Harry a History by Melissa Anelli: A must for every HP fanatics

I recently just finished the a book called Harry a History. As you probably have guessed by now, it has to do with the Harry Potter phenomenon.

The book is quite different, it isn't a fantasy or love story, more like a recollection of everything that has been surrounding the publishing of Jo Rowling's amazing novels.

From the point of you of one girl just like you and I, living in New York, who had finished college and was working at a job that she was not enjoying while searching for what she really wanted to do. In the meantime playing an active part in the harry potter phenomenon, checking message bord, reading fanfic checking the major harry potter sites for news on her favourite book serie.

She ended up becoming the webmistress of leakycauldron.com and reporting for them, her major was journalism. Ending up doing more reporting for leaky than her current reporter job and enjoying leaky reporting a lot more that she eventually made the decision to quit her job and concentrate on reporting for leaky, organizing conferences and pottercast (podcast shows). And concentrating on writing the very novel that I am reviewing at the moment. And ended up flying to england to interview Jo Rowling herself for leaky, reporting the news on on the website for all HP fans, but I do believe it was not just for the website, and was more than that.

Upon reading this book, it made me realize that calling myself a harry potter fan for reading books and watching the movies over and over was a little misguided. There is so much more to this phenomenon. Let's face it, we can call it a phenomenon for sure.
With, fans attending conferences such as leakycon, etc., writing lyrics and composing music based on their favourite parts of the seven different novels and creating a brand new genre of music called: wizard rock, which I just recently found out about and downloaded songs for my iPod. Soon groups like Harry and the Potters, the instigators of the new wizard rock genre, consisting of two brothers who obviously loved the HP serie, The parselmouths, the mudbloods, the whomping willows which oddly enough is comprised of only one member, the moaning myrtles, etc. Organizing tours of different bookstores in several cities, mostly american cities though, to my disappointement. Now I sort wish I lived in the united states to be able to attend one or some of those wizard rock shows.

I also found out that at some conference, they actually play quidditch. Without the flying on broomstick part of course but a muggle version of the wizard game. In an attempt to make the wizarding world of Harry Potter seem real. What am I talking about IT IS REAL, Hogwarts DOES exist. I just haven't yet received my admittance letter to the school of witchcraft and wizardry.

Yes, I do know I am weird. From reading the book I realized that I am not the only one who wish this school existed and feel like they would fit in better in that environment because they too are different and unique.

And I refuse to believe or say the word conventions. It is called Harry Potter conferences. Conventions are for geeks, trekies [not certain if this is spelled this way]. Perhaps a little in denial here. lol

I really felt as though I experienced a little bit of the phenomenon as I was reading the book. If she succeeded in making me feel this way from reading this story, she accompliged her goal and I am certain many more people who haven't had much chances to participate fully in the entire Harry potter phenomenon would feel as though reading this book gave them a sense of being part of something bigger than just reading the books and waiting for the release of the movies by themselves.

I felt like I was not alone in loving this serie so much. And that, is quite comforting.

Well, on that note I think I will end this post by recommending this great book to you if you are a fan of the serie or if you just want to see the extent of this phenomenon. 100% worth reading.

Hopefully I will see you tomorrow.

Lesson to learn: set smaller goals, seriously. 50 books in a year, what was I thinking.

All right, I just found a list of books I made for myself and planning to read 50 books in a year. I am not certain this goal will happen, I am soooooooooo behind.

Read:

Twilight
New Moon
Eclipse
Breaking Dawn
The Tales of Beedle the Bard
Fantastic Beast and Where to Find them
Quidditch throught the Ages
The Alchemist
The Magician
The Sorceress
His Dark Materials (three books)
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
Charlotte's Web
The Hunger Games
Catching Fire
The Return of The Little Prince
Looking for Alaska
An Abundance of Katherines
Paper Towns
Let It Snow
Harry a History

Reading:

The Lost Symbol
Missing Time


Planning to read:

Wicked and Cursed
Inkheart
Eragon
Ten Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
Prince Caspian
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Through the Looking Glass
Wicked
Son of a Witch

Sadly I may have to accept defeat, there is no way I can reach that goal. Moral of the story, set a smaller goal next time. Sigh. Unless a miracle was to happen.

Well I supposed that is it for this post.
Hopefully I will see you tomorrow.

Goodnight.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins: A MUST READ!

