Page Turners: Ranger's Apprentice #1

I am currently reading:

I am really enjoying The Ruins of Gorlan so far, I actually look forward to reading it each night and I find myself in the cycle of "just one more chapter...just one more..." each night while struggling to not fall asleep with the book on my face. My only issue? Will doesn't seem like a fifteen year old boy to me, I thought he was younger. But maybe that will change as time goes on, it is sometimes difficult to read a characters age in fantasy because the circumstances are so different to our own. He does remark that the girls he knows are attractive but there is no hint of him being interested in them, or anyone for that matter. So far it hasn't been particularly unique but I don't mind that because it's well written, the characters are interesting and I care about them, and I do want to see Will succeed. I can imagine 12 year old boys really enjoying the series, which I know has been massively popular so John Flanagan must be doing something right.

I also keep wanting Aragorn to appear...

From Goodreads:

He had always wanted to be a warrior. The Rangers, with their dark cloaks and shadowy ways, made him nervous. The villagers believe the Rangers practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. And now fifteen year-old Will, always small for his age, has been chosen as a Ranger's apprentice. What he doesn't realize yet is that the Rangers are the protectors of the kingdom. Highly trained in the skills of battle and surveillance, they fight the battles before the battles reach the people. And as Will is about to learn, there is a large battle brewing. The exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, is gathering his forces for an attack on the kingdom. This time, he will not be denied...

Listen To This: Bon Iver/Birdy

Bon Iver - Skinny Love

I forgot how much I love Bon Iver until the other week when someone randomly posted a song of theirs on Tumblr. So I thought I would share them with you, because they're amazing and Skinny Love is one of my favourites of theirs.

Also, here is the Birdy version which I also think it amazing.

Sunday Catch Up

Boho Cafe, Canterbury

Well after Christmas my partner's brother came to stay with us for a few days which was nice, we took him to Canterbury for the day to introduce him to the awesomeness of the Whatever Comics shop and the Level Up Games shop, as well as the delicious food and tea at Boho Cafe. If you live in or around Canterbury (we are a 20 min train ride away) then I really suggest that you check these places out.

Boho Cafe, Canterbury

Whatever Comics, Canterbury

   

Level Up Games, Canterbury

Since my partner's brother left we have been tidying up mostly and getting back into our usual routines. The Christmas decorations came down yesterday so the front room looks much bigger and more tidy than it has the last few weeks. I adore Christmas and the decorations but I do like taking them down again, it makes you appreciate the room again.

Today I had to take one of our four gerbils to the vet because his teeth had grown obscenely long. They have tons of chews and things to keep them busy and their teeth worn down but this little one, Peeper, has slightly crooked teeth so they don't wear on each other like they should. Anyway, he has had then neatly clipped and he seems very happy again.

Other than that I have been working as usual, I was offered a slightly different writing job recently in addition to my usual work so that's nice. I've also spent a lot of time listening to music again. I always listen to music but it tends to be the same few bands over and over again. So instead I've recently been listening to: Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, Voxtrot and Arcade Fire, for a change. Check them out if you want to listen to something different to your usual, or the same as your usual depending what you like. They're not very different to what I normally listen too, but I know what I like.

Today I plan to do a bit more editing and play Skyrim. I sure know how to live. I might even have a cup of tea.

Something For The Weekend

Image from Sew Indie

Well aside from checking out my newest review, of The Goddess Test, and browsing through the sparklingly new Writes of Passage anthology website I suppose you might need something else to entertain you. We are now one week into the new year and this is the very first Saturday of 2012! So, here are some great things to get your teeth sunk into.

Something to read:

Having trouble with your resolutions? Sounds like you need to read The Real Secret of Quitting Bad Habits by the lovely Megan over at Charade. Megan also studied English Literature and Creative Writing at Bath Spa University, so you know she's going to be great!

Do you share the same opinion as the amazing Isabel over at Hipster Musings, that fashion blogging has become somewhat stagnant of late? Whether you agree or not, definitely check out her article: "Hello, I Love You", or "Why Fashion Blogging Smells Like Raw Fish". Her article was even edited and reposted in the Toronto Standard!

Something to eat:

Treat yourself to a delicious and simple helping of peanut butter toast and a glass of grapefruit juice, or push the boat out a bit and make a yummy, low-carb all veggie brunch, or you could be even more adventurous and try your hand at making these delicious vegan apple and walnut pancakes! Personally I'm tempted by the pancakes, they look a little too good to be true so I may be giving them a whirl tomorrow.

Something to make:

If you're feeling crafty and a little bit nerdy then try your hand at making a DS Lite (or 3DS, or whichever you own) case shaped like a retro NES controller.

Review: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Read my full review of The Goddess Test at Mostly Reading YA.

My rating 3/5

When I first received The Goddess Test I was really looking forward to reading it. The cover is gorgeous and the blurb on the back promised a great story. However there were times when I felt quite disappointed with this book...

Feature Friday: Writes of Passage

Writes of Passage anthology! 

That's right! The Writes of Passage anthology website is up and running. I managed to finish it off and launch it last night, though there is still content to be added such as illustrators, our thanks and more. So if you are curious about what we've been up to on the Bath Spa Writing for Young People MA for the last year then check it out!

Thursday Thought

I don't remember where I found this image, if you know then tell me!

"Just as composers go to concerts and artists visit galleries, writers read. You will learn, in the most enjoyable way, more about style and language from reading good literature than you will ever acquire from workshops and how-to books." - Judith Barrington

 Judith Barrington is a prize-winning poet and memoirist, author of Lifesaving: A Memoir and other books. Teacher of poetry and memoir.

Although I have a degree in Creative Writing and a masters in Writing for Young People I will always say that you can learn a lot simply through reading. Read lots of book and also read lots of different books. Read books that you are interested in and are relevant to what you want to write, but also read books that have nothing to do with your writing at all, read books you aren't interested in because you might be surprised. I've found that some of the books I thought I wouldn't like, I have, and in some cases I think I may have taken more from them. I still think that a writing course or just a good workshopping group can provide you with invaluable knowledge so don't shun them either. Learn as much as you can from all sorts of sources, it can't do any harm.