Well-Seasoned Reader Finsher's Post

This is a sticky post; scroll down for newer posts.

Post a comment here with a link to your round-up post, or (failing that), the names of the three (or more) books you read. I'd like to know which one you enjoyed most. You have until March 31st, midnight (US Central time...) to finish. After which I'll draw for the prizes.

There'll be one grand prize winner... for any book under $20 at Powells.com. There will also be two runners up... for either delicious chocolates from Cero's Candies, a local chocolatier, or some butter toffee mix nuts from the Nifty Nut House (they are truly divine). Winners' choice.

Most of all, though, thanks to all for taking this journey with me and for making the dreary winter months pass much more quickly. My TBR list grew by leaps and bounds, and I discovered many lovely blogs by people who participated. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

Teaser Tuesday, March 31

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Please avoid spoilers!

From The Diary of Anne Frank, p. 89:

Koophiuis has a clandestine baby set at home that he will let us have to take the place of our big Phillips. It certainly is a shame to have to hand in our lovely set, but in a house where people are hiding, one daren't, under any circumstances, take wanton risks and so draw the attention of the authorities.

The roundup is as Should Be Reading.

March Jacket Flap-a-thon

I am not coming up with anything witty to say as an introduction: I thought I'd read less because the weather was getting nicer, but I didn't. I did, however, have the single highest number of posts in a month. (This one will be 48, Teaser Tuesday, which will go up soon will be 49. I should do one more to make it an even 50.) I suppose that should be an accomplishment. Either that, or it means I should be spending more time with my kids...

Graceling (Harcourt, Inc.): "In a world where people born with an extreme skill -- called a Grace -- are feared and exploited, Katsa carries the burden of a skill even she despises: the Grace of killing. She lives under the command of her uncle Randa, King of the Middluns, and is expected to execute his dirty work, punishing and torturing anyone who displeases him. When she first meets Prince Po, who is Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po's friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace -- or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away... a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone."

One of the most difficult things to do when writing jacket flaps is to conceal a twist or a big revelation and yet not give a false sense of the book. This one does both admirably.

Bee Season (Doubleday): "Eliza Naumann has no reason to believe she is anything but ordinary, especially after her teachers place her in the class for slow learners. Her father, Saul, dotes on her older brother Aaron’s rabbinical ambitions. Her mother, Miriam, seems fully absorbed by her law career. When a spelling bee threatens to reaffirm her mediocrity, Eliza amazes everyone: she wins. Her new found gift garners an invitation not only to the national competition, but to her father’s sacred study where a new dictionary beckons, Jewish mysticism lurks in leather tomes, and language offers a spiritual awakening. Eliza’s unexpected success sends her off-kilter family into a tailspin, and Eliza comes to depend upon her own divination to hold the family together. With intense imagination and great emotional acuity, Bee Season evokes a child’s desperate longing for praise and acceptances and is a masterful portrayal of modern family life."

This one did its purpose: it made me want to read the book. Too bad I liked the summary better than the book itself...

Speak (Farrar Straus Giroux): "From her first moment at Merryweather High, Melinda Sordino knows she's an outcast. She busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops -- a major infraction of high-school society -- so her old friends won't talk to her, and people she doesn't know glare at her. She retreats into her head, where the lies and hypocrisies of high school stand in stark relief to her own silence, making her all the more mute. But it's not so comfortable in her head, either-- there's something banging around in there that she doesn't want to think about. Try as she might to avoid it, it won't go away, until there is a painful confrontation. Once that happens, she can't be silent -- she must speak the truth. In this powerful novel, an utterly believable, bitterly ironic heroine speaks for many a disenfranchised teenager while learning that, although it's hard to speak up for yourself, keeping your mouth shut is worse."

I liked the straightforwardness of this: it basically tells you what to expect, but there's still a little sense of mystery that makes you want to find out what happens to Melinda.

Other books read this month:
Stop Me if You've Heard This One Before (Hyperion)
The Parliament of Blood (Bloomsbury)
Somewhere in Heaven (Hyperion)
To Catch a Mermaid (Little, Brown)
Permanent Rose (Margaret K. McElderry Books)
Life As We Knew It (Harcourt)
Just One Wish (G.P. Putnam Sons)
So Many Books, So Little Time (Berkley Trade)
Banker to the Poor (PublicAffairs)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Rosewater and Soda Bread (Random House)
The Death of Ivan Ilyich
Evernight (HarperTeen)
Flygirl (G.P. Putnam's Sons)
Stealing Heaven (Harper Teen)
Ranger's Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan (Puffin)

Ranger's Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan

by John Flanagan
ages: 10+
First sentence: "Morgorath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, former Baron of Gorlan in the Kingdom of Araluen, looked over his bleak, rainswept domain and, for perhaps the thousandth time, cursed."

After C and I abandoned our last book, we were fishing around for something to read next. M, being the promoter of All Books She Loves, began pushing for us to start the series. I admit that I had little interest in beginning it, even with the buzz it gets, and M's high recommendation, but she piqued C's interest, and so Ranger's Apprentice it was.

Will is one of Baron Arald's wards living in the Castle Redmont. He doesn't quite fit in with his other wardmates -- Horace, Alyss, Jenny and George: he's the smallest, he's the least sure of his future, and (probably most importantly), he doesn't have any idea who his parents are. (The other ones, although they are orphans, have some knowledge of where they came from.) All Will is really good at is climbing, sneaking and pilfering... not exactly things that are conducive to one of the apprenticeships in the village.

So, when the wards turn 15, and are set to be apprenticed out to the various Craftmasters, Will has no idea where he belongs. That is, until a mysterious Ranger -- the super seceret guardians of the Kingdom -- decides that he wants an apprentice, and that Will is it.

