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“It may not sell [mostly because people’s eyes have all melted]”

I love that, made my morning. lol.

I finished Uglies (a good book, slow in the middle, but the payoff is worth it) started Pretties, and read two writing how-to books in between.

I’m also curently reading my new cell phone’s get started guide.

I read Magic or Madness.

“fire in the hearts of men ”
It’s nice to know in your past you planned to cook people before you ate them.

Thanks for that, mainly because I’m feeling better about my own teenage years now. I can’t boast that precious writing, but I did proudly wear a gold lame jacket to school.

Ironically, I’m looking for such a jacket today for my daughter’s school play. Life sure comes full circle.

(Oh, reading? Just Cybils nominees, and lots of them.)

Robin, I wish I was that…indescribable when I was 15. My stuff would’ve been like “Holden is my soulmate, too bad he’s fictional,” or “I’d pretend to love sports to play Blitz Ball with Phineas.” Boarding school fiction and teen angst. I guess some things never change (see: Looking for Alaska)

Anyway, speaking of angst, I read Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. Great concept, poorly executed.

When I was fifteen,I was just getting into Stephen King novels(which didn’t inspire me to write in my diary but I did go on a bad poetry writing kick after watching “Dead Poets Society” several years later),so you were certainly advanced in your good literary taste,Robin:)

I finished Leaning With Intent to Fall last week and am now digging into The Luxe by Anna Godbershen. Sort of a sexier teen version of a Edith Wharton novel-not bad for a fun read,so far

Hee! Love it, Robin. (Though I do worry about your desire to inflict pain on unsuspecting readers!)

I’m on a Reginald Hill kick. I’m not sure I’ll read anything else until I’m done. I love a good British mystery (James, Rendell, Rankin), but I love these even more for one character–the Fat Man (Dalziel) He’s never the protagonist, we never see the world from his point of view, but I still love him. He’s obnoxious, amazingly self-centered, but still loveable. My favorite kind of character

Oh, man, you are way too cute. I cringe too badly to ever print the more purplish prose of my fifteen year old self — my poetry is bad enough. But you –! I think Molly’s right. Indescribable.

Reading MANY Cybils books, currently Holly Bennet’s The Warrior’s Daughter…

Oh, Robin, that’s hilarious! My eyes are burning just reading it.

“I will write a book such that will put fire in the hearts of men and burn in the eyes of women.”

Ah, Robin, can you put that on a T-shirt? I want to share it with the world!

Slow on the reading this week. Too much writing to read much. Unless you want to count food catalogs.

Thanks for sharing, Robin. Too funny. My parents recently moved, and shipped me all of my boxes of old journals (I kept one all through high school and college). But I’m afraid to look.

I’ve been reading some picture books and early elementary school books lately. I quite enjoyed the “Olive, the Other Reindeer” pop-up book from Chronicle. I also finished “My Most Excellent Year” (ARC), which is about love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park. How could I resist?

I finally finished Evil Genius, my bedtime, read it to myself, one chapter at a time book. Then I went back to my usual “gulp it down” style and read How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor. I loved it. She writes perfect middle grade: honest but not heavy, and it’s chock-full of lovely detail and great action. AND it has a dog, Robin!

Now I’m on to my four books for the end of the year list.

I’ve been pressed for time lately, but I did manage to finish Dovey Coe by O’Roark. I most enjoyed the voice of the heroine, a mountain girl unafraid to speak her mind. The book was a simple, middle grade reader with good pacing.

I have not read Stephen King in a very long time. I will add Lisey’s Story to my must read list. I read Stumptown by Carol Gorman. I wished I had read it before we decided on our district readers’ choice nominations. I would have selected it over some others. I started Astrid and Veronika for this month’s book club. The writing is very lyrical thus far.

Yesterday I finished Rebel Angels by Libba Bray. I quite enjoyed it & I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

Go read Tom Perrotta’s The Abstinence Teacher. No, don’t ask me why. Don’t sit there with a blank look on your face. Just go read it already.

