The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart

“I say it each time I see you Pru

But each time I see you feels new

So we are here again and I’ll say it again

Prudencia – you are, essentially, a librarian

Peddling a kind of romantic tosh.

Your time has passed Pru – bish bash bosh!”

Going into NationalTheatre of Scotland’s The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart, I didn’t quite know what to expect.  Before seeing the show, I made sure to purchase one of the few remaining copies of the script at the Shakespeare Theatre gift shop (I learned my lesson when two years ago I didn’t purchase a copy of Black Watch and had to hunt it down online).  But, when I bought the script, I was told to hold off reading it until I saw the production.  I was glad I waited because there are differences in what I saw and what is written.

Actually, the first time I saw the show, Annie Grace was out (due to a family emergency) and was being replaced for that performance by Emma Callander who did a bang up job considering it was all last minute and she was using notes.  As it is a small company and they don’t travel with understudies, I wonder how many times such a thing has happened.  So one of the first things I noticed when seeing the show the second time was that Annie Grace does a lot more singing than her characters did the first time I saw it.  This is impossible to tell when reading the script because it is all one big ballad with no delineation as far as which character is saying the lines, even when coming from a specific character (say Pru, Colin, or Nick).  Had I read the script prior to my first visit, I’m sure I would have been a)spoiled and b)confused as to if it was actually a play I was seeing.

Prudencia Hart signed in at table 24.

In addition, my friend and I were offered advice as to the best location to sit if we wanted to be a part of the action.  So, we got their early and requested an interactive table.  And we got it!  Table 24 was the table that Melody Grove as Pru and Andy Clark as Colin sign in on, Aly Macrae sprawls across, and is later used as the table during the Ballad of Co Lin, which gave us a most excellent view of the action for the second act.  We requested the same table for the second time we saw it, but were placed at another table.  However, as there was room at table 24, we switched seats.  Hehe.  So, if you don’t mind being possibly poked at by the actors, try sitting in the highly interactive section.  I would definitely recommend it.  The actors do wander around before the show starts to educate the audience on the necessity of creating snow for the performance.  We ruined Andy’s instructions for us the second time around because we had already gotten started with snow creation.  Instead, I got him to sign my script.

It looks as if we are reenacting the "Ballad of Co Lin" here.

The show takes place on midwinter’s night 2010.  Prudence has just taken part in a conference on border ballads and discovers that she is stuck there overnight due to a blizzard.  She and Colin Syme (who annoys her with his modern take on ballads) were stuck at a pub with a very unenthusiastic “Folk Night” which then turned into rocking “Karaoke Nite”.  And although Pru has been warned about the Devil’s Ceilidh (where at midnight on midwinter solstice, the Devil (David McKay) is able to wander freely to attract souls to hell), she ventures forth from the pub to escape the madness within and to find a bed & breakfast.  Except, instead of finding a simple B&B, she gets to spend four millennia in Hell with the Devil, looking out at the Costco car park.  At least she has a library filled with all the books that ever were in it to entertain her.  And, like a good librarian/scholarly type she starts to catalogue the collection; which is precisely what I would have done in her shoes.   Does she escape the Devil?  I’ll give you a hint: there is something called the “Ballad of Co Lin” towards the end of the show. 

With Melody Grace (Prudencia)

Prudencia is a girl after my own heart.  I pretty much figured it out somewhere between when she was called a librarian by Colin and when she ended up in the loo as an escapee from the people who wanted her to participate in the karaoke.  Because, you know, I like to avoid public spectacles just as much as she does.  And then when she got to see Nick’s library for the first time, it was just like that moment in Beauty and the Beast when Belle is shown the Beast’s library and you thought you were in Heaven.  Only, in this case, it was a bit more like Hell.  And perhaps that is why I like this play so much, because I’m a lot like Pru before her undoing. 

