Red Seas Under Red Skies read-along, week 3

Uncategorized May 12, 2012 Comments: 26

This week’s questions were provided by Ashley from SF Signal (or twitter @ohthatashley). And this week I finally had time to read the section in peace and I can post my answers on Saturday! It makes me feel like I’m getting back control over my life. 😉
The only problem I’m now having is stopping at the designated place and not reading on (but I knew that would happen).

So, here are the questions and my answers:
1. Locke and Jean’s ability to find themselves at the center of a serious mess seems unparalleled. At this point, do you think that Stragos will get the return he expects on his investment in them?

He, he. No. 🙂
Or, at least not in the way Stragos might have imagined it. I can’t help but think that whatever plan Jean and Locke hatch to deal with Stragos, it won’t work and also that Stragos’ idea will backfire on him exactly beacuse he used Jean and Locke.

2. Merrain’s activities after our boys leave Windward Rock are interesting. What do you think her plans are?

Ok, I was very upset when I read that. For some reason I thought she might help them in the future but now I see they are better off without her help.

I wonder who is she working for?

3. Does anyone know why having cats aboard the ship is so important?

Hmm, I have no idea. Possibly because they are adroit so they add to the good vibrations of the ship? And are rumoured to have 9 lives so might share some of that as well with the crew?

4. The word “mutiny” creates a lot of mental pictures. Were you surprised? Why or why not?

Well, at that point, no, but before that I actually thought they might manage it. 🙂 Running the ship by themselves. (eternal optimist is what I am)
I was surprised at Locke’s inventiveness as to how come they ended in that situation -I shouldn’t be at this point but I still am. 🙂

5. Ah, the Poison Orchid. So many surprises there, not the least of which were the captain’s children. Did you find the young children a natural part of the story?

I was a bit surprised, I must say. Which makes me now feel I’m prejudiced. Why shouldn’t a successful woman warrior want children and have them along with her on her ship? I do wonder who the father(s) might be. And if that part of the story fits with something else later on…

6. Jean is developing more and more as a character as we get further in to the book. Ezri makes the comment to him that “Out here, the past is a currency, Jerome. Sometimes it’s the only one we have.” I think several interesting possibilities are coming into play regarding Jean and Ezri. What about you?
Interesting you should say that about Jean, I noticed for some time that I keep refering to our duo as Jean and Locke, it sounds more natural to me. I wonder why. 🙂
This question ties in with what I’m thinking about the children, is their part of the story important for that currency of the past?
And I’m startting to wonder if it’s possible that Ezri is the reason for that strange situation from the prologue? I mean, Jean did warn Locke at the end of chapter 10…

7. As we close down this week’s reading, the Thorn of Camorr is back! I love it, even with all the conflict.  Several things from their Camorri background have come back up. Do you think we will see more Camorri characters?
lol
It was so funny to read Locke’s train of thoughts and then see what everyone else thought of his actions. 🙂 But I’m glad Thorn is back (even though he only seems to appear when the situation is practically out of control) and I can’t even guess if we’re going to see more Camorri characters – I’d love to, but I have no idea where we’re going with the story at this point.

Check out Little Red Reviewer for other participating blogs.

Parfum de Nicolai: Odalisque

World of Perfume May 10, 2012 Comments: 7

When it comes to perfumes, each spring I try and find green perfumes that would work for me. You know, not too fresh as it’s not yet summer but they need to connote the springness – the sun, the grass, the flowers, the morning dew and chill and the gradual warmth permeating our world.
Each spring I don’t know where to look but eventually a perfume makes its presence known to me and the spring suddenly feels like THE season for enjoying perfumes.

Before you start thinking I only came across Odalisque the other day, it wouldn’t be true. I have a little bottle for quite some time now. But it only dawned on me some days ago that the greenery I seek might be hidden in this bottle.

It’s a strange little perfume. It doesn’t smell the same to me when I spray it on my arm and smell it there and when I spray it on me and I catch my own sillage. There aren’t any big differences but what I smell in my sillage seems to be clearly chypre-ish while what I smell on my arm distinguishes itself with other notes.

