Things that make me go hmmm…

June 23, 2013 / justbookreading / 8 Comments

I know this happens to all of you too. You’re reading and an author makes a reference. You get the reference. You think it’s amusing. You give it a little, “Heh,” and read on only to find out the author doesn’t think you understood and begins explaining the reference, in several sentences, and you’re no longer, “Heh” but “Grr.” That. Actually, the book which contained this annoying bit turned out to be pretty good and I ended up liking it in the end but it annoyed me so much I felt the need to mention it.

So, tell me. When you’re reading, what makes you go hmmm?

The Sunday Salon – Father’s Day

June 16, 2013 / justbookreading / Leave a comment

Just a short post today to say Happy Father’s Day to my dad. Hi dad! *waves from here* I hope it’s a great day. Thanks for everything. You’re the best. 🙂

Today is a reading and editing day. I have big plans, big plans I say! I’m plan to finish editing two personal pieces and read more of The Last Page by Anthony Huso (so good!). After that, we’ll see.

So, to all the fathers out there, a happy day to you.

The Sunday Salon – Doctor Who

June 2, 2013 / justbookreading / 2 Comments

There’s a club by our house called the Black Cat. On Friday nights, they do a Doctor Who happy hour. Basically, you get a beer, find a seat, and watch an episode of Doctor Who in the back bar. This week’s showing was the Planet of the Ood. My husband, admittedly, not a fan of the show, went and enjoyed it (at least he said he did). About five minutes in, he leaned over and said, “Wait, isn’t this your favorite Doctor?” Yes, it was the 10^th Doctor. I smiled, “Yep, he’s my favorite!” He nodded and then said, “He’s wearing red cons.” Yes, yes he is. It was a good evening.

So, yesterday I learn, like the rest of the planet, that there is to be a new Doctor. I’m not sure how I feel about this. I heart Doctor Who, even when I don’t always think the show is at its best. I was slow to love the 11^th Doctor. Not because he wasn’t good (some may not agree but I think Matt Smith was a great embodiment of the Doctor) but because he wasn’t the 10^th Doctor. I do love me some David Tennant. In the end, I came to love the 11^th Doctor, and in a little way, believe that bow ties are cool. I still can’t get on board with the fez though… Now, there will be a new Doctor. *sigh*

Well, here’s to looking forward to the Christmas special, a return of the 10^th Doctor, and a thank you to the 11^th Doctor for making it so much fun. Hats off to you, Matt Smith, for joining in the fun as Doctor Who.

Today, I’m off to watch the USA vs. Germany soccer game. Funny story about this, my husband spent yesterday morning frantically searching for tickets. He finally found some good seats and we met up with a friend and off to the stadium we went. Traffic was a nightmare. Construction made it worse but we finally arrived at 2:15 for a 2:30 start ready to run to the gate tickets in hand. As we pulled into the parking lot, a large sign alerted us to the fact that the game was indeed today, Sunday, and not Saturday. After laughing off the mistake, we decided a drink was in order. Today, we plan to actually be there on time. On the correct day. Yeah…

With that, I wish you all a happy Sunday.

The Sunday Salon – Time (Someone loan me a time turner, please.)

May 19, 2013 / justbookreading / 4 Comments

How much time do I spend on content creation? Andrea at the Little Red Reviewer had an interesting post about this very topic and here’s my answer — not much as I’m posting barely once a week which got me wondering as to whether or not I want or should continue since I’m not actually offering much in terms of book reviews or news. I’ve seen this from a number of bloggers lately so I know I’m not alone but I don’t want to get caught up in that thought because even though I may not be sitting and creating, I’m constantly thinking about topics to write about. In fact, I have a whole list of topics in a file that I just keep adding to. Of course, I’m not writing but that’s another story.

Life got complicated a few months back and while things are better, there are still other things that occupy my time and thoughts. I’ve even been reading less. Shocking but in a way it’s a good thing because I’m also doing other things that I’ve been wanting to do and I feel very good about. Hello, yoga! 🙂 There’s a trade off to everything. For me, it’s about the time. Time to read books, time to write down thoughts, time to edit, and time to post. I also want to find time to write about things other than blog stuff. Writing is something I enjoy and I keep saying I’m going to find time to do it but I’ve yet to get there. I need to do that which means that the blog may need to take a little hiatus for me to get things in order. I’d be okay with that actually but I don’t really want to do that either which means I need to find a better system. (This is when I get envious of all the people out there who seem to be able to wring every usable second out of a day. Obviously, I’m not one of those people. If you are, I envy you. Know that.)

