Monday, January 23, 2012

Bad Things Happen (2010)

Bad Things HappenBad Things Happen by Harry Dolan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was immediately caught in the web woven by author Harry Dolan and his mysterious character David Loogan. The writing and the storytelling are both deceptive in their simplicity. For literate mystery readers everywhere, discovering this new series is a delight.

Set in the college town of Ann Arbor, it was fun to recognize landmarks and locations used in the book. But that is only secondary to the characters, descriptions, and twists and turns in the plot that kept me up past my bedtime. Sophisticated and witty, I can't wait to read Very Bad Men.


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Friday, January 20, 2012

New Death Threats Against Salman Rushdie

I've never read the Satanic Verses, but apparently there are some very passionate people in the world who object to the words he put to paper. A quarter of a century after publication, militant Muslims have once again threatened Salman Rushdie's life. Read the CNN article HERE.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Check out the Edgar Nominees if you are so inclined. The winners of the 2012 Edgars, given by the Mystery Writers of America, will be announced on April 26th. Individual categories include: Novel, First Novel, Paperback Original, Fact Crime, Juvenile, Young Adult, Play, TV Story, and more. Grand Master this year is Martha Grimes! Check out the intro to her website. It's quite interesting!


Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Three Michigan Independent Bookstores

Before there are no bookstores left, you and I might want to check out these three independents that were written up briefly in the January/February 2012 AAA Magazine.

Ann Arbor - Aunt Agathas

I have heard of Aunt Agatha's in Ann Arbor for years but never visited. It's on my list of things to do this spring when I am ready to browse "used and new mystery, detective and true crime books".

St. Joseph - Forever Books

St. Joe's is a little more of a trip, but Forever Books' staff are "experts on Michigan authors and can recommend great reads for any local interest".
Grand Rapids - Literary Life Bookstore & More

How can you ignore a book store that has a "glowing fireplace"? Housed in a renovated bank building, Literary Life Bookstore & More "stocks a little bit of everything."

When shall we go? If you get there before me, let me know what you think. And if you know of other wonderful bookstores within a day's drive, tell me about them. I would love an excuse to visit!

Friday, January 13, 2012

Bad Things Happen (2010)

This is the book I am currently reading thanks to Kathryn Krentz's recommendation and my local library's reserve system.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

IN THE GARDEN OF BEASTS: LOVE, TERROR, AND AN AMERICAN FAMILY IN HITLER'S BERLIN (2011)

After devouring Erik Larson's earlier book The Devil in the White City, it was natural to follow up with Thunderstruck and now his latest In the Garden of Beasts.

He consistently manages to make absolute page turners out of history, surprising the reader with unknown details every few pages. It's the kind of book with which you annoy everyone around you by insisting they 'listen to this'!

His story sketches the life and times of William E. Dodd, America's Ambassador during Hitler's rise to power, and his family in Germany during the 1930s. There are pages of citations and references but you don't need to use them to get through this fascinating tale.

Here's a quote that particularly caught my attention:

"In conclusion," he said, "one may safely say that it would be no sin if statesmen learned enough of history to realize that no system which implies control of society by privilege seekers has ever ended in any other way than collapse."

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Want to Break the Amazon Habit and Support Your Independent Bookstore?

 (Credit: iStockphoto/PaulaConnelly/mbortolino)
It's too late for Jackson, Michigan since our last bricks and mortar 'new' bookstore is gone, but you could search for an independent bookstore elsewhere to support. Read this article from Salon that a friend posted on Facebook to see if these suggestions would work for you.

Books Make a Home

A friend just posted this book on Facebook and another friend commented, "There seems to be an awakening to the design potential of books!" (It's currently temporarily out of stock at Amazon if that conveys interest in the title.)

There's one very helpful customer review at Amazon, which explains that the book has suggestions for books room-by-room as well as "useful tips on caring for and cleaning books, how to store old and valuable books, and different methods of organizing books".

I recently arranged my books in the living room in a way more pleasing to the eye. Rather than have them all standing up like a library,  I stacked some on their side, which also serves as a book end. On the other hand, it really annoys me to see books used exclusively as decoration. My books get read and they aren't all pretty with expensive bindings. It really is what's inside that counts.

On the other hand, my local library has a copy on order so I put in my request for it when it arrives!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

"There's Nothing Like a Real Book"

A short stop-action animation called The Joy of Books created by Toronto's Type Books



Discovered on Boing Boing.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Experience a Beautiful Bookstore in Portugal

Book Barn in West Chester, Pennsylvania

A friend mentioned recently that her father, who I met years ago, works at the Book Barn so I looked it up. And what a surprise! I am sure that my parents took me here as a child. I grew up in Philadelphia and a favorite weekend outing took us on back roads all around the area, stopping at interesting places to explore.



The next time I am in the area, the Book Barn will definitely be a destination!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

The Westing GameThe Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just re-read this book for the millionth time and still cried at the end. It is one of my favorite books of all time and I didn't discover it until I was an adult.



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