Hi All,
This is going to be a mini review, just a mini one. The 'Make Good Art' Speech that was given by Neil Gaiman was transcribed into a book, the speech itself was 19 minutes long and made some very good points, you can find it online if you want to watch it.
It states that no matter what is going on in your life you should make good art, whether that be writing, music, visual art, anything.
It is a very moving speech and VERY inspirational and I would suggest that you listen to it, or read it, or both.
Another thing that I found inspirational was a quote I found online from Neil Gaiman. He got a question (maybe over Tumblr I don't rightly know) but the question was
"I want to be a writer when I grow up, am I insane?"
His response was "Yes. Growing up is highly overrated, just be an author."
To me this meant that you didn't have to wait to be an adult to do what you wanted to do with your life, just do it.
So yes, inspiration post thingy and mini-review of the "Make Good Art" speech by Neil Gaiman, there will be more reviews to come (definitely) and this would have been longer but how long can you make a review of a book that is about 100 pages?
(I just checked out, like 20 odd books from my local library and I will be working through them and reviewing them when I finish them, keep reading, and, even though I've got a lot of reading to do suggest books for me to read by all means, because God knows when I finish my stack of books I'll need something else to read)
Thursday, 29 May 2014
Extreme Vinyl Café by Stuart McLean
OK, this anthology has to be my absolute favourite. It houses all of the "extreme" things that Dave and his friends have done. From bungee jumping off a cruise ship to getting married in a dress from the hardware store to getting stuck in a dumbwaiter to riding roller coasters it's packed full of laughs and fun and, as always, amazing stories.
You know an anthology is going to hysterical when it starts out with a boy turning green while his parents are away and he's in the care of his older sister. From there it just gets better when Dave gets stuck in a dumbwaiter, Stephanie goes to London, Sam and Murphy get lost in Quebec, Dave gets a paper route, there's a water slide incident and a ten year old lottery ticket and it all culminates in Dave and the Roller Coaster.
From beginning to end this anthology is packed with laughs, and wisdom, not just from Dave and his friends but from the wonderful Stuart McLean himself. Frequent readers and listeners will love this book and cherish it forever and first time readers and listeners will laugh out loud.
In short, I do recommend that everyone read this book, it will make you smile and laugh and maybe make you want to go to the amusement park and try out a roller coaster or two.
You know an anthology is going to hysterical when it starts out with a boy turning green while his parents are away and he's in the care of his older sister. From there it just gets better when Dave gets stuck in a dumbwaiter, Stephanie goes to London, Sam and Murphy get lost in Quebec, Dave gets a paper route, there's a water slide incident and a ten year old lottery ticket and it all culminates in Dave and the Roller Coaster.
From beginning to end this anthology is packed with laughs, and wisdom, not just from Dave and his friends but from the wonderful Stuart McLean himself. Frequent readers and listeners will love this book and cherish it forever and first time readers and listeners will laugh out loud.
In short, I do recommend that everyone read this book, it will make you smile and laugh and maybe make you want to go to the amusement park and try out a roller coaster or two.
Wednesday, 28 May 2014
Secrets from the Vinyl Café by Stuart McLean
Well folks, here's another one to strike from my list of things to read. (Yes I know, I read very fast, but I spent most of my day at home, reading (I mean, I went to the library for a bit but, for the most part, I was reading).
Well, Stuart McLean has done it again, with this instalment in the Vinyl Café series we delve into the...um...Secrets, behind the series (sort of). See, it's secondary title is "Closer to the Truth than We've Ever Been" and it delves into the, I won't say crime ridden, necessarily, but interesting sides of the characters. In this book is contained an account of the misdemeanours and crimes of the neighbours and friends of Dave and Morely. It's split into 5 sections, Passion, Double Lives, Lies and Betrayal, Civil Disobedience and Arson, Theft and Petty Crime. As you can probably guess, it's chocked full of interesting tales and anecdotes from the April Fool's jokes that Kenny and Dave play on each other to the incident with the chemistry set.
This book, this selection of hand picked tales from the Vinyl Café, is wonderful, funny, sometimes cringe worthy, especially if you usually suffer from second hand embarrassment on behalf of your favourite fictional characters or friends but definitely worth the read. From beginning to end this book will have you smiling and laughing.
