The Modern Hippy

     I love everything about books, the feel, the smell, the sound of fingers turning a page, and of course the stories. Books have been a great escape for me. When I’m feeling blue, a good book can provide a little vacation from reality. My father taught me to look books. When I was very young, before I could read, I would sit next to my dad while he was reading and pretend to read. Then I would choose the books for size, smell and the cover. I loved hard back old books that felt like they were covered with fabric. I still do.

     I read a lot of books. Last year I read 28 books. This year I’ve gone over 30 and it isn’t the end of December yet. On my my myspace page I have a list in a blog post of all the titles because last year I did not write them down and I don’t remember all the books I read. Very frustrating. Rereading it a couple of weeks ago when I added a new book to the list, I realized that I needed to add more details to my “reviews”. I wrote nothing about the story, or specific good or bad things. In 2009 I will try to do that.

     On this page I have transferred the myspace blog list of books from this year for fun and easier reference for me. As 2009 approaches I will develop better review ideas, maybe have a template of what I want to cover. If you are reading this and you think of a book that might fit with what my tastes, please leave me a comment or message and tell me. I’m always looking for new books to read.

     Before you look through my list, know that I will read almost anything. I can be picky though, if the mood strikes. Though for the past two years I have been reading “easy” books, I have not always been a typical “easy” book reader. I like a challenge. I love Shakespeare, though because of a horrible memory I can’t quote anything more than, “To be or not to be, that is the question.” I love reading classics. I especially love reading books that have a more complex language, or do not use typical language used today. Since I have been reading easier books for a couple of years, my brain has had the break it needed. I am looking for a challenge now. Reading two Bronte sisters’ books gave me a good challenge. I am looking for more though.

     I have a goal to keep beating my “records” each year. I have beaten my 2007 record. In ’09, it will have to be 30+. I hope that I will have enough time, but not too much to be a detriment to our finances.

2008 Books

1. Cause Celeb by Helen Fielding… Good… don’t know if I would reread it.
2. From Potter’s Field by Patricia Cornwell… Very good… couldn’t put it down… Maybe a reread?
3. Hornet’s Nest by Patricia Cornwell… Okay… won’t read it again.
4. Flashback by Nevada Barr… Good….enjoyed it wasn’t too exciting but definately not boring… Liked the parallel stories… don’t know if I would reread it.
5. Endangered Species by Nevada Barr… Pretty good. Didn’t feel let down.
6. The Dead Wive Society by Sharon Duncan… I liked this one quite a bit… might reread.
7. Death on A Casual Friday by Sharon Duncan…Liked this one, not as much as the one above… There was an annoying character in it.
8. Be Buried in the Rain by Barbara Michaels… Not what I had expected. I really liked it. Might reread.
9. The Taking by Dean Koontz… It’s okay. I wouldn’t read it again.
10. Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon… I’ve read it before. It’s one of my favorites.
11. Cruel and Unusual by Patricia Cornwell… I like this author a lot. Very good characters. I don’t know a lot about what really happens to medical examiners but Dr. Scarpetta has great adventures.
12. Spencerville by Nelson Demille… this book pissed me off so badly! I won’t read it again. Though I suppose that since I had such an emotional reaction it is a good book, but not a reread.
13. Amber Beach by Elizabeth Lowell… pretty good, don’t know if I would reread it. It took place in Anacortes, Wa and I recongnized some of the things in it, so that was kind of interesting.
14. Body of Evidence by Patricia Cornwell… Once again good book.
15. Point of Origin by Patricia Cornwell… This book was especially graffic and the author showed no mercy. She has no fear of killing off important characters. I cried.
16. Cause of Death by Patricia Cornwell… I read this one out of sequence with the others, as I have with most of her books so I knew that some of the characters wouldn’t be there the next time around. Bittersweet I guess.
17. Pearl Cove by Elizabeth Lowell… okay, probably wouldn’t read it again, but it was entertaining.
18. Unnatural Exposure by Patricia Cornwell…. pretty good, it surprised me which can be hard to do.
19. The Curse of the Pharaohs by Elizabeth Peters…. was a very good book. All the characters are very entertaining, the story was great. “Peabody” is an excellent representation of modern woman in “unmodern” times.
20. The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters…. also very good, made me laugh. The son Ramses was such a good addition to the family adventures.
21. Lion in the Valley by Elizabeth Peters… well written and very entertaining.
22. The Deeds of the Disturber by Elizabeth Peters… good book, I enjoy her writing style quite a bit.
23. All That Remains by Patricia Cornwell… excellent book, though I read it out of order so I know which characters won’t make it through following books, it explains some things and you get to see how the main character is introduced to future friends and such.
24. The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman… good. I’m not a huge fan of his writing style, though the story is reasonably engaging. It was nice to see what happens at the end of this series.
25. Owl Island by Randy Sue Coburn… good book. Probably won’t read again, but don’t regret reading. It took place in some of the areas with which I am familiar. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest. Hearing about Chuchanut where my childhood home is was very different. Biggest complaint, it is over done, people telling lies or omitting truth, in books it always comes back to bite you in the ass.
26. The Deeds of the Disturber by Elizabeth Peters…. good book of course! I love her characters and her work!
27. Skeleton Man by Tony Hillerman…. um… not a reread. Yeah it wasn’t realistic or even believably fantastical.
28. Chromosome 6 by Robin Cook…. well, an interesting idea. But the writing wasn’t great. The characters didn’t seem real, things did not happen in real time. The writer did not seem to be a good story teller. Would not recommend.
29. The Hippopotamus Pool by Elizabeth Peters…. I like her work .
30. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte… I had high hopes for this one but feel rather let down. The story was interesting but the way it was told was a little dry. I’m usually a fan of classic, this one not so much.
31. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte… excellent! One of the best I’ve read in a long time!
32. The Charm School by Nelson Demille… pretty good though it certainly didn’t help my view of governments. Yes, I know it’s fictional but really, is it that far fetched?

33. The Shack by William Paul Young…. sad and rather religious and too many cliches. However, an interesting idea. Won’t read again but might recommend, because if you can get past the poor writing the imagery and idea is excellent.

34. Tombstone Courage by J.A. Jance…. ehhh. well, I’m not sure how I would feel about it. I did read through it quickly because I wanted to know about the secret. I felt let down. It wasn’t exciting until the last couple of chapters.

Book list for 2009

      I have goals for the books I read this year. I don’t think I will beat the amount of books I read last year, 34. I want to read good books, not just books. These books could be children’s books, teen books, classics or recently published. I’m only after a good read. Over the holidays I have discovered that my nephew is reading some awesome books and he loaned me the first read of the year.

I. The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor. Final opinion: Excellent book! It is the story of Alice in Wonderland redone. The writing is excellent. And though Mr. Beddor had to make up an entire world it did not once feel fake or silly. He took the characters of White Rabbit or the Mad Hatter and gave them only slightly different names and developed a side of their characters perhaps you never saw before. If you imagination is a little rusty, this book will help show you a magical world in your mind’s eye as clearly as day.