Social Saturation Point

Thursday, May 29, 2014
I have been thoughtful lately about my social saturation point. What I mean by that is: the point I reach where I actually can't be social any more, and I need time to go away and replenish my own compassion levels. To explain this a little better, please see this image from romanjones on deviantart:


To see the full comic, please go here.

The basic gist of the message, though, is that I love spending time with people. There are lovely people in my life that I enjoy being around and will do so for hours at a time. But I reach a point with many of them that I just can't do the social thing any more. In the past, I would start to feel really guilty, and then really angry. (I still sometimes do that.) I would stop being able to communicate effectively, though I would keep trying. I'd end up frustrated, exhausted, a little sad, and just longing for a little time alone.

I feel a little better about things these days, but it can still be hard to say to people 'hey, I need some time alone for awhile' unless they are introverted in the exact same way you are.

What are your thoughts? Do you sometimes find yourself craving some time alone?

Love to all who read.

weekly glimpse #19 (slightly delayed...)

Monday, May 26, 2014
First Second books ahoy! :D

currently reading: a few things... but about to start re-reading Sabriel by Garth Nix so Katharine and I can get up to date!
listening to: it was SHINee's sixth anniversary yesterday, so I've been listening to SHINee. Which isn't that new. XD
watching: bit of youtube. bit of HIMYM. bit of gaming with Xin.
food: obsessed with roast veggies lately. yummm.
drinking: found some of those sipahh straws (the ones with flavouring inside?) and started drinking almond milk through them. eee!
writing?: shh.

general...
the hard
: grumpy grump. I have been having trouble shaking the grumps.
: surprise pain and huge discomfort on Thursday morning, meaning no class for me. Blah.
: feeling disconnected and unsure... and not sleeping well because of it.

the good
: deciding to put myself back on a self-love challenge for the next 30 days, and deliberately looking after myself each and every day. feels good.
: gaming time with Xin - so much fun and Child of Light is amazing!
: receiving things in the mail! joy!
: connection.

what i want for this week...
~ releasing and allowing.
~ complete!
~ joy in the process.

(update from last week: I wanted to feel relaxed and get a lot of reading done and, despite feeling disconnected and a bit grumpy, I actually still managed to read quite a lot and work hard on feeling relaxed (that's an odd sentence). I also wanted comfort and love times a bajillion, and I'm going to ask for that again because I am getting more and more each day - not just from myself, but from lovely others in my life.)

mantra? be Bethwyn.

Book Review: Zita the Spacegirl, Legends of Zita the Spacegirl, and The Return of Zita the Spacegirl

I love reading. Books are amazing. They are a form of escapism, yes, but they are also inspiration, joy, and... well. Goodness. I think in some ways I have used my appetite for reading to define parts of my personality, so it made sense for me to review some of what I read! Here we go...



Titles: Zita the Spacegirl, Legends of Zita the Spacegirl, and The Return of Zita the Spacegirl
Author: Ben Hatke
Series: Books one, two, and three of the same series (completed)

Synopsis for book one: "Zita's life took a cosmic left-turn in the blink of an eye.
When her best friend is kidnapped by an alien doomsday cult, Zita leaps to the rescue and finds herself a strange on a strange planet. Humanoid chickens and neurotic robots are shocking enough as new experiences go, but Zita is even more surprised to find herself taking on the role of intergalactic hero. Before long, aliens in all shapes and sizes don't even phase her. Neither do ancient prophesies, doomed planets, or even a friendly con man who takes a mysterious interest in Zita's quest.
Zita the spacegirl is a fun, captivating tale of friendship and redemption from Flight veteran Ben Hatke. It also has more whimsical, eye-catching, Miyazaki-esque monsters than you can shake a stick at."

My thoughts: I have been wanting to read these books for a while, and now I finally have my hands on them. And, yes, it was definitely worth it.
Hatke manages to inject so much personality into the most bizarre of creatures - and even make you love them or laugh out loud at the things they say. I found myself giggling quite a few times while reading these books, and I also felt like a little girl again - discovering the wonderful world of graphic novels once more and being able to do that with a kick-ass female protagonist. so. very. awesome.

