Hello All!
Here's the link to the Mystery Read-A-Thon I'm participating in tomorrow, Sunday, June 7, 2009: http://mysteryreadathon.blogspot.com/
I think I'm ready--I've got food for meals, snacks (generally, mostly low calorie, kinda healthy), I may allow myself 2 Diet Cokes instead of my usual 1, and I'll be drinking lots of water (it's the desert, and our humidity's been 15% or below lately).
Here are the books I've set aside, though not necessarily in the order I may to read them:
Gilda Joyce, Psychic Investigator by Jennifer Allison (YA)
Bury Me Deep by Megan Abbott (ARC from Kathy F--thanks!!!)
Raiders of the Lost Corset by Ellen Byerrum
A Night at the Operation by Jeffrey Cohen
Trigger City by Sean Chercover
The Boxer and the Spy by Robert B. Parker (YA)
A Mammoth Murder by Bill Crider
I have also started reading another mystery today, which I am still undecided about, so that may end up on the list if I end up finishing it tomorrow.
Not sure yet about how I'll be posting, here and on Goodreads (probably on Facebook & Twitter too), but my usual thing is to post reviews on Goodreads after I've finished a book, so I'll probably do that.
Ahhhh, a day of guilt-free reading--looking forward to seeing who else participates, and, as always, would love to know what you're reading!
Happy Reading!
Patti
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Mystery Read-A-Thon June 7!
Hello All!
Like many (most?) of you, I don't need an excuse to spend time reading, especially mysteries, but for one Sunday in June, I've got one! On June 7, I'm participating in a Mystery Readathon--12 hours to be spent reading mysteries!!! http://mysteryreadathon.blogspot.com/ is the site to go and register for this event. I followed the link to the Dewey's Read-a-Thon (that one is 24 hours!), and I will probably keep my own hours that day--not necessarily keeping to the time outlined on the link above--I'm currently thinking 10 AM to 10 PM, giving me time to exercise & shower before starting. And if the Detroit Red Wings continue to the Stanley Cup Playoffs and they play that day, that game will have to be on while I'm reading :).
I think it'll be fun, and I'll be posting updates here and on Facebook. Join me! Thanks to Jen of Jen's Book Thoughts for leading me to this link, and to a day of mystery reading!
Happy Reading!
Patti
Like many (most?) of you, I don't need an excuse to spend time reading, especially mysteries, but for one Sunday in June, I've got one! On June 7, I'm participating in a Mystery Readathon--12 hours to be spent reading mysteries!!! http://mysteryreadathon.blogspot.com/ is the site to go and register for this event. I followed the link to the Dewey's Read-a-Thon (that one is 24 hours!), and I will probably keep my own hours that day--not necessarily keeping to the time outlined on the link above--I'm currently thinking 10 AM to 10 PM, giving me time to exercise & shower before starting. And if the Detroit Red Wings continue to the Stanley Cup Playoffs and they play that day, that game will have to be on while I'm reading :).
I think it'll be fun, and I'll be posting updates here and on Facebook. Join me! Thanks to Jen of Jen's Book Thoughts for leading me to this link, and to a day of mystery reading!
Happy Reading!
Patti
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Rereading in 2009
Hello All!
2009 has become the year of rereading for me, for two reasons. One, I'm very busy with a lot of new experiences coming at me, and while I'm finding most of them very exciting, I'm a bit tired, and rereading allows you to visit with familiar characters, if not familiar plots, depending on how well you remember the book, or how often you've read it. Two, we had a lot of things in storage before our move to Tucson, including books, and some books I'm rereading to "catch-up" in a series I may have put on hold while we were living in our smaller place.
To many readers out there, rereading is crazy, why do people want to read a book over again when there are so many new books to read? Well, for me it seems to be mostly spending time with characters that I love. I will add that I'm a fast reader, and often rereading doesn't take too much time for me. Rereading is also excellent for bedtime.
I will also be spending a lot of time in 2009 reading young adult or teen books. As those of you who follow my blog know, I began a position in December as a Teen Librarian, and I am reading some excellent teen fiction.
Some series I'm rereading my way through are Commissario Guido Brunetti Venetian series by Donna Leon, Karen Pelletier academic series by Joanne Dobson, Jake Hines series by Elizabeth Gunn, Ophelia & Abby (witch) series by Shirley Damsgaard--off the top of my head. All of these authors are still writing, though some authors I reread are gone, such as Anne George and Charlotte Macleod.
Happy Reading (or, rereading, as the case may be!)!
