Happy April Fools Day!

Tomorrow I will be off to Paris. Thank goodness for spring break.

Mark Z. Danielewski's Only Revolution labyrinthian novel

In Bookmark magazine Danielewski's Only Revolution received accolades. Of course when Danielewski second novel was released, I snatched it up like a greedy child at a candy store. When I got home, I loved the concept of the book, similar to the his first novel. The book is printed on two sides. Each side tell the story from a different perspective, one from Hailey the other from Sam, who are teenage lovers that live through interminable time.

I'm sure this book is great, but I lack the patience to read through pages of ingenious artist display of literature. Someday with the gift of patience, I will sit down and read it, but for now I can only drool at the reviews.

Catalog your book collection.

I've been using Delicious Library to catalog my book collection for a long time. Since it lacks a built in html export, I have started using Bookpedia. However, there are free exports available for Delicious Library, but the exports are not efficient for a large collection. Meaning that if you have over a hundred items in your library (like me), it will take longer to load on a browser, because all the book cover images are loaded in the same window. Bookpedia’s interface is not as pretty as Delicious Library, but it has more features such as wish list etc., and its search on book information is superior. In addition, it has a built in export and a .mac export, which makes it super simple to have your book collection ready to share. Now, I find myself using both softwares, because I don’t have the heart to give up on Delicious Library. Cross my fingers, 2.0 will be available soon with a built in export and better information book search.

My book collection is now on the side bar links.

Beautiful Gorilla

Just a photo I took at the Bronx Zoo this summer ( know it is now winter).

Junk Snail Mail

I have finally conceded to temptation; I got my first Easton Press book in the mail. I ordered the horror classic collection, because I'm at heart a horror lover; it is what made me love to read. Anyway, I was very pleased when I received the first book which is H.G. Wells' "The Island of Doctor Moreau. However, in the past few weeks I have been receiving a lot of junk mail from Easton Press. First I received a catalog, and that was not too bad. I actually looked through it, but then I started to get stupid pamphlets. Will it ever stop now?

Podcast for bibliophiles.

I have never acknowledged podcasts; my ipod was always filled with music. Ipod has made my long communte a little more bearable. Anyway, a couple of nights ago while downloading itunes, I accidently clicked on podcast then decided to surf. What I found raised an eyebrow. I knew podcast had the news and such, but Barnes & Noble has a podcast that once subscribed to will automatically download interview from "Meet the Writers". I'm now listening to some of my favorite writers talk about their books such as what inspired them, to plots and characters. Anyway, thought it was cool.

A romance novel

Lost Highway

by Curtiss Ann Matlock

The title Lost Highways intrigued me, and when I picked it up, it was good as bought. I needed to read something a little different than my usual read. I ended up reading a love novel. I'm not really a sentimental type of woman that likes to read about reunited love or about HIS muscular chest. Thank goodness this novel was not one of them.

Well to make this short, the book was good even though it was ridden with errors. The plot was real, something that you can imagine happening to someone through life. The author took her time to unfold the plot. I couldn't believe she wrote over 300 pages for this story. However, there was a nice southern feel to the novel.

Synopsis: After tragic events Rainy is shaken up. She hops in her mother's truck, and goes off without any particular destination. Will she find her niche in life and true love?

Stella Gibbons' "Cold Comfort Farm"

Cold Comfort Farm

by Stella Gibbons

Surprisingly I have never heard of "Cold Comfort Farm" until I stumbled upon it in Barnes & Noble. The only reason why I picked the book up off the display was, because I liked the cover that Penguin Classics bestowed on it (See Image). The book didn't have a synopsis, and I thought what the hay, I'll buy it. Now, that I've read it, I don't regret the indiscriminate purchase. Gibbon's poetic writing syle and witty humor creates a hilarious novel that turns out to be a do-gooder novel. The only thing I would like to know, what happen in the woodshead?

Short Synopsis:

Flora, well educated, is left without a home after her adventuring parents depart to greener pastures. She is left to find a place to settle; therefore, Flora decides to write some relates and see who will best suit her company.

Video Game Junkie, Me?

Lately I've been so lazy. I haven't read anything in a month, which is odd for me. I have been spending my time playing video games, and the ironic part is that I don't like video games but some how the Sims games gets to me. So, I've been playing The Sims 2 and Sims City 4. Does that make me a game junkie? Anyway I have started Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons. It's very charming, and witty. Hopefully I can stay off the computer to finish it.

My dog Bailey loves to read too!

Bailey loves to read classics; I think he is reading Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities". A lot of people ask me what breed my bestfriend is, and I am proud to say he is a little mutt. His most prominent breeds are Spaniel and Lab.

