Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Mailbox Monday/It's Monday...what are you reading? (late edition)

Mailbox Monday is a weekly event hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page.

Another slow week, but some good bargains at the Goodwill sale (no book over $1.50)!

King Arthur and His Knights of The Round Table--Roger Lancelyn Green

Retold out of the old romances, this collection of Arthurian tales endeavors to make each adventure--"The Quest for the Round Table", "The First Quest of Sir Lancelot", "How the Holy Grail Came to Camelot", and so forth--part of a fixed pattern that effectively presents the whole story, as it does in Le Morte D'Arthur, but in a way less intimidating to young readers.


Haunted (The Mediator #5)--Meg Cabot

My name is Susannah Simon, and I am a mediator — a liason between the living and the dead. If you think this gets in the way of my attempt at a normal sixteen-year-old life, you'd be right. You try going to the mall while constantly being accosted by the undead.

Not that this is a bad thing all the time. Like, for example, when I discovered my bedroom is haunted by Jesse, the ghost of a nineteenth-century hottie. While I haven't made much progress with him (only one kiss so far), I remain optimistic. Jesse's inexplicable resistance to my charms is not my only obstacle, though: there's this other guy. A live one, who has the same gift of gab with the undead I have. In the same way I'm after Jesse, this guy is after me. And he knows how to send Jesse to the Great Beyond. For good.

So I guess you could say I'm haunted. I just never thought it would be by someone who isn't dead.



Thunder and Lightning: Cracking Open The Writer's Craft--Natalie Goldberg

More musings from Natalie Goldberg on writing as a spiritual path, as "an authentic Zen way." Goldberg has some nice things to say about the importance of the process of writing. She recommends her students spend two years at writing "practice" before undertaking a specific project, so that they can "get in touch with their wild minds." The most inspired writing, she says, comes when one's conscious mind gets out of the way. Still, we are puzzled by Thunder and Lightning: is it really meant to show us how to turn "our flashes of inspiration ... into a polished piece of work," as the book jacket touts? It comes off more as a collection of Goldberg's ruminations on writing and reading. Goldberg tells us about her friend Julie's writing process. Another pal, Kate, talks about plot. We study Styron with Goldberg's workshop students and take a road trip through the South to try to figure out just how some of the poorest states in the union managed to produce so many great writers. There are some good stories here, and it's vaguely interesting to know what Nat likes to order when she does her café writing or lunches with her editors, but we end up desiring a little less wandering and a little more focus. --Jane Steinberg


"...What are you reading?" is a weekly event hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey through a world of Books.

Books Finished:

The Tale of the Body Thief--Anne Rice (audio book)

The Silent Governess-Julie Klassen (review coming up soon)

Currently Reading:

Fragile--Chris Katsaropoulos

Creeping Shadows--Alan Draven, Brandon Ford, Jessica Lynne Gardner

Live a Life You Love: 7 Steps to a Healthier, Happier, More Passionate You--Dr. Susan Biali, M.D.

Queen of the Damned--Anne Rice (on audio)

Coming Up Next:

The Dark Divine--Bree Despain

Under the Dome--Stephen King


\

7 comments:

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment. It means so much.

I apologize for word verification, but as soon as I changed the settings from only users with Google accounts, I started receiving a ton of spam comments...within one hour of changing the settings. The bots are on high alert apparently.

  1. You did get some good deals. Congrats!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I never seem to find anything good at our Goodwill. You really did well. Happy reading!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh King Arthur I want that one!! One of my Favorite tales! Happy reading!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have to agree with Krista, King Author looks amazing!

    Sounds like you have been busy. :) Have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great looking books! I love book sales. Our library has one coming up on Thursday..... cant wait!

    ReplyDelete
  6. LOL The 3 new kittehs made me laugh.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for stopping by everyone! I love, love, love browsing used books. You never know what treasures you'll find.

    Sheila--I have my monthly library sale this Saturday...can't wait!

    Heidenkind--aren't they the cutest kitties?! LOL Cats rule!

    ReplyDelete
- See more at: http://www.techtrickhome.com/2013/02/show-comment-box-above-comments-on.html#sthash.TjHz2Px9.dpuf
- See more at: http://www.techtrickhome.com/2013/02/show-comment-box-above-comments-on.html#sthash.TjHz2Px9.dpuf