Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

I just finished HP Book 6 and am v. excited for Book 7 to arrive. My favorite book has been Book 3 for quite some time, but I think 6 may have just over-taken it. I appreciate the fact that they're all grumpy, hormonal teenagers that like to bend the rules. So, now I'm just formulating all my theories for Book 7 (which mainly consists of e-mailing Ruth and Michael at least twice a day...) and waiting on pins and needles to see Snape redeem himself.

A Thousand Splendid Suns

If a book’s worth is measured in whether or not it can be put down, then Khaled Hosseini’s new novel, “A Thousand Splendid Suns” is pure gold. I started it on Saturday night at 9pm, and finished 6 hours later.

Parker had recommended Hosseini’s debut novel, “The Kite Runner” to me earlier in the year. It easily slipped into my top 5 favorite book list. I won’t review that novel here, but please go read it. It’s utterly amazing. So, when I found out that Hosseini had a new book coming out, I was sooooo excited and couldn’t wait to read it. I’ve had the book on my shelf for awhile, but was forcing myself to get through East of Eden before I started. I had a feeling if I started reading Suns, I would give up on Eden. And I would’ve.

As most of you know, I really have a heart for the Middle East, and am constantly reading books about situations over there. I think that’s why his books resonate with me. I really do feel that part of that culture is wrapped up in me, whether it’s from my time in Turkey or not, I’ll never know. This book follows the story of two women, Mariam and Lalia during the war-torn years of Afghanistan. Therefore, it’s a heart rendering story of the brutality of war and “love”, and the triumph of family and real love. Hosseini was praised for his ability to enter the women’s psyche, and it’s really true. I didn’t think much of it while I was reading, but that was what made it so good. I never questioned the way the women thought, acted, or felt. It was all true and rational (as far as women go J). He makes you feel the honest desperation that many women felt during that time. As Nana tells Mariam, “Learn this now and learn it well, my daughter: Like a compass needle that points north, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam."

I think everyone needs to read this book, even more than they need to see Wicked (I told you it was good). Read it in honor of the great country of Afghanistan, in honor the Kabul and its thousand splendid suns, in honor of history, and in honor of the thousands of women who have died with no one to hear their story.

East of Eden and moving on...

Taste is a funny thing. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, so to speak. That said, Steinbeck is not my cup o’ tea. However, I can agree with his most avid fans that he is a phenomenal writer. He engages you and makes characters so real it can be scary. There were paragraphs I read that made me want to do nothing but read it over and over, simply to re-live the magic of his words. I just don’t think his genre engages me the way others do. But I heard from friends, with very similar taste to my own, that ‘East of Eden’ was worth my time. And I think it was, even if it took a lot of that said time.

I forced myself through the first 70 pages or so. I wasn’t too intrigued until Kate entered. Kate may be the most well written character I have ever encountered. Steinbeck worked the story miraculously to make you like, and hate Kate, the spawn of pure evil. You therefore understand what Adam was feeling. And that needed to happen, because if not, you would think of Adam as the biggest fool on the planet.

Even after Kate entered, there were moments I wanted to put the book down and walk away. But Amy, my book club partner-in-crime, convinced me over Thai food to keep reading. And I’m glad she did. Thanks, Amy!

What’s important is what I walked away with. And that was a very clear line of good and evil that is a bit fuzzy in our modern-day world. There was such a brutal honesty in that book. Today I think too often we play the “I did it for the good of whoever” card. We lie because we think someone can’t handle the truth, or because they would misuse it. But that isn’t our call. We are not God, and cannot imagine what act of kindness, or justice would do to someone’s soul. We must be truthful to a fault, and allow God to work through that. Adam gave her the money. I wouldn’t of, and that is where I fail.

Lee was by far my favorite character of the book. I think he conveyed that honesty, which was probably quite modern for the day. Most people would see the Easterner as un-biblical, but he lives the truth out in his Oriental way and often becomes the voice of reason.

I do recommend this book. I may not add it to my favorite book list. But, I keep thinking about it, and that is generally the sign of a great book in my mind. This has inspired me to read more Steinbeck (don’t assume I’ll be walking around with ‘Grapes of Wrath’ anytime soon!), and it is fun to read a book where Paso and SLO are mentioned. It connects you. So, as it is in all of nature, thou mayest read this book. And I think it would be good for your soul.

Space Nerds

Tonight Jon received a call from Isaac and Katie, old friends from Cal Poly. Isaac had worked Uzai Kampi Turkiye 2003, and the next year had his girlfriend (now fiance) Katie, her best friend Nora, and Jon join him! I suppose I should call our matchmaker, although it wasn't intentional! Anyway, we met up with them in Pismo for some good 'ole Splash and the Bucks. It was a blast. We all walked along the beach, and it was fun because Katie and I got to talk. We weren't super close in Turkey, so it was fun to hang out. She's a really fun gal.

