Banned Book Challenge

On Reading March 25, 2007 Superfast Reader 3 Comments

I just signed up to read 3 books that have been banned at some point before June 30, 2007. Visit the Pelham Library site if you’d like to sign up for the Banned Books Challenge yourself. I’ll be reading: What Janie Found by Caroline B, Cooney–FINISHED The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier–FINISHED The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder–FINISHED I am always shocked at what books get banned… who are these people, anyway? If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS…

Kurt Vonnegut’s Rules for Writing Fiction

On Reading March 24, 2007 Superfast Reader 1 Comment

From American State:

What’s In Your Library?

On Reading March 23, 2007 Superfast Reader

I just finished a work read about babysitting, something I’ve done a lot of in my life. I think those days are past, but you never know. I guess if Reading is my Superpower isn’t making me a six-figure salary by the end of the current fiscal year, I’ll be putting up flyers at the local grocery store. New reader Todd (hi, Todd!) writes:

The Wife (Kristin Lavransdatter II) by Sigrid Undset

Norwegian Literature March 23, 2007 Superfast Reader 1 Comment

Synopsis: Now married to her beloved Erlend Niklausson, Kristin takes up her new life as the mistress of Husaby, fearful that the child that grows inside her will expose her secret shame and cause her father to reject her. Review: I didn’t think it was going to be possible for Undset to outdo her achievement The Wreath, book I of her Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy set in Norway in the 14th century. I feared that marriage wouldn’t suit Kristin, that her vitality and inner fire would…

Spring Reading Thing

On Reading March 22, 2007 Superfast Reader 11 Comments

I found a fun challenge over at Callapidder Days–just make a list of the books you want to read this spring. So, at some point between today and June 21st, the first day of summer, I’ll be reading: 1. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky 2. Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson 3. Blindness by Henry Green Tomorrow is my last day at my job, which means no more morning/evening commute, which is when I do most of my reading. But never…

The Keeper by Sarah Langan

American Literature March 21, 2007 Superfast Reader 1 Comment

Synopsis: In a rotting-down town in nowheresville Maine, a woman with a broken mind haunts the minds of the inhabitants, tormenting their dreams and leading them to make deadly choices. Review: I picked The Keeper up after reading about it on SciFi Wire, but I have to say I was disappointed. The writing is assured, and Langan demonstrates considerable ability in bringing the reader inside the characters’ heads. She’s also not afraid of going for the gore, and some of her imagery will be sticking…

Obsessed with Librarything

On Reading March 20, 2007 Superfast Reader

If you check out my sidebar, you’ll see that I’ve added a feature that shows 10 randomly selected books from my online library at Librarything. I am a bit of an obsessive, so of course I will not rest until every book I own is in there. Cute, huh?

I Don’t Like Jonathan Lethem’s Books But That Doesn’t Make Me Stupid, Stupid

On Reading March 18, 2007 Superfast Reader 6 Comments

Today’s New York Times had a review of Jonathan Lethem’s new book, You Don’t Love Me Yet. I don’t see what the big deal is about Lethem–I thought this book was ably written but lacking vitality, and Motherless Brooklyn made me put it down after about 100 pages because it bored me.

Luck of the Wheels by Megan Lindholm

American Literature March 18, 2007 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Gypsy teamster Ki agrees to ferry a most disagreeable boy to another town, and discovers a world of trouble when she and her companions find themselves in the middle of an uprising. Review: Luck of the Wheels, the fourth and final installment in the Ki and Vandien Quartet, is the best Lindholm I’ve read so far. Here, she pushes her protagonists as far as they can be pushed, taking the kinds of story risks that make her books so accomplished. She’s not afraid to…

The Limbreth Gate by Megan Lindholm

American Literature March 17, 2007 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: A gypsy woman is drawn into a shadow world to fulfill the destiny created for her when she was briefly kidnapped as a child. Review: The Limbreth Gate is the third installment in Megan Lindholm’s Ki and Vandien Quartet, and is perhaps the most conventional of her books. The plotline is a familiar one–a shadow world opens up, sucking the main characters in–and while Lindholm doesn’t exactly take it to new heights, she does deliver a solid, well-written, suspenseful fantasy tale.

reading is my superpower

i read all the books