The first thing I will say is that this video features the most I’ve seen her clothed in quite awhile.  It’s like Tim Burton meets Madonna meets Awesome!  Say what you want about Lady Gaga, I will stand by the fact that she is one talented lady – look at her dancing with those hot gay men!

And if you can take your eyes off Gaga during this video, I don’t think you’re human.

This is a weekly Meme run by Book Journey!

Post the books completed last week, the books you are currently reading, and the books you hope to finish this week.

I’ve been packing, but as I mentioned earlier, I found a place to live and I’m moving on Friday!  So I may not get much reading in this week, because I do still need to pack.  Moving is so boring!

I really meant to post earlier, but my internet was hating on me and I couldn’t get on to finish this until tonite.  Ah well.

Books completed last week:
The Virgin’s Lover – Philippa Gregory: I read this for an upcoming week on Royal Reviews.  I liked it quite a bit, but I’m a little disappointed about Ms. Gregory’s continued use of picking the biggest rumor about a particular situation and saying it is fact :/  I’m not sure what I’ll say in my review, though.

Books I’m reading this week:
Here Burns My Candle – Liz Curtis Higgs: We’re having our first ever book club at Royal Reviews, the discussion will be on September 1!  So, it’s late notice, but if you want in, pick up a copy of this book.  I don’t know if I’ll get it finished before the deadline, but I’ll hopefully be through enough to be able to discuss.

Books ongoing:
Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy: I have been drawn to reading AK this week, so I read several chapters.  Now that I’m past part 3, which was kind of long winded, I am pulled back into the book.

Books I acquired this week:
I couldn’t find Here Burns My Candle at the library before I needed to finish it, so I bought it.  I likely will not be buying or getting nay new books for awhile, though.

What I watched this week:

• True Blood

That’s it, I think.  I can’t think of a single other thing I really watched, other than my usual Chelsea Lately, Daily Show, Colbert Report, etc.  Moving keeps a gal busy!

Once my current business relationship with my landlord is completed, I will be posting the story in its entirety.  I wasn’t kidding when I said it was crazy.

So, I’m officially moving this coming Friday, September 3.  This means my reading, watching, and posting might be a little light.

If I’m being honest, I’d rather be reading and watching TV, but I’m definitely excited about the place I’m moving into, and even more glad to have this mess of a situation resolved.  I mean, the new TV season is going to start in September and I haven’t finished the shows from last season!  But hopefully having a new place and being settled will push me towards getting that all back on schedule as well.

This weeks question: Who is your favorite female character, in a book or on a TV show/movie? Why?

This was a big toss up for me.  And true to form, I can’t just pick one.  In fact, I spent the entire week trying to figure out how I could choose one of these lucky gals to be my favorite.  I decided that I owe it to all of them to give them credit where they are due.

So, number one is…Buffy Summers.

For those of you who don’t know, Buffy Summers is the lead character in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  And if you’ve been reading much of this blog, you’ll know that BTVS is my favorite TV show ever.

I had a hard time picking between Buffy and Willow.  Honestly, character wise, I think I like Willow better than Buffy.  But what I really like about Buffy is what Joss Whedon created her as – the seemingly dumb blonde girl who you think is going to die in the first scene of the movie.  Who changes your expectations and kicks ass.  She’s the chosen one!

Second, Kate Beckett.

She deserves a bigger picture, but this is the one I liked best, and Google refused to cooperate.

As you probably know, I started watching Castle because of Nathan Fillion, because I adore him.  And I keep watching for him.  But I also keep watching because I think it’s a great show, and I really really like the character opposite him, Kate Beckett.

Kate is a detective, with a complicated past, but a headstrong, brilliant, beautiful woman.  I’ve got a thing for strong female characters.  And don’t you just love that hair?

And third, Jo March.

No discussion of favorite female characters in my world would be complete without her.  To me, Jo embodies a woman unwilling to settle for what her role *should* be in society, a woman who strives to find something more for herself, who refuses to just sit back and take it.  I love that in a character, whether their story be real or completely fiction.  Any character willing to buck the trends is tops in my book.

Next week’s question: Who is your favorite male character, in a book or on a TV show/movie? Why?

