Member: BeckyJG
CollectionsReview Only (79), Your library (2,310), Currently reading (2), All collections (2,389)
Reviews124 reviews
Tagsfiction (1,439), history (146), military (128), humor (116), wwi (104), thriller (98), mystery (98), autobiography (80), reference (75), biography (73) — see all tags
Cloudstag cloud, author cloud
GroupsAgatha Christie, Almack's, Bibliomysteries, Book Care and Repair, Crime, Thriller & Mystery, King's Dear Constant Readers, Le Salon Litteraire du Peuple pour le Peuple
Favorite authorsThomas Berger, Lee Child, Gabriel García Márquez, Charles McCarry, Tim Powers, Thomas Pynchon, J. K. Rowling, Richard Russo (Shared favorites)
Favorite bookstoresBorders - El Segundo
About meI'm a lifelong reader, book lover, and inveterate book collector. Yeah, I've just got to have them.
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About my libraryMy library is large and eclectic. I pretty much only read fiction, but I love all kinds of books. When I want to learn about something, I buy lots of books on the subject. My library is actually *our* library. It's blended, and some day all of the military history books will be cataloged as well.
Homepagehttp://thebookfrog.blogspot.com
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Real nameRebecca Glenn
LocationLos Angeles, CA
Emailbooksnob1
earthlink.net
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Connection NewsConnection News
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http://www.librarything.com/profile/BeckyJG (profile)
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/BeckyJG (library)
Common KnowledgeSeries (373), Awards (511), Characters (6207), Places (1222)
Member sinceMar 20, 2008
Currently readingHighway 61 Resurfaced: A Novel by Bill Fitzhugh
Roadwork by Stephen King
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posted by EnriqueFreeque at 3:52 pm (EST) on Feb 2, 2010
So what's up next for you reading-wise?
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 10:49 pm (EST) on Jan 30, 2010
And thrilled!
THANKS!
;-)
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 5:36 pm (EST) on Jan 30, 2010
And you're telling me that Candy is even funnier? Haven't read it; need to acquire it, based on your word. I grabbed his first novel, Flash and Filagree at the Dollar Bookstore not too long ago, but have yet gotten to it. You probably already know that he was a screenwriter as well, right?, and co-wrote, with Kubrick, Dr. Strangelove, one of my all time faves. Favorite line in that flick: "You can't fight in here! This is the War Room!"
So Badfinger actually had enough greatest hits for a greatest hits album? ;-) Weren't they really the 70s version of The Beatles in disguise? Haven't heard them in forever. I do want to see that movie; slickdpdx sent me (or sent it to one of my fake puppet groups, "Exotic Male Dancers who LibraryThing" - did you ever see that group? - a clip from it, way back when, the scene where the Shakespearian actor goes into an impromptu striptease before all those hoity-toity so-and so's...hysterical, in a very dry, dry way. Need to rent that and see the whole thing.
Sorry to hear you can still spare the two hours. Damn. But time with Terry Southern is still time well spent, so be of good cheer!
And here's a link to something that's hopefully worth a few laughs, you may not be aware of: http://www.librarything.com/topic/79383 Funnier toward the last half of the thread.
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 1:55 am (EST) on Jan 30, 2010
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 10:21 pm (EST) on Jan 11, 2010
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 1:16 am (EST) on Jan 11, 2010
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 8:48 pm (EST) on Jan 8, 2010
And by Jove you are so right on the money about her sounding like the older daughter in The Incredibles. Almost annoying the sound of her voice. Yet somehow endearing nonetheless.
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 1:50 am (EST) on Jan 8, 2010
Where has this Sarah Vowell been all my life?! I love her. I've only read the first two essays from Take the Cannoli, but hope to dip in more this weekend, and write something about it in Club Read. I like her so much I'm this close to adding her to my fave authors. She's a humorist with a big heart; no bitterness or out of control cynicism that I've detected so far, which is a refreshing change of pace from most humorists. That one where her and her Dad go out and shoot his homemade cannon....classic. If she's on youtube reading her stuff I've definitely got to look into that.
Thanks for the DFW link...I'll check it out tonight.
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 12:20 pm (EST) on Jan 6, 2010
Freeque say you read brain candy mediocre thriller not good for long term memory. Freeque say you need to read Pamuk's, My Name is Red, w/le salon, in Feb., so you not forget that you read it after you read it.
;-)
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 7:01 pm (EST) on Jan 5, 2010
Well said! I'll toast to that! There's nothing certain in life but death, taxes, and...books.
Great seeing you in the salon. Hopefully we'll cover some other books that are equally as "juicy," - that Jeanette Winterson one coming up in May, I think, could be in that ballpark. Too bad Miss Lonelyhearts is so dang short. I think I like it even better than Day of the Locust.
