The Sunday Salon

The Sunday Salon – The National Book Festival

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The National Book Festival was this weekend in Washington, DC and I braved the still 90 degree weather to see two authors — Diana Gabaldon who wrote The Outlander series and Elizabeth Kostova who wrote The Historian and The Swan Thieves.  Gabaldon was very funny especially when she started describing how and why she decided on a Scotsman for the male character.  She drew a huge crowd, and as always, a lot of questions about her next book since she left everyone hanging in An Echo in the Bone.  Two years at least.  Yep, another two years or so before I find out what happened.  She does have a graphic novel coming out that does feature Outlander characters so I guess that will have to do for the moment.  Kostova was good as well and spoke about her writing process which I found interesting.  For whatever reason, I’m always fascinated to hear about authors’ writing processes; when they write, how they put the story together, and where they find inspiration.  This week I’ve been reading The Historian for the read along and hearing Kostova speak about the book provided a lot of insight on why and how she ended up writing about Dracula.  I’m surprised to see how much I’m enjoying it the second time around too.  I always worry that when I pick up a book to re-read that I’m not going to enjoy it as much as I did the first time and that my experience and memories will be ruined somehow.  That doesn’t seem to be happening with this book.

Because of the heat, I ended up spending time in the National Gallery looking at Edvard Munch prints instead of listening to more authors and by 2PM I decided that I had lost enough fluid thanks to the heat and left so not much else to report.  C-SPAN’s Book TV will have coverage up soon if you’re interested in seeing any of the authors at this year’s festival.  I’ll probably end up watching a few that I missed this way.  If you want to see the list of authors, the Library of Congress which sponsors the festival has a complete list.

Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire was my other re-read this week.  I hate to admit this but I remember more from the movies than I do the books, but thanks to cable, I have seen the movies more than I have read the books so it does make sense.  It’s nice to be surprised by a book on a re-read though.  While I knew the ending, there were details I had forgotten which make the story much different to read than to watch.

I started The Dead Path by Stephen M. Irwin this weekend.  He’s an Australian author and this is his first book.  It’s dark, disturbing, and sad and I have decided that I will probably be finishing this one while the sun is shining today.  Come to think of it, it would have been perfect for the Readers Imbibing Peril Challenge which I meant to enter and then didn’t.  Maybe next year.

I was planning to include a few pics from the book festival but I can’t figure out how to get them off my phone and hubby is working.  Since I want to be able to spend some time with him today, away from the computer and the blackberry, I’m not going to ask him how to figure it out.  Besides, they aren’t all that good so you’re not really missing anything.  The woman in front of me kept moving and her head appears in every single one of my photos.  Oh well.

That’s it for me this week.  Happy Sunday!

The Sunday Salon – Reading Habits

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Two things last week got me thinking about my reading habits — the Friday BBAW question and a post by Eva at A Striped Armchair.  BBAW asked about your blogging goals for the coming year and Eva was talking about reading on a whim.

I consider myself a whim reader and by that I mean I pick what I want to read based on what I feel like reading not on a structured plan.  Even when I’m participating in challenges I manage to find a way to ignore any sort of plan I’ve put in place and pick my next book randomly.  The last few days I’ve been thinking about why I do this and I can come up with no reason for it.  Normally, I’m a very organized person who loves to make lists and have everything in a certain order, and while I do make reading lists, I don’t have any prescribed way of reading the books on the list.  Even when it’s a book I’ve been wanting to read, I sometimes leave it until I’m feeling it more.

Here’s the good thing in all of this; I think this is what keep reading fun for me.  I’m always looking forward to something new and not knowing what that is, makes it fun.  Hardly do I ever think about the next book I’m going to be reading while reading, unless of course the book is bad, scary, or sad in which case I might make an effort to be sure the next pick is something more uplifting, but other than that, I don’t go out of my way to think about it.

On the right sidebar, I have a widget for the next book on my TBR and I realized earlier this week that it’s pretty much useless to me.  You see, I pick those books at random from a pile sitting on the little table next to the desk.  In some cases, the books I have there never get read. It was just a book on the pile and for that moment looked interesting. Sometimes I do read the books but sometimes I don’t.

In some ways, I have similar feelings about my blog.  I love doing this and BBAW gave me a humongous list of new blogs to visit, but I randomly take days off and don’t feel guilty about it in anyway.  My goals were, and remain, pretty simple — just to talk about my book reading.  I’m trying to keep it that way and I know it will stay fun.

