Tuesday, September 21, 2010

My life in digital words for those who still read them

Currently reading: The Dragon King Saga by Stephen Lawhead
Most recently watched movie: Castle in the Sky
Current favorite quote: " 'Before you come inside, I should warn you,' Klepp said, 'it's chaos.'" -Abarat (I find this applies to the general state of my room)
Picture of the day:
Picture explanation: I don't know if you have ever seen the new movie Inception, but these are my absolute favorite characters from it. They're so amazing. :)

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Well, I guess it's been quite a long while since I last posted!! I apologize. I have been so busy though. School has just completely smothered me; and other activities have added to the load as well. For instance, today I literally had classes ALL DAY. Now wait a minute, you might say, aren't you homeschooled? What are these classes you're talking about? Well, yes, I am homeschooled, but on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I'm doing co-op classes with some friends of ours who are in our homeschool group. So, yeah, that was today. Afterwards, I had a creative writing class at the community college near us, and then right after I had Driver's Education classes for four hours. So I had classes from 8:30 in the morning to 9:00 at night.

Ugh.

Super ugh.

I am enjoying most of the classes, however. Like I said, I am taking a creative writing class at a community college, and that has been lots of fun. Then, for the co-op classes, I'm taking British Literature (one of the best classes ever!! We're currently reading "Pride and Prejudice" <3), Theology, American Government, and Chemistry. Brit Lit and Theology are two amazing classes, AG is okay, and Chemistry is terrifying. :P As for the Driver's Education classes, however, they are some of the most boring hours I have ever spent in my entire life. Four hours a day, three days a week, for two weeks, of constant lecturing and watching driving videos that were made in the 80's. So much information is forced into your brain that it comes in one ear and goes out the other. Anyways, at least when it's all done I can get my permanent driver's license. :) Oh yes, that makes up for it all.... *mwahahaha*

I'm so sad. Apricotpie.com is closing its doors!! That has been my writing support for so long. I'm going to miss it sooooo much. I'm thinking about starting a writing blog so I can post my pieces of writing, or something like that. Keep your eyes open! :)

Well, as it is late, I must go to bed. I apologize for the short post, but hopefully I'll be able to get back into the habit of posting somewhat regularly. God bless you all!

Pax,

Clare

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Truth, Wisdom and Socrates

Currently reading: Star Wars: The Last Command by Timothy Zahn
Most recently watched movie: Little Women
Current favorite quote: "Leia took a deep breath. Finally. After ten hours of labor -- after nine months of pregnancy -- the end was finally in sight.
"No. Not the end. The beginning.
"They laid the twins in her arms a few minutes later...and as she looked first at them and then up at Han, she felt a sense of utter peace settle over her. Out among the stars there might be a war going on; but for here, for now, all was right with the universe." -The Last Command

--

I have a very close friend -- one of my best friends -- who is not only a beautiful Christian and an amazing person, but also a very intelligent and knowledge-seeking student. Lately, we've been reading and discussing some of the Great Books together, such as: The Declaration of Independence, Shakespeare, Euclid, Aeschylus, and various others. Though it sounds dry and boring (especially in summer -- "what is she thinking?!"), it has been actually quite fun and, more importantly, very thought-provoking...and refreshing. So today I was inspired to pull off one of the "Harvard Classics" books of our shelf and read some of Plato. I started with the first thing in the book, The Apology of Socrates. Plato was a student of Socrates, so I take it to mean that Plato wrote this Apology as a first-hand account when Socrates was on trial and giving his defense, because Socrates never actually wrote any piece of work.

I didn't get very far (it is a rather extensive work), but I was struck by something Socrates points out again and again as something very important: Truth. He was a very truthful man himself, and desired to give truth to others by presenting it in a reasonable and logical way.

It got me thinking: what is Truth? Actually, not so much "what is Truth" but "How do we know Truth and how does it relate to ourselves?"

The only reason Socrates was on trial was because he was pointing out the truth to others. Socrates was a great thinker, but also a humble one; for he repeats often in his Apology that he is neither very wise nor very stupid:

"For I know that I have no wisdom, small or great." (pg 9)

Because the oracle of Delphi had said that "there was no man wiser [than Socrates]" (pg 9), Socrates decided to decipher the meaning of this declaration by speaking to various people and ascertaining from their conversations just how wise they were. His conclusion was:

"...I could not help thinking that he was not really wise, although he was thought wise by many, and wiser still by himself; and I went and tried to explain to him that he thought himself wise, but was not really wise; and the consequence was that he hated me..." (pg 9)

So Socrates was accused, put on trial, and found guilty because he pointed out the truth.

This brings us back to the question: "How do we know Truth?"

I think the answer is Wisdom.

What is wisdom? Wisdom by the world's standards is one thing; wisdom by God's standards is another. I think the difference between the two is shown by the difference between Socrates and the men he said were "not really wise".
Wisdom by the world's standards is a knowledge of things that should not be known. Consider Adam and Eve. What happened when they received the world's wisdom -- the Devil's wisdom -- after they disobeyed God?

"Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked" (Gen. 3:7)

Their holy innocence was destroyed by this so-called "wisdom". Wordly wisdom thinks it is wise, and therefore it is not.

Socrates put it well when he said that "God only is wise" (pg 11). Socrates recognized that he had no great wisdom; and it was in realizing this that his wisdom lay, and in truth he could recognize the lack of wisdom in others.

It is when we also recognize that we have no great wisdom, when we realize that God only possesses the fullness of wisdom, when we recognize this great Truth, then God pours wisdom into our hearts, because that Truth in itself is Wisdom.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; prudent are all who live by it." (Ps. 111: 10)

Prudence is by definition "the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason" (Merriam-Webster dictionary). Sounds a bit like wisdom, doesn't it?

Truth, then, begets Wisdom; for Socrates said of a man named Evenus, who supposedly possessed great wisdom:

"Had I the same, I should have been very proud and conceited; but the truth is that I have no knowledge of the kind, O Athenians." (pg 8)

So we know Wisdom through Truth, and in turn, Truth through Wisdom....Our next question is: "How does Truth relate to ourselves?"
The psalmist states:

"Indeed you love truth in the heart; then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom." (Ps. 51:8)

Once we realize the Truth, that God alone is all-Wise, all-Powerful, and all-Omniscient, then He in turn pours some of His Wisdom into our hearts.

Perhaps this also is wisdom:

"...whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Phil. 4:8)

The Apology of Socrates is "gracous", possessing "excellence", and is "worthy of praise"...and I have thought "about these things"...so perhaps I have gained some of God's wisdom.


Pax,
Limwen

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Good Ol' Writer's Block

Currently reading: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Most recently watched movie: Robin Hood (the Disney cartoon)
Current favorite quote: "The point of Christianity is not to be childish, but childlike." -Anonymous


I hate lack of inspiration. The picture you see here is the cover for my book that a friend of mine made. (Loriann)
I'm at chapter twenty-six, but I can't seem to get beyond that. So I'm rather frustrated with the story right now in that respect; and I'm also frustrated with it in another respect because I'm very unsatisfied with many of the beginning chapters. I feel the urge to go back and rewrite it all, but I'm forcing myself to go on. After all, this is only the first draft. After this is complete (which I'm hoping it will be by at the latest November), I can then go back and chop it to pieces. So to speak. ;)

So I've decided today to go to one of my favorite places in the whole wide world: the library! I'm going to get a bunch of books out and just read. Perhaps reading good books will help me to be inspired....

