Fiction
Shadow Season by Tom Piccirilli. Blinded ex-cop Finn is teaching at "an isolated girls' prep school" when "a group of innocent studetns has been put in harm's way by a pair of vicious criminals stalking Finn for unknown reasons."
Secret of Everything by Barba O'neal. "Life is a treasure hunt - and the key is closer than you think."
Serpent in the Thorns by Jeri Westerson. I bought this for two reasons. 1. The cover illustration seemed unique but disturbingly romance-like. 2. The words "Medieval Noir".
Rogue Warrior: Seize the Day by Richard Marcinko and Jim DeFelice. Demolition Dick does a video impersonation of Castro declaring freedom. When the video is intercepted Demo Dick travels to Cuba.
Veracity by Laura Bynum. A future government controls the population through sex, drugs, and the "slate" that monitors every word you say. Utter a forbidden word and the Blue Coats come to get you. What happens when your daughter rebels against the government and her name is forbidden?
Ice by Linda Howard. Chick book.
Bryant and May on the Loose by Christopher Fowler. "A Peculiar Crimes Unit mystery"
Redemption by Karen Kingsbury w/ Gary Smalley. "A Baxter family drama" Kari Jacobs is "furious, hurt, and confused" when her professor husband has an affair with a student.
Hidden Flame by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke.
Shades of Blue by Karen Kingsbury. Guy in twenties heads home to get forgiveness from an old girlfriend.
Snapped by Pamela Klaffke. Style guru Sara is losing her mojo. "Fueled by alcohol, nicotine and self-loathing, Sara launches into a cringeworthy but often comic series of blowups - personal, professional and provate - that culminte in an epiphany."
Monday, January 25, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
I Need To Do Library Bills, Here Is My Evasion
Fiction
Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson. Author of the moment. Too bad he died in 2004.
No Mercy by Lori Armstrong. Army gal Mercy returns home to South Dakota on medical leave. When an Indian boy is found dead on her property Mercy is concerned by the lack of investigation. When a relative dies Mercy is out for revenge. Reall good reviews on this one. The author likes to do that blogging thing.
Ghosts of Belfast by Stuart Neville. Listed on several best-of lists. A former IRA killer is hired to do in the IRA leaders who used to decide who died.
Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry. Some world-on-the-brink with only-one-man-can-stop-the-evil-conspiracy book.
Noah's Book by Anne Tyler. Tyler's books check-out pretty well here.
13th Hour by Richard Doetsch.Nick Quinn is accused of murdering his wife. A mysterious guy gives him the ability to jump back in time one hour at a time and prevent his wife's murder.
Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson. Author of the moment. Too bad he died in 2004.
No Mercy by Lori Armstrong. Army gal Mercy returns home to South Dakota on medical leave. When an Indian boy is found dead on her property Mercy is concerned by the lack of investigation. When a relative dies Mercy is out for revenge. Reall good reviews on this one. The author likes to do that blogging thing.
Ghosts of Belfast by Stuart Neville. Listed on several best-of lists. A former IRA killer is hired to do in the IRA leaders who used to decide who died.
Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry. Some world-on-the-brink with only-one-man-can-stop-the-evil-conspiracy book.
Noah's Book by Anne Tyler. Tyler's books check-out pretty well here.
13th Hour by Richard Doetsch.Nick Quinn is accused of murdering his wife. A mysterious guy gives him the ability to jump back in time one hour at a time and prevent his wife's murder.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The Usual Appearances
Fiction
Burning Land by Bernard Cornwell. Cornwell takes a break from killing Frenchmen and goes back to the Danish and English killing each other instead.
The Wolf at the Door by Jack Higgins. Members of the British Prime Minister's "private army" are being assassinated in the U.K and U.S. Hey, an Elvis Costello song just came on.
Kisser by "Stuart Woods". Woods's ghost writers are hard at work writing Stone Barrington novels. I wish I knew who wrote some of those Nick Stone novels for Andy McNab.
Silencer by James W. Hall. I read a couple Hall books before. He does good work. Hall's recurring character, Thorn, is kidnapped after the murder of a man intent on donating his land for conservavtion. Hey, a Crowded House song just came on and I found a link.
NonFiction
Bo Ryan: another hill to climb by Bo Ryan with Mike Lucas. Autobiography of the UW-Madison basketball coach and member of the 500-win club.
Tim Russert, We Heartily Knew Ye: wonderful stories from friends celebrating a great life edited by Rich Wolfe.
Large Print
Committed: a skeptic makes peace with marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert. Sing with me again: I don't care, I don't care, I don't care.
Burning Land by Bernard Cornwell. Cornwell takes a break from killing Frenchmen and goes back to the Danish and English killing each other instead.
The Wolf at the Door by Jack Higgins. Members of the British Prime Minister's "private army" are being assassinated in the U.K and U.S. Hey, an Elvis Costello song just came on.
Kisser by "Stuart Woods". Woods's ghost writers are hard at work writing Stone Barrington novels. I wish I knew who wrote some of those Nick Stone novels for Andy McNab.
Silencer by James W. Hall. I read a couple Hall books before. He does good work. Hall's recurring character, Thorn, is kidnapped after the murder of a man intent on donating his land for conservavtion. Hey, a Crowded House song just came on and I found a link.
NonFiction
Bo Ryan: another hill to climb by Bo Ryan with Mike Lucas. Autobiography of the UW-Madison basketball coach and member of the 500-win club.
Tim Russert, We Heartily Knew Ye: wonderful stories from friends celebrating a great life edited by Rich Wolfe.
Large Print
Committed: a skeptic makes peace with marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert. Sing with me again: I don't care, I don't care, I don't care.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
3,220 Pages of Large Print Fiction
Large Print
Chopin Manuscript: a serial thriller by Jeffery Deaver and others. I said hello to Deaver when he was at the Murder and Mayhem event in Muskego this past Fall. He is a good dude.
The Disciple by Stephen Coonts. Iran has a nuke and wants to use it. The CIA plans to stop them. Coonts uses the real President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, as a bad guy intent on martyring his whole nation. Doing that seems like a bad idea for several reasons.
While I'm Falling by Laura Moriarty. Chick book.
Dragon House by John Shors. American couple open school for Vietnamese street kids.
Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro. Short stories.
Breaking the Rules by Barbara Taylor Bradford. Chick book.
The Maverick by Diana Palmer. Major chick book.
The Humbling by Philip Roth. Hoity-toity literary book. No vampires or private detectives allowed.
Chopin Manuscript: a serial thriller by Jeffery Deaver and others. I said hello to Deaver when he was at the Murder and Mayhem event in Muskego this past Fall. He is a good dude.
The Disciple by Stephen Coonts. Iran has a nuke and wants to use it. The CIA plans to stop them. Coonts uses the real President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, as a bad guy intent on martyring his whole nation. Doing that seems like a bad idea for several reasons.
While I'm Falling by Laura Moriarty. Chick book.
Dragon House by John Shors. American couple open school for Vietnamese street kids.
Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro. Short stories.
Breaking the Rules by Barbara Taylor Bradford. Chick book.
The Maverick by Diana Palmer. Major chick book.
The Humbling by Philip Roth. Hoity-toity literary book. No vampires or private detectives allowed.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Triple Crais, MJ, That Gal from Juno, Gagnon Returns?
DVD
Whip It starring Ellen Page, Daniel Stern, Kristen Wiig. Girl joins a roller derby team.
Michael Jackson's This Is It. DVD of the movie of the concert practice.
Whiteout starring Kate Beckinsal and a Glock 19. A U.S. Marshal is sent to Antarctica to investigate a murder. Since when does the Marshals Service investigate murder?
I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell starring [people you never heard of] and Traci Lords. Scuzzy dudes have a night on the town. I tried reading the book of this and realized it was just one repeating story of drunken foolishness.
Yoga for the Rest of Us: heart healthy yoga with Peggy Cappy. The cover photo of Cappy is odd. I cannot tell if she is winking at the camera, had a stroke, squinting at the light, or what.
The Girl from Monaco starring [French People]. Neurotic attorney goes to Monaco to defend a crook. A "beautiful she-devil" makes him a wreck. Comedy.
Adult Fiction
The Gatekeeper by Michelle Gagnon. FBI Special Agent Kelly Jones investigates the murder of a Senator that may be related to the terrorist kidnapping of a sixteen-year-old girl. Last time I bought a Gagnon book she posted some comment here.
The First Rule by Robert Crais. The mysterious Joe Pike returns as the lead character. One of Pike's former mercenary colleagues and the man's family are murdered in a home invasion. The cops think the dead man must have been a crook. Pike sets out to clear the dead man's name and kill those responsible.
Large Print
The First Rule by Robert Crais. All Joe Pike wanted was a little vacation time away from his hectic work in L.A. But, his vacation in Alaska takes a turn for the silly with a lonely moose, a leaky cabin, and the local, and beautiful, donut shop owner.
Committed: a skeptic makes peace with marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert. Chick gets remarried.
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman. Chick Book.
Treasure Hunt by John Lescroart. Private investigator Mickey Dade finds the body of a prominent San Francisco activist.
AudioBook on CD
The First Rule by Robert Crais. Joe Pike never wanted a life as a bus driver. But, when his career as a rock singer never broke and his wife died he needed a steady job to raise his kids. Now he's angling for a big role in a Broadway show and maybe a spotlight lead with famous stage actress Melody Meringer.
Whip It starring Ellen Page, Daniel Stern, Kristen Wiig. Girl joins a roller derby team.
Michael Jackson's This Is It. DVD of the movie of the concert practice.
Whiteout starring Kate Beckinsal and a Glock 19. A U.S. Marshal is sent to Antarctica to investigate a murder. Since when does the Marshals Service investigate murder?
I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell starring [people you never heard of] and Traci Lords. Scuzzy dudes have a night on the town. I tried reading the book of this and realized it was just one repeating story of drunken foolishness.
Yoga for the Rest of Us: heart healthy yoga with Peggy Cappy. The cover photo of Cappy is odd. I cannot tell if she is winking at the camera, had a stroke, squinting at the light, or what.
The Girl from Monaco starring [French People]. Neurotic attorney goes to Monaco to defend a crook. A "beautiful she-devil" makes him a wreck. Comedy.
Adult Fiction
The Gatekeeper by Michelle Gagnon. FBI Special Agent Kelly Jones investigates the murder of a Senator that may be related to the terrorist kidnapping of a sixteen-year-old girl. Last time I bought a Gagnon book she posted some comment here.
The First Rule by Robert Crais. The mysterious Joe Pike returns as the lead character. One of Pike's former mercenary colleagues and the man's family are murdered in a home invasion. The cops think the dead man must have been a crook. Pike sets out to clear the dead man's name and kill those responsible.
Large Print
The First Rule by Robert Crais. All Joe Pike wanted was a little vacation time away from his hectic work in L.A. But, his vacation in Alaska takes a turn for the silly with a lonely moose, a leaky cabin, and the local, and beautiful, donut shop owner.
Committed: a skeptic makes peace with marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert. Chick gets remarried.
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman. Chick Book.
Treasure Hunt by John Lescroart. Private investigator Mickey Dade finds the body of a prominent San Francisco activist.
AudioBook on CD
The First Rule by Robert Crais. Joe Pike never wanted a life as a bus driver. But, when his career as a rock singer never broke and his wife died he needed a steady job to raise his kids. Now he's angling for a big role in a Broadway show and maybe a spotlight lead with famous stage actress Melody Meringer.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Skating in Commons Park and a Musical Interlude
Skating
Commons Park is across from the Library. Parks Department sets up a skating rink each winter.
Musical Interlude
Richard Thompson
Thompson came up just now using the shuffle feature on my computer.
The clip is from Later... with Jools Holland. I wish there were an American version of this show. One of the neatest things about Later... is the camera shots of other bands listening and enjoying the music of an entirely different kind of band.