The beginning of the book -- the choosing and training of Will with his master Halt -- is actually pretty slow. C would often complain that nothing was going on. Still, we both liked Flannagan's writing, and his detailed descriptions. That, and the story would switch back and forth between Hoarce (whose training at the battle school was really quite torturous) and Will, which kept us entertained, even if C wanted to know what was going on with Alyss and Jenny. My complaint was that for a Middle Grade book, most of the action, decisions, and plot advancements were being done by someone other than Will or Halt, and I was starting to get in a snit about that. Why bother writing a children's book where the children aren't even the protagonists?

But, then, the action picked up. Granted, we had to wait until the final quarter of the book (but then, it's the first in a series, so maybe the other books won't be so slow in starting), but we both finally got our wishes (almost): the action picked up and Will did something major. (The only thing that we didn't get was more on Alyss and Jenny.... but M assures us that they show up in later books.) It was very intense and exciting; we couldn't wait to get to reading those nights.

And, we're excited to move on to the next book, which says a whole lot. At least we won't have to wonder what we're reading next. For a while, at least.

OCOC Giveaway: All about Jane

Another three-fer this week, the theme is some sort of connection to Jane Austen...

Becky liked it, as did Bookfool. (And, to be completely honest, so did I.) You know you want a chance to read this, too.
The review that made me want the book, and the place where I won it from. Just passing along the love...

There's another giveaway for this book; here's another chance to enjoy a book with one of the best titles. (It's a good book, too...)
Leave me a comment with which book you'd like to be entered in the drawing for (yes, it can be for one, two, or all three). Also, if you feel so inclined, with the name of a "sequel" or modernization or other book connected to Jane Austen that you've really liked. Like always, the drawing is open to both US/Canada and international readers, and we'll pick a name out of the bowl Friday morning at 8 a.m., CDT.

Well-Seasoned Reader Challenge Roundup #12

I've decided, for the sake of continuity, to extend the deadline for the challenge to April 4th, so I can keep with my Sunday roundup posts. The final reviews, finishers, and winner(s) will be announced on Sunday, April 5th.

This week's quote is by Ruth Reichl, because Amira reminded me how much I like her writing.

Every restaurant is a theater, and the truly great ones allow us to indulge in the fantasy that we are rich and powerful. When restaurants hold up their end of the bargain, they give us the illusion of being surrounded by servants intent on ensuring our happiness and offering extraordinary food. But even modest restaurants offer the opportunity to become someone else, at least for a little while. Restaurants free us from mundane reality; that is part of their charm. When you walk through the door, you are entering neutral territory where you are free to be whoever you choose for the duration of the meal.

This week's finishers are: Llhen, Becky, Lucia, Lilly, Nicole, Beth, and Nise. Congrats!

And... reviews this week; go here to see them all:

Nicole finished off with Drink, Play, F@#k, by Andrew Gottleib. She writes, "If you read Eat, Pray, Love and didn't like it (like me and a few of my friends) then this book is your answer. Without spelling it out for the reader, the author presumes to be the ex-husband of the woman in EPL and tells you of his post-divorce adventure."

Amira's picked up her reading again... checking in with three more books: And There Was Light, by Jacques Lusseyran; Garlic and Sapphires, by Ruth Reichl; and Spice: Flavors of the Eastern Medditerranean, by Ana Sortun. Garlic and Sapphires was her favorite, hands down. She writes, "I loved everything about it, the stories, the food, the wit, what she learned, everything. What a great book."

Lizzy read The Big Over Easy, by Jasper Fforde, and loved it. She writes, "So much more than a simple whodunnit, this is a piece of postmodern brilliance, imaginatively executed …. just like Humpty Dumpty."

Happy reading!

Stealing Heaven

by Elizabeth Scott
ages: 14+
First sentence: "My first memory is staring through a window into a house that isn't mine."

Met Danielle. She's eighteen, and she has been stealing things her whole life. Lest you think this is because she's some miscreant (there's some satisfaction that comes with using that word in a sentence), it's because this is what her parents -- first together, and now just her and her mom -- do. They break into homes and steal things. And then leave.

The latest town that Danielle and her mom have targeted is Heaven, a resort town in New England (I'm sure it said where, but I never quite got it...). The idea is to set up shop for a couple of weeks, target a rich house, steal the silver, and get out. Except... Danielle's tired of the lifestyle that her mother's inflicted on her. She wants a house. A pet. A friend. The normal things life has. She doesn't get the rush her mother does when she steals; she just feels sad, and lonely. Really lonely. And in Heaven, she meets a friend. And attracts the attention of a guy (who just happens to be cop), so what started out as a simple job, ends up being much, much more complicated.

I decided a while back that I needed to read some Elizabeth Scott; but there was no way I was going to read Living Dead Girl. (Sorry; powerful it may be, but I just can't read books about kidnapping/abuse victims. Especially with daughters.) I randomly picked this one, just to wet my feet. And I'm glad I did.

Aside from the abusive mom (not physically, but she has Dani pretty emotionally dependent on her, and I was pretty furious with her for pretty much all of the book), I really liked this story. I loved Dani as a character, as someone who wanted more for her life than what her mother was giving her, or what her mother thought she needed. Yet, she had no idea how to go about getting it. Sure, it took a man -- a friend, really -- to help her figure that out, but it was the act of trusting him, believing him, and accepting that she was who he saw her to be, that was something I really enjoyed. I liked Dani's internal conflicts with trying to please her mother and to not rock the boat, and to keep things the way it always had been and with the stretching, reaching, metamorphosis that happens when you need to reach out and try something new.

And Scott's a good writer, which was something I expected from all the glowing reviews and fans she has out there. I was caught up in her storytelling, and found the characters to be vivid and believable. Sure, the situations may be a little fairytale-like, and the ending a tad melodramatic, but I didn't mind. I liked the story, and I liked the journey. Which is really all that matters.

Flygirl

by Sherri L. Smith
ages: 12+
First sentence: "It's a Sunday afternoon, and the phonograph player is jumping like a clown in a parade the way Jolene and I are dancing."

