tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89464752024-03-07T18:37:28.400-08:00Pen and Paper"Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore?" Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887)Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-15556390542527049132010-09-19T08:18:00.000-07:002010-09-19T08:24:57.879-07:00Kindle 3My Kindle 3 arrived and I couldn't be happier with it.<br /><br />For years I've resisted buying an e-reader. I love the feel of paper, the look of books, the art of choosing one book from hundreds, but space constraints and the lower cost of Kindle books convinced me that I should relent (a little). The Kindle will supplement, not supplant, my buying of paper bound works.<br /><br />Happy reading!Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-86168073724115893672010-07-07T15:28:00.000-07:002010-07-07T20:26:30.908-07:00Unfrigging BelievableIn general, I don't post about anything other than books, but it's getting to the point where I can't hold my tongue anymore. <br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/neGbKHyGuHU&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/neGbKHyGuHU&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />I can't believe the DOJ dropped this case. See one of the many articles concerning the voter intimidation cases being dropped, <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/may/29/career-lawyers-overruled-on-voting-case/?feat=home_cube_position1">here</a>. <br /><br />A former DOJ attorney <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38046923">testified</a> recently that the cases against the individuals in this video<br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/a3MbqupVxMY&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/a3MbqupVxMY&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object> <br />were dropped because of lobbying and political pressure by groups like the NAACP. Shame on them all. Racism is unbecoming in any shade. Though individuals have a right to say whatever they want, they do not have the right to engage in voter intimidation. <br /><br />I fear the type of voter fraud/intimidation that individuals like this will engage in this November given the likelihood of their failure to gain or maintain seats in Congress any other way. <br /><br />No people, by birth or nature, are superior to others. Hatred shouldn't be in vogue or fashionable just because of who you hate--that's how myriads of wars have started. Uh, hello World War frigging II. Your racism isn't OK because it's yours. <br /><br />People must stand up and start speaking out against these sorts of activities. We don't, because we don't want to be labeled as racists or bigots. That sort of intellectual dishonesty and name-calling as a means to silence valuable opinions, reasonable opinions, must stop. To be frank, if you support Obama, you support what he supports. He and the Attorney General he nominated sanction Black Panthers interference with the fair, open elections that we are Constitutionally guaranteed. He either supports the interference or he is so weak in his convictions, that he cannot uphold his oath to preserve, protect, support and defend the Constitution of the United States against enemies, foreign and domestic. I hope that neither of these two things are true; I hope that I've misunderstood what happened; I hope that there was some reason to drop these cases at their sentencing stage; I hope that groups like the KKK and others don't see this as permission to attempt to intimidate voters this November. <br /><br />We are a nation of laws. If were are not that, our Republic will fall. No one is to be above reproach, to be above the law, and, if we create a category of view points, a race of people, or a sect of religion that cannot be criticized or that will be held immune to the law, then we are a nation of fools.<br /><br />Though we sometimes elect fools, I don't believe we are fools. I am hopeful. Even in temperatures breaking 100 degrees, I feel the cool, sweet wind of change moving through my neighborhood. Indeed with acts of voter intimidation and fraud being perpetrated by those who are unable to compete in an open, peaceful exchange of ideas, many Americans will still step forward, braving being hit by a night stick or being called a racist because its the least that we can do when so many better, honor worthy men have come before us, pledging their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor so that we could have the liberty to vote at all.Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-58150866580714587362010-06-08T20:20:00.000-07:002010-06-08T20:22:44.523-07:00Tomorrow is Hump DayOnly two court appearances tomorrow...<br /><br />So much work.<br /><br />So little time.<br /><br />Bill has to get a commission done this week.Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-75527470825334394882010-06-01T19:26:00.001-07:002010-06-01T19:26:49.358-07:00JuryJury trial tomorrow. Wish me luck, please.Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-21291989966871153942010-03-29T18:54:00.000-07:002010-03-29T18:58:08.422-07:00Needs Editing<em>5,000 Year Leap</em> by W. Cleon Skousen is actually a very quick, enjoyable read. I agree with its overall sentiments; nevertheless, it has some structural and grammatical issues. Skoussen's ideas are not fully formed out, the piece lacks flow, and it is in dire need of some editorial tidying. Its issues detract from what is a really strong survey piece. How can things go to press with errors like the use of "it's" where the author means "its" etc.? Overall, it's a good survey of American Constitutional History.Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-67602100640561926642010-03-28T16:17:00.000-07:002010-03-28T16:19:27.769-07:00BauhausFrom Bauhaus to Our House by Tom Wolfe<br /><br />Loved it--an essay about navel gazing and what happens when groups of people navel-gaze and gather together to prove which one of them is more perfect at navel-gazing. Wolfe critiques modern architecture, but it isn't just about the negative effects of the Bauhaus style as much as the dangerousness of a group of people who attempt to rid themselves of pesky intellectual and moreover, ideological, competition. You don't have to hate modern or post modern architecture to like the book, but it probably doesn't hurt if you are a bit of an iconoclast.Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-79530903347451579402010-03-22T16:13:00.001-07:002010-03-22T16:14:35.655-07:00Time Has Run OutI'm not feeling very optimistic today.Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-73014829663913164002010-03-19T18:51:00.001-07:002010-03-19T18:51:33.536-07:00Time Is Running Out<a href="http://www.nrcc.org/CodeRed/"><img src="http://www.nrcc.org/codered/images/new/contact_po.jpg" border="0" /></a>Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-6805084710744009432010-03-19T18:49:00.001-07:002010-03-19T18:49:59.961-07:00Have your voices heard<iframe src="http://www.nrcc.org/codered/countdown_embed.php" width="175" height="155" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-60132328445718705322010-03-07T10:06:00.000-08:002010-03-07T10:12:11.939-08:00Thank you Spring!We are having some really nice weather after a terribly long, cold winter. It's not been warm of enough for me to actually start seedlings, but it's been warm enough for me to start planning spring plantings and thinking off all things that need to be done in preparation for Spring and Summer.<br /><br />I might even be able to sit outside and read later today!<br /><br />On the topic of reads, I enjoyed <i>Unnatural Fire</i> by Fidelis Morgan but it wasn't nearly as good as it's sequel <i>The Rival Queens</i>. I read them in the wrong order, finding the first disappointing in comparison to the second book. The situations in the first weren't nearly as memorable and the characters were not nearly as engaging as both were in the second piece. I'm glad I read the second one first or I might not have gotten to the second, better one. <br /><br />The characters were not realistically foolish. I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but the story was too much like the common comedy of manners. The characters were just too dense. Furthermore, with the exception of a character named Betty I had no connection with the characters. In other words, when they inevitably die their deaths result in nothing more than a dull thud. The apparent villains are not attractive and are gravely flawed. The place and voice of the story were lacking the same delicious quality that the second book had. It wasn't easy to laugh with the story, nor were the descriptions of period London as well wrought. I'm only tempted to keep it because I'm rather fond of the author's second book.Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-21368120448446764012010-01-26T19:25:00.000-08:002010-01-26T19:25:00.071-08:00WorkPrepping for a big trial plus getting all of my normal casework finished is nearly impossible.Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-12616088307257202202009-06-03T17:00:00.000-07:002009-06-03T17:00:00.339-07:00Book Loving AuthorsI love books written by book-loving authors. It surprises me how many authors don't really seem to love the written word. For them, it's more like I have something to tell you and this is the most expedient way to do it, but then, some authors are lovers of language. Jane Austen comes to mind. Books like hers should be cherished. <br /><br />The <i>Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society</i> by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows should too. One of the authors has passed away and regrettably this, her first book, will also be her last. Its epistolary style works perfectly. It focuses mostly on Guernsey, an English island between England and France, that was occupied by the Germans during World War II. Its moments, sentences, and stories were wonderful from start to finish. Part of me wanted the book to end so that I could confirm what I thought would happen with its characters; part of me never wanted it to end because I enjoyed reading it so much. <br /><br />It was quaint and lovely without being trite. The authors write, "I wonder how the book got to ...? Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers." It makes me think: somehow this book found its perfect reader in me--how lucky am I?Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-29263516892063626502009-05-28T20:04:00.000-07:002009-05-28T20:06:48.925-07:00Judas IscariotThe Gospel of Judas by Rodolphe Kasser, Marvin Meyer, Gregor Wurst, Bart D. Ehrman felt like it had been rushed to press. That isn't to say that it wasn't good but it felt like parts of it hadn't been fully contemplated. When I was in college, we had to write an essay about metaphors and analogies etc. from Homer's Iliad. Almost every person in the class wrote about one particular quotation--namely, "A generation of men is like a generation of leaves; the wind scatters some leaves upon the ground, while others the burgeoning wood brings forth - and the season of spring comes on. So of men one generation springs forth and another ceases." Some of the essays were beautiful, but only one person considered the the most important question: "Are men really like leaves?" It seems obvious to do so, but only one person did. No one else had really questioned the validity of Homer's assertion. <br /><br />This book's essays didn't really question "The Gospel of Judas." The writers assumed the Gospel was equally as valid as the ones that were included in the Bible as we know it. The essayists were so enthralled with its discovery and preservation, that it felt like they never reached the most interesting questions. That failing is most clear when one of the essayists wrote that what is included and discarded from the Bible is arbitrary. Isn't it possible that there might be real reasons behind the exclusion or inclusion of one text over another, that there continues to be real religious dialogue about what should be included or excluded?