So, the wrap-up.  Last week, I read:

Dracula in Love by Karen Essex.

Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach

The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell

Dracula in Love was meh, Packing for Mars was fascinating and gross, and The Last Kingdom I’ll be finishing up today and it confirmed my love of everything Cornwell writes.

That’s it for today folks.  Enjoy your Sunday.

The Sunday Salon – Buying Books

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There is a book buying ban currently in place at our house.  We have a lot of books and only so much space so we thought it best not to buy anymore, for the time being.  I faithfully use the library, and while there are still review copies that find their way through the door, for the most part, I have only bought about five books this year.  I am proud of myself because, let’s face it, for anyone that loves and adores books of all shapes and sizes, that’s a nearly miraculous feat.

However, I mention this because I’m being tested.  Yes, there are always books that I want to buy but if I can get a copy from the library, I do, and if I read and enjoy the book, all the better.  All last week and the week before there have been reviews of Mockingjay (If you aren’t familiar with it, it’s the third in The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins.) and I’ve read the reviews, even the ones with spoilers because I love spoilers, and I want to read it — right now.  I put it on hold at the library but I’m #48 (now 26 I think) in the queue so the way it stands, I may not get a chance to read it until sometime in 2012.  The world could end by then, at least if you believe the Mayans.  There is another book that I so much want to read too and I’m thinking of breaking the pact, temporarily of course, and buying both so I can satisfy my need to know.  That doesn’t make me a bad person does it?

I thought I’d also do a reading wrap-up from the last two weeks and all of August.

The last two weeks, I’ve read:

The Shipwreck that Saved Jamestown: The Sea Venture Castaways and the Fate of America by Lorri Glover and Daniel Blake Smith

Achilles by Elizabeth Cook

Life in Medieval France by E.R. Chamberlin

The House on the Strand by Daphne Du Maurier

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

Appointment in Samarra by John O’Hara

In August, I read:

The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Howls’ Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

The Thieves of Manhattan by Adam Langer

The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

The Shipwreck that Saved Jamestown: The Sea Venture Castaways and the Fate of America by Lorri Glover and Daniel Blake Smith

Achilles by Elizabeth Cook

Life in Medieval France by E.R. Chamberlin

The House on the Strand by Daphne Du Maurier

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

Kings of the Earth by Jon Clinch was a DNF for me.  I couldn’t get into it and I gave up.

August was full of wonderful books and I would be really pressed to pick a favorite, so I won’t.

Now, I must go and re-write several of the reviews that recently got eaten by my computer.  I tried recovering them but no such luck.  I’m annoyed because they were very good reviews.  Plus, I have a backlog of five reviews to write and three to re-do that I’d like to get a start on before going off to the museum.

Happy Sunday, and if you’re in the U.S., enjoy the Labor Day holiday.  Don’t ya just love having Mondays off…

The Sunday Salon – A Short Post

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This is going to be a short post today.  Thanks to work and life, I didn’t get much reading in last week. I read two books and they were rather short ones at that.  I finally got around to reading Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones which was lovely and I’m sorry I waited so long to read it. I also read The Thieves of Manhattan by Adam Langer which wasn’t bad either.  The Thieves of Manhattan is about the publishing industry and was a tart, little book full of sarcastic and biting remarks about the industry which I found quite entertaining.  I used to work for the publishing industry’s lobbying group and some of the comments/insights from the book were even funnier having met and worked with some people in publishing.

The King of Attolia which I’m reading now is moving along rather slow but that has more to do with me being tired than the book itself.  If I can, I plan to steal a few hours later today.  Maybe after a nap…

I made an attempt to update my challenge page recently and found I’ve completed or have come very close to completing most of the challenges except one – A Tournament of Reading.  I put several history books on hold at the library last week with the intention of reading them for the challenge so we’ll see how that goes in the next few weeks.  I wasn’t able to find everything I had on my list but I found a few that look good so I’m going with it.

Since I have a bit of work to do and still want to get some reading in later, I’m calling it.  Happy Sunday.  Next week I plan to have more to share.  🙂

The Sunday Salon – Birthday Wishes, Library Loot, and an Excellent Read This Week

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First — HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

I had to take a moment to wish my Mom a great day today. Love you Mom!

Now, the library loot. I was planning to do this post yesterday but got hung up running a million and one errands yesterday and didn’t find time to sit so today it is.

