Clockwork Angel : Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel 

People. I have been consumed. You know when read a good book and you become totally and completely immersed in it? And you want to read every waking moment and every minute of those moments and you find yourself calculating when the next time you can pick up the book is? That’s been me lately. I’ve got spring fever and can’t focus on anything important but I can focus all my attention on a book. I had randomly grabbed this book from our little library at work and it sat on my desk forever until I eventually worked my way through the pile and started this book. From the first chapter, I was hooked.

Trilogy, trilogy, trilogy. Why do great things come in threes? Clockwork Angel is the first of three books in the Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare. It also is essentially a prequel-slash-parallel series to the Mortal Instruments series (of which I am reading now). Clockwork Angel is about Tessa, a young American girl who is called to London by her brother to visit. When she arrives in London, she is taken in by two elderly creep-tastic sisters named the Dark Sisters.  These sisters chain her up and treat her prisoner as they teach Tessa her secret powers. Tessa, as it turns out, is a shape shifter. Not only can she change shapes but she becomes that person and knows their memories and thoughts. The Dark sisters are manipulating her for some dark and menacing purpose until the charming Will Herondale and James (Jem) Carstairs rescue her. They bring her to the London Institute of Shadowhunters; a school that trains shadowhunters in the art of killing, communicating, and reasoning in creatures of the downworld. Through Will and Jem (and other members of the institute), Tessa discovers a world that has been hidden right in front of her with werewolves, vampires, warlocks and demons; a world that she belongs to.

I adore this book. It's a great, fun read. The descriptive elements of Tessa's 19th century London makes you really feel as if you are there. It also has steampunk-esque elements as well. For those of you who do not know, steampunk is a sub genre of science fiction that is retro futuristic. It is essentially Victorian dress with elaborate metal. 

It's not full fledged steampunk but definitely has those elements that really add to the story. This book also has two wonderful complimentary characters in Will and Jem. These two young men are nephilium, half angel half man and are also parabati. Parabati are bound by tradition and sacred ceremony to be more than brothers, more than family, more than blood. These two men could not be more different either. Will is brash, sarcastic and witty. Jem is gentle, calm and compassionate. And of course, there is a delicious love triangle. But you know what, this love triangle never goes the way you want it. Whenever there is a love triangle in a book, you can usually tell which way it's going to lean. We all really knew that Katniss was going to be with Peeta, that Bella would end up a vampire with Edward. But this book keeps you guessing at every turn. And you really don't know Tessa's final choice until the final book! And believe me, it's not what you are expecting at all! 

This is a fun and dramatic read: a love triangle without the mush, a story of brothers with a terrible secret, and an identity that is never quite truly revealed in truth. Not to mention the automaton robot covered in human flesh looking to take over London, this book has it all! Pick this book up and read it as soon as you can. You'll be hooked and read the next two just as fast as I did!

What is also great about this book is that it's predecessor/prequel/sequel/side series (I'm not really completely sure how it is related, but it definitely is), City of Bones is going to be a movie this coming August! I can't wait to see it. I'm reading it now and really like it. I'll definitely be picking up those sequels in the coming week or so! 

Check out the trailer here for The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.

Weekend Reads : May 23rd 2013

Yes, it's Thursday. But I'm only working a half day today and I'm off on Friday! And Monday! And Tuesday! It's going to be a wonderfully long weekend and I plan on relaxing. And you know that relaxing for me equals lots of reading. So what am I reading this weekend?

A Vera Bradley book? No. This is my beloved Kindle. And yes, I know it is a sin to most bibliophiles to own an e-reader but for me, it's all about the convenience. You have all seen the stacks of books I take home. My bookshelf at home is double parked (books on top of books on top of books). An e-reader is simply a convenience that I need. When I travel, this is a lifesaver. On a two hour plane ride, I can easily start and finish a book because there is nothing else for me to do. Bringing three books on my carry on isn't really an option for travel nowadays. The other great thing about my Kindle is the Amazon market place. Books that aren't easily accessible to me can be costly. However, on Amazon, I can get books for .99 cents. Also, books that freshly come out can be quickly downloaded.

An e-reader does not replace a physical book. The tactile senses engaged when reading are incredibly important but sometimes, it just easier to hold a light weight Kindle in your hands. 

