BEDA - Day Four

Last night I finished reading The Maze Runner by James Dashner and I have never been more confused about whether or not I like a book before in my life! I will start by telling you a little about the story, which I have to admit is pretty intriguing. The Maze Runner is about a boy named Thomas who wakes up in a lift without any of his memories; the only thing that he can remember is his name. He is sent to live in a place called the Glade with a whole bunch of other boys; where they have created a whole society whose purpose is to get the boys out of the Glade by solving the maze that surrounds it. The whole world of the Glade starts to change as soon as Thomas arrives.

The information that I have given you so far is basically what is on the back cover of the book, and it really did draw me in. However, I started the book knowing nothing, and I still feel like I don’t know that much more about the world in this book. When Thomas first arrives in the Glade it is morning and he starts to ask questions right away about where he is and why, but the boys refuse to answer any questions that he has until the next day. For some reason that really bothered me; I just wanted to start to find out about this world. As the story progresses you get some questions answered, but it just seems like the characters don’t really have any answers at all for Thomas when he ask questions, or they don’t want to tell him. I feel like things needed to be explained better.

The thing that bothered me the most was the ending. I will warn you right now that there will be spoilers so if you plan on reading The Maze Runner you might stop reading this post right now. I really got into this book when the action started to happen, maybe just over half way through the book. This is when crazy things started to happen and the Gladers, as the boys called themselves, had to start to defend themselves and really had to figure out how to get out of the maze. At one point the boys, just after the escape from the maze, where standing in front of the Creators of the maze and suddenly a rescue group breaks in a takes the boys away. The thing that really bothered me was that this was right at the end of the book and nothing gets explained. They sort of say why the boys were sent to the maze, but not really, and they never tell them who they are and why they are rescuing the boys. The next thing knew the book was over.

The Maze Runner was a really interesting read, I love the concept, but I really wanted more information explained to me before the book ended.  I know that there is a second book, The Scorch Trails, but what I don’t understand is why they didn’t just put the two books together. OK, I do actually know why they aren’t together, it would be too long for a young adult novel, and of course to make more money. I’m a little cheesed off that I have to go buy another book to find out all the questions that I have about The Maze Runner, but I did enjoy reading this book enough to actually buy the next one.

What a confusing review I have written. To sum up, I would recommend The Maze Runner if you like the dystopian genre that is very popular right now. However, if you want answers and don’t want to be left wondering about what it all means, then you should probably pass on this one.

BEDA - Day Three

My brother likes to bug me about how much I like female singers. He likes to say that if there is a girl singing on a song I’m going to like it. Well, for the most part he is right. There are a lot of female artists that I like, but I’m not a feminist and I don’t like these artists on the simple fact that they are women.

When I was first getting into what I will refer to as good music, I was mostly listening to bands that had male singers. I love the male voice, and most male vocals are actually more in my singing range, but it really had to do with lyrics. It is sometimes hard to relate to male singers when you are a girl, especially when they are singing about being in love with some woman, and this became my reason to begin to search out female musicians.

Three female band/musicians that are among the first that I got into, and still listen to, are Sleater-Kinney, Kathleen Edwards, and Brandi Carlile. The thing that is really cool about these three is that they are different in so many ways, but at the same time have some similarities.

Sleater-Kinney was a hard hitting rock band that never had a short supply of roaring electric guitars, and heart stopping vocals. I first heard Sleater-Kinney when they opened for Pearl Jam back in 2005. I had picked up their latest album before the show and had loved it immediately. This was what I had been looking for, girls rocking out hard. The performance that they gave, the first and only time that I got to see them live, amazed me. I wanted to be Sleater-Kinney. I still remember the lights flashing to the beat of the drums during the song Entertain, it was exhilarating. After that I was sold, I had to find more women who could rock.

Kathleen Edwards isn’t quite as hard hitting as Sleater-Kinney, but she certainly can rock out. I had first heard of Kathleen Edwards from a combination of Much More Music and my brother. The first time I saw one on her videos on MMM, Hockey Skates I believe, I wasn’t impressed. She was different and it wasn’t love at first sight. I saw her play that year at a festival in Toronto and while I didn’t hate her, I also didn’t love her. It was my brother who convinced me to go see her the following winter, and I hate to admit that the only reason I agreed was because Joel Plaskett was opening for her. In the end it was her soft side that won me over, yes, it was the song Good Things. Good Things is one of those songs that I just got, it struck a chord for me and I’ve never been able to get over it. It is still one of favourite song of all times, and one that still brings me strength when I listen to it. Kathleen Edwards is now my favourite artist, and there are times that I feel like she wrote those songs just for me…not just the lyrics but the music as well. I don’t think that the songs would resonate so deeply with me if they were sung but a male voice.

