Images I could look at allll day longgggg

The Way We Live with the Things We Love -- Stafford Cliff and Gilles de Chabaneix -- Gorgeous stuff -- Could almost live on this book alone; wanted to eat it up! May be too European for most American's taste - things are handed down, things can look shabby, things can be crooked - things aren't always done up "perfectly"; but wow are they done up artfully. If you find yourself re-arranging your bookshelf, or the area above your fireplace, or some other niche again and again (as I do, and yes, it is a sickness); this is the book for you. Loved it, it's like those English gardens that seem haphazard and not purposeful, but are beautiful. Sometimes it happens on accident, but usually it's the end result of a lot of work.

Comfort Fiction is sometimes so not Comfort Fiction

Grave Secret - Charlaine Harris - I've read the first three in this series and liked them enough to put this on hold in the library...that should tell you one thing. I started this on a Saturday afternoon and finished it the same Saturday night (with many interruptions) and that should mean something good, but, in this case no. Poor read, poor book - not sure if Harris needs to take a break from the success of the True Blood series on HBO (based on her novels), or what -- but, after I finished this, felt mad with myself for reading the whole thing in the first place!

FEMA = antichrist?

Zeitoun - Dave Eggers

I think this genre is called "Narrative Fiction." Dave tells me it's a post-modern version of "The New Journalism" of Tom Wolfe and Hunter Thompson. Either way, it's an account of a real man and his family during Hurricane Katrina. Either way, it's brutal. I know that after 9-11 human rights were kind of thrown out the window in an effort to get a handle on terrorism in this country. I had no idea this went on during the aftermath of Katrina in New Orleans; I didn't even know that FEMA became a division of Homeland Security.

This is an unsettling, sad read for an American. Things went on that went beyond the horrific things that were reported during those days about the superdome. And the system is so huge, you can't point a finger at any one person. As much as I did appreciate this book and feel that it is important in its own right, I missed Eggers lively personality as a writer. I read a review of this somewhere that praised it because Eggers kept his "post-modern" sensibilities out of it, but, as a fiction reader, I love those sensibilities.

It's a very good book, but to me, not necessarily a "Dave Eggers" book. Still, definitely worth a read.

Chic, natch, with 6 kids...

Downtown Chic - Robert and Courtney Novagratz

While I didn't learn much from the interior design in this book, it's worth a look-see just for the novelty of seeing how a family of 8 renovates/restores/re-sells fairly large pieces of real-estate in and around Manhattan. I found it to be a bit inspiring, but would love to know the back story. As in - how many nannies? how often are they there? how many fights? how many disasters? They have a few cute "disaster" stories and some uplifting things that I enjoyed as a working mom (as in how to cook a good family dinner: pick up the phone and call a delivery place). I know, not that original, but was presented well. The husband and wife are impossibly good looking and put together, so it's really just entertainment in the form of: I must know how they do this.

Of course, they withhold that crucial secret.

All caught up and missing the Highlands already, ye ken?

An Echo in the Bone - Diana Gabaldon Sorry for the cheesecake image, but feeling the plaid right now! Just finished her 7th novel in the Outlander series and feel desperate for more. Rumors had it that this would be the last, but as I was creeping within 100 pages of ending this over 800 page novel, she just kept adding more and more layers. This books is set both in 1980 Scotland and 1777 America and Scotland. It started out a bit slow with too much Lord John for me, but then really kicked up the pace. She's adding more characters and more story lines, and I found myself really liking them. It made me want to go and read more about the American Revolution. Lots of famous battles and names that I just had vague memories of from History class. I loved it - really hope she continues this and can't wait for the next!

teenage girls as a separate universe....

All Souls - Christine Schutt -- Very intense, claustrophobic (for me) look at life at a very exclusive all girl's school in New York City. I really enjoyed the writing style - short glimpses into many different characters that felt post modern, yet still fresh. The self-obsession of these girls is almost overwhelming at times, yet they're each tentatively reaching out and trying to come to terms with other people and how they relate to other people. It's very moving, but never schmaltzy.