Oh, and did I mention that you get whisky pre-show?  And it is delicious whisky.  Like, I want to go find a bottle of it for my own.  They served samples of Benromach Speyside Single Malt Whisky.  A special shout out to the man serving the whisky.  I don’t know his name, but he was very nice and gave us a bit of background on the whisky (and told me that he would never refuse a lass a second sample-which, sadly, I did not take him up on).

I’m not sure if the National Theatre of Scotland hires the nicest actors or what, but we had a chance to talk to the actors after the show the second time we saw it and they were just as awesome as their Black Watch counterparts whom we had met a couple months prior, both onstage and off.  It made me realize that I am a fan of the National Theatre of Scotland and want to see all of their shows, which means that I hope that Shakespeare Theatre Company in DC continues to carry on this relationship they have developed with NTS the past couple of years.  It would be  wonderful if someday they would bring over Enquirer or Glasgow Girls or…  Granted, I would be delighted if ever Prudencia Hart or Black Watch came back around.  I’m keeping my eyes on the schedule in hopes that Prudencia will make her way back to east coast of the US some time soon.

Although Prudencia Hart is no longer running at the Bier Baron Tavern in DC, she is still on tour after the new year!  Check the schedule out on NTS website and go if she’s in your area.  Of course, your “One Colin Syme” will be different than my “One Colin Syme”. 

I will blame the shoes.

Me in one of my Renn Faire creations.

 

Over the past few months, I've taken up a new hobby.  Sewing.  I was inspired by my love of costumes to create one of my own.  After a couple test rounds of Renaissance Faire dresses (where, if you notice in the picture on the right, I even taught myself how to do slashing and hand-sewn eyelets-yes, I'm proud of myself), I settled on my need to make a "Cosette" dress for the opening of the new Les Miserables movie.  Yeah.  Have you seen dresses from the 1830s?  The fine sleeves? 

Well, the movie comes out in less than two months and I am not sure if I am going to make it.  Why?  Because I'm still working on the corded stay.  That's right.  You can't make the dress without the proper undergarments first.  So, I'm stuck on the stay.  Actually, I wouldn't say stuck.  It's actually moving along quite well.  I'm just finishing basting the front and lining together (after mastering a tiny blanket stitch earlier this evening) and will soon be on to the runners.  I hope.

I'm also working on the corded petticoat with rows of tiny cording.  They look cute, but are killer on my fingers since I'm doing that all by hand.  But so cute!

My dress won't be pink. It will have the sleeves, though.

So, will I get the dress done?  I don't know.

Do you know what really inspired this costuming/sewing craze?  I'm going to blame Lauren over at American Duchess.  She sells some of the best shoes for reenactment.  I confess to purchasing both the Kensington and Astoria shoes (with great plans of creating an 18th century wardrobe-I have the fabric, just need the time).  I wear my Astorias for everyday use, they are that comfortable.

"23Skidoos" - ::dies of adorableness overload::

But what I'm most looking forward to now?  The 23Skidoos Spectator pumps.  They are in the "pre-order" stage and I'm crossing my fingers that she gets the 100 orders needed so I can get them.  Aren't they adorable looking?  I know I want to make some 20s/30s clothes now to go along with them.  Add it to the list!

But, no, I must focus on the 1830s, not the 1930s.  Besides, the 1830s craze will be over by the time I get my little hands on the 23Skidoos!

The Golden Thread that connects us all.

 For it's over the mountain, over the main

Through Gibraltar, tae France and tae Spain

Wi' a feather in your bonnet and a kilt aboon your knee

Sae list my bonnie laddie and come awa wi'me.

Chris Starkie (Stewarty)

Last Friday night after seeing National Theatre of Scotland's production of  Black Watch at  Shakespeare Theatre Company's Sidney Harman Hall in DC, my friend and I turned to each other and realized at the same time that we had found a new obsession.  Although no, it actually wasn't new.  This was a show that we had seen and loved when it had last been through in early 2011.  We just didn't expect that we would be able to see it again quite so soon.

Oh, there was a rumor we heard from Adam McNamara in November of 2011 when we were in London seeing Michael Sheen's Hamlet at the Young Vic.  A rumor that a new tour was being proposed for the US.  Vigorous Google searching revealed nothing.  As it was, we had to practically wait until opening night to find out who was in the cast.   

