Love La Roux!

This week, I've been listening to a lot of La Roux. I bought her album for Dad for Father's Day (he's predisposed to like anyone and anything from England, but particularly liked her), and put a copy on my ipod. I quickly became addicted to her music, especially her songs Tigerlily, Cover My Eyes and As If By Magic. I often think that finding an album that you truly love is as satisfying as a good book, and almost as good an escape from a stressful day.

Well, I'm on holidays for a whole week (ha) from uni. This week has been a crazy race against time to get all my assignments finished before their due dates, but I managed, and it's over for a whole seven days...

I'm looking forward to having a few lazy days reading and watching DVD (Gossip Girl and Alias and Big Bang Theory) sets before throwing myself into the last few weeks before the exam period. I have a growing collection of books I can't wait to get through, including the first in the Percy Jackson series, the new Marian Keyes book, Blood Promise (I made myself wait for this one, I've absolutely fallen in love with Vampire Academy) and rereading Catching Fire. Yes, I am going to indulge in young adult stuff over the break, it's awesome. :D You won't be surprised to know that I have had a cold again over the past week. All my enegery dissolved, which made pushing through those final exams a bit of a chore, and all my joints and limbs ached with the fever, which made me feel like I was constantly walking through mud. After I handed in my final group assignment, I crashed, and it was such a relief to just be able to lie in bed for a while and watch TV! Szilveszter kept me supplied in Ease A Cold and cups of tea, so I feel much better now!

Speaking of walking through mud, however, all of Brisbane this week was ensconced in a sepia haze of dust, the result of dust storms that had blown up from Sydney. It was very eerie! I was in the uni library when it really hit; I'd been there since about 8.30am, and so I didn't see it start, and all of a sudden all the library windows had this strange, peachy tint. Uni itself was very strange to be at; the sandstone buildings, intimidatingly academic at the best of times, almost looked haunted. Strange.

What was less supernatural, however, was the resulting dryness, and the dust that dirtied anything and everything it landed on. Sigh.

I'm already looking forward to Christmas, on a slightly more festive note! Christmas means lots of listmaking for me: lists of decorations, presents, things to do and buy; extended trade means being a part of the Westfield Christmas period almost non-stop, not that I'm complaining (yet), and numerous Christmas parties and celebrations. I can't wait! We're having some visitors from overseas this Christmas, including my dad's closest friend Dirk, from Germany. It's going to be a big affair at my house! Expect photos of all the animals dressed in Christmas outfits. My mum insists upon it, and if grumpy old Begby could manage his Christmas bow, I'm sure bouncy Daisy and friendly Rosie will manage their outfits... sigh for the puppies!!

claire.xx

What I've Been Up To Lately...

It's been a busy couple of weeks, so I just thought I'd write a quick update. I'm slowly getting through the Vampire Academy series, I love them! Thanks to my work friend Ella's insistence, I finally got over the off-putting covers (which they substantially improved for Blood Promise) and cringe-worthy title, and found that Richelle Mead's series if tautly written, full of a different kind of romantic tension to Twilight, and based around a narrator who is the exact opposite to Bella. More on those in a later post, I'm sure!

I've been trekking through assignment territory steadily, and have one group assignment and one (ahem, unstarted) smallish argumentative essay due in the coming weeks, and then I think I'm done until after the mid-semester break.

I spent yesterday with my boyfriend, who hurt his back recently. We had a lovely relaxing day, and took in a little sun. I did manage to get a slight tan - wow, this means I might have to buy the second lightest shade in my make-up now! Incidentally, on the subject of my beloved boyfriend, I managed to push, shove, plead and coerce him into reading The Hunger Games. And, lo and behold, he adored it. He's currently reading Catching Fire, and for those who don't know Szilveszter, let me just say that he is so resistant to reading that he has read a total of three books in his lifetime prior to THG, and all because I forced him to (he did enjoy them, however!). These include Dean Koontz's Life Expectancy, Russel Brand's autobiography My Booky Wook (which I couldn't really get along with, but he loved), and The Hobbit, which is still under contention, as he was actually read to by his teacher at the time. Hmm. If you count that sort of thing, he also "read" Twilight, by using an audio book. SO it is an indicator of the power of THG that Szilveszter would enjoy them as much as he has, and I'm so pleased.

I'm off to work today, wishing Garden City would hurry up and put its Christmas stuff up. That'd put me in a better mood!

I am currently...

Thankful for the bounce proof case on my iPhone, which has proved its worth a number of times now (and just did again).
Curious about how I managed to hurt my elbow do badly, it's a little swollen and bruised and I don't know how I did it!
Wishing that they made more diaries at this time of year so that I could have a new one. I'm considering just writing the dates in my small moleskine.
On that note, needing another moleskine.
Looking forward to going away for a night with Szilveszter in the mid-sem break. Oh, and Jason and Gracie's engagement this weekend. :)

Have a lovely week, everyone.
More book-related posts soon, I hope.

claire.x.