So this weekend I am reading: 

City of Bones (Mortal Instruments) by Cassandra Clare (I'm hooked on this author. I read three of her books the other week and I'm obsessed. This book is being made into a movie and being released sometime this August)

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (I've been reading this book what seems like forever. People are absolutely in love with in and I am too! I just can't find the time to chisel out for this book. I'll be doing that this weekend for sure)

I'm excited for a long weekend. I've had spring fever and I am so ready to relax for summer. Having summers off is such a blessing and we are in the final stretch! At last!

Happy Weekend and Happy Reading!

Shout out to my Dad for my Vera Bradley medium e-book cover in Plum Crazy! Thanks Daddy O!

Currently Coveting

Alright people. It's officially less than two months til my birthday (I bet my family is laughing at this...Hiii Mom!) and I've been itching to go shopping and splurge on these things. Total impractical and yet completely necessary on all accounts. Does anyone love me enough to get any of these things for me? Great. Thanks.

Pride and Prejudice Book Scarf by storiarts on etsy

Anyone who personally knows me know that I am all about the scarf. To me, it is the perfect fashion accessory: perfect pop of color, not too fussy, and actually practical. I inherit my love of scarves from my mother who borderline hoards them (sorry Mom, just keeping it real). Though I can't poke fun because I'm a frequenter of her collection...Anyways. This scarf is everything I've ever wanted ever in my life ever. First. It's an infinity scarf. Perfect. Second. It's Pride and Prejudice. Even more perfect. Does there need to be any more reason there? Didn't think so. I'm obsessed with this clearly. And for the cool price of only $42.00, it's not too debt inducing! Gimme, gimme.
They also sell a Les Miserables, Sherklock Holmes, Alice in Wonderland, Romeo and Juliet, Little Women, Tale of Two Cities and Jane Eyre scarves for sale. I'll take one of each.

Aquala Bath Caddy from the Literary Gift Company

Holy. Crap. Where has this been my whole life?! I love to take baths and love to read in the bath tub. Is there anything more relaxing that laying in a tub of bubbles reading your favorite book? No, there isn't. Is there anything worse than holding a book when you have wet hands? No, there isn't. I hate hold or touching anything that is dry when my hands are wet. Well, other than a towel...or the obvious shower type items. You get it. So to have something to place my book on when reading in the tub is absolutely perfect. And here is the greatest part about this item....it has a built-in wine glass holder!

Hallelujah!

Can you even think of anything better? Can you even comprehend the pure state of relaxation your body would be in while reading a book in a bubble bath with a glass of wine?! I can't. Sorry if this is a little too excited for a bamboo bath caddy but this is something I pretty much need. Oh yeah, and it comes with a free little rubber duck who is reading a book. Perfect.
Buy it here , Price, but worth it.

Scrabble Coasters from....the internet. 

So now you all know I love wine. I promise I'm not some crazy wino (maybe) but these are too precious. Frankly, I could make these this weekend if I wanted to but instead I'd rather just wine (ha!) about how I want them. I would make mine say read, book, love annnnd...wine. No no, read, book, love, life? How about write, books, lover...wines? Okay, clearly I have something on my mind right now.

Find instructions to make these here. 

Book Print Wallpaper

This is an ambitious project. Frankly, I don't think I would (could) do this but I am obsessed with it. The project involves taking an old book (really several) tearing out the pages and double stick taping them to a wall. What a perfect accent wall! And it's not permanent so if you were feeling really ambitious you could change the book pages every so often! I don't think I could ever tear up a novel to create some decorative art but the craft-er here bought an English Literature text book to spare herself from a moral dilemma. How beautiful would this look in a front hall? Or on an accent wall in a library? I'm dreaming of my imaginary apartment again...
Find out how to make this fabulous statement wall here.

