Bout of Books 13 wrap up

The Bout of Books Read a thon is over. So sad...

I thought I would get more actual reading done, but kept getting distracted.  

I did finish three books:

The Waiting Game by Diane Blythe

Sucubus on Top by Richelle Mead

Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood

I am deep in the middle of two books:

The Disposessed by Ursula K. LeGuin

The Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher

Bout of books Day seven

Sunday was day seven of the Bout of Books 13 Read a thon.  We were out most of the day, but did manage to get about 2 hours of The Furies of Calderon listened to while driving around to and from events. 

Bout of Books Day Six

Books Reading:

Elengil and I spent the day listening to The Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher while relaxing and playing video games (as well as while running errands). We are definitely not going to finish this before the read a thon ends but it is very good so far. 

Bout of Books Day Five

  

Today was a productive day:)

I finished listening to Cocaine Blues. This was book one in the Phryne Fisher detective  series. I liked it, but the reader for the audio took a bit to get used to as she spoke really fast, but otherwise did a great job with the accents and voicing for the characters. 

I also got about 50 pages  of The Disposessed read. 

Elengil and I have started Book one of of The Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher together

Bout of Books Day Four

Books Read today:

I started listening to Cocaine Blues (Phryne Fisher, #1)  by Kerry Greenwood 

I am still reading The Dispossessed by Ursala K. LeGuin (stopped pg 130)

Books Finished Today:

I just finished listening to the last few hours of the audiobook for:

I hadn't been sure of the series after listening to book one as I felt Georgia seemed a bit to naive for a several hundred year old succubus. However I really liked the way the character developed during this second book.

Bout of Books Day Three

           

I will be running errands today. I shall be grabbing a different book to tote along on the bus as the Lillith's Brood anthology is larger than I want to carry with me. 

Books Reading:

On the bus I listened to an hour of Sucubus on Top

On my trip home my IPod's battery was dead so I started The Dispossessed by Ursala K. le Guin. This is much more what I want to read right now so I am going to set aside Lilith's Brood for now and focus on this story. 

Bout of Books Day 2

I have to say that I haven't gotten to far into the Lilith's Brood Anthology. I'm not sure why, I love this author but the first book Dawn is starting off so slowly. I read about 48 pages yesterday and fell asleep!!!

I'm maybe  60 pages in and I'll keep trying to read it....

Currently reading:

Progress: I have read about 20 more pages. I also spent time at the computer listening to Sucubus on Top by Richelle Mead. 

Books finished:

Bout of Books Bookish Survey Challenge.

1. How do you organize your shelves?

Quite a few of my books are currently shelf-less. The mass market paperbacks currently reside in boxes that line one wall of the living room. The big book case in the living room has books grouped together by author, and the bottom two shelves are RPG gaming books. In front of that book case there are piles of books waiting for the next set of shelves to be built (hopefully this summer). My two small book cases in the computer room are organized by subject. Cookbooks take up 2 shelves, Graphic Novels on another shelf. The Indyspensible collectors editions on another shelf, and my classroom resource books and textbooks I've kept for reference are on another two shelves. The last free space has my bookcrossing registered TBR pile (or a majority of them) the top shelves on each of these bookcases are short, so I use them for non book storage.

2. What is one of your favorite book that’s not in one of your favorite genres?

Les Miserable by Victor Hugo.  I read this in high school and it has stuck with me over the years as one of my favorites.

3. What is the last 5 star book you read?

The last book I gave five stars to on goodreads which was not a manga was The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker. I listened to this earlier this winter and absolutely loved it it. It was a fantastic blend of fantasy and historical fiction that made me want to know more after it ended.

4. What book are you most excited to read during the read-a-thon?

I don't hve a set bunch of titles to pull from do I am exited to try and get some of my older books from the TBR pile read finally, quite a few of them are longer books which I didn't feel comfortable toting around as commute books during the school semester, so this break between classes this week will be perfect for trying to read them out of the TBR pile.

