On the Bookshelf

First off, I passed the driving test today! Finally! I am a big stress head and when it comes to test conditions I tend to get all a manner of nervous. Today was my third try and I managed to keep my nerves under control enough not to stuff up too much. This is great because I can finally drive my car around without having to drag dad along and I will be able to get to work more easily. No more having to rely on over crowded and always late buses! Oh, happy days!


From the Back Cover:
Harry Potter thinks he is an ordinary boy - until he is rescued by an owl, taken to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, learns to play Quidditch and does battle in a deadly duel. The Reason: HARRY POTTER IS A WIZARD!

It had been some years since I had last revisited the book that started a literary phenomenon. Doing so now it is easy to see how this book so easily enthralled and enchanted me as an eleven year old. Now, as an adult with my decade old copy of Philosopher's Stone (or Sorcerer's Stone if you are in the USA) falling apart in my hands, I find myself falling under Rowling's spell once more.

Rowling takes classic clichés, such as the orphan child raised by cruel relatives and discovering that he is somehow special, and breathes new life into them. She creates a world that is fantastic and magical and yet at the same time convincing us that it really could all exist just outside the realm of our (Muggle) perception.

Being more recently familiar with the later books in the series of seven I had forgotten just how delightful the first book really is. While the on going dark themes of the series, particularly death and racial segregation and good versus evil, are present in this first book they are veiled by Rowling's wit and humour and the innocence of the main characters in their youth. Without wanting to get too far ahead here in terms of coming reviews of the rest of the series, I have a great appreciation for the pace at which Rowling matures the series.

While there are groups out there that want to censor the series for various reasons (and I do so very much dislike people who call for the censorship of something that they have never read or just censorship in general, really), I say that fantastical magic, dark themes, and all, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is a delightful read and safe for even younger readers with progression to the later darker books under parental guidance if necessary.

I really enjoyed revisiting this book for the Harry Potter reading Challenge and Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon. I am now really looking forward to a long overdue reread of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in the near future.


Terra

Is it just me or is something different here...? Hey! Lookie at that! I got a new layout! Please bare with me while things are rearranged and links are fixed. Also, please let me know what you think about the new layout by answering the poll over in the right column. Comments are also welcome.

As a glassmaker and a magician-in-training, Opal Cowen understands trial by fire. Now it's time to test her mettle. Someone has sabotaged the Stormdancer clan's glass orbs, killing their most powerful magicians. The Stormdancers - particularly the mysterious Kade - require Opal's unique talents to prevent it happening again. But when the mission goes awry, Opal must tap into a new kind of magic as stunningly potent as it is frightening. And the further she delves into the intrigue behind the glass and magic, the more distorted things appear. With lives hanging in the balance - including her own - Opal must control powers she hadn't known she possessed... powers that might lead to disaster beyond anything she's ever known...

My Thoughts:
It made me so very happy to pick up a Maria V. Snyder book again. I absolutely adored her Study series and I have been eagerly awaiting a chance to pick up he first book in the new Glass series. I had high expectations for Storm Glass and I am pleased to say that it did not disappoint.

Storm Glass follows Opal Cowen, the young and gifted glass maker who Yelena encountered in the Study series. Opal is studying as a magician at the keep but is finding that, despite her unique magical ability with glass, she is stunted at even the most basic of magical tasks. While this is similar to what happened to Yelena in Magic Study do not make the mistake of thinking that Opal is Yelena 2.0. While both go on to discover more about their unique abilities, the journey undertaken by each is unique. Opal reacts differently to situations and has her own background and history.

You could enjoy this book without having read the Study books but having read the previous series will most certainly give you a better understanding of the world at hand and overall deepen your enjoyment. Storm Glass will also give spoilers to what happened in the previous series so I do strongly recommend reading the Study series first. Also, those familiar with the original three books will definitely appreciate the cameos of much loved characters throughout.

Complete with action, romance, and plenty of twists and turns to keep readers on their toes, Snyder fans are bound to be pleased with Storm Glass. I now cannot wait to read the sequel, Sea Glass.

Also Check Out:
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Terra

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The sound came again. There was a whistle to it, and a moan. It was almost a hiss, and it could've been a strangled gasp. Above all it was quiet and seemed to have no source.
It whispered.

From page 138 of Boneshaker by Cherie Priest.

I cheated and hand picked this teaser as it is from my favourite scene from the book so far. I would've shared more but I have already gone over the designated two sentences so you will just have to read the book yourselves for the rest!

Terra

So, I only just now got back in from my driving lesson with my wonderful dad who endures teaching me. I am still going to keep on reading for the final thirty minutes but instead of starting something new I am going to continue with Boneshaker by Cherie Priest which I am currently in the middle of.

Before that, however, I am going to fill out another survery meme for the Read-A-Thon.