Speaking of classics, I just finished reading Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. As an American kid growing up, I saw the BBC movie a couple of times, but invariably started to watch the movie in the middle, which made it almost impossible for me to understand. In addition, the accent and speed talking didn't help. Now, I am not bewildered, and I know why it's so humorous. (Knowledge is power!) Two thumbs up for this play, but if I had to recommend some more playwrights I would definitely say read two famous Scandinavia playwrights Ibsen and Strindberg.

Divergent Vampire

Sunglasses After Dark

by Nancy A. Collins

Your perception of vampires can change as quickly as a flip of a page. Growing up the most dominant feature of a vampire was Bram Stoker's Dracula. The thoughts evoked darkness as the creature's life, garlic, religious icons as a poison, and the eternal end, a stake through the heart and decapitation. Bram Stoker's Dracula demonstrates power, solitude, and never ending desire.

There are many version of vampires, and all can thrive on their own. The famous Anne Rice has created the sexy egocentric Lestat. However, her stories seem to complement Stoker's laws of the vampire. Others who depart from old concepts, they add and subtract creating their own formula to the realm of vampirism. Such author that takes that path is Nancy A. Collins. When reading a synopsis on Collins' book "Sunglasses After Dark" (the title does not do justice to the book) it is usually short stating something like a young vampire turned seeks revenge against her creator. However, the book is more in depth than that synopsis. It encompasses the development of the characters' lives.

The story is told beautifully with flashbacks; all the scenes come together to create a through understanding of the main characters, which add to the main plot. Any vampire enthusiast should definitely read this book.

Women Writers

The Laughing Corpse

by Laurell K. Hamilton

Bookstores sheives are now packed with great female writers in the genre of horror / fantasy / science fiction / mystery thrillers. In your local Barnes & Noble and Borders you'll likely see Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse series), Laurell K. Hamilton (Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series), Kim Harrison (Rachel Morgan series), and Kelly Armstrong (Women of the Otherworld series). What's so great about these books, women are the heroines, so if you're a female reader you can relate to certain aspects of the novel. Personally, I'm a fan of Charlaine Harris' Sookie series, and I can't wait for book 6, Definitely Dead; it will be released 5/2/06.

Hamilton's book, The Laughing Corpse is the second book in her Anita Blake series. Anita an Animator, must solve a brutal murder streak, and she must also save herself from an over zealous want to be client who wants her to do the unthinkable act.

Hamilton's descriptions are phenomenal; she makes every murder scene lucid. She writes, "I poked the side of it with two fingers. It was like poking a side of fresh beef. A nice, solid feel to it. My fingers traced the bumps of bone, ribs under the flesh. Ribs. Suddenly I knew what I was looking at. Part of the rib cage of a human being. There was the shoulder, white bone sticking out where the arm had been torn away".

The Laughing Corpse is a good read for its well thought out plot, but is seemingly to convenient when it all comes together. It is highly descriptive, but not tedious. Lastly is should be read by any dark fantasy lover.

I highly recommend Bite edited by Laurell K. Hamilton. It's an awesome female heroine anthology written by women.

Horribly Funny

Bride of Trash

by Mike Segretto

Everyone seems to want love, but not everyone gets it. However, sometimes the most unlikely people find love, and in the most unlikely manner. Even though "Bride of Trash" pertains to love, it does not quite fall into the genre of romance, but can also be categorized into comedic horror / fantasy.

Mike Segretto's main character in "Bride of Trash is Whizzer" a junk shop proprieter who craves for companionship with benefits (if you know what I mean). When old Whizzer gets what his heart desires, it comes along with problems that are not easily remedied. Whizzer must conceal his necrophilism, and torn body parts that trail back to him.

Humor can be seen throughtout the novella. Whizzer is a brash old man, and word choice is key to segretto's style. If you're the type of person to get offended by crude language this book is not for you, but I feel this aspect is what gives the short piece character, and turnes Whizzer to life.

Bride of Trash is an interesting read, for its humor, and plot. Segretto definitely has a sense of humor, but never goes over the top. It doesn't feel silly, but has a nostagic feel for retro horror movies. Since, I grew up in the 80's it reminds me of Elvira the movie particular the lynch mob.

Brian Keene's Zombies

The Rising and The City of the Dead

by Brian Keene

There has been a zombie craze happening for a while, and Brian Keene's books have caused an upwelling in the genre. Even Stephen King has written a zombie novel subsequence to Keene. I bought and read Keene's two well known zombie books, "The Rising" and "The City of the Dead". The Rising is the 2003 Bram Stoker award winner for first novel, and it truly deserves the accolade.

