Luxx's Monster Mash: Thread 4

Whoops, I'm surprised the thread police haven't called me out yet!


Henri Le Secq...Stair Tower, Rude de la Petite Boucherie









The List of Links
Biblio Beau, the second home for all my reviews
First Thread
Second Thread
Third Thread

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. *
18. Oedipus the King by Sophocles. 2.7.12.
19. Ex Libris: Confessions of an Common Reader by Anne Fadiman. 2.10.12. ****
20. Cinder by Marissa Meyer. 2.11.12. ****1/2
21. Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood. 2.14.12. ***
22. Wither by Lauren DeStefano. 2.21.12. ****
23. One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. 2.21.12.
24. Timeless by Gail Carriger. 2.24.12. ****

25. A Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison. 3.1.12. ****1/2
26. Torso by Brian Michael Bendis and Marc Andreyko. 3.4.12. **1/2
27. Fair Game by Patricia Briggs. 3.10.12. *****
28. Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead by Christina Miller. 3.14.12. ****
29. Habibi by Craig Thompson. 3.15.12. *****
30. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. 3.24.12. ***

I finished Princess Diaries last week and haven't gotten around to reviewing it, nor have I updated my list since March, apparently.

I haven't recorded Victor's first step, either, which occurred a week ago. Bad Monster Mommy.

Hi New Thread!
Hooray.
I havent recorded any of Lennys anything, stills will have to do :|
He'll forgive you, unless you have recordings of the other two.....then he wont. (best get recording) :)

Yup, other two have recordings at least until the first word, so I should really get on that before I forget!

Hello! You don't have to worry about the Thread Police, he lets his thread reach 300 posts now. I bet he abuses his pepper spray and taser privileges too...

Oh, the corruption! This is where it starts - next thing you know we'll have gay marriage and dolphins courting dogs!

>3 London_StJ: I'm looking forward to your review of Princess Diaries just to see if your impressions of Meg Cabot have improved...

Hi there! I started my new thread today too. Also without the thread police. This could be a trend... : P

8 - Oh dear. I've actually been dreading writing a review, which is why I'm so late. ;) I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either, and "meh" responses are really difficult to communicate.

9 - Hi! Really, I just started a new thread because I wanted to feel popular and I've been a ghost around here most of the time...

Oh, and Victor is walking-
Hooray! Vertical Victor....causing kneeheight trouble near you

eta: last thread.....30-40 kids in classes? classrooms in trailers? Sounds rough at best. And RDs class sounds super fun and educational, no wonder they canned it @#!$$-holes

#10--I know, right? I just wanted a new thread because I started my last one back in February and the picture up top was still Easter eggs. LOL I am trying to lose my ghost status, too!

Edited to add a "Way-to-go Victor!" comment.

Thanks, guys! We have had first steps and some steady standing, but not actual locomotion. He does like his walking wagon, and I have video of him pushing Max around.

>10 London_StJ: I know what you mean. I actually had a 'meh' response to my last Meg Cabot read. Le sigh.

It was fun seeing how different it is from the movie, which I always thought was cute.

I have a signed lease! And tenants who requested that I leave the map of Middle Earth in B's room, and scoffed when I mentioned plugging picture holes and shampooing the carpet. "Why would you do that?"

Now, to get a firm move-in date with my grandmother, so we can sign a lease with her.

Congratulations on the signed lease.
You mentioned on your last thread about preschool maths and I remember finding some of the resources of naeyc (National Association for the Education of Young Children) useful. They have a series 'Spotlight on Young Children' which includes the title Exploring Math. http://www.naeyc.org/store/node/17287
I would think that block play would be a good place to start with pre maths - so many concepts to talk and play with. You need a large basic set of plain blocks and a smaller one for fine motor skills. Here's a short article on Block Play, Math and Literacy.

mmmmmm, signed lease :)

18 - Srsly.

17 - Thanks for the article - it really helps put early math learning into perspective for someone who has no concept of early mathematical education (me). I actually have blocks and basic geometric wooden shapes on my preschool wish list, but primarily because I enjoyed them as a child. Very cool.

>15 London_StJ: I have such a girl crush on Anne Hathaway. She's just so adorable.

And congrats on the signed lease and the awesome sounding tennants!

Congrats on the lease and the basics of math! Legos are actually really good for developing spatial concepts, and fractions and the kids don't even know it! : )

>20 MickyFine: My girl crush is Christina Ricci, Anne Hathaway is all teeth and eyes (whereas Christina is all forehead I suppose....)

20/22 - I love them both, but I would probably favor Hathaway. "Becoming Jane " really endeared her to me.

21 - Actual Legos are a little hard at this age, but their train table converts to a Lego table when they're ready!

The tenants are my best friend and her partner, ha. They'll be here for a year, maaaaybe two, and my house at its worst is 100x better than the house they are renting now.

When they moved into their current house the front door didn't lock. Really. And one of the toilets didn't work at all. As time went on they discovered a bad pilot light in their gas stove, that the kitchen had no insulation, and that the management company had no interest in responding when, say, the bathtub wouldn't drain for two weeks. Or, when squirrels climbed into the walls. Which says nothing about two SWAT raids, one on either side of their house.

The bad side for them is that I live in a different state, so they'll now have a one-hour commute, but they say it's worth it for the money they'll save alone - we are charging them $250 less a month than their current house, plus they won't have to pay water or trash pickup or landscaping. It'll certainly make it easier to save for a down-payment! Plus, I will have non-fussy tenants I would trust with my children for my first year as a landlady (and with any luck we'll get a chance to sell when they move out). And, you know, Angel already has a key.

I'm sure there will be a down side to renting to/from friends, but it can't be any worse than the other mistakes we've made with this place! Heh.

In other news, I ran Max to RightTime when he woke up at 11 with a horrible barking cough and wheezing, labored breathing. Mommy-heart-attack. Apparently he has croup. Thank goodness for our late-night non-emergency clinic. And health care.

>23 London_StJ: "Becoming Jane" is one of the major reasons I love James McAvoy so much. It's just full of delightfulness.

Hope Max gets better soon!

Aargh, croup! Doenst sound good, isnt that what babies get too, and it makes them cry all - the- time. Poor Max

He's doing better today than he was last night, but he's still in rough shape. He's in high spirits, as usual, but his chest is not happy.

Oh, poor little critter! Hope he's on the mend. And woohoo for tenants!

51.
Title: The Princess Diaries
Author: Meg Cabot
Pages: 256
Genre: YA
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition: Library Book
Date Completed: June ?, 2012
Rating: ***

I've avoided reviewing this book - to the point that I cannot remember when I actually finished reading it - because of a rather lackluster response. I didn't dislike the book any more than I actually liked it. I enjoyed the fact that Cabot's original story is very different from the Disney movie (and I appreciated the drunk and slightly-scandalous grandmother in the novel), but it wasn't thrilling. I'm giving it three starts because I'm sure others would enjoy it.

52.
Title: Witch Way to Murder
Author: Shirley Damsgard
Pages: 304
Genre: Supernatural Cozy Mystery
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition: Library Book
Date Completed: June 26, 2012
Rating: **1/2

Witch Way to Murder gets a low rating for inconsistency and poor research. The story itself is what one would expect from any cozy - a librarian is attempting to solve a series of crimes in her small town - and a supernatural cozy - she's inherited a skill for witchcraft which she is oh-so-dramatically resisting because of a past trauma.

The big problems - inconsistency in plot and characterization - make the "little" problems all the more irksome. I can think of two examples off the top of my head: there is a vision involving a young girl dancing ballet, described by the protagonist, and likely inspired by some juvenile fantasy of what ballet should look like. Oh, sure, she throws in the word "arabesque" for good measure, but here's a big tell: ballet dancers don't cross their laces up to their knees. I promise.

The second irksome detail? A librarian who doesn't know how to conduct research. Specifically, research on the internet. I can't imagine that a librarian attempting to do research related to the mystery she is solving would a) be so careless in her search attempts and b) would give up on said research after a single results return. Really?

Overall, the story seems careless; there are better examples of the genre to be enjoyed.

Book #51 I'd rather be tied to an anthill than even pick it up, so I shall ignore; and

Book #52 doesn't that sort of indifference to the audience's right to expect a modicum of believability make you seethe? Now it's not like the bar is too damned high, here, a little time on Google and a few hours swotting up on Wikipedia Will Not Kill You! This isn't some goddam boring academic paper (sorry Crypto but you know what I mean) with citations and Turabian footnoting and stuff!

