#BooksWithBeddes: Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

Title: Days of Blood and Starlight *link goes to my Goodreads review*

Author: Laini Taylor

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

For someone who reads as much as I do, it's odd that such a big book gives me pause. A 300 pg book? Psh! Done in no time. Start creeping over 400 pages and suddenly, I have the hardest time maintaining interest enough to get started. Never mind that once I get started I get completely swept away. 

Well, most of the time. Days of Blood and Starlight is a different story. There is so much going on and so much at stake, that I had to stop after every couple of chapters to maintain my emotional balance. (I really get into books.)

The premise: Karou is one of the Chimaera, the half human-half creature race that are in open rebellion to the Seraphim, a race of angels with blazing wings. In the first book, she learns of a betrayal from someone close to her and in this second one, she must decide how far she is willing to take things in her need to avenge her race. 

This series takes an interesting look into the nature of war and the people who fight in it. Neither side is innocent, that much is painfully clear as the book goes on. But how do you stop fighting once you start? How do you answer someone's pain that you've caused? 

Days of Blood and Starlight is aptly named. Since it is war that they are involved in, there is so much death and blood. I am afraid that there could never be a movie because to do it right would be too gruesome for the silver screen. There is also the matter of the pain tithe for magic. Even though this concept is brutal, it makes so much sense. You can't get something from nothing (although that seems like the very purpose of magic) and in this world, to conduct any sort of magic, you need a reservoir of pain to purchase it. Cringeworthy, indeed, but it makes you think more about what is worth the pain. 

If you had the power to do anything you wanted, but at a cost, would you still do it?

#BooksWithBeddes: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

Title: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane                              *link goes to my Goodreads review*

Author: Kate DiCamillo

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This may be the book nerd in me, but I've always wanted to be part of a book club. I love reading books, but it's even better when you can share books with other people and talk about your thoughts and feelings. It makes me think more deeply about the things I read and helps broaden my literary taste and helps me see things from other people's perspectives. 

Book clubs are tricky, because it seems really daunting to start one, but then again if you don't start one, you have to wait to be invited to one. When I moved to my first official job, somehow (I don't really remember) but somehow I got invited to a book club and I loved it. I got to know more people in the community, I was surrounded by other readers, and we discussed books! Dream come true. 

This is the explanation behind  this book, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. It was this month's book club book, and a little different than the ones we've read before. First of all, it's a children's book, I would say 8-10 year old. But it's so good. I love saying that because at first, I was a little skeptical about reading it. Not that I couldn't, just why would I want to? I'm glad to say, this little book changed my mind.

Simply put, it's about a china rabbit who is cold and uncaring. He is separated from his owner and goes on many different kinds of adventures and learns about love along the way. So sweet and so much heart. This would be a lovely bedtime book, to read a chapter each night with a child. Some day, right? 

#BooksWithBeddes: Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst

Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genres: fate vs. free will, the individual vs. the majority, gods and goddesses, desert survival
Summary: Liyana has trained her whole life to be a vessel for her clan's goddess. When her goddess doesn't come, Liyana's clan abandons her to the desert to find a more worthy vessel. Liyana then meets Korbyn, the trickster god, who claims that the gods are being trapped and Liyana must help him find them again. The longer Liyana goes without her goddess, the less she wants to give up her life just yet. But she might have to sacrifice herself to save her people.
Response: I don't know what I was expecting when I picked up this book. I only knew that I liked the author's previous novel, Ice .
I was really impressed by the complex world-building present in this novel. Focusing on the nomadic desert tribes and giving life to each clan's gods was really interesting. The other supernatural elements found in the desert like the giant silk/sand worms, the sandstorm wolves, the sky serpents, etc. added to the depth and detail of that world. I liked the foreign feel of the desert people. I don't think many YA authors take that route. It felt new and interesting.
Liyana was such a strong character. She has been raised her whole life for one purpose, to be the vessel for her goddess. After that time, she no longer exists. But when her goddess doesn't come, what then? Liyana suddenly has to live for herself, instead of just for her fate. She still considers others needs before her own, but that whole dilemma of the individual will versus the group good was just fascinating. And it wasn't just Liyana who had to deal with this dilemma, there were other abandoned vessels, each with varying degrees of acceptance of their fate. I loved that the author was able to explore so many perspectives to the same problem.
I didn't quite know how to take the ending. It was mostly satisfying, but I wonder if there will be more?


