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what
I read in: 2005 2004 |
Monday, November
25, 2002 Didn't have time to finish that last bit. And, actually, I've not had the desire to pick up The White again. Guess I should complete it. After all, I'm 2/3 of the way through it. I read Off balance sometime last week, it must have been Tuesday or Wednesday. The cover was horrid, but I checked it out from the library nonetheless. It's a tale of sibling rivalry that takes place in Scotland. I was afraid that the style would be too UK for my tastes, but it turned out to be ok. I did learn lots of new UK slang. I'll never have a use for it, but maybe it's good to know? The ending was exactly what I expected. Sheepshanks kept it open either because she's writing the sequel, or she allows readers to imagine their own ending. I rather like that. I picked up Tartt's secret history at the public library. I have checked it out before, I recognized the book by its cover, but didn't read it for some reason. Several people have mentioned what a great book it is, so I'm eager to begin reading. That Tartt sure gets around, she's on the cover of Poets & Writers this month, too. Interesting bit about being a dustjacket junkie. The ins & outs of bibliomania explained: Like all junkies, my most important relationship is with my dealer. book dealer, that is. Friday, November
22, 2002 Saturday, November
16, 2002 Cake's song Open Book is not the only song about books out there, but it's a good one. I've never heard the shy librarian song. Who knew there were songs about wooing librarians? or about being the very model of a computerized librarian? And what is shave librarian? I'm reading the introduction to Opposing Ambitions: Gender and Identity in an Alternative Organization by Sherryl Kleinman. It seems good enough, so far. Easy breezy, quick read. The Tartt book I wanted was overdue and 2 other library patrons were waiting for it. I'm getting it from another library in the regional system. I was looking forward to reading it this weekend, too. Maybe I should be
concerned. These sweet pages about books and reading are frequently
included in results that people get when they
search for "stripper." I'm on the wait
list for Donna
Tartt's new book (which the library has not yet received), but
I'm stopping by the library to pick up her first one, The
Secret History to read this weekend. She seems quite
interesting from the
article I read about her in Book,
but we'll see if I like her writing. Our childhoods seemed somewhat
similar, in our use of books to escape our environment, except that
my family didn't keep me doped up on codiene. She has several fansites,
but nothing official: 1,
2, 3,
4, there are
even more! My reading is at a standsill. I read the first few pages of Affinity. It languishes on my bedside table. I requested Tipping the velvet from my public library. They'll have to ILL it. I went to glorious Roanoke this weekend and spent $60 on three books. Found Tipping the velvet there, imagine that. Not just any bookstore would have it on the shelf. I'm convinced that ______ bookstore (i'm so ashamed i can't recall it's name. it begins with a C) is a wonderful place. Curiously, I can't even recall the titles of the books that I bought. I am slipping. Okay, one is Uniforms: Why We Are What We Wear. The other two were about books and reading. I know, pretty dull stuff. I only spent ten minutes in the bookstore. I've tried to curtail my book spending, by giving only cursory visits to such establishments. I'd resolved to do a quick cruise-thorough, and had almost made my way out the door when I paused to look at books near the front window. Their selections were fabulous. But, I wasn't impressed with the booksellers themselves. Too caught up in their own conversation. Guess I wasn't too friendly either. It was an unseasonably warm day, which is just as trite as "it was a dark and stormy night" and I was warm in my wool cardigan. Odious is all that I can say about Prostitution, sexuality, and the law in ancient Rome. My Latin is nonexistent, so the fact that every fifth word is in latin has defeated me. The book might be appreciated by a specialist as opposed to a novice such as myself. I'm halfway through it. I can honestly say that that this must be the worst book that I've ever been forced to read. Obviously, if I had much say in the matter, I would have dropped it after the first three pages.I'm hoping that the book actually contains information about prostitues, since that's the first word in the title. This book is a great example of mis-titling. The emphasis should be placed on Law. Yuck. I've learned one or two things, but honestly, my reading comprehension has taken a beating on this book. It's rare that a book makes my eyes swim. Or, when I re-read paragraphs and don't realize that I've already read them. The book is a swamp. I did read Turning
pro: a guide to sex work for the ambitious and the intrigued.
It was not what I hoped it would be. There were sections for different
types of sex work, and the author includes tips for getting work in
each. The writing wasn't all that good, and the type of information
was pretty basic. I mean, most of it was common sense, or what you'd
think common sense in the sex
industry would be. Greenery
Press has some interesting titles. I can't say that I learned
anything that I didn't already know or have some idea about. I learned
more from Tracy Quan's fiction
and other writings than from this book. Two better books on the subject
are Whores
and other feminists (but don't get on a
soapbox about it) and Sex
Work: Writings by Women in the Sex Industry. I knew
I always liked Routledge
for some reason. Jill
Nagle, editor of Whores and other feminists describes
them as academic but racy. Tuesday, November
5, 2002 Slammerkin was entertaining. I was easily drawn into 18th century London & Monmouth. A sad life of a teen prostitute who escapes the city to Monmouth, becomes a dressmaker's apprentice and comes to a harsh end. I'll not spoil it. But, the story is based on actual events, plus it contains references to other personages of the era. Pretty cool book, no real complaints except that I'm always a sucker for a happy ending. What is with that? True fantasy, indeed. I enjoyed Emma Donoghue's writing and will look for her again. I searched all over my house for Fingersmith, which I've had quite a while and decided that the time has come to read it. I'm only a few pages into it, and I'm wondering if I should read her books in the order which they were published. It's not a trilogy or any such animal. I have this...I wouldn't desribe it a book phobia, because that's never the case, unless it's a nasty, moldy book... I suppose that I impose rules that I'm unaware of upon my reading. One is to read the books in the order in which they were published. That's not a problem, usually. Maybe I'll hold off on Fingersmith for a bit. Now that Sarah Waters is quite a writer--not just for lesbians anymore. I think I've gone mad. I am sure that I've read something of hers prior to Fingersmith, perhaps Tipping the velvet? Maybe I own it and just think that I've read it. I have that problem with keeping things straight aboout books. Anyway, I'll likely read it. And, I know for sure that I have Affinity (it was the 2001 ALA GLBT Book Award winner), though I've never quite read it, either. From this bad example, you would think that all I did was collect books. I readily admit to book collecting. I read them when the time comes. It's very queer though, how that all works out. Purchase, shelve, and then 3-6 months later the thought enters my mind that I should read _______, and then I recall that I own ________. Mysterious and spooky how that happens. Or, I'll suddenly develop an interest in a certain subject area and then recall that I bought a wonderful mycology book several months ago. Viola! Which brings us back to: how many times should one say "fingermith" in one day? Friday, November
1, 2002 Still reading War history of American railroads. I picked up Libraries in the ancient world by Lionel Casson while I was in Hilton Head. It was the only book I bought, surprisingly enough. I usually go into a book buying frenzy while vacationing, but I controlled my impulses. I'm not sure when I'll read it, especially since I'm so due for some prime pleasure reading right about now. Slammerkin is on my bedside table and I've wanted to read it for so long now. Hopefully, I'll indulge this weekend. Got my copies of Vogue & No Depression in the mail earlier this week, so the combination of fashion with cool music may soothe this savage beast. Speaking of savage beasts, I handed out candy to thirty or more trick-or-treaters last night. Ah, the thrill of Halloween is behind me now. No more ghoulish office pranks....sigh. |