Luxx's Haunted Halls: Thread 1

Talbot...The Open Door...1843...Salted Paper Print from Calo

Ah, 2013, how much promise you hold! I'm looking forward to making good use of my public library in my quest to keep up with all the great recommendations that come from this group.

I'll be teaching six courses and speaking at two conferences this spring, so I'm not altogether confident that I'll even make the 75 mark, but I'll be lurking around all the same!

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

Books Read in 2012 (81 Books. Major Events: New - additional - Teaching Position, Moving, Surgery)
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)

Books Read in 2013
1. Hard Mated by Jennifer Ashley. Paranormal Romance. 1.2.13. ***
2. "Orion's Way" by DC Juris. M/M Paranormal Romance. 1.3.13. *
3. "Saint's Curse" by Lee Brazil. M/M Paranormal Romance. 1.3.13. ***
4. Pride Mates by Jennifer Ashley. Paranormal Romance. 1.4.13. ****
5. Primal Bonds by Jennifer Ashley. Paranormal romance. 1.?.13. ***
6. Kitty Goes to Washington by Carrie Vaughn. Urban Fantasy. 1.15.13. ****
7. Girl of Nightmare by Kendare Blake. YA Horror. 1.18.13. **1/2
8. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn. YA. 1.30.13. ***
9-10. Redwood Pack Volume 1 by Carrie Ann Ryan. Paranormal Romance. 1.28.13. **1/2
11. Redwood Pack Volume 2 by Carrie Ann Ryan. Paranormal Romance. 1.30.13. ***
12. Blurred Expectations by Carrie Ann Ryan. Paranormal Romance. 1.30.13. **
13. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. Fiction. 1.31.13. *****

14. When She Woke by Hillary Jordan. Fiction. 2.5.13. **1/2
15. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. Contemporary Gothic. 2.15.13. *****
16. Megan's Mark by Lora Leigh. Paranormal Romance. 2.?.13. ***1/2

17. The Queen is Dead by Kate Locke. Steampunk. 3.2.13. ***1/2
18. "Night Crow" by Paisley Smith. Paranormal Romance. 3.4.13. **
19. "Purr" by Paisley Smith. f/f Paranormal Romance. 3.4.13. ***
20. The Truth by Terry Pratchett. Satire. 3.8.13. *****
21. "Bitten in the Big Easy" by Delilah Devlin, Paisley Smith. f/f Paranormal Romance. 3.9.13. *1/2
22. Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs. Urban Fantasy. 3.11.13. *****
23. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. YA Dystopian. 3.15.13. *****
24. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. YA Dystopian. 3.14.13. *****
25. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. YA Dystopian. 3.18.13. *****
26. A Charmed Life: Growing Up in Macbeth's Castle by Liza Campbell. 3.21.13. ***1/2

27. Gracefully Insane by Alex Beam. Nonfiction. 4.2.13. **1/2
28. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Fantasy. 4.4.13. ****
29. Beowulf trans. Seamus Heaney. Anglo-Saxon Epic. 4.11.13. *****

Welcome back! Doesn't matter if you do or don't - we'll be here no matter. :)

*smoochiesmoochsmooch* Hiya Crypto!

2 - That's what I love about this group!

3 - Smooches, Padre!

Hi Luxx, great to see you back again. I look forward to updates of your reading, almost as much as family news (pictures please:)) and career highlights.
****Happy Holidays****

Great to see you, Megan! Happy holidays!

Hi Luxx! *Hugs*

Six courses! Two conferences! You don't do things halfway, do you... ahh, a kindred spirit. ;)

Who cares about numbers! They make me sneeze, anyhow. Read on!

Hi Stephen!

ahh, a kindred spirit. ;) I often feel the same when reading your thread, Faith. ;)

Woot! Luxx is in the house! I look forward to lots of monster pictures in 2013.

Hi Stasia! Goodness knows this mamarazzi will deliver...

Officially stalking your thread... thought you'd like to know.... Looking forward to what interesting books you might be reading.... see has we have a few in common in our libraries.... have fun in the new year....

Onwards...it's 2013! Hurray! Starred and looking forward to your adventures, books and insights this year.

Luuuuuxxxx! My fellow Wildean fangirl! Starred... :)

Happy NYE !! Hope yours is good too and looking forward to 2013. How are your boys?

Luxx, it sounds like a busy spring for you. You probably have friends and relatives standing in line to help you with those sweet boys. Hope Santa was good to all of you. Happy New Year!

I can't decide if I'm more looking forward to reading about the books you've read or how you manage to juggle all that real life you've got going on! Either way, here I am.

Oh, how lovely to pop on to all of your warm wishes! Welcome!

We are certainly looking forward to a very busy 2013 (or, at least, a very busy spring semester), but I've found that I thrive in chaos. After last semester I did resolve to organize my time a little more effectively: I need to find a better balance between professor and mommy (which will be easier with the regular schedule I will now enjoy, and the absence of my infant nephew).

I'm actually not making any reading resolutions this year: I'm simply going to read. I will read often, and for pleasure, but with no pressure. I love haunting all of the wonderfully varied 75er threads we have, as I find many new books and authors and genres to explore.

Happy new year to everyone, and happy reading!

Happy New Year to you and the monsters

You too! Well, you don't have monsters, but what about that lovely pooch?

Ooo! Here's a LT resolution: I will keep up my list of books read. Last year I lost track of my list around 50-something. For absolution, I'm going to post it here - and finish it. Darn it.

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. ***
31. Return of the Rose by Theresa Ragan. 3.31.12. ****
32. Othello by Shakespeare. 3.31.12

33. Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu. 4.5.12. ****
34. Hexed by Ilona Andrews and others. 4.5.12. ***
35. At Home by Bill Bryson. 4.21.12. ***
36. Simon Said by Sarah R. Shaber. 4.27.12. ***
37. Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett. 4.27.12.

38. Broadmoor Revealed by Mark Stevens. 5.3.12. ***
39.Death Comes to Pemberly by P. D. James. 5.4.12. *
40. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night by Mark Haddon. 5.4.12. ****
41. "Beauty: An Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Outtake" by Laurell K. Hamilon. 5.9.12. ***
42. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. 5.13.12. ***
43. Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. 5.15.12. ****
44. Chime by Franny Billingsley. 5.17.12. ***1/2
45. Charlotte Collins by Jennifer Whiteley Becton. 5.19.12. *****
46. Baby Shark by Robert Fate. 5.19.12. ****1/2
47. A Tale of 3 Witches by Christiana Miller and Barbra Annino. 5.30.12. **

48. Avalon High by Meg Cabot. 6.6.12. **1/2
49. Kiss the Dead by Laurell K. Hamilton. 6.7.12. ***1/2
50. Baby Shark's Beaumont Blues by Robert Fate. 6.9.12. ***1/2
51. Witch Way to Murder by Shirley Damsgard. 6.26.12. **1/2
52. The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot. 6.?.12. ***
53. Insatiable by Meg Cabit. Incomplete.

54. Persuasion by Jane Austen. 7.7.12. ****
55. Some Like it Hawk by Donna Andrews. 7.20.12. ***
56. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. 7.28.12. ***
57. Thirteen by Kelley Armstrong. 7.29.12. *****

58. Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. 8.4.12. *****
59. The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing. 8.24.12. *****
60. Never Buried by Edie Claire. 8.28.12. ***
61. Kitty Steals the Show by Carrie Vaughn. 8.31.12. ***

62. Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths. 9.23.12. ***

63. The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson. 10.7.12. ***
64. Feed by M.T. Anderson. 10.14.12. **
65. Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown. 10.17.12. ***1/2
66. Othello by William Shakespeare. 10.20.12. *****

67. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary e. Pearson. 11.1.12. ***1/2
68. Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare. 11.1.12. *****
69. The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny. 11.2.12. ***
70. The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross. 11.11.12. ***
71. We Sinners by Hanna Pylväinen. 11.20.12. ****
72. The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross. 11.22.12. ***

73. God Save the Queen by Kate Locke. 12.5.12. ***
74. Deep Kiss of Winter by Kresley Cole and Gena Showalter. 12.11.12. **1/2
75. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake. 12.12.12. ****
76. Penelope by Rebecca Harrington. **
77. The Darkest Prison by Gena Showalter. 12.13.12. ***
78. Amityville Horrible by Kelley Armstrong. 12.13.12. ****
79. Delirium by Lauren Oliver. 12.17.12. **
80. Nightshifted by Cassie Alexander. 12.29.12. **1/2
81. Divergent by Veronica Roth. 12.30.12. ***

mamarazzi
What a fantastic word :)

And good on you for just going with reading as you see fit....I was like that but have found myself get more list driven these days. I feel like I need to knock some of my shelves instead of being distracted by the LT sweet reads that tempt me so often.

Oh, and btw, I found your thread via the threadbook, it wasnt seeming to show up with the others in the list.

Hhmm, I'm not sure what to make of that.

I'm a lister. I like lists. Lists make me happy. But with so many required reads for work/conferences I've decided to be un-apologetic in my pleasure reads. I've recently rediscovered the joy of the public library, which makes it even easier to explore and indulge, as there's little commitment (money or shelf space). I have a stack now that I couldn't get to while on pain killers, and I may or may not make it through a few before work starts next week...

I like lists too, especially ones with stuff all crossed off and completed on them. I am still working on my list entitled "38 things to do before I turn 38". One entry on that list is to read 75 books, and another is to call a friend who I havent talked to in years. It is quite diverse in its time commitment requirements.

Were your pain killer for your foot? I had my surgery 3 weeks ago, and am off pain killers now. I was only on the woozy-ones for a few days thankfully, so my reading want impaired.

Nah, I had elective surgery right before xmas; the muscle relaxers made it nearly impossible to focus on reading. I spent several days in bed watching "Penn and Teller: Bullshit" on YouTube.

Are you getting around well now? Do you have plenty of help with the munchkins?

I bought a giant desk calendar, hung it above my desk, and created a "to do" list for each day. It makes my OCD very happy.

I am a deficient human being. I like lists of men waiting for me to notice them, I like lists of bestsellers with my name prominently placed in the number 1,2,3 positions, I like lists of bank deposits with six digits before the decimal place...but lists of things to do? Too much like my mother nagging me to _______, a thing she adored doing.

For me it's more of a mind-dump - I don't have to worry about mundane things like chores or how much I ran last week, because I have it all written down. It's comforting to only think about the interesting/creative in down moments, instead of worrying that I may have forgotten something.