Patti
2009 has become the year of rereading for me, for two reasons. One, I'm very busy with a lot of new experiences coming at me, and while I'm finding most of them very exciting, I'm a bit tired, and rereading allows you to visit with familiar characters, if not familiar plots, depending on how well you remember the book, or how often you've read it. Two, we had a lot of things in storage before our move to Tucson, including books, and some books I'm rereading to "catch-up" in a series I may have put on hold while we were living in our smaller place.
To many readers out there, rereading is crazy, why do people want to read a book over again when there are so many new books to read? Well, for me it seems to be mostly spending time with characters that I love. I will add that I'm a fast reader, and often rereading doesn't take too much time for me. Rereading is also excellent for bedtime.
I will also be spending a lot of time in 2009 reading young adult or teen books. As those of you who follow my blog know, I began a position in December as a Teen Librarian, and I am reading some excellent teen fiction.
Some series I'm rereading my way through are Commissario Guido Brunetti Venetian series by Donna Leon, Karen Pelletier academic series by Joanne Dobson, Jake Hines series by Elizabeth Gunn, Ophelia & Abby (witch) series by Shirley Damsgaard--off the top of my head. All of these authors are still writing, though some authors I reread are gone, such as Anne George and Charlotte Macleod.
Happy Reading (or, rereading, as the case may be!)!
Patti
Monday, April 13, 2009
Book Geek Quiz
Hello All!
Lesa Holstine posted this to her blog, so I'm following suit--it can also be posted (pasted?) to Facebook. I am definitely a book geek!!!
Copy the questions into your own note, answer the questions, and tag any friends who would appreciate the quiz.
1) What author do you own the most books by?
Charlotte Macleod/Alisa Craig. I own 33 titles by her, almost all of her books, except for her teen books written early in her career.
2) What book do you own the most copies of?
I have recently weeded out my books, but if I still own more than one copy, it would be just 2 of Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin.
3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?
No.
4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
Just one? Spenser, Elvis Cole, Armand Gamache, and Simon Shaw.
5) What book have you read the most times in your life (excluding picture books read to children)?
Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin
6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?
I'm not sure if I had discovered Meet the Austins yet by Madeleine L'Engle; if I hadn't, probably Nancy Drew or the Happy Hollisters.
7) What is the worst book you've read in the past year?
The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon
8) What is the best book you've read in the past year?
Ha! Whittled down from my best of 2008 & current best of 2009, they are: These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Schaffer and Annie Barrows, Graceling by Kristin Cashore, and Paper Towns by John Green.
9) If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?
Still Life by Louise Penny. It takes place in a small village in Quebec, which I think gives it a bit of a French flavor, it's a good mystery, an excellent cast of characters. It gives readers a bit of a taste of a variety of genres, I believe.
10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for Literature?
I don't seem to read what is usually nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature.
11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?
One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.
I know I've dreamed about books & characters, but I can't recall any specific dreams.
14) What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult?
At this time, I don't know.
15) What is the most difficult book you've ever read? One of the most difficult books I ever read was A Beautiful Mind, mostly because I couldn't wrap my brain around the math in it.
16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've seen?
I've seen very little Shakespeare.
17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?
I like Lesa's answer to this one: "Neither. Give me Americans, British or Canadians."
18) Roth or Updike? Neither.
19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?
I haven't read either one.
20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer? Shakespeare.
21) Austen or Eliot? Austen!
22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?
Nonfiction probably.
23) What is your favorite novel?
Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin
24) Play? "Les Miserables" or "Carousel".
25) Poem?
No favorite at this time
26) Essay?
There are several I really like by Anna Quindlen, but I don't have her books on hand right now.
27) And... what are you reading right now?
Bindlestiff by Bill Pronzini and Execution Dock by Anne Perry
28) What's the best title for a book ever (you don't have to like the book).
This takes a little time, but I'd love to see other people take this quiz :)!
Happy Reading!
Patti
Lesa Holstine posted this to her blog, so I'm following suit--it can also be posted (pasted?) to Facebook. I am definitely a book geek!!!
Copy the questions into your own note, answer the questions, and tag any friends who would appreciate the quiz.
1) What author do you own the most books by?
Charlotte Macleod/Alisa Craig. I own 33 titles by her, almost all of her books, except for her teen books written early in her career.
2) What book do you own the most copies of?
I have recently weeded out my books, but if I still own more than one copy, it would be just 2 of Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin.
3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?
No.
4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
Just one? Spenser, Elvis Cole, Armand Gamache, and Simon Shaw.
5) What book have you read the most times in your life (excluding picture books read to children)?
Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin
6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?
