This year, I joined a library!

Before I talk about joining the library, I want to mention that right this moment my friend Michael Atkinson's book CATRINA IN SPACE, which I read, loved and reviewed here, is available in eBook format free. If you want very silly yet clever entertainment in a sci-fi sort of way, check out this link to get your free e-copy on Amazon!

Right, now moving on to the point of this post: "This year, I joined a library!" This may seem a strange statement coming from a librarian, but there you have it. I joined a public library out of the desperate need to stop buying so many books, and here's why I am so desperate:

A rather old bookshelf literally sags under the weight of (some of) my TBR list.

A rather new bookshelf harbours books I read in 2012, 2011, and some books read years ago...and also at the top is my "TBRRN" shelf - i.e. "to be read right now"

This third bookcase, also rather old (i.e. from the late 80s or early 90s) harbours yet more books I've read in the far distant past (or in some cases, re-read quite recently)

So yes, I joined a library, not just 'cause I wanted a break from breaking the bank on Book Depository (which really I should refer to as my preccciouuuuussss 'cause it is rather addictive!), but also because I have no room for new books!

It's shameful, really, that it's taken me this long (though I did belong to the public library I worked at back in 2008 for a couple of months). But maybe it's the same as how this hairdresser chick I met recently sometimes doesn't wash her own hair for two weeks at a time

Book Review: CATRINA IN SPACE

I first met Princess Catrina back when she was called Princess Caitlin, and appeared in a Chrysalis Experiment story in 2011. Little did I know where Caitl-rina's journey would take her - across 53 episodes of the Catrina Chronicles and one complete Catrina novel, the one I'm talking about here! I haven't read all the episodes yet, but I'm up to episode #48 and slowly but surely getting all caught up!

It took me a while to get around to reading CATRINA IN SPACE, but now that I have, I can say I was not disappointed. There are so many things to love about this story - the kick-arse heroine Catrina herself, the space hamsters and occasional mentions of the hamster rock band Gerballica (classic!). Undeniable heroics with a towel, and the fact that there's a woodmouse with a Southern accent called Becky-Jane. As always, the evilness of Susan and how it was eclipsed by the evilness of Murphy. The almost teaming up of Catrina and Susan (I thought the universe really was going to break at that point). And the Pen of Creation? Genius. I also appreciated that the author had ultimate control (even if he can't necessarily control his characters' sassy backtalk. haha). I guess it reassures me as a writer myself that my characters do NOT have the final say...or at least I like to think so.

I also confess that I love that I got an acknowledgement as a loyal Catriniac in the back of the book. Thanks Michael, but the pleasure really has been all mine. ;)

What I really want to do now is go through the novel again and add some of my favourite quotes (of which there are way too many to count) to GoodReads, so that you guys can get a taste of Michael Atkinson's genius comedy.

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Buy Catrina in Space from Amazon.com.