Halloween & a Meme

 

I found a Halloween Meme over at CJ's... but since my answers would be boring I decided not to do it... except for the last question... it goes like this:
13. What do you want on your Tombstone?
"She didn't die.. this is someone else's grave!"
****************************************

As I read other journals I found yet another meme over at Bookfools.. (must have been a slow day huh?) This one I found myself smiling at so I decided to give it a go.
Ten Snoggable Literary Characters
“Ten Literary Characters I Would Totally Make Out With If I Were Single and They Were Real"
To be honest I had trouble with this list.. so I adjusted my mood. They all aren't someone I'd go around smooching with.. but they sure in heck are someone I'd want in my life in one way or another... so.. in no particular order:
1. Col. Brandon from Sense and Sensibility (Alan Rickman can stay Col. Brandon for this!)
2. Belgarath the sorcerer from the Belgarian (.. just have to love that old man!)
3. Gandalf from the Hobbit and LOTR (no question about it!)
4. Master Harper Robinton from the Pern Series. (he is another great character!)
5. Indiana Jones (need I say more? He might even get me interested in Archiology.. maybe.)
6. Robin Hood (but only if he really looked like Errol Flynn!)
7. Hercules (..he does look like Kevin Sorbo right?)
8. Caramon from Dragonlace (anyone that faithful would be hard to find)
9. Aragon from LOTR (just because..heh)
10.and because others have done this: a character of my own, Abbercorn. (because he represents much that I missed in life)

Now, I don't think this meme has to be for ladies only!.. after all, there are many literary female characters too!
I don't care to tag anyone in particular.. but this would be fun to see who came to mean something to you, should you choose to do it.. please return and leave a link if you do this meme!!
Meanwhile.. I hope that today is a fun one for everyone! Enjoy Halloween, and don't let the Vampires Bite!... err, bedbugs.. heh.

One More Day...

Well... for all those that care.. tomorrow is HALLOWEEN! Gads zooks! Where did October go???
I didn't know what I would post today ... tired of complainin' ..and it doesn't do any good anyway!.. So I thought I would do something Halloweenish. (is that a word?)
Anyway, as everyone knows Carl had this Perils Challenge where he asked you to read books that pertain to this holiday.. Gothic, scary, creepy etc. Now this sort of stuff I can watch in a movie, but it's not my cup of tea to read.. but I joined the challenge determined to find something I could read that would fill the bill.
So as today's post I decided to print up the first page or so of a book I read for the challenge... it was... how do I say this?... funny! Heh.. ok, so that wasn't one of the descriptive words that Carl used.. but it did have a vampire in it! And a werewolf! And even zombies! So ..see there,.... it did fit! So for your enjoyment I'd like you to meet your, not so everyday Vampire: Earl and his best buddy Duke (a werewolf) and the first two pages of a book that immediately told me... I can do this! Let me introduce you to: Gil's All Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez...........

In the middle of nowhere, along a quiet stretch of road, the diner dreamt of the hungry dead. And of two men.
Well, not men exactly.
Earl bounced in his seat as the pickup quaked. His beer slipped and settled in his lap. He grunted curses as he snatched up the can too late to prevent a yellow puddle around his groin.
"Hell, Duke, do you gotta hit every goddamn hole in the road?"
Duke shrugged and offered a mumbled apology.
"Yeah, well just try and watch it."
Earl reached into the pool of empty beers. "Damn it, Duke! If that's the last beer, I'm going to have to kick your ass." Like Arthur with Excalibur, he withdrew a full beer. "You got lucky." He popped it open and gulped down half its contents.
Duke Grunted.
"How we doing on gas?" asked Earl.
"We got enough."
"How much we got?"
"Enough"
"Damn it Duke, can't you just answer a goddamn question?"
Duke took a moment to lean out his window and spit. "We got enough, Earl."
The rusty gray truck bounced down the dusty road, more of a dirt trail really. Worn shocks were helpless against the rocky, hole-ridden roadway, and with each jolt, the engine rattled as if it might rip free. The tape player didn't work; something the passengers had learned at the cost of a Hank Williams Jr cassette. Spools of black tape hung from the radio's jaws, the inevitable end of an unsuccessful rescue attempt. The passengers rode in silence with only the clatter of seventy-six empty beer cans to fill the quiet. Seventy-six was the exact number of tall-boys that could fit in the front seat before space limitations demanded a transfer to the bed.
The vehicle was an unlikely means of transport for the Earl of Vampires and the Duke of Werewolves. But for a vampire who happened to be named Earl and a werewolf who liked to be called Duke, it was perfectly acceptable. Truth be told, they had called on much worse when the occasion demanded it.
"We go like thirty more miles to the nearest station, y'know?" Earl glanced at the fuel gauge. It trembled on empty. "shit. Should'a filled up at the last place. I told'ja didn't I?"
He contented himself by tossing dirty looks Duke's way the next few minutes.
The vampire was a stringy fellow, pale-- as one would expect-- with an overbite, a large nose, and a ridiculously unsuccessful comb-over. The werewolf was large and hairy, even in his current man form. His monstrous gut barely managed to squeeze behind the steering wheel. A green baseball cap tried, and failed miserably, to contain the thick mane of dark brown hair atop his head. He had never been able to grow a bear, but a permanent five o'clock shadow covered his face.
Earl wore threadbare overalls that were at least as old as he was. (Which, for the record, was much older than he looked, but still not all that old for a vampire.) Duke wore denim jeans, a leather jacket and a T-shirt emblazoned with the slogan "No Fat Chicks".

