Reading ADD, vampires, goths, etc.

When I am suffering a bout of reading ADD I start many books and then tend to finish them quickly once I feel that the reading ADD is over. Here is an update on a few titles I've finished.

Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris - This is the sixth Sookie Stackhouse book. Sookie goes to New Orleans to take care of her deceased vampire cousin's estate. There is quite a bit of intrigue involving the vamp royalty of New Orleans. At this point in the series it is difficult to say a whole lot without giving away details from previous books. I will say that Sookie's male companion in this book, Quinn, might be my favorite so far.

Goth Girl Rising by Barry Lyga - I was so excited when I heard there would be a sequel to Fanboy and Goth Girl. I never thought I would say this but I like the sequel better. This is told from Kyra's point of view starting when she is released from the hospital. Since the reader misses everything that happened while Kyra was in the hospital along with her it is easy to feel what she is feeling when she returns to school. Barry Lyga mentioned in the acknowledgements that there wasn't meant to be a sequel to Fanboy and Goth Girl, so I dare not hope for a follow up to this one, but I love the characters so that I will hope.

Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore - This is the first of a series and the third book comes out in April. Tommy Flood arrives in San Francisco from the Midwest around the time Jody is turned into a vampire. She's looking for someone to take care of her affairs in daylight hours and he is looking for experiences to use as a writer. I have read A Dirty Job previously and there is some character crossover. There is a great twist at the end and I am looking forward to reading the second book, You Suck!

A Couple of Really Good Books

I'll start with the one I finished tonight. The bff lent me The Fire Rose by Mercedes Lackey last year but due to the great reading ADD of 2009 I just finished it. I love this woman's writing. This is the first book in her series on elementals. Each book is based on a fairy tale (yay) and this one is based on Beauty and the Beast (YAY!). Rose is an orphan whose father left her with no money. Plus she is a scholarly woman with IDEAS which makes her more unmarriageable than being poor. She receives a post as a governess in San Francisco but arrives to find there are NO children, just a mysterious employer named Jason Cameron who has her translating strange ancient texts through a speaking tube because of his "disfiguring accident." He messed with Magick he shouldn't have and is part wolf. There's intrigue and a horrible, morally corrupt, smarmy assistant and falling in love.

The other great book I finished a few weeks ago is Soulless by Gail Carriger. It's the first book in the new Parasol Protectorate series. It's historical / paranormal / tough kick butt girl / werewolf / vampire / steampunk and I need more! The world building is pretty thorough so I don't want to spill it all here.

Teen's Top Ten

YALSA has announced the Teen's Top Ten list for this year. It can be found here http://ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/teenreading/teenstopten/ttt09.cfm

I am so pleased that Paper Towns won. I am giddy that quality won over, well, Breaking Dawn. I have read four books on the list. While I'm usually interested in reading lists like this in their entirety, but I am comfortable saying that I will not. I was not a huge fan of Marked by P. C. & Kristin Cast so I will not be reading any more of the books in the series. There are far too many quality books, and fluffy books too, that I want to read. Speaking of quality, I started Goth Girl Rising today and I love it!

Readers Imbibing Peril IV

I love this challenge run by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings. I love the types of books, reading other people's booklists, the fact that it is autumn, and the artwork used for the challenge. Gorgeous! Read all about the different perils here.

Yes, I am choosing to read four titles. Why you may ask? Yes I know I struggle to finish challenges because in my brain it turns READING FOR FUN into an ASSIGNMENT. But I need to kickstart my reading and I have to read a couple of these for work, so I'm aiming for four. My reading pool includes:

The Enchanted Emporium by Tanya Huff
The Red Tree by Caitlin Kiernan
Hell House by Richard Matheson
Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos by R. L. LaFevers
Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox
Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer by Laini Taylor
Lily Dale: The Awakening by Wendy Corsi Staub
Ghost Girl by Tonya Hurly
Unwind by Neil Shusterman

And anything else I feel like throwing in there ^_^

Movie and Music

Yesterday I had lunch with mom, D, an old family friend, and BFF. Fridays was pretty yummy: my burger had a wheel of fried provolone on it! BFF departed for another appointment and the rest of us went to see Julie & Julia. It was wonderful! I love Julia's excitement and verve for life! Maryl Streep is one of my favorite actresses. After watching this movie I want to see more films with Amy Adams and also read not only the book that inspired the film but also some biographies of Julia Child.

