Sci Fi and Fantasy Dreams

I started reading science fiction back in Junior High (now referred to as Middle School). Art, this tall red-headed guy, sat behind me in math. Art was a sci-fi buff. He was always reading sci-fi. And the year we were in the same math class he was reading through the Ray Bradbury books. I'm not claiming to be smart, but math was a no-brainer in junior high. If we finished our work early we could read, so Art and I did a lot of reading. And the books Art was reading seemed really good. So, when he finished reading a book he'd loan it to me so I could read it. This was back in the 70's, and we read every Ray Bradbury we could get our hands on. I loved The Martian Chronicles, but Something Wicked This Way Comes was my favorite.

Then I got into Isaac Asimov and his themes on the laws of robotics. How many of us know the three basic laws of robotics?

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.

The conflicts resulting from these laws were fascinating and they presented very human conundrums. I haven't done much research on Isaac Asimov, but I'd bet he has a bit of psychology and sociology in his background.

From there I moved on to Robert Heinlein (The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress), then Ursula LeGuin (The EarthSea Trilogy). At the time the Tolkien books were in their second coming. I resolved not to read them, though, until my uncle gave them to me for Christmas. And then I was hooked. I couldn't put Tolkien down until I'd read straight through The Silmarillian. Then along came the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant (Stephen R. Donaldson) and The Shannara series (Terry Brooks). Two almost polar opposites in the Fantasy genre, yet surprisingly similar.

In college my fun classes were literature. The first lit class I took that was not required for graduation was "The History of Science Fiction and Fantasy". There were about 30 books on the mandatory reading list, starting with Frankenstein. It was, and still is, one of the most memorable and enjoyable classes I've taken. We read and discussed a wide range of sub-genres within Science Fiction and Fantasy. I especially enjoyed the lectures covering time travel. (The complexities of time travel boggles the mind and imagination even today!)

Not only did we discuss the sub-genres, but we also discussed and learned about the authors, the world climate when the books were written, gender roles, and more. The class was so much more than a literature class. It was a history class, a sociology class, a psychology class, and a literature class all rolled into one. Understanding the author's background and the world in which they were living was critical to understanding the reasoning behind the themes addressed in the books. For example, H.G. Wells. His background was one of the working class in the late 1800's. And understanding H.G. Wells's socialist leanings, we understood better why he pursued his vision of Utopia. But then when we read The Time Machine, it is amazing how his visions of Utopia devolve into chaos. We had several heated discussions as to whether he truly believe society as a whole was headed toward chaos.

What I find truly fascinating now is that science fiction and fantasy have been steadily gaining popularity. Not too long ago, folks who read sci-fi and fantasy were labelled geeks or nerds. Now, these genres are almost commonplace. We see this in the movies and their popularity. The new movie Looper, for one, is a time-travel action movie. And who can forget 12 Monkeys? And then there's the romantic time travel movie The Time Traveler's Wife. Then there's the classic, Young Frankenstein; a comedy, a parody, a satire. And, of course, The War of the Worlds - radio, original movie and remake. And then there's my current personal favorite, Prometheus.

I don't know how these writers do it. To come up with entirely new worlds, species, peoples, cultures, languages, and more. To be able to picture a universe, a world and describe the outlay along with the coming up with species and characters that ensnare us and hold our attention and make us care about the outcome. Carl Sagan's novels explored the existence of God within the infinite cosmos. And are we really alone among the stars? If not, who, what, where? The questions, oh the questions!

And I think that's why I enjoy science fiction and fantasy. I am transported to different worlds with different peoples and fantastic creatures. And for the length of that book or series the impossible becomes real.

A few Science Fiction/Fantasy authors you may be interested in (if you haven't already read them):

Piers Anthony
Isaac Asimov
Ray Bradbury
Terry Brooks
Arthur C. Clarke
Philip K. Dick
Stephen R. Donaldson
Robert Heinlein
Frank Herbert
Ursula LeGuin
C.S. Lewis
Anne McCaffrey
George Orwell
Tim Powers
Terry Pratchett
Carl Sagan
Mary Shelley
J.R.R. Tolkien
Jules Verne
Kurt Vonnegut
H.G. Wells
Michelle Sagara West

Themed Mystery Series II +

It has been a few days since I last posted. I am finding that only reading books on the bucket list is sometimes a bit like assigned reading in school. When the reading is assigned, the reader is less inclined to read. So, I have decided to mix it up some.

I just finished listening to the unabridged version of Peril At End House by Agatha Christie and am starting on The ABC Murders, again by Agatha Christie. And I am slowly getting through The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas). But, on the weekly trip to the library I picked up a few fun books. These are easy reads. You know the ones; you can finish them in an afternoon or a day. What makes it more fun is that these are the first book of mystery series that I have not yet read. (Link to the Themed Mystery Series post: http://mybucketofbooks.blogspot.com/2012/08/themed-mystery-series.html.)

• Southern Fried by Cathy Pickens; (What is it about southern women and mystery series?) This series revolves around Avery Andrews, an attorney who was downsized and has gone home to her small town in South Carolina. Arson and murder happen in quick order.
• A Catered Murder by Isis Crawford; (more food-related mysteries) This series stars Bernadette Simmons who moves back to New York after a bad breakup. She starts working in her sister's catering company where murder seemingly abounds. (Remind me to never hire a caterer! LOL)
• Catnap by Carole Nelson Douglas; As with the Mrs. Murphy series by Rita Mae Brown, the protagonist alternates between a cat and the cat's pet, this time Temple Barr, a public relations expert.
• Antiques Maul by Barbara Allan; (this is actually the second book. I have the first book on hold.) This series revolves around an antiques dealer and her spoiled Shih Tzu.

And while I am thinking about it, Rita Mae Brown is author of three mystery series. I am most familiar with the Mrs. Murphy series. This is a charming series which stars two cats, a dog and their pet, Harry Minor Haristeen. So, add this author to the Themed Mystery Series.

