Category: Reading

Teaser Tuesday: The Man Who Touched His Own Heart

Like being stuck behind a log truck when I’m already late for an appointment, I find myself continually one book behind on my Goodreads challenge.

Be that as it may, the Wheel of Time has turned in its course to

Teaser TuesdayJust in case you don’t know, Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! All you have to do is grab the book you’re currently reading, open to a random page and share a few sentences from that page. But make sure you don’t share any spoilers!*

*I wish I could take credit for this introduction, but I shamelessly stole it from Heather over at bitsnbooks. To help me make amends, you should go check out her blog.

As you might have guessed, I’m still reading Death in Florence: The Medici, Savonarola, and the Battle for the Soul of a Renaissance City by Paul Strathern.

So, what can I look forward to once this particular drama plays out?

I’ve taken a different tack and veered into the realm of medicine with The Man Who Touched His Own Heart by Rob Dunn.

The Truly Random Number Generator sends us to page 15:

The surgical team wanted the hundreds of thousands 
of blue daughters and sons to live. But a dog heart 
is not a human heart, and so the truth was that the 
team had no real idea whether their new procedure 
would work.

the man who touched his own heart cover

In Retrospect

I really need to get a handle on finishing what I’ve started.

 

What have you been reading?

 

 

Have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?

Drop a note in the prompt box!

 

Don’t forget to follow me on:

Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.

Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?

Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

Teaser Tuesday: Rubicon

I am now officially one book behind on my Goodreads’ challenge.

But never fear, dear readers, for I have a little extra time over the next few days and hope to regain my “on track” status.

While I don’t subscribe to a circular view of history as such, the Wheel of Time has come full circle to

Teaser TuesdayJust in case you don’t know, Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! All you have to do is grab the book you’re currently reading, open to a random page and share a few sentences from that page. But make sure you don’t share any spoilers!*

*I wish I could take credit for this introduction, but I shamelessly stole it from Heather over at bitsnbooks. To help me make amends, you should go check out her blog.

This week I’m reading Rubicon by Tom Holland (the author and cricketer, not the actor).

I had wanted to read Persian Fire by the same author, but someone had already checked the book out.

Yes, it’s my fault for not placing it on hold.

Anyway, the Truly Random Number Generator sends us to page 243:

Only Spartacus himself appears to have fought
for a genuine ideal. Uniquely among the leaders
of slave revolts in the ancient world, he attempted
to impose a form of egalitarianism on his followers,
banning them from holding gold and silver and 
sharing out their loot on an equal basis.

rubicon cover

In Retrospect

Confession: I’m only 7 or so pages into Chaucer’s Tale: 1386 and the Road to Canterbury by Paul Strohm. Don’t worry, I vow to finish both Chaucer and Rubicon by next Tuesday!

I’m also still working my way through Er Ist Wieder Da (English Title: Look Who’s Back) by Timur Vermes. Since it’s taking me a bit longer to read this (you know, it being in German and all), I’m trying to read between 5 and 10 pages a day. I’ll get through it in a month or two. I’ll keep you updated.

 

 

What have you been reading?

 

 

Have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?

Drop a note in the prompt box!

 

Don’t forget to follow me on:

Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.

Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?

Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

Unboxing The Shepherd’s Crown

Tuesday was bittersweet. I received a package: the American release of The Shepherd’s Crown by Sir Terry Pratchett! This is also the first book I’ve ever pre-ordered – the first book I’ve ever received on the very day of its release.

However, many of you know The Shepherd’s Crown is the last Discworld novel; Sir Terry passed away 12 March, 2015.

I’m not ashamed to say it:

I took my time opening the box.

I savored the new book smell.

I read the dust jacket.

Then, I placed The Shepherd’s Crown back in the box,

closed the lid,

and cried.

No man is ever truly gone until the ripples they make in the world die away

May Sir Terry’s ripples last forever.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

His fantasies sit alongside – and are the equals of – those of Rabelais, Voltaire, Swift, Kurt Vonnegut, and Douglas Adams. . . . But whereas all these are neatly arranged on the bookshelves, my Pratchetts are strewn under the beds, in the bathrooms, the glove compartments. They have shopping lists, takeaway orders, and Scrabble scores scribbled on the fly leaves. They were part of life. – Frank Cottrell Boyce

Teaser Tuesday: July 1914

School starts this Friday; I’m about as ready as I’ll ever be . . . apart from some last minute cleaning I’ll do on Thursday.

Before then, though, the Wheel of Time has turned to

Teaser TuesdayJust in case you don’t know, Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! All you have to do is grab the book you’re currently reading, open to a random page and share a few sentences from that page. But make sure you don’t share any spoilers!*

*I wish I could take credit for this introduction, but I shamelessly stole it from Heather over at bitsnbooks. To help me make amends, you should go check out her blog.

This week I’m reading July 1914: Countdown to War by Sam McMeekin.

The Truly Random Number Generator sends us to page 77:

The failure of Britain's key policymakers to pay 
mind to the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand 
was understandable.  It did not bode well, however, 
for their ability to master events in case the 
Sarajevo outrage snowballed into a real crisis.

July 1914 cover

In Retrospect

I awarded The Greatest Knight four stars. The story was intriguing, but I felt too much of it was derivative.

I gave Food: A Love Story five stars. I had to read this when K wasn’t around, otherwise I kept disturbing her with my gut-busting laughs.

 

What have you been reading?

 

 

Have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?

Drop a note in the prompt box!

 

Don’t forget to follow me on:

Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.

Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?

Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

Teaser Tuesday: The Greatest Knight

Being sick means that there’s little to do but curl up and feel sorry for oneself while alternating between Netflix and the TBR.

