books

I’ve been a reading nut for the past few weeks, pretty much to the detriment of everything else that wasn’t work or required household jobs (like making dinner).  Last September, HBO started airing True Blood, which is based on a series of books about a telepathic waitress who gets involved in some mysteries involving vampires and other supernatural creatures. Does that not sound like great TV or what?  The TV series is highly enjoyable and right in tune with HBO’s other great shows like Rome (sigh. I miss you, Lucius Vorenas and your equally intense friend Titus Pullo).

Back to True Blood…it’s bright, sassy, and full of excess.  In typical HBO fashion it’s excessive everything…violence, sex, humor, over the top characters.  Someone summed up the show in three words. Vampires and hillbillies.  It’s a pretty accurate description, but they are likable hillbillies.  Some of them.  Ok, most of them are pretty stereotypical., but I can’t help but like the show, even the vampires.  Especially the vampires. Highly ironic  considering  I spent my entire childhood, teenage years and even some of my early twenties being scared to death of vampires.  Really, I’m not kidding. I had a real, tangible fear of them.  Damn you Stephen King and your Salem’s Lot.  I read that book in high school.  Literally. I kept it in my locker and refused to take it home.  It scared the bejeezus out of me.  I somehow convinced myself that if i only read about vampires during the day when they were locked away in their hidey holes (aka coffins), I would be safe from them.  I had nightmares for years about them.  Until I read It and then my vampire nightmares were hijacked by a really scary clown hiding in the sewer.

Anyway, the TV show is based on a series of books about a waitress (Sookie Stackhouse) and the vampires who have now gone public.  I bought the first four books just after we started watching the show and began reading the first one (Dead Until Dark).  I quickly decided that I wanted to watch the entire first season on HBO first before tainting either the books or the show with the influence of the other.

I had a hard time getting into the first book and adapting to the author’s writing style.  I’m by no means a book snob. I read everything…good, bad, classics, pulp.  Whatever. I give it a try.  I was having trouble reconciling the character in the book with the actress playing her on the show because I didn’t like the way the character came across in the beginning of the book series. So I ended up putting the book aside until after the season ended.  Then, I got caught up in basketball (Go Cetics!!) and CSI and Grey’s Anatomy.  Then it was June and before I knew it, True Blood season 2 was going to begin.  I started reading the first book again from the beginning and it was much easier  now that I wasn’t doing a direct comparison to the show; the characters were able to live on their own.  I flew through the first two books while we were in San Francisco, then watched the entire season and finally just read the last 7 books in the series over the past 3 weeks.

I love the books…they are fun and light and just like really good, filling, addictive candy.  The books have become more fantastical as the series progresses.  Besides vampires, you’ll meet were-creatures, shape shifters and fairies just to name a few.  The book covers are elaborate and over the top… illustrations with just the right hits of sparkle, plus the occasional hovering vampire, flying coffin and gigantic tiger.  I’m happy to say that the show is doing the right thing by the books.  They’ve changed some details, fleshed out characters and moved some events around, but the overall feel is very good.  I especially like that the author, Charlaine Harris, is very involved in the general show, even though she does not do any of the script writing.  Did I mention that True Blood has an awesome theme song and opening credits?  That song is so good I won’t even fast forward through it. (youtube to it!!)

HBO has also just started marketing a Tru Blood beverage. It’s a blood orange soda that looks exactly like what’s on the show. How fun!  In the books/show, the vamps are able to go public because of the development of a synthetic blood substitute, Tru Blood, that allows them to live without human blood. (Of course, not all of them choose to drink it.)

I could write another ten paragraphs about the world’s reaction to the True Blood phenomenon.  How some people feel the books and show are making elaborate social commentaries on a myriad of topics encompassing race, religion, homosexuality and poverty just to name a few.  Personally, I’m not sure I’d dig that deeply into the show or the books.  But that’s just me.  It’s pure superficial entertainment on my part.

I can’t believe I wrote an entire post about a vampire book/TV series without even mentioning how good looking most of them are, especially the two main vamps.  Do a quick True Blood Google search and you’ll see.  You won’t be disappointed.  Bill (dark haired) is pretty darn good looking, and Eric (blond Viking vampire)..he’s…well, let’s just use the word luscious. It certainly fits.  So sad that I have to wait until next June for season three, but if they stick even a little bit to the 3rd book, it should make for some excellent TV.

Next up on my reading list is our October book club selection: Roast Beef’s Promise. It’s about a son who promises his dying father that he’ll spread his ashes in every state.  I sure hope it’s funny.

And on the TV front is Dexter.  Another superb cable show also based on a book series…but more on serial killer, forensic blood spatter analysts another time.

Happy Reading! (and watching!)