Pax,
Limwen

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

My Mind Rebels At Stagnation

Currently reading: Rakkety Tam by Brian Jacques
Most recently watched movie: Free Willy: Escape from Pirates' Cove
Current favorite quote: "All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt." -Charles Schulz
Picture of the day:
Picture explanation: This is of my guinea pig, Skipper, who just died about a week ago. He was my first guinea pig and I've had him for about 5 or 6 years. He was my widdle baby.... :)

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I've decided to make this a very random post because I can't decide want I want to post about.....


So hello everyone!! I'm back/have been back from vacation in Canada! I'm sorry it took me so long to post, but I've been busy and also just not feeling ready to get back into blogging.

My brother just had a graduation party this past Sunday...and boy was that crazy! The whole week before we were preparing, so that was crazy; the party had like 100 people so that was crazy; my brother's only two years older than I am and he's going to college and THAT'S crazy!! So this week I've been doing one very important thing:
relaxing.
(Ahhhhh....)

I've come to the conclusion that Rakkety Tam is already one of my favorite Redwall books EVER, and I haven't even finished it yet!

Watch this video, it's AMAZING.


Do you ever wonder why turtles are so downright cute?? At least, I think they're cute....
Maybe you don't feel the same way. ;)

Have you ever heard the song "Pure" by Superchick? Or "Heaven Song" by Phil Wickham? Oh my goodness, they're both soooooo GOOD!! You should listen to them sometime. ;)

I hate iTunes. While it's useful for getting stuff on my iPod, it slows down the computer like heck.

I love Sherlock Holmes.


This is a drawing of Keira Knightley (as Elizabeth Bennet) that I did. The scan turned out horribly, it looks much more better in real life....But at least you can get a glimpse of how it looks. I'm planning on entering it into the Fair. Do you like it?

I think God has a sense of humor.

And with that, I shall close this random, short, not really meaningful post. ;)

Adieu!

Pax,
Limwen

Friday, June 25, 2010

Vacation and an Award

Currently reading: Auralia's Colors (As you can see from looking at my libraries on the sidebar, I'm reading lots of things right now...but Auralia is what I'm focusing primarily on right now.)
Most recently watched movie: Toy Story 3
Current favorite quote: "Sunnyside is a place of ruin and despair, ruled by a bear who smells of strawberries." -Mr. Pricklepants from Toy Story 3
Picture of the day:
Picture explanation: I just love Audrey Hepburn...she's so classy and gorgeous. :)

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First things first...
I got awarded by Galadriel! Thanks sooo much! :D Here it is:


Ain't it purty? ;) Okay, so the rules are that I have to post five random things about myself and then award five people. Here goes!

1. I love cabbage and noodles.
2. I've been to Guatemala.
3. I received a very lovely comment from Donita K. Paul (author of the DragonKeeper Chronicles) awhile back! It totally made my day! :D My claim to fame.
4. I can't stand mushrooms. (The hobbit side of me cringes when I make this statement.)
5. I play piano, and have been playing for almost 11 years.

I award Melody, Hannah, Laura, Heather, and Anna. Enjoy!


Secondly, I'm afraid this will be the last post for awhile. My family and I are leaving on vacation tomorrow, and we'll be gone for a week. Actually, that's not entirely true; they'll be gone for a week (myself included), but I will also be gone for another week after that. I'm staying at a friend's house for about a week and then getting picked up by my parents after that. So for a short while, I bid you adieu. Pray for us! :)

Pax,
Limwen

Thursday, June 17, 2010

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader trailer!

Currently reading: Star Wars: Specter of the Past by Timothy Zahn (yes, I finally finished The Count of Monte Cristo!)
Most recently watched movie: The Count of Monte Cristo
Current favorite quote: "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." -Pride and Prejudice
Picture of the day: none

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Well, the trailer for The Voyage of the Dawn Treader finally came out!! It looks AMAZING!! I'm so excited to see this movie! (And on a side note, aren't the kids soooo grown up?? Lucy looks gorgeous....And not when she's looking in the magic book.)



Apologies for the cut-off on the right side...but enjoy anyway. :)

Pax,
Limwen

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Joyful prayers

Currently reading: The Count of Monte Cristo and DragonLight
Most recently watched movie: Gooby
Current favorite quote: " 'Wear pink!' her mother had said. 'It confuses the enemy.' " — DragonFire (I think) by Donita K. Paul
Picture of the day:
Picture explanation: I made this for my own amusement, but you all might enjoy it too. :) (Especially you NaNoWriMo people.)

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I really don't have much to say. It's been a tremendously crazy weekend because...

My brother got married!!!!
I'm now a sister-in-law!! :D :D

So I'd like you all to pray for my brother and his new wife...not that anything's wrong, but I'd just like you all to pray that they grow in their love for each other and for God with each day, and they will have many, many blessed years together. Thanks, everyone. :)

Pax!
-Limwen

Saturday, May 29, 2010

A prosy sort of poem

Currently reading: The Count of Monte Cristo
Most recently watched movie: Iron Man (1)
Current favorite quote: "You go your way and I'll go mine...while we miss each other!" - Deborah Kerr as Terry in An Affair to Remember
Picture(s) of the day: I got a haircut just a few days ago...so I used to look like this...


...and now I look like this!


It's not so spectacular since you haven't actually seen how long my hair used to be...but you can gather how different it is from the pictures, of course. :) Feels infinitely better for summer!!


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So the other night, I couldn't get to sleep...and finally I picked up my little scripture passage-a-day book. I forget what exactly the passage was, but the words "Abide in Me" stuck out at me...and then this "prosy sort of poem" just came out of my fingers...and I guess my heart too. :)

-

HEARTS

by me =)



Alone with my failings
Alone in the night
I felt my heart
Beating
The rhythm it pulsed was one of sadness
And it spoke a language of loneliness

Alone with my failings
Alone in the night
I reached with my heart....

Beating.

Beating.
Not one heart, but two.

My heart beat a staccato of fear
The other heart beat a slow beat of love

He held me close
My heart against His
And He waited patiently for my heart
Waited for my heart to beat with His
Simultaneously

Patiently, slowly, gently He whispered
Abide
Abide with Me
Abide in Me
Abide, My love, in Me because
I love you


And as He spoke, I could hear His heart
Beating

Alone with His heart
Alone in His love
I felt my heart
Beating
The rhythm it pulsed was one of weeping
And it spoke a language of openness

Alone with His heart
Alone in His love
I reached with my heart....

Beating.

Beating. (His heart was beating.)
Not two hearts, but one.

