Fiction
Blue-Eyed Devil by Robert B. Parker. Third western with Cole and Hitch. I'll presume that Cole calmy shoots people and Hitch shoots his people with his 8-gauge.
Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard. Another Pickard story set in Kansas so maybe I will read it. The author lives in Merriam, KS. Which is just another way of saying Kansas City.
Innocent by Scott Turow. Bald lawyer writes book.
Shoot to Thrill by P.J. Tracy. "A monkeewrench novel." Written by a mother and daughter team. Do they have sex scenes in their books? How do they collaborate on that topic?
Private Life by Jane Smiley. Isn't Smiley kind of "literary"? I read Moo and thought it was funny.
Hannah's List by Debbie Macomber. What is that tune I'm hearing? Can you hear it? I don't care, I don't care, I don't care.
Stay a Little Longer by Dorothy Garlock. Romance in post-WWI Minnesota with a small girl and a dog talking a walk in the autumn woods with a lady who has a bunch of flowers in her hat.
Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris. ...
State Fair by Earlene Fowler. Never watched the movie either.
Black Hole by Charles Burns. Comic book novel about a sexually transmitted virus that brings odd and sometimes disturbing physical deformations among teens in the Pacific Northwest. I read this a year or two ago. Someone donated this copy.
NonFiction
Foxy: my life in three acts by Pam Grier. Actress tells about her life. Richard Pryor stories included.
1,000 Dollars and an Idea: entrepreneur to billionaire by Sam Wyly. Autio-bio by fella who expanded the Michaels craft stores and other businesses. One way to stay a billionaire is to ship out sex freaking copies of your book to every library you see and then claim a tax credit. Presumably.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Thursday, May 06, 2010
What to Read 37: Noir Novels
What to Read 37: Noir Novels
Books by Daniel Woodrell, James Reasoner, Richard Stark (Donald Westlake).
I was going to recommend Fade to Blonde by Max Phillips. But, since I was the only who ever checked the book out I ended up withdrawing it from the collection just a few weeks ago.
Books by Daniel Woodrell, James Reasoner, Richard Stark (Donald Westlake).
I was going to recommend Fade to Blonde by Max Phillips. But, since I was the only who ever checked the book out I ended up withdrawing it from the collection just a few weeks ago.
Monday, May 03, 2010
No hobbits, no talking trees, no giant apes...just a dead teenage girl
DVD
The Lovely Bones starring [a bunch of actors]. Murdered girl tries to help her parents catch the killer. I think.
73 Skills to Create Your Dream Garden by Gord Nickel.
AudioBooks on CD
In Defense of Food: an eater's manifesto by Michael Pollan. I got this one on sale.
Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler. This was on sale, too.
Fiction
9th Judgement by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. I don't care.
Return to Sender by Fern Michaels. Blah.
NonFiction
Lords of the Ring by Doug Moe. The University of Wisconsin had one of the best NCAA boxing teams and won numerous team and individual championships. Until April, 1960 when Badger boxer Charlie Mohr was killed from punch in the ring in the NCAA title bout. Shortly after Mohr's death the NCAA eliminated boxing from competition. Moe follows the tale by speaking to former Badger boxers, coaches, and even Mohr's surgeon. Article from 1960.
The Lovely Bones starring [a bunch of actors]. Murdered girl tries to help her parents catch the killer. I think.
73 Skills to Create Your Dream Garden by Gord Nickel.
AudioBooks on CD
In Defense of Food: an eater's manifesto by Michael Pollan. I got this one on sale.
Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler. This was on sale, too.
Fiction
9th Judgement by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. I don't care.
Return to Sender by Fern Michaels. Blah.
NonFiction
Lords of the Ring by Doug Moe. The University of Wisconsin had one of the best NCAA boxing teams and won numerous team and individual championships. Until April, 1960 when Badger boxer Charlie Mohr was killed from punch in the ring in the NCAA title bout. Shortly after Mohr's death the NCAA eliminated boxing from competition. Moe follows the tale by speaking to former Badger boxers, coaches, and even Mohr's surgeon. Article from 1960.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Three Criders and a Crumley
Three Criders and a Crumley
These were for sale at the Sheboygan Public Library
I bought the top two.
These were for sale at the Sheboygan Public Library
I bought the top two.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Beer and Hippies and Hitchcock
DVD
Battle in Seattle starring Ray Liotta, Woody Harrelson, others. Dramatization of the 1999 Seattle riots. Okay, not really "riots" but a big mass of hippies destroying stuff. Told through six characters. Directed by that guy who used to be shacked up with Charlize Theron.
The American Brew: the rich and surprising history of beer. "Explores the evolution of beer through the centuries." Surprising facts: beer is brewed, beer comes in different colors, beer is wet.
Ultimate Hitchcock Collection, Six CDs.
Jamaica Inn from 1939 with Maureen O'Hara. Have not seen it.
Young and Innocent from 1937 starring Derrick De Marney.Have not seen it.
The Skin Game from 1931 starring Edmund Gwenn. Have not seen it.
The Sorcerer's Apprentice a television episode from 1963. Have not seen it.
The Manxman from 1929 starring Anny Ondra. Have not seen it. I don't know if the Isle of Man TT Road Race is still broadcast on Speed TV.
Juno and the Paycock from 1930 starring Sara Allgood. Have not seen it.
Champagne from 1928 starring Betty Balfour. Have not seen it.
The Cheney Vase a 1955 television episode starring Darren McGavin. Have not seen it.
The Farmer's Wife from 1928 starring Samuel Sweetland. Have not seen it.
Easy Virtue from 1928 starring Isabel Jeans. Have not seen it.
The Ring from 1927 starring Lilian Hall-Davis. Have not seen it.
Blackmail from 1929 starring NoOne InParticular.Have not seen it.
Lady Vanishes from 1938 starring NoNames Listed. Have not seen it.
Rich and Strange from 1932 starring NoNames Again. Have not seen it.
Sabotage from 1936 starring AnotherOne WithNoNames. Have not seen it.
Secret Agent from 1936 NoOne AtAll. Have not seen it.
The 39 Steps from 1938 starring LetsFaceIt Iwillnotlookupanynames. Seen it.
Number 17 from 1932. Have not seen it.
The Man Who Knew Too Much from 1934. Seen it.
The Lodger from 1926. Have not seen it.
Born Into Brothels Children of prostitutes are taught photography by some New York lady. A documentary.
NonFiction
The Big Short: inside the Doomsday machine by Michael Lewis.
Large Print
Eight Days to Live by Iris Johansen.
Shadow of Your Smile by Mary Higgins Clark.
Burning Lamps by Amanda Quick.
Battle in Seattle starring Ray Liotta, Woody Harrelson, others. Dramatization of the 1999 Seattle riots. Okay, not really "riots" but a big mass of hippies destroying stuff. Told through six characters. Directed by that guy who used to be shacked up with Charlize Theron.
The American Brew: the rich and surprising history of beer. "Explores the evolution of beer through the centuries." Surprising facts: beer is brewed, beer comes in different colors, beer is wet.
Ultimate Hitchcock Collection, Six CDs.
Jamaica Inn from 1939 with Maureen O'Hara. Have not seen it.
Young and Innocent from 1937 starring Derrick De Marney.Have not seen it.
The Skin Game from 1931 starring Edmund Gwenn. Have not seen it.
The Sorcerer's Apprentice a television episode from 1963. Have not seen it.
The Manxman from 1929 starring Anny Ondra. Have not seen it. I don't know if the Isle of Man TT Road Race is still broadcast on Speed TV.
Juno and the Paycock from 1930 starring Sara Allgood. Have not seen it.
Champagne from 1928 starring Betty Balfour. Have not seen it.
The Cheney Vase a 1955 television episode starring Darren McGavin. Have not seen it.
The Farmer's Wife from 1928 starring Samuel Sweetland. Have not seen it.
Easy Virtue from 1928 starring Isabel Jeans. Have not seen it.
The Ring from 1927 starring Lilian Hall-Davis. Have not seen it.
Blackmail from 1929 starring NoOne InParticular.Have not seen it.
Lady Vanishes from 1938 starring NoNames Listed. Have not seen it.
Rich and Strange from 1932 starring NoNames Again. Have not seen it.
Sabotage from 1936 starring AnotherOne WithNoNames. Have not seen it.
Secret Agent from 1936 NoOne AtAll. Have not seen it.
The 39 Steps from 1938 starring LetsFaceIt Iwillnotlookupanynames. Seen it.
Number 17 from 1932. Have not seen it.
The Man Who Knew Too Much from 1934. Seen it.
The Lodger from 1926. Have not seen it.
Born Into Brothels Children of prostitutes are taught photography by some New York lady. A documentary.
NonFiction
The Big Short: inside the Doomsday machine by Michael Lewis.
Large Print
Eight Days to Live by Iris Johansen.
Shadow of Your Smile by Mary Higgins Clark.
Burning Lamps by Amanda Quick.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Nothing New
Nothing New
Nothing New by Empty Processing Cart. Seriously, there is nothing new.
Musical Interlude
Entertain yourself with the fabulous sounds of Los Straitjackets.
Nothing New by Empty Processing Cart. Seriously, there is nothing new.
Musical Interlude
Entertain yourself with the fabulous sounds of Los Straitjackets.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Comic Book
Comic Book
The Best American Comics, 2006 edited by Harvey Pekar and Anne Elizabeth Moore. Comic strips with one by Joe Sacco.
The English Are Weird
Dunedin
Hokey Smokes. You're way down South on the South Island. Do you see the sun for only half the year down there? (That's a joke)
The Best American Comics, 2006 edited by Harvey Pekar and Anne Elizabeth Moore. Comic strips with one by Joe Sacco.
The English Are Weird
Dunedin
Hokey Smokes. You're way down South on the South Island. Do you see the sun for only half the year down there? (That's a joke)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Stuff Processed by Sierra the Page
AudioBook on CD stuff
Fault Line by Barry Eisler. Audio version of the print version of Eisler's computer version of Eisler's mental version. A sequel of sorts is coming out in June.
Hero of the Pacific: the life of Marine legend John Basilone by James Brady. The audio version of the print version of the computer version of the mental version of the real story of John Basilone.
NonFiction Stuff
Bedwetter: stories of courage, redemption, and pee by Sarah Silverman. The worst part about a three-year-old wetting the bed? Getting up at 3 AM to change the sheets, cleaning the boy off, consoling the tired-out kid, and getting him back to bed while you are just about sleepwalking yourself.
DVD Stuff
Pirate Radio starring Bill Nighy. Limeys in a boat floating around in international waters broadcast a radio station and wearing awful '60s clothes.
Year Round Gardening with Jerry Baker starring Jerry Baker. Baker has a registered trademark as America's Master Gardener. What a doofus. Five DVD discs. Shelved with the books.
Fault Line by Barry Eisler. Audio version of the print version of Eisler's computer version of Eisler's mental version. A sequel of sorts is coming out in June.
Hero of the Pacific: the life of Marine legend John Basilone by James Brady. The audio version of the print version of the computer version of the mental version of the real story of John Basilone.
NonFiction Stuff
Bedwetter: stories of courage, redemption, and pee by Sarah Silverman. The worst part about a three-year-old wetting the bed? Getting up at 3 AM to change the sheets, cleaning the boy off, consoling the tired-out kid, and getting him back to bed while you are just about sleepwalking yourself.
DVD Stuff
Pirate Radio starring Bill Nighy. Limeys in a boat floating around in international waters broadcast a radio station and wearing awful '60s clothes.
Year Round Gardening with Jerry Baker starring Jerry Baker. Baker has a registered trademark as America's Master Gardener. What a doofus. Five DVD discs. Shelved with the books.
Monday, April 19, 2010
The Usual Plus One Gardening Book
NonFiction
Community Gardening edited by Ellen Kirby and Elizabeth Peters. Lake Mills is sort-of rural but with plenty of houses in town. The local non-profit Lake Mills Activity Center is starting up a community garden plot. I thought someone may like this book. Info on successful gardens, methods, organization, weasels.
Fiction
This Body of Death by Elizabeth George. "An Inspector Lynley Novel" 689 freaking pages long.
Burning Lamp by Amanda Quick. Is this a romance, or thriller, or what? The cover says "An Arcane Society Novel" which makes me think "mystery". The cover also says Book Two of the Dreamlight Trilogy" which makes me think "fantasy".
Deliver Us From Evil by David Baldacci. Weasels in suits.
Lucid Intervals by Stuart Woods. Does Woods write his own books anymore? The cover has a rocks glass next to a bottle of Knob Creek with a straw photoshopped into the bottle. Then why bother having a glass there at all? Weaselly photo editors.
The Double Comfort Safari Club by Alexander McCall Smith. This is one of the Africa novels, not a Scotland novel. Weasels are native to both Scotland and Africa.
Edge of Apocalypse by Tim Lahaye and Craig Parshall. Since this is a LaHaye novel I assume there is some sort of threat to modern Christian society. Yep, flyfleaf says, " With help from a group of powerfully connected Christian leaders know as the Patriots, Jordan works to save the nation from economic and moral collapse."