Trickster gods

Sky Coyote - Kage Baker - Second in the "Company" series - this one set in California 1699 right before white men decimated the Natives living there...This was enjoyable, but nothing terribly special for me, although she did set up some interesting implications for the series as a whole - I think I like where she's going with it. I'll probably check out the next book, but still, not a wholehearted recommendation.

Scenes From a War

Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks World War I novel with beautiful, yet devastating, moments in a terrible war. Scenes in mine shafts with men who are factory workers, bookkeepers, or just boys - some of the passages were ones I wish more world leaders had read - just to remind themselves of the reality.

I found it to be a good book, great in parts - but the flash-forwards to the 1970's and the romantic attempt fell flat and kept it from being something great.

In a quest for another Outlander...

In the Garden of Iden - Kage Baker

I've become a sucker for the time-traveling type of books - hybrids of science and historical fiction - this one was enjoyable - she goes back to a time when the Spanish Inquisition was threatening England with Bloody Mary - but not something I'd wholeheartedly recommend. It's a quick read, but I didn't learn a whole lot about that time and felt kind of disappointed with the story in general, it felt to focused on Romance with a capital R (and really, the Romance portion of it never really payed off). I've heard that the other books are better in this series, so I might give them a chance. This was a good book, just not as great as I'd hoped.

Olive Kitteridge -- Elizabeth Strout 2009 Pulitzer Prize Winner Loved this book - it's really interrelated stories, but it reads like a novel. Reminded me of a strange cross between E. Annie Proulx and Richard Russo. Just an amazing book - so much quiet detail about relationships, but not in an Oprah kind of way. Very quiet, but ultimately, devastating. It's odd, this book just snuck up on me, and I've had trouble getting it out of my head. It reads true.

Meryl Streep anyone?

Mark of the Lion - Suzanne Arruda

A Plucky, anti-establishment, feminist heroine? Check.
Amusing descriptions of the British elite in Africa in 1919? Check.
A handsome, strong-willed bachelor with a pet cheetah? Check.
A mystery involving birthright? Check.

First in a series with this heroine - I did enjoy it, but found the heroine a little too plucky for my taste. I might read the next in the series, but it's not something I feel compelled to do immediately after finishing. Still, it is a quick enjoyable read.

Birth of a Nation

Into the Wilderness - Sara Donati

Set in America/Canada at the end of the 1700's - this has the scope and detail of Gabaldon's Outlander Series. In fact, we do meet up with Jamie and Claire Fraser (main characters of Gabaldon's books) -- I'm a sucker for that type of cross-over/homage. I loved 3/4 of the book, but the last quarter really dragged for me and I almost didn't finish it. Great historical detail about America at this time and especially a woman's place in America at this time.

It's enjoyable, but I won't delve into the other books in this series. It was almost too predictable for me after having read the Outlander Series. I also think that part of it is that Gabaldon is just a better writer. I'd recommend it if you've got a serious jonesing for Gabaldon's type of book, but it's definately no Outlander.

Pretty much everything Charlaine ever wrote

Yeah, the entire month of August was consumed with me reading all of the Shakespeare/Lily Bard series, all of the Aurora Teagarden series, and the the "Grave" books by Charlaine Harris....not proud of it, but rationalized that this was perfectly normal reading behavior for a grown woman as it was "Summer". As if "Summer" makes it okay to do things like that. Do crooks just say: Sure, I walked out with all that booze without paying, but (shrug), it's Summer. It's Summer. As in, I stole that laptop, but, it's Summer. Yeah, It's Summer.

Although, as I write this it's Fall and Fall doesn't seem to lend itself to any crazy words of self-defense. In the Winter you can go "stir-crazy" (see The Shining by Stephen King); in the Spring, people have been known to get "Spring Fever" (great excuse); Summer, well, (shrug) It's Summer. Is there any excuse in the Fall? I don't think there is...maybe I need to make one up.

High hopes dashed

The Strain -- Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan

Perhaps I had too high hope for this one. I love Del Toro's movies - Pan's Labryinth was amazing and so frightening. I love horror. I also heard a great interview on the radio with him about this book. I also seem to love vampire fiction. What could possibly go wrong?

Couldn't finish it. At first, the set up was awesome. NYC - mysterious planes sets down at JFK, no signs of life, lights off, shades drawn, no communication with air traffic control. Great start.