5. What book do you recommend the most?

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.

Help finding a book...

Part of the Bingo Challange is to read a book by an Australian author. I have a couple of authors who fit that role but I find that I've read all their books.

Can anyone suggest a good Australian author? I will read pretty much any genre, but i prefer the science fiction, fantasy, or romance type settings.

I could just google for a title, but it's nice getting suggestions.

Bout of Books Day 1

Spring has decided it wants to be just like winter again. It is the perfect morning to snuggle up in fleece lined leggings and a cozy sweater underneath a blanket and read while waiting for the warmer afternoon weather.

I am starting off with a book I started yesterday and did not finish before bedtime.

Currently Reading:

This is my last book from another book crossing member received in 2012.

Books Finished:

- A Waiting Game by Diana Blayne

Bout of Books 13

As the 13th Bout of Books week long read a thon happens to fall during my short break between spring and summer semester I will be trying to take part again. It has been a few rounds of the read a thon since I took part last, and I had fun the last time I did.

I plan on reading some of the physical copies I have sitting here from trades through the bookcrossing.com web site over the years. Not sure what titles I will read. I may just pull from the TBR shelf and see what comes to hand.

Bingo Challenge Update

Books Read in March & April 2015

A Book From the Library: The All New Tenchi Muyo! Doom Time. Read in March 2015

A Book with Pictures: Songs of Innocence and Experience by William Blake

This edition has the original etchings with the poems as found in one of the rare hand printed and handpainted original editions of the book made by William Blake and his wife. Read in April 2015.

Bingo Challenge Update

Read in February:

A Book by a Debut Author: The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wrecker. This is the author's debut book. It was originally published in 2013. I finished it on 2/2/2015.








A Book That Made you Laugh Out Loud: I may be cheating by putting two books here. But, they are The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear both by Patrick Rothfuss. These were both rereads for me. My partner mentioned that because we have read/listened to a lot of fantasy in the last few years he was starting to mix up the magic events from several different  stories and wanted to reread the Kingkiller Chronicles. Book one had parts that made me laugh out loud  several times. Book two had me laughing out loud on the CTA as I listened to it while riding home. This is a quote from the part of the book that had me laughing hard enough that another passenger looked up from his paper.

The following conversation takes place between Kvothe and Auri:

"I was looking at the lightning." She said, sniffling. Then, "I saw on that looked like a tree." 

"what was in the lightning?" I asked softly.

"Galavanic ionization." she said. Then after a pause, she added. "and river ice,and the sway a cat tail makes."

I had forgotten how much I love this series until I read the Slow Regard of Silent Things at the start of the year. I'm super glad that I had a chance to reread (or listen again in this case). These were finished on 2/7/2015 and 2/13/2015 respectively.

A Book of Short Stories: Bobcat and Other Stories by Rebecca Lee. I received this as an extra ARC in one of the Indiespensable packages from Powell's books. Looks like it was instalment #40 back in June of 2013. It took me awhile to read this because I would read a story or two then set the book aside to savor what I had read only to misplace the book or get sidetracked by other reading. I really enjoyed these stories which makes me wonder why I kapt setting the book aside rather than reving through it like I usually tend to do. Book was finished on 2/7/2015

Book Review: The Supernaturalists by Patrick Neighly and Jorge Heufemann (Illustrator)

Slinky vampire horror in the Roaring Twenties! Human detective Edgar Drake races to solve an impossible murder in 1926 Manhattan. The bodies all bear the same wound - two puncture holes in the neck and lots of blood around the body. However, when Drake meets Esme an undead flapper, he learns that that evidence is not what a vampire's bite would look like. As Drake and Esme work together to find the real killer, all signs point to a conspiracy that cuts close to home.

I wanted to love this this book, instead I found I enjoyed it but felt it could be better.