Ida Mae Jones has always wanted to fly. Ever since she was put behind the wheel (is it a wheel?) of her daddy's Jenny and taught how, she knew that this was what she was born to do. Except, she's an African American (yes, I am being politically correct here), and lives in the outskirts of New Orleans. Not only can she not get a pilot's license because she's a woman; she can't get one because she's the wrong color.

It's only when her younger brother spies and article about the Army's WASP program (that's Women's Airforce Service Pilots), and that there was a Chinese-American woman in it, that Ida gets an inkling of an idea. She forges her daddy's pilot's license, and since she's light enough skinned to pass for white, she applies. And gets in.

The part in the program is what interested me the most about Smith's book. I thought that while the conflict between black and white, and Ida's internal conflict about lying about who she really is, was interesting (and probably worth some thought), I really liked Ida learning how to fly military planes. I liked the challenges posed by the program, the obstacles she had to surmount in order to succeed in a man's world. It was not only historically interesting, but had a universal appeal: what woman hasn't faced the "you can't do it because you're a girl" and fought her way to success in whatever that is?

It's books like these that make one grateful for the pioneers, the women who were courageous enough to break the race, sex, or whatever barrier, and achieve their dreams. And it's good to have a book like this to remind us of it. As well as being a cracking good story.

Book to Movie Friday: Chocolat

If you'll remember, I had issues with the book, mostly with the Reynaud-Vianne narration, as well as their conflict. I also wondered how the movie handled the situations book (in this case, I had seen the movie first, but had no recollection of it). Karma/the planets/my Netflix queue finally aligned and I watched the movie last week.

And I think my friend is right: in many ways, it is better. They changed a lot of the plot and characters, adding and subtracting at will. Reynaud is no longer the priest, but rather the mayor, which makes a certain amount of sense. He's no longer the obsessed man of the church protecting his flock, but a conflicted, obsessed mayor afraid of the unknown and hell-bent on protecting his town. This change made a world of difference in both the conflict between him and Vianne, as well as the basic narration of the story: it made it better, more centered.

Then there was the adding and subtracting: Caro lost her husband (which opened up a sub-sub-plot between her and Reynaud), Charley's owner gained a love interest (which I thought suited him nicely), the priest became a young, impressionable man, and Roux gained an Irish accent (and the rest of the gypsies faded into the background). The time period was the same -- Lent -- but it felt different, longer somehow.

I also think the movie did a better job with the magical realism: they changed the story of Vianne's mother, adding a twist or two that lended itself to a more magical aspect than Vianne's twisted and tortured relationship with her mother in the book. I still missed the evocative nature of food; even though there were lush shots of chocolate, it just didn't quite soar.

As for the actors: I admit that I really liked them. Alfred Molina was perfectly obnoxious and obsessive as Reynaud, and Juliette Binoche was perfect as Vianne, as was Johnny Depp as Roux. However, I think I liked the supporting characters more: Judy Dench as Armand and Lena Olin as Josephine were both wonderful to watch. But I think Victoire Thivisol captured Anouk best. She was a delight every time she was on the screen. In a character-driven story as this one, it was essential that they found good actors to embody the parts. And in that, they succeeded exceptionally.

Verdict: the movie is so different it's almost like comparing apples to oranges, but I enjoyed it more.

The Death of Ivan Ilyich

by Leo Tolstoy
ages: adult
First sentence: "On learning of Ivan Ilyich's sudden demise and death, his former colleagues begin vying for promotion; it seems neither in life nor in death has Ivan Ilyich made any lasting impression."

I haven't read anything by Tolstoy in quite a long time; after finishing Anna Karenina about 12 years ago, I figured there really wasn't much else I needed to read by him. Thankfully, I have book groups (and challenges) to knock me out of my little box, and get me to read things I normally wouldn't have. This (obviously) was one of those times.

Ivan Ilyich leads a completely proper and ordinary life. He had a nondescript childhood, he worked his way through primary and law school, a woman fell in love with him and so he got married. He worked his way up through the bureaucracy, and when things got annoying at home, he threw himself into his work. The money wasn't always enough, and his wife was often a pain, but he was mostly happy.

Then his side began hurting him.

The bulk of the novella is spent with Ivan Ilyich coming to terms with (eventually; he tries to deny it for quite a while) his eventual death. But, really, it's all about the ideas (which is good, because NOBODY in the novella is even remotely likeable. Except for maybe that peasant guy whose name escapes me. He was okay. Everyone else was shallow and completely annoying). And it made me think. How am I living my life? Am I as shallow and superficial as Ivan is? What could I do differently? What will I do when faced with death? How will I handle the pain? (Thank heavens for modern medicine: they can at least diagnose things correctly, and give us pain medication that will work!) Am I ready to die? (No. Is it wrong that I go through my life as if I will never die?)

Deep thoughts, no?

In the end, I suppose, that's why this book is a classic -- I found Tolstoy's prose rambling, but not overly long, by the way -- because it addresses the basic human condition: the reasons why we do what we do in life, and the challenge that we have in facing our ultimate end. Which is always worth thinking about.

Zombie Chickens... Sounds Like a Bad Movie Title

Becky, whom I love, gave me the absolutely coolest award. Ever.


The instructions (can I tell you how the "Tao of the zombie chicken" cracked me up? I completely lost it):

The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence is all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all ...

Of course: the real task here is avoiding the wrath of the zombie chickens, and picking five worthy bloggers (because there are so many of you, of course).

Natasha at Maw Books -- reviews, author interviews, thoughtful posts, recipes, blogger interviews, lists, questions answered, vlogging... and it's all interesting, thoughtful, well-written. And she's popular. What doesn't this woman do?

Douglas and Main -- the local guy who loves to poke fun at me (and manages to keep tabs on all the Wichita bloggers... which is a pretty impressive feat, in and of itself)

Emily at emilyreads -- because anyone who reviews in haikus is dang awesome.

Corinne at The Book Nest -- for calling me a book guru. And having awesome reviews. And just being plain awesome.

Abby (the) Librarian -- so she doesn't totally hate me for forgetting her on my Geeky linky list back in January. And because I love her reviews, too.

