Monday, December 10, 2012

Now Listening: Ghost Story -- Jim Butcher

Ghost Story by Jim Butcher is part of the Harry Dresden series.

If you haven't read any of the other Dresden books, then there are a lot of spoilers for you if you skip and read/listen to this one.

So far, I'm enjoying the audio production. I think Dresden's a character that you'll either love or hate. He's sarcastic, mouths- off to things that are bigger and scarier than him and he's one tough Wizard. A lot of backstory for Dresden gets filled in and I'm enjoying the details (since I've read allll the other books.)

Overall, it's not a bad way to spend my commute to work... it's a good escape. But really, don't pick it up if you haven't read the others: it won't make a lick of sense to you unless you know the characters already.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Currently reading: What's Left of Me

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

This story seems to be set in an alternate universe where people are born with two selves or personalities and at around five or so, one personality has become dominant and drives the other out. They call this "settling" and it's considered normal. However, Addie, the main character never settled... her second soul sister, Eva, is inside of them, watching, unable to move or speak except to Addie.

Addie and Eva work together to try to live a "normal" one-souled life. If anyone found out that they hadn't settled, they would be revealed as "hybrids" and taken away to a mental institution or worse. Addie and Eva's life is turned upside-down when they meet Hallie and her brother Devon. There's something unusual about the two of them, too...

What's Left of Me is a very interesting story that explores a lot of cool ideas. Many of the characters wonder what happens to the other soul that "goes away" when a person settles. Some of them miss the recessive soul. We learn about how America is a closed society in this alternate universe and the rest of the world live their lives as hybrids. Americans are horrified by these hybrids outside their borders and see a life lived split between souls as something terrifying and disruptive.

Addie and Eva embark on a scary journey... I'm about half-way through so far, but I'm enjoying it. The story is narrated by Eva, who the "recessive" soul. She can't control her and Addie's body on her own and she watches the world through Addie's eyes. Addie is the only person who can hear Eva's voice. They work together, Eva reminding Addie to remember things through the day or studying when Addie can't concentrate.

I'm looking forward to reading more!


Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Just read: Gravediggers, Mountain of Bones

I've just finished Gravediggers: Mountain of Bones by Christopher Krovatin.

This book is a little bit scary, but also, it's really a lot about mystery. Three 6th graders, Kendra, Ian and PJ (all of who don't like each other too much anymore)  end up getting lost in a very bad neck of the woods. As they penetrate the forest and get more and more lost, they are drawn into a world that turns their expectations upside down, brings them closer together (whether they want to be or not!) and is really rather spooky. I don't want to give too much away because a lot of the fun in reading this story was finding out just what the heck was going on! The mystery part of what's happening and why it's happening is very interesting and the resolution of the mystery isn't a let-down at all: instead, I'm very satisfied and even more intrigued.

Some of the writing felt a little uneven to me at times where I found myself losing my sense of "suspended disbelief" that we all need to have while reading fiction. But it wasn't jarring enough to mar the whole of the story. I am looking forward to the sequel and learning more about the cool magical world that Krovatin created.

I think this book is a good recommended read for anyone who enjoyed Delaney's Last Apprentice series and since its recced by R.L. Stine, I think Goosebumps fans might like it, too.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian -- Finished!

I finally finished The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.

My reactions are many! The art in conjunction with the text really work and I think help keep the story balanced between sadness and humor. I wonder if this was Alexie's experience growing up--I'd like to find out more.

Basically, as Junior, the main character lives through his freshman year in the white school (22 miles off the Rez), he experiences tragedy, joy, and changes the lives of the people around him.

The story is about finding hope and those who are unable to move--both physically and emotionally. The story is powerful, but accessible to readers on many levels. Like I said, the pictures work great with the text and I think that without them, the story wouldn't have been as bittersweet or as humorous. We really see into Junior's mind through them. The words, though, are just as powerful. The images that Alexie creates of Junior climbing the tallest tree, playing basketball and more are unforgettable. The characters are all interesting.

I'd recommend this to anyone in high school and above--I know there's a lot of controversy about one of the drawings (Jesus farting), but Junior draws it during a time where he has just lost many close people in his life and he's mad at God and trying to understand death. It's not really a big part of the book. If you're easily offended... don't read the book. There's references to boners and you'll find out that Indians like to "talk dirty."

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Currently Reading: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

I have always wanted to read this book--there's so much controversy surrounding it, yet when you open the book, it reminds me so much of Diary of Wimpy Kid or Dear Dumb Diary. The illustrations are humorous, silly and child-like in the same manner of these two stories. However, the issues that the main character faces (like having only 1 day to have ten(!) teeth pulled or only one kind of glasses to choose from--ugly ones) on the "rez" aren't funny at all.

I'm only on the first 2 chapters and I've been really slow reading novels recently. I think it's because I have a lot on my mind.

So... more about the book later, but so far, I'm liking it.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Currently reading: Manuals

Construct 2 User Manual by Scirra Ltd, Available online
and...
Elgg Documentation by Elgg Foundation, Available online

I've been really trying to get a better understanding of two different types of software. The first is a little easier. Construct 2 is an excellent free game engine that I've been using to create small games. So far, I've been using the forums and tutorials to understand how to create my games, but I'd like a deeper understanding, so I'm reading the manual. How about that?

Elgg is an open source social media architecture. It requires PHP, Apache and MySQL. I'm a total n00b on all of this stuff, but I'm giving it a go. The documentation is gibberish to me right now, but I'll get it. I've already started configuring the files on a server I signed up for that supports all the required programs... so we'll see if I can conquer it.

My goal with both: to create a prototype social network that can be demonstrated as an alternative to commercial solutions for teen use in libraries. I hope that since Construct 2 can be configured for Facebook apps, that I might also be able to integrate apps created with Construct2 into Elgg. I guess I'll find out!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Currently Reading: American Libraries

I'm currently reading American Libraries: The Magazine of the American Library Association. November/December 2012

So far, I've read only the article on personal branding: "Personal Branding for Librarians: Distinguishing Yourself from the Professional Herd" by Karen G. Schneider (p. 34-37). It's interesting to me, because I've been making a personal brand for a few years now. When I first was trying to think of an online "username" I typed "librarygirl" into a field and found the username was already being used on Google. Google suggested "megalibrarygirl." I thought, why not? I was raised in a library, my mother was a librarian and was working on becoming a librarian at the time. Plus, I will always love libraries, reading and the communities that libraries touch. This random username became an online identity for me that I hope describes me as a person who really loves libraries and is happy to share what she learns and loves with others.

The article discusses the pros and cons of personal branding, and how branding can be something that can evolve over time. Brett Bonfield says in the article that you can't control how people perceive you (p. 36). I agree, but I also think that you can have some control as to how you present yourself. After all, that's why we dress the way we do every day--unless we're wearing uniforms, our clothing says a lot about who we are and what we think of ourselves.

It seems that the best advice for anyone that wants to create a personal brand is that it really needs to be able to encompass everything that you love and are. I think that if a person is truly authentic both online and in real life, their "personal brand" aka their "personality" will shine through.

Schneider, K.G. (2012). Personal branding for librarians: Distinguishing yourself from the professional herd in American libraries 43(11/12).34-37. Chicago: American Library Association.