Zombies! ….and chicks.

It was a good zombie week for me.  Not only did I read Vol. 17 of The Walking Dead and Zombies Calling (more on those later!), but I saw World War Z.  Score!  I read the book about a year and a half ago and loved it.  I thought Max Brooks’ approach to telling the story was unique and gave a cool picture of how the world went through the zombie attack – most of the zombie literature (it’s very important reading, so I call it all literature) focuses on isolated individuals and communities.  Anyway, the movie focuses on Brad Pitt’s  character (honestly, I don’t really care about the character’s name, in my mind, Brad Pitt is the hero, sue me) formerly of the UN, who has experience in hostile situations.  Brad Pitt has to help research where the outbreak began and spread, because perhaps that might lead to finding a cure.  Our hero travels the globe investigating possible origins, other countries’ reactions (and why) and getting out of close calls.  Of course, Brad Pitt saves the day in a sequence that includes what is perhaps my all time favorite product placement. I thought World War Z was awesome, but I am very biased in this genre.  There was lots of action and a cool story, that stayed true to the concept of the book. It was enacted in it’s own way but stayed true to the overall concept and feel of the book.  I think this approach is better than following the book exactly because it then becomes a side-by-side comparison, which is why book to movies are often disappointing.  Husband thought it was a fun action movie, but that was about it for him.  He just doesn’t appreciate zombies (and I keep telling him that his survival chances are hurt by his ambivalence, but hey, his choice, survival of the fittest, man).  I did find the zombies suspiciously fast, but that did increase tension and action, so I will allow it.

Zombies Calling, by Faith Erin Hicks: This little gem came out in 2007, and is Hicks’ first book.  Short and sweet, the book is about zombie obsessed Joss going through university finals.  Finals are disrupted by a zombie outbreak on campus, and the only way Joss and her friends can survive is by following the zombie movie rules.  It doesn’t have the depth and story development of Friends with Boys, but at about 100 pages it still did a nice job.  The zombies aren’t exceptionally gross and there isn’t anything gory, so it is pretty accessible to all readers.
Overall Assessment: Cute, fun pick that can be finished in an hour or two.

The Walking Dead Vol. 17: Something to Fear, by Robert Kirkman:  This was a hard volume to read.  As Rick and his fellow survivors are expanding their reach, they are also encountering new enemies who are more dangerous than initially thought.  The “Saviors” is a group led by Negan; they launch large and deadly assaults on the community, leading to two important deaths.  Andrea’s and Rick’s relationship changes, as do the mind-sets of Rick and Michonne in the face of these new attacks.  Carl, is still a pain in the ass doing whatever he wants showing up where ever he wants.  Sigh.

(Image from the awesome tumblr Get out of here, Carl!)

Overall Assessment: As much as I hated some of the turns in this volume, they were necessary to keep the story going.  Seeing the cracks of hardened characters lets you see that they are still human after everything.  Hopefully the next volume will give some background to Negan.
Will I Read the Sequel? (Or in this case, the next volume?)  I’ve gone too far with them to turn back now!

The Elite, by Kiera Cass:  I have so many mixed feelings on this book and the series.  On one hand, I think about how I feel as I explained the premise to a friend…yeah, kinda silly.  But on the other hand, once I started listening, I couldn’t stop!  The Elite picks up right where The Selection left off – Maxon narrowed the field down to six.  We learn a bit more about Illea’s history, Illea’s douchey founder, Maxon’s jerk father and the rebels (though not as much as I would like).  There are also interactions with other countries that sheds more light and mysteries on the politics and goings on of the castle and country.  America is super lame and super indecisive, she flip-flops from Maxon to Aspen at the drop of a hat.  She makes stupid and irrational decisions, and then turns around and apologizes for her decisions.  Both of these guys (who have their own flaws), could do much better.
Overall Assessment: Despite my dislike of America, the story still draws the reader in.  Cass creates some great tension in secret meetings, rendezvous and lingering mysteries.  Some of the dialog is a bit cliche, and many of the secondary characters lack a lot of depth (though many who were flat in The Selction became more fleshed out).
Will I Read the Sequel? I’ve come this far, and have very strong opinions about the first two so, yes, I feel compelled to finish it out.
Cat Scale: Still not enough.  There was only 1 cat fight – 1!!  C’mon, I think we all want and expect more than that.

Coming up next: American Vampire Vol. 5, Scrivener’s Moon, and The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls.

More than Halfway!

I have read 76 books for the year!  Past the halfway mark before June.  Go me!  Visits from Mommy, busy schedule and having too many books that I can’t tear myself away from led to a delay in posting.  But, it was an exciting and eclectic week in books so I’m just gonna dive right in!

Etiquette & Espionage, by Gail Carriger: This was super fun.  I listened to this, and the reader was quite fabulous too!  So here’s the breakdown:
Setting: Victorian England, steampunk style – complete with werewolves and vampires.
The Deal: Sophronia is high spirited, plucky, active and curious, which of course means she must be sent to boarding school to polish up and act more lady like.  She is accepted into a well known finishing school that teaches how to dance, curtsey, serve tea, poison, investigate, and assassinate–without ruining your hair of course.  Upon arriving at the academy a mysterious prototype is missing and Sophronia can’t help investigating…
Names: I had to give a category to the names, because they are awesome.  Ms. Barnaclegoose, Lord Dingleproops and a mcanimal dog named Bumbersnoot are a few of the great names.
Overall Assessment: I loved the writing and tongue-in-cheek tone of the book.  It was fun without taking itself too seriously.
Will I Read the Sequel: Yes!
Quote: “‘What’s wrong with liking girly things? I like petticoats and dancing and perfume and hats and brooches and necklaces and–‘ Her eyes glazed over slightly as she contemplated sparkles.”  This is of course, the fabulous BFF, Dimity.

Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls, by David Sedaris: Another solid collection from David Sedaris.  His quirky and funny essays range from colonoscopies, family life and language learning on the fly.  My favorite essay involves Sedaris learning that it is apparent he has a weakness for strange and disturbing items….mostly because I feel the same way.  He also has some short fiction interspersed, taking on different voices and topics.  These were okay, I think if there had been many more of them it would have been too much.
Overall Assessment:  Sedaris’ sardonic essays are great and make for a quick, fun read.  This is a good summer pick because the essay form allows for you to sneak in a quick essay and then pick it up later without having to remember any plot.  It can easily be read in a sitting or two as well.

Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong, by Prudence Shen, illus. Faith Erin Hicks: Funding is tight and the robotics team needs money to go to competition and the cheerleaders need uniforms — let the battle begin.  Nate, Robotics Club President and Charlie, Captain of the Basketball team are unlikely friends and unlikely opponents to Student Body President.  Charlie is being forced to run by the cheerleaders so they can get the money and Nate is hoping to secure funding for Robotics.  What follows are dirty campaigns, a robot death match, a stolen car as the Robotics Team and Cheerleaders strive to come out on top, dragging poor Charlie along for the ride.  Nothing can possibly go wrong, right? (Sorry, I couldn’t help but work that in — it fits so perfect!)
Illustrations: It’s Faith Erin Hicks so of course the drawings and illustrations are fantastic.  She has also done the wonderful Friends with Boys, and the delightful War at Ellsmere, among others.  LOVE.  Nothing can look wrong when she’s at the table.
Overall Assessment: Great pick for readers of all levels and interests.  Appeal for boys and girls,readers who are a sensitive to violence or sex and readers at many levels.  Must have for libraries and a must read!  Plus, robot death match!

The Unseen Guest, by Maryrose Wood:  In the third installment of the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series we meet Lord Fredrick’s mother and her potential fiance, Admiral Faucet — who has lost his ostrich.  Who better to track the ostrich into the woods than three children who know the woods, have excellent noses and tracking skills and can imitate the call of nearly any animal in the woods?  In this delightful and funny adventure we learn more about how the children survived in the woods and their origins as well as some family history about Lord Fredrick.  The story wraps up nicely, but still leaves enough unanswered questions to leave me hanging for the fourth installment!  I have listened to all of these on audiobook, and again, the narrator delivered fabulously.
Overall Assessment: I adore the adventures of the Incorrigibles and the third didn’t let me down.  There was plenty of howling and Poe (and P.O.E.s!) to keep things thoroughly amusing.