A YA book for your Consideration

The Tigers Egg: The Wednesday Tales, Vol.2 by Jon Berkeley
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Julie Andrews Collection (September 18, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0060755105

Illustrated by Brandon Dorman. (who I have discovered has done the illustrations for a number of books including: the Fablehaven books, a book called The Slippery Map and one called Nightmare Academy.)
This was book two about Miles Wednesday. I enjoyed both The Palace of Laughter and The Tigers Egg, and look forward to whenever the third installment may come out.
In The Tigers Egg orphaned, 12 year old, Miles and his friend Little join the circus. They meet up with Doctor Tau-Tau who can read the future. Miles learns that Tau-Tau knew his mother and father and tries to have him tell him about them. But in truth Tau-Tau is more interested in searching for his mothers elusive "tigers egg" (which is actually a stone) that is fabled to hold the soul of a tiger. There is the return of the "villian" the Great Cortado, and the "beast" called the Null, which keeps the story moving in the direction of finding the truth about Miles' parents.
The book is written in a little larger print for young kids and is adventurous (but not to the point it couldn't be possible), and would keep a kids attention easily. I have found that at times these YA books give me a chance for some light and entertaining reading and at the same time have well written stories like none that I wouldn't find in adult books.
Was this book absolutely captivating? Well, no.. but it is very enjoyable and I will certainly purchase the next book when it comes out.

A Favorite Book..or 2..or 3..or 4

Chris over at Stuff as Dreams are made On is hosting a giveaway for some books. The way to enter is to do as he asks below:

In order to be entered for the drawing, tell me two of your favorite books in the comments. You can even write your own post about it if you'd like and post your link in the comments...it'll be fun to share our favorites with each other.

The problem is, as anyone who reads more than a book a year will say, there are always more than 2 favorite books! I'll try to put them in three categories: old books, newer books, and newest books.. that's the best I can do, for there are many books that I really love... so much so that I've already read them more than once and I know (without doubt) I will read once again!

I feel overwhelmed when I say that of the older books, there are many I would never give away or not read over again. Among them are:

The first 6 Pern books by Anne McCaffrey. That would be Dragon Flight, Dragon Quest, The White Dragon and then 3 smaller books, DragonSong, DragonSinger, and DragonDrums. Of course if you don't like Dragons, my advice would be not to bother to read any of them..heh. The best part about her books is that besides the obvious (the magnificent dragons) she has a really great cast of characters. I mean a GREAT cast! She gives them all a turn to shine and if you don't feel you know these characters it would amaze me.

Another series (sorry, but most of what i read winds up a series!) is Dragonlance, by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Most notably the first 6 books (but there are more!) They would be: Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, Dragons of Spring Dawning, Time of the Twins, War of the Twins and Test of the Twins. As I have long ago learned, it's the characters (both good and bad) that make me return to reread these books. I even replaced them all to hardback books when my paperbacks were turning yellow and brittle.. that should tell you how much they mean to me!

