Happy New Year 2012! Recap for 2010-2011

Every true love and friendship is a story of unexpected transformation...

These have been a few incredibly busy years. Between work and school (etc. etc. etc. – and the unexpected whirlwind into the unknown, which I’d like to explain but simply can’t find the words to do it).  I’ve hardly had the time to keep up with my reading and the many wonderful choices on my list. Plus, new ones show up all the time and I have to drop what I’m doing and go with the flow. This means, I have quite the stack of unfinished novels on my bookshelf.

These include:

1984: More eyeballs. I got to page 66 and then I’m not quite sure what happened, but I have to say how I felt about the novel then is different from how I feel about it now. Not quite as literal as one would think - more symbolic, maybe? Maybe Orwell was going through his own whirlwind, but hey, who really knows. And recently I had to go back and read about room 101 – where you are tested against your worst possible fear.

Dracula and Oryx and Crake

Biology of Belief: Basically, our environment makes us who we are, not just our genes. “The mechanisms by which DNA controls biological life became the central dogma (I love that word, or creed is even better) of molecular biology, painstakingly spilled out in textbooks”. It challenges some of Darwin’s ideas and gives credit to Lamarck (moving 'up' a ladder of progress). There’s other stuff too. I’m not the most scientific person, to say the least (nor do I want to be) but Biology of Belief was easy to follow and fascinating.

I do hope to one day finish them all – it’s just that I’m not great at restarting novels I haven’t finished. Plus, some of them have to go back to the library before I get arrested.

I WAS able to get through a few novels, though: 2011 and 2010

One of my favourites was: The Forty Rules of Love - Elif Shafak – so beautiful!

I look forward to what the New Year will bring, and hope to harness my skill of attracting the right book at the right time and finish some great choices (esp. some gifts - mostly romantic novels from my very special cousin that have been eagerly waiting on my bookshelf).

And, although I have not perfected the art of blogging {yet} - and I’m not sure if anyone even reads my posts - I would still like to say THANK YOU and HAPPY NEW YEAR to anyone who may!

'Tis the season for love

I came across an inspiring quote while searching the internet:  "Love authentically; don’t accept substitutes”.  For some reason this really inspired me to think about finding authentic romantic novels.

As the holidays are fast approaching, I’m feeling overwhelmed with the potential reading experiences that lie ahead. Since I won’t have time for everything, I will have to pick and choose carefully, and the above topic is on my mind lately. Here are a few contenders:

*I have my festive novel I'll be Home for Christmas which my mom sent me last year – never underestimate a mother’s wisdom, especially when it comes to love (enjoying these so far).

*This year mom sent me The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I must read this at some point - I’m just really tired of hearing about women getting their heads bashed in by men. Need a break from that. But I know I'm the last person on earth to read this.         

*And, a gift to myself: The Host – a romantic Sci-Fi. I might dive into this one soon….and I might just have to see Breaking Dawn as well this year, as this was one of my favorites in the Twilight Series (hardly ever is the last book one of the best).

*On my list …. Delirium. I’m excited to read this for some reason and explore why LOVE – something so wonderful and necessary – could possibly ever be extinct or prohibited.

*Some favorite love novels of days gone past: Four Letters of Love; Fountainhead; Jane Eyre.

These have one thing in common: they are tragic in a way. So, in the spirit of Bridget Jones, this year I will turn a new page and try to find a love story which will inspire me.  The search is on!

My considerations so far for Sci-fi challenge

Goodreads Best 2011!

http://www.goodreads.com/award/choice/2011?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Dec_newsletter&utm_content=choiceawards#winners

Soul Idenity - Dennis Batchelder

One of my picks for the
Sci-Fi Challenge 2012

Like so many novels, this one is full of symbolism and connections, and I enjoyed it for that reason. But it’s also really entertaining. I felt like I could have been sitting by a campfire listening to someone tell a story. There’s hardly a moment of boredom, if any, and it’s a great book to carry on your Kobo and sort of reminded me of Angels and Demons (maybe it’s the eyeball thing).

Like always, I don’t want to give it all away, but in a nutshell this novel is about an organization which has existed for a very long time to hold assets (money, memories, and wisdom) for its customers after they pass on - and return again - in a new form but with the same soul identity. Proof of this identity is in the eyes (which are as unique to each individual as a fingerprint). {You can imagine how things could go really wrong!!}

Mr. Waverley is handsome and charismatic, and he’s the one who must save the organization from a takeover by worldwidesouls (kinda like the illuminati or new order) – and, of course, he has to rejoice with a little romance in between his security analysis and travels to India to visit a Buddhist temple and such. He’s actually a great character and seems like a swell guy to hang out with. I liked all the characters, come to think of it. There’s a fortune teller, a really hot female Russian programmer, and others!

Another fun novel. And my second e-book.