When I first saw Memoirs of a Geisha I remember I was bored because the film was taking too long. This afternoon I re-watched it and I was surprised to find that I loved it so much. Why? Probably because I am currently reading the book. I believe it may even be my all time favourite book. Everytime I pick it up to read I am always amazed at how beautifully written the book is. It's absolutely incredible. I am constantly entranced by the way the author tells the story and always absorbed in the story.

While reading the book and after re-watching the film I would really like to go to Japan.

If you haven't read the book- read it. If you hated the film, read the book and then you will appreciate it much more.

 I was on www.bookdepository.co.uk and was searching for politics books.  I was hoping there would be an australian politics dictionary so I went to search 'Title' and typed in 'australia' and the first two books on the list were New Zealand travel guides...

Does that mean we own NZ?

Haven't been on Lj for a bit.  Well I have but at fictional_pants

Today I'm going to my favourite second hand bookshop :)  I haven't been there in years!!

So today will definitely be an awesome day!

I just watched Becoming Jane.  It was amazing!  I love it.  How tragic too.  No wonder she wrote the best romantic novels of all time.
I must read the book now.

I haven't been online for about a week!  I have not been bothered to bring my laptop down to the library and sit here with it.  However today that changed.  Since it is still holidays the block students are still here and are taking up the computer room in Warawara!
(arrgghh I need some music- Joni Mitchell... that's better :) Her music never fails to move me)

So this first week of my holidays has been uneventful.  I bought lots of shoes which you all know.  I had lunch with Lucy an Shawn :) It was so nice to see them again.  Shawn was so excited to see me, and I him.  He pissed me off a lot (well he had 'moments' every few months.)  All in all he is a good kid.  One who, sometimes gets a little overexcited.  I think I had lunch with them on Wednesday.  Then that night I went to Lucinda's house for dinner.  It was nice.  Kylie came over as well.  We had a glass of wine, talked, had dinner.  Then we watched the IT Guys on tv while drinking rose black tea from T2- yummy- then watched Under the Tuscan Sun... it was a good way to end the night.  I slept over.   I slept in the lounge, Lucinda had work at 7, so when she left I crawled into her bed and slept til about 9.  Then I caught the train home via Eastwood, went to Michel's Patisserie and had breakfast... yummy!

Friday I visit my councelor.  Well, Kylie isn't my regular councelor.  I normally see Julie but she doesn't come in on Fridays.  It was ok.  I just talked.  Well kinda.  I'm not very good at talking about how I feel.  Which is funny since I am really good  and helping people with their problems!  Because it was my first visit for the new year it was only half an hour.  When I go back again (whenever) the appointment will be for the entire hour.  So we just talked.  About Michael actually.  It's bugging me.  My councelor has realised that over the year I haven't actually allowed the mourning process to begin and now I am fearing the time when it does...  I have to let it happen.  When it happens it happens.  Everyone mourns differently.  Grief itself doesn't come at once, it differs for everybody.  However, the appointment with Kylie didn't help that fear.  It's weird how time passes so quickly...  I'm ok though.  Grief unfortunately is a part of life.

