Catching Fire

Technically I said that I couldn't do any reading during November because I was participating in NaNoWriMo. All my spare time was supposed to be consumed by writing, writing, and more writing.

But now I have to admit that I cheated. I spent my alotted amount of writing time for two days reading Suzanne Collin's Catching Fire. It was amazing. There is a totally unexpected twist in the middle and the previously introduced triangle between Katniss, Gale, and Peeta gets more complicated. I couldn't stand to put the book down to feed us.

It drives me crazy to think that I'll probably have to wait a year for the conclusion to the story.

On the bright side, despite cheating on my "no reading" resolution, I completed my NaNoWriMo story at 11:30 on November 30th. Yea me!

New Moon

For the first time in too long to mention, I went to opening day of a movie. Not the midnight showing, which I did consider. But still November 20th is the first day even if it wasn't the first showing.

I was so looking forward to it, even though I had prepared myself to be a little disappointed with the movie in comparison with the book. I loved it! And I wasn't disappointed with the variances that they made from the book. The changes made were done in a way that kept the same overall flow and feeling of the book.

I had gone in expecting it to be a much more fantastical action driven movie. And there was action. What I didn't expect was for the emotions to be captured as well. I was drawn into the magic from the very beginning even though I know the book from cover to cover. I did not sit and anticipate what was coming next like I do sometimes when I've already read the books.

I thought Chris Weitz's choice of showing Bella and Charlie's interaction or lack of during her depression was very well done. Kristin Stewart did a great job again, though in my opinion, Bella shouldn't be played as such a tough character. Taylor Lautner really stepped up to the plate in portraying Jacob's deep feelings for Bella. I was a little disappointed that Rob Pattinson's Edward still appeared so stoic, while not really bringing out the internal struggle to be a better "man" that is always present in Edward. He's going to have to turn up the volume on his emotions.

Love, love, loved it. And as for Team Edward or Team Jacob... I don't want to choose, I'll just take one of each!

Deadlines

Ten days and 23,285 words to go. I am feeling that crippling desperation that I have not felt since college. You know the one.

It didn't creep up until Sunday morning as you started writing the paper (due Monday) that you had outlined(in your head). Sometime after supper Sunday night as you were fighting with the rough draft, you became aware of the menacing sound of tribal drumbeats growing louder and more distinct. Late Sunday night, when you would like to have been going to bed, you were still struggling with the paper that had been beaten into a pile of rotten pulp by the devil's evil minions as they pounded away at the part of your brain that supplies rational thought.

Finally, many hours and tears later, exhausted and beaten, you placed together as many words in consecutive order as you could, hoping that they made more sense to your professor in the light of day than they did to you right then.

Here's to meeting goals and making deadlines. Happy Nano-ing!

Happy Kickoff Day!

And no, I'm not talking football (although I'm glad the Titans finally have a win this year).

I hope everyone had a successful first (official) day of writing for NaNoWriMo. I'm proud to say I made it to the kickoff lunch and the first write-in. I felt kind of naked without having my kids with me. But I had fun, met some great folks, and by the end of the day even managed to meet my writing goal.

I had to resist the urge to buy Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins while I was at BAM, but there will be no time for reading this month. I'm hoping to reward my NaNoWriMo success with some new reading material in December.

Currently at 2,017/50,000 words.

NaNoWriMo

Just in case you're wondering... November is National Novel Writing Month. I took a deep breath and signed up at www.NaNoWriMo.org. I am challenging myself and anyone else who reads this to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. Wish me luck, perseverance, and good ideas.

Favorite Book of the Month

I know that the month is not actually over, and there is a chance I might discover a better book before Halloween. But for now, my favorite recent read is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Yes, it is young adult fiction. But I recommended it to the Hubby and he is really enjoying it also. Check out the first few pages on amazon. Definitely worth taking the time to read.

Escape

I just have to take a moment to express what a wonderful escape good books are. After a few moments of watching the news I am disgusted by the self-serving childish nature of politics. Actually that's an insult to children, most of them aren't that scheming and deceitful. Then there is the constant barrage of all things gone wrong in our society. That's not to say that books don't tell about things gone awry, but at least I get to see the repercussions for those who do wrong.

Julie Bertagna

I just finished reading Exodus and Zenith by Julie Bertagna. The plots are based on a what if scenario involving the meltdown of the polar ice caps. Julie tells this incredible story without becoming preachy. She takes us into a future world where the use of technology has brought about both amazing and terrible things. The teenage characters struggle make a new start for the world. Through listening to some of the older people, researching, and learning from their mistakes they learn they must blend the use of new technology with a return to the basics to survive.

I thoroughly enjoyed them both.