My Turn To Brag

Almost every book blog that I follow dedicates one post a week to listing all of the books that the blogger had received over the past week, either from publishers, other blogs or the library. I have never put up such a post myself because I don't receive new books that frequently and I usually don't even read those posts because they just serve to make me jealousto of all the awesome books everyone else is getting. But in the two week that I have been in America I have accumulated an impressive selection of books which I am quite proud of, from the various second hand shops and flea markets I have visited ( boy how I've missed flea markets!) and now it's my turn to do a bit of bragging...

At today's trip to the flea market I picked up The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (because one can never have too many copies) and Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett (my favorite of the Discworld books, so far), for 25 cents each! I would probably have gotten more books if my two year had not decided that he was done waiting for me, and knocked all the books on the ground.



By Philadelphia's Franklin Mills Mall there is a wonderful second hand shop where, in addition to some great clothes and toys, I bought these books for 50 cents each:


Marley & Me by John Grogan (I don't usually read dog books but I've heard great things about this one and have been wanting to read it.)


Uglies by Scott Westerfeld



Summerland by Michael Chabon




Wicked: Witch & Curse by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie



Wicked by Gregory Maguire


Sideways Stories from Wayside School ( I love Wayside School!)




And for review I received Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal, which is a book I've been really interested in reading. I also received the following books for review from author Danielle Ackley-McPahil:

• Yesterday's Dreams
• Tomorrow's Memories
• Bad-Ass Faeries 2: Just Plain Bad
• The Halfling's Court: A Bad-Ass Faerie Tale

I also received my first graphic novel, Foiled,by Jane Yolen, which is signed by both Jane Yolen and Mike Cavallaro, the artist. My mother had bought it for me when Jane Yolen did a signing in Philadelphia and I am really looking forward to reading it, since I have never read a graphic novel before.

And finally, these are the books that I had gotten out of the library, which I had dragged my brother to (since he has a car and a library card) on my first full day in the US:

Sasha by Joel Shepherd
Ice by Sarah Beth Durst ( I started this one but didn't feel like finishing it)
The Enchanted Emporium by Tanya Huff
The Court of the Air by Stephen Hunt
Candor by Pam Bachorz
The Anvil of the World by Kage Baker
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Magicians and Mrs. Quent by Galen Beckett
Toads and Diamonds by Heather Tomlinson
Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon (The only non-genre book I let myself get out and I really hope I get the chance to read it)
The Adamantine Palace by Stephen Deas

Yes, perhaps I did go a little crazy at the library and I probably won't get around to reading all of the books that I had gotten out (though apparently the library lets you get 50 books out at one time, and had I been able to carry more I would have tried to do so) but I just love looking at them on the shelf and knowing that they are nearby. I only wish that I could read faster...(plus I have to squeeze in time to spend with family) So far I have read three of them and I'm currently in the middle of The Adamantine Palace, which I am enjoying tremendously.

So that's it. I'm done with my bragging and now I have to figure out how the heck I'm going to get all my newly acquired books into the suitcases (and I haven't even mentioned the 42 books that my in-laws bought me from a bookstore that was going out of business) But it is a challenge that I don't mind attempting.

Now I'm off to do some reading...

Currently Reading: Lord Foul's Bane and Fire

Unfortunately I haven't had time to get much reading, or anything else, done lately since my 1 1/2 year old has progressed into the "Terrible Twos" early (I always did say he was advanced). As soon as my attention is focused elsewhere, the little guy will begin emptying out kitchen drawers, throwing books off the shelves and sweeping everything off the table tops so that he can stamp around on top of them. And if the laptop is not being used, he enjoys trying to pry all the keys off the keyboard. If the laptop is being used, he likes to slam it down on top of my fingers. It's a good thing for all of us that he is so darn cute!

I'm not just writing this to complain (though complaining does feel good) but to explain why my blog posting has slowed down recently. Who can get any reading done with the Tasmanian devil causing mischief and havoc everywhere?

