The Sayers Swindle

Title: The Sayers Swindle

Author: Victoria Abbott [Website] aka mother/daughter team Mary Jane Maffini [Website] AND Victoria Maffini [Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Mystery

Series: Book Collector Mystery, Bk 2

ISBN: 9780425255292

Length: 292 pages + Recipes

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I just finished the first book, The Christie Curse.  And this is written by Canadian authors qualifying it for The 7th annual Canadian Book Challenge.

Comments:

I felt Jordan was a bit naïve regarding some characters and situations in this book, but otherwise I enjoyed it.  This time Jordan is trying to recover some books that were stolen from her employer's collection and subsequently sold.  Sayers is an author that I've heard of but never read.  But after hearing so much about her characters and books throughout this book, I feel that I'm sorely lacking.

I haven't that much to say about this one.  I do intend to read the next book, though.

Trailer:

The Christie Curse

Title: The Christie Curse

Author: Victoria Abbott [Website] aka mother/daughter team Mary Jane Maffini [Website] AND Victoria Maffini [Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Mystery

Series: Book Collector Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9780425255285

Length: 291 pages + "Recipes"

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I'd been interested in it since I first heard of it.  I've heard great things since.  And I knew the 2nd book had just come out.

Comments:

Jordan has gotten a new job for a reclusive working with her rare book collection.  First task, track down an elusive play written by Agatha Christie - if it actually exists.  But thats not such an easy thing to do.  There's a lot about Agatha Christie discussed throughout the book that I never knew.

Anyway, I was interested with the book collector aspect of this.  I enjoyed the characters, particularly Jordan.  And I was met with two pleasant surprises.  One, Jordan comes from a thief family.  I love stories with good-guy thieves.  And two, the authors, Mary Jane and Victoria Maffini are Canadian!  Which means this book goes toward The 7th annual Canadian Book Challenge.

I've already read book 2, The Sayers Swindle.

The Uncommon Reader

Title: The Uncommon Reader

Author: Alan Bennett (Biography.com)(Macmillan)(United Agents)

Publisher: Picador

ISBN: 9780312427641

Pages: 120

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I read it for my grandma's book discussion group, but I suggested it because it sounded interesting.

Comments:

Queen Elizabeth II of England happens upon a mobile library and the story goes from there.  I enjoyed this as the light, brief read that it is.  But there were some points that caught my attention. 

So the Queen falls into reading, but it doesn't sit easily with her at first.  This is because she is used to "doing" and reading is much more passive.  But not too far into the book the mobile library no longer shows up.  Funding has been cut, and that stop has been cut along with it.  The Queen acknowledges the gentleman (librarian?) that drove the mobile, but does nothing about the lack of funding.  I wanted to scream.  If you're so into doing, as well as so passionate about reading, why didn't you do anything about that? Huh? Huh?

Anyway, the Queen's reading has become a bit of an obsession, and parts of that I recognized... She gets books from various locations, she keeps a book with her always, she wants to talk about books constantly...  But other parts were not so familiar.  I don't think I've read the majority (if any) of the books named.  And I didn't recognize most, with the exception of the classics.

I simply couldn't fathom why the Queen's staff despised reading so.  Oh, maybe I could understand he slacking in her duty, but couldn't they work around that?

Then we come to the point where the Queen's passion shifts.  I hesitate to expound on this because I don't want to give too much away.  But I do not believe anyone that truly loves books and reading can drop them quite so quickly or easily.

The ending was interesting, though.  And after I'd finished reading it I spent a couple hours familiarizing myself with the royal family (Which I have previously paid NO attention to).

It's worth reading such a brief book for the interest ad therefore knowledge I got out of it.  Let alone the fact that I found it to be an overall pleasant read.  My grandmother, on the other hand, kept asking what the point of the story was.  We'll see what everyone else thought at the meeting.

The Library (Children's Book)

Title: The Library

Author: Sarah Stewart; Illustrated by David Small

Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux

ISBN: 9780374343880

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

Seriously? You have to ask?  I saw it and I needed to read it.

Comments:

The (fictional) life of Elizabeth Brown.  Elizabeth Brown isn't entirely like me, but there are similarities.  I do love reading, and have spent much time reading in many places.  I have walked and exercised while reading.  I've stayed up late reading, and while never successfully checking out books I personally owned, I did want to.  I even began the beginning stages (before quickly petering out).  And I most certainly understand having books everywhere.  I believe I've decided there are too many before I got quite to Elizabeth's stage of book hoarding, though.

Anyway, regarding the rest of the story... I loved the generosity of spirit and the sharing her love of reading that Elizabeth had.  What a big action to take.

