Book Review: A Rotten Person Travels the Caribbean: A Grump in Paradise Discovers that Anyplace it's Legal to Carry a Machete is Comedy Just Waiting to Happen by Gary Buslik

Title:  A Rotten Person Travels the Caribbean: A Grump in Paradise Discovers that Anyplace it's Legal to Carry a Machete is Comedy Just Waiting to Happen
Author: Gary Buslik
Publisher: Travelers' Tales
Publushed in: 2008

Author Gary Buslik and his wife have been married twenty years. In that time they have traveled to the Caribbean many times for vacations, Add in Buslik's time as a travel writer and he has spent quite a bit of time visiting the Islands that dot this area that many consider paradise. The author considers himself a rotten person, easily turned grumpy, which affects how he sees these islands and the culture clash that occurs between his Midwestern American lifestyle and that lived in the warmer Island climates.

 This book is a collection of travel stories that were originally published elsewhere. So at times there feels a bit of repetition that may have been  avoided by chnging the order of the stories presented. I enjoyed the stories inside. They were written with a black humor and sometimes homesick feeling. The author presents some near brushes with celebrities both unwanted (such as the time he accidently insulted Idi Amin) and wanted (trying to meet Princess Di only to encounter her security and the confusion of a local man who just wanted to get home through a blocked off route). There are stories of crazy and wildly smart Rastifarians, pokes at both the British and the French, as well as musings on how progress is changing island lifestyle.

The author can come across as brusk and a bit of a jerk at times. He is a self proclaimed Republican and Jewish agnostic who is married to a more liberal leaning woman, and who teaches in a very liberal university setting. He loves to weave in observations about growing up in Skokie, IL and his current home in Mundelien, IL and compare them to the islands he has visited.  However you really get a feeling of his appreciation of the islands and the people who host he and his wife during their times staying there. I don't know if this travelogue is for everyone. but I enjoyed it quite a bit, especially his stories about visiting Cuba and visiting Hemingway's home.

Bout of Books 20 Day 7 and wrap up!

Much of the morning and early afternoon were spent playing West of Loathing and relaxing. I did read one more book to it's finish and got started on another that I didn't complete.

Currently Reading:

Cold Flat Junction by Martha Grimes (read 150 pages)

Shadow of Victory by David Webber (listened 2 hours)

Books Finished:

Remember Me? By Sophia Kinsela

Final wrap up:

I ended up reading nine books to finish and got well into 2 others. The audiobook is a long one and I think it will take Elengil and I another week or so to finish if we listen a bit every evening together.

Books Finished:

Pioneers Woman by Ree Drumond

Confessions of a Closet Catholic by 

Marvel graphic novel: Champions, Volume 1 Change the World (reread)

6 Rainier Drive by Debbie McComber 

Home in Seattle: The Playboy and the Widow\Fallen Angel by Debbie McComber

The Kagonesti by Douglas Niles

The Secrets of Cranberry Beach by Ted Murphy 

The Long Secret by Louise Fitzhugh

Remember Me? By Sophia Kinsela

Books read during the Read a thon but not finished: 

Cold Flat Junction by Martha Grimes (read 150 pages)

Shadow of Victory by David Webber (listened to about 8 hours this week)

I'm going to end this with a picture to show the box I was pulling from during this Read a Thon

Day 1:  Day 7: 

Though I just took some books off my desk and put them in the box, so it looks full again :/

Bout of Books 20 Day 6

Books in Progress:

Elengil and I listened to another hour of our audiobook Shadows of Victory by David Webber''

Books Finished:


The Long Secret by Louise Fitzhugh

Book Reviw: The Kagonesti by Douglas Niles

Title: The Kagonesti

Author: Douglas Niles

Publisher: Random House

Publish Date: 1995

I have a love of the Dragonlance saga. However some of the books are written much better than others. Because I have been disappointed in this series before I have picked up and set down this copy several times without getting past the prologue. I am very glad that I continued with it this time around. The Lost Histories series is a group of books set in the Dragonlance world which probe the historical roots and records the struggles (sometimes epic) of some of the lesser known races of Krynn. This book looks at the Kagonesti - the wild elves. It starts with their founding as a separate people from the more civilized "house" elves. The wild elves with their black hair aand dusky skin still live in the wilderness as the Silvestri led by Silvanos are retreating from the wilderness to live in their crystal cities. Kagonos and his people are beloved of the silver dragon Dalannar who gifts Kaganos with a mystical rams horn which can call his "people" to help them if they are able.

