Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift

Title: Gulliver's Travels

Author: Jonathan Swift

Genre: Classics; Fantasy

Pages: 333

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Classics -- 18th Century; Mount TBR; Dusty Bookshelf; Book to Movie; 1001 Books; Fall into Reading; Fantasy Project

How I Got It: I own it

Jonathan Swift's satirical novel was first published in 1726, yet it is still valid today. Gulliver's Travels describes the four fantastic voyages of Lemuel Gulliver, a kindly ship's surgeon. Swift portrays him as an observer, a reporter, and a victim of circumstance. His travels take him to Lilliput where he is a giant observing tiny people. In Brobdingnag, the tables are reversed and he is the tiny person in a land of giants where he is exhibited as a curiosity at markets and fairs. The flying island of Laputa is the scene of his next voyage. The people plan and plot as their country lies in ruins. It is a world of illusion and distorted values. The fourth and final voyage takes him to the home of the Houyhnhnms, gentle horses who rule the land. He also encounters Yahoos, filthy bestial creatures who resemble humans.

I can't believe that I've never actually read the entirety of this novel. Sure, I've read excerpts. I know most of the storyline. I've seen multiple television and movie adaptations. I've also read basically everything else that Swift has written. But somehow I've never actually read the whole book. Overall, I would say that I enjoyed the book, but the notes really helped me understand the satirical nature of Swift's writing. The problem is that Swift wrote this very specific to a time and place. I love his commentary on the political state of Great Britain. While Gulliver goes on four adventures and meets four basic groups of people, the Lilliputians are still my favorite. I love how Gulliver finds himself a part of this strange land. A good book but because of its very specific nature, it's a hard volume to get into for modern audiences.

Movie:

I had hoped to watch the Ted Danson miniseries version of the book, but I couldn't find it anywhere. Boo! So I settled for the Jack Black version because the library had it in stock and available for loan. I was very disappointed by this adaptations. All of the satire is lost with Jack Black's incessant nonsense. Even the inclusion of Chris O'Dowd and Catherine Tate (two awesome British actors!) could not save the ridiculousness of this movie. Definitely a disappoint. Glad I didn't pay for this one at all...

FrightFall Readathon Update #2

Pages Read Today: 333 (Gulliver's Travels) + 39 (Total Eclipse)

Pages Read Total: 863

Books Read Total: 4

Comments: Made it through a never before read classic and started on the last book in a modern series. Very excited about my progress so far this week! Hoping to knock out Total Eclipse tomorrow or Saturday and start on my fifth book of the book.

Pregnancy Update at 38 Weeks

This week's update is coming a day late due to my appointment being a day later than usual. I wanted to get any new information from my check-up before finishing this week's update.

Due Date: October 15th, 2013. We now have a c-section scheduled for October 15th at 1:30pm if he decides to hang out until then. Actually I was given the choice of Oct. 9, 14, or 15. I really liked the 15th if I was going to pick a birthday for my newest. We'll see what he decides... I also have an appointment scheduled for the 14th to do some final checks. That's his last chance to come on his own.

Weight Gain: I've surpassed the 30 pound mark and I just don't care. What's done is done, I'm looking to the future weight loss after having a healthy baby.

Symptoms: Everything that I've been feeling: insomnia, constant need to pee, lots of pressure, carpal tunnel, plantar fasciitis, nausea, and indigestion. At this point, everything hurts. My entire body aches. And he's as active as ever which makes it even more painful.

What’s different this time: The same is that it looks like he has no intention of coming naturally. What's different is that I know what to except with a c-section. Many of the ladies on the pregnancy board have expressed fear of the the procedure. Not me. It will be painful and uncomfortable (but that's having a baby no matter the method), but I think I'll be able to manage just fine.

Cravings/Aversions: I've been sticking to my one PSL a week rule. I get my craving, but don't go overboard. However, I've been noticing that I have a major sweet tooth lately. I can't tell if it's due to pregnancy or the fall season. I want to make cake and cookies and muffins.

Sleep: Surprisingly, I've been sleeping a lot better this past week. I still have to get up to pee many times a night, but I've been falling right back to sleep once my head hits the pillow. Hopefully, we can keep this up even after the baby's born.

I am loving: Nothing at the moment. Just ready to move to the next stage.

I miss: Alcohol. I know I've listed it before, but this past week I've really been missing it. I want a seasonal beer or a nice glass of wine. it didn't help when J ordered a glass of wine when we went out to dinner last weekend. I wanted to snatch the glass away and gulp it down. A few more weeks...

I am looking forward to: Meeting this little guy. I am not waiting patiently at all...

I’m spazzing about: Having all these random contractions, but no real progress toward labor. Geez, he is really liking faking me out.

Best thing about this week: My baby shower last Sunday. We had food, fun, and friends. It was nice to get out of the house for something. Plus, I got some great gifts. Thanks to everyone involved!

Milestones: He's officially beyond full term.

Movement: Still super active, but it feels like there's no more room in there. So now the movement is more painful to me.

Exercise/Diet: This is now a complete joke...

Labor Symptoms: I feel like I'm just rewriting the paragraph from last time. Per the doctor, baby is head down right above my cervix. However, I am not dilated at all yet. Still having the random BH contractions, but none are in a pattern or consistent. The doctor stated today that he doesn't the think the baby will be arriving on his own and I completely agree.

Preparation: The room essentials are all done and ready to go. I want J to install the car seat this week, but he's dragging his feet a bit. I still need to finish packing my hospital bag. And there are a few things I need to pick up at Target: diapers (not a single one as a gift), bottles (just in case), pacifiers, and curtains (too bright in there). Hopefully I can make it to Target later this afternoon and wrap up my shopping. I just need to remind myself that no matter how cute they are, he doesn't need any more clothes at the moment. I need to avoid that section at all costs.

Arthur’s Stuff: I received quite a few gifts at my baby shower and even some of those were from my registries. I don't mind when people buy off registry, but I've always found them useful from the gift giving side. The decals are on the wall, but the A-Z space print is currently laying on the bed unframed. I need to decided how nice of a frame I want for it. Other than that, his crib is ready for him. Just waiting now...

Quote Wednesday -- de Pisan

Gather what little drops of learning you can, and consider them a great treasure. -- Christine de Pisan

Nearing my due date now... only 13 days. I am feeling the need to read a book about a new topic to deal with the anxiety and waiting.

FrightFall Readathon Update #1

Pages Read Today: 308 (Cape Storm) + 120 (San Diego 2014) + 63 (Witches 101)

Pages Read Total: 491

Books Read Total: 3

Comments: Action adventure, witches and zombies! A great way to start off the readathon. Now to keep the momentum going.

Witches 101 by Melissa de la Cruz

Title: Witches 101: A Witches of East End Primer

Author: Melissa de la Cruz

Publisher: Hyperion 2011

Genre: Paranormal; Witches

Pages: 63

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Witches and Witchcraft; Monthly Key Word - October; ebook; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: iPad read

Almost three million copies of The Blue Bloods series in print, Melissa de la Cruz has now written her first paranormal romance for adults, on sale June 21st. The first in the Beauchamp Series, the book features a brand-new cast of characters, a fascinating and fresh world to discover, and a few surprise appearances from some of the Blue Blood fan favorites. It’s a page-turning, heart-stopping, magical summer read, fraught with love affairs, witchcraft, and an unforgettable battle between good and evil.
But before you read the book, meet the Witches! In this primer, you’ll meet the three Beauchamp women – Joanna, Ingrid, and Freya – learn a little bit about their special powers, and even get some tips so you can cast a few spells of your own.

Hmm... This was a free teaser ebook for the new Witches of East End series. I was intrigued by the series concept and the appearance of the Beauchamps in the Blue Bloods series. The ebook itself gives the reader a chapter about each of the Beauchamps. We are teased with a larger mystery and storyline. it definitely doesn't stand on its own, but I am fairly interested in reading the series now. I just kinda wish this was a full story to get us into the series, instead of the opening chapters.

San Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the California Browncoats by Mira Grant

Title: San Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the California Browncoats (Newsflesh novella)

Author: Mira Grant

Publisher: Orbit 2012

Genre: Zombie

Pages: 120

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Zombies; ebook; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: iPad read

It was the summer of 2014, and the true horrors of the Rising were only just beginning to reveal themselves. Fans from all over the world gathered in San Diego, California for the annual comic book and media convention, planning to forget about the troubling rumors of new diseases and walking dead by immersing themselves in a familiar environment. Over the course of five grueling days and nights, it became clear that the news was very close to home...and that most of the people who picked up their badges would never make it out alive.

Ran across this novella being reviewed on another blogger's site. I loved the original Newsflesh trilogy, so I had to download this one right away. And during the FrightFall Readathon seemed like a great time to read a little zombie story. Those who have read the trilogy know how this story is going to end. We know all about The Rising. But the story is written so well that I kept seeing glimpses of hope and survival until the bitter end. It's a great little short read to introduce you to The Rising or just as an extension of the original trilogy. Love, love, love!

Newsflesh

#0.4 Apocalupse Scenario #683: The Box
#0.5 Countdown
#0.75 San Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the California Browncoats
#1 Feed
#2 Deadline
#3 Blackout
#3.5 How Green This Land, How Blue This Sea
#3.6 The Day the Dead Came to Show and Tell
#3.7 Please Do Not Taunt the Octopus
#4 Rewind

September 2013 Wrap-Up and Monthly TBR

Hop on over to Booksessed to participate.

September's TBR Pile Recap:

Books Read and Reviewed (17/18 books)

1,000,000 Page Goal

Monthly Total: 5134 pages
Pages Remaining: 845,738 pages

Current Read - Cape Storm by Rachel Caine

Books Won (0)

Books I Gave Up On (0)

Challenges Completed

TBR Pile

Comments - Holy cow! Look at those totals! I did not except to get that high on either books or pages read. I'm so excited about my reading accomplishments for September. I crossed off a ton of reading challenge spots. I even crossed off another reading challenge. And have gotten super close to finishing many more. I participated in Bloggiesta and cleaned up the back-end of my blog. But most importantly, I read some amazing volumes. The Book Thief, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, and The Graveyard Book were my favorites.

Octobers's TBR Pile:

Witches 101 by Melissa de la Cruz
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
Cape Storm by Rachel Caine
Total Eclipse by Rachel Caine
The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman
Her Ladyship's Companion by Evangeline Collins
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

MoM #30: Identity Thief

Title: Identity Thief Y

ear Released/Rating: 2013 R

Starring: Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy, John Cho

Directed By: Seth Gordon

Written By: Craig Mazin, Jerry Eeten

Genre: Comedy

Star Rating: 3/5 stars

Where I Got It: On the server

Trivia:

When Sandy first arrives to Miami, Florida to catch Diana at the salon. The scene starts with an aerial zoom in of a coastline, then a short cut to Sandy waiting in the car outside of the salon. The scene tries to depict Winter Park as just a short drive from Miami when in truth Winter Park is a suburban city of Orlando, FL, about a 5 hour drive outside South Beach.
Every car they took, except for the original rental car, has a crushed can of Red Bull on the dash.

Summary: Mild-mannered businessman Sandy Patterson travels from Denver to Florida to confront the deceptively harmless-looking woman who has been living it up after stealing Sandy's identity.

Review:

One of those movies that could have been awesome or absolutely horrible. It was thoroughly mediocre. There were some funny parts, but I just wasn't horribly entertained by it. And this is so sad. I really like Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy. Instead of carrying the hilarity through the movie, we are supposed to believe that Diana starts to grow a conscience. Not a good move.

Best Bits:

Diana: I just want to be upfront and say I visually enjoy you.
Sandy Patterson: Do you know what a sociopath is? Diana: Do they like ribs?
Sandy Patterson: You're diabolical. Diana: Thank you. Sandy Patterson: That's not a compliment. Diana: I know.
Diana: Dawn Budgie... That's a terrible fucking name.