View all my reviews

Have I Told You Yet How Glad I am It's Friday?

Hello all,

It's been a busy month and a half. I won't reveal too much of my personal feelings about teaching. I love it, but I am going to leave it at that. Other feelings are going to be left for the privacy of my personal journal.

Each day seems long and satisfying but the weeks truly FLY past like you wouldn't believe.

A couple of days ago, my university supervisor sent me a link to this video. She mentioned that some days it might feel like we are going no where like a hamster on his wheel. And sometimes, we might even fly off, chaotically. (It's true) But things will get better. It is getting better. I am learning so much about myself as a person, about my capabilities and about my likes and dislikes. It's such a growing experience.

Well, regardless of my learning experience during the week, I truly enjoy the weekends now. And I fully intend to enjoy this weekend to the fullness.  You should too. Weekends are meant for to be enjoyed.

:)

A Prayer for Norway

Find peace and comfort, despite this tragedy, this I pray.

Get better soon. 

Love, me.

#BooksWithBeddes: Eat, Pray, Love: What's in a Word?

"Then he went on to explain, in a mixture of English, Italian and hand gestures, that every city has a single word that defines it, that identifies most people who live there. If you could read people's thoughts as they were passing you on the streets of any given place, you would discover that most of them are thinking the same thought. Whatever that majority though might be--that is the word of the city. And if your personal word does not match the word of the city, then you don't really belong there." (pg 103)

So I know it's been awhile since I read Eat, Pray Love (EPL) told you all about it but I came across this post that I had yet to post. (No worries, I have two more where this came from.) I think my thought-process what along the lines of spreading out the quotes from EPL to prevent chick-lit overload. Truly, humans can only take so much rom-com or chick-lit stuff.
Ahem.
Back to the quote at hand.
Isn't this the most intriguing idea? This concept that every city has a word--one word--that defines it and most of the people who live there. If this were true, it makes an interesting argument. Have you ever been to a place and just immediately been felt at home? Maybe the word that defines you is the same word that defines the city. Oooooo.
The only glitch in this idea is, have you ever tried defining yourself in one word? It's hard. I see myself on a spectrum. And I am rarely definitive on any one concept. But I like the idea of one central word that all other descriptive words depend upon; the keystone of your personality, if you will. It must be nice to know yourself so well, as to describe yourself in such a parsimonious package.
Therefore, because I think it's a good idea, I'm going to issue a challenge. The challenge is thus: that each of you lovely readers must find your word--the word--that defines you. And then tell me about the adventure that such a search is bound to be. I am going to do the same. Once I find my word, to be sure, I will let you know. And since it's me, you can be sure, it will be a funny story

Nightime Philosophers

Ever since school has ended, I spend a lot of time staying up to ridiculous hours of the night. Why for, you might ask? Certainly not to watch reruns of How I Met Your Mother (but yes, we have watched so much more of that show than is actually probably necessary)
Actually, there really is no good reason for staying awake til 1...2...3 a.m.
However, this is the one thing I will say for the wee hours of the morning: they sure give you time to think.
Maybe it's the illusion of seclusion, when the dark night is kept at bay by the soft illumination of my tasteful Christmas lit living room. Maybe it's the shimmer and sway of bubbles that are blown between secrets that are shared between two confidants. Maybe the carefully constructed social guard wall becomes more permeable as the minutes tick by until sleep resets the protection.
Whatever it is, late nights/early morning are good times to take an honest look at yourself, your goals, your perspective in life. Not that it's a guaranteed pleasant experience. The morning after isn't pretty either but hopefully it helps you lead a more direct, more purposeful life.
Introspection is nice, isn't it?

