Musings of a Bookish Kitty: July 2011

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Anniversary Giveaway Reminder

If you haven't already, be sure to enter my Anniversary Giveaway! The deadline to enter is August 6th.

© 2011, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

It is Kay's Turn to Ask Me a Question!

I like to talk about myself. All bloggers do to some extent. Why else blog? Even if you are writing about books or politics, mathematics or French cuisine you end up revealing quite a bit about yourself. I thought it would be fun to reach out to you and find out what you wanted to know about me for a change. My Random Acts of Reading was kind enough to take me up on my offer. Here's what she wanted to know:

1. What is your favorite kind of ice cream?

Such a tough question! That's like asking me what my favorite color is. It's ever changing. When I lived at the old house, I was a frequent visitor to the nearby Dairy Queen where I experimented with all the different kinds of Blizzards. My ultimate favorite was the Brownie Batter Blizzard but I was also partial to the Banana Cream Pie. I am sad to say I don't live close to a Dairy Queen anymore. No more Brownie Earthquakes or Peanut Buster Parfaits.

There was a time when I only ate frozen yogurt, and I probably should get back into that habit. There are two shops not too far from my new house after all. But Cold Stone's been calling to me a little too often . . . I'm actually not a big Cold Stone fan but I do like their ice cream on occasion. Mint Mint Chocolate Chip is a current favorite, although I really do like the Peanut Butter Cup Perfection. Or the Birthday Cake Remix (with an addition of white cake) . . .

My favorite ice cream, however, is Baskin Robbins. I love their Peanut Butter & Chocolate ice cream. There's just something about peanut butter and chocolate together that I find irresistible. There mint chocolate chip is to die for as well. But then there's Rocky Road ice cream . . . So good!

Kay's favorite is Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia and I can't fault her there. Ben & Jerry's is a real treat in our house because it isn't easy to come by. There are many flavors I would love to try but can't get my hands on, I'm sad to say. Of those I have enjoyed, I think my favorite of theirs would have to be Everything but the Kitchen Sink.

I love ice cream. Way more than is healthy for me, I confess.

2. What's you favorite ride at Disneyland?

My husband and I are big fans of Disneyland. We used to have season passes and will likely be indulging in them again once Mouse is old enough. It isn't just the rides and idea of Disney that we love, it's the park itself--and the park's history.

I don't especially like roller coasters but I do love the ones at Disneyland, Space Mountain in particular. I love racing through the dark, not sure what's around the next bend. I haven't had the opportunity to visit the park since the ride was last remodeled, but I still consider the ride my favorite. Small World is another favorite--the detail that went into the costumes of the dolls is amazing. I see something new every time. And it's such a relaxing ride! It's a nice break for those sore feet! Perhaps though my most favorite ride of all is a toss up between the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and the Haunted House. I wasn't too jazzed about the "updates" made to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride several years ago--the attempt to make the ride more politically correct. I don't think the attempt worked, but who am I to say? It's still a fun ride. And I just love the eerie feeling of the Haunted House!

I have never been to Disney World. Maybe one day.

Such fun questions! Thank you, Kay!

What about all of you? What is your favorite ice cream? Have you been to Disneyland or Disney World? Do you have a favorite ride?

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Celebrating 5 Years of Blogging

For several years before I jumped into blogging, I had kept a reading journal. Nothing fancy. It was just a place where I could keep track of what I was reading, writing down my thoughts, however brief. Then, with the encouragement of my husband, I took my reading journal public. Musings of a Bookish Kitty was born. Today is the 5th anniversary of this blog.

What began as a reading journal eventually blossomed into something more. My quiet existence on the internet slowly grew as I discovered other book bloggers, joined reading challenges, participated in memes and began making friends. I remember the thrill of receiving my first comment, a feeling I've never quite lost with each new comment I get. I squealed with the delight the first time an author commented on my blog--and again when I was offered my first book for review. Over the past five years my blog and I have gone through many changes. I experimented with formats, backgrounds, topics and features. My readership grew. I count many of you among my friends. We've shared more than just our love for reading and books.

