Popsugar 2015 Reading Challenge Accepted

Back in mid-July, I discovered the Popsugar 2015 Reading Challenge. I was intrigued by the variety it offered, so I decided to plunge in. For convenience, I decided that any book I had read that month or which I read for the rest of the year was eligible.

A lot of people complain that fifty-two books – one a week, on average – is too many. (There are fifty entries, but one entry is "a trilogy," bringing the total to fifty-two.) But I routinely read over a hundred books in a year, so I figured I could do it. More than half a year, less than half my usual total.

Without further ado, the list . . .

Popsugar 2015 Reading Challenge

A book with more than 500 pages

Tower Lord (Raven’s Shadow #2) by Anthony Ryan (11/2015)

A classic romance

A book that became a movie

On the Beach by Nevil Shute (06/2015)

A book published this year

Shadows of Self (Mistborn) by Brandon Sanderson (10/2015)

A book with a number in the title
The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan (12/2015)

A book written by somebody under 30
Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth

A book with nonhuman characters
Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman (08/15)

A funny book

Raising Steam (Discworld #41) by Terry Pratchett (08/15)

A book by a female author

The Mischief of the Mistletoe (Pink Carnation #7) by Lauren Willig (11/2015)

A mystery or thriller
On What Grounds

A book with a one-word title

Sick by Brett Battles (audio) (12/2015)

A book of short stories

A book set in a different country
Sold by Patricia McCormick (09/2015)
Set in Nepal and India

A nonfiction book

Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs by Rosemary Gladstar

A popular author's first book

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice (06/2015)

A book from an author you love that you haven't read yet
Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson (06/2015)

A book a friend recommended
The Art of Fermentation

A Pulitzer Prize-winning book

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck (09/15)

A book based on a true story

Desperate Passage by Ethan Rarick (10/2015)

A book at the bottom of your to-read list

A book your mom loves

A book that scares you†

The Tommyknockers by Stephen King

A book more than 100 years old

A book based entirely on its cover

Whole Body Barefoot by Katy Bowman (12/2015)

A book you were supposed to read in school but didn't†
Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup (12/2015)

A memoir

A Long Way Home (07/2015)

A book you can finish in a day
Confessions of a Part-Time Sorceress by Shelley Mazzanoble (08/15)

A book with antonyms in the title
Live Free or Die (Troy Rising #1) by John Ringo (07/2015)

A book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

A book that came out the year you were born
Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry (11/2015)

A book with bad reviews
Twilight by Stefanie Meyers (10/2015)

A trilogy

Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

Mistborn: Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

Mistborn: Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson

A book from your childhood

A book with a love triangle
Catching Fire (Hunger Games #2) by Suzanne Collins (07/2015)

A book set in the future

The Hunger Games (Hunger Games #1) by Suzanne Collins

A book set in high school

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (11/2015)

A book with a color in the title
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation (Pink Carnation #1) by Lauren Willig

A book that made you cry

Mockingjay (Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins (07/2015)

A book with magic
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (11/2015)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (12/2015)

A graphic novel

A book by an author you've never read before
Frostborn (Frostborn #1) by Lee Anders (in progress)

A book you own but have never read
Grave Peril (Temperance Brennan #6) by Kathy Reichs (audio)

A book that takes place in your hometown

A book that was originally written in a different language 

A book set during Christmas
An Undead Christmas

A book written by an author with your same initials
Foundling (Monster Blood Tattoo #1) by D.M. Cornish (in progress)

A play
Hamlet by William Shakespeare

A banned book

A book based on or turned into a TV show

Dead and Gone (Southern Vamp #9) by Charlene Harris (10/2015)

A book you started but never finished

The Ragamuffin Gospel by Rich Mullins

Unassigned Books 

The Hormone Cure by Dr. Sara Gottfried (11/2015)

The Alloy of Law (Mistborn) by Brandon Sanderson (09/2015)

*I never, ever shirked a reading assignment in high school or college; in fact, I always went above and beyond. For this entry, I chose a book that I should have read in high school but didn't. Fortunately, it's starting to pop up on high school reading lists.

† I don't know if this one "scares" me, but it certainly gives me the creeps!

