Thursday, December 31, 2009

The Final Tally

Not too bad for a year with a trans-Atlantic move.

55. Wicked - Gregory Macguire
54. Widdershins - Charles de Lint
53. Daemon - Daniel Suarez
52. Library of Shadows - Mikkel Birkegaard
51. Personal Demon - Kelley Armstrong
December
49. The petty details of so-and-so's life - Camilla Gibb
48. The Wild Hunt - Elizabeth Chadwick
47. Steel Remains - Richard K. Morgan
46. The Warrior's Princess - Barbara Erskine
45. Hawkspar - Holly Lisle
44. Talyn - Holly Lisle
43. Fallen - Tim Lebbon
42. Iron Kissed - Patricia Briggs
October/November
41. The Conjurer's Bird - Martin Davies
40. The Edge of the World - Kevin J. Anderson
39. Revenant - Tristan Hughes
38. The Gun Seller - Hugh Laurie
37. Pegesus Descending - James Lee Burke
September
36. Oxygen - Carla Cassella*
35. March Violets/The Pale Criminal - Phillip Kerr
34. Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club - Dorothy Sayers
33. Sons of Heaven - Kage Baker
32. Still Alice - Lisa Genova*
31. Man with the Golden Torc - Simon Green
August
30. Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman
29. Lost in a Good Book - Jasper Fforde
28. Zodiac - Neal Stephenson
27. Pariah - Dave Zeltserman
26. A Secret Alchemy - Emma Darwin
July
25. The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey - Candice Millard
24. The Secret History - Donna Tartt
23. Just One Bite - Kimberly Raye
22. Iron Council - China Mieville
June
21. Spook Country - William Gibson
20. Are Men Necessary? - Maureen Dowd
19. Nowhere to Go - Lee Childs
May
18. Pigs in Heaven - Barbara Kingsolver
17. To Say Nothing of the Dog - Connie Willis (a perennial favorite)
16. Whiskey and Water - Elizabeth Bear
15. The Alton Gift - Marion Zimmer Bradley and Deborah J. Ross
14. Dragon Singer - Anne McCaffrey
13. The Bull from the Sea - Mary Renault March
March
12. Careless in Red - Elizabeth George
11. New Amsterdam - Elizabeth Bear
10. In the Moon of Red Ponies - James Lee Burke
9. A Different Light - Elizabeth Lynn
8. Little Brother - Cory Doctorow
7. Darwinia - Robert Charles Wilson
February
6. Undertow - Elizabeth Bear
5. Fool Moon - Jim Butcher
4. Breaking Dawn - Stephanie Meyer (phew!)
3. Eclipse - Stephanie Meyer
2. New Moon - Stephanie Meyer
1. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Steig Larsson, translated from Swedish by Reg Keeland.

My resolution for 2010 - more non-fiction! Including, but not limited to The Golden Bough and something about native Irish religious traditions. Native as in original/Celtic/indigenous spiritual traditions. I have some research to be doing...

Here's wishing you all a happy, healthy and book-filled New Year!

Saturday, December 19, 2009

My heroines do their own fighting...

I must add my response to Porpoise's very funny lolcats post concerning the whole Twilight phenomenon. I, too, was sucked up into the Twilight books (and spread it around a bit), but never quite got over the feeling that I was doing something quite unhealthy and would need to purge/purify myself after all was said and done.

Luckily, some wonderful folks on the net put together a suitable cleansing response from a thirty-something to all these Twihards:


While you're all "OMG, are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?," I remain (forever and always) Team Buffy. In Whedon vs. Meyer, isn't it a little like slaughtering kittens - mopey, sad-eyed, slightly annoying Mormon kittens?

Now go read The Hunger Games, for heaven's sake. Or start your kids on The Paper Bag Princess. We are the Book Mavens, aren't we? READ.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

OMG. I think I just broke a rib laughing

Now I enjoy some good escapist fiction as much as (or more so) then the next person, and I will admit to having read the entire Twilight Saga (it's aquaphilic's fault, she gave me the first one waaaaay back when). While I enjoyed it, I certainly would never argue that it's particularly good Literature. And I haven't seen either of the movies. That being said...

This is the funniest lolcats I've ever seen.

