Dracula - Bram Stoker
If you aren't familiar with the story of Dracula, then you have lived your entire life under a rock on Mars. Dracula is the original tale of gothic horror, chronicling the hunt for Dracula after he left Transylvania and attempted to relocate in London.
And it was boring.
Okay, it wasn't boring, but I had a lot of trouble getting into it. I think this is largely to do with the format of the book. It's all excerpts from diaries, telegraphs, articles from newspapers, etc. And I guess that the jumping around doesn't agree with me.
I was worried in starting it that it was going to be a long, drawn out lead in to the flesh of the book. Boy was I WRONG. I think the first chapter that takes place in Dracula's castle was the best part, your introduction to the monster that is vampire and it really was kind of freaky and disturbing. So I was set up to really enjoy the remainder of it, but then was a little let down. I felt it went in fits and starts.. I'd be interested for a few pages and then suddenly would have to force myself through the text and not allow myself to skim for others.
I guess when you sit down to read the classics you have an image of what they're going to be like in your head, and this one let me down. Maybe it's something to be said for the desensitization of our society and the fact that things that scared us years ago don't anymore, but I didn't feel the horror and the intrigue that is typically described when people talk about Dracula.
A Touch of Dead - Charlaine Harris
So, this is a collection of short stories that star Sookie Stackhouse, the heroine of the Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris. And if you're not a fan of the series, I wont recommend this book. But if you ARE a fan of the books or the series True Blood, then of course you should read it! I bombed through this book in no time and it was a nice pick me up after Dracula.
If you're not aware of the series, here's a quick breakdown. Sookie Stackhouse is a pretty young waitress in a small southern town and she just happens to be a telepath. She becomes the go-to girl for vampires and many other supernatural folks in her area. These are cheap, sexy little mysteries and absolutely the literary equivalent of junk food. And this book of short stories is just a little snack that will hold you over until the next book comes out (MAY 2011!!!!!!!! OMGYAY!!!!!) But don't read it and expect to enjoy it if you haven't read the novels, mmmkay?
To Kill a Mocking Bird - Harper Lee
This is the first book I read on my phone, and I've been reading it little bit by little bit for a few months. I read it in 10th grade and I loved it as much the second time as I did the first.
Set in Depression-era Alabama, this is the story of the trials and tribulations around the Finch family. There's a trial for rape, an attempted murder, the shooting of a rabid dog and race relations laced throughout.
I love, love, love this book. It's sweet and sad and short and long and just a great read for many different reasons.
****
Book Count: 25/50
Monday, December 20, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Books 21 & 22
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - J.K Rowling
The sixth installment of the Harry Potter series. This is when the shit hits the fan. Professor Dumbledore is doing "private lessons" with Harry to learn more about Voldemort's past and we start learning about horcruxes and the fact that there's bits of Voldemort scattered about that need to be destroyed. Harry is also at the top of his Potions class with the newly re-instated Potions Master, Professor Slughorn. His borrowed Potions book is full of helpful hints and tips and the apparent author of those tips is the mysterious "Half Blood Prince". The Prince was also a very creative hex maker... the use of which can have bloody results.
Grayson - Lynne Cox
Grayson is a sweet, light little book about a professional swimmer's experience with a lost baby whale... and it's entirely true! Lynne Cox is a famous long distance open water swimmer and swam the English Channel when she was 15 years old, breaking the records of the day and has done tons ground breaking (water breaking?) swims since then. She also wrote Swimming to Antarctica .
Anyway, in Grayson Lynne is training early in the morning in the ocean, as she does every day, when she starts feeling unusual disturbances in the water. She wraps up her training and goes to speak to a friend when he tells her to not come to shore... or the baby gray whale that's following her will be beached! So Lynne and Grayson swim out to see in hope to find Grayson's mom or pod. Along the way Lynne has interactions with a few other sea creatures and her telling of them really paints a picture of the relationship she's developed with the fish, turtles, etc, from being out there every day.
****
Book Count: 22/50
Don't know when I'll get number 23 done... Dracula is taking forever....
The sixth installment of the Harry Potter series. This is when the shit hits the fan. Professor Dumbledore is doing "private lessons" with Harry to learn more about Voldemort's past and we start learning about horcruxes and the fact that there's bits of Voldemort scattered about that need to be destroyed. Harry is also at the top of his Potions class with the newly re-instated Potions Master, Professor Slughorn. His borrowed Potions book is full of helpful hints and tips and the apparent author of those tips is the mysterious "Half Blood Prince". The Prince was also a very creative hex maker... the use of which can have bloody results.
Grayson - Lynne Cox
Grayson is a sweet, light little book about a professional swimmer's experience with a lost baby whale... and it's entirely true! Lynne Cox is a famous long distance open water swimmer and swam the English Channel when she was 15 years old, breaking the records of the day and has done tons ground breaking (water breaking?) swims since then. She also wrote Swimming to Antarctica .
Anyway, in Grayson Lynne is training early in the morning in the ocean, as she does every day, when she starts feeling unusual disturbances in the water. She wraps up her training and goes to speak to a friend when he tells her to not come to shore... or the baby gray whale that's following her will be beached! So Lynne and Grayson swim out to see in hope to find Grayson's mom or pod. Along the way Lynne has interactions with a few other sea creatures and her telling of them really paints a picture of the relationship she's developed with the fish, turtles, etc, from being out there every day.
****
Book Count: 22/50
Don't know when I'll get number 23 done... Dracula is taking forever....
