Post the Seventh: Weddings are Busytime

Oh my. I have fallen behind. No surprises, I suppose.

Yesterday was my sister's wedding shower, which I was hosting, and today we crossed the border to go shopping for my bridesmaid dress. The shower went well and I got a dress, and all is fine. Other than the fact that I have little free time and it depresses me.

SO, let's marathon through the Tasks I've missed.

DAY 4 - My favourite book!

My favourite book... This is a tough one. I'll pick my two favourite books, one fiction and one non-fiction.

I apologize in advance for gushing. I am a book nerd. I will freely admit this.

My favourite novel is Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire. Many people have heard of the musical adaptation, but it pales, ABSOLUTELY PALES, in comparison with the novel upon which it was loosely based. (Very loosely based.) The novel follows Elphaba, AKA the Wicked Witch of the West (from L Frank Baum's beloved book The Wizard of Oz) from her birth to her canonical death and paints an absolutely fascinating picture of this archetypical villian. The novel is amazingly broad in its scope, examining things from the nature of evil to the role of religion. The characters are fascinating and unique, and one thing that is done that I grudgingly like is that not much exposition is given; you are left to sort out the characters for yourself based upon their actions and words. The book is occasionally dark and often philosophical, but is also funny. Not only are its contents fascinating, it is written in a manner that takes my breath away. I've often said that besides content I focus on the writing style, and Maguire's writing is... amazing. I love the writing. I would provide a quote but every single bit of it is amazing and stunning and makes me reel in wonder.

My favourite non-fiction book is Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond, which I am in the process of reading. This book basically addresses the question of why there are inequalities among human societies; in particular, why Europeans have become dominant over other peoples. It doesn't base the question on superiority of genes or such archaic ideas, but attributes it to 3 basic factors: guns, germs, and steel. It's difficult to explain, as the book starts in prehistorical times and brings it to current day, but I don't exaggerate when I say it's the most fascinating book I've ever read. It goes into so much detail and examines every aspect of society -- there are several chapters based upon the domestication of animals -- that it's impossible to not find SOME of it fascinating. For me, who's passion is basically the thesis of this book -- why human societies came to exist as they do today -- this book is like treasure. I also like how it examines cultures that I don't know much about; for example, the Maori are a constant theme throughout the book. It's a really interesting read, isn't very difficult to follow, and teaches you a lot.


NOW, for Day 5, AKA 'today' -- It's technically the 6th as I write this but I haven't gone to bed yet so in my mind it's like the 5th...

YOUR FAVOURITE QUOTE!

...You bastards. I'm a quote-whore.

If I had to pick one, just one, it'd probably be:

We have done the impossible, and that makes us mighty.
-Mal, Firefly (played by Nathan Fillion)

Why is this my favourite quote? I don't know.

No really, I don't. There's just something about it... Like, you can be mighty by doing something that you thought was impossible. Greatness is achievable by breaking beyond the boundaries that have been set for you.

...Yeah I don't really know.

Anyways, off to bed, tired as hell.