Lari's Bookshelf

If you use blogger, you'll have the option to try a new blogger interface . I noticed when I logged on today, that there was a pop-up and a button encouraging me to try it out. I love the look! It looks so much cleaner and my Reading List is actually easier to read. Blogger Dashboard New Post Anyways, I thought I would share since it looks pretty cool. I know that the regularity of my posts have gone down in the past two weeks, but mainly because I've been undergoing a series of existential crises. Hahahahaha. No really. I plan on picking things back up to their regular pace today. Do you have blogger? What do you think of the new interface so far?

Welcome new followers! Please visit my about page to learn a little more about me and this blog. The first Follow Friday question is hosted by Parajunkee's View  and Alison Can Read . Q. In books like the Sookie Stackhouse (True Blood) series the paranormal creature in question "comes out of the closet" and makes itself known to the world. Which mythical creature do you wish would come out of the closet, for real? Fairies. Hands. Down. Why? For two reasons: 1. I could obtain a fairy familiar like Link in the Zelda series. She would be a handy companion, who could give me life when needed, offer me enhanced magical abilities, or resurrect my dead body. 2. I could shake a fairy's dust on me, think happy thoughts, and voila, I no longer have to pay for airfare to visit the mainland. Plus, I could go to Neverland and be a pirate. Which would be sweet. Although, having a fairy nearby could attract vampires, as has been seen in the Sookie Stackhouse novels an...

It is no secret that J. R. R. Tolkien was very much influenced by old Anglo Saxon literature. When contemplating the connections in between his work and Old English literature, I remembered learning about an elegy titled, "The Wanderer." In it a man, known as the "earth-walker," laments losing his lord, companions, and (how could you forget) his mead hall. The sense of loss that pervades this poem is iconic of much archaic Anglo-Saxon literature. Here is the text in its original language . (Check out the use of thorn , I love that letter. Let's bring back þorn !) [Stop giggling that is NOT a "p."] In the poem, the method of mourning the loss of what the "earth-walker" holds dear is done by the use of the word "where" and "what." Here is an excerpt from the translation of " The Wanderer " by E. T. Donaldson: So the Maker of mankind laid waste this dwelling-place until the old works of giants stood idle, d...

I just got the ALA Graphics catalog in the mail. Here are some posters I'd like to have: Carl Sagan History Poster Harry Potter Characters Poster Set Ewan McGregor Read Poster In fact these, or any bookmarks of these graphics would be great. Just contact me if you get a hold of some and  I'll give you the address to send them my way. ;) Also, I was able to come across a few Jorge Garcia READ posters from my public library here in Hawaii. LOST fans will recognize him as the beloved Hurley. I'm planning on giving some away soon. So after I announce the winners for the autographed copy of Princess Academy and pens , I'll be putting together another giveaway for these posters. LOST in a good book?

Ashfall By Mike Mullin (His website is currently selling autographed copies for pre-order.) Release Date: October 14, 2011 Publisher: Tanglewood Press Pages: 472 ISBN-13: 978-1933718552 Genre: YA, Post Apocalyptic, Sci-Fi What if the super volcano known as Yellowstone National Park blew its top? Alex thinks that it's going to be just another weekend playing World of Warcraft while his folks are away visiting family. What he doesn't expect is his house to catch on fire because of a super volcanic eruption thousands of miles away. The cataclysmic events that ensue describe a frightening world covered in a layer of deadly ash. The violence in the world after the volcano is described through Alex's experiences. It isn't long, after the deafening noise which lasts days, that he sees a man kill another for food. Alex realizes that to survive, he needs to be willing to protect himself, and utilizes his martial arts training to get by in this new unfriendly wor...

I love classic horror fiction, and enjoy tales that can create a mood, setting, and leave you thorougly creeped out within 40 minutes of reading. These are some awesome short stories/novelettes you can download for free! I'm also highlighting the fact that these are all from ManyBooks . This is a fabulous free ebook site that has all sorts of literature that is available for free download in all kinds of formats. Check it out! Here are some I'd recommend: The Yellow Wall Paper   by Charlotte Perkins Stetson " A journal of the descent into madness of a woman suffering from a ''temporary nervous depression — a slight hysterical tendency.'' Hints throughout the story suggest the woman's problem is the recent birth of her child, insinuating postpartum depression. Confined in an upstairs room to recuperate by her well-meaning but dictatorial and oblivious husband, the yellow wallpaper in the room becomes the focal point of her growing insanity." ...

Please check out my guest post for Library Crush week on the blog Just a YA Girl ! Thanks a ton to Trish for giving me the opportunity to share. Also, I will be posting my review of "Ashfall" this week. Things have been crazy lately, so I need to get my act together and organize my ever growing reading list. It's starting to become overwhelming. Speaking of books, I love this recent picture book by Lane Smith called, "It's a Book." The trailer is pretty darn cute too. Bibliophiles will appreciate it.