It hasn't been without its challenges, however. There were several times I considered giving up blogging for one reason or another. I have seen my share of ugliness among book bloggers, something I sometimes found extremely disheartening. Early on I think I just took it too personally--even though it wasn't aimed at me directly. Nowadays I roll my eyes, think "not again," and move on. Most of the time. Perhaps my biggest hurdle, however, which I still sometimes struggle with, is being overwhelmed. When my blog was at its height, I suddenly found myself struggling to keep up. I had trouble finding a balance between all the review books coming in, responding to comments and visiting other blogs. I could not keep up no matter how hard I tried. And that made me feel guilty, of course. I do not feel like I ever completely recovered.

Somehow I have stuck through it all, and I am so glad I did. There are many aspects of book blogging I have come to love. The community being top among them. The best part of all is the friends and acquaintances I have made. I am not sure I would have continued so long without you all. Reading is a solitary activity; it's just the book and the reader (maybe the author too). But when you add book blogging to the mix it becomes so much more than that. I also have enjoyed being able to meet and interact with authors, the people who create the stories and characters I love. And of course the books! The books! Thanks to you, I have learned about so many more books than I ever knew about before. You have expanded my reading horizons. I have discovered new authors, traveled to places via the pages of books I never imagined I'd go, and I have grown as a person--not just as a reader.

Because of recent life changes, book blogging has taken a relatively low place on my priority list. I have only recently begun to jump back into it, even if in a limited capacity. I miss the writing aspect of blogging more than I thought I would. Last year when I learned I was pregnant, I went back and forth about whether to continue blogging. I decided that if I did, Musings of a Bookish Kitty would not change. It would be all about the books. I am a relatively private person and that suited me fine.

The closer it came to the birth of my baby, the more I let my personal life spill out onto my blog. I couldn't help it. I was going through a lot of changes and writing about it helped ease some of the pressure. Many of you have been with me through it all, and I cannot even begin to express my gratitude.

The other day I had a thought that perhaps I should start a second blog, one of a more personal nature. I do not care if anyone reads it. I just want to write. Then Jennifer of Tropical Fruit Bowl suggested I could combine the bookish talk with the personal. I immediately thought of Florinda of The 3 R's Blog: Reading, 'Riting, and Randomness and Trish of Love, Laughter, and a Touch of Insanity, both bloggers whom I admire and respect. It makes more sense. Especially given how difficult it is for me to write about personal stuff sometimes. Plus, do I really have time to keep up two blogs? I can barely keep up with one right now. And if I did mix more personal with bookish topics on a regular basis, would I have to change my blog name? I don't know. I am just thinking out loud--or rather in writing. I hate to ostracize my readers who would prefer I stick to bookish topics. Regardless of what I decide, I am not ready to give up blogging any time soon. I just may end up taking a break now and then.

I have seen the book blogging community grow by leaps and bounds. It is a wonderful thing. It is also impossible to keep up with it all. My blog is just one of many, but it is my home. I don't go in for pretense or formality. I like to think of it as that proverbial kitchen table where we sit down for an afternoon snack and refreshment and chat about books and about life. I hope you will join me!

In honor of the 5th anniversary of Musings of a Bookish Kitty, I am giving away a gift card to a bookstore (winner's choice between Powell's, Amazon or Book Depository). The giveaway is open world wide. There are a couple of catches though! First, you must have a valid e-mail address. And second, please share with me something you especially like about my blog, whether it be a favorite feature, post, or the way I always use the phrase "swept off my feet."

