tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80549213478660414062024-03-08T00:29:02.595-08:00KhrystiBooksThe Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054921347866041406.post-89285681669263722722012-07-03T23:40:00.002-07:002012-07-03T23:40:31.392-07:00<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13828499-hair-care-rehab" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Hair Care Rehab: The Ultimate Hair Repair & Reconditioning Manual" border="0" src="http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nocover/111x148.png" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13828499-hair-care-rehab">Hair Care Rehab: The Ultimate Hair Repair & Reconditioning Manual</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4875436.Audrey_Davis_Sivasothy">Audrey Davis-Sivasothy</a><br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/360893245">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This book covers pretty much everything you need to know about healthy hair. It taught me quite a bit, and I actually did the rehab program outlined. My hair is super healthy and soft now, which I love. I've picked up some new good habits, like clarifying my hair once a month and leaving my conditioner on for 10-15 minutes, which my showers nicely meditative. I've learned what texture my hair ACTUALLY is (wavy), how to use hair oils, and how often I should really use a leave-in conditioner or hair mask. In addition, there is a complete list of healthy hair products in the back, which is awesome (and preferable to sprinkling them throughout the book, where product recommendations are both distracting and hard to find again). The photos are also really good-there are a lot, and the girls in them are both gorgeous and have personality.. If you have hair, then I definitely recommend this book.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1073990-khrystine">View all my reviews</a>The Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054921347866041406.post-14354191716739761202012-03-17T22:22:00.000-07:002012-03-17T22:22:24.816-07:00Thoughts from The Power Of Intention Wayne Dyer (Chapter 2)<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Faces Of Intention (Destiny)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">1. Creativity</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> This means progress, divine potential (which could be another definition of intention), the knowledge that the kingdom of God is within you. Those same creative faculties God has given me that allow me to have children also allow me to shape my destiny.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">2. Kindness</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> The supreme virtue of womanhood is compassion. When a woman denies compassion she is truly denying her divine nature and Goddess energy. As she is kind and does good works, she will be led to her destiny.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">3. Love</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> Love creates destiny. Doing what you love, being with who you love is your destiny. "Men are that they might have joy." </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">True</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> love is all the good things: </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">true</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> love is fearless. Love is to fear, hate, etc. as light is to dark. </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> </b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">4. Beauty</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> Satan is the deceiver, he tells us lies to make us unhappy. God tells us the truth to make us happy. The truth is always beautiful, even if strangely, sublimely, or even tragically so. This is what true romantics know. As we look for the beauty in everything, we are constantly looking for God. Therefore we are constantly becoming aware of his will for us and able to align ourselves with that will. This practice also helps us to survive.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">5. Expansion (Progress)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Again, the life force, progress. Our true destiny is to eternally progress. Choosing to stagnate, is then, one of the worst "sins" we can commit. If expression constantly increases, we must cultivate the good things (</span><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">the BEAUTY</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">) we have in us and our lives. (Parable of the talents).</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">6. Unlimited abundance (Eternity)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> "Your ways are not God's ways". God is </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">INFINITE, ETERNAL, & EVERLASTING.</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> We can become like God. We are his children, we share his traits.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">7. Receptivity (Faith)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">"Intention [Destiny] can't respond to you if you fail to recognize it." Don't ask how, just say yes. If you have received your answer from God, just go forward with faith. "I know the Lord provides a way."</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Visualize the power of intention (destiny).</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Be reflective/faithful.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Expect beauty.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Meditate on/pray about appreciation.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Banish doubt/fear.</span> </span>The Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054921347866041406.post-63153236091717649792012-03-17T20:12:00.000-07:002012-03-17T20:12:08.173-07:00The Undying Apathy of Imogen Shroud by Ben White<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11217960-the-undying-apathy-of-imogen-shroud" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Undying Apathy of Imogen Shroud" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327800765m/11217960.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11217960-the-undying-apathy-of-imogen-shroud">The Undying Apathy of Imogen Shroud</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4452684.Ben_White">Ben White</a><br />
