Here, There, and Everywhere

Septimus Heap. Queste

Sun, 11 May 2008 11:30:24 GMT

Quest the First...

Book 3: Queste (Septimus Heap) by Angie Jones

Hardcover: 608 pages
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books; Har/Com edition (April 8, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0060882077

Amazon Product Description
There's trouble at the Castle, and it's all because Merrin Meredith has returned with Darke plans for Septimus. More trouble awaits Septimus and Jenna in the form of Tertius Fume, the ghost of the very first Chief Hermetic Scribe, who is determined to send Septimus on a deadly Queste. But Septimus and Jenna have other plans—they are headed for the mysterious House of Foryx, a place where all Time meets and the place where they fervently hope they will be able to find Nicko and Snorri, who were trapped back in time in physik. But how will Septimus escape the Queste?

Queste, like all the books in the Septimus Heap series, is filled with nonstop action, humor, and fantastical adventure as Septimus continues his journey of Magykal self-discovery.

I have to admit that this is one of the rare times that the review from Amazon really tells it as it is!!

This book may be small in dimensions, only being 7 1/4 tall x 6 inches wide but it packs an excellent story! Although, if you have not read the first three books by Angie Jones, Magyk, Flyte, and Physik, well.. you wouldn't know who's who or what the devil is going on. And yes, I have enjoyed all of this series of books and I wish I didn't because of the wait for each new book that may come along, and I can tell more are on the way. It took a long time for this book to come out and I really had hoped it would be the end, but it's not. I know that sounds horrid to say I hoped it was ending, but the constant wait for more than a year for each book in a new series is really hard to deal with. (especially when you are my age) Ah well.. I've read 4 of them now, the likelihood I'll read another when it comes is a foregone conclusion. They are enjoyable characters and Angie Jones is writing better and better adventures for her characters!

In this particular adventure Septimus, Jenn and Beetle go in search of Nicko and Snorri who are trapped somewhere in a place where Time has no meaning. As you might guess, eventually he finds them.. then the question becomes, can they all get home again? (I'll never tell!)

The Nice Thing About Being Senile is That You Can Hide Your Own Easter Eggs

Sat, 10 May 2008 12:00:34 GMT

When I was young, I hated admitting when I forgot things...

Now I'm old, ... and forgetting things goes along with the territory!

Now I'm old.. ...it's a damn good excuse!

I blame everything on old age now... it's the one blessing you get when you get old. Trust me when I tell you that it's the ONLY blessing about getting old!

So here I am old.

And I'm admitting my memory sucks!

You have heard me say before how much I adore Roy Dotrice, (just the other day !) and each time I've said how I adore him, I also said how much I loved him in the television show Beauty and the Beast, as "Father"...

(below is Roy Dotrice as Father)

And Ron Perlman, now known as Hellboy, was in 1987, known as Vincent (the Beast).

Now, remember this much... NINETEEN EIGHTY SEVEN. That's 21 years ago!

I'm shaking my head because it seems impossible to me that it was that long ago. Also, know that Beauty and the Beast never went into reruns. (a fact that no one is able to find out why it didn't/ hasn't and would still love it to happen because it was such a great show).

Excuse number one: So it has been 21 years since I've watched Beauty and the Beast.

Excuse number two: When it wason I had but one interest, Roy Dotrice.

Excuse number three: I'm old and My memory sucks.

So last weekend when I was talking to Armin Shimerman (Quark) and looking at his photo's and such I read a sign he had on his table mentioning the shows he had been in.. one of them was Beauty and the Beast.

(This is where I ask how many others besides myself has been known to not just step in doo doo but roll in it too!)

I actually asked him how many shows he did... hello?

Like almost all of them! Hello again?!

Oh did I mention he played Pascal, one of the regulars on the show??

Heh, well maybe that's because my memory sucks! (and in all defense I really haven't seen a Beauty and the Beast in 21 yrs.. oh, and one more excuse... Quark looks nothing like Pascal so I never made the connection! heh)

So after all that, the reason I am even writing this post is because Armin was such a sweetie that when I asked him if he could mail a photo to me of him as Pascal.. he said, "no problem". (it arrived Friday)

Now is when you ask if I will ever forget him as Pascal again!.. the answer would be NO.. and all the Beauty and the Beast dvds are now on my wish list at Amazon!

So there you have it..... and as you might have guessed... I am blaming it all on OLD AGE! And I'm not really tooooo embarrassed.. after all, your turn will come!

It is not my fantansy, it is my alternate reality.

A Few of My Favorite Things

Fri, 09 May 2008 13:26:48 GMT

Carl did a post today that mentioned the upcoming movie of Hellboy II and he had a link to a newer trailer of it here.