Eight Days to Live by Iris Johansen. "An Eve Duncan Forensics Thriller." Who was the first author to break big with forensics novels? Was that Cornwell? You know how likes forensic novels a lot? Weasels.
Large Print
Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb. I thought we had this already.
Split Image by Robert B. Parker. I thought we had this one too. I must be thinking of the regular weasel version.
Roger Smith
Mixed Blood by Roger Smith. I read Smith's Wake Up Dead and was very impressed. I did not even know we owned Mixed Blood. Which is odd considering I'm the one who bought the dang thing last March. I'm going to read it.
Noir Novels
Noir Novels I Like by Gerard Saylor. Some gal up North sends me an email, "Would you be willing to sit on the panel for the Notable Books Marathon at WAPL?"
"Yeah, I guess so." I reply.
"What topic do you want to do?"
Hell, if I know, I think. "How about noir novels?"
"Okay, I have you down." She responds.
Crap. What the hell am I going to do now?
Community Gardening edited by Ellen Kirby and Elizabeth Peters. Lake Mills is sort-of rural but with plenty of houses in town. The local non-profit Lake Mills Activity Center is starting up a community garden plot. I thought someone may like this book. Info on successful gardens, methods, organization, weasels.
Fiction
This Body of Death by Elizabeth George. "An Inspector Lynley Novel" 689 freaking pages long.
Burning Lamp by Amanda Quick. Is this a romance, or thriller, or what? The cover says "An Arcane Society Novel" which makes me think "mystery". The cover also says Book Two of the Dreamlight Trilogy" which makes me think "fantasy".
Deliver Us From Evil by David Baldacci. Weasels in suits.
Lucid Intervals by Stuart Woods. Does Woods write his own books anymore? The cover has a rocks glass next to a bottle of Knob Creek with a straw photoshopped into the bottle. Then why bother having a glass there at all? Weaselly photo editors.
The Double Comfort Safari Club by Alexander McCall Smith. This is one of the Africa novels, not a Scotland novel. Weasels are native to both Scotland and Africa.
Edge of Apocalypse by Tim Lahaye and Craig Parshall. Since this is a LaHaye novel I assume there is some sort of threat to modern Christian society. Yep, flyfleaf says, " With help from a group of powerfully connected Christian leaders know as the Patriots, Jordan works to save the nation from economic and moral collapse."
Eight Days to Live by Iris Johansen. "An Eve Duncan Forensics Thriller." Who was the first author to break big with forensics novels? Was that Cornwell? You know how likes forensic novels a lot? Weasels.
Large Print
Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb. I thought we had this already.
Split Image by Robert B. Parker. I thought we had this one too. I must be thinking of the regular weasel version.
Roger Smith
Mixed Blood by Roger Smith. I read Smith's Wake Up Dead and was very impressed. I did not even know we owned Mixed Blood. Which is odd considering I'm the one who bought the dang thing last March. I'm going to read it.
Noir Novels
Noir Novels I Like by Gerard Saylor. Some gal up North sends me an email, "Would you be willing to sit on the panel for the Notable Books Marathon at WAPL?"
"Yeah, I guess so." I reply.
"What topic do you want to do?"
Hell, if I know, I think. "How about noir novels?"
"Okay, I have you down." She responds.
Crap. What the hell am I going to do now?
Friday, April 16, 2010
Musical Interlude
Len Price 3
I could not find any YouTube clips with songs off the latest album aside from the rendition of "Pictures" that I already posted. I highly recommend you checkout the latest album. Listen to more songs through one of those crappy MySpace pages that the band has.
I could not find any YouTube clips with songs off the latest album aside from the rendition of "Pictures" that I already posted. I highly recommend you checkout the latest album. Listen to more songs through one of those crappy MySpace pages that the band has.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Doug Moe At the Library on Saturday, April 17th from 10 AM to 12 (or so) PM
Doug Moe
Doug Moe, writer and newspaper columnist for the Wisconsin State Journal will be here this Saturday, April 17th from 10 AM to 12 PM (or so) to talk about his writing, favorite topics, so on, so forth.
Please join us for coffee and cookies. The first person to ask Mr. Moe about The Simpsons episode "Flaming Moe's", where Homer sees Moe's face everywhere, gets a quarter.
Doug Moe, writer and newspaper columnist for the Wisconsin State Journal will be here this Saturday, April 17th from 10 AM to 12 PM (or so) to talk about his writing, favorite topics, so on, so forth.
Please join us for coffee and cookies. The first person to ask Mr. Moe about The Simpsons episode "Flaming Moe's", where Homer sees Moe's face everywhere, gets a quarter.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Four Audiobooks
Audiobooks on CD
The Checklist Manifesto: how to get things right by Atul Gawande. 5 CDs at 6.5 hours. The overlooked importance of adhering to checklists instead of memory. I do not know how to pronounce this guy's first name, Atul. I hope it is pronounced 'a-tool' so that when Atul is having a bad day people can say, "Atul is being a real tool."
The Pacific by Hugh Ambrose. 19 CDs at 24 hours. I don't get HBO but I assume the current mini-series is getting good ratings. So I bought this.
I listened to Retribution: the battle for Japan by Max Hastings. That was a good book. Hastings covers the Pacific campaign and talks about soldiers on the ground and the strategic decisions of the brass. Once the Navy and it's submarines were geared up the Japanese were screwed. The Japanese defensive warfare skills were superb but they had no way to resupply or reinforce.
I also bought Islands of Hell by Eric Hammel which is a coffee table book on the Pacific campaign. I'm currently reading The Root by Hammel which is about the Marines in Beirut in '82-'84. I've fallen asleep several times while reading it.
The Man From Beijing by Henning Mankell. 12 CDs at 15.5 hours. Henning? What kind of name is that?
Big Girl by Danielle Steel. 9 CDs at 10.5 hours. Big-boned gal from L.A. moves to New York to get away from her skinny parents and snobby L.A. types.
The Checklist Manifesto: how to get things right by Atul Gawande. 5 CDs at 6.5 hours. The overlooked importance of adhering to checklists instead of memory. I do not know how to pronounce this guy's first name, Atul. I hope it is pronounced 'a-tool' so that when Atul is having a bad day people can say, "Atul is being a real tool."
The Pacific by Hugh Ambrose. 19 CDs at 24 hours. I don't get HBO but I assume the current mini-series is getting good ratings. So I bought this.
I listened to Retribution: the battle for Japan by Max Hastings. That was a good book. Hastings covers the Pacific campaign and talks about soldiers on the ground and the strategic decisions of the brass. Once the Navy and it's submarines were geared up the Japanese were screwed. The Japanese defensive warfare skills were superb but they had no way to resupply or reinforce.
I also bought Islands of Hell by Eric Hammel which is a coffee table book on the Pacific campaign. I'm currently reading The Root by Hammel which is about the Marines in Beirut in '82-'84. I've fallen asleep several times while reading it.
The Man From Beijing by Henning Mankell. 12 CDs at 15.5 hours. Henning? What kind of name is that?
Big Girl by Danielle Steel. 9 CDs at 10.5 hours. Big-boned gal from L.A. moves to New York to get away from her skinny parents and snobby L.A. types.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
National Library Week and Doug Moe
National Library Week
You can tell from the sign
Until the wind took hold.
Doug Moe on Saturday, May 17th at 10 AM
Columnist and author Doug Moe will be here this Saturday starting at 10 AM. Moe currently writes for the Wisconsin State Journal. Grab a free coffee and listen in.
You can tell from the sign
Until the wind took hold.
Doug Moe on Saturday, May 17th at 10 AM
Columnist and author Doug Moe will be here this Saturday starting at 10 AM. Moe currently writes for the Wisconsin State Journal. Grab a free coffee and listen in.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Two CDs, Three Large Print, One Novel
Music on CD
Freight Train by Alan Jackson. Country singer sings country songs.
The Fame by Lady Gaga. I'm a bit slow on getting this disc which has some not-a-hermaphrodite singing songs.
Large Print
Eternal on the Water by Joseph Monninger. Some book.
Copper Bracelet by [a bunch of people]. Jeffrey Deaver conceived plot and characters and several writers each did a chapter. That Deaver is a good guy.
House Rules by Jodi Picoult.
Fiction
The Travels of Increase Joseph by Jerry Apps.
Freight Train by Alan Jackson. Country singer sings country songs.
The Fame by Lady Gaga. I'm a bit slow on getting this disc which has some not-a-hermaphrodite singing songs.
Large Print
Eternal on the Water by Joseph Monninger. Some book.
Copper Bracelet by [a bunch of people]. Jeffrey Deaver conceived plot and characters and several writers each did a chapter. That Deaver is a good guy.
House Rules by Jodi Picoult.
Fiction
The Travels of Increase Joseph by Jerry Apps.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Pieces of Paper Bound Together with Glue and Thread
Fiction
Wrecked by Carol Higgins Clark. This has a release date of 13 April. So you have to wait. I don't need to wait because I won't read it. "A Reagan Reilly mystery."
From the Grounds Up by Sandra Balzo. Another coffee shop mystery.
The Shadow of Your Smile by Mary Higgins Clark. Also releasing on April 13. Also not being read by me.
Shameless by Karen Robards. 13th. No read.
Bride Collector by Ted Dekker. Same as above.
Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martin. Also 13 April but I might read it or listen to it.
Large Print
Deep Shadow by Randy Wayne White.
Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa. That's a tough one to type.
Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen. I'm betting Mennonite women do not shave their legs so you better hope that hemline is low.
Out of Body by Stella Cameron.
Summer Hideaway by Susan Wiggs.
NonFiction
Fodor's Southern California, 2010. As if you're going to go surfing with the lanky model chicks on the cover.
Fodor's Toronto, 2010. As if you're going to hang out with the hipsters at their outdoor cafe.
Fodor's Northern California, 2010. As if you're going to take a winery tour into the vineyards rather than sit your lazy ass down in a tasting room and complain about the heat.
Fodor's California, 2009. As it your going to find any stretch of Highway 1 not crammed with cars as you toodle along in a red convertible.
Saylor's Lake Mills, 2010. As if you're going to do anything of interest this summer aside from march in the Town and Country Days parade and give push starts for Boy #2's bicycle. Did you even go swimming in the lake last year? Don't start to pretend you'll do the zombie shoot in MN.
Wrecked by Carol Higgins Clark. This has a release date of 13 April. So you have to wait. I don't need to wait because I won't read it. "A Reagan Reilly mystery."
From the Grounds Up by Sandra Balzo. Another coffee shop mystery.
The Shadow of Your Smile by Mary Higgins Clark. Also releasing on April 13. Also not being read by me.
Shameless by Karen Robards. 13th. No read.
Bride Collector by Ted Dekker. Same as above.
Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martin. Also 13 April but I might read it or listen to it.
Large Print
Deep Shadow by Randy Wayne White.
Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa. That's a tough one to type.
Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen. I'm betting Mennonite women do not shave their legs so you better hope that hemline is low.
Out of Body by Stella Cameron.
Summer Hideaway by Susan Wiggs.
NonFiction
Fodor's Southern California, 2010. As if you're going to go surfing with the lanky model chicks on the cover.
Fodor's Toronto, 2010. As if you're going to hang out with the hipsters at their outdoor cafe.
Fodor's Northern California, 2010. As if you're going to take a winery tour into the vineyards rather than sit your lazy ass down in a tasting room and complain about the heat.
Fodor's California, 2009. As it your going to find any stretch of Highway 1 not crammed with cars as you toodle along in a red convertible.
Saylor's Lake Mills, 2010. As if you're going to do anything of interest this summer aside from march in the Town and Country Days parade and give push starts for Boy #2's bicycle. Did you even go swimming in the lake last year? Don't start to pretend you'll do the zombie shoot in MN.
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Mike-Squared, Dinosaurs, Sherlock Holmes, That Quilt Lady
DVD
Bizarre Dinosaurs by National Geographic. Dinosaurs that look bizarre. We have this in the kids section but I'd guess that kids will have to be at least 3rd grade unless you want to quickly bore them and have them trying to crush your head when all you want to do is sit on the couch and watch a show about bizarre dinosaurs.
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans starring Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes. "High-functioning addict who is a deeply intuitive, fearless detective reigning over the beautiful ruins of New Orleans with authority and abandon." Remember what Kinski said about Herzog?
Herzog is a miserable, hateful, malevolent, avaricious, money-hungry, nasty, sadistic, treacherous, cowardly creep...he should be thrown alive to the crocodiles! An anaconda should strangle him slowly! A poisonous spider should sting him and paralyze his lungs! The most venomous serpent should bite him and make his brain explode! No panther claws should rip open his throat--that would be much too good for him! Huge red ants should piss into his lying eyes and gobble up his balls and his guts! He should catch the plague! Syphilis! Yellow fever! Leprosy! It's no use; the more I wish him the most gruesome deaths, the more he haunts me.
That Kinski. What a card.
Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey , Jr. and Jude Law. Holmes now updated with slow motion! And sexual innuendo! Crider liked this. But, consider the trailers of B-movie dreck he posts on his website.
