Okay, this is ridiculous. I came over here today and wondered if today’s post-er had put her post up. I always like reading what my fellow Riskies have to say, even if I forget to comment (note to self: Stop being so damn reticent).
And then I remembered TODAY’S POST-ER IS ME!
Oy.
I’ve had some personal drama lately, having to do with a friend, thank goodness, not me, so I’ve forgotten what day it is. I am waiting for my agent to send me notes on my Regency-set historical, but I’ve also been dreading seeing the email in my inbox, because that’ll mean I have to knuckle down and do the revisions. Ack. We had Halloween, and my mother-in-law was in town, which means I have a cleaner house, but a more stressed brain, and it’s gotten colder, then warmer, then colder–honestly, I’m surprised I actually remembered Friday was my day.
So let’s turn the tables and have YOU guys supply the meat of the post, if you don’t mind:
What are you reading now?
What’s the last book you decided not to finish (if you don’t want to name names, that’s fine.)
What periods other than the Regency do you indulge in?
Which author have you glommed recently?
Have you started thinking about Christmas yet, or are you just surprised it’s November already?
Will you take your son to see Flushed Away just because Hugh Jackman does the voice?
Thanks, and meanwhile, I’ll WAIT here for your answers. Happy Friday!
Right now I am reading O’Jerusalem by Laurie R. King and the latest Sharon Shinn. I could not finish the latest Lois McMaster Bujold. The book is good (she’s always good), I think it must be my mood. In my tbr pile (I know you didn’t ask) is the latest P.B. Ryan and the latest In Death comes out next week. (It will be my reward for surviving the dentist. That is, if I survive.)
What other periods have I read? Well, I’ve been thinking about the Laura Rowland’s mystery series which takes place in medieval Japan.
I have started thinking about Christmas and am already depressed and stressed. I know a lot of people love Christmas, but I am not one of them.
And no, we won’t be seeing Flushed Away. We’ll probably go see Eregon.
What are you reading now? MIDDLESEX by Jeffrey Eugenides, a wonderful funny, erotic, moving, thoughtful book.
What’s the last book you decided not to finish (if you don’t want to name names, that’s fine.) I can’t remember, but here’s the odd thing–if I hate a book it gets left under the bed and then I forget about it and if it’s a library book I end up owing $$ on it without even enjoying it and that just doesn’t seem fair.
What periods other than the Regency do you indulge in? I like the Tudors and the English civil war period.
Which author have you glommed recently? I’m trying to glom Kate Atkinson but I don’t think all of them are available here and I can’t afford her latest in hardback.
Have you started thinking about Christmas yet, or are you just surprised it’s November already? Aaargh. Xmas. Say it is not so.
Will you take your son to see Flushed Away just because Hugh Jackman does the voice? Oh, Megan, Megan. Admit it. You are powerless…
Well this is embarrassing. I’m plunging into a glom of Georgette Heyer.
Other periods? Contemporary if the author is Susan Elizabeth Phillips.
Two wonderful books I’ve read that mayn’t have made it onto the romance-reader radar screen:
War By Candlelight by Daniel Alarcon. I was going to begin by saying that if you like cyberpunk sci fi, try Alarcon’s linked stories about contemporary Peru and New York, the frightening already-here future we live in. But that wouldn’t give enough credit to the deep humanity and scary technical skill of this astonishing 29-year-old writer.
And Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them by Francine Prose (yes, that’s really her name). The best how-to-write book I’ve found in an age, though very much not about the shapes of popular fiction (for example, what would we do without the one-sentence paragraph, which Prose finds “cheap”). I’m still mulling over how to bridge the gap between us and the literary authors Prose writes about. Not there yet, but that doesn’t mean the book isn’t terrific.
Why don’t I write about these things on my own blog? Search me. Just my unerring instinct for online success, I guess. Maybe you could come over, Megan. and write an entry for me.
As for Flushed Away whatever that is, well, just when I start missing having a little boy at home to take to movies, someone reminds me of the difficult choices inhering therein and I’m consoled.
What are you reading now? BEAU BRUMMELL by Ian Kelly and DELICIOUS by Jami Alden. I’m itching for Julia Ross’ CLANDESTINE, but it’s not out till next week . . .
What’s the last book you decided not to finish? This happens more and more to me, but I can’t name names. Let’s just say said book was billed as a straight historical but was, in fact, a paranormal. Oooooooo was I mad.
What periods other than the Regency do you indulge in? I love Georgian settings. LOVE THEM. I don’t mind early Victorians (up through the 1840s or so). And I read the occasional contemp (mostly books written by friends).
Which author have you glommed recently? I haven’t had a chance to read anything “recently”. Mores the pitty. But I friends just reccomened Tracy Grant (ok, they were horrifed that I’d never read her) so I have a few of her books waiting for me.
Have you started thinking about Christmas yet, or are you just surprised it’s November already? Ack! Don’t point these things out to me.
