Peacefield's Reads of 2012

[Peacefield]

Oh my lord. I logged on today so I could update my reading list and it dawned on me that I don't think I created one for 2012! This is very sad indeed, since it's already March and does this mean I've only managed to finish 1 book in 3 months?! Ouch.

 

Anyway, here's a bright new shiny thread . Over the weekend I finished The Assassani by Thomas Gifford and started The Radleys by Matt Haig, which I'm already about 90 pages into.

 

I'm not sure if I already posted this in the general book activity thread, but I also finished listening to We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson (loved it!) and disgustingly quit I mean returned without finishing Cosmopolis by Don DeLillo. I believe it was probably the most pretentious and annoying piece of fiction I've attempted to read in a long time and I just couldn't continue! I would have liked to have slapped a big ol' Mr. Yuck sticker on it before returning it to the library but I didn't .

[poppyshake]

Oh my lord. I logged on today so I could update my reading list and it dawned on me that I don't think I created one for 2012!

I'm sorry Peace but I had to laugh at you looking for your non-existent 2012 Reading blog

 

Anyway, here's a bright new shiny thread

Yay

I'm not sure if I already posted this in the general book activity thread, but I also finished listening to We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson (loved it!) and disgustingly quit I mean returned without finishing Cosmopolis by Don DeLillo. I believe it was probably the most pretentious and annoying piece of fiction I've attempted to read in a long time and I just couldn't continue! I would have liked to have slapped a big ol' Mr. Yuck sticker on it before returning it to the library but I didn't .

I like the thought of your Mr Yuck stickers Personally speaking I could always do with a bit of help in the library so would welcome any help Mr Yuck gives me. We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a great book. I loved it for it's weirdness

 

Good luck with your reading in 2012 Peace

[frankie]

Oh my lord. I logged on today so I could update my reading list and it dawned on me that I don't think I created one for 2012! This is very sad indeed, since it's already March and does this mean I've only managed to finish 1 book in 3 months?! Ouch.

 

I'm sorry Peace but I had to laugh at you looking for your non-existent 2012 Reading blog

 

I'm sorry too, peace, but I also couldn't help but lol a bit You can take that 'ouch' and make it into a READING Couch and have a more fruitful year from here on out!

 

How are you liking The Radleys so far?

 

Better luck with reading, and many happy moments with mojo for the rest of 2012

Edited March 6, 2012 by frankie

[Weave]

Hi peace, how are you? I had noticed you didn't have a 2012 reading log and then forgot to tell you here's to your new reading log! Happy reading.

 

I'm so pleased you enjoyed 'We Have Always Lived In The Castle', Shirley Jackson is a relatively new author for me and I have loved every book I have read by her, she is a fierce writer! Sorry about 'Cosmospolis' (here's hoping the film is better!)

[Peacefield]

Thanks for all the laughter and good lucks in my 2012 reading, guys!

 

I loved the Shirley Jackson and agree, it's perfect weirdness! I hope the film of Cosmopolis is more tolerable, Paula! At least we'll be able to look at the Neck for a couple of hours, huh? Did you guys have Mr. Yuk in the UK or the equivalent? I remember so clearly when I was little seeing his face on bottles of stuff around the house that I was, under no circumstances, allowed to touch. It definitely worked!

 

 

I love the Radley's so far, Frankie, and am almost halfway finished now! A certain side of vampires that I've not read before.

[Peacefield]

I read quite a good chunk of The Radleys while I was waiting for my car last night, and now I have to think if I've ever read any other Matt Haig because I really like him!

 

Also this morning I ordered Matthew Pearl's new book, The Technologists, on Book Depository and I can't wait to read it!! I love his writing and the fact that he combines history and mystery is just my thing. I believe this one takes place at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) back during the turn of the century .

Edited March 9, 2012 by Peacefield

[chesilbeach]

Happy 2012 reading! Life can have an annoying habit of getting in the way of reading, can't it?

 

I've never read any Matt Haig, but I've got a couple of his books on my wishlist, so nice to see you are enjoying The Radleys

[Peacefield]

Thanks, Chesil! Happy 2012 reading to you too . I managed to get in just a bit of The Radleys over the weekend but am still reading very swiftly compared to my last book.