Catching Fire

Catching Fire, the long-awaited sequel to Suzanne Collins' dark young adult novel The Hunger Games, is an unbelievable book. Following Katniss Everdeen's rebellious win of the Hunger Games in the triology's first installment, Catching Fire concerns the aftermath of Katniss' daring refusal to play the Games by the tyrannical Capitol's rule.

For those who haven't yet experienced the Hunger Games, here's a quick recap: in the America of the future, Panem, a central region called the Capitol holds total rule over the twelve active districts which ring it. Each district, numbering one through thirteen, performs a special function which serves the Capitol, from mining in the poverty stricken District 12 to the manufacture of luxury items in relatively privileged districts 1 to 4. As a haenous reminder to the districts of the failed attempt of District 13 to rebel against the Capitol in the Dark Days, a tournament is held yearly where the names of two children from each district are drawn at random for the purpose of a glorified gladiators game. The twenty four tributes enter a highly controlled arena, and are forced to kill one another until one survivor remains.

Katniss, a sixteen year old tribute, managed almost to outsmart the Capitol at what is quite literally their own game. She managed to keep her district's fellow competitor alive in an act which, at its heart, was pure rebellion, but was presented to the masses as uncontrolled love.

It is from this point that Catching Fire begins; Katniss and Peeta's lives have been transformed into ones of relative comfort, yet neither are happy. Katniss is being controlled in her every choice from where she spends her victor's money, the partner she chooses and the words she speaks. Threatened personally by President Snow, she is under enormous pressure to hold a full-scale rebellion at bay by continuing her romance with Peeta. Essentially, she needs to disguise her own refusal to comply with the Capitol, so that the masses do not follow her lead.

What's worse is that the Hunger Games are not over for Katniss; being the mentor to this year's tributes, she must first complete a victor's tour of the districts before settling into the brutal and savage rhythm of the Games once more.

In the not so obscure world of Panem, however, the government is all-powerful. Katniss's accidental beginning of a long-dormant uprising means that the punishment of the many will forced onto her shoulders, and her relationship with the Hunger Games shifts once more.

With an ending as shocking as its subject matter, Catching Fire lived up to every expectation I had personally held for a sequel to what has become one of my most beloved books. Katniss is every bit as ambitious and determined as she was when we were first introduced to her, but now she is weathered with the horrors of what she has seen and done. As a readership, so are we; I felt every twist of every knife, every stab of fear and every moment of confused hope and panic that Katniss did. Just like the Hunger Games, only more so, Catching Fire resonates with the reader. It remains a part of you for days after having endured its horrors. In a world which so closely resembles our own, Suzanne Collins has shown us what a dark and horrible place the future could be. The hope of the many, however, rests frighteningly easily upon the shoulders of the young.

Everything's okay.

Just a quick post to let everyone know that things are on the up. After a very difficult and stressful week, I'm behind at uni, and worried about that. I'm hoping to catch up early this week though, with a lot of hard work. I'd like to thank anyone who might be reading this who offered any form of help or support during the difficult times we went through last week; your efforts were invaluable. As usual, my boyfriend Szilveszter was wonderfully supportive; my best friend Jess went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure I, and others involved in the situation, were okay. My work friends were generous in their time, offering to work when I wasn't able, and they were more than supportive.

So thank you again to everyone. Looking forward to better weeks ahead.

x claire.

A Beneficial Break

I had the most fantastic day today for several reasons, with the main one being that Szilveszter and I went to Seaworld. I have been to Seaworld before, but not for ages, and it was wonderful to be there again. I was so excited to see all the animals, the polar bears and the dolphins in particular, and was extremely impressed with the shark tank. 'Tank' is probably the wrong word for it. Shark realm is probably more like it. When you looked at it from underneath, through the glass, it seemed to stretch on forever. The constant movement of the fish and rays amongst the regally slow sharks was absolutely mesmerising, and the small distance between us and the animals behind the thick wall of glass was unnoticable. We stayed watching the sharks for ages, there was simply so much to see. Szilveszter adores sharks, and was fascinated by their movements and grace; I, on the other hand, couldn't tear myself away from the dolphins, much to Szilveszter's chagrin. We didn't see everything, and we only saw one show, so there's so much more to see when we visit again, thanks to the Q150 passes Szilveszter got for us.


Today was a refreshing escape from all the petty little things that bring you down in everyday life. In the afternoon and evening, when we returned from Seaworld, we went shopping, and then had dinner at my house. I found that I was in a much better mood than I have been for a long time. And what's more? I even got a little bit of a tan! (If you squint and tilt your head to the left...I don't look SO much like a vampire anymore!) All I needed was a little bit of a break to get back on top of things, and I have!

I'm looking forward to catching up with my Boost friends this weekend for dinner, and going to a retro night on Friday with my old primary school friends and Jess. Throw in a few assignments and that's what I have planned for the rest of my week.

