Book Beginnings on Friday: The Universe Versus Alex Woods

This week I'm reading The Universe Versus Alex Woods, by Gavin Extence.  It's the story of a young man whose life is thrown completely off track after he's struck by a meteorite when he's ten years old.  Alex's existence after that is fascinating but far from easy.  Here's the opening paragraph:

They finally stopped me at Dover as I was trying to get back into the country.  I was half expecting it, but it still came as kind of a shock when the barrier stayed down.  It's funny how some things can be so mixed up like that. Having come this far, I'd started to think that I might make it the whole way home after all. It would have been nice to have been able to explain things to my mother.  You know: before anyone else had to get involved. 

Initial Thoughts:   I've been trying to get started on this one for a couple of weeks now.  If the holidays hadn't slowed me down, I'm sure I'd be finished with it by now because I've really enjoyed it so far.  Reminds me a little of Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time which was one of my favorites a few years back.  So I have high hopes for the rest of the book.

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.

2013 Reading Challenge Wrap-Ups

Now that Christmas has come and gone, I think it's time to wrap up a few more challenges.  I'll start with two that sort of go together.

Books in Translation Reading Challenge 2013

Hosted by: Introverted Reader

I signed up for this one at the "Beginner" Level (1-3 books), and actually read three books.  Never managed to get reviews posted, but I suppose that could still happen before the year ends.  What I read:

1. Chéri. Colette (translated by Roger Senhouse)
2. Ignorance. Milan Kundera (translated by Linda Asher)
3. Invisible Cities. Italo Calvino (translated by William Weaver)

I enjoyed Ignorance quite a lot, but struggled with Invisible Cities and Chéri.  But I had fun with the challenge and want to thank Introverted Reader for hosting.  If a 2014 edition were offered, I'd definitely consider signing up again.

European Reading Challenge 2013

Hosted by: Rose City Reader

Signed up at the Five Star (Deluxe Entourage) Level, and should have read at least five books, but only read four.  Still, I consider that pretty successful, given my overall reading record for 2013.  Here's what I read:

1. Cold Remains. Sally Spedding (Wales, UK)
2. Ignorance. Milan Kundera (mostly set in Czechoslovakia)
3. Inferno. Dan Brown (Italy)
4. Chéri. Colette (France)

Again, not many reviews (just that one for Cold Remains).  Of the four, I suppose Ignorance was my favorite, although Inferno was fun (not the best Dan Brown book I've read, but still very entertaining).

This was a great challenge, and I'm thinking seriously of signing up for the 2014 edition.  Rose City Reader deserves a huge thank-you for hosting.

So, that's two more wrap-ups.  More to come....

Clea, by Lawrence Durrell

Iconic E-Books from Open Road Media

Originally published by Faber Publishing, 1960

Clea is the fourth and final volume in Lawrence Durrell's series of novels known as the Alexandria Quartet.  The first three books, Justine, Balthazar, and Mountolive, tell the same intricate and fascinating story from three different points of view.  In Clea, set seven years later, we get to see what's happened to the characters in subsequent years.  Darley, the narrator of the first book, returns to Alexandria at the end of World War II, and reconnects with all the major figures from the earlier novels.  He begins an affair with Clea, who was a more shadowy presence in the earlier books, but turns out to be one of the most interesting of all the characters.

This is such a wonderful series of novels.  I read the first three many years ago, sometime during the 1980s, and don't really know why it's taken me so long to get to this final book.  In many ways, it's very different from the others, but the gorgeous, lyrical writing is the same.  The Quartet is just a truly rewarding reading experience.

Sample passage (these are the book's opening lines):

The oranges were more plentiful than usual that year. They glowed in their arbours of burnished green leaf like lanterns, flickering up there among the sunny woods. It was as if they were eager to celebrate our departure from the little island -- for at last the long-awaited message from Nessim had come, like a summons back to the Underworld. A message which was to draw me back inexorably to the one city which for me always hovered between illusion and reality, between the substance and the poetic images which its very name aroused in me.... Alexandria, the capital of memory!

The Gordonston Ladies Dog Walking Club, by Duncan Whitehead

Dog Ear Publishing, 2012

Duncan Whitehead’s The Gordonston Ladies Dog Walking Club is a thriller-parody that involves the members of an informal afternoon cocktail and dog walking club in an old Savannah neighborhood. As the book opens, one of their friends dies of cancer, and a rivalry immediately develops amongst the surviving ladies, involving the new widower.  It was a promising beginning, but unfortunately the rest of the book didn't quite live up to that promise. 

