Les Roberts Book Signing

June 10, 2008June 10, 2008Leave a comment

This is Jean and Les.

Last night I met my friend, Jean, at Joseph-Beth in Legacy Village to hear and meet author Les Roberts. It was a standing room only crowd. Les has lived in Cleveland since 1990 and has written a series of mysteries featuring detective, Milan Jacovich and the city of Cleveland. I must admit that I have never read any of his books, so I bought the first one in the series last night. I’ve enjoyed the first two chapters, but more on that in a later post.

A few interesting tidbits…All the characters in his book are based on someone he knows or has seen. He warned those of us who where there that we might end up in one of his future books! The name of the detective is really a dentist in the Cleveland area. This is his first Milan book in six years, but the last one is being made into a movie with Les as an executive producer. He plans to have over 90% of the movie shot in Cleveland which brought a huge round of applause from the crowd. When asked who he would like to play Milan he answered, Robert Mitchum, which could be a problem since he is deceased and unavailable.

He will be signing books in downown Cleveland at the Galleria on Friday from 11:30-1:30 and an Saturday from 1-2 at Borders. His website, www.lesroberts.com has lots of fun facts and news.

A Day No Pigs Would Die, by Robert Newton Peck

June 9, 2008January 19, 2009Leave a comment

Finished 6-8-09, rating 4/5, young adult, pub. 1972

“But when you kill pigs for a living, you can’t always smell like Sunday morning. You just smell like hard work.” Chapter 2

I finished this last night about midnight and it was a two tissue book. I know many read it as kids, but not me. I had no idea what to expect or else I may not have read it, but I’m better off because I did. Maybe it hit me harder because I was already a little bummed after Jason and I watched the movie We Are Marshall last night. It was a good movie, but not one to leave you happier than when you started. Anyway…

Rob is a twelve year old Shaker living on a Vermont farm. This book chronicles that year of his life as he grew into a man. Rob’s life consisted mainly of his farming chores and school. He was the last child left at home and he was the only one left to help his dad. His story was exciting and heartbreaking. Rob birthed a calf and received a brand new pig, Pinky, for payment. Pinky and Rob became inseparable. Rob had many life lessons that year and they were all touching and some (three in particular) moved me to tears.

Being a city girl, these are a few of the things I learned about farm life. Pigs and cows cannot live next to each other. If you need to top your chocolate cake with nutmeats, kill a gray squirrel and take the chewed nutmeats out of his belly and toast them before putting them on your cake. Weaseling a dog is barbaric. There are more, but these were the ones that stuck, although I did gain a greater appreciation for farmers.

This is based on the life of the author growing up as a boy in Vermont and if you haven’t read it you should. It will take you back to a simpler time when 13 year old boys were forced to become men. It will make you smile and it will break your heart.

Alternate Titles

June 8, 2008June 17, 20087 Comments

Thanks for playing! I’ve got a new one coming soon 🙂

Here’s how to play…Identify the correct title of these classics. Leave a comment with the # and the answer and I’ll cross it off the list. No Googling, that’s cheating and no fun! If you know them all, please don’t guess every one, maybe five max?

Example-The Hearing and the Rage is really The Sound and the Fury by Faulkner

1. Creature Cropland Jason, Animal Farm by Orwell

2. Along the Avenue Golda, On the Road by Kerouac

3. The Orb Also Climbs Jill, The Sun Also Rises by Hemingway

4. The Era of Virtuousness Golda, The Age of Innocence by Wharton

5. The Craft of Conflict Jill, The Art of War by Sun-Tzu

6. Fearless Fresh Cosmos Janet, Brave New World by Huxley

7. Demise of a Clerk, Jason, Death of a Salesman by Miller

8. In Frigid Kin Janet, In Cold Blood by Capote

9. The Saintly Farce Mark, The Divine Comedy by Dante

10. Departed with the Draft Janet, Gone With the Wind by Mitchell

Daily Book Reading

June 6, 2008June 7, 2008Leave a comment

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.” -Mark Twain

There is a website for those of you who think you do not have time to read. Visit www.dailylit.com and choose from a wide range of books. The site will email you a small portion of the book each day that takes less than five minutes to read. Many of the books are free, although some of them do cost money. I decided to try it with a short classic, The Prince. I signed up yesterday and it took me one minute. Really. If you feel like reading more you can request the next installment be emailed to you immediately. It’s largest categories are classics, contemporaries and romance, but there are many more. Take a look and tell me what book you chose to start reading today.

Dark Of The Moon, by John Sandford

June 4, 2008January 27, 2009Leave a comment

Finished audio on 6-4-08, rating 3/5, fiction, pub. 2007

This is a fast paced mystery featuring BCA officer Virgil Flowers from Sandford’s popular Prey series. Virgil is sent to investigate a murder in the small town of Bluestem, Minnesota and while there more dead bodies pile up. Virgil is old friends with the sheriff, Stryker, and in bed with Stryker’s sister, Joan, within a few days. Virgil doesn’t know who to trust or who to believe and he must wade through a whole town of suspects.

Virgil had occasional check-ins with Lucas Davenport from the Prey novels, but I much prefer Virgil as a secondary character in those novels. Jason and I listened to this on our way to and from Atlantic City and we were both laughing by the last cd because Virgil had not eliminated a single suspect in the the first 8 cds! The story kept moving and I enjoyed the reader a lot, but this is only an average thriller. Read the Prey series for great reading.

