As I’m sure you know, Valley of Silence is the third and final book in Nora Roberts’s Circle Trilogy. I actually read it when it came out on Halloween, but I’m just now getting around to writing about it. So, here’s my take: it was kind of meh. Don’t get me wrong; I enjoyed it, both because I really like Nora Roberts and because I wanted to know how the story would end. But it took me longer than usual to get through it. The beginning moved slowly; it was all build up, build up, build up…and then the battle was over in just a couple of pages. Also, the outcome was fairly predictable: not only did I know who would win, but I also knew all along whe the "old man" narrator was. The romantic aspects of the book were fine, if few and far between, but I did get tired of the inner battles that both Moira and Cian were facing. Yes, we love each other, but I’m a queen and you’re a vampire…yawn. I guess I just thought this book would be more fast-paced and fiery. Overall, it was solid, and I’m glad I read it, but I think Roberts has done better. On the plus side, I always enjoy it when Roberts delves into the fantastic, and I really like the vampire bent of the story.

Fiona Apple, The First Taste

I lie in an early bed, thinking late thoughts
Waiting for the black to replace my blue
I do not struggle in your web, because it was my aim to get caught
But daddy longlegs, I feel
That I am finally growing weary
Of waiting to be consumed by youGive me the first taste, let it begin
Heaven cannot wait forever
Darling, just start the chase
I’ll let you win
But you must make the endeavor

Oh, your love give me a heart contusion
Adagio breezes fill my skin with sudden red
Your hungry flirt borders intrusion
I’m building memories on things we have not said
Full is not heavy as empty, not nearly my love, not nearly my love, not nearly

Give me the first taste
Let it begin
Heaven cannot wait forever
Darling, just start the chase
I’ll let you win
But you must make the endeavor

Today I’m debuting a new category on themodernista: artbeat. This category will be for discussing art, reviewing art,  looking at artist’s bios, and occasionally debuting my own work, when I feel I’ve done something worthwhile. Today’s feature is Hylas and the Nymphs by John William Waterhouse. I’ve loved this work ever since I was a child and stumbled upon it in a Greek mythology encyclopedia. Years later, while I was at college, there was a little vendor at the student union selling prints, and I managed to pick up a copy. It’s small, but beautifully matted and framed, and currently on display in my living room. All of Waterhouse’s works have this beautiful, dreamy quality; to me his work is visual poetry. If you’re not familiar with his work, I highly suggest you check it out and then come back and let me know what you think.

I just discovered the website designhergals, which lets you create a cute cartoon image of yourself or any woman you know and then have it printed on stationery, notecards, stickers, etc. I was playing around with it and created these little cartoons of myself and my mom. Adorable!

My whole "lose 21 pounds by the end of the year" thing got derailed a few weeks ago when I got really, really sick. I’ve since recovered, but I just haven’t hopped back on the fitness bandwagon yet. I think I’m on my way, though. I’ve been reading an interesting fitness book, and today we joined our local L.A. Fitness, which offers lots of classes (yoga, cycling, pilates, etc.), a pool, lots of machines and free weights, and affordable personal training. We’re going to start going in the mornings before work (ugh), so I guess I need to work on my whole night-owl thing. My bedtime simply cannot be midnight if I’m getting up at 5:30 every day. But here’s to good health, which is what I really want for my birthday (well, that and smaller thighs).