A totally unrelated item

I had a dream last night that Dee had managed to snag a guest speaker for book club. Caleb Carr was coming to speak to us all about his most recent book on environmentalism (???). Her backyard had suddenly developed this great outdoor seating area for 100. There were ice cream sundaes for dessert. All our children plus a bunch of strangers were there to hear Mr. Carr speak. Oh, and the male cast from Six Feet Under was there and they new me personally. Good times, eh?

A Feast For Crows

I love this series! Amy kept telling me how good they were. I just finished the 4th in the series. It takes place during castle, knights, horses, etc. It is very gritty and gory, but you can't put it down.

There is so much going on in these books I can't begin to describe them. I just want to say that they are worth reading and I can't wait for the next one.

More from Greg Bear...

Just finished Moving Mars...sci-fi infused political drama as memoir of a young woman growing up on the frontier planet of Mars. Earth is the big, bad superpower trying to tell the backwater planet what to do to fit into the "Terrie" vision of the solar system. Mars wants to find their own way. I found this book to start kind of slow, but worth it in the end. It's not everyday Earthlings are written as the bad guys.

The City of Ember

I picked up a copy of this book a few years ago at one of the Scholastic warehouse sales and sort of forgot about it until I recently saw a movie trailer for it.

I really enjoyed this story much more than I thought I would. I was tempted to hand it right over to my eight year old to read, but I think waiting one more year would help him enjoy it better.

The premise is sort of like "The Giver", but it seemed less creepy to me. Two twelve year olds, Lina and Doon, decide to switch job assignments and each come to realize that things aren't going so well for their dark city. Lina discovers an old document and together with Doon they are able to puzzle out "The Instructions".

Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination

This book by Helen Fielding (author of Bridget Jones' Diary) is light and fluffy and fun if you are able to completely suspend all disbelief. I mostly was. Every now and then I'd think, "How could that happen?!" And then I would remind myself that I was reading a light and fluffy book and I should just be quiet. Good for poolside, but I think it would annoy me too much in cooler weather. What is it about the pool that makes it more possible to read ridiculous books? Chlorine fumes, maybe?

Okay, now I have a rant. I have been reading lots of books by British authors lately, and I find myself wincing every time they try to write an American. I'm sure that Americans are just as bad at writing the Brits. (I also read books about Wyoming a lot mostly so I can shout out loud at the author, "You've obviously never lived in Wyoming!" And sanctimoniously thump it closed. Everybody needs hobbies.)

Anyway, here is a list for British authors of things that Americans DON'T say (unless they are pretending to be British or have recently watched too much BBC America):

1. "Rather". We really don't use this word very much other than indicating preference. Q: "Would you like this?" A: "No thanks, I'd rather have that." Americans do not use the word "rather" as a one word response to anything.

2. "Lot". We don't say "this lot", "that lot", or "you lot". We say "These guys", "Those guys" (in NJ we say "yous guys", too, but we'll leave that out as common American usage...) or "Everybody".

3. "Gobbledygook." I'm not sure any Brits say this either. But now that I've written it out, I may have to use it. Rats.

I'm sure there are more, but that's it for now. British authors, find an American to read your stuff first. One who doesn't listen to British-English regularly. It will make your American characters more authentic. American authors, do the same for our friends across the pond.

Rant over.

For now.

...yes, one of those ladybugs is a guy!

Having received a call from a magazine publisher friend who's starting up a new, ahem, lad's mag, and is looking for some sample articles, I signed up to do a few book reviews. This meant that I had to go and look for books that boys would read. I know, I know, it' isn't right on many levels to assign gender to a book in that way, but we have to admit that not a lot of guys are going to read the latest Stephenie Meyer--at least not in public. But the following book was so compelling--and the topic of interest to pretty much every adult I know--that I'd write a review of it for any type of magazine.

Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex, by the same Mary Roach who wrote Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, isn't just about the history of the study of sex--ineresting enough on its own--it's funny as well. Roach gives a quick rundown on the whos and whens of sex study over the last couple hundred years---and oh, thank your lucky stars that you weren't around for the "good old days" of embarrassed patients and squeamish doctors delivering babies by braille! You learn why we think we know what we know about sex, and why we don't know what we thought we knew. In the name of scientific research, Roach even signs up for a few research studies herself and experiences firsthand what contemporary subjects go through to help science figure out how the birds and the bees, well, work. Overall, it's quick, engaging read that doesn't need to be hidden in a plain brown wrapper.
Tiffani

Quantico

Just finished this the other day. Good near future thriller-type with loads of action and an ending that isn't necessarily all neat and tidy and all sewn up.

Author is Greg Bear.

Jack Reacher

I'm not sure why I've not posted this before, but these are great books by Lee Child. Jack Reacher is the main guy and he's all a girl could want in a former military gone vigilante. He's tall, well-muscled, often sweaty, and he leaves without a messy good-bye.

The Killing Floor is the first book, I believe. Lee Child has a website with a list...there are now twelve books and they're all good yarns. They don't seem as repetitive as other mystery-thriller type novels.

"Breaking Dawn" by Stephenie Meyer

Oh. My. Gosh.

Twilight series, book 4. Just finished.

I am in need of some virtual discussion, broads, because I am in the middle of nowhere. Please leave comments!!!