STEAMPUNK!

Yesterday, one of my favorite blogs was reviewing a book named Mrs. Bright's Tea Room.  They called the book Steampunk.  I had heard the term used before, but only once and at the time wasn't curious enough to delve in and see what Steampunk was all about.  However, yesterday after reading the review I couldn't resist.  I went on the Google search for "what the heck is Steampunk?"

So, for all of the inquisitive minds out there:

Steampunk is a sub-genre of science-fiction.  It embodies and brings together a world in which the steam engine/power was prominent yet futuristic innovations and inventions are involved.  Usually Steampunk stories take place in the Victorian Era (19th Century), but since the 1990's it has expanded and now often are set in fantasy worlds where steam and spring-power technology are foremost.  The easiest way for me to define it and remember it is taking a women from Victorian era wearing a corset, a petticoat, the whole victorian getup (hair included), and have her carrying a parasol, now give that same women a cell phone, an ipod, and put some virtual reality googles on her.  Interesting right? It would look something like this.

I ended up buying a copy of Mrs. Bright's Tea Room.  Look for my review in the coming weeks on http://brenaereads.blogspot.com/.

I hope your day is filled with little blessings!  HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

What's on the Nook Book?

I discoverd a new website last month called NetGalley.com.  It's where publishers put books that have not been released yet.  If you are a reviewer you can go out, create an account, and request Advanced Reader Copies (ARC's) of books you're interested in. The deal is you have to write a review after you read it and post it on their website, as well as anywhere else your heart desires.  I, of course, LOVED the idea of being able to read a book before it's published.

One of the books I requested was Aftertime by Sophie Littlefield.  The story takes place after the Apocalypse.  It's definitely outside of my normal reading material, because first, there's no romance (well not that I've come across yet), and second, flesh-eating zombies usually give me nightmares.  Although, I have to admit I'm totally into it!

Check out my review next weekend at Kacie's Korner on http://brenaereads.blogspot.com/!

The History of the Osterhas

Some of my fondest memories when I was a little girl was getting all dolled up in my Easter dress.  On one Easter particularly, my Mamma bought my sister and I brand new Easter dresses, patent leather shoes, bonnets, and purses.  I don’t really remember what the dress or accessories looked like, but I’ll never forget the way I felt, especially after finding my basket full of eggs and goodies, and then loading up to go to church.  Since then, Easter has been my absolute favorite holiday.  I’m especially looking forward to Easter this year because it happens to fall on my BIRTHDAY!

But I got to thinking about Easter the other day and here’s my question: how is it that a day to remember the resurrection of Christ adopted a cute little bunny, sometimes referred to The Easter Hare, The Spring Bunny, Osterhas, or the Easter Bunny?

The legend is, the night before Easter morning the Easter Bunny brings a basket for each child filled with goodies, specifically eggs. He will leave the baskets in a special place or hide them for the children to find.  So, why a bunny and why the eggs?  Catholicism says that the rabbit is the pagan symbol for fertility.  Eggs are also a symbol of fertility.  Why?  Because birds lay eggs in the early spring and bunnies have litters in the early spring, both symbolizing the blooming (fertility) of spring or the Vernal Equinox.

 The Vernal Equinox is the time of year when the celestial equator (on the celestial sphere on the same plane as the equator) and ecliptic (the path the Sun traces) intersect.  

Easter was originated as a Pagan festival, celebrating the return of spring honoring their goddess of offspring and springtime, Eastre. Although second-century Christians wanted to convert Pagans they did not fully take away their Pagan celebrations.  Eastre occurred at the same time as the Christian observance of the Resurrection of Christ, so why not celebrate them parallel to one another.  Now, please don’t ask me why the date of Easter is different every year.  I looked that information up, but I still don’t get it.  It has something to do with the first Sunday that occurs after the first full moon or after the vernal equinox.

Anyway, I’m wondering if anyone else out there loves Easter as much as I do?