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Books 15-20
Oh my, this will be a list.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J.K Rowling
Ok, so, if you haven't read any of the Harry Potter books yet, you're behind. Really behind. And, I get it! When Harry Potter I was very "anti everything trendy". Pretty much, if other people liked something, I didn't. So I didn't like the Harry Potter series because it was popular. And then I saw the first movie, and I realized what I was missing to a degree.
When beginning your journey through the world that is the world of Harry Potter, you need to keep in mind one major thing: In the first book, Harry is 11 and it is geared towards audiences of a similar age. So don't expect anything too intensely deep, because you'll not get that. What you will get, though, is a decently written novel for tweens and teens that is pretty captivating. You are able to forget the age of our favourite young wizard and get involved in the story. I can't say the same for the movie, but that's now what this blog is here for....
I think that *most* people in the developed world who have any connection to pop culture understand the basics to the Harry Potter series. Harry is a wizard who doesn't know it, he's raised in a family of "muggles" (non magical people) who have done the best to crush his abilities out of him by years of living under their thumbs. He has no idea what he is or, really, anything about his past until he's accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Then he gets to learn about the amazing, magical world that he's a part of... and famous in. As a baby a very famous, evil wizard tried to fail, and what happened is still a bit of a mystery. What his world doesn't know is that Lord Voldemort is attempting to come back.....
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling
So this one, for all it attempts at being mildly creepy still kind of fails since it's geared at 12 year olds. But that doesn't matter because... well... it's Harry Potter. So Harry goes back to school for his second year, having barely survived the first one. But when the caretaker's cat is attacked and a note on the wall says the Chamber of Secrets has been opened, rumours start flying around. What is the Chamber of Secrets, and who would be able to open it? What is that voice that Harry can hear that no one else can? And has one of his best friends set a monster on the school?
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling
This is where the series starts getting good. The darkness that is apparent as a background theme is coming to the foreground now... J.K's target audience has grown with Harry a bit and are able to deal with more intense subject matter. One of Lord Voldemort's biggest supporters has broken out of the wizard prison, Azkaban. And that means a whole lot of trouble for Harry...
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling
This was my favourite of the books when they were still new to me, and the movie was a huge letdown. The world of magic was so vivid and apparent to me when I read it, and now Harry is 14 and a lot more mature.
So Harry has survived another year, and this year is extra exciting... the Quidditch World Cup has come to Britain and Harry gets to go. But when the Dark Lord's signature is blasted into the sky when a number of his followers start harassing the muggles who own the camp ground, the amazing night quickly turns terrifying. Then, when Harry returns to school his finds out the Triwizard tournament is being held. He's not old enough to enter and somehow ends up being thrown into the mix anyway. And finally, Lord Voldemort officially rears his snakelike head.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling
I really hated this book the first time I read it. Not because it was badly written (though it's a huge book and there's quite a bit that could/should have been cut) but because I spent the whole time being ANGRY. I remember being at the family cottage and literally throwing the book across the room, I was so angry. I also remember reading it in two days. I'm just not able to put Harry down. One annoying thing about this book is that Harry is 15 and boy, does J.K write the age well. He's an angsty little douche and I get really fed up with him... but it's true to the age of the characters and I have to give J.K kudos for making me hate one of my favourite characters so much.
Lord Voldemort is back, and terribly, his existence is being kept hidden from the wizarding world at large. People refuse to believe Harry's account of Voldemort's return, and the Daily Prophet is painting a picture of a very different Harry, an attention seeking boy who is possibly touched in the head. The searing pain that shoots through the scar on his forehead doesn't help matters. But, there's a band of warriors who will fight Lord Voldemort, the ones who believe he's returned, and they're willing to give their lives to do it. The other part of their job involves keeping Harry alive.
The Dogs of Babel: A Novel - Carolyn Parkhurst
This book is sweet, sad, deep, lighthearted, and easy to read. How's that all possible? I don't really know. But it's true. I picked this one up cheap, on clearance, on my trip to Chicago. I grabbed it for two reasons... it mentioned dogs and I vaguely recognized the name. And I'm glad I did! When Lexy falls from a large tree in her yard, the only witness is her faithful Rhodesian Ridgeback, Lorelei. It just so happens that Lexy's husband, Paul is a linguistics professor and he decides the only way to gain insight into Lexy's death is to teach Lorelei to speak.
This book has a few outwardly funny moments, but mostly it is sad and beautiful.
****
Book Count: 20/50
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J.K Rowling
Ok, so, if you haven't read any of the Harry Potter books yet, you're behind. Really behind. And, I get it! When Harry Potter I was very "anti everything trendy". Pretty much, if other people liked something, I didn't. So I didn't like the Harry Potter series because it was popular. And then I saw the first movie, and I realized what I was missing to a degree.
When beginning your journey through the world that is the world of Harry Potter, you need to keep in mind one major thing: In the first book, Harry is 11 and it is geared towards audiences of a similar age. So don't expect anything too intensely deep, because you'll not get that. What you will get, though, is a decently written novel for tweens and teens that is pretty captivating. You are able to forget the age of our favourite young wizard and get involved in the story. I can't say the same for the movie, but that's now what this blog is here for....
I think that *most* people in the developed world who have any connection to pop culture understand the basics to the Harry Potter series. Harry is a wizard who doesn't know it, he's raised in a family of "muggles" (non magical people) who have done the best to crush his abilities out of him by years of living under their thumbs. He has no idea what he is or, really, anything about his past until he's accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Then he gets to learn about the amazing, magical world that he's a part of... and famous in. As a baby a very famous, evil wizard tried to fail, and what happened is still a bit of a mystery. What his world doesn't know is that Lord Voldemort is attempting to come back.....
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling
So this one, for all it attempts at being mildly creepy still kind of fails since it's geared at 12 year olds. But that doesn't matter because... well... it's Harry Potter. So Harry goes back to school for his second year, having barely survived the first one. But when the caretaker's cat is attacked and a note on the wall says the Chamber of Secrets has been opened, rumours start flying around. What is the Chamber of Secrets, and who would be able to open it? What is that voice that Harry can hear that no one else can? And has one of his best friends set a monster on the school?
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling
This is where the series starts getting good. The darkness that is apparent as a background theme is coming to the foreground now... J.K's target audience has grown with Harry a bit and are able to deal with more intense subject matter. One of Lord Voldemort's biggest supporters has broken out of the wizard prison, Azkaban. And that means a whole lot of trouble for Harry...
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling
This was my favourite of the books when they were still new to me, and the movie was a huge letdown. The world of magic was so vivid and apparent to me when I read it, and now Harry is 14 and a lot more mature.
So Harry has survived another year, and this year is extra exciting... the Quidditch World Cup has come to Britain and Harry gets to go. But when the Dark Lord's signature is blasted into the sky when a number of his followers start harassing the muggles who own the camp ground, the amazing night quickly turns terrifying. Then, when Harry returns to school his finds out the Triwizard tournament is being held. He's not old enough to enter and somehow ends up being thrown into the mix anyway. And finally, Lord Voldemort officially rears his snakelike head.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling
I really hated this book the first time I read it. Not because it was badly written (though it's a huge book and there's quite a bit that could/should have been cut) but because I spent the whole time being ANGRY. I remember being at the family cottage and literally throwing the book across the room, I was so angry. I also remember reading it in two days. I'm just not able to put Harry down. One annoying thing about this book is that Harry is 15 and boy, does J.K write the age well. He's an angsty little douche and I get really fed up with him... but it's true to the age of the characters and I have to give J.K kudos for making me hate one of my favourite characters so much.
Lord Voldemort is back, and terribly, his existence is being kept hidden from the wizarding world at large. People refuse to believe Harry's account of Voldemort's return, and the Daily Prophet is painting a picture of a very different Harry, an attention seeking boy who is possibly touched in the head. The searing pain that shoots through the scar on his forehead doesn't help matters. But, there's a band of warriors who will fight Lord Voldemort, the ones who believe he's returned, and they're willing to give their lives to do it. The other part of their job involves keeping Harry alive.
The Dogs of Babel: A Novel - Carolyn Parkhurst
This book is sweet, sad, deep, lighthearted, and easy to read. How's that all possible? I don't really know. But it's true. I picked this one up cheap, on clearance, on my trip to Chicago. I grabbed it for two reasons... it mentioned dogs and I vaguely recognized the name. And I'm glad I did! When Lexy falls from a large tree in her yard, the only witness is her faithful Rhodesian Ridgeback, Lorelei. It just so happens that Lexy's husband, Paul is a linguistics professor and he decides the only way to gain insight into Lexy's death is to teach Lorelei to speak.
This book has a few outwardly funny moments, but mostly it is sad and beautiful.
****
Book Count: 20/50
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Books 13 & 14
The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
This book is really... really... GOOD. A young boy (Daniel Sempere) is taken to the Cemetery for Lost books by his book seller father, and the book that chooses to leave with him is The Shadow of the Wind. Taking the book leads him, eventually, into a Hollywood style mystery. Who is the man with the rough voice that seeks the book so badly? Is he the same man who is systematically burning every book ever written by Julián Carax? This is a book that really draws you in, and satisfyingly so. I absolutely loved it. The book was lent to me and I will happily add it to my private collection in the future.
The Dog Who Wouldn't Be - Farley Mowat
Farley Mowat tells the story of his childhood in the Canadian prairies with tales of his beloved dog Mutt in The Dog Who Wouldn't Be. Mutt didn't fancy himself dog or human... clearly he was above both of them! I really did laugh out loud at this little book, and it was an interesting shot of Canadian geography and history at the same time. Though it really is more of a pre-teen aged book, reading it really helped illustrate to me why Farley Mowat is one of Canada's best known (and best loved) authors.
****
Book Count: 14/50
This book is really... really... GOOD. A young boy (Daniel Sempere) is taken to the Cemetery for Lost books by his book seller father, and the book that chooses to leave with him is The Shadow of the Wind. Taking the book leads him, eventually, into a Hollywood style mystery. Who is the man with the rough voice that seeks the book so badly? Is he the same man who is systematically burning every book ever written by Julián Carax? This is a book that really draws you in, and satisfyingly so. I absolutely loved it. The book was lent to me and I will happily add it to my private collection in the future.
The Dog Who Wouldn't Be - Farley Mowat
Farley Mowat tells the story of his childhood in the Canadian prairies with tales of his beloved dog Mutt in The Dog Who Wouldn't Be. Mutt didn't fancy himself dog or human... clearly he was above both of them! I really did laugh out loud at this little book, and it was an interesting shot of Canadian geography and history at the same time. Though it really is more of a pre-teen aged book, reading it really helped illustrate to me why Farley Mowat is one of Canada's best known (and best loved) authors.
****
Book Count: 14/50
Monday, September 27, 2010
Books 10-12
I guess that was a good chunk of hiatus right there... completely unintentional, I assure you. But, life being what it is, my reading dipped a bit and my blogging dipped a lot. Oh well... time to catch up I guess.