I read some reviews, both positive and negative, that continuously bring up Elizabeth's lack of involvement in favor of books.  I didn't find this so sad as some.  Perhaps because Elizabeth does have friendships throughout the book - and not just in the end.  Because that is one of the criticisms.  Basically that she is lonely and friendless until the end when she has given all and lives with a friend - another elderly lady.  But she has friends that she loaned the books to with her made-up cards.  The illustration shows a friend smiling as she watches Elizabeth leave.  Another point mentions books becoming building blocks for "busy little guests." What?  People think she just had young children wander in and out unattended?  Or perhaps they came with someone(s).  Someone(s) that were visiting Elizabeth  ... Just something to think about.

Anyway, the rhyming makes for a nice read-aloud, and the illustrations are charming.  I enjoyed it, but I'd say from the reactions I saw, it isn't for everyone.

Help! I need advice about too many mystery books...

I'm trying to clear out books again.  But this time I need to break down and give up on some of the cozies I've been collecting but not reading.  I have boxes.  I'd like to try them, but I'm simply not going to have the chance.  I mean there are BOXES of them.  They are scattered, so books by one author may be in multiple boxes. 

Any cozy mystery authors or series you definitely recommend I keep?  Do you have any ideas about how I could handle them?  Because I simply can't read or keep them all...  Can you help?  I'm desperate!


Bookshelves by Piotr Siedlecki

Box 1:

Sarah Atwell
Sandra Balzo
Miranda Bliss
Nora Charles
Laura Childs
Jeffrey Cohen
Casey Daniels
Jo Dereske
Yasmine Galenorn
Melissa Glazer
Parnell Hall
Laura Levine
Kathryn Lilley
Hailey Lind
Sheila Lowe
Nancy Martin
D.R. Meridith
Tim Myers
Leslie O'Kane
Suzanne Price
Sandra Robbins
Wendy Roberts
Michele Scott
Mary Stanton
Leann Sweeney

That's just one box!  I have more.

I'm considering bundle giveaways if there's an interest, but first I have to figure out what to keep and what to give away.

Printers Row Lit Fest 2013

I went to the Printers Row Lit Fest again this year!  I had some issues in the morning and was a good 2 - 2 1/2 hours later than I wanted to be, but I made it.

The first panel I went to was "Female Sleuths: Gillian Royes, Libby Fischer Hellmann and Sharon Fiffer" moderated by Jamie Freveletti.  I have to say I was a little disappointed.  They all seemed perfectly nice, and Sharon Fiffer has a great sense of humor, but it wasn't really about Female Sleuths much at all.  For one thing, Gillian Royes protagonist is a male.  And that would have been fine if they talked more about the sleuths and less about the rest.  But it felt more like tell us about your stories/books.  And some stuff about intolerance themes.  Some stuff about the writing process.

But I missed the "Mystery Writers of America: Writing and Selling a Mystery" with Michael A. Black, Julie Hyzy, Clare O'Donohue and moderated by Lori Rader Day for this.  If I had to go back I would have went to the other panel, even though I'm not a writer and don't intend to be one.

I did purchase the first book in Sharon Fiffer's Jane Wheel book, Killer Stuff.  And I got it autographed and a bookmark and a picture with Sharon (which I will post on Facebook once I've done some editing).  So that was good.

Then I did some wandering and at the Mystery Writers of America station I hear the bulk of a short by Julie Hyzy (read by the author).  I didn't hear the end, though because I had to hurry off for my next panel.

I listened to author of The Devil Wears Prada and Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns Lauren Weisberger in discussion with Chicago Tribune VP/Managing Editor Jane Hirt.  I haven't read these books (though I've seen the movie), but the talk was still interesting.

The last panel I went to was "The Lure of Noir: Bryan Gruley, Brian D’Amato, Alec Nevala-Lee and Libby Fischer Hellmann" moderated by Robert Goldsborough.  Now this panel was entirely about the topic of Noir.  It was a little unreal.  Noir was being approached from all angels - not only literary noir, but films (of course), art, music, and even perfume.  I don't know much about noir, but the authors had this philosophical discussion about what noir is, what you find in noir, etc.  Entertaining and interesting all in one.

This is poor quality and blurry, but it's the best I managed.
In order, from left to right: Alec Nevala-Lee, Brian D'Amato, Bryan Gruley, Libby Fischer Hellmann

After the noir panel I wandered some more and came up by the Mystery Writers of America booth again. Staring me in the face is A Murder at Rosamund's Gate.  I look up at the author, Susanna Calkins, and exclaim, "I just read your book!"  And then proceed to tell her I'm not going to buy it, because I read it already, but could I get her autograph?  She was kind enough to oblige...

I finish by clumsily telling her how I appreciated the detail without the info-dumping.  Smooth, no?

