For this week's Mailbox Monday on Saturday, I have two books to report:Outcasts United: A Refugee Team, an American Town by Warren St. John
The Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K. Lee
The books that came in through the front door via the bookstore:
Tangled Webs by Anne Bishop
As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason
The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
The Law and the Lady by Wilkie Collins
The Death of Ivan Ilych and Other Stories by Leo Tolstoy
1. Surprising my husband with pizza a couple of nights ago was my last random act of kindness. For those who do not know, my husband is the cook in the family so my supplying dinner is very out of the ordinary.
2. Another place and another time in my life, I might have felt differently about the book.
3. Do not rely on your horoscope in matters of the heart.
4. Coffee, caffeinated tea and soda are on my list of no-no's.
5. We walk together on this journey through life, though we may take separate paths.
6. Our recent discussion about books reminds me that there is a particular book I have been meaning to read.
7. And as for the weekend, Saturday my plans include sleeping in (which I did even if being woken up several times by each of the animals as they took turns trying to drag me out of bed), finishing reading Watchmen, and putting the final touches on The Woman in White review; and Sunday, I want to spend a lazy day at home, catching up on TV shows from the week before, reading, and playing with the animals!
Host: TrishGoal: Option 1: Classics Snack - Read 4 (four) classics. Bonus option is available: to read 1 (one) modern classic. Lists are not set in stone and can be changed at anytime.
Time Frame: April 1, 2009 to October 31, 2009
1 – 4 To Be Announced
I will most likely read something by Jane Austen in my continuing effort to read all of the books she has written. I am not quite yet settled on what else to try. It's a shame I wasn't able to draw out The Woman in White a little longer, but there are plenty of other classics out there I am looking forward to reading.
Do you have a favorite classic? What would you recommend?
I will most likely read something by Jane Austen in my continuing effort to read all of the books she has written. I am not quite yet settled on what else to try. It's a shame I wasn't able to draw out The Woman in White a little longer, but there are plenty of other classics out there I am looking forward to reading.
Do you have a favorite classic? What would you recommend?
I joined the Classics Challenge too, against my better judgement! I will admit at this poing that I have an addiction!
ReplyDeleteI loved The Moonstone! I look forward to hearing how you like it!
Glad you joined the Classics Challenge. My original plan had been to read only Jane Austen but then I moved it around a bit. I still may try to fit in a few of hers though.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see what you think of The Piana Teacher. That one is still on my wishlist.
The Tolstoy book you got is one of my all-time favorites. I have this battered old paperback copy I got used when I was probably 15 and have kept ever since. Very few books in my collection date back that far! I loved it. The stories are just incredible.
ReplyDeleteI'm still thinking about joining the classic challenge, but since I am a terrible procrastinator I still have loads of time!
ReplyDeleteHope you're having a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteJust stopping by to let you know I awarded you an "I Love Your Blog" award. Stop by my blog and check it out!
Hi Wendy, I see where you got The Moonstone. That's a good one for your Classics challenge.
ReplyDeleteI'd also recommend Rebecca, Ethan Frome, The Painted Veil, Fahrenheit 451, Tess of D'Ubervilles, My Antonia, O Pioneers, The Heart is the Lonely Hunter, The Bluest Eye, The Jungle, The Good Earth, Crime and Punishment, To Kill a Mockingbird, Lolita, A Farewell to Arms, American Tragedy, Wuthering Heights, War & Peace, The Major of Casterbridge, Anna Karenina and especially The Count of Monte Cristo.
The Count, Crime & Punishment, War & Peace, Anna Karenina and American Tragedy are the only chunksters in the list.
Enjoy your challenge! Have a great weekend!
I just read a review of The Piano Teacher at Melody's Reading Corner.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend and happy reading, Wendy.
Our little furballs like to wake us up early on the weekends, too. Why don't they understand?!
ReplyDeleteYour haul this week sounds great!
I agree with the coffee being a no no and most soda for me too. I only have it if I am out.
ReplyDeleteI love making pizza its about the only thing I do really enjoy cooking!
Watchmen is that the graphic novel? I saw the movie and thought it was ok too long and slow in places.
I hope the lady at work was appreciative she said thank you but you just never know with her if she is genuine.
Stopped by to read Friday Fill-ins. Nice list.
ReplyDeleteI like the phrase-ology of how the books got in the house. I like Wilkie Collins.
ReplyDeleteWe did pizza on Friday night. Lady K considered it a bright spot on an otherwise not so great day. Apparently Kindergarten is can be rough.....
It looks like The Woman in White got you going on a Wilkie Collins kick!
