Sand in my what?!?

Once I returned from Las Vegas, I moved the book SAND IN MY BRA AND OTHER MISADVENTURES: FUNNY WOMEN WRITE FROM THE ROAD(Travelers' Tales Inc., c2003, ISBN 1-885211-92-9) to the top of my to-be-read pile just because of some of the fun things that happened during our trip.

Right away the dedication grabbed me:

For all the women who sit at home or behind their desks bitching that they never get to go anywhere.

This book is filled with hilarious short stories about travel outside of one's natural and comfortable surroundings, from the Colorado River in Utah to Santiago, Chile. Through the Black Rock Desert, Nevada to Paris and Zambia and back via Kuwait or Bandanaira (a place I'd never heard of before reading this book.)It also illustrates problems that can arise from language barriers, custom differences, natural fears or just plain stupidity but also shows the fun and excitement in travel.

This was a great weekend read and I'd recommend it to those who like travel books by Bill Bryson or Patrick McManus.

Witchy woman

Hi all!

I'm just returned from my vacation in Las Vegas which is part of the reason it took me so long to post what I've been reading. I also got engaged while out there to my long time partner-in-law Jeff so I will be planning a wedding. Please accept my apologies now for any ignoring I do to this blog. Life is all about priorities, right?


While on the plane I finished reading WITCH WAY TO MURDER by Shirley Damsgaard(Avon Books, c2005, ISBN 0-06-079348-1) a light reading book about Ophelia Jensen, a thirty-something librarian in small town Summerset, Iowa who has crime come to visit and she must deal with it and her budding attraction to Rick, the mysterious "salesman" who shows up asking a lot of questions, and her repressed psychic abilities.

Starting the book off was:

Rising panic clenched my stomach.

This book was a little lighter than I typically prefer, however the setting and main character had me intrigued because that's exactly what I am...a thirty-something librarian from small town Iowa. I will definitely look for the second book.

Can you hear me now?

My most recent read was CELL by Stephen King (Scribner, c2006, ISBN 0-7432-9233-2), a thriller that I found to be quite similar to his book THE STAND, only set in modern times, with modern references (Hurricane Katrina and FEMA)and modern technology.

The first sentence:

The event that came to be known as The Pulse began at 3:03 p.m., eastern standard time, on the afternoon on October 1.

It's the first book of King's that I've read in a quite a while that I truly enjoyed. I read my first Stephen King novel when I was nine-years-old and read him up until the Gunslinger series, sporadically after that.

Then I turned to others for pleasure reading but I always swore I'd be true to "the King"; I'm glad I checked this one out.

I may never look at my cell phone the same way again. Especially when it rings.

Rrrrrrrrring....

Quite Contrary

Last night I finished reading James Patterson's MARY MARY (Little Brown, c2005, ISBN 0-316-15976-X), his latest Alex Cross novel set in Los Angeles, Hollywood, and Washington D.C.

Starting off with:

Act One, Scene One, the Storyteller thought to himself, and couldn't hold back a dizzying rush of anticipation.

Alex is called in by the FBI to work this case while on vacation with his family at Disneyland. Key players in Hollywood are dying at the hands of "Mary Smith" and Alex is up to the task of solving the problem. There are several key side stories that go on in this book so if you are a long time reader of this series, this book is not to be missed.

His next book is 5th HORSEMAN, to which I am looking forward. Since he started writing the Women's Murder Club books, they have become my preferred series so I anticipate the release of this 5th book. I've read most of Patterson's books, in all honesty, because of the short chapters. They give my mind a break; but I've always found them thoroughly enjoyable.

I'll drink to that!

In Ty Wenzel's book, BEHIND BARS: THE STRAIGHT-UP TALES OF A BIG-CITY BARTENDER (Thomas Dunne Books, c2003, ISBN 0-312-31102-8), Ty recounts life as a bartender in some of New York's bars, mostly focusing on Marion's Continental.

The first sentence:

My last day on the job, a chilly December night in 2001, didn't turn out the way I had long pictured it in my mind.

