Booking Through Thursday: Carrier

I haven't participated in BTT for quite a while. But this week's topic is an interesting one. Deb asks:

Do you carry a book around with you? Inside the house? Whenever you go out? Always, everywhere, it’s practically glued to your fingers? 
(And yes, digital books very much DO count as long as you’re spending time reading on your Kindle or iPad and not just loading them with books that you never actually read.) 

Well, I don't exactly carry a book around with me when I'm at home -- but I'm never very far from one. I usually have books piled up on the coffee table and on my bedside table, since those are the two places I generally do most of my reading (I keep my iPad in one of those places, too). So I don't really need to carry them with me; they're just there.

Now when I go out -- that's another thing. I don't always have a "real" book with me when I'm out and about; but I do have the Kindle app on my iPhone, so I'm never without something to read. Until the battery needs recharging, anyway.

Once Upon a Time IX

All artwork for the challenge by Kimberly Kincaid

Ya think winter is FINALLY over? Got my fingers crossed.  Even though this was supposedly the WARMEST winter on record for the whole planet, around here it was cold, wet and nasty.  And much too looooong!

But spring must be here because Carl, over at Stainless Steel Droppings, has announced the beginning of this year's Once Upon a Time reading challenge/event (number 9!) -- something I've been looking forward to for weeks now. The "challenge" runs from March 21 to June 21, and you can read all about it and sign up over on the challenge announcement page. There are very few rules.

I love this challenge, even though I never manage to read or review as many books as I'd like.  It has a lovely symbolism that lifts my spirits, and it gives me a reason to indulge in some of my favorite literary genres.

Once again, I'll be signing up at the Journey level which means reading just one book. But as usual, I'll be hoping to read more than that.

I might also try to do the Screen Quest this year, although I think I sort of wiped out on that last year. So that's a little tentative right now.

During the course of the challenge, I'll be tracking my progress and making my lists over on my challenge blog (HERE). Haven't yet decided exactly what book/books I'll read, but here are some I'm considering:

• Beastkeeper, by Cat Hellisen. A re-imagining of the beauty-and-the-beast tale for young readers, that's been getting a lot of positive reviews lately.
• Elidor, and/or The Moon of Gomrath, by Alan Garner.  I read The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, by Garner, many years ago. It's the first book in a trilogy (Tales of Alderley) and I've been meaning to read the second book (Gomrath) ever since.
• Five Children and It, by E. Nesbit. Can't believe I've never read any of Nesbit's books.
• The Mabinogion, by Gwyn Jones. There are many editions and compilations of the traditional Welsh tales and legends. I think this is the version I've got on the Kindle. So much literature is based on these stories.
• Magic or Not? and The Well-Wishers, by Edward Eager. Two books in his classic Tales of Magic series from the 1950s. I've read lots of Eager's books and loved every one of them.
• The Mists of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Every year I say this will be the year I finally read this one, and every year it's just too much for me. Maybe this year?
• Silver on the Tree, by Susan Cooper. The fifth and final book in her Dark is Rising series. Read the first four novels for past Once Upon a Time challenges. 
• The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame. Another of the many classic children's books I never read as a child -- or adult.

Teaser Tuesdays: A Saintly Killing

This week my teaser lines come from A Saintly Killing, by Martha Ockley. It's the third book in her "Faith Morgan" mystery series centering on an Anglican priest who's also a former policewoman in Winchester, England. I haven't actually started reading this one, but it's on my list for March. In this snippet, Faith has come upon local artist Sal Hinkley, collapsed on the ground beside her easel:

There were several dark, bluish-red marks on Sal's slim neck. Faith stared at them, and for an odd moment she thought they might be paint. But the painting on the easel, the view of St James's Church, was a different palate entirely....
Sal Hinkley had been strangled. (p.17)

Not yet twenty pages into the story, and already we've got a murder on our hands. So far, I like it.

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm. 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.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. If you want to let the world know what 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.

So here we are -- first Monday in a brand new month. February wasn't such a great reading month for me. The weather was terrible, which shouldn't really affect my reading habits, I know. But when the sun disappears for weeks at a time, I get so depressed it's hard for me to settle down to any activity for very long, even reading. Mostly, I just walk around moaning about the winter and wondering when (oh, when) will it end.

But I did get a few books read in February (two novels and one novella), and if all goes well (and my seasonal affective disorder doesn't get any WORSE), I hope to get some reviews up this week.

● Books Read in February:

The Resurrection Maker, by Glenn Cooper

The Room, by Jonas Karlsson

The Third Man, by Graham Greene

Also hoping to finish up a couple more I started in February, but put aside.

● Reading now:

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie, by Rita Mae Brown

The Book of Illusions, by Paul Auster

After that, I've got a stack of ARCs that I really do need to get read and reviewed pretty quick -- no matter what the weather does. So I should stop moaning and get reading!

Book Beginnings: The Room

The Room, by Jonas Karlsson. Very curious about this one -- it's been called surreal, Kafka-esque, and even fiendish. Sounds like it's right down my street. This is the opening passage:

The first time I walked into the room I turned back almost at once. I was actually trying to find the toilet but got the wrong door. A musty smell hit me when I opened the door, but I don't remember thinking much about it. I hadn't actually noticed there was anything at all along this corridor leading to the lifts, apart from the toilets. Oh, I thought. A room.
I opened the door, then shut it. No more than that.

Initial Thoughts:

Well, so far, I think I like it. It's definitely got me hooked, and wondering what we'll discover in that room. Also sort of wondering if he ever found those toilets.

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: Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie, by Rita Mae Brown -- one of her "Sister Jane" foxhunting mystery series. Opening paragraphs:

Two women, both named Jane, heads down, horses' heads down, rode into driving sleet. Even their horses had sleety, icy bits stuck to their long eyelashes.

O.J., Jane Winegardner's nickname, standing for the Other Jane, shouted to the tall older woman riding next to her. "It's an ill wind that blows no good."

"So much for the weather report," said Jane Arnold, generally known as "Sister."

Initial Thoughts:

I'm a big fan of Rita Mae Brown's Mrs. Murphy mystery series, but this is the first of the Sister Jane books I've read. I was surprised to find that it's Number 9 -- didn't realize she'd been writing them that long. Once again, I'm jumping into an established series (thanks to Library Thing's Early Reviewer program) without knowing much of anything about the early books -- probably not the best idea.

Can't really tell much from that beginning. But I used to live in Virginia near the setting for these books, and foxhunting was a very big deal around there, so it seems very familiar (even though I've never personally hunted or even been on a horse). Just getting started with the book, but it looks promising.

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.

Teaser Tuesdays: The Resurrection Maker

This week my teaser lines come from Glenn Cooper's thriller, The Resurrection Maker. The quote is from Chapter 6 (Loc.739 of the Kindle edition):

"But when the time comes, Malory will have to go," Chatterjee said.
"Of course. He's living on borrowed time, and we're the lender...."

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.