Okay, to be honest, I’m not sure I really like the video.  You know how I’m a proponent of posting actual videos when I find them.  But I also feel like this video is just so out there that it kind of takes away from the song.  On the other hand, I love seeing a woman in a position of power.  Yet I feel like it’s just a mans perspective of a woman in power, in a totally veiled sexual way.  In any case, I do really like the song.  Maroon 5 is one of those bands I really should add to my iTunes library!

I took my dogs out for a walk today, and unfortunately, the landscaping crew happened to still be around with their leaf blower backpacks.  I say unfortunately because when you’ve got two dogs and a limited amount of time to walk them in, interruptions are not great.  And people outside always means an interruption exists.

Naturally, the dogs see a couple of landscape professionals and start barking.  They like people.  They want to see people.  It’s exciting and needs to be vocalized!

I’m annoyed and apologize to them, which they probably can’t hear over the sound of the dogs barking and their leaf blowers.  But I’m about to get much more annoyed…

See, one of them decided to start following me, acting like he was working, but not actually using the leaf blower, so it’s obvious that he’s just following me.  Watching me.  And probably only keeping a distance because of the dogs.

At first, I thought maybe he needed to turn down this road I was approaching, so I kept walking.  But then I passed the road and so did he.  I have to stop at this point because one of the dogs stops to go to the bathroom, and I use this opportunity to turn and watch him.  I wanted to show him that I was fully aware of his presence.  So I turned and glared at him.

He got the hint, crossed the street, and actually started working.

I, on the other hand, was furious.  I didn’t exactly feel threatened, more like very grossed out.  But only because it was during the day.  Had this been at night, I definitely would have felt threatened.  And it frustrates me, because I don’t think that men really even contemplate this kind of thing from the “victim” standpoint.

I understand that as a woman, we have more vulnerabilities when it comes to victimization.  The thing that frustrates me is that men don’t have to worry because women typically don’t act like predators in this manner.  And I hate that this is the kind of thing we have to worry about.  I should be able to walk my dogs in my own neighborhood without feeling threatened in any manner.  Without those dogs needing to be rottweilers.

Basically, the point of my rant is that people should be respectful and polite to each other.  No one should have to feel unsafe.  And I shouldn’t have to resort to violence.

This is a weekly Meme run by Book Journey!

Post the books completed last week, the books you are currently reading, and the books you hope to finish this week.

I’ve been packing, cleaning, and still trying to find a place to live, so not much progress this week.

Books completed last week:
I didn’t finish anything.  I didn’t exactly expect that I would, and I just didn’t read much this week, sadly.

Books I’m reading this week:
The Virgin’s Lover – Philippa Gregory: I’m about a quarter of the way through this one, not sure if I’ll be able to finish it this week or not.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I will!

Books ongoing:
Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy: I actually read a couple of chapters in this one the last few days!

Books I acquired this week:
No new books this week.  I’m definitely not getting anything new until the move situation is resolved.

What I watched this week:

• True Blood
• Merlin
• The Tudors

Not a whole lot of watching this week either.

