It's that time of year again, when the ghosts and goblins haunt the streets. I thought I would help to get you in the mood for Halloween by sharing some books that go bump in the middle of the night. My first Halloween pick, is a couple of years older, but it was one of my favorite reads that year. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield is a gothic ghost story. The tale involves two women, one a writer named Vida whose story unfolds throughout the book. When Vida has been interviewed about her life by journalists, the facts are never the same. No one knows the truth about Vida. Our other character, Margaret is a bookseller in her father's shop. Margaret hopes to get the truth of the story of Vida's life, and we learn of Vida's haunting childhood. This book is well written, and has lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing. If you haven't yet read The Thirteenth Tale, this one is a must read!
A second Halloween read is The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. Gaiman is well known for his Sandman comics, and his stories are a bit fantasy/horror. The Graveyard Book is Gaiman's adventure into children's literature, but don't let this fool you. This book gave me the creeps. This dark tale begins with the murder of a family. The only survivor is "Nobody" an 18 month old who escapes to a nearby graveyard. Here, he is protected from the murderer, a man named Jack, and "Nobody" is raised by the ghosts of the graveyard. The ghosts try and teach him how to live, and he has some adventures along the way.The Graveyard Book is for kids of all ages, but is intended for those ten or older. I've read a few things by Gaiman, and I have enjoyed them all.
If neither of these sound like treats, I would recommend The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl. This is a historical mystery, that focuses on the death on Edgar Allen Poe. This is a fictional account of Poe's last days, and the main character Quentin Clark is obsessed with Poe's writings. When Poe dies, the media begins to foul Poe's name, and Clark does everything to try and clear it. This is a great read, celebrating one of the all time best suspense and horror writers. Read some Poe, then read this book!
So what do you recommend reading for Halloween? I would love to hear some of your picks. Please share, happy Halloween, and happy reading!!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Fall Reading
When people equate a season with reading, usually that season is summer. Everyone's always talking about the best beach reads. Personally, I find it harder to find time to read in the summer. The nice weather drives me outside, where I like to enjoy my friends, city festivals, and just the great outdoors. I think there is so much to do in the summer, which leaves me less time for reading. I think winter reading is great. Imagine the snow coming down, and you don't feel like driving anywhere. What a great time to curl up with a book, and travel somewhere else, where the climate isn't quite as cold or snowy. Books can be a vacation from the real world outside, and I have a book for you that would be perfect for some fall reading.
One of the genres, or subject, of books I've always enjoyed are books about books. I'm enthralled in stories involving missing manuscripts and dusty old bookshops. Today my recommendation is The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. The first line starts "I still remember the day my father took me to the cemetary of the Forgotten Books for the first time. It was the early summer of 1945, and we walked through the streets of Barcelona trapped beneath ashen skies as dawn poured over Rambla de Santa Monica in a wreath of liquid copper." Doesn't that suck you right in? Zafon transports us to Barcelona, shortly after WWII. The story is told by Daniel, a young boy who discovers a novel called The Shadow of the Wind. The author of the novel (within the novel) is Julian Carax, and supposedly some mysterious figure is going about and destroying the few remaining copies of Carax's work. This historical novel has some mystery, magic, and a bit of fun. Shadow was originally published in Spanish, but this is something you wouldn't know just by reading the text. It flows, and quite beautifully at times. This book is a big international bestseller, and it definitely lives up to all the praise.
I originally read this for a book club, and everyone in the group really enjoyed it. If you do read Shadow, there is a sort of prequel out, The Angel's Game, which I myself haven't gotten to just yet. I hope to get to it soon, and will keep you updated. So not planning any trips in the near future? Take a trip back to '50's in Spain, and enjoy the ride. Happy reading.
One of the genres, or subject, of books I've always enjoyed are books about books. I'm enthralled in stories involving missing manuscripts and dusty old bookshops. Today my recommendation is The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. The first line starts "I still remember the day my father took me to the cemetary of the Forgotten Books for the first time. It was the early summer of 1945, and we walked through the streets of Barcelona trapped beneath ashen skies as dawn poured over Rambla de Santa Monica in a wreath of liquid copper." Doesn't that suck you right in? Zafon transports us to Barcelona, shortly after WWII. The story is told by Daniel, a young boy who discovers a novel called The Shadow of the Wind. The author of the novel (within the novel) is Julian Carax, and supposedly some mysterious figure is going about and destroying the few remaining copies of Carax's work. This historical novel has some mystery, magic, and a bit of fun. Shadow was originally published in Spanish, but this is something you wouldn't know just by reading the text. It flows, and quite beautifully at times. This book is a big international bestseller, and it definitely lives up to all the praise.