Book Clock from uncommongoods.com

What a better way to lose track of time while reading! This clock is way too cute and I know it would be so precious sitting up on my bookshelf. Only time will tell. Tale as old as time. A wrinkle in time. Time and books seem to go hand in hand. I love the bright colors and it's really the size of a normal book so it would be seamless by other non-ticking books.
What I really love about this item? The price. Only $24.00 here

Paddywax Library Author Candles on paddywax.com

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a weird thing about smells. I always have a candle or scented plug in or weird aromatherapy machine going whenever I am. In fact, at my desk at work I have a secret air freshener hidden. I just have a sensitive nose and need to have a pleasant smell in it. This product is genius. Candles inspired by famous authors. No the Leo Tolstoy doesn't smell like Russian vodka but black plum, persimmon, and oakmoss. Mark Twain is tobacco flower and vanilla! How perfect is that! I cannot even comprehend about how much I want all of these; particularly Jane Austen (surprise) and Charles Dickens. And you know what, they really aren't thaaaat expensive. A 4oz. diffuser is only $28.00. An 8oz glass candle is $25.00 and the 2 wick travel tin is only $8.00! I'd buy all of them in the travel tin.
Buy them all here

Alright people, only 49 more shopping days til my birthday from the moment I post this. I'm just saying.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns : Rae Carson

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Okay. So I never said this blog would be all about books I like. I mean, that's a part of life; sometimes things just...well...suck. There have been numerous books and authors that aren't necessarily my favorite in the world. For example, I'm not a fan of Ernest Hemingway. He's kind of sexist in a blatant way and I've never really admired his work. Maybe tolerate is a better word. Anyways. The Girl of Fire and Thorns was one book I will not be picking up again anytime soon. 

The plot of this book sounds enticing. It's the story of a the youngest princess, Elisa, who has become the secret wife of a handsome king on her sixteenth birthday. The back cover of the book even says "Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn't die young. Most of the chosen do". Heyo! That's dramatic! That's appealing! That's totally not how this book goes. 

The main character, Elisa, is probably the most annoying character I've ever encountered in a book. I really believe that the author, Rae Carson, was genuinely trying to create a character that many girls could relate to. Instead, she made a sad attempt at connecting with young ladies that fails dismally. In fact, the example she sets with Elisa is pretty awful. Elisa is awkward and overweight: the majority of her point of view is her talking about food and how she must look like a sausage in all her dresses. As a girl who loves food, you'd think that this would appeal to me but instead it was just...annoying. Really and truly, Elisa is a character who is trying way too hard to be an awkward girl. It's a caricature of a chubby girl. In the first chapter, Elisa is walking down the aisle to marry her new husband whom she has never met before. Her thoughts the whole time are "I hope my husband is ugly because if he is beautiful I am definitely not living up to his standards. Please have pock marks, please be fat too, please be nasty". Uhh, what? What about that train of thoughts is that of a heroine of a story? Okay, I get it. If there was some positive character development, I might be more lenient with this book. But the only way that Elisa finally get's courage to stand up for herself is when she loses weight! It essentially goes like this "Wow I am so fat but I love scones. But now I live in this castle and I have to walk everywhere. And it's really hot so I'm sweating. I'm still so fat and I hate myself but this cheese plate is so delicious so whatever. Oh hey, I'm skinny now! Forget the scones and cheese, I will now fight for my country and never touch an unhealthy food ever again because I am skinny and pretty now I can do whatever I want! Being fat is obviously the worst and if you are fat you will never succeed ever" Maybe that was an exaggeration but that is basically how it went. How unappealing of a character. I can't help but to think that if Elisa kept a little bit of her chubbiness, I'd like her more. 

Getting through this book was a struggle. Every time I picked it up, I rolled my eyes and snarled like a beast. Really, this book just tries way too hard. Maybe Rae Carson wanted to make a good book with a main character that no one liked...a lot of franchises have tried that*. Either way, she succeed at making me not like her main character and failed at making a good book. Don't waste your time reading this. 

*Did you know that Stan Lee, former head of Marvel comics, created Iron Man (aka Tony Stark) with the sole purpose of making a hero that characters didn't really like because he was kind of a...douche? Now Tony Stark is considered the man of all mans and is the coolest dude around. Hmm.  

Summer Reads

It seems like the summer months are the time when most people get their yearly reading in. Whether it's poolside, laying in a hammock, snuggled in bed or by the beach, reading is a wonderful practice in the summer. I was one of the rare kids in school who loved summer reading assignments and diligently kept my Summer Reading Journal on a weekly (if not daily) basis.