I agree--I am very much comforted by the lists that help me keep track of everything I can't (don't want to) remember...especially at the moment, as I adjust to what seems like an endless lists of 'things' necessary for every trip out of the house.

There's just nothing more satisfying than slowly, deliciously drawing a line through a completed item on a list. Absolutely nothing. Second best? Perusing my folder of book lists, relishing the thought of eventually getting all those books read. Ahhhhh.

I have been shopping far too often this holiday season. Far too often. But I caved once again, and bought this and this.

I can't be blamed, can I? Really, it's amazing I refrained from buying half of the shop.

Those are really cool, and I love the Rosetta stone one too. Esty is so dangerous!

Oh goddesses, Etsy! That sink of sin, that Scylla of spondulix!

Oh boy, am I an etsy sucker. It's a terrible day when I stumble across a cool shop.

Edited to dress up the thread with a few monsters:



Today is Hubster's first day back to work since December 15, and though the boys are I are having good fun, I miss him terribly.

I love the London map items in that shop! Gorgeous. And the literary ones of course, but that goes without saying.

1.
Title: Hard Mated
Author: Jennifer Ashley
Pages: 266
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition:
Date Completed: January 2, 2012
Rating: ***

With my paper in mind, I've started exploring paranormal romance a bit further, looking for other sources that might impact my thesis. Hard Mated is standard shifter romance fare, and although I may take another look at Jennifer Ashley, it seems unlikely that her series will support the examination of sexual aggression I'm currently considering.

Hi there. Everyone seems well-appointed in your household. Sorry you are missing the Hubster. Of course, the sadder alternative would be not missing him in his absence! And I heartily endorse lists. Because I like to look at all the things I have crossed out during the day. And if it has been a sh!tty day, I may even add mundane things like "did the dishes" just so I can cross it off and feel better!

Holy crap, that's a cool shop! I really should do more etsy exploring, but I'm afraid of what would happen if I did.

Thanks for dressing up the thread with monster pics, and for trying to distract us from your purchases- which are fantastic btw! Your littlest holds a special place in my heart on account of being a Lenny clone in age at least. Boys are so cool.

I am getting about OK, no weight on foot at all :(
Crutches giving me palm callouses so I have resorted to using my old biking gloves ("crunch gloves" as Wilbur calls them now!). My lovely other returns to work on the 14th, so thats when Ill be getting my mum, sister, friends to help as Lenny is just too unpredictable. And fast. I get plaster off on Jan 22, and it seems an age ago that I had surgery, even if it was 3.5 weeks ago.

Luxx, have you looked into the Lora Leigh Breeds series? I remember some of the earlier books in the series, in particular, had some squicky scenes that toed the line--women who were crying because they didn't want to have sex, but the 'mating heat' was overwhelming their senses, etc etc.

38 - Oh, I should have popped straight to your thread to ask! I don't think I have, but I'll certainly take a look now. I also seem to remember some coerced interactions in the Riley Jensen series, but it's been a long time since I've read any.

37 - Oh dear, I'm glad to hear you at least have some support after Other goes back to work. I can't imagine having to hobble after Doc - kid is into everything right now, and just won't stop for a breath. It was tough not being able to pick him up for awhile, but at least it was just two weeks. Will you be able to walk once the cast comes off?

36 - I just hopped back onto etsy ... because I want to get Big One a hobby horse for his 5th birthday on the 19th. My first plan was to buy him summer clothes and make him some new costumes (he's very pathetically outgrown most of his costumes, and laments it daily), but then Hubster recommended we give him at least one toy, and I thought a hobby horse would be perfect, as he already spends half the day galloping around saying "giddy-up!" as he pretends to be a cowboy or a knight. Or Dino Man. Or a pirate that decided to ride a horse. I like this one or this one as an alternative to the stuffed/neighing varieties I'm finding on Amazon.

35 - Oh, I'll do the same, with joy. I always feel so accomplished if I make it through the day with at least something crossed off. I've certainly had my share of days when the only thing on the list was "kept the kids alive."

Ooo, even better - hubster decided he wanted to make B a hobby horse. A homemade birthday sounds great to me!

On my end, I'm making B four costumes. First, a new Robin Hood shirt; he keeps trying to squeeze into his old one, and has reached the point where he can't get it off himself. When I told him he was just too big for it he sighed and said, "Mommy, I wish I had a biiiiiig Robin Hood shirt so I could wear it forever!"



Yup, that was a given.

He's also really into animals, so I decided to make him a lion costume and a tiger costume, and then found the perfect fur to make all three boys wolf cloaks. I'm probably going to make them all cloak-like with animal head hoods and arm holes, to prolong the wearability of the costumes.

Faux fur was on sale on fabric.com, and I'm really excited.

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
*smoochiepinchsmooch*

*sniff* Such adorables!

Pumpkinblossom, are you going to look at any gay and/or lesbian paranormals? EG, Jordan Price Castillo PsyCop series?

I'd love to, if that's a rec. My proposal focused on Kresley Cole as an example, but certainly doesn't have to stop there. There is some attention to gay paranormals in the Riley Jensen series (and in the Mercy Thompson series, which I loooove), but (maybe tellingly?) the sexual violence I remember is heterocentric.

Heh. Oh just you wait. The gay-werewolf paranormals are, ummm, prone (sorry!) to it. Go here and shop. These ladies (mostly ladies, as in Real Women) are ON TOP of m/m romance. I trot along behind them agape, reading only the 4-star stuff, and am always amazed.

It won't let me peruse without joining. :(

I love that robin hood costume...my six year old wants me to make her and daddy He-man and She-ra cotumes so they can fight the bad guys in the backyard together.... and after that she wants wonder woman and superman.... and tinkerbell and peterpan.... at least daddy is willing to play dress up with her!

I like the cloak like animal hoods idea... hopefully those will last a little longer!

They certainly get their love of costumes from me. ;) They have a wide collection, including the traditional superheroes, but it's starting to dawn on them that mommy can make them what they want. It's endearing, really.

ETA: The Robin shirt has a quiver with "arrows" on the back, which is really my favorite part.

>44 London_StJ: Oh bummer! But the M/M Romance community, 8900 strong, with an annual award program that publishers take quite seriously, could be worth the free membership.

A recommendation: Burn by TJ Klune, via Dreamspinner Press.
Book One of the Elementally Evolved series Set in a world that closely resembles our own, Burn is a story of redemption and betrayal, of family and sacrifice, which leads to the greatest question of all: how far would you go to save the ones you love? Fifteen years ago, Felix Paracel killed his mother with fire that shot from his hands. Since then, he has hidden from forces bent on exploiting him and his fire and wind Elemental abilities. But Felix's world is about to change, because he is Findo Unum-the Split One-and his coming has been foretold for generations. Though Felix's arrival brings great joy to the Elemental world, it also heralds a coming darkness. No one knows this better than Seven.-Seven, the mysterious man who rescued Felix from that horrible fire years ago and then disappeared; Seven, who has returned to claim what's rightfully his: Felix's heart. But even as Felix begins to trust Seven and his feelings about his place in the world, the darkness reveals itself, bringing consequences no one could have predicted.

That is an awesome idea having the quiver on the back.... i just recently started sewing.... so my daughtets collection was from the store... and was mainly princesses... with an ironman thrown in...

now she has out grown them and money is tight.... so i started sewing little things here and there.... she is learning that mommy can also make whatever she wants.... but only in the summer when i'm not working and i have plenty of time....

Hey she loves the tinfoil sword and crown my husband made her yesterday....

I love the idea of making fur capes, but I'll leave you to it - I don't at all like working with fur as it gets *all* over the place when I cut it! Can't wait for photos!

Ok, so mayhaps I missed your explanation OR because I'm a newbie I don't know what your paper / thesis is about.

Can I be nosy and ask? Or, since I already asked, let me just say that I apologize in advance if it's a nosy question.

I enjoy a paranormal romance from time to time.... :)

Richard -- I didn't even know there was a M/M Romance community... Wonder if there is a F/F romance community out there as well? I don't read many romances, but still....

Ask and ye shall receive, Tina. Not too large a group, but reasonably active.

Hi Tina. It's talk left over from last year - I'm speaking at a conference in March on a paranormal romance panel; my paper will be focusing on rape/sexual violence. My MA is in gothic literature, and I love exploring how the genres have evolved, and how authors tackle different aspects of paranormal mythology.

The week before I'll be giving a paper at another conference on maternity in The Hunger Games. I'm excited. Thanks for asking!

I'll keep an eye out for any gay/lesbian romance recs over here then. I'm not on GR so I can't view the bookshelves I don't think, but some good recommendations would save me a helluva lot of trawling through the rubbishy end of the spectrum...

I'm with you there, Ellie. Part of the reason I avoided the genre for so long is that there's just so much volume, and so little that is actually appealing. I just finished a couple of rotten novellas in my hunt for course material.

2.
Title: "Orion's Way"
Author: DC Juris
Pages: 30
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition:
Date Completed: January 3, 2012
Rating: *

The premise of "Orion's Way" is interesting: a vampire who has experienced sexual abuse works to reclaim his role in a BDSM "lair" to keep his partner. However, the story does not deliver, as it remains cryptic and vague. Even erotic short stories contain some development, and this story has none beyond the final sex scene.

3.
Title: Saint's Curse
Author: Lee Brazil
Pages: 64
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition:
Date Completed: January 3, 2012
Rating: ***

"Saint's Curse" is a m/m paranormal romance that focuses on the all-important discovery of one's paranormal status by his partner. With more development than Juris's story, "Saint's Curse" is more narratively satisfying, although the "action" is superfluous to the plot (and sex) line. The self-loathing of the werewolf is a bit too gratuitous, and smacks of "closeting," which I'm sure is no coincidence. Overall, while not suiting my present purposes, the story delivers on its promise.

V impressed that the projected volume of kids costumes in the planning. The kids must love it!
"mum- can I have a wolf cloak?"
"sure!"
*sweet*
Im not so good at making stuff, I can compile, but not make.

I am not quite sure what you are looking for in the gay/lesbian romance. Have you looked at Armistead Maupin. The last one I read was The Night Listner.

Wow, Luxx! That is awesome! How exciting for you!

Richard... I will definitely check the group out. Is there anything you don't know? :)

I'm going to have to WL several of the books on this thread / discussion this year!

#32: Oh, my goodness. How big those monsters are getting!

