Random Thoughts
This was almost a day late, too. I am not really sure where the time is going so far this year but I never seem to have enough of it. I only read 4 books last week, too. It is better than my November and December reading, but it is not what I was hoping for. I am hoping things will get better as the week goes on. I suppose it will depend on whether or not I find some more time. On the plus side the house is rather clean now.
I am going to hopefully have a new template very soon. I am very excited about it. One of the things I plan to do at the same time is switch to a personalized URL. Unfortunately 'The Written World' is rather common, so that URL is not taken. I decided not to change my blog name; so I just need to decide on something close.
Challenge News
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells is a book off the 1001 Books to Read Before you Die list, but it also counts for the Science-Fiction Experience.
I also finished Foundation by Isaac Asimov. I all ready mentioned in last weeks post that it was part of the 1001 Books to Read Before you Die, but it also counts for the Science-Fiction Experience. You can see my thoughts on the first part of the book here.
The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt by Caroline Preston counts for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.
I watched 16 Blocks, The Invasion, 28 Days, Mercury Rising, and Gothika for The Movie Madness Challenge.
I watched 16 Blocks, The Invasion, 28 Days, Mercury Rising, and Gothika for The Movie Madness Challenge.
Weekly Reads
This was one of the books I read with my holiday gift cards. I read the first 3 books last year, although book 1 was a reread, and I really enjoyed the different elements that the books possessed. It is very hard to talk about a random book in the midst of a series. I will just have to say that this book made me want to read Moby Dick. There were lots of other bookish connections to make through the course of the book. I enjoyed the artwork and characters, too. I look forward to Volume 5. (Personal Copy)
I discovered H.G. Wells in 2011 and read a couple of his books back then. I am looking forward to exploring more from him in 2012. I decided that just like last year I was going to start the early part of the year with another read by him. It works many ways because it is a Classic, and I always want to read more classics, and because it counts for the Science-Fiction Experience. This is one of Wells more popular novellas, I don't think it is long enough to be considered a novel, and I enjoyed it overall. I think The Invisible Man, my first read by him, will stick with me longer, though. (Personal E-book)
This book is for the read-along that Carl is hosting as part of the Science-Fiction Experience. You can see the first part of my review here and the second part will be posted tomorrow. (Personal E-book)
This is a book that I have been hearing lots about and wanted to experience for myself. I decided it was not something that I wanted to just get from the library, so I was happy to read my own copy and be able to enjoy it for many years to come. This is a buddy read with Amy from My Friend Amy that will we be posting about at some point. (Personal Copy)
Currently Reading:
1Q84 by Haruki MurakamiNoisy Outlaws, Unfriendly Blobs, and Some Other Things by Various Authors
Naked by David Sedaris
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer
Currently Listening To:
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Weekly Posts
Review: MWF seeking BFF: My Yearlong Search for a New Best Friend by Rachel Bertsche
What Are You Listening Wednesday - Week 8
Tuning in on Thursday - Week 9
Friday Reads - 2nd Edition
New Additions
Bought:
The History of History by Ida Hattemer-Higgins
Little, Big by John Crowley
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan
Borrowed:
The Informationist by Taylor StevensMoonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything by Joshua Foer
Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
First Day on Earth by Cecil Castellucci
The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje
Received:
The One Dish Collection by the Canadian Living Test Kitchen (Random House)
Used Credit to Acquire:
Killbox by Ann Aguirre
Grimspace by Ann Aguirre
White Tiger by Kylie Chan
The Pretty Details of So-and-so's Life by Camilla Gibb
Baba Yaga Laid an Egg by Dubravka Ugresic
Indulgence in Death by J.D. Robb
The Collected Stories by Carol Shields
A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of my favourite Shakespeare plays. And surprisingly, one of the only ones I didn't have to read in either high school or uni. Maybe that's why I like it so much ;) Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteYes, I was never forced to read 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' either. We will see how my reading of it goes!
DeleteI really enjoyed The Time Machine, though I was surprised at the political leanings and discussions in the book. I need to get a hold of more Wells novels; The Island of Dr Moreau intrigues me.
ReplyDeleteYes, that was interesting. I had heard that Wells attempts to put many of his personal opinions into his books, though.
DeleteThe intertextual references are one of my favourite things about The Unwritten. It makes me want to read all the books it mentions, too!
ReplyDeleteIt's a lot of fun! There were many in the recent one... Another book I wish you had bought. *cries* (Just kidding... Mostly...)
DeleteYou have SUCH exciting books on the go. I have 1Q84 in my near future and the size is somewhat intimidating. :D
ReplyDeleteI just am not getting the time to read anything lately. I did finish Shakespeare today, so yay!
DeleteI don't think I've read Naked, but I do enjoy Sedaris's work. I hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThis is my first Sedaris. I picked it up at the second-hand store because I had heard good things about him. I hope you have a good week, too!
DeleteI'd love to re-read Wells someday. I had a huge tome as a young teenager The Complete Works of.... Obviously it was just his fiction: novels, novellas, short stories but I gobbled it up. Boy was the print tiny and the pages were like onion skin!
ReplyDeleteI got Cinder last week, too! Looks good, but I didn't know it was the first of a quartet when I got it. So much for not starting any new series :-0
Well, I am just reading the free downloads that came with my eReader... I look forward to exploring him a bit more.
DeleteYes, I didn't know Cinder was part of a series either. Everything is a series nowadays!
Enjoy all your new additions.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I've ever read anything by H. G. Wells, aside from a short story. I feel like I should though.
I had heard of H.G. Wells before, but never really paid a lot of attention. There was books by him on my new ereader, though, so I decided to give him a try last year. I have to say I still prefer print, but there are some advantages to paper. I found that without my ereader, though, I wouldn't have read many classics.
DeleteI'm excited to see your new blog layout and name!
ReplyDeleteI should read some more H.G. Wells, too. I enjoyed both THE TIME MACHINE and THE WAR OF THE WORLDS, but somehow I've never gotten around to the rest of his books.
I am excited about my up-coming changes. :)
DeleteI really need to read The War of the Worlds. I have it on my ereader so hopefully I will get to it soon!
Kelly, Kelly, Kelly...I swear you make me feel like such an underachiever!!! How the hell do you fit so much into a week?!! Seriously! How. Do. You. Do. It?!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't really feel that I do... I spend a lot of time on the computer and such, you know. And it is not like my house is immaculate or anything.
DeleteYea. What Debi says/asks.
ReplyDeletehaha, I really don't feel like I accomplish that much. I want to accomplish so much more!
DeleteGood luck with your goal to read more books by HG Wells this year. He always seem to be a hit-and-miss for me. What titles do you intend to pick up this year?
ReplyDeleteI know for sure I have War of the Worlds, but otherwise I am not entirely sure what to read next. I will have to do some research after that one.
DeleteWe read AMND in school and I enjoyed it so much that I read it again for my A Levels - I wrote a paper comparing it to Much Ado About Nothing.
ReplyDeleteI picked up a gorgeous book last year with all of Shakespeare's plays in - perhaps I should pick it up off the shelf and have a read.
That's a great idea!
DeleteI have the collected works of Shakespeare, too. I am glad to finally be cracking it open!