teaser tuesday (20)

It's Teaser Tuesday, a bookish blog meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Here's how it works:

Grab your current read and let it fall open to a random page. Post two (or more) sentences from that page, along with the title and author. Don’t give anything vital away!

“Haly’s earliest memories were of wandering these stacks for hours against the warnings of her elders; cautionary tales of overzealous Libyrarians who lost their way in the endless maze and never returned. But even as a child, Haly had liked the tales the books told better, and in forgotten corridors she discovered worlds of adventure and majesty, and secrets.”

-p. 14 of Pearl North’s Libyrinth

the weather? oh, it's fine.

It’s November in the Seattle area. I’m in a place and a climate I haven’t had intimate contact with for seven years. It’s been interesting getting reacquainted. May I present:

A List of THINGS About My Life Now (and Surroundings)

- The ten-day weather forecast calls for rain. And some wind. But mostly just rain. This is not a surprise, or a rant. Just…resignation.

- I’ve discovered that you can cover a multitude of interpreting mistakes with a big smile. And apologies. But if your voice dies mid-appointment, you’re screwed.

- Moving back to the land of Starbucks has been amazing. Also, wallet-lightening.

- I got my sister to acknowledge that not all anime is terrible. On the strength of one film – Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Hayao Miyazaki, you rock my knee-high socks off.

- Oh yes. I wear knee-high socks at all times now. Even and especially in bed. It is necessary, or else the cold air sprites might steal my precious body heat. And those things swarm like you wouldn’t believe. The sprites, not the socks.

- Long commute + no radio = lots of weird thoughts. I found myself musing about the exact quality of light created by streetlamps, brake lights and rainwater spraying up from the roadway. Told you it was weird.

- With said commute, job, NaNoWriMo, blog, random party I’m hosting on Friday (yes, THIS Friday) and something vaguely reminiscent of a social life, I have almost no time for reading.

- Being sick creates reading opportunities. I got a cold over the weekend. I only get sick when I move someplace chilly. I swear! (I also read 9 books!)

- While chilly, rainy weather is perfect for curling up in a chair and reading, it is impractical to read all day, EVERY DAY, which is how often it is rainy and chilly in Seattle in November. Oh wait…did I mention that already?

- I had amazing Thai food last Thursday. Also, a proper 6-ounce cappuccino at 15^th Avenue Coffee and Tea while listening to Cherie Priest read a chapter out of Boneshaker. Can we say culinary delight?

- My three least-favorite toppings on salad: sunflower seeds, mushrooms, bleu cheese.

- There’s cherry pie on the counter. I must go…

letting go of the knife

It’s time to announce the winner of The Knife of Never Letting Go. Patrick Ness’ novel is a dystopian tale that takes readers to the edge with gripping suspense and mystery, and forces devotion to its characters through heart-breaking revelations and decisions. Without further ado, the winner is:

Dominique

from Coffee Stained Pages

Who answered the question, “What’s one dystopian novel you’ve read (or would like to read)?” with:

“I think my favourite dystopian novel is The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. I've also read The Giver by Lois Lowry, Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.

I want to read The Knife of Never Letting Go after reading your review, it sounds great!” Congrats, Dominique!

Other dystopian (or post-apocalyptic, or whatever-you-want-to-label-them-but-damn-they’re-scary!) novels mentioned: Swan Song by Robert McCammon, The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, In A Perfect World by Laura Kasischke, The Road by Cormac McCarthy, Unwind by Neal Shusterman, Alas Babylon by Pat Frank, The Running Man by Stephen King, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Perdido Street Station by China Mieville, The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan, Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff, Oryx and Crake and The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood, The Maze Runner by James Dashner, and The Lord of the Flies and Animal Farm by Orwell.

Happy reading, everyone!

alphabet of thorn + giveaway

Alyce at At Home with Books is doing a weekly feature where she highlights one of her favorite reads from the past and encourages others to do so as well.

My pick this week is Patricia McKillip’s Alphabet of Thorn. McKillip is the author of haunting, beautiful fantasies such as The Forgotten Beasts of Eld (winner of the World Fantasy Award), Od Magic, Ombria in Shadow and The Riddlemaster of Hed, not to mention The Bell at Sealey Head, which I showcased here. Many of these tales are or seem to be reworked and re-imagined fairy tales. They speak with the magic of nature, of humankind, of disturbing and odd and amazing things.

If you’re a fan of fantasy, you MUST pick up McKillip. I can’t say enough good things about her work. There are some books I’ve preferred over others, but her mastery over words and worlds fantastical is seriously wonderful. If you’re NOT usually a fan of fantasy, pick up McKillip anyway, and read it as literary fiction. The prose is gorgeous in its own right, so you’ll be well-rewarded regardless, and just might find yourself as hooked as I am.

Deep inside a palace on the edge of the world, the orphan Nepenthe pores over books in the royal library, translating their languages and learning their secrets. Now sixteen, she knows little of the outside world—except for the documents that traders and travelers bring her to interpret.

Then, during the coronation of the new Queen of Raine, a young mage gives Nepenthe a book that has defied translation. Written in a language of thorns, it speaks to Nepenthe's soul—and becomes her secret obsession. And, as the words escape the brambles and reveal themselves, Nepenthe finds her destiny entwined with that of the young queen's. Sooner than she thinks, she will have to choose between the life she has led and the life she was born to lead...

Alphabet of Thorn is a favorite for many reasons. First off, living in a library sounds like my dream existence. Notice I didn’t say working. I mean living in this fantastical library deep in the bowels of a castle at the edge of a sea... Second, the character has an affinity for languages. I read this book for the first time in college, when I was discovering my own passion for unraveling the meanings of unknown words. It was a perfect fictional accompaniment to my own real life revelations. Third, there’s mystery and magic and the weight of duty (and perhaps the world?) at stake in the novel. And the heroines are themselves: strong, young, silly and wise, but never weak. And finally, the imagery of thorns, of princesses and crossed destinies, of magic and fate beyond control of mere mortals – that is so very reminiscent of my favorite fairy tales. It may be time for another re-read, now that I think about it…

-----

If you want to own Alphabet of Thorn, I’m giving away one (1) copy here on my blog!

To enter:

Leave a comment on this post answering the question, “What do you (or do you not) like about fairy tales?”

Please include your email address or another method of contact. Giveaway is open internationally - I'll order straight from The Book Depository. Comments will close on November 28 at 11:59pm EST, and I will notify the randomly selected winner via email.

Good luck!