This is where I bitch.

I have a huge need to research bees to see if any or all of this has any basis in fact. Great story, I absolutely loved the library and the different types and levels of communication. Lovely look at a class system as well. Kept me reading as fast as I could.

rating: A+

I re-read both books by Patrick Rothfuss, so I haven't been reviewing much lately. But after those I read the next Dresden book.



There was a lot going on in this one, almost too many plots to keep track of. Also felt some of them could have been expanded on. But seeing both Dresden and a lot of the supporting characters gain some more depth and backstory was good. And I'm enjoying how many characters are drifting between ally and enemy.

Rating: A-

With the new book coming soon I thought it might be good for me to finally read To Kill a Mockingbird. It wasn't required in high school so I never got around to it. Plus I'm expecting a few questions about it at Barnes & Nobel, so being up to date on it would help.

It was pretty good. I'm not a fan of historical fiction like this. Too real, makes me think about society too much, not what I want from my books. But, it was good. Very engaging, good plot, good characters, and the unreliable narrator POV is always interesting.

rating: B+

To start with, I am happy that I have a job. I'm happy that my company appreciates me enough to give me pay increases as a improve my department and sends me to training and conferences to learn more about my "new" field.

I just wish I liked what I do.

Sometimes I'll be in a meeting or writing an email explaining something, and I'm just hit with all of this knowledge I know have about shipping and fulfillment and billing and using excel and how order management and warehouse management software works and despair that this knowledge has replaced typefaces and kerning and XML and page design and pagination automation. It's been so long since I did any of that, I'm not sure I could. I'd have to learn all over again, since I know the software has changed so much.

It's so unfair that the clients of the companies I used to work for decided that a cheaper per page price was worth more than the quality that me and people like me could do. It's also very unfair that due to high populations in other countries and an over abundance of smart and highly trained people were able to destroy my industry domestically.

I do like curry, maybe I should just move to India and lead a department there?

Today is one of those days I wish we had more booze at home. And I had the freedom and time to actually drink.

I had heard a lot of hype about this one, and with the announcement it might be a movie with Spielberg directing I decided to bump it up on the reading list. Plus I needed a fantasy break, so this fit the bill. It was pretty good, not spectacular writing, but good. I do wish if the author wanted to make statements about gender and race stereotypes he would have made the main character something else than a white male though. A movie would be cool, but getting the rights too all of that content will be a nighmare, I bet. It was nice to be reminded of all the stuff from my youth though.

Rating: B

Since we started up a 5e D&D game, which takes place in the Forgotten Realms I got to remembering the D&D novels I had read in high school (such a geek). Looking through the list, I realized how many Dizzrt books were written and how few of them I've read. So I decided to start over and try and read them all. The stories are good, in a world I'm familiar with. Plots and writing are pretty straight forward, they do seem geared towards high schoolers. But I enjoy them, not too taxing to read and maybe they'll help influence me to play D&D better.

On to The Silver Streams...

Rating: B+

Late on posting this review, finished it back in mid-February.



After two books of seeing tidbits of the girl Locke let get away, getting an entire book dedicated to an adventure with/against Beth was great. I was nice to see once again how Lynch could start the guys off low, bring them high along the tale, and then drop them in the gutter again. I enjoyed following the two plot lines, both the current one and the flash back one. And getting back to the city dwelling with more subterfuge and less swashbuckling made me very happy.

The lead into the next story (when, oh when will it be out!?!?!) was good, and is setting up the fourth book for a different feel again. But Lynch seems to like to shift the focus for every book, so I'm not surprised.

Another top recommendation from me. I hope he keeps 'em coming.

Rating: A+

I had decided not to worry about a Reading Bingo card for this year, as I have a pretty good list of books I want to read, and have figured out my priority for them all.

However, entangled_now posted this card that her and nausicaa83 made from prompts put together from previous cards, and ideas they thought would be fun. It was then made into a beautiful card by juuhachi_go (download link for fancy version.)


With resources via The Velvet Factory.


So if I start to flounder, or I end up reading a bunch that fit nicely, I think I'll use it.

Thanks girls!

We started our new D&D campaign last night. The previous one of about three years wrapped up, my boy friend has a school conflict, so the DM decided he'd move the end session up a bit and we could wrap up the plot line. We might pick it up again some day, but for now it's "done".

The new version of D&D (5th edition) was voted as the new system and we spent last night making characters and having a quick "danger room" session, to get familiar with the system. I'm looking forward to this new game. My character in the previous campaign was very flat, basically just described by what he could do. But that was mostly how 4E was designed, as more of a miniatures or video game style. 5E is more like 2nd edition, and role playing will be more important. I'm actually excited about the back story I came up with, I hope it gets used in the game sometime. I'm going to try for a more out going and leader like character, we'll see if I can also be a more assertive player to make that happen.

In other news, work is stressful, I'm fairly down emotionally these days. I miss having time to read and draw. And I'm sad that I can't work out time to go see my folks and family.

Bright spot is vacation in two weeks, we'll be in New Orleans for a few days. I've never been there, so hopefully it'll be interesting and fun.

This is pretty epic.