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peculiarbooklover · 3 years

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⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

*****5 Stars!

“Love means opening your heart to another, no matter the consequences.”

First off I would like to thank Disney and NetGalley for allowing me to read an arc of this book, I am so honored to be given a chance to give an honest review for this book.

Go the Distance is a continuation of Disney’s Hercules but with a new twist, what if Zeus refuses to allow Hercules to live out his life on Earth with Meg? Hera comes up with a fair solution and that is to offer Meg a chance to prove her worth and earn a spot among the Gods on Mt. Olympus. This offer sends Meg off on a hero’s quest that will not only prove her worth to the Gods, but it will force her to do some soul searching herself and put her face to face with a past that she wished to keep buried. Now she must see if she has the ability to overcome her past and come to understand the true desires of her heart.

This book is written so beautifully and written with the perfect pacing, I was hooked the moment I finished the first chapter. Hercules had always been one of my all time favorite Disney movies and the start of my fascination with Greek Mythology, I had watched it so many times I had nearly worn out my poor VHS tape. I found that this book was able to answer so many questions I’ve had floating around inside my head for years, which only added to my love for this book. Growing up I always found Meg to be such an interesting character with her sassy and sarcastic attitude, she was so unlike every other Disney heroine. As I grew older I had come to realize how relatable her character truly was, I was always left wondering more about her. What brought her to this point and formed her core beliefs and attitude towards life and love? I absolutely love how this book was able to go into detail about her childhood and how she was brought up and how that upbringing made her into the person she was in Hercules.

Her character development throughout this book was so profound and much needed; her issues of commitment were put on full display and what brought them about and made them take root. Throughout her journey I loved seeing her peel back the layers of these issues one by one and put them on display for the readers--it made her so vulnerable and even more relatable than she had been in the movies. As children love was so straightforward and simple in our eyes, and as we grew older we realized that it was messier and more complicated than we expected, so if you were a fan of Meg when you were younger I think you’d very much enjoy reading this book as an adult. There is something very special about relating to a character you’ve loved so much as a child now as an adult. Like Meg we’re forced to question ourselves in adulthood and come to a similar understanding of what we want in life and what path we should take to get there. The process of understanding our own hearts is a quest in itself, just like the quest Meg had undertaken.

I also loved the author’s ability to really get into each character; everyone was so perfectly written, in my mind I couldn’t help but read all the dialogue in the story in their voices. It felt so authentic to the movie yet also so unique. This brings me to another one of my favorite points of the story and that’s Hades. Not only was he so perfectly written, I couldn’t seem to get James Woods' voice out of my head while reading his parts, I love the character arc she had set out for him. With my love of Greek Mythology came a very intense fascination with the tale of Hades and Persephone, I remember when I was younger I was always a little upset that they never added Persephone into the story. So, when Persephone made her appearance in this book it made me so beyond happy! I loved seeing her love story with Hades play out in this particular universe, it was so unique and fun to be able to read. The way Hades and Persephone seemed to compliment each other so perfectly really brought the moral of this story to light--if someone like Hades could open himself up to love and allow himself to not only be vulnerable around the person he loved, but placed his trust in the palm of her hands, why couldn’t Meg be able to do the same with Hercules? Hades loved Persephone and that didn’t make him weak despite his reputation, it only made him stronger with her at his side. Thus proving that love does not make a person weak, it only makes them so much stronger than they had been alone.

The title of this book, Go the Distance, was such an appropriate choice for this story because everyone has to go the distance in their lives to be able to not only find their true authentic self but to find the place where they belong in this world, just like both Meg and Hercules had done the same. Going the distance might be hard and scary at first, but one must have faith and follow their own individual path to get the answers they seek.

This book was such an absolute delight to read, it brought back so much nostalgia from my childhood and I enjoyed being able to connect to this book and the characters in a new way. This is a book I would highly recommend to everyone, especially if you have a love for Hercules and Greek Mythology. It was such a positive and enchanting read and not one I would be able to forget.