Summer is also the time when I reread my favorite books. I tend to find something new and take something different when I reread some of my favorites. Here are the books you will always find me reading sometime in the summer:

The Weetzie Bat Series by Francesca Lia Block

One of my, if not absolute, favorite authors. I read the Weetzie Bat books when I was starting middle school they have grown up along with me. Francesca Lia Block writes so poetically and with such rich, decadent descriptions, I find something new to love each time I read any of her books. I love all of her characters and think of them as old friends. These books and quick and easy reads. You can easily finish one book in a day.  Block writes about life in Los Angeles, mythological creatures, magic, and growing up. I firmly believe that every girl should read this series. If you aren't into magic and weird names and glittery 90's punk princesses, this book may not be for you. But if you believe in magic and fairies and mermaids and growing up and that true love and pain go hand in hand, read this books. I couldn't recommend them more.

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

The most quotable book of all time. This book is special to me and I pick it up every summer but I also read it whenever I need words of inspiration. The copy I have of The Prophet belonged to my mom when she was younger so this book holds special meaning to me. I've read poems, plays, and sang songs inspired by this text and it always holds true for me. Not only do I read this book in the summer but I read it year long whenever I feel any sort of strife. It sits on my bedside table year round. An essential book for anyone.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

You all know how much I adore this book (and Mr. Darcy) and I always pull something new from it. These characters are like old friends that I can always revisit. To me, there is nothing more perfect in the world than a rainy day, a hot cup of milky tea, and Pride and Prejudice. If you haven't read it, you just need to. It's necessary for any bibliophile. I'm super hooked now on the Lizzie Bennett Diaries right now. It's a video web blog created as if Elizabeth Bennett was updating on her Mac in modern day. It's so funny and so true to character, any Austen fan will love it. Watch it here.

Do you have any books you read every summer? What do you have on tap for summer reading?

Ship Breaker : Paolo Bacigalupi

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

I love when a book feels real. My measure of a good nonfiction book is if I have to stop and think “Whoa, this could happen”. Paolo Bacigalupi (which is probably the best name for an author ever) makes a very real feeling world in his book Ship Breaker.

Global warming is very real in the world of Ship Breaker. You could even say it competes with Nailer as the main protagonist  Nailer is a teenager who scavenges abandoned ships for cash and copper along the Gulf Coast. Nailer is a part of team of other young adults, called a Light Crew, that go to wrecked oil tankers to strip them of their wiring and anything of value. Their treasures are turned over to a boss who sells them to an even higher boss. Nailer is betrayed by one of his team members after finding a lucky strike (a pocket of oil) on a ship when she leaves him to slowly sink into the black ink like substance. Through pure luck, he escapes and earns the name Lucky Boy. Lucky Boy has another run in when one of the many City Killers (massive Katrina like hurricanes) sweeps into his coastal town. He barely survives the storm and happens upon a beautiful freshly wrecked clipper ship with a mostly dead crew on board. I say mostly because the beautiful daughter of a wealthy man barely lives on board.

This vision of the future is deeply rooted in reality. I couldn’t help but to think of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill or the ruin and wreckage of Hurricane Katrina while reading this book and I bet you will too. The setting of this book doesn’t seem so far away from us today. The other thing I really enjoyed about this book was how real the cultures felt. Sometimes when reading nonfiction, cultures and class systems seem a little too far fetched but this felt incredibly real. I can feel the roots of the people of the Gulf but they are stretched and molded into something  fresh. The world building is outstanding. People who live on the outskirts of the beach fighting to survive; indentured to their jobs. Religions with offers to sand and wind and storms. Men with genetically altered DNA made to work hard and only to work hard. Children, young and small boned, crawling through ship ducts to strip a wire of spare copper. This book is exaggerated and big but still so real feeling.

 I’m not sure if it is the environmental threat or the engaging cultures but I really enjoyed this book. It was refreshing to have a male voice narrate and refreshing to not have a heavy focus on romance (but you all still know I’m all about the romance). Sometimes you just have to switch it up and this book does exactly that. This book is perfect for a rainy day at the beach. Just think, that rain could fall harder and you could be stuck in a world like Ship Breaker.