Just fill out the form below and you'll be entered in the drawing for the gift card! The winner will be chosen at random and notified by e-mail. Deadline to enter is Saturday, August 6th.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

From the Archives: Mini Reviews from May 2005 (part 3)

I began keeping a reading journal several years before I began blogging. I find it interesting to sift through my thoughts of books that I read back then. My reviews were often brief and contained little substance, but I thought it'd be fun to document them here on my blog as well as share them with you. Here are a few from May 2005:

A Time to Kill by John Grisham
Island Books, 1989 - Crime Fiction (S/T) - 515 pgs

When books are made into movies, there are several reasons I prefer reading a book before watching the movie. I first like to be able to soak in the words on the pages of a book, use my own colors and shades to paint the scenes in my mind’s eye. There is a freedom in that which is lost if I’ve seen the movie and the characters, setting and story are locked into their places. With a book, I am able to look into nooks and crannies that are often left out of the movies because of time constraints and even that which may put a movie going audience off. In some ways, my enjoyment of a movie based on a book is enhanced because I am privy to the little tidbits of background that just couldn’t be fit into the movie when I have read the book first. I like to see the differences and similarities and compare the two, always cognizant of the fact that both forms of media have their own strengths and weaknesses.

In the case of A Time to Kill, I saw the movie first—many years ago. It made an impact on me, being one of my favorite movies based on a John Grisham novel brought to the big screen. As I read about Jake Brigance, defense attorney, I couldn’t help but picture Matthew McConaughey; and Carl Lee Hailey, the father on trial for the murder of his daughter’s rapists, resembled and acted much like Samuel L. Jackson’s character in the movie. I found that a little off putting through the first half of the book because as I read, I was thinking of the movie.

Moving on to the book itself, A Time to Kill takes on the controversial issues of vigilante justice, racism, and on a lesser side, corruption. True to John Grisham’s author’s note at the beginning of the novel, I felt that the author rambled on at times. The book really picked up for me about 300 pages in. I thought that the argument of racism throughout the book was underplayed and as a result, it detracted from the gist of story, including taking some of the significance out of the reasoning behind the jury’s verdict. I did enjoy the book overall and plan to read more by Mr. Grisham in the future, however. My favorite parts of the book perhaps were Mr. Grisham’s descriptions of and looks into the lives of the ordinary town people throughout the novel. It added depth and complexity to the story, which helped bring it to life for me.

The Center of Everything by Laura Moriarty
Hyperion, 2003 - Fiction, 291 pgs

The Center of Everything is about Evelyn Bucknow, a typical teenager growing up in Kansas during the 1980’s. The story begins when Evelyn is 9 years old and spans through her teen years up near her high school graduation. She is raised by her single mother and has a brother with special needs. She faces challenges that are very common for young people today and comes into her own with each new experience. The author Laura Moriarty’s novel is simple in its presentation, narrated by young Evelyn. Ms. Moriarty has created a true to life story that could be about anyone anywhere. I enjoyed reading The Center of Everything.

Misery by Stephen King
Signet, 1987 - Horror, 352 pgs

The popularity and hype of author Stephen King kept me away from his novels for many years, however, I finally decided that I would give him a try. A fellow booklover recommended her favorite, Misery, and so I decided to start with this one. I had seen the movie several years ago and enjoyed it, and so imagined it was a safe bet. Misery is the story of an insane fan who nurses her favorite author, Paul Sheldon, back to health, terrorizing and tormenting him as he is held prisoner in her Colorado home. Mr. King is a wonderful storyteller and I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. He kept the suspense up and the novel was at times heart wrenching and chilling.

Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think?

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Reading Confession (Anniversary Edition)

I have a weak spot for authors. The kind who take time to respond to a twitter comment or visit me here on my blog. The ones who aren't trying to pitch their books. Well, maybe they are in a way. But they don't mention their books--at least not at first. Their simple act of outreach makes me curious about them--and their books. Maybe it's intentional on their part. Maybe not.