*fume*

Oh, and hi there sweetness!

Sorry to hear that Max has the croup. My nephew had it when I was babysitting, which scared the bejeezus out of me. It was the scariest sounding thing ever to have emerged from his little person. I made it to the ER in seconds and had a very very nice nurse and doctor help keep pathetic auntie from collapsing into a fit of hysteria. My nephew actually patted ME on the head as if to reassure me! How sad is that?

a little time on Google and a few hours swotting up on Wikipedia Will Not Kill You!

EXACTLY! Really, these are not difficult details to research (but apparently the author's research skills are as lacking as her protagonist's). Sure, it only matters to people who have experience ... but don't they count, too?

30 - It was the scariest sounding thing ever to have emerged from his little person.

Yes. Oh my. I scooped Maximost right up, plopped him on my bed with his father and said, "We are going to the doctor - NOW." Not that Michael had any objections once he heard it for himself, but oh did my heart race. In the car Max would have a coughing fit, followed by that horrible wheezing, and then would pipe up, "I'm ok, mommy."

Heartbreaking.

In the car Max would have a coughing fit, followed by that horrible wheezing, and then would pipe up, "I'm ok, mommy."
Oh dear, that is so sweet and sad! Kids are something arent they. Bless.

Just contacted an old professor to ask her advice: will teaching for a for-profit online school actually hurt my future PhD/job applications?

Bah.

#33: I can't imagine that it would, especially since you're doing it *before* the PhD. Afterward, though, would perhaps be a different story...

>33 London_StJ: Does "Bah" mean she said yes?

>34 scaifea: That I can see.

34 - I was really hoping you'd respond, ha! My gut instinct was that it wouldn't hurt me at this stage - I'm only an adjunct, after all, and with just a MA I'm not even eligible for most full time positions - but I'm trying to be cautious.

35 - "Bah" is just an expression of frustration. I hate being so clueless! Dr. Awesome hasn't responded yet, but she's a jet-setter and is likely enjoying her summer break. I very much so want to be this woman.

You're always welcome even to PM me with academia questions and I'll be happy to do my best to answer. I've been on several TT search committees, and I'm happy to pass on what I've learned from that side of the process.

I really appreciate that! I feel extremely ignorant.

I heard back from my professor, and she gave me a very frank answer: she would pass over anyone who has taught at a school like U. of Phoenix. She did say that it may not look so bad when taken with the rest of my CV and such, but that in a very general sense it would stand as a mark against an applicant. Taking into consideration that my dream is to work at a school much like where I earned my BA (where she is now dept. head), I'm inclined to take her advice on this, but I have to admit that I'm still a bit torn.

Who just crashed her grandparents' 50th anniversary dinner? This girl right here!

It was a total accident. They actually had a big party on Thursday, and the actual day slipped my mind. Hubster and I went out for a bite, and as I was approaching the hostess stand who should I see but "Big Daddy" walking up to complain about his wait, ha! I wasn't willing to wait an hour for a table, but they seated my Pap right away and they invited us to join them. It was a real blast.

An interesting story topped off the night: apparently my great-great grandfather published an article bashing the KKK, and had his house and store burned down for it. It didn't help that he was Catholic, I'm sure.

Well, I went ahead and listed a few items in my etsy shop. It was my original intention to wait until I had all of my stock done, but I'm not sure when that'll happen with the move, so I'm just falling back on the old pattern of listing as I make. Right now I have red thread in the serger ... so I only have red items listed, ha!

I'm holding off on opening a shop until I've got a stockpile of things made, but, like you, that seems to be taking forever. Sigh. *Beautiful* gowns you've got.

Thank you. The Italian gown is one I've worn - I made it when I was expecting B - but I've had good luck selling the rest of my used maternity garb so I didn't think it would hurt to put it up. I have about 50 more projects cut out and ready to go ... and a ton of housework that keeps getting in the way. I just didn't want to miss out on faire season entirely, so I thought putting up a few things and then stocking as I go would at least keep the shop open.



I really love your bags, and I can't wait to see what else you stock!

Excellent opportunity! I think it'd be a blast to teach there.

The meeting itself was so delightful that I can't help but think that working there will be as well. Unfortunately, part-time care for three monsters under five can be difficult, but Michael may be able to work an alternative schedule. If we can make it one academic year then B will be in kindergarten, and the other monsters will be eligible for preschool.

We'll start with a single semester, though, and go from there. We got a tentative "ok" yesterday, so I'm hoping for good scheduling news today so I can accept.

In other big news, Victor walked several steps yesterday!

It turns out that he just needed proper motivation: getting his hands on daddy's phone.

WOOHOO!! Congrats (on both job and Victor fronts)!!

*smooch* for good luck and good news!

Love the picture. Kindergarten, you say? *Stares at Luxx's baby belly* They grow up so fast! :P

Ohholycrap, Stephen - I can't believe you just said that! Good thing you're not in slapping range of any women right now...

Crossing fingers the job works out. And yay for Victor motoring around already!

wow lot's of great news here! Congrats on the new job and on Victor walking!

I was referring to Cute Little Fetus Brooks, of course. -.-

51 - Good cover - you were in hot water there for a minute.

Thanks everyone!

Wait...you mean you HAD the fourth one already? Wow, where was I? I thought you were still PG!

*flees like a deer*

I sometimes forget that every word said around a lady must be meticulously calculated, for even the most casual, completely harmless and well-intentioned joke can be turned into an horrible atrocious unforgivable insult as it flutters about within the irrational and totally nonsensical female brain.

There, now THAT was insulting. Granted I didn't mean it, it's just an example, but for future reference don't be insulted unless I say something like THAT.

*Follows Richard's footsteps*

Women will take any and all references to midsections, especially postpartum, as insult. All. If you acknowledge that it exists, it's an insult. So you and Padre are both on my shit list tonight.

I'm going to go sew corsets and chemises to make myself feel better. Evil men.

Luxx- I think you look great in the gown! What a lovely & happy photo! Sorry, I haven't been by in awhile. Hope all is well and your books are treating you good. Enjoy the holiday!

You can tell Mark is married to a women, he really knows how to suck up. :P

I'll try my hand at it. Here we go:

But Luxx! Midsections are my favorite part on a lady!

No wait, I call a do-over, let me try again!

*snort* Well, it is soft and comfy. You can just ask Brooks.

56 - Good of you to stop in! I'm have a particularly difficult time keeping up this year as well, but I always appreciate a drive-by hello.

Soft and comfy, just how I like my ice cream.

I know that didn't make sense. I'm going to sleep soon...

Stephen- Yes, you become conditioned. Robo-Hubbies!

Luxx- So I'm just a number, huh?

*smoochsmoochsmooch* all over the bestest, most talentedest mom ever to grace Poe's home town, and a rousing toast to the next English department head of the Naval Institute, where her lithe and lissome and terrifyingly perpsicacious self will cause nothing but sleepless nights and a rash of children named "Aubrey" among the midshipmen!

Oh, I can't top that, but then again, I don't have to as I never insulted you in the first place! All caught up on your thread again. Life is good.

>60 msf59: Mark, just a number- lol

Hi Luxx, lots to catch up on. Teaching at a naval academy? do you have to be in the Navy to do that, obviously not....just typing while I think....ummmmm.....so its just like a normal school then? What is Naval about it?
Congrats on all your goodies in your etsy shop (I love this site now)....and so many planned projects. Seriously, and moving house. (*shakes head in disbelief*)
And Victor, going for the phone grab. Go Victor- you can get it, keep trying, they cant look all the time.

61: Hey, no fair, I can't do that!

*Pouts*

...

*Buys Luxx a book*

My Dear One

Congratulations on your new position teaching at the naval academy. I love the gown and the photo and the thought of little brook inside.

Much love to you

Happy Fourth!

Thanks for the explanation of the college, it sounds like a good deal for students, is it hard to get in/popular? Congrats on the teaching gig, you must be very pleased with yourself, and rightly so.

Berly, those are very nearly the only fireworks I'll see tonight! We bought a little video to share with the kids, since it's far too hot to take the baby out today. Happy Fourth to you as well!