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My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/172347936">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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I really really liked this book. It would make an awesome movie as well. The way it starts out, I was expecting something a little different, so if you aren't sure at first, keep reading.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1073990-khrystine">View all my reviews</a>The Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054921347866041406.post-53057648236659426032011-11-21T19:35:00.000-08:002011-11-21T19:35:44.725-08:00William Blake!<a href="http://bibliodyssey.blogspot.com/2011/11/blake-illuminations.html">Blake Illuminations</a>The Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054921347866041406.post-51361618318225851032011-10-26T15:55:00.001-07:002011-10-26T15:55:30.247-07:00Butterflies<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11693227-butterflies" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Butterflies" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1317372697m/11693227.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11693227-butterflies">Butterflies</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1321633.Susanne_Gervay">Susanne Gervay</a><br />
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My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/218673182">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This book was uplifting, though sad in places, and the characters were realistic. Katherine is likable, neither a victim of her problems or a saint. The book is inspiring without being preachy.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1073990-khrystine">View all my reviews</a>The Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054921347866041406.post-22549457200773173832011-10-25T09:46:00.001-07:002011-10-25T09:46:54.779-07:00The Hand of Divine Justice<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5632470-the-hand-of-divine-justice" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Hand of Divine Justice" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1301446774m/5632470.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5632470-the-hand-of-divine-justice">The Hand of Divine Justice</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4575991.Therese_Zrihen_Dvir">Therese Zrihen-Dvir</a><br />
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My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/159734703">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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I enjoyed this book, it's a great family history and story of personal redemption. The dialogue seemed a bit formal to my American ears, but I enjoyed it and it made me want to write which is always a good thing in my opinion. The only problems I had with this novel are that some of the characters seemed a bit one-dimensional (like Claude, Paul, and Cathy)and I didn't quite understand the animosity of Mardoché for Solomon at times. It seems clear to me why Solomon would do what he chose to do; learning about his identity and pursuing his education seem like good things to do even if they are uncomfortable at times. His parents, especially Mardoché, seemed very selfish in this regard to me, and Mercedes seemed to be the only objective character in regard to this. I don't know if this is perhaps a cultural misunderstanding of mine or if it is a failure on the author's part to truly make the reader understand the motivations of the characters.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1073990-khrystine">View all my reviews</a>The Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054921347866041406.post-19873760232606972912011-10-17T13:47:00.001-07:002011-10-17T13:47:38.148-07:00I start classes (well, a class) again this week so it's back to work for me. I am trying to define work a little more...creatively this time around. As part of my penchant for making lists, here are some things I hope to refocus on:<br />
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Making A's and $<br />
Taking some childhood development classes<br />
Book reviews (and the reading that goes with it)<br />
Creative ventures: sewing, collages, writing<br />
Blogging: Both reading and writing<br />
Seeing movies again<br />
Exploring and listening to a lot of music<br />
Playing with my look (particularly getting a little more creative with my outfits, maybe exploring <a href="http://dressingyourtruth.com/">Carol Tuttle's classes</a>)<br />
Exercising<br />
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I feel a bit more inspired than I have in a while, so wish me luck!The Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054921347866041406.post-15984745199697763902011-09-19T15:46:00.001-07:002011-09-19T15:46:16.744-07:00<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10777621-meena" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Meena" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51y9Kq0NFPL._SX106_.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10777621-meena">Meena</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/890577.Sine_van_Mol">Sine van Mol</a><br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/205993171">2 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This book was fine, but I have some reservations about just leaving this around for the kids to read. One of the illustrations (a cauldron with limbs hanging out) would have frightened me as a child. I also feel unsure that the children in the story learned their lesson. Vandalism isn't just wrong because the woman isn't really a witch. Throwing things over the fence seemed a little intense to me. Isn't that a hate crime?
