RC-2: Concluded

I just realized that Reading Challenge #2 is over. RC-3 and RC-2 overlapped a bit, so I sort of forgot where I was at, but here's the report...

My challenge was to read 8 books between September 5th and December 31st of last year. The one stipulation was that 50% of the books had to be fiction. In the end I didn't finish the challenge until February 19th, 2011, but regardless the 8 books were read, and they were:

1. HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban
2. Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger
3. HP and the Goblet of Fire
4. HP and the Order of the Phoenix
5. By Nightfall by Michael Cunningham
6. HP and the Half-Blood Prince
7. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
8. The Girls by Lori Lansens

I won't review each book, but I will say that I enjoyed them all. I will also note that 100% of them are fiction, which makes me pleased as punch! My love for fiction is back in spades!

Lastly, I'm desperate to read the final Harry Potter. I can't wait any longer.

1 month in... RC-3

Morning y'all! Just finished my first book of 2011, which is kinda sad because January's almost over. However, I've been busy with work this month, and I have 11 whole months left to read 19 books. NBD. So, this means that RC-3 (20 books in 2011) has begun. You may remember though that RC-2 has not yet been completed (the 2 challenges were sort of combined, so...

RC-3:

1. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

Reading Challenge #2:

1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
2. Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger
   
3. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
4. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
5. By Nightfall by Michael Cunningham
   
6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
   
7. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

I wonder what I'll read next. I can't read the 7th Harry Potter yet because my girlfriend's mum is reading it, so I think I'll read another one of the books that the nice woman lent me. She lent me By Nightfall and Bel Canto, so I imagine the other books are going to be just as good. We'll see!

As for Bel Canto by Ann Patchett, I suppose I should say a few words on it... I loved it. It was beautifully written, and whenever I had the opportunity to read for more than just 10 minutes, I got totally lost in it. Patchett is a great writer and the plot was just so unique and multi-faceted and incredible. There was a lot about love and music, but also language and communication was a big part of it, and then there was the whole hostage situation... Also, the ending was totally unexpected, but also not jarring. I totally enjoyed it!

On to the next one!

Resolutions

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!

Whatever holiday you do or don't celebrate, I hope you've had a fantastic season! Mine has been filled with love, friends, family, food, gifts, and a lot of laughter (and some relaxation). I have no complaints at all!

I've been sort of too busy running around seeing friends to read much, but I did finish the 6th HP book, and I really enjoyed it! I remember finishing the book before, but I really didn't remember much of the content. I'm excited to read the 7th though, because I know I haven't read that one before. Since I wasn't able to read the 7th in time for the movie, I'm not in a huge rush to get to it, as long as I read it before the 2nd part of the 7th movie. So, before I get to HP7, I'm trying another one of the books lent to me by a woman I just met, called Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. I'm 8 pages in, and loving it already!

So, Reading Challenge #2 was to read 8 books by December 31st, and 50% had to be fiction. I've achieved one of the goals as every book I've read in this challenge has been fiction, but I don't think I'll read two books before the deadline. No matter! My plan is to let Reading Challenge #2 seamlessly lead into my next challenge...

Reading Challenge #3 (RC-3): I challenge myself to read a minimum of 20 books in 2011. There are no stipulations about fiction or non-fiction, it's just about reading 20. I was going to make it 24 (2/month), but I want to give myself some wiggle room. I very well may read 30, but 20 is a nice solid number to be proud of, so that's the goal! The final two that I read for RC-2 may be included in RC-3.

Reading Challenge #2 - Update:

1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
   
2. Franny and Zooey
3. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
4. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
5. By Nightfall
6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
   

Books & DJs

What's up y'all? Lots to update you on, starting with the Reading Challenge 2.0. Just to remind you, Reading Challenge 2.0 challenges me to read 8 books by December 31, 2010 (the challenge began on September 5th) and 50% of them have to be fiction. So far I've read 5 (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Franny and Zooey, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and By Nightfall). My progress was severely impeded by the purchase of an iPhone, but I seem to be on track again and just need to push through the next month and see how close I can get to my goal. On the bright side, I've achieved 1/2 of my goal already. All 5 books that I've read have been fiction, so it looks like I really have gotten back into fiction, which I'm thrilled about.

The most recent read, By Nightfall by Michael Cunningham, was quite simply put: stunning. I've never read Cunningham before, but I'm eager to read more of him. He also wrote The Hours, so I think I'll read that in the new year. By Nightfall was a twisted story about love, art, and finding the strength to survive a life that is really good, but not great, or not what you imagined for yourself. It was published this year, which was really interesting because it's been so long since I read a book taking place in the present day. There was a BlackBerry reference and an Obama administration reference, and both were interesting to see because somehow it made the experience the protagonist was having feel even more close to home. Anyway, I'm rambling... it was an amazing book and I'd highly recommend it!

Regarding MSTRKRFT in Sudbury... Well I should start off by saying it was a fantastic night! I had a blast with my sister and we danced and partied = good times. However, it wasn't MSTRKRFT performing; it was Jesse Keeler of MSTRKRFT. That would've been good because JFK is an awesome guy, but he didn't actually play any MSTRKRFT. He was just DJing. I'm not saying it wasn't good, but it just wasn't great. Plus, it wasn't what I expected.

