Princess Orchid

Oh, and I just started (this morning) Nigel Slater's "Eating for England". After Rats Saw God, I didn't really want to go right into a book heavy in characterisation and dialogue as I might try to draw comparisons between the two. So food, food and more food seemed the way to go!

I just read my last post through, and rather than edit I thought I'd just add to it here. I'm usually (and this is probably evident in my previous posts) quite picky when it comes to my reading material. This doesn't mean I won't read almost anything (especially if recommended) - it just means I'm quite critical of the finished product. Even in books I thoroughly enjoy, I always manage to find something to criticise (which may or may not be something that detracts from my enjoyment overall). Language, dialogue, characterisation, overt "fluffiness", cheesiness, unrealistic relationships...the list goes on. I thought I'd be slightly biased (in favour) towards this book, as the writer created my favourite show of all time (and I've watched a lot of telly). I actually found myself forgetting that fact whilst I was reading, which was a surprise (I did imagine myself jumping up mid-sentence and pointing "He created Veronica Mars!" every few pages, which obviously didn't happen, as I've not been carted away to the funny farm), and within the first few pages it became quite evident that Steve York was probably somewhat inaccurately described as a Logan-esque character - but I still loved it. Most of the characters, being high school kids and all, are probably people who would wee me off if I ever met them in real life, but I still found them compelling and sympathetic. And believable. The dialogue was witty and sharp, and accurate for that age group (or so I think - I'm not exactly a teenager). This is what I think (reasonably intelligent) young people sound like, act like, etc. So quite unlike the sickeningly angsty Dawson Creeks and their neverending monologues, or the indecently perky Californian glamour models posing as high school students that we are led to believe typifies the youth of today. Oh god. I just said "the youth of today". Somebody get my pipe and slippers!

I finished Rats Saw God today; I've not updated my book blog in a few days but I had to come on here and say this - I was sad to finish it. Seriously. You know when you get into a book, really get into it, totally understand the characters and where they're coming from, and then you read a sentence or a paragraph or a chapter that actually makes you laugh like a loon on the bus, or smile to yourself remembering something you read a few hours ago? Yeah, this book was all those. And the ending nearly had me bawling on the bus - not because it was particularly sad or tragic or distressing, but because it just made sense, Oh, and now I'm not making much sense. I'll come back and edit later, but right now I'm just in awe.

I was right. This is from an interview with Rob Thomas: "The first one [novel], which is probably the best known, is a book called "Rats Saw God." It came out in '96. I wrote it when I was 28, and though it was about an 18-year-old, I really kind of wrote it for an audience of my peers so, given the sex and the drugs and the language, I really didn't think anyone would buy it as a young adult novel..." (from Salon.com - "The Man Behind Veronica)

Finished The Careful Use of Compliments, which I really enjoyed (no surprise there). I'd actually been on the AMS forum, and accidentally read what might be considered a spoiler - but didn't understand it at the time, as I hadn't even bought the book yet. Anyways, some of the pieces began to fit into place just before the "mystery" was actually solved on the page, but that didn't diminish my enjoyment of the book at all. Started reading Rats Saw God over breakfast this morning, and am loving it so far. I'm only 10 or so pages in, but really - genius. And I wouldn't consider this book to be appropriately shoehorned into the "young adult" category. The protagonist is a teenager, but it's not necessarily geared towards teenaged readers.

Bubble tea (taro flavour, with milk). Or peppermint tea for everyday. Or Vanilla Rooibos. I don't "do" caffeine really, so bubble tea is about as caffeinated as I get!

Ok, to quickly update - I still haven't finished the last few pages of Moral Disorder, partly due to my parents being in town. I'm also not much farther into Merde Actually. However, I remembered the other day that Alexander McCall Smith's new book, The Careful Use of Compliments, came out at the beginning of October - seems like just yesterday I was whinging about it not being out yet here! Really enjoying it, really enjoying more tales of Isabel Dalhousie and her companions/acquaintances/new baby Charlie. She seems a bit too calm of a mother though! I've always been torn between favouring AMS's Isabel Dalhousie or his Scotland Street series, but I think I definately prefer (marginally) Scotland Street - possibly because there is a greater and more varied cast of characters. All of Isabel's friends are very genteel and polite, well mannered, from a certain class of Edinburgh society. The Scotland Street characters are more "colourful", in a way. I'm going to St Andrews tonight, so have packed an extra book for the journey back. I'm pretty certain I'll have my AMS book finished by the time I even get there, so I also have with me Rats Saw God (by Rob Thomas). I'm really looking forward to this one, as RT created/produced my favourite show of all time, Veronica Mars. "Rats Saw God is a young adult novel by Rob Thomas. No, not the singer for Matchbox 20. Yes, that Rob Thomas. Our Rob Thomas. Featuring a Logan-like protagonist, Rats Saw God is an unsurprisingly awesome... Hello? Anyone still reading this? Oh, you all ran to the store to buy the book as soon as you saw "Logan-like," didn't you. Rats." (from marsinvestigations.net)

I think it's so cute Mark, of all people, is sort of a father figure to Justin now Santos is gone, and Ignacio is still in Mexico.

I've got 2:2 recorded on Sky+, but I haven't had time to watch it yet. I'm taking the return of Ugly Betty as part of my consolation prize for my favourite show being cancelled. Love the fluffiness!

I finished Shanghai Union of Industrial Mystics last night, and it was funny funny funny. One of those books with such an outrageous plot you don't expect it to be any good (gimmicky), but it was really well done. Funny - both slapstick silly and witty. I'd definately recommend it.

Chicken and leek pie, boulangere potatoes, broccoli. Pie day in the canteen. Gotta love Wednesdays!