Well, hello again internet. I have just finished reading Catching Fire, the sequel to The Hunger Games. So, I thought I would blog about it and give you my impressions of this book series so far. I say so far because I have a feeling, from the ending, that there may be a book three. We'll see. ;)

Winning means fame and fortune. Losing means certain death. The Hunger Games have begun...

With the sequel, catching fire, the capitol is angry. The capitol wants revenge.

Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?

I can sum it up in one word: AMAZING! The surprise twist at the end was unexpected to a degree. I knew that the one they now called "the mockingjay" aka Katniss, our heroine in this story would cause a rebellion and uprising against "the capitol" in the districts, unbeknownst to her. By winning the first hunger games, something district 12 twelve tributes rarely do due to lack of sponsors and totally denying the capital by pulling out those poisoned berries and pretending to eat them along with Peeta, refusing to kill and prefering to commit suicide and forcing the capitol to have TWO victors that year. Making the capitol look bad in the eyes of all the districts which was definitely not appreciated by the latter.

This book is riveting, full of suspense from beginning to end, just the right amount of romance without being "cheesy" and a survival of the fittest type of story. It has a reality TV type of feel but much better, I am not one for watching reality show as I do not believe it makes for excellent TV programming but with this book it works. I would even say that it is even better and more thrilling than The Hunger Games, the first novel of the serie. Suzanne Collins definitely won with this one, a must read. I put her on my list of favourite writers definitely. She has succeeded in making me love a book serie, if not more, just as much as JK Rowling's Harry Potter serie. And that in my book is the greatest accomplishment of all.

The ending leads me to believe that there will be be a book three coming, if so I MUST find out when it comes out and be there ready to get it on the day it is out.

We are left with Gale telling Katniss that district 12 is no more but that her family is safe. At the end of the hunger games, when the capitol realized that they have been played by the gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee, who had secret plans for years to overthrow the capitol and included some of the quarter quell tributes in his plan asking one to create a hole in the force field surrounding the arena and when Katniss realized who the enemy was aka the capitol, she used one of her arrows, tied beetee's wire to it and finish what beetee was supposed to do. Though Peeta and Johanna were captured by the capitol to eventually be forced to speak up and tell the capitol what they knew about this, Katniss, Finnick and Beetee were rescued by a hovercraft from the supposedly extinct District 13 by Plutarch Heavensbee and Haymitch.

The more I think about it, the more I believe that there is a third novel being written. Suzanne Collins cannot leave the readers not knowing what happens next. Though I must admit that is a perfect suspense ending leaving the reader wanting more.

I give this story ten thumbs up.

If you haven't picked up The Hunger Games yet, I would highly recommend it if you like this type of story that is. Than pick up the sequel later on. You definitely will not regret it.

Bye for now,
Hopefully I will see you tomorrow.

Soccer, drawing class, the sorceress and catching fire

Well, it has been a while since I have written anything on here. I know I am bad, I cannot keep a daily blog. ;)

The only free nights I have during the week are thursdays and fridays, which will change around mid-october since I will have a photography class on thursdays. I know I might be nuts but I love to keep myself busy rather than work, go home and sit in front of the computer or tv.

On monday my soccer team won 18-2. I am goalie, ME, a girl who always has been afraid of the ball. I really didn't want to let any goals in though winning 18-0 would have been good. I might ask if sometimes I can play defense or offense sometimes though, I want to trya nd run a lot more and learn to play other positions.

I received the ball on my nose, from my own teammate of all people. By accident of course, I did not expert it. I am not certain to be human though since most people would have been bleeding, I did not. I don't think I have blood in my veins. lol

Yesterday was the drawing class I signed up for. I know what you will think, but you already can draw. True indeed but this class is different it teaches to draw from the right side of the brain, forget what you know and draw what you see, which sometimes I have trouble with especially when trying to draw hands. I can draw fantasy things because I can make them look any way I want, using my imagination, but when it comes to drawing something real I have always had some issues.

The class is quite interesting, it forces us to see the object as shapes, a bunch of shapes put together to create the said object. And it works! According to the teacher, anyone can draw and she tells us don't call it a hand, or eye or whatever the object is. Call it a shape.

Taking a drawing class also has gotten my creativity flowing once again, it has given me an idea for a painting, all I need to to find the time to paint. That is a whole other story.

Tonight I have volleyball. I quite loved the first game last week. The people are nice, and even though they are better than me and have been playing longer, they do not make me feel like I am not good. I still feel part of the team and allowed to try and if I miss it is ok. They gave me some good tips as well to improve. And I actually smashed the ball for the first time ever.