It made me think though - here is a good example of a DJ who spins vs. a DJ who mixes/creates/produces. I may have not used the perfect wording, but I hope you get my gist. There's the standard, run-of-the-mill club DJ (no offense meant by word choice). She/he plays songs by artists (that remain unchanged for the most part) that the patrons of the club dance to. There are definitely good club DJs and bad club DJs, but their mission is the same. Then there is the... what shall we call it... More-than-just-playing-songs-DJ? Not exactly poetic, but sure, why not?

So the MTJPSD makes music out of DJing. Some strictly remix songs, some create their own stuff, and some do both... but the idea is, when you see them in a concert, they are DJing, but it's their own stuff that they're playing.

Anyway, my point is that these involve different skill sets. Knowing exactly when to crossover to a new track is a skill for a club DJ, as is knowing what songs will really get people on the dance floor. For a MTJPSD, it might be matching up two songs perfectly... or creating that perfect climb of sound that builds up to the climax that a good electro song inevitably has (i.e. the siren sound in "Cornelius" by The Bloody Beetroots... one of my fave music moments of all time). The point is, the skill sets for these two types of DJs are so different. Some DJs may possess both sets, but I felt on Friday night that JFK of MSTRKRFT did not.

Well, this update took about 24 hours to write -- broken up by work and sleep -- so I think it is time to move on.

Reading Challenge 2.0 - Update!

A comment from a reader reminded me that I haven't been updating everyone about my Reading Challenge 2.0. So here goes...

I didn't finish the Harry Potter series before seeing the 7th movie, which was a shame, but I have finished the 5th. It was fantastic, as I knew it would be, and I'll soon be ready to take on the final two books in the series. The 6th which I don't recall at all, and the 7th which I've never read. Very exciting stuff! I really need to hop to it!

In the meantime (before I start the 6th), I'm reading something totally different, recommended and lended (I know it's not the correct word, but it works) to me by someone I only just met. She lent (see, I know the correct word) me 3 other books and I'm excited to read those, too... after Harry Potter, Steph, I swear!

Anyway, the current read is By Nightfall by Michael Cunningham. It's beautifully written... very 21st-century-stream-of-consciousness... I love it! I get the sense it's going to get pretty twisted, and I cannot wait!

Then... back to HP!

Newz

I haven't blogged in a bit, so here's a morning quickie before I hop in the shower.

The iPhone has changed my life... I'm more organized, more connected, and all around loving my new gadget. I haven't been reading as much, it's true, but I figure the novelty will wear off soon enough, and until then, I'm forcing myself to read at least twice a day, even if it's for short periods of time. Unfortunately I still won't finish the last 3 Harry Potters before Friday (the opening day of the first part of the 7th movie), but that's no matter... I'll finish them eventually. I'm about 50 pages from being done the 5th book, so I'll just push through and hopefully finish the other 2 this year.

Some of the many perks of the iPhone are the news apps - I have Thomson Reuters, New York Times (thanks to the GF), Globe & Mail, and Huffington Post all at my fingertips. I read the top articles every morning with my coffee. It's not the same as holding the papers in your hand at your breakfast table, but it's a fantastic alternative. Plus, I get MORE news, and if I like an article or want to share it, it couldn't be simpler to link to Facebook, Twitter, etc. I love it. I feel more informed, which is always a good thing! Ok - shower time!

iPhone vs. Books

My life is (nearly) complete: I bought the iPhone 4.
In the 4 or so days since I got it, my life has changed. I feel more organized, more connected, and, needless to say, cooler.

However - I can't lose sight of other goals (even though I was able to cross off buying an iPhone from my goal list), namely the Reading Challenge 2.0. I've still got a ways to go with HP5, and then I still need to read 4 more before December 31st. I can for sure do it, but I've got to maintain my nightly routine of reading and not let playing games or checking Facebook on my iPhone get in the way of that.

Favourite app so far: Sleep Cycle. Just so cool.

4 down, 3 to go!!!

Harry Potter… Harry Potter… you may be sick of reading me talking about it but I’m not sick of writing about it, so either hear what I have to type, or step off...

I just finished HP4. I think it was only my second time reading it and my God was it better the second time around! I don’t know how old I was when I first read it… I couldn’t have been that young, but I think it all went over my head. It’s kind of amazing that it’s a children’s book! I mean, I get why, but it is so much more fascinating for me as an adult. All of the stuff about Voldemort rising again? Dumbledore contacting all of his allies to start preparing? My God, it’s incredible! I can’t wait to start the 5th when I get home from work. I have 1 month and 1 day to finish the last 3 books. I’m pretty sure I can do it if I focus.

Reading Challenge #2 - Update:

1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
   
2. Franny and Zooey
3. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

5 more books to go by the end of 2010! ...and technically only 1 more needs to be fiction!

Santana vs. Harrison

When I was in grade 8, I would've scoffed at any cover of a Beatles song. I was into Beatles purity back then. Now though, I am impressed rather than threatened by a cover of a Beatles song that rivals the original.

This one here is a total beauty. This isn't the best recording of it, but I love watching India.Arie dancing and moving her hands. In the album version though, you've got Yo-Yo Ma on cello, so make sure you check that one out!



This makes me want to listen to India's "Acoustic Soul" album. That was such a high school jam of mine.

In other news, still working my way through HP-4, but I've come up with an official 2nd reading challenge. The last one concluded on September 5th, so from Sept. 5th-Dec. 31st my challenge is to read another 8 books with a stipulation: 50% have to be fiction. Loves it.