Planet Dog; A Doglopedia - Sandra and Harry Choron
Not a whole lot about one thing but little bits of everything, Planet Dog covers just about any dog topic you can think of. Information on different breeds, differences in breed groups, dog sports, all about the conformation world, tidbits of training, books to read, and lists lists lists! Top 20 breeds for apartment living, outdoor life, barkers, biters, ones who like kids, ones who hate kids, names of Presidential dogs, movies about dogs, dogs who have won awards for acting or civil service... you name it. The real winner in this book for me was the information about obtaining a dog. Not only do they tell you what to look for in a breeder, but what not to look for, why not to buy at a pet store, reasons to consider adopting an older dog, and reasons why people who love dogs don't always get them. All good stuff to consider! They also cover important things like why you shouldn't breed your dog, and they pick apart all the stupid reasons people give for not neutering them.
This is a book that everyone from the interested dog owner to the seasoned dog professional can enjoy. It's very readable and nicely designed with lots of images and quotes scattered around. My only big problem was two improper breed identifications. A picture of a Long Haired Chihuahua was labeled a Papillion and a drawing that was supposed to be a Bearded Collie looked much more like an Otterhound. But I find that often happens in dog books that aren't specifically breed books. So no biggie. Still a good library addition for dog owners!
The Bridges of Madison County - Robert James Waller
Everyone knows some stupid hardcore Twilight loving dorkface. Maybe you are that dorkface. And that's fine, I guess, everyone has their guilty pleasures. But, I don't want to hear a single thing, ever again, about how "romantic" Twilight/Edward/whatever is. Because if you want a true, heartbreaking, soul destroying love story to make you feel like every relationship you'll ever have is less than amazing, this is the book. Because it is just so beautiful.
It starts simply enough. Lone-wolf photographer, Robert Kincaid, stops at a farmhouse in dusty Iowa to ask for directions to a local covered bridge as he's doing a piece on covered bridges in the area for National Geographic. He is met by under-appreciated housewife Francesca Johnson who is alone for the week while her family is at the Illinois State Fair. What comes of their meeting is... well... you really need to read the book. It's not a great american novel by any means, and I can see why some people have said in reviews that the dialogue is unrealistic ("No real people talk that way"). But what it boiled down to, for me, is that it's a wonderful little story, and if you don't like it, the book is really short and you didn't waste weeks on it if you didn't like it.
The Egyptian - Mika Waltari
This book is a hefty read, I'll start by saying that. It follows the life of Sinuhe the Egyptian, and wow, what a life he leads. In this book you are completely transported to the ancient world. Sinuhe travels from Egypt, to Babylon, to Crete and everywhere in between.One of the things I really liked was that, as I read, I remembered lots of stuff from my 10th grade Ancient History classes.. I felt very in the know! But, you certainly don't need any particular knowledge of ancient history to appreciate Mika Waltari's writing. It probably helps to be interested in the origins of mankind, but all that really matters is that you're interested in mankind, period. The atrocities that take place because of religion are terrifying, and the love lost for the favour of gods is crushing. It is not a lighthearted read, in the least, but absolutely worth giving some time to. I'll be looking for more of his books in the future.
****
Book Count: 12/50
Planet Dog; A Doglopedia - Sandra and Harry Choron
Not a whole lot about one thing but little bits of everything, Planet Dog covers just about any dog topic you can think of. Information on different breeds, differences in breed groups, dog sports, all about the conformation world, tidbits of training, books to read, and lists lists lists! Top 20 breeds for apartment living, outdoor life, barkers, biters, ones who like kids, ones who hate kids, names of Presidential dogs, movies about dogs, dogs who have won awards for acting or civil service... you name it. The real winner in this book for me was the information about obtaining a dog. Not only do they tell you what to look for in a breeder, but what not to look for, why not to buy at a pet store, reasons to consider adopting an older dog, and reasons why people who love dogs don't always get them. All good stuff to consider! They also cover important things like why you shouldn't breed your dog, and they pick apart all the stupid reasons people give for not neutering them.
This is a book that everyone from the interested dog owner to the seasoned dog professional can enjoy. It's very readable and nicely designed with lots of images and quotes scattered around. My only big problem was two improper breed identifications. A picture of a Long Haired Chihuahua was labeled a Papillion and a drawing that was supposed to be a Bearded Collie looked much more like an Otterhound. But I find that often happens in dog books that aren't specifically breed books. So no biggie. Still a good library addition for dog owners!
The Bridges of Madison County - Robert James Waller
Everyone knows some stupid hardcore Twilight loving dorkface. Maybe you are that dorkface. And that's fine, I guess, everyone has their guilty pleasures. But, I don't want to hear a single thing, ever again, about how "romantic" Twilight/Edward/whatever is. Because if you want a true, heartbreaking, soul destroying love story to make you feel like every relationship you'll ever have is less than amazing, this is the book. Because it is just so beautiful.
It starts simply enough. Lone-wolf photographer, Robert Kincaid, stops at a farmhouse in dusty Iowa to ask for directions to a local covered bridge as he's doing a piece on covered bridges in the area for National Geographic. He is met by under-appreciated housewife Francesca Johnson who is alone for the week while her family is at the Illinois State Fair. What comes of their meeting is... well... you really need to read the book. It's not a great american novel by any means, and I can see why some people have said in reviews that the dialogue is unrealistic ("No real people talk that way"). But what it boiled down to, for me, is that it's a wonderful little story, and if you don't like it, the book is really short and you didn't waste weeks on it if you didn't like it.