Top notes : green citrus, bergamot and tangerine

Heart : lily of the valley, jasmine, orris, oakmoss
Base : musc

Honestly, lately I started to think that the only note I can always rely on smelling in a perfume is a citrusy one. 🙂 I don’t mean to say that Odalisque is the general thing you can smell anywhere, this is just what usually comes up in my first sentence when taking notes on a perfume. I’m starting to find it funny, but I also realize I’ll have to develop my citrusy vocabulary because they don’t smell the same.

Anyway, in Odalisque the little citrusy feel you get smells green and there is no sweetness at all (as evidenced by the notes). When I was smelling this without the notes, I thought that the little fruity aspect that could be gleaned came from some kind of a dark berry, but in retrospect I guess the tangerine-oakmoss combination works its little magic. I was also getting a light camphorous feel from it but I can’t guess where that one came from.

The thing is, I would never have come across lily of the valley if I haven’t read the notes (jasmine too). There is a barely floral tinge to the oakmoss in there and once I saw lily mentioned, I could smell it in there but the most important part of this perfume for me is that it reminds me of spring wet wood and grass. Not that it smells like that – but the oakmoss is working its magic with a lightly mossy and woody notes.

Btw, I just went to check the meaning of odalisque and came up with a serving girl in a harem. 🙂
I don’t know how that would relate to the perfume and I don’t really care – all I know is that it worked for me.

Roja Dove: The Essence of Perfume

World of Books May 9, 2012 Comments: 7

I am slow when it comes to reading perfume books, but I do eventually get around to doing it. 🙂 I’ve had The Essence of Perfume for quite some time now, but managed to finish reading it only yesterday.

And I am impressed.

I absolutely love that book – not only does it look wonderful (especially if you want it visible on your coffee table) but it’s also full of useful and interesting information for any perfume lover out there.

Mr. Dove writes in such an easy, natural way, I cannot but think he must be a great speaker (which is something that is hinted at in the book through comments by other people). He is also obviously very knowledgable on the subject (he must be when you consider his life) and brings it alive in front of your eyes.

I admit I am thouroughly jealous at the wonderfully fragrant and interesting life Roja Dove led (and still does). 🙂

As an Aquarian, I no longer know how many times I read that is a sign that looks to the future (and I do, I’d love to live at a time when space travel is possible and standard) but I also love history and that is for me the best chapter in the book – one where history comes to life straight before your eyes through the descriptions of the decades and perfumes that highlighted the historical aspects of those decades.
At several points I found I had tears in my eyes because of how strongly Mr. Dove weaved his fragrant magic into the words.

The whole book is full of images of perfumes (well, not just perfumes but I paid most attention to those) and by the end of the book, I was thouroughly hooked, not only on trying to find some more vintage perfumes, but also trying to locate some of those incredible bottles that are no longer in production and can be found mostly by having a lot of luck.

I never thought about the empty bottles of perfumes and their beauty. Now I do.
And I need a bottle of that Ombre Rose L’Original badly – I’m pretty sure from the description it smells great, but the bottle it comes in?!  I seriously feel the need to have it!

After reading this book, I now have a much better understanding and respect of the finely crafted works of art that perfumes are (or should be) and of the symbolism some of them hold.

I’d say The Essence of Perfume works great as an introductionary encyclopedia for any perfume lover.
But if you are not a perfume lover, once you read it, you can never go back to the life you led before perfume world opened its doors through the words of Roja Dove.

No longer fighting a losing battle (hair products) – R&B by Lush

Uncategorized May 7, 2012 Comments: 6

I believe every perfume lover out there, using hair products knows what a pointless fight it is to try and find a hair styling product that doesn’t have an overwhelming smell, that doesn’t even need to clash with your perfume in order to annoy you – it’s enough there is an additional smell wafting from you that isn’t the perfume you applied and at the same time is something you cannot go without.

