A Book That's Not About Horse Racing

It's been a long, lonely few months since last I published anything to my humble little blog.  Honestly, I've been pulled in every direction by my school work, work work, and family commitments - every which way but doing what I really love, which is reading and writing.  I'm like a teapot though - stop me up for too long and I'll eventually blow my lid clean off (metaphorically speaking, of course).

So what's got me boiling?  I've just finished reading a new book that was so good I have to write about it to somebody or I'll explode, and nobody wants that, least of all the unsuspecting family members I live with.

So here it is, world:

The Scorpio Races

by Maggie Stiefvater

4.5 out of 5 stars

It's got everything any self-respecting reader wants in a novel: drama, true love, beautiful imagery, and yes, scary man-eating water horses.

The story takes place on a fictional island that seems convincingly real; it could be any seaside town except for that small bit about the man-eating horses.  On this strange yet completely acceptable island, the locals host an annual race riding (what else?) the carnivorous equines.  Our protagonists are a young woman struggling to keep her family together in desperate times, and the reigning champ who lives life by his own rules.

Ironically - and Maggie talks about this herself - the book has little to do with the racing.  It's about self-identity, the things that are most dear to us, seeing people for who they truly are, and loving outside of ourselves.

I was instantly drawn into the lives of the characters, thanks to Maggie's style of switching first-person narration between each player.  I loved reading both Puck and Sean's points of view.  The narration itself demonstrates Maggie's trademark style.  She crafts her words with such poetry, it's like reading a song.  The cadence of the words themselves lend a rhythm to the story that makes it truly her own unique creation.

The romance is exactly my cup of tea: perfectly understated, so that the reader feels the intensity of emotion between the two characters, the restraint between them allowing the moment in which they are finally able to express themselves to be most powerful.

The one down side to restraining the passion is that it does end leaving you wanting more.  The Scorpio Races reminded me of Jane Eyre, which is one of my favorite love stories, but which also leaves me frustrated and wishing the author would just come out and finish it already.

But, there is much to be said for delayed gratification.

Box Cutter

The guy in the orange suit won't do anything crazy, we promise.

Breaking Bad
Episode 4.1, Originally Aired 17 July 2011

9.5 out of 10 stars

Initial Reactions
Wow. I mean, WOW. What a way to start a season. Walt and Jesse ARE murderers after all, Victor gets slaughtered, Skylar uses her baby to manipulate people, and Denny's sells (hopefully) their first "post-body-liquification" breakfast platter.

Ok, let's break it down:

At the end of the last season, Walt vehemently tells Jesse that they aren't murderers, that everything they've done is fully justified by their situation. Well, if they weren't murderers then, they certainly are now. Gale was the first truly innocent and lovable person they've killed. They have definitely now crossed a line they can't come back from.

I would take a few steps back if I were Victor.

There is a short diversion to show that Marie is struggling with Hank, who is really at his jerkiest in this episode - not without reason, but still. I hope something happens soon to get him out of this funk. It is not fun to watch him being so mean.
Then there's the standout scene of the episode: Walt, Jesse in the lab confronting Gus. There's a telling interplay between Gus and Walt. Panicked Walt can't stop talking, while Gus doesn't say a word for many long minutes. And then the massacre of Victor: I knew something bad was going to happen when the network flashed a special "viewer discretion is advised" warning right before the lab scene. Still, I was completely shocked by what actually did happen.

Nothing else satisfies after body disposal

The real kicker was following all the blood up with ketchup at Denny's. I'll never look at Denny's the same now, that's for sure.


Standout Performances
1. Gus. Gus. Gus. Can anyone else stay SILENT for more than 5 minutes of screen time and keep increasing the tension, second by second? Don't think so.

2. Skylar - used her baby to manipulate the locksmith. She's definitely all-in at this point.

3. Lab scene. Hands down.

4. Denny's scene. Breakfast will never be the same.


Burning Questions
1. Why did Gus kill Victor? Total surprise! I still don't understand.
2. What is Walt & Jesse's relationship with Gus going to be now? With each other?