--

Pax,
Limwen

Monday, May 24, 2010

My Weekend

Currently reading: The Count of Monte Cristo (it's a long book. ;D)
Most recently watched movie: An Affair to Remember
Current favorite quote: "God does not have an end so everything that seems to end really lives." -- a friend of mine who shall remain anonymous
Picture of the day: no picture today

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My weekend (and weekday, counting today) has been busy, busy, busy...

Saturday: Had my piano recital at 1:30 in the afternoon. I was scared to pieces, but it went rather well. :) Maybe sometime I'll post the video my dad taped of me on here...
Sunday: My mom and I hosted a bridal shower for my brother's fiance. It was a really nice shower; we made it a tea party (hats and all, although no one really wore a hat...). There weren't very many people (no more than 20), but it was nice because it was small. Cozy. ;) (Oh yes, and the wedding's June 5. We're all pretty excited.)
Today (Monday): Spent about 6 or 7 hours driving to different malls with my mom, shopping. She was looking for a mother-of-the-groom dress for the wedding; and I convinced her to drop me off at Half-Price Books while she checked out JC Penney's and Sears!! I was so pumped. :D I promised myself I wouldn't go over my budget (I was carrying about $20, so that was my limit), but of course I ended up having to borrow money from Mom when she came and picked me up. ;D So here's what I got:

a Rebecca St. James CD (called Transform, and it has two of my favorite of her songs on it, so I was pretty happy.)
The Tolkien Companion -- I don't remember who it's by, but it's a really cool book, almost like a Tolkien dictionary...(and the cover looks really awesome)
Hood (Book 1 of the King Raven Trilogy) -- Stephen R. Lawhead
Dragon Rider -- Cornelia Funke
The Thief Lord -- Cornelia Funke
Auralia's Colors -- Jeffrey Overstreet (I actually haven't read it, but I've been wanting to and it looks really good. ;D)

Also, while browsing around Best Buy (Mom was in a different JC Penney's at that point), I found Brisingr by Christopher Paolini! Leave it to me to go into an electronics store and come out with a book. ;D It was 25% off, so that made me happy; and I was even happier to find out that it was even cheaper than I expected it to be!

So all in all, I think I made out pretty good. ;)

How was your weekend?


Pax,
Limwen

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Movie Review: Robin Hood

Currently reading: The Count of Monte Cristo
Most recently watched movie: Leatherheads
Current favorite quote: "Inantimate objects conspire against me." -my mom, after knocking two different things down, one right after the other
Picture of the day:
Gandalf!

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ROBIN HOOD: MY REVIEW

*NOTE: Contains spoilers!!!*




Plot summary: In the late 12th century, King Richard the Lionhearted is on his way home to England from the Middle East, where he was on crusade. With him is a large army of stout Englishmen, among whom is Robin Longstride -- a brave, down-to-earth yeoman. During a battle, King Richard is killed, and his right-hand man, Robert Loxley, sets out with some knights to return Richard's crown to his Queen mother. Robin Longstride also leaves the scene of the battle, along with some friends of his, including Alan a'Dale, Little John, and Will Scarlet. Taking a different route from that of Loxley, they are surprised to come upon Loxley and his knights later and find them ambushed by Sir Godfrey, a close friend of King Richard's younger brother John and secretly an agent of France. Sir Godfrey was on a mission from the King of France to murder King Richard; but finding the King already dead, he attempts to take Richard's crown. Robin and his crew, however, drive Godfrey's ambush party away. They return to the scene of the ambush, and Robin finds Robert Loxley -- not dead, but obviously dying. Loxley gives Robin his sword, asking Robin to take it to Loxley's father. Robin is struck by the words on the sword:

Rise and rise again
Until lambs become lions


Robin, now assuming Robert Loxley's identity, sets out for London Town to bring the crown home to the royal family -- accompanied, of course, by Little John, Will, and Alan (who all pretend to be knights). He witnesses Prince John crowned king, and witnesses also King John's selfishness. (John was about to give a ring as a reward to Robin; but remembering that Robert Loxley's father owed a petty debt to the crown, he told Robin, a.k.a. Robert Loxley, that the ring "would be a start" and kept it.)

Afterwards, Robin sets out for Nottingham to fulfill Robert Loxley's dying wish and return his sword to Loxley's father. Once there, he meets Robert Loxley's widow, Marion, and Loxley's blind father, Walter Loxley. Walter urges Robin to remain in Nottingham, keeping up the assumed identity of Robert Loxley, so the Loxleys' land can be protected from the Crown. (If the Crown found out that Robert Loxley had died, the land would be taken away from the Lady Marion.) Robin agrees, although the situation is rather dangerous for him; for Sir Godfrey knows of his deception and could come find him anytime. While he is there, he and Marion find themselves falling in love (although at first she gives him the cold shoulder); and Walter tells Robin about Robin's father -- whom Robin never knew. Walter says that Robin's father died trying to unify the nobles and the king of England.

Meanwhile, Sir Godfrey is conspiring against King John, sowing seeds of hatred among the people by destroying their lands in the name of King John. At the same time, he is arranging for the King of France to invade England, just when its unity is weakest -- for all the English nobles, believing John to be the source of their destroyed lands, are rising up against him. Robin goes to a meeting of the nobles and the king in an attempt to re-unify them. He succeeds, and the king and the nobles all assemble their armies and begin to ride to the coast of England, where the French armies are expected to land. On the way there, Robin hears of trouble in Nottingham, and rides to the rescue. Sir Godfrey, it turns out, had attacked Nottingham while Robin was gone, and was in the process of destroying the land and killing half the people when Robin arrived with his army. Sir Godfrey flees to the coast of England. He is there when the French armies arrive; but unbeknownst to Godfrey, the armies of England are also on their way to the coast. In a stunning battle, the armies of England wipe out the armies of France, and Godfrey is killed. King John, hoping the people would give him praise because he led one charge on the battlefield, is upset when Robin Longstride is hailed with cheers and praises because of his bravery in battle. Accordingly, King John labels him an outlaw for pretending to be Robert Loxley (and for some invented crimes); and Robin is forced to flee to the woods (with Lady Marion of course), where he and his men become known as men "of the Hood".

