Friday 28 February 2014

Cephalopod Coffeehouse & Do You Have Goals? [Feb.]

It's the end of the month, and so time to post for the Do You Have Goals? hop (hosted by Misha Gericke & Beth Fred) as well as the Cephalopod Coffeehouse Book Club (hosted by the Armchair Squid).




This month I read two books, or rather two volumes. One was The Earthsea Quartet, books 1-4 in Ursula le Guin's Earthsea series. I first mentioned this book in my "Letter E" post for 2012's A to Z challenge, when I was featuring books from my GoodReads TBR list. Only now can I say I've finally read the book. It took most of February, but on the upside, it sort of counts as 4 books, right? :)

I found parts of this "book" sort of slow to get moving, for instance the beginning of The Tombs of Atuan, but overall I really loved the read, and found Le Guin's world-building really intriguing. It's a world I'd love to revisit sometime in future (and not just when I read book #5 which I do now own). The stories were quite different, with the last feeling like a definite departure from the norm. But I really liked the last one. One of my favourite sections of any of the books was when Ged and Arren were with the raft people.

In other news, currently I'm reading The Catcher in the Rye for the first time ever (no, really). Loving it so far.



A month ago I didn't have anything fun to say, and was feeling quite flat. Next came the Winter Olympics, which consumed a lot of my attention. Probably because I hoped the TV would reach out and suck me into a wintery vortex out of this revolting swampy summer heat we're having (88 days without a drop of rain!! I feel that I am slowly drying into a desiccated husk. Help! And tomorrow is going to be 38c). Anyway, the Olympics ended and I got my life back. Except I still hate the weather.

This week I've made some progress with my revision. To recap, I first tried to start editing DAPHNE II, but after merely opening the file and staring at the first paragraph, I gave up. I hate that chapter. So I moved on to SQUEAKY, and revised up to page 37 or something before realising I wasn't really doing it right. So I went back to the beginning to edit more thoroughly, one chapter at a time. So far I've edited chapter 1 three times and will probably do so again before I'm almost happy with it. Ironic to think it was the chapter I was most happy with before. Closer examination apparently revealed the happiness to be a symptom of me kidding myself. ;)

Tomorrow is the start of March, and therefore NaNoEdMo!! I don't know if I should keep going with SQUEAKY or move onto what I planned to do (which I still haven't really decided on). I think the answer is probably obvious - stick with SQUEAKY. Wouldn't want to switch projects and stall again.

To summarise, I guess I'm inching very slowly in the right direction when it comes to my DYHG? goal.

19 comments:

  1. I have always heard good things about Earthsea and wonder if it's a series for me...

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  2. Oh, and in Chicago, IL we're going to have our third coldest winter since they began recordings in 1871. I think the 3rd most snowfall, as well. In the midst of a new ten-day window where the wind chill (feel of the temp due to whipping winds) will be below zero, averaging -10 F. It's an amazing concept for me to recognize that other places in this world are having a broiling summer.

    Your description of the weather rather reminds me of the Thorn Birds...

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  3. Hahaha I set myself back a year with the book I was supposed to edit this month, so by your standards, I'm moving towards my goal in reverse. :-P

    I hope things cool down a bit for you! It's been seriously hot in South Africa as well. Most of this month had temperatures over 35degC.

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  4. i appreciate your review, honest and hopeful!

    i almost forgot how polar opposite you are weather wise - we are getting another polar blast this weekend! predicted to be the most snow yet for our area! spring cant get here fast enough, then we'll be complaining about the heat. Ha!
    and keep going with your goals! yay for squeaky!

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  5. It's quite a testament to a series when you read the first four or five books, and still want MORE. That's how I felt about John Jakes' "Kent Family Chronicles." Something like nine lengthy books in the series, and I HATED to see it come to an end.

    Very cool on you reading "Catcher in the Rye." It's been quite a few years since I read it... in the '60s... but I really loved it. The voice was so different from anything I'd read up 'til then.

    Writing a first chapter... a first page... a first paragraph... even a first sentence... that completely meets your expectations can take forever. I couldn't tell you how many times I rewrote my first chapter, but the time comes when you have to let go, and realize it will NEVER be 100% perfect. But man, oh man, is that ever hard to do.

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  6. Good world-building makes for a good, overall story. And, yeah, I'd say it's four books.

    As to your writing goals, at least your inching towards it. Sometimes writers get so stuck they can't even do that!

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  7. Catcher in the Rye is one of those books I've been meaning to get to for a long time. And I have Earthsea sitting on top of a stack, too.

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  8. Catcher In the Rye=classic American book that I should re-read. Thanks for the reminder!

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  9. Inching toward a goal counts! I will not complain about our cold, snowy weather...all that dry could be more problematic. I liked the style of Catcher in the Rye, but had a hard time connecting with Holden. So much is needed to make me fall in love with a book...but an exceptional book it is. Does that make sense?

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  10. Even slow progress is progress. And I live in the UK where parts of it have been under floodwater since before Christmas, so I wish I could send you some of our rain!
    angelinetrevena.co.uk

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  11. Going in the right direction is good! Congrats on making progress. And true confessions time - I have never read Catcher in the Rye. Hanging my head in shame but there it is LOL.

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  12. The Earthsea books are firmly on my TBR list. I was intrigued after seeing the Studio Ghibli movie. I've only read one le Guin novel: The Lathe of Heaven. Very strange book!

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  13. Earthsea is on To Visit list too: I would love to go on a reading holiday, find a cabin somewhere and just read!

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  14. The Earthsea books sounds like a genre my husband would enjoy so I will pass your recommendation on to him.

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  15. I love Ursula LeGuin and The Earthsea books are among my favorite. The Left Hand of Darkness is good, too.

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  16. Congrats on heading in the right direction.
    The Catcher in the Rye... I love that book! Excellent choice.

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  17. I've read both books, but so long ago I need to reread them. Good luck with your inching forward!

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  18. All the best! I hope you move forward in miles instead of inches.

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Thanks for your words, me hearties! and don't forget to leave a link to your blog somewhere I can find it!