Tag: Miscellany Page 87 of 175

Saturday Miscellany—4/23/22

On April 23, 2022

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

On Monday, I hit a little landmark:

A few years ago, I’d struggle to get 4 posts a week–so it came as a surprise when WP let me know last year that I’d gone 30-40 days in a row ( the details are fuzzy). Then I turned it into a personal challenge–could I hit 100? It was unexpectedly easy. Then I decided to try for a year. I will admit I struggled a bit, but I managed to pull it off. A few months back, I thought about taking the day after the one-year mark off, but I forgot to. Now, I’m not shooting for 2 years, but I have no intention of taking a break or going back to my early/very sporadic days. I like the discipline–but if I happen to miss a day, I’m not going to sweat it.*

Much.

Anyway, you didn’t come here for my own horn-tooting, on with the miscellany:
Odds ‘n ends about books and reading that caught my eye this week. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
bullet I’m a High School Junior. Let’s Talk About ‘Huckleberry Finn’ and ‘Mockingbird.’—worth a read if you can evade the paywall
bullet A preview clip from CBS Saturday Morning (the whole thing just aired, I guess) where Don Winslow announces his retirement—from writing, anyway. Hate to see him set down the pen, but at least I now have a chance to catch up on the backlog.
bullet There’s more Winslow to come on this list, he does have a book releasing next week, and I’m excited for it.
bullet Murder, revenge, power: Don Winslow reveals classical inspirations for crime novel ‘City On Fire’—Nunc hoc in marmore non est incisum
bullet Author Don Winslow Reveals Why We’re Obsessed With the Mafia and What’s To Love About His New England Mafia Book City on Fire
bullet He also tweeted this video from his Polish publisher showing the book printed—I could watch this kind of thing all day
bullet Neil Gaiman on book bans and the secret to a good book-to-film adaptation—anytime is a good time for a Gaiman interview
bullet A Veterinarian’s Perspective on Writing Animals—I’d already put this vet’s book on my list when I read this piece on CrimeReads. Now I’ve moved it a little higher on the list.
bullet Rarely Seen Paintings by J.R.R. Tolkien Portray a Lush ‘Lord of the Rings’ Landscape—ooh…
bullet Ben Aaronovitch Celebrates 11 Years of ‘RIVERS OF LONDON’—haven’t had a chance to watch this yet, but looking foward to it.
bullet 8 Reasons Why Reading Is Better Than Sleeping—in case there was any doubt
bullet Do You Annotate? Pros and Cons
bullet Are Readers Patient?—a question I’d never have thought to ask
bullet Alternatives to Goodreads: Literal—I’d never heard of this Goodreads Alternative.
bullet It’s okay to collect books—yup
bullet The books that shaped me as a reader – The Early Years!—I love reading things like this
bullet The Problem With “Problematic” | The Book Community’s Perpetual Witch Hunt—I wouldn’t co-sign every jot and tittle of this, but most of them….

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
bullet Pay Dirt Road by Samantha Jayne Allen—a small Texas town is rocked by the murder of a waitress. Which is a lousy way to pitch this, but in a sentence, that’s as good as I can do. Why don’t you just read my post about it?
bullet King Of The Crows Anniversary Edition by Russell Day—This was one of my (possibly the) favorites of 2020, the anniversary edition looks gorgeous. Get it while you can.
bullet Blood Sugar by Sascha Rothchild—A woman fights to clear her name after being falsely accused of murdering her husband. But she has killed three other people…
bullet The Sweet Goodbye by Ron Corbett—An FBI agent looks into small-town corruption in northern Maine.
bullet Fifty-Four Pigs by Philipp Schott—A Canadian veterinarian investigates a murder to save a friend

Lastly, I’d like to say hi and extend a warm welcome to Sarah Tavanello, who followed the blog this week. Don’t be a stranger!

Opening Lines: Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City by K.J. Parker

By HCNewton

On April 22, 2022

In Fantasy, Fiction, News/Misc., Opening Lines, Quotations

We all know we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover (yet, publishing companies spend big bucks on cover design/art). But, the opening sentence(s)/paragraph(s) are fair game. So, when I stumble on a good opening (or remember one and pull it off the shelves), I like to throw it up here. This one grabbed me with the voice, the perspective, and the attitude. If Parker can maintain this, I’m in for a great time.

from Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City by K.J. Parker:

I was in Classis on business. I needed sixty miles of second-grade four-inch hemp rope—I build pontoon bridges—and all the military rope in the empire goes through Classis. What you’re supposed to do is put in a requisition to Divisional Supply, who send it on to Central Supply, who send it on to the Treasurer General, who approves it and sends it back to Divisional Supply, who send it on to Central Supply, who forward it to Classis, where the quartermaster says, sorry, we have no rope. Or you can hire a clever forger in Herennis to cut you an exact copy of the treasury seal, which you use to stamp your requisition, which you then take personally to the office of the deputy quartermaster in Classis, where there’s a senior clerk who’d have done time in the slate quarries if you hadn’t pulled certain documents out of the file a few years back. Of course, you burned the documents as soon as you took them, but he doesn’t know that. And that’s how you get sixty miles of rope in this man’s army.