An Unexpected Fan of Harry Potter

As has been established, I'm a geek. I love scifi, fantasy, science, gaming, reading, gadgets, and even (gasp!) math. (I used to do geometry proofs for fun, but that's not really the point . . . )

One of my fandoms is the Harry Potter universe, written by J.K. Rowlings. Now, I was a latecomer to this one. I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone years and years ago, but wasn't impressed. So I never read any further.

Then I met Roswenthe (as she's sometimes known online), and we quickly became close friends. Except she's a huge HP fan, and so are almost all our mutual friends, especially those on our forum, TechnoChicks! So after being left out of about a zillion conversations (online and offline) in anticipation of book seven, I gave in and decided to give Harry Potter another chance.

 I checked out book one and read it again; still just okay. Then I read book two, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and decided it was actually pretty good. So I read book three. Then book four. Book five. Book six . . . at least I didn't have to wait for Deathly Hallows! (I devoured it at light speed, though I hated to finish it.)

As you can no doubt guess, I had become invested in the story. I cared about the Rowling's characters; they are well-written, demonstrating real depth and complexity. The plot is well-developed, providing surprises while still meeting the need for a story you can follow.  I was infuriated by the injustices. I wanted good to triumph over evil.

And in the end, that's what got me. I am a sucker for the epic battle of good versus evil, righting injustices, making the world a better place. And on that score, J.K. Rowling delivers.

What are you reading?

Okay, so my resolve to post more about my reading didn't last very long. I'll blame it on Monday, since that IS the night my gaming group gathers, and there's usually at least one person who stays late. (You know who you are.)

Okay, so it's actually my own fault.

Anyway, I've been reading bunches and bunches of books. Physical books, ebooks (thanks to my iPad), audiobooks, podcast novels…I love books. If I went back over everything I've read since the last time I posted, we would run into a few problems.

• You would run away before I made it a quarter of the way through my list.
• You would decide I was even more insane that you thought.
• I can't remember EVERYTHING I've read.

So, recently finished books it is.

Lamplighter (Monster Blood Tattoo #2) by D.M. Cornish
I love these books. The setting is intriguing and original–a bit steampunk, a bit medieval, with a good dose of oddball semi-organic primitive technology. Plus, the characters are well developed with distinctive personalities. My husband's only complaint is that the hero, Rossamund Bookchild, doesn't seem like a fifteen-year-old boy. I'm okay with it, because at his age in this setting, young people are out working as soldiers, risking their lives fighting bogles (deadly monsters). I think that would sort of skip over much of what we associate with the teen years. I can't wait to read book three, which comes out this month in Australia and New Zealand, and next month in the US, UK, and Canada. (I'm not going to give the title, because the title of each book is Rossamund's profession during that book. It would be a bit of a spoiler.

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2) by Suzanne Collins
Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins
Like The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay are emotionally harsh. I'm not kidding; lots of characters you come to adore will suffer in grueling, cruel ways, physically and mentally. Some will die.

Strike that; many of them will die. In fact, the games are supposed to end with only one person out of twenty-four still alive. They entire idea is to kill lots of people in a highly entertaining fashion. The entire point of the books is to fight against it.

Despite the gruesome premise, the books are all wonderful. The struggle to overcome a great, pervasive evil is riveting, as is Katniss, the heroine. I find the battle to win over the hearts of the people, inspiring them to join in fighting the corrupt, evil government at least as interesting as the physical battle. (I waited to read Catching Fire until Mockingjay was released because I couldn't stand to wait between them!)

If you can take it emotionally, I highly recommend the series.

New Spring (Wheel of Time prequel) by Robert Jordan
I reread New Spring late last month, as part of the run-up to the release of Towers of Midnight (Wheel of Time #13) on November 2. I finished all the other books, but wanted more WoT, and realized that I had only read New Spring once!

As a result, I think I gleaned more from it than any of the other re-reads. The first time through was when it was first released, so a lot has happened in the series since them. Insights into the characters of Morraine, Lan, Elaida, and Siuan (even glimpses of Liandrin) have been illuminating. Certain events that start in The Gathering Storm involving Lan make the bits of Malkieri custom, from a time closer to the fall of Malkier, especially enlightening.