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1073990-khrystine">View all my reviews</a>
The Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054921347866041406.post-39858390583672884422011-09-05T00:00:00.000-07:002011-09-05T00:00:08.147-07:00Dirty Little Angels<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6079881-dirty-little-angels" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Dirty Little Angels" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266497538m/6079881.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6079881-dirty-little-angels">Dirty Little Angels</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/495136.Chris_Tusa">Chris Tusa</a><br />
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My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/177813018">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This book is good, but disturbing. I wouldn't read it if you were depressed. It is not uplifting. Everything in this book seems dirty and potentially dangerous. This is one of those books I can't deny was good, but I didn't exactly like it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1073990-khrystine">View all my reviews</a>The Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054921347866041406.post-48050690735913405072011-09-04T00:00:00.000-07:002011-09-04T00:00:03.915-07:00Dancing on the Day of the Kings (Caribbean Reference Shelf)<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12447857-dancing-on-the-day-of-the-kings" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Dancing on the Day of the Kings (Caribbean Reference Shelf)" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41CRJ6DJnrL._SX106_.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12447857-dancing-on-the-day-of-the-kings">Dancing on the Day of the Kings</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4821784.Jacqueline_Grant_Kent">Jacqueline Grant Kent</a><br />
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My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/202545014">3 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This was a pretty good book. I definitely learned some things I didn't know. However, it didn't seem to go very deep and it wasn't fabulously written. I realize its aimed at young readers, but it sort of felt like the writer said, "First this happened. Then this happened." It's definitely a good book and makes a good reference, but its not amazing.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1073990-khrystine">View all my reviews</a>The Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054921347866041406.post-29727427136505462162011-09-03T00:00:00.000-07:002011-09-03T00:00:08.099-07:00Ghosts of Coronado Bay<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11385965-ghosts-of-coronado-bay" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Ghosts of Coronado Bay (A Maya Blair Mystery #1)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1305607815m/11385965.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11385965-ghosts-of-coronado-bay">Ghosts of Coronado Bay</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4265362.J_G_Faherty">J.G. Faherty</a><br />
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My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/177813071">3 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This book was fun. The characters weren't overly developed but I enjoyed myself. You can really tell this book is written by a guy. Maya's character is not unbelievable, but you can sort of tell that its how a guy expects a teenage girl to be. The story was more original than I thought it would be. It was a good summer read. <br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1073990-khrystine">View all my reviews</a>The Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054921347866041406.post-46391627982174915142011-09-02T00:00:00.000-07:002011-09-02T00:00:09.735-07:00The Eyes that See (The Balancer Chronicles)<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11078411-the-eyes-that-see" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Eyes that See (The Balancer Chronicles)" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512Adc5tpKL._SX106_.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11078411-the-eyes-that-see">The Eyes that See</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4783061.Chris_Adonn">Chris Adonn</a><br />
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My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/172347066">2 of 5 stars</a><br />
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First of all, let me say this book is very short, and may perhaps be meant as a teaser, which may negate what I am about to say. BUT...I thought it could have been so much better. Adonn's idea isn't all that unique, but could be very fun in a sort of high brow vampire-slayer sort of way. However, he just didn't make me feel it. The characters were undeveloped (see disclaimer) and one character (who Adonn admits is his favorite) is unlikeable. I believe he is supposed to be cocky and charming (just my type) but he doesn't quite let us see the charm. Instead, we simply are to assume he's likeable because Adonn keeps telling us so. I find myself curious to see if the next book might be better, but I won't go out of my way to read it. <br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1073990-khrystine">View all my reviews</a>The Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054921347866041406.post-1947438125164161862011-09-01T00:00:00.000-07:002011-09-01T00:00:09.922-07:00Murder in the Philosophy Department<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12124301-murder-in-the-philosophy-department" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Murder in the Philosophy Department" border="0" src="http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-111x148.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12124301-murder-in-the-philosophy-department">Murder in the Philosophy Department</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1707621.Julia_March">Julia March</a><br />
