"Do or do not, there is no try." - Yoda

I'm a couch potato and self-proclaimed nerd girl. I love art, poetry, music and movies.

[beckjoy-blog]

Brooklyn

I finished the second book in my A to Z Book Challenge on Sunday night: Brooklyn by Colm Toibin. This book was suggested to me by one of my best friends, as she had read it last year.

I'm going to be completely honest... I still don't know whether or not I enjoyed this book. It wasn't a terrible read, but it wasn't "can't put it down" great either. It was almost like there wasn't any story or plot. It's about a girl named Eilis Lacey, who moves from Ireland to Brooklyn sometime in (what I presume to be) the 50's. She gets a job at a shop there, lives in a house with multiple lodgers, meets a boy, I think she falls in love with him (can't be sure) and when her sister dies back in Ireland, she returns to her hometown. Nothing extraordinary happens to her, and the writing itself isn't that fantastic. It sometimes felt like I was reading an essay written by an 11th grader who was writing more about how to be a book keeper than the person training to be the book keeper.

I kept hoping/waiting for something to happen... and it never did. It felt like the author was trying to create build-up, but was unsuccessful, so he just killed off a character and called it a day.

All that being said, I did feel like I could relate to Eilis, who was terribly homesick much of the time she was in Brooklyn. Here's one of my favourite moments, because it's something I can definitely relate to:

"She closed her eyes and tried to think, as she had done so many times in her life, of something she was looking forward to, but there was nothing. Not the slightest thing. Not even Sunday. Nothing maybe except sleep, and she was not even certain she was looking forward to sleep." (from Part 2)

In the end, this was an okay read. I didn't have a hard time getting through it, I just wished there was more to it than exposition that didn't lead to anything else.

Next up: The Count of Monte Cristo!

Keep reading, B

(http://amzn.com/B0026SCMNM)

[laceymicallef-deactivated202006]

rainbow brite

[beckjoy-blog]

<3

[beckjoy-blog]

The Age of Miracles

I started my A-Z Book Challenge on Sunday evening, and started with The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker and finished it last night. When I started the book I didn't know anything about it except it had been on the New York Times Best Seller list, and I liked the title. Usually not the wisest reason to read a book, but I couldn't have started off this challenge with a better story.

I've read many post-apocalyptic/Utopian Society novels: 1984, The Hunger Games series, Brave New World, the Matched series, Divergent, etc.This book was similar to that but totally different at the same time. It's a woman who is "remembering" the year she turned 12, which was the year the Earth began to slow down. I realize that the Earth actually is slowing down even now. But in this book, it's slowing down so rapidly, that within 2 weeks the days have stretched from 24 hours to 48 hours from sunrise to sunrise.

This was such a unique idea to me, that I couldn't stop reading. I couldn't wait to see "what would happen next" as the Earth continued to slow it's rotation. I couldn't wait to see where in time and space the narrator was "now." It only took me 2 days to read, and I worked 8 hours both days! Needless to say, I'm exhausted. Reading before bed doesn't put me to sleep :)

Overall, I loved this book. Because of me talking about it at the dinner table, my husband now wants to read it. If you are looking for an easy read that is fascinating and hard to put down, then The Age of Miracles is a great place to start.

I'll leave you with my favourite quote. I loved it because it reminded me of my own heart:

"We passed the ruins of an ancient gas station where one pump remained, rusted red. Beside it stood a humble sun-bleached structure leaning heavily to one side, without its roof. There was a certain heartbreak in that scene. Someone had built those walls. Someone had once felt some kind of hope for the future of this place. Now you could see right through the cracks in the walls to the sky on the other side." - from Chapter 26

Happy reading!

- B

(http://amzn.com/0812982940)

[beckjoy-blog]

"Who knows how fast a second guess can travel? Who has ever measured the exact speed of regret?"

- Karen Thompson Walker, from "The Age of Miracles"

[instagram]

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice Turns 200

“You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” - Mr. Darcy

On January 28, 1813, Jane Austen’s publisher Thomas Egerton released her second novel, Pride and Prejudice. Austen finished writing the novel in 1797 under the title First Impressions, but after prospective publishers declined to even see the manuscript, she heavily edited the story over the following 14 years until Egerton bought it for £110 ($172 present-day USD). Today marks the beginning of festivals, conferences and Austen readathons that “Janeites” have planned throughout the year to celebrate the story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy’s tumultuous courtship. Two centuries later, Pride and Prejudice remains one of the most-taught and best-loved classics in Western literature.

Keep an eye on the Jane Austen Centre and Jane Austen’s Home location pages for photos from the upcoming festivals.

[beckjoy-blog]

Happy birthday, Mr. Darcy and Miss Bennet. May you celebrate 200 more. <3

[beckjoy-blog]

A-Z Book Challenge

This year I'm challenging myself to read 26 books, each beginning with a different letter of the Alphabet. The only real rules are that I can't have read the book before, I have to read them in alphabetical order, and if I lose interest, then I can switch books, as long as I don't move on to the next letter before I've finished a book that starts with the current letter. Make sense? :) I've made my list, and I'm going to be honest. With many of the books I chose, I'm going way outside of my comfort zone. I tend to stick with classic novels written by authors such as Jane Austen and Lucy Maud Montgomery. I don't read many thrillers, or mystery novels, or even modern romance novels. You'll see Fifty Shades of Grey missing from the list because I don't want to fill my mind with brainless pornographic prattle. I tried to choose books that meant something, or were written from first-hand experience with regards to the subject matter. I didn't choose only fiction. Some are self-help books, some are biographical, and there's at least one graphic novel in the mix. Needless to say, I'm excited and can't wait to get started!

A - Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker B - Brooklyn by Colm Toibin C - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Duma D - The Dog Stars by Peter Heller E - East of Eden by John Steinbeck F - Fobbit by David Abrams G - Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry H - The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood I - I Am An Executioner by Rajesh Parameswaran J - Joseph Anton: A Memoir by Salman Rushdie K - Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly & Martin Dugard L - Life Among Giants by Bill Roorbach M - My Mother Was Nuts by Peggy Marshall N - No Easy Day by Mark Owen & Kevin Maurer O - Open House by Elizabeth Berg P - Pie by Sarah Weeks Q - Quiet by Susan Cain R - Reached by Ally Condie S - Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay T - The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht U - Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri V - V for Vendetta by Alan Moore W - When It Happens to You by Molly Ringwald X - Xanadu by John Man Y - Year Zero by Rob Reid Z - Z: A Novel by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

I'm hoping to get started today! I'm also hoping to write "book reports" after I finish each one.

Ready? Set. Read!

- B

[beckjoy-blog]

I'm back.

Hoping to be back for a while. Need to get motivated to live life again, as to be honest... I haven't been living it. I've been sort of... existing. Depression is crippling.

Anyway, I've decided to give myself a reading goal again. In 2011, I set out to read 52 books in as many weeks. I did it, and it felt great. It was a fun challenge, but I didn't want to give myself too much this year. So... for 2013, I'm going to read 26 books, one for each letter of the alphabet... IN ORDER. I'm still working on my book list, and will post it when it's finalized :)

I'm looking forward to being with you again.

Keep living.

-B

[bbcamerica]

[doctorwho]

via bbcamerica:

Premieres of all new Doctor Who, The Nerdist, and Orphan Black, March 30th on BBC America

BBC AMERICA’s Supernatural Saturday returns March 30 with all new episodes of Doctor Who and the world premieres of new original series The Nerdist and Orphan Black.

via the Anglophenia blog:

The 2012 Doctor Who Christmas special “The Snowmen” left us with a stunning cliffhanger and an intriguing question: who is the Doctor’s new companion Clara Oswin Oswald (Jenna-Louise Coleman)? Well, as we enter the franchise’s 50th anniversary year, Whovians won’t have to wait that long for new episodes. Part 2 of Doctor Who Season 7 will premiere on Saturday, March 30 in BBC AMERICA’s Supernatural Saturday block, it has been announced, alongside the network’s new original sci-fi series Orphan Black and the comedy-variety chatfest The Nerdist.

Doctor Who returns to BBC America (US) on ‘March 30’, BBC One (UK) on ‘30 March’ , and SPACE (Canada) March 30. *Other dates to come really really soon.*

[cupcakeblakes]

[doctorwho]

Fan created “Doctor Who The Musical” by AVByte

Another post that got lost in last week’s storm.

thx, teatimeeverybody!

[beckjoy-blog]

And I Looked at You a Long Time

And I looked at you a long time before I left thinking how beautiful you sleep. And so I wouldn't waken you I dressed in the darkness and covered you against the morning cold. And I looked at you a long time before I left and once more before I turned to go I turned back again to be sure I could remember you doubled up in drunken darkness. And I wrote a note and left it on your mirror I said I'll think of you this morning when I shave. And going down the driveway grumpy with love I stole your Sunday paper. And I looked at you a long time before I left and I paused on each and every stair knowing I might never climb that stairway again I looked at you a long time. Now every time I shave I find myself seeing you again.

- Rod McKuen

[nnightwing]

[doctorwho]

last of the timelords.

[latenightflurricane]

[doctorwho]

‘when my life is over, remember when we were together’ by kt

Inspired by ‘A Song For You’ originally by Leon Russell

Part of a series on Doctor Who fanart inspired by song lyrics

[photos-and-photographers]

Warp Speed #1 by Chris Muir

[beckjoy-blog]

Beautiful.

[jennalouscoleman]

[doctorwho]

“Don’t worry because I’m going to fight them off.”

During the Nerd HQ “Conversations for a Cause” with Matt, Karen, and Arthur

[thismysfit-blog]

I love this, so very very much.

Some people would say something sly and patronizing to this girl, and make all the grown-ups laugh. “Ohhh the weeping angels are sooo scary bla bla blah.” But Matt asks this young lady if she’s scared, and she’s honest, and he sees the seriousness in her - because she believes this stuff, it’s part of her universe! And he goes into that universe with her, and tells her the truth from her perspective. He doesn’t say “It’s all pretend, sweetie, there’s nothing to be scared of,” or “Those silly weeping angels can’t hurt you,” or “The Doctor’s got it covered,” or dismiss her in any way. He steps into her world, and promises her that she’ll be safe in a language that she understands.

In my opinion this is the dictionary definition of respecting someone else’s beliefs. You win, Matt. You win so damn hard.

[paddingtonbeary]

Story of my life. 

[doctorwho]

“The thing about Doctor Who is…”

David Tennant on #newtoWHO

[doctorwho]

Whovians around the world are watching the Olympic Opening Ceremonies hoping that “Doctor Who” will be included. Held in London, the 2012 Summer Olympics have been eagerly awaited. Many British pop culture icons were included such as Benedict Cumberbatch, JK Rowling, Rowan Atkinson and even Mary Poppins. Fans were exuberant when, during the musical montage, there was distinctively the TARDIS sound included.

[duff-mcwhalen]

[doctorwho]

TARDIS sound in London Olympics 2012