Book haul (7)

So, I'm feeling a little under the weather.  I went out last night in search of hot and sour soup...  I ended up at Half Price Books.  You know you have a serious thing for books when you pop into a bookstore while ill.  So, I picked up a few things.  I got excited, as I found the first five volumes of Witchblade...  Sadly, they were falling to pieces and I didn't get them.  But, that is what Amazon is for.  I found a nice hard cover version of Gunslinger Born, but I behaved. 

So, here is where I misbehaved:







1. The Good Earth, Pearl S. Buck - It's been on my list of things to read for awhile, so I snagged a copy for under $2. 

2. The Screwtape Letter, C.S. Lewis - Had a copy of this some time back, but I don't know what happened to it.  Can't have too much C.S. Lewis.

3. Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Milay, Nancy Milford - So, Edna St. Vincent Milay is one of my favorite poets.  She was quite a lady, so I'm looking forward to reading this.

4. Invisible Monsters, Chuck Palahniuk - My favorite title by Palahniuk.  My copy disappeared into the nether, so happy to have another on my shelf.

5. Serenity: Those Left Behind - I did a nerd purr when I found this.  I had completely forgotten about these.  So very glad I found it.  I really want the one that tells Book's story.

Book Haul (6)

Since I'm suddenly a bit more flush in the pocket book, I did some book shopping during the previous week.  I'm actually doing all sorts of shopping--apartments, clothes, video games and other electronics.  But, first and foremost, BOOK HAUL!

So exciting, I went back to my brother's to pick up a few things, and I stopped by Hasting's.  Oh boy.  I also went to Half Price Books in Plano yesterday.  So... I'm swimming in books.

 




The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien - Mind you, I've read this a couple times now.  But, I haven't actually owned it in awhile.  I think I lent a copy to someone many years ago and never got it back.

This Side of Paradise, F. Scott Fitzgerald - I somehow ended up with several quotes in my notebook, yet have never read anything but the Great Gatsby (and sadly, don't remember much of it).  So, I'm excited about this one.

When We Were Orphans, Kazuo Ishiguro - I loved the Remains of the Day.  Never Let Me Go was good, also.  I love Ishiguro's writing--nothing is ever quite resolved in his novels.  And, I am a girl who likes her happy endings.  But, there is also the fact that his characters accept who they are, what's happened to them in the past.  They move past whatever had hurt them, and that appeals to me.

Muriel Spark, Aiding and Abetting - Okay... The theme for today must be British... But, they have the best literature.  So, don't blame me.  Blame the University of Texas system for allowing me to take so many Brit Lit classes.  Anyway, I read The Girls of Slender Means back in college.  I fell in love with the book and have reread it once since then.  I'm unclear as to why I loved it so much (as I was not overly keen on the particular class in which the book was required reading).  I did, however love the poetry sprinkled throughout its pages.  And it was around that time that I was developing a love for poetry.  I'm looking forward to picking it up again.

Choke, Chuck Palahniuk - I repeatedly rave about Palahniuk, and Invisible Monsters.  And Fight Club.  I adore both books.  I tried Rant, didn't like it.  I've also read Lullaby and Diary and liked them.  I've always wanted to read this one, plus there is a movie.  So excited!

The Satanic Verses, Salman Rushdie - It's on the 1001 books to read before you die list.  The premise is fascinating... Plus, controversial book?  Yes, please.

The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born, Stephen King - So, I'm not sure if I am surprised at this selection or not.  I'm not surprised at the Dark Tower/Stephen King aspect.  But, the graphic novel part of it, that surprises me.  I think I am finally succumbing to the truly nerd side.  I mean, I do already like the Marvel movies...  They're pretty awesome.  And the book is always better.  So, I guess it stands to reason that I am going to eventually gravitate towards comic books.  I am searching for a couple that I'll only find online. 



In other nerdiness, I played Star Wars: Force Unleashed and Little Big World last night.  Must.  Buy.  Playstation 3.  GAH!  Damn those nerdy podcasts.