55- They're going to be very, very simple. I'd be happy to take step-by-step photos if you're interested. Or I'll just post pictures of the menagerie after they're all done. ;)

56 - Paranormal rape, especially between partners that are eventually willing. ("Oh, I didn't want it, but we're fated mates so now it's ok.")

57 - Thanks

58 - Smooches for Auntie Stasia!

56 - Paranormal rape, especially between partners that are eventually willing. ("Oh, I didn't want it, but we're fated mates so now it's ok.")

Except for the paranormal part, Aleksandr Voinove's every book is on that theme!

I really hope that the overall theme of the paper is being incredulous that it should somehow be acceptable in any form of literature whether paranormal or not for rape/sexual violence to become acceptable because they have some twisted connection?

Personally think it's a dangerous and disturbing idea to be going around. But then there are so many of them nowadays. And perhaps it hits a sore spot for me, but still.

Don't mean to be criticizing or being judgmental if you have a different take on it. Freedom of speech and all that. But the idea is repellent to me on so many levels.

agreed. (and for a similar reason I despise Phantom of the Opera which makes stalking okay)

"Forced seduction" was a feature of some of the 1980s historical romances too. Interestingly, the authors who now have their publishing rights back and are self-republishing (if that's a word) the books are rewriting those scenes, with some of them saying that they were reluctant to include them in the first place, but apparently that's what sold.

I love the photos of your boys, Luxx. They are all so cute.

Heh, I had a rather long post typed up, but scrapped it - I already have a presentation to prepare!

60 - I think I'll be skipping that, then. ;)

63 - That's really interesting. I'm actually not that familiar with historical law and crime statistics - I wonder how accurate it would have been? And thanks!

>59 London_StJ: I'd be happy to take step-by-step photos if you're interested.
Id love to see how they are made. Id be careful not to let Wilbur see the pics until I was sure Id make it though, otherwise it'd spell trouble :)

4.
Title: Pride Mates
Author: Jennifer Ashley
Pages: 304
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition:
Date Completed: January 4, 2012
Rating: ****

It's not often that I will rate a romance book a 4-star read (even if I rate within genres instead of across the spectrum), but the first book in Ashley's "Shifters Unbound" series is just that, because she managed to make me extraordinarily uncomfortable within the parameters of an otherwise traditional shapeshifter romance. The source of my discomfort wasn't the romance itself, and ultimately isn't unique to Ashley's work: she left me shuddering at racism and bigotry. In her series, shapeshifters have been revealed, and the expected tension arises from humans, but the American creation of a distinct second class is all too familiar and ugly. Instead of outright slaughtering shapeshifters, the government forces them to wear "Collars" - part magic and part technology that cannot be removed, and deliver debilitating pain when the wearer acts violently (even in self defense). Shapeshifters are also forced to live in "Shiftertowns" - isolation camps (they are free to leave, just not live elsewhere), are not allowed technology, can only work minimum wage jobs, and are not allowed to even apply to four-year universities. Much of the tension in the novel (smartly) pulls from this prejudice, and leaves the novels feeling all too familiar. I appreciate that the conflicts are not insular to the world of supernaturals, and doesn't provide an easy peace. This is a matter that most paranormal authors have to face sooner or later, and this particular account is far too ugly to not be believable.

>66 London_StJ: YYYYYYYYUUUUUUUUUUK

And oh yeah can I ever see that happening. Shtetl meets ghetto via "township" in the South African sense.

What Richard said.

Yuck is right - it's downright chilling. And smart, I think, of Ashley.

Wow. A four star paranormal romance... that is going to leave me thinking and uncomfortable, but happy and fuzzy wuzzy inside. I think I could give that a go!! Dear old wish list, here it comes!

She certainly gets kudos from me on that one. I hope you enjoy it!

Hello Luxx! I have finally made it over to your thread! Your monsters are so big! And adorable!

Congrats on the conferences - that's really cool.

Nice review! Have you checked out Ann Rice's Mayfair Witches series? Particularly at the end of the series, there is some definite spirit rape/romance going on. I am thinking Taltos?

> 73 I think it is Taltos too... I enjoyed Mayfair Witch series too but found it very slow going at first.

I also think your review was interesting... and I might have to add the book to my TBR list just because it is a little different from what I'm used to... and that is one of my book goals this year... try new things....

74 - I started reading the genre because of LT rec's - I've tried a number of wonderful new things since joining here.

73 - I have a difficult relationship with Anne Rice - I greatly disliked her vampire books, but enjoyed her erotica series. Perhaps it's time to take another look.

72 - Great to see you! I loved the Santa picture of your boys.

Hm, Anne Rice. I think Id need to try at least one book of hers in my life time. Did she do any biblical ones as well? I could be confused here, very, but I thought she had.

Perhaps? She had a change of heart, dropped vampires, and found Jesus. At least, that's my very casual understanding.

I think your understanding is correct Luxx. At least that's how I interpreted it also.

78 - I think I remember her writing a Christian book, too...

In a few I'm off to have my hair colored, and then onwards to a very late showing of Les Miserables - a 9:40 showtime, to be exact. I'll be out way past my bedtime, but I haven't seen this friend in a very long time, and it was the only time she could make it.

I started back to work on Tuesday, and took the monsters to school for the first time today. B went to a couple of years of preschool, but it was really the first day for Middle Child and Small Person. They both seemed to do well, proportionate to their ages, but holy cow was it a hard morning for this mama.

B actually threw big fits when we had to leave, and Max crawled into his teacher's lap and said, "but I want to sleep here!" Oh, boys.

Max crawled into his teacher's lap and said, "but I want to sleep here!"
Oooh, sweet!
We have taken W out of his pre school due to some over officious rule-following on their part. It involved him (apparently) saying something to a child who told their parent, who told the school who told our version of child protection services. All toilet talk and no real concerns (thank goodness) but huge family stress as a result.
He isnt enrolled in a new place yet, as the kindergarten that we want to enrol him in follows the school holidays (we are in our long summer holidays here). So we are having our longest break from pre school since he started. Inconvenient with regards to me still being on crutches....but for the best.
I hope he will like his new kindy, as I feel awful in the extreme when he needs to be prised away from me!! It is tough on the mums isnt it!

Happy Weekend, Luxx!

80 - Oh, that's just awful! I hope he likes his new school, too. When will he go back? (And, out of curiosity, do you guys have a winter break as well?)

Doc's second day went much more smoothly. He was off and playing as soon as I got his coat off, blew me kisses before turning his back for a truck, and was generally pleasant. Unlike his refusal to eat on day 1 he ate his whole lunch, which consisted of plenty of new food.

81- Thanks, and you too!

I find I'm really bad at LT these days. I'm not entirely sorry, as it's usually because I'm off making something or working. I am lurking on all the regular threads, though! I appreciate you guys stopping in here.

We have four school terms *I think* :)
So the big holidays are in summer (great) and then 2 weeks here and there in between terms.
We havent been able to enrol him yet in the new kindy as they are still closed. So I hope the waiting time isnt too long! Although, once I can walk properly again (one week and one day left!!!) Ill be so pleased and motivated to get out and about Ill be really into Wilbur time.

Here the public schools have four "marking periods" (when they report grades), there is a winter break for xmas and the new year (2 weeks, I believe?), and a summer break, which currently runs mid-June to mid-August. There may be a week off in the spring, too, and a handful of Mondays off for various birthdays and things.

Colleges typically give four to six weeks in the winter, and somewhere around eight in the summer (but pack in mini-semesters for those who want or need the classes). Even if I didn't love my job I would appreciate the schedule, which will always give me off when the kids are off from school - and then some. But I love my job.

5.
Title: Primal Bonds
Author: Jennifer Ashley
Pages: 320
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition:
Date Completed: January ?, 2012
Rating: ***

6.
Title: Kitty Goes to Washington
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Pages: 360
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition: Purchased
Date Completed: January 15, 2012
Rating: ****

Kitty Norville, late-night radio DJ, is an unlikely werewolf after surviving two different - and yet similar - attacks in a single night. After a series of conflicts lead to a near-challenge of her pack leader, Kitty finds herself essentially exiled from her home, and taking her radio show on the road, a la gypsy-like traveling. Along the way she is asked to speak at a Congressional hearing, and finds herself in DC, and in regular trouble.

"Discovery" is something that many urban fantasy authors attempt to address, with varying success. One of my favorite "unveilings" is Kim Harrison's, which blames a mutant strain of tomatoes for killing off a large chunk of the human population, while leaving supernaturals unharmed. Whoops. Vaughn's broadcasting seems to suggest that Kitty herself is a primary player, which challenges believability. However, when Vaughn brings the consequences to DC, and shows the political ramifications of such a discovery, she slams right back into reality. The bureaucracy, the red tape, the hearings, the politicians arguing, the reporters hounding - if the word "werewolf" was not included it could easy read like contemporary politics. This is a great strength in Vaughn's book, and makes the series promising in the future.

I found something else particularly interesting: Alette, the "master" vampire of DC. In Kitty Goes to Washington, the most powerful vampire in the immediate area carries a strong and often neglected role in the genre - she is a mother. And, she suggests at the novel's conclusion, she becomes a vampire to become a better mother to her two children. This maternal role is not entirely unique, but is often played in the opposite fashion - female vampires are often incapable of reproduction or maternal roles (with notable exceptions, I know) - and alludes to the deeper history of vampire mythology, which goes back to Lillith's revenge for her own children, the Greek Gello, etc. Alette is a bit of a missing link in contemporary fiction, and a character I find very rewarding.

Lilith's revenge for her own children? Hm. Utter novelty factor for me. Lots of good stuff to chew on, though.

Yup - story goes that she kills babies because angels killed all the children she had with demons, after she left Adam/Eden. This kind of female-demon-slaying-children (and perhaps seducing men in the night) is often argued as the root of what evolves into vampire mythology.

I was just over at your thread, too. Smooches!

Ooo. Interesting, never heard that grisly revenge tale.

My vampire novel was about Charlemagne's first wife being Lilith and Cain's descendant.

You were? But you leaveded me no message, so how is a lonely abandoned old cryptopadre to know?

Hmm...I need guilt-instilling practice, that was pretty lame.

One you penned yourself? Sounds interesting.

I actually started one myself recently - one I've mentally kicked around for ages, and "never had time" to write. Hubster gave me a Mont Blanc as a holiday gift, saying "it's both an endorsement and an incentive." I struck out with that one, didn't I? I think I'll hang on to him.

