#vanentine

[catfishandthegatormen]

[catfishandthegatormen]

[imarishkai]

A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan

I adored, adored, adored this book.  I’ve not often read memoirs, or books that might/could be categorized as memoirs  (even if only because the book itself says that is what it supposedly is) and have, in the past, found most of them 50/50 on enjoyable or not.  This one, however, definitely enjoyable!

Though not as full of wit as I had been led to expect from the first chapter, I still found this book to be one I couldn’t put down.  I still haven’t decided if it’s because I like science and dragons, or because it was just that good of a book.  So…both!

I have never read a book that was “scientific” and also concerned dragons.  Though the book ended up being more about Isabella’s adventure, and really only had dragons in it, and those very infrequently.  I forgave this, however, because I was already enjoying the book by the time I realized that the implied dragon science wasn’t there.  I do have to admit that the implied part does come from the title of the book, but no where else really.  The description of the book even gives away the fact that the book isn’t going to be about the science, really, but about the adventure.  And, since I enjoyed it, and would have enjoyed it either way, I guess it doesn’t matter all that much.

I am happy to say I liked more of this book then I disliked, so I’ll try to tie it all together into a few short paragraphs.

First, I really liked that we could see growth of Isabella, if not while we were being told what she was doing, then when her older self spoke about her own actions that she had taken.  She tells readers to read her other books (fictional though they are), but criticizes her younger self for what they both wrote.  We can really see that she realized the mistakes she made as a child/teenager and, though she does not regret them (most of them) she accepts them and even explains them to the reader.  She even explains some of her mistakes that she didn’t write about in the actual story, and would not have known about had she not made a bit of an aside to the reader.

I also liked the very human aspect of the story, and what I mean by that is that no one character was putting together all of the clues and being super good at it.  They all had different clues and although, yes, in the end Isabella was the one to put them all together, she along with her companions had found the pieces of the puzzle.  Together.  There were things that Isabella’s companions knew that she didn’t: the chemical stuff, for example that, had they not been there, she would have gotten no where with any sort of investigation.

Long paragraph short: all of the characters introduced had a purpose.

There was very little that I disliked about this book.  And funnily enough, it was things that weren’t written, and even more funnily enough, it all probably would have been boring!  I was really interested in the townspeople Isabella and Co. had to be around.  I sorta wanted to know more about them, since they seemed to have quite a few secrets that were hinted at but never explored.  Of course, these were all plot devices and also because Isabella perhaps felt herself superior to the villagers.  At least at first.  She does seem to want to develop…well, if not friendship, then at least acquaintances with a few of the villagers.  Although, of course, she only wants to get acquainted with them so they give her the answers she wants/needs!

Anyway, before this starts to just be me gushing about everything, good and bad, I’ll just say, 5 out of 5 and definitely recommended to science fantasy book lovers!

[yungskugge]

Valentine's Day, HOLY SHIT!

I'm forever alone but i'm getting hella chocolate from my friend that's making chocolate for all her friends too!!!! :D I FEEL SPECIAL <3

Who's like me and ain't got a Valentine but don't give a SHIT?? xD

[flyingmongooseattack]

[noguidance]

A take on Valentines day throughout history..

1) The Valentine’s Day Massacre - Most of you know what happened that fateful day in Chicago: Al Capone ordered a hit on the Moran gang, and wanted to hit them so hard they wouldn’t try to double-cross him again. Capone’s men dressed up like cops and tricked the Moran gang into thinking it was a routine arrest. Once the Tommy guns started rattling, however, there was no mistake: this was carnage, pure and simple. Seven people were killed. Cause of event: Later in life, Capone was diagnosed with full-blown syphilis. He used to run a brothel when he was making his way up the mafia chain, and no doubt he got his share of dirty loving. My guess is that he took a simple altercation with the Moran gang the wrong way due to the dementia that only syphilis can bring. What you can learn from this: Dear readers, you want loving, you need gloving! Don’t play no games of chance with your favorite organs. Who’s to say that an unprotected quickie in the bathroom of a disco won’t fry your mind twenty years down the road? Stay safe, and wrap your goodies nice and tight!

