The List-11/04/11
1. Cool Water by Dianne Warren.
2. The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
3. In Darkest Domestica by Eric Nicol
4. The Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susanna Clark
5. The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes
6. Romeo Romeo by Robin Kaye
7. The Black Swan by Mercedes Lackey
8. The Sad Truth About Happiness by Anne Giardini
9. Wish by Alexandra Bullen
10. Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman
11. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
12. The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
13. Cage of Stars by Jacquelyn Michard
14. Watchlist by Jeffrey Deaver et al
15. A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford
16. American Quartet by Warren Adler
17. Life of Pi by Yann Martell
18. One Day by David Nicholls
19. Broken by Karin Slaughter
20. What Katy did at School by Susan Coolidge.
21. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde.
22. The Fred Factor by Mark Sanborn.
23. This Body of Death by Elizabeth George.
24. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.
25. The Vanished Man by Jeffrey Deaver
26. Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris
I’m halfway through Bossypants by Tina Fey and The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker. I’m very slowly working my way through a book of Henry James’ short stories, starting with “The Turn of the Screw”. I still sort of feel that I’ve missed a book somewhere recently….
A wee bit of random-AKA how did I miss this one?
Considering I record this show, how did I miss this intro? Thanks Cake Wrecks!
The List – mid-March edition
1. Cool Water by Dianne Warren.
2. The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
3. In Darkest Domestica by Eric Nicol
4. The Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susanna Clark
5. The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes
6. Romeo Romeo by Robin Kaye
7. The Black Swan by Mercedes Lackey
8. The Sad Truth About Happiness by Anne Giardini
9. Wish by Alexandra Bullen
10. Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman
11. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
12. The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
13. Cage of Stars by Jacquelyn Michard
14. Watchlist by Jeffrey Deaver et al
15. A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford
16. American Quartet by Warren Adler
17. Life of Pi by Yann Martell
On another topic, which the blogosphere has no doubt beaten to death today-is there anyway we could get the benefit of longer days without the time change? Some places don’t change the time and they do just fine. I don’t like missing any sleep, much less an hour.
Amuse Cerveau?
Like amuse bouche, but for the brain? Anyway, via The Frisky (www.thefrisky.com) I came across this fun thing: The New York Times Best Sellers for the week of your birth, on BibliOZ.com. www.BibliOZ.com Let’s see what was popular the week of my birth, shall we?
Fiction 1 PORTNOY’S COMPLAINT Philip Roth
Fiction 2 THE GODFATHER Mario Puzo
Fiction 3 THE SALZBURG CONNECTION Helen MacInnes
Fiction 4 SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE Kurt Vonnegut
Fiction 5 EXCEPT FOR ME AND THEE Jessamyn West
Fiction 6 AIRPORT Arthur Hailey
Fiction 7 ADA OR ARDOR: A FAMILY CHRONICLE, Vladimir Nabokov
Fiction 8 THE LOVE MACHINE Jacqueline Susann
Fiction 9 THE VINES OF YARRABEE Dorothy Eden
Fiction 10 BULLET PARK John Cheever
Non-Fiction 1 JENNIE Ralph G. Martin
Non-Fiction 2 ERNEST HEMINGWAY Carlos Baker
Non-Fiction 3 THE 900 DAYS Harrison E. Sailsbury
Non-Fiction 4 MISS CRAIG’S 21-DAY SHAPE-UP PROGRAM FOR MEN AND WOMEN 4 MISS CRAIG’S 21-DAY SHAPE-UP PROGRAM FOR MEN AND WOMEN, Marjorie Craig
Non-Fiction 5 THE MONEY GAME “Adam Smith”
Non-Fiction 6 THE TROUBLE WITH LAWYERS Murray Teigh Bloom
Non-Fiction 7 THE PETER PRINCIPLE Dr. Laurence J. Peter and Raymond Hull
Non-Fiction 8 THE ARMS OF KRUPP William Manchester
Non-Fiction 9 BETWEEN PARENT & TEENAGER Haim G. Ginott
Non-Fiction 10 THE JOYS OF YIDDISH Leo Rosten
What’s interesting here is that the only book on this list that I’ve read is Jennie, which is a biography of Winston Churchill’s mother. Check this out…it could be very interesting!
