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| Who was the best for 2009? |
[30 Dec 2009|08:48pm] |
Out of all the Brands this year, which was the best for 2009? In terms of prints, series, webshops, promotions, events, customer service, lucky packs, sales ect
Also for 2010. what would you like to see from these brands?
Which brand had the best year?
Baby the Star Shine Bright/ AATP
Angelic Pretty
Innocent World
Moi Meme Motie
Metamorphose Temps de Filles
MAM
Emily Temple Cute
Juliette & Justine
H. Naoto
Other
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| Last post of '09 |
[30 Dec 2009|08:33pm] |
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Summaries taken from back of books.
19. The Letters of Abelard and Heloise
Summary: The story of Abelard and Heloise remains one of the world's most dramatic and well-known love affairs. It is told through the letters of French philosopher Peter Abelard and his gifted pupil Heloise. Through their impassioned writings unfolds the story of a romance, from its reckless, ecstatic beginnings to the public scandal, enforced secret marriage, and devastating consequences that followed. These eloquent and intimate letters express a vast range of emotions from adoration and devotion to reproach, indignation, and grief, and offer a fascinating insight into religious life in the Middle Ages.
Genre: Medieval, Letters
Thoughts: Hmm, I don't know what to think about this one. I liked it. Heloise's letters were far better than Abelard's The story itself is very interesting which is pretty much summed up in Letter 1: Historia calamitatum. As far as recommendations if you're into Medieval history specifically Medieval religion than it's a solid read. For me, it's still all about Chaucer.
Rating: 3 out of 5.
20. The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
Summary: With his face swaddled in bandages, his eyes hidden behind dark glasses, and his hands covered even indoors, Griffin—the new guest at the Coach and Horses—is at first assumed to be a shy accident victim. But the true reason for his disguise is far more chilling: he has developed a process that has made him invisible and is locked in a struggle to discover the antidote. Forced from the village and driven to murder, he seeks the aid of an old friend, Kemp. The horror of his fate has affected his mind, however, and when Kemp refuses to help, he resolves to wreak his revenge.
Genre: Science Fiction
Thoughts: Again this book left me a little bit underwhelmed. I liked it but I wasn't crazy about it. For me, it falls more in the vein of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde where I feel no sympathy for Dr. Jekyl rather than Frankenstein where the monster is so sympathetic and his story is just so tragic and compelling. When Griffin was telling his story to Kemp I just couldn't muster up much sympathy. Yes, I did feel bad in the end but at the same time I wasn't surprised by the ending. Seeing what Griffin had become I don't think the story could of ended any differently.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
21. Fireside by Susan Wiggs
Summary: Baseball hopeful Bo Crutcher is about to get his shot at the majors. That is, until life throws him a curveball. When AJ, the son he's never met, lands on his doorstep, Bo's life becomes a whole new ball game. He needs help—fast. Enter Kimberly van Dorn. Hired to smooth Bo's rough exterior for the media, she expects the kind of shallow pro athlete she's used to handling. But Bo is willing to sacrifice everything for his vulnerable son. Kim can train him to hit a home run with the press, but over a breathtaking winter on frozen Willow Lake, she realizes he has far more to teach her about the game of life…and putting love first.
Genre: Romance
Thoughts I can't say I was disappointed with this book because I went into with very low expectations. I wanted a fast read, set in the winter (I know I'm a dork, let's move on). The love story between Bo and Kimberely...average. There was some sparks but nothing where I couldn't wait to see them finally get together. Sandra Brown's Adam's Fall was waaay better in that respect. The only saving grace of the story was A.J. His story was soo well done. Actually, let me clarify A.J. emotional story was fascinating. A young teenager going through losing his mother and finding a father he didn't know anything about. The rebellion. Nothing original but I think A.J. was by far the most interesting character in the book.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
Well that's it for me and 2009. 21 books read. For next year's challenge I'm not setting a number just to read as much as I can and surpass this years number.
Have a Happy New Year!
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| New Years is coming!!! |
[30 Dec 2009|09:20pm] |
Any resolutions or goals for this new year relating with Lolita? At least I want to: 1.Own a jsk from AP and another from BTSSB. [I only own dresses from META and Bodyline] 2. Be able to wear lolita everyday for college. [toned down to very sweet] 3. That the first PR lolita fashion show becomes a success. 4. Make a nice photoshoot in lolita :D. 5. Last, but not least. Be able to find more lolitas in my area, or encourage new ones.