2nd Chance, by James Patterson

May 29, 2008January 19, 2009Leave a comment

Finished 5-28-08, rating 3.5/5, fiction, pub. 2002

I read the first of this series, 1st To Die, a few years ago because I had heard so many good things about it. I did like it, but wasn’t blown away and didn’t read anymore even though my Mom passed them on to me. I saw the first Women’s Murder Club on TV and didn’t think it was great either, but it grew on me. So, I decided to see if the books would too.

The girls are all back and ready for murder. Lindsay is tracking a serial killer whose victims seem to only be connected by race. Claire uses her reporter smarts to help Lindsay look the right way. Two of the girls are shot, one shot at, and one has a miscarriage. This book is full of drama.

This was a very fast read and I enjoyed it more than the first one, but who can know if it because I was picturing the girls from TV in the roles. My ambivalence with the first book and this one has something to do with the relationship between the four women. Their interaction and conversation don’t ring quite true for me. But, I will read more of the series because the action is swift, the mystery is good, and Lindsay is spunky.

The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath

May 28, 2008January 19, 2009Leave a comment

Finished 5-27-08, rating 4/5, fiction, pub. 1963

“If Mrs. Guinea had given me a ticket to Europe, or a round-the-world cruise, it wouldn’t have made one scrap of difference to me, because wherever I sat- on the deck of a ship or at a street cafe in Paris or Bangkok- I would be sitting under the same glass bell jar, stewing in my own sour air.” Chapter 15

This is an semi-autobiographical novel that packs a powerful punch. Esther is a college sudent who feels isolated from those around her and who is searching for the purpose of her life. These futile efforts lead her on a downward spiral that she can no longer control.

Esther landed a prestigious month-long job at a glamour magazine in New York City for the summer. This opportunity only seemed to fuel her insecurity. Once home she quickly fell into a depression that led her to contemplate suicide. She started seeing a psychiatrist who after two visits recommended shock therapy. She tried cutting herself with a razor blade, hanging herself with a scarf, drowning, and finally pills. The pills landed her in the hospital before being moved to a psychiatric hospital full of girls like her.

I love the emotional pull of the writing. I was drawn in, curious, entertained, and moved. I listened to the first half on cd and read the second half, and I think to appreciate the novel it must be read. I’ve heard it is being made into a movie with Julia Stiles playing the lead. Read the book first. It is only 200 pages and well worth the hours spent reading it.

Magic, by Tami Hoag

May 27, 2008January 27, 2009Leave a comment

Finished 5-26-08, rating 2.5/5, romance, pub. 1990

Rachel has come home for the first time in five years to take of her mother, Addie, who is sick with Alzheimer’s disease. She finds that Bryan is already living in the house, looking for ghosts. Sparks fly and within 12 hours they are in love. Although the focus is the love story, the relationship between Rachel and Addie is the most interesting. There is a mystery thrown in, but not one that really mattered.

I started reading this a few months ago and completely lost interest, but for whatever reason decided I would finish it. This book is sickeningly sweet, and not in a good way. It seemed to repeat the same thoughts and feelings without much new to add. I really enjoy Tami Hoag’s mysteries, but this is the first and maybe last of her romances I will read (unless of course I have another one hiding in that huge stack of books in my kitchen).

Love Story, by Erich Segal

May 27, 2008January 19, 2009Leave a comment

Finished 5-25-08, rating 3.5/5, fiction, pub. 1970

“Love means not ever having to say you’re sorry.” Chapter 13

I’ve seen the movie and knew the story, so I was surprised when I shed a few tears as I finished reading this slim novel. I mistakenly thought the brevity would lessen the emotional impact, but it seemed to enhance it.

Rich boy and Harvard jock, Oliver Barrett IV first met poor, smart Radcliffe student, Jenny, in the library. An unlikely romance blossomed and in no time they were in love. Jenny was awed by the Barrett estate when meeting his parents and Oliver was humbled when he met the neighbors and father who loved Jenny. They were an odd couple and as often happens they decided to marry.

In marrying Jenny, Oliver was cut out of the family money and he and Jenny were forced to work their way through his law degree. Jenny never stopped trying to reunite Oliver and his father. Oliver graduated and and landed a great job in New York City and they seemed to have it all. Then Jenny got sick.

I had a few healthcare issues. The doctor told Oliver Jenny was sick, but did not tell Jenny! He told Oliver to act as if everything were normal and Oliver did! I don’t get it. But other than that I really found the story touching and would recommend it.

My book problem

May 26, 2008November 17, 200818 Comments

So, I just posted info on the upcoming book sale in Cleveland. I have never seen a bookstore or or book sale (and some libraries) that I have not walked into. I knew I had a book buying problem. So, I decided it would be funny if I collected all the books that I have purchased, but not yet read, over the years and took a picture to show that I really did not need to attend another book sale. Well, here it is.

That’s Max looking a little nervous that all those books might topple over on him! So, instead of being funny, it made me a little sad that I had gotten this far behind 😦 I will go to the book sale this weekend, but I’m taking Jason to limit my craziness. But, then I need to spend a few months reading through my backlog before buying anything new.

So, please, take a look at the different FREE books I offer every month. I have already read them and need to pass them on.

Stacy's Books

books, movies, and boy

Tag: Books