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 1:51 pm (EST) on Jan 3, 2010
posted by wisewoman at 12:05 pm (EST) on Jan 3, 2010
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 4:50 pm (EST) on Dec 31, 2009
posted by Capybara_99 at 3:46 pm (EST) on Dec 28, 2009
Strong Poison is probably the one I'd recommend for your first to be sure that you get hooked on the characters. The first of the series, Whose Body? is pretty much a stinker. In that one Wimsey is almost literally the ass-about-town that he pretends to be in the later books. *SP* introduces his love interest ----- hope that's helpful.
Do try a Heyer regency when you want to clear your mental palate. I suppose they fall under the romance heading only a little more than Jane Austen's novels do. And, I looked to see whether I could find a DLS group; there is one, "Talking Piffle" (which you'll read about if you read *SP*), but it is moribund. If you fall in love, maybe we can ginger it up.
Peggy
posted by LizzieD at 6:20 pm (EST) on Dec 27, 2009
Peggy
posted by LizzieD at 11:09 pm (EST) on Dec 26, 2009
If you are a G. Heyer fan, do come over to a reviving Almack's group where we discuss the mysteries as well as the regencies and other historicals.
Sure enough.....there I am near the bottom of your "members with" list.
Peggy
posted by LizzieD at 7:57 pm (EST) on Dec 26, 2009
My apologies for any offense. I assure you none was intended.
posted by dekesolomon at 10:40 am (EST) on Dec 17, 2009
posted by dekesolomon at 11:09 pm (EST) on Dec 16, 2009
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 12:20 pm (EST) on Dec 15, 2009
Tey is also wonderful. When I read The Franchise Affair, a certain character from it showed up in my dreams that night, lol. It was a little nightmarish. Miss Pym Disposes is probably my favorite of hers. I haven't read them all yet though.
I haven't yet read any of Heyer's mysteries, as I'm new to her work and have been blissfully enjoying her Regency period stories, but I've heard the mysteries are decent. Some of them are being discussed in the group Almack's if you wanted to take a look: http://www.librarything.com/groups/almac...
I wonder, have you ever used online bookswap sites like BookMooch or PaperBackSwap? You list books you own and don't want, someone requests them, you get a point per book and mail the book(s) at your cost, and then you can spend that point requesting a book from someone else. I've received well over 300 books that way, and I absolutely love it. I'd be happy to show you the ropes if you wanted to try either site!
posted by wisewoman at 3:21 pm (EST) on Dec 14, 2009
posted by wisewoman at 7:57 am (EST) on Dec 14, 2009
Ya know, just in the last two months or so, I've begun collecting any Agatha Christie I can find. I'm up to around 20 or so. Only about 300 more to go!
I'm glad you've wisely given her a chance. She rarely disappoints.
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 10:13 pm (EST) on Dec 13, 2009
Just a note to say I happened across your profile here. I am a not infrequent customer in your bookstore, and we seem to have some tastes in common. I'm not sure why this prompts me to leave this note to say "Hi", but it does. So, again, hi.
posted by Capybara_99 at 3:10 pm (EST) on Dec 9, 2009
You might already know this, or not: I'm featured on the following thread through the month of December, as an "underappreciated writer" (Enrique's idea):
http://www.librarything.com/topic/77721
posted by copyedit52 at 9:13 am (EST) on Dec 4, 2009
Reminded me of a 3-D book art link - http://izismile.com/2009/05/21/ibook_aut... - that slick posted in the "cool book oriented links" thread in the salon, but your link trumps this one.
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 9:42 pm (EST) on Nov 30, 2009
Okay I feel better now knowing that you'll do your darndest for IJ. I'm not as insistent about Les Miz but, man, is it a powerful, profound read, if you're able to do it. And I'm soooooo sorry that I had to resort to possible down-the-line verbal threats of what I realize now in hindsight would have been repugnant, inexcusable retaliation (what came over me?) to coerce foster your erudite participation. What can I say, DWF means a lot to me (I've never been obsessed w/him or anything, though) and I merely want him to mean a lot to everybody else too (not that I'm proselytizing) so that we can all obsess communicate (even in our unconscious perhaps) regarding him and all writings him and books him, together.
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 9:51 pm (EST) on Nov 21, 2009
You never answered, btw, when I inquired as to whether you'd be reading Les Miz with us. I can only assume your silence means NO. Well fine then! Just fine!
You better think twice about saying NO to Infinite Jest in March, though, or else...or else I'll think of something very dire to say to you in retaliation!
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 11:32 pm (EST) on Nov 18, 2009
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 11:04 pm (EST) on Nov 13, 2009
Is it possible to go a week w/out buying a book? No. It isn't.