I guess I can't go on if I don't mention J.R.R Tolkiens, The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings... since that is the series of books that got me forever hooked on Fantasy! Could it have been that during the darkest hours anyone could imagine that good would come shining through again? I don't know... but it could well be that books such as these always make me hang on to the last thread of hope.

Since I've already gone overboard I will add two more series that I would be heart broken without.. David Eddings, the Belgarian series: Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magicians Gambit, Castle of Wizardry and Enchanters End Game. (I was in love with Belgarth, what more can I say?)

And Terry Brooks Shannara Series: The Sword of Shannara, The Elfstones of Shannara, and the Wishsong of Shannara. Although in the beginning they were accused of ripping off Tolkiens books, I found the characters to my liking and have always liked this series.

Ok.. so that's some of the old books...

Some of the newer books would be.. well.. I have to say the Harry Potter series by J K Rowling, even if it does span from "newer to new". Although they were listed as young adult books I greatly enjoyed this series. I think they would be considered both adult and YA to be honest with you. I tend to think that besides language and sex in a book that they tend to label it YA when the story surrounds a young person.

I'm going to jump ahead to the newest books, .. just because this list is already ridiculous!

Of the newest books (ones I've read this past year) I would say one that really caught me by surprise is The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. This was certainly not a book I would see off hand and say.. oh this sounds good... but I read it for Carls Halloween Challenge and fell in love with the book! Once again, the characters are great, the story itself is fantastic and there just enough mystery to make you not able to put the book down!

This past year has also directed me into a number of YA books that I have found to be outstanding and have all intentions on reading again! Some of these are:

The Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke. Inkheart, Inkspell and soon to be released Inkdeath. This series probably tops the YA list I have.. I absolutely loved it!

Another YA series that captured me is the Septimus Heap books by Angie Sage. Magyk, Flyte, and Physik. I am beginning to think the YA authors have much more original storytelling than do many adult authors!

Just one more and I'll end this list!

Here There Be Dragons by James A Owen. Book 2 (Search for the Red Dragon) is to be released in January of 2008. I loved this first book... and I'm adding it to this list because I have high hopes that the next book will be every bit as good if not better.. now, I could be wrong, but I think this will become one of the better YA series out there for both YA and adults.

Ok.. there you have it Chris... is that enough favorite books for you?

I realize one doesn't have to be a really avid reader to have a favorite book or two (or three) and maybe if you aren't an avid reader..now might be the time to dig out that favorite book and remind yourself of why it stayed in your mind all this time?.. If you do that, please.. post about it and let others know how it made you feel to be with old friends once again!

Postnote:

For anyone interested, who has ever read the Pern series of books.. it looks like we may get a Pern Movie!!!! I found this on Anne McCaffrey's website !!!! If I was sure I wouldn't break my other foot I'd be jumping up and down right now!!!

As Regarding the Pern Movie
October 22nd, 2007 Archives
We’ve been getting tons and tons of mail asking about the upcoming Pern film. Some of you haven’t seen the press release, which is here, but you have reminded us that there hasn’t been a lot of public discussion about it since then. Everyone (including us) would like to see a movie of the highest quality brought to the screen, as quickly as possible! We have a great deal of faith in Copperheart Entertainment who, at this moment, are in discussions with talent and financiers. As soon as we can say more, we most definitely will. We promise!

Sigh..

Time is running out!... Halloween is almost here!

Ok.. so the deal is.. I'm probably as down as that skeleton today!.. sigh.

Besides my foot, my hips, my back and my neck all hurting to different degrees I found this today:

Tentative Last Chronicles Dates

° The Runes of the Earth - Oct 2004
° Fatal Revenant - Oct 2007
° Against All Things Ending - 2010
° The Last Dark - 2013

These are the expected release dates of the Thomas Covenant books.. note the last two. Not ONE but TWO.. hello?? First off I had read it was going to be a trilogy! Last I counted that means THREE.. not four! Did you see those dates?! Like.. ummm.. the question is: will i live long enough to read the ending??!! Cripes! Make my day why don'tcha?!