Opening Lines Logo

Spelling the Month in Books: April

By HCNewton

On April 21, 2022

In Books, News/Misc.

Spelling the Month in Books: April
I might need to cut myself a little slack on the whole “books I read before I blogged” requirement for the rest of the year, I had a hard time coming up with much to say about these five…

	About a Boy Nick Hornby’s novel about perpetual adolescent, Will, befriending the awkward and introverted teenage, Marcus, wasn’t at all what I expected from the follow-up to High Fidelity. But, by the end, it won me over. NOwhere near as fun as Hornby’s first novel, but I recall it showing real growth in writing and characterization.
	Pride and Prejudice I was clearly having difficulty coming up with a P, if I decided to use Jane Austen’s second novel. A handful of years ago, I decided I’d read her collected works–and, I just did not understand the enduring appeal of them. I realize that this is entiredly a problem with me, but, nevertheless, it persists. It does have killer opening line, I will admit.
	The Riddle of the Wren This was Charles de Lint’s first novel, and after reading it, I could absolutely see where he’d end up having the career he did. I didn’t wow me, but there was something to the writing and the worlds described that suggested the talent he’d later display. I remember the protagonist, flaws and all, making a strong impression.
	I Thought You Were Dead Pete Nelson’s use of the protagonist’s dog, Stella, elevated this from your typical young white guy trying to put his life together novel. When it’s just Paul and Stella, they have some great conversations. I really did enjoy Paul and the other characters in the novel, too–it’s not just because of Stella that this stuck in my mind. But her presence, her relieved/excited greeting “I thought you were dead” every time Paul came home, and their relationship is the best part of it.
	Last Chance to See I wasn’t prepared for the serious side of Douglas Adams when this book came out in ’91, but it quickly won me over. Adams’s humor and quirky way of looking at things shone in his narrative about touring the world with zoologist Mark Carwardine as they look for animals on the verge of extinction and try to capture the wonder of these animals while its still possible to do so.

WWW Wednesday, April 20, 2022

By HCNewton

On April 20, 2022

In Books, Currently Reading, News/Misc., WWW Wednesday

The theme for the week around my home has been tired–my youngest spent a couple of days in the hospital this weekend thanks to a common cold knocking his immuno-suppressed body for a loop. Something nobody tells you about getting a kidney transplant–sure you get a new lease on life, but every now and then some random and relatively wimpy virus can put you down for days. While he’s recovering, we are, too–to a much lesser extent. Still, it’s surprising how much of a toll just sitting in a hospital room for a day can take. Nevertheless, I’ve managed to do a little reading (and less writing, but I’ll catch up sometime…maybe).

Which brings us to today’s WWW Wednesday:

This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words—and shown to me by Aurore-Anne-Chehoke at Diary-of-a-black-city-girl.

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Easy enough, right?

What are you currently reading?

I’m reading the atmospheric Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger and am wrapping up the trilogy with The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien, Andy Serkis (Narrator) on audiobook.

Blank Space

What did you recently finish reading?

I finally finished Chas Smith’s Blessed Are the Bank Robbers: The True Adventures of an Evangelical Outlaw (although I did read two other books while working on it). I also just finished Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism by Fumio Sasaki, Eriko Sugita (Translator), Keith Szarabajka (Narrator) on audio.

Blank Space

What do you think you’ll read next?

My next book should be “Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City by K.J. Parker and I’m not sure what audiobook is next, it’s going to be a while before I get through the one I’m working on.

Blank Space

Hit me with your Three W’s in the comments! (no, really, do it!)

Book Blogger Hop: Book Jackets On or Off?

By HCNewton

On April 19, 2022

In Book Blogger Hop, Books, News/Misc.

Book Blogger Hop

This prompt was submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer:

Do you prefer to leave book jackets on or off while reading?

Obviously, we’re talking books that I own or borrow from a friend, right? Because I absolutely leave the dust jackets in that film (plastic? polyester? mylar? whatever) wrap the library uses on all the time. I’m no vandal.