Mope.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

October/November so far

I forgot to post the book list update last month, and this month is somewhat swamped by Nanowrimo (I am waaaay far behind), so this may be it for November. We'll see...

47. Steel Remains - Richard K. Morgan...Ooooooo, Takeshi Kovacs as a queer highborn soldier who saved the world from a conquering race in a world where queers are outlawed. Good stuff. Aquaphilic, you should definitely check this one out.
46. The Warrior's Princess - Barbara Erskine
45. Hawkspar - Holly Lisle
44. Talyn - Holly Lisle
43. Fallen - Tim Lebbon. This was an interesting fantasy story, that had great pacing and suspense and everything and Then.Just.Ended. Very unsatisfactorily I might add. I was getting worried because I was getting towards the end and I couldn't figure out how there was enough space to resolve everything. Now I know. It just didn't get resolved. Bah!
42. Iron Kissed - Patricia Briggs
October/November

I haven't forgotten my promise to write more about Still Alice and Oxygen, as alluded to in my last post. But the truth is, it's now been two months since I read them, and I think I should just content myself with stating this: these two books gave me faith that there is hope for scientists as fiction writers, particular important since the first example of the breed that I'd read was indescribably bad. And I've read some bad stuff in my time. So...if you're ever in doubt whether those of us who spend the majority of our time writing scientific papers can actually string together any readable fiction, rest assured that we can. Well, some of us can - I make no promises about my own ventures into fiction!

Monday, September 28, 2009

Vacations are good for reading

A two week stretch with grandparents made for some very good reading time. And the reintroduction of a commute means more consistent reading time now that we're back from the States. I'm up to #41, and need to head back to the library...

* These books will be addressed further in a separate post, as these ladies have renewed my faith in scientists' ability to write.

41. The Conjurer's Bird - Martin Davies
40. The Edge of the World - Kevin J. Anderson
39. Revenant - Tristan Hughes
38. The Gun Seller - Hugh Laurie
37. Pegesus Descending - James Lee Burke
September
36. Oxygen - Carla Cassella*
35. March Violets/The Pale Criminal - Phillip Kerr
34. Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club - Dorothy Sayers
33. Sons of Heaven - Kage Baker
32. Still Alice - Lisa Genova*
31. Man with the Golden Torc - Simon Green
August
30. Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman
29. Lost in a Good Book - Jasper Fforde
28. Zodiac - Neal Stephenson
27. Pariah - Dave Zeltserman
26. A Secret Alchemy - Emma Darwin
25. The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey - Candice Millard (my non-fiction loving, science fiction dissing other half recommended this one. It was awesome)
24. The Secret History - Donna Tartt
23. Just One Bite - Kimberly Raye (oh my God the drivel. This book made me stupider)
22. Iron Council - China Mieville (the fact that I now live in the same town as this man makes me weak in the knees)
21. Spook Country - William Gibson
20. Are Men Necessary? - Maureen Dowd (Christmas present) (Look Ma! Non-fiction!)
19. Nowhere to Go - Lee Childs
18. Pigs in Heaven - Barbara Kingsolver
17. To Say Nothing of the Dog - Connie Willis (a perennial favorite)
16. Whiskey and Water - Elizabeth Bear
15. The Alton Gift - Marion Zimmer Bradley and Deborah J. Ross
14. Dragon Singer - Anne McCaffrey
13. The Bull from the Sea - Mary Renault March
12. Careless in Red - Elizabeth George
11. New Amsterdam - Elizabeth Bear
10. In the Moon of Red Ponies - James Lee Burke
9. A Different Light - Elizabeth Lynn
8. Little Brother - Cory Doctorow
7. Darwinia - Robert Charles Wilson
6. Undertow - Elizabeth Bear (I needed some aliens to recover from the overload of teenage vampire hormonal angst and wizard vs. werewolf shenanigans)
5. Fool Moon - Jim Butcher
4. Breaking Dawn - Stephanie Meyer (phew!)
3. Eclipse - Stephanie Meyer
2. New Moon - Stephanie Meyer
1. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Steig Larsson, translated from Swedish by Reg Keeland.

Friday, August 7, 2009

A 52 book project update

July was a good month.

30. Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman
29. Lost in a Good Book - Jasper Fforde
28. Zodiac - Neal Stephenson
27. Pariah - Dave Zeltserman
26. A Secret Alchemy - Emma Darwin
July
25. The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey - Candice Millard (my non-fiction loving, science fiction dissing other half recommended this one. It was awesome)
24. The Secret History - Donna Tartt
23. Just One Bite - Kimberly Raye (oh my God the drivel. This book made me stupider)
22. Iron Council - China Mieville (the fact that I now live in the same town as this man makes me weak in the knees)
June
21. Spook Country - William Gibson
20. Are Men Necessary? - Maureen Dowd (Christmas present) (Look Ma! Non-fiction!)
19. Nowhere to Go - Lee Childs
May
18. Pigs in Heaven - Barbara Kingsolver
17. To Say Nothing of the Dog - Connie Willis (a perennial favorite)
April
16. Whiskey and Water - Elizabeth Bear
15. The Alton Gift - Marion Zimmer Bradley and Deborah J. Ross
14. Dragon Singer - Anne McCaffrey
13. The Bull from the Sea - Mary Renault
March
12. Careless in Red - Elizabeth George
11. New Amsterdam - Elizabeth Bear
10. In the Moon of Red Ponies - James Lee Burke
9. A Different Light - Elizabeth Lynn
8. Little Brother - Cory Doctorow
7. Darwinia - Robert Charles Wilson
February
6. Undertow - Elizabeth Bear (I needed some aliens to recover from the overload of teenage vampire hormonal angst and wizard vs. werewolf shenanigans)
5. Fool Moon - Jim Butcher
4. Breaking Dawn - Stephanie Meyer (phew!)
3. Eclipse - Stephanie Meyer
2. New Moon - Stephanie Meyer
1. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Steig Larsson, translated from Swedish by Reg Keeland.
January

So at the beginning of August, I'm up to 30 books with 21 weeks left in the year, with at least two books that will be finished in the next few days. I'm feeling pretty good about the 52 book goal. Particularly since we're heading to Grandparent Nirvana next week for 16 days, and I plan to spend as much time as possible not looking after my children.

Now I know that Zellous is occupied with her brand new bundle of joy, so maybe we can solicit some recommendations from anyone reading for the next book club book? We won't tax her Brand New Mommy brain by making her choose something...(JK Zellous. Your brain is plenty powerful enough to kick the arse of those pesky hormones! And Congratulations!)

Saturday, June 13, 2009

What have you read this year?

I decided to keep track of the books I've read this year, inspired by an ongoing feature on Elizabeth Bear's blog. Since I've been without internet access at home for 6+ weeks (gasp!), I've got some catching up to do. Of course, I'm sure I've forgotten some things along the way - it's been a crazy couple of months.

24. The Secret History - Donna Tartt (still in progress)
23. Just One Bite - Kimberly Raye (oh my God the drivel. This book made me stupider)
22. Iron Council - China Mieville (the fact that I now live in the same town as this man makes me weak in the knees)
June
21. Spook Country - William Gibson
20. Are Men Necessary? - Maureen Dowd (Christmas present) (Look Ma! Non-fiction!)
19. Nowhere to Go - Lee Childs
May
18. Pigs in Heaven - Barbara Kingsolver
17. To Say Nothing of the Dog - Connie Willis (a perennial favorite)
April
16. Whiskey and Water - Elizabeth Bear
15. The Alton Gift - Marion Zimmer Bradley and Deborah J. Ross
14. Dragon Singer - Anne McCaffrey
13. The Bull from the Sea - Mary Renault
March
12. Careless in Red - Elizabeth George
11. New Amsterdam - Elizabeth Bear
10. In the Moon of Red Ponies - James Lee Burke
9. A Different Light - Elizabeth Lynn
8. Little Brother - Cory Doctorow
7. Darwinia - Robert Charles Wilson
February
6. Undertow - Elizabeth Bear (I needed some aliens to recover from the overload of teenage vampire hormonal angst and wizard vs. werewolf shenanigans)
5. Fool Moon - Jim Butcher
4. Breaking Dawn - Stephanie Meyer (phew!)
3. Eclipse - Stephanie Meyer
2. New Moon - Stephanie Meyer
1. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Steig Larsson, translated from Swedish by Reg Keeland.
January

There you have it. Almost halfway through the year, and I'm on book 24. Hmmm...I better step up the pace if I'm going to get the one book/week deal done. Somehow, I don't think it's really going to be a problem...