I cannot go without hair styling products as I have short hair (and it requires styling products) but I also like to use serums for the ends, and generally products that make my hair look nice and shiny. 🙂

I no longer remember where did I read about this product, but I bought it last summer and used it for a while until I somehow fell out of practice (most likely because I bought something new).

I still remember how for a few days I kept turning around and trying to find out where was this nice jasmine-y smell coming from? And I couldn’t find it and I knew I wasn’t applying a perfume with those notes.

Eventually it did dawn on me it was wafting from my hair. 🙂

Even if the product wasn’t that good, I’d be buying it for the smell – it’s strong and lasting but it’s also so very nice to smell it wafting around you. I don’t remember smelling a Lush perfume I liked as much as I like the smell of this hair treatment.

R&B stands for Revive and Balance and well, I can’t say about revival as my hair didn’t really need it but I can see it is soft and shiny (and smells great).

It is primarily meant for thick hair and I can understand that as it’s quite thick in texture (like pomade) so I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who doesn’t fit the description, but those with thick hair probably know how difficult it is to hydrate your hair without making it look greasy. And this works great.
You would probably need to find your own amount to use because you can easily go overboard with this.

Basically, this product made me stop fighting the losing battle of hair products without a smell and I accepted this one whole-heartedly into my life. 🙂

Hello world!

Uncategorized May 7, 2012 1 Comment

Welcome to WordPress.com! This is your very first post. Click the Edit link to modify or delete it, or start a new post. If you like, use this post to tell readers why you started this blog and what you plan to do with it.

Happy blogging!

Red Seas Under Red Skies read-along, w2

Uncategorized May 6, 2012 Comments: 8

Being in a hurry, I’ll quickly answer this week’s questions brought to us by Little Red Reviewer:

1.Now that we know a little more about Selendri and Requin, what do you think of them? I worry Locke is suddenly realizing this con might be a bit tougher than he expected.

Well, he knew it half-way through and still wanted to go through with it. He really is incredibly crazy and unafraid of failure. 🙂

2. Isn’t the Artificers’ Crescent just amazing? If you could purchase anything there, what would it be?

Amazing! I have no idea what I’d take. Possibly a machine that creates perfumes if it exists?

3. What did you think of Salon Corbeau and the goings on that occur there? A bit crueler than a Camorri crime boss, no?

Oh definitely crueler. And very reminiscent of all the excuses today’s politicians make when confronted with their nations’ problems, I’m afraid.

4. The Archon might be a megalomaniacal military dictator, but he thinks he’s doing right by Tal Verrar: his ultimate goal seems to be to protect them. What do you think he’s so afraid of?

Hmm, it never occured to me he might be afraid. But if I were to guess, he seems like the type of misguided liberator-tyrant-dictator who wants the best but has a misguided way of getting there. Bondsmagi are the ones I would say he’s afraid of because he cannot gain any protection from there (nor control over them).

5. And who the heck is trying to kill Locke and Jean every few days? they just almost got poisoned (again!)!

Beats me! 🙂 I’m guessing whoever it is hasn’t yet appeared, or possibly has but there was no way for us to connect the dots.

6. Do you really think it’s possibly for a city rat like Locke to fake his way onto a Pirate ship?
 
Of course! It’s Locke we’re talking about!. 🙂 I’m just wondering what he’ll do about sea sickness….

Red Seas Under Red Skies, new Scott Lynch read-along

Uncategorized April 29, 2012 Comments: 12

I’m participating in the next book of Locke Lamora (and Jean’s) adventures and the second book is called Red Seas Under Red Skies.
Once I started reading it, I realized how much exactly am I invested in the lives of Locke and Jean. It felt like finally going back to meet my friends and check whether they’ve been doing fine since we left them dealing with the aftermath of Grey King problem.
The read-along is again hosted by these great blogs and this week’s questions were provided by Bryce of My Awful Reviews.
The hosts:
The Little Red Reviewer
My Awful Reviews
Dark Cargo
Lynn’s Book Blog
OhThatAshley at SFSignal

And here are the questions with my answers:

1. The Sinspire. It looks like our heroes (can they really be called that?) find themselves in search of a way into an unbeatable vault. Do you think they have what it takes to make it happen?