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tipsycad147 · 5 years

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Violets Are Blue: The Folklore Of February’s Birth Flower

GrannyMoon posted: " Violets Are Blue: The Folklore Of February’s Birth Flower February 16, 2019 by Icy Sedgwick As we’re still in the latter half of February, it seemed only right to look at the folklore of violets! This pretty little purple plant is the birth flower"

Also known as wild pansy, call me to you, kiss me at the garden gate (among many, many others), violets have some very sweet stories and superstitions behind them. Unlike the poisonous plants I usually feature, these plants are a largely positive woodland fixture.

So come with me and let’s explore the folklore of violets! As ever, hit play below if you’d rather listen. Or scroll past the player and let’s get into the post.

Origin Myths

According to Roman myth, Venus got into an argument with her son, Cupid. She demanded to know who he found more beautiful – herself, or a group of girls. We won’t even go into how inappropriate that is.

Cupid chose the girls and Venus apparently grew so angry that she beat the girls until they were blue. They turned into violets afterwards. This connection with the goddess of love made them a regular fixture in love potions.

Yet they’re also associated with modesty. When Apollo pursued one of Diana’s nymph friends, Diana turned her into a violet to protect her virtue.

In Greek mythology, Persephone was apparently picking violets when Hades kidnapped her to live in the underworld. Violets were also the emblem of Athens. In legend, the city’s founder, Ion, met water nymphs on the way to Attica. They presented him with violets to show their favour. Violets apparently sprang up wherever Orpheus laid his lyre (Nahmad 1994: 21).

Orpheus and Eurydice by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

(1875) [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons

Elsewhere, Zeus fell in love with a nymph, Io. Fearing his wife Hera’s wrath, he turned Io into a white heifer. Naturally Io wasn’t overly pleased with this turn of events and she cried at having to eat coarse grass. Zeus turned her tears into violets for her to eat. Some think this is why the Athenians favoured the violet so much.

The Romans and Greeks also associated these beautiful flowers with funerals. They often covered children’s graves since they represented modesty. Or you’d find the flowers scattered near tombs.

Christian Art

Niall Mac Coitir sees a Biblical connection since the flowers “were said to have sprung from tears shed by Adam after his banishment from the Garden of Eden” (2015: 219). Some also believe violets bloomed when the angel Gabriel told Mary she was pregnant. At the point when she said “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord”, the violet blossomed. Some still call it Our Lady’s Modesty as a result. The violet often represents Mary’s humility in Christian art.

Another tale recalls the violet was white up until the crucifixion. At this point, they turned purple to show their support for Mary in her mourning. In the Middle Ages, people believed violets stood upright until the crucifixion, but they bowed their heads in the shadow of the cross. Niall Mac Coitir notes some think violets shyly turned away when the infant Jesus passed them, which helps explain the phrase ‘shrinking violet’ (2015: 219).

Violets and the Heart

One of the many nicknames for violets is ‘heart’s ease’.

Its heart-shaped leaves indicated that it should be used to treat heart disease. This comes from the same branch of medicine that believed walnuts could cure brain-related issues because they look like brains. Or lungwort can cure lung problems because the leaves look like diseased lungs.

Pulmonaria aka Lungwort © Icy Sedgwick

Yet violets also appeared as an aphrodisiac, possibly due to the Venus connection. Steeping violet flowers in hot water made a form of tea that apparently helped with heartbreak. It contains salicylic acid so it does make a decent painkiller. Ancient Britons also used it in beauty lotions and salves.

They’re used in love magic, often worn as an amulet to increase your love chances. Witchipedia recommends combining violets with lavender for a bumper effect.

The Napoleon Connection

Napoleon took a special interest in the violet and gave them to his wife, Josephine. They became his personal emblem and while on Elba in exile, he told his friends he’d return when the violets bloomed in the spring.

They used the violet as a means of determining who knew about the conspiracy. If you were asked “Do you like violets?” and you said yes or no, you revealed that you knew nothing of his plot to return. If you said “Eh bien”, it meant you were loyal to Napoleon’s cause.

When he re-entered Paris in 1815, admirers threw violets across his path. Margaret Baker explains that “[a]fter Waterloo the wearing of violets was deemed seditious” (2011: 155).

Superstitions about the Violet

If you dream of violets, it means you’ll soon receive a fortune. Some think it means you’ll marry someone younger than you. And you should carry violets to ward off evil spirits.