Megan, I think they have an 8% acceptance rate. And thank you! I can't wait to start on my syllabus.

Just wanted to say best wishes for the job change & the move!!!

Catching up on your thread. Congratulations on your new job at the Naval Academy! Hoping that you have a great experience there.

Thanks, guys!

I've finally managed to pack up the bookcases, which is very difficult because I find so many books I still want to read! I left out one box of texts for work and a handful for pleasure reading, and then taped my boxes shut so I couldn't go back.

My house feels naked.

53.
Title: Insatiable
Author: Meg Cabot
Pages:
Genre: YA
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition: Library Book
Date Completed: Incomplete June 2012
Rating:

I didn't give up on this book on purpose. Rather, my library loan ran out, and I wasn't concerned enough to request it again. Everything in Insatiable has been done before, but Cabot's version certainly isn't the worst that I've read.

54.
Title: Persuasion
Author: Jane Austen
Pages: 272
Genre: Classic
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition: Free Download
Date Completed: July 7, 2012
Rating: ****

With my books now packed for the move I'm finally finding time to read some of the things I have downloaded on my Kindle. Jane Austen's Persuasion is the first that caught my attention, and is pleasant for its charm and comfortable familiarity. Though I enjoy Austen's satire and dissatisfaction for trivial social pursuits and concerns, the novel as a whole seems less polished than her earlier works. The narrative style is all Austen, the observations more biting, and many of the characters more realistic and therefore sympathetic.

Persuasion is a little rough around the edges, mostly I think because it didn't get the chance to go through Austen's personal editing process due to the post-humous publication. But it does contain probably THE most romantic letter in all of her novels. It even beats out Mr. Darcy's letter to Elizabeth in P&P imho.

Packing up books is so hard! We have been in this house for five years and I think I just unpacked my last box...I didn't have the built in shelves of the last house and there just wasn't a place for them. Finally got some bookshelves and now my friends are all back. : ) Have fun with the Kindle.

*smooch*

74 - I think I read that letter twice just to swoon again. I've always been a big fan of P&P, but never got around to reading Austen's other novels, so much of her work is unfamiliar. I've read a few others now, and I have them all on the Kindle so I may get to the rest while we are transitioning.

75 - I have major organization OCD, so having all of these boxes around is driving me batty. The last time we moved I had the whole house set up in a weekend, but we didn't have kids. I'm pretty nervous about the timing of things, but I'll happily give up sleep to have my house in order!

For the first time I will have a nearly-matching bedroom set, and I'm so excited. Plus, I get to redecorate three kid rooms. I'm working on Victor's mad scientist curtains now....

76 - Smooches are far better than hugs in this heat. Oh. My.

>77 London_StJ: Reading them for the first time is such a delight. I've been reading Austen since I was twelve or so, and I've read all of them at least twice (even Mansfield Park). P&P, Persuasion, and Northanger Abbey are probably in my top tier of her novels, but really I love them all.

I, ummmm, STILL haven't read Jane Austen, but I must say that is a very interesting cover for a YA novel. :)

I'm finding that the more I read the more I dislike cover art in general; one of my favorite contemporary horror series has horrible cover work. *shudder*

Micky, I read P&P at 13 or so, but was always far more interested in the gothic, so I gravitated towards Dracula, Frankenstein, Wuthering Heights, and Hugo. It wasn't until I got to grad school that I rediscovered Austen, but she's still always been on the back burner (which is funny, because I find her novels far more pleasurable than some of the other weighty Victorians I go for). I have not yet read one I haven't liked.

Really? Not even Northanger Abbey?

Northanger Abbey isn't my favorite, but I didn't dislike it, either. I think this calls for a reread!

For me, cover art doesn't have any sway over what I read. Well, pretty art can attract me to a book but I'm certainly not put off by bad art. With that said, I still appreciate art work and have a lot of fun gazing at a wall of pretty book covers. :)

I have avoided books because I didn't want to be seen carrying them around; the Kindle has been great for that (and by "great" I mean increasing my junky reads, ha!). Ultimately it won't impact my enjoyment of the books; the Parasol Protectorate has several bad covers, and I thoroughly enjoyed them.

Oh, right, I suppose some covers (and titles) do prevent me from checking them out of a public library. You just can't be a young man checking out a science book about orgasms without people looking at you funny. :(

I can tell I'm becoming more and more self-conscious too, because I checked out things like Bonk without thinking twice about it in the past...

Unbelievably, I have a degree in English Lit and have never read *any* Austen. Will remedy that soon enough, though, since I'm starting a book club with my friend, and we'll be reading Persuasion first!

Oh, I hope you enjoy it, Amber!

I'm often amazed at how little I've read even in my own field; considering what I've missed in other genres is just truly astounding.

Stephen, I recently removed a picture from an Etsy listing because of the books that were on the shelf behind the item.

Ha! Well, that just shows what a comfortable environment the 75 group is, since we can post all about our orgasm science and vampire smut with minimal blushing. :)

>79 Ape: Shame, Stephen. Go back to your thread and don't come out until you've read Pride and Prejudice.

>80 London_StJ: I'm the other way around. I tried Wuthering Heights when I was 10 or 11 (pretty sure most of the novel went over my head at that point) and it didn't strike my fancy. Really discovered how much I liked Romantic/Gothic stuff until undergrad.

>81 richardderus: What do you have against Northanger Abbey, Richard?

>86 scaifea: I have an English degree too, Amber, and the sheer amount of literature I didn't study is staggering.

>77 London_StJ: I was just talking with my friend last night about that letter in Persuasion! How funny. She was saying how romantic it was to her partner, and he came back with " I think hes an ass"- I couldn't comment on that as I havent read it, but is there any merit in it?

>90 LovingLit: Hmm, Captain Wentworth an ass? Most people tend to think he's pretty swoony. He does have some asinine moments but a lot of it is relationship politics, so I'm going to say he's not more of an ass than you would expect of someone in that situation.

89: Oh, that's the one with the zombies, right?

Hi again,
Just a thought, you must have birthday celebrations pending for your littlest!? I am currently thinking about how swollen my glands feel, and wondering how I am going to prepare party food for this weekends first birthday party, and do all else too.....
Do you have anything special planned for your beautiful baby-for-not-much-longer?

>92 Ape: *glares over glasses*

I'm going to say he's not more of an ass than you would expect of someone in that situation.

I think they were both asses for a bit, so I can't really blame him for it. Actually, it seems pretty realistic for young relationships.

I was busy catching up on the "Lizzie Bennet Diaries" on YouTube tonight, which apparently made its way through the sounds of TF2, because after a minute Michael turned around and asked, "What are you WATCHING?" It was hard to explain while laughing.

I started Sense and Sensibility today, but got distracted making more nectarine jam, cherry preserves, and chasing the monsters away from the handymen patching the whole in the ceiling.

Ugh.

*Stephen, I read two or three pages and had to put that book down. *Shudder* I do, however, want to see the new Lincoln vampire movie - it looks like such terrible terrible fun.

*And yes! Victor will be one on Thursday. Holy. Cow. Our house is full of boxes so we won't be having an in-house party, but I've rented space at the pizza joint across the street for a family gathering, and have a cake pan to make him a Frankenstein Castle cake. For his birthday he is getting toy cars (he loves anything with wheels) and books (because Mommy wants to build up his library - go figure).

Do you have any help for Mr. Lenny's big day?

Help for Lenny's big day? Ah, that would involve the boys and their dad leaving the house for at least 2 hours so I can get stuff organised, thats about all the help I can expect I think!

Considering my last attempt at cake decorating ended up with a phallic looking rocket ship, I have vowed and declared never to go there again and will be doing a simple cake this time. A twist on your layer cake actually, all chocolate layers, but different coloured pastel icing inbetween the layers, encased in pale blue icing. If there are pictures, it means it was a success, if not, dont ask :)

My sister saw the Lincoln Vampire movie (It's based off a book of course, as I'm sure you know: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) and she loved it. In fact, she said she'd go see it a second time, and said she would have went with me during the power outage if we could have known whether or not that theater had power. I skirted the issue because I'd rather read the book than watch the movie, so we never went, but she definitely approves of it.

