> The Things You Can Read: August 2013

The Things You Can Read welcomes you and thanks you for your readership. We, here at The Things You Can Read, ask your help, if you visit our site regularly, please follow us either via email or Google Friend Connect.  Launched on June 7, 2012, our site has already attracted a great deal of attention.  One of the goals of the site is to feature reviews of Children's Picture Books, Young Adult novels and Adult Literary Fiction/Nonfiction.  A second goal for the blog is to be a resource for teachers of English and writing--with examples of student created writing, writing tips, resource links, and the opportunity to pick the brain of a seasoned English teacher.  To spice things up...every now and then, we'll also include random quotes and thoughts on education and life in general, but our ultimate goal is to reach out into the blogosphere and be a "Book Whisperer" and "Writing Whisperer" to children and adults of all ages.   Thank you for your readership.  Here is to a lifetime filled with reading and writing.

Saturday, August 31, 2013

One Hit Wonders



Well, one hit wonders are not limited to the music world, you can find them among writers too.  Trake a look at the most famous of the "One Hit Wonders" as determined by Huffington Post.

Every single writer can't be Charles Dickens, James Joyce or Jane Austen.

Most authors only end up with one hit book, and the rest are duds, or just don't get the same pick up (or they only wrote one book to begin with, a la Harper Lee with "To Kill a Mockingbird").

But that's really nothing to be sad over. When you write something as enduring as "Gone With the Wind" or "Paradise Lost" you're still certain to never be forgotten.

(For the record, by "one hit wonder," we mean books that were actually HITS. They don't just have to be good. They have to be popular. Therefore, some of these authors probably wrote other good books, but they just didn't reach popularity).  Huffington Post

Can you think of any "One Hit Wonders" left off the list?  Let us know here at The Things You Can Read!

Happy reading to all! ☮

Happy Reading
The Things You Can Read!
Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Friday, August 30, 2013

Book Beginnings on Friday: August 30, 2013




"On the day the worst happened to her-and by worst I mean the tragedy you'd die to prevent, kill to prevent, the cruelty beyond endurance-Lucy Adams was working in a flower shop, arranging scarlet and orange hothouse roses whose colors could have put a midsummer sunset to shame."-Seven for a Secret by Lyndsay Faye

From Edgar-nominated author Lyndsay Faye comes the next book in what Gillian Flynn calls "a brilliant new mystery series.”



Publication Date September 17, 2013

If the first line of Seven for a Secret by Lyndsay Faye grabs your attention let us know here at The Things You Can Read!

Thanks to Rose City Reader for hosting this event every Friday allowing bloggers to share the first sentence of a book that they are reading and offer some impression of said book!


Happy reading to all! ☮

Happy Reading
The Things You Can Read!
Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Book Blogger Hop: August 30-September 5, 2013



Have you ever ended up reading a book with its last or last few pages missing? What book was it? And how did you managed to get to the end?

In all the years I have been reading, I have never had an issue with missing pages anywhere in a book.  If this did happen to me, I would check for a copy of the book in my library or if it was the first few pages, I would go to Amazon and send myself the SAMPLE of the Kindle version of the  book, which is always the beginning of the book.

How would you handle this situation?  Let us know here at The Things You Can Read! Thanks, as always, to Coffee Addicted Writer for hosting Book Blogger Hop

Happy reading to all! ☮  

Happy Hopping and Reading!  
The Things You Can Read
Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Review: Traveling Sprinkler by Nicholson Baker

Title:  Traveling Sprinkler: A Novel
Author:  Nicholson Baker

Genre:  Realistic Fiction
Themes:  Aging, Relationships, Identity
Publisher/Publication Date:  PENGUIN GROUP Blue Rider Press/September 17, 2013

Source:  Net Galley
Rating:  Five of Five Stars
Finished/Not Finished:  Finished

One-sentence summary:  A professor of poetry longs to write the protest song of his generation as he struggles to deal with his life at fifty-five.

