Ape's 2010 Challenge (2)

While technically this is my 3rd thread of the year because I switched from the 50-book challenge to the 75, this is the first time I've had to create a new thread because the old one had too many posts. FANCY!

Thread #prequel (Books 1-13)
Thread #1 (Books 14-38)

Books: 47
Pages: 14,307

January
1. Plague by Wendy Orent
2. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
3. Mulengro by Charles de Lint
4. Inferno by Dante Aligheiri
5. The Iliad by Homer
6. The Fall of Rome by Michael Curtis Ford

February
7. The Snow Lion's Turquoise Mane by Surya Das
8. The Coming Plague by Laurie Garrett
9. Brave the Betrayal by K. A. Applegate
10. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
11. Scourge by Jonathan B. Tucker

March
12. Whitechapel Gods by S.M. Peters
13. Ghost Ocean by S.M. Peters
14. Frieze by Cecile Pineda
15. Fell Cargo by Dan Abnett
16. Lab 257 by Michael Christopher Carroll
17. Pluto, Animal Lover by Laren Stover
18. Pandemic by Daniel Kalla
19. Crooked Little Vein by Warren Ellis
20. Farhenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
21. Escaping Tornado Season by Julie Williams
22. Nighttime is My Time by Mary Higgins Clark

April
23. The Passage by Justin Cronin
24. When Elephants Weep by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson
25. Jubilant Thicket by Jonathan Williams
26. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
27. Another Bullshit Night in Suck City by Nick Flynn
28. Blood Lies by Daniel Kalla
29. The Dream Room by Marcel Moring

May
30. Blood, Tin, Straw by Sharon Olds
31. The Last Town on Earth by Thomas Mullen
32. The Black Sun by James Twining
33. From the Dust Returned by Ray Bradbury
34. The Future of Ice by Gretel Ehrlich
35. In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje
36. Bonk by Mary Roach

June
37. The Aeneid by Virgil
38. Spook by Mary Roach
39. First Light by Richard Preston
40. A Winter Haunting by Dan Simmons
41. Ravel by Jean Echenoz
42. Into the Silent Land by Paul Broks
43. The Edge of Reason by Melinda Snodgrass
44. Mad Kestrel by Misty Massey
45. Microterrors by Tony Hart
46. Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

July
47. Grayson by Lynne Cox

Found you again, Stephen!

Oh! Now I know what it feels like to have Stasia post on your thread -2 seconds before you post it. Neat! :)

LOL!

Stephen..

Found you and starred you.

I've been on the long list waiting for a copy of Spook from my local library.

Linda: Ah, so there is at least 1 benefit of using a small town library. When they do have the books you want, there's no waiting. :)

I hope you enjoy it whenever you get your hands on it!

Have you read Stiff? I highly recommend this book.

I have, and I loved it! The same for Bonk. I just love Mary Roach's style, she's one of those authors who can write about anything and make it interesting (and in her case, FUNNY!)

Found you again!

Football? Lightly organized mayhem. Porn? What's to discuss? Ain't no redeemin' social value to chew over, please to pardon bad double entendre. However, as I have followed your trail of breadcrumbs here, I shall star and ignore you.

39. First Light by Richard Preston



Pages: 282
Rating: 4/5

The universe is a big place filled with unfathomable sizes and infinite possibilities. When I read about the vast depths of the universe and all the magnificent curiosities it contains my mind buzzes with unbounded fascination and my imagination sparks with the brilliant white radiance of the brightest star imaginable. Who isn't instilled with child-like wonder when staring at the night sky? Who hasn't pondered the meaning of it, where it came from, how it started, and how it all got so big? But what do we really know about it? If there is anything we can be certain of, it's that the sky is shrouded in mystery and misunderstanding.

The problem is astronomy and cosmology are scary topics. The science behind them is complex and mind-boggling, they are not topics you can just dive into. Many a laymen such as myself has been bitten by the incomprehensible cosmology book, filled with equally unfathomable mathematical equations and mind-melting theory. It's a topic many such as myself are weary of, and equally frustrated with, burdened with intrigue and a brain incapable of grasping the math and science.

I am happy to say that Richard Preston's First Light is perfectly readable! First Light is many things, astronomy, cosmology, literary nonfiction, astronomical and telescopic history, but most importantly, it's a fantastic book. Richard Preston blends the difficult topic with highly readable and enjoyable "storylines," following the lives of man and machine alike. The book chronicles the life of the Hale Telescope, from its conception (by a hallucinating man who held conversations with an imaginary elf), to its construction (it took 10 years to build the 200-inch, 14-ton lens, which had to be shaped to at least 2 millionth's of an inch from perfection), and its role in finding quasars, giant sources of light that are believed to be on the edges of the universe and from the beginning of time itself.

Preston has also introduced us to some very interesting characters. The scientists in the book range from gadgeteers, including some people who would dig through trash cans and find parts for the telescope that would have cost $50,000+ to order through a catalogue, to the woman who has discovered the most comets in human history. The author does a great job of letting you get to know these people, and this is the aspect that makes his books so readable.

In the end, you get a fascinating book that is a pleasure to read and a source of fuel for that rusty imagination we all stopped using past the age of 12, and I can't recommend this highly enough to anyone who is interested in the topic. If you are weary of the complexities of cosmology, it's a great way to dip your toe in and test the waters. I also think seasoned veterans will love this as a relaxing, leisurely read discussing the hale telescope and the discoveries that have been made with it. Ultimately, I think everyone can enjoy this book. Highly, highly recommended.

I'm rather relieved that you have a new thread, since catching up on the old one was starting to seem like a hopeless task!

>11 Ape: Good review! Now you get ten lashes for using "it's" as the possessive of "it." "Its" is the possessive of "it." It's simply the rule..."it is" is "it's" and nothing can ever change it.

So go change it.

Richard: Oh dear, I think that is a bad habit of mine. :(

Zoe: Aye, I know the feeling!

richard, you do like to whip young men, stop that! He's a decade (+) my junior and writes ten times better than me. Thus, I hate him (in a nice way)

edited because I can't type.

That's a great review, Stephen .... I bought that book recently for a friend who's mad on astronomy ...and I think he's really going to like it... if he gets it ... LOL... your review is tempting me to read it myself.

>14 Ape: Break it now, before it sets into immovability! Seriously...this is an important one, so heed me! *lights his Diogenes lamp in the grammatical wilderness*

>15 ty1997: What?! And start a whole new way of life at MY age? Faugh! Bah! I shall lash them all my days.

And pay ever more for the privilege, no doubt.

>16 cameling: Caro...why are you here, and not reading Date with a Sheesha?

Because the book is gone, richard... gone ... and I am most displeased.... there is a definite chill in my household tonight.

I've been following you on other threads, so I'm pleased to be able to jump into a new thread with you. I see you enjoyed Bonk and Stiff, but what about Spook?

#11: I will have to look for that one. I have read a couple of Preston's other books and liked them (although they scared the pants off me!), so I will probably like this one too. Thanks for the recommendation, Stephen.

ty1997: Awww, it always makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside when somebody hates me (in a nice way) =D

16, Caroline: Thanks! I think your friend will really like it...assuming he get it of course. ;-)

Richard: Don't worry about that. There are so many immovable things in my brain already that a grammatical error surely has to place to settle in...

Luxx: I loved Spook. It was actually the last book I read before First Light and I have posted a review. I spent most of the review pointing out it's flaws, but I really enjoyed it. :)

Stasia: Yea, his books on microbiology are pretty darn scary! Those are the books that sparked my interest in disease outbreaks and a my love for the author. ...but I was never 100 percent sure if I would like his writing on other topics until I read Panic in Level 4. It's a collection of essays covering a variety of sucjects, and Preston captivated me with all of them. One is even about math, and the attempts to "solve" the mystery of Pi. I was riveted! He's great.

I have not read Panic in level 4. Cool! A new one to check out. Thanks, Stephen!

#21 - Bah, that's what reviews are for!

Good work on your Hot Reviewness, Stephen!

Richard: It always amazes me when I get a single thumbs up. Me? The quiet guy who rarely utters more than 3 syllables at a time? I've struggled with conveying my thoughts for as long as I can remember. I'm an extremely anxious social-phobe, I mumble, I stammer, and I talk so quietly most people have trouble hearing me. My brain goes blank when I talk to people, and I've never been able to hold up my own end of a conversation. I nod, I shake my head, and I shrug and mumble "I dunno." That's it. I've spent the last few years in near-complete silence and solitude. To think I could write something that is somehow remotely deserving a thumbs up is dumbfounding.

Sometimes, I think you all are just being nice, and you are secretly buttering me up for something HORRIBLE! :)

But in the meantime, I suppose I'll be happy that my review "hot." Fancy! :)

Gave you my dainty Thumb for your review of First Light...

while i couldn't get into this thread...'cause the Stephen/Richard kerfuffle took up so much space!!!