ETA: Though I suppose I should note she is not very discriminating when it comes to horror. :)

Neither am I, Stephen. As a matter of fact, I prefer bad horror movies. I don't know that it's a book I would enjoy, but as a movie it looks like a real laugh.

Megan, that sounds great to me! I actually really dislike shaped-and-decorated cakes - I just don't have it in me, I suppose. My mom always made very fun and beautiful cakes, but I'd rather focus on the sponge than the icing. I think your cake plans sound wonderful!

>95 London_StJ: Oh man, I love Lizzie Bennet Diaries so much. Lydia usually makes me crack up and the ep where Jane impersonated Darcy made me laugh really hard. :)

Northanger Abbey, or How Henry Tillney Bored Me Stuporous and Catherine Moreland Twittered Uselessly? Oh, nothing much.

Crypto darling...sweetest...o ye of academic ambition...what about hosting a podcast program about Literature, focusing on books published by University Presses in that genre? http://newbooksnetwork.com/

The have no Literature podcaster, and no they do not mean "Literary Criticism," and yes UPs do a good deal of literature publishing and heavens child WHO BETTER THAN YOU to benefit therefrom?

Amber, maybe their Classics channel would suit you?

Ha! What an interesting concept. I haven't heard of the site before - how did you come across it?

One of my online students just sent me a message bringing to my attention a few typos in lecture material.

I gave her extra credit.

Her message not only shows me that she is paying attention, but that she's actually reading the material as she has been asked.

Last semester I gave a proofreading assignment to students, asking them to find errors in their daily lives. Several students turned in snapshots of handouts/assignments from their other classes. No one is perfect!

>101 London_StJ: I Know Everything. *mwaaahaaahaaa*

Kindle Nation Daily did an article on the founder.

>103 richardderus: I always suspected that was the case RD, really I did :)

I thought for sure you were the leader of a dangerous Book Mafia.

>104 LovingLit:, 105 I don't need no brass knuckles...I enforce my book-will by brandishing the roller platen from an old Underwood.

Migraines can't stand in the way of first-birthday-cake-making:



ETA: I wish you could see the curves of the towers in this picture but, alas, the focus seems to have gotten lost in all of that black buttercream. I tried to make three colors for the stones and roofs, but I used too much black food coloring from the start. I had to make a whole new batch just to make a moon! (That's what that blob is...)

Omg that's so freaking awesome...

soooooooooooooooooooooo cuuuuute!!!

Hehehe, I'm pretty tickled by it. It was Mike's idea.

That's a seriously cool cake.

My first reaction: "That is freaking amazing!" You are a cake icing goddess.

Happy birthday Victor!
And what a cake!!!
I am feeling the pressure as my decorating skills are not renowned....didnt help that I had a helping hand as I baked the cake this morning. I took the tin edge off, turned to put it in the sink, turned back and a little hand had reached up and grabbed a chunk of cake and was stuffing it in his gob! bah. Little greedy guts was so fast :)

Hilariously...as I just typed that, Little Lenny walked in with a cheeky face full of chocolate melts! Someone has been in the baking drawer. Oh well, his first taste of chocolate goes by unceremoniously!

Cute cake!
Now, I'm ready for the 'after' picture, of everyone with black mouths and tongues... ;)

great job on the cake! looks awesome

Hope you're all caught on Lizzie Bennet because today's episode is delightful. Bing Lee is so ADORABLE!

I haven't popped on yet today, Micky, but I'm looking forward to it!

Thanks for the compliments, everyone, but it's really nothing special when working with a mold. I do wish I had been able to do different greys, but oh well, it still looks like a haunted castle.

I'm totally with Lenny in the snack department, Megan. I'm about to sneak a hand into a bag of chocolate chips myself...

Oh, he is so sweet! Look at those eyes, and his cute flicky hair! Great shots.

Awwwww! I haven't seen a picture of him and months, he sure has grown!

I love those curls. Holy cow, do I love those curls. I hope he keeps them, along with his blue eyes.

Stephen, he's huge. Monstrous. And he just won't stop, no matter what I say.

Cute monster, of course. :D

I shall maintain decorum (for once) and content myself with observing that the small person possesses animal magnetism.

*flees to pour aaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwws on dog who is already tensed and poised for flight*

My god, he's a beautiful little thing.
And cupcakes for birthday breakfast is an excellent idea!

Aw, you've made me a happy mama. :)

He has such funny mannerisms; we laugh at him all day long. He's a happy baby and he loves to make noises, so we have noisy, giggly days.

And now he is one.

Packing. Stressing. Making.

Today I packed up pantry goods, and resolved to cease all baking until we are in the new house. I also decided that I will complete one more project - Max's curtains - and then pack up my sewing goods. Not everything will fit in our moving container, so on Saturday we will be taking some things to borrowed garages, and I've reasoned that bookshelves, pantry goods, and sewing supplies are all the best candidates for closer storage.

Once the hobbies are taped up and shipped out I will focus on work - both my summer class and planning for my USNA classes. I've done some planning and syllabus work over the past few days, and I'm pretty excited about it now. Instead of picking Othello over Titus Andronicus, I've decided to teach both. Added to that will be essays from Mark Twain's Helpful Hints for Good Living: A Handbook for the Damned Human Race, Oedipus, Godot, a handful of essays from the Oxford Book of Essays, and a nice (and often creepy) selection of short stories.

Once that is squared away I still have homeschooling lessons to plan, and a couple of preordered books on their merry way.

I'm actually looking forward to the next couple of weeks, because the waiting will finally be over.

Tomorrow: B starts ballet, I go back to yoga
Saturday: Crab feast with friends
Sunday-Tuesday: Unexpected beach vacation, because my dad was crushed when I said we wouldn't be able to join him.
Thurs: Container delivered
Fri: Strange men will arrive to pack up my furniture
Saturday: last of the packing, night in an empty house with the kids (I think it'll be fun)
Sunday and Monday: cleaning and patching and painting
Tuesday: Friends move in

And it doesn't stop there. The first weekend of August we have planned a shopping trip with friends (she and I will shop, he and he will watch the kids and hang out) and it's Michael's 30th birthday; the second weekend will be the big party, and possibly our move, if it doesn't happen sooner.

By this time next month I will be sitting on my large deck with a glass of wine and a book, while my children sleep in their separate rooms and therefore actually sleep.

Babble babble babble babble.

wow, with all that on time in going to fly!
So do B and M share a room right now? Its going to be magic everyone having their own room. My friend has 3 boys, 6, 5 and 1 and soon she is going to pour them all into their current master bedroom, 2 bunkbeds, one at each end of the large room, and kids table chair and toy box in the middle. Ambitious if you ask me, but her kids are hard core sleepers, so, there you go.

126 - That was my plan before we decided to move, actually. My bookends are dedicated to sleep, but Maximost likes to climb into B's bed and poke him. Literally. I've stood outside their door and listened to B beg "Max, please go back to your bed. Max, it's bed time - go to sleep. Please go to your own bed!"

So much for that plan.

Not having the toddlers share a room is the key motivator for our current move. I can't wait!

Sounds like a wonderful week or so of organised chaos ahead of you.

so much going on since I visited last. Congratulations on your new home.

Victor is lovely!!!!

And, when reading a book tonight, I discovered that Lux = light!

You are indeed a bright shining light!

Luxx--Frickin awesome cake!! And you are so organized about your move. Wow. Your next few days sound absolutely packed and very fun! Enjoy.

Oh! Oh oh oh! Go watch Stephen Fry and Patrick Stewart read Shakespeare's sonnets. You won't be sorry.

Be still my heart!

>131 London_StJ: Swooning right next to you, Luxx.

I was never taken with live readings of Shakespeare until I saw the Master in action- Ian McKellan of course. He was amazing, and Im sure Patrick Stewart would be great too (he looks dignified enough to pull it off!) but I cant watch it as Wilbur has cleverly managed to get some sort of computer voiceover thing activated and everything I do now online is announced by a robot voice. So I have volume turned all the way down.

*smooch*

Hahaha, Wilbur is an evil genius in the making.

Smooches, Padre.

THANK YOU for the link to Patrick Stewart reading sonnets... well, I know how I'm going to spend the rest of the morning... LOL

It's kind of amazing, isn't it? If you have a Twitter account, I recommend following The Folger - they post a lot of interesting links.

