I Did the Dewey! End of Event. 04.22.2012

I Did the Dewey!

End of Event Meme

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

What? Huh? Did I make it?

Me "dewing" the Dewey! With my own personal cheerleader!

(Zara rubs her eyes…)

OMG! It’s 9:30 a.m. The Finish Line!

If. I. Could. Just. Get. My. Leg. To. Work.—Go. C’mon, foot. One. More. Step—

Victory!!

Okay, so I didn’t stay awake the whole 24-hours, but I was close. So, very close. I slept at 4:45 a.m. Why I’m bragging about such madness beats me. Maybe I’m tired or hallucinatory from a lack of sleep.

But, hey! I read. I met some awesome co-conspirators. And I even won a prize!!! (Just scroll down until you see “Picturiffic!”)

Can you give me another shout of

Victory?!!?

Oh yeah. Feels nice.

So, let’s end off with the End of Event Meme and then I can hop into the shower and pour myself a cup of fine, sweet coffee…

I look much happier her than I should!

***

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?

3:00 a.m. I was starting to really feel tired and thought to myself, “C’mon wimp! Only a few more pages!” And then my inner voice got mad at the critique and said, “I’ll show you, you Book Tyrant!”

"I'll show you, you Book Tyrant!"

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?

Books are books. Every single one of them deserves a peek. For me, it’s subjective. What someone else likes, I could hate, and vice versa. You can find my picks of choice by reading one of my Dewey Mini Challenges post here about rereading.

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

A scheduled online chat time would be great, just to bring everyone together and feel more like a community of book-reading ninjas! Tweetchat would have loved to host us. Hope to see this happen next year!

I'm the smallest one at the back and I look fierce!

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-Thon?

The mini challenges were fun and something to look forward to in breaking up my reading time. Loved it. I was able to complete 11 mini challenges in total. Thanks to all who hosted and submitted generously of their time and their prizes!

5. How many books did you read?

I had three on my list because I’m honest with myself about my reading attention span. (Plus, I’ve got two little monkeys that kept me busy…) In the end, I finished one book!

M&M, my two kidsters.

6. What were the names of the books you read?

The Rest Is Silence by Scott Fotheringham

REST IS SILENCE by Scott Fotheringham (Click on photo for more details.)

7. Which book did you enjoy most?

That was it. I was going to get into The Gathering, but I was compelled by Fotheringham’s book.

THE GATHERING by Kelly Armstrong

8. Which did you enjoy least?

None. Reading is awesome!

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?

Write with a sense of humour. Be vocal on Twitter. Visit as many pages as you can. Be empathetic. Use pom-poms if necessary for inspiration. Have fun!

You don't have to jump THIS high, but have a great, positive spirit of encouragement!

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?

I’m in! I think I’d like to give back and participate as a reader and a cheerleader. I might even host a challenge…oh….this is exciting! I’m ready to “dew” the Dewey! Sisk! Boom! Bah!

***

To see my posts about “Doing the Dewey” check out my Dewey Page!

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Thanks to all who hosted and participated. Let’s keep reading. My Read-a-Thon continues with vigour. Everyone’s a champ who at least makes an effort to read during the Read-a-Thon!

Until next year, keep turning those pages.

Doing the Dewey: Mini Challenge #11: Culinary Castastrophe. 04.21.2012

Doing the Dewey: Mini Challenge #11:

Culinary Catastrophe

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

It’s a quarter-to-four in the morning, which means it’s almost time for breakfast. And man, after all this reading and blogging, I am hungry.

Hungry for a food fight, that is!

I will defend my book titles, my bookshelves, and my bookmarks against anyone—including my beloved librarian!

What’s on the menu from The Bibliotaphe’s Closet?

Which culinary attack stance shall Zara Alexis take?

Prepare yourself, book ninjas. Zara Alexis is here to fight!!!!

Arrrrghhhhh! Ha-ya!

Did you feel that?

I just flung  uncooked Tilapia at you! In honour of the book, Barnacle Love by Anthony De Sa!

How about this?

Did you feel the sting of lemon meringue pie in your eye? All in defence of my book, Life of Pi by Yann Martel.

Watch out! Here it comes!!

A huge bowl of bitter melon! A taste of my fight for The Bitter Taste of Time by Bea Gonzalez.

