Speculative fiction Reading challenge

I've just discovered that there is a speculative reading challenge for 2011 going on. It sounds like fun and since horror counts I think I might try it out. Since I've already forced a friend of mine to engage in a science fiction book reading club this might tie in nicely to what we are already doing as well. She won't read horror but is trying to turn me onto Iain Banks so I'll tr yin turn to get her to try the challenge.
It shouldn't be too hard to read 12 spec. fiction novels even this late in the game.
So let the fun begin....


Should you wish to join in follow the link below
"http://floor-to-ceiling-books.blogspot.com/2010/12/sign-up-speculative-fiction-reading.html"
So late May, early June is off to a good start
1. Blood Groove - technically a reread from 2009 but since I didn't remember it, it counts.
2. Zoo City - Lauren Beukes
3. The businessman - Thomas Disch
4. Embers - Laura Bickle
5. Ring of Solomon - Jonathan Stroud
6. Hull zero three - Greg Bear
7. one hundred thousand kingdoms - N.K. Jemisin
8. Midnight Riot Ben Aaronovitch
9. Amulet of Samarkand - Jonathan Stroud
10. Consider Phelbas - Iain M. Banks
11. Red pyramid = Rick Riordan
12. Oryx and Crake - Margaret Atwood
13. Monstrumologist - Rick Yancey
14. Knife of never letting go - Patrick Ness
15. Outback stars - Sandra McDonald
16. Blood red road - Moira Young
17. Small gods - Terry Pratchett
18. When she woke - Hillary Jordan

Eye of the beholder

This may at first appear to be a slightly schizophrenic post about both weight/appearance and quilts but bear with me.
Two things happened almost within hours the other day and while not earth shattering it made me think, once again, about people’s perceptions. I and my middle aged exercise partners were walking toward the gym when two young, slender younger women walked past and I heard the inevitable “I’m so fat” comment. Instead of making me grit my teeth as these comments sometimes do I had a little laugh.
I had spoken with a good friend of mine the weekend before and we spoke of our perceptions of ourselves. She sees herself as a willowy tall blonde, I see myself as an elven flower child type. She’s’ got the tall but not willowy part down and I’ve got the short but not particularly elven part down yet both of us are pretty happy most of the time with how we look. As my friend and I age we become more and more optimistic about our looks. Maybe those young girls will too.
One thing that does make me angry though is when someone else looks at me and decides that because I’m short and stocky that I’m not very fit. I know how much time I invest in exercising and it’s not insubstantial so I tend to be a bit techy when someone looks at me and says something along the lines of “oh I don’t really think you should sign up for that ten mile hike” or “do you REALLY bike 12 miles a day?” Yep I do, don’t judge this book by its cover is my usual response.
After I left the gym I then went on to do some quilting with a couple of other people and, in this case, we quilters became the equivalent of those younger women. You should have heard us – “my applique isn’t looking very good, I messed up with the colors in this section….”So why are we so critical of our quilts? Come on, you know you’ve looked at a minute section of your quilt and been overly sensitive that a seam doesn’t match exactly, or your quilt stitched look too big or…? I ask, why can’t I and my quilty friends take the optimists view and love our quilts as is, perceived flaws and all?
Furthermore we also tend to be pretty judgmental of others work, especially at quilt shows. Do we really need to be that catty about someone else’s quilt? Just as I’ve worked hard to achieve a certain fitness level so, I suspect, have these women (and men) worked hard on their work. Maybe we should remember that next time instead of the fact that the quilt isn’t our cup of tea. Let’s be optimists and kinder individuals instead of negative nellies shall we?