Tag Archives: books

Currently Reading

16 Friday Jan 2015

Posted by in Currently Reading, Non-Fiction

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In an effort to make more posts, and posts not solely about my adventures and misadventures in motherhood, I’ve come to you today to talk about books.

Reading is my all-time favorite thing. Ever. Who doesn’t love reading?! He who doesn’t love a good book is either mentally compromised or just plain boring. There’s nothing like the escape you get from reading a good book.

I am currently reading “Odd Thomas” by Dean Koontz. Full disclosure: I didn’t want to read it until I saw the movie. And while the movie was fairly enjoyable, the book, as in most cases, is much better, and I’m only halfway through (by most cases I mean I have one instance where I preferred the movie to the book, more on that later).

What it’s about: the main character, Odd Thomas (excellent name, by the way, Mr. Koontz) can see dead people. Also these things called bodachs, basically lovers of disaster and misfortune. In this book, Odd (Oddie to his soul mate, Stormy) must figure out why the bodachs have decided to follow a new-to-town citizen, who gives Odd a bad vibe.

Why I love it so far: the book is written in first person, from Odd’s point of view, and I love Odd as a character. The voice Koontz has given him, his attitude, even his denial of notoriety and his unabashed and pure love for Stormy Llewyn. Odd is a simple man with simple wants and needs, and the only bug ambition he has is his determination to solve the mystery and protect lives, and marrying his true love.

I’m only about halfway through book one, but I know I’ll be reading the rest of the Odd Thomas novels.

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Am I Coming in Clear?

18 Tuesday Mar 2014

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While I would still like to know why I have followers, and I’m still curious as to what they think about my posts, I am still here.

Although it’s been a while since I made a post, I have been trying to think of what to post. I know, since my blog is based on words, I should include some of my own words, fiction-wise. Perhaps share some of my favorite passages from the stuff I’ve written, or write new things specifically for the blog.

I have also thought about book reviews. I’ve seen many here, and have considered doing reviews of my favorite books. I’m not someone who reads a lot of classics, or epic tales, or even much from the best seller list. I read whatever I fancy, and that includes anything from Stephen King (he is his own genre) to young adult. I have read the Twilight Saga, the Hunger Games, and the Harry Potter series, in that order, but not in order of my favorites. A post for another day, perhaps.

I am also contemplating doing “interviews” with some of my favorite writers. Now, these would by no means be “famous” writers, but they would be those that I know who I’d like to share with you. Also, keep in mind that I have a very special definition of a writer. The term “aspiring writer” frustrates me, if you couldn’t tell from my last post.

If you care to comment, please feel free to share with me what you’d like to see or read from me. Anything at all. Heck, write out long and thought-provoking GIBBERISH. It might make me laugh, and illicit a response.

And I do love a good laugh.

-c

I am a writer! I promise!

28 Friday Feb 2014

Posted by in Books, My Writing, Non-Fiction

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Yes, I know I said we’re all writers, but I do the thing! I’ve made a few bucks off of it, too!

Although I’ve self published a few books, the one that I’ve actually sold, and that has actually been purchased by actual real people is called “Black Friday: A Zombie Story” and it is currently available in paperback on Amazon.

The story is told in first person, and takes place on, you guessed it, Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year, in a retail store. It follows a few hours in the lives of employees and customers of the store, when it is overcome by zombies!

Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? Because it is! It’s got laughs, but it also has it’s serious side.

I feel that now is the moment at which I must admit that the idea was not originally my own. The idea was given to me by a former coworker who said that The event of Black Friday reminds him of a zombie movie that takes place in a mall, Dawn of the Dead.

So, amused I though, “What if there were zombies in “the store” on Black Friday?” I mentioned it to my coworker, mentioned that I should ” totally write that story!” He laughed, agreed, and joked that if I get rich off of it, he “gets a cut.”

I don’t know where he is now, that coworker, but I am glad for the idea. Once I decided I would start the story, began asking others if they wanted to be in it. Several people agreed, and once the story eventually got under way, it became pretty popular at work.

I began posing pages or chapters on a Facebook page I started for the story.

The story is no long online in all it’s entirety, but I plan on posting it here on its own page in the very near future. There is a two-three chapter preview available there, so check it out!

Thanks for reading!

Books. Because Reasons.

27 Thursday Feb 2014

Posted by in Books, Non-Fiction

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There is nothing better than a new book, a real book with a cover and real pages. Don’t get me wrong, a kindle, or iPad, or any of those types of devices are convenient and sometimes fun to use. But no matter how far technology advances, it has a long way before it can successfully give me the same pleasure that an actual book can.

And you know what I like even more? Old books. Oh my. Old books have a feel, a quality, even a smell that new books don’t have. The pages are different, even brittle with age and wear. One look at an old book, you can see the joy it’s brought someone for a long time.

Two of my most favorite possessions are books. Both were given to my by my grandmother. I’m not quite sure she understood the gravity of the act, but they’ve made an impact on me.

The first one is called “One Thousand Beautiful Things”, and it was published in 1947. It’s a compilation of short stories, poems, plays, passages, excerpts, and quotations. Some of my favorite poems and short stories were found among its pages. I remember long summer days in my too warm childhood home, leafing through it’s thinking musty pages, making note of my favorite things.

The other book, a well known story by Lewis Carroll “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”. The original story of Alice in Wonderland was published in 1865. My vey old, very brittle copy has no cover. The first page was an originally blank end page. On this blank page is “From AuntY C to Lois Parker Given Dec. 25, 1907.” This makes it not only the oldest possession I have ever owned, but older to than the grandmother who gave it too me. The fact that it’s survived this long amazes me, so I am determined to take good care of it.

Giving the gift of a good book is thoughtful. But if you love books as much as I, the gift of a good (better yet a good AND old) book is priceless.

My most recent gift was from my mother. It’s called “Once Upon A Time: The Fairy Stories of Arthur Rackham”. It’s an illustrated compilation of several stories, including classic fairy tales, a Peter Pan story and several Aesop’s Fables. It’s going to be the perfect bed time story book for when I have children, and it too is now one of my prized possessions.

What’s your most prized possession? Is it a favorite book, a memento, an item from childhood? Why does it mean so much?