Andrew Fraser (Fraz), Robert Jack (Sergeant)

Happily, we were not disappointed.  A new tour was mounted, the cast is brilliant, and I am, once again, completely enthralled with this show.  And I don't know why.  No, really.  Why do I like this show so much?  On the surface, you wouldn't think that we had much in common.  I'm not Scottish (that I know of, at least).  I've never been in the army or to Iraq.  Heck, I've never even fired a gun.  And my mom would be washing my mouth constantly if I swore as much as these characters do.  So what is it that draws me to this piece?

The plot jumps back and forth between the "present" in a pub in Scotland where six of the Black Watch soldiers are being interviewed about their experiences in Iraq by a writer who is interested in developing a piece for the theatre based on the interviews and the past in Iraq where there are eight soldiers and two officers.  You do the math.  Some people might not make it home.  Much of what is said in the interviews relates to the following scene which takes place in Iraq.  Scene transitions generally happen through song (using traditional songs of the Black Watch) or by the Officer's emails being read aloud by the Officer.  So, say in the pub when they have a problem with the accent Rossco uses to portray native Iraqi citizens, Rossco suggests that anyone who has a problem with his accent is welcome to step outside for ten seconds to resolve the issue.  In the next Iraq scene, there is a whole segment of well-choreographed "Ten Second Fights" (started by Kenzie and Nabsy).

Scott Fletcher (Kenzie) and Cameron Barnes (Macca)

I think that what first drew me in on my initial viewing was the choreography.   That and the Bluesy scene made me cry.  That is when they receive their mail and it is a big sign language segment which is another thing that has to be seen to be fully appreciated.  And then the second time was getting acclimated to the characters and their relationships with each other.  So by the third time I saw it, I could really focus in on the character traits the actors have developed and really begin to appreciate their relationships and the jokes (and seriously, Stewarty needs a hug, and it is especially moving when you know that he is based off of a real soldier who went through that and is still suffering the PTSD).  Four of the actors-Richard Rankin as Granty, Chris Starkie as Stewarty, Cameron Barnes as Macca, and Scott Fletcher as Kenzie (plus understudy Adam McNamara) were the same from the first time I saw Black Watch.  The other five actors were new to me-Adam as Rossco, Ryan Fletcher as Cammy, Gavin Jon Wright as Nasby (and Gavin-hehe), Robert Jack as the Sergeant and Writer, Andrew Fraser as Fraz, and Stephen McCole as Officer and Lord Elgin.  It was slightly disconcerting seeing it again with half of the cast being familiar (which is odd considering I hadn't seen it in two years) and the others being new.  But, I quickly got over that and happily followed along with the new cast.

Gavin Jon Wright (Nabsy), Ryan Fletcher (Cammy), and Stephen McCole (Officer) in the "Fashion" scene.

It really is an ensemble piece.  Which could be part of the reason why I like it so much.  I was reflecting today that it is a bit like the student revolutionaries in Les Miserables.  Another favorite show of mine.  Except, you know, happily not everyone dies at the end of Black Watch.  Yay!  But, speaking as someone who has seen Les Miserables far more times than she can remember, I enjoy watching the characters in the same way that I enjoyed watching the ensemble work on the barricades.  Just, you know, different battles and time periods.  Maybe that is why I like it so much.

Scott Fletcher (center as Kenzie)

Plus, there is the knowledge that it is soon going away.  It is only a three week run at Shakespeare Theatre Company.  ::sniffsniff::  Which has perhaps led to my sudden determination to see it as many times as possible.  Hence, why I have already seen this touring cast three times and will being seeing it two more times before the show moves on to Chicago.  Touring shows, much like glory, is a fleeting thing and must be taken advantage of whenever possible.