The book is filled with quotes, drink recipes and quips about the life of a mixer. My favorite sections were the pet peeves she listed throughout the book. Having once been in food service, I could totally relate to her angst and attitude with a capital TUDE.
This is a fun ride that is definitely worthy of reading by anyone who's ever worked in the industry, is working in the industry, or has ever patronized a drinking establishment. You might learn a thing or three.

One Classic Wrinkle

I recently finished A WRINKLE IN TIME by Madeleine L'Engle (Dell, c1962, 0-440-49805-8). Not for the first time, but the first time in a very long time.

The book, a Newbery Medal winner in 1963, combines both fantasy and science fiction, two genres that as an adult I run from. Yet it still holds the magical appeal and wonder that it did when I read it as a child.

Meg Murry, a young, shy and very aware of her differences kind of girl is transported on an adventure through time and space with her younger brother Charles Wallace and a boy from school, Calvin O'Keefe to rescue her father who is being held captive on the planet of Camozotz by IT. Along the way she makes many self discoveries and finds the strength within to be a hero.

The first sentence is a doozy too:

It was a dark and stormy night.

A recent discussion on a list-serv I belong to revolved around first sentences and this first sentence of course, reminded me of the Bulwer-Lytton contest.

Does anyone know of any other books that start with "It was a dark and stormy night?" that they'd be willing to share with me?

Sex is Complex

In MJ Rose's new book, THE DELILAH COMPLEX (Mira, c2006, ISBN 0-7783-2215-7), Dr. Morgan Snow, sex therapist at the Butterfield Institute in New York, is back in this second book of a series and wrapped up in danger.

This time she is working with a group of women who make up the Scarlet Society, a "socializing" group where the women dominate the men. One male member goes missing and pictures of his lifeless body are mailed to a reporter at the New York Times. Are just the men being targeted or are the women next?

The first sentence?

Warm, engulfing, darkness surrounded him.

This book is a compelling sequel to the first book in the series,THE HALO EFFECT.

Dead to the world

This book, DEAD TO THE WORLD (c2004, ACE, ISBN 0-441-01218-3), by Charlaine Harris, is the fourth book in the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire series.

The first sentence:

I found the note taped to my door when I got home from work.

I adore these books which is quite ironic because they are more "cozy" than "gritty", and I typically prefer the grime and the grit.

In this book, we are revisited by some oldies but definitely goodies (and I do mean goodies! Woo Hoo!) and introduced to some new supernatural beings as well.

To be honest, her books sat on Mount TBR for the longest time because I had read all of the Anita Blake books by Laurell K. Hamilton and I wasn't sure that I would enjoy them as much. I was wrong! (Sorry, Charlaine!)

If you are looking for a fun and refreshing series about people that aren't quite like everyone else around you, check these out!

At least try the first one. They are out of this world!

Answer me this...

My weekend read was THE ANSWER MAN (Bantam, c1999, ISBN 0-553-58191-0) by Roy Johansen. The first sentence:

God, he hated this job.

Ken Parker, a polygrapher in Atlanta, Georgia is a man who's always taken care of everyone. Now, when the rent is due, his car is being repossessed and he has an eviction notice on the door to his business, enters Myth Daniels, attorney-at-law. She offers him $50,000 to teach her client how to beat the polygraph exam. But the price he pays may be more than he bargained for.

A good thriller, fast moving. I preferred his other books better but that's just my opinion and if you read others', there are several who disagree with mine. No matter, he's worth a look.

Humping Horizontal

Well.

The book I read yesterday and finished this morning was a real doozy (just like I promised).

Chelsea Handler, a stand-up comedian and hilarious writer, is the author of the bold and boisterous memoir, MY HORIZONTAL LIFE: A COLLECTION OF ONE-NIGHT STANDS (Bloomsbury USA, c2005, ISBN 1-58234-618-6) about her life as a blonde-haired, blue-eyed Jewish 20-something looking for sex and lots of it!

The first sentence was a hooker. Well, not a hooker but...I mean, a hook.

I was seven years old when my sister told me she'd give me five dollars to run upstairs into my parents' room while they were having sex and take a picture.

I think I lived with Chelsea in my younger days, but she went by a different name. And religion. And hair color.

Hmmm...

Have a great weekend and I'll see you next week with new books!