Fiction
Blood Blade: Skinners volume 1 by Marcus Pelegrimas. "There is a world you don't know about, inhabited by supernatural creatures of darkness - vampires, werewolves, and all manner of savage, impossible beasts...But for centuries a special breed of hunter has kept the monsters at bay...These guardians are called SKINNERS."
I blame Buffy the Vampire Slayer tv series for all this vampire novel nonsense.
Double Minds by Terri Blackstock. According to the cover Blackstock is the #1 bestselling suspense author. According to the back cover she likes black turtlenecks.
Luke's Story: the Jesus chronicles by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. Follows Luke from life as slave to work as physician. His friendship with Paul and Luke's conversion to Christianity.
Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy. "With the insight, humor, and compassion we have come to expect from her, Maeve Binchy tells a story of family, friends, patients, and staff who are part of a heart clinic in a community caught between the old and new Ireland."
I heard that Ireland is getting into dire economic straits after having had such a huge economic boon over the past few years.
Deadly Departures by Ted Allbeury. Max buys and sells yachts along the Italian Riviera. Max fought there with local partisans and knows the violence that lies shiny exterior. "Hair raising suspense, brutal violence, steamy sex, high-octane action." according to Booklist.
While My Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky. One sister has a heart attack and the other has to take charge and make tough decisions.
NonFiction
Training the Hard to Train Dog: effective training techniques for working with shy, controlling, and stubborn dogs by Peggy Swager.
Let's Go Europe: 2009 by [some editor]. The back of the book mentions "ice climbing and glacier walking in the majestic Swiss Alps". My brother took a trip doing exactly that. You know what I did? I went to Kansas and saw a camel's hump.
Las Vegas: 2009 by Fodor's.
Let's Go Britain: 2009 by [book editors]. Stop listening to Morrissey and the Len Price 3 in your basement and take a trip there.
Chicago: 2009 by Fodor's. Don't get mugged.
California: 2009 by Fodor's.
Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2009.
San Francisco Bay Area and Wine Country Restaurants and Hotels: 2009. 390 restaurants with 55 new entries and 55 with meals under $25.
New York City Restaurants and Hotels: 2009. 560 restaurants with 80 new entries and 75 restaurants with meals under $25.
Las Vegas Restaurants and Hotels 2009. 140 new restaurants with 20 new entries and strip clubs with lap dances under $25.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
February Auto Ship of Large Print
Large Print - Fiction
On the Grind by Stephen Cannell.
Fireside by Susan Wiggs.
Land of Marvels by Barry Unsworth.
Promises of Change by Joan Medlicott.
Eclipse by Richard North Patterson.
Logan by Linda Lael Miller.
A Country Called Home by Kim Barnes.
Large Print - NonFiction
Ayatollah Begs to Differ: the paradox of modern Iran by Hooman Majd.
NonFiction
Ortho's All About Wiring Basics edited by Larry Erickson.
On the Grind by Stephen Cannell.
Fireside by Susan Wiggs.
Land of Marvels by Barry Unsworth.
Promises of Change by Joan Medlicott.
Eclipse by Richard North Patterson.
Logan by Linda Lael Miller.
A Country Called Home by Kim Barnes.
Large Print - NonFiction
Ayatollah Begs to Differ: the paradox of modern Iran by Hooman Majd.
NonFiction
Ortho's All About Wiring Basics edited by Larry Erickson.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Fiction Grades Are In: Two Bs, An F, and a Pass
Fiction
Silent Man by Alex Berenson. CIA agent John Wells is driving to work in Langley when he gets attacked by a motorcycle riding assassin during a traffic jam. Wells's fiance is injured, others are killed, and Wells is burning for revenge. Wells follows the assassins trail to Russia and a plot to steal nuclear weapons.
The Renegades by T. Jefferson Parker. "A Charlie Hood Novel"Charlie Hood works as a Deputy for the Los Angeles County Sheriff. Hood gets a new partner who is killed on duty and Hood is after some bad dudes.
Lethal Legacy by Linda Fairstein. Assistant District Attorney Alex Cooper goes to a Manhattan apartment concerning an assault. The victim, a rare book conservator, refuses to cooperate and Cooper tracks the case to the super wealthy Hunt family. The Hunts are passionate book collectors and they and others are after a priceless edition of Alice in Wonderland.
The Women by T.C. Boyle. Frank Lloyd Wright and the four women through his adult life. "Each of these four women's stories plays out in a surprising, comedic and ultimately poignant manner."
Silent Man by Alex Berenson. CIA agent John Wells is driving to work in Langley when he gets attacked by a motorcycle riding assassin during a traffic jam. Wells's fiance is injured, others are killed, and Wells is burning for revenge. Wells follows the assassins trail to Russia and a plot to steal nuclear weapons.
The Renegades by T. Jefferson Parker. "A Charlie Hood Novel"Charlie Hood works as a Deputy for the Los Angeles County Sheriff. Hood gets a new partner who is killed on duty and Hood is after some bad dudes.
Lethal Legacy by Linda Fairstein. Assistant District Attorney Alex Cooper goes to a Manhattan apartment concerning an assault. The victim, a rare book conservator, refuses to cooperate and Cooper tracks the case to the super wealthy Hunt family. The Hunts are passionate book collectors and they and others are after a priceless edition of Alice in Wonderland.
The Women by T.C. Boyle. Frank Lloyd Wright and the four women through his adult life. "Each of these four women's stories plays out in a surprising, comedic and ultimately poignant manner."
Friday, February 06, 2009
Boring Things: Chick Movie and Chick Books
DVD
Secret Life of Bees starring [A bunch of girl singers] and Dakota Fanning. 14-year-old Lily moves in with her nanny and her family to get away from her father and learn more about her dead mother.
Fiction
Flame and the Shadow by Denise Rossetti. The usual: a Fire Witch, Duke of Ombra the sorcerer, kidnapping, "death of her precious daughter", desire, love, betrayal.
Would-Be Witch by Kimberly Frost. "Nothing's more embarrassing than malfunctioning magic." Tammy has not inherited her family's magical gifts so when her locket that holds the family ghost, Edie, is stolen she needs some help.
