Climbing Mt TBR

I've made my supply run, gone through my list of what's needed in my pack, and am dressed to climb with my spiked boots, harnesses, clips and an oxygen tank or two to climb Mt To Be Read!  It's next to my office door and I'm in the position to read it right now.
You see, I scored myself Tennis Elbow; and I'm not sure how I got that, but I did.  So, once the doctor told me I had it, she ordered me to not do anything strenuous or lift anything heavy for the next month or so... bummer!  And I was just getting into working on my front little garden too.  So, I inspected how big that mountain was by my office door and knew it was Fate... it was time!... to begin reading each book I had carefully chosen to read and placed there. 

I began reading 'Kiss of Steel' last night and got up to chapter 2 and didn't want to put it down - but it was past midnight and so had to.  I had grabbed 4 other books to get my nose into from Mt To Be Read to get into and through - all of them I had won from The Romance Bandits - and so I've found, been forced to find, the time to sit down and stop long enough to read them.  Until my next post, happy reading!

Reading Tolstoy

I've been looking at getting into books I don't ordinarily read this year.  This means finding books which are known as classics or hard-to-find or unusual reads.  One of those authors are Leo Tolstoy.  I've always been fascinated by him, but due to the length of his books, I've never really had the courage to pick up his works and get into them.  So, this year, seeing I can find free books on iTunes, I thought to download bigger books onto my iPod and read them as time goes by.

I've got other books on my iPod which are pretty big.  There's Charles Darwin's famous book 'On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection' and then I also have 'Dream Psychology' by Symund Freud on there too.  These books are large and I wouldn't want to be lugging them around if they were actually a part of my collection here at home.  So, I downloaded them.  

This has gotten me thinking: do you have any authors you'd love to read but feel intimidated by them because of the types of work they write, or the size of their books they've published?  Seeing I'm reading a monster of a book - which may take over a year to read, so I'll be reading other books as well as this one - who is your whale in the literary world?  Until my next post, happy reading!  

Winter Reading

Here in Brisbane, the cooler weather has struck us early and so, I've been looking at what I'm going to read while I'm locked up in my house during the cooler months of the year with my little bird and a mug of hot chocolate by my side.  

There's a few books I'd like to get through in the next few months.  However, I'm not going to be solidly sticking to a list, the ones here are going to be hopefuls of mine that I've had my eye on for a while, or I've recently brought into the house and they look good.

'Death, Taxes and a French Manicure' by Diane Kelly 

'The Devil and Miss Jones' by Kate Walker

'The Seal' by Adriana Koulias

'Other People's Diaries' by Kathy Webb

'Dark Legacy' by M.A. Anderson

'Me & Her' by Karen Tyrrell

Now, the first and last ones are books I'm halfway through; and I'm going to finish both of them in the next week or so.  Then, I'll see what I can do about the other books I've got listed here.  I've picked a good variety - some thick, some thin, a romance or two, a general fiction and a fantasy novel... all totally different from each other.  So I get to read a good choice of books this Winter.  Well, what have you got in store for your Winter reading?  And if you're just coming out of your Winter Hibernation, and into your Spring/Summertime, what have you got planned to read over the next few months?  Leave a comment below and let us all know.  Until my next post, happy reading!

Brief Interviews With Hideous Men by David Foster Wallace

David Foster Wallace is a brilliant writer whose life was cut tragically short.  And his work wasn't discovered by me until recently when I found myself reading more book review blogs such as The New Dork Book Reviewer.  When Greg mentioned some of DFW's titles there, I just had to get in and read some of his work.

So, while I was cruising around on Bookcrossing one day, I found a bookray for 'Brief Interviews With Hideous Men' and put my name down for it.  A year or so passed and I received an e-mail from a Bookcrosser in South Africa saying she was almost finished with this very book.  I was so excited about it!  However, when I received it and began reading the short stories, my excitement waned a little.  I did enjoy the language, but the stories were long, complex and didn't hold my attention.  They were also about mainly - well - nothing really.  DFW had stories in this book about everyday conversations in airports, bars, restaurants and a couple of sordid stories titled after the title of the book which completely confused me.  

So, I don't really know what to make of this book.  It is a book of short stories; however none of them really make any sense.  I can't see anything about the characters.  He didn't make me care about any of them, there wasn't really any storyline or real use to them, so I didn't see much point in why he had them in the book; even though they were eloquently and so gorgeously written, they were also very hard to follow.  Most of his extremely long sentences made absolutely no sense at all.