Cora Linn Daniels and C. M. Stevans note that it was a custom in rural Germany to put violet flowers on the bridal bed and the cradle of baby girls. In Thuringia, it repelled the dark arts (2003 [1903]: 859). Mac Coitir points out that both the ancient Greeks and Gauls used the flowers on the bridal bed because it represented virginity (2015: 219).

Give them to a woman to give her good luck. Wear a violet wreath around your head to avoid dizziness. But if violets bloom during the autumn, an epidemic will follow.

Blue violets mean “I’ll always be true”. White violets mean you want to “take a chance on happiness”. Yellow violets mean modesty. In floriography, they mean faithfulness.

White-and-purple form of Viola sororia by Hoodedwarbler12 (Own work) [CC BY 3.0] via Wikimedia Commons

Plantlife.org note the weird legend “that you can only smell violet flowers once”. It’s not true, but ionine, a compound in its scent, can deaden smell receptors. It turns off the ability to smell the flower for short periods of time.

Romans thought drinking wine made from violet blossoms would stop them getting drunk. But they wore wreaths of violet flowers the morning after to alleviate hangovers.

These shy little flowers, alongside snowdrops, make a wonderful addition to British woodlands. If you’d like to grow your own violets, The Guardian has a helpful guide.

Do you know any other violet folklore? Let me know below!

References

Baker, Margaret (2011), Discovering the Folklore of Plants, 3rd ed. Oxford: Shire Classics (aff link). Daniels, Cora Linn and C. M. Stevans (eds) (2003 [1903]), Encyclopaedia of Superstitions, Folklore, and the Occult Sciences of the World: Volume 2, Honolulu: University Press of the Pacific. Mac Coitir, Niall (2015), Ireland’s Wild Plants – Myths, Legends & Folklore, Cork: Collins Press. Nahmad, Claire (1994), Garden Spells: The Magic of Herbs, Trees and Flowers, London: Pavilion Books (aff link).

GrannyMoon | February 21, 2019 at 1:51 pm | Categories: Book of Shadows, Flowers and Other Plants, Folklore, Herbs, Myth, Pagan | URL: https://wp.me/pVaDN-4GM

http://GoddessSchool.com https://twitter.com/GrannyMooninVA https://grannymoon.wordpress.com/

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sampierceowo · 7 years

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Quiz Results (Requested By Anon)

Quiz 1: The Music Lover You look rad in anime form c; You love music and can't live a day without it. Music gets you through everything and it makes your life seem much more happier :)

Quiz 2: Blue! Blue, is a color that represents clam, cool, and kind. So, it matches with your personality quite well!

Quiz 3: Blue Blue is inspiring and bright. People who are rebellious and indifferent to others would choose this color. Sarcastic, sassy, and fearless are accurate words to describe someone with blue hair. When I see someone with blue hair I automatically think of someone who is out there and just a little artsy.

Quiz 4: The Emo/Band Girl Squad You're in the emo/edgy/band girl squad.

Quiz 5: Emo Emo style fits you the most! Emo style is to wear tight pants, and a striped shirt; possibly with a crazy expression on your half hidden face because of your dyed black bangs. you may also have quite a few peircings, such as your lip, septum, tounge, and eyebrow. alot of eye makup is usually worn.

Quiz 6: 0% Girly You're a tomboy! You don't like to dress girly and have worn dresses and skirts only a few times in your life. You don't wear makeup and don't do girly things.

Quiz 7: Unique Rebel Rebellious against the laws of society,You don't care what people think you're gonna do it your way. Not afraid to stand up for what you believe in. You don't have to smoke just because they show it in the pictures. Your boy believes in whatever you believe in but isn't as outgoing as you. You might seem intimidating at times, but some boys like fire.

Quiz 8: Yep Congratulations you failed abortion!

Quiz 9: Internet You are the internet. You are the meme. As soon as someone brings up doge, or refers to a youtuber, you find yourself laughing uncontrollably. You are awesome and I like you, so have a cookie. Much quiz, so answer, wow.

Quiz 10: Draco Malfoy Ok, you're a bit of a fragile part of life. We could have stuck on your forehead: "the guy who killed Dumbledore," but no you preferred to piss yourself on it and let make fat hair. On the other hand in the 8th book you become so stylish that I want to venerate you until the end of your life.