Eat, Pray, Love: Broken Hearts

"Love is always complicated. but still humans must try to love each other, darling. We must get our hearts broken sometimes. This is a good sign, having a broken heart. It means we have tried for something." (pg 277)

A broken heart never feels good, but I guess it helps us understand that we have participated in this beautiful thing called life...

Creativity and the Genius Behind It

I first saw this clip about a year ago, when another friend posted it to his blog. I was blown away. I recently just watched it again and it's still so good. It's interesting to really think deeply about the nature of creativity. Because I am completely overwhelmed with thinking about teaching, I see a great correlation between creativity and teaching. Not only my role as a an educator (and a creative one at that) but also the level of creativity that comes with the territory of being a student. Too often students are only required to sit quietly and passively while the teacher relays all the information in the world into their open brains. Learning requires more interaction and involvement, on a similar note, creativity requires more interaction than we typically think. I am getting off on a tangent, but it's interesting regardless.
Let me know what you think about Ms. Gilbert and her thoughts.
They are interesting, no?

Be Warned

Fooey.
My hair dyeing days seem to be at an end, folks.
So, you know how last time, I was so excited to get my internship job? Well, I am still excited, no worries, but one of the assistant principals took me aside today and suggested that I "try a more natural tone" for the start of school. Which, to be honest, doesn't completely surprise me. I mean, come on, it's UTAH. Land of the Conservative. Heaven forbid that someone has some personality showing on the outside.
No, no. I'm sorry. I don't want this post to turn into a rant. Just think, on the bright side, everyone who despairs over my hair won't have to worry much any longer.
Back to boring, that's me!
I don't know what I am going to do about the hair, my choice in clothing, my personality. All of it. I mean, I have to be a grown up here. Or, at least, fairly soon. I am not quite sure I am ready for such responsibility. I mean, kids are going to be calling me Ms. Beddes. How do you think that makes me feel? Mrs. Beddes is my MOM.
I realize that every single girl has probably gone through this crisis over her name. And I know that the kids can't call me by my first name, but Ms. Beddes sounds so...old.
Doesn't it?

Everything is Attractive

Do you ever get in those moods when suddenly, everything seems appealing all of a sudden?
It's the strangest thing walking around campus and suddenly, you realize that the world is filled with attractive men. This may be a by-product of being too long on the dating scene but you know, it could be just a friendly little reminder from the Universe that the world is full of beautiful things, including beautiful men.
... It's ok if you disagree with me here.
In other words, how about this weather, huh?
Seriously, I'm having a tough time keeping my eyes where I need to be walking because I can't stop watching the sky. The mountains get all misty and mysterious in the mornings on the way to school and then, on the way home at night the sky erupts into flamboyant and joyous sunsets.
LOVE IT. ( I tend to ignore the parts where it gets really, really cold.)
Other than that, I'm grateful for:

• walking to campus with a hot-balloon accompanying me on a chilly morning. Totally made my day.
• people who make classes fun. the funny ones that make you laugh out loud, even though everyone else in the room is quiet.
• friends that no matter how much time has passed since the last time we've seen each other we can still chat for twenty minutes in the freezing cold. And it's still fun.
• prayers that are answered in the least expected of places.
• the fact that no matter how busy I feel like I am, somehow, everything gets done. MIRACLES are real, people.
• finding a fellow Scandinavian aficionado in the upper echelons of BYU administration and chatting for an hour just about Norway. <3
• eye makeup. Let's face it, it's my art form. I excel at it and I thoroughly enjoy my ever-increasing supply of every color and shade known to man.