My thoughts: It was about as good as I expected it to be....And let's say I wasn't really expecting that much.
Bad points: Number one on my list of bad points were the immoral references/scenes. There was WAY more than I expected there would be...and way more than I thought should have been in there/was necessary. If it were my choice, I would say have no sex-related scenes at all. There were two, but there were some other immoral jokes made or immoral scenes implied. (One good thing, though: none of the sex/sex-related scenes were between Robin and Marion. Both were very decent people.) I would have enjoyed the movie much, much more if none of that stuff had been in there.
Also what I didn't like was that, in the final battle, Lady Marion came to war in armor. Repeat: Lady Marion came to do battle, all rigged-out in fancy armor. I thought that was totally unnecessary, illogical, ridiculous, inaccurate, and totally stupid. I didn't mind when she occasionally wielded a sword (when she was defending Nottingham and stuff like that)...but to actually come to a huge battle in armor was over the top. Made me mad.
I also didn't like Little John. Wasn't Little John named "Little" John because he was something of a gentle giant? At least, in all the stories I've heard about Robin Hood, Little John always seemed to be such a sweet guy. Not so in this movie. He was loud, obnoxious, vulgar, and a brute. He had his moments where he was genuine -- he could be funny -- but all in all he was just plain obnoxious.
I didn't like King Richard. He annoyed me. But I've heard mixed opinions on King Richard -- sometimes he sounds like a real nice guy, other times he sounds like a jerk. In this movie he was something of a jerk.
I also felt that some of the beginning of the movie could have been cut in a way that made the story a little bit clearer. As it was, I was kind of confused.
I love Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett, but I felt there were a little bit too old for these roles. However, I didn't notice it too much because, as I said, I love both those people. :)
I also didn't like Prince John. But that goes without saying. ;)

Good points: Number one, the acting. It was superb. Russell Crowe is one of my FAVORITE actors, and he was awesome in this movie. Cate Blanchett was also amazing, Max von Sydow (Walter Loxley) was good, Mark Strong (Sir Godfrey) as usual, played a really horrible bad guy (horrible in the sense that the actor did such a good job the character was horrible). I also liked the guy who played Will Scarlet; and the guy who played Friar Tuck. They were good.
I loved the cinematography, especially the battle scenes. It's a different sort of style -- rather fast, but I imagine that's what a real battle would be like. Plus, the arrows felt so realistic -- seemed like they would jump out of the screen at you (no, it wasn't in 3D), and made you glad you weren't in the battle.
I loved the music. It was gorgeous, soaring and beautiful and sweeping. I really want the soundtrack now. ;)
I loved the respect Robin showed for Marion. The trailer for this movie made me afraid that there would be some sex-related scenes between the two, but as I said before, there were none. He treats her with a playful respect that is just really sweet.
I liked the flashbacks to Robin's childhood, which the words "Rise and rise again/Until lambs become lions" spurs in Robin's memory. The flashbacks were mainly Robin as a little boy first putting his handprint with his dad on a wet stone (which also has the words "Rise and rise again" etc.), then watching his dad get killed. There were sad and poignant (and the boy who played little Robin was adorable!).
I also loved the horses in this movie. Call me weird, but the horses were just so GORGEOUS!! I loved them. ;D

Rating (out of 5 stars):
Acting: *****
Morality: **
Cinematography: *****
Music: *****
Characters: ****
Other (the rest of the movie): ***
Overall rating: ***

--
Pax!
-Limwen

Thursday, May 13, 2010

"Tastes like coconut."

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Currently reading: The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Most recently watched movie: The 13th Day
Current favorite quote: "I remember nothing about it except a philological fact. My mother said nothing about the dragon, but pointed out that one could not say 'a green great dragon', but had to say 'a great green dragon'. I wondered why, and still do." -J.R.R. Tolkien on his first story about a dragon
Picture of the day:
Picture explanation: This is my youngest older brother (he's two years older than I), and me, sitting on a couch at my grandma's house. We're probably about 3 and 5 years old, I'd guess. He has the sports uniform (of course), and I have a...cowlick??

--

Today I feel like being random. Hence the random quote for the title of this post. (It's actually from Iron Man 2; it's a line of Robert Downey Jr's.)
So, random things about my life right now...

Most importantly, a life-long friend of my mom's passed away two days ago...so I'd like to ask you all to pray for her! She's going to need some comfort.

Secondly, I'm writing an essay on children's entertainment; I'm trying to get the point across that I think entertainment for children is generally pretty stupid nowadays, but I can't seem to word it right.

I finished Ivanhoe today. I absolutely loved it. It was downright hilarious in parts, which surprised me, and is deliciously stuffed full with excitement and chivalry and knightly jousting and beautiful ladies and other attributes of the Middle Ages. The various scenarios that take place, and how they take place, in this book reminded me of a movie; and that also surprised me, because Ivanhoe was published in the early 1800's.

I have a piano recital coming up in about a week, and I do NOT feel prepared. Not at all. And the fact that summer and a break from piano is a mere week or two away doesn't help either. At this point, I'm just like "GET ME OUT OF HERE!"
Do you ever get that feeling? Especially when the end of the school year nears?
Hmm. I think I need prayers too.

Lastly, I'd like to post an inrush of Tolkien pictures. Nice way to wrap up this strange and rather boring post, don't you think? ;)



Tolkien with his pipe...not at all unusual. :) I love his pipe, btw. He doesn't look whole without it. :D






Isn't this just too cute?? This is Tolkien and his son Christopher...I thought it was just adorable and had to post it.



Tolkien drawings...





Edith Tolkien - isn't she beautiful? Now, if you want to know what Luthien Tinuviel looked like...well, just look at Edith. She was, no doubt, Tolkien's inspiration for Luthien. Tolkien said of her, "She was (and knew she was) my Luthien." and "Her hair was raven, her skin clear, her eyes bright, and she could sing -- and dance."



The gravestone of Tolkien and Edith.



Hope you enjoyed them. :)
(Disclaimer: I do not own any of these photos. Photos from arwen-undomiel.com)

Pax,
Limwen

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Purity

Currently reading: Ivanhoe
Most recently watched movie: More Than a Game
Current favorite quote: "Perelandra and The Lord of the Rings seemed to me more in total than the simple sum of their parts. These books, I concluded, derived their value chiefly from this inner worth, this integrity that lay behind the stories themselves. But what was it?
"It was, of course, the Christian faith of the authors shining through the fabric of their work. I saw that faith informed the story, and infused it with value and meaning, lifting the tale above the ordinary expressions of the genre. Even though the stories of Lewis, Tolkien, or other Inklings like Charles Williams, were not explicitly promoting Christianity, nevertheless the books were ripe with it." -Stephen R. Lawhead on C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien in his essay "J.R.R. Tolkien: Master of Middle-earth".
Picture of the day: I think I'll forego the picture today. I can't seem to find a good one that isn't from a movie. (I've posted way too many movie pictures.) :D

---

Today I'd like to talk a little bit about purity. Any good Christian is aware of the world's view on chastity, and how much purity is disregarded.
I think the two questions here are "Why is there so much disrespect for purity?" and "How can I, as a Christian, change that?"
We realize that we have to be witnesses of holy purity. How do we go about doing that, though?
First we have to look at why there is so much impurity. I think there are two very good reasons:

Immodesty
A longing for real love

Immodesty really applies only to girls. Karol Wojtyla once said: "The evolution of modesty in woman requires some initial insight into the male psychology." I think many women do not realize that by dressing immodestly, they are not only degrading themselves, but also hurting the men they interacte with. There have been many men who have wished that girls would dress modestly. I think there are two reasons behind why girls dress immodestly. Number one is that perhaps they don't realize the seriousness of what they are doing, or have not been raised to know better; Number two is that they DO know what they are doing, and are setting themselves up as objects. If either one, it should be our job to try and lovingly teach them the beauty of modesty. Especially if number two, we should help them realize their dignity as women, children of God made in His image and likeness. They should also know that they don't need to dress provacatively in order to attract the guys; any man who is attracted to a woman because of her modestly covered outer beauty, AND her inner beauty, is truly worth attracting.