While doing some background research for this post I found a book to add to the bucket list: Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown. This book covers the Gay and Lesbian genre and is considered a breakthrough novel. It is likely that some folks will choose to bypass this book. But reading is about the experience. No two people on this earth think alike, view the same thing alike, and experience alike.

As a self-professed book aficionado, I want to be able to acknowledge I have done all I can to read at least one book of every genre and at least one book authored by a person in all the countries of the world. What makes reading so pleasurable is that you can read a book and love it or hate it and, if you don't want to, you never have to read it again. Me, I enjoy rereading books, but I generally wait a while before reading a book again. While the entire book may not be a surprise, waiting a while to reread a book always seems be bring new surprises.

Anyhow, I seem to be rambling. So, I'll put this post to bed and go there myself.

Happy reading!

Bucket List: How Many Countries Are Represented?

So I was thinking about the last post. In it I mentioned a possible change of genre after finishing the next few books, and that may well happen. But in the meantime, three more books were added to the Bucket List. These are

• Waves (Bei Dao)
• The Calcutta Syndrome (Amitav Ghosh)
• Cry the Beloved Country (Alan Paton)

As written in a previous post, I want to read books that encompass as many genres as possible; to make the bucket list “well-rounded”. That is what got me thinking. Most of the entries on the bucket list are books or authors I have read or heard about. There are only a few I haven’t heard about. So, I did some thinking and decided that to truly be “well rounded”, the bucket list should also include books authored by people from different countries. At last count, I believe there are around 220 named countries.

I did  a little research, and for the 198 books currently listed in the bucket list the following countries are represented (via author).  

• Afghanistan
• Asia/Middle East
• Australia
• Canada
• China
• Colombia
• England
• France
• Germany
• India
• Ireland
• Japan
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Russia
• Scotland
• South Africa
• Spain
• Sweden
• United States

That makes 20 countries. And it may be because the books I read are written predominantly in English, but the bulk of the authors are from England and United States.

The three most recent book selections were written by authors from the following countries: China, India and South Africa. They were selected not only because of the authors' countries, but also because the books' synopses sounded interesting. And I am looking forward to reading them. It will be interesting to compare the writing techniques, mannerisms, and general psychology of each book.

I am also breaking the books down by genre. I decided on using a high level list of genres, which is posted here: http://mybucketofbooks.blogspot.com/p/book-genres.html. It will be interesting to see what genres are not included in the bucket list; at least not yet.

If you are a fan of www.goodreads.com, I updated my "To read" list with all the books on the bucket list that I haven't yet read. These, in addition to the other books I already has listed as "To read", means there are about 150 books yet to read.

Update - I just finished reading The Lost Years, by Mary Higgins Clark. For anyone who enjoys Mary Higgins Clark, don't bother with this one. It was written like an afterthought and is painfully bad.

Until next time, Happy Reading!

Assuming An Author's Mannerisms

The last seven days have been a bit hectic. Work has demanded more of my time, and there was more DD drama over the weekend. Something had to go, so reading had to take a back seat. But I finally finished Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen). And I really enjoyed it. One more book to cross off the bucket list. I also made some headway with The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas). And I have The A.B.C. Murders (Agatha Christie) and Peril At End House (Agatha Christie) on hold at the library - unabridged audio versions, thank you.

I am a fan of www.Pinterest.com, and I love it when I find a pin that expresses exactly how I feel when I'm reading. Some of the sayings include

• Book Hangover: Inability to start a new book because you're still living in the last book's world.
• After I read a good book I have a hard time coping with reality.
• That moment when you finish a book, look around, and realize that everyone is just carrying on with their lives as though you didn't just experience emotional trauma at the hands of a paperback.

But I have yet to find one that expresses: "Am I the only one who talks and writes like the time period of the book I just finished reading?" I am laughing at myself right now because I am struggling. I find myself thinking in long, wordy sentences peppered with words such as "approbation" and "vouchsafe". And my struggles are due to the three Jane Austen books I've read in the last month. I find I get so engrossed in a book I assume the mannerisms, terminology, and way of speaking. It's not so bad when I read a book written with more present day phrasing. But other time periods?

I remember the time I attended a reception with my parents and sister after having finished a period piece.  I was talking about an incident I'd witnessed and could only come up with 'brouhaha' to describe it. My sister, only three years younger than me, burst out laughing at my word choice. I still use the word 'brouhaha' because I think that in some cases, it is the best description for what I am discussing. --- See? I'm trying to be brief in my word usage, but as much as I try, my sentences are a bit convoluted. Just think how I'll be talking and writing after I've read Chaucer and Dante! I don't think I'll even understand myself!

Another thing about the writings of Jane Austen's era; passive tense. In present day English passive tense is the use of words such as "have been" or "will have done" or "will be doing". Active tense is much less wordy and a lot more straightforward.  Here is a quote from Pride and Prejudice:

 “I have faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understanding. My temper I dare not vouch for. It is, I believe, too little yielding— certainly too little for the convenience of the world. I cannot forget the follies and vices of other so soon as I ought, nor their offenses against myself. My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost, is lost forever.”

In present day English (my interpretation):

"I am not perfect myself. I have a temper, I hold a grudge, and once you lose my respect it's gone for good."

I am a big fan of active tense. Part of my job is writing technical documents, and active tense is critical in clearly describing technical specs. Not that there isn't plenty of passive tense in present day books. (How do you like that sentence!) It takes some getting used to. Then once you are used to reading the style, subsequent books are much easier to read.

That said, while it makes sense to read the remaining Jane Austen books, I don't want to overdose on her yet. Just like a good wine, I want to savor these books. So, some Agatha Christie (written about 100 years after Jane Austen) is in my immediate future. That and finishing The Count of Monte Cristo. After that? Some Sci Fi may be in order. A change of genre is always a good thing!

What Makes a Book a Classic? (Part II)

When I went back and reread last night's post I realized it really just listed some definitions and not my thoughts about what makes a book a classic. In my defense, it was a loooong day.

