Soulless by Gail Carriger: guilty pleasure, utter genius, or pulp? I'm thinking it looks just weird enough to be a yay (and possibly a big yay).
Check out this Omnivoracious interview to help form your opinion (but beware, I was shocked to see a major spoiler in question no. 4).
Do you have a literary guilty pleasure?
I think there are different books for different needs, so I try not to feel guilty about anything I read. Though there was a dark time in my life otherwise known as the Harlequin years (middle school) that has resulted in some major head hanging.
Next month's book club selection: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
They didn't go for the version with zombies when I suggested it as a light summer read, so I didn't even bring it up tonight. But I'm perfectly content with our choice as 2009 is about to expire regardless of the fact that I haven't fit in my annual rereading of my favorite novel.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
book club
Darn, I thought that an entire year had gone by since my last post, but I'm just shy by about three measly weeks. If anyone happens upon this blog out here in internet-Siberia, I have a request. I need suggestions for my next book club (it's this Wednesday). I want something really good, and I can't seem to come up with a book.
I've thinking about something by Richard Brautigan, because I've never read Trout Fishing in America (though I can say that In Watermelon Sugar and The Abortion were excellent). I am also considering bringing in a YA book since I'm fairly certain that most of my members don't venture into that 'genre'. Here are my top YA choices:
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Here is a list of our previous books - an asterisk indicates a book that the club read and a # indicates books that I suggested as additional reading - the rest of the books were options that I brought to a meeting as possible reading choices.
* Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami (our current selection)
# The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff
# Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
# Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
* Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson
* The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
# The Three Incestuous Sisters: An Illustrated Novel by Audrey Niffenegger
# French Milk by Lucy Knisley (graphic novel)
* Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Five Quarters of an Orange by Joanne Harris
The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue
The Confessions of Max Tivoli by Andrew Sean Greer
The World to Come by Dara Horn
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
# The Book of Lost Things by John Connelly
I've thinking about something by Richard Brautigan, because I've never read Trout Fishing in America (though I can say that In Watermelon Sugar and The Abortion were excellent). I am also considering bringing in a YA book since I'm fairly certain that most of my members don't venture into that 'genre'. Here are my top YA choices:
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Here is a list of our previous books - an asterisk indicates a book that the club read and a # indicates books that I suggested as additional reading - the rest of the books were options that I brought to a meeting as possible reading choices.
* Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami (our current selection)
# The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff
# Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
# Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
* Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson
* The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
# The Three Incestuous Sisters: An Illustrated Novel by Audrey Niffenegger
# French Milk by Lucy Knisley (graphic novel)
* Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Five Quarters of an Orange by Joanne Harris
The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue
The Confessions of Max Tivoli by Andrew Sean Greer
The World to Come by Dara Horn
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
# The Book of Lost Things by John Connelly
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Super Tuesday
It's Super Tuesday - don't forget to vote if you live in:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia,
Idaho (Democratic Only), Illinois Kansas (Democratic Only), Massachusetts, Minnesota,
Missouri, Montana (Republican Only), New Jersey, New Mexico (Democratic Only), New York,
North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah,
West Virginia (Republican Only),
American Samoa, Democrats Abroad
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia,
Idaho (Democratic Only), Illinois Kansas (Democratic Only), Massachusetts, Minnesota,
Missouri, Montana (Republican Only), New Jersey, New Mexico (Democratic Only), New York,
North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah,
West Virginia (Republican Only),
American Samoa, Democrats Abroad
Friday, February 1, 2008
Write On!
So we had our first bona fide meeting of the writing group that I’ve been pushing for the past few weeks. I had a great time, and, unless the other members under the hot interrogation light were lying, so did everyone in attendance.
After the meeting, Lakshmi set up this awesome new blog (scribblescribbles.blogspot.com) and I encourage anyone interested to visit. If you’d like to be added as a contributor, just let me know. That goes for anyone – not just people who can make it to the meetings – because the whole point is so people can participate remotely.