The Fifth Wave, by Rick Yancey: This is the book that kept me from writing my book reviews because I could not put this down!  Let’s break it down:
The Deal:  Aliens have arrived.  Instead of making friends they send out attacks on humans in waves.  After the fourth wave, no one knows who to trust – who is human and who isn’t.  There are a lot of mind games going on, which is super intense.  Add a cute boy and close quarters into the mix and the mind if blown.  OH SNAP!
Chick Check: Cassie is a bad ass female lead.  She loves her M16 and can kick butt and take names.  She took karate in the before so she has always been her own gal.  Nice.
Overall Assessment: Yancey delivers an awesome and inventive alien tale.  I love a book where you don’t know who the bad guys are, and it becomes a mental struggle as well as physical.  My once complaint is that I had a hard time following the actual time in the book – I would wonder how long they were in places and the like (maybe I just missed it?).  Otherwise though solid kick-butt book.
Last Thoughts? Alien apocalypse!
Will I Read the Sequel? Hello?! Alien apocalypse! Hells yeah!

Coming next review….The Elite, by Keera Cass!

Getting Served in the Hot Room

I knew it would be dangerous to talk about a hot room triumph, but I still proceeded.  In the typical yoga tradition of maintaining balance – I got served.  After teaching a delightful 8 a.m. class last Sunday, I stayed to take the 10 a.m. as I usually do.  Feeling good, I set myself up in the hot corner of the room in between two rock star students and told them I “wanted a good butt kick class!”  The yoga gods heard that, and kick my butt they did.  Actually it was my favorite Midwestern teacher, but I digress. 

I plowed through a tough standing series taking, just a little pause to stand out a smidge of Standing Bow Pulling Pose.  There is something about the floor series, and that first Savasana that allow your body to relax, but also allows any signals you’ve been ignoring or suppressing to catch up with you.  And catch up they did.  By the end of class I was laying out every other set and felt nauseated.  Sure enough, after the lights went out and the teacher left, some of the Ultima I’d been drinking made an appearance on my mat. (I swear I didn’t drink too much and guzzle!)  Anyway, it was gross.  

As a teacher this is the kind of class I try and help students avoid.  I encourage them to rest when they need a rest, have some water or gatorade as needed and to take care of themselves.  I encourage everyone to stay in the room (unless, of course, one of the 4 P’s strike) and get used to the heat and still get a nice sweat.  Sometimes, even when you know how to take care of and pace yourself, your body just has a message it needs to get to you.  In my case — I was doing too much.  Not just in the hot room but in my every day life and activities.  I had picked up extra classes to teach and extra shifts at the library, I’ve running more, walking the dogs more, working outside more and maintaining my regular practice.  That is a lot more going on and my body was exhausted.  The last thing it needed was for me to put it through the wringer of a rough class. 

We rarely take the time to relax or take it easy when we are feeling good.  We wait until we are at the point of trying to avoid getting vomit in our hair to actually take a step back.  We never stop to analyze our body when things feel good, instead, we continue to push until something snaps.  Learning how to search your mind for how your body feels and what it needs is a different matter and a different way  of taking care of yourself.  It also requires battle with the Ego, and letting your mind navigate through what your body needs and allowing the Ego to accept that over what it wants.

Oh boy!

I just found out there Elizabeth Wein has another WWII thriller coming out!  Rose Under Fire now added to my massive September pile!