With that being said, I am currently in the middle of a couple of books; Lord Foul's Bane by Stephen R. Donaldson and Fire by Kristin Cashore.

Lord Foul's Bane, the first book of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, is one of those books that I have been meaning to read for years but has remained on the bottom of my book pile under all the newer books with shinier covers. But when I had misplace the book that I had intended to read, this past weekend, it seemed like a good opportunity to finally get started on Lord Foul's Bane.

The beginning of the book drew me in immediately with it's introduction to Thomas Covenant, one-time a best-selling author with a loving wife and beautiful baby, but now a leper shunned by all of his neighbors and former friends. After Thomas's leprosy was diagnosed, his wife fled with the baby, leaving him completely alone. For Thomas, every day is a struggle as he attempts to adjust to a nightmarish life with leprosy and when he discovers that someone has begun paying his bills to prevent him from coming to town to pay them himself, Thomas is furious. In an act of defiance, Thomas staggers to town in order to pay his bill himself, but after a strange interaction with a panhandler, Thomas gets hit by a car. When he awakens he finds himself in a strange world where the people believe Thomas to be the reincarnation of a hero from long-ago, sent to fight against the evil that has returned to their world.

As I mentioned, the beginning was interesting and the reading went smoothly, but after Thomas's journey in the new world begins, I had a hard time keeping at it. Thomas Covenant is an early example of an anti hero in modern fantasy, a characterization which made things interesting at first but it quickly becomes hard not to despise him. So far, he has absolutely no redeeming qualities. I have read about a third of the book so far and each time I put the book down I have to make a concerted effort to pick it up again and continue reading. Not a good sign. I'm hoping things pick up soon otherwise I won't be finishing this book.

On the other hand, Kristin Cashore's Fire is a book I am thoroughly enjoying. All the book blogs are talking about it, and for good reason. My problem is that I only have an ebook copy of it and which I can only read on my laptop; something I can't find the time to do lately. I think I'm going to have to order an actual printed copy of Fire so I can read this book in my preferred method, curled up a comfy chair.

Currently reading Or Challenges of finding a good book

I finished Brandon Sanderson's Warbreaker, last night, and I am prepared to declare it the best fantasy book I have read all year. Lately I've been reading a lot of urban and contemporary fantasy and I forgot how great a real fantasy book can be; the kind that skillfully creates whole new worlds, religions and systems of magic. It's been a long time since a fantasy book has engaged me as wholly as Warbreaker has and I loved every minute of it.
After finishing Warbreaker I was feeling a little bereft that the book was now over and its characters have all gone on their own way. So I was delighted to receive The Unit, by Ninni Holmqvist, in the mail today, a book I have been eager to read for a while now.

But before jumping from one book to the other, I wanted something lighthearted and fun to serve as a sort of "palate cleanser" between books.
I thought it would be easy to find some kind of paranormal romance or urban fantasy to provide a quick enjoyable read before I move on to The Unit, which I expect to be somewhat dark and heavy, as many dystopic novels are.

But quick enjoyable reads seem to be hard to come by. I started Rosemary and Rue, by Seanan McGuire, but it wasn't quite what I was looking for. The introduction, where October gets turned into a fish, forcing her to abandon her partner and daughter for fourteen years, depressed me. I don't like stories that involve abandonment of children. And then when she returns to human form and her boyfriend and daughter refuse to even meet with her, I just couldn't suspend my disbelief. I mean, even if they were upset at October's disappearance, they had no reason to think that it purposefully done. They should have been overjoyed to have October back when they thought she was dead. The idea that they wouldn't even meet with her to find out what happened was too implausible for me and made it difficult for me to continue the book.

So I moved on to Ravenous, by Sharon Ashwood which wasn't too bad except that it reminded me of so many other vampire books that I have already read that I just wasn't compelled to continue after the first few chapters.

