A-Z ... ZOD WALLOP

It's here! The last day of the A-Z has come. If you've managed to get through this year's challenge, well done you! I will definitely write a summary of my experience of the challenge once it's May 7th, but for now I've got one more letter to tackle! This year, I've been putting up an A to Z of books that are on my TBR list. Some are classics, some nobody has heard of. Turns out I didn't have book titles for all the letters of the alphabet on my to-read list before April this year, so I had to go out and find some. That's how I found the book I've chosen for "Z". I'm talking about this one:

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Z

Zod Wallop - William Browning Spencer

"A bizarre and frightening dark fantasy, startlingly original and unpredictable. The book that a children's author wrote after his daughter drowned becomes real as his life intertwines with mental patients who have been given a drug with ESP effects. And it goes on from there. Written in a fast-paced, economical style, it is equal parts modern paranoia and resignation, satire, and moral lesson." - GoodReads review by Enisform

Why do I want to read it? It sounds so weird and dark and cooool that I can't resist. I hear it has a relatively happy ending, so I guess we don't have to be scared off by the sound of the weirdness. But I'll let you know what I think after I've read it. ;)

April's book review: THIS IS A CALL

Because I swore I would post at least one book review per month this year, I'm using my spare Sunday during the A-Z to keep my promise to myself! The book I'm going to review was a present from my brother and his wife for Christmas (which Christmas? Yes, it was the most recent Chrismas...). I'm not much of a non-fiction reader, though I do believe in that saying, "Truth can be stranger than fiction", and I paraphrase. Anyway, I still start out by stating that, in my opinion, this book is not the kind you should read if you're not interested in music. Maybe you're interested in Dave Grohl, maybe you've got a little crush on the purported "nicest man in rock" (though the man himself disputes he's this ALL of the time)...but if you're wanting to read 400 pages all about Dave, this isn't the book for you. If, however, you love rock music and are interested in the history of certain genres in America (and elsewhere, for that matter), then you'll enjoy it.

The book has a great focus on the punk/hardcore scene of Washington D.C., since that's what Dave Grohl "grew" up on. It also touches on other areas like, naturally, grunge, and also the underground (or overground in the case of Metallica) metal scene. It does tell Dave's story, from humble beginnings to the monumental heights he's reached today. It also tells the Foo Fighters' story, and it was news to me that they've had such dramatic moments in that history. Back in the day, I would have known it all - as a teenager utterly obsessed with music, I knew every detail of my favourite rock stars' lives. Basically because I wanted to be part of their lives! Nowadays, I know a lot more about their music than their personal lives. I suppose that's healthier, right? Anyway...from this read I have gathered that, in spite of all he's gone through with his various bands, there's one thing Dave Grohl hasn't lost: his utter enthusiasm for life, for music, etc. This guy's gotta be just a little bit ADD, surely? ;)

I loved how the book ended, with that scene with Dave, Pat Smear and Krist Novoselic revisiting some "mouldy oldies". Oh, what I would have given to be in or near that room while that particular jam session was going on! Anyway, in conclusion this is a great read for anyone who's enthusiastic about music in general. Not just Dave Grohl. But it does help if you're interested in his story! And yes, Kurt is mentioned a lot. For other people, apparently this was a problem, but for me, who hasn't read any Nirvana or Kurt biographies (or hardly any biographies at all, really), it wasn't a bother at all. Even if it did remind me how sad the whole damn thing was.

R.I.P. Kurt, and long live Dave Grohl!

A-Z ... YOU DROPPED A BLONDE ON ME

Wow! Only one letter to go (after this one) until we're at the end, finally. Not quite there yet, but almost. In the meantime, it's Y-time! This year for the A-Z challenge, I've been featuring an A-Z list of books taken from my GoodReads to-read shelf. For today's "Y" book, I was tossing up between a Margaret Atwood book and this one, but in the end I chose...

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Y

You Dropped a Blonde on Me (Ex Trophy Wives #1) - Dakota Cassidy

She was the perfect party-planning, haute-to-the max trophy wife. Now Maxine Cambridge is broke, unemployable and living with her mother and teenage son in a retirement village, with her self-esteem kicked to the curb. Until her geeky former classmate Campbell Barker returns, all grown-up- and off-the-scale smokin' hot. Campbell refuses to believe Max isn't that smart, funny girl he's crushed on since high school. The more Max tries to show him he's wrong, the more she rediscovers her long-retired mojo. Now, she's ready to throw down some payback on her ex-life and fight for what she deserves...

