Acquisitions
1. I Robot - Isaac Asimov
2. Dombey and Son - Charles Dickens
3. Make Money Reading Books - Bruce Fife
4. The Women's Health Big Book of Exercises - Adam Campbell
5. Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution - Simon Schama
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Library Science?
Yes I'm reading this week, but not any titles of note.
I'm still working on To Kill A Mockingbird, which is fabulous, but have not quite finished it yet.
Mostly this week I've been reading books from the library on library and information science.
Now I also went a little crazy today and looked up the entire syllabus and textbook requirements for a degree from the University of Arizona Tuscon.
Of course I went ahead and bought the textbooks for the first 2 required courses. Crazy yes, but a very small investment compared to the price of tuition.
I figure if I can get thru the basic textbooks and enjoy them then I have a good chance of getting thru a master's degree in Information Science.
I ordered most of them through Abe Books so it will be a week or two before they get here and I bought all of them used and didn't spend more than $50.
I'm still working on To Kill A Mockingbird, which is fabulous, but have not quite finished it yet.
Mostly this week I've been reading books from the library on library and information science.
Now I also went a little crazy today and looked up the entire syllabus and textbook requirements for a degree from the University of Arizona Tuscon.
Of course I went ahead and bought the textbooks for the first 2 required courses. Crazy yes, but a very small investment compared to the price of tuition.
I figure if I can get thru the basic textbooks and enjoy them then I have a good chance of getting thru a master's degree in Information Science.
I ordered most of them through Abe Books so it will be a week or two before they get here and I bought all of them used and didn't spend more than $50.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Less Than Zero
This book was also a quick read this weekend.
I loved this book, not loved loved, but loved. I would read it again.
I heard Bret Easton Ellis was writing a sequel to this book and I knew that in order to read the second I had to read the original.
At first I didn't get it. The story seemed to be going nowhere, but not all stories are supposed to go anywhere. I loved the way it was written... like it really was written by an 18 year old. It was all over the place, mostly dry and just observations, but every once in while a little gem of a sentence would pop up and make all the rest worthwhile.
I was a little surprised at the end at how graphic the lives of these kids were shown. I had no idea things were going to be that bad. These rich kids were living the lives of street children only surrounded by all that money had to offer. It was a very strange juxtaposition.
I would put this on my shelf to read again someday and I'll definitely be reading the 25 years later book. I would be surprised if any of these kids were still alive besides Clay. I'm Netflixing the movie for tomorrow starring Andrew McCarthy. It should be interesting. I wonder how graphic it will be.
I loved this book, not loved loved, but loved. I would read it again.
I heard Bret Easton Ellis was writing a sequel to this book and I knew that in order to read the second I had to read the original.
At first I didn't get it. The story seemed to be going nowhere, but not all stories are supposed to go anywhere. I loved the way it was written... like it really was written by an 18 year old. It was all over the place, mostly dry and just observations, but every once in while a little gem of a sentence would pop up and make all the rest worthwhile.
I was a little surprised at the end at how graphic the lives of these kids were shown. I had no idea things were going to be that bad. These rich kids were living the lives of street children only surrounded by all that money had to offer. It was a very strange juxtaposition.
I would put this on my shelf to read again someday and I'll definitely be reading the 25 years later book. I would be surprised if any of these kids were still alive besides Clay. I'm Netflixing the movie for tomorrow starring Andrew McCarthy. It should be interesting. I wonder how graphic it will be.
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
Now, I like the Twilight novels. I like Stephenie Meyer, but I am not a die hard Twihard. I fall somewhere in between reading all the books and seeing all the movies and being a fanatic. I love a series and I always see the movies of books that I read.
That being said I did pick up this book last week. I did not wait in line, read it online or pre-order it. I just happened to be strolling past the book aisles at Sam's Club and threw it into my cart. Somehow it moved up in line in my to-be-read pile and I picked it up Saturday afternoon.
It was good. I finished in a couple of hours, but it wasn't astounding. The only Twilight book that was astounding was Twilight of course. It was very readable and entertaining, but not one I feel I will ever need to go back and re-read for the fabulous story or great writing. It was simply a sidetrack to the original novels. That is what it was intented to be and it satisfied that need to see what was going on in the background.