 

I realized that this year is excellent for new books I'm looking forward to! I'm expecting Matthew Pearl's The Technologists any day now, so I think that will be my next read. I also cannot wait to read Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness, which comes out in July (she wrote A Discovery of Witches), The House of Velvet and Glass by Katherine Howe due out in April (Physick Book of Deliverance Dane author) and finally Arcadia by Lauren Groff, which I think is just out or is about to come out. She wrote The Monsters of Templeton, which is one I read last year and loved.

 

What are you guys looking forward to? Any of the mentioned above?

[chesilbeach]

I'm definitely looking forward to Shadow of Night but I've stopped looking up when new books are coming out, as I'm desperately trying to read only books I already own at the moment, so I'm not sure what else is coming up.

[poppyshake]

What are you guys looking forward to? Any of the mentioned above?

Yes, Arcadia .. I read and loved The Monsters of Templeton last year too .. you've reminded me that I still need to review it

Audible recently let me download ten first chapters for free and one of the one's that really stood out was The Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko. It's not my usual thing at all .. all about vampires and stuff but I was hooked after hearing the first chapter read .. very engrossing. Might have to download the rest of it

[Peacefield]

Hold the phone! A new vampire book?? Ooooh this excites me. I need to take note of this one.

 

Wasn't Monsters of Templeton great, Poppy? I loved the author's writing and I also loved the genealogy/ancestry aspect of the story.

[pickle]

The Night Watch is part of a trilogy I have read the first two not bad certainly different, whatever you do though don't bother with watching the film adaptation of it terrible really terrible.

[Brian.]

Are the movies the Russian ones, Night Watch & Day Watch?

[pickle]

Are the movies the Russian ones, Night Watch & Day Watch?

Thats the ones not good adaptations at all.

[Karsa Orlong]

Haven't read the books but the films are bizarre

[Peacefield]

Good to know, you guys! Why do films insist on perpetuating the stereotype that book-to-film adaptations are bad?!

 

I managed about 2 pages of The Radley's last night before falling asleep, ugh. I work tonight and Fri/Sat/Sun so who knows how much reading I'll get done! Oh well...

[Weave]

You have to read more books by Matt Haig, he's fab!

[Peacefield]

I definitely will, Weave!

 

Half Price Books had a sale this past week so yesterday I picked up One of Our Thursdays is Missing for only $6.00! I was pretty excited.

[frankie]

I love the Radley's so far, Frankie, and am almost halfway finished now! A certain side of vampires that I've not read before.

 

I'm glad to hear you are enjoying The Radleys, Ms Peacefield! I can't wait to see what you think of it when you've finished it!

 

It seems like you've been reading it for quite a while now, and this reading log of yours is a bit quiet, I take it that you are keeping busy in real life? It's weird not seeing you around that much!

 

I read quite a good chunk of The Radleys while I was waiting for my car last night, and now I have to think if I've ever read any other Matt Haig because I really like him!

 

I loved Haig's The Last Family in England and I definitely recommend it. I've also read The Possession of Mr Cave (or what was it called ) but I wasn't too impressed with it, although I know Weave liked it But I think in general Matt Haig is an author well worth looking into in the future.

 

Also this morning I ordered Matthew Pearl's new book, The Technologists, on Book Depository and I can't wait to read it!! I love his writing and the fact that he combines history and mystery is just my thing. I believe this one takes place at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) back during the turn of the century .

 

This reminds me I still haven't read The Poe Shadow, eventhough I bought the book well before joining the good old BCF, back in 2008 Bloody hell!

Edited April 4, 2012 by frankie

[Peacefield]

Hey Frankie! Thanks for stopping by my lonely, quiet thread

 

I have been super-busy in real life so my reading is pretty slow these days. I started a second job back in October which I work at on weekends and some weekday evenings, so when I DO have free time not as much of it gets spent on reading, unfortunately . That's what I get for having so many hobbies and interests that I like to keep up with! I miss coming to BCF though so I just need to make a point of spending a little more time here.

 

Thanks for the other Matt Haig suggestions - I have definitely added him to my authors list of which I need to watch .

 

Have you read any Matthew Pearl yet, Frankie? You'll have to let me know how you find the Poe Shadow. I don't want to discourage you, and I know we have differing tastes, but I wasn't a HUGE fan of that one. I liked it because I love Pearl, but his other two I felt were better.