A longing for real love I think is what fuels a lot of the impure activity in our culture. Both men and women think that in order to find real love, they need to enter into a relationship where they are doing stuff that should only be done in marriage. So they hop from one boyfriend/girlfriend to the next, searching for love; and they are ignorant of the fact that real love only requires a little patience and a LOT of chastity. Most don't realize that living a life of chastity, even when you are in a relationship or engaged, intensifies love in ways they couldn't imagine. St. Josemarie Escriva says:

"When you decide firmly to lead a clean life, chastity will not be a burden on you: it will be a crown of triumph."

We should pray for these people. Many of them are not as lucky as we are in their upbringing, or their friends, or their faith. They need our prayers and our support; because no matter what they've done, they are still God's children and He loves them more than anyone could imagine.

"For I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sins no more." -(Hebrews 8:12)

So now, how do we go about changing the world? St. Francis of Assisi said:

"Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words."

By our example we can preach the Gospel of Jesus to all corners of the world. All it takes is a little bit of love. For those of you who have seen the movie Evan Almighty, God says to Evan: "You want to change the world? Do it by one small act of random kindness at a time." We know who we are: we are committed Christians whose mission is to bring the world to Christ. St. Catherine of Siena said:

"If you are what you should be, you will set the world ablaze!"

Our goal, then, is to live purity, to forgive others, to love "our neighbor as yourself", and to ultimately draw people closer to God.

"Then Peter approaching asked him, 'Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?' Jesus answered, 'I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times." -(Matthew 18:21-22)

Since we must be like Jesus in all things, we need to forgive and love others, even our worst enemies, as ourselves! Jesus begged forgiveness for his torturors as He was dying in agony on the cross! Can't we do the same?
We must live lives of love and purity. It is a tall order, but we are not alone, and we are ultimately not doing it for ourselves. Mother Teresa said:

"To be pure, to remain pure, can only come at a price, the price of knowing God and loving Him enough to do His will. He will always give us the strength we need to keep purity as something beautiful for Him."

That makes all the difference, doesn't it? From the song "Here I Am" by Janelle:

Here I am/Lead me on/Time to show the world true beauty!/Change the world by/Changing hearts/Let them in on what they could be!

Isn't there a psalm that says, "God is with me, I am not afraid"? With God, all things are possible. We just need to say yes and let Him enter our heart.

The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds' feet, and makes me walk on high places." -(Habakkuk 3:19)


Pax!
-Limwen

Saturday, May 1, 2010

I dream of a forest

Currently reading: The Mauritius Command by Patrick O'Brien (still!)
Most recently watched movie: The Princess of Thieves
Current favorite quote: "You've lost your muchness." -The Mad Hatter from the movie Alice in Wonderland
Picture of the day:
Picture explanation: This is the "cover" for a short story I wrote....That is all. :)

---

The following is a piece of writing based on a dream I had recently, and alas, which I can remember only hazily. Most of what is written is what I could remember from the dream; but of course I added some necessary details and tried to tie it together so it made some sense. When I was writing it down, I didn't intend for it to be this morbid, and the dream, although it was rather intense, didn't feel quite so morbid; but it turned out that way.


I dream of a forest

The Darkness was about them. But the figures strode on. There were four of them: three were cloaked and hooded, blending into – but not with – the Darkness, save for a single white gem on their breasts. The fourth was unmasked: a woman, clad in dark grey armor. Black was her hair, twisted up into braids on her head; but very, very pale was her face. A white face, a quiet face, like the calm expressions on statues carved of marble.
Indeed, the Darkness was about them. In amongst the trees it dwelt, slithering about in burning shadows, smoldering with intensity. All was calm, a deathly calm, and too quiet for a forest. The forest stretched for many miles, far as the eye could see; but as far as the eye could see, or the ear could hear, there was no living creature.
Empty. Empty and watchful and lifeless.
The very trees were black.
The company walked between those dark trees. Apprehension was in their steps. Fear was in the woman’s eyes, not a cowardly fear, but a whole and well-grounded fear. Like the soldiers’ fear before they go into battle. Only the foolish ones pretend they do not feel it; the brave ones march on with their swords in hand. So the woman and her companions. They glanced at every shadow, and nothing leaped out at them – yet – but still they pushed on.
Even their footsteps were muffled in the ashy ground. The ground was like a tomb: cold and grey and relentless. And as mourners in a graveyard speak seldom, and in hushed voices, so the company said little, and then only softly.
The trees were black, the ground was grey, and the sky was red.
It was Death.

--

I don't know, do you think it could turn into a story?

Pax,
Limwen

Thursday, April 22, 2010

A re-posting of "The Days of Chivalry are Dead"

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Currently reading: The Mauritius Command by Patrick O'Brien
Most recently watched movie: Iron Man
Current favorite quote: "I can avoid being seen if I wish; but to disappear entirely -- that is a rare gift." -Aragorn from The Fellowship of the Ring (the line is cool, but also the way he says it is just amazing!!)
Picture of the day:
Picture explanation: I love this picture of Heath Ledger; it's from A Knight's Tale, which is the only movie I've seen him in; but I really liked him in that. It's so sad that he died, isn't it?
---

I was looking at my other blog, Precious Gems, when I discovered this blog post I had posted on there a long time ago. I liked it so much (if I may say so myself) I decided to re-post it here. :D Btw, Precious Gems is kind of in its death throes right now, so I'm really looking for people who would like to co-run it with myself and my friend, Meggy. I think it calls for more than just two people, so if you are at all interested in co-running it with me, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!! Thank you. :) Oh yes, and here is the link for the blog so you can check it out (copy and paste into your address bar): http://chliara-preciousgems.blogspot.com

*~*


The days of chivalry are dead...sad, isn't it?

I was thinking about this, and I found a poem on a friend's blog which describes this just right [I forget who it's by; Wodehouse, I think...]


Oh, it makes me sort of sad
To think about Sir Galahad
And all the knights of that romantic day:
To amuse a girl and charm her
They would climb into their armour
And jump into the fray:

They called her ``Lady love'',

They used to wear her little glove,

And everything that she said went:

For those were the days when a lady was a lady

And a gent was a perfect gent.


Some nights when the knights sat down to dine,
Sir Claude would say: ``That girl of mine

Makes every woman jealous when she sees her.

'Then someone else would shout: ``Behave,
Thou malapert and scurvy knave,
Or I will smite thee one upon the beezer!''
And then next morning in the lists
They'd take their lances in their fists
And mount a pair of chargers, highly mettled:
And when Sir Claude, so fair and young,
Got punctured in the leg or lung,
They looked upon the argument as settled.

The days of Chivalry are dead,
Of which in stories I have read,
When knights were bold and acted kind of scrappy;
They used to take a lot of pains
And fight all day to please the Janes,
And if their dame was tickled they was happy.
But now the men are mild and meek:
They seem to have a yellow streak:
They never lay for other guys, to flatten 'em:
They think they've done a darned fine thing
If they just buy the girl a ring
Of imitation diamonds and platinum.


