Luxx's Monster Mash: Thread 1

Hello, and welcome to my first thread of 2012 (appropriately opened in 2011, of course). As always, there are changes on the horizon, but we like to keep things interesting around here.

I really liked seeing all the artwork people posted last year, so I'm going to continue posting some favorite works this year. For new beginning I'll start with "The Birth of Venus":



And how about a monster, aside from my own? Let's start with Philip Burne-Jones's 1897 "The Vampire"








The List of Links
Biblio Beau, the second home for all my reviews

Books Read in 2011 (101 Books. Major Events: Birth of Third Monster, Poor health and a death in the family)
Books Read in 2010 (100 Books. Major Event: Second Adjunct Position Obtained)
Books Read in 2009 (145 Books. Major Event: Birth of Second Monster)
Books Read in 2008 (61 Books. Major Events: Birth of First Monster, First Adjunct Position Obtained)
Books Read in 2007 (85 Books. Major Event: Finished my MA in English Lit)

List of Books Read in 2012

1. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. 1.1.12. *****
2. English After the Fall by Robert E. Scholes. 1.1.12. ***
3. "Rules for Virgins" by Amy Tan. 1.2.12. ****
4. Green River Killer by Jeff Jensen. 1.3.12. ****
5. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. 1.5.12. *****
6. "The Crazy Old Lady in the Attic" by Kathleen Valentine. 1.6.12. ***
7. Stitches: A Memoir by David Small. 1.8.12. *****
8. Feynman by Ottaviani and Myrick. 1.9.12. *****
9. The Last Vampire by Christopher Pike. 1.11.12. ***
10. Inside the Victorian Home by Judith Flanders. 1.16.12. ***
11. Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud. 1.17.12. **1/2
12. Black Blood by Christopher Pike. 1.17.12. ***
13. The Mill River Recluse by Darcie Chan. 1.17.12. ***1/2
14. The Terrible Axe-Man of New Orleans by Rick Geary. 1.24.12. ***1/2
15. A Taste of Midnight by Lara Adrian. 1.27.12. ***1/2
16. Darker After Midnight by Lara Adrian. 1.28.12. ****

17. Lothaire by Kresley Cole. 2.3.13. *

Welcome back!

All right, you're here, the merriment and frivolity may continue.
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...so? Continue!

HI Luxx, dropping in to leave my star

Hiiii Luxx! :)

*waves*

Stars all around. :)

Hi Luxx - looking forward to seeing what you and the monsters get up to in 2012:)

Hello everyone, and thanks for stopping in!

The first week of January will be a busy one for me, but I hope to jump back into the thick of thinks by January 8. If I don't chat with you all before then, then I wish you a happy new year and a great start to reading in 2012!

Looking forward to tons of pictures of your little monsters, Luxx!

Your monsters look anything but! Adorable they are ... and I like the dino cameo too. ;-)

My baby brother got a dino tattoo for the boys, but this was the first picture we managed to get a picture of Dino with the Dinosaur Hunter himself.

Love the monster pictures, Luxx! Keep them coming!

Great pics, Luxx! What handsome kiddos!

Found ya, awesome pictures!!

Aww, the monsters are getting big!

Hey Luxx! Just stopping by to mark my place!

Happy New Year, Luxx, and I have your thread starred.

*awwwwww*

Couldn't help myself....

hi kiddos! (and Luxx of course)
looking forward to watching yours grow alongside mine this year again.

1.
Title: Mockingjay
Author: Suzanne Collins
Pages: 400
Genre: Dystopian
Medium: Kindle E-book
Acquisition: Final in the trilogy
Date Completed: January 1, 2012
Rating: *****

Mockingjay is a captivating and satisfying conclusion to Suzanne Collins's dystopian trilogy. Never one to fear a body count, Collins is unrelenting in the series of tragedies, and her characters are remarkably human, adding to the chill of the premise of the series.

2.
Title: English After the Fall
Author: Robert E. Scholes
Pages: 176
Genre: Nonfiction, Literary Criticism
Medium: Paperback
Acquisition: Early Review Copy
Date Completed: January 1, 2012
Rating: ***

LibraryThing user dekesolomon's review of English After the Fall is succinct and accurate - unlike Scholes' own treatise on the evolution of English studies. The premise of Robert Scholes's text is one I certainly agree with - he identifies a need for English department to evolve, both for their own survival and for the benefit of students. As one of the "lowly" adjuncts both Scholes and Deke identify, I have very strong opinions about the state of compositional studies, and some specific ideas about how to change things for the good of all; I do not think Scholes would agree with many of my assessments.

Scholes suggests that the way to extend the life of English departments is to look beyond the traditional canon and recognize other genres as texts worthy of study. This would likely have been a radical idea twenty years ago, but my own experiences as a student suggest that Scholes is behind the curve; I, for example, took courses on Japanese theatre, contemporary fiction, American travel narratives, and a host of other genres that are traditionally "nonliterary" as an undergraduate, and continue to use "nonliterary" sources in my own courses. Much of Scholes' arguments are lost in his enthusiasm for specific texts, and for a reader unfamiliar with the operas and films on which he fixates, his text as a whole loses its power.

Whiles Scholes certainly identifies many of the problems now facing English departments, his "solution" seems to aggravate many of the current difficulties of teaching the subject by continuing to present material that undergraduates will not find compelling (i.e. opera), as opposed to addressing some of the most immediate concerns: a need for students to learn how to communicate effectively, whether or not they pursue English courses beyond the requirements of Freshman Composition.

The Suzanne Collins trilogy is pretty awesome! Do you plan on seeing the movie when it comes out? Some of my sixth grade students wanted to read The Hunger Games so badly that I finally relented, begged Barnes & Nobles for books, and formed a reading group. I had forgotten just how rough it was - she describes wanting to drown a cat on the first page! But they were hooked.....

On that same note..... "The Birth of Venus" makes me laugh a little since it reminds me that I'm teaching my 6th graders about Greek and Roman Mythology in a few weeks and have to give them the...um....."PG" version of those stories. It would be so much more interesting if I could tell them the truth about Venus!!

25 - I love to hear about young readers getting hooked! I actually picked up the first book because I heard about the movie coming out; I haven't checked the previews yet, but I'm pretty likely to give it a go. Are you going to go see it?

I faced the same problem with mythology when I taught 7th grade LA for a (very conservative) math/science academy. It's good for an internal chuckle, isn't it? ;)

Oh, My! What lovely, lovely monsters!!!!!!

Happy New Year to you and yours my dear!

#24: Sounds like a book that I will give a pass to, although I admit I find the subject matter interesting.

I hope your next read is a better one for you, Luxx!

Stasia, I was so excited when I started it, and was very disappointed with the result. I wavered between 3 and 2.5 stars, but went for three because he clearly identifies a number of problems. His solutions are just counterproductive. :-/

Linda, so good to see you around here! Kisses from the monsters and I!

#29: I do not think they can be called solutions if they do not fix the problem and since that is what the book purports to be about, I will gladly give it a miss.

I was in a college history class that did not depend on a textbook and this was 25+ years ago. The class was called 'The History of the South' and we watched movies such as Gone with the Wind and TV shows like 'The Andy Griffith Show.' If he is proposing a multimedia approach to education, he really is behind the times.

If he is proposing a multimedia approach to education, he really is behind the times.

Seriously.

Saw movie preview of The Hunger Games on New Years eve. I have not read the trilogy but the movie looked interesting.

I'll be doing "The Monster Mash" in 2012 with you and those adorable boys, Luxx. Happy New Year to all of you! Two books already? You're setting the book bar pretty high. ;-)

33 - Well, I certainly didn't start them in 2012. ;)

32 - I'm going to go look for it.

I just posted this to all of my virtual classrooms.

In my first post I mentioned that there are changes on the horizon, and a decision about one of those changes was made last night.

I ... am going to be a stay-at-home mom.

!!!!!

Or, more accurately, a work-at-home mom.

By teaching online classes exclusively (and cutting out childcare costs - which is over $1000/mo for part time, and $3k for full time) I will be able to contribute enough to our household finances that we can put our house on the market in just a year.

Plus? I get to keep the job I so desperately desperately love. And after we get into a new house I am free to continue, or go back to teaching classes on campus. Or apply to PhD programs so I have a better shot at a full time gig.

So that's my new plan.

The second part of that plan is to give "homeschooling" a try by setting a preschool curriculum for the Monsters. I figured it would be a good test run, and it would help keep me from feeling so trapped in my house - if I'm doing something everyday, even if we're home, I think I'll be much happier. And so will they.

I'm pretty stoked about it, actually, and just had to share it with someone. I chose you guys. :)

Wow Luxx, that sounds like a great great plan. It certainly makes sense on paper. You must feel so relieved to have a plan, it is a horrible thing to feel trapped.
Im keen to hear more about your pre school curriculum too when you get started with that....

You are so smart what a great plan.

I left a tenure-track job just after passing my tenure review (!) to be a stay-at-home mom, and I've not regretted it one bit. Good luck to you - you'll love love love the time you'll have with your wee ones.

Thanks for the support, guys!

38 - I'd probably have a harder time stepping away if I was tenured. ;) But this plan helps us all, and, as I said to Michael, "I get to raise my own kids!"

36 - I'm sure I'll be reviewing a lot of books in the near future as I get things hashed out. I'm intrigued by Montessori learning, and I've heard so many wonderful things about Holt that I just had to pick up Learning all the Time and Teach Your Own. I also grabbed Home Learning Year by Year: How to Design a Homeschool Curriculum from Preschool Through High School, and I already have Teach Me to Do It Myself; with all of those in hand I hope to put together a plan for the guys.

