CHALLENGE | #yogaeverydamnday

Once more, a challenge to do yoga every day for the month of January. A new year is a good time to invite new positive energy. Sign up on the Challenge Loop, or look out on Twitter: #yogaeverydamnday

CHALLENGE | Once Upon A Time III

I know I suck at challenges - though that has not been a factor whenever I sign up for a new one. I guess the point is just to try.

But with my reading in decline these days, I'll work on "The Journey" - which is just to try to read as many as I can. If not, just to enjoy the process.

Pool of books to read:

1. The Devil You Know, Mike Carey -
   Mike Carey wrote the Lucifer and Hellblazer comics. His Felix Castor series is in the genre of supernatural suspense. Castor, you see, is a freelance exorcist who finds it hard to quit. Things just happens, you see.


2. Let The Right One In, John Ajvide Lindqvist -
   Some of you might have watched the film that was drawn from the book. Oskar is a 12 year old boy who is living with his mother. He is bullied at school, unhappy and he wets his pants. Then a mysterious girl moves in next door. She doesn't go to school. She doesn't leave the flat during the day. Oh yeah, she's a vampire.


3. Black Ships, Jo Graham
   Gull is an oracle, chosen to serve the Lady of the Dead. Her destiny arrives in the form of four black ships, bringing with them Aeneas from the fallen city of Troy. Gull will have to brave the gates of the Underworld to lead Aeneas to his own destiny.

Well then. Let's see where we end up.

BOOKS | 13 for 2009 PRIME

13 is the key - but anything beyond 13 is a bonus.

1. The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher • Kate Summerscale
   [21/02/2009 ~


2. The Redbreast • Jo Nesbø [translated from the Norwegian by Don Bartlett]
   [01/01/2009 ~ 09/02/2009]


3. The Girl Who Played with Fire • Stieg Larsson [Translated from the Swedish by Reg Keeland]
   [02/02/2009 ~


4. Cyteen: Regenesis • C.J. Cherryh
   [24/01/2009 ~


5. Arabian Sands • Wilfred Thesiger
   [21/11/2008 ~


6. Drood • Dan Simmons
   [05/12/2008 ~


7. The Great War for Civilisation • Robert Fisk
   [13/01/2009 ~


8. The Eight • Katherine Neville
   


9. A Book of Silence • Sara Maitland
   


10. My Fantoms • Théophile Gautier
    


11. Victorine • Maude Hutchins
    


12. Travels With A Tangerine • Tim Mackintosh-Smith
    


13. •

There is no way I can just list 13 books to read. So, I hope to finish at least 13 titles from the pool of titles below:

1. The Travels of Ibn Battutah, edited by Tim Mackintosh-Smith


2. Yemen, Tim Mackintosh-Smith


3. A Dance with Dragons (Song of Ice and Fire), George R.R. Martin


4. Acedia & Me, Kathleen Norris


5. Child 44, Tom Rob Smith


6. In the Woods, Tana French


7. Revolutionary Road, Richard Yates


8. 2666, Roberto Bolano


9. Shadow Country, Peter Matthiessen


10. A Fine and Private Place, Peter S. Beagle


11. Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung? Ajahn Brahm


12. Mirror to Damascus, Colin Thubron


13. The Hills of Adonis: A Quest in Lebanon, Colin Thubron

This list just keeps getting longer! Help! Help! Somebody save me from myself!

CHALLENGE| 2009 World Citizen Challenge

Recently I declared that as part of my resolution for 2009, I wasn't going to join ANY reading challenges. Of course, I did it again - I just signed up for a reading challenge for 2009. That will teach me to laugh at other bloggers signing up for challenges. (You know who you are. ;p)

I signed up for Eva's World Citizen Challenge.

I have always felt like I am ignorant about the world around, that I need to learn more, read more, see more. I need to read more widely on the important issues, history, culture, economics, current affairs. This seems like a good idea. Along the way, I will probably pick up some great recommendations on the books other participants are reading.

I think I will aim for the Major Level. I will commit to reading 5 books, from at least 3 of the different categories listed below:

1. Politics
2. Economics
3. History
4. Culture/Anthropology/Sociology
5. Worldwide Issues
6. Memoirs/Autobiographies

The official World Citizen Challenge blog is up. So, pop over for a look-see.

Updated [13th February 2009] - My reading pool for the challenge:

Politics:

• The Siege of Mecca: The Forgotten Uprising in Islam's Holiest Shrine, Yaroslav Trofimov
• City of Oranges: An Intimate History of Arabs and Jews in Jaffa, Adam LeBor
• We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda, Philip Gourevitch
• The Great War for Civilization, Robert Fisk
• Pity the Nation, Robert Fisk
• The Place at the End of the World, Janine di Giovanni
• Madness Visible: A Memoir of War, Janine di Giovanni

Economics:

• Panic: The Story of Modern Financial Insanity, edited by Michael Lewis
• Banker to the Poor: The Story of the Grameen Bank, Muhammad Yunus with Alan Jolis

History:

• The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World, Niall Ferguson
• A History of the Middle East, Peter Mansfield

Worldwide issues:

• Hope in the Dark: Untold Histories, Wild Possibilities, Rebecca Solnit
• Shock Doctrine, Naomi Klein
• The World According to TomDispatch: America in the New Age of Empire, edited by Tom Engelhardt
• Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Social Movement in History Is Restoring Grace, Justice, and Beauty to the World, Paul Hawken

Memoirs:

• Stranger to History: A Son’s Journey through Islamic Lands: A Son's Journey Through Islamic Lands, Aatish Taseer
• The Lemon Tree, Sandy Tolan

More titles to come.