I watch every trailer that comes out because I know that an actor I adore has a part in this new Hellboy II.

Roy Dotrice, now I know you've heard me mention him a few times before, but that's because I adore this man and his excellent acting abilities. It didn't hurt that Roy acted along side of Ron Perlman before as the character of "Father" in Beauty and the Beast television series.

Finally! When I watched this trailer I saw Roy!! YiiiiHaaawwww! I did screen captures to show the very few shots of him from the movie.

Look at all that makeup on him! (I have to admit.. the antlers are something new since the last time I saw him ! heh) I can't imagine how long he had to sit through getting all of that on! At age 85 I am a little surprised that he went through all of that, except for the fact that I suspect he was happy to work with Ron again, no matter what it entailed.

I am soooooooooo looking forward to Hellboy II ! I would not miss seeing Roy for anything!

On another note I thought I would do a little reviewing of my reading last year and this year so far. NO, not ALL my reading, but books that made a new list. My potential ReRead list.

"newer" books that I will reread one day:

Last Year was a banner year for reading for me.. I thought I'd list a few books that were new to me AND were so good I KNOW I will reread them one day:

1- Inkheart and Inkspell by Cornelia Funke leaps out at me, and will be reread just before the last book of the trilogy Inkdeath is released in October.

2- Here, There be Dragons and In Search of the Red Dragon by James A Owen, make my list.

3- Since the last Harry Potter book came out last year, I can safely add ALL J K Rowlings Harry Potter books.

4- Comically I can say that Gil's All Fright Diner made the list.. very unusual for me but when I want a "change" this book was enjoyable and fits the bill.

5- I have to add The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. (which I hope to reread for the RIP Challenge this year)

6- Laurie R King became a new favorite Author and I've enjoyed her Mary Russell books, my favorite being The Moor, and I can even add another of her books I'd read again called Touchstone.

7- and lastly I will most likely read Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials again one day.

So far this year I've done quite a bit of rereads already and plan to add more, but for future rereads I can add:
Jonathan Strouds Trilogy Amulet of Samarkland, The Golems Eye and Ptolemy's Gate.

Although I have read 41 books so far this year,20 of them have been rereads (old favorites). I know I will be adding more books to my "reread list" as I go along this year, and the fact that I've only added Jonathan Stroud's books so far this year, doesn't mean I won't reread others it's just the ones that I've listed from last year and this year excited me so much, that I knew instantly I'd want to read them again! Other's tend to grow on me.

Bears and Flying Machines.. Oh My!

Thu, 08 May 2008 16:53:48 GMT

Ahhhh.. I took some time today and watched, The Golden Compass, that I had bought for my brother.

I would have a difficult time not enjoying this movie since I liked the books so much. The only down side is that it is ONLY the first book!

But who could not like it with the cast it has!?

Nicole Kidman ... Marisa Coulter
Daniel Craig ... Lord Asriel
Dakota Blue Richards ... Lyra Belacqua
Ben Walker ... Roger
Freddie Highmore ... Pantalaimon (voice)
Ian McKellen ... Iorek Byrnison (voice)
Eva Green ... Serafina Pekkala
Jim Carter ... Lord John Faa
Tom Courtenay ... Farder Coram
Ian McShane ... Ragnar Sturlusson (voice)
Sam Elliott ... Lee Scoresby
Christopher Lee ... First High Councilor
Kristin Scott Thomas ... Stelmaria (voice)
Edward de Souza ... Second High Councilor
Kathy Bates ... Hester (voice)

Even before it began I had remembered the ads and that Ian McKellan was the voice of the bear, Iorek Byrnison ! Loved the character when I read the books so this just was icing on the cake!

Oh! and Sam Elliott as Lee Scoresby! Hello!?!! (can we say, "one of the sexiest voices around?!!)

About now I can hear you saying, "oh man, she's into old men!"

"Hell yes!", I'm an old lady ya think I want a youngun? Nada!

And yes, I know Ian is gay.. so what?! He's still ma-h-h-h-hrvelous to watch!

You young ladies can drool over Daniel Craig, and you can leave the "oldies but goodies" to me! :o)

It's a good movie!! And the eyecandy adds to watching it, you may want to put it on your TBW (To Be Watched) list..! But I will say that the books are still a bit better than the movie, so keep them on your TBR list if you haven't already read them.

Catching Up

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:35:14 GMT

C J over at CJ Reading Seriously tagged me for this little Meme..

6 Random Things About Me

1- When I was only 20 yrs old I played drums in a R&R band called The Marvels.