NonFiction
Mrs. Lincoln: a life by Catherine Clinton. "Authoritative and utterly engrossing" biography of Mary Todd Lincoln.
Urban Italian: simple recipes and true stories from a life in cooking by Andrew Carmellini and Gwen Hyman.
Secret Life of Bees starring [A bunch of girl singers] and Dakota Fanning. 14-year-old Lily moves in with her nanny and her family to get away from her father and learn more about her dead mother.
Fiction
Flame and the Shadow by Denise Rossetti. The usual: a Fire Witch, Duke of Ombra the sorcerer, kidnapping, "death of her precious daughter", desire, love, betrayal.
Would-Be Witch by Kimberly Frost. "Nothing's more embarrassing than malfunctioning magic." Tammy has not inherited her family's magical gifts so when her locket that holds the family ghost, Edie, is stolen she needs some help.
NonFiction
Mrs. Lincoln: a life by Catherine Clinton. "Authoritative and utterly engrossing" biography of Mary Todd Lincoln.
Urban Italian: simple recipes and true stories from a life in cooking by Andrew Carmellini and Gwen Hyman.
Neat Things: Bruce Campbell and Bernard Cornwell
DVD
My Name is Bruce starring Bruce Campbell, Ted Raimi. Guan-di, Chinese protector of the dead, is awakened in the mining town of Gold Lick. Deadbeat actor Bruce Campbell (played by Bruce Campbell) is recruited to save the town.
Fiction
Agincourt by Bernard Cornwell. Fictional tale of the battle of Agincourt by Cornwell. Cornwell writes great action novels. Cornwell also loves to write about the English killing Frenchmen; so, Agincourt is a natural topic for him.
NonFiction
Guerrilla Daughter by Virginia Hansen Holmes. Virginia was just shy of her seventh birthday when Pearl Harbor was bombed. From the Spring of 1942 to September '45 she and her family lived on the run on Mindanao Island in the Philippines as her father and teenaged brothers fought the ruthless and murderous Japanese Army.
My Name is Bruce starring Bruce Campbell, Ted Raimi. Guan-di, Chinese protector of the dead, is awakened in the mining town of Gold Lick. Deadbeat actor Bruce Campbell (played by Bruce Campbell) is recruited to save the town.
Fiction
Agincourt by Bernard Cornwell. Fictional tale of the battle of Agincourt by Cornwell. Cornwell writes great action novels. Cornwell also loves to write about the English killing Frenchmen; so, Agincourt is a natural topic for him.
NonFiction
Guerrilla Daughter by Virginia Hansen Holmes. Virginia was just shy of her seventh birthday when Pearl Harbor was bombed. From the Spring of 1942 to September '45 she and her family lived on the run on Mindanao Island in the Philippines as her father and teenaged brothers fought the ruthless and murderous Japanese Army.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Five DVDs: Hipsters, James Brown, Appaloosa.
DVDs
Appaloosa starring Viggo Mortensen, Ed Harris, Renee Zellweger, Jeremy Irons. Western tale adapted from the Robert B. Parker novel. Supposed to be very good.
James Brown Live at the Boston Garden, April 5, 1968 starring James Brown. Filmed the day after Martin Luther King's murder and broadcast live to Boston. Brown's performance is credited with helping prevent the violence and rioting that erupted elsewhere around the country.
James Earl Ray was a real scumbag.
Zack and Miri starring Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Katie Morgan, Traci Lords. Two broke roommates decide to film a pornographic movie as a money making venture. Hilarity ensues.
This is alternatively named Zack and Miri and Zack and Miri Make a Porno. The DVD is sold under either title. Maybe some stores would not retail the DVD if the word porno was in the title.
RocknRolla starring Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton. Competing London gangsters clash with would-be music moguls, an accountant, and a rocker playing dead to boost sales.
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist starring Michael Cera and Kat Dennings. Guy in a band gets dumped by girlfriend and ends up having to spend the night with girlfriend's best friend. Love ensues.
I do not know who Jay Baruchel is but his name is familiar and listed in the credits. I'll have to look him up.
Appaloosa starring Viggo Mortensen, Ed Harris, Renee Zellweger, Jeremy Irons. Western tale adapted from the Robert B. Parker novel. Supposed to be very good.
James Brown Live at the Boston Garden, April 5, 1968 starring James Brown. Filmed the day after Martin Luther King's murder and broadcast live to Boston. Brown's performance is credited with helping prevent the violence and rioting that erupted elsewhere around the country.
James Earl Ray was a real scumbag.
Zack and Miri starring Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Katie Morgan, Traci Lords. Two broke roommates decide to film a pornographic movie as a money making venture. Hilarity ensues.
This is alternatively named Zack and Miri and Zack and Miri Make a Porno. The DVD is sold under either title. Maybe some stores would not retail the DVD if the word porno was in the title.
RocknRolla starring Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton. Competing London gangsters clash with would-be music moguls, an accountant, and a rocker playing dead to boost sales.
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist starring Michael Cera and Kat Dennings. Guy in a band gets dumped by girlfriend and ends up having to spend the night with girlfriend's best friend. Love ensues.
I do not know who Jay Baruchel is but his name is familiar and listed in the credits. I'll have to look him up.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
The Bible, Templars, Reagan, An Idiot, MMA
NonFiction
Bible and the People by Lori Anne Ferrell. History of the printed Bible from hand-copied manuscripts to mass produced printing. "The story of what happened to ancient set of writings we call the Bible during those thousand years."
The Templars: the secret history revealed by Barbara Frale. "An explosive new history of the medieval world's most powerful military order." Wielding economic and military might behind a cloak of secrecy. Revealing the history of the trial of the Templars' leadership bu the Inquisition and their secret initiation ceremonies.
Tear Down This Myth: how the Reagan legacy has distorted our politics and haunts our future by Will Bunch. Bunch writes that today's politicians claim to carry Reagan's mantle "no matter preposterous the fit." Reagan's popularity while in office was never very high, his tax cuts did not fuel the economy, his "waste-ridden build-up" did not win the Cold War, ignore his willingness to speak to adversaries and desire to eliminate nukes, Bush I and Clinton's rollback of Reaganomics "spurred a decade of peace and prosperity."