There were a LOT of twists and turns and surprises along the way, some of them extremely unexpected and most of them fairly entertaining. There’s the man who incurs the ladies’ wrath because he neglects to clean up after his dog. There’s the once successful children’s writer haunted by a past that may or may not involve Adolph Hitler. And then there’s the hit man who’s skulking around the neighborhood. And these are just a few of the various plot lines.

I had a hard time getting through this one. Somehow I just couldn’t maintain much interest in any of the characters or their activities. The book has been called “zany” and “screwball,” but I thought the humor seemed forced and - just not very funny. One thing I did enjoy was the ending - it springs a bit of a surprise which wasn’t hard to see coming, but still turned out to be a nice satisfying plot twist. I just wish the rest of the book had been that satisfying.


(Note: I received my copy of this book free of charge from the publisher. No other compensation was received, and no one attempted to influence my opinion.)

The Happy Hollisters, by Jerry West

Doubleday & Company, 1953; 184 pages.

Illustrated by Helen S. Hamilton.

The Happy Hollisters by Jerry West, is the first book in a series that was popular with children in the 1950s and early 1960s.  I read several of the books when I was a kid, but never read this first one until this year when I read it for the Pre-1960 Classic Children's Books Reading Challenge.

It's a very cute story about the five Hollister children who move to a new house in a new town, when their father gets a job there.  Their adventures begin on the very first day of their move, when the moving van containing all their toys disappears.  It was also carrying their father's important new invention, so naturally the young Hollisters immediately set about trying to solve the mystery of the disappearing moving van.

At the same time, they begin exploring their new home - the house is said to be haunted and is also supposed to contain a hidden treasure.  And while they investigate the place, they find a secret stairway that brings even more excitement.  A mysterious intruder leads them to a hideout on a deserted island where all the puzzles are eventually solved.  The five Happy Hollisters recover their missing possessions, find the hidden treasure, and decide that they're ready for more adventures in the future.  Like I said, very cute story.

I loved these books when I was a kid, and I had a lot of fun traveling down memory lane with this one.  The story was appealing, and the illustrations by Helen Hamilton are really charming.  I'm not sure how the books would go over with today's young readers - the action is definitely tame compared to the books around right now.  But I think they still might be good for children just starting to read on their own, before they move on to more sophisticated stuff.

Guilt, by Jonathan Kellerman

I've been very lazy about posting reviews this year. So during this last week of December, I'm going to try to post short (sometimes VERY short) reports on the books I read in 2013 but failed to mention on the blog, in (roughly) the order I read them - mainly just to prevent myself from forgetting them completely.  This is one from back in March.
 

Ballantine Books, 2013; 378 pages

Publisher's Description:

In an upscale L.A. neighborhood, a backyard renovation unearths an infant’s body, buried sixty years ago. Soon thereafter, in a nearby park, another disturbingly bizarre discovery is made not far from the body of a young woman shot in the head. Helping LAPD homicide detective Milo Sturgis to link these eerie incidents is brilliant psychologist Alex Delaware. But even the good doctor’s vast experience with matters both clinical and criminal might not be enough to cut down to the bone of this chilling case. Backtracking six decades into the past stirs up tales of a beautiful nurse with a mystery lover, a handsome, wealthy doctor who seems too good to be true, and a hospital with a notorious reputation—all of them long gone, along with any records of a newborn, and destined for anonymity. But the specter of fame rears its head when the case unexpectedly twists in the direction of the highest echelons of celebrity privilege. Entering this sheltered world, Alex little imagines the macabre layer just below the surface—a decadent quagmire of unholy rituals and grisly sacrifice.

My Thoughts:

This is the 28th book (!) in Kellerman's Alex Delaware series, but the first one I've read.  And I was pleasantly surprised to find that even though it's obvious there's a long history involved, this particular book was perfectly accessible for someone with no previous experience with the series.  The story is definitely hardcore police procedural, miles from cozy - dead infants are never easy to read about, and that's just the first of several pretty gruesome elements.  So it might not be to every reader's taste.  But I definitely enjoyed it, and I'll be reading more of the series in the future. 

Favorite quote:

She cried. It seemed genuine, but who could be sure about anything on the west side of L.A.

(Note: This review refers to an advance reader's edition of the book provided free of charge by the publisher. No other compensation was received, and no one attempted to influence my opinion.)