Commons Park is across from the Library. Parks Department sets up a skating rink each winter.
Musical Interlude
Richard Thompson
Thompson came up just now using the shuffle feature on my computer.
The clip is from Later... with Jools Holland. I wish there were an American version of this show. One of the neatest things about Later... is the camera shots of other bands listening and enjoying the music of an entirely different kind of band.
Friday, January 08, 2010
What to Read 34: Victor Gischler's "Vampire A Go-Go"
What to Read 34: Victor Gischler's Vampire A Go-Go.
Traditional French Cooking With Fronch Dressing. Fronch Fries. Fronch Bread.
DVD
Julie and Julia. Woman cooks recipes while Streep pretends to be a Child.
In the Loop with James Gandolfini and English People. British government spokesman says war is unforseeable and causes lots of trouble at home and the U.S.
The Burrowers starring Clancy Brown. Horror movie set in 1879 South Dakota. I don't remember why I ordered this. Maybe it was cheap.
Wrong Turn at Tahoe starring Cuba Gooding, Jr. Debt collector for the mob gets stuck in battle between mob and drug dealer.
Music on CD
Back Spacer by Pearl Jam. http://www.pearljam.com/music. Seattle song singers.
Greatest Hits by The Foo Fighters. Drummer sings songs.
Now That's What I call Music: 31. Pop singers singing pop songs.
Fiction
Faces of the Gone by Brad Parks. Reporter in Newark investigates a quadruple murder the police have written off.
My Dead Body by Charlie Huston. Huston's latest in the tale of Joe Pitt, noir vampire of NYC.
Fit to Be Tied by Robin Lee Hatcher. Idaho Cowgirl in 1916 falls in love with English aristocrat.
Dawn's Prelude by Tracie Peterson. Young widow with inheritance goes to Alaska and meets a Swede.
Sting of Justice by Cora Harrison. Mystery set in medieval Ireland that had a real good review. Woman investigates murder by bee sting.
Dracula the Un-Dead by Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt. "The sequel to the original classic." 25 years after Dracula with the son of Jonathan and Mina Harker finding out what happened.
The House of Mystery by DC Comics. Compilation of horror comics.
Julie and Julia. Woman cooks recipes while Streep pretends to be a Child.
In the Loop with James Gandolfini and English People. British government spokesman says war is unforseeable and causes lots of trouble at home and the U.S.
The Burrowers starring Clancy Brown. Horror movie set in 1879 South Dakota. I don't remember why I ordered this. Maybe it was cheap.
Wrong Turn at Tahoe starring Cuba Gooding, Jr. Debt collector for the mob gets stuck in battle between mob and drug dealer.
Music on CD
Back Spacer by Pearl Jam. http://www.pearljam.com/music. Seattle song singers.
Greatest Hits by The Foo Fighters. Drummer sings songs.
Now That's What I call Music: 31. Pop singers singing pop songs.
Fiction
Faces of the Gone by Brad Parks. Reporter in Newark investigates a quadruple murder the police have written off.
My Dead Body by Charlie Huston. Huston's latest in the tale of Joe Pitt, noir vampire of NYC.
Fit to Be Tied by Robin Lee Hatcher. Idaho Cowgirl in 1916 falls in love with English aristocrat.
Dawn's Prelude by Tracie Peterson. Young widow with inheritance goes to Alaska and meets a Swede.
Sting of Justice by Cora Harrison. Mystery set in medieval Ireland that had a real good review. Woman investigates murder by bee sting.
Dracula the Un-Dead by Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt. "The sequel to the original classic." 25 years after Dracula with the son of Jonathan and Mina Harker finding out what happened.
The House of Mystery by DC Comics. Compilation of horror comics.
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Japanese Schoolgirls, Werewolves, Mobsters, IEDs
DVDs
An American Werewolf in London starring JENNY AGUTTER. American backpacker is bitten when visiting the English moors. Has trouble adjusting to his new werewolf life.
When I was a kid I thought the dream sequence with the machine gun shooting monsters and every scene with Agutter were way cool. I couldn't find a clip of either.
Blood: the last vampire starring [Japanese girls]. Schoolgirl has to fight vampires.
The Hurt Locker by Jeremy Renner, Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes, David Morse, Evangeline Lilly. Sergeant in Iraq disables IEDs.
Welcome to Staten Island starring Uma's Ex-Husband, Private Pyle, HeyThatOneGuy. Local mob boss on Staten Island crosses paths with expecting father and local businessman.
Fiction
Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky. Several high school girls get pregnant. Local principal, and mom of one of the girls, gets blamed.
Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier.
Hastur Lord by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Deboarh J. Ross. Why do SciFi and Fantasy authors always use extra initials and names?
Large Print
Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz. Same cover as the regular print hardcover.
An American Werewolf in London starring JENNY AGUTTER. American backpacker is bitten when visiting the English moors. Has trouble adjusting to his new werewolf life.
When I was a kid I thought the dream sequence with the machine gun shooting monsters and every scene with Agutter were way cool. I couldn't find a clip of either.
Blood: the last vampire starring [Japanese girls]. Schoolgirl has to fight vampires.
The Hurt Locker by Jeremy Renner, Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes, David Morse, Evangeline Lilly. Sergeant in Iraq disables IEDs.
Welcome to Staten Island starring Uma's Ex-Husband, Private Pyle, HeyThatOneGuy. Local mob boss on Staten Island crosses paths with expecting father and local businessman.
Fiction
Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky. Several high school girls get pregnant. Local principal, and mom of one of the girls, gets blamed.
Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier.
Hastur Lord by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Deboarh J. Ross. Why do SciFi and Fantasy authors always use extra initials and names?
Large Print
Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz. Same cover as the regular print hardcover.
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Lyle Lovett Plus Two Others and a Musical Interlude
Music CDs
Natural Forces by Lyle Lovett. Texan sings songs by Texan song writers.
Roadsinger by Yusuf. Cat Muslim sings songs about something. Review Link: The songs are low intensity, mostly hummable, and always rooted in the strumming or fingerpicking of an acoustic guitar even as strings, electric guitars, wispy percussion, and sometimes horns wind their way in without digging as deeply into the pop-conscious productions of An Other Cup.
Awake by Skillet. Rock singers sing songs about Christianity.
Musical Interlude
Texas is a common Lovett theme.
If only that line about free beer were true.
Natural Forces by Lyle Lovett. Texan sings songs by Texan song writers.
Roadsinger by Yusuf. Cat Muslim sings songs about something. Review Link: The songs are low intensity, mostly hummable, and always rooted in the strumming or fingerpicking of an acoustic guitar even as strings, electric guitars, wispy percussion, and sometimes horns wind their way in without digging as deeply into the pop-conscious productions of An Other Cup.
Awake by Skillet. Rock singers sing songs about Christianity.
Musical Interlude
Texas is a common Lovett theme.
If only that line about free beer were true.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Nine Music CDs and an Audiobook
Music CDs
Mudvayne by Mudvayne. Metal band from Peoria scream songs.
Toussaint St. Jean: From the hut, to the projects, to the mansion by Wyclef Jean. Singer songs songs from album with a book title.
Buffet Hotel by Jimmy Buffet. Singer sings songs about parrots or Mexico or margaritas or crap like that.
Michael Jackson's This Is It by Michael Jackson. Singer sings greatest hits songs.
Sainthood by Tegan and Sara. Canadian girl singers sing songs.
Sex Therapy by Robin Thicke. Canadian guy singer sings songs.
Raditude by Weezer. Nerdy singer sings songs.
Battle Studies by John Mayer. Guitarist sings songs.
Hello Hurricane by Switchfoot. Singers sing rock'n'roll gospel music. Not the gospel of rock'n'roll.
AudioBook
U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton. Detective detects death dealer.
Mudvayne by Mudvayne. Metal band from Peoria scream songs.
Toussaint St. Jean: From the hut, to the projects, to the mansion by Wyclef Jean. Singer songs songs from album with a book title.
Buffet Hotel by Jimmy Buffet. Singer sings songs about parrots or Mexico or margaritas or crap like that.
Michael Jackson's This Is It by Michael Jackson. Singer sings greatest hits songs.
Sainthood by Tegan and Sara. Canadian girl singers sing songs.
Sex Therapy by Robin Thicke. Canadian guy singer sings songs.
Raditude by Weezer. Nerdy singer sings songs.
Battle Studies by John Mayer. Guitarist sings songs.
Hello Hurricane by Switchfoot. Singers sing rock'n'roll gospel music. Not the gospel of rock'n'roll.
AudioBook
U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton. Detective detects death dealer.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Local Flavor and Musical Interlude
Local Flavor
Ice skating in Commons Park across from the Library. Even if I had a fancy camera like my brother these pictures would still be lousy.
Musical Interlude
Apeman from The Kinks
Remember when Ray Davies got shot in New Orleans?
Ice skating in Commons Park across from the Library. Even if I had a fancy camera like my brother these pictures would still be lousy.
Musical Interlude
Apeman from The Kinks
Remember when Ray Davies got shot in New Orleans?
A Few DVDs
DVD
A Perfect Getaway starring Hot Chicks in Danger, Steve Zahn. Vacation hikers in Hawaii may be teamed up with vicious murderers. Kind of like Shoot to Kill which I saw at the Virginia when it came out.
Extract with Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, JK Simmons. Workplace comedy with jokes.
Jennifer's Body starring AMY SEDARIS with Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, JK Simmons. Current It Girl is a demon possessed cheerleader who eats her male classmates.
Paranormal Activity with [people no one has ever heard of]. Scary movie with scary stuff. Set in a couple's bedroom. Read into that however you want.
Chopper starring Eric Bana. Australian convict and criminal "dreams of making a name for himself."
Ghosted starring Weird Looking Blond Woman and Chinese Lady. German lady's Taiwanese girlfriend is murdered. Taiwanese journalist investigates the murder and shows up in Germany.
I would link or embed a movie trailer but the only trailer I found was with the two chicks making out and no information about the actual plot. I also found out you can watch the whole dang movie on YouTube if you are so inclined.
Spread starring Ashton Kutcher and Anne Heche. I wrote a plot description based on the box cover but the trailer says different. Just watch the trailer.
How many jokes have been made comparing Kutcher's character to Kutcher's marriage?
Criminal Justice starring Pete Postlethwaite. Young guy wakes up next to murdered woman with no memory of what happened. Guy goes on trial while simultaneously trying to survive in jail.
A Perfect Getaway starring Hot Chicks in Danger, Steve Zahn. Vacation hikers in Hawaii may be teamed up with vicious murderers. Kind of like Shoot to Kill which I saw at the Virginia when it came out.
Extract with Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, JK Simmons. Workplace comedy with jokes.
Jennifer's Body starring AMY SEDARIS with Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, JK Simmons. Current It Girl is a demon possessed cheerleader who eats her male classmates.
Paranormal Activity with [people no one has ever heard of]. Scary movie with scary stuff. Set in a couple's bedroom. Read into that however you want.
Chopper starring Eric Bana. Australian convict and criminal "dreams of making a name for himself."
Ghosted starring Weird Looking Blond Woman and Chinese Lady. German lady's Taiwanese girlfriend is murdered. Taiwanese journalist investigates the murder and shows up in Germany.
I would link or embed a movie trailer but the only trailer I found was with the two chicks making out and no information about the actual plot. I also found out you can watch the whole dang movie on YouTube if you are so inclined.
Spread starring Ashton Kutcher and Anne Heche. I wrote a plot description based on the box cover but the trailer says different. Just watch the trailer.
How many jokes have been made comparing Kutcher's character to Kutcher's marriage?
Criminal Justice starring Pete Postlethwaite. Young guy wakes up next to murdered woman with no memory of what happened. Guy goes on trial while simultaneously trying to survive in jail.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Bob Lee Swagger, Cookbooks, Repeats
Fiction
I, Sniper by Stephen Hunter. Famed sniper Bob Lee Swagger assist an FBI pal in investigating long-range rifle killings of former '60s radicals. All evidence points to a famed Army sniper from Vietnam. But, Swagger sees that the evidence is too neat.