Bollywood Night: Jodhaa Akbar

It takes a certain combination of factors to watch a Bollywood movie. First, you have to be in the mood for a really, really, really long movie. Second, you have to enjoy frequent singing and dancing that may or may not have anything to do with the actual plot. Third, you have to enjoy fantastic costume design with so many colors and jewelry, it will make your head spin. If you are feeling all of these things, then Bollywood is there for you. As it turns out, last night was a Bollywood night. The movie? Jodhaa Akbar
This wasn't necessarily out of the blue. I had heard really good things about it from an acquaintance or two. It's really interesting to note that when you have a interest in something that isn't really mainstream, like Bollywood, you tend to hear the same things brought up by different people. For instance, when you are talking to someone and you say, "Oh I happen to like Bollywood movies as well", then there are only so many that are here in the U.S. and there is a pretty big chance you've seen many of the same ones. OK, and just to set the record straight, to be a fan of Bollywood, Bride and Prejudice cannot be your only exposure. It's not even completely Bollywood. It's heavily influenced by Bollywood, but it has too many trappings of Hollywood to be "real" Bollywood. Although, if you like that movie, going Bollywood all the way won't be that much more difficult. Do it. You will like it.
Start with Jodhaa Akbar. (Warning: Since this is a Bollywood movie, be prepared for the three and a half hour watch time.)
But it is so worth it.
I mean, just look at them!

Can you think of a more beautiful couple? Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is quickly becoming one of my heros. She was crowed Miss World in 1994 and is frequently referred to as "The Most Beautiful Woman in the World". And from everything that I've read about her, she acts like it too. Even though she is beautiful, she doesn't act like a witch. She has her values and beliefs and I admire that.
The male lead, Hrithik Roshan, is absolutely wonderful too. All I've seen is this movie but what a character to play! He plays Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar who is trying to unite all of 16th century Hindustan (India). As the first Mughal emperor actually born in India, he cares more for the country and people than for his actual title. He tries to show his people to be accepting of others' differences, particularly differences in religion. Especially in a country like India which has a large Muslim minority and Hindu majority, tolerance is a lesson that is just as appropriate today as it was four hundred years ago. Even for places outside of India, tolerance is a valuable lesson to learn.
I have my own beliefs of what I think the world should be like and what religion to observe. But even if I don't agree with you, I hope I would be mature enough to value your opinion and listen to what you have to say. I think respect is something that too few people give to others and that causes problems. No one is perfect, so being high and mighty is hypocritical and unhelpful. If this world is ever going to get better, people are going to have to start thinking beyond their wants and needs and working together to find solutions to the very serious problems that we all face.
But I digress. Back to the movie. So to preserve peace in his country and to expand his borders, Emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar makes a strategic marital alliance with a Hindu Rajput princess (Aishwarya Rai). The crux here is that Hindus and Muslims don't mix. So there is a lot of lessons that both sides must learn. Your heart aches when they misunderstand each other. Which is a sign of a good movie if you still identify with the characters, even though they are speaking a different language and all you have to go off of is subtitles. (Another warning: This movie is NOT in English, but is does have English subtitles. You get used to it.)
All in all, great movie. There is some graphic battle sequences at the beginning. War elephants squishing people and such, but no sex. It was based on actual characters and events---to an extent. Any movie director is going to color outside the lines for the sake of the movie. Regardless, fact or fiction, I learned a lot and it was a visual treat. Lots of color, beautiful settings, beautiful people, and a wonderful story.

Breather

Hey Everyone,
Sorry it's been awhile.
Finals.
Would you believe it?
Maybe, maybe not.
I will try to be more constant.
Anyways, onward with the updates!
I read 67 young adult books for my Literature for Adolescents class. My teacher made the mistake of saying the previous record, so of course, I just HAD to beat it. 32 of those 67 were read in the last two and half weeks before the end of the semester. So basically, I read like three books a day until I beat it.
Looooooooooooooooootsssssssssss of reading.
But good news, I recorded all of it at Goodreads, so I won't forget.
Thank goodness, right? Wouldn't want all of that work to go to waste.
I finished grading final papers and assignments. Now, I am just waiting to grade the final tests.
I have finals, of course. But they will wait until tomorrow, of course.
Seven a.m.
Who, may I ask, even gets up that early anymore?
I certainly don't.
That is right, the days of getting up at 4:30 a.m. for work have long since gone the way of all the earth.
LATE nights...fairly early mornings...
I guess this is like, real college, right?
Good thing I only have one semester left. Well, if you live in the land of technicalities, then I have like three semesters left, but remember, those last couple semesters are reserved for student teaching, no classes.
That is right folks! This next semester is the end of official classes!
Don't ask how many credits, it takes too long to explain it all.
I will do it because I have to...and I will try to sleep a little bit also.
But that is about all I have right now.
See ya laters.