We initially put B in preschool because we wanted him to socialize (he had very poor verbal skills, and we thought that school would help. It did). Now that Max is old enough to really get into things with B, socialization seems less important - he has a ready-made playmate.

Much of my decision to leave that job came from losing my brother a few months before very unexpectedly. I realized that I was spending more time in the office than at home, and that I needed to change my priorities, since it had just been driven home to me that we have no idea how much time we get with our loved ones. I do miss teaching, though, and maybe someday after Charlie's in school I'll find a part-time, adjunct sort of gig somewhere.

I'm very sorry that you lost your brother, and I understand your motivation completely. One of the things that weighed on me when considering full time work was the fact that someone else (even if it was my SIL, who is currently my nanny) would be raising my kids. I was never happy when thinking about getting home between 6-7 and getting an hour with my boys. I want our time together to be proportionally more than our time apart.

Adjuncting is a happy middle ground for me, and I may go back to the classroom if we don't actually decide to home school the boys for the foreseeable future.

*shrug* I don't know what the future will bring, but I'm happy when I think of these changes!

Very exciting plans for you, Luxx! And I love the cartoon. So, so true. :D

Very exciting news. I was involved in Playcentre, a parents/families as first educators movement here in New Zealand. I'm a firm believer that time is the most important resource you can give a child - time to learn, time to imagine and just 'be', time to think things through for themselves, time to grow as learners, time to be together.
I recommend that you read about free-flow play.
Some people/books that are worth a look:
Lev Vygotsky and his philosophy on play
Summerhill by A.S. Neill
Vivian Gussin Paley has written several inspiring books
Tina Bruce and her philosophy on play

And here's a great poem The Hundred Languages of Children. It's written by Loris Malaguzzi, the founder of the Reggio Emilia approach to educating children.

::thrilled::

As much as I know you love your teaching gigs, the idea that *you* will be raising your boys gives me the happy. You'll be busier than ever, what with online learning coursework and homeschooling shenanigans.

Sound reasoning leads to a decision you will regret every day, and never for a moment doubt was the right one. Yeah, I know, makes no sense, but it's true.

*smooch* and excited jumpings

Wow, congrats! That sounds like a great plan. Extra time with your kids will be wonderful

Great plans Luxx!

I am thrilled for you, Luxx. Mothering (as you well know) is the most challenging and most fulfilling job there is. With your desire and energy, you can still use your teaching gift online...and with your three angels. Three cheers for you!

Wonderful news for you and your family, Luxx! As someone who homeschooled the girls all the way through, I can tell you I would not have traded that experience for anything. I am so glad that you have found a middle ground that works for you all.

Wow, I knew you guys would be a great crowd to talk about this with. ;)

Homeschooling is always something we considered (since the private schools we like are soooo out of our price range), but I've had reservations about my ability to do it. I think that committing just to preschool activities is a great way to test the waters before risking throwing them out of their groove.

I have a theory related to children and education: I think they're smarter and more capable than a lot of adults give them credit for. I think that they are capable of understanding "big" or "complex" ideas, so long as they are allowed to work through those ideas on their own terms. The factory system of public education just doesn't seem to foster that (thanks to my favorite scapegoat, standardized testing). I mean, my nearly-four-year-old, who could barely speak a year ago, loves to tell strangers that his favorite dinosaur is a tyrannosaurus rex - a carnivorous theropod who lived in the cretaceous period.

Kerry, thank you for all the suggestions - I am always looking for ideas and recommendations, and I'll be sure to check them out.

Stasia, do you have any suggestions?

I've been daydreaming about baking bread and finger painting and threading beads and catching bugs and running around the aquarium and the Smithsonians with the Monsters...

Brooks already likes to "make believe" that I'm a teacher. ;)

Luxx - That is so amazing!! Hooray for you and your lucky boys! :) I'm so happy for you!

Wonderful plan, Luxx! Good for you!

Awesome!!

#49: I will send you a PM.

3.
Title: Rules for Virgins
Author: Amy Tan
Pages: 43
Genre: Fiction
Medium: Kindle E-book
Acquisition:
Date Completed: January 2, 2012
Rating: ****

Rules for Virgins is presented as a monologue as an experienced (so old in her 30s!) courtesan trains a seventeen-year-old in turn-of-the-century Shanghai. Through her instruction, Magic Gourd reveals a world of jealousy, deceit, and competition, but also pride, eloquence, and synergy. Similar to Memoirs of a Geisha, but with more character, Rules for Virgins is an intriguing narrative.

Rules for Virgins sounds like it could be quite fascinating! Huh... first book bullet of the year! *ouch*

Hey, it was only $0.99 on Amazon, and it's only 43 pages, so it's not a fatal shot.

4.
Title: Green River Killer
Author: Jeff Jensen
Pages: 240
Genre: Nonfiction, True Crime, Graphic Novel
Medium: Hardback
Acquisition:
Date Completed: January 3, 2012
Rating: ****

According to an article by Seattle PI, Gary Ridgway, the Green River Killer, holds the record for most murder convictions of any serial killer in the US. Altogether, he has claimed responsibility for the deaths of 49 women. He was a suspect for seventeen years before DNA technology advancements lead to his arrests, but his murders began two years before that (his first murder attempt - that of a seven-year-old boy - was in 1966).

Detective Tom Jensen leads the task force on the Green River Killer from the beginning, and in 1991 becomes the only member of the police force still assigned to the case. And, as presented by his son Jeff Jensen, he continued to press on, driven by sympathy for the families of missing or murdered young women, and nearly crippled by his own humanity.

In the end, he finds retribution.

The graphic novel proves to be a strong medium for true crime, literally giving the detective, victims, and Ridgway faces that continue to haunt the reader after the text is closed. The stark illustrations emphasize the emotional turmoil that would accompany any case of this kind, and Jensen's penchant for focused portraiture lends humanity and introspection to the story.

One drawback to this particular graphic novel, however, is the inconsistent use of time; Jensen frequently jumps backwards and forwards through time, often leaving the reader to scan the characters carefully to decide if a particular sequence is from the 1980s, 90s, or after Ridgway's apprehension. Still, Green River Killer is compelling as a whole, and I would recommend it to fans of true crime and gritty comics.

"'I killed so many women I have a hard time keeping them straight,' he said in a statement read by Deputy Prosecutor Jeff Baird.

'My plan was I wanted to kill as many women I thought were prostitutes as I possibly could,' he said. 'I picked prostitutes as my victims because I hate most prostitutes and I did not want to pay them for sex. I also picked prostitutes for victims because they were easy to pick up without being noticed.'"

Read more from the November 4, 2003 article in Seattle PI.

Chilling. Truly scary, not in the thrill-a-minute way. How many potential--or actual--killers have I come into contact with, since this guy was free for so long?

I used to read a lot of true crime in college, but Ridgway is one that I missed. Like so many others, apparently. To have closure after 19 years is amazing, but that it took 19 years is a bit frightening. I just read an article that he was charged with an additional murder in February of 2011.

I tend to avoid true crime. I hate people enough as it is.

I always liked horror, and thought there was nothing scarier than what people will do to each other.

I can't really handle much of it anymore.

D'you know, I think it happens to most moms. Fictional murder stories, okay, but the horrifying brutal violence we inflict on each other in reality just makes most of us parents a little too aware that our kids could...

I don't want to finish that sentence.

Me neither.

#56: Adding that one to the BlackHole.

I do not want to finish Richard's sentence either.

Broadmoor Revealed: Victorian Crime and the Lunatic Asylum

A title you might like.

I remember when Ridgway was caught. I was taking a death penalty class in law school at the time and we had several interesting discussions about whether Washington state would ever be able to pursue the death penalty again after taking it off the table for Ridgway. (That was part of the plea deal). I don't think I could ever read a book on that subject though.

Oh, agreed on the parent theory. Last November, when we were still living in Ohio, a mother and one of her children were violently murdered in their home (the other child - a young girl - was kidnapped and sexually assaulted repeatedly before they caught the guy), which was 2 doors down (!!!) from our own home. When the full confession from the murderer came out, it turns out that he was in that house for more than 12 hours, trying to clean up his mess. Charlie and I were at home that whole time and, of course, had no idea what was happening. I still send myself into shudders thinking how close Charlie was to that man.

>66 scaifea:: ...I don't even know what to say... how absolutely horrifying to know that happened nearly next door to you...

Yes, it was. It's not the reason we moved, but I have to say that I'm not unhappy that I don't have to drive by that house anymore. Just goes to show that our sense of security is always already false - it could happen anywhere.

This happy message brought to you by... ;)

Oh, good morning, Luxx!

66/7 - I can't even put my horror into words.

I'm glad I didn't read that before bed.

65 - The GN talks about the controversy of the plea deal, and the frustration of the officers trying to make the deal worth it (finding other victims for closure, etc). The opening of the novel, featuring a teen Ridgway, is terrifying.

64 - Thanks, Padre! The Kindle download is actually free, so I snagged it to give it a closer look. The title suggests some of my favorite subjects: Victorians, mental institutions, and true crime.

Good morning, all. Today I am trying to plan brunch for B's birthday (he'll be 4 on the 19th - the same day as Poe!), researching bikes for him, and working on my presentation for Friday's conference. With any luck I may sneak in some Glass Castle or Aaron and Ahmed.

Good morning, Luxx! Good luck with your plans for the day. Looks like you have a busy one ahead of you!

Hard to believe that Brooks is going to be 4. Wow, how time flies!

>66 scaifea: ick ick ick. That sort of stuff turns my stomach these days, I always was a sensitive soul but since having kids I can barely read the newspaper without crying at the cruelty in this world.