So, I've seen quite a few TV shows or movies (many of them I like!) that have virtuous heroes against baddies, who just like being bad. For instance, my daughter just started watching She-Ra: The Princess of Power on Hulu . Princess Adora, long lost sister to Prince Adam (He-Man), fights the evil tyranny of the Horde, ruled by Hordak, by becoming She-Ra with a magic sword. Sexy, Blonde, Virtuous, and Sexy It's such a clear-cut evil vs. good show, that there is no nuance, not really with the villains. Even by having Adora a member of the Horde herself in the beginning, seemed like an artificial attempt to add depth to a character who really is one-dimensional. She simply "had not seen" the Horde being mean to people, but as soon as she sees an old man get thrown into a lake, she does a 180 and has no trouble fighting against the people who raised her. (Side note, I also think it's funny that these evil villains can at most "stun" their victims b...

Welcome new followers! I have a pretty sweet giveaway going on right now, be sure to check it out. Also if you are new, please visit my about page to learn a little more about me and the blog. First question from Parajunkee's Feature & Follow Friday ! Q. How has your reading habits changed since you were a teen? or If you are still a teen what new genres are you in love with currently? Oh man. I love a lot of the same stuff I loved as a teen. But that doesn't mean my reading habits haven't changed, they have. I think they've changed for the better. When I was a teen, I was only into fantasy fiction, today, I'm into all sorts of crazy things like books about philosophy, sociology, psychology, religion, science, etc. I've also broadened my fiction reading into not just fantasy, but regular fiction as well.   Q. Let’s talk crazy book titles! Highlight one or two (or as many as you like!) titles in your personal collection that have the most interesting...

Parents know how challenging it can be to do something as seemingly simple as putting down their little one for bedtime. They fuss. They fight. They don't want to sleep. At least that's how it is with my little one. She HATES sleeping and would much rather be awake all the time. So I thought I would share a lullaby and a bedtime book that you probably don't want to listen to with your kids in the room. :) They both capture the frustrations of putting a child to sleep. Tim Minchin Sings a Lullaby: Samuel L. Jackson Reads "Go the F--K to Sleep": I don't think I know anyone in the world who can swear as well as Samuel L. Jackson.

Who says graphic novels can't be stunning? Artistic? Moving? Graphic novels are just another medium to tell a story. And people who knock the format don't understand they are knocking a vessel, a medium for storytelling, and not the actual stories themselves. This is a total injustice to some fabulous works of art out there. The graphic novel memoir is one of my favorite mediums for storytelling. Here are some beautiful graphic novels that I'd eventually like to own. Blankets "Wrapped in the landscape of a blustery Wisconsin winter, Blankets explores the sibling rivalry of two brothers growing up in the isolated country, and the budding romance of two coming-of-age lovers. A tale of security and discovery, of playfulness and tragedy, of a fall from grace and the origins of faith." - GoodReads Rating: 4.09 The Complete Persepolis "Here, in one volume, is Marjane Satrapi's best-selling, internationally acclaimed memoir-in-comic-strips. 'Per...

So I have a little collection of autographed books. Here are three of them: I got sledding hill when I was at BYU, right after hearing Chris Crutcher talk about censorship . This hardback copy of Shadows of Our Forgotten Ancestors I got through paperbackswap.com . I kid you not. PAPERBACKSWAP. Imagine my surprise when I opened up the book and found the autograph of the late Carl Sagan and his wife Ann Druyan inside! :O~ There's no way in Hades I'm letting anyone get their hands on this. IT'S MINE. BUT after two months of serious book blogging, and after much thought and consideration, I decided I want to show my appreciation to my readers and my new followers, by giving away my autographed copy of Shannon Hale's bestseller and Newbery Honor book, Princess Academy : FOR REALZ. To enter all you have to do is leave a comment on this post. That's it! If you would like one additional entry, BE a GFC follower (old and new followers get one point). Just ...

Some of you may be aware of my recent censorship rant inspired by a book banning at a high school in Missouri. Two books including Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five and Ockler's Twenty Boy Summer were banned. Well I'm excited to hear about a recent announcement from the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Museum. They are giving away FREE copies of Slaterhouse Five to students who were affected by the book banning. Check it out! Click on the image to visit the website. I love seeing people standing up to censorship. As long as people reach out to the people affected by book bannings, and stand in solidarity with them, censors will fight a losing battle.

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong By James W. Loewen Released: October 16, 2007 Publisher: Touchstone ( Simon & Schuster imprint) Pages: 464 ISBN-13: 978-0743296281 Genre: Non-Fiction, History This fascinating book by Professor James W. Loewen, delves into the American mythos. Loewen points out why history is such a hated subject among the nation's youth. In order to separate fact from fiction, he compares 12 commonly used American History textbooks with historical research and authentication. He explains that history is presented as a series of facts to be learned and then regurgitated for a test in our nation's high schools. History has come to mean memorizing a bunch of dates, and learning about historical figures who are elevated to hero status in American history textbooks. Primary sources are rarely, if ever, used or reffered to. Can you imagine taking a Shakespeare class without actually reading any Shakespeare?...