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. I put this one on hold in the hopes that I would have it for Jenny’s Books’s Diana Wynne Jones Week but it didn’t arrive in time. I’m a few chapters in and enjoying it. This book has been on my list for so long and I was worried that I would be disappointed by it (you know that whole books living up to expectations complex) but it’s good and funny. I thought the main character was going to bother me but once I got to understand her a bit, she’s grown on me and now I find myself happily following her along on the strange little journey she’s taken to find her fortune.

The Thieves of Manhattan by Adam Langer. I will admit that I know nothing about this book. I took it home with me without even checking what it was about but I have a feeling I am going to love it. I read the first few sentences and was completely taken in. When I dropped the books on the table my husband picked it up and asked if he could read it too. Maybe it’s the stark cover or the title, I don’t know, but I can’t wait.

The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner. Oh yes, now I get to found out what happens to Gen. You see, Gen is a Queen’s thief for a neighboring country and he’s managed to fall in love with the Queen of Attolia. Now, in the name of not giving it all away, I’ll stop there but I’m so looking forward to this one.

Kings of the Earth by Jon Clinch. I browse the new arrivals shelf when I have time and this one was there with its intriguing cover. It looks sad, depressing, and I’m not sure there is a happy or even a little less depressing end to the story but there was something that made me want to read it. It’s about brothers who live together on a crumbling upstate New York farm. When one dies the other two are suspected of murder.

I had a good week of reading last week. Here’s the wrap-up:

The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

The Queen of Attolia was good and I’m looking forward to continuing the series.

The Road. What do I say about this book other than it was probably one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. It’s about a post-apocalyptic world where the only survivors are left to fend for themselves in world with nothing left to give. The stark writing mirrors the situation of the characters. It’s sad, disturbing, disgusting, and honestly scared me more than anything I think I may have ever read. At one point I thought I might have to pull a Joey and put the book in the freezer but decided to push on, mostly because I couldn’t put it down. I don’t know if I will ever be able to read another McCarthy book, we have No Country for Old Men on the shelf, and while my husband assures me that it’s not as violent or disturbing, I don’t think I can do it. There is one scene in this book that actually made me put the book down and walk away from it and the hubby seeing this, the following conversation occurred:

“The basement scene.”

“What?”

“The basement scene. That’s what you just read wasn’t it?”

“Uh, yeah. How did you know? I thought you said you didn’t read this one.”

“I didn’t but that scene is legendary.”

“Legendary. Legendary! I don’t think I want to read anymore today. I’m freaked. I think I’ll go watch Shark Week in the bedroom for a while.”

Yes, the basement scene. I plan to include it in my review so I will say no more. Let’s just say I was so glad to pick up Harry Potter after that book. I needed a safe place after that. I still stand by what I said though — fabulous book and one of the best I’ve read.

Next week will be all about whales and kraken so I need to get writing and editing a few reviews.

Enjoy your Sunday fellow readers. 🙂

Sunday Salon – A Little Library Loot & A Little of This and That

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I skipped last week’s Sunday Salon to sleep late. I had a Friday Library Loot post in the works and decided to again sleep late. See a pattern? Yes, I like my sleep. This Sunday, I thought I’d clear up two posts in one so off we go.

First, the library loot.

The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner. I read The Thief a few months back and enjoyed it so on the library wait list I went for next two books in the series, The Queen of Attolia and The King of Attolia. Unfortunately, The King arrived before the Queen so I took it off my list and waited patiently for the Queen to arrive which she finally did this week. The thief, Gen, is back and this time he’ll be stealing a man, a queen, and some peace to make it a hat trick.

Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones. This is for the Diana Wynne Jones Week being hosted by Jenny at Jenny’s Books. It takes place August 1 – 7. I know I’m a bit early with my book but considering my luck with the library holds system, which is pretty much nada, I thought it best to put my request in early. I was planning to read Howl’s Moving Castle since that one has been on my list for eons but this one really caught my eye. Kids, boarding school, witchcraft…yes, it’s for me. I’m looking forward to cracking this one open.

Now, the this and that.

I tend to browse NPR online, mostly I listen in the car, but when I need a break I like to check out the books section and see what’s being talked about. Last week I found this – Killer Thrillers: Vote for the 100 Best Ever.

