Mark This Book Monday: ARC Review of Kenobi by John Jackson Miller!

And for the last edition of this week's Mark This Book Monday, an ARC review!


Kenobi: Star Wars by John Jackson Miller

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I got this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. Thank you DelRey/LucasBooks.

I have to start saying that I have been a huge Star Wars geek since I was 13 and since I'm turning 33 that means I've been a fan now for 20 years, and I've devoured the books in the Expanded Universe since I discovered them and started ordering them online. My love for the books and events going on got seriously dimished after reading The Dark Nest trilogy by Troy Denning, and I just couldn't get into The Legacy of the Force series or the Fate of the Jedi ones. I thought reading about events in between movies would help me get over that slump, so I very enthusiasticaly requested Kenobi.

It took me quite a while to get into the book but I don't really think it's the book's fault, it might just be me not being ready to go back into the Star Wars universe.

We get to see Obi-Wan getting settled into the new life he's going to try and carve in Tatooine, when his mission and his purpose is watching over Luke. We follow a few stories that are intertwined, both the settlers in Tatooine fighting the harsh Twin Suns and using any technology they can to get water and thrive, and the Tusken raiders/warriors that feel it's their sacred duty to fight the settlers and destroy their technology in any shape and form.

It's a frontier land look at it, and life is tough. The characters are rough but they are distinct enough and well fleshed out. We also get a deeper look to the Tuskens' way of life and a look at their way of thinking, since the story changes POV and some of those are Tusken warriors.

My favourite parts of the book were Obi-Wan trying to contact Qui-Gon's ghost, sort of like diary entries, reflecting on his responsabilies, actions and choices.

I had issues keeping my attention in the book for long, and I kept on taking breaks from it, but again, I don't think it's the author or the book's fault, the story in itself was good and it showed a different side of the Obi-Wan we all know and love, the one that becomes Ben, the old crazy wizard living on the Jutland Wastes.

This book could appeal even to not Star Wars fans, cause the story focus is not just on Ben, but on the life of the settlers and the story is a true survival tale in the frontier style, even a bit western-ish. I'm not even sure I just didn't feel like rooting for the characters as much.

Even if I'm a bit torn, I give it 3 stars.



View all my reviews

Thankful Thursday: Technology

Hello everyone!

Hope you guys are having an awesome Thursday! I'm working night shift tonight, so all I'm doing today is mostly being lazy...

For today's Thankful Thursday I wanna say how terribly thankful I have for technology. I'm not gonna go into all the darkness and dangers of being constantly plugged, but I'm gonna highlight some of the great things I find about some of it.

First of all, without the internet, I don't think I would have met my boyfriend. Cause what are the odds of meeting a guy from India that loves Star Wars if not through the official Star Wars message boards? Unlikely doesn't even start to describe it. So yeah, I'm thankful to George Lucas for making the movies and everything that came out of it!

Other technologies I love? Skype, it's just amazing that I can talk to my boyfriend from laptop to laptop on videocall or phone to phone on Skype call, and not having to worry about the humongous phone bill that would accompany it...

Twitter is another new thing I like, I know there are loads of bad things about the darker side of twitter or how inane it can be... but it can also be said about so many other things. I've discovered I like interacting with people on twitter, sellers, crafters, bloggers and most recently, authors. I love the chance to be able to tell an author I've loved their books, and I love getting the updates for sequels and getting a chance to get an ARC or swag from them!

So, thank you human brain that can think of all of this and allows us to be able to interact with others in ways we wouldn't have thought possible a few years back! And thank you, Uncle George!

 

Wearing Handmade Wednesday: Rad Rocket!

Hey there everyone! Finally, Wearing Handmade Wednesday is back! Not with the best of photos, this one was taken with my Xoom and not my camera, cause my remote is broken and I need to buy a new one, I just can't remember what website I bought this one! So for now... self pics will be taken not-as-well-as-I-wished.

Wearing my Rad Rocket Yoda slouch top!

I've known Jen from Rad Rocket for quite a while, I think since my eBay years, and that's a good 5 years I think. Her brand has changed names a pair of times, and she has expanded from just clothes to also some really cute resin jewellry too. I had been meaning to get something from her shop for a while, but when I saw this super geeky, super cute & super cozy & comfy Yoda slouch top, I knew it had to be mine! It arrived while I was in India, but as soon as I arrived I tried it on and it's just perfect for cold weather! Very warm, made of SW fleece that doesn't itch, and with a slouch cut that is very comfy!

Do take a lot at her Etsy shop for more cute & geeky clothes and adorable resin pendants & jewellry!

Monday Munchies: Cupcakes Workshop with Alma's Cupcakes!!

Hello everyone! How's the week starting? I hope very good, and if not... take a peek at all the yummy pics I'm sharing with you in this entry, and you'll be sure to cheer up!

This past Saturday I finally attended a course/workshop by Alma of Alma's Cupcakes and Objetivo: Cupcake Perfecto for beginners. After reading Alma's blog, trying some of recipes and seeing all her amazing progress in the world of cakes, cupcakes and cookies, I was extremely excited to attend this 4 hour-class and it was everything I expected and more! Not only I got tons of practical tips and recommendations, learnt about fondant and ingredients, but also had an absolute blast with Alma, her mother (the helper) and the other ladies that were attending the workshop (with my friend Esther too!).

Since my poor brain it's not at its best today, after two night shifts on a row, and depriving myself of sleep during the day so I can sleep tonight, I'm just gonna say a few things: I'm even more obsessed with cupcakes and baking in general, I have a mile long list of things to buy and I NEED A KITCHEN AID!!!

