Got another new book

January 24, 2010 at 10:28 am (Uncategorized)
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Actually this one was a belated Xmas present from my brother – who is aware of my P:CW.  It’s called “Company Aytch” by Sam Watkins.  I did see it on a couple “top 50/top 10/top 100 books on the Civil War” lists on the internet, so it is apparently well-liked.  Not sure what month I’ll read it in for 2010’s “project” – maybe March…

Following is the blurb about the book on Amazon.com:

“Company Aytch is one of my favorite Civil War books, ever.”–Ken Burns

Among the plethora of books about the Civil War Company Aytch stands out for its uniquely personal view of the events as related by a most engaging writer–a man with Twain-like talents who served as a foot soldier for four long years in the Confederate army. Originally published in 1881 as a series of articles in the Columbia, Tennessee, Herald, Sam Watkins’s account has long been recognized by historians as one of the most lively and witty accounts of the war. Parallels between this text and The Red Badge of Courage suggest that Stephen Crane was also among Private Watkins’s readers.

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Closing in on finishing book 3 of 2010

January 24, 2010 at 10:22 am (Uncategorized)
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Got to page 420/494 of Uncle Tom’s Cabin this morning, but now it’s time to get ready to head downtown for the COLTS game. Not sure if I’ll finish the book tonight or not. I have been very impressed with Stowe thus far, and have often been distracted when reminding myself just how many people read this book in its heyday, and wondering what they must have thought of it. I’ll write more once I’ve finished.

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Finished my 2nd book of 2010

January 18, 2010 at 11:02 pm (book clubs)
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Well, I completed a single day, (probably) four-sitting read of “Some Buried Caesar” today. It was a relatively short book (274 pages, small paperback with ‘normal’ font size) and moved pretty fast.

I’m not usually a reader of whodunits, so I’m not sure how I was supposed to go about it. In the end I decided to just ‘enjoy it’ and not put pressure on myself to try to solve it (it’s a good thing, ’cause I didn’t). When I got started, I did try to make a list of characters (I.e. “suspects”) but I found myself referring to it most often just to keep the characters straight,

This is my first exposure to a Nero Wolfe story – although I had certainly heard of the character before. I thought it was an interesting choice for his creator, Rex Stout, to make his hero a sedentary, lethargic, obese, and somewhat arrogant character who depends so much on his lieutenant, Archie Goodwin. The character’s popularity, however, seems to make me think this doesnt really bother too many readers.

All for now & back to Waverly…

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A day off work

January 18, 2010 at 12:44 pm (Uncategorized)
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With my office being closed today for the MLK holiday, I took the opportunity to get started on Rex Stout’s “Some Buried Caesar.” There are discussion groups meeting for this book tomorrow at Bookmama’s bookstore and on 1/25 at the Southport branch of MCPL; I’m already on page 110/274, so maybe I could actually finish today and make tomorrow’s discussion.

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Sunday Inquiry

January 17, 2010 at 12:28 pm (book clubs)
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After reading some yesterday via an E-reader (well, my iPhone – if you will allow it to qualify), I was curious who out there in the blogosphere uses E-readers and which model they use. What features do you like/dislike, etc. Most people that I know who have bought them really like them, but is there an end to the honeymoon period? Do they get tiresome? Are they durable over time? Are they a convenience, or do you prefer them over traditional books?

Kindle?
Sony Reader?
Nook?
Others?

Let me know…

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Reading Waverly on my iPhone

January 16, 2010 at 5:05 pm (Uncategorized)
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Got in a couple chapters of Waverly while watching the early NFL game today; adjourning to MacNivens for some pregame fuel (solid and liquid…) then on to Lucas Oil Stadium for the Colts-Ravens

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Finally finished my first book of 2010

January 16, 2010 at 1:29 pm (book clubs)
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Just got done with the 424-page “The Smartest Guys in the Room” – the story of the rise and collapse of Enron. Blitzed through the last 150 or so pages this morning. A good – and somewhat infuriating – read. My book club meets in a couple weeks on this book and I’m curious to hear everyone’s reactions to it.

Now, back to Sir Walter Scott’s “Waverly” (currently on page 288/494); wish me luck!

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I bought another book…

January 12, 2010 at 5:08 pm (Uncategorized)
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Stopped by Barnes & Noble at lunch and finally picked up Rex Stout’s “Some Buried Caesar” (which the clerk told me was a phrase from Omar Khayyam’s “Rubiat” – now that’s an obscure bit of trivia).

Read another chunk of the Enron book last night; think I will try to plow through the rest of that and then move on to finish the 2nd half of Waverly, rather than try to read them concurrently (too hard to switch back and forth).

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Progress Update

January 11, 2010 at 1:35 pm (Uncategorized)
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Read some over the weekend (when not watching the NFL playoffs); also read another chapter of the Enron book at the coffee shop this morning.  I’m past the halfway point in that (235/424 pages) now, as well as in the Waverly book.  Hope to finish them both by the end of the week.

Three day weekend coming up & would like to delve into Uncle Tom’s Cabin. 

Still no purchase of the Rex Stout book, but maybe on my lunch hour one day this week.

Would like to review a synopsis of Tess of the d’Urbervilles to see if I think I could join the discussion at Bookmama’s later this month.  Wonder where my ‘marked up’ copy is at home???  (All I remember now – from reading it about 15-17 years ago – is that it ends at Stonehenge and that Tess works as a Milk-Maid? – I may be confusing this with another Thomas Hardy novel…)

All for now; work awaits and lunch hour is ending

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I just bought some new books…

January 10, 2010 at 11:54 am (Uncategorized)
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Actually, I just bought over 23,000 books via the iPhone “Free Books” App.  It’s awesome.  It has many books by Harriett Beecher Stowe (including Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which I just bought a hard copy of the other day).  It also has “Waverly” by Sir Walter Scott and apparently many of the other “Waverly Novels.”  Most of the books are older ‘classics’ and in the public domain, which is why they are ‘free’ I suppose.  The App actually cost $1.99 but still.  The reader has various text size & background color options and will remember your most recent reads, and where you left off.

I will definitely delay buying one of the commercial E-Readers until I explore the potential of this app.

I am in Hog Heaven right now…

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