Tuesday, August 04, 2009

"They only see what they want to see. They don't know they're dead."

For you, a smattering of bookish thoughts.
I can barely form a coherent sentence these days: who has time to think straight? You’ll have to make do with this for the moment.

I caved and bought the newest Sookie Stackhouse; I couldn’t wait for it from the library. I haven’t started it though. It’s sitting tantalizingly on my nightstand. (Yes, since you ask, I was also the sort of child who hoarded her Halloween candy until her brothers’ candy was all gone.) I also bought the third Harper Connelly (and read it in an evening) and the first Lily Bard book, which also waits on my nightstand.

I borrowed a few anthologies from the library with Sookie stories in them: “One Word Answer” from Bite, which gives some of Hadley’s backstory, and “Dracula Night” from Many Bloody Returns. It was pleasant to have a Sookie fix while I steeled myself to spending twenty bucks on the hardcover Dead and Gone. (Eventually, I used one of the boys’ Easter B&N giftcards from their grandmother instead. Because THAT is the kind of mother I am.)

Richard Russo has a new book out; as I haven’t managed to slog through Bridge of Sighs, I doubt I will be running out to spend 30 dollars on the newest. I love love love his earlier books, but his last two were spotty at best. Philippa Gregory tackles the Plantagenets: The White Queen is released in late August. A Touch of Dead, billed as “Sookie Stackhouse: The complete stories” is released in October, as is the next Harper Connnelly book. And of course, A.S. Byatt’s The Children’s Book has an October release (finally!) here in the States.

Jon Krakauer’s Under the Banner of Heaven sat on my TBR pile for well over a year, but once I picked it up and started it (why is it you need to be in a certain mood to want to read and to enjoy certain books?), I couldn’t put it down. Fascinating stuff. Fundies are crazy, no matter which religion they are affiliated with.

I just started Ruth Rendell’s The Water’s Lovely. It’s one of those books that you THINK you have twigged from the beginning, but as it’s Ruth Rendell, I am quite sure I do not. I am sure I will enjoy the ride.

Jacqueline Kelly’s The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (thanks for the recc, Jess!), Libba Bray’s A Great and Terrible Beauty, and Maggie Sefton’s Knit One, Kill Two wait for me at the library. My local branch is closed for 18 months for renovations, so I have been going to the next closest, in a kind of dicey, economically challenged neighborhood. At first I was a bit nervous, but the building is positively lovely (high ceilings, lots of marble and warm, rich wood), and the staff are incredibly sweet and totally happy that the East Liberty patrons are coming there for the duration. H doesn’t want me to take the kids there, as the neighborhood is somewhat well known for its gunfire and other crime, but I am happy enough to point out that the microbrewery where he picks up two growlers a week is only two blocks away from the library, and the middle-class minivanned people who buy beer there don’t let the thought of gunfire stop THEM.

And there you have it.

30 days till school starts.

************
*Cole Sear, "The Sixth Sense"

7 comments:

Paula said...

The Lily Bard books are kind of fun, but I liked the Harper Connelly better.

loretta said...

I couldn't resist the new Russo - "That Old Cape Magic". I'll let you know how it is.

Suse said...

Is that Loretta (LC) above me? I've missed her!

Thanks for the heads up re the new Philippa Gregory. Also I just want to say that you American readers have no idea how good you have it. $20 for a hardback? I bought the new Salley Vickers last week, PAPERBACK, and it cost $27.95

(This is why I buy books from the op shop, or borrow from the library).

Lisa said...

I just picked up the newest Sookie from the library. I need to get into it quick as I only have a week to read it. I have the 3rd Harper Connelly book on my shelves waiting, but am unsure after the turn they took in the last one. I read the Lily Bards all out of order, but it didn't really hurt them for me.

We only have one branch to our library and it's not convienent at all. Regardless, the boys love to go so we do.

Jess said...

I hope you enjoy Calpurnia as much as I did. I haven't tried Sookie yet, but I'll keep her in mind.

Suse, I wonder about the difference in cost in other things, or if there's sharper difference in the price of books? $20 is pretty cheap for a hardcover, even here - $25-30 seems more normal, and more for big doorstoppers.

ssheers said...

I just finished reading the last Sookie book. Thanks for recommending them. I enjoyed them, just like Badger said I would.

Now I'm rereading Twilight. Surprisingly, I'm enjoying it. It's like revisiting old friends.

Caro said...

Finally, a new Harper book is coming out, hooray! I'm marking my calendar.