Book Haul (5)

Yes, I went to the library.  Again.  But, see, thing is they'll be closed for renovations until the end of January.  And...  That's just dismal.  Great for them, sucktastic for me.  So, I have twenty-six library books.  Plus, I am waiting for a hold on an e-book, since I found out I am missing a Mercy Thompson book.

So, from the library yesterday:





1. Boy's Life, Robert R. McCammon: My brother reminded me that there were several of McCammon's books I hadn't ever touched, so I might as well start going down the list.  He's my favorite horror writer, though that's not saying much, considering I've only read Koontz and King besides him.

2. Symphony of Ages, Elizabeth Haydon - These would be the six books on top of Boy's Life.  I started this series ages and ages ago, when it was just a trilogy.  It grew into a huge cycle of books, with three or four trilogies within it.  I absolutely loved the first three and never got around to finishing the others, as college interfered with reading for pleasure.

3. Chocolat, Joanne Harris - I can't recall if I've read this or not, but I read Five Quarters of the Orange and loved it.  I'm actually pretty certain I've read it, but I can always go back and get a different one later.  I do know that I've never seen the movie <gasp>.

4. Dexter, Jeff Lindsay - I read the first book shortly before the series started on Showtimes and thought it was freaking phenomenal.  The books and the series veer away from each other a bit, though I can't recall exactly where.  Plus, I stopped watching around season three or four and can't remember much of them.  So, I got all of them to finish.  Hopefully they don't keep me up at night like the first season did. 

5. Cider House Rules, John Irving - Okay, so I vowed to never read another John Irving book, but here we are.  I thoroughly hated Hotel New Hampshire.  It was just strange, to say the least.  And it's my understanding that According to Garp is also a bit strange, but I could just be thinking of Hotel New Hampshire.  I HAVE seen this movie, and recall liking it quite a bit, so here's to hoping I like this one.  Someone suggested I read A Cutting For Stone, but, alas I could not find a copy.

6. No Country For Old Men, Cormac McCorthy - Okay, so another author I attempted to read and couldn't do it.  I tried The Road, but his writing style for that one really distracted me, so I never got very far.  I cracked this one open in a few different places to make sure I wouldn't have the same issue, but there is punctuation, thankfully.  Again, I've seen the movie and had no clue until after I'd seen it that it was a book!

7. Dead Beat, Jim Butcher - Ah, another of my fictional loves.  Harry Dresden, if you could be real, that would be super.  Because, I would totally jump your bones.  This is the seventh book in the series.  I would have gotten the rest, but the book after this one was missing.

So, between ebooks from the library and these, I ought to be set for the next two months.  Maybe.  Possibly not, since I foresee finishing the Dexter books in under a week...

Book Haul (4)

Hit up B&N yesterday.  One of my favorite places.  However, I must say that the selection from the poetry section was seriously, seriously lacking.  I'll be hitting up Amazon to reacquire copies of things I got rid of during my many moves or have misplaced.

1. E.E. Cummings, Erotic Poems - I've really missed digging into Cummings.  His style is inspiring, and I've tried to emulate it several times.  I think he is just truly amazing, though I will say this isn't the book to be reading in public, as there are some of his erotic drawings included as well.  An excerpt from a favorite of mine that isn't anywhere near erotic, in my opinion:

(So,when kiss Spring comes
we'll kiss each kiss other on kiss the kiss
lips because tic clocks toc don't make
a toctic difference
to kisskiss you and to
kiss me)

2. Jack Kerouac, On the Road - Holy crap, I have no clue how I've missed reading this, but I did.  I'm pretty excited.

Book Haul (3)

I've dived right back into reading voraciously.  Which makes me a pleased panda.

Starting from the top:

1. Patricia Briggs, Iron Kissed: I've actually already finished this one.  Started it last night and just could not put the darned thing down.  I'll do a review tomorrow.

2. Patricia Briggs, Bone Crossed: the next book after Iron Kissed.  I hate going too long in between the next book in a series.  I much prefer being able to read the whole series through in a short period of time...  Note to self: finish the Wheel of Time soon before you forget what has happened in the last forty (kidding, there's only thirteen) books. 

3. Patricia Briggs, River Marked (forgot to include it in the stack): See note above re: books in a series.  They must be read all at once.  At once, I tell you!!

