Tim Burton to Direct Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Tim Burton to Direct Ransom Riggs Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. You can read what I had to say about it when I read it two years ago by clicking HERE.

The Pittsburgh Novel Blog Site

Do you love having your stories anchored to a special place where you have lived, wished you lived, or would just like to visit?

Today I learned about The Pittsburgh Novel, A Reader's Guide to Western Pennsylvania Fiction, 1792-2013.

I've linked to a review of Dennis Palumbo's most recent mystery Night Terrors, which I have also reviewed on Book Keeping.

If you are fascinated or curious about Pittsburgh, you'll want to check out this blog.

Death Angel (2013)

Death Angel by Linda Fairstein
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's been awhile since I have read one of Linda Fairstein's Alexandra Cooper stories. What I enjoy is how she weaves secrets of New York City into her procedurals. This time the crime occurs in Central Park and becomes connected to the Dakota allowing her to share wonderful historical and present day information about those locations.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy through Net Galley. This title will go on sale July 30, 2013.


View all my reviews

 

My Top Ten Summer Reads 2013

Everyone seems to be making lists these days; and since I feel I have been lucky in my reading choices so far this year, I have made my own. Being an enthusiastic reader, I might have made a longer list but here are reads I consider 'sure things' in no particular order.

Beautiful Ruins - Jess Walter
Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
The Language of Flowers - Vanessa Diffenbaugh
The Banks of Certain Rivers - Jon Harrison (e-book only)
The Dinner - Herman Koch
Life After Life - Kate Atkinson
Rage Against the Dying - Becky Masterman
Reconstructing Amelia - Kimberly McCreight
Someday, Someday Maybe - Lauren Graham
Foal Play - Kathryn O'Sullivan

Some are thrillers, some are mysteries, and some are love stories.

Drowning in Books - Saturday Morning Thoughts

The wealth of enticing new titles roles over me like a wave. Impulsively I reach out and grab a few.

How do I decide? By favorite genre, by name recognition, by bombardment of reviews, by any little detail that connects to my own life.

It underscores the need of authors to create relationships with readers because we are overwhelmed.

Jodie Picoult in Lansing December 9, 2013

A few years ago the Jackson District Library brought Jodi Picoult to town and I was lucky enough to attend and hear her speak. It was a wonderful experience. Everyone felt as though she was speaking directly to them!

Jodi writes about families, relationships, and love presenting ethical and moral questions that draw the reader in.

Now I have learned that she will be speaking on Monday, December 9th sponsored by the Lansing Town Hall Lecture Series. Attached is the PDF for the flier, which includes the entire series. It does state that individual tickets, if available are $30. Interested? Check out the flier HERE.

Decorating with Books

Everybody is decorating with books these days, but here's an entirely different way to tie that theme into your scheme.

Check out Book Riot's post on Awesome Bookish Flooring.

A Tap on the Window (2013)

For a new title by Linwood Barclay, I will drop almost anything and start reading. A Tap on the Window will be available on August 6. 2013.

Dare to Die (2009)

Dare to Die by Carolyn Hart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

After some intense reading the last couple of months, I needed a break. Carolyn Hart's charming Annie and Max Darling series (Death on Demand #19) was the perfect choice. Annie owns a mystery bookstore in Broward’s Rock, South Carolina. What could be a more perfect setting for a cozy?

Dead, White and Blue, the 23rd entry in the series, is now available.

What's fun about Hart's books is that she name drops mystery writers and book titles throughout so you'll have an unending list of books to read!

View all my reviews

Wordless Wednesday

Discovered at a Used Book Store in Alabama

For more photos around the web, visit the Wordless Wednesday list today.

My Current Heart's Desire Achieved

Available August 27, 2013

Right before dinner, the UPS guy brought me my current heart's desire. 
 

Book Domino Chain World Record

You can't help but smile. . .

Addicted to Libraries

Caught in a used bookstore AGAIN

Today I stopped at my local library branch to pick up two books. I have been waiting impatiently for Beth Hoffman's Looking for Me and curious about Michael Hainey's After Visiting Friends.

The head librarian knows how to hand sell and I left with Beth Hoffman's earlier Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, which someone had just returned. As a matter of fact, the librarian and one of her staff members had just been discussing wanting to read Looking for Me before they even noticed it was sitting on the reserve shelf waiting for me!

Then because I am random and impulsive, I picked up two movies that I've been wanting to watch. Somewhere in Time, of course, is a re-watch but I missed Les Miserables when it was in movie theatres.

When am I going to have time for all this reading and watching? I think I better head to my comfy chair and get back to Bonnie Jo Campbell's Once Upon a River.

Breaking Up with Libraries by Nina McHale

When I retired six years ago, I turned my back on the library world. After years of feeling proud of doing more with less and less, I was just exhausted. When you stop swimming against the current and look around, you find all your hard work has resulted in little permanent change.

A dedicated librarian friend shared this blog post via Twitter and it shines a light on the difficult struggle to make a difference.

Breaking Up With Libraries is a thoughtful piece. If you care about libraries, you should read it and the comments.

The Great Gatsby (Movie)

Currently Showing in Theatres

I like movies. I just don't often take the time to sit quietly and watch them. So on a recent trip to visit family in Minneapolis, we chose to see Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby one evening.

Chris Nashawaty's review in Entertainment Weekly only assigned a B- to the film. There was controversy over the manic feel and 21st century hip-hop tracks. None of that bothered me. I enjoyed the spectacle.

What the movie did was encourage me to read the book. I borrowed a copy from my niece and plan to read it this summer. Can you believe I have never been required to read F. Scott Fitzgerald's Jazz Age classic? It's true.