Reads: Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone
March 6, 2021 • Books, currently reading, reads, shadow and bone
I’m not sure if it’s just the high of finally finishing a book after years of reading nothing but fan fiction. Believe me, shame doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of how I feel when I think of the time I spent away from books. But, I loved this story - a definite binge read.
I’ll begin at the beginning: when I heard Ben Barnes was going to star in a Netflix adaptation of this series, my interest was peaked. I bought the book and I just have to share how difficult it was to find a copy without that obnoxious “Coming to Netflix” stamp on the cover. Really, that’s all I knew about the series - Ben Barnes and Netflix. I haven’t watched the trailer or researched the plot because I wanted to shape my own characters and landscapes first. And I'm sure having no prior knowledge or expectations of this story made it that much more enjoyable.
The world of the story is that of a fantastical Russia where the Grisha manipulate magic and science in their respected colored kefta. And a king rules a land shadowed by a dread that hinges on encompassing darkness. The protagonist, meek and uncertain when we meet her, comes to relinquish her self-doubt and fear and learns to accept who she is and what she can do. I’m being vague in my summary but your in for an adventure and an ending that will leave you thirsting for more.
Speaking of thirst, let’s talk about the Darkling - a powerful, gorgeous and mysterious Grisha. Who I would want to make my villain any day.
‘“What?” I was finding it hard to concentrate. The Darkling’s thumb was still moving back and forth, tracing the length of the scar on my palm.”
Honestly, why cast Ben Barnes as the Darkling knowing the nature of this character if not to have more people fall in love and question their own moral sense?
Anyways, thanks for reading my what is really just initial messy and exciting feelings. I’ve mentioned how long it’s been since I read, well it's been longer since I’ve written. So here’s to reading and writing more because it’s been too damn long.
Queens, Wizards and Cobbled Alleys
April 13, 2018 • Edinburgh, My First Time, Scotland, Travel
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single woman with a lack of understanding of her true self, must be in want of an adventure. My adventure led me abroad for the first time, visiting the cities of Edinburgh, Paris, and London. I trekked across the pond with a friend and we began our journey in Edinburgh. The feelings I experienced there were nothing short of magic.
As soon as you step on its cobbled streets, you are transported into the pages of a fantastical novel set among medieval architecture and history. It doesn't come as a shock, to know that the Boy Who Lived was brought to life here. Like J.K Rowling, writers like Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Dame Muriel Spark have been inspired by this city - a writer's paradise.
"Piled deep and massy, close and high / Mine own romantic town." – Sir Walter Scott
"This profusion of eccentricities, this dream in masonry and living rock is not a drop scene in a theatre, but a city in the world of reality." – Robert Louis Stevenson
Arriving on December 26th, brought some cold weather. We didn't get to experience snowfall, but frosty white grounds would have you believe we did. My hands were constantly freezing replacing a pair of gloves with a camera. I've become interested in the hobby of photography more so after this trip. Making that focused connection between my eyes and the details of the sights that stand out to me, is much like writing. It's a form of expression and telling of its own story. The photos take me back to the scent of wet pavement and the awakening feeling of coming out of a warm building to the crisp air outside. I didn't waste time posting these photos and being distracted by social media. We live in a generation of black mirrors and "pic or it didn't happen," and ignoring this for my trip was the biggest favor I did for myself. If you're traveling, leave the social media behind and enjoy every second there for you because it's over all too soon.
On our first full day in Edinburgh, we grabbed brunch at a Frankenstein themed restaurant and pub. This find was purely by chance as our first plan was to visit The Elephant House, also known as the birthplace of Harry Potter but it was closed. The pub became a happy coincidence because we loved the food and drinks so much. The ambiance was great too and we came back for dinner the next day.
After brunch, we walked to Greyfriars Kirkyard, a cemetery just around the corner from the Frankenstein pub. We walked the entire exterior before finding its entrance and on the route found Victoria Street. Said to have inspired Diagon Alley, it's made up of a handful of small shops each painted its own different bright color.
At Greyfriars Kirkyard, we walked on muddy pastures looking at centuries-old graves of departed loved one, soldiers, poets, chemists, etc. The gravestones are embellished with sculptured details, some light and beautiful with angels others more eerie with skulls. I wrote down a Latin phrase from one of the tombstones in my journal to later lookup and translate:
NON OMNIS MORIAR
I SHALL NOT WHOLLY DIE or NOT ALL OF ME WILL DIE
I knew of one famous tombstone there, the source of Lord Voldemort’s name. And although the above Latin phrase wasn’t apart of Thomas Riddle’s tomb, it sort of alludes to the purpose of Horcruxes. Which, makes one wonder if this phrase sparked one of the most vital elements in Harry Potter.