Why do I want to read it? It sounds like it would be an entertaining, funny read. Plus, I do have a slight thing for hot geeks. ;)

A-Z ... XS

This year for the A-Z challenge, I've been featuring an A-Z list of books taken from my GoodReads to-read shelf. For my "X" book, I've decided to take a break from the onslaught of classics and aim for a nice murder mystery:

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X

XS (Allie Armington Mystery #2) - Louise Gaylord

There's a Bad Apple in the Big Apple The trouble started with a call from her sister, a supermodel, in New York City. The next thing she knew, Allie Armington, young, bright, successful and slightly bored Texas attorney, was on a plane to the Big Apple. It was downhill from there. Beautiful women are showing up dead, neat X marks carved in their breasts with almost surgical precision. Chilling enough in the abstract, but made all too real when Allie's sister's roommate turns up among them In a New York minute, Allie's up to her eyeballs in an NYPD sting operation targeting mega-rich men hosting parties in a secluded castle on the exclusive Jersey shore, complete with masks, mysterious monikers, models and mischief of the carnal and chemical kind.

Why do I want to read it? I'm not big on murder mystery type books, but I do enjoy trying to figure out what's going on, and I also love to see justice done!

A-Z ... THE WAR OF THE WORLDS

This year for the A-Z challenge, I've been featuring an A-Z list of books taken from my GoodReads to-read shelf. Getting to "W", I'm finding it more and more difficult to choose between various amazing-sounding stories, but in the end I felt compelled to choose:

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W

The War of the Worlds - H.G. Wells

“No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man’s and yet as mortal as his own.” Thus begins one of the most terrifying and morally prescient science fiction novels ever penned. Beginning with a series of strange flashes in the distant night sky, the Martian attack initially causes little concern on Earth. Then the destruction erupts—ten massive aliens roam England and destroy with heat rays everything in their path. Very soon humankind finds itself on the brink of extinction. H. G. Wells raises questions of mortality, man’s place in nature, and the evil lurking in the technological future—questions that remain urgently relevant in the twenty-first century.

Why do I want to read it? Saw the more recent movie, and as an impressionable 17-year-old I first heard the awe-inspiring soundtrack. Now I feel I must read the book that started it all!

A-Z ... VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA

This year for the A-Z challenge, I've been posting an A-Z list of books taken from my GoodReads to-read shelf. For today's title starting with "V", I was torn between a really weird sounding, possibly hard to read story called "Verruca Music", and the book I wound up choosing in the end, which is...

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V

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea - Theodore Sturgeon

From a flaming sky, heat seared Earth's surface and cast forests alight, and mighty cities flared and died. In a few weeks, mankind would be burned from the face of the planet. There was only one desperate chance, and only one man desperate enough to take it--Nelson, the "Mad Admiral". Defying his government and the nations of the world, Nelson drove the giant atomic submarine Seaview halfway around the globe to a grim rendezvous with Destiny. Unknown monsters of the deep barred his way; foreign warships hunted him; sabotages delayed him. But Nelson bulled and slashed his way through. Then, at the crucial moment, when disaster struck and the world seemed doomed, Admiral Nelson launched his mad plan.

Why do I want to read it? Classic. Dramatic. Sounds cool. Yay, sea monsters! Enough said? ;)

A-Z ... THE ULTIMATE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY

This year for the A-Z challenge, I've been posting an A-Z list of books taken from my GoodReads to-read shelf. For today's title starting with "U", I've cheated a little but not really, by choosing a collection of novels that are presented in a single volume...

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U

The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide #1-5) - Douglas Adams

At last in paperback in one complete volume, here are the five classic novels from Douglas Adams’s beloved Hitchiker series. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Seconds before the Earth is demolished for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is saved by Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised Guide. Together they stick out their thumbs to the stars and begin a wild journey through time and space. (read more here)

Why do I want to read it? Yet another classic I have yet to read. Gosh, I'm a bit slow on the uptake, aren't I? I guess the main reason I want to read this is so I can finally understand all those jokes about 42 people have been making! ;)

A-Z ... THE TEMPEST

This year for the A-Z challenge, I've been posting an A-Z list of books taken from my to-read shelf at GoodReads. For today's title starting with "T", I've chosen a work by an author I haven't read any of except in small