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17262236-rose-under-fire

Reading Round-Up

Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal, by Mary Roach:  I’m a big fan of her work and she didn’t disappoint.  I share her 12-year-old boy interest in the squeamish and the bizarre things about the human body.  Starting with the sense of smell and taste, Roach investigates her way down through the stomach and concludes with, well, how all things ingested conclude.  Along the way she addresses important points including, the crunch factor, important elements of spit, Elvis’s constipation, and chewing theory.  All of which was fascinating and funny.  Included, of course, is a Bristol Stool Scale for your viewing pleasure and contemplation.
Overall Assessment: If you like reading about crazy cool shit (pun intended) your body can do, and aren’t too squeamish its a fun ride.

The Selection, by Kiera Cass:  I read this based upon several friends’ recommendations, and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.   Here’s the rundown:  our prince needs a wife (doesn’t he always?) To keep the masses happy, he will marry one of “the people” so the eligible women enter their names into a selection.  Thirty-five bachelorettes are selected and only one can marry his highness.  ……Yeah, I know.  In my mind, this is The Hunger Games with dating rather than death (although Katniss jumping out and shooting girls with her arrows would have been awesome.).  In fact, upon reading the synopsis I felt a bit like Lucille.

There was actually a lot more of that during the first few chapters and the first 10 times America Singer (yeah, that’s her name and I still roll my eyes over her name) continued saying “Why do I have to change myself?”, “Why can’t I stay me?”, or “I’m not changing anything about myself.”  Okay, message received: individualism good.  As the story progressed America became slightly less annoying, the love triangle developed (oh yeah!) and the story became more flushed out,  there were some great twists and turns and I actually started to like the characters.  The characters and plot felt really flat generic at the beginning, but by the end Cass had everything nicely developed.  By the last third of the book I was hooked.
Overall Assessment: Girly and fun  
Lacking? I needed a little more cattiness.  Seriously there wasn’t as much cattiness as there should have been when you have 35 girls competing for one guy. For Reals.
Will I Read the Sequel? Already on hold!

Maggot Moon, by Sally Gardner: In a marketplace flooded with dystopian books, it is difficult to find one that stands out in terms of  literary quality and originality and Gardner succeeded on both counts.  The setting reminds me of an alternate universe version of Soviet Russia.  Standish Treadwell has different colored eyes, can’t read or write, but is remarkably perceptive, smart and observant.  Standish’s only friend has disappeared after going over the wall and discovering the Motherland’s secret.  The story is told in 100 very short chapters with accompanying illustrations that move along with the story.  Maggot Moon is both disturbing and haunting, and beautifully told.  My fear, as with many books like this, is that it wont have the teen pull of the popular quick, easy dystopian books out there.  However, for those smart, curious and challenge-seeking teen readers who like 1984 and Brave New World, Maggot Moon is a definite for them.
Overall: Wow.

The Runaway King, by Jennifer Nielson: Oh snap, talk about drama! (BTW, I really want to bring “Oh snap” back…but was it ever really in? Whatever.)  So Jaron is now King of Cathya, but nothing is falling into line or place.  After attack during his family’s funeral, Jaron learns of new threats that, of course, no one believes, and on top of that, his Captain of the Guard wants to instil a Steward until Jaron comes of age.  Whew.  Of course adventures ensue, and Jaron makes poor decisions accompanied by witty one-liners.  He acquires a cute side-kick and the love triangle deepens.  Lingering mysteries from the first book were wrapped up and ground work for the final installment was laid.  While parts of the story line-up and fall together a little too neatly at times, Nielson still writes a fun, exciting and captivating adventure.  Again, I did the audiobook, which was fabulous.  In fact, I logged another 6 miles on this one!
Overall Assessment: OH SNAP!  (Seriously, I kept saying that at the close of every other chapter or whenever craziness went down.)                                     
Will I Read the Sequel: Absolutely