Monday, May 18, 2009

Aquaphilic will be entertained by this

As you might imagine from her screen name, Aquaphilic has a thing about water. For years, she has been telling me I should try butterfly. Now I have independent confirmation that she's right: last night I went to a swim team stroke workout to see if it would be a good group to swim with for triathlons. I managed to increase my exposure to butterfly exponentially while rendering myself incredibly sore (core strength? What core strength?). And I was informed that I have "natural butterfly talent".

How 'bout that sports fans? Once I can stand up without pain, I might even go back.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Backstory (aquaphilic-type)

Like Porpoise in her introductory post, I am excited about our update to an electronic medium.  Although the USPS  shouldn’t be blamed for the months and, once or twice, years between book picks (that rests squarely on our collective shoulders), the need to mail the book just exacerbated our tendency to procrastinate.  But don’t let ms. P fool you – she long ago attained slacker-level where keeping in touch is concerned. (‘Fess up, WH!) Despite our slightly pathetic history, I’m optimistic that the immediate gratification of this method will encourage a more rapid exchange of books and generate some lively discussion.

While I was a firsthand witness of Porpoise’s ski-bummery – living with her for 6 months in VT – I didn’t graduate and begin my cross-country travels until the following June.  Where have I been?  Since matriculating from the aforementioned ivory tower, I’ve moved from Billsville to a Twin City (Minneapolis) to Tucson, AZ to my hometown of Waukegan, IL to Milwaukee, WI back to Waukegan and, finally, to my current home in the Windy City.  Whew…

I find it a bit difficult to describe my book taste, so I’ll illustrate it with a recent conversation I had with a good friend from college:

Zombies?!? A friend gawped at me recently when I was trying to describe to him the last REALLY GREAT book that I’d read.  Uh, yep – a “non-fiction” accounting of the zombie wars, actually, I responded. Oh, and then there was this noir free verse thing-y about lycanthropes in L.A. that caught my attention, I forged on gamely.  I think there may have been a small amount of pity lacing his eyeroll as he tried not to laugh at me. Unfortunately, this is the way my “So whatcha reading?” conversations often progress  I love a good story with compelling characters and am not afraid to wade through werewolves or zombies or vampires to get it.  Fiction or non – if it’s got a hook – a way to connect, I’ll probably read it.  I, too, like nearly anything speculative, am always consuming several books at a time of various genres and am looking for the ICBMs to introduce me to stuff I like, but might not have picked up or known about on my own.  

And that zombie book that my friend so hubristically rolled his eyes over?  HE LOVED IT. 

 

 

 

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Some backstory

So a long time ago, I graduated from a very small college and moved to Vermont to be a ski bum for a year before heading off to Our Nation's Capitol for graduate school. Some of my collegiate compatriots and I started a book-club-by-mail: one person would pick a book, send it to the next person who would read it, comment, and send it to the third person. We had a little notebook for all the comments that was going to serve as a record for the ages on our great insights into these great works of literature.

It's now more then a decade later, and I've moved from The Green Mountain State to DC to Tucson, AZ, to Houston, TX, and am now in the process of preparing to move to London at the end of the month. I've finished grad school, gotten married, produced two progeny, and read a lot of books in that span of time. My taste runs strongly to what my husband* refers to as "trashy science fiction", but I prefer to think of as openminded consumption of anything even remotely speculative in nature. I'm currently on a big Elizabeth Bear kick, but thankfully my fellow Mavens keep throwing some good stuff into the mix to keep my brain from disintegrating completely into a pile of alien goo.

We've collectively decided to shift from the postal service to the World Wide Web because really, someone is going to get pissed that she has to ship books to the UK all the time (hence the Intercontinental nature of the blog title). And this way we will have a record of all our thoughts on the great works of literature we're reading all in one place - how many times has that notebook been replaced in the last ten years ladies?

I'm looking forward to reading a bunch of good stuff in the next while, as well as forcing these two slackers to keep in touch. I think we all hope that anyone out there reading will join in the conversation!

*This from a man who reads mostly non-fiction. You know, because if it's not educational, why should he waste his time? Bah!