Turn the Page... Tuesday

Hello November!    (and hello 11/1/11!)
It's the first Tuesday of the month... that means book review time with Adrienne and Turn the Page... Tuesday! 

You might be interested in knowing... I have an alarm set on my phone to remind me about TTP...T every month on the first Tuesday.  I was prompted to post at 7:45 this morning... I even went to read Adrienne's post, then get started on mine... then... oops... I got distracted (probably by something shiny) and didn't RE-remember to post till just now (7:43pm).

BUT, it's still Tuesday, so I guess I'm not late!

I'm in the middle of two books, again, this month. Two VERY different books, I might add.

hmmm, which to comment on first...

I know!  I'll talk about Born to Run by Christopher McDougall first.

www.chrismcdougall.co

This summer, I have had no fewer than three people suggest I read this book... including Arienne!  (a marathoner friend was another, and my Triathlon club, too)

I'm about 1/3 of the way through and so far, it seems to be more of a "hunt" than a book about running, tho I see where it's going because we have just met one of the amazing members of the "Hidden Tribe" and I suspect this is where the story is about to take off.

I've been running now for almost 2-years... I still don't consider myself a runner, but I do enjoy the calorie burn and the amazing physical change my body has gone through since starting it.  I'm hoping Born to Run has a few secrets to share about additional ways I can be a better runner... even if it's all in my head.  :)

I'm looking forward to finding out what happens in the rest of the book.  Stay tuned!



Also, I'm reading Catch-22 by Joseph Heller.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch-22

I thought I had a copy of this on my book shelf, but after a couple days of searching (not 48-hours of searching... I would check the shelf, not find it, leave, go back, check again), I came to the conclusion that we didn't own it.  I wasn't sure I wanted to own it, so I did something I haven't done in a LONG time... I went to the public library!

Side note... WOW, the library has changed a lot since I was there last.  I used self check-out... where you just place the books on a little "scale" and *POOF* the computer lists the books you are taking home and posts them to your account.  NEAT-O!

So, after I got over the euphoria of borrowing books the new-fangled way, I started Catch-22.  Set during WWII, the main theme of the book is the ass-backwards reasoning and bureaucracy of government and war.  For example, you can't fly bombing missions if you're crazy, and only crazy people would WANT to fly missions.  But if you ask not to fly you're obviously NOT crazy, so you have to fly them... and things like that.

I'm not loving it.  I understand the power of the story (the insanity of war) and why it made such an impact on the literary world... but I'm not devouring it like I have other books.

Side note #2... 2011 is the 50th anniversary of Catch-22, so that's kinda cool.

Anyway, I'm reading Catch-22 for our Book Club meeting next month.  I'm wondering if the discussion will change my feelings about the story, or if it will just reinforce my current opinion.

I may rent the movie before our meeting later this month... I read that Alan Arkin does a great job as Yossarian (tho he didn't really think so), and that it's quite a good adaptation of the book.

HOWEVER... I'm not finished with the book, so who knows, maybe things will change before I'm done.  I'll have to let you know next month.

Till then, happy reading!

Turn the Page... Tuesday

My entry for this month's Turn the Page... Tuesday (brought to us by our good friend, Adrienne over at Some of a Kind - Thank you, Adrienne!) should be pretty short and sweet.  Not because I haven't been reading, but because you already know the two books I read in September - I mentioned them in last month's post.

First, I finished The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet (pronounced deh-zoot).  From the Author's website, a summary of 'Jacob' is as follows:

http://fujiland-magazine.blogspot.com

The year is 1799, the place Dejima in Nagasaki Harbor, the “high-walled, fan-shaped artificial island” that is the Japanese Empire’s single port and sole window onto the world, designed to keep the West at bay; the farthest outpost of the war-ravaged Dutch East Indies Company; and a de facto prison for the dozen foreigners permitted to live and work there. To this place of devious merchants, deceitful interpreters, costly courtesans, earthquakes, and typhoons comes Jacob de Zoet, a devout and resourceful young clerk who has five years in the East to earn a fortune of sufficient size to win the hand of his wealthy fiancée back in Holland.
But Jacob’s original intentions are eclipsed after a chance encounter with Orito Aibagawa, the disfigured daughter of a samurai doctor and midwife to the city’s powerful magistrate. The borders between propriety, profit, and pleasure blur until Jacob finds his vision clouded, one rash promise made and then fatefully broken. The consequences will extend beyond Jacob’s worst imaginings. As one cynical colleague asks, “Who ain’t a gambler in the glorious Orient, with his very life?”

I found the story to be quite interesting.  Life at the end of the 1700's was full of so much struggle and change; placing the story in this location showed, yet another perspective of this.  As always with historical fiction, I am fascinated and disheartened by all the politics of the world.  So many games people played.

The characters were extremely vivid.  There were the obvious "bad guys", but each one (good and bad) were quite realistic.  Mitchell did an excellent job with the language, as well... For example, the dock workers spoke in their "lower" language", there was the interplay of language between the interpreters, and (of course), the political language between the parties.

I must admit, early on in the book I was a little overwhelmed by the details of the story.  Mitchell obviously took painstaking effort to describe the trading world between Japan & the Dutch... my book club felt the same way.  The strange thing is, at the end of the story, there's a lot of "glossing" over the details - like he lost steam and just wanted to finish the book.  (I honestly didn't mind that, but it seemed quite a contradiction from the beginning).

Speaking of book club - one thing that came up in the discussion that I didn't catch while reading was the use of poetry, namely Haiku.  I have never been up on poetry... I'm just not geared that way, I guess... but I can respect it.  When Jackie & Jen mentioned the Haiku's scattered throughout the book I was blown away.  THIS is why I love book club, I learn things from others that I would have never gotten from the book alone.

The group gave the book an average rating of 3.5 (out of 5, 5 being best).  I would say if you're interested in historical fiction about life in a very politically controlled area of the world in the late 1700's/early 1800's, this book is something you'd like to read.

wikipedia.org

Second, I completed Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley.
This book has been on my shelf since I got married and it was on my hubby's shelf since high school.  I have always wanted to read it.
I got my chance this month because I am leading the discussion for Book Club on October 19th!  YEP, the group chose it as a selection!

I flew through this story.  It's a short book, only 209 pages, and it moves pretty fast.  If you've only known about Frankenstein from the movies or TV, then you DON'T know the story. at. all.

I knew a bit of what the story was about (btw, Frankenstein is the scientist, not the monster); I knew it was a sad story, that the monster wasn't really a "monster", but that was about it.