What I do know is that it sparks my interest, and I've been known to seek out and buy the author's book. It may take me a while to read said book given how large my TBR collection is, but it is added to my personal library just the same. If it's a book I am not interested in reading myself, I keep it in mind for others.

Sometimes the attention and kindness an author shows other bloggers and readers has the same effect on me. However, a negative interaction can be a big turn off.

This is just another something I have to be grateful for since I began blogging. Not only am I influenced by other bloggers and their reading recommendations, but I have the opportunity to meet authors as well and check out their books.

Are you more motivated to read a book by a friendly author?

Friday, July 15, 2011

Review: Bloodline by Mark Billingham

"Come on, pigeon! Let's go blow at the trains." Debbie Mitchell tugs at her son's arm, but but he pulls hard in the opposite direction towards the chocolate Labrador the old woman is struggling to control. "Puff puff" Debbie says, blowing out her cheeks. "Come on, it's your favorite . . ." [opening paragraph]

Bloodline by Mark Billingham
Mulholland Books, 2011
Crime Fiction, 384 pgs

I was first introduced to Mark Billingham's Tom Thorne through the novel Lifeless in which the detective inspector went undercover on the streets as a homeless person. I knew then that I wanted to go back and read the rest of the series. Like with all of my best laid plans when it comes to catching up with series books, I haven't yet managed to do so. However, when given the opportunity to read and review Bloodline, the 8th book in the series, I couldn't resist even despite my determination to stay away from review books for the time being.

I wasn't disappointed. Mark Billingham writes a heck of a good thriller. The pacing is perfect, the characters well developed and the story itself intense. In Bloodline, a serial killer seems to be targeting the children of a previous serial killer's victims. The killer always seems to be one step ahead of the police. Although readers are allowed a glimpse inside the killer's head throughout the novel, the killer's identity remains a secret until near the end.

What I especially like about Billingham's novels, at least the two I have read, is that there is much more to them than the mystery. In Lifeless, the author delved into the lives of the homeless and in Bloodline he takes on the subject of heredity and medical conditions and how they may or may not play a part in someone's criminal behavior. He also paints a realistic picture of the turmoil and impact violent crime can have on the victims' offspring.

Besides the main story line, I found myself quite entrenched in a more minor story line, that involving Tom Thorne and his significant other, Louise. At the opening of the novel, the two receive terrible news and Thorne throws himself in his work to try and avoid dealing with it. And yet, it permeates into his investigation in small ways.

I really must dig out my copy of Sleepyhead and read the first book in the series. Mark Billingham is fast becoming one of my favorite crime fiction writers.

Rating:

(Very Good)

You can learn more about Mark Billingham and his books on the author's website.

Source: Book provided by the publisher for review via Net Galley.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Reading Confession (Anniversary Edition)

I like reading big name authors and books on the best sellers' lists occasionally, I admit it: I enjoy reading popular fiction. I think it's given a bum rap sometimes for no other reason than we bookish people like to be different. If the masses are reading it, we want to read something else. And for a small few, they feel superior for saying they don't read that "garbage". There's a reason though some of those books are so popular. Simply put: because they are good.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

From the Archives: Mini Reviews from May 2005 (part 2)

I began keeping a reading journal several years before I began blogging. I find it interesting to sift through my thoughts of books that I read back then. My reviews were often brief and contained little substance, but I thought it'd be fun to document them here on my blog as well as share them with you. Here are a few from May 2005:

Clearly, I have a thing for being swept off my feet!

Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
Plume, 2001 - Fantasy, 448 pgs

Bitten is the first book in the Women of the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong. Readers are introduced to Elena, a werewolf, who is trying to fit into the human world and lead a “normal” life. She has a job and a live-in boyfriend. Everything seems to be going well until she receives a call from an old friend asking for help. With great reluctance, Elena sets out to help her friend and finds herself caught in the middle of a deadly game where dominance and revenge are the prizes. With a strong dose of romance mixed in with a paranormal thriller, Ms. Armstrong swept me off my feet. The characters were interesting, the sensuality not overdone, and the story itself entertaining and suspenseful. Kelley Armstrong has definitely won a place on my “must read” list.

