Old ends, new beginnings, and so long Bookrock!

Well, hello! It’s certainly been a long while since we’ve seen each other. The reason for that is sad but inescapable: I stopped blogging. I never made a conscious decision to stop, but a combination of a tightening schedule, looming thesis deadline, and a certain unavoidable lack of inspiration meant my posts slowly petered out and quit appearing entirely. Although I acted on this decision a long time ago, I’m finally making the decision now: Bookrock is dead. Bookrock is dead!

But never fear. I’ve also made another decision, which is to start a different blog and keep doing some bookish things over there. In fact, you should head over there now! It’s called NEW BOOK IN THE HOUSE and I am extremely enamored with it. 

Hoping this helps in the drive towards Consilience.
Oct 21 ’99.
-Dad

Dedications: be inspired!

To Paulette,
Be inspired!

Dedications: we know you’ll treasure this book!

Oct / 76
For Trish and Joe
We know you’ll treasure this book.
Love,
Mom + Dad

Navigating family, history, and the outside: If I Fall, If I Die by Michael Christie

I picked up If I Fall, If I Die for two reasons: its great title, and its Giller longlist nomination in 2015. Considering its dark cover and title, it turned out to be a lot “cuter” than I expected – which is both a good and bad thing.

The plot: Will and his mother live in a house in Thunder Bay, and it’s been a decade since they’ve stepped outside.

Dedications: a gift for the alcoholic in your life

To Lynnea,
May this give you some support and understanding,
Love
Auntie & Grandma

From paper to screen: The Magicians as a novel and The Magicians as a show

I was excited but also apprehensive when I learned one of my favourite books was going to be reimagined as a SyFy series. On one hand, what could be better than seeing the characters come to life? But on the other hand, what could be worse than seeing other people messing around with my favourite book?

The first season is now finished and it’s looking pretty likely that it will continue on into a second one. I’m happy with the show, but also disappointed in some ways. For better or for worse, the TV show incorporates a series of additions, subtractions, and transformations – a couple of which I want to talk about here.

Gritty magic: The Magicians by Lev Grossman

I’m weirdly fond of Lev Grossman’s The Magicians and I can’t quite put my finger on why. It’s campy, and self-aware, and god help me I love it.

I first picked it up because I liked the look of it – one of those judge-a-book-by-its-cover situations that works out surprisingly well. Since then it’s become one of my favourites, and one of the few books that I actually reread on a regular basis.

The plot: Quentin Coldwater is a genius – at school subjects, at magic tricks, and especially when it comes to remember details about an old series of children’s books about a magical land called Fillory. He masters calculus and classic literature with an aptitude bordering on boredom – and can’t help feeling that there must be more to life than this.

Dedications: “Keep Smilin'”

To Kat
Love Mom xoxoxo
“Keep Smilin'”

Where have I been? What have I read? Part II!

My last post (Where have I been? What have I read?) apologised for a couple weeks of silence and promised regular posts in the future. Next thing you know, three months have passed. In other, happier news, I’ve finished my MA thesis – which also explains what I’ve been doing for the last three months.

I’ve also been doing some reading for fun, if not exactly a lot of it. But here are some highlights of my summer reading – in tiny, one-sentence reviews. (And this time I really do promise this signals a return to my old book-reviewing ways.)