Series Blues

There's been this insane trend of series lately. I feel like every single book I've read lately has been apart of a trilogy. And luckily, for the most part at least, when I start to read the first of the series, all the other books are out already. I know it sounds spoiled but I would probably weep (more) if I had to wait in between each Hunger Games book. I was lucky enough to have those books at the touch of a button (thanks kindle!) within seconds of finishing the last.

I will say that the sense of anticipation overwhelms me when I'm reading a trilogy or series of books. I vividly remember having my mom drive me to the book store when the newest Harry Potter book came out. She would park the car and I would go into the store (by myself! look out now!) and buy the book with crumpled, sweaty dollars. I would immediately run to the car and start reading in the passenger seat. I can clearly remember getting Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (the final installment) and reading the dedication and WEEPING in the car. My mom thought I was insane, I'm sure. I was so overcome with emotions. That's when you know it's a good book.

Anyways.  The point of this post was I started to read a new series this weekend, loved it, and immediately went to the little library to get the sequel and it wasn't there! Before I went to bed last night, I kept thinking about how I was so excited to get the second book in the morning! But alas, I'm stuck. I will have to wait to actually buy the books later this week. The worst part is the first book left on a killer cliffhanger! Don't you just hate (and love) when that happens? I'll have to patient and wait this week. In the meantime, I'll have to pick something else up!

ps. if you aren't familiar with the dedication of the final book of Harry Potter, I'm including it here. I stayed up til 7: 30am reading that book. I don't even remember eating dinner that night...

I get goosebumps just reading it now. 

Unwind : Neil Shusterman

Unwind by Neil Shusterman

I’m surprised that they bill this book as a young adult novel. It’s pretty twisted. When it comes to a dystopian novel, this takes the cake on originality. No there is no all-powerful nation. No there is no reality show that pits young children against one another. Yes there was a civil war and yes it was fought over abortion rights. Wait, what? Abortion rights? That’s the subject of this young adult novel? Yes.

I was hesitant to read this book. Not for any particular reason; I was just bogged down with lots of books in progress and wasn’t motivated to read this book. I had heard about it for a while and it definitely seemed up my alley book wise but eh, it was always on the bottom of my pile. I eventually powered through my ‘meh’-ness and started reading it and was incredibly intrigued. The concept of this book continually blows my mind.

Unwind takes place sometime in the near future (don’t they all) right after the Second Civil War has been fought. But this Civil War was not fought over slavery but rather abortion rights. The solution to this war was a compromise that allows parents to sign an order on their any of their children between the ages of 13 and 18 to be unwound. Being unwound entails having their body parts taken out and given to those who ‘need’ them. Technically these kids aren’t being killed because their organs are living on in the life of another. There is also the option of storking which states that any parent who is unable to raise a child to the age of 13 (when they can be retroactively aborted), they can leave the child on the porch of another family. If they are not caught leaving the child, the child then belongs to the family. If they are caught, then the biological parent must keep the child.

This story centers around three teenagers on route to be unwound. Connor is sixteen and a rebel and his parents simply cannot control him anymore so they sign him over to be unwound. Risa is a ward of the state who has to be unwound due to budget cuts to the program she belongs to. Lev is from an extremely religiously family who believes that ten percent of everything they own go to the church, including their children to be unwound. Lev is that ten percent. After learning their about their orders to be unwound, two of them “kick it AWOL” (aka decide to not be harvested) and one reluctantly agrees to go along.

Do I have your attention yet? Have you ever heard of a book with a similar concept? Probably not. Not only is this concept disturbing but it also feels oddly real. How many times have you heard of someone “living on” through another person or object? That is essentially what ‘living in a separated state’ of being unwound is. This book didn’t fully disturb me until you discover that these body parts that are harvested really do live on and can sometimes act on their own accord from their former body. Whoa! My favorite part about this book was towards the very end at Happy Jacks Harvest Camp (uh yeah, that what it’s called) and it is incredibly disturbing mostly because the author allows the reader to think of the most horrific thing that could happen.

I don't want to give away too much with this book because it's definitely one that has to be read to grasp the full concept of it. Listening to the radio this morning about another debate over abortion rights, I couldn't help but to think that this book has the slight possibility of maybe coming true. I can’t praise this book enough for its twisted and unique plot. Let's just say, I won't hesitate on picking up the sequel this next time around. 