I highly recommend it for all fans of the Wheel of Time; it still shocks me that some haven't read it! And of course, I recommend that all fans of epic fantasy give the Wheel of Time a shot. Not that I'm biased…

Distinctions: The Prologue to Towers of Midnight (Wheel of Time #13) by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
I heard one section of the Prologue to ToM at Dragon*Con, read by Brandon, and couldn't resist buying this on my iPad, through the Kindle app. I loved it. It has made me even more excited about the release of Towers of Midnight in just over three weeks! Of course, now chapter one is posted for free on Tor.com. I will say this: it's excellent!

Nim's Island
This is a "middle readers" book. That means about fifth through seventh or eighth grades. I enjoyed it, and finished it quickly. The setting is interesting, and all the characters, human and (non-speaking) animal, are fun. Totally clean and age-appropriate. It could almost convince me that living almost alone on a tiny, remote island would be fun!

Current Reads
Greywalker
The Way of Kings* (Stormlight Archive #1) by Brandon Sanderson
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
The Outsider by Ann H. Gabhart (Kindle app)
Flatland: A Romance in Many Dimensions by Edwin Abbott
Homespun Bride by Jillian Hart
The Herbal Body Book: A Natural Approach to Healthier Skin, Nails, and Hair by Stephanie L. Toules

*I've been reading The Way of Kings since I got home from Dragon*Con. I am absolutely forcing myself to prolong it. I have definitely enjoyed it, but it helps that it's a huge book, and I'm afraid of damaging it. So I only let myself read it at home.

Week 1: It's Monday; what are you reading?

I'm a fan of J. Kaye's Book Blog. She does several reading challenges each year; last March she started a weekly event called "It's Monday; what are you reading?"

Sounds like fun; wish I had found it before!

I've been on a Discworld kick; in the last month and a half, I've read about a dozen of them. (Gotta love Terry Pratchett!)

My husband and I are listening to the audiobook of Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. I read it last year, but my husband the media specialist happened across it at the public library. We're about three-quarters done, and I'm really enjoying the reading.

Today I finished Hogfather, which is hilarious. It's the Discworld take on Santa Claus. But of course, since we're talking Discworld, it's pretty odd. Especially when Death and Death of Rats get involved, dragging Death's adopted granddaughter into things. (I really wanted to get to this one before Christmas, but c'est la vie. At least it's still technically the Christmas season, since Epiphany/Twelfth Night isn't until tomorrow.)

Then I started the next book, Jingo, at lunch. This one is a reread for me. In true Discworld fashion, it takes all those legends of lost or sunken continents, throws in some mindless nationalism, and brings it through insanity and out the other side. It also gives Leonard of Quirm, the Ankh Morpork version of Leonardo da Vinci, a prominent role. (I love his names for stuff…like the "Going Under the Water Machine", for a submarine!)

I'm also reading The Bread Machine Cookbook. Tonight I'm going to take on Honey Whole Wheat Bread for the second time.

Also, I've decided to give up on the One Year Bible thing, since it never works for me. Instead, I'm going to try to read The Old Testament this year, and the New Testament next year. (I was inspired by our Minister of Administration, who is doing a two year plan for the Bible.) I'm in Genesis, which I always find fascinating.

That's really it for right now.

I Joined the 2009 100+ Book Challenge

I posted in January that I had joined that I had joined J. Kaye's audiobook challenge. I mentioned that I had also joined other challenges, but I forgot to actually create posts for them.

This will be for the 100+ Book Challenge. I'm already well on my way, but I am way behind on my reviews. Rather than fill my blog here with book reviews, I plan to post those on my LiveJournal, which had a whopping total of um, one entry until now.

Oh, wait, I'm actually up to three entries on Livejournal. Woohoo.

On to my books...