When the living die they become the undead. They eat human flesh not only for the taste but to kill and recruit more fo their fellow undead. The zombies are articulate and abound; they are more then just zombies but demons. Jim Thurmond, a driven father must rescue his son before he becomes and undead too; he must travel and confront the undead, and on the way there he collides with other survivors of the living dead pandemic who become his companions. The sequel continues Jim Thurmonds adventure.

What I like about "The Rising" and "The City of the Dead" is that the characters are well developed and the story have a fast moving pace. There were twist and turns that made me feel like I was on a rollercoaster; I really couldn't foresee the drops. After reading both books, there is a feeling of completion.

If you like Brian Keene and live around New York or New Jersey, I saw in his site he is going to be at the below address on July 22, 2006.

Monmouth County Library Headquarters
125 Symmes Road
Manalapan, New Jersey
Speaking: Noon to 1pm (signing afterward) This GSHW event is open to the public.

What happens when we die?

The Brief History of the Dead

by Kevin Brockmeirer

I'm sure we have all ruminated over what happens when we die? Is it just the end, only darkness? Is there a heaven or hell that reside afterlife, or is there a rebirth? Is life a cycle of different realms, and each realm is progression. Well Kevin Brockmeier's unique book " The Brief History of the Dead" gives a take on life after death.

While one woman struggles to survive in the world at the cold Antartica, in another world people are cling to the life they have built, and wonder what is happening? A number of peoples' life stories are told that intertwines to connect with the idea that life is formed somewhere else after we pass from life on Earth.

My thoughts on Brockmeier's book is that I wish there was more. Now, that can be viewed as good or bad; I don't feel gypped after reading his book, for the material was interesting, and I enjoyed his descriptions. The descriptions was so vivid I could see it in my mind's eye. I could see the the city where the people lived, and I could feel the cold in Antarctica. Yet, I would like to know what happens to the characters. Some characters were just left hanging, and that can make a reader pretty perturbed. Anyway, I cross my fingers and hope that I see a sequel.

Oh, and if you like novels about afterlife below is a very short list of books I have read that I thought would be relevent to this category.

Mitch Albom's the five people you meet in heaven
Douglas Clegg's Afterlife
Alice Sebold's Lovely Bones

Who dunit? Mystery

Sparkling Cyanide 

bye Agatha Christie 

I found some time in between reading all my college text to read a novel. I read Agatha Christie's Sparkling Cyanide; it was not the first Christie novel I read, but it was not too predictable. The novel achieve one of the essential elements needed to be a good read, wanting to know what happens next, and I questioned who dunit (very important in a mystery novel). I might find myself reading more mysteries.

Sparkling Cyanide Synopsis
A striking beauty commits suicide, but does she? Who of the six guest dunit in the swank upscale restaurant?

Daniel Keyes' Flowers for Algernon

Flowers For Algernon

by Daniel Keyes

I live two blocks from a Barnes & Noble, so I go there often just to peruse the aisle. Upon a table on new paperbacks, I stumbled over Flowers for Algernon. My friend told me she had heard it was very good, and wanted to read it also. That evening I came home with Keyes' book but did not read it until a few weeks after, because I had to finish The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, which was a intricately descriptive adventure, well worth the read.

Flowers for Algernon is a heartbreaking story about Charlie a mentally challenged man who wants to be smart. He goes through a radical experimental operation to achieve his goal to be like other people. His dilemma is not in my perspective to become smart, but to understand whom he is, and maintaining the newfound ability, he has acquired. Flower for Algernon is a mind-provoking book; it leaves you with a new perspective of life, and the people you have encounter throughout your life. A book called to be read at one sitting, because your mind is demanding you to know what happens next.

Michael Oliver's Deadliest of the Species

Deadliest of the Species

by Michael Oliver

After reading Deadliest of the Species a few weeks ago, I thought today, since I have not finished reading my latest book, I will write about Michael Oliveri’s Deadliest of the Species. It is truly an interesting book, which I did not put down until I finished. This book is not just about the battle of the sexes, but also question beliefs and spirituality. Oliveri does a great job turning the table to the extreme.

In addition, this book is out of print and was very hard to find. I got my copy from Amazon.

Comical Fantasy: Gil's All Fright Diner & Bloodsucking Fiends

Gil's All Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez 

Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore 

I have just finished reading Moore's Bloodsucking Fiends. After reading some reviews from Amazon, I expected it to be much funnier; however, it was a delightful little read, and I did find myself smile and laugh at certain segments. An aspect of the book I enjoy was the progression of the main characters relationship, and the ending was not bad either. 