4. J.V. Jones, Fortress of Grey Ice: I almost didn't pick this up, but I have til January to finish it, and I will likely bookwhore it and read it while I read other stuff.

5. Chuck Palahniuk, Snuff: Okay, I love me some Palahniuk.  Weird, morbid, strange as his stories are.  I love them all the same.  They're so damned clever and...  Just, holy crap.  They're good.  If you've not read anything by Palahniuk, be prepared.  He's sort of out there.  Start with Fight Club, if you've not had any experience with him.  It's not tame, per say, but it isn't as out there as, say Invisible Monsters (which is my favorite).

6. Stephen King, The Gunslinger & The Drawing of the Three: So, I've read both these, but never finished the series.  I'm beginning to see a trend here.  I promise, I do finish a series.  Eventually.  Writers should, you know, write faster.  I'm stoked about the end of this series.  I love the sci-fi, western, fantasy combination King has done here and how many elements and characters from his other novels tie in.  It's massively engrossing.

7. Chuck Palahniuk, Rant: Another I haven't read. 

8. Gillian Flynn, Sharp Objects: I went in search of Gone Girl, and should have known better, since it's on the best seller list currently.  So, I selected this instead.  We shall see.

Book Haul (2)

Oh my word, I haven't been to the library in forever, it feels like.  I forget how much I absolutely love going.  Granted, my local library has a few issues in the YA section...  As in I could find ABSOLUTELY NONE of the Percy Jackson books.  Which made me a sad, sad panda. 

So, today's Book Haul:

Starting at the bottom--
1. The Icewind Dale Trilogy, R.A. Salvatore - FINALLY got my hands on this, which explains why they don't have a copy of The Halfling's Gem. I'm so excited to read this.  The library will be closing from the holidays starting the beginning of November (it was all I could do to not shout "What the actual @#$%?"  Who closes a library for three months?).  Anyway, finally getting to Halfling's Gem. 

2. Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury - Mind you, I have read this.  A long flipping time ago.  But, every good book is well worth a re-read.

3. Under the Dome, Stephen King - Never finished this last time around, and I plan on it this time.

4. Blood Bound, Patricia Briggs - The next Mercy Thompson novel.  I love my kick ass urban fantasy heroines.  Plus, who wouldn't want to be able to shape shift?

5. The Legacy, R.A. Salvatore - the next installment of the Drizzt books after Halfling's Gem. 

I'll have to go back Tuesday after work and pick up a bunch more books to last me through winter. I may quite possibly finish the Drizzt books, and perhaps the Dark Tower as well, though at this point, I'll have to do a complete run through, as I have no clue where I left off and won't remember what all is happening.

Book Haul (1)

Hit up the library today.  I behaved myself and only got four books.  Mind you, I still have a ton on my TBR pile that needs to go.  Especially since I want to trade most of them on PaperbackSwap for credits and wish list a bunch of keeper books in hard back.

Much to my dismay, the library did not have a copy of The Hafling's Gem, which I really wanted.  I'm quite disappointed that I can't continue the Drizzt books yet.  I'll check online for the ebook or place a hold on the physical copy if it's just been checked out.

1. Amsterdam - Ian McEwan: This is for my book club.  I've read Atonement, which was dark, but really, really good.

2. Moon Called - Patricia Briggs: I've had my eye on starting this series for some time now.  Just hadn't bothered to get my hands on a copy.  Sadly, the library only seems to have the first three books in the series, so this may turn into a very expensive book choice if I like the series as much as the Rachel Morgan books.

3.  The Golden Key - Melanie Rawn: I refused to pick this up for the longest time, because I was frustrated that I couldn't finish Ruins of Ambrai any time soon.  But, I'm of the understanding that it is a similar story to The Barbed Coil by J.V. Jones, which I loved.

4.  Under the Dome - Stephen King: I had a sample of this on my Nook forever and never got around to buying a copy.  So, in my perusal of the library, I can usually always find the Stephen King shelf.  never fails.  It's like a homing beacon or something.  But, then again, so is the fantasy section.