Happy Monday everyone. Sorry I've been MIA lately. The good news is that I have been reading tons of books but the bad news is that I have been to busy to write about them. I've been working long days at the office so I have instituted a no computer rule for evenings at home. I just have to disconnect from the computer at some point during the day or I feel my soul will be crushed (she says kind of jokingly but not really). I've been visiting other book blogs as much as possible and leaving comments on as many as I can. My TBR list has been growing beyond what I can possibly read in my lifetime but I am so excited about some of the books that I've been reading about. Hopefully very soon I will be blogging about some of the books that I have recently added to my reading queue.
I've been obsessed with non-fiction lately and am ready to move on to lighter fare. I've always been pretty fascinated by true crime books. I can't help but analyze criminals and try to figure out why the heck they do the things they do. I should have gone to work for the FBI and been a profiler or something! I read
Popular Crime by Bill James. If you are familiar with cases like the O.J Simpson case, the Menendez Brothers murder case, the story behind
In Cold Blood, etc you will enjoy this analysis of why certain crimes are written about extensively and reported about in the media and what that says about our culture.
Leading up to the ten year anniversary of 9-11 I had a renewed interest in books that have been written about what happened that day. If you want to go beyond the fluffy stuff in newspapers and magazines and read all about the background of how Al-Qaeda began you should read The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright. This book won the Pulitzer Prize and with good reason. It is meticulously researched and packed full of facts and information that delves deep into the roots of the terrorists and the attacks themselves.
I also received my latest shipment from the
Powell's Indiespensible program. Each month I get a signed copy of a book as well as some other gifts from Powell's Bookstore in Portland, OR. It is a great way to support an independent bookseller and to receive all kinds of bookish goodness on a monthly basis. I was thrilled to open my box today and find
The Night Circus by Erin Morenstern. I've been hearing all about this one and it has all been good. And I am thrilled that my selection next month is
The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides.
Hope you all have a great week. I hope to back again much sooner this time to talk about what I'm reading and what bookish things are on my mind. Thanks to my sister Vicki who reminded me Sunday at lunch that I hadn't posted since September 3rd. Happy 58th Birthday Vicki, I love you!!
Ooh the true crime book sounds interesting. I would love to read that analysis of why some crimes stick in the public imagination for a long time. And your box from the indie store sounds like a real treat!
ReplyDeletePowell's Indiespensible program sounds so amazing -both the books you mentioned are on my wish list! I go on non-fiction binges, too...spent quite a bit of time browsing those sections on my last B&N trip. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to see you back, but I do understand your need for a break. Blogging is a hobby and shouldn't become a chore. Hopefully things will slow down at work for you.
ReplyDeleteOooh, you know my pulse quickens when I see a good true crime book! My brain candy! And The Looming Tower was an EXCELLENT book. I still think about it to this day. All you wanted to know about the years that led up to 9/11 and more.
ReplyDeleteI am SO jealous of The Night Circus indiespensible pack! How exciting!
ReplyDeleteI keep seeing The Night Circus everywhere--I am going to have to check it out I see! I'm with you on spending too much time in front of a computer. I also use it all day at work and when I spend more time one it at night...by the end of the work week I really am exhausted. It's good to turn it off sometimes, so good for you! :) I love the sound of the Powell's book program--that's new to me, so I must check it out!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy non-fiction. I usually try to do a fiction and non-fiction.
ReplyDeleteAnd I hear you about needing a break from the computer. I don't know if I would have been such a blogger if I was still working in the workplace and on the computer all day.
And I'm intrigued by that Powell's program! Sounds awesome!!!
Great to see you back. I'm not into non-fiction much, but I know the feeling when you get into a particular genre and read quite a bit of it. I'm doing that with cozy mysteries right now.
ReplyDeletePopular Crime is going straight on my TBR list. I read way too much true crime and it ends up freaking me out, but I'm very curious about the way we write and talk about crime stories.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy non fiction alot. I love reading about real people.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the Night Circus has been everywhere lately. I got my name on the wait list for the library online. It's read by Jim Dale, of Harry Potter fame.
Good to see you back!
Glad to see you back Kathleen. All of these reads sound good, Popular Crime sounds fascinating. The one true crime book I read was called Monster of Florence. It seriously creeped me out. I had to keep taking breathers in between reading. I enjoy scary stuff, as long as it's fiction. The thought of it being real life gives me nightmares.