I really don't want to give anything away, but please know that these books are worth a read if you can get your hands on them. I love Hatke's style - his artwork manages to be both childlike with whimsy, whilst also still having panels that makes you stop and examine everything. And, seriously - kick-ass female protagonist. (cheers of delight)

You would like this book if: you like quirky characters with a strange sense of humour; you love amazing adventures.

Rating overall:  9/10

If you'd like to keep up to date with what I'm reading, follow me on Goodreads here!

Book Review: Demon Child by Kylie Chan

Tuesday, May 20, 2014
I love reading. Books are amazing. They are a form of escapism, yes, but they are also inspiration, joy, and... well. Goodness. I think in some ways I have used my appetite for reading to define parts of my personality, so it made sense for me to review some of what I read! Here we go...





Bethwyn is a judge for the Aurealis Awards. This review is the personal opinion of Bethwyn herself, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any judging panel, the judging coordinator or the Aurealis Awards management team.

Title: Demon Child
Author: Kylie Chan
Series: second book in the Celestial Battle trilogy; eighth book in the entire series (including the first trilogy, Dark Heavens, and the second trilogy, Journey to Wudang)
Publication Date: June 1st 2014

Synopsis: "War with Hell looms and the cruel demons could gain control of everything. Emma Donahoe has faced down threats to her loved ones and never given up the fight. But as the demons close in, she faces a new danger - John's love for her could lead to her complete annihilation. As battles rage for control of Heaven and Earth, she must fight her own war to retain her independence as her identity is absorbed into that of the man she loves..."

My thoughts: Let me start this by saying - I will not be giving away any spoilers aside from what is already stated in the blurb above (sorry about that...). I will be giving me overall impression and feels about this book, and then talking about the series a little bit as a whole.

This is technically the second book in the Dark Heavens trilogy, but Kylie Chan has been following Emma's story for eight books now, with the next book set to be the final one (eee!). [side note: there is also a separate book set before White Tiger, the first book in the series, called Small Shen that details two of the side characters.] I have read all the books before this and have travelled the ups and downs with the characters.
After being a little disappointed with the last book (Dark Serpent) because the characters all sounded a little same-y to me, this book was such a brilliant return to the world. I love the martial arts and Chinese mythology elements to these books, and (I may be completely wrong as I am an amateur on these topics) it seems like Chan has really got her facts right. I lapped this book up in three days and wanted more.
There were occasional points where I felt like there was either too much going on for me to understand (it was very convoluted), and other times where I felt like Chan was relying a little too much on info-dumps to get information across to the reader, but those moments were few and far between. Overall I felt completely drawn in to this book and oh-so-happy to be back with the characters.

In terms of the series as a whole, I have had conversations with people about Chan's books where they have written her off because they found her characters or storyline to be a bit too 'light-weight' or 'superficial', and I respect the decision of others to avoid reading her books - I prefer that to having conversations or reading comments by people that are just blatant attacks on Chan's writing or deliberately being frustrating. But I have to say that I just don't see what others seem to be seeing. I guess when I started these books I was just at a perfect time in my life to disappear into them - I actually read the first one from the library and then bought all six that were out at the time (the Dark Heavens trilogy and the Journey to Wudang trilogy) and powered through them. I love the characters and the plot, I love the romance and the action. For me it is a world that I will happily disappear into.

If you're willing to give it a go, I highly recommend these books. I can't wait for the last one (Black Jade, publication date unknown)!!!

You would like this book if: You like female characters that learn to defend THEMSELVES thankyouverymuch; you are interested in Chinese mythology and martial arts; you have read all seven previous books ^_~

Rating:  8.5/10

If you'd like to keep up to date with what I'm reading, follow me on Goodreads here!

weekly glimpse #18

Sunday, May 18, 2014
eee!

currently reading: Demon Child by Kylie Chan... among other things.
listening to: I haven't been listening to much music lately, aside from SHINee and GDragon (mostly his One of a Kind album).
watching: looots of youtube stuff. I find MadeYewLook amazing, and then also watching my usual booktubers and vlogbrothers stuff :)
food: Xin and I are trying to eat a little better lately, so we have been getting lots of fresh food and making lovely things.
drinking: water, tea, blackcurrant cordial...
writing?: I've been having a bit of trouble this week just because there's been a lot happening, but I'm doing well enough!