The book is written in three parts. The first shows Kagonos as the first pathfinder and wielder of the mystic horn at the end of the First Dragon War, As he and his people withdraw from the other Elves to retreat deep in the forest of Ashalon.

The second story follows Ashaway as he leads his people during the third dragon war (During the time of Huma). Ashaway has the role of Pathfinder thrust upon himself suddenly when the previous Pathfinder is killed in a raid by the bakali, lizardmen who serve the dragon queen. Ashaway has to find safety for his people while helping the Knights of the Rose travel through the deep forests and mountains to the Dragon Queen's stronghold of Sanction. Even as helping the humans goes against the traditions of the Kagonesti, Ashaway is urged to help the Solamnic knights by the current silver dragon who carries the match to the hown he carries.

The third and final story of the Kagonesti elves takes us to the years before the cataclysm. We see the struggles of young warrior Iydahoe as he witnesses the destruction of the four tribes of the Kagonesti. He and his father struggle to keep their small band of survivors hidden and alive as the Humans from the city of Ishtar and the Silvenesti build a massive road through the forest homes of the Kagonesti tribe. Iydahoe seeks vengeance upon the men who killed his people. A raid on a caravan leads the capture of himself and a young warrior under his care. They are in the caravan wagon of a cleric of Mishakal when the cleric is pulled away by magic - a signal that the thirteen days before the end of the world is to arrive. Iydahoe and his tribesman escape with the help of a priestess Vanisia and return to his tribe. They are led to go up into the mountains by the mystic Grandfather Ram and are saved from the water that rushes in and destroys Ishtar and created the Newsea as the Cataclysm breaks the world of Ansalon.

I really enjoyed how this fills in some of the history to events before the cataclysm.

Bout of Books 20 Day 5

Starting a new book from the box under my desk. This has been on my bookcrossing TBR pile since 2015 but may have been in my TBR pile since 2014. 

Currently Reading:

The Long Secret by Louise Fitzhugh

Books Finished:

The Kagonesti by Douglas Niles
The Secrets of Cranberry Beach by Ted Murphy 

Bout of Books 20 Day 4

Today has been some reading but I watched way too much Dr. who. I'm just a small ways into the season with Martha Jones as his companion and I am very much enjoying the show. 

Finished Reading:

Home in Seattle by Debbie Macomber (Read pages 116 - 490)

Bout of Books 20 Day 3

Today I finished:

6 Rainier Drive by Debbie McComber (read pages 117 - 475 pages)

What I thought of this book: When I picked this up I don't think I knew it was part of a series. So, rather than finding the contemporary romance I expected I felt like I was plunked down in the middle of a long running soap opera series. The writing was good, the mystery of who burned down the Lighthouse restaurant was interesting. However there were so many characters and side stories going on that I had a hard time keeping track of who was who.  

Books Started:

Home in Seattle: The Playboy and the Widow\Fallen Angel by Debbie McComber (Read 115 pages)

Elengil and I listened to about 20 minuites of Shadows of Victory by David Webber tonight as well.

Bout of Books 20 day 2

Today has been a very productive reading day. 

I finished:

Pioneers Woman by Ree Drumond

Confessions of a Closet Catholic by 

I indulged in a quick reread of the Marvel graphic novel: Champions, Volume 1 Change the World

Currently Reading:

Elengil and I are currently listening to our audiobook Shadows of Victory by David Webber (listened to another )

I started 6 Rainier Drive by Debbie McComber (115 pages read out  of 475 pages)

Bout of Books 20 Day 1

 

Here is a darkish photo of the box of  books i am planning on working through this week. I should start with Dragons of the Lost Star as i am halfway through it. However, I feel like something more light...

Reading for a bit then taking a break to watch the eclipse as we've got 89% coverage here in Northern IL.

So I decided to pick up the following for day one:

Pioneer Woman by Ree Drummond read to page 266.

E and I listened to about an hour and a half of our current audiobook: Shadow of Victory by David Webber

Bout of Books 20

I forgot to sign up last week! I plan on reading as much as possible. I am working on a box beneath my desk to try  and  clear it out of the office.

fingers crossed that I hear back favorably from one of the two schools that I interviewed with last week. I would love for a reason to have commute reading.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 21st and runs through Sunday, August 27th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 20 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Book Review: The Tale of One Bad Rat by Bryan Talbot

Title: The Tale of One Bad Rat
Author: Bryan Talbot
Publisher: Dark Horse Books
 Publication date: 1995


Helen Potter is a runaway following the steps of Beatrix Potter whom she holds an affinity  to because of sharing both first and surnames.  Her troubles with being touched by males and her sexuality combined with the mental stigma and shame she feels as a survivor of incest has her constantly on the move and leery of trusting anyone.

