A New Year's Wish

                              ... for each and every one of you!

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I found this in a wonderful book called The Akhenaten Adventure many years ago. I remember falling in love with many a passage in the book, and here is one of my favourites:

"May you get all your wishes except one, so you'll still have something to strive for."

There is a next line in the wish, too, and I have already posted that in this blog post from a while back.

It is somewhat strange that we have once more turned a full circle - that we will, in a few hours, stand at the beginning of a new year. I have turned the last page in my diary, and so, tomorrow, I will start all over again from scratch. Many good things have happened this year. Many sad. Hundreds of memories have been made, and most of them shared with someone special. I try not to take things for granted. I am grateful for the past and still curious of the future. I am loved, too. A lucky girl, all things considered.

I wish you all  A Happy New Year.  I do hope you will experience the greatest year yet. I have faith in you finding happiness in a great many little things. Be well. Be loved ❤

An excerpt from The Akhenaten Adventure

A Discovery of Witches

Tonight I am reading a book that has been in my possession for a long time. I have planned to read it several times in the past, but somehow I never got around to do it. The fact that it is the first book in a trilogy where the third book is not due until the summer may have had something to do with it, though. I do have book two in my shelves, so if I read them both slowly I might even get around to book three! That would be really something.

That is me in a nut shell, you see...if the series have unpublished books, I have a tendency of neglecting to read the last volumes - not because I do not want to, but simply because I move on to books I have not yet read while I am waiting, and then I figure out, at some point, that I have to reread the first books in preparation for the last books - and, well, guess what? One thing leads to another and then I just cannot seem to find the time to reread those books I have already read as there are sooooo many new ones on my tbr-list that I am ever so curious about! I am impossible, I know.

Right. Back to the book.

It is called "A Discovery of Witches" and is, as you now know, the first book of a trilogy named "All Souls". Witchcraft, libraries, old forgotten manuscripts...what more can you desire? Oh, creatures, of course. You did not think there would only be witches, now did you? Of course not! There are four different types of creatures in this trilogy, and although our main character is a witch, the other ones come in to play as well. There might even be some love in the air, although I have not gotten that far into the story to be able to tell for sure. I do have a sneaking suspicion, however. Set in Oxford, with a magnificent library as a backdrop and wonderful alchemical texts as the center of attention, I have every hope of this being a great story.

Here is a teaser from the main characters childhood:

"Sarah didn't tell him about the voices, about my habit of picking up the phone a good minute before it rang, or that she had to enchant the doors and windows when there was a full moon to keep me from wandering into the woods in my sleep. Nor did she mention that when I was angry the chairs in the house rearranged themselves into a precarious pyramid before crashing to the floor once my mood lifted."

excerpt from A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, p. 9

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Have a great Sunday, everyone!


More teasers (although a few weeks old this time, due to Christmas):
Flukten fra virkeligheten
Should Be Reading

Meeting a friend

A Christmas holiday to me is visiting friends and family. Although I could not go home this year, I had the luxury of meeting a dear friend at a café just before I had to leave for work. Would you believe it was raining outside? I sure had problems believing my own eyes, but there you go. Rain five days before Christmas, when there ought to be snow all around!

To make up for it a hot chocolate and carrot cupcake was in dire need ❤

...and Christmas presents, obviously!

It was indeed a good day - and I wish you the same for today.

It has been a while.

It has been more than a while, actually, since I wrote my last post. So much have happened these last two months, and my life is left not quite the same.

For a start I am not even at home. This is the first Christmas I have spent at work, away from my family. It has been strange, being here on my own, not really having much of a Christmas celebration. Strange knowing my family is spending the holiday together without me, doing all the usual things that we always do back home. Strange seeing and hearing about it all from a distance, only through pictures and phone lines. I have missed out on the little stories, the laughter and the late nights. They even have a puppy in the house that I have yet to meet! Apparently it is a little bundle of energy that is crashing through the house, frightening the cat into my parents bed - where it is not allowed, mind - and doing all sorts of mischief. My sister now has to get up in the mornings, which I find rather amusing as that is really not her cup of tea.

Most of all, though, I miss my grandma. She was a presence in my life that is now gone, a source of happiness and family stories from days long past and a place to go to. She was always there - and now she is not. I am still finding it hard to fathom that she no longer sits in her rocking chair with a crossword or three by her side, pondering a difficult word or browsing one of her dictionaries, or that I will never hear her voice again or record one more story. So much is lost with her. Her memories span across nearly a century, and the way of life she knew as a child is now nothing but whispers on the wind.

I have all this spare time now, too - time I used to spend with her. Time I have yet to figure out what to do with. Time is a funny thing.

"Each moment is a word of glass;

Each life, within a bubble sealed."

poem by Nicholas Gordon

Walking forward
Source: Jan Tajcnar

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas - wherever you may find yourself.

Cherish each moment.

A shared love of reading ❤

Last week I encountered this couple waiting for their flight back to France. They looked absolutely adorable, so I had to capture them as best as I could. They were both reading fiction, I believe. Too cute, right?

The hundred-year-old man who...

...climbed out of the window and disappeared

By Jonas Jonasson

This book is originally written in Swedish. It is a quirky story about a man who does not want to celebrate his one hundreth birthday with a bunch of oldies and nurses on his nursing home, so he decides to carefully climb out the window into the flower beds - in his slippers, of course - and walk away from the whole celebration.

Now, this is the start of a story so complex and funny you have most likely never seen anything like it. Have you ever wondered what a person can achieve if said person lives to be a hundred years old, by any chance? A century, that is? Well, this guy has done it all...and more. He has played a part in a rather large number of scientific discoveries and historical events during his time. The result is a life so remarkable it is hard to even know where to begin telling about it. If I may, I will simply suggest you sit down with a couple of free hours and a cuppa or two and read it for yourself. Find the hidden geek in you - and enjoy the story!

Here is a teaser from the book:

"The problem now was that Allan, Julius, Benny and The Beauty had one thing in common: an almost total absence of relatives and friends. How were they going to find someone who would shelter a yellow bus with four people, a dog and an elephant?"

from p. 152

More teasers, anyone?
Flukten fra virkeligheten
Should Be Reading

_____________Come change_____________

The Autumn

Go, sit upon the lofty hill, And turn your eyes around, Where waving woods and waters wild Do hymn an autumn sound. The summer sun is faint on them — The summer flowers depart — Sit still — as all transform’d to stone, Except your musing heart. How there you sat in summer-time, May yet be in your mind; And how you heard the green woods sing Beneath the freshening wind. Though the same wind now blows around, You would its blast recall; For every breath that stirs the trees, Doth cause a leaf to fall. Oh! like that wind, is all the mirth That flesh and dust impart: We cannot bear its visitings, When change is on the heart. Gay words and jests may make us smile, When Sorrow is asleep; But other things must make us smile, When Sorrow bids us weep! The dearest hands that clasp our hands, — Their presence may be o’er; The dearest voice that meets our ear, That tone may come no more! Youth fades; and then, the joys of youth, Which once refresh’d our mind, Shall come — as, on those sighing woods, The chilling autumn wind. Hear not the wind — view not the woods; Look out o’er vale and hill — In spring, the sky encircled them — The sky is round them still. Come autumn’s scathe — come winter’s cold — Come change — and human fate! Whatever prospect Heaven doth bound, Can ne’er be desolate.                                                              Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1833)

The first snow arrived yesterday ❤

The awe of a book collection

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A free short story or two, anyone?

I found this amazing link to some of Neil Gaiman's short stories:

http://www.openculture.com/2011/12/neil_gaimans_free_short_stories.html

I have not tried all the links, so I am not sure if they all works, but it is definitely worth a try for those of you who like Gaiman's work!

You can also find a fun song sung by Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer here, if you want to.