It’s funny, sad, deep, painful, insightful (and even inciteful…). A magnificent book. Best of all, reading it, it seems so EFFORTLESS, as if Tom just sat down and the book ran out of him in a steady gush.

A quick read, so what are you waiting for?

Barry, you’re bossy, but I think I will read it. I know what it’s about, and it sounds like the kind of thing I need to read.

Kimmy, I haven’t read any of those yet. I need to! Maybe that will start off next year’s list.

Jone, I often can’t read Stephen King because he’s too scary for me, but this book has so much going for it I decided to put up with my elevated heart rate. It’s really, really wonderful.

Kelley, love the description of that book! I’m all for any story about a girl unafraid to speak her mind. Thanks for the tip.

Sara, a dog book? Yeah, you know I need to know about those. Glad to hear you’re turning to your end-of-year list. Do you realize it’s already a week into November? What’s happened to the year?

I am reading Run by Ann Patchett, her new novel. And here’s why I need to re-evaluate my blog priorities: This book was not sent to me by a publisher or an author, and I have a huge, HUGE stack of books that were, but I am gulping this book down as if I’m doing something really, really bad. My husband rolled his eyes at me (lovingly) last night and told me to just. read. it. . . . and enjoy it. (I think Kelly H. is on to something when she talks about giving up review copies, though I don’t know if I’m quite ready for that). Anyway, I shouldn’t feel like it’s a guilty pleasure to read a novel a publisher didn’t send to me, but regardless, it is GREAT. Am I surprised? Nah. It’s dear, sweet, brilliant Ann Patchett.

I, too, finished reading Rebel Angels last night. It was really good! I’m starting Twilight now, which Kelley lent to me.

See, Jules, I look at it another way: that book is obviously so great (haven’t read it yet, but boy do I love Ann Patchett’s writing) that you were willing to put aside all reason and obligation so you could give yourself that treat. What a wonderful recommendation for a book! Please release any guilt. Books are brain candy. And didn’t you read my post yesterday about giving up the shoulds?

Katie, you’re going to eat Twilight right up. Such a girl book.

Glad you liked Lisey’s Story,Robin. It’s such a great book,one of the better ones that King has written lately.

So,I went to a rummage sale on Saturday and brought five,yes,five new books(I have a probelm,I know). Here’s what I got:

Doctor Zhivago:I’ve never read it or seen the movie(just added it to the Netflix queue)and it’s about time I did both.

Katherine: Anya Seton is one of those authors who I stockpiled their work and then take my time to get to. I do have a paperback of Katherine but this was a hardcover that had a coat of arms enbossed on the front and back cover,plus a genealogy chart as the end papers-hard to resist!

Chez Pavan: All I know about this book is that it was written by Richard Llewellyn,who wrote How Green Was My Valley,and it’s a novel about a French hotel/restaurant. It’s a really worn out library copy that just seemed to need me,like that Christmas tree Charlie Brown chose for the play.

Teacher Man: I have Angela’s Ashes and Tis but haven’t gotten around to the last memoir of McCourt’s trilogy. Well,the price was right!

Cod,a biography of the fish that changed the world: Yes,this is a history of cod but I’ve heard good things about it over the years.

As to something I did finish,Tastes Like Cuba by Eduardo Marchardo is a very heartfelt memoir,about a Cuban American playwright whose memories of the past are mixed with his love of food.

Don’t mean to be bossy. But when you read something THAT GOOD, you want to share it with the world.

I haven’t finished reading any books, but have started a couple that seem good so far.

Tamar by Mal Peet
Girl in a Cage by Jane Yolen

original idea! what a lot of cool characters!

Is this Ghoul or what!?! It's so great it's almost scary! Frightening actually! To be Frank(ensteinn) I think it's great!

