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Comments for What Are You Reading: July 19, 2010
What Are You Reading: July 19, 2010: 07/18/10
It's Monday! What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.
I love being a part of this and I hope you do too! As part of this weekly meme I love to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme. I offer a weekly contest for those who visit 10 or more of the Monday Meme participants and leave a comment. You receive one entry for every 10 comments, just come back here and tell me how many in the comment area.
I keep a book ready to read pretty much where ever I go. I have books stashed in my bathrooms, my bedroom, my purse and next to my favorite reading chair.
City-Makers: The Story of Southern California's First Boom by Remi A. Nadeau
I purchased this book a decade ago when I was a graduate student at UCLA. I was working on my masters and hoping to be accepted into the PhD program in the school of theater, film and television. Had I been accepted I would have written my thesis on the lexicon of the American road film. In part of research I was studying the codependent development of Los Angeles as a modern metropolis and the automobile.
I didn't get into the PhD program, and it was probably for the best. I was burned out from the two years I was there. I ended up doing web design and now that the tech industry seems to be bottoming out, I'm going back to school for an MLIS. Maybe it's the approaching homework on the horizon but I've finally decided to read through the Los Angeles history books I hadn't gotten to before I graduated from UCLA.
I'm on page 100 of 168 pages. I'm reading a first edition; it's an old and musty hardback. The book was published in 1948. Right now I'm reading about the railroad battle with Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and San Diego in the late 1880s. All these years later and the cities are still sore over who got the main railroad line.
It's a fascinating look at the people who made their mark on Los Angeles and surrounding communities. Though most of the people have been forgotten, they've left their stamp in the form of place names: Banning, Templeton, Mt. Wilson and so forth.
American Fantastic Tales edited by Peter Straub
I love short stories, especially science fiction, fantasy and horror ones. American Fantastic Tales is a collection of short stories from 1940 up to the present. The book is 750 pages long and I'm borrowing it form the library. To get it done in time, I'm reading a story a night just before bed.
I'm on page 96 and so far I've read:
- "Evening Primrose" by John Collier (1940)
- "Smoke Ghost" by Fritz Leiber (1941)
- "The Mysteries of the Joy Rio" by Tennessee Williams (1941)
- "Mr. Lupescu" by Anthony Boucher (1945)
- "Miriam" by Truman Capote (1945)
- "Midnight" by Jack Snow (1946)
- "Torch Song" by John Cheever (1947)
Mary Modern by Camille Deangelis
I got my copy through our local BookCrossing group. I think I'm the last person in the club to read it and I've held onto it much too long.
I'm on page 50 (give or take). Lucy lives by herself in the crumbling remains of the family home. At one time it was a lovely estate but it has fallen on hard times. Lucy can't afford to fix the home, her money going instead into her genetics research.
I like books where the scenery is as much a character as the people who inhabit it. Lucy's crumbling old home gives the book a lovely gothic feel even though the book is set in modern times. Lucy is a modern day Victor Frankenstein and her home is her castle.
She has yet to make her creation but I know (more or less) what's coming being the last person in the group to read the book. I don't the spoilers because I enjoy the act of reading and interacting with the words on a personal level.
Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin
A few years ago Canongate began a series of novels based on well known myths, written by well known authors. I read two of the books: Weight by Jeannette Winterson and The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood.
Lavinia isn't one of the Canongate books but its connection to The Aenid made me think of the series. Also, Ursula K Le Guin is one of my favorite authors and I was curious to see what she would do with Virgil's work.
I'm on page 70 of the book. So far Virigil's hero hasn't shown up yet and that's just fine with me. He's such a dull hero. Of all the classic epics I had to read in college, The Aenid was my least favorite. It was a let down after The Iliad and The Odyssey.
I'm reading the book while I give my daughter her bath. She's not quite old enough to bathe unsupervised but isn't so young that she need's constant supervision either. That basically means that I have to sit in the bathroom with her and read a book just in case she should need help. The books I read during bath time have to be easy to follow and easy to put down even after only a page or two without causing confusion. Had I not read The Aenid, I wouldn't be reading Lavinia in the bathroom. It would need greater concentration than I would be able to give it.
Comment #1: Monday, July, 19, 2010 at 02:20:50
Yay! I'm so glad you decided to jump on board with this! I love the way you set up your post as well, so easy to read and I love your book selection especially American Fantastic Tales, sounds fun!
Have a fabulous reading week and if you get a chance, stop by: Monday Reading's at There's A Book
Comment #2: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 11:51:22
Pussreboots
American Fantastic Tales is a great collection of stories. I just hope I have enough time to finish them all. The book is over 700 pages long.
Comment #3: Monday, July, 19, 2010 at 04:19:22
What a great mix of books you're reading! Hope you have a great reading week.
I'm reading just one book at the moment, an old (1955) dystopian novel.
Comment #4: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 11:56:41
Pussreboots
I've read other John Wyndham books, but not the one you're reading.
Comment #5: Monday, July, 19, 2010 at 03:01:48
What an interesting list of books you've got here. I'm especially curious about American Fantastic Tales and Lavinia.
Comment #6: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 11:59:30
Pussreboots
I will get both books reviewed. The short story collection I plan to review each story individually since it's an anthology.