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| Kansas Lolis? |
[30 Dec 2009|06:57pm] |
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Hi there! Are there any Kansas lolis? I tried looking at the memories but the latest post was a year ago or two. I want to make some friends since I don't really know anyone here that are interested in lolitas. I'm from the Wichita area and even though its like the biggest city here I don't really know anyone. Thanks!
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| Lolitas in Halifax / Nova Scotia ? |
[31 Dec 2009|12:28am] |
Hello there,
since I am planning on going to Halifax next summer (read: move there / do a working holiday and hopefully stay there afterwards) I am looking for lolitas there. I searched for special communities but didnt find any. So here is my question: are there any lolitas in Halifax or or in that area ?
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| Books 144-146: Three Jonathan Argyll Art History Mysteries |
[30 Dec 2009|10:48pm] |
There are seven short novels in this series of mysteries by art historian turned novelist Iain Pears written between 1990 and 2000. Although titled the 'Jonathan Argyll Mysteries' they as easily could be titled the Flavia di Stefano Mysteries for she plays a leading role in the stories as a member of Rome's Art Theft Squad. I tackled these out of order, as although I own all books I had access to these three on audio via the library, which assisted me as I am currently having problems with my vision.
Book 144: The Raphael Affair (Book 1). Author: Iain Pears, 1990. Genre: Art History. Mystery. Other Details: Paperback. 208 pages. Unabridged audio book, Length: 6 hrs 15 mins. Read by Daniel Philpott.
The first in the series introduces Flavia and her boss General Bottando of the Italian National Art Theft Squad. Jonathan Argyll is a young Englishman in Rome finishing up his degree in art history. He believes that he may have discovered a lost work of Raphael concealed under a painting by Mantini in a failed attempt to smuggle the Raphael out of Italy during the 18th century. This claim sets off a chain of events including a shocking act of vandalism and murder.
In many ways this is a gentle old-fashioned mystery with Jonathan, Flavia and Bottando making a charming trio of characters and served as a promising opener for the series. Philpott does an excellent job with the voices of main and supporting characters including the gentle inflections of the guileless and sweet-natured Argyll.
Book 145: The Titan Committee (Book 2) Author: Iain Pears, 1991. Genre: Art History. Mystery. Other Details: Paperback. 248 pages. Unabridged audio book, Length: 6 hrs 20 mins. Read by Daniel Philpott.
A member of the famous research group, the Titian Committee, is found stabbed to death in a Venetian public garden. Flavia is sent by her boss to help the local carabinieri with the case though he doesn't expect she'll be doing more there than filling in her expense claims. At first the woman's death is thought to be a simple mugging but Flavia believes there is more going on. Jonathan Argyll is also in Venice seeking to buy some paintings for an English art dealer and the two team up when another member of the committee turns up dead.
Despite its short length Pears packs in quite a lot of plot and again the book is peppered with references to Italian art.
Book 146: The Immaculate Deception (Book 3) Author: Iain Pears, 2000. Genre: Art History. Mystery Other Details: Paperback. 288 pages. Unabridged audio book, Length: 7 hours, 25 mins. Read by Daniel Philpott.
In the final book, Flavia is now Acting Chief of the Art Theft Squad while General Bottando is reassigned pending his upcoming retirement. When a famous painting on loan from the Louvre is stolen, the Italian Prime Minister leans hard on Flavia to get the painting back quickly and quietly before it becomes an international incident. Coupled with this Jonathan Argyll is undertaking an investigation of his own into the provenance of a small painting, an Immaculate Conception, owned by Bottando. He wants to present his findings as a gift for the General's retirement. However, both investigations led to the uncovering of a series of astonishing secrets and yes of course there is a murder too.
I do plan on reading the four other books in the series and I didn't feel particularly spoiled by knowing the final outcome for the three protagonists. Overall I found it a charming series with very likeable characters and a thread of warm humour. The relationship between Flavia and Jonathan is nicely developed and though I know its conclusion I do look forward to seeing how they got there. Certainly a series that is a delight for lovers of art history.
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| #23-45 ratings & short reviews |
[30 Dec 2009|03:22pm] |
I didn't start my challenge until April, but I was hoping to finish up by the end of the calendar year. I came really close -- but the ~2 months I was without my Kindle did me in.
Oh well, quick reviews of the last half of the books I read below the cut.
Ratings: ***** CHANGED MY LIFE OMFG READ THIS BOOK NOW **** A+; will read again *** it was better than most of the stuff on fanfiction.net ** at least i'm not dumber for having read it * my brain has been devoured by the stupid of this book.
( Read more... )
Good luck in 2010 everyone!