Mmm...pancakes. I always get my breakfast at work, as it gives me an extra few minutes in bed in the morning! The canteen does a mean bagel, and when they run out, there's always the Almighty Pretzel. With one VQR extra light triangle (I can't get used to calling them Laughing Cow - they're called Vache Qui Rit where I'm from!). Strangely, I eat almost no bread at home.

I'm thinking of having a Christmas baking party this year - doing the mice pies and the sugar cookies etc.

I'm on the last chapter of Moral Disorder, and although there were some parts I really enjoyed (strangely the farm chapters), I found the book/story as a whole lacking. I didn't like the change from first person to third about halfway through, as there didn't seem to be a need for it - and it didn't make sense why at that point the switch was made. I'll get into my favourite bits in more depth tomorrow, but in the meantime... I started a couple other books this weekend - Stephen Clarke's "Merde Actually" as a bit of light and fluffy reading, and Nury Vittachi's "Shanghai Union of Industrial Mystics", which is quite good so far. I'm not expecting anything especially groundbreaking or thought-provoking from the Stephen Clarke, but he always makes for some good light reading.

We used to call them that in Canada as well - we had 2 in my mum and dad's house (a living room and a family room). I guess if you have one, it's called a sitting room, but more than one and they're referred to in the plural as reception rooms. So the slightly smaller one in my flat, which has the telly in it, and the comfy sofa, is the sitting room. And the larger, more formal room is the drawing room. The furniture in there is slightly less comfy, more decorative.

Just popped in to say, I'm halfway through Moral Disorder, and although parts of it are really compelling, mostly it's falling a bit flat with me. I know MA likes to go off on tangents a bit, but I found myself losing interest in bits. Not a good sign. Maybe I'm just tired...

Birthday:10 April Age:28 Starsign:Aries Single/Married/Other? Children? Where do you live? Scotland Do you work? Yes, and have done (off and on) since 2nd year at uni Favourite author? Xinran Favourite book? Constantly changing, but currently "Neptune Noir" and "Miss Chopsticks" How did you get here? I can't remember, but probably a search engine

I'm blessed. My flat used to be the ground floor of a hotel, so I've got 2 reception rooms.

Well, I just managed to fit all the books I could find around the house (and believe me, they were EVERYWHERE) into my new display cabinet in the drawing room. I bought the cabinet for quite little from a shop that was closing near my house - it's antique mahogany, in perfect condition, with glass doors at the top (and display lights!) and curved solid doors at the bottom. It's stunning, I love it! I've got 2 more bookshelves (twins) on either side of it in the DR, also filled with books. There is a fairly hefty display cabinet in the sitting room, filled with books (and also at this moment in time, random odds and ends shoved into the closed cabinets at the bottom), and ANOTHER bookshelf behind the sofa filled with cookbooks. Then there's one shelf in my bedroom full of books, and another in the second bedroom, also full of books. By the end of the month, I'll have a unit built in the slight recess in the sitting room, where my telly now sits, that will house the stereo, the telly, and some more books; and also a pair of maHOOsive bookshelves on the facing wall in the drawing room, on either side of the fireplace (which is also getting replaced - woo hoo!). I love my cabinetmaker! I always think I'll have plenty of room, but watch this space - in 6 months time I'll probably have all that filled and then some!

I'm worryingly addicted to raspberries (tulameen esp, ins eason right now I think), figs, and cherries (sadly none about...).

I'm worryingly addicted to raspberries (tulameen esp, ins eason right now I think), figs, and cherries (sadly none about...).

I'm worryingly addicted to raspberries (tulameen esp, ins eason right now I think), figs, and cherries (sadly none about...).

I always read in bed - unfortunately, this sometimes (often) results in not enough sleep! There are also a few other places I always take a book: - on bus/train/plane journeys, not matter how short. I feel the same way about my iPod and my iPod-to-radio adapter for car journeys, even of only 5010 mins! - whilst eating. Seriously terrible habit, but if I'm having a quick lunch by myself (obviously wouldn't do this if I had company), I'll always have a book.

I finished Extra Large Medium on the bus home last night, and yeah, I was a bit disappointed. The reason behind Evan Bees' disappearance was really anticlimactic (ok, the actual reason wasn't - unless I misinterpreted - but the way it was expressed to the reader was less than inspiring). The ending smacked a little too much of "oh look - strings! Let's tie them together somehow!", rather than something that felt natural. It was a bit jarring, and I don't feel it made that much sense. Having said that, the first half of the book was fantastic. I think I started losing interest when the narrative started jumping from character to character, which gave the entire thing a disjointed feel. I started Moral Disorder (Margaret Atwood) this morning. I'm not far enough into the story to pass judgement yet. I have high hopes though, as I loved The Penelopiad. In other news, I finished the 5th Malory Towers book last night, so only one to go. I'll be sad to finish them once again, but I'm sure I'll pick them up again in the future.

I don't have exact measurements, but I usually use a couple of chicken carcasses from roast chicken, put them in a huge pot (if the carcasses are raw, I like to roast them til browned - gives the soup a nice colour, and more flavour). Cover with plenty of water, maybe an onion and a carrot or two, possibly a sprig or so of thyme...simmer fairly gently ("just" simmering) for about 45 mins-1 hour or longer (don't simmer too long thought). Chuck in some salt (no pepper at this point). Remove the carcass and the veg. Let the soup cool, then scoop off the layer of scuzz on top. Now you can add stuff to the soup base to make it into a proper soup. Tbh, I usually just chuck in a few roasted chicken drumsticks in with the carcass at the beginning, then remove the carcass from the pot leaving the meat. Throw in some fresh veg, whatever you like, after the carcass has been removed and the scuzz scraped off, and simmer til cooked.