>70 alcottacre: oooh, Glass Castle, I loved it. It'll make you feel like the best super-mum in the world compared to the parents in that book.

71 - Glass Castle is fantastic so far, and absolutely repulsive. You're right - I'm the best mom ever.

Saw this on a friend's FB page this morning.

Seriously critical information for any parent with a 'quiet' child. I certainly wish my own mother had been a bit more aware of such things.

My friend's oldest is a bit of an introvert, and she's pretty accepting. So far my first two are extremely extroverted, but if I end up with a homebody then at least this homebody will have good company!

Hi Luxx,
Because I made the same decision about being home with my kids and feel it made a huge positive impact on all of us - I applaud your choice! It's not always easy, it involves some sacrifice at times- but there are big rewards. Don't forget your own needs as you take this journey. Somehow, I think you'll do just fine! :)

That looks like a great list of advice for quite kids, I used to HATE HATE HATE being asked questions in front of people and being made to answer even though it was OBVIOUS I was squirming/blushing/uncomfortable/wishing I could disappear into a black hole.....people should just let quiet people be. Makes sense to me.

I am with you, Megan!

Just catching up on your thread, Luxx and first, congratulations on the new change in your life! Sounds like a great change and I wish you every success. I have no doubt you'll thrive as a work-at-home mom and your darling monsters will love seeing more of you.

Here, here, Megan! I'm with you too! I especially hate it when someone asks me to tell a story to everyone around the table, just because I had told him the story when I was alone with him at some other time. And then everyone sits and looks at me ... HATE that.

You guys are such a great support system.

Now, please please tell me that the smell of her cigarette smoke won't cling to my books forever. Pleasedeargod.

I just pulled a book off my shelves that had been sitting untouched for awhile, and when I fanned the pages looking for an article I got a face full of stale cigarette fumes. Bah.

#79: Luxx, try putting the book in a large Ziploc bag filled with either charcoal or baking soda. That should help with the smell.

>79 London_StJ: Oh dear. Stasia has just told you the only solution known to humankind to ameliorate that problem. It's a book-by-book solution.

The Divine Miss's parents smoked until ~1975. I recently opened Nina's old copy of Ulysses (don't ask why) and was *smacked* by stale Old Gold smell. I actually retched.

I am *so* sorry to bear the tidings.

Oh no.

I think may cry.

Wait, a possible solution: if we do get to move I'm a year, maybe I can try packing my books up with charcoal. Maybe.

O! O! And be a very naughty girl this year so Santa will bring you lots of charcoal!

Hope it works!

Brilliant!

Should I mention that that is the wrong kind of charcoal? Nope, I thought not.

Luxx: I just finished your 2011 thread and started reading 2012. I cannot stop thinking about playing library. "Librarian, I want to learn about the history of Hungary." I want to play.

87 - He's a smart cookie, and he's a ton of fun right now. Now, if only he would figure out that patrons are supposed to *whisper* in libraries.

86 - I'll be on the good naughty list, so he'll bring me the right charcoal.

5.
Title: The Glass Castle
Author: Jeannette Walls
Pages: 288
Genre: Memoir
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition: Rec'd by my SIL
Date Completed: January 5, 2012
Rating: *****

Raised on philosophy instead of bread, Jeannette Walls did not have what many would consider an ideal childhood; when her uncle ran his hand up her leg while fondling himself, her mothers sighed about how lonely the poor man must be, and when the roof sprang a leak her brother slept under an inflatable raft to stay dry. Walls's story is repulsive; not for the conditions in which she and her three siblings were forced to live, but because they were forced to live this way when her parents could have done better.

The story is not entirely bleak; the core of her narrative is the strength that she and her siblings found in each other, and their determination to make better lives for themselves. The story is as captivating as it is heartbreaking, and is ultimately far more uplifting than I expected.

6.
Title: The Crazy Old Lady in the Attic
Author: Kathleen Valentine
Pages: 47
Genre: Psychological thriller
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition:
Date Completed: January 6, 2012
Rating: ***

Kathleen Valentine's short story "The Crazy Old Lady in the Attic" is a short thriller surrounding discoveries made in a family home after the death of the matriarch. The story is decently written, but lacks depth and originality. This "late night special" is fine for a quick read, but is nothing to hunt down and devour.

I loved The Glass Castle when I read it. I am glad to see that you enjoyed it, Luxx. One of the things I appreciated about the book was like you said, the story was not entirely bleak. So many memoirs of this type tend to be just that.

I LOVE the list on caring for introverts. I want to carry a copy of that around and give it to everyone new I meet!

>88 London_StJ:/89 I echo what you said Stasia, adding that it was a very interesting insight into the lives of the dirt-poor that may not get the chance to be told otherwise (on account of the children growing up in such households dont have the wherewithal to get their accounts written and published)

Thumbs-upped your Walls review, Crypto!

89/91/2 - The whole time I was reading it I kept thinking "how can I review this book without saying it's absolutely horrible?" Because it truly is horrific ... and still a great book to read.

90 - Print it out on card stock!

The scene where Jeannette's father takes her to the bar is directly responsible for my relationship with Mr. Man...he was riding the bus seated in front of me, crying his eyes out, and I was the only person who went over to see what I could do. I asked him to tell me what he was reading so I could make a point to avoid ever even looking at it. He laughed, and we talked for hours.

I wish he'd been able to get over that last hurdle and commit. He was HAWT and he was smart and he was so wounded by his own similar issues to Walls's...*sigh*

ETA:



Purty, ain't he?

My first show review of the year:

"Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical" at the Kennedy Center



Dancing laundry, a crazy daddy, favorite stuffies, and an aria entirely in gibberish: put it together with a healthy dose of family humor, and you have a treat for young audiences and parents alike. This one-hour musical is based on Mo Willems' children's book Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale; to our delight, Mo Willems wrote the musical himself, after being approached by the Kennedy Center.

My partner and I took Oldest to see the show this evening, and we were all equally delighted - the show was fast-paced, jam-packed with great songs, visually delightful, and wonderfully silly. B was fixated on the stage, and only "whispered" when pointing out something he was sure I would miss (such as a cameo by a certain pigeon - "Mommy, he wants to drive the bus!"

Here is a clip from the tour last year. The cast was different this time around, but they really did a wonderful job.

There is also a "making of" here.

Adorable!!

>94 richardderus: you are so nice for seeing if he was ok! Are you sure you didnt have an ulterior motive ;)

Glad to hear that all of you had a good time at the show. It looks fun!

>97 LovingLit: Motive? Ulterior? *batbatbat*

#95 sounds like fun! Nothing better than family nights out! Glad all enjoyed

Oh, Luxx -

I Loved reading The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls, though as you state their lives were horrific. It made me feel so grateful for the millions of young ones who survive their childhood abuses to thrive and inspire millions of us with their stories and creativity.

I will enjoy being back in touch and am looking forward to spending some length of time reading al the post here ( and, possibly, the thread from last year).

Great to see pictures of everyone, too.

94 - Lurvly. ;)

100 - I'm stoked that one or two of the monsters are now big enough for shows

101- Welcome welcome!

94: I thought you didn't like breasts...

Luxx, You might like Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls. It is a novel memoir.

>103 Ape: I liked *his*, though not a fan of the female version of same.

Thanks, Cindy - that's about her grandmother, right?

7.
Title: Stitches
Author: David Small
Pages: 329
Genre: Graphic Memoir
Medium: Paperback
Acquisition:
Date Completed: January 8, 2012
Rating: *****

David Small's Stitches has been haunting me since it was first published; I happened upon the memoir as part of a bookstore display and, while I didn't purchase it at the time, it has been on my radar ever since that first encounter. Now that I'm on a bit of a graphic novel safari, I knew I had to pick it up.

Stitches will continue to haunt me, but for entirely different reasons.

Told almost exclusively by illustration, Small captures moments - glances, emotions, isolated confrontations - that come to define a childhood trauma that seems to define the David of the text. Portraiture becomes the most significant means of expression and storytelling, and with a simple look Small allows readers to stand in his place, and feel what he felt - most of which is downright terrifying.

Stitches is a graphic novel I will be able to read again and again. the artwork is minimalist yet captivating, and Small's storytelling abilities transports the reader to his own frightening world.

Thumbs-upped your review!

Thanks, sir!

I'm apparently on a "terrible childhood" kick. Man, did I ever have it good!

>108 London_StJ: LOLOL I will remind you of this next time you sally forth a bleat of discontent re: papa and his ability to be prolix.

Srsly I know what you mean, though. Mine was an idyll compared to so many.

109 - Please do - I need some perspective sometimes. But he's on the upswing: he has a girlfriend, and the world is rosy!

>110 London_StJ: Say hallelujah brethren and sistern! Or, as the kids say, w00t!

xo

Huzzah! ;)

Wasn't there a portmanteau created here recently...hallehuzzahmen? Seems to say it all.

Love your review of Stitches, it did its job, it made me want to go out and get it!

Padre, that could be it, but I can't remember exactly, either.

Megan, oh good! It's a keeper.

Thumbs up for your review of Stitches, Luxx.

Stitches sounds good, my library has the translation, so I ordered it :-)

I was just telling Whit this evening that I wanted a copy of Knuffle Bunny!

Hi Luxx- Great review of Stitches! You earned a Thumb! This book is very special to me, it was my 1st graphic and it opened the floodgates for me. Look at me, I'm getting misty-eyed.

118 - We have all three, and the boys love them. B's specialty is reading Trixie's "dialog."