Diary by Chuck Palahniuk
Anchor, 2003 - Fiction, 272 pgs

Every writer has his or her own style and some styles stand out more than others. Chuck Palahniuk is one author whose style of writing does stand out. Diary is a well-crafted novel, including the author’s use of repetition and the unusual narrative voice. However, I found the novel hard to follow and the story convoluted. In Diary, Misty Wilmot, mother, wife, and artist, finds herself a pawn in a family conspiracy. With her husband in a coma, Misty is left to guess at the hidden messages he’s left behind and what they could mean in relation to her and the island she’s come to call home. I had a difficult time getting into this novel, perhaps in part because I did not especially like any of the characters. I want to like this book more than I did, but it just didn’t grab me and sweep me off my feet. I was not impressed.

Stolen by Kelley Armstrong
Plume, 2002 - Fantasy, 468 pgs

My favorite female werewolf is back in Stolen, the second in the Women of the Otherworld series. This time around, Elena is kidnapped by a billionaire who has made a hobby of hunting unusual prey under the guise of conducting scientific research. In Stolen, readers are introduced to Paige and Savannah who will play larger roles in future books in the series as well as an assortment of other supernatural characters. It always amazes me the varying definitions of our tried and true mythical beings, such as vampires and witches. The plot reminded me of Richard Connell’s short story, The Most Dangerous Game and the fourth season of the popular television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer (and I am glad to say that both were mentioned in Ms. Armstrong’s novel). Although not quite as enrapturing as Bitten, I enjoyed Stolen and found it to be an exciting and entertaining reading experience.

Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think?

Thursday, July 07, 2011

From the Archives: Mini Reviews from May 2005 (part 1)

Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
Picador, 2002 - Nonfiction, 304 pgs

Author Augusten Burroughs is the son an alcoholic professor and a psychotic poetess. When his parents divorce, his mother sends him to live a good deal of his later childhood years with an psychiatrist with questionable treatment methods and his family, who sound like characters that could have come straight from a work of fiction; however, they are very real. In a sometimes shocking and often humorous account, Augusten Burroughs shares the early years of his life with readers. We are transported to a lifestyle where pills, booze, sex and illegal drugs are the norm.

At one point, I stopped to make a note in my book journal about how the lack of structure in his life was very limiting. It's easy to assume that no boundaries and little to no structure in our lives would offer us more freedom, when in truth it can more often prove to be a trap. Without direction and without structure to propel us along, we can flounder aimlessly or we slip into destructive behaviors. After thinking this, I read on in the book and came across the quote, "The problem with not having anybody to tell you what to do, I understood, is that there was nobody to tell you what 'not' to do." [pg. 264]. I thought that summed up my thoughts pretty well.

Throughout the book I found myself laughing, even reading passages out loud to my husband, but as I finished the book, I was left with a heavy sadness. As much as the author made light of his childhood experiences, as much as he used humor to soften the harsh realities of it, and as much as he used the humor to survive through it all, it was still terribly sad.

A Density of Souls by Christopher Rice
Miramax, 2000 - Crime Fiction (S/T), 288 pgs

A Density of Souls is a disturbing book that enraptured me from the very beginning. The author spins a dark tale of four childhood friends who grow apart as they struggle under the weight of their own and each other’s secrets, betrayals, shame and love. A Density of Souls brings to light one boy’s suffering and the prejudice he faced having been labeled and recognized as a homosexual early on in his life. It is the story of his coming to terms with who he is, not only for himself, but also for those around him. Alcoholism, suicide, and domestic violence also are woven throughout Mr. Rice’s novel, adding depth to the characters and the lives they lead. The characters are complex; their pain and torment felt real as I read each page. Even with the worst of the characters, I could empathize on some level. The emotions were raw. Christopher Rice tempts readers with the truth and yet tries to keep it just out of reach as the story unfolds, and, for the most part, he succeeds. The New Orleans setting was a character in and of itself, casting its own shadow on the lives of the characters. This is one novel that lives up the praise it has received by so many.

