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I have obtained my very own official cambridge public library card!

[andharvardbookstorefrequestbuyersrewardcard....]

literary world, beware!
I be coming for your books.

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think this'll fly when mothers come to visit?

[via]

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The Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series, by Rick Riordan

[I'm just gonna review all five books as one. (they are a series after all)]

these were wicked fun.

yes. they are technically aimed at children...but I care not.
after two intense biographies I needed a mental break.
and if I was a 6th grader? I would have lapped these books up.
(....I may have done that anyways....)

very similar in theme to the harry potter series (boy discovers he is special and different [greek demi-god vs wizard] at age ten, goes on to train in new found special power with other new found similar kids [camp half-blood vs hogwarts], makes powerful enemy [ancient titans, specifically kronos vs evil wizards, specifically voldemort], has prophecy about him [from the oracle of delphi vs from sybill trelawney] and goes on to ultimately defeat afore-mentioned powerful enemy with help of a trio of friends [main boy + smart girl + slightly clumsy boy satyr vs main boy + smart girl + slightly clumsy boy].

it is not as well written as harry potter.

it is not as complex and nuanced.

and it is glorious.

romping good time, all five.

I may be looking forward to when the squeal series of books comes out...

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Schulz and Peanuts, by David Michaelis

I actually had a hard time getting through this book.
it's 650 pages.
and while I never shy away from a long book (in fact, I relish in them), to be completely honest, charles schulz's life just wasn't that interesting.
300 page biography interesting? yes.
you could even make a case for 400 page biography interesting.

but 650 page biography interesting?
nope.

if I had to hear one more time about how he was different as a child, how he had loving mother complexes, how he felt superior to his cousins, etc etc etc, I was going to give up for good.
yes, these years and feelings shaped his life, affected his choices and pretty much made the peanuts cartoon what it was. but I think repeating the same sentiment 5 times over is enough. no need to repeat it 12 times.

and the thing is, the last 20 years or so of his life are almost skimmed over.
here, oddly enough, I felt cheated. I wanted to know more.

less first 8 years. more last 20 years.

but all that aside, it's still pretty interesting.
and there are lots of peanuts cartoons scattered throughout to keep you interested.
and the book really does make you appreciate his unique genius, especially considering the era in which he grew up.

you just may have to space it out.
not read it all in one go.

[also, don't try reading two biographies at once like I did. not a good idea...]

it's a solid decent book.
not horrible.
but not phenomenal either.

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The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Arthur Conan Doyle

I don't know how I have gotten this far into my life without reading this book.
it's one of those standards of literature that you always think about reading, talk about reading, but never actually get around to reading.

and then you are stranded in northern new hampshire, just finished your current book and end up scrounging the fiance's bookshelves.

and finally end up reading it.

having read quite a few other books in the sherlock holmes series, I knew the basic approach conan doyle takes with his mysteries. seemingly supernatural occurrence, often involving murder of some sort, but with an entirely rational explanation.

the thing I particularly enjoyed about this story was that for the majority it focused on watson, not holmes.
watson was the one to travel to dartmoor (locale of said mystery, and totally awesome side note: I've been there.), watson was the one to make the investigations, get to know the suspects and work towards solving the crime.
holmes comes in at the end, but it was rather neat to get to know what usually is seen as a secondary character better.

[and yes, I was visualizing jude law and robert downey jr as watson and holmes, respectively. wouldn't you?]

overall, a nice quick thoroughly enjoyable read.

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Atonement, by Ian McEwan

I had previously read a few other Ian McEwan books, and quite enjoyed them, but had never sought out Atonement.

it might have something to do with the fact that Keira Knightly is in the movie adaption, and even though the movie was supposedly very well done (and it had James McAvoy in it, whom I quite like), watching Keira Knightly act drives me up the wall.
but I needed a book to read, and this was on my friend Amanda's shelf.
call it draw of the author, not of the actress.

and I'm awfully glad I read it, cause it is fabulous.

McEwan has such a lyrical way of writing, you can't help but visualize in acute and vivid detail every scene he puts down on the page. which, in my opinion, makes reading a book that much more enjoyable. when you can fully immerse yourself in the story like that.

the characters never feel false, or just inserted into the story to play a singular role in one scene and then disappear. even when the story jumps around in time and geography, the flow of the writing is never jarring.

the story may jar you a bit, but only cause you didn't see it coming.

the writing is flawless.

[and the story is pretty kick-ass too.]

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Paul Newman, A Life, by Shawn Levy.

Paul Newman is one of my all-time favorite actors. Anybody who can pull off The Sting in such fabulous fashion (and look so good doing it) is a-okay in my book. [this caveat also encompasses Robert Redford, btw.]

and this isn't even getting into his wonderful philanthropy [see previous book review].

but with all that, I didn't really know all that much about the guy.
for example, had no idea he was 50 miles off-shore on a submarine when the US bombed Hiroshima. or that he was colorblind (which was why he was on a sub and not flying a plane like he wanted to).

I also had no idea that he had cheated on his wife.

biographies are tricky things. you usually read them about people you are interested in. most often, people you like or admire. and you don't always find out things that you wanna know. the not so nice things that alter your perception of them.

sometimes you come out of a biography having lost respect for the person you were reading about.

but sometimes that person comes out just fine. cause even though they may have made a few mistakes, done a few things you don't quite agree with and were bummed about when you initially read them, how they made up for those things or the good they did with the rest of their life far outweighs those few unsavory things.

Paul Newman comes out just fine.

this was an excellent biography.