119 - I'm dipping my toe (or, actually, diving in headfirst without looking), and my most recent selections have all been encouraging; I read The Watchmen a year or two ago and was not at all impressed, so it's nice to find that it's not the genre as a whole, but rather a particular book, that was unappealing.

I recently finished Half Broke Horses by Walls and liked it as much as The Glass Castle.

Lovely!

8.
Title: Feynman
Author: Ottaviani and Myrick
Pages: 266
Genre: Graphic Biography
Medium: Hardback
Acquisition:
Date Completed: January 9, 2012
Rating: *****

Feynman is a cultural icon; known as much for his practical jokes and lock-picking as his Nobel Prize-winning work in physics, he is a scientist seemingly driven by the sheer joy of knowing. Not scientifically educated, I can follow very little of his work, but having read some of his writing before I know him to be an approachable, friendly, and humorous narrator: he's just plain likeable.

In their graphic novel Feynman, Ottaviani and Myrick present a brief biography of one of the greatest minds in recent history, and their work is just as lively and enthralling as the man himself. Presenting a collection of stories from his college days through his death, the authors allow readers to gain at least a general understanding of the man and his work, without losing a general audience in science that may be impenetrable for some (such as I - but there is physics involved).

I wasn't always pleased with the artwork (which is probably an odd thing to say for a five-star rating of a graphic novel), but the work as a whole is completely charming.

This looks interesting, I'll have to take a look. Glad to hear that you are taking another look at graphic novels, there are some really good ones out there especially the graphic memoirs.

123 - I have a couple more that I picked up with holiday money - Habibi and Aaron and Ahmed - that I'm looking forward to.

I'm starting to get really excited about teaching Persepolis this spring!

I loved Persepolis and would think it will make a great text to teach. I enjoyed Habibi for Thompson's ambition and the wonderful detailing in the artwork. The story wasn't always appealing but I'm fine with that. I loved Michael Faber's sum-up 'this is an obsessive orgy of art, set in a timeless Middle East'.

Haven't come across Aaron & Ahmed before, will have to look it up. I have some Japanese GNs here to read, A Drifting Life and others by Yoshiro Tatsumi whose work I'm looking at at present. I think Will Eisner's work such as A Contract with God and Other Tenement Stories is worth a look.

I think I'll have to add Eisner to my list.

Luxx- Excellent review of Feynman. I have not heard of this one. It sounds fantastic. On the List it goes.

Enjoy, sir!

I read two of Will Eisner's bulkier books a couple years ago and liked them both. I definitely 2nd that recommendation.

Luxx, this is so far past the conversation I'm almost embarrassed to add it, but re: message 49--I'd throw Sandra Dodd's Unschooling website into the mix as something to look at for you to have a little bit more confidence in your ability to 'teach' your boys. Well, for lots of reasons, actually. She's a pretty darn amazing non-traditional schooling standout. Even if you're not behind her somewhat laisez-faire style of approaching education as a whole, she has some really powerfull and uplifting things to say about a parent's ability to be involved with and direct their child's un/home-schooling experience. I've found her really motivating in my continued struggle to convince Bryan that unschooling may be right for Willow, but I have a few more years to convince him :).

129 - Thanks, sir

130 - And thanks to you, too! I'll definitely check out the site. Thankfully, Michael is behind the whole idea - his main concern is my mental well-being if I'm "stuck" at home (I stayed home with Brooks for eight months and didn't like it, but if I have a purpose and a goal everyday I have a feeling it'll be a lot more fulfilling and engaging).

9.
Title: The Last Vampire
Author: Christopher Pike
Pages: 195
Genre: YA Vampire
Medium: paperback
Acquisition: New edition (published in 2010, I believe)
Date Completed: January 11, 2012
Rating: ***

When I first found The Silver Kiss in the elementary school library when I was eight it sparked an interest in vampires, but when I first discovered Christopher Pike's The Last Vampire when I was ten, the interest was cast in iron. Alisa Perne - Sita - believes she is the last of an ancient tribe of vampires, the creation of which she accepts partial moral responsibility. When Alisa is contacted by a private detective she realizes that the knowledge of her existence is not the secret she believed it to be, and sets out to find just how much this mysterious person knows.

Unfortunately, an adult reading of The Last Vampire did not stand up to an adult reading (although I still intend to reread the entire series, since discovering two new books have been added to the series!). I have two distinct objections to the story: first, Alisa is a master of everything. From driving to the piano to world history to computers to welding, Alisa has mastered it all. It is certainly conceivable that a 5,000-year-old individual would become an expert in much, but the range and depth of her expertise is tedious. Calling for believability in a young adult vampire novel may seem a bit hypocritical, but even fictional vampires should seem like people - even if they are horribly damaged or highly skilled people. As an adult reader, I would like a true flaw, or at least the opportunity for the protagonist to learn something new.

Secondly, the narrative style became irksome very quickly. There is very little sentence variety in the book; the story is narrated in short, clipped sentences, so that it comes across as very weak screenwriting. While I can appreciate the clipped, "factual" relation of Alisa, I would have preferred to some warmth somewhere.

The Last Vampire series has been repackaged to take advantage of the rejuvenated market for teen paranormal romance; what I read as a series of six books has been republished in two volumes: Thirst numbers 1 and 2. And, after what I remember as a very definitive and distinct conclusion to the series, it appears Christopher Pike (or whatever author is now publishing under the name) has added two large novels to the series (The Eternal Dawn and The Shadow of Death).

I'm interested to see if my objections continue for the rest of the series - and likewise just what Pike has managed to do in volumes three and four.

>130 willowsmom: From the "uplifting' link.....One of the greatest gifts you might give your child, your family and yourself is to learn to set an example of how to deal with surprise wounds and doubts, and to coach your children through their encounters with fear and disappointment with calming touch, cleansing breath, and shared hope

I like that a lot.

How do you read so fast?

I couldn't stand the Thirst series either, I read it because it is a train wreck you can't put down. Like you said the narration is horrible, the character is rather annoying and seems just to unrealistic even for a vampire.

135 - But oh, how I loved Alisa when I was ten! And the series is directly responsible for me meeting my best friend, so I still have fond memories. Black Blood is a little better, but it's largely an exercise to get to the two new books.

134 - This is my one spurt of the year; as soon as the first batch of student essays roll in I'll be down to a crawl. Plus, I'm reading a lot of graphic novels, which I tend to go through in a morning.

Is anyone else a MythBusters fan? We just grabbed tickets to their traveling show. Huzzah!

HUGE Mythbuster fan. I had no idea they had a traveling show, however. I mostly just catch old re-runs when I catch them on.

Darling picture of Doc. Is he wearing love beads?

Little Victor! He's a proper little kid now, and what gorgeous eyes :)

No love beads - it's a skull-and-crossbone tie printed on his onsie. ;)

Whoa, 6 months already?! Wow. He's adorable, of course. No surprise there.

Love Mythbusters. So jealous right now.

I fed him food for the first time last night - I boiled some carrots and threw them in the food processor and gave him a couple of tablespoons. He made some terrible faces at first, but by the end of his meal he was grabbing for the spoon.

I don't remember any dates in your neck of the woods, but you should check out the list to see if they'll be close.

Amber, I can't seem to find your thread - will you give me the link?

>136 London_StJ: aaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

*smoochiesmoochietweak*

wubby wubby bubby baby!

*ahem*

Sorry, papaw moment. I'm better now.

I'm here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/129184

I managed to snap a picture of Charlie trying his first spoonful of real food (mashed-up banana) - hilarious. Very much a "ewww, what the what is this?!" moment, but, like your little monster, by the end he was hooked.

Padre, Papaw away! He's a real treat. We have a new "game" these days: he tries to eat my face when I'm holding him, and I try to duck and dive because I've found that his slobber makes me break out (oh, mommy joys, ha!). We both find it really funny, especially when he grabs my face with both hands and just growls at me from a few inches away. What a character.

It didn't hit me until a couple of days ago that it's my fault for teaching him that face-gumming means love; I chew on his cheeks and chin on a pretty much constant basis.

146 - I didn't push cereal with Victor because he seemed to dislike it so greatly, so it was pretty strange for him, I think. I fed him more carrots for lunch and he did much better, and even opened his mouth as soon as he saw the spoon (but sucked his thumb between each bite - maybe helping it go down?).

When B reached thicker foods I made some of his food, but didn't make any of Max's. Since Victor is my last I'm feeling a bit more crunchy-granola, and I'm considering making most of his food myself.

Michael is making the switch to a no-carb lifestyle, so I've already decided that if the boys and I want carbs we're going to make them (it's so much fun kneading bread with toddlers, especially when we color their bits of dough and they can find it in the loaf!).

Babble babble. Babble. Whoops, Doc is up.

especially when he grabs my face with both hands and just growls at me from a few inches away
The growl! I get the growl when Im too slow with the spoon.....it is hilarious. Lenny also pushes his food in with his thumb, it's a very effective method!

eta: today is little Lennys 6 month birthday :) I love seeing Doc and Lenny on LT!

Me too. Happy halfer, Lenny!

Hey Luxx! That's a great picture of Victor!

I made all of Will's food. It was just so easy and I was home with him. I'm wondering what we'll do for the Sprout though. . .

Oh so cute! Can't believe he's 6 months! Yikes!
This is the age I think they get really cute ;-)

Interested to know how Michael makes out on his new no carb lifestyle... after reading Wheat Belly I am seriously considering elim wheat - but it's gonna be soooo hard if I do. I think I'd be much happier dying while eating a cream puff or even a loaf of homemade bread... groan

I made all of Charlie's baby food too. Why not, really? There's nothing difficult or really even time-consuming about it. Plus, that way you know exactly what's going into his food.