An Education starring SomeGirl and SomeActorGuy. Teenage girl hooks up with older guy in '60s London.
AudioBook on CD
Bloody Bones by Laurell K. Hamilton. 10 CDs at 12.5 hours. More vampire and werewolf sex I suppose.
Small Wars by Sadie Jones. 8 CDs at 10.5 hours. British Army officer and family go to Cyprus in 1956. Officer is in combat and things change between he and his wife.
Fiction
City of Lost Girls by Declan Hughes. I cannot keep the Declans (Burke and Hughes) apart.
The Blackout by Martha Grimes. Something about a person who has a blackout. Maybe they have a memory blackout during an electrical blackout while playing in a minstrel show wearing blackface.
You know what I want to read about? An overweight, middle-aged woman assassin. They could hold some promise.
Changes by Jim Butcher. You know what I don't want to read about? Witches in Chicago.
Imperfect Birds by Anne Lamott. Judging by the cover illustration and typeface this is something "literary".
The Aloha Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini. Chiaverini continues to steamroll the quilting universe and become the empress of Quilting Fiction.
NonFiction
Mike and Mike's Rules for Sports and Life by Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic. Golic is the fat one. Greenberg is the one using hair products.
The Rough Guide First-Time Asia by Lesley Reader. I ran across a web page devoted to middle-aged white guys who travel to Thailand for hookers. It was creepy, depressing, and fascinating all at once.
Bizarre Dinosaurs by National Geographic. Dinosaurs that look bizarre. We have this in the kids section but I'd guess that kids will have to be at least 3rd grade unless you want to quickly bore them and have them trying to crush your head when all you want to do is sit on the couch and watch a show about bizarre dinosaurs.
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans starring Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes. "High-functioning addict who is a deeply intuitive, fearless detective reigning over the beautiful ruins of New Orleans with authority and abandon." Remember what Kinski said about Herzog?
Herzog is a miserable, hateful, malevolent, avaricious, money-hungry, nasty, sadistic, treacherous, cowardly creep...he should be thrown alive to the crocodiles! An anaconda should strangle him slowly! A poisonous spider should sting him and paralyze his lungs! The most venomous serpent should bite him and make his brain explode! No panther claws should rip open his throat--that would be much too good for him! Huge red ants should piss into his lying eyes and gobble up his balls and his guts! He should catch the plague! Syphilis! Yellow fever! Leprosy! It's no use; the more I wish him the most gruesome deaths, the more he haunts me.
That Kinski. What a card.
Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey , Jr. and Jude Law. Holmes now updated with slow motion! And sexual innuendo! Crider liked this. But, consider the trailers of B-movie dreck he posts on his website.
An Education starring SomeGirl and SomeActorGuy. Teenage girl hooks up with older guy in '60s London.
AudioBook on CD
Bloody Bones by Laurell K. Hamilton. 10 CDs at 12.5 hours. More vampire and werewolf sex I suppose.
Small Wars by Sadie Jones. 8 CDs at 10.5 hours. British Army officer and family go to Cyprus in 1956. Officer is in combat and things change between he and his wife.
Fiction
City of Lost Girls by Declan Hughes. I cannot keep the Declans (Burke and Hughes) apart.
The Blackout by Martha Grimes. Something about a person who has a blackout. Maybe they have a memory blackout during an electrical blackout while playing in a minstrel show wearing blackface.
You know what I want to read about? An overweight, middle-aged woman assassin. They could hold some promise.
Changes by Jim Butcher. You know what I don't want to read about? Witches in Chicago.
Imperfect Birds by Anne Lamott. Judging by the cover illustration and typeface this is something "literary".
The Aloha Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini. Chiaverini continues to steamroll the quilting universe and become the empress of Quilting Fiction.
NonFiction
Mike and Mike's Rules for Sports and Life by Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic. Golic is the fat one. Greenberg is the one using hair products.
The Rough Guide First-Time Asia by Lesley Reader. I ran across a web page devoted to middle-aged white guys who travel to Thailand for hookers. It was creepy, depressing, and fascinating all at once.
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Sixteen Novels with Critiques of Author Photos.
Fiction
Expiration Date by Duane Swierczynski. Unemployed reporter Mickey moves into his sick grandfather's place. The next day he wakes up and everything is the same: cars, the elevated train, the same stores. But, Mickey has woken up in the past, and has met the 12-year-old kid who will murder Mickey's father. Crappy little postage stamp black-and-white author photo.
Exclusive by Fern Michaels. Author photo has Michaels sitting on a couch with three dogs and trying to smile.
Nowhere to Run by C.J. Box. Another novel in Box's Wyoming game warden series with Joe Pickett. Box is supposed to write great, exciting novels but I have not read one yet. I suppose I could start with this one. Box was at Murder and Mayhem in Muskego and never took off his hat. He left it on for his author photo too.
A River in the Sky by Elizabeth Peters. Amelia Peabody is banned from the Valley of the Kings and takes a trip to Palestine with another archaeologist. Amelia's arch. partner wants to find the Ark of the Covenant. Peters is posing with a hat for her photo has it lying (laying?) next to her and is posing in an Egyptian ruins settings. Peters has a different author photo than I remember from before. I think she used to pose wearing a Pith helmet.
Laughed 'Til He Died by Carolyn Hart. "A Death on Demand Mystery". Hart's author photo is fairly straightforward studio snap.
The Telling by Beverly Lewis. Lewis also has a studio snap but it has that blurry-hazy look added to it.
The Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg. Another studio snap but with black-and-white and more contrast.
Holly Blues by Susan Wittig Albert. Another studio snap but with one of those weird poses where Wittig is holding her hand up under her chin.
The Killing Edge by Heather Graham. Full color author photo on the back cover that is more of a glamour shot with graham's hair down and arranged and big earrings.
Cat of the Century by Rita Mae Brown. Brown does not have an author photo. She has a picture of a green eyed cat on the back cover.
Blame by Michelle Huneven. Another studio shot with good lighting. I like this shot the best.
Large Print With No Author Photos
Think Twice by Lisa Scottoline.
Shattered by Karen Robards.
The Sheen on the Silk by Anne Perry.
Caught by Harlan Coben.
The Silent Sea by Clive Cussler.
Expiration Date by Duane Swierczynski. Unemployed reporter Mickey moves into his sick grandfather's place. The next day he wakes up and everything is the same: cars, the elevated train, the same stores. But, Mickey has woken up in the past, and has met the 12-year-old kid who will murder Mickey's father. Crappy little postage stamp black-and-white author photo.
Exclusive by Fern Michaels. Author photo has Michaels sitting on a couch with three dogs and trying to smile.
Nowhere to Run by C.J. Box. Another novel in Box's Wyoming game warden series with Joe Pickett. Box is supposed to write great, exciting novels but I have not read one yet. I suppose I could start with this one. Box was at Murder and Mayhem in Muskego and never took off his hat. He left it on for his author photo too.
A River in the Sky by Elizabeth Peters. Amelia Peabody is banned from the Valley of the Kings and takes a trip to Palestine with another archaeologist. Amelia's arch. partner wants to find the Ark of the Covenant. Peters is posing with a hat for her photo has it lying (laying?) next to her and is posing in an Egyptian ruins settings. Peters has a different author photo than I remember from before. I think she used to pose wearing a Pith helmet.
Laughed 'Til He Died by Carolyn Hart. "A Death on Demand Mystery". Hart's author photo is fairly straightforward studio snap.
The Telling by Beverly Lewis. Lewis also has a studio snap but it has that blurry-hazy look added to it.
The Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg. Another studio snap but with black-and-white and more contrast.
Holly Blues by Susan Wittig Albert. Another studio snap but with one of those weird poses where Wittig is holding her hand up under her chin.
The Killing Edge by Heather Graham. Full color author photo on the back cover that is more of a glamour shot with graham's hair down and arranged and big earrings.
Cat of the Century by Rita Mae Brown. Brown does not have an author photo. She has a picture of a green eyed cat on the back cover.
Blame by Michelle Huneven. Another studio shot with good lighting. I like this shot the best.
Large Print With No Author Photos
Think Twice by Lisa Scottoline.
Shattered by Karen Robards.
The Sheen on the Silk by Anne Perry.
Caught by Harlan Coben.
The Silent Sea by Clive Cussler.
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Some DVDs and Reed Farrel Coleman
DVD
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog starring Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion. Because some people don't want to watch the damn thing on the computer. With a bunch of "bonus material".
The Blind Side starring Sandra Bullock, Some Tall Kid. Instead of playing a hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold or a nun Bullock plays a nice, rich, white lady and gets an Oscar.
The Men Who Stare at Goats with Obi Wan Kenobi, Robert Patrick, Mr. Hollywood. Army study to use brainwaves to kill goats and Iranians. Or something. A comedy.
Doc Martin, Series [season] 3 with Martin Clunes. Former surgeon with blood phobia continues to be brusque and evasive in small town England.
New Moon starring [current teen sensations]. Girl loves vampire and werewolf. Or something. I'm not going to watch this crap.
Fiction
Tower by Ken Bruen and Reed Farrel Coleman. Crime novel.
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog starring Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion. Because some people don't want to watch the damn thing on the computer. With a bunch of "bonus material".
The Blind Side starring Sandra Bullock, Some Tall Kid. Instead of playing a hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold or a nun Bullock plays a nice, rich, white lady and gets an Oscar.
The Men Who Stare at Goats with Obi Wan Kenobi, Robert Patrick, Mr. Hollywood. Army study to use brainwaves to kill goats and Iranians. Or something. A comedy.
Doc Martin, Series [season] 3 with Martin Clunes. Former surgeon with blood phobia continues to be brusque and evasive in small town England.
New Moon starring [current teen sensations]. Girl loves vampire and werewolf. Or something. I'm not going to watch this crap.
Fiction
Tower by Ken Bruen and Reed Farrel Coleman. Crime novel.
Monday, April 05, 2010
NonFiction Part Two: Cookbooks
NonFiction Part Two - Cookbooks
Taste of Home Comfort Food Diet Cookbook by Taste of Home Books.
Salt: cooking with the world's favorite seasoning by Valerie Aikman-Smith.
Muffin Magic: irresistible recipes for [something covered by the barcode] by Susannah Blake.
Taste of Home Dinner on a Dime by Taste of Home Magazine. 403 budget-friendly family recipes.
Preserving: self-sufficiency by Carol Wilson. "Preserving fruits and vegetables is a great way to turn homegrown or local produce into delicious treats that can be enjoyed year-round."
Mad Hungry: feeding men and boys, recipes, strategies and survival techniques by Lucinda Scala Quinn.
Taste of Home Comfort Food Diet Cookbook by Taste of Home Magazine.
Best of Taste of Home, Volume 2.
Super Salads: More than 250 super-easy recipes for super nutrition and super flavor.
Betty Crocker Money Saving Meals: 200 delicious ways to eat on the cheap.
Good Home Cookbook: more than 1,000 classic American recipes edited by Richard J. Perry.
More Vegetables Please!: over 100 easy and delicious recipes for eating healthy foods each and every day by Elson M. Haas, MD and Patty James, MS.
Taste of Home Comfort Food Diet Cookbook by Taste of Home Books.
Salt: cooking with the world's favorite seasoning by Valerie Aikman-Smith.
Muffin Magic: irresistible recipes for [something covered by the barcode] by Susannah Blake.
Taste of Home Dinner on a Dime by Taste of Home Magazine. 403 budget-friendly family recipes.
Preserving: self-sufficiency by Carol Wilson. "Preserving fruits and vegetables is a great way to turn homegrown or local produce into delicious treats that can be enjoyed year-round."
Mad Hungry: feeding men and boys, recipes, strategies and survival techniques by Lucinda Scala Quinn.
Taste of Home Comfort Food Diet Cookbook by Taste of Home Magazine.
Best of Taste of Home, Volume 2.
Super Salads: More than 250 super-easy recipes for super nutrition and super flavor.
Betty Crocker Money Saving Meals: 200 delicious ways to eat on the cheap.
Good Home Cookbook: more than 1,000 classic American recipes edited by Richard J. Perry.
More Vegetables Please!: over 100 easy and delicious recipes for eating healthy foods each and every day by Elson M. Haas, MD and Patty James, MS.
NonFiction Part One: Comic book novels, test guides, bicycles, hippie stuff
NonFiction - Part One
Baby Sleep Guide: sleep solutions for you and your baby by Marcie Jones and Sandy Jones. Good luck with that.
Bluegrass: a true story of murder in Kentucky by William Van Meter. Student murdered in her dorm room in Western Kentucky University.
The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles: craftsmanship, elegance and function by Jan Heine, Jean-Pierre Praderes. Cycling is popular around here. I took a chance on this one even though it cost $50. Lots of nice photos.
Islands of Hell: the U.S. Marines in the Western Pacific, 1944-1945 by Eric Hammel. Since The Pacific is on HBO I figured this may go out. That and I like the coffee table books on WWII. Especially the Pacific campaign. When I worked in the Stacks at the U of I I ran across a multi-volume photo history of the Pacific campaign. Island after island after island of barren beaches surrounding swamp and mangrove forests and quickly filling up with piles of garbage, cardboard boxes, brass casings, and tin cans.
