The Knife of Never Letting Veganist

Worst portmanteau ever, I know, but my most recently read books are really only connected by the fact I downloaded them at the same time.


The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness: Todd lives in a world where everyone's thoughts are broadcast and there are no women left alive after the war. Todd narrates the book and, since he never properly learned how to read, makes this book appealing for struggling readers since many of the words are spelled phonetically. Additionally, this book features a strong female character, Viola, to keep things balanced. Also, Manchee. Oh gosh, Manchee. Great read.

Veganist by Kathy Freston: To be perfectly blunt, I'm tired of veganism being touted as a magic pill for weight loss. Veganism has tons of great health benefits but also allows a steady diet of Go Max Go bars and Swedish Fish. However, I did really enjoy Freston's chapter on how abstaining from animal products is present in many religions, a point of view I had never experienced before. I also enjoyed and was made profoundly paranoid by the chapter on food born illnesses and epidemics.

Up next: Wicked Bugs by Amy Stewart

Four weeks in, five books down

As I stated before, my new year's resolution was to read 52 books that I had never read before and I am a week ahead of schedule. Granted, it helps that I am focusing on books that are less than 300 pages, rather than giant tomes, but five books in four weeks is still pretty fantastic. Here are the latest additions to list:

Tomcat in Love by Tim O'Brien: The story of Thomas H. Chippering and his quest to exact revenge on his ex-wife, and the love of his life, Lorna Sue. I have to say that I prefer O'Brien's writing when set in military combat, rather than civilian combat, but I did love the sense of humor present. It was a nice change from the lemon tree incident.

Witch & Wizard by James Patterson: A quick and easy read about a brother and sister in a dystopian future who discover that they are actually magical, hence the title. I bought this one (the first of the series) off iBooks for 99¢ and I had finished it by the next evening. Think Harry Potter, in an industrial setting.  

Bright's Passage by Josh Ritter: My favorite of the three, it is the story of an uncertain war veteran who is trying to find a future for his son after his wife dies in childbirth. This book bounces around in time to tell not only Bright's story but the story of his in-laws as they try to find him and his son. Slightly surreal and compelling, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and will most likely be re-reading it. And yes, this is by the same Josh Ritter who wrote the song about the girl who brings the mummy back to life with her love, the video of which will make you weep.

Up next: The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Neat Market and Vegan Van: Be jealous of Denver

This Sunday, Denver witnessed a magical event: Neat Market, put on by Plants and Animals Denver. What was so magical about it? Soy curls, Cleo's, donuts, purses, and almost any other vegan delight you could ever want was available- P & A's inaugural pop-up vegan market was a rousing success. I left with a full belly and a full bag of goodies. The next one can't come fast enough- my treats won't last long.



Stationed outside of the market was Denver's Vegan Van, our all vegan food truck. I enjoyed the Planet Rock, which was crispy buffalo tofu and coleslaw on a hefty roll, alongside some popcorn while my mom enjoyed the Car Wash, a sandwich of beer battered tofu and dill tartar sauce. I will most likely become a stalker of the Vegan Van, as this was some of the best buffalo tofu I've ever had- and I am an expert. Delicious food, fabulous service and popcorn on the side, how could I ever say no?

New Year, New Books: Robopocalypse and The Great Fitness Experiment

While writing about my favorite books in December, I came to two conclusions:

1) I need to read more.

2) I need to read more new books instead of repeating my favorites over and over. 

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I tend to become very attached to the characters in books, and I like to re-read the books in order to interact with them again. So, my new year's resolution, inspired by my friend Alice, is to read at least 52 new to me books this year. Obviously, I will blog about them and let you know my opinion. Here are my first two books:

Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson: I loved this book. The story of the inevitable robot uprising and the humans who fight back against it. Fast paced, written in a variety of styles (storytelling, transcripts, interviews), I tore through this book in about two days. Highly recommended. It also looks like Steven Spielberg is directing the film version of this, so I have high hopes. Don't let me down, Stevie. 