It was written very much like a cross between a thriller book and a thriller script. It felt a little different than your typical thriller, so I really had high hopes. You could see the movie: time, place, visual, establishing shots, then some action. You can tell that people with major talent were involved with this. Saying that though....

I found it to be obvious, obvious, obvious. Not scary in the least, one of those books where it seems like no one in the book has any idea what's going on, but you, as a reader are hundreds of pages in going, "It's VAMPIRES. Coffins, you know, blook sucking, that's called V-A-M-P-I-R-E-S."

You might like it if you haven't read a scary book in a while, but, if you love horror you'll probably be frustrated by the slow pace and at the writer's innocence that no one ever read Dracula in high school. Not to mention the movies out now and the HBO series that is so popular.

oh well, Del Toro is still a great filmmaker, and I bet, Chuck Hogan, is probably a good thriller writer on his own. I'll have to look him up.

She hears dead people

Grave Sight - by who else but Charlaine Harris I might promise that the next book I read won't be one of hers, but it has made for some great summer reading. This one is the first in the Harper Connelly series and stars yet again a young woman who is alienated from "normal" society by a strange gift, the "gift" of finding dead bodies, among other things.

This book was okay -- it didn't grab me like Real Murders - it was better than the Shakespear book though. It felt dark - and it was a little depressing. I usually like dark and depressing, so I might go for the second book to see what she does with this.

Maybe I found Charlaine's weakness....

Shakespeare's Landlord - Charlaine Harris

This heroine is, again, a bit of a loner in a small town (sensing a pattern?), yet attractive. And, of course, there's something a bit off about her. It's not supernatural off like the Vampire series, but it's off for the norm. This first book was a little too slow - it dealt too much on a terribly violent thing that happened to the heroine that I just wasn't that into reading about or thinking about. The mystery was okay; there's some romance in it that was okay, but not great.

I wouldn't recommend it, but, at the same time, after reading it and knowing I wouldn't recommend it; I was placing the next book on hold at the library. Harris is a good mystery writer, even when she's not that good, she's still better than most....and I seem to be addicted to her.

Old fashioned feel - and I mean that in good way

Real Murders - Charlaine Harris

This is the first book in the Aurora Teagarden (yes, Harris does seem to have a penchant for ungainly names) series. It looks like it is one of her first books, wayy before the, ahem, vampire series. I loved it - I know some might not like it because their ain't no vamps in it, but it was a well-written, truly old-fashioned (again, in a good way), murder mystery.

Teagarden is a librarian in a small town - and something about the way it is set up and presented, it reminded me a lot of the British small town mysteries. This is a really likable, bookish, quiet heroine who also happens to be a huge fanatic of horrible murders - for me: what is not to like?

Not so good.....

Borderline - the latest book by Nevada Barr

I've loved this series about the National Park Ranger Anna Pigeon, but the last 2 books have been un-finishable for me. (I know, I don't think unfinishable is a word either) This one, like the last one about wolves, just took itself wayy to seriously. I don't want to read about illegals dying trying to get to this country. I can read about that every day in the paper. I didn't make it very far....If you've never read anything by her - start with Firestorm or Blind Descent - they're exciting books set in different National Parks with a female Park Ranger as the lead character.




Shimmer by David Morrell

First of all, David Morrell is an incredible thriller writer. He started the whole Rambo thing; he's written other great books Scavenger and Creepers being my two favorites about urban exploreres.
This book suffers from the same thing the Barr book suffered from - just too realistic. If I want to read about marriages suffering, I'll read about it through Richard Ford or John Updike. Morrell is so incredible with the art of the thriller - I don't want to read about his take on a marriage "in trouble".

These writers are great - Barr and Morrell are at the top of their craft. I don't think Updike or Ford or Roth would be able to write a breath-taking thriller or mystery. It's not their bag. It feels like Barr and Morrell were trying too hard to be something they're not.

Dead to the World - possibly read this in 2 hours flat b/c I'm a loser, baby

``

I think that when I like something, I just REALLY like something. I've blown through this series. I'll list 'em all here; and, yes, maybe I should have countered all this with some Phillip Roth.


