Thursday, June 28, 2007

Saving Erasmus

Do you have what it takes to be a prophet?

Okay, this was one of the most random books I have ever read. But it was hilarious! And touching, in a way. That last line....

Saving Erasmus by Steven Cleaver is not the type of book you come across often. I'm now officially scared to do laundry. (Hey, does this give me an excuse?) I mean, I have no great desire to meet the Angel of Death. But that's precisely what happens in the very first chapter. Poor Andrew. He's about to go on the ride of his life.

For a second, I admit, when they started talking about Puff, I thought I was going insane. It wasn't me. *grins*

I think if there's a single book I had to pick to recommend, it would be this one. (At least, currently. Come on! Give me a break.) It has such a unique appeal. And the line about Sisyphus. *giggles*

This is going to join Relentless and Never Ceese on my shelf one day. Swear it.

Seriously, just go read the book.

(And, yes, this is my idea of a 'review'. Get over it.)

Shine~Ley

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Thursday, June 21, 2007

Spring is over!

It's a sad truth. Spring, my favorite season, is over. And without my beloved rain! Apparently Texas stole it all from me. Grr.

Anyway, on to my Spring Reading Thing Report.

I didn't read 14 of the book on my list (plus the Three Cousins Dectective Club series). Two of them were not my fault! The Bounty Hunter and the Bride and Tribulation House the library never got. Totally not my fault!

Now for the other 12 books. *clears throat* Well.... *thinks hard for a moment* Nope, can't think of any excuse. Sorry. But I do have an explanation.

I am pathetic. (There, I think that fully explains it. See ya!) I have a huge stack of library books at home. (Not to mention a fairly lage stack here with me in Texas.) I desperately need to finish them before I leave for my trip. And since I don't manage to get around to them right away (this I can blame on history books, only two left!) once they get renewed the second time I have to read them, because I can't renew them anymore. I do try to keep my fines down to a minimum. Sometimes I fail. *grins* So there's my explanation. I don't have any time to read the books I actually own. Admittedly, I don't own Inkspell. But, hey, it hasn't been renewed twice yet.

Speaking of books I own, I bought two yesterday. I am now the proud owner of The Restorer and Trackers. They had another book I wanted, Relentless. I tell you, I have never had such a hard time deciding what to buy. I genuinely couldn't pick. The only reason I eventually decided was that The Bookery back home doesn't sell The Restorer or Trackers. Someday I will buy Relentless though. Someday soon, hopefully. Fearless, the sequel, comes out next month. While I'm gone, of course.

I'm getting so shaky, I can hardly type. Talk to you soon.
Shine~Ley

(Edit: 6, 26, 07, 0833) I just remembered that Katrina has questions to answer. I know that they're not required, but I'd like to do them. When I get home. :) I link to it here when I get it done and posted.

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Saturday, June 16, 2007

Texas

Tomorrow we leave for Texas to visit my dad's parents. (Well, Grandma's step.) Richard is going with us, so it is sure to be an interesting ride. I'm ashamed to say that I'm not taking any of the remaining books on my Spring Reading Thing List with me (not enough space!), but, cheat that I am, I will add the books I've read to the list, just like I've been doing. *grins*

I'll still be gone when it comes time to post the end challenge report, but I should find some time to post it. It'll be a nice break for people.

Other than having a lot of time to read (which I've been needing, my TBR pile is starting to frighten me!), the trip back will also give me a chance for a jumpstart on my NaNoWriMo spring training. (Yes, I know it won't be spring anymore.) June 25-July 1. Kooky Kiwi on the Dekker board (see the Circle -->) challenged us to it. One week, 10,000 words. Whoop! Don't know how far I'll get, but I'll love trying.

The story I decided to work on is one that just popped up this last week. On a walk and one short line runs through my mind. "Not yet, bride mine." Yeah, it's a weird one. If I can find my print off, I'll also take along Cheryl's scene starter contest for this month. No rules on spring training. It's kinda just go wild and write, so it'll count.

Shine~Ley

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Friday, June 15, 2007

St. Thomas Aquinas

Yesterday I read St. Thomas Aquinas: "The Dumb Ox" by G.K. Chesterton. (Another of those delayed history books. :D) A lot of it went right over my head. But it's a book I'm looking forward to curling up with years from now, maybe with a husband to help, to puzzle it out.

I may not have understood a lot of it, but there were a couple of quotes that stood out. (Not to mention some humourous lines, but I'll stick with what I wrote down to sitck in my pile.)

At one point he was talking about... Oh gees, don't ask me to explain it. The quote may not be exactly self-explanatory, but hopefully sorta close enough. I get it. *grins* "Things change because they are not complete; but their reality can only be explained as part of something that is complete. It is God."

The second is about Evolution, which I find an interesting subject to dissect, if only because to me it seems so completely implausible. This expresses my sentiments rather well. *smiles* "But anyhow, it is absurd for the Evolutionists to complain that it is unthinkable for an admittedly unthinkable God to make everything out of nothing, and then pretend that it is more thinkable that nothing should turn itself into everything."

Yes, I definately look forward to the day...

Dreaming of...
Shine~Ley

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