Whew. Zombie Chicken Wrath avoided. That was a close one.

Library Loot #11

I missed last week because it was spring break, and we actually didn't go to the library... shock.

Back into the habit this week, though.

For A/K:
My Friend is Sad, Mo Willems**
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Mo Willems (we like our Mo)**
Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude, Written and Illustrated by Kevin O'Malley/Illus. by Carol Heyer/Illus. by Scott Goto**
In a Blue Room, Jim Averbeck
Kindle Me a Riddle: A Pioneer Story, Roberta Karim/Illus. Bethanne Andersen
The Perfect Bear, Gillian Shields/Gary Blythe
Twenty Heartbeats, Dennis Haseley/Illus. by Ed Young
Ready to Dream, Donna Jo Napoli and Elena Furrow/Illus. by Bronwyn Bancroft

For C:
Gregor and the Marks of Secret, Suzanne Collins
Pegasus, Marianna Mayer/Illus by K.Y. Craft**

For M:
The Search for the Red Dragon, James A. Owen
The Raging Quiet, Sherryl Jordan
Seaward, Susan Cooper
The Silent Boy, Lois Lowry
Temple of the Dragonslayer, Tim Waggoner (I'm not sure if I've gotten this one before...)
Messenger, Virginia Frances Schwartz

For M/me:
Inkdeath, Cornelia Funke*

For me:
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank
The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry, Kathleen Flinn

The roundup is at Out of the Blue.

*Ones that M eventually read.
**Picture books we really liked.

Evernight

by Claudia Gray
ages: 13+
First sentence: "The burning arrow thudded into the wall."

The basic story: Bianca is a new student at Evernight Academy, which is not something she's terribly excited about. But then she meets Lucas (cue dreamy music) and all of a sudden it's not such a terrible place. Except terrible things seem to happen. And it turns out that although Lucas and Bianca looove each other, they are probably the least compatible people on the face of the earth, for reasons which will eventually all be revealed.

Things I liked about the novel:

• I found it was far more engaging than I will admit in public. (Except I just did, didn't I?)
• I liked how Gray played with the vampire lore. It was a bit Twilight-y (especially the beginning; if you miss it, you're clueless, or haven't read Twilight yet), but for the most part it worked.
• I liked Balthazar. He was cool.
• The action was pretty good.
• The Romeo and Juliet aspect of the story; I don't do starcrossed lovers, but this was a very well done extreme case of two people who really shouldn't fall in love.
• The second plot twist. It didn't catch me off guard, but I thought it worked well, and made the ending that more dramatic.
  

Things I didn't like:

• The first plot twist. It really, really, really, really bothered me, primarily because I thought it nullified the first third of the book. I was really annoyed at the author, and I almost gave the book up at that point.
• Bianca was whiny and annoying (like Bella), though she redeems herself in the end.
• The first plot twist. Really. She completely had me misdirected, and I hate misdirection.
  
• The snotty rich kids. So stereotypical. So done.
• The first plot twist. I mean withholding information is okay, but in the first third Bianca's afraid, running scared, worried she won't fit in... and it's all for naught.
  
• All the lying and betraying and trying to figure out who is what and why. It got old.
  
• Have I mentioned the first plot twist?

In the end, the book was just okay. Which isn't a bad way to spend a day. Especially one where you've had little sleep and you don't feel like doing a whole heck of a lot. But if you don't have one of those (or you're not a die-hard Twilight fan, who needs something else to read, but can't stand to branch out of the vampire-romance genre), then you might want to find something else to read.

The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy

by Douglas Adams
ages: 12+ (though the older you are, the more likely you'll get the jokes)
First sentence: "Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the Western Spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun."

For the Try Something New mini challenge over at Things Mean a Lot, I was paired with Laura of State of Denmark. We went back and forth a bit on what genre to read, and then what book to read, and we finally decided on the cult classic The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Laura and I sat down to chat about it last night. Be sure to drop by her blog to see her take on the book and our conversation.

me: So, what did you think of it?

Laura: Hmm... well, I definitely found it funny and caught myself chuckling and laughing on several occasions, but I never felt the burning desire to just keep reading. I actually abandoned it for two weeks.

me: You know, me either. I've read it before; back when I was in high school, and parts of it have made it into family lore. But, I think it's much funnier talking about it, than actually reading it. You know it was originally radio scripts, right?

Laura: Yes, I did see that and I can see how it probably was really successful in that way. I would listen to it no problem.

me: But it just didn't work as well in novel form for you?

Laura: No, that's not it at all. I liked it when I was reading it; it just wasn't one of those "have to keep reading" books. He is really funny... reminds me of Kurt Vonnegut

me: I've read Vonnegut, but it's been a while. In what way?

Laura: I guess just in the sense that he sort of mocks the absurdities of life. The randomness of it all.

me: I can see that. Though I'm not sure Adams was going for any social commentary. I think he was just being silly. I could be wrong... Either that, or he's poking fun at the superiority people seem to have. The dolphins show up in this book, right? So long and thanks for all the fish and all that? (It's been a week, and already I can't remember!)

Laura: Yeah, and the mice who really rule the world but have tricked us all.

me: The mice were funny. I liked the mice... and Arthur's defensiveness about his brain. Did you have a favorite part, or character?

Laura: I loved the part when they are talking about all improbabilities and then Arthur makes the comment that there are an infinite number of monkeys outside who want to talk about their Hamlet script they've worked out.

me: That was funny. (I'm giggling thinking about it.)

Laura: I liked the really depressed robot... I can't think of his name right now

me: Marvin! He's the best part of the movie... Alan Rickman's his voice, and he does a superb job.

Laura: Yes, I loved poor Marvin. I just ordered the movie. How about you?

me: I think my favorite scene was in the end when Marvin hooked himself up to the cop's ship, and it committed suicide. That made me laugh.

