Reading list...

Take a Look, it's in a Book...
Reading Rainbow.

I really need to read more! Just noticed that I haven't really read a book in while. The last being "Heat Wave" by Richard Castle. Yes, that Richard Castle (aka: Nathan Fillion, aka: a novel tie in to a tv show)!

While Heat Wave was a fun read it wasn't very much of a challenge. It essentially was an extension of the series. Which means it was dead on target! Some of the gags and situations were lifted right from season one. Which makes sense since Castle was shadowing Det. Beckett during the time leading up to the book! So, it pays off on what I thought it would be.

Before Heat Wave the last book I read was "Assholes Finish First" by Tucker Max. While funny, it was a re-hash of the same stuff that appeared in his first book, "I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell".  Granted there were some truely funny moments I kinda of lost interest by the end of the book.

Other titles in the last year are a collection of novels based on the TV show 24 and Dr. Who. So, what I am trying to say is that I need some substance in my reading life!  I have a copy of Chuck Klosterman's "Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs" just mocking me. A biography of Gram Parsons that has been screaming to be read for about 2 years now. A few Christopher Moore books tha I still haven't finished ("Coyote Blue" and "Fluke") and a novel by Jimmy Carter called "The Hornet's Nest" that I bought right when it came out in 2003!

The moral of the story so far is that I suck at finding time to read!

I have a ton of recomendations for books and authors to read: Dave Eggers, Nick Hornsby, more Klosterman, and a second Richard Castle novel!!  The sad fact is that I just don't find the time to sit and relax with a book. Usually, relaxing at my house involves TV shows that have been on my DVR for months, a movie, or a drive around town.

I think I need to find an excuse to read more. Or maybe I should channel my reading in another direction...how about learning another language? Nah, not worth my time...three days in Paris isn't enough of a reason to learn French!

My Top Ten Books

Hey I'm not just a movie fan...I read too. Well, I don't read a lot with substance. But, I do read. So I decided to switch gears and throw out a list of my favorite books I've read over the last few years. Now, there aren't a ton of books on my list that will rank as Literary classics. They are all fun in their own way. So lets get to the list...that like the movies is in no specific order (with some ties going to books by the same author in a series).

1. Of Mice and Men -- John Steinbeck
2. The Name of the Rose -- Umberto Eco
3. Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood pal -- Christopher Moore
4. I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell -- Tucker Max
5. Killing Yourself to Live -- Chuck Klosterman
6. Messiah -- Boris Starling
7. Red Dragon,Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal -- Thomas Harris
8. A Time to Kill -- John Grisham
9. Fool -- Christopher Moore
10. Angels & Demons, The DaVinci Code, The Lost Symbol -- Dan Brown

SPECIAL MENTION to: Growing Up Doughnut -- Don Shields (you're welcome dad), every other book written by Christopher Moore,

Guess who's back? Back again? (the answers not Shady)

Commitment, follow-through, a keen sense of purpose. These are things that are great to have when it comes to blogging.

Commitment, follow-through, a keen sense of purpose. These are things that my blog has a sever lack of!! Not that those short comings has stopped me in the past!

So, it is with a raised spirit and renewed hope that I am going to give this thing the old college try. By college try I obviously mean years 2-5!! Not that evil party first attend class 8th year that damn near killed me! So we will see where this takes me.

I have few plans for this...and fewer promises that anything will even happen. But, it should help me kill a few minutes at the end of my work day. When I'm not reading. (shut up I read books)

Food for thought (and maybe future posts) -- "Should you keep reading a book that at the same time makes you laugh, cry (from laughing so hard) and feel really dirty and ashamed to be able to read...all at the same time?" If the answer is yes...let me pimp the newest Tucker Max book "Assholes Finish First".

Personal Update!

Ok..so a lot has happened since the last time I blogged! Granted none of it has been important!

I am now gainfully employeed, full time, at Progressive Insurance here in sunny Phoenix AZ. So far so good. I don't think I have jacked anything up yet! But, it's early!

I have been reading again. Which is a nice break from past tradition! I have found myself revisiting a tried and true stand-by... CHRISTOPHER MOORE.

I have recently read (or Reread)

Lamb: The gospel according to Biff, Christ's boyhood pal
Island of the Sequined Love Nun
Practical Deamon Keeping
A Dirty Job
lust lizard of melancholy cove
The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror

and I am getting ready to read:
Fluke
You SUCK
and coming November 10th, 2009 FOOL

So...yeah...not a whole lot going on!

Book Review (well, more of a book report)

I wanted to start off with a review of Chuck Klosterman's "Killing Yourself To Live" since I just got done reading that, it was a Christmas gift (thanks Ryan). But, I decided to go a little off the beaten path for this review.


I was digging through an old box of books and found something that I hadn't thought of....let alone read, in probably close to 18 years!


The book I am speaking of is one of many in a series. Actually it is the combination of two of the greatest childhood book series of all time....if you have a guess make it now! Any idea? Well, if you guessed the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew you would be right!



Now this was no ordinay Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew crossover book. No, this was one of the greatest literary inventions ever... to steal the phrase from the originator.....this was a "Choose your own adventure" style novel. I think the phrase they used was "Be a detective" novels.


These were the books where you would read a few pages and then have the choice of: "If you want to follow Nancy Drew to the movie studio, turn to page 98"...."if you want to follow Frank and Joe to Silicone Valley, turn to page 121"..."if you think the detectives should look into the shady gardener, turn to page 22"


The great thing about these books was the fact that there were a ton of different endings to each story.


In one choice the gardener would be innocent in another he would be a "master thief".


Reading this again the other night brought be TONS of enjoyment! I really loved the whole Hardy Boys series, both the old books I got from my parents, and the "new" casefiles series! I'm kind of sad to see that this series hasn't seen a comeback of recent years.


Nancy Drew had a brief return with the Emma Roberts film of the same name. And to some respect...Veronica Mars.


Listen up Hollywood...once the writer's strike is over...I want a new Hardy Boys Series/Movie! PLEASE!!!!