When compared to A. Lee Martinez's Gil's All Fright Diner, I must confess Martinez's comical fantasy is truly funny and leaves me craving more of his work. His protagonists are unique; they stray from the normal vampire and werewolf. Sad to say, that Gil’s All Fight Diner is Martinez only book at the moment. If anyone is reading this and want to try something a little dark and light hearted, I recommend Martinez’s book, and Charlaine Harris’s Sookie series. Oh, a little scope that you could read in Mrs. Harris' site, HBO might try a series pertaining to the Sookie series.

Easton Press 100 Greatest Books Ever Written

One of my goals is to read the "100 Greatest Books Ever Written,” but there are many variations to the 100 greatest books. Therefore, I decided to utilize Easton Press’s list, but I could not find it anywhere. After a long search, I finally found it. The list came from an owner of the 100 books, selling it for a whopping $6000.00, but if you do the calculations right, it doesn’t seem that much considering the actual cost, and individual shipping of the books the previous owner must of spent. Anyway, after the difficult search I decided to put this list on my blog for my bookish people to find. Also, I know some of the books I’m sure not going to read for example Politics and Poetics by Aristotle; I have read some literature by Aristotle in college, and I’m sure some would differ, but to me it maybe dry.

The List:

1. A Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe
2. A Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man by James Joyce
3. A Tale of Two Cities by Dickens
4. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Twain
5. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by A. Conan Doyle
6. Aesop's Fables
7. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Carroll
8. Anna Karenina by Tolstoy
9. Billy Budd/Benito Cereno by Herman Melville
10. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
11. Candide by Voltaire
12. Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky
13. David Copperfield by Dickens
14. Don Quixote by Cervantes
15. Euripedes by Euripedes
16. Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev
17. Faust by Goethe
18. Great Expectations by Dickens
19. Grimm's Fairy Tales by Grimm
20. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
21. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
22. The History of Early Rome by Livy
23. Ivanhoe by Walter Scott
24. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
25. Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
26. Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
27. Little Women by Alcott
28. Lord Jim by Conrad
29. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
30. Moby Dick by Herman Melville
31. Oedipus the King by Sophocles
32. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
33. On the Origin of Species by Darwin
34. Paradise Lost by John Milton
35. Plato Dialogues on Love and Friendship by Plato
36. Poems of John Keats by Keats
37. Politics and Poetics by Aristotle
38. Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
39. The Rights of Man by Paine
40. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
41. She Stoops To Conquer by Goldsmith
42. Short Stories by Oscar Wild
43. Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Stevenson
44. Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Poe
45. The Federalist by Hamilton
46. The Aeneid by Virgil
47. The Alhambra by Washington Irving
48. The Analects of Confucius by Confucius
49. The Arabian Nights by Burton
50. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Franklin
51. The Birds and the Frogs by Aristophanes
52. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
53. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
54. The Comedies by Shakespeare
55. The Confessions of Jean by Jacques Rousseau
56. The Confessions of St. Augustine by Augustine
57. The Decameron by Boccaccio
58. The Descent of Man by Darwin
59. The Divine Comedy by Dante
60. The Essayes by Francis Bacon
61. The Essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson by Emerson
62. The Flowers of Evil by Charles Baudelaire
63. The Histories by Shakespeare
64. The Iliad of Homer by Homer
65. The Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling
66. The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper
67. The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Stern
68. The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
69. The Odyssey of Homer by Homer
70. The Oresteia by Aeschylus
71. The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
72. The Poems of John Donne by Donne
73. The Poems of Robert Browning by Browning
74. The Poems of W.B. Yeats by Yeats
75. The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
76. The Prince by Machiavelli
77. The Red and the Black by Stendhal
78. The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
79. The Republic by Plato
80. The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy
81. The Scarlet Letter by Hawthorne
82. The Sea Wolf by Jack London
83. The Short Stories by Dickens
84. The Tales of Guy de Maupassant by De Maupassant
85. The Talisman by Scott
86. The Three Musketeers by Dumas
87. The Tragedies by Shakespeare
88. The Way of all Flesh by Butler
89. Three Plays by Henrik Ibsen
90. Tom Jones by Henry Fielding
91. Treasure Island by Stevenson
92. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
93. Two Plays by Moliere
94. Two Plays for Puritans by George Bernard Shaw
95. Two Plays The Cherry Orchard/Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov
96. Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
97. Vanity Faire by William Makepeace Thackeray
98. Walden by Thoreau
99. War and Peace by Tolstoy
100. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte