Marnanel Thurman's Blog, page 2
April 14, 2011
Wednesday: mostly about teeth
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Yesterday I went to mass first thing. Our priest had just come back from seeing his new granddaughter and was full of the news; it was very happy.
Then I went on to the dentist. They took X-rays of my teeth, but I kept gagging on the thing they put in your mouth, so they had to take a picture with the big X-ray machine. For that I had to take some of my piercings out, and some of them healed up in the time it took to put them back in again.
The dentist was very friendly and helpful. He says I have a broken wisdom tooth, and it'll have to come out. That will be next Tuesday, when the dental surgeon comes in. Until then, I have painkillers.
In the time I was waiting for the dentist, I mostly finished the last chapter but four of the current novel. I believe I might be able to get it done entirely today (Thursday) if I put my mind to it.
Later I went shopping for new trousers with Fin, since we're going to Tracy's wedding.
I cooked dinner (it was ravioli and meatballs) and while I cooked I talked to Kit on the phone: it was her birthday. So it was a pretty good day.
comments
Yesterday I went to mass first thing. Our priest had just come back from seeing his new granddaughter and was full of the news; it was very happy.
Then I went on to the dentist. They took X-rays of my teeth, but I kept gagging on the thing they put in your mouth, so they had to take a picture with the big X-ray machine. For that I had to take some of my piercings out, and some of them healed up in the time it took to put them back in again.
The dentist was very friendly and helpful. He says I have a broken wisdom tooth, and it'll have to come out. That will be next Tuesday, when the dental surgeon comes in. Until then, I have painkillers.
In the time I was waiting for the dentist, I mostly finished the last chapter but four of the current novel. I believe I might be able to get it done entirely today (Thursday) if I put my mind to it.
Later I went shopping for new trousers with Fin, since we're going to Tracy's wedding.
I cooked dinner (it was ravioli and meatballs) and while I cooked I talked to Kit on the phone: it was her birthday. So it was a pretty good day.
comments
February 5, 2011
Set of books currently on my desk
For the curious, they are:a VulgateBradley's Arnold Latin Prose CompositionBrian Jacques, RedwallMilton's shorter poems and sonnetsJonathan Lamb, Tough minds, tender heartsShusaku Endo, A life of JesusThomas Merton, Contemplative prayerDorothy Sayers, Whose body?Hallowell and Ratey, Delivered from distractionTwo copies of Not Ordinarily BorrowableMary Oliver, The leaf and the cloudTimothy Ratcliffe OP, What is the point of being a Christian?Donald Bisset, Time and again storiesRuth Noel, The languages of Tolkien's Middle-EarthThe pocket Thomas Merton.Most of these are here because I am in the process of reading them.
Set of books currently on my desk
For the curious, they are:a VulgateBradley's Arnold Latin Prose CompositionBrian Jacques, RedwallMilton's shorter poems and sonnetsJonathan Lamb, Tough minds, tender heartsShusaku Endo, A life of JesusThomas Merton, Contemplative prayerDorothy Sayers, Whose body?Hallowell and Ratey, Delivered from distractionTwo copies of Not Ordinarily BorrowableMary Oliver, The leaf and the cloudTimothy Ratcliffe OP, What is the point of being a Christian?Donald Bisset, Time and again storiesRuth Noel, The languages of Tolkien's Middle-EarthThe pocket Thomas Merton.Most of these are here because I am in the process of reading them.
comments
January 27, 2011
Review copies of "Not Ordinarily Borrowable"
I've said this before, but I'll reiterate: anyone is welcome to a copy of Not Ordinarily Borrowable in exchange for posting a review (not necessarily a positive one!). Print publications are awesome, and blog posts are good too. Sending you PDFs is easier to manage, but I can post you a paper copy if needs be.
Review copies of "Not Ordinarily Borrowable"
I've said this before, but I'll reiterate: anyone is welcome to a copy of Not Ordinarily Borrowable in exchange for posting a review (not necessarily a positive one!). Print publications are awesome, and blog posts are good too. Sending you PDFs is easier to manage, but I can post you a paper copy if needs be.
comments
comments
April 6, 2010
Working on a book
If I've seemed rather busy recently, it's because I've been working on a book for Packt. It will be a "cookbook" of ways to solve problems on MeeGo using Python and Qt. It started out as an N900-specific book, but it's grown in the telling.
