BTT: Series

Series (from Booking Through Thursday)

1. Do you read books that are part of a series?
2. Do you collect all the books in the series before starting?
3. What if the series is brand new, and the only book that's been published so far is Book 1?
4. As subsequent books in the series are published, do you go back and re-read the preceding books?

The answer to the first question is a definitive 'yes'.  I particularly love reading series because you get a more in-depth view of the characters and their world.  I have repeatedly mentioned my love and adoration for Kerry Greenwood's Corinna Chapman series.  I am waiting with bated breath for the latest one to be announced; her website says it should be published this coming October.  I am also eagerly awaiting the third in Deborah Harkness' All  Souls Trilogy.  I just read the last book in Nicole Peeler's Jane True series.  I have read all three series by Robert J. Sawyer (Quintaglio Ascension; Neanderthal Parallax; and WWW).  I loved J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series.

I am generally a picky reader so I will get only one or two books in the series to read before I judge whether I like it or not.  I've read five of the nineteen books in Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher series.  They are cozy reads and I intend to read the rest eventually but I find the series formulaic and not nearly as good as her Corinna Chapman series.  I liked the first in the Rogue Angel series by Alex Archer [pseudonym] and intend to read more.

I have no qualms about reading a brand new series, even if only the first book has been published.  That's how I fell in love with Deborah Harkness' All Souls Trilogy.  The waiting/anticipation for the next books is good because it amps up your excitement but this can also have the disadvantage of amping it so high that the book doesn't meet your expectations.

I generally do not reread the preceding books in a series unless it has been so long that I vaguely remember what happened in the last one.  I reread Kerry Greenwood's Corinna Chapman series at least once a year, if not more.  I might reread "Cooking The Books" before the next one comes out.

The fourth in Dan Brown's Robert Langdon series, "Inferno" just came out in May.  I haven't read it yet but it's on my TBR.  Although the Robert Langdon books are a series, I have found that they are also standalones; you can read them out of order.

I've also read books in series by:
*Douglas Adams (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy)
*V.C. Andrews (Landry, Casteel and Cutler series)
*Nick Bantock (Griffin & Sabine)
*Jack Canfield (Chicken soup for the soul)
*Laura Childs (Scrapbooking mysteries)
*John Dunning (Cliff Janeway)
*Helen Fielding (Bridget Jones...and I just discovered #3 comes out in October!!!)
*Molly Harper (Jane Jameson)
*Lucy and Stephen Hawking (George)
*Sable Hunter (Hell Yeah!)
*E.L. James (Fifty Shades)
*Susan Kaye (Frederick Wentworth, Captain)
*Sophie Kinsella (Shopaholic)
*Lissa Matthews (Simple Need)
*James McGee (Matthew Hawkwood)
*Stephenie Meyer (Twilight)
*Beth Pattillo (Jane Austen)
*Lincoln Peirce (Big Nate)
*Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)
*Nora Roberts (Key Trilogy)
*Alexander McCall Smith (44 Scotland Street)
*Jeff Smith (Bone graphic novels)
*Kevin Sylvester (Neil Flambé)
*J.R.R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings)
*Angela Verdenius (Big Girls Lovin' Trilogy and its spin-offs)
*Mélanie Watt (Scaredy Squirrel...and I just discovered the next one comes out in August!!!)
*Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Cemetery of Forgotten Books)
*Sevens series by seven different authors

Read on,
Paula

BTT: How many?

How many? (from Booking Through Thursday)

1. How many books do you read in a week? Month? Year?

2. What's the best book or series you've read so far this year?

3. What's the worst book you read this year? Did you finish it?

How many books I read fluctuates based on the length of the book I'm reading, how much I like it, and how much free time I have.  So far, last year was a record-breaking year for me.  According to Goodreads, I read 242 books last year.  Granted, last year I was reading a lot of ebooks, which tend to be more novellas and short stories than full-length novels and non-fiction books.  This year, I'm not reading as many ebooks and am trying to read from my own library.  So far, the latter is not working out well, unless you count reading books I've newly bought.  Goodreads has a reading challenge where you set your own goal for the year.  This year my goal is 150...not as high as last year but reasonably attainable (I read 124 in 2011).  It's fun to see the little gauge on the challenge creep closer to the end.  Whether I'm successful or not, I know that I won't do it again.  I find it too stressful, especially because Goodreads tells you if you are ahead or behind schedule.  I'm currently behind schedule even though I was ahead of schedule for most of the year.  Now I'm getting anxious.  And now that I'm working more hours at work, I have less free time than last year for reading.