I'm not sure if I had discovered Meet the Austins yet by Madeleine L'Engle; if I hadn't, probably Nancy Drew or the Happy Hollisters.
7) What is the worst book you've read in the past year?
The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon
8) What is the best book you've read in the past year?
Ha! Whittled down from my best of 2008 & current best of 2009, they are: These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Schaffer and Annie Barrows, Graceling by Kristin Cashore, and Paper Towns by John Green.
9) If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?
Still Life by Louise Penny. It takes place in a small village in Quebec, which I think gives it a bit of a French flavor, it's a good mystery, an excellent cast of characters. It gives readers a bit of a taste of a variety of genres, I believe.
10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for Literature?
I don't seem to read what is usually nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature.
11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?
One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.
I know I've dreamed about books & characters, but I can't recall any specific dreams.
14) What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult?
At this time, I don't know.
15) What is the most difficult book you've ever read? One of the most difficult books I ever read was A Beautiful Mind, mostly because I couldn't wrap my brain around the math in it.
16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've seen?
I've seen very little Shakespeare.
17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?
I like Lesa's answer to this one: "Neither. Give me Americans, British or Canadians."
18) Roth or Updike? Neither.
19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?
I haven't read either one.
20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer? Shakespeare.
21) Austen or Eliot? Austen!
22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?
Nonfiction probably.
23) What is your favorite novel?
Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin
24) Play? "Les Miserables" or "Carousel".
25) Poem?
No favorite at this time
26) Essay?
There are several I really like by Anna Quindlen, but I don't have her books on hand right now.
27) And... what are you reading right now?
Bindlestiff by Bill Pronzini and Execution Dock by Anne Perry
28) What's the best title for a book ever (you don't have to like the book).
This takes a little time, but I'd love to see other people take this quiz :)!
Happy Reading!
Patti
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Plainsong--Book Turned Movie
Hello All!
I happened across "Plainsong" when I was channel-surfing this evening, and though often we don't want to watch our favorite books turned into films, I thought I'd give it a shot. I'm glad I did--it had an excellent cast that included Aidan Quinn, America Ferrara, Rachel Griffiths and Megan Follows, and the adaptation was true to the spirit of the book. I was hoping to see more of Megan Follows, as it seems most of her work is in Canada, but her work in a small role was good in the movie. There were definitely parts left out from the book, but as most film adaptations (movie or made for TV) have a time limit, that is to be expected. I also thought the actors who played the older farm brothers were good, and those that played the young Guthrie boys were excellent, as many of the story transitions came from them.
Plainsong by Kent Haruf is one of my absolute favorite books. A lot happens in a very steady paced plot, with characters that seem low-key, but live their lives trying to be the best people they can be. The characters have a quiet strength to them.
I can't recommend the book highly enough; it's one I think everyone should read. And the film adaptation is pretty good too.
Happy Reading!
Patti
I happened across "Plainsong" when I was channel-surfing this evening, and though often we don't want to watch our favorite books turned into films, I thought I'd give it a shot. I'm glad I did--it had an excellent cast that included Aidan Quinn, America Ferrara, Rachel Griffiths and Megan Follows, and the adaptation was true to the spirit of the book. I was hoping to see more of Megan Follows, as it seems most of her work is in Canada, but her work in a small role was good in the movie. There were definitely parts left out from the book, but as most film adaptations (movie or made for TV) have a time limit, that is to be expected. I also thought the actors who played the older farm brothers were good, and those that played the young Guthrie boys were excellent, as many of the story transitions came from them.
Plainsong by Kent Haruf is one of my absolute favorite books. A lot happens in a very steady paced plot, with characters that seem low-key, but live their lives trying to be the best people they can be. The characters have a quiet strength to them.
I can't recommend the book highly enough; it's one I think everyone should read. And the film adaptation is pretty good too.
Happy Reading!
Patti
Saturday, February 14, 2009
We Are The Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson
Hello All,
What an outstanding book We Are the Ship is. The illustrations are absolutely amazing, I can't get over how beautiful they are. The text is wonderful too; it gives a lot of information in a very interesting, conversational way. I couldn't quite name the style, but the author did that for me in his Author's Note: "I chose to present the voice of the narrator as a collective voice, the voice of every player, the voice of we." It's perfect for this book.
I knew very little about the Negro League before reading this book, but I have always loved baseball. In Detroit, the Detroit Tigers have been playing a game every year the last few years in honor of the Negro League, wearing the uniform of the Detroit Stars for that game. Despite this, I had no idea how popular the League was in its heyday, with both black and white fans, and how it was acknowledged for a very long time that the Negro League players were every bit as good, and some better, than the white players playing major league baseball.