Also read: ahem, yes, ahem, yes. colon:

Dead Until Dark

Definitely Dead

From Dead to Worse

As memory talks to me, one of them was slightly boring, but I don't even remember which one, that's how quickly I read them. If you've enjoyed one or two, you'll probably enjoy them all. I just read the latest one and I can't wait for the next. Although, spoiler here, I really had high hopes for Quinn, seems like, again, Spoiler, she's starting to be all about Bill? Bill is a bit boring - but I'm thinking she's setting it up for a major Bill vs. Eric scene. Harris needs to show me a little bit more about Bill to make him interesting. Loyal guys are awesome in real life, but in novels, eh, not so much.

Charlaine Harris - I am your slave (evidently)

Loved it, these books are getting increasingly trashy - so very very trashy. I love trash. I will say, it's also well-written trash. I love well-written trash.

Bellwether - Connie Willis This is a very witty novel about workplace culture, the academic culture, and how trends become trends. It also served to remind me that humankind has always been pretty ridiculous when it comes to vanity and ego. This present culture is no exception to the norm. I love Willis's other books and this one is most closely like To Say Nothing of the Dog in term of humor and close observance of human nature, of which I think Willis is a master. This has a SciFi label on the spine (if you get it from the library, as I did), but I didn't find any traces of that in it, unless you count that the main character is a scientist of fads and their inception. This had a humour that appealed to me (think a more sciencey/nerdy Office Space or The Office) and an observant outlook on life that appealed to me as well.

Telepaths, vamps, shapeshifters and religious cults, how can you go wrong???

Living Dead in Dallas - Charlaine Harris. This is the second in the (shudder before saying the name) Sookie Stackhouse series - it's just as fun and as fast paced as the first, if not more so. Still more events occur that make me wonder about Stephanie Meyer's insistence that she never read this series before writing Twilight....

Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris HBO's very popular "True Blood" is based on this series about a roadhouse waitress in a small southern town with the unfortunate name of Sookie Stackhouse. After having read the Twilight series, I was convinced Harris must have ripped off Stephanie Meyer, but then noticed that this was published well in advance of Twilight. Needless to say, if you're interested in the controversy, there are numerous websites out there to peruse. I think that in the grand scheme of Vampire Fiction (sure, I'll capitalize that, why not?), it's really no big deal. Good reads are good reads.

This book is a sexy, more humorous, less victorian in feel and less teen angsty (not that there's anything wrong with teen angst!) book. It's not great literature, but you knew that already. Compared with Meyer's books, Harris delivers on the fight scenes, sexy scenes and it's just lighter in tone. She doesn't take it too seriously.

On a side note, I've never seen the HBO series that's based on this and out of curiousity I google imaged the leads. Of course I was very disappointed in the male lead, but Anna Paquin is about right for Sookie (again, don't love the name). I would've gone for the young, hot Britney Spears for this though -- it's always fun to play casting director though, isn't it?

Just a prelude...

Cold Skin - Albert Sánchez Piñol
A very interesting premise (guy is dropped off on a seemingly deserted island, meets up with another, seemingly deranged guy, monsters appear, hope seems futile...) that ultimately disappoints as it seems to me Piñol tries to stretch what should have been a novella into short novel length. He reprises a lot of the horror in this book to much greater effect in the far more entertaining and satisfying Pandora in the Jungle.

More than just a repairman

Aftershock & Others: 19 Oddities - F. Paul Wilson
Several of these stories were literal hair-raisers: in particular, the title story (a Bram Stoker Award winner), and my personal favorite, the ultimate revenge story, "Anna." Wilson also recounts the circumstances surrounding the writing of these stories, always a bonus to get a peek behind the curtain. Also includes a cool (as ever) Jack story, and several others that manage to amuse and horrify at the same time.

Coulda been a contendah...

The Long Home - William Gay

Audiobook. Soooo disappointed after reading his other tome Twilight. A few good set pieces to open, but an underwhelming climax. Forgettable.

thrilling.... just thrilling...

