Category: News/Misc. Page 192 of 229

I’m Curious: What Was the First Book That . . .

I am just having one of those weeks — seriously, it’s like my week is manifestation of Murphy’s Law, and the idea of me writing something new is laughable. So here’s a variation of a post I did a year ago — we’ve got some new regulars in the comments, and I’d like to hear what you all say.

Anyway. . .

This was asked awhile ago on some Facebook group I belong to and I thought the answers were interesting enough, I’d ask you:

If you can remember, what was the first book that destroyed you? (that is, which book left you an emotional wreck?)

For me, it was either: Where the Red Fern Grows (which I read most of several times, and all of a couple of times); The High King by Lloyd Alexander between the deaths and goodbyes, I still can’t do it dry-eyed; or Bridge to Terabithia — I can’t tell you anything about the plot (there were 2 kids, 1 girl and 1 boy, right?), the characters or anything, and I read it 2-4 times — all I can remember is emotional devastation.

Looking forward to hearing from you. Share the emotional scars we all know you have. 🙂

Saturday Miscellany – 3/4/17

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:

    Didn’t see any New Releases this week that caught my eye — which gives us all a chance to get ready for next week that has at least 5 doozies.

Lastly, I’d like to say hi and welcome to Reading is My Escapte and Portable Magic for following the Booklikes version of the blog this week.

February 2017 Report

I really thought I read more last month than I did — not sure how I lost track like that. On the plus side, this is probably the highest percentage of winners I’ve had in a while. I did intend to write more than I did, but I could pretty much say that every month. Anyway…

Books/Novels/Novellas Read/Listened to:

Knots & Crosses Devoted to God Death Stalks Kettle Street
3 Stars 4 Stars 4 Stars
Hungry Heart (Audiobook) Serengeti Jaeth's Eye
3 Stars 3 Stars 3 Stars
No Little Women Dead Gone Legal Asylum: A Comedy
4 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars
The Sense Of Humor The Shanghai Moon The Doll (Audiobook)
2 Stars 4 Stars 3.5 Stars
Behind Her Eyes Defying the Prophet Skulduggery Pleasant (Audiobook)
4 Stars 3 Stars 4 Stars

Still Reading:

A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the Old Testament Hack The Last Adam

Reviews Posted:

How was your month?

Saturday Miscellany – 2/25/17

Skimpy results for 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:

    This Week’s New Releases I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:

  • The Accidental Detective by Michael RN Jones — Meet Victor Jones, Mr. Robot with a less creepy, humorous and Farenheit Press-ish twist.
  • Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames — a fantasy novel about a mercenary group “getting the band back together” in a world where they’re treated like rock stars.


Saturday Miscellany – 2/18/17

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:

    A Couple of Book-ish Related Podcast Episodes you might want to give a listen:

  • Episode 17 of Two Crime Writers — usual good stuff, plus the interview with Adrian McKinty is hilarious
  • Elan Mastai by Beaks & Geeks

    This Week’s New Releases I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:

  • The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak — okay, it came out last week, but I forgot to mention it. This celebration of the 80s looks great.

Lastly, I’d like to say hi and welcome to Mollie Player for following the blog this week.

Opening Lines – Dead Gone

Head & Shoulders used to tell us that, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” That’s true for wearing dark shirts, and it’s especially true for books. Sometimes the characters will hook the reader, sometimes the premise, sometimes it’s just knowing the author — but nothing beats a great opening for getting a reader to commit. This is one of the better openings I’ve read recently. Would it make you commit?

She hadn’t been afraid of the dark.

Not before.

Not before it entered her life without her knowing, enveloping her like a second skin, becoming a part of her.

She hadn’t been claustrophobic, petrified the walls were closing in around her. Crushed to death without knowing they’d even moved. Not scared of things that crawled around her toes. Wasn’t afraid to sit alone in a darkened room and wonder if something was touching her face, or if it was just her imagination.

Nope. She wasn’t scared before.

She was now.

It took time to become afraid of those things, and time was all she had, stretching out in front of her without end.

She blamed herself. Blamed her friends. Blamed him. She shouldn’t be there, and someone was to blame for that.

Had to be.

from Dead Gone by Luca Veste

This tells you so much about the victim, her life and what’s about to happen to her (and who’s behind what’s about to happen) — such a good opening.

Saturday Miscellany – 2/11/17

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:

Lastly, I’d like to say hi and welcome to iosappdevelopmentcompanyinbangaloreblog for following the blog this week.

Saturday Miscellany – 2/4/17

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:

Lastly, I’d like to say hi and welcome to tripleblacktri, SnoopyDoo, discobarbizar for following the blog this week.

January 2017 Report

So, here’s what happened here in January — on the one hand, it seems like barely any time has gone by, and I know I have a low book count for the month (I’ve been very busy, apparently) — yet, I can’t believe I’ve read some of these great books already this year.

Books/Novels/Novellas Read/Listened to:

The Religious Life of Robert E. Lee Mostly Human Night School
3 Stars 4 Stars 3.5 Stars
Hunger Makes the Wolf Cry Wolf (Audiobook) God's Word Alone
4 Stars 3 Stars 3 Stars
Shadowed Souls Martians Abroad Once Broken Faith
3 Stars 4 1/2 Stars 5 Stars
Souls to the Polls Hunting Ground (Audiobook) Say Nothing
3 Stars 4 Stars (still deciding)
The Day My Fart Followed Me To Hockey Rivers of London: Night Witch The Innocent (Audiobook)
3 Stars 3 Stars 3 Stars
Reacher Said Nothing Chameleon Storm Clouds Gathering
5 Stars 3 Stars 3 Stars

Still Reading:

A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the Old Testament            

Reviews Posted:

How was your month?

Saturday Miscellany 1/28/17

Thanks to those who left comments/got a hold of me about that update earlier this week — he’s doing better now, and was discharged.

Here are the odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye — I’m on a hotel wifi, which is spotty (is that a tautology?), so between the distractions this week and the wifi, this might be brief. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

Lastly, I’d like to say hi and welcome to bettybookreviews and BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BOOK BLOG for following the blog (in one form or another) this week — both look like nifty book blogs. Thanks also to Nothing better than a good book… for the encouraging words.

Page 192 of 229

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén