Thursday, June 21, 2007
Susan's Book Talk: Spring Reading Thing Final Tally
Since today is the first day of summer (I hope you've visited some of the great Thursday Thirteen posts about the solstice), it's time to recap how I did in the Spring Reading Thing.
I'd have to say that overall, I did better than expected, in terms of sheer numbers.
While I didn't get through my initial list of twenty-nine books, I did read twenty nine -- seven titles were different from the list. I had to read a few to give to friends as prizes over at BookObsessed.com, a place I don't spend nearly enough time anymore. Also, I forgot to factor in my book club books, of which there were two. And I had the pleasure of not one but two graphic novels by the wonderful Joann Sfar.
Overall, the standout was, of course, Karma Girl, which I've been raving about pretty non-stop for the past few weeks. I finished You Gotta Have Balls last night and while the first half was rough and I wished I could give up, I'm glad I didn't. I'll rave more about this later; it'll be a great Hidden Treasure book.
Overall, I think I'm disappointed that I gave up on as many as I did (seven). I'd like to think my taste in picking what to read is improving, but I guess not...
It was a fun challenge. I hope to do more, even if my reading has fallen off lately. Too much to write, too many blogs to surf... You guys know how it is.
I'd have to say that overall, I did better than expected, in terms of sheer numbers.
While I didn't get through my initial list of twenty-nine books, I did read twenty nine -- seven titles were different from the list. I had to read a few to give to friends as prizes over at BookObsessed.com, a place I don't spend nearly enough time anymore. Also, I forgot to factor in my book club books, of which there were two. And I had the pleasure of not one but two graphic novels by the wonderful Joann Sfar.
Overall, the standout was, of course, Karma Girl, which I've been raving about pretty non-stop for the past few weeks. I finished You Gotta Have Balls last night and while the first half was rough and I wished I could give up, I'm glad I didn't. I'll rave more about this later; it'll be a great Hidden Treasure book.
Overall, I think I'm disappointed that I gave up on as many as I did (seven). I'd like to think my taste in picking what to read is improving, but I guess not...
It was a fun challenge. I hope to do more, even if my reading has fallen off lately. Too much to write, too many blogs to surf... You guys know how it is.
Labels: books, Joann Sfar, Karma Girl, Spring Reading Thing
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Buy A Friend a Book Week April 2007
A quick Spring Reading Thing Update before I get to Buy a Friend a Book Week fun...
I gave up reading Dead Man's Island (Carolyn G. Hart) and it's already been mooched from me. A Darker Place (Laurie R. King) was also abandoned partway through, and is available either from PaperBackSwap, BookMooch, or ... (what a segueway, Susan!)
... this quarter's Buy a Friend a Book Week contest.
There are two ways to win:
The first three people who e-mail me a scan of their receipt for Steven Lee Beeber's The Heebie Jeebies at CBGB's will get my last three copies of Lyrical Life. So make sure you include an address with your e-mail. Buy it for you, for a friend, for the rocker-type down the street. Steven and I don't care. Just buy it and read it. It's a really cool book, and Steven's a truly cool dude.
The other way to win a book between now and the 7th, with the winner announced shortly thereafter, is to visit my bookshelf at BookCrossing. Look under the available titles -- but be careful, because if there's anything in parentheses after the word available, that means I don't have the book anymore. Leave a comment here on this post (because there will be quite a few posts this week, I suspect, so let's keep things where they belong) and tell me what book you want, and WHY. Whoever has the best reason will win the book and I'll happily send it to you.
Be warned: I like multiple winners. And I've got enough books here to sink a rowboat, I suspect. Have at it.
Now, I know that in my Thursday Thirteen this week, I promised you more fiction about Mitchell's desk. It's coming. But you guys helped me have one of my busiest Thursdays yet, and I'm still digging out from it. Keep it coming and I'll reward you with, as always, more and better.
Happy Buy a Friend a Book Week! (and yes, if you run out today and buy Heebies for a friend's Easter basket, I'll count it as a purchase)
I gave up reading Dead Man's Island (Carolyn G. Hart) and it's already been mooched from me. A Darker Place (Laurie R. King) was also abandoned partway through, and is available either from PaperBackSwap, BookMooch, or ... (what a segueway, Susan!)
... this quarter's Buy a Friend a Book Week contest.
