Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Books


I have a few things to bring up on the subject of books:

1. First and foremost, I haven't had any lists sent in for the KWAW Book List. I actually haven't started my list either, so no throwing stones here. I want to know if you guys would like more time (is this not a good time of year for this? Should we push the deadline through Feb?) Let me know your thoughts....

2. (while we're on the subject of books) I would like to report that I am half way through The Return of the King, so the Fro Baggs have the end in sight! Sue, you mentioned some Harry Pot Pot reviews coming "soon" quite a while ago and I know you got super busy after that. Just know that I for one am still looking forward to that report.

3. CHROLS-- Dan, did Eclipse get tossed in disgust to collect dust somewhere never to be heard from again? Or just taking a sanity break and reading something that actually makes sense to you? Ben and Matt, I am afraid to even ask where you are in your little challenge....

4. Lastly, I couldn't find where we discussed The Lost Symbol (the new google search was no help, so it must be in the comments somewhere or even facebook). Anyway, I read it and liked it for the most part, but decided that I don't care for Dan Brown's writing style, it got on my nerves with this book, but I still enjoyed the book and the subject matter was interesting. While I'm at it, Dad, I am halfway through the 2nd chapter in South of Broad (I am reading 3 books simultaneously- a habit I do a lot- and it is getting squeezed in the mix- enjoying it so far).

16 comments:

Pops said...

Emily, good post and it is time we all thought about our book list and got withit.

Reading three books at once. That is pretty skitsoid and craiziod. My poor brain can't track along one thread of thought, let alone three. "When she gets home I'm gonna smack your momma".

Amy said...

I could use a little more time since my time is occupied with a little peeing machine! I need house-breaking advice. Sometimes, I think we're making headway, and then, he'll pee 3 times in a half-hour in different spots. I don't know what to do! We keep him closed off in the kitchen/laundry room most of the time and I take him out often. He's even peed in his crate! UGHHH!

Anyway, I'll start working on my list.

Emily said...

My housebreaking experience has been limited to Lola and she didn't do that, so I am at a loss. All I can think of is that behavior sounds like it could be associated with nervousness and perhaps will disappear after a week or so when he is more comfortable with his new situation/surroundings. Also, is his area of the crate small enough? Perhaps you need a bigger box in there so there is less space for him. My last thing is how old is he? I forget exactly and wonder if he is still a little young and will also get over this in a week or so. We got Lola at 9 weeks I think it was, and the breeders said the pups were just starting to get the concept of house training.

Dad- perhaps a little skitsoid, but if it makes more sense to you, they all have to be very different books. I've tried reading two mysteries/thrillers at the same time and that just doesn't work, I get confused. But if the books are different enough, I have no trouble and enjoy it. If you still feel that you need to smack my momma, well, I'll leave that to your discretion.

Dan W said...

I'm a book polygamist (reading several at once).

Eclipse is one of my several going right now. I'm about 200 pages in and am not hating it as much as the others and do plan to finish it and the series.

Lost Symbol struck me the same way, Em. Fun subject, loved learning about DC and all its symbology, enjoyed the stuff about noetic science as that's an area of study I've long been interested in. That said, his formulaic writing definitely grated on me, even more than in the others.

Happy to turn in my list of books whenever everyone decides the deadline is. I'd made a few notes when we first started on this but had forgotten. Would be happy to pick it up again.

Good luck with all the pee, Mose!

Haley said...

I thought the same thing about The Lost Symbol, it was just too similar to his other books. Break out a little! It was essentially the same book just different place and subjects. It was still good though.Crazy surprise ending! I need to get going on my book list, thanks for the reminder!

Emily said...

It wasn't even the similarities of the books that bothered me, it was the way he would introduce new subject matter. How he would end a chapter and then how he would approach having Langdon explain the new mysterious whatever. It really bothered me. I was ok reading his first book (of his that I read) The Davinci Code- maybe because it was my first one. Then I don't remember Angels and Demons bothering me I wonder if it was written a little different being his first novel. But this one had me rolling my eyes. I did like the surprise ending and this was my introduction into Neotics which I found really interesting.
One last thing- I'd love to go back and count how many times he used the word "esoteric" in the first 100 pages or so. Get a dang thesaurus Mr. Brown!

Dan W said...

The stuff you mention Em was EXACTLY what bugged me!

Amy said...

Thanks for the advice Em. I appreciate it. He will be 9 weeks old on Friday, so he is a little young. Also, he does pee outside probably more often than inside. He just pees about 20 times a day. I don't even let him have unlimited access to water! I think you're right about the nervousness. He seems pretty comfortable and he follows me EVERYWHERE! He loves me and I adore and love him, too. I have been putting him on a leash and walking him outside a little longer and that seems to help. I bought pee pads today, set them out, and he peed NEXT to it! Funny guy. I'm sure he'll get it. Alex suggested giving him a treat every time he goes outside. I've tried that today, too.

Angels and Demons bothered me a little, too, for the reasons you gave. I'm not terribly anxious to read The Lost Symbol because of that. But, I do love DC and American History and think I would be willing to overlook and roll my eyes a little. I just have a list of books to read that rank a little higher on my priority list! I LOVED North and South, Ems! You have to read it!!

Haley said...

I am on the 12th page of North & South, my reading time has been snatched from me since I started school. So it will probably be a while until I finish it but I'm excited!

Emily said...

I'm excited for North and South! I can't decide if I should watch it again, then read, or just do the inevitable watching of it after reading.....
There is no way I will read it and not watch it again, so I may as well just start with reading it.

Amy said...

I'm glad I was pretty familiar with the movie before I read it. I had seen it 3 times. The book is better, of course, but I liked the way they did the movie and picturing the actors while reading.
Good luck, Haley, I know it's hard to read for pleasure while you're in school. Good for you!

Sue said...

I'll start working on my book list Em. I haven't forgotten, I've been thinking about it. But it makes me laugh to think about, because the books I like best are really pretty twisted. But, I'll try to come up with a mostly appropriate book list.

Did I ever tell you and Cat about what happened a couple of months ago when I was re-reading Inivisible Monsters? It was Bonko night, and it was our turn to host all the husbands at our house. I had left the book on the kitchen table. During the night one of the guys picked up the book and opened it to a random page and started reading it. He looked at Cam and said "Dude, something is wrong with your wife!". He read it to them, then when I got home they were all looking at me like I was crazy. When they told me they had read from my book. I laughed so hard. I can just imagine how twisted that book would seem if you just read a random page and not the story from beginning to end.

Emily said...

HAHA! That is a funny story. There probably is something a little wrong with us.

Pops said...

You just figuring that out now, Ems?

Pops said...

How you doing with South of Broad, Ems? By-the-way, I love the picture of Scout the bean reading that big book. Her one eye is so keen.

Emily said...

Chapter 9. Getting interesting.....