Seriously very fun!

oh, michelle, what a great festive drawing... i love the "scene" and am intrigued by the snacks that are being served... :) what a fun illo!

-kim

Nice and not a mention of Mash anywhere!

A bit early, though...

Is that you as a vampire (or an ultra-hip 'vampyr')?

u nailed it again michelle just perfect

Awww... Can I go, too? I love it, Michelle!!!

This is a great idea Michelle! Love all your characters!

oOh great work; a very funny idea for this illustration :)

will the DJ be playing "Thriller?"

yaayyy!!! michelle's doing halloween again! wonderful characters! so much going on here! wonderful! :))

Fun idea, I really like the characters. They have great expressions on their faces.

Hahahaha, excelelnt Mitch! Missd you over at group Soup. This is wonderful, and so detailed, too!

looks like a few ghouls have pink eye! Great work and nice seeing you!!!

Glad to see you back. Love this illo. Your creativity never seizes to amaze me.

Fun as alway, Michelle!

ohh this is very cute. Love those characters. And the idea is soo original. Checked out your website and is very cool....nice work.

How wonderful, Michelle! All my favorite characters are here in one place. Rockin' club!

So cool! You rock!

Hi Michelle, you make the perfect mistress of scaremonies. Super spooky fun!

nice work mich!

I like this Michelle! Happy Halloween!

Wonderful halloween fun!

thanks, and yours is fantastic as always. I look forward to them.

Great, I love it!

Anette Heiberg
www.anetteheiberg.com
my etsy shop

Ha! ha! so cute!

hehe! Club Ghoul. I love it.

Oh what fun! Cute concept and illo!

Fantastic piece Michelle! Glad to see you were able to get one done. Love the little ghouls.

Club Ghoul...very cute!

First time I visit your blog. Awesome and very fun!

this soooo cool!! lovely charcaters and atmosphere! great great!!

Wonderful atmosphere you created here, Michelle! Thanks for visiting my blog, I missed you!

Good to see you again... Great work like always.

Your work is always so much fun, Michelle.

Finished The Amber Spyglass. The weird thing is I think I have read it before. I don’t know why.

I’ve heard some positive early buzz on Austenland,Robin. Glad to know that it’s a good book. I have Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict on my TBR(and To Be Reviewed) pile,so that will soothe my Austenmania this summer.

As for what I’ve read,finished Keeping the House(which is now out and about,so please find it and read it,it’s excellant) and HP book 5. I’m now reading HP 6 and Lorna’s Landvik’s Oh My Stars,as well as Swim To Me. My nonfiction reading has been a little slow but I intend to remedy that soon. Oh,and I started Peyton Place,too! I have the film version high up on my Netflix queue,but gotta see Black Snake Moan first!

Patrick, what does that mean? Senility? Deja vu?

Lady T, you do need to see Black Snake Moan. Such a wild ride. And I’m amazed at all your ongoing reading. Sounds like you’re using your summer well!

I found that book pretty hard to forget, Patrick. My fiance says he thinks it was written on a bet: “Oh yeah, Philip? Bet you can’t write a book about elephants on roller skates. And throw in the death of God.”

Here There Be Dragons sounds AMAZING.

I am so glad others are reading Austenland because it is awesome. It’s make me get all evangelical, telling everyone I meet to read it. I am, even now, working on a list of things we Jane Austen fans can consume to help soothe our nerves once we realize there are no more books by Jane Austen that we haven’t already read five times.

Veering into another direction entirely, I’m reading World War Z. I’m only perhaps 50 pages in, but so far, so good. I’ve also been catching up on Entertainment Weekly. One hates to be behind on her entertainment news.

Adrienne, I, too, will be evangelizing to all. I’m mailing Austenland to someone today. It must be read. Good luck catching up on Entertainment Weekly. If you get a few weeks behind, none of those hookups they report are right anymore.

Diana, Here, There Be Dragons is SO much fun. Get it.

