News/Misc. - The Irresponsible Reader

Saturday Miscellany – 7/6

On July 6, 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:

2013 Locus Awards Winners — in case you somehow missed it. They got Best SF Novel right, IMHO — haven’t read enough of the rest to say, though I’ve heard good things about the rest
Infographic: Who Spends the Most Time Reading in the World? — not only do you get this interesting/troubling look at reading throughout the world, but you get a glimpse into Russian reading habits
14 Books To Read Before They Hit The Big Screen — this is a handy little list for folks like me that hate to have a movie spoil a good read. (I swear I didn’t read as many buzzfeed pieces as I do now before I started these posts)

Beyond Bacon: Paleo Recipes that Respect the Whole Hog by Stacy Toth and Matthew McCarry

In Medias Res: The 5th Wave

By HCNewton

On July 6, 2013

In Authors, Currently Reading, Fiction, In Medias Res, News/Misc., Quotations, Rick Yancey, Science Fiction, YA/MG/Children's Books

trying something different here . . . as the title implies, I’m in the middle of this book, so not a review, just thoughts mid-way through

—–

The 5^th Wave by Rick Yancey

Wow. WOW! This is everything it’s been hyped. Spine-tingling. Paranoia-inducing. Keeps you on the edge of your seat. Disturbing. This is messing with my mind, in a very good way. Loving this.

Suzanne Collins, Scott Westerfeld, Veronica Roth — not that any of your works are lacking, mind you — and anyone else looking to write YA action, the bar has been raised.

Saturday Miscellany – 6/29

By HCNewton

On June 29, 2013

In Books, Fantasy, Harry Bosch, Michael Connelly, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, 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:

Blade Reforged by Kelly McCullough. Y’know, I think I’m a book behind in this series. Whoops!
Hunted by Kevin Hearne. So excited about that one that I already posted the review.

Light week, but it’s something.

Allons-y! Geronimo! and whatnot

By HCNewton

On June 28, 2013

In News/Misc.

Well, things have been going here pretty steadily for a month now — and I’ve even got posts scheduled through the beginning of next week (feels nice to have that cushion) — so, I’m taking the plunge and publicizing things further, making things more public. If this is your first time here, welcome, thanks for dropping by.

Saturday Miscellany – 6/22

By HCNewton

On June 22, 2013

In Books, Fantasy, Harry Bosch, Janet Evanovich, Lee Goldberg, Michael Connelly, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, 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:

Reading novels makes us better thinkers — ah ha! I have a~~n excuse~~ justification to read! Not that I needed one. Or that it seems to make me much of a decision-maker.
The 30 Harshest Author-on-Author Insults In History — some of these are great. I particularly enjoyed Twain on Austen and the contrast between Hemingway and Faulkner.
Amazon Orders Cop Drama Pilot Based On Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch Novels — Oh please let this work. I’m thinking Michael Cudlitz.
How to read a lot of books — a lot of good advice here. May try out some of his organization. (via Lifehacker)

Wisp of a Thing by Alex Bledsoe — The Hum and the Shiver was almost unbelievably good, almost afraid to try this sequel. Not sure it can live up to it.
Killer Ambition by Marcia Clark — I’ve enjoyed the first two, should be a fun read
The Heist by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg — despite what I said about the prequel, I’m sure I’ll enjoy it
The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A Novel by Neil Gaiman — be sure to read Patrick Rothfuss’ review

Man! I’ve got to get to reading…

Joan Parker, R.I.P.

By HCNewton

On June 12, 2013

In Authors, News/Misc., Robert B. Parker

When I got to work tonight, the first thing I saw was the Official Robert B. Parker Facebook page announcing that his widow, Joan Parker died today, apparently from lung cancer. Beyond a few TV interviews over the years, and the fictionalized/idealized version of her as Susan Silverman, it’s not like I knew the woman. But you when you read 60 or so dedications, “For Joan” (with or without that “for Always”), the woman gets in your head. For inspiring her husband alone, I feel like I owe something.

Checkin’ In

By HCNewton

On June 11, 2013

In News/Misc.

I’ve read that it’s very important to build a readership to put up new content each day. Which would be easier if I could make any progress with For Whom the Bell Tolls — been reading this thing since 5/30, and I’m not quite at page 300 yet! Not sure what’s going on there.

So instead of a review or something, how about a quick State of the New Blog?

Well, the first few days of this lil’ endeavor are going better than I hoped. I do appreciate the reads, follows, and likes — BookHubInc, soyouwanttobeanauthor, Liz, and countingducks!!!! So glad you stopped by, hope you come again…maybe even drop a comment or two.

Speaking of comments, Lee Flippin’ Goldberg left the first comment here! That’s a heckuva start, IMHO.

Anyone else out there?

Lastly, I wanted to post this picture I’ve seen floating around, from Pilzy Lee, a great life motto for me:

Friday Miscelleny – 6/7

By HCNewton

On June 7, 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:

10 Benefits of Reading: Why You Should Read Every Day — keep trying to convince my kids of this (especially my teenagers), maybe hearing it from someone besides me will help.
25 Signs You’re Addicted To Books — this is me in a nutshell. But with slightly less cursing and a whole lot less cats.
Why Leaving a Book Half-Read Is So Hard — not sure I buy all of this, but I kinda see myself here
The World’s Longest Book Domino Chain — what a way to kick off a summer reading program

Getting Started

By HCNewton

On May 29, 2013

In News/Misc.

This is an attempt to resurrect my blogging career — for the moment, will just be reposting old reviews from Goodreads and my old blog (they’ll be the posts marked “Dusted Off”). Bear with me, there’s some clean-up to do. Particularly, the more recent reviews will be very informal, barely scratching the surface of what I’d like to say. Will hopefully get better, deeper, and so on soon.

Please comment, quibble, discuss — and point out any glitches in this new space. I’m glad for any help I can get.

Dusted Off: The Story Board

By HCNewton

On August 8, 2012

In Authors, News/Misc., P-U, Patrick Rothfuss, Writing

The thing I mentioned with Arnold the other day is pretty much over, and the family (he in particular) are working on recovering from that, and I am drained mentally and physically, I’m clinging to consciousness here at work the last few days. For example, right now, if I leaned back in my desk chair, I could be asleep in 30 seconds. Which is making the whole writing thing pretty hard — I’m trying to be good, I just know if I let off on the daily writing thing, it’ll take months, if not a year, to reestablish that. So I got about 100 words yesterday, 300 or so today. No where near my minimum requirements, but…

Anyway, by gum, I’m trying to get something new posted by the end of this week.

Trying.

Here’s something that both entertained and inspired me, sorta the point of this post. Geek & Sundry, one of the new Youtube channel things (and the one I watch the most of, all due respect and fealty to The Nerdist notwithstanding) started a new thing yesterday, a monthly google+ hangout conversation hosted by Patrick Rothfuss about writing called The Story Board. Now, that’s enough for me, I’m watching. But this first episode featured Jim Butcher as one of the guests talking about Urban Fantasy. Squee! Good stuff. You must check it out.

Category: News/Misc. Page 237 of 242