Odd mix of books in my rotation right now:

In my continuing attempt to mirror Joe’s progression through the top ranks of mystery writers (just a few months behind), I picked up the first Lee Child novel, Killing Floor — I’m looking forward to starting a series that will keep me busy for a while — and Jack Reacher is one of the classic modern mystery protagonists. Perfect reading for sitting inside out of the 100* heat (or rain, or whatever particular piece of weather we are being assaulted with on a given summer day).

I’ve already read a lot of baseball books this year, but when I saw Doug Glanville had written his first book, I had no choice but to tear into it — and I wasn’t disappointed. Glanville was the centerfielder/leadoff hitter for the Phillies from 1998-2002, and was widely recognized as the best source for funny and insightful postgame comments. What struck me as I read his book is that he’s kind of the anti-Canseco. You won’t find steroid accusations or bizarre A-Rod/girlfriend scandals; The Game from Where I Stand is a candid, honest discussion about the pressures of being a professional athlete, particularly the struggles of being a thoughtful, self-aware athlete surrounded by people incapable of or unwilling to show weakness. Reminded me a bit of Paul Shirley’s book Can I Keep My Jersey?, and Matt McCarthy’s Odd Man Out, two books I really enjoyed.

And lastly, I’m eagerly awaiting the arrival of a book I ordered a couple days ago, bound to take the world by storm and rocket up the NYT nonfiction bestseller’s list: Performance Fuel Injection Systems. OK, maybe it’s not everyone’s ideal pleasure reading, but it’s a good reminder that virtually no subject or title is too obscure for us to seek out — if it’s out there, we’ll do our best to get it for you.

By societal standards, as a 20-something college graduate, I am no longer a child.  That does not, however, mean that I don’t still love to lose myself in fairy tales.  In fact, I’d say that I love them even more now that I don’t necessarily need the “happily ever after” and can truly enjoy the dark, gritty details that  have been carefully extricated from the sweet, fluffy stories we know from Disney films.

That being said, if you’re interested in whimsical, sometimes dark, sometimes magical, but always wonderful stories, here are my most recent picks.

Aimee Bender’s Willful Creatures is a lovely collection of fantastical short stories–including tales about a  boy with keys for fingers, a family of pumpkin heads (and the tragedy of their only  iron-head son), and a woman who grows to love the potato children who mysteriously appear in her life and refuse to leave.  I read this book in one evening, and I absolutely fell in love with it.   Aimee Bender comes highly recommended from the Lemuria staff.  Zita and John P., two of my coworkers, are also in love with her storytelling.  Read their posts about her most recent novel The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake here and here.

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke is not for the faint of heart.  846 pages of magic, Victorian England,Napoleonic wars, and a bitter magic rivalry,  I’ll admit that it took me at least a month to finish (to my credit, I was still in college and at least attempting to be studious and such).  Clarke’s novel reads as if it were the nonfiction account of magical England–complete with footnotes and fables within the fable of England’s most well-known  magicians, once allies turned rivals,using their magic to fight Europe’s war–and each other.  And of course–there is plenty of fairy mischief, too.

After you finish Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (or before if you prefer) grab a copy of Clarke’s short story collection, The Ladies of Grace Adieu in which she returns to the England of Strange and Norrell, but also visits other magical worlds like Neil Gaiman’s  Wall, which you’ll recognize from his novel Stardust.  Just as magical as her novel, Clarke’s short stories will give you a proper dose of English magic.  I particularly loved the story that the collection is named for “The Ladies of Grace Adieu” as well as “John Uskglass and the Cumbrian Charcoal Burner,” both of which include characters that you’ll meet in Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell.

Until next time,

your ever-faithful, grown-up, fairy-tale lover  -Kaycie

Isn’t that a cute guy? We’re putting our pouty faces on. As usual the picture has nothing to do with the blog, but I’m vainly trying to get your attention. The good news is that he looks very little like his father. Anyway, the family is out of town for a few days so suddenly I have a little time to read. If you’ve read my previous blogs you are familiar with this theme. I love those little people, but it’s hard to read as much as I want to when they are around. (of course I can read like eight hours a day – seriously – so reading enough may not be the best way to put it) At any rate, the point is that I obsess about what I get to read when I get to read. Here are a few things that I’m working on.

In a Heartbeat by Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy

I’ve actually finished this one but I wanted to write about it because the last time I wrote about it I hadn’t finished reading it. So… it gets a thumbs up. I really like these people. I liked the original Blindside book – it is one of my favorite pieces of non-fiction ever. I thought the movie was ok for a movie. (I don’t really watch movies) I was worried that the curtain would go down when the story was re-told in their own words, but it really didn’t – they are the real deal. As an aside – Sean owns all of the Taco Bell’s in Jackson and a bunch of folks that work for him came out to the signing – I tried to get them to say bad things about the boss but they just wouldn’t do it.