I have a tie for the best (fiction) book I've read so far this year.  "Dust and Shadow" by Lyndsay Faye versus "Up and Down" by Terry Fallis.  I just can't make up my mind yet.  Both have their strong qualities that make it hard for me to pick just one.  But the best (non-fiction) book I've read this year is "The Unapologetic Fat Girl's Guide To Exercise and Other Incendiary Acts" by Hanne Blank.  I highly recommend it to anyone who is overweight, no matter how fit you already are.  (Yes,  you can be both fat and fit!)

I would have to say that "The Boy in the Dress" by David Walliams is the worst book I've read this year.  I did finish it but I was intensely disappointed.  You can read the un-review I wrote about it.  Basically, it was nothing like what I expected.

Read on,
Paula

"Neil Flambé and the Marco Polo Murders" by Kevin Sylvester

Synopsis: Neil Flambé may be fourteen years old, but he’s also a world-renowned chef. Patrons pay top dollar and wait months for reservations at his tiny boutique restaurant. But Neil is more than a fantastic cook—he solves crime too. Ever since he used his kitchen know-how and keen sense of smell to acquit a man of murder, he’s been helping Police Inspector Sean Nakamura crack case after case.
But when some of the best chefs in town turn up dead, the crime scenes turn culinary. Police are stumped, and the only clues are the scents of mysterious spices and a journal that may have belonged to…Marco Polo? Neil must find a way to connect the past with the present and solve the murders—or he could end up as the prime suspect!

My review:
It was the illustrations and the 14-year-old chef main character that appealed to me.  Being a redhead, I enjoyed reading about a redhead, even if he is a pompous and arrogant teenager.  The only thing I didn't like about "Neil Flambé and the Marco Polo Murders" is that I kept wondering if this were the first book in the series or not.  It is, but I kept doubting it.  The reason for this is that there were vague references to events that happened in the past as if this were not the first book in the series.  Eventually I clued in that the vague references would be fleshed out later in the book with more detail.
I like the historical aspects about Marco Polo, his journeys in Asia, and Kublai Kahn.  I don't know how much of it is fact or fiction but I enjoyed it anyway.  That might entice readers to seek out more information about the explorer and his travels.  This book was a quick read and I look forward to seeing how the series develops.  So far there are four books in the series and the third one (Neil Flambé and the Crusader's Curse) was nominated for this year's Forest of Reading Silver Birch Award.  That's how I found out about the series.

Read on,
Paula

"The Roots of Desire" by Marion Roach

Synopsis: Part history, part cultural commentary, part memoir, The Roots of Desire is a witty and entertaining investigation into what it means to be a redhead. 
A redhead rarely goes unnoticed in a crowded room. From Judas Iscariot to Botticelli's Venus to Julianne Moore, redheads have been worshipped, idealized, fetishized, feared, and condemned, leaving their mark on us and our culture. Such is the power of what is actually a genetic mutation, and in The Roots of Desire, Marion Roach takes a fascinating look at the science behind hair color and the roles redheads have played over time. She discovers that in Greek mythology, redheads become vampires after they die; Hitler banned intermarriage with redheads for fear of producing "deviant offspring"; women with red hair were burned as witches during the Inquisition; in Hollywood, female redheads are considered sexy while male redheads are considered a hard sell; and in the nineteenth century, it was popular belief that redheads were the strongest scented of all women, smelling of amber and violets. Redheads have been stereotyped, marginalized, sought after, and made to function as everything from a political statement to a symbol of human carnality. A redhead herself, Roach brings candor and brilliant insight to the complicated and revealing history of redheads, making this a stand-out narrative and an essential tool in understanding the mechanics and phenomenon of red hair.