<br /><br />I agree that the gospel is a wonderful discovery, but where's the second part of the analysis. Is the Gospel of Judas equally as valid, as authenticated, as philosophically rich as those Gospel's included in our present day Bibles? What can we learn from it? I just don't think the essays pushed far enough.Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-45586975637215138482009-04-27T15:11:00.000-07:002009-04-27T15:24:29.852-07:00Recent Reviews<li>If you're not already a Harry Potter fan, then you'll probably find <em>Tales of the Beedle Bard </em>by J.K. Rowling unremarkable. It made me want to read her novels again; it didn't compare well. It was a very short, very quick read that fit snuggly in the morality tales genre. It was much lighter than <em>Grimm's Fairytales </em>and more like <em>Han's Christian Anderson's </em>morality tales.</li><br /><br /><li><em>On Pilgrimage </em>by Jennifer Lash details a journey from Caen to Santiago de Compostela conducted by Lash over the course of a couple of weeks. She travels alone, largely, and speaks frankly and lovingly of the places she visits and the people she meets along the way. I liked it, but I did find portions of it to be very wordy and in need of editing in some places; for example, it used some words interchangeably, like paramount and tantamount etc., that were not the best choices. Having not read travel/personal pilgrimage books before, I don't know how it compares, and, I think it would have been easier to follow if I had been more familiar with the places being visited. Also, the mood set by the writer was one of perseverance, but she sounded so tired as she forged on.</li><br /><br /><li>I can't begin to explain how much I enjoyed <em>The Thirteenth Tale </em>by Diane Setterfield. It was marvelous. If you love <em>Rebecca</em> or <em>Jane Eyre</em>, then please pick up The Thirteenth Tale. The only disappointing thing is that the author has published no other books (at least that I can find). It was a wonderful read. "Do you intend to tell me the truth?" one of its characters asks. Is that really the point of a good story? <br /><br />It was mesmerizing. Finally, a book written by someone who clearly adores books and the written word. The story is dark, but not humorless. I certainly wont be putting this one up to trade on <a href="http://www.bookmooch.com">bookmooch.com</a>. I loved it. It had everything that a novel should: it had a good point; it was superbly written; and I can't stop comparing other books to it. I finished it weeks ago, reading at least four other books since then and none of them compare.</li><br /><br /><li>A friend of mine kindly gave <em>The Book of Air and Shadows</em> by Michael Gruber this book (and others) so that I might have something to entertain myself as I recovered from surgery. The book fits in the complex literery, historical thriller category. I feel like I should have loved it, but I really disliked it. Why? I hated the main character. I just couldn't make myself like him. He was so focused on sex; he was boring beyond belief. I found myself hoping to come upon chapters narrated by other characters. He was an antihero that just cried out for a severe beating. Just kidding--sort of. I raced for the end of it driven not by a desire to find out what would happen as much a desire to finish the damn thing and move on to something else. It's like someone took all the elements that I like--drama, Shakespeare, mystery, plot twists, multiple narrators, book lover, manuscripts, forgers--ate them and vomited them in the form of this book. I so wish that I had like it because one of my dearest friends did and gave it to me, but, regrettably, I did not.</li><br /><br /><li>I finished <em>The Courage to Be Rich </em>by Suze Orman and <em>Howard Clark's Big Book of Bargains</em> by guess who? Howard Clark at about the same time. I've watched both of their television shows a handful of times as well. They've mentioned one another and referred to one another as friends and so, at times, I chuckled while reading their books because they are so different. Suze Orman is much more in touch with emotional spending and is more thorough in attempting to get people to prioritize and to come to terms with bad spending/saving habits. I think that Clark Howard’s book is a good one for someone that is already money conscious and is looking for affirmation of their penny pinching ways or is looking for some great tips; though Orman’s book is better for someone who is curious about the world of personal finance. Orman’s book is also a better fit for someone who has had money problems and is looking for a light at the end of the tunnel. I took a couple of notes from Clark’s book but have put it up on bookmooch since it isn’t one that I need to keep for reference, but I’ll be hanging on to Orman’s for a while.