That said, there is still SO much to talk about... and my post is already REALLY long. 
Let me try to sum up the millions of thoughts in my head about this book (and it's author).

wikipedia.org

- Mary Shelley had a roller-coaster of a life up until the writing of Frankenstein (at age 19) - she grew up without her mother (her father was not very involved with her either), she eloped with a married man (Percy Shelley) at age 16, her first child died, her 1/2 sister committed suicide, and Percy's wife drowned.
- The story of Frankenstein is marketed as a Horror story... but I see it as a tragedy.
- The question of "Just because you CAN do something, does it mean that you SHOULD?" comes to mind.  This, knowing that scientific research has lead to remarkable discoveries... Mary seems to be posing the question of "Are there discoveries that shouldn't be made?"
- The creature... could he have lived a good life if Frankenstein had reacted differently to him as a being?
- I can't help but be drawn to the thought of bullying - such a prominent topic these days - I'm not exactly sure why.  I think it's because I sympathize so greatly with The Creature.  His words throughout the story are gentle and compassionate.  He is intelligent and simply yearns for companionship and love.  He becomes "a monster" because he is shunned by his creator and the world of humans, banished to live in the snowy mountain caves... alone.  Maybe it's the isolation and misery he feels that strikes the bullying chord in me.

I highly, highly recommend Frankenstein.  It's a heart-wrenching story, but one that makes you think.  It's wonderfully written by a unique woman who got the idea after spending many days hanging out with Percy Shelley & Lord Byron... being taunted into writing a "ghost story".


So much for short and sweet this month... sheesh.
Hope you read some good stuff recently, if you haven't go get Frankenstein... NOW!  ;)

Turn the Page... Tuesday

It feels like Fall today.  It's crispy cool, there's a chance of rain, and I'm all snuggled up on my pillow seat talking about books.  So nice.
It's also Tuesday, September 6th - the first day back to school for many of the kids I know. AND... it's Turn the Page... Tuesday (brought to you by our good blogger-friend, Adrienne).  Check out Some of a Kind to learn more, or to join in each month to talk about the book(s) you're reading.

So what did I read in August?
As usual, my eclectic tastes took me all over the world (and the time-space continuum).

I finished Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson.  It was the final book in his Sprawl trilogy based in the future where people jack into computers to live (and trade and steal) in an alternate reality.  As I've mentioned in previous posts, it's The Matrix meets Blade Runner... and so much more.  I quite enjoyed the final chapter in this series, happy endings for most of the characters and a nice wrap up of the plot lines.  I'll admit, Gibson's writing style is not the easiest to follow all the time (it feels like you've walked in on conversations sometimes - missing the important explanations so you have to "catch up" while reading), but this challenge adds to the intensity of the stories.
If you're into sci-fi dystopic worlds, read this trilogy... it won't let you down.

I was let down, however, by the second book I read... Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors.

www.pbs.org

From the Author's website -

Set at the height of the Mughal Empire, Beneath a Marble Sky recreates the remarkable lives of those responsible for the Taj Mahal's existence. From the famous lovers who inspired it, Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, to the architect who designed it to the man who sought to destroy it, Beneath a Marble Sky recounts the stories of those who oversaw the rise of the world’s most famous building. 

Maybe I shouldn't say 'let down' - more like 'not wowed'.   

This book had been on my shelf for at least two years.  I don't remember if it was a hand-me-down from a friend or if I picked it up in a book sale... but from the blurb on the back cover it seemed to have an interesting story to it.  I had hoped this could be a book I recommended to my Book Club.  It sounded like it had everything we all love to talk about - historical fiction, character interactions (the political side of romance, for example), and a setting unlike the one we live in.

It just didn't seem to grab me... it felt predictable and unoriginal.  I didn't LOVE any of the characters or root for them to succeed.  I wished I had been given that feeling, but it just didn't happen.

After Marble Sky I had to make a choice... read one more book that I could use as a Book Club recommendation or move on to The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell (our September Book Club selection).  I tried to do both.

I started Jacob de Zoet.  I'm a few chapters along in it.

I also started Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.  

We all "know" the story... but do we really know it?  I've never read the book, but I hear it contains a lot more than the story of the crazy doctor who creates a monster.  It's about the struggle of life and acceptance, the quest for immortality and the conflicts in science.  I'm also curious to read it because the author is a women.  Writings like this, by women, were very rare in the early 1800s.  I want to know (and want to talk about) Mary and why she created a story like this.  I hope it's selected by the Club, but if not, I'm certainly going to read the story on my own.

That's all for this month, thanks for stopping by.  I think I'll go make some tea, snuggle up with the dog & a blanket and read for a while.  Hope you have a chance to do the same. 

Turn the Page... Tuesday

I know I said this last month... but WOW, time is flying!
I was checking out my blog-roll this morning when I saw Adrienne's TTP...T post and couldn't believe it was the first Tuesday of the month already.

I don't have much to report this month (far less than June's TTP...T).  My reading has stalled a bit.  Triathlon training is continuing into July since I was roped into a second event on August 27th.  Not sure if that is the reason for my single read or if it's just summer stuff taking over all my free time or the fact that I'm so exhausted by the end of the day that I can't read... who knows.

http://project.cyberpunk.ru

Regardless, I'm finishing up William Gibson's Cyberpunk "Sprawl" Trilogy, Count Zero is done and I'm working on Mona Lisa Overdrive.  (This is one of the books on my "on the shelf waiting for me for TOO LONG" reads.)

MLO takes place 8-years after Count Zero's adventures.  I'm barely into the story and have met a new cast of characters... and I'm pretty sure one from Neuromancer, tho she has a new name.

This is another high-tech mystery of sorts... I'm waiting for all the "matrix" story lines to be fully explained as well as the finger (finally) pointed at the bad guys.  Tho, like in real-life maybe all the good guys aren't all good and the bad guys aren't all bad.  We'll see.

If you'd like to know more about the story line, you'll have to visit Amazon (or some other book site).  I don't have enough of it to really share at this point.


In other news... I lead the discussion for The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton at my Book Club at the end of July.  The book received a 3.7 average rating (5 being the best) from the group.  I was pretty pleased by this rating since I was the one who suggested we read it.  I recently gave my copy to my good friend, Elizabeth, who told me she's loving the first 150-pages.  I can't wait to talk with her about it!


The next Book Club book is The 1000 Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell.  I'll be diving into this one soon for our September meeting.

Hope you're having a great summer - see you next month!  To see what others are reading (or to participate), visit Some of a Kind.  Thanks, as always, to Adrienne for the idea!

Turn the Page... Tuesday

Oh my gosh... it's the first Tuesday in July!
It's Turn the Page... Tuesday with Adrienne!

It was a mish-mosh month of reading... two books that probably couldn't be more different.  The first was a recommendation from a Book Club buddy, the other from my hubby - a sci-fi guy.   Tho very different, the social commentary from both authors was quite thought provoking.