ReplyDeleteWe have some TV to catch up on too, but today ran away in other directions and tomorrow there's a birthday party for my nephew, so I don't think there will be much time for it then either. At least there won't be a new episode of Lost this week - that buys us some time :-). Enjoy the rest of your weekend, Wendy!
Sandy - Yes, I'm still not sure joining the classics challenge was such a good idea. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm excited about reading The Moonstone. I may have to try and talk my husband into trying it.
Dar - I love what I've read of Jane Austen so far. I hadn't though of doing an all Jane Austen theme though. Now there's an idea . . .
Marie - I am really looking forward to reading some of Tolstoy's earlier works. I loved Anna Karenina.
Melissa - Yes, you have plenty of time to decide. I figured I'd slip my announcement that I was joining in at the bottom of today's post so no one would notice. ;-)
Yvonne - It's been a quiet weekend so far, thank goodness. I hope you are enjoying yours too. Thanks so much for the award, Yvonne!
Kristy - I was thinking Moonstone might be. :-)
Thank you for the recommendations! Rebecca is one I really want to read and The Heart is the Lonely Hunter. Oh, and The Good Earth! And War and Peace . . . You've mentioned some of my favorites too: Crime and Punishment, Anna Karenina, Fahrenheit 451, Farewell to Arms, The Bluest Eye, and To Kill a Mockingbird. Oh, how I love a good classic!
Shana - I was just visiting Melody and had the chance to read her review too. :-) I'm looking forward to reading it.
Lexi - The furkids have no understanding of the difference between a work morning and a weekend morning, I'm afraid. We love 'em anyway, don't we?
Caspette - That's the only time I ever drank soda when I could drink it. Unfortunately, I had to give it up completely last year. I haven't missed it too much though. I do sometimes drink hot chocolate, which I probably should avoid too, but no one's taking away my chocolate! Haha!
Yes, I'm reading the Watchmen graphic novel now. I really want to see the movie, but probably won't for another week or two. My cough isn't gone yet and I don't want to disturb anyone in the theater if I can help it.
Storm - Thanks for stopping by, Storm!
Vickie - I had only intended to buy a copy of Moonstone when I was out shopping last night, but The Law and the Lady description sold me too. Oh well. I can't say I have nothing to read. :-)
Kindergarten can be tough. I remember those days.
Florinda - Yes, The Woman in White certainly did! I really like Wilkie Collins' writing.
ReplyDeleteI think hubby and I are going to watch LOST while we eat dinner tonight. I hate being behind on that show because it means I can't discuss it with the girls at work. Thanks for the heads up about no new episode of LOST this week.
I hope you are enjoying your weekend!
Thank you for stopping by the mailbox this week. Both 'Outcasts United' and 'The Piano Teacher' are on my wish list.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy The Death of Ivan Ilyich whenever you get to it. One of these days I'll have to read something else by Wilkie Collins, since I've only read The Woman in White and a couple of short stories. So many books!
ReplyDeleteI love all of Jane Austen's books so you can't go wrong there. Good luck with the challenge. I considered joining but decided not to. Hopefully I'll still fit in a few classics this year though.
I'm glad you got a chance to sleep in, even if it was interrupted a few times. I can't remember the last time I slept solidly for several hours, but luckily I can usually fall asleep again after Bailey gets me up.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Ooh, I need to get Tangled Webs! I was thinking the other day that it must be out in paperback since The Shadow Queen has just been published.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite classic, not counting 20th century ones, is probably Tom Sawyer. I hope you're having a great weekend!
The Piano Teacher looks like a great book and I would like to read it too.
ReplyDeleteI've read Colleen Gleason and liked it but there are like 3 more in the series that I need to finish. I was naughty at B&N yesterday!! Loved your fill-ins. I am the cook here and would love it if someone brought home dinner every once in a while!! I'm thinking of joining the classics challenge..of course I'm going to recommend Austen because that is what I'll be reading!!
Hope your weekend as went as you wanted!!
Staci
I hope you enjoy Tangled Webs. The premise is a little silly, but its still very enjoyable. Bishop is a great writer!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you added some good books to your household! I haven't read any of them so I'll be checking back to seehow you like them.
ReplyDeleteHappy Reading!
Enjoy Lost! It was a good episode, but now we have to wait two weeks for a new one. I hate that.
ReplyDeleteI got Outcasts United too. I can't wait to see what you think of the Wilkie Collins books.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of joining the Classics Challenge, having just re-read Little Women. :) I have Moonstone also..are we both becoming Wilkie Collins groupies. I have wanted to read The Piano..I hope it's good.
ReplyDeleteMarcia - I'm looking forward to reading both. I hope my mailbox will see some activity this week. I love getting books in the mail.