I love the music in it.  I have a thing for bagpipes.  I know that is weird.  Or maybe not weird, just a developed taste.  I'll blame that on the fact that my college had a pipe and drum band and I could hear their practice every week.  It does grow on you, I guess.  And this show has the fabulous talent of award-winning bagpiper Cameron Barnes (who is also super nice) who plays two songs live on bagpipes.  Besides that, we also get lovely regimental songs that have been stuck in my head the past few weeks.  Actually, I had to go download not as awesome recordings of the songs because I kept singing them.  They are on my ipod now.  

My new favorite bagpiper (not that I have an old favorite)! Cameron Barnes (Macca) and myself.

It also doesn't help that the cast is so impossibly nice.  After the first tour came round, I hunted up a copy of the script with photos of that cast in it.  I brought it to the show last Friday night and waited at the stage door to try to get them to sign it (yes, I'm a dork, shut up).  But, really.  So nice!  They all were quite happy to sign it for me and even stopped to chat a bit.  So, there, I'll blame them.  Their offstage awesomeness sealed the deal to make this one of the best shows I've seen all year.

A couple of years ago, I did a mini-review of the Black Watch script by Gregory Burke for one of my 48-hour reading challenge books.  Though it was basically me stating that the actual show is so much more than the script.  So, by all means, read the script.  Even if lines are changed or ad libbed.  But also do yourself a favour and see the show if you get the chance.  Please.  It's playing Chicago next followed by South Korea and finally Seattle and San Francisco in the spring.
 

Just because my friend sent this to me.  There are only two uses of kilts in the show so don't get your hopes up too high on that account. ;)

Transcendence

So, I admit it.  I had a very lengthy review all typed up here about C.J. Omololu's Transcendence.  And for some reason, my keyboard tends to delete everything with the touch of some mysterious button that I know not it's location (else wise I would destroy it).  I feel like crying.  However, I shall persevere.  The computer shall not win the day!

I will say this, I love time travel books.  Especially those by Connie Willis (just saying check out her books if you haven't).  But, until yesterday, I don't believe I have ever read a book dealing with reincarnation.  Who know it could be so much fun?

Nicole "Cole" Ryan was just a normal sixteen-year-old girl (minus the whole child prodigy bit).  Until she started to "fall" into visions.  Visions of things that happened in the past.  No, not her immediate past, but from times long ago.  We first meet Cole as she is traipsing her way through London to go visit the Tower of London with her sister Kat.  While there, she literally falls on the Tower Green while having a vision of an execution.  It is there that we meet Griffon, a boy who's father is a Tower warden, though conveniently enough for our story, mainly lives in the United States with his mother.  And, it turns out, in the same city that Cole lives in: San Fransisco.  Which is great because she is going to need his help in the future.

Cole is not having idle daydreams.  No.  She is becoming one of the Ahket, which is a group of people who came remember their past lives.  Generally they use this knowledge for good and are assigned tasks once they turn eighteen in order to put their quite literal thousands of years of knowledge for use for the betterment of society.  Except for those who go rogue and use their knowledge for evil and to promote their own agendas. 

Happily for Cole, Griffon is Ahket, and has been one for about four hundred years.  He can be her guide as she tries to wrap her head around the idea that she can remember past lives.  They like each other, but Griffon is carrying a lot of baggage, however, as he can remember all of his previous relationships and while he likes Cole, he isn't sure if he wants to commit to a relationship.  He has promised her that he will protect her "this time".  And why does Cole need protection?  Oh, maybe because there just might be a rogue Ahket after her for something she did in a previous lifetime.  But for what?

I enjoyed getting to know the child prodigy cellist Cole in modern life, but also in her two main previous lives detailed in the book.  That of Lady Allison Wyatt who was executed on Tower Green in 1538 and as Italian cellist Clarissa Catalani who was making a concert tour of America in the late 1800s with a group of young musicians including her best friend, Alessandra Barone and Alessandra's boyfriend Paolo.  Something went wrong in that life, as well, but she isn't quite sure what.  Cole's visions of past lives generally occur when a sight or smell brings a memory to the surface.  However, whenever she touches Veronique, a grad student to whom she is giving cellist lessons, she always gets visions of her life as Clarissa. 