January 2009 (8 books)

• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'engle
  
• A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'engle
  
• A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'engle
  
• Sorcery and Cecelia by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer
  
• I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
  
• The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
  
• The Subtle Knife by Phillip Pullman
  
• The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman
  

February 2009 (7 books; Running Total: 15)

• Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
  
• Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
  
• The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
  
• Star Wars New Jedi Order: Onslaught (Dark Tide #1) by Michael A. Stackpole
  
• Star Wars New Jedi Order: Ruin (Dark Tide #2) by Michael A. Stackpole
  
• The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allen Poe
  
• Thud! (Discworld) by Terry Pratchett
  

March 2009 (16 books; Running Total: 31)

• As You Like It by William Shakespeare
  
• Star Wars: Hero's Trial (Agents of Chaos #1) by James Luceno
  
• Star Wars: Jedi Eclipse (Agents of Chaos #2) by James Luceno
  
• Belgarath the Sorceror by David and Leigh Eddings
  
• Polgara the Sorceress by David and Leigh Eddings
  
• Maire: The Fires of Glenmaera by Linda Windsor
  
• King Henry IV, Part 1 by William Shakespeare
  
• A Scanner Darkly by Phillip K. Dick
  
• Stellaluna by Jannell Cannon
  
• The Diamond Throne (The Elenium, Book 1) by David Eddings
  
• The Ruby Knight (The Elenium, Book 2) by David Eddings
  
• The Sapphire Rose (The Elenium, Book 3) by David Eddings
  
• Star Wars: Balance Point by Kathy Tyers
  
• Star Wars: Vector Prime by R.A. Salvatore
  
• Star Wars: Conquest by Greg Keyes
  
• Star Wars: Rebirth by Greg Keyes
  

April 2009 (13 books; Running Total: 44)

• Domes of Fire (The Tamuli, Book 1) by David Eddings
  
• Crafternoon: A Guide to Getting Artsy and Crafty with Your Friends All Year Long by Maura Madden
  
• The Case of the Toxic Spell Dump by Harry Turtledove
  
• The Shining Ones (The Tamuli, Book 2) by David Eddings
  
• Star Wars: Star by Star by Troy Denning
  
• Star Wars: Dark Journey by Elaine Cunningham
  
• Star Wars: Rebel Dream by Aaron Allston
  
• The Hidden City (The Tamuli, Book 3) by David Eddings
  
• Star Wars: Traitor by Matthew Stover
  
• Playing for Keeps by Mur Lafferty
  
• The Final Empire (Mistborn, Book 1) by Brandon Sanderson
  
• Star Wars: Destiny's Way by Walter Jon Williams
  
• The Well of Ascension (Mistborn, Book 2) by Brandon Sanderson
  

May 2009 (12 books; Running total: 56)

• Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
  
• The Hero of Ages (Mistborn, Book 3) by Brandon Sanderson
  
• Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
  
• Arena by Karen Hancock
  
• The Path of Daggers (The Wheel of Time, Book 8) by Robert Jordan
  
• The Three Golden Keys by Peter Sis
  
• Winter's Heart (The Wheel of Time, Book 9) by Robert Jordan
  
• Mixed Signals by Liz Curtis Higgs
  
• Amulet: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi
  
• Grand Tour by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer
  
• The Blue Girl by Charles de Lint
  
• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
  

June 2009 (10 books; Running total: 66)

• Crossroads of Twilight (The Wheel of Time, Book 10) by Robert Jordan
  
• Murder at Avedon Hill by P.G. Holyfield
  
• The Mislaid Magician by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer
  
• Knife of Dreams (The Wheel of Time, Book 11) by Robert Jordan
  
• The Snows of Kilimanjaro by Ernest Hemingway
  
• The Great Hunt (The Wheel of Time, Book 2) by Robert Jordan
  
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, Book 1) by J.K. Rowling
  
• Pyramids (Discworld, Book 7) by Terry Pratchett
  
• Foundling (Monster Blood Tattoo, Book 1) by D. M. Cornish
  
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, Book 2) by J.K. Rowling
  

July 2009 (5 books, with a few missing; Running total: 71)

• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, Book 3) by J.K. Rowling
  
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, Book 4) by J.K. Rowling
  
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harrry Potter, Book 5) by J.K. Rowling
  
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, Book 6) by J.K. Rowling
  
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, Book 7) by J.K. Rowling
  

August 2009 (9 books; Running total: 80)

• Arrows of the Queen (The Heralds of Valdemar, Book 1) by Mercedes Lackey
  
• Take a Thief: A Novel of Valdemar by Mercedes Lackey
  
• Arrow's Flight (The Heralds of Valdemar, Book 2) by Mercedes Lackey
  
• Arrow's Fall (The Heralds of Valdemar, Book 3) by Mercedes Lackey
  
• Resistance (Star Trek: The Next Generation) by J.M. Dillard
  
• The Black Gryphon (Mage Wars, Book 1) by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon
  