Her traveling companion starts off as a pet rat saved from a school biology lab.  As she travels north her reliance on the rat as a companion becomes more prevalent after a tragedy drives her to continue North.  Helen finds her way to the Lake Land District, home of Beatrix Potters house Hill Top. Helen finds friends in the owners of the Herdwick Arms pub who help her after she collapses in the rear of the building, and who offer her safety in a job, a place to sleep, and eventually in support in facing her parents.

This is a tough story to read. The subject material is uncomfortable, and you can see the research and the pain and suffering that the author conveys in the subject. He quotes Miriam Saphira from The Sexual Abuse of Children "The first step towards prevention and to provision of supportive services for the girls who've been abused is bringing abuse into the open... Incest is not taboo. It seems that talking about incest is the real taboo."

 This was such a moving little story about finding the strength to stand up to the person abusing you and finding your strength as a person despite the mental stigmas  that plague your thoughts and opinions of who you are. The artwork in this book is absolutely stunning. I don't know that I would have picked this up on my own, though it is the story driven type of graphic novel I adore.  This was shared with me by bookcrosser HI77 I'm sad I wasn't able to fit it into my manga and graphic novel book box. I'll have to think on a place to share this book with the world.

Bout of books 19 Days 6 & 7

       

Books Finished:

Angel & Faith: Where the River Meets the Sea by Victor Geschler

Blak: The Birth of Evil (the Circle trilogy graphic novels book 1) by Ted Dekker

Books in Progress:

Tall Dark and Dead by Tate Halloway

Bout of Books 19 day 3

       

Much more reading today. I had some time before parent-teacher conferences and during my break as well as this evening to read.  

Books finished:

Ceres Celestial Legend volume 7: Maya

Ceres Celestial Legend volume 8: Miori

Bout of books 19 Days 1 & 2

       

So due to a power outage yesterday evening I did not get much reading done. But I made up for it today on my commute :)

Books Finished:

Marvel Runaways volume 2 by Brian K. Vaughn

My Cat Loki by Bettina M. Kuroski

Ceres Celestial Legend volume 6: Shuro

Currently reading: Ceres Celestial Legend volume 7: Maya

Bout of Books 19

I almost forgot to sign up for this round! I plan on taking part in the Bout of Books readathon this week! Not sure how much reading I will get done as it's parent conferences and monthly staff meetings after work. But I'll try and get some books read.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 8th and runs through Sunday, May 14th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 19 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team.

Because it is the last month of school I will be concentrating on graphic novels and manga this week. I have 5 books left to read in the Ceres manga (of the 10 I have in my possession.) as well as a bunch of manga/graphic novels in my TBR mountain.

Book I may be reading this week depending on time:

 

Bout of Books Day 6

Today I finished reading:

Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison by Lois Lenski

Today I listened to/ read but didn't finish:

Babylon's Ashes by James S.A.Corey

Bout of Books day 5

Today I finished reading:

The Wrong Bride by Gayle Callen

Elengil and I listened to more of  Babylon's Ashes by James S.A. Corey

Bout of Books day 4

Today for my commute reading I picked up a copy of The Wrong Bride by Gayle Callan.

I picked this historical romance up in the recent past few months from the friends of the library's book sale nook. 

While it doesn't help me with my goal of reducing books traded with other bookcrossers in the past, it does take a book off of the massive mt. TBR. 

I got about halfway through the book today.

Bout of Books Day 3

Today was all about the romances.

I finished reading:

Marry Me at Christmas by Susan Mallory 

My Second Chance by Shelley Munroe

Bout of Books day 2

Today has been a day for returning to school after break and getting the preschoolers back to the normal daily routine. It was damp and foggy here a good portion of the morning and I was dragging.

Books read today:

I forgot my headphones to listen to a commute audio. Instead I picked up Marry Me at Christmas by Susan Mallery. 

Bout of Books 18 day 1

I finished my print book in progress last night during the end of the book obsessed winter read a thon so will be picking a new book to read later today.

I am on the middle of 2 different audiobooks at the moment. 

Which I am listening on my own during computer gaming and my morning commute. 

Which I am listening to with Elengil. 

Progress for today:

Today is the last day of my winter break. So it was all about sleeping in, running errands, and getting ready to go back to work tomorrow. I didn't get much reading done at all today. We listened to about an hour of  Babylon's Ashes by James S. A. Corey while driving around doing errands.