20 in 2009 Book Challenge - Introduction

Since I'm new to the book blogging world, I thought I'd start off with a fairly easy challenge...

the 20 in 2009!

A little late than never, I suppose.... however, I have left a comment on the blog, and since I'm coming up to vacation time - yay! - I hope to get lots of reading done!

I've created a progress page over at "Chasing the mouse...", which includes the rules, links, as well as my list of twenty books (which will be linked to individual entries here), each added as they are read.

I think (though this may change...;-) I'll try and tackle "serious" books (probably non-fic, since I usually can't stand contemporary lit). I have no qualms about admitting that I read "popular" fiction - and enjoy it (especially romance). It entertains, enlightens, and enriches...I always remember that in her time, Jane Austen was considered "popular" and not a classical author (as she is now).

First book up...
"The elements of murder: a history of poison" by John Emsley (2005) - written by a British chemist, it's a hardback tome just shy of 400 pages

Filed in: 20in2009 index at "Chasing the mouse..."

BTT Challenge: Worst Recent Read

What’s the worst book you’ve read recently?
(I figure it’s easier than asking your all-time worst, because, well, it’s recent!) [from Booking Through Thursday]

I tend to read most books (good, bad or ugly), but I've rarely (there have been one or two memorable occasions!) given up in the middle of a book (and on those said occasions, acutally thrown the book away) - that said...

The first thing that comes to mind is "The marine's baby" by Rogenna Brewer (a Harlequin Super Romance). Despite the general prejudice against category romance, I (for the most part) love them! The very good ones have memorable characters, a great storyline, and just enough sexy (sometimes more than enough - whoo hoo!)...plus they're an easy (and quick) read. Those authors become sought-after favourites.

This one, however... [shakes head and sighs deeply]. The main problem was that I hated the main characters, almost right from the beginning. She was winey and wishy-washy, and he was an idiot (even at the end when the HEA occured) - but she annoyed me the most! This was the first book I've read by Rogenna Brewer, but (and I hate to say it...) it will probably be my last.

Title: The marine's baby
Series: Bundles of joy (9 months later)
Author: Rogenna Brewer
Genre: Category romance
Published: 2008 (Harlequin Super Romance)
Summary: In just a few months Caitlin Calhoun went from a wife to a widow to a mother-to-be. All she'd wanted was to honor her dead husband by having his baby. But that's not what she got. Thanks to an unfortunate mix-up, her child's father is her husband's half brother, Lucky. So how does she break the news that he's about to become a father? Family is the last thing the war-toughened Marine expected to have--not with all the bad blood in his own. But Lucky would never turn his back on a child...or the woman who's given him a second chance. [Amazon.com]

Filed in: BTT Challenge Index at "Chasing the Mouse..."

New Books, Chinese Food, and Cat's Paws

New Books:
1. Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell's "Barnaby Grimes: Return of the Emerald Skull" (2009) $17.99
2. "Llewellyn's Witches' Databook 2010" (2009) $12.50

I purchased some chinese food while out, and almost immediately upon returning home and dumping the food into a dish, I see a little white paw come sneaking into my field of vision. Betsy's learned the trick of sneaking her paw into a dish and cleaning what sticks. [non-cat people will be disgusted by this, but I usually push her paw away before she touches anything] She loves rice; what can I say, she's a weird cat.

;-)

The Beginning: B&B Research

Since once of my future character's (Kee) owns and operates a bed and breakfast, I think it's probably about time I look into some practical research...

One of the first things I found was a list of recommended books...

