So random...
On Books: I mainly read adult fantasy/sci-fi novels, leaning more towards fantasy than sci-fi, but haven't read any new ones in a long while due to most of the plot being so similar. There are only so many "new twists" you can put in a vampire/werewolf/witch novel without things getting boring and trite. Anyway, a while ago, dragonsinger had a post asking about people's favorite YA books. At the time, I really couldn't think of anything to recommend, since most of the books I read when I was a kid made me roll my eyes when I went back to re-read. She asked me if I'd read anything written more recently, which I hadn't, so I decided to go for it, since it's been a long time I've started a new book.
I've currently finished reading the first three books in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, and it's only been about as many days since I've gotten them in the mail. I tried pacing myself and only reading during lunch break at work, but couldn't help myself and ended up finishing each book when I got home the same day I started reading them. I've had an obsession with Greek mythology ever since I was a wee thing in elementary school, so it was really great to see all of those elements come to life in a book series geared towards young adults, and not end up completely bastardized, just a bit modernized. As for the writing itself, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the books. Since the series is geared towards a younger audience, of course the reading was much easier than I was used to, but I was pleasantly surprised by the ease of storytelling. Rick Riordan has a talent for pace and flow; nothing is too rushed, and, just as importantly, nothing is too dragging.
On Life: I'm officially graduated now, I guess. Well, I have been since December, but I finally got my notice to pick up my diploma. They said it would take three months after the application for graduation was certified, but it's been more like five. Geez. I'm also really getting worried about applying to graduate school, because things are so much harder with all the budget cuts, my GPA is fairly low due to my days as a Bio major, and I've got nothing attached to my name that would help me out. I don't have many prospects for letters of recommendations, and the only thing I can think of to do is to attach myself to a research project. How the heck do I do that, though? Arg.
I've currently finished reading the first three books in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, and it's only been about as many days since I've gotten them in the mail. I tried pacing myself and only reading during lunch break at work, but couldn't help myself and ended up finishing each book when I got home the same day I started reading them. I've had an obsession with Greek mythology ever since I was a wee thing in elementary school, so it was really great to see all of those elements come to life in a book series geared towards young adults, and not end up completely bastardized, just a bit modernized. As for the writing itself, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the books. Since the series is geared towards a younger audience, of course the reading was much easier than I was used to, but I was pleasantly surprised by the ease of storytelling. Rick Riordan has a talent for pace and flow; nothing is too rushed, and, just as importantly, nothing is too dragging.
On Life: I'm officially graduated now, I guess. Well, I have been since December, but I finally got my notice to pick up my diploma. They said it would take three months after the application for graduation was certified, but it's been more like five. Geez. I'm also really getting worried about applying to graduate school, because things are so much harder with all the budget cuts, my GPA is fairly low due to my days as a Bio major, and I've got nothing attached to my name that would help me out. I don't have many prospects for letters of recommendations, and the only thing I can think of to do is to attach myself to a research project. How the heck do I do that, though? Arg.