much belated, yes. Getting it out of the way so I can start posting this year's reads.

( 2007's book list, #33 to #43 )

Self-education update: I got way behind on posting my list, but I've spent the last couple of days catching up on my brief ratings and reviews so I could share with you.

For the newbies and the short of memory: I call this self-education, because I read to expand my mind (and enjoy myself). Some are fiction, some aren't -- but every book is a collection of thoughts from someone else, and by comparing/contrasting my way of thinking with the ways presented in the book, I can broaden my views. My brain also runs differently when reading -- I can't explain it but it makes my ways of thinking more organized somehow. It's like mental stretching, I suppose -- it makes me more mentally limber.

( how I star them: )

1. The Merlin Effect by T. A. Barron (YA sci-fi) ( ... )
2. The Girls Next Door: Into the Heart of Lesbian America by Lindsy Van Gelder & Pamela Robin Brandt (non-fiction) ( ... )
3. The Magic and the Healing by Nick O'Donohoe (YA fantasy)
4. Under the Healing Sign by Nick O'Donohoe (YA fantasy)
5. The Healing of Crossroads by Nick O'Donohoe (YA fantasy) ( ... )
6. Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw (historical fiction) ( ... )
7. Ramses: The Son of Light by Christian Jacq (historical fiction) ( ... )
8. Keeping You a Secret by Julie Anne Peters (YA fiction) ( ... )
9. Just Another Kid by Torey Hayden (non-fiction) ( ... )
10. Beautiful Child by Torey Hayden (non-fiction) ( ... )
11. Twilight Children by Torey Hayden (non-fiction) ( ... )
12. Closer To The Light by Melvin Morse, M.D. (non-fiction) ( ... )
13. Mystic and Rider by Sharon Shinn (fantasy) ( ... )
14. The Canopy by Angela Hunt (christian fiction) ( ... )
15. The Glass Harmonica by Louise Marley (sci-fi/historical fic) ( ... )
16. Cat Talk by Carole Wilbourn (non-fiction) ( ... )
17. The O'Connors: Roses and Rain & Shadows in the Mist by Karen Young (contemp. romance) ( ... )
18. Between Lovers by Eric Jerome Dickey (contemp. romance) ( ... )
19. Acorna's Quest by Anne McCaffery & Margaret Ball (sci-fi) ( ... )
20. Acorna's People by Anne McCaffery & Elizabeth Ann Scarborough (sci-fi) ( ... )
21. The Godmother by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough (sci-fi/fantasy) ( ... )
22. Song of Sorcery by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough (fantasy) ( ... )
23. The Harem of Aman Akbar by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough (fantasy) ( ... )
24. Lord of the Two Lands by Judith Tarr (historical fiction) ( ... )
25. The Search for Fierra by Stephen Lawhead (sci-fi) ( ... )
26. A Woman Like That : Lesbian and Bisexual Writers Tell Their Coming Out Stories by Joan Larkin (non-fiction) ( ... )
27. The Thirteenth House by Sharon Shinn (fantasy) ( ... )
28. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling (fantasy) ( ... )
29. I Have Chosen to Stay And Fight by Margaret Cho (non-fiction) ( ... )
30. The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey (fantasy) ( ... )
31. The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan (historical fiction) ( ... )
32. The Infinity Concerto by Greg Bear (fantasy) ( ... )

11,621 / 13,000 (89.4%)

Never having kept track of my books-read before, I started out with the goal of 132 books in a year. HA! then cut it to 88 books, but since the year is 3/4 over and I'm not even half there, I've decided to change it again -- to a page count. I'm going for 13,000 pages this year, and so far I have 11,621. ;-)

Currently reading:
The Serpent Mage by Greg Bear (fantasy)
Bi any other name: Bisexual people speak out by Loraine Hutchins and Lani Kaahumanu (non-fiction)

11 / 88 (12.5%)

I changed the way I was going to do this because I was reading too fast to really enjoy it. Instead of the initial plan of reading and posting the list at the end of each month, I'm going to post in groups of 8, whenever I finish them (and get them written up). I'll cut all my comments except for the one that made the biggest impact (out of each group of 8). My goal is 88 this year, it may or may not happen, but I like having such a pretty number as a goal.

also: I call this self-education, because I read to expand my mind (and enjoy myself). Some are fiction, some aren't -- but every book is a collection of thoughts from someone else, and by comparing/contrasting my way of thinking with the ways presented in the book, I can broaden my views. My brain also runs differently when reading -- I can't explain it but it makes my ways of thinking more organized somehow. It's like mental stretching, I suppose -- it makes me more mentally limber. :D