On Friday, I received the latest (and last) book in the Percy Jackson series: The Last Olympian.  I’ve been waiting for almost a year for this last book in the series.  I’m almost done with it and if I hadn’t fallen asleep reading the past two nights (no fault of the book…it’s great.  I blame my sleepiness on the NBA playoffs) I would be finished by now.   I have this weird ritual involving the end of a book series, ok pretty much any new book, but I take special joy in celebrating the end of a series.

First I have to hold the book for a few minutes.  For as techie oriented as I am, I’ll always choose to physically read a book in lieu of reading it on the computer.  There are too many experiences involved in reading a book.  I love the scent of a new book, and knowing that I’m the first person to open the cover and flip through the pages.

After just holding the book for a while, I start analyzing the cover art trying to identify any foreshadowing or symbolism. As terrible as this is for anyone (especially a librarian) to admit, I do occasionally judge a book by it’s cover.  Don’t cringe, I know….it’s a flaw.  The artwork on some books (the US versions of Harry Potter — THANK you Mary GrandPre) are almost as delectable as the story inside.

I’m a font freak.  I love looking at them, analyzing why a particular font was chosen.  I like the shape of letters and the structures of words.  I like looking at different text and seeing the impact of the typesetting and how it can alter and affect the tone of a book.  I love when authors use different styles of fonts to indicate other speakers or change in time or setting.

I need a quiet spot to read, most of the time I need to be alone in a room or in my bed with just my reading light on.  Ever since I was a little girl, I would read late into the night.  My mom used to have to take my books away so I could go to sleep.  Even now, I’ll read until the wee hours of the night just so I can finish a chapter or two.  I’m a little obsessed with finishing a book.

When I was ready to read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, I sat in a recliner with a huge bottle of water, some snacks and a blanket.  I held that book for at least 30 minutes before I even opened it.  This was it.  The end of it all.   Soon, I would have all the answers I thought I was waiting for.  12 hours later I learned that wasn’t true…darn you JK Rowling!!

When I read the last page and closed the book, I remember blowing out a huge sigh of relief.  Relief that I had finished the series and that I saw something to completion.  I had major surgery 5 months before the book was published and I remember trying to calm myself down on the way to the OR by repeating “things will be ok.  I have to be around to find out what happens to Harry” over and over.  Inside my head…otherwise they would have taken to the psych ward instead of the OR.

I’m a disgustingly fast reader and I continually have to force myself to read slowly so I can enjoy a book more, but it’s a losing battle.  I’ve always been a fast reader and would often read 2 books a day when I was growing up.   I’ve been reading since a very early age and can’t remember going a day without reading a book. I’m so very lucky to have the financial means to feed my love of books.  I’m pretty sure I spend more money on books than I do on clothing.  Is that wrong?

what about you my fellow book lovers.  Do you have any weird book rituals?

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about goals for this year…personal, health, travel, and professional goals. I’m sad to say I haven’t made much progress on any of them!  But I’ve been rejuvenated lately regarding some of those goals. (Thanks Kim…we’re making triathlon progress!)

I’ve begun following a lot of librarian/reader blogs because even though I spend my days working with books, I can’t seem to keep up with all the reading I need to do…for my own enjoyment OR my job! I found this post from Everyday Reading very inspiring and as a result I’ve decided to track the books I read this year.

I’d like to read 150 new books this year. Notice I said NEW…because if you read this blog you know I’m always rereading a book, so I won’t count those on this list, but I will keep track of the rereads as well, just for my own information. So again, my goal is to read 150 new books this year, which is an average of 12.5 books per month.  OK, so that’s a complete misrepresentation of realistic statistics because I could read a picture book in 20 minutes and a chapter book could take me one to seven days depending on a number of mitigating factors…how long it is, the intended audience, how much time I have to devote to reading, etc. Do you see you unnamed federal education lawmakers, just how easy it is to misrepresent statistics?? Anyway my list will include picture books, children’s books, young adult books, books for adults and professional reads. I make no distinction between books.

I added a page at the top of the blog where you can track my reads for the year.  If, if, if, I decide to review a book (something I don’t like to do. Remember…I talked about this already) I will add a link to my review.

Happy reading!
Chris

In case you’re dying to know…I think my count for the year is 10…technically according to my unrealistic statistic, I’m already behing schedule!

I had to share a photo of my new King collection! I purchased this whole set from a relative of a friend. I’m so excited! I was just thinking about getting rid of all my paperbacks and buying some hardcovers of my collection, but I was too cheap to buy the books. Then, this amazing opportunity came up and I couldn’t resist. There are a few I haven’t read, and some that I’m looking forward to re-experiencing.

I’ll take this moment to mention my favorite Stephen King books:

Eyes of the Dragon — I completely loved this fantasy book. Rumor has it that he wrote this because he wanted his young children to be able to read something he’d written. Who cares why he wrote it, the book is fantastic. Wonderful story!

Misery — Annie, Paul, the special paper, and the axe!!  oh how I loved this book (and the movie too, surprisingly– Kim…remember waking mom up to show her the foot-smashing part? She was not nearly as amused at 3am as we were!)