Amber, those are my thoughts exactly. I'll probably keep a couple of jars on hand for the diaper bag, but it took me ten minutes to make fresh carrots that lasted for three meals. We tend to get good produce in our area, too, so why not give the little guy fresh, healthy food?

And hey, maybe the rest of us will get some, too!

Brit, why not take a weekend afternoon and freeze what you'll use for Sprout in a week? I did that with B; a single ice cube is about an ounce or so, which made it easy for me to judge how much he'd eat.

Claudia, I'm actually looking forward to it, too, because it will give me an excuse to eat a little healthier, too. I think we could probably all do with eating fewer processed grains, and keeping the boys on homemade breads is comforting, even if it's not technically better, because I have a better idea of how much "x" is in it all. I want to get the kids involved in food prep, too, because a) they might learn how to cook just so they can teach me and b) they'll care more about what they put in their bodies - something that was lacking when I was a kid.

I just reread my copy of Super Baby Food, and I was less than impressed. While there is some good basic info, a lot of it seems a little nutty, and not really suited to our lifestyle. However, I appreciated that she included foods she didn't agree with (she supports vegetarianism, but includes meat recipes for those who aren't), and that she makes a point of saying "trust your pediatrician over this book! They will have the most up-to-date information."

Luxx - good idea! Although we have quite some time to worry about that!

When my cousin was expecting her first she started freezing baby food when she was 6-mos pregnant. I was sorry to have to tell her that it would no longer be good by the time Jude would be ready for it. :-/

Sorry, but I had to comment (all the way back)on Message #43.I can't believe that Summerhill is still popping up in parenting libraries. I read that when I was a teenager as suggested to me by my mom (she was very influential in my reading books that I probably wouldn't even have considered at that point in my life.) It is an amazing read, though. Kudos on your decision. Although I didn't technically homeschool my girls, I was a stay-at-home mom for the majority of their young lives. While I pursued my BA I enrolled my two youngest in an on-campus pre-school called Free-To-Be based on something Marlo Thomas was doing at the time for young children. Anyway, the approach there was to allow the children to choose the activities they most wanted to do, with gentle guidance and rules based on kindness and fairness to others. They all took part in preparing lunch, down to the smallest child capable. Watching them toddle back and forth with big measuring cups of juice, as they set the table for snack or lunch was initially so hard for me. They were allowed to spill, there was always somebody there to wipe up, and they did amazingly well. The first time I saw this, I grabbed the cup and the teacher gently said, "It's okay, everybody helps. She can do it." And she could. They were allowed to voice their opinions, and make mistakes, and encouraged to feel compassion and empathy for others. If they chose to work on the easel, with paint or markers or crayons, they knew that someone was waiting their turn also and most often would graciously give up the spot when their turn was over. Basically, they were treated like real people. This was all a new concept for me, so accustomed to public school sit-on-your-butt-and raise-your-hand-keep-your-mouth-shut-or-go-to-the-office was I, but I saw the value in it immediately and hated taking my children out as they were ready to go into Kindergarten. I would have done anything to be able to keep them there through 12th grade! They benefitted so much and I think home-schooling has the same benefits, especially if you include socializing in groups occasionally. They helped in the garden outside and took nature walks where they learned to respect hard-working insects, instead of fearing them. Oh, I could go on...I may not have advanced my career as I first intended but I am close with all three of my daughters and I have never regretted being there in those oh-so-important years. Each of them intends to raise their children the same way, being home with them for as long as they can manage. In today's tough economic state, it is not always possible, so we do the best we can.

Basically, they were treated like real people.

This is so, so important to me - both for my children, and for my students. I hear so many stories of high-and-mighty educators who talk down to (as opposed to talking to) students, and I've never really seen the value. Being a student doesn't make one lesser, and while younger people need greater guidance (and, for toddlers, discipline) to make good decisions, they're still people.

10.
Title: Inside the Victorian Home
Author: Judith Flanders
Pages: 416
Genre: History
Medium: paperback
Acquisition:
Date Completed: January 16, 2012
Rating: ***

Inside the Victorian Home: A Portrait of Domestic Life in Victorian England is a popular (as opposed to academic) text that attempts to use the structure of a typical Victorian household to describe various elements of nineteenth-century British life. The organizational pattern is only marginally successful, as Flanders frequently moves beyond the confines of each chapter to provide broader observations.

But organization is not the only complaint I have with the text. While reading of subjects with which I am extensively familiar (such as corsetry, as a single example of many) I frequently found myself disagreeing with Flanders's interpretations and presentations. Interestingly, I found that the same sources of research that would lead me to disagree with Flanders are also to be found on her list of secondary sources. Such discrepancies were often minor, but ultimately tainted my reading of the text as I considered the validity of the information related to subjects with which I'm less familiar.

11.
Title: Understanding Comics
Author: Scott McCloud
Pages: 215
Genre: Nonfiction Graphic Novel
Medium: paperback
Acquisition: mentioned by a colleague
Date Completed: January 17, 2012
Rating: **1/2

The premise of Understanding Comics appealed to me when a colleague first described McCloud's work: a history of comics and graphic novels told as a graphic novel. Fantastic! Unfortunately, the execution was not what I had hoped for.

Understanding Comics is less a history of the evolution of comics, and more an attempt to find a place for comics in the fields of literature and art history. Far-reaching and often grasping, McCloud presents a malleable definition of "comic" in his attempt to legitimize the genre and find a critical space for the work. As a new fan interested in the genre, I found the text awkward and obtuse.

There was an interesting series on TV in the UK about a hundred years ago when I lived there called .....I think......"The Victorian House". It was a 20th century family put into a Victorian household for some weeks or months, and made to live under similar conditions, eating similar foods to what would have been eaten then, the same cleaning products, washing methods etc etc. It was quite interesting.
And it really showed the convenience of modern conveniences :) I remember the mother of the family breaking the rules and buying shampoo as she just couldn't cope without it!

I remember the mother of the family breaking the rules and buying shampoo as she just couldn't cope without it!

That would be me. I am nostalgic about many things - clothing especially - but at the end of the day I really appreciate modern life. Sure, corsets are lovely, but flushing toilets, antibiotics, tampons, and women's rights come out on top.

On the subject of McCloud: Last year, one of my students convinced me that I *had* to read Understanding Comics, but that first I should read some of McCloud's actual comics, specifically Zot!, which is, apparently, thought of very highly in the field. I wasn't my first foray into graphic novel land, so I had a body of work to compare him too, and it just wasn't good, so I never made it on to his theory work. If he can't write the real stuff, I don't want to bother with reading his thoughts on the theory behind it. Easy to say that I'm not a McCloud fan. Go read some Gaiman instead, I say.

After reading Understanding Comics I really have no interest in reading his comics.

I'm not a huge Gaiman fan either, although I didn't realize he wrote comics. I do get a chuckle out of his children's books, and I liked American Gods well enough, but I didn't think it was the MASTERPIECE OF ALL MASTERPIECES as it was believed to be in my creative writing department. *shrug* My SIL is a huge fan, though.

12.
Title: Black Blood
Author: Christopher Pike
Pages: 208
Genre: Teen Vampire
Medium: paperback, Thirst Volume 1
Acquisition:
Date Completed: January 17, 2012
Rating: ***

Black Blood is the book that most often comes to mind when I consider the series, and so it better fulfilled my nostalgic desires. The narrative itself improved, but only by a fraction.

13.
Title: The Mill River Recluse
Author: Darcie Chan
Pages: 314
Genre: Fiction
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition:
Date Completed: January 17, 2012
Rating: ***1/2

Mary McAllister is the silent benefactress of the small town of Mill River, using the wealth she inherited from her abusive marriage to establish some role in the community, even though her intense agoraphobia keeps her from meeting anyone but a select few. The Mill River Recluse provides the reader with interesting character analyses as Chan presents isolated narratives to make up the whole, but the device intended to drive the story - the "mystery" of Mary - falls flat.

If you ever come across it, you might try The Sandman (Gaiman's big comic). V. cool stuff, different from his novels (or at least from the novels I've read so far).

I want to try the Sandman books but my library never has every book in a huge series like that. They do look interesting though.

I had forgotten about Sandman; I've had a few friends recommend it before.

Luxx, have you ever tried Bill Willingham's Fables series of graphic novels? They're an interesting amalgamation of fairy tale characters trying to survive in the 'real' world. It's a smart, funny series that touches on lots of different stories and characters, and the illustrations are very detailed and elaborate. I'm a big, big fan.

Luxx--Found you! Happy New Year! Congrats on the 6-month milestone. Hurray for the stay-at-home decision. Boo about the smoky books. Yay on all the books read. I will try to do a better job of keeping up. : )

Hello Crypto...was missing you...came to deliver a Cryptopops hug. *smooch*

166 - Ooo, that sounds interesting! I'm brand new to the genre, so my answer to nearly every question that begins with "have you ever tried" is going to be no. Thanks for the tip!

167 - Hi there! Keeping up is pointless in this group, but I always appreciate the impromptu visits!

Ha...just got my first "pro" comment on my Hot Review of Under the Dome, after several nastygrams!

Keeping up *hollow laugh*

Am excited...looks like I could be funded for my web project this quarter...oh, did I mention I've got my reviews posting now on UrbanDiary.tv? For the moment it's just reposts of mystery reviews until I get happier with the presentation. Will you go and look at it, tell me what you think, please?

Wait wait, I'm confused (probably because I'm so behind on your thread as well) - are you a reviewer on a new site now?

Your review of Under the Dome is fabulous - I always appreciate your reviews because they actually have personality.

