New Vlogs: Book Reviews and News!

It's been a long time and I was going to do this last night but found out my batteries were dead so I couldn't. But I managed to do a couple after I got home and before I did more work on my database of death. So here's three new videos! Since I can't edit I just do multiple videos on one focused topic since I can ramble on for quite some time if I talk about random stuff.

So here's the Trickster's Choice review with NO spoilers:



Here it is with spoilers (and also spoilers from Trickster's Queen!)




Below is the Nawat picture I mention in my video. I envision him much better than this but I'm an impatient artist. Still it's vaguely like what I see in my head. I based the picture off the Arab guy in The Mummy since I see Nawat as looking a little like him only younger.


And here's just a random news update. Not real news but Cherie News. I promise you won't learn anything about the world at large.

Okay, maybe it is a little like real news...



Speaking of news my August word count is 9309 in case anyone's interested. I was lazy this month, and I can't really imagine things getting better when school starts, but the story really is nearing the denouement. I just hope it's worth 13 years of my life. No pressure, though. Although, the low word count might be good because the total word count is 195,914. Urk...

My Desktop

The picture on my desktop is something I generally put a lot of thought into because I don't change it a lot. But I have changed it a lot recently, so for those interested, (or maybe just looking for good desktop pics) here's the evolution of my desktop in the past month and some of the thought that went into it. The first picture is the one above that I had up for quite some time ever since I saw the Jane Austen Book Club and fell in love with Grigg (played by Hugh Dancy). I've got several other pictures of him because I went through the movie and took hundreds of screen shots with the aim of using them for desktops (or if they were just really good pictures). I picked this one because I generally like my Desktop to be bright and cheerful and the colors were good and made me feel I was in a comfortable place. But I decided that I didn't want to to have a guy up for reasons that are no longer valid so I may even change it back to a different Grigg pic after my post.


After Grigg I changed it to this which is a lovely Japanese style park I went to in Nantes. It was a good photo I took that didn't make me miss the place too much despite reminding me of its beauty, but it wasn't as sharp as I would have liked, and I felt like a change again, so I went with this:


A very nice shot I got of the Louvre if I do say so myself. It made me feel classy and reminded me of what is, for me, the happiest place on Earth. But while looking through a very different sort of internet art at I Can Haz Cheezeburger I came across this:


It is a hilarious picture but blown up it wasn't as sharp as I would have liked and the contrast with my icons wasn't enough so it made them hard to see. Plus, it was a little too weird going from such high class beauty to lolcats. Much as I love both. So right now I have:


Probably the best picture I've taken of my favorite sculpture in the Louvre, Cupid and Psyche. Aside from the obvious beauty and passion in the form of the sculpture, it's my favorite sculpture because I studied it in art class before going to Paris for the first time, and it wasn't like the Winged Victory or the Venus de Milo that you already expect to see and you really only see to say you've seen them. I was not expecting to see it at all because I didn't know it was in the Louvre (I'd only seen the sculpture in a picture and done a master study of sorts) and it blew me away how moving it was to see in real life. It's also in the most perfect spot by the window so when I first saw it rays of sunlight were on it and it was the most perfect thing. But I like the contrast in this photo and the fact that you can see some of the courtyard outside. Normally I prefer pictures that fit to my desktop but I made an exceptin for this one and just have it centered. The extra black just kind of adds to the ambiance.

July Words

I slacked off this month, so I have a less than impressive 12,641 words for July. However, I am drawing near to the end of the novel which at 186,604 total words is definitely a good thing. The writing at the end is especially difficult, and I'd like to say that's the reason I've written less this month, but in truth I was just too lazy, or perhaps even too legitimately exhausted, a few too many nights to pull off 500 words.

Also this picture is complete whimsy. I only wish I could write my novels by hand, but my hand writing is generally so ugly that it frustrates me to look at it for too long, and I hate retyping things, so I'm pretty much chained to the computer to write. I had one English teacher tell me she envisioned that I wrote in some natural place like under a tree by some body of water I suppose. But at that time I used to write in my cave-like unfinished basement on an old Packard Bell I'd named Greg (because he made "greg, greg, greg" sounds as he ran) with a little figurine of ET dressed as a woman that acted as my muse for unknowable reasons. I suspect this was horribly disillusioning for my teacher.

Now Greg is in a likely permanent retirement and I've no idea where ET went, but I still write at a computer in a less than natural environment, unless you count the organic evolution of the mess in my bedroom. But I'd argue that the environment around you matters less than the one inside your head.

