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Update: Classic Crime Fiction Readalong with Soho Press
The discussion for the first classic crime fiction read-along is being hosted by and The discussion will officially take place on Thursday (3/22/12), though a few folks are already talking. Hopefully, the folks at Books on the Nightstand will discuss on their weekly podcast (which is amazing, btw).
The first book is The Murders at the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe. This is believed have been the creation of the crime fiction novel. I enjoyed the book. I haven't read any classic crime stories and I haven't read Poe in the past 10 years. This story can be downloaded for free at
I can't wait to see what is next.
The first book is The Murders at the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe. This is believed have been the creation of the crime fiction novel. I enjoyed the book. I haven't read any classic crime stories and I haven't read Poe in the past 10 years. This story can be downloaded for free at
I can't wait to see what is next.
Nod to the Book Lady's Toni Morrison Read Along
I ... gosh, I don't know how to say this, I have never read Toni Morrison's work.
I know, I know. I've been stuck on Sci-Fi/Fantasy for so long that I have completely neglected other genres. Rebecca Schinsky (aka The Book Lady) recently announced a Toni Morrison read-along on her blog in celebration of Morrison's newest book release. Rebecca will re-read Morrison's entire catalog, I will commit to one book, for now. Per Rebecca's advice, I will begin with The Bluest Eye.
If you are interested in following along, discussions will take place at The Book Lady's Blog.
I know, I know. I've been stuck on Sci-Fi/Fantasy for so long that I have completely neglected other genres. Rebecca Schinsky (aka The Book Lady) recently announced a Toni Morrison read-along on her blog in celebration of Morrison's newest book release. Rebecca will re-read Morrison's entire catalog, I will commit to one book, for now. Per Rebecca's advice, I will begin with The Bluest Eye.
If you are interested in following along, discussions will take place at The Book Lady's Blog.
Classic Crime Fiction Readalong with Soho Press
Soho Press will sponsor a classic crime fiction read along this year. Ten classic crime stories/novels that will be discussed on the Soho Press. The first story is The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe, which will be discussed on March 20th.
I have steered away from mystery/crime fiction in the past, this is an excellent opportunity to build up knowledge in this genre.
I hope that you will join as well.
I have steered away from mystery/crime fiction in the past, this is an excellent opportunity to build up knowledge in this genre.
I hope that you will join as well.
2012 Reading Challenge
New year, new reading challenge. Yay!
Last year, I challenged myself to read any 70 books. This was a 10 book increase over the prior year. This year the challenge is to read with some structure. The total goal is 71, 45 of which are predetermined. The total number did not increase much as I have new people in my life. Reading is a solitary habit and I don't want to push away the people that I love.
So here it is, the 2012 reading list:
Dearly Devoted Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
Naked Lunch by William S Burroughs
We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht
A Novel Bookstore by Laurence Cosse
Sixty-One Nails by Mike Shevdon
The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan
When She Woke by Hillary Jordan
The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan
You Must Go and Win by Alina Simone
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
The Rules of Attraction by Bret Easton Ellis
The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
This is why I use the library ... 2011 wrap-up
This year, I read a total of 72 books. Thirty-seven of which were checked out from my local library. I used Amazon and Audible to price check the items (please see prior post for links to purchase from Indie Stores).