Dear Daughter (DD) was bitten by her roommate's dog the night before, and her hand was swollen, red and painful. She went to the doctor who sent her to the ER. Now DD is an adult. She's 20 years old. But she's my oldest, and I know how much she detests doctors, shots and the whole gamut. So, I left work to meet her at the ER. Let me share an important bit of information I learned. Do not go to the ER the first day after a weekend or holiday. For whatever reason, the ER is inundated with everyone and every condition. We waited 3 1/2 hours then left to go to another hospital that had a shorter waiting time. It did. But the wait time once you got into an examination room was not one minute shorter. Another 4 hours, an x-ray, a tetanus shot, and 2 prescriptions later we were leaving. DD is doing better. She's on some serious antibiotics and painkillers, so we will know in a few days whether the infection is getting better.

When I got home last night I needed to just chill. So, I came here, to the computer. Books and reading are my relaxation, so I first went to www.goodreads.com. I checked out the updates to the groups of which I am a member, one of which is "The Perks of Being a Bookworm". One of the discussions began as a challenge to read and appraise the group of what "classics" respondents are reading for the months of August and September. I was going through the responses, and as I was doing so titles kept jumping out. Books by authors I've read, books whose movie adaptations I've seen, books in genres I've been partial to at various time, and more. And these titles piqued my curiosity and interest.

And then I started wondering, what does make a book a classic? How, for example, do books encompassing disparate genres such as horror and romance end up so highly regarded? So I googled the definition. And I think it was about then that exhaustion started overtaking me. I know myself. Once I start a thought process, I really want/need to complete that thought process. If I stop and come back several hours later, the flow is broken and I can't really capture what it was I was trying to convey before. I tried to flesh out my intentions but my eyelids won out. So here I am, picking up where I left off last night, and, amazingly, the flow is still there.

What Makes a Book a Classic? (Plus 3 more bucket list additions)

It is amazing that the more I seek new books and genres to include in the bucket list, the more I look to books identified as 'classics that I haven't yet read. And I find I am very much interested in reading them now. Why? Maturity perhaps? Or is it more that my curiosity is getting the better of me and I want to find out for myself whether I consider these 'classic' books truly worthy of the term.

Just what is a classic? I googled the term online and found several different interpretations including the following:

• "A book accepted as being exemplary or noteworthy, either through an imprimatur such as being listed in any of the Western canons or through a reader's own personal opinion."  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_book)
• A book that expresses some artistic quality, stands the test of time, and makes connections. (http://classiclit.about.com/od/forbeginners/a/aa_whatisclass.htm)
• A book that is well known and passed down through the generations. (http://classicbooks.sblc.wikispaces.net/Definition+of+a+Classic+Book)
• A book that "focuses on matters of great importance, identifying fundamental human problems and providing some sort of guidance for dealing with them, addresses these fundamental issues in ‘beautiful, moving, and memorable ways,’ with

The Bucket List Is Getting Longer!

A few more books were added to the bucket list today. These are

1. Go Ask Alice (Anonymous)
2. Jonathan Livingston Seagull (Richard Bach)
3. The Great Mortality (John Kelly)
4. The Milagro Beanfield War (John Nichols)

Link to updated list: http://mybucketofbooks.blogspot.com/2012/07/julias-bucket-list-of-books.html

The first two are 60's/70's books; a good representation of those years. I read them both in the early to mid-70's. The first, Go Ask Alice, was really profound for me. I was in junior high and very naive at the time. My daughter recently read the book, and I was gratified to find out she enjoyed the book too. I read Jonathan Livingston Seagull when I was 12. I remember reading it at a party my parents went to (and took us kids along) and listening to the soundtrack of Hair, the Rolling Stones and a few other big names that date me. It was fairly philosophical and metaphorical.

Agatha Christie and Ellery Queen

I live in Florida. Florida where the annual rainfall is 52 inches. Where we get rain roughly 126 days of the year. Because I live in a suburb and work downtown I spend a fair amount of time every day on the road. The radio doesn't hold much appeal to me. The same songs on different stations repeated over and over again with the same commercials and same-sounding DJ's. So I spend my time on the road listening to books. When my family and I go on road trips we plan ahead and get  a few audio books the whole family can listen to. What's nice is not only are we entertained, but we also have something to talk about at meals. This is especially helpful with teenagers.

Bucket List of Books Additions/How Books Make the List

Two more books have been added to the bucket list. These are The Clan of the Cave Bears by Jean M. Auel and Death On the Nile by Agatha Christie. You can find the complete, updated list here: http://mybucketofbooks.blogspot.com/2012/07/julias-bucket-list-of-books.html.

Why do I keep adding to this list of "must reads"? Well, there are various reasons. As for the above two books, there are two specific reasons. The Clan of the Cave Bears is 1) a sweeping novel - you know, one of those books that spans years, and 2) a good read of 'what if' Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons co-existed millennia ago. It is a good, good book. Just don't let the size of the book (it's pretty thick) scare you off. As for Death On the Nile, I added this one because Hercule Poirot is not the only famous detective about whom Agatha Christie wrote her books. There are Miss Marple and Parker Pyne for two. Did you know Agatha Christie wrote seven different mystery series? I'd really only heard of three before today. So, expect more Agatha Christie books to be added.

It may seem like I am adding books willy nilly, but there is a somewhat convoluted method to my madness for determining what books to have on my bucket list. I will try to explain it.

About Me
The first thing to know is that I don't remember a day I didn't know how to read. Sometimes I think I came out of the womb reading a book! My family moved a lot when I was young, and I found it difficult to make friends. My comforts were my cat, Butchy, and my books. I never tired of reading and re-reading the stories. Picture books naturally jump-started my imagination. And as I grew older, chapter books allowed me to imagine beyond the five senses.

As with many young families, money tended to be tight. Yet the wonderful institution of Scholastic Books allowed us to purchase books at a steeply discounted rate. And our parents, as teachers, received even more discounts. And as for free entertainment, there was nothing like spending the day at the library and bringing home a stack of books to read. And I didn't limit myself to just a few genres. Everything interested me. Historical fiction, Science fiction, Romance, Non-fiction, you name it.