I am pretty good at serving I might say. Better even then the other time I played with the Alicats. I used to hit the ball over the net once and had trouble repeating that good move a second time, last week I was on fire! lol

I bought a wrist protector. It is just basically a cushioned wrist band that people can wear when they play sports, but I am hoping it will give me a little bit of protection until I learn to hit the ball properly. It is always the left wrist, the ball always ends up right on the bone on the side and it hurts. So I thought I would do something to protect my wrist.

I finished "the Sorceress". The third book of the serie by Michael Scott. One word comes to mind: AMAZING!

The story has everything, fantasy, based on historical landmarks and characters, adventure, magick, 21st century technology, etc. I love reading a novel and clearly seeing that the author spent a lot of time to do research and add some historical facts into his story.

I will review the book on my nerdfighter bookclub blog since this blog is just for quick updates on what I am doing or what excites me.

I just wanted to mention how amazing this book was. And that I suggest this serie to anyone who loves reading about magick, adventures, shadow realms, mixed with historical facts and characters and set in a 21st century environment.

And if you loved the Harry Potter serie, I do not doubt that you would get into this story as well. I am super excited to know that there is a fourth book being written. It is called the Necromancer. I can't wait.

In the meantime I have a lot of other great books to reads. I started Cathing Fire, the sequel to the Hunger Games. This two is an amazing storya nd the second novel is even better than the first. I have already read part one of this book. It is safe to say that I am devouring it, figuratively speakign of course. The story is quite different from Michael Scott novels but just as great. I highly recommend them.

I just picked up Dan's Brown new novel as well which came out mid September I believe. It is called The Lost Symbol. Ever since Angels and Demons and The DaVinci Code I have been a fan of Dan Brown's novels. Well written, captivating to the end, for the first two uncovering some hidden truths about christianity and the church. The lost symbols has a picture of the white house on the cover, I am hoping it will have some truths and mystery abotu what goes on in the united states.

The book ended up costing me 14 cents. hehe. It was not really 14 cents, it is just that I had this chapters' gift card and the amount left on it since I bought catching fire with it, covered the price of the book minus 14 cents.

I can't wait to start reading it. I have way too many books to read and not enough hours in a day.
Ok well, that is about it for now.

I will see you later. I will not say tomorrow since I am not sure if I can stick to blogging every day.

Being pooped on, old carnival, weather network rant and 80s movies

I had some plans, which anyone who knows me, knows that I don't really like set plans and prefer being spontaneous. Though I must admit sometimes, plans are necessary.

But with the weather (summer) we have been having I see the use of just being spontaneous. I had planned to go for a road trip to montreal, meeting my parents half way and go to this event called "la frénésie de la main" although I believe the name has been changed but I do not remember to what so I will just call it as I know it. Basically, they close down a part of St-Laurent street, this street used to be called "the main" as it was where everything happened, the main street. It is basically a giant sidewalk sale, you can find books for $1, unique article of clothing for cheaper than usual, eat may favourite: mango. Especially great on a sunny and hot day. They cut it to make it look like a flower. They usually do it twice in the summer, once in june and once in august.

Alas, this did not happen this weekend, because the weather network cannot predict the weather even one day in advance or a couple hours. I checked on friday and it was 95% chance of rain so I called my mom and we decided it would not be worth going since this event is outside.

I woke up sunday to, guess what, perfectly blue sky and sun. It stayed like this pretty much all day, some clouds but no rain at all. What was the 95% chance of rain, where did they get this from is what I would like to know.

On another note, one plan did happen. There is this old style carnivale event in Ottawa, which apparently I heard it is there every year but I had never heard of it. It is calle carnivale lune bleu. That is the site: http://www.carnivalelunebleue.com/. It takes place from july 23 until august 30.

We decided to go check it out, it was amazing. We only got the midway ticket which was $15. That gets you on the site, you can check out the museum which wasn't all that impressive though, basically just pictures of old time carnivale, great but I wish there had been more. The snake show. I was a little apprehensive about that one since snakes are my greatest phobia but I am proud that I actually sat through twice and the second time right in the first row. They also showed a tarentula and a scorpion. All the snakes and spider and scorpion were venimous or dangerous if you wish. Although they were carefully and knew how to handle them to make sure nothing tragic happened, that is great.