I've stopped leaving "I found you!" messages because they seem to clog so many threads. I read, but unfortunately don't have much to say right now. I do like keeping track of my LT friends, though.

>89 London_StJ: Yep, penned early in The Craze, but I never liked it enough to send it out. What's yours about?

Mike is such a keeper it's not funny. I hate you, you know, quite inexpressibly.

>90 London_StJ: They do clog, I know, but I use them as my means of finding threads again. Stars are for special categories of threads, and my own threads I can always find with the "Started by You" feature which I adore.

Thread management is an issue in this group. If I belonged to groups on Goodreads I'd drown.

91 - I'm not entirely sure yet. I'm a bit stuck just writing my mythology, which is as interesting (if not more) to me as the contemporary story I've been thinking about. I'm not setting out to write a masterpiece - just something like what I enjoy reading for pleasure. I haven't enjoyed writing fiction since minoring in creative writing, so that's my biggest goal.

I'm a queen of the red "x" - it's one thing I can keep up with in this group!

OIC

Well, that I think is the key right there: Write what you want to read. I always always have gay couples end up happy. Fantasy fulfillment, I suppose. Not sorry, either.

Those red "x"s give me such ridiculous angst. I can always find people again via the threadbook, and if it's a thread outside this group it buries itself with no help from me anyway.

93... Excellent RD... The fantasy ending is a wonderful idea!!

Is the "kitty" book the first in that series? I've heard of one of them but not this particular title.

No, it's the second; I read a much later book on a whim last year, and then went back and read Kitty and the Midnight Hour (the first) recently. Werewolves aren't my preference, but I've enjoyed Vaughn's writing.

Hi Luxx! Don't feel guilty about LT. It is supposed to be here for you, however that may be. Just know that we love you and like it a lot when you post! But no pressure. : ) Good luck with the writing.

96 - Aw, you make a girl feel loved.

How about a few pictures, to make up for my frequent absences? I can show you what's been tearing me away...

I spent the day baking for B's birthday, including school cupcakes for tomorrow and a cake for Saturday:


(This is the sigil for Dino Man, the super hero he created. I am not a cake decorator, but he'll know what it is!)


I made two dozen of these suckers, including these hand-piped royal icing T-Rex skulls. They're caramel cupcakes with caramel icing, and despite some annoying setbacks they turned out really yummy.

And here are some of his gifts! Each boy is getting a wolf.




Oh man, I can't wait for Saturday. First Born shares his birthday with Poe!

Wow! Your son probably has no idea what a cool Mom he has. LOVE the T-Rex icing and the wolf coats are AWESOME!

I feel like I have a major failing as a mom: I'm not really good at playing. I never was, not even as a kid, although I'm good for carrying make-believe dialog. So, I make up for sucking at playtime by "making" for them, and rocking story time. ;) Plus, I'm always good for movies and popcorn and cuddles, especially after work.

Wow, you have been buzy! Everything looks amazing, which isn't at all shocking. You're The Business, lady!

WOW!! Such excellent stuff! xo

99... I'm not a mom, but I can say with certainty that you don't have to be good at playing to be a fantastic mom (based on personal experience with my mother). I think you are doing incredible things! :)

Aww, thanks guys, for all sorts of wonderful reasons.

102 - My mom wasn't really a play mom, either, but holy cow did that woman bake. We came home to warm goodies after school everyday, and it's still one of my favorite things about her. Today she's one of my closest friends.

I don't think I'm very good at playing, either, although I don't have to be with Charlie, because he creates his own intricate worlds and games, and he wants me there with him, but he also wants me just to sit there and watch until he comes over and tells me specifically what to do as my part of the game. It works out just fine with me! We did build two castles yesterday with his wooden blocks sets: one for the matchbox cars (which are all anthropomorphized, of course) and the other for the dinosaurs. There's a breezeway connecting the two. Of course.

I desperately want a wolf coat. :o

Stephen: Ohmygosh, you'd look so adorable in a wolf coat! :)

The middle one in the right-picture? Yeah, I'd totally wear it. Not sure if I'm capable of looking adorable, but the ears wouldn't hurt. :P

They all have tails too, Stephen! The wolf and tiger capes all have arm holes, and the lion is just a straight cloak.

Amber, that makes me feel better - that's kind of how it goes around here, too. The boys are wonderfully independent, and don't need entertaining, but they do like having an audience. I'm comfortable with that role.

Those are awesome! I can't show them to Will because then he would totally want one!

"The night Max wore his wolf suit, and made mischief of one kind and another..."

LOVE the coats!

I never really "played" with my boys either. And they turned out all right. I suspect it was all the reading we did together, and the interest I showed (sometimes feigned, but still) in what they were doing.

I suspect your boys will turn out just fine.

The clothes for the boys are amazing! You are so talented. On the subject of "playing", I don't remember my mother playing with us either, in a hands-and-knees-on-the-floor sort of way. She was always there, baking or sewing or knitting, but not actively playing. I'm no good at it either, with my friends' kids, but they seem to like having stories read to them, and doing jigsaws, so I focus on those when I see them. One of them liked to colour with me, until she realised that I didn't know what colours any of the Disney princesses should be, so I lost points for that :-)

You are all really reassuring. I have a few mommy friends, and many of them seem to get down and really play with their kids, and I've always felt bad about it . My cousin, for example, once asked me how the heck I have time to sew with three kids (she has one boy between the ages of monsters 1 and 2), and I was as confused as she was - my boys have always entertained themselves, and she entertains her son 24/7. It made me think that I must not interact enough, but I have warm loving boys who are always happy to curl up with me, so they must still like me.

Now that I think about it, the most actively playing moms I know are moms of single children...

110 - I can't tell you how many times that ran through my head this morning! I can't wait to share pictures of Max in his wolf suit. ;) They are certainly all Wild Things...

111 - I lose points for not knowing the difference between t-rex and allosaurus. They look almost identical to me, but what do I know - my favorite dinosaur is an herbivore.

>100 scaifea: & 112: I've translated Where the Wild Things Are into Latin for Charlie... (nerd alert!)

I couldn't stand to have to entertain my kids 24/7. I'd much rather help them come up with an idea and send them off to explore it and then report back to me. But I think all loving moms interact with their kids from their own strengths, whether playing, baking or sewing, and it just doesn't matter because the love comes shining through.

Happy B-Day!

Adorable!

I'm late to the thread, Luxx, but those wolf coats are adorable! Hope the bday is excellent! :)

Absolutely wonderful costume and pics :)

I can imagine no better kind of mom or dad than the one who enables the child to find fun and create play on his or her own.

You're doing it right if your kids want you around. Until they're teens, when most kids would prefer death to having you around. Which, to be frank, is a little bit of a relief to some of us.

Oh wow!
Awesome animal capes, and yes, T Rex skull cupcakes? Top work!

Im with Stephen, I want a wolf costume too!

Dear One -

Lovely to sit down a write a line or two. So nice to let you know I am sharing my reads with you and you are sharing your reads (& life) with me,(us) in this great venue.

I love the cuffs. The are so YOU. Enjoy flaunting them as you sail through your busy days and use them like Wonder Woman to deflect those undesirable naughty creatures that lurk and writhe in the background of all our lives.

Your boys are gorgeous. Thanks for posting pix.

The ARC book that I just finished is one you might want to check out when it is published in February. The title is Farewell, Dorothy Parker written by Ellen Meister. The device the author uses as a portal to bring the ghost into the corporeal realm is clever and works charmingly throughout the telling of the story. Hope you are able to squeeze this one in among the long list of required reading on your Spring list of books. Trust me, it will give you a break and bring some humor into your day.

Warm love. If what you have time to do is lurk, please feel free to lurk away on my thread this year.

Those are some awesome dinosaur cupcakes! Love the wolf coats too :)

Oh Ruth, it is always so wonderful to hear from you, and I was very pleased to see your thread pop up for another year. I will certainly take you up on your lurking offer - it's nice to have a cozy corner to catch up on some of my favorite LT friends. Thanks, too, for all your kind words, and the book suggestion - I'm always interested in a good ghost story.

122 - Thank you!

7.
Title: Girl of Nightmares
Author: Kendare Blake
Pages: 332
Genre: YA Horror
Medium: Hardback
Acquisition: Library Book
Date Completed: January 18, 2012
Rating: **1/2

The weakest plot device of the first book, Anna Dressed in Blood, takes center stage in the sequel, Girl of Nightmares. There is no greater believability in the second book, the tension is slow to build, and the narrative delves into one 1970s B-movie cliche after another. That all being said, the conclusion to the action is highly satisfactory, making me glad I continued to read after all.

I was just stopping in to say hello & got hit with two book bullets! The first "Anna" is now on my WL along with the Dorothy Parker one your friend womansheart recommended!

I thought Anna Dressed in Blood was good fun! I hope you like it.

I totally adore those wolf cloaks! and I have found that my one and only child looks to my husband and I more often for play friends because there is no one else around to play with.... I am not the playing one... I am the making things to play with and sending you to your daddy who "loves" to play barbies one.... LOL.... but her play is also a little more grown up than i wish for... but hey they draw from life experiences and she is mostly around adults.... that is why I make her go to school and daycare even when I have days off from work... she needs that social interaction with children her own age that she just doesn't get at home.... I think that a mom or dad who is there and participates in their fun... be it making costumes or actually dressing up and playing on the floor with them... are totally doing their jobs!

Oh good, I'm not slacking!

I am happy to send my boys to preschool for the same reason. First, because hey get treated as individuals as opposed to birth order, which I'm very guilty of.

Today I've been "saved" by a lion and tiger all day long. Saving Princess Mommy is constant work, apparently - spinosaurus has a big appetite.

Oh! I had a not-so-great moment with First Born the other day - he said that person "X" wouldn't fix "y" "because she's a girl." I don't know where the heck he got that idea, but he got a big "excuse me?!" from Mommy.

Hubster brilliantly stepped in with, "What about Kari from Mythbusters? She fixes things all the time, and she's a girl - and a mommy." And then he suggested we turn on "Boom Lift Catapult" because Scotti (a girl, for those who don't watch) fixes engines.

It worked. Girls can now fix thing.

Oh, raising boys. Good save there, Hubster.

Excellent job Hubster! He definitely gets points there. : )

Hi Luxx - I am the default play mate for my only child when we are home. I have learned to make train and tractor noises. He is starting to need less entertaining by me though. I think I will need to take the creative play route (and reading) because my baking skills are atrocious! I enjoyed your pictures! Love the costumes!