Naturopathic Way: how to detox, find quality nutrition, and restore your acid-alkaline balance by Christopher Vasey, N.D.
The Story of Libraries: from the inception of writing to the computer age by Fred Lerner.
2010 Writer's Market, 89th annual edition.
2010 Guide to Literary Agents, 19th annual edition by [some editor]. If the Writer's Market works.
Complete Guide to Prescription and Nonprescription Drugs, 2010 edition by E. Winter Griffith, M.D. The Griffith name has a trademark mark next to it. Why not just take his name off and promote the real guy's name to the top?
2010 Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards, 19th edition edited by Don Fluckinger. Fluckinger?
Windows 7 Secrets by Paul Thurrott and Rafael Rivera. We need newer computer books.
Praxis, 10th edition. Practice exams for the PRAXIS test - whatever the hell that is.
5 GED Practice Tests by Princeton Review. I only "studied" the night before my GED exams. I then woke up late, scrabbled for a couple pencils and then drove over to south central Dallas to take the exam.
Gotham Central: Book Two: Jokers and Madmen by Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka. We have the first one in the series and it has gone out 13 times.
Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer by Van Jensen and Dusty Higgins. Comic book novel with Pinocchio using his growing nose to make stakes and revenge Geppetto.
Raise Happy Chickens and Other Poultry by Victoria Roberts. Broody hens, handling ducks, plucking and hanging, favorite recipes.
Cleveland Clinic Guide to Menopause: everything you need to know to thrive during menopause, from a renowned women's health expert by Holly Thacker, MD. Thacker?
The No Bull Book on Heart Disease: real answers to winning back your heart and health by Joel Okner MD and Jeremy Clorfene, PhD.
The Ultimate Guide to Trail Running by Adam W. Chase and Nancy Hobbs. Equipment, finding trails, weather, hill strategy, so on, so forth.
The Truth About Back Pain: a revolutionary approach to diagnosing and healing back pain by Todd Sinett, DC and Sheldon Sinett, DC.
Living with Someone Who's Living with BiPolar Disorder: a practical guide for family, friends, and coworkers by Chelsea Lowe and Bruce M Cohen, MD, PhD.
The Brain Training Revolution: a proven workout for healthy brain aging by Paul E. Bendheim, MD. Brains science, exercises, look at that duck, lifestyle adjustments.
Baby Sleep Guide: sleep solutions for you and your baby by Marcie Jones and Sandy Jones. Good luck with that.
Bluegrass: a true story of murder in Kentucky by William Van Meter. Student murdered in her dorm room in Western Kentucky University.
The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles: craftsmanship, elegance and function by Jan Heine, Jean-Pierre Praderes. Cycling is popular around here. I took a chance on this one even though it cost $50. Lots of nice photos.
Islands of Hell: the U.S. Marines in the Western Pacific, 1944-1945 by Eric Hammel. Since The Pacific is on HBO I figured this may go out. That and I like the coffee table books on WWII. Especially the Pacific campaign. When I worked in the Stacks at the U of I I ran across a multi-volume photo history of the Pacific campaign. Island after island after island of barren beaches surrounding swamp and mangrove forests and quickly filling up with piles of garbage, cardboard boxes, brass casings, and tin cans.
Naturopathic Way: how to detox, find quality nutrition, and restore your acid-alkaline balance by Christopher Vasey, N.D.
The Story of Libraries: from the inception of writing to the computer age by Fred Lerner.
2010 Writer's Market, 89th annual edition.
2010 Guide to Literary Agents, 19th annual edition by [some editor]. If the Writer's Market works.
Complete Guide to Prescription and Nonprescription Drugs, 2010 edition by E. Winter Griffith, M.D. The Griffith name has a trademark mark next to it. Why not just take his name off and promote the real guy's name to the top?
2010 Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards, 19th edition edited by Don Fluckinger. Fluckinger?
Windows 7 Secrets by Paul Thurrott and Rafael Rivera. We need newer computer books.
Praxis, 10th edition. Practice exams for the PRAXIS test - whatever the hell that is.
5 GED Practice Tests by Princeton Review. I only "studied" the night before my GED exams. I then woke up late, scrabbled for a couple pencils and then drove over to south central Dallas to take the exam.
Gotham Central: Book Two: Jokers and Madmen by Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka. We have the first one in the series and it has gone out 13 times.
Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer by Van Jensen and Dusty Higgins. Comic book novel with Pinocchio using his growing nose to make stakes and revenge Geppetto.
Raise Happy Chickens and Other Poultry by Victoria Roberts. Broody hens, handling ducks, plucking and hanging, favorite recipes.
Cleveland Clinic Guide to Menopause: everything you need to know to thrive during menopause, from a renowned women's health expert by Holly Thacker, MD. Thacker?
The No Bull Book on Heart Disease: real answers to winning back your heart and health by Joel Okner MD and Jeremy Clorfene, PhD.
The Ultimate Guide to Trail Running by Adam W. Chase and Nancy Hobbs. Equipment, finding trails, weather, hill strategy, so on, so forth.
The Truth About Back Pain: a revolutionary approach to diagnosing and healing back pain by Todd Sinett, DC and Sheldon Sinett, DC.
Living with Someone Who's Living with BiPolar Disorder: a practical guide for family, friends, and coworkers by Chelsea Lowe and Bruce M Cohen, MD, PhD.
The Brain Training Revolution: a proven workout for healthy brain aging by Paul E. Bendheim, MD. Brains science, exercises, look at that duck, lifestyle adjustments.
Thursday, April 01, 2010
What to Read 34: South African Authors Deon Meyer and Roger Smith
What to Read 34: South African Authors Deon Meyer and Roger Smith
Blood Safari by Deon Meyer and Wake Up Dead by Roger Smith. Two crime novels recently released in the United States.
Both Meyer and Smith did the google over to my online book notes. I assume they will end up here as well. What they need to do is quit screwing around and get back to work.
Blood Safari by Deon Meyer and Wake Up Dead by Roger Smith. Two crime novels recently released in the United States.
Both Meyer and Smith did the google over to my online book notes. I assume they will end up here as well. What they need to do is quit screwing around and get back to work.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Michael Perry Did A Music Album, Kellerman Changed His Author Photo
Music CD
Tiny Pilot by Michael Perry and the Long Beds. One of Wisconsin's favorite authors also works with a band. He writes the lyrics. Listen here: here.
Fiction
Deception by Jonathan Kellerman. Kellerman has a new author photo. Thanks goodness he got rid of those photos where - I swear - he was wearing eye makeup.
No Distance Too Far by Lauraine Snelling. Girl doctor goes to North Dakota reservation to fight measles.
Solar by Ian McEwan. Famous scientist coasts on fame by charging speaking fees. Now the compulsive womanizer finds his fifth wife is having an affair.
Tiny Pilot by Michael Perry and the Long Beds. One of Wisconsin's favorite authors also works with a band. He writes the lyrics. Listen here: here.
Fiction
Deception by Jonathan Kellerman. Kellerman has a new author photo. Thanks goodness he got rid of those photos where - I swear - he was wearing eye makeup.
No Distance Too Far by Lauraine Snelling. Girl doctor goes to North Dakota reservation to fight measles.
Solar by Ian McEwan. Famous scientist coasts on fame by charging speaking fees. Now the compulsive womanizer finds his fifth wife is having an affair.
Friday, March 26, 2010
2 Novels, 2 DVDs, 7 CDs with Neil Finn and AC/DC
Music on CD
The Sun Came Out by 7 Worlds Collide. Neil Finn did a group concert a few years ago and called the resulting CD 7 Worlds Collide (I have it at home if you want to borrow it). So, Finn put together most of the same people again as a benefit CD for Oxfam. Included are Jeff Tweedy, Johnny Marr, KT Tunstall, assorted Finns, etc.
A Friend of A Friend by Dave Rawlings Machine. Why did I buy this? Must be because Gillian Welch is in the band. Kind of like I bought The Mighty Celt because Gillian Anderson is in that.
Michael Buble Meets Madison Square Garden by Michael Buble and a band. Buble has a nice voice but I have heard few of his songs. Hey! Did I mention that Chris Isaak has another show on TV? I caught it by chance the other day and Buble was on.
Some guy who stinks - STINKS - of stale cigarettes just came into the library.
Pictures by The Len Price 3. Great stuff.
Keeps Gettin' Better: a decade of hits by Christina Aguilera. Stuff.
Powerage by AC/DC. My quest for the full AC/DC catalog continues.
'74 Jailbreak by AC/DC. See? What did I tell you? This is just a five song EP from '84 when early, unreleased tracks were packaged for the U.S.
DVD
Ghostbusters 1 & 2 starring ][the cast]. I think a previous copy was mangled. Includes a fancy booklet.
Gigante starring [Uruguayans]. Shy security guard in Montevideo falls for the night time cleaning lady. Romantic comedy with stalking.
Fiction
Known to Evil by Walter Mosley. "A Leonic McGill Mystery". Mosley has written some great novels.
She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell. Romance.
The Sun Came Out by 7 Worlds Collide. Neil Finn did a group concert a few years ago and called the resulting CD 7 Worlds Collide (I have it at home if you want to borrow it). So, Finn put together most of the same people again as a benefit CD for Oxfam. Included are Jeff Tweedy, Johnny Marr, KT Tunstall, assorted Finns, etc.
A Friend of A Friend by Dave Rawlings Machine. Why did I buy this? Must be because Gillian Welch is in the band. Kind of like I bought The Mighty Celt because Gillian Anderson is in that.
Michael Buble Meets Madison Square Garden by Michael Buble and a band. Buble has a nice voice but I have heard few of his songs. Hey! Did I mention that Chris Isaak has another show on TV? I caught it by chance the other day and Buble was on.
Some guy who stinks - STINKS - of stale cigarettes just came into the library.
Pictures by The Len Price 3. Great stuff.
Keeps Gettin' Better: a decade of hits by Christina Aguilera. Stuff.
Powerage by AC/DC. My quest for the full AC/DC catalog continues.
'74 Jailbreak by AC/DC. See? What did I tell you? This is just a five song EP from '84 when early, unreleased tracks were packaged for the U.S.
DVD
Ghostbusters 1 & 2 starring ][the cast]. I think a previous copy was mangled. Includes a fancy booklet.
Gigante starring [Uruguayans]. Shy security guard in Montevideo falls for the night time cleaning lady. Romantic comedy with stalking.
Fiction
Known to Evil by Walter Mosley. "A Leonic McGill Mystery". Mosley has written some great novels.
She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell. Romance.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Harlan Coben is Bald, More Indian Mounds, Underwear Girl on Cover
Fiction
Bite Me: a love story by Christopher Moore. Comedic novel with vampires in San Francisco.
212 by Alafair Burke. No relation to Alafair Robicheaux.
Red Cat by Peter Spiegelman. PI in NYY tries to track down the blackmailing girlfriend of his married brother. The woman, who works an internet porn and black mailing operation, ends up dead and evidence leads to the PI's brother. The cover has a gal dressed in underwear and stockings.
Caught by Harlan Coben. Seventeen year old girl goes missing. Lady tv reporter who hosts a fictionalized version of Catch a Predator gets involved.
The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear. I always enjoy the artwork on these Winspear covers. I cannot name the painting style but it has that 1920s-1930s, Hopper-like, WPA feel. I've still never read one of these books though.
Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken. This looks like a YA novel and has a lousy cover.
Sheen on the Silk by Anne Perry. Woman travels to Constantinople in 1273 to prove her brother's innocence in conspiring to kill a nobleman. Good for her.
Shattered by Karen Robards. Sha-dooby. Shattered. Shattered.
NonFiction
Spirits of Earth: the effigy mound landscape Madison and the Four Lakes by Robert A. Birmingham. Birmingham used to be State Archeologist and has writen several books on mounds including the one about the mounds in Aztalan State Park.
Kids Book
Tollins by Conn Iggulden. I list this because it was in the same pile as the other books in this post. Tollins was the Rotary gift book from this week. The Rotary Club of Lake Mills donates a book in the name of the weekly program. This means I have to find a new book each week and I sometimes run around trying to scare one up.
The program this week was a tour at Ephraim Faience Pottery by one of the owners. Ephraim just moved downtown about a year ago and make Arts and Crafts style pottery. They have a neat operation and the tour covered all the steps of the process. Tours are not often given though, so don't just expect one if you suddenly show up.
Bite Me: a love story by Christopher Moore. Comedic novel with vampires in San Francisco.
212 by Alafair Burke. No relation to Alafair Robicheaux.
Red Cat by Peter Spiegelman. PI in NYY tries to track down the blackmailing girlfriend of his married brother. The woman, who works an internet porn and black mailing operation, ends up dead and evidence leads to the PI's brother. The cover has a gal dressed in underwear and stockings.
Caught by Harlan Coben. Seventeen year old girl goes missing. Lady tv reporter who hosts a fictionalized version of Catch a Predator gets involved.