Cover Art:  Neutral on the cover

Try Traveling Sprinkler if you liked...The Anthologist by Nicholson Baker, Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, Night Film by Marisha Pessl

First & Second line:  "Roz called to ask me what I wanted for my fifty-fifth birthday. One of her many good qualities is that she remembers people's birthdays." Traveling Sprinkler: A Novel by Nicholson Baker

Buy, Borrow, Listen, or Avoid:  Buy, Borrow, or listen if you like realistic fiction, which deals with the types of themes previously mentioned.

Why did I get this book?:  I liked the summary, and I am a fan of quirky Indie films, and this book sounded like an Indie film from the description.

Review:

After reading the summary of Traveling Sprinkler , I really wanted to read the novel, but worried that not having read its predecessor, The Anthologist, I'd be at a big disadvantage.  Not to worry, Baker's newest novel is easily read as a stand alone.  I'm sure the history of Paul's relationship with his former girlfriend, Roz, was developed in the first novel, but Baker tells you just enough to understand the current relationship between these two characters, so as not to feel at a loss.  I have to admit, after reading his newest novel it did make me want to get my hands on a copy of The Anthologist as soon as humanly possible.  I loved  Paul Chowder, the protagonist, that much, and will be going through withdrawals, until such time, as I can find a copy of Nicholson's prior book.

If you are a fan of Indie movies then you will welcome Baker's newest novel with open arms.  Its a novel version of a really clever, quirky Indie film.  From avoiding working on his current poetry book, to working out at Planet Fitness, we see a man floundering to deal with the second of the two F birthdays:  Fifty-five.  To fill his days he attends Quaker meetings, dabbles in finding the best cigar,  muses about Debussy, teaches himself to play the guitar, feeds his neighbor's chickens, and ruminates about minute details from his past.  If you are expecting an action packed novel full of mini-climaxes you should look elsewhere for your next read.  This is a slow journey that is to be savored much like a traveling sprinkler.


"Roz called to ask me what I wanted for my fifty-fifth birthday.  One of her many good qualities is that she remembers people's birthdays." Traveling Sprinkler: A Novel by Nicholson Baker



A new novel by bestselling author Nicholson Baker reintroduces feckless but hopeful hero Paul Chowder, whose struggle to get his life together is reflected in his steadfast desire to write a pop song, or a protest song, or both at once.




Does Traveling Sprinkler: A Novel by Nicholson Baker grab your attention?  Is it a novel you'd be interested in reading?  Have you read any of Nicholson Baker's other books?  Let us know here at The Things You Can Read!
 


Happy reading to all! ☮

Happy Reading
The Things You Can Read!
Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!
 

Monday, August 26, 2013

It's Monday What Are You Reading?: August 26, 2013


I just finished reading Traveling Sprinkler: A Novel by Nicholson Baker.  My review will post tomorrow, Tuesday, August 27, 2013.

"Roz called to ask me what I wanted for my fifty-fifth birthday. One of her many good qualities is that she remembers people's birthdays." Traveling Sprinkler: A Novel by Nicholson Baker

Summary Courtesy of Goodreads:
A new novel by bestselling author Nicholson Baker reintroduces feckless but hopeful hero Paul Chowder, whose struggle to get his life together is reflected in his steadfast desire to write a pop song, or a protest song, or both at once.



I am STILL currently reading:

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

AND

Stoner by John Edward Williams

(I don't know why it's taking me so long to finish these two. Each one is good and the writing is excellent.)

Recently finished listening to...


Joyland by Stephen King




AND





But have not posted a review yet.  What are you reading?  Let us know here at The Things You Can Read.


Happy reading to all! ☮

Happy Reading
The Things You Can Read!
Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Review: Swimming at Night by Lucy Clarke

 

Author: 


Summary Courtesy of Goodreads:

People go traveling for two reasons: because they are searching for something, or they are running from something.

Katie's world is shattered by the news that her headstrong and bohemian younger sister, Mia, has been found dead at the bottom of a cliff in Bali. The authorities say that Mia jumped--that her death was a suicide.

Although they'd hardly spoken to each other since Mia suddenly left on an around-the-world trip six months earlier, Katie refuses to accept that her sister would have taken her own life. Distraught that they never made peace, Katie leaves her orderly, sheltered life in London behind and embarks on a journey to find out the truth. With only the entries in Mia's travel journal as her guide, Katie retraces the last few months of her sister's life and, page by page, country by country, begins to uncover the mystery surrounding her death. . . .

Weaving together the exotic settings and suspenseful twists of Alex Garland's The Beach with a powerful tale of familial love in the spirit of Rosamund Lupton's Sister, Swimming at Night is a fast-paced, accomplished, and gripping debut novel of secrets, loss, and forgiveness.


Have you read Swimming at Night? Does Swimming at Night grab your attention? Is it one you'd be interested in reading? Let us know here at The Things You Can Read!




Happy reading to all! ☮

Happy Reading
The Things You Can Read!
Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Friday, August 23, 2013

Book Blogger Hop: August 23-29, 2013


Book Blogger Hop: August 23-29, 2013


Book blogging is more than just reading. Who helped you set up or run your blog? Or did you do it all yourself?


I created my blog all by myself.  Yeah, ME!  I spent the summer break of 2012 creating The Things You Can Read.  I spent hours visiting book blogs all over the blogosphere to learn what others had created before me.  I kept tweaking my blog until I was pleased with the look and feel of my blog.  Sometimes I'd ask someone a question, if I saw something on their blog that I really liked,  but didn't know how to make it work on my blog.  But for the most part it has been trial and error, and The Things You Can Read is run by just one person, ME. However, I'd love to have someone guest write a post.  If you are interested let me know!

Thanks to Coffee Addicted Writer for hosting Book Blogger Hop! How would you answer this one? Let us know your thoughts here at The Things You Can Read.

Happy reading to all! ☮  

Happy Hopping and Reading!  
The Things You Can Read
Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Feature and Follow



Snap a picture of you and your current read. 

Okay, so it's not exactly me, but close enough in spirit!


The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read.

What would your picture look like?  Let us know here at The Things You Can Read.

Happy reading to all! ☮

Happy Reading
The Things You Can Read!
Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Book Beginnings on Friday:Traveling Sprinkler by Nicholson Baker August 23, 2013




"Roz called to ask me what I wanted for my fifty-fifth birthday.  One of her many good qualities is that she remembers people's birthdays." Traveling Sprinkler: A Novel by Nicholson Baker







A new novel by bestselling author Nicholson Baker reintroduces feckless but hopeful hero Paul Chowder, whose struggle to get his life together is reflected in his steadfast desire to write a pop song, or a protest song, or both at once.

How about that first and second line? 
Traveling Sprinkler: A Novel by Nicholson Baker is up next.  I look forward to starting this one.

Thanks to Rose City Reader for hosting this event every Friday allowing bloggers to share the first sentence of a book that they are  reading and offer some impression of said book!

Does Traveling Sprinkler: A Novel by Nicholson Baker 
grab your attention?  Is it a novel you'd be interested in reading?  Have you read any of Nicholson Baker's other books?  Let us know here at The Things You Can Read!



Happy reading to all! ☮ 


Happy Reading

The Things You Can Read!
Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

The Stephen King Universe



For all you Stephen King fans out there, checkout this great poster created by Tessie Design Company it will blow you away!  If you are totally in love with her creation, order one today!

Now, if you are really a fan of King click on over to The New York Times Magazine article entitled "Stephen King's Family Business', which profiles the King Clan.  Still haven't had enough King?  Try The Atlantic article entitled "Why Stephen King Spends 'Months and Even Years' Writing Opening Sentences"  

Other articles of Interest:
An Easter Egg Hunt With Stephen King and Family

Are you a Stephen King Fan?  Let us know here at The Things You Can Read!