I absolutely love the pictures of the boys as wolves. That one of Max in the upper left is just too cute!

131 - He's a trip, isn't he? Oh, Maximus.

130 - My oldest is still by my side as much as possible, but he's looking for conversation more than a playmate. Of course, it's the exact same conversation over and over and over again...

Funny "eldest son" story- and yes. good save hubster ;)

We have been off pre school here for an age and I cant wait til Wilbur starts Kindergarten, which he should next week. Its way closer than his pre school was so we'll be able to bike or walk. YAY

Oh, I can't wait for kindergarten in the fall! We can see the playground of our elementary school from our back porch (over a field that sits in the middle of our neighborhood), so we'll be able to walk, too.

I've actually been worried lately that I may miss his first day, and I already want to sob over it: I think my classes start before his will. Oh no!

Hello there.

I've been meaning to tell you how beautiful your boys are, especially in their animal hoodies. You are the clever one with the shears and sewing machine, my dear. Am I near the mark when I guess that these are inspired by Where the Wild Things Are? COMPLETELY ADORABLE!!!

Your hubby sounds like a peach to me. Good choice you made there. I know I prolly would have uttered a "stunned, excuse me?" also. Being in a stunned place leaves me speechless. Misogyny still stuns me, too. Almost as much as racism, though in reality they are equally abhorrent, as are ALL of the oppressions.

Love, Woofie

Well, Max is named for Sendak's book, which certainly added to the charm of wolf costumes, but they most directly came from B's current love of animals (all predators, of course).

And B's proclamation is so out of the ordinary for our household that it took me completely by surprise. Sure, I'm the only girl in the house, and I'm pretty traditionally feminine (Queen Mommy, and all), but we never compare genders, and don't always follow "gender roles": Michael opens my door, sure, but he also does 90% of the cooking. It's more "daddy spoils mommy" than "men do x and women do y."

I'm blaming preschool, because that's the easy route.

Preschool sounds resonable to me as a probable source, but, I hate the thought that it gets passed on from young person to young person. Might as well get over myself ... it does. You sound like a righteous household to me. Doing a great job there twenty-four/seven, all four of you.

G'night - W

It is wonderful to vist here! I love your sewing projects and your baking projects.

Much Love

137 - Oh no, who is left out? Must be Doc - he's devious

138 - xo

Your sewing projects are amazing, Luxx. Your boys are terribly adorable in their animal cloaks.

Oh, can Willow borrow a cape? She's been growling like a tiger all week...

I find myself feeling guilty about not 'playing', too--I'm great for coloring or reading or puzzles, but I think Willow wishes I had more stamina for imaginary play...there's only so many times I can ask the 'Paint Guy' (her latest favorite dressup costume) for help mixing colors, or directions, y'know? Sigh. Mommy guilt, it crops up in some extraordinary places...

I am here and there with childrens play, I like lego and blocks and reading. And I love making up Wilburs bedtime story (about William and Wilbur who are nearly-next-door-neighbours). It is great fun asking him what they've been up to lately. It's usually miss-cheef according to Wilbur!

Luxx - So funny about your oldest's comments about girls because Will has recently started doing the same thing! He is sick and so we made tapioca pudding this morning. Whit came home from work and I told her about it and Will said, "You can't have any Mama. It's only for boys." Whit and I gave each other a look and I asked Will if I could have some. He said yes. Then I said, but I'm a girl. Apparently that did-not-compute for him because he promptly returned to whatever toys he was playing with. I think he has trouble with me because I can bend gender roles a bit - I'm more of a butch (I fix things, wear boxers) and I'm the jock. It was pretty funny!

141 - Oh, mommy-guilt is an all-too-frequent companion, isn't it?

142 - Miss-cheef! I love it. I'm a fan of art time, too

143 - Oh, Will, you're hilarious. Maybe it's just an age thing? Figuring out girls versus boys versus different mommies? My boys favor toys and trucks and nailpolish, so we don't have a lot of lines, other than "You can't come into mommy's room while she's getting dressed" (not interested in those questions right now). ;)

Yeah, Will loves his trucks and sports. Then he goes to his Nana's and wears pink and green tutus! :)

>136 London_StJ: Preschool could be the reason.... I teach preschool and I'm all for girl's being the superheros and boys taking care of the babies in the dramatic play center but I can't fathom how my co-workers can tell our children they shouldn't play with babies because they are boys or they shouldn't color pictures pink because they are boys... and that girls shouldn't be building things in blocks and construction... gender roles play a big part in the past and teachers who are not recently educated in the field of child development may still be imposing these roles...

what also gets me is how they tell our boys they can't hug their friends, that they should only give them high fives.... children usually love affection and my co-workers are making it seem that boys hugging boys is wrong....

it makes me sad because preschool is where children should learn a little more independence and when their teachers tell them the choices they have made are wrong they tend to become unsure of themselves and their decisions....

Kudos to your hubby!

145 - Sounds perfect to me!

146 - Oh dear, that's so sad!

I knew we found the right preschool when I showed up in class to find First Born in a Snow White costume; it was dressup time, and with few "boy" costumes, why not let them pick out the dresses and tutus? I have a great video of him dancing in circles in the costume, too. I've never heard of teachers encouraging boys to give up hugs - that breaks my heart. My boys are huggers.

I did find a bit of "anti-girl" rhetoric at B's baseball practice (for five-year-olds) - the coach told his own son to "stop being a girl" because the boy was whining about his position.

Raising good people is my primary goal as a mother. Hopefully some of this gender bias (for both) will dissipate as they get older.

I hope against hope you won't be missing the first day of school...that would hurt most horribly.

I send hugs and smooches and apologies for being neglectful. I'm finding bureaucracy still in my way with the boiler repair contract problem I'm currently dealing with.

Grrr! I really don't like (I'd say "Hate" but we try not to use that word in my house) when people say, "Don't cry like a girl."!!! Expressions that diminish another group to get your point across are infuriating.

*waving* at Luxx

Expressions that diminish another group to get your point across are infuriating.

Agreed.

Hi Stasia!

Boo hiss for bureaucracy, Padre. Hope things improve. :(

Hooray for a hiring push at my school, which brings my usual course load down to a single overloaded course. Awesome.

/grumbling

I'm going to go hide in my cave until I can think of something nice to say.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's house is for sale in Baltimore. Only $450K. Chump change!

*smooch* for less grumpus today.

>149 Berly: I agree totally!
The odd time I let the phrase " I hate..." out, little Wilbur tut tuts me saying, "Mum, we dont say hate in our house, remember?".
Good boy Wilbur!

152 - You both cheered me up and depressed me - how cool to live in F. Scott's former house! Oh, to be able to sell the house I already have. *Grumble* Then again, I'd have to live in Baltimore, so I think I'll pass.

153 - Very good boy. I grumble it way too often, even when I don't mean it.

Holy cow. Hooooly cow. I just finished my first post-op jog, and I did better than I did pre-op. Man, that's a mood lifter!

8.
Title: Tiger Lily
Author: Jodi Lynn
Pages: 304
Genre: YA
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition: Library Book
Date Completed: January 30, 2012
Rating: ***

9-10.
Title: An Alpha's Path and A Taste for a Mate
Author: Carrie Ann Ryan
Pages: 336
Genre: Paranormal romance
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition: Library Book
Date Completed: January 28, 2012
Rating: **1/2

I picked up Redwood Pack Vol. 1 (which contains the first two books in the series), because the title of a later novella caught my interest. The most prominent feature of Ryan's books is her apparent failure of freshman level English; the grammatical errors are prevalent, and speak to both a poor grasp of mechanics on the part of the author, plus a terrible editor. The narrative itself is formulaic werewolf paranormal romance, and actually fairly meta, as it is saturated with references to "romance novels."

11.
Title: Trinity Bound
Author: Carrie Ann Ryan
Pages: 359
Genre: Paranormal romance
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition: Library Book
Date Completed: January 30, 2012
Rating: ***

For being such a "strong" pack of werewolves, it certainly is easy for enemies to sneak in and make off with selected individuals (usually defenseless female mates, of course, but in this case one of the weaker sons of the Alpha, who meets his own mates in the course of their escape). What makes this text more appealing than the last is the exploration of a nontraditional relationship: a male werewolf (the alpha of the relationship), a human ex-SEAL, and a female witch. I enjoyed watching the characters explore what I felt were natural uncertainties and nervousness, and appreciated that sexuality did not necessarily determine gender identity. Formulaic and in need of an editor, yes, but thankfully less than the previous two.

12.
Title: Blurred Expectations
Author: Carrie Ann Ryan
Pages: 73
Genre: Paranormal romance
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition: Library Book
Date Completed: January 30, 2012
Rating: **

The story that sparked my interest: the "trinity" from my last entry, attempting (and failing) to conceive. My curiosity now sated, I doubt I will return to The Redwood Pack.

13.
Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Author: Ken Kesey
Pages: 320
Genre: Fiction
Medium: Paperback
Acquisition: Work Text
Date Completed: January 31, 2012
Rating: *****

This text has generated some very interesting and thoughtful discussions this semester - Kesey's novel is a keeper.

Glad your last read was a good one!

I can always count on Cuckoo's Nest, that's for sure!

Kesey's is one of the books I'd put money on finding in the liberry at the University of Barsoom on the slopes of Olympus Mons, puzzling the Martian youff and making them ask Teachdroid Alpha6C99182 all sorts of questions.

155: Awesome! *High fives*

160 - Thanks, sir! I know it sounds crazy to a lot of people, but boy howdy do I love running. Seriously. I'm slow and terrible, but it makes me feel so darn good.

159 - And I'm doing my part to spread it to the masses. ;)

Something terrible happened to me last night. I discovered ModCloth, and their collection of retro dresses. Michael suggested we split our skipped car payments to splurge on something (we just bought a new car, so we have a month "free"), and, well, I did just that.

So much for tattoo money.

mmm. . . . tattoo money. . . . I was thinking of getting a tattoo for the hankster. . .

Hubster gave me tattoo money for xmas to have Doc added to my hip vine, and I'm thinking of turning it into a much bigger project. Spring = tattoo season for me!

What are you thinking about getting?

I'm not creative. I have a W on my hip. That was my 30th B-day present to myself. My grandpa (whose boat is my screen-name) died my first year in law school, so my sister and I were going to get matching anchor tattoos. I wussed out. So when I turned 30 I was thinking pretty hard about getting one and opted for an old-school type-set "W" for weejane. It happens to also be the first little of my wife's name and first son. Now, I feel like I should get something for Hank . . . Of course, an "H" is the first thing that comes to mind. . .

