BOOK #74

I keep lists. A to read list of books. I had four or five them floating around out there. I have now consolidated them all into one list. And every now and then, I go to the list and then to Paperbackswap.com to find any of them. During the holidays, I got lucky and found 13. And of course, they are all sitting in a pile. Except this one. Somehow, this got stuck on my desk and it just sat there.

I picked it up last week because I had heard it was a book that you read slower and slower as you go along. And I thought that was kind of nuts. But that's exactly what happened. Robinson is such a delicate, exquisite writer that I did indeed slow down to catch each word. Absolutely beautiful. For the amount of crap I do read, it was a pleasure to find a real wordsmith still out there.

Here's what some of the reviewers said:

"Housekeeping is a haunting dream of a story told in a language as sharp and clear as light and air and water."

"Housekeeping is sensuous, funny and mythic, as penetrating as the chilly wind off a glacial lake."

"Housekeeping is extraordinary."

I gave it five stars.

BOOK #73

Most people know I like reading books about health and healthy attitudes, any of the 'ology' books, and inventive ideas. For a few months, I read that everyone and their mother was reading this book. So, I bought it. It sat in my iPad for a couple of months. During the holidays, I decided to see what it was all about.

Basically, the author, Gretchen Rubin, decided to spend a year of her life being happier. Each month was assigned a particular way to be happy. It takes a lot of effort and work to try and right what's wrong in your world and your perspective on a daily basis. I really enjoyed reading about how she went about it each month. After finishing the book, I have to say that alot of her ideas have stuck with me. I even shared a few with Meredith and she agreed that some of it made sense.

And to top that off, I've decided to start another Meetup Group based on this book. To help people bring more happiness into their lives and to help them examine maybe why they aren't happy. Happiness is definitely a state of mind.

On my work computer desktop, I have a large stickie that simply says 'ACT HAPPY'. And each day, I see that and it helps me maintain a good attitude. Even when things get thick and ugly and everyone is pissing me off, I stare at it to right myself. I have even walked into empty closets when I'm pissed to count to 10, bring it back together and remember to 'ACT HAPPY' and it works. Talking myself down off of a ledge is new for me. Trust me.

So do I recommend this? Yes. It's not a particularly well written book but you get the gist of it. Or join my meetup club!

BOOK #72

A big hit for our first book of book club 2011! I was thrilled. I was a little shaky on the pick because I had never heard of this author but then remembered that was the point of book club. The reason I maintain my right to pick the books for book club is because I can take the rejections and the animosity when a book goes wrong. We used to try it where individuals picked the book but if the book went south, more often than not, the picker got her feelings hurt. I have no feelings so it only makes laugh harder when they hate it. But they read it! And to be honest, sometimes I pick books they might hate just to get the conversation going.

This book was an enjoyable fictional romp thru the underground world of Seattle during the Civil War years. Very steampunk. Lots of action. One memorable character named Swakhammer! I was a tad surprised that there wasn't even one hint of romance at any portion. That shows great restraint on the author's part since it's a very easy trap to fall into.

I will definitely get back to read more of Cherie Priest. If I ever get through the stacks in my house, my iPad and Kindle.

BOOK #71

Technically, with it being 2011, our 2010 Book Pledge is over. Fortunately, most did pretty well. We all fell off but still made a dent in our stacks so that's progress. Unfortunately, I seemed to have added a large amount of new books to the stack. "The Imperfectionists" included.

I bought this book shortly after it came out. It was highly trumpeted and I liked the idea of each chapter about one character. And then how they are all tangled up together at the end. I have no idea why it took me a whole year to pick it up.

I chose this book as my favorite book for 2010. Easy to read, interesting to read, each chapter so different than the previous and how amazingly the author put it all together at the end. Again, pleasantly surprised that a hyped up book delivered on its promise. My luck may be turning!

I highly recommend this as a 'must read' for EVERYONE.

BOOK #70

Booyah! Seventy books for 2010! And I just got this one in under the wire. So for our 'book pledge' of 2010, I think I actually read about 50 of my 90+ books that I was trying to finish for the year. Not bad since we all fell off track somewhere in the spring. Oh well.

And this author, well, I can't resist her work. I always buy her newest on the day of release. She has two series: one is about a psychic detective and then there is this one - a psychic ghost getter. And the author herself is a psychic who lives in Austin - and I happen to follow her on Twitter. She's fun in real life as well. I can always tell when an author invests their own personal experiences in the writing as it always develops a strong ring of truth. And being fascinated by the whole 'ether' world and those that communicate with it, I'm naturally drawn to these types of books. Again, it's that 'magick' feeling that I love.

Unfortunately, for this book, I was seriously disappointed. The plot revolved around her and her crew 'busting' a big bad phantom in a very haunted castle on a cold, rainy Scottish island. Nothing new there. The plot was endless in its circles of going back and forth to the castle and battling the big bad phantom. And then finally (for us readers that is) solving the mystery that never seemed to ever be there in the first place. This book seemed to have less humor and more sturm und drang than her previous pieces. And I think that's what dragged me down for most of my reading. I hung in there though, only if to see if it might get better but alas, it really didn't. It ended. Oh well.

I highly recommend all of Victoria's previous books. Just not this one so much. And I will definitely be there when she releases the next one though. Here's to 2011, kids!

BOOK #69

Chick lit break! Took me about 2 hours to read it. Amusing, funny, silly.
Just what's it's supposed to be. Nothing to get excited about. But if I found some more of Plum Sykes' work for a couple of bucks, I'd buy them. Perfect for a no-brainer type of read.

BOOK #68

Having 90+ books lying around my house finally paid off! Martin Scorcese just released a documentary about this author, Fran Lebowitz, on HBO titled "Publicly Speaking". She is a very funny woman. After watching it, I dug out her book. I remembered I had ordered it by its colorful cover. Does her humor translate to her essays? Yes and no. I thought she was more charming and funny in person than in her essays. Yet, this book was published in the late 70s so there is a huge difference between the Fran of the 70s and the Fran of 2010.

She's been compared to Dorothy Parker and some other great wits of the past. I think she has developed her own niche of NY smugness, high intellect and the always obvious refusal of modern technology. She drives a fifty year old restored cab, for god's sakes (which is very cool, BTW).

Some of the essays are dated and only mildly amusing. While the others are hilarious and highly quotable. I am sure somewhere there is more than one website devoted to exclusive Fran Lebowitz quotes. I know I put up a number of her quotes on my FB page.

I think, if you are traveling to New York, then take this along for the read on the plane. That would be about perfect.