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 8:22 pm (EST) on Nov 13, 2009
That SK story in the NYer btw, OMG, is it cringe-inducing (too real perhaps? yes, definitely too real) and dark comedy as dark comedy gets. I refuse to say what happens to the dog. Perhaps I've said too much. Do read it when you can, and tell me King couldn't be a literary golden boy (grampa) if he so chose to be.
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 8:31 pm (EST) on Nov 7, 2009
So I get my mail today, open up The New Yorker, and who's Fiction is featured?: Stephen King's??? in the New Yorker??? First thought: Must alert BeckyJG.
"Premium Harmony" is the story. Check it out. Am reading it as I write.
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 6:29 pm (EST) on Nov 7, 2009
I've gotten a few other confirmations about the policies of book-pushing at Borders. Kind of disappointing, this lack of regard for customer satisfaction. (Though I'm glad you mentioned The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo in your list of worthwhile books since I have a copy sitting on my shelf waiting to be read.)
Thank you very much for the advice and information. :)
posted by amandapsychedelia at 6:59 pm (EST) on Nov 4, 2009
Bummer that the new Koontz garnered such a mediocre rating. I was hopin' he'd turned a corner (like King) back toward his glory days.
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 1:22 am (EST) on Nov 3, 2009
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 4:51 pm (EST) on Oct 27, 2009
Hey, if you need some more optimism (besides reading more Koontz, which is always a good idea) I hope you'll consider the salon's December-Feb. read: Les Miserables. I didn't see it in your library, but knowing you, I'd be surprised if you haven't read it. It's my all time favorite novel. Yes, it does get dark at times, very dark, but overarching all the despair and misery, is the sublime triumph of the human spirit overcoming grave injustice: Love winning over Hate; Good winning over Evil; Freedom over Imprisonment; Faith over Unbelief; Grace over Law....Optimism, in other words, over Pessimism.
Don't know if you still lurk thereabouts in the salon, but I do hope you'll consider giving Les Miz a go. It's a surprisingly easy, compelling read, that enrichens the soul as you read. If you do, (and I'm crossing my fingers you will) I'd avoid the recent Julie Rose translation just released in paperback, and stick with the fat, Signet, MacAfee trans. pb ed. (1,400+ pages!) - the fastest 1,400+ page read you'll undoubtedly ever read. Or the Wilbour trans. is good too.
And I can't wait either for that Koontz review. Know why? To quote a certain BeckyJG I know in a recent review of hers: it's that darn feel-good factor that keeps me coming back for more.
I sent this post a few minutes ago and somehow duplicated it in a mish-mash of unreadablity toward the bottom. Weird. Don't know how I did that! This is the corrected post.
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 11:23 am (EST) on Oct 24, 2009
I love love love Watchers. A friend of mine met him at the Buena Park Mall back when it came out; not for a signing, he just happened to be there and she recognized him; said he was cordial and cool and actually spoke to her (and her dog!) for awhile. Dogs are huge in his books. Especially Watchers. Haven't read that recent one of his featuring a dog on the cover.
I could also rave about Phantoms and Seize The Night and The Door to December, the last which was originally released under a pseudonym, you may know, that I saw (the original version) selling at a specialty sci-fi shop in, well, Orange of all places, not too long ago, for a whopping $160.00. Needless to say, I did not buy it. I've read that Koontz has slipped of late, say the last 10 years or so, but I thought False Memory was good nevertheless, and the first Brother Odd book too. He's one of the most likable writers out there; I don't know what his secret is - it's probably his optimism and hopefulness in the human spirit - but I think he's a really cool author and a super great guy. Holy shit, I think it's time I stopped posting now. Sheesh, stop adding Dean Koontz to yer library will ya? and then I won't be forced to post so long! Yer fault!
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 10:10 pm (EST) on Oct 22, 2009
and I just searched his books and found this: Don't Bump the Glump!: And Other Fantasies. I ask you: What parent in their right mind would allow this man to share his fantasies w/their precious children?!
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 1:04 pm (EST) on Oct 18, 2009
This creepy looking guy was a children's author?! He makes me think of Goliath, for some reason, a brutish beast. And he was also the founder of the Church of Satan? I am shocked!
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 12:52 am (EST) on Oct 18, 2009
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 11:40 pm (EST) on Oct 14, 2009
But wait...how did you know just right off the bat like that, Lavey's & Silverstein's mysterious similarity of features? Oh no! Can it be? Is BeckyJG **whispers** a closet Satanist?
posted by EnriqueFreeque at 6:37 pm (EST) on Oct 14, 2009
I'm curious what you liked about my library, given that we only have 25 works in common. But then, I suppose anyone who has Thurber in their library has a pretty good library by definition? ;-)
posted by Noisy at 9:34 am (EST) on Oct 11, 2009
Scott
posted by SGBrowne at 10:15 am (EST) on Oct 5, 2009
Scott
posted by SGBrowne at 2:04 am (EST) on Oct 3, 2009