[image error]
How to place a phone call
(Of course, until a version of MeeGo with a GUI goes public, I'm testing everything on the N900.)
I'm enjoying writing it immensely. It should be out sometime around the autumn.
[image error]
How to place a phone call
(Of course, until a version of MeeGo with a GUI goes public, I'm testing everything on the N900.)
I'm enjoying writing it immensely. It should be out sometime around the autumn.
Working on a book
If I've seemed rather busy recently, it's because I've been working on a book for Packt. It will be a "cookbook" of ways to solve problems on MeeGo using Python and Qt. It started out as an N900-specific book, but it's grown in the telling.
[image error]
How to place a phone call
(Of course, until a version of MeeGo with a GUI goes public, I'm testing everything on the N900.)
I'm enjoying writing it immensely. It should be out sometime around the autumn.
comments
[image error]
How to place a phone call
(Of course, until a version of MeeGo with a GUI goes public, I'm testing everything on the N900.)
I'm enjoying writing it immensely. It should be out sometime around the autumn.
comments
April 1, 2010
"Borrowable"'s ABNA reviews
tl;dr: Borrowable didn't get into the third round because it's middle-grade fiction and this is a YA competition.
ABNA Expert Reviewer What is the strongest aspect of this excerpt? Has the tone of a fairy tale and should be enjoyed as such. She is very like Little Red Riding Hood who knows the wolf is waiting for her and is eager to go see if he left any bits of grandma about. Light. What aspect needs the most work? The excerpt reads far more like a grade school story than one for young adults. The introduction is almost embarrassingly childish in tone. If the story began with her going into the library and finding out about the dragon, it would be far better. Still - this is for children younger than 10 years old. What is your overall opinion of this excerpt? Not at all a YA book, this will appeal to a very young audience of precocious girls of about 7 or 8 years old. Has the ring of a Fairy Tale or Twisted Tale, thought it lacks the spark and wonder of Ella Enchanted. The description of the librarian had me chuckling. ABNA Expert Reviewer What is the strongest aspect of this excerpt? It is nice to see a "scholar" who is the main character of the story, especially when that scholar is a young woman with brains and courage. The story is reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz. It is also interesting to see the melding of the real world with imaginary aspects, such as dragons and ancient people being studied. What aspect needs the most work? This story does not seem to be written for young adults, but rather for young children. Especially in the beginning there are a lot of definitions for words that young adults would already know. The prose is very basic and would come across as condescending to an adolescent reader. The pace is also very slow, and is not conducive to a building up of tension and conflict. What is your overall opinion of this excerpt? I would characterize this story as more appropriate for a younger audience. The female, young, intelligent scholar, the main protagonist, sets a good example for young girls especially. Young readers would also be interested in the fantastical elements of the story. However, the prose is somewhat dull and slow and there isn't too much that is particularly unique in this excerpt.
ABNA Expert Reviewer What is the strongest aspect of this excerpt? Has the tone of a fairy tale and should be enjoyed as such. She is very like Little Red Riding Hood who knows the wolf is waiting for her and is eager to go see if he left any bits of grandma about. Light. What aspect needs the most work? The excerpt reads far more like a grade school story than one for young adults. The introduction is almost embarrassingly childish in tone. If the story began with her going into the library and finding out about the dragon, it would be far better. Still - this is for children younger than 10 years old. What is your overall opinion of this excerpt? Not at all a YA book, this will appeal to a very young audience of precocious girls of about 7 or 8 years old. Has the ring of a Fairy Tale or Twisted Tale, thought it lacks the spark and wonder of Ella Enchanted. The description of the librarian had me chuckling. ABNA Expert Reviewer What is the strongest aspect of this excerpt? It is nice to see a "scholar" who is the main character of the story, especially when that scholar is a young woman with brains and courage. The story is reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz. It is also interesting to see the melding of the real world with imaginary aspects, such as dragons and ancient people being studied. What aspect needs the most work? This story does not seem to be written for young adults, but rather for young children. Especially in the beginning there are a lot of definitions for words that young adults would already know. The prose is very basic and would come across as condescending to an adolescent reader. The pace is also very slow, and is not conducive to a building up of tension and conflict. What is your overall opinion of this excerpt? I would characterize this story as more appropriate for a younger audience. The female, young, intelligent scholar, the main protagonist, sets a good example for young girls especially. Young readers would also be interested in the fantastical elements of the story. However, the prose is somewhat dull and slow and there isn't too much that is particularly unique in this excerpt.