Have you read either of these books? If so, what did you think?

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Reading Confession (Anniversary Edition)

My favorite kind of reviews are of the casual variety. The ones that read more like a conversation I would have with someone over lunch. I especially like it when the reviewer adds a personal touch. Reading is such an intimate activity. When I read, I step inside the pages of a book and that world becomes mine for a short while. Therefore, I like to know how a book impacted the reader.

Length is of no importance to me. Some of the best reviews I have come across are one sentence long while others go on for pages. I don't mind a little synopsis (no spoilers please)--in fact I prefer having it. I am one of those readers who likes to know what a book is about before I decide to read it. A pretty cover or clever title may catch my eye, but I won't bother reading a book if it doesn't sound good to me.

I like to know something about the characters--are they well developed and relatable? I want to know where the story is set and if it plays an important role. Does the story flow? And is it plausible within the world created by the author? The writing style can make or break a book as well.

I like reading positive and negative reviews. I don't mind snark as long as it isn't cruel. Sometimes a negative review can turn me onto a book more than a positive one can.

My favorite book reviews are book blogger reviews.

What kind of book reviews are you drawn to?

Sunday, July 03, 2011

Sunday Salon: Breakfast, Settings & Heart-Shaped Eyes

I do love a fresh spice muffin in the morning! I rarely have time to fix myself a nice breakfast before bolting out the door for the office each morning, but I do try and grab something I can take with me. On weekend mornings, like today, I sometimes skip breakfast all together, I confess. Not the best of habits. I'm trying to be better today.

You aren't here to read about my breakfast though, are you? Let's talk about what I've been reading, shall we? I am still on my crime fiction kick. I somehow managed to squeeze in time to read L.J. Seller's The Sex Club, the first in the Detective Jackson series set in Eugene, Oregon. For some reason, I was really excited to be reading a book set in Oregon. Oregon is one of those states I wish I could visit for more than a drive through from California to Washington and back again. The setting actually wasn't terribly important to the novel, although the good detective made his way to Portland often enough, Eugene being a smaller community.

It makes me wonder how often the setting is important in the books I read. Would it make a difference if the book you are reading right now was set somewhere else entirely? I tend to favor books where the setting is significant, and if the setting is a character all by itself--or at least has that feel--even better! I tend to be a visual reader, forming pictures of the words on the page.

How important is the setting to you? If you were to set the book you are reading currently elsewhere, would it change the story at all? The characters?

I now am reading Dating Dead Men by Harley Jane Kozak (or I would be if I hadn't left it in the office Wednesday evening not anticipating Mouse would become ill with fever, and I would be taking the rest of the week off), which is set in and around Los Angeles, an area I am very familiar with. Mouse chose the book for me. She was particularly fascinated by the colors on the cover. It was probably those heart-shaped eyes on the skull that made her choose that one above the others though. And, no, it is not a vampire novel.

I've been carrying around The Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby for about a week, hoping for a moment to start on that. I figured it would be a good book to read in spurts. I'm just waiting for the right spurt, I guess.

This past month I made an effort to jump back into blogging. I am still trying to find a good rhythm, so please bear with me. I survived my first week of daycare (two actually)--and, really, it was more a case of my survival rather than my daughter's. She took it much better than I did. Except maybe the cold and fever part. That's been tough on all of us. It's her first of many to be sure.

This month I am celebrating my 5th year of blogging and, as a result, have been feeling a bit reflective. The book blogging community is so much bigger than it was when I started. And it continues to grow by leaps and bounds. Please continue to e-mail any questions you may have that you would like me to answer this month! I look forward to hearing from you!