Book'r

Dishwasher

2010-10-15T09:38:00.001-07:00

Jordan, Pete

Erik bought this after becoming intrigued by Dishwasher Pete's story (he also spent a fair amount of time in Portland). An enjoyable read without a satisfying ending. Finished in Belize.

Things I Talk About When I Talk About Running

2010-10-06T09:42:00.000-07:00

Murakami, Haruki

Amazon link

An inspirational running rumination by one of the great writers of our time. Semi-permanently loaned to me by a friend who has long inspired me in evolving areas of life, after we enjoyed an amazing trail run together in his new home country.

Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, the

2010-10-03T09:42:00.000-07:00

Larsson, Steig

Borrowed from Krista. Lugged to Belize and read the whole thing in three or four days. Great end to a fantastic trilogy. Larsson is missed!

Goon: Chinatown, The

2010-08-15T20:27:00.000-07:00

Powell, Eric

Amazon link

Another comic Erik brought along on our road trip.

Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life

2010-08-14T20:20:00.000-07:00

O'Malley, Bryan Lee

Amazon link

Erik brought this along on our road trip and insisted I read it.

Year in Bloom, The

2010-07-24T11:48:00.001-07:00

Lovejoy, Ann

I bought this years ago, I think as a gift for someone. I just dived in on the current month (July) and the writing is compelling.

Born to Run

2010-07-17T20:30:00.000-07:00

McDougall, Christopher

Gift from Sara Sitter

Thrive

2010-06-26T21:15:00.000-07:00

Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life
Brazier, Brendan

Dragon Prince

2010-06-16T16:56:00.000-07:00

Rawn, Melanie

Amazon link

Don't judge! This was a favorite book of mine when I was about 11, and a guilty pleasure even then. I saw and snagged this when we went to move my mom into her rat-packed cousin's house in Port Angeles. Pausing in reading it for the more timely book club book.

Finished 5 July 2010

Bel Canto

2010-06-16T16:52:00.000-07:00

Patchett, Ann

Ann put a hold on a library copy, and then bought one. I borrowed her library copy when it arrived, but now it's overdue and I'm close to the end. Looks like I will borrow her copy when she's done. This is a strangely sweet and softly lyrical book about hostages going about their lives while trapped in a house.

Finished 26 June 2010

House on Mango Street, The

2010-03-30T09:07:00.000-07:00

Cisneros, Sandra

Amazon link

Recommended by Tiffany. Spare, powerful writing in a distinct voice. Nice quick read.

Finished 29 March 2010

Happiness Project, The

2010-03-29T21:18:00.000-07:00

Rubin, Gretchen

Amazon link

Book club selection for April.

While parts seemed annoying, trite, or unimportant, it is very interesting overall and inspired me to the importance of my own list of 31 things to do before I turn 32.
Finished 1 May 2010

Grow Great Grub

2010-03-19T09:14:00.000-07:00

Trail, Gayla

Amazon link

I love Gayla's writing on her blog, You Grow Girl, so I was excited for her book about growing food in small spaces.

Committed

2010-02-24T09:11:00.000-08:00

Gilbert, Elizabeth

Amazon link

Borrowed from Ann for book club.

Finished 26 March 2010

I don't think I learned much from this book, nor was it really a journey. For the author it seemed to be both, but the reader wasn't invited along like we were with "Eat, Pray, Love."

And Then We Came to the End

2010-01-20T11:39:00.000-08:00

Ferris, Joshua

Amazon link

recommended by coworker Kristen Bitter

Clean

2010-01-19T11:44:00.000-08:00

Junger, Alejandro

Amazon link

I put this on hold from the library after reading a rave about it. Even though it was originally brought to my attention and that of said blogger by Gwenneth Paltrow.

I got about halfway through this-- not far enough to get to any details!-- before returning it to the library. Ugh.

Finding Your Own North Star

2010-01-09T15:32:00.000-08:00

Beck, Martha

Amazon link

It sounds cheesy, but after a recent epiphany, I thought I should look into this book recommended by one of the blogs I frequent. I borrowed it from the library along with another self-helpy book called "See Jane Lead."

Dirty Job: A Novel

2009-12-27T15:16:00.000-08:00

Moore, Christopher

Amazon link

Borrowed from Erik's coworker

Finished 8 January 2010

Desert Queen

2009-12-26T18:25:00.000-08:00

Gertrude Bell, female Lawrence of Arabia. Recommended by Uncle Bob.