Anyway.. I went to the doctors yesterday.. 2 of them. (hooray).. the foot doctor took off the tape and I saw my multicolored foot for the first time since I went to him. Pretty it's not... however it is colorful.... and it's still broken. (big surprise)

Then I went to my normal doctor.. who finally looked at my catscan, that was taken, what.. a month ago or more? All was "normal". After a big sigh of relief, the anxiety began to build all over again.. something has to be causing the pain I feel! "we'll wait and watch".. oh joy. I can't say I've had pain for over 2 months for "no reason at all".. so I wonder.

I can hardly wait to see how much weight I gain because I can't move around hardly at all...*groan* At my advanced age I don't care what others think of my weight, I just get uncomfortable over a certain weight..

I am trying to ignore it all by reading since there doesn't seem to be the good movies on today that were on last weekend.. Well.. at least not after Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal. heh.

.... damn! I need something to cheer me up....... I need a margarita! (make that a double!)

Winning is good!

I had mail today! Oh yes I did! .. and nope, it wasn't a book (or books).

But it was something for my books!

Today I recieved a bookmark that I won over at Stainless Steel Droppings made by Lisa Snellings-Clark! It's a 3 part book mark.. one showing the RIP II Challenge and then the little pin with the face of her alien Poppet and a hand! Love it!

I had to photo it on one of the books I read for the challenge..well, ya know.. to show it off !

I'm really glad Lisa made these and gave some to Carl to use as prizes!! I don't win things often and this was made by Lisa so that makes it special!

Thanks Carl! It arrived safe and sound!!

(for anyone who doesn't know this: Lisa sells her poppets on ebay.. you should check them out !!)

Two Down.. one to go

Fatal Revenant

Author: Stephen R Donaldson

Hardcover: 640 pages
Publisher: Putnam Adult (October 9, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0399154469

Wow, this one took me some time to read! Not only is it long, but the pages are filled to the brim!

I've waited for this book since the release of The Runes of the Earth in 2004! (hello?! can we say a lo-o-o-o-o-ong wait?!) And unfortunately, it will be just as long for the third and final book.

I have to tell you... from the beginning, when I read the very first book of this series, Lord Fouls Bane, I was hooked. Hooked on the land, the people with all their varied "powers", and of course Covenant's plight. Along the way, Donaldson gave me some lifelong friends from his characters; I can never forget the giant Saltheart Foamfollower, what a great character with his own story to tell (which was very heart felt) and of course a name I cannot forget. The series continued with The Illearth War and The Power That Preserves.. I was thrilled with the entire series.

In the years that followed Donaldson came out with a sequel.. yet another trilogy. The Wounded Land, The One Tree and White Gold Wielder. Was I a happy camper? You betcha!!

Many years passed and in 2004 Donaldson came out with yet another in the series, The Runes of the Earth. Since many of my favorite characters would no longer be in this series, I wondered if he could capture me again. Hesitantly, I purchased the book... happily, I found that, indeed, he could take me back to the land to find some old and some new characters that would make me devour the book!

Then I waited once again.. seemingly forever.

When Fatal Revenant arrived I couldn't wait to get to it. I needed to know what was going to happen next, and how would they accomplish it! And so I read... sometimes swiftly.. sometimes slowly.

For the first time in this entire series of books I felt some disappointment. At times I was feeling as if this were a really long "filler" book. Although there was action at every turn I felt some was unnecessary and that the book was stretched out too far, which created some slow reading.. (overkill?) Considering the length of the book I had hoped more would happen, which I know sounds strange but it felt like very little really got accomplished in this book. And there was one other thing that sorta bothered me.. I felt like Mr. Donaldson wanted everyone to know how much he had grown as a writer through the years and so he injected many more words that the average person wouldn't even know the meaning of. (but of course could figure out due to what was going on). This I have to say disturbs me. I will admit I am not the brightest bulb in the pack (not even close) but I didn't seem to see this in his other books.... and it doesn't impress me. From book one, I have always felt that Mr. Donaldson is one of those really good writers, obviously, or I wouldn't have kept reading his books, he needs no reason to try to impress his readers... he did that long ago.

That being said, this is not a book for someone to pick up if they haven't read his books about Thomas Covenant. There are many referrals to names and places and incidents that occurred during the past, and they would only be lost on a new reader.