At the hotel room, I searched the history of Greyfriars Kirkyard and read about one of the more popular ghosts that haunt the grounds there, George Mackenzie. Following the King’s orders, Mackenzie persecuted the Covenanters, a group of Scottish Presbyterians who refused to conform to the established church. They were imprisoned and tortured in a section of Greyfriars Kirkyard, giving Mackenzie the nickname “Bloody Mackenzie.” There have been stories of supernatural occurrences at his mausoleum: people fainting or finding scratches and bruises on their bodies later. In one more horrifying occurrence, a homeless man looking for shelter went into the mausoleum. The floor collapsed finding him in a pit filled with remains of plague victims. Today, the mausoleum is sealed with a lock and chain.
The following day, we were finally able to visit The Elephant House I ordered a delicious Scottish breakfast, trying my first Scottish dish - haggis. I can’t say I’m a fan, but the rest of my breakfast was delicious. Like many other writers and Harry Potter fans that find themselves in this cafe, I took some time to write. It’s a very homely cafe with different shapes and styles of wooden chairs and tables. Elephant framed photos, Harry Potter fanart, and J.K Rowling newspaper clippings hang on the faded peach-hued walls. The windows fog from the chill of the evening and the steam of hot coffee and tea. The cafe feels timeless as if nothing has changed from the moment J.K. Rowling sat there and wrote the introductory sentences of Harry Potter.
I've always had a strange obsession with castles. Needless to say, being able to walk through one was one of my favorite experiences. We chose to visit Linlithgow Palace, known for being the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. And as a fan of the show Reign, I was geeking out quite a bit. The show may be a loose adaptation, but she has always been an intriguing historical figure to me. Linlithgow Palace is beautiful. It is a ruined castle that sits on a hill overlooking a lake. Walking through the Palace gave me goosebumps, inspiring and haunting. I conjured ghost thinking about the people who would have walked those halls, from servants to royals and the Queen who would one day be executed.
The following day, found us at a fortress that stands proudly in the middle of the city that shares its name. Edinburgh Castle also housed Mary Queen of Scots and is the birthplace of her son, James VI, the King who would unite Scotland and England.
Visting in December, meant we had the opportunity to experience an Edinburgh Christmas festival. It was as cute as you could imagine, a mix of a carnival and marketplace. And on our last night there, we found ourselves sipping hot cocoa, under fairy lights, listening to live acoustic music.
I was so happy in that moment. My mind was so overwhelmed, still not believing I was there. So much beauty, inspiration, history, and wonder in one Scottish city. It makes me sad not having time to see more of Scotland but I will always be so grateful to have had the opportunity to visit at all.
Have you ever been to a place that enchanted you completely? Please, share in the comments and link me to your own travel posts. I'd love to read them!
Cheers!
New Beginnings
January 25, 2018 • New Year
A long overdue happy new year! I spent the end of last year and the start of the new year abroad, a dream lived which, has left me in a refreshing new state of mind.
If you read any of my posts from last year, you could sense some dissatisfaction with myself and the way my life was going. Graduating college and leaving San Francisco was a bump in the road I couldn't recover from. I was so happy with myself then, knowing what I wanted and pushing myself to get it. I was inspired and wrote a lot. All the puzzle pieces that make me up had fit perfectly together. But then I left and had to deal with "the real world." I lost some of those puzzle pieces and sank deeper and deeper into this hole of worthlessness. And yet, I didn't do anything to help myself get out.
I lived each day as a mindless robot doing the same thing every day. With this mundane agenda, it was hard to find inspiration in anything. It was such an abrupt change from my old self, I started to believe she never existed. How could this person who didn't finish a book all year or write more than a couple of paragraphs here and there be that same girl?
In a nutshell, 2017 was my year of existential crisis.
A couple of days ago, I heard the song "She Used To Be Mine," from the musical Waitress. I've been wanting to listen to the entirety of the musical for a while now. So, the irony is not lost on me, that this song decided to fall into my lap now.
She's imperfect, but she tries
She is good, but she lies
She is hard on herself
She is broken and won't ask for help
She is messy, but she's kind
She is lonely most of the time
She is all of this mixed up and baked in a beautiful pie
She is gone, but she used to be mine
...
For a chance to start over and rewrite an ending or two
For the girl that I knew
Who'll be reckless, just enough
Who'll get hurt, but who learns how to toughen up
...
For a chance to start over and rewrite an ending or two
For the girl that I knew
Who'll be reckless, just enough
Who'll get hurt, but who learns how to toughen up
It is therapeutic writing this post with those lyrics in the background. This song that echoes my feelings almost to a tee.
I'm not cured and I continue to lose sleep in anxiety over thoughts stemmed from my insecurities and doubt. That refreshing new state of mind I mentioned earlier is to say that I've accepted it. I've accepted where I am in life and realized I won't be here forever. That is, I won't be here forever if I fix the relationship with myself. Bridging the lost soul of today with the phantom of my past.
Learning to love me is my goal for 2018. After a year of realization and finally acceptance, I want 2018 to be the year of growth and moving forward.
And here are the more specific goals which will contribute to finding that self-love:
And here are the more specific goals which will contribute to finding that self-love:
- Write more. It is a dream of mine to write a novel but I think before that, I need to finish a collection of short stories that evoke the themes and questions so important to me, to really explore them, make them tangible, to tell a story that matters.