If you've never read Edward's version of the first time he saw/smelled Bella that is also an excellent flip side of the original story.
Overall a good read and of course if you are a collector like me it must be on the shelves next to all the other Twilight books.
That being said I did pick up this book last week. I did not wait in line, read it online or pre-order it. I just happened to be strolling past the book aisles at Sam's Club and threw it into my cart. Somehow it moved up in line in my to-be-read pile and I picked it up Saturday afternoon.
It was good. I finished in a couple of hours, but it wasn't astounding. The only Twilight book that was astounding was Twilight of course. It was very readable and entertaining, but not one I feel I will ever need to go back and re-read for the fabulous story or great writing. It was simply a sidetrack to the original novels. That is what it was intented to be and it satisfied that need to see what was going on in the background.
If you've never read Edward's version of the first time he saw/smelled Bella that is also an excellent flip side of the original story.
Overall a good read and of course if you are a collector like me it must be on the shelves next to all the other Twilight books.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
June 16 Acquisitions
1. Anne Rice - Pandora, Blackwood Farm, Taltos, Belinda - I 'm not going to stop until I have all the books she's written.
2. Debt Cures - Kevin Trudeau - I have a thing for any book about credit and how to pull one over on the credit bureaus. I hate banks. I shall read this, absorb any new tips, and add it to my collection.
3. Nicholas Nickelby - Charles Dickens - Since A Tale of Two Cities was so good, I'm also going to try and read all of Charles Dickens. It's a lofty ambition, but I think I can do it over the next 30-40 years.
4. Haunted City: An Unauthorized Guide to the Magical, Magnificent New Orleans of Anne Rice - Joy Dickinson - Of course I had to buy this to complete my new obsession with Anne Rice.
5. The Majesty of the Garden District - Lee Malone - This is the first of three that will go in my architecture library.
6. New Orleans Architecture: Volume 1 The Lower Garden District - Pelican Press
7. Plantations and Historic Homes of New Orleans - Jan Arrigo
I'm going to try and not buy any books next week. Yeah, right.
2. Debt Cures - Kevin Trudeau - I have a thing for any book about credit and how to pull one over on the credit bureaus. I hate banks. I shall read this, absorb any new tips, and add it to my collection.
3. Nicholas Nickelby - Charles Dickens - Since A Tale of Two Cities was so good, I'm also going to try and read all of Charles Dickens. It's a lofty ambition, but I think I can do it over the next 30-40 years.
4. Haunted City: An Unauthorized Guide to the Magical, Magnificent New Orleans of Anne Rice - Joy Dickinson - Of course I had to buy this to complete my new obsession with Anne Rice.
5. The Majesty of the Garden District - Lee Malone - This is the first of three that will go in my architecture library.
6. New Orleans Architecture: Volume 1 The Lower Garden District - Pelican Press
7. Plantations and Historic Homes of New Orleans - Jan Arrigo
I'm going to try and not buy any books next week. Yeah, right.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Ramblings
I'm still reading Anthropology of an American Girl and it has not disappointed me yet. It is enveloping. I want to finish it and yet it's one of those books where you don't want to leave the world that the author has created, or in this case I don't want to leave Eveline's mind.
I was thinking in the shower this morning about how easy it is for me to come here and talk about books. I just wish someone would join me here. I was marvelling at the fact that my chosen profession is architecture and yet when I started an architecture blog I was hard pressed to find something to talk about and the blog floundered. This is not my profession by education, but if I could go back I still think I would have chosen architecture, but I would have minored in English Lit. It would give me more credibility in talking about books, but as it stands I'm more well read than most people I know and I think that makes me qualified.
This is a rambling post, but I blame it fully on the ramblings in Anthropology.
I was thinking in the shower this morning about how easy it is for me to come here and talk about books. I just wish someone would join me here. I was marvelling at the fact that my chosen profession is architecture and yet when I started an architecture blog I was hard pressed to find something to talk about and the blog floundered. This is not my profession by education, but if I could go back I still think I would have chosen architecture, but I would have minored in English Lit. It would give me more credibility in talking about books, but as it stands I'm more well read than most people I know and I think that makes me qualified.