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At the bottom of the article they posted one of Gaiman's New Year's Eve messages - and I had to re-post it here as it is so beautifully put:

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art – write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. May your coming year be a wonderful thing in which you dream both dangerously and outrageously. 

I hope you will make something that didn’t exist before you made it, that you will be loved and you will be liked and you will have people to love and to like in return. And most importantly, because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now – I hope that you will, when you need to, be wise and that you will always be kind. And I hope that somewhere in the next year you surprise yourself."

I hope all of you have done some of these things in the past year, and that you will keep doing them in the years to come. Best wishes to you all ❤

Ocean and ocean... Any resemblance here?

I love this song. It is beautiful, haunting - and today it reminded me of one of my new books! Though, I should probably say it reminded me of the title and cover of one of my new books, namely "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" by Neil Gaiman. I bought this in hardcover edition last time I was home, but have not started reading it just yet. Gaiman is one of my favourite authors, and I want to save it for a little while. Do any of you ever do that with a long-awaited book? Simply put it on the table or nightstand for some time before you read it - a place where you can keep glancing at it and feel that little spark of anticipation?

Never judge a book..

Source

Yeah.

A good feeling

One lazy afternoon last week I surrounded myself with some of my favourite things. It is really nice sitting in our kitchen - easy access to goodies, my kettle and a garden view do wonders in making a cosy atmosphere, so I spent quite a few enjoyable hours in there.

I brought out my ancestry table earlier that morning, and it is fun to see it coming together. Are any of you making one? I have spent years on mine, and although I do not do the actual searching myself I simply collect the data different family members possess. So easy!

Divergent - when not fitting in can make a difference

Divergent by Veronica Roth

I loved this book!

I sped through it during a couple of late nights - or should I say mornings? - and then practically ran to the bookstore to get the second book in the trilogy! I am sure I will devour that one as well as I cannot wait to find out what happens next.

The trilogy is set in a future where the citizens are divided into five factions, where each faction strives to uphold a specific virtue - a virtue that makes the foundation for the way of life in it. On Choosing Day every sixteen-year-old must choose one of the factions - Abnegation (the selfless), Amity (the peaceful), Candor (the honest), Erudite (the intelligent) and Dauntless (the brave) - something that will determine the rest of their lives. Everything is divided into these factions - the place they live, what jobs they have, what they wear, even how they are supposed to conduct themselves or greet others.

On a given day, all the sixteen-year-olds are sent through an aptitude test that tells them which faction that will suit them best, and this is where things start to go wrong for Beatrice Prior, a girl born into the Abnegation factor. Because...what exactly happens when someone does not fit neatly into just one of the factions, but in three of them? What then?

"I look at the hole again. Goose bumps rise on my pale arms, and my stomach lurches. If I don't do it now, I won't be able to do it at all. I swallow hard. I don't think. I just bend my knees and jump."

Divergent by Veronica Roth, p. 58.

The dystopian genre is not one I normally read a lot of as I tend to think of it as a bit dark and depressing. I thought I would give this particular book a try, though, and oh my am I glad I did! It was really exciting! I am starting to think that the genre may have something to it - like a thought-provoking and perhaps message-bearing idea of futures that may come true one day. Who knows, right? One scary thought, that is! It makes me wonder what would happen if everyone read a dystopian book or two. Would people get inspired to do better?

More teasers, everyone?
Flukten fra virkeligheten
Should Be Reading

When losing your twin sister...

After reading about the book "I miss you, I miss you!" by Peter Pohl and Kinna Gieth at Mari from the blog Flukten fra virkeligheten's Facebook page and in this article here on ubok.no, I got very curious. Not only is there a book, but a movie with a soundtrack as well! The article says that "this book makes me cry every time I read it, no matter how many times I have read it in the past". Sounds like a book worth trying, right?