Punishment/Challenges #3-4

I did both of these on my birthday but only because they were actually fun.



The above video is where I interview three guys for Tim's punishment to interview someone I didn't know. It wasn't so bad, though which is why I did it on my birthday. Can you guess which one I thought was cute?

Also I know it cuts off abruptly, but I really just said bye after that and ran away, so you don't miss anything interesting. I'm sure they thought I was some sorority girl being hazed.



This was for Dejah's punishment to go somewhere I've never been.

Trickster's Choice

I'm listening to Trickster's Choice on audio right now which is the follow up to to the Song of the Lioness series. I've only just finished the first CD but so far I like Alianne much more than Alanna and George is awesome as ever.

Below is a spoiler of a part that made me laugh out loud. I'm writing it now rather than wait to finish the book because my memory isn't what it used to be and it was never that good to begin with:


(spoiler in black so it doesn't pop out as much)

Alianne gets captured by pirates and she's going to be sold as a slave. Rather than become an unwilling sex slave, she half starves herself and allows others to beat her so she won't look appealing. Once at the slave market her efforts pay off. NO ONE bids on her! She can't help but be just a bit insulted. They end up giving her away for free in a buy one slave get one free deal!

June Words and the Outdoors

I've written 14,764 words in June and my story is now 173,783 words in total. The characters refused to all spontaneously die at once no matter how I prodded.

In other news Ann Arbor has something of a famous Summer Festival with outdoor concerts and movies and shows. I have been to none of this. Not because I couldn't but because after some soul searching I realized it wouldn't make me happy. Yes, I do need to get out of the house more but I'd rather get out so that I can get into other places. At the age of 22 I've accepted that I'm not an outdoor person. Now, this does not mean I hate the outdoors or that I'll say no to all outdoor activities. But it has to be worth it in my opinion. I have to have a good companion (or companions) or be going somewhere like RenFest to make me feel the time spent being chased by bugs and aggravating my allergies has been worth my time. I was going to go see the aerialists (some kind of Cirque du Soleil type act of gymnasts suspended in the air) but couldn't find anyone else interested and I wasn't personally motivated enough to go by myself. I also just watched the preview and I'm don't really feel bad about missing it. Not that it doesn't look interesting, just that I still feel my time was better spent lazing around. I think it also did me good because my eye twitch seems to have gone for now. I think it's been at least a couple days now so that seems to support the cause simply being overwork.

Anyway if I really want to see something I will go by myself and not worry about that sort of thing. Just like when I spent three days touring just the Louvre and was quite happy not to have anyone else there to complain I was taking too long. So not going is almost always a sign I'm not interested enough to do it myself.

As for the movie I was thinking of going to tonight I just got that same movie on DVD at the grand opening of our new library branch (an event I am glad I went to) so I can now see it in the comfort of my own home.

So there's my psychoanalysis on why I'm a Hobbit.

Extraordinarily Moving Commencement Speech By J.K. Rowling.

While I love the Harry Potter books I had never pegged Jo Rowling as the world's greatest speaker. She always seemed so shy, and she is not the type to enjoy the attention she gets which tends to dull, in her public appearances, the vivacity that we see so much in her writing. I've also always thought of Harry Potter, and its writer, as having a better story than philosophy. Her themes are not bad--they are timeless--but we take timelessness for granted. I have. And even though she is still clearly shy and still clearly part terrified, I was riveted.

I have greatly underestimated her.

http://harvardmagazine.com/go/jkrowling.html

Friends of the Week: Sarah and Dejah

Return of the Videos!

Friends of the Week: Brian and Dejah (you guys get to be at the top this week due to technical difficulties)

But there almost weren't any more videos ever (or at least for some time) for the reason described in the video below:



And finally another video response! But you might not see it in his responses for a bit because he has to approve it (understandably so because I've seen some really questionable things in his responses before he started making them approve only deals). Anyway, video responses are the best way to YouTube fame (or at least reasonable acknowledgment) and I've been meaning to more for some time, but this is the first one in a while. (The other's still in production as it ran too long and I either have to learn how to edit or make a new one.)

Punishment/Challenge #2: Be Sociable

Or, as put in the words of the sweet and lovely Mag:
ask somebody you sort of know (a classmate? somebody in your department?) for lunch/tea/dinner/a walk or whatever. The report doesn't have to be super duper detailed. Just tell us how it went.

