lads all promised to lend him a hand, and felt quite honoured to be called upon to impart their stores of wisdom to the chap who fiddled so capitally." (Alcott 44-45)

I mean, isn't that just lovely? And its just a description about a boys insecurities about learning and gaining the assistance of his teacher and fellow classmates. It's not an epic moment in the novel, or in any ways in competition with something by Chaucer but it's a sight prettier than you're average scribbling... if you know what I mean. 

Well, I hope to be as enchanting an author some day.. perhaps the ghost of L.M.Alcott will visit me in one of my daydreams and inspire me to literary greatness! 

Check out the copy that I'm reading from... cute right? 

"Pin Circus. Come in for a Pin" -I'll explain later :)

Inside cover.. sorry for the blurriness

Well my intentions are to finish this book off by end of today, so here's hoping! Wish me luck and post your comments at your own will ;)

XOXO

The BookCase of Wonderment... Read Freely and Of Your Own Free Will

Ladies and Gentlemen (and any of you considering yourselves to in between, around, beside, reversed or flipped over), avid bloggers and random passers-by, those of you who may have happened here by chance, google, previous fellowship or subscription... 

I BID YOU WELCOME. 

It is my pleasure to begin this new project and I hope that you will be as entertained with my posts and I endeavor to be with my rather large upcoming reading list.  

I have posted a list of all the titles- alphabetically by author last name- that reside snugly in my 6 foot bookcase.  These texts will be a part of my life for the next 363 days and so I decided to begin this blog.  As I have decided 2012/2013 to be a year of change, a new space for blogging was called for and I have undertaken a personal challenge of reading/re-reading all the literary works on my bookcase. I'm excited to finally kick things off and I hope you will enjoy coming along with me on my year-long reading adventure. 

Below is the completed listing of the titles that sit on the shelves of my bookcase and as I complete each text, I will strike it through. As of yet, I remain unsure about reading through the list by author or simply choosing a text at random.  It could go either way... and perhaps I might attempt to read by genre and therefore begin with the classics, and work my way onto contemporary fiction. Only time will tell.  If you are interested in knowing more details about the works I read, or curious about editions, publications information, historical background etc. feel free to post a comment and I will try my hardest to satisfy your burning curiosity. 

I hope you enjoy reading along with me this next year and that you will open your minds and hearts to receive the wonders that Literature can provide.

                                               Now then... Onto the list!! 


