shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

shiver by Maggie Stiefvater.

Borrowed from my local public library.

***** "You must read this book!"

From the back cover: "And then I opened my eyes and it was just Grace and me - nothing anywhere but Grace and me - she pressing her lips together as though she were keeping my kiss inside her, and me holding this moment that was as fragile as a bird in my hands."

I cannot express how much I love this book. I love, love, love this book. As I was reading it, I was grinning because I was enjoying it so much. As I got closer to the end, I rationed my reading so that it wouldn't have to end. When I closed the book at night, I lay in bed imagining what might happen next, or how it would feel to be Grace or Sam.

This book is heart-breaking, bitter-sweet, exhilarating!

This book is poetry.

This book is first love, love-at-first-sight and everlasting love.

This book is the feeling of isolation as you grow up and define yourself.

I didn't read a plot synopsis before reading this book, and I'm glad that I didn't because it allowed the story to unfold before me with no expectations. But in case you want to know a little bit of what it's about...

From the inside cover: "Grace has spent years watching the wolves behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf - her wolf - watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why..."

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.

TTT - Healthy Habits

what habit of yours would you

most like to break?

Hmmmm...this is a hard one. I don't smoke, or swear, or bite my fingernails! I think, for me, the issue is really making new healthy new habits, rather than breaking old unhealthy ones.

I've already got two healthy habits that I'm really pleased with. The first is practising Tai Chi.

I began attending classes at the beginning of 2008, and immediately enjoyed it. After a term of introductory Shibashi lessons, I moved on to learning Levels 1-6 of Tai Chi.

Now that I've "graduated" from these classes, I attend Tai Chi Club every Wednesday. I also try to set aside 30 mins each day to practise. I find that when I do, it helps me remember to breathe, and makes me feel connected to the world around me. Tai Chi is good for wellbeing and relaxation and helps with lymphatic circulation, which is great for people like me who suffer from lymphodema.

My second "healthy habit" is journalling. No, I don't mean what I do here on my blog! I keep a notebook beside my bed, and in the morning or the evening I take some time to unload any worries or issues that are troubling me. It's an opportunity to practise positive self-talk and to work out what I really think and feel about things. I swear by it as a way to work through my problems.

So, what healthy habits would I like to add to my life? Well lately I've heard a bit about the idea that it's healthy to take about 10000 steps a day. I recently bought a pedometer, and I'm getting to know how many steps I take in a normal day so I can work out how I can increase them to meet my goal of 10000. Yesterday I hit around 5600 just doing housework at home, but today I'm only up to 2803, so I've got a way to go! I think I'm going to have to introduce going for an actual walk into my daily routine! Wish me luck!

If you'd like to join in the discussion, click on the button above which will take you to Shannon's NutHouse where she hosts Table Topics Tuesdays every week.

Last Writes by Laura Levine

Last Writes by Laura Levine.

Borrowed from my local public library.

*** "Fun!"

From the inside cover: "Jaine still hasn't found a good man - or a way to keep all those sugary snacks from going straight to her hips. But - with a little help from her best friend Kandi - she's finally landed a gig as a sitcom writer! True, Muffy 'n Me isn't going towin any Emmys. And her seedy office at Miracle Studios needs a little sprucing up, and a few dozen rat traps. But it sure beats writing boring brocures and run-of-the-mill resumes, so Jaine's not complaining. Until the plot thickens - with murder..."

Last Writes is the second book in Levine's Jaine Austen Mystery Series. You can read my review of This Pen for Hire here.

Jaine Austen is thrilled to find herself in the world of comedy television - the world of writers, actors, script re-writes, sets and read-throughs. She has been lucky enough to have her script - Cinderella Muffy - accepted, and is anxious that it be well-received. If it turns out that her episode is full of laughs she may even be offered a permanent job as a staff writer!

Unfortunately when actor Quinn Kirkland is poisoned on set during a live taping, Jaine's friend Kandi is taken off for questioning as the prime suspect. Not only was she seen in the prop room just before the poisoned prop donuts were sent to the stage, but she had been carrying on an affair with Quinn who had cheated on her with busty teenage actress Vanessa Dennis. Motive and opportunity! And so Jaine feels compelled to do some sleuthing to prove her friend's innocence.

I'm glad that I decided to continue with this series despite not being overly excited by This Pen for Hire. Levine has gained my respect by mixing it up a little, and not simply sticking with the same formula as last time. Although there are some familiar characters, such as Lance her nosy neighbour, and the lovable gang of senior citizens that Jaine teaches writing to, the setting is completely different. Levine is clever to take us out of Jaine's apartment and into the world to meet some new characters. I hope that future instalments of this series follow a similar path.

Levine also introduces a clever subplot involving her parents which is very reminiscient of Brigid's parents in Brigid Jones' Diary. Not original, but pleasantly entertaining none the less.

I don't really find the Jaine Austen Mysteries satisfying. I'm looking for a little more in the books that I read. A little more mystery, a little more romance (sadly lacking!), a little more thought-provoking, a little more challenging. I think of these books a little like junk food, only to be consumed sparingly because they don't really provide any nourishment.

If you need something for the bath, or a short trip on a plane, train or bus, then this is your book. And I really hope that Jaine gets lucky soon!

4 more days to end my ordeal

Yup... still doing my report.
4 more days and I will be done with it...

I think haven't been sleeping much past few days. So tired that I actually slept from 4pm till 9pm. And I'm still tired..arghh.

Writing report isn't my forte...

Going to Bangkok soon, looking forward to it!

I love my new Dress!

Check this out!

Dress from Target marked price $49.95 but bought for $34.40.

(I don't know - they must have been having a sale that I didn't know about?!)

I love my new dress, it's so comfy and I think it looks good! I did notice that it came in grey with red trim too... 

I'm still going to bangkok

Yes...I'm still going Bangkok. My supervisor plans so much for us...so paisay.

Flying off in 6 days time!

The Twitter Trio

I posted a while ago about how much I enjoy Twitter, how much information I'm discovering, how I like to pass on anything particularly interesting that I find, and how I find it difficult to keep up with the flow of information. Read the post here.

I have decided to attempt a regular weekend post featuring three interesting finds via Twitter, and I'm calling it The Twitter Trio.

1. AASL Blog Post

"If what we do is so important then why doesn't anyone but us know it?" May 20, 2010.

Found via @sandynay.

This is the official blog of the American Association of School Librarians. Written by Cassandra Barnett, the post discusses advocacy issues, and how teacher librarians must argue the importance of their role within the school. The post itself is interesting, but I'm particularly glad to have discovered the blog itself so I can add it to my Library and Education Blogs list.

2. The Blog of Tim Ferriss Post

"Tim Ferriss Scam! Practical Tactics for Dealing with Haters" May 18th, 2010.

Found via @miafreedman.

This is an inspiring article about accomplishing your objectives without reacting to every criticism you receive. I think that this is a great lesson for me, and I particularly like this bit: “Focus on impact, not approval. If you believe you can change the world, which I hope you do, do what you believe is right and expect resistance and expect attackers."

3. Prezi - The zooming presentation editor.

Move over powerpoint, Prezi is here. I have embedded an example below so you can appreciate the wonder that is Prezi. I have chosen the presentation "Math is not linear" because I am a maths teacher and I love what the creator, Alison Blank, has to say about the teaching and learning of mathematics.

Math is not linear on Prezi

See you next weekend for another exciting instalment of The Twitter Trio!