Happy birthday to Edgar Allen Poe, Janis Joplin, ..... and my BROOKSIE BEAR!

He's FOUR today. Four! I can't believe it.

hi Luxx
I found the translation of Stitches in the library, thanks for recommending it!

Happy Birthday to Brooksie and his proud Mama. : )

173 - I hope you enjoy it!

174 - Thank you! It's amazing how much he's grown up in the past year - at three he was still my baby (it helped that he didn't speak very well), but now he is undoubtedly a Little Boy.

ooooh, 4! He's a big little boy! A nearly all grown up pre-schooler! Wow, still cant believe you've got 3 such young'uns.

Oh, Happy Happy Birthday to that handsome little guy!!

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

*melt*smooch*sniffsniff* at time's scary passing.

> 175: Yes, I liked Stitches!
and Happy 4th Birthday to the handsome little guy!

Happy Birthday to Brooksie!
(What a nice smile!)

Awww, he's so adorable! (As a man I think I can only say that for another year before people start perceiving it as 'creepy,' so I better take advantage!) I do hope you put a locks on the windows before the girls start sneaking in at night. Or if you just want to repel them in general I can give you advice. :)

Thanks everyone! We had a nice quiet day and celebrated by having cinnamon roll cupcakes for breakfast and dinner at Red Robin (his favorite). His family party is on Saturday, and we decided on brunch to give him the opportunity to eat his weight in bacon (which is what he tries to do every weekend).

181 - I'm sure the prospect of having me for a MIL will scare away all but the bravest of suitors. ;) When B first learned to speak I got him to repeat "no harlots" pretty easily...

Haha, I would say that you are far too cute to be one those stern-and-intimidating-looking moms, but I suspect with the proper attire and on a REALLY bad day you could pull of a "I'm going to eat your worthless pathetic soul you filthy little brat" look if you wanted to. :P

Ha! "Cute" isn't normally the adjective of choice used by those who know me - especially those I've disagreed with. ;) I'm a very strict mama, and at this point an eyebrow-lift is enough to get my kids to chill out. I have found that speaking very softly and calmly - while not budging on time outs or grounding - works amazingly well with B. It's usually something like, "Sorry, dude - I really want you to play the computer, but you threw your toy so you can't."

Yup, I say dude. And I also tell the toddlers to "cut the 'tude" when they're being snotty.

Ha! "Dude" is standard speak with me too. Properly intoned, just that one word can stop Charlie in his tracks.

I also have the particular charm of cursing like a sailor, so I've had to modify my behavior around Charlie. Most words have turned into 'deuce' (ex: My favorite rhyming curse has turned into "aw, deuce a duck!" instead of, well, you know); sometimes I use "Dash it all, Jeeves", too. Not sure what the pre-school teacher will think when that one comes out of Charlie's mouth, but it's better than the alternative, I guess.

>175 London_StJ:: Happy Birthday, Brooks! Have fun this weekend eating your weight in bacon!

Luxx, has your new stay-at-home semester started yet? Keep us posted about how you're managing 3 busy boys and your computer time. I hope you don't have to overuse the lifted eyebrow look. ;-)

I need to take a leaf from your book....today I lost my cool.....there was a yelling episode Im not proud of. Talk about being pushed too far. Usually Im so restrained and can give a look to get the result I want, but today not so. At least he knows now where "too far" is. It is rare, but it happens.

Ha! "Cute" isn't normally the adjective of choice used by those who know me - especially those I've disagreed with. ;)

Too bad! You are just going to have to live with the fact that you are a cute family in a cute house with cute kids and a cute mama who married her highschool sweethear, which is so cute. Skulls, fire, and heavy metal onesies won't change that. :P

Happy Belated Birthday, Brooks! ((Hugs)) from honorary Aunt Stasia

Four?! I cannot believe it!

Love the picture of Victor up thread. My he is getting big!

I also have the particular charm of cursing like a sailor DEUCE A DUCK! I love it!

I have a similar problem, and try to curb it with "double-you-tee-eff," but end up clenching my teeth more often than not. ;)

186 - Not yet, Donna - this summer is when I'll be home full time. I'm enjoying my last campus semester for awhile.

187 - I'm a yeller. I don't like it, and it leads to immediate mommy-guilt, but that's the reality. I'm getting better, though, especially because the kids respond so much better to a cool response from mommy.

188 - I described our household as "creepy" to B's preschool teacher today, ha!

189 - Thanks, Auntie Stasia!

The big party for the Bear is tomorrow, and I cooked from the time I got home from work until 8. A chunk of it was the dinner that didn't come out (boo hiss), and I've come to realize that I hate decorating cakes even if I love baking them, but manohman was the rosemary bread delicious.

rosemary bread *eyes glaze over*

boo hiss on dinner not turning out! Seems like a waste of time when it doesnt turn out fabulous.

Agreed; I'm just not going to cook anymore. Michael enjoys it, so I'll stick to baking.

Michael, on the shift towards digital content and libraries: "We won't lose anything anymore - the library will just keep getting bigger. We won't have to wonder what was lost in the burning of the Library of Alexandria, because the library won't burn."

I'm not terribly familiar how these digital libraries work. How easy would it be to hack into them and hit the delete button?

I always think of a passage in one of Michael Smith's cyberpunk novels. I think it was One of Us but I can't be sure. The main character was breaking into a house/apartment with a digital lock. He was able to hack it easily, and commented that old fashion locks were so much safer. People think they are more secure because the lock was using modern technology, but it took skill and knowledge to pick an regular lock. Anyone could download a program to hack a digital lock for them, so those who used normal locks actually had more secure homes.

I don't think that applies to this situation, but I worry about digital security when anyone in the world can access it from their privacy of their homes. Convenient for patrons and thieves alike.

I go back to: All the data from the Apollo program...all of it...is useless and inaccessible because...wait for it...no one makes, repairs, or will fix that generation of computer, AND the "permanent" storage medium degraded.

I like redundancy. I ***LOVE*** the digital world! But I don't trust it to be eternal. Books degrade at a known rate, and the hazards Mike points out are well understood. We can, as of now, better secure books than digital files.

Side note: I want a baseball bat, civil and criminal immunity, and 15min alone with those sh*theels who destroy and pillage rare and/or just old books in libraries around the world. No need for a trial. Just a hospital. Maybe a morgue, depending on how mad I am.

Digital library: think something like GoogleBooks. Or, to better fit what we meant, think about downloading a copy of The Aeneid from GoogleBooks, Barnes and Noble, Project Gutenberg, and Amazon all at the same time.

How easy would it be to hack into them and hit the delete button?

Well, if the information is stored in just one place then it's as useless as one physical library holding onto all copies of a book; Michael's scenario relies more on the idea that digital information will be stored in a number of different places. Thus, if one "library" burns (or one hacker clears a catalog), it can't destroy all of that information forever.

I find your Smith paraphrasing interesting. All security is, essentially, an illusion. You (or he, rather) comments that "it took skill and knowledge to pick an regular lock," but even I know how to pick basic locks (like the kind most people have on their front doors). And deadbolts, chain locks, and doorknob locks can't withstand a few strong kicks from an average adult. I realize that this isn't your point, but it's something I find interesting.

Who was it that said that locks only keep honest people out?

Michael actually works in security, so I hear about hacking. But I wonder: are we really more vulnerable because of technology, or is it just different?

For example, take a "security audit" of a hospital. The auditor will check cameras, security tapes, passwords on computers, how information is stored, external access, and lots of tech stuff I can't even begin to understand. BUT the auditor will also take an afternoon and go dumpster-diving ... and come up with a jackpot of social security numbers and insurance information that can be used in all sorts of nefarious ways. And this isn't a hypothetical, either.

The conversation we were having came from a discussion of publishing, why Shakespeare is as well-known as he is today, and what we may have "lost" because a printer didn't like a manuscript, the text wasn't popular and so didn't see repeat printings, or the only physical copies were lost forever. Thanks to technology these factors will become less significant in preserving our textual culture.

I'm with Richard - I love both, and I hope to see both continue. I'm very excited to see what technology has to offer the Humanities; for example, the Folger Library's digitizing efforts, which will not only preserve a copy of these rare texts, but make them available to a much larger public.

On the subject of what technology has to offer the Humanities:

Love love love this site:
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/

That's so cool.

This is the Folger's digital image collection.

Hey, anybody else here have insomnia? I'm watching Nurse Jackie and enjoying reading all the threads in this group. What a vast spectrum of ideas and interests! Re:cooking supper-I would never survive if I didn't make sauce and chicken soup etc and put it in the freezer-at least four containers each for those nights I can't think of something to make or I'm just too tired.

Hello! I have missed so much! Happy Belated birthday to your Brooksie!

Amber & Luxx - glad to hear that other Mommies used "dude" in their parenting. Sometimes I think I get funny looks from others, but it works for me and my punk!

200 - I remember taking Max to the pediatrician when he was much smaller, and when he fussed at me for dressing him again I told him, "Sorry, dude, Mommy has no sympathy."

The ped (not our regular) burst into laughter and left the room chuckling "mommy has no sympathy" under his breath.

I also get funny looks for calling them the Monsters, but it's a term of endearment around here. I've also been known to use "punk" or "punk brewster." I recently had to explain the latter to my 21-year-old brother.

199 - I'm a huge soup fan, but I'm the only one. That's becoming a big problem in our house - not only do Michael and I have slightly differing ideas on what makes up a great dinner, but the toddlers refuse to eat anything. We've reached the point when they're going to get what we make and nothing else. We're also making some dietary changes that will help me plan dinners a little more easily. I just signed up for the AllRecipes.com menu planner, since most of my successful recipes come from the site.