Laura: Absolutely. That's the next thing I was going to say: about the suicidal ship.

me: I liked the idea that even though Marvin was so supremely depressed, he still managed to help them. Even though he didn't care whether they lived or died.

Laura: I also really liked the history of figuring out the meaning of life

me: Yeah. That's actually one of the things that has made it into family lore. You say to my dad, "I have a question" and he says "42". Every time.

Laura: That's great. I need to use that one with my students.

me: That would be funny. I wonder if they'd get the reference.

Laura: A select few maybe.

me: Have any of them read Hitchhikers? Or is it really an 80s geeky thing?

Laura: Not that I know of. I think it is more of an 80s thing, but I definitely have some that would get a huge kick out of it. When I was in college it seemed like everyone but me had read it, now, not so much.

me: It feels like a 70s/80s book. I'm not sure I can pinpoint why.

Laura: It's very campy.

me: It is campy. And very silly. But generally those things are timeless. Though, I'm not sure I could come up with an example off the top of my head.

Laura: It was originally written in 79.

me: I also harbor a soft spot for Zaphod Beeblebrox. If only because his name is so fun to say.

Laura: The names were a hoot

me: Found this anecdote... "Slartibartfast: I thought this character should be a dignified, elderly man, weighed down with the burden of a secret sorrow. I wondered what this sorrow should be, and thought perhaps he might be sad about his name. So I decided to give him a name that anybody would be sad to have. I wanted it to sound as gross as it..."

Laura: Nice, I love that. And I would have to agree, Slartibartfast is a pretty gross sounding name...

me: "...possibly could, while still being broadcastable. So I started with something that was clearly completely unbroadcastable, which was PHARTIPHUKBORLZ, and simply played around with the syllables until I arrived at something which sounded rude, but was almost, but not quite, entirely inoffensive." Sorry, the text box was too small for the quote.

Laura: ha!

me: It is too funny. There's also a long note on the sperm whale that dies near the end. But I won't type that out.

Laura: Where did you find this? I need to check it out.

me: Hubby has the original radio scripts for Hitchhikers, and it's from the notes in that. (For the record, I've only read the novel, though...) When I pulled out the book, he pulled out the scripts, and read that one out loud to me.

Laura: Ahhh, so has he read the whole series?

me: I think he's read the first three or four of the trilogy. There's five in all. The first two -- Hitchhikers and The Restaurant at the End of the Universe -- are the best.

Laura: I love that it is a trilogy with five books

me: I know; it cracks me up. I wonder if you could find a copy of the radio scripts now, or if it's gone completely out of print?

Laura: I work part-time at a bookstore and I can do some research on that one. So overall, how would you rate this book? What did you think of it in terms of science fiction? For me, this is about the extent of my science fiction knowledge I think. I can't name one other sci-fi book I have read, unless you count Stephen King... which I haven't read since high school.

me: I don't actually think it's properly science fiction. I've read Orson Scott Card and Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov, all of which I think of as science fiction. Douglas Adams is a comedian in space. Which isn't a a bad thing... it's just not properly genre.

Laura: I like that explanation. A comedian in space.

me: I guess it would make him hard to classify in a library or bookstore: where do you shelve his books?

Laura:We have a shelf titled science fiction/fantasy and that's where he lives.

me: It works. He's not really humor, either. Not properly.

Laura: Yeah, sometimes he wanders over to fiction as well

me: So, are you going to find The Restaurant at the End of the Universe?

Laura: not right now. I'm putting that one on hold for a little while, but I wouldn't say I am not going to read it ever either. How about you? You've read that one?

me: When I was a teenager. I only remember one part, and that's the talking cow ("Hi, I'm your dinner tonight") at the restaurant. That and the one line: You are so unhip it's a wonder your bum doesn't fall off. Aside from that, the book is unmemorable. Or it's just been too long. My favorite Adams is The Long, Dark Tea-time of the Soul. Dirk Gently's the main character and he meets the Norse gods. Quite funny.

Laura: I will have to check it out.

me: It might be funnier on audio book, sometime when you're on a long road trip.

Laura: Yeah, that was what I was actually thinking about this one. I should listen to it on the way to work each morning.

me: Well, next time around. It's been a pleasure chatting with you!

Laura: Yes, this was fun and thanks for the little tidbits from the script; they were great.

me: My pleasure. Have a great evening!

Laura: You, too!

Teaser Tuesday, March 24

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Please avoid spoilers!

From Evernight, by Claudia Gray, page 129:

I wished I could retreat back to the room at the top of the turret and look through my telescope at stars far away instead of all the confusion that surrounded me here. Behind us, the music and laughter of the dance slowly faded as we walked deeper into the woods.

The roundup is as Should Be Reading.

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Please avoid spoilers!

From Evernight, by Claudia Gray, page 129:

I wished I could retreat back to the room at the top of the turret and look through my telescope at stars far away instead of all the confusion that surrounded me here. Behind us, the music and laughter of the dance slowly faded as we walked deeper into the woods.

The roundup is as Should Be Reading.

Geeky History

This week's Geek is all about historical fiction...

See, I like historical fiction well enough, but don't profess to love it. See, I get in a tizzy when I feel the plot or characters are too modern for the time period, and I end up throwing the book across the room in a huff. I also don't use my fiction to learn about a historical period (I'm bad in that I actually read for fun and not to learn. Shame on me.), and so I'm not really sold on one period in time as opposed to any other (save my fascination with Arthur books, but that's more fantasy than history...).

There have been, occasionally, historical fiction books that I have enjoyed. So, I'm going to attempt to answer this question:

A member of your book group, Ashley, mentions that she almost ever reads Historical Fiction because it can be so boring. It's your turn to pick the book for next month and you feel it's your duty to prove her wrong. What book do you pick?

• Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Lisa See: a good portrait of a woman's lot in life in China.
• Liszt's Kizz, by Suzanne Dunlap: especially good if one is a musician, but captivating for anyone.
• An Instance at the Fingerpost, Ian Pears: One of the best mysteries I've read in a long time, and a fascinating look at Oxford in the 17th century.
• The Queen's Fool, Philippa Gregory: my favorite of hers (that I've read). A brilliant portrait of life as a Jew in England during Mary Tudor's reign.

