I’m stopping down this morning to see a few authors. More info is here if you’re interested. Are you going? What authors are you looking forward too?
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The Great DC Earthquake of 2011
Yep. We felt it. We survived. It was my first earthquake (I’d be good if it were my first and last!) and all I have to say is that it was creepy to have the earth move under your feet. Carole King you are so wrong.
In a funny twist, the only thing — besides the actual shaking that is — I personally encountered was a few books falling off the shelf. I of course put the books back before leaving the building to which my husband said, “If there are any aftershocks, please leave the books where they are and just leave the building!” I can promise him that. 🙂
In honor of the quake, I thought I’d take a look at earthquake reading.
The Los Angeles Times, in a very timely article from March of this year, took at look at earthquakes in literature. Three books on the list look good to me:
The Flutter of an Eyelid by Myron Brinig
Quake by Rudolph Wurlitzer
After the Quake by Haruki Murakami
I recently read another book by Haruki Murakami, After Dark, which was wonderful and I highly recommend it. I hope to have a review up in the next few weeks but I’m way behind on writing reviews so it may be longer. I’d blame that on the earthquake but I can’t; I’ve been lazy.
Not book related but interesting — the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
In case you want to know how earthquakes work, How Stuff Works will answer your questions.
Any earthquake reading of your own to add? If you’re in the DC and surrounding areas, did you feel the quake? Hope all is OK.
Vacation
It’s break time for me. We’re taking a much needed vacation where I will be doing this.
And this.
Be back soon. Enjoy!
Book Blues
I’ve been in a slight reading slump the last week. It could be the weather which has been nice for DC this time of year and has put me in a summer mood or it could be my picks. I’m not sure and I’m struggling with what to write about which is part of the reason why I haven’t posted anything the last few days. Looking back over my list, I’ve read some great books in 2011 but the last week has been lacking. I wanted to go back to some classics, something I’ve been meaning to do all year, but several books failed to interest me — some for size, some for content. By week’s end, I decided to abandon the book I was reading, The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, for something else. That something else turned out to be Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith. Not a classic by any means but highly readable for someone who seemed to want nothing more than brain candy on a Saturday afternoon. It happens to us all sometimes…
For a change of pace (I’ve been reading a lot of fantasy which I love but I need a break from vampires and other such creatures) and a way to keep my classics intake up, my next choice was Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. It’s been years since I’ve read it and I thought it would be a good re-read. Somehow I’m finding myself annoyed by the March girls. How did this happen?! All of them are whiners, yes you too Beth, and Marmee is too perfect. Way too perfect I tell you! This makes me sad. I’m going to push on to the end though because this book has always been a comfort read for me and I can’t leave it feeling the way I am. I believe it’s a general reflection on the state of my hectic life right now and I’m guessing that when work calms down, projects come to a close, and I can breathe again, that all this foolishness will pass.
So for sticking that out with me, I’m passing on some links which amused me and kept me in love with books even though I didn’t have one to read.
Alan Rickman’s goodbye to Harry Potter letter.
Tony Blair would take Tolkien to a desert isle? Yes, yes he would.
The Hollywood Reporter put together a list of the five best beach books. I don’t know how this happened, as it hardly ever does, but I want to read all of these books.
2011 Locus Winners. Several books are on my list and several more will be added. I’ve read more science fiction this year than last but I still feel woefully behind when it comes to this genre. I was thrilled to see Kraken by China Mieville win best Fantasy novel. I loved that book! Two Connie Willis books, Black Out and All Clear will be read this year too. And A Hundred Thousand Kingdoms and Shades of Milk and Honey are also high on the TBR but, let’s face it, they’ve been there since 2011 started so who knows when I’ll get to them but I will. I make no promises but considering the sorry state of my reading, these two may jump the list.
Why do we love Jane Austen? It’s because of tough love. And she’s an excellent architect too.
Game of Thrones adds new people to the cast for season two.
And since we’ve already mentioned the Lord of the Rings, some pictures from The Hobbit movie.
Writers dish on titles.
Independent bookstores charging for author signings. This one made me sad even though I understand why it’s happening.
Time Off
I’m taking time off to re-group. I’ll be back with new posts in about a week or so. I tried to find an interesting picture of a clock of something like that and I couldn’t so here’s a photo I took on a recent trip to the National Arboretum. I’m obsessed with taking pics of flowers lately…
If you’re going to BEA this year, leave me a note about it and I’ll stop by and read. I’m missing it once again but I’m sure you’ll all keep me informed!