No, not Lady Allison, but rather Lady Jane Grey.

Okay, I admit that I had the correct villain pegged early on, but it was still a fun romp through history.  Plus, that way I could yell at Cole as she attempted to muddle her way through thoughts of "who is causing all of these 'accidents' around me". 

I can't wait to read the second book, as I am guessing that we are going to be learning more about her life as Lady Allison and perhaps discover why she had to die.  And, hopefully we will get a bit more insight into Griffon and perhaps some of his other lives.  A girl can dream, right?

The final countdown

So, here it is.  The last post of MotherReader's 48-Hour Book Challenge.  I've been a little slackerish on the posts, I know, but when I come home from dancing, I wanted to read more than write, so there it is.  Our first performance went well enough, but there was enough technical difficulties to hope that today's will be better.  At least I didn't fall flat on my face (except when I was supposed to have).  All my friends came yesterday, so there should hopefully be less stress today.  Phew!

But, back to reading!

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

When I was in Europe, I took an overnight train from Nice to Paris.  In my cabin was a girl name Christine who was traveling alone.  I was with my friend Sarah.  We departed each other in Paris and never expected to see each other again.  Not 24 hours later, we ran into each other again at Notre Dame Cathedral.  Isn't that strange to meet a girl twice in one day (and she was going to St Andrews at the time so got to meet Prince William, how smashing!)  In The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, two people meet at an airport and spend a magical day together.  Magical?  Okay, maybe not.  One is going to a wedding for her father and her new stepmother whom she has never met.  The other is going where?  Well, I won't tell because that would be kind of spoilerish.

Pages: 236

Crucible of Gold by Naomi Novik

The newest of the Temeraire series.  A book of alternate early 19th century with dragons.  My friends are all aflame about this series (they have a strong love of Patrick O'Brian, one which I don't quite share with them).  But, sometimes, it is easier to drink the kool-aid in order to understand what they are all talking about.  My friend loaned me her copy of the newest book and I figured this was as good of a time to read it as any.  This time Temeraire and his captain Laurence are reinstated into the British Air Corps (the last book they were transported to Australia for not following orders) and are ordered to Brazil in hopes to negotiate a treaty there.  Unfortunately, as things do, the ship they are using to transport themselves, their crew, and two other dragons sinks due to an unfortunate carousing event thanks to less then awesome sailors, grog, and a fire.  Whoops!  They are left in the middle of the ocean with nothing to do but fly.  And, the distance is too great.  So when they finally spy a ship and land on it, they become French captives.  Yay!  And, the series of misfortunes just grows from there.  Kind of a long, depressing read, really.  Maybe not the best choice for the read-a-thon.

Pages: 323

Metamorphoses by Mary Zimmerman

I saw a really fabulous play this spring in a tiny, tiny theatre (Constellation Theatre in Washington, DC).  The action takes place in a pool of water as the characters reenact some of Ovid's myths.  Seriously, it turned out to be a thing of beauty and I just knew I had to get my hands on a script to recreate in my head some of the scenes.  Because some of the stories made me want to cry.  I guess I'm finally turning into that sappy love-sick teenager that I am so not.  But, the story of Ceyx and Alcyone, check.  Orpheus and Eurydice (told by both Ovid and Rilke), check.  Eros and Psyche, check.  And then the conclusion, "Let me die the moment my love dies.  Let me not outlive my own capacity to love.  Let me die still loving, and so, never die."  More engaging on stage, yes, but still a worthwhile read.  Now I need to go and explore Ovid's Metamorphoses in depth.

Pages: 86

And, still reading...

Perception by Kim Harrington

I was a fan of Harrington's Clarity so of course I had to read the sequel when it came out.  Which I am currently doing.  But, I'm not that far enough in it to give it a fair review, so I'm just going to mention that so far I'm enjoying it and eagerly anticipating really getting into the mystery soon.

