Everyone, I have FANTASTIC NEWS!!!
After many months of me struggling, my official website has now been launched!
Let me introduce you to:
After many months of me struggling, my official website has now been launched!
Let me introduce you to:
www.charleevale.com
All of my blog posts from this website have been transferred over there (along with comments), so if you are looking for a post over there, you won't miss out. plus with the awesome search function you can find anything you want!
So I will be transferring my blog over there immediately. You all have been great reader's and I hope that you will continue to follow me at my new location. My twitter will still be updated each time one of my blogs is, and I will come around to each of my lbog followers and leave a comment to make sure you're notified of the change.
Have a Merry Christmas!
CV
All of my blog posts from this website have been transferred over there (along with comments), so if you are looking for a post over there, you won't miss out. plus with the awesome search function you can find anything you want!
So I will be transferring my blog over there immediately. You all have been great reader's and I hope that you will continue to follow me at my new location. My twitter will still be updated each time one of my blogs is, and I will come around to each of my lbog followers and leave a comment to make sure you're notified of the change.
Have a Merry Christmas!
CV
Hey all, as you have probably heard the east coast got SLAMMED with like the blizzard of the decade. Which means I got majorly snowed in. My house got approx. 19 inches of snow. For those of you struggling with the measurements that's almost to my knees. I don't have picture up o my actual snow drifts, so for now, I leave you with this beautiful picture. (I promise I will replace it with a picture of the very large piles of my own snow eventually.
I actually don't have a book review for you today. Since I've been home I've been focusing more on writing than reading. Which is exciting. But I do have an interesting post for you. I was recently on a forum and there was a topic about what your favorite quote was. I posted that one of my all-time favorite quotes is 'Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.'
I think it is deep and brilliant, but what it reminded me of was a journal entry that I wrote about an experience I had on the subway when I had a job in the city. I thought you guys might find it interesting, so that is going to be my post for today.
--'I was on my way home from work today, sitting on the metro, listening to my iPod like I always do. I had the unfortunate opportunity to get on one of those trains that is to close to the one in front of it and so it is always stopping in the middle of the tunnels. But now I'm kind of glad I boarded this train.
As the train came to a complete stop in the middle of the tunnel, I looked out the door window across from me, and I saw something that just shot a bolt through me. I don't know why, but it just made me freeze. There are long lights on the side of the metro, and the top of all of these are caked with dirt. Written in the dirt, the light shining through the letters like lighthouse beacons, someone had written a message. "Why do fools walk in the rain?"
And that was it. That's all it was. It just gave me a shock, I guess it came from seeing a profound question written in the most unlikely place imaginable. I looked around the train, but nobody else seemed to have noticed it. Then the train started moving again and it was gone. Its highly unlikely that anyone will ever see that again.
As I was walking to my car I was just thinking about this question. "Why do fools walk in the rain?" and I finally came up with my answer. They don't.
I once heard a quote that I whole heartedly agree with and is the basis for my answer. "Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet." The fools are not the ones who walk in the rain. The fools are the ones who walk outside and are suddenly drenched with water and a depression of spirit because life is not going their way. They can't see that life is to short to care about things that temporarily make you uncomfortable, like the weather. They are so focused on their rain cloud that they can't look around and see that it may be raining harder on someone else.
The people who walk in the rain are the ones who enjoy it for what it is. Have hope for the future, and see no reason not to dance in the rain along the way. The are the ones who realize that even if it is dark, and poring rain for a long, long time......Life has to have some rain in order for the sun to shine. The few that understand that your life is not complete until you walk in the rain without just getting wet.'--
That's it for today folks! Hope you enjoyed it?
CV
Question for the comments: What is you favorite memory involving rain?
I actually don't have a book review for you today. Since I've been home I've been focusing more on writing than reading. Which is exciting. But I do have an interesting post for you. I was recently on a forum and there was a topic about what your favorite quote was. I posted that one of my all-time favorite quotes is 'Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.'I think it is deep and brilliant, but what it reminded me of was a journal entry that I wrote about an experience I had on the subway when I had a job in the city. I thought you guys might find it interesting, so that is going to be my post for today.
--'I was on my way home from work today, sitting on the metro, listening to my iPod like I always do. I had the unfortunate opportunity to get on one of those trains that is to close to the one in front of it and so it is always stopping in the middle of the tunnels. But now I'm kind of glad I boarded this train.
As the train came to a complete stop in the middle of the tunnel, I looked out the door window across from me, and I saw something that just shot a bolt through me. I don't know why, but it just made me freeze. There are long lights on the side of the metro, and the top of all of these are caked with dirt. Written in the dirt, the light shining through the letters like lighthouse beacons, someone had written a message. "Why do fools walk in the rain?"
And that was it. That's all it was. It just gave me a shock, I guess it came from seeing a profound question written in the most unlikely place imaginable. I looked around the train, but nobody else seemed to have noticed it. Then the train started moving again and it was gone. Its highly unlikely that anyone will ever see that again.
As I was walking to my car I was just thinking about this question. "Why do fools walk in the rain?" and I finally came up with my answer. They don't.