And therein lies one part of my selection method. I want the books on the list to encompass as many genres and sub-genres as possible. Yes, there are many in the same genre, but look again. There are differences in the core audience, writing style, character development, setting, and more. These differences offer up a wider spectrum of experience. They stretch the imagination muscle.

Books I've Already Read
There are several books on the list that I read years ago; for example The Clan of the Cave Bears. Why add a book to the bucket list that I've already read? Because it offers up something none of the other books have. In this case, I think it is the only book I have read where the characters are Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons and the setting is in the midst of the Ice Age. Wow! Imagine what it would have been like! How did these peoples live or communicate or even interact? What a great concept!

Famous Authors
Several books on the list are written by internationally known authors such as Agatha Christie and Jane Austen. Up until a few weeks ago I had not read even one book by either of these authors. And many of their books have been made into movies, TV series, plays, and more. So many people have read books by these authors, they must have written something worth reading. So, I selected as few as one and as many as twelve (to date) to add to the bucket list.

I could add more books written by, say, Ernest Hemingway, but that is where I take artistic license and decide for myself. The Old Man and the Sea, for example. It was mandatory reading for a literature class in high school. I read it but I didn't much enjoy reading about a man who battles a fish through an entire book. I was probably too immature to comprehend the deep meanings intended by Ernest Hemingway. But given my high school impressions, I am not all that willing to try another of his books....for now. Because I may change my mind.

Famous Books
Several books on the list are well known, and just like Famous Authors above, these books have been read by so many and are so well known, there must be something in them that captured the imagination. So, I added A Clockwork Orange and The Lovely Bones. I will admit, I added these and a few more with some trepidation. I hesitate to read tear-jerkers. And some of the books may be a bit too off-kilter for me. But it is the experience I am going for here. I want to read it. And if I don't like it, at least I can say "I don't like it because..." with authority.

Recommendations
Several books on the list were recommended to me by one or several friends and associates. Same Kind of Different As Me and 11/22/63 are two examples. These were recommended to me by several avid book readers like myself, and I trust their judgement. Why? Because they've steered me right before. We often have different tastes in books, but we all greatly appreciate a good story.

Books I Am Curious About
Also there are books I've heard about that may or may not be "best sellers". In fact, several of them are books from which movies were made. I may have seen the movie not knowing it was based on a book, and upon finding out, I want to read the book. As we all know, movies are summaries of the books. And in the transition from book to movie, a lot can get lost in translation. When a movie intrigues me and/or leaves me asking questions, I want to read the book. I am curious about the details that weren't addressed in the movie. A few examples are The Handmaid's Tale and Never Let Me Go, both of which appear to be of the dystopian genre.

Classics
And then there are the classics. There isn't a list large enough to encompass all the books regarded as Classics. So, I again took artistic license and selected books I either wanted to read or felt that I should read. It is not without hesitation that I added Les Miserables and Catcher In the Rye. But now that they are on the list, there they will stay. And I will read them. As for Shakespeare and Chaucer, I am looking forward to reading those that I haven't read though I know the verbiage will be a bit tricky at first.

These are not all the reasons why I selected the books on the bucket list, but they pretty much encompass most of why I chose the books I chose. More books will come. And as for why more books will be added; well, it's all about experiencing the story!

Support Your Local Library!

Support your local library!!! It is an excellent place to pick up audio books on cassette, CD, or even online books! The cassettes and CDs may be gently used, but they certainly read the same. Better yet, they're free!

I just finished listening to the unabridged version of Pride and Prejudice. And I loved it! After Mansfield Park I wasn't sure I would enjoy this much longer book by Jane Austen. However, the characters, the setting, the mood, they were all very different. And though I may be one of the few who has yet to see a movie version of a Jane Austen book, I can easily see why the movies are so popular.

The characters. Oh, the characters. They translate across the generations. Mrs. Bennett is the ever upwardly mobile, interfering mother who can't keep her nose out of her daughters' lives let her mouth shut. Lydia is the impetuous younger sister who is the wild thing. In the 21st century, she'd be the one getting tattooed and pierced well before the legal age. Jane is the quiet, complacent oldest sister. Dutiful in her responsibilities. Mr. Bennett is the well-meaning, but hands off father who realizes a little too late that dads are necessary to get the children to toe the line. And Elizabeth? The level-headed sister, younger than Jane, who knows her place yet doesn't let that keep her from expressing herself most eloquently.

Lest we forget, there are Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, Mr. Collins, and all the others. But, to me, the book is about the Bennett family. Fairly well off, but with no male heir to inherit the homestead, the family faces the very real possibility of an uncertain future should Mr. Bennett keel over. Not that he will anytime soon. But I gather that in the late 1700's and early 1800's, this was a primary consideration as the life span was not as long as it is now.

I think what I enjoyed most about this book was the sense of what leisure was like 200 years ago. They took walks, they read, they played games, they talked, and they just enjoyed the passage of time. Granted it wasn't representative of the typical person of 200 years ago, and it was fiction so the daily strife that truly occurred wasn't discussed. But even so, just reading the courtships of Jane and Elizabeth was relaxing. LOL. I now want to read some non-fiction to find out how life really was in Jane Austen's time! That is the danger of enjoying books that occur in a different era. My curiosity is piqued and I want to learn more.

That is how I came to read The Little Ice Age, His Excellency, George Washington, 1215, the year of the Magna Carta, The Great Mortality and many others. It seems that for every 3 or 4 fictional books I read I add another 1 or 2 non-fiction books to my 'To Read' list. Right now I have 5 hard copies (paper and hard backs) and 13 soft copies (ibook, Nook, Kindle) ready to read. And since I've joined Book Rooster and Book Bub I have received 7 more soft copies via email! (Sigh) So many books, so little <free> time.

