Z is For... Zoya

Good Evening Humble Readers...

(Just a heads up... for some reason Blogger still doesn't like it when I capitalize the letter z.  Very frustrating.)

Today is the final day for the A to z Challenge, and I'm happy to say that I actually didn't have a hard time coming up with a fictional character to share with you.  Her name is zoya.

I honestly don't remember a lot about her.  She is the title character in a Danielle Steele novel I read many many many years ago.  I remember that it an 'Anastasia' story, and zoya was believed to be the only surviving daughter of Czar Nicholas II.  I remember there were scenes in Russia, Paris, and New York.  But, that's really all I recall of the story.

What makes her so memorable for me was when and where I encountered her story.  I was 15 years old, and in Germany as an exchange student.  I'm not sure what I was thinking, but for someone who needs to have books around just for comfort, I only packed two novels for the entire three month trip.  At this point in my life, two novels might have been enough, but not back then. 

I had read and reread the two I had about three times, when my exchange partner's older sister, who had just gotten back from a trip to the US and had brought this novel back with her (along with a few Agatha Christies).  I devoured it.  It was the first time I had read a Steele novel, and the romance appealed to me.  I'm really not a fan of her work now, but back then, it was so nice and comforting to find something I enjoyed and could actually read. 

What book or author has surprised you most?  Was it one that you were shocked to find that you liked it?  Or was it a favourite author who disappointed you?

Y is For... Yertle the Turtle (And a Few Updates)

Howdy Humble Readers...

Oy... what a day we've had around the hobbit-hole.  (But more on that later)

It's hard to believe, but we are approaching the end of the A to z Challenge.  When I signed up for this challenge, I really only wanted something to help distract me through the last few weeks of this pregnancy, but I have found that I have not only enjoyed the process, but have rekindled a desire to read some old favourites.  I'm hoping that some day soon I might find the focus that I've lost and be able to read at something close to the speed I used to. 

Today, being all about the letter Y, I have to talk about Yertle the Turtle.  I was hoping to incorporate some Seuss characters in this list, but it hasn't happened until now.  And oddly enough, Yertle has never been one of my favourite Seuss books (The Dr. Seuss Sleep Book holds that honour).  But, because of some recent happenings in the news, I have to write about Yertle. 

You see, the teachers unions in BC (the province to the west of us) have been battling for a new contract and have been holding some rotating work stoppages.  Now teachers in some areas have been using a quote from Yertle to promote their cause.  "I know up on top you are seeing great sights, but down here on the bottom, we too should have rights"  The quote seems appropos for those in the midst of a labour dispute. 

But why this has made news is because some school districts have an issue with teachers using this quote on buttons and bumper stickers that are visible to students.  They say that they don't want the students drawn into the politics of the situation. 

Personally, I wonder what world the school districts live in where they think that the students aren't fully aware of what's going on.  But, I'm not sure that teachers should be bringing the dispute into the classroom (wearing buttons with the quote).

Do you have an opinion about this?  And whether you do or not, what's your favourite Seuss book?

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Ok, back to 'oy'.  We were up and out of the house by 9:30 this morning.  We hit Costco first, and because it was still early, it was a breeze to get in and out of there (even though the bill at the end was ouchy).  After a quick stop at home to dump things in the fridge and freezer, we then headed to our regular grocery store, and spent another ridiculous amount of money.  Really, for the amount of money we spend on groceries, shouldn't someone come home with us to put them all away?

After lunch we went to work on repackaging the bulk packages of meat and I started my freezer cooking.  I made 2 meatloaves (is that really a word?), 5 meals worth of meatballs, 2 meals of Garlic Balsamic Pork, and 4 meals worth of Lazy Cabbage Roll Casserole.  I also started on three other recipes that I will be finishing tomorrow.  And I made dinner, and I did almost all my dishes from my crazy kitchen mess.  I had to stop just shy of doing it all because my back started to rebel, in a very big way. 

I also finished knitting the Halfling's baby blanket, and my Beloved got a start on putting together the Halfling's crib. 

It's been one heck of a day.  But even though my back is screaming at me, and I may not be up to going to church tomorrow morning, I'm happy with what we accomplished today.  By the end of tomorrow I will have 30 dinner meals and 30+ breakfasts.  I won't have to cook for a whole month!!!  (Okay, I'll probably do a bit of cooking, but it's reassuring to know that I will have easy options)

*****
Remember those wonderful burns I got on my hand back on Easter Sunday?  Well, they've healed up nicely, but now I'm in that nasty gross reptile stage... my hand is peeling like crazy.  Ick!

X is For... Xenophilius!

Humble Readers...

I am a very pooped hobbit.  And I have a big day of grocery shopping and cooking for the freezer ahead of me tomorrow, so my A - z challenge post is going to be on the weak side.

Xenophilius Lovegood.

