Oh, some good reading has been happening...

   The weather has cooled, and now is the perfect time to cozy up to a nice book. Which nice book should you read you ask? Well, it's not just one, but several. It is time to blow your minds. Yes!

   This post is dedicated to the debut novels I have read, that really, really make you wish you were an author. Yes, all of the following novels are debuts! Let's get started with "The Rook" by Daniel O'Malley.

  

Do not let the cover mislead you. Looks simple enough, but the writing is quite the opposite. If you are a fan of paranormal fantasy like I am, well then, this is the book for you. I kid you not. It has been nominated for best paranormal fantasy book for 2012 on goodreads. That is how I discovered it. 

I truly loved O'Malley's imagination, and I just fell for the character of Myfawny (pronounced like Tiffany). Who knew that a girl with invisible super powers could be such a hard core fighter? He created a girl who is not only strong, but also sensitive and not afraid of being single. You have to read it to find out more about this great character.

I am loving the fact that this the first book of the Checquy Files, a super sercret organization that fights demons, vampires, and all kinds of supernatural beings. The members of this organization are not cute people, but they are the "good guys". There are twists galore, and the suspense keeps you wanting more. I was so sad to finish the book, and I cannot wait for the next one (hope it comes out next year). Fantastic read! 

The next book I have read that you must read is "The Age of Miracles" by Karen Thompson Walker. Another debut novel that really astounded me that it was a debut! Really, where are all this new authors coming from? So jealous. Kidding. Thompson has written a very haunting, sad, and thoughtful novel that will stay in your mind for a week or more. 

The main character is just a tween, but we get to experience how the world changes, literally, through her eyes. It is a coming of age novel that does not disappoint. It is not sappy, just very poignant. What would you do if the earth's magnetic field came to a stop? What if you knew death is imminent, like right now, but you knew what would cause it? Would you let the government rule how you live your last days, or just take off on your own?

See? Not easy questions, but she makes you ask yourself these questions. It is a great novel about the end of the world as this girl knows it, and we get to go on that journey. If you like good fiction, this is one is sure not to disappoint, but surely depress you a bit. 

 The next book is "The Color of Tea" by Hannah Tunnicliffe. I loved this book! Not only does it go on and on about macarons, the French pastry, but it is all about forming friendships with the most unlikely people. Grace, the main character, is a foreigner in Macau, and island part of China. She has to face many hard truths while she is there, but she does. 

Don't you love the cover?

 What I loved about this book, is how honest it was. Tunnicliffe wrote almost like it was her story, and who doesn't love that about an author? Her emotions felt real, and she touches on some hard subjects like infertility and adultery, but they are not the main topic. What is most important is how Grace makes friends in the end; when she didn't want to, when she had almost given up. Ah, the power of a women bonding over pastries... You will like it, trust me.

The next one made me cry - HARD! It is not often - actually, it is very rare when a book makes me cry tears, big fat tears. This book did: "Tell the Wolves I'm Home" by Carol Rifka Brunt. 

 

 I cried because how is it fair that your favorite person dies? That is what June has to go through at fourteen. The death of her uncle. It is very devastating. But what I loved it is that this novel touched on AIDS. The story is told on the year of 1987, just a couple of years after the existence HIV/AIDS had been announced to the world. Do you remember that? I do, as a nine year old, it was creepy how they made it seem like a punishment for sinners. Lo, and behold, it is now affecting all humans alike, no matter your sexual preference. I have not read any books like this one.

Just as good is June's relationship with her sister. Isn't it wicked the way siblings can make our lives miserable, yet we still love them? Some sister power is shown, and I loved the end. Again, it made me cry. It made want to have been there back then and being able to help out more. Thank goodness we have more knowledge now of the disease and we do not live in fear of catching it by touching someone. How sad it must have been for families back then. :(

So these are just a few of the books I have read in the past few months, that I thought I should share. I hope you make the time to go to your local library, or book store, and read. I cannot think of something more relaxing than curling up to a book. No, not with a hot cocoa, as I know I would spill! If you get a change to read any of these, please discuss with me.    

Two great reads that you must read as well

I love when you randomly find books on either a book list online or just grab a book at the library because you liked the cover.  The two books I will talk about I found online, both book lists, both recommended. I was not disappointed this time. The books are:

"Of Bees and Mist" by Erick Setiawan

and 

 "Calling Invisible Women" by Jeanne Ray

 "Of Bees and Mist" was one of those books, like "The Night Circus", that makes you really use your imagination. However, Erick Setiawan's style is different. Yes, he incorporates a lot of superstition and he has been obviously influenced by women in his life, but he makes you think. I loved rooting for Meridia, the main character of the book. The story starts when she is only 16 years old and ends when she is a full woman and a mother. 

The main conflict is the relationship she has with her mother-in-law, but also how the relationship between her husband and his mother affects her marriage. Oh, to have such a conniving and nosy mother-in-law! I really do not think I could do it. I would just not have someone like that in my life. Which is what ends up happening, but it's the passage to getting there that is so evocative of strong emotions.

Erick touches on the 'mama's boy' character, that is sometimes missing as a strong one in some books. Here, Daniel is a big one, that you like and really want to smack too. You feel for him, yet you also get angry at what he does. 