Happy reading to all! ☮

Happy Reading
The Things You Can Read!
Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Random Thoughts: Who Said It?

Buzzfeed recently had a great little pop culture quiz on Pablo Neruda's 109th birthday entitled Who Said It: Pablo Neruda or Taylor Swift?"  As they said, "Let’s see how the love poet of yore stacks up against our beloved songstress of modern romance."  Check it out and let us know how you did on the quiz here at The Things You Can Read.

Happy reading to all! ☮

Happy Reading
The Things You Can Read!
Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Monday, August 19, 2013

Random Thoughts: Miniature books as a Hobby?


Here’s a question for a lexicographer: is a book still called a book if it’s too small for a person to read? Moreover, what do you call people who collect miniature books as a hobby? The Telegraph








Would you collect miniature books?  Let us know here at The Things You Can Read.

Happy reading to all! ☮

Happy Reading
The Things You Can Read!
Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!



Sunday, August 18, 2013

Things that are Bookmarks and NOT Bookmarks

        
What do you use as a bookmark?  What do you think would be the worst bookmark?  Let us know here at The Things You Can Read.

Happy reading to all! ☮

Happy Reading
The Things You Can Read!
Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Review: Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield




I have heard it said, by those that cannot possibly know, that in the final moments of a man's existence he sees his whole life pass before his eyes.-The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Title: Bellman & Black

Author: Diane Setterfield

Genre: Fiction

Subgenre: Historical /Literary

Setting: Victorian England 1800s

Publisher/Publication DateAtria/November 5, 2013

Source: Edelweiss and Netgalley

Rating: Four out of Five Stars

Finish/Not Finished: Finished, I eagerly awaited the publication of Diane Setterfield's second novel.

One-sentence summary:  A boys childish act haunts his future, and prohibits him from experiencing true happiness.

My thoughts on the cover art:  I think the cover captures the dark Gothic mood of the novel.  I love the rich colors used in the design. The cover meshes with the time period..

I'm reminded of...:  Edgar Allan Poe and Daphne Du Maurier

First line: I have heard it said, by those that cannot possibly know, that in the final moments of a man's existence he sees his whole life pass before his eyes.-Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield

Buy, Borrow, or Avoid?:  Borrow or buy if you are a fan of dark Gothic novels with deep symbolism.

Why did I get this book?:  I waited seven years to read Diane Setterfield's second novel it was worth the wait.  Bellman & Black  is intriguing.  What do I mean by that well, it is the type of book that keeps you on your toes.  Just when you think you know where you are going with this one, you realize you don't.  It is also rich with symbolism and lore associated with Ravens.

Other Thoughts:  If you were looking for another The Thirteenth Tale you will be disappointed. Bellman & Black has the same eerie feel to it, but it is a very different book.  It did not disappoint this reader.  The book is heavy with symbolism related to Ravens, which gives the story a Poesque mood.  Another aspect of the book is mourning traditions of the Victorian era.  If you are interested in these rituals this book is for you.  I will add that the book is well researched in this regard, and the writing is scrumptious.



Bellman and BlackSummary Courtesy of Goodreads: 
As a boy, William Bellman commits one small, cruel act: killing a bird with his slingshot. Little does he know the unforeseen and terrible consequences of the deed, which is soon forgotten amidst the riot of boyhood games. By the time he is grown, with a wife and children of his own, William seems to be a man blessed by fortune—until tragedy strikes and the stranger in black comes. Then he starts to wonder if all his happiness is about to be eclipsed. Desperate to save the one precious thing he has left, William enters into a rather strange bargain, with an even stranger partner, to found a decidedly macabre business.

And Bellman & Black is born.









Does Bellman & Black grab your attention?  Is it one you'd be interested in reading?  Let us know here at The Things You Can Read!


Happy reading to all! ☮

Happy Reading
The Things You Can Read!
Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!
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