The Egyptian - Mika Waltari
This book is a hefty read, I'll start by saying that. It follows the life of Sinuhe the Egyptian, and wow, what a life he leads. In this book you are completely transported to the ancient world. Sinuhe travels from Egypt, to Babylon, to Crete and everywhere in between.One of the things I really liked was that, as I read, I remembered lots of stuff from my 10th grade Ancient History classes.. I felt very in the know! But, you certainly don't need any particular knowledge of ancient history to appreciate Mika Waltari's writing. It probably helps to be interested in the origins of mankind, but all that really matters is that you're interested in mankind, period. The atrocities that take place because of religion are terrifying, and the love lost for the favour of gods is crushing. It is not a lighthearted read, in the least, but absolutely worth giving some time to. I'll be looking for more of his books in the future.
****
Book Count: 12/50
Monday, August 23, 2010
Because Patrick is a whiney slut... Book 9
The Return of the King - J.R.R. Tolkien
This book took me forever to read. Or, it did if you consider I technically started it 2 years ago and put it aside and just left it. But man, you have to be in the mood for The Lord of the Rings. These are no before bed books. One paragraph about trees and the sky and the landscape and I'm out.
I get that Tolkien was going for something with all his description, he was trying to recreate Middle Earth so we (the readers) could be completely immersed in the world he created. And I'm sure it worked for a lot of people. I know Mordor was scary and Hobbiton was quaint and lovely but I can only read about the landscape for so long. Once we've hit a few lines of this, I'm done. The trees, the sky, the water, the clouds, the stars, the lack thereof... oi.
So I'm going to start looking for an abridged version of these books. Because they're great. The story is really wonderful and the characters are amazing and I, of course, found myself crying at the end of The Return of the King because it made me just that happy and sad all at once. But I can't enjoy them when entire chapters are dedicated to traveling and telling me how bleak everything was.
This book took me forever to read. Or, it did if you consider I technically started it 2 years ago and put it aside and just left it. But man, you have to be in the mood for The Lord of the Rings. These are no before bed books. One paragraph about trees and the sky and the landscape and I'm out.
I get that Tolkien was going for something with all his description, he was trying to recreate Middle Earth so we (the readers) could be completely immersed in the world he created. And I'm sure it worked for a lot of people. I know Mordor was scary and Hobbiton was quaint and lovely but I can only read about the landscape for so long. Once we've hit a few lines of this, I'm done. The trees, the sky, the water, the clouds, the stars, the lack thereof... oi.
So I'm going to start looking for an abridged version of these books. Because they're great. The story is really wonderful and the characters are amazing and I, of course, found myself crying at the end of The Return of the King because it made me just that happy and sad all at once. But I can't enjoy them when entire chapters are dedicated to traveling and telling me how bleak everything was.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Book 9... is going slow.
Book number 9 is going pretty slowly, for a few reasons:
1) It's a real BRICK of a book. Not that it's big but word-heavy. I have trouble getting back into it sometimes, and it's not something I can read when I'm tired or not thinking clearly.
2) I have been really tired.
3) I have a new phone that's absorbing a lot of my attention! I just can't seem to stop tapping away at it, even when there's nothing to be done on it. "Emails checked, no texts, no calls, nothing new on facebook... I better check again just in case!"
I'll get there, but I'm not keeping my usual pace and that's disheartening.
1) It's a real BRICK of a book. Not that it's big but word-heavy. I have trouble getting back into it sometimes, and it's not something I can read when I'm tired or not thinking clearly.
2) I have been really tired.
3) I have a new phone that's absorbing a lot of my attention! I just can't seem to stop tapping away at it, even when there's nothing to be done on it. "Emails checked, no texts, no calls, nothing new on facebook... I better check again just in case!"
I'll get there, but I'm not keeping my usual pace and that's disheartening.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Off topic: Bitching about Blogger
Once upon a time I was an Open Diary fan. I wrote regularly, made wonderful relationships, and generally wasted a lot of time there. They had a fun little feature where you could click "random diary" and you'd get something that was recently updated. I met some great people through randomizing, and I never knew what I would find.
I thought the "Next Blog" feature would be something like that... an entirely random blog would come up and I could decide whether or not to read said blog. Well, it seems to me that it's not so random. I keep getting "family" blogs, mostly moms sharing pictures of their kids..... or missionary blogs, spreading "the word".
It would be one thing if I only got these blogs occasionally in a mix of everything else, but.... WTF? I don't need to read "my problems with fertility" for 15 blogs in a row before getting thrown into the midst of LDS missionaries in Japan complaining that the new person that they met is an unbeliever and needs converting for another 10.
So what's going on here? Is this a sign that I need to procreate and go back to church? If so, I'll just quit the internet entirely. Are the blogs in "strings", where when you click "next" it has something to do with previous blogs? Did my posting "The Nanny" and "The Lost Symbol" doom me to being strung in next to soccer moms and bible thumpers? Or is there just THAT many blogs devoted to children and Jesus that I am doomed to hit "Next Blog" and surely get one?
I thought the "Next Blog" feature would be something like that... an entirely random blog would come up and I could decide whether or not to read said blog. Well, it seems to me that it's not so random. I keep getting "family" blogs, mostly moms sharing pictures of their kids..... or missionary blogs, spreading "the word".
It would be one thing if I only got these blogs occasionally in a mix of everything else, but.... WTF? I don't need to read "my problems with fertility" for 15 blogs in a row before getting thrown into the midst of LDS missionaries in Japan complaining that the new person that they met is an unbeliever and needs converting for another 10.