• Sookie and Bill break up.  I have a hard time keeping track of which couple breaks up more: Sookie & Bill, or Stefan & Elena.  I also tend to forget that the events of this series are stacked right on top of each other, so really, they have had a lot of problems in a short amount of time!
• Debbie wants to go kill Sookie, who she blames for all her problems, but Eric points out that Sookie is pretty valuable and killing her isn’t a great plan.  Eric also tricks Russell into trusting him, that he is loyal and all that stuff.
• We finally realize that Rene is actually the father of Arlene’s baby.  See, again, I forget how closely the events are linked together.  Arlene is with Terry now, but the baby is old enough that she realizes it’s Rene’s.  Awesome!
• Jessica and Bill are finally getting along, ish.  He starts teaching her how to fight and be faster so she can defend herself.
• Jason says he’s going to kill Bill for attacking Sookie, and she is very opposed to the whole thing.  Bill is making new enemies left and right in this season!  But instead, Jason confronts Crystal’s family, sees one of them eating something really bloody, and gives a threat while likewise running off pretty freaked.
• Tara is having…daydreams of Vampire Cromwell Franklin.  I’m standing by the theory that he’s not dead.  I’m telling you, kids, bashing a vampire’s head in doesn’t kill them!  Any good vampire slayer could tell you!
• Lafeyette’s mother, Ruby Jean, has decided to come visit him.  She says a ton of bad people are coming for Lafeyette!  He calls Jesus to come and get Ruby Jean – who is pretty damn good with her.  That boy is in the right profession!
• Crystal shows up at Jason’s, and walks right in, so we know she’s not a vampire!  She swam there, and is looking for Jason’s truck to run away with.  She says she swam cuz it’s the only way they couldn’t track her scent.
• Arlene takes it upon herself to hire another waitress, Holly, who is pretty perceptive.  I, however, have seen this show enough that I’m not sure if I trust her.  No one comes in and is just that nice!
• Alcide has to leave to go back to Jackson because Debbie burned down his sisters hair salon.  Him leaving sounds to me like a great opportunity for someone to attack Sookie.  They also have a moment before he takes off…
• Tommy is picking fights all over the place, something tells me that he and Sam are not going to have an awesome brotherly relationship down the road.
• Eric sends Hadley off to warn Sookie that Russell is coming, and to not trust Bill.  In the meantime, he convinces Russell to go do his errands and what not, while he will keep Talbot company.  Sounds fun to me!  I’m sure y’all know where this is going…They eventually take their clothes off, Eric says it’s been a long time since he’s done a vampire and, well, he doesn’t really mean sex.
• Some wolves and Debbie show up at Sookie’s house, presumably to kill her or something.  But Bill and Jessica are there to help her, and for the second time in two episodes, Sookie seems to think she’s a vampire slayer and gets in this big fight with Debbie.  I don’t think Sookie realizes that while yes, she can shoot light out of her fingers, she’s human and NOT a vampire slayer.
• Russell shows up too, wants Sookie, but gets in a bit of a fight with Bill instead.  He’s got the upper hand, since he’s wicked old, but stops because…
• Eric stakes Talbot!  This has been quite the bloody season with the deaths!
• Sookie and Bill make up.  They were broken up for a whole episode!

3:9

• The V Feds, aka The Authority, shows up at Fangtasia to find out what happened to the Magister.  So Eric tells them the whole story of what’s been happening with Russell, and they get put on lockdown until The Authority decides if they think he’s telling the truth and what they’re going to do about the whole thing.
• Meanwhile, Sookie and Bill are still making up as well as cleaning up the body of the werewolf Bill killed in the living room, and talking about what Sookie really is.  It’s half interesting, but they’re just so boring to me that I’m not sure I care as much as I did before about what she is.
• Lafeyette had Jesus stay the night, so they might have a thing going on – Lafeyette is pretty hot so I don’t blame Jesus for coming back.
• Jason gets home to discover Crystal’s ex in his house, with Crystal claiming that Jason kidnapped her.  They eventually knock Felton out, and Crystal says they gotta use rope to tie him up because he can escape handcuffs.  And that he’s stronger than he looks.  I’m way more interested in what these crazy people are.  Felton eventually gets away, has some backup, and almost kills the police officer who goes to answer the call they put in.  Andy apparently has the vampire blood in his desk, too, and so that’s another good question – why?
• Tommy is causing more trouble by making lots of “girl noises” and disturbing the neighbors, so Sam gets after him and…it’s not going to be fantastic later on, you can just see it.  He also steals tips from Arlene at the bar, and Sam takes her side.
• Tara goes to a rape survivors group because of Franklin, and it turns out that Holly is there – the new waitress at Merlotte’s.  So they get to bond over something not so great.
• Hadley calls Sookie and wants Sook to find out if her son is like Sookie with the telepath thing.  I’m not entirely sure why Hadley wants to know…she says she wants to protect him, but if no one knows it’ll make things easier.
• Arlene admits to Holly that the baby is Rene’s, who offers to take her to the clinic to get it taken care of, as Arlene says she doesn’t want the baby.  But she doesn’t want to get rid of it, either.
• Bill wakes up in the same magical place that Sookie went when she was half dying.  The fairy lady says he has stolen Sookie’s light, and is killing her, by drinking so much of her blood.  She says they’ll protect Sookie, and that Bill should leave her alone, but he asks what they are so he can tell Sookie and she will be able to protect herself.
• Eric and Pam have a heart to heart about their life together and what has transpired.  He tells her that if he is destroyed for whatever reason, she should make a new vampire.  I didn’t realize before this that Pam was only a little over 100 years old, and that she hadn’t ever made another vampire.  I’m curious about things like this in the True Blood vampire world – vampires don’t seem to be making new vampires very often, and I wonder if there’s some kind of law we haven’t learned yet.
• Hoyt shows up at Merlotte’s with Summer, and has a convo with Jessica about how he hates Summer and misses Jessica.  Summer does seem pretty annoying.  So maybe Hoyt and Jessica will be getting back together.
• Nan and the American Vampire League, aka The Authority, decides that Eric is telling the truth and that he is to take care of Russell himself.  But with no other resources or anything.
• Sam nearly kills Crystal’s dad, so he is likewise starting a huge war of his own, I think.  Tommy is the only one who doesn’t seem to dislike it.
• Franklin shows up, for real, and is going to kill Tara.  I KNEW he wasn’t dead!  He doesn’t get the chance to kill her, though, because Jason shoots him with a wooden bullet.  And thus, Franklin is really dead this time.
• Russell thinks the AVL is protecting Eric, when really they’re maybe going to kill him, but it starts him down a path of picking a big fight with the entire AVL – and maybe the humans too…because he kills a newsman on camera!  He tells the whole world that he is what vampires really are, and the AVL is lying!!!