100 Books To Read 2008 Version 2.2

This an aspirational list - the key is just to try to read as many as I can.

1. Arabian Sands • Wilfred Thesiger
   [21/11/2008 ~


2. With Billie • Julia Blackburn
   [07/11/2008 ~


3. The Name of the Rose • Umberto Eco
   [translated by William Weaver]
   [03/09/2008 ~


4. The Idiot • Fyodor Dostoevsky
   [translated by Richard Pevear & Larissa Volokhonsky]
   [11/07/2008 ~


5. The Histories • Herodotus
   [24/04/2007 ~


6. The Surgeon's Mate • Patrick O'Brian
   [18/04/2008 ~


7. The Open Road: The Global Journey of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama • Pico Iyer
   [11/04/2008~


8. Touchstone • Laurie R. King
   [08/04/2008 ~


9. The Stress of Her Regard • Tim Powers
   [07/04/2008 ~


10. A Voice From the Attic: Essays on the Art of Reading • Robertson Davies
    [13/11/2007 ~


11. Seduction and Betrayal • Elizabeth Hardwick
    [17/03/2008 ~


12. Weight • Jeanette Winterson


13. The Looking Glass Wars • Frank Beddor


14. Wabi-Sabi: for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers • Leonard Koren


15. The Neverending Story • Michael Ende


16. The Collected Tales of Nikolai Gogol
    [translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky]


17. The Worst Journey in the World • Apsley Cherry-Garrard


18. War and Peace • Leo Tolstoy
    [translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky]
    [01/01/2008 ~


19. 三国演义 • 罗 贯 中
    [26/12/2007 ~


20. In Search of Lost Time Marcel Proust
    Swann's Way
    In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower
    The Guermantes Way
    Sodom and Gomorrah
    The Prisoner & The Fugitive
    [Translated by Carol Clark & Peter Collier]
    [26/11/2007 ~
    Finding Time Again
    [Translated by Ian Paterson]


21. Kristin Lavransdatter • Sigrid Undset
    [Translated by Tiina Nunnally]
    [27/08/2007 ~


22. The Three Musketeers• Alexandre Dumas
    [Translated by Richard Pevear]
    


23. The Book of Disquiet • Fernando Pessoa


24. Good Morning, Midnight • Jean Rhys


25. After Leaving Mr. Mackenzie • Jean Rhys


26. Orlando • Virginia Woolf


27. The Napoleon of Notting Hill • G.K. Chesterton


28. Rebecca • Daphne Du Maurier


29. Jane Eyre • Charlotte Bronte


30. The Masterpiece • Emile Zola


31. The Plague • Albert Camus


32. The Myth of Sisyphus • Albert Camus


33. Cheri and The Last of Cheri • Colette


34. Earthly Paradise • Colette


35. Secrets of the Flesh: A Life of Colette • Judith Thurman
    [09/12/2006 ~


36. Flaubert In Egypt • Gustave Flaubert


37. Bel-Ami • Guy de Maupassant


38. Gargantua and Pantagruel • François Rabelais [translated by M. A. Screech]


39. Assassin's Apprentice (The Farseer Trilogy, Book I) • Robin Hobb


40. Royal Assassin (The Farseer Trilogy, Book II) • Robin Hobb


41. Assassin's Quest (The Farseer Trilogy, Book III) • Robin Hobb


42. A Canticle for Liebowitz • Walter M. Miller Jr.


43. Slow River • Nicola Griffith


44. In Praise of Shadows • Junichiro Tanizaki


45. Vermeer In Bosnia: Selected Writings • Lawrence Weschler


46. Out of Sheer Rage: Wrestling With D.H. Lawrence • Geoff Dyer


47. Pashazade [Arabesk Trilogy Book I] • Jon Courtenay Grimwood


48. Effendi [Arabesk Trilogy Book II] • Jon Courtenay Grimwood


49. Felaheen [Arabesk Trilogy Book III] • Jon Courtenay Grimwood


50. Fledgling • Octavia E. Butler


51. The Ionian Mission • Patrick O'Brian


52. Under the Volcano • Malcolm Lowry


53. Love Medicine • Louise Erdrich


54. Molloy • Samuel Beckett


55. Love • Stendhal


56. The Red and the Black • Stendhal


57. The Charterhouse of Parma • Stendhal


58. Walden and Other Writings • Henry David Thoreau


59. Essential Writings • Ralph Waldo Emerson


60. The Twelve Caesars • Suetonius


61. Candide • Voltaire


62. Arctic Dreams: Imagination and Desire in a Northern Landscape • Barry Lopez


63. The Little Prince • Antoine de Saint-Exupery


64. An Unexpected Light • Jason Elliot


65. The Carpet Wars • Christopher Kremmer


66. The Shadow of the Sun • Ryszard Kapuscinski


67. The Places in Between • Rory Stewart


68. The Power and the Glory • Graham Greene


69. The Heart of the Matter • Graham Greene


70. The Solace of Open Spaces • Gretel Ehrlich


71. A Match to the Heart: One Woman's Story of Being Struck By Lightning • Gretel Ehrlich


72. Bleak House • Charles Dickens


73. The Iliad • Homer


74. Three Bags Full • Leonie Swann


75. The Stones of Florence and Venice Observed • Mary McCarthy


76. Venice • Jan Morris


77. Darkmans • Nicola Barker


78. The Married Man • Edmund White


79. The Salterton Trilogy • Robertson Davies


80. The Leopard • Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa


81. • Jorge Luis Borges



82. Ghosts of Spain • Giles Tremlett


83. Storming the Gates of Paradise: Landscapes for Politics • Rebecca Solnit
    [26/04/2008 ~ 13/08/2008]


84. Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly • Anthony Bourdain
    [27/05/2008 ~ 11/07/2008]