He, he, after reading The Lies of Locke Lamora, I’m pretty sure they will make it happen. Probably not as they planned it, but, in the end, I believe they will do it.

2.  Anyone want to guess how they’re going to make it happen?

No idea. I see they are starting again by saying to their victim they plan on robbing him (in a different manner though) but as the Bondsmagi were already introduced into the story, I know that there is absolutely no way for me to guess what will be happening. My only guess is that it will hurt and won’t be nice.

3. It’s a little different this time around, with us just being focused on Locke and Jean. Is anyone else missing the rest of the Bastards as much as I am?

Oh yes. And Locke and Jean are missing them as well – there are many references to them throughout the story. My heart aches each time I read a reference.

4. I love the section where Jean starts to build a new guild of thieves. It really shows just how well trained and tough he is. Do you think the Bastards will end up training others along the way again like Bug?

Good question. I’m  wondering a bit how would they be able to believe anyone anymore so completely though. They practically grew up together, no one will again be the same as the Bastards that were family.
And I should add I was very impressed with Jean taking care of the situation so quickly and effectoively.

5. For those of you looking for Sabetha, we still haven’t spotted her yet. Anyone else chomping at the bit to see the love of Locke’s life?

I’m tired of all the references to her! 🙂 I want to know what happened between her and Locke! And she better show up somewhere in the books, otherwise I’ll be really unhappy.

6. It’s early on, but the Bastards are already caught up in plots that they didn’t expect. How do you think their new “employer” is going to make use of them (The Archon, that is)?

Again, I cannot offer any ideas. It’s just that Mr. Lynch’s mind works in such a devious manner when it comes to his characters, I cannot even begin to imagine what Archon might have planned for Jean and Locke. Possibly the murder of the Spider? The best I can come up with is that it will have something to do with Camorr as there seems to be a lasting hate between the two states (or whatever they are).

But I believe that Locke and Jean will in the end kick some Bondmagi and Archon butt. 🙂

Stuck in perfume limbo

I've been thinking, Perfume thoughts April 28, 2012 Comments: 13

I’m blaming it on the weather (and possibly fatigue and stress, but mainly weather).

The spring started here even before the calendar said so, and then went back-tracking into something resembling more autumn and now  we’re finally getting the sun and warmth, and now we’re hitting almost summer temperatures which is coming as quite a shock to many people (the instant rise from cold into summer).

I had started contemplating spring perfumes sometime in March when the spring first showed its face and then I got stuck, as the temperatures fell and I needed to wear my coat again in order to feel warm enough.

So now it’s very warm, I’ve skipped my spring perfumes and I’m at a loss what to apply each day (like I’ve been for the last month and a half).
I’ve sort of lost my perfume (wearing) thread.

Not to mention the fact that most of my summer perfumes are hidden somewhere in the depths of my closet …

If not sooner, I’m hoping the next trip to Paris will deal with my perfume limbo. After all, Paris helps with any problems you might have. 😉

Julie Kagawa: The Immortal Rules

World of Books April 22, 2012 Comments: 3

I seem to be stuck in the YA niche. 🙂 Not that I mind.

And it’s turning out to be a dystopian, futuristic YA worlds I’m reading about. In this one, the vampires live in cities and humans are registered and kept practically as cattle because they are registered in order to give their monthly supply of blood for vampires and that is all they do. They survive for only that reason.
Then you have the Unregistereds who do not want to give blood but at the same time, cannot gain the food. So they are forced to scrounge and find whatever they can while remaining hidden from vampire powers.

And then we have Allie, who hates the vampires with a vengeance and of course, runs into trouble that causes her to become one.
As usual I won’t go into the details of the story, there is so much I could write about it. The world is well detailed and well described so you can imagine it without any problems.
The reasons how the future world came to be dominated by vampires and how people ended up as nothing more than vessels of vampire food is described as well.