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?
The second and third hours when I was the most tired (the event having started at 10PM here) and ended up falling asleep while reading then woke up just long enough to turn off the light and to move my book out of the sleep danger zone.

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
Checkers by John Marsden as it is short and yet engrossing.

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
I thought that between the memes, cheerleaders, and twitter chatter is wonderful. There was always someone reading on alongside you. (Not literally, but you know what I mean.) Just keep up that wonderful connected spirit!

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
The website with it's hourly updates with memes and activities, even if I did not always participate.

5. How many books did you read?
Four (4)

6. What were the names of the books you read?

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling
• The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling
• Quidditch Through the Ages by J.K. Rowling

7. Which book did you enjoy most?
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling

8. Which did you enjoy least?
I enjoyed my Harry Potter theme pretty well. While all of the companion books are relatively short, they are each quirky and unique and I was never bored.

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?
I wasn't a cheerleader but thanks to everyone who was for all of your great encouragement!

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?
I will definitely be back for the next Read-A-Thon. Most likely just as a reader again. If I were a cheerleader I would get so absorbed in my books that I would forget to come back and cheer!

This will be my last post for the Read-A-Thon. It was a wonderful event and I am so happy that I took part. I would have liked to have squeezed in one more book but I am pleased to have gotten started on one of the challenges that I had signed up for and then neglected. I will start posting the reviews over the next few days. A big thanks also goes to all the wonderful people who make this event happen. You guys rock!

Happy reading,

Terra

So far I have made my way steadily through three books. I found that I have not grown at all bored with my Harry Potter theme having now completed Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Quidditch Through the Ages, and The Tales of Beedle the Bard. In fact, I am wondering whether or not I should just set aside my non-Rowling books and pick up Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets instead. I doubt, however that I will get it finished before the challenge ends. Dad wants to take me out for a driving lesson in a few hours and while it is much needed and definitely appreciated it does fall in to Read-A-Thon time.

Right now I am going to take a half hour or so break to rest my eyes and get in some tidying up. Next up is Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Terra

So, I may have, erm, accidentally fallen asleep. For ten whole hours. I was going to stay up until at least 1AM and sleep until 6 or 7AM but I guess my tired brain had other plans. Instead I managed to doze off while reading around eleven o'clock - only one hour in to the Read-A-Thon. I do think that I can still catch up. I am a third of the way through the first Harry Potter book and I don't see why it should take more than two hours to finish the rest. Maybe I can push for one hour?

Okay, so to get back in to the groove of things, I am going to take part in the mid-event meme - a survey!



Terra

Lately I have been doing a pretty good job at keeping up the exercise, if I do say so myself, but sometimes I still need a bit of motivation to keep me going. Especially at this time of the year as Australia leaves summer behind and the weather starts to turn cool again making it is oh so tempting to ditch the jogging shoes and curl up with a good book and a mug of hot chocolate. The 100 Mile Fitness Challenge is a great and fun way for us bloggers to motivate each other to keep healthy and active.

I participated in the first round but joined the challenge quite late and didn't manage to achieve the goal of 100 miles of exercise and fitness. This time around I am jumping on the bandwagon nice and early and have plenty of time to hopefully achieve a goal of 200 miles. Only, to not confuse my poor brain, I am setting my goal in kilometres. I think in kilometres and my exercise bike only reads in kilometres so it is a lot easier for me to track. This makes my 200 mile goal approximately a 322km goal. That's the one downfall of kilometres - it suddenly seems like a lot more exercise!

Head on over to the 100 Mile Fitness Challenge blog to learn more about the challenge and to set your exercise goal!

Terra

I've just made the crazy spur of the minute decision to sign up to participate in the 24 Hour Read-A-Thon! It's not too late for YOU to sign up too!

I am hoping that this event will help me knock a few books off of my massive TBR pile. I don't have much of a plan as of yet but I'm thinking it is a good opportunity to start on the Harry Potter Reading Challeng which I signed up for forever ago and still have not started. So my vague sort-of plan looks a bit like this:

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling
• The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
• Winter by John Marsden
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling
• The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks
• Quidditch Through the Ages by J.K. Rowling

The Harry Potter companion books are not technically a part of the challenge but I had planned to read and review them anyway. Also, they are short so finishing them in between the longer books will hopefully keep me motivated. The The Zombie Survival Guide is a reread but I want to refresh my memory for review.

I have no idea if I will even be able to finish one book or all of the books. I really just plan to go with the flow. The challenge starts late in the evening here for me and I am rather fond of sleep so I'll stay up for so of it but I don't plan to remain conscious for entire event. As for snacks, I am armed with plenty of chocolate left over from Easter. I'll post some updates throughout the event but have not set myself a schedule.

Mosey on over to the 24 Hour Read-A-Thon website to learn more about the event and to sign up!

Good luck to everyone who is going to participate!

Terra