</li><br /><br /><li><em>I Saw Three Ships </em>by Elizabeth Goudge is a quaint, heartwarming story. It’s a brief, beautifully written, lyrical and sentimental Christmas tale about a little orphan girl named Polly who experiences a number of Christmas miracles. It is light handed and well-paced. Also, my version has some simple illustrations by Margot Tomes that, like the story itself, are sort of Dickensian. I enjoyed it and wish that I could find a copy of Goudge’s <em>The Little White Horse </em>to read too. It’s crisp and clean and warm all at once.</li><br /><br /><li><em>Dewey: The Small Town Library Cat Who Touched the World</em>--If only it had just been about the library and the cat. The portions of the book that were not directly about Dewey were opressive in tone and, at times, clumsily executed or extraneous. It's a testament to Dewey and Myron's love of Dewey that I liked the book as much as I did. Somtimes we so want our pets to matter to other people, that we try to make others understand how important they are to us by demanding that they feel the same way about them; it can be uncomfortable when someone becomes really insistent that we have to feel the same way about the things they love as they do. Myron tried to make Dewey matter to us in exactly the same way he mattered to her by giving us all sorts of information about herself and her family. Dewey mattered because he was Dewey. The story didn't need anything more than him.</li>Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-76115464905209951312009-04-19T14:12:00.000-07:002009-04-19T14:12:00.640-07:00SpeechlessI have never really written anything that mattered. And I remain without the words to adequately express the sorrow that is currently burning a hole in the pit of my stomach. Singing with Anne, in her choir, was magical. I have often, since graduating, missed the choir and the people in it; I have never missed it more than I do today having found out that Anne has passed away. We were her choir, no matter what name we took, e.g., St. John's Small Choir, St. John's Choir. <br /><br />When I read about her passing, through tears of denial, I felt compelled to go back and listen to Rachmaninov's Vespers. While listening to them, it's hard not to realize that Anne had a profound influence over the St. John's musical tradition, as well as each of her choir members. I can't listen to good music without thinking: What would she think of this piece?; Anne would love this; or, I wish we were all still singing together. <br /><br />It kills me that I can't really remember exactly what we sounded like, but I'll listen to something like the Vespers and moments of memory rise within me. I can feel what it was like more than hear it. We were beautiful because of Anne. She had an amazing ability to select just the right pieces of music, to know exactly what we should sound like, and to pound those pieces into us until we sang them as she had imagined they must be sung. She always maintained a sense of humor with her students and friends, never shying away from laughter or a glass of wine as I recall. <br /><br />It's been almost ten years since we all started singing together. I've been in multiple choirs since and none compare. Thank you Anne.Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-77894004786637531942008-12-25T08:14:00.000-08:002008-12-25T08:16:01.483-08:00Merry Christmas!Peace on Earth! Have a wonderful day with your friends and family. Praise God our Heavenly King.Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-15795674112013530872008-12-07T17:00:00.000-08:002008-12-07T17:00:00.411-08:00Read In Order to Make Room for Other Books<i>To a Very-Special Friend</i> (Exley Gifts Books, 1997). Short, sweet.<br /><br /><i>The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success... </i>(New World Library, 1994). People rave about Depak Chopra, but I just don't see it. This one did not speak to me. If it works for him, then great.<br /><br /><i>JonBenet: Inside the Murder Investigation </i> (St. Martin's Press, 2000). Not sure what to say about this one. The failures of this particular investigation are good examples of a)why inexperienced officers should not be allowed at murder scenes; b) why written policy of how to investigate doesn't matter if it isn't followed; c) ineffective communication between officers and a DA office; d) how important intuition is to investigation, but that it doesn't mean anything if there isn't evidence to make the case; and e) politics can overcome investigations.<br /><br /><i>The Little Ice Age</i> by Brian Fagan was really interesting. One of the many things he discusses is the influence of weather on art. It's almost a footnote to the book as a whole, but I found it very interesting to posit that you can measure climate changes by changes in art content, such as the number of winter scenes in certain centuries or the types of clouds that are being painted. We're keeping this one because Bill wants to read it too. It's very well written and though I didn't always agree with all of Fagan's conclusions, I did find it difficult to put this one down.<br /><br />I also finished Jan Dargatz, 52 Simple Ways.... Of all the Christmas books of this ilk, it's the most helpful one I've read; though, it was repetitive in instances. Every Chapter was supposed to have a different Christmas related suggestion, but, at times, it seemed like suggestions would come in one chapter and then have their own heading later on, having already been mentioned under a different chapter heading. I enjoyed it though and actually took down some notes in my journal on suggestions for Christmas questions to contemplate in Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. I also took down some of the craft/packaging suggestions. For example, Dargatz recommended taking the fronts of of last year's Christmas cards and sending them as postcards in order to save money and paper. That seems pretty cute and clever. I'd recommend borrowing it from the local library, as I am glad I read it, but we don't need to own a copy.Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-11303667164685897082008-10-19T10:54:00.000-07:002008-10-19T11:51:34.091-07:00HauntedI can't begin to explain how much I enjoyed <i>The Thirteenth Tale</i> by Diane Setterfield. It was marvelous. If you love <i>Rebecca</i> or <i>Jane Eyre</i>, then please pick up <i>The Thirteenth Tale</i>. The only disappointing thing is that the author has published no other books (at least that I can find). It was a wonderful read. "Do you intend to tell me the truth?" one of its characters asks. Is that really the point of a good story?<br /><br />It was mesmerizing. Finally, a book written by someone who clearly adores books and the written word. The story is dark, but not humorless. I certainly wont be putting this one up to trade on bookmooch.com. I loved it. It had everything that a novel should: it had a good point; it was superbly written; and I can't stop comparing other books to it. I finished it weeks ago, reading at least four other books since then and none of them compare. <br /><br />Having finished <i>The Haunting</i> by Shirley Jackson shortly after the <i>The Thirteenth Tale</i>, it was a bit of a disappointment. I've enjoyed some of her others stories much more. It wasn't nearly as haunting as I had expected. The old movie was more interesting to me than the book, and don't even bother watching the remake. I'd probably eat blood pudding again rather than watch the remake, and that ended with me gagging, so you can imagine how good the movie was. Also, I don't think I've ever read such a short book with so many semicolons in it; perhaps, the driving test I took when I was sixteen compares. <br /><br />Everyone raves about Jodi Picoult. She's definitely an accomplished writer, very adept at switching perspectives between characters. She has an identifiable style, but I was left with a who cares kind of feeling when I finished in <i>Plain Truth</i>. It might have been me. That's why I'm going to try one of her other ones.<br /><br />The Last Duel by Eric Jager was fun. It was sort of like a short survey book of 14th century French culture told by through the rivalry between the Carrouges and the Gris. I was entertained by it, turning pages to see what happened to its characters. It certainly served to illustrate how brutal life can be. It provided some interesting information about what French 14th century culture was like, particularly for women. I found it to be informative, but I wanted more insights. The book wasn't without insights, but it was almost too short; I yearned for more from the author in the way of conclusions. Sometimes after watching a particular movie or book, I sit and think: Damn it. I wish someone else had made this or someone else had written this. I did not think that after finishing <i>The Last Duel</i>, but I did wish that Eric Jager had done something more with the piece. It was very good and I enjoyed it, but I felt like it was missing something--something that Jager could have given it.<br /><br />Now, Randy Pausch certainly gave his all to the Last Lecture. Much has been written about this. Websites all over the internet have his actual lecture posted in print and pictures. I wont go into the details of it here, because there's no reason to describe it where others have done so quite well. I'll simply say that my mother-in-law left the book here after there last trip in September. She seemed to think it was ok but not wonderful. I liked it. It made me laugh aloud; he preserved who he was in life while confronting horrible circumstances and the scariest thing of all: death. I found it pretty inspirational and I'm going to loan it to my Dad because I think he'll like it too. From it, I took this sound advice...Dream, help others dream, and enjoy the journey of making your dreams and others' dreams come true, because your journey may be both longer and shorter than you think.Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-84020786023991392632008-08-17T18:41:00.001-07:002008-08-17T19:00:36.905-07:00Eats, Shoots & Leaves<i>Eats, Shoots & Leaves</i> was hilarious. Portions of it were repetitive, but, if you've ever looked at a sign like "Shcool" or "Buckle Up/The Life You Save Could be Your Own Self" and thought "What the #*(RY@#*($?," then this is for you. It revived in me a desire to read punctuation and grammar manuals. Yes, I know they have doctors for this sort of thing. <br /><br />Anyway, I've been tagged with a book meme, but it isn't an easy one. Posting my answers will have to wait for tomorrow.Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-56079651707559485782008-08-09T12:36:00.000-07:002008-08-09T13:39:44.010-07:00New BootyMy mother recently recommended that I read <em>Child of the Sea</em> by Elizabeth Goudge, then very shortly thereafter <a href="http://littlebookroom.blogspot.com/">Kate</a> wrote highly of Goudge. Trying to find any works by Goudge was like trying to buy fine wine in Burger King--nothing, absolutely nothing of hers was in stock/print at <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com">B&N</a>. It was disappointing, but I'll continue to look elsewhere. I was able to make the following acquisitions:<br /><br /><li>Kate Atkinson, <em>Case Histories</em> (Back Bay Books, 2005). Thriller/Family Saga.