Currently reading...

I've just finished reading the whole Hunger Game trilogy by Susan Collins. And I kind of miss it already. It was so great to jump into that universe for hours on end and to turn pages excitedly to see what would happen next.


We also saw the movie the other day, and although most of the people we were with loved it, I was a little disappointed. I know you should keep your expectations at bay when you watch a film after reading the book, but for me there was just too much missing, too many little details that didn't match the ideas I had created in my head, and too many emotions and thoughts missing...


Some things were pretty spot on though: Gale and Rue, for example. I grew even fonder of them during the movie, and didn't think that was possible.


And I did enjoy the music a lot. We've been listening to the soundtrack quite a lot recently. I like this song most of all.
:-)

Currently reading...

I'm about half way through 'Six Suspect', by Vikas Swarup. I don't think I can say I have fallen in love with the book yet (mind you, it might still very well come) but I definitely enjoy being absorbed into a completely different world, namely the warm and busy streets of India, its different social levels, customs and beliefs.
And as the title gives away: there are 6 suspects and I really can't wait to know which of them is guilty.

Photo credits:
Left: number 6 at the Colosseum (Rome, Italy), photo by me :-)
Right: The Witness, Humayun's Tomb, New Delhi, photo from Karen Knorr's India Song collection (via)

10 things about me today

1. I ate our first balcony-grown strawberries of the year.
2. I made Sarah's orange cake again. It's still in the oven.
3. I'm super proud of my mum, who has been teaching and exhibiting all over Europe recently.
4. I started this list yesterday but got distracted, so I'm finishing it today.
5. I spend way too much time helping my smurfs get a better village on the iPad.
6. I love warm, sunny weather like we've had today.
7. I've been (thanks to Mart) listening to a whole lot of 'mash-ups' (for cool examples, see here and here).
8. I like sweets better than savoury stuff.
9. I should start reading a new book.
10. For the long weekend ahead, I wish we could go back to the second house from the left on the photo below...

0 to 100

All photos are screenshots from the 0 to 100 app on the iPad.

To my absolute delight, I discovered this app today. It contains 101 breathtakingly beautiful portrait photos of people of all ages between 0 and 100. Each single shot is more amazing than the next. So clear, so real, so beautiful...

Not only does the app allow you to see the truly exquisite portraits photographer Sandy Nicholson took of people in Australia and Canada, it also gives you the chance to read a quote from every single one of them, and to watch short videos from some of the participants. And there's even an amusing 'mix-and-match' section where you can create new faces by mixing existing ones.
If you don't have the chance to have an iPad yourself, you can see all the photos here, or buy the book!

This is definitely one of the best surprises I've had with apps on the iPad so far. And did I mention it's free? Aah... life is good...

My 'I like' book

Almost 10 year ago I started a 'I like' book. Whenever I think of something special I like, I write it in there.



I'll share a few pages with you: (it's all in French, but I'll translate!)

(1) I like to give presents.
(2) I like to spot my birth date in an unexpected place.
(3) I like when the weather is good.
(4) I like to nap.
(5) I like to hear birds singing.
(6) I like getting my hair washed at the hairdresser's.

Why didn't I think of that?

How cute is this bedside table spotted here?

I'm always amazed by such good ideas... why didn't I think of using a roof as a bookmark myself...?

:-)



Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Popville

Our latest amazon purchases arrived with the mail today. I've been marveling at this book while Mart has turned into a PlayStation cowboy riding his horse through the far west. ;-)

Here is the song of the day - great pop up book in the music video!

"Reading"

Shaun Tan explains that his books are "best described as ‘picture books for older readers’ rather than young children, as they deal with relatively complex visual styles and themes, including colonial imperialism, social apathy, the nature of memory and depression."

This book, which we bought online after deciding we couldn't fit it in our suitcases from Australia, follows a dad who emigrates to another world, his adaptation to his new life, and the stories of the ones he meets. The book doesn't have any words yet you can "read" all the characters' emotions and follow the story in minute details. I devoured it with a cup of tea on the weekend, and loved it!
It's a strange but amazing feeling to go through a whole story without reading any words, just getting carried along by the pictures...
I love the fact that people speaking any languages can "read" this story.