As you could expect, there must exist a place in this world where people live where they aren’t food, but it would be too much to describe how we get to know about that part. 🙂

The stuff I found both interesting and frigthening is how after an apocalyptic event in the world’s possible future, it wouldn’t take long for the people to lose much of the knowledge they now have. If you remove the books and no knowledge gets transfered to children, after 2 or 3 generations, no one is  able to read any longer.

What bothered me a bit about the book is the fact that everything always falls exactly right for Allie, even when it seems it’s going wrong, in the end it turns out right. Not to mention the fact that at some points, I was rolling my eyes at how blind/stupid people can be, but then again, it could be just my low tolerance of stupidity (which I know I have).

But, the world building is great, you really feel pulled into it and there are zombies! Kind of. 🙂

Even with these little things I thought could have been done better, I didn’t feel like stopping with the reading and finding something better (which is a clear sign for me the book is not really good) and I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series, so on the whole, I think it’s a good addition to the YA pool of novels.

My copy of the book was provided through http://www.netgalley.com/

The unexpected joys of running

I've been thinking April 17, 2012 Comments: 12

As some of you might know, I decided to join a running school this year and it’s been 5 weeks now that I’m going. Albeit not completely regularly but as an Aquarian with so many self-inflicted obligations, the only way I can live with them if I skip them sometimes.

Therefore, it is obvious I am not 100% regular, but I do make it to 2 out of 3 weekly trainings.

I can see the smiles as you read running schoold. 🙂 This is the second year Adidas is organizing this in Zagreb (this time in other Croatian cities as well) in order to promote running as a healthy choice for city people. After initial testing, we were separated into 3 groups and are following a program made for each group. The program is difficult enough that if you skip more than once, you will feel it the next time you’re there (so I try and keep to schedule, but honestly life does interfere).

Anyway, today’s training was a bit eye-opening in the manner that I enjoyed the running for the first time. Up to now, it’s been a constant battle with my body over the fact that my lungs seemed to have a problem with oxygen. 🙂 And then, my stiff shoulders protested and tended to constrict even more so I was leading a battle between my mind and my body.
My shoulders are finally easing down (and my pilates instructor can’t believe that running is helping me after all the effort she put into that) and my breathing is getting a rhythm my body can follow and now to the joys.

Well, there are the obvious joys of meeting new people, doing something good for your body, feeling your levels of fitness actually rising (I find it incredible how fast you can the signs of improvement, little, but they’re there), enjoying the fresh air (as we are running alongside the river running across Zagreb), releasing stress…

The unexpected joy happened today – someone in front of me was it seems wearing a tuberose perfume – which wafted in front of my nose for the duration of our running stretch. A good tuberose perfume I should add. 🙂

The other unexpected joy was meeting a friend from my university rowing days running in the opposite direction.

And the third unexpected joy is realizing you can actually do it (I’ll see if I’ll get into enough shape to run the half-marathon they are certain they can shape us up for) – and coming home realizing you keep smiling for no reason, but out of sheer joy. 🙂

Before you all go thinking it’s all fun and joy, I should add there are some unexpected problems as well.

Like, realizing your feet aren’t used to running so they ache during and after (it passes quickly). The same goes for your legs – it’s not your muscles which get overworked but some strange aches appear in tendons and parts I don’t know how to name.
Not to mention the fact that 3 times a week gets your body exhausted and you don’t have time to recuperate completely (hence me skipping some – and that helps me a lot).

But the basic line is, it’s a great body-mind exercise and if you listen to your body – it becomes joyful and fun fast. 🙂

P.S. Of course I’m using it as a way to lose a bit weight as well (as the pics of me from the school demonstrate I’m in dire need of that, even though they are a bit exaggerated, I hope) so it came as a great coincidence that I was pointed to this site yesterday in order to finally be able to count what I eat and its exact contents.  So Slim Kicker, I hope it works as a diet tool for me.