1. Go to a whole lot of closings in May and June
2. Catch up on some blogging...
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
The Help
Among the many things I really like about audio books is the sense of mystery you have while you listen to them. There's no back cover to read and no accidentally skipping to the end. The story just unfolds at its own pace and then it's done. All you really have is the little cover picture and maybe a short description.
The Help is what I've been reading (a.k.a. listening to) for the last month. I had no idea what it was about just that everyone who had read it said it was really good. It was superb and made for the very best kind of audiobooks with three different narrators whose voices conveyed their characters so well. Put this on your must-read list, if not your must-listen to list.
Friday, April 9, 2010
A Giveaway
Since I know my some of you have a fondness for books on tape..or is it CD now?... I am going to do a little giveaway. I have 3 books on CD that are up for grabs. All you have to do to win one is make a post on a book that you are reading. The next 3 posts (can be by the same person) will get one of the following:
The Castle in the Forest by Norman Mailer
No career in modern American letters is at once so brilliant, varied, and controversial as that of Norman Mailer. In a span of more than six decades, Mailer has searched into subjects ranging from World War II to Ancient Egypt, from the march on the Pentagon to Marilyn Monroe, from Henry Miller and Muhammad Ali to Jesus Christ. Now, in his first major work of fiction in more than a decade, The Castle in the Forest offers what may be Mailer's consummate literary endeavor: he has set out to explore the evil of Adolf Hitler.
The narrator, a mysterious SS man in possession of some extraordinary secrets, takes the young Adolf from birth through his adolescence. En route, revealing portraits are offered of Hitler's father and mother, and his sisters and brothers.
A tapestry of unforgettable characters, The Castle in the Forest delivers its myriad twists and surprises with astonishing insight into the nature of the struggle between good and evil that exists in us all. At its core is a hypothesis that is employed with stunning originality. Now, on the eve of his eighty-fourth birthday, Norman Mailer may well be saying more than he ever has before.
The Ruins by Scott Smith
Eerie, terrifying, and unputdownable, The Ruins is Scott Smith's first novel since his acclaimed debut A Simple Plan earned rave reviews and stormed bestseller lists.
The Ruins follows two American couples enjoying a pleasant, lazy beach holiday together in Mexico. On an impulse, they go off with newfound friends in search of one of their group -- the young German, who, in pursuit of a girl, has headed for the remote Mayan ruins, site of a fabled archeological dig.
This is what happens from the moment the searchers -- moving into the wild interior -- begin to suspect that there is an insidious, horrific "other" among them....
Bones to Ashes by Kathy Reichs
The discovery of a skeleton in Acadia, Canada, reawakens a traumatic episode for forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan: Could the young girl's remains be those of Évangéline Landry, Tempe's friend who disappeared when Tempe was twelve? Exotic, free-spirited, and slightly older, Évangéline enlivened Tempe's summer beach visits...then vanished amid whispers that she was "dangerous." Now, faced with bones scarred with inexplicable lesions, Tempe is consumed with solving a decades-old mystery -- while her lover, detective Andrew Ryan, urgently needs her attention on a wave of teenage abductions and murders. With both Ryan and her ex-husband making surprising future plans, Tempe may soon find that her world has painfully and irrevocably changed once again.
These all look a little depressing/scary/thriller/etc to me, but maybe for a long car ride they will keep you awake! So.. just put at the end of your next post which CD you want. If nobody wants them I'll just put them back on the shelf :)
The Castle in the Forest by Norman Mailer
No career in modern American letters is at once so brilliant, varied, and controversial as that of Norman Mailer. In a span of more than six decades, Mailer has searched into subjects ranging from World War II to Ancient Egypt, from the march on the Pentagon to Marilyn Monroe, from Henry Miller and Muhammad Ali to Jesus Christ. Now, in his first major work of fiction in more than a decade, The Castle in the Forest offers what may be Mailer's consummate literary endeavor: he has set out to explore the evil of Adolf Hitler.
The narrator, a mysterious SS man in possession of some extraordinary secrets, takes the young Adolf from birth through his adolescence. En route, revealing portraits are offered of Hitler's father and mother, and his sisters and brothers.
A tapestry of unforgettable characters, The Castle in the Forest delivers its myriad twists and surprises with astonishing insight into the nature of the struggle between good and evil that exists in us all. At its core is a hypothesis that is employed with stunning originality. Now, on the eve of his eighty-fourth birthday, Norman Mailer may well be saying more than he ever has before.