The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear. I always enjoy the artwork on these Winspear covers. I cannot name the painting style but it has that 1920s-1930s, Hopper-like, WPA feel. I've still never read one of these books though.
Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken. This looks like a YA novel and has a lousy cover.
Sheen on the Silk by Anne Perry. Woman travels to Constantinople in 1273 to prove her brother's innocence in conspiring to kill a nobleman. Good for her.
Shattered by Karen Robards. Sha-dooby. Shattered. Shattered.
NonFiction
Spirits of Earth: the effigy mound landscape Madison and the Four Lakes by Robert A. Birmingham. Birmingham used to be State Archeologist and has writen several books on mounds including the one about the mounds in Aztalan State Park.
Kids Book
Tollins by Conn Iggulden. I list this because it was in the same pile as the other books in this post. Tollins was the Rotary gift book from this week. The Rotary Club of Lake Mills donates a book in the name of the weekly program. This means I have to find a new book each week and I sometimes run around trying to scare one up.
The program this week was a tour at Ephraim Faience Pottery by one of the owners. Ephraim just moved downtown about a year ago and make Arts and Crafts style pottery. They have a neat operation and the tour covered all the steps of the process. Tours are not often given though, so don't just expect one if you suddenly show up.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Leftovers and Donations
Justified
I was watching this during lunch and started talking in a fake drawl.
Fiction
Hearts Awakening by Delia Parr. Christian/inspirational fiction.
These novels are all donations. Someone left these and other books in some plastic bags next to our outdoor book drop. Good thing the bags didn't have dog dirt or a bomb instead of books.
Somebody Owes Me Money by Donald E. Westlake. A Hard Case Crime reprint.
The Cutie by Donald E. Westlake. Another Hard Case Crime reprint. You remember Hard Case don't you? After that tattoo you received?
Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris.
Cry Wolf by Tami Hoag.
I am Not a Cop by Richard Belzer and Michael Black. Belzer plays himself as an actor called upon to be the character he plays on television.
Large Print
Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb.
Split Image by Robert B. Parker.
I was watching this during lunch and started talking in a fake drawl.
Fiction
Hearts Awakening by Delia Parr. Christian/inspirational fiction.
These novels are all donations. Someone left these and other books in some plastic bags next to our outdoor book drop. Good thing the bags didn't have dog dirt or a bomb instead of books.
Somebody Owes Me Money by Donald E. Westlake. A Hard Case Crime reprint.
The Cutie by Donald E. Westlake. Another Hard Case Crime reprint. You remember Hard Case don't you? After that tattoo you received?
Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris.
Cry Wolf by Tami Hoag.
I am Not a Cop by Richard Belzer and Michael Black. Belzer plays himself as an actor called upon to be the character he plays on television.
Large Print
Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb.
Split Image by Robert B. Parker.
Retreads: Ringo, Sade, Johnny Cash, The A-Team
DVD
A-Team: Season Two starring those three guys and Mr. T. Our first copy of this lost some discs, or was mangled, or something. Remember how the characters would fire thousands of rounds, use flamethrowers, conk people on the head, or get in massive car crashes but no one was ever shown injured?
Storm starring [Germans]. Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague has a key witness commit suicide. She travels to Yugoslavia for the witness's funeral and meets the man's sister who knows the same information. The prosecutor and new witness have to make it back to Holland alive.
Boondock Saints II starring Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus. The first movie has a strong following so I bought this sequel. A quote on the front of the box says, "The sequel improves on everything that made the first film great." That is a difficult proposition considering the first movie is, in reality, a pile of crap.
Where do all these movie characters get suppressors for their guns? If I want one I have to pay $200 up front just on the federal tax stamp.
Precious starring Gabourey Sidibe and other people. You should know the story by now.
The Informant! starring Scott Bakula and Matt Damon. Comedy with an informant working with the FBI over a price fixing scheme on food additives.
Up in the Air starring George Clooney. You should know this story as well.
Music CDs
Songs From the Heart by Celtic Woman. These CDs and DVDs are really popular. The band's name is a misnomer since there seem to be five gals involved. Judging from the liner notes I say that Lynn and Mairead are the best looking. Because, let's face it, looks are as important as talent for the kind of show they run.
American VI: aint't no grave by Johnny Cash. Another album of covers by Cash.
Y Not by Ringo Starr. Ten new tunes by Starkey.
Charlie Hood is happy.
Soldier of Love by Sade. Older people tend to dig this album. Or so the newspaper said.
Ultra Dance 11 by DJ Enferno. DJ Enferno needs to buy a dictionary. The model in the liner notes is probably the only good thing about these two discs.
A-Team: Season Two starring those three guys and Mr. T. Our first copy of this lost some discs, or was mangled, or something. Remember how the characters would fire thousands of rounds, use flamethrowers, conk people on the head, or get in massive car crashes but no one was ever shown injured?
Storm starring [Germans]. Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague has a key witness commit suicide. She travels to Yugoslavia for the witness's funeral and meets the man's sister who knows the same information. The prosecutor and new witness have to make it back to Holland alive.
Boondock Saints II starring Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus. The first movie has a strong following so I bought this sequel. A quote on the front of the box says, "The sequel improves on everything that made the first film great." That is a difficult proposition considering the first movie is, in reality, a pile of crap.
Where do all these movie characters get suppressors for their guns? If I want one I have to pay $200 up front just on the federal tax stamp.
Precious starring Gabourey Sidibe and other people. You should know the story by now.
The Informant! starring Scott Bakula and Matt Damon. Comedy with an informant working with the FBI over a price fixing scheme on food additives.
Up in the Air starring George Clooney. You should know this story as well.
Music CDs
Songs From the Heart by Celtic Woman. These CDs and DVDs are really popular. The band's name is a misnomer since there seem to be five gals involved. Judging from the liner notes I say that Lynn and Mairead are the best looking. Because, let's face it, looks are as important as talent for the kind of show they run.
American VI: aint't no grave by Johnny Cash. Another album of covers by Cash.
Y Not by Ringo Starr. Ten new tunes by Starkey.
Charlie Hood is happy.
Soldier of Love by Sade. Older people tend to dig this album. Or so the newspaper said.
Ultra Dance 11 by DJ Enferno. DJ Enferno needs to buy a dictionary. The model in the liner notes is probably the only good thing about these two discs.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Another Gischler and Max Allan Collins
Fiction
You Can't Stop Me by Max Allan Collins and Matthew Clemens. Former sheriff J.C. Harrow had a red letter day. He caught a Presidential assassin and his wife and son were murdered. Now the host of Crime Seen! he tracks down crooks with the help of viewer's tips and has a chance to catch the killer of his family.
Collins has a neat blog that I referred to before. He seems like a good dude. We also just received a DVD movie based on one of his Quarry stories, The Last Lullaby.
Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova. Artist slashes a famed painting hanging in a museum. Psychiatrist tries to figure out why.
Wedding Season by Kate Fforde. With a title like this how could it be anything but a chick book?
Think Twice by Lisa Scottoline. I think I read a short story by Scottoline. If she is the one I am thinking of the story was dang good.
Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian. Cover has a lady taking a swim in a lake.
Welcome to the Bayou by Victor Gischler. Comic book novel by the famed novelist. Famed? Oh, that was funny. Funny, funny, funny.
Wild Ride by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer. Supernatural romance at an amusement park. I think.
You Can't Stop Me by Max Allan Collins and Matthew Clemens. Former sheriff J.C. Harrow had a red letter day. He caught a Presidential assassin and his wife and son were murdered. Now the host of Crime Seen! he tracks down crooks with the help of viewer's tips and has a chance to catch the killer of his family.
Collins has a neat blog that I referred to before. He seems like a good dude. We also just received a DVD movie based on one of his Quarry stories, The Last Lullaby.
Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova. Artist slashes a famed painting hanging in a museum. Psychiatrist tries to figure out why.
Wedding Season by Kate Fforde. With a title like this how could it be anything but a chick book?
Think Twice by Lisa Scottoline. I think I read a short story by Scottoline. If she is the one I am thinking of the story was dang good.
Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian. Cover has a lady taking a swim in a lake.
Welcome to the Bayou by Victor Gischler. Comic book novel by the famed novelist. Famed? Oh, that was funny. Funny, funny, funny.
Wild Ride by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer. Supernatural romance at an amusement park. I think.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Tattoos, Prison, Turks on the Run, Rostnikov's Last Deadlift
DVD
Bliss starring [no one who you heard of]. Family of girl in rural Turkey thinks she may have been raped. What to do? What to Do? Why, kill her of course. Hey, we'll get her cousin to do it. The cousin decides that is not such a good idea.
Bronson starring Tom Hardy. Biopic of "Britian's most dangerous prisoner." He has spent 34 years in prison and 30 of those years were in solitary confinement. He is a violent nutbag.
The Burning Plain starring Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger. Two women find their lives linked "by the forces of love and fate." What the heck is that supposed to mean? You call that a plot description? Here is a review from Allmovie.com.
Fiction
A Whisper to the Living by Stuart M. Kaminsky. Inspector Porfiry Rostnikov, one of the only honest cops in Moscow, is assigned to protect an English journalist writing about prostituion.
Kaminsky recently died so this is the last Rostnikov novel unless Kaminsky left behind some unpublished work or his estate licenses someone. I read an older Rostnikov novel and thought it was okay but not great. I then found out the novel won an Edgar award.
Horns by Joe Hill. Pitchfork on the cover. A horror novel. Maybe.
The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen. Chick book.
Treasure of the Golden Cheetah by Suzanne Arruda. The further African adventures of Jade Del Cameron during the 1920s. Jade takes a job helping a Hollywood film crew and has to solve some murders.
Broken Places by Sandra Parsnan. A mystery. Which means someone died.
Pretty in Ink by Karen E. Olson. Las Vegas tattoo shop owner has to solve the recent murders of Vegas's famous drag queens. Some gal with a torso tattoo was just in the library.
The Spellmans Strike Again by Lisa Lutz. This series circulates well.
Bliss starring [no one who you heard of]. Family of girl in rural Turkey thinks she may have been raped. What to do? What to Do? Why, kill her of course. Hey, we'll get her cousin to do it. The cousin decides that is not such a good idea.
Bronson starring Tom Hardy. Biopic of "Britian's most dangerous prisoner." He has spent 34 years in prison and 30 of those years were in solitary confinement. He is a violent nutbag.
The Burning Plain starring Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger. Two women find their lives linked "by the forces of love and fate." What the heck is that supposed to mean? You call that a plot description? Here is a review from Allmovie.com.
Fiction
A Whisper to the Living by Stuart M. Kaminsky. Inspector Porfiry Rostnikov, one of the only honest cops in Moscow, is assigned to protect an English journalist writing about prostituion.
Kaminsky recently died so this is the last Rostnikov novel unless Kaminsky left behind some unpublished work or his estate licenses someone. I read an older Rostnikov novel and thought it was okay but not great. I then found out the novel won an Edgar award.
Horns by Joe Hill. Pitchfork on the cover. A horror novel. Maybe.
The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen. Chick book.
Treasure of the Golden Cheetah by Suzanne Arruda. The further African adventures of Jade Del Cameron during the 1920s. Jade takes a job helping a Hollywood film crew and has to solve some murders.
Broken Places by Sandra Parsnan. A mystery. Which means someone died.
Pretty in Ink by Karen E. Olson. Las Vegas tattoo shop owner has to solve the recent murders of Vegas's famous drag queens. Some gal with a torso tattoo was just in the library.
The Spellmans Strike Again by Lisa Lutz. This series circulates well.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Men's Book Club Meets Wed., March 24th at Tyranena Brewing
Men's Book Club
The Men's Book Club will meet on Wednesday, March 24th at Tyranena Brewing to discuss Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
Why are we discussing Catcher in the Rye? Several reasons. They are:
1. Salinger just died.
2. You probably have not read the book since high school.
3. Since it was a high school assignment you probably never read the book anyway.
4. You'll feel like you know what the heck people are talking about.
5. What do you care anyway? You'll probably read ten pages, put it down, never finish, and just show up to drink beer.
The Men's Book Club will meet on Wednesday, March 24th at Tyranena Brewing to discuss Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
Why are we discussing Catcher in the Rye? Several reasons. They are:
1. Salinger just died.
2. You probably have not read the book since high school.
3. Since it was a high school assignment you probably never read the book anyway.
4. You'll feel like you know what the heck people are talking about.
5. What do you care anyway? You'll probably read ten pages, put it down, never finish, and just show up to drink beer.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Several Large Print and Three Romance Novels From Lorelai James
Fiction
Branded as Trouble, Tied Up, Tied Down, and Rough, Raw, and Ready by Lorelai James. Three separate novels. James is the pen name for Lori Armstrong. Armstrong did a post on firstoffenders.blogspot.com about her romance series that generated a ton of responses. So, I decided to order several titles.
One of the responses to Armstrong's post was by me questioning whether these novels were gay porn because the titles sound sure sound like it. No, they are not gay porn. There is dude-on-dude sex but it's not an all gay romance. The back covers of each book have tongue in cheek warnings like: this book contains unbelievably explicit sex, including multiple cowboy/cowgirl/cowboy menage scenes, juicy, hot, male on male action [yeesh], a bucketful of politically incorrect situations and true Western ideology.