I’m not done fighting yet!

Here you go! Five bags of tamarind for Anita Rau Badami’s book, Tamarind Mem!

Whatcha got for me? Anything? Anything?

ROAR!

(Okay, wait. I don’t believe in violence. Especially at 4:00 in the morning.)

Please accept these lotus flowers in humble apology. In honour of The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli.

***

Victory tastes good, though, doesn’t it?

***

Thanks to At Random for hosting this mini challenge. Man, do I want to eat chocolate cake right about now…

Doing the Dewey: Mini Challenge #10: Theme Songs. 04.21.2012

Doing the Dewey: Mini Challeng #10:

Theme Songs

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

I’m tempted to say the my song of choice is Rock-a-Bye-Baby since I’m in dire need of a lullaby considering I’ve hit past 2:30 a.m. in this Read-a-Thon. Yup! Still here. Still reading. Still blogging. Still out of my hammock!

Time to sing and dance and maybe do a fancy jig—‘cause really, it’s either those things or keeping my eyelids open with safety pins—and that’s just dangerous, not to mention self-sabotage!

This is Jake. He's sleepy. And so am I! (Art by ayemjake at Devian Art)

Okay. Who wants to listen to some musica? Though I highly doubt my neighbours would enjoy this at full volume at 2:30 a.m., I encourage those who participating in other parts of the world—yes, the other side of the world—to put this on at full blast!

What’s not to love in a read-a-thon, if we can’t at least sing and dance and act like silly monkeys?

Look! He even wears eyeglasses like us!

Okay, maybe, not monkeys. But, just to let you know, I’ve had my days at the clubs as a teenager, and I’ve seen my share of monkey dancers! Just saying.

I’m blabbing because I’m tired, by the way, Jose.

Right, then. Song.

La-la-la-la…let’s see…

My song of choice to go with my (ironically enough) book, The Rest Is Silence by Scott Fotheringham is…

***

The key to this song is in its first few words, “Pack up…,” which is what the main character of the book, The Rest Is Silence does. He leaves New York to make a life for himself in the backwoods of Margaretsville, Nova Scotia. In the wilderness. In a tent. In a cabin he builds with his own hands.

Yes, it’s a book about nature vs. the city. About conquering the elements. But, it’s also a story about love—a desperate love and passionate grief that underlines the narrative of the story, which is best depicted by Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ words, “They don’t love you like I love you…”

Aside from that, I just love this song and desperately need to hear it at 3:00 a.m. in the morning!

***

A special thanks to Letters Inside Out for hosting this fun challenge—and for staying up this late with the rest of us book crazies!

Now, I’m going to dance a bit before I get back to my reading…

See you soon. Keep at it and let’s Dewey the Dewey!

***

Doing the Dewey: Mini Challenge #9: Rereading. 04.21.2012

Doing the Dewey: Mini Challenge #9:

Rereading

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

It’s pretty obvious that all those participating in the Dewey Read-a-Thon loves reading and books. We’d be completely out of our hats to participate if we didn’t.

This is my all-time favourite type of hat: the large, dramatic sun hat. And yes, okay, I’m not as good-looking as the “model” wearing this hat—but that’s because she’s a mannequin! And mannequins surely know how to cheat. It’s called NOT EATING! Nor BREATHING!

But, who loves books enough to actually reread them? Huh? Anyone? Anyone?

I’ve got my hand up! Do you?

I do have a few books that I love that much to reread. Here’s my list of reread-able books. Maybe they’re on your list too!

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The Romance of Tristan and Iseult by Joseph Bedier

Tristan & Iseult

Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger

J.D. Salinger

The Door by Margaret Atwood

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

"Oryx and Crake" art by plumfit on Devian Art.

The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

THE NAMESAKE movie poster.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

The Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer

My Edward (Cullen).

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Glass Boys by Nicole Lundrigan

The Calligrapher’s Daughter by Eugenia Kim

Calligraphy by Su Shi. Cold Food Festival. (see plate 66, Possessing the Past catalogue, Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Late Nights on Air by Elizabeth Hay

Alone in the Classroom by Elizabeth Hay

The New International Version (NIV) Bible

***

Thanks to Blue Stocking Society for hosting this challenge!

(Are we there yet?)