The Ruins by Scott Smith
Eerie, terrifying, and unputdownable, The Ruins is Scott Smith's first novel since his acclaimed debut A Simple Plan earned rave reviews and stormed bestseller lists.
The Ruins follows two American couples enjoying a pleasant, lazy beach holiday together in Mexico. On an impulse, they go off with newfound friends in search of one of their group -- the young German, who, in pursuit of a girl, has headed for the remote Mayan ruins, site of a fabled archeological dig.
This is what happens from the moment the searchers -- moving into the wild interior -- begin to suspect that there is an insidious, horrific "other" among them....
Bones to Ashes by Kathy Reichs
The discovery of a skeleton in Acadia, Canada, reawakens a traumatic episode for forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan: Could the young girl's remains be those of Évangéline Landry, Tempe's friend who disappeared when Tempe was twelve? Exotic, free-spirited, and slightly older, Évangéline enlivened Tempe's summer beach visits...then vanished amid whispers that she was "dangerous." Now, faced with bones scarred with inexplicable lesions, Tempe is consumed with solving a decades-old mystery -- while her lover, detective Andrew Ryan, urgently needs her attention on a wave of teenage abductions and murders. With both Ryan and her ex-husband making surprising future plans, Tempe may soon find that her world has painfully and irrevocably changed once again.
These all look a little depressing/scary/thriller/etc to me, but maybe for a long car ride they will keep you awake! So.. just put at the end of your next post which CD you want. If nobody wants them I'll just put them back on the shelf :)
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Case of the Missing Servant
In all honesty I was hoping to read "Girl Who Played With Fire" next, but the $15.95 price tag for the paperback at BN left me gasping for air. I'm too used to free books and I really need to get over it. However, I found a great alternative (free!) from Simon & Schuster. I've been eyeing this lovely cover for a while now (I probably have a few more copies at my desk) and since my original plan didn't work out I've embarked on "The Case of the Missing Servant: A Vish Puri Mystery" by Tarquin Hall. It's a mystery novel based in India and so far I'm liking it. All of the characters have nicknames, unfortunately no cool Swede names, and our hero is called "Chubby", though his real name is Vish Puri. I think it will be an interesting mystery and at the very least a little peek into India. Also, there's a second one that just came out! Oh, how I love a good series. The next is: Case of the Man Who Died Laughing. And on second thought, this might be a good book for high schoolers?
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Lynda's Work
I just found this fascinating new blog about this lady painter from SC! I think you all will love it... click me, please?
Saturday, March 13, 2010
The Elegance of the Hedgehog...
It's true that on the surface a hedgehog does not appear to be elegant (thank you Mere for the visual of Tiggy and Winkle consuming their young) but The Elegance of the Hedgehog is indeed an elegant book. I am over halfway through this very intelligent novel about life in a posh Parisian apartment building. While there are no dead bodies in the cupboards of this French apartment building, there is a concierge, a bright twelve year old girl and a new Japanese neighbor. It's a work destined to make you appreciate your liberal arts education and a well-turned phrase!
Voila, a book that makes existentialism fun!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Dragon Tattoo
I'm going to review a book that has already been reviewed twice. Both times by Auntie G. You can refer back to her posts here:
January 5, 2009
September 7, 2009
Anyway, I finally got around to reading The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and I share the same sentiments as Auntie G. To quote her post on January 5th "Great plots, engaging characters and lots of Swedish names and locals." In fact, one of my favorite things about the book is that it takes place in Sweden. Seems so exotic... you can also tell that the writer, Stieg Larsson, has a lot to say about politics there. In fact, I am not afraid to admit that I have skimmed over a few parts.
I'm not much of a crime-reader but I do like this one and can't wait to read the next!
Hm, I don't know why my book has the cover shown above, but it does. I was really hoping for the neat green/yellow one. In fact, if you would like to see more of this designer's excellent work click here.
September 7, 2009
Anyway, I finally got around to reading The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and I share the same sentiments as Auntie G. To quote her post on January 5th "Great plots, engaging characters and lots of Swedish names and locals." In fact, one of my favorite things about the book is that it takes place in Sweden. Seems so exotic... you can also tell that the writer, Stieg Larsson, has a lot to say about politics there. In fact, I am not afraid to admit that I have skimmed over a few parts.
I'm not much of a crime-reader but I do like this one and can't wait to read the next!
Hm, I don't know why my book has the cover shown above, but it does. I was really hoping for the neat green/yellow one. In fact, if you would like to see more of this designer's excellent work click here.
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