Abandoned

Hey, this just to let you (whoever you are) know, I have abandoned this blog for now. If you're interested, what's happening in my life is currently recorded in my other (new) blog The Re-Invention of Me (see sidebar for link). Thx, Isabella

Back to Square 1

So, no, I did not get the job.

Another interview on Monday. Actually it is a test of 65 min. followed - if I pass the test - by 3 interviews of 1 hr each. *rolls-eyes*

To air out my frustration over life, the universe and everything and figure my own life out at the same time I created a new blog - "The Re-Invention Of Me" (see side bar for link).

Hope & Glory

I've been to the 3rd job interview for the same position last Thursday. It went ok, I guess. The general secretary of the company called the talk 'very good'. Also, I was told the decision would be made early this week. It is Wed night no and still no word. I know they got a lot going on at the moment (they are all over the news right now), but I would sort of like to know.

I am generally not a very patient person and this drives me crazy. When I wait too long I always imagine the weirdest scenarios and I am stuck between thinking they picked someone else & wrap everything up before telling the other candidates or they are simply to busy and haven't gotten around to making the decision yet. Drives me nuts.

As for positive news....we won the pub quiz tonight! Two of our usual team members are on vacation and another couple had to cancel on short notice, but my old friend Martin helped out and brought on two more ppl to fill some seats. It was a music special so we didn't expect much. We are not that good at specials. On the topic music, Martin & I should be the ones that are the likeliest to answer a few questions. And, weirdly enough, we did! We also won a round of shots for the first bonus question. Vodka!

Next week is another special - this time it is sports. Martin is in again (thk goodness for that) and he will see if he can get some of his sports-loving friends to help out. We are hoping for a motor sport enthusiast, since the rest of us suck at that.

Affirmation of the week: Damn, my hair looked good yesterday!

Book Review

Pompeii by Robert Harris


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Usually, I am wary of novels set in a 'historical' context, because the association makes me expect a tedious and slow read. Not sure why that is the immediate connection I make. Especially, considering that on the rare occasion I do pick up book that is called a 'historical novel', I ended up greatly enjoying it - best example would be Eco's 'The Name of the Rose'.

Of course, 'Pompeii' turned out to be a quick and engaging read. The story mainly follows a young aquarius in charge of the aqueduct, who's main task it is to find a damaged part and repair it asap - because 'water is money'. Other people we follow are elderly, overweight Pliny, a freed slave that pretty much runs Pompeii behind the scenes with money (what else?) and - lastly - his young daughter who turns out to be a little rebellious.

The fortune of the young aquarius is gripping and he is made out to be a sympathetic character who is not only very much interested in just what exactly is going on with Mount Vesuvious, but he also has a - albeit small - heroic streak.

Entertaining.

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Book Review

The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
After his wife Lexy falls to her death from a tree, Paul is left devastated and sets out to find out if it really was an accident - as ruled by police - or suicide.

He sets out to try to teach Lexy's dog Lorelei to talk, because she is the only witness to the fall. Not having much success he turns to an inmated known as "dog butcher" who directs him to a suspicious group performing mutilating surgeries on dogs to get them to talk.

He also contacts a psychic Lexy called to just one day before she died and tries to de-code what he thinks is a final message from his wife - given by re-arranging a bookshelf.

In the end he comes to the conclusion that the reader probably comes to from the very beginning. Lexy did kill herself.

Another sad, sad book. I seem to read a lot of those lately. I also read a lot of books featurind dogs recently.

The Dogs Of Babel turned out to be a quick read, despite its heavy subject matter.

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The Latest

Let's see....what have I been up to?

Watched Inglorious Basterds. I like Quentin Tarantino's films (except for the disaster that was Death Proof - why? WHY?) and one of my fellow country men - namely Christoph Waltz - got rave reviews for playing Hans Landa. Never heard of him, have you? Not to worry, his carreer took place mainly on TV and most ppl who knew his face did not know his name before. Now of course, he is on the map, winning best actor in Cannes and all. He was brilliant. I believe he does actually speak all those languages and didn't have to learn a handful of phrases for the film. I thought it was really, really good but some of the scenes really make you cringe. Scalping in close-up, anyone? Brad Pitt attempting to speak in Italian was funny. So, if you have a stomach for it, go and watch it.

Also watched My Sister's Keeper. WTF was that??? Let me explain: I read & liked the book. It was incredibly sad, obviously. They changed the ending for the movie. This happens often enough I guess, but come on! The ending is depressing in both, film & book, but in the film they kill THE OTHER SISTER! Other changes incl.: the brother is a genuinly nice kid in the film, the mother has a sister that hangs around all the time (she wasn't in the book, was she?), all three kids were younger (maybe to make Cameron Diaz more believable as a mother of three). And did I mention that they kill off THE OTHER SISTER?

Our monthly English language BookXing meetup was tonight. We had fun (we usually do), but what was up with that restaurant. Abu & I were early and the place was virtually empty. One of the three waiters hanging around came to our table and asked, "Want something?" (sounding more than annoyed). Uhm? Even for Vienna standards, that is a bit rude. One should expect more friendliness from someone that wants a tip. When he brought food - for a bigger crowd by then - he seemed to be in over his head and Abu got three different pitas before she had the one she ordered. He was also not happy with K. asking which one of the two döners brought to the table was hers (the non-spicy one). Pretty sure we will not re-visit that location any time soon.

And also BC-related. We also have a monthly ladies night. I have not been attending much, lately, because I need a break from the usual location. Anyway, in the past two "honorary" ladies have attended. Everybody seemed to be ok with that. Now, apparently, the BC community tries to revive the "normal" monthly meetup (same location as ladies night, three days after monthly English meetup). As a consequence, both "ladies" have been asked to not attend the ladies night anymore - in writing. Personally, I think that three meetings per months is a bit overdoing it, especially if you have two of them at the same restaurant. Every. Single. Time. As I understand it, the ladies night was created to still have meetings but at the same time get rid of one certain bookcrosser - this seemed to be the most elegant way. That guy does not even live in Vienna anymore, so why not make the ladies night the regular meetup? Oh well, whatever.

Rest of the week looks like this:
Wednesday: Pub Quiz
Thursday: Job Interview
Friday: Cocktails w/Friends
Saturday: Lunch w/Parents
Sunday: up for grabs

I am listening to Steve Earle as I'm typing this.

Book Review

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Having read & loved 'Everything Is Illuminated' my expectations for this book were very high. I didn't expect them to be met, let alone be exceeded.

I love love love this book. Oskar Schell is adorable (and vegan!) and I wanted him so badly to find the lock that the key would open. Of course, when he did it wasn't at all what he (and I) would have expected or wished for. But somehow it did give me a sense of closure. Some of the little things one wonders about (e.g. Thomas Schell's name written out repeatedly in the art supply store) get solved, which I found nice. The art supply thing would have bothered me if left unsolved.

I am a sucker for unconventional formats, so the inclusion of pictures and the use of red ink as well as the different perspectives in telling the story made the read all the more enjoyable for me.

Ultimately, it made me laugh and it made me cry, which is really all I could wish for in a book.

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