Added to Wish List and Two R.I.P. Books

Just added two books to my wish list after reading Wendy's post about Stiff:  The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach.  I wasn't familiar with Mary Roach, but found several other nonfiction lay science books that she has written that sound fascinating.  I love lay science!

The other book Wendy mentioned was The Mind at Night: The New Science of How and Why We Dream by Andrea Rock.  I've read a couple of novels lately about dreaming (The Vault of Dreamers-post scheduled for Aug. 20--loved, and The Anatomy of Dreams- post scheduled for Sept. 2- not so much).  I also read articles in The Guardian like Sleep May Help Memories Form by Creating New Synapses and Sleep's Role in Memory Formation and Lucid Dreaming Can Be Induced by Electric Scalp Stimulation (my own lucid dreams are rare, but appreciated).

Sleep and memory are also discussed in How We Learn by Benedict Carey (this one was so good, but I haven't scheduled my review yet).  In fiction and fact, dreams are intriguing to most of us.

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I've got two great possibilities for Carl's R.I.P. Challenge lined up:

The Pierced Heart by Lynn Shepherd.  "The shadow of Bram Stoker’s Dracula looms large over the darkest mystery yet faced by Victorian detective Charles Maddox—as the acclaimed author of The Solitary House and A Fatal Likeness once again pays homage to a literary classic, in a chilling tale of superstition, dangerous science, and shocking secrets."  

I've read both The Solitary House and A Fatal Likeness by Shepherd and expect this one to be a perfect R.I.P. book.

The Lazarus Prophecy by F.G. Cottam.  A copy cat Jack the Ripper, a connection to the Templars, and a prophecy that is even older.  

I've never read this author before, but the content and the cover make
it look suitable for R.I.P. 


Now, I must leave these two alone until the Challenge begins.  I MUST not go ahead and read them UNTIL the Challenge begins.  

Gail Carriger's Timeless is the fifth in the Parasol Protectorate series featuring Lady Macon, vampires, werewolves, humor, and satire.  I've yet to read Heartless, # 4 in the series, so I'll have to get to that one before the latest offering.  I liked Souless, the first in the series the best because the satire was fresh and funny.  The next two were OK, but not nearly as good.
(this is just my opinion--others have felt that the series kept getting better)

Naomie Novik has a new Temeraire offering -- Crucible of Gold


But when will my favorite fantasy series by Megan Whalen Turner have a new offering?   Surely it is about time for a return of Gen, the thief of Attolia.  

Deborah Crombie (Gemma & Duncan Kincaid) has a new book out-- No Mark Upon Her.  I love this mystery/police procedural series and hope the library is quick to get this one.

I'm experiencing book lust.  The weird part is that although I'm finding dozens of books that I want to read, receiving a-plenty of ARCs from publishers, have stacks of TBR books waiting--I'm not actually spending as much time reading.

Normally, I read from 6 or 7 at night until 11:00 or even later.  That has not been happening this year.  Instead of settling into my reading chair, I'm more likely to rush upstairs to needle and thread.  My reading time has been hijacked by embroidery.  And I'm keeping up with my sewing/quilting/crafting blog much better than I am with this one.  Cycles.

I have recently finished The Snowman by Jo Nesbo and Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer and need to review them.

How Far Behind...

can I get in reading blogs?  Very, very far.

As I try to catch up, I have to stop and write down titles of books and names of authors, check them out on Amazon, add some to the wish list and, after reading several reviews of Moonwalking with Einstein, finally placing an order.  I could have waited to get a copy at the library, but this is one of the "brain" books that I'm sure I'll want to keep.

Algonquin has sent me a bunch more ARCs, I have books I've purchased sitting in a stack by my reading chair, I have overdue library books.  A surfeit of reading material and still not reading at my usual pace.

I do have a couple of books to review and have 3 books in progress, but I'm still spending most of my time upstairs in the studio stitching away on prayer flags.  I love the idea of having these little flags sending prayers on the breeze.

"Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. The flags do not carry prayers to gods, a common misconception; rather, the Tibetans believe the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread the good will and compassion into all pervading space. Therefore, prayer flags are thought to bring benefit to all."


Mine aren't the traditional Tibetan version with their bright, symbolic primary colors.  Mine are usually more subdued, but I've had fun choosing words to include on my flags and embroidering each flag is a meditative process.

I think I've made about eight so far.  I spend hours each night stitching while watching Netflix, instead of reading, which is my usual evening activity.

However, I really must return my library books, read some of the backlog of books that have accumulated, and write a couple of reviews!

Wish List

Ariana Franklin's new novel The Serpent's Tale will soon be out. I read Mistress of the Art of Death (reviewed here) last year and loved it. I certainly want to read the latest adventure of Adelia and Rowley.

Due out in April: Shadow Gate: Book Two of Crossroads, sequel to Kate Eliot's Spirit Gate. I've been waiting on this one as well. Here is my review of Spirit Gate.

Also to come in July of 2008, David Webber's By Schism Rent Asunder, which is hopefully the next in the series begun by Off Armageddon Reef, reviewed here. I fell in love with David Webber's work with O. A.R., but went on to explore his Honor Harrington series which I loved as well.

Perhaps, if I put in a request at the library, they will consider ordering all three (if they have not already done so); after all, I checked each one of the above out from the library shortly after publication. And the sooner I can get my hands on these, the better!

------ later---

I've begun pulling out books that have been forgotten. You know, those stacks that are out for frequent perusal...mine are usually on the hearth or on top of the book shelf or on the old trunk and frequently in all three places. When company is expected I usually move them to one of the bookshelves. In my case, stacked in front of books that are already there, where I forget about them.

Ooops! ARC's and purchased books galore, neglected, unread. So I will be eliminating a few of them--now that they are back in the open, rubbing shoulders with library books and more recent acquisitions.