Reading and Writing, Well really just what I've Read

The Templar Cross Paul Christopher

2011-03-21T15:18:00.000-04:00

Well I finished this story and really am not sure where I stand on it. I am definitely in the 2 - 3 banana range but the history was enough to get me through the book. Ultimately I found the story a little too cliche'd and contrived. The descriptions used bordered on melodrama. And the book had barely anything to do with Templars!

In the end I am going 2 1/2 bananas, although I loved the globe trotting and history, the story lacked in an a tangible hook the reader sort of way. Thoughts?

Remarkable Creatures

2011-03-11T22:23:00.000-05:00

I finished the story and then learned although fiction the story is based on the lives of two influential women in the history of Paleontology, Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot. This raised my interest about te story and I as usual did my research on Lyme Regis and the two ladies.

The story definitely had a female struggle theme as women blazed a trail in the worlds of geology and paleontology. Speaking of the two main characters and the over all plight of women throughout periods of subjugation in the past.

In the end despite the book not being a personally engrossing piece it was still a very well written story and educational as well. I give it 3 1/2 bananas!

MS IT Management

2011-02-24T19:58:00.000-05:00

I started my degree program and recreational reading has slowed down. I am working my way through Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier. And David Hewson's The Blue Demon. I also started a book by Paul Christopher, he writes historical fiction about the Templar's.

I often start and bounce from book to book. Sometimes juggling 3 or 4 books. I'm wondering how many people do this type of juggling as well.

It doesnt seem like I slowed down does it? But a few pages here and there is slowing down for me.

North Little Rock, AR

2011-02-06T17:37:00.002-05:00

So here I am in Arkansas. If you've ever been here then you know my state of mind. I'm reading The Blue Demon by David Hewson. Super Bowl Sunday and here I am. The book so far is slow to get into however I believe I'm suffering from Stieg Larsson hangover. The Blue Demon seems typically well written and I am sure I will love this chase through Rome.

The Burning Land

2011-02-01T19:22:00.000-05:00

Before I started the Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest I read The Burning Land by Bernard Cornwell. True historical fiction about Britian at the time of Alfred the Great. The Danes and Saxons are constantly at war. Yet constantly seeking partnerships to leverage and grow their power.

This is the 5th in a series, but I didnt realize that at the time I grabbed it. A quick read and interesting for those who truly like history.

Snow storm

2011-01-27T21:26:00.000-05:00

I hate snow. I think that's the most succinct statement I've ever made in my life. I spent the day shoveling, using a snow blower, and clearing two roof's. I was cold, wet, and sore. And I broke my friends snow blower, ugh. I ran to Home Depot and got a replacement pin which fixed the issue but man did I feel bad.

How much more snow will I see this year? One more flake is two too many.

I hate snow.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest

2011-01-27T21:18:00.000-05:00

Wow. I for one loved the final installment of Stieg Larsson's trilogy. I was enthralled from start to finish with every character, detail, place and action. In fact the entire trilogy was by far the best set of books I've ever read. Each book stood alone and yet each depended on the other. The thorough research, complex story and subplots, and well developed characters all woven together place this series at the top of the class not just for it's genre but for fiction writing as a whole.

It is unfortunate that Mr Larsson passed away so young. His writing reflected deep beliefs and a certain moral code that despite any differences people may have were all so well communicated they could hardly be seen as anything other than the best writing possible in our world today. He will be sorely missed.

Reading and Writing and Life

2011-01-10T20:31:00.002-05:00

I find myself searching for both time and motivation to write and read after long days of work, commuting, and a never ending head cold/sinus infection. I'm sitting at about 10k words for my book if that means anything. Searching for a little inspiration to add meat to the bones of the outline. I'm bouncing between reading The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest by Stieg Larsson and Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier.
Balancing your immediate requirements, i.e. work to pay the bills and finding time to chase your hobbies and personal projects is the art of life. Something at 9 months shy of 40 I'm just figuring out. Or fooling myself into thinking I am anyway.

Work

2011-01-02T17:24:00.000-05:00

After 10 straight days off, through the holidays and a snowstorm, I have to return to work tomorrow. I do not want to go back to work. I would rather read some more band sleep in.

Snow, shoveling and writing

2010-12-28T22:16:00.000-05:00

Let me start by saying I hate snow. It may look pretty in photos or for hallmark card moments but it has no use for me. Its cold, icy and slushy. The sidewalks and driveways all need to be cleared. Your car gets filthy and your constantly washing your windshield. You spend your time cooped up in the house unless you are one of those people that loves wearing 18 layers of clothes to go outside and thow a snowball or build a snowman only to be soaked in cold melting snow inside your boots or gloves with your nose running, ears reddened and clothes dripping on the outside with melted snow and on the inside with sweat. And did I say its cold? What I wouldnt give for a few weeks in the caribbean, weaing flip flops and a bathing suit, sitting on a beach or at a beach bar drinking a few fruity concoctions while the sun goes down over the water. Yeah I hate snow.