*ahem* You might want to check out Kitty Ferguson (really)
http://www.librarything.com/author/fergusonkitty&norefer=1

veddy good books/now go back to Richard

;-}

Thanks for the recommendation Jude! My library has Prisons of Light, which is about black holes! I've added it to the wishlist. I'll have to wait and try it when I'm feeling especially ambitious...because that astrophysics tag scares me. =(

Oh, Stephen....Kitty Ferguson's books are not that much of a chore..to read....believe me...or not...but it's a trip to check them out

woot woot

;-}

>25 Ape: Ah, social anxiety! I have a sister who had it. It sounds like a slice of hell to me. I've never had a shy moment, well not counting *ahem* initial intimacy, but I remember what it was like for poor Valerie. When she got to high school, I could do something about it, take her around with my friends etc etc, but it was *awful* to watch.

You don't get "pity thumbs", Stephen, you earn them and get them for your ideas. You're getting steadily better (except for the $%()!&%&*P^ "it's" thing!!!!) at expressing them clearly, entertainingly, and persuasively. This counts for a lot here in Litville, and you're seeing the results. Be proud of yourself. I know we *gestures vaguely at unseen audience* are.

Spook..liked it!

Jude: If you say so! I'll definitely give her a try sometime. :)

Richard: Eek. Meeting people is the worstest. I had to meet my younger sister's boyfriend recently. It was awful. No reason for it to be a negative experience for me...HE should have been the one that was nervous, but it was no fun. Job interviews are the stuff of nightmares. I'm happy if I can get through one without having some sort of panic attack or something. The funny part is I know it's completely unreasonable, I have no reason to worry about such things, but it's completely uncontrollable. I think everything's going to be fine and then the next thing I know I'm a blank-faced and vacant-minded dullard with a racing heart despite a very zombie-like appearance.

I think if it weren't for books and the internet I'd be due for a nervous/mental breakdown or something. =P

And thanks for the kind words, Richard. Bah to the "it's" thing. I think it's presence has been vanquished. Oh, errr, I mean "its presence" ... :)

Kath: Agreed! :)

Stephen- Congrats on the new thread! Good review! I've only read a couple of Preston's books. The Hot Zone was great!

Mark: I agree, I also loved The Hot Zone. Would the other book happen to be The Demon In the Freezer? If not, you definitely have to check that one out. Probably one of my favorite books of all time...

My library also has a copy of The Wild Trees. I'm going to have to give it a shot sometime.

Stephen - You are definitely emerging as one of my favorite reviewers on LT. We are too picky to give "pity" thumbs. I'm glad you've found a place where you can express your thoughts so openly and well.

ditto nancy's post !

I am not comfortable in social situations, either.. and understand a bit of how you feel...my anxieties are similar

just think about how much we all like you when you are in a new situation like that.. a whole bunch of readers ca't be wrong about you being a great and witty guy !

Stephen, you are not alone .... I'm a bit of an introvert myself until and unless I know the people I'm with, then you just can't me to shut up.... well, unless you have food around.

Caroline: Haha! That's it exactly. I can sometimes be loud and obnoxious if you get me around the right (or wrong?) people. It's becoming increasingly rare as I lose contact with old high school friends though. Ah, and food...yes, that can definitely keep me quiet. :)

Kath: Thanks for the words of encouragment! It's odd though, because I really do think my anxieties are unreasonable. But, it just seems so out of control. When people, say, ask me a question during a job interview, my mind just blanks and I sit there, not knowing what to say, and respond in as few words as possible. Yes, No, and I Dunno...that's my entire verbal vocabulary! I'll try to keep what you said in mind though.

Nancy: Thank you. And I'm also glad I found Librarything. It's such a wonderful place, and part of the reason I'm so confortable here is because it is filled with so many nice people like yourself!

Yay Librarything. Hugs to everyone! :)

Group Hug!

#36: I am the same way - although you really cannot tell it around these parts :)

Good LORD! I'm the lone extrovert around here! I have *so much* fun talking to people, getting to know them a little, and stealing adapting their life stories for my own nefarious purposes fictional use...but, as several people who haunt this thread can tell you, it also means one can't shut me up.

*De-lurks from hiding in the corner and raises hand*

Another introvert here.

Not as bad at formal situations as I used to be - but small talk? Mind goes completely blank ... then 'what can I say? What can I say?!' starts filling my head ... but completely different with people I already know well. I'm glad you've found somewhere you feel comfortable and can express yourself. :)

40 - I'm with you on this one

maybe Book Person = introvert....?

exept for rd of course who is out of the ordinary in so may ways!

umm.. that's a compliment, rd.. no.. really it is.. honest

>40 richardderus:: Richard, I'll join you and Luxx on the 'extroverts' stage... I'm introverted by nature but I have what's known as a 'showbiz' personality that takes over... because as soon as there's an audience I love to GET OUT THERE and make a scene, talk to people, etc. Public speaking and performance? Yes, PLEASE!

*shudders*public speaking*shudders*

In high school I took an F on any kind of project that had to be presented in front of the class. I was pefectly capable of reading a book, analyzing it, and writing down my opinions...but I wasn't at all able to speak in front of 20-30 people. :(

43> I think you are right. I bet more heavy readers tend to be introverts than extroverts (considering how solitary an experience reading is in).

I also posit that message boards, such as this, are a source of (anonymous, if desired) social interaction for introverts, without the anxiety of the in-person social interaction. I wouldn't be surprised to find a good number of 'real-life' introverts who are extroverted on message boards.

I'm an extrovert-in-training, trapped in an introvert's body, so I find this at least holds true for me.

#46 message boards, such as this, are a source of (anonymous, if desired) social interaction for introverts

Seconded! And very welcome they are too.

#45 Personally, I don't mind public speaking, provided it's one-way. I wouldn't want to be involved in public debate unless I *really* knew my stuff, but delivering a speech or a sermon is easy: plenty of notes to work from, and they don't ask many questions or answer back. Took a lot of work to get to that stage, though.

I have to agree with 46 as well. The internet is definitely a safe haven for those plagued with social awkwardness...probably because it moves at a slower pace. Hmmmm, any social introverts do well in chat rooms/instant messagers? I tend to stay away from them but it would be curious if someone could thrive socially at a fast pace in a chat room but lack the ability to do it face-to-face with someone.

The anonymity probably has a lot to do with it I suppose.

The thing I like best about message boards is that you can just leave when you get tired of the conversation. I find instant messaging in general a painful time-waster; there tends to be very little real content in an extended period of time, and yet it's easy to get trapped in these meaningless conversations.

I see I have lots of kindred spirits on this thread.

Nothing's better for setting off a migraine than having to be the center of attention.

40. A Winter Haunting by Dan Simmons



Pages: 371
Rating: 3/5

Dale Stewart is at the end of his rope. Risking his job as a professor, he started a relationship with a student only to lose his wife and kids to divorce. Worse, after his family life is shattered the new girlfriend leaves him for a younger guy. After a botched suicide attempt involving a shotgun and a misfired bullet, Dale decides it's time to get away.

Against his psychiatrist wishes he decides to visit his hometown and stay the winter in the farmhouse of his childhood friend, who died in a horrific farming accident at the age of 11, to write a novel. Dale isn't taking his medication and he is losing track of time. He's having weird dreams, waking up in weird places, and being followed by a pack of black dogs. As the incidents get odder and the ghosts of Dale's past (both living and dead) come roiling to the surface, the reader is left wondering whether he is having a mental breakdown or if the house is haunted by the ghost of his dead friend.

It is, as you might say, derivative as hell.

That didn't stop me from liking it though. Far from it, I found A Winter Haunting to be quite enjoyable. I was a little hesitant at first because I was afraid of a predictable plot, but Dan Simmons managed to keep me on my toes most of the way through the novel. There were some very funny one-liners to be found and I rather liked his commentary on writing and literature (the main character is an author, remember.) The book didn't blow my mind, but as far as horror novels about haunted houses go, it's rather good!

I never know what to say when it comes to thrillers/horror/etc. They're all practically the same! :(

#52 I think you did a very good job with that review.

(Whenever my brother sees me reading a whodunnit, or watching one on TV, he always says he can't imagine why I'd be interested because they're all the same and you know exactly what's going to happen.)

53: Well, I wouldn't go that far. They are always exciting and interesting, and they all have their subtle differences that make them so. But, thrillers are thrilling, horrors are horrifying, some more than others and some not so much... I never have much more to say beyond that, aside from giving a plot summary. *shrug*

Anyway, I read 100 pages of A Winter Haunting today to finish it, which is way above my average. I suppose it did it's job of hooking me, so it's definitely not a bad book! :)

That's what I usually tell him: it's the journey, not the destination, and seeing how (and how well) the formula is used. Or at least I used to: I'm pretty sure he only says it now to annoy me. :)

It's always a good sign if a book hooks you in and keeps you reading straight through until the end. Yay for engrossing and entertaining stories!

Hello and Happy Sunday evening to you. Thanks for telling us about you! I love our 75 challenge group for many reasons, including the fact that we are a very active and healthy social network. As we get to know our likes/dislikes re. books, when we feel comfortable, we also venture into the personal realm.