ReplyDeleteVery cool about the Powell's program :) Enjoy those books!
'My TBR list has been growing beyond what I can possibly read in my lifetime'<-this should be a bumper sticker :P
There just aren't enough hours in the day to do it all. Somedays I don't log on either after work. Having a break is good. Blogging is meant for fun!
Nice to see you posting again Kathleen :)
ReplyDeleteI understand about needing to disconnect at night. There are times when I think I need to do the same thing, stay off my smart phone, and just be for a while. That lasts about a day or so, lol. I have, though, slowed down on my posting to a more manageable every six or seven days. It's supposed to be fun, right?
I have seen only wonderful reviews for The Night Circus. I am anxious to see what you think of it.
I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of The Night Circus.
ReplyDeleteI must admit have I haven't read many true crime books, but I really should because I'm fascinated in the true crime programmes on the TV.
That looks like a list of very interesting books and especially the crime book looks interesting: I have become a fan of spy and crime novels this last year or so. Perhaps another one to add to my Kindle :)
ReplyDeleteI completely understanding need ing to just relax at night when you get home from work. When I used to work long days, I didn't want anything to do with the computer, phone etc. when I got home at night. It's great you've been able to read a lot, though!
ReplyDeleteI am hooked on true crime and completely curious about why perpatrators do the awful things they do...sometimes the randomness and coldness of criminals behavior frightens me so I find an objective view is better for me!
Lawrence Wright's book sounds very interesting. I think I'd like to read it, take my time with it. The events and situation surrounding 9/11 intrigues me but also frightens me so I try to read it/watch it in small doses.
The Powell's Indispensable program is enticing. What a great selection this month and The Marriage Plot is a book I'm very excited about. I've totally enjoyed Eugenides last 2 books and this new one sounds great!
I hope you have the chance to review The Night Circus!
Litlove: I am always amazed at how certain stories (true crime) get covered in the press while others never get much coverage at all. Certain cases seem to appeal to people (appeal is a funny word to use here, but true). This book did shed some light on some reasons for this but I was left with more questions than anything else.
ReplyDeleteJoAnn: I really love the Powell's program. I try not to read ahead to see what is coming so I can be surprised when the package arrives!
ReplyDeleteKathy: Things are as crazy as ever at work but blogging is a hobby that I enjoy so much that I keep finding minutes here and there to devote to it.
ReplyDeleteSandy: Yes, those true crime books are book candy for us both!
ReplyDeleteAndi: I rarely buy books anymore so when that package arrives it leads to a great deal of excitement. My son laughs at how animated I get when I open that package! Ha!
ReplyDeleteDanielle: On the one hand I can't imagine my life without computers, on the other hand I can see that they complicates my life quite a bit too!
ReplyDeleteJenners: It is definitely hard to be on the computer at work all day and then want to hop on it when I get home. Plus, I feel like it just isn't good for me to be on the computer so much!
ReplyDeleteYvonne: Cozy mysteries sound wonderful right now...
ReplyDeleteKim: It freaks me out too but I can't seem to resist it!
ReplyDeleteCarla: I've heard so much about Jim Dale. People rave about him as a narrator. I don't usually listen to audiobooks but if I do I should find one of his narrations to enjoy!
ReplyDeleteNaida: I have the Monster of Florence on my shelf at home. I'm looking forward to reading it!
ReplyDeleteTheBookGirl: Forcing myself off the computer is the thing I struggle with every single day. It's all about balance and I am still finding what works for me.
ReplyDeleteNikki-ann: If you like the progammes on TV I think you would like the books too!
ReplyDeleteCorri: I love crime and spy novels!
ReplyDeleteAmy: The 9-11 and true crime stuff is definitely best in very small doses. I am so intrigued with both but it does weigh on me when I read too much of it at a time.
ReplyDeleteI loved Indiespensibles, but my budget made me quit :(
ReplyDeleteTHE NIGHT CIRCUS this month, followed by THE MARRIAGE PLOT?! Great selections - and probably lots of fun extra goodies in that box, too!
Dawn: I know what you mean. I have entertained cancelling my membership on several occasions. I'm guessing my membership will end when my son goes off to college next year.
ReplyDelete