There are two ways to win:
The first three people who e-mail me a scan of their receipt for Steven Lee Beeber's The Heebie Jeebies at CBGB's will get my last three copies of Lyrical Life. So make sure you include an address with your e-mail. Buy it for you, for a friend, for the rocker-type down the street. Steven and I don't care. Just buy it and read it. It's a really cool book, and Steven's a truly cool dude.
The other way to win a book between now and the 7th, with the winner announced shortly thereafter, is to visit my bookshelf at BookCrossing. Look under the available titles -- but be careful, because if there's anything in parentheses after the word available, that means I don't have the book anymore. Leave a comment here on this post (because there will be quite a few posts this week, I suspect, so let's keep things where they belong) and tell me what book you want, and WHY. Whoever has the best reason will win the book and I'll happily send it to you.
Be warned: I like multiple winners. And I've got enough books here to sink a rowboat, I suspect. Have at it.
Now, I know that in my Thursday Thirteen this week, I promised you more fiction about Mitchell's desk. It's coming. But you guys helped me have one of my busiest Thursdays yet, and I'm still digging out from it. Keep it coming and I'll reward you with, as always, more and better.
Happy Buy a Friend a Book Week! (and yes, if you run out today and buy Heebies for a friend's Easter basket, I'll count it as a purchase)
Labels: BookCrossing, books, Buy a Friend a Book Week, contest, prizes, punk rock, Spring Reading Thing, Steven Lee Beeber
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Susan's Book Talk: mysteries, Buy a Friend a Book Week, and more on punks
First off, let me tell you that I've finished my first book for the Spring Reading Thing challenge: Linda Fairstein's The Kills. I really liked it, so if you'd like to read it, you can get it one of three ways: by requesting it at PaperBackSwap, by mooching it from me at BookMooch, or by leaving me a comment here and asking for it. Be sure to leave me an e-mail address, if I don't have an address on file for you.
My copy's a hardback and yes, it's registered at BookCrossing. I'd love it if you'd leave some thoughts about what you think of it.
Other stuff...
Barb at Front Street Reviews has asked me to tell you guys to check out a cool profile she's done of Capital Crime Press. Two of their more prominent authors are the extremely funny Robert Fate (author of Baby Shark) and Troy Cook (author of 47 Rules of a Highly Effective Bank Robber). This feature is in conjunction with Small Press Month; don't forget to finish off the month with some small presses!
Buy a Friend a Book Week is fast approaching. I'm going to do a small contest for it, so watch the blog for more details. But here's a hint: anyone who e-mails me a scanned receipt for the purchase of Steven Lee Beeber's The Heebie-Jeebies at CBGB's will win a cool book from me. I'll have other books to give away during BAFAB week, if only because I have too many here again and would like to get them moving through the world.
And while I'm talking about Beeber and punk rock, I'd like to once again put forth my willingness to review Clinton Heylin's new book on punk. Babylon's Burning. Not only am I curious to read it, I want to see how it stacks up against Beeber's book. Now pushed back to a July release, I'd love to be part of some pre-publication reviews -- and I'll offer up Barb's Front Street Reviews as a spot for which to post that review. Ain't it great to have friends?
My copy's a hardback and yes, it's registered at BookCrossing. I'd love it if you'd leave some thoughts about what you think of it.
Other stuff...
Barb at Front Street Reviews has asked me to tell you guys to check out a cool profile she's done of Capital Crime Press. Two of their more prominent authors are the extremely funny Robert Fate (author of Baby Shark) and Troy Cook (author of 47 Rules of a Highly Effective Bank Robber). This feature is in conjunction with Small Press Month; don't forget to finish off the month with some small presses!
Buy a Friend a Book Week is fast approaching. I'm going to do a small contest for it, so watch the blog for more details. But here's a hint: anyone who e-mails me a scanned receipt for the purchase of Steven Lee Beeber's The Heebie-Jeebies at CBGB's will win a cool book from me. I'll have other books to give away during BAFAB week, if only because I have too many here again and would like to get them moving through the world.
And while I'm talking about Beeber and punk rock, I'd like to once again put forth my willingness to review Clinton Heylin's new book on punk. Babylon's Burning. Not only am I curious to read it, I want to see how it stacks up against Beeber's book. Now pushed back to a July release, I'd love to be part of some pre-publication reviews -- and I'll offer up Barb's Front Street Reviews as a spot for which to post that review. Ain't it great to have friends?
Labels: BookCrossing, BookMooch, books, Buy a Friend a Book Week, contest, Front Street Reviews, Linda Fairstein, PaperBackSwap, punk rock, Spring Reading Thing, Susan's Book Talk