March 31, 2010
"Borrowable"'s ABNA reviews
tl;dr: Borrowable didn't get into the third round because it's middle-grade fiction and this is a YA competition.
ABNA Expert Reviewer What is the strongest aspect of this excerpt? Has the tone of a fairy tale and should be enjoyed as such. She is very like Little Red Riding Hood who knows the wolf is waiting for her and is eager to go see if he left any bits of grandma about. Light. What aspect needs the most work? The excerpt reads far more like a grade school story than one for young adults. The introduction is almost embarrassingly childish in tone. If the story began with her going into the library and finding out about the dragon, it would be far better. Still - this is for children younger than 10 years old. What is your overall opinion of this excerpt? Not at all a YA book, this will appeal to a very young audience of precocious girls of about 7 or 8 years old. Has the ring of a Fairy Tale or Twisted Tale, thought it lacks the spark and wonder of Ella Enchanted. The description of the librarian had me chuckling. ABNA Expert Reviewer What is the strongest aspect of this excerpt? It is nice to see a "scholar" who is the main character of the story, especially when that scholar is a young woman with brains and courage. The story is reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz. It is also interesting to see the melding of the real world with imaginary aspects, such as dragons and ancient people being studied. What aspect needs the most work? This story does not seem to be written for young adults, but rather for young children. Especially in the beginning there are a lot of definitions for words that young adults would already know. The prose is very basic and would come across as condescending to an adolescent reader. The pace is also very slow, and is not conducive to a building up of tension and conflict. What is your overall opinion of this excerpt? I would characterize this story as more appropriate for a younger audience. The female, young, intelligent scholar, the main protagonist, sets a good example for young girls especially. Young readers would also be interested in the fantastical elements of the story. However, the prose is somewhat dull and slow and there isn't too much that is particularly unique in this excerpt.
comments
ABNA Expert Reviewer What is the strongest aspect of this excerpt? Has the tone of a fairy tale and should be enjoyed as such. She is very like Little Red Riding Hood who knows the wolf is waiting for her and is eager to go see if he left any bits of grandma about. Light. What aspect needs the most work? The excerpt reads far more like a grade school story than one for young adults. The introduction is almost embarrassingly childish in tone. If the story began with her going into the library and finding out about the dragon, it would be far better. Still - this is for children younger than 10 years old. What is your overall opinion of this excerpt? Not at all a YA book, this will appeal to a very young audience of precocious girls of about 7 or 8 years old. Has the ring of a Fairy Tale or Twisted Tale, thought it lacks the spark and wonder of Ella Enchanted. The description of the librarian had me chuckling. ABNA Expert Reviewer What is the strongest aspect of this excerpt? It is nice to see a "scholar" who is the main character of the story, especially when that scholar is a young woman with brains and courage. The story is reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz. It is also interesting to see the melding of the real world with imaginary aspects, such as dragons and ancient people being studied. What aspect needs the most work? This story does not seem to be written for young adults, but rather for young children. Especially in the beginning there are a lot of definitions for words that young adults would already know. The prose is very basic and would come across as condescending to an adolescent reader. The pace is also very slow, and is not conducive to a building up of tension and conflict. What is your overall opinion of this excerpt? I would characterize this story as more appropriate for a younger audience. The female, young, intelligent scholar, the main protagonist, sets a good example for young girls especially. Young readers would also be interested in the fantastical elements of the story. However, the prose is somewhat dull and slow and there isn't too much that is particularly unique in this excerpt.
comments
