The Printed Page

I thought my days of ‘pubbing’ were far behind me but I couldn’t resist this challenge. Much to my hubby’s dismay I won’t be sampling the latest in micro brews but instead I’ll be indulging in one of my favorite pastimes ~ reading the newest books to hits the shelves. Finding the new books isn’t the challenge, finding the time to read them is.

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Here are the 2009 rules:

1. Read a minimum of 9 books first published in 2009. You don’t have to buy these. Library books, unabridged audios, or ARCs are all acceptable. To qualify as being first published in 2009, it must be the first time that the book is published in your own country. For example, if a book was published in Australia, England, or Canada in 2008, and then published in the USA in 2009, it counts (if you live in the USA). Newly published trade paperbacks and mass market paperbacks do not count if there has been a hardcover/trade published before 2009. Any questions on what qualifies? 
2. No children’s/YA titles allowed, since we’re at the ‘pub.’
3. At least 5 titles must be fiction.
4. Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
5. You can add your titles as you go, and they may be changed at any time.
6. Sign up HERE using Mr. Linky.
7. Have fun reading your 2009 books!

Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell Etta: A Novel by George Kolpan Fault Line: A Novel by Barry Eisler Black Hills by Nora Roberts (main stream fiction) The Associate by John Grisham While My Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky

M. Ann Jacoby’s tour will be stopping by The Printed Page on Wednesday, October 29th. Ms. Jacoby is the author of Life After Genius. I will be hosting an author interview and book giveaway.

Book Description: Theodore Mead Fegley has always been the smartest person he knows. By age 12, he was in high school, and by 15 he was attending a top-ranking university. And now, at the tender age of 18, he’s on the verge of proving the Riemann Hypothesis, a mathematical equation that has mystified academics for almost 150 years. But only days before graduation, Mead suddenly packs his bags and flees home to rural Illinois. What has caused him to flee remains a mystery to all but Mead and a classmate whose quest for success has turned into a dangerous obsession.

Equal parts academic thriller and poignant coming-of-age story, LIFE AFTER GENIUS follows the remarkable journey of a young man who must discover that the heart may know what the head hasn’t yet learned.

Miz B at Should Be Reading hosts Musing Mondays. I’m a bit behind so I’m playing catch up ~ this being my 2nd Musing Monday of the day.

The topic posed for Monday, October 13th: can I narrow down my reading to a favorite genre and author? Why, or why not?

Heck no! Talk about a nearly impossible task for an avid reader. My reading tastes vary so far and wide that I’m all over the board. There’s always some new book or author that catches my eye and then I’m off wandering down another reading path. I try not to narrow my reading so that I don’t miss out on a good book. Occasionally I’ll come across a ‘dog’ of a book but by far the good out weigh the bad.

Without peeking at my Librarything account I would have listed my top reading genres as: adult popular fiction, memoirs, historical fiction, mystery, crime, travelogues, and women’s fiction. Just to see how well I know myself I visited my LT account as came up with: suspense, romance, general fiction, romantic suspense, legal thriller, mystery. I know myself pretty well I’d say. The major differences are my LT tags are very specific and the syntax varies a bit plus I’ve found my reading tastes in the last couple of years have changed to include more memoirs, travelogues and historical fiction.

Favorites authors ~ these are authors who work I read consistently. Authors whose books I find a way to get my hands on come hell or high water. They are listed in no particular order: David Baldacci, Michael Connelly, Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb (main stream fiction & the In Death series), Jeffrey Deaver, Vince Flynn, Philippa Gregory, John Grisham, Bentley Little, Phillip Margolin, Brad Meltzer, Erica Spindler, Lauren Willig, Sandra Brown, Barbara Delinsky, Tess Gerritsen, Tami Hoag (main stream fiction). I’m sure this isn’t complete but it is comprehensive.

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How about you? Any favorite genres or authors? Or are you bit daring and adventurous with your reading?

Miz B at Should Be Reading hosts Musing Mondays. I’ve missed the last few weeks due a change in work schedule that was supposed to free up my time but hasn’t done so yet. Oh well best laid plans and all that…

So this week’s topic post by Miz B was is about a “reading” survey, and what it had to say…

She recently read an article (here), that she found through BiblioAddict’s blog, that talked of “why women read more than men“. In it, author Ian McEwan is quoted saying:

“When women stop reading, the novel will be dead.”

Do I believe this to be true? Why, or why not?

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Well we’ll start with men whom I’m personally know and see how they fare.