As usual, if you’d like to be added to the writing group’s email listserv, send me your contact info. We’re looking to have another meeting in NYC in the next couple of weeks.
After the meeting, Lakshmi set up this awesome new blog (scribblescribbles.blogspot.com) and I encourage anyone interested to visit. If you’d like to be added as a contributor, just let me know. That goes for anyone – not just people who can make it to the meetings – because the whole point is so people can participate remotely.
As usual, if you’d like to be added to the writing group’s email listserv, send me your contact info. We’re looking to have another meeting in NYC in the next couple of weeks.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Children's Literature
I like to have reading plans. My last reading plan rotated contemporary and classic novels. If I found myself struggling though a piece of particularly arduous Victorian fiction, I persevered because my next book would be something more modern. Since August, I have been reading mostly children’s literature, which I never read much of when I was a child. When I was in the fifth grade, I thought reading murder mysteries and Stephen King novels bought from garage sales that had upwards of 500 pages meant that I had an “advanced” reading level. Since getting into some truly great children’s literature, I realize that I was totally wrong. A good children’s novel does not condescend to a child’s reading level (whatever that may be), but elevates its reader (even if that means, gasp, looking up words in the dictionary!). So, if you are one of those Harry Potter fans who believe those children’s novels anomalies in a sea of juvenile tripe, I dare you to check out some of these books!
His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass) by Philip Pullman: More advanced reading than JK Rowling, Pullman has said that he does not consider these novels to be written for children (though there were definitely a few kids in the audience when Christina and I went to see him speak). The Subtle Knife is, by far, my favorite of the three. I will not even try to explain what these books are about, but if you are looking for a novel with a female protagonist or just a good fantasy series, give this series a try.
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart: one of my favorite books that I have read in a while. About a group of children who infiltrate a school to stop its headmaster from taking over the world. Every character is original and maintains their personality throughout. I could not put this book down!
The Pull of the Ocean by Jean-Claude Mourlevat, translated by Y. Maudet: this retelling of Tom Thumb (though I am not too familiar with that fairy tale) was recommended to be by Christina. This story about seven neglected brothers who run away from home is told from multiple perspectives, each with distinct voices. Actually heartbreaking at times, I highly recommend this novel.
The Secret Garden and A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett: both novels feature characters of Dickensian perfection and characters with preternatural relationships with animals (including vermin!), but they are humorous, engaging books. While some characters appear faultless, others are refreshingly flawed yet likable.
The Spiderwick Chronicles, Books 1-5 by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black: there is no escaping the fact that these simple, well illustrated novels about a troubled boy who discovers fairies living in the backyard are written for children, but they are fun, fast reads. The five books are really one novel split into five sections, so you can zoom through these in a day. If you’re not convinced, check out the trailer for the movie opening in February. If you do check these out and enjoy them, you can move onto The Nixie’s Song, the first of three books in a Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles trilogy.
From he Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konisburg: this hilarious book about a sister and brother who run away from home to live in the Metropolitam Museum of Art was one of my favorites as a kid. I have to admit, as an adult, I found myself feeling awfully bad for the parents, but the book was still a blast.
Other children’s novels that I enjoyed but did not quite make my list of favorites:
What the Dickens: The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy by Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked: an ambiguous ending worthy of discussion.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick: I enjoyed and would recommend this book if only for the entirely new reading experience it provides - it is half words and half pictures – I would have preferred eighty percent words, but it’s perfect for someone interested in taking illustration to another level.
I may deviate from my reading plan as I have been meaning to read The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde for ages and just purchased it for fifty cents from a thrift shop. On the other hand there are a couple of children’s novels that I’m itching to check out of the library.
What are you reading right now?
His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass) by Philip Pullman: More advanced reading than JK Rowling, Pullman has said that he does not consider these novels to be written for children (though there were definitely a few kids in the audience when Christina and I went to see him speak). The Subtle Knife is, by far, my favorite of the three. I will not even try to explain what these books are about, but if you are looking for a novel with a female protagonist or just a good fantasy series, give this series a try.