Six-Gun Snow White, by Catherynne M. Valente:  I can’t remember where I heard about this little gem, but I’m glad I did.  This is a re-telling of Snow White, set as a Western. Snow White is half-Crow/half-white daughter of a rich silver baron who forced her mother to leave the Crow nation and marry him.  After her mother dies in childbirth, Mr. H remarries a cruel woman who gives Snow White her name, in reference to the white skin she will never have.  Snow White runs away, works in the mines, lives with outlaws, but can never fully escape the reach of Mrs. H and her strange mirror.  Snow White is tough and raw and exudes a grittiness that makes her a fantastic heroine.  The book is fairly short (about 170 pages) and moves at a brisk pace.  The main problem I had was with some of the writing – I would find myself getting and would have to back up a bit and reread to fully understand what was going on.  The real pull and magic is Valente’s incorporation of Native American folklore and Western elements into the classic fairy tale.
Overall Assessment: Great pick for something completely different, and for anyone who wants to see a kick-ass Snow White.                                  
Accessory Report: Snow White carries a badass gun with inlaid pearls and rubies.  Nice.

Challenge Stats: 71 books read, 47% completion — 4 books ahead of schedule!

Similar Items

I have no idea how I got these recommendations but I am very excited about them. Perhaps I need a UFO detector and a nice taco wallet…..

Hello Feet!

    My intent for this blog is to focus primarily upon reading and yoga, so I figure I should offer up something on yoga.  Let me start by saying that I have a hard time talking about myself–specifically positive accomplishments.  So, I decided to start my yoga writing  with a challenge: by discussing one of my breakthroughs.  Freshest in my mind is my most recent accomplishment: I saw my feet in bow pose!  Let me set the scene for you:  I taught the 4:30 and the 6:30 classes and the only reason I stayed to take the 8:15 was because I was there.  Seriously.  Teaching a double at the end of the day leaves me wiped, and obligation is the only thing that keeps me going past bedtime.

    It was a rougher than usual class, especially since you can always count on the 8:15’s to be slightly more humid.  I slogged through the standing series, fell out of everything, tried not to fall asleep when I got to savasana and continued through the spine strengthening series.  I kicked up into my usual first set of  bow, and since it felt really nice the first set, I kicked a little harder the second set.  Then, out of nowhere, I caught sight of something in my peripheral vision.  Wait…could it be?!  Right when I realized it was possibly my foot – the posture was over.

    Quickly I looked up and around the room to see if there was a bird or something new hanging from the ceiling.  The rest of class I couldn’t decide if I saw my foot or I hallucinated.  After class I immediately tried it again, but wiggle my toe this time – I saw it wiggle!  Holy crap, you’d have thought I’d never seen my feet before!  Upon entering the lobby, I told teacher friend about my accomplishment and she said, “Why didn’t you stop class – I would have announced it!”  The hubby’s response later that evening was slightly less satisfying, “Oh, that’s nice honey.”

    I suppose that unless you are practicing yoga on a regular basis it is hard for people to understand the level of accomplishment you feel when achieving a stage of a posture.  If you tell someone you ran a 7 minute mile (not that I do), they can understand that, and have a better appreciation of it, than when you tell them you saw your feet.  (My Dad’s response was, “Oh, I’m looking at my feet AND I’m on the phone.”)

    I have fallen in love with the backbends of Bikram yoga.  They are the postures that I love to practice more than any other.  These are postures that, for me, I have seen more progress in than others (progress helps with liking, even in yoga!).  After about a year and a half of practicing yoga, side-bends are still difficult and my hips are slowly opening and my shoulders are opening up even slower.  My balance?  Don’t ask.  So when I reached what I consider to be a major progress point, I was ready to sing it from the mountain.

    Intellectually, I’m also very intrigued by the concept of healing the spine through backbends.  This is a concept I have heard so much about through senior teachers, and read a little about (it’s actually kind of hard to find good solid information that isn’t anecdotal).  However, I do have the proof of my back, and how good it feels.  There is something about seeing someone in a full wheel, and part of me still thinks “that can’t be right,” and the other part thinks “I want to do that!”  I’m sure at some point I will do that.  Again, after only a year and a half I’m really amazed at how far I’ve come in my practice, by doing just 4 – 5 days a week, plus maintaining other activities like running, biking, etc.  I’m feeling very proud of myself in a way that I never have before, and still feel a little uncomfortable about it – hence my apprehension over writing about this.  But a big part of yoga is getting out of your comfort zone, and being okay with yourself and appreciating yourself.  So, I suppose in writing this, I’m still practicing my yoga!

