Just a Question
I've been involved in publishing a long time now . . . so most of my friends in cyberspace and on FB, and in my real life, tend to be writers. I try to buy their books. As an editor, I get sent complimentary copies of the books I work on. My TBR pile is astounding. But I wonder . . .
ASIDE from people you know/are acquainted with in the blogosphere, what was the last book you bought and why?
I bought three books at once. I was at a signing here.
It was my own signing. If you have ever wondered about the ability of a good indie bookstore to hand-sell . . . wonder no more. I walked out spending more money than I could have possibly made. Because she took the time to chat with me, learn my politics, learn my reading likes and dislikes, she sold me . . . The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Little Bee, and Outcasts United. So far, I like all three.
I also bought, prior to that, a book on quantum physics and consciousness. I love it, but I tend to read it in small chunks. My approach to physics is read until my brain feels like it is going to explode (for real) . . . go away and ponder. When I feel I have wrapped my brain around the concept, return and read until said brain again feels like it will burst.
You? What are you reading and why . . . excluding bloggie pals.
33 comments:
Bloggie pals come first. I've been having a hard time keeping up, and that's good news.
The last book I bought was Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child, and I bought it at the Phoenix Airport on my way home 2 weeks ago because, well, I could, and because I was reading Mike Lawson's House Secrets and thought I'd finish it on the plane. (I did, but just as I was landing in Detroit).
My TBR is ridiculous and getting worse. Looking over at my shelves, I've got 16 books piled up as top priority, some of which may get bounced as new ones come in. And just glancing over my shelves I know I've got another 30 or 40 I haven't read yet, and there's a long book on the Kindle app on the iPad that I hope to read soon.
I'm finishing up The Lost City of Z by David Grann and The Silent Man by Alex Berenson.
Original Sin by Allison Brennan (always a blog pal on the list)
The Fathers of the Church by Mike Aquilina Because I like theology of any kind.
On Writing by Stephan King Because I like King
Motherhood is Murder by Multiple authors Because it's entertaining in waiting rooms.
Saturday I bought Mark of the Devil (Medallion Press) from a writer named William Kerr, who was signing copies at my local Books-A-Million. I hadn't intended on buying a book, was actually just cutting through on my way elsewhere, but he was there at a card table with people coming by and asking directions to the bathroom and so forth and I knew I would be in the same spot in the not-too-distant future. He was an interesting fellow (a retired Navy Captain), and the book sounded good, so I bought it. I've only read the prologue so far, but it's actually pretty good.
Hmm ... I'm a big library user, so I think the last book I bought was Cacti and Succulents, by Graham Charles. And before that was Burpee's reference on growing vegetables. I bought Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, and the most recent book I bought was Mark Terry's Monster Seeker on Kindle. I bought the Tavernier Stones, too. But I know those last two don't count.
I'm reading three novels at the moment ... The Passage (almost done) and War & Peace two pages at a time. And Mark Terry's Monster Seeker.
Stpehn:
Good news, indeed!
Mark:
Lee is a writer I have never read, but sop many of my friends read, so at some point, I will check him out.
Mary:
All sound like things I might like.
:-)
Jude:
LOL on your reason!!!!!
I just alphabetized my library. Your books, Stephen's, and my friend Stuarts are all on the same shelf right together! I am amazed at how many signed books I have, how many authors I know from my own library. And blessed.
I just read KUSHIEL'S DART on the recommendation of a friend, and I'm now reading THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING, too. Somehow I missed that one way back when.
Awhile back I integrated my TBR pile into my regular books. It's kind of fun to look through and find one I haven't read yet. Almost like shopping at the bookstore.
Little Bee ROCKS! I loved that book. For some reason, I haven't been able to get into The Girl With a Dragon Tatoo, but everyone raves about it. Do I just need to read further?
I just bought Kushiel's Dart, Kushiel's Chosen, and Kushiel's Avatar by Jacqueline Carey. Major Love. Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris and Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead. Non-fiction includes Living the Martial Way and The Death of Josseline, both good. (Even if the latter's actual writing is... well, the stories are true and good to know.)
Okay that's not all, but I'll stop. I tend to read a ton of books at once.
"What was the last book you bought and why?"
Island Beneath the Sea by Isable Allende. She's a master craftsman and I find her storytelling breathlessly wonderful, which is why I tend to buy her books.