Pandora in the Congo
Albert Sánchez Piñol

What a ride! A romp in the jungle with a writerly wink. Twists, turns, gasp inducing elucidations.... I still don't know what hit me - but I know this was a 10 out of 10 and I can't wait to forget what happened so I can read it again. Indiana Jones on safari and speed.

France in the 1940's - depressing as depressing can be - but it does make for a good novel

Just read this review on Amazon: "Unfortunately, the horrors of the Second World War are not described with the clarity or power present in his earlier book."

This is the first Sebastian Faulks book I've ever read - I know this is the third of an acclaimed "France" trilogy for him. I found this book to be similar to Black Dogs by Ian McKewan in that it just presses on you like a heavy hand on your head. It's more like living, or trying to live, day to day in a terrible war zone. You try to get by - you may laugh some days, you may laugh every day. It doesn't take away from the horrors of war; they are always present.

I loved the book - it will never win the Booker Prize, but it's a great story that for some women and men held more "truth" than the great war stories of the time, of which there are many.

Bruen's Brant...

Vixen - Ken Bruen
Calibre - Ken Bruen

I revel in the dark dark despair that Bruen's Jack Taylor lives in, so decided to give his Brant novels a shot. Not as dark, not as daring, and not as good (for my taste.) More McBainish procedural type shite. Well written (of course) but just not enough moments of ohmyeffinggod that Taylor gives me. I'll go back to Taylor and let Brant walk his beat on his own.

Outlander Series -- I've eaten them up like Cheetos (more of a salty person, ye ken?)

All by Diana Gabaldon who has a great home page: www.dianagabaldon.com

Dragonfly in Amber: Second in the series - I found it a little awkward at first. I think Gabaldon might have had trouble understanding how to write this "first" second book in a series and felt that she had to repeat a lot of things. It's a segue book, but what a great tale - it's very necessary to the series.

Voyager: Awesome -probably one of my favorite books in the series - don't want to give too much away, but I literally had dreams about this book while I was reading it.

Drums of Autumn - This one was good, not as good as Voyager. Perhaps that was the problem. I did really enjoy the "new" characters and I could see that she was turning, by necessity, in a new direction to keep the series moving.

The Fiery Cross - An enjoyable book - I really love all of the bits about America in the beginning. This book might have been my least favorite though - I read it because I'm in love with all of the characters.

A Breath of Snow and Ashes - I think this could have been one of the final ones. I'm surprised she's written another, but I'm sure the publisher can't let this go. It was very enjoyable - I remember it fondly, but, just not the spark as the first 3-4. How can you sustain something like this? I'm not sure it's possible. I'd like to see a new book from her with new characters. She could even re-hash the time-travel. Gabaldon's a fantastic storyteller - I can't wait to read new things by her!

Embarrassing

The Outlander - Diana Gabaldon

Well, whatever... I think this is billed as an "historical romance" - (probably correct) and I loved every last page of it (ringing in at over 600 pages). Great battle scenes,love scenes, scenes of intrigue and scenes of humour -- most of it set in the mid-1700's in Scotland. Also gave me a love of that scottish language - eh, wee laddie - ye ken?

And, yet, another one not to bother with

The Spy Who Came for Christmas -- David Morrell Started out interesting,quick paced - good Morrell details - and just derailed into overly sentimental, symbolic nonsense. I wish I'd never read it - but, I'm still a Morrell fan; I can forgive him for this.

Red Dwarf,anyone?

Uncharted Territory - Connie Willis -quick-witted sci-fi novella -- a sort of parody for our sometimes too "bleeding heart" society combined with our love of "romance" and "adventure" of the Indiana Jones Variety.

yet another horrible book I've read

The Backwoods -- Edward Lee

Terrible, terribleness -- why did I read it? Looking for another Laymon - Amazon.com always lists Lee as a writer you may like if you like Laymon. I beg to differ. NOTHING like Laymon - Laymon always had humour and wit and self-deprecation, oh, and yeah, genuine horror. Lee has none of that, just another hack.

Why do I bother????

House - Frank Peretti and Tod Dekker

UGH!! Oh the humanity and why did I waste my time finishing this drivel? No one to answer to but myself, still -- UGH!

Maggots got nothin' on us...