</li><br /><br /><li>Thomas Gallagher, <em>Paddy's Lament</em> (Harcourt Brace, 1987). I was in a history mood. Who doesn't like a little Irish with their History?</li><br /><br /><li>Jodi Picoult, <em>Plain Truth</em> (Washington Square Press, 2007). Picoult seems to be extremely prolific, so I thought I'd give one a try.</li><br /><br /><li>Justin Pollard and Howard Reid, <em>The Rise and Fall of Alexandria: Birthplace of the Modern World</em> (Penguin, 2007). Who doesn't like Dido?</li><br /><br /><li>Eric Jager, <em>The Last Duel</em> (Broadway, 2005). It was almost difficult to tell whether this should be in the history or the fiction section of the store.</li><br /><br /><li>Sheridan Hay, <em>The Secret of Lost Things</em> (Anchor Books, 2008). I like novels about books/bookstores and mysteries. This one appears to have received some what mixed reviews, but I'll just have to make up my own mind.</li><br /><br /><li>Thomas Sowell, <em>Affirmative Action Around the World</em> (Yale University Press, 2005). Sowell is a brilliant economist and sociologist. I can't wait to read this one or <em>Race and Culture</em>.</li><br /><br /><li>Lynne Truss, <em>Eats, Shoots, & Leaves</em> (Gotham, 2006). This book looks absolutely hilarious.</li><br /><br /><li>Thomas C. Foster, <em>How to Read Novels Like a Professor</em> (Harper Paperbacks, 2008). I miss St. John's.</li><br /><br /><li>Brian Fagan, <em>The Little Ice Age:How Climate Made History, 1300-1850</em> (Basic Books, 2001). Many actually think we are headed to another Ice Age. I thought I should bone up. Yes, that was meant to be taken in jest, at least partially.</li><br /><br /><li>Norman F. Cantor, <em>Antiquity</em> (Harper Perennial, 2004). I'm not sure, given its length, that it can meaningfully cover as much history as it purports to cover, but it looked like a light survey.</li><br /><br /><li>Joan Aiken, <em>The Watson's and Emma Watson: Jane Austen's Uncompleted Novel By Joan Aiken</em> (Sourcebooks Landmark, 2008). Don't mess with Jane unless you're up to the task. I like Aiken, but will withhold final approval for now.</li><br /><br /><li>Joan Aiken, <em>Jane Fairfax: The Secret Story of the Second Heroine in Jane Austen's Emma</em> (St. Martin's Griffin, 1997). I love Austen, so I just can't help myself when I spot a possibly good spin off. It strikes fear into my heart that there appears to have been a recent proliferation of Austen spin offs that may fall very short of the mark.</li><br /><br /><li>Amy Shuen, <em>Web 2.0: A Strategy Guide</em> (O'Reilly Media, Inc., 2008). This one is my husband's pick.</li><br /><br /><li>Tracy Chevalier, <em>The Lady and the Unicorn</em> (Plume, 2004). Art, history, fiction. What more can a woman ask for?</li><br /><br /><li>Sarah Waters, <em>Fingersmith</em> (Riverhead Trade, 2002). Some people have drawn comparisons between this book and the <em>Usual Suspects</em>. Yippee!</li><br /><br /><li>Rebecca Stott, <em>Ghostwalk</em> (Spiegel & Grau, 2008). Supernatural thriller.</li><br /><br /><li>Sally Beauman, <em>Rebecca's Tale</em> (Harper Paperback, 2007). I'll reread Rebecca before reading this one.</li><br /><br />Ah. Now I get to sit down and read them. I'm thoroughly enjoying Diane Setterfield's <em>The Thirteenth Tale</em> at this time.Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-13449588155137321222008-07-06T12:10:00.000-07:002008-07-06T12:10:00.809-07:00Good ReadsHappy Fourth!<br /><br />I recently finished Tom Robbins' <em>Jitterbug Perfume</em>, Penelope Fitzgerald's <em>Bookshop</em>, Kevin Dwyer and Jure Fiorillo's <em>True Stories of Law and Order: Special Victim's Unit</em>, and Angela Rixon's <em>The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Cat Breeds</em>.<br /><br /><em>Jitterbug </em>was titillating. Never having read any of Robbins books before I have to admit I have not been a fan of the contemporary novel. Characters in them often seem bored with themselves and I'm left wondering: "If your character is bored with himself and you sound bored with your character, why should I be interested?" This novel, though, is different. Personally, portions of it were an affront to my sense of morality; yet, I realized "Erleichda, Erleichda" was meant for me too. You'll have to read the book to know what that means. (Robbins doesn't appear to be a fan of Christianity). I am; however, one can't fail to appreciate the completeness of what Robbins creates. It's nice to read something with an actual point of view. His characters operate outside the bounds of morality--that's the point. "The universe does not have laws. It has habits. And habits can be broken." There could be too much of a good thing in reading his novels one after the other, but I will return to Robbins in due time.<br /><br />I'm not sure that I liked The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald. The story feels like it's over before it has begun. The characters are considerately crafted, but what a downer. She artfully recreates the backbiting and constant gossip of a small town where the inhabitants attempt to keep things the same or control all things at all costs. How dare anyone attempt to elevate themselves without their permission? It was very well-written, but I can't say it was enjoyable to read about people behaving horribly.<br /><br /><em>True Stories</em> was a quick read. Can't say it was incredibly good or bad. It was what it purported to be: summaries of the real crimes that inspired SVU episodes. This one was a gift from my mother in law. Given what I do, I can't say I'm surprised that she thought of me when she came across the book. Plus, we do share a love of <em>SVU</em> and old <em>Law and Order </em>episodes. The book doesn't really provide any substantial insights, but simply provides easy-to-read, brief summaries of the criminals and their crimes.