Large Print
Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah.
Tate by Linda Lael Miller. A McKettricks of Texas novel.
Dead by Midnight by Beverly Barton.
Through the Heart by Kate Morgenroth.
Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens.
Deeper Than the Dead by Tami Hoag.
Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton.
Summertime by J.M. Coetzee.
Branded as Trouble, Tied Up, Tied Down, and Rough, Raw, and Ready by Lorelai James. Three separate novels. James is the pen name for Lori Armstrong. Armstrong did a post on firstoffenders.blogspot.com about her romance series that generated a ton of responses. So, I decided to order several titles.
One of the responses to Armstrong's post was by me questioning whether these novels were gay porn because the titles sound sure sound like it. No, they are not gay porn. There is dude-on-dude sex but it's not an all gay romance. The back covers of each book have tongue in cheek warnings like: this book contains unbelievably explicit sex, including multiple cowboy/cowgirl/cowboy menage scenes, juicy, hot, male on male action [yeesh], a bucketful of politically incorrect situations and true Western ideology.
Large Print
Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah.
Tate by Linda Lael Miller. A McKettricks of Texas novel.
Dead by Midnight by Beverly Barton.
Through the Heart by Kate Morgenroth.
Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens.
Deeper Than the Dead by Tami Hoag.
Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton.
Summertime by J.M. Coetzee.
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
One NonFiction, Four Fiction, and One YA Misplaced in Fiction
YA in Fiction
Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan. "A companion to The Forest of Hands and Teeth." Not a sequel to Forest but with a new main character and told from a different community surrounded by the same zombies of Forest. This book came up on the holds list with my wife's name on it. I'm going to check Dead-Tossed out for her but not let her have it until after I read it. I can write that because my wife never reads this blog.
Fiction
The Silent Sea by Clive Cussler and Jack De Brul. Max Allan Collins posted an interesting piece on his blog about co-writing novels. Collins has been finishing some manuscripts left behind by Mickey Spillane and also collaborating with Matthew Clemens. Collins writes that you cannot tell by the cover who is doing most of the work.
Deep Shadow by Randy Wayne White. Another Florida mystery. Who is it that started all this? John D. McDonald? I have yet to read one of his books.
Hell Gate by Linda Fairstein. The cover has some sort of stone tower building on the cover. I'm going assume someone was tied up and thrown off the roof.
Bone Fire by Mark Spragg. A novel set in rural Iowa with meth-heads, Alzheimers disease, and other stuff. We have two copies of this because I screwed up the order. Spragg should be happy about that. Maybe we'll get a thank you note but I doubt it.
NonFiction
Ad Hoc at Home by Thomas Keller. The last back-order of that big cookbook order I did a month or so ago. Ad Hoc is the name of the author's restaurant in California. A big book with lots a pretty pictures. I have a 1.75 liter bottle of Dewar's at home that I got over the weekend. I have not cracked it yet.
Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan. "A companion to The Forest of Hands and Teeth." Not a sequel to Forest but with a new main character and told from a different community surrounded by the same zombies of Forest. This book came up on the holds list with my wife's name on it. I'm going to check Dead-Tossed out for her but not let her have it until after I read it. I can write that because my wife never reads this blog.
Fiction
The Silent Sea by Clive Cussler and Jack De Brul. Max Allan Collins posted an interesting piece on his blog about co-writing novels. Collins has been finishing some manuscripts left behind by Mickey Spillane and also collaborating with Matthew Clemens. Collins writes that you cannot tell by the cover who is doing most of the work.
Deep Shadow by Randy Wayne White. Another Florida mystery. Who is it that started all this? John D. McDonald? I have yet to read one of his books.
Hell Gate by Linda Fairstein. The cover has some sort of stone tower building on the cover. I'm going assume someone was tied up and thrown off the roof.
Bone Fire by Mark Spragg. A novel set in rural Iowa with meth-heads, Alzheimers disease, and other stuff. We have two copies of this because I screwed up the order. Spragg should be happy about that. Maybe we'll get a thank you note but I doubt it.
NonFiction
Ad Hoc at Home by Thomas Keller. The last back-order of that big cookbook order I did a month or so ago. Ad Hoc is the name of the author's restaurant in California. A big book with lots a pretty pictures. I have a 1.75 liter bottle of Dewar's at home that I got over the weekend. I have not cracked it yet.
Friday, March 05, 2010
Six Chick Books
Fiction
Cook the Books by Jessica Conant-Park and Susan Conant. Some chick tries to solve the murder of a chef.
Game Over by Fern Michaels. Another book about the Sisterhood which is a group of gals fighting injustice.
Teaberry Strangler by Laura Childs. Some broad who owns a teashop solves murder of a neighboring store owner.
House Rules by Jodi Picoult. Skirt with an autistic son who likes to watch crime scenes has to defend her son when he becomes a suspect.
False Mermaid by Erin Hart. Sister of dead woman suspects her brother-in-law of murder and believes her niece and his new squeeze are in danger.
NonFiction
Your Beautiful Wedding on any Budget by Todd Outcalt. It all starts with having this printed as a paperback for $12.99. Dames like weddings.
Coffee Break
I'm going over to Sweet Lips Gallery shortly at around 10:30 to get an Americano. I have not had one in a while. If you get to Sweet Lips while I am still there I will buy you a drink. If you get to Sweet Lips while I am still there I will pretend to be someone else so I do not have to by you a drink.
2010 Census
I've been getting phone calls from some Census people. Many of them seem to be nitwits. I suppose I should not be too surprised considering who they have hired in the past.
Cook the Books by Jessica Conant-Park and Susan Conant. Some chick tries to solve the murder of a chef.
Game Over by Fern Michaels. Another book about the Sisterhood which is a group of gals fighting injustice.
Teaberry Strangler by Laura Childs. Some broad who owns a teashop solves murder of a neighboring store owner.
House Rules by Jodi Picoult. Skirt with an autistic son who likes to watch crime scenes has to defend her son when he becomes a suspect.
False Mermaid by Erin Hart. Sister of dead woman suspects her brother-in-law of murder and believes her niece and his new squeeze are in danger.
NonFiction
Your Beautiful Wedding on any Budget by Todd Outcalt. It all starts with having this printed as a paperback for $12.99. Dames like weddings.
Coffee Break
I'm going over to Sweet Lips Gallery shortly at around 10:30 to get an Americano. I have not had one in a while. If you get to Sweet Lips while I am still there I will buy you a drink. If you get to Sweet Lips while I am still there I will pretend to be someone else so I do not have to by you a drink.
2010 Census
I've been getting phone calls from some Census people. Many of them seem to be nitwits. I suppose I should not be too surprised considering who they have hired in the past.
Monday, March 01, 2010
Janette Oke and More Vampires
DVD
Janette Oke Movies
You know why these movies annoy me? I never hear about their release dates. The DVDs are quite popular and always check out, but I never hear when the new ones come out. Heck, I just looked at the studio's website and found out that the eighth one, Love Finds A Home, was released this past November. Dang it!
Love's Unending Legacy starring Erin Cottrell. Fifth in the Love Comes Softly series. Missie and her young son move nearer to her parents two years after Missie was widowed. Missie adopts a teen girl off an orphan train and starts to dig the local sheriff.
Love's Unfolding Dream starring Erin Cottrell. Sixth in the series. Missie's adopted daughter wants to become a doctor against the resistance of the local doctor and her own boyfriend.
Feeling Better Now
A tune by Richard Thompson, Mr. Rebound, just came up on my computer. I decided to listen to all the songs beginning with Mr. and Mr. Rabbit was next. Listen here, player in upper right corner.
Another DVD
Vampire's Assistant starring Salma Hayek, John C. Reilly, Salma Hayek's Breasts, Chris Massoglia. Teen visits a traveling sideshow called Cirque Du Freak. He trades in his ordinary life to be a vampire with the Cirque, "his existence as a member of the undead is filled with more challenges, suspense and fun than he ever thought possible."
Best of Johnny Carson and Friends. Four DVDs worth at 23 hours. 23 hours? Screw that.
NonFiction
Indian Mounds of Wisconsin by Robert A. Birmingham and Leslie E. Eisenberg. People like to steal these books. Filthy, thieving weasels. ABout 4,000 mounds remain in Wisconsin. Drive over to the mound at Aztalan State Park. Just don't bring your four year old because he will be bored.
Janette Oke Movies
You know why these movies annoy me? I never hear about their release dates. The DVDs are quite popular and always check out, but I never hear when the new ones come out. Heck, I just looked at the studio's website and found out that the eighth one, Love Finds A Home, was released this past November. Dang it!
Love's Unending Legacy starring Erin Cottrell. Fifth in the Love Comes Softly series. Missie and her young son move nearer to her parents two years after Missie was widowed. Missie adopts a teen girl off an orphan train and starts to dig the local sheriff.
Love's Unfolding Dream starring Erin Cottrell. Sixth in the series. Missie's adopted daughter wants to become a doctor against the resistance of the local doctor and her own boyfriend.
Feeling Better Now
A tune by Richard Thompson, Mr. Rebound, just came up on my computer. I decided to listen to all the songs beginning with Mr. and Mr. Rabbit was next. Listen here, player in upper right corner.
Another DVD
Vampire's Assistant starring Salma Hayek, John C. Reilly, Salma Hayek's Breasts, Chris Massoglia. Teen visits a traveling sideshow called Cirque Du Freak. He trades in his ordinary life to be a vampire with the Cirque, "his existence as a member of the undead is filled with more challenges, suspense and fun than he ever thought possible."
Best of Johnny Carson and Friends. Four DVDs worth at 23 hours. 23 hours? Screw that.
NonFiction
Indian Mounds of Wisconsin by Robert A. Birmingham and Leslie E. Eisenberg. People like to steal these books. Filthy, thieving weasels. ABout 4,000 mounds remain in Wisconsin. Drive over to the mound at Aztalan State Park. Just don't bring your four year old because he will be bored.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Dogs Teaching Physics During the Annual Report
NonFiction
How to Teach Physics to Your Dog by Chad Orzel. With great humor and clarity, Chad Orzel explains to Emmy [his dog], and to human readers, just what quantum mechanics is and how it works - and why, although you can't use it to catch squirrels or eat steak, it's still bizarre, amazing, and important to every dog and human.
Read this book, teach your dog the principles, get the dog hired as a physics teacher. Wouldn't it be nice to have a dog do something worthwhile?
Fun and Adventure During Annual Report Time
Eat your heart out. This kind of fun is mine, mine, mine.
How to Teach Physics to Your Dog by Chad Orzel. With great humor and clarity, Chad Orzel explains to Emmy [his dog], and to human readers, just what quantum mechanics is and how it works - and why, although you can't use it to catch squirrels or eat steak, it's still bizarre, amazing, and important to every dog and human.
Read this book, teach your dog the principles, get the dog hired as a physics teacher. Wouldn't it be nice to have a dog do something worthwhile?
Fun and Adventure During Annual Report Time
Eat your heart out. This kind of fun is mine, mine, mine.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
It Smells Like Manure Outside. I'm not sure if it is pig or chicken.
Fiction
Black Hills by Dan Simmons. Another historical novel by Simmons. A young Sioux boy touches Custer right at the time of his death and Custer's ghost follows the boy for sixty years until 1936 when the Sioux man is working on the Mount Rushmore monument.
Simmons' book The Terror was really outstanding. Another of his books, Darwin's Blade, was a piece of crap. That is proof that no one is perfect. Even Crider, who is the one who recommended Darwin's Blade.
Heat Wave by Richard Castle. Novel from the television show. There is speculation on who ghosted the novel. Stephen J. Cannell gives a blurb on the back and is a common guess as the real writer.
Wild Zone by Joy Fielding. Some sort of book.
Black Hills by Dan Simmons. Another historical novel by Simmons. A young Sioux boy touches Custer right at the time of his death and Custer's ghost follows the boy for sixty years until 1936 when the Sioux man is working on the Mount Rushmore monument.
Simmons' book The Terror was really outstanding. Another of his books, Darwin's Blade, was a piece of crap. That is proof that no one is perfect. Even Crider, who is the one who recommended Darwin's Blade.
Heat Wave by Richard Castle. Novel from the television show. There is speculation on who ghosted the novel. Stephen J. Cannell gives a blurb on the back and is a common guess as the real writer.
Wild Zone by Joy Fielding. Some sort of book.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Did anyone read that last post?
Anyone? Did you see the vague and unrelated reference to Apocalypse Now?
DVD
Law Abiding Citizen with Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx. Revenge movie.
Fiction
Split Image by Robert B. Parker. A Jesse Stone novel. Revenge status unknown.
Money to Burn by James Grippando. Presumed dead wife seems to be alive and ruining life and career of finance guy. Revenge likely.
Coffee Break
Fiction Continued
Last Surgeon by Michael Palmer. The flyleaf has a long convoluted description of the plot but I'm pretty sure revenge is involved.
Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb. Cover illustration has a two shot derringer and a sword with a circuit board in the background. I bet a computer specialist takes revenge on the evil religious order that killed his wife and destroyed his business.
Big Girl by Danielle Steel. Revenge status unknown but likely.
Apple Turnover Murder by Joanne Fluke. This is one of those mystery with recipes so I'll bet the murder is revenge related.
Matthew's Story by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. You could say that Roman actions were revenge against rebellion and dissension.
Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison. Some vampire/werewolf/zombie/witches novel with a belly button bared broad on the cover seeking revenge against the forces of evil. Is this like those Hamilton books with all the hard-core sex scenes packed into the plot?
A Night Too Dark by Dana Stabenow. One of Stabenow's Alaska novels. A grizzly bear seeks revenge against the vicious salmon invading his territory.
NonFiction
Nothing to Envy: ordinary lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick. What a crap hole. When things change there you I bet there will be revenge killings.
DVD
Law Abiding Citizen with Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx. Revenge movie.
Fiction
Split Image by Robert B. Parker. A Jesse Stone novel. Revenge status unknown.
Money to Burn by James Grippando. Presumed dead wife seems to be alive and ruining life and career of finance guy. Revenge likely.
Coffee Break
Fiction Continued
Last Surgeon by Michael Palmer. The flyleaf has a long convoluted description of the plot but I'm pretty sure revenge is involved.
Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb. Cover illustration has a two shot derringer and a sword with a circuit board in the background. I bet a computer specialist takes revenge on the evil religious order that killed his wife and destroyed his business.
Big Girl by Danielle Steel. Revenge status unknown but likely.
Apple Turnover Murder by Joanne Fluke. This is one of those mystery with recipes so I'll bet the murder is revenge related.
Matthew's Story by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. You could say that Roman actions were revenge against rebellion and dissension.
Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison. Some vampire/werewolf/zombie/witches novel with a belly button bared broad on the cover seeking revenge against the forces of evil. Is this like those Hamilton books with all the hard-core sex scenes packed into the plot?
A Night Too Dark by Dana Stabenow. One of Stabenow's Alaska novels. A grizzly bear seeks revenge against the vicious salmon invading his territory.
NonFiction
Nothing to Envy: ordinary lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick. What a crap hole. When things change there you I bet there will be revenge killings.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
These Items are so uninteresting I barely have the energy to type
DVD
The L Word: complete fourth season starring [the same people as last time]. L.A. lesbians lock lips and love alliteration.
The Great Circus Parade 2009: Wisconsin national treasure. Sell the house.
Fiction
The Other Side of Blue by Valerie O. Patterson. I don't care. Neither do you. Sell the car.
Large Print
Wolf at the Door by Jack Higgins. Sell the kids.
Find Someone Else
Forget it by I'm Never Coming Back. Forget it.
The L Word: complete fourth season starring [the same people as last time]. L.A. lesbians lock lips and love alliteration.
The Great Circus Parade 2009: Wisconsin national treasure. Sell the house.
Fiction
The Other Side of Blue by Valerie O. Patterson. I don't care. Neither do you. Sell the car.
Large Print
Wolf at the Door by Jack Higgins. Sell the kids.
Find Someone Else
Forget it by I'm Never Coming Back. Forget it.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Another Trailer Park Movie
DVD
Trailer Park of Terror starring SomeCountryMusicSinger. Six high school students are stranded in a trailer park filled with hillbilly zombies playing guitar.
Music on CD
The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic by Weird Al Yankovic. Two discs of "hits".
Until the Whole World Hears by Casting Crowns. Christian themed rock.
Element of Freedom by Alicia keys. Fourteen pop songs.
Public Service Announcement
Trailer Park of Terror starring SomeCountryMusicSinger. Six high school students are stranded in a trailer park filled with hillbilly zombies playing guitar.
Music on CD
The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic by Weird Al Yankovic. Two discs of "hits".
Until the Whole World Hears by Casting Crowns. Christian themed rock.
Element of Freedom by Alicia keys. Fourteen pop songs.
Public Service Announcement
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Some People Say A Christmas Wreath Should Be Removed by Ash Wednesday
I say, "That ladder is a hassle."
Internet Radio Stations
I don't listen to online radio as much as I used to. I still enjoy Little Steven's Underground Garage but don't listen to BBC6 nearly as much as I used to. I almost never listen to Australia national radio (ABC) or the Roots Rock Radio podcast anymore.
A favorite radio station of mine is WTKM out of Hartford, WI. Why? Because they play polka. Listening link here.
DVD
Fast Track starring Guysinshirtsiwthoutsleeves and Girlsinskimpydresses. Lee Goldberg (author of the Monk novels) was executive producer of this and seems really happy with the results. So I bought a copy for the Library. Plot: Kids race cars, wage money, and crash the cars.
Good Hair with Chris Rock. Straightened hair versus curly hair styles for black people. Chris Rock takes a look. That's good I suppose, I myself usually cannot remember what anyone has for hair.
Sometimes I'll play a game with myself called "What shirt am I wearing?" Without looking down I have to remember what shirt I am wearing that day. It can be tough.
Trailer Park Boys: the movie starring [Canadians]. I do not remember how I ran across this. Maybe a search for something else popped this up. I then looked at the web page and figured I should order it. The movie version of a Canadian television show set in a trailer park.
Drool School: family dog training by [some dog trainer who wanted to make a movie]. I don't remember how I found this either. I think I read a review. "Smart games, tricks, and commands for kids age 3 through 13, and timely tips for parents." Heck, we should shelve this downstairs in the kids section.
The Ministers starring John Leguizamo and Harvey Keitel. Some shoot-em-up murder mystery with religious overtones. This was advertised on television when the DVD came out. Leguizamo is such a dang good actor.
Downloading Nancy starring Maria Bello, Jason Patric, Rufus Sewell. Self-destructive and suicidal married woman has been carrying on numerous affairs and disappears. Her husband has to find out what happened. Creepy sex scenes included so you - yeah you - will want to watch it.
AudioBooks on CD
Vegas Sunrise by Fern Michaels. Michales audio titles check out well so I got this older title, third in a trilogy.
7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. This will go out.
Internet Radio Stations
I don't listen to online radio as much as I used to. I still enjoy Little Steven's Underground Garage but don't listen to BBC6 nearly as much as I used to. I almost never listen to Australia national radio (ABC) or the Roots Rock Radio podcast anymore.
A favorite radio station of mine is WTKM out of Hartford, WI. Why? Because they play polka. Listening link here.
DVD
Fast Track starring Guysinshirtsiwthoutsleeves and Girlsinskimpydresses. Lee Goldberg (author of the Monk novels) was executive producer of this and seems really happy with the results. So I bought a copy for the Library. Plot: Kids race cars, wage money, and crash the cars.
Good Hair with Chris Rock. Straightened hair versus curly hair styles for black people. Chris Rock takes a look. That's good I suppose, I myself usually cannot remember what anyone has for hair.
Sometimes I'll play a game with myself called "What shirt am I wearing?" Without looking down I have to remember what shirt I am wearing that day. It can be tough.
Trailer Park Boys: the movie starring [Canadians]. I do not remember how I ran across this. Maybe a search for something else popped this up. I then looked at the web page and figured I should order it. The movie version of a Canadian television show set in a trailer park.
Drool School: family dog training by [some dog trainer who wanted to make a movie]. I don't remember how I found this either. I think I read a review. "Smart games, tricks, and commands for kids age 3 through 13, and timely tips for parents." Heck, we should shelve this downstairs in the kids section.
The Ministers starring John Leguizamo and Harvey Keitel. Some shoot-em-up murder mystery with religious overtones. This was advertised on television when the DVD came out. Leguizamo is such a dang good actor.
Downloading Nancy starring Maria Bello, Jason Patric, Rufus Sewell. Self-destructive and suicidal married woman has been carrying on numerous affairs and disappears. Her husband has to find out what happened. Creepy sex scenes included so you - yeah you - will want to watch it.
AudioBooks on CD
Vegas Sunrise by Fern Michaels. Michales audio titles check out well so I got this older title, third in a trilogy.
7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. This will go out.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Retro Horror Movie, Some Music CDs, Some Books
DVD
The House of the Devil starring Somebody Named Gerta. Desperate for quick cash, college sophomore Samantha Hughes takes a babysitting job in the isolated mansion of the creepy Ulman family. Ignoring the warnings of her best friend, Samantha has no idea that a nightmare of unspeakable fear and torment awaits her within these walls.
Music CDs
Rated R by Rihanna. Is this the gal who was dating Mr. Punchy?
Worship Jamz - Blue. Techno gospel?
Contra by Vampire Weekend. Flavor of the indie month.
Breakout by Miley Cyrus. Our last copy cracked.
Kidz Bop 16. Children sing popular pop tunes. The booklet says I am supposed to check out kidzbop.com. I refuse.
Original Soundtrack to Princess and the Frog. Randy Newman must have a lifetime contract with Disney.
Fiction
The Abortionist by Michael james Caughill. A Library customer read a review in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and requested I get purchase a copy. I did.
NonFiction
Women and Men on the Overland Trail: 2nd edition by John Mack Faragher. A lively and penetrating analysis of what the overland journey was really like for midwestern farm families in the mid-1800s.
Large Print
The Bargain Bride by Barbara Metzger. My wife watches that television show set in an expensive bridal gown store.
Early Dawn by Catherine Anderson. Woman kidnapped in Colorado by "murderous outlaws" who plan to sell her in Mexico. Local dude rescues her and they go on the run.
Love and Summer by William Trevor. Mid 1950s...orphan girl...blighted by unspeakable tragedy...young photographer...poignant love affair...herself.
Gemma by Meg Tilly. Twelve-year-old is kidnapped and just survives the abuse.
The House of the Devil starring Somebody Named Gerta. Desperate for quick cash, college sophomore Samantha Hughes takes a babysitting job in the isolated mansion of the creepy Ulman family. Ignoring the warnings of her best friend, Samantha has no idea that a nightmare of unspeakable fear and torment awaits her within these walls.
Music CDs
Rated R by Rihanna. Is this the gal who was dating Mr. Punchy?
Worship Jamz - Blue. Techno gospel?
Contra by Vampire Weekend. Flavor of the indie month.
Breakout by Miley Cyrus. Our last copy cracked.
Kidz Bop 16. Children sing popular pop tunes. The booklet says I am supposed to check out kidzbop.com. I refuse.
Original Soundtrack to Princess and the Frog. Randy Newman must have a lifetime contract with Disney.
Fiction
The Abortionist by Michael james Caughill. A Library customer read a review in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and requested I get purchase a copy. I did.
NonFiction
Women and Men on the Overland Trail: 2nd edition by John Mack Faragher. A lively and penetrating analysis of what the overland journey was really like for midwestern farm families in the mid-1800s.
Large Print
The Bargain Bride by Barbara Metzger. My wife watches that television show set in an expensive bridal gown store.
Early Dawn by Catherine Anderson. Woman kidnapped in Colorado by "murderous outlaws" who plan to sell her in Mexico. Local dude rescues her and they go on the run.
Love and Summer by William Trevor. Mid 1950s...orphan girl...blighted by unspeakable tragedy...young photographer...poignant love affair...herself.
Gemma by Meg Tilly. Twelve-year-old is kidnapped and just survives the abuse.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
What to Read 35: Gerald Seymour's "The Walking Dead"
What to Read 35
Gerald Seymour's The Walking Dead.
Gerald Seymour's The Walking Dead.
DVD and AudioBooks: Colombian Yoga Zombies Drive Trucks
DVD
Seven Pounds starring Will Smith. Another copy.
Zombieland starring Woody "THC" Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg. Nerd and White Trash Guy join forces after the zombie plague.
Yoga for Strength and Training with Stephanie Snyder. 60 minute toning and strengthening sequence and 30 minute core practice.
Isolated Incident starring Dane Cook. I thought this would check out.
Dog Eat Dog starring [people you never heard of]. El Orejon, the agoraphobic crime kingpin of Cali, Colombia, goes after two guys who stole a cash collection and killed Orejon's godson. Lot's of shooting. I think.
Somerstown starring [Limeys]. Two teenaged boys in London become friends. One is homeless and the other lets him stay in his house without his father's knowledge.
Trucker starring Michelle Monaghan, Nathan Fillion. Truck driver Diane lives a carefree, unattached life as in independent driver. Diane's 11-year-old son, who she has not seen in ten years, shows up to stay with her when his dad is in the hospital.
The Biggest Loser Workout: 30-day jumpstart with [people from some television show]. Five 10 minute workouts.
AudioBooks on CD
Vegas Heat by Fern Michaels. Her books check out
The Eyes of Darkness by Dean Koontz. His book check out, too.
No Mercy by Lori Armstrong. This is supposed to be good.
The Wolf at the Door by Jack Higgins. Burning car on the cover.
Iron River by T. Jefferson Parker. Desert landscape on the cover.
Super Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. Exploding apple on the cover.
Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler. Boring cover with compass face.
Seven Pounds starring Will Smith. Another copy.
Zombieland starring Woody "THC" Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg. Nerd and White Trash Guy join forces after the zombie plague.