2) The Pogrom of 1349 – Strasbourg - For my readers not hip to ethnic cleansing, a pogrom is when a riot breaks out against a specific set of peoples. In this case, on February 14th 1349, the German city of Strasbourg went on a killing spree and burnt to death or drove out of the city over two thousand Jews. Cause of event: Plain old fashioned ignorance. The bubonic plague was in full swing, and took a bite of the loving scene in Strasbourg in 1348. As the plague spread, strange theories began to grow, such the persistent and false belief that Jews were poisoning the wells to create the plague. What you can learn from this: Lovers, keep a healthy sense of reason! If you find yourself momentarily upset or bewildered, take a deep breath, light some incense, and whatever you do, leave the Jews alone!

3) President Franklin D. Roosevelt meets with King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia - On this day in 1945, FDR sat down with the Saudi Arabian king and first set about US-Saudi relations. Cause of event: In 1938, oil was discovered in Saudi Arabia. FDR wasn’t there to talk about the weather, ya dig? What you can learn from this: Don’t go after lovers just for their wealth, or the flash they can get you. You gotta love your lovers as they are. If you try and trick yourself into thinking you can ignore the horrible things somebody does just because they can score you drugs or cash, you’re a straight-up fool. Got any other Valentine’s day blunders that we can learn from? Leave me a comment! The Schmooz - Reginald Thurgood is known to his legions of fans as "THE SCHMOOZ," an international Rhythm and Blues singing sensation who has made love to thousands of women across the planet and loves to share every poetic detail. He answers all questions on love and relationship...as he is an expert, baby.1) The Valentine’s Day Massacre - Most of you know what happened that fateful day in Chicago: Al Capone ordered a hit on the Moran gang, and wanted to hit them so hard they wouldn’t try to double-cross him again. Capone’s men dressed up like cops and tricked the Moran gang into thinking it was a routine arrest. Once the Tommy guns started rattling, however, there was no mistake: this was carnage, pure and simple. Seven people were killed. Cause of event: Later in life, Capone was diagnosed with full-blown syphilis. He used to run a brothel when he was making his way up the mafia chain, and no doubt he got his share of dirty loving. My guess is that he took a simple altercation with the Moran gang the wrong way due to the dementia that only syphilis can bring. What you can learn from this: Dear readers, you want loving, you need gloving! Don’t play no games of chance with your favorite organs. Who’s to say that an unprotected quickie in the bathroom of a disco won’t fry your mind twenty years down the road? Stay safe, and wrap your goodies nice and tight! 2) The Pogrom of 1349 – Strasbourg - For my readers not hip to ethnic cleansing, a pogrom is when a riot breaks out against a specific set of peoples. In this case, on February 14th 1349, the German city of Strasbourg went on a killing spree and burnt to death or drove out of the city over two thousand Jews. Cause of event: Plain old fashioned ignorance. The bubonic plague was in full swing, and took a bite of the loving scene in Strasbourg in 1348. As the plague spread, strange theories began to grow, such the persistent and false belief that Jews were poisoning the wells to create the plague. What you can learn from this: Lovers, keep a healthy sense of reason! If you find yourself momentarily upset or bewildered, take a deep breath, light some incense, and whatever you do, leave the Jews alone! 3) President Franklin D. Roosevelt meets with King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia - On this day in 1945, FDR sat down with the Saudi Arabian king and first set about US-Saudi relations. Cause of event: In 1938, oil was discovered in Saudi Arabia. FDR wasn’t there to talk about the weather, ya dig? What you can learn from this: Don’t go after lovers just for their wealth, or the flash they can get you. You gotta love your lovers as they are. If you try and trick yourself into thinking you can ignore the horrible things somebody does just because they can score you drugs or cash, you’re a straight-up fool. Got any other Valentine’s day blunders that we can learn from? Leave me a comment! The Schmooz - Reginald Thurgood is known to his legions of fans as "THE SCHMOOZ," an international Rhythm and Blues singing sensation who has made love to thousands of women across the planet and loves to share every poetic detail. He answers all questions on love and relationship...as he is an expert, baby.