I just received Sue Grafton's T is for Trespass as a Christmas gift this morning. As soon as I sign off, I will begin it. I have read all the others in the series form letter A on, and have become familiar with the few characters she features as "regulars" in each story. She has a great sense of humor...sort of sarcastic, self-deprecating humor...and I love her attitude...a no-nonsense, practical person. She is ready to go on a moment's notice (she is a private detective) by throwing a spare pair of undies and a toothbrush in her purse. She gives herself regular haircuts with a pair of nail scissors, jogs regularly so she can splurge on those greasy drive-thru cheesburgers, or indulge in her favorite sandwich at home...sliced, hot, hard-boiled egg sandwiches on white bread slathered with store brand mayo! These little idiosyncrasies pop up in all her stories and it's nice reading about an average, down-to-earth character for a change, instead of a perfect, glamorous type. Although down-to-earth in her manners, her life/career is not...she often finds herself in life-threatening situations.

I recommend the series to anyone who enjoys a mystery mixed with humor and characters you grow to love popping back up in every new book.

Anyone else receive a new book/books for Christmas?

~~flutter ~~

flutterbug,

I have enjoyed Sue Grafton's novels for years but not so much recently. It almost seems like she has a motif that never changes. Have you ever read Robert B. Parker? He has a programmed novel ever bit as much as Sue Grafton but he is sooo succint in his language. Of course, I kinda like macho characters. Wonder why.

A work I would recommend that no one you know will have read is, Ransom of Russian Art by John McPhee. It is about Norton Dodge and his wife Nancy.

Norton Dodge bought Russian art underground starting in the 1970's and smuggled them out of the USSR. No Russian was interested in the Russian impressionist movement. He and his wife donated thousands of works to Rutger's University. It is the largest collection on Russian Impressionist in the world.

Fun and educational story. I loved it.

Nick

I am currently reading Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes. It was recommended by a friend on another writing site. It is the poignant, often humorous, tale of Rachel, a young Irish woman, who moved to NY from Ireland. She is quickly caught up in the fast pace and becomes a frequent user of "recreational" drugs, until she ends up in the ER having overindulged. She quickly loses her job, her best friend, and her boyfriend. Her family scoops her up and brings her back to Ireland to put her into a rehab. She mistakenly thinks it is going to be a posh place where all the rock stars go, and allows her family to put her there, even though she denies having an addiction. She figures she could use a few months of saunas and massages in this "spa" setting. She keeps waiting to find out where the saunas are and when she can get a massage and seaweed wrap, until the realization dawns that this is not what she expected.

At first she seems out of place amidst all these "crazy" people with addictions, when she has none. Then she finds out that her boyfriend filled out a questionnaire about her drug use and is devastated, figuring he did it just to be mean and nasty. Questionnaires are often read aloud in group therapy. She is living in dread of what was written by him.

I am currently in the middle of this, and feel Rachel is about to have an "awakening".

Interesting characters and a true depiction of someone in "denial".

~~flutter~~

Nothing for me ! I just finished reading all seven Harry Potter books in order and find myself unable to proceed to anything else. Who would have guessed that a 47-year-old man would get so much out of a series of books for kids. Sheeeeesh !

I am thinking of tackling Steven Hall's "The Raw Shark Texts" next when I find myself in the mood to read once more.

Hey, Jim! I'm a lot older than you and I adore childrens books...books for ages a LOT younger than the Harry Potter series. No crime in that; I think a good author is a good author is a good author...be it for young children, preteens, adolescents or adults. Many times through the years I would read my kids assigned books when they were through. The Indian in the Cupboard readily comes to mind. Excellent! and another for which my mind is straining to recall the title*! Dang! I'll keep thinkin' on it~~

Presently I am reading Predator by Patricia Cornwell. In this instance PREDATOR is an acronym for Prefrontal Determinants of Aggressive-Type Overt Responsivity, a research study.

The book deals with forensics as well, and is a mystery involving the disappearance of two sisters that leads the main character, Dr. Kay Scarpetta, to "follow clues that twist and turn, leading her into the psychopathic depths of a jailed serial killer's mind."