This one's more of a challenge since I actually had (and do generally have) a good time being social. I just hadn't gotten around to it recently.

So this Monday Dejah and I went out and got some bubble tea (or rather I had bubble tea and Dejah just had tea). We talked a lot and then we went over to the grad library and looked for an exhibit they said they had but got sidetracked by several shelves of free books they were giving away. I am inspired by a similar remark Dejah made that passing up free books for most people in our field would be like a drug addict passing up crack cocaine.

So the books I have adopted are pictured above. No pics of our nice outing, unfortunately, because I forgot to bring my camera but if you don't believe it happened you can just ask Dejah.

May Words, Weird Dreams, Flowers, and Birthdays

It's time for a story status update! I wrote 14,253 words in May which is pretty good and more than the other months this year by about 4,000 words, but I'm a little disappointed it wasn't at least 15,000 because I definitely feel like I had enough free time this month to write every day. There were just a few days it flat out did not happen. Like yesterday when I passed out at 7pm after staying up about 24 hours.

Anyway, the novel's now 158,751 words. (Why won't it end?! Argh!) And 268 pages on the words processor I'm currently using (Open Office). But on my Dad's Open Office, if you'll remember, my 800+ page fifth draft was over 1,000 pages, so apparently page count can vary even in the same word processor. I know you can mess with the margins but this isn't something my dad does... Anyway if any of you think I'm worrying unnecessarily about length then I offer something a comparison of just how insanely long this is. According to this one website The Grapes of Wrath was 200,000 words long. My last draft was more than 500,000! AAAAHHHH!! *Bangs head against wall* Steinbeck ain't got nothing on this girl's insanity. And knowing myself I'll be lucky if I only have about 41,000 words to go. That means if I write everyday I should be done in less than three months. I wish I could see that happening.

Sigh...but at least the flowers are all blooming and beautiful. I didn't take this pic but I could have. Sadly I didn't have my camera today or I could have taken a picture of people morris dancing!

In random news, I think my subconscious also tried to give me a nightmare recently but I'd previously watched a whole bunch of episodes of Ouran High School Host Club which is the happiest anime in existence (without being nauseatingly happy) so there wasn't much for it to scare me with and it tried to do so with Ouran characters which admittedly kinda worked when I was asleep but once I was awake I found it hilarious.

Finally, I would also like to extend birthday wishes to my Mom whose birthday is today and to my friend Punya whose birthday was May 30. I already sent Punya something but I thought I'd mention it in my blog as well.

Ramblings

WARNING CHRONICLES OF NARNIA SPOILER! If you don't want to be spoiled but must watch my fascinating ramblings, skip over 2:40-2:49.



Friend of the Week: Danny (Nice to hear from you again and of course I remember you and fencing club!) and Dejah (horseradish or sauerkraut?)

Going back to Ann Arbor

It seems like no time at all that I've been here but in several more hours (if all goes well) I'll be on a plane again going back to Ann Arbor. This also means that we've reached the end of my blog everyday challenge. I'll still keep blogging but I can't promise daily updates. But it's been fun and I hope you guys have enjoyed it. Sigh... It's been a lovely vacation and I'll miss my family.

Fact about me: I live too far away from my family and friends.

Death Note

On Wednesday my sister and I went to see a live action film based on the manga Death Note. It was showing in a cinema near my sister's house for two days only since it's a foreign film and I suppose they didn't think they could make enough off it. Or maybe they weren't allowed to show it for longer. Not really sure which. Anyway, I liked the film and was also pleased that it didn't spoil me on the manga since it only went up to events I'd already read about. There's a second one that presumably sumarizes the rest of the story. I'm a bit of a visual effects snob--spoiled by too many mega budget films but the special effects were reasonably decent. American Television quality. But really it doesn't require too many effects. Aside from Ryuk the Shinigami it's just about people (since it doesn't take too much to fake a heart attack--though I think they sometimes overdid the foam capsules). In any event it's the psychological drama that's important to this story and they made sure that stayed center stage, so I was able to ignore the other stuff, and I would recommend this film if you happen to be able to see it and like this sort of thing. My sister's never read the manga and she liked it too, but she appreciates a good plot. I think at least two of the voice actors are the same as in the Anime adaptation which I've seen a little of, so their voices are all right. Although I've always noticed a consistent modulation to dubbed voices, as if they're trying to speak more slowly or clearly than usual. But perhaps that's just in an effort to match to the lips. A few of the voices I found a bit bland, but otherwise the dubbing was fine. At least it was dubbed. I was worried it wouldn't have any translation because no one in the theatre seemed to know if it was dubbed or subbed.

In other news I also finished reading Prince Caspian and stand by my previous statement that the film is better. Edmund and Reepicheep have such better parts and there's far more excitement. I looked up the writers of the screenplay I was so impressed, and it turns out to be a team of three men named: Andrew Adamson, Christopher Markus, and Stephen McFeely. I'm honoring them here since I think they did a far better job than C.S. Lewis. Markus and McFeely haven't written much but Adamson was involved in writing Shrek 2 and 3. I didn't mind Shrek but I think Caspian is a far better literary feat so this came as something of a surprise. However, it does explain certain similarities between Reepicheep and Puss in Boots. But for anyone concerned about that, I didn't think the similarity was too great and Reepicheep would definitely still pwn Puss (the one in the film anyway).

Also, I recently learned a friend of mine in France actually had his Fantasy book published! Here's a link. You won't be able to read it unless you read French, but you can admire the cover.

Punishment #1 Eat Spoonful of Relish

Expeditions?

In Cherie news, yesterday I got a fortune cookie that said: "Soon you will be sitting on top of the world" which is strange because I wasn't planning any expeditions to the North Pole.

I've also noticed that my spoilers version of my Prince Caspian review has been viewed more times than the non-spoilers one which I find both surprising and a little disappointing since I spent more time editing the non-spoilers one assuming that more people would watch that one instead.

Fact of the Day: I like to read the manga Death Note but feel no affection for any of the characters.

Hmm, I was also reading back and I did say I was committed to doing all the punishments should I fail to post so I'll guess I'll just do that and have done with rather than waiting for you guys to vote. Of course, I never said how long it would take me, and some I think might be better for my to do in Ann Arbor so I'll let you know as I get them done.

Friend of the Week: Becky

Song of the Lioness WITH SPOILERS

I FINALLY finished editing these.

This was one big review of the last two books, but it was too long so I just cut it in two but that's why the ending's abrupt on the first one.



And here's the second part on Lioness Rampant



Don't forget to vote for a punishment(s) for me to do!

Prince Caspian Reviews

Here's the no spoilers one:



And here's the WITH spoilers one:



And no one's voted for a punishment yet! I didn't post, people. I need to be punished. You can pick your own, one, two, or all of the punishments just vote and I'll do it!

I'll summarize the punishments here for those who don't remember: one requires me to go somewhere I've never been, another requires me to interview a person I don't know well, another requires me to invite someone to spend time with me, my sister's is to read a chapter of Godel, Esher, Bach, and the last requires me to eat a spoonful of relish.

If no one votes before the end of vacation, I'll just do my sister's. Remember, you can vote for all of them but you have to provide another for me to do if you vote before the end of vacation.

In Production

I'm making several video blogs right now so that's my news. Two are Prince Caspian Reviews (non-spoilers and spoiler) and one is the last Alanna review with spoilers.

I'll post them here when I'm done but just in case I don't finish in time the above is a picture I took on my hike at Auburn.

Too Much

Several mile hike in blistering heat after two days of not much sleep and too much bike riding = unhappy Cherie. I'm not up to much right now so there's my news.

Fact about me: I dislocated the elbow on my right arm several times as a child.

Punishment voting is still open because Brian did not vote for a punishment. (By the way, you can vote even if you didn't think up the punishments. Just look back at the ones given and pick one you like.)

Friend of the Week: Brian (sorry the Caspian review will have to wait for tomorrow)

Punishment!

Guess what I did today. I toured the Lincoln Public Library and I saw Prince Caspian (excellent film which I'll discuss later) and I rode ten miles on my bike in total. Guess what I forgot to do.

That's right, I forgot to post.

Since I didn't actually think this would happen I didn't really consider the logistics of it an realized that I still have a week left of vacation and so, if I do all the punishments, then what happens if I forget to post again?

So, the first person to notice an comment here that I forgot to post, I will do whatever punishment that person decides. So you have until someone comments or until the end of my vacation to vote on my punishment, whichever comes first. You can vote for all the punishments or a combination. I want to be a good sport about this. However, if you do vote for all before the end of my vacation, you have to provide ONE (but only one) replacement punishment just in case I slip up again.

Fact about me: I like to watch film commentaries because I feel it helps me write and analyze stories.

Don't forget, first person to vote gets to punish Cherie.