This move has really cut into my reading. *Harumph*

55.
Title: Some Like it Hawk
Author: Donna Andrews
Pages: 352
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Medium: Hardback
Acquisition: Preordered
Date Completed: July 20, 2012
Rating: ***

Some of the polish has worn off Donna Andrews's Meg Langslow series, and Some Like it Hawk isn't nearly as engaging as earlier installments. The excitement over Meg's personal life is largely over, and although she is still perfectly comfortable running her home as a public building (I feel claustrophobic just reading about it), the somewhat enjoyable chaos is merely more of the same. Many of the gimmicks of earlier novels - such as that damn gorilla suit - have become obnoxious plot devices as opposed to sentimental allusions, and the plot itself is rather dry, save for one major question: will Meg and Michael lose their house?

This is the question that kept me reading through a rather lackluster story, and the resolution of this question is certainly not a centerpiece of the conclusion. Overall, much of the story felt ... obligatory. While I've enjoyed the series thus far, I'm not altogether certain I will bother with the next, should Andrews continue the series.

I'm sad to hear that Andrews' "bird" series is losing some of its edge. I will probably read this one since I ordered it for the library's lease book program, but I do hope I like it better than you did.

It's certainly not the worst thing I've read this year (or even in the last month), but it didn't quite live up to the rest. I, too, hope you enjoy it more!

Popping in to say Hi!! Sorry Some Like It Hawk wasn't Hot.

I felt the same way after The Real Macaw, dear Crypto. I know how moves can interfere with real life...I mean reading time!...just going on record as missing seeing more of you around here until it's all over and done with. *smooch*

Love you all!

Moved all the boxes into a container yesterday, husbando left for Vegas, movers coming for furniture tomorrow, might be hiring a cleaner for Monday.

Tonight is probably our last night, and I want to get every last item into a box before I get to bed.

I'm stressed. I wish I didn't have to skip yoga tonight. But this leg is almost done.

Oh dear ... so sorry to hear the latest installments to the Meg Langslow series are flagging. I will still read The Real Macaw since I already have it in my TBR Tower and then gauge if I should continue with the series. Writing a series is, I think, more difficult, because the author has to find a way to keep the characters fresh but evolving and the longer the series, the more of a challenging it becomes.

56.
Title: Sense and Sensibility
Author: Jane Austen
Pages: 368
Genre: Classic
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition: Free download on Austen's birthday
Date Completed: July 28, 2012
Rating: ***

Austen's characters have never before inspired such a great sense of loathing. I detest Willoughby, am repulsed by Lucy and her idiotic sister, and couldn't even enjoy the satire of their brother and sister-in-law in the face of the couple's hideous natures. The difficulty is that, though the antagonists are so easily detested, the protagonists are not truly sympathetic. I appreciate Miss Dashwood, but am annoyed by Marianne; I cannot forgive the former for her easy forgiveness, and cannot accept the latter's "romance."

This is one of the rare instances where I have seen a film version of the text before reading it (having watched the BBC miniseries before), so I was relatively familiar with plot points before I even began. However, I find that I prefer the characters of the film far more than those of the text, perhaps because they are more appealing when one can't hear their thoughts.

*Side Note* I have never seen a more ridiculous cover for this text.

144 - Series are harder as one goes along, I think, and Andrews seems to be getting caught in the trap of too-many-characters.

I am reading a series-ender now that is actually done very well, and am looking forward to putting my thoughts to screen.

haha, love the cover side note!

Good luck with the move, I guess the hard part is all the packing up. Unpacking I find a lot more rewarding. Hope it goes smoothly for you...remember when all this was just a distant plan?

Luxx, good luck with the move. I read somewhere a while back that several of those classics were recovered to appeal to the Twilight fandom.

The cover is...ummmm...interesting. It does a great job of getting the book to blend in with the kinds of books a lot of young girls and women are reading right now. The book could definitely be slipped in with the rest of their books, with a cover like that.

It's probably effective marketing, as it does closely resemble all of the YA that is coming out lately. I guess it was a rose or a picture of a tattered prom dress-wearing Marianne...

Moving *ugh* mojo for you today, dear Crypto!

Thank you, sir. We are totally moved out, I finished painting and repairs yesterday, and I hired cleaners to come in today. I still have to shampoo the carpets, but that won't take me long. Tomorrow is my friends' actual move-in date, and we will be done for good.

We have decided to hire movers when we get in the new place, so hopefully that'll be less stressful all around. Plus, it looks like we can get in this Sunday instead of next, so that's even better!

57.
Title: Thirteen
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Pages: 464
Genre: Supernatural
Medium: Hardback
Acquisition: Preordered
Date Completed: July 29, 2012
Rating: *****

Kelley Armstrong is one of the stronger urban fantasy authors I have had the pleasure to read. Unlike some authors, who find themselves laden with too many characters and too little plot as a series continues, Armstrong has no difficulty picking and choosing protagonists for individual novels, and leaving others behind. For this reason, the series never really becomes stale, and while I prefer certain character sets as a reader, I can appreciate Armstrong's efforts with the series as a whole.

Armstrong has said on Twitter that she always intended the Otherworld series to finish with thirteen books, and so presents Thirteen as the conclusion. In this installment a great deal of resolution is offered, in largely satisfactory ways. The conflicts are consistent with the rest of the series, and the characters remain consistent, so the development of the novel will likely appease longtime fans of the series.

As an added bonus, Armstrong revisits the beginning of the series in a prologue, and offers an epilogue for a nicely circular narrative.

I would likely rate this book as a single volume at a 4 or even a 4.5, but Armstrong is bumped to a five for consistency and strong management of the series as a whole.

Wow! I almost want to read one to see what you're on about! Quite an achievement, Crypto.

Ha! A high compliment indeed, Padre.

Note to self: review Memories of my Melancholy Whores, finished yesterday.

Hi self!

*smooch*

I've been forgetting reviews lately, so I thought that might help.

Yeah, I have that problem with increasing frequency. I gave Suzanne back Circle of Shadows, the fourth mystery in a British series, before I wrote the review. Somehow I can't write the reviews for books I don't have on hand...I always make some dumb mistake and get all annoyed with myself.

We have keys, and a new address. The kids have run circles in empty rooms and pouted when we had to leave. The cats took up residence yesterday, and have already figured out how to get places I don't want them (the unfinished rafters in the laundry room). I hope they can get out. Containers will be delivered tomorrow, and we will hopefully move in tomorrow, but it might be Tuesday. No matter what, my goal is to spend Tuesday night in our new house.

This. Is. Almost. Done.

A very belated hello to the coolest mom/wife/teacher/etc. on LT! Congratulations on the USNA teaching position, new home, and awesome birthday cake for Victor.

I'm so happy to see that you loved Thirteen! I have that one on onder and I'm hoping to read it next week
I always loved Clay and Elena best but Savannah has been growing on me. I'll be sad to finish the last book though.

YAY almost done!!!

*smooch*

Oh, I had no idea that Thirteen was to be the last in the series...*sad face*. I mean, logically I knew the series would need to end at some point, but Armstrong has done such a great job of keeping the series FUN! Ah well...I've been doing lots of re-reads lately anyway, so maybe I'll throw a few faves from the series onto my pile. Glad you enjoyed it, Luxx--I'm sure I will, too.

nearly there, phew
And the Gold Medal in the longest house move ever goes to.......

Sending your way as much Unpacking Energy as I can muster...

#160: Glad the moving is over. Let the unboxing begin!!

In my new house I have ...

.... a fireplace in my bedroom, a library, and bedrooms for all three monsters. Huzzah!

Life is crazy, and I'm slowly making my way out from under the avalanche of cardboard.

Hurray!

Now that you are settled in, we LTers collectively demand you spend lots of time taking pictures and posting them for us. Don't shoot the messenger, I'm just speaking on everyone else's behalf... :)

Fireplace in bedroom is on my bucket list. Huzzah indeed!

You'd enjoy our bedroom, Padre - it's the basement, so even in August I find that I need heavy covers.

We're not quite settled in yet, Stephen, but I'll share pictures once I'm finally out of the boxes.

Progress is being made, and it's starting to feel like home. The big stuff is taken care of, and now it's a matter of unpacking things like toys, finding where I want to store boxes I don't intend to unpack, and getting around to unpacking my books ( which I'm purposefully saving for last, as motivation). I'm hoping to finish everything this week, as I start work on Monday and want to be as settled as possible.