And I actually petted a Python. was not the bravest person, but I did. I always thought snakes were slimy for some reason and was shocked to see it was so. They still will scare me but I am glad I conquer my fear, at least a little bit.

The midway tickets also gets you on the two rides they had, the feris wheel and the carousel. I loved it , it felt like we went back in time, old signs everywhere, old games which I tried once even though I know it is always rigged, but I had to try it just for the carnivale experience.

If it comes back next year I might save some money to get the other tickets for the main show under the tent which is $80. I am sure it is worth it though, lots of people lined up for it and no one seemed to come out and say it was a waste of money.

But nonetheless it was a great experience. Just for the old time carnivale experience and that we just went back in time. That was great.

Before we went to the carnivale we went for a picnic and frisbee at mooney's bay. Was great until a street bird decided to make me his poop target. What did I do to them to deserve this? :@ Grrrr.

Will add some pictures of the old carnivale, I still need to go take a night shot of the entrance which I planned to go last night but totally forgot.

Well, that's it for now internet. Hopefully I will see you tomorrow.

Macbook pro fund: $2000
RRSP fund: $600

Times I have eaten corn on the cob this summer: 4

Days left until Eric Lapointe concert: 14

Book I am reading: The Sorceress by Michael Scott

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince *** SPOILERS ALERT, DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE***

So I saw Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince this past friday. I was excited just like a kid in a candy stores, I actually brought my Harry Potter wand with me to the movie, wish I had my time turner but I forgot it.

I do not know if anyone is as I am but when I read a book and see the movie I somewhat except the movie to follow the book. Yes I do understand that scenes need to be cut out otherwise the movie ends up being way too long, however from the very beginning of the movie I wanted to yell WHAT really loud whenever I saw a scene that was completely made up and was not at all in the book.

I found it became a little cheesier with putting too much emphasis on the romances. Don't get me wrong I read the book and romance plays a bigger part in this one but I didn't like the way hermione ended up being more about love thinking more about that. I mean to me I always pictured hermione as the brains and know it all if you wish always being ready to help her friends and eager to hear harry's theories that something is going on at hogwarts, I didn't really see that in the movie as much as before.

They got the part of lavender brown falling for ron and acting a a bimbo, right on for certain.

The beginning started allright, showing that now the death eaters were starting to disrupt the muggle world and the scene of the unbreakable vow was dead on. Perhaps cut a little short but that is excepted, can't fit everything in a movie or else it would be too long. I expected helen bonham carter to be scarier perhaps a little as belatrix, I absolutely loved her character and how scared she made me in the fifth movie, however I didn't feel as scared of her in this sixth movie.
But all in all that scene was great and dead on.

I loved that they introduced us to Malfoy's mother, narcissa. I believe that is exactly as I pictured her to be. And of course Alan Rickman was great as usual as Snape, he really gets to make me hate snape, and at the same time crave for more scene with him in it.

One of the parts where I wanted to yell WHAT as loud as I possibly could was the scene where Harry comes in. In the book he is as usual at his aunt and uncle, in his bedroom. And dumbledore is suppose to come and rescue him this time to bring him to the Burrow (Weasley's house). But instead they completely changed that scene and we see Harry sitting at a train station and this completely unknown character is introduced, no one knows who she is, unrelevant to the story, perhaps they wanted to introduce the fact that they are growing up and starting to have teenage feelings.

In my opinion it would have been much more relevant for them to stick to the what was actually in the books. That scene didn't not add anything relevant to this movie except only to introduced the facts that harry has grown up and starting to have feelings and see girls in a different way.

The scene where dumbledore takes harry with him on the journey to recruit persuade professor slughorn to come back to hogwarts was accurate and funny as well. I like the actor they chose to portray professor slughorn, good choice.

The scene where Harry arrives at the Burrow, I supposed it was good though in the book dumbledore was there for a bit and talks to Harry before rather than ginny just discovering his belongings and screaming to everyone that he has arrived. Though it didn't bother me so much, the scene was cool.

Though everyone was supposed to be sleeping and mrs. weasly was greating Harry when he arrived, according to the books.

I am not so upset that they didn't put any bill and fleur delacour's scenes in it, not a relevant I think. That is a scene that wasn't too bad that it was cut out.

The scene in diagon alley I found was perhaps a little short. I absolutely loved the Weasley twins' joke shop. So much that I wish it existed for real for me to explore it.