Scratch Beginnings: me, $25, and the search for the American Dream by Adam Shepard. Recent college grad starts out with the clothes on his back and $25. After 12 months he plans to have $2500, a working car, and a furnished apartment.
This sounds like an interesting concept but the guy sounds like an arrogant dipstick.
Blood in the Cage: mixed martial arts, Pat Miletech, and the furious rise of the UFC by L. Jon Wertheim. Author decides to blow the lid off a brutal competition. Then, he finds out it is a real sport, with real athletes, and really interesting. Told with the tale of Pat Miletech who runs one of the most famous mixed martial arts training schools.
* The picture section contains lots of tattoos and cauliflower ear.
* We have a couple UFC fight DVDs if you want. UFC 67 and 68.
Bible and the People by Lori Anne Ferrell. History of the printed Bible from hand-copied manuscripts to mass produced printing. "The story of what happened to ancient set of writings we call the Bible during those thousand years."
The Templars: the secret history revealed by Barbara Frale. "An explosive new history of the medieval world's most powerful military order." Wielding economic and military might behind a cloak of secrecy. Revealing the history of the trial of the Templars' leadership bu the Inquisition and their secret initiation ceremonies.
Tear Down This Myth: how the Reagan legacy has distorted our politics and haunts our future by Will Bunch. Bunch writes that today's politicians claim to carry Reagan's mantle "no matter preposterous the fit." Reagan's popularity while in office was never very high, his tax cuts did not fuel the economy, his "waste-ridden build-up" did not win the Cold War, ignore his willingness to speak to adversaries and desire to eliminate nukes, Bush I and Clinton's rollback of Reaganomics "spurred a decade of peace and prosperity."
Scratch Beginnings: me, $25, and the search for the American Dream by Adam Shepard. Recent college grad starts out with the clothes on his back and $25. After 12 months he plans to have $2500, a working car, and a furnished apartment.
This sounds like an interesting concept but the guy sounds like an arrogant dipstick.
Blood in the Cage: mixed martial arts, Pat Miletech, and the furious rise of the UFC by L. Jon Wertheim. Author decides to blow the lid off a brutal competition. Then, he finds out it is a real sport, with real athletes, and really interesting. Told with the tale of Pat Miletech who runs one of the most famous mixed martial arts training schools.
* The picture section contains lots of tattoos and cauliflower ear.
* We have a couple UFC fight DVDs if you want. UFC 67 and 68.
Where Did All These Dang Novels Come From?
Mystery
The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death by Charlie Huston. Another fine entry from Huston. Webster takes a job with Clean Team cleaning up the remains of suicides, murders, and train wrecks. When the grieving daughter of a Malibu suicide asks for Webster's assistance he knows he should say no. But, he doesn't.
Positive review by writer Stephen Blackmoore. In fact, I think Blackmoore may be in love with Huston.
Run For Your Life by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. It says on the rear flyleaf that Patterson does some sort website promoting children's books. So, I won't make fun of him like I usually do.
Nemesis: the final case of Eliot Ness by William Bernhardt. Eliot Ness has taken work in 1935 Cleveland when the "Torso Killer" starts terrorizing the population.
A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny. Another fine mystery novel featuring Chief Inspector Gamache of the Quebec Provincial Police. Gamache and his wife are summer vacationing at a small inn when a murder happens. Gamache follows the trail back to Penny's familar setting of Three Pines, Quebec.
Leopard's Prey by Suzanne Arruda. Jade del Cameron is has taken a job for a business that is in Africa to capture wild animals to sell to zoos. When Jade's best friends find a murdered man on the coffee plantation Jade's boyfriend is the main suspect. "Once again, an Africa of a bygone era comes alive as plucky, resilient, outspoken Jade del Cameron pits her strengths against man and beast in another top-notch novel of mystery and suspense."
Mr. Monk is Miserable by Lee Goldberg. Goldberg's Monbk novels are recommended by Crider. Monk travels to Paris with his assistant Natalie. Monk wants to tour the sewers because they "are famous making the City of Light admirably sanitary." Monk finds a new skull in a catacombs and Goldberg contrives a way for Captain Stottlemeyer and Lieutenant Disher to fly to Paris and help.
Fantasy and Science Fiction
Fast Ships, Black Sails edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer. Swashbuckling tales of past and present pirates with a fantastical bent. If you get excited by pirates you can check out Pirate Primer: mastering the language of swashbucklers and rogues by George Choundas.
Fiction
Six Seconds by Rick Mofina. "Three strangers entangled in a plot to change the world in only six seconds..." This had a nice review.
True Colors by Kristin Hannah. Chick book with three sisters. Save yourself and read Charlie Huston's book.
Kiwi Wars by Garry Douglas Kilworth. Captain 'Fancy Jack' Crossman of the British Army is sent to New Zealand to fight in the Maori Wars of the 1850s. The Maori are a dangerous and honorable enemy but there are 'nefarious Europeans at work, enriching themselves at land agents.'
Good action novels by Kilworth. I've two others in this series.
Drood by Dan Simmons. 771 pages about the five mysterious years at the end of Charles Dickens life. Dickens survives a horrifying train wreck to become obsessed with "crypts, cemetaries, and the precise length of time it would take for a corpse to dissolve in a lime pit."
Simmons last historical novel, The Terror, was fantastic so I'm betting this is pretty dang good as well.
Fire Gospel by Michael Faber. Down and out linguist Theo visits Iraq to search for surviving historical treasures. After a bombing Theo finds a papyrus scroll that was sealed inside a statue. Theo smuggles the document home, translates it, finds it is a fifth Gospel and tries to make some dough off it. Theo is unprepared for the religious fervor and trouble he stokes up.
Large Print
A Dangerous Place by Jack Higgins.
The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death by Charlie Huston. Another fine entry from Huston. Webster takes a job with Clean Team cleaning up the remains of suicides, murders, and train wrecks. When the grieving daughter of a Malibu suicide asks for Webster's assistance he knows he should say no. But, he doesn't.