All of which means I've neglected LT horribly, and will continue to do so for a bit more. I miss you guys!

>153 London_StJ:: Armstrong has said on Twitter that she always intended the Otherworld series to finish with thirteen books, and so presents Thirteen as the conclusion.

Hi Luxx. My wife will be so sad to hear that. She loves that series!

and getting around to unpacking my books ( which I'm purposefully saving for last, as motivation)

You are indeed my child. I apologize to your mother for not introducing myself first.

Hi Luxx

I hope you enjoy your new environment. I have no doubt that soon you will make it a lovely, comfortable castle.

172 - I was sad, too, but she's also said that she'll feature the characters in anthologies from time to time.

173 - This explains so much

174 - Thank you, dear! xo

Woohoo
Great news you are done and dusted (mostly). Cant wait to see photos of the basement bedroom with fireplace!

Hope you are settled in and sleeping in your new home tonight!

I'm so excited for you and your new home! And so jealous that you have boxes of books to unpack and sort - that was by far my favorite part of our move last November...

I certainly prefer unpacking books to unpacking toys!

As of last night our bedroom is box-free, and the toddlers each have one box of toys to be put away (they may have to wait until I get bins...). There's one box in our living room, and a few in the laundry room that can wait as long as needed, so I may well get to books today!

Then again, depending on when the alarm company comes, I may instead make a trip to Ikea for the last of my organization needs.

On Monday I had my orientation for the new job, and I am absolutely delighted by everyone I have met in my department. HR wasn't overly prepared, which made for a long day, but everyone I have met in the English department has been kind and helpful and generally very pleasant. I now have an office and a work computer - very different from other adjunct positions - and I'm apparently a government employee (I hadn't thought about that before, so I think it's funny). Classes start on Monday and I need to figure out a way to get back to campus for some work, but overall it's very exciting.

New job and new house is all very exciting. Hope your first day of classes goes smoothly. :)

Wow! THAT's the way to treat an adjunct!

*smooch*

Echoing Micky's wish for a good first day at school! You should have your boys take a picture of you holding your lunchbox... ;)

Ha! That would be awesome.

I started unpacking books last night, and I'm about halfway through. They're not as ... carefully ... organized as I would wish, but my first goal is just to get these furking boxes out of my living space. I figure I'll go back and re-alphabetize when I'm not trying to do 100 things in a week (you know, after the semester).

It feels so. good. to have books on the shelves. Home!

Welcome Home!!! Sooooo happy for you and your family. Enjoy the new digs... in both places!
: )

What's little Victor up to today? Lenny has been asking, you see :)
As far as I can tell, Lenny's favourite pastime is calling out for crackers. Which is anything vaguely biscuit/bread/cracker like, everything else is nah-nah (banana). Lucky he works off all the food by climbing to dangerous heights and running everywhere.

I bet the kiddos are having a grand time exploring their new digs. Have a great first day at the office, Luxx. Now you that you work for the Government, you get to call Obama your boss right? If you say it right people will think you work for the FBI, this could be to your advantage when trying to get a discount at the local coffee shop, surely?

New job, new digs ... exciting! Good luck with the unpacking, Luxx. That's the part of moving I don't like at all. I don't mind the packing up part as much, but I hate unpacking. Bet you wish you had Harry's wand to wave over all the boxes and make their contents fly out and arrange themselves.

Thanks for the well wishes, everyone!

Our living spaces were fully unpacked on Sunday; I still have some boxes of tools and things in the laundry room/workshop, but they can stay there for awhile. Cleaning would probably be a good idea, but it's low on my list of priorities right now.

Faire opens this weekend, and I promised to make a cousin her garb for a job at a snake-handing booth. I should probably get on that.

The new job is great. I am so happy to be there.

Eventually I'll get around to reviewing Melancholy Whores; I'm also in the middle of Emma and The Fifth Child.

Ok, now back to work.

ETA: Victor is now completely mobile; he walks everywhere, and has even started trying the stairs. But my favorite development? He's starting to mimic sounds ... which means imitating his brothers' "dun-Duh DUH!" superhero music.

Ca-UTE on the baby sounds.
Lenny is the same. I apparently say "see ya" in a very sing songy tone, as that is exactly what came back at me! The word truck is being attempted upon sighting any large vehicle, luckily it comes out as GUCK at present, not anything else!

Sounds like you have a lot still to do, but as usually happens (if you are organised like you are) it will all come out in the wash as it were. Have a fun weekend.

You have been entirely too happy here lately! Don't you know that gawd is always watching and will smite you for liking your jobs, having adorable children, reading good books, and having a husband you don't hate?

At least three of those things must go into misery mode or there will be divine retribution. I fear for you!

189 - *snort* Um, I could whine if that would appease any supernatural spirits. I'm pretty good at whining. The previous tenants left rotting food covered in maggots, shoved plastic down the disposal, and gift-wrapped a basket of rocks the sanitary workers won't take. Grumble.

Better? Maybe?

188 - I'm working through my long list of To Dos, and now that Michael is home from his conference I expect I can work my way through. I've neglected cleaning since we've moved in, so sheets and mopping are much higher on my list than is usual...

Guck. Hot awesome.

Took the kids to the opening day of the Renaissance Festival today, with wonderful results. I love this time of year.

The grumbles will help. Now perhaps if you contracted smallpox and fell off a mountain, you'd be safe.

;-*

57.
Title: Memories of my Melancholy Whores
Author: Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Pages: 128
Genre: Fiction
Medium: Hardback
Acquisition:
Date Completed: August 4, 2012
Rating: *****

"The Professor" is an old man, and to celebrate the luck of reaching longevity he decides to celebrate his old age in the ordinary sort of way: he will deflower a very young virgin (the younger the better).

Having never had sex that he didn't pay for (he claims), the Professor calls a madam whom he has known for much of his extended life, and she proclaims that it is impossible, that he is asking far too much, and that she will call him back within an hour.

As he waits - both for the call, and then for his selected companion to wake from her sleep of utter exhaustion - the reader is treated to an account of some of his escapades, and his reflection on what it means to be old. The protagonist demonstrates the conceit of the elderly, comfortable that his audience must be interested in his story simply because it is a story he wishes to tell. The Professor is not an extraordinary man, nor is he even an interesting man, and yet there is charm in his narrative style, and it is this charm that captivates the reader and tricks the audience into believing he may actually be interesting.

The rising action of the novel is minimal, as most is spent in past reflection of perhaps unusual convictions related to the evolving sexuality of a man, and the few relationships he has had with women (from his mother to a failed fiance to the few prostitutes whom he speaks of as people). His frustration provides satisfaction for the audience, and the hard-won resolution is perfectly balanced.

Memories of my Melancholy Whores is fascinating and lyrical, and recommended.

58.
Title: The Fifth Child
Author: Dorris Lessing
Pages: 144
Genre: Fiction
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition: Recommend by Linda
Date Completed: August 24, 2012
Rating: *****

Before his birth, Harriett decides that her fifth child is a monster. As he kicks and struggles in her womb - far too unlike the butterflies of her previous four children - she imagines herself in a struggle with the developing fetus, and wages war with sedatives and physical exertion. This child is the unwanted child - the child who is conceived far too soon, the child who cannot be welcomed even before his birth, the child who is so different from his four fair older siblings.

Although occasionally "Poor Ben," the fifth child is more often referred to as "the brute" or "the monster," and his family - Harriett most often - ponders from where this deformed and depraved being could have come - what goblin city or alien world could spawn such a creature. He is the home-wrecker, the psychopath who seeks to harm his older, cherished siblings even in infancy, the freak of physical development whose strength marks him as something to be feared as opposed to a child to be loved.

The Fifth Child is a horror story, but the true monsters aren't those identified by the protagonists. Lessing's novel is a chilling tale of selfishness and cruelty which can leave the reader fearing of the monsters she shares, and those still to come.

Oh my...TWO five-stars in one post! So jealous.

loving the reviews of the Fifth Child, it is really making me re-think my reading of it. Glad you loved it.

Love that you've read two 5 star books in a row and pleased to say I've already read both of them.

It's nice to have had such great reads when I have so much else going on! They were great escapes.

Megan, it didn't start out as a 5-star read for me, but as Ben grew older - and the perspectives of the headmistress and other doctors were introduced - the story became far more compelling.