From Harry Potter.  Luna's dad.  Publisher of the Quibbler.  A little nuts in the head.  But in a good way. 

'Nuff said. 

Any thoughts?  :)

W is For... William

Greetings Humble Readers...

I hope you're all doing well today.  Things here on the flatland are wet and rainy, but that's not so bad.  They're predicting snow for tomorrow which is bothersome on many levels, but I'm praying that it's the true end of winter.  When I was walking home from my NST appointment the other day I definitely saw crocus and tulip greens poking through in some of the neighbourhood gardens, so that means that spring will have to come eventually, right?

We're getting close to the end of the A to z challenge, and the closer to the end we get, the harder it is becoming for me to find fictional characters to talk about.  But thankfully, today wasn't so tough.  I want to tell you about my favourite victorian-era Canadian detective... William Murdoch (not to be confused with the captain of the Titanic by the same name). 

William Murdoch is a detective associated with the Toronto Constabulary in the 1890s.  He's remarkably well read, scientifically minded man, with a analytical bent that would do the most Grissom-like CSI proud.  His trusty sidekick, Constable Crabtree is a great foil to Murdoch's seriousness. 

I confess that I do tend to get aspects of Murdoch from the books by Maureen Jennings a little confused with the Murdoch from the tv show, as I started watching the show before I ever read any of the books.  The tv version does seem to play up the primitive forensics a heck of a lot more than the books do, but the books add a fascinating internal perspective on the workings of Murdoch's mind. 

I love the victorian setting, the forward thinking characters who are still bound within the cultural confines of their time, and the fact that it is a Canadian series that celebrates what Canada was in that time and place. 

Who's your favourite fictional detective?

V is For... Violet

Howdy Humble Readers!

After getting only half of my to do list done today, I'm off to go do some crafting with some friends.  I really am not letting myself feel bad about not getting to cleaning the bathroom today (it will still be there tomorrow) or working on Ginny's babybook (it will be there tomorrow, too).  I have finally decided what I'm going to do with Ginny's toys, and that was half of the issue there.  Tomorrow, it will be put in place!

But, before I head off to my friend Sira's place for some grown up girl talk, I need to tell you about my V fictional character.  Again, I've struggled with coming up with someone.  I could have gone with multiple Harry Potter characters (Voldemort, Viktor Krum, Vincent Crabbe), but they didn't inspire me.  I've never identified with Veronica from the Archie comics.  I even considered Virgil Tibbs from In The Heat Of The Night, but I had to read that one in 8th grade, and I hated it. 

So what is a girl to do? 

She cops out, that's what. 

Today, I give you Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham.  The best of the best edwardian bad-asses.  (For those of you who haven't watched Downton Abbey, why the hell not???? It's only the best show ever!)

Only Maggie Smith could do this role justice!

I love how Violet preserves this aura of decorum and propriety, when really she's just a mean old biddy who isn't afraid to speak her mind.  She's the queen of the one-liner, and she can put the most uppity politician or military man in his place.  She's fiercely protective of her family, even when she's tearing them a new one in private. 

I adore the balance between Violet and Cousin Isobel (Matthew's mother).  They constantly are doing battle, and you really never know who's going to win. 

She's a biotch and makes no bones about it.  She says the things we all wish we could get away with saying. 

Who's your favourite fictional biotch?

U is For... Umbridge

Howdy Humble Readers...

Have you ever encountered a fictitous villain that you have loved beyond all reason?  Someone who is the very embodiment of evil, and yet you just can't help but smile as you read about them? 

For me, that character is UMBRIDGE! 

The first time I read Order of the Pheonix, I was disappointed.  I was reading it primarily for Harry, and Harry came off as a whining, petulant little punk on first blush.  But on subsequent readings, I became infatuated with Delores Umbridge. 

In my opinion, she is the best kind of villain.  Someone who isn't overtly evil, and yet is so sick and twisted that you can't doubt that there is some sort of blackness in their soul. 

As Sirius reminds Harry, "... the world isn't divided into good people and Death Eaters."  In so many stories, the villains and heroes are very one dimensional.  Black hats and white hats.  But with Umbridge, you get someone who is diametrically opposed to the bad guys, and yet is so against the actions of the good guys that you have to wonder about what her motivations truly are.  She's not evil to the core like Voldemort, but she's beyond a royal pain in the ass. 

Her pink bows, her plates with the kittens on them, the doilies, and her educational decrees... they all make my skin crawl.  In the most delicious way possible. 

What villain do you love to hate?

T is For... Taliesin

Holy Hotness Humble Readers!

It's not even the end of April yet, and we hit 27C (close to 80F, I think) today!  That is insane for the northern flatland!  What's even crazier is that on Friday, we are supposed to be back down to 4C (mid 30s, I think) with rain and snow.  Ugh!  What is going on?