*yawn…*

***

Doing the Dewey: Mini Challenge #8: Picturrific! 04.21.2012

Doing the Dewey: Challenge #8:

Picturrific!

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

Here’s my picture of choice that makes me think of the book I’m enjoying for the Dewey Read-a-Thon today:

From: http://www.almightydad.com/behavior/let-my-people-go

The book I’m reading is The Rest Is Silence by Scott Fotheringham, which is about a man who leaves the city of New York to camp out in the wilderness of Margaretsville, Nova Scotia. He buys a plot of land, tills it, harvests crops, and builds a cabin home with his own hands. I love this photo. It reminds me of the main character’s solitude and peace on the land that he lives on and loves…

REST IS SILENCE by Scott Fotheringham

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Thanks to Stella Matutina for hosting this mini challange!

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Doing the Dewey: Mini Challenge #7: Loving the Library! 04.21.2012

Doing the Dewey: Mini Challenge #7:

Loving the Library!

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

I love reading so it’s quite natural for me to gravitate towards the library. I have ever since I first learned how to read.

I signed up for my very first library card when I was eight.

And now, I have two young children: a seven-year-old son and a two-year-old daughter, both of whom I take to the library. Often.

My little ones and I make a trip to our local library, pictured here at the Brampton Four Corners Branch.

We had a “day out,” on our own without Daddy. Where did we go? The library!

My son picked, The Pond Circle by Betsy Franco, off the shelf, opened it up, and began to read. I loved hearing his words form into slow, clear sentences. He was learning just as I did, years ago. And I remembered myself.

M. checking out the library shelves.

It’s a wonderful story of connection between nature and all living things. My son loved its rhythm, and I, the pictures.

M. with his book choice: POND CIRCLE.

An image from The Pond Circle. (c) Photo by Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez.

I bought the book for my children months later to commemorate our time together and to ensure we could enjoy the book together before bedtime.

It’s not a flashy memory by any means, but one of those moments that was shared in one of what has become a sacred place for me and my children—the library.

***

Thanks to Kanaye for hosting this challenge for the Dewey!

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Doing the Dewey: Mini Challenge #6: My Favourite Trouble-Maker. 04.21.2012

Doing the Dewey: Mini Challenge #6:

My Favourite Trouble-Maker

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

Of all the books I’ve read recently, I really love the book, The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman.

THE DOVEKEEPERS by Alice Hoffman

I’m a literary type and honestly didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. I wasn’t even aware of Alice Hoffman until I saw this book on Heather’s Picks at Chapters-Indigo.

(Look at me, thinking I know all there is to know about books!)

And now, one of my all-time favourite fictional characters is Shirah in The Doverkeepers.

She also happens to be a wicked anti-hero, too!

And when I say, wicked, I mean awesome and wicked—well, not that wicked—but bad enough to make you raise an eyebrow. The other characters in the novel certainly did.

Why do I love this wonderful “trouble-maker” of fiction?

Well, as a woman, she’s a powerful one: in beauty, intellect, and spirituality. She’s a single mother who was a former temple priestess, educated in language and the ways of pleasing men, mainly the priesthood. She was exiled to finally end up in Masada in a dovecote as one of the dovekeepers.

She is sensual as much as she is mysterious. And she carries within her a wisdom of ancient magic and healing powers, much to the dismay and fear of the community around her.

But, rather than use her knowledge for herself only, she helps as a midwife, helping labouring mothers in secret—especially those of whom need their secret kept.

She is a triune of sensual woman and lover, protective mother, and powerful and scorned sorcerer and friend to a group of women, who themselves are ostracized by their community in breaking Jewish law.

Anti-hero? She’s more like awesome-heroine! And mine, at that.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading The Dovekeepers, I highly recommend that you do. And pay special attention to Shirah. She’s as ambiguous in character as she is, extraordinary.

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A special thanks to The Fake Steph Dot Com for hosting this challenge!

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Doing the Dewey: Mini Challenge #5: The Weird Sisters Challenge. 04.21.2012

Doing the Dewey: Mini Challenge #5:

The Weird Sisters Challenge

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

How do I share my love of books with my friends and family? That’s easy. I basically stalk them on Facebook and by email and link them up to my posts at The Bibliotaphe’s Closet.