We've shared our childhoods, the illness and death of pets, the loss of friends, our struggles with intimacy and our struggles with accepting kindness from others.

Ditto what Nancy and others said. We don't give thumbs up unless we really believe they are deserved.

Yours is a great review!

On a personal note, childhood was very painful for me. I was exceedingly shy and highly sensitive. High school was a shark pit and I had to learn to get the hell out of the bloody water or I'd be eaten alive. I found a small "school" of safe water off in a small patch where the light filtered through the depths of loneliness. I've now overcompensated and am extroverted. But, I choose friends carefully and cautiously and am protective of the fine person I am.

Stephen, if you were really asocial, you wouldn't be hanging out around such a social crowd as this one is! Of course, it's a social crowd with a singular interest -- books -- which makes everything different. When there's stuff that is so fascinating to discuss, shyness evaporates.

The single hardest thing for me to do some days, after more than two decades of doing it, is to pick up a phone and call someone. That's what my job depends on, and there are times I'm just paralyzed. I grew up in a diplomatic family (literally, not rhetorically), so I had to learn to schmooze, but it's very much a learned skill, not inherent. So the next time you see someone who appears to be very adept at meeting people in a social situation, you may not realize that inside themselves they are yearning to be at home with their books and their cats, or at dinner with one or two carefully-selected friends. What has really helped me is to understand that the majority of people are insecure or anxious about something (OK, maybe not Richard...) and we can't read their minds and know what that is. I've also learned that protecting myself too much from uncomfortable situations is a recipe for a different kind of phobia. I'll never have a hide like a rhinoceros -- indeed, it's the last thing I want -- but I'm learning to to assume that people are well-intentioned unless & until they prove otherwise. As for you, obviously, you've got ideas, a brain that can put them together and articulate them, so it's just about letting them emerge in public. And none of us here do pity parties, incidentally...

Now I'll just have to re-read these words before I head out to face the TV cameras on Tuesday morning -- gulp. I'm just going to imagine all their viewers are wearing underwear and belching at the TV set, or something like that.

I really liked A Winter Haunting! Good review...I enjoy horror.. true it is all similar but still fun.. as long as no one hurts the dog. :P

Suz, I've also learned that protecting myself too much from uncomfortable situations is a recipe for a different kind of phobia. I have to agree. Aside from my job, I have allowed myself to stay home with my furkids for a long time now, and it does not get any easeir to go out. For me, If I don't fling myself out the door first thing in the early morning, I am likely to just not go. I actually go to work much earlier than I have to, for this reason. I am not sure that I actually mind.................

RE: interview.. perhaps instead, picture viewers all NOT wearing underwear.. with all sorts of body parts unrestrained and .. well.. you know..

:)

Hi Linda, and a happy Monday to you! :P

our struggles with intimacy
Ha, yea, let's not go down that road. Note: Spending all your time alone reading books does not correlate with an active sex life. In case anyone wasn't aware. :)

Although I predict Richard will post now to prove me wrong! ...

I'm sorry to hear how bad your childhood was, Linda, and am glad you found a good school to flourish in! :)

Suz: I wonder, if I were to ever find a group of book readers in person, if I would open up more. But, it's a small 'redneck' town in southern Ohio, so there aren't a lot of book readers around. The library is usually filled with teenagers using the computers to play video games. :(

Eeek! TV cameras!! The best of luck to you with that. I'm sure if you are capable of writing such a book, talking about it won't be so bad huh? If it makes you more comfortable, I'll try to watch it "wearing underwear and belching." Although, I can't imagine how that image is going to make you more comfortable. !!! =O

Kath: Sounds like me. I'm an early bird if there ever was one, and like to go where I'm going as early as possible before I talk myself out of it or get too nervous to go.

My daughter lives in Beavercreek/Dayton Ohio. I can always tell when I near Ohio because the radio stations are filled with Christian conservatism.

Beavercreek!? Well, if that isn't a name for a town in Ohio I don't know what is. =)

And let's be honest, not all the radio stations are filled with Christian conservatism. They play music sometimes, and there are plenty of choices. Country, classic country, contemporary country, country/rock, southern country...

very true...

41. Ravel by Jean Echenoz



Pages: 126
Rating: 3/5

Ravel by Jean Echenoz is the tragedy of Maurice Ravel, a delicate man who composed beautiful music but was burdened by illness, boredom, and sleep deprivation. I am, I suppose I should say, taking the authors word on the 'beautiful music' opinion, as I've never listened to it. And therein may lay the problem with the novel, for me.

I was not that impressed by Ravel in the beginning. In fact, I was quite bored with it. The foreword touted brilliant authorship and whatnot, as forewords tend to do, but I was not seeing this. Ravel was, to be honest, an annoyance. I just didn't like him at first. Neither did I like Echenoz's writing. I was afraid I was in for 120 pages of disappointment.

Fortunately, as often is the case, I began to like the main character and the author's prose began to make sense after awhile. Ravel is very human, and Echenoz's writing makes this clearly evident. Ravel comes off as prissy and dainty at first and, as small hints about his struggles with illness were introduced, I began to feel sorry for the poor little guy. Many aspects of his personality are on display, positive and negative, which adds to the authenticity and realism to this fictionalized biography.

It wasn't all perfect. My opinion of the novel seemed to shift rapidly, literally from page to page at times, from absolutely loving it and not enjoying it in the least bit. At times I thought it was a brilliant piece of literature and an amazing representation of Ravels life, and at times I thought it was just a poorly written character study involving a bland composer. After finishing it, I wish it were both longer and shorter. I wish some parts of it were removed and other parts fleshed out a bit more, there are aspects that I loved and others that I hated. But did I like it? Well, certainly, and I imagine I would recommend this to others as well, if not only to hear others' opinions of it. But as for my rating for the book, I'm lumping it in with "average."

I picked up two books today that you might like! I'd never heard of either of them, and I'm a bit of a manic obsessive when it comes to searching bn/amazon/lt for new things, so big surprise.

The first is Vaccinated by Paul Offit. It's about Maurice Hilleman, who developed 8 of the 14 vaccines that pretty much everyone gets today.

The other is The Dancing Plague by John Waller. The wiki page about people dancing themselves to death in the early 1500s was barely 2 paragraphs when I last read it, so I'm really interested in seeing how Waller managed to make a whole book about it.

Thanks for the recommendations! You know, adding you to my friends list was a huge mistake. Now I see all the books you are adding through the Connection News feature, which is right on my home page...and I've been adding TONS of books to my wishlist. Not cool! :) Just a few minutes ago, actually, I saw you added Rats: Observations on the History and Habitat of the City's Most Unwanted Inhabitants, and I saw it in my library's catalog so on the wishlist it goes. Worse, on the work page LT recommends Salt: A World History ... BLARGH! My wishlist is monstrous! :(

Seriously though, thank's Sarah!

*grumble grumble* :)

I saw Salt: A World History on the table at the used bookstore a couple of weeks back and almost bought it. In my head, I've gone back and bought it repeatedly.

Sarah: My library has Vaccinated but not The Dancing Plague. Too bad, because the latter sounds fascinating! Oh well, still added Vaccinated to the wishlist! :)

It's surprisingly short for everything the guy did, you'll get through Vaccinated really fast!

Salt is something I've been meaning to pick up, along with Cod, and there's a new one out about Sugar, which looks super interesting.

You can put Rats at the bottom of your list, I only picked it up because I have them and happened to see a copy while they were doing buy 1, get 1 half off. Based on the many reviews I read, it's more of a history of NYC than a book about rats. I've heard that his writing is atrocious, as well, which always leads to a quick death for books I try to read. Oh well, we'll see.
Whatever you do, don't read Rat by Jerry Langton. It has an awesome cover but is filled with complete BS. I've heard The Story of Rats by S. Anthony Barnett is pretty good but have yet to pick it up. You'd think with rats being such a well researched topic there'd be more books about them than the generic pet books and guides to dissection, ugh!

I promise I won't be adding any for awhile, all done adding ones from my shelves and no bookstore trips for a bit :)

ty1997: I get a similar feeling with library books. When I have a book on my pile of checkouts, and then put one back just before leaving...it's all I can think about, and it's usually the first book I grab during my next trip. :)

Sarah: Hmmm, I'll put off checking out Rats for now...Whenever you read it you got to let me know how it is! ...which you could do if you had a challenge thread. Did you ever get around to creating one!? =)

I think I'm going to have to read that Ravel book. And do try to listen to some of the music, esp. Pavane pour une infante defunte. It is stunning, IMO. (Forget about Bolero, it's so overdone, but also look for Ravel's piano concertos -- he was a master of the piano.)

Speaking of overdone Bolero: My son gave me a CD once, called "Ravel's Greatest Hit." It's Bolero, but done in 10 different styles (jazz, piano, orchestra, synthesizer, brass, percussion)--great fun to listen to!