Positive review by writer Stephen Blackmoore. In fact, I think Blackmoore may be in love with Huston.
Run For Your Life by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. It says on the rear flyleaf that Patterson does some sort website promoting children's books. So, I won't make fun of him like I usually do.
Nemesis: the final case of Eliot Ness by William Bernhardt. Eliot Ness has taken work in 1935 Cleveland when the "Torso Killer" starts terrorizing the population.
A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny. Another fine mystery novel featuring Chief Inspector Gamache of the Quebec Provincial Police. Gamache and his wife are summer vacationing at a small inn when a murder happens. Gamache follows the trail back to Penny's familar setting of Three Pines, Quebec.
Leopard's Prey by Suzanne Arruda. Jade del Cameron is has taken a job for a business that is in Africa to capture wild animals to sell to zoos. When Jade's best friends find a murdered man on the coffee plantation Jade's boyfriend is the main suspect. "Once again, an Africa of a bygone era comes alive as plucky, resilient, outspoken Jade del Cameron pits her strengths against man and beast in another top-notch novel of mystery and suspense."
Mr. Monk is Miserable by Lee Goldberg. Goldberg's Monbk novels are recommended by Crider. Monk travels to Paris with his assistant Natalie. Monk wants to tour the sewers because they "are famous making the City of Light admirably sanitary." Monk finds a new skull in a catacombs and Goldberg contrives a way for Captain Stottlemeyer and Lieutenant Disher to fly to Paris and help.
Fantasy and Science Fiction
Fast Ships, Black Sails edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer. Swashbuckling tales of past and present pirates with a fantastical bent. If you get excited by pirates you can check out Pirate Primer: mastering the language of swashbucklers and rogues by George Choundas.
Fiction
Six Seconds by Rick Mofina. "Three strangers entangled in a plot to change the world in only six seconds..." This had a nice review.
True Colors by Kristin Hannah. Chick book with three sisters. Save yourself and read Charlie Huston's book.
Kiwi Wars by Garry Douglas Kilworth. Captain 'Fancy Jack' Crossman of the British Army is sent to New Zealand to fight in the Maori Wars of the 1850s. The Maori are a dangerous and honorable enemy but there are 'nefarious Europeans at work, enriching themselves at land agents.'
Good action novels by Kilworth. I've two others in this series.
Drood by Dan Simmons. 771 pages about the five mysterious years at the end of Charles Dickens life. Dickens survives a horrifying train wreck to become obsessed with "crypts, cemetaries, and the precise length of time it would take for a corpse to dissolve in a lime pit."
Simmons last historical novel, The Terror, was fantastic so I'm betting this is pretty dang good as well.
Fire Gospel by Michael Faber. Down and out linguist Theo visits Iraq to search for surviving historical treasures. After a bombing Theo finds a papyrus scroll that was sealed inside a statue. Theo smuggles the document home, translates it, finds it is a fifth Gospel and tries to make some dough off it. Theo is unprepared for the religious fervor and trouble he stokes up.
Large Print
A Dangerous Place by Jack Higgins.
Monday, February 02, 2009
New Music and DVD From" Springsteen, George Jones, the British, Woody Allen, others
Music CDs
Music from the Land of Hope and Glory by the United States Marine Band. The Marine band sends out free CDs. We received a CD from them before and it was pretty good. So I kept this one. Pieces from Gordon Jacob (William Byrd Suite), Gustav Holst, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Sir Edward Elgar.
Working on a Dream by Bruce Springsteen. Latest album.
The Essential George Jones by George Jones. Two discs with 40 songs. I read the other day that Jones wasn't going to record (or maybe he wouldn't release) He Stopped Loving Her Today because the song was so dang sad. Jones did put the single out and it ended up being his signature song.
Live Evil by Black Sabbath. Reprint of the classic metal album.
Maybe I should try to listen to this. But, I'm pretty sure I would hate it.
Christmas Oratorio by John S. Bach and performed by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge and Academy of St. Martin of the Fields.
DVDs
Vicky Christina Barcelona starring Scarlett Johansson, Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem. Two Americans vacationing in Barcelona and meet a charming Spaniard and his crazy ex-wife. Humorous romantic entanglements ensue.
Fireproof starring Kirk Cameron. Firefighter dedicated to his work has a failing marriage. "This gripping story follows one man's desire to transform his life and marriage through the healing power of faith."
The Express: the Ernie Davis story starring Dennis Quaid, Rob Brown, Clancy Brown. College football player Ernie Davis overcomes the odds and becomes the first black recipient of the Heisman Trophy. Quaid plays his scowling coach.
Oof! Davis died of leukemia at 23 years old. That's a bummer.
Clancy Brown? Neat, I don't see that guy very often. He played a nutty acting coach in Chump Change. Chump Change had Traci Lords and ends up being a neat tour of the Milwaukee area as Lords's character and the lead character are shown walking to all sorts of different places and bars.
Skins: volume 1 starring [teenage actors and actors playing teenagers]. British teenagers drink, get high, pop pills, have sex, go to school and "manage parent with the finesse only teenagers can."
Music from the Land of Hope and Glory by the United States Marine Band. The Marine band sends out free CDs. We received a CD from them before and it was pretty good. So I kept this one. Pieces from Gordon Jacob (William Byrd Suite), Gustav Holst, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Sir Edward Elgar.
Working on a Dream by Bruce Springsteen. Latest album.
The Essential George Jones by George Jones. Two discs with 40 songs. I read the other day that Jones wasn't going to record (or maybe he wouldn't release) He Stopped Loving Her Today because the song was so dang sad. Jones did put the single out and it ended up being his signature song.
Live Evil by Black Sabbath. Reprint of the classic metal album.
Maybe I should try to listen to this. But, I'm pretty sure I would hate it.
Christmas Oratorio by John S. Bach and performed by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge and Academy of St. Martin of the Fields.
DVDs
Vicky Christina Barcelona starring Scarlett Johansson, Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem. Two Americans vacationing in Barcelona and meet a charming Spaniard and his crazy ex-wife. Humorous romantic entanglements ensue.