Anywho... we're up to the letter T in the A to z Challenge.  Today I give you Taliesin, a main character in the first book of Stephen Lawhead's Pendragon Cycle.   I've actually been wanting to talk about this series of novels from the beginning of this whole challenge. 

I fell in love with this series when I was in college.  A friend and I discovered we shared a love of historical/fantasy novels, and this was tops on his list.  The series, in the broadest terms, is the story of King Arthur.  But it is so much more than that. 

The first book, in which we meet Taliesin, actually begins in Wales and in Atlantis.  It follows the stories of two very different people who are destined to come together... Taliesin and Charis. 

From the beginning of his life, Taliesin is considered unlucky.  But fate steps in and the road of his life changes course dramatically.  While he is, by birth, a prince, it isn't until some extraordinary events take place that he is brought into the fold of the druids. 

At the same time, Charis, a young princess in Atlantis, is oblivious to the war that is looming on her country's horizon.  The civil war changes her world entirely.  The death of her mother during an attack drives a wedge between Charis and her father, and soon she leaves the home she loves to live in the temple as a bull-dancer. 

When disaster strikes Atlantis, Charis narrowly escapes the devestation with her father and half-sister, Morgian (Morgan La Fey, Morgana).  They, and the few ships of survivors, make their way first to France, and then ultimately to the south coast of England, where they settle and become known as the Fair Folk. 

Charis and Taliesin's destiny's become entwined when, in true fairy tale form, boy meets girl and they fall in love.  After facing many challenges, they are able to marry, and they have a son, Myrddin (Merlin).  Always jealous of her half-sister, Morgian decides to exact her vengance by taking the one thing she can... Taliesin. 

I love Taliesin because he's certain, even from a young age, that although many around him consider him unlucky at best, and useless at worst, he knows that there is more that he has to offer to his people and the larger world around him.  He knows that he has a role to play. 

I wish I had that kind of certainty...

I also highly recommend books two and three in the series (Merlin and Arthur).  Merlin, especially, is fairly dark, but with a purpose.  There are two other books in the series (Pendragon and Grail) but Lawhead came back and wrote them a fair bit after the first three, and there is something lacking in them.  In my opinion, the series ends just fine at the end of Arthur. 

Has there ever been a series which you thought the author strung along just a bit to long? I can think of a few, mostly in the fantasy genre. 

S is For... Sachi (& Some Potpurri)

Happy Saturday, Humble Readers...

Have I ever told you that although I want to travel the world, I'm not particularly interested in visiting Asia?  It's not that I have something against the continent... quite honestly, I know it's because I am afraid.  The culture is so different, so outside my comfort zone.  (And yet, I long to go to Africa.  I never claimed to be sensible.)

But I never tire of reading novels set in Asia.  For today's A to z Challenge post, I want to tell you about Sachi.  She is the main character in Lesley Downer's first novel, The Last Concubine. 

Set in the last days of medieval Japan, Sachi's story takes her from rural anonymity, to the heights of the royal court.  When a royal princess passes through Sachi's village, she chooses the pretty eleven year old to accompany her back to the Women's Palace in Edo. 

Soon, Sachi is in the middle of all the court intrigues and jealousies.  What else do you imagine happens living in a place with hundreds of women and only one man? 

Sachi is eventually chosen as a concubine for the young Shogun.  And just when her life appears to be secure and comfortable, all hell breaks loose.  The arrival of the first western sailors, and the beginning of a revolutionary civil war, bring about the downfall of the royal house, and the end of the Shogun era. 

I love Sachi because she is continually adapting to her surroundings.  She is taken from the life she knows in the mountains and succeeds in the contentious world of the imperial court.  When life at court is no longer safe, she takes a few trusted friends with her, and escapes back to the world she was forced to leave behind.  She doesn't weep or mope or whine.  She does what needs doing, and she stays focused. 

*****
We are so close to having our spring cleaning done, it's driving me mad.  It has never ever taken this long to spring clean the house.  Granted we didn't do a real thorough clean last year, but this has been going on and on.  All we have left is the living room (walls, baseboards, windows, and furniture) and the walls in our entryway.  That's it.  But after spending three hours working on our master bedroom (including purging and reorganizing my crafting trunk... I threw out a disturbing number of half-finished cross-stitch projects, that I hadn't worked on in more than 5 years), I was just completely worn out.  We WILL finish the remainder tomorrow after church, and after I run a couple of errands.  So much for going to the park tomorrow afternoon.  Oh well. 

*****
I think I may be having actual contractions, rather than Braxton Hicks.  They don't go away when I rest, and they are actually a bit uncomfortable.  Nothing consistent, and not terribly intense, but still they are different from my usual BH. 

*****
Is it totally bizarre that all I really want to eat is ice cold apple pie filling?  Seriously, I want a can of apple pie filling that's been in my fridge for a couple of days.  Cherry pie filling would be a good second. 