So, now I can mark Pride and Prejudice on my bucket list as read. That makes 62 books on my bucket list that I've read. As of today, that means I have 123 books to go. At least until I add more books to the bucket list. I want to listen to another of Jane Austen's books. I have finally gotten used to the verbiage which makes listening much easier. And I prefer to listen to Jane Austen. I've been reading The Count of Monte Cristo for a bit now, and it's been tough going. I'm enjoying the book, and I don't mind reading it, but it is more relaxing to listen to the books as opposed to tripping over the extreme wordiness. That and I can listen while I'm driving to and from work, which is much more pleasant than listening to the same 5 songs played over and over and over and over ....

Unfortunately, recent budget cuts have made getting to the library rather tricky. They are closed Sunday and Monday, and they are only open now between something like 10 AM through 6 PM Tuesday through Saturday. Which makes it difficult to get to the library any day but Saturday, if you work something like 9-5 and the drive takes about 45 minutes. So, I probably won't be able to get to the library until Saturday. But the good thing is I can reserve any books I'm interested in online. That includes audio books, DVDs and music CD's. See? The library is full of all sorts of free entertainment!

Take some time this week and visit your library. See if they have online services, and if you can, make use of them. You'll be amazed at what they offer.

Themed Mystery Series

So I just finished reading Murder a la Mode by G.A. Kevett. It is part of a series featuring Savannah Reid, a former cop turned PI. She's a Southern girl born and raised on the wrong side of the tracks. She is described as voluptuous and she loves food. Savannah participates in a reality-type show where women are competing for a vacation with a Fabio-type model. The producer of the show is found dead one night and two contestants are seriously injured during the course of the investigation.

On www.goodreads.com I rated it 2 stars. While the last 50 pages were fun, I found the characters, setting and writing cliched. It was more consistent with that of a creative writing class. I don't know, it just didn't rub off on me. It was the first Savannah Reid book I've read, and it will probably be the last.

And since I finished a book, I started another one - Buried Bones by Carolyn Haines. This, too, is a series featuring a character named Sarah Booth Delaney. As with the Savannah Reid series, this one features a Southern girl, but she was born into money and raised as such. She, however, is in danger of losing her family plantation and has stumbled into PI work.

The writing is much smoother than the Savannah Reid books; not as contrived. In the Savannah Reid series, I get the definite sense the author is trying really hard to write an entertaining book. You get the distinct sense, too, that the characters, plot and writing is much smoother in the Sarah Booth Delaney series. There is more grace and less effort with Carolyn Haines.

G.A. Kevett and Carolyn Haines are two of many female authors who pump out successful mystery series books where the protagonist is also female and single (by choice or circumstance). They are all light, entertaining reads that, for the most part, don't need to be read in sequence. What is also interesting is that several of the authors write multiple series and write other series under pseudonyms. Here are some of the authors with whom I am more familiar. You may find one or more authors you have yet to read.

Susan Albert Wittig writes the China Bayles Herbal Mysteries. The series is set in a small west Texas town where China Bayles solves crimes in tandem with the Sheriff's office. China's love life includes the local sheriff. Each book is centered around a specific herb which ties into the season, circumstance and characters. Some of the book titles include Thyme of Death, Witches' Bane, and Hangman's Root.

Monica Ferris writes the Betsy Devonshire Needlework Mysteries. This series is set in a small town in Wisconsin. Betsy owns a needlework shop and solves mysteries in her spare time. Each book is centered around a specific style of needlework or the materials involved. Many books include simple themed patterns the reader can complete. Some of the book titles include Crewel World, Framed in Lace, and A Stitch in Time.

Diane Mott Davidson writes the Goldy Schultz Catering Mysteries. This series is also set in a small town, this time in the mountains of Colorado. Goldy is twice married; first to an abusive doctor and second to an intelligent, considerate homicide detective. Catering must be deadly because many of Goldy's events involve murder. Each book focuses on a food or cooking technique, and recipes are included throughout. Some of the book titles include Catering to Nobody, Dying for Chocolate, and The Cereal Murders.

Blaize Clement, sadly, passed in 2011. Her son has assumed the reins on the series his mother originated, which is the Dixie Hemingway Pet Mysteries. This series is set in Sarasota, Florida; or a small subarb near Sarasota. Dixie is a former cop who retired after her cop husband and young daughter were killed. Dixie now petsits for the rich and (in)famous. Each book is centered around a breed or genus. The book titles include Curiousity Killed the Cat Sitter, Duplicity Dogged the Dachshund, and Even Cat Sitters Get the Blues.

Joanna Fluke writes the Hannah Swensen Cookie series. This series is set in a small Minnesota lake town where Hannah, the eldest of 3 sisters, owns and runs a Cookie shop. Hannah is torn between a recently transplanted detective and a local dentist. Each book focuses on a cookie or other baked dessert. The reader is also treated to the recipes of the mentioned desserts. Book titles include Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, Strawberry Shortcake Murder, and Blueberry Muffin Murder.

Kyra Davis is a more liberal writer. She writes the Sophie Katz series which are set in San Francisco. Sophie is a bi-racial writer whose best friends include an erotica shop owner and a PETA militant. I've not been able to discern a theme among the books, and I find them entertaining as Sophie's life is messy, and the conclusion of the book doesn't necessarily mean everything is wrapped in a neat and pretty package. Titles include Sex, Murder and a Double Latte, Passion, Betrayal and Killer Highlights, and Obsession, Deceit and Really Dark Chocolate.

Krista Davis writes the Domestic Diva series which feature Sophie Windsor. This series is set in a small town near Alexandria, Virginia. Sophie is as the series says, a domestic diva. She contracts for events, oversees catering, and so on. Sophie is also dating Wolf, a homicide detective. Each book centers around an entertaining theme, and recipes and entertainment tips are sprinkled throughout. Titles include The Diva Runs Out of Thyme, The Diva Takes the Cake, and The Diva Paints the Town.