I loved the scene where the three heroes go on their usual advaenture straying from the group to follow Malfoy, to find out what he was up to. That part was a little short and also I believe it came before they go to the twin's joke shop after they encounter malfoy and his mom at the store to buy wizard robes.

Though short I found that scene accurate and gave the dark mood that I so love to these films.
I absolutely loved that we see malfoy in a more important role rather than just despising harry but getting more and more into the dark side as I always pictured would be the type to do so.
Even if he wanted to avenge his dad or follow in his dad footsteps, as we know Lucius Malfoy was sent to azkaban prison. You would know if you read the books anyway. Wanting to move on to bigger and better things in his mind and carry on the job that voldermort asked him to do.

When they get on the train, we see hermione and ron sitting with harry as usuall but in the books they are supposed to do their prefects duty and patrol the compartments. And Harry ends up sitting with Luna and Neville and get his first invitation from professor slughorn to be part of the slugclub.

In the movie when he gets invited, harry is all enthusisatic about it while in the books it was completely the opposite, he tries to find excuses not to go until he can't find one when he is invited to slughorn's christmas party.

I do understand that scenes need to be cut off but in my opinions some of the wrong scenes were cut off and what in the world is that about, putting stuff that is not even in the bookss?
Or changing the order in which things happen.

And when Harry is discovered under the invisibility cloak that malfoy put over him because harry was spying on him and his friends to find out what he was up to. We see Luna discovering him when that is completely not how it happened in the books.

Tonks finds Harry not Luna.

All I want to say to the screenplay writer for this movie is: READ THE BOOK before you make a movie and make sure you understand it really well.

I personally think too much emphasis was given to the romances, a little is good but don't forget what this film is about, the quest to find voldermort and destroy him.

I am not certain since I am not finished re-reading the half-blood prince book but how harry finds out who the half-blood prince is wasn't entirely like it happened in the movie. They showed that he finds out after Snape killed Dumbledore but I believe he finds out before that scene, I cannot be sure until I get to this part in the book, in my re-read of the book though.

I am not certain either if the scene where Harry tries to get slughorns' real memory for dumbledore was quite accurate but again I cannot be absolutely certain at this point.
For example I am not certain that Hagrid was present for that in the books.

Oh and the scene where Harry appears as if he is slipping the felix felicis potion into ron's drink to make him think he has luck to give him confidence in himself. In the movie Luna is the one pointing that Harry put something in his drink while it was supposed to be Hermione.

I know it is minor details but why change them?
That I do not get. Just seems to me that some people need to read and re-read the books to get the facts right.

I loved the scene where professor dumbledore asks Harry to accompany him to get one of the horcrux and where Harry has to keep making dumbledore drink the potion to get the necklace as well as the battle seen where Draco is supposed to complete the task given by voldermort to kill dumbledore and you can see that he doesn't really want to do it but afraid that he willbe killed if he doesn't then you see snape step in and finish the task. as per the unbreakable vow instructed he'd look after Draco.

It does show that even if you think that dumbledore is all powerful and has no fear, he can also be vulnerable. And one of his flaws is perhaps wanting to see the good in people and trust a little too much, still keeping some suspicions.

As we clearly see he did in Snape's case. believing him but still refusing to give in the post of defence of the dark arts teachers until this very movie.

And also as we saw in the memories, he did the same for tom riddle aka voldermort.

It made me cry still when Dumbledore died, even if I knew from reading the book, it was quite sad. Dumbledore was one of my favourite characters.

But as with sirius's death it had to happen i believe. And Dumbledore teaching Harry all he knew and showing him all the collected memories in order for Harry to be able to survive and carry on the task of killing voldermort.

Almost as if he knew he did not have so long to live. And that it was time for him to show Harry everything he knew.

I loved when dumbledore showed harry the memory of young tom riddle aka voldermort, the actor playing young voldermort looked kind of evil to begin with and how dumbledore told him that stealing or bullying wasn't tolerated at hogwarts and he would have to follow the rules.

That was a great and also accurate scene.

I loved the scene when everyone was around Dumbledore raising their wands in respect although I believe there was suppose to be a white tomb and more to this scene but as it is always the case scenes need to be cut out, I understand this.

And from what I do remember, yes the kiss between Harry and Ginny was supposed to happen perhaps not as it was portrayed in the movie plus at the end if I am not mistaken, Harry was supposed to tell ginny that he could not be with her, because of the job he has to do now that dumbledore is dead and can't finish destroying all the horcruxes himself. And that he would only hurt her or something like that.