1. The Merlin Effect by T. A. Barron ( ... )
2. The Girls Next Door: Into the Heart of Lesbian America by Lindsy Van Gelder & Pamela Robin Brandt

This was, hands down, one of the top 10 best books I've ever read and definitely the best non-fiction. It opened my eyes in so many ways -- especially to the horror of mainstream culture. When compared to lesbian culture, which celebrates values that are usually defined as 'feminine', mainstream culture's true disconnectedness and disrespect of self and others is thrown into sharp relief. I'm so glad I randomly decided to buy this book when I saw it at the used bookstore -- I've learned so much. And it's a good thing that I bought it rather than borrowing, because otherwise I would have been frustrated at not being able to dog-ear the pages that had something that struck me as especially profound:
:D (when the book practically doubles in thickness, you know it's amazing) I skimmed through my dog-eared pages to pick a quote, but it covers so many topics that there is no one 'bit' that would be an accurate representation. It's full of personal stories and quotes from various people, which I love because it gives such a real glimpse. I'd recommend this book to every person -- straight people, so that they can see the flaws in mainstream culture and be galvanized to change them, as well as clearing up commonly-believed myths; and lesbian/bisexual/queer/gay people, so they can be inspired by the strength and power of the stories. READ IT.

3. The Magic and the Healing by Nick O'Donohoe
4. Under the Healing Sign by Nick O'Donohoe
5. The Healing of Crossroads by Nick O'Donohoe ( ... )
6. Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw ( ... )
7. Ramses: The Son of Light by Christian Jacq ( ... )
8. Keeping You a Secret by Julie Anne Peters ( ... )

A few weeks ago I rearranged our bedroom, turning it from a place I hated to a place I love! Ben is much happier too -- now it feels like we have two rooms instead of only the living room. I created a photo-tour of my bedroom, because a video would require clothing due to the mirrors. And this is easier!

( photo-tour of my bedroom )

And now I shriek with joy because OMG PRESENTS!!!! From Kate (clown_frog) and Firekat (kmiotutsie)!!! Kate sent me a glitter bar (YAY!!!! glitter-wearing is so magical ♥), giant purple bath-fizzy ball, HENNA kit (can't wait to try it!), a bunch of stick-on wooden ladybugs (ladybugs always remind me of my childhood, I remember seeing a family of them in the bark of a tree and being absolutely delighted), cinnamon votives (that REALLY SMELL LIKE CINNAMON OMG, and strong too!!! I am going to use them in my sanctuary ♥ ♥ ♥), and best of all, a clear violet glass perfume vial. It is so incredibly delicate and wonder-of-all-wonders, made it here perfectly intact! All the way from Scotland! And that is magic from God/dess if I have ever seen it.

( the delicate violet-tinted vial! )

And from Firekat!!! A Mercedes Lackey book (a staple of fantasy reading, whom I've never tried!), Inga Muscio's Cunt (borrowed and read most of it, now yay I can finish it! plus who wouldn't want Cunt on her shelf?), a GORGEOUS mini-journal with handmade paper and a vivid-violet & burgandy cover, three lovely deep purple agate slices, and... a violet and emerald translucent glass gazing ball!!! also completely undamaged! I am soooooo loved!!! Firekat said she prayed that it would get here safely, and it's perfect. ♥ I'm awed!

( the violet & emerald glass ball! )

I don't do 'resolutions.' That's just a fancy word for 'rules' and I'm not into imposing rules on myself. I think the reason so many 'resolutions' fail is that it is human nature to hate being boxed in with rules, self-imposed or not.

but goals? hell yeah I have goals. Things I want to do this year:

• become more of my true self
  
• learn more love and compassion
  
• grow closer to God/dess ♥
  
• learn to listen to my spirit and FOLLOW MY INSTINCTS!!!
  
• further develop my soulfriendships with Nimajneb and Hannah
  
• be more active in changing the world: leave 'you are beautiful' notes, smile more at people, strike up conversation with more strangers, flaunt my body hair, wear curvy-pride shirts and figure-hugging outfits.
  
• create more; making jewelry, painting, drawing, modeling, photographing (! and add a deliberate 'flaw' to remind me that 'flaws' are beautiful!)
  
• post WHEN I FEEL LIKE IT, without worrying that I am going to flood my friends page and my favorite post of the bunch will be ignored. I know that isn't true, and if it is, it's not a good enough reason.
  
• spend more time and effort communicating with my lovely friends; commenting back, commenting on their posts, IMing, and calling. Not any ritual amount, but following instincts instead of being so O-C about doing it 'in order.'
  
