Reading Journal

I finished up "Ender's Game" the other day. And I absolutely loved it! Definitely worth a re-read sometime in the future. Brian suggested the next book in the series, but from the way it ended, I'm not sure I'd enjoy the next one as much as I enjoyed this one. Mainly because it was the suspense that I enjoyed most. Here are some quotes I enjoyed from the last part of the book:

p. 177
"I'll become exactly the tool you want me to be, said Ender silently, but at least I won't be fooled into it. I'll do it because I choose to, not because you tricked me..."

p. 193

"...These are your advantages. Your disadvantage is that you will always, always be outnumbered, and after each battle your enemy will learn more about you, how to fight you, and those changes will be put into effect instantly."

Ender waited for his conclusion.

"...instead of mindlessly following these same patterns, I will be controlling the enemy simulation. At first you will see easy situations that you are expected to win handily. Learn from them, because I will always be there, one step ahead of you, programming more difficult and advanced patterns...so that your next battle is more difficult, so that you are pushed to the limit of your abilities."

__________________________
Having finished one book, that means it was time to move on to another one, a True one. (Or, rather, one that falls into the True category.) I threw the plans I had out the window and went with "A Marvelous Work and Wonder" by LeGrand Richards. You can tell the copy I have is old but unread, and that made me sad. So I decided to change it. This will be my work book. (The book I take with me to work.)

In the interest of efficiency and unwasted time, I decided a while ago that it would be unacceptable to be reading two books of the same category. That, and it defeats the purpose of the cyclic categories, which is to provide seashmore with some variety in her reading. If I finish 3 other books before I finish one, it shall remain unfinished. So I'm reshelving "One Thing..."

Which left a position open in my reading schedule. I pulled down an old favorite, in the spirit of reading something "old" (which I have expanded to mean "familiar," either to myself or a respectable canon). Maeve Binchey's "Circle of Friends." Some of you may have seen the movie, but I recall the book being better. It's rather long, but it moves quickly. And it would go perfect with some Celtic Woman. mmmmmmmm...............*drools*

Reading Journal

I am really liking Ender's Game. Is it my favorite book? Probably not. But is it worth my reading again? Most definitely. I should be moving through it faster, though. I'm sure I would have finished it this weekend had I not been feeling a little carsick.

What I really like about this book is it's ability to be a mind boggler if you give it that opportunity. Or you can take it as a light read. Absolutely fabulous, and I can't wait to tell the friend who got it for me that I like it. I told one of my managers today that I was liking it (she saw it sticking out of my purse) and she said she couldn't stand it. But that her husband is a huge Orson Scott Card fan; has all of Card's books in hard copy and autographed.

I wish I'd have gone through or kept track of some of my favorite quotes. As it is, all I've got are these from page 26

It isn't the world at stake, Ender. Just us. Just humankind....As a
species, we have evolved to survive. And the way we do it is by straining
and straining and, at last, every few generations, giving birth to genius.
The one who invents the wheel. And light. And flight. The one
who builds a city, a nation, an empire.

"Human beings are free except when humanity needs them."

And these from 162 and 163, respectively:
"Real respect takes longer than official respect."
"Perhaps it's impossible to wear an identity without becoming what you pretend to be."

Writing Journal (Day ##)

I don't remember which day I wrote this on. Maybe Thursday, since it falls on a page between something I wrote on Wednesday and something I wrote on Saturday. And I seem to remember writing it while eating a sandwich on break, which I didn't do on Friday because I didn't work that day.

But I've realized that it's not necessarily one poem every day, but rather 40 poems in 40 days. So there's an amendment to the challenge, halfway through it. See what Shania Twain has to say about women changing minds, mmkay?

Deliciousness
My mouth wants more
To chew over;
My brain, less.

My mind is longing to escape
To the flavors
Brewing on my tongue.

A habitual exhaustion
And peaceful yearning
Always follow the joyful bliss.

I try to slow the excitement
And savor each tender tonguing,
But the excitement is overwhelming.