Haha, nooo, I'm horrible about sticking to things, and I've developed this tendency to start tons of books and never finish them, for no reason. Once I can get myself to stick to one book at a time, I'll start one :)
I'm working on adding tags to all of my books now, next will be reviews and ratings! After looking at others' profiles, I've realized my organizing is just a tad on the extreme side.

#65: I simply refuse to discuss the size of your wishlist with you, Stephen, especially when mine is called the BlackHole and very aptly named, I must say :)

Suz: I definitely need to explore music a bit more. I'm always touting diversity in books, but I havn't explored music a whole lot. Maybe it's because I'm afraid of the risk of buying a cd only to not like it. Books and movies are different, you pay a couple dollars for them and read/watch them once, and if you don't like it that's alright. Music is something you experience repeatedly, potentially over a lifetime, and I think for some reason it causes me to kind of stick to my comfort zone, where I know everything I pay for is something I'll enjoy for a long time, with no risk. My library has cds though, not sure why I haven't utilized that to try new things. Maybe I will sometime soon...

Sarah: Aww, well, at least my wishlist will be spared from exploding to huger sizes in that case. :)

Stasia: Yes, the BlackHole is a perfect name for a wishlist! :)

I think I might have bit off more than I can chew this month. I just came home from the library with seven books. Yikes. I, you know...couldn't stop picking up more books. Only 3 were from my wishlist, the other 4 were spontaneous picks! Ah well, most of them or rather short so maybe I can manage it...

Damn! I wanted to stop by..here..for a "nice" visit..and people are going ballistic on Ravel....and wanting music references.. i can add nothing except i like Echenoz (the Author)...

I loved Rats..by the by

I think i should shuffle outta here for now...let your Fan Club take over

;-}

Seven books is a reasonable haul, no? You can read one per day, review one per day, right?

And Ravel is a Hot Review! Another one, this soon!

Hi Jude!

Richard: Seven books is a reasonable haul, no?

The problem is carrying the so many books through the library. It's a big, teetering stack, and as I'm walking through the aisles I catch something out of the corner, go "oooh!" and toss it on top. It's very dangerous.

You can read one per day, review one per day, right?

Maybe if I start exclusively reading comic books. :)

Such oddly titled books..

Kath: Yea, I've noticed nonfiction science books tend to have very...interesting titles. Earlier today I added The Hunt for the Dawn Monkey to my library wishlist. :D

monkey eh? I once had a dawn seagull problem...

We don't have many seagulls in Ohio. :)

Thumbs up from me for your review of Ravel.

42. Into the Silent Land by Paul Broks



Pages: 246
Rating: 3/5

(Quick review, not much time to elaborate, OR proofread!! *hides from Richard*)

This book is a very unsatisfying read. First of the problems I had was how Broks gives you many broken fragments of stories and ideas without ever introducing or finishing them well. For example, you read about a lady who is having radical surgery to remove parts of her brain to stop daily seizures, but you never know how the surgery goes. Another major issue is how scatter-brained the book feels. The topic is constantly shifting, not in a positive way, and the entire book feels very messy and disorganized. These two problems quickly led me to frustration and unwillingness to read for long durations.

On the positive side, there were times when Broks really got me thinking. The book is very lucid and readable, and I didn't have a hard time understanding the complex philosophies and theories the author was pitching at me. He certainly has an ability to write, I think he just needs to refine it a bit. I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading Into the Silent Land, but you probably won't see me recommending it very often either. I also won't mark Paul Broks off any list of authors to read in the future. It wasn't great, but not a complete waste of time.

It wasn't great, but not a complete waste of time

Damned with faint praise. You are a bad pwople.

I thought it was very generous of me. Considering how frustrated I was at the end of many of the chapters, you're lucky I didn't just curse a lot and give the author the finger. I just wasn't sure if that would have made for a very informative review... :)

On the contrary, I think performance-art reviews are very informative. Still, I applaud your desire to be a little more high-toned than that.

I've just hurled aside with screeched imprecations a disgusting waste of a perfectly good tree, so I relate.

#84: I believe I will be passing that one by. I am surprised you gave it even 3 stars, Stephen.

LOLOL literally richard....pwople indeed! laughing to tears...

Stephen, not all of us can write like rd. WE shouldn't try, imo.
( even though he is good pwople)

I do not write anything like a professional review. I honestly do not look for that type of review when I am considering a book. Anyone who writes like that, aside from our rd draws my suspicion. They are probably a professional, and I want opinions from plain folk like myself. Again, aside from rdear.

We are all who we are and that is a darned good thing. You write a good review. I like them. I like rd's too.. and basically, I like almost any review, because someone took the time to to let me know what they thought of the book ( or product) .

It is very mean of you to make fun of a bad typist, using a toshibitch with no spellcheck, and e's and v's that stick.

Richard: Ahh, well, perhaps I was afraid my performance art review wouldn't translate well to text. @$!# $^%@ %@#!& *flips bird*
Hmmm...

Stasia: Maybe I was too nice, but the book is readable, written well at times, and it did get me wondering about the "self" and how it 'works.' It's just...aggravating. I wanted to chuck the book at the wall after I finished an (incomplete) chapter but after I finished it I felt it wasn't as bad as I thought as I was reading it... *shrug*

Kath: Making fun, me? Oh no, I wasn't being mean, I thought you were being mean by calling me a pwople. Clearly a misunderstanding, is all! *Innocent smile*

(*Whispers to Richard* Do you think she bought it?)

*whispers back* Bat your eyes a little harder, that usually works.

And when in doubt, offer a cupcake.

*bats at eyes with fists*

Ow! That was horrible advice! :(

*nurses black eye*

Luxx: But I can't, I always eat the cupcake on accident! :)

>93 Ape: *sigh* You really *are* socially inept, aren't you? :-P

So go with Luxx's idea..cupkaes are Never-Fail Bribes. (I like carrot cake ones with cream cheese icing, should the need to bribe me arise.)

#93: Who said anything about fists? Yikes!

Richard: It's true, although "inept" seems generous. Is unept a word? :)

Stasia: Well, when I think of "batting" things away, I imagine someone using the back of their hand/fingers. However, batting my eyes with the back of my hand required an awkward movement, and you know me... I wouldn't want to do anything awkward in public! *spends 5 minutes spinning around in circles trying to scratch a spot on his back*

*makes mental note to send Stephen a back-scratcher*

*makes mental note to remind rd to send Stephen a back-scratcher*

okay, you are all among my favorite pwople...lol

Have you seen those cool Chinese back scratchers, Kath? They're made from old-fashioned collapsible car-radio aerials! They have the funny little lawn-rake shaped doohickies on the end, and are just amazingly handy. I have three scattered around, since my skin is so sensitive it itches when the wind blows.

Nope! never have and can't imagine what they look like. I will have to look online to see what they are like.. Poor skin..

eta

found them... very cool indeed!

I've learned to be unembarrassed about scratching in public.

Here is what I'm talking about.

they look so much better than wooden ones. A lifetime of dry skin has plagued me, and those wooden ones don't work. :P

These metal ones really do! I am such a convert, I'm practically an evangelist for them.

noted... :) I will keep eyes out for them..
The kitties try, but just don't get it right :P

Bah! That back scratcher is so puny!! Here in redneck Ohio, we only use big manly back scratchers! :P

You crack me up.
Signed, a lurker

>106 Ape: LOL

Ok, ok, I'll supply the cupcakes - but only if I get to keep one or two for myself.

only if I get to keep one or two for myself You'll need to be quick, then, because I can down some cupcakes. Light lightning, I am.

mmmm cupcakes~

This is the only backscratcher you need:
http://www.tias.com/13718/PictPage/3923458277.html

Over my dead body! No, wait...not even on my corpse!! Nix, nein, nyet, okhi, nuh-uh!

so...birthday present?

For someone you hate, maybe. For me? I'd be compelled to hunt you down and stuff the horrid thing in a very painful place.

But Richard, the disney back scratcher would go perfect with your spaceship jammies! :)

NO it would NOT! My spaceship jammies are cool, and Disneyfied crap is the antithesis of cool!

*stupid mouse needs a vocal coach, so does that idiot duck, and why is Pluto unable to talk when that other dog is, what's it called, Goofy that's it, never made a lick of sense*

You're completely wrong Richard. I definitely disagree.

Maybe Pluto couldn't talk was a hidden prophecy of Mr. Disney, telling us all that in the distant future the planet of the same name would no longer be "like the rest of us." Pluto lacking the ability to talk was a clue none of us picked up on.

Didn't think of that, did you? See? You're completely wrong. Wrong wrong wrong. Couldn't disagree more.

But then, that Goofy went on to talk in front of Pluto...to rub it in his face... Oh, that arrogant bastard! What kind of jerk would do such a thing? How insensitive. Grrr, I hate that guy. Bah!

Ok ok, fine, you talked me into it. Richard is right! I agree, you've got me convinced.

...
...
...hey, wait a minute, what just happened? *scratches head*

what just happened?

The Power of the Force.