Fables: Vol 9 Sons of Empire - $12.23
Fables: Vol 8 Wolves - $12.20
Fables: Vol 7 Arabian Nights - $10.15
Fables: Vol 6 Homelands - $10.19
The Invention of Hugo Cabret - $14.99
Fables: Vol 5 The Mean Season- $10.19
Fables: Vol 4 March of the Wooden Soldiers - $12.23
Fables: Vol 3 Storybook Love - $10.19
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (audio-book) - $32.00
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (audio-book) -$88.55
Bossypants (audio-book) - $21.25
Lost (audio-book) - $31.93
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Last Gleaming - $10.00
This Perfect Day - $10.17
Little Children - $5.58
A Discovery of Witches - $10.88
The Shepherd's Tale - $10.19
Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang (audio-book) - $16.09
The Walking Dead Compendium No 1 - $34.79
American on Purpose (audio-book) - $31.93
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Twilight - $10.45
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Retreat - $10.62
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Predators and Prey - $10.62
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Time of Your Life - $10.72
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wolves at the Gate - $10.71
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Long Way Home - $10.77
Freakonomics (audio-book) - $27.93
My Horizontal Life (audio-book) - $17.49
Ricky Gervais Presents: The World of Karl Pilkington - $13.57
The Stepford Wives - $9.59
Rosemary's Baby - $10.91
Role Models (Audio-book) - $20.99
Persepolis - $9.11
Persepolis 2 - $10.48
Fables: Vol 2 Animal Farm - $10.24
Fables: Vol 1 Legends in Exile - $10.24
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (audio-book) - Not available
Total Savings: $600.17
This total as impressive as it is, does not even factor in the DVD which I've gotten from my library.
This is why I love my library. This is why I donate my money and volunteer my time. I have a healthy income but I can't afford to keep up with my desired reading pace. If it weren't for the library, my life would be different.
2011 Book Challenge Completed!
I’m proud to announce that I have successfully completed my 2011 Reading Challenge! Yay, I challenged myself to read 70 books in 2011.
Books Read (by genre)
Fiction:
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick*
72 Hour Hold by Bebe Moore Campbell
Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson
Hocus Pocus by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood
Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
Little Children by Tom Perrotta*
Just a Nice Guy by Phil Torcivia
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Science Fiction/Fantasy:
Twilight Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko
Day Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling*
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko
The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin*
This Perfect Day by Ira Levin*
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness*
Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
If You Could See What I See by Sylvia Browne*
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Handling the Undead by John Ajvide Lindqvist
Graphic Novels:
Fables: Arabian Nights (and Days) Vol 7*
Fables: The Mean Seasons Vol 5*
Fables: March of the Wooden Soldiers Vol 4*
Fables: Legends in Exile Vol 1*
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi*
Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return by Marjane Satrapi*
The Long Way Home (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8, Vol. 1) *
No Future For You (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, Volume 2)*
Wolves at the Gate (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, Volume 3)*
Time of Your Life (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8, Vol. 4)*
Predators and Prey (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, Vol. 5)*
Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season Eight Volume 6: Retreat*
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight Volume 7: Twilight*
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight Volume 8: Last Gleaming*
The Guild: Bladezz by Felicia Day
Serenity: Float Out by Patton Oswalt*
The Walking Dead Compendium One by Robert Kirkman*
Serenity, Volume 2: Better Days by Joss Whedon*
Serenity: Those Left Behind by Joss Whedon*
Non-Fiction:
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
Secret Diary of a Call Girl by Belle de Jour
The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee by Sarah Silverman
Chelsea, Chelsea, Bang, Bang by Chelsea Handler*
American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot by Craig Ferguson*
My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands by Chelsea Handler*
The Fat Girl's Guide to Life by Wendy Shanker
Ricky Gervais Presents the World of Karl Pilkington by Karl Pilkington*
* denotes library book
Bold denotes genre favorite
Book Review: Geek Love
Geek Love by Katherine Dunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The descriptions are incredible, not only of geography but also of the Binewski family members. I have a very clear idea in my head about how each family member looked, walked, ate, and breathed in some cases. The material in this book was grotesque at times but worth the read.
View all my reviews
Book Review: Let Me In
Let Me In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I watched the movie adaptation first and was intrigued by it. I watched several times and had dozens of questions about the characters. After reading "Let Me In," all my questions were answered...and then some.
This writer is obviously gifted. He was able to match the grotesque with a story of childhood love and friendship, without it being corny or cheap.
I suggest this book to anyone who has a bit of a tough stomach for gore, but especially to those that watched the film.
View all my reviews
Books to Read: Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
The release date is set for 7/10/12. I am very excited. I tend to be the one who finds out about trilogies after they are completed. The first book in this trilogy was Discovery of Witches, which received mixed reviewed. I devoured the book and eagerly wait for the next release.