85. Into Thin Air • Jon Krakauer
    [03/01/2008 ~ 12/01/2008]


86. The Wild Places • Robert Macfarlane
    [12/01/2008 ~ 26/01/2008]


87. Cyteen • C. J. Cherryh
    [29/12/2007 ~ 01/02/2008]


88. Shadow of the Silk Road • Colin Thubron
    [21/01/2008 ~ 26/02/008]


89. A Time to Keep Silence • Patrick Leigh Fermor
    [10/02/2008 ~ 02/03/2008]


90. Cleopatra's Nose: 39 Varieties of Desire • Judith Thurman
    [16/02/2008 ~ 20/03/2008]


91. The High King (Chronicles of Prydain, Book V) • Lloyd Alexander
    [24/03/2008 ~ 24/03/2008]


92. Taran Wanderer (Chronicles of Prydain, Book IV) • Lloyd Alexander
    [23/03/2008 ~ 24/03/2008]


93. The Castle of Llyr (Chronicles of Prydain, Book III) • Lloyd Alexander
    [22/03/2008 ~ 23/03/2008]


94. The Black Cauldron (Chronicles of Prydain, Book II) • Lloyd Alexander
    [21/03/2008 ~ 22/03/2008]


95. The Book of Three (Chronicles of Prydain, Book I) • Lloyd Alexander
    [21/03/2008 ~ 21/03/2008]


96. The Strangers in the House • Georges Simenon
    [Translated by Geoffrey Sainsbury]
    [22/03/2008 ~ 24/03/2008]


97. Monsieur Monde Vanishes • Georges Simenon
    [Translated by Jean Stewart]
    [24/03/2008 ~ 05/04/2008]


98. The Riddle-Master's Game • Patricia A. McKillip
    The Riddle-Master of Hed
    [24/03/2008 ~ 05/04/2008]
    Heir of Sea and Fire
    [05/04/2008 ~ 06/04/2008]
    Harpist in the Wind
    [06/04/2008 ~ 07/04/2008]


99. The Fortune of War • Patrick O'Brian
    [23/03/2008 ~ 16/04/2008]


100. Falconer • John Cheever
     [16/04/2008 ~ 22/04/2008]

Alternatives (What a lot of them!):

Her Smoke Rose Up Forever • James Tiptree, Jr.

• Between the Woods and the Water: On Foot to Constantinople: From The Middle Danube to the Iron Gates • Patrick Leigh Fermor


• The Marsh Arabs • Wilfred Thesiger


• House Rules • Heather Lewis

CHALLENGE | Signing up for R.I.P. III

Mystery.

Suspense.

Thriller.

Dark Fantasy.

Gothic.

Horror.

Supernatural.

I've decided to ignore my earlier hesitation and sign up for R.I.P. III anyway. My initial concern was about access to the books, since most of them are already packed and sealed in boxes. And I've just packed most of my stuff for Dubai in the 75 litres backpack - space is definitely an issue. I still need to find space for 2 pairs of work-shoes and more work-clothes.

If need be, I will hand-carry the books onto the plane. What are they going to do about it?

The only concession to the situation is my selection. I have chosen 3 titles from my library that I will bring with me to Dubai. I do not intend to bring them home with me.

Here is my modest pool of titles for R.I.P. III:

1. The Name of the Rose, Umberto Eco.
   Some of you may be familiar with the film adaption of this title which starred Sean Connery and a very young Christian Slater. The year is 1327 and the English monk, Brother William of Baskerville travels to an abbey - one with a grand library - to unravel the mystery behind a series of murders that has been taking place there.
2. Asylum, Patrick McGrath
   This has also been adapted into a film, starring Ian McKellen. The elegant and intelligent Stella Raphael is married to her dull, unimaginative husband, Max. The husband is a psychiatrist at a maximum-security mental hopsital, where Stella is rapidly seduced by the sculptor Edgar Stark - who is confined to the mental hospital for the brutal murder of his wife. A gothic tale of lust, betrayal, madness and obsession. Honestly, I have no idea why I have not read it yet.
3. The Ghost Writer, John Harwood
   Carl's list reminded me that I have an old paperback copy of the book in the stash.
   A young boy, Gerard, growing up in Australia, begins a correspondence with a young girl, Alice Jessel. Her parents died in an accident and she was crippled. She now lives in an institution. They grow up, only communicating through the letters they sent each other, until they eventual fall in love. The story promises twists and turn, as Gerard discovers his grandmother wrote ghost stories, and these stories resemble his own life with uncanny accuracy.

I'm not certain if I can finish at least one of these titles, so I will start modestly with Peril the Third - to read one book. If circumstances permit, I will move on to Peril the Second.

R.I.P III runs from September 1st through October 31st, 2008

Visit http://ripingyarns.blogspot.com for more R.I.P. III book reviews.