Interesting that you brought up this topic because lately I buy books written in genres I dislike, but written by authors whom I know and love personally. I prefer support nice people and will read their books no matter the genre. On the other hand, writers who don't appeal to me personally, no matter how wonderful their writing, I won't lay out the bucks for. Example: Stephen King. Hated what he said about Stephenie Meyer - he made himself look incredibly ill-mannered and heartless.
Lurker:
Funny, but I rarely take books out from the library--instead tend to use it for research. My parents recently joined the library where they live and take out TONS--books, CDs, DVDs. For my mom, she now says it's nice because if she starts a book and hates it, she doesn't feel like she has to finish since it was free!
Starbucks:
I have books in every nook in this house! Kind of like a bookstore.
Natasha:
I think if you can get to his taking the case on you will like it better, but yeah, I could see it not grabbing immediately because of all the back story. Have you met Lisbeth yet?
Kath:
I have the SAME reaction to a few authors. There is one woman I really think is so back-stabbing and two-faced in pub circles, and I can't bring myself to buy her books even with their very beautiful covers. :-)
Kath:
And P.S. . . . I felt the same about King's comments. I don't find it necessary to "call out" another writer. Why? What's to be gained by it?
Presently I'm reading--Jesus Wars: How Four Patriarchs, Three Queens, and Two Emperors Decided What Christians Would Believe for the Next 1,500 Years by John Philip Jenkins.
This is a very detailed booked about the literal wars fought in the church about the nature of the divinity (or lack of divinity) of Jesus. This author says more people were killed in these struggles than in the Crusades. Oh, the things we kill people over!
In the same way you read physics books, I read books on religion.
I finally picked up Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins which my blogging buddies have been recommending for eons (with good reason). Since I'm impatiently waiting for Mockingjay, I picked up the first book in the Gregor The Overlander series that she wrote.
I also got a few more Jennifer Crusie books, read one and sent all three to mom. I'll read the other two one day. (Sent her another romance written by a certain blogging buddy whose blog I'm commenting on right now)
In the bargain bin, I found Pig Candy, Taking my Father South, Taking my Father Home by Lise Funderburg. It's an interesting looking memoir. And Reluctant Saint, The Life of Francis of Assisi. He's one of my faves since he's the animal man. I'm interested to see what they say his life was really like.
I also got a newish Anne MacCaffrey book - Dragon Harper. Have been trying to find one of the Harper books that I know I have somewhere. Hope this one can assuage that craving.
The rest are blogging buddy books.
Can you tell I love to buy books - more than I have time to read?
Oh I would love to read that, Joe!
Joe:
That sounds really fascinating--I may have to pick that one up.
Sarah:
LOL! Me, too!
Because money is an issue, I am a huge library fan. But the last book I bought was Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. Loved it!
From the library, I'm currently reading In The Woods - Tana French & I was told there'd be cake by Sloane Crossely.
And two books on my TBR pile that I'm really excited about - both given to me by friends who aren't writers, but just enjoyed them and though I would - Heat by Bill Buford and Time of My Life by Allison Winn Scotch.
Well, leaving out "bloggies" and "irl" friends, that would leave "Fool" by Christopher Moore and a couple of poetry anthologies. Those are for me. I buy books for my girls all the time... sometimes daily. If it is for kids and has a mermaid in it, chances are we own it. Just sayin :)
Hi Nadine:
Well, I plan on taking Dynamo Boy to the library a lot this summer, so that could change for me.
ewoh:
LOL!!!
As a follow-up, bloggies and real-life friends make up about 90% of my reading list. Between ARCs, edits and what I buy for signed copies I have a hard time getting time to read anything else... of course Neil Gaiman and Christopher Moore are two definite exceptions.
And, as a follow-up-follow-up... why the hell can't amazon give us a feature to automatically add new books to our wish lists/carts based on pre-defined criteria like author name? It would be really convenient to log into amazon and already have pre-ordered Erica's latest book... just sayin'.
I bought Mark Terry's book and Gigi Amateau's at the same time. Also started both of them and am half way through but I'm a slow reader because I go in spurts...life is distracting.
I bought Laura Anne Gilman's Retriever series from LUNA. It's well-written urban fantasy.
Ewoh:
I crack up when my friends forward me their Amazon ads: "You bought Erica Orloff's last book so you might want to order . . . ."
:-)
Richmond:
Chancey is sitting here on my coffee table (not her latest but . . .)
FF:
Interesting that LUNA does urban fantasy now.
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