Yoga for Strength and Training with Stephanie Snyder. 60 minute toning and strengthening sequence and 30 minute core practice.
Isolated Incident starring Dane Cook. I thought this would check out.
Dog Eat Dog starring [people you never heard of]. El Orejon, the agoraphobic crime kingpin of Cali, Colombia, goes after two guys who stole a cash collection and killed Orejon's godson. Lot's of shooting. I think.
Somerstown starring [Limeys]. Two teenaged boys in London become friends. One is homeless and the other lets him stay in his house without his father's knowledge.
Trucker starring Michelle Monaghan, Nathan Fillion. Truck driver Diane lives a carefree, unattached life as in independent driver. Diane's 11-year-old son, who she has not seen in ten years, shows up to stay with her when his dad is in the hospital.
The Biggest Loser Workout: 30-day jumpstart with [people from some television show]. Five 10 minute workouts.
AudioBooks on CD
Vegas Heat by Fern Michaels. Her books check out
The Eyes of Darkness by Dean Koontz. His book check out, too.
No Mercy by Lori Armstrong. This is supposed to be good.
The Wolf at the Door by Jack Higgins. Burning car on the cover.
Iron River by T. Jefferson Parker. Desert landscape on the cover.
Super Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. Exploding apple on the cover.
Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler. Boring cover with compass face.
Monday, February 08, 2010
Two Foot Stack Variety Pack with Blond Yoga Girl, Joe Sacco, Charlie Hood
DVD
Yoga for Beginners and Beyond by Ana Brett and Ravi Singh. I bought this DVD for two reasons. 1: People here like yoga DVDs. 2: Blond chick on the cover (she's okay looking).
50 Dead Men Walking with Ben Kingsley, Jim Sturgess. Crook in Belfast is recruited by the police as a grasser against the IRA during the height of the Troubles.
Blood Creek with Michael Fassbender. A Nazi scholar's effort with the occult in 1936 West Virginia come back to haunt a modern family.
Fiction
Iron River by T. Jefferson Parker. Sheriff's Deputy Charlie Hood has joined an anti-drug task force on the California-Mexico border. When a stakeout ends in the death of a boy the boy's father, an extremely violent Mexican cartel leader, is out for revenge against the ATF agents involved. The other two Charlie Hood novels have been quite good.
My Before and After Life by Risa Miller. Two daughters fly to Israel to try and convince their newly religious father to return to the U.S.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. The last copy fell apart.
The Chill by Jason Starr and Mick Bertilorenzi. Comic book novel with a serial killer in NYC. Looks good with a deadly woman, ritualized murder, a centuries old cop, nudity.
NonFiction - Lots of it, so pay attention
Apache: inside the cockpit of the world's most deadly fighting machine by Ed Macy. British Army pilot Macy was ready to retire when he takes a job as an Apache pilot in Afghanistan. Only 2% of candidates complete the 18 months of Apache training. Macey is sent into the ultra-violence Helmand Province and is involved in a rescue attempt with the rescuers, Royal Marines, strapped onto the outside of his Apache.
Skateboarder's Start-Up: a beginner's guide to skateboarding by Doug Werner and Steve Badillo.
Ultimate Super Bowl Book: a complete reference to the stats, stars, and stories behind the football's biggest game - and why the best team won by Bob McGinn. Excluding yesterday's game.
Midwest Home Landscaping Including Southern Canada: new edition by Roger Holmes and Rita Buchanan. Believe it or not, some people actually enjoy gardening.
Master Cheesemakers of Wisconsin by James Norton and Becca Dilley. Yeah, laugh it up. Cheese and Wisconsin, ha ha ha. But, this has great little bios of Masters with plenty of photographs to keep you interested.
Footnotes in Gaza by Joe Sacco. Sacco is an excellent journalist writing in comics format. He travels to crappy places like Palestine and the Bosnian War then writes and illustrates the stories of his trip and the interviews he made with residents.
Murder for Hire: my life as the country's most successful undercover agent by Jack Ballentine. Ballentine joined the Phoenix Police Department in 1978 and often posed as a paid killer. His work led to 24 convictions for murder conspiracy. Phoenix is a dangerous beat. Remember that gunfight a few years ago when two officers were murdered?
None Left Behind: the 10th Mountain Division and the Triangle of Death by Charles W. Sasser. Delta Company's work along the Euphrates River in 2007. Including the attack and capture of several infantrymen on 12 May 2007 and the 10th's search for the missing men.
Checklist Manifesto: how to get things right by Atul Gawande. Gawande does some great writing and analyses on methods, procedures, and human nature. When medical checklists are followed they can save lives. Or, like when a pilot skips a step on his takeoff checklist, people will die.
Official Book Club Selection by Kathy Griffin. I am late buying this book. Mainly because I think Griffin is a horses's ass and I ignore her whenever possible.
Inside the Teenage Brain: parenting a work in progress by Sheryl Feinstein. The brains of teenagers are growing and changing the same as the rest of the body.
Stones into Schools: promoting peace with books, not bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Greg Mortenson. Mortenson writes another book.
Large Print
I, Sniper by Stephen Hunter. Another tale on the beauty of the .30 caliber.
Impact by Douglas Preston.
Unbearable Lightness of Scones by Alexnader McCall Smith.
Prodigal Wife by Marcia Willett.
Yoga for Beginners and Beyond by Ana Brett and Ravi Singh. I bought this DVD for two reasons. 1: People here like yoga DVDs. 2: Blond chick on the cover (she's okay looking).
50 Dead Men Walking with Ben Kingsley, Jim Sturgess. Crook in Belfast is recruited by the police as a grasser against the IRA during the height of the Troubles.
Blood Creek with Michael Fassbender. A Nazi scholar's effort with the occult in 1936 West Virginia come back to haunt a modern family.
Fiction
Iron River by T. Jefferson Parker. Sheriff's Deputy Charlie Hood has joined an anti-drug task force on the California-Mexico border. When a stakeout ends in the death of a boy the boy's father, an extremely violent Mexican cartel leader, is out for revenge against the ATF agents involved. The other two Charlie Hood novels have been quite good.
My Before and After Life by Risa Miller. Two daughters fly to Israel to try and convince their newly religious father to return to the U.S.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. The last copy fell apart.
The Chill by Jason Starr and Mick Bertilorenzi. Comic book novel with a serial killer in NYC. Looks good with a deadly woman, ritualized murder, a centuries old cop, nudity.
NonFiction - Lots of it, so pay attention
Apache: inside the cockpit of the world's most deadly fighting machine by Ed Macy. British Army pilot Macy was ready to retire when he takes a job as an Apache pilot in Afghanistan. Only 2% of candidates complete the 18 months of Apache training. Macey is sent into the ultra-violence Helmand Province and is involved in a rescue attempt with the rescuers, Royal Marines, strapped onto the outside of his Apache.
Skateboarder's Start-Up: a beginner's guide to skateboarding by Doug Werner and Steve Badillo.
Ultimate Super Bowl Book: a complete reference to the stats, stars, and stories behind the football's biggest game - and why the best team won by Bob McGinn. Excluding yesterday's game.
Midwest Home Landscaping Including Southern Canada: new edition by Roger Holmes and Rita Buchanan. Believe it or not, some people actually enjoy gardening.
Master Cheesemakers of Wisconsin by James Norton and Becca Dilley. Yeah, laugh it up. Cheese and Wisconsin, ha ha ha. But, this has great little bios of Masters with plenty of photographs to keep you interested.
Footnotes in Gaza by Joe Sacco. Sacco is an excellent journalist writing in comics format. He travels to crappy places like Palestine and the Bosnian War then writes and illustrates the stories of his trip and the interviews he made with residents.
Murder for Hire: my life as the country's most successful undercover agent by Jack Ballentine. Ballentine joined the Phoenix Police Department in 1978 and often posed as a paid killer. His work led to 24 convictions for murder conspiracy. Phoenix is a dangerous beat. Remember that gunfight a few years ago when two officers were murdered?
None Left Behind: the 10th Mountain Division and the Triangle of Death by Charles W. Sasser. Delta Company's work along the Euphrates River in 2007. Including the attack and capture of several infantrymen on 12 May 2007 and the 10th's search for the missing men.
Checklist Manifesto: how to get things right by Atul Gawande. Gawande does some great writing and analyses on methods, procedures, and human nature. When medical checklists are followed they can save lives. Or, like when a pilot skips a step on his takeoff checklist, people will die.
Official Book Club Selection by Kathy Griffin. I am late buying this book. Mainly because I think Griffin is a horses's ass and I ignore her whenever possible.
Inside the Teenage Brain: parenting a work in progress by Sheryl Feinstein. The brains of teenagers are growing and changing the same as the rest of the body.
Stones into Schools: promoting peace with books, not bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Greg Mortenson. Mortenson writes another book.
Large Print
I, Sniper by Stephen Hunter. Another tale on the beauty of the .30 caliber.
Impact by Douglas Preston.
Unbearable Lightness of Scones by Alexnader McCall Smith.
Prodigal Wife by Marcia Willett.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Snowy Snow of Snowitude
Various Photos
Library on Tuesday morning, 2 Feb 2010.
Street Slush
Motor-scooter with homemade outrigger
PVC pipe bolted to footboard.
Library on Tuesday morning, 2 Feb 2010.
Street Slush
Motor-scooter with homemade outrigger
PVC pipe bolted to footboard.
Seven Novels at Seven and a Half Inches Tall
Fiction
Wicked Craving by G.A. McKevett. Must be a cooking mystery because there is a caramel apple on the cover with the handle tied in a bow.
Cape Greed by Sam Cole. Crime novel set in Cape Town, South Africa. I just read a good mystery set in S.A., Blood Safari by Deon Meyer. There have been a handful of well received crime novels set in S.A over the past couple years. Maybe S.A. is the new Sweden in crime fiction.
I've read that the violent crime level in South Africa is freaking insane. I don't know if that is true but it should generate plenty of fiction.
Flirt by Laurell K. Hamilton. Vampire killing and sex. Or something like that.
Blood Ties by Kay Hooper. The FBI's Special Crimes Unit follow after a serial killing sniper in Tennessee.
Worst Case by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. "Only detective Michael Bennett can stop the most ingenious killer in New York history." Do people even read the description of Patterson plots? Don't they just buy them, read them, and stick them in a pile?
Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah. I am not interested enough to look at what this is about.
Wake Up Dead by Roger Smith. Oh, this is another crime novel set in Cape Town, S.A. Ex-model Roxy Palmer and her gunrunner husband are violently carjacked. The carjackers come after Roxy as do a mercenary owed money and the jailhouse "husband" of one of the carjackers.
Wicked Craving by G.A. McKevett. Must be a cooking mystery because there is a caramel apple on the cover with the handle tied in a bow.
Cape Greed by Sam Cole. Crime novel set in Cape Town, South Africa. I just read a good mystery set in S.A., Blood Safari by Deon Meyer. There have been a handful of well received crime novels set in S.A over the past couple years. Maybe S.A. is the new Sweden in crime fiction.
I've read that the violent crime level in South Africa is freaking insane. I don't know if that is true but it should generate plenty of fiction.
Flirt by Laurell K. Hamilton. Vampire killing and sex. Or something like that.
Blood Ties by Kay Hooper. The FBI's Special Crimes Unit follow after a serial killing sniper in Tennessee.
Worst Case by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. "Only detective Michael Bennett can stop the most ingenious killer in New York history." Do people even read the description of Patterson plots? Don't they just buy them, read them, and stick them in a pile?
Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah. I am not interested enough to look at what this is about.
Wake Up Dead by Roger Smith. Oh, this is another crime novel set in Cape Town, S.A. Ex-model Roxy Palmer and her gunrunner husband are violently carjacked. The carjackers come after Roxy as do a mercenary owed money and the jailhouse "husband" of one of the carjackers.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Library Open House, Local History, It's Not A Beard
Library Open House
Our annual Library Open House is Saturday, 13 February from 10 AM to 12 PM. Baked goods and coffee from Waterhouse Foods. Piano performance by the students of local instructor Emily Paape. Display of Library history. Come on over.
Local History
Dr. Liebenow published an updated version of People, Places, and Things. Get a copy for $20 with all proceeds going to the Library's building fund.
More Food
These were still warm when I took the photo. I took all my coffee mugs home to the dishwasher.
It's Not a Beard
I just don't feel like shaving.
Thoughtful:
Wise:
Suave:
Scheming:
That's it. I'm shaving tonight.
Our annual Library Open House is Saturday, 13 February from 10 AM to 12 PM. Baked goods and coffee from Waterhouse Foods. Piano performance by the students of local instructor Emily Paape. Display of Library history. Come on over.
Local History
Dr. Liebenow published an updated version of People, Places, and Things. Get a copy for $20 with all proceeds going to the Library's building fund.
More Food
These were still warm when I took the photo. I took all my coffee mugs home to the dishwasher.
It's Not a Beard
I just don't feel like shaving.
Thoughtful:
Wise:
Suave:
Scheming:
That's it. I'm shaving tonight.
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