This is a rambling post, but I blame it fully on the ramblings in Anthropology.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Acquisitions
New books bought on June 10th, 2010.
To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee - Strangely enough I have never read this and I think it's about time I did.
Cemetery Dance - Preston and Child - I saw this on the bargain paperback aisle at Target and since I loved The Cabinet of Curiosities so much, I thought I'd give this newer one a try.
Anthropology of An American Girl - Hilary Thayer Hamann - I already wrote a tirade on this new edited version. I will keep this copy, but I also found an original version on Amazon for $40. It is currently on the way to my house now.
The Last Madam: A life in the New Orleans Underworld - Christine Wiltz - This was a birthday present from my husband that he picked out of my Amazon shopping cart. I am continuing my research on New Orleans.
Nine Lives: Mystery, Magic, Death, and Life in New Orleans - Dan Baum - See above.
To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee - Strangely enough I have never read this and I think it's about time I did.
Cemetery Dance - Preston and Child - I saw this on the bargain paperback aisle at Target and since I loved The Cabinet of Curiosities so much, I thought I'd give this newer one a try.
Anthropology of An American Girl - Hilary Thayer Hamann - I already wrote a tirade on this new edited version. I will keep this copy, but I also found an original version on Amazon for $40. It is currently on the way to my house now.
The Last Madam: A life in the New Orleans Underworld - Christine Wiltz - This was a birthday present from my husband that he picked out of my Amazon shopping cart. I am continuing my research on New Orleans.
Nine Lives: Mystery, Magic, Death, and Life in New Orleans - Dan Baum - See above.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
More on The Anthropology
OMFG!
I am horrified by the "edited" version of The Anthropology of An American Girl.
I just got the new copy from Amazon and it is totally messed up. The paragraphs have all been rearranged to try and make all the distinct thoughts into distinct paragraphs. Conversations are created out of thoughts and recollections of conversations, song lyrics are completely removed, and some of her most subtle and ,to an editor, unnecessary, metaphors have been REMOVED! Oh the horror!
What has an editor done to this book? Would Tropic Of Cancer have been anywhere near the masterpiece it is if is had been 'fixed' by a modern-day editor?
I am going to have to keep the library book so that I can read the book the way it was intended to be read by the author when she self-published it. I mean I understand she's looking for a wider audience for her book and she definitely deserves it, but I much prefer the OG version.
I am freaking going to have to steal this one from the Flagstaff Public Library or else pony up the $150 for the real version of the book.
I am going to also have to look up and see what Ms. Hilary Thayer Hamann has to say about this new version of her book. How could she have agreed to the rewrite?
I am horrified by the "edited" version of The Anthropology of An American Girl.
I just got the new copy from Amazon and it is totally messed up. The paragraphs have all been rearranged to try and make all the distinct thoughts into distinct paragraphs. Conversations are created out of thoughts and recollections of conversations, song lyrics are completely removed, and some of her most subtle and ,to an editor, unnecessary, metaphors have been REMOVED! Oh the horror!
What has an editor done to this book? Would Tropic Of Cancer have been anywhere near the masterpiece it is if is had been 'fixed' by a modern-day editor?
I am going to have to keep the library book so that I can read the book the way it was intended to be read by the author when she self-published it. I mean I understand she's looking for a wider audience for her book and she definitely deserves it, but I much prefer the OG version.
I am freaking going to have to steal this one from the Flagstaff Public Library or else pony up the $150 for the real version of the book.
I am going to also have to look up and see what Ms. Hilary Thayer Hamann has to say about this new version of her book. How could she have agreed to the rewrite?
Anthropology of An American Girl
This book kicks ass. It was a little slippery to start with, but once I got into the flow of how the author writes the book really started to hit home. This is not a final review since I am only on page 100, but I cannot even imagine putting the book down.