At Starbucks we got to talking about space (of course!) and were discussing the space shuttle Atlantis that just detatched from the International Space Station. Isaac said that you could actually track the two following each other in the night sky. He had print outs showing the night sky, the path across it, and when exactely we would be able to see it (like the title states, nerds). When Jon and I got home we went out to the park and stood around looking. It was pretty cloudy in the north, which was where the shuttle would be coming from, but we saw it! It was so neat! There were 2 really bright, large dots, one of which was kinda redish, moving very quickly through the sky for about a minute. Then they quickly faded and were gone as they passed into the earth's shadow. I loved looking up there and knowing that 708 km above us were people! I mean, honestly, it's incredible we got people up there, and that they can survive for weeks in floating metal. You can see it tomorrow night around 9:15 I think. Go to this sight to track it. http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/tracking/ Just say it. I'm a space nerd. And proud of it, bay-bee!

And in a final word, congrats to Katie and Isaac on their engagement and up-coming wedding. I'm really excited for them. They're a really fun couple that love the outdoors (Isaac, I'll never forget the trail you forged at Kayakoy for the amazing view of Oludeniz...), and each other. I know you'll be so happy together and will enjoy a lifetime of fun and crazy times!

Popular

Saturday Night was filled with the joy, giddiness, and eager anticipation that only happen's on a few blessed events. The 1st would be your wedding, 2nd would be opening a new Harry Potter book, and the 3rd would be...musicals! And in particular, Wicked! (Man, how nerdy am I? HP and Musicals. Jeez...)

Jon's parents bought all of us tickets to see Wicked, and man oh man, what a show. This was my second time seeing it, but the seats were better this time, so I actually saw more. Also, I had forgotten a lot of the little things that make this show what it is. I highly urge everyone out there to go see it. Even those people that make fun of musicals. Let me tell you, this will take your breath away. How in the world this didn't win the Tony is beyond me. (Speaking of the Tony's, what was up with this year's nominations? I'm a bit disappointed. Luckily, last year's nominations still have me singing.)

For those of you that don't know the story, I'll give a brief background. Wicked is the story of the Witch's of Oz, before Dorothy dropped into town. It is set at Shiz, a University near the Emerald City. Our story follows Galinda (with a 'Ga') and Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and their struggles as roommates (how could this show not be good?). The music is amazing, and I cry everytime during 'Defying Gravity'. The sets are wonderful, and the costumes give you that truly Ozian feel.

This cast is pretty good. Galinda was hysterical, but her lack of soprano singing left me a bit annoyed. Our Elphaba was an understudy, but you would've never know it because she rocked. She had such a beautiful voice and she truly made you fall in love. Fiyero was good, but his voice was so different from Norbert Leo Butz (the original) that it threw me off at first. But I really enjoyed him, and also think that he would make an excellent Franki Valli in 'Jersey Boys'. The soundtrack features the original cast, and is amazing with the talents of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenewith. It's a good purchase.

All in all, I just think people should see this show. So if you ever listen to me, now would be the time. GO SEE WICKED!

An ode to the land where no one can pronounce my name

Morgen. It's everywhere. It's in the hands of every German that can read via the Berliner Morgenpost. It's on the lips of old whizened men and young rambunctious 'kinders' shouting 'Guten Morgen!'. It even is so persistent as to stay around longer than morning time. It is now a friendly greeting, a 'hey' if you will. Morgen is everywhere.

So it's really wierd that the German's couldn't pronounce my name.

They would ask what my name was, and I would respond, "Morgan". I was then met with blank stares, and attempts of pronunciation. "Moor..." "Morg-..." The confusion was always cleared up when I said, "Guten MORGEN". "Ah! Guten Morgen! Yah, yah..." I love it.

But that is not truly the point of this blog. The point is that my dear friend, Anissa, is leaving TODAY for Germany for 6 weeks. I am so excited for her. Berlin was my first love. It was my first mission trip, and my first overseas adventure. How could I not love it. It was the beginning. Because of my trip to Berlin I am who I am today. (Cheesy, but it's true). There is something so seductive about that city, it traps you in. So Anissa, I wish you a trip of joy, grace, love, and fun as you enjoy one of the coolest countries around. My homeland, Deutschland.

I think they were dogs.

So I've been killing time by checking out random people's knitting blogs, which are (I can say unashamedly) my secret obsession.

So I happened upon one blog, and this girl had to be really rich. You could just tell from her house, her clothes, and the random pictures she had of golf courses in Palm Beach. And then, I saw them. She had a picture of her two dogs named (I kid you not) Bentley and Porsche. And I'm not trying to be rude or judgmental, but they were they ugliest dogs I have ever seen.

I just needed to share that with someone.