Hearting Things (3)

Don't you just love it when you acquire a bunch of interesting articles / random passions / new hobbies, and you want to share your obsessions them with your blogger friends, and you wonder how you should label and title such a random blog post, and you decide you're going to label it "Hearting Things," and you look through your already existing labels and realize that you'd already written several Hearting Things blog posts last year? Your past self outsmarted your present self! Whoa!

I'm quite tickled.

Anyway, here are some things of awesome I've been immersed in as of late, and as bloggers are typically a passionate bunch, it would be really cool if I could spread my love and interest in these things to a wider audience, to increase conversation etc.

Postcrossing

This is so not a recent passion, as I've written about it before, but it's become a passion that's only grown over time and pulled me more and more into its seductive world. So with all of the junk that usually stuffs our inboxes, who doesn't like receiving actual, tangible snail mail? This website that started out with a simple concept--send a postcard to a random stranger in the world, receive a postcard from a random stranger--has grown into a lifestyle for some members. Join, and I guarantee you that within two received postcards and five sent ones you'll be addicted to the anticipation of finding something unexpected in your mailbox. Then you will start acquiring postcards and noticing them everywhere and thinking about how cool it would be to find a person who'd appreciate you sending it to them... and pretty soon you will be surrounded by dozens of awesome postcards, all just waiting for a perfect recipient... and then you will start cursing how slow international snail mail is, for you want your sent postcards to arrive faster so you can send moarrr postcardsss....

Okay, you get the picture. But spoken from the heart of a postcard addict. So join me in this exciting community and make people's day!

www.blog.paper-source.com

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries

I am probably far from the first blogger to write about LBD, but there is no harm in gushing over it some more, because there are always people out there who have not yet been exposed to this awesome. A requisite summary: LBD is a modern interpretation of Pride and Prejudice using social media formats--primarily the web video. Oh hey, sure, you've experienced doesn't of media forms that attempted to recreate P&P's irresistible blend of social satire, humor, and romance. You've even, secretly, furtively, attempted to write a modern version of P&P yourself. (Oh, come on, own up: I can't be the only one who's done this.) "It's impossible to update P&P successfully!" you say. "What difference in social status can cause Darcy and Elizabeth to shun each other's social circles nowadays? What the devil do George Wickham and Lydia Bennet have to do in the 21st century to really scandalize everyone?" Thus spoken, you return to hugging your well-worn copy of your Colin-Firth-as-Darcy DVD set, lamenting the fact that you were born in into the wrong century.

Ah, but you would be missing out on what is arguably the most successful modernization of Pride and Prejudice. Ever. It's fresh while maintaining all the elements beloved from the classic. It's well-written, and acted so naturally that some viewers who've never heard of P&P actually believe these are real people, vlogging their problems in real time. Start, and I dare you to not watch 20 episodes at a time. What are you waiting for??

"Why I Choose to Be Child-Free" Article

Getty via thedailybeast.com

One of the most resonant articles I read recently was one in The Daily Beast about the growing number of people who are choosing to remain childless--or "child-free," as some readers prefer to be called. This article started the discussion and asked for readers' stories, and the result was a whole bunch of fascinating and thought-provoking responses. I was riveted by this pair of articles, as it was the first time I was able to see some of the thoughts that have been percolating in my own head over the years written out articulately.

My first, startling realization upon reading these articles was just how little this choice of lifestyle is discussed, let alone supported, even though it's 2013. I think that many people grow up with this unspoken understanding that someday they, too, would rear children of their own and hope that their offspring grow up into decent human beings. My heart ached as I saw myself reflected clearly in some of the readers' stories. Regardless of your own thoughts toward being parents, whether you are parents or adults who chose not to have kids or you're too young to have thought seriously about it yet, I hope you will give these articles a moment of your time and think a bit upon societal expectations toward reproduction, and societal reactions toward those who wish to consider a different lifestyle.