David Foster Wallace must have written better books than this one; so I will look out for them and read them.  However, this one was not one that I would recommend for your reading pile, unless - of course - you like complex stories like his.  Until my next post, happy reading. 

Summer Reading Challenge

Okay, I took on the Spring Reading Challenge on Good Reads and only managed to knock over four books.  So, when I was invited to take part in the Summer Reading Challenge, I was taken by surprise; and began to look at the books I wanted to read over the Christmas/NYE break - as well as the ones I wanted to read right through February.  

Seeing I'm sticking around Brisbane - and my home - I'm hoping to get in more reading time and so I'll have more of choice to read as I'll have my collection at my fingertips.  Right now, I've got my nose well in truly into '11-22-63' by Stephen King; which will take me into the Summer Reading Challenge.  I'm reading about 30 pages a day; some in the afternoon and some in the evening before I turn out the light at night.  I'm just over 200 pages into it and it's kicking along really well; I'm enjoying it completely.

So, what books are you hoping to read this Christmas/NYE?  And where are you going to be at this time of the year while you've got your nose in your favourite reads?  Have you themed your books for the Silly Season, or are you just reading anything you can grab off the shelf?  Well, until my next post, happy reading!

Summer Fun

This Christmas I won't be going to the coast.  I'll be here in Brisbane for the whole of the Christmas and New Year's Eve Period to read, enjoy and relax as much as possible.  And while I'm here, I was thinking about what I'd be doing over this time with the blog.

I've taken on a Summer Reading Challenge on Good Reads.  So, this means I'll have a line-up of books I'll be reading over the next few months that I'll be reviewing as I finish them.  

There is an interview of an Australia Author I'd like to introduce to you all; and she's a wonderful friend of mine (actually, I've been meaning to interview her for a while, and thought this would be the best time).

And there's some book blogs I haven't mentioned on here that I'll install the links to for you all; as well as improve the events calendar for you all next year so it's easier to read.

So... there's the plans for this Summer.  I will be doing a little bit of traveling around Brisbane in search of the perfect bookstore for you to guys to come and look into, the best book-cafe to check and some of the rarest books I've found out there as well.  

All of this will be going on over Christmas, New Years Eve and throughout Summer (Winter for you guys in the Northern Hemisphere) to keep us all occupied.  All of this will begin at the end of next week; so until then, I hope you guys have a great weekend, and - of course - happy reading! 

Good Reads Spring Challenge

Well, it's almost the end of October, and the Spring Challenge I taking part in on Good Reads; with one more month to go.  I have read some great books over the last two months; reviewing them as I finished them (just enter them into the Search Box on the side bar and they'll show up).

The first book I got my nose into was one that had been offered up at high school (in year 10 actually) but I didn't read it.  It's 'Old Man and the Sea' by Ernest Hemmingway.  I loved it from the very beginning to the very last page.  It was brilliantly written and had me on the edge of my seat - especially when he was fighting the fish.  Actually, there was a stage where I was sitting outside and I found that I gripping the book so hard that I had to stand up and begin walking around or I might do the old edition I owned some damage by accident (I was reading a 2nd edition of the book; and it was brilliant!  The publishers used two artists in the book for illustrations purely because they couldn't choose between them!  How great is that?).

The second book I read for the Spring Challenge was 'Red Dog' by Louis De Bernieres.  Now, I went and saw the touching film this book was turned into before I read this book; which is something I don't normally do.  However, not a week later, Mum showed up at my door and gave me a new copy of the book for me to read before she read it.  Well!  What a great book!  I couldn't put it down!  I laughed out loud and I cried my eyes out too!  And like the critics said about E.T. when it came out:  if you don't shed a tear, you've got a heart of stone.

I did have some problems with my third book I chose to read for this challenge:  'The Mists of Avalon' by Marion Zimmer Bradley.  I had heard some brilliant reviews about this book and thought I'd try to tackle this book... well, this was my third year on trying out this book - my third time.  However, each time I tried to get into it, something stopped me and the whole thing turned into one great big haze - kind of like the ocean spray that was taking over the castle that was hanging over the cliffs in the book!  I felt as though my mind turned in a haze too each time I picked up this tome... so it never got finished.