For the record, these are YA:

• Bloody Jack, L.A. Meyer: we all like pirates; you put a girl in there, and it's brilliant fun.
• Ten Cents a Dance, Christine Fletcher: It's not far gone history (only WWII), but it's a powerful book.
• Ophelia, Lisa Klein: Does Shakespeare count? I liked this telling of Hamlet; it actually made the play make sense. It's a good book, too.
• Luxe, Anna Godberson:Actually this is really bad historical fiction (one of the ones that make me cringe), but I had a whole lot more fun reading it than I should have.

Hopefully, there will be one in that list someone will enjoy. :) As for me, I realized while going through my lists that I haven't read historical fiction in quite a while. Maybe I'll have to fix that...

OCOC Giveaway: Wild Magic

In honor of the Once Upon a Time III Challenge, I thought I'd give away a book that fit the criteria.
It's fairy tale, retelling the Pied Piper of Hamlin. (My review is here. Has anyone else posted on this book?) It's a lovely tale, evocative, and makes a fabulous read-aloud (though I'm curious to see what someone thinks of it as a regular read...).

It's a hardback, and like always, the drawing is open to all -- US, Canada, and international -- until Thursday, midnight. If you're interested in the book, just leave a comment with a valid email address (if it's not on your blog). The drawing will be held bright and early Friday morning, and the winner will be notified.

Well-Seasoned Reader Challenge Roundup #11

Only 10 more days...

The quote of the week comes from Kurt Vonnegut, in Jailbird (though I suppose someone could call me on it, since I got the quote from GoodReads...):

"You can't just eat good food. You've got to talk about it too. And you've got to talk about it to somebody who understands that kind of food."

Finishers this week include: Amira, Jenny and BigSis. Congratulations!

As a side note, before we get to the linked reviews... BigSis recaps all three of the books she read. She said this about A Golden Age, by Tamima Anam: "It is a masterful telling of a family affected in all aspects by the war. It is poetic and suspenseful. There were times I could not put it down because I just had to know what was going to happen."

As for reviews:

Amira read another two: Things I've Been Silent About, by Azar Nafisi, a memoir by the Reading Lolita in Tehran author, and China Witness (we made it to China this week!) a book of interviews with older Chinese. Amira writes, "I completely agree with the NY Times review that it can be slow going in places and some editing wouldn't have been a problem, and with the breathless Oprah-style questions. The author, Xinran, came through too clearly for me and I was more interested in the interviewees. It's a good book, and worth reading, although maybe not straight through."

Lesley read The Septembers of Shiraz, by Dalia Sofer. She writes, "The Septembers of Shiraz is a chilling, harrowing account of one family’s experience living in an atmosphere of terror, but also a moving examination of the concept of home."

Katrina read Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas. She writes, "She teaches him the rudiments of reading, before being discovered and being informed that slaves should be left illiterate. However her lessons had stuck and Fredrick teaches himself gradually how to become a more accomplished reader and then how to write."

Erin checked in with one of the original travel books, Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift. She also demonstrates why the right edition is so important when reading classics, writing, "Halfway through the book, I began to wonder why such writing would be considered classic. I turned to the preliminary pages and found my answer: This version had been edited for young readers. (No clue how I missed that.) After getting to the middle the story, however, I was not interested in starting over with the full-length version. I decided to finish the youth edition and say goodbye to Gulliver." Too funny.

And Nicole read Water for Elephants, by Sara Guen. Like her, I've had a number of people tell me that I need to read this book. And Nicole adds: "This is the story of a vet who runs away with the circus around the time of the Great Depression. The circus travels the country by train. Really I feel that's all I can say about it without giving anything away. But if you are an animal lover, you will like this book too. Don't be scared. Read it!"

I Love Spring!

For many many reasons, not least of which is that it's time for the Once Upon a Time challenge! YAY!

I am going to do Quest the Second again this year, which is (at least) one in each category. And because I like lists, here's my four proposed books:

1. Fantasy: Wee Free Men, Terry Pratchett (I've been meaning to read this one for a couple of years now.) and/or Aurelia, by Anne Osterland

2. Fairy Tale: Fire and Hemlock, Diana Wynne Jones or The Ordinary Princess, by M.M. Kaye (I can't decide; I may have to read both)

3. Folklore: Here Lies Arthur, Phillip Reeve (One of these years, I ought to branch out and read something other than an Arthur book... but not this year.

4. Mythology: The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan (can't wait, can't wait!!)

I suppose it's mildly unreasonable to be so excited about this challenge, but there you have it: I love it, and I can't wait!

Speak

by Laurie Halse Anderson
ages: mature 12+
First sentence: "It is my first morning of high school."

I was wandering through the bookstore a couple months back, and I chanced upon a display with the 10th anniversary edition of this book. Some part of my brain recognized it (aside from "Hey, that's the woman who wrote Chains!") as an important/noteworthy book, and willed me to stop. I picked it up, read the back and the first section, and was hooked. I didn't walk away with it that night (ah, self control!), but went home and put it on hold at the library. (I think I may have to go buy it now, though.)

Melinda is beginning her freshman year as a complete and total outcast because she called the cops on a party a few weeks prior to the beginning of school. And the year goes downhill from there. Melinda spends the year trying to survive (and not always making it), while her grades fall and she spends more and more time locked inside her head. As it turns out, calling the cops wasn't so much a tattling thing (as one might initially suspect) but a real cry for help from Melinda, who was raped at the party. As the year progresses, Melinda comes to terms with what happened to her that night, as well as the person who did it to her.

