Christmas Books - 2009

I just finished Bone by Bone by Carol O'Connell. Very good. She writes so well.

And now onto the Christmas books. I asked for the Giller Nominees for Christmas and received 2 of them (The Bishop's Man and The Disappeared). I have started The Bishop's Man by Linden MacIntyre since it won and all that. I am only a few pages in, so I will report back later on that. I got a book on Musicals and a book on Screenwriting and the next book in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (written by Eoin Colfer since Douglas Adams has passed on). My Mom gave me the 2nd book by the author of The Time Traveller's Wife (Audrey Niffenegger?) and my brother gave me one of Carrie Fischer's autobiographies. In addition, I got some Indigo Gift Card $$ so I can go buy more books. A good haul.

I was happy, too, that both boys got several books for Christmas. Oliver got the next 2 Wimpy Kid books and he has been reading them. He also got another Encyclopedia Brown book. Ah! Memories of my childhood! It was good to see him reading on the recent trip to Olds. A true 'Strand'.

Books, Books, Books...

I've been busy but I have a read a few things. I finished The Complaints by Rankin. It was good. I hope this character continues as I think it gives him somewhere to go. I also read Necessary as Blood by Deborah Crombie. Good read. Something happens and the 'crime' is interesting. I am currently reading the 3rd book in the Time Travelling series that I started a while back - The Time Quake by Linda Buckley-Archer. I recommend this series to any kid-lit fans out there. It is really well written and I find it to be a quality series.

Here I Go...

I am reading The Complaints by Ian Rankin. I am also reading Trofmiuk's Waiting for Columbus. I am trading back and forth, but it is hard not to go for the Rankin 'cause I love his writing. I read the second book in the Gideon Trilogy and I need to go get the third. Those are ones I recommend for kids who read (9-11 and up).

Sweeney Reading... Hard to do so late at night...

I started Thomas Trofmiuk's Waiting For Columbus, but had to put it aside until after Sweeney closes. I was getting to bed so late that I kept having to re-read pages so I bought book one of a children's book series (9-14 yr range) called The Time Thief (The Gideon Trilogy) by Linda Buckley-Archer and it is going much better. Once Sweeney wraps up and I finish the kid's book I will return to Columbus.

Can't Quite Face Joyce Yet...

So I am reading the latest Kathy Reichs, 206 Bones. When Sweeney is done and I can read more than 3 pages before falling asleep I will attempt something more challenging!

Gah!

I am reading The Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson right now, but the GAH is really because I bought Ulysses (James Joyce) as recommended by my drama prof and it is scaring me just by existing. I might not be able to start it for a little while and it is no doubt going to sit on the shelf and glare at me!

Junk Food for My Brain...

I have a confession to make. I really liked The Da Vinci Code. I know, I know, Dan Brown and John Grisham and about 50% of what I read is really junk food for my brain, but I like Smarties and salt and vinegar chips, too. Anyhow, on that note, I just finished The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. It was part of my birthday present from Mark and I got it early because he went to COSCO last week. It was okay - not as action packed as Da Vinci, and I figured out the 'big twist' really early on (like within the first 1/7 of the book) so that was not the shocker it should have been (too many clues, Dan!). I also kind of knew what the lost symbol was going to be and the reveal was a let down. However, it was a good way to shut the brain down over the last week and I needed that! The discussions of religion and spirituality are in line with my own views and I appreciated that, however, one wonders if he needed to write that big of a book to communicate his agenda (he has a sizable hammer).