R is For... Recorder

Howdy Humble Readers...

First up, please scroll down and check out my groovy recipe for oven roasted marinara.  I'm really very proud of it.  I think it's one of my best.  Oh, and a heads up... I'm working on a recipe to send in to a contest.  I've never entered a recipe into a contest before, and I'm a bit nervous about it.  Hopefully, I'll be able to share the results of my experimentation with you all next week. 

So, today we're at the letter R.  This one certainly wasn't as tough as the last couple of A to z Challenge posts have been.  I knew, pretty much right away who I wanted to talk about.  He is an angel, and his name is Recorder. 

Recorder is the narrator of one of my favourite series in the realm of Christian fiction.  For a long long time, the term 'Christian fiction' implied a certain saccharine fluff, usually associated with a cleaner, more innocent Little House on the Prairie (yes, that is sarcasm my friends).  There were a few notable exceptions in the midst of all the lightness and happy endings, and Gene Edwards' Chronicles of the Door (sometimes also referred to as the Chronicles of Heaven) is one. 

The series is comprised of five books, each centering on a key event in the Biblical narrative (The Beginning - creation, The Escape - the exodus from Egypt, The Birth - the birth of Christ, The Triumph - the ressurection, The Return - the end of time), all told from the perspective of the angels.  Recorder is given the task of recording all that he sees. 

What I love most about this series, and about Recorder, is the very different perspective that is taken on stories that I have known intimately almost all my life.  Seriously, this series of books changed my understanding of linear time, of eternity, and of God's omnipotence.  They are simple little books, and each can be read in a couple of hours.  But their footprint lingers for ages. 

Has there ever been a novel that has had a direct impact on how you view the world?  Changed a paradigm? 

Q is For... Q (And a Request For Input)

Hey Humble Readers...

Today was not nearly as productive as I would have liked.  I only got half of my to do list for the day done... and none of the big stuff.  *sigh*  I ended up sleeping for the entire two and a half hours that Ginny napped this morning.  I guess I've been pushing it a bit hard. 

So, we're up to Q in the A to z Challenge... and I wracked my brain.  Surely to goodness I have read sometime, somewhere a book with a character with a name that starts with Q, but I am totally at a loss. 

And so I am copping out.  Instead of a 'book' fictional character, I'm going to use a tv/movie fictional character.  And really there is only one Q...

But I'm sure if you've never watched any of the newer Star Trek permutations, then you probably don't know who I'm talking about.  He is, quite possibly, my favourite Star Trek character of all time.  And yes, his name is Q.

Actually, he is one of many Qs.  He, and all the others like him called Q, are omnipotent, godlike, and,  for lack of a better term, are all shit-disturbers.  They like to create trouble and see how lesser beings deal with it.  Think Loki, combined with Puck, with the arrogance of Zeus thrown in for good measure. 

As I said, a shit-disturber of the highest order.  He would infuriate and confound the straight-laced captains and their crews.  But he always managed to get them to think outside the box... to look at a situation in a different way.  He's funny, so long as you're not his current target, and, at the same time, empowering. 

*****
I need some input.  I made a commitment to myself this year that we would eat meat-free at least once a week.  So far, it's been pretty simple.  Pastas, soups, enchiladas... I can make all of those well, and I'm happy with them. 

But I'm bored.  And throw in the fact that spring is here... I want something new.  Something different. 

For those of you who do the meat-free thing more regularly, what other kinds of things do you cook in the warmer months?  My Beloved and I aren't big into tofu, we are more like your typical prairie meat and potatoes type of people. 

I want something that tastes good, that's satisfying, and that doesn't cost more than meat to make.  Any suggestions?

P is For... ???

Hey Humble Readers...

I think I have officially hit the wall.  I CANNOT decide on a fictional character who's name starts with P.  I can think of several... but none of them are providing the appropriate level of inspiration for me to write about.  *sigh*

Pooh-bear
Piglet
Paddington Bear
Peeta
Prim
Pippin (oops, already talked about him)
Peter Parker
Peter Pevinsie
and
countless Princesses (all those historical novels)

Okay, so maybe not several, but a few. 

Can you think of any great "P" fictional characters? 

*****
Quick update... had my consult with the anesthesiologist today.  He confirmed that we are indeed only doing a spinal (not an epidural, tho).  We talked about how things went last time, and possible things to expect this time... the heaviness in the chest, difficulty taking a deep breath, etc.  We also talked about my insulin for the day before the surgery.  I'm to cut my evening dose in half and then not take any in the morning.  I am allowed to have clear fluids in the morning if I feel like I'm having a sugar low. 

And as another aside... I think I might be getting to that point where my insulin needs are leveling off.  I've had an increase in sugar lows over the last few days.  I think I may need to dial back my mealtime insulin a bit. 

O is For... Olwen

Howdy Again Humble Readers...