Loves.

Words of Inspiration

"Know all the books in your local library better than the librarian. Go there every night. Live there. Educated yourself. Know all the stock in the local book store. I do. There is no day in my life I do not go to at least one book store. Go to art galleries. Look. Fill up. See every film ever made. Fill up on that medium. Know everything that is bad. Only by knowing what is bad can you avoid badness. The snob who refuses knowledge in mediocrities remains always second-rate himself. I have collected Prince Valiant for 30 years. Listen to bad music and good music and great music. Study architecture. Read science-fiction, because it is the one fiction which is curious about ALL the above, all and everything, on every level. In sum: run, shout, search, be puzzled, go on, from day to day, with high enthusiasm."  

~Ray Bradbury

Source: Witkin, Mitzi. "A Defense of Using Pop Media in the Middle-School Classroom." The English Journal 83.1 (1994): 30-33. Print.

Hurrah for Tugboats

source

I don't know how many of you heard, but off the coast of southern California, a massive Carnival cruise liner has been stranded some 200 miles San Diego. There was an engine fire which knocked out power to basically the whole ship, also cutting hot water and electricity off. (There is a link to the article here.)

No crew or passengers were injured.

You would think, out of all the sea-going vessels, cruise ships would be some of the safest (Poseidon Adventure aside), especially with all that food. I never really thought about this problem, but with no electricity, the is NO REFRIGERATION. All that food, gone to waste. The US coast guard had to actually fly in emergency food supplies until the ship can make it back to land. 

Which, bring me to the purpose of this post.

How is a powerless, broken 113,000 ton (that means it's BIG) cruise ship going to make it back to land?

 

The answer, my friends, is tugboats.

 

Can you imagine it? These hearty little things are pulling that monstrosity all 200 miles back to safety.

My admiration level for these little boats has gone up immeasurably these past couple of days. I sure hope those passengers appreciate what is going in to save them, although I can pretty much assure that they are probably furious right now. 

Scared, maybe; furious, most definitely.

Anyways, as I was trying to find a picture of these brave little engines, these engines that could, I came across this delightful gem.

Tugboat Enthusiasts Society

Who would have known!

(I'm kind of tempted to join now)

(...also, the style is very old school internet...the kind I remember learning about in elementary school. It kind of warms the cockles of your heart to see such nostalgia.)

Anyways, I'd thought I'd share what I've been following the past couple of days. Knock on wood that it turns out OK, and that everyone gets home safe.

Except poor Carnival...they are going to lose a boatload* of money.

*no pun intended.

World Awareness

It's weird. Whenever I blog, I just send it out in the great wide world, not really thinking of who is seeing it. I just found the stats section of blogger. And it's opened my eyes, man. There was people in Russia, who has seen my blog. Russia, of all places! And other places. Like Norway! That was exciting. I love Norway.

Suddenly, I feel like I should be more cosmopolitan in my blogging approach.

Any suggestions?
If not, I will continue to do what I do.
Put up stuff that I find unique, interesting, or just me.
Loves to the great wide world. :)

Crystal Stairs

Mother to Son

by Langston Hughes

"Well, son, I’ll tell you:

Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.

It’s had tacks in it,

And splinters,

And boards torn up,

And places with no carpet on the floor—

Bare.

