Soliloqui

1. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein – Just wonderful. Pensive and quiet but resonates deeply within me. It’s a seemingly somber story but it is definitely a story of hope. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED
2. The Last Summer (of You and Me) by Ann Brashares – I think I enjoyed this because I know what it’s like to have a sister. What I love about her writing is that she notices the subtle details in life and makes acute observations about the world, and she puts words to emotions that I never quite realized could be verbalized. It’s sweet, sad, and also quiet and serene.
3. Maximum Ride: The Final Warning by James Patterson – 4th book in the series. I keep thinking it’s going to end but it just goes on, each book worse than the next, except the 2nd. This is like reading a terrible kid’s movie that’s on a shoestring budget. So, I’m all for saving the world from global warming, but his way of pushing the message to readers was shallow and ineffective. I don’t think anyone’s going to read this and be profoundly moved to change his gas-guzzling ways.
4. Time of My Life by Allison Winn Scotch – I am starting to realize I should maybe summarize the books I’ve read with a one-liner or something. Oh well. I guess this is just me jotting a few thoughts before I forget. This one lingered between chick lit and something more insightful. The chick lit part of it kept it fun and enjoyable while the deeper part made it meaningful, and I think I did learn a thing or two about relationships too.
5. The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler
6. My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
7. Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

stand up for what you believe in. be a person of integrity. don’t stand by silent, afraid to step on other people’s toes. do what’s right.

pride is a weakness.

Time is so weird. Sometimes I look at a year, say 2007, and I think, oh that wasn’t too long ago. But then, when I really think about it, how much have I changed in just two years? Even six months ago? And not just me, but the world around me, the people I’m with? I don’t know if I’m just in a segment of my life where change is accelerated, or if this is just how things are always going to be. It scares me sometimes, like I’m racing down the highway without paying attention to the speed limit signs.

When I listen to music time seems slower. Sometimes I feel a song is recent but it really came out four years ago. Maybe it’s because music accompanies me, minute by minute, as I trek on through the years, so they aren’t good tellers of time.

And my websites. They haven’t been updated forever. On the one hand, it feels like my webdesigning days are way behind me, but at the same time, they still seem newly abandoned, not silently collecting dust. Maybe because it makes me sad to think another chapter of my life has closed, that they signify another time that I’m not a part of anymore. And that I put all my time and effort into them, only to let them fade into obscurity.

I don’t know why I never write anything happy here. It’s probably for the best. I’m not good at articulating that particular emotion. Caps lock and exclamation marks usually seal the deal.