GRAPHIC NOVELS CHALLENGE | Closing

I'm trying to streamline my challenges and reading right now. We have just entered July and I barely made a dent in the Russian Reading Challenge. I am also highly skeptical that I would have time for more challenges for 2008 either.

Since I've technically finished the 6 graphic novels required for Dewey's The Graphic Novel Challenge, I've decided to close on it. Just to settle the books.

[To Read 6 Graphic Novels from January 2008 to December 2008]

Completed for the challenge:

1. Welcome to Tranquility Vol. 1 • Gail Simone & Neil Googe
2. Manhunter: Unleashed • Marc Andreyko et al
3. Birds of Prey: Dead of Winter • Gail Simone e al
4. Batman: The Killing Joke (The Deluxe Edition) • Alan Moore & Brian Bolland
   
5. Checkmate: Fall of the Wall • Greg Rucka, Joe Bennett & Chris Samnee
6. B.P.R.D. Killing Ground • Mike Mignola, John Arcudi & Guy Davis
7. The Question: The Five Books of Blood • Greg Rucka
8. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: No Future For You • Brian K. Vaugh, Georges Jeanty & Joss Whedon
9. Hellboy: Darkness Calls • Mike Mignola & Duncan Fegredo

Visit The Graphic Novel Challenge Blog

Didn't Manage to Finish Quest the Second for OUT II

Where did the time go? I started pretty well with the Once Upon a Time II challenge and finished Quest the First. I decided to jump in and try for Quest the Second instead.

Turns out I was side-tracked and there's only 10 more days to the end of the challenge and I know I'm not going to make it.

Still, I did finally manage to finish The Prydain Chronicles after all these years. And I discovered Terri Windling and Patricia A. McKillip.

I'm going to throw in the towel and say I didn't manage to finish Quest the Second.

I think I'm done for challenges this year. I obviously suck at keeping to any schedule.

BOOKS | The Riddle-Master's Game (Possible Spoiler)

In the Riddle-Master trilogy, Patricia A. McKillip built a grand fantastic world, filled with engimatic characters that lived century-long lives with immense powers. Shape-shifters walked the land, knowledge comes from the learning of riddles.

There are no more wizards in the land since the city of Lungold – the centre of learning for wizards, was destroyed centuries ago. Yet the riddles of the land is filled with the tales of these wizards and magic from long ago.

The people reveres the High One – a mysterious, god-like figure that rules over the land through the land-law. The king of each country holds land-law. Through land-law the king is inextricably bonded to the land and its protection. He senses and awareness of his realm is heightened, almost on a psychic level.

The High One, from the beginning, had left men free to find their own destinies. His sole law was land-law, the law that passed like a breath of life from land-heir to land-heir; if the High One died, or withdrew his immense and intricate power, he could turn his realm into a wasteland.

The High One is never seen; his will is made known through his harpist – a similarly enigmatic figure named Deth, a man who had lived for centuries unaged. One day, Deth came to Morgon of Hed. He came to offer the High One's condolescences on Morgon's parents' death, and to find, on the bequest of the King of An, the one who solved the riddle of Peven. The King of An had sworn a long time ago, one who solves the riddle of Peven will win the hand of his daughter, Raederle – known as "the second most beautiful woman in An." (One is curious on how does one measure beauty? With a rule or a measuring jug?)

Morgon of Hed, the new King of Hed, has solved the riddle of Peven without telling anyone. He is a farmer-king, a true-hearted but very gifted young man born with three stars on his face. As he goes forth to answer the riddle of the three stars on his face, he suddenly finds himself pursued by unnameable shape-shifters who tried to kill him. There he learns the five riddles behind the three stars on his face, and a name given to him before he was born: Star-Bearer:

Who is the Star-Bearer and what will he loose that is bound?

What will one star call out of silence, one star out of darkness, and one star out of death?

Who will come in the time's ending and what will he bring?

Who will sound the earth's harp, silent since the Beginning?

Who will bear stars of fire and ice to the Ending of the Age?

A prophecy speaks of the coming of the Star-Bearer and of a harp and a sword both bearing three stars.

Morgon ends up acquiring great power – at great pain, and great cost. He also learns of the return of an ancient enemy of the land, and somehow their return – as well as the key to defeating them – is tied up with the three stars on his face.

McKillip wove Mogon's journey much like a riddle: with each riddle untangled, more riddles unfold – and one person can wear many masks.

***POSSIBLE SPOILER AHEAD***

But most of all, I love the theme of vengeance and love in the story. Morgon is saved by his gentleness, his love for the land and the people in it. His love saves him from being broken inspite of great suffering, and it saves him time and again from turning into a murderer.

Towards the end, one of the character said to Morgon:

'…When you broke free of Ghisteslwchlohm's power, why was it me you hunted, instead of him? He took the power of land-law from you. I took your trust, your love. You pursued what you valued most …'

'You and the Morgol kept my heart from turning into stone. I was forced to turn everything I had ever said to her into a lie. And you turned it back into truth. You were that generous with someone you hated.'

In a Revenger's Tale, there can only be two endings: Tragedy or Forgiveness. The answer to The Riddler-Master's Game is forgiveness – or perhaps something greater: love. It was the love Morgon carries in him, a farmer-king of a peaceful land, that made it possible to turn a lie into truth, betrayal into love.

CHALLENGE | Once Upon a Time II Updated

It is here! Carl's breathlessly awaited Once Upon a Time reading challenge!