But all the time

I’se been a-climbin’ on,

And reachin’ landin’s,

And turnin’ corners,

And sometimes goin’ in the dark

Where there ain’t been no light.

So boy, don’t you turn back.

Don’t you set down on the steps

’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.

Don’t you fall now—

For I’se still goin’, honey,

I’se still climbin’,

And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair."
*from poetryfoundation.org

Life may not be a crystal stair...
but it's worth it.

Keep that in mind as school tries to take it out of you.
with loves,
Kiera

Locked Out Again

So I am part of a little club called the Phi Alpha Theta. We are self-proclaimed history nerds. We have an office on the second floor of the JFSB. We help other history nerds find their niche. I cannot get into said office because the key is missing.
Who lost the key? You might ask.
Well, it wasn't me!
Alas, I am still locked out regardless.
Boo.
I hate being dependent upon others. You can get let down so easily, if you are not the one responsible for things. I have office hours. People could need me and I can't be where I said I will be!!! This kind of irresponsibility is killing me.
Also, I like having my own office. I am in control and I don't have to acknowledge other people's existence unless they come to me. In my office. Out here in the open, you have to say "Hello" to everyone who you made eye-contact with. It can be very exhausting, let me tell you.
Also, in other news, I just finished reading The Great Gatsby.
Can you believe that I had never read it before?
Which is silly, seeing as it isn't very long and it is widely considered a classic of American Literature. I mean, I have heard of it before, but I had never read it before. Somehow, I escaped high school without reading it. I got away with a lot of things in high school, apparently. Go figure.
Anyways, let discuss The Great Gatsby, shall we?

The original cover art was commissioned and finished before Fitzgerald actually finished the novel, so he sort of wrote the picture into the book. I really appreciate it when different formats of art are blended together. It provides such a deeper interpretation and meaning. Anyways, Fitzgerald has a beautiful use of the language. Seriously.
Also, the simple tragedy of it all. People trying to reach out to one another, albeit, without the best of intentions, but really, people just wanting to be loved, and then they get shot down, thrown aside. I am glad that Fitzgerald set the time period during the 1920's because you can imagine all sorts of awful things happening to the characters that you hated during the Great Depression. You wish that they get what they deserved, but they probably didn't.
The moral of the story is, just be nice to people. Don't be a jerk. No one likes jerks.
Also, don't obsess over people. It isn't attractive and it doesn't get you what you want in the end anyhow.
The End.
oh p.s. they opened my office! I am in control again. Woot!

Hallelujah, It's Friday

TGIF
The week is practically over and it couldn't have come at a better time.
I have decided that the next couple of goals shall include:

• Whittling down the stuff I have to take to school to ONE bag.
• Actually trying to get up at the right time.
• Getting to bed at a decent time.
• Looking pretty for school.
• Staying on top of the schedule.

That is the plan.
Fortunately, I have the whole weekend to put it off.
Happy Friday, ya'll

Part of the Plan

I have these moments
All steady and strong
I’m feeling so holy and humble
The next thing I know
I’m all worried and weak
And I feel myself
Starting to crumble.

The meanings get lost
And the teachings get tossed
And you don’t know what you’re
Going to do next.
You wait for the sun
But it never quite comes
Some kind of message comes
Through to you.
Some kind of message comes through.

And it says to you...

Love when you can
Cry when you have to...
Be who you must
That’s a part of the plan
Await your arrival
With simple survival
And one day we’ll all understand...

I had a woman
Who gave me her soul
But I wasn’t ready to
Take it.
Her heart was so fragile
And heavy to hold
And I was afraid I might
Break it.

Your conscience awakes
And you see your mistakes
And you wish someone
Would buy your confessions.
The days miss their mark
And the night gets so dark
And some kind of message
Comes through to you
Some kind of message
Shoots through --

There is no Eden or
Heavenly gates
That you’re gonna make it to
One day
But all of the answers you seek
Can be found
In the dreams that you dream
On the way.