Hello,
So here we are. 2010. Brand new year. Are you excited? I actually am. As I discussed here last year this is my blog-a-versary. I've had a great time writing about all things literary and I am shocked that there are those that enjoy these words.
Here's a breakdown of 2009 by month 10-words-or-less style with links included:
January- Good Fortune. ABA Winter Institute.
February-Learning from Dickens. Picking Fights With Poets.
March-S#!t hits the fan. Schedule opens up.
April-Oh Little Dorrit!
May-Rant about E-Readers
June-Read Many Many Books.
July-Became BPRD obsessed.
August-Met Chris Claremont, Comics legend.
September-Rant about Banned Books.
October-Poetry saves me.
November-The format changes. Asterios Polyp.
December-Best of Lists Galore.
In the end I am so grateful to anyone who stumbles upon this and enjoys it. Thank you humble readers. Happy New Years! Book Slave
Showing posts with label New Years. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Years. Show all posts
2010-01-01
2008-12-30
Living in Motels
Hello,
Hope you all had an awesome holiday. I did. I cannot believe it is almost 2009. (That's just crazy! Where's the flying cars?) Good times ahead I hope. Cheers to you all. Happy New Years! I enjoyed Book Club tonight where we discussed Motel Life (see review below) and had a good time. If you want to have some fun and read interesting books we meet at Sam Weller's Books on the last Tuesday of every month at 6:30 pm. Come on by, it's a good time. Onward!
Reviews
What I Said and How I Lied
I first heard about this book after it won the National Book Award for YA titles. The title and cover were also intriquing. This book takes place in post-war America as Evie, a girl whose 15 going on 16, her mother and stepfather take a trip to Florida and gets caught up in mystery and romance. The first person narration is written in a snappy noir style that enjoyed immensely. It's written in a witty style that only emphasized the noir feel of the story. I was surprised to discover that this is more of a story about lost innocence rather than a clear cut mystery. Evie's slow discovery of the dysfunction in the adult world around her was heartbreaking. This is a great read which I enjoyed and highly reccommend.
Other Reviews
Becky's Book Reviews|YA New York|Ink Splot 26
The Motel Life
I had picked up this title upon the high reccommendation of a co-worker but I have been sitting on it for awhile. When it was announced as the book club choice for December I finally picked it up. Boy am I glad I did. Frank and Jerry Lee Flannigan have had a terrible of run of bad luck all their lives. Drifting along in Reno Nevada, the work lower class jobs in a rootless existence. When Jerry Lee commits a terrible crime it's Frank who is stuck cleaning up the mess. Reading this I noticed strong overtones of Steinbeck, Denis Johnson, and Kerouac. I loved the bond between the two main characters and it was devastating watching the effects of a life marked by failure. Like Of Mice and Men Frank is burdened by his need to take care of his brother. However, rather than become melodramatic Vlautin instead chooses a more detached ending that I don't think quite works. I guess I just wanted a little more story in my story. The main characters really don't change all that much. I think he easily could have delved more into the characters. Although it's a bleak story I did enjoy this story of flawed characters living desperate lives.
Other Reviews
New York Times|KQED|The Independent
The Reading List
Books
The Irregulars
Generation X
Comics
Trinity #29
Magazine
Newsweek
Check Out Count: Continues to Improve.
Comic Pull List: Batman #684, Batman Cacophony #2, Goon #31, Green Lantern #36, Incognito #1, Northlanders #13, Stand Captain Trips #4, Superman #683, Trinity #31, Wolverine #70
Happy New Years! Have a great week! See yeah in 2009! Book Slave.
Hope you all had an awesome holiday. I did. I cannot believe it is almost 2009. (That's just crazy! Where's the flying cars?) Good times ahead I hope. Cheers to you all. Happy New Years! I enjoyed Book Club tonight where we discussed Motel Life (see review below) and had a good time. If you want to have some fun and read interesting books we meet at Sam Weller's Books on the last Tuesday of every month at 6:30 pm. Come on by, it's a good time. Onward!
Reviews
What I Said and How I Lied
I first heard about this book after it won the National Book Award for YA titles. The title and cover were also intriquing. This book takes place in post-war America as Evie, a girl whose 15 going on 16, her mother and stepfather take a trip to Florida and gets caught up in mystery and romance. The first person narration is written in a snappy noir style that enjoyed immensely. It's written in a witty style that only emphasized the noir feel of the story. I was surprised to discover that this is more of a story about lost innocence rather than a clear cut mystery. Evie's slow discovery of the dysfunction in the adult world around her was heartbreaking. This is a great read which I enjoyed and highly reccommend.
Other Reviews
Becky's Book Reviews|YA New York|Ink Splot 26
The Motel Life
I had picked up this title upon the high reccommendation of a co-worker but I have been sitting on it for awhile. When it was announced as the book club choice for December I finally picked it up. Boy am I glad I did. Frank and Jerry Lee Flannigan have had a terrible of run of bad luck all their lives. Drifting along in Reno Nevada, the work lower class jobs in a rootless existence. When Jerry Lee commits a terrible crime it's Frank who is stuck cleaning up the mess. Reading this I noticed strong overtones of Steinbeck, Denis Johnson, and Kerouac. I loved the bond between the two main characters and it was devastating watching the effects of a life marked by failure. Like Of Mice and Men Frank is burdened by his need to take care of his brother. However, rather than become melodramatic Vlautin instead chooses a more detached ending that I don't think quite works. I guess I just wanted a little more story in my story. The main characters really don't change all that much. I think he easily could have delved more into the characters. Although it's a bleak story I did enjoy this story of flawed characters living desperate lives.
Other Reviews
New York Times|KQED|The Independent
The Reading List
Books
The Irregulars
Generation X
Comics
Trinity #29
Magazine
Newsweek
Check Out Count: Continues to Improve.
Comic Pull List: Batman #684, Batman Cacophony #2, Goon #31, Green Lantern #36, Incognito #1, Northlanders #13, Stand Captain Trips #4, Superman #683, Trinity #31, Wolverine #70
Happy New Years! Have a great week! See yeah in 2009! Book Slave.
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