I hope you enjoyed them as well, Kerry! Neither is what I would gravitate towards on my own, and I appreciate them for their difference.

It all looks fabulous. What a wonderful room :)

oooooooooooo
oooooohhhhhhhhh
mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Scrumptious book porn! Very happy for you that it's DONE. Still love those chairs immoderately.

Oh my, do I love those chairs. Everyone does, with the exception of Michael, who is too broad-shouldered to sit there comfortably. Still, he appreciates the look of them. I've covered them a few times now, and refuse to do so again until all of the cats are dead. I will also buy a couch once I'm free of them...

Oh gosh. Just, well, just lovely.
*fighting the jealousy...fighting the jealousy...*

ETA: Now, let's see some pictures of the sewing room, please.

I wish there was a sewing room to show you! As a matter of fact, I just had to finish my cousin's faire garb in two days, and ended up putting a cutting board on my high bed, and sewed the whole thing standing up. It was a touch awkward, but it worked.

I technically put a sewing table in the kitchen, but I don't think that'll work out. I'll worry more about sewing space between semesters, when I have more time to sew. ;)

Now you can make ME horribly jealous with a lovely sewing room. I know you must have one.

oh wow, oh wow oh wow. Talk about book porn! I was about to call you out on taking an internet picture and trying to pass it off as your new house. Haha, what a fantastic space. Now...for some sitting time....

What a great space and love the chairs!! It makes me happy and I don't even get to use it. : )

Ohhhhh...prreeeettty....

I think I'm a little dazed...

Sewing while standing? You go, superwoman!

206 - It was easier than you'd think, although I had to bend down a bit for some tight stitching. Honestly, I squirm so much while sewing that I may as well stand. I'm pretty stoked to make a new Tudor gown, so there may be more standing sewing this week.

Thanks, everyone! I'm about to go collapse there with a cheesy mystery while the monsters wind down to quiet time.

Holy crap, the Renn Fest has already started? Where did the summer go?!

>208 London_StJ: Awwwwwwww so cuuuuute!

209 - It passed in a packing-blur, but now fall is nearly here, which means the start of everything wonderful (new semester, faire, boot season, and Halloween!).

Cuties-patootie (I'm sticking to that as the correct plural...)! And I agreed that fall is the Best. Love it.

Victor has got cute long flicks in his hair! Sweet. Looks like a fun day out for all....did your significant other dress up this time? Im guessing no.

Nope, never, but we all enjoy it just the same. My bookends both have wonderfully curly hair; I'm letting Max's grown out just to see what it does.

Eat This Poem.

Oh sigh. I think I need a pick-up from the good mental health practitioners at Crazy As A Wombat.com.

60.
Title: Never Buried
Author: Edie Claire
Pages: 198
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition:
Date Completed: August 28, 2012
Rating: ***

Never Buried is a formulaic cozy mystery whose most distinguishing narrative technique is the opening scene which describes a cat vomiting. This features in the Amazon reviews of the book for readers' disapproval, and while I don't share the strength of feeling shared in these reviews, I can agree that the scene adds nothing to the narrative, and will likely only serve to repel readers. The story itself is a bit clumsy, bogged down by details that are ultimately insignificant, but the mystery itself is decent enough. I will not run off to buy the next Leigh Koslow novel, but Claire's series is probably a good go-to when desperate for fluff.

61.
Title: Kitty Steals the Show
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Pages: 352
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition:
Date Completed: August 31, 2012
Rating: ***

My partner came across a blurb about this book, and recommended it on the basis that it is set in London at an academic conference on supernaturals ("this book couldn't be more you"). The premise is certainly one that seems promising, but I did not initially realize that I was stepping into the tenth book in a running series, which complicated my reading. Kitty is a standard protagonist in urban fantasy, which actually makes her feel two-dimensional; what I didn't know initially I could suppose, based not on the novel in hand but rather my reading of the genre at large. As a whole, the novel feels like a transition - a shift in focus for an established series - and for that reason is less interesting for a new reader. However, my interest has been piqued, so I may be looking to see how Kitty comes to speak at a conference in London in the first place.

Luxx, be prepared for a long ride--some of the Kitty books are a bit sloggish. But the beginning of the series (books 1-4 especially) is very good! (I know, a bit of a mixed rec there--but hope you enjoy them!)

Happy anniversary!

Thank you, sir. Heh, it's not our wedding anniversary, so it sounds funny, but we've been together a lot longer than the seven years we've been married. Really, it's the day I forced Michael to define our relationship... ;)

Love your "library"--what a beautiful space!

*smooch* for an absent friend

Thanks for the love, Padre. Life is crazy; I've been lurking on threads, but haven't had much to add lately. The new job is wonderful, we're keeping busy with the monsters, and I barely have time to read.

We go back to faire this weekend without kids, and I am DETERMINED to finish this striped Tudor gown. I want this gown. I want to wear this gown this weekend.

I hope you are doing well. I miss you.

Hey there, I was wondering how your new job was going. Glad you can describe it as wonderful, that is something!
Good luck with the gown, you know we're going to want to see pictures :)

Awww Crypto! How dear of you to say! Occasional sightings on FB and the odd drop-in here are pretty much what one can expect from the action-packed life you're leading!

*smooch*

I cannot believe how long it is since I visited your thread, Luxx. I love the pictures of your library and the monsters!

It's so good to hear from you all - thanks for stopping by.

Megan, there will be plenty of pictures, I'm sure! There may even be another gown for a faire trip in October, provided I have time for it. It's a velvet gown that I bought the fabric for ... seven years ago. This winter I finally cut it out, and the stitching really shouldn't take too long. I hope. ;) But first the b/w gown.

Thank you, Stasia! I hope things are going well!

Action-packed is one way to describe it, padre. Ha!

Hey there! Glad to hear the job is off to a good start. Don't know how you do it all. Good luck with the dress!

Pictures! Pictures! I want to see your striped gown.

What a gorgeous library! I'm sure you spend as much time there as possible.
And thanks for the link to Stephen Fry reading Shakespeare. I'd never seen that and love him!

Oh, how envious I am of that wonderful library!

Hello Dear One!

Hello everyone!

That striped chair is "Mommy's spot," and all monsters and pets must vacate when mommy wants her chair. It's also convenient because it faces Michael's computer cart, so I can read/work/relax within easy access of Michael, which is all very cozy. *sigh*

Thanks to the hubster taking over bedtime on Friday, the gown was completed! Of course, when I put it on Saturday morning I found that it was slightly too big. Hhmmm. Go paleo! I've lost more weight than I thought. And it's something I can fix for next season, so I'm not too upset about it.

I was stopped constantly on Saturday for pictures, which is all very satisfying when you've made your own garb. My brother put it very well when he said, "That must feel really good. I guess it's kind of like when I cook and people tell me how much they like my food." Exactly, brother.

You look like a page from the Court of the Medici. Gorgeous.

So, BTW, is Ross. *discreet drool*

Thank you, sir!

Ross is adorable, isn't he? I think he's the only dandy metalhead in my circle of friends, and I really appreciate that about him.

Love the gown, it's really striking.

wow, that is an amazing creation! What a lot of work. I can see why people stopped you for photos. Thanks for posting the pics.

Oh, goodness me, that's a beautiful gown!
I know that feeling, too (although I'm certain that it happens to me much less frequently than it does to you), when people come up to you and say, "Oh, that's a fantastic dress (shirt, skirt, sweater,...)! Where did you get it?", and I get to say, "Well, in fact, I made it." Ha!

ETA: My bestbest friend is a dandy metalhead, and he's the sweetest. Love him, and love making things for him.

I'm about as dandy as Poindexter from Mystery Date...I resent long pants and shirts with buttons...but I appreciate a man who rocks the look.

LOVE the dress!! Sewing is definitely NOT in my repertoire of talents. But I sure can appreciate when someone else is a master! Gorgeous.

Thank you!

The only time I get the "Oh, I made it!" joy is at faire, so fall is a big sewing time for me.

Mac's not able to do the Halloween reading list this year, so I took a hack at it. Let me know what you think! It's at http://www.librarything.com/topic/142342

Gorgeous dress, Luxx!

I love the dress, Luxx! You do gorgeous work, lady :)

Happy Sunday!

