Books - The Irresponsible Reader

Saturday Miscellany — 12/14

On December 14, 2013

Odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

What Does Your Reading Log Look Like? — a little thought-fodder from Book Riot, think I’ve picked up a tweak for mine.
Warner Bros Slots ‘This Is Where I Leave You’ For September — this is technically more movie news, but it’s close enough. Finally! A Tropper adaptation — have high hopes for this.
James Bond Was An Alcoholic, Say UK Doctors — duh./li>
We need more animations of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy! — this is a nice little collection of animations — but yeah, like the headline said, we need more

Saturday Miscellany – 12/7

By HCNewton

On December 7, 2013

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

Mostly lighthearted odds ‘n ends this week about books and reading that caught my eye — apparently all from 2 sites. Really, I do read other sites.

These Stereotypes About Book Lovers Are Absolutely True, And That’s A Good Thing — HuffPo pays tribute to Book Lovers
20 Things That Happen When You’re a Book Nerd — and so does Book Riot
A Book-Binge Survival Guide — with the holidays coming up, some good advice
Book Marketing Predictions for 2014 — as someone on the receiving end (eagerly so) of this marketing, I found this quite interesting
In Defense of Liking Books — felt a little strange about all my 3 & 4 star ratings lately, but at the end of the day, I like liking things (and have a couple of negative-ish ones coming up as soon as I find the time). This little article helped me remember it’s okay.
Goodreads Best Books of 2013 — how’d your faves do? I think I only backed 3 winners. Only one winner bothers me . . . Inferno, really??

Lost Covenant by Ari Marmell — bah. I’d have saved dusting off the first two in this series until I could post them with the review for this if I’d paid attention.
The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly — The Lincoln Lawyer, Mickey Haller, is back! Hearing many, many good things about this one.

Saturday Miscellany – 11/30

By HCNewton

On November 30, 2013

In Books, News/Misc.

Odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

C. S. Lewis Reviews The Hobbit, 1937 — A nice blast from the past. He might have been on to something: “Prediction is dangerous: but The Hobbit may well prove a classic.”
Three Weeks Before Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita, There Was Dorothy Parker’s. Coincidence? — been a couple of weeks since I mentioned Dorothy Parker here, but Parker + Nabokov? Must read.
6 Ways to Beat Reader’s Block — not something I really battle with all that often, but some good advice

I didn’t see any new releases this week that grabbed my attention — hardly any that didn’t, either. Which is fine — am sure December will be full of them — and I have a lot to catch up on from earlier in the month/year anyway.

Saturday Miscellany — 11/23

By HCNewton

On November 23, 2013

In Books, Janet Evanovich, News/Misc., Stephanie Plum

Odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

Psychologists Discover How People Subconsciously Become Their Favorite Fictional Characters — A lot of us have intuited this, but it’s still fascinating to read
American Gods TV Show No Longer in Development With HBO — Disappointing, but I worry about any adaptation working. Still, if it was going to work, it would’ve been on HBO.
Tim Ferris is Starting an Audiobook Imprint — The 4-Hour guru is trying something new, my guess is, it’ll be highly successful.

Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich — I’m still 2 behind, plan on catching up on the paperbacks by the end of this year, will probably wait ’til this is out in paperback to read it, but it’s notable the series made it this far.

Saturday Miscellany — 11/16

By HCNewton

On November 16, 2013

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

Odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

Four Series That Could Be the Next Big Thing in Paranormal Fantasy — Paul Goat Allen talks about 4 series that can step into the spots left by/being left by Sookie Stackhouse, Rachel Morgan and others. One of which I’m on board with, 1 of which I don’t get the appeal of, and 2 I’m clueless about. You have a take on it?
Spying Concerns Driving Writers To Self-Censor — A disturbing note: “A newly released finds that a number of American writers avoid or are considering avoiding controversial topics for fear of government surveillance”
This Tweet from Jim Butcher could possibly be the best thing I’ve read in weeks.

Fiddlehead by Cherie Priest — so bittersweet — a new Clockwork Century novel — yay! the last Clockwork Century novel — boo!. Priest talks about the release.
Chimera by Kelly Meding — Meding’s MetaWars series is one of my favorites in the last couple of years, I’m so eager to sink my teeth into this one.
The Theory of Opposites by Allison Winn Scotch — Don’t know anything about this (honestly, haven’t even read that link) all I know is that Scotch is going to deliver a good read, full of charm and heart.

Categories: Books, News/Misc.
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Saturday Miscellany – 11/9

By HCNewton

On November 9, 2013

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

Odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

How To Drink Like Dorothy Parker — I’m a sucker for a Dorothy Parker article. And, I’m pretty sure I’m not up to drinking like her.
Why Fun Matters — Rachel Bach (see below) talks about reading for fun (what a concept!)
Daily On Set Journal — Michael Connelly’s documenting the process of filming the Bosch pilot.
GIFs, memes and liveblogs: The controversial new language of book reviewing — Laura Miller talks about the new style of pop book reviewing in the age of Goodreads, blogs and tumblr. Interesting read.

Fortune’s Pawn by Rachel Bach — can always use a good SF read
Katya’s War by Jonathan L. Howard — I thought the first volume in this series was good read, in an interesting SF world. Looking forward to seeing where he goes with this

Saturday Miscellany – 11/2

By HCNewton

On November 2, 2013

In Books, Calendar Items, News/Misc.

Odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

Customizable Metal Bookmarks — I go through bookmarks like crazy, these look like they’d last awhile
— and since I’m talking buying stuff, here’s A quick guide to buying an e-reader or tablet cover
Why Successful Authors Are Giving Their Books Away for Free — the times they are a-changin’
Neil Gaiman on reading for pleasure as a way to sustain a thriving society — Shocking, I know . . . Gaiman had good things to say about reading for pleasure. So worth the read.
Trailer for ‘The Gods of Guilt’ by Michael Connelly — I don’t need a trailer, even a title, all I need to know is MIchael Connelly and I’m there (throwing in Mickey Haller is a nice bonus). But, this’ll whet your appetite
Paolini’s Eragon Revisited 10 Years Later — 10 years? It’s been 10 years? A nice second-look at Eragon

Behind the Sofa by Steve Berry — this looks like a lot of fun for Whovians

Saturday Miscellany – 10/26

By HCNewton

On October 26, 2013

In Books, Iron Druid Chronicles, Kevin Hearne, News/Misc., Robert B. Parker, Spenser

Odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

How Amazon and Goodreads could lose their best readers — Wasn’t crazy about Goodreads aquisition by Amazon, and here’s another reason for it. More fallout from the recent content moderation kerfuffle
Beautiful Library Chairs for Literary Abodes — there are some of these I’d love to put to use, others I’d just like to look at
Dear Readers, A Letter from Mike Braff — a Del Rey editor talks about some clichés in epic fantasy.
SHATTERED release date — Sure, this is noteworthy due to Shattered‘s release date, but Hearne lays out the timeline of his writing/publishing over the last couple of years. I found this behind the scenes stuff fascinating.
Alex Verus: The Future (Continued) — Jacka announces more Alex Verus books. And there was much rejoicing!!

Allegiant by Veronica Roth — The concluding volume of the Divergent Trilogy came out this week to much wailing and moaning from fans, apparently. I finished it yesterday and was satisfied — review to come soon.
Rags & Bones edited by Tim Pratt and Melissa Marr — the concept behind this is great, an impressive lineup of authors. What’s not to like here? Read The Big Idea entry on it.
Silent Night: A Spenser Holiday Novel by Robert B. Parker with Helen Brann — On the one hand, I’d really like to read what it was that Parker was working on at his death, and I’m curious to see how well his editor/someone other than Ace Atkins can do with the Spenser-verse. On the other hand — a Christmas story?!?!?
Poe by J. Lincoln Fenn — this one intrigues me — sounds creepy, suspenseful, and really good

Categories: Books, News/Misc.
Tags: Miscellany

Saturday Miscellany – 10/19

By HCNewton

On October 19, 2013

In Books, News/Misc.

Been one of those weeks, and I’ve accomplished almost nothing blog-wise. I’ve started three reviews, and have notes on a couple more, but haven’t been able to translate those into something worth reading. Still I’ve been able to cobble together a decent batch of odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

Harper Lee sues hometown museum in Alabama — Wouldn’t it be nice to see her name in a headline about something good?
PW Talks with Nicholas A. Basbanes — Publisher Weekly’s mini-interview with Basbanes is pretty interesting, I bet his book is fantastic or dry as dust. Not sure which, but I should try to get my hands on a copy.
Mental Floss Exclusive: Our Interview with Bill Watterson! — Speaking of interesting interviews . . . Bill Watterson? Zowie!
11 Lessons That ‘Jane Eyre’ Can Teach Every 21st Century Woman About How To Live Well — title probably says it all.
Just a few hours left in Harry Connolly’s The Great Way Kickstarter, that I talked about a couple of weeks ago. If you haven’t yet, you really should check it out.

Somehow, only saw new release this week that got my attention — which is fine as my TBR pile is tall enough that a strong breeze could topple it on me and cause serious injury. Taking a glance around, next week will be fuller. Still, the fact that Michael Connelly’s The Black Box is out in Mass Market Paperback is great news, I’m always up for Harry Bosch.

Saturday Miscellany – 10/12

By HCNewton

On October 12, 2013

In Books, Calendar Items, News/Misc.

Odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

so, am I the only one who has no idea what Alice Munro writes? I’ve seen the name, but until this week, didn’t realize I was missing out on anything.
Why Charlotte Brontë Hated Jane Austen — And I thought I couldn’t like Brontë more. I should probably get my hands on this book.
How To Become A Better Reader — Some excellent advice here — for young and older alike
The Thirtysomething Teen: An Adult YA Addict Comes Clean — Jen Doll speaks for many here (bonus points for the Eleanor & Park quote
New book deal – SHIELD AND CROCUS — it’ll be weird to have a paperback copy of a Michael R. Underwood book, but oh so nice.
‘The Big Bang Theory’ star Kunal Nayyar is writing a memoir — this should be a good read
Interview with Kevin Hearne — a good interview with one of my favorite UF (and probably epic fantasy) writers

The House of Hades by Rick Riordan — The Heroes of Olympus series keeps barreling along
The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch — oh, goody, goody, goody — the third Gentlemen Bastards novel! Check out the trailer here.
Inherit the Dead: A Novel by just about everyone under the sun — this looks interesting, love the idea.

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