So here's what I read in June...

www.tchevalier.com

Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier

I didn't know this was "historical fiction" when I started reading.  How pleasantly surprised I was when I found out.  I found the story interesting, albeit a bit depressing at times. How hard it must have been for these scientific women who lived in a time when social class and gender were such limiting factors.  Tho I don't know how much of the "relationship" side of the story keeps to reality, I get a sense that it's probably pretty close.  I can imagine the challenges the "old spinster" and "young working class girl" face when dealing with their need for love and affection, again, in a world that makes it so difficult to find (or act upon) love.

Here is a summary from Tracy Chevalier's website:
In 1810, a sister and brother uncover the fossilized skull of an unknown animal in the cliffs on the south coast of England. With its long snout and prominent teeth, it might be a crocodile – except that it has a huge, bulbous eye.
Remarkable Creatures is the story of Mary Anning, who has a talent for finding fossils, and whose discovery of ancient marine reptiles such as that ichthyosaur shakes the scientific community and leads to new ways of thinking about the creation of the world.
Working in an arena dominated by middle-class men, however, Mary finds herself out of step with her working-class background. In danger of being an outcast in her community, she takes solace in an unlikely friendship with Elizabeth Philpot, a prickly London spinster with her own passion for fossils.
The strong bond between Mary and Elizabeth sees them through struggles with poverty, rivalry and ostracism, as well as the physical dangers of their chosen obsession. It reminds us that friendship can outlast storms and landslides, anger and and jealousy.


From 1810, jump to "the future" with...

Neuromancer by William Gibson
I believe this is the first "Cyberpunk" novel I've ever read.  Written in 1984, the year of the story is uncertain.  There's been a big war (WW III?) and technology is everywhere and in everything.  People are "jacked in" to the Matrix and have the ability to buy tech-implants and enhancements to their bodies and minds.  Computers are an essential part of daily living - and in this story, there are two AIs (Artificial Intelligences) that need an intervention.

Imagine movies like The Terminator, Blade Runner, The Matrix, and Escape from New York (if you're not into the Cyberpunk genre), this will give you a feel for what Gibson's world of Neuromancer & The Sprawl is like.  Interesting possibilities for the future, if you ask me.

Here's a bit from Gibson's website:

http://www.neuromancer.org/

Case was the hottest computer cowboy cruising the information superhighway--jacking his consciousness into cyberspace, soaring through tactile lattices of data and logic, rustling encoded secrets for anyone with the money to buy his skills. Then he double-crossed the wrong people, who caught up with him in a big way--and burned the talent out of his brain, micron by micron. Banished from cyberspace, trapped in the meat of his physical body, Case courted death in the high-tech underworld. Until a shadowy conspiracy offered him a second chance--and a cure--for a price.... 

BTW - Gibson, from what I understand, is credited with coining the word "cyberspace" - which shows how influential his stories have been in the technology world.

I'm in the middle of "Count Zero," the second novel of Gibson's Cyberpunk trilogy right now.  It's loosely connected to Neuromancer.  We'll see if there's more as I get further along in the story.

That's it for this month.  See you in August.  Happy reading!

Turn the Page... Tuesday

Hello Book Lovers!
I'm sorry I've been away these last few months.
But now, I'm back and have caught up on a lot of reading, so here are my reviews.

For those of you who don't know about Turn the Page... Tuesday, visit Adrienne's blog at Some of a Kind to learn more... then play along!

I've completed FOUR books since I last blogged about them back in February.

www.stieglarsson.com

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
This is the 2nd in "The Millennium" Series - where we learn more about Lisbeth Salander's dysfunctional family and upbringing.  The story was far less interesting than the first book (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) in that the story dragged, you didn't really care about the characters, and you kept waiting for something to happen.  That something did finally happen (in the last 50 pages of the book), but it was a long time coming.  If I hadn't felt compelled to finish it before I watched the movie by the same name, I could have easily just put it back on the shelf without a need to go back.
I have The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest waiting for me, but I don't know if I'll make time to read that for a while, if ever.

rebeccaskloot.com

 The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
I have mixed feelings about this book.  My Book Cub read it for our May meeting and it seems many of my fellow members were conflicted about it as well.
The story starts in the 1940s/50s when Henrietta "donated" her cancer cells to science (without her consent or knowledge).  Ms. Skloot's investigation tracks the HeLa (Henrietta Lacks) cells and Henrietta's very poor, uneducated, and highly dysfunctional family for 50-years.
We learn of the numerous scientific breakthroughs attributable to the HeLa cells (vaccines, AIDS research, etc), but then have to weigh that against the ethical issue of taking Henrietta's cells without her consent.  Then, there's the question of money - how many scientists achieved money and prestige from these ill-gotten cells?  Should it matter, since the studies are helping so many around the world?
It's funny - for me, my struggle was not the bio-ethical issue raised by some, it was more of the story itself.  This should not have been a full-length book.  Instead, it could have easily been made into a journal article or paper.  Explain the science and mention the family - not create a long, drawn out drama.  I gave the book a 3.0.

www.charlaineharris.com

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris
Sookie is BACK!
I finally bought last-year's Book 10 in the Southern Vampire Series.  What fun it was to get back to Sookie and her strange world.  "Big thinker" book this was not... but a nice, light, almost-summer read.  Plus... I was quite pleased that poor Sookie didn't get too bumped around this time.  In fact, she seemed to be a rather strong character in this episode.
Ha!  I just noticed that the title is really quite appropriate this time... lots of family stuff in Dead in the Family.

www.katemorton.com

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
Ohhhhh, what a wonderful story!  You MUST read it!
Kate Morton puts the essence of The Forgotten Garden perfectly on her website -

... a lost child.

... a terrible secret.

... a mysterious inheritance.

This book follows the lives of three generations - all with their strengths and quirks... and more dysfunction.  But you fall in love with each of them (even the "bad" ones) and can't wait to turn the page to find out more.  In addition to the main story, the author includes "fairy tales" written by Eliza, the main character, that illuminate the feelings (or the truth) behind the story.
I have recommended this book as my Book Club's Summer Read - I'm excited to lead the discussion and hear what the ladies have to say about it.


I can't wait to see what others have read this month - I'm working on Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier now - which I KNOW one of the TTP...T participants read recently.  I'm a little less than half-way through, so I expect I'll be talking about it next month.

Thanks for visiting!  See you in July!

Turn the Page... Tuesday

It's February folks!
Tuesday, the 1st!
So, as you all know from Adrienne's blog at Some of a Kind, it's Turn the Page... Tuesday!

Not much to report today... I haven't finished any books and I've barely started the one I'm on.  BUT, I have met the two main characters and I'm looking forward to reading more.  My only real problem is (awake) time.

I'm almost done crocheting a gift for my mom-in-law (more on that once it's finished and delivered), so any waking moment not spent at work is taken up by my H-hook and yarn.  As soon as that's done, I'm back to the book.