Fireproof starring Kirk Cameron. Firefighter dedicated to his work has a failing marriage. "This gripping story follows one man's desire to transform his life and marriage through the healing power of faith."
The Express: the Ernie Davis story starring Dennis Quaid, Rob Brown, Clancy Brown. College football player Ernie Davis overcomes the odds and becomes the first black recipient of the Heisman Trophy. Quaid plays his scowling coach.
Oof! Davis died of leukemia at 23 years old. That's a bummer.
Clancy Brown? Neat, I don't see that guy very often. He played a nutty acting coach in Chump Change. Chump Change had Traci Lords and ends up being a neat tour of the Milwaukee area as Lords's character and the lead character are shown walking to all sorts of different places and bars.
Skins: volume 1 starring [teenage actors and actors playing teenagers]. British teenagers drink, get high, pop pills, have sex, go to school and "manage parent with the finesse only teenagers can."
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Two Novels and Two Old CDs That Were Sitting Next To The Novels
Fiction
Returning by Ann Tatlock. A Christian romance with little plot description on the back cover.
Batter Off Dead by Tamar Meyers. "A Pennsylvania Dutch mystery with recipes." Avoid.
Music CDs
Come On Over by Shania Twain. Our lost copy was replaced.
Twain seems like a nice gal. I suppose she is still single. You can fly over to Switzerland and woo her. Of course, O.J. Simpson used to seem like a nice guy too. Maybe Twain is a werewolf like John Oates.
Glide by Jerry Douglas. Mentioned before but the CD had to be reclassified into our Country section.
Returning by Ann Tatlock. A Christian romance with little plot description on the back cover.
Batter Off Dead by Tamar Meyers. "A Pennsylvania Dutch mystery with recipes." Avoid.
Music CDs
Come On Over by Shania Twain. Our lost copy was replaced.
Twain seems like a nice gal. I suppose she is still single. You can fly over to Switzerland and woo her. Of course, O.J. Simpson used to seem like a nice guy too. Maybe Twain is a werewolf like John Oates.
Glide by Jerry Douglas. Mentioned before but the CD had to be reclassified into our Country section.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Two Audiobooks and One CD
Music CD
The Boxmasters by The Boxmasters. Some sort of music by a musical trio featuring Billy Bob Thornton. Sound bites here.
AudioBooks
Angel Creek by Linda Howard. 8 CDs at 9 hours. Orphaned lady running family homestead in Colorado gets into fight over water rights with her hunky neighbor. Be still, my beating heart.
Volk's Shadow by Brent Ghelfi. Colonel Alexei Volkovoy runs a criminal empire while dealing with matters of state security. When an American oil company headquarters is bombed by terrorists it looks like Volkovoy may have been the real target. Gritty and violent.
The Boxmasters by The Boxmasters. Some sort of music by a musical trio featuring Billy Bob Thornton. Sound bites here.
AudioBooks
Angel Creek by Linda Howard. 8 CDs at 9 hours. Orphaned lady running family homestead in Colorado gets into fight over water rights with her hunky neighbor. Be still, my beating heart.
Volk's Shadow by Brent Ghelfi. Colonel Alexei Volkovoy runs a criminal empire while dealing with matters of state security. When an American oil company headquarters is bombed by terrorists it looks like Volkovoy may have been the real target. Gritty and violent.
Monday, January 26, 2009
The Usual Repeats Plus One by Gischler
Fiction
Gun Monkeys by Victor Gischler. Idiot with a itchy trigger finger travels through Florida chased by cops.
If you like this book you can check-out the several other Gischlers we have.
Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent. Jessilyn's father vows to take in and care for Jessilyn's best friend Gemma after Gemma's family dies in a fire. Jessilyn is white. Gemma is black. They all live in a small Virginia town in 1932. Guess what trouble starts.
This had a neat review and should be pretty good reading.
Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich. A long ago murder murder in North Dakota sets white and Ojibwe communities against one another.
The Usual
Under the Radar by Fern Michaels. The usual.
Dark of Night by Suzanne Brockman. The usual.
A Darker Place by Jack Higgins. The usual.
The Associate by John Grisham. The usual.
Gun Monkeys by Victor Gischler. Idiot with a itchy trigger finger travels through Florida chased by cops.
If you like this book you can check-out the several other Gischlers we have.
Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent. Jessilyn's father vows to take in and care for Jessilyn's best friend Gemma after Gemma's family dies in a fire. Jessilyn is white. Gemma is black. They all live in a small Virginia town in 1932. Guess what trouble starts.
This had a neat review and should be pretty good reading.
Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich. A long ago murder murder in North Dakota sets white and Ojibwe communities against one another.
The Usual
Under the Radar by Fern Michaels. The usual.
Dark of Night by Suzanne Brockman. The usual.
A Darker Place by Jack Higgins. The usual.
The Associate by John Grisham. The usual.
An Older DVD and Three CDs
DVD
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants starring Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, Blake Lively, Alexis Blidel. I bought this as a replacement and bought the so-called "box set" by mistake. The box set came with this movie, the sequel movie, and a paperback of the novel.
CDs
Exclusive: the forever edition by Chris Brown. I'm not sure if this is rap, r&b, or soul music. Comes with a DVD disc.
Live at the Troubador by Daryl Hall and John Oates. Did I order this? Was it a donation? Two discs from their 2008 performance at a club in California.
Hall an Oates were big when I was in elementary and middle school. After the band broke up the rumor was that they broke up the band because one of the guys was gay and made a pass on the other. That kind of rumor is accepted as truth by an eighth grade guy. The truth is that the guy with the mustache turned into a werewolf.
Remember that goofy looking bass player? I wonder what he is doing now.
Greatest hits: volume 1 by Rascal Flatts. Sixteen songs (three Christmas tunes) from the popular country trio.
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants starring Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, Blake Lively, Alexis Blidel. I bought this as a replacement and bought the so-called "box set" by mistake. The box set came with this movie, the sequel movie, and a paperback of the novel.
