Women

Daughter of the Queen of Sheba

1 Comment / 2008, Books in Bed, From the Stacks Challenge, Non-Fiction, Women /

Daughter of the Queen of Sheba is an orange Penguin book on my “From the Stacks” challenge, and probably the last book from that challenge that I’ll read for awhile. I realized last night that I’m going about my challenges all wrong and that I should hang onto the books from that one ’til summer when library visits will probably be few and far between. So, anyway, about the book.

Non-fiction, memoir from Jackie Lydon. Interesting in that watching a never-ending train wreck sort of way. Also depressing in that mental health care in this country STUNK in the 70s and 80s and isn’t a whole lot better now sort of way.

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A Town Like Alice

3 Comments / 2008, A to Z Challenge, Books in Bed, Favorites, Fiction, Women /

Remember years ago when I was looking for book ideas for Michelle belle? I don’t think it was on this blog, or the blog formerly known as Daily Dose etc…, but maybe on the original home school blog? Anyway, I had a regular reader and commenter then, from Belgium I think, and she recommended “A Town Like Alice” for Michelle to read. Michelle never got around to it but I remembered it when I was creating my A to Z list but it was not an easy book to get.

I got it, on audio, late in December and as we started to listen to it TW said “And why are we listening to this?” It started sort of slowly and the narrator sounded very Moonstone like. Almost like “Betteridge” but not quite. We both thought we were in for a very long, very slow listen… we were wrong.

It did take us a very long time to finish it but that is related to the very small amount of time we’ve spent in the car together over the last month. Or in the car together, without kids. The kids don’t really enjoy listening to bits and pieces of books and I can’t blame them. I wouldn’t like listening either if I had missed chapter upon chapter.

Anyway. A Town Like Alice. Awesome. So awesome that it’s hard to believe it was written by Nevil Shute. I am not an On the Beach fan. Love this book. Love the characters. Love the story line. Love every single thing about it – except the fact that it’s over.

Now, could someone help me figure out how to find that person who recommended the book? I’d really like to thank her and I don’t seem to be able to track down her comments – they were probably lost in some blog move or another. Or they’re buried in some transferred comment format that isn’t searchable. Whatever. I can’t find her. Help! And then go reserve this book from your library – preferably on audio.

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Libraries today, tsk tsk

1 Comment / 2008, Feminism, Fiction, Queer, Women /

We ran over to the library one day last week to pick up an ILL that was waiting and while I stood in line at the desk, TW popped over to the “New Arrivals” shelves. She popped right back over when it was my turn in line and dropped a book on the desk for check out.

Lois Lenz: Lesbian Secretary

Ha. Our library may not have any of the Willig books and we might have to ILL stuff like The Edge Chronicles but they sure do have lesbian pulp fiction.

And it was amusing in the way all lesbian pulp fiction is amusing. When poor Lois realizes the girls in her boarding house aren’t communists or white slavers and they’re “just Lesbian Career Girls”… well, that’s the sort of thing everyone should read a few times in their lives.

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The Lady, the Chef, and the Courtesan

1 Comment / 2008, Books in Bed, Favorites, Feminism, Fiction, From the Stacks Challenge, Women /

I do believe we purchased The Lady, the Chef, and the Courtesan a few years (four years ago? five? goodness time flies) when we were in Denver… let’s see, that would have been February of 2004? Maybe I don’t know. Anyway, it’s an autographed copy and the author lives in Denver so I’m guessing we bought it at The Tattered Cover.

Thanks to my “From the Stacks” challenge, I finally found the time to read it and I’m glad. Too bad it took me so darn long to get to it. The book… surprisingly good. I’m tempted to describe it as Latin American chick lit but it’s more than that, or better than that, or something.

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The Dead Cat Bounce

2008, Books in Bed, Fiction, Mystery, Women /

Ha. The Dead Cat Bounce is the first book in the “Home Repair is Homicide Mystery Series”. This is another of those fluffy series’ that TW reads a ton of but I never manage to read any of – because she reads a lot faster than I do. I’m attempting to read at least ONE of each of the weird series’ she picks up from the library, particularly if she happens to pick up the first one – first. Which she did with this one.

Totally amusing. I’m guessing the ones that come later will be even more amusing, with more home repair issues tossed in for fun. I probably won’t ever read any of them but at least I can think about reading them and smile a little.

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Agnes & the Hitman

1 Comment / 2007, Books in Bed, Chick Lit, Favorites, Fiction, Women /

Agnes & the Hitman was hysterical. No, wait. It was HYSTERICAL! I loved it and not just because of the flamingos. Best Jennifer Crusie book so far. I want to be cranky Agnes when I grow up, without the hitman – though he definitely had his charm.

And an OMG I had no idea moment… Jennifer Crusie wrote Coffee at Luke’s. I need that book. Who has not bought my Christmas gift yet? Whoever it is, you can send this – NOW.

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Sweet Swan of Avon

1 Comment / 2007, A to Z Challenge, Books in Bed, Favorites, Non-Fiction, Women /

Another book I should have read ages ago. It’s been living on my bookshelf since BlogHerCon06, thanks Blogher and Robin! Sorry it took me so long to read but Sweet Swan of Avon was worth waiting for.

I enjoyed it.

But I would since I totally don’t think Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare. I’m not sure Mary Sidney wrote Shakespeare either but it’s a heck of a lot more possible than Shakespeare writing Shakespeare.

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On Becoming Fearless

1 Comment / 2007, A to Z Challenge, Books in Bed, Non-Fiction, Women /

Yes, another book I own (thank you Arianna and BlogHer) that I never quite made time to read. On Becoming Fearless was better than I expected.

Better because I’m not a huge Arianna fan. I think she’s interesting. I like her blog. But no fan love here and I didn’t really know what to expect. The chapter on being fearless in relationships was a little flat – the chapters on parenting, money and work were much better.

Overall – a pretty good “self help” type of book.

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