The story was interesting. Set during the roaring 20's with its speakeasies and secret societies there is a serial killer on the loose. The identifying mark of the victims are a two holes in the neck, and a copious amount of blood. We follow the detective investigating the cases through different areas of Manhattan, and different levels of society. 


However, I did not care for the artwork in this graphic novel at all. The black and white style is done in a way that feels like it is supposed to capture a noir feeling. However, especially at the beginning I found it hard to keep characters separated. After the gorgeous colors used in Subatomic I was let down by this book.

Book Review: Flowers for Mei-Ling by Lorraine Lachs

The copy of Flowers for Mei-Ling was an advanced readers copy passed to me by a relative who thought that I would enjoy it because of my interest in historical fiction. It has been buried underneath other books on my to be read pile for more years than I want to admit. I have made a goal for this year to try and get the books from 2013 and earlier read and either shelved with my PC, or passed on through a local Little Free Library or the take one/leave one book exchange at a local coffee shop. This is my first of the 50 book goal I have set for myself to be read in 2015.

Mei-Ling, has had a very turbulent life. Born to a Chinese father, and an English mother who met in England, then went to China to help with the Communist revolution led by chairman Mao. During the Red Army movement in the 1960's, teenage  Mei-Ling watches her father  get taken and beaten for being an intellectual, is separated from her mother as both are sent to the country to learn from the peasants. Mei-Ling survives a rape, while her mother survives a serious injury to her leg. They both manage to find their way back to their home and each other and escape to Hong Kong. There she and her mother are befriended by a Dutch businessman. He gives her mother a job, and both of them a place to live.

In Hong Kong, her life changes. Mei-Ling is a Chinese girl in an English ruled country. She is enrolled in school to finish her education which was halted when she joined the Red Army movement. She also becomes the lover of the Dutch benefactor who has helped her and her mother survive as refugees in Hong Kong. Upon becoming pregnant Mei-Ling and her mother find their lives moved to Amsterdam. Mei-Ling is married to a reluctant and much older man. When she has a daughter rather than a son, she becomes less desirable to him as a companion. Her husband starts an escort business and makes Mei-Ling his partner and sometimes host for wealthy businessmen visiting Amsterdam.

When her husband dies, followed quickly by her mother's death Mei-Ling finds her life changing again. She sells her dead husband's business and she her daughter immigrate to Canada. There in her early thirties, she becomes a student and meets and marries professor Jack Levy. She makes a life with Jack, earns a degree in art history opens a gallery and then separates from Jack after he is unable to accept the choices made that formed her past. Her daughter Julia graduates from Harvard University and moves to Hong Kong to work. Mei-Ling  and Jack travel to Hong Kong together in 1997 to visit when China takes over Hong Kong from the British. While there Mei-Ling is forced to face the demons of her past.

Flowers for Mei-ling is superbly written. It follows Mei-Lings life through fifty years. We see her and the events that take place in her life through her eyes, and the eyes of three different men who loved her as well as through her mother's eyes.  The author weaves together the chaotic events of the communist movement in China, with the anti-war movement in America and the riots in Chicago during the 1969 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Mei-Ling changes from a naive and passionate teenager, to a young mother trapped in a loveless marriage, to a wealthy business woman.

This is a book that has been sitting on my to be read pile for years and one that I finished and though "Why didn't I read this earlier?"

Bingo Challenge Update:

Read in January:

A Book you Read as a Teenager – Dragondrums I devoured every book I could get my hands on written by Anne McCaffrey when I was in High School. I ended 2014 and started 2015 by revisiting the Pern series, focusing on the books in the ninth Pass time frame. Finished 1/2/2015.