Crawl Space by Sarah Graves. "A Home Repair is Homicide mystery."
Ticket to Ride by Ed Gorman. Iowa lawyer Sam McCain organizes an anti-war rally in 1965. After a local war hero suffer an apoplectic stroke there are two murders. McCain navigates the changes of rock music, the Vietnam war, and rebellious youth.
If this is set in 1965 what's the deal with the Beretta 92 series pistol in the cover design?
Little Stevens Underground Garage
I Slept with Joey Ramone by Mickey Leigh. Steven Van Zandt recommends this as best book of the year. A tale of Joey's (Jeff Hyman's) dysfunctional family written by Joey's brother.
Cheap Trick
Fiction Repeats
A Matter of Class by Mary Balogh. Some romance I think.
Burn by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy. The plot description on the back cover makes little sense.
Fired Up by Jane Ann Krentz. "An Arcane Society novel." Shirtless guy on the cover.
Days of Gold by Jude Deveraux. 1766 Scotland with romance between a clan's laird and some rich lady.
Honor of Spies by W.E.B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV. Two pretentiously named authors write another book about spies in WWII.
Sizzle by Julie Garwood. Girl film student needs to decide on job offers at graduation time and "witnesses a shocking crime" and meets "rugged FBI agent."
Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde. I withhold comment.
Deeper Than the Dead by Tami Hoag. What's that then? Miners?
Cookbooks
I did I mention I ordered a lot of cookbooks?
Allergen-Free baker's handbook: how to bake without gluten, wehat, dairy, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame by Cybele Pascal.
Food You Crave: luscious recipes for a healthy life by Ellie Krieger. Won the James Beard and IACP awards.
I, Sniper by Stephen Hunter. Famed sniper Bob Lee Swagger assist an FBI pal in investigating long-range rifle killings of former '60s radicals. All evidence points to a famed Army sniper from Vietnam. But, Swagger sees that the evidence is too neat.
Crawl Space by Sarah Graves. "A Home Repair is Homicide mystery."
Ticket to Ride by Ed Gorman. Iowa lawyer Sam McCain organizes an anti-war rally in 1965. After a local war hero suffer an apoplectic stroke there are two murders. McCain navigates the changes of rock music, the Vietnam war, and rebellious youth.
If this is set in 1965 what's the deal with the Beretta 92 series pistol in the cover design?
Little Stevens Underground Garage
I Slept with Joey Ramone by Mickey Leigh. Steven Van Zandt recommends this as best book of the year. A tale of Joey's (Jeff Hyman's) dysfunctional family written by Joey's brother.
Cheap Trick
Fiction Repeats
A Matter of Class by Mary Balogh. Some romance I think.
Burn by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy. The plot description on the back cover makes little sense.
Fired Up by Jane Ann Krentz. "An Arcane Society novel." Shirtless guy on the cover.
Days of Gold by Jude Deveraux. 1766 Scotland with romance between a clan's laird and some rich lady.
Honor of Spies by W.E.B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV. Two pretentiously named authors write another book about spies in WWII.
Sizzle by Julie Garwood. Girl film student needs to decide on job offers at graduation time and "witnesses a shocking crime" and meets "rugged FBI agent."
Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde. I withhold comment.
Deeper Than the Dead by Tami Hoag. What's that then? Miners?
Cookbooks
I did I mention I ordered a lot of cookbooks?
Allergen-Free baker's handbook: how to bake without gluten, wehat, dairy, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame by Cybele Pascal.
Food You Crave: luscious recipes for a healthy life by Ellie Krieger. Won the James Beard and IACP awards.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Musical Interlude and More Snow
Musical Interlude
I always liked the song. The amazing thing about the video is that even though this is early in the "video age" (1980) the girl is not really skanky.
I intended to post just that song but at the end of the YouTube clip is the "related videos" section which listed this:
I had not heard this song in a while and did not know Iris was the performer.
More Snow From Yesterday
I just keep taking snow photos. My enthusiasm is already waning.
Library's Rear Entry
Madison Street in front of the Library looking East.
While I'm At It
A Star Wars version of Ah! Leah!
Just the link.
I always liked the song. The amazing thing about the video is that even though this is early in the "video age" (1980) the girl is not really skanky.
I intended to post just that song but at the end of the YouTube clip is the "related videos" section which listed this:
I had not heard this song in a while and did not know Iris was the performer.
More Snow From Yesterday
I just keep taking snow photos. My enthusiasm is already waning.
Library's Rear Entry
Madison Street in front of the Library looking East.
While I'm At It
A Star Wars version of Ah! Leah!
Just the link.
Friday, December 18, 2009
New CDs and DVDs
New DVD and CD
I just opened the box up.
Tegan and Sara
I screwed up and ordered two copies of the Tegan and Sara CD.
No. No those tattoos don't look trashy at all. Really.
I just opened the box up.
Tegan and Sara
I screwed up and ordered two copies of the Tegan and Sara CD.
No. No those tattoos don't look trashy at all. Really.
Bands I Know Nothing About, Stooges, That Duck In A Cage
Music CDs
Cosmic Egg by Wolfmother. Australians? I do not remember.
Shock Value II by Timbaland. Rap? Soul? R & B? Dance?
Dear Agony by Breaking Benjamin. Rap? Emo? Half Assed Rock?
DVD
Three Stooges Collector's Edition: discs one and two. Several shorts, a feature film, trailers, and extras.
Non Fiction
Lucille and the XXX Road: around the world man and motorcycle by Jim Oliver. I spoke to Oliver on video while I was in Kansas. Oliver gave a presentation on his trip from Eastern Russia west through Europe on his BMW (named Lucille). Oliver's talk focused on his 1300 miles ride across Siberia and the rough conditions he and his riding partner encountered. What do you bet I'll get a bunch of web hits for the XXX in the title?
I asked Oliver if he would take a smaller bike than his GS model if he did the trip over. Oliver said he would take a smaller bike like an F650 BMW or a KLR650.
Heaven and Hell: my life in The Eagles (1974-2001) by Don Felder. Guitarist for The Eagles tells tales. Felder has a lot of neat behind the scenes tales of life in the band of the money fights with Henley and Frey.
Large Print
La's Orchestra Saves the World by Alexander McCall Smith. That duck-in-a-cage-on-a-bicycle is back.
Cosmic Egg by Wolfmother. Australians? I do not remember.
Shock Value II by Timbaland. Rap? Soul? R & B? Dance?
Dear Agony by Breaking Benjamin. Rap? Emo? Half Assed Rock?
DVD
Three Stooges Collector's Edition: discs one and two. Several shorts, a feature film, trailers, and extras.
Non Fiction
Lucille and the XXX Road: around the world man and motorcycle by Jim Oliver. I spoke to Oliver on video while I was in Kansas. Oliver gave a presentation on his trip from Eastern Russia west through Europe on his BMW (named Lucille). Oliver's talk focused on his 1300 miles ride across Siberia and the rough conditions he and his riding partner encountered. What do you bet I'll get a bunch of web hits for the XXX in the title?
I asked Oliver if he would take a smaller bike than his GS model if he did the trip over. Oliver said he would take a smaller bike like an F650 BMW or a KLR650.
Heaven and Hell: my life in The Eagles (1974-2001) by Don Felder. Guitarist for The Eagles tells tales. Felder has a lot of neat behind the scenes tales of life in the band of the money fights with Henley and Frey.
Large Print
La's Orchestra Saves the World by Alexander McCall Smith. That duck-in-a-cage-on-a-bicycle is back.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
18 Hours of Lesbian Love and Drama, Two Cookbooks
DVD
I wrote earlier that I would likely buy the other seasons of The L Word. I was wrong. I already ordered the discs and forgot about it.
The L Word: the complete fifth season starring Cybill Shepherd, Jennifer Beals, marlee Matlin, Pam Grier, others. "Unresolved romances and long-simmering fulm project finally bear fruit in this season's 12 episodes."
The L Word: the complete final season starring [the same people as before including some lady with a really big mouth]. "All 8 dramatic, provocative and mysterious final season episodes as careers evolve, relationships are tested and friendships end in murder!"
Large Print
Family Album by Penelope Lively.
NonFiction
Preserved by Nick Sandler and Johnny Acton. Food preservation books go out well so I bought this new one with fancy photos and AAHHH Sausage! They have a section on SAUSAGE!!.
Mastering the Art of Chinese Cooking by Eileen Yin-Fei Lo. I have bought several new cookbooks this past couple weeks when I remembered I have been real lax on that section of our collection. This book had some good reviews.
The Kinks
What kid doesn't want a machine gun?
I wrote earlier that I would likely buy the other seasons of The L Word. I was wrong. I already ordered the discs and forgot about it.
The L Word: the complete fifth season starring Cybill Shepherd, Jennifer Beals, marlee Matlin, Pam Grier, others. "Unresolved romances and long-simmering fulm project finally bear fruit in this season's 12 episodes."
The L Word: the complete final season starring [the same people as before including some lady with a really big mouth]. "All 8 dramatic, provocative and mysterious final season episodes as careers evolve, relationships are tested and friendships end in murder!"
Large Print
Family Album by Penelope Lively.
NonFiction
Preserved by Nick Sandler and Johnny Acton. Food preservation books go out well so I bought this new one with fancy photos and AAHHH Sausage! They have a section on SAUSAGE!!.
Mastering the Art of Chinese Cooking by Eileen Yin-Fei Lo. I have bought several new cookbooks this past couple weeks when I remembered I have been real lax on that section of our collection. This book had some good reviews.
The Kinks
What kid doesn't want a machine gun?
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
It's only -5 Degrees With the Wind So Don't Whine or You'll Make the Canadians Look Good
DVD
District 9 starring [African Guys]. Aliens from space land on Earth and are segregated into crappy neighborhoods in Johannesburg. Trouble happens
(500) Days of Summer with Joseph Gordon-Levitt-Too-Long-Name and Zooey Deschanel. Romantic comedy for chicks.
Little Rascals/Our Gang Discs One and Two. Another repackaging of the shorts. Includes Bear Shooters, Waldo's Last Stand, The Pooch, Derby Day and others.
We used to watch these on television or at birthday parties when my parents would borrow the 8mm films from the library. George McFarland, who played Spanky, spoke at Gustavus when I was a student. I had a conflicting work assignment in the cafeteria that night and was unable to hear his whole presentation. Spanky had some neat stories. He spoke about Buckwheat's career as a film technician and how simple speech therapy would have helped him out as a kid. Alfalfa's post-Our Gang troubles were covered along with the story of his killing in 1959.
District 9 starring [African Guys]. Aliens from space land on Earth and are segregated into crappy neighborhoods in Johannesburg. Trouble happens
(500) Days of Summer with Joseph Gordon-Levitt-Too-Long-Name and Zooey Deschanel. Romantic comedy for chicks.
Little Rascals/Our Gang Discs One and Two. Another repackaging of the shorts. Includes Bear Shooters, Waldo's Last Stand, The Pooch, Derby Day and others.
We used to watch these on television or at birthday parties when my parents would borrow the 8mm films from the library. George McFarland, who played Spanky, spoke at Gustavus when I was a student. I had a conflicting work assignment in the cafeteria that night and was unable to hear his whole presentation. Spanky had some neat stories. He spoke about Buckwheat's career as a film technician and how simple speech therapy would have helped him out as a kid. Alfalfa's post-Our Gang troubles were covered along with the story of his killing in 1959.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Musical Interlude
Musical Interlude
I had this song bopping around in my head. The Housemartins were neat in that they would mix their peppy music and harmonies with wicked and pointed social commentary.
I had this song bopping around in my head. The Housemartins were neat in that they would mix their peppy music and harmonies with wicked and pointed social commentary.