My spouse – would rather watch TV or play on the computer than read a book. He’s a visual kind of guy and carves the stimulation these activities provide. He will ‘read’ magazines if they are work related or travel focused. He has in the last few years started reading a book or 2 while we’re on vacation. He even has a small collection of books to choose from this year.

My father – I don’t remember him reading for pleasure when I was growing up. He did read to us children but other than that I don’t recall him having a book of his own. He did take up reading after he retired and needed to fill the empty hours as he retired a number of years before my mother did.

My brother – an avid reader. Like myself he is never without book in hand and always has a spare, or two, or three handy.

My nephews – avid readers both of them. These are boys in their teenage years. One almost out of his teens and the other who just entered his teens a year or two ago. Every time I see these boys they are carrying a book.

My supervisor – an avid reader. Another male who always has book in hand. I know he reads more than his wife does. She is way too social a creature to bother with a book when there are family and friends to visit and socialize with.

Spouses of the book club gals:

Stefanie and Daren: of the two Daren is the reader. I don’t know how much or how little but he reads more than she does. Hmmm … maybe I should invite Daren to book club but then Steffie would cross me off her friends list.

Dana and Ken: I know Ken reads for both work and pleasure though I think work reading wins out.

Jill and Mike: Mike is a lot like my Jim books are almost non existent in his world. Jill likes to the tell the story about when they first got married 20+ years ago. Her mother bought Mike a book for Christmas early in their marriage and he’s gotten about 2 chapters into it.

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My observations of men and reading, in general:

There sure are a lot guys in the airports and on airplanes reading. And not just computer screens and work related material. They’re pulling out pleasure books and settling in for the long flight. Kicking back, relaxing, taking a break from the relentless drive of work.

Browsing in book stores and the Costco book section: Equality rules here. I don’t see much of difference in the numbers between men and women browsing books or buying for that matter.

Poolside: Now some of you might be thinking that the boys are using the books as a decoy for spying on the ladies laying poolside. Granted I’ll bet some of them are but for the most part they actually have their eyes trained the on the page. Now you’re thinking yeah right who are you kidding besides yourself. Could it be that vacationing where Europeans do that they are actually as interested their in books as the ladies simply because their beliefs about the human body differ vastly from that of most Americans?

Publishing and writing: If men aren’t reading then why are there authors and publishing companies out there who cater to their tastes? Granted women read these authors and genres as well but, at face value, certain genres lend themselves to men ~ action, thriller, military, suspense, non-fiction and sports-related books to name just a few.

So in the interest of curiosity I ventured out to a trusty search engine, fired it up and got the following. I’m not saying I agree or disagree with the articles or what the authors have written so please don’t bash me in your comments. I’ve simply included them for your reading pleasure. From The Christian Science Monitor, 2004 titled Spotted in England. Another from Writer’s Digest last month, Do Men Read?. Another from In These Times, 2006 Why Hemingway Is Chick-Lit  And finally another article from The Christian Science Monitor in 2004 about ‘lad lit’, entitled Guy Novels That Guys Don’t Seem To Read.

While surfing for the above articles I came across a new to me term ‘lad lit’ so I decided to throw that in the trusty search engine just to see what popped and here’s what I got: Lad Lit; Oh Lad, Poor Lad; and Lad Lit Hits the Skids.

********** Mainly where I notice the difference is in the blogging community. The majority of the book blogs I read or have come across are written by females. I see plenty of guys reading I just don’t see them blogging about their reading. Chime in guys if you see it differently! Let us know, just be polite.

********** So what’s your take? Especially you authors ~ is your audience mainly female, male or evenly divided? Do you write hoping to reach a certain audience? Or do you start with an audience in mind and tailor your books to reach them?

Thank you to everyone who entered. Using Random.org the winner is:

I will be sending email notification later today. Please watch your spam folder just in case. The email will be from woodbear97.

** I apologize ~ the ‘Mailbox’ was held hostage this morning by ‘publish on date & time’ gremlins. **

Thank you to everyone who stops by Mailbox Monday. Whether you comment or visit I appreciate your taking the time to drop in.

Last week was another good week for my TBR pile.

Historical fiction ~ Shades of Gray by Jessica James. Thank you Ms. James for contacting me and offering me a copy of your book. I’m really looking forward to reading this one and shuffling has commenced on the TBR pile.