This weeks question: Do you come from a large or small family and how do you think it influenced your life?

I come from a large family – six kids, and I’m the oldest.  I realized I don’t have a photo of my family, nor have I asked them if I can post a picture of them here anyway, so you get a fake family of approximately the same size.  We are not evenly distributed like the Brady Bunch, and we did not have a house keeper, but we did have dogs and cats!

Our family has five girls and one boy.  It goes girl, girl, girl, girl, boy, girl.  I was 11 when my youngest sister was born.  At the time I found out my mom was pregnant with her, I said if she had any more, I was running away!

Coming from a large family has definitely influenced my life.  I don’t know if it’s simply the size, or the fact that I was the oldest, but having all those younger siblings has really made me reluctant about having kids of my own.  I know I didn’t birth them (thank god!), but I feel like I’ve already done much of that whole raising kids thing.  So that’s probably the biggest influence it’s had – who knows if I’ll ever have any children.

Another big affect it’s had is I find that as an adult, I am not so good at living with more than about one other person.  I don’t like coming home to lots of people, having to worry about what everyone wants to do, eat, etc.  I guess you could say that having a big family has made me selfish as an adult!

Next Week’s Question: Who is your favorite female character, in a book or on a TV show/movie? Why?

Anna is not sick, but she might as well be.  By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood.  The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate – a life and a  role that she has never challenged…until now.

Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is.  But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister – and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.

A provocative novel that raises some important ethical issues, My Sister’s Keeper is the story of one family’s struggle for survival at all human costs and a stunning moral parable for all time.

My Review: I found this to be a difficult novel to read, both because of Kate’s illness and the situation that Anna finds herself in.  I’ve seen the movie, so I kind of knew the story already, and it was still a very sad book.  I found myself asking, over and over, what would I do in this situation?

What made it a little more difficult for me was that to an extent, I didn’t really like Anna anyway.  I found her to be annoying and it was frustrating to see how she just couldn’t seem to make up her mind.  Then again, I would probably waiver were I in her position, so I don’t feel like I can be too critical of her.  And I haven’t been a thirteen year old for a really long time, so maybe I’m just too disconnected to really identify with much of her life.

The novel raises a very big ethical question – how far should you go to save the life of one child, and at what cost to another?  Anna’s parents never intended to let things go as far as they did, yet it seems a lot of the time that Kate is the only concern.  As a reader, you see the story of the entire Fitzgerald family, and I found myself wondering which of them genuinely suffered the most:  Is it Kate with her illness?  Anna having to be the perpetual donor?  Jesse as the neglected eldest child?  Or the parents, having to live this life and make decisions for all three of their children?

The perspective trades off from one character to another at each chapter break, which provided an interesting way to hear the story.  The only one missing is Kate – you hear her story through everyone else’s.  I definitely felt sympathy for Anna throughout the novel, but I couldn’t help feeling bad for Kate.  Not simply because she has leukemia, but also because she has no real choice about what happens to her either.  And the sad thing is that you know there is no real happy ending to a story like this.

For those who have seen the movie and not read the book, I highly recommend you make the time to read it and make your own comparisons.  Although there is an epilogue, I would be interested in seeing a sequel at some point, because I was left wanting more.  This was also my first Jodi Picoult novel, and I will absolutely read more of her work after this.

Read this book if: You’re interested in a lovely family struggle story.  It’s definitely a tear jerker, but well worth the effort.