Refreshing for a journal update

The Graveyard Book by: Neil Gaiman

I had wanted to read this book ever since I heard that it was about a boy who lived in a graveyard and was raised by ghosts. Finally bought the hardback because the wait at the library was too long!

A MUST READ.

It's wonderfully spooky and there are twists and turns, not sharp ones but more like a winding road because of the amazing way that Neil Gaiman writes! And Bod Owens is such a charming and loveable main character! I also fangirl his guardian Silas. Not sure how much I can say about the man Jack without giving things away except that the thing that he's involved in is really clever and I wish we learned more!

And aww the end almost made me cry but it was SUCH a good way to end it because of the possibilities for Bod Owens, not in the way of sequels but for his character :D

And I almost forgot about the artwork by Dave McKean! The black and white drawings are anything but simple and they really make you feel like you're a part of the story.

So yes, go read this right away, it's so worth it (like all of Neil Gaiman's work!)

Okay so when was the last time I actually posted something? I can't remember.

Anyway! My read 50 books for the year thing didn't quite work out but I did get to 41 books which is still more than I read last year :D

Bolded ones were my faves, italics are re-reads (I do re-reads a lot!) strikes are ones I wasn't too fond of
( List! )

As I tend to do, I went through reading phases: My re-read phase especially the Hornblower books, I'm slowly adding to my collection of those :D My Terry Prachett phase (I'm planning on reading more of his in '09) and Orson Scott Card phase and probably my biggest phase, Gold Rush era California/The Old West!

My top five favorites for the year are:

5: Slippin' Into Darkness by Norman Partridge
--I made a post about this book earlier in the year and I may be a bit biased because the author is an old high school friend of my dad's, but it really is a spectacular book! If you like plot twisty horror, that is! It kept me hooked and wanting to read more, plus I felt like I knew every single character right away :D

4: Going Postal by Terry Prachett
--My first Prachett book! I am now totally and completely hooked and am planning on reading MANY MORE next year :D Also, Moist von Lipwig has got to be one of my top favorite book characters ever!

3: The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
--I read this HUGE book in less than two days by staying up to 4am, crashing, and reading all the next day. SO COMPLETELY HOOKED by this one...the movie doesn't even compare (but was still good on its own anyway!)

2: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
--My roommate Teresa said I should read it and lent me her copy...I CAN'T BELIEVE I HADN'T READ THIS SOONER. I am pretty sure I can't say anything about this book that hasn't been said already. It also launched my Orson Scott Card phase, which I will continue into '09.

1: MAURICE BY E. M. FORSTER
--I saw the movie first and LOVED it so I decided to read the book and see how different they were. The biggest surprise: they weren't very different at all! Gah, this book is so HEARTWRENCHING and ROMANTIC and all the other things I love about books and I LOVED every single character, yes EVEN Clive though he WAS being a dumbass about Maurice but, his loss, because Maurice gets his guy anyway. Did I mention how ROMANTIC it was? My use of all caps should be an indication of how much I loved it :D

So yeah, if you're looking for something new to read next year, try those!

+ It seems like every time I go into the city, I fall even more in love with it.

My Historical Arch. class went to the Presidio on a field trip today...checked out the adobes and artifacts, including some slightly broken headstones which I went all :D!!! over. Plus, there was a really cool old-timey milk carton that I was intrigued by.

To top it all off, it was a GORGEOUS day, the bridge practically shone in the sunlight and it was the perfect Bay Area spring weather that I love so much.

+ Where am I going for Spring Break next week? Memphis! Will it all be fun and games? Nope, I'm presenting my paper at the Society for Applied Anthropology conference there and having minor freaks outs about it every so often.

But the good news is once that's over I get to visit Civil War battlefields, eat ribs, and, oh yeah, Graceland!

Then I'm flying into LAX instead of SFO and meeting friends for Disneyland...that park has become our spring break tradition!

Wait, what? Homework, you ask?

Oh yeah. That. :((((

+ Well, I've finally decided on a field school to spend the rest of my financial aid on for this summer. Look, ma! The Carribean!

I mostly picked it cause it was the cheapest and I still have to pay rent.

+ Am I really graduating this May? I can't believe it myself sometimes. I've got my cap and gown and pretty tassel all ready. The drunken revelry is being planned and the announcements are waiting to get sent out.

Meep.

+ I've recced a few more things at the crack broom. Gotta get all of them in before I leave for spring break!

+ MMMmmm. Chocolate.