OK, so this is not book related. But who cares! I’ve been a fan of I Love Lucy since elementary school when I watched reruns on tv (not even on cable). I still watch my DVDs today. Some of my favorite moments:
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Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. My pick for this week is:
The Royal Society of London plays home to the greatest minds of England. It has revolutionized philosophy and scientific knowledge. Its fellows map out the laws of the natural world, disproving ancient superstition and ushering in an age of enlightenment. To the fae of the Onyx Court, living in a secret city below London, these scientific developments are less than welcome. Magic is losing its place in the world–and science threatens to expose the court to hostile eyes. I read the first book, Midnight Never Come, earlier this year and looooooved it! I have the second book waiting to be read, and now the third one is coming out. I see the author has switched publishers. I hope the books and the author get the recognition they deserve. I think the second book will be read shortly then, in anticipation of this new book.
Harriet Vanger, a scion of one of Sweden’s wealthiest families disappeared over forty years ago. All these years later, her aged uncle continues to seek the truth. He hires Mikael Blomkvist, a crusading journalist recently trapped by a libel conviction, to investigate. He is aided by the pierced and tattooed punk prodigy Lisbeth Salander. Together they tap into a vein of unfathomable iniquity and astonishing corruption. Another one of those books that once you read it, makes you say, “What else can be said about it that hasn’t been said already?” Well here’s what I have to say about it anyway: And in case you didn’t know, the original title of the book is “Men Who Hate Women.” And when you read it, it does make sense. But I guess the original title would have been too off-putting for us sensible folks overseas. Oh, and Stieg Larsson had an outline for TEN books! TEN! Now there’s a whole hubbub about his 4th book. I thought I would never read this, because I’m not into mysteries or crime novels. But this is something different. There is a study in character. And that character is Lisbeth. Just like everyone told me, the beginning is a bit slow. But it is setup. You need to know the background to Mikael, and especially Lisbeth. And there is a critical moment in the story (around the time the two meet), when you really have a hard time putting the book down. There would be long stretches in the beginning before you even got a glimpse of Lisbeth, and when you did, you didn’t want to look away. Granted, there was a scene with her that did make you want to look away. And some might wonder what the point of that scene was. But there is a reason for writing and including such a scene. As brutal as that scene it, what follows gives you insight into Lisbeth’s character, and how she operates and how she thinks. I was told at book club that that scene comes back in a way in the second book. Yes, this was our book club pick for the summer. A small group of us at work get together to read adult books, since we all work with childrens’ books in one way or another (design, production, editorial, marketing), so this is a nice change of pace. And this was one of the books that we’ve all been meaning to read. One thing thing that got brought up was when Lisbeth and Mikael finally meet in person. It was mentioned that what happened was very out-of-character for Lisbeth. She was too welcoming and too nice (if “nice” is even the right word to use) to such a stranger. And when I thought about it, I agreed. Here’s how they meet in a quick nutshell: Mikael discovers that Lisbeth hacked into his computer (and found out his life story) and goes to her apartment to ask for her help in the murder case. And she doesn’t react the way you would think Lisbeth would react: which is slamming him against a wall and throwing him out the door. (Why the heck am I talking in the second-person?) As the lunch date for book club drew nearer, my friend and I realized we were the only ones who hadn’t finished the book. So we spent a lunch outside in the sun catching up. I stopped at the end of one chapter (I was further along than she was) and said, “Ok, this is a good a place as any to stop until I start reading again on the subway.” I knew that if I continued onto the next chapter, I probably would have snuck out to continue reading. What scene/chapter did I stop at? The one where Mikael is in the basement. That’s all I’m saying. I have to say, that even though this first book had a good solid ending, I still want to know more about Lisbeth and Mikael. My friend ordered her copy of the second book on Wednesday, got it on Thursday, finished it over the weekend and already ordered the third. I’m still waiting a bit. I guess I want to read something I own first before I go out and get more books. So what am I getting at, with all this rambling? This was a good solid and structured story. Structured? Yes. Beginning with setup. Middle with all the who-dunits. End with the crime being solved. Because in the end, it was a good mystery novel. In the end, the mystery is solved. In the end, Mikael’s story also ends. And in the end, you do have an ending. There doesn’t need to be another book. I was very surprised how caught up in the story I was actually. Because this wasn’t the type of book I would have ever really read right away, I think that is why I had some low expectations. But, this more than a mystery novel. I got so wrapped up in Lisbeth and Mikael as characters, that I sort of forgot that this was a crime/mystery novel to begin with. So would I recommend it? Up and down, YES! When I log in and look at Bookscan and the numbers the three editions have sold, it just boggles the mind. Even the audiobook sale numbers are quite impressive. So here’s another hyped up book that truly blew me away. And now for the movie. Haven’t watched it yet. But it’s on Netflix Instant! Going to have Josh watch it with me. I don’t have the patience to wait for him to read it, especially since he just started another massive book (American Gods). So I leave you with the movie trailer:
Been a bit quiet here on my end, so here’s what I’ve been reading recently, aside from the books that I’m working on that we’re publishing in Fall, Winter, and yes…Spring 2011! ::thud:: Oh, and Girl with the Dragon Tattoo! Aaaaaaalmost done with that. Book club is tomorrow….but anyway, back to other books:
Cinderella–whose real name is Danielle Whiteshore (nee Danielle de Glas)–does marry Prince Armand. And if you can ignore the pigeon incident, their wedding is a dream come true. But not long after the “happily ever after,” Danielle is attacked by her stepsister Charlotte, who suddenly has all sorts of magic to call upon. And though Talia–otherwise known as Sleeping Beauty–comes to the rescue (she’s a martial arts master, and all those fairy blessings make her almost unbeatable), Charlotte gets away. That’s when Danielle discovers a number of disturbing facts: Armand has been kidnapped and taken to the realm of the Fairies; Danielle is pregnant with his child; and the Queen has her own very secret service that consists of Talia and Snow (White, of course). Snow is an expert at mirror magic and heavy duty flirting. Can the three princesses track down Armand and extract both the prince and themselves from the clutches of some of fantasyland’s most nefarious villains? This book was more fun to read than I expected. I had previously bought The Mermaid’s Madness not knowing there was a book before it. I read this back in May from the library, and to be honest, I don’t think I would have read this type of book a few years ago. I’ve been trying to branch out in different genres and I am particular about my fantasy books. But this one was a hoot! Never a dull moment with these three gals. There was romance! There was danger! There was a troll! There was intrigue! There was kick-ass chicks running the show! I am always open to fairy tale retellings, but this one had sass! Well done Mr. Hines, well done! I love the cover too and if there were a tv movie or series, I would totally watch it. Mermaid’s Madness here I come…..once I get through some other books.
Bess Southerns, an impoverished widow living in Pendle Forest, is haunted by visions and gains a reputation as a cunning woman. Drawing on the Catholic folk magic of her youth, Bess heals the sick and foretells the future. As she ages, she instructs her granddaughter, Alizon, in her craft, as well as her best friend, who ultimately turns to dark magic. When a peddler suffers a stroke after exchanging harsh words with Alizon, a local magistrate, eager to make his name as a witch finder, plays neighbors and family members against one another until suspicion and paranoia reach frenzied heights. Sharratt interweaves well-researched historical details of the 1612 Pendle witch-hunt with a beautifully imagined story of strong women, family, and betrayal. I’ve always been fascinated by witch-hunt books. And it was interesting to read about one that was not about the Salem Witch Trials. You need some variety sometimes! I hadn’t read the author’s previous book. This one was a bit slow at times, but it was understandable. It was like reading a study of a community and a family, and to see how much influence a person can have and how quickly that influence can be taken away with just a few stray words. People are always looking for someone to blame for their troubles and this incident was no different. However, part of me did think, “Well, what if Bess truly does have some special gift?” At the end, I guess you had to figure that out yourself.
What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life? Samantha Kingston has it all: the world’s most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High – from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it turns out to be her last. Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death – and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing. I normally don’t review or comment on children’s or YA books, since it would be a conflict of interest for me, unless it was a much, much older book from a while back. But I will make an exception this time. Because you know what? I’m a reader darn it! I was weary of this book. I’m always weary of hyped-up books. But then sometimes I do cave and read to see what all the hubbub is about. So what made me finally pick this up? Well, that would be Misty’s review. I took this with me when I went to ALA, and when I met Misty, I did confess that I was enjoying it thus far. And then I booktalked it at one of my staff meetings recently. And yes, I did enjoy it. At first, Samantha was just one annoying little brat, but by the end, the story was heartbreaking, but in a good way. So there you have it. I liked it!