Jen Robinson pointed out two things in her review that I thought were worth mentioning. One, that it's a scarily accurate portrayal of someone who is monumentally depressed. Melinda is hopeless, and while she spends much of the book living in her head, and trying to escape her world, it's not a hopeless book. She's funny on occasion, and her powers of observation are keen, especially about the stupidity of the high school world. Secondly, Jen mentioned that Anderson hopes that teenage boys will read this book, if only to get a sense about what a young woman who has been raped would possibly go through. One of the things I liked most about the book was realizing that while Melinda was suffering in silence, she wasn't necessarily the only one suffering; her actions caused her parents, teachers, and, yes, even old friends (at least the ones who noticed) worry, and while that worry was often misdirected and misapplied, they were affected by her.

But the thing that got me most was that Anderson was able to take something as harsh as rape and put a human face on it, and make you feel something (depression, anger, triumph) for Melinda. That's a mark of a good writer. And a good book.

2009 Challenge #1: Well-Seasoned Reader

I figured I was about done with my challenge, so I thought I'd post my wrap-up. I didn't read any of the food books I set out to (they were checked out and not due before the challenge ended!), and I think my favorite overall was the first one I read: A Year in the World. I also think the best part of the challenge was hosting it, and reading all your wonderful reviews!

What I did read:

Food:
Dear Julia, Amy Bronwen Zemser
Chocolat, Jeanne Harris

Travel:
A Year in the World, Frances Mayes

People:
Captain Alatriste, Arturo Perez-Reverte
Rosewater and Soda Bread, Marsha Mehran

Rose Water and Soda Bread

by Marsha Mehran
ages: adult
First sentence: "Mrs. Dervla Quigley, perpetual widow of James Ignatius Quigley, was the self-proclaimed arbiter of all that was decent and holy in the coastal village of Ballinacroagh."

I had high hopes for this one. I wanted to like it as much as I loved Pomegranate Soup, I wanted to be captivated by the Aminpour sisters again, to be transported by the food and the tastes and the atmosphere of it all. I was happy to jettison it to the top of my reading pile (due to a 14 day checkout rather than the normal 4 week period), and happily began.

I don't know if it was my mood, or if it was the book, but I just couldn't get into it. All the elements were there: Marjan was still cooking, and her sisters Bahar and Layla were still as exotic as ever. But there was something off. Bahar was less sad, finding solace in religion -- she converts to Catholicism -- but in her devotion to a new religion, becomes intolerant, which was disturbing. Marjan finds love, and in so doing, loses the magic that she had in the previous book; she is often scatterbrained and at loose ends trying to make everything work. She is also trying to face her past -- she was in love before, and was arrested during the Iranian Revolution -- as well as deal with this stranger that washed up on the beach and that their Italian landlord, Estelle, has taken under her wing. And Layla; all she's interested in is finding a moment to have sex with her boyfriend. She lost her magic, her appeal and became a (uninteresting) teenager. I didn't like most of the minor characters, either: Dervla was irritating, Father Mahoney was superfluous, and the rest of the town isn't worth mentioning.

I did, however, like the new characters: Julian, Marjan's love interest, whom I spent the whole book anxious that he not turn out to be a cad. And the mysterious girl who washes up on the beach; she was fascinating (Is she mermaid? How did she get pregnant? Why was she trying to abort the baby? How did she end up on the beach?) and mysterious, though I have to admit that the mystery got a bit old. It wasn't until the final third of the book that I even became interested in the story enough to really care. But the final third was interesting and the ending was nice. And the food, while not as wonderful as the first book, was okay.

Maybe it wasn't my mood, after all.

Teaser Tuesday, March 17

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Please avoid spoilers!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!! (I suppose this post should be in green...) I've got the perfect book today: Rosewater and Soda Bread, by Marsha Mehran (the sequel to Pomegranate Soup), the continuing adventures a family of Iranian sisters who end up in Ballinacroagh, County Mayo, Ireland. The quote is from page 105:

She must make an effort to eat more from the list of hot foods Marjan had written for her, Estelle told herself. The darling had meticulously charted the best ingredients and dishes to take at such times, times when she felt not only the pain of her joints but the darkness that came from watching your body turn slowly to stone.

The roundup is as Should Be Reading.

OCOC Giveaway: Just One Wish

Thanks to all who entered last week's drawing... Amazingly, at least one person wanted all of last week's books! (I was very relieved; I hoped beyond hope that someone would want the Christopher Reeve book, and someone did!) The winners were: Amy, PopinFresh, and Wanda

Since I loved it, but as M said, it's a book that one can really only love once, I thought I'd share the love in this week's OCOC giveaway.

Thus, I will give one of you
(Here's some more thoughts on the book: Becky, Jen, and Reviewer X.)

It's an ARC, and like always, the drawing is open to all -- US, Canada, and international -- until Thursday, midnight. If you're interested in the book, just leave a comment with a valid email address (if it's not on your blog). The drawing will be held bright and early Friday morning, and the winner will be notified.

Well-Seasoned Reader Challenge Roundup #10

Only seventeen more days... how are you doing? Finishing up?

This week's quote, from Travels With Charley, by John Steinbeck (thanks Becky; there's a link to her review below!):

When I very young and the urge to be someplace else was on me, I was assured by mature people that maturity would cure this itch. When years described me as mature, the remedy prescribed was middle age. In middle age I was assured that greater age would calm my fever and now that I am fifty-eight perhaps senility will do the job.

Finishers this week are: Corinne and Sandra. Congrats! We're coming to the end... remember to put links to your finisher posts (or just leave a comment saying that you're done) here.

As for reviews... I was surprised that two people -- Becky and Sandra -- provided the bulk of them for the week!

Callista was our lone other review, reading The Polygamist, by Ndabaningi Sithole. Callista writes, "I picked this book up at a local thrift store because the title caught me. This was an incredibly interesting book and fairly well-written, considering it was written by a man in a Rhodesian prison." She goes on to say that the publisher is now defunct, and the book is unavailable for purchase. "I wish this book was available to a wider public because I most definitely recommend this to everyone."

