[AUGUST UPDATE] Cephalopod Book Club & Goals

Once again it's been two months since my last update. I'm okay with that. I have to be. ;)

~ The Cephalopod Coffeehouse Book Club : August Edition ~

Last time I talked about a book I'd read, I mentioned the first in the Poldark series. I'm now on book five, which was written a long time after the first four novels. So far in August I've only finished one book, so I will have to discuss book #4 of the Poldark series.

This is the most controversial of the books to date, and you'll have to read and find out why. It's the book where we learn that Ross is far from perfect, and in my case, the book where Ross made me incredibly angry. The popular statement people seem to make while reading Warleggan is: "Ross, how could you!!"

It's good to read about imperfect characters - we know Demelza is imperfect and we have known from previous novels that Ross is as well. The two are in a frequent state of misunderstanding each other, and with some of the more heartbreaking things that have happened to them so far, the misunderstandings only grow deeper. The way this novel ended was heartening, however it's a fact that things will never be the same again. In so many ways during this and the previous novel, the damage has been irrevocably done.

The character of Elizabeth gets a bad wrap - yes, she's never been willing to let Ross go, but it's not her fault that he refuses to let go of her either. There is controversy due to the fact that many readers truly hate Elizabeth and seem to want to blame her for the ongoing attachment. But truly, it takes two to tango, so to speak. All in all I found this book to be super compelling and to me, the true hero(ine) of the story is Demelza. What a legendary character!

This is the blurb from GoodReads:

"Ross Poldark plunges into a speculative mining venture which threatens his financial security and his stormy marriage to Demelza. When the old attraction between Ross and Elizabeth begins to rekindle itself, Demelza retaliates by becoming dangerously involved with a Scottish cavalry officer."

Currently Reading: Winston Graham's The Black Moon (Poldark, #5)

~ Do You Have Goals? : August Edition ~

Last time I had a relatively bleak update. Same this time. I'm keeping up with my reading, though this semester my studies are really trying to mess with that. I've also done a bit more work on my music, but not nearly as much as I wish I had (due to studies). I'm nearly at the point where I've got another song finished, I just need to work a bit more on the backing vocals. Then I can send the GB file to my bandmate for mixing, etc.

I think this year may be filled with disappointments when it comes to most of my goals - except the reading one! I'm doing better than I expected at the start of the year in that regard.

[JUNE UPDATE] Cephalopod Book Club & Goals

Updating every 2 months...well, it's better than never updating at all, right?!?!

~ The Cephalopod Coffeehouse Book Club : June Edition ~

I don't think I had heard about the Poldark series (which consists of 11 books or something!) prior to seeing this book for 50% off on Book Depository in the "bargain bin" section. Apparently my mum is familiar with a miniseries from years ago that was on telly, but I haven't seen either series (there are 2 apparently) myself. Reading the description of this book though, I decided I must buy it, and not just because it was at its bargain price.

This is the blurb from GoodReads:

"Cornwall in the 1780s - when powerful forces of revolution and reaction are at large in the world.

Tired from a grim war in America, Ross Poldark returns to his land and his family. But the joyful homecoming he has anticipated turns sour, for his father is dead, his estate is derelict and the girl he loves is engaged to his cousin.

But his sympathy for the destitute miners and farmers of the district leads him to rescue a half-starved urchin girl from a fairground brawl and take her home - an act which alters the whole course of his life..."

So I bought the book, as well as books 2 & 3, and started reading. I was delighted by what I read. This book made me laugh and also made me swoon. The supporting characters are a great strength of this book, though of course Ross and Demelza provided more than enough intrigue to keep me hooked. But I love the quirkiness of the supporting characters, like Prudie and her "craw'ers" (lice), and Jud and his "tedn right, tedn fair, tedn British" (to paraphrase).

Just from reading book #1, and what little I've read of book #2 so far, I'd definitely recommend this series.

Currently Reading: Winston Graham's Demelza (Poldark, #2)

~ Do You Have Goals? : June Edition ~

Ugggghhhh, not this again.

The only updates I really have are that I'm doing well with my reading goal...and I paid for some of the chosen artwork for Woody's A Girl's next album, titled OBLIVION, which has an outer space theme (both my bandmate and I are in love with the awesome artwork by this artist named April - you can view this artwork HERE.

I hope to get at least one more song done and sent to Billy this evening. So there's that...

I should mention ... my album is out & you can listen for free

That right there is the album cover. The album was released on July 12th, and you should be able to listen to the audio for free over HERE. There are a few different ways you can buy it as well, which you can read about HERE.

The first single from the album is a song called "Yes, New Loving", which you can download for free HERE.

Quotes from the band about the album's first single, "Yes, New Loving": 

" 'Yes, New Loving' is a song about a long, drawn out love saga coming to a well-overdue end. The title comes from something a friend told me once: "You need new loving!" This is also the first song Billy B. ever requested tabs for (along with 'Ten Times Ten')." - Trisha

" 'Yes, New Loving' was the first song that really stood out to me in the Woody's a Girl catalogue that I just felt compelled to record. It had this great vibe and melody that I thought would work perfectly as a big, loud rock track, and I think works great as a first single. While the main music was the first thing recorded for the album, the guitar solo was done very last, and remains one of my personal favorite musical parts I've ever written and played." - Billy

And HERE is a little interview Billy and I did about our musical partnership and the making of the album.

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10 days before MY/our album is out!

So, yeah. I do music, and there's an album coming out. It's coming out soooon. Like, ten days sort of soon. And we have a little promo video to show off, which is here (sorry if it starts automatically, I personally can't stand when that happens on blogs and it's been happening to me lately. New setting??. If you know how to stop it, let me know! ;) ) ANYWAY, here is the video:



And here is the official press release:

Published on 1 Jul 2013 

Official Press Release 

New album "Into the Red" by International band Woody's a Girl to be released in digital and limited edition physical formats on Friday 12 July, 2013. Containing a mixture of dark and heavy rock, psychedelic pop, whimsical acoustic, and choir like vocals, "Into the Red" is a diverse palette of 12 catchy tunes presented by two people from two different hemispheres. Written and sung by Trisha Farnan from Perth, Australia, and musically performed by Billy Bedard from Bakersfield, CA, "Into the Red" marks the first release from the international duo. Be sure to check out "Into the Red" when it becomes available through CDBaby, iTunes, and the band's Facebook, as well as directly from the band members themselves (contact them directly through the band Facebook). More details to be announced as the release date nears. Meanwhile, check out the band's promo video for the album for a taste of several tracks. Full album tracklist is as follows: 

1. Yes, New Loving 

2. Ten Times Ten 

3. Fall on Death 

4. Debutantes 

5. Adventures 

6. Back Flip 

7. Rock Face 

8. Beyond Pale and Ageless 

9. Red 

10. Glossary Head 

11. The Obituary 

12. Song

So there you go! In case you haven't detected this already, I am soooo not good at promoting my 'wares', so this is weird and awkward for me. But I know it has to be done! And it's good practice for when I do finally release a book in some format, someday. So here I am! In related news, I'm pretty sure the DHL dude tried to deliver my copies of the CDs today - MAN that was quick! - but of course I wasn't home 'cause I work full time. So I'm going to see if I can get them delivered to work! ;)

And yeah, that's my surname. Everyone gets it wrong. All the time. Sometimes even I get it wrong, but that's more a typo thing. ;)