Laura Childs writes a few series. I've read some from the Tea Shop series and the Scrapbook series. The Tea Shop series is set in Charleston, South Carolina while the Scrapbook series is set in the Vieux Carre of New Orleans. Each protagonist (Theodosia Browning in the Tea Shop series and Carmela Bertrand in the Scrapbook series) is a Southern woman, born and bred, who breaks the mold by choice and circumstance. Each series focuses on the subject at hand, tea in the Tea Shop series and scrapbooking in the Scrapbook series. Teas and scrapbooking ideas and technicues are included in each series. Titles include (Tea Shop) Death by Darjeeling, Gunpowder Green, and Shades of Earl Grey, and (Scrapbook) Keepsake Crimes, Photo Finished, and Bound for Murder.

Dixie Cash is actually two sisters collaborating together. Pamela Cumbie and Jeffery McClanahan write one of the funniest mystery series I've read in a long time. The Domestic Equalizers, Debbie Sue and Edwina, do PI jobs on the side. Their main mode of income is hairdressing in the itty bitty southwestern town of Salt Lick, Texas. They remind me Lucille Ball and Ethel Mertz; just as wacky with the unmistakable knack for getting into absurd situations. I highly recommend this series when you need a pick-me-up. Titles include Since You're Leaving Anway, Take Out the Trash, My Heart May Be Broken, but My Hair Still Looks Great, and I Gave You My Heart, but You Sold it Online.

There are many more authors, some of whom I've read. These are but a few. And like I wrote above, these are light reads, and you can easily finish a book in a day. If you haven't tried these authors, you'll enjoy them.

Fun Pics Featuring Books

I felt the need to have some fun in today's post. Here are some pictures found in Pinterest. I don't know to whom the credit goes for each of these. Enjoy!

Support your local library!

Recent cutbacks, with more to come, have really hit our local libraries hard. The libraries are now closed Sunday and Monday, and the hours have been significantly shortened. There is also less in the budget to purchase materials.

Book magic!

This sort of reminds me of Alice in Wonderland.

Library Facade by Liesbeth den Toom via NewYorker: The building is situated in a part of Amsterdam’s Oud-West neighbourhood where many of the streets are named for Dutch authors and poets from the 18th and 19th century.

LOL

Skinny books are read too quickly. Big books? I can savor them over a few days.

Guilty. I am currently reading 9 books, 2 of which are on my bucket list.

I think this is true for all book lovers.

Love it!

So true! Books are my escape when the world gets me down.

Bucket List Update, Some Observations and a Literary Timeline

One book added, bringing the total back to its original of 185 books:

• The Old Man and the Sea (Ernest Hemingway)

I am a fan of www.pinterest.com, and some of my favorite sayings about books and reading come from this website. There are sayings like

• Book Hangover: Inability to start a new book because you're still living in the last books world.
• There is no such thing as too many books.
• "I do not want to just read books; I want to climb inside them and live there."
• That moment when you finish a book, look around, and realize that everyone is just carrying on with their lives as though you didn't just experience emotional trauma at the hands of a paperback.

I have yet to find a saying, though, that expresses that feeling when, as I am reading a book written in a different era, my everyday life, my writing, my language, my thoughts assume the same mannerisms as those in the book. For example, I am reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. So, I am finding that my writing style is more verbose and I'm using terms like 'behoove' and 'that which was' and so on. So forgive my wordiness as I read Pride and Prejudice. Ands I read through the bucket list, I want this experience to also be a learning opportunity.

In addition to being a bookoholic and obsessive reader, I am a lover of music. I love just about all types of music. My iPod is a treasure trove of just about every musical genre there is - no exxageration. From the time I was 7 years old I played different instruments; piano, violin and viola were the most prevalent. So, it just makes sense that I compare literature to music. And just as music is broken into distinct eras based on the distinct musical influences of the time, literature is also broken into distinct eras.

I learned about the musical eras when I was young. My grandmother, seeing that I enjoyed plunking on her piano, asked a retired concert pianist friend of hers to give me lessons. Mrs. Marion Baker. She loved music. And she firmly believed that in order to learn to play instruments, to make music, one must learn the history of music and be able to write in the musical language.

My first lesson books weren't simple songs or simplified versions. They were a set of books that spanned the four major musical eras; The Baroque Era, The Classical Era, The Romantic Era, and The Modern Era. Each book was filled with pieces by composers who best represented the musical style of that era. This was supplemented by sheet music either of Mrs. Baker's favorite composers or pieces she composed herself. In addition to learning about each composer, I was instructed in how to write notes in different clefs and put them together to form chords, tunes, etc.

We spent many hours together working on mastering not only the music but also the emotion behind the music. Long after Mrs. Baker died I would spend hours on the piano playing just to relax or decompress. And to this day I still prefer music from the Baroque period over Classical and Romantic.

But I digress. As universal the language of music is, unfortunately it is not the same with liberature. Language, culture, class structure, superstition and more contribute to variations in literary timelines. In general, the following (simplified) timeline is accepted for European/American literature.  And almost every era listed can be further delineated into several sub-periods.

• Pre-Anglo-Saxon Period
• Anglo-Saxon Period
• Middle English
• Renaissance
• Neoclassical
• Age of Reason
• Romantic
• Victorian
• Edwardian / Naturalism
• Modern
• Post-Modern

These are two websites I like that identify the literary periods and distinguishing authors and publications.

http://www.online-literature.com/periods/timeline.php
http://www.socsdteachers.org/tzenglish/literature_timeline.htm

While these are generally accepted periods for European/American literature, I don't know if or how this differs from African and Asian literature. The cultures rarely intermingled until fairly recently (in historical terms). I will be looking into this in future. So, more to come!

Bucket List Update and Reader Websites

So, when I was updating my Bucket list I found I had an extra line. Instead of 185 books I only have 184 books. Hmmm. I'm not happy with that. I promised the number would go up, not down. So now I need to find a book that is bucket-worthy. I've heard lots of good things about The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, but I don't want to jump too quickly. It is sort of like grocery shopping. You shop from your list but when you turn the corner you are hit with that display that screams "impulse buy". I promise, though, a new addition is imminent!