[plus, check out that cover. why hello there.]

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meandered over to Harvard last night to see Stephen Fry accept an award for cultural humanism (which, apparently, means 'good without god', sort of a system for atheists, agnostics and the like. think Enlightenment, part two [electric bugaloo]).

I had no draw towards the humanism aspect (in fact, up until the introductory speaker, I thought it was an award in cultural humanitarianism), but I absolutely adore Stephen Fry. his films, his shows, his books, his incredible intelligence, his wit. everything.

if he wasn't twice my age and gay, I'd [somehow] attempt to seduce him.

so even though his talk on humanism, knowledge, wisdom, science, nature, humanity and such related topics was eloquent, well argued and raised excellent discussion both in the audience and in my own thinking, the following excerpt was my absolute favourite [in honorary british spelling mode] part of the evening.



it can be a little difficult to hear because of the [pretty sure it's a cell phone] video and all the laughter, so here is the song in full uninterrupted mode:



brilliant.
absolutely brilliant.


[and if you can't get video on your computer, here is an mp3.
btw, notice the gchat image off the the right. 
she personally knows adam savage.
of the myth busters.
of the most awesome science/blow stuff up/horrible puns/geeky cute duo on tv.
she got to serenade stephen fry and is bosom buddies with a myth buster. I officially want to be/be best friends with this girl.]

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if I had a mantra, this would be it.

[via]

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the current state of detroit makes me sad...

[via]

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welcome to another edition of things bethany desperately wants but definitely doesn't need.

letterpress address card file with box.

I could definitely be much more organized with something this cool.
yup yup.

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I am currently reading the percy jackson series.

ok, yeah.
they are technically "young adult", but I don't care.

they're wicked fun.

so there.

(also owe you like 5 thousand book reviews...getting there. no computer outside of work yet...)

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there is now an Architect Barbie.

it's weird.

they seem to clash with one another.
girls who grow up to be architects (read: me) didn't play with barbie dolls when they were young.
they played with blocks.
lots and lots of blocks.

and they sure as hell don't wear high heeled boots to a construction site.

but at least she comes with a hard hat, it's not pink (though the drawing tube is) and they got the trendy designer's glasses spot on.

and barbie's dreamhouse is no longer a mcmansion. it actually seems to be a rowhouse.

so it's not bad.
at least it could be a lot lot worse.

but it's still weird...

I'm on the fence.

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I stumbled across a new blog (new to me, not new to the internet) the other day, the terrier and lobster.
(I was first clicked on it cause it sounded like a cool pub name.)

and while it is not a pub, it does have some pretty sweet stuff posted in there.
a few neat things I found yesterday while working my way back through the archives.

an awesome car I totally want:

 
a video that really makes me want to buy a pair of pointe shoes:


a wicked idea to save some money on a fully stocked bar:

a geographically correct london underground map:

the most chic rock climbing wall I've ever seen:

 
a cursive typewriter:

and cross-stitch with an attitude:

 

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why oh why do I not have $300,000???

I could buy shoreditch tube station!!!



my old london haunt! (shoreditch anyways, not the station itself. yet...)



look at the potential of the space!






this is just the fates taunting me now, this is.

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rush and firth.

excellent.

my tuesday just got a little bit better.

[via]

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in honor of valentine's day, a little lust:

[via]

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oh npr.
how much do I love you?
let me count the ways.

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just when I think I am done with biographies, they pull me back in.

must find...

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this is going to be what I keep telling myself when the good ol' bank account starts shrinking when hit by regular rent payments and bills...

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I owe you guys a couple of books reviews. (in as much as any of my little blog blurbs are "reviews"...)

they're coming.

been weirdly busy round here.

but should have some down time soon.

watch this space.

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I've been coming across my name in unusual places lately.
it's not a very common name, so it always surprises me when it pops up.

first it was randomly finding it in the kitchenwares section of target.com the other day.
for a specialty apple dumpling pan, none the less.

and this afternoon it's coming across a bethany vineyard somewhere in australia.

you can bet your ass that the bethany dumpling pan is making it's way onto our wedding registry, and I do believe having multiple bottles of alcohol bearing my name requires a road (well, not really road) trip down under.

I've always wanted to see a kangaroo.

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never attempt to read two biographies simultaneously.

paul newman and charles schultz are starting to meld into one person in my mind.

which, if you know paul newman and charles schultz, is like penguins flying.

it ain't natural.

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you see the rings:

you don't see the rings:

beyond cool.

I don't even want to begin to think about how long it took artist felice varni to do this.


(I just tried.
my head hurt.
and that's just from thinking about doing it.)

[found via]

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this.
is.
so.
COOL!

it's called Art Project.

it's google maps.

in 3-d.

but of the world's leading museums.

I have spent the morning wandering through the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and the Tate Britian in London, seeking out all my favorite artworks there.

and I just noticed you can create your own artwork gallery.

guess what I am going to be doing this afternoon?

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I was ready for snow.

in fact, I was hoping for a blizzard.

however, I did not sign up for rain.

it's february mother nature, which means it's still winter.
get it together.

[image from CappiT's flickr]

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you haven't lived until you have seen a rock opera about tonya harding and nancy kerrigan.

http://boston.broadwayworld.com/article/TONYA_AND_NANCY_THE_ROCK_OPERA_Comes_To_Oberon_131_20110126


went with andrea last night. 
good times were had by all.


bonus: our friend zach was in it and we didn't have a clue until he walked by us sporting a sleezy moustache he definitely didn't have before. 
that's right, we have friends in low high places.


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