books books books

[gwynnega]

This morning I finished reading claudiagray's YA vampire novel, Evernight (the first in a series). It was an excellent antidote to the Sparkledammerung. An interesting take on vampire lore, intelligent worldbuilding, and some truly fantastic twists, as well as a racially diverse cast of characters. It mines some of the same emotional territory as Twilight--i.e., teenage hormones running amok equated with bloodlust--but does so with a non-Mary Sue heroine. It was a bit slow getting started, and I preferred a different guy to the one the heroine fell for, but overall an enjoyable page-turner. (And no sparkling whatsoever.)

Today's mail brought me a copy of Armed and Dangerous: A Writer's Guide to Weapons, which I needed primarily for the chapter on bombs for the Jo book.

This afternoon I returned a couple of things to Old Navy, then briefly scoped out the Glendale bookstores (Borders, Brand Bookshop, and Bookfellows). None of 'em had Diary of a Provincial Lady, darn it--but I did pick up a couple more Amanda Cross titles at Bookfellows (Poetic Justice and The Theban Mysteries). I'm currently reading The James Joyce Murder and The Brontes Went to Woolworths.

In non-book news, I think my dilapidated old car is trying to tell me it really is time to buy a new car: the ceiling upholstery by the rear window is starting to sag. I probably should've gone to the Toyota dealership for a test drive on my way home, but it was too damn hot out.

This evening: noveling, plus Dark Shadows viewing (I'm currently in 1969), and maybe I'll watch Hearts and Minds, the Vietnam documentary I Netflix'd for Jo book research...

And tomorrow is Henna Day!

Comments

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

I loved Evernight! Love, love, love.

[gwynnega]

Me too--especially that first great twist.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

AWESOME.

[ratphooey.livejournal.com]

Ooh, test drive! What are you interested in?

[gwynnega]

I'm probably gonna get a Yaris, but I haven't decided whether to get a hatchback or a four-door.

[ratphooey.livejournal.com]

I am a big Toyota fan. Great cars.

The Yarises (Yarii?) are such cute little things!

If you don't often have more than one passenger, I'd get the hatch; otherwise, the sedan.

I love the jade sea green, and the pacific blue. What color?

[gwynnega]

They are really cute! My first inclination was the hatchback, but I've heard the sedan's a little safer because it's a bit bigger.

I haven't seen the jade sea green, but I love that blue color. Every time I see a blue Yaris on the road, I say, That's my next car!

[ratphooey.livejournal.com]

Safer is good.

And so is blue. They've also got a deeper tone that's gorgeous.

[livinglaurel.livejournal.com]

OMG E.M. Delafield is SO GOOD. Also, Amanda Cross LOVE. Hmmm, maybe I could read some of the unread books of hers I have while waiting to buy the Delafield....

Brontes and Woolworths??

RACIALLY DIVERSE + NO SPARKLING = SOLD

[gwynnega]

I ordered the Delafield tonight! Yay.

Where has Amanda Cross been all my life? I'd read Carolyn Heilbrun (I think I actually saw her give a lecture at UCLA in the 80s), but the AC books are so awesome.

I bet you would love The Brontes Went to Woolworths.

RACIALLY DIVERSE + NO SPARKLING = SOLD

Plus, genuinely awesome plot twists instead of cracktastic ones!!

[usedtobeljs]

I'm loving the new blue on cars. Enjoy car shopping!:-)

And hugs hugs, plus yay henna!

[gwynnega]

Happy Sunday, Lori! :-)

::hugs::

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

Happy Henna Day!

[gwynnega]

Thanks!!

[disgracelands.livejournal.com]

I hope you love Diary Of A Provincial Lady. Did you get the edition that has all the four Provincial Lady titles?

And I've been looking for a copy of The Brontes Went To Woolworths for years. Or, at least, one that isn't over £50! One day...

[gwynnega]

Drats, I ordered the standalone Diary of a Provincial Lady--but if I love it, I can get the omnibus edition!

The Brontes Went to Woolworths is awfully expensive these days. herself_nyc loaned me a copy...

[disgracelands.livejournal.com]

I actually found a hidden Virago copy on Amazon.co.uk Marketplace for £2.99. Couldn't believe it as, like I said, the other Virago edition on there was £50. If I find anymore, shall I let you know if you want it as a keeper?

[gwynnega]

Yes, that would be great! Thanks.

[herself_nyc]

Yes, I lent G my Virago paperback when I managed to obtain a hardcover copy (but not a first edition, a 1950s reprint) from Ebay. Which is where I'd recommend you look, I bought it from a UK seller, and it was about $30, not too bad.

[disgracelands.livejournal.com]

I found a £2.99 (as opposed to £50!) Virago edition on Amazon marketplace after doing a little trawling.

[herself_nyc]

Brava! I don't know why they don't reprint that one, it's in the top 10 of everything they've ever done, IMHO.

[herself_nyc]

I love Diary of a Provincial Lady. But it's not going to be in a bookstore, you'll have to order it.
How far into Brontes are you? What do you think?

[gwynnega]

I thought maybe one of my local used bookshops would have Provincial Lady, but they didn't, so I ordered it.

I'm about 70 pages into Brontes. It's great--and so odd, the way it keeps veering from real life to fantasy life. I'd be further along, but those Amanda Cross books are like popcorn and keep dragging me away...

[herself_nyc]

Yeah, the oddness is what I love about it, I'm convinced it's a completely unique sort of story.