A Book that was Given to you as a Present: Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness. I received this during an EME swap on the bookobsessed boards (I also received book 3 as a gift). This series was started after picking up book 1 in a Chicago area Little Free Library. Finished 1/12/2015

An Audio Book – I personally listen to quite a few audio books during the year. The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss is also read by the author. This was an incredibly sweet novella that delves into the life of one of the side characters from The Name of the Wind Auri. finished 1/19/2015

An Award Winning Book:  Black Wine by Candas Jane Dorsey won both the AFA William L. Crawford Fantasy Award, and the  James Tiptree Jr. Award in 1997. Finished 1/21/2015.









A Book With a Red Cover: Flowers for Mei-Ling by Lorraine Lachs. Historical fiction that moves from China during the Red Army movement in 1968, to Hong Kong, to Amsterdam, to Montreal and then back to Hong Kong right before it became a part of China again. Finished 1/28/2015.

Final tally: 1/4  of the Bingo card filled.

new Bingo Challange

2015 Bingo Reading Challenge. Like last year I am going to try for a complete card bingo :)

2014 Reading Bingo Challange

I was trying to fill the whole card, and fell a few books short:

summary:

A book with More than 500 Pages - Ashes of Victory by David Webber 672 pages finished 1/5/2014
A Forgotten Classic -
A Book that Became a Movie -
A Book Published this year - Skin Game by Jim Butcher finished 6/10/2014
A book with a Number in the title - Seventh Son by Orson Scott Card finished 6/7/2014
A Book written by someone under 30
A book with non-human characters - Night of the Wolf by Alice Borchardt finished 5/4/2014
A Funny Book - Redshirts by John Scalzi finished on 1/7/2014
A Book by a Female Author- Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang by Katie MacAlister finished on 1/10/2014
A Book with a Mystery - Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear finished on 1/9/2014
A book with a one word title - Shattered by Kevin Hearne finished 6/20/2014
A Book of Short Stories - Welcome to Bordertown edited by Holly Black (Editor), Ellen Kushner (Editor) finished on 6/5/2014
A Book set on a different Continent - Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch set in th United Kingdom finished on 11/26/2014
A Book of nonfiction - Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever by Mem Fox finished on 10/28/2014
The First Book by a favorite Author - The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs finished on 2/21/2014
A book you heard about online - The People's Act of Love by James Meek recomended by bookcrosser Azuki on 2011 finished on 1/27/2014
A Best selling book - The Broken Eye by Brent weeks 8/31/2014
A book Based on a true story -
A book at the bottom of your to be read pile - Himalayan Dhaba by  Craig Joseph Danner on my TBR pile since 2007 finished on 1/31/2014
A book your friend loves - Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett finished on 3/15/2014
A Book that scares you - Carry Me Down by  M.J. Hyland very creepy story. finished on 1/30/2014
A book that's more than 10 years old - Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett originally published in 1998 finished on 11/17/2014
The Second book in a series - Freedom's Choice by Anne McCaffrey Catteni series #2 finished on 3/20/2014
A book with a blue cover - The Serpent of Venice by Christopher Moore finished on 4/27/2014

Bout of Books day 5 progress

Books in progress:

1. Baghdad Without a Map and other misadventures in Arabia by Tony Horwitz from nickel27 in 2013
2. Dimension of Miracles by Robert Sheckley (audio book listening with Elengil)

Books  Finished:

None finished

Bout of Books Day 4 progress and Challenges

Challenge: If You Like This, Try This:

 “If you liked, 

 you should try 

because the stories included continue the adventures of the crew of the Firefly class ship Serenity and set up what events after the film ends

(I would recommend all 3 of the graphic novels out so far I'm looking forward to the current comic run coming out in book format soon)

Books Finished:

1. Old Shirts & New Skins by Sherman Alexie

Books in Progress:

1. Baghdad Without a Map and other misadventures in Arabia by Tony Horwitz from nickel27 in 2013
2. Dimension of Miracles by Robert Sheckley (audio book listening with Elengil)

Thoughts on what I have read today:

1. Old Shirts & New Skins: very powerful imagery used in the poems in this collection. I loved these early works by Native American poet Sherman Alexie.