The fourth book I read was 'The Bee-Loud Glade' by Steve Himmer.  This was somewhat of a challenge within itself that I received in the mail.  It was something where I was invited to read for a book discussion early in October; and I accepted.  Seeing I don't normally go in for these, I thought it would be good for the Spring Challenge.  So, once it arrived, I dove straight in and knocked over 40 pages or so on the first day (as there was nothing else to do on that day).  Then, I was reading up to 30 pages a day until it was finished just this Monday gone at around 1am when I was kept awake by the beginnings of a dreadful cold.  This book is something completely different to what I'd normally read - a narrative - and yet it kept me interested the whole time.  I took part in some of the discussion on Goodreads and enjoyed the banter... enjoying the talks about how the book was written and the characters in the book and the nuts and bolts of this book as well as the back-story and other things about it.  When this book does come your way, don't hesitate to read it, as it's brilliantly written and will keep you thinking well after you've closed it.

With another month to go, you never now how much more there is to be read during this challenge.  Well, until my next post, happy reading!

The Bee-Loud Glade by Steve Himmer

What would you do if you were offered five million dollars to live in somebody's garden and be a hermit without saying a word for seven years?  Would you do it or not?  This is the the job offered to Finch, a man who used to work as a blogger for a company that manufactured plastic plants.  He found life not worthwhile and just stopped everything; until he found an offer on some spam he saw online which offered some work that was right up his alley.  He answered it and didn't expect anything in return... not until there was a knock at the door the following morning.

I won this book off The Next Best Book Blog and what I had to do to win it was to leave a comment of what I would do if I was not allowed to talk for seven years.  I was also invited to take part in a book/author discussion on Goodreads.  This was something I couldn't pass up and I've found it great fun and interesting to post what I've thought of the book as I've been reading it.  And this book is something I've found very easy to read as well.  Well worth looking into if you'd like something totally different to get into this Spring.

I haven't found much on Steve Himmer.  There's his blog and other information on him in the back of his most recent book.  However, that's about it.  So, I'll put his blog up on the side bar and you can have a look at it at your leisure.

Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemmingway

Santiago is going out fishing.  He does this every day; however for the last eighty or so days, he hasn't caught anything.  This has labeled him as unlucky; and the boy he usually takes with him isn't allowed to go out onto the sea anymore.  Today, he lets the boy help him with the gaff, sail, ropes and bait before he watches him go with another fisherman.  Santiago wishes he had the help as he's an old man and wants to catch a good fish to show he's not unlucky and it's not time to retire.  So, today, he goes out further than the other boats - out where the water turns a darker hue and the land can barely be seen - before he casts his lines and waits.  

Before long, one of his lines goes and a fight begins for Santiago; this is between him and a fish - a Marlin, the biggest he's ever seen - to see who will survive.  But being such an old man, will he die before the Marlin tires out and he can take it into shore?

Hemmingway has written a brilliant book in fantastic detail about fishing for that one big fish - that whale so to say - which can make or break you.  Santiago's struggle with his catch is ongoing; and you struggled along with him as you read this simply written book.  The description in it is just gorgeous and I loved how the smallest thing was placed in just right and taken out just as delicately; as though it was a passing wind.

I own a second edition of this book; and so it has the most beautiful illustrations every three pages by two different artists.  In the front it stated that the publishers couldn't decide whose art was the best to put in, so they used both as the artwork depicted the storyline the best.  I loved how beautifully etched the drawings were and found that they really did pull the story along well.

Ernest Hemingway was born on 21st July 1899 in Oak Park, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. He was one of six children. His father, Dr Clarence Edmonds Hemingway was a fervent member of the First Congregational church, his mother, Grace Hall, sang in the church choir. At the age of 17 Hemingway published his first literary work. 

He died aged 61, of self inflicted gun shot wounds. He was the greatest of writers.  There is a lot more to know of Hemmingway on his official site; this little bit was just the summary from the site.

Spring Readathon

I've decided to take part in a challenge this month.  Seeing it's Spring here in Australia - and a bit of a damp one at that - I was invited on Good Reads Spring Reading Challenge.  We have to get in and read as many books as we can this month; and seeing I began reading some great books in the last week, and I'm halfway through them, I'm hoping to read more than my usual quota of books in a month than I usually do.

So far, I'm halfway through two books.  The first being 'Old Man and the Sea' by Ernest Hemmingway.  It's a second edition and I bought it at The Book Barn in Mullumbimby in New South Wales a couple of years ago for $14; and only just picked it up this year.  The story is fantastic, and I think everyone should read this story of a man, the ocean and endurance.

My next read is something I'm getting a good giggle out of; it's 'Red Dog' by Louis de Bernieres.  And it's a great story of a dog - of course - which has been recently made into a brilliant film.  I saw the film first and it differs greatly from the book; but is full of just as many laughs; if not more!

I'm still reading 'Owls Do Cry' by Janet Frame.  However, I'm finding it difficult to get my head into it for long periods of time; as it deals with part of her real life and people with Epilepsy in it (something that touches close to home with me).  So, I still have that one by my bed to read when I can push myself.