So what's going on here? Is this a sign that I need to procreate and go back to church? If so, I'll just quit the internet entirely. Are the blogs in "strings", where when you click "next" it has something to do with previous blogs? Did my posting "The Nanny" and "The Lost Symbol" doom me to being strung in next to soccer moms and bible thumpers? Or is there just THAT many blogs devoted to children and Jesus that I am doomed to hit "Next Blog" and surely get one?
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Book 7 and 8
Stevenson Under the Palm Trees - Alberto Manguel
SUTPT is a novella about Robert Louis Stevenson's final days in Samoa. Best known for writing The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Stevenson moved his family to Samoa due to his ill health. This little piece of fiction is called a psychological thriller. Psychological, yes. Thriller? Naah. It could have reached that point with a little more action and probably another 100 pages (the book is only about 100 pages in all) but for me it ended up just being a little book about nothing. Maybe I missed some subtle nuances to the writing, but over all it just wasn't that exciting.
What Manguel did VERY well was paint the picture of Stevenson's Samoa. I could almost taste the tropical humidity.
The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown
Our good friend Robert Langdon is back and apparently can't keep himself out of trouble. Isn't he getting too old for these shenanigans? Langdon's good friend in Washington asks him to fly out to give a speech at an event he's hosting, but it's a bit rushed - Langdon has to hop on a jet to arrive that evening as the arranged speaker had to back out last minute. Langdon is such a good guy he agrees and hilarity ensues. Oh, that's not right, of course there's no hilarity! There's mystery, codes to solve, murder, and a race around Washington. So, typical stuff for Dan Brown.
If you liked The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons, you'll probably like the Lost Symbol. Although the read went quickly for me, it isn't as easy to immerse yourself in, and I found it a little difficult at first. There are some parts that drag and I've heard some people even call it "bloated" but I don't know if I'd go that far.
The "BIG HUGE SHOCK" at the end is no big huge shock and I actually had it picked out right at the beginning. And the end of the book really is longer than it needs to be.
My big complaint is this: How many times do you need to say "esoteric" in a book, Dan? In one part he used it twice in the same sentence! Get a thesaurus, man.
I did enjoy the Lost Symbol, but not nearly as much as Angels and Demons, by far his best book of tree. I'm glad I own Angels and Demons, and I'm glad I borrowed The Lost Symbol.
SUTPT is a novella about Robert Louis Stevenson's final days in Samoa. Best known for writing The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Stevenson moved his family to Samoa due to his ill health. This little piece of fiction is called a psychological thriller. Psychological, yes. Thriller? Naah. It could have reached that point with a little more action and probably another 100 pages (the book is only about 100 pages in all) but for me it ended up just being a little book about nothing. Maybe I missed some subtle nuances to the writing, but over all it just wasn't that exciting.
What Manguel did VERY well was paint the picture of Stevenson's Samoa. I could almost taste the tropical humidity.
The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown
Our good friend Robert Langdon is back and apparently can't keep himself out of trouble. Isn't he getting too old for these shenanigans? Langdon's good friend in Washington asks him to fly out to give a speech at an event he's hosting, but it's a bit rushed - Langdon has to hop on a jet to arrive that evening as the arranged speaker had to back out last minute. Langdon is such a good guy he agrees and hilarity ensues. Oh, that's not right, of course there's no hilarity! There's mystery, codes to solve, murder, and a race around Washington. So, typical stuff for Dan Brown.
If you liked The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons, you'll probably like the Lost Symbol. Although the read went quickly for me, it isn't as easy to immerse yourself in, and I found it a little difficult at first. There are some parts that drag and I've heard some people even call it "bloated" but I don't know if I'd go that far.
The "BIG HUGE SHOCK" at the end is no big huge shock and I actually had it picked out right at the beginning. And the end of the book really is longer than it needs to be.
My big complaint is this: How many times do you need to say "esoteric" in a book, Dan? In one part he used it twice in the same sentence! Get a thesaurus, man.
I did enjoy the Lost Symbol, but not nearly as much as Angels and Demons, by far his best book of tree. I'm glad I own Angels and Demons, and I'm glad I borrowed The Lost Symbol.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Book 5 and 6
My wonderful Samwise reminded me a book I missed in July, so that's one more for the count.
Still Alice - Lisa Genova
Ever wondered what descending into Alzheimer's Disease would be like? It's something I try not to think about, personally. But Lisa Genova paints the most amazing picture of just that. The worrying, the confusion, and the eventual realization that you're losing yourself completely. The challenges it presents to family members. Terrifying, but really wonderfully written.
Though this was a pretty fast read and it's not a long book, don't confuse it for a light read in the least. If nothing else, it helped cement my decision that if I were to be diagnosed with something like Alzheimer's I'd go be lawfully euthanized in the Netherlands.
Lisa Genova self published Still Alice and through social media turned it into a NY Times best seller.
http://www.stillalice.blogspot.com/
The Nanny - Melissa Nathan
So, this is total chick lit. You like a light, cute, girly novel, then you'll probably like it. If you don't, then you wont. Pretty simple.
Jo Green is a nanny in the quiet Niblet-Upon-Avon who comes across a job listing for a cosmopolitan family in London. She's 20-something (a younger 20-something than myself, ugh), pretty and a little tired of her quiet life. She becomes indispensable to her new charges and, who would have thought, the dad has a son from a previous marriage who is handsome and also 20-something. Yeah, the formula holds true in this one. Of course, things go awry and Jo and elder son (Josh) hate-love-hate-love-hate-love until it alllll works out perfectly in the end. How nice.