See? To have an author make you feel like the characters are real, well, that is talent. To also know this is Erick's debut novel, just confounds me and others (as per comments and reviews). If you have a list on the go, please add this one. You will not be disappointed. I took my time with this book, and you will find too that you have to actually read it slow, to make let it work its magic. This is definitely not a book to rush read.

Now, for "Calling Invisible Women"... Who hasn't felt invisible at some time in their lives? I know I have, not for long, but sometimes, our lives take over and we forget ourselves. I do not think it is anybody's fault but our own. We have to make sure to let others see us, hear us, care for us, but we also have to do that for our own selves. 

This novel by Jeanne Ray, is about a middle-aged lady who literally starts going invisible, hence, the title. Oh, but she is not the only one. It is a heart-warming story and again, it made me think. Not only because, I may have felt the same as the main character, Clover, but also because if this really did happen, would I notice it? Would I notice it if it happened to a friend? How many people have we ignored? How many are invisible to you, yet they are there, existing.

I really, really liked this story. I may be biased because I am married and a mother, but I am sure any woman will feel the same. I am sure men must feel the same, it is just written in a female point of view, so I can relate more. 

I am looking forward to reading more these two authors, and I hope that when you do get the chance to read either book, you will think so too. Oh, I love reading! :)

Incredible - "The Night Circus"

I have not been so excited about a book in a long time. Well, one that was not a trilogy and that hasn't been read by millions. I heard about the Night Circus from a blog post last year. This person highly recommended it and then I saw it on a few Top Ten books of 2011.  Well, I knew then I must read it.

When I tried taking it out of the library it had a long wait list, assuring me it was a good book. Of course I did not know how good of a book it was until I read it. If you want fantasy coupled with a sweet, simple romance, then this is one book you must read. I loved it so much I am going to buy it! I know, an actual book purchase. I only buy CD's, movies, and books if I really, really like them. The author is Erin Morgenstern. Here is a link to her site with a short excerpt:

http://erinmorgenstern.com/the-night-circus/

This is her debut novel and I found it hard to believe that it was so. The imagery she uses is so amazing, I felt like I could see what she was describing. Again, it's been a while since I fell in love with a novel.

The main characters are Celia and Marco who are doomed from the beginning, but does love conquer all? You have to read it to find out. What I loved about the novel, was the intricate description of the characters, the circus people, the tents, the magic involved to create such a place. I loved Erin's imagination.

The love story is there, but this is not a sappy book at all. In fact, there is little romance. However, you still root for the couple. Well, at least I did, only because I am a sap and a romantic at heart. Celia and Marco are not the only characters in the book. We get to meet others, and for me the clock maker was my other favorite character. The way she described the clocks was amazing, and I only wish such clocks existed.

Reading the novel gave me the urge to visit a circus. Of course I have not seen one, except for the Cirque Du Soleil shows. I don't know if those count... I wish there was still a traveling circus going around North America with all kinds of things to see, with a good magician or illusionist, and just plain wholesome fun. Wouldn't that be nice?

I really don't want to give too much away on this post because I really want you to read it. Then, I would love to discuss it with you. I can't wait to read more from Erin Morgenstern, and hopefully her next novel will be just as good. ☺

I love charcoal and sanguine

I love art, always have, always will.

If I could, I would draw or paint all day, but life has gotten on the way. Not a bad thing, just that by the time I sit down, my creative juices have been drained. I used to draw a lot, but the most I did was when I was 19 to right before I had my first kid. I am now looking forward to the new school year this year, only because I will have some time to paint or draw. Well, that is my hope.

One of my favorite art mediums is charcoal and also sanguine. I love the look and the feel of charcoal. I took a drawing course when I was 19, you know, one of the ones offered at night in high schools. It was a really neat time for me. I was becoming more independent from my twin, and had to take transit all the way to the West End in Vancouver, to get to the school. It was awesome.

Our teacher was really good and I was introduced to sanguine. He taught us how to mix it with black charcoal and the lovely contrast they make. We did some ink drawings too, which I hated. I did not like that I couldn't get my lines straight and it was not the same using a brush on paper. Let's just say ink is not my fave. If I am going to use a brush, I will use it on a canvas. We did use charcoal pastels too, which are nice, but not the same.

So, back to sanguine, I guess I must let you know what it is if you don't know:

I found this definition in Wikipedia:

 Sanguine or red chalk is chalk of a reddish-brown colour, so called because it resembles the colour of dried blood. It has been popular for centuries for drawing (where white chalk only works on coloured paper), and the term also describes a drawing done in sanguine. The word comes via French from the Italian sanguina.

If you want to work with a sketchbook, try it out. I like combining it with black charcoal for a nice contrast. People often ask me who the person is that I draw, but I don't draw people that I know, the images are just from my head. Of course, some are obviously a figment of my imagination. :)  The only person I have dared to draw is my husband. Tonight I was inspired enough that I wanted to share what I drew and also, share an oldie from 2005.

My latest - sanguine has more texture to it live.

This one is from '05, not many from that year.

So, if you like to draw or paint - what is your favorite medium? In another post I will talk about acrylic and oil paints.

I love art. ♥