• The White Gryphon (Mage Wars, Book 2) by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon
  
• The Silver Gryphon (Mage Wars, Book 3) by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon
  
• Brightly Burning by Mercedes Lackey
  
• Exile's Honor by Mercedes Lackey
  

September 2009 (15 books; Running total: 95)

• Winds of Fate (Mage Winds, Book 1) by Mercedes Lackey
  
• Winds of Change (Mage Winds, Book 2) by Mercedes Lackey
  
• Star Wars: Remnant (The New Jedi Order, Book 15) by Shane Dix and Sean Williams
  
• Star Wars: Refugee (The New Jedi Order, Book 16) by Shane Dix and Sean Williams
  
• Star Wars: Reunion (The New Jedi Order, Book 17) by Shane Dix and Sean Williams
  
• Star Wars: The Final Prophecy (The New Jedi Order, Book 18) by Greg Keyes
  
• Star Wars: The Unifying Force (The New Jedi Order, Book 19) by James Luceno
  
• Star Wars: The Paradise Snare (Han Solo Trilogy, Book 1) by A. C. Crispin
  
• Star Wars: The Hutt Gambit (Han Solo Trilogy, Book 2) by A. C. Crispin
  
• Star Wars: Rebel Dawn (Han Solo Trilogy, Book 3) by A. C. Crispin
  
• Star Wars: The Truce at Bakura by Kathy Tyers
  
• Star Wars: The Way of the Apprentice (Jedi Quest, Book 1) by Jude Watson
  
• Star Wars: The Trial of the Jedi (Jedi Quest, Book 2) by Jude Watson
  
• Star Wars: The Dangerous Games (Jedi Quest, Book 3) by Jude Watson
  
• Star Wars: The Master of Disguise (Jedi Quest, Book 4) by Jude Watson
  

October 2009 (8 books, several missing; Running total: 103)

• Winds of Fury (Mage Winds, Book 3) by Mercedes Lackey
  
• Storm Warning (Mage Storms, Book 1) by Mercedes Lackey
  
• Rules by Cynthia Lord
  
• Myth-taken Identity by Robert Asprin and Jody Lynn Nye
  
• Class Dis-Mythed by Robert Asprin and Jody Lynn Nye
  
• Graceling by Kristin Cashore
  
• Preserving Summer's Bounty: A Quick and Easy Guide to Freezing, Canning, Preserving, and Drying What You Grow by Rodale Food Center and Susan McClure
  
• Making Money (Discworld, Book 36) by Terry Pratchett
  

November 2009 (4 books; Running total: 107)

• The Gathering Storm (The Wheel of Time, Book 12) by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
  
• Lamplighter (Monster Blood Tattoo, Book 2) by D.M. Cornish
  
• Chivalry by Neil Gaiman
  
• The Reptile Room (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 2) by Lemony Snicket
  

December 2009 (16 books; Running total: 123)

• Storm Rising (Mage Storms, Book 2) by Mercedes Lackey
  
• Storm Breaking (Mage Storms, Book 3) by Mercedes Lackey
  
• Sanctuary (Dragonlance: Elven Exiles, Book 1) by Paul B. Thompson & Tonya C. Cook
  
• Foundations (The Collegium Chronicles, Book 1) by Mercedes Lackey
  
• Guards! Guards! (Discworld, Book 8) by Terry Pratchett
  
• Eric (Discworld, Book 9) by Terry Pratchett
  
• Moving Pictures (Discworld, Book 10) by Terry Pratchett
  
• Reaper Man (Discworld, Book 11) by Terry Pratchett
  
• Witches Abroad (Discworld, Book 12) by Terry Pratchett
  
• Small Gods (Discworld, Book 13) by Terry Pratchett
  
• Lords and Ladies (Discworld, Book 14) by Terry Pratchett
  
• Men at Arms (Discworld, Book 15) by Terry Pratchett
  
• Soul Music (Discworld, Book 16) by Terry Pratchett
  
• Interesting Times (Discworld, Book 17) by Terry Pratchett
  
• Maskerade (Discworld, Book 18) by Terry Pratchett
  
• Feet of Clay (Discworld, Book 19) by Terry Pratchett
  

Abandoned

• Hart's Blood by Orson Scott Card
  
• Magic's Pawn (The Last Herald-Mage, Book 1) by Mercedes Lackey
  
• Star Trek: The Last Roundup by Christie Golden and David Kaye
  
• Sacrifice (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force)