In addition to updating the bucket list, you will find there are a few additions to the reading websites. I am a regular user of Goodreads and Audible. I love them! Look for me on Goodreads. It lists many of the books I've recently read. Booklending.com and ereadernewstoday were introduced to me recently. I will be trying them out. I would also be interested in hearing from folks who use these websites.

If you have a Kindle BookRooster.com is a website you definitely want to consider. The way this website works is that you read books free in exchange for writing a review. Once you register and select the genre(s) that interest you, you will start receiving books to download. It is not like you get to pick and choose, though. And sometimes you will wait a bit. But for a free book? And the opportunity to read something new? That is a difficult offer to pass up!

Alibris.com, though it is not purely book-based, is another good website to trade or buy new or used hardbacks, paperbacks, and audio books (cassette and CD). The prices are incredible, and the range of books is also incredible. It is also a good reference to gauge the worth of your books - not that you would want to part with them!

Project Gutenberg is a non-profit effort to digitize historical writings (fiction and non-fiction). What I've enjoyed especially about this website is that the editing is done by volunteers. Each manuscript goes through several iterations of editing, and anyone can participate at any level. There is no time or number of pages commitment. And better yet, you can choose the genre and books you want to edit. You decide how much you want to edit.

I've read a few books this way. One time I chose children's fiction. The book I was editing was written in the late 1700's and was based in England. I was struck by the slowness of life - in a good way. And even as Jane Austen is considered the "Miss Manners" of the 1800's, the interactions of the 1700's was even more formal, even between children. Another time I edited a few pages from a Botany book, written in the 1800's. It was interesting as you get to edit the picture captions, too. It is amazing how, in a slower, non-technical world, folks were better able to hone their talents such as sketching, painting, discerning the minute differences between plants.

I know there are many other reader websites out there. I would be interested in being acquainted with other websites. As an obsessive book reader, there is always time for another book!

On Jane Austen and the Regency Era

I finished listening to the abridged version of Mansfield Park the other day. It wasn't long (only 3 CD's). So, I listened to it again. I did this because I had a hard time following it the first go around. It is what my son would say "filled with big words". It took me a while to figure out that Mrs. Norris, Mrs. Grant and Mrs. Bertram are sisters.

The book was entertaining. What confuses me, though, is this. At the beginning of the book Mr. Bertram was concerned that taking in Fanny Price would encourage a closeness between her and his sons that may been seen as improper. But then at the end of the book, everyone was overjoyed that Fanny and Edmund married. Why the turnaround? Is it because the scandal  of Henry Crawford and Mariah B., her being already married, was so great that the coupling of Fanny and Edmund is but a drop in the bucket?

And why did Henry Crawford even set his sights on Fanny Price in the first place? He wanted Mariah who wasn't available. But what about Julia? She wasn't betrothed. Or was is one of those "since she can't stand me I'm going to make her my conquest" situations?

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I'm not quite sold on Jane Austen yet. I mean, they've made movies of her books and movies about reading her books and zombie versions of her books and so on. So, I know her writing has appealed to millions over the years. But I am not yet enamored of her books. Thus, I am starting on the book many consider her greatest achievement, Pride and Prejudice. As with Mansfield Park, I am listening to it, but this time it is the unabridged version; 10 CD's. I have a 30-45 minute drive each way to and from work, and going anywhere in town takes a while. So, I've got plenty of time to listen to it. I give it about a week.

So, I read up some on the Regency era. Generally, it is considered as the time period between 1812 and 1830. Some references place the Regency era between 1795 and 1837. Did you know how this era came to be known as the Regency era? What I read was this is the time period in England when King George III was declared unfit to rule and his son, the future King George IV, served as his proxy, or Prince Regent.  This era was known for its frivolity and liveliness. Poverty and the darker aspects of society were treated as the problem child sent away to hide in shame.

Another interesting fact is that some of the coldest weather on record occurred during the Regency Era. This was towards the end of Little Ice Age (1300's - 1800's). 1816 is known as the "year without summer" as the temperatures were such that it snowed several times throughout the year. This was also the year that Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein while vacationing with her husband Percy Shelley and Lord Byron in Switzerland. I recently read a book about the little Ice Age by Brian M. Fagan. It was very interesting. It discussed the impact on the world, not just one region, and it covered roughly 500 years beginning with the Vikings.

All of this contributed to the surroundings and settings of books written during this time. Today we can't imagine a time when winter festivals were held on the iced over Thames River, yet they occurred for many years. Certainly I can not imagine having fireplaces in bedrooms, but these were necessary just to say warm enough so as not to freeze in the night. But what hasn't changed, much at least, is how women and men interact; the flirting, games, and other social intrigues. And with Pride and Prejudice, I can't wait to find out what Jane Austen holds in store for me this time.

Reading for Fun and Literary Genres

Three more additions to the Book Bucket List and we are now up to 185 books!

• Room (Emma Donoghue)
• Uncle Tom's Cabin (Harriet Beecher Stowe)
• Around the World in 80 Days (Jules Verne)

And I am happy to say I have finished reading Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. That makes 58 books I've now read.

My mind is all ajumble with this bucket list. There are so many directions in which to go. Not that I want to make this an endless, impossible-to-complete list. But at the same time, I want the books on the list to enlighten and entertain. I want to gain something be it insight, happiness, knowledge, or just plain old fun.

In college I made sure to take a "fun" class every semester. It didn't have anything to do with my major and it was something that interested me. The first few years these were classes such as fencing, dance, weightlifting, etc. However, I found that the mandatory literature and writing classes piqued my interest. And my "fun" classes became more intellectual; Shakespeare, The History of Literature, Creative Writing, Business Writing, Science Fiction and Fantasy.

What I enjoyed most was reading through different genres that I wouldn't ordinarily pick up, and then finding that I enjoyed said genre. Even more so, I enjoyed discussing the origins and intent of the writings and researching and writing my own opinions and sharing them with other people. I enjoyed the diversity, and I just plain enjoyed learning. And to my surprise, before I graduated I found that I had garnered enough credits for a minor in Business Writing and almost enough credits for minors in German and Literature.

