Kasei Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 (edited) Hey there all! Probably most of you don't know me, but I have lurked here since 2007 and done a couple of book (b)logs off and on over the last five years or so (First attempt and second attempt). I just found my way back here again this afternoon and thought I'd keep with tradition and start a new book log for 2014. We'll see how long I can go this year before I have to disappear due to busy-ness again. e_e; To give an update, I am still teaching and spend most of my freetime drawing or looking at art-related books/sites/things these days. I am trying to focus more on building my portfolio and getting into the illustration business (or at least trying to). But I do still go through phases where I'll read voraciously for a few days, so those times are probably when you will see me around most...because sometimes I need to decompress and ramble about how awesome a book I just read was on a forum that is used to lots of letters and will not "tldr" my words. What I tend to do in here is write reviews/ramble about the books I'm reading, so if that interests you feel free to join in. I mostly read fantasy, adventure, classics, and books about nature...but there are sometimes other things sprinkled in, and I am always open to suggestions. Well then, here I go! *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Currently Reading: Irresistable Revolution (re-read) by Shane Claiborne A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby K. Payne Wind in the Willows byKenneth GrahameSitting on the shelf in Que to be Read:Dracula by Bram StokerBeowulfAesop's Fables by AesopCujo by Stephen KingDon Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes Have Read since January 2014:Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie (5/5)Old Yeller by Fred Gipson (4/5)Savage Same by Fred Gipson (4/5) Call of the Wild by Jack London (5/5) Freaky Fast Frankie Joe by Lutricia Cliffton (4/5) Ida B. by Katherine Hannigan (4/5) Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood (4/5) White Fang by Jack London (5/5) Skip by Aileen Fisher (3/5) Wild Mustang by Lynn Hall (3/5) Recommended reads from years past:*Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake [review]**The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson [review]*The Wal-Mart Effect by Charles Fishman[review]*Gorillas in the Mist by Dian Fossey**An Ordinary Man by Paul Rusesabagina *A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin [review] *The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett*War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Key:** = Highly recommend!* = RecommendX = I didn't care for the book, would not recommendAll unmarked books mean that I enjoyed the readMy review ratings can be interpreted as such:0/5: Paperweight1/5: Could've done without reading this one, hardly any redeeming qualities2/5: A "meh" book--unmemorable/had a lot of problems I couldn't read around3/5: Pretty okay. You won't die if you miss it, but not awful.4/5: Quite enjoyable, would read again.5/5: You absolutely should read this. It reeks of awesome.(you may assume that any title with * by it gets this rating from me)[/url] Edited February 11, 2014 by Kasei Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasei Posted February 8, 2014 Author Share Posted February 8, 2014 (edited) Would Like to Read but do not currently have in possession (aka my TBR list):American Gods by Neil GaimanLondon by Edward RutherfurdCretaceous sea: A novel of time travel by Will HubbelIce Hunt by James RollinsRaptor by Paul ZindelTyrannosaur Canyon by Douglas J. PrestonWest of Eden by Harry HarrisonThe Land that Time Forgot by Edgar Rice BurroughsThe Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan DoyleNot a Fan by Kyle IdlemanAfrica by Kim DonaldsonThe Red Wyvern by Katherine KerrThe Rover by Mel OdomIn Search of America by Peter JenningsLong Night Dance by Betsy JamesEden by Olympia VernonThe Iron Ring by Lloyd AlexanderKushiel’s Dart by Jaquine CarnyThe Sword of Shannara by Terry BrooksSilverhair, Longtusk, Icebones by Steven BaxterKing’s Shadow by Elizabeth AlderBetween by Jean ThompsonThe White Bone by Barbara GowdyDragon’s Bait by Vivien Vande VeldeFiregold by Dia CalhounPure Dead Magic by Debi GliordiTomorrow, When the War Began by John MarsdenThe Merlin Conspiracy by Dianne Wynne JonesThe Book of the Lion by Michael CadmumDeep Dream of the Forrest by Malcom BosseThe Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis Edited February 15, 2014 by Kasei Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasei Posted February 8, 2014 Author Share Posted February 8, 2014 (edited) Nose-deep in White Fang right now, was reading along and saw this little excerpt that I liked and thought I'd share: They ran many miles that day. They ran through the night. And the next day found them still running. They were running over the surface of a world frozen and dead. No life stirred. They alone moved through the vast inertness. They alone were alive, and they sought for other things that were alive in order that they might devour them and continue to live. This starving wolf pack is written like a fire. Such cool imagery, makes me want to stop and draw. xD A frequent problem when I read. Edited February 8, 2014 by Kasei Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 Hello Kasei, good to 'see' you. White Fang has always intrigued me, so I will be really interested to read your review when you have completed it. The excerpt is wonderful, you can feel the rush of the passing pack. The thought of a cross over between being a reader and an artist rolled up together is a bit mind blowing for this reading-only gal. If you are inspired to draw from the imagery in a text do you occasionally give into the urge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasei Posted February 8, 2014 Author Share