general...
the hard
: PMS. Like crazy.
: Finding out about a loss in our family.
: Tired and... tired.
: The Government announced its budget and many people I know will be negatively affected. And also, the budget sucks.
: Just wanting to rest and read and having a lot to do that meant I couldn't go sit down...

the good
: Time with my family and Xin and feeling happy.
: Realising that even though the budget will probably affect me badly, I am so supported and so loved, and so happy to not be in a worse situation (such as a war-torn or 'third-world' country).
: New book! Sent to me without my expecting it! I had requested it but I wasn't sure...and then it turned up! EEEE.
: Finding out that I'm on the Fantasy Novel panel for the Aurealis Awards again this year with my dear friend Katharine! :D Can't WAIT to get reading... but I also want to finish a few things first.
: Feeling fairly on top of uni stuff and actually managing to go to class! :D
: OH. And archery. archery is awesome.

what i want for this week...
~ I feel so relaxed and am getting so much reading done! :D
~ Comfort and love times a bajillion.

(update from last week: I was looking for faith, trust in my intuition, and contentment with being myself. And I feel like those things are coming back to me more and more, even while PMSing. It can be hard sometimes, but I love being me.)

mantra? be Bethwyn.

Book Review: The Eternal Smile by Gene Luen Yang and Derek Kirk Kim [Graphic Novel]

Friday, May 16, 2014
I love reading. Books are amazing. They are a form of escapism, yes, but they are also inspiration, joy, and... well. Goodness. I think in some ways I have used my appetite for reading to define parts of my personality, so it made sense for me to review some of what I read! Here we go...



Title: The Eternal Smile
Author: Gene Luen Yang and Derek Kirk Kim
Publication Date: originally published in 2009

Synopsis: "MEET DUNCAN. Charming and brave, he's the Princess's favorite - and he's on his way to winning the throne. But lately, the walls of reality in Duncan's kingdom are wearing a little thin...
MEET GRAN'PA GREENBAX. Nothing seems to satisfy this greedy old frog's longing for a pool full of gold - until, one day, a mysterious smile appears in the sky. Has his chance at happiness come at last.
MEET JANET. Her nine-to-five life takes a turn for the romantic when she learns in an email from a mysterious Nigerian prince that she has been chosen to liberate his family's vast fortune. All he needs is her banking information.
In three very different stories, master storytellers Gene Yang and Derek Kirk Kim pit fantasy against reality, for good or for ill. Subtle, surprising, and entirely entertaining, The Eternal Smile delves into our dreams, and the unexpected places they lead."

My thoughts: I know the blurb says that these are three very different stories, and in many ways they are, but they also have the binding theme of making you question things and really think about life a little bit more. And I loved that.
I have apparently recently become quite obsessed with First Second publishers and have been doing my best to get my hands on a few of their publications. I have already read Boxers and Saints by Gene Yang and found it fascinating, and then discovered that my library had this book, so of course I grabbed it.
I loved the messages in each story, the artwork (which changed from story to story) and the characters that Kim and Yang had created. My favourite story is a toss-up between Duncan's and Janet's.... Gran'pa Greenbax's story was quite bizarre and I just didn't find it as compelling as the other two.

I think the best way to review this book is to describe the feeling I got while reading it - fascinated, slightly confused, and amazed. And finally, when I had finished, thoughtful. I want to read more from both of these authors.

You would like this book if: you like graphic novels with awesome messages and slightly bizarre storylines; you feel like something that will give you a thoughtful pause.

Rating:  9/10

If you'd like to keep up to date with what I'm reading, follow me on Goodreads here!

Book Review: Toyo by Lily Chan

Wednesday, May 14, 2014
I love reading. Books are amazing. They are a form of escapism, yes, but they are also inspiration, joy, and... well. Goodness. I think in some ways I have used my appetite for reading to define parts of my personality, so it made sense for me to review some of what I read! Here we go...