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My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/193041090">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This book was well written ( I learned a lot of new words!) and highly entertaining, particularly if you have spent time in a college setting. The characters are quite colorful, and there are a few tributes to Agatha Christie. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because the ending, while exciting, seemed quite rushed. It seems possible March was on a deadline and needed to wrap things up quickly, which is so disappointing because the characters were so much fun to spend time with!<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1073990-khrystine">View all my reviews</a>The Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054921347866041406.post-46104328942410214102011-08-31T00:00:00.000-07:002011-08-31T00:00:01.361-07:00The End of the World<div class="commentHeader"><div class="postinfo"><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/11114688">The End of the World</a> by <a href="http://www.librarything.com/author/bissandrew">Andrew Biss</a></div></div><div class="commentText" id="brtext_73922776">This is kind of a bizarre little novel, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's kind of hard to tell what's going on (though I had my suspicions), but it is not unpleasant. It's a fun quick read, and very well written. <span class="rating">( <img src="http://static.librarything.com/pics/ss8.gif" /> )</span></div>The Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054921347866041406.post-68054572006695031132011-08-30T00:00:00.000-07:002011-08-30T00:00:02.734-07:00Freud and Jung: Years of Friendship, Years of Loss…<div class="commentHeader"><div class="postinfo"><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/2360384">Freud and Jung: Years of Friendship, Years of Loss…</a> by <a href="http://www.librarything.com/author/donnlinda">Linda Donn</a></div></div>This book reads like fiction, something I always appreciate in non-fiction. You also really feel like you've been in Freud and Jung's heads, and really get to know their personality. Excellent. The Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054921347866041406.post-48790626501666375502011-08-29T00:00:00.000-07:002011-08-29T00:00:01.448-07:00The Wild Soccer Bunch, Book 2, Diego the Tornado<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10724867-the-wild-soccer-bunch-book-2-diego-the-tornado" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Wild Soccer Bunch, Book 2, Diego the Tornado" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51atJf5im3L._SX106_.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10724867-the-wild-soccer-bunch-book-2-diego-the-tornado">The Wild Soccer Bunch, Book 2, Diego the Tornado</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/855198.Joachim_Masannek">Joachim Masannek</a><br />
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My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/161557484">3 of 5 stars</a><br />
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I think kids who like soccer will really get into this book, and it had some very well-written parts. However the adults were portrayed strangely to me. Maybe it's just how Diego and his friends see them, but with the exception of Diego's mom, they seemed one-dimensional and somewhat impulsive. The book is written as if Diego is just talking, which can be charming, but something seemed lacking.<br />
Overall I think this is a good first chapter book for a seven or eight year old soccer fan, but I wasn't floored by it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1073990-khrystine">View all my reviews</a>The Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054921347866041406.post-75361266029242331112011-08-28T00:00:00.000-07:002011-08-28T00:00:01.954-07:00The Fences Between Us: The Diary of Piper Davis, Seattle, Washington, 1941 (Dear America)The Fences Between Us: The Diary of Piper Davis, Seattle, Washington, 1941<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7886561-the-fences-between-us" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Fences Between Us: The Diary of Piper Davis, Seattle, Washington, 1941 (Dear America)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1279248192m/7886561.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7886561-the-fences-between-us">The Fences Between Us: The Diary of Piper Davis, Seattle, Washington, 1941</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/121579.Kirby_Larson">Kirby Larson</a><br />
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My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/146644611">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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I think a big difference in the success of a children's book is how likable the main character is. Piper Davis is very likable. She is compassionate, generous, and charming. I also appreciate kid's books that are willing to tell the truth about tricky subjects, such as propaganda.<br />
Piper is realistic. She doesn't go crusading for her friend Betty, but does gradually grow more sure of her opinions.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1073990-khrystine">View all my reviews</a>The Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054921347866041406.post-57670114204879131642011-08-27T00:00:00.000-07:002011-08-27T00:00:03.005-07:00The Stairway to Heaven<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10197320-the-stairway-to-heaven" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Stairway to Heaven" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51anhBBbVYL._SX106_.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10197320-the-stairway-to-heaven">The Stairway to Heaven</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4575991.Therese_Zrihen_Dvir">Therese Zrihen-Dvir</a><br />