CDs
Exclusive: the forever edition by Chris Brown. I'm not sure if this is rap, r&b, or soul music. Comes with a DVD disc.
Live at the Troubador by Daryl Hall and John Oates. Did I order this? Was it a donation? Two discs from their 2008 performance at a club in California.
Hall an Oates were big when I was in elementary and middle school. After the band broke up the rumor was that they broke up the band because one of the guys was gay and made a pass on the other. That kind of rumor is accepted as truth by an eighth grade guy. The truth is that the guy with the mustache turned into a werewolf.
Remember that goofy looking bass player? I wonder what he is doing now.
Greatest hits: volume 1 by Rascal Flatts. Sixteen songs (three Christmas tunes) from the popular country trio.
What to Read 19 "Hunger Games" and "Blood Alone"
What to Read 19
Two books to try: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Blood Alone by James R. Benn.
Two books to try: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Blood Alone by James R. Benn.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Three Large Print and One YA
Large Print
The Treasure by Iris Johansen. Eh.
English Major by Jim Harrison. Freshly divorced sixty-year old guy from Michigan drives West to visit old friends. Eat, drinks, and picks up single women along the way.
The Men's Book Club chose this for the January meeting. I didn't read it.
The Sweet In-Between by Sheri Reynolds. Kenny's mother is dead and her father is in prison. Kenny is about to turn eighteen and is living with her father's girlfriend, "Aunt" Flo. Flo's family is a mess, but better than living on the street. Kenny becomes obsessed by the murder of a neighbor.
Young Adult (YA)
3 Willows: the sisterhood grows by Ann Brashares. Chick book for teens.
The Treasure by Iris Johansen. Eh.
English Major by Jim Harrison. Freshly divorced sixty-year old guy from Michigan drives West to visit old friends. Eat, drinks, and picks up single women along the way.
The Men's Book Club chose this for the January meeting. I didn't read it.
The Sweet In-Between by Sheri Reynolds. Kenny's mother is dead and her father is in prison. Kenny is about to turn eighteen and is living with her father's girlfriend, "Aunt" Flo. Flo's family is a mess, but better than living on the street. Kenny becomes obsessed by the murder of a neighbor.
Young Adult (YA)
3 Willows: the sisterhood grows by Ann Brashares. Chick book for teens.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Two Crappy Music CDs and a Bunch of Books
Fiction
A Whole New Light by Sandra Brown. Probably some middle aged romance after divorce or death of spouse. The guy will be rugged yet mysterious or grieving. The gal will be second guessing and nervous. The adult children will be both happy and upset.
NonFiction
Save the Last Bullet for Yourself: a soldier of fortune in the Balkans and Somalia by Rob Krott.
Krott, bored out of his mind after leaving the US Army, travels to Croatia in early 1992 and joins the fledgling Croatian Army as a volunteer in the war against Serbia, which is backed by the former Yugoslav Army. Commissioned as an officer in a Croatian Commando unit, he leads combat patrols along the free-fire-zone border. He then sets up a training program for the Commandos, leads forays against Serb positions, snipes enemy soldiers, becomes invovled in intrigue and leaves Croatia just as the Bosnian conflict starts.
Then he goes to Somalia and other deathtraps.
Large Print
Knit Two: a Friday Night Knitting Club novel by Kate Jacobs.
The World According to Bertie by Alexander McCall Smith. "The new 44 Scotland Street novel."
Good Luck by Whitney Gaskell.
Extreme Measures by Vince Flynn.
The Victoria Vanishes by Christopher Fowler. "A Peculiar Crimes Unit mystery."
Audio Books
Guilty: liberal 'victims' and their assault on America by Ann Coulter. 9 CDS with 10.5 hours of craziness.
Isn't this the same broad who was whining about being "banned" from NBC? Isn't that 'victimhood'? Listen and find out.
Things I've Been Silent About by Azar Nafisi. 11 CDs at 13.5 hours. Author of Reading Lolita in Tehren writes about growing up in Iran.
Dawn Patrol by Don Winslow. Surfing private investigator takes on old kidnapping case in San Diego.
The Charlemagne Pursuit by Steve Berry (writing as Scott Brick). 13 CDs at 16.5 hours. Cotton Malone's father may have killed on a top secret mission, not a submarine accident.
Music CDs
Minutes to Midnight by Linkin Park.
Safe Trip Home by Dido.
A Whole New Light by Sandra Brown. Probably some middle aged romance after divorce or death of spouse. The guy will be rugged yet mysterious or grieving. The gal will be second guessing and nervous. The adult children will be both happy and upset.
NonFiction
Save the Last Bullet for Yourself: a soldier of fortune in the Balkans and Somalia by Rob Krott.
Krott, bored out of his mind after leaving the US Army, travels to Croatia in early 1992 and joins the fledgling Croatian Army as a volunteer in the war against Serbia, which is backed by the former Yugoslav Army. Commissioned as an officer in a Croatian Commando unit, he leads combat patrols along the free-fire-zone border. He then sets up a training program for the Commandos, leads forays against Serb positions, snipes enemy soldiers, becomes invovled in intrigue and leaves Croatia just as the Bosnian conflict starts.
Then he goes to Somalia and other deathtraps.
Large Print
Knit Two: a Friday Night Knitting Club novel by Kate Jacobs.
The World According to Bertie by Alexander McCall Smith. "The new 44 Scotland Street novel."
Good Luck by Whitney Gaskell.
Extreme Measures by Vince Flynn.
The Victoria Vanishes by Christopher Fowler. "A Peculiar Crimes Unit mystery."
Audio Books
Guilty: liberal 'victims' and their assault on America by Ann Coulter. 9 CDS with 10.5 hours of craziness.
Isn't this the same broad who was whining about being "banned" from NBC? Isn't that 'victimhood'? Listen and find out.
Things I've Been Silent About by Azar Nafisi. 11 CDs at 13.5 hours. Author of Reading Lolita in Tehren writes about growing up in Iran.
Dawn Patrol by Don Winslow. Surfing private investigator takes on old kidnapping case in San Diego.