Pile of Stuff, Chocolate Thing, Lousy Coffee
AudioBook on CD
Take Two by Karen Kingsbury. 8 CDs at 9.5 hours. Independent movie producers compete against Hollywood for the rights to an inspirational novel.
Made-Up Stories Printed Onto Paper and Then Bound Together with Cloth and Glue (with cover interpretations by me)
La's Orchestra Saves the World by Alexander McCall Smith. A duck and two chickens travel across China in a cage is strapped to the back of a bicycle.
Divine Misdemeanors by Laurell K. Hamilton. Famed gladiator Vealinus, who wears a nail tied to his neck, is purchased and wooed by a sexy vampire.
Promised World by Lisa Tucker. Two kids on summer vacation hang out at a lake, tell fart jokes, and pick berries.
Pursuit of Honor by Vince Flynn. Special Agent Mack O'Connor Guimbetto discovers a conspiracy by the leading secular humanist, liberal in Congress who is making deals with Al Queda in an attempt to advance his political career and destroy America.
The Fleet Street Murders by Charles Finch. A Conservative Member of Parliament and disgraced Cabinet Minister arranges for his banking associates to be murdered rather than have them reveal his avarice and trade in African sex slaves.
Once in a Blue Moon by Eileen Goudge. Brenda O'Aden has lived alone on the rural coast of Massachusetts ever since being left at the alter ten years ago. Will the arrival of handsome, mysterious, emotionally wounded, and famous painter Hakeem "Haiku" Callahan give her a chance at healing not only herself but Haiku as well? How Brenda make it? Can Haiku paint art again? Read it to find out.
A Troubled Piece by L.M. Elliott. A YA book. Richard O'Theobald returns to his former German home after serving with the U.S. Army during World War Two. Is his former girlfriend, Gerta, still alive? What of Gerta's Nazi father?
Change-Up: mystery at the World Series by John Feinstein. A YA book. Josh O'Finklestein has the best job a kid could have, Bat Boy for the famed New York Long Socks during the World Series. But, when famed pitcher Kick O'Shanter is poisoned before Game 3 can Josh use his insider knowledge to help his police detective dad solve the crime?
NonFiction
Cookbooks (with Fiction styled plotlines by me)
Cooking Dirty: a story of life, sex, love and death in the kitchen by Jason Sheehan. New chef Silvio O'Smith heads to Los Angeles for a dream job but is quickly fired and forced to take a job as a the caterer for the set of a porn movie.
Clean Food: a seasonal guide to eating close to the source: with more than 200 recipes for a healthy and sustainable you by Terry Walters. New age farmer and cook Terry O'Porcupine brings fresh produce and delightful food to the suspicious, close-minded people of Shattuck, New York and produces a sea change in their thinking.
Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child. Socialite Elizabeth O'Cornelia is a neophyte to the ways of cooking and lesbian love. During a trip to the famed Egouts de Cuisine school in Dijon she learns about both.
The Best of America's Test Kitchen 2010: the year's best recipes, equipment reviews, and tasting. Fern O'Jefferson finds out that the secret ingredient in famous chef Gary Bond's New Orleans Schoolhouse Hot Dish is not pork.
Baked: new frontiers in baking by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito. Matt O'Pinto spends his time smoking marijuana rather than facing life.
New American Table by Marcus Samuelsson. Sven O'Spyderco discovers life in lower Manhattan is much different than his hometown of Borglundsen, Denmark.
Chocolate Thing
This appeared this morning.
This morning's coffee was lousy.
Take Two by Karen Kingsbury. 8 CDs at 9.5 hours. Independent movie producers compete against Hollywood for the rights to an inspirational novel.
Made-Up Stories Printed Onto Paper and Then Bound Together with Cloth and Glue (with cover interpretations by me)
La's Orchestra Saves the World by Alexander McCall Smith. A duck and two chickens travel across China in a cage is strapped to the back of a bicycle.
Divine Misdemeanors by Laurell K. Hamilton. Famed gladiator Vealinus, who wears a nail tied to his neck, is purchased and wooed by a sexy vampire.
Promised World by Lisa Tucker. Two kids on summer vacation hang out at a lake, tell fart jokes, and pick berries.
Pursuit of Honor by Vince Flynn. Special Agent Mack O'Connor Guimbetto discovers a conspiracy by the leading secular humanist, liberal in Congress who is making deals with Al Queda in an attempt to advance his political career and destroy America.
The Fleet Street Murders by Charles Finch. A Conservative Member of Parliament and disgraced Cabinet Minister arranges for his banking associates to be murdered rather than have them reveal his avarice and trade in African sex slaves.
Once in a Blue Moon by Eileen Goudge. Brenda O'Aden has lived alone on the rural coast of Massachusetts ever since being left at the alter ten years ago. Will the arrival of handsome, mysterious, emotionally wounded, and famous painter Hakeem "Haiku" Callahan give her a chance at healing not only herself but Haiku as well? How Brenda make it? Can Haiku paint art again? Read it to find out.
A Troubled Piece by L.M. Elliott. A YA book. Richard O'Theobald returns to his former German home after serving with the U.S. Army during World War Two. Is his former girlfriend, Gerta, still alive? What of Gerta's Nazi father?
Change-Up: mystery at the World Series by John Feinstein. A YA book. Josh O'Finklestein has the best job a kid could have, Bat Boy for the famed New York Long Socks during the World Series. But, when famed pitcher Kick O'Shanter is poisoned before Game 3 can Josh use his insider knowledge to help his police detective dad solve the crime?
NonFiction
Cookbooks (with Fiction styled plotlines by me)
Cooking Dirty: a story of life, sex, love and death in the kitchen by Jason Sheehan. New chef Silvio O'Smith heads to Los Angeles for a dream job but is quickly fired and forced to take a job as a the caterer for the set of a porn movie.
Clean Food: a seasonal guide to eating close to the source: with more than 200 recipes for a healthy and sustainable you by Terry Walters. New age farmer and cook Terry O'Porcupine brings fresh produce and delightful food to the suspicious, close-minded people of Shattuck, New York and produces a sea change in their thinking.
Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child. Socialite Elizabeth O'Cornelia is a neophyte to the ways of cooking and lesbian love. During a trip to the famed Egouts de Cuisine school in Dijon she learns about both.
The Best of America's Test Kitchen 2010: the year's best recipes, equipment reviews, and tasting. Fern O'Jefferson finds out that the secret ingredient in famous chef Gary Bond's New Orleans Schoolhouse Hot Dish is not pork.
Baked: new frontiers in baking by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito. Matt O'Pinto spends his time smoking marijuana rather than facing life.
New American Table by Marcus Samuelsson. Sven O'Spyderco discovers life in lower Manhattan is much different than his hometown of Borglundsen, Denmark.
Chocolate Thing
This appeared this morning.
This morning's coffee was lousy.
Friday, December 11, 2009
More Christmas Novels and the Pyramids in Rock Lake
Large Print
Under the Dome by Stephen King.
Christmas List by Richard Paul Evans.
Knit the Season by Kate Jacobs.
Creed Country Christmas by Linda Lael Miller.
NonFiction
Lost Pyramids of Rock Lake: Wisconsin's sunken civilization by Frank Joseph. Are there pyramids and remnants of copper mining on the bottom of Rock Lake? That's what this guy and some other people claimi. Ask that guy who works at Sentry - I cannot recall his name - and he'll tell you more than you want to know.
I bought two copies of Lost Pyramids to replace older copies that have worn out or gone missing.
Under the Dome by Stephen King.
Christmas List by Richard Paul Evans.
Knit the Season by Kate Jacobs.
Creed Country Christmas by Linda Lael Miller.
NonFiction
Lost Pyramids of Rock Lake: Wisconsin's sunken civilization by Frank Joseph. Are there pyramids and remnants of copper mining on the bottom of Rock Lake? That's what this guy and some other people claimi. Ask that guy who works at Sentry - I cannot recall his name - and he'll tell you more than you want to know.
I bought two copies of Lost Pyramids to replace older copies that have worn out or gone missing.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Dead Nazi Cookbooks
DVD
Inglorious Basterds starring Brad Pitt and other people. American soldier's kill Nazis during World War Two. I have avoided reading about this and watching previews because I would like everything to be a surprise.
The Hangover starring Heather Graham. Guys wake up after a huge night out and need to find out what happened. You can watch another version of this by picking up Dude, Where's My Car?
Easy Virtue starring Jessica Biel, Kristin Scott Thomas and Colin Firth. Young American wife is taken home to her husband family's rich English estate. Comedic episodes of culture clash and in-laws clash.
NonFiction
How to Cook Everything: 2,000 simple recipes for great food by Mark Bittman. Tenth anniversary edition.
BakeWise: the hows and whys of successful baking with over 200 magnificent recipes by Shirley O. Corriher.
A16: food + wine by Nate Appleman and Shelley Lindgren. Recipes from the owners of a restaurant in San Francisco.
Inglorious Basterds starring Brad Pitt and other people. American soldier's kill Nazis during World War Two. I have avoided reading about this and watching previews because I would like everything to be a surprise.
The Hangover starring Heather Graham. Guys wake up after a huge night out and need to find out what happened. You can watch another version of this by picking up Dude, Where's My Car?
Easy Virtue starring Jessica Biel, Kristin Scott Thomas and Colin Firth. Young American wife is taken home to her husband family's rich English estate. Comedic episodes of culture clash and in-laws clash.
NonFiction
How to Cook Everything: 2,000 simple recipes for great food by Mark Bittman. Tenth anniversary edition.
BakeWise: the hows and whys of successful baking with over 200 magnificent recipes by Shirley O. Corriher.
A16: food + wine by Nate Appleman and Shelley Lindgren. Recipes from the owners of a restaurant in San Francisco.
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
What to Read 33: Megan Abbott and Amy Belasen/Jacob Osborn
What to Read 33
I was quite impressed with Abbott's novel. In fact, the more I remember my conversation with Abbott the more I like her as a person. I imagine this may color my judgment of the novel but the book was still good anyway.
I was quite impressed with Abbott's novel. In fact, the more I remember my conversation with Abbott the more I like her as a person. I imagine this may color my judgment of the novel but the book was still good anyway.
Snow and Large Print
Snow
A snow storm is traveling through Southern Wisconsin. We remain open.
Large Print
U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton. Lady detective from California investigates deadly doings.
Trial by Fire by J.A. Jance. Lady detective from Arizona investigates deadly doings.
A snow storm is traveling through Southern Wisconsin. We remain open.
Large Print
U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton. Lady detective from California investigates deadly doings.
Trial by Fire by J.A. Jance. Lady detective from Arizona investigates deadly doings.
Monday, December 07, 2009
Photographic Interlude
This is probably too big for proper formatting on our blog but I will not bother to check.
Hip-Shaker, Magic-Maker, Life-Taker
Music on CD
She Wolf by Shakira. Colombian singer sings songs.
Songs to Celebrate 25 Days of Christmas by various artists/ Mickey Rooney, Jimmy Durante, and others sing songs of Christmas.
DVD
Adventureland starring Kristen Wiig. College guy has summer job at tacky amusement park. Meets girl. Bill Crider liked it, here are his comments.
Public Enemies starring Johnny Depp and Batman. Actors dress nice and shoot lots of blanks while pretending to be Dillinger and Purvis.
I asked Ruth the Page if she had seen Public Enemies yet. She said "Nope" and went on to say she had never heard of the movie.
"Really?" I say. "They filmed it over in Cottage Grove or somewhere. They shot a scene at the Capitol building, too."
Ruth says, "Nope, never heard of it."
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince starring [English types]. Scary evil wizard tries to kill kind and good wizards with wizardry.
NonFiction
Birthday Cakes for Kids by Annie Rigg. Cake recipes for fantastic birthday cakes that no one will make.
Audiobook on CD
I, Alex Cross by James Patterson. 6 CDs at 7 hours. Relative of Cross is murdered. Cross investigates.
She Wolf by Shakira. Colombian singer sings songs.