Now I just read Youth in Revolt last month, which is like a teenage boy's take on high school and misfit divorced parents. While this book is pretty much the same story, it is told from the view of a very introspective girl. I absolutely love it. The story flits back and forth between current events and stories and event of the recent past. It's a very stream of consciousness story, but with a clean path towards some kind of story.
I guess I relate to it just because this is how I wrote when I was seventeen. The writing seems familiar and comfortable.
I first got this book from the library, not the version you see above, but the original one from 2003. I went online to try and find the original and was surprised to see that it is selling for upwards of $150 on AbeBooks. I was astonished. Apparently Hilary Hamann self-published it in 2003 and now has re-released it as a hard cover again this year. I much prefer the smaller more compact version from 2003 that is now apparently a "rare" edition over the newer mass market standard size and type re release.
I'll keep you posted if the book takes a turn for the worse, but for now this book is going to be one of those books that while originally checked out from the library, had to be purchased for posterity.
Now I just read Youth in Revolt last month, which is like a teenage boy's take on high school and misfit divorced parents. While this book is pretty much the same story, it is told from the view of a very introspective girl. I absolutely love it. The story flits back and forth between current events and stories and event of the recent past. It's a very stream of consciousness story, but with a clean path towards some kind of story.
I guess I relate to it just because this is how I wrote when I was seventeen. The writing seems familiar and comfortable.
I first got this book from the library, not the version you see above, but the original one from 2003. I went online to try and find the original and was surprised to see that it is selling for upwards of $150 on AbeBooks. I was astonished. Apparently Hilary Hamann self-published it in 2003 and now has re-released it as a hard cover again this year. I much prefer the smaller more compact version from 2003 that is now apparently a "rare" edition over the newer mass market standard size and type re release.
I'll keep you posted if the book takes a turn for the worse, but for now this book is going to be one of those books that while originally checked out from the library, had to be purchased for posterity.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
The House on First Street
This book kicked ass.
It had everything that I look for in a book: houses, interesting people and an interesting city.
Julia Reed is an excellent writer. She kept me entertained almost the whole time I was reading the book. She lost me a couple of times in her long descriptions of all the food and various alcoholic beverages she and her friends consumed, but over all it was a fascinating book.
I was just hoping to get a little insight on what it's like to live in New Orleans and to restore a house, but the book was so much more that that. It was a first hand account of living thru Hurricane Katrina which I had never read before. It was sad, entertaining and also immensely educational. Not only that but it seemed as if Ms. Reed knew every single person in New Orleans. There were more characters in this book than I could easily keep track of, but still I muddled through.
As I research my way through New Orleans further I am getting sucked deeper and deeper into this city. I can't seem to find anyone who does not fall in love with it as soon as they arrive. This book only made an actual trip there more inevitable.
It had everything that I look for in a book: houses, interesting people and an interesting city.
Julia Reed is an excellent writer. She kept me entertained almost the whole time I was reading the book. She lost me a couple of times in her long descriptions of all the food and various alcoholic beverages she and her friends consumed, but over all it was a fascinating book.
I was just hoping to get a little insight on what it's like to live in New Orleans and to restore a house, but the book was so much more that that. It was a first hand account of living thru Hurricane Katrina which I had never read before. It was sad, entertaining and also immensely educational. Not only that but it seemed as if Ms. Reed knew every single person in New Orleans. There were more characters in this book than I could easily keep track of, but still I muddled through.
As I research my way through New Orleans further I am getting sucked deeper and deeper into this city. I can't seem to find anyone who does not fall in love with it as soon as they arrive. This book only made an actual trip there more inevitable.
My Book Reviews
Now if anyone is reading this, they might say...... "your book reviews suck".
I might agree with you, but I would also point out that I am not trying to write an Amazon Quality book review. If you want a plot synopsis then go to Amazon. If you want to know if the book was readable without kissing any ones ass, then read my reviews.
Yes they are all about what I think. That's all I can tell you when I read a book. I can only tell you if it struck a chord with me. So I'll tell you honestly if I couldn't get through the first paragraph, if the book felt like it was being written by a screen writer with all dialog, or if I was swept away into a magical world and couldnt' stop myself from turning pages well past 11 pm.