Good morning, gorgeous. How's my Crypto today?

Oops, thought I had told you how much I like the dress several days ago, but it doesn't look like I did! I do like it a lot.

Good afternoon everyone!

Life continues around here, although I'm kind of ready for a break from the constant moving and going and doing. It doesn't look like I'll be getting it, though: Mom's bachelorette dinner last night, B's first ballgame today, wedding next weekend, faire weekend after that, Mom's wedding and a conference the weekend after that, followed by last weekend of faire, followed by Halloween. Plus, two jobs, 3.5 kids, and a house I can't clean for the life of me. Oh man.

Sorry, I'm grumpy because I'm hungry and I hate doing laundry. ;)

62.
Title: The Crossing Places
Author: Elly Griffiths
Pages: 320
Genre: Cozy mystery
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition:
Date Completed: September 23, 2012
Rating: ***

There is nothing sensational about The Crossing Places, other than its slightly-odd sensationalizing of archeology (although this isn't that odd, as shows like "Bones" have already done exactly this). The mysteries are painfully obvious from the first, and so the book offers little in the way of surprise or suspense. Instead, this becomes a novel about characters, many of whom are shallow, two-dimensional, and downright dull.

However, despite her many many (human) failings, I found myself sympathetic to Dr. Ruth Galloway; she is a character who is insecure and truly doesn't know her own worth (which can be irritating), but this is tempered by her confidence in her academic field. This confidence is what saves Ruth for me as a character.

There is one plot twist that I actually didn't expect, and for this reason I am actually likely to pick up the second book. Eventually.

Wow, you're a busy lady! Hope you can find some Luxx Time soon...

So tired, all the time. So much to do, and no time to do it. Yup, things are pretty much normal around here.

We've decided to hire a cleaner to come in twice a month for a good scrub-down, and if I manage to clean between then it'll just be gravy. Once upon a time I cleaned the house from top to bottom and did all laundry on Sundays. Then I had additional children and got a second job... As it is, it was a huge deal for me to clean all four bathrooms this week and get the laundry done. I do make sure the house is picked up everyday, but that's the only thing we can count on.

I have a giant stack of papers to grade, and another 42 coming in tomorrow. This weekend is a friend's wedding, next weekend is a big faire day (for which I hope to finish a new gown), the week after that is my mother's wedding, and the day after that I fly out for a conference. Hhmmm, I should probably write my presentation for that. ;)

Reading is nearly impossible right now; I've had the latest Penny sitting unfinished on my nightstand since it came out.

Ooo, but something fun: I just submitted my book order for next semester, and it includes:

Norton Anthology of Poetry
If Not, Winter
The Truth
Island of Doctor Moreau
We Have Always lived in the Castle
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Beowulf
The Hobbit

I may be missing one, but I think that's it. As far as poetry goes, I'm going with all of my favorites. ;) I plan on works like "Elegy 19," "The Flea," "Sonnet 130," "Christabel," "The Goblin Market," "My Last Duchess," etc. I don't consider myself a fan of poetry, but there is a healthy list of works I find interesting, and I think they offer a decent survey for a freshman course.

Planned units:
Sappy love poetry
Satire
Insanity: Fictional Reality
Monsters and Mayhem
Myths and Folklore

That is a good list! I'm sure poems of insanity and monsters will keep your students interested. And I love watching Julian Glover's performance of Beowulf on Youtube.

>250 London_StJ: I **love** your list! I am, as always, gobsmacked and slack-jawed at your astonishing work ethic.

*applause*

Love the insanity unit. That kind of stuff keeps the punters focused. Speaking of insanity, your workload sounds insane.
Im kind of glad I dont have a job on top of my parenting role.Its nice to let the day unfold as I chose.

*more applause for a dedicated mum and teacher*

Thanks, guys! I just today had a number of students ask if I was teaching the second half of the sequence, and it's always a pleasure to hear that people intend to come back. I must be doing something right!

I love my job, and I'm very glad that I can do so much of it at home, which means being home with my monsters. I do wish part-time care didn't cost so darn much, but I guess that's the trade off.

As far as presentations go, most people just write them on the plane ride to the conference, so, you've got plenty of time...
I used to try to clean my house all in one day and hated it, so I did a terrible job of it. Now, I just clean one room a day, don't dread it so much, it takes much less of my time and the house is much cleaner for it.

That's a great approach, Amber, and I've kind of gravitated towards it myself - I'll make a point to change the sheets one day, clean the bathrooms another, and just keep picking up every night so I feel less cluttered. The kids are pretty good about picking up their toys, with a few reminders. ;)

The presentation I have coming up is actually a paper I wrote in grad school, so it'll really just take a little revision and a new introduction. I do want to go back and review my primary source, though, to have it fresh in case there are questions. I'm discussing the use of stays in Lady Mary's Turkish Embassy Papers (no touchstone?), so it's something I'm pretty familiar with.

I was just accepted to speak at the NeMLA in March, too! I'll be writing a paper on maternity in The Hunger Games. What good fun.

I'm sewing sewing sewing right now. I have seven little costumes in the works - three nights and four superhero capes - a Tudor gown for myself for Saturday, and now my Halloween costume (a robe a la francaise, because I'm going as Clarissa).

Here's hoping Nephew sleeps through the rainy day so I can get 100 things done.

I've been sewing up a storm lately, too - so much fun, no? The papers sounds really interesting, too - good luck!

I was just about to pop over your thread to see what you've been stitching up. Thanks!

Oh dear oh dear oh dear. I'm about an hour away from leaving for the airport.

I'm terrified of flying. Terrified. I've cancelled more than one trip to see a very good friend because I couldn't stomach the idea of getting on a plane. The last time I flew was with Brooks when he was one, and I was a few months pregnant with Max; I guess the added stress of traveling with a baby kept me cool.

If you're so inclined, I could use some encouraging thoughts this weekend!

Definitely sending calming, happy thoughts your way. I'm exactly the same when it comes to flying - absolutely terrified. Good luck!

I'm not afraid of flying, but I do get plane sick so I have to pop a couple of Dramamine. I don't care what the package says, those things make me very very calm (read: mellow). My husband used to be afraid of flying, to where I had to hold his hand during takeoff, but doesn't seem to have a problem now- maybe just because we've traveled so much over the last ten years that he's gotten used to it.
Good luck, and take something the distract yourself on the ride. You'll be fine!

uh oh, I hope you have taken some deep breaths and were able to travel calmly.
I can certainly vouch for the presence of children in stressful situations being a paradoxically calming influence. Way back when earthquakes were a daily treat, if I was alone, I was a lot less able to cope well with them. Add a kid, and all of a sudden I was a rock! Maybe you need to travel with your babies all the time!?

Good luck with the flight anyway, and the one home too :)

263 - I think it's just part of being Mommy; Mommy isn't afraid of anything, and has to take care of the babies.

The flight wasn't so bad, but it's certainly not my favorite way to travel - I'll take the train over air travel any day. But I made it here, my hotel room is lovely, and I even got to a couple of talks. I'm starving, so I think I may see if I can get a jump on my dinner reservations.

Thanks for all the happy thoughts - I'm sure that's what got me through the morning!

*smoochiesmoochsmooch*

You can, in actual fact, do anything. Amazing and impressive.

I appreciate your kind encouragement, Padre. The panel went well, despite the panel chair not showing up. I've met some interesting people, some of whom Ill likely see at the next conference, and generally had a good time.

I am very ready to be home, though. I'm trying to decide whether I want to set an alarm and go to a talk tomorrow before I leave, or if I want to sleep in and take it easy before heading to the airport.

Safe travels, Luxx!

I'm happy to hear that the talk went well - congrats! And, yes, it's always good to get back home, isn't it? Like Stasia, I'm hoping for safe travels for you!

Thank you! I'm home safe, and waiting for my boys to arrive - they went to a Little Mermaid dance party this afternoon. The minute I walked in the door I was back in mommy-mode - I picked up, prepped some snacks, unpacked and put a load in the washer. Now to go download the next batch of papers that need grading. Sheesh! I need a weekend.

Late post. We did the same thing with our dinning room. Good on ya.

269 - It's a much stronger use of space, I say. ;)

Note to self: The Family Fang, Feed, Lies Beneath.

Hi self! Seen my Crypto around lately?