Wallach, Janet

Year of the Flood

2009-12-20T14:44:00.000-08:00

Atwood, Margaret

Amazon link

I waited my turn in the library's 400-person-long hold queue, and now it's in my hands!

Highly recommended, especially if you enjoyed Oryx and Crake.
Finished 25 December 2009

Invention of Everything Else, The

2009-12-12T21:55:00.000-08:00

Hunt, Samantha

Amazon link

Recommended in the library newsletter, so I picked it to revive the book club

Finished 20 December 2009

I enjoy it, but the story got progressively weaker and I wasn't impressed with the ending.

Let the Right One In

2009-12-01T12:21:00.000-08:00

Lindqvist, John Ajvide

Amazon Link

Borrowed from a coworker of Erik. We saw the movie before we went to Sweden-- lovely and very dark.

Finished 12 December 2009

Freddy and Fredericka

2009-12-01T12:17:00.000-08:00

Helprin, Mark

Amazon Link

Erik bought this for me years ago because Mark Helprin is one of my favorite authors. Chris borrowed it quite a while ago, and I finally got around to it myself. Full of charming banter and puns, not as many of the amazing descriptions for which I fell in love with his writing.

Amulet, Book One: The Stonekeeper

2009-09-13T12:52:00.000-07:00

Kibuishi, Kazu

Amazon Link

Saw book 2 at PAX and was intrigued, but it was difficult to hunt down the first one-- no comic book stores in Seattle had it (we went to 3 or 4).

Great art, great creatures and imaginative world. It's aimed at kids (put out by Scholastic) but well worth it for us old folks.

Finished 9/13/2009

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

2009-09-01T16:27:00.000-07:00

Recommended by Wenchie, for whom I'd swallow any reservations or prejudice.

Assassination Vacation

2009-08-27T23:06:00.000-07:00

Vowell, Sarah

Amazon link

Got on sale.

Girl Who Played With Fire

2009-08-13T23:04:00.000-07:00

Larsson, Stieg
Amazon link

Ordered this as soon as we got home from Sweden. Longer plodding section up front, but almost as enthralling latter part. I really dig the main character.

Finished 22 August 2009

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2009-08-02T23:02:00.000-07:00

Larsson, Stieg
Amazon link

Erik bought this for me to read during our trip to Sweden. I muddled through the first 100 pages or so, and then suddenly, I devoured the thing-- including spending a whole morning in our hotel room, just to finish it.

Finished 6 August 2009

White Out Volume 2: Melt

2009-05-27T22:56:00.000-07:00

Rucka, Greg and Lieber, Steve
Amazon link

Recommended by Steven Goglin

Finished 27 May 2009

White Out

2009-05-24T17:30:00.000-07:00

Rucka, Greg and Lieber, Steve
Amazon link

Recommended by Steven Goglin

Finished 26 May 2009

Bread Baker's Apprentice, the

2009-05-12T17:26:00.000-07:00

Reinhart, Peter

Amazon link

Can't remember where I saw this recommended; probably a cooking blog like Smitten Kitchen. I had big dreams but it's pretty impenetrable to me-- I'm terrible at following rules, steps, or recipes. I was hoping for more of a "this is what the dough should feel like" guide. I'm flipping through it now since it's due today (someone else placed a hold).

Fresh Air Fiend

2009-05-12T17:18:00.000-07:00

Theroux, Paul

Amazon link

Borrowed from the library because of a mention by the Jenss family travel blog on Intelligent Travel. The initial essay was very self-important and difficult to wade through. I liked the subsequent short travel stories more, but I never got enough into it and now someone else has placed a hold on it, so it's going back unfinished.

On A Pale Horse

2009-04-24T12:19:00.000-07:00

Anthony, Piers

Re-read from long ago, after Wenchie and I talked about it. I can't remember how it came up.

Finished 8 May 2009

The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge

2009-03-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

Castaneda, Carlos
Amazon link

Eric sent the trilogy to me.

