dendrea::trees

Yesterday I submitted the last piece of assessment for my Masters of IT course. Honestly, I wasn’t that happy with the final product.  But, calling on my inner (and not as inner as I’d like) Valley girl:

What.ever.

I need to learn to let some things go. Learn from what I’ve done, move on. Quit the dwelling and the comparing and the constant editing. I need to be okay with doing okay.

Most importantly I need to realise that doing my best and being THE BEST are not the same and they don’t need to be the same.

Through dangers untold, and hardships unnumbered, I fought my way here, to take back my life that you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great…you have no power over me.

Sometime last March I decided I should read 52 books by the end of the year. I failed.

Or maybe I didn’t. I didn’t start keeping track until April, so I know I missed a few. Officially I only made it to 46.

Top 10 Books that I Read and Remembered to Write Down

Or My Adventures in YA Literature

Or I Heart Sharon Creech.

10. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Honestly, I remember almost nothing about this book except for neckties and how it left me feeling happy.

9. The Lost Thing by Shaun Tan

I discovered Shaun Tan!

8. Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems

This is another picture book, but I read it about 100 times, so it goes into my count. Mo Willems writes the kinds of children’s literature that I think every kid should read. It isn’t pretentious or soppy or dumbed down.

7. Dawn by Octavia Butler

I read the entire Xenogenesis series. I became so overly attached to Lilith in the first book that when she didn’t appear so much in the final two I was put off. I’m attracted to Octavia Butler’s stories for her writing first and her stories second. Detailed alien mating  rituals were fun too.

6. Heartbeat by Sharon Creech

Aaah! Sharon! I didn’t even know about this lady until last year, but I’ve read nearly every one of her books so far. Written in free verse (like many of her stories). Her voice is captivating and manages to make me believe that her children characters are actually children. I’m doing a horrible job describing this.

5. The Great Gatsby: A Graphic Adaptation by Nikki Greenberg

Yeah, I like The Great Gatsby, but I might like this version better.

4. Fat Vampire by Adam Rex

The funniest book I read all year. I got an advanced copy of this when I visited Writers House in December. I think it comes out this year.

3. Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence by Irene Pepperberg

Alex, a grey parrot, had the intelligence of a 5 year old human. He understood.

2. Watership Down by Richard Adams

I somehow made it to adulthood (is that where I am?) without reading this book. Every time I read the last page, I cry.

1. Love that Dog by Sharon Creech

See #6, mix in some Frost, William Carlos Williams and Blake. Devour.

I need my blog to have some kind of direction. I no longer benefit from rambling to the Internet.

Here are some Sarah-kus for your afternoon literary enjoyment.

People drinking beer 

I see the tops of their heads

Please clock, go faster

Boxes that look like wood

Lined up and full of the past

The dust settles here

Spider on my desk

Running from the shadows there

I wont hurt you, much

The yellow pages

Outmoded and confusing

First of the fallen books

White paperclips rest

Recycled paper floats down

It remembers its past life

Silently you sit

Awaiting incoming voices

I heard you ring once

O corrective tape

Unused and undervalued

I always use pencils

Empty paper tray

A body without a soul

No one will file today