So I've decided to start looking through the different genres. Perhaps I should add books to my bucket list so I can safely say I've read at least one of every genre. There are a few problems with this, though. One is that I can't find a universally accepted list of literary genres. I've found many that are similar, but no two are identical. Two is that new genres do crop up. Take Steampunk for example. This is a relatively new genre. From what I gather, it's been around for a while, grouped into Science Fiction or Horror or Fantasy. And only recently has the moniker Steampunk been classified. Steampunk novelists include Jules Verne, Kady Cross, Cassandra Clare, and Jack Dann. Steampunk novels typically have settings around the late 18th century and have magic or futuristic gadgetry. The recent Sherlock Holmes movies (starring Robert Downey Jr) are fair examples of Steampunk.

For right now I am starting with the following list of genres. I'm a bit iffy about using it, but at least it's a start.

Fiction Genre List

·         Action and Adventure,

·         Chick Lit,

·         Children’s,

·         Commercial Fiction,

·         Contemporary,

·         Crime,

·         Erotica,

·         Family Saga,

·         Fantasy,

·         Dark Fantasy (probably still a major sub-genre!)

·         Gay and Lesbian,

·         General Fiction,

·         Graphic Novels,

·         Historical Fiction,

·         Horror,

·         Humour,

·         Literary Fiction,

·         Military and Espionage,

·         Multicultural,

·         Mystery,

·         Offbeat or Quirky,

·         Picture Books,

·         Religious and Inspirational,

·         Romance,

·         Science Fiction,

·         Short Story Collections,

·         Steampunk

·         Thrillers and Suspense,

·         Western,

·         Women’s Fiction,

·         Young Adult.

Non-Fiction Genre List

·         Art & Photography,

·         Biography & Memoirs,

·         Business & Finance,

·         Celebrity & Pop Culture,

·         Music, Film & Entertainment,

·         Cookbooks,

·         Cultural/Social Issues,

·         Current Affairs & Politics,

·         Food & Lifestyle,

·         Gardening,

·         Gay & Lesbian,

·         General Non-Fiction,

·         History & Military,

·         Home Decorating & Design,

·         How To,

·         Humour & Gift Books,

·         Journalism,

·         Juvenile,

·         Medical, Health & Fitness,

·         Multicultural,

·         Narrative,

·         Nature & Ecology,

·         Parenting,

·         Pets,

·         Psychology,

·         Reference,

·         Relationship & Dating,

·         Religion & Spirituality,

·         Science & Technology,

·         Self-Help,

·         Sports,

·         Travel,

·         True Adventure & True Crime,

·         Women’s Issues.

Book Bucket Additions, Reading Alternatives, and What I've Read Thus Far

I got some feedback from family members (voracious readers too) and members of my book group. And my bucket list of books now includes the following books:

The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders (Daniel Dafoe)
The History of Tom Jones (Henry Fielding)
11/22/63 (Stephen King)
The Art of Racing in the Rain (Garth Stein)

I am up to 180 books on the bucket list...for now. The list will continue to grow as books continue to be written. Have suggestions? Let me know!

If you choose to pursue this bucket list with me don't limit yourself. Listen to books. I love www.audible.com. You can find unabridged and abridged books at this website for a nominal monthly fee. What I really like is that you aren't limited to the number of times you can download the audio books. And the cost of the audio books is much cheaper than what you find in traditional book stores.

Also, many of the 'classics' are also available gratis through ebooks and www.gutenberg.org. And you can find apps for Nook, Kindle, and other electronic reading devices  that are compatible across many platforms. That way you have access to multiple books almost everywhere.

My progress:

Now that I've started this list, I need to share what books I have already read. And I must admit, I was amazed at how few of these I've read. I consider myself a book geek. I've read just about every book I've encountered. So imagine my surprise when I found that I haven't even read half of the books on the list! Because some of the books have been made into very popular movies, if I don't distinctly recall having read the book, I have opted to consider it as 'unread'. Thus, if I find I have read it, I will at least have the pleasure of reading it again. Additionally, my intent is to read as few abridged books as possible. If I read an abridged version, I will indicate that when I add a book to my completed list. The books I have read are listed at the bottom of this post.

On another note, I have almost finished Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. The style of writing (I believe it is called Regency) took a bit of getting used to, yet I find myself enjoying the book immensely. I do have a few questions, though, such as a) is this indirect form of writing typical of Jane Austen's era? b) Is this the same reason large chunks of time are glossed over? Or is this just typical of Jane Austen's writing? c) does this depict the society of the time?

Books I've read thus far:
1. Beowulf
2. The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales
3. Watership Down
4. Little Women
5. I, Robot
6. Are You There God? It's Me Margaret.
7. Jane Eyre
8. The DaVinci Code
9. The Alchemist
10. Ramona the Pest
11. The Hunger Games: The Hunger Games
12. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
13. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay
14. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
15. The Little Prince
16. The Diary of Anne Frank
17. Alas Babylon
18. Outlander
19. Lord of the Flies
20. The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
21. Dune
22. The Outsiders
23. The Secret Garden
24. The Lottery
25. Pet Sematary
26. Dolores Claiborne
27. The Millennium Trilogy: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
28. The Millennium Trilogy: The Girl Who Played With Fire
29. The Millennium Trilogy: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
30. Pippi Longstocking
31. The Call of the Wild
32. Dragonflight
33. Winnie the Pooh
34. Anne of Green Gables
35. Nineteen Eighty-Four
36. Where the Red Fern Grows
37. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
38. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
39. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
40. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
41. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
42. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
43. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
44. Contact
45. Romeo and Juliet
46. Frankenstein
47. The Giving Tree
48. Dracula
49. A Girl of the Limberlost
50. The Hobbit
51. The Fellowship of the Ring
52. The Two Towers
53. The Return of the King
54. Huckleberry Finn
55. The Time Machine
56. Charlotte's Web
57. The Shadow of the Wind