All in all the movie disappointed me a little bit or a lot rather. Despite the fact that there were lots that I loved and that were indeed accurate.

Perhaps it is just me, perhaps if you haven't read the book you will think this is amazing not knowing which scenes were completely made up as they were not in the book.

Perhaps I need to see this again to get the full grasp of what they tried to do.

I do not know. But I can't really say at this point that Harry Potter and the Half-blood prince was my favourite of all of them. I think at this point I have to say I preferred Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Sad to say, but it is the first time I feel disappointed about my absolutely favourite book serie and movies.

Almost makes me want to cry a little. I knwo I am silly it is JUST a movie after all, but it feels like it is more than that to me, I don't know if anyone understands.


What I expected to see or thought was really important was:

1. Show that what is going on in the wizarding world also is affectign the muggle world.
2. The unbreakable vow.
3. Show Harry at his uncle When Dumbledore came to get him to take him to the Burrow.
4. Dumbledore and Harry tryign to persuade Slughorn to come back to Hogwarts and resume his post as potions Master.
5. More on Diagon Alley, the Twin's joke shop was great to see, keep that. I think harry, ron and hermione going to madame malkin and seeing draco and his mother would have beena good part to show since it gives a little clue about Draco's death eater mark on his wrist. And would explain why they decided to follow him and believe he was up to something.
6. Get the story right, the person who found Harry under the invisibility cloak WAS NOT LUNA LOVEGOOD it was Tonks. I believe tonks is more important of a character since she is in the oerder of the phoenix.
7. Limit the teenage lovey dovey stuff to a minimum.
8. Show more of Dumbledore teaching Harry about the memories he has collected, and explaining more about the horcruxes.
9. The battle scene… make it a real battle scene otherwise what was the point in draco's mission gettign the vanishing cabinets to get the death eaters into hogwarts if you are going to cut the one of the most important part. The climax scene.
10. Dumbledore's funeral. Show way more about this, I mean he has been one of the most important characters into this in my opinion.

I could be wrong, I am not a film maker or a screenplay writer but I am just going with what I read and re-read in the book and sharing my opinions.

There were great things about this movie but it wasn't what I expected and I am truly disappointed.

You can make comments and share your opinions about what I said, I respect your views, everyone's views.

I mean I don't pretend to know everything or have the absolute truth when it comes to how the film should have been.

It is more what I was expecting according to what I read and re-read.

See you later,

Nancy

The Hunger Games and jogwalking

I am currently reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I had never heard of this author before but this would not stop me from picking up her book and quite enjoying it I must say. I like discovering new authors and I can say from what I read so far, I am two chapters away from the third part of the novel, it is very well-written.

The story depicts a US of the future where twelve district are controlled by reality TV. The Hunger Games feature glamorous opening ceremonies, sponsorships, personal interviews and end in a fight to the death.

Normally district 12 tributes do not receive much attention but this time it all changed when Katniss volunteers to take the place of her little sister Prim in the games and Peeta declares his loves for her during the interviews, possibly as part of his strategy is what Katniss concludes but as the games progress she questions her conclusions especially when he saves her life and by default betrays the career tributes with whom he made an alliance.

This book kind of reminds me of the show survivors minus the fight to the death part of course. I cannot say I watched survivor much, I started during the very first season but later on got bored of it. I am not one for reality TV. In fact I always say if you want reality, just get out of your house and you will see reality.

I personally believe that TV producers or writers have gotten quite lazy with all the reality TV shows out there. I gather the shows write themselves, no need to actually sit down and think up an original story. That is why my TV has been off for at least a year, save the occasional Family Guy or Simpsons episodes once in a while.

I must say, I have not missed TV that much, except perhaps for House, MD. The show is on mondays and usually I have soccer then therefore I cannot watch it. It's quite allright, I could just get the DVDs and watch all the episodes I missed. Quite frankly it will be better because there is no commercials.

I recently decided to try something new. Jogging. I should probably call it jogwalking in my case because, as I found out two days ago, I do not have much leg endurance. So I jog for a while and alternate with walking. It works and I like it.

I have a newly found respect and admiration for the people who do the 5k or 10k in Ottawa. Running is hard. Okay perhaps I am a whimp or just not in such a great shape. I am all set to keep this up though and am hoping it will give me more running endurance for soccer. I find, when I am not in the goal, I run a little and get tired way to quickly.

