I DO actually still read... sometimes

Actually I love to read, I just don't get to do it much. I'm lucky if I read a book (for fun) in a month's time. Mostly I read for work, not that that's a bad thing, but I do love a good historical mystery and they're so hard to work into a sermon!

Working on a new find "Murder on the Eifel Tower" by Claude Izner, who I believe is actual a pair of sisters. It's written at the time of the Columbian (?) Exposition in the late 1800's in Paris. Only a few chapters in, I'm thinking it's a little bit slow and disjointed, but I'm really hoping that's a plot tactic and will pleasantly resolve as I go along.

Otherwise, I have stacks and stacks of books waiting for me. I'm seriously thinking about buying a Nook; I just don't think our house can hold anymore paperbacks!

2010 resolve

I really do want to keep track of what I've read this year. I can't decide if I want to also tally books I read for work, or just pleasure. Since I haven't completed anything work-related yet, I guess I don't have to decide quite yet...

So in January, I read some Paul Christopher, one of my new fave adventure writers:

The Aztec Heresy

The Sword of the Templars, and

Rembrandt's Ghost.

Now, I recognize that these are not great literature. That's not why I read them. For that, I am working on Mark Helprin's Winter's Tale. He has a fabulous way with words. It's utterly beautiful and emotional writing. I easily get a vivid image of the story in my mind's eye. I find myself reading more slowly than I usually do, I think to absorb each word and not miss an image or an emotion.

But for more brain candy, I am also revisiting the old romantic-suspense goddess, Victoria Holt, reading The Silk Vendetta and The Captive. She's actually a quite good writer, even though the genre is often sneered at. It appears that they may be out of print or at least that Amazon doesn't stock them. I get mine from Paperback Swap.

I think that's all so far for January. Maybe if I can post once a month or so, I might be able to keep up?

Let's see...
Just finished up Matthew Reilly's Seven Deadly Wonders and Six Sacred Stones. Both pretty good in their genre. Hero Jack West, Jr. is pretty cool, along with his team. Not sure it's anything to write home about, but again, I'm reading it for brain candy, not edification. That comes later... maybe.
too busy to link right now, get back to that later.

Way Behind

I've really been remiss about posting what I've been reading. Right now I'm working on another Steve Berry--a favorite author of mine. The Venetian Betrayal is the most recent in paperback (I think). It's about on par with his others. It's good brain candy. [I know I linked to the hardback, but the reviews are a little more balanced here. There were only 3 up for the paperback version.]
For my Christmas gift to myself, I ordered about 15 work-related books to read over my maternity leave (anybody wanna start placing bets on how many I'll actually get through with a new kid?) Ok, so that may be a little ambitious. But I don't want to atrophy either.
Also just finished F is for Fugitive by Sue Grafton. Love Kinsey! I did think this one had a few loose ends that didn't get tied up well, but Kinsey is such a great gal, you just can't go wrong.

current read

I haven't been reading as voraciously as I was able to this summer, but I'm really enjoying The Religion by Tim Willcocks right now. It is a bit gory in some scenes, but I gloss over those. The story is really compelling. It is set in the 16th century and is more or less set amidst the battle between Christian monastic knights and the Moslem equivalent. The main characters are well written and sympathetic, very human amidst their circumstances. Almost all the scenes are very well done, described in great detail, even the gory ones are written well. The author also has a well-developed vocabulary which I appreciate. He doesn't go out of his way to use fancy words, but knows when a well-chosen one can hit the mark.
for a book picked up at random on the Wal-Mart sale rack, I'd say I hit a winner.

Books and Clubs and Libraries, Oh My!

Just got a new stack of books from Paperback Swap. Let's see, I got Artemisia, Galileo's Daughter, Under the Black Flag, and ...something else I can't recall right now. Haven't cracked a page on any of them yet. They're all just stacked on my desk. Waiting... patiently, as good books do.
I did finally go get a library card, so I've been reading a couple of books from the library lately. I finished Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving. Not one of my favorites of his. Also am about to finish Gods of Aberdeen by Micah Nathan. I'm enjoying it quite a bit. There's a little bit of intrigue, some alchemy and some good characters, I think.
I was invited by a friend to join a book club that she's a part of. I looked at the list and with the exception of maybe one or two, they're the kind of books that are deep, often dark, soul-searching things with lots of pain and agony along the way--the kind that Oprah loves. We'll see. That's not really my thing. I think there are plenty of good deep, insightful books that don't drag you into the depths of agony to make their point. Know any? Leave a comment!

Books I Read on Vacation

I went through a number of books last week while on vacation in Canada. Sometimes one a day. Let's see if I can remember all of them:
Splintered Icon by Bill Napier-only ok. Not the best plot line or character development, but some good action moments. My first read by the author, and while I'm not sure I'd actively seek another of his works, it didn't entirely stink. However, I enjoyed Gates of Hades by Gregg Loomis much more. The hero was tough and hunky and there was a little side plot with the girl, of course. I've read another one or two of Loomis's works and they were all pretty decent. It was no Jack DuBrul, but I've read all of his. (It's my thing for geologists, see) Maybe it's time to re-read? Hmm, anyway...
Also read Winter Study by Nevada Barr. For sure in the top 3. One of the better ones of hers lately. Threw in a couple historical romance novels, mostly 'cause that's just what us gals do on vacation, kind of a tradition. Won't bore you with titles and details. [Since we know they're all pretty much the same anyway, but that's not why we read them, right? :) ]
But by far and away the most fun was Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich. I mean, who doesn't love Stephanie Plum?! Two hunky guys, all that adventure, a crazy family, ex-ho sidekick, Rex... It doesn't get any funnier than this! Not enough Ranger in this one though, "Babe."
I'm just about to finish Bones to Ashes by Kathy Reichs, also one of my favorite authors. She'd be #2 in the top 3 right between Evanovich and Barr on the vacation top picks.