Book 26 - Flesh Circus by Lilith Saintcrow (it's not what it sounds). This is the fourth in the the Jill Kissmet series. Good - not as good as the last two, but still pretty dark and enjoyable, and I do like Saintcrow's writing.

Movie 22 - Avatar. daddy_guido was kind enough to make sure that I didn't have to sit through this one alone. The story was straightforward and pretty predictable, but I'm good with that. The effects were AMAZING. I would say that if you can't see it in the theater, I don't know that it's worth renting - not because it's not worth seeing, but because seeing in the theater really makes this one. For all those theater owners and film studios are worried that people don't want to go out to the movies? This will make people want to go, for sure.

I was hoping to get through movie 23 tonight, but I had to stop half way through District 9 for a couple of reasons. And for one of those same reasons I won't be able to see Sherlock Holmes tomorrow morning like I'd planned, either. I'm sure I'll find a way to get the rest of the movies in this week, though.

Book 25 - The Doomsday Brunette by John Zakour and Lawrence Ganem. I though The Plutonium Blonde was more entertaining, but I still liked this one. Eh - I guess Blondes do have more fun...

Movie 21 - Terminator Salvation. Let's see, Christian Bale, shit blowing up, and Sam Worthington repeatedly slipping into the Aussie accent when the scenes got intense? On the "Friday Night Relaxing" scale, it goes to 11.

One more book before the end of the year, and 9 more movies. And 3 busy weeks.

I had a nice, relaxing, productive weekend planned.

Then, when I got home, there was a package at the door. From Amazon.

I'd pre-ordered a book, and apparently it's been released. So now the new Jill Kismet book is sitting on my nightstand, taunting me to read it RIGHT NOW.

Except the CDO in me will insist that I finish the book I've been currently poking at, first.

It's sitting there like a big ol' shot of tequila - you KNOW it's a bad idea, and that you'll seriously regret it when all is said and done. But boy do you want to.

Late last week I completed Mr Darcy, Vampyre, which was book 24 of the 26 I was going to read this year.

My review: Eh. Probably not worth spending your time on. It took itself way more seriously than Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and it felt very much like the author (who has written other books extending the stories of Darcy and Elizabeth) really wanted to write another retelling and also wanted to jump on the classic-novel-as-horror-genre-retelling bandwagon. It didn't even have the pathetic tension of a bad romance novel.

So much for taking a break... and for keeping current with this...

Book 21: Redemption Alley by Lilith Saintcrow. Another book in the Jill Kissmet series, and another is due in, I think, December. These are getting better - this one was dark and gritty.

Book 22: Dirty Jokes and Beer by Drew Carey. I read parts of this years ago, and wanted to reread it. Pulled some insights from this on comedy that I'll have to share soon(ish).

Book 23: Dark Watcher by Lilith Saintcrow. This was one of her first books, and it shows. Not nearly as developed or deep as some of her more recent work. I managed to pick this up off of Swaptree from someone, and finished it in like two days (it's almost unfair to call it a book - it's more like a novella - about 200 pages).

And I'm about half way through book 24.

I know... I said I was taking a break for a while - well, I slowed down. Ok, not really. But it was a library book!

Practical Demonkeeping by Christopher Moore.

So, I totally rip through this one. Really fun. Looking forward to reading Fool before the year is out.

Orcs: Warriors of the Tempest by Stan Nicholls.

This was the last book in this trilogy. Why is it when I get to the end of a book, even if I haven't been thrilled by it, I want to read more? It's like a friend leaving - sometimes it's a really good friend and you REALLY don't want them to go. Other times it's someone you kinda like, but it's a good enough time you don't want see them go.

*shrug*

Since I'm doing WAY better this year on the reading, and I've fallen a little behind on a few other things (sewing and quilting and movies all high on that list) I'm going to take a short, couple of week break from reading to accomplish a few other things. I'll probably still start another book (I have Moore's Practical Demonkeeping staring at me from the nightstand right now) but just not haul it with me everywhere. Once I get a few more things out of the way I'll jump back into the books. But I have little fear that I'll get through 7 more books this year.

Yay!

Orcs: Legion of Thunder by Stan Nicholls

I'm liking this series, but I'm not in love with it. Nicholls seems to be a fan of the $.10 word, and there is a battle every 3-5 pages or so, and that makes for a very esoteric combination, frankly.

I'm actually most of the way through the last book in the trilogy - there are some more from Nicholls but I think I'll take a break after the last one of the three.