My review:
As a natural redhead, I was drawn to a book about this rare trait.  Approximately 4% of the world's population are natural redheads.  I enjoyed learning about the cultural and historical ways that redhead has been viewed.  One of the interesting things I learned from this book is that there are a lot more historically prominent redheads like Cleopatra and Henry VIII.  And yet the media do not portray them as such.  The iconic image of Cleopatra is Elizabeth Taylor and her long black hair.  The modern version of King Henry VIII is Jonathan Rhys Meyers and his brown hair.

I also enjoyed reading the genetics of red hair so that I now understand how my two dark-haired parents had two red-haired children.  Growing up, people had a love-hate relationship with the colour of my hair: the adults loved it and the kids hated it.  Having been picked on in school because of my red hair (there were three of us out of 300 students), I knew why Anne of Green Gables would try to dye her hair.  This being my first encounter with the idea of changing my hair colour, I was just as traumatized when hers turned green.  Although I wanted to change my hair colour to fit in, I never tried because I was afraid it would turn green.  But now, red hair is so acceptable that it's the top colour of hair dye sold in North America.  As an adult, I love my hair colour and no longer want to dye it.

If you are a redhead or know and love a redhead, I would recommend this book.

And I'm adding "attend Redhead Day" to my bucket list.

Read on,
Paula

Reassessing the books I liked ; Abusive relationships in fiction

I've read and liked the Twilight and Fifty Shades of Grey series.  And now I don't.  Once the negative aspects of the main characters' relationships were pointed out to me, I no longer liked the books.

After reading more about abusive relationships in romance literature, I'm realizing that I do not read romances as deeply as I do other literature.  When it comes to romance literature, I read them as fluff and do not invest as emotionally or intellectually in them.

Because the knight-in-shining-armour theme is so prevalent, I will say that most women like it when the man protects them.  They like to feel safe, knowing that the man will save them.  The Twilight series takes this theme too far.  Yes, it's a fantasy series and probably wouldn't get away with half of the stuff it does if it were not fantasy.  The amount of danger that Bella is always in, therefore needing to be protected and saved, (I hope) is unrealistic even when you take away the fantasy element.  

I am not interested in BDSM and so I have no interest in a relationship like the one in Fifty Shades.  I also am not a submissive and would not tolerate a relationship where I must do everything I'm told or be punished.  That's what my father was like and I'm glad I'm now an adult.  But even those in the BDSM lifestyle are not impressed with the series: Sophie Morgan, author of "Diary of a Submissive" wrote an article for the Guardian).

If you Google "Twilight" or "Fifty Shades of Grey" with "abusive relationship" you get a lot of results, many of which are well written.  I highly recommend "The Trouble With Prince Charming Or He Who Trespassed Against Us".

And so now I've been rereading other romance books I've loved and reassessing them.  Call me naive or cynical but I just don't believe the "in love forever within days" storylines.  Although the rest of the story and the writing may be very good, it is this instantly-in-love aspect that I can't agree with.

Read on,
Paula

"Let's Pretend This Never Happened" by Jenny Lawson

Synopsis: Jenny Lawson realized that the most mortifying moments of our lives—the ones we’d like to pretend never happened—are in fact the ones that define us. In the #1 New York Times bestseller, Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, Lawson takes readers on a hilarious journey recalling her bizarre upbringing in rural Texas, her devastatingly awkward high school years, and her relationship with her long-suffering husband, Victor. Chapters include: “Stanley the Magical, Talking Squirrel”; “A Series of Angry Post-It Notes to My Husband”; “My Vagina Is Fine. Thanks for Asking”; “And Then I Snuck a Dead Cuban Alligator on an Airplane.” Pictures with captions (no one would believe these things without proof) accompany the text.

My review: WARNING: Do not eat while you are reading this book!  It may cause you to choke on your food from laughing too hard.

I would say that this is the funniest book I've read so far.

This book made me feel so much better about myself and my life.  Because I am not as insane as the author.  My life is not as insane as the author's life.

Some of the scenarios depicted in this book would NEVER happen to me.  Like the snake thing.  Because no amount of money, begging, or love could convince me to go anywhere near the subject of one of my biggest phobias.  Same goes with spiders.  Seriously, some of the things Jenny describes in her book made me truly grateful for where and how I live.  I don't have to deal with a lot of the things she has.  My own life has not lacked drama but none of it to the scale that Jenny has dealt with.  Reading this book made me appreciate my own individuality and my life's current lack of drama.  My family is bland in comparison to hers so I have no right to complain.