For this year, I'll just start easy by aiming for Quest the First:

Read at least 5 books that fit somewhere within the Once Upon a Time II criteria. They might all be fantasy, or folklore, or fairy tales, or mythology…or your five books might be a combination from the four genres.

UPDATED 31 MARCH 2008:

Since I finished all 5 books of The Chronicles of Prydain, technically I am done with Quest the First. Heedless of the perils of over-commitment, I shall now move on to Quest the Second, which will be to read at least 1 book each from the 4 genres: fantasy, folklore, fairy tale, and mythology. As such, I had to reorganise and expand (slightly) my previous reading list.

Here goes, Dark Orpheus's Once Upon a Time II Aspirational List 2.0:

FANTASY

1. The Book of Three (Chronicles of Prydain, Book I) • Lloyd Alexander
2. The Black Cauldron (Chronicles of Prydain, Book II) • Lloyd Alexander
3. The Castle of Llyr (Chronicles of Prydain, Book III) • Lloyd Alexander
4. Taran Wanderer (Chronicles of Prydain, Book IV) • Lloyd Alexander
5. The High King (Chronicles of Prydain, Book V) • Lloyd Alexander
6. The Riddle-Master's Game • Patricia A. McKillip
7. Assassin's Apprentice (The Farseer Trilogy, Book I) • Robin Hobb
8. Royal Assassin (The Farseer Trilogy, Book II) • Robin Hobb
9. Assassin's Quest (The Farseer Trilogy, Book III) • Robin Hobb
10. The Little Prince • Antoine de Saint-Exupery
11. The Neverending Story • Michael Ende
12. Fledgling • Octavia E. Butler

FOLKLORE & FAIRYTALE

1. The Wood Wife • Terri Windling
2. The Stress of Her Regard • Tim Powers
3. Rusalka • C.J. Cherryh
4. Chernevog • C.J. Cherryh
5. Yvgenie • C.J. Cherryh
6. The Looking Glass Wars • Frank Beddor
7. The Tree of Swords and Jewels • C.J. Cherryh

MYTHOLOGY

1. The Once and Future King • T.H. White
2. Weight • Jeanette Winterson
3. Girl Meets Boy • Ali Smith
4. Medea • Euripides
5. The Drawing of the Three • Tim Powers

** Titles in purple indicates completed

BOOKS | The Wood Wife by Terri Windling

I believe in the power of serendipity. It often leads me to strange and curious discoveries.

Last weekend I was reading Carl's high praise for Terri Windling's The Wood Wife. I filed it away in my head as "Books to look out for." Imagine my surprise to actually find the book from the local library within the next day. (The local library pay little attention to Fantasy and Science Fiction, so it's something of a miracle, or fate.)

The story is set in contemporary times, with Maggie Black, a poet and writer arriving in the American Southwestern desert (more specifically, Tucson, Arizona). Before this, she had been corresponding through letters (not emails, but actual letters) with the poet Davis Cooper, who had been living a hermit's existence in the desert for decades. Davis Cooper and Maggie Black had never met, yet when he died – apparently drowned in the desert – he left his cabin and most of his possessions to Maggie Black.

Maggie Black arrived with little notion of what she was to find. Later she would discover the reason behind Davis Cooper's demise, as well as the unsolved riddle of a series of paintings done by Surrealist artist Anna Naverra (Davis Cooper's lover) when she was living in the desert. Something about the paintings and the desert land drove Anna Naverra mad. Davis Cooper never found out what it was. His only hint: The Night of the Dark Stone, April 16th – which was also the night Davis Cooper died.

Terri Windling weaved a very readable tale of magic and art intertwined. Only by learning the rules and lores of magic, can Maggie Black find her way to solving the mysteries of the desert land.

Terri Windling had one of the characters quote these lines from Katherine Paterson, the author of Bridge to Terabithia:

'If we marvel at the artist who has written a great book, we must marvel more at those people who lives are works of art and who don't even know it, who wouldn't believe it if they were told. However hard work good writing may be, it is easier than good living.'

This is perhaps the key to the theme of the story. As much as we marvel at art and artists, it is the greater art of living that we should honour and celebrate. The story comes full-circle towards the end, with Maggie Black reclaiming her voice as the poet, something she has forgotten along the way; she had been living another life not true to her voice. Only when she rediscovers her artistic self was she able to answer the question of who she is. And one believes her, when she says, "I want the life I have, not another."

Not many of us can say that about our own lives.

In her Author's Note Terri Windling provides the background for the conception of the tale. It was one of a series of novellas based on the magical artwork of British artist Brian Froud. Over time, the story shape-shifted to The Wood Wife as it is published here. This is the nature of magic and art – you rarely end up where you intended.

If you have time, drop by Stainless Steel Droppings for Carl's tribute to Brian Froud.

I don't know about you, but I'm suddenly seized with an urge to re-watch The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and Jim Henson's The Storyteller (Brian Froud was the conceptual designer on them.)

My favourite from The Dark Crystal is the gentle race known as the Mystics:

Final Three Books of The Chronicles of Prydain

I'm going to write about the final three books of The Prydain Chronicles in a single post, since I ran through all three books in the same weekend. It was a furious weekend, full of reading and sleeplessness.