2- As much as I love tv shows like Star Trek, and Movies of all sorts.. any time I go to talk about them I forget character names/ peoples names etc.. I go blank!! Oh I think of it later, but not when I need it!

3- When I drove, my favorite car that I owned was a 1955 Ford Victoria (and NO it was not in 1955! it was in the 80's)

4- I never met my father.

5- I have a tattoo on my left shoulder

6- There are many fictional/ fantasy characters that I truly wish were real ! (and many I am darn glad are NOT! heh)

I am supposed to tag others but I'd rather not... HOWEVER.. I will say that should anyone reading this decide to do it I surewouldn't mind reading their meme!! (hint hint)

******************************

Oh man.. I nearly freaked out this morning! I thought sure my computer caught a virus!! Scared the doo doo right outta me!

I clicked on one of the journals I read every day and it came up and then a new browser with it came up and another and another and another... !!! Trying to remain calm I tried to X some off..but to no avail.. more kept coming! Then I tried to do Control/ Alt/ Delete and it wouldn't even come up!...

by that point I was freaking!.. without a doubt!

I then hit the button on my tower to shut down....... guess what.. it wouldn 't shut down!

I readied myself to scream very loudly when I looked down and thought to click the button of my power surger off... that .. of course.. let it all shut down!!

I waited a few moments and clicked the tower to boot up.. frantic .. wondering what I would find. My wallpaper came up.. all looked normal. I immediately ran Norton... it showed no viruses.

Not wanting to take any chances I immediately did a 4 cd back up of my stuff. (I do this each month but I was due to do it this week and hadn't yet)..

Once I was all backed up I tried my browser .. took a DEEP BREATH and clicked on the blog that went crazy on me... *smile*.. it worked without any problem!!!

I have no idea what would have caused that without it being a Virus, has that happened to anyone before??? I was wondering if I did something without realizing it and hoping NOT to do it again..heh..

So far so good... ok.. time to get back to a little reading and let the computer rest!!

There are Weekends.. and then there are WEEKENDS!

Mon, 05 May 2008 15:26:49 GMT

I had a really great weekend! (mark the calendar!)

Now, I "do" the Chiller show twice a year. (because that's how often they do it!) To begin with, normally I only go one day, but I had a friend I had met at the Star Trek Convention driving up from Virginia with her son and we were going to meet for this show.

She did.

We did.

..and we had a great time!

So.. now I have LOTS of photo's to show you! Honestly I have many more than I will put up here because I played "personal photographer" for Michelle and Donald because she didn't have a camera. I love taking photo's so this certainly was not a "job".. I just wish I had my Canon with film and my 300 zoom lens, but all I had was my little Fuji digital... but I lucked in and got some decent photos!

OK... lets begin the visual part of this post!...

Ummm.. it was crowded!!!!

..and I was in line for about two hours (that's 2 HOURS) to get Ernest Borgnines autograph! (can we say sore legs and feet and back and... heh)

The wait was worth the prize!...

I have to admit that I've never referred to anyone who is 90 yrs old as cute... but Ernest Borgnine was cute! hahaha.. what a sweet person! And I'll tell you what.. he was just as cheery and just as nice to the people in line 5 hours later! I don't think this man has a grumpy bone in his body.. and he looks FABULOUS darling!

Another autograph I got was Catherine Hicks....

yeah, yeah, yeah I know she did 10 years of 7th Heaven... but to me she will always be the gal in the Star Trek movie that wouldn't believe that Captain Kirk "only lived in Iowa, but worked in space."

Here are a few of the other guests ...

With all this going on Armin Shimerman still took time to have a few very long chats with me.. Not the least was not so much about him playing Quark but when he played Pascal in Beauty and the Beast, and his friendship with both Ron Perlman and Roy Dotrice.

And of course I couldn't go to the Chiller show without spending my allotted time with two of my favorite artists...

And I picked up a few 8x10's of some of his paintings.. dunno why, I have them all in his book.. but hey... the more the merrier!

Ken signed some bookmarks too...

Then there was Susan!.. Susan collaborates with Ken and is into beginning to make sculptures ... this is her dragon.. and new this trip is her baby dragon... which she gave me one of!!! How cool (and nice!) is that!! I got a baby dragon !! Susan said it was a male, but I think she did that so I wouldn't name it after her! sheesh..

Practically right next door to Ken in another room was my buddy Roger and his wife Grace. I adore these people! They are both so darn nice it has to be hard for anyone that comes in their room "just to look".. to go out empty handed.. impossible!

Roger went and brought some things I hadn't seen before too ! My collection grows and grows!

Whew, are you tired yet?? I sure was!! Michelle and I stood in so many lines for so long that both of us were more than happy when we finally got around to thinking about our hotel rooms... and bed!

