Getting it right – Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey: A Review

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Is it possible to always do the right thing?

What if the right thing is different depending on who you are?

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Doing the right thing is explored through the two central characters in James S.A.Corey’s Leviathan Wakes. This is the first novel in the series The Expanse. Miller, a detective in the asteroid belt, and Holden, the second in command of an ice tanker, are drawn into events that could change the very fabric of life itself. It’s space-opera time, and Leviathan Wakes ticks all the genre boxes.

Leviathan Wakes is well-paced and thankfully, as far as the space-opera genre goes, without too many characters. It covers standard ground: political divisions, company arrogance and alien life.

Each chapter is delivered, from the perspective of the two main characters, alternating between each. It isn’t just the chapter perspective that is different. Both Miller and Holden are very different characters. Their views on what is the best course of action vary throughout, although it doesn’t veer into buddy cop territory.

Leviathan Wakes comes to a satisfying conclusion, whilst leaving plenty to explore in the following books of The Expanse series. If you like a little space-opera sci-fi then Leviathan Wakes is well worth a read.

Bloglovin’ and stuff

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Follow my blog with Bloglovin

As you can see I am adding this blog to bloglovin’. I thought it was about time I actually gave a little love to this blog. And in true loving’ style I am rethinking what it will be used for.

Currently I am veering toward this being a more serious collection of words, whilst my everyday thoughts, comments and witterings will be available here. Knowing me, this all may change, but as I type, that’s my plan.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman: a review

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Adults follow paths. Children explore

The Ocean at the End of the Lane cover

Exploration is what Neil Gaiman does in this wonderful story. He defies genre as you read through the eyes of a young seven year old boy. The Ocean at the End of the Lane is myth, metaphor, fairy tale, theoretical physics and a childhood memoir in equal parts. It’s about growing up and staying young. It’s about truth and truths, memories and happenstance.

Neil Gaiman captures the feelings and emotions of the seven year old perfectly. At the same time these emotions are filtered through the adult who is recalling, retelling and demythologising the events. The air of mystery and awe throughout, lures you into the magical, or should that be real, world that the young boy travels through.

The story explores the themes of personhood, self-worth and sacrifice. Traditional religious metaphors are conjured with and presented in fresh and unique perspectives. To look for a comparable work, one of the closest would probably be C.S.Lewis’ Narnia series, but Ocean isn’t a Judeo-christian reimagining.

This book should play with your feelings. As such, my truth would suggest the best review would tell you how I felt, well…

I smiled as I remembered, I felt awe as I was transported and I cried as I imagined who and what we could be.

Week Four – 30 Day Journal

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I have completed Root: A 30 Day Journal Project by Lisa Sonara Beam. For 30 days an email prompt was given and then we, the participants, journaled, or art journaled, our response.

There was no pressure to share what was created, but there was a Facebook group and related hashtag used across social sites. I have been sharing my pages, a rather cathartic process, both in the group and here.

Here are the final set of pages I created. I have found the process helpful and will continue to art journal as much as I can. It will be interesting to see how easy that is without the prompts.

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That’s January’s created challenge complete. Next is February and the attempt to write 14 songs in 28 days… I may take a creative break for a day though.

A Year of Creativity – 2014

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I’m just coming to the end of the 30 Day Journal Project, which has been an interesting creative and spiritual (reflective) journey. Once I’ve finished the last day I’ll post the rest of the pages that I’ve made.

I then, got sucked into the conversations on the FAWM Facebook group and ended up deciding to attempt the February Album Writing Month once again. I did this a couple of years back and it was great fun, and I really enjoyed it. It is a useful challenge because it stops any attempts at perfection, in such a short time, and therefore boosts creativity. Well it did for me.

This got me thinking that perhaps I should look at doing a creative challenge every month for 2014. So I am now looking for creative challenges to fill in the rest of the year, although I don’t want to be too legalistic about it. I am considering whether March could be tied into Lent, or at least the Lent season somehow. That runs from 5th March to 17th April this year. Although what to do during that time, I’m not sure.

Once I get to November there is NaNoWriMo, but that leaves a big space to fill creatively. This is also in addition to my regular writing, songwriting and other creative bits and pieces. It may all prove too much. However, I don’t want to be legalistic about it, so if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work.

I’m already doing a reading challenge for 2014, but I have a feeling I have set the bar far too low on that:

2014 Reading Challenge

2014 Reading Challenge
Darren has
read 2 books toward his goal of 24 books.
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Do you have any ideas for monthly creative challenges? I’m looking for simple creative challenges and if they have a community aspect to them even better. Let me know in the comments or send me a message, I’d love to hear any ideas.

Week Three – 30 Day Journal

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I am now at the end of week three of the 30 Day Journal Challenge by Lisa Sonara Beam and I continue to learn stuff about myself.

Of course, learning is just one part of any process. Putting what is learnt into action is often a lot more challenging. Still, the journaling, or more accurately, the visual journaling process, with a daily prompt has been very helpful.

I’m still doing my regular digital journaling as well as this. But taking a digital break to sit with a pen, paints and the blank page is a very helpful process. Forward to week four.

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