Title: Toyo
Author: Lily Chan
Publication Date: first published in 2012

Synopsis: "Blending the intimacy of memoir with an artist's vision, Toyo is the story of a remarkable woman, a vivid picture of Japan before and after war, and an unpredictable tale of courage and change in today's Australia.
Born into the traditional world of pre-war Osaka, Toyo must always protect the secret of her parents' true relationship. Her father lives in China with his wife; her unmarried mother runs a cafe. Toyo and her mother are beautiful and polite, keeping themselves in society's good graces.
Then comes the rain of American bombs. Toyo's life is uprooted again and again. With each sharp change and painful loss, she becomes more herself and more aware of where she has come from. She finds family and belief, but still clings to her parents' secret.
In Toyo, Lily Chan has pieced together the unconventional shape of her grandmother's story. Vibrant and ultimately heart-rending, Toyo is the chronicle of an extraordinary life, infused with a granddaughter's love."

My thoughts: Okay, a little context here. I originally bought this book early last year [2013] when I went to the Perth Writer's Festival and went along to a panel that had Benjamin Law on it (author of Gaysia and The Family Law). The panel was about writing memoirs in different ways and dealing with writing about people who actually exist and, often, are still alive... and all the difficulties and interesting occurrences that come along with that. Lily Chan, in case you haven't realised, was on that panel. She was quiet and didn't speak much, but when she did I was intrigued. I bought her book along with a few others during the festival, and then promptly put it on my shelf to read 'later'.
Fast forward to about two weeks ago when I pulled the title of this book out of my TBR Jar and started reading it.

I did not expect to like this book, if I'm being brutally honest. I tend to move away from anything that has past wars and such within it (I am a delicate soul... kind of) as I either find them too confronting or, if I'm still being honest, a bit on the boring side. I go through phases of learning about world history, and then I go through (much longer) phases of not...doing...that.
Anyway, Toyo caught me completely off guard. Here I was just trying to get through a book that had been on my shelves for far too long, and I actually started to really love the characters, and to adore the lyrical and soft tone that Chan writes with. She doesn't over-describe things, which I loved, but she also doesn't skip over things that need mentioning.
I don't want to give too much away as that would be spoiler-iffic, and mean, but let me just say that Toyo (Lily's grandmother, the actual character/person being written about) experienced some sadness in her life, and you feel that. But it isn't in a way that I have experienced with other books that have led to me putting them down and having to watch My Little Pony for a few hours to recover (has actually happened), but in a way that shows the extent of the sadness, but in such a gentle way for the reader.
Even when the young Lily is introduced into the story, she doesn't take over. The book remains about Toyo's experience and her life, and the way she relates to her family and deals with getting older and moving across the world.

Overall, this book was a huge surprise, and it has quickly become a favourite for me. Not even 300 pages, this book made me feel quiet and thoughtful - not many books have the ability to do that.

You would like this book if: you enjoy trying something a bit different; you have an interest in reading about the life of someone who grew up in Japan.

Rating:  9/10

If you'd like to keep up to date with what I'm reading, follow me on Goodreads here!

weekly glimpse #17

Sunday, May 11, 2014
yay greenery!

currently reading: Alliance Forged by Kylie Griffin.
listening to: the hum of my foot heater...
watching: not a lot lately... I did watch a show about Hugh Laurie playing the blues recently which was wonderful...
food: too many gluten. must stop.
drinking: not enough water... hahaha not enoughhhh >maniacal laughter<
writing?: yessss.

general...
the hard
: dealing with outside pressure about my internal mechanisms. a breath for feeling lost and unheard.
: doubting myself too much.
: waking up on Friday with crazy back pain that covered pretty much the entire left part of my upper back. not being able to release it.
: procrastinating a littttle too much lately. a breath for recognising at as part of the process.
: a few symptoms that caught me off guard.

the good
: finally getting clear on what I wanted and needed. a breath for listening to my inner voice more often and trusting myself.
: despite being in pain and discomfort this week, I was relatively okay (dare I say happy) with it, as I knew I could keep going. also, it gave me permission to rest, which I love.
: despite having to abandon many of them to the donation pile, I have been reading many books off of my shelves (that have been there for years...). a happy sigh for moving forward and cleansing.
: I managed to go to class this week! four more classes to go and then freeee~

what i want for this week...
~ listen to your intuition.
~ have faith, don't look for it.
~ I feel so happy to be me. >contented sigh<

(update from last week: I told myself: 'I can do this. Everything I need is already within me." and that took a little while, but came true towards the end of the week. That is, I remembered my own wisdom rather than deferring to that of others.)