Making It Up Monday Night
My husband had to be on a plane very early this morning and while I was planning to put together a Sunday Salon yesterday, I decided instead to spend the day with my husband and it was a good choice. So, here I am today with a few links because I’m trying to get myself back on a blogging schedule and I thought the only way to do that would be to actually put together a post. I’m also making a valiant attempt at catching up on reviews and watching TV which means the writing is going slower than anticipated but it’s going.
Links!
OK, I swear I don’t actually go looking for Harry Potter links but I feel I’ve got loads of them lately. This one, a proposal. The best part of this post — the comment — “couldn’t you spring for the hardcover?” He he. And just to make sure you get more than enough of dear ol’ Harry and his friends, this one too.
Book purging, something I need to do. But sadly, I don’t have the heart for it lately.
Want to be a punster? Go at it.
What do your favorite books say about you? Me, apparently I steal ex-boyfriends, drink a lot of tea, and have a preference for walk in closets. The tea and walk in closets are accurate anyway… You?
A Game of Thrones series premiered last night on HBO. (Excited? YES! YES! YES!) If you don’t have HBO and are curious or need a fix until you can get to a friend’s house, go here. I got to watch it last night and it was fabulous. I’ll be watching it once more on demand before the next episode to make sure I caught everything.
Do you find yourself wanting to literally curl up in your books and sleep there? Now you can.
Don’t you wish you could find something like this in your attic?
Blinding You with Pictures
My short vacation took on a life of its own and ended up, thanks to a few delayed flights and a work trip, a tad longer than I anticipated it would be. I’m behind on reviews but I did read some good books in the last week — The Gates by John Connolly, The Other Life by Ellen Meister, Twice a Spy by Keith Thomson, and The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse. Right now I’m reading The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen and loving it. Since I haven’t written a word in several days, I thought instead I would share photos so here goes.
First up, we made a last minute trip down to Orlando to see family and went over, at my prodding, to Universal so I could see The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Yep, readers, I went to Hogwarts. 🙂
A view of Hogwarts castle.
Entering the village of Hogsmeade.
The Hogwarts Express.
Yes, there were really this many people jammed into this attraction on the day were were there.
Walking up to the castle. We waited 90 minutes to go on the ride in the castle which is part virtual reality part roller coaster. It was fun but 90 minutes was an incredibly long wait and I'm not always patient so in the end I may have been way too tired to appreciate it all. It was very cool in the castle though but unfortunately I only had my cell phone with me and the pics from inside didn't come out great. So you'll have to take my word for it.
Up close, the castle is really cool and they rolled with the theme, I have to give them that. Every time you run into a worker, they call you a muggle. As you wind through the castle to get to the ride, you see the greenhouses, Dumbledore's office, moving pictures including the Fat Lady, House points, and Ron makes it snow on you.
I couldn't pass this one up now could I. 🙂 All the books you can read! We didn't spend much time in Suess's world but I loved this sign.
Spring training! My husband who was a very good sports about the whole Harry Potter Wizarding World thing, got to do one of his favorite things too --- baseball. We got tickets to a Braves Astros game. It was perefect weather for taking in a game.
After getting back from the impromptu trip, I had to fly down to Savannah for work. This is the perfect time of year to visit Savannah and this year the azaleas were in bloom while I was there. I also have a new camera so humor me.
Flowers!
This is a sign from Chippewa Square in Savannah. How could I pass up a sign about a novelist.
A fish downspout. It made me smile so I'm sharing since I adore architectural details like this.
Flowers.
Flowers again.
More flowers.
I'm not sure what building this Is but I loved the way it looked. I'm pretty sure it was some sort of business and not a home but either way I thought it was lovely.
Some interesting architectural details.
This is Forsyth Park which is probably one of the more famous squares in historical Savannah. I will say it's one of the most relaxing places I've been in a while. Every time I get to Savannah I try to make it down to this park to sit for a few minutes.
The fountain in Forsyth Park.
What I did in Forsyth Park.
Horses from one of the carriage rides getting their feed on. They kept nosing each other out of the bin while I was watching.
Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to stop here but what kind of reader would I be if I didn't find at least one book store while out meandering! 🙂
And finally, a wonderful place to sit and read wouldn't you say.
I plan to post reviews later in the week and hopefully get a few more written before I forget details. In the intervening time, have a good week.
Taking a few days off
Yep, I said it. I’m taking time off to enjoy a few quiet, wireless days that are very much needed. I’ll be back sometime next week and hopefully with a few pics to share. Now, please, talk amongst yourselves. 🙂
Just Book Reading 