Monday Reading Update

"Jungle Tales," 1895 by James Shannon

It's been a while since I posted a reading update - over a month, I think.  During that time, I've read a few more books, but haven't posted any reviews.  Still working on that; one of my resolutions for the new year is to do a better job of reviewing the books I read.  Hmmmm.  I think that was one of my resolutions for THIS year.  Oh, well - here's my list of books finished:

1. Invisible Cities, by Italo Calvino
2. Double Indemnity, by James M. Cain
3. Evil Under the Sun, by Agatha Christie
4. The 13 Clocks, by James Thurber

I've also done wrap-ups for a few of this year's reading challenges:

• 2013 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 
• 2013 Nonfiction Reading Challenge 
• 2013 Pre-1960 Classic Children's Books Reading Challenge 

And I've signed up for some new challenges for next year:

• 2014 New Author Reading Challenge 
• 2014 Category Challenge at Library Thing
• Newbery Reading Challenge 2014
• Read Scotland 2014 
• USA Fiction Challenge: State by State in 2014
• Vintage Mystery BINGO 2014 

I'm trying to do a little better job of controlling myself when it comes to signing up for challenges in 2014.  That's six so far, and that might be all I can handle.

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.

2013 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge: Wrap-Up

Isn't that a wonderful button?

The 2013 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge was hosted by Historical Tapestry.  I signed up at the "Victorian Reader" level (read five books), and actually read seven books that would qualify.  As usual, I haven't managed to review ALL of them (I might work on that in the next couple of days), but here's my list, with links to the reviews that I did get written:

1. The Heat of the Sun. David Rain
2. The Flamethrowers. Rachel Kushner 
3. Clea. Lawrence Durrell 
4. Is This Tomorrow. Caroline Leavitt (review to come)
5. A Fatal Likeness. Lyn Shepherd (review to come)
6. The Shooting Party. Isabel Colegate  
7. The 13 Clocks. James Thurber 

I was hoping to do a little better than that - this is one of my favorite challenges, and I want to say thank you to the challenge hosts.  If there's a 2014 edition of the challenge, maybe I can give it another try. 

2013 Nonfiction Reading Challenge: The Wrap-Up

The 2013 Nonfiction Reading Challenge was hosted by The Introverted Reader.  I signed up at the "Dilettante" level (1-5 books), and read one book:

Darwin's Ghosts: The Secret History of Evolution, by Rebecca Stott

Not a great achievement - I really need to work more nonfiction into my reading routine.  Still, I enjoyed the one book I read, and want to thank my host for giving me some motivation.

Challenge Wrap-Up: 2013 Pre-1960 Classic Children's Books

Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2013

I believe this challenge might have slowly died over the course of the year.  It was hosted by Kimberly @ Turning the Pages, but I don't think she's been doing updates lately.  Which is OK, since I haven't been doing reviews for the books I read, either.  But I thought I should go ahead and do a little wrap-up post - especially since the books I read provided some of my favorite reading moments of the year.

Here's my list:

1. The Happy Hollisters, by Jerry West (1953) 

 2. Half Magic, by Edward Eager (1954)

 3. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum (1900)

 4. Pretty Polly Flinders, by Mary Frances Blaisdell (1914)

 

5. The 13 Clocks, by James Thurber (1950)

I also started, and then abandoned, Mistress Masham's Repose by T.H. White.

Just couldn't get into it.  The "little people" in the book turned out not to have anything very magical or special about them, aside from being tiny.  Yes, that's intriguing, but I just needed something more.  Frankly, it was actually sort of boring.  Well, one clinker out of half a dozen isn't bad, I suppose.

So, thanks to Kimberly for hosting the challenge, and spurring me into reading a few of the books I've been meaning to read for years now.

Book Beginnings on Friday: Cheri by Colette

Cover portrait by Antonio de la Gandara

I've just started reading Colette's classic novel, Chéri.  The portrait of a fading love affair between a middle-aged woman and her much younger lover caused a huge stir when it was first published in 1920, and is still controversial today. This is the opening paragraph, with the eponymous Chéri speaking:

'Give it me, Léa, give me your pearl necklace! Do you hear me, Léa? Give me your pearls!'

Initial thoughts:
The first sentence was intriguing and drew me in.  What comes after that is more problematic.