I originally read this for a book club, and everyone in the group really enjoyed it. If you do read Shadow, there is a sort of prequel out, The Angel's Game, which I myself haven't gotten to just yet. I hope to get to it soon, and will keep you updated. So not planning any trips in the near future? Take a trip back to '50's in Spain, and enjoy the ride. Happy reading.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Welcome! (And Patrick Ness)!
Hello fellow bibliophiles! I am excited to have the opportunity to have a space to write and discuss my babies, BOOKS! I have enjoyed reading since I was a child, and I spent many a summer in the corner of the library reading Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Babysitter's Club (yes, I admit I loved these), Christopher Pike, and R.L. Stine (pre-Goosebumps fame). My love of reading has been an important part of my life ever since I can remember. My love of books and reading inspired me to get my first job at a library.
Throughout high school, I worked for Waldenbooks, where I found and loved many new authors. My reading tastes have changed throughout the years, but my passion for the written word has always been a constant in my life. Today, I am pursuing a Master's in Library and Information Science, and again I work for a bookstore. Even with all this craziness in my life, I still find time to read, and I am here to share my thoughts with you.
I want this to be a place to talk and discuss any and everything about books. I hope to give you some great recommendations (while getting some great ones in return from you). I welcome your comments, I hope to update with at least one post a week, so check back often! For my first book post, I am really excited to share with you a series I just finished up entitled Chaos Walking by Patrick Ness. The series is a trio of books, and the first book is The Knife of Never Letting Go, book two is The Ask and the Answer, and book three is Monsters of Men!
Patrick Ness is an ex-pat who lives in London, and he writes for The Guardian. The books are Young Adult literature, but don't let this stop you, there is something here for everyone. The books take place on a distant planet, where people from Earth have settled to start a new life. Of course, things haven't gone as planned, and shortly after landing, all of the thoughts that the men think are broadcast to everyone around them. Women for some reason don't ever broadcast what they call "noise", but you can imagine what walking through town is like, hearing all of your neighbors thoughts.
The series is dystopic (which has been all the rage since The Hunger Games) and follows a boy, Todd Hewitt, as he approaches 13, the age at which the boys of Prentisstown become men. The style in which this is written takes a little getting used, but once you get past that, hold on. The story is imaginative, emotional, and a real page turner. The last book is out, so you have no excuse not go out this minute and get these books. They have been really under appreciated. I just finished book three, and let me tell you, Monsters of Men was everything Mockingjay should have been, but wasn't. The conclusion does not disappoint. So what are you waiting for? Go start The Knife of Never Letting Go, but make sure you have time, because once you get sucked into Todd Hewitt's head, you won't want to stop until the thrilling and exciting conclusion! Happy reading.
Throughout high school, I worked for Waldenbooks, where I found and loved many new authors. My reading tastes have changed throughout the years, but my passion for the written word has always been a constant in my life. Today, I am pursuing a Master's in Library and Information Science, and again I work for a bookstore. Even with all this craziness in my life, I still find time to read, and I am here to share my thoughts with you.
I want this to be a place to talk and discuss any and everything about books. I hope to give you some great recommendations (while getting some great ones in return from you). I welcome your comments, I hope to update with at least one post a week, so check back often! For my first book post, I am really excited to share with you a series I just finished up entitled Chaos Walking by Patrick Ness. The series is a trio of books, and the first book is The Knife of Never Letting Go, book two is The Ask and the Answer, and book three is Monsters of Men!
Patrick Ness is an ex-pat who lives in London, and he writes for The Guardian. The books are Young Adult literature, but don't let this stop you, there is something here for everyone. The books take place on a distant planet, where people from Earth have settled to start a new life. Of course, things haven't gone as planned, and shortly after landing, all of the thoughts that the men think are broadcast to everyone around them. Women for some reason don't ever broadcast what they call "noise", but you can imagine what walking through town is like, hearing all of your neighbors thoughts.
The series is dystopic (which has been all the rage since The Hunger Games) and follows a boy, Todd Hewitt, as he approaches 13, the age at which the boys of Prentisstown become men. The style in which this is written takes a little getting used, but once you get past that, hold on. The story is imaginative, emotional, and a real page turner. The last book is out, so you have no excuse not go out this minute and get these books. They have been really under appreciated. I just finished book three, and let me tell you, Monsters of Men was everything Mockingjay should have been, but wasn't. The conclusion does not disappoint. So what are you waiting for? Go start The Knife of Never Letting Go, but make sure you have time, because once you get sucked into Todd Hewitt's head, you won't want to stop until the thrilling and exciting conclusion! Happy reading.
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