Evidence Never Lies, The

2009-03-10T16:08:00.000-07:00

Lewis, Alfred

Amazon link

My running buddy, Kevin-- a cop in Vancouver, WA-- loaned me this. Although I had my reservations, it was quite compelling.

finished 3/22/2009

Secret History of the Pink Carnation

2009-03-09T16:01:00.000-07:00

Willig, Lauren
Amazon link

Kari's pick for the ladies' book club

Finished 3/9/2009

Tractatus Logico Philosophicus

2009-01-26T12:18:00.000-08:00

Wittgenstein, Ludwig

Amazon link

This looks short and fun!

When the Sacred Gin Mill Closes

2009-01-16T12:05:00.000-08:00

Block, Lawrence

Amazon link

Erik and I had been on a contemporary film noir streak when we saw an interview with a favorite actor, and he mentioned his favorite book-- in the noir mode. We bought it and Erik devoured the thing. I started it on a weekend trip, since I couldn't take the thirty pound Sacred Games.

Olive Kitteridge

2008-12-28T11:59:00.000-08:00

Strout, Elizabeth

Amazon link
For my running buddies' book club, this month was my pick. It sounded like the least-depressing of Entertainment Weekly's top ten books of 2008.

Finished 1/2/09

Pilgrims

2008-12-24T12:09:00.000-08:00

Gilbert, Elizabeth

Amazon link

Okay, I admit that I bought this because I loved Eat Pray Love. It was also out on the sale table at the Powell's in the airport. I thought I'd read it in New Zealand and leave it for Julie. Short stories are so nice for traveling, since you don't get too sucked in, and you can start and stop more often.

Well, this one was a little odd. And Julie refused it, even while bemoaning a lack of reading material. I left it at the hostel in Picton.

Finished 01/03/2009

Sacred Games

2008-12-01T12:02:00.000-08:00

Chandra, Vikram

Amazon link

Erik bought this for me right when it came out. He tried to read it, and I started it at one point... It's about a thousand pages and it's chock full of long Indian names. I can't remember exactly when I started reading it this time, but it doesn't travel with me because it would double the weight of my luggage.

Finished 13 Feb 2009

ZOMG. I enjoyed parts of this-- especially learning some Hindi curses. But overall, I wouldn't read it again.

Refuse to Choose

2008-11-20T16:38:00.000-08:00

Sher, Barbara
Amazon book

Recommended by Greg Nelson

Thirteen Moons

2008-10-25T19:36:00.000-07:00

Frazier, Charles

Amazon link
For my running buddies' book club

Gormenghast Novels, The

2008-10-08T12:11:00.000-07:00

Peake, Mervyn

Amazon link

Recommended by Eric.

Breaking Dawn

2008-09-28T12:07:00.000-07:00

Meyer, Stephenie

Amazon link

Finished 10/5/2008

Eclipse

2008-09-24T12:09:00.000-07:00

Meyer, Stephenie
Amazon link

Can't remember when I started & finished; it's been a bit of a blur. I am now trying to loan this series out to as many people as possible.

Leaf Storm

2008-09-23T14:25:00.000-07:00

Garcia Marquez, Gabriel

New Moon

2008-09-01T22:38:00.000-07:00

Meyer, Stephenie

Okay, okay, I held off long enough.

Finished 6 September 2008

Funeral of the Heart

2008-08-29T20:40:00.000-07:00

Hayes, Leah

Ryan Adam's favorite graphic novel of the year.

Lathe of Heaven, The

2008-08-24T23:06:00.000-07:00

Le Guin, Ursula K
Amazon link

Loaned by Cory.

Finished 1 September 2008

A quick and useful read for anyone interested in dreams and/or Portland.

Promethea (Book 1)

2008-08-19T23:03:00.000-07:00

Moore, Alan
Amazon link

Finished 8/24

Twilight

2008-08-15T09:55:00.000-07:00

Meyer, Stephenie

Amazon link

Might as well hop on the young-adult vampire bandwagon.
First recommended by Julie's friend (Katherine?) when she came out for a visit and we went up to Victoria, BC.

Finished 8/19/2008

Very engrossing-- I saw myself as a 17 y.o. as imagined by my 13 y.o. self.

The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath

2008-08-15T09:53:00.001-07:00

Lovecraft, H. P.

Eric's favorite of Lovecraft's works.

The Shadow Over Innsmouth

2008-08-15T09:52:00.000-07:00

Lovecraft, H. P.

Recommended by Eric as a Lovecraft start point.