Now, before going for the photos... THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, ALMA!!

Alma's super cute logo

Alma's Peggy Porchen's rose!

Getting a cupcake ready to be filled in with yumminess

The working table, with the materials and the recipe book!

Esther and me, with Alma, the most adorable teacher in existence!

The workshop was already decorated for Xmas!

Esther posing with one of the cupcakes made by Alma

Another amazing flower cupcake made by Alma!

Amazing cakes!

The cakes with Peggy roses!

These are the cupcakes that Esther decorated!

I made too many fondant decorations that I took home with me!

My cupcakes ready to take home and my diploma!

Cookie monster, Yoda, Bobba Fett...

My six cupcakes! They're so cute I don't wanna eat them!!

Saturday Song: Across The Stars - John Williams (Attack of the Clones soundtrack)

Saturday is here, and today inspired by two weddings, Sara's (one of my co-workers) and Beth's (from Dungaree Dolly), I'm sharing with you a song I love, and that I want as part of my wedding(s) somehow!

Main song for the Attack of the Clones (Star Wars: Episode II) soundtrack, and a wonderfully epic love song for Anakin and Amidala.

May The Force Be With You (and your love story will have a happier ending than theirs!).

Traveling Thursday: Tunisia!

Hello everyone!

After working two night shifts of a row, celebrating a friend's b-day (with Red Velvet cupcakes again), I'm now back to somewhat regular scheduled blogging, which can get iffy soon, as I'm leaving for India next week! I JUST CAN'T WAIT!

So, today I'm sharing with you the photos of my first international trip on this week's Traveling Thursday, our "end of uni" trip to Tunisia in 2001! Before this, I knew I wanted to travel loads and visit many places, but this trip confirmed that I'd have a blast doing so! This was the first time I needed a passport, so I got my passport when I was 20, and have been collecting stamps on it since!

The Star Wars geek in me was super happy when we visited some locations used in the movies during our trip, and my classmates really did a bit of head shaking on my geekiness!

The Matmata caves, better known as the Lars Homestead!

My first ride on a dromedary! (Also I learnt the difference between a camel (two humps) and a dromedary (just one)

One would expect the desert to be hot, even in Feb, right? Well, not so much!

We visited an oasis, and had a great time exploring around!

We also visited one of the best preserved Roman's colliseums in Jem!

Wearing Handmade Wednesday: Madfoxes!

Hello everyone!


After a very busy day at work yesterday, with a double shift, and some nice sleep this morning after the night shift, I'm all ready to share with you all another Wearing Handmade Wednesday entry!


Today's entry has also been dug up from my old photos from the HDD, which is proving quite fruitful, and I've realized that I haven't shared quite a few old time sellers!

Wearing my Madfoxes Stormtrooper halter top!

Madfoxes is one of those sellers I discovered years ago on eBay, selling bands recons and the occasional geeky one, like my Stormtrooper halter! As most handmade seller she made the move to Etsy when eBay changed their policies, and she continues to sell her tops there, so if you want a band summery top, you'd do well to check her shop!

Stocking up on Holiday cards!

Hi there!


Finally, it's Friday! (Black Friday for all you lot in the US, happy shopping!) And although I have to work tonight (something I'm not entirely looking forward) after that, I'm gonna be having a bunch of days of (finally!) so I'm hoping I'll have enough time to relax, have some social life (on Saturday is lunch & New Moon with bff) and take loads of photos and write a few blog entries!


This year I have decided to start my shopping early, and though for a general consensus many atheists like me don't celebrate Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanzaa/Solstice, I for one, don't care about the religious background, but I do love the excuse for buying presents for the people I care for and getting together to enjoy yummy food! So I've already started my gift shopping, I'm still waiting for some packages to arrive here before I can send a package with all my Christmas gifts to the US for G's nieces.


What other shopping I decided to start on early is Holiday cards! This year I had decided I'd only get handmade cards, and that's what I did! I found three shops with amazing cards and I did my shopping there! Dollgift, UniqueGrabs and Enfin LaVoila!





My first purchase was from fellow blogger and amazing artist Rheea, on her Dollgift shop on Etsy. I saw a few sneak peeks on her blog posts, and I knew that I was gonna be getting a set of her cards as soon they were available! So I snagged a set, and when they arrived, pretty fast, all the way from Singapore, I was in awe at how super cute her packaging is and even more at how cute and sturdy her cards are! I'll probably be sending these to G's family both in the US & India.






Next came indulging the geek in me! I had been watching UniqueGrabs' shop for quite a while, cause they have all sort of geeky cute b-day cards with characters from SW, LOTR, Twilight and many other movies (even My Fair Lady!), and when I saw their special of Holiday cards with the Kreepy Kids version of SW characters... I knew I had to get them! They're really colourful and cute and most of all, GEEKY! Mr G is gonna be getting one, and so will those friends of mine that like SW and know English!






And finally, I have family & friends that don't speak English, but also deserve holiday cards, and I still wanted them to be handmade... what to do? Well, doing my usual perusing on Etsy of my favourite shops, I checked EnFin LaVoila's shop and ta da! problem solved! Right there on her shop announcement was the solution to my problem! She can make her cards in any other European language you want, cause she has an European keyboard with all the accents she may need! So I contacted her, and she was super fast on making two sets of six cards on each of the two designs I chose! Now, my friends & family will have some super quirky & cute cards in Spanish!






So here they are! Showing off my super cute and unique Holiday cards, like them? Go get yourself some! Handmade cards for the win!