Climbing Mt. Everest

I have never climbed Mt. Everest or K2...OK, I haven't even climbed Mt. Rainier and the hill in Edmonds looks daunting to me!  But, oh boy, do I ever love books about climbing. 

Like many, my first encounter with climbing books was with Into Thin Air.  Whether you believe Krakauer's story or not, it was quite an adventure and I felt myself  getting colder and colder as the pages went on.  I also enjoyed his Eiger Dreams.

Touching the Void still leaves me breathless just thinking about it.  Recently, I finished Buried in the Sky and now my book climbing includes the unique stories of sherpas (and, as you will learn in the book, it should be lower case in this instance).

So, while I will never climb Mt. Everest, K2 or proably even Mt. Baker, I thoroughly enjoy climbing with books!

Trailer Thursdays: The Unchangeable Spots of Leopards

The Unchangeable Spots of Leopards - Kristopher Jansma
"F. Scott Fitzgerald meets Wes Anderson" ("The Village Voice") in this inventive and witty debut about a young man's quest to become a writer and the misadventures in life and love that take him around the globe. From as early as he can remember, the hopelessly unreliable--yet hopelessly earnest--narrator of this ambitious debut novel has wanted to become a writer. From the jazz clubs of Manhattan to the villages of Sri Lanka, Kristopher Jansma's irresistible narrator will be inspired and haunted by the success of his greatest friend and rival in writing, the eccentric and brilliantly talented Julian McGann, and endlessly enamored with Julian's enchanting friend, Evelyn, the green-eyed girl who got away. After the trio has a disastrous falling out, desperate to tell the truth in his writing and to figure out who he really is, Jansma's narrator finds himself caught in a never-ending web of lies. As much a story about a young man and his friends trying to make their way in the world as a profoundly affecting exploration of the nature of truth and storytelling, "The Unchangeable Spots of Leopards" will appeal to readers of Tom Rachman's, "The Imperfectionists" and Jennifer Egan's Pulitzer Prize-winning, "A Visit from the Goon Squad" with its elegantly constructed exploration of the stories we tell to find out who we really are.

Question of the Week

Do your reading preferences change?

My reading tastes have definitely changed over the years.  They've even been known to change over the course of just a few weeks.

As a newly-minted reader, I read authors such as Beverly Cleary, Donald Sobol, and L. Frank Baum.  In particular, I enjoyed the adventure aspect of Baum's stories of Oz.  I admired the bravery of Dorothy and her friends in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds.  Good always conquered evil and there was always a happy ending to be had, and that was comforting.

In my early teens I switched to the Gothic romances of Phylis A. Whitney, Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt.  Romances by these authors have several common threads:  a young woman in a strange place, a handsome (but strangely brusque) man, and a mystery. 

In my latter teens, I read lots of paranormal and modern horror by the likes of Peter Benchley, V.C.  Andrews, and Jay Anson's The Amityville Horror.  These, quite simply, scared the daylights out of me.  I was up long past my bedtime, and well after having closed my book for the night. 
These days, I'm into gritty, suspenseful mysteries.  William Ryan's series featuring Captain Alexei Dimitrevich Korolev is set in 1930s USSR.  The historical aspects and the fast-paced action are addictive.  I'm also enjoying Camilla Lackberg, R.J. Ellory, and Colin Cotterill. 

Who knows what I'll be reading this time next year?  One thing's for sure:  I know I'll find something new and interesting at the library.     

I Scream for Ice Cream!

Now that summer is in full swing, my thoughts turn, naturally, to ice cream.  My family used to make a weekly trek to the local stand to partake of this frosty treat.  I am continually amazed at the new and unusual flavors I see from local makers and chain brands alike.  Some sound pretty good (salted caramel pretzel), and some hold somewhat less appeal for me (maple bacon).  I realize there are those who would build a monument to bacon, but I don't think I want it in my ice cream.  Of course, you may feel differently.

I love books about ice cream.  I pore over the recipes, imagining the way each might taste, should I ever actually take the trouble to make it.  Here are a few of my favorites... 

Everything Goes with Ice Cream by Koralee Teichroeb.  Try Pink Marshmallow Ice Cream or Red Velvet.  Along with great ice cream recipes, you'll find recipes for other treats, and even instructions for making your very own "pinny."

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home by Jeni Britton. Feeling adventurous?  Whip up a batch of Queen City Cayenne or Star Anise Ice Cream with Candied Fennel Seeds.  Yummy!

Making Artisan Gelato by Torrence Kopfer.  Gelato:  the heavenly cousin of ice cream.  I was intrigued by Roasted Peanut & Marshmallow Creme and Chocolate-Cinnamon-Basil.  This book contains recipes for both the traditionalist and the curious.

What's your favorite book about ice cream?

Trailer Thursdays: T-Rex Trying

T-Rex Trying - Hugh Murphy
Poor T-Rex. It's hard to be the Lizard King when you can't even change a light bulb. Drawn from Hugh Murphy's wildly popular Tumblr feed of the same name, T-Rex Trying depicts the stubby-armed tyrant in a range of hilarious--yet pathos-inducing--activities that we humans take for granted. Murphy's 100 drawings include: T-Rex Trying to Paint His House T-Rex Trying to Use a Drive-Through ATM T-Rex Trying to Apply Sunscreen T-Rex Trying to Break Into a Vending Machine T-Rex Trying to Ask for a New Roll of Toilet Paper from the Next Stall Looks like the ancient beast isn't so tough after all.

Question of the Week

What do you think about celebrities as authors?

The list of celebrities who are writing books just keeps growing. Steven Martin, Henry Winkler, Katie Couric, Julianne Moore, Steven Harvey and so many others are writing memoirs, fiction, humorous nonfiction, books for children, etc.

I don’t often read books by celebrities, but last year I really enjoyed Bossypants by Tina Fey. Also, I just finished listening to the audiobook Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham, star of NBC’s Parenthood. She did an excellent job narrating the story, using the perfect voices and expressions for the characters. I was disappointed when it ended and am hoping she writes more in the future. 

Have you read any books by celebrities lately?

Inspirational Beach Reads

Because of the incredibly warm weather we're having, I am in the mood to read stories that take place at the beach. I recently discovered Marybeth Whalen, an inspirational romance writer whose books are set in Sunset Beach, North Carolina, a real place I'd love to visit someday. The Mailbox is her first book (available from Sno-Isle in regular print and large print), which is centered around an actual landmark on the beach. The Guest Book is the second (also available in regular and large print), and her new book is The Wishing Tree (which I was reading while relaxing on a boat yesterday). The books are stand-alones and don't need to be read in order.

 If you prefer inspirational suspense, I recommend two trilogies: The Women of Justice (Too Close to Home, Don't Look Back, and A Killer Among Us) by Lynette Eason and the Justice Seekers (Injustice for All, To Write a Wrong, and Strand of Deception) by Robin Caroll.