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Kirsten
xfkirsten
02 August 2007 @ 08:53 pm
 
I still live! Erm, kinda. Been completely exhausted lately, for obvious reasons. But my bookstore days are pretty restful for me, compared to the insanity of my zoo days. Since I keep so busy, there's really not much else to report! :P

Everything's going well at the zoo! It's been a month already! Baby Bean's little baby is doing fantastic - she's out playing every day, and is very curious and energetic. The other day a little kid (maybe 7 or 8 years old) got excited when he saw her, and ran over and pressed his face against the glass. She came running over to him, and smooshed her own face right up against the glass to look at him! Cutest. Moment. Evar.

And it's time for the monthly book roundup! :D
7/23/07
Modoc - Ralph Helfer
Simply one of the most amazing books I've ever read. This book tells the true story of Modoc, an elephant born in a German circus, and Bram, the boy who grew up with Modoc. They perform in the circus together, stow away on a ship, are shipwrecked in India, and end up traveling throughout India... and that's just the beginning! An incredible story of friendship and adventure - not to be missed.

7/17/07
Peter and the Starcatchers - Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Fantastic book! It tells the story of how Peter and Captain Hook arrived in Never Land and began their rivalry. A quick, easy read, with lots of adventure! The humor is great, and at times had a bit of a Terry Pratchett feel to it. It would be great to see this one in movie form. Definitely recommended for anyone who loves Peter Pan!

7/12/07
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - JK Rowling
Why, yes, I did just finish it for the first time! XD I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first. Fast-paced, but for whatever reason, it just didn't hold my attention as much as the first did.

7/10/07
Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination - Neal Gabler
If you are a Disney nut, you must read this biography. At 600+ pages of text (not including 100 pages of references at the end) it's very hefty, and very detailed. It's quite possibly the most objective, even-handed biography of Walt that I've ever seen, and certainly the most in-depth. It's a virtual Walt Disney encyclopedia. A fascinating look at one of America's greatest cultural icons!

Oh, and I just had to use my new icon, because Marion + frying pan = OTP. :P
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Sapph[info]sapphs on August 3rd, 2007 03:57 am (UTC)
OMG that sounds so cute. Wish someone got a pic or better yet video!
Kirsten: Liz - Squee[info]xfkirsten on August 3rd, 2007 03:59 am (UTC)
Oh, his mom was snapping photos like mad, LOL!
Speckles: Mickey Sleeping[info]speckleberry on August 3rd, 2007 04:03 am (UTC)
Oooo, those first two books sound aweosme! And the Walt Disney one? Dude, does it mention his favourite song being 'Feed the Birds'?? That is such a beautiful song! I love it. I think it was played at his funeral...or am i thinking of the wrong person?

Kirsten[info]xfkirsten on August 3rd, 2007 04:18 am (UTC)
It does mention that, actually! Not really in-depth, but it does talk about how he got so obsessed with that song that he'd just sit in his office and listen to it over and over.
Rory: hp bff[info]rory_elizabeth on August 3rd, 2007 04:53 am (UTC)
Oooh, thanks for the Peter Pan rec. And that's a shame about CoS; it was my favorite of the series until OOTP came out. Although it's my least favorite movie, heh.
Kirsten[info]xfkirsten on August 5th, 2007 03:28 am (UTC)
The Peter Pan one is awesome! There's a sequel, too. I have it, but I haven't read it yet.

I'm really not sure why I didn't like CoS as much. I think part of it may have been that it just felt too "political" to me, although it doesn't seem like it had any more than the first book.
Rory: hp order[info]rory_elizabeth on August 5th, 2007 06:12 am (UTC)
Ah, well COS was the first book to really bring forth the racism/political side of the magical world, I agree. Which then makes sense why I love it so, being a political science geek. ;)

I think I just ended up really liking the whole blood aspect of it, because it made the story more resounding for adults as well. And Hermione being the smartest of her year and yet instantly labeled as unworthy by some is such an interesting twist for her character. It also makes Ron and his family unique and more special as well, I think.