I've wanted to read this one since I was in my teens - back in the '60s it was still considered pretty steamy stuff.  I imagine that's not the case today, although I have to confess I'm finding it a teensy bit  disturbing.  It's not just that Chéri himself (yes, Chéri is the male half of the duo) is so much younger than his lover/mentor, Léa - it's also that he's portrayed as more than a little...well, effeminate I guess is the best word.  Which makes the whole situation very...OK, disturbing is all I can come up with.

I've only read about twenty pages, so I don't have a very firm opinion yet.  For now, though, I'm sticking with it.

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.

Book Beginnings on Friday: Evil Under the Sun

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.

This week, I'm just starting Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie, a mystery novel featuring her Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot.  I've had this one on my TBR list for years now.  Here's the first sentence:

When Captain Roger Angmering built himself a house in the year 1782 on the island of Leathercombe Bay, it was thought the height of eccentricity on his part.

Initial thoughts: Standard Christie opening - many of her novels begin with a bit of "back story" to set the scene. Also fairly typical of the Poirot novels to find the master detective off on a jaunt somewhere - this time to an out-of-the-way resort in the south of England.  And we also have one of those wonderfully unpronounceable surnames Christie is so fond of throwing at us - Angmering (apparently, also the name of a village in West Sussex).

I generally love Poirot, and so far I'm enjoying the book, although I'm only a few pages into it.

I'm reading this on my Kindle - so, no interesting cover. Above is the first American Edition from 1941.

Teaser Tuesdays: Heroic Measures

This week my teaser lines come from Jill Ciment's lovely little novel, Heroic Measures.  I bought the book when it was published back in 2009, but it's taken me all these years to get around to reading it. What a mistake - it's a brilliant read.  In this snippet, one of the main characters is waking up on what might turn out to be a life-changing morning:

For Ruth, the spectacle of sunrise is less inspiring than comforting. The rise of the sun is like the opening of a novel she's read so many times that she can take pleasure in the details and nuances without having to race to the end to find out what happens. (p.57)

Well, with this book, even though it's not a re-read, I'm going through very slowly and savoring each line. It's that good.

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.

Teaser Tuesdays: The Shooting Party

This week my teaser lines come from The Shooting Party by Isabel Colegate, a book I've been meaning to read ever since 1985 when I saw the movie based on the novel.  This quote comes very early in the book, on page 2:

"It's not a bad idea to get in the habit of writing down one's thoughts. It saves one having to bother anyone else with them."

I've kept a diary or journal of some kind almost since I learned how to write.  And this has always been one of my favorite quotes about journal keeping.  I knew it was by Isabel Colegate, but I never knew exactly where it appeared in her works.  So I was pleasantly surprised to discover it here. (And, by the way - do you keep a journal?)

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.

Wrapping Up the Chunkster

The 2013 Chunkster Challenge actually runs through December 31st, but I'm wrapping it up now - even though I've only read two of the four books I intended to read when I signed up at the "Chubby Chunkster" level.  Realistically, I don't think it's likely I'll have time to read any other BIG books before the end of the year, so I'm admitting partial defeat and bowing out now.

The two chunkies I finished were:

The Lost Symbol, by Dan Brown
(509 pages in hardcover)

and

Night Film, by Marisha Pessl
(602 pages in hardcover)

I cheated just a smidge with that second one, as I started reading it on my Kindle.  But almost immediately I realized I needed to read a print version to see all the illustrations, which are a major part of the narrative.  So, I actually ended up reading nearly 600 pages of it in print.  (No, really - I did!)  Will get my review up in a day or so and add the link.

So, that's about it.  My thanks to Wendy and Vasilly for hosting - it was a fun challenge, even though I only made it halfway.  Maybe next time....

R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril / VIII: The (Very Late) Wrap-up

I know, I know - the RIP/VIII reading event actually ended with the month of October.  Well, the month of October sort of got away from me this year, folks - so, I'm just now getting around to writing my wrap-up.  Yeah, it's been that kind of year.

I do love this challenge and I seriously regret making such a hash of it this year.  Will try to do better with Number IX, if Carl decides to treat us all to another go-round next year.   (Fingers crossed!)

Anyway, I read three books for the challenge/event.  Haven't posted any reviews yet, but I am working on that (still playing catch-up on all my reviews for 2013).  Since I signed up for Peril the First, I was aiming for four books, but didn't quite make it.  I did much better with Peril on the Screen: managed to watch lots and lots of scary stuff (Turner Classic Movies always comes through this time of year).  Didn't do separate reviews of those either, but I've gone ahead and listed them here for your list-reading pleasure (I LOVE a good list). 

MY BOOK LIST:

1. Night Film. Marisha Pessl
2. The Small Hand and Dolly. Susan Hill  
3. The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. H.P. Lovecraft

MY SCREEN PERIL LIST, Part I (Movies):

1. The Baby's Room (2006) Spanish horror film, apparently made for TV.  Altogether a fairly mediocre movie, but the shtick of ghostly happenings recorded on baby monitors was good and creepy.
2. Badlands (1973) Very disturbing film about a couple of very disturbed individuals.  And who does disturbed-and-disturbing better than Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek?
3. Cat People (1942) Simone Simon is fascinatingly feline in this original version directed by Jacques Tourneur.
4. The Devil Doll (1936) Lionel Barrymore in drag! Who wouldn't love that?
5. Diary of a Madman (1963) Vincent Price screamer set in France; from a story by Guy de Maupassant.
6. The Fall of the House of Usher (1960) Vincent Price OWNS Edgar Allan Poe, doesn't he?  I've always loved the way the house sinks into the bog at the end - wonderfully cheesy.  (Oops! spoiler alert!)
7. The Haunted Palace (1963) More Vincent Price; this time in a film version of H.P. Lovecraft's "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward" - with a title borrowed from Edgar Poe.
8. Horror Castle (1963) Italian horror flick with Christopher Lee. Women being tortured and killed by a deformed, hooded, holocaust survivor.  Felt like taking a shower after this one.
9. Horror of Dracula (1958) One of the best versions of Bram Stoker's tale; probably my favorite, although I do love Frank Langella as the Count.
10. The Legend of Lucy Keyes (2005) Evil real estate developers? Now that's scary.
11. Mary Reilly (1996) I'm not a Julia Roberts fan, but she's actually pretty good in this. Love Malkovich, though, and he makes a great Hyde.
12. The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932) Boris Karloff as the evil Dr. FM. Can't believe I'd never seen this one before.
13. Mirrors (2008) Another one of those stories with mirrors as a gateway for ghosts and spirits. Actually a pretty watchable film, but the ending was a little confusing.
14. The Mummy (1932) The "original" version with Boris Karloff and Zita Johann - still the best and the scariest.
15. The Ninth Gate (1999) One of my all-time favorite films, by one of my all-time favorite directors, based on one of my all-time favorite books. What could be better?
16. Nosferatu (1922) A creepy classic. 
17. The Reeds (2010)  What the....?  Have no idea what was going on in this one.  In the running for worst horror film ever made.
18. Sea of Love (1989) Love Pacino. Love cop movies. Pacino + cop movie = perfection.
19. The Seventh Victim (1943) Satanic cults in Greenwich Village. Yeah, I can buy that. Kim Hunter in her very first film.
20. 007 - I also watched a handful of James Bond movies.  Not spooky, but I suppose they do qualify in the suspense/mystery/thriller category.  The list:
    Dr. No (1962)
    From Russia With Love (1963)
    The Man With the Golden Gun (1974)
    The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
    For Your Eyes Only (1981)
    Licence To Kill (1989)

MY SCREEN PERIL LIST, Part II (TV shows):

1. The Blacklist (2013; pilot episode)
2. Broadchurch (2013; mini-series)
3. Doctor Who: The Power of Three (2012; Season 7/Episode 4)
4. Doctor Who: The Angels Take Manhattan (2012; 7/5)
5. Doctor Who: The Snowmen (2012; 7/6)
6. Doctor Who: The Bells of St. John (2013; 7/7)
7. Doctor Who: The Rings of Akhaten (2013; 7/8)
8. Doctor Who: Cold War (2013; 7/9)
9. Doctor Who: Hide (2013; 7/10)
10. Inspector George Gently: Gently Northern Soul (2012; Season 5/Episode 1)
11. Midsomer Murders: The Electric Vendetta (2001; Season 4 / Episode 3)
12. Midsomer Murders: Who Killed Cock Robin? (2001; 4/4)
13. Midsomer Murders: Dark Autumn (2001; 4/5)
14. Midsomer Murders: Tainted Fruit (2001; 4/6)
15. Midsomer Murders: Market for Murder (2002; 5/1)
16. Midsomer Murders: A Worm in the Bud (2002; 5/2)
17. Midsomer Murders: Ring Out Your Dead (2002; 5/3)
18. Midsomer Murders: Murder on St. Malley's Day (2002; 5/4)
19. Midsomer Murders: A Talent for Life (2003; 6/1)
20. Midsomer Murders: Death and Dreams (2003; 6/2)
21. Midsomer Murders: Painted in Blood (2003; 6/3)
22. Midsomer Murders: A Tale of Two Hamlets (2003; 6/4)
23. Midsomer Murders: Birds of Prey (2003; 6/5)
24. Midsomer Murders: The Green Man (2003; 7/1)
25. Midsomer Murders: Bad Tidings (2004; 7/2)
26. Midsomer Murders: The Fisher King (2004; 7/3)
27. Midsomer Murders: Sins of Commission (2004; 7/4)
28. Midsomer Murders: The Maid in Splendour (2004; 7/5)
29. Midsomer Murders: The Straw Woman (2004; 7/6)
30. Midsomer Murders: Ghosts of Christmas Past (2004; 7/7)
31. Midsomer Murders: Things That Go Bump in the Night (2004; 8/1)