Beautiful Words

What's your favorite word in the English language? I know my least favorite, that's for sure (who actually likes the word moist...seriously?). I came across this great article/list about the one hundred most beautiful words in the English language. These words were chosen by Robert Beard who has been creating dictionaries and writing poetry for over forty years. Here is the article (and plug for the book to buy) here. But if you are feeling lazy, the list is right here:


Ailurophile A cat-lover.
Assemblage A gathering.
Becoming Attractive.
Beleaguer To exhaust with attacks.
Brood To think alone.
Bucolic In a lovely rural setting.
Bungalow A small, cozy cottage.
Chatoyant Like a cat’s eye.
Comely Attractive.
Conflate To blend together.
Cynosure A focal point of admiration.
Dalliance A brief love affair.
Demesne Dominion, territory.
Demure Shy and reserved.
Denouement The resolution of a mystery.
Desuetude Disuse.
Desultory Slow, sluggish.
Diaphanous Filmy.
Dissemble Deceive.
Dulcet Sweet, sugary.
Ebullience Bubbling enthusiasm.
Effervescent Bubbly.
Efflorescence Flowering, blooming.
Elision Dropping a sound or syllable in a word.
Elixir A good potion.
Eloquence Beauty and persuasion in speech.
Embrocation Rubbing on a lotion.
Emollient A softener.
Ephemeral Short-lived.
Epiphany A sudden revelation.
Erstwhile At one time, for a time.
Ethereal Gaseous, invisible but detectable.
Evanescent Vanishing quickly, lasting a very short time.
Evocative Suggestive.
Fetching Pretty.
Felicity Pleasantness.
Forbearance Withholding response to provocation.
Fugacious Fleeting.
Furtive Shifty, sneaky.
Gambol To skip or leap about joyfully.
Glamour Beauty.
Gossamer The finest piece of thread, a spider’s silk.
Halcyon Happy, sunny, care-free.
Harbinger Messenger with news of the future.
Imbrication Overlapping and forming a regular pattern.
Imbroglio An altercation or complicated situation.
Imbue To infuse, instill.
Incipient Beginning, in an early stage.
Ineffable Unutterable, inexpressible.
Ingénue A naïve young woman.
Inglenook A cozy nook by the hearth.
Insouciance Blithe nonchalance.
Inure To become jaded.
Labyrinthine Twisting and turning.
Lagniappe A special kind of gift.
Lagoon A small gulf or inlet.
Languor Listlessness, inactivity.
Lassitude Weariness, listlessness.
Leisure Free time.
Lilt To move musically or lively.
Lissome Slender and graceful.
Lithe Slender and flexible.
Love Deep affection.
Mellifluous Sweet sounding.
Moiety One of two equal parts.
Mondegreen A slip of the ear.
Murmurous Murmuring.
Nemesis An unconquerable archenemy.
Offing The sea between the horizon and the offshore.
Onomatopoeia A word that sounds like its meaning.
Opulent Lush, luxuriant.
Palimpsest A manuscript written over earlier ones.
Panacea A solution for all problems
Panoply A complete set.
Pastiche An art work combining materials from various sources.
Penumbra A half-shadow.
Petrichor The smell of earth after rain.
Plethora A large quantity.
Propinquity An inclination.
Pyrrhic Successful with heavy losses.
Quintessential Most essential.
Ratatouille A spicy French stew.
Ravel To knit or unknit.
Redolent Fragrant.
Riparian By the bank of a stream.
Ripple A very small wave.
Scintilla A spark or very small thing.
Sempiternal Eternal.
Seraglio Rich, luxurious oriental palace or harem.
Serendipity Finding something nice while looking for something else.
Summery Light, delicate or warm and sunny.
Sumptuous Lush, luxurious.
Surreptitious Secretive, sneaky.
Susquehanna A river in Pennsylvania.
Susurrous Whispering, hissing.
Talisman A good luck charm.
Tintinnabulation Tinkling.
Umbrella Protection from sun or rain.
Untoward Unseemly, inappropriate.
Vestigial In trace amounts.
Wafture Waving.
Wherewithal The means.
Woebegone Sorrowful, downcast.

What are your favorites from the list? My favorites are bucolic, cynosure, mellifluous, petrichor, quintessential, and seraglio.

Don't you want to go write a poem now?