What book, you ask?
Well, I'm following Adrienne's guidelines and picking up a book on my shelf.  It hasn't been there long.. maybe 4-6 months... but it's calling me.  It and it's two mates.

I started Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy in late-January and met The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  I'm getting to know Lisbeth and Blomkvist now... she's barely a character at the moment, just a caricature, but from all the hoop-la, I'm sure there will be much more to learn about her.

I'm doing my best to resist watching the movie before I finish the book.  That shouldn't be too difficult since my Netflix queue is pretty full.  But, BOY, am I excited to know what's so hot about these books.


Guess I'll have to keep reading to find out!

The BBC 100 List

Have YOU read these books?

A couple of months ago, I was tagged on FaceBook to participate in this "experiment".  Earlier this week, my blog-buddy Ticklebear posted the list to his site and challenged others to post as well. 

Below is the list of books from the BBC's "Big Read" - a Top 100 of sorts.  From what I hear, the BBC believes most people will have read only 6 of the 100 books listed below.  I'm not sure where this info comes from, but I can attest to the abominably LOW number of books I have heard friends/colleagues say they've read (or not read).  I also found it fun to see how many I could check-off the list.

Here how it goes:
If a title is BOLD, it means I read the book in its entirety.
If a title is ITALICS, it means i started reading, but didn't finish.
If a title is UNDERLINED, it means I saw a movie or other adaptation of the book.
If a title has a plus (+) next to it, I plan to read it soon (in the next year or so).

Here are my results...
1  Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
2  The Lord of the Rings – JRR Tolkien
3  Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte +
4  Harry Potter series – JK Rowling
5  To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee 
6  The Bible
7  Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
8  Nineteen Eighty Four – George Orwell  +
9  His Dark Materials – Philip Pullman
10  Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
11  Little Women – Louisa M Alcott
12  Tess of the D’Urbervilles – Thomas Hardy
13  Catch 22 – Joseph Heller +
14  Complete Works of Shakespeare 
15  Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier
16  The Hobbit – JRR Tolkien
17  Birdsong – Sebastian Faulks
18  Catcher in the Rye – JD Salinger 
19  The Time Traveller’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
20  Middlemarch – George Eliot
21  Gone With The Wind – Margaret Mitchell
22  The Great Gatsby – F Scott Fitzgerald
23  Bleak House – Charles Dickens
24  War and Peace – Leo Tolstoy
25  The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams
26  Brideshead Revisited – Evelyn Waugh
27  Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28  Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck +
29  Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll
30  The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Graham
31  Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy
32  David Copperfield – Charles Dickens
33  Chronicles of Narnia – CS Lewis
34  Emma – Jane Austen 
35  Persuasion – Jane Austen
36  The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – CS Lewis
37  The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
38  Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – Louis De Berniere
39  Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden
40  Winnie the Pooh – AA Milne
41  Animal Farm – George Orwell 
42  The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown 
43  One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44  A Prayer for Owen Meaney – John Irving
45  The Woman in White – Wilkie Collins
46  Anne of Green Gables – LM Montgomery
47  Far From The Madding Crowd – Thomas Hardy
48  The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood +
49  Lord of the Flies – William Golding
50  Atonement – Ian McEwan
51  Life of Pi – Yann Martel 
52  Dune – Frank Herbert 
53  Cold Comfort Farm – Stella Gibbons
54  Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen
55  A Suitable Boy – Vikram Seth
56  The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafon 
57  A Tale Of Two Cities – Charles Dickens
58  Brave New World – Aldous Huxley
59  The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – Mark Haddon
60  Love In The Time Of Cholera – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61  Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck
62  Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov
63  The Secret History – Donna Tartt
64  The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold
65  Count of Monte Cristo – Alexandre Dumas
66  On The Road – Jack Kerouac
67  Jude the Obscure – Thomas Hardy
68  Bridget Jones’s Diary – Helen Fielding
69  Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie
70  Moby Dick – Herman Melville +
71  Oliver Twist – Charles Dickens
72  Dracula – Bram Stoker
73  The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett
74  Notes From A Small Island – Bill Bryson
75  Ulysses – James Joyce
76  The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath
77  Swallows and Amazons – Arthur Ransome
78  Germinal – Emile Zola
79  Vanity Fair – William Makepeace Thackeray
80  Possession – AS Byatt
81  A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
82  Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell
83  The Color Purple – Alice Walker
84  The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro
85  Madame Bovary – Gustave Flaubert
86  A Fine Balance – Rohinton Mistry
87  Charlotte’s Web – EB White
88  The Five People You Meet In Heaven – Mitch Albom
89  Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle +
90  The Faraway Tree Collection – Enid Blyton
91  Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad
92  The Little Prince – Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93  The Wasp Factory – Iain Banks
94  Watership Down – Richard Adams
95  A Confederacy of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole
96  A Town Like Alice – Nevil Shute
97  The Three Musketeers – Alexandre Dumas
98  Hamlet – William Shakespeare
99  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl 
100  Les Miserables – Victor Hugo

My totals come to:
Read & Completed:  31
Read & didn't finish: 6
Movie/Adaptations: 21
To-Read List: 6

Not bad!  I've read 5-times as many books as the BBC had expected.  HA!  Take that literary drain on society!  Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to read my book.  :)

Turn the Page... Tuesday

It's amazing how much reading you can get done when you're not working and when the weather is chilly enough that once you're done walking the dogs, you all just want to snuggle up and read.

It's the first Tuesday of the year!  The first Tuesday of January!  So it's the first Turn the Page... Tuesday for 2011.  Don't know what TTP...T is?  Visit Adrienne at Some of a Kind for more info, then join us!

So, on with the reviews...

The first book I read was Jamie Ford's Hotel at the Corner of Bitter & Sweet (photo from Jamie's website).  I hadn't heard of this story till it was suggested for our January Book Club meeting.  I was leery at first, because it was another story about WWII and I was anticipating more of the same.  But, boy, was I pleasantly surprised.

The book could not be more perfectly named - every character, location, and interaction was both "bitter and sweet".  From the family relations (3-generations worth), to the love story, to the social and political story lines, it all made me smile and sigh. 

Before 'Hotel...', I'd never delved into the Chinese-Japanese-American relationships in the United States in the early 40s.  I knew OF the Japanese camps, but not the details; I was aware of the conflicts between the Japanese and Chinese throughout history, but Jamie masterfully took this history and painted on personal faces of this strife & suffering... and triumph (?) in the end of love and tolerance.

When I rate this book at the meeting, I plan to give it a 4 out of 5.  I highly recommend it, it's a good read.