American Assassin by Vince Flynn

I’m not actually reading this one. It’s the same deal as when I was reading Harlan Coben and Lee Child – as soon as I heard we were having Vince Flynn for a signing I started reading them back to back. I’m on my second book. High action political thrillers. I’ve officially become a junky. I used to think that I could only read literary fiction – ha, what I was missing.

What He’s Poised to Do by Ben Greenman

I’m not really sure what made me pick this up. I’d heard of Greenman from The New Yorker, but I’m not sure if I had read anything by him before. I was looking for something that I wouldn’t normally have a chance to read with the kids in town – something that I don’t absolutely have to read, but want to read. I picked it up and read the first couple of sentences, “The man is not happy at home. When he sees his wife or his son, he knows that he should be, but he is not.” I just thought this was a good sentence. I read the first two stories last night and liked them very much.

Rasputin’s Legacy by Troy Carnes

There has been a lot of blogging about this book on our blog. John and Maggie both liked it very much. To be honest with you I wasn’t planning on reading it, but one night I sat up late and read the first page and thought “wow, this is really very good”. I’m almost finished – I’ll probably finish tonight and have thoroughly enjoyed it all the way through. It’s like a historical thriller. I agree with John that fans of Greg Iles early books would like this.

The Fall of the House of Zeus by Curtis Wilkie

I wrote about this in my last “what I’m reading blog” I’m actually reading it again. Yes it’s that good. I’m also working on some more extensive blogging about this book.

Hopefully I’ll read all of these and more. I love to read about parenting and education so I’m hoping that I’ll find something in one of those areas before the week is out. I also have a few chores though so…

How in the world did August get here so fast?! I have been trying to carve out some reading time of late and catch up on some books that I have wanted to read.

I loved hearing Audrey Niffenegger when she was at Lemuria a couple of weeks ago. I have to say that Time Traveler’s Wife was not a real favorite of mine. I felt like if she had dropped about half of the jumping back and forth it would have been much more manageable and enjoyable because the premise was really great. So, when her next novel, Her Fearful Symmetry, arrived, I glanced at it but never read it. After listening to her, though, I was intrigued and picked it up….I am LOVING it!! It is beautifully written and has a very unusual and intriguing plot. I feel like Niffenegger never set out to have a blockbuster of a novel but Time Traveler’s Wife became just that. It’s not her style. She’s not flashy but Fearful Symmetry, seems to be much more of who she truly is….a gifted writer who researches and labors over the details and truly crafts her art. She is a bookbinder and visual artist which fits with her thoughtful and somewhat subdued personality. I am sure she is pleased to death with what her success with Time Travelers Wife brought but I would imagine she is enjoying this latest book in a much different way. She is just so good.

I also have just finished Troy Carnes book, Rasputin’s Legacy. I have known Troy for years from his coaching several of my girls in basketball at Jackson Prep and honestly picked up his book to be nice! I didn’t put it down for 2 days! It is fast paced and well thought out. I am so happy for him and hope many readers will pick up his book. I love stories set in and around WWII and have read just about every Holocaust book out there and this book has all of that but while it reads like a fast spy novel it also has huge heart. A great read.

More reviews and comments on Rasputin’s Legacy

More reviews of Her Fearful Symmetry

Since I’ve only been reading books by David Mitchell, that means I’ve only been blogging about books by David Mitchell, and I think three blogs in a row about him might be too much.  I do want to say quickly, though, that the other night I finished Black Swan Green and loved it.  I have never been so  enchanted by a narrator and it was one of those books I was a little bit sad to finish.  Anyway, I’ve passed the David Mitchell baton along to John P now; job done.

Tidying up the First Editions room a few months ago – and trying to maintain some semblance of order in there ever since –  has been interesting for me because I’ve gotten to look at every single book IN there, and there are lots of books and authors I wouldn’t have really known much about if I hadn’t done that.  For example: Barry Moser.  I knew of him, but I don’t think I realized the extent of his work until I shelved his books in the FE room. They’re all so amazing – also, for those who ever get a chance to come into the store and look around, be sure to look at the Moser prints we have hanging up in Oz – all from, appropriately!, his beautifully illustrated take on  the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

What’s remarkable to me about Moser is the scope of his work – he’s illustrated so much STUFF, all so distinctive and original and beautiful: Dracula, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, The Bible, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, and – a personal favorite – Moby Dick.  Happily, we have lovely signed editions of many of these books in the First Editions room, and lots more listed online too.

Susie