Miscellany - The Irresponsible Reader

Saturday Miscellany — 11/16

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

The Price of Hubris – or – Why There’s No Review This Morning

By HCNewton

On November 8, 2013

In News/Misc.

Didn’t have a lot of time to write a review this morning — and I’ve already used up the small surplus of reviews I had. So I went to Goodreads to write up a quick review — and I got on a roll, and spent more time than I should have on it, a little more than 90 minutes (with a few breaks for work-related activities). Now normally, I use Evernote to compose these, but like I said, I was just going to type up a quick review — three paragraphs or so. Well, I hit a couple of wrong keys while in the home stretch and . . .

you know where this is going

I ended up going back a couple of screens and lost the whole thing.

And I liked it, probably more than I’ve liked any individual post in weeks. And it’s gone. All gone. I’ll try to reconstruct it, but it won’t be as good (never is)

Lesson learned, and maybe you can learn from my errors — use Evernote, or something else with autosave — but mostly use Evernote, I’ve become addicted to this thing lately and can’t recommend it enough.

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.

Saturday Miscellany – 10/5

By HCNewton

On October 5, 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:

Scribd Challenges Amazon and Apple With ‘Netflix for Books’ — Oh goody, another literary Netflix. Wonder if one of these will take off.
British Students Ban “Blurred Lines” From Their Own Universities — I thought in the shadow of Banned Book Week this was a provocative — and disturbing — piece
The Inevitability of Formulaic Writing in Literary Fiction: A Case Study — a fun read

Paddle Your Own Canoe by Nick Offerman — The more I learn about Offerman, the more I admire him — beyond his acting, he seems to be a heckuva guy.
Entangled by Amy Rose Capetta — This YA SF book has a heckuva concept.
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie — Another book with a killer concept.
The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two by Catherynne M. Valente — My daughter loves these books, keeps telling me I need to read them. Sure looks like a good idea.
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion — I like the sound of this one

Saturday Miscellany – 9/21

By HCNewton

On September 21, 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:

Don’t Ban Books Like Eleanor and Park, Teens Need Them — While I’m anti-book banning on principle, I can understand the reasoning* some institutions have for some books. But Eleanor and Park? Really? No. Not a chance. Reprehensible with a capital R-E-P-R-E-H-E-N-S-I-B-L-E.
Writing in Your Books: An Act of Engagement or Blasphemy? — A decent survey of the question. But ultimately, Goldberg’s position is wrong.
The 20 stages of reading — Lynda Barry does a pretty good job of capturing the life cycle of the reader, thankfully, I’m ahead of the curve
Hemingway estate’s Vanity Fair grudge — I can only imagine that Hemingway would endorse his heirs’ actions regarding Vanity Fair
5 Ways to Make Football More Appealing to Book Nerds — B&N’s Paul Goat Allen gives some snicker-worthy suggestions

Kinslayer by Jay Kristoff — Book 2 of The Lotus War. I loved Book 1 of this Japanese Steampunk series and have been eagerly awaiting this. Such a rich world, realized and depicted so skillfully and wonderfully.

—–
* Please note, I said understand, didn’t say agree with

Saturday Miscellany 9/14

By HCNewton

On September 14, 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:

Books for Boys and Books for Girls: Problems with Gendered Reading — I can’t agree with everything here, but it’s worth the time.
Tumblr chooses Rainbow Rowell’s ‘Fangirl’ as first official book club selection — Not sure I care that Tumblr has themselves a book club (other than my general pro-book club stance), but really like the idea that Rowell’s getting this kind of exposure
Author Terri Bruce stops publisher selling error-strewn books — Good for her!! Also, good that she didn’t get physically violent over this 🙂
Ten Things That Drive Books Crazy — good for a laugh or two

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell — Rowell’s taken a firm hold on my “read ASAP” list with her first two books, really looking forward to this one
Robert B. Parker’s Damned if You Do by Michael Brandman — 5 years ago, if you’d told me I’d be apprehensive about opening a new Jesse Stone, I’d have looked at you like you were crazy. Yet here we are. Still, Paradise, MA calls, and I answer.
The Sound and the Furry by Spencer Quinn — I litterally hopped in my chair a little bit when I realized this book was released this week. This is going to be fun!

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