Pages: 52

Thus, I come to the conclusion of my reading challenge.  I need to spruce up these reviews a bit better (especially add some pictures), but this will do for now.  I hope.

Pages read: 1625
Hours reading: 23 hours 45 minutes
Blogging/socializing: 1 hour 45 minutes
Total: 25 hours 30 minutes
Donating to RIF: $25

I am well pleased, looking at my total.  I was shooting for 20 hours and passed that.  Hurrah!


 

::Yawn:: And I didn't even stay up all night!

Well, good morning, sunshine!  I feel quite like I've been through a war, and really ought not to be up at all.  Yet, I have been.  Up and reading for the last hour.  And after going to bed at three in the morning.  Partially because my rehearsal went until just about 2 o'clock and also because I was just determined to finish my book.  Success!

But, going back to yesterday...

The Haunted Schoolhouse by Sally Watson

The story was one that the author apparently first wrote this novel when she was in college, but it was only published (independently) a few years ago.  This one doesn't seem to follow any ancestors of her other books, and is set in northern California in the late 19th century.  It was based on a story of a haunted schoolhouse the author heard while in college.  And features four ginger Scottish lads with accents to boot.  She had me at ginger.  The main character, Emily, was recently orphaned and so was brought to Alderpoint, California to live with her aunt and uncle.  And as she is the only age appropriate educated woman around, she is told that she will be the new teacher.  Unfortunately for her, she not only has the second sight, but the school knows this and shortly after starting her teaching career, a presence is made known at the school.  It starts off as being friendly, though with the appearance of Dawn, a new student, the activity grows more frightening with each passing day.  Of course, the ghost only performs for the students and not the adults who come to witness the spectacle.  This was a fun, if slight read.  I did easily guess the truth about Dawn from the beginning of her appearance at the schoolhouse.  And of course, I grew to love Ian and Robbie the most.  The only thing that got a bit confusing was there was a lack of editing at some points (like when Dawn was referred to as Lark).

Pages: 85

Illuminated by Erica Orloff

Wait?.  This one has ghosts too?  Um, yes.  Or at least ghostly dreams.  Heloise and Abelard, two names from history that have come to symbolize love, much like Romeo and Juliet.  And also equally doomed.  When Callie's uncle Harry discovers that a Book of Hours recently brought to his auction house is actually a palimpsest which is basically a manuscript that had been written on and then cleaned off to be written on again.  Under a certain light, the words from the previous book could be read and soon Callie and hottie August are on the trail to discover the history of the manuscript and who the author of the journal might have been.  This propels them as far as France.  Callie and August's love burns as brightly as Heloise and Abelard.  Can the two find out the truth of the manuscript and reach a happier conclusion in their own relationship then that of the epic lovers?  This was a slight, but enjoyable book.  A lot of time these books tend to jump back and forth between the present and the past, so it was a nice change to be in the present (except for those few dream sequences when H&A were attempting to "tell" them something).  And, I always like history and books.

Pages: 244

Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley

Rich girl turned recessionista Corinne had great plans of attending a private boarding school and hooking up with a hot upperclassman she met during her visit.  Instead, her father lost his job and she is being shuttled off to Texas to live with her mother's grandparents.  Grandparents she has only met a few times and never in Texas.  At the beginning of the story, Corinne promises us that we will most likely hate her, but that maybe with patience and time will will grow to like her.  And, that was a promise kept.  I have to admit, that I can never understand the rich.  They do do things differently.  When we meet Corinne, she is on one of her many shopping sprees, which she does with alarming frequency and with quite the spendy budget.  That all changes and by the end of the book, she can appreciate that $24.99 dress and drug store make-up can be just as fashionable and that is more about the girl wearing these items than the items themselves.  And, even while you are disliking Corinne for the way she is hating on Texas at large and Broken Spoke in particular, you see that some of the town's residents are also not as perfect in their thinking.  Even Corinne's new friend Kitsy admits that she was only interested in being friends with Corinne at the beginning because she was from NYC, a place that Kitsy dreams about.  I am left with only one question at the end, what is Bubby's full name?  Was it there and I somehow skimmed right over it?  Or do we never learn it?  Still, he was so obviously a better choice over Rider who was clearly using her (though I, for some reason, thought that was also going to use her model-like brother in that cornflower photo shoot he took of him-maybe an album cover? but, that never transpired).

