Book Thanksgiving---The Diamond Throne

I am thankful for The Diamond Throne by the great David Eddings.  Sparhawk, the main character in this book, was my first crush/love.  Seriously.  I loved him.  I remember the first time I read this book.  I was thirteen and my family had just moved.  I didn't know anyone.  I'm admitting it now, but I had no friends outside of the internet.  My last best friend told me never to call her again because she had found a new best friend.  I was depressed from leaving the city I had come to know.  I missed the kids I had nanny-ed for on a regular basis.  I was nervous about going back to school as my last experience with middle school left a lot to be desired (as in I was pulled out and home schooled because of bullying).  We had just about unpacked everything and my dad took me into the playroom and picked up a beat-up paperback from one of his numerous bookshelves and handed me the book.  He told me to read it, that it would cheer me up, that I would enjoy it.  I took his word for it, desperate for some sort of escape from my sucker of a life.

I devoured the book and fell in love with a fictional character, haha.

The Diamond Throne is one of the only books (series, really, because it's the first in a trilogy which leads into a second trilogy) that I re-read constantly.  I usually pick up this book when I'm feeling low, so if you see this book lying around my house, you can pretty accurately guess my mood.

Anyway.

I love this book.  I love the characters.  I love the interplay between the characters, how they grow, how they suck you into their world.  The first time I read this book, I finished it in a day.  It was summer, so I had nothing else really pressing going on.  Other than moping like a moody teenager.  This book saved me. 

I am thankful for this book and for my dad's understanding.  My mum once told me that I was scarily like my dad.  I took it as a compliment.

So, click off the internet and go read this book.  Believe me.  It's worth the time spent off the interwebs and TV.

Good news

Haha, that title makes me chuckle.  If you've seen Futurama, then you'll understand.

Moving on to my EPICALLY FANTASTICALLY AMAZING GOOD NEWS!

First, I got a job at my favorite Library!  That's right.  My dream is coming true.  And it's awesome.  I love my job!  I get a little giddy every time I drive to work.  It's the best during events.  Things are crazy busy and time just flies!  There's actually an event coming up in two weeks.  Christopher Paolini, author of the Eragon series, is going to be at the library.  That's right.  Be excited.

And.  I'm dressing up for the event.  Yay costumes!  I'm going to be Arya the Elf.  I'm going to be dressed in medieval finery.  I'll probably also be carrying around some sort of pointy and dangerous object, like a sword.

Anyway.  That's good news part one.

Good news part two: I'M OFFICIALLY GRADUATING IN APRIL 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holy CRAP, I can't describe how excited I am.  No more finals, midterms, or silly projects...at least until I get into my Master's program.  Sigh.  But that program will be awesome.  Gonna get my MLS at (hopefully) the San Jose State University.  I'm hoping and praying they accept me.  The two biggest reasons: they're one of the best programs and were recommended to me by quite a few librarians AND I wouldn't have to take the GRE.  Woohoo!

Okay.  That's all for now.  I'll be posting some pictures of events and such later.

Oh.  And the downer of my week: I'm not in Orlando at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter with my best friend Brit.

Giveaway

So, remember that giveaway that I mentioned about a month back?  You remember, right?  Well, I have something pretty awesome to add to it!  Be excited.

I'm giving away a signed copy of Matched by the fabulous Ally Condie.  Seriously, she's one of the sweetest people I've ever met.  Here's the synopsis, courtesy of Barnes and Noble.

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

Interesting, no?  It's an excellent book and an excellent addition to my growing giveaway.  And, because I'm pretty sure I have some international followers (woohoo!), this giveaway will be open internationally. 

This message is brought to you by Super-Nerd, taking some of the suck outta Mondays.