My favorite feature so far is the automatic shopping list generator. ;)

My favorite feature so far is the automatic shopping list generator.

Goddess-send! Life-saver!

Charlie is mostly called Monkey, but sometimes Munchkin, Fussybritches, and on rare occasions, Putzocles (rhymes with Sophocles).

One of the pre-delivery conversations that Tomm & I had about child-raising ended with us agreeing that we didn't want to become short-order cooks with our child. So, while we don't make a big deal out of it if Charlie refuses to eat what gets served for any particular meal, he gets nothing else in-between meals until the next one. So, he doesn't have to eat what I serve, but he can't eat anything else either, or participate in whatever dessert follows that meal. It hasn't stopped him from the occasional refusal to eat, but that doesn't happen very often anymore.

So, he doesn't have to eat what I serve, but he can't eat anything else either, or participate in whatever dessert follows that meal.

I absolutely think this is the way to go. Unfortunately, when Brooks was younger we didn't agree on the way to handle food refusal, so the problem became a major habit (he went from eating anything I gave him to eating a handful of foods "overnight" when he was 18-mos old). And, like everything else B does, Max has to do it, too.

However, we finally asked the doc, who confirmed that skipping meals won't hurt them, so Mike is more on board. If nothing else, they get something from the milk they have with meals. I'm also trying to involve the boys in food prep to get them more excited about dinner.

It's a treat to listen to the toddlers try out different names. According to Max, he is "Mas-ee-mus" and his big brother is "Boo-sie." Both of them call the baby "Baby Bictor."

Great discussion on digi vs real stored written material.

Great kids nick names too! I call Lenny Bobba sometimes, Wilby gets called Wom wom, gorgeous and Wilbur von crimpoline. GO figure.

Hello Dear One. As always, I love to visit and see the photos of your adorable guys!

When the girls were kids, it was 'no eata the dinner, no getta the dessert.' Worked like a charm!

204: Awww! Do any of them say pizzaro bread yet?

207 - I tried that! Brooksie just says, "Ok, Mommy. Can Max have dessert?" (and he doesn't even try to steal it from his brother). He's also been known to say, "Mommy, can I just starve?" if he doesn't want what I've given him.

208 - I was trying really hard to remember that the other day. ;)

206 - Hello hello!

205 - Doc ends up being called "Senor Fussypants" at least once a day.

Mommy, can I just starve?

ROLF ! That's precious!

Sammy gets called Mister Grumpy Gills lol

"Mommy, can I just starve?"
How do you not giggle when they say things that cute?!

My brother in law whose 14 now refuses to eat certain things. He is so picky that there has had to been special meals made just for him during family dinner, I really hope Sammy isn't like that.

>209 London_StJ: the smart ones always know to say stuff like that! ("Mommy can I just starve?" etc).........yesterday my little treasure *said through gritted teeth* said "mum, I dont want breakfast, I dont want a treat, and I dont want to go to the library" after being encouraged to eat his food through bribery! What a cheek :)

(edited cos I carnt spell)

How do you not giggle when they say things that cute?!

I can't help it, but so far I've managed to perfect the "head turned in exasperation" (to laugh over my shoulder) and the "glare over the hand" (while hiding my smile).

Seriously, these guys crack me up, but I think I've only twice slipped and laughed uproariously at their gumption.

214 - B will "elect" to go to time out or will reject bribery in the same way. Little so-and-sos.

Off to make crab cakes and roasted potatoes! I wonder if they'll eat dinner tonight...

Crab cakes...CRAB CAKES! Man, I love those things!

They weren't as good as I hoped; I substituted real crab for the "canned crab" in a recipe, and they wouldn't keep their shape when cooked. I've only made them once before, and never friend them before, so I'm still looking for a good recipe.

Paula Deen's recipe, which I follow slavishly. Well, except I use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic in the lemon-dill sauce, which incidentally is the basis for my personal tartar sauce. Oh, and I only use Italian breadcrumbs. I used panko crumbs once because I failed to specify what kind of breadcrumbs I wanted (really, have you ever *looked* in the pantry? I wanted to say but did not because I like chewing with my own teeth), and it came out fine. It just wasn't quite...the same.

But it is a never-failer.

I'll take crab cakes ...even misshapen ones .. gladly. I love them!

Ooooh, crab cakes! And I'll eat nearly anything if it's from a Paula Deen recipe. That woman is amazing.

Paula Deen scares me. I'll admit that I've never actually used any of her recipes, but the concept of Paula Deen seems to be "anything is better with two pounds of butter!" A friend once told me that PD made bread pudding using Krispy Kreme donuts. Now, while I'm sure it was good, it just seemed to be a little over the top for me.

I still have six to eight pounds of baby weight to lose, and a lot of crunches before I take my kids to the pool this summer.

Take out the butter and add mayo instead of cream, and her crab cake recipe is basically what I did last night. I think it'll take some tweaking, extra-fine dicing, and some practice and it won't be half-bad!

I like chewing with my own teeth Good call, Padre!

Tonight we're going to have seared scallops and fried rice, with a side of lemon roasted broccoli because I have a big thing for roasted broccoli. Mmmm.

Tonight we're going to have seared scallops and fried rice, with a side of lemon roasted broccoli
Wow, sounds gourmet....now you've got me thinking about what I need to make for dinner.

Yummy....scallops and fried rice is fantastic. The broccoli is alright. I eat it because, well, they tell you that it is good for you. My grandfather said it would put hair on my chest, so I was never a big fan, because man or woman, who the heck wants hair on their chest!

I feel starved at this time of day and it also happens to be the time I check for posts here. My monitor has been getting a drool bath these last couple of visits.

Roasted broccoli = yum
roasted cauliflower = yum
roasted brussels sprouts = yum
roasted bok choy = yum

Lessee here...all Brassicae...all yummy roasted...yep, pattern spotted!

I hated veggies with dinner when I was a kid, but when I got a little older I realized that I just disliked canned vegetables - fresh vegetables are so much better.

I always liked raw vegs. And I love roasted vegetable of pretty much any kind. Roasted bok choy, hhmm?

man or woman, who the heck wants hair on their chest!

Agreed!

Nothing gourmet in this house - the most difficult foods I prepare are breads. ;) Kind of a bummer, now that Michael is going no-carb.

#221: Ha! You sound like Tomm. I, on the other hand, consider no dish complete without at least one stick of butter, but prefer the Deen Double. Indeed, there's *lots* of butter in my homemade fried rice. Lots.

223: One of my mother's boyfriends used to say the same thing about coffee. "If you drink it it'll put hair on your chest." I'm still not a coffee drinker. Of course, that didn't stop me from getting nipple hair and a 'happy trail.' :P

I like mens chest hair. Not like a bear but enough to run my fingers through.

I have to admit, when I think of "running my fingers through" I prefer to stay north of the torso; I'm a sucker for good hair on anyone. I'm not a fan of body hair in general, but I'm not as extreme as my best friend, who Nair's her arms...

Dinner was a success tonight. Yum. And there are leftovers for lunch tomorrow! Tomorrow night is filet mignon with a balsamic glaze, clam chowder, and mushroom skewers.

Totally. Digging. This menu planner.

Willow occasionally tries to throw down the 'I'm not eating that card', and we let her. She just can't eat anything else afterward, which usually gets her back on board as she's a MAJOR snacker. And she also sometimes gets interested if we rename the food as objects she thinks are silly: tonight, she ate the eyeballs (black eyed peas), booger fingers (baby carrots), and grass (green beans) out of her soup without any complaints. :)

Ooo, I dig the fun name idea! Language is very important for Brooks when it comes to eating; for example, he won't eat chicken nuggets, but he'll eat chicken fries (even if they're shaped like nuggets). His favorites are "real chicken fries" which just means we made them instead of bought them.

Michael is on board for it now ... for Brooks, but not Max. My compromise is to think of giving Max a snacky something he enjoys with his regular dinner, but I'm not happy about it - after all, that's the slip that got us into this mess in the first place!

I'm going to keep pushing for consistency with this one.

he he funny food names, broccoli florets at our house are called dinosaur trees (because, you know, dinosaurs eat whole trees like this *chomp chomp*)

232 - !!! That's what Brooksie says, too! He came up with it on his own, too. How funny. :)

haha, maybe we got it from you....I started saying it to Wilby a while ago having heard it from sooomewheeere!? What goes around comes around :)

Luxx must delurk for a while just to point out that continued browsing on your thread is bad for my waistline as I'm hungry everytime I finish up a visit. btw book progress impressive too.

Hi Paul! Food is my comfort and my downfall, but the real threat is Richard's thread, since he actually posts recipes. And thanks!

Ooo, but I should share this recipe: chocolate orange layer cake. Oh man, is that some good stuff. I'm a big fan of citrus and chocolate, so this hits all of my buttons. I made this for Max's birthday back in October, and while my ganache did not turn out as nicely as hers, man was it good. Also amazing? rosemary bread.

Mmmm, carby carb carbs with a side of sugar. Yum.

What was I saying about that baby weight before?...

14.
Title: The Terrible Axe-Man of New Orleans
Author: Rick Geary
Pages: 80
Genre: Nonfiction Graphic Novel
Medium: Hardcover
Acquisition: Recommended on a list of true crime graphic novels
Date Completed: January 24, 2012
Rating: ***1/2

The Terrible Axe-Man of New Orleans is a true crime graphic novel that covers a series of mysterious axe murders/attacks that occurred in New Orleans (obviously) at the turn of the century. Geary's text once again confirms that graphic novels are an excellent medium for true crime, as it allows authors to truly capture the horror of events; what may be unnecessary purple prose in traditional true crime is translated to captivating illustrations that more easily hold the reader's attention and sympathy. While Axe-Man is not a spectacular example on its own, it is an enjoyable graphic novel, and certainly worth a peek for those interested in the genre(s).