#102: I have decided I need one of those things. You can keep those Disneyfied things - ick.

I know stasia.. I need on too.. or maybe I need 2?

eta

look at this one.. lol

http://www.amazon.com/Cactus-Buddy-Back-Scratcher-inches/dp/B000NADSHO/ref=pd_bx...

#121: That one looks painful to me!

>121 mckait: OWWW

Hmmm. This thread started off so well... I added books to my wishlist, chortled a little, thumbed a review or two... and now, once again, YOU'VE ALL GONE MAD!

(Stephen, dearest, if you ever need to borrow that ubiquitous encyclopedia to keep this lot in line, you know where I am...)

awwww I like the little cactus one too.... :)

Hi Ellie! Thanks for posting, my thread was distinctly lacking in Ellieocity until now. :D

I'll have to keep your encyclopedia offer in mind. All I have is an extended edition of The Stand in hardcover, which is hefty, but nothing compared to the encylopedias. *cringe* For now though, I think we're ok. Besides, it just wouldn't feel right if my thread didn't go off in odd directions. :)

43. The Edge of Reason by Melinda Snodgrass



Pages: 372
Rating: 3/5

Richard Oort is just a beat cop. It's wasn't some childhood dream that encouraged him to become one nor does he have any false illusions of being any kind of local hero. Richard Oort is just a beat cop. He's happy and content that way. When he stumbles upon a girl being attacked in an alley by three giant mud monsters...lets just say things change just a little bit.

The Edge of Reason is an urban fantasy novel that tells the tale of a secret war being fought between the Lumina and the Old Ones. Yes, the Old Ones. Fantasy novelists may be some of the most creative writers around when it comes to building unique and interesting worlds, but oddly you can never rely on them to create unique and interesting names. Ah well. The war being fought is, as you can probably guess, paramount to the survival of the human race.

The two sides represent science and religion. Those fighting on the side of religion are magic-wielding maniacs who feed on the human soul, and encourage war, violence, and suffering to appease their endless bloodlust. Those who fight for science fight with logic and rational thinking for the liberation of the human spirit from the shackles of superstition. I was filled with child-like glee to see religion portrayed in such a way, and it definitely gave the book an upper hand for me personally.

Unfortunately, while the book lays the groundwork for a spectacular novel, many of the ideas aren't fully realized. The foundation was promising, but Snodgrass failed to build on her ideas. The plot isn't very complex, and the whole war between science and superstition feels like it's just a backdrop. The author offers some interesting ideas only to abandon them, and I just felt like the book should have been better.

But, I still enjoyed reading the thing. The main character is, in my opinion, very likable, and there is a coroner who is described as being "sexy" in the summary who curses a lot. Sexy coroner? Sounds like my kind of lady! The plot, while not as complex as it could have been, was still addicting, fun, and intriguing enough to make me want to get back to the novel, and the world, while not full realized, was still fascinating and interesting enough to really set the book apart from other urban fantasy novels. At the end of the day, I enjoyed the novel, and I suppose that's all that really matters.

The war between science and superstition isn't over either, and while I'm only giving the book 3 stars, I will certainly be reading the future installments. I'm impressed with Melinda Snodgrass' writing and I have hopes that the ideas introduced in The Edge of Reason will be fleshed out a bit more in the following books. I'll be looking forward to it.

So..you like sexy pathologists? did you ever see/watch CROSSING JORDAN (the TV show)...Jill Hennesey was so gooood therin..after she was killed on Law & Order..who knew that she'd return???

The Edge of Reason...in your review..started out like something in/on THE WIRE....sadly..not...Urban Fantasy i enjoy..if it has meat on its bones...and 'bites me back" regarding the "suspending disbelief" angle...this tome i heistate..

be cool
J

Hennesey looked so good on L&O. I wasn't sure I'd get over her but then....Angie Harmon. Hennessey who?

Stephen, I laughed when I got to the part of the review that said 'Old Ones'. I was like 'really? that is that best name they got?'

Jude: I haven't seen either of those shows. I'm really out of the loop when it comes to popular tv programming. I watch a lot of Mythbusters, Science Channel crap, sports news, and various stuff. But when it comes to the big popular shows, I really have no idea what they're about. Law and Order, CSI, NCIS, etc...I'm rather clueless. :(

I looked up pictures on google though. No complaints. :)

Ty: Yea, I laughed when I read it in the book. Old Ones? *sigh* The only thing worse is when a character is called "The One." Nothing can kill a book faster than someone being referred to as The One...

Good review of The Edge of Reason, Stephen ... but I think I'm going to pass on this for the time being. I'm being warned off by your comment that she had failed to build on many of the ideas.

Oh dear... when you start getting to my age, you'll find nothing can kill your mood faster than a young child referring to YOU as the Old One.

>131 cameling: As one who has pole-vaulted over your age, dear Caro, I say *pppfffbbbt* to that, and WHOOPEE to the experience that informs but does not enervate.

That's because nobody's ever referred to you as 'The Old One', ricardo!

I must introduce you to my daughter sometime. She's got no fear for scare. And her friend Kris, whose attempt to seduce me began with "Isn't an old guy like you bored at this party?" (The answer was yes, and her suggested remedy for boredom was agreeable, but thereby hangs a tale that is not reatly to my credit so I won't tell it.)

Yo, Stephen

never saw CROSSING JORDAN or THE WIRE???

where have you been..all your short life??

I'll try to get other LTers to help me here..but I'm not giving you my DVDs..unless you're really sweet

*smarmy glance*

Netflix THE WIRE .. you should watch that series ... it's absolutely amazing and so well written.

My library doesn't have Crossing Jordan (except a BOOK by the same title) but it does have The Wire (seasons 1-5?)

I'll have to look for them sometime.

I've been hearing great things about The Wire for years and meaning to check it out. Amazingly, CPL doesn't seem to have it, at all.

Oh, there is one popular series I watched, House! Loved it for awhile, until they changed most of the cast, then I lost interest in it.

I hate mosquitos. I really, reallly do. They're extremely bad this year, you practically have to hold your breath when you walk outside at night or risk inhaling them. It doesn't help that I currently live in a valley, surrounded by big hills, with 2 creeks circling the property, and a giant field that holds water, practically becoming a marsh land for a week after every rain storm. Fortunately it's been dry and humid (fortunately it's been humid? Yech). But it's not helping. Normally they don't bother me...but there are so many of them! I hate mosquitos.

Having just returned from Beavercreek Ohio, I can attest to the nasty, wicked bugs and mosquitos that infest your state. Yikes...they are wicked critters.

mmmmmm loved Crossing Jordan, despite being determined not to.
LOL at failed seduction of rd..

Never even heard of The Wire....

Linda: Aye, I hope you enjoyed your stay despite all the bloodsucking monsters!

Kath: I hadn't either, but the wikipedia page makes it sound interesting.

I counted this morning. I have sixteen mosquito bites right now. I'm about ready to start running up and down the block with a can of Raid in each hand to see if helps matters any...

Where I live in NE Pennsylvania, we can sit outside at night and rarely are we attacked by bugs.

yet in SWPA...
mosquitoes aplenty, the porch fan helps keeps them away~

Rebecca: Sixteen!? Wow, that blows my total away. I only have 6. It probably helps that never wear shorts (yes, even in this humidity...) so my legs are protected. :)

Yeah, I wear shorts. Nine of those bites are on my legs. Six are on my arms, and there's one of my neck. I hate mosquitoes!!!!

I have 3 on my HEAD! Well, two on my head, one on my face. I can't believe the little buggers actually landed that close to my ear without my noticing. I'm usually the typical goofy-looking guy walking around the woods warding off the bugs by slapping himself in the face...didn't do any good this time!

My favorite is when someone else sees a mosquito on you. All of sudden, someone walks up and just slaps you. My roommate loves to do that to me :)

Oh, there's always that! Why is it that other people always notice more mosquitos on you than you do yourself? ;-P

I think they're really just looking for reasons to hit us :P

Hmmm...I think I give people plenty of more plausible reasons though! :)

But "plausible" does not equal "socially acceptable." If I say I killed a mosquito, it's okay; if I say you're an annoying wretch, it's not. Both work as reasons, only one is an excuse.

Oh, I don't know about that. If you're around me long enough hitting me for the simple sake of wanting to hit me quickly becomes a perfectly acceptable excuse. :)

True, but there's that whole "how will it look to the people driving by?" element. I still need the fig-leaf of an excuse in case any one of them should stop and ask why I am smacking my grandson around.

Call me conservative, but that's just how I roll.

Grandson? So what are you saying, that you look 60 or that I look 12?

I'm closer to 60 than to 40, so yeah; and I've seen your picture...13 if we're being generous.

;-P

So if you're closer to 60, but look closer to 70, and I look 13, now we're in the great grandson range right? =P

That's quite a gap! My grandfather turned 70 last week, but I'm 25...

Mosquitoes are evil evil creatures. They usually attack my feet, so I end up rubbing my feet like a cricket in itchy misery all night long. I recently discovered bug repellent wipes, though, which are great!