So this question of Andrea’s has me thinking about all things now and not just the blog. Although, I have been thinking about the blog lately and how I need to get things done. It also got me thinking about how I haven’t seen the last few episodes of Doctor Who. I know the tragedy! I don’t even watch that much TV and I can’t seem to find the time to watch a show I enjoy. What is it I’m doing then? How the hell should I know?! Okay, I should know the answer to that and it’s been bothering me because I highly suspect I’ve been doing nothing. We spent two weekends in a row traveling and I had a work conference that sucked hours and the life out of me. I’ve been doing some reading and reviewing for another website too. I know, I’m cheating on myself. I started writing for this site long before I started my own blog; it was one of the reasons I started my blog actually. I agreed to do a few reviews that were out of the regular pattern for me and it reminded me how much I still like reviewing.

Back to the topic that started this whole string of random thoughts, how much time. I don’t really know but I think the next few weeks are going to be a little experiment to find out and see how organized I can be. I warn you, this probably won’t last long.

The Sunday Salon – Awesome Con

April 21, 2013 / justbookreading / 4 Comments

Awesome Con happened this weekend in Washington, DC. Since it was in walking distance of our house, we decided to stroll over and see what it had to offer. It’s a small con, and the first in DC actually, but over 3,000 came out for it, which was, well, awesome. (Oh, like you wouldn’t have gone there!) I didn’t get to see everything I wanted to, but there were some great moments and great costumes.

We couldn’t get into the costume judging but there was a small parade after.

We found this in the exhibit hall. The husband went back and bought it for me. 🙂

One day two, I ran over early to stand in line to see Phil LaMarr and Billy West discuss Futurama. It was like listening in on a conversation and so funny. If you’re fan of the show, (Hi, me!) it was a fantastically entertaining. The line for this one was huge, and for a few minutes, I cursed my need for coffee hoping it wouldn’t mean I would be standing outside the door while it was going on. I lucked out, making it in the room to one of the few seats left in the back.

I also dropped in on a session on writing fantasy novels and comics featuring: Justin Jordan, Allison Pang, Diana Peterfreund, Meagan Spooner, Tom King, and Alma Katsu. It was interesting to hear their take on the genre and how the publishing industry views it. Also, Katsu said her final book in The Taker trilogy is coming out soon. Yay!

A few more random pics.

Yes, I know I take truly awful photos but there you have it. I may write more about it in the next few days when I don’t have deadlines looming over my head.

Were you at Awesome Con? Questions? Let me know and I’ll answer as best I can.

I’m off to read a bit more of The Shadow of the Sun and questions will be answered tomorrow since that’s read along Q&A day. Be prepared, there are some sexytimes happening.

The Sunday Salon – happy soap for my brain

April 14, 2013April 14, 2013 / justbookreading / Leave a comment

We don’t go see many movies but my husband really wanted to see The Place Beyond the Pines so we went last night. I should say first that this movie was beautifully shot and the acting was phenomenal. However, it was the most difficult movie to watch. I wanted to leave about 45 minutes in and when it finally finished, I’m not sure but I think I pretty much yelled thank god and ran out. People might have thought I was heading for the ladies room, but I was heading for the door. As we were walking up the street to get a cab home, I told my husband I needed some happy soap to scrub my brain. Not a date night movie.

If you don’t know what this movie is about, go here. I don’t want to re-live this one. Many people liked it and you maybe one of them. It’s just not my kind of movie. Iron Man will be out in a few weeks and I’m looking forward to that one.

It got me thinking though. As I said to my husband last night, I like my entertainment to be on the happier side. In movies, I like silly, I like action. I have to be in the mood for a movie like The Place Beyond the Pines and last night wasn’t the mood. It was too heavy. Very smartly done, but sad all the same.

I tend to be the same with reading. Not everything has to be happy, and some of what I read tends to be on the violent and scary side, a good deal of it is fantasy equaled out by historical fiction. When I read I want to forget all about real life. I want something outside of reality; something that won’t happen to me but will ruin and redeem the characters in the book. I don’t read much contemporary fiction; I quit one last week because it was all too real. When I want to be entertained, I want it to outside of my own experiences.