I am *not* a menace to society! Oh wait...waistlines...yeah, guilty.

I will most emphatically not be picking up that last one, Crypto, since even looking at it gives me anxiety hives.

237 - It honest-to-goodness gave me a nightmare last night, which is actually very unusual for me. I'm very easily creeped out, but don't have nightmares unless I'm pregnant.

I'm not pregnant. I blame the scallops.

wow that orange layer cake looks gooood (and time consuming!)

I didn't do the fondant pumpkins or the fancy piping on the sides, so it wasn't that bad!

Hey Luxx,

Just catching up!

Me too! *waves*

It kills me - it just kills me!

"It" being the real estate market.

I like to torture myself by looking for houses outside of our immediate area, but still feasible for work (work being Michael's, since mine is flexible).

And I always find perfect homes.

adfjaewfmeornb;sjk;l

Looking on the Eastern shore, I found a fantastic 112-year-old farmhouse with a few acres for the monsters to run ... for about the cost of our current 1300 sqft. condo.

Now, I've decided that this is the absolute perfect place: Victorian Love. Seriously, how frickin' cool would that place be?

Around here? That house would easily go for 600-700k, and more like a mil plus if it was anywhere near Annapolis.

I have two tastes in houses: one hundred years old, or less than ten. I dream of a fantastic bathroom and a home with no repairs in the near future, or something charming with history that could be lovingly restored over time. Preferably the latter.

Some days I'd just settle for a house that doesn't have any neighbors attached.

Sigh.

15.
Title: A Taste of Midnight
Author: Lara Adrian
Pages: 80 (a complete guess)
Genre: supernatural romance
Medium: kindle
Acquisition: Recommended by WillowsMom
Date Completed: January 27, 2012
Rating: ***1/2

This novella is just what a seasoned Adrian reader would expect: a mourning Breedmate catches the fancy of a mourning and Byronic Breed male she knew once upon a time, there's a spot of violence to throw them together, and they shove off towards lovely vampiric alien family bliss. Although it leaves out much of the "mechanics" of Adrian's world (such as an explanation of races, what makes one a Breedmate, etc - which appears in all other novels), even this novella is new-reader friendly, and would certainly make a consistent introduction to the series.

16.
Title: Darker After Midnight
Author: Lara Adrian
Pages: 384 (a complete guess)
Genre: supernatural romance
Medium: kindle
Acquisition: Recommended by WillowsMom
Date Completed: January 28, 2012
Rating: ****

Darker After Midnight is the tenth and most recent book in Lara Adrian's Midnight Breed series. Picking up where the last full-length novel concluded, readers follow Chase into police custody, and watch at the Order is forced to relocate in the midst of major personal obstacles. The romance of the novel is consistent with the rest of the series, as is most of the plot, but the resolutions that Adrian offers makes this by far the most satisfying novel yet. While many authors of this genre will string readers along with the promise of an earth-shattering event, Adrian actually follows through. For that, Darker After Midnight well-deserves four stars and a strong recommendation for readers of the genre.

Normally pregnant or not scallops have very little to do with it - oysters occasionally maybe!

>243 London_StJ: that house is amaaaaaaazing! 6 bedrooms, let me think, that would be one for each monster, one for the parents, one spare (lets call it the sewing room) and one library/reading room! Is it because you cant sell your current one that you cant move?
(Edited for spelling)

8 fireplaces?!? What more could you want!

A house like that would go for a lot over here as well, somewhere around the £600,000 mark I would imagine, dependent (of course) on where it was. That would make it about $940,000.

Amazing.

Luxx- Good review of The Terrible Axe-Man of New Orleans. What is also good, is the fact I have this one home from the library. Yah!

247 - Huzzah for good library books! I was just filling out a form to register for a "family" card for ours. I think it's time to introduce the monsters.

245 - "Is it because you cant sell your current one that you cant move? " Bingo. We bought our current home just before the real estate market here crashed so, like so many others, we owe more than we could sell it for. It's recovering, slowly, and no longer paying for childcare will help, but I get really frustrated. We should never have bought this place (especially considering how clueless we were about home ownership and buying), but I pushed hard because "It's always better to own than rent!"

246 - Yup, that sounds about right. That house is just over 1.5 hours from Washington DC, so it's not completely remote, but it's far enough away to drop the cost significantly. I was laughing as I was thinking about my taste in houses; I'll say that I prefer "historical" homes, but a Victorian is nearly as old as we have around here! There are a few 18th-century farm houses out and about, but that's about it. ;)

244 - Mmm, oysters

I. WANT. THAT. HOUSE.

Luxx I love looking at house on line to see what I would buy - if only I had the money! Your choice certainly demonstrates good taste. To be fair house prices near you are far more reasonable than over here. That place (without needing the 8 fireplaces) would be at least $1.5m! Wait I could actually afford that house - but no - I'd never be able to commute.

Since we've just bought a house, I can't bear to look and see what's new on the market around us right now; I'm so afraid that something nicer and cheaper would be out there taunting me.

251 - I would love to have that problem, ha! But I can understand the fear - hopefully I'll be there in the next decade...

250 - I wish homes in this area were that reasonable, but the house I linked is in the next state over. We bought our current 3-bed 2.5-ba condo for $250k six years ago. :( But there are certain areas we could look to for cheaper properties that would still allow hubster to continue his current job, which is very agreeable for family life.

249 - Michael has to work in Martinsburg a couple of times a year, and he says that it's a lovely little town. He used to bring me wonderful tea from a little tea and cigar shop. And whoa man, I found three separate Victorians for sale, although that property is by far the best-kept.

I don't want to move. I love where I am... still it's fun to look at all the great deals to be found out there right now.
I do feel sympathetic towards all the young growing families who are ready to expand, re-locate, upgrade, etc. and need to sell the house they are in.
Crossing fingers for you Luxx... and wishing you luck in your search and selling.

Thanks, Claudia. Hopefully the next house we buy will be the one I don't ever want to leave. ;)

"I think it's time to introduce the monsters." LOL!

17.
Title: Lothaire
Author: Kresley Cole
Pages: 506 pages
Genre: supernatural kidnapping/rape fantasy "romance"
Medium: kindle
Acquisition:
Date Completed: February 3, 2012
Rating: *

Lothaire, a vampire known as "The Enemy of Old," well-deserves his reputation among the Lorean: his actions prove again and again that he is truly evil. Though he forms an odd bond with a young Lorean in a previous book, this broken "Friendship" is the one positive relationship the vampire seems to have. So, casting Lothaire as the male protagonist in her latest supernatural romance is both intriguing and thrilling, and suggests great potential for the narrative.

The product is what may be called the "Cole Special": abduction, imprisonment, rape and abuse, and a healthy case of Stockholm syndrome called "love."

The adjective that most frequently came to mind while reading Lothaire was "repugnant." I, who generally have very few quibbles with nontraditional sexual and romantic relationships, was repulsed by the "romance" between Lothaire and Ellie. Ellie is a victim time and time again, both at the hands of a "vampire goddess" whose murders land Ellie on death row, and then at the hands of Lothaire himself. He is physically and emotionally abusive to an extreme degree, even after the couple's "fated love" is confirmed. At times it seemed as if Cole was attempting to rectify and repair the damage that Lothaire had created, but it only got worse. The conclusion of the novel is a justification of abuse, a kind of "he did it for her own good" suggestion that rankles.

Oh, but she's his "fated Bride," so it's all ok. If she can get over it, then we should, too.

I've had enough; "good" sex does not make up for extreme abuse, whether it is kidnapping and threatening one's family for compliance and oral sex, kidnapping and dissection while one is alive, or rape followed by kidnapping (all actual plots in the series). I just can't accept that controlling sadists can make good partners.

And a minor quibble compared to the basic content of the novel: I loathe laziness in writing. Specifically, the use of generic descriptions such as "old fashioned." They wore "old-fashioned" clothes, hhmm? Old-fashioned as in ... oh-so-1992? 1950? Renaissance? Medieval? Mammoth-skin? If your own vocabulary and research is so lacking, you can at least go with generic descriptions! Is she wearing a bodice and full skirt, or a long fitted gown? Is he wearing a stiff collar and boots to his cod piece? Or is it too difficult to imagine anything other than manually ripping one's hymen because it's in the way?

I'm amazed at myself that I even bothered to finish the book, but I wanted to give it the chance to recover. It never does.

Oh dear, I don't think I'll add Ms Cole to my list! I hope you have better luck with your next book.

>256 London_StJ: So, not so much, eh Crypto?

I loathe laziness in writing. Specifically, the use of generic descriptions such as "old fashioned." They wore "old-fashioned" clothes, hhmm? Old-fashioned as in ... oh-so-1992? 1950? Renaissance? Medieval? Mammoth-skin? If your own vocabulary and research is so lacking, you can at least go with generic descriptions! Is she wearing a bodice and full skirt, or a long fitted gown? Is he wearing a stiff collar and boots to his cod piece? Or is it too difficult to imagine anything other than manually ripping one's hymen because it's in the way?

I am never more proud of you than when you get your rant on. It helps in this case that you are incontrovertibly correct. *smoochity smooch smooch* for being an astute and eloquent guardian of the language.

257 - Cole has some loyal fans around here, but she's proven to be not to my taste. ;)

258 - Thank you, sir. :-*

Sounds like one to avoid that one!
Nice telling off re: use of "old-fashioned" and the like. Laziness will not be tolerated!