I turn the corner and find Joelle Charbonneau and Nancy J Parra/Nancy J Coco.  First I tell Nancy that I have her book checked out, but I haven't read it yet.  Then I turn to Joelle.  I brought the first book in the Glee Club Mystery series, Murder for Choir, because I new she'd be there for a panel about her YA book, The Testing.  I had missed that panel because it was at the same time as the Lauren Weisberger one, and I thought I had missed my opportunity to see/speak to Joelle as well.  But here she was!  And she was kind enough to sign my book even though I wasn't buying any.

Now I'm in my little Cozy Mystery/Author Celebrity world.  It was wonderful.

I capped the day by catching the end of the El Payo Cuadro Flamenco with Flamenco Dancers from Ensemble Español and musician John Urban performance.  I've not heard of any of them, but it was still enjoyable and a nice end to the day.

Operation: TBR Reduction

I just discovered this personal challenge started by Stephanie at Once Upon a Chapter via Fetch Me My Fainting Couch.

Since I was not aware of it prior to May 1, I'll officially begin my own efforts on July 1. If you've seen any of my multiple posts about Book Hoarding and Cleaning Out, you know I can really use this.

The rules, per Stephanie, are as follows:

*Read more books than I bring in per month. No excuses, no justifications, no wheedling. Just reading. *ALL books (with the exception of library books, they’ll just cancel themselves out) count towards my numbers. This includes review requests, trades, purchases, etc., etc.

EDITED: *Re-reading keepers doesn't count since they won't be leaving the house.

Wish me luck!

Printer's Row LitFest 2012

This past Saturday brought the opportunity to go to the Printer's Row LitFest.  I found out about it through a newsletter by Julie Hyzy.  Of course, I had to go.  It's free, manageable as far as travel goes, and I had enough notice to schedule the day off.

I found out the day before that Julie was going to be part of a panel on a discussion titled "Sex & Violence: The do and don'ts of the Modern Cozy" along with Laura Bradford, Sharon Fiffer, Mary Vermillion, and moderator and author Clare O'Donohue.  Just the topic was exciting.  I didn't pay any mind to who the other authors were until I got there and heard them speak.  By the end I managed to get my copy of Grace Among Thieves autographed and bought and had autographed Hearse and Buggy (though I had a library copy via purchase suggestion sitting at home) by Laura Bradford aka Elizabeth Lynn Casey of the Southern Sewing Mystery series.

After the panel discussion I explored the remainder of the festival.  I was a lot more like a giant book sale than I expected.  Unfortunate because I could not afford to buy any more books (I already bought the one named above and the Hyzy book the night before) ... I'm supposed to be cutting back.  Nevertheless I enjoyed myself.  I caught a few minutes of the "Young Adult Fiction: Dark Days" with Veronica Roth, Aprilynne Pike, Elizabeth Norris, and Bethany Griffin moderated by Claire Zulkey.  If I'd planned better I would have caught the whole thing.  As it was it was already started, standing room only, and horribly hot by the time I peeked in at the back of the tent.

At 2 I saw Rachel Ray speak.  Don't ask why.  I don't cook.  And I don't watch any of the televisions shows she appears on.  But she's a big name and I thought various members of my family might appreciate hearing about the experience (seeing as they are completely baffled by my interest in the authors of books otherwise).  It was actually interesting and entertaining, albeit brief.  It would have been cool to get her autograph too, but you had to purchase The Book of Burger at $27 first.  I don't cook, remember?  And I don't have money.  I had to repeat that to myself more times than I can count.

After hearing Rachel talk I went on a 15 minute architecture "tour" of Printer's Row... interesting (really, I was repeating what I'd learned to everybody) but we didn't actually move much of anywhere because of the congestion.

Once I'd done all the exploring I was going to do at the LitFest I retreated to the Chicago Public Library: Harold Washington Library Center.  The Rachel Ray discussion had been my first time there, and I wanted to explore.  Besides, I had time to kill while I waited for my brother and his friends to get in town for the Blues Festival that evening.

Oh my.  That place is huge; I was so impressed.  I ended up at my own table in a nook on the 4th floor, looking out at another building and down on the busy street.  I also read of course.  The Big Kitty if you were wondering what.  I'd include a pic of me reading there (I took one of myself because I am weird, obviously), but it would require more editing than I believe I'm capable of to put my avatar over my real face.

ANYWAY, that was the book related portion of my day.  Hopefully, I'll manage to go again next year.

Who ever thought spending money on books would be hard?

This is another question post.  I would LOVE some input... comments, advice, whatever...

I'm in a weird spot.  If you've been reading my blog, you probably know I am unemployed and flat broke.  This means, other than a standing order for JAK/JC/AQ books (which has since been cancelled), I have not purchased a new book (non-textbook) in at least 6 months, maybe closer to a year.  All books coming in have come through PBS, purchased used at low prices (under $1), checked out at the library...  Even the B&N gift card I got for my Birthday (back in Sept.) went toward spring semester's text books.  I simply haven't been able to justify purchasing a book new.  Which brings me to the following...