Posted February 8, 2014 Hey there! Good to "see" you again too! Always nice when I recognize familiar names. The thought of a cross over between being a reader and an artist rolled up together is a bit mind blowing for this reading-only gal. If you are inspired to draw from the imagery in a text do you occasionally give into the urge? Oh yes, all the time! I have sketchbook pages full of character sketches and drawings of powerful scenes from the pages I read. I love books and I love drawing what I see come out of them. That's actually what I would love to do for a living, illustrate books. I have always been really interested in the idea of words and images helping to share thoughts from author/artist to the reader/viewer. Such a cool thing to me! It's like stepping into someone else's head for a moment. I may post some sketches here from time to time if people wouldn't mind the slight off topic-ness... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 Welcome back, Kasei! You have some good books on your lists, and interesting reviews. I love the idea of drawing scenes from the books you're reading, fantastic! Please do post some when you are able. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devi Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 I draw a little myself too! I would love to see some of your work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marie H Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 Hello Kasei . I read The Call of the Wild many years ago (maybe 35 years ago) and the book is still haunting me; it was so different, written as the dog's perspective. I hope you are successful with your illustrations - I love book illustrations, and quite often I'm drawn (not meant to make a pun there ) to a books by it's illustrations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 (edited) Hey Kasei! White Fang and The Call of the Wild are on my TBR, I hope you enjoy your book . Happy Reading in 2014 ! Edited February 9, 2014 by Athena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasei Posted February 11, 2014 Author Share Posted February 11, 2014 School got cancelled on account of ice today, yay! So I was up at 3 am finishing White Fang. xD It was quite good, but I also have a bias towards nature books/books written with animals as the main characters. So...yeah, I dunno. Maybe if you're not into that sort of thing you wouldn't like it, but as someone who grew up reading Lassie Come Home, Redwall, The Black Stallion series, etc I certainly enjoyed it a lot. Great descriptions of White Fang's psychology throughout his life experiences. And wow, thanks everyone for the comments and interest in pictures! I'll have to be sure to include some throughout my little blog here, even if they are just doodles. :3Now onto a couple more animal books I swiped of my TBR shelf that I keep at my parents' house (not enough room in the apartment I own for all of them, haha). These ones are pretty short, but I will feel accomplished adding a few more books to my 2014 read list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 (edited) 'White Fang' is now on my wish list! EDIT - White Fang has been 'bought' - free on kindle! A big YES from me to see a few of your doodles. Edited February 11, 2014 by Chrissy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasei Posted February 12, 2014 Author Share Posted February 12, 2014 Nice! Nothing like free classics! I probably should review White Fang too since I usually do for the books I read....but I feel so weird reviewing a book that has such an established place in literary circles. It's one of the many well-known classics and, well, I dunno, I just feel weird writing a review for it. xD Maybe I will though sometime, just didn't have as much time today as I thought. Sped through Skip and the Wild Mustang, but they weren't really all that notable. Not terribly written or anything, just very much aimed at a younger audience and there wasn't a lot of substance in them. The Wild Mustang was interesting insofar as it was based on a founding member of the Pony of the Americas horse breed named "Dragon." Made me go look up the facts and see what matched, so that was kind of neat. But even so, his story wasn't all that involved or surprising. So I probably won't be reviewing those book either, haha. Wind in the Willows though, that one should be fun. It's one of those books I've always meant to read my whole life (like the Phantom Tollbooth, which I finally did read and HIGHLY reccomend) and just never have. Well, here's to checking another one off my lifelong reading list! May not get to it for another week or so though, life is about to get pretty busy again here for the next few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 You shouldn't feel obliged to write a review. For me reading other people's it's a case of knowing whether they liked it or not, and the reasons. For 'White Fang' you have said that you enjoyed the imagery and the 'great descriptions of White Fang's psychology throughout his life experiences.' (<quote!), so you have covered it! I get all funny with my reviews and I get all vague and pretty meaningless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasei Posted February 12, 2014 Author Share Posted February 12, 2014 Oh no, I don't feel pressured at all. I was just commenting that it felt wierd not writing one since I almost always do, especially last year when I was doing this. I reviewed eeevveeerryyyttthiiing. And at length. xD Always glad to point someone in the direction of a good read though! Hope you enjoy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timstar Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Some great books there Kasei, I've just finished Don Quixote and thought it was great... if a little long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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