The book tells the story of losing a twin sister. How the teenage girl Tina manages to survive without her twin sister Cilla when Cilla dies in a car accident. How she gets on with life without a vital part of herself, and with the daily reminder of what she has lost whenever she looks into the mirror. How their friends and family reacts to her. How it is to be the one left behind of a twosome...

It is a sad book, but also a book with little glimpses of joy and humour. I cannot wait to read it.

The movie trailer:

The soundtrack:

My bestie made me some pictures!

She knows me well, I would say ❤

My bestie and me

Indeed a good idea!

The ripe breath of autumn

When I Heard at the Close of the Day

When I heard at the close of the day how my name had been receiv’d with plaudits in the capitol, still it was not a happy night for me that follow’d; And else, when I carous’d, or when my plans were accomplish’d, still I was not happy; But the day when I rose at dawn from the bed of perfect health, refresh’d, singing, inhaling the ripe breath of autumn, When I saw the full moon in the west grow pale and disappear in the morning light, When I wander’d alone over the beach, and undressing, bathed, laughing with the cool waters, and saw the sun rise, And when I thought how my dear friend, my lover, was on his way coming, O then I was happy; O then each breath tasted sweeter—and all that day my food nourish’d me more—and the beautiful day pass’d well, And the next came with equal joy—and with the next, at evening, came my friend; And that night, while all was still, I heard the waters roll slowly continually up the shores, I heard the hissing rustle of the liquid and sands, as directed to me, whispering, to congratulate me, For the one I love most lay sleeping by me under the same cover in the cool night, In the stillness, in the autumn moonbeams, his face was inclined toward me, And his arm lay lightly around my breast—and that night I was happy.  Walt Whitman (from Leaves of Grass, first published in 1867 edition)

A flight of migrating geese and beautiful colours are certain autumn signs

Something that caught my eye today

Saturday chill

This is how a good day easily becomes a great day ❤

A new book!

Guessing can sometimes be a work of art...

What do you think? A giveaway, yes?

What could this possibly be?

...aaaand hey, we guessed it!

Now, let us try this...

That was neat!

Would you like a cup of tea?

Tea, travels and cats - this movie kind of reminds me of Alice in Wonderland!

A scene from "The Cat Returns"

********************

Between

Somewhere between

asleep and

awake

between

years ago and

forever

between

my

memories and my

dreams

I miss you

by Charles Kerr 

                                                                   at DeviantArt.com

I do.

The Butterfly Ball

...and the Grasshopper's Feast

Alluring colours and shapes!

This is a children's book that is all about rhyme. It tells the story of different insects and critters with curious names that gathers for a ball. They are all quite dressed up in their finest - and whether it is elegant, pretty or scary, they all have a role to play.

This might come across as a girl's book, but rest assured - there are quite a few of these mysterious creatures that are just as fitting for a little boy. The rhymes are witty and rolls off the tongue with ease. You might even say they are marching away of their own accord!

You want an invitation?

Here you go!
"The pleasure of your company is requested"

The teaser I am giving you today comes from the first page:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"As night turns to dimness and draws back its curtain, 

Stars, those bright sequins, now all disappear,           

As dimness grows radiant, dawn makes it certain      

That butterfly weather, quite perfect, is here;"               

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Look at Mr. Grasshopper with his top hat and cane - dashing, indeed!

If you want to know the rest of the story - and how the party goes - run and get a copy for yourself. This book, written by Alan Aldridge and William Plomer, is a peculiar and most wonderful addition to your collection!


More teasers?
Flukten fra virkeligheten
Should Be Reading

Yep, I know I have done just that... What about you?

(...and I believe my boyfriend may just possibly have some issues with the results of this inner dialogue from time to time as well...hehe..)

The most intriguing purse, yes?!

This shop is amazing - I NEED to get one (or more) of these purses!

Have you ever seen a better-looking purse? If you have, do tell me where.

The Black Widow Shop

Or perhaps this one? Love the colour!

The Black Widow Shop

How to forget..?

Today is not my best day.