Just ask. Or don’t. They’re not all into it. Books that is. Plus, my stalking. (For you, non-literary types, I don’t mean the Christmas stocking type, I mean the Robert-Pattinson type!)

Robert Pattinson---in BED. OMG!

Okay, just give me a second. I think I just went all “Bella” there. Whew! I hate to objectify men, but for this example it was a tad necessary. (I love you Robert! Call me!!)

Anywhoo. Back to my love of books… See? I did it again. I made a plug for books. That’s what I do.

So, aside from Facebook and email stalking (vs. Edward Cullen stalking), I also buy doubles of books and encourage my friends and family to read them on loan and then pass them around when they’re done. But the books are usually too good to put down, so my family members and friends tend to show their true colours and “forget” to return them to me.

“What? Who me? What book?”

Yeah, yeah. Heard that one before. That’s okay, keep it! My only compensation is the knowledge that somewhere out there someone is reading and that’s good enough for me!

I also used to help administer a book club for the young cousins in my family called CFU (Cousin-Friends-United). They made up that name for themselves, not me! So, in that case I don’t get blamed—neither do I get credit.

Other helpful tips?

I gush over the telephone about upcoming titles and reiterate how important it is to visit your local library and indie bookstore. Hope you drop by yours and pick up some great titles. You can even beat the lineup if you put your books on hold and check them out yourself at a self-checkout kiosk! Go!

My little ones and I make a trip to our local library, pictured here at the Brampton Four Corners Branch.

And I always have books at the top of my Christmas list. This keeps my friends and family in the loop of what’s out there and that, yes, books are more valuable to me than diamonds, purses, shoes, or makeup! So, hah!

"Oh, don't you worry, Zara! I know you've been a good girl, so yes, EXPECT A LOT of books this year! Ho! Ho! Ho!"

And this year, I think I’m inspired to make my Christmas tree out of books. Because really, after someone else did it and posted it on Twitter, I went gaga. And I don’t mean, Lady Gaga. I mean, GA-GA!

So, no pine needles this year. Just books.

Other sharing ideas? Mmm…I could carry a megaphone with me and yell into people’s ears, but books are so great on their own I don’t think that’s necessary.

"BOOKS! BOOKS! Come and read 'em!"

(Okay, now, I KNOW I definitely won’t do this because that girl in the picture looks REALLY PISSED OFF!)

P.S. I, too, have a sister. Though, I’m considered the “weird one,” not her. Does that count for extra bonus points as entry into this challenge? Maybe? Yes?…

Yes, I know. That’s my little brother in the picture with me. I couldn’t find the picture I was thinking of with me and my little sister. Besides, she’s so camera shy, she’d most likely freak out if I post a picture of her on my blog.

Does having a little brother count, too? He’s not weird though. He’s cool!

***

A special thank you to Just One More Thing for hosting this mini challenge for the Dewey. I seem to be “dewing” a lot today.

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Doing the Dewey: Mini Challenge #4: Book Staging. 04.21.2012

Doing the Dewey: Mini Challenge #4:

Book Staging

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

Okay, time to take a little break from reading and look! Another challenge! Holy-moly, the Dewey participants and hosts really mean business!

Check out my book staging results of:

The China Lover by Ian Burma

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C’mon! You gotta want to read this now!!

(I actually can’t help myself. I enamoured with anything remotely Asian.)

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A special thanks to Midnight Book Girl for hosting this challenge.

Doing the Dewey: Mini Challenge #3: Find a Poem! 04.21.2012

Doing the Dewey: Mini Challenge #3:

Find a Poem!

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

Islands of quiet remain

I am happier here than I remember being

since I was a kid.

“You got lost, eh?”

He points into the forest.

My shirt was damp and blackflies were stuck

in my sweat

I open the tent door

Nova Scotia—

(Nova Scotia ain’t for sissies.)

It’s true, we weren’t going anywhere.

The two of us are hanging on,

alone at the edge of the world.

I think of Benny, Lina, my Dad, New York…

the ruin of plastics

polymers

promises.

I am alone in my tent

coming towards the end.

***

Created by Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez inspired by The Rest Is Silence by Scott Fotheringham.

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A special thanks to The Hungry Reader for providing another mini challenge for the Dewey!