“Spindle’s End” by Robin McKinley

Available on Amazon and at your local bookstore.

I faintly remember the first time I read Spindle’s End by Robin McKinley. I was enraptured by her prose. I was first drawn to her when I picked up The Hero and the Crown at my local library (that was years ago at the beginning of high school). Though I faintly remember reading it as well, I do remember that I loved the story and thought highly of its protagonist, Aerin. As the years wore on, I branched out to other authors and read other stories and forgot about McKinley but every now and then, the memory of how I felt when I first read her books would visit and nudge me to revisit them.

I felt that way earlier this year and finally gave in to that nudge. I visited Barnes and Noble and bought Spindle’s End. I kept recalling the moment when the Queen saw Rosie and knew she is her child despite the enchantments that surrounded Rosie to disguise her. I could almost feel the love that pulled the Queen’s eyes to Rosie. I wanted to experience that again.

This time when I read Spindle’s End, I was able to appreciate how detailed the story is. At first, this was a nuance. The abundance of details makes the tale flow at a leisurely pace, quite like the characters and setting of the story. Since novels these days are usually fast-paced—or they start off with a bang to grab the reader’s attention then slow to crawl—I was impatient when I began reading. Surprisingly, I was not this impatient with stories when I was a kid.

“Gift Ideas for the 8 Major Species of Science Fiction Fan” — io9

Here is another cool post that I found while surfing the net. This one is from io9, my new favorite website. It shows gifts ideas for those of us who love fantasy and science fiction and where to find them.

For the Game of Thrones, this pair of Converse is my favorite. The Targaryen colors are look great on it. Check out the other ideas here.

 

 

“Aprons for Book Lovers” — Publisher’s Weekly

I came across a post on Publisher’s Weekly that features pictures of aprons for us book lovers so we can bring our love of books with us into the kitchen. Here is a picture of my favorite:

Marvel Comics Apron: totally cool, I love it!
Available on Etsy.

“The Way In: Journal Writing for Self-Discovery” by Rita D. Jacobs

Cover via Amazon

If like me you love to read books on writing in order to motivate yourself to write or if like me you like to read books on writing to get ideas of what and how to write or if like me you like to read books on writing just for the hell of it, then this little book is one you should pick up.

I have many journals (mainly because the attractive covers lure me into buying them so I’m almost always starting afresh in a new book) and usually I just write in them whenever I feel like and write about whatever I feel like at the moment. Most times I think I treat them like a diary – writing about all the things I did in a particular day. Other times I think I treat them as they ought to – writing about what I’ve observed on a particular day. My idea of a journal is a book where a person documents her observations of people, places, things, and ideas.

According to Jacobs, a journal is a place where all these things are documented and much more. To prove this to us, she opens with excerpts of journal entries, showing us how writers have used the journal in their daily lives. She also talks about whether or not there is a difference between a journal and a diary. Like any writing book, Jacobs also covers when to write, how often to write, and what to write. Basically, that’s all up to the writer. You decide when, how, or what.

“The Mark of Athena” by Rick Riordan

Available on Amazon and at your local bookstore.

Although The Son of Neptune was not a good read for me, I was still eager for the release of The Mark of Athena. Riordan ended The Son of Neptune with Argo II, Leo’s battleship, approaching Camp Jupiter. After waiting for a year, I was impatient to know if the Romans would attack first and ask questions later since there is enmity between the Greek and Roman demigod camps – whenever they get together, war ensues.

This proves to be true within the first few pages of The Mark of Athena. Those on Argo II from Camp Half-blood – Annabeth, Jason, Piper, Leo – were allowed to enter Camp Jupiter while Argo II hovers overhead. According to Terminus, the entire ship is a weapon (he is not wrong there) and thus it is not allowed inside the Pomerian Line.

Not wanting to upset the Romans, the Greeks acquiesced and entered the camp weaponless. All goes well for a while until Leo goes bonkers and opens fire on the Romans’ camp. The Romans immediately retaliate. The 7 demigods prophesized to go to Rome had to make a quick getaway. And so begins The Mark of Athena.