2009 Library Thing Challenges

The 999 challenge (This group is to help you track your progress on the 999 challenge – 9 books in 9 different categories, all read in 2009. For an added challenge, try completing your books by 9/9/09!)

My categories:

1. Classics To read or reread
2. Biographies To broaden my horizons.
3. Young Adult To find the perfect book for my grandson (and cuz I love ‘em)
4. Books I haven’t been able to finish far too many!
5. Pulitzer Prize Winners Only ones I haven’t read yet
6. Historical Novels Other than England . . . : )
7. Mysteries Other than cozys or comics!
8. Nonfiction Sorely lacking there!
9. Books in series I haven’t read Just for fun.

I’m changing that Historical Novels to Fantasy/Sci Fi.  I just don’t like a lot of historical novels (too much sappy stuff!)  And there will be cozys in the mysteries!

What I’m Watching in January

I can remember when January was a desert of a month for television – nothing but reruns.  Say what you will about cable TV, at least they stagger their seasons against network TV.

Movie – X Files I Want To Believe

X-Files – I Want To Believe

I was an X-Phile for a lot of years, so I was looking forward to this movie.  Not enough to go see it, I’m only able to go to movies like Spiderman or The Transformers (thanks, Jared), but I did ask for it for Christmas.  And got it.

Answer As A Man, Taylor Caldwell

Answer As A Man by Taylor Caldwell

One of Caldwell’s better novels, Answer As A Man touches on most of her recurring themes – the conspiracy behind governments to incite wars for profit and to install taxation to create a form of slavery. She also continues to stress than man can be evil and God cruel.

This is the story of an Irish innocent, Jason Garrity, who rises from the slums of a suburb in Pennsylvania to become a wealthy landlord and hotelier. For too long he is unable to see the evil around him, and is taken advantage of by his wife, his siblings, his best friend . . .

A good read, and as always, Caldwell makes one think. Whether you agree with her or not, she presents compelling arguements.

Black House: Stephen King & Peter Straub

Black House, by Stephen King & Peter Straub

Sometimes I like King, and sometimes I like Straub, but together they make pretty good reading. Straubs poetic imagery mixed with King’s blatant in-your-face punches really compliment each other. Black House started very slowly and didn’t really pick up until the middle – I much preferred The Talisman, but this wasn’t bad. Not as good as I remembered it the first reading, but not bad.

The story picks up Jack Sawyer’s life after forgetting his experiences in the Territories, and after a successful career as an LA cop. He retires to a small town, where he is once more required to save the world through his specialized knowledge of the Territories. There is a visit from Speedy/Parkus from The Talisman, and of course, many references to The Gunslinger series. If you like either The Talisman or The Gunslinger, this should appeal. Not nearly as horrific as many of King’s other novels . . .

Media and Me

No one has ever called me an intellectual snob – from books to television, I love all forms of communication.  And I’m verbal about it.  In this category, I’ll write about what I see, hear and watch – and I’m eclectic in my tastes so there’s bound to be disagreement.  How many folks like Grey’s Anatomy and Doctor Who equally?  Or James Michner and David Eddings?  Or Benny Goodman and Pearl Jam?  Well, . . .me!

Books, books, books!

I love thrift stores, garage sales and used bookstores – I never leave without a treasure of the literary sort.  Today was no exception – Ursula LeGuin’s Earthsea trilogy.  Yippee!!