I once heard a quote that I whole heartedly agree with and is the basis for my answer. "Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet." The fools are not the ones who walk in the rain. The fools are the ones who walk outside and are suddenly drenched with water and a depression of spirit because life is not going their way. They can't see that life is to short to care about things that temporarily make you uncomfortable, like the weather. They are so focused on their rain cloud that they can't look around and see that it may be raining harder on someone else.
The people who walk in the rain are the ones who enjoy it for what it is. Have hope for the future, and see no reason not to dance in the rain along the way. The are the ones who realize that even if it is dark, and poring rain for a long, long time......Life has to have some rain in order for the sun to shine. The few that understand that your life is not complete until you walk in the rain without just getting wet.'--
That's it for today folks! Hope you enjoyed it?
CV
Question for the comments: What is you favorite memory involving rain?
Hey yall!
I'm back home from school and rocking out around my newly put up Christmas tree!
Thank you for your patience with my negligent posting, but i should be just fine now. On a very, snazzy cool note, my new blog just went live! Harry Potter Girl. ----------> Click here!
I'm reading my way through the Harry Potter Series! Yes, all seven of them. And no, I have not read them before. I would be so happy if you guys would follow me over there and support me through the fantastic (and very long) journey. I'm looking forward to it!
Oh, and I promise the graphics will get better after I get back to school and have access to photoshop!
Ok, so anyway, last post I promised you mazes...so here's one!
And don't whine...it IS solvable...I did it. Yes, I did.
But the purpose of this post is not maze, it's this one. The Maze Runner by James Dashner.
The Maze Runner centers around a boy named Thomas who wakes up in an wooden elevator moving upwards. He remembers his name. Nothing else.
The doors above him open into a huge stone square courtyard called The Glade. There are lots of boys like him there. No girls. There are four openings in these hundreds of feet high walls, one for each side. They lead to a maze. There is no way out. And if you get stuck outside when the walls close each night...you won't come back.
This is pretty much all I can tell you about the book without ruining the story for you. It has a good plot with a total gut kicker in the ending epilogue. I didn't realize this was going to be a series book when I picked it up at the store...but I guess it is. I shall be interested to see how it turns out.
My only complaint with this book is that, like the character, I was extremely frustrated the whole time. The Author gives the sudience no more clues than he gives his character, and since he has amnesia....It works for the book, but it is a slightly uncomfortable feeling. I would like for you all to read it and give me your take on it!
Though I must say every once of discomfort was erased by the last line of the book. Just so incredibly shocking. I loved it.
I'll talk to you all soon!
CV
Right now I'm sitting in my University's cafe listening to two of my wonderful friends perform Jazz music. And you know how that feels? Wonderful! Because I have news...The reason I haven't posted in so long is because I have been suffering from the SWINE FLU.
That's right. I was even quarantined to my dorm room for three days! Needless to say, the last few weeks haven't been the most scintillating experience in my life. You see that mask the pig is wearing? Yes...Indeed. I had to wear that! I looked like an idiot.
In other news, I had my first interview as an author!!! Really excited. Jim Wisneski, fellow author and blogger took the time to interview me. If you're interested in reading it. (Please do it was a really fun interview....including a sneak peak at my new project!) Read it here:
-----------------------------------------------> http://ow.ly/wOrC
Gotta love interviews! Anyway, the last time I posted I promised to take about fairy tales, and indeed I will! The most recen
This charming book really develops unique characters and adds several layers of dimension. Simple facts in the first fairy tale are fleshed out into beautiful scenes, locations, and sub-plots. If re-told fairy tales are your kind of thing? By all means check this book out. Plus, it’s on the shorter side, which makes it a relatively quick read. Good for all those super busy people out there.
I know that I haven’t been on much…and I’m so sorry! I’m trying to do better. But as well as all the crazy stuff that happened I’m getting absolutely dumped on with school work. AHHH! Anyway, thanks for reading!
CV
P.S. Next time will involved memory loss and mazes. Can’t wait to tell you about it!
My dear friend I apologize for the intense LACK of posting that there has been *Smacks herself in head* College is crazy...absolutely crazy! But in spite of it's craziness, I have managed to read a couple of books, which I can't wait to tell you about!
First off though, I recently was interviewed for another blog. (exciting, right?) I will be sure to notify you as soon as that goes up.
The first book that I read that I want to tell you about is Impossible by Nancy Werlin. It was a National Book Award finalist, and if that's the only thing that gets you to read this book, then so be it.
The story is woven ar
ound the folk ballad 'Scarborough Fair'. (You know, the one Simon and Garfunkle did a cover of?) Werlin has taken this song and woven an entire mythology behind it. Lucy Scarborough, 18 and pregnant, is at the mercy of her family's curse. She has until the baby is born to break the curse or she will go insane, and the curse will be left to her daughter to break. Just another link in the chain of fatherless daughters.