<br /><br />Angela Rixon's book was quick and cute. Love the kitties.Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-52979489621869424522008-06-29T23:40:00.000-07:002008-06-29T23:40:01.287-07:00Short PostWhile catching up on work and spending time with friends and family over the last few days, I've finished a Tom Robbins book and am in the process of finishing a Penelope Fitzgerald book. Posts about them shall follow later this week. I wish we had something other than Barnes and Noble in town--maybe a Borders. I truly miss the Tattered Cover (Denver). This next weekend we'll try to do some second-hand book shopping or make it to the Green Valley Book Fair. Nonetheless, here are some of our newest acquisitions from the Barnes:<br /><br /><li>John Williams, <em>Augustus</em> (First Vintage, 2004). Who doesn't miss the HBO series' <em>Rome</em>.</li><br /><br /><li>Tom Robbins, <em>Wild Ducks Flying Backward</em> (Random House, Inc., 2005). I think I liked <em>Jitterbug Perfume</em>, probably. I am, at the very least, interested.</li><br /><br /><li>Patricia Hampl, <em>Blue Arabesque: A Search for the Sublime</em> (Harcourt Books, 2006). I'm not fond of art books without pictures. Yes, I know how that sounds. Would you find reading a cookbook without ever trying its recipes fulfilling? This one looks very interesting though, so we'll give it a try.</li><br /><br /><li>Angela Rixon, <em>The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Cat Breeds</em> (Wellfleet Press, 2008). This one was a gift from my Mom. It probably doesn't have much new information in it compared with books on cats that we already possess, but it has some good skeletal drawings and pictures that should help with the <em>Life with Cats</em> series that my husband is working on.</li>Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-28772382479015037222008-05-03T21:14:00.000-07:002008-05-03T21:14:00.692-07:00Books!Newest acquisitions:<br /><br /><li>Steven Pressfield, <em>Gates of Fire </em>(Bantam Book, 1998). One of my favorite books (if not my favorite book) is Thucydides' <em>History of the Pelopennesian War</em>. His description of the Battle of Thermopylae is epic, memorable, and, to this day, brings me to tears. I look forward to this one.</li><br /><br /><li>Elizabeth Gaskell, Cranford (Penguin Books, 2005). Looks warm, peaceful. Can't beat something they bother to make a BBC version of with Judi Dench starring. </li><br /><br /><li>Diane Setterfield, <em>The Thirteenth Tale</em> (Simon & Schuster, 2006). One of the reviews on the back compares the book to <em>Jane Eyre</em> and <em>Rebecca</em>. I'll take eerie and fascinating any day.</li><br /><br /><li>Jon Spence, <em>Becoming Jane Austen</em> (MJF, 2003). Apparently the movie <em>Becoming Jane Austen</em>, used this book and it's author as a consultant in the course of making its movie. I, of course, love all things Jane Austen.</li><br /><br /><li>Marilynne Robinson, <em>Gilead</em> (Picador, 2004). It purports to reveal the human condition. Keep your fingers crossed. </li><br /><br /><li>Mark Helprin, <em>Freddy and Fredericka</em> (Penguin Press, 2005). This one comes highly recommended by Carly. Satire and parody suck if they aren't well executed. Carly assures me that this book does both justly.</li><br /><br /><li>Jared Diamond, <em>Guns, Germs, Steel</em> (Norton, 1999). This one makes it on to many must-read lists.</li><br /><br /><li>Diarmaid MacCulloch, <em>The Reformation</em> (Penguin Books, 2003). History and religion--Oh my.</li><br /><br /><li>Patrick Taylor, <em>An Irish Country Doctor</em> (Forge, 2004). The title says it all.</li>Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-18930588903559093182008-04-30T21:51:00.000-07:002008-05-14T17:06:12.372-07:00Unread LibraryThing MemeConsider yourself tagged if you are reading this. When you post your list on your blog, please track back to mine so that I can read your lists too.<br /><br />The rules:<br />Bold what you have read, italicize books you’ve started but couldn’t finish, and strike through books you hated. Add an asterisk* to those you’ve read more than once. Underline those on your tbr list.<br /><br /><u>Jonathan Strange & M. Norrell</u><br /><u>Anna Karenina</u><br />Crime and Punishment*<br /><u>Catch-22</u> <br />One hundred years of solitude<br />Wuthering Heights*<br /><u>The Silmarillion</u><br /><u>Life of Pi: a novel</u><br /><u>The Name of the Rose</u><br /><strong>Don Quixote </strong><br />Moby Dick* <br /><strong>Ulysses</strong><br />Madame Bovary* <br />The Odyssey*<br />Pride and Prejudice*<br />Jane Eyre*<br /><u>A Tale of Two Cities</u><br />The Brothers Karamazov*<br />Guns, Germs, and Steel: the fates of human societies? I think I've read this but am not entirely sure<br />War and Peace*<br /><u>Vanity Fair</u><br /><u>The Time Traveller’s Wife</u><br />The Iliad*<br />Emma*<br />The Blind Assassin<br /><u>The Kite Runner</u><br /><strong>Mrs. Dalloway</strong><br /><u>Great Expectations</u><br />American Gods<br />A heartbreaking work of staggering genius<br /><u>Atlas shrugged</u><br />Reading Lolita in Tehran<br /><u>Memoirs of a Geisha</u><br />Middlesex<br />Quicksilver<br /><u>Wicked : the life and times of the wicked witch of the West</u><br />The Canterbury tales*<br /><u>The Historian</u><br />A portrait of the artist as a young man*<br />Love in the time of cholera<br /><strong>Brave new world</strong><br />The Fountainhead*<br />Foucault’s Pendulum<br /><u>Middlemarch</u><br />Frankenstein*<br /><u>The Count of Monte Cristo</u> I have read this, but it was so long ago that I can't count it.