Today, I'm almost finished with Book 3 of the Mortal Instruments trilogy, by Cassandra Clare (photos from her website).  Aimed at young adults, this set is fun, quick, and action-packed.  It revolves around a girl named Clary & her interaction with a race of people called the Shadowhunters, magical "superhumans", protectors of "mundanes" (regular humans) and killers of all things nasty - demons, mainly, but will take out the occasional vampires, werewolf or other beastie, if necessary.

In Book 1, City of Bones, Clary learns of her "Sight" when she meets the local family of Shadowhunters (one of whom is drop-dead gorgeous, but quite arrogant - Edward Cullin, anyone?).  Poor Clary's world changes SO dramatically in just a few short days after seeing her 1st Shadowhunter - her mom is kidnapped, she's attacked by demons, she has to negotiate with vampire and so much more.  Like I said - action packed - and a fun twist on the "alternative reality" genre.  I jumped right into Book 2.

Book 2 is filled with destruction and mayhem... for everyone.  Everything that everyone has thought was true has been shattered and they're seeking the truth.  Valentine is back and he's systematically draining the blood from each of the races (warlock, vampire, fae, and werewolf) to complete his evil plan.  He must be stopped!
Throw in a little teen love and forbidden love and you got yourself another lightning read.

Finally, here I am in the middle of Book 3.  Clary is trying to save her mom who is in a coma.  There's a new man in her life - who I suspect is evil.  And now the city is burning.  There are only a couple hundred pages left... I'm excited to see how this will all wrap up in the end.
I hope the good guys will win, but will there be a twist?  Will Clary end up with Jace?  Will Simon save the day?

This has been a fun couple weeks - breezing through an easy read in a world so different from mine.  Its been a nice visit, but I'll be happy to come back to reality soon.  I think.

What I should read next?  I got Larrson's Millennium Trilogy and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay for Christmas, so maybe I'll pick up one of them.  I'm also learning to crochet, so maybe I'll take a reading break and work on my Double Crochet stitch.  NAH, I can do both!

Happy New Year!  Happy Reading!

Turn the Page... Tuesday

Okay, I know.  It's Friday.  I had every intention of getting this post done on Tuesday, but I just couldn't swing it.

Let's just say, it's been quite a roller-coaster of a month so far.  Maybe I'll blog about it later... but not today.

Today is for books... yet another piece of my life I've neglected recently.  I'm back to reading for enjoyment instead of reading for obligation, so I hope I'll have some good stuff to share next month.

For this month's TTP...T, however, I simply get to say that I (finally) finished River Horse: Across America by Boat by William Least Heat-Moon.

As the title suggests, this is the journal of a man (and his crew) who cross the United States via the American waterways.  They stopped at various towns along the way and comment on noteworthy or historical places & events (Lewis & Clark's expedition is referenced often.)

The story was interesting, and enjoyable, but not very exciting.  Now, if I was on this trip, I would have hoped it would be rather uneventful.  No run-ins with wild animals or bad weather, no overturned boats or seasickness.  But, as a reader, it was a bit of a chore to get thru the voyage.

We read this for Book Club; our meeting was last week.  Out of 30 people, 1/2 did not complete the story due to the "bore factor."  The other half seemed to agree that it was a story of a man's indulgent trip, not very thrilling to the reader, but interesting nonetheless.  Average rating was 3 out of 5.  This was my rating as well.

So, if you're looking for the meandering read of a unique travel book, you might like River Horse.  If you're looking for action-packed suspense... this is definitely NOT the read for you.

Again, sorry for my delay in posting.  Thanks to Adrienne at Some of a Kind for leading this virtual book club every month.  Join in next time!

Turn the Page... Tuesday, September 2010

Did I say I'd have more time to read in August?  Yes... because I thought I'd have finished the baby blanket by then.  Well, I was wrong.  I just finished the blanket this weekend.  So, now the fall reading can begin - that is, unless I find myself a new project to distract me.

I'm only a little further into River Horse (by William Least-Heat Moon) from where I was last month.  I started to getting into the meat of "the journey across America by boat"... but then I  got distracted.

I'm also working on reading Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin to read for the October meeting of Book Club.  I'm 1/3 into this one, as well - Greg has recovered from his climbing mishap and is now on a mission to help poor, rural children of Pakistan get an education.  So far, so good.

Photo from ThreeCupsofTea.com

BUT, ya know what?
I have a confession to make.

I feel like I'm chasing book club selections and not sitting down to read one book at a time.  I'm rushing through the books to try to "keep up" with the club.  When I rush, I can't enjoy myself or the story.


SO... here's my plan.
I'm going to finish Three Cups of Tea before I move any further with River Horse (or any other book). 
I'm also going to stop reading any book that I don't find interesting or compelling.
I'm not going to force myself to read a book just because my Book Club is reading it.

I'm a slow reader.  I want to enjoy what I read and not feel like it's an "assignment".

I hope I will have meaningful contributions to 'TTP... T' in future months.  Sadly, today, I don't have much to give.  I need to wait till I'm done to comment on these stories.

Hope you enjoyed your reading this summer.  Please visit Some of a Kind to see what others are reading... then play along!

Turn the Page... Tuesday

Is it really the 1st Tuesday of the month already!?!  WOW.  August flew by!

Well, if it IS the first Tuesday, it can only mean it's "Turn the Page... Tuesday" time.  Many thanks to Adrienne at Some of a Kind for starting this fun virtual book club of sorts.  Check out her page today and then join in next month!

So on with the books....
If you ready my entry from last month, you know I was working on completing David Copperfield.  I'm happy to say I did it!  All 900+ pages.  Whew.  This was a lonnnnnnnng one.  Completely satisfying, however.  (I would have been very upset if I read all that without a satisfactory ending.)  I found out, too, that D.C. was originally published in 30-page "episodes".  That would have been a PERFECT way to read it.  Just enough to keep you interested without making into the ONLY thing you do in your spare time.

Also for Book Club, I read Shanghai Girls by Lisa See.  This was an incredibly quick ready (maybe it just felt that way after all the "olde English" in David Copperfield) and quite enjoyable.  It was a book of struggle during the 1930s-40s for two sisters from Shanghai who end up in Los Angeles after being married (in arranged marriages).  I thought of my own sister many times when reading about Pearl & May's relationship (and perspectives of each other, especially in the eyes of their parents).  I guess sisters will have similar feelings - no matter where or when they grow up.

This weekend I started a new book, River Horse by William Least Heat-Moon (Penguin Pub).  This is yet another Book Club selection.  The story is true - Heat-Moon journeys across America in a small boat, taking waterways throughout.  So far, I have only met the boat (the Nikawa) and his co-pilot (Pilotus), but I'm looking forward to their adventures.  It seems amazing that this is possible - I can't wait to find out more.

I'm almost done with my friend's baby blanket, so hopefully next month I'll have more books to talk about.  Sadly, I haven't figured out how to knit and read at the same time.  Oh well - multitasking is SO overrated.  :)

HAPPY READING!