As I mentioned before The Vinyl Café is also a podcast done by CBC Radio 1 and can be downloaded on iTunes or you can tune in to CBC Radio 1 at noon on Sundays. (Well, it's noon for my timezone at least) they have a website you can check out for more info
http://www.cbc.ca/vinylcafe/home.php
Until next time keep reading, check out iTunes for lots of great podcasts and stay tuned, my next review shouldn't be to far behind.
Well, Stuart McLean has done it again, with this instalment in the Vinyl Café series we delve into the...um...Secrets, behind the series (sort of). See, it's secondary title is "Closer to the Truth than We've Ever Been" and it delves into the, I won't say crime ridden, necessarily, but interesting sides of the characters. In this book is contained an account of the misdemeanours and crimes of the neighbours and friends of Dave and Morely. It's split into 5 sections, Passion, Double Lives, Lies and Betrayal, Civil Disobedience and Arson, Theft and Petty Crime. As you can probably guess, it's chocked full of interesting tales and anecdotes from the April Fool's jokes that Kenny and Dave play on each other to the incident with the chemistry set.
This book, this selection of hand picked tales from the Vinyl Café, is wonderful, funny, sometimes cringe worthy, especially if you usually suffer from second hand embarrassment on behalf of your favourite fictional characters or friends but definitely worth the read. From beginning to end this book will have you smiling and laughing.
As I mentioned before The Vinyl Café is also a podcast done by CBC Radio 1 and can be downloaded on iTunes or you can tune in to CBC Radio 1 at noon on Sundays. (Well, it's noon for my timezone at least) they have a website you can check out for more info
http://www.cbc.ca/vinylcafe/home.php
Until next time keep reading, check out iTunes for lots of great podcasts and stay tuned, my next review shouldn't be to far behind.
Tuesday, 27 May 2014
Revenge of the Vinyl Café by Stuart McLean
Revenge of the Vinyl Café is the latest instalment in the series of books by Stuart McLean that chronicles the life of Dave and Morley and their family.
However, Revenge of the Vinyl Café is exactly that, this book contains the stories where nothing seems to go right. There are monsters in sewers, a trip to the hospital gone awry and an incident with a bear while fishing.
Stuart McLean, both on his radio show (The Vinyl Café on CBC Radio 1, Sundays at noon) and in his books has a true gift for story telling. His stories of Dave and Morley and their neighbours are timeless...I think my favourite was the one where Dave cooked the Turkey...
Anyway I digress. Revenge chronicles the tales in which nothing seems to go right. These tales are magically written and I would recommend that everyone read them and, if you get CBC radio 1 or have iTunes I would look into listening to the Vinyl Café, it's available as a podcast on iTunes.
Well, that's my review for now, I know it's short but I can't review every story in the book or I'd be here all night. Until next time keep reading, and writing and as always, I'm open to suggestions over Twitter, or in the comments.
However, Revenge of the Vinyl Café is exactly that, this book contains the stories where nothing seems to go right. There are monsters in sewers, a trip to the hospital gone awry and an incident with a bear while fishing.
Stuart McLean, both on his radio show (The Vinyl Café on CBC Radio 1, Sundays at noon) and in his books has a true gift for story telling. His stories of Dave and Morley and their neighbours are timeless...I think my favourite was the one where Dave cooked the Turkey...
Anyway I digress. Revenge chronicles the tales in which nothing seems to go right. These tales are magically written and I would recommend that everyone read them and, if you get CBC radio 1 or have iTunes I would look into listening to the Vinyl Café, it's available as a podcast on iTunes.
Well, that's my review for now, I know it's short but I can't review every story in the book or I'd be here all night. Until next time keep reading, and writing and as always, I'm open to suggestions over Twitter, or in the comments.
The Birth House by Ami McKay
The Birth House by Ami McKay was the selection for the 2011 "Canada Reads" contest/thing run by the CBC. It tells of life in the small town of Scot's Bay, Nova Scotia as old by resident Dora Rare.
The book reads as diary entries and it documents her life both before and after she was apprenticed to the town midwife, Miss B. When trouble comes to town what will become of the traditions of town, specifically the ones regarding childbirth? Will this spell the end for the 2 midwives? You'll have to read to find out won't you.
This book was beautifully written, the way Ami McKay wrote the diary entries, it didn't feel as though you were reading a diary, it was told as if it was a story. The life of Scot's Bay residents through Dora's eyes and the things that go on in her life. It felt, at some points, as though you were watching the story unfold with your own two eyes.