Isn't that hilarious? And yet it's perfectly true. The days of chivalry are dead, sadly; as well as the days when "a lady was a lady, and a gent was a perfect gent." Sometimes, I really wish I had been born in the Middle Ages. Think about it. Ladies were treated with respect, both by the knights [who followed the great law of chivalry, of course] and by themselves.




Those were the days of deep faith, solemn rituals, respected royalty; when ceremonies and knightings were honored, God-based events...


When a knight would ride to battle, encouraged by the love of his lady, and the love of his God...


When knights fought battles for their honor, loyalty, and their loved...[please ignore the telephone wires in the back of the above photo :P]...


When knights would risk all else to save a lady, especially the one he loved...
[And women wore such beautiful, ladylike dresses besides.]

I often sigh for those days.

Of course, the 1800's weren't so bad either...









Those were days of style and good taste; dancing and courting, walks in the lush countrysides and teacups...


Boy, don't you think the 21st century is missing something?


Pax,
Limwen

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

The Hunger (for tags?)

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Currently reading: My Antonia by Willa Cather
Most recently watched movie: The Empire Strikes Back
Current favorite quote: "I have no taste for dancing. I'd rather fetch that stick." -Mr. Knightley in the 1996 movie Emma
Picture of the day:
Picture explanation: I just saw this movie (twice, actually) and I absolutely fell in love with it. Ruth Wilson (who plays Jane) does an amazing job, and Toby Stevens brings dear Mr. Rochester to life in ways I never thought possible.

--

I got this tag a while back from Melody and now I'm finally doing it. :D Here goes!

Rules: Put your music player on shuffle. Then answer the following questions by using the title to each song that plays while on shuffle. Then tag 6 people.

I tag:

Heather (from Magical Ink)
Anna (from And The Clock Strikes "Heaven!"
Hannah (from Aspire)
Trav (from Musings of a Stranger in a Strange Land)
Laura (from Shieldmaiden for Him)
Pip (from Beautiful Miasma)

Are you male or female? Brand New Day (Fireflight) - um...

What do people feel when they are around you? Here I am to Worship (Michael W. Smith) - ack, I hope not! :D Thou shalt worship the Lord alone! Unless it means they really love me, then I say: AWWWW

Describe your current relationship? Can't Slow Down (Pride and Prejudice soundtrack) - kinda true, actually...my current relationship is with God of course, and sometimes it seems like He makes time go by way too fast!

Where would you like to be right now? Evenstar (Lord of the Rings soundtrack) - ah yes, perfect. :)

How do you feel about love? Can't Take It In (Imogen Heap, Narnia soundtrack) - well, that's kind of true...not yet, at any rate!

What's your life like? Amazing (Janelle) - PERFECT! HA HA!

What would you wish for if you only had one wish? Cecilia (Simon and Garfunkel) - hmm...

Say something wise? Meryton Townhall (P&P soundtrack) - no comment...

If someone says "Is this okay. . ." You say? Lost Woods (The Legend of Zelda) - yeah...sure!

How would you describe yourself? Flaming Red Hair (LOTR soundtrack) - haha! well, my hair's mostly brown, but yes it does also have some red in it. It could also mean I have a hot temper, which is true! :D

How do you feel today? Use Well the Days (Annie Lennox, LOTR soundtrack) - Yup, that sounds just about right.

What is your life's purpose? For Aragorn and Arwen (Enya, LOTR soundtrack) - haha, that's true...I'm totally obsessed with Lord of the Rings.

What is your motto? Unbreakable (Fireflight) - oh yeah, PERFECT!

What do your friends think of you? Night Ride across the Caucasus (Loreena McKennitt) - okay then...

What do you think of your parents? Lazy Days (Enya) - haha, not really, they like to put me to work! :P

What do you think of very often? Liz On Top of the World (P&P soundtrack) - or is it Limwen on top of the world? Haha, no I think what it means is that that particular scene (Liz on top of the world) is one where she's daydreaming, and yeah, I daydream a lot.

What is 2+2? I am a Rock (Simon and Garfunkel) - I never liked math. :P

What do you think of your best friend? The Love We Had Before (Fireflight) - and the love we have now! :)

What is your life story? Caribbean Blue (Enya) - hmm...

What do you want to be when you grow up? Concerning Hobbits (LOTR soundtrack) - or would it be concerned about hobbits?

What will you dance to at your wedding? Athair Ar Neamh (Enya) - hey, I'd be fine with that! Lovely (thought slow) song, and I absolutely love Enya!

What will they play at your funeral? Wait For Me (Rebecca St. James) - aw, man, that's one of my favorite songs! That's so sad!

What is your hobby/interest? The Celts (Enya) - hmm, yes, that's rather true...I'm obsessed with my Celtic (Scottish and Irish) heritage. :)

What is your biggest fear? Georgiana (P&P soundtrack) - *cough cough* If I ever actually meet someone named Georgiana, I'm going to turn tail and run in terror.

What is your biggest secret? Wunderkind (Alanis Morissette, Narnia soundtrack) - whatever that means!

What do you think of your friends? Silver Inches (Enya) - weeeeel, I guess...it's a happy song. :)

What will you re-post this as? The Hunger (Fireflight) - ooh, intense! :D

--

Pax,
Limwen

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Humility

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Currently reading: Triss by Brian Jacques
Most recently watched movie: Bridge to Terebithia
Current favorite quote: "Scarum immediately began sprouting nautical nonsense. 'Belay then, me hearties, an' all that sort o' bilge scuttle. Lower your jolly old main wotsits an' turn that thingeeyo handle. Trim up those sail doodlemidads an' set course for dry land an' boatloads o' scoff, wot!' " -Scarum the Hare, from Triss.
Picture of the day:
Picture explanation: It's a line from one of my poems; I made it for the cover of a book of my writings that I gave to my brother last year.

--

I've been thinking a lot about humility lately. It's not really a virtue that is talked too much about. Most people seem to worry more about the virtues of love, peace, joy, patience. These are all very right and good virtues to cultivate, what about humility? In a very good spiritual book I'm reading, Divine Intimacy, it states:

"Humility is the firm bedrock upon which every Christian should build the edifice of his spiritual life."

This is so true! If we are not humble, we cannot enter into a full union with God. For if we have even the tiniest bit of pride, the tiniest bit of self-love, it hinders us from full intimacy with Him. And if we are not in complete union with God, we can't live our life as well as we should.

"God resisteth the proud, but to the humble He giveth grace" -(1 Peter 5: 5)

We need to realize that we can do nothing, absolutely NOTHING, without God. Every breath we take is a gift from God. The slightest move of our finger is a gift from God. Without Him, we truly would be what we were made from: dust. Nothing.
To receive graces, we must lower ourselves and humbly ask God for graces. For did He not say that whoever asks shall receive? (Matthew, ch. 7) Therefore, He will give us what He need. We must accept His graces and let them work in us. We must be humble.