I'm sure a lot of the things she writes about in her book were not funny at the time she was living it.  But she has written about them in a way that shows that she seems to be one of those people who can laugh off things once their over.  It's a good way to live and I'm working on being able to do that myself.  Despite some harrowing experiences, her "mostly true memoir" is pretty damn funny.  I laughed and snickered and chuckled a lot while reading this book.  I would totally recommend you read this book if you're feeling down or unhappy with your life.  Oh, and spoiler alert: she owns that mouse on the cover of the book.

Read on,
Paula

Dealing with squeamish content

A coworker and I were discussing the impact that language and writing style can have on your enjoyment of a book.  I also find that language and writing style impact what I can tolerate reading.

I am a squeamish person with a healthy imagination, therefore I can't watch horror movies.  However, because of the language and writing style, I had no problem reading the graphic details of the experiences of a burn victim in "The Gargoyle" by Andrew Davidson.  And I mean graphic.  The details of what happens to your skin when it burns, the medical process of trying to heal a burn victim.  Yeah, so grateful that isn't me.  But it's because of the writing style, the somewhat-detached tone of voice of the main character, that allows me to read it.

The same goes for "The Resurrectionist" by James McGee.  The book is about the history of the study of anatomy.  Therefore, there's dissection and the digging up of dead bodies.  And I (the squeamish person) found it to be the most fascinating and enjoyable book of the whole Matthew Hawkwood series.

I don't like to read murder mysteries/police procedurals for this squeamish reason.  The few that I have read have not had the language and writing style necessary for me to distance myself from the graphic content.  I also intentionally avoid them to happily maintain my naiveté.

Read on,
Paula

Ebook happy dance

It took two years but my BlackBerry Curve 9300 is finally compatible with my library's OverDrive software.  As long as the books I download are epubs, I can read them.  I did a happy dance yesterday when it all worked out...despite my phone model being on the incompatible list.  But considering the size of the screen on my phone, I'll do my searching on my computer instead of wasting my monthly bandwidth limit on searching for titles that may or may not be available.

Yes, yet another way for me to access more books.  Dangerous...

Read on,
Paula

BTT: Format

Format (from Booking Through Thursday)

1. Do you prefer to read hard cover or paperback books?

2. Why?

3. Do you read books in the other format anyway?

I will read any format.  Hardcover, paperback, ebook...whatever way I can get my hands on a book, I'll read it.  I have no preference because both formats have their advantages and disadvantages.  Paperbacks are generally lighter and floppier for laying on a table to read without holding them; but they get so easily damaged transporting between work and home.  They are flimsier.  Hardcovers are sturdier, more durable, and retain their shape the longest.  When it comes to buying books for my personal library, I prefer hardcovers because they hold up to wear and tear and aging better than a paperback.  They last longer.

Read on,

Paula

BTT: Buy, Borrow, or Trade

Buy, Borrow, or Trade (from Booking Through Thursday)

1. Do you buy the books you read, or do you borrow them from the library or from friends or from somewhere else?

2. Do you prefer new or used books?

3. If you buy them, do you keep them?

4. If you don't keep them, how long do you hold on to them before letting them go?  What do you do with them?

I mostly borrow books from the two libraries I work at.  75% of the books I buy are ones I've already read and loved.  These days I'm finding that the ones I buy that I haven't previously read turn out to be unsatisfactory and so I'm going to focus my book-buying on books I know I want to keep.

I prefer to buy new books just because they are more beautiful to me than used.  I liked buying from Better World Books because of their low prices, free shipping, and charity support but I prefer not to get former library books.  I don't mind buying used if the condition is to my liking.

Since I tend mainly to buy books I've already read and loved, I buy them with the intention of keeping them.  I want to reread them at some point in the future.

If I don't like a book I've bought that I have not previously read, I donate them to one of the two libraries I work for, I offer them to friends who may like them, or I send them to Better World Books.  I try to give them a new home as soon as possible so that they aren't cluttering up my house or my bookshelves.

Read on,
Paula