 

I'm still plugging away on The Radley's, but I'm off work Friday night and Sunday so I really want to finish it.

 

Another update: my best friend's mom lent me 2 books recently that I'm itching to get to - The Genius by Jesse Kellerman and Before the Poison by Peter Robinson. Has anyone read either of these?

[Peacefield]

Wow, it only took me about 6 weeks to finish The Radley's! Man, that's kind of depressing. I loved it though, and was completely gripping the book by the last few chapters. It was very much a different take on vampirism and I especially loved how descriptive and detailed Mr. Haig was about how blood makes vampires feel, and the connection they have with certain people's blood. Definitely will be on the lookout for more Matt Haig!

 

I was going to start Simon Pegg's biography (or is it an autobiography?) but lately have been reading and discussing a lot about pioneers, the west, and settlers in general. Because of this I was really in the mood to read Laura Ingalls Wilder's book series and borrowed the following from a friend:

 

Little House in the Big Woods

Little House on the Prairie

On the Banks of Plum Creek

By the Shores of Silver Lake

The Long Winter

 

These aren't all of her books, but the ones I was most interested in. I started Little House in the Big Woods last night and it's just as good as I remember from when I was little .

 

Also, on the 20th and 21st of September I'm taking a road trip with my friend and her mom to follow Laura and the places she lived. It's all very exciting! I'll explain more about it in the Meteor Street Cafe...

[nursenblack]

I love the Little House books! These Happy Golden Years was always my favorite because it was the most romantic.

[chesilbeach]

I love them too! They're on my long term planning list for another re-reading challenge, maybe next year. Hope you enjoy them.

[frankie]

I have been super-busy in real life so my reading is pretty slow these days. I started a second job back in October which I work at on weekends and some weekday evenings, so when I DO have free time not as much of it gets spent on reading, unfortunately . That's what I get for having so many hobbies and interests that I like to keep up with! I miss coming to BCF though so I just need to make a point of spending a little more time here.

 

It's so weird not having you around that much But life sometimes gets in the way, and at least I'm happy to hear you've been busy with a second job and other, numerous interests, and it's not like you've been just not wanting to come over here

 

Have you read any Matthew Pearl yet, Frankie? You'll have to let me know how you find the Poe Shadow. I don't want to discourage you, and I know we have differing tastes, but I wasn't a HUGE fan of that one. I liked it because I love Pearl, but his other two I felt were better.

 

No, Poe Shadow will be my first when I eventually get to it. And I will go into it with an open mind, eventhough you didn't like it I can't remember what his other novels are titled, but are they also some author-related mysteries?

 

Wow, it only took me about 6 weeks to finish The Radley's! Man, that's kind of depressing. I loved it though, and was completely gripping the book by the last few chapters. It was very much a different take on vampirism and I especially loved how descriptive and detailed Mr. Haig was about how blood makes vampires feel, and the connection they have with certain people's blood. Definitely will be on the lookout for more Matt Haig!

 

I'm happy you enjoyed it!

 

Were you not completely

surprised by the end, how the police guy let his daughter be changed? I've forgotten their names. I never saw that coming, I thought for sure the vampire family is in a helluva trouble now

 

BTW, I still haven't been reading anyone's members threads, because I'm way too behind with people's reading logs as it is! But: I noticed on your FB profile that you were going to attend something RHCP-ish. Is it what I think it is?? Do you actually have tickets to their show?

[Peacefield]

I'm so glad you guys also enjoyed the Little House books, Nurse and Chesil! They are so informative and a joy to read, not to mention the great history lesson that kids can get from them. I'm hoping to one day read Laura's biography that was written in the later years.

 

I didn't totally dislike Poe Shadow, Frankie. After all, it IS Pearl! His first book was The Dante Club, followed by Poe and then The Last Dickens. Those are the three author-centered books and his latest is called The Technologists, which is about students at MIT at the turn of the century. I like Pearl because he takes real people in history and builds a mystery around them. I've been able to meet Matthew twice when he came to give a lecture and his first two books I have autographed.

 

I was completely taken aback by that part in The Radley's, Frankie! It came out of left field but it fit in with the ending very well, I thought.

 

I'll go update my member thread right now re: upcoming concerts and trips .