A renaissance
The whole point, or at least the original inspiration of this thing was to talk about the books that I read. And other stuff. And for some reason, I never talk about books any more. Weird, because I’m still reading at a crazy pace. SO, I’m going to take another look at what I’m doing here. Starting now, at a minimum, I’m going to create a master list and just write down the title and author of every book that I read this year. Reviews maybe, but the list itself at a minimum will get updated. That way, come December 31st, I can take a look and see just how many books I read this year. There will be trash & there will be treasures. (I hope). The only rule? The book has to be started & completed this year. (So the five that I’ve read over the holidays don’t count because they weren’t begun in 2011)
Any guesses as to the total at the end of it all? This may shock me…
Hello 2011. Where have you been all my life?
May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.
I just stole that New Year’s benediction from Neil Gaiman’s blog. Isn’t it wonderful? I am the first to admit that 2010 wasn’t the best year of my life. I’ve been making a joke of it with people, but if 2011 doesn’t bring a divorce, death of my pet and dental surgery it is going to be a huge improvement on the previous year. So, instead of making resolutions this year I’m going to try. Try being more open and honest with myself and the people I love. Try to see the beauty in the everyday. Try to forgive myself for my mistakes. Try harder and try less. Try new things. I’m going to fail in many ways. But, hopefully I’m going to succeed in as many, or if not more ways. So that hopefully by this time next year, I can say that Neil Gaiman’s wish came true for me. I’d be honestly happy if it came true for you, too.
Goodbye monkey.
I lost my pet today. Well, lost is the wrong word. I chose to euthanize him to end his suffering. I’ve lost pets in the past of course, but this is my first time as a adult. I’ve had Toby for just over 5 years. He was a Valentine’s gift from my ex-husband and in many ways was the best gift I’ve ever been given. He came from an SPCA and it seems his life before he came to me wasn’t necessarily the best. We worked through a lot of issues together, and he took to being a spoiled, pampered pet like a duck to water. There were many times he drove me crazy, but so many more that he made me smile or laugh. He was one of those dogs that looked like he was always smiling. He liked to mooch off your plate, and sleep between my feet. I’ve been feeling guilty about uprooting his happy life but he never complained. He never minded when I cried in the night on our walks, and he was a great listener. My ex once said that he was the kind of dog you tell stories about. Maybe I’ll feel like telling them someday…but right now all I can do is cry. I need a hug so badly, but I’m all alone. Consider this my cry out into the wilderness: if you read this, and believe in a higher power, ask them to smile upon my Toby. All in all, he was a good dog.
P.S. please, no Rainbow bridge.
He’s on a horse…
Sometimes commercials are annoying. And once in a while, they’re awesome. I love those Old Spice ads that have been out recently, which is kind of funny since it is such old school, buy it for your dad stuff. Apparently they film them in one shot. Here’s an interview with Isaiah Mustafa that shows how it is done…
http://g4tv.com/videos/47171/Isaiah-Mustafa-Reveals-Secrets-Behind-Old-Spice-Commercial/
Concert-going D-bags
AKA, a wee rant.
Wednesday night I went to a concert. David Gray (I lurve him!) with Royal Wood (who I’m quite fond of now). I’ve seen David Gray once before and he does a great show…lots of energy, great music, a little bit of amusing chat. I’d never heard killer whales referred as M-Fers before. I loved the show. Every minute of it.
Well, almost every minute.
If the show starts at 7:30, even if you don’t know the opening act, it is extremely rude to come in at 7:45 and push your way into your row. This was not an isolated incident. Either get there on time, MFers, or if you don’t care for the opener, stay away until after he’s done. Oh, and when I’ve paid plenty of my hard-earned cash for a concert, I don’t want to hear your loud conversations lady 4 rows behind me. Take that outside! Oh, and when the bell goes off and the flights flicker, it means intermission is over and you should get back in. Don’t wait another 15 minutes and then interrupt your poor row again to get back to your seat. Show’s on again, d-bag.
Good thing David Gray was so awesome, or I’d be really cranky, huh? I must be getting old…
