(typical Japanese New Year's decorations)
by Markus Zusak"The soft-spoken words fell off the side of the bed, emptying to the floor like powder."it was compelling reading. A beautiful book about the power of words, and the "ability of books to feed the soul."
"This time, his voice was like a fist, freshly banged on the table."
"Liesel's blood had dried inside of her. It crumbled. She almost broke into pieces on the steps."
OK, finally, here are the books I plan to read for Jenn's 2007 TBR Challenge.
Merry Christmas!
Edited by Dave Eggers
Last week was the annual rake fair at the nearby shrine. It's the time for businesses to buy their good luck decorated rake (kumade) to bring prosperity in the coming year. 
Then of course there were food stalls lining the streets in all directions. Here, making okonomiyaki.
by Anthony Doerr“The things we see are only masks for the things we can’t see.”I finished this several days ago and I’m still not sure what to say about it. It’s beautifully written in places, with some vivid images, yet in others my eyes started every so slightly to glaze at the detailed descriptions. It’s a very slow story, with little real action. It’s essentially about a long journey to overcome fear, yet it was oddly compelling.
“Like Oedipus, Winkler is cursed with a terrible prophecy about himself that he does his utmost to avoid, and, like Odysseus, he must go on a long journey and endure many hardships before he can return home.”Nature plays a big role and water was also a major symbol although I have to admit I didn’t come away with any real understanding of what was intended by it. I could also never really accept why the main character fled and stayed away for so long which made it hard to sympathise with his experiences. Yet, all that said, I can’t say that I regret reading it either. It was an interesting premise. And perhaps someone with a more critical reading sense would get a lot more out of it.
“What is time? Must time occur in sequence – beginning to middle to end – or is this only one way to perceive it? Maybe time can spill and freeze and retreat; maybe time is like water, endlessly cycling through its states.”
This year I decided to put together my own New Year's Cards. (The Japanese send New Year's cards, not Christmas cards, but I'm still late as I am every year. Why is it that I always have the best of intentions to get them out on time, but year after year it never happens? Probably says a lot about my procrastinating nature!) Anyway, I'm not usually very crafty but I love all the traditional paper products here and I've been having fun. 
I've been having such a hard time deciding which books to choose for the challenges, but finally here is my list for bookfool's lovely, flexible Chunkster Challenge. (click image for link to the Chunkster Challenge Guidelines).
Speaking of food, H has a major sweet tooth and this is his latest favourite. I'm not usually a fan of Mont Blanc, but this one, from Patisserie Angelina, really is quite lovely.
I've been tagged by bookfool so here are Six Weird Things About Me.
THE CHALLENGE:You rock, you are an almighty Canadian through and through. You have proven your worthiness and have won the elite prize of living in a country as awesome as Canada. Yes I know other countries think they are better, but we let them have that cuz we know better than they do, eh?
How Canadian Are You?
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz
Last month I posted the November page from my calendar for a challenge. No challenge this time, but I'm quite enjoying this month's library so I thought I'd share.
This was also taken last weekend. Cherry blossoms against a backdrop of red Japanese maple leaves. (Technically, it's a winter cherry, but it was quite interesting to see the contrast of typical spring flowers with the colours of autumn.)
Edited by Frank WarrenThe instructions were simple, but the results were extraordinary.Like the website (that I visit every week after it's been updated), the postcards range from funny to tragic, silly to disturbing, trivial to profound. Some of the postcards are wonderfully creative - they truly are works of art.
“You are invited to anonymously contribute a secret to a group art project. Your secret can be a regret, fear, betrayal, desire, confession, or childhood humiliation. Reveal anything – as long as it is true and you have never shared it with anyone before. Be brief. Be legible. Be creative.”
“Like fingerprints, no two secrets are identical, but every secret has a story behind it.”
The camera didn't exactly catch it, but this tree was so pretty, lit up by the sunshine.
If we shadows have offended,3. I read/don't read poetry because....
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumb'red here
While these visions did appear
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend.
If you pardon, we will mend.
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to scape the serpent's tongue,
We will make amends ere long;
Else the Puck a liar call.
So, good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.
ROBERT FROSTIt ties into a theme that I also love in literature- that of how the choices we make have a ripple effect.
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