Currently Reading*

• Spirit Gate (Crossroads, Book 1) by Kate Elliott
  
• The Ragamuffin Gospel
  
• Tathea by Anne Perry
  
• On Basilisk Station (Honor Harrington, Book 1) by David Weber
  
• The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
  
• Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
  
• Visual Chronicles: The No-Fear Guide to Creating Art Journals, Creative Manifestos and Altered Books by Linda Woods and Karen Dinino
  
• The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
  
• The Holy Bible
  
• The Dragon Reborn (The Wheel of Time, Book 3) by Robert Jordan
  
• Hunters of Dune by Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert
  
• Watership Down by Richard Adams
  
• Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
  
• Hogfather (Discworld, Book 20) by Terry Pratchett
  

In the Queue

• Young Miles (Vorkosigan Saga) by Lois McMaster Bujold
  
• Confessions by Saint Augustine
  
• Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
  
• Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
  

*Yes, I really am reading that many books at once. No, I am not insane.

2009 Audiobook Challenge

J. Kaye is doing an audiobook challenge over at J. Kaye's Book Blog. As it happens, I love audiobooks almost as much as I love regular books. It's just so much easier to listen to audio while I knit, crochet, spin, or journal, you know? (Though I can knit or crochet while I read, if it's a nice, thick hardcover that will stay open on its own...)

The goal is twelve audiobooks; I'll probably do a few more, but that's where I'll start. I'll blog a review for each of them, and post it here.

My definite listens:
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine l'Engle
A Wind in the Door by Madeleine l'Engle
A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine l'Engle
A Scanner Darkly by Phillip K. Dick
Begun with my husband 01.27.2009

Completed to Date
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine l'Engle (01/09)
A Wind in the Door by Madeleine l'Engle (01/09)
A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine l'Engle (01/09)
A Scanner Darkly by Phillip K. Dick (03/09)
Playing for Keeps by Mur Lafferty (04/09)
Winter's Heart (The Wheel of Time, Book 9) by Robert Jordan (05/09)
Crossroads of Twilight (The Wheel of Time, Book 10) by Robert Jordan

Abandoned as Horrible
Hart's Blood by Orson Scott Card

In Progress
The Great Hunt (The Wheel of Time, Book 2) by Robert Jordan
Knife of Dreams (The Wheel of Time, Book 11) by Robert Jordan

Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver

We visited Tattered Cover's downtown location after finishing up downtown. If you know us, you know we had no choice. It is a bookstore, after all. It is also practically an institution in Denver; I had read about it long before, so it was on the must-visit list. Plus it had a coffee shop and was open late...

The selection is great, and the atmosphere is wonderful! There's antique furniture everywhere (but the friendly type of antique, not the "don't touch me" type). The sections are logically arranged, and the magazine assortment is wonderful! The art in the store is unique: portraits of every writer or illustrator who has visited the store, taken when they visited. I didn't have time to look at every single one--there were way too many--but I was happy to see Madeline l'Engle. Yay.

Anyway, if you visit Denver, you must visit Tattered Cover. Next time we hope to visit the Lower Downtown ("LoDo") location, too.

Design help for the non-designer

It's horrible to say it, but so much of the desktop publishing I see makes me cringe! I should be easier on the non-designer forced to take on a job for which they were never trained, but it's an instinctive reaction. (After the initial cringe, though, I remember I would do at least as bad if I tried to do their jobs!)

But there is help! At Borders the other day, I spotted a great book for desktop pubishers: The Non-Designer's Design Book, by Robin Williams. (No, not THAT Robin williams; this one.)