Songs to Celebrate 25 Days of Christmas by various artists/ Mickey Rooney, Jimmy Durante, and others sing songs of Christmas.
DVD
Adventureland starring Kristen Wiig. College guy has summer job at tacky amusement park. Meets girl. Bill Crider liked it, here are his comments.
Public Enemies starring Johnny Depp and Batman. Actors dress nice and shoot lots of blanks while pretending to be Dillinger and Purvis.
I asked Ruth the Page if she had seen Public Enemies yet. She said "Nope" and went on to say she had never heard of the movie.
"Really?" I say. "They filmed it over in Cottage Grove or somewhere. They shot a scene at the Capitol building, too."
Ruth says, "Nope, never heard of it."
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince starring [English types]. Scary evil wizard tries to kill kind and good wizards with wizardry.
NonFiction
Birthday Cakes for Kids by Annie Rigg. Cake recipes for fantastic birthday cakes that no one will make.
Audiobook on CD
I, Alex Cross by James Patterson. 6 CDs at 7 hours. Relative of Cross is murdered. Cross investigates.
Friday, December 04, 2009
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Tattooed Man Butt is Doing Crystal Meth with Vince Lombardi and Watching Avatar
NonFiction
Inside the Tattoo Circus: a journey through the modern world of tattoos by Kristian Misser. Tons of color photos illustrating the work of current artists, styles, themes, and more. The lady on the cover looks like author Christa Faust. I emailed Faust and told her that. I'm probably on her ignore list now.
Open: an autobiography by Andre Agassi and [unnamed ghost writer]. Champion tennis player Agassi had a really, really crappy father and hates tennis. So he started doing crystal meth and married a German.
That First Season: how Vince Lombardi took the worst team in the NFL and set it on the path to glory by John Eisenberg. This is Wisconsin, I am required to buy it. You know who else should buy this? The Buffalo Bills.
Avatar: a field guide to Pandora by Maria Wilhelm and Dirk Mathison. "A confidential report on the biological and social history of Pandora." This movie came from a comic book? A video game?
Super Freakonimcs: global cooling, patriotic prostitutes and why suicide bombers should buy life insurance by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. One of those hippies over at Madison Public wrote about this book and openly baited me in the blog title. Sometimes those hippies can be smart, because it worked.
What the Dog Saw: and other adventures by Malcolm Gladwell. Science or something.
Too Big to Fail: the inside story of how Wall Street and Washington fought to save the financial system - and themselves by Andrew Ross Sorkin. Take your blood pressure medication before you start reading.
Little Stevens Underground Garage Update
Little Steven Loves Locksley. Van Zandt likes to play songs by Locksley. I only mention this because Locksley started out in Madison.
Fiction
Trial by Fire by J.A. Jance. Nun helps out hospital patient with amnesia. Patient's would be killer puts nun in his sights.
U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton. Add ingredients, shake, bake, let it cool.
Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword of Avalon by Diana L. Paxson. Swords and stuff.
Southern Lights by Danielle Steel.
Inside the Tattoo Circus: a journey through the modern world of tattoos by Kristian Misser. Tons of color photos illustrating the work of current artists, styles, themes, and more. The lady on the cover looks like author Christa Faust. I emailed Faust and told her that. I'm probably on her ignore list now.
Open: an autobiography by Andre Agassi and [unnamed ghost writer]. Champion tennis player Agassi had a really, really crappy father and hates tennis. So he started doing crystal meth and married a German.
That First Season: how Vince Lombardi took the worst team in the NFL and set it on the path to glory by John Eisenberg. This is Wisconsin, I am required to buy it. You know who else should buy this? The Buffalo Bills.
Avatar: a field guide to Pandora by Maria Wilhelm and Dirk Mathison. "A confidential report on the biological and social history of Pandora." This movie came from a comic book? A video game?
Super Freakonimcs: global cooling, patriotic prostitutes and why suicide bombers should buy life insurance by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. One of those hippies over at Madison Public wrote about this book and openly baited me in the blog title. Sometimes those hippies can be smart, because it worked.
What the Dog Saw: and other adventures by Malcolm Gladwell. Science or something.
Too Big to Fail: the inside story of how Wall Street and Washington fought to save the financial system - and themselves by Andrew Ross Sorkin. Take your blood pressure medication before you start reading.
Little Stevens Underground Garage Update
Little Steven Loves Locksley. Van Zandt likes to play songs by Locksley. I only mention this because Locksley started out in Madison.
Fiction
Trial by Fire by J.A. Jance. Nun helps out hospital patient with amnesia. Patient's would be killer puts nun in his sights.
U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton. Add ingredients, shake, bake, let it cool.
Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword of Avalon by Diana L. Paxson. Swords and stuff.
Southern Lights by Danielle Steel.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
DVDs: Four Comedy, Five Action, and More Ray Liotta
DVD
Funny People starring Eric Bana. Bana started as a stand-up comedian in Australia until he played the lead in Chopper. This movie has something to do with a dying comedian.
Bruno starring Sacha Baron Cohen. Gay Austrian causes trouble. Remember the nude fight and chase scene in Borat? That was funny.
G.I. Joe: the rise of Cobra starring [embarrassed actors]. Soldiers use CGI to defeat "the mysterious and evil Cobra organization" and try and start a franchise.
Terminator: Salvation starring Batman. John Connor kills robots with a flattop AR.
The Line starring Ray Liotta and Andy Garcia. Hired killer with an AR is after a drug baron in Tijuana.
My Sister's Keeper with Cameron Diaz, Alec Baldwin. Organ harvesting.
Angels and Demons starring Tom Hanks, Obi-Wan Kenobi, That Swedish Dude. Religious intrigue and the Illuminati set amongst a huge Hollywood budget.
The Proposal starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. I wonder if they made Reynolds take his shirt off like in all those swords and fists movies he is in.
You're Welcome America: a final night with George W. Bush starring Will Ferrell. Ferrell's stage show that will " shock and awe you into uncontrollable laughter."
Spy Kids 2 starring blahblahblah. The last copy broke.
Funny People starring Eric Bana. Bana started as a stand-up comedian in Australia until he played the lead in Chopper. This movie has something to do with a dying comedian.
Bruno starring Sacha Baron Cohen. Gay Austrian causes trouble. Remember the nude fight and chase scene in Borat? That was funny.
G.I. Joe: the rise of Cobra starring [embarrassed actors]. Soldiers use CGI to defeat "the mysterious and evil Cobra organization" and try and start a franchise.
Terminator: Salvation starring Batman. John Connor kills robots with a flattop AR.
The Line starring Ray Liotta and Andy Garcia. Hired killer with an AR is after a drug baron in Tijuana.
My Sister's Keeper with Cameron Diaz, Alec Baldwin. Organ harvesting.
Angels and Demons starring Tom Hanks, Obi-Wan Kenobi, That Swedish Dude. Religious intrigue and the Illuminati set amongst a huge Hollywood budget.
The Proposal starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. I wonder if they made Reynolds take his shirt off like in all those swords and fists movies he is in.
You're Welcome America: a final night with George W. Bush starring Will Ferrell. Ferrell's stage show that will " shock and awe you into uncontrollable laughter."
Spy Kids 2 starring blahblahblah. The last copy broke.
Monday, November 30, 2009
11 DVDs: Ray Liotta, Space Creatures, Hairy Dudes, Whores
DVD
Futurama: Bender's Game starring [voices]. The Planet Express crew sneaks into a dark-matter mine for spaceship fuel and find some underground, medieval place.
X-Origins: Wolverine starring A Couple Australian Dudes. Guys with muscles fight.
Arthur Hailey's Detective starring Tom Berenger, Cybill Shepherd. Television movie from 2005 with Berenger as a priest turned cop who agrees to meet a serial killer on death row.
Killshot with Diane Lane, Mickey Rourke, Thomas Jane, Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Married couple witness murder and go into witness protection. Hitman comes after them. The novel by Elmore Leonard was real good.
Crank 2: High Voltage starring Jason Statham, Amy Smart. Gratuitous pistol posing on the DVD case.
State of Play with Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, others. Journalist in D.C. discovers conspiracy while investigating the murder of a Senator's assistant.
Futurama: into the wild green yonder starring [the same voices]. Funny, animated adventures.
Winter of Frozen Dreams starring Thora Birch, Keith Carradine. Biochemistry student doubles as a prostitute and commits murder. Based on the Barbara Hoffman case in Madison. Link. Link.
Anvil: the story of Anvil starring {Anvil]. Canadian metal band refuses to give up.
Girlfriend Experience starring Sasha Grey. Manhattan prostitute offers the "girlfriend experience" with 'companionship and conversation' as if she were really the guy's loving girlfriend.
Observe and Report starring Ray Liotta, Seth Rogen, Anna Faris. Mall guard wants to catch flasher, get a job with the police department, and have sex with a cosmetics salesgirl.
Futurama: Bender's Game starring [voices]. The Planet Express crew sneaks into a dark-matter mine for spaceship fuel and find some underground, medieval place.
X-Origins: Wolverine starring A Couple Australian Dudes. Guys with muscles fight.
Arthur Hailey's Detective starring Tom Berenger, Cybill Shepherd. Television movie from 2005 with Berenger as a priest turned cop who agrees to meet a serial killer on death row.
Killshot with Diane Lane, Mickey Rourke, Thomas Jane, Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Married couple witness murder and go into witness protection. Hitman comes after them. The novel by Elmore Leonard was real good.
Crank 2: High Voltage starring Jason Statham, Amy Smart. Gratuitous pistol posing on the DVD case.
State of Play with Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, others. Journalist in D.C. discovers conspiracy while investigating the murder of a Senator's assistant.
Futurama: into the wild green yonder starring [the same voices]. Funny, animated adventures.
Winter of Frozen Dreams starring Thora Birch, Keith Carradine. Biochemistry student doubles as a prostitute and commits murder. Based on the Barbara Hoffman case in Madison. Link. Link.
Anvil: the story of Anvil starring {Anvil]. Canadian metal band refuses to give up.
Girlfriend Experience starring Sasha Grey. Manhattan prostitute offers the "girlfriend experience" with 'companionship and conversation' as if she were really the guy's loving girlfriend.
Observe and Report starring Ray Liotta, Seth Rogen, Anna Faris. Mall guard wants to catch flasher, get a job with the police department, and have sex with a cosmetics salesgirl.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Lesbians, Swords, Inspiration, YA SciFi, Little Steven
DVD
L Word: the complete third season starring Pam Grier. Revisit the tightly-knit circle of freinds in Los Angeles' lesbian community as they struggle to make sense of a world filled with love, children, tattoos, families, weddings, funerals, the 'c-word', and sometimes even men.
The first and second season of L-Word check out pretty well so I figure I'll end up getting all the seasons.
Little Steven's Underground Garage
Episode 399: Thanksgiving '09. I'm listening to last Saturday's show. Songs with "bird" are being featured, including Morris Day and The Beatles. You'll likely need to log in first to listen.
AudioBooks
Eldest by Christopher Paolini. 20 CDs at 23 hours, 27 minutes. Maybe this is a replacement.
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. Not sure where this came from, I thought we had it already.
Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. How do you steal lightning? Listen and let me know. No, don't let me know. I don't really care.
Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan. Oh. This is that series with Gods and demigods and other mythological stuff thrown into the present day with teenaged characters.
Feed by M.T. Anderson. I read this for the high school's book club. The next book club meeting is discussing something like Pride and Prejudice so I won't be there unless I read the zombie version.
L Word: the complete third season starring Pam Grier. Revisit the tightly-knit circle of freinds in Los Angeles' lesbian community as they struggle to make sense of a world filled with love, children, tattoos, families, weddings, funerals, the 'c-word', and sometimes even men.
The first and second season of L-Word check out pretty well so I figure I'll end up getting all the seasons.
Little Steven's Underground Garage
Episode 399: Thanksgiving '09. I'm listening to last Saturday's show. Songs with "bird" are being featured, including Morris Day and The Beatles. You'll likely need to log in first to listen.
