Challenge Update 19.09.12

Image from Goodreads

Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

From Goodreads:
Guy Montag is a fireman. In his world, where television rules and literature is on the brink of extinction, firemen start fires rather than put them out. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden.
Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and wife, Mildred, who spends all day with her television "family." But then he meets an eccentric young neighbor, Clarisse, who introduces him to a past where people didn’t live in fear, and to a present where one sees the world through the ideas in books instead of the mindless chatter of television. 

This is another of those books which I knew I had to read this year. I had it in my head that it had to part of my challenge but hadn't really given any thought to why. When I starting reading it this week I realised that I had had no idea what the book was actually about. It was such a pleasant surprise to discover the theme of it. I'm not really sure what else to say except that I loved it.


My total for the book challenge is now 47/50. Only 3 books left! I feel like the speed with which I'm reading is decreasing as I come closer to the end of the challenge. I can't believe I'm so close to the end. I won't stop adding to this once I've reached 50 though, I'm interested to see how many I actually read this year now. As always you can keep up with what I'm currently reading on my Goodreads page or look at past weeks of the challenge here.

The Gift of Photos...

 

 

 

I always find it difficult to buy presents for my friends who are expecting babies. I can shop for baby stuff all day long but finding something that is for the adults is a little more tough. For my friends Jamie and Tash I decided to take a couple of photos of them. They both enjoy taking photos and I thought they might like having some photos of the two of them before they become a family of three. It was fun to have something different to take photos of for once and although I know they're not the best pictures ever the main thing is their love for each other and their unborn daughter are shining through in them. She's due in just over a week now and I can't wait to see her.

Challenge Update 12.09.12

Image from Goodreads

The Shunned House - H.P. Lovecraft

From Goodreads:
A young man and his uncle have spent years fascinated by an abandoned house. For over a century, numerous inhabitants of the house have fallen sick and died, but no apparent explanation can be found. Strange weeds found no where else grow in the yard, and an unexplained smell emanates from the house. In the cellar, a sickly whitish phosphorescent fungi grows in the form of a human body. When they decide to spend the night there, the mystery of the shunned house becomes even more intriguing...

After finally finishing Clash of Kings I wanted to read something a little shorter. I've never read any Lovecraft before so I thought so decided to start this book on the train. I think it took me about 20 minutes. I didn't realise it was quite that short! I really enjoyed the writing style though and will definitely hunt down some more H.P. Lovecraft books to read.  

Image from Goodreads

The Savage Season - Joe R. Lansdale

From Goodreads:
Start with two best friends who practice martial arts in their free time: one a straight white guy, the other a black gay guy. Add a conniving ex-wife in a blue-jean miniskirt. Throw in half a million in a muddy creekbed somewhere near the Sabine River in East Texas. Add an ex-radical from the '60s and two naive idealists who want to save the world. Mix them all together in a half-assed plan, season with double-crosses, and then top it off with a hilarious and chilling drug dealer named Soldier. Bloody mayhem a la Lansdale.

This is one of those books that Matt has been trying to get me to read for ages and, since I'm doing this challenge and therefore always looking for new books, I thought I'd give it a go. What can I say? I enjoyed it. I should just trust when Matt recommends me a book, I always end up liking them. This book was a little crazy and kind of awesome. Going to start reading the second one soon.

My total for the book challenge is now 46/50. Only 4 books left! As always you can keep up with what I'm currently reading on my Goodreads page or look at past weeks of the challenge here.
 

Challenge Update 07.09.12

I know it's not Wednesday but I was just so excited that I had finally finished my book that I'm willing to overlook that small detail. Doing this book challenge has given me unrealistic expectations about books. I find myself getting annoyed that I haven't finished a book after a couple of days. This one took me two weeks and I think I need to remind myself that that's ok. Some books take time, I shouldn't rush through them just for the sake of it. It's all right to savour them. Anyway, on the update...

Image from Goodreads

A Clash of Kings - George R.R. Martin

From Goodreads:
Now, from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns. Six factions struggle for control of a divided land and the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, preparing to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil, and war. It is a tale in which brother plots against brother and the dead rise to walk in the night. Here a princess masquerades as an orphan boy; a knight of the mind prepares a poison for a treacherous sorceress; and wild men descend from the Mountains of the Moon to ravage the countryside. Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory may go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel...and the coldest hearts. For when kings clash, the whole land trembles.

I am loving this series. I'm still finding it a little tough to get through in parts, all of the names and locations can confuse me at times. I'm certainly getting into it though and I really want to read the next one straight away which is always a good sign. I'm not sure if I want to read the next one before the third series of Game of Thrones starts or not though. I don't want to accidentally ruin it for Matt. Not sure I can wait either. Dilemmas.

My total for the book challenge is now 44/50. As always you can keep up with what I'm currently reading on my Goodreads page or look at past weeks of the challenge here.
 

In Need of Motivation...

Taken on Amroth Beach, Wales. Aug 2012

I'm finding it really hard to get back into blogging after my holiday and I don't know how to get myself out of this slump. And it isn't just a blogging slump, I'm in the middle of a life slump. This time last year I had a very clear picture in my head about what my life would be like now and I guess I'm a little disappointed that reality is not matching up to my daydreams. I've been taking less photos, not reading as much, staying in more and that's having a very negative impact on my sense of well being. I don't really have too much reason to even feel this way; I have my health, a place to live and I'm married to my best friend. I am aware I'm acting like a child but it's just one of those weeks where I just feel meh.

This post is a little pointless and rambling but what I'm trying to say is I'm going to pull myself out of this little rut and get myself motivated again. Because I really do believe real life can be better than my daydreams, I just need to make it happen. So bear with me please...