>159 Ape: We Do Not Deign to Notice That Flippancy.

Don't do it again, or there's a severe spanking in your future.

>160 London_StJ: Repellent WIPES?!? Where? Who? How much?

Luxx: It seems big, but it's amazing how small the gaps really are when you think about. A 70-25 difference means you and your mother/father had children at around 22 years of age each. It's the same with me, last year my grandfather was 67 when I was 21, so it's basically the same. I'm definitely widening the gap though, at 22 years of age with no signs of children in the near or distant future. >:)

>160 London_StJ: My paternal grandfather was 81 when I was born. He was 48 when my father was born. My mother was 40 when I was born, and 61 when my daughter was born; that's a more normal gap.

I was 41 when my oldest grandchild was born, a much weirder gap!

Hmmm, maybe it's just my family then. I have two adult female cousins and both were pregnant at around 20-22 years of age. Maybe in Ohio we roll around in the hay at much too young an age?

I was 41 when my oldest grandchild was born, a much weirder gap!

That is definitely an interesting gap...!

Stephen, our families sound about the same. My grandmother had my mother when she was 21, my mother had me at 21, and I had Brooks when I was 22 (just before I turned 23, actually).

My Gram had grandchildren ranging from 25-4 - not to mention my two boys. ;)

Michael's grandfather is technically old enough to be my great-grandfather.

Richard - The wipes are made by Off, and I found them at Target. One wipe will cover both Brooks and I, and they work very well!

44. Mad Kestrel by Misty Massey



Pages: 325
Rating: 3/5

(Review Posted)

Mad Kestrel, do I have to describe it with the usual cliches? It is: Adventure on the high seas! Swashbuckling action! There is even a touch of romance, albeit a very bad one...more on that later.

Mad Kestrel follows the adventures of a female pirate who possesses a magical ability she doesn't quite understand. When I think of women sailing on the high seas with a band of pirates, I am forced to admit that I picture the stereotypical "pirate bitch" that the fantasy genre has created. Tough, hard, masculine... She berates her men with her foul mouth, and they fear her more than they fear scurvy or sea monsters. Of course, these pirate bitches are always supposed to be jarring, "Oh my goodness, that's one tough chick" we're supposed to think...but of course, we've seen it countless times.

So, you can imagine how happy I was to see that Kestrel, the pirate lady of Misty Massey's debut novel, actually has some depth. Like the endless seas she pirates upon, she is full of surprises and interesting oddities. Don't get me wrong, she's still one tough lady! She worked twice as hard as any man to earn the respect of her crew mates, and she is described as having killed "countless men" in her pirating escapades! But, Instead of being an annoying hard-ass, she has maintained many feminine qualities that make her actually seem human, instead of the cardboard cutouts you usually get with this kind of story.

Unfortunately, likable characters are only 1 component to a good book, and I found many other aspects of this one less than satisfactory.

One of the problems is the discrepancies between the narrator's descriptions of how the characters act and how they actually behave in the book. For example, Kestrel is a pirate, and at one point she is attacked in an alley by two men. They threaten to kill and/or rape her, and are clearly unsavory individuals even compared to a piratess. She escapes of course, knocking both men unconscious. As she is fleeing, in a hurry, she notes that one of the unconscious men is bleeding from the head, and she actually, briefly, wishes she had time to stop and bandage the poor sap up. This is the same lady who the narrator describes as killing "countless" men for no good reason except to steal their treasure. Why is she so concerned about a guy who just tried to kill her? Not very pirate-like. I liked that the characters weren't robotic, and that they were often faced with tough decisions, but it didn't coincide with what the narrator was telling us. The conflicting messages like this were frequent and annoying, but were mostly just a minor distraction.

What wasn't a minor distraction was the love-interest of Kestrel. She's an awesome character, I liked her. She was strong, smart, and intuitive. She made for a great heroine, and I definitely felt connected to her. Then she fell in love with an complete prick for no good reason other than the fact that she thought he was "pretty." For 200-ish pages, a certain character is the antagonist of the story. He's a cocky, arrogant asshole and he treats Kestrel like shit. She spends a good portion of the book cursing him and hunting him down, and I couldn't wait for her to run her sword through him! But no, when she finally catches him she decides instead of wanting to run him through with her sword, she wants him to run her though with his "sword." Most disappointing! It marred what was otherwise a perfectly enjoyable book. I liked the story, I liked the characters, some minor inconsistencies in the text but that was ok, I would easily give the first 200 pages of this book 4 or 5 stars. But Kestrel falling head over heels for the "dickhead" of the story spoiled the whole thing for me. A pity.

Despite the problems, I did still enjoy the book. The bad romance may have just been me. Maybe most readers would be enjoy the antagonist's leering and jeering, I just can't spend 200 pages hating a character and be expected to flip so quickly and enjoy reading the heroine become hopelessly enthralled by such a piece of crap of a character. Oh well, it's still a quality pirate adventure, for the most part. Plus, it ends really well, so I'm being generous with my rating.

3 stars

Note: You may have noticed some potty mouth language in this review. Please know that I do not condone such behavior, but I felt it was necessary. It is, after all, a review for a book about pirates!

I see by reading the other reviews that at least one person agrees with me about the "love interest" in the story, and describes him similarly. Hurray?

Hi Stephen! I think I lost your thread there for awhile! It happens! Keep up the good reviews! They are always entertaining!

Hi Stephen - just visiting your thread to see what you've been up to and also enjoying your reviews.

#166: Nope, skipping that one. Nice review though, Stephen.

Interesting review of Mad Kestrel! I don't think I'll read it on purpose, though I am a bit curious about meeting the main character... hmm... well, maybe if it's at the library and I happen to see it...

>166 Ape: I always do what Stasia says to do, so I'm skipping it too.

#172: Since when?

Since forever! It's why I don't read the pretty blue words in your threads anymore!

#174: Then you are decidedly not taking my advice because I had a terrific reading week last week - you are missing out on some good stuff, which you should read. There - I told you to do it, so since you 'always' do what I say (not), you have to read the blue words on my thread and then get the appropriate books!

NOOOOOOOOO

*melts into tiny puddle of brokeness*

YESSSSS!!! mwa ha ha

Mark: I know what you mean. Glad you found me again!

Kerry: Thanks for stopping by and posting. :)

Stasia, 170: Thanks!

Faith: You sound like me in that post, hehe, I tend to get curious about books that people don't like... Kestrel is definitely an admirable character, and I think she'll be memorable. Hopefully not for her poor taste in men! I think the author is a good writer, but I think she played against her strengths. She got me so attached to all the characters and then did all the wrong things with them.

Richard: You walked right into that one, it seems. >:P

interesting....

Uh oh, I'm afraid of what Kath might be finding interesting. I didn't put my shirt on inside-out again did I?

*spends another few minutes spinning around in cricles, trying to see the tag on the back of his shirt*

Kath finds everything interesting, I just think she likes posting on others treads! going back to yesterdays conversation I have two very set of age gaps my mum is easy so I'll star with her, mum was 30 when she had me aturly 30 years and a day in 1983 30 year gap and there are 37 years between my mum and nan, my nan was 67 when I was born and my mum belives that there where around 30 years between my nan and great nan. There seams to be a patten there.

My dads is harder most is ruff estmations, 28 years between me and dad i've estemated there are about 22 years between my dad and granddad. this is where it gets fun, my dad was 15 when his first neice was born making my aunt 18 when she had her, my oldest cousin who is 13 years older than me had her first child my first second cousin around 19 my oldest second cousin is now in her yearly 20's.

confused me too!

I love GIRL PIRATE books...even, sometimes, the bad ones. Have you read any of the Jacky Faber books by L A Meyer...they're marketed as YA but, man, are they good...funny, sad, and amazingly smart (did I mention well-written?). A Series that doesn't flop around like a dying carp after the first few volumes..

and there's Fanny by Erica Jong....certainly more "adult" in the bawdy sense..it covers all the bases: witches, highwaymen, and pirates...What a Hoot!

all this talk about family and Old People is scaring me...turning my hair greyer..Stop It!!!

;-}

BBGirl: I'm not sure what's making me dizzier, spinning around in circles or your dad's side of the family. :P

Jude: I haven't read any of those. I guess I need to read more pirate lady books! :)

Richard and Stasia!

#184: No.

BBG my mom was a grandmother at age 39..I was born when she was 19
my first child was born when I was 19. A grandmother at 39? whew! No pattern though, as my daughter ( and all sons ) made it past nineteen and no babies.. in fact, I am 57... no grands yet :-/

Stephen .. wearing your shirt inside out keeps the tag from scratching.. good thinkin'!

45. Microterrors by Tony Hart



Pages: 187
Rating: 4/5

Review posted:

I read Microterrors. It's essentially a reference book, but that didn't stop me. I love microterrors, the microscopic critters themselves and the book about them! I wouldn't recommend most people reading straight through it like I did, but it's certainly a worthwhile book.