On Walden Pond

2008-08-08T10:24:00.000-07:00

Thoreau, Henry David

Seriously, I've started it a few times and never finished. That's downright embarrassing, especially since I just found myself considering that kind of life change.

I Been in Sorrow's Kitchen and Licked Out All the Pots

2008-07-31T09:32:00.000-07:00

Straight, Susan

Amazon link

Recommended by Wenchie

Life and Death Are Wearing Me Out

2008-06-18T15:12:00.000-07:00

Yan, Mo
Amazon link

bought for a book club meeting I thought I could finally attend. Alas.

Finished 8/14/2008

Smoke & Mirrors

2008-06-15T15:05:00.000-07:00

Gaiman, Neil
Amazon link

postponed 6/18/2008
finished 10/24/2008

The least enjoyable thing I've read by Neil Gaiman.

In Persuasion Nation

2008-06-02T22:21:00.000-07:00

Saunders, George
Amazon link

Finished 15 June 2008

Outside Lies Magic

2008-05-30T12:05:00.000-07:00

(Regaining History and Awareness in Everyday Places)
Stilgoe, John
Amazon link

Recommended by Eric
Finished 1 June 2008

So good. I can't wait to loan this out to everyone in my life who is intelligent and curious. Hopefully that's pretty much everyone.

Eat, Pray, Love

2008-04-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

Gilbert, Elizabeth
Amazon link

Borrowed from Shetha
Finished 17 May

I wanted to dislike this book and its author, but it kept a humble, deprecating tone and led through enough real-life, low-level twists that I couldn't stop reading.

Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, The

2008-04-05T14:55:00.000-07:00

Murakami, Haruki
Amazon link

Finished 27 April 2008

The dream quality and blurred boundaries are well done, but this wasn't at all what I thought it would be-- such an odd subject matter, and while I can handle that no questions are ever answered, there seem to be many threads that are merely dropped. Parts of it I read quite eagerly, and parts were painfully visceral, so overall I guess I enjoyed the read.

Lost Japan

2008-03-16T13:30:00.000-07:00

Kerr, Alex
Amazon link

So far this is written in the style in which the simple, direct wording seems to disappear-- a style that is deceptively invisible and makes for a lovely quick read.

Finished 30 May 2008. Okay, that didn't turn out to be quick. I wish I had finished it before I went to Japan, but I also appreciated and understood it more, having been. I can't wait to loan this to people.

Japan

2008-03-15T13:28:00.000-07:00

Lonely Planet guide book
Amazon link

I didn't read the whole thing, but I'm done with it (for now).

Crossing, the

2008-02-15T09:40:00.000-08:00

McCarthy, Cormac

I saw a Cormac McCarthy book somewhere years ago for $2, so I bought it. I'm reading it now to put off non-fiction.

Finished around 14 March 2008

Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse Vol. 1

2008-02-12T09:32:00.000-08:00

Templesmith, Ben

IDW Publishing link

Finished 13 Feb 2008

Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way To Swim Better, Faster, and Easier

2008-02-08T14:44:00.000-08:00

Laughlin, Terry

Amazon link

Given to me by a LunaChix workout buddy.

Crazed, the

2008-01-28T15:39:00.000-08:00

Jin, Ha
Amazon link
I think my dad sent me this, probably after I gave it to him as a gift.

Finished 11 Feb 2008

Veganomicon

2007-12-23T16:42:00.000-08:00

Moskowitz, Isa Chandra
Romera, Terry Hope
Amazon link

Bought it at Food Fight. As they say, gotta pay your dues to get your toaster.

Healing the Shame That Binds You

2007-12-20T15:20:00.000-08:00

Bradshaw, John

Amazon link

finished 25 January 2008

Author: Eric Frank Russell

2007-12-19T09:16:00.000-08:00

Of the 1950s science-horror crew; recommended by Eric.

I Am Legend

2007-12-18T09:19:00.000-08:00

Matheson, Richard

I tried to read a speed-reading book and then a self-help book, but neither could keep the attention of my wandering, flu-spattered mind. So I started this book, loaned to me by Chris.

Amazon link

Dirty Job

2007-12-12T15:51:00.000-08:00

Moore, Christopher

Amazon link

Sacred Games

2007-12-12T15:49:00.000-08:00

Chandra, Vikram
Amazon link

Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations

2007-12-12T15:47:00.000-08:00

Howell, Georgina
Amazon link

Gertrude Bell sounds like a fascinating figure.