I just finished the first Orcs Book - Bodyguard of Lightening, by Stan Nichols. It's... ok. Interesting enough that I'll read the other two. Not so interesting that I'm not tempted to read the new book that came in today from Swaptree. But I've got the Orcs books as a single compendium, so I'm just going to keep plowing through.

Book 16 of 26 was Scent of Shadows by... um, I don't remember. I'd look it up but it was a pretty average book, and long, so I'm not going to bother. I did get the sequel off of Swaptree, mostly because the Harry Dresden books started slow, so I'm going to give it one more shot, but I'm not holding my breath.

I'm taking a break from this series, though. On to a different genre...

Book 15 for this year:

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austin and Seth Grahmae-Smith

Totally made of awesomeness. Especially if you were ever an English Lit minor. Finished it Friday night, but hadn't had a chance to post.

This was the week of embarrassment.

Movie 15 of 30 was Twilight. I'll wait here while you mock.... done? no?.... how about now? Ok, come on, I know some of YOU saw it too (I'm looking at YOU jer_...)

It was - well, a teeny bopper movie about vampires. And as angsty as the vampire, Edward, was... CRIPES the main character was worse. I started to wonder why any of her new friends at school were even trying to be her friends, since all she did was mope and be bitter. Maybe that's why Edward liked her so much. She was both a food source AND fit right in with the family!

And the book... yeah, I finished book 14 of 26. And that's all I'm going to say. I finished it.

Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by the fab Cory Doctrow.

It was far closer to traditional literature for me than the brain candy I've been reading lately (and will be returning to momentarily). It's not an easy read - it's short, but it's challenging in that good way. I actually got MAD at Doctrow at one point in the book. (I know it doesn't sound like it, but for me that's the sign of a good book).

I plan on re-reading it in the future to pick up on some of the elements that I'm certain stand out once you understand where he's going. It's a very layered and complex 160 pages.

So, in the last few weeks I've been able to check off a few things from the resolutions list this year.

Book 12 of 26 - Turn Coat by Jim Butcher
I managed to wait until getting to Penguicon to purchase this book, so that I could give my money to someone who really needed it. I actually finished it last weekend, but haven't had a chance to post. It's another in the Harry Dresden series; they have really grown on me. I've said before, I didn't like the first one much, but enough that I tried the second. Each gets better and better (although I would argue that this one wasn't QUITE as good as the last one, but otherwise better than all the previous). Fun read.

Movies 8, 9, 10 and 11 of 30

8) X-Men Origins: Wolverine - daddy_guido and I saw this a few Wednesdays ago. Don't care what anyone else thought, I was happy with it. There is a LOT to tell in the Wolverine story, and I thought they did a pretty admirable job.

9) Hotel for Dogs - Last year I didn't count the movies I watched with the kids unless we went to the theater for it, mostly because when we'd been watching them at home last year it was them watch and me reading or something. I'm trying NOT to do that this year unless it's a movie I really, really don't want to see or one that we've watched a million and two times. Anyhow, we had a free Redbox rental, and this is what we got. The dogs were cute. That's about all I can say.

10) Star Trek - holy crap on a stick was this good. If you haven't seen it yet, I'm BEGGING you to please take the time to see it in the theater.

11) Night at the Museum - in anticipation of having to see the new one in the theater, we rented this one tonight. Very cute, very fun.

Quilts 1 of 5

I'm in the process of making a quilt for ellalthea & jer_, but I'm not done with that yet (and they already know about it and have seen some of it. No, #1 this year was for pheltzer and drawshad's newest family edition. I also made one of the little quilt balls that I whip up once in a while, and everyone, young and old, seem to really like.

( If you're interested in that sort of thing, there are pictures here )

Maybe now I can get some sleep

Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews. This is the 3rd Kate Daniels book, and honestly, I love the way Andrews writes. I have a really hard time putting down her books, even more difficult that most stuff I read.

These are just fun.

So, looking back over my previous entries, my count is off.

I posted books 7 and 8, and then somehow posted book 7 again (but a different book). So apparently, I'm actually on book 10, which I finished last night.

Heat Stroke by Rachel Caine. It's book 2 in the Weather Warden series. The series is ok - but not ok enough that I'm plowing through all of it before starting anything else. Which is very un-CDO of me.

In fairness, I didn't like the first two books of the Dresden Files, and those grew on me. (I know the latest one just came out Monday). But I'm taking a break on this series for now. Too many other books piling up at the moment.