I don’t even want to think about what this says about me. Probably nothing. Later today, I plan to start The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker. I finished Silent on the Moor by Deanna Raybourn yesterday and it was exactly what I needed.

I promised myself I’d post some reviews this week and I plan to do that, if I can draw myself away from the horrible TV show I’m watching. So, off I go to edit.

Happy Sunday.

Progress

March 17, 2013 / justbookreading / 4 Comments

I’ve been slow on the writing front but today the words are all working. Not only did I wake up with something already written in my head, I actually got out of bed and wrote it down on paper. And I finagled three reviews out of my brain. They’re in rough shape but the words are on a page. I call that progress.

Reading has been slow this week but I have managed to get a lot done personally so I’m willing to call it fair play and move on. It’s not even the reading, which is good, it’s just being busy and somewhat tired and I went with sleep this week. Sometimes it’s the only choice.

I’m in the process of going through several bookshelves in the house with the ultimate goal being that one of the shelves will leave the house at the end of the project. This is not an easy task and I didn’t realize how many books actually call that shelf home. There are probably a few hundred books there. It’s going to be a while before this project can be called done. However, progress has been made, slow though it is, and some books will be leaving the house in the next few days.

There is one announcement of great importance I must mention and that is The Shadow of the Sun Read Along which is all part of the Mercury Retrograde Press bloggy love project taking place this year. Here’s the schedule if you want to join us and you can find more information on Dab of Darkness. Needless to say, I’m really excited about this book and can’t wait to get started.

April 1st post: 1-7 (pg. 95)
April 8th post: 8-15 (pg. 187)
April 15th post: 16-21 (pg. 275)
April 22nd post: 22-28 (pg. 386)
April 29th post: 29-END (pg. 483) and then there’s a few pages of glossaries.

For as much as I want to keep telling you things, I did say it was a words day and there are other things to do and write so I leave you for today to do some posting and editing.

Library Books

March 10, 2013March 10, 2013 / justbookreading / 10 Comments

In anticipation of a major snowstorm that was supposed to hit my city last week, I went to the library to pick up a few things thinking I would be spending a whole day stuck in the house with loads of reading time on my hands. That storm turned out to be nothing (other places did get snow, just not my city), and I spent the day at work like any other Wednesday. I was disappointed as all hell but I still have some good books to read so there’s that.

Side note: Funny how I didn’t run to the grocery store for milk, bread, and toilet paper but went to the library for books instead. To be fair, I had all of the above. Also, I grew up in an area that got a lot of snow so snow panic doesn’t set in for me.

Oh, the books.

Lord of the North by Bernard Cornwell – I started this series probably two years ago and I’m finally getting back to it. It’s the third book in the Saxon Tales series and pretty good. I’m flying through it. Also, I just finished up Mary Stewart’s second book in her Arthurian legend series, The Hollow Hills, last week and wasn’t ready to say goodbye to this setting so this seemed like a good place to start in on the library haul.

Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson – I blame Elizabeth over at Dark Cargo for this one. She was talking about it, evangelizing really, and it made me want to read it. My library, which doesn’t always have a great selection of science fiction (it’s getting better or I’m just discovering new authors, not sure, but either way it makes me happy) had a copy. Thanks to an early flip through the book, I can say it looks really interesting.

At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft – I read my first Lovecraft a few weeks ago. It was The Shunned House and so, so good. I needed more and it turns out my library had this one. Also, it has an introduction by China Miéville! China Miéville, people! And it takes place in the Antarctic. I think this might be the next to tackle in the library pile.

Swamplandia! By Karen Russell – I don’t read much contemporary fiction but this is one I’ve wanted to read for a while. But since it was on the bestseller lists and everyone was loving it, I had to avoid it. I’m like that. I don’t like to read books on bestseller lists or books that everyone seems to be in love with at any given point in time. So, I avoided. Russell had a new book out, everyone is raving about it again, and for as much as I want to read it, I’m avoiding and going back to the first one I didn’t read. We’ll see how it goes.

I’m now going to step outside and run some errands. My husband’s conference is in town this weekend and he’s been working non-stop the last two days and I’ve barely left the house. But, on the bright side, I did clean many things and read like a fiend ** so there wasn’t much reason to leave. However, the sun is out and it’s warm so I think I’m going to get some vitamin D. Besides, I hear books can be read outside.