Monniblog

Shiver, Linger, & Forever by Maggie Stiefvater (book review)

monnibo — Sat, 12 May 2012 23:35:07 +0000

I read these three books in quick succession (March/April 2012), and greatly enjoyed the Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater. The writing is simple, straightforward, yet poetry, and the characters are well-rounded. The plot is a little predictable, but it’s nice when book one doesn’t end with a ‘happily ever after’ scenario that book two has to ruin just to capitalize on a YA series. For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf — her wolf — is a haunting presence she can’t seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human…until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It’s her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears and the temperature drops, Sam must fight to stay human — or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever. In Linger, now Sam and Grace must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past…and figuring out a way to survive in the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her [...]

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones (book review)

monnibo — Wed, 09 May 2012 05:38:51 +0000

I wanted to read Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones because of the movie adapted by Hayao Miyazaki. Terrible, I know, but I’m a huge Miyazaki fan and now I want to read more by Diana Wynne Jones, so win-win. In the land of Ingary, where seven league boots and cloaks of invisibility do exist, Sophie Hatter catches the unwelcome attention of the Witch of the Waste and is put under a spell. Deciding she has nothing more to lose, she makes her way to the moving castle that hovers on the hills above Market Chipping. But the castle belongs to the dreaded Wizard Howl whose appetite, they say, is satisfied only by the souls of young girls… There she meets Michael, Howl′s apprentice, and Calcifer the Fire Demon, with whom she agrees a pact. But Sophie isn′t the only one under a curse – her entanglements with Calcifer, Howl, and Michael, and her quest to break her curse is both gripping – and funny! From the Canadian publisher, HarperCollins. Originally published in 1986 in England. I had trouble getting some of Miyazaki’s imagery out of my head, especially with descriptions of Sophie, Howl, the castle, and even Calcifer’s voice (courtesy of Billy Crystal). But none of that impeded my enjoyment of the novel, and the thrill of the quiet adventure within the pages. Sophie’s spell turns her into an old woman and she is unable to tell anyone about the curse. She becomes part of Wizard Howl’s household—his [...]

Bye Bye Birkeland… Sort of

monnibo — Thu, 03 May 2012 05:33:40 +0000

Birkeland Bros. is a 73-year-old family business in Vancouver, and earlier this year announced they would be closing due to the health of 4th generation owner, Cara. Brothers Olaf and Mike arrived from Norway in the 1930′s and set up a wool processing business in 1939 on Main Street. The business centered around The Old Lady—a two tonne 100+ years old belt-driven carding machine. So in the Spring, everyone was buying up fibre and wool from Birkeland—all the things were for sale. It was sad that such a pivotal part of Vancouver’s fibre history was going to end. It was especially worrying considering The Old Lady was used by quilters, sewers, knitters, spinners, and more. I had been given a gift certificate to Birkeland by my coworkers when I left to return to school, so I went in to use it up. My friend Carmen from MelonHead KnitWear (who taught classes at Birkeland) happened to be at the store and gladly helped me spend my certificate. I maintain that she is a ‘yarn pusher’. Here is what I bought: Then, in April the announcement came that Birkeland was being continued by someone new with details to come. Slowly, it was revealed that the newcomer was Karyn Winters, and she would be moving the storefront, but would still be known as “Birkeland Bros” and be stocking many of the same products. Karyn had to find a building with suitable floor for hefty The Old Lady, and eventually settled on a storefront [...]

Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon (book review)

monnibo — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:48:50 +0000

Drums of Autumn is the fourth book in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series, starring Scottish Highlander Jamie Fraser and time traveller Claire. Warning – Even the synopsis has spoilers. It’s difficult to discuss a book in a series without spoilers. It began in Scotland, at an ancient stone circle. There, a doorway, open to a select few, leads into the past—or the grave. Claire Randall survived the extraordinary passage, not once buy twice. Her first trip swept her into the arms of Jamie Fraser, an eighteenth-century Scot whose love for her became legend—a tale of tragic passion that ended with her return to the present to bear his child. Her second journey, two decades later, brought them together again in frontier America. But Claire had left someone behind in the twentieth century. Their daughter Brianna… Now, Brianna has made a disturbing discovery that sends her to the stone circle and a terrifying leap into the unknown. In search of her mother and the father she has never met, she is risking her own future to try to change history…and to save their lives. But as Brianna plunges into an uncharted wilderness, a heartbreaking encounter may strand her forever in the past…or root her in the place she should be, where her heart and soul belong… From the publisher, Anchor Canada, an imprint of Random House Canada. Having read Voyager several months ago, I found getting into Drums of Autumn a little difficult. I was lamenting not reading it directly after Voyager, [...]