In addition to both the 2009 Coretta Scott King Awards for author (winner) AND illustrator (honor), this book also won the 2009 Robert F. Sibert Medal from the American Library Association. "The Sibert Medal honors the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published during the preceding year."
I can't recommend this stunningly beautiful book enough to all ages, both for the illustrations and for the writing!
Happy Reading!
Patti
What an outstanding book We Are the Ship is. The illustrations are absolutely amazing, I can't get over how beautiful they are. The text is wonderful too; it gives a lot of information in a very interesting, conversational way. I couldn't quite name the style, but the author did that for me in his Author's Note: "I chose to present the voice of the narrator as a collective voice, the voice of every player, the voice of we." It's perfect for this book.
I knew very little about the Negro League before reading this book, but I have always loved baseball. In Detroit, the Detroit Tigers have been playing a game every year the last few years in honor of the Negro League, wearing the uniform of the Detroit Stars for that game. Despite this, I had no idea how popular the League was in its heyday, with both black and white fans, and how it was acknowledged for a very long time that the Negro League players were every bit as good, and some better, than the white players playing major league baseball.
In addition to both the 2009 Coretta Scott King Awards for author (winner) AND illustrator (honor), this book also won the 2009 Robert F. Sibert Medal from the American Library Association. "The Sibert Medal honors the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published during the preceding year."
I can't recommend this stunningly beautiful book enough to all ages, both for the illustrations and for the writing!
Happy Reading!
Patti
Monday, February 9, 2009
Shanghai Moon by S. J. Rozan
Hello All,
What a terrific book, with wonderful storytelling. S. J. Rozan has long been one of my favorite authors, and this book was well worth waiting for. It's been about six years or so since the last entry in the Lydia Chin/Bill Smith series.
What made this so wonderful to me was that Rozan tells two stories. The reader gets the PI novel with Lydia & Bill, but also an interesting historical story told in letters about Jewish emigrants to Shanghai just before WWII. Rosalie and her brother Paul are young people who leave Europe as Austria is invaded by Germany. On their journey to Shanghai, they are befriended by a Chinese gentleman named Kai-Rong. The friendship continues in Shanghai, as Rosalie and Paul go through some tough times adjusting to their new surroundings. Friendship turns to romance, and despite cultural differences, Rosalie and Kai-Rong marry. This story is told through letters Rosalie writes to her mother; not all the letters are sent, as the situation in Europe evolves, but Rosalie continues to write.
Lydia is hired by an old friend, another detective, to assist in a case using her connections in the Chinese community in New York. The case involves recovering assets from WWII, the Jewish community in Shangai, and missing jewelry, specifically a piece called the Shanghai Moon. Lydia's detective friend, Joel, is killed during the course of the case, and although she is fired, Lydia, now assisted by Bill, pursues Joel's murder and the missing jewelry.
Again, this book is terrific, and involved, and very, very interesting. I enjoyed all that I learned while reading it, and Rozan told two wonderful stories within one book. Very, very highly recommended.
Happy Reading!
Patti
What a terrific book, with wonderful storytelling. S. J. Rozan has long been one of my favorite authors, and this book was well worth waiting for. It's been about six years or so since the last entry in the Lydia Chin/Bill Smith series.
What made this so wonderful to me was that Rozan tells two stories. The reader gets the PI novel with Lydia & Bill, but also an interesting historical story told in letters about Jewish emigrants to Shanghai just before WWII. Rosalie and her brother Paul are young people who leave Europe as Austria is invaded by Germany. On their journey to Shanghai, they are befriended by a Chinese gentleman named Kai-Rong. The friendship continues in Shanghai, as Rosalie and Paul go through some tough times adjusting to their new surroundings. Friendship turns to romance, and despite cultural differences, Rosalie and Kai-Rong marry. This story is told through letters Rosalie writes to her mother; not all the letters are sent, as the situation in Europe evolves, but Rosalie continues to write.
Lydia is hired by an old friend, another detective, to assist in a case using her connections in the Chinese community in New York. The case involves recovering assets from WWII, the Jewish community in Shangai, and missing jewelry, specifically a piece called the Shanghai Moon. Lydia's detective friend, Joel, is killed during the course of the case, and although she is fired, Lydia, now assisted by Bill, pursues Joel's murder and the missing jewelry.
Again, this book is terrific, and involved, and very, very interesting. I enjoyed all that I learned while reading it, and Rozan told two wonderful stories within one book. Very, very highly recommended.
Happy Reading!
Patti
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