And speaking of get it, Under the Rose, Diana’s sequel to Secret Society Girl, just arrived in stores! Get it now, now, now!

Yes. I finished American Gods last night. It was worth it in the end. I’ll be thinking about his premise for a long time. But I still think there was too much wandering about for the first 2/3 of the novel. I know the character’s supposed to be clueless, but I had trouble caring until I understood more of what was happening. I also feel as if I’ve been somewhere very cold and gray for a long time. Must read some fluff. Need fluff.

It has the feel of something I read when I was really young. For example, I remember that I read Bridge to Terabithia when I was younger or A Wrinkle in Time, but I can’t remember a single scene.

It is that sort of feeling. The whole Mary Malone and the wheeled creatures is something that I swear I have read before.

If it was only published in 2000, then I have never read it before. deja vu, or Space Lord living his life out of sequence or something…

With the exception of a few chapters of Harry Potter 4 and my Int’l Econ textbook, I havn’t read anything this past week. Instead, I spent all my free time watching movies - 1 or 2, sometimes 3 a day! It was great!

I read What Happened to Cass McBride by Gail Giles and Forever… by Judy Blume. That means I read four books for June, which is great.

Forever… made me realize that I’m almost as disturbed by guys naming their penises as I am by therapeutic gut-kneading, or whatever it’s called. Thanks, Ralph and Robin.

I (re)started Get Well Soon by Julie Halpern (October 2007) this morning, which YA librarians everywhere are raving about. Next up is A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah - anyone read this? I’m booktalking it at Starbucks next week! My job is so cool.

Yeah, Molly, but how disturbed were you by teenaged girl being buried alive? That’s the real question. Cass McBride freaked me out like, big time!

Also, why does the name Julie Halpern sound so familiar to me? It’s driving me crazy — like Patrick and his deja vu about the elephants on roller skates.

Robin, thanks for the plug. Austenland sounds great, too. I’ve seen it at the stores, but my TBR pile is threatening to crash through the floor into the apartment below.

Sara, go get Austenland. I promise it will make you happy. Or buy Diana’s books #1 & 2.

Lizzie, good job on the movie fest. That plus some HP review sounds like good times to me.

Molly, 4 books for June is great! Sorry about the gut information yesterday–I know not everyone is as interested in weird bodily things as I am. Look away.

You must be the 4th person in like a week I’ve heard raving about Austenland. I guess I’ve gotta read it, but I feel like an Austen-poseur - I haven’t read any of her books since college.

And that creaking/groaning noise you hear is my TBR pile shifting under the weight of the entire Austen ouvre being thrown on top.

Anyway, I just finished Un Lun Dun by China Mieville, and it is freaking awesome. Also read Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman, and it was a great premise, but not the best writing ever. Oh, and also Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin - quite good indeed.

Eisha, suck it up. I, too, have bowed to pressure from the blog to rearrange my TBR pile, and I’ve never regretted it once. You’ll love it. And you don’t have to be an Austen scholar to get it. Being a girl is qualification enough.

Glad to hear good things about Austenland. I was wondering how it would be.

I finished A Suspension of Mercy by Patricia Highsmith.

ooh, eisha, I loved Zevin’s elsewhere, so is it as lovely as that?

Robin, the next copy I see of Austenland will be mine.

I read Trigger by Susan Vaught. Not uplifting, but really well done, and interesting. And today I started re-reading Harry Potter IV. But I feel guilty, because I have so many review books that people have sent me. How can I justify this Harry Potter thing, especially now that I’m up to the long books? But it’s so interesting. I think that I read the last 3 books so quickly that I don’t remember them very well (a vice that I have), and this time I’m stopping to sticky-note interesting tidbits.

I do want to read Austenland. I was patting it in the bookstore the other day, but it hasn’t risen to the top of the list yet.