I am not going to actually review this book, it's enough to say that I wouldn't have missed it for anything... and if you are following this last series, it's definitely a must read! Any disappointments are small... I will say one last thing... about the ending... ARGH!!! I can't believe he left me hanging yet again!!!!!

Although I wish this book contained more, in the movement forward, I wouldn't have missed reading it for anything... and I am looking forward to the final installment!! (Pahleeeze, Mr Donaldson, write fast! )

Oh Rats!... err, I mean Bats!

Only 9 days until Halloween!

Don't forget to buy candy this weekend!!

If this old lady hobbles to your door I will expect chocolate!! And I don't mean those tiny bars either! I want the GOOD STUFF! Russell Stovers French Mints for instance.. mmmmmmm, yum!

Or better yet .......................................................Guylain Seashells! Ohhhh, Yeah!

A box of those and I'm your buddy for life!!

Ok consider yourself warned! And treat all old ladies really REALLY good at your Halloween door! (well, ya know.. it might be me!)

Sunday at the Movies

Sunday was a good day for Halloween type movies! I was beginning to think they weren't going to show any..sheesh.

Today began with House of Usher. Vincent Price can be as creepy as anyone!

I know this movie was made in 1960, in a day when color was everything, but to be honest with you, this movie should have been in black and white, I think it would have added to the gothic atmosphere.

Shortly after that movie came Tim Burton's, Beetlejuice... I do enjoy that movie .. that was back when Alec Baldwin was.. well..ya know.. (a young hottie!) and Geena Davis looked great!!

..and then there was Michael Keaton, who was born to be Beetlejuice! hahaha

After Beetlejuice came Hocus Pocus. with Bette Midler..whatta witch!

The Halloweenish movies ended with another of Tim Burton's movies: Corpse Bride!

It was a good day for Halloween movies!! And I watched them all!!

So.. how was your Sunday?

Silent Sunday

Oldies but Goodies

Down -- steadily down it crept. I took a frenzied pleasure in contrasting its downward with its lateral velocity. To the right -- to the left -- far and wide -- with the shriek of a damned spirit; to my heart with the stealthy pace of the tiger! I alternately laughed and howled as the one or the other idea grew predominant.
Down -- certainly, relentlessly down! It vibrated within three inches of my bosom! I struggled violently, furiously, to free my left arm. This was free only from the elbow to the hand. I could reach the latter, from the platter beside me, to my mouth, with great effort, but no farther. Could I have broken the fastenings above the elbow, I would have seized and attempted to arrest the pendulum. I might as well have attempted to arrest an avalanche!
Down -- still unceasingly -- still inevitably down! I gasped and struggled at each vibration. I shrunk convulsively at its every sweep. My eyes followed its outward or upward whirls with the eagerness of the most unmeaning despair; they closed themselves spasmodically at the descent, although death would have been a relief, oh! how unspeakable! Still I quivered in every nerve to think how slight a sinking of the machinery would precipitate that keen, glistening axe upon my bosom. It was hope that prompted the nerve to quiver -- the frame to shrink. It was hope -- the hope that triumphs on the rack -- that whispers to the death-condemned even in the dungeons of the Inquisition.
Edgar Alan Poe: The Pit and the Pendulum

Did that creep you out? Well, it's that time of year ....
If that isn't enought maybe a movie will do it for you. It's closing in on Halloween and you know what that means....night fright type of movies are all over our televisions...
Carl, over at Stainless Steel Droppings, noted some of his favorite movies for Halloween time, and I thought I'd jump on his wagon and add some of the type of movies I look forward to during October.
You'll notice that they are all ancient movies. As I told Carl, they are my old, old friends. Movies that scared the doo doo out of me when I was a kid, but now I look forward to the fact that at least some of them will show up while we wait for Halloween.
I couldn't make this short list without having some Turhan Bey movies! Although I love him dearly in movies like Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves, he also made horror movies...

Would there really be a Halloween without Boris Karloff?... mmmm, nope I don't think so! Boris was the King of Horror back in the day. And to a big extent.. he still is.

I loved Lon Chaney Jr. Your heart just went out to the poor guy having to live with the fact he knew he'd change into a Werewolf on every full moon.

.. And then there's Bela. Bela, Bela, Bela, what can I say? Ahhh, the children of the night... welcome.