Today's been another busy day around the hobbit-hole.  I FINALLY tackled the linen closet (it wasn't as bad as I thought it was) and cleaned the oven.  I also made arrangements for our carpets to be cleaned next week and called my sister to wish her a happy birthday.  I have some paperwork for church that I need to do tonight, but other than that, I'm planning on just doing some knitting and relaxing. 

We're up to the letter O for the A to z Challenge, and again I was able to find a fictional character who I haven't thought about in many many years. 

Her name is Olwen.

I need to give you some backstory.  One of my bio-dad's younger sisters used to be a reporter in the Big City to the North, and she had a chance to interview the author when I was just a little girl.  Auntie K got a copy of Monica Hughes' most recent (at that time) book, The Keeper Of The Isis Light, autographed for me.  It sat on my self for several years, until I grew into it and into science fiction. 

Isis is a planet with an outpost manned by Guardian and Olwen, a 16 year old Earth-girl.  One day a colonist ship from Earth arrives, and Olwen is very curious about the people who are so like her.  As the colonists work to settle in the valley below the Isis Light (a communication outpost which allows for messages to be sent to and from Earth) on the mountain, Guardian finally allows Olwen to go down to meet them.  One thing that he insists on, though, is that she wear a protective suit that covers her from head to toe.  She had never been exposed to the germs and toxins of Earth and has no immunities to them. 

Olwen meets a colonist boy, Mark, and over time they grow quite attached to each other.  Mark confesses his love for Olwen, and she decides that it's time for her to leave the care of Guardian and move down into the valley.  Mark climbs up the mountain to the cave where Olwen lives and sees her for the first time without her protective suit.  The sight startles him so much that he falls and is seriously injured. 

It is then that Olwen discovers that, although she was born to human parents, Guardian has altered her appearance to help her survive on Isis, particularly high up in the mountains.  He has genetically modified her skin, her eyes and her features so that she's not negatively affected by the ultraviolet rays from Ra, the sun in Isis' solar system.  She looks grotesque to Mark and the other colonists. 

Olwen, horrified with the realization that she doesn't look like everyone else, decides that she's going to go and live away from the valley, with her 'dog' (he's really some sort of reptile/dragon type of thing) named "Hobbit" (how cool is that???).  Just as she's ready to leave forever, catastrophy strikes and the colony is jeopardized.  Olwen is the only one who is capable, because of her genetic modifications, of saving them. 

Typical of young adult fiction, particularly from the 80s, the moral of the story is beaten over your head... appearances aren't everything, don't judge a book by its cover, looks aren't everything, etc. 

But this is the first sci-fi book that I ever read, and for that reason alone, I loved it.  Throw in the fact that I was perpetually the new kid at school, and I completely identified with Olwen... wanting to fit in but knowing that you're different. 

Do you read sci-fi?  If you do, what flavour of sci-fi do you like? 

N is For... Naduah!

Howdy Humble Readers...

It's been a very productive day here at the hobbit-hole.  I managed to get my big batch of marinara made (recipe will be featured in my next Foodie Friday post) and made a large shepherd's pie.  Plus, I made chicken souvlaki pitas with greek salad and homemade tzatziki for dinner.  I also dealt with a lot of little things around the house, including some laundry and playtime with a very active toddler.  The only thing on my to do list that I didn't get done today was cleaning the bathroom.  But it will still be there tomorrow.

And now, I'm exhausted.  :)

Today's A to z post is brought to you by the letter N... and my fictional character for you today isn't so fictional.  Fictionalized is probably a better term. 

I read about Naduah for the first time when I was 13 years old.  It was the first time I read what I considered a 'grown up' book.  My bio-mom was always into anything about native North American culture, and Ride the Wind was right up her alley.  I picked it up one day when I didn't have a book of my own handy, and was sucked in. 

Naduah (means 'keeps warm with us') was born Cynthia Ann Parker, and was kidnapped from her family's fort in north-central Texas by the Comanche in the spring of 1836, when she was about nine years old.  She was ultimately adopted by a childless couple (and this aspect of the story took on a whole new meaning for me when I read it again a couple of years ago), and raised as one of the People. 

The story follows her as she grows up, and eventually falls in love with the very man who kidnapped her.  She married him, he became the chief of his own tribe, and they had three children, one of whom was Quannah, the last free chief of the Comanche people. 

Then, after almost 25 years of living as a Comanche, she is 'rescued' and returned to her Parker relatives.  She tries repeatedly to escape back to her Comanche family, but ultimately she dies, mourning the People she loved.

All of the above is historical fact but around the facts, the author, Lucia St. Clare Robson, weaves such an incredible story of what makes a family, love, and the end of an era.   It is a story I have to have in my rotation every few years.  When I first read it, almost 25 years ago, I loved the romance of it... but now, as an adult, and as someone who has had to take a hard look at what actually defines a family, I love the relationships between Naduah and her adopted family.  Her relationships, particularly with her mother and grandmother, show that you don't need to have DNA in common to be a family. 