AudioBooks
Eldest by Christopher Paolini. 20 CDs at 23 hours, 27 minutes. Maybe this is a replacement.
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. Not sure where this came from, I thought we had it already.
Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. How do you steal lightning? Listen and let me know. No, don't let me know. I don't really care.
Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan. Oh. This is that series with Gods and demigods and other mythological stuff thrown into the present day with teenaged characters.
Feed by M.T. Anderson. I read this for the high school's book club. The next book club meeting is discussing something like Pride and Prejudice so I won't be there unless I read the zombie version.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Dead author, Wisconsin author, Pickling
Fiction
Deadly Deals by Fern Michaels. I misread this title at Deadly Seals. Now that would be a novel. Maybe the seals could fight crocodiles.
First Lord's Fury by Jim Butcher. Part of a series. The guy on the cover is a Roman-legionnaire-looking-dude with a flaming sword.
Breathless by Dean Koontz. Koontz writes another novel with a dog in it. The dog silhouette on the cover looks like an Irish Wolfhound. The flyleaf says I am right.
Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton. A tale of violence in 1665 in the Caribbean that, according to the flyleaf, was finished before Crichton keeled over.
Hollywood Moon by Joseph Wambaugh. I use to to read all of Wambaugh's Southern California cop novels. Then Wambaugh started to focus on non-fiction and I just never got back into his novels.
NonFiction
Against Medical Advice: one family's struggle with an agonizing medical mystery by James Patterson and Hal Friedman.
Imperial Cruise: a secret history of empire and war by James Bradley. Story of the ambassadorial cruise by Secretary of War William Howard Taft in 1905. The secret agreements of which helped start the trouble that led to World War Two.
Here's the Deal: don't touch me by Howie Mandel. I have never thought he was that funny.
Surviving a Layoff: a week-be-week guide to getting your life back together by Lita Epstein, MBA.
The Joy of Pickling: 250 flavor-packed recipes for vegetables and more from the garden or market, revised edition by Linda Ziedrich. Books on food preservation checkout pretty well here.
Knock'Em Dead Resumes, 8th edition by Martin Yate, C.P.C.
Advanced Home Wiring, 2nd edition by [corporate author]. Don't kill yourself.
Barbie, the First 50 Years:1959 through 1989 and beyond: identification and value guide, 3rd Edition by Stefanie Deutsch and Bettina Dorfmann. I flipped through this and saw the Barbie Ferrari. I'm not sure if I ever heard that John Hiatt song or not.
Deadly Deals by Fern Michaels. I misread this title at Deadly Seals. Now that would be a novel. Maybe the seals could fight crocodiles.
First Lord's Fury by Jim Butcher. Part of a series. The guy on the cover is a Roman-legionnaire-looking-dude with a flaming sword.
Breathless by Dean Koontz. Koontz writes another novel with a dog in it. The dog silhouette on the cover looks like an Irish Wolfhound. The flyleaf says I am right.
Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton. A tale of violence in 1665 in the Caribbean that, according to the flyleaf, was finished before Crichton keeled over.
Hollywood Moon by Joseph Wambaugh. I use to to read all of Wambaugh's Southern California cop novels. Then Wambaugh started to focus on non-fiction and I just never got back into his novels.
NonFiction
Against Medical Advice: one family's struggle with an agonizing medical mystery by James Patterson and Hal Friedman.
Imperial Cruise: a secret history of empire and war by James Bradley. Story of the ambassadorial cruise by Secretary of War William Howard Taft in 1905. The secret agreements of which helped start the trouble that led to World War Two.
Here's the Deal: don't touch me by Howie Mandel. I have never thought he was that funny.
Surviving a Layoff: a week-be-week guide to getting your life back together by Lita Epstein, MBA.
The Joy of Pickling: 250 flavor-packed recipes for vegetables and more from the garden or market, revised edition by Linda Ziedrich. Books on food preservation checkout pretty well here.
Knock'Em Dead Resumes, 8th edition by Martin Yate, C.P.C.
Advanced Home Wiring, 2nd edition by [corporate author]. Don't kill yourself.
Barbie, the First 50 Years:1959 through 1989 and beyond: identification and value guide, 3rd Edition by Stefanie Deutsch and Bettina Dorfmann. I flipped through this and saw the Barbie Ferrari. I'm not sure if I ever heard that John Hiatt song or not.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Cranberry Bread (for Me), Sarah Palin (for You)
Cranberry Bread
Carolyn made cranberry bread.
Coffee
I made coffee.
Music CDs
I Told You I Was Freaky by Flight of the Conchords. Kiwis sings songs. I watched part of an episode of their show. It was boring. Stephanie the Library Assistant said she likes the show.
Southern Voice by Tim McGraw. Guy in hat and white t-shirt sings songs.
Kiss and Tell by Selena Gomez. Disney Channel "tweener" sings songs.
Ghost Written Fiction
The Wrecker by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott. Cussler is admirable in giving the other guy credit.
I, Alex Cross by James Patterson. Patterson is also good about giving ghost writers credit. But, no one else is listed on the cover or the LOC cataloging info so I suppose he did this one himself.
Ghost Written NonFiction
Going Rogue: an American life by Sarah Palin. What's the deal with her former son-in-law to-be? That guy's behavior has been sleazy. I thought about being "snarky" and listing this under Ghost Written Fiction. Hey, it is a political memoir after all.
AudioBooks on CD
Last Song by Nichols Sparks. 11 CDs at 12 hours. Yuch.
A Change in Altitude by Anita Shreve. 8 CDs at 9 hours. My first reaction is "Yuch." Hhowever, the novel is set in Africa and Mount Kenya so my second reaction is, "Eh."
Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. 14 Cds at 17.5 hours. I tell my kids, "If you can't say anything nice then don't say anything at all." I should follow my own advice.
Musical Interlude
More people should try out Teddy Thompson. We have three of his CDs.
The like the full band version better but could not embed it.
Carolyn made cranberry bread.
Coffee
I made coffee.
Music CDs
I Told You I Was Freaky by Flight of the Conchords. Kiwis sings songs. I watched part of an episode of their show. It was boring. Stephanie the Library Assistant said she likes the show.
Southern Voice by Tim McGraw. Guy in hat and white t-shirt sings songs.
Kiss and Tell by Selena Gomez. Disney Channel "tweener" sings songs.
Ghost Written Fiction
The Wrecker by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott. Cussler is admirable in giving the other guy credit.
I, Alex Cross by James Patterson. Patterson is also good about giving ghost writers credit. But, no one else is listed on the cover or the LOC cataloging info so I suppose he did this one himself.
Ghost Written NonFiction
Going Rogue: an American life by Sarah Palin. What's the deal with her former son-in-law to-be? That guy's behavior has been sleazy. I thought about being "snarky" and listing this under Ghost Written Fiction. Hey, it is a political memoir after all.
AudioBooks on CD
Last Song by Nichols Sparks. 11 CDs at 12 hours. Yuch.
A Change in Altitude by Anita Shreve. 8 CDs at 9 hours. My first reaction is "Yuch." Hhowever, the novel is set in Africa and Mount Kenya so my second reaction is, "Eh."
Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. 14 Cds at 17.5 hours. I tell my kids, "If you can't say anything nice then don't say anything at all." I should follow my own advice.
Musical Interlude
More people should try out Teddy Thompson. We have three of his CDs.
The like the full band version better but could not embed it.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
What to Read 32: Interview with J.A. Konrath
I spoke to JA Konrath at the Murder and Mayhem in Muskego meeting this past Saturday. Konrath spoke about electronic publishing, writing instruction, publishing, Han Solo, and made fun of Barry Eisler.
I was going to do a photo essay
Photographing, editing the photos, uploading the photos and then linking to them takes way too much time and trouble.
DVD
Star Trek starring Winona Ryder, Eric Bana.
Transformers: revenge of the fallen starring that guy and the current It Girl.
Audiobook on CD
Heroes of the Valley by Jonathan Stroud. 11 CDs at 13.5 hours. A Young Adult novel with legends, House of Svein, stumpy and swarthy hero, "chain of events that will forever alter his destiny."
DVD
Star Trek starring Winona Ryder, Eric Bana.
Transformers: revenge of the fallen starring that guy and the current It Girl.
Audiobook on CD
Heroes of the Valley by Jonathan Stroud. 11 CDs at 13.5 hours. A Young Adult novel with legends, House of Svein, stumpy and swarthy hero, "chain of events that will forever alter his destiny."
Monday, November 16, 2009
Maybe I should get a new coffee machine
The current coffee machine overflows if the coffee pot is not all the way in.
It is very annoying. Here is an example:
Music CD
Play On by Carrie Underwood. Pretty girl wears flower in hair for photo shoot.
AudioBooks on CD
Bloody Crown of Conan by Robert E. Howard. 15 CDs at 18.5 hours. Three Conan tales by the inventor of the sword and sorcery genre. Just don't watch the biopic about Howard with Zellweger and the chubby guy from Law and Order.
Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews. 9 CDs at 11 hours. Werewolves, paranormal, swords, lions, Atlanta, Midnight Games, dark plot, shape-shifting.
Dark Slayer by Christine Feehan. 12 discs, 14.5 hours. Hot chick in a kinky leather outfit travels with a wolf pack and kills vampires with a crossbow. All she really wants is love.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Volume 1 (6 CDs at 6 hours) and Volume 2 (6 CDs at 6 hours) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock Holmes. You may have heard of him before. Read by the guy who played Watson in those fantastic productions starring Jeremy Brett.
The Heir by Johanna Lindsey. Rich Scottish dude is supposed to marry one woman but loves another.
Critical Conditions by Stephen White. 10 CDs at 12.33 hours. Doctor finds that a family with sick kids "stop at nothing to save one of its own."
Large Print
Kindred in Death by J.D. Robb.
Precious by Sandra Novack. Family is falling apart in 1978.
It is very annoying. Here is an example:
Music CD
Play On by Carrie Underwood. Pretty girl wears flower in hair for photo shoot.
AudioBooks on CD
Bloody Crown of Conan by Robert E. Howard. 15 CDs at 18.5 hours. Three Conan tales by the inventor of the sword and sorcery genre. Just don't watch the biopic about Howard with Zellweger and the chubby guy from Law and Order.
Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews. 9 CDs at 11 hours. Werewolves, paranormal, swords, lions, Atlanta, Midnight Games, dark plot, shape-shifting.
Dark Slayer by Christine Feehan. 12 discs, 14.5 hours. Hot chick in a kinky leather outfit travels with a wolf pack and kills vampires with a crossbow. All she really wants is love.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Volume 1 (6 CDs at 6 hours) and Volume 2 (6 CDs at 6 hours) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock Holmes. You may have heard of him before. Read by the guy who played Watson in those fantastic productions starring Jeremy Brett.
The Heir by Johanna Lindsey. Rich Scottish dude is supposed to marry one woman but loves another.
Critical Conditions by Stephen White. 10 CDs at 12.33 hours. Doctor finds that a family with sick kids "stop at nothing to save one of its own."
Large Print
Kindred in Death by J.D. Robb.
Precious by Sandra Novack. Family is falling apart in 1978.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
This Should Be More Interesting Than That Previous Post
One Novel
Under the Dome by Stephen King. Boy, oh boy is this book bloated. 1072 pages. No description on the flyleaf, I suppose people are just supposed to buy his book no matter what.
AudioBooks on CD
The Amateurs by Marcus Sakey. 8 CDs at 9 Hours 45 minutes. I read a Sakey book and liked it. I even spoke about it on camera. Four friends commit a victimless crime but screw up and leave a victim. For four people pushed to the ragged edge, the only thing more dangerous than the men chasing them might be their best friends.
Nobody Move by Denis Johnson. 4 CDs at 4.5 hours. The back cover has little story description. Embezzlement and lowlifes. Read by Will Patton who does real good narration for the Dave Robicheaux series.
Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan. 9 CDs at 10.5 hours. "Percy Jackson isn't expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse...full of humor and heart-pounding action." Shelved in the YA section.
Last Olympian by Rick Riordan. 9 CDs, 11 hours. Same as above.
Razor Sharp by Fern Michaels. 6 CDs at 7 hours. Something about the Sisterhood and politicians screwing hookers.
Skin Trade by Laurell Hamilton. 15 Cds at 18.5 hours worth of vampires and werewolves having sex or something. I guess they kill each other too. This is set in Las Vegas so maybe they screw and kill showgirls or vacationers. Let me know.
Musical Interlude
Large Print
Lakeshore Christmas by Susan Wiggs. Prim Librarian Maureen Davenport is finally getting her chance to direct Avalon's annual holiday pageant...former child star Eddie Haven can't stand Christmas, but a court order from a judge has landed him right in the middle of the merrymaking as Maureen's co-director....spar over every detail...troubled kids...distinctly untraditional...sabotage...trying too hard...to...the...the...of...and..love.
Prim librarian? Great. Just great.
13 1/2 by Nevada Barr. A new character by Barr. Polly lives in New Orleans and is hot for an architect while a recently released murderer does something and a tarot card reader spells doom.
Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls. This hit the bestseller list. Maybe not that list.
No Time to Wave Goodbye by Jacquelyn Mitchard. Mitchard was in the Madison paper a few weeks ago for an article about cosmetic surgery. I was going to post a link and found this instead: ARTICLE: A phrase in last week's cover story on cosmetic treatments incorrectly identified Jackie Mitchard as a "fan of cosmetic surgery." She is a fan of cosmetic treatments, including Botox injectables.
Rough Country by John Sandford. My wife tells me that whenever the main character, Virgil Flowers, is mentioned by a character in Sandford's Prey books he is always called, "that fucking Flowers."
Unhallowed Ground by Heather Graham. Boy that actress with the same name sure is a hot looking broad, huh? The character Graham played in Bowfinger was supposed to be a take-off on Anne Heche who was supposedly screwing her way up the Hollywood ladder. Steve Martin used to date Heche until Heche came out of the closet as a crazy person.
Santa in a Stetson by Janet Dailey. Sing with me again, I don't care, I don't care, I don't care.
Under the Dome by Stephen King. Boy, oh boy is this book bloated. 1072 pages. No description on the flyleaf, I suppose people are just supposed to buy his book no matter what.
AudioBooks on CD
The Amateurs by Marcus Sakey. 8 CDs at 9 Hours 45 minutes. I read a Sakey book and liked it. I even spoke about it on camera. Four friends commit a victimless crime but screw up and leave a victim. For four people pushed to the ragged edge, the only thing more dangerous than the men chasing them might be their best friends.
Nobody Move by Denis Johnson. 4 CDs at 4.5 hours. The back cover has little story description. Embezzlement and lowlifes. Read by Will Patton who does real good narration for the Dave Robicheaux series.
Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan. 9 CDs at 10.5 hours. "Percy Jackson isn't expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse...full of humor and heart-pounding action." Shelved in the YA section.
Last Olympian by Rick Riordan. 9 CDs, 11 hours. Same as above.
Razor Sharp by Fern Michaels. 6 CDs at 7 hours. Something about the Sisterhood and politicians screwing hookers.
Skin Trade by Laurell Hamilton. 15 Cds at 18.5 hours worth of vampires and werewolves having sex or something. I guess they kill each other too. This is set in Las Vegas so maybe they screw and kill showgirls or vacationers. Let me know.
Musical Interlude
Large Print
Lakeshore Christmas by Susan Wiggs. Prim Librarian Maureen Davenport is finally getting her chance to direct Avalon's annual holiday pageant...former child star Eddie Haven can't stand Christmas, but a court order from a judge has landed him right in the middle of the merrymaking as Maureen's co-director....spar over every detail...troubled kids...distinctly untraditional...sabotage...trying too hard...to...the...the...of...and..love.
Prim librarian? Great. Just great.
13 1/2 by Nevada Barr. A new character by Barr. Polly lives in New Orleans and is hot for an architect while a recently released murderer does something and a tarot card reader spells doom.
Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls. This hit the bestseller list. Maybe not that list.
No Time to Wave Goodbye by Jacquelyn Mitchard. Mitchard was in the Madison paper a few weeks ago for an article about cosmetic surgery. I was going to post a link and found this instead: ARTICLE: A phrase in last week's cover story on cosmetic treatments incorrectly identified Jackie Mitchard as a "fan of cosmetic surgery." She is a fan of cosmetic treatments, including Botox injectables.
Rough Country by John Sandford. My wife tells me that whenever the main character, Virgil Flowers, is mentioned by a character in Sandford's Prey books he is always called, "that fucking Flowers."
Unhallowed Ground by Heather Graham. Boy that actress with the same name sure is a hot looking broad, huh? The character Graham played in Bowfinger was supposed to be a take-off on Anne Heche who was supposedly screwing her way up the Hollywood ladder. Steve Martin used to date Heche until Heche came out of the closet as a crazy person.
Santa in a Stetson by Janet Dailey. Sing with me again, I don't care, I don't care, I don't care.
What I Sent in for the Lake Mills Main Street Newsletter.
I'm not sure when the newsletter comes out. I need to send over some photos to go with this.
The L.D. Fargo Public Library has been a downtown fixture in
In fact, the Library’s popularity and usage increases every year. In 2008, more than 1000,000 items were checked out or renewed. The library hosted almost 200 programs for children and adults with a total attendance of 5,525 people. Attendance for the Summer Reading Program events has outgrown the Library’s meeting room, and are now held in the City Hall’s Community Room.
Over the Library’s 107 years of business our customers’ interests and service demands have constantly changed. Twenty years ago, libraries focused mainly on books and magazines, with an increasing range of VHS titles. Today, DVD titles and public internet access are a big draw. (Not to mention the over 1200 VHS tapes that still – still! – circulate.) However, contrary to some popular misconceptions, the printed page is alive and well. Book borrowing is still the leading reason people use the Library. Circulation is strong and children’s books and adult fiction dominate the list of check-outs.
Electronic gadgets such as cell phones, video games, and the internet may get more attention than books, but do not forget the importance of literacy. Learning many new skills is still dependent on reading. Pleasure reading is the surest way to encourage more reading. More reading leads to stronger literacy skills and better reading comprehension and communication skills. Better reading comprehension and communication skills lead to greater success in school and work.
The link between reading and school success highlights the vital importance of LD Fargo’s children’s collection and children’s services. The Library’s weekly story times, Summer Reading Program, and various after school and special event programs bring everyone from infants to teenagers into the Library. The Children’s Librarian regularly visits local 4K, pre-school, and daycare facilities for story times, and organizes and collects “book boxes” to help support and advance their curriculums by putting books directly into the hands of kids.
Need more incentive to come to the library? Look at the numbers: the average price of a pre-school picture book is $18.97. Consider that families will check-out anywhere from one to 20+ picture books at a time. How about adult fiction? If you’re buying new books every month then STOP! An adult novel goes for about $22 on average. Yeah you’ll find heavy discounts on books by popular novelists, but checkouts are free at LD Fargo.
How is all this paid for? Okay, it’s not really free. The cost for Library services is carried by you and me, of course. The Library receives funding from two main sources: the city of
Don’t use the excuse, “I’m too busy” to cheat yourself from enjoying a good book.
Monday, November 09, 2009
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Six - SIX! - Freaking Holiday Novels and Tedium
Holiday Fiction
Home in Time for Christmas by Heather Graham.
A Christmas Promise by Anne Perry.
A Quilter's Holiday by Jennifer Chiaverini.
Knit the Season by Kate Jacobs.
A Christmas Blizzard by Garrison Keillor.
Merry, Merry Ghost by Carolyn Hart.
Fiction
Rainwater by Sandra Brown.
The Laguna by Barbara Kingsolver.
Ford Country by John Grisham.
Other Men's Horses by Elmer Kelton.
Million-Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica.
Widow's Revenge by James D. Ross.
Angel Time by Anne Rice.
Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris.
True Blue by David Baldacci.
NonFiction
Hunting and Horse Trails: from Mongolia to the Yukon by Bruce Gilbert. Gilbert handsold this to me earlier in the week. Gilbert has hunted around the world (Africa about 12 times) and written hunting articles. This is self-published, so Lee Goldberg probably won't be looking for it, but you may as well give a few of his true life tales a try.
Potluck Club Cookbook by Linda Evans Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson. "Easy recipes to enjoy with family and friends."
Home in Time for Christmas by Heather Graham.
A Christmas Promise by Anne Perry.
A Quilter's Holiday by Jennifer Chiaverini.
Knit the Season by Kate Jacobs.
A Christmas Blizzard by Garrison Keillor.
Merry, Merry Ghost by Carolyn Hart.
Fiction
Rainwater by Sandra Brown.
The Laguna by Barbara Kingsolver.
Ford Country by John Grisham.
Other Men's Horses by Elmer Kelton.
Million-Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica.
Widow's Revenge by James D. Ross.
Angel Time by Anne Rice.
Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris.
True Blue by David Baldacci.
NonFiction
Hunting and Horse Trails: from Mongolia to the Yukon by Bruce Gilbert. Gilbert handsold this to me earlier in the week. Gilbert has hunted around the world (Africa about 12 times) and written hunting articles. This is self-published, so Lee Goldberg probably won't be looking for it, but you may as well give a few of his true life tales a try.
Potluck Club Cookbook by Linda Evans Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson. "Easy recipes to enjoy with family and friends."
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Four Books
Large Print
Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts. Florist meets dude.
The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber. Woman goes to matchmaker to meet dude.
AudioBooks
Everything for a Dog by Ann M. Martin. MP3 on CD at 5 hours. Stray dog taken in by boy suffering "a terrible loss."
Alzheimer's Dialogues with Sherril Bover and Nancy Graham. Two discs covering The Basics, Communication, Behavior, Self Care. With a booklet.
Absence of Video Content
Murder and Mayhem in Muskego. So far I'm 3 for 4 of the authors I've asked to talk to me on camera. So, I'm in no hurry to do a new book talk video. That and I have nothing to talk about. Well, nothing book related.
Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts. Florist meets dude.
The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber. Woman goes to matchmaker to meet dude.
AudioBooks
Everything for a Dog by Ann M. Martin. MP3 on CD at 5 hours. Stray dog taken in by boy suffering "a terrible loss."
Alzheimer's Dialogues with Sherril Bover and Nancy Graham. Two discs covering The Basics, Communication, Behavior, Self Care. With a booklet.
Absence of Video Content
Murder and Mayhem in Muskego. So far I'm 3 for 4 of the authors I've asked to talk to me on camera. So, I'm in no hurry to do a new book talk video. That and I have nothing to talk about. Well, nothing book related.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Nothing Interesting
Large Print
Two novels.
NonFiction
State of Wisconsin Blue Book, 2009-2010. I am not going to waste space on the New Books shelf with this.
Sewer Repair
Part of our broken sewer line was repaired. I filmed the work and will post the video when I get the time. Not that anyone will watch it.
Murder and Mayhem in Muskego
Th Murder and Mayhem in Muskego is coming up in three weeks or so. I'll try to get some author interviews. There is a great slate of writers this year. Joe Konrath would be a good one to film, he likes to talk.
Two novels.
NonFiction
State of Wisconsin Blue Book, 2009-2010. I am not going to waste space on the New Books shelf with this.
Sewer Repair
Part of our broken sewer line was repaired. I filmed the work and will post the video when I get the time. Not that anyone will watch it.