Ami McKay is a Canadian journalist, and novelist (part of the reason she was nominated for the "Canada Reads" thing). She grew up in Indiana but moved to Scot's Bay later in life.
Back to the book, Dora goes through many ups and downs in her life as a resident of Scot's Bay (who doesn't, both human and book character alike (you know what I mean))
As I mentioned it is beautifully well written with famous quotes and such woven in to the text.
How does everything turn out for Dora and the residents of Scot's Bay you ask? Well...no spoilers...at all...none whatsoever!!! You have to read to read the book.
The book reads as diary entries and it documents her life both before and after she was apprenticed to the town midwife, Miss B. When trouble comes to town what will become of the traditions of town, specifically the ones regarding childbirth? Will this spell the end for the 2 midwives? You'll have to read to find out won't you.
This book was beautifully written, the way Ami McKay wrote the diary entries, it didn't feel as though you were reading a diary, it was told as if it was a story. The life of Scot's Bay residents through Dora's eyes and the things that go on in her life. It felt, at some points, as though you were watching the story unfold with your own two eyes.
Ami McKay is a Canadian journalist, and novelist (part of the reason she was nominated for the "Canada Reads" thing). She grew up in Indiana but moved to Scot's Bay later in life.
Back to the book, Dora goes through many ups and downs in her life as a resident of Scot's Bay (who doesn't, both human and book character alike (you know what I mean))
As I mentioned it is beautifully well written with famous quotes and such woven in to the text.
How does everything turn out for Dora and the residents of Scot's Bay you ask? Well...no spoilers...at all...none whatsoever!!! You have to read to read the book.
Monday, 26 May 2014
Tequila Mockingbird by Tim Federle
Tequila Mockingbird by Tim Federle is...well...I suppose you could call it non-fiction. It's a book of cocktails, mocktails and snacks and each one has a literary twist (hence the title, haha pun) I got this book today and I've already finished it (it's only a hundred some odd pages) I found it and I thought it might come in handy as I have been accepted to the bartending course at my local college for the Fall Semester. As I mix and try the various drinks and make the various foods from the book I will update this post with results and whatnot. I would suggest this book to English majors and "barflies" alike as I think they'd enjoy it and the cocktails sound really good.
SO...mini book review today...very mini...but this will be updated as I go through the book...I would suggest that if you find it, you pick up a copy, it would be good for entertaining, especially during the holidays or whenever.
Keep reading, I know a bit of a disappointing review today but I just a couple of new books from the library so...more reading to come (If you want to see what I have read, what I am reading and what I will read check out my Summer Read List and feel free to suggest things!)
SO...mini book review today...very mini...but this will be updated as I go through the book...I would suggest that if you find it, you pick up a copy, it would be good for entertaining, especially during the holidays or whenever.
Keep reading, I know a bit of a disappointing review today but I just a couple of new books from the library so...more reading to come (If you want to see what I have read, what I am reading and what I will read check out my Summer Read List and feel free to suggest things!)
Monday, 19 May 2014
The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith
OK, I finished this book just recently (read about 3 hours ago) and it's really wonderful. There's some profanity and mature subject matter but it's a book for adults I think we can handle it. The sequel comes out next month (all the back of the book says is June 2014 but according to the Robert Galbraith website the date is definitely June 19, 2014, exactly a month from today's date :D)
This book is the first in the Cormoran Strike series. When a famous model falls off her balcony to her death Cormoran is called in to investigate, was it suicide, as her death suggests? Or murder? There are many twists and turns along the way and the trail seems to be getting ever colder but Strike keeps investigating. If it was murder the murderer has to have slipped up somewhere along the way.
This book is a great read, I bought it last week (when I went to the 30th anniversary of one of the local bookstores?) and I finished it today and it's great, it's poignant and it keeps you riveted all through. The adventures of Cormoran Strike and his plucky young secretary/sidekick Robin will keep you wanting more and begging to know who the murderer is.
I will post no spoilers, that's mean, but you should definitely read this book, mystery fans the world over will love Cormoran Strike.
This book is the first in the Cormoran Strike series. When a famous model falls off her balcony to her death Cormoran is called in to investigate, was it suicide, as her death suggests? Or murder? There are many twists and turns along the way and the trail seems to be getting ever colder but Strike keeps investigating. If it was murder the murderer has to have slipped up somewhere along the way.
This book is a great read, I bought it last week (when I went to the 30th anniversary of one of the local bookstores?) and I finished it today and it's great, it's poignant and it keeps you riveted all through. The adventures of Cormoran Strike and his plucky young secretary/sidekick Robin will keep you wanting more and begging to know who the murderer is.