Next, I decided to give Some Girls Bite, by Chlo Neill, a try. I've seen this book recommended by a few blogs so far but I haven't been tempted to read it mostly because I don't like the title or cover (yes, I do judge books by such things). But after so many other books have failed to interest me I'm feeling determined to find one that I can full-heartedly enjoy. But a few chapters in, and I don't think this book is the one for me either. I thought it was strange that Marit was so unaffected after her transformation into a vampire, other then being a little woozy. Most vampire books go into great detail as to the physical challenges and intense blood lust a vampire experiences after being newly turned but Marit is just dropped off at home where she behaves in a disappointingly human manner; having a good cry with her roommate and then going off to break the news to her parents about her new undead status. I just thought that it was rather unbelievable, or as unbelievable as a book about vampires can be.

Am I being too picky here?

I think I'm going to give up on trying to find a PNR or urban fantasy for now and tomorrow I will start on The Unit. I believe my palate has been cleansed enough for today.

My Current Read: The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

With summer in full swing and my kids on vacation, I haven't gotten much reading done lately. The book that I am currently trying to read is The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. I've been carrying it around with me for two weeks now in hopes for getting some reading done in my spare moments, but those moments have been rather infrequent.

Part of the problem is that the book is not drawing me in; it doesn't tempt me to hide in the bathroom to read just a few more pages before the kids find me. I'm a quarter of the way through so far but I don't really have a sense of the main character, Locke Lamora, other then the fact that he is a skilled thief, and has been one from a young age. I think the fact that the story jumps around chronologically makes it difficult to get to know Lamora. Most of the focus so far has been on the past and current events of Lamora's life and not enough attention is given to the development of Lamora as a person.

The book starts off when Lamora is a child and is being sold from one thief leader to another, due to his trouble-making antics. The story then jumps twenty years ahead to a full-grown Lamora who is taking part in one of the greatest schemes of his career. The story then continues to fluctuate back and forth between the young Lamora and his initiation into his new life as a Gentleman Bastard and the older Lamora and his current criminal activities. And although this is an interesting story-telling technique, I don't find myself liking or caring about the hero of the story too much, which lessens my general enjoyment of the book.

But since The Lies of Locke Lamora has received many rave reviews (the first three pages of the book are actually dedicated to it's praise) and I'm still only a third way through, I'm keeping an open mind and I'm going to try harder to make time to finish it. And then I'll determine if there is a basis for all those rave reviews.

Slow going with Acacia and loving The Hunger Games

I've started reading Acacia, by David Anthony Durham, but its going a bit slowly because most of the book so far has focused on political intrigue, which is not something I usually enjoy in a book. But I can tell that it is a good book and I suspect that things will speed up soon, so I will keep reading and see what happens.

I have also started another book, which was recommended on a podcast that I was listening to, and this one I really like. I began The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, a few hours ago and have been glued to the book ever since. I reluctantly put it down for a short time in order to help my husband feed the kids, but then I locked myself in my room and left him with the chore of putting them to bed, as I had some urgent reading to do.

Despite the fact that The Hunger Games is categorized as a Young Adult book, it is by no means limited to that age group. While I intend to discuss the book more in depth once I have finished it, here is a review from Booklist:

Sixteen-year-old Katniss poaches food for her widowed mother and little sister from the forest outside the legal perimeter of District 12, the poorest of the dozen districts constituting Panem, the North American dystopic state that has replaced the U.S. in the not-too-distant future. Her hunting and tracking skills serve her well when she is then cast into the nation’s annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death where contestants must battle harsh terrain, artificially concocted weather conditions, and two teenaged contestants from each of Panem’s districts. District 12’s second “tribute” is Peeta, the baker’s son, who has been in love with Katniss since he was five. Each new plot twist ratchets up the tension, moving the story forward and keeping the reader on edge. Although Katniss may be skilled with a bow and arrow and adept at analyzing her opponents’ next moves, she has much to learn about personal sentiments, especially her own. Populated by three-dimensional characters, this is a superb tale of physical adventure, political suspense, and romance

Now I've got to get back to reading...