Once I finish the first two books for the Spring Reading Challenge, I'll do their reviews.  I've been going well with my reading this year; seeing I've had other projects on my plate that I'm working on just as much.  Until my next post, happy reading!

Winter Reading Time!

Here in Brisbane, the mercury has dropped well below the 20 degree Celsius mark; perfect for curling up on the lounge under the feather duvet with your favourite books in your Winter pajamas for a good delve into another world.  So, what would you be poking your nose into this Winter?  Some classics such as 'War of the Worlds' by H.G. Wells or something a little more romantic and close to the heart to warm your insides?  Me?  I'm reading 'Acheron' by Sherrilyn Kenyon; which an absolute tome of a book, but it's worth every word and page of the 800 page or so.  It's also a first of a very popular vampire series, so I think it's worth reading up on the history of how it all began.

As for the rest of the world, it's coming into Summer.  So, what would guys be getting into?  Warmer, longer days of Summer where you can sit by the pool or out on the deck and read to your heart's content while the kids run around in the yard while you sip iced tea in the shade and read your favourites you've been meaning to get to.

My books I'm hoping to get my nose into this Winter are:

'Acheron' by Sherrilyn Kenyon

'The Cinderella Complex: Women's Hidden Fear of Independence' by Colette Dowling

'A Virtuous Woman' by Kaye Gibbons

'Everyman's Rules For Scientific Living: A Novel' by Carrie Tiffany

I'm hoping to read these by the end of Winter - seeing it's going to be a very cold one for us here.  So, do tell us, by leaving a comment or two, what you plan to read this Winter - or Summer.  Have they been on your Reading List for a long time or have they just arrived?  Until my next post, Happy Reading! 

Afternoon of Reading Results

It was a lovely day yesterday to get into reading; it was was also a good day to get a bit of housework done.  And once most of it was out of the way, I pulled out the deckchair, grabbed my books and ice cold Cranberry juice, camera and phones; then put Little Miss Stevie outside with me and settled in for a good few hours of reading.

My first book was 'Catch-22' by Joseph Heller.  I read from page 55 to 93 in about an hour and half.  I find reading about the war - any war - hard going; but once I enjoyed how the words were put together, and ignored the fact it was talking about the war, I enjoyed it.

Then 'The Gargoyle' by Andrew Davidson was next.  And it was also a totally different turn of pace too.  A lighter and more elegant style of writing; I enjoyed it to a point.  I did find parts of what I read a tad boring.  I read from page 117 to 141 in around an hour.

'The Alchemist' by Paulo Choelho is a book that I've recently picked up and have put down for one reason; and that's because it doesn't have chapter headings.  I like them for the fact that you can usually mark your way through a book with them.  However, this was something that bothered me about this book.  Once I got back into the book, I enjoyed pages 82 - 106 immensely; reading them in thirty-five minutes; and could have read more if I didn't have to get in and start thinking about dinner; as it was only half an hour away from 4pm and I needed to get in early.  

So, there was my afternoon of reading; and this got me wondering if any of you have done this kind of thing before; set yourself a challenge and tried to get through as many books as you could like I have.  I found this very relaxing and enjoyable, and will do it again soon.  Until my next post, happy reading.

An Afternoon of Reading

It's been a while since I got my nose into a good few chapters of books; as socially, I've been on-the-go.  So, today, I thought it would be a good challenge to catch up on reading some chapters of some good books.

As of midday today, I'll be collecting together 'Catch-22' by Joseph Heller and getting a few chapters read of that.  I'm a couple of chapters in; but I want to get further into it than I am.  Each time I get into the book I'm often in bed; and by the time I want to read more, I'm too tired and have to turn out the light.

The next book I'll get into is 'The Alchemist' by Paulo Ceolho.  I've gotten a fair way into this - and have enjoyed it - however, for some reason, I've put it down.  I must get back into it and get reading it again.  I think it's because it has no chapter headings that it's put me off; but I'll keep going and see how I go with it.

Then, there's 'The Gargoyle' by Andrew Davidson.  This is a book I've had on my bed-head for a long time; and I have been meaning to get my nose into again.  It's a great book; and I want to finish it as I have heard great things about it and the author has written more books I'd like to read as well.  

So, this is what I'm doing this afternoon.  I'll be setting up either out the front of my unit or in my carport (most probably that latter as it'll be nice and cool; and I'll have more space to spread out) and I'll let you know tomorrow how far I got with each book, and how many pages and chapters I read of each.