World Without Us, The

2007-12-12T15:44:00.000-08:00

Weisman, Alan

Amazon link

How the Scots Invented the Modern World: The True Story of How Western Europe's Poorest Nation Created Our World & Everything in It

2007-12-04T10:28:00.000-08:00

Herman, Arthur

Amazon link

Recommended by Wenchie

The 13th Tale: A Novel

2007-11-20T09:40:00.000-08:00

Setterfield, Diane

Amazon link

Recommended by my coworker, Kari

His Dark Materials

2007-10-27T11:16:00.000-07:00

Pullman, Philip

A series to look forward to after Harry Potter.
From Aspen.

Amazon link

Bought in San Luis Obispo to read at the hotel, since rain ruined our plans.

finished 17 Dec 2007

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

2007-10-18T13:14:00.000-07:00

Adams, Douglas

Amazon link

Because all good nerds should have read this at some point.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

2007-10-14T12:52:00.000-07:00

J.K. Rowling

Amazon link

Borrowed from Aspen. Thanks Aspen!

Finished 25 October 2007

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

2007-10-09T13:03:00.000-07:00

J.K. Rowling

Amazon link

finished this morning, 9 October 2007

The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

2007-10-06T13:10:00.000-07:00

Edwards, Betty

Amazon link

Lateral Thinking

2007-09-17T14:40:00.000-07:00

De Bono, Edward
Amazon link

Eric's authors

2007-09-13T13:19:00.000-07:00

Some of my favorite authors, however, I consider to be much lesser writers than Shakespeare and Cervantes.
Mervyn Peake, J.L. Borges, Doris Lessing, Jack Kerouac, Richard Brautigan.
Brautigan is far inferior to Shakespeare, but I'd hate to have to choose between Hamlet and Trout Fishing in America.
The most "literary" favorite I can think of is John Gardner.

Remembering and Forgetting: An Inquiry into the Nature of Memory

2007-08-20T15:30:00.000-07:00

Bolles, Edmund Blair

Amazon link

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

2007-08-13T10:45:00.000-07:00

J.K. Rowling

Amazon link

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

2007-07-30T10:35:00.000-07:00

J.K. Rowling

Amazon link

Second reading
finished 11 August 2007

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

2007-07-22T16:23:00.000-07:00

J.K. Rowling

Amazon link

Second reading
finished 29 July 2007

Brasyl

2007-06-25T12:10:00.000-07:00

McDonald, Ian

Review on Salon

Up in Honey's Room

2007-06-25T11:56:00.000-07:00

Leonard, Elmore

Review on Salon

Paradox of Choice, The

2007-06-05T13:36:00.000-07:00

Amazon link

Recommended by Eric

JPod

2007-06-01T10:31:00.000-07:00

Coupland, Douglas

Borrowed from Kari at work.

Amazon link

Finished 22 July 2007

Sport and a Pastime, A

2007-06-01T10:12:00.000-07:00

Salter, James

Read a review in "Entertainment Weekly" about this as a great, sensual novel.

Amazon link

Finished 9 June 2007.

Why was this book written up? I didn't enjoy it at all-- writing, "plot," characters. It was a stereotypical 60s macho manifesto.

Neuromancer

2007-05-18T10:19:00.001-07:00

Gibson, William

Erik revealed that this is his favorite book of all time, and I think I've only read "Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson, and I get them confused all the time.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

2007-05-13T09:51:00.000-07:00

JK Rowling

second reading

finished 29 May 2007

Memory Keeper's Daughter, The

2007-04-25T15:53:00.000-07:00

Edwards, Kim

loaned to me by Erik's mom.

Amazon link

finished 12 May 2007

loans

2007-04-24T11:46:00.000-07:00

to do:

Villa Incognito to Aspen
Party of One to Cory

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

2007-04-12T12:57:00.000-07:00

JK Rowling

I read the first three in rapid succession during my lunch breaks at my first job out of college, in San Francisco. Erik's mom had brought them back from England, which is why we have "Philosopher's Stone" and not "Sorcerer's Stone." I read the fourth one when it came out, but I haven't read any since then so I'm rereading the lot.

finished (second reading) 24 April 2007

Cities of the Plain

2007-03-15T15:04:00.001-07:00

McCarthy, Cormac