Comment #8: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 12:02:08
Pussreboots
Thank you. I'm still getting the hang of this meme. Next week I will try to remember to post the books I finished along with the ones I'm still working on.
Comment #9: Monday, July, 19, 2010 at 11:53:13
Haven't read any of these though I do love Le Guin. must put that one at my TBR list. Thanks for stopping by On the Bookcase!
For anyone else, here's mine!
Comment #10: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 12:04:15
Pussreboots
I've read a bunch of Le Guin this year but this book is the first adult fiction of hers that I've read in a while.
Comment #11: Monday, July, 19, 2010 at 12:11:36
I'm adding Mary Modern to my goodreads list NOW.
Comment #12: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 12:07:21
Pussreboots
Mary Modern is turning out to be a weird and wonderful book.
Comment #13: Monday, July, 19, 2010 at 15:06:35
I think I'm going to blanket my home with books that might help me get some reading done! Thanks for the tips...I hope you enjoy your reads!
I'm adding Mary Modern to my goodreads list NOW.
Comment #14: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 12:09:50
Pussreboots
Don't over do with the books. I'm trying to shed some of my extras.
Comment #15: Monday, July, 19, 2010 at 15:25:41
I have been interested in reading a Ursula K. Le Guin book for a bit now, but I have yet to get to any of her work. Lavinia is on my list of her books to read. I really need to remember this author when I decide what I am going to possibly read during the fall.
Comment #16: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 12:09:50
Pussreboots
Le Guin writes for all sorts of different ages. If you want a really quick read, try her Cat-Wings series. They're middle grade books and you can read one in an hour.
Comment #17: Monday, July, 19, 2010 at 16:16:06
I'm the first to post! yay! But jokes aside you have a very good list there. I'd want to read the one by Straub. There's some excellent authors in there that I love and I'm not familair with.
I'd like to know what you think of the Le Guin. I've read the Penelopiad and am a firm fan of Atwood. Is Le Guin's writing similar to hers?
Comment #18: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 12:15:16
Pussreboots
You're actually the 9th to post but I've been too busy to get comments approved and replied to.
Le Guin's work is very similar to Margaret Atwood's. If you liked The Penelopiad you will like Lavinia.
Comment #19: Monday, July, 19, 2010 at 17:20:23
Hi and welcome to the Monday meme! I hope you enjoy it :D
You have some awesome reads here - City Makers sounds really good. Enjoy your week :D
Comment #20: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 12:20:27
Pussreboots
City-Makers is a fascinating but concise intro to the early history of Los Angeles. I will get a review posted when I'm done with the book.
Comment #21: Monday, July, 19, 2010 at 17:29:12
Oh I would love Lavinia. Le Guin is a wonderful author and this sound right up my alley. The collection of short stories also sounds fascinating. Hope you enjoy all. Have a great week.
Comment #22: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 12:23:27
Pussreboots
Both are very good books.
Comment #23: Monday, July, 19, 2010 at 17:58:08
Alaine - Queen of Happy Ending
Looks like you've got 4 great books to read. Have a great week!
Comment #24: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 12:25:57
Pussreboots
Yes I do. I hope to finish City-Makers and Mary Modern this week.
Comment #25: Monday, July, 19, 2010 at 19:43:01
hi! i hope you're having a fantastic monday :)
welcome to this awesome meme! you have some great-sounding books there. i haven't heard of most of them but they sound interesting. enjoy your books this week and happy reading :)
-michelle
p.s. thank you for stopping by our blog!
Comment #26: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 12:27:49
Pussreboots
Thank you. I have so many books on my shelves that I'm not very good at keeping current with whatever's the newest book out there.
Comment #27: Monday, July, 19, 2010 at 23:17:51
You have quite an eclectic selection of books here! Thanks for stopping by my blog, and happy reading!
Comment #28: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 12:30:31
Pussreboots
Yes. My book choices do tend towards the eclectic.
Comment #29: Tuesday, July, 20, 2010 at 00:55:41
When I read your sentence, "I love short stories, especially science fiction, fantasy and horror ones," I wanted to shout "ME TOO!"
I was just discussion with a friend that no one we know seems to read anthologies. Yet, almost everyone says they don't have time to read. I think short stories or essays be the perfect answer.
Comment #30: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 12:32:05
Pussreboots
I need a little time between each story that I read in an anthology. I try to read one or two stories a night. I will be reviewing each story separately since so many different authors are represented in the volume.
Comment #31: Tuesday, July, 20, 2010 at 08:56:36
Wow, some really great choices here!! I am interested in several of them :).
Thanks for stopping by my blog yesterday. Somewhere between reading your comment and publishing it, it was sucked into the ether. This has happened before and the comments usually return so I'm hopeful. I just cannot figure out why that happens :/
Have a great day and I cannot wait to see what you are reading next!!
Comment #32: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 12:35:58
Pussreboots
Maybe the comments get cached or something. Thank you for the return visit.
Comment #33: Tuesday, July, 20, 2010 at 11:51:25
Hey! I haven't read any of these books, but I hope you enjoy them! I love reading short stories from my favorite authors. Have a great week!
Comment #34: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 12:38:15
Pussreboots
I've already hit some favorites of mine in the anthology. I will get each story reviewed separately to highlight all the talent in this book.