The Charlemagne Pursuit by Steve Berry (writing as Scott Brick). 13 CDs at 16.5 hours. Cotton Malone's father may have killed on a top secret mission, not a submarine accident.
Music CDs
Minutes to Midnight by Linkin Park.
Safe Trip Home by Dido.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Music CDs
Live From Austin, TX. by Richard Thompson. Fifteen tunes recorded July 2, 2001 with that aqua colored guitar he always uses.
Tha Carter III by lil Wayne. A rap album.
Hotel California by The Eagles. This will check out.
"Off With Their Heads" by The Kaiser Chiefs. Peppy rock music with nice hooks. If you like this there are two other discs you can place holds on.
Glide by Jerry Douglas. Link to this comment: Jerry Douglas is probably the most famous dobro player in the world, which might sound like damning with faint praise, except that he's also one of the most in-demand session musicians in the world, period, as well as a constantly sought-after producer, and the man John Fogerty describes as "my favorite musician, and I'm including Otis Redding and Elvis in that."
Rockin' With Wanda by Wanda Jackson. Compilation of by the Queen of Rockabilly.
Gospel
Unspoken by Jim Brickman. Gospel piano.
A New Hallelujah by Michael W. Smith. Concert recording from a 2008 performance.
Live From Austin, TX. by Richard Thompson. Fifteen tunes recorded July 2, 2001 with that aqua colored guitar he always uses.
Tha Carter III by lil Wayne. A rap album.
Hotel California by The Eagles. This will check out.
"Off With Their Heads" by The Kaiser Chiefs. Peppy rock music with nice hooks. If you like this there are two other discs you can place holds on.
Glide by Jerry Douglas. Link to this comment: Jerry Douglas is probably the most famous dobro player in the world, which might sound like damning with faint praise, except that he's also one of the most in-demand session musicians in the world, period, as well as a constantly sought-after producer, and the man John Fogerty describes as "my favorite musician, and I'm including Otis Redding and Elvis in that."
Rockin' With Wanda by Wanda Jackson. Compilation of by the Queen of Rockabilly.
Gospel
Unspoken by Jim Brickman. Gospel piano.
A New Hallelujah by Michael W. Smith. Concert recording from a 2008 performance.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
16 and 13/16 Inches of Books
Fiction
Kiss by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy. "She steals more than your kiss." Girl wakes up from six month coma accused a car wreck and thinking her family wants her dead.
A Body to Die For by G.A. McKevett. "Voluptuous" private investigator Savannah Reed helps investigate the murder of diet guru's husband.
Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich. Another Stephanie Plum novel.
Never Tell A Lie by Hallie Ephron. Suspense novel.
B.P.R.D. 1946 by Mike Mignola. Another Hellboy comic.
I have still not watched either Hellboy movie.
Mounting Fears by Stuart Woods. President Lee is facing an election and trouble abroad.
Dead or Alive by Michael McGarrity. Kevin Kierney rushes home to New Mexico when his business partner is murdered by an escaped convict on Kierney's doorstep. Kierney teams up with his Deputy Sheriff son to track the escapee into the mountains.
Outlaw Marshall by Al and Joanna Lacy. Inspirational western fiction. Deputy U.S. Marshall convinces bad guy to go straight. Former bad guy starts tracking other crooks when he is framed for murder and Deputy Marshall comes to the rescue.
Joys of My Life by Alys Clare. "A Hawkenlye Mystery." Nuns in 1199 travel three weeks across England on request of Queen Eleanor. Meanwhile Sir Josse is investigating a report of devil worshipping knights. Both groups meet at construction of the cathedral in Chartres.
Driftless by David Rhodes. Family dramas set in Wisconsin.
This book hit a best of the year list and since it is set in WI. The author published a three books in the 1970s then was paralyzed. A publisher got to wondering what the author was up to, called the author's old agent and asked. The agent called the guy - they had apparently been out of touch for years - and it turns out he had a manuscript (this novel) ready to go.
Eclipse by Richard North Patterson. California lawyer Damon has been divorced by his wife and his work is soulless. He gets a message from an old girlfriend for help. The girlfriend's husband has been charged with murder by a corrupt government in West Africa and Damon agrees to defend him.
Three Weeks to Say Goodbye by C.J. Box. Jack and Melissa adopted a girl nine months ago. The teen father never signed his parental rights away and not the dad's powerful father in Denver wants him to get the child back. Jack and Melissa have to decide how far they will go to protect their kid.
Non Fiction
Unmasked & Anonymous: Shimon & Lindemann consider portraiture by J. Shimon & J. Lindemann. Published by the Milwaukee Art Museum. Selection of different portraits with a spread age for both the subjects and date taken.
I ordered this after following a link from Madison Shooters that mentioned an exhibit at the Art Museum.
The photos include two kinda creepy nudes.
In Sickness and in Power: illnesses in heads of government during the last 100 years by David Owen. When a president falls sick, how is it handled? Do you hide the severity or pretend it never happened? Does the economy and politics go nuts? Covers several people including Nixon, Stalin, Kennedy, Eisenhower, and Churchill.
Rich Like Them: my door-to-door search for the secrets of wealth in America's richest neighborhoods by Ryan D'Agostino.
Decorating with Ceramic Tile: innovative techniques & patterns for floors, walls, backsplashes and accents by Jerri Farris. New and updated edition.
Large Print
Running Hot by Jayne Ann Krentz. Crapola.
Kiss by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy. "She steals more than your kiss." Girl wakes up from six month coma accused a car wreck and thinking her family wants her dead.
A Body to Die For by G.A. McKevett. "Voluptuous" private investigator Savannah Reed helps investigate the murder of diet guru's husband.
Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich. Another Stephanie Plum novel.
Never Tell A Lie by Hallie Ephron. Suspense novel.
B.P.R.D. 1946 by Mike Mignola. Another Hellboy comic.
I have still not watched either Hellboy movie.
Mounting Fears by Stuart Woods. President Lee is facing an election and trouble abroad.
Dead or Alive by Michael McGarrity. Kevin Kierney rushes home to New Mexico when his business partner is murdered by an escaped convict on Kierney's doorstep. Kierney teams up with his Deputy Sheriff son to track the escapee into the mountains.
