Friday, March 21, 2014

Once Upon a Time VIII

Art by Melissa Nucera

Spring is here at last.  And with it comes one of my favorite reading events - the Once Upon a Time challenge hosted by Carl Anderson over at Stainless Steel Droppings.  This is the eighth go-round for this one, and I'm really hoping it's going to help lift me out of this reading slump I've fallen into recently.


This year, I'm keeping the pressure low and signing up for The Journey, which calls for just one book from any of the various genres (Fairy Tale, Folklore, Fantasy, and Mythology).  Of course, I'm hoping to read more than that, and I've got quite an extensive list of possibilities.  Some of those:


I'm also thinking about attempting Quest on the Screen.  I've wiped out with this quest in the past, so we'll see if I can do a little better this time.

During the course of the challenge, I'll be tracking my progress over on my challenge blog (HERE).  Now it's time to get reading!

Monday, March 17, 2014

Monday Reading Update

Haven't finished any books lately. Actually, I've been in a very annoying reading slump all month. I've got several books going, but can't seem to stick with any of them for very long. Here's what I've been reading:


The Asylum. John Harwood
The Bookman's Tale. Charlie Lovett
The Innocent Sleep. Karen Perry
The Thief of Always. Clive Barker

I'm enjoying all of them ﹣ just can't settle down to any one long enough to get it finished. I'm hoping my "slump" will end with the winter ﹣ assuming this winter DOES eventually END.


It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. If you want to let the world know what books you're going to be reading this week, head on over to her blog and leave your link. It's also a great way to discover new books and new blogs.

Friday, March 14, 2014

Book Beginnings: The Weight of Blood

Image credit: Good Reads

The Weight of Blood, by Laura McHugh: a suspense novel set in the Ozark Mountains. I haven't actually started this one yet, but it's in my "must read soon" stack.  Here's the first sentence:
That Cheri Stoddard was found at all was the thing that set people on edge, even more so than the condition of her body.

Initial Thoughts: Well, that opening got my attention.  Perhaps a little grisly, but I'm definitely intrigued. Would you go on reading?


http://www.rosecityreader.com/2013/12/book-beginning-sinful-folk-by-ned-hayes.html

Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Fridays. As she says, the idea is to post the first sentence (or so) of the book you're currently reading, along with any first impressions or thoughts you have about the book, the author, etc.  It's a wonderful way of adding new books to your must-read list, and a chance to connect with other readers and bloggers.

Friday, March 07, 2014

Book Beginnings: The Thief of Always


Don't know how I've managed to miss out on Clive Barker, but The Thief of Always is my introduction to his work.  It was a recommended e-book on Amazon the other day, so I downloaded it to the Kindle and started reading.  Here's the first paragraph:
The great gray beast February had eaten Harvey Swick alive. Here he was, buried in the belly of that smothering month, wondering if he would ever find his way out through the cold coils that lay between here and Easter.

Initial Thoughts:  I started reading this in February, and it just reached out and grabbed me.  I felt exactly the same way young Harvey felt: Will we never see the end of this ridiculously long, cold winter?  "Great gray beast" describes it perfectly.  So I definitely loved the beginning -- and so far, the rest of the book has been pretty enjoyable too. Of course, it's another young adult novel -- I seem to be sort of stuck in the young adult world this year.  But at least I'm reading again. 


http://www.rosecityreader.com/2013/12/book-beginning-sinful-folk-by-ned-hayes.html

Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Fridays. As she says, the idea is to post the first sentence (or so) of the book you're currently reading, along with any first impressions or thoughts you have about the book, the author, etc.  It's a wonderful way of adding new books to your must-read list, and a chance to connect with other readers and bloggers.

Tuesday, March 04, 2014

Teaser Tuesdays: While Beauty Slept


This week my teaser lines come from While Beauty Slept, by Elizabeth Blackwell.  I haven't started this one yet -- just opened it this morning to find something to tease with -- so I don't really know a lot about what's going on.  This snippet comes from the Prologue (page 3, or Loc.52 of the Kindle edition):
Even in that dimly lit space, the emeralds and rubies embedded in the dagger's handle sparkled. The sharp, cruel blade retained its silvery luster, and I felt a wave of revulsion as I remembered that same surface coated in blood.
Generally, I'm not a huge fan of the re-imagined fairy tale, but I've heard good things about this one.


http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/teaser-tuesdays-jan-7/

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by mizB at Should Be Reading. If you'd like to read more teasers, or take part yourself, just head on over to her blog.

And please feel free to leave me a link to your Teaser Tuesday post in your comment here.

Monday, March 03, 2014

Monday Reading Update

Ernst Anders, "Ein stiller Moment" 1878

I haven't been doing much reading lately.  I regret that, but there's just been too much other stuff going on lately.  In fact, I only finished one book in February -- C.C. Benison's Ten Lords A-Leaping.


This week, I'm trying to get back in the groove.  Assuming I can FIND the groove.  Assuming I'd even know what the groove looked like if I DID find it.  OK, enough.  I'm getting back to my reading, and I'm continuing with The Innocent Sleep by Karen Perry,


and The Bookman's Tale by Charlie Lovett.


Those two covers have a sort of similar design, don't they?  Never noticed it until now.  So far, I'm enjoying both of the books (which is more than I can say for "Ten Lords," but more about that in a later post).



It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. If you want to let the world know what books you're going to be reading this week, head on over to her blog and leave your link. It's also a great way to discover new books and new blogs.