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| #50 - The Fixer Upper |
[30 Dec 2009|01:51pm] |
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#50 - The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews (2009, 422 pages)
 Dempsey Jo Killebrew is a woman on the way down. She just found out her boss and one of his most important clients are being investigated by the FBI and that she has been implicated as well. Fired from her job as the crap hits the fan, she takes up her father's suggestion to flip a house he just inherited in Guthrie, GA, as a way to keep herself busy until things blow over. But Dempsey didn't realize she'd also have to care for the cantankerous old cousin squatting in the house, along with the cousin's equally terrorsome dog, Shorty.
Dempsey comes to face her problems head on, and it's something that I have really come to enjoy about Andrews' books. Her characters are put through pretty crappy situations and through their sheer determination, come out on top. In this particular case, it's especially fun to see how Dempsey gets even with her former boss, the man who put her in this situation in the first place.
I love all of Andrews' books, and she always includes a little bonus that helps endear her to me - recipies that were mentioned throughout the book. She not only finds her way into your heart, but into your stomach, which is why I give this book a great four out of five dinners.
Total Books Read: 50 / 50 (100 percent) Total Pages Read: 14,663 / 15,000 (98 percent)
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| final post for 2009 |
[30 Dec 2009|07:15pm] |
Total for year 75 (but I have four books on the go, and might finish one in the next 28 hours).
My reading (well, book-reading) has dropped dramatically since I started work -- proofreading e-books, non-fiction, fabulous job but means I am much less inclined to read for fun in the evenings. I'm getting to read snippets of some really interesting stuff though!
Shall aim for 50 again next year, but may cut the reviews shorter, as it's becoming a chore (which is simply due to less time).
What I've read since, er, September I think: *s out of 5, links to reviews on my LJ.
2009/65: The Time-Traveller's Wife -- Audrey Niffenegger (reread: spoilery notes rather than a proper review) *****, SF, romance
2009/66: Halting State -- Charles Stross ***** SF, humour
2009/67: The End of Mr Y -- Scarlett Thomas ***** SF, existentialism, Big Mysterious Book
2009/68: Boating for Beginners -- Jeanette Winterson *** humour
2009/69: The Light Ages -- Ian MacLeod *** SF / alt hist, not as good as Song of Time
2009/70: Lavinia -- Ursula Le Guin ***** Feminist version of the Aenead, ha.
2009/71: Measuring the World -- Daniel Kehlmann **** Historical / travel / science
2009/72: Song of Kali -- Dan Simmons ** Supernatural horror
2009/73: The Demon's Lexicon -- Sarah Rees Brennan ***** Horror / YA: great fun
2009/74: Kindred -- Octavia E. Butler *** race, historical, SF. Powerful, disturbing.
2009/75: The Minotaur -- Barbara Vine
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[30 Dec 2009|07:00pm] |
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105. Lyrics- Gerald Gould, 3/5 This wasn't a bad collection of poetry considering it's by a poet that I'd never heard of but it wasn't my sort of thing.
106. A Month at the Front: The Diary of an Unknown Soldier, 5/5 This was an interesting account written by a private in the East Sussex, of a life in the trenches, including his capture by the Germans and the beginning of the details of his escape. I thought it was a quick but fascinating read.
107. The Kite Runner- Khaled Hosseini- 345 pages, 4/5 This was a good book but also a very depressing story. It's an interesting portrait of one mans life in Afghanistan and America but the things that happen to his friends and family can be quite upsetting.
108. Bonjour Tristesse- Francoise Sagan, 108 pages, 3/5 This was a very short book about a confused young girl who spends her summer holiday sabotaging her father's relationship. Sagan was eighteen when this was first published and I think were I that age I would have enjoyed it a bit more than I did.
109. War Poems- Edited by John Hollander- 243 pages, 5/5 This collection of poems ranged from the classical, right up to modern warfare. It introduced me to a lot of new poets and poems about many conflicts including The American Civil War and Vietnam, neither of which I had read poetry about before.
Books: 109 Pages: 29949
That's me done for the year! I managed to read everything that has been struck off this list- 2009 reading list. Next year I intend to read all of these that are sat unread on the shelf- 2010 reading list.
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[30 Dec 2009|06:44am] |
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"Secret of the Crossroads Devil" by Gaia Consort |
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Start: 12/20/09 End: 12/19/10
1. Into the Path of Gods by Kathleen Cunningham-Guler. 4/5 2. Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve. 4/5 3. The Triumph of the Moon by Ronald Hutton. [In Progress]
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