mantra? experience the world, don't just drift through it.

weekly glimpse #16

Sunday, May 4, 2014
Cinnamon: one of the cats I've been looking after...

currently reading: a few things, but I've been feeling a bit restless about them...
listening to: mostly cats play-fighting.
watching: youtube videos, Xin playing Legend of Zelda
food: mochi, muesli bars, peanut m&m's....
drinking: water and lotssss of tea.
writing?: yes indeed!

general... 
the hard
~ trying so hard to get to class and then not being able to.
~ then having both of my tutors say slightly snide comments when I emailed them...
~ although they may not have been intended to be snide, I am just picking a lot of that energy up lately because I am not sleeping well at all...
~ due to stomach pain and cats going insane at night...
~ basically, feeling a little overwhelmed right now.
~ breathe in, breathe out. letting go of all of the low energy and things that aren't mine.

the good
~ being able to look after Xin when he was sick, despite feeling unwell myself.
~ feeling capable of looking after the cats while also doing stuff for myself and Xin. feeling ever-so-slightly independent.
~ wii fit every day! fun!
~ doing things for me to help ease the worry and anxiety that has come with this week.
~ new fuzzy jumper that feels like a giant hug! plus, wearing the fuzzy jumper (did i mention it has roses on it) while driving around listening to g-dragon rapping and being awesome. odd combination that made me smile.
~ first archery class yesterday and it was wonderful! :D

what i want for next week...
~ I can do this. Everything I need is already within me.

(update from last week: I wanted all the kittehs, and I now have them. I just wish they'd let me sleep XD. I also wanted situations to be much simpler than expected, and they were! still wanting some more love from the universe, though.)

mantra? breathe and release.

{2014} April Reading

Thursday, May 1, 2014
I decided at the end of last year that I wanted to start writing a blog at the end of each month just talking about what I'd read that month, etc., in the style of Nick Hornby. Hornby has put out a few books that combine his columns for The Believer magazine, and I love his style and how it gives him a chance to get his thoughts together. It's also an excellent way to look back and notice how much has been spent on books! So that's what I will plan to do... wish me luck!

Books bought:
~Korean phrasebook
~Daily Rituals by Mason Currey
~S by J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst
~ Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Books acquired:
~My Darling Lemon Thyme by Emma Galloway (for review)
~ Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor (ordered last month)
~ Attachments by Rainbow Rowell (gift from a dear friend)

Books read:
~Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (re-read)
~Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor (re-read)
~ Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (re-read)
~ Tarnished Knight by Bec McMaster
~ IDEA33 by Sheala Dawn Henke (review)
~ My Darling Lemon Thyme by Emma Galloway (review)
~ Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor
~ The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkowski
~ The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
~ The Collected Works of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
~ Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
~ The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers
~ Daily Rituals by Mason Currey


I managed to slowly climb out of the slump this month by re-reading a few books that I loved previously - and yes, that means I've read Fangirl twice in the past two months. I was feeling a bit low towards the start of the month and so decided to pick it up once more - I had been missing the characters. I have to say, it was still amazing the second time round.

Much of the start of this month was either preparation for the third (and final) book of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy by Laini Taylor, or getting a few review books read. It feels good to be reviewing books again and I have to say I still enjoy it immensely.

I feel like this month was fairly reflective of my reading habits the majority of the time - a couple of review books, the odd literary piece on recommendation from someone (Things Fall Apart was covered by John Green in Crash Course Literature Two, and I just couldn't resist reading it...), and then a boatload of fantasy. Of all different kinds. Granted, Fangirl is not fantasy, but the main character within it writes fanfiction about a fantasy series, so....

I feel pretty good about this list - it feels like a fairly good number. I want to read more and more stuff before the Aurealis Awards kick in again (if I'm lucky enough to be picked to judge again) and I am a bit overtaken by nominations. I'm hoping to get a few more reviews done too... As always, reading seems to be one of my main distractions and rewards when it comes to getting study done...

Currently I am reading Attachments, S, Toyo (Lily Chan), and Behind the Beautiful Forevers (Katherine Boo). I seem to keep wanting to read more and more! I think it's the cooler weather... such perfect temperatures for fuzzy jumpers, hotpacks, tea, and a good book (or four). What are you reading right now?
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