Saturday, January 07, 2006
Genuinely Fun Non-Fiction
10:47 p.m. / 22:47
I read notably more fiction than non-fiction. Non-fiction usually fails to really hold my attention long enough for me to finish the book. I need a plot to draw me in. Facts and figures, however interesting, just don't bring me back for more. After that last post about Killing Bono, which is non-fiction, I thought I'd post a list of non-fiction books I have read from cover-to-cover, really enjoyed and highly recommend to you.
Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
All the Clean Ones Are Married: And Other Everyday Calamities In Moscow by Lori Cidylo
Round Ireland With a Fridge by Tony Hawks
Playing the Moldovans At Tennis by Tony Hawks
Girl, Interruppted by Susanna Kaysen
I read notably more fiction than non-fiction. Non-fiction usually fails to really hold my attention long enough for me to finish the book. I need a plot to draw me in. Facts and figures, however interesting, just don't bring me back for more. After that last post about Killing Bono, which is non-fiction, I thought I'd post a list of non-fiction books I have read from cover-to-cover, really enjoyed and highly recommend to you.
Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
All the Clean Ones Are Married: And Other Everyday Calamities In Moscow by Lori Cidylo
Round Ireland With a Fridge by Tony Hawks
Playing the Moldovans At Tennis by Tony Hawks
Girl, Interruppted by Susanna Kaysen
Labels: books
Friday, January 06, 2006
Yipes! What an Eye-Catching Title!
10:30 p.m. / 22:30
If you're a U2 fan the words "killing Bono" will make you stop and look. That is precisely what happened when I saw a book titled Killing Bono. Killing Bono? Killing Bono? I had to know immediately what it was all about. It turned out, it's about the author, Neil McCormick. He went to high school with the members of U2, and began his musical career at about the same time. There's a rather notable difference between the two, though. Neil McCormick did not become a famous rock star. However, it is a whole lot of fun to read about how hard he tried to become a famous rock star. Also, as a friend of the band, he provides a very interesting perspective of U2, especially in their early days. Overall, it is an excellent book-- you should read it!
If you're a U2 fan the words "killing Bono" will make you stop and look. That is precisely what happened when I saw a book titled Killing Bono. Killing Bono? Killing Bono? I had to know immediately what it was all about. It turned out, it's about the author, Neil McCormick. He went to high school with the members of U2, and began his musical career at about the same time. There's a rather notable difference between the two, though. Neil McCormick did not become a famous rock star. However, it is a whole lot of fun to read about how hard he tried to become a famous rock star. Also, as a friend of the band, he provides a very interesting perspective of U2, especially in their early days. Overall, it is an excellent book-- you should read it!
Labels: books
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Six Graphic Novels
11:00 p.m. / 23:00
I have read several graphic novels in the past few months. They were all good, but I'm going to put stars (**) by the three I consider "must-reads".
The Clouds Above by Jordan Crane
Red Rocket 7 by Mike Allred
One Hundred Demons by Lynda Barry **
A Contract With God : and Other Tenement Stories by Will Eisner **
Shutterbug Follies by Jason Little
Birth of a Nation : A Comic Novel by Aaron McGruder and Reginald Hudlin ; illustrations by Kyle Baker **
I am supposed to have read Box Office Posion (by Alex Robinson), but I have not. My official comic geek friend is going to have to live with this.
I have read several graphic novels in the past few months. They were all good, but I'm going to put stars (**) by the three I consider "must-reads".
The Clouds Above by Jordan Crane
Red Rocket 7 by Mike Allred
One Hundred Demons by Lynda Barry **
A Contract With God : and Other Tenement Stories by Will Eisner **
Shutterbug Follies by Jason Little
Birth of a Nation : A Comic Novel by Aaron McGruder and Reginald Hudlin ; illustrations by Kyle Baker **
I am supposed to have read Box Office Posion (by Alex Robinson), but I have not. My official comic geek friend is going to have to live with this.
Labels: books
By the Way, I Do Have a Life
10:45 p.m. / 22:45
I'm going to neglect the details, but here I offer evidence that I do more than go to work, and then come home and read. I just like to talk about books a lot here because... well I can. No one has left a blank stare of disinterest as a comment yet. Anyway, here's a little bit of what I've been up to in the past few months.
October was an exciting month. I spent four days in Chicago with friends. I particularly love the Windy City, and having one of my best friends there makes visiting it all the better. At the end of the month, another best friend had her now-annual Halloween party. It's always fun to see my friends in costume. That same weekend, one of my really terrific co-workers invited a bunch of us out to her house for a bonfire. A piñata ended up being one of the highlights of that event.
In December, I went to St. Louis with three good friends to see U2 in concert. I love U2. Seeing them live is an incredible experience. At Christmas... or technically, December 27th, I gathered with pretty much ALL of my good friends and celebrated. We all put together an excellent holiday meal, and there was a lot of generosity in the gift-giving.
Also right after Christmas, I started a new job. Well, sort of. I'm still working for the same library system, in the same type of position. Now, however, I'm working full-time at a branch library, rather than part-time at the main library downtown. I really, genuinely like my new co-workers, but I miss some of my old co-workers. I'm supposed to go out for pizza with my old co-workers next weekend. The best part about being full-time, is that I have insurance-- health, dental & life!
I'm going to neglect the details, but here I offer evidence that I do more than go to work, and then come home and read. I just like to talk about books a lot here because... well I can. No one has left a blank stare of disinterest as a comment yet. Anyway, here's a little bit of what I've been up to in the past few months.
October was an exciting month. I spent four days in Chicago with friends. I particularly love the Windy City, and having one of my best friends there makes visiting it all the better. At the end of the month, another best friend had her now-annual Halloween party. It's always fun to see my friends in costume. That same weekend, one of my really terrific co-workers invited a bunch of us out to her house for a bonfire. A piñata ended up being one of the highlights of that event.
In December, I went to St. Louis with three good friends to see U2 in concert. I love U2. Seeing them live is an incredible experience. At Christmas... or technically, December 27th, I gathered with pretty much ALL of my good friends and celebrated. We all put together an excellent holiday meal, and there was a lot of generosity in the gift-giving.
Also right after Christmas, I started a new job. Well, sort of. I'm still working for the same library system, in the same type of position. Now, however, I'm working full-time at a branch library, rather than part-time at the main library downtown. I really, genuinely like my new co-workers, but I miss some of my old co-workers. I'm supposed to go out for pizza with my old co-workers next weekend. The best part about being full-time, is that I have insurance-- health, dental & life!
I've Never Been Described As "Motivated"
10:15 p.m. / 22:15
I've never been described as "motivated". Never ever. Not to my knowledge, anyway. I just thought I should share this with you, my dear readers (all two or three or you), so you'll better understand why this blog is sometimes neglected.
I've never been described as "motivated". Never ever. Not to my knowledge, anyway. I just thought I should share this with you, my dear readers (all two or three or you), so you'll better understand why this blog is sometimes neglected.