I have started reading again.  (Even though mum is complaining 'coz it's not work.  But better than dvd's)  All fantasy of course.  I re-read The Serpent Bride and Sinner by Sara Douglass.  Now I am re-reading Pilgrim (the book that follows Sinner).  I love these books.  The Wayfare Redemption is quite dark though.  Darker than The Axis Trilogy (the rilogy that preceeds The Wayfare Redemption).  I don't own The Axis Trilogy though.  I wish I did.  I would love to read these books from the beginning again!  I first was introduced to the Axis Trilogy in grade 12 for a book report.  I chose to read BattleAxe (book 1) becasue it was the only fantasy novel on the list to choose from.  It was great!  We only read book one but I continued on reading Enchanter (book 2) and then Starman (book 3).  I loved them!  Eventually I learned there was a series (the Wayfare Redemption)  that proceeded the Axis Trilogy so I chose to read that.  I read book 1, Sinner in Brisbane but then it was ages until I read the second one.  I found book 2, Pilgrim, in a secondh and bookshop in Alice Springs while waiting for the bus from Alice to Adelaide!  I had finished it by the time I got to Melbourne, and went over Melbourne searching second hand bookshops for books 3, Crusader.  Of course I found it.  By the time I returned home to Sydney I had finished that too.  Last year Sara Douglass published her new book the Serpent Bride.  I didn't htink anything of it until one day I decided to pick it up and read the back cover... it mentioned Tencendor from the Axis Trilogy and the Wayfare Redemption.  I was so excited that there was more and I of course bought it.  I spent a weekend reading it but then realised there was a lot I didn't understand.  People, events that I hadn't read bout.  So I checked online and apparently there were two other books, seperate from the Axis Trilogy and the Wayfare Redemption but not seperate from the story.  So on late Sunday afternoon, I went to Mac center to Borders to buy Threshold.  They didn't have Beyond the Hanging Wall :(  But Paramatta did :)  So I caught the bus to Paramatta to buy Beyond the Hanging Wall.  I was so happy!  I read both over the weekend and then continued to finish the Serpent Bride.  Now I am in a fit state as to when she will release book 2 of the Darkglass Mountain series... probably another years or two... grrr!
Oh well.  So, that's why I am re-reading previous books by Sarah Douglass.... anyhoo, I should find something else to read.  I just love getting lost in these books.  Or any fantasy or sci-fi novel.  It's the best feeling. When I went into Eastwood the other day I went to the library and got out some books.  I borrowed The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (because I haven't finished reading it), Forest of the Pygmies by Isabelle Allende (My mum loves Isabelle Allende so I thought I would giver her books a go) and another which I can't remember.  It's a fantasy book by an Australian female author.  I can't recall it's name or the authors name... aha!  How handy online catalogues are these days.  It's called The Aware by Glanda Larke.  I have only read two pages (I am not very impressed so far... mainly because of the writing style.  But I'll give it a few more pages before I give up on it.)

Oh I have a few questions:
inaniac.  If I wanted to read Anne McCaffery, which book should I start with?  I know I have some books of hers at mum's house, but every book I pick up in a library seems to be part of a series.  Which is your favourite?  
packyrsuitcases.  If I wanted to Read Isobelle Carmody where should I start? (She is quite popular so I thought I would try reading some of her books.)
For everyone else on my friends page:  What is your favourite book and why?  Or, what is your favourite genre?  I'd love to know.  Maybe I can try reading your favourite books. 
I have a read a few books but I can't choose a favourite.  I don't think I have found my favourite.  The first book that I ever loved was Hitler's Daughter by Jackie French.  I also remember crying while reading Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah.  It was really sad.  Really moving.  Sophies World  by Jostein Gaarder changed my life.  It's an amazing book.  I can't begin to tell you how it changed me.  I would recomend it.  I love Fantasy/ Sci-fi books but that's just a general thing about me.  I don't think I could choose a favourite.  I love fantasy and sci-fi itself.  Every book/ series is unique.  They all pull you into a different world.  That's why I love them. 
I would say that I love The Historin by Elizabth Kostova.  It's really intriguing.  It's about Dracula.  It takes myth, makes it real.  But the way she writes her story is fantastic.  The story itself is gripping.  Even clever... Ok, so maybe I do have a favourite book list.
1. Hitler's Daughter by Jackie French
2. Chinese Cinderalla by Adeline Yen Mah
3. Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder
4. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova.

I don't have a number five... I'll have to find one.  Oh wait yes I do.  Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta.  I had to read it in grade 11 and I loved it.  It surprised me because I don't like Looking for Alibrandi. (don't hate me!)  Well I didn't like the movie.  Maybe I should try the book. 

This is a long post.  I don't have much else to report.  Lucy just came online!

I should go and do some work.  Or read....
Double NCIS tonight *squee*
(apparently shawn and lucy just walked to mine but I wasn't there... woopsies!)
There may also be a lot of spelling mistakes.  I think I got them all but probably not.

So I have started re-reading Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder.   As I read the book I am going to post philosophical questions that arise in the book.   Maybe even my own understanding or answers.  However I don't know if such philosophical questions are meant to be answered.

Questions lead to more questions rather than answers... I think that's what Socrates believed.  I dunno.  That's what I am going to find out.

kitten_smitten introduced me to Goodreads (thankyou, thank you, thank you) and I am obsessed now.  I have been on there for just a few hours and I LOVE it.  Anyone have an account?  If not get one!

I have 46 books listed.  I am trying to remembers others but I can't.  I've joined a Harry Potter discussion group and a group which is called 'Building a scifi/fantasy library'  Haha.... I was surprised that NO ONE on the list had a Sara Douglass book listed... I was mortified!  So  I added all of her books that I have read.  I must go read more and more and more and more!

Arrgghhh I'm obsessed