Totally forgetting that Christina from Harper Collins had contacted me and offered books I was happily surprised when the UPS driver knocked on the door last week. I had no idea what books I’d be receiving having told her to send whatever she had on hand. My surprise package held 5 books, those being:

Fiction ~ The Air Between Us by Deborah Johnson

Fiction ~ The King’s Rifle Biyi Bandele. This is the first novel to depict the experiences of African soldiers during WWII.

Memoir ~ From Harvey River: A memoir of My Mother and Her Island by Lorna Goodison

Memoir ~ The Legs Are The Last To Go: Aging, Acting, Marrying & Other Things I Learned The Hard Way by Diahann Carroll

Biography ~ Deconstructing Sammy: Music, Money, Madness and the Mob by Matt Birkbeck

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If you’re a Michael Connelly fan or enjoy a good legal thriller I’m currently giving away my hardcover copy of his newest book, The Brass Verdict just released last Tuesday. Check here for details.

********** What books came into your house last week?

Life After Genius Hachette Book Group USA page for M. Ann Jacoby Grand Central Publishing; October ’08 400 pages General fiction Book provided by Hachette Book Group USA

Occasionally I come across books that just don’t ‘do it’ for me and this is definitely one of those. I read 254 of 400 pages. The whole book was just ‘too quirky’ for my tastes. I didn’t feel any connection to what I was reading. I couldn’t identify with any of the characters. I had no idea where the story was heading or what I was supposed to have gotten from what I’d already finished reading. I’m betting I’ll be in the minority about this one.

X-posted: Book Club & Publishers Book Blog

Everyone is Beautiful Web site for Katherine Center Ballantine Books; February ’09 256 pages Womens fiction Book provided by Random House

This book is LOL funny in parts and tackles serious subject matter with a light hand and wisdom in others. The first 5 chapters had my spouse yelling down from upstairs for me to please ‘be quiet’ as he was trying to get some shut eye. The laughs don’t stop there as periodically these adorable boys would do something to have me in stitches. As anyone who reads this blog knows I’m definitely not a ‘kid’ person unless the ‘kids’ have four legs, fur and are of the feline variety. But Ms. Center writes with such humorous insight into the behavior of children that I couldn’t help but be enchanted by their antics as along as they were going home with Lanie and not me. These boys are rascals and into everything leaving no stone unturned.

Meanwhile not only does Lanie have her hands full of youngsters but she’s also coping with holding her marriage together and not losing herself in the process. Now the marriage and not losing yourself part I can relate to. I think everyone who has been married a number of years can see a bit of themselves in this story and relate to the some of the feelings and situations that Lanie and Peter find themselves falling victim to. This is where the book held the most interest for me. I felt like I was visiting with my girlfriends. We’re conversing, and commiserating, about our lives and loves. Our daily routines and the ruts we’ve fallen into. The grind of holding a family together and finding time for the ‘you and me’ in a marriage. Now don’t think that this book gets heavy and depressing because it doesn’t. It flows and takes the reader along for a satisfying journey.

This book is engaging, appealing and down to earth. No situation was unrealistic and out there. I could identify with pieces and parts of all the characters. Their flaws are what make them believable. This is not chick lit as defined by Wikipedia. Yes, I looked it up. I recommend this book to anyone looking to settle down for a nice, easy weekend read that doesn’t require massive amounts of deep thought but is looking for an entertaining story. I haven’t had the pleasure of reading her other book, The Bright Side of Disaster but it’s now on my ‘take along on vacation’ list.

X-posted: Book Club & Publishers Book Blog

Artwork by Patricia Storms. Found at BookLust

The Brass Verdict Web site for Michael Connelly Little, Brown and Company; October ’08 432 pages Suspense, mystery Book provided by Hachette Book Group USA

Mr. Connelly is one of my favorite authors. Yes, I know, I have a lot of them but then I read a lot of books. I loved every minute of The Brass Verdict start to finish. I demolished it over a 2 day period reading whenever I had a few spare moments of time. If you enjoy good legal thrillers with a twist read this one.

If anyone out there in the States or Canada would like my copy leave a comment. It’s a brand new hardcover. I’ll take comments through next Tuesday and select a name next Wednesday.

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Don’t be thrown because there isn’t any sort of ‘formal’ book review here. This blog serves mainly as my personal reading journal tracking my life in books so I’m going to start posting every book I read good, bad or indifferent. Sometimes I don’t feel inclined to write a review especially with my favorite authors. I may just jot a sentence or two. I love ‘em no matter what and eagerly await the next book even though I’ve just finished the current one. It is what is and so be it.