- Read more. What better way to grow as a writer than reading more inspirational work?
- Save some cash. I bought a car last year and traveled to Europe which I would do again and again. That said, I got set back, on the whole, moving out thing so I'm back at it again this year.
- Improve health. The fact is my self-love is greatly hindered by how I see myself physically and I can't get past it. So, I want to get fit not only to feel better about my image but to live a healthier life.
- Travel. I traveled to Scotland, France, and England a few weeks ago and now I can't help but want to see more and more.
Some seemingly simple goals. All we can do is put one foot in front of the other and take it day by day. Cheers to new beginnings! 2018, be great to us all!
My First Time: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
August 16, 2017 • Harry Potter, My First Time, Theme Parks, WWOHP
*** Post originally posted on July 30, 2017
I put off writing this for so long that I wasn’t going to bother posting it anymore. But what better way to celebrate JKR and Harry’s birthday than sharing some magic? This experience meant so much to me which is why I haven’t been able to just sit and write it out. But, here’s me trying to share my first time at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
The Wizarding World in Hollywood opened over a year ago today, and how I planned to be one of the first people to step into Hogsmeade but life had other plans and instead I went the day Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them released in theaters with a bunch of Potterheads known as the Los Angeles Dumbledore’s Army. This fan made group created an event which called for going to the WWoHP dressed up in 1920’s garb following an IMAX screening of Fantastic Beasts in CityWalk. Honestly, there was no better way to experience this place for the first time than with people who are just as passionate about HP. If you’re a Potterhead living in or near LA I definitely recommend you join the group as they always have fun HP related events going on!
So, here we go! Yes, I cried. Not upon the first steps walking in. Surprisingly, I kept my cool up until I reached the castle. This was the place that had filled my imagination and dreams as a kid. The place I always longed to escape to when times got hard. And now I could physically step into it. It was like the moment in The Sorcerer’s Stone when Harry gets his wand and there was that dramatic gush of wind, music, and spotlight. I was home.
After the initial shock wore off, my sister and I set to scope out every corner of Hogsmeade and to be honest, it didn’t take long. The Wizarding World in Hollywood is small. I’ve never been to the one in Florida but I know theirs is much bigger. All the same, Universal Studios Hollywood provides the same careful craft of making you feel completely immersed in the world JKR created.
There are two rides: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriff. Both are a great time and I’m a bigger fan of Forbidden Journey now that it is no longer 3D (made one a little sick before). It’s a great thrill ride and I get to see beautiful and pure Harry playing Quidditch as if I were flying right beside him. This ride is located inside the castle which is the piece de resistance. As you wait in line, you get to see the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, the Gryffindor common room, Dumbledore’s office and so much more. Although I have not done so myself, I believe you can just do a walkthrough of the castle instead of waiting in the queue for the ride. I won’t give more away in case you’re waiting to see and ride it for yourself. Flight of the Hippogriff’s only flaw is that it’s TOO short. But if the wait isn’t bad, I still recommend you go on it. You get to meet Buckbeak just don’t forget your manners and bow.
After riding both rides, my sister and I ate at the Three Broomsticks for lunch. I had the ribs platter with corn on the cob and potatoes. So good! The atmosphere in here is straight out of the movie with its rustic aesthetic. There is plenty of seating both inside and outside the restaurant and both views are enchanting as you have the wonderful view of Hogwarts outside. On the rare occasions I visit the park by myself, I take my journal, order a butterbeer and just write on one of the tables outside. These moments truly make me feel like a Hogwarts student. Oh, and since I brought it up, let me just say, butterbeer is amazing!
Bellies full, we decided to walk through all the shops. Bad idea for my weak resistance to pretty things. Obviously, I wanted to buy everything! For whatever reason, I didn’t do as much damage as I could have that day. But, I did indulge myself in buying Harry’s wand, a chocolate frog, and a few pins. I was upset they didn’t offer my Pottermore chosen wand so I’m holding out, hoping they come out with more types of wands in the future.
After catching the Triwizard Spirit Rally & the Hogwarts Frog Choir (both great shows my personal favorite is the Frog Choir – ♫ Move your body like a hairy troll, learning to rock and roll spin around like a crazy elf dancing by himself ♫ ), it was time to watch Fantastic Beast and if the whole day wasn’t magical enough the film was just as dazzling. I can’t wait for the next one! The Wizarding World in Hollywood a wonderful escape from the Muggle world. I can’t help but awe each time I visit like it was the first time. It’s overwhelming for sure if you have grown up with Harry Potter. And now thinking about how it’s been 20 years since the Philosopher’s Stone released I can’t help but feel even more nostalgic. Happy birthday Joanne Rowling and the Harry Potter!
“Whether you come back by page or by the big screen (or theme park), Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.”
*** Post originally posted on June 3, 2017, on my old blog
“Currently” is a series I picked up from Alice over at a nudge in the right direction which I believe originated here.
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