Alcott, Luisa M- Little Women
                              - Little Men
Alexie, Sherman- The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven
                                 - Reservation Blues
                                 - Indian Killer
                                 - Ten Little Indians
                                 - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Andrews, V.C - Daughter of Darkness
                     - Daughter of Light
                            -Garden of Shadows
                             - Flowers in the Attic
                             - Petals on the Wind
                             - If There Be Thorns
                             - Seeds of Yesterday
                              - Secrets in the Attic
                              - Willow
Armintrout, Jennifer- Blood Ties Book One: The Turning
                                         - Blood Ties Book Two: Possession
                                         - Blood Ties Book Three: Ashes to Ashes
                                         - Blood Ties Book Four: All Souls Night
Austen, Jane - Sense and Sensibility
                           -Pride and Prejudice
                           - Persuasion
                          - Northanger Abbey
                          - Mansfield Park
                          - Emma
Banks, L. A: Vampire Huntress Legends
                       - Minion
                       - The Awakening
                      - The Hunted
                      - the Bitten
                      - The Forbidden
                      - The Damned
                      - The Forsaken
                       -The Wicked
                       - The Cursed
                       - The Darkness
                       - The Shadows
                       - The Thirteenth
Boyden, Joseph- Three Day Road
Baum, Frank L. - Dorothy and the Wizard In Oz
                               - The Road to Oz
Bruce, Harry- MAUD: The Life of L. M. Montgomery
Campbell, Camille - Meditations with Teresa of Avila
Churchill, Jill- Someone To Watch Over Me
Cohen, Leonard- Book of Longing
Conrad, Joseph- Heart of Darkness
Dick, Phillip- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Dickens, Charles- David Copperfield
                                  - Oliver Twist
Elrod, P.N et al - My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon
Erdrich, Louise- Tracks
Fielding, Helen- Bridget Jones's Diary
Ftizpatrick, Becca- Hush, Hush
Frank, Anne- The Diary of a Young Girl
Gansworth, Eric- Sovereign Bones
Golden, Arthur- Memoirs of a Geisha
Grimm Jakob & Wilhelm - The Complete Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales (Unabridged)
Gunn, Robin Jones- Sweet Dreams
Hart, Raven- The Vampire's Seduction
                        - The Vampire's Secret
                        - The Vampire's Kiss
                        - The Vampire's Betrayal
                        - The Vampire's Revenge
Highway, Thomson- Dry Lips Ought to Move to Kapuskasing
Harrison, Charles Yale- Generals Die in Bed
Hiaasen, Carl- Native Tongue
Hughes, Monica- The Dream Catcher
Humphreys, C.C - Vlad, The Last Confession
Kate, Lauren - Fallen
                          - Torment
                          -Passion
King, James - Etienne's Alphabet
Laurence, Margaret- The Stone Angel
Lewis, C. S - The Chronicles of Narnia
Lewis, J. F - Staked
Loggia, Wendy- Ever After, a Cinderella Story
Marston, Edward- The Wanton Angel
McCabe, Patrick- Breakfast on Pluto
Milton, John- Selected Poems
Mojica, Monique- Princess Pocahontas and  The Blue Spots
Momaday, Scott.  N - House Made of Dawn
Montgommery, L. M - Anne of Green Gables
                                          - Anne of Avonlea
                                          - Anne of The Island
                                          - Anne of Windy Poplars
                                          - Anne's House of Dreams
                                          - Anne of Ingleside
                                          -Rainbow Valley
                                          - Rilla of Ingleside
                                          -At the Altar
                                          - Magic for Marigold
                                           -Christmas With Anne
Morrison, Tony - Tar Baby
Morton, Kate - Forgotten Garden
Culleton Mosionier, Beatrice - In Search of April Raintree
Powell, Julie - Julie & Julia
Rice, Anne - Interview with the Vampire
                       - The Vampire Lestat
                       -Queen of the Damned
                       - The Vampire Armand

Richardson, Samuel - Clarissa
Rhys, Jean - Voyage in the Dark

Selvaduri, Shayam - Funny Boy
Shange, Ntozake - For Coloured Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow
                                       is Enuf
Shakespeare  - Hamlet
                    - The Tempest
                    - The Taming of the Shrew
Saint- Exupery, Antoine de - The Little Prince
Sparks, Kerrelyn   - Be Still My Vampire Heart
                           - The Undead Next Door
                           - Vampire Mine
Stine, R. L - Bitten: Dangerous Girls & The Taste of Night
                  - First Date
Stoker, Bram - Dracula
Thomas, D. M - The White Hotel
Tolstoy, Leo, Anna Karenina
Twain, Mark - Classics
Walker, Alice- The Color Purple
Wilde, Oscar - The Picture of Dorian Gray
Wilder, Laura Ingalls- Little Town on the Prairie
Yeats, W.B - Early Poems

My New IKEA Billy Book Case... not even big enough to house all of my treasured texts,
too tall  couldn't fit the bottom shelf into this picture... :) 

I've been anticipating this day for so long now, I already began (and completed) reading my first text- in fact, the first title on my very large and very daunting list... Little Women by Luisa M. Alcott.  It has greatly inspired me not only to read with all my heart but to write with passion once again.  Josephine March is my current role model and L.M Alcott has managed to light the fire under my backside to end my interminable writer's block.  If you have yet to read any of her works, I challenge you to do so and begin with Little Women because it is  piece of literary elegance that cannot be explained, expressed or replicated even with all of the film adaptations.

Well, I'm off to read another Luisa M. Alcott classic...Little Men and I cannot wait to delve into his pages and lose myself amongst the rumpus and chaotic adventures of the Plumfield boys.

As Always, e-mails, comments of any sort are always appreciated... constructive criticism is preferred, and questions and topics for discussion are more than welcome.. 

I have 120 physical texts to read through- not included in this account are the 3 or 4 texts which hold more than one story or novel within them.  With 363 days remaining herein, I shall be endeavoring to read a new text every 3 days approximately. Keeping in mind that I will be taking most of November off to complete NANOWRIMO and that some texts are much larger than others and will require more time.  None the less, by September 3rd 2013 I shall have read them all regardless of pain, sorrow, stress or difficulty.

Wish me Luck.. 

<3