Katniss.

Have you read THE HUNGER GAMES yet? No??? Then what the fuck are you waiting for!?! I have to admit, I was a bit delayed in picking up the books as well - it wasn't until my Dad began reading the series that I soon hopped on board. My Dad hadn't read anything for years. One of the first indications that his tumor was growing was a slight blurring of his vision and headaches. Reading a book isn't really fun under those conditions. But after I bought my mom a Kindle for Christmas this year, we discovered that with the words enlarged to the biggest font that he was able to read in small increments throughout the day. It took a while, but he read all three books. He was instantly hooked because the main character, Katniss, is a stealthy hunter - especially with a bow and arrow. The book brings up lots of fond memories for me- because, like Katniss, I too grew up cruising the woods with my Dad. I never killed anything, but I was always shooting my bow (that had custom made pink arrows with pink feathers, thanks to my Dad) and was walking through the woods with him as he stalked out a place for his deerstand. I collected the teeth from our dead pigs, collected moss from the forrest floor, and would hang outside with my Dad as he broke down the deer he'd shot. Nowadays it's less time in the woods (because I don't really want to kill deer or birds), and more time on the bay. As I've gotten older my Dad and I have spent more and more time on the back bay...clamming, crabbing, fishing, minnowing and just cruising. It's the time where my Dad feels most at home. After many years as a Captain on the open ocean, you can tell that salt water pumps through his veins. Currently his whole body is in pain, and he's a bit wobbly. But don't you know - all that he talks about is how we are gonna "kill em and eat em" this summer on the back bay - not taking any prisoners. He's already challenging me to the First, Biggest and Most bet (which I have assured him I will surely win....again). He tries to play the Brain Tumor Card, but I told him that there's no excuses and no mercy in fishing. After a (physically) rough week for him, and therefore an (emotionally) rough week for mom and I -- I'm really looking forward to tomorrows premiere of the Hunger Games. I know that once we leave the theatre that he will be amping to "get out there and kill something". I wouldn't be surprised if he's yelling KILL EM AND EAT EM at the top of his lungs while we are in the theatre....

If you haven't already picked up the books, do yourself a favor and GO GET THEM. They are a quick and easy read - but heavy in content if you're really seeing the big picture.

Here's some pictures in review of my Katniss-type upbringing....

Water for Elephants

I read Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen several years ago. I purchased it in the airport, started at once as I was waiting at my gate- remained glued to the book, mesmerized by the magic on the pages, for the remainder of the flight And finally, finished the book on the taxi ride to my ultimate destination. I re-read the book later that week, because I felt like I didn't give it the time that it deserved, having just devoured it on the plane. So, when I heard that they were making this into a major motion picture, I was ecstatic! And better yet, my darling obsession ROBERT PATTINSON (edward, from TwiliGht) would be playing the lead roll of Jacob Jankowski!! I wasn't totally sold on Reese Witherspoon as Marlena, and even after seeing the movie I'm still not 100% on her playing the part- but it wasn't too much of a distraction in the end. Marlenas husband, August, played by German actor Christoph Waltz was SPOT ON. They could not have cast a better person than him. Perfection. All in all, a magical movie, doing justice to an amazing book. It's not filmed like the movies Big Fish or Moulin Rouge- but it has the same vibrance and majestic qualities that those films had. Please- enjoy Water for Elephants :)

More Chitra for ME!

I finished The Palace of Illusions yesterday by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. Epic. Epic. Epic. I will just leave it at that. I was devastated that it had to end, but atleast I had my life back. When I got back from surfing this morning I didn't know what to do with myself...free time and no more "palace". Damnit. I cooked a bit, cleaned a bit, and pondered about the Palace. I looked up the weather forecast for the next few days and the not-so-fabulous-weather ahead inspired me to go pick up another one of Chitra's books from the library. I could be totally-consumed in another one of Chitra's magical worlds and not feel guilty, afterall what is one to do when the sky is pouring down!? This time I picked up "The Mistress of Spices"...'a dazzling tale of misbegotten dreams and desires, hopes and expectations, woven with poetry and storyteller magic.' Now as I write to you about this novel, while doing my research - I found out that in 2005 this book was made into a movie!! Hooray...going to read the book first, movie will follow, and I promise to give a full report.

"On a mythic island of women "where on our skin, the warm rain fell like pomegranate seeds" powerful spices like cinnamon, turmeric, and fenugreek whisper their secrets to young acolytes. Ordained after trial by fire, each new spice mistress is sent to a far-off land to cure the life pains of all Indian seekers, while keeping a cool distance from the mortals. Only stubborn, passionate Tilo, disguised as an old woman merchant in present-day Oakland, California, fails to heed the vengeful spices' warnings. Fragrant with spice and sensuality, this winning tale rolls off the tongue."

Lost in Illusions

Since picking up Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's "The Palace Of Illusions", I've been able to think of nothing else. While I'm reading, I feel like I can't read fast enough - I'm so excited to turn the page and see what is next - and then I'm filled with sadness, because I don't want the book to end - therefore I re-read the page again, close my eyes - and imagine as if I were there. UGH - so good. MUY good. Divakaruni has a magical way of storytelling - it truly puts you under a spell. When I'm not reading the book {because I'm a) cleaning a house, b) teaching yoga, c) at mildreds, or d) asleep} it is still constantly in my thoughts. I dream about it at night, and when I'm at work my mind is only on Panchaali and all that she is faced with. {panchaali is the main character}. Place of Illusions is "A reimagining of the world -famous Indian epic, The MAHABHARAT - told from the point of view of an amazing woman." I am utterly fascinated by the dieties, gods, goddesses, curses and prophecies - the reincarnations and karmic lives. Anyways, I'm writing this blog to explain the LACK of blogs. I cannot spend any free time on anything other than this book, and therefore I will not write another blog until I'm finished {unfortunately for me, this may be later in the afternoon....}. I've already spent too much time away from my precious story as it is, but I just HAD to share the wealth with you.

"Relevant to today’s war-torn world, The Palace of Illusions takes us back to the time of the Indian epic The Mahabharat—a time that is half-history, half-myth, and wholly magical. Through her narrator Panchaali, the wife of the legendary five Pandavas brothers, Divakaruni gives us a rare feminist interpretation of an epic story.

The novel traces Panchaali’s life, beginning with her magical birth in fire as the daughter of a king before following her spirited balancing act as a woman with five husbands who have been cheated out of their father’s kingdom. Panchaali is swept into their quest to reclaim their birthright, remaining at the brothers’ sides through years of exile and a terrible civil war. Meanwhile, we never lose sight of her stratagems to take over control of her household from her mother-in-law, her complicated friendship with the enigmatic Krishna, or her secret attraction to the mysterious man who is her husband’s most dangerous enemy. Panchaali is a fiery female voice in a world of warriors, gods, and ever-manipulating hands of fate."