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My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/158409573">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This book is an interesting philosophical treatise based on a true story involving a terrorist attack in Israel. This book shows how terrorism effects all members of a society, and the various attitudes that arise therefrom. I feel much more understanding of the culture of Israel as well.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1073990-khrystine">View all my reviews</a>The Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054921347866041406.post-67461249890778924752011-08-26T21:01:00.001-07:002011-08-26T21:01:58.646-07:00My Name Is Not Alexander<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9465829-my-name-is-not-alexander" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="My Name Is Not Alexander" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51AZ-iymFmL._SX106_.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9465829-my-name-is-not-alexander">My Name Is Not Alexander</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1470172.Jennifer_Fosberry">Jennifer Fosberry</a><br />
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My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/202558507">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This book is delightful. The illustrations are very detailed, yet they sort of look as if they have been drawn with crayons. The story is educational, but also fun as it will encourage kids to use their imagination, whether about real people or not. There is a section in the back describing the feats of all the people Alexander pretends to be, including Daddy. This is done very well, straightforward and not "dumbed down". This book also ends with Alexander just being Alexander. I think this is great as kids should know that they are awesome just by themselves.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1073990-khrystine">View all my reviews</a>The Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054921347866041406.post-626391042883896282010-11-21T06:26:00.000-08:002010-11-21T06:26:38.472-08:00Yes You Can!: Your Guide to Becoming an Activist… by Jane DrakeThis review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.<br />
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The book jacket reads "A step-by-step guide to successful social change." I don't quite know if that's accurate. While this book offers a look at the process activism usually follows, there are less direct strategies and more stories of activists. There are a few helpful exercises, however. I liked that the book did not seem to be pushing one agenda, though the authors seemed to hint at discussing smoker's rights vs. non smokers rights and then only discussed the latter. There are some interesting nuggets about how much the U.S.A. sucks at environmental policy, but they are only facts in time lines, nothing pushy. All in all, this book offers an interesting look at how change is affected, and it does make me want to do something worthwhile in my community. I sense that this accomplishes the authors' true purpose.<br />
3 Stars<br />
<a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/9679627">Book Page</a>The Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054921347866041406.post-23760305932398707962010-10-16T15:07:00.003-07:002010-10-16T15:07:57.550-07:00Here are a lot of things I like:<br />
A designer knows he has arrived at perfection not when there is no longer anything to add but when there is no longer anything to take away. - Antoine De Saint-Exupery<br />
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I am convinced we do not only love ourselves in others but hate ourselves in others too. - Georg C. Lichtenberg<br />
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Everyone sees the unseen in proportion to the clarity of his heart, and that depends upon how much he has polished it. Whoever has polished it more sees more - more unseen forms become manifest to him. – Jalal Ad-din Rumi<br />
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What this power is I cannot say; All I know is that it exists and it becomes available only when a man is in that state of mind in which he knows exactly what he wants and is fully determined not to quit until he finds it. - William Shakespeare<br />
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Times of great calamity and confusion have been productive for the greatest minds. The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace. The brightest thunder-bolt is elicited from the darkest storm.- Charles Caleb Colton<br />
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Mind and spirit together make up that which separates us from the rest of the animal world, that which enables a man to know the truth and that which enables him to die for the truth.- Edith Hamilton<br />
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People have to talk about something just to keep their voice boxes in working order so they'll have good voice boxes in case there's ever anything really meaningful to say. - Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.<br />
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You know you are in love when you see the world in her eyes, and her eyes everywhere in the world. - David Levesque<br />
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So which is your favorite?The Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054921347866041406.post-12783208668693918432010-10-16T15:07:00.001-07:002010-10-16T15:07:10.064-07:00A Few Moments<br />
Tomas Tranströmer<br />
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<br />
The dwarf pine on marsh grounds holds its head up: a dark rag.<br />
But what you see is nothing compared to the roots,<br />
the widening, secretly groping, deathless or half-<br />
deathless root system.<br />
<br />
I you she he also put roots out.<br />
Outside our common will.<br />
Outside the City.<br />
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Rain drifts from the summer sky that's pale as milk.<br />
It is as if my five senses were hooked up to some other creature<br />
that moves with the same stubborn flow<br />
as the runners in white circling the track as the night comes misting in.The Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054921347866041406.post-12696707112971774962010-10-16T15:05:00.001-07:002010-10-16T15:05:32.315-07:00What's Love? by Daniel Handler<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="printable" style="width: 500px;"><tbody>