Sara, I only read a couple of chapters of Elsewhere (not that it wasn’t good - I don’t remember why I didn’t finish it…) but Memoirs is good in a different way from what I remember of it. It’s not so… dreamy.

Jen, zero guilt about rereading Harry Potter. This is a special time in reading history, and everyone understands. We all have to be ready. I’m setting aside other books to reread some HP myself. Zero guilt whatsoever.

I finished Midnight Rain by Holly Lisle five minutes ago CST. Whew.

Heather, under the wire!

I am sorry to report that I haven’t read in, like, two days, ’cause I’ve been too busy . . . uh, blogging and answering emails, I think. Seriously, as I was telling Eisha today, I’m planning a blog vacation soon — for about a week. And every time I’d normally blog, I’ll read instead and try to get caught up with the approximately 35 review copies staring me in the face. Not a bad problem to have, but I feel like such a jerk, seeing as how a lot of authors went out of their way to send these to us.

So, yeah, I’ve stalled on the same books I’ve been reading for about two weeks now (The Confessional, a YA novel; Into the Woods, an intermediate-aged one; a parenting book; a book about MomsRising; a book of free verse poetry that I’m about to just hang up; and Skullduggery Pleasant, which so totally and completely rocks so hard).

Jules, I really understand what that feels like. On the one hand you feel weird acting like it’s a problem that you have so many books to read, but it really does create pressure. Sometimes I think about hiding my TBR pile so I won’t have to look at it and see what I haven’t accomplished yet.

Cracks me up to think about how much we’d all get done if we substituted X for our blog time. But then we’d be sad if we didn’t get to talk with everyone every day, so what are you gonna do?

Okay, so I’m only halfway through it but it’s such an amazing read I can’t not talk about it. Icy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman Rubio. Wow. Especially wow since it’s written in the first person, and only a really skilled storyteller can handle that limiting a viewpoint and still give the story wings. And this one has a wondrous wingspan!

I just finished Mitali Perkins’ Monsoon Summer, and have decided that I want to have coffee with her. Before that I read World War Z, which was quite good, but has made me wonder if I need to get the windows of our house reinforced with steel bars. I have Austenland right here before me, ready to pick up and read. Yee hah!

Now I must immediately read my autographed copy of Austenland, which has been sitting on the shelf enticing me for weeks. I keep starting paperbacks that I can toss into my purse instead.

The best I’ve read this week is Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. I really enjoyed it, perhaps even more than the original Stargirl.

Molly mentioned reading Forever by Judy Blume, and that brings back fun memories from fifth grade. I checked it out from the public library, and made the mistake of telling some friends about it. Of course they all wanted to read it, so Forever was passed around until our teacher confiscated it from someone in class. The girl blabbed that it was mine, and I was so embarrased when my teacher gave it back to me. She knew I had read it! Total humiliation in 5th grade. But now it’s a fond memory. I wonder if anyone else surreptitiously passed around Judy Blume books in elementary school?

First person is a limiting viewpoint? Or in Icy Sparks it is because of the premise/predicament the main character is in?

I don’t agree with the former.

BJ, you reading machine, you make an appearance! That must be one great book to bring you out. It’s going on the list.

Alkelda, you’ll be sad to know I asked Mitali to come to the conference, but she can’t that day. Boo! Otherwise you could have had that coffee.

Michelle, thanks for the tip on Love, Stargirl. I really enjoyed Stargirl, and it’s nice to know the sequel not only holds up, but might even surpass.

And thanks for your Forever story. How funny.

Diana, if you are writing a story entirely from one person’s viewpoint, as you must if you’re writing in first person, then yes, the viewpoint by its very definition is more limited. It has to be. So only a very skilled writer can give a story breadth when writing in first person.

In third person you can look out of more eyeballs. You can jump around from character to character. You can get into more heads.

It’s a sweet little book, and I wouldn’t be surprised if someone snatched up the film rights.

Wouldn’t a movie be great? I can totally see that!