SPOILER ALERT! DANGER DANGER WILL ROBINSON! SPOILER ALERT! Elena Gilbert is alive – again. When Elena sacrificed herself to save the two vampire brothers who love her – the handsome, brooding Stefan and the sleek and dangerous Damon – she was consigned to a fate beyond death. Until a powerful supernatural force pulled her back. Now Elena is not just human. She has powers and gifts that were bestowed on her in the afterlife. What’s more, her blood pulses with an overwhelming and unique force that makes her irresistible to any vampire. Stefan wants to find a way to keep Elena safe so that they can make a life together. Damon, however, is driven by an insatiable desire for power, and wants Elena to rule as his princess. When Stefan is lured away from Fell’s Church, Damon seizes his chance to convince her that he is the brother she is meant to be with. . . . But a darkness is infiltrating the town, and Damon, always the hunter, is now the hunted; he becomes the prey of a malevolent creature that can possess him at will, and who desires not just Elena’s blood but her death. You know what? I didn’t even finish this one. I gave up around page 150. I just couldn’t take it. I felt like I was reading something different; I truly enjoyed the original four books. The story was just not jiving with me. And Stefan constantly calling Elena “Love” drove me nuts! I didn’t think this book series needed another set of stories. Granted, there is the opportunity for it, seeing as how the original four ended. Just let laying dogs lie (is that the proper use of those words? Lie, Lay, Lied, Laid…). So sadly, I think this marks my journey’s end in the reading challenge. Well at least this first phase. I’m happy to continue reading Ms. Smith’s other works in the upcoming challenges. I’ve read the first Nightworld omnibus and have the other two waiting to be read. In the meantime, I’ll just keep watching this: Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. My pick for this week is:
Available October 2010 from Crown From the author’s blog: In January 1611 one of the highest-born members of the Hungarian nobility, Countess Erzsebet Bathory, was walled inside her castle tower and imprisoned for the rest of her life. Her servants were taken away, tortured, put on trial, and then executed as accomplices to the countess’s crimes: the torture and murder of at least 35 women and girls, mostly servants in the countess’s employ. Erzsebet Bathory herself spent the next three and a half years in her tiny prison, denied every comfort, forbidden even to look at the world outside her windows. THE COUNTESS re-creates Bathory’s story in her own words: how this daughter of a noble family was betrothed at age ten but rebelled by bearing an illegitimate child; how she was forced to give that child away and marry Count Nadasdy, a man more interested in the battlefield than the bedroom; how she resorted to spells and potions to give him a child after ten years of marriage; how after the count’s death she loved the man who would eventually imprison her; and how she eventually turned to the torture and murder of her servants after he rejected her. THE COUNTESS is an intimate, sympathetic, and ultimately disturbing portrait of one of the most reviled women in history. Wow. Wow. Never heard of the lady but I am so intrigued by her story! Sounds intense. In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren. Thanks Kristi! So last weekend, we went to see Inception. But we had lots of time to kill because two movie times were sold out. So we bought our tickets and then had over two hours to kill. Josh was worried that we would have a hard time figuring out what to do for two hours while waiting. I told him that would be no problem. The movie theater was actually one block away from the Strand Bookstore. He heavily sighed and we went in. While Josh went inside to read some comic books, I browsed through the outside stacks of books, where they have their $1 and 0.48 cent books. I made out like a bandit:
Three fates intertwine in this moving and passionate love story set in Victorian London. Mary Finn: country girl, maid to a lord in London. Caden Tucker: liar, scoundrel, and heart’s delight. James Nelligan: age six, tossed into a herd of boys. When Mary Finn falls into the arms of handsome Caden Tucker, their frolic changes the course of her life. What possesses her? She’s been a girl of common sense until now. Mary’s tale alternates with that of young James Nelligan, a new boy in an enormous foundling home. (This was a WoW pick for me awhile back. I know the author and have read all her books. This was a surprise to find in the stacks since it is so new.)
Magic and Columbus clash in the New World. In 1492, as the flames of the Inquisition scorch the soul, and three ships set sail under the Spanish flag, a boatload of nuns transported by an unruly genie discover a new world unlike any other: the magical kingdom of Prestor John. (I’ve come to really enjoy this author’s work. And to find an out-of-print title just laying there, score!)
L’Engle at her best, this novel features Stella, who marries into the aristocratic Renier family and discovers a frightening world of intrigue, greed, prejudice, and superstition. Soon drawn into a raging battle between good and evil, Stella must fight her way through to find the other side of the sun. (This is clearly one of her more adult titles. Another one out-of-print.)
The Bull from the Sea reconstructs the legend of Theseus, the valiant youth who slew the Minotaur, became king, and brought prosperity to Attica. Chief among his heroic exploits is the seduction of Hippolyta, the Queen of the Amazons, who irrevocably brought about both his greatest joy and his tragic destiny. (I had gotten the author’s The King Must Die last year at a book sale, so I think I might have to read these together. I’ve never read any of her books. I clearly need to catch up.)
