Et Two?

     I really didn't plan for the second challenge post to be a week after the last. Life just happened that way. Well, life and procrastination. I just kept feeling that if I posted earlier in the week that it would be too early. Also, instead of writing last night I slept all evening. Then all night. It was kind of awesome.

     Book two of the challenge was Wave by Eric Walters. Like I said last week, one of my favourite non-fantasy authors. The POV was split, with the brother telling the first half and the sister telling the second half. Let me just say that after the wave hit, all of my expectations were met and exceeded. There was just so much that happens that I would have never have thought of. The only complaint is that after the climax, things slowed down. Then again, I guess it was just to accent the nerve-wracking feeling of impatience that the sister, Beth, would have been feeling. The ending was the most unexpected part. I stayed up past midnight to finish the book, and it had me in tears. Although not my favourite novel from this author, is it within the top 5. Also, I love the cover art for this novel. I don't know what I'll be reading next, because I am going to Chapters in the next few days and will no doubt be buying more books. But I will let you know what I have decided once I make that decision.
     I'm not going to lie, I haven't thought too much on this week's question, since I sort of knew what my answer was going to be, but mostly because I forgot and this week has been rough. "Which is worse, failing or never trying?" I think that never trying is the worse choice, first because you don't even know about the end outcome. If you don't try, how do you know you will fail? How do you know you will not succeed or not find something that you love? If everyone just sat at home doing nothing because they were afraid of trying, or afraid of the outcome, we would all be lost. Also, I don't believe on failure (at least most of the time). I believe in learning. If at first you don't succeed, learn from it and try again. It's not a failure, it's a lesson. Clearly we have learned many lessons, because I can say with little doubt that anyone was perfect at anything the first time around. No one walked the first time they put one foot in front of the other. No one counted to 10 on their own the first time they tried. I'm thankful for my failures, because they mean that I have tried, I have been mistaken, and I have learned.
     I hope that I make some sense when I try to explain myself. It really means a lot to me that I can do this. So, I will update as soon as possible. Until then, keep trying. And keep this last thing in mind. Rome wasn't built in day. DFTBA.

*PS- I updated the playlist at the bottom with some new music. Enjoy.

One is a Lonely Number

     One. It's a lonely number, but it also signifies a beginning. And this one post will signify the beginning of two challenges that I have started. I have read my first book of the year, and I will answer the first question for the 50QC. It's been on my mind all week, but I have just been so extremely busy that I have had time to do nothing but homework. Next week doesn't look to fun either, but hopefully I will post before Sunday.

     The 50 book challenge at first seemed like too big a number, but after taking only a week to read this book (more like 4 days) I think the goal of 50 is completely within my reach. The book was Maureen Johnson's Girl at Sea. It was a pretty amazing book. It actually taught me a lot about archeology. The main character, Clio, has to spend a few weeks with her dad in Italy on a boat with him, his new girlfriend, her daughter, an assistant from Yale, and her father's best friend. There are lots of twists and turns, and a surprise ending. I just could not put it down. The plot was really realistic, and the characters had a real depth to them, which always makes a book better. I recommend it to anyone.

     I have already begun to read the next book. Wave by Eric Walters. He is one of my favourite non-fantasy writers. His latest series of books have been about world tragedies, which his characters must survive. They are excellent, in both detail and truth. If I didn't know it was fiction, I would almost swear that it was a real account from a survivor.

     This week's 50QC question is 'how old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?' I have thought all week, when I had time to just think, about this. My answer is 18. I would choose this age because I would still be young enough to be considered a teen or child, so I would not have as many responsibilities as an adult, but I would have freedom and not be treated as a child. Also, I would either be in my last months of high school or just entering university, which would suit me just fine. I would be able to drive (though I can do that now, I just haven't cared enough to get my license). I think that 18 is an age where you begin to lose your childish beliefs and thoughts, and begin to know who you are, or are at least finally beginning to look properly. You will be forced into situations where you will get to see who your true friends really are, and how you act as a person under new situations.

     A new week lies ahead of me, with a lot of challenges and tests (literally and figuratively). If I make it through this week alive, one will be joined with another. I promise. Until then, I've got nothing else to say except DFTBA.

My Thoughts on a New Year

     C&H could not have said it any better*. The new year does not mean a clean slate. It does not mean a fresh beginning. It means it's the day after December 31rst, and just because that day is January 1rst only means that the annual calender cycle has restarted. People don't get excited and celebrate when the moon turns from a waning crescent to a new moon, meaning that the lunar cycle is restarting. We don't resolve ourselves to change things once a weekly cycle has past.

     To me, a new year means changing the date on homework assignments and getting a new calender. It means I am another day closer to death, and though that may sound pessimistic, it isn't. It's the cold hard truth. It means another round of winter, spring, summer, fall, winter. Another birthday, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas. It means new trends and new music, new ideas and finishing old ones. Another 365 days, none of which I am ever promised. I could die tomorrow, and a 'happy new year' would mean nothing. So can we just resolve to surviving this year? I could live with that (no pun intended).

   

  *Thank you C&H for finally giving me something to tell myself for the year.