"When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, 'Give your place to this man,' and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, 'My friend, move up to a higher position.' Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." -(Luke 14: 8-11)

An almost exact replica of this story is found in Proverbs:

"Claim no honor in the king's presence, nor occupy the place of great men; For it is better that you be told, 'Come up closer!' than that you be humbled before the prince." (vs. 6-7)

This is not to say that we must humble ourselves with the hope that we will be exalted by doing so. By no means! In fact, that is worse than not being humble at all, because not only is it prideful, it is also false. We must humble ourselves expecting no reward, with the knowledge that we are not worthy receivers of God's gifts. Yet He loves us so much, and for that we must also be humble. If we are then humble, we can return His love.

We should be humble also in our falls. Jesus fell three times under the Cross. But He got right back up and continued on. So also, we should humbly recognize our faults, ask God's forgiveness, and continue on. There is no need to wallow in despair. The steps are simple: to acknowledge our sins, ask forgiveness, and move on; because God not only forgives, He forgets.

"When Israel was a child I loved him, out of Egypt I called my son. The more I called them, the farther they went from me...Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them in my arms; I drew them with human cords, with bands of love; I fostered them like one who raises an infant to his cheeks" (Hosea 11: 1-4)

Yet, this is a tall order. It is hard to think of others as better than ourselves, to be silent when others accuse us (even falsely) and acknowledge our faults, to get up again after falling repeatedly, to not let the least bit of pride and selfishness take control over our lives. We can only do it with God's grace, which He gives to us...if we only ask. But when we do so, we will become so much more intimate with God. We will draw so much closer to Him!

God is always with us, to help us. We need to remember that.

"Fear not, beloved, you are safe; take courage and be strong." -(Daniel 10: 19)


Pax,
Limwen

Sunday, March 14, 2010

The Roll Dance!

---
Currently reading: Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
Most recently watched movie: The Count of Monte Cristo
Current favorite quote: "Mortimer, be quick, be clear, or I swear I'll disinherit you." -Elinor, in the movie Inkheart
Picture of the day:

---

Charlie Chaplin and Johnny Depp (two of my favorite actors) doing the roll dance, which originated with Charlie Chaplin.

Enjoy.



I suggest watching also the "Johnny Depp vs. Robert Downey Jr. - Charlie Chaplin Roll Dance" video. I would have posted that (I also love Rober Downey Jr.), but the embed code was disabled.

Anyway, hope you liked it. :)

Pax!
-Limwen

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Lost and Found

----
Currently reading: Peter and the Shadow Thieves by Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry
Most recently watched movie: Into Great Silence
Current favorite quote: "I met a man once who told me that when he was engaged to his wife, he sneaked over to her house one night while she slept. Her parents let him in. He went to her room, and quietly slipped eighty helium balloons through the door, one by one. Each had a note attached, describing the different reasons why he loved her.
That is an act of love." -Mary Beth Bonacci, in her book Real Love
Picture of the day:

---

Have you ever seen the movie Raising Arizona? It's about a ready-to-turn-the-leaf ex-con and a police officer who get married. (He's the con, she's the officer.) They find out a little while into their marriage that they can't have kids: she is unable to physically bear children, and all the adoption agencies turn them down because of the guy's crime history. Depressed and desperate, they hear about a couple named Arizona on the news who just had quintuplets. Justifying themselves with the reasoning, "they have more'n they ken handle" (they talk with slightly Southern accents), they sneak into the Arizonas' house and kidnap one of the babies. Of course, they promptly begin introducing "Junior" as their own child. In the end, they realize that what they did was wrong, and they return Junior to his proper family.
It's a cute and funny movie; very enjoyable. But why do I bring this up?
Lately, I've been feeling slightly like the main characters in Raising Arizona. It all started on my Mom's birthday, which was Sunday (the 7th). Driving home from brunch, we found a little Shih Tzu dog running loose on the road; so we picked it up. It was extremely cute, obviously a puppy, and just as obviously well cared for. So we only just discovered the owner today, and we returned the puppy today. (Her name is Harley, but we affectionately called her "the Cuteness".) I felt like Arizona because we knew the puppy was loved and owned by somebody, and here she was living in our house! But at last, all is put to rights. She was adorable. She was so playful and furry and clingy. She loved to follow people around the house, and she loved to annoy our two old dogs just as much.
Funny thing, though. My dad, who is usually anti-pet, anti-cutesy, complaining constantly about our number of pets...he, of all people, wanted to keep her! He said he secretly hoped we didn't find the owner so we could keep her.
Talk about the sky falling.

I was wondering if you guys could help me out with something? All I need are some author suggestions. I've been lucky with finding good authors lately, but I'd love to know of some more! So if you could just post a comment listing your favorite authors, that would be lovely.

Pax!
-Limwen

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Among other things, a quiz

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Currently reading: One of Ours by Willa Cather
Most recently watched movie: Into Great Silence
Current favorite quote: "Any idiot can face a crisis -- it's this day-to-day living that wears you out." -Anton Chekhov
Picture of the day:
Picture explanation: I know I just recently posted a picture of Aragorn, but this is one of my favorite pictures of him, and it's also in honor of his birthday...which was March 1st.

--

I saw this quiz on Heather's blog, and thought I'd like to do it myself. Btw, please pray for Heather...she's getting married today! (Actually, by this time, she IS married; I think the ceremony was earlier today.)

Top 3 authors:

1. J.R.R. Tolkien

2. Jane Austen

3. Cornelia Funke



Top 3 male characters: (gosh, this is hard!)

1. Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings

2. Dustfinger from the Inkheart trilogy

3. Faramir from The Lord of the Rings



Top 3 female characters:

1. Eowyn from The Lord of the Rings

2. Jo from Little Women

3. Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice



Top 30 fiction books in no particular order:

1. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

2. The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien

3. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

4. Black by Ted Dekker

5. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

6. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

7. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

8. Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

9. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

10. Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke

11. The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald

12. Eragon by Christopher Paolini

13. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

14. The Cloister and the Hearth by Charles Reade

15. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

16. The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas

17. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

18. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

19. Redwall by Brian Jacques

20. Mariel of Redwall by Brian Jacques

21. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

22. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

23. Beauty by Robin McKinley

24. Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley

25. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

26. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

27. All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot

28. The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

29. Shadows on the Rock by Willa Cather

30. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte



Top 3 books most recently read:

1. Beauty by Robin McKinley

2. Peter and the Starcatchers by Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry

3. Red by Ted Dekker



Worst 3 books ever read:

1. Rocket Boys by Homer H. Hickam

2. Ever by Gail Carson Levine

3. St. Vincent de Paul (I don't remember the author...but whew, talk about dry!)



Top 5 scenes from any book:

1. Eowyn and Faramir's love scene, The Lord of the Rings

2. The attack of the robbers at the inn where Gerard and Denys were staying, The Cloister and the Hearth

3. Beauty's frustration at her fairy maids, Beauty

4. The end/martyr scene, The Robe

5. Rose trips on her "fashionable" outfit and falls into a chair, Eight Cousins



The book(s) that made me cry the most:

1. The Lord of the Rings -J.R.R. Tolkien

2. The Cloister and the Hearth -Charles Reade

3. Railway Children -I don't remember the author

4. A Tale of Two Cities -Charles Dickens

5. Lucy Gayheart -Willa Cather



The book(s) that made me laugh the most:

1. The Lord of the Rings -J.R.R. Tolkien (can you tell it's my top favorite book EVER??)

2. The Cloister and the Hearth -Charles Reade (this one, too)

3. Little Women -L.M. Alcott (Jo is just too hysterical!)

4. The Princess Bride -William Goldman (the whole book is just one big comedy routine)

5. Master and Commander -Patrick O'Brian (any of the scenes with Jack Aubrey and Dr. Maturin are just too funny)



The book(s) that made me feel the best at the end:

1. The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien (in a very sad way, of course...)

2. The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas

3. Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke

4. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

5. Anne of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery (#6 in the Anne of Green Gables series)



Contemporary or Historical?