Love those dresses in #161 link!! Tattooless here, but appreciate them on others. Weejane, love learning the reason behind your LT name. Cool tribute.

I have this vision of a tattoo of a beaten and battered-looking heart on my chest, surrouned by a thick corroded cage, with a chain that goes from the cage up my chest, over my shoulder, and then gets anchored into my spine in the middle of my back, hopefully looking like I'm carrying the cage over my shoulder.

I would never actually get it, because it's completely ridiculous, and would be incredibly expensive, would take far too much time to finish, and probably wouldn't actually look good once completed...but that's the image I have in my head.

Saving up for tattoos - fun!
I have never been able to be sure about a decision for a tattoo. I had my idea a 5 perfect circles all lined up touching each other, each with a phase of the moon in it. But I am worried about the "perfect circle" part- they would need to be perfect or it'd irk me for an age.

Great retro dresses, I love the yellow one with the bird pattern. Gorgeous!

What surgery did you have Luxx? Could you walk after?

>166 Ape: that tattoo sounds an effort and a half, Stephen. I bet you'd LOVE it once it was done though.

my tattoo is pretty cool... it is a flower but from far away looks like a crab... it was a two-for-one!

have fun getting new ink!

Just ordered a couple dresses from Mod Cloth myself. Which ones did you get, Luxx?

164 - I always wondered what your SN meant. I think another letter would balance well. ;)

166 - I've had a ton of ideas that I never pursued, and now I'm glad that they were only ideas. All of my ink is greatly personal, and easy to hide. It's always best to be 110% sure, and then you'll still hate it for the first week.

169 - I got ...Classic twist, I Love You Back, Coach Tour Dress, Sweet Temptation Dress, Soda Fountain in Cola, Salty and Pepper, Traveling Cupcake Truck, Breakfast Special, Story of Citrus, New Pin-Up, Stopping the Show, and Little Black Top. Summer wardrobe, done. What did you get?!

Man you scored in dresses!! Off to take a peek...

Wow! I love most of them. Classic Twist and Salty and Pepper so far are my faves. Do they run true to size?

I had to share that Mod Cloth website with Catey. She loves stuff like that! Thanks for the mention, Luxx.

171 - No idea! Ha. This is my first order, and I'm hoping. I went by their measurements instead of how I usually order (their chart puts me a size up), but they advertise painless exchanges and returns, so I thought it was worth the plunge.

I love pieces with unique backs. The Classic Twist and the Love You Back should actually show off my corset tattoo, which I think is good fun.

172 - Apparently 90% of my friends already knew about the site, and I only just discovered it by searching for "funky dresses" last night. I hope Catey likes it!

I just sent the link to my daughter, too!! Let me know how they fit when they come in. : )

I will happily report.

I'm a bit nervous, actually, as I don't always find that those charts match the fit I'm after. I prefer my clothes to be fitted, and at The Limited and Victoria's I need to order a size down from what they suggest. However, breathing is important, and certain features just aren't attractive when manipulated in certain ways, so I'll have to see.

Worst case? I know how to sew - I'm sure I can come up with something.

>175 London_StJ:: I was just going to say - You could make those dresses yourself! And with your talent, they'd likely look even better! They are awesomesauce dresses, though.

And you ladies are so brave with the tattoo business. I could never ever get myself to do that.

I was thinking of making a few similar skirts - especially if I wind up with a petticoat - but my problem is tops; I just can't seem to make tops I like, and I just can't find many tops that go with the bottoms I like. I end up buying multiples of a style I favor (I have a one-shoulder tee in three colors!).

I may well end up making some new dresses, too, but I have to be honest and admit that I'd rather sew costumes. I can't wait for faire season!

Luxx, check out modcloset.com. They carry true vintage clothing and accessories. They are pretty reasonable.

>170 London_StJ: I got the Coach Tour Dress in Houndstooth (I actually have this one already and it's super comfy and adorable) and the Sodo Fountain Dress in cola. :)

179 - Great taste!

178 - Thanks for the link. My body type doesn't often fit true "vintage" clothes, but I'll have to take a look

An old friend of mine and I used to go to garage sales in Austin, sometimes five or six a weekend. She **always** bought vintage (1940s/1950s) patterns whenever she saw them, and made the dresses and suits and stuff for herself. Such a spiffy appearance she always made! Wowee toledo.

Cosmetic huh?
Like as in silicone toes?

:)

After seeing those dresses online the other day, I was prompted to go and get a petty coat /slip for my yummy vintage dress. It is white on yellw and very see-through. But I found a nice one for $2 at the op-shop. Result!

Pics?

Like as in silicone toes How'd you guess?!

My bunion operation (why try to hide the fact?) is seen as so many as a cosmetic procedure. Even the surgeon was concerned about how narrow he could get it, I was concerned about the pain only.
But....now....that one of my feet has been slim-lined. I am fantacising about being able to buy shoes like a normal person. It is a little bit exciting. I dare not get too excited til I get the other one successfully done though. It would be tempting fate.

Oh, btw, by pics? do you mean of my vintage yellow/white dress? Hm, I wore it to a friends wedding, and there could be pics of it/me there, but I actually dont think I've got one of me in it, or even it?
Ill do some research :)

I was asking about the dress - I'd love to see it.

I'm glad to hear that your surgery was a success! Pain-free is amazing, and new shoes isn't bad icing.

I love shoes!!! Can't wait till you do the other foot and then you can go wild!

187 - Shoe wild = perfection.

Modcloth Fit Review:

My order arrived yesterday - huzzah! And I have to send half of it back - boo.

The fits were all over the place; the only consistency I can find is that the more "alternative" the style of the dress (less classic, more rockabilly, for example) the more vanity in the sizing.

I ordered 11 dresses, ten in a size medium, because that's what their size chart suggested. I had to buy the Soda Fountain dress in a small, because that was the only size they had left. It fits perfectly.

The classic twist is being sent back for just being terrible. It technically fit, but was highly unflattering, with a far-too-short cupcake skirt for my hips, and awkward cutouts. Instead of showing off my ink it just hit awkwardly. So, out.

Breakfast special? Bought a medium, couldn't zip up the back.

I Love You Back (m), Sweet Temptation (m), Coach Tour (m), Citrus (m), and I Love You Back (m) all fit well, although the latter requires a change in underneath. The New Pinup (m) fits, but needs to be hemmed up.

Salty and Pepper, Traveling Cupcake, and Stopping the show were all mediums, and terribly big in every way.

From now on if there is any stretch, I'm going with a small.

Now to see how their return process runs.

>188 London_StJ: Hmm, both my dresses were good fits for me (in medium) although I wasn't sure about the Soda Fountain Dress for a bit. It's a bit snug in the shoulders/bust (which is weird for me) but given the stretch of the fabric it should be fine.

Clothes are weird.

Hope the return process goes smoothly. :)

189 - It is snug, but I liked it better unbuttoned, so didn't find it to be a problem.

One warning: this is not a dress to wear on chore day. The size zipper rubbed a sore on my arm as I did laundry all day long. :(

I'm going to wear the coach tour to work tomorrow.

Disappointing to hear about the ModCloth order! But, I understand. I ordered from them once, a dress that their size chart said would fit me, and when it arrived it was:

a) not the same color as shown
b) so bloody small only a Barbie could fit in it, with zero stretch to the material (and I'm a rather small woman, so this was extremely surprising)
c) itchy beyond all reason (because the sequins were put on non-stretchy material, and scratched my arms rather than folding under like you'd expect)

The good news? The return was super easy, super fast (just follow the instructions on their website exactly) and was resolved very, very promptly. However, I admit I'm hesitant to place another order with them because of it.

191 - Now THAT is a disappointing order! I sent the dresses out this morning, and I'm looking forward to trying on the new sizes. And I may or may not have ordered a petticoat, because sometimes a fit-and-flare just needs a good petticoat.

Good news? Hubster actually suggested I order a couple more, because, "it's perfectly reasonable to go two weeks without wearing the same dress twice," and we just got an unexpected bonus. He spoils me.

So, I was reading Where the Wild Things Are to Will this weekend (a few times actually) and he said we should dress up as Wild Things. Made me think of you and that wonderful dress-ups you made for your boys!

193 - What good fun! I actually used it in class on Friday.

Hubster actually suggested I order a couple more
I like him more and more every day!

Luxx, do you have a recommendation for me on the life and times of Oscar Wilde? A good biography? (oh please dont let there actually be a book called "The Life and Times of Oscar Wilde" *embarrassing*)

Im keen to learn about his private life- the trial etc. I have done no research on LT about books, as thought first to come to the expert ;)

sociable *smooch*

195 - From what I understand, his family has done work to kind of clean his name a bit. The Real Trial of Oscar Wilde has good reviews (and is written by his only grandson), and I particularly enjoyed Built of Books

196 - Smooches right back.

I'm terrible right now, but I think that's the semester pattern. I read half of When She Woke, and barely blinked when my loan ran out. Whoops. I am as closely focused on work as possible, and I'm letting the house fall to dust bunnies. Tomorrow I must bake school party brownies! And then Valentines will find us at the aquarium. Oh, what a life.

Thanks Luxx, my library has The Real Trial of Oscar Wilde only, so I shall go and fetch it :)
I would have sent my lovely other, but he no longer works in the library building. *sigh* Those were the days!

198 - Well, I'm sure getting out is at least now a small pleasure, since you've had your cast off!

14.
Title: When She Woke
Author: Hillary Jordan
Pages: 150 of 354 pages
Genre: Fiction
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition: Library Book
Date Completed: January 5, 2012
Rating: **1/2

When She Woke is terrifying for its semblance to contemporary American politics. The early narrative is just as claustrophobic as the protagonist's jail cell, and the laws and governing body are at once surreal and far too familiar. Ultimately, however, the text failed for me, as I found it impossible to find sympathy for the protagonist. When my library loan expired before I could finish the book I had only the briefest moment of regret.

15.
Title: We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Author: Shirley Jackson
Pages: 160
Genre: Contemporary Gothic
Medium: Paperback
Acquisition: Work Text
Date Completed: February 15, 2012
Rating: *****

Jackson's novel is most compelling to me for its satire, which emphasizes sympathy for a murderer, and for its portrayal of madness as normality. I find the way Jackson develops the story from Mary Katherine's point of view fascinating, and enjoy this text every time I read it. My students did not all find it quite as enjoyable as I, although discussions about why they disliked the book were just as successful as discussions about major themes and ideas.