On that note, if you are looking for a great book which will keep you reading until the end for the summer vacations or just for relaxing after a long day at work, just go to your local boo store and pick up a copy of The Hunger Games.

DFTBA
(Don't Forget to be awesome)

See you later.

New Book: Twilight

Hi people

So I decided to treat myself today and finally get the first book of a series that everyone seems to be raving about.

Twilight by Steven Meyer

I decided to post updates, every day (tentatively), on where I am in the book,

So first update:

September 16: Bought the book, Read the first four chapters. Starting slow, Introducing the characters and a little mystery. Love it so far.

Anyways, off to bed for now.

September 17: Ready the fifth chapter on the bus this morning.

Book review: The Magician by Michael Scott

Lately I have been delving into this amazing book: The Magician - The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel.

This is the sequel to The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel.
I read this book a while back and loved it so much.

A combination of historical characters such as nicholas flamel, joan of arc, dr. john dee, etc. Excalibur sword, king arthur. Shadowrealms, vampires and magical and mystical creatures and monsters. Auras and magic, and also the global warming issues. Set in the world we know today with email, the internet, blogs, etc.

Basically nicholas flamel and his wife perennelle live in san francisco and own two separate shops, nicholas manages the book store and his wife a coffee shop. Two regular teens find a job at these places, two twins, the boy works at the book store and the girl at hte coffee shop across the street.

Without knowing they are the twins are the twins of a prophecy, nicholas discovers it and tells the twins, apparently they have the pure silver and gold auras and can change things and are set to do great things from the codec (book) that nicholas flamel has in his possession.

This book attracts a lot of attention as there is a formula for staying immortal that nicholas and perennelle need to not die and a lot more with this book one can possess the powers to cure disease, solve many of todays problems with the world but in the wrong hands can destroy. It attracts the attention of john dee who wants the book for the wrong reasons. The twins being the twins of the prophecy are the one who should have this book to use it for good. The books is stolen except for the two last pages, the most important pages. And a chase for nicholas, perennelle, and the twins as well as nicholas friend from and underworld shadowrealm scatach (a vampire) begins. they take leygate to paris nicholas and perennelle's home city, meanwhile the girl's powers were awakened but not the boys they go to paris in the hope that one of nicholas's friend could awaken the boy's powers. They are chased becasue john dee wants the last two pages, the most important, of the codec.

And of course using magick and leygates to travel they don't have papers, passport so they have to hide from police as well all in order to protect the last two pages of the codec.

Meanwhile perenelle was captured and her and nicholas are getting weaker and weaker since they couldn't make another batch of the potion to stay immortal, they are aging rather rapidly.

I am not done reading this book entirely but so far it keeps me wanting to read more and more.

I would suggest it to anyone with an interest in historical time and characters, magick, auras, other worlds, mystical and magickal creatures, suspense and anyone who enjoyed the harry potter series quite a bit.

Quidditch: Now that is a sport I would definitely watch or play perhaps

A while back I went to my favourite little old bookstore, close to the Bytown Theatre, and found this neat little book - related to the Harry Potter series - called "Quidditch through the ages".

I absolutely had to get it and read this especially since when I first started to get into the Harry Potter series of books and movies, and also when I first saw a Quiddittch game, I loved it. I don't know there is something about this game that is exciting. True it is a rough game and players get hurt quite a bit, but they are wizards, they can mend bones with magickal potions. lol That is one great extreme sport.

I loved the book, and loved it more since it has a seal on it marked "property of Hogwarts library". I kind of felt as if I myself went to Hogwarts and had borrowed it. And the names of the people who had borrowed it before I did.

The way it is written, you would definitely believe that this sport really exist and has teams all over the world who compete for the world Quidditch cup. I caught myself believing that it was an actual sport.

One of the Quidditch team they talked about in the book was the chudley cannons, they reminded me of the montreal canadians or the ottawa senators in the way that they used to be great and always winning the world cup and now they can't seem to win much anymore though the die hard fans still back them up, cheering them hoping for a win.

Hmmmmm... that sounds quite familiar. ;)

Anyways that is a great book. Small, easy to read and interesting especially if you are a Harry Potter fan and love odd sports and believe that magick is all around us and it could be possible that there exist a wizarding world where wizard all over the world would play Quidditch.

Later
Sweetgirl