HarperTeen Epic Reads E-Book Sale

Last but certainly not least--HarperTeen's Epic Reads is having an EPIC E-BOOK DEAL this month. For $1.99 each, you have a choice of recently released, critically acclaimed titles, as well as access to some classic favorites that you may or may not have been waiting for a great e-book deal on. I mean, we're talking about The Miseducation of Cameron Post, one of my new favorites, published just last year, and which I have been gushing on and on about recently. And JELLICOE ROAD, whose greatness I hope I don't have to explain at this point. All for $1.99. You can't get a better e-book deal than that! I immediately bought those two for my Kindle, which should motivate me to reread them sometime, and I am eyeing some of the other titles, such as Never Fall Down, Patricia McCormick's latest.

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There you have it, ladies and gentlemen, the latest edition of Steph's Hearting Things! What are some things you've been hearting lately that you want to share with me?

Hearting Things (2)

Last time I found that doing one of these happy-things-only posts pulled me out of my blogging funk. So here's another, of me sharing things that have made me happy or made me think lately. Because no one likes a thoughtless person. Yay!

TV

Two words: Veronica Mars. All. The. Time. I started watching this show last year but somehow didn't get into it until, uh, a few weeks ago, and since then I have thoroughly finished the first two seasons and am now rewatching. No, I am not obsessed much...

What can I say to persuade you that Veronica Mars is an incredible TV show that deserves to be watched by everyone who likes smart things? It's not purely a detective show, although Veronica Mars does an enviable job of solving those small- and big-time cases that come her way. It's not purely a high school drama, either. It's just a lovely, sassy combination of wit, humor, relationship trouble, and the best damn father-daughter relationship. Ever. I'm not doing it justice with my description, but just watch 3 episodes, I promise you.

You can get gems like these moments:

And this:

Dick: Uh oh, someone’s got her eye on that Miss White Trash title.
Beaver: You know, you got solid effort in the talent competition, but I’d like to see that car up on some cinder blocks.
Logan: Guys, come on.
Veronica: I know. Guys, come on. The talent is making a grilled cheese sandwich on the engine block. Guys, come on. You can’t put your car up on blocks in the yard if you don’t have a yard. You know, I think I can do both sides of this little act now. So how about next time, you don’t bother. I got it covered.

Squee. What are you waiting for?!

(GIFs and quotes from loganfuckingecholls.tumblr.com.)

Music
In Season One of Veronica Mars (I know, I know, I can't stop myself!), this beautiful song appears at a critical moment--but, in the interest of being non-spoilery, I can't tell you. However, that doesn't mean you can't appreciate this song, "Momentary Thing" by the former Irish rock band Something Happens, on its own.

I can't seem to get enough of this song--and the song is designed to induce that precise feeling in listeners. The way the the singer's voice falls off at the end of lines; the way the verses build up to a chorus that, while satisfying, still feels like it is holding its full sound back from you; and the way the song seems to end before you want it to... all contribute to the feeling that you can never get enough. And I appreciate that, and love its genius for it.



Links

Reach a Reader Resources: ARCs Float On
Ever wonder what in the world you should do with all those ARCs you've either finished reading and don't intend to keep or will never get around to reading? This wonderful program will connect you with teachers around the US who are willing to receive ARC donations for their classroom libraries. Check out ARCs Float On for more info and to participate. What a great way to help out and clean your shelves at the same time, eh?

International Book Bloggers Conference
Yes, you read that right. Cool blogger Liyana at LiyanaLand is accepting input on the possibility of putting together an International Book Bloggers Conference for as early as next spring! For those bloggers who live abroad and are never able to make it to BEA, ALA, and all those other incredible-sounding US-based events, this is something you might want to check out. Fill out the Google doc to have input into this possible future event.

nerdbastards.com

Racial Hybridity in Firefly
Are you a Firefly fan? (If you're not, again, what are you waiting for?) Have you ever thought about the implications of Joss Whedon creating a future world where China and the US are the two remaining superpowers whose cultures are seemingly fully integrated? This academic paper by Jenni Fong titled "Stuck in a Blender: Genre and Racial Hybridity in Joss Whedon's Firefly" (yes, all academic paper titles sound as pretentious as that, deal with it) presents an interesting, relevant, and slightly disturbing argument that instead of achieving cultural and racial hybridity, Firefly has only appropriated Asian culture without accepting Asian people, and thus has perpetuates the existing standard of appropriating but not accepting Asians and Asianness in contemporary Hollywood. Most of what the paper talked about was not news to me (nor will it be news to most other Asians), but if you want to expand your Firefly- and media-loving mind a little, I highly recommend you take a look.

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That's all for now! And now that I've gotten blogging back in my system, expect some more normal posts from me soon.

Hearting Things

The speed of your Internet connection seems to be the limit to how fast bad news can travel. Because of that, I'm taking taking a leaf out of I Heart Daily's book and writing a post that's only full of things that make me happy.

Music

Mads Langer
Okay, I admit it: I discovered this sultry Danish singer through Castle. (That TV show offers up way too many great and underrated artists.) I've been obsessed with this song ever since. To me, it's seems to represent the romantic idea of love perfectly: the longing, the feeling that you will never be good enough to deserve the love of the one you love. The excruciatingly slow but delicious-in-its-slowness buildup to the risk, the jump, the fall. Replay.



The Civil Wars
Thank you, Hunger Games soundtrack, for introducing the greater world to The Civil Wars. There's nothing quite like listening to a song that contains eerie harmony, and these two singers' voices are so different, yet blend together for a simple but intense film that reaches into your very veins to stir your blood.



Postcard Sets

I used to collect postcards up until high school, but lately I have been really getting into sending them. I love how they are like little notes: they don't need the time commitment of a full-length letter, and they make people feel special when they receive one in their mailbox. My pointer finger itches to click on these glorious postcard sets and BUY them:

The Art of Pixar: 100 Collectible Postcards (photo by Wenjin Lu)

Fairy Tale Postcards

The World of Peter Rabbit: A Box of Postcards

So, so much more. What, then, do you do with 500 postcards when you've given in to the urge to buy them all? Why, you join PostCrossing.com, of course, to connect to thousands of people around the world who also love to send and receive postcards. Let me tell you, it's SO COOL to carefully select the postcards you're going to send to a perfect stranger, and to open your mailbox and discover a postcard containing unique postage from a country you may have never even heard of before. Join if it sounds interesting to you, or leave a comment if you're interested in exchanging postcards with me!

Books

April has been a splendid month for me in terms of reading. I'm highly aware of the fact that my reading tastes are changing, and I have a lot less patience for stuff that I probably would have nicely pushed myself through in the past. I've also been carefully considering people's book recommendations to me, and have discovered these four new favorites:

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
My review of this book is going up soon (though it's already on Goodreads if you follow me there), contains the line, "At around 700 pages, The Name of the Wind is the perfect shape and story to sleep with." I also take a jab at hipsters in the review. (That's what writing a review at 3 in the morning does to you.) OH MY GOSH IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE I'VE READ THIS BOOK AND I STILL AM LIKE THIS ABOUT IT. It's... it's... it's... It's like when you read Harry Potter for the first time. At first you can be all, This is any ole thing, but before you even know it you're so far into the story you can't remember your life without it. Anyway. You need to read this.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
I'm hesitant when it comes to Maggie's books (remember Shiver?), but this one was just exquisite and totally deserving of its Printz Honor. I love how the romance never overpowers the incredible, desolate, razor-edge fearful majesty of Thisby and the capaill uisce. So glad this one turned out so beautiful!

Among Others by Jo Walton
I was in a reading slump after The Scorpio Races, picking up books, reading the first few chapters, and putting them away with a sigh of disappointment. Then Aaron Vincent of Guy Gone Geek suggested I read characters who love books, and recommended me Among Others. I had heard of the title--it was nominated for a Hugo this year--and immediately downloaded that shizz for my Kindle. It's like I Capture the Castle, with a slightly fantastical element. Adorable. Mori primarily reads pre-1980s science fiction which goes way over my head but it's just fun to see her geek out in her journal without going into too much literary analysis. She's just a bookworm talking about books.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
This book has been on my radar for months and MONTHS. Mostly because my dear blogger friend Chachic seems to go on and on about it on every single social networking platform I am on. And now, closer and closer to the US release date, more and more people are raving about this, until I finally caved in and bought a UK copy online. It's AMAZING. I love the narrator's voice, she manages to still be feisty even in her difficult situation. I have a feeling that, once I finish this book, I'll immediately flip back to the beginning to read it again. Love love love.

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Okay, I've blathered on for long enough, but fortunately I've made myself happy in doing so. So share with me, because the world can't have enough happiness: what things have made you happy lately?