But before that.. there's still more!

Michelle, for reasons only she knows, not only kept me company all day long but bought me a present too!.. I was looking at my favorite vendor at the show and couldn't make up my mind if I wanted a dragon or a tree... I finally decided on the dragon (heh) but to my surprise (an huge smile) Michelle presented me with the tree!!

Is this neat or what?!... love it!! I thanked Michelle, but I really can't say it enough times! Thanks again Michelle!!!!!

...and here's the dragon letter opener ..

Oh.. and did I mention after we left the show we managed to stay on our VERY SORE FEET AND LEGS AND BACKS to go wandering around Barnes and Noble for an hour?.. oh.. well.. yaknow how it is when it comes to books ..heh.. so.. next post a little book porn that arrived in the mail when I was gone, and a few shots of a really neat book that i got at B&N...

From there we went to a diner and had a really great dinner.. an my Margarita!! (actually, my second! ..and the world didn't stop! lol) and then headed for our hotel room and crashed !

I Really Need to Own Stock in Amazon!

Tue, 06 May 2008 11:52:33 GMT

What is it about reading and enjoying a good books, that after a while it becomes such an addiction?

Hell if I know!

But I do know, that for over a year now, I've read non stop ......and what's worse than reading nonstop you ask? (oh pahleeze.... ask!)

Buying books every month even when you already have an awful TBR pile!

I can't remember the last time I let my addiction relax ... and so...I received yet another box from Amazon Saturday...

Four of those pictured above were in a box from Amazon.

It has come to the point that every cat in this house now naps in Amazon.com box! *shakes head* I need help !

GAWD HOW I WISH I HAD STOCK IN AMAZON.COM!!!!

The books that arrived Saturday are:

East by Edith Pattou

The Grand Tour by Patricia C Wrede and Caroline Stevermer

The Mislaid Magician or Ten Years After by Patricia C Wrede and Caroline Stevermer

and Once Upon A Time in the North by Philip Pullman

The large book, The Book of the Dragon by Ciruelo I got at Barnes and Noble out in Parsipanny somewhere. I thought it was awfully nice of Michelle to "ask if I would mind going to B & N with her"... After I finished laughing hysterically, I though showed EXCELLENT restraint considering Michelle and I and her son were in the store about an HOUR! Add to that the fact that her son Donald is 14 and I followed him right to the YA book! So, you see? I did really good! I only bought one book! (big though it may be ..heh)

Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: Union Square Press (June 30, 2005)
ISBN-10: 1402728115

Product Description
The mystique of dragons--soaring above castle spires, setting the world aflame--bursts into glowing life in breathtaking images by a major artist. An unforgettably original volume, The Book of the Dragon offers a glimpse of a culture we can only imagine.

They lurk in the most hidden corners of the world: the powerful and beautiful creatures known as dragons. We know them as the terrifying beasts of fairy tales, but their own story has remained a mystery--until now. Ciruelo, an illustrator of astounding skill, delves into their secret universe, revealing a rich and fascinating culture filled with poetry, magic, enchantment, and knowledge. Each of these wondrous creatures has its own unique personality and history, and it's captured dramatically on these spectacular pages. But the revelations go beyond the images, as we gain insight into their psychological characteristics; encounter many different types (Earth Dragons, Water Dragons, Fire Dragons, and the legendary Golden Dragon); learn about their long-held customs; and explore the many legends in which they have figured so prominently--including the heroic tales of Perseus, Hercules, and Tristan.

I flipped through the book and saw such beautiful paintings that I couldn't resist!

(Here's his art website Ciruelo Cabral.)

Now you want to hear something REALLY awful?.....

The day after I got all those books......

I received an email from Amazon saying that, Horns & Wrinkles, and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, and Practical Magic, were just shipped!!! (The fact that they finally went to paperback and were much cheaper doesn't matter....)

I really do need help!

An Exrta Post Because I won't Be Here Tomorrow

Fri, 02 May 2008 15:24:43 GMT

I was reading my everyday blogs when I came to Pat's Fantasy Hotlist and today's post..

He directs us to an article by none other than Orson Scott Card. It relates to the J K Rowling lawsuit concerning Harry Potter. Uncle Orson Reviews Everything Orson Scott Card which was actually done on April 20, 2008

Basically, I know about this lawsuit but what he said got me thinking, which is always dangerous, and I did a little browsing on the web concerning the subject.

One of the first articles I came across an interesting comparison between Harry Potter and The Worst Witch written in 1974 found "here" ..