April is …

monnibo — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 03:19:23 +0000

Around the world, many people celebrate National Poetry Month in April. The American Society of Poets has a great list of 30 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month. The League of Canadian Poets celebrations Canada-wide with events, readings, discussions, and poetry awards. The Gerald Lampert and Pat Lowther Memorial Awards shortlist was revealed earlier this month. My friend Serena also has a huge poetry tribute online with a blog tour. Visit her site, Savvy Verse & Wit, for details on the virtual Poetry Month celebrations. The Canadian Cancer Society also calls April Daffodil Month. Similar to wearing a poppy on your lapel in November, you wear a daffodil to “show your support for Canadians living with cancer and let them know that no one has to face cancer alone.” You can also wear a virtual daffodil pin on your Facebook or Twitter. April is a lot of things worldwide. Check out this Wikipedia list! What do you celebrate in April? Copyright © 2001-2008 under a CC license

DIY Dining Chair Seat Cushions

monnibo — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 06:58:28 +0000

My apartment is a one-bedroom but I used the dining area as a home office. This leaves the side of the living room as my dining area. I have an antique drop-leaf table from my parents’ house against the wall and have been looking for ages for the right chairs. I wanted four wooden, folding chairs for the sheer convenience (similar to the drop-leaf table) of being able to put it away or take them out. I managed to find two perfect candidate chairs in full working order. I got them at a thrift store for $12 each (normally $15). I need to acquire two more chairs to keep in the cupboard for group visits and I will want them to match the table, so I will probably sand them down and re-stain them at some point. However, I put these two straight to work! The foam squares are from a foam-specific store for approximately $5 each. The fabric are actually cloth napkins from a store called Rags & Dishes on Main Street. I cut off the hem seams and placed right sides together of the fabric, then sewed along three sides. I turned the pillows right side out and stuffed the foam in. As you can see from this close up, I pinched and sewed the final side closed. I could have done this by hand to hide the seam, but people are putting their bottoms on the cushions, not inspecting them. So I used the sewing machine. The ties [...]

I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley (book review)

monnibo — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:31:37 +0000

I finished this book in December, and it was the perfect thing to read on cold, wintery nights. The fourth installment of the Buckshaw Chronicles—I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley—opens with Flavia de Luce in full form. It’s Christmas time, and our beloved Flavia is tucked away in her laboratory whipping up a sticky concoction to trap that infamous sneak, Saint Nick, and thereby prove once and for all—despite the claims of her evil sisters—that he does exist. But she is soon distracted from her task: her father, in desperate need of funds, has rented the family’s crumbling manor house to a film company for the holidays. When its crew arrives from London to shoot a movie starring the reclusive and renowned actress, Phyllis Wyvern, there’s no end to the disruptions – and dramas – demanding Flavia’s attention. Wyvern is convinced to perform a famous scene to help raise funds for the local church, and it is decided that Buckshaw is the only suitable location. Its foyer alone is bigger than the parish hall, and could fit every man, woman, and child in Bishop’s Lacey, to a soul. It’s almost Christmas Eve, but as the actors take to the stage, the blizzard sets in, and the villagers will have to hunker down at Buckshaw for the night, sleeping head to toe in the de Luces’ foyer. But that evening, Phyllis Wyvern is found strangled to death in the Blue Bedroom, with a length of film from one of [...]

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (book review)

monnibo — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 16:23:42 +0000

I have wanted to read Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs since the book trailer was released last year. I watched the trailer and read the synopsis probably six months ago but resisted buying it several times due to an overly large TBR pile. Then, I was given the book for Christmas by someone who didn’t even know I wanted to read it. I was thrilled and proceeded to consume the book in two days. A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. And a strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children who once lived here—one of whom was his own grandfather—were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a desolate island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive. A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows. From the publisher, Quirk Books The must-watch trailer: It helps when the author is also in film, [...]

Welcoming a Foster Cat

monnibo — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:20:54 +0000

My friend Beth was trying to find a new home for her two cats, Tetley and Pekoe. The home they went to worked out for Tetley, but not for Pekoe who is a bit more chatty and active than the new owner preferred. As Beth is about to give birth, finding a home for Pekoe (at least a temporary one) was important. Beth posted on Facebook about the dilemma and I offered as long as Pekoe would be okay with Henry (my cat) and Chico (my chinchilla). So Beth brought Pekoe over last Monday and she set about to making herself at home. Now, my cat’s nickname is Mister GrumpyPants because he doesn’t like change. He’s a curmudgeony old man (at 5 years old) and growls and hisses—sometimes just to himself—when he is displeased. So it’s taken him a while to stop growling at Pekoe, who holds her own and hisses right back. But now, they only growl/hiss when startled or provoked. We’ve settled into a ‘tolerance’ hierarchy of sorts. If you think you’d like to adopt her, check out Pekoe’s page at the Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association (VOKRA). She is really damn cute and a chatty, affectionate, active cat. Copyright © 2001-2008 under a CC license

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Prachett (book review)

monnibo — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 04:43:23 +0000

I read Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Prachett more than four months ago, in early November. I’d had the book for more than a year, borrowed from my friend Chelle and due to the length of time I kept it, even Chelle’s partner noticed the absence. Now, my book review for the blog has been languishing for months, and I haven’t updated any books I’ve read subsequently due to my necessity for proper chronology. So, now that the public lashings are done with, on to the review. According to The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (the world’s only completely accurate book of prophecies, written in 1655, before she exploded), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. Just before dinner. So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis is rising, frogs are falling, tempers are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan. Except a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon – both of whom have lived amongst Earth’s mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle – are not actually looking forward to the coming Rapture. And someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist… The book is easy to get into, straightforward to read, and very silly. There were even parts where I laughed out loud—I remember one particular passage where a minor character had “a head that invited violence”. Although I didn’t laugh as hard as I do reading Christopher Moore, [...]