The content is great. It reduces the principles of design to their very basics, making it approachable for someone who just does this stuff because they must. But the principles are sound, so the results are good. True, it won't turn you into a world-renowned designer, but it will make your Publisher and Word documents more professional-looking, easier to read, and more effective. (Wow, I type "Publisher" and "Word" with only the barest cringe...)

If you find yourself having to create stuff all the time, but you're never really happy with the results, head on over to Amazon and click "Look Inside." Theres' some good, useful stuff there.

The World English Bible

Some people would say there are already enough (or even too many) versions of the Bible. But the World English Bible is an interesting new translation: a totally public domain, modern English translation of the Bible!

I don't want to get involved in the whole "King James vs. New International Version" debate, but I will say that this is a really great project. The idea is excellent, and the translation is based on three public domain texts: the American Standard Version (first written in 1901), the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament. The primary translation work is done by Michael Paul Johnson, with proofreading by many, many volunteers.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with having copyrighted versions; proceeds from the NIV, for example, help fund further translation of the Bible into new languages. And, of course, the proceeds from all the major modern translations enable scholars to pursue such work as a full-time vocation (which is unbelievably important).

The WEB, on the other hand, is entirely public domain. So authors can quote Scripture extensively in their works; programmers or webmasters can include the entire Bible in a program or website; and individuals or small groups can create their own tracts and literature—all without royalties! It's a great option for small, independent authors and the like, since royalties can be prohibitively expensive for such projects.

The full version of the World English Bible is a work in progress, due out around Christmas, so the verdict is still out. But the motives of the translators are definitely to be praised.

Xandria

Lessons from an art & craft fair

Well, I have been very busy the last three weeks. I decided to do my very first arts & crafts fair–with only three weeks to prepare for it! The first week, I made twenty-five little pamphlet stitch booklets, some plain, some embellished. The second, I made twelve Japanese stab bound books. The third week, I made five hardcover, open spine, french braid-bound books and five hardcover accordian fold books, which I dubbed "brag books."

Obviously I didn't sleep much… But it was a really great experience, even though I didn't sell very many books. I did sell enough to cover my costs–but just barely! Mainly, I learned how it all works, and what types of venues not to choose. (I think handmade books were a bit too "gourmet" for my soccer mom audience. Not that I have anything against soccer moms: I am so glad my own mother was an at-home mom! They're just a very "kid-focused" audience. I might have had better luck closer to Christmas.)

Here are my most important lessons:

First, work in an "assembly line," if possible. If I had tried to switch back and forth between book forms, or complete one whole book before starting another, I would have made maybe half that many books.

Second, give potential customers lots of ideas on how they can use your wares! If you can think of some really unusual uses for your "stuff," display some of them or make a sign suggesting them. For instance, I used an accordian book to create a memory book of my days at the Baptist Student Union at my college. I had all my friends sign it and then added rub-ons saying "have fun," "celebrate," and "friends," accompanied by photos.

Third, clearly mark all your prices. You don't have to have an enormous tag or sign, but just make sure that potiental customers can easily find it and read it. (Print out stickers if your handwriting is really bad!) Many people will just keep on going if they can't find a price!

Finally, remember what you are selling: your incredible work…not the display! If you have really beautiful items, keep it simple. You want to showcase the beauty of your work, not eclipse it. Your props, table coverings, even your signs, should never compete with your work! A simple rule of thumb: if you can't justify its presence, dump it!

Design Help for the Non-Designer

It's horrible to say it, but so much of the desktop publishing I see makes me cringe! I should be easier on the non-designer forced to take on a job for which they were never trained, but it's an instinctive reaction. (After the initial cringe, though, I remember I would do at least as bad if I tried to do their jobs!)

But there is help! At Borders the other day, I spotted a great book for desktop pubishers: The Non-Designer's Design Book, by Robin Williams. (No, not THAT Robin Williams; this one.)

The content is great. It reduces the principles of design to their very basics, making it approachable for someone who just does this stuff because they must. But the principles are sound, so the results are good. True, it won't turn you into a world-renowned designer, but it will make your Publisher and Word documents more professional-looking, easier to read, and more effective. (Wow, I type "Publisher" and "Word" with only the barest cringe...)

If you find yourself having to create stuff all the time, but you're never really happy with the results, head on over to Amazon and click "Look Inside." Theres' some good, useful stuff there.