I’m not a thriller person. I do read them everyone once in a while but it’s not my genre of choice. I’m a historical fiction and fantasy type but I have a co-worker who is a fan and he’s been gracious enough to lend me a few. And I’ll admit that I have on my own gone out and bought a few because I find them to be great reads for plane rides since they have a tendency to suck you in which is a fabulous way to ignore the person clutching the seat next to you and asking the flight attendant for anything with vodka in it. (Is it just me or do other people have to sit next to people like this on planes? I have trouble thinking it’s just me…) Anyway, I thought some out there might find the list interesting. I haven’t read many on the list but did find a few to add to the list.

I Write Like. This is a website that analyses your writing style and tells you who you write like. I put in a few samples but haven’t had the chance yet to explore further. So who did it tell me I write like? Drum roll please…

James Joyce

David Foster Wallace

H.P. Lovecraft

Cory Doctrow

Ha! Yes, I laughed too. It’s good clean internet fun so have at it folks.

Well, that’s all for me this week. But one final thing — this week’s wrap-up. I read:

The Scarlet Contessa by Jeanne Kalogridis

The Whale: In Search of the Giants of the Sea by Philip Hoare

I’m currently reading Kraken by China Miéville and it’s strange, downright weird, funny, and lovingly sarcastic. I have to admit that I might have found a new author to faun over.

Happy Sunday! If you’re in the Mid-Atlantic enjoy the air-conditioning.

The Sunday Salon – A Quickie Post

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Yes, a quickie. I’m off shortly to pick up my husband from the airport and I thought I’d do a fast re-cap of this week’s reading. And besides, after writing six reviews this morning, I’m a bit worded out but the good news is that I will have reviews for everyone to read this week. Yea!

This week I read:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling — A re-read but oh so much fun.

The Dead Travel Fast by Deanna Raybourn — A fast read but not bad.

The King’s Mistress by Emma Campion — A heavy piece of historical fiction but I enjoyed it.

Well, that’s it for today. I told you it was quickie didn’t I. 😉

The Sunday Salon – Libraries

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This week was a blog bust for me. I was busy all week and my regular blog schedule got interrupted, and by the time the craziness calmed, the week was over and all the stuff I had ready to go never went. I’m hoping to get back to a regular schedule this week now that things seems to be getting back to normal, or at least some semblance of normal around here. (My husband and I always joke that we don’t lead normal lives but we also sort of like it this way. We don’t get bored. :-))

I wanted to take a quick moment to talk about libraries. Many, probably most of us, are regular patrons and we love our local libraries that supply us with all the books we want to read. Libraries are places of wonder, education, and entertainment. And, unfortunately, many, if not all, are experiencing some sort of funding shortage. The American Library Association, which is holding its Annual Convention in Washington, DC this weekend will be hosting a rally on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, June 29th to bring needed attention to the problems libraries across the U.S. are facing. I won’t be able to attend the rally but I did want to mention it here. I will also probably be writing to my representative to remind her just how important it is to support local libraries. It’s not just about books, although I could probably make the argument on that alone, but libraries offer many free services and classes that help individuals in our communities get back on their feet and they provide children and adults with places to learn, escape, and be creative. I know for many people libraries are probably on the bottom of their lists, but we should all take a minute to make sure they don’t become extinct.

Last week, I had the opportunity to meet up with Carol Fitzgerald of The Book Reporter. I do reviews for The Book Reporter, which you’ve heard me talk about before, and since she was in town for the American Library Association Convention, we had the chance to meet up for dinner and talk about books and pretty much everything else. It was a great dinner and I’m glad the scheduling worked out for both of us. The reason I mention this is because Carol wrote a great piece on saving libraries on The Huffington Post that you should read. The full article is here.

Library lecture now over, thanks for listening. 🙂

So, to wrap this one up, I read:

The Divine Sacrifice by Tony Hays. I’m not a mystery person but I’m trying to read more of them. I liked it but I think my problem with mysteries is that I spend the whole time trying to figure out who did it that I forget to sometimes enjoy the trip.

Fire by Kristin Cashore. I didn’t enjoy it as much as Graceling but still very good. Cashore has an amazing ability to create brand new worlds that really do enchant.

This week I plan to post reviews of The Conquest by Elizabeth Chadwick and Benighted by Kit Whitfield and maybe one more if I find the time to write. I’ll be starting Deliver Us From Evil by David Baldacci today. A co-worker loaned it to me and while it’s not my normal reading, I’m looking forward to the change of pace.

Happy Sunday!