Brandi Carlile was another opening act, this time for Train. This was one of the only times that I bought the CD of an opening act. Brandi was interesting to watch, she came out on stage and immediately I was drawn to her. She has great stage presence, and an amazing voice. Her songs are beautifully and thoughtfully written, and she doesn’t shy away from writing about tough subjects. When I am feeling bad I will put on Brandi Carlile and as soon as she starts to sing I know that I am not alone.

So, what do these women have in common you might ask? Well, they all can rock out, command a stage, write meaningful lyrics, write amazing music, and play their own instruments. These are the things that make me love the music that these women produce, but I also love that I can relate to them.

In the end the reason that I love female musicians/singers more is that it is nice to hear the thoughts and feelings that I have experienced, or will experience, being conveyed by a female. It is heartening to know what another woman went through, that she survived, and she is still kicking ass.

Some other female musicians that I love include: Tegan and Sara, Wild Flag, Joan Jett, The Runaways, The Ya Ya Yas, Feist, Rachel Yamagata, and Sam Phillips. Check some, or all, of them out, you will not regret it!

BEDA - Day Two

About a year and a half ago I taught myself to knit. Since then I have really enjoyed knitting and feel that I have become quite good at it. I have found that, within the last year, there has been a knitting renaissance. It is no longer an activity that only Grandmothers take part in and is now a hobby that the younger generation is taking pride in participating.

After being sick yesterday it has been nice to have something so calm and relaxing to do while continuing to recover. I have heard that knitting has been used to help with ADD. When a child has trouble concentrating in class it actually helps them to retain information while focusing on something else. It is the act of knitting that assists with keeping the child still long enough to listen to what the teacher has to say on any subject. Hearing this made me feel not so bad about doodling in notebooks while I was in school, it might have helped me!

I have been knitting all day trying to finish up a hat that I am making for my Grandpa for his 86^th birthday which is on Friday. I love knitting things for other people. I love being able to search out a pattern for an item that I think the person will like, and then to go and pick out yarn in a colour that will suit the pattern and the person the item is for. I made hand warmers for each of my family and friends for Christmas and I loved watching them open them and smile with then realized that I took the time to knit them. I have always loved to give presents and knitting makes the whole thing even more enjoyable for me.

There is a really great yarn store right near where I live, and the first time I went in I was completely overwhelmed. I hadn’t even started to knit and went in to find some yarn to learn on. I walked in the door and was amazing by the amount of wool that covered the walls and shelves of the huge store. I walked around for sometime just looking at the various sizes and types of yarn. I finally discovered a brand that I have now made my favourite. I love going into this store to pick out my wool with my pattern in mind. It is the most exciting part of starting a new project.

Well, I suppose that is all I can really say on the subject of knitting. If I were able to spend my days doing nothing more than reading and knitting I don’t think that I would be bored at all, although I’m sure that some of you are bored with post. I will now get back to working on my hat.

BEDA - Day One

It’s April and I have decided to participate in Blog Everyday in April. Unfortunately I am not going to be getting off to a great start today due to being sick and sleeping through most of the day. It is now 9:00pm and I am lying in bed trying to come up with something decent that I can post on my blog.

Right now I am watching the JUNO awards, which haven’t really been all that great until right at this moment. Feist is on stage playing a song off her newest album. Feist is pretty awesome. I really love her new album; I was actually listening to it last night. The music is great, the vocals are great, the only thing about Feist is that I wish that she would enunciate better so that you could understand what she singing, but that is really only one small thing. Wow, her performance was so good! I love it when women get up and kick ass musically!

Blue Rodeo just played. They are one of my favourite bands and they played one of my favourite songs, Lost Together. It’s nice to see them all together; Greg Keelor didn’t tour with them the last time because of, I believe - correct me if I have it wrong, an ear problem. I’m stoked that they are being inducted into the hall of fame. If there is one band that deserves to be recognized it is Blue Rodeo. On a side note, every time I see Jim Cuddy I think to myself that he once touched my arm.  

Alright, I think that I am going to end this blog. I know it isn’t much, but at least you can take some time to check out Feist and Blue Rodeo if you haven’t already. I am now off to sleep off the rest of the sickness. Until tomorrow.

