hoorah!

I can get a kitty.

I am so excited! First time having a house kitty, but I'm okay with that.

It won't happen for another few weeks, since I'm currently in yoo-tah, but I can be excited now! YAY!




In other news, I finally looked up my grades; I am happy with the results.

book: the invention of hugo cabret

I listened to this book a while back, not knowing that it had so many illustrations that supplemented the story. The story stands on its own - the pictures make it even better. The author, Brian Selznick, is also the illustrator. The pencil (or charcoal?) drawings are quite realistic, with Selznick often 'zooming in' on what he feels is important.

The story is utterly fantastic and quite original, with enough based in reality that it is believable, too.

Hugo is an orphan, who is stuck tending he clocks in a train station after the disappearance of his drunk uncle. It shows his interactions with a toy maker who keeps shop in the station, and his god-daughter, and Hugo's driving need to fix an automaton that his father, an horologist who worked at a museum, was fixing at the time of his death.

So good.





General knowledge about the book now, but if you want to keep some things a surprise, stop reading now!





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Interspersed with his own drawings are screen shots from early films.

Hugo Cabret is almost historical fiction - I say almost, because only one of the characters is based in real life: Georges Méliès, an early French filmaker. Here is a video of his film, A Trip to the Moon. (I am sorry about the narration.)

book: the last olympian and other musings

I do not want to give anything away about the final installment of Percy Jackson, and the Olympians, so I will not talk of the plot. This first series is possibly going to join Chronicles of Narnia, LotR and Dark is Rising on the shelf. I'm serious.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series. Even though the main characters are demi-gods and can control the sea (Percy), or are master strategists (Annabeth), they still have their humanity. This is going to be harder than I thought to explain without giving away some of the plot. Aargh. Will someone please read these so we can talk about them!

I will say this: Hestia is my new-favorite goddess. Maybe not new favorite, since I really did not have a previous favorite. Unless it is Pallas Athena, but nevermore.*

Oh, by the way, I'd say it's material I will reread. And minor cool note: I have a signed copy! I skipped FHE to go pick up my book tonight.

I would like to add that the author does not seem in danger of succumbing to hubris, either. And to end, since I was unable to attend the signing, I give you the Riordan's own account:

Last night in Raleigh, we had another successful visit at Quail Ridge. Elizabeth Edwards had just left when I got there, so we didn’t have any overlapping crowds. Adultery and Greek mythology . . . Awkward. The bookstore was completely full, and it was hot and steamy in there! People came from Florida, Washington, D.C., and Richmond for the event. Wow, I’m causing an enormous carbon footprint these days. The satyrs are not going to be happy with me. I should plant some trees when I get home or something. **

* This is probably the first and only time where I'll be right and mi hermano will be wrong regarding something in literature. May I once again emphasize only! time?
** from rickriordan.blogspot.com, Myth and Mystery: The Official Blog for Author Rick Riordan

close encounters of the ranting kind

You're lucky I just ate some cereal (wheat chex with brown sugar...mmmm.....) between uploading this picture and finishing the post - and let my train of thought get derailed.

This was going to be a rant about educational standards and how some people get lost in all the rules and stuff. and stuff.

But all my frustrations went to the back burner again with that brown sugary goodness.

Maybe the ranting fingers will be back, maybe they won't.

i forgot the most important one

This picture was the reason why I posted the silly ones to begin with.

I just know the day that the name crosses gender lines, well, that would just be an interesting day.