Excited about Catching Fire's release! The sequel to The Hunger Games, I cannot wait to read it.
Reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and realising that, following the odd looks I got on the bus to uni (by some people reading Twilight, no less) and after approximately ten years of doing so, it may be time to stop reading Harry Potter in public places.
Very thankful for my boyfriend Szilveszter. He is my best friend and one of the only people with whom I can truly relax; time spent with him is time treasured.
Appreciative of a day off. With work and study and study and work and uni and study and gym and - did I mention study? - and everything else in between, a break is the most precious luxury you can afford yourself. Normally I like nothing better than to plonk myself in an armchair with a cup of tea and a lengthy novel (a guilty rarity, however), but being away from everything today was just perfect. I can't wait to visit the polar bears again. :)

Hoping you can take a break soon too,
claire.x

My week so far has been fairly quiet, most likely owing to the fact that the cold I've complained about in the last few posts will not surrender! I've caught up on some uni work, and spent some time with some friends, and during the week I had a day in watching movies with Szilveszter. We watched The Talented Mr. Ripley, which was reccommended to me by someone who knew my favourite novel was The Secret History, and once I'd watched it, the connection between the two was apparent. The Talented Mr. Ripley, to give you a quick rundown (as I think I'll be putting up a full review of the book when I finish it), is an unsettling story which takes place in panoramic Italy. Tom Ripley, surprisingly and excellently portrayed by Matt Damon (... ^_^ ...), is something of an impressionist. By chance, he one day impresses the father of a young, rich playboy (a young Jude Law, just in case Matt wasn't enough for you) named Dickie Greenleaf, and he is sent on a mission to retrieve the hedonistic Dickie from his Italian abode.

But once Tom arrives in Italy, he becomes enamoured with the life that Dickie leads, and Dickie's charmingly sweet partner Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow). Oh, yes. And Dickie. Tom becomes obsessed with Dickie, and Dickie responds by seeking to put distance between the two. Tom reacts by killing Dickie in a brutal and savage fashion. From hereon in, The Talented Mr. Ripley becomes as complicated as another of Matt Damon's films, The Departed, as Tom takes on the identity of his obsessee, and continues on a chilling murderous streak in order to protect himself. Matt Damon absolutely enthrals as Tom Ripley. He is both repulsive, in that his obsessions are pathetic and needy, and endearing; his naivety and vulnerability, expressed separately from, and in conjunction with, his obsession, are charming. Ever since seeing Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting (and forever quoting "DO YOU LIKE APPLES?" for about the next week), I have been a loyal fan of his, but of all the films I have seen him in so far, I think he did the best job of Tom Ripley. If you liked The Secret History, this film is about as close as you'll get to cinematic portrayal of that hideous, creeping sensation which refuses to leave you after having closed Donna Tartt's wonderful novel. But let me stress that The Talented Mr. Ripley is its own piece, and was written long before the former.

So I'm currently seeking out an omnibus copy of The Ripliad, which is the title of the series of crime/mystery/psychological thrillers written by Patricia Highsmith featuring Tom Ripley. I have located singular copies in Borders, but because they're rather hard to find nowadays, they are quite expensive. Sigh. So onward with the search, perhaps the internet will be my saviour!

What a life I lead, I know! However, there are a few things coming up for me that I'm looking forward to, including Jason and Gracie's engagement party, and Riverfire with the girls from work (wait til you see the footwear that night... :p ).

Hope everyone else has had a lovely week.

Thanks for reading.

claire.x.

Feeling accomplished!

Just finished my first assignment for the semester (and I'm quite pleased with it, even if I did finish it on the day it was due!), and I feel rather accomplished, even though there is a mountain of other stuff I need to move onto rather soon.
It's been a lovely week so far. Szilveszter and I had dinner with Jason and Gracie Monday night; the boys ate two of the most enormous steaks I've ever seen, while Gracie and I wistfully discussed the need for expensive ballet flats (and yes, I did say NEED). Tuesday and Wednesday were spent mostly in bed for me, unfortunately I've had a bad headcold this week. My doctor speculated that it was tonsilitis, but I sort of doubt it, it wasn't that bad. Just slowed the whole week down a bit. Thursday I worked the morning, but I think my ridiculously congested-sounding voice prompted the girls to offer to cover me, so I went home early. Well, actually I went to Gran's, and then, FINALLY, collected my iPhone. Then last night, prompted by my parents, I brought Daisy with me to Szilveszter's soccer game. As I said to the girls there last night, I believe that I may be acquiring a reputation for being a Crazy Dog Lady, as I have been seen at various soccer events with a total of three different dogs now. I can hardly deny it, really...but then, if that's on record as my worst quality, I definitely can't complain! :p

After soccer, Szilveszter, Daisy and I went to dinner and a photo-showing at our friends', Emma and Greg's. Daisy was certainly well-received there, but, despite my best efforts, apparently insisted upon leaving a twenty-cent coin-sized surprise for her hosts after we'd left.

Unfortunately I haven't really been reading too much lately, so I don't have anything much interesting to report. Envy, the third installment of The Luxe series, was brilliant; if you felt a bit disappointed by Rumours, then definitely still stick Envy out. I've been re-visiting Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince in light of the movie; a reminder to everyone (if there is still anyone?) who just watched the movies and never read the books - you're missing out!

Hope everyone's having a good week too. Has anyone seen My Sister's Keeper? Is it worth seeing?



claire.x.