Sunday, February 05, 2012

Week in Review (5)

Random Thoughts

It is hard to believe it is February all ready. It has been a strange winter. Normally by now I am just sick of snow and shovelling, but we haven't really had a lot of snow this year. It has been a very strange winter. Last winter we had so much snow we didn't know where to put it any more and we ended up shovelling off the roof. When it does snow Casey enjoys sitting in the window watching it fall. She was an outside cat before, but we have too much traffic here. If I can help it she will be staying inside. It is just me and her for the afternoon, so I am thinking a reading day is in order. I have a lot of stuff on the go and would like to finish a bit of it up so I can start new things.

Challenge News

Naked by David Sedaris counts for the Essay Reading Challenge. My goal was only to read 10 essays, so I am technically finished. I am considering making it 10 collections instead. We will see how February goes first, though.
Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin & Lisa Brown counts for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.

Weekly Reads

This last week I read the second book in the Mythos Series. I even reviewed it all ready. You can read my review by clicking here. (Library)










I actually mostly have a review done of this book, too, so hopefully will get a chance to post it soon. It was my first time reading David Sedaris. I wasn't entirely sure what I thought of it in the very beginning, but once I got used to the writing and his humour it was an enjoyable read. I think the only reason it took a story or two is because I started this book and then a really long time went by before I picked it up again. (Personal Copy)






This was my last read of January. It also meant catching up in a series which is always exciting. I continue to really enjoy the characters and the stories. I think things are moving along at a good pace now and I am enjoying the development. I look forward to where we go with the series next. (Personal Copy)







My copy of this FINALLY arrived and I decided to read it basically right away. I closed my eyes and picked a side, so I started out reading Evelyn's first. This is basically a book that is just aesthetically interesting, so I decided that I had to own it. It did take me a bit to get a good method of holding it, though. My usual method usually lead to it falling everywhere. I enjoyed the story, too. I always enjoy Medieval literature, even if I don't read it very much any more, so the connection to it interested me. (Personal Copy)




This was my last read for the week. It was a review copy that I received from Sourcebooks a few days ago. I enjoy a good ghost story from time to time, so I decided to give this one a read sooner rather than later. I didn't love the book, but I did really enjoy it. I think it had good atmosphere and the use of pictures really added to the story. Plus, it was set during a time period that I don't really read a lot about. I will discuss it more soon. (Personal Copy)






Currently Reading:
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
Gender Outlaws
The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
In Other Worlds by Margaret Atwood
Songs of Love and Death

Weekly Posts

Tuning in on Thursday - Week 12

New Additions

Borrowed:
Songs of Love & Death Edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois
Camp Nine by Vivienne Schiffer
Mr. Fox by Helen Oyeyemi
Every You, Every Me by David Levithan
Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep (e-book) (Read)

Received:
Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown (Sourcebooks)
Low Town by Daniel Polansky (Doubleday Books via the author)
The Last Storyteller by Frank Delaney (Authors Publicist)
You Comma Idiot by Doug Harris (Goose Lane Editions)

Bought:

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (gift card)
The Unwritten - Volume 5: On to Genesis by Mike Carey and Peter Gross (gift card)
Den of Thieves by David Chandler
Phoenix Rising by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris
Maidens' Trip by Emma Smith

The Thorn and the Blossom by Theodora Goss (gift card) (read)
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (read)

24 comments:

  1. I'm super excited to see that you got a copy of Phoenix Rising! I really enjoyed it when I read it and I'm looking forward to the 2nd book :) It sounds like you had a really great week of reading!

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    1. It was available for 99 cents on the Kobo website. I just decided to give it a try, but I think now that I do remember reading a review of it. I am glad you enjoyed it!

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  2. I can't wait to read your thoughts on Picture the Dead.I just started reading The Thorn and the Blossom this morning. So far, I haven't dropped it while reading it! ;-) Have a great week!

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    1. Picture the Dead and The Thorn and the Blossom were both really good. I am happy to have read them. :)

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  3. Glad to see you liked the David Sedaris book! I haven't actually read any of his, but I did listen to "Me Talk Pretty One Day" on a long drive. It was pretty good.

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    1. I need to read more from Sedaris. Probably again later in the month...

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  4. You could try Howards End is on the Landing by Susan Hill for essays... they're all about books and reading and are a total joy.

    It has been a strange winter I agree.

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    1. I tried. The library here doesn't have it and not available through ILL. :( I might consider buying a copy at a later date.

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  5. You've got so many great books going on right now!!! I hear you about the strange winter and no snow. It was 45 today.. I can't stand all of the mud!!!

    Loving the new look on your blog too!!! Very cool :D

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    1. Yeah, we have seen mud since last winter. It has rained constantly or just been wet in general.

      And, thanks!

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  6. I love the feeling of "tidying up" a bunch of lingering reads on a weekend, and then starting the next week with a bunch of new books. Hope your not-so-snowy day went as well as you were hoping!

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    1. It is a lot of fun doing that. :)

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  7. I hear you on winter. I'm calling it the winter that never was because I really do not think we'll be seeing any more winter-like weather until next fall. It's rather sad. I miss my snow - and I never thought I would say that. Have a great week!

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    1. It has been a very strange winter...

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  8. Anonymous10:36 PM

    We've been having a very warm winter...like we went straight from fall to spring. We need rain, though, so I hope we get some winter weather soon!

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    1. We will get rain for the next few months judging by the last few years...

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  9. Only read the first book of Unwritten, but need to get the second asap, or I'll forget all about the story. Glad to know if continues to be good!

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    1. When I read books 2 and 3 I had to go back and reread book 1.

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  10. I'm excited to see that you read Naked! I love Sedaris, and he's my very favorite author to listen to on audio. It brings a whole new life to his work. I've read everything BUT Naked, and I have it on my shelve waiting for me when I need a fix. :)

    I also posted about Picture the Dead today. I received it last week, and I'm looking forward to reading it.

    Have a great week, Kelly!

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    1. I need to read more by Sedaris.

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  11. It is hard to believe January is over. We've barely had any snow here either.
    Great books!
    I enjoyed The Thorn and the blossom myself. I read Evelyn's story first too. At first I found the book awkward to hold, but once I got used to it, it was fine. That book left me with a smile on my face. It's a sweet read.
    I like your new blog look :)

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    1. Yes, it only took a bit to get used to and then it was no problem. I am glad I got a copy.

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  12. I just got my review copy of Picture the Dead. Glad to hear you enjoyed it! I'm hoping to get to it soon.

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