So yet again, I am inconsistent with updating my blog. Over two months have passed since the last entry, and by now I’ve already completed the largely uneventful Summer Session I. During my absence, I’ve also become a world traveler! Well, maybe not quite a world traveler, but I’ve returned from my first trip to China! Specifically Shanghai for the World Expo. Hopefully I’ll have a brief travelogue ready soon! Also maybe some artsy updates for new summer projects!
In the meantime, here we have my summer lists (with ratings and quick impressions!)
And yes. I do admit my taste tends towards YA fantasy. 😛
current obsessions
- Inception !!!
- Sherlock Holmes !!
- Harry Potter
- Merlin
- figure skating
BOOKS…
that I have read:
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone ##
I love this book! First introduction to to Wizarding World. Magical. - College Girl by Patricia Weitz
Fairly decent read. About the troubles of a college girl’s first romance. Sympathized with Nathalie, the protagonist, annoyed as heck by a disappointing reliance on stereotypes. It does feel realistic though. Supposedly the relationship’s course charts a journey for her grow stronger, but in the end I think things are still a bit depressing. - Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Interesting, insightful. After reading this I really felt like learning more about Buddhism and other spiritual ways. - Ash by Malinda Lo ##
A twisted Cinderella retelling. I love to see the darker side of fairy tales, where miracles have their price, nothing is black and white. Wonderful romance, amazing characters. Beautiful storytelling. Would read again. - Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman #
I love the concept of people who fall in between. Intriguing plot, likable characters, but there isn’t really anything that captures my heart. I much prefer Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book. - Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
Not bad, and actually quite touching at times. About getting over the death of a best friend who “its complicated” with. Summer flings, friends and family, finding how to move on. Characters feel a bit too played to stereotype. - Hate List by Jennifer Brown #
Ouch. Just ouch. This is so hard to imagine happening, but at the same time, so easy to see where it starts. I feel so much for the people here. Wonderful. - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Never really as fond of this book in the series… Basilisk always creeped me out. Love the diary and Tom though. - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban #
SIRIUS SIRIUS SIRIUS! ah, my heart! This series is lovely as always. - Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia by Cindy Pon ##
AH MY AI LING. I love this book, her character, everything. Emotional story, exciting plot, wonderful mythology. Ai Ling becomes such a strong woman, and just ah! Go and read this book, okay!? - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ##
Triwizard Tournament! Beauxbatons! Durmstrang! Introduction to Veela! Return of Voldemort! wheeeee! Exciting! - Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman ##
Ridiculously amusing. And wah, lovely lovely characters. - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson #
Wow, plotty, intriguing mystery. Kind of disturbing though. Still wonderful. But augh, I have issues with Salander’s character.
that I aim to (re)read:
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix #
augh… so sad. - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ##
My favorite book in the series. oh my Slytherins. - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows #
Part one of the movie is coming out in SEPTEMBER! - Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel Fattah
- The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
- The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson
- Dune #
LOVE for this universe. Amazingly inventive. And all the cast so complex. - Warchild ##
I’m in love with this universe too. And also in love with so many of the characters. Even the “evil” ones that you are not supposed to like. - His Majesty’s Dragon #
Darling precocious Temeraire and his Captain. I should read the rest of Novik’s series too. - and lots of the other rec’d books!
SHOWS…
that I have finished:
- Be Good Johnny Weir #
FIERCE! Occasionally whingy and self-absorbed, but still…
that I would like to watch:
- Sherlock Holmes (BBC)
- Merlin S2
- Project Runway
- Design Star
- Glee
- ???
paper and polyhedra 