I continued to search around and came by this:

So What Aspects of "Harry Potter" are in the Public Domain?
Apparently, a lot of it was floating around for years before Rowling's book. The idea of a kid named Harry Potter, or something similar that is involved in magic has been floating around for years. She claims the ideas just pop into her head. Interestingly, she says she hopes she never finds out where she gets her ideas from. Maybe she means she hopes WE never find out where she gets her ideas from. She DID NOT INVENT THE HARRY POTTER CHARACTER anymore than Walt Disney created Cinderella. To prevent other authors from selling fictional books with the Harry Pottercharacter is a travesty.

and continuing on.....more articles found..

here..

and here..

and even here!

Needless to say, if you want to search on yourself, you won't run out of links to click on for a while!

So, I'm interested in opinions on the subject...

On one hand I was so totally happy for Rowling to have come so far and become rich and famous for her books, and for getting kids to read again etc... all good stuff!

Then before the last book came out she said something that made me think "less" of her. It concerned the "reason" she was killing off characters, so no one could ever use her characters.

My feelings on that one was simple.. though I totally agree it would hurt like heck (and be unforgivable) for someone to steal your characters but, to me, her mistake was talking about it in such a way to the public. It's a known fact to any author to be protective of their story and characters.. but you don't come out sounding mean and vindictive to people when it hasn't even happened.

Point being.. it came across "wrong"..

"here you are my wonderful public that made me so rich and famous, and for this I will kill off loving characters because I don't want any of you awful people stealing them".. hello? never mind.. it just hit me totally wrong!

Now comes this lawsuit again Lexicon, who she openly backed up until now!.. again.. it seems "wrong".. and yes, to me, it's another thing making me not respect J K Rowling like I did when she was the underdog fighting for her writing and climbing the ladder.

I do believe, at times, money does change people. Maybe even more so when you had none and quickly become very wealthy and "powerful"... not sure if its a money thing or a power thing.. but I do believe this lady "J K Rowling".. has changed.. and not for the better. I just don't hold the same amount of respect that I had for her a few years ago.

... how about you? what do you think of all of this?? What do you think of J K Rowling now?

3 of 5

Fri, 02 May 2008 12:14:37 GMT

Quest the First...

Read at least 5 books that fit somewhere within the Once Upon a Time II criteria. They might all be fantasy, or folklore, or fairy tales, or mythology…or your five books might be a combination from the four genres.

Book 3: Red Dragon Codex by R D Henham

Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Mirrorstone; Paper over board edition (January 8, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0786949252

Amazon:

The Dragon Codices chronicle adventures with each of ten dragons of Krynn.From the fiery, evil red dragon to the playful copper, each dragon's tale is unique. Sindri Suncatcher, narrator of A Practical Guide to Dragons, shared these tales from his travels with library scribe R.D. Henham.

Mudd lives a peaceful life in his small town, tinkering with the mill and any mechanical devicesthat he can find. But his peaceful life soon changes when, out of nowhere, a red dragon attacks, burning the town and kidnapping Shemnara, the village seer. Only one clue is left behind--a cryptic note telling Mudd, "Seek the silver dragon."

This book is one among many that would be considered a small part of the Dragonlance series of stories.

Although 256 pages long, it is a small book which makes it a fast read. I can't say I was overly impressed with the writing of this story. The story itself was fairly straight forward, but I kept feeling it could have be written better.

It was a short adventure. The characters could have been built better, I didn't get a feeling of any character that really stood out to me. And since I am a character driven person, the book remaind kind of blah to me. It's one, that even if you have a love for the Dragonlance books, I would say, you could do without; unless of course you have to have everything ever written to the Dragonlance series, and in that case there are more Dragon Codex books.

It was not horribly bad, just not much substance to it.

Small Movie / Good Feeling

Thu, 01 May 2008 10:59:23 GMT

If you just happen to be visiting Scotland...

.. and just happen to find an egg shaped thing near the water...

..for gosh sakes keep it!

Besides reading you may know how I love movies! Well I missed a bunch of movies this past year but finally sent for The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep.

It arrived Tuesday..

I watched it Wednesday!

What a great little, feel good movie! This sort of movie is so-o-o-o needed for those of us who can't stop wishing "things were better". (not going into what things... waaay toooo many !)

You can see a trailer here on IMDb

I still need to watch the "special features", but the movie itself was really cute. A Family movie, to be sure, but also one for those of us "into fantasy" and "into wishing some of the things we read were really true" :o). (it happens more often the older you get).

Anyway.. Just wanted to give this movie a bit of a "plug" and say, if you haven't seen it.. do!

(I also just sent for The Golden Compass for my brother, but you can bet I will BORROW it as soon as I can! )