Is there a book from your younger years that has come to mean more to you now as an adult?

M is For... Mateo

Good Evening Humble Readers...

Currently, I'm a curled up on the couch, under my fleecy blanket, and watching a movie about the Titanic.  And, I must confess that I'm in a bit of a food coma.  My Beloved and I just got home from our anniversary dinner (I will tell you all about it tomorrow) and I am ridiculously full.  All I could really use at this moment would be a nice cup of chai... if only I could have some.

I'm feeling so dopey, that I don't know if tonight's post is going to make much sense.  Please bear with me.  :)

Tonight I'm going to take a little bit of a different tack on things.  I want to tell you about a character in a new-to-me series that I am reading right now, The Edge of the World by Kevin Anderson (the first in the Terra Incognita series).  I haven't finished reading the book, so I'm not 100% certain that I will feel this way at the end, but right now I'm thoroughly enjoying him.  His name is Mateo. 

The main premise of the book is that there are two distinct cultures living in a precarious peace... at least at the beginning.  The two cultures are connected through a historical religious link, but when their shared holy city burns to the ground, the Aidenists and the Urecari are left blaming each other.  In very short order, a holy war breaks out. 

Mateo, at the start of the book, is an orphan who is a ward of the King of Terra (the Aidenists).  He is best friends with King Korastine's daughter, Anjine, and the two of them have a terrible habit of sneaking off and getting into trouble together. 

When the war breaks out, Mateo realizes that the time has come for him to put aside childish things and take his place in the Terran military.  At this point he is just beginning to realize the feelings he has for Princess Anjine are more than just friendship.  But of course, he is being shipped off for training to face before facing a fierce enemy. 

It's not so much the budding romance that I am drawn to, as much as it is the growth of young Mateo's character.  The scene when he comes to the realization that he must grow up was very moving. 

Like I said, I don't know where this book is going to end up, but for the moment I'm enjoying it. 

What are you reading right now?

L is For... Lily

Greetings again, Humble Readers...

I'm back, this time with my A-z Challenge post.  (If you've got a second, scroll on down and check out this week's Foodie Friday post.  Bang Bang Chicken... yummy!)

We are currently up to the letter L in the A-z Challenge, and I have to say I have really been enjoying finding new blogs, and meeting new authors.  Even though I have struggled on occasion to come up with posts that meet my self-imposed criteria, posting about my favourite fictional characters, I'm still having a lot of fun.  I have spent a lot of time combing through my bookshelves and searching the internet for books that I have loved but long forgotten.  There are so many books that I want to go back and reread now. 

Today I want to tell you about a young Chinese girl named Lily from the book Snow Flower & the Secret Fan by Lisa See.  Set in 19th century rural China, her story begins when she is seven years old and is approaching the age at which her feet would be bound. 

I love books that teach me things about history, about cultures, all while telling me a good story.  In this story, Lily and her laotong Snow Flower are matched to be united in a relationship closer than sisters, closer than husband and wife.  They are girls who are matched to be lifelong, even eternal, companions, beginning with when they would bind their feet in preparation for marraige. 

Their story isn't a happy one, for the most part, but through all the pain... from successful and failed marraiges to the loss of children, from the rise and fall of their families to the trek through the mountains to flee the Taiping Rebellion... these two girls/women are joined by love, by hate, and ultimately by friendship. 

Lily isn't an admirable character through most of the story.  She's actually a bit of a biotch.  She is damaged.  But she is redeemable. 

Do you like historical fiction or are you more of a present day kind of person?  Or do you prefer stories set in the future?

Just one other thing I wanted to note today... big news in the world of books!  I'm sure most of you have heard, but J. K. Rowling's first adult novel, The Casual Vacancy, is set to be released on September 27th!!  I'm super excited!

K is For... Katie

Howdy Humble Readers...
I hope this evening finds you all well.  Things here on the flatland are exceptionally wet... but hey, at least for the moment it's not snow, so I'm content.  (The wet white stuff is supposed to make another appearance tonight and possibly tomorrow, to the tune of 15-ish centimeters.  Ugh)

Today's A - z Challenge post is being brought to you by the letter K.  And my fictional character for today is someone who may be a little on the obscure side. 

I want to tell you about Katie Welkie.  Katie is The Girl With The Silver Eyes.    I first encountered Katie when I was in fourth or fifth grade.  She came into my life through one of those Scholastic book flyers that get sent home from time to time when you're in elementary school.  I chose her out of the flyer because I thought the girl on the cover actually looked a bit like me (big glasses, poker-straight dishwater brown hair, totally out of style clothes... nothing like the girl on the newest cover I found on Amazon). 