When she was thirteen, Lionors first saw Arthur. Little did she know the consequences of that meeting. The handsome young knight would be declared King of Britain, marry the beautiful Guinevere, and fall to the treachery of his court while Lionors, secretly married to him, would bear his child and wait for him to leave his palace to be at her side in fulfillment of the old prophecy: “You will be a queen, but you will die uncrowned and unknown….” (Never heard of this one before, so I’m curious to know how heavily romance-novel-ish it is. But I’ll pick up anything having to do with King Arthur.)
At a time of mystery and cruelty … in an ancient land of breathtaking beauty and exotic surprise … a courageous woman triumphs over her world’s ultimate tragedy. Behind the garden walls of the House of Chang, pampered daughter Spring Moon is born into luxury and privilege. But the tempests of change sweep her into a new world — one of hardship, turmoil, and heartbreak, one that threatens to destroy her husband, her family, and her darkest secret love. Through a tumultuous lifetime, Spring Moon must cling to her honor, to the memory of a time gone by, and to a destiny, foretold at her birth, that has yet to be fulfilled. (It just so happened that like the day before getting this, Josh and I were talking about the books we had to read during summer reading in high school. And this happened to be one of the ones he read. And it’s billed as a Chinese Gone with the Wind. And then there it was in the stacks outside the Strand.) So that’s what I had gotten at the Strand. But the day before, after Josh and I had eaten some dinner in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn and were strolling the streets, we stopped in a bookstore. And they had a small stash of used mass market paperbacks for sale. So I browsed, and got these two:
When Deenie sees the brace for the first time, she wants to scream, Forget it… I’m never going to wear that thing. Everyone will know. Everyone! But the words won’t come out. And Deenie, beautiful Deenie, who everyone says should be a model, is stuck wearing a brace from her neck to her hips. For four years-or longer. How will she ever face the hard times ahead? (I read a bunch of Judy Blume when I was younger, but I never heard of this one. Maybe because my library didn’t have it because it had been challenged so much. I was very excited to see this!)
So for a whopping $7, I got all those books. Not too shabby for the month of July. Josh actually has a monthly book budget for me. And I think this is the first month where I’ve gone waaaaaay below the budget he set me. I feel quite pleased. Now I need to just find some time to read….
On our way to our friends in Boston for the Fourth of July weekend, we stopped by this place. It is right of exit 74 on I-84 on Connecticut. Now here’s the thing, I’ve driven that way to-and-from Boston many times during the later years of college. I never saw the sign for it. No one ever told me. So a week before the long weekend, one of Josh’s friends at work mentioned it and where it was. And I knew right away that we were going to be stopping there. Why? What’s so special about this place. Well, they have food, yes. But they also have books. And each person gets three free books. THREE FREE BOOKS! So while waiting for our food to come along, Josh and I browsed the shelves. There was no real organization to it. There were books, and more books, and then there was a bookcase devoted to children’s and YA books. And I think 90% of the books they had there I had never heard of. And these were old editions. The store also had a “bestseller section” downstairs, where the books had to be paid for. Because we were trying to get to Boston in a decent amount of time and not hit traffic, I didn’t explore that section. I only walked away with my three books. Josh couldn’t find anything, and I couldn’t find anything else I would have taken immediately. But I have a feeling we will be coming back again. I like finding books that no one’s ever heard of or has forgotten about. This is what you see when you first walk in:
I patiently waited for those folks to leave so that I could go and browse those shelves:
Boxes of books that still have to be opened:
So if your travels ever find you in Connecticut, stop by!
Earlier, I had posted about the Old Spice Guy celebrating libraries. Well, a library has taken matters into its own hands, and well….this was the result:
Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. My pick for this week is:
Available October 2010 from Small Beer Press From a wartime brothel to the intricate high society of 1870s Brussels, Under the Poppy is a breakout novel of childhood friends, a love triangle, puppetmasters, and reluctant spies. Under the Poppy is a brothel owned by Decca and Rupert. Decca is in love with Rupert but he in turn is in love with her brother, Istvan. When Istvan comes to town, louche puppet troupe in tow, the lines of their age-old desires intersect against a backdrop of approaching war. Hearts are broken when old betrayals and new alliances – not just their own – take shape, as the townsmen seek refuge from the onslaught of history by watching the girls of the Poppy cavort onstage with Istvan’s naughty puppets . . . This sounds like such a unique book! Love the simplicity of the cover too. Count me in for this one. It’s already on my wish list. Oh, and check out the cool trailer here. |
 
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