Contemporary



Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Horror?

Fantasy!



Hardback or Trade Paperback or Mass Market Paperback?

Hardback, especially old ones that have a certain delightful, old bookish smell...but I also love the paperbacks that have the soft feel to their covers, smooth but not slick or plastic-y



Barnes & Noble or Amazon?

Amazon -- you can find so many awesome things on there!



Bookmark or Dog-ear?

Bookmark. I have a nice little set of LOTR bookmarks that some friends of mine made for me...my reading companions. :)



Alphabetize by author, alphabetize by title, or organize not at all?

No organization! If it's in my own home, that is. That's the best way. Part of the fun of looking for a book to read from your bookshelf is just the LOOKING.



Star Wars or Star Trek?
Book-wise? I'd have to say Star Wars because I've never read any Star Trek...but movie/tv show-wise, well, I'd probably have to say Star Trek. Unless we're talking about the old Star Wars movies.


Keep, Throw Away, or Sell?
Keep, unless it's a book I really don't like; then I give it away to Goodwill



Keep dust-jacket or toss it?

It depends on the cover of the book. If the cover of the actual book looks cooler than the dust-jacket, then I usually toss it. Otherwise, I keep the dust-jacket.



Read with dustjacket or remove it?

Usually remove it.



Little Women or Anne of Green Gables?

Hmm, that's tricky...I'd probably have to say Little Women.



Short story or novel?

Novel. I do love short stories, though...



Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?

When tired.


“It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time”?

Haha, that made me smile. :) Usually "once upon a time".



Tear Jerker or Belly Laugh?

Both! Either one shows the sign of a good author, but both even more so.



Charlotte, Emily, or Anne Brontë?

Charlotte.



Buy or Borrow?

Both! Unless it's a book I really like. Then I buy it.



Buying choice: Book Reviews, Recommendation, or Browse?

Recommendation or browse. I don't think I've ever really bought a book on a book review...



Collection (short stories by the same author) or Anthology (short stories by different authors)?

Either one! I'd be most happy with both. :)



Crane or Conrad?

I don't know. I haven't read either.



Standalone or Series?

Both!



Tidy ending or Cliffhanger?

Cliffhanger only if it's a series!



Morning reading, afternoon reading, or nighttime reading?

Anytime of the day!



Favorite genre series?

Lord of the Rings! (I take it this means your favorite series from your favorite genre). --I just totally used Heather's answer, but that makes sense...



New or used?

If "used" means old, then by all means an old book. But if "used" means secondhand, then usually new.



Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?

A Garland for Girls by Louisa May Alcott.

--


And that's the end! Hope you enjoyed it!

Pax,
Limwen

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

"I have come back to you now, at the turn of the tide"

Rather literally, in fact. I shall explain in a moment. ;)
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Currently reading: The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
Most recently watched movie: Inkheart
Current favorite quote: "I knew he was there, standing uncertainly before my door, several minutes before he said, tentatively: 'Beauty? Is something wrong?' I was usually changed and downstairs again in less than half the time I had spent sitting on the floor tonight.
'They're forcing me to wear a dress I don't like,' I said sulkily, from the floor. 'I mean, it won't come off.'
'Forcing you? Why?'
'I haven't the faintest idea!' I shouted, and pulled off a few bracelets and hurled them at the fireplace. They half-turned and threw themselves back at me, and over my wrists.
'That's very odd,' he said through the door. After a pause, he added, 'What's wrong with it?'
'I don't like it,' I said sullenly.
'Er -- may I see?'
'Of course not!' I shouted again. 'If I didn't mind your seeing it, why am I staying in my room? Who else is there to see me?'
'You care how I see you?' he said; his voice was muffled by the door, and I could be sure of only the astonishment....There was a pause and then a roar that made me cower down where I sat and clap my hands over my ears...I found myself hauled to my feet and tumbled in several directions at once; and when I emerged again, breathless, the fairy dress was gone....I was wearing a dress of an indeterminate colour...I laughed, and went over to open the door.
...the Beast looked at me gravely. 'I fear they are angry with you,' he said.
'Yes, I think you're right,' I said cheerfully....
'Shall we go down then?' he said." --From Beauty by Robin McKinley (rather long, I know, but I just love that part.)
Picture of the day:
Picture explanation: I <3 Dustfinger.

So what's the "turn of the tide" I'm talking about? Well, remember in my last post (and by the by, I am most dreadfully sorry that was so long ago; I have been oober busy), how I said that my NaNoWriMo story was lost? Now it is lost no more!! :D I found it!!! I was so slap-happy when I had it under my eyes again and was reading eagerly, I was practically hyperventilating. ;D To avoid further such distressing instances, I took the precaution of e-mailing it to myself so I can access it anytime I want. Talk about sweet relief!

For this blog post, I think I'd like to post some random thoughts I've jotted down recently in various notebooks...just a few, but I think you'll like them.

[1.] "On Music"
Music brings out in us the parts of ourselves we didn't even know existed...the hidden actor who lies deep in our souls. Not only does music bring out our romantic interior -- our passions and dreams which are interpreted in the music -- but also our dignity, our playfulness, our humor, our royalness, our pomposity. There is a bit of the jester and the king in all of us, in some more than others; but music through its mystery reveals the mystery of our being.

[2.] "On Purity"
Purity is like a glass made of the finest crystal: if shattered, it can never be made quite whole; if dirty or sullied, it takes a little work to make it clean again; but if kept well-polished carefully, it will sparkle radiantly for all to see, and light will dance through it. And those who partake of its drink -- its fruit -- will be warmed down to their very hearts.

[3.] "On Love"
The realization that God loves us tenderly -- passionately -- crazily enough to let Himself be tortured and humiliated for us, should be enough to stop us when we are about to succumb to temptation. Do we not know that every time we sin, we figuratively enter the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrows) and join the angry mob in spitting in Jesus' face? The realization that Jesus loves us so intensely -- almost jealously -- should be enough to spur us on to stepping beside Him, kissing His lovely face covered with blood and spit and tears, and picking up His Cross ourselves. When we do so, that all-consuming Love, that desiring Love, elevates our being so that, indeed, His burden seems light. For what we think is His burden is really ours; our burden He has been bearing all along, and His burden, as with every other thing, He gently lays on our back.

--

Pax,
Limwen