There are many newer movies that would make me have nightmares, but I think I'll leave them for the young. While I sit back and watch some old friends.

Omar and More

Born in 1932 in Egypt Omar Sharif, at the tender age of 75 still has it!

I can't put a finger on exactly what it is...but he certainly still has it!

Yesterday I was watching a 1999 movie called The 13th Warrior, starring Antonio Banderas, when who wanders on to the screen but Omar Sharif. *sigh*

Still looking damn good, and acting like.. well ... like the great actor he is... and still looking handsome as ever! Dang him! I want some of his genes!

He has one of those voices too! You know who it is without even looking... but who would not want to look at Omar??!! (ok, ok so this is a female post! deal with it guys!)

I can't really imagine anyone not knowing Omar, but then there are an awful lot of very young bloggers, and many of those don't watch older movies... but just maybe some of those young folks have seen Doctor Zhivago.. maybe.

Anyway... it kept my mind off of other things while I watched that movie :o)

Last Saturday was my brother's 50th HS Reunion. He couldn't go of course, he's in rehab.. one of the gals in his class though thought it would be nice if a few stopped by to see him. He got all excited about it.. I began to get nervous wondering if at the last minute they'd figure they didn't have the time with all the goings on of a reunion.

One night he was talking about it and said he had a treatment due that day and wasn't sure how to get around it... then he said, "oh, I'll tell them to wait until the kids leave".

I lost it! KIDS?! This is a 50th Reunion! There ain't no "kids"!! lol

Saturday came and about a dozen folks showed up to visit him! He's be talking about it ever since. He was thrilled. He had a bunch of shirts he had painted and told them to take any they wanted. I know they didn't expect that!

During their visit I hobbled around taking pictures.. when I tired I sat down next to one of his school chums. (none of which he's seen in 50 yrs mind you!) The man began to talk to me... he had a name tag on from the reunion, Jac Clay. I didn't know him, (I maybe knew 3 of the folks that came ) I started chatting and joking, "nice name" I said, "I had a crush on a boy in school with that same last name, Peter Clay." (I bet you know what coming... heh) "You had a crush on my brother?!" *oh gawd, why me?*

We proceeded to have a good laugh about it and talked a bunch more.. nice fellow, all of them that came were nice.... they stayed about two hours before they had to leave to get ready for the big evening event (dinner and dance) for their reunion.. I thought it was awfully nice of the one gal (who hardly knew my brother) to take the time to arrange the group to come by. (Thanks Sally)

Guess that's all the news for now... about time to go where I can put my foot up for a bit... hope ya'll had a good Monday!

Something Old (moi)..Something New (boot)

My new $150.00 boot... (insurance doesn't cover it!)

................'nuf said.



FYI: in case you are thinking the boot is to big.. this is a "medium/ female boot". I tried on the small and my toes were hanging over the edge. I was told that a "medium" fits sizes 7-10. It makes me wonder why they have a large for females.. sure don't know many woman with shoe size over a 10!

The moral to the boot is: if you have to break a bone in your foot... I hope you have a size 6 foot or smaller! Oh, and 150.00 sitting around doing nothing. (yeah right sure: * whips out charge card*)

Oh, and you don't want to have to navigate up and down 12 stairs and walk through 2 rooms just to use the potty room. (this is not fun since the older you are, the more often you need the potty room!)

You also want a tiny refrigerator and a hot burner so you can have a cup of coffee or tea without using those same 12 stairs. (naturally, I do not have said items!)

Did I mention the fun it is trying to carry a cup of coffee UP those stairs? Well, here's how you do it.. you sit on the steps! Move the cup of coffee up as far as you can reach, then push yourself up one step at a time using your two arms and one leg .. repeat until you get to the top of the stairs! Of course this procedure gets harder the older you are. ('nuf said)

All of this simply means: you hold your bladder as long as possible, and you have to feel parched before you get something to drink!

Gosh, I can't wait until my brother comes home and I have to also go up and down to get him drinks and food and help him with his potty! I wish I were a Man! When they are sick or disabled someone waits on them.. when woman get sick... they wait on their self or do without! (ok.. there are a FEW men who help their wives, but I no longer have a husband to bitch about so take it with a grain of salt guys!)