<br />Dracula*<br /><u>A clockwork orange</u><br />Anansi Boys<br /><u>The Once and Future King</u><br /><strong>The Grapes of Wrath</strong><br /><u>The Poisonwood Bible</u><br /><u>1984</u><br /><strong>Angels & Demons</strong><br />The Inferno*<br /><u>The Satanic Verses</u><br /><u>Sense and sensibility</u><br />The Picture of Dorian Gray*<br />Mansfield Park*<br /><u>One flew over the cuckoo’s nest</u><br />To the Lighthouse*<br /><u>Tess of the D’Urbervilles</u><br /><strong>Oliver Twist</strong>A long time ago.<br />Gulliver’s Travels*<br /><u>Les misérables</u><br />The Corrections<br /><u>The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay</u><br /><u>The curious incident of the dog in the night-time</u><br /><u>Dune</u><br />The Prince*<br /><strong>The Sound and the Fury</strong><br />Angela’s Ashes<br />The God of Small Things <br />A people’s history of the United States : 1492-present<br />Cryptonomicon<br />Neverwhere<br /><u>A confederacy of dunces</u><br />A Short History of Nearly Everything<br /><strong>Dubliners</strong>The unbearable lightness of being<br /><strong>Beloved</strong><br /><u>Slaughterhouse-five</u><br />The Scarlet Letter*<br />Eats, Shoots & Leaves <br />The mists of Avalon<br />Oryx and Crake : a novel<br />Collapse : how societies choose to fail or succeed<br />Cloud Atlas<br />The Confusion<br />Lolita*<br />Persuasion*<br /><u>Northanger Abbey</u><br />The Catcher in the Rye*. I didn't really like it.<br /><u>On the Road</u><br /><u>The Hunchback of Notre Dame</u><br /><u>Freakonomics</u><br /><u>Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance</u><br />The Aeneid*<br />Watership Down*<br />Gravity’s Rainbow<br />The Hobbit*<br /><strong>In Cold Blood</strong><br />White teeth<br /><strong>Treasure Island</strong><br />David Copperfield<br /><strong>The Three Musketeers</strong>Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946475.post-59926047395039652752008-04-26T19:14:00.000-07:002008-04-26T16:15:11.300-07:00KindlingI read--ok, skimmed--a book while waiting for my husband to finish up at work, and it occurred to me: Thank God for books like these. Else, what would we use as kindling? I am sure that someone somewhere will learn to appreciate this book. It's one that I've put on Book Mooch--have at. Only because it's one that I am trying to off load will I spare naming it here.<br /><br />Gracian's <em>The Art of Worldly of Wisdom </em>was interesting. I read it (along with the one above) while getting a pedicure and waiting for my husband. It definitely has some gems in it. For example, "...Virtue alone is sufficient unto itself: and it, only, makes a man worth loving life, and in death, remembering."<br /><br />So, today the fam' spent a day shopping, and, I, as a result, have some new acquisitions:<br /><br /><li>Dave Barry, <em>Dave Barry's Greatest Hits</em> (Ballantine Books, 1988). With my job, I could use some laughs.</li><br /><br /><li>Steve Martin, <em>Born Standing Up</em> (Scribner, 2007). I think he wrote this a long time ago, but I am not sure. This was one of Bill's picks.<?li><br /><br /><li>Dava Sobel, <em>Longitude</em> (Walker and Company, 2005). If Patrick O'Brian and William F. Buckley like it, then that's good enough for me.</li><br /><br /><li>Vanora Bennett, <em>Potrait of an Unknown Woman </em>(Harper, 2007). Historical Fiction has been on my mind recently. Henry VIII's court and the English in general around that time interest me. Note to authors: if you put Sir Thomas More on the covers to your books, I'm at least 50% more likely to buy it than not.</li><br /><br /><li>David Liss, <em>A Conspiracy of Paper</em> (Ballantine Books, 2001). Historical thriller. Could be horrible. Looked worthy. We shall see.</li><br /><br /><li>Martha Cooley, <em>The Archivist </em>(Back Bay, 1999). It's described in one review as valuable and rare. I've liked Byatt's spin on literary detective stories, so I thought I'd try this one.</li><br /><br /><li>Mortimer J. Adler, <em>Aristotle for Everybody </em>(Touchstone, 1997). Thank God for used bookstores.</li><br /><br /><li>Kelly Jones, <em>The Seventh Unicorn </em> (Berkley, 2005). Art detective story.</li><br /><br /><li>Edwin Thomas, <em>The Blighted Cliffs </em>(St. Martin's Press, 2005). Naval adventure.</li><br /><br /><li>Matthew Pearl, <em>The Poe Shadow </em>(Random House, 2007). "Thick with intrigue." We shall see.</li><br /><br /><li>Charmaine Craig,<em> The Good Men </em>(Riverhead Books, 2002). A historical novel about the Cathar Rebellion. It's probably a lot about the failures of the Catholic Church. I hope it does more than harp on those failures and is, instead, informative about the Cathars.</li><br /><br /><li>John Irving, <em>The Cider House Rules </em>(Ballantine Book, 1993). Let's hope it's as good as they say it is.</li><br /><br /><li>Alison Jenkins, <em>The Antique Sampler Set </em>(Reader's Digest, 2007). Looks like some good crossstich projects may be in my near future.</li><br /><br /><li>Caleb Carr, <em>The Italian Secretary</em> (Carroll & Graf Publishers, 2005). I loved the Alienist, which I read nearly 10 years ago; so, keep your fingers crossed, please (I know I will).</li><br /><br /><li>Ken Follett, <em>The Pillars of the Earth </em>(New American Library, 2007). Oprah and I don't generally overlap in our reading selections. I guess I can make one exception.</li><br /><br /><li>Michael Shaara, <em>The Killer Angels</em> (Ballantine Books, 2007). One of my favorite (most inspiring) speeches ever is in this book. At some point, I'll post about it.</li>Voracious Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769572523815827206noreply@blogger.com2