The Winter Witch

So here's the thing about Goodreads Giveaways. I don't enter all of them - I have this ridiculous mindset that if I enter to win ALL THE BOOKS by some twist of fate I'll only win the ones I don't really want to read. So I did legitimately want to read this book. I've been (really) meaning to read Paula Brackston's The Witch's Daughter for years and I keep getting distracted. So when I saw The Winter Witch I was excited because hey, distract myself with a book I've literally been meaning to read for years with a new one by the same author.

This book hits a lot of boxes for me - Historical Fiction, specifically Celtic History, Fantasy, Magic, Witches and more importantly, latent Witches. A part of life that anyone from that culture gets. It's also a YA book, and recently I'm loving them - part work related, part they're just plain good. I love the 500 Kingdom's books, and it wasn't until after I read them I found out they were a) YA books and b) put out by Harlequins' teen branch. I've touched on this before. Still baffled. Either way, so YA books. I like them.

So here's the good - I read a lot of Historical Fiction, I got my undergrad degree in it so I have a general at least latent knowledge of history and I like it. The book was spot on for where a historical fiction book should be - it was written in a way that didn't make it seem like Brackston was throwing in historical facts just because, the details were woven in beautifully and as a HF book, it was very well done.  Morgana was a lovely character, with depth and excellent character development. Cai was also well done and gave a fascinating prospective.  The writing itself was also generally solid, and it was a very readable book.

The less good is that I actually didn't love the book. The characters other than Morgana and Cai were slightly on dimensional and it felt like some of the details were a bit thrown together. I delayed writing this review because I wasn't entirely sure why the book didn't grip me and I think it's because (this kills me to say because I hate trilogies) but I kind of wonder if this should have been book one of a trilogy.  Brackckston is clearly a fantastic writer, with creative lovely ideas and fantasic plots.  I think if there had been a bit more character development for the other characters, and a little more time given to the ending it would have been an amazing read.

*** I was sent this book by the publisher - all opinions are my own.

Something like that

This is the back of my business card. I use it for consulting in research, libraries and grant writing.  In LIBRARY SCHOOL they teach us about the reference interview, and in the reference interview, our job is to find out what the real question is. The real question is usually easier to answer, then to figure out.

I'm feeling vague about what the real question in my life is right now. Excited, but vague. So many great options, I don't think there is a bad answer, and I'm pretty sure it's the simplest one.

Either way, this weekend I'm celebrating the 30th birthday of one of my favourite people. Happy Birthday Mr. Smith.

Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow

Not many people realize that line is actually the second line of the Mac--th. The first.... more depressing, and the following sets up nicely for the tragedy that Mac--th is.  I've been out of theatre for... 6 years, and I still can't bring myself to say the name.

Anyways. As I've said, I grew up in Stratford (Canada). When you grow up in Stratford, you grow up surrounded by the Festival - we got tickets at school, camp, from actor boarders and later, when both my Mom and I worked there. We also (luckily) had most of the plays explained to us in school - something most other elementary schools weren't so lucky with. I remember the first time I saw Mac--th. It's not my favourite play (Pericles) but it's always resonated with me.  I'll always remember sitting there, a little too young to understand, and hearing:

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, 
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools

I might not have fully understood where it was going, but it always resonated with me. Too young to understand the specifics I felt, and feel to this day, that what matters isn't the past, it's the future.  We always look back with more knowledge then we had.

I have a job interview tomorrow. For it, I turned down a job offer out west.

So, here's to hope, dreams and the future.

2012

Seeing as this year may be the end of the world, I thought I'd make a list of 11 things I want to do this year

1. Go on a vacation somewhere cheap
2. Cook more new meals
3. Present a seminar 
4. Successfully grow an herb garden
5. Buy a car
6. Pay off one of my school debts
7. Plan a vacation somewhere amazing
8. Start singing again
9. Read 1 (good) book a month
10. Keep better track of my life
11. Enjoy life more. Last year sucked. A lot. This year, will be better.

Tell me what you know about dreams

I am a bit superstitious when it comes to the job hunt. Wanting certain jobs more than others. So, here’s what I know about dreams:

“So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you’ll move mountains.”

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…” 

Thanks Dr. Seuss.

of shoes and ships and sealing wax

I don't think I'll ever understand job hunting. I had an amazing interview a week or so ago, where everything was perfect. The people interviewing me were great, the library was amazing, there was growth it was perfect as I said. What wasn't perfect is that it's 4 provinces away. I applied on a whim, not thinking at all that I would even get an interview.  But I did - and not only did I, I had a great interview - and now they're flying me four provinces away for a second interview.

I should be thrilled. OK, I am thrilled. It just got me thinking - every friend I tell here the first thing they say is "why aren't you just taking a job here?" I tell them I haven't had any callbacks, and then the inevitable "wait - Library X is FLYING you four provinces away... and nowhere close by is even calling you back?"

So... what this tells me is all I need is a chance, and I can do great things.

Edit: I got the job, but it wasn't as perfect as it seems. Indexing is going well, I can wait for an actually perfect job.