I collected essays on madness yesterday, and now I have 85 to get through by Monday night. Wish me luck!

Any family bikers out there? New house is within walking distance to the elementary school and two pools, and within adult biking distance to the library. I'm thinking a family bike setup could be enjoyable for summer fun and then fetching Big One to and from school, when he starts in August. I think taking the car out would be a terrible waste, and walking with a two-year-old and the slowest 3/4-year-old on the face of the planet would force me back to the car.

I found a tandem attachment that included two seats, but it seems stupidly expensive, especially since I don't know if this will even work out. I have to buy myself a new bike to begin with, as I let my old mountain bike rust in the backyard for years. My current thought is this cute bike with this tandem attachment and this trailer. I think either toddler could sit in the tandem, especially with the backrest/seat belt attachment, and we could still make it places.

My birthday is in March, and I think I may be requesting a pink bicycle. ;)

I liked the reviews, Crypto, and can offer nothing but "ick" on the bicycling because pink is my very, very least favorite color, beating out mauve and puce by a hairball.

i wanted a similar pink bike.... but didn't specify this to my husband.... who bought me an ugly red one that is too small for me.... i didn't know about the tandem attachments.... and now want one for my daughter.... who has her own bike but complains after about ten minutes of riding.... They would make a great b-day present for you!

>200 London_StJ: Wishing all possible luck for the marking. :)

Lux, On the tandem attachment the child must be able to reach the handle bars and to be able to hold their balance. Our grandson was 5, when he was able to steady ours. They like to look around and it can throw the adult cyclist unsteady. He finally learned and we used it till he was 7. The trailer we used up until he rode on the tandem.
Whatever you decide, please remember to buy helmets for all of you.

Ohmygosh I love that bike. And I essentially have it, but in red. I can't offer advice on the attachments, though - I'm too nervous about not being able to see Charlie behind me to ever use one - but I know many moms who have them and cycle round town happily with them.

85 essays in one weekend? I've done it, I admit, but only after having procrastinated! I don't envy you, but I'm impressed that you just collected them and are still so determined to get through them that quickly! My goal is usually to get work back within a week or so of collecting it, and even that's sometimes pushing it... Good luck!

207 - Interim grades are due by Tuesday night, and after several students crashed and burned on the last essay I promised to do my best to get these papers done by that deadline. My usual goal is a week, too, although with four classes that's been pushed to 9-10 days. I am glad to hear that I'm not alone!

206 - They'd all be buckled in, so I don't feel too bad about not seeing them, although I get what you mean.

205 - The bigs already have helmets, and I found a darling monster one for the littlest.

204 - Thank you! I'm certainly not procrastinating right this minute...

203- I mentioned it to hubster today, and he laughed and told me he had been thinking about a bike for my birthday!

202 - I didn't like pink until we had our third boy, and suddenly twenty-plus years of pink hatred turned into a great interest. It started with pink highlights in my hair, and has turned into other pink "highlights" in my life. ;)

>201 London_StJ: you are thinking the tandem attachment AND the trailer? At the same time?
The trailer takes 2 kids right? I reckon eldest bikes himself, slowly but surely, and the other 2 in the trailer. OR a bike seat on the back carrier for littlest and then older 2 in trailer? Heavy riding though, so you'll need your hearty breakfast if there are any hills.

These bikes are great for little ones to learn balance, and fun to play on after they have learned.
And they go pretty fast on them. I found W really got his freak on at about 2 and a half with this one. And now he rides a normal pedal bike as fast as I need him to.

209 - Oldest or Second on the tandem, and the remaining two in the trailer, is my thought. Heavy riding is right, but the furthest destination I would go would be the library, which is about a mile and a half from my house. We tend to be a bit sprawling here, with unreliable pedestrian passages for anything else.

Those balance bikes look great! Biggest has training wheels, although Max tends to ride the "big" bike because B steals the trike instead. They spend some time riding bikes in circles on the deck everyday, even in poor weather. I think this will be the summer they finally get some real practice in (biking just couldn't happen at the old house, for a number of reasons).

biking just couldn't happen at the old house, for a number of reasons.
Ah, that's right, steps for one right!?

A slow trip towing 3 kids in various ways would be fine for you Im sure. Riding there is more fun for me than actually being at the library with the kids anyway- Lenny tends to grab and run :) The kids'll love the bike-train!

edited to fix italics.

We Have Alwsys Lived in the Castle sounds great. Onto the wish list it goes!!!!!!

My favorite Jackson is actually her "disrespectful memoirs" (her words)- Raising Demons and Life Among the Savages.

16.
Title: Megan's Mark
Author: Lora Leigh
Pages: 304
Genre: Paranormal romance
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition: Work Text
Date Completed: February ?, 2013
Rating: ***1/2

Megan's Mark is standard fair, a la Lara Adrian and her ilk; so much so, though, that it will make a strong source for my upcoming paper, especially in terms of paranormal dominance.

17.
Title: The Queen is Dead
Author: Kate Locke
Pages: 352
Genre: Steampunk
Medium: Hardback
Acquisition: Library
Date Completed: March 2, 2013
Rating: ***1/2

The second book in Kate Locke's The Immortal Empire series is much stronger than the first; the action is well-paced, characters are given stronger development, and the highly-flawed protagonist is much more sympathetic as she comes to terms with her new racial and social identity.

18.
Title: "Night Crow"
Author: Paisley Smith
Pages:17
Genre: f/f Paranormal Romance
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition:
Date Completed: March 4, 2013
Rating: **

At only seventeen pages, it's not difficult to imagine the level of development in Smith's story. "Night Crow" was included on a "best of" list for f/f paranormal romance, so I opted to purchase it as I wrap up my primary source research. The premise itself is far from satisfying, and did not inspire a great desire to turn to historical "romance."

19.
Title: "Purr"
Author: Paisley Smith
Pages:99
Genre: f/f Romance Erotica
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition:
Date Completed: March 4, 2013
Rating: ***

"Purr" attempts to be reminiscent of de Sade, portraying a very-loosely historical account of a sapphic compound. Likewise included on the "best of f/f romance" list, this story included greater development and, while useless for my current project, was good for a romp. Still, I would not argue that it is worth the $4.59 purchase price on Amazon.

Interesting reading.... Looks like nothing really wowed you recently though... Too bad :(

215 - Oh, it's all fairly average, but nothing too terrible. I'm in the middle of teaching The Truth, which is my favorite Pratchett novel of all time, so you can consider me "wowed" there. ;)

It's always fun to teach something you really enjoy!

If anyone buys Tyson chicken nuggets and it mentions the free plate on the bag. If you don't want the plate can I please have your code? I need two more so I can get the plate.

20.
Title: The Truth
Author: Terry Pratchett
Pages:368
Genre: Satire
Medium: Paperback
Acquisition:
Date Completed: March 8, 2013
Rating: *****

"The Truth Shall Make Ye Fret!"

Terry Pratchett's Discworld Industry novel The Truth was my first introduction to the colorful world of Pratchett's satire, and remains a favorite.

21.
Title: "Bitten in the Big Easy"
Author: Delilah Devlin, Paisley Smith
Pages:91
Genre: f/f Romance Erotica
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition:
Date Completed: March 9, 2013
Rating: *1/2

Through reading these two short stories I discovered a few very important things. First, it helped me realize why I so rarely enjoy contemporary vampire stories, despite my love of the genre historically: as a general rule, they show very normal, very boring people to be "special" and therefore deserving of eternal life and "love." Bella Swann is not special, and neither are the protagonists of these stories. Dracula's brides and Lucy Westerna are far more compelling. Secondly, I've discovered that Delilah Devlin and Paisley Smith are two authors I can certainly avoid in the future.

22.
Title: Frost Burned
Author: Patricia Briggs
Pages:368
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Medium: Hardback
Acquisition: Preordered
Date Completed: March 11, 2013
Rating: *****

Although werewolves are not my paranormal subject of choice, I've discovered that the contemporary authors I favor most write primarily about werewolves. Patricia Briggs is one of those authors. Her novels are well paced with a close eye to development, and I've found her urban fantasy to be wonderfully compelling. She is consistent with the characters she creates, while showing progression through the series. The "angst" that defines some series is here kept to a minimum, showing that not everyone has the luxury to mope about personal issues when there is an external threat to address. Mercy is flawed yet sympathetic, and brings warmth to the series. Frost Burned is a strong installment with an interesting twist, showcasing Mercy's growth as a pack leader and an individual.

Oh, the geekery! I finally used my holiday tattoo money on Monday, since it gives me my spring break to heal before donning work-appropriate attire. In addition to having my darling "VW" added to my family vine I had two quotes inked on my ribs. Above my hip-vine I now have "The world must be peopled!" and on my right side I now have "My one quarrel is with words."

Spot the sources? ;)

I'm in the middle of spring break and I've gotten exactly nothing done. Of course, finally catching up on LT isn't helping...

Oooh, I'm still on hold for Frost Burned--can't wait can't wait after that stellar rec! I am glad that Megan's Mark will be a winner for your research. It seemed like it would fit for sure.

I am so far behind in my planned tattoos it makes me sad...I still have to get my raven tattoo for WILLOW'S birth (it would be raven number four, as in 'four for a birth'), and now I have another babe to add as well. I'm thinking Christmas, especially as the hubs keeps saying we are now officially done with having kiddos--good time to get a tat!

I didn't recognize the second, but as to the first...For man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion. :) Pics?

I'll gladly share, but post-scabbing.

I love the raven idea! My best friend and I want matching tattoos- a bust of Shakespeare with a raven on the shoulder.

Winter is a great time for ink, as there's less risk of sun damage. Sounds good to me! What will you get for #2?

Oscar! My goodness, you'll end up with "De Profundis" tattooed on your bohiney one day soon.

*smooch*

:-D

23.
Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Pages:384
Genre: YA Dystopian
Medium: Hardback
Acquisition:
Date Completed: March 13, 2013
Rating: *****

24.
Title: Mockingjay
Author: Suzanne Collins
Pages:400
Genre: YA Dystopian
Medium: Hardback
Acquisition:
Date Completed: March 14, 2013
Rating: *****

25.
Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
Pages:391
Genre: YA Dystopian
Medium: Hardback
Acquisition:
Date Completed: March 18, 2013
Rating: *****

All three are rereads, although this time I read them as a boxed set as opposed to ebooks; review was in order for this week's presentation. I've said before that Collins doesn't do anything original with this series, but she does it very well. It was interesting to approach the series from a more analytical point of view, and I look forward to sharing my ideas and theories with others.