*stops before getting into a politics of HP discussion*
Chris[info]chris00seven on August 3rd, 2007 05:30 am (UTC)
Love the new icon.
Kirsten: Marion - Frying Pan Bitch[info]xfkirsten on August 5th, 2007 03:29 am (UTC)
Thank ya! Marion is my hero. I want to be as cool as her some day.

I should start training my liver now. Pass me a beer!
Sutter Cane[info]venger on August 3rd, 2007 06:31 am (UTC)
Wow! You read way faster than me. :P
Kirsten[info]xfkirsten on August 5th, 2007 03:29 am (UTC)
I read WAY fast, LOL. For awhile, I was reading 5-6 books a month. That's slowed down a lot, though, since I've been so busy.
dark_faith366[info]dark_faith366 on August 3rd, 2007 07:37 am (UTC)
YAY *huggles*

Personnaly, I'm just glad you're still alive, kicking and... working and doing what you love.

And I can't comment on books cause I don't read. meh.
Kirsten[info]xfkirsten on August 5th, 2007 03:31 am (UTC)
*big huggles* It's exhausting, but well worth it! :D

I've been a big reader ever since I was little. I'm game for just about any genre, really, although most of my stuff is scifi/fantasy, wildlife-related, or Disney-related.
Fin: Writing: Flower book[info]finmark on August 3rd, 2007 10:20 am (UTC)
I'm intrigued by the first books and think I will definitely have to check them out. The Disney one looks quite interesting as well.

Love the icon! Though, at first (and very quick) glance I totally thought it was Torri Higginson!!
Fin: Scenic: Mountains[info]finmark on August 3rd, 2007 10:21 am (UTC)
And that should be the *first two books*.
Kirsten: Marion - Frying Pan Bitch[info]xfkirsten on August 5th, 2007 03:34 am (UTC)
Modoc is amazing! I've heard the guy who wrote it is a real whackjob, but his writing is wonderful. And you can't go wrong with Peter Pan! :D The Disney one was AWESOME if you love Disney. It's really, really, really detailed. The author spent seven years researching for it. He's very even-handed, talking about Walt's faults as well as his strengths. Most biographies either make him look like a saint or a devil, this one makes him look like a man. :)

Thanks! :D I've been a big Marion fan for awhile, and with the new movie coming out next year, I'm getting back into the Indy love. :D Karen Allen does bear a resemblance to Torri! :D
Goonerette: Starbuck (snarky)[info]gooner_ette on August 3rd, 2007 11:19 am (UTC)
Chamber of Secrets is probably the weakest one of the lot.
Kirsten[info]xfkirsten on August 5th, 2007 03:35 am (UTC)
I've heard a lot of people say that the movie of that one was better than the book.
queen of attention to detail[info]violettandblue on August 3rd, 2007 09:25 pm (UTC)
Speaking of books, have you ever read "Down & Out in the Magic Kingdom" by Cory Doctorow? I read it last week and thought of you :o) It's a sci-fi book, set in the future, but it's almost entirely set in WDW!!! Some parts were a little weird (it was sci-fi after all) but I loved it! I wish there were more books set in WDW or Disneyland! (I'm *still* hoping for a sequel to "The Kingdom Keepers" ;o)
Kirsten[info]xfkirsten on August 5th, 2007 03:38 am (UTC)
I have! I read it a few years ago while I was working at WDW. Loved it! The author obviously knew the place well, and did a great job transitioning it into a sci-fi piece. And ya gotta love an author who puts his published book up for free on the net! :)

Kingdom Keepers was interesting... I think I could have gotten into it more if the factual errors didn't get to me so much. For all the author's talk about his research, he got a LOT of stuff wrong - he couldn't even get the name of Fantasmic right, let alone how the dragon works. (It is most definitely not an animatronic!) I think those sorts of errors really took me out of the story. That being said, I think it would translate really well to the big screen! :)