• go to Glasgow and meet clown_frog and maybe kashlamar! and of course spend a lot of delighted time with my beautiful soulfriend shioneh!!!
  
• have shioneh and die_fiend come down, hopefully during RenFest season!!! and hopefully have my firekat (kmiotutsie) come down too! *dreams* This must happen. *is firm with the universe, shakes finger for emphasis*
  
• spend more time with sabr and malignlibra
  
• meet more of my lj friends! there are a ton I want to meet, we'll see who I actually manage to make plans with. ;-) at the very least, I must meet kmiotutsie and sunshinepill.
  
• find at least a handful of new amazing people to mutually adore. (and hopefully some who are Aquarius!)
  
• set firm plans for International Women's Day next year (post to come about that!)
  
• dance more, maybe start taking bellydancing classes again.
  
• get at least one tattoo!
  
• find more of my meaningful rings.
  
• dye my hair purple, like I have ALWAYS WANTED.
  
• help my little sister get the courage to do what she needs to do.
  
• tell my parents I'm 'bisexual' and be officially disowned (after I figure out whether or not they will keep me from talking to little sis, she is more important than me getting the satisfaction of never having to talk to my dad again)
  
• go skinnydipping at least once!
  
• go to at least one concert!
  
• have at least three photoshoots.
  
• do at least three self-portrait shoots (hopefully a lot more, but I gotta get some better lighting)
  
• Self-educate: read 88 books this year; keep a running list of them, and post an update every eight books, with a SHORT summary.

  0 / 88 (0.0%)

( coffee, tea, or me? // have you downloaded any of my music recommendations? )

( Books I read in 2006 )

That's what I can remember so I've probably left out at least 20... and it doesn't include probably 10 books that I'm in the middle of. (yeah, I read by mood) This year I'm going to try to keep a running list so that it's in order.

Christmas 2006

magic! ♥

( more photos )

and my loot! XD I am still so thrilled about this ♥ ♥ ♥ Oh what the hell, I'll "show not tell":

( my miraculous presents! )
why miraculous? because Miss K gave me (and Ben) credit at a used book store as a present, and we went there day after Christmas and they had the LAST THREE Torey Hayden books, the only ones I didn't have!!!!!!!! 'coincidences' like this are why it's easy for me to believe in God/dess and the power of the unseen. just holy wonder, seriously. I exclaimed over the miracle and Ben was all 'yeah that's great' but Miss K agreed with me as I gushed over how fabulous her present was. Miracles don't have to save someone's life, sometimes they're just God/dess's way of showing you love.

( more presents! )

I love love love used books. If they cost the same I'd still prefer a used book over a new one. Used ones have a history, and if they're a powerful book then they have absorbed the emotion of another reader, which heightens my own emotion in reading it. I feel like I am experiencing the book along with the former reader. And if they're old in addition to being used, they have that old book smell that is an emotional aphrodisiac to any bibliophile. The only way I ever buy a new book is if I can't find a used copy or I need it in a tearing hurry. Or if I'm getting it as a present for someone who doesn't feel the same way about used books, heh.

I read all 6 books (at least 3,300 pages) in the last eight days. J.K. Rowling can write! So much suspense! And I really never knew what was going to happen (except I knew that a certain character was going to die, so all I did after meeting him was wait for him to die) -- which is very unusual, I tend to have a good feel for what is going to happen next. I just gobbled up the books. Her characters are awesome, her talent for bending realism is amazing, and her magical imagination is unsurpassed -- but best of all her plotting is so unusual, so sneaky, that even at the end of book six, I'm still not sure where Snape's loyalties lie. I want him dead either way though, the asshole. And I'm not sure if the guy who died at the end is really dead. (trying not to spoil things for those who might want to read)

OH, and you know the 'show don't tell' thing that writing teachers always tell you? Through reading her, I finally understand how. Nowhere does she go off expounding on the feelings of any character (except occasionally Harry, since he's the protagonist) -- she just shows how they're feeling through their actions. She's amazing, I really really hope that after this series she'll go for a more fantastical series (as opposed to the 'magical realism' of the HP series)

My favorite part was the D.A. -- I'm not sure why but I LOVED that. I felt like Harry came into his own there, and I loved Hermione for organizing it.

And, in case you can't tell, Luna Lovegood is my favorite character. She has a 'knack for uncomfortable honesty' that I just LOVE. She's so drifty and ethereal. And it doesn't even occur to her to conform or care what people think.

Now I'm wondering if the movies are any good. Thoughts from fans who read the books first?