Skeleton Crew has to be my favorite overall King short story collection. The first story, The Mist, creeps me out today. I was horribly disappointed in the movie (which was pretty faithful to the story up to a point then not so much.)

Night Shift — another amazing collection of short stories…especially the very spooky “Sometimes They Come Back” scary!!!

My favorite short story of all time (and one of my favorite movies, too) is “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption” Most people are unaware that that movie is based on a King short story. Both are incredible.

Here’s what I’m looking forward to reading (or rereading):
Danse Macabre – a nonfiction book on the horror genre. I was always too afraid to read this, but I’m looking forward to it now.

All the stories in Different Seasons, especially Apt Pupil (I recently saw the movie, which was good and disturbing)

I think I’m ready to reread It, but I’m not sure. That book freaked me out.

Salem’s Lot -ditto on the freaking out. I used to be afraid of vampires, but I’ve gotten over that. I read this book in high school, at school. I refused to take it home and have it in my house. I would only read it during daylight hours. I know it’s strange.

The Stand – What can I say about this one?  It’s a perfect story, well written, planned and executed.

ok that’s enough of my 5 second reviews, I’m going to hug my books for a while.

I’m in the middle of a few books right now. Ever since I was little, I’ve always read more than one book at at time.  I like to leave them around the house so wherever I am, I can just pick up a book and read.  I know it’s weird, but it works for me!  Right now, I have one book on my bedside table, one in the living room, one in the basement and I usually keep one in the car, but I just finished that one. (Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick, which was terrific.)  I always have one or two going at school, too, otherwise I’d never keep up!

While most of my books are new to me, one of my current reads is always a book I’m rereading for the second, third or hundredth time.  A few weeks ago I had a long, involved conversation with a friend about my reading habits.  I have a love/love relationship with books that  has gone on for most of my life.  Reading is my one true escape and I’ve been known to get very involved and invested in characters and settings, mostly due to my rereading habit.  Books and characters are like old familiar friends the kind that don’t change, disappoint or surprise you.  I like knowing that some things remain unaltered with passage of time.  I especially like rereading a book I read a long time ago, when I was in a different place in my life, and I find that the book has new meaning, or I understand the actions of a character differently.  It’s not always about the plot, but more of an appreciation of writing style and ability.  To be able to pick up a book I’ve read many times and still be as captivated as the first reading amazes me.

These are my current reads:

The Time Traveler’s Wife byAudrey Niffenegger: I have to say I’m really enjoying. I can’t talk too much about it until after my book club meets, but I’m planning on finishing that one this weekend if possible.

White Oleander by Janet Fitch (recommended by Valerie):  I’m halfway through this book.  It’s so beautifully written, but the story is not exactly shiny and happy, so I’m moving slowly with it.

My “reread” selection is a book I discovered in a college lit class on the Romantic period.  That’s where I discovered the Shelleys (Percy Bysshe and Mary), Byron, William Blake and Coleridge.  While I enjoyed all of these poets, the book that made the most impact on me is Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or the Modern Promethus. If you haven’t read this amazing book, you should.  Don’t get confused with the square head, bolts on the neck, arms out marching, monster of the horror film version of Frankenstein, this book is a complex study of psychology, the power of human connection and above all, consequences.  It’s a masterpiece of a novel and even more impressive is that Mary Shelley was just 19 when she wrote it. (I remember that the very beginning is slow…but important, so keep that in mind).  I wrote the best paper of my undergrad career on this book.  I’m sure I’d cringe at it today, but I think my theme (Victor Frankenstein and postpartum depression — seriously…it worked) was pretty spectacular.  I need to look for that paper. I’m sure I have a hard copy, somewhere.

The Cobweb by “Stephen Bury”:  This story takes place during the Gulf War.  It’s co-written by Neal Stephenson and his uncle under the pen name of Stephen Bury. I like reading books co-written by two authors because of the meshing of different writing styles and conventions (ala Stephen King and Peter Straub’s The Talisman).  I’m not very far into this one (maybe chapter 4) but so far it’s keeping my attention.  It’s not my typical genre, so I hope I’m able to keep up with all the political, bureaucratic and military speak!

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling: I got the collector’s edition of this book for my birthday and I’ve spent the last month just looking at it.  I finally started reading it the other day and should finish it tomorrow or Sunday.  It’s handwritten with drawings done by the author, so it’s lovely to look at as well as to read.  There are some beautiful photos on amazon.com of the original one they bought last year. (Scroll down to the bottom)

That’s my current reading list.  I have the following books just waiting to be moved to the top of the pile.  More on these titles later.

The Fire by Katherine Neville (sequel to my beloved “The Eight”)
The Virgin in the Garden by A.S. Byatt
A Drowned Maiden’s Hair by Laura Amy Schlitz (A Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award nominee)
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

More later,
Chris