Turn the Page... Tuesday!

I finished one book during the month of July.  I started a knitting project this month, too (see my earlier post).. for a baby shower this weekend.   YIKES!  It's not done!

This month's book (and last one of its kind for a while) is Book 9 of the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris, Dead and Gone.  I ripped though it, completing it in less than a week (on July 11th).  It wasn't however, because of the "gripping" content.  It was mainly because it was so darn hot, I couldn't force myself to do anything.  Seriously... vacuuming went undone, didn't walk the dogs (not that they wanted to), lawn growing without mowing.  It never gets into the 90s around here.  It didn't quite reach it this past week, but with temps in the high-80s and 90% humidity, it sure felt like it.  Reading was my only option.
So anyway... about 'Dead and Gone'.  It was okay... the books have definitely gone downhill since books 6/7.  The story has just fizzled.  No mystery, no fun love story, a few new characters/creatures but even they are lackluster. 
Book 10 just came out... it's only available in hardcover.  I'm going to wait till the paperback comes out to get it.  I'm just not that interested.
Not to give up on Charlaine, however, I got the first in another series... the Harper Connelly Mysteries... with Book 1, Grave Sight.  Haven't started this one yet. Maybe I will this month, maybe Ms. Harris will have to wait a bit.

I've also made progress on David Copperfield.  I'm about half-way through now.  My Book Club is meeting on the 18th of August so discuss it.  Not sure I'll make it all the way, but I'm giving my all and really enjoying it.  David is in a better place than he was earlier in his life (it was miserable), and some old characters are doing new things.  Fascinating!

The others mentioned last month are still "in the works" but definitely on the back burner.  I'll get to them when I can.  But for now, I need to get my hands back on my needles... I have a LOT of knitting to do before Saturday.

Thanks for visiting.  To learn more about Turn the Page... Tuesday, visit Some of a Kind.  Then play along!

Turn the Page... Tuesday!

I have a lot to report on this month!  I had quite a bit of reading time since I was not able to train for almost 2-weeks.  That, and car maintenance visits, dentist appointments, etc - places to sneak some reading in.

As always, many thanks to Adrienne over at Some of a Kind for the great idea of Turn the Page... Tuesday.  For more info, or to participate, visit her site. (Go there... you'll like it!)

So... what did I read this month?

First... my Book Club Book for July - The Help by Kathryn Stockett
What a wonderful and frustrating book.  I adored the characters (well, most of them.. Hilly), but am saddened by what I expect to be a rather truthful explanation of the situations in which the "Help" live.  It hurts to know that people once felt (and some still feel) that skin color makes one group better or worse than another.  I'm very excited to discuss this book with the group - I'm VERY curious to hear everyone's perspectives on equal rights, racism, and segregation.
BTW, I'm going to give this book a 4 out of 5 when we rate it at Book Club.  I suspect it will get similar ratings from others... but we'll see.  Sometimes these gals surprise me.

The second book I finished was none other than one about our good friend, Sookie!

From Dead to Worse is book 8 in Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire Series.  Lots of resolutions in this book, lots of action, but not much else.  Poor Sookie didn't really have a story line... she was just in the story - know what I mean?  I suspect this was a "wrap things up and set things up (for the next book)" kind of story.  We'll see what book 9 brings about... I might get to it in July, we'll see.

After these two books, I started a bunch more... 
My book club is having a "Big Book Challenge" this year... reading a heavy, dense, many page book.  It will be "due" in mid-August, I think.  That's when we'll discuss it.

 For this challenge, the group picked David Copperfield by Charles Dickens.  I'm about 100-pages into the story and am slightly losing interest.  It's not that the story is not interesting, but it is not the most uplifting of stories.  I'm not giving up on David, tho.  Ya never know what the next 700 pages might bring.  Besides... if it doesn't kill me, it only makes me stronger.  Literally - this book weighs a TON! (tee hee)


Okay, what else?
Oh yeah... I went to two library book sales in the last few weeks!

One of the many books I picked up (for myself) was Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.  I've never read any True Crime books before, so this was fascinating to me.  It tells the (true) story of two man, living parallel lives during Chicago's shining hour - the World's Fair of 1893.  One is the architect of the buildings used for the fair, the other is a cold blooded killer who used the fair to lure women to their deaths.  Here, again, I'm only part way into it (yes, I'm reading too much at once), but it's captivating me thus far.

Finally... (also at the book sale), I found a book I think might be for my niece.  Tho, I will likely hold on to it till she's between 10-12 years old (a more appropriate age for the story).

 This book is Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass.  I'm really enjoying this young-reader "mystery/adventure" story about an almost-13-year-old boy and his BFF, Lizzy.  Jeremy receives a mysterious box from his dad (who passed away 5 years ago) about a month before his 13th birthday.  Problem is, the keys to open the box are lost (and there's no other way to get inside without destroying the contents).  So Jeremy & Lizzy go in search of them.  I'm only 1/2 way through, so I don't know the meaning of life yet, but it's been a fun ride so far.

Is that is?  Yes.  I think so.  I picked up a BUNCH of other books at the sales, but haven't done much more than glance at the covers.  It's terrible that I only have so many hours in a day... there's SO many good books to read.  I know I'll never get to them all.  * sigh *

Turn the Page... Tuesday

One book?
ONE stinkin' lousy book?
How could that be?

Wait, wait!
I'm wrong.
I read two!

I bet you can guess them both (especially if you seen any of my past TTP... T posts).

I'll give you a hint... (It works for both books)
- I was on vacation the first week of May, so I wanted something light that I didn't have to think too hard about.
- The rest of the month was spent either swimming, biking, or running - or recovering from the previously mentioned activities (and I pretty much fell asleep the moment my head hit the pillow) - so my mind was in no shape for anything too complex.

Didjya guess?

Yep... Sookie strikes again!

In May I read Books 6 & 7 in Charlaine Harris' vampire series where we meet a new supernatural creature... Quinn, the were-tiger.  He and Sookie are drawn to each other in Book 6, Definitely Dead, but you don't learn if they become a couple till Book 7, All Together Dead (and even then, you're not sure).

Now I'm stuck.  Book 7 is the last one book I have.  There's 8, 9, and NOW 10!  I just don't have time to goto the library or the bookstore to look for used copies.  I'll buy new if I have to, but these seem to be novels I'd like get used.  I'm not sure why.

Anyway... those are my two for May.  Not sure if June will be much different.  The "big show" is July 3rd.  After that, I'm lowering the intensity a bit.

Have a great month!

Happy reading (and playing outside, and gardening, and cycling... and, and...

Oh, I almost forgot... go visit Some of a Kind to read more or play along.  (Thanks, Adrienne, for keeping this going!)