My favorite book of the year so far, The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death by Charlie Huston is a rollicking, rambunctious, hilarious roller coaster of a book. I never thought I would be into a book about people whose job it is to clean up murder scenes, but Huston paints with broad, inviting strokes. Trash bags filled with (living) cockroaches, tattoos, "fix-it" men, smuggling, kidnapping, hijacking... this book has it all and serves it up on a (although at times repulsive) platter I was all too happy to devour. I laughed, I cried, I may have even sweated. Loved it!

Right On

The first entry in the Derek Strange and Terry Quinn investigative books set in the gritty noirish world of D.C., George Pelecanos' Right as Rain is pitch perfect in every detail, particularly the on the money urban dialogue, where every word matters. Pelecanos has a terrific ability to create faultridden, down on their heels characters that you still sympathize with. At times heartbreaking, wryly amusing, and uber realistic, these books pull no punches.

Apocalptica

The first in a trilogy, Ghost Road Blues by Jonathan Maberry concerns a small Pennsylvania town known for their haunted hayrides and all things Halloween. The entire book takes place during a long Halloween night, where 3 escaped convicts crash their car in the town, and all hell breaks out. A supernatural tale of good vs. evil, the book is just fine, but pales in comparison to books like Dan Simmons' Children of the Night or Stephen King's The Stand.

Academia

Love books about college professors (English ones) and their acerbic attitudes, and Gone by P.F. Kluge is another in a long line of such. Found it compelling reading for about 90% of the way through, until the bottom fell out at the end and the book lost all credibility for me. Too bad, because until then it was amusing and interesting, a story of a famous author hired by a small Ohio college who never writes again. And that was okay by him.

Criminality

American Skin by Ken Bruen. Not a Jack Taylor book, but an enjoyable enough romp. Throw together an Irish criminal on the lam in the New York, a clueless mob boss, his psychotic girlfriend, a hitman extraordinaire, and a climax in Phoenix and you've got a quick read that made me alternately laugh, smirk, and repulse.

Twilight
New Moon
Eclipse
Breaking Dawn --- Stephenie Meyer

What can I say? Read these books one right after the other -- just finished the last one and if I was 20 years younger, I would probably read them all over again. As it is now, I'm staring at the other books that I've lined up to read next and thinking (girlishly) "no. no. no. you'll never capture my heart like Edward and Bella have!" I've never been one for romance fiction or vampire fiction (see Anne Rice), but this had me from the beginning; it really is quite ridiculous and I do feel embarrassed about it.

Can't wait to read the next one - wish I was married to a vampire; wish my best friend was a werewolf. Yes, I really did just write that - it's very embarrassing.

Pyres -- Derek Nikitas

Pretty brutal read centering around a teenage girl who's father gets murdered while she's with him in the car (not giving anything away). It's fairly dark for my taste - a little too realistic in terms of the violence and the stupidity that people carry with them. Saying that, I couldn't put it down. Excellent first novel, can't wait to read more by this author.

I feel like it's 1999

Heartsick - Chelsea Cain

Haven't read a serial killer book in a longgg time - why does it feel like a thing of the 90's to me? This book has a winning, plucky heroine of the 00's (a little more wild and street smart than the winning plucky heroine's of the 90's) combined with a pill popping, haunted, aging detective who's come back out of a forced sabbatical to solve a rash of killings.

This sounds like everything you've read before, and maybe it is, but it's a very enjoyable - read in one sitting - page turner. If you like this sort of thing, definitely worth a read.

See Jack fix things

The next in the long line of hugely thrilling and subtly supernatural Repairman Jack books, By the Sword by F. Paul Wilson lives up to the hype and promise the other Jack books dictate. Never thought I'd like reading a book whereby an ancient Japanese Samurai sword plays a key role. Also involves secret sects and mystical monks. And, thankfully, a waaaay lesser supporting role given to girlfriend Gina. Three pages tops. Lots of action and surprises to be had.

Read Jack: Secret Histories right after this. Enjoyable yarn starring Jack as a young boy. Didn't even realize it was a young adult book until I was three quarters of the way through and happened to read about it on the intraweb. Another hit from the hitmaker himself.