And from the first time I read the story, I was hooked.  A young girl who had been raised by her grandmother has to move in with her mother when said grandmother dies.  A new place to live, a new school to try to fit into, and all while trying to come to terms with and hide her very special talent... she can move things with her mind!  She could turn pages in her books with out using her hand (and she read almost as much as I did at the time), she could push her glasses up her nose just by thinking about it (something I tried and tried to do), and she could avoid getting hit by stray balls on the playground by making them veer past her. 

She knows she's different, and she knows that she needs to find out why.  She embarks on an adventure through her mother's past, to find out if there are others like her. 

I loved her determination, the sense of us-versus-them that she shares with her friend Jackson, and her out-right nerdiness.  She made my life and my personality okay. 

This book was magic for me.  It made who I was, as a nerd and a bookworm, normal.  I mean come on, a story about a girl who hides within the confines of a book to escape a world that doesn't seem to understand her?  That was my life... 

I really wish I still had a copy of this. 

What was your favourite book when you were ten years old?  Do you still have it?  When was the last time you read it?

J is For... Jacob (and A Little Bit of Miscellany)

Hey Humble Readers...

First up, hells no, I don't mean THAT Jacob. 

I mean Jacob Jankowski... from Water For Elephants.  Once again, this was a book that I put off reading.  I had many customers come into the bookstore where I worked and rave about it.  Many of my staff loved it as well, and that just put it into the "It-Can't-Be-That-Good" category for me.  It wasn't until I saw the trailer for the movie that I became interested, and I fell in love with the story.  Sadly, I never did get around to seeing the film. 

At the beginning of the book Jacob, a young veterinary medicine student at the beginning of the Great Depression, discovers that his family is destitute after being forced to mortgage their home to pay for his Ivy League education.  This discovery, made at the time of his father's death, causes Jacob to have a bit of a break-down.  He runs away from his troubles and, after jumping a train, ends up joining a circus. 

The insight into circus culture (like the differences between freaks and geeks) was intriguing, but I admit I most loved the love story.  I'm a sucker for a well-written star-crossed lovers story.  And it really did seem that Jacob and Marlena were doomed to forever be apart. 

What is your favourite love story?

*****

A couple of other things...

I saw Dr. W today and all is well.  Blood pressure good, weight gain good, Halfling's heartrate good.  I did ask for clarification about why I'm having to meet with the anesthesiologist next week, and because my c-section is a scheduled surgery and because I am a large person (with a short neck) it is standard operating procedure.  The anesthesiologist just wants to take a look at me to make some preliminary notes and plans.  It DOESN'T mean that I will be put under general anesthetic (which was a huge relief for me), just wanting to be prepared. 

The crud that I caught from my Beloved is killing me.  I am such a wimp when I'm sick.  I'm just praying it doesn't become a cough. 

My hand is healing very nicely.  The blisters have all dried up, and while it's still challenging to grip things like my hairbrush or a knife, things are improving steadily.

And lastly, Ginny figured out finger painting today.  While in her crib.  With the contents of her diaper.  *Ergh*  I know all kids do at some point, but it's still just gross.

I is For... Iza

Good Evening Humble Readers...

So, if you stopped by earlier and read my pregnancy update, you may recall that I mentioned that I thought I might be getting a cold.  Well, there's no might about it.  I am indeed suffering from some sort of sinus crud.  My Beloved had one last week, and I was hoping that I dodged the bullet, but no such luck.

Anyway... onto today's A to z Challenge post.  And it took me took me quite a while to come up with a fictional character who starts with I.  I had been staring at my bookshelves for quite a while before I came across my Earth's Children series and I remembered...

Iza!

Iza is a primary character in the Clan of the Cave Bear.  She is a member of a tribe of Neanderthals, and she is the pre-eminant medicine woman for all the Clan.  After their cave is destroyed by an earthquake, the tribe is looking for a new home, and Iza comes across an orphaned girl of the Others (Cro-magnon).  The child, Ayla, is adopted as one of the Clan and eventually trained by Iza to beome a medicine woman. 

Iza is different from the rest of her people.  She has a sense of compassion that overrides their cultural and developmental limitations.  While it would never have occurred to others in the tribe to want to care for this orphaned child, she saw the girl's pain and her need for care and protection. 

As Ayla grows, it becomes clear to Iza that the child must eventually leave the Clan and find her own people.  She tries to prepare her for the inevitable day when she will have to make her way on her own. 

I love Iza's compassion, her forward thinking, and the mother's heart that guides her decisions. 

What fictional mothers do you admire?

H is For... HOBBITS!!! (And a Hand Update)

Hey Humble Readers...

I'll get to my H fictional characters in a moment, but first up I wanted to give you a brief update on my stupidity. 