Murder and Mayhem in Muskego
Th Murder and Mayhem in Muskego is coming up in three weeks or so. I'll try to get some author interviews. There is a great slate of writers this year. Joe Konrath would be a good one to film, he likes to talk.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Variety: John Keegan, Danielle Steel, Scientist Biography
NonFiction
The Strangest Man: the hidden life of Paul Dirac, Mystic of the Atom by Graham Farmelo. Dirac was awarded the 1933 Nobel Prize in physics when he was only 31 years old. I saw a review for this book and mentioned to The Old Man. The Old Man asks, "Are you going to buy it?" Well, yeah, I guess so.
The American Civil War by John Keegan. Keegan takes on the Civil War. I guess he ran out of European wars to write about. Keegan does some great writing and analysis so this should be good.
S.W.A.T. Magazine, December, 2009 issue. A gun magazine we subscribe to. The covers are almost always the same. The only month-to-month differences among cover photos are the guy and the rifle he is holding. This one has two dudes on the cover with one guy aiming a FN SCAR carbine. This cover also shares a commonality among most covers in that the cops on the front are from Arizona - where the editor lives. CORRECTION: The guys on the cover are from Alabama.
Read this magazine with caution; you'll just be saddened about all the firearms you cannot afford.
Fiction
Scarpetta Factor by Patricia Cornwell. I think I read one of her books.
The Epoch Point by Spencer Zimmerman. Robert Davis is a young Airman fresh out of Air Force basic training who, after being held captive in China, suddenly finds himself unraveling the most immense conspiracy in history. International intrigue, hidden histories, the active hand of God, etc.
Blood Game by Iris Johansen. Johansen lives near Atlanta. I'm too lazy to read the front coverleaf so I read the back.
Audio on CD
Blue Smoke and Murder by Elizabeth Lowell. 9 CDs at 10 hours. A river guide gets involved with art thieves and calls for help from an investigative agency that owes her a favor.
Southern Lights by Danielle Steel [Hah! I hope the ghost writer gets good money.]
A Legacy Through Time by Debbie Fritter. Romance novel by local author.
The Strangest Man: the hidden life of Paul Dirac, Mystic of the Atom by Graham Farmelo. Dirac was awarded the 1933 Nobel Prize in physics when he was only 31 years old. I saw a review for this book and mentioned to The Old Man. The Old Man asks, "Are you going to buy it?" Well, yeah, I guess so.
The American Civil War by John Keegan. Keegan takes on the Civil War. I guess he ran out of European wars to write about. Keegan does some great writing and analysis so this should be good.
S.W.A.T. Magazine, December, 2009 issue. A gun magazine we subscribe to. The covers are almost always the same. The only month-to-month differences among cover photos are the guy and the rifle he is holding. This one has two dudes on the cover with one guy aiming a FN SCAR carbine. This cover also shares a commonality among most covers in that the cops on the front are from Arizona - where the editor lives. CORRECTION: The guys on the cover are from Alabama.
Read this magazine with caution; you'll just be saddened about all the firearms you cannot afford.
Fiction
Scarpetta Factor by Patricia Cornwell. I think I read one of her books.
The Epoch Point by Spencer Zimmerman. Robert Davis is a young Airman fresh out of Air Force basic training who, after being held captive in China, suddenly finds himself unraveling the most immense conspiracy in history. International intrigue, hidden histories, the active hand of God, etc.
Blood Game by Iris Johansen. Johansen lives near Atlanta. I'm too lazy to read the front coverleaf so I read the back.
Audio on CD
Blue Smoke and Murder by Elizabeth Lowell. 9 CDs at 10 hours. A river guide gets involved with art thieves and calls for help from an investigative agency that owes her a favor.
Southern Lights by Danielle Steel [Hah! I hope the ghost writer gets good money.]
A Legacy Through Time by Debbie Fritter. Romance novel by local author.
Monday, October 19, 2009
A Duplicate Novel and Australian Drought
Fiction
The Missing by Beverly Lewis. Our second copy. I don't know what happened. I must have forgotten to do the automated check for duplicates when I placed the order.
DVD
Rain Shadow starring Rachel Ward, [Australians]. "After a decade of drought, a devastating sheep disease strikes the small Australian farming town of Paringa. Tough minded veterinarian Kate struggles to save her community with the help of a feisty new assistant - who is just determined to unlock the mysteries of Kate's past...Hostility and hope, determination and despair mix in a combustible series that pits two strong women against the odds and , oftentimes, against each other."
Scooby-Doo Where Arer You?: the complete third season starring [a hungry dog]. "16 captivating capers." Scooby-Doo DVDs new and old check-out real well with the local kids.
The Missing by Beverly Lewis. Our second copy. I don't know what happened. I must have forgotten to do the automated check for duplicates when I placed the order.
DVD
Rain Shadow starring Rachel Ward, [Australians]. "After a decade of drought, a devastating sheep disease strikes the small Australian farming town of Paringa. Tough minded veterinarian Kate struggles to save her community with the help of a feisty new assistant - who is just determined to unlock the mysteries of Kate's past...Hostility and hope, determination and despair mix in a combustible series that pits two strong women against the odds and , oftentimes, against each other."
Scooby-Doo Where Arer You?: the complete third season starring [a hungry dog]. "16 captivating capers." Scooby-Doo DVDs new and old check-out real well with the local kids.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Zombies!, Young Adult and Large Print
Zombies!
The Zombie Survival Guide: recorded attacks by Max Brooks. Selected zombie outbreaks from 60,000 BC to 1992 at the Joshua Tree National Park. I really need to buy a good AR15 and stock up on ammo.
Girl Music on CD
Crazy Love by Michael Buble. I'm not curious enough to find out how to put the accent mark on the "e" in his name.
Young Adult
Ruined: a novel by Paula Morris. Your favorite Teen motifs: Teenage girl with absent parents. New Orleans. Creepy house. Tarot reading aunt. Cemeteries. Prep School snobs. Best friend is a ghost. Wrong that must be righted.
Morris is from New Zealand and teaches writing at Tulane ( I wonder if she knows future Nobel Laureate Victor Gischler?). Did I ever mention my fondness for Lion Red beer?
Flora's Dare by Ysabeau S. Wilce. I read the description but have no still have no idea what the heck this is about. I don't know where Wilce is from but she lives in Chicago. Have I ever mentioned my fondness for Goose Island beer?
How to Not Be Popular by Jennifer Ziegler. Hell, that's easy, act like Gerard Saylor.
Large Print
The Professional by Robert B. Parker. Another Spenser novel. Crider will be happy. The regular print version has a big map of Boston on the inside cover so I assume Spenser travels around the city a lot in this one.
Ladies of the Lake by Haywood Smith. Another one of those "Do this or you do not get your inheritance" novels.
Vela Jean Learns to Drive by Jennifer Nevin. "It is a poignant story of a spirited young girl growing up in the gold-mining and moonshining South". Did I mention I just checked out two books on distilling and moonshining?
Hot Pursuit by Suzanne Brockmann. NYC bodyguard is protecting an Assemblywoman when an old murder case gets intertwined. "Suzanne Brockman is widely recognized as a leading voice in romantic suspense." What a coincidence, Gerard Saylor is unrecognized as a trailing voice in online snarkiness.
Acts of Mercy by Mariah Stewart. Serial killer novel with religious overtones.
Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall. "Meet Vish Puri - India's most private investigator. Portly, persistent, and unmistakably Punjabi, he has the exacting nature of Hercule Poirot and the provincial appeal of Precious Ramotswe."
Rooftops of Tehran by Mahbod Seraji. Teenager in 1973 Tehran hangs out on the roof and lusts for his neighbor before attracting the wrong attention of the secret police.
The Zombie Survival Guide: recorded attacks by Max Brooks. Selected zombie outbreaks from 60,000 BC to 1992 at the Joshua Tree National Park. I really need to buy a good AR15 and stock up on ammo.
Girl Music on CD
Crazy Love by Michael Buble. I'm not curious enough to find out how to put the accent mark on the "e" in his name.
Young Adult
Ruined: a novel by Paula Morris. Your favorite Teen motifs: Teenage girl with absent parents. New Orleans. Creepy house. Tarot reading aunt. Cemeteries. Prep School snobs. Best friend is a ghost. Wrong that must be righted.
Morris is from New Zealand and teaches writing at Tulane ( I wonder if she knows future Nobel Laureate Victor Gischler?). Did I ever mention my fondness for Lion Red beer?
Flora's Dare by Ysabeau S. Wilce. I read the description but have no still have no idea what the heck this is about. I don't know where Wilce is from but she lives in Chicago. Have I ever mentioned my fondness for Goose Island beer?
How to Not Be Popular by Jennifer Ziegler. Hell, that's easy, act like Gerard Saylor.
Large Print
The Professional by Robert B. Parker. Another Spenser novel. Crider will be happy. The regular print version has a big map of Boston on the inside cover so I assume Spenser travels around the city a lot in this one.
Ladies of the Lake by Haywood Smith. Another one of those "Do this or you do not get your inheritance" novels.
Vela Jean Learns to Drive by Jennifer Nevin. "It is a poignant story of a spirited young girl growing up in the gold-mining and moonshining South". Did I mention I just checked out two books on distilling and moonshining?
Hot Pursuit by Suzanne Brockmann. NYC bodyguard is protecting an Assemblywoman when an old murder case gets intertwined. "Suzanne Brockman is widely recognized as a leading voice in romantic suspense." What a coincidence, Gerard Saylor is unrecognized as a trailing voice in online snarkiness.
Acts of Mercy by Mariah Stewart. Serial killer novel with religious overtones.
Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall. "Meet Vish Puri - India's most private investigator. Portly, persistent, and unmistakably Punjabi, he has the exacting nature of Hercule Poirot and the provincial appeal of Precious Ramotswe."
Rooftops of Tehran by Mahbod Seraji. Teenager in 1973 Tehran hangs out on the roof and lusts for his neighbor before attracting the wrong attention of the secret police.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Common Keyword Searches
Common Keywords
I use StatCounter to track visits to our blog and webpage. One statcounter feature is "Recent Keyword Activity". Here are some of the more popular ones over the past couple years.
Falburn Academy. This used to be a fairly common search and is due to the movie The Woods (starring Bruce Campbell) and set at the fictional Falburn Academy. Usually paired with "true story" or "Massachusetts".
--EDITED BY REQUEST--
Mysterious Montague. True story of an armed robber who made it big in Hollywood society as a golfer.
Sexy Iraqi. A very popular search in Saudi Arabia.
Tommy Lee Jones Dave Robicheaux. Just watch the movie.
Pearl Swiggum. Name of a former newspaper columnist who was widely syndicated several years ago.
Practical Shooting Exercises. Usually done by people overseas.
Sick of Vampires. So am I.
Naughty Secretaries. Our Naughty Secretary book is about handmade jewelry. Their naughty secretary is about something else.
Slutty Vampires. Aren't they all?
Nina Hartley. We bought a sex instruction and education book by her. Since she is also a porn actress most searches are paired with the word "sex".
Pilot Comics. A popular search in Europe.
I use StatCounter to track visits to our blog and webpage. One statcounter feature is "Recent Keyword Activity". Here are some of the more popular ones over the past couple years.
Falburn Academy. This used to be a fairly common search and is due to the movie The Woods (starring Bruce Campbell) and set at the fictional Falburn Academy. Usually paired with "true story" or "Massachusetts".
--EDITED BY REQUEST--
Mysterious Montague. True story of an armed robber who made it big in Hollywood society as a golfer.
Sexy Iraqi. A very popular search in Saudi Arabia.
Tommy Lee Jones Dave Robicheaux. Just watch the movie.
Pearl Swiggum. Name of a former newspaper columnist who was widely syndicated several years ago.
Practical Shooting Exercises. Usually done by people overseas.
Sick of Vampires. So am I.
Naughty Secretaries. Our Naughty Secretary book is about handmade jewelry. Their naughty secretary is about something else.
Slutty Vampires. Aren't they all?
Nina Hartley. We bought a sex instruction and education book by her. Since she is also a porn actress most searches are paired with the word "sex".
Pilot Comics. A popular search in Europe.
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