Outlaw Marshall by Al and Joanna Lacy. Inspirational western fiction. Deputy U.S. Marshall convinces bad guy to go straight. Former bad guy starts tracking other crooks when he is framed for murder and Deputy Marshall comes to the rescue.
Joys of My Life by Alys Clare. "A Hawkenlye Mystery." Nuns in 1199 travel three weeks across England on request of Queen Eleanor. Meanwhile Sir Josse is investigating a report of devil worshipping knights. Both groups meet at construction of the cathedral in Chartres.
Driftless by David Rhodes. Family dramas set in Wisconsin.
This book hit a best of the year list and since it is set in WI. The author published a three books in the 1970s then was paralyzed. A publisher got to wondering what the author was up to, called the author's old agent and asked. The agent called the guy - they had apparently been out of touch for years - and it turns out he had a manuscript (this novel) ready to go.
Eclipse by Richard North Patterson. California lawyer Damon has been divorced by his wife and his work is soulless. He gets a message from an old girlfriend for help. The girlfriend's husband has been charged with murder by a corrupt government in West Africa and Damon agrees to defend him.
Three Weeks to Say Goodbye by C.J. Box. Jack and Melissa adopted a girl nine months ago. The teen father never signed his parental rights away and not the dad's powerful father in Denver wants him to get the child back. Jack and Melissa have to decide how far they will go to protect their kid.
Non Fiction
Unmasked & Anonymous: Shimon & Lindemann consider portraiture by J. Shimon & J. Lindemann. Published by the Milwaukee Art Museum. Selection of different portraits with a spread age for both the subjects and date taken.
I ordered this after following a link from Madison Shooters that mentioned an exhibit at the Art Museum.
The photos include two kinda creepy nudes.
In Sickness and in Power: illnesses in heads of government during the last 100 years by David Owen. When a president falls sick, how is it handled? Do you hide the severity or pretend it never happened? Does the economy and politics go nuts? Covers several people including Nixon, Stalin, Kennedy, Eisenhower, and Churchill.
Rich Like Them: my door-to-door search for the secrets of wealth in America's richest neighborhoods by Ryan D'Agostino.
Decorating with Ceramic Tile: innovative techniques & patterns for floors, walls, backsplashes and accents by Jerri Farris. New and updated edition.
Large Print
Running Hot by Jayne Ann Krentz. Crapola.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
"More Music, More Music, More Music"
Music CDs
Quantum of Solace: original motion picture soundtrack by David Arnold.
Funhouse by Pink. Some weird pop album. Ordered on suggestion of a Page.
Afterwords by Collective Soul. Greatest hits collection. Also ordered on suggestion of a Page.
Live From Austin, TX. Three albums recorded during performances on Austin City Limits.
Live From Austin, TX. by Waylon Jennings. Recorded April 1, 1989. 17 tunes including Luckenbach, Texas, Good Ol' Boys, Rainy Day Woman.
Live From Austin, TX. by Merle Haggard. Recorded October 30, 1985. Includes a performance of Bob Will's Ida Red (not as good a version).
We also have a compilation of Wills' tunes recorded in the late '30s and early '40s, Seven Miles Out of Town.
I have Encore which is a three disc set of later Will's recordings. I need to check-out Seven Miles.
Live From Austin, TX. by Jerry Lee Lewis. Recorded October 17, 1983. Includes both Rock N' Roll and Country hits.
Quantum of Solace: original motion picture soundtrack by David Arnold.
Funhouse by Pink. Some weird pop album. Ordered on suggestion of a Page.
Afterwords by Collective Soul. Greatest hits collection. Also ordered on suggestion of a Page.
Live From Austin, TX. Three albums recorded during performances on Austin City Limits.
Live From Austin, TX. by Waylon Jennings. Recorded April 1, 1989. 17 tunes including Luckenbach, Texas, Good Ol' Boys, Rainy Day Woman.
Live From Austin, TX. by Merle Haggard. Recorded October 30, 1985. Includes a performance of Bob Will's Ida Red (not as good a version).
We also have a compilation of Wills' tunes recorded in the late '30s and early '40s, Seven Miles Out of Town.
I have Encore which is a three disc set of later Will's recordings. I need to check-out Seven Miles.
Live From Austin, TX. by Jerry Lee Lewis. Recorded October 17, 1983. Includes both Rock N' Roll and Country hits.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Three New DVDs
DVD
10 Items or Less: the complete first and second seasons starring That Guy You See in Lot so Commercials. Leslie takes over the family grocery store, Greens & Grains, after his dad dies. "Of course, the staff of Greens & Grains isn't exactly the brightest. Then again, neither is Leslie." A comedy series from some cable network.
I've caught a couple episodes of this show and thought it was funny and figured someone else might think the same.
Eagle Eye starring Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan and Billy Bob Thornton. A product placement opportunity for Jeep as Jeep. Plot: two people are "Activated" to be used as assassins and follow around by bad guys using high-tech gizmos.
An American Carol starring David Allen Grier, Kelsey Grammer, Kevin Farley, Leslie Nielsen. Comedy. A Michael Moore type guy wants to band the 4th of July and ghosts of America's past confront him. A conservative response to Moore's movies.
10 Items or Less: the complete first and second seasons starring That Guy You See in Lot so Commercials. Leslie takes over the family grocery store, Greens & Grains, after his dad dies. "Of course, the staff of Greens & Grains isn't exactly the brightest. Then again, neither is Leslie." A comedy series from some cable network.
I've caught a couple episodes of this show and thought it was funny and figured someone else might think the same.
Eagle Eye starring Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan and Billy Bob Thornton. A product placement opportunity for Jeep as Jeep. Plot: two people are "Activated" to be used as assassins and follow around by bad guys using high-tech gizmos.
An American Carol starring David Allen Grier, Kelsey Grammer, Kevin Farley, Leslie Nielsen. Comedy. A Michael Moore type guy wants to band the 4th of July and ghosts of America's past confront him. A conservative response to Moore's movies.
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