in the summer, in the city

I've been in a bit of a slump of late, with blogging that is. I started a handful of entries that I don't know how to finish or that aren't quite fit for publishing. Maybe it's because I've been working a lot or maybe it's because I'm sleep deprived (seasonal affective disorder, maybe). Anyway, It's been a lovely summer thus far. I haven't even minded the heat, too much.

Tomorrow, I'm headed to Salt Lake City for a little time with the fam and a reunion at Bear Lake. I am quite excited for the reunion because, I don't get a chance to see my Mom's family much these days. Thank goodness for blogs and facebook that keep us connected, but we need a little face time now and then.  

Also, I'm excited for some time with cat Zoe and baby Fifi (they have both mastered the art of being adorable despite some of their disgusting habits  - I love them so). And any trip to SL would not be complete without a trip to Rubios for some fish tacos, I don't know how they do it, I just know that they are oh so delicious. Finally, a hair cut by the lovely Claire (if you live in SL and are looking for someone brilliant to cut your hair for a very reasonable price, just let me know and I'll hook you up). Yep, I think it's going to be a good trip.        

the end of a magical era

Tonight, with the release of The Deathly Hallows II, marks the end of an era of sorts. The internet seems to be a buzz with Harry Potter. There are recommendations for post-Potter reads, college courses analyzing Harry Potter and Christian theology and essays outlining the effect of the Potter series as a cultural touchstone to the millennial generation.  

I don't count myself ammong the millenial crowd. I didn't grow up with Harry, Ron and Hermoine. I didn't discover the books 'til college. But they have played a distinct role in the past decade of my life. Prowling for my sister's copy the newest copy, ever ready to swoop in and start reading the moment she put it down. Watching my sister and mother practice the lost of art of reading from different pages of the same book. Begging a less active member to read portions of a newly released book 5 while a missionary in Finland. And later, fresh home from my mission, I curled up with that same book and devoured it.  

I remember the excitement associated with each new book. And I remember how I paced myself though the seventh, savoring the words, knowing it was the last. Now, with the release of the final movie, I revisit that same reluctance to see it end. I know that this final movie will be great - the first half was amazing and I was so excited for part 2. Yet, now that it's here, I don't know if I'm ready for it. Part of me wants to save it for later. I think I'll hold off for a few days and see it with my sisters when I go to Utah next week - it seems only fitting for book that "changed my life".

A little "the Book of Mormon" - Harry Potter mash-up for  your viewing pleasure. 

I read a book: Matched

A few months ago I went into this long spiel about how I'm not much of a reader.  You can read about it here where I gush about a slightly disturbing book I read.  And now, low and behold, I finished another one.

In search of a page turner for my upcoming trip to Chicago, I looked to my go to source of all knowledge, NPR. Did you know that npr.org has a books section? Well, they do and that's where I found, Nancy Pearl Presents 10 Terrific Summer Reads. After reading through her suggestions, I wrote down a couple of titles and took my list to Barnes and Noble, were I picked up a copy of Matched by Ally Condie.  


I started reading it at work while the computers were down and I had to force myself to put it down as to not read the whole thing before I left on my trip the next day.  I finished it within a week. 


It is young adult fiction about a teenage romance in a post-apocalyptic society governed by a totalitarian government that would make Kim Jong-Il proud.  Within the first couple of chapters I got the distinct impression that the author was Mormon, so I wasn't at all surprised when I discovered that she lives in Salt Lake City.  She explores some interesting themes of agency, predestination, love and civil disobedience that have kept me thinking.  It's a bit reminiscent of John Christopher's, Tripods Trilogy that I read in elementary school.  And I was excited to learn, as I neared the end of the book that there is indeed a trilogy in the works for Matched as well.  


Which leads me to speculate, could this trilogy rise to the level of Meyer's Twilight series?  It probably isn't really fair to compare the two but having read the first book of both series, I can't help myself. (Yes, I did read Twilight but did not continue on with the series because I found the whole thing to be too frustrating). I found the heroine in Matched to be a strong, independent and courageous character that I couldn't help but root for.  In fact, I quite liked all of the characters.


I'm totally excited to read the next book when it comes out in the fall - gosh, this hasn't happened since HP.