Becky went on a Steinbeck reading binge, and counted two towards the challenge: Tortilla Flat and Travels with Charley. I liked what she said about Tortilla Flat: "I recommend this one to folks wanting to read a classic...but who feel somewhat intimidated and bored by more traditional 'classics.' It was just a joy to keep reading." She almost (almost!) has me convinced to read Steinbeck, an author I've avoided for decades.

She also read Tropical Secrets, a novel in verse by Margarita Engle. She writes, "I don't know about you, but I'd certainly never heard about Cuba in regards to the Holocaust. It's interesting to see how this one island, small in size especially when comparing it to Canada and the United States, was able to provide some shelter to Jews fleeing Hitler." And also: "This book is fascinating. It's absorbing. Read. This. Book."

Sandra checked in with The Madonnas of Leningrad, by Debra Dean; The Rabbi's Cat 2, by Joann Sfar; and The Seamstress, by Frances de Pontes Peebles. She liked Madonnas and Seamstress best, writing this about Seamstress: "Richly detailed, the writing is good and the characters as real as they get. Highly recommended."

Read all the reviews here.

So Many Books, So Little Time

A Year of Passionate Reading
by Sara Nelson
ages: adult
First sentence: "Call me Insomniac."

This book will not be liked by everyone. Contrary to what the jacket flap says, I also do not think this book will make a "passionate reader out of anybody." In fact, I think that in order to enjoy this book one has to be a passionate reader already. Otherwise, Nelson will sound uppity (a book a week? How absurd!), snobbish, and insufferable in her blathering about books.

Admittedly, I was suspicious intially -- a book a week? Bah, that's nothing! -- but, soon after beginning, I discovered that writing about reading a book a week isn't what Nelson was trying to achieve. In fact, the book is not a record of the books that she read over the course of 2002 so much as it is an ode to book love, to those who are passionate about reading, and the process of book choosing, sharing and reading.

And, as someone who is passionate about reading, that I could love.

I have to admit that at first I felt wildly unsophisticated and un-read, since I haven't even heard of half of the books she was writing about. But I realized, after a while, that this book in many ways is like Reading Lolita in Tehran: the author writes so much about, and with such love, the books that she is reading and thinking about that you feel like you've read them. And, then, you'll either figure that was enough exposure to the book, or you'll stick it on your to be read list, just to see what made the author so giddy about it.

I also marked so many passages; it was full of bookish truisms that I felt hit home with me. A sampling:

People notice what you read and judge you by it. Which is why if I were goig nto read Danielle Steel, I wouldn't do it at the office. But Nine Parts of Desire speaks to anyone listening: I'm smart, it says. I'm concerned with current events, it announces. I am a serious person.

Clearly she knew that between book lovers, a novel is not a novel is not a novel. It's a symbol, an offering, and sometimes a test.

It seems to me that rereading -- or claiming to reread -- is just another way for some people to trumpet their intellecutal superiority. To wit: have you ever known someont to say they're "rereading" the oeuvre of, say, Jackie Collins?

On reviewing:

His [Anthony Bourdain] subject is food and mine is books, but the same principles apply: you have to treat your subject with fearlessness and attitude and energy. Whether your industry's sacred cows are beef, or, say, novels that are just said to be "well-done", you have to skewer them.

You know you're in a bad patch when the most interesting part of the book is the acknowledgments page.

That's probably more than you wanted. But, maybe you can begin to see the charm the book had for me. She also tackles choosing a book (or having a book choose you), that headlong falling into love, erotic scenes versus erotica, first sentences (but not book covers), and (that problem we all have?!) the embarrassing problem when an author wants you to read their book and "tell them the truth". Yes, Nelson does come off as a New York elite (which she is), and a bit of a snob (ditto; I worried when I got to the chapter titled, "Kid Stuff", but it turned out okay), but she's also observant, insightful, and passionate. And those three outweighed the previous two, and made this book an absolute delight to read.

Book to Movie Friday: Inkheart

About a year ago, I put up a books and their movie adaptations post. Since it seems that I've been seeing quite a few movies (mostly intentionally) lately that have been based on books, I thought it would be fun to post my thoughts on them on occasional Fridays. I have to add that I'm a horrid movie reviewer -- I generally like everything to some extent -- but I can compare them to the books, which I'm pretty good at. The links are to my review of the book.

Inkheart: I have to say, first, that I like anything Brendan Fraser's been in (that I've seen). Some I like more than others, but generally, I find him imminently watchable. That said, I really liked Inkheart. It's different than the book, but in a way that makes it a good movie.

They kept the basic elements of the story (from what I remember; it's been a while since I read the book, and that could have affected the way I saw the movie), but fleshed it out and changed it in a way to make it a decent movie. (Unlike the Harry Potter movies, which are generally scenes from the book splashed on the screen.) They contained the story to a single movie -- there's no need for sequels, like the book -- and moved elements around so that it kept up a fairly brisk pace. And, as I think Jen Robinson noted, it truly is a middle grade movie: it is Meggie, more than Mo, who drives the plot and comes up with a brilliant solution to the crisis they are all in. I thought it was well cast: Andy Sirkis was perfect as Capricorn, as was (surprisingly) Brendan Fraser as Mo, and Eliza Hope Bennett as Meggie, and Paul Bettany as Dustfinger. But the show stealer was Helen Mirren as Elinor. She was brilliant. She was perfect. I loved her.

One more note: I took M to see the movie, and after finishing it, she wanted to read Inkspell (she had no desire to before that, even though she's read Inkheart). That's got to say something.

Verdict: Not as good as the book, but pretty darn close.

Geeky Quote Redeux #7

And because it's C's birthday, I thought I'd finish with a quote from one of the books in her favorite series:

"In a way, it's nice to know that there are Greek gods out there, because you have somebody to blame when things go wrong. For instance, when you're walking away from a bus that's just been attacked by monster hags and blown up by lightning, and it's raining on top of everything else, most people might think that's just really bad luck; when you're a half-blood, you understand that some divine force is really trying to mess up your day." -- Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief, p. 168