Thankfully, the burns aren't as bad as they seemed yesterday.  There are blisters on my palm and all my fingers, but other than making things stiff, they aren't painful for the most part.  I took the dressing off today, as it was making caring for a toddler almost impossible (the tabs from her diapers were sticking to the gauze, etc).  I am going to keep them covered at night so that they get some time to heal properly, but during the day I'm just going to keep babying them a bit and trying not to over do it.  Gripping anything in my right hand is an issue and fine motor skills are iffy (I couldn't do my bra up by myself today... lol), but in a couple of days things should be okay.  Thank you all so much for your kind words and concern.  Honestly, I felt like a bloomin' idiot. 

So... on to today's A to z challenge post...

Of course, I could have milked my absolute favourite characters for multiple posts, by talking about each one individually.  But I'm not that type of person (at least not most of the time).  So, without further ado, here's why I love my shire-dwelling cousins...

Bilbo - Bilbo Baggins, is the epitome of hobbits.  Quiet, retiring, lover of books and good food, he avoids adventures of all sorts.  He is a fastidious and rather anal-retentive little soul, who gets sucked into the dwarfs burglary scheme in spite of himself.  What is so astounding, and what I love so much about him, is that he has a plethora of skills and abilities that prove him to invaluable to the plot.  No one expects much of him in the realm of Smaug the dragon or the darkest corners of the Mirkwood... and yet, he is the one who saves the day over and over.  He is the consummate underdog.

Frodo - Frodo Baggins, cousin and adopted heir of Bilbo, becomes the Ring-bearer and entrusted with the unenviable task of carrying the One Ring to the fires of Mordor to destroy it.  Although he starts out as a mostly typical hobbit (with allowances being made for his Took-ishness), due to the effects of the Ring and the injuries he incurs on his journey he becomes much more introspective and rather unhappy.  The primary characteristic that I love about Frodo is his sense of duty.  He knows what has to be done, and does it without really thinking about what it will mean for his own well-being.  He sees past his immediate situation to what is best for everyone around him.

Pippin - Peregrin Took, the youngest of the four hobbits in the Ring trilogy, starts out as comic relief, but quickly becomes someone to admire.  He, with his best friend Merry, helps to motivate the Ents to act in the Two Towers, and becomes a member of the Guards of the Citadel at Minas Tirith to symbolically repay Denathor for the loss of his son Boromir, who died trying to save him and Merry from the Orcs.  I love his humour and his sense of honour.  (And if this Halfling I'm expecting turns out to be a boy, his bloggy name will be Pippin)

Merry - Meriadoc Brandybuck, is the thinking-man's hobbit.  He's the one who figures out the riddle of the doors to the Mines of Moria, and knows the shortcuts to avoid being tracked by the Black Riders.  He's protective of his friends, and will defend them to his dying breath, as he shows when he faces the Witch King of Angmar with Eowyn. 

Sam - Samwise Gamgee, my all-time favourite hobbit, is the dictionary definition of side-kick.  He sticks to Frodo like glue throughout their whole long journey.  He cares for him, protects him, makes sure he eats, and doesn't allow him to carry more than the burden of the Ring.  He watches as Frodo begins to sink under the power of the Ring and, when Frodo finally can't carry on any longer he simply picks up Frodo and carries him the rest of the way.  He is loyal to a fault, and won't let even a little thing like the One Ring of Power get between him and his charge. 

For a complete list of hobbits as mentioned in Tolkien's works, I refer you here.

Do you have a favourite hobbit?  And if you don't, why the heck don't you?  :)

G is For... Ginny

Good Evening Humble Readers...

Spring cleaning goes ever on and on here at the hobbit hole.  Being 33 weeks pregnant is definitely putting a crimp on how much I can do in a day.  We managed to do most of the kitchen, the hall and the laundry room.  Awaiting us tomorrow after church are the living room and the master bedroom.  After that there will just be a few little odds and ends (that wretched linen closet is still mocking me). 

Today's letter for the A to z Challenge is G... and I am feeling moved to discuss one of my favourite Harry Potter characters, Ginny Weasley.  As you can probably imagine, Ginny has long been a favourite.  So much so that I really did want my "Ginny's" real middle name to be Ginevra, but I gave in to my Beloved's desire to have a family name in that place instead. 

When I was first reading Harry Potter, I confess that I wasn't terribly impressed by Miss Weasley.  I thought she was a bit over the top in her shyness and inability to talk to Harry. 

But she grew on me. 

And then I started to like her.

I like how she stands up to her brothers and to Harry, and like Eowyn, doesn't listen to those who have 'her best interests' at heart.  And she doesn't whine or mope.  Bad stuff happens all around her, and yet she chooses to remain strong and defend that which is important to her.  I like her strength, and her faith.  She trusts that she will be with Harry, that there will be a time for them, even though she never actually says it.  There isn't any drama... just confidence.

Have you ever come across a character that initially didn't do much for you, only to have them become a favourite?