Tonight's plan was to go out to dinner for my birthday.

Hubster calls at 4:45: "I'm on my way home; mom will be there a little early - at 5:30. I'll grab dinner for the kids"

Arrives at 5:05, wearing gym clothes.
"Oh, everyone will be here in like twenty minutes."
"What do you mean, everyone?"
"I invited your family and friends over for dinner. I didn't want to tell you early because I didn't want you to spend your birthday cleaning, but I thought you'd want a few minutes to get ready. Surprise!"
*initiate scramble to dust, clean powder room, and put dishes away before everyone descends.*

I called my mother a "treacherous snake" tonight, as I spoke to her three times today and she didn't give me a single hint. I think I almost made her cry.

Still, it was a great birthday. :) Also, buster is buying me a bike.

Treacherous snake! Ha! So Mike must be a pusillanimous poltroon for surprising you.

*smooch* for a happy day

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! :)
(I dont normally shout, but hey, its your birthday)

So I take it the quotes are Oscar Wilde? I want to see pics too- but understand the healing phase is one best left un-photographed. Happy healing.

Thanks!

One is Shakespeare, the other is Wilde, and I'm all geek.

I need to actually write an essay today, but my head keeps going back to A Charmed Life: Growing up in Macbeth's Castle. It smacks of "poor little rich girl," but I really enjoy reading about lives outside of suburbia, and it's sucked me in.

Now off to eat apple pie for breakfast, since we have 1,000 desserts left over. Sigh. What a life.

Apple pie for breakfast sounds delicious. Belated happy birthday, Luxx!

Ooooh, I *love* pie for breakfast! Or any other dessert, for that matter.

Happy Birthday (a little late)!!

Thanks!

Today's presentation went really well; my love of conferences grows with every successful paper. My panel-mates were articulate and fascinating and brilliant, and our chair was thoughtful and organized and it was all around a wonderful experience.

Plus, I left with ideas to both continue my own paper, and write an entirely new one.

Oh, and I finished this before I left:

26.
Title: A Charmed Life: Growing Up in Macbeth's Castle
Author: Liza Campbell
Pages:352
Genre: Memoir
Medium: Hardback
Acquisition: Library
Date Completed: March 21, 2013
Rating: ***1/2

The draw for me is simple: Macbeth. Of course, as a contemporary memoir I understood that the text would have little to do with Shakespeare's play (or his historical inspiration), but the title was enough to pique my interest, as no doubt it does for many others. And, to her credit, Campbell often delivers, pairing the story of her own life and childhood with the history of her home and family, satisfying both an interest in Scotland's often bloody past with the life now lead in these once-fortified homes. The personal historical anecdotes are fascinating and enthralling.

Campbell's personal life is less so. The story she has to tell is one of countless iterations - she is the "poor little rich girl" with the alcoholic father who pisses away hundreds of years of family history for goddness-knows-why. The last Thane is repellent in every way; even when Campbell tries to explain the charm he once holds the reader's skin will crawl. Campbell's role as a narrator is similar to her role as a child: she is bewildered, and doesn't seem to process the events of her own life.

If this was Campbell's story alone it would not be one worth reading, unless one happened to be a personal friend. However, her memoir holds interest for her accident of family, and the history she has to share.

...I still think I'll pass. Yeah, no.

Glad the conference went well!

My past week:
NeMLA presentation in Boston, including 16 hours of train travel in a weekend
Two lectures on Tolkien and The Hobbit, to begin our unit on myth and legend
184 projects graded (virtual research projects and original satires, one of each per student)
Babies. Oh my, the babies.

And now to finish that romance/rape paper for tomorrow's conference (which is, thankfully, local for me this year).

Research papers x 92 will be submitted tomorrow, too. A dozen papers for another school were submitted Tuesday, and I haven't even managed to download them yet.

I'm a little tired. And I'm not reading for pleasure. The day after the semester's end I'm going to curl up in a chair with a book and not move for hours.

Oh, and my major distraction right now? Tattoos. A presenter at NeMLA had a great sleeve tattoo, which set me daydreaming about an actual visual tattoo, as opposed to just words. I'm planning a large "wicked women" piece, which I will hopefully have sketched with the help of my artistic Hubster. I'm excited, and it hasn't even materialized yet!

Luxx, you were at NeMLA? I wish I'd known to say I was going also and try to meet up! My fault for not being around LT much in the two weeks before :( I did enjoy looking at tattoos at NeMLA and in other spaces around Boston, though :) I do love conferencing, also, though, I'm a bit jealous of how much work you got done while traveling!

I didn't get to attend the whole conference, but I went to a few talks on Saturday, when I was speaking. The Victorian Motherhood and Penny Dreadful panels were great fun! What did you get to see?

A Penny Dreadful panel!! I am ***so*** jealous. And I'd've loved to see you speak on the *shudder* rape fic.

You continue to amaze and impress me...all that work grading, all that work preparing, all that energy teaching...then the extracurricular work...then the peer recognition as your papers are sought and invited for presentation...then there's the little ol' job of mom.

I am in awe.

And exhausted.

It *is* exhausting, Richard, and for that reason I'm glad *I'm* not doing the papers and conferences any longer, although I'm happy for you, Luxx, that you're enjoying it all.

Thanks, Amber. And thanks to you, Padre. I couldn't do half of what I do now if I didn't have such an amazing partner, so I think much of that praise is better deserved by him.

The rape essay (which I will deliver tomorrow) has been very interesting to write, but a little uncomfortable - not necessarily for the content itself, which was covered frequently enough in Shakespearean studies (and before, of course), but because of the "quality" of the sources. Of course, Twilight is addressed, and I've decided that a description of this video is a successful means of introducing the contemporary discourse surrounding paranormal romances. I've never cited YouTube in a paper before. Introducing my primary sources is going to be an interesting narrative experience.

The Penny Dreadful panel - discussing Victorian crime - was a true delight. Some very smart ladies had a lot to say about class, social fears, publication, and narrative development, and now I'm itching to dive into Varney the Vampire and The String of Pearls (Sweeney Todd).

Varney the Vampire! The Feast of Blood indeed. "Dreadful" was not an ill-chosen descriptor. Whooo-eee!

Oh wait! I forgot! I'm Not Speaking To You because you've ALSO got an amazing man. Forget I said those nice things.

The panels I went to were all pretty good, though I skipped out on pieces of the conference as well to end up hanging out with friends and in a local bar that I fell a bit in love with. I didn't attend anything at all on Thursday, but on Friday I went to a trauma panel and a panel about poets' final great works as a form of "letting go". On Saturday, there was an HIV/AIDS and Immunology panel that I attended, which was really great, and right along the lines of my own research, after which I presented my own poetry (dealing with rape, actually--not something I experienced, but something which I helped a student get through). I ended off the conference attending a really interestingly strange panel on disability and literature, which covered everything from writing on lsd, to john berryman and anne sexton, to self-help and memoir. Strange, but fun. All in all, a great conference on my end!

PS. I'm already planning on attending next year's NeMLA in Harrisburg, so perhaps we can have a mini-meet-up there...

I was actually thinking of proposing a panel myself.

Today's paper at PCA/ACA was a raging success, despite terrible traffic leading to me arriving over ten minutes late myself. Hooray for great conference engagements!

27.
Title: Gracefully Insane
Author: Alex Beam
Pages:296
Genre: Nonfiction
Medium: Hardback
Acquisition: Library
Date Completed: April 2, 2013
Rating: **1/2

McLean Hospital is the stuff of narrative legend; temporary home to musicians, artists, authors, and the social elite, McLean Hospital is the benchmark for the posh mental institution of fiction. The other descriptions of McLean - fiction, autobiography, song - are far more rich and entertaining. There are stronger histories of mental institutions, and ultimately Beam's book reads more like a travel brochure history than a successful text for writing's sake.

28.
Title: The Hobbit
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Pages:320
Genre: Fantasy
Medium: Paperback
Acquisition: Work Text
Date Completed: April 4, 2013
Rating: ****

I did not appreciate Tolkien's work (or, for that matter, read most of it) until taking a graduate seminar on Tolkien. Dr. Verilyn Flieger is an amazing scholar and lecturer, and breathed a life into the work that I don't believe I would have found on my own. I liked The Hobbit when I first read it at 13, but didn't really enjoy the story until I approached it from an analytical point of view. Teaching the novel proved to be just as delightful as studying it myself, and lead to heated and thoughtful class discussions. It is also feeding nicely into our present discussion of Beowulf, for obvious reasons.

I sure liked The Hobbit better than LoTR. Still don't care if I never read it again. I am deeply flawed as a human being, aren't I?

I've never read any of Tolkien, and I feel OK with that. Of course, some of my friends are convinced I'm an alien from another planet because I've also never seen "The Wizard of Oz" and I can't stand "It's a Wonderful Life."

248 - It's a favorite game of my partner's to list all of the movies I haven't seen. I'm not very concerned with it (although apparently I have Uma Thermons haircut from Pulp Fiction?). I'm a little more embarrassed about the books I haven't read, but I can't apologize for being more interested in my own specialty.

247 - Nope, not flawed, just opinionated - and that's just fine, especially when it comes to books. I don't know that I'd run to read LoTR again, although Hubster is a big Tolkien fan, and my own father is as well. I prefer The Silmarillion of all of his works...

29.
Title: Beowulf
Translator: Seamus Heaney
Pages:215
Genre: Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem
Medium: Paperback
Acquisition: Work Text
Date Completed: April 11, 2013
Rating: *****

Majestic, lyrical, thrilling and compelling: Beowulf is an enchanting epic poem of flawed heroism, broken social systems, gendered tyranny, shifting honor, and imperialistic Christianity. Having read parts of the poem as a first-year undergraduate, I have long intended to read Heaney's best-selling translation. For years it has waited on my shelf, until I decided to take the plunge and teach the text, the better to approach it analytically and while pressured into carefully reading the work in its entirety. To do so proved to be greatly fulfilling, and I found myself weeping for the lost hero that I was cursing and judging a hundred pages before. For perhaps obvious reasons, the question of Grendel's mother and the subject of wergeld proved to be of particular interest, and the definitions of heroes and monsters were inspiration for long classroom debates. Pure joy.