Crystal Moon

So far, this year hasn't been the best for me in terms of new books. I don't know if writers are just getting better at writing summaries on the back covers, or if I've just become less discriminatory in my buying habits, but it's just not been working well. Part of the problem might simply be that last year was an extraordinary good year. Not only did I read a lot of enjoyable books, but there were a goodly number of five-star, take-on-a-desert-island finds as well. Gone With the Wind, The Last Unicorn, The Mists of Avalon...these and a fair amount of others really impacted me for the better. So far I've only had one new five-star ranking, and that was for a phenomenal translation of the Tao Te Ching. The thing is, not only have I not been finding new OMG!AMAZING books, not only have a lot of them been simply mediocre, a large handful have been just plain bad. (I'll be saving these for another entry where I can just whine.) So, to counteract all this depression, I've started re-reading.

Project Gutenberg has been invaluable in this respect. I started using it on my lunch break at work, and it's been really enjoyable. I don't like to do nothing when I eat, but I also dislike reading physical books. Not only is it awkward, but I don't want to risk getting sauces or grease on the paper. The computer, obviously, works perfectly. I initially convinced myself it was just a good idea to re-read things, because I would be doing it so choppily (only about 30 minutes a day, five days a week) and it would be hard to get into something new anyway. As it turns out, this is just what I needed. I started out with my second favorite book in existence, Pride and Prejudice. Every time I read it, I realize that I've forgotten how wonderful and funny and just truly enjoyable it is. As much as I love watching the movies and drooling over Colin Firth, there is a charm that never gets fully transmitted from paper to screen. I'm currently working my way through Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and will probably move directly on to Through the Looking Glass. Alice has always been one of my favorite stories - the madness is so incredibly fascinating! - and anyone who has known me for a while will acknowledge my unadulterated love for the Cheshire Cat.

But without a doubt, my favorite re-read thus far is of a novel I first read in middle school and have dearly loved ever since - a Star Trek novel entitled Time For Yesterday, by A.C. Crispin. This is the second in a duology that spins off an episode where Spock and McCoy are accidentally transported to a planet's past, during its ice age. While there, they meet a woman who was wrongly exiled there, and Spock, who has reverted to a more primative mind-set, falls in love with her. Crispin creates an original character named Zar, who is supposedly the result of this union. Without a doubt, this woman shows an understanding of the Vulcan mind and spirit only second to Leonard Nimoy himself. She allows Spock to care for his son without being overly emotional, to show pride in his accomplishments, and to truly become a father to a boy he once proclaimed an unfortunate accident. By today's standards, Zar might be considered a Gary Stu, but Crispin managed to fit him into the world as seamlessly as if he'd always been there, and my love for him and his relationship with Spock has only grown over the years.

I've met many people who believe that re-reading is a waste of time. While I do try to limit myself in this, if for no other reason than because there are so many books out there I haven't read and need to, but sometimes I just find myself needing to go home. Hopefully I'll get better at finding good books again soon, but for now, I'm content to curl up with some old friends.

Are there any books you return to over and over again at times like this?

(x-posted to livejournal)

Reviews of books from January:

( My Thoughts )

Everyone who knows me even a little knows that I am a bibliophile. I’ve been reading since before I can remember, and to this day, I can honestly say that it is my favorite pastime. I can never *not* be reading something, and I’m generally reading more than one book at a time. If I do happen to be between books and I can’t seem to figure out what to read next, I inevitably get depressed until I can settle on something. I need books like I need air.

My deep love for books has lead me to read a *ton* over my nearly 27 years of life. Despite that, I’ve never had any trouble answering what ought to be an incredibly difficult question – What’s my favorite book? Ever since I read Beauty, by Robin McKinley, there has never been another answer.

( Love at first sight )

( How it changed me )

The rows of books tugged unrepentantly at the edges of my sight. I walked like one bewitched to the nearest shelf. "I didn't know there were so many books in the world," I said caressingly, and the Beast's answer was heard only in my ear and did not register in my brain: "Well, in fact, there aren't," he said..."This library is  - well -"  He paused. "Most of these books haven't been written yet...But don't worry, they will be."

This particular book, The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody, by Will Cuppy, was a recommendation from our very own princesslucia, and I must say it was a very good book to read during the middle of a busy period. It was nice and light, and think I can safely say that it wins the prize for Novel with the Funniest Title Ever. Basically, Cuppy takes us through the centuries and explains the way things really happened in the past...and how they didn't work. I would recommend this for anyone looking for a good laugh, but a fairly decent knowledge of history would definitely come in handy.

( A million laughs a minute )

So I think I have sufficiently calmed down from reading the new Harry Potter book that I can right at least a semi-coherent review. I think I may go back and re-read it quite soon, just so I can get a better handle on some of the details, but for now I think I just need to sit back and absorb.

 
Needless to say, there are SPOILERS behind the cut for the entire book.

 
Got that? SPOILERS!!!  DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT FINISHED THE BOOK AND DO NOT WANT TO BE SPOILED!!!

 
Ok, my karma is clear. On we go!

Oh, and be warned...this is long and rambly and...yeah  ^^;;

( Good, Bad and Ugly )

So, I’m afraid I have to squeal about this here, because as much as Mike indulges in my fandoms, he is a guy, and as such he will never be able to truly appreciate the beauty of a good chick flick (or books based on them).

I have just finished reading the first book in the Fitzwilliam Darcy – Gentleman series by Pamela Aidan. This series is basically a re-telling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, but from Darcy’s point of view. This first book, An Assembly Such as This, takes us up to the point where Darcy, Bingley and his sisters return to London, and deals a little with their time there. Unfortunately for me, the next two books are not out yet. I though I’d checked on Amazon to ensure that they were, because I *hate* getting involved in a series and then finding out that I have to wait for the rest of the them to come out, but apparently I was mistaken. They seem to have been released elsewhere (perhaps Britain) but the second book won’t be available until October, and the third comes out in January.
 

 This is Bad.

 Why, do you ask? Because I seriously do not think I have ever been so obsessed with an adaptation before in my life.
 

( Why Darcy Rocks My World )

 

So, I just finished reading The Da Vinci Code, and all I can really say is...wow. It took me a long time to get into this book, and trust me, you *don't* want to read it unless you can devote at least some time almost every day to it, otherwise you'll start forgetting stuff. Like the name of secret societies and their Grand Master's, the geography of the Louvre, characters' names and positions, and, you know, the plot. And yes, I do speak from experiences ^^;; I guess my main question after coming out on the other side finally, is basically this: Is all this stuff true?

Oh, and if you haven't read the book and plan on doing so, I would advise against reading further. Spoilers and speculations await.

( Ramblings )