I'm leaving you with this quote from the beginning.  Because, like Candide, I favor optimism and believe that even when things look seemingly bad, generally something good can come of it.

And just think, somewhere right now a butterfly might be flapping its wings and altering your future in some peculiar, yet beautiful way.

Pages: 291

Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

Hartley is having the worst day of her life.  First she finds out that her boyfriend has been cheating on her with the queen of chastity (who is not sounding so pure here) and when she goes to confront him (by sneaking into his house through his window), she discovers the dead body of said queen (Courtney Cline) stuffed inside his closet.  Josh, her boyfriend, sneaks into her room the night of the murder and pleads with her to help him out.  Hartley doesn't believe her now ex-boyfriend Josh did it, though the police are doing their best to track him down to arrest him.  She agrees to help him out by discovering the truth.  The novel follows the misadventures of one girl turned sleuth as she attempts to discover who the murderer is, before she herself is killed in the process.  She is aided by her best friend, Sam, and "bad boy" Chase (who is also the editor of the school paper who is willing to help out if only to get an exclusive).  There is a little tension between the two, but it isn't explored all that much.  After a bit of prodding, another girl turns up dead, this one a "princess" of chastity and one of the best friends of Courtney.  As Hartley closes in on the killer, will she be the next victim?  This was a fun read, and so I will be hunting down her next adventure (there was a brief preview of it in my copy of the book-well, rather the library's book).  My one big complaint?  So many of the girl characters had boy-type names, well, I admit in my tiredness, I was getting a bit confused!

Pages: 308

Okay, it has taken me like an hour to write this up.  That is just sad.  I am going to take a break from writing and go back to my reading.

Total pages: 928
Hours reading: 12 hours 30 minutes
Hours blogging 1 hour 15 minutes

Checking in, the abridged version.

I'm late, late, late!  I was supposed to have been to the theatre between 2 and 3, but got so involved in my last book that I didn't want to leave until I was done.  So, I'm sorry to say, there will be no reviews at the moment, but I will let you in on what I've read so far.

Over the course of six hours reading time, I have gotten through:

The Haunted Schoolhouse by Sally Watson - she always wins me over with ginger boys with Scottish accents.
Illuminated by Erica Orloff
Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley - which, in some way, reminded me of the "So Charmed" novels by Jenny B. Jones.

But, more on those after I get home, whenever that will be.  My only saving grace at the moment is that I don't believe my first rehearsal time is until 4, when the baby crocs take the stage.  The show is Peter Pan and I am playing Smee, a mermaid, and fairy dust.  I finally have a named role!  This is a big deal.

More later.

So, six hours reading.  15 minutes blogging.  15 minutes of attempting to find all of my costume pieces.  And, I'm off!

Starting Line 2012

"We are about to brave the storm in a skiff made of paper, and how it will end, God only knows." -1776

So, once more into the breach I go with MotherReader's 48 Hour Book Reading Challenge.  This year, however, I do know that I am not going for all 48 hours.  I actually have my dance recital this weekend, so I figure I'll be lucky if I break the 20 hour mark.  Still, I have a stack of books to read (though not as large as I had hoped due to an unfortunate incident of not being able to attend BookExpo this week).

So, I started blogging this at 8:30, and will conclude my reading at 8:30 Sunday morning.

And, go...

Starting with another Sally Watson, as tradition dictates.  Except, I've nearly run out of them!  Oh horrors!  And no new Cat Royal book this year, either.

(Oh, to go back to last year's starting post comment about Backstreet Boys, I was at the dance studio the other night and there were two girls talking about this band N*Sync, who they thought was from the 90s but weren't quite sure.  It's not like anyone had ever heard about them.  Wow, did I feel old at that point!)