In the evening, BFF and I went to the local bowling alley for karaoke. It is under new ownership and has been remodeled since I was last there. It looks super nice. My only disappointment is that Betty Boop was painted over in the women's bathroom. I sang three songs last night.

One Headlight by The Wallflowers - decent job, more fun to sing along to in the car
Runaway Train by Soul Assylum - boy was my timing off! must listen to song, sing again, and then never sinf again. like the first song, mor fun in private
White Room by Cream - second time I sang it. love singing this one. will never stop!

Once Upon a Time 3

Last year I learned that reading challenges are not good for me. As soon as I want to participate in a challenge the books on that list become "required reading" and I have never liked that. BUT...
Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings holds two challenges a year that I look forward to and it is time for Once Upon a Time. http://www.stainlesssteeldroppings.com/?p=1083
So I will take The Journey which means I will read one book. Here is my pool of books

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
Onion Girl by Charles deLint
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Ghostlight by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Seeing Redd by Frank Beddor
Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

Express Yourself Musically

Express Yourself Musically

Fiction
Brenner, Robin. Audrey, Wait!

Brooks, Kevin. Candy

Brothers, Meghan. Debbie Harry Sings in French

Castelucci, Cecil. Beige

Cohn, Rachel and David Levithin. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

Korman, Gordon. Born to Rock

Krovatin, Chris. Heavy Metal and You

Kuehnert, Stephanie. I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone

Manga
Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad

Midnight Opera

Nana

Non-Fiction
Greenwald, Andy. Nothing Feels Good: Punk Rock, Teenagers, and Emo

Partridge, Elizabeth. John Lennon: All I Want is Everything

Punk. DK Publishing

Trevor, Kelley. Everybody Hurts: An Essential Guide to Emo Culture

Warner, Jay. On This Day in Music History

Magazines
AP

Revolver

Rolling Stone

Express Yourself in Writing

Express Yourself in Writing

Fiction
Cabot, Meg. The Princess Diaries series

Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Lyga, Barry. The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl

Payne, C. D. Youth in Revolt

Rennison, Louise. Confessions of Georgia Nicols series

Thomas, Rob. Rats Saw God

Townsend, Sue. Adrian Mole series

Non-Fiction
Angelou, Maya. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Arfin, Lesley. Dear Diary

Freedom Writers Diary

Johnson, Arne and Karen Macklin. Indie Girl

Riverbend. Baghdad Burning and Baghdad Burning II

Todd, Mark and Esther Pearl Watson. Whatcha Mean, What's a Zine?

Warren, Frank. Postsecret

Wrekk, Alex. Stolen Sharpie Revolution

Magazines
Merlyn's Pen

Teen Ink

Black and White by Paul Volponi

Marcus and Eddie are Black and White, basketball stars and friends nicknamed for their races. They are a team on and off the court. When they find themselves short of cash for the senior dues, Eddie shows Marcus his grandfather's gun and they pull off a few robberies to get the money. Once the dues are paid though the temptation is too great and they continue. One night the gun goes off and grazes a man getting the boys into more trouble than they ever anticipated.

The title not only refers to the boys' nicknames, but also racial lines and the nature of the truth. Marcus and Eddie tell their story in alternating voices. The story moves along at a quick pace. I really enjoyed it. A perfect book for boys and reluctant readers.

Yellow - An Action Adventure Yaoi?

Goh and Taki are "snatchers." (Ironic for a Yaoi title isn't it? By the way Alanis Morisette, this is an example of irony. You know, as opposed to anything in your song "Ironic.") Anyway, they get information on drug busts and it is their job to get the drugs before the authorities to make sure non-corrupt officials get them. Each chapter is a different case with new circumstances. The one constant in the story is Goh's love for his hetero partner Taki. I have a feeling there will be more sexual situations in upcoming volumes.

Bizenghast Volume 5 by M. Alice LeGrow

It had been so long since I read volume four of Bizenghast there was a HUGE plot point that I had forgotten about. Luckily, the reader is reminded of it quickly. Dinah deal with more vaults in the mausoleum but has trouble completing her tasks because of her grief. The first thing that drew me to this manga series was the art over the story, and I still like the art more than the plot. But on the other hand my favorite character would have to be Edaniel, drawn in such a sketchy fashion without a ton of detail. I recommend this series for teens who like Tim Burton movies.