Turn the Page... Tuesday

March was full of more random reading - fiction, non-fiction, sports...  but one thing you'll notice is missing is Sookie.  I actually did it - one whole month without her & her vampires.  Crazy, isn't it?

Before I get too carried away with my book stuff... make sure you visit Some of a Kind for more TTP...T info and to see what others are reading.  Thanks, Adrienne, for this excellent idea!

So what was on the list for March, 2010?  In no particular order, they were:

Trizophrenia:  Inside the Minds of a Triathlete by Jef Mallett

Your First Triathlon by Joe Friel

As you can guess, these are books to help me in my preparations for my first triathlon coming up on July 3rd.  I won't bore you with the details of the books - but suffice it to say... I read them at the same time, and what a perfect combination.  Serious training info (YFT) with a lot of comic relief (T:ItMoaT).


My world has kind of become this mix of preparation and folly since I signed up for the event.  I'm trying to make my preparations fun and exciting - even tho there are days I feel my lungs are going to burn up or I wonder where this "mystery pain" came from.  I'm a little less than three months from the event... panic and pride are common emotions for me lately.
It's all good!

Olive Kitterage by Elizabeth Strout
This is my Book Club's selection for our April meeting.  I'm giving it a 3.5 (out of 5). 
At first, I really disliked Olive.  She seemed callous & rude, self-centered with a total lack of empathy.  But she grew on me, tho I never loved her.  I don't think she was meant to be the most beloved character in the story - there were plenty of others who instantly drew your affection.
I didn't know before I read the book that it's set up as a series of short stories (not necessarily ALL about Olive).  However, the characters created a "fabric" of sorts - people with intertwined lives showing different sides of their personalities depending on who they were with.  Olive is definitely the center of this tapestry. 
A nice story about life... and the people who live it.

Woodswoman: Living Alone in the Adirondack Wilderness by Anne LaBastille
I've only just started this book.  My husband bought it for me during one of our trips to the Library Book Sale (he knows I'm into books about strong, independent women).  This is Anne's account of her life as a newly divorced woman who sets out to make a life of her own in a self-built cabin the Adirondacks.  So far, she's built her house (and moved it due to a zoning issue) and is about to settle in.  This is real rustic living and I can't wait to read more.
There are two more installments of this autobiographical story... we'll see if I can find them, too.
You can do whatever you put your mind to!

Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
I picked this book up over the weekend; I was "between" books and wanted something short.  Like Woodswoman, I've only just begun Catcher so I can't comment on it yet except that Holden Caulfield seems like quite a character.  I've heard the book has been banned in some places, so I'm very curious to find out why.  I guess I'll learn soon enough.

Well, that's it for this month.  Unfortunately, I won't be able to participate next month - I won't have access to a computer till around the 8th of May... but I'll be sure to stop by to see what everyone else is up to when I'm back online.

Enjoy your spring wherever you are!  Happy reading.

Hello, TTP...T!

No, this isn't bathroom humor.

It's Turn the Page... Tuesday! 
Turn the Page is the brainchild of the fabulous & creative Adrienne who asks that we all post about what we're reading on the first Tuesday of the month.  Want to see what others are reading?!?  Want to join in?!?  Goto Some of a Kind and check it out.

So, what did I read in February?  Quite a lot, especially with it being the shorty month of the year.  But, BOY, are my selections random & disconnected.  Here they are - in order of completion:

The Slow Fat Triathlete by Jayne Williams
About a month ago, I officially said "OK" to a friend who asked me to do a triathlon with her.  At the time, I thought "SURE, easy, piece of cake - I'm in pretty good shape - been working out daily - I can do a mini-triathlon.  It's only a 1/2-mile swim, 12.5-mile bike, and 3.1-mile run."  Then I tried to "run" 3.1 miles a couple weeks ago.  WHEW... this is gonna be TOUGH!
But I digress.

I LOVE JAYNE!

Her book was given to me by a friend who ran a Triathlon with her daughters to celebrate her 50th birthday.  The first thing she said to me way "Don't take this book the wrong way, just read it."

So I did, and it was SO inspirational.  I know this will be a lot of work to accomplish, but Jayne gave me pointers, inspired me, and helped me feel that I can definitely do this.  I can't wait for the weather to warm up a bit (or the snow to melt, at least), so I can get out running and biking.  I'll keep ya posted on my progress.

The Falls by Joyce Carol Oates
I had just started this book when the last TTP...T rolled around.  I finished it this past weekend.  Next Wednesday is Book Club where we'll discuss it - and I have to bring dessert.  Suggestions???

Anyway.  The Falls was good.  At Book Club we rate the books 1-5 (5 being best), then discuss.  When I give my rating next week, it will be a 3.  Here's why.
I LOVED the "local" references - I don't live far from Niagara Falls and my job takes me there often.  After reading, I researched Love Canal because of it's role in the story.  The book mentions the Buffalo News and Courier Express (now defunct newspaper in Buffalo) and other landmark businesses in the area.    It was cool to see "my cities" in a novel.

The story kept me reading.  Just when my interest started to wane, JCO would bring in a "new" storyline or add a character that would pique my curiosity to continue.  She did this very well, all the way through the novel.

The story itself, however, was depressing, dysfunctional, and ... I can't think of another 'd' word.  I felt sad for or angry at the major characters in the book.  Too often I thought "how can she say that?" or "WHY?!?!!?!?!"  But I guess, if I had become a widow only 24-hours after my marriage, I might be a little dysfunctional, too.

This would be a tough one to recommend.  Not because it's not well written, but more because of the content.  It's sad & frustrating... and with life being sad & frustrating sometimes, I've been more into fun or up-lifting reads.  BUT - if you're looking for a weird, tough-to-swallow pill... this book's for you!

And finally... what would the month be without Sookie!?

Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris
I'm almost 1/3 of the way through the book and Sookie hasn't been abducted, stabbed, chased by werewolves, or seduced by a vampire.  What's wrong with this book!?!?  Ha!
A lot is going on around her, tho.  Of course.
It's only a matter of time before something "serious" happens.  And it will likely involve Eric (a very old, very beautiful, Viking Vamp).

I told myself to lay off the Sookie books back in February.  But I needed something to counteract The Falls - something brainless and fun instead of dark and heavy.  Sookie comes thru again!


I have The Catcher in the Rye out as something I'm planning to read soon... in honor/memorial of JD Salinger who died earlier this year.  My Hubby has a strong connection to this book, so I'm interested in talking with him about it, too.


Well, I guess that's all.  It's almost 9pm... time to grab a good book and snuggle with the family.
Good night & happy reading!

Turn the Page... Tuesday

Happy Tuesday!
Happy Groundhog Day!
Happy Birthday, Mom-In-Law!
Happy Turn the Page... Tuesday!