About.com's "Best [6] Books for Aspiring Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers" by Elizabeth Arneson

1. Running a bed and breakfast for dummies by Mary White (2009)

2. So - you want to be an innkeeper (2004, updated)

3. How to open and operate a bed and breakfast by Jan Stankus (2007, 8th edition)

4. Complete idiot's guide to running a bed and breakfast by Park Davis (2001)

5. Start and run a profitable bed and breakfast by Monica and Richard Taylor (1992)

6. How to start and operate your own bed and breakfast by Martha Watson Murphy (2001)

So, now to start my collection... ;-)

Barnaby Grimes: Tick-tock lad

Authors: Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell (illustrator)
Series: Barnaby Grimes (so far, 4 books - only 2 published in Canada)
Title: 1. "Curse of the night wolf" (2007)
Genre(s): young adult fantasy/horror

A gloriously macabre tale in a breathtaking new series, packed with intrigue, horror and fantastic illustrations. [inside jacket cover]

Having devoured the "Edge Chronicles," (and, sniff, was sad to see the end) I was keen to try this duo's newest series. I was not disappointed. Though the text printing is larger (in my edition, anyway), it is definitely not for their youngest fans - especially when it comes to the slightly gruesome horror elements (though some kids might be attracted for this very factor!). Packed with non-stop action, mystery, and (of course) Riddell's gorgeous illustrations, "Curse of the night wolf" is definitely a keeper - even for adult fans such as myself!

Barnaby Grimes is a tick-tock lad, a (as he explains it) "...cross between a messenger and a delivery boy, only a tick-tock lad has to be faster than the first and twice as sharp as the second..." (pp. 8-9). Working in a large early Victorian city reminiscent of London, he "highstacks" while delivering, collecting, and witnessing for a variety of sometimes eccentric clients. Along the way, his adventures usually take a turn to the supernatural, and are hinted at (and thus setting up the series) throughout the beginning chapters of the book. Even more intriguing, the reader is set-up for the ending in the first chapter, as Barnaby begins his tale involving patent medicines, impoverished patients and very expensive furs...

"Have you ever felt your skin being peeled slowly away from your arms and legs? Your muscles being torn and shredded as every bone in your body fights to burst through your flesh? Have you ever felt every tendon and sinew stretched to breaking point as your skeleton attempts to rip itself apart from the inside? I have, and I'll never forget it." (p. 1)

Wordsmith

Words on paper come easily - whether they are of any consequence is questionable.

I don't think there has ever been a time in my life that I haven't reached for a pen and paper (relatively speaking). To me, they're as natural as breathing.

Journalling, however, has not been an art that I've been inclined towards. Goddess knows, I've tried. But then daily entries become weekly, and weekly entries merge into monthly ones, and the entire enterprise is forgotten. I even buy pretty (and usually pricy) hardbound books, hoping this will induce continued endeavours. Which is why I now have (and continue to collect) dozens of journals with an itty-bit of "diary-space", followed by my regular writing. Apparently, I'm not very interested in the truth (or at least my version of it).

I am, in some small measure, proud of my penmanship. I have, in the past, received favourable comments concerning my handwriting. To me, it seems no extraordinary thing, being, at various times, a scrawl, small neat half-writing half-printing, large loopy letters, and, on occasion, chickenscratch. But there is nothing more satisfying than the right kind of pen (which varies with my mood and inclination) scribbling across the white expanse of the right kind of paper. (Yes, I am a geek - I will feel paper before I buy it; I leave the recycled and the cheap stuff to the students.)

"First draft" wars

After deciding that the "Writer's Digest" magazine excerpt wasn't going to cut it, I purchased Karen Wiesner's From first draft to finished novel. When I settled down to read it, I soon found out that I should have (silly me!) purchased her first writing how-to book: First draft in 30 days. She constantly makes references to "First draft..." in "From...", as in: see my other book for more details. That's not why I bought the "From..." book! (grrr!) So, since Chapters didn't have a copy of "First draft..." in stock, I've now had to order it in, which will take approximately a week to two weeks. I have yet to decide whether I'll slog through (consciously ignorning the "First draft..." references) the book I have, or whether I'll wait until the first book comes.

Sigh.

Links:
"From first draft to finished novel"at Chapters
"First draft in 30 days"at Chapters
Karen Wiesner's non-fiction page (with checklists and outlines available from her books)
"Writer's Digest" article on From first draft to finished novel (including worksheets available in PDF)