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart: one of my favorite books that I have read in a while. About a group of children who infiltrate a school to stop its headmaster from taking over the world. Every character is original and maintains their personality throughout. I could not put this book down!
The Pull of the Ocean by Jean-Claude Mourlevat, translated by Y. Maudet: this retelling of Tom Thumb (though I am not too familiar with that fairy tale) was recommended to be by Christina. This story about seven neglected brothers who run away from home is told from multiple perspectives, each with distinct voices. Actually heartbreaking at times, I highly recommend this novel.
The Secret Garden and A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett: both novels feature characters of Dickensian perfection and characters with preternatural relationships with animals (including vermin!), but they are humorous, engaging books. While some characters appear faultless, others are refreshingly flawed yet likable.
The Spiderwick Chronicles, Books 1-5 by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black: there is no escaping the fact that these simple, well illustrated novels about a troubled boy who discovers fairies living in the backyard are written for children, but they are fun, fast reads. The five books are really one novel split into five sections, so you can zoom through these in a day. If you’re not convinced, check out the trailer for the movie opening in February. If you do check these out and enjoy them, you can move onto The Nixie’s Song, the first of three books in a Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles trilogy.
From he Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konisburg: this hilarious book about a sister and brother who run away from home to live in the Metropolitam Museum of Art was one of my favorites as a kid. I have to admit, as an adult, I found myself feeling awfully bad for the parents, but the book was still a blast.
Other children’s novels that I enjoyed but did not quite make my list of favorites:
What the Dickens: The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy by Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked: an ambiguous ending worthy of discussion.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick: I enjoyed and would recommend this book if only for the entirely new reading experience it provides - it is half words and half pictures – I would have preferred eighty percent words, but it’s perfect for someone interested in taking illustration to another level.
I may deviate from my reading plan as I have been meaning to read The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde for ages and just purchased it for fifty cents from a thrift shop. On the other hand there are a couple of children’s novels that I’m itching to check out of the library.
What are you reading right now?
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Saturday, January 12, 2008
2nd NYC Writing Group
Not that anyone checks my blog anymore due to my lack of postage, but...
Are you interested in writing and live near/in NYC? Then join our writing group next Sunday, January 20th. The exact time and place is still undecided (but we’re aiming for late afternoon/early evening at a coffee shop a walkable distance from the port authority – any suggestions?).
It doesn’t matter if your interest is poetry, children’s lit, creative non-fic, or screenwriting – everyone is welcome (even if you’re “only” a reader). Feel free to tell/bring friends or post the info as a bulletin on your myspace.
If you have something to be workshopped at the meeting, email it to me by Thursday and I will forward it to all who plan on attending. If your piece is on the shorter side and you don’t mind on-the-spot-comments, you can bring 5-10 copies to the meeting.
We will discuss any ideas for writing events in NYC that the group could attend at the meeting.
Let me know if you are interested in joining the group and make sure that I have your phone number and email so I can add you to our “listserv”.
Hope to see you soon!
Kat
Are you interested in writing and live near/in NYC? Then join our writing group next Sunday, January 20th. The exact time and place is still undecided (but we’re aiming for late afternoon/early evening at a coffee shop a walkable distance from the port authority – any suggestions?).
It doesn’t matter if your interest is poetry, children’s lit, creative non-fic, or screenwriting – everyone is welcome (even if you’re “only” a reader). Feel free to tell/bring friends or post the info as a bulletin on your myspace.
If you have something to be workshopped at the meeting, email it to me by Thursday and I will forward it to all who plan on attending. If your piece is on the shorter side and you don’t mind on-the-spot-comments, you can bring 5-10 copies to the meeting.
We will discuss any ideas for writing events in NYC that the group could attend at the meeting.
Let me know if you are interested in joining the group and make sure that I have your phone number and email so I can add you to our “listserv”.
Hope to see you soon!
Kat
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