Microterrors is a comprehensive list of nearly 200 different viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. Each page is dedicated to a different organism, except for the more noteworthy ones that get an extra page, and each organism gets a big colorful image to represent the little bugger. The pictures are dazzling, very bright and colorful, and definitely eye-catching. I found myself skimming through the book regularly when I was supposed to be reading other books, because it's just so fun to flip through. Fun, that is, if you enjoy flipping through books about hemorrhagic fever and diarrheal diseases...

The colors can work against it to some extent though. It can be kind of odd to be reading about Ebola and then look to see a bright pink and purple image. Not very intimidating. However, it also makes it a perfect "coffee table" book. Not that I think books should be used as decoration, but simply because it's so darn fun to constantly pick the book up and browse through. Again, assuming you like books about hemorrhagic fever and diarrheal diseases sitting on your coffee table...

The information in the book isn't the most in-depth. You get a quick few paragraphs giving a basic overview of the microbe, not a whole lot of information, but, for the most part, all the important information is there. If you are a fan of microbiology and are looking for a nice, quick little reference book on the topic, I think Microterrors is a must buy. Highly recommended...for fans of hemorrhagic fever and diarrheal diseases!

#187: Adding that one to the BlackHole!

Hemorrhagic fever = Never Yon Evil Tome, or NYET!

Stasia: Hurray! Although, it's not really a "readable" book, I don't think it's really meant to be...I'm just obsessive about the topic. :)

Richard: But, but, but...umm, isn't it important to know about such things, in case you ever come down with one? I mean, I mean, uhhh, what if you come down with fever and start bleeding from your pores? However would you know it's hemorraghic fever and not just bad hamburger meat?

...

...right?

=P

Good Morning! Your posts to and from Richard make me laugh out loud.

If I start bleeding from my pores, a hideous image which now circles my brain like a vulture, thanks heaps, I *will*not*care* why, I will merely want it to STOP!

Heartless child! I am the one who couldn't get into the water, even a pool, for 18 years after seeing "Jaws", and you go and plant an image of me bleeding from my pores, suffering the agonies of the damned before my time, dying by inches from exsanguination....

Stephen...go over here to see what my revenge is.

If I ever start bleeding from my pores, or have boils appear on my eyelids, I'm just posting here so Stephen can tell me what I have (and how to fix it).

Linda: Morning! Yes...that's what happens when you get two goofy people together. Errr, umm, not that I'm saying you are goofy or anything, Richard. *ahem*

Richard...I'm not really sure how you are seeking revenge? By linking me to an article about the planet heating up? Don't you know if the planet heats up it will aid the spread of disease? Viruses flourish in tropical climates, they thrive in the heat. Now, haven't you been complaining about the heat in your area? Uh oh!! Better watch out Richard, Ebola could be everywhere! Bloody pores and swelling brains. Eek! ;-)

Don't worry though, Richard. Science has come a long way. If your brain starts to swell too big and begins to crush itself in the confined recesses of your cranium, instead of hemorraghing out your ears they can just cut a piece of your skull away to relieve the pressure. Works great, I hear. :)

Ty: Oh, alright...just keep the diarrheal diseases to yourself please... =P

Oh, golly geez, Richard's brain being tryphonated sounds pretty scary. God knows what will be found it there.... lots of good things I'm sure...

Oh, jeez...Richard's brain...swelling-and-exploding!! I'm going to move way far away so the splatter won't hit....serious yuck factor! and...didn't they do that 'cut a piece of the skull away" in the HBO series ROME....i think so...and the guy lived!!!

anyway, back to the microterrors....i have an interesting little tome you might seek out...A Field Guide to the Invisible by Wayne Biddle...it's realtively short..and has photographs!!

;-}

Richard's brain? Now that's a microterror.

A Field Guide to the Invisible sounds great! =D

I'm sure Richard's brain wouldn't explode. I imagine it as being the deflating type, collapsing upon itself like an improperly baked muffin. I think the biggest fear would be that the Ebola might liquefy some of his brain before the skull fragment was removed, and as the outer skin of his brain collapsed, spewed forth the liquid in an aerosol form, spraying a new virus in the faces of the doctors and starting an epidemic of Ricardosis.

I don't want to know what the symptoms of that disease would be...

I believe the symptoms would be loving kindness, sprinkled with a large dose of generosity, peppered with lots of humor, and filled with wisdom.

Yes, Stephen, i agree with Linda (#201) but I would also add a generous dollop of Pissy-Assed Sarcasm...with a side of Kill-Hell Humor...and Deadly Common Sense...

Am i right? or what?

;-}

187: I'm putting Microterrors on my sooner-rather-than-later list. Thanks.

By the way, have you ever read Plagues and Peoples? It fascinated me as it showed the relationships between the "micro" organisms (the nasties from Microterrors) and the "macro" organisms (big mammals, like us).

Karen O.

#203: I do not know if Stephen is added Plagues and Peoples to his TBR list, but I am adding it to the BlackHole. Thanks, Karen!

#204: You are very welcome, Stasia! I'm always thrilled when I can send a book to someone's TBR, especially yours!

Karen O.

Plagues and Peoples sounds great too! But my library doesn't have that one either! :(

201/202: I think both of those are accurate. But can the world withstand the burden of such a contagion?

>206 Ape:: That's up to you, Stephen..it's your thread...

*snort*

Well, there's only one way to find out.

*pulls out a drill and bone saw*

Ok ladies, make sure you hold him still...

46. Fun Home by Alison Bechdel



Pages: 232
Rating: 5/5

("Review" posted)

This is one of those books that I just don't feel competent enough to review effectively. I'm tempted to say simple things like: It's great, it's wonderful, it's beautiful, everyone should read it! This almost feels unfair, since the book deserves a better review than that, one I am incapable of producing. I can only offer enthusiasm, so instead of telling you why I personally liked Fun Home, I'm just going to tell you why you should read it.

Because: It's great, it's wonderful, it's beautiful, everyone should read it!

So there. Good graphic novels have traditionally gone unappreciated, many book readers are closed minded on the format and refuse to acknowledge it as a reliable way of communicating thought, emotion, or ideas. However, recently people have been opening up to the genre and understanding that, while it is different from traditional literature, graphic novels can have just as much to offer as regular books. I know many people have been reading things like Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and enjoying it. If you are one of those people, add Fun Home to your reading list immediately. If you are not one of those people...add Fun Home and Persepolis to your reading list immediately.

Thats all, I don't really need to say more than that. If you want to know what the book is about, read the summary. If you want to know other people's opinions, read the other reviews. Instead of futilely attempting to convey how much I adored this novel, I will just point you to my star rating and hope that suffices. 5 stars

Nice non-review, Stephen. I am not one of the people who believes that graphic novels are not as good as regular books, given Persepolis, Maus, Asterios Polyp, etc. I have been privileged to read.

My brain is just FINE as it IS, thenkewveddymahch, and will **NOT** need trepanning.

Sheez...turn your back for a while, look what the natives get up to. Ah, that fat white man's burden is heavy indeed.

poor picked on richard. perhaps this will soothe your brain:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q2s8AJbsps&feature=player_embedded

Very soothing, Tom...someone else out there knows how evil cats are.

Stephen- Interesting, I was listening to The Guardian podcast today and their current program was on graphic novels and Fun Home was one they recommended. I've only been reading G.Ns for less than 6 months but I'm sold on them and understand their importance.
I'm getting ready to start DMZ by Brian Wood. It's about the aftermath of a 2nd American Civil War. It's the 1st in a series.

I am basically GN illiterate (something I need to work on) but I've heard raves about Fun Home from multiple people, so on the list it goes! I've heard good things about DMZ as well.

Bone: Volume 1 is one I constantly hear recommended by friends who read GNs. And, of course, classics like Watchmen and Maus.

I have Fables: Legends in Exile around here someplace, and on my short list to get to.

I started exploring graphic novels/comic books last year and I'm glad I did. I was going to list all the ones I've read, but I realized I can just link to them:
Comics I've read

I've only read 8, but so far I've enjoyed most of them, even the Incredible Hulk/Predator ones. They're different, maybe a little hard to get used to, but the art can be beautiful sometimes... The art in Flight, Volume 3 is spectacular, and while you might think of "Hulk" as one of those icky superhero comics...the illustrations were simply awesome.

I'm definitely glad I gave them a chance, and will continue to enjoy them! It's too bad so many other people haven't realized their potential. :(

I started Bechdel's Dykes to watch out for, it was too big a collection for me to read in the one borrowing period but quite fun all the same. I'll put Fun Home onto my list.
Regarding other graphic novels, do try Epileptic and/or The Rabbi's Cat.

Kerry: My library doesn't have either of those. It also doesn't have many of the other books mentioned above. They have a very limited selection of comics. :( They only have 3-4 shelves, and 90 percent of them are batman/spiderman/superman/etc :(

All the talk about graphic novels got me looking through the online catalogue...and I found the following:

New York: Life in the Big City and The Contract with God Trilogy by Will Eisner
Birth of a Nation by Aaron McGruder
Pride of Baghdad by Brian K. Vaughan
Palestine by Joe Sacco

Has anyone read any of these? All of them have gone onto the wishlist, they all seem interesting.