But here's what important about this book: There are truly some laugh out loud moments, pockets of hilarity that don't always have anything to do with the story line that completely caught me off guard. Those little moments are completely wonderful, a real treat. The other important thing about this book was I managed to not hate the children. Kids in media generally have the same effect on me as they do in life. They're annoying and generally cause more work than necessary (When Lily puts Carrie's cell phone in her little purse in the SATC movie? Ugggh), but not in The Nanny. The kids are cutely written, and their parts in the story (along with the other characters) are written from their point of view. Cassie's social troubles at school with the manipulative Arabella, Zak's new found obsession with his wiener, Tallulah's instant affections for Jo.
In summary? Chick lit with some pleasant surprises, but it's still chick lit. Don't read it if you're expecting anything different.
****
Book count: 6/50
Still Alice - Lisa Genova
Ever wondered what descending into Alzheimer's Disease would be like? It's something I try not to think about, personally. But Lisa Genova paints the most amazing picture of just that. The worrying, the confusion, and the eventual realization that you're losing yourself completely. The challenges it presents to family members. Terrifying, but really wonderfully written.
Though this was a pretty fast read and it's not a long book, don't confuse it for a light read in the least. If nothing else, it helped cement my decision that if I were to be diagnosed with something like Alzheimer's I'd go be lawfully euthanized in the Netherlands.
Lisa Genova self published Still Alice and through social media turned it into a NY Times best seller.
http://www.stillalice.blogspot.com/
The Nanny - Melissa Nathan
So, this is total chick lit. You like a light, cute, girly novel, then you'll probably like it. If you don't, then you wont. Pretty simple.
Jo Green is a nanny in the quiet Niblet-Upon-Avon who comes across a job listing for a cosmopolitan family in London. She's 20-something (a younger 20-something than myself, ugh), pretty and a little tired of her quiet life. She becomes indispensable to her new charges and, who would have thought, the dad has a son from a previous marriage who is handsome and also 20-something. Yeah, the formula holds true in this one. Of course, things go awry and Jo and elder son (Josh) hate-love-hate-love-hate-love until it alllll works out perfectly in the end. How nice.
But here's what important about this book: There are truly some laugh out loud moments, pockets of hilarity that don't always have anything to do with the story line that completely caught me off guard. Those little moments are completely wonderful, a real treat. The other important thing about this book was I managed to not hate the children. Kids in media generally have the same effect on me as they do in life. They're annoying and generally cause more work than necessary (When Lily puts Carrie's cell phone in her little purse in the SATC movie? Ugggh), but not in The Nanny. The kids are cutely written, and their parts in the story (along with the other characters) are written from their point of view. Cassie's social troubles at school with the manipulative Arabella, Zak's new found obsession with his wiener, Tallulah's instant affections for Jo.
In summary? Chick lit with some pleasant surprises, but it's still chick lit. Don't read it if you're expecting anything different.
****
Book count: 6/50
Thursday, August 5, 2010
July 2010 - The books I read (at least, the ones I remember reading)
Practical Demon Keeping - Christopher Moore
Christopher Moore is a fairly new favourite of mine. One of the girls at work turned me on to him with A Dirty Job and I'm always happy when she lends me another one of his. Gotta love a friend with books! Mr. Moore is funny in the wackiest way possible. You have a problem with penis jokes, swearing or the occult? Don't read his books. You like the quirky, the weird, the completely ubsurd? Don't walk, RUN to your nearest book store.
Essentially, the unwitting keeper of an ancient demon ends up in a quiet California tourist town, looking for the only way to get the nasty thing off his back. Hilarity ensues.
Okay, maybe not hilarity. This one did not make me laugh out loud all that much, but it was still amusing and well worth the read.
The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove - Christopher Moore
What a lucky lass I am, getting to read two Moore books in a row. I unfortunately read them in the wrong order, and didn't realize that TLLoMC came after Demon Keeping. Set in the same sleepy coastal town, but about 10 years after the whole demon debacle. Only a couple of characters carry through and not in any major way, so reading them in the wrong order didn't really ruin anything for me.
TLLoMC is pretty hilarious. A prehistoric shape shifting lizard makes sweet love to a gas truck. Need I say more? Probably not. Go read Christopher Moore.
The Washingtonienne - Jessica Cutler
Ok so, if you don't read this book, you wont be missing anything. If you do read it, you wont feel like you wasted many hours of your life. I read The Washintonienne in one afternoon at the cottage. It was a light, fast read, and certainly the perfect thing if you're a chick who a) likes chick lit and b) are in the mood for something nasty. The short of it is, slutty beast runs around Washington boning everyone and blogs about it to keep her friends in the loop. She's found out, and her non-existent career is destroyed. I guess that's what happens when you're a slutbeast (and one on drugs to boot).
Serve with cheap flavoured wine and a lawn chair. And feel better that you left your slutbeast ways behind you like I did in high school.
The Historian - Elizabeth Kostova
Get ready for a long read with this one... over 800 pages in the paper back version that was lent to me. And let me say, I DID enjoy it, even if my little review doesn't seem that way.
This book is long, not just in pages but in terms of readability. The timeline in the book really hops around. Start in the 70's, move to the 50's, then to the 30's and back and forth and up and down and... you get the idea. Half the story is back story, and there's a lot of flowery and overly descriptive prose. Sometimes I had to put the book down just to absorb what I'd read.