But if we’re talking about my own books, those jackets are off when I read (or, before I loan it out). And I treat a borrowed book the same. I’m the biblio-equivalent of the person that makes you take off your shoes before you enter their house. I try, for reasons I don’t care to examine, to keep those as pristine as possible–if I’m manhandling them the whole time I’m reading, they’re going to get torn, creased, frayed, etc.–and that would drive me batty.

Now, I used to know a guy who hated dust jackets. The first thing he did when he bought a book was to throw it away. His shelves were full of hardcovers, too. I never understood that. The cover design is all in the dust jacket (well, almost all of it).

What about you?

Nero Wolfe on Taxes

By HCNewton

On April 18, 2022

In Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Nero Wolfe/Archie Goodwin, News/Misc., Quotations

I can’t tell you when this became a (largely) annual thing for me to post, but it was on a blog that pre-existed this one. As always, seems like a good day to post it.

A man condemning the income tax because of the annoyance it gives him or the expense it puts him to is merely a dog baring its teeth, and he forfeits the privileges of civilized discourse. But it is permissible to criticize it on other and impersonal grounds. A government, like an individual, spends money for any or all of three reasons: because it needs to, because it wants to, or simply because it has it to spend. The last is much the shabbiest. It is arguable, if not manifest, that a substantial proportion of this great spring flood of billions pouring into the Treasury will in effect get spent for that last shabby reason.

–Nero Wolfe
from And Be a Villain

Saturday Miscellany—4/16/22

By HCNewton

On April 16, 2022

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

Odds ‘n ends about books and reading that caught my eye this week. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
bullet How to make reading a regular habit—I’d say this is a shorter version of the usual thing written on this topic, but it is from Reader’s Digest, so I guess it’s about standard. Also, Reader’s Digest is still a thing?
bullet The Summer of Ree!—Michael R. Underwood is re-releasing the series that started it all for him this summer—including in paperback this time! A great time to pick up this fun UF series.
bullet The Art of the Book Recommendation
bullet 8 Types of Audiobook Listeners—I’m the last 3–okay, I’ve become too lazy to be all 3, I’m the last 2 types. But I should be the last 3.
bullet Starting a Home Lending Library Has Made Me a Better Friend
bullet Interview with Literature & Lofi and Announcement—Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week will be back this year, read here to see what Literature and LoFi and Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub have to say about it.
bullet Against Sub-Genres—this comes so close to what I’ve been thinking lately, it’s kind of creepy.

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
bullet Amongst Our Weapons by Ben Aaronovitch—I finished this new Rivers of London book yesterday, and it’s so good!
bullet The Cutting Season by M.W. Craven—This quick Poe & Tilly novella pulls no punches.
bullet Still Just a Geek: An Annotated Memoir by Wil Wheaton—Wheaton’s put out a new edition of his memoir, with added material–including annotations on his original material, casting whole new lights on it. Sounds like a great idea.

Lastly, I’d like to say hi and extend a warm welcome to Brothers Campfire , who followed the blog this week. Check out their blog, folks.

The Friday 56 for 4/15/22: The Cutting Season by M.W. Craven

By HCNewton

On April 15, 2022

In Currently Reading, News/Misc., Quotations, The Friday 56

This is a weekly bloghop hosted by Freda’s Voice.

RULES:
The Friday 56 Grab a book, any book.
Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. If you have to improvise, that is okay.
Find a snippet, short and sweet.
Post it.

from Page 56 of:
The Cutting Season

The Cutting Season by M.W. Craven

Poe was dragged feet first out of the van. His skull cracked against the wet concrete. He ran his tongue across his teeth. One of his fillings had come loose.

Great, he thought.

He was pulled to his feet and pushed into a building. It immediately got colder. He was still wearing a hood and his nose felt like it was full of broken glass, but Poe knew where he was. The smell of raw meat and the sudden drop in temperature meant he was in the meat warehouse the Hole in the Wall Gang had bought twenty years earlier. It was where they cured and air-dried the pork and beef and game meats they served in Battista’s Bar and Grill and the other restaurants they owned. It was where the sausages were made.

Poe knew it was also where the gang disposed of anyone who bothered them. The turf wars of the eighties were long over, but all gangs squabbled from time to time. A building whose only purpose was the processing of meat was also perfect for making humans disappear without a trace.

WWW Wednesday, April 13, 2022

By HCNewton

On April 13, 2022

In Books, Currently Reading, News/Misc., WWW Wednesday

I don’t know how things are where you are, but we’ve had “third winter” hit here this week–a lot of cold and a lot of much-needed rain (not enough by any means, but that’s a whole different post). It’s good reading weather, though, so I’ll take it. But enough blather, why don’t we see what’s going on on this WWW Wednesday.

This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words—and shown to me by Aurore-Anne-Chehoke at Diary-of-a-black-city-girl.

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Easy enough, right?