So read them with that in mind.
I'm gonna give away lame plot twists.
I'm going to call bullshit on shitty writers.
I'm going to praise others and worship at their feet.
That's just how I review.
I might agree with you, but I would also point out that I am not trying to write an Amazon Quality book review. If you want a plot synopsis then go to Amazon. If you want to know if the book was readable without kissing any ones ass, then read my reviews.
Yes they are all about what I think. That's all I can tell you when I read a book. I can only tell you if it struck a chord with me. So I'll tell you honestly if I couldn't get through the first paragraph, if the book felt like it was being written by a screen writer with all dialog, or if I was swept away into a magical world and couldnt' stop myself from turning pages well past 11 pm.
So read them with that in mind.
I'm gonna give away lame plot twists.
I'm going to call bullshit on shitty writers.
I'm going to praise others and worship at their feet.
That's just how I review.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
How to Write?
I'm am not going to read any more books on 'How to Write'. They all say the same thing. I learn more about how to write reading than I do wasting the time reading the how to books.
I came to this conclusion after I had read my hundredth sentence contradicting a book I had read previously. Some of the books say you have to struggle for so long and amass hundreds of rejection letters and others say to just write and know the right people. It just all seems like bullshit and doublespeak.
The only really helpful books on writing have been written by authors I actually read and enjoy like Stephen King's book. Most of these books are however not written by authors of the caliber of Stephen King are seem to be written by editors and magazine writers who are looking for a paycheck from Writer's Digest. I dont' know if I can take their advice seriously. They are not the writers I want to become.
I am of the opinion that we all know how to write. If you read regularly, can communicate your ideas in basic correct grammer, then go for it and write. Everything else is just polishing. Yes it is a craft, but we all have the basic tools and we don't necessarily need an instruction manual to put them to use.
So now that I've crossed about 10 books off of my June reading list I'm going to add some fun into the mix. I'm spending a little time researching New Orleans and found a fabulous book at the library by Julia Reed called, The House on First Street. It is amazing so far and I should finish it by this evening and then I'm tempted to read Anthropology of an America Girl by H.T. Hamann (the new edition of the book she has a diferent name) but it looks so long and very heavy on teenage angst. Then I'm going on to a second Dickens book (yes I did finish A Tale of Two Cities) and then hitting up Mansfield Park. So many pages to get through, but those books will be better teachers than any writing program or writing book.
I came to this conclusion after I had read my hundredth sentence contradicting a book I had read previously. Some of the books say you have to struggle for so long and amass hundreds of rejection letters and others say to just write and know the right people. It just all seems like bullshit and doublespeak.
The only really helpful books on writing have been written by authors I actually read and enjoy like Stephen King's book. Most of these books are however not written by authors of the caliber of Stephen King are seem to be written by editors and magazine writers who are looking for a paycheck from Writer's Digest. I dont' know if I can take their advice seriously. They are not the writers I want to become.
I am of the opinion that we all know how to write. If you read regularly, can communicate your ideas in basic correct grammer, then go for it and write. Everything else is just polishing. Yes it is a craft, but we all have the basic tools and we don't necessarily need an instruction manual to put them to use.
So now that I've crossed about 10 books off of my June reading list I'm going to add some fun into the mix. I'm spending a little time researching New Orleans and found a fabulous book at the library by Julia Reed called, The House on First Street. It is amazing so far and I should finish it by this evening and then I'm tempted to read Anthropology of an America Girl by H.T. Hamann (the new edition of the book she has a diferent name) but it looks so long and very heavy on teenage angst. Then I'm going on to a second Dickens book (yes I did finish A Tale of Two Cities) and then hitting up Mansfield Park. So many pages to get through, but those books will be better teachers than any writing program or writing book.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Called out of Darkness
I am not particularly religious, but I do believe in God, so this book intrigued me. I love Anne Rice and had always wondered why she changed the type of books that she wrote. It was a huge mystery to me. I had always thought it came about due to her near death experience in a diabetic coma and the death of her husband Stan. Those things added to it, but this book describes in detail how she went from an atheist to a Roman Catholic again after 38 years away from the church. It was fascinating. I had to skip over a few overly religious bible stories, but other than that I loved it. I think you have to be a big Anne Rice fan to read this or else wanting to know about New Orleans in the 40's and 50's.