ReplyDeleteNat - I bought it because of you. :-) I think my book has different stories in it than yours does though.
I am not sure how successful I will be with the Classics Challenge, but I figure it is worth a try. :-)
Nymeth - I hadn't realized it was out until I was browsing the new paperback table at the store the other night.
Tom Sawyer is a great book. I love Mark Twain. :-)
Staci - I still have to read the book before the this last one in Colleen Gleason's series. I couldn't resist picking up a copy of the book though when I saw it. My husband really appreciate it when I surprise him with dinner like that. :-)
I am glad to see you joined in the Classics Challenge too! We'll keep each other on track. :-) Have a great week, Staci.
Mariel - I love Bishop's writing. She provides a great escape. I'm eager to revisit that world again.
Linda - I'm looking forward to giving them all a try. I just wish there was more time in the day to spend reading.
Yvonne - We ended up watching it today instead of last night. It was a good episode! Now to find the patience until the next episode airs . . .
Kathy - I've been hearing good things about Outcasts United. I'm looking forward to reading it.
Wisteria - Yes, we may just become Wilkie Collins groupies! It's his fault though. He shouldn't have written such compelling stories.
I bought Tangled Webs recently and also waiting for a copy of The Moonstone to arrive via BookMooch!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you joined Trish's Classics Challenge too, Wendy! I haven't decide on my list either, but we shall see... :)
Oooh... I'm waiting for my copy of As Shadows Fade to arrive as well. Ordered it online.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is a yes-yes for me! LOL.
I have read only Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin and I loved it. I don't know why I haven't read any more. I have Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey and Emma in my TBR pile and I am waiting for the right time to read them.
ReplyDeleteMy next visit to the bookstore is going to be a Wilkie Collins run. Reading Drood really piqued my interest in his writing. I've read lots of Dickens, no Collins.
ReplyDeleteFavorite classics? Gosh, it would be easier to list the few that I've read and didn't like. Some of my favorites, though:
A Study in Scarlet
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Jane Eyre
Pride and Prejudice
Frankenstein
Moby Dick
War of the Worlds
A Christmas Carol
Great Expectations
Anything by Edgar Allan Poe
I go back and forth about Wuthering Heights. I didn't like it when I initially read it, but after seeing the Masterpiece Theater adaptation of it, I think I would like it quite a bit more now. I read it as a young teenager and I think I was too young to "get it" then.
I'm not joining the Classics Challenge, but (if you haven't already read it) I would recommend Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. It's a really well-written story.
ReplyDeleteHi LF...
ReplyDeleteYou are really loving Wilkie aren't you? I also have the Outcasts United...are you reading it for Library Thing? I am curious about The Piano Teacher so you will have to let me know. Even a little nod to say yes, no, maybe. Hope you are up and about now.
I think my black cloud has moved off for a bit...I have named it Winston.
Here is my mailbox....
http://bookwormsdinner.blogspot.com/2009/03/mailbox-monday-march-102009.html
The Piano Teacher sounds so good. I hope you enjoy it, and I'm looking forward to your thoughts.
ReplyDelete--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
Muh hahahaha! So glad you couldn't resist the classics challenge this year. :) Can't wait to see what you choose! And of course, thanks for signing up.
ReplyDeleteMelody - We must have been thinking alike book wish recently! :-) I hope you enjoy both books.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to seeing what you read for the Classics Challenge, Melody!
Alice - Oo! I hope you enjoy As Shadows Fade. I'm excited about reading it--but sad too since it's the last book in the series.
Eliza - Pride and Prejudice is a wonderful book, isn't it? I hope you will enjoy Emma. I thought that one was a good one too. I haven't gotten to the other two yet though. Soon maybe!
Ruth - You too, eh? Wilkie Collins fever must be going around. :-) I am looking forward to reading Drood, but will be waiting for it to come out in paperback. It's so big in hardback! I'm not sure I want to drag it around everywhere. LOL
Thank you for the list of favorite classics! You've listed some of my favorites there. :-) I do need to read more of Dickens work.
Monica - I haven't read Mice and Men yet. I think I started it once but got stuck and set it aside. I think it just wasn't the right time. I'll have to try again!
Wisteria - Well, I liked the one book so far anyway. :-) I hadn't intended to get two by Wilkie Collins, but the description of The Law and the Lady was just too good to pass up (I had already planned on getting Moonstone).
Yes, I am reading Outcasts United for LT. I hope to start on that one after my current read.
LOL I love the name of your black cloud. :-)
Anna - It sounds like it will be really good. I couldn't resist the subject matter.
Trish - You twisted my arm to the point I couldn't resist. :-)