It is funny how some days just do not turn out so well. Some days you just remember all the bad things - however old, however small or insignificant. Nothing hurts quite the same way as an old wound never truly healed does. A story half-forgotten, a friend lost in the haphazardness of life - perhaps that of a certain date when something went wrong. A year might turn just to remind you of it all once again. Sometimes the break of day is cruel.

How does one escape from such memories?

Apparently time helps. And in its own way I guess it does. Things grow out of distance, out of memory range. New memories are made - a lot of good ones, too.

Yesterday is gone by. There is nothing you can do about that. Today is but a fleeting presence.

Tomorrow, on the other hand.

Tomorrow grants you a promise - the promise of hope, of possible greatness. Tomorrow may be a good day. It may change your life for the better. It may see you embark on your most important journey yet.

I choose to believe that things will always get better. That I can mold tomorrow into everything I want. Take advantage of and cherish those tiny sparks of happiness wherever I may find them.

I hope you have happiness in your life tomorrow.

Caz xxx

Sunny behind the clouds

A bookstore to remember ❤

Let me take you to this tiny bookstore in North Shields, Newcastle. If you are in the area, it is definitely worth stopping by. Remember those amazing books I found when I last crossed "the pond" to England? Well, most of them were found here, in The Keel Row Bookshop. The most amazing place! I cannot wait to visit it again. I even left a list over books I would like to buy if they ever crossed the threshold into the store.

Do visit if you can. They will be most accommodating to you and do their very best to help you.

A most wonderful place!

Stairs...

...and more stairs!

And aaaallllll of these fantasy!

One very happy girl...

...happily browsing for hours...

Book haul Newcastle

I found this little secondhand bookstore in North Shields, England, where they had a magnificent copy of Alice in Wonderland that I just had to have. I also found Peter Pan and Wendy and The Borrowers there. I got Uncle Remus from a seller when we visited a market in Tynemouth - he hated to see that one go. I did well, I think - and my new treasures fit nicely into my collection!

My latest additions!

A drawing of Alice by Arthur Rackham

A signed copy of Uncle Remus

A close-up from Uncle Remus

Mr Toppit

I found this book interesting when I saw it in the store. The cover caught my eye, and the sentence on the front saying "Once upon a time a book broke a family" really got me curious. What was this book that broke a family? And how can a book break a family in the first place? Questions needed answers, so I brought it with me home.

Now, I have to say that it has taken me a small forever to read this book. Somehow it did not draw me in as well as I expected, although I quite like the writing and the story in themselves. It is simply a slow-paced book, I think. I have not read it through just yet, so I am very excited to see where it all ends. I can tell the story is building up for something revealing - it drops hints now and then, and more so lately.

Here is my teaser - albeit it is a little late (I did not quite make it for it being a Sunday teaser this time):

"After the first book, she needed me less and less. She had created the template and she spun Luke Hayseed off in a direction of her own, taking him away from me (taking me away from me) and creating the likeness of a boy who would stride manfully up the path to the Darkwood. He would always be eager to return to his quest to find Mr Toppit, to flush him out, even though - as Luke knew to his cost - Mr Toppit could be cruel and capricious, and never really did, despite the last sentence of the book, reveal himself, and even though the Darkwood, every leaf and branch and stone of which Mr T inhabited, was a dank, terrifying place. 

You wouldn't have caught me dead doing that."

Mr Toppit, p. 6

Mr Toppit by Charles Elton

I trust you all had a wonderful Sunday!



More teasers:
Flukten fra virkeligheten
Should Be Reading

The Merlin Dance always makes me smile

One cannot have too many books, right?

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Peter sure knew how to express himself..

I say, what a choice to give small boys and girls!

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Bed linen for book lovers!

I want one! I so want one!

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Book portrait

What do you think of this? I am rather impressed. I wonder if it really is possible to make such intricate pictures out of books, and nothing but books? Maybe that is an idea for how to sort our book collections!

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