I will post no spoilers, that's mean, but you should definitely read this book, mystery fans the world over will love Cormoran Strike.
Saturday, 10 May 2014
Eileen's Summer Reading List
I will add to this as I obtain new books to read and, at the end of the summer, anything not read and reviewed will be archived for me to review at a later date (probably on weekends once fall semester starts). I mentioned some of these in my 'Coming Attractions' post you'll remember and I really do look forward to reviewing all of these wonderful books. I'll strike through the title and author once the book has been read and reviewed so as to avoid confusion
- Tesla: Man out of Time - Margaret Cheney
- Murder on the Orient Express - Agatha Christie
- Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City - Kirsten Miller
- The Other Boleyn Girl - Phillipa Gregory
- Gallows Thief - Bernard Cornwell
- Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
- Persuasion - Jane Austen
- Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
- Mansfield Park - Jane Austen
- Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen
- Emma - Jane Austen
The Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith- The Silkworm - Robert Galbraith (I found a copy the grocery store for, like, 40% off the Canadian cover price so I sprung for it SO EXCITED!!!)
- Divergent - Veronica Roth
- Insurgent - Veronica Roth
- Allegiant - Veronica Roth
- Ruby Red - Kerstin Gier
- French Revolutions: Cycling the Tour de France - Tim Moore
- The Hound of the Baskervilles - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- The Adventure of the Speckled Band - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- An Abundance of Katherines - John Green
- Never Somewhere Else - Alex Gray
- The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde
- The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald #
- Let it Snow - John Green, Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myracle
- This Dark Endeavour - Kenneth Oppel
- (Such Wicked Intent - Kenneth Oppel)
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - Robert Louis Stevenson
- A Discovery of Witches - Deborah Harkness
- Shadow of Night - Deborah Harkness (already reviewed, but I'll update it)
- The Book of Life - Deborah Harkness (IT'S FINALLY OUT!! I don't have it yet but will buy it soon)
- ((Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - Seth Grahame-Smith, Jane Austen))
- Love me Back - Merrit Tierce
- Let's Just Say it Wasn't Pretty - Diane Keaton
- The Forever Girl - Alexander McCall-Smith
The Ladies Number One Detective Agency - Alexander McCall-Smith- (Hollow City - Ransom Riggs)
- The Glory Wind - Valerie Sherrard*
If only you Knew - Mags Storey*Plain Kate - Erin Bow*City of Heavenly Fire - Cassandra Clare- The Diviners - Libba Bray*
Will Grayson, Will Grayson - John Green- Who-ology: Doctor Who, the Official Miscellany - Cavan Scott & Mark Wright
Leviathan - Scott Westerfeld*- Stardust - Neil Gaiman :D
- Looking for Alaska - John Green #
- Geek Girls Unite - Leslie Simon
- Page Fright - Harry Bruce
Tequila Mockingbird - Tim FederleThe Birth House - Ami McKay- Lights Out in Wonderland - DBC Pierre
An Arsonist's Guide to Writer's homes in New England - Brock Clarke- Dark Triumph - Robin LaFevers
Revenge of the Vinyl Café - Stuart McLeanSecrets from the Vinyl Café - Stuart McLeanVinyl Café Diaries - Stuart McLean- Alex Cross - James Patterson
Extreme Vinyl Café - Stuart McLean- 44 Scotland Street - Alexander McCall Smith
- The Vinyl Café Notebooks - Stuart McLean
The 'Make Good Art Speech' - Neil GaimanDave Cooks the Turkey - Stuart McLean- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court - Mark Twain
- ((The Casual Vacancy - J.K. Rowling))
The Jane Austen Book Club - Karen Joy Fowler- Northanger Abbey - Val McDermid
Shakespeare's Landlord - Charlaine HarrisShakespeare's Champion - Charlaine HarrisWatership Down - Richard Adams- Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
Bridget Jones Diary - Helen FieldingBridget Jones: The Edge of Reason - Helen FieldingA Wizard of Earthsea - Ursula Le Guin*Days of Blood and Starlight - Laini TaylorPractical Magic - Alice HoffmanThe Lathe of Heaven - Ursula Le Guin- Brave New World - Alduous Huxley
- Carrie - Stephen King
Weird Things Customers Say in Bookstores - Jen Campbell- The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
As you can see it's an ever expanding Behemoth of a thing with a whopping total of 81 books to read in the next 5 months (I think I can do it, even if I do the July session of Camp NaNo).