I helped my mother with some stuff around the house in exchange for some spending money ($10-15).  Today she offered to up the amount received if I took it in the form of a B&N gift card she had (along w/ helping out w/ a few additional chores).  So I went to B&N with a $25 GC and 10% coupon (received in my email)... and bought nothing.  That's right. NOTHING.

It was so overwhelming!  How do I choose one WL item over another?  I don't want to purchase my first new book in ages if it's not a keeper, but I don't want to waste this opportunity purchasing a re-read either.  And what about all the fascinating looking books I discovered just walking through the store? Choices, choices, choices! (Another option is to use the GC to renew my membership, but then I won't have any money to spend, so what good would the member discount be?)

So question(s): Have you ever found spending money on books difficult? (Please keep in mind, this was in the form of a GC for a bookstore so bills, food, clothes, gas, and other such necessities aren't reasons not to spend it.)  If you had so many choices and limited resources, how would you decide?  Oh, and I worked for this and am keeping it for myself. ;p

My ma also got a GC for Olive Garden (she got to choose from a list as a fift from the company she works at for Secretary's Day, if you were wondering), so she has said we'll go to B&N (again, for me) sometime this week (b4 my coupon expires) and go to Olive Garden afterwards.  I need to have some idea of what I'm getting by then...

Blogs and Giveaways (or Not)

This is NOT a giveaway post.

It does have a point (in a meandering sort of way).

Please (at least) check out the end. I would love comments and opinions...

I mentioned (in a comment) on my post about book hoarding a little while back that I hoped to hold my first giveaway on this blog this April.

Last year I held one through the eHarlequin community. I worked all year since then to increase my offerings. In addition to a number of category romances (large-print included), I can now offer some general (paranormal, contemporary, and maybe a couple historical) romances, some mysteries, and a few children's chapter books.

All are are Christmas books ... the giveaway would be called "Christmas in April" ... You can see what I did last April (and details about why Christmas and why April) here.)

Anyway, I had great plans, and by the time April came around...I couldn't (can't) afford the giveaway. My only other opportunity for 2010 being in August (I think. If I remember correctly, at least one state holds the event the giveaway was based on in August). It doesn't feel right, but if I'm able to financially by then, I'll do it anyway.

In the meantime...

What are your thoughts on Book Blogs and giveaways? Do you prefer them? Can you do without?
I know many book blog readers just want to discuss (and discover) books (and socialize with people of like interests).

But I also know giveaways can really build up readership. (Though I'm not sure mine would have had that effect anyway. The giveaway I planned is very themed and heavy on the category/series romance.)  Have you held giveaways before?  How did it go?  What positives and negatives did you encounter?

Book Hoarding ...

My place can get pretty bad, er, messy. To the point that my mother will come help me clean it (that sounds pathetic, I know). And lately she's taken to making comments like, "Are you sure you're not a hoarder?" I've assured her not - even had her watch the show Hoarders to make my point.

But then I started thinking about my book collecting, and how, among book lovers, I've "heard" people proudly proclaim themselves "book hoarders." Some, from what I've seen and read, are "worse" than me. Others, I'm definitely "worse." And I'm always wanting more! So I thought I'd share, and you can tell me... are you a book hoarder? =)

[Note: My place has been cleaned recently, the books spread out more as time goes on.]

First, the bookshelves in my room (the paperbacks are triple stacked - deep - and the hardbacks are double)...

Then there's the boxes and totes in the closet...

Books that have stacked up on the computer desk...

Swap (paperbackswap) books...

Whatever library books I have checked out...

Sitting at the table with me =) ...

Table books...

The books in my china cabinet (mostly bible books, travel books, and my autographed books)...

[Note: The china cabinet isn't usually open; the cats were very interested in sniffing things out.]

Book Jealousy (Or Is It Envy?...Or Coveteousness?...Or...)

...well, whatever the proper term, I have it.

What am I talking about? That feeling of "I want that!" (may be drawn out in extremely whiny and dramatic way) (may also be said as "I want that!" or "I want that!").

Anyway, it's that feeling you get when you are exploring blogs and reading reviews/blurbs or looking at covers (or both) of books that sound/look excellent, and you know that there is no way you can afford to buy any of those books let alone all of them. And that even if you could, there is no way you'd find the time to read all of them, especially since they're the ___ (3rd, 4th, 5th, etc.... fill in the blank) of the series and you have yet to read the first.

And, really, you (or at least this is true of myself) have plenty of other great books to read, but you still wish you could read those (greener pastures, etc., etc.).

And I'll take it a step further... Why couldn't I be the one to make that find? - What was that? What about those other great books awaitin' to be read? Oh, well, they've already been discovered... how do you think I found out about them? Hmph.

::exasperated sigh:: Well, I hope someone else wanders over here to commiserate about there own Book Envy (or...)...