The Great Fitness Experiment by Charlotte Hilton Andersen: I thought I would love this book. I was wrong. While the premise of the book isn't inaccurate (lady tries a different fitness routine each month for a year), it also details her struggle with compulsive exercising and disordered eating. Super uncomfortable to alternate reading about her finding out high intensity interval training burns the most fat while going to therapy for her eating and exercising. I mostly just wanted to give her a hug and have a stern discussion with her publisher. 

30 Days of Books: I have lots of opinions.

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Day 26- A book that changed your opinion about something: This book didn't so much change my opinion about anything, but it did convince me that being vegan was easy and absolutely do-able, even in Nebraska. This book is Vegan with a Vengeance by the incomparable Isa Chandra Moskowitz. This is the book that taught me how to cook tofu and tempeh, how to use various egg substitutes and how to make the best darn chocolate chip cookies of all time. As a scared, little vegan newbie, the recipes, banter and tips in this book shoved my fear out of the way and got me into the kitchen for the first time in my life, and I could not be any more grateful for that.

30 Days of Books: With five days left, I'm getting better at this!

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Day 24- A book that you wish more people would've read: A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. When this book was released in America, the last chapter, for whatever reason, was cut out. What's so important about that last chapter is that it basically explains all the violence and horrible things that happens and, you know, completes the point that Burgess is trying to get across. The writing in this book is fantastic and well worth reading, but still pretty violent (just a warning, it's still not a fluffy book by any means).

Day 25- A character who you can relate to the most: Meg Murry from A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. After reading about the Wakefield twins, it was refreshing to have an awkward heroine who relied on her intelligence and resourcefulness rather than her social skills and looks. Plus, she lands that dreamboat Calvin. Rawr.

30 Days of Books: Ten Days at a Time

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December is maybe not my best month for continuous blogging, huh? Anyway.

Day 14- Favorite book of your favorite writer: My favorite book of Ray Bradbury's is a toss-up between Something Wicked This Way Comes and The Illustrated Man, with the winner being The Illustrated Man. What gives it the edge? Haunting short stories such as "The Rocket Man", "The Last Night of the World" and "The Long Rain". However, it spawned one of the worst movies ever. Don't ever watch the movie version. Just trust me.

Day 15- Favorite Male Character: That would be Reepicheep from the Chronicles of Narnia. He's short, sassy and fiercely loyal, not to mention adorable. If I had a tattoo, it would be of him (Mom, don't worry, I'm still tattoo free).

Day 16- Favorite Female Character: Sticking with the YA theme here and picking Katniss Everdeen. So refreshing to have a strong, resourceful, intelligent female protagonist after Bella Swan. Katniss has mad skills.

Day 17- Favorite quotes from your favorite books:  I'm skipping this one because there is too much here to take on in a catch-up post. I have a lot of highlighted quotes in The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, such as:

"I just thought to myself that in the palm of my hand, there was this one tape that had all of these memories and feelings and great joy and sadness. Right there in the palm of my hand. And I thought about how many people have loved these songs. And how many people got through a lot of bad times because of those songs.And how many people enjoyed good times with those songs. And how much those songs really mean."

This book also introduced me to the saddest song ever.

Day 18- A book that disappointed you:  I Was a Teenage Fairy by Francesca Lia Block. Love Francesca's other works (Psyche in a Dress, The Rose and the Beast, Girl Goddess #9) but I just couldn't handle the level of fairy in this one. I probably should have read it when I was 12, instead of 23.

Day 19- Favorite book turned movie: Jurassic Park. Hands down.

Day 20- Favorite romance book: Ummmmmm. Pass.

Day 21- Favorite book from your childhood: Barbara Cartland's Princess to the Rescue, a pop-up book that tells the story of a princess who goes on a quest to find an elixir to cure her mother, the original Katniss if you will.

Day 22- Favorite book you own: The Watchmen because it is an amazing graphic novel or this version of Lady Chatterly's Lover, because it has a pretty cover.

Day 23- A book you wanted to read for a long time but haven't: Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King. I don't own it yet, so that's probably why I haven't read it. This is also the part where I am sad that I deleted my list of books to read by syncing my iPad.