Will you take your son to see Flushed Away just because Hugh Jackman does the voice? I’m going to see it cause it’s Aardman. Much as I love Hugh Jackman, he only counts if I A) can see him, and B) he’s dirty/scruffy (don’t like him so much when he’s clean). Am dying for THE FOUNTAIN to come out.
Oh, I can’t wait for THE FOUNTAIN either, Kalen! It looks so weird and so beautiful and SO WEIRD! 🙂
What are you reading now?
Tons of YA. Shakespeare’s THE WINTER’S TALE, as I try to figure out which role I want to audition for. (Yup, that time of the year again.) A book called CURRY on, yes, curry. A graphic novel called THE RABBI’S CAT. And so much more. (I used to be a one book at a time kind of girl, but I guess I’ve changed.) 🙂
Which author have you glommed recently?
I glom old Larry Niven books every few years, and did so again this spring. Also Vivian Vande Velde, a children’s & YA fantasy author with an odd kick to her gallop. 🙂
Will you take your son to see Flushed Away just because Hugh Jackman does the voice?
I’m with Kalen on this — if I see it, it’ll be because it’s Aardman. (Even though it’s CGI!)
I might take my stuffed monkey to see Marie Antoinette just for the clothes, though. 🙂
Cara
I might take my stuffed monkey to see Marie Antoinette just for the clothes, though.
And I’m avoiding it because of the clothes, which look really “off” to me. Very costume historyesque.
What are you reading now?
I’m reading BELIEVERS: A JOURNEY INTO EVANGELICAL AMERICA, by Jeffrey Sheler, and I just finished THE TROJAN WAR: A NEW HISTORY, by Barry Strauss. I read as much nonfiction as fiction, and history and politics/current events are my favorite topics, so that’s a pretty typical selection for me.
What’s the last book you decided not to finish (if you don’t want to name names, that’s fine.)
I won’t name names. Suffice it to say it was a wallpaper Regency historical.
What periods other than the Regency do you indulge in?
Oh, lots of them. I love ancient history, American 18th and 19th century settings (though NSM Westerns), Georgian, the occasional medieval, etc. etc. etc. Fantasy, especially alternate histories or the kind of fantasy set in a world with obvious similarities to our own, like Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel series. The occasional contemporary, in romance mainly Jennifer Crusie and Kathleen Eagle.
Which author have you glommed recently?
Lately I’ve been on a slow-motion glom of Jennifer Crusie and Bernard Cornwell. I’ll let myself read just one book by each per month, so I can stretch out their backlists as long as possible. (And may they both have long and productive lives!)
Have you started thinking about Christmas yet, or are you just surprised it’s November already?
Christmas has been forced upon me this week. Our choir director passed out Advent music at Wednesday’s rehearsal, and tomorrow we’re taking our daughter to Safeco Field to have her picture made with the Mariner Moose for our Christmas cards. But I’m not ready.
Will you take your son to see Flushed Away just because Hugh Jackman does the voice?
When we visit our families in AL and OK at Thanksgiving and Christmas, my husband and I will get the rare treat of a movie or two with free grandma babysitting! But I haven’t had a chance to decide which ones yet.
And I’m avoiding it because of the clothes, which look really “off” to me. Very costume historyesque.
Ah, but that’s the sort of thing she likes, you see. 🙂
Cara
What are you reading now? That would be Sari Robins’s What to Wear to a Seduction 🙂
What’s the last book you decided not to finish (if you don’t want to name names, that’s fine.) I’m not entirely sure off hand. Probably should look in my journal. LOL Athough, I remember starting one and realizing I did read it but never marked it so. Sometimes though I try it again and just liked it or loved it, so sometimes we’re probably not always in the mood for it. 🙂
What periods other than the Regency do you indulge in? Regency is my biggie — but I do have Victorians and Contemporaries
Which author have you glommed recently? Well, now that I looked up glommed LOL 🙂 Well, I didnt’ steal any, I stare at all of them, and let’s see, what have I seized upon lately. . . I’d love to get all the Amanda Quick ones, I just have a couple and I love those!! 🙂
Have you started thinking about Christmas yet, or are you just surprised it’s November already? Thinking about it because everyone on tv is. . . and I got together my Christmas books to read in December. ONly a couple news ones for this year, nearly all are going to be rereads. 🙁 🙂
Will you take your son to see Flushed Away just because Hugh Jackman does the voice? Ah, well, I don’t have a son. . . a fuzzy daughter you could say, she goes meow when she wants food. . . but ah well, no. Now if it were Sean Connery, I’d say my Kitty is my seeing eye cat. . . 🙂
lois
I’m curently reading “Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette” and have started a historical YA called “Loving Will Shakespeare” (why won’t blogger let me use italics???), plus a book I plan to blog about tomorrow. 🙂 Recently I had the same sort of reading experience as Kalen, where I settled down to read a new book and found out–lo and behold!–it was NOTHING like the blurb. Or the cover. I hate that.
As for Christmas–oy. Like Sandy, Christmas makes me stressed and tired, and I noticed in the paper this morning that lots of shops are now advertising “holiday open houses” that are happpening next weekend.
No Flushed Away, since my fur-children aren’t allowed into the theater. 🙂 I may go see “The Queen.” Anyone seen it yet?
I’m reading Mistress of the Elgin Marbles: A Biography of Mary Nisbet, Countess of Elgin by Susan Nagel.
I have a couple of books on Nineteenth Century Crime that I started and haven’t finished.
What other periods but the Regency have I delved into? None lately, really. I have become immersed…
The last author I glommed was Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan series, which I loved. My friends FORCED me to read Cordelia’s Honor and I was hooked! But I ran out of steam for the last one, the one after A Civil Campaign, her “Regency.”
Re: Christmas. We actually bought my in-laws’ present last weekend, and I usually never do early Christmas buying.
I’m am quite certain I will not see Flushed Away! We rarely even go see adult movies! Maybe when it hits cable…
When you’re back in the mood, Diane, I’ll think you’ll enjoy “Diplomatic Immunity” (the Vorkosigan book after “A Civil Campaign”). BTW, I just love those books too!
Haven’t seen “The Queen” yet, Amanda, but mean to this weekend!
I did see “The Prestige” and loved it. I’ve been a fan of Christian Bale ever since “Newsies” came out (yes, I saw it in the theatre! Me and like five other Americans) and I love Hugh Jackman too.
Cara
Questions, questions.
What are you reading now?
I’ll spare you the whole list. 🙂 I’m reading Darwinia by Robert Charles Wilson, The Memoirs by Casanova, My Dear Jenny by Madeleine Robins, The Winter’s Tale by Shakespeare, and Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus by Ludwig Wittgenstein. (And no, that isn’t the whole list. 🙂
What’s the last book you decided not to finish?
I returned 1491 and Spin This to the library. They looked interesting, but life is too short. (Actually, it’s too short for the books I didn’t return to the library too, but oh well.)
What periods other than the Regency do you indulge in?
I’m interested in lots of periods, but I have a particular fondness for ancient Greece and Rome. One of my favorite series is the mystery series by Lindsey Davis.
Which author have you glommed recently?
I read all three Naomi Novik books in the last two months. And several Meg Cabot books. And a lot of Shakespeare.
Have you started thinking about Christmas yet, or are you just surprised it’s November already?
Wait, is it November??!
Will you take your son to see Flushed Away just because Hugh Jackman does the voice?
So, so not. 🙂
Todd-who-refuses-to-see-any-movie-with-the-word-“flushed”-in-the-title
And now, to answer my own questions:
What are you reading now? Pirate Lord by Sabrina Jeffries. And next up is Sharpe’s Gold by Bernard Cornwell.
What’s the last book you decided not to finish (if you don’t want to name names, that’s fine.) A regency-set historical where I honestly didn’t care if the h/h got together. I didn’t like her at all, I liked him, but he deserved better.
What periods other than the Regency do you indulge in? Medieval, paranormal (is that futuristic?), some contemporary, esp. if the author is Anne Stuart.
Which author have you glommed recently?
Hm. No recent gloms, but I am holding onto Tara Janzen and J.R. Ward’s books, and eagerly awaiting each’s next release.
Have you started thinking about Christmas yet, or are you just surprised it’s November already? Yes, I have, but mostly in the ‘I’m freaked out it’s coming so soon’ way.
Will you take your son to see Flushed Away just because Hugh Jackman does the voice? Ah, yeah.
I’ve really liked seeing all the answers to all y’all’s questions, thanks for making Friday fun!
Todd–I’m a big fan of Lindsey Davis’s mysteries, too.
Megan–I love Sharpe’s Gold! I’m about halfway through the Sharpe series (reading in chronological rather than publication order), and so far my favorites are a three-way tie between Triumph, Trafalgar, and Gold.
Susan,
I think the Lindsey Davis mysteries have it all–mystery, romance, humor, and Ancient Rome. What’s not to like? 🙂
I do have to say, though, that while I really like the Sharpe series, Sharpe’s Gold is one of my least favorite. When they made the movie series for British television, they completely changed the plot for that movie–and it’s still one of my least favorite! Oh, well…
Todd-who-is-waiting-for-Sharpe’s-Platinum
Todd–the movie Gold is terrible, definitely the weakest of the lot. But I like the book because I like Teresa.
I watched Sharpe’s Gold, too, wasn’t thinking so much about it being weak–I just love the series, even the less-than-great ones are okay by me.
Susan, I read the first chronological one, then switched to order of publication, so really, I’m all over the map in terms of what I’ve read. AND I’ve seen more of the shows than I’ve read the books, if you know what I mean. But Cornwell is so, so great.