Sunday, October 25, 2009

Reading Infidelity: Eclipse, Burn the Boats, A.H.W.O.S.G.

Usually, I'm a one-book girl. I don't start a book until I'm done with the book I'm reading; however, desperate circumstances and timely events has caused me to abandon my literary monogamy. I checked out three books this weekend and am very satisfied:

1) Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer I'll be frank, it's not the writing that keeps me reading (I take day-long breaks between chapters to check that my brain is still there and purge all the guilt I have for reading the chapter) but the curiosity of what is to happen next to Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in the next Twilight installments?? I mean, aren't you curious? Does Edward ever pop Bella's vampire cherry and turn her into a vampire? Or will Bella ever eat a human? I don't know, this series is absurdly absurd. It's popularity dumbfounding. And, my 11-year old brother sent me the series in a care package.

2) Burn the Boats by Scott Weighart
This is my most anticipated read out of the three. I went all the way to Boston to get it at last weekend's BU v. Michigan game at Agganis Arena, which we won (Wut!Wut!). Boy have I been waiting to relive the past season in book form with a 16-page photo insert. I fought through nausea on the Fung Wah bus to start reading, and in the first chapter, I was already shedding tiny tears. The book recounts the road leading to the national championship starting with the off season. Hearing the players' personal account of the journey, the hard work and team building excercises that went on behind the scenes makes every game of last season even more special. As a fan, I greatly appreciate Weighart's effort to capture the magic that was last year's seven championship season, because I know from experience--you can't put into words what it feels like to be down two goals and then win it ALL in less than a minute in the last period. It's like a heart attack, but the good kind.

3) A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
I stole this book from my friend's coffee table. He said it's been sitting there for three years and I was free to take it (so maybe I didn't steal it). Again (to explain Eclipse), I like free reading material. A.H.W.O.S.G. is a memoir but unlike any memoir I have ready before. I can't explain how it is because it would be complicated, but Eggers basically breaks all conventions of how a book is organized and written and creates a very entertaining, smart and funny book. I haven't gotten too far (since I'm juggling between books--man, polygamy is hard!), but I can tell you this guy is a genius.

All in all, I think I'm going to commit to Burn the Boats first. You know how I like them hockey books and an easy read.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Making Time for 2009-2010 BU Hockey

BU lost its home opener to Notre Dame tonight, 3-0. The first shut out against Goalie Millan I can think of. But like a true Terrier fan, we take the losses with the wins and look forward to future games! It's hard to replicate the significance of every game last season leading up to the National Championship, but there ARE many BIG games this season with Red Hot Hockey at MSG and BU vs. BC at Fenway. It's another exciting year filled with big rivalries and high-blood pressure games, and I've secured tickets for the games highlighted below:

Monday, October 19, 2009

163, Not For Hawaii

I am very upset that Hawaii's public schools has cut 17 Friday's out of the current school year because the State does not have enough money to pay its teachers. Seventeen entire days of education gone, making the school year down to 163 days, one of the shortest school year in the country.

Do you know how many years of American history, algebraic equations and recesses this equals? An invaluable amount of knowledge and experiences that's unfortunately loss to public school students like my younger brother Zadrian (11 years-old) and sister Zoe (5 years-old). Very likely these 17 long weekends will be spent watching Hannah Montana or iCarly--I foresee long-term consequences to this seemingly short furlough.

It is very sad that Hawaii's public school students are getting the short end of the stick, when it already suffers from a mediocre education system. Parents are coordinating with Afterschool Programs to keep the schools open on the furloughed Fridays, but my guess is legal issues will make opening the school very unlikely.

It's important that those in Hawaii spread the word and concern: 163, Not For Hawaii. We Want 180 Too, Put Our Kids Back in School.

I can't help that my inner-marketer is so dominant.