Daily Archives: August 12, 2010

Read Your Own Books Read-A-Thon

Posted on August 12, 2010
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How sad is this – I need to participate in a “Read your OWN Books” read-a-thon to clear everything off my shelves.  Of course, there’s no way I’m going to get through them all .. but who knows.

So in the spirit of this festive weekend (I will be reading 9am on Friday – 9am on Monday) here is what I intend to do.

For every three books I read, I will give one commenter on my posts labeled “Read-a-thon” a $5 Gift Card to The Book Depository.  Any of you that follow my blog regularly know that when I actually sit down to read on one of these things.. I get books read – so that’s some huge potential, but I need some cheering on!

In addition, everyone commenting will be entered into a contest to win their choice of the books that I read over the weekend.  Any of them!

So with that said.. here is what I could tackle this weekend.  Please … comment and cheer on your favorite titles!  I’ll choose based on the enthusiasm (really sell me on the reason you are choosing!) I see in the comments.

  1. The Entire Artemis Fowl Series by Eoin Colfer
  2. The Mysterious Benedict Society Series by Trenton Stewart
  3. The Percy Jackson Series (I’ve read Book 1) by Rick Riordan
  4. The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova
  5. Taliesin (and the rest of the Pendragon Cycle) by Stephen Lawhead
  6. Rebecca & My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier
  7. The Painter from Shanghai by Jennifer Cody Epstein
  8. No One You Know by Michelle Richmond
  9. Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini (just for something different!)

Stay tuned throughout the weekend (and I apologize for the blog spam right now.. because yes, your blog is going to be spammed. I intend to blog my way through the books chosen!)  Encourage me – I’d like to see if I can make this the best reading weekend yet!

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Mockingjay Giveaway!

Posted on August 12, 2010
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If you haven’t pre-ordered Mockingjay or are looking to give an extra copy to a friend (or just have an extra copy to loan out!) then here is your chance.

Recently I’ve started The Lost Entwife page on Facebook – all you need to do to enter is visit the page, click “Like” and find my Mockingjay event and mark that you are attending.

That’s all!  I will announce the winner on August 23 and pre-order the book that day for them.  Sound easy? Get over there and start clicking!

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Under the Net by Iris Murdoch

Posted on August 12, 2010
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Under the NetUnder the Net by Iris Murdoch

Buy on Amazon

Summary:

Jake Donaghue, garrulous artist, meets Hugo Belfounder, silent philosopher.

Jake, hack writer and sponger, now penniless flat-hunter, seeks out an old girlfriend, Anna Quentin, and her glamorous actress sister, Sadie.

He resumes acquaintance with formidable Hugo, whose ‘philosophy’ he once presumptuously dared to interpret. These meetings involve Jake and his eccentric servant-companion, Finn, in a series of adventures that include the kidnapping of a film-star dog and a political riot in a film-set of ancient Rome.

Jake, fascinated, longs to learn Hugo’s secret. Perhaps Hugo’s secret is Hugo himself? Admonished, enlightened, Jake hopes at last to become a real writer.
My Review:

It’s always astonishing to me when I’m exposed to a book I would never have picked up and find myself lost in it, and that’s the very reason I have been working my way through the 1001 Books list.

In UNDER THE NET Jake Donaghue is a failure of a writer, a bum, a leech on his friends and, despite being an adult, views the world almost as a child does. He never thinks an action through to the consequence, he treats his friendships lightly – taking them for granted or doing stupid, silly things to sabotage them.

This book isn’t about action and adventure. It’s a slow, quietly witty journey through a period in Jake’s life. It explores friendships, loves, jobs and heartbreaks. It has quiet humor – in fact, in a way this book reminds me of the few Nick Hornby books I’ve read (minus the language).

Despite being written in the 50′s, UNDER THE NET is not dated and it’s very easy to relate the story to modern day times. It’s a short novel – so if you are worried that a meandering journey might be something that would bore you don’t worry… it’ll hold your interest and give you a good dose of philosophy to boot.

View all my reviews >>

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