The Castle of Llyr, Book III of The Chronicles of Prydain, opens with Princess Eilonwy, Daughter of Angharad, Daughter of Regat of the Royal House of Llyr, she of the red-gold hair and the too-sharp tongue, leaving Caer Dallben. Eilonwy is being sent to the Isle of Mona, where the King and Queen will teach her how to be a princess.

If you know what kind of girl of a girl Eilonwy is, you would snicker too.

Coll embraced Eilonwy. "When we see you again," he told her, "I doubt we shall recognize you. You shall be a fine Princess."

"I want to be recognized!" Eilonwy cried. "I want to be me!"

I smiled when I read this. It endears Eilonwy to me, because she wants nothing more than to be recognised for who she is.

Eilonwy is the last living successor to the magic of the House Of Llyr. The magic is available to Eilonwy on her reaching her womanhood. Achren desires the power for herself, and for this purpose, Eilonwy is kidnapped and brought to Caer Colur, the castle where the House of Llyr once stood.

Although her storyline is smaller than Taran, she too has to make a choice – and she chose well, proving she is capable of sacrifice. For one of the great themes of the Chronicles of Prydain is as Dallben said, "For each of us comes a time when we must be more than what we are." Though what this will be is often unknown to us until the time comes.

Taran Wanderer, Book IV continues the journey of Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper (can you tell how much I love saying this?) as he tries to find out more about himself. Specifically, he now knows he wishes to marry Eilonwy, and to do so, he needs to be worthy of a princess. He goes off to answer the question of his parentage – because a princess cannot marry a nobody, much less an Assistant Pig-Keeper.

Taran Wanderer is the dramatisation of something Taran said in The Castle of Llyr, about Prince Rhun: "For a man to be worthy of any rank, he must strive first to be a man." This is the tale of Taran striving to master himself, to learn to be a man.

This is actually my favourite book of the series. My earlier dissatisfaction with the stereotypical plot structure of the series has greatly dimished. Fantasy often works by means of metaphor, and Taran Wanderer works in a systematic structure of a Hero's Quest. Taran has several encounters. From each he learns something valuable. He then undergoes apprenticeship of various trades – from each he learns the wisdom of Life.

From the blacksmith – the life is a forge. "Metal's worthless till it's shaped and tempered!"

From the weaver – that we choose the pattern of our lives. If we do not like the pattern we have woven, we can either continue, or choose to start over. "Either finish a cloak you'll be ill-content to wear, or unravel it and start anew."

From the potter – he learns to put his heart into clay and gives shape to what lies within. "Craftsmanship isn't like water in an earthen pot, to be taken out by the dipperful until it's empty. No, the more drawn out the more remains. The heart renews itself, Wanderer, and skill grows all the better for it."

I appreciate wisdom that is pretty and lyrical – but just because a truth is delivered in a simple but familiar adage doesn't make it any less meaningful. Less glamorous, perhaps – but not necessarily less valuable.

By the end of Taran Wanderer, he returns to Caer Dallben – wiser and changed. He is now a man who can do anything he sets his mind to – and that is the truest mastery of self.

The High King, the final book in The Prydain Chronicles brings the battle against Arawn to the forth. There is betrayal, death, loss, sacrifice, grief – and courage. Finally, there is victory. The secret of Dallebn's Book of Three is also finally revealed, along with the secret of Taran's parentage.

But was the ending satisfying for me? There was closure, and it ended as one might suspect -- the fact is nothing was surprsing about the ending. I have enjoyed the reading of the series, but I know I wouldn't re-read it in any near future.

[The Castle of Llyr, Taran Wanderer and The High King are readings for the Once Upon a Time II Challenge. Visit the Once Upon a Time II Review Site for more fantasy related review.]

The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander

The Black Cauldron, Book II of The Chronicles of Prydain.

Last we left Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper, he is back in Caer Dallben, having brought home Eilonwy, the spirited if somewhat dreamy and sea-princess, and Hen Wen, the oracular pig.

When The Black Cauldron begins, Taran, our beloved and dauntless Assistant Pig-Keeper is on his way to give Hen Wen a bath. He is set upon by an arrogant prince, Ellidyr, who despises Taran just for being a "pig-boy". Ellidyr seems to have a major chip on his shoulder, even as he shows he is capable of courage. From the start one can tell he will be a tragic character, one that falls because of hubris.

Later, Gwydion himself appears in Caer Dallen, with other warriors of renown; a council has been called at Caer Dallben: It seems Arawn the Death Lord has grown bold and has started to build his army of the "Cauldron-Born" -- merciless undead warriors risen by the twisted magic of the Black Cauldron. Where previously Arawn has only robbed barrows and the graves for the Cauldron-Born, there are rumours now that living men are kidnapped and murdered to add to the ranks of the Cauldron-Born. The mission of the council is to go into the heart of Annuvin -- Arawn's stronghold -- and steal the Black Cauldron.

The story now takes a darker turn, and because of the kind of girl that I am, I like it better. There is more at stake now that Arawn is on the move, and Taran and his companions come to learn real loss.

Loss and sacrifice are the theme in The Black Cauldron. Lloyd Alexander himself wrote in the Author's Notes: "Even in a fantasy realm, growing up is accomplished not without cost." Maturity means understanding that with our actions there will be a consequence. Taran and his companions will learn that the quest for The Black Cauldron exacts a heavy toll. Arawn himself paid a heavy price to acquire the Black Cauldron -- though exactly what he paid is left to the imagination.

The book ends on a good note. Taran is coming to his own as a hero-in-the-making -- he has shown he is willing to sacrifice his selfish glories for recovering the Black Cauldron for what needs to be done. As part of growing up, he has also begun to realise that the world of men is "filled with sorrow, with cruelty and treachery, with those who would destroy all around them."

The story reminds us, that what defines a hero and a man, is his choices and what he is willing to sacrifice. And how lucky is Taran, to have friends who would give up all that they have for him.

I like The Black Cauldron, because of what it has to say about sacrifice, about growing up, and about reserving judgement. Onward to Book III of The Chronicles of Prydain, to The Castle of Llyr!

[The Black Cauldron is my second book for the Once Upon a Time II. Visit the Once Upon a Time II Review Site for more fantasy related review.]

Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

Today is Good Friday, and a public holiday. I've taken advantage of the day off to start on the first book of Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles: The Book of Three.

Lloyd Alexander wrote in his introduction to The Book of Three, that while some of the characters and plot lines may seem similar to Welsh mythology, it is only very loosely inspired by the Welsh tales.

As the story goes, we are introduced to Taran, a boy dubbed the "Assistant Pig-Keeper", who dreams of battles, honour and a life out of his home of Caer Dallben. He lives with Dallben, a three-hundred year old scholar and Coll -- both of whom are more than meets the eyes.

One day the bees and the chickens flown away. Recognising this as an ill omen, Dallen asks Taran to bring Hen Wen, the oracular pig to him. But Hen Wen runs away instead, and Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper, runs after him. Here his adventures begin. Along the way he meets Prince Gwydion, a son of Don and War Leader of High King Math -- a sort of a Strider figure in the story.

As it turns out, Arawn, the Death-Lord of dark magic and darker ambitions, is after Hen Wen also. His champion and War Leader is the Horned King, a terrible warrior who wears a mask of skull and an antlered helmet; the Horned King is assembling an army towards Caer Cadarn.

The premise of the story is familiar -- it is a young hero's quest, with Taran being helped by companions he picked up along the way. He also earns unexpected allies through his random acts of compassion. There is little that seems extraordinary about Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper, but he manages to come up as a hero at the end. As Dallben reminds him later, no great task is ever undertaken alone. The role Taran plays is not to be the sole hero of the mission, but the one who help hold it all together.

When asked what he wishes as his reward, all he asks for, is to be home at Caer Dallben. Yet when he is home, he finds his surroundings different, perhaps a little smaller, though he still loved his home. Dallben tells him then, that in fact, Taran has become larger after his experience.

I have to admit I'm not 100% taken with The Book of Three. I find the plot a little too abrupt -- things move too fast without sufficient build-up to the action. Taran stumbled upon Gwydion a little too conveniently -- even in The Lord of the Rings, there was a dramatic run-in with the Nazgûl before the hobbits are rescued by Strider.

It may be unfair to compare The Book of Three to Fellowship of the Ring -- but I am the kind of reader who would appreciate a richer fantasy world with deeper characters.

Recognising this, I am still going to continue with The Black Cauldron, the second book in The Chronicles of Prydain. Perhaps the tale will pick up as I progress down the series.

[The Book of Three is my first book for the Once Upon a Time II Challenge. Visit the Once Upon a Time II Review Site for more fantasy related review.]

CHALLENGE | Closing on Outmoded Authors Challenge

September 1st 2007 ~ February 28th 2008

Choose to read however many books by however many authors you like from the list at Outmoded Authors

My books read:

1. W. Somerset Maugham, The Razor's Edge; The Moon and Sixpence
2. Italo Svevo, A Perfect Hoax
3. G.K. Chesterton, The Man Who Was Thursday; A Piece of Chalk (Essay)

Okay, it could have been better. But in between I did a lot of yoga. And I read other books. So, it's cool.

Quitting on Unread Authors Challenge 2007/08

There comes a time when you know you have to throw in the towel on a challenge. From 1 September 2007 to 28 February 2008, participants for the Unread Authors Challenge are supposed to read six books by authors they have never read before. So far, I've only managed Italo Svevo's A Perfect Hoax from my list.

This is one challenge I will have to say I did not complete. Oh well. On the whole, I did complete most of my other challenges for 2007. So it's not so bad.

CHALLENGE | Short Story Reading Challenge 2008

It's a new year, so what else is there to do but sign up for the Short Story Reading Challenge?

Hosted by Kate S., this reading challenge may yet prove to be my undoing -- because the short story form is something I seem to have difficulties with. I'm not sure why. I just don't take to it as well as the novel -- and writing about the short stories I've read -- I'm practically handicapped here.

I'm opting for a more relaxed approach, which is to read (at least) 10 short stories by 10 different writers for 2008. With the Russian Reading Challenge coming up, I suspect there will be quite a lot of Russians on the plate.

I have nothing definite planned -- as all my previous reading plans for short stories have come to nothing. I'm going to list a few stories from books I already own, and add to it as time pass:

1. "The Bear Came Over the Mountain" by Alice Munro
2. "Sonata" by Jackie Kay
3. "The Nose" by Nikolai Gogol
4. Something by Anton Chekhov
5. Something by Grace Paley
6. Something by Nikolai Leskov
   
7. Something by Mercè Rodoreda, from My Christina & Other Stories

Meanwhile, maybe you would like to visit the Short Story Reading Challenge Blog for more.