January was a slower month for reading... I tried, but I couldn't get into Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises.  I quit right around last month's TTP... T.  I might go back to it, but not yet.

What would a month be with more Sookie!?  I had a blast reading more of the Sookie Stackhouse southern vampire series by Charlaine Harris.  This time, Book 4: Dead to the World.

It was neat to read this one right now (in January)... the story was set in January, too (tho it's substantially warmer in New Orleans than in New York).  Sookie set her New Year's Resolutions at about the same time I did.  (And that's the end of the similarities between her life and mine.) 
In addition to the usual vampires, shape-shifters and were-wolves (and were-panthers, etc) came out of the woodwork.  Oh, and witches... there were Wiccans and Witches this time, too.  It was a crazy scene.  I LOVED it!
Why it's named Dead to the World, tho, I'm not sure.  Keeping with the DEAD theme, I suspect.  I once heard an interview with Ms. Harris and she admitted that her publisher/agent usually choose the title, much to her dismay, sometimes.

I'm currently reading The Falls by Joyce Carol Oates.  This is the March selection for my Book Club.  I've never read any JCO before, but I've heard it's "different".  So far, The Falls is living up to that description.  In the first chapter (even told on the book jacket), a man commits suicide by jumping over Niagara Falls, leaving his wife of less than 24-hours alone in their honeymoon suite.
Cheery, eh?

I've been enjoying the story so far & the characters are vividly written.  Plus, I'm loving the references to the different locations in the book.  I live within 50 miles of Niagara Falls and can really see the scenes she describes from various visits there. 
I'm about 1/4 of the way into it... so, we'll see where it goes.  I'll be sure to post an update next month.

Well, that's it... like I said, kind of a slow month for reading. 
Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to pop over to Some of a Kind to see what others are reading, or to join in!
See ya next month!

P.S.  Punxsutawney Phil (the groundhog) saw his shadow... 6 more weeks of winter.   Oh well, more time for reading.

Turn the Page... Tuesday

It's January 5th - the first Tuesday of the month - time for Turn the Page... Tuesday.  And BOY do I have a bunch of books to talk about this month (lots of time in airports and on planes - BOO - then lots of time off - YAY).
But first, thanks to Adrienne of Some of a Kind for the idea of TTP... T.  For more info and to see what other bloggers are reading, check out her site.  Then join in!

SO... what did I read this month, you ask?  A little bit of everything, starting with...

Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
This is book 3 of the Sookie Stackhouse books.  This series is the basis for the HBO Show "True Blood".  I've never seen the show, but the books are fun.  Imagine vampires living among humans as fellow humans with a "disability" - allergic to sunshine and drink blood.  This book is a story of just another "day in teh life" of a telepath (Sookie) and her adventures with the vampires.
I'll admit, I blew through this book rather quickly... and it was enjoyable.  But it's not my favorite Sookie story.  I've noticed this seems to happen in novel series - so books are just better than others.  Maybe this one is setting up story lines for future books.  We'll see.  I'll probably tackle Book 4 next month.

Next, I attempted to read Franny and Zooey by JD Salinger (got about 1/2 way through).  It's not a very cheery story and a tough one to read following a Sookie story.  I found the "undertones" of F&Z interesting, however, with Franny rejecting what seems to be the "status" associated with the people around her - it matches my occasional thoughts on the consumerism of people these days.    Anyway... I might go back to it eventually, but for now it's on the shelf. 

Speaking of cheery... the next one was anything but.  For Book Club, I recommended Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and the members selected it for our January meeting!  I thought I read this in high school (who hasn't), but I honestly don't remember it having the impact it had on me this time through.  Written in 1950, the parallels to today's society are SCARY (fast cars, big screen TVs and a lack of intellectualism or even "thinking" - Sheesh!).  I'm really looking forward to our discussion on the 13th.  Even though the book was short, I don't expect the conversation to be the same.

I learned a new word between reading F451 and my next book, The Maze Runner by James Dashner.  Dystopia: the opposite of an Utopia... a nightmare world.  The Maze Runner is set (in Book 1, at least) in a dystopian world - a maze, where vicious creatures roam at night, so you better be inside - even though you were doing everything you could to escape.  TMR is a book written for teens (teen boys, I would assume), but I found it quite enjoyable.  It was a quick read (as most teen fiction seems to be for me), but also quite exciting.  When I got to the end of the book I saw that it as listed as Book I.  I just learned there are two more books to come... but I have to wait till Fall 2010 and 2011.  ARRGH!  :)

So, what am I reading now?

I completely switched gears again and am reading Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises.  I picked up a hardcover copy at last month's book sale & noticed that it was a Book Club selection from a few years ago (before I was a member).  I'm about 100 pages into the book and can't really comment on it yet.  If I remember, I'll make a note about it in next month's TTP... T.

See ya then!

Super Saturday

What a great day it's been!

AND, it's not over!  In a little while, I'm gonna plunk myself down in between the pups and watch UP (the latest & greatest Disney-Pixar film that is simply spectacular!).

But first, I thought I'd share my day with you...

It started out slow - as Saturday's should - coffee, a bagel, some surfing the internet & visiting various blogs.  Then I got a little bit motivated and turned the ground venison (from my hubby's 1st deer) into some delicious goulash.  I just finished some that I had for dinner.  YUMMY!

Back to relaxing and some knot tying!  I'm making ornaments/ wreathes to give as Christmas gifts.  I made my first about a week ago and it took me almost half an hour to finish just one.  Today, I made six in about an hour!  Guess I figured out what I I needed to do... here they are - almost done, they need to be "perfected" then tied off for hanging.

These are Chinese Knots called 'Compound Double Coin Knot' - I have to thank Tying it All Together  for their video tutorial.

 

Next, it was time to burn some calories (good thing, because I cooked a LOT today).  The pups and I headed to the park for a walk.  It wasn't anything crazy terrain-wise, but we kept moving at a good pace and put on almost 2 miles.

Then, I had errands to run... got dog food and groceries, then off to the Library Book Sale!  After 2pm it was $5 for a bag of books - as many books as you could fit in it (and carry home).  I LOVE this book sale... here's a sampling of this visit's booty - OH, which one to read first?!?!?

Now I'm back in front of the computer... dogs are fed and sleeping on their beds, waiting patiently for me to finish so we can watch our movie.

I have three little cookies set aside for dessert.  I made these when I got home from the Book Sale.  They're from the Eat Better America site - they're called "Healthified" Brownie Cookies.  They're not health food by any stretch of the imagination, but if you need cookies, they're better than other recipes out there.  AND, I "healthified" them a little more by using 1/2 whole wheat flour and 1/2 all-purpose white. 

They taste great!

What a day! I wish every day could be this full of fun and accomplishment.  Well, maybe not, because if they were all like this I couldn't fully appreciate days like today.  Hope you had a great day, too.