The Return of Percy Jackson

When I bought one and then all five of the Percy Jackson series, I had to finally admit to myself that I am a sucker for children's fantasy. It was no Harry Potter of course, but it was fun to learn Greek mythology in that way, considering my education didn't cover it at all. I really didn't know ANYTHING about Greek mythology other than maybe Aphrodite's name. It was also fun to compare, in my head, the differences between the styles of JK Rowling, who is so distinctly British and Rick Riordan whose humour is so reflective of American goofiness. Very different. Not the forget the food. At Hogwarts, we read about delicious feasts and puddings, and grabbed turkey legs from the magical plates, whereas at Camp Half-Blood in Percy Jackson world, it's pizza and coke that made the demi-Gods drool. That was disturbing.

Anyway, so I finished the Percy Jackson series in about 10 days, and was sad to say goodbye to another hero. Atleast I thought it was goodbye.

A week ago I saw Rick Riordan's newly released The Lost Hero in a bookstore, and sneakily ordered it online with a couple of other books. And I was happy to plunge back into the world of demi-Gods, meet a bunch of new characters in the same old setting, but a new twist.

The twist being, we are slowly delving into Roman mythology. Percy Jackson was "missing/kidnapped" the entire book, but a not-so-subtle hint at the end of the book revealed that he is going to be playing a much bigger part in the next book -- The Son of Neptune. (Nepture aka Roman name for Posiedon.) So, excitement is there slightly. Sucky part is that the book is out Fall 2011. Nicely done by Riordan to bring back the Hero after his series ended. Makes me fervently wish that Rowling will just write something soon. Anything. (She is writing apparently, but she is so secretive.)

So that brings us back to focusing on the Harry Potter mania about the grip the world this weekend. I can hardly believe that my tickets are for real.

Of shopping online

They may looks pretty, and they may come at a great discount, I'm pretty sure I would never ever buy a pair of boots online. Just saying.

Small Pleasures #658

Receiving a secretly ordered package of hardbound books. Double points if it's a bunch of Children's Fantasy books.

Vivian Maier

I don't remember how I came across this blog, but it has grown to become my absolute favourite. It's not a tech blog, or a personal diary, or a comic, or dooce. It's a photoblog -- Vivian Maier - Her Discovered Work. I love it because its so unique.

The story starts when this man bought a bunch of film negatives and a few negative prints at a furniture auction. He was not a photographer. But slowly began to develop film rolls from the hundreds of rolls he had. And what he discovered was the exceptional street photographs in Chicago from the 1950s to 1990s by a woman called Vivian Maier. He now posts her photos on the blog. 

Not that much is known about her other than she was a French woman who considered herself a film critic, and was a nanny to children in Chicago. Pleasantly surprised today to read that a documentary is being filmed about her. Until then, enjoy the photos.

PS: Read more about the story here: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/little-miss-big-shot-fifties-america-exposed-ndash-by-a-french-nanny-1811040.html

The fountains at Bellagio

I hadn't fully grasped how magnificent a fountain could be before I stood in front of the dancing fountains of the Bellagio in Vegas.
I got really overwhelmed by the combination of the music and the pretty dancing fountains and had tears slipping down my face, it was eerie. It was "Time to say Goodbye" by Andrea Bolecci. Don't miss this when you get a chance to see this live.



Ps: I haven't posted the video I took because I discovered my own moaning soundtrack on it, and I'll spare you that. We saw it during the day, and it was amazing in the sunlight.

PPs: Probably wouldn't have cried if it had been another song. This one just hit the spot.