Entry tags:
July '09
July '09: 5 - 11
July 5;
 | Title: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane Author: Katherine Howe Rating:  Goal: 30/60 (50% Complete) Pages: 362 Genre: Historical Fiction/Fantasy About: While clearing out her grandmother's cottage for sale, Connie Goodwin finds a parchment inscribed with the name Deliverance Dane. And so begins the hunt to uncover the woman behind the name, a hunt that takes her back to Salem in 1692 . . . and the infamous witchcraft trials. But nothing is entirely as it seems and when Connie unearths the existence of Deliverance's spell book, the Physick Book, the situation takes on a menacing edge as interested parties reveal their desperation to find this precious artefact at any cost. What secrets does the Physick Book contain? What magic is scrawled across its parchment pages? Connie must race to answer these questions - and reveal the truth about Salem's women - before an ancient family curse once more fulfils its dark and devastating prophecy . . . My Thoughts: I picked this book up because USA Today compared it to Harry Potter, which I honestly don't see. It's more like The Da Vinci Code; a well known story, in this case the Salem with trials, evolves into something more as the hero solves mysteries. The plot was incredibly well done. Every little detail will come back later in the book as part of a clue or solution. The thing I loved most about this book was that it was actually solvable without being obvious. It is possible to put the clues together before Connie but even when she solves something first, you're like 'oh crap, that made perfect sense!' |
A sneeze can travel as fast as one hundred miles per hour.
 | Title: Santa Olivia Author: Jacqueline Carey Rating: Goal: 31/60 (51 2/3% Complete) Pages: 341 Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy About: Loup Garron was born and raised in Santa Olivia, an isolated, disenfranchised town next to a After her mother dies, Loup goes to live among the misfit orphans at the parish church, where they seethe from the injustices visited upon the locals by the soldiers. Eventually, the orphans find an outlet for their frustrations: They form a vigilante group to support Loup Garron who, costumed as their patron saint, Santa Olivia, uses her special abilities to avenge the town. Aware that she could lose her freedom, and possibly her life, Loup is determined to fight to redress the wrongs her community has suffered. And like the reincarnation of their patron saint, she will bring hope to all of Santa Olivia. My Thoughts: Freakin' amazing. The story was so unique and thrilling. Not much more to say other than this is my favorite of the year so far. |
Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar were both epileptic.
 |  |
Babies' eyes do not produce tears until the baby is approximately six to eight weeks old.
 | TV Show: Mythbusters Episode: 1.10 - Explosive Decompression, Frog Giggin', Rear Axle Goal: 169/400 (42.25% Complete) About: Can a bullet hole in the hull of an airplane cause explosive decompression that destroys the plane? Can a .22 caliber gun cartridge attached to a car ignition be used as a fuse? Can a car be ripped off its rear axle? Quote: "I'm the eighth dwarf: Dirty." -Adam |
Children grow faster in the springtime than any other season during the year.
 |  |
Every day, the average person swallows about a quart of snot.
 | TV Show: Mythbusters Episode: 1.11 - Sinking Titanic, Goldfish Memory, Trombone Explosion Goal: 170/400 (42.5% Complete) About: Will a sinking ship suck you down as it goes under? Can fish actually remember things? What happens when you throw a firecracker down the neck of a trombone? Quote: "We're looking for something in a trombone." -Adam "Ok. And, uh, like for a student?" -Store Owner "Well, actually we want to blow it up." -Adam |
In ancient Egypt, doctors used jolts from the electric catfish to reduce the pain of arthritis.
 |  |
Obsessive nose picking is referred to as rhinotillexomania.