d.: December 2010

12.15.2010

Song of the week 8

Procrastination is kinda my thing so here I am finals week trying to cram everything I can into a few days... So it is 2.35 am and this song came to my mind. I used to love this song. Still do actually. Enjoy.

12.11.2010

A semester wrap up.

So I am finally caught up in my blogging, and with the end of the semester coming up I thought I would do a little semester wrap up.
This is what my last three weeks looked like:

I had four papers due on the last week of class, all of them were research papers with a required length of 8-10 pages. Lots of stress, writing, reading and a few tears went into the papers but I am happy to say they are all done. I am just a few finals and a graphic design project away from doing whatever I please, including reading whatever I want.

I think I was crazy when I signed up for 4 English classes because this is how many books I had to read:

That is a lot of books. I want to write my review of the books I read so that when I forget if I liked the book I have an easy reference. If you are looking for something to read there are a few good ones here!
A Long and Happy Life -Reynolds Price
This book was a fast and easy read, with an ok story and much better on the second read (ya I had to read it twice, but it was the only book for my writing class...) I learned a lot while I was writing so I now appreciate this book more than I originally thought. Not a bad quicky!
The Old Man and the Sea -Earnest Hemingway
If you like Hemingway, or fishing maybe you will like this. I don't love either and while it was an ok book and a classic not a favorite of the semester.
Herland - Charlotte Perkins Gilman
This is a Utopian feminist novel. I thought it was great and did a wonderful job highlighting women are equal to men in many ways. Slow at times but I enjoyed it.
The Blacker the Berry -Wallace Thurman
I really liked the way this book was written. Great character development and a great look into racism in America.
America is in the Heart -Carlos Bulosan
I also liked this one. The thing I found most interesting was how America was portrayed in this novel. We were awful to the immigrants and this shows a lot of truth.
Possession: A Romance -A.S. Byatt
This took me a while to get into it but then it was awesome. The story is very unique and compelling. (much better than the movie)
Translations -Brian Friel
This is a short play but full of a lot. I didn't put it down until I finished because I wanted to know what happened.
The Cure at Troy -Seamus Heaney
A really cool take on the famous Greek story of Philoctetes. It's also a play and a quick read. Not bad.

A House for Mr. Biswas - V.S. Naipaul

We only read a couple chapters out of this book, but it seemed interesting. I am not sure I will take the time to read the rest of the book though...

The Famished Road -Ben Okri

This book is trippy. It is African magical realism and has a lot of really strange stuff in it, but it was a good book and had a great ending (kind of a Moral of the Story end).

Midnight's Children -Salman Rushdie

By far the strangest book I read all semester. Half the time you don't know what is going on. The other half you only think you know what is going on. It is beautifully written but Rushdie is kinda a crazy.

The Return of the King- J.R.R. Tolkien

Well the only thing this book did for me was make me want to watch the movies. I am sure if I knew the story better I would have been more interested but come on Tolkien do you have to spend pages describing every little detail?

Omeros -Derek Walcott

Epic Poem. Like 500 pages.... Not a fan.

Northanger Abbey -Jane Austen

This is an Austen take on the Gothic novel. Not my favorite Austen book, but the story is fun and her imagination shows in this one.

Emma -Jane Austen

Probably my second favorite JA novel. I love Emma and I think she is funny. Read this!

Persuasion -Jane Austen

This is the second time I have read Persuasion this year and it grows on you. JA wit is enjoyable all the time, this isn't my favorite but also a good one.

Washington Square - Henry James

I was excited to see this novel play out and was very satisfied with it. I have learned to love Henry James and his twisted views on life.

Daisy Miller - Henry James

Like not love. Daisy Miller is an intriguing character and the way it is narrator really shapes your view about her. James is good at that!

The Turn of the Screw -Henry James

Said to be one of the greatest ghost stories ever told, and I have to say that although I didn't lose sleep over it, it was thrilling and a fun read.

Jane Austen: A Life -Carol Sheilds

As far as biographies go, this is a keeper it was interesting had some great stories about her life and I didn't feel like I was reading a biography.

TaDa. The End. Wish me luck on finals.

Forts.

I love Forts. A lot. Dezi wanted one for her birthday and I think it is by far the best fort we have ever built. We used the whole family room, using ropes, sheets, bag clips and blow up mattresses. It was so great they left it up for a week!
These pictures aren't the best but they show the epic-ness of the fort!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1: A night of Magic, Excitement and Awe.

A night of Magic, Excitement and Awe.

Along with everyone else in the world, I could not wait for this night. The first installment of the last Harry Potter film. Growing up with Harry has been quite the adventure and I am not looking forward to the day that the journey ends. What will the world be like with out any more HP books or movies on their way. What do I have to look forward to in life. OK so maybe HP isn't everything but it is definitely something. The movie was awesome, I loved every minute of it and I am glad they split it into two parts!

I went and watched it in So Jo with my Family and Leianne, because we have seen almost every movie together, it's tradition. (and we didn't have to wait in line!) But before going up to So Jo I met up with these people to have a mini photo shoot. (this is my pre-outfit.)

Gage, Me, Rach, Caity, Claire.

Then I went home and put on my REAL outfit and had another photoshoot with Niques! (take a look at her thoughts on this night here)
Here we are with our full robes on! (gotta love the London pictures behind us! It is like we are almost there)

Cute Sisters!

We probably would both wear these outfits in real life...

Hiding from Voldy...

The Fab Five Ds (minus Dezi, she couldn't go because she hadn't finished the book, Sad) Does this remind you of anything?

I can't wait for the last movie!

Aquabats vs. Reel Big Fish (songs of the week 7)

For my Birthday Dylan got me tickets to an AWESOME concert. Aquabats vs. Reel Big Fish. Any fan of ska knows this is epic. It was epic. It was a 5 hours of pure craziness and fun. I really really liked one of the opening bands: Suburban Legends. They were so much fun. It was the perfect birthday present and Dylan was so excited to give it to me he gave it to me a few weeks early (even though the concert wasn't until the first week of November!) Thanks Dylie!