You also bop around the world, Europe in particular. This is one area where the book is truly enjoyable, as you are immersed in the country where the characters are. The architecture, the food, the landscape is all wonderfully described, although often it's a little too much. I found myself comfortably skimming many longer paragraphs and I didn't feel like I missed anything in the process.
It took 300 pages for the story to really GO anywhere. It was easy to forget that this was supposed to be a book about vampires.
In short, I'm glad I'm the sort of person who insists on finishing the books they start, as there was much to enjoy in The Historian. But, you really do have to be dedicated to it.
****
Book count: 4/50
Christopher Moore is a fairly new favourite of mine. One of the girls at work turned me on to him with A Dirty Job and I'm always happy when she lends me another one of his. Gotta love a friend with books! Mr. Moore is funny in the wackiest way possible. You have a problem with penis jokes, swearing or the occult? Don't read his books. You like the quirky, the weird, the completely ubsurd? Don't walk, RUN to your nearest book store.
Essentially, the unwitting keeper of an ancient demon ends up in a quiet California tourist town, looking for the only way to get the nasty thing off his back. Hilarity ensues.
Okay, maybe not hilarity. This one did not make me laugh out loud all that much, but it was still amusing and well worth the read.
The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove - Christopher Moore
What a lucky lass I am, getting to read two Moore books in a row. I unfortunately read them in the wrong order, and didn't realize that TLLoMC came after Demon Keeping. Set in the same sleepy coastal town, but about 10 years after the whole demon debacle. Only a couple of characters carry through and not in any major way, so reading them in the wrong order didn't really ruin anything for me.
TLLoMC is pretty hilarious. A prehistoric shape shifting lizard makes sweet love to a gas truck. Need I say more? Probably not. Go read Christopher Moore.
The Washingtonienne - Jessica Cutler
Ok so, if you don't read this book, you wont be missing anything. If you do read it, you wont feel like you wasted many hours of your life. I read The Washintonienne in one afternoon at the cottage. It was a light, fast read, and certainly the perfect thing if you're a chick who a) likes chick lit and b) are in the mood for something nasty. The short of it is, slutty beast runs around Washington boning everyone and blogs about it to keep her friends in the loop. She's found out, and her non-existent career is destroyed. I guess that's what happens when you're a slutbeast (and one on drugs to boot).
Serve with cheap flavoured wine and a lawn chair. And feel better that you left your slutbeast ways behind you like I did in high school.
The Historian - Elizabeth Kostova
Get ready for a long read with this one... over 800 pages in the paper back version that was lent to me. And let me say, I DID enjoy it, even if my little review doesn't seem that way.
This book is long, not just in pages but in terms of readability. The timeline in the book really hops around. Start in the 70's, move to the 50's, then to the 30's and back and forth and up and down and... you get the idea. Half the story is back story, and there's a lot of flowery and overly descriptive prose. Sometimes I had to put the book down just to absorb what I'd read.
You also bop around the world, Europe in particular. This is one area where the book is truly enjoyable, as you are immersed in the country where the characters are. The architecture, the food, the landscape is all wonderfully described, although often it's a little too much. I found myself comfortably skimming many longer paragraphs and I didn't feel like I missed anything in the process.
It took 300 pages for the story to really GO anywhere. It was easy to forget that this was supposed to be a book about vampires.
In short, I'm glad I'm the sort of person who insists on finishing the books they start, as there was much to enjoy in The Historian. But, you really do have to be dedicated to it.
****
Book count: 4/50
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
50 books in a year... the beginning.
I only recently came across this challenge and all I could think was.. PERFECT. I love to read and devour books pretty quickly. This is a challenge I can do!
Now, I'm probably going about his sort of... "wrong". I'm starting mid year, for one thing! And, even though this first post is in August I'm going to consider the start date as July 1, 2010. Seems like a good number and I sort of remember a few books that I read in July, so I'll include them. Honestly, I'm probably putting myself at a bit of a disadvantage, since I've forgotten a couple I read, I'm sure.
I'm going to put down a couple of rules for myself, also. All the books that I will include here will NOT be re-reads, at least not in the last 10 years. This gives me license to re-read A Midsummer Night's Dream by our good friend Willy S, as I haven't read it since 9th grade. The only exception to this will be the Harry Potter series, since I simply must re-read them before HP & The Deathly Hallows comes to theatre this fall. That's just how I am. I've re-read every Harry Potter book for the release of every book and movie. Yeah, I'm obsessive, DEAL WITH IT.
So, enjoy my babblings, uninteresting as they'll be, and I'll do my best to keep up with this whole blogging thing.
Now, I'm probably going about his sort of... "wrong". I'm starting mid year, for one thing! And, even though this first post is in August I'm going to consider the start date as July 1, 2010. Seems like a good number and I sort of remember a few books that I read in July, so I'll include them. Honestly, I'm probably putting myself at a bit of a disadvantage, since I've forgotten a couple I read, I'm sure.
I'm going to put down a couple of rules for myself, also. All the books that I will include here will NOT be re-reads, at least not in the last 10 years. This gives me license to re-read A Midsummer Night's Dream by our good friend Willy S, as I haven't read it since 9th grade. The only exception to this will be the Harry Potter series, since I simply must re-read them before HP & The Deathly Hallows comes to theatre this fall. That's just how I am. I've re-read every Harry Potter book for the release of every book and movie. Yeah, I'm obsessive, DEAL WITH IT.
So, enjoy my babblings, uninteresting as they'll be, and I'll do my best to keep up with this whole blogging thing.
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