Saturday 16 August 2008

nose firmly stuck

I'm reading three books again.

I have this terrible habit of leaving my book downstairs (and being too lazy to go back down and get it) and starting another in bed. Then I'll get interested (aka paw through the bag that holds all of this weeks' library finds) and start yet another. It's chaotic, but it works.

What am I reading?

The Gargoyle, by Andrew Davidson. I was given this book when I went away to Niagara Falls for the BFF convention - shout out to Random House Canada for being so smart as to sponsor bloggers drinking, and thanks so much for the books!

Anyhoo. I resisted starting this book. A burned man and a schizophrenic? Relates to my life so well! But I found myself reading bits, tempted. Begrudgingly remembering how so many people had told me they liked it. Falling under the writers' spell. And while I'm not crazy about the beginning of the book, where it details his accident and subsequent recovery/rehabilitation, I am fascinated with the wheels of story within a story within a story that this book has. Every character is so sparkling, so alive, so memorable, so different from the rest - it makes this a very compelling book, and very hard to put down.

Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures, by Vincent Lam. There is a small rolly cart near the door of my library where they put books that people come back and tell them they really enjoyed. I grabbed this off that cart and read a page, supposing it to be a book about medieval medicine, and tossed it into my carry-all. It is actually a book of short stories about the becoming a doctor that all medical students go through, and is both tedious and skilful. Worth picking up, although you may want to just read the stories that grab you in by the first few sentences.

Freeze My Margarita, by Lauren Handerson. Free-spirited and smart female lead solves murder mystery while bagging a dishy guy and creating some pretty neat sculptures for a play. I gather this isn't the first in this series, although I haven't read the other. Although - now? I probably will.

So - what are you reading lately?

14 comments:

molly said...

Patron Saint of Liars and Broken For You. Actually, I cheated on Liars. Liked the story well enough, though I thought the main [at the beginning anyway] character was very sketchily drawn--would have liked more background on why she was the way she was. But I digress. The way I cheated was I listened to the book on tape. In the car. I usually don't like to do that. This time it was because the reader did it all wrong! I kept imagining how I would have read that passage [much better, naturally!] and it just kept distracting me from the story. In my experience the only way books on tape don't annoy the hell outta me is if the reader is the author. There. More info than you asked for---but you are my captive!

BabelBabe said...

i have The Gargoyle sitting in MY library pile. as well as something recommended by my favorite librarian called The Lace Reader.

I felt the same way about Bloodletting - pick and choose.

Just finished People of the Book and liked it very much.

Linda said...

The Stolen Child by Keith Donahue. Really well-written, engrossing fiction; if you get the chance to give it a whirl, I would. It's a little scary for moms with kids the ages yours are
(plays off the myth of changeling children) but it's scary in that fantasy-delicious way. I think you'll really like it.

Did you ever get through the Hawking book I recommended a while back?

Jess said...

I HAVE TO DO MORE OF THESE POSTS!

I love getting book reccys!

L - I loved the Hawking book - and so did Cass, although he took it at a lot more face value than I did! (I'm so sorry I didn't tell you that!)

Jess said...

Molly - Is that the Broken For You by Stephanie Kallos? I found it pretty good in the beginning and then it rapidly deteriorated. I'd be interested to hear what you think!

I've requested all the books y'all have mentioned so far - yay!

Anonymous said...

I'm reading this book called "twilight" about a high school chick that falls in love with a vampire. I have literaly been "sucked" into it. The whole saga has 4 books total. I have ordered the rest from amazon which should arrive this week.I have found myself neglecting things just to read*LOL*........oh well.

Anonymous said...

Ooooh, funny you should ask. I just finished:

http://hotreviewsbooks.blogspot.com/2008/08/hump-true-tales-of-sex-after-kids.html

You must go read the review - I can give you a 4th book to read!

Next on the list though, is Ahab's Wife.

metro mama said...

I just (meaning 10 minutes ago)finished the new David Bergen. Great read.

BTW, I will be in touch about books for review!

metro mama said...

I just (meaning 10 minutes ago)finished the new David Bergen. Great read.

BTW, I will be in touch about books for review!

Woman in a Window said...

I'm reading Little Altars Everywhere by Rebecca Wells. I've developed this habit lately of reading whole books without knowing the titles or authors. I've had to just look to see. This can't be a good sign. I can't imagine reading 3 at once. I can barely handle one right now.

Loth said...

I just finished reading Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. Clever, mesmerising, thought provoking book.

Major Bedhead said...

I'm currently reading The Monsters of Templeton Place by Laurie Groff. It's fantastic.

Also, Dreams From My Father by that dood that's running for some office. Also excellent.

I think I have another one going, but in the chaos of the move, I've misplaced it (of course).

Major Bedhead said...

OK, so it's The Monsters Of Templeton by Lauren Groff. Just ignore what I said earlier. Oy.

Run ANC said...

Just finished The Gargoyle and loved it. Also read Twilight recently. I'm probably going to read the new Fiona Macintosh next, and I suspect you would quite like her. Google her when you have a moment - they're brought over from the UK so all her books are soft cover already.

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