I did however get dinner out of the deal, my parents sprang for pizza after we went over and helped my father dig out. We got the sidewalks cleared in time to have some pieces of sausage and mushroom. Cant beat that in the winter.

Finally I got about 650 words towards the story down and another 700 or so in foundation notes. This story may never win an award, never see a publisher or ever really be worth much but it will someday be finished.

Week off

2010-12-27T19:45:00.001-05:00

I’m off this week and looking at the stack of books I have to read and pondering a little writing action. Meanwhile I’ve worked shoveling, Creationary, and some video gaming in! This staying at home for more than a couple days is great.

Speaking of Creationary, what a cool Lego game. It’s Pictionary with Lego’s instead of drawing. Very fun but I’m thinking a 3 minute timer per turn is necessary.

Goal of the week, write 250 words a day and read, read, read! Oh and potentially find out what I look like with facial hair.

Sh*t My Dad Says

2010-12-27T11:39:00.001-05:00

In a word, Hysterical! Justin Halpern has conveyed the insanity of his father in such a simple, spoken word method that you can't help but laugh and breeze through his book looking for the next!

Remarkable Creatures

2010-12-27T11:36:00.001-05:00

I started Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier. If she sounds familiar she wrote Girl With A Pearl Earring. So far not bad, but I am definitely not the target audience.

Testing BlogJet

2010-12-26T21:55:00.001-05:00

I have installed an interesting application - BlogJet. It's a cool Windows client for my blog tool (as well as for other tools). Get your copy here: http://blogjet.com

"Computers are incredibly fast, accurate and stupid; humans are incredibly slow, inaccurate and brilliant; together they are powerful beyond imagination." -- Albert Einstein

Holy Books!! It's Christmas

2010-12-26T15:38:00.000-05:00

My wife got a copy of my wish list on Amazon and wow did she go crazy! I got ten books ranging from a useless facts bathroom reader to a george Washington Biography with a Steve Berry thrown in for good measure. I am looking forward to reading each and trying my hand at a thorough review of each book. Of course they would all consist of my opinions, but hey isnt everything we do really just based on opinion?

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2010-11-21T18:11:00.000-05:00

So I finished The Girl Who Played with Fire and it was amazing! I immediately dove into The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Finished! It was great. Now onto The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest. But in the meantime I started and completed Michael Crichton's Pirate Lattitudes. It was ok, I suppose. A very quick read, not very deep and seemed to want to be a Jack Sparrow adventure with every pirate action cliche possible stuffed into the last two thirds of the book. I give it an eh, or one banana out of five.

Apologies for the long break between posts, I actually had to go to work! Its a busy time for us in the National Guard and I was away for 16 days. Back to the grind.

David Hewson's Latest

2010-10-17T20:28:00.005-04:00

I am looking forward to getting a copy David Hewson's new book in the Nic Costa series. Titled (in the US) "City of Fear: A Novel," it hit the bookshelves in May '10!

Self Publishing and writers block

2010-10-12T17:47:00.001-04:00

I am writing a book based on some of my experiences but in a fictional format. Has anyone out there done any self publishing and if so do you have any tips? What about writers block, I mean I have the concept and outline but actual writing of pages sometimes seems to bog me down, any ideas?

What I do with the Books I read

2010-10-10T09:26:00.002-04:00

Bottom Line..... I donate them. I bag them all up and drive over to the local library and put them in the donation bins. I have no desire to accumulate tons and tons of dusty used books. If I were a collector or had a small book shop that would be a different story but I live with wife and step-son in a ranch with no room for things to sit accumulating dust.

What do you do with your books? Perhaps you EBay them, maybe thats something I should have done. Start a used bookstore on EBay or Amazon. Send me a message, maybe there is something I can do with all the books I read other than dropping them in a bin.

The Girl Who Played with Fire

2010-10-10T08:56:00.003-04:00

I'm hooked. I 'm about 150 pages in and I am hooked. The characters and their backstories are very well done, drawing me right into their lives. I can't seem to put the book down. - Update I am on page 260, love the characters in the book. I want to visit Sweden now.

Books I have read

2010-10-04T16:33:00.001-04:00

I have read a ton of books and Im not slowing down anytime soon. Currently I am reading "The Girl Who Played with Fire (Vintage)", and just prior to that I finished "Ford County: Stories." I am going to put a list, from the best that I can recall, of books I have read with links to their authors. Feel free to send me your authors and books. Particularly if they match the genre or style of things I have read

September 8th, Indiana

2010-09-08T13:41:00.001-04:00

There is nothing to do in Edinburgh, IN. There is always beer at Ruby Tuesday's, ...... Really? Is that the best we have here? Well I suppose it could be worse, I could be travelling to Ft Dix, NJ. But at least there is a golf course on post at Ft Dix!

Initial post

2009-02-19T10:33:00.000-05:00

This is my initial post! So much time so little to say...strike that, reverse it. Anyway how do you start talking on one of these? Here goes nothing. Look for my real initial post next!