Quiz 11: You’re a Kawaii Potato There's the pretty girls, And there's the popular girls, And then there's me, A potato, A Kawaii Potato.

Quiz 12: Athlete You are an athlete. That means you love sports, and your not afraid to get dirty.

Quiz 13: Excuuuse Meee I think you should go check your meme-privilege, boiii. You're neither sane nor crazy, you're just a frickin memelord

Quiz 14: You had a great childhood! 92% You answered 11 out of 12 questions correctly! From Silly Bands to Disney Channel, you know your stuff! Nice job!

Quiz 15: Yes You Can! You can relate to these posts( I did (~-~)

Quiz 16: Sensitive Mind Your mind is weak at this moment, perhaps it's being blocked out by something in your life. You might need to work on a few things in order to improve yourself. You should also avoid contact with people who can manipulate and use you.

Quiz 17: Depression Depression is a serious medical condition in which a person feels very sad, hopeless, and unimportant and often is unable to live in a normal way. I'll give you examples and the information to cure it if you have it. Examples:She has been undergoing treatment for severe depression for several months ago Many people suffer from clinical depression for years before being diagnosed The way to cure it:It's possible that, like millions of others, you may be taking drugs (antidepressants) of some kind to treat depression. Antidepressants are often the first treatment option prescribed by health professionals but I recommend it to not do it.As well as helping to relieve symptoms of depression, relaxation techniques may also reduce stress and boost feelings of joy and well-being. Try yoga, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or meditation. Acupuncture, the technique of using fine needles on specific points on the body for therapeutic purposes, is increasingly being investigated as a treatment for depression, with some research studies showing promising results. If you decide to try acupuncture, make sure that you find a licensed qualified professional. Go outside and find your happy place so you can relax or just listen to some music

Quiz 18: Legend Of Zelda Geek For Life I can tell that you have a special relationship with Legend of Zelda. You're a die hard fan. Keep on being geeky, because after all Geeks are Cool!

Quiz 19: Gamer Yay! A true female gamer! Congrats on not being a fake. ♡

Quiz 20: So kawaii!~ ^_^ 100%~ Oi My Gawd! We have to be friends! Too much Kawaiiness- to handle! *faints* =^•O•^=

Quiz 21: The Clumbsy But Cute One You're the one everyone loves, you're really funny & cute. Can act a totally blonde but it totally suits you and is one of the things people like about you.

Quiz 22: Blue Angel A Blue Angel will protect you from anything. Blue is another way of sadness. You are very emotional at times when its hard for you to say something you don't like. Every time you're sad you're blue angel will be by your side to comfort your side and help you every single way.

Quiz 23: Amazing! 95% You answered 19 out of 20 questions correctly You guessed most of the logos correctly. Amazing job!

Quiz 24: Yes you can! 100% You answered 16 out of 16 questions correctly

Quiz 25: Outside - Calvin Harris feat. Ellie Goulding Your an emotional person, and you like to let your feelings thrive out, telling people exactly how you feel. You know who you are, what you want, and what your feeling. Sensitivity is key in your heart, and that my friend is a good thing.

Quiz 26: Chained to the Rhythm

Quiz 27: The biggest fan - All correct 100% You answered 12 out of 12 questions correctly You have all correct, congartulations friend!~ You have to be such a good fan of Melanie when you recognized her songs trough all pictures :3 Melanie is an amazing artist!

Quiz 28: Sentinel of light O protector of light, Keeper of peace. Thine duty is at hand. Repel the void that seeks to Endeth this age of peace. If thine purpose is upheld thine own kingdom awaits

Quiz 29: Hephaestus BTW This quiz was about finding your godly parent! Hephaestus was born and Hera was disgusted by his appearance, therefore throwing him out of Olympus. Though he is later returned to Olympus due to his amazing skills of metalworking.

Quiz 30: Sensuous Scarlet Oh, dear... You have evidently attracted the attention of a pair of gleaming, ruby-colored eyes which gaze at you with a mixture of adoration and lust. It seems you have gone a bit too far in attracting attention, as this pair of eyes will not even give you a moment of privacy! These eyes are perfectly willing to be noticed by you, if that means your actions which they find desirable would only continue.

Happy now, anon? All of the quizzes are linked in their numbers. I was about ready to flip out from all of the spelling/grammar errors >_<

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