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</td> <td valign="top"><img height="25" src="http://www.powells.com/image/shims/clearpixel.gif" width="10" /></td> <td valign="top">What's love, again? No, seriously: what is it? Why are you quoting song lyrics? Do the lyrics of love songs actually cut to the heart of the matter, or are they simply so vague that it feels like they do? Why does one's own love feel as if it cuts to the heart of things, but other people's loves feel like vague amusements? Why are love songs we don't like so noxious? How can we love a song so dearly for a number of years and then suddenly find it embarrassing? Also, a person? <br />
Why is it that love feels so individual, and yet nearly every individual falls in and out of love in basically the same way? Why are stories of other people meeting and falling in love invariably tedious? Why are stories of other people breaking up so riveting? If love can happen in an instant how come it actually takes forever to get it together? Is love like taking a taxi, in which the route is important but the passengers could be anybody? Or is it more like driving a taxi, in which you end up in neighborhoods you'd never visit under ordinary circumstances, just because someone came into your life and bossed you around? Or it is more like trying to find a taxi in the rain, when everyone else is safe and dry and you're stuck on the corner wondering when in the world someone will come along and pick you up? <br />
Why is love undimmed by the knowledge that there's absolutely no chance the person loves you back? How is it possible you can fall in love with three separate people who all go to your high school, but then not find anyone in the entire world later on? How could that boy or girl way back when have absolutely no clue you loved them? Also, how could they date that other, completely unsuitable person, when you were standing right there? In fact, why do so many supposedly sensible people fall in love with the ones who are so clearly going to make them miserable, and why, when these people try to answer this question, do they invariably use the phrase "my mother"? Why is it so easy to imagine how a love might work out, but so difficult to actually put this into practice? Why is love in the movies so completely unbelievable and yet tear-jerking, as opposed to, say, martial arts in the movies, or space travel? <br />
If love has nothing to do with money, then why do lovers bicker about money so much? Why would it be so wonderful if one's lover gave one a million dollars, but so wretched if someone offered us a million dollars to be our lover? Or, maybe, not so wretched? Or, maybe if it were two million? Why does failure in other aspects of life actually make love more difficult, rather than easier? If honesty has everything to do with love, then why do we lie to the people we love more than anyone else? Why do we live with people we love, when sometimes we'd rather have absolutely anyone sitting at the opposite end of the couch except the person who is? How can we love someone and simultaneously despise every single thing they do for more than a month straight? Like, every six months? <br />
Can you really love someone you met once a bunch of years ago who it's safe to say has never thought of you ever again? Why are some people breathtaking in their underwear and others mortifying, and how come we can't come anywhere close to agreeing on which people are which? Why are our friends considered an entirely different kind of love than our lovers, and why is it a miracle if these people get along? Why do we behave very much like crazy people wandering the streets when we're in love, and yet we never fall in love with crazy people wandering the streets? Why is it so miraculous to be loved by one person, but if we were simultaneously loved by several people it would be creepy? Why can't we have sex with anyone we want? <br />
Why isn't love worth it, usually, when you tally it up? Can you really love somebody forever? If we're supposed to spend the afterlife with the ones we love, what happens if your loved one is some girl you haven't seen since high school? And, what if she loves somebody else? Is love like a volcano lurking beneath the city, simmering for years and then suddenly erupting when the time has come? Or is it more like a terrorist attack, containing an agenda so irrational that it cannot possibly excuse the damage it does? Or is it more like an Englishwoman in America, constantly misunderstood when the circumstances are not actually all that foreign? If cheese means different things in different countries, shouldn't love? Or, not cheese, but, know what I mean? <br />
Say there's this guy Joe. Can he help it that he falls in love with people who don't make him happy? Or, that when they do make him happy he falls in love with someone else? And what about Helena — she's in love, but somehow this isn't enough. Shouldn't it be? And if it isn't enough, does this mean she's not really in love? It certainly seems to be spoiling the love she's in. And let's say there's a volcano underneath the city — doesn't that make things more urgent? Does urgency mean that you should keep the person you're with, or hold out for the best possible person? And what if the best possible person loves somebody else? For instance, what if Helena loves David, but David loves Peter, and used to love Andrea, who loves Tony, who thinks he loves Helena, who used to love Sam, who loves Andrea who now loves Steve, who might be the sort of person to murder somebody in the park — Eddie, for instance, who loves Hank, who ends up in a diner where two detectives are looking for the Snow Queen who loves Mike? Do you see what I'm getting at here? </td> </tr>
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I am making enemies<br />
I am finding my soul mate<br />
I am knowing the unknown<br />
I am falling in love<br />
I am fighting wars in my sleep<br />
I am writing the stories<br />
I am keeper of the secrets<br />
I am proclaimer of truth<br />
I am crying for you...<br />
I am conversing with the angels<br />
I am conquering the alleyways<br />
I am slaying the dragon<br />
I am bowing to My King<br />
I am learning to be queen<br />
I am listening to my Divine<br />
I am preparing for apotheosis.<br />
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Do we realize life is everything the poets and prophets claim it to be, and more? How deep the glittering ember of stardust is, when it's only one flame from a sun?The Damselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383045946910969312noreply@blogger.com0