Perhaps it's because the only time I get to read it is just before bed, but I find that it has too many characters to try to keep track of, and I am constantly flipping back to see who is who. But to its credit, I am intrigued by what is going on and want to know who the bad guy really is, so I am compelled to keep reading. I have a hunch it isn't the character they make you hate from the get go...that would be too obvious. I'll stop back for an updated review after I complete it.

I just recalled that wonderful have-to-read childrens book I mentioned above. It is *Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. Loved the concept!

~~flutter~~

Presently, I am reading Eminent Domain Law Basics, Course 803, International Right of Way Association

Gee...that sounds mighty interesting!!!

kidding of course, you jusst made my brain hurt.
Kathleen

I fought the law with a six-gun,
I fought the law & the law won!

I am currently halfway through Stephen King's Hearts in Atlantis. I was immediately taken in by the main character, a young boy named Bobby. He befriends a strange older gentleman who moves in upstairs from Bobby and his mother. The gentleman, Ted, introduces Bobby to several books, one of them being Lord of the Flies. There is something odd about Ted, but Bobby, being fatherless, becomes very attached to Ted. Ted asks Bobby if he would like to earn some extra money by being observant in the neighborhood and letting him know if he sees any men in long yellow coats, any moons and stars chalked in next to hopscotch squares, any upside want ads on bulletin boards, and other odd things.

I suppose being a Stephen King book I should have expected a weird twist to the story. I was told this was not one of his regular "horror" stories. We'll see...

I am reminded of The Painted House by John Grisham, perhaps only in the fact that both stories have a young pre-adolescent boy as the main character...a young boy who is suddenly thrown into an adult world. That is probably where the comparison ends, but I haven't finished Hearts in Atlantis yet.

What I have read so far has greatly held my interest, and for that fact alone, I'd recommend it.

Maybe I'll stop back in a few more days when I finish the book.

Later~~flutter~~

I received a copy of Nicholas Sparks'The Lucky One for Christmas and am drawn in already. I didn't read the cover flap because oftimes it gives away too much; therefore, I can't really tell you very much about it just yet. I suppose if you've enjoyed other Nicholas Sparks books, you'd enjoy this one.

Well...ok, I'll tell you just a little of what I already know:
It involves an Iraqi War soldier who discovers a photo in the sands of a woman at an amusement park and is signed "Be Safe, E". After all sorts of attempts to find its owner he finally pockets it. When his third tour of duty is over and he is stateside once again, he sets off on foot with his backpack and German Shepherd, Zeus, to find the girl in the photo. His only clues are a banner in the background of the photo reading "Hampton Fairgrounds" and the logo on the girl's tee shirt reading "Lucky Lady".

Anyone else receive a new book for Christmas? Jack, I know you often receive the latest John Grisham book. Anybody out there in WD land???(Echo~~ Echo~~ Echo~~)

~~flutter~~ (who plugs on doggedly, refusing to let the site lie down and die!!)

PS I also received a case of Shingles!! Damn! I was SO hoping for aluminum siding!

I am currently reading Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris. The current popular HBO original series, TrueBlood, is based on this novel. I would NEVER have thought I'd be reading or watching something about VAMPIRES, but the author takes a totally new and unique twist on the subject and it is well-written. I saw the first season on HBO, so as I am reading the book it was taken from, I am able to picture the characters by using the actors on the show. Great fun! Unique fun! I recommend it!

~~flutter~~

I am currently reading Host by Stephanie Meyer.
And I'm really struggling to get through it. After reading her Twilight series just for kicks, I thought I'd try out her new one but so far it's a painstakingly slow read.

I'm not one to give up on a book so I'll get through it eventually. My goal is to be finished by 2011.

This post has been edited at member's request.La Juliette,

Got stuck doing jury duty last Thursday so I brought along Stephanie Meyer's Host hoping I could finally get in to it, but alas...this book just plain sucks as does jury duty!




Ever sit in a crowded room with 200 people for 8 hours?

It's not fun.