Hello June!

My stack of library books is ever-growing and this has been a slow week for me.  I’m currently reading Gulp, by Mary Roach and learning lots of squeamish and interesting tidbits about my nose, mouth and digestive system.  Yay!  I’m currently listening to The Selection, and also reading Maggot Moon.  I’m 44% done with my challenge and 3% ahead of schedule.

Completed this week:

• Fragments, by Dan Wells: It took forever to finish this one (sequel to Partials).  This is one of those post-apocalypse teen book series that I pick up and am super excited about but turns out to be a plodder.  Since I have a hard time leaving things unfinished, I inevitably pick up the sequel to something that I wasn’t that excited about in the first place.  Our teen heroine, Kira is trying to save the world and travels across the wasteland of America with a cute Partial boy looking for the answers to the epidemic.

Overall assessment: Meh.

Will I read the sequel? I plead the fifth.

• War at Ellsmere, by Faith Erin Hicks: In preparation for reading the Hicks illustrated Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong, I’m on a quest to read everything she’s put out.  I love her illustrations and stories, and yet again, was not disappointed.  Juniper is from the wrong side of the tracks and on scholarship to a prestigious private school.  She becomes friends with fellow outcast Cassie, and they quickly become targets of the popular girls.  Hijinks follow and unicorns appear.

Audience: Honestly, I think ANY teen girl would love this (even boys would!) – plus and Hicks fans and YA enthusiasts.

Overall assessment: Unicorns!

•     The Cove, by Ron Rash: I listened to this on Playaway, and despite the darn thing cutting off on me here and there, it was hard to stop listening.  In Mars Hill, NC Laurel lives with her brother Hank in a cove in the mountains.  Locals are wary and scared of the cove, thus Hank and Laurel have always been outcasts.  A stranger who cannot speak stumbles into their lives, and with his silence he brings secrets, music and new suspicions into an area that is on edge from WWI. (Just realized I technically didn’t read this within the last week, but whatever, the review is written.)

Key Elements: southern charm, North Carolina, intrigue, politics and superstition

Reaction at the end: WTF?!?!

Overall assessment: Really liked it, hated the ending, even though I suppose it fits with the book. **Grumble**

•     The False Prince, the Jennifer Neilson: Another book I resisted but wound up loving.  (Note to self: if you find yourself resisting a book PICK IT UP!).  Sage is an orphan who, along with three other orphans, is bought by Connor a nobleman who wants to train them with the hopes of one being malleable enough to impersonate the lost Prince Jaron.  I could not take off my headphones (another audiobook) because I was enthralled with the twists and turns, shady characters and secrets.  Plus, I love a book where the narrator withholds information.

Key elements: Smart ass, and sword fights

Overall assessment: I ran six miles on the treadmill because I could not stop listening*.

Will I Read the Sequel? Hells yeah.

•     The Ask and the Answer, by Patrick Ness: Another audio finished this week (I did a lot of driving) and again it did not disappoint.  The Knife of Never Letting Go, follows Viola and Todd on their journeys to outrun Mayor Prentiss to Haven only to have him greet them there.  Todd and Viola are now separated as are all the men and women in what is now called New Prentiss.  Here, there is a noise cure and slimy (now) President Prentiss is running the show and controlling Todd, who is now befriending former enemy Davy Prentiss.  Viola is getting drawn into mysteries of The Answer led by shifty Mistress Coyle.  Ness has so much going on, but maintains the story well keeping the tension tight and the twists coming.  The books are dark and gritty and in my mind the world is filtered through grays and reds.

Lingering Thoughts: (In regard to The Knife of Never Letting Go) I’m still not over Manchee.

Overall assessment: Holy crap you can’t end like that!

Will I Read the Sequel? See above

*Listening to audiobooks at the gym is tricky.  I can almost always listen to one on the elliptical. Listening to one while running?  It requires a certain level of awesomeness in an audiobook to do that.