Can you tell how happy I am? ..heh

Whew.. ok done complaining... for now.

A Return to the Moor

The Moor

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Picador; Reprint edition (October 30, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0312427395

This is yet another read for RIP II ! I didn't think I'd read the four I committed to, so this is a surprise for even me!

If you like Sherlock Holmes you will enjoy this book.

If you like Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles... you will enjoy this book.

Although Holmes is not the central star of this book I promise you that if you ever saw any of the old black and white movies you will still hear Basil Rathbone's voice when Holmes speaks!

But in truth this book is more centered around Mary Russell... Holmes' wife.

"Something is wrong with the Moor" Sabine Baring-Gould said, "I want you to discover what it is, and stop it." "...the Hound has been seen again, running free on the Moor."

And so begins a new Holmes-Russell mystery on the Moor.....

For whatever reason, I couldn't just speed through this book, but I definitely enjoyed it! Laurie R King's writing is just about what you would expect for a Holmes story.. but her depiction of Mary Russell was nothing short of funny!

As Holmes and Russell approach Lew House: "So it was that we approached Lew House, with me limping and slurping in my boots while beside me walked my partner and husband, his only dishevelment after three days of moor-crawling the day's light stubble on his jaw and a high-tide mark on the mud around the lower half of his otherwise clean boots. He looked as if he were returning from a gentle day's shooting; I seemed to have spent the day wrestling a herd of escaped pigs through a bog."

Her descriptions of people and places and feelings are nothing short of fantastic. The book had it's creepy times, which I was grateful for since I wanted this book to be one I could read for the challenge. Yet time and again I couldn't help but laugh at Mary Russells sense of humor. I think the coupling of these two is really a good way to have more Holmes mysteries.

Ms. King made many references to The Baskerville Hounds and to Watson and even Conan Doyle in her writing... you felt as if you were back with old acquaintances.

"The hands of my pocket watch crept around, and the powers of darkness moved over the face of the moor. Midnight came and midnight passed, and neither of us had moved or spoken for some time, when I began to feel a strange sensation in the air around me. Looking back, it was probably only the psychic eeriness of the night combined with the physical sensation brought by the electric charges of the storm, building and ebbing, but it began to feel almost as if there were another person in the rock shelter with us-- or if not a person, then at least a Presence. It did not seem to me, as Holmes had suggested, an evil presence, nor even a terribly powerful one, but I thought it old, very old, and patient. It felt, I decided, as if the moor itself were holding watch with us. Holmes did not seem aware of anything other than discomfort and impatience, and I did not care to mention my fancies to him. I was, however, very grateful for his warm bulk beside me."

I really enjoyed this book and will most likely order another of her books about Mary Russell and Holmes.

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short update on my foot: I broke a bone! Now I have to get a boot cast.. I am not a happy camper!

Sometimes I Could Almost Kiss the Mailman (almost!)

Oh my... I had a super mail day today!!

Thankfully I only have a few chapters to go to finish The Moor!

Stephen R Donaldson's book of Fatal Revenant is the prize in the mail package.. and next up for reading!! I can hardly wait! Second up is The Tiger's Egg, which is the next in line from The Palace of Laughter that I recently read.

Then I am headed into the other TBR books! I really need to read faster since I have been having this urge inside of me to reread some old favorites. It's been brewing for a while now but I don't want to leave a large pile of TBR when I do it, because that will take a while.

I plan to reread the first 6 Dragonlance books, Eddings Belgarian series (5), The first 3 Shannara books by Terry Brooks and 6 of McCaffrey's Pern books. (The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings would be there, but they are still fresh enough in my mind to skip for now)

That will certainly take some time.... but I feel like I need to be with some "old friends". I've been enjoying the new books I have read (over quite some time now) but I don't think any characters have come to mean as much to me as the ones in the books I want to reread.... either that... or I just plain miss them!

Anyway, something's gotta give soon lol...

Oh.. I had to go for a foot X-ray today. Not sure if I fractured a bone or not, but thinking "not".. won't know until later today. Right now half of my right foot is black and blue from a step I missed.. all I can say is.. don't grow old! sheesh.

I need to keep my foot elevated as much as possible so I think I will go sit on my bed and finish reading The Moor ... it's as good an excuse as any!