In addition to an awful summer cold, the Wheel of Time has brought around

Teaser TuesdayJust in case you don’t know, Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! All you have to do is grab the book you’re currently reading, open to a random page and share a few sentences from that page. But make sure you don’t share any spoilers!*

*I wish I could take credit for this introduction, but I shamelessly stole it from Heather over at bitsnbooks. To help me make amends, you should go check out her blog.

This week I’m reading The Greatest Knight: The Remarkable Life of William Marshal, The Power Behind Five English Thrones by Thomas Asbridge.

The Truly Random Number Generator sends us to page 357:

Earl William now had to find  a way to force entry
into Lincoln.  The royalists had not come equipped
with heavy siege machinery; nor could the afford to
settle in for a prolonged investment of the town 
walls, as the resultant delay might allow Prince 
Louis time to march north and bolster the 
English-French position.

The Greatest Knight Cover

In Retrospect

Since it’s been a while since I posted any reviews [due to time or scheduling], I guess it’s about time to rectify my negligence.

 

The Casual Vacancy coverI looked forward to reading J.K. Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy with a kind of curiosity. How would the writing compare to that of Harry Potter? Could she write a novel aimed directly at adults? I almost said “a novel for adults,” but quite a few adults enjoy and identify with Harry Potter.

Yes. Yes she can. Delving into small-town politics and prejudices, The Casual Vacancy is anything but casual. However riveting it may be, I found a few things a bit far-fetched, especially at the conclusion. It left me wondering if Rowling understands how small towns work or if small-town America is that vastly different from small-town England.

Favorite Line:

Choice was dangerous: you had to forgo all other possibilities when you chose.

Rating: 4 stars

Bingo Square: Longer Than 500 Pages

 

Last Will CoverFull Disclosure: I won an autographed copy of this novel from the author’s blog.

That said, Last Will isn’t my typical reading fare in that it’s a romance. However, it’s more a study in human psychology than anything else. It is not a bodice-ripper in any way, shape or form.

The plot was well thought out, but I found the structure a bit lacking. I’m not adverse to shifting perspective, but shifting perspective in the middle of a conversation can be of-putting at times.

Thankfully, most of these shifts were indicated by page breaks denoting who, exactly, was speaking.

Favorite Line:

nothing stood out; but I’m sure I’d find a few in a second reading

Rating: 4 stars

Bingo Square: Author’s Debut Novel

 

 

The Last Hero coverThe Last Hero by Terry Pratchett was a delight to read. The “Discworld Fable” brought back many favorite characters and gave Cohen and the Silver Horde a fitting send-off.

Illustrated by the incomparable Paul Kidby, Last Hero is truly a work of art and the imagination. I was delighted to find many of the characters remarkable similar to the way I’d envisioned them in my head.

Favorite Lines:

Some people are confident because they are fools. Leonard had the look of someone who was confident because, so far, he’d never found reason not to be.

Rating: 5 stars

Bingo Square: A Protagonist over the age of 50

 

A Blink of the Screen CoverA Blink of the Screen – also by Terry Pratchett – was my first introduction to his short stories. They did not disappoint.

My favorite non-Discworld selection was “Mind the Monoliths” as it appealed to the historian and social studies teacher in me.

My favorite Discworld selection would be “The Sea and Little Fishes” as it contained Mistress Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg.

I shall have to seek out any other collections of Pratchett’s shorter works.

Favorite Line:

AND YOU ARE AWARE OF THE THEORY THAT THE STATE OF SOME TINY PARTICLES IS INDETERMINATE UNTIL THE MOMENT THEY ARE OBSERVED? A CAT IN A BOX IS OFTEN MENTIONED.

Rating: 5 stars

Bingo Square: A Collection of Essays

Now, before you start accusing me of cheating, I checked on the definition of essay:

Essays are generally scholarly pieces of writing giving the author’s own argument, but the definition is vague, overlapping with those of an article, a pamphlet and a short story.

 

What have you been reading?

 

 

Have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?

Drop a note in the prompt box!

 

Don’t forget to follow me on:

Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.

Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?

Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

Teaser Tuesday: The Casual Vacancy

The weatherman forecasts rain this week.

Just in time for the wheel of time to turn to:

Teaser TuesdayJust in case you don’t know, Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! All you have to do is grab the book you’re currently reading, open to a random page and share a few sentences from that page. But make sure you don’t share any spoilers!*

*I wish I could take credit for this introduction, but I shamelessly stole it from Heather over at bitsnbooks. To help me make amends, you should go check out her blog.

This week I’m reading The Casual Vacancy by J.K Rowling.

Yes, that J.K. Rowling.

No, it’s not about Harry Potter.

The Truly Random Number Generator sends us to page 138.

A tourniquet of fear was released; relief gushed
through three of the watchers; Simon stopped 
pulling his Neanderthal face.

The Casual Vacancy coverI’ve read Rowling’s two mystery novels written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith and found them quite engaging; here’s hoping The Casual Vacancy passes muster.

In Retrospect

I gave All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr 5 stars.

I found the subject and style of the book engaging; so engaging I finished the novel in under a day.

The book even made it onto my “Books To Buy Even Though I’ve Already Read Them” list.

In my opinion, it certainly lived up to the hype.

Bingo Square: set during a war or conflict

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman earned 3 stars.

The storyline was a tad obvious and the ending somewhat unsatisfactory.

Billed by some as a “sequel” to American Gods, Anansi Boys has little – if anything – to do with its predecessor.

Bingo Square: involves magic

John le Carré’s A Most Wanted Man scored 5 stars.

A well-written suspense/thriller novel that had me guessing.

Bingo Square: suspense/thriller

 

What have you been reading?

 

 

Have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?

Drop a note in the prompt box!

 

Don’t forget to follow me on:

Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.

Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?

Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

Website Powered by WordPress.com.

Up ↑