*The ones with an asterisk next to their names are the ones that have been recommended to me by someone
() The ones in single brackets I have to find either in a bookstore or a library 1
(()) The ones in doubles brackets I own, I just have to find them (or get them from the library if I can't find them)2
# The ones with Number signs next to them are also on my Banned Books Week list so as I review for that they will be crossed of the list
# The ones with Number signs next to them are also on my Banned Books Week list so as I review for that they will be crossed of the list
As I mentioned this list will be comprehensively updated with everything that I intend to review. Keep reading, writing and for heaven's sake recommend a book, I don't bite I promise :)
1 Apparently I can do footnote-y type things...I will delete the brackets once I have either bought or rented this book
2 I will underline these titles once I find my copy (or get one from the library)
1 Apparently I can do footnote-y type things...I will delete the brackets once I have either bought or rented this book
2 I will underline these titles once I find my copy (or get one from the library)
New books!
Hello again readers!!!
As I mentioned in my last post I have some time off this spring and summer during which I will be (among other things) reading and reviewing. I mentioned that I have a stack of books to read this summer and I'm pleased to report, after a successful trip to my local bookstore, (It's their 30th birthday/anniversary and they were having a sale, I couldn't resist! (aside from the 30th anniversary/birthday sale it's a great book store in general)) I now own 4 new books which I can review, in honour of the 30th anniversary thing they had, like, gift bags with books in them and I pick up one that had 3! 3! I also bought The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (in soft cover if you must know, I hadn't really seen it in softcover before today to be honest) and I've already started reading it! It's really good so far, I'm only 5 chapters in or so, so I won't be reviewing in depth just yet, just thought I'd let you know. One of the other I got (in the prize bag) was by the author of The Ladies Number One Detective Agency, Alexander McCall Smith (for the life of me I can't remember what it's called right now).
As always book suggestions are always welcome in comments or via twitter (or via Tumblr at my book blog! (http://thelibrarian-bloggerin221c.tumblr.com this Tumblr is more for interesting book things and bookstores etc. but I may occasionally post a review, this will be my main book review blog however) (my other blog (http://theartisticnovelist.tumbr.com) is more for my art stuff and novel updates rather than book reviews.)
Stay tunes for a comprehensive list of up and coming reviews (possibly in some semblance of an order I haven't decided). This list will be updated every time I find something new that I want to review and, as I mentioned, suggestions are always welcome. My summer reading series will go from about now (starting Monday (May 12)) and will go until the fall semester starts (Around Labour Day in September) and I will update as often as possible. I look forward to your feedback on books to read and review and stay tuned for summer reading list!
As I mentioned in my last post I have some time off this spring and summer during which I will be (among other things) reading and reviewing. I mentioned that I have a stack of books to read this summer and I'm pleased to report, after a successful trip to my local bookstore, (It's their 30th birthday/anniversary and they were having a sale, I couldn't resist! (aside from the 30th anniversary/birthday sale it's a great book store in general)) I now own 4 new books which I can review, in honour of the 30th anniversary thing they had, like, gift bags with books in them and I pick up one that had 3! 3! I also bought The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (in soft cover if you must know, I hadn't really seen it in softcover before today to be honest) and I've already started reading it! It's really good so far, I'm only 5 chapters in or so, so I won't be reviewing in depth just yet, just thought I'd let you know. One of the other I got (in the prize bag) was by the author of The Ladies Number One Detective Agency, Alexander McCall Smith (for the life of me I can't remember what it's called right now).
As always book suggestions are always welcome in comments or via twitter (or via Tumblr at my book blog! (http://thelibrarian-bloggerin221c.tumblr.com this Tumblr is more for interesting book things and bookstores etc. but I may occasionally post a review, this will be my main book review blog however) (my other blog (http://theartisticnovelist.tumbr.com) is more for my art stuff and novel updates rather than book reviews.)
Stay tunes for a comprehensive list of up and coming reviews (possibly in some semblance of an order I haven't decided). This list will be updated every time I find something new that I want to review and, as I mentioned, suggestions are always welcome. My summer reading series will go from about now (starting Monday (May 12)) and will go until the fall semester starts (Around Labour Day in September) and I will update as often as possible. I look forward to your feedback on books to read and review and stay tuned for summer reading list!
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