Barker, Clive. Days of Magic, Nights of War. It is the Second Book of the Abarat; yes, I'm behind on my reading schedule. Also in the queue is Thomas Mullen's The Last Town on Earth, and an unpublished manuscript from a local mystery writer. I'm also preparing to read through Raul Ramos y Sanchez's America Libre a second time in order to review it online in honor of its transfer to Grand Central Publishing. • • • A Note to Tablariddim Nope, not me. Sorry I missed that note for so long. Truth is I've been supposed to write a review of the book for a while, but because I ran into the problem with the narrative voice, I've been reluctant to do so. Ordinarily, I should be jealous that someone else succeeded where I have been failing, except that I cannot explain the "success" of the narrative voice. The fact is that he simply didn't relent; I would have given up somewhere in the first third of that book. I mean, I've met the guy, I've drank with the guy ... (okay, I drank while he sat and patiently listened to me ramble about something) ... and I like the guy. He's smart. And nice. And I've been tripping over this review because ... well ... it's not the review I wanted to give him.
Started reading Oblomow again. FFS GET OUT OF BED *sigh* Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! I've tried it a couple of years ago, but didn't get far...
Just finished reading all these in 3 days Lee Child: running blind Drew Curtis: It's not News, It's Fark Noam Chomsky: What we Say goes Star Trek: Avenger
Currently reading: Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! It portrays a crazy future vaguely reminiscent of Douglas Adams, yet somehow almost believable.
Terry Pratchett's "Reaper Man" - just finished. Death is unfairly dismissed, but gets his job back. The Last Waltz. Initial apparition of the Death of Rats. The wizards bury their undead at a crossroads, with a stake through his heart. The crossroads chosen, nearest Unseen University, is the main intersection of the city. Middle of the afternoon, traffic backed up. With a bunch of celery on his chest, because the go-fer couldn't find a steak on short notice. He digs his way out later. "The wizards said the the University stood on magical ground and was therefore exempt from taxation and anyway you couldn't put a tax on knowledge. The Patrician said you could. It was two hundred dollars per capita; if per capita was a problem de capita could be arranged." Last read: "Small Gods" Next: "Maskuerade" (sp?) Favorite so far: "Hogfather" Yeah, it's on a kick. They're about eight bucks apiece, mass market papaerback. There are about 35 of them, so far. I've read 8. In between: "Sex, Economy, Freedom, and Community" (Wendell Berry)
At last something we can agree on. I just finished reading, The Kite Runner and, A Thousand Splendid Suns. I have now begun, Hurricane Punch, by Tim Dorsey, a local, Florida writer. I like his offbeat way of looking at the world.
Jaguars and Jesuits and Elephants, Oh My! Pallamary, Matthew J. Land Without Evil. Oceanside: Charles, 2000. A tale of the Guarani—perhaps of interest to those who saw The Mission—during the eighteenth century as Catholic missionaries battle for the hearts and souls of a people in peril. I can't say much about it, as I'm not yet very far—about sixty pages—into it. But I will go so far as to say it's an inviting read. Gruen, Sara. Water for Elephants. Chapel Hill: Algonquin, 2006. This book was sent to me with high praise. I finally got 'round to reading it last weekend, putting it away in three sessions over the course of Friday and Saturday. It doesn't go down so much like water as fine wine—florid, fragrant, and intoxicating. I tend to distrust titles I hear such widespread praise for; often, broad mainstream appeal is a sign of weakness insofar as authors often compromise for appeal. This one, however, has the potential to stand as a new American classic. Perhaps that is overstated, as it seems slightly formulaic. But early suspicion of cliché fell aside as Gruen deftly assembled common elements to show solid confidence akin to finely-polished granite. I have to admit that I was caught off-guard.
The Catcher in the Rye By J.D. Salinger (for about the 7th time) My Sister and I Freidrich Nietzsche Bible Code II: The Countdown Michael Drosnin The World's Religions Huston Smith Logic and Contemporary Rhetoric Howard Kahane & Nancy Cavender Go Ask Alice Anonymous (for the 3rd time) I'm having to re-read books a lot now, because my ex-husband took half of my books in the divorce settlement! Take my soul, you bastard...leave my books! I just finished The Sword of Truth Series by Terry Goodkind, and am in between series from Salvatore. Also, The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks pretty much stays on my desk...one never knows when there will be a need to quickly look something up...
Whatcya readin' eh? I've just started reading The end of Mr. Y Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!. Now they say never judge a book by its cover but the edges of the pages have been sprayed black! Not to mention this may be one of the best written books I've read in a long time. Douglas Coupland, Johnathan Coe and Phil Pullman all give it the thumbs up too. I think if you like Palahniuk you'd like this. It's not as gruesome but still punches you with brilliant writing on every page.