Now that I finished this book it has given me insight in to the stories inside some of her books. i just had to rush out to Barnes and Noble this morning and purchase the following Anne Rice books:
1. Belinda
2. Christ the Lord
3. Violin
As the when I actually get around to reading them? Heaven only knows.
Now that I finished this book it has given me insight in to the stories inside some of her books. i just had to rush out to Barnes and Noble this morning and purchase the following Anne Rice books:
1. Belinda
2. Christ the Lord
3. Violin
As the when I actually get around to reading them? Heaven only knows.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
3000 Words a Day
Okay, so it's day 3 of my 3000 words a day.
That is so not going to work.
So far I've averaged 1000.
That's not too bad. it's about 3 double spaced pages. Maybe after all the kids and I get settled into a schedule I'll be able to find more time to write every day, but the hour-hour and a half it takes to write three pages seems like just enough. I'm not getting burned out or stressed and it still feels like I'm accomplishing a little bit towards my goal and I'm writing daily.
I'm not going to say I'll only write 1000 words a day, but I'll write at least 1000 words a day. It's nothing to sneeze at. Maybe it's like working out.... you have to build up your stamina.
Plus I still need so much time to read....... That's just an obvious excuse.
That is so not going to work.
So far I've averaged 1000.
That's not too bad. it's about 3 double spaced pages. Maybe after all the kids and I get settled into a schedule I'll be able to find more time to write every day, but the hour-hour and a half it takes to write three pages seems like just enough. I'm not getting burned out or stressed and it still feels like I'm accomplishing a little bit towards my goal and I'm writing daily.
I'm not going to say I'll only write 1000 words a day, but I'll write at least 1000 words a day. It's nothing to sneeze at. Maybe it's like working out.... you have to build up your stamina.
Plus I still need so much time to read....... That's just an obvious excuse.
June 2 Book Aquisitions
I bought some classics that I was missing yesterday at Barnes and Noble.
1. Lasher - Anne Rice
2. Less than Zero - Bret Easton Ellis
3. In Cold Blood - Truman Capote
4. Valley of the Dolls - Jacqueline Susann
5. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay - Michael Chabon
1. Lasher - Anne Rice
2. Less than Zero - Bret Easton Ellis
3. In Cold Blood - Truman Capote
4. Valley of the Dolls - Jacqueline Susann
5. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay - Michael Chabon
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
The 39 Clues
I've been reading these books since they first came out in September of 2008. While the story is good enough, what I really love about them is the fact that I know I have a good book to buy every 3-4 months. It's the consuming and the collecting that I love the most.
The story is overall good, entertaining and fast paced, but sometimes it's a little too much action and too little story. Now that we're on book 9 things are starting to get a little juicy. I love that Nellie's (the au pair) connection to the kids and the clues is finally being revealed. It makes the story a smidge bit more believable. There are just way too many coincidences and close calls most of the time, but now that Nellie is part of the mystery it's making a lot more sense.
I think the next book is the last one. There are a lot of loose ends that are going to need to be tied up quickly. I can't wait to see if Dan and Amy take over as the head of the Cahill clan.
Overall I recommend them highly. I haven't been able to get my 10 year old hooked on them, but they sucked me in on the first book.
The story is overall good, entertaining and fast paced, but sometimes it's a little too much action and too little story. Now that we're on book 9 things are starting to get a little juicy. I love that Nellie's (the au pair) connection to the kids and the clues is finally being revealed. It makes the story a smidge bit more believable. There are just way too many coincidences and close calls most of the time, but now that Nellie is part of the mystery it's making a lot more sense.
I think the next book is the last one. There are a lot of loose ends that are going to need to be tied up quickly. I can't wait to see if Dan and Amy take over as the head of the Cahill clan.
Overall I recommend them highly. I haven't been able to get my 10 year old hooked on them, but they sucked me in on the first book.
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