So, that's it. My thanks to Carl over at Stainless Steel Droppings for hosting this wonderful annual event. I can't resist it, and I'm already making my list for 2014. (Did I mention that I LOVE a good list?)

Teaser Tuesdays: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward

Paperback edition from the 1970s

This week my teaser lines come from The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, by H.P. Lovecraft.  Over the years, I've read quite a few of Lovecraft's major works, but somehow managed to miss this one until this year's "RIP" reading event came along and nudged me into finally pulling it off the TBR pile.  This snippet comes from Part II: An Antecedent and a Horror, and tells us a bit about one of the book's strangest characters:

Now the first odd thing about Joseph Curwen was that he did not seem to grow much older than he had been on his arrival....always did he retain his nondescript aspect of a man not greatly over thirty or thirty-five....
Curwen always explained it by saying that he came of hardy forefathers, and practiced a simplicity of living which did not wear him out. (Loc.274)

OK, so now we know the secret to eternal youth - just take it very easy!

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.

Teaser Tuesdays: Night Film

 

This week my teaser lines come from Night Film, by Marisha Pessl.  I'm not sure about page numbers for this snippet, since I'm reading this one on the Kindle; but it's from Chapter 13 (Loc.1266).

"She looked right at me and my first thought was, Oh wow, she's pretty....But as she turned and started walking toward me, I felt scared."
"Why?" I asked.
"It was like, when you looked into her eyes the human part was detached and there was something else looking out."

I was a little worried when I first read that -- for a while I was very afraid I was dealing with just another "paranormal" vampire/werewolf/zombie thriller.  But this one is much more complicated than that, I'm happy to say.  Hoping to finish the book tonight and get a review up soon.

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 Reading Update

The artist's wife reading, by Henri Bouvet (French, 1859-1949)

I've been taking a little break from reading for the last few weeks.  Not because I wanted to, really. But I was hit with a pretty horrendous allergy attack right around the middle of September, and my eyes were so swollen and inflamed and itchy, that reading for more than a few minutes was a real problem.  I'm pretty much back to normal now, though -- whatever was causing the attack must be past its peak season or something.  Or maybe the rains we've had recently just washed the irritants out of the air.  Don't know.  But at least I'm able to read again, and for the moment all's right with the world!

So this week, I'm back to two books I was reading when the attack started:

Night Film: A Novel, by Marisha Pessl

and The Small Hand and Dolly, by Susan Hill

I'm about halfway through each of these, so I should be able to finish them up this week.  (Fingers crossed for no more allergies!)

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.

Booking Through Thursday: Best or Favorite?

I haven't played with BTT for a while, but this week's question caught my interest:

"Are 'best' and 'favorite' the same thing? If someone asked you 'What’s the best book you ever read?' would the answer be the same as for 'What’s your favorite?' "

And I guess I found it interesting mainly because I can't imagine being able to come up with a single "favorite" or a single "best" book.  If you asked me to name a favorite, we'd be here for hours.

Also, what's meant by best?  Best plot?  Best writing?  Most valuable lessons taught?  I can certainly recognize that many of my favorite books are not the most well-written books or the most morally uplifting -- in fact, many of them are really kinda trashy.  But I still love 'em.

While the "best book I ever read" would, I suppose, necessarily have to be a favorite, my favorite books are many and varied, and they do seem to change over time.  OK, that's clear as mud, right?  I guess my answer would be that to me, best and favorite are pretty much the same thing where books are concerned, but impossible to name.