this post is about books. weird books, mostly.
Sorry kids, but you wont be finding a recipe here today.
I have issues.
But I need to do a book review so that you know I have been keeping up with my goal of 52 Books in 52 Weeks. Before I delve into the book I just finished, I want to let you in on a little secret, just in case you didn’t know it.
Some books suck.
Just because you can put a pen to paper does NOT mean you have a voice that needs to be heard. What blows my mind even more is that some books of suckage actually get through several editors and publishers and really become a novel. In Print. For Sale. And then some dumbass, hugely unaware (or a freak of nature themselves) purchases said book. I rant, I rant. But here’s the exact book situation I mention…
In 2002, Jon and I went on another looong excursion. First to Venice, then through Tuscany, then to Paris, where we caught a plane to Kenya and stayed a couple of weeks. Both of us were sick in Italy. Jon had it first, then I did. It was bitter cold in the middle of January, so not very condusive to getting well. Anyway, we ended up staying at this B&B located in the outerwalls of Lucignano. The room was fantastic. Our bed was gigantic and piled full of the heaviest blankets ever to be crafted in the 13th century. We had a dining area, a little kitchen, the works, you see, but our televison got one partially English station – MTV. The only song ever played on it was Nicole Kidman and Robbie Williams singing that old Sinatra song. At least I think Sinatra sang it. “and if we go someplace to dance I know that there’s a chance you won’t be leaving with me.…something stupid, like I love you…” Sinatra??
Moving on…There were books in the room. Left behind by other travelers, I imagine. I left all of the novels I had read thus far in the trip, and I picked up one to work on. It looked like it had been perused several times, so I started reading.
Hmm. Weird.
Not like, I bet that man will end up being the bad guys brother weird, or ooh, her hair is realllly pink weird, but HORSE weird. And by horse weird I mean there were horses in this book that were masquerading as humans. Clothing. Driving. Talking. I kid you not. Once I figured out that the main character had backaches from driving and walking because she was a freaking HORSE, I put the stupid thing down. Like, 60 pages into the crapass book! I never put books down. Ever. But this one really made me mad. Can you tell??
I’m thinking the book was British. I can’t even determine how to Google it because the whole premise is just so…so…asinine. Horsenine? But if you ever run across it? Keep on running.
I did pick up a great book one time in Thailand. It was used, and i bought it from a vendor on the side on a little passageway in Koh Phi Phi. The name of it was Go. Again, British. I would LOVE to have a copy of it again, but I managed to destroy my copy in the, um, ocean. It happens. It’s about a guy who makes off with a crapload of his boss’s money and travels around. He meets up with a guy and screws him over, and also girl in Japan or Hong Kong who is working as a call girl/escort…and there’s a catch at the end about a photo and a cow…I know, bizarre sounding but it was a great read. I am just hoping one of my UK readers will be Oh Hey! I know that book! And find it for me. I can’t seem to locate it anywhere at all. I just know it was called Go. Help?
Okay. Enough memory lane. I just finished reading Lakeshore Christmas by Susan Wiggs, thanks to the folks at MotherTalk. It’s just been released, and I was into it in a big way. I found the characters to be well developed and likable, albeit somewhat predictable.
The premise involves a “she doesn’t know she’s cute” librarian who is about to lose her library and a has been child star there to assist her with the town Christmas Pageant. Not your likely pairing, but it works. Throughout the story we are introduced to several local townspeople, all with stories of their own. It was such an easy read, and this is the perfect time of year to get a copy. Foodies – you’ll like this feature…They had a cookie exchange in the book, and in the back, you’ll find several great recipes for cookies inspired by the characters. I have yet to try any of them, but so many sound yummy! You can pick up a copy of the book here…I hope you’ll enjoy it!
By the way, I wrote a book once. I never quite finished it, but still, it was like, 200 or so pages. Anyone interested in reading a digital copy? (that is, if I can locate it again?) it about a girl who mistakenly ends up with a LOT of cash and has to hide out in Italy. There’s new love, old love, guns, art…it’s full of, well, words. Let me know. I’ll email it to you!