Werlin has a true story telling gift. This story is very simple, there are not an exorbitant amount of characters, the plot is single minded. And yet, that is all it needs. It was a refreshing splash into a completely believable world. To often we find fiction has too many 'just in time' coincidences, they're what get us our happy ending, but too many and the audience becomes jaded. Werlin does not take advantage of her audiences belief span in this.
Every time I read a novel, I consider the novel a success if I continue to think about the story, the nuances, the characters etc. after I finish reading. That was the case with this novel. I finished it in twenty-four hours because I was so enthralled. It's fantastic. Now go read it!
CV
P.S. My next post will be about Fairy Tales, or at least re-tellings of them. :)
First off though, I recently was interviewed for another blog. (exciting, right?) I will be sure to notify you as soon as that goes up.
The first book that I read that I want to tell you about is Impossible by Nancy Werlin. It was a National Book Award finalist, and if that's the only thing that gets you to read this book, then so be it.
The story is woven ar
ound the folk ballad 'Scarborough Fair'. (You know, the one Simon and Garfunkle did a cover of?) Werlin has taken this song and woven an entire mythology behind it. Lucy Scarborough, 18 and pregnant, is at the mercy of her family's curse. She has until the baby is born to break the curse or she will go insane, and the curse will be left to her daughter to break. Just another link in the chain of fatherless daughters.Werlin has a true story telling gift. This story is very simple, there are not an exorbitant amount of characters, the plot is single minded. And yet, that is all it needs. It was a refreshing splash into a completely believable world. To often we find fiction has too many 'just in time' coincidences, they're what get us our happy ending, but too many and the audience becomes jaded. Werlin does not take advantage of her audiences belief span in this.
Every time I read a novel, I consider the novel a success if I continue to think about the story, the nuances, the characters etc. after I finish reading. That was the case with this novel. I finished it in twenty-four hours because I was so enthralled. It's fantastic. Now go read it!
CV
P.S. My next post will be about Fairy Tales, or at least re-tellings of them. :)
My dear friends and readers,
I'm so terribly sorry I have been so lax in posting! College - that monstrous towering being which overshadows all of my waking thoughts - has claimed me in full once again. As well as my classes, I being a theatre major, (Not writing? Shocking!) have been cast in two separate productions. Therefore I have two rehearsals most nights of the week as well as homework!!! ahh! But I do really want to post! I do!
However, in order to post, I have to have something to post about. I really haven't had any hilariously awkward moments, and I haven't been able to read any more books. (Por que!) That's where you come in. If you have a topic you wish me to expound upon, e-mail me!
charleevale@post.com
Until then, I'll try to come up with something. :)
CV
P.S. My website and new suprise blog are coming along nicely!
I'm so terribly sorry I have been so lax in posting! College - that monstrous towering being which overshadows all of my waking thoughts - has claimed me in full once again. As well as my classes, I being a theatre major, (Not writing? Shocking!) have been cast in two separate productions. Therefore I have two rehearsals most nights of the week as well as homework!!! ahh! But I do really want to post! I do!
However, in order to post, I have to have something to post about. I really haven't had any hilariously awkward moments, and I haven't been able to read any more books. (Por que!) That's where you come in. If you have a topic you wish me to expound upon, e-mail me!
charleevale@post.com
Until then, I'll try to come up with something. :)
CV
P.S. My website and new suprise blog are coming along nicely!
Hey guys!
The fireworks, despite my skepticism, were actually pretty awesome. Much better than the display they had last year. It actually inspired a scene for a story that's still in it's formation stage in my head. Yay!
Unfortunately, I have horrible camera timing, so I didn't really get great pictures to share with you. Instead here is an incredible picture which I did not take. :)
So now the discussion of the Two Epic Books the title refers to. In June while I was on vacation in NH, I went to a tiny little bookstore, where each genre was lucky if it had one side of a book shelf. While I was there, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I had heard of the book before, the title had been floating around in blog circles, and the praise was enourmous! I went ahead and bought it without another thought. However, I didn't get around to reading it.
Not long after, I heard that the sequel was coming out. Being somewhat of a series junkie, I pre-ordered it as soon as I could, along with Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse by Kaleb Nation. I got swept up by the summer, and starting college again, so I didn't get around reading these two books until last week, right after Catching Fire had come in the mail.
Oh. My. Goodness. I can honestly say these books are incredible. They sucked me in similarly to the way The Mortal Instruments Series did. (Which if you have been following the blog you know I love) I read Hunger Games in less than 24 hours, finished Catching Fire by the time 48 had passed. As soon as I was finished I told everyone within my immediate vicinity that they HAD to read these books! Now I'm stuck hanging on a 1,000 foot cliff hanger for the third one.
Though the premise of these books is somewhat horrific, (Something of a modern gladitorial spectacle) Collins manages to write in a way that makes it seem natural. She makes you understand that it is a part of these people's lives, and you accept it just as they do. They are packed with action and suspense, I probably could have provided air conditioning for my entire dorm with how fast I was turning pages!
These are books I really don't want to sumarize for you, the ignorance element going into the book I feel is a little more important with this series. All I can say is that my praise for these books could not be higher, and you all should go and purchase them immediately and read them A.S.A.P.
CV