CHALLENGE | Closing on the Armchair Traveler Reading Challenge 2007

July 1 ~ December 31 2007

I changed a lot of the books in between. Thankfully, I managed to finish the six books for the challenge. The final book, The Spanish Bow, was completed on 27 December 2007.

Right now, I just want to go plunge into another book on Spain.

1. Into the Wild Jon Krakauer [Alaska, USA] {Write-up}


2. The Night Watch Sergei Lukyanenko [Moscow, Russia] {Write-up}


3. Ten Thousand Miles Without a Cloud Sun Shuyun [China/Central Asia/ India] {Write-up 1, 2}


4. The Art of Travel Alain de Botton [Amsterdam, London, Mt Sinai & Various other Places]


5. Persepolis 1 & 2 Marjane Satrapi [Iran]


6. The Spanish Bow Andromeda Romano-Lax [Spain]

CHALLENGE | Graphic Novels Challenge 2008

I was all excited when I found out Dewey was hosting a Graphic Novels Challenge.

A glance at my sidebar (where it says "Comics & Manga Read 2007") will tell you I read manga and graphic novels from time to time. So, what can be easier?

Even the rules of participation are flexible:

To participate in the Graphic Novels Challenge, simply choose at least 6 graphic novels to read from January 2008 to December 2008. You may overlap with other challenges. You may also change your list of titles at any point if something comes up that you want to switch around.

I thought I could do a nice well-structured reading list with themes and stuff. But I'm afraid my reading habits has always been chaotic. So, without further ado, here is my list:

1. Cairo Written by G. Willow Wilson with art by M.K. Perker
   My director just read it and he recommended it to me. Cairo is a modern magical-realism retelling of the Aladdin story, rendered in stark black-and-white illustrations by Turkish artist M.K. Perker


2. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier Written by Alan Moore
   I loved the first two volumes of LOEG written by Alan Moore. It has been long delayed, but thankfully, it's finally arrived. From what I know of the story, the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen have been disbanded and disavowed, and the country is under the control of a tyrannical regime. Now, after many years, the still youthful Mina Murray and a rejuvenated Allan Quatermain return.


3. The Complete Persepolis Written and illustrated by Marjane Satrapi
   Satrapi's memoir of growing up in revolutionary Iran. I read an interview Satrapi gave a while back and she seemed like an interesting, fiery personality indeed.


4. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Long Way Home by Joss Whedon and Georges Jeanty
   It broke my heart when Buffy finally went off the air. Season 8 of Buffy continues in comic form.


5. The Death of Captain America by Ed Brubaker et al
   This is actually pretty out of place on my usual reading list for comics, because I have tried very hard to avoid the Marvel Civil War series since it came out. These crossover series always involve too many titles and if I try to follow the entire story-line, I will have to buy over 30 trade paperbacks. But I'm going to try this one, because the story reads like the death of an icon.


6. Seven Soldiers of Victory Vol. 1 Written by Grant Morrison
   Once again, I've been hearing all these praises for the series, which brings in Grant Morrison to tie in several unrelated characters in their pursuit against a common foe. I think. Honestly, I have no idea what this series is about. The challenge is to go into this series blind.


7. Batman: Death and the City Written by Paul Dini
   I am a Batman fan, and I have too many Batman T-shirts for any respectable adult. I'm throwing this into the mix as I have heard good things about Paul Dini's run on the Dark Knight mythos. This one features Zatanna.


8. Birds of Prey: Dead of Winter Written by Gail Simone
   Gail Simone is one of my favourite comic book writer. She revitalised the Birds of Prey franchise, made convincing heroes out of B-list characters like Huntress and Black Canary. This will be her swan-song on the BoP series.


9. Crime Bible: Five Lessons of Blood Written by Greg Rucka
   The spin-off from 52, and it features one of my favourite DC character, Renee Montoya – who has taken the mantle of The Question towards the conclusion of the 52 series.

Other Titles (too many to list all)

• Shortcomings By Adrian Tomine


• Welcome to Tranquility: Volume 1 & Volume 2 by Gail Simone


• Fallen Angel Vol. 4 by Peter David


• Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 By David Petersen


• The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman


• B.P.R.D. Garden of Souls by Mike Mignola et al

Closing on Readers Imbibing Perils II Challenge 2007

R.I.P. II Challenge
1st September 1st ~ 31st October 2007

Original reading list posted here.

Completed reading list:

1. 30 Days of Night
   by Steve Niles & Ben Templesmith
2. Night Watch
   by Sergei Lukyanenko
   [Translated by Andrew Bromfield]
3. Hellboy: The Troll Witch and Other Stories
   by Mike Mignola, P. Craig Russell & Richard Corben
4. The Last Wish
   by Andrzej Sapkowski
   [translated by Danusia Stok]
5. Twilight Watch
   by Sergei Lukyanenko
   [translated by Andrew Bromfield]
6. Dracula by Bram Stoker

I have finally finished my last book for the R.I.P. II Challenge with Bram Stoker's Dracula. Once again I have deviated a little from my original reading list - which is proof that I can never follow a straight path. Heh.

I have managed to read a good mix of titles, even if the list is a little short. Among my readings I have managed to read two Russian novels, one Polish collection of short stories, two graphic novels and the father of all vampire novels - Dracula. I hope to do better next year (is there a next year, Carl?) - with a wider range of reading stuff. And maybe get around to writing more book reviews. (This year has been a year of over-commitment for me.)

[R.I.P.ing Yarns: The Official R.I.P. II Review Site]