Hi Stephen,
Wanted to say hello and come visit. I saw on another thread that you're reading Grayson, and I wanted to see what you thought of it. I think I may be the only one who didn't love it, though I did think it was an amazing and compelling story. It just felt to me that it should have been an article -- not a book. I look forward to your thoughts!

I'm new to graphic novels this year too and Fun Home has gone on the list.

#218 I haven't read the Eisner but I've heard good things about those. I have Logicomix from the library as my next graphic novel read and then I should get back to finishing some of the series I've started (Fables, Buffy and Sandman).

Hi Anne! I'm really liking Grayson, but it isn't knocking my socks off. I hate to say it...but I keep having the nagging thought that the story, which is amazing, might be just a little bit...embellished. It seems like an overly spectacular day of swimming to me (the raining tuna, the swarming sting rays, and the whale? In one morning?)

It's just a small, nagging thought and I'm surpressing it so far. It's an amazing story so...I'm enjoying it regardless. *shrug*

Heather: The Sandman books sound good, but big series are always hard to read because my library never buys the whole series. It makes it hard to read comics. :(

Omnibuses (Omnibi?) are great nice though, and my library does have a lot of those. :)

#218: Stephen - I've read Palestine and while it's a bit dated it is a worthwhile read and interesting to see the graphic novel medium used in this way. The others on your list look good.

*de-lurks*

Hi! Found your thread again . . . I don't know how I keep losing peoples' threads . . . You have written some great reviews, and I think I'm going to add a few titles to my List . . .

*returns to lurk mode*

#45~ I seem to be immune~

I seem to be immune

Impossible! ...maybe you got it and you're just asymptomatic? ;)

221: Stephen, I read Grayson more like a fairy tale than a typical day at the beach! Seriously, I'm quite a skeptic and read all memoirs with the idea that memory is often aided by imagination.

Donna: I agree with the whole post! Grayson is reading so much like a fictional story that I'm having no problem immersing myself in it as if it were, as you described, a fairy tale. :)

maybe so.....

Stephen, thank you so much for posting on my thread which led me over here to your amazing reviews and good conversation! Please come join the Aeneid group read here; we've hardly started.

Hi Peggy! I've actually read The Aeneid earlier this month. Unfortunately I didn't think to highly of it...but I think it was mostly due to a bad translation. I'll have to keep my eye on the group read, but I couldn't bring myself read it again already. :(

Oh, I wasn't suggesting that you read it again unless you wanted to! I figured it was still fresh since it was near the bottom of your list........ Which translation did you read?

W.F. Jackson Knight. It might have been me though, I just got all angry when they used the word "hurricane" and my frustrations just kept mounting from there. I posted a full review if you want to see my extended rant about it. :)

I did read your review, and as a Vergil groupie, I'm sorry that you didn't enjoy the poem. I think the translation sounds pretty awful.....Has the Mediterranean had hurricanes in any age? There's not much I can say, though, about the structure. That's the way it is. Other readers are currently being disappointed in the third book too. So far other things have made up for it in the group. Do go by and look at some very perceptive comments.

I'm going to have to read it again some time, I'll probably wait until I can afford to buy books again and purchase a good translation (the W.F. Jackson Knight one is the only copy my library carries.) And then read it...errrr...eventually.

I'll definitely check out the group read. I'd like to participate in one some time...but I don't know if I can read in the way that participating in a group read requires. I devour a book over the course of a few days usually...I don't know if I can pace myself a drag a book out over multiple weeks. One of these days though, I just might have to join one...maybe...

>Stephen, Donna, re Grayson: that's probably how I should have read it. I felt the heart of the story was amazing and beautiful, and that perhaps it was heavily padded in order to make it a book.

Fun Home you say? All right, I'll add it to the list... though I suspect my library won't have it. They're a little light in the 'graphic novel' department, which is too bad... the city I lived in a few years ago kept up very well with graphic novels and had quite a large section. Oh well!

Don't get me started on Graphic Novels...i mean it...don't!!!!!

If you must....go with Frank Miller's Sin City series....fantastic, violent, Noir-up-the-Yin/Yang..and the "movie" isn't bad.. my all-time favorite, though, is Cages by Dave McKean....sadly Out of Print (and I paid a ridiculous sum for a used copy)..if you can ever find one...read it..it's a masterpiece!

i could go on and on and on...but I don't want to hijack your thread....

;-}

Jude: My library doesn't have either of those. It has other books by Frank Miller though, 300 and Ronin (and a couple Batman book? ...)

Like Faith, the graphic novel selection at my local library just isn't that great. I'll probably be taking a trip in the next week or so, I'll have to browse around and see what I can come out with.

Stephen: "300" isn't bad..neither is the movie. You probably won't be able to find Cages...but I have a copy............to, uh, maybe "loan"....if you put a hell-of-a-lot up for collateral!!!!

later
J

Jude: Actually, 300 is one of my favorite movies of all time, so maybe I should check out the book? Hehe.

About Cages: Perhaps. My library has other McKean books, do you know anything about his other books?

Dave McKean?? here's the LT thingie i found:

http://www.librarything.com/author/mckeandave&norefer=1

also, he was Neil Gaiman's illustrator (maybe there's a link to that...give me a minute......:

http://www.librarything.com/author/gaimanneilmckeandave&norefer=1

;-}

Thought it was high time I came by to check out your thread, but there's far too much to catch up on, so I'm just posting a hallo.

Hallo!

There. Now it's nearly time for you to start a new thread ;o)

Have you got a pick of the year so far?

Thanks Jude! :)

Oh but flissp, the conversation on this thread is so deep and endearing, all full of intelligence and wisdom ...and...stuff... ...right guys? ;)

47. Grayson by Lynne Cox



Pages: 148
Rating: 3/5

When Lynne Cox was 17, she was an avid swimmer. She practiced every day for the long distance swims she partook in regularly. One day, after an exhausting morning of swimming, she is headed for shore when she sees her friend waving his arms over his head, trying to get her attention. Having already had a scare earlier that morning after being brushed by something huge in the water, she thinks she is being followed by a shark and panics. However, she soon realizes that her friend isn't warning her of danger, but rather trying to get her to stop! She's being followed by a baby blue whale, and if she continues towards the shore the whale might become beached, which it most likely wouldn't survive.

Lynne does not want the whale to die. Despite exhaustion, she decides she cannot go to shore. She's cold, hungry, and tired, but she can't stop. Instead she must swim out into the open ocean, with it's cold waters, big waves, and deadly rip currents, to look for the lost baby's mother. Grayson is the touching story of her search for an enormous blue whale in the even larger expanses of the endless ocean and her connection, however brief, with this wondrous creature.

Written in a very simple prose, the story is magical and heartwarming, wrought with emotion and love for the ocean and all it's inhabitants. It's a spectacular tale, verging on unbelievable, and I had no difficulty immersing myself in Lynne's wonderful narration. My inner pessimist wants me to point out that I had an itchy feeling some of the minor details were a bit embellished, and that the story is fluffed up a bit to make it into a full novel, but it was easy to look past these and, quite frankly, I was glad it was fluffed so I could continue reading what might otherwise have been a much shorter book.

I really liked Grayson. I've been back and forth with the rating, unable to decide where it falls between 3 and 4 stars. Just know that she has an amazing story to tell, and I'm glad I spent a couple days to read it.

Oh, and I forgot to respond to:
Have you got a pick of the year so far?

I don't. I'm always indecisive... it's hard to pick a single book that is my favorite. I try to be conservative with the 5-star rating, I don't like to give it out often, and I've given it to the following:

Pluto, Animal Lover
Fahrenheit 451
Brave New World
The Last Town on Earth
Bonk
Fun Home

Impossible to pick a favorite out of those...

Fun Home was the first graphic novel I ever read, and it was actually for a graduate course in queer theory. I found it fascinating and fantastic, and I'm glad you enjoyed it as well. Fun Home helped change my attitude towards graphic novels as a genre, although I'm still looking for something that can interest me as much as Bechdel's work.

Luxx: I'll let you know if I find anything! I'll probably be reading from the list on post 218, but I also plan to "browse around" so who knows what I'll find.

I think I mispoke. I said my library's graphic novel section is mostly superhero stuff? I was wrong. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say it's about 85+ percent MANGA. Blech! I'm probably being prejudice since I've never read the stuff, but YECH! I hate the art style, and my experience with stories in anime-inspired video games is *YUCKY!*

What isn't manga is mostly superhero stuff, and then a small, small percentage of anything remotely readable.

...I'll probably be reading superman comics before long, since it doesn't look like it'll take very long to read through everything else...

Grayson sounds good

Kath: I never feel confident enough to give recommendations personally, don't know why, I guess I'm always afraid I'll recommend someone a book they won't like...but yes, I think you'd like it.

NEW THREAD

HERE