Where the Colours Don't Go

Recent events have made me think about myself a little bit. I had another job fall through and due to this fact have had a lot of comments revolving around how I deal with my circumstances. People continue to tell that I am dealing with everything really well, and that they couldn’t image being in my shoes. I am here to tell you that I, honestly, do not have some sort of secret.

In the interview for the job that didn’t work out I was asked how I deal with stress. I always think that this is such an odd question. No two people deal with stress in the same way. I take things one at time, because if you don’t then you become overwhelmed. You can’t let things get to you, and you need to understand that if you need help…ask for help. There is no real way to describe how I don’t get stressed out. I think that if you think that something is going to stress you out then you are going to get stressed out. But if you chill out and take things as they come and don’t let get to you, then you’ll be fine. This is not something that is easy to explain to someone in an interview. They really want you to have some sort of formula for stress, but I guarantee that person doesn’t have a formula either.

So, how do I deal with all these difficult situations? Much like how I deal with stress, I don’t let it get it to me. Sure I go through phases and not all of them are happy, but the phases never last that long. The first phase is an upset, crying phase. I’m sure that everyone is familiar with this one. I think that the difference between me and most people is that this phase never last that long. The sadness really only lasts a day, then I’m ready to move on and do something new…whatever that might be. I usually move on to a mad phase, where I am just pissed off about everything that happened. Then I move on an empowering phase, where I begin to believe that I am better off…and am really awesome. After that I usually, slowly, come back to reality and become more like my regular self with my regular outlook. Then I’m just me, and I’m OK.

I think that for a lot of people they get stuck in my first phase, and they don’t know how to get out of it. I admit that you really do need that time to feel sad, but if you don’t know how to bring yourself out of the sadness, then you’ve lost. This time the thing that did it for me was “Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett. I cranked that song liked it was nobody’s business, and I haven’t listened to any really sad music since. I think that the music that you listen too and the TV/movies that you watch really can help. If you listen/watch sad stuff then it is going to make/keep you sad, but if you listen/watch something that is happy then it will elevate your mood.

There is this song by Sam Phillips called “Where the Colours Don’t Go” that is about the place where depression and sadness lives. You have to choose to stay out of the place where the colours don’t go, because if you go there, well, it’s really hard to come back. There is no formula to keep you out of that place; it’s more of a decision. Take a look around and really ask yourself is this the state of mind that I want to be in, and if it’s not figure out how to fix it.

I don’t have all the answers, but I do have some really good insight. If there is ever anyone reading this that is in the place where the colours do go, please know that you can talk to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Koh-wPyQvA

The Book Thief - Review

The Book Thief is a book that I never would have heard about if it hadn’t been for John Green. If you have never heard of John Green then here is the summary – he is a young adult novelist and one half of the Vlogbrothers, seriously you should check him out. John Green recommended The Book Thief in one of his videos, just look up the Vlogbrothers on YouTube already, and I thought that I would give it a chance. I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am that I read this book. It makes you think about things that you never even dreamed of thinking about before, and the writing is amazing.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is about a girl, Liesel Meminger, who lived during Nazi Germany. Liesel is put through a lot of hard times, but to get through everything she starts to steal books…from Nazi book burnings, from the Mayor’s wife. With the help of her foster father Liesel learns to read, and words are what end up saving her.

This story makes you think about what it was like for the civilians of Germany during World War Two. In any history class that I had ever taken I had only heard that Germany was the enemy, but I never really thought about what it would have been like for the people living in the enemy country at that time. It is really interesting and heartbreaking to think that there were Germans, who were not Jewish, who were against the things that Hitler was doing. It is also really hard to think that when the Allies, the good guys in history, where bombing Germany they were killing people who actually agreed with them. This book really makes you think about the fact that not all Germans were the bad guys.

The thing that I liked the most about The Book Thief is that it wasn’t narrated by Liesel, but instead was narrated by Death. It is a really different concept to have Death tell the story, Death was probably the most present figure during World War Two and to think that this was the one story that gripped Death so much that Death felt the need to tell it makes it that much more important. There also isn’t a bias because Death isn’t on one side or the other. Death doesn’t enjoy the fact that there are more souls to collect, Death doesn’t care who wins, and Death just wants the war to be over. I love the emotion that Death presents; Death truly cares about each and every soul that Death takes.  

I recommend The Book Thief to everyone. In this review I have not even scratched the surface of what this book is about. I think that it is an important book with important themes, and as the New York Times says, life changing. Please don’t let the Young Adult Novel stamp trick you, The Book Thief is a book for all ages.

Kathleen Edwards Voyageur - Review

Today Kathleen Edwards released her fourth album Voyageur. I have been waiting for this album to come out since the summer when I first heard that she was recording new music. I was lucky enough to get the album a few days early courtesy of the record store Rotate This which is just down the street from where I live. Now that I have a few days to process the album I can honestly say that it has exceeded my expectations.

 Voyageur starts off with song Empty Threat. This song starts with just guitar, and I don’t know how Kathleen does it but it sets the tone for the entire album. This song is so great; it is rocking with a hint of country, and has a catching chorus to boot. This is the sort of song that makes me want to pick up the guitar and start to play, granted that I am not very good, but still I just want to rock out.

The next song is Chameleon/ Comedian. I have bootleg copy of this song from her performance at the Drake, and I have to say this song it so different. I really love the changes that she made. It is slower and more intense. You can really feel the emotion coming through within the instrumentation. I love the lyrics of this song, they really just make sense. It is almost like an epiphany happening within a song. The metaphor is that strong.

Next up is Soft Place to Land. I heard this song for the first time on the Drake bootleg, and I loved it at first listen. This song is one the most emotional songs I have ever heard in my entire life. It is so sad, and its impact is so strong. I feel like I have been in this situation before, more than once and this song just sums everything up perfectly. Every time that it plays I have to stop and listen and sing along to chorus. It is becoming one of all time favourite songs.

Change the Sheets is one of those songs that you instantly love; at least it was for me. From the second that I heard this song I was sold! The build up is dramatic, the guitar is beautiful, and the lyrics really hit home. This is probably the song that I am most excited to hear live.

The song House Full of Empty Rooms is one that is full of feeling. When I first heard it I thought of my Grandparents. I know that it isn’t about Grandparents, but I feel like they are the people who really experience a house full of empty rooms. I have three Grandparents and they all live in these big houses, and they don’t really use all of the space that they have. This song made me really think about what would you do with a house that is mostly empty.

Mint was also a part of the Drake bootleg and I can tell you that I didn’t like that first version that I heard, but I really like this new version. It is bluesy and gritty; I love the raunchy side of this song. The melody is really cool, and whenever I hear it I start to sway back and forth. I didn’t expect to love it, but I really love it.

One of my favourite songs is Sidecar. It is rocky and poppy and I love the sounds that are produced in this song. It is one of the only upbeat songs and it makes me want to dance when I hear it. This album is full of sad and insightful songs, which I love, but it is nice to get an upbeat pop rock single. This is one of those songs that during the summer you want to roll down the car windows and crank as you cruise around town. It really just makes me happy.

Pink Champagne…I really don’t know what to say about this song. It really is amazing. Every time I hear it I just want to cry. The lyrics are so poignant, and emotionally raw. This song really came out of left field for me, and it is by far my favourite on the album. I love the way that Kathleen sounds like she is crying during the chorus. It really makes my heart hurt, which is not something that I can say about any other song.

The song Going to Hell was one that I wasn’t sure I was going to like, but after listening to it I really do. I love the imagery that is within the lyrics. The thought of going to hell because of some else is probably a familiar thought of too many people and it was one that I loved. I honestly don’t think that I have heard this thought expressed by someone else, which is something that I love about Kathleen Edwards…she goes there.  I love instrumental part to this song; it grips you and holds on tight. The whole song makes you feel like you are on a journey, one that you don’t really know where you destination is.

When this crazy piano sound started at the end my first listen of Voyageur I wasn’t really sure what to think. For the Record is one of those sad soulful songs that hit you when you least expect it. It wasn’t the first time that I heard this song that made me love it but the tenth time. I wasn’t expecting it but there is was, bluesy guitar in your face saying: I understand how you feel. I still don’t understand what this song means to me, but I do know that I love it.

I think that by now you get that there is not one song on this album that I do not love. I think Kathleen Edwards wrote some really amazing songs and with the help of Justin Vernon of Bon Iver produced an amazing album. This album is different from Kathleen Edwards other albums, and yet at the same time is so Kathleen Edwards. I don’t think that I could explain that last sentence to anyone who wasn’t a Kathleen Edwards fan, but please just take my word for it. I love the way that Voyageur sounds, and especially how Kathleen used background vocals in a way that she never has before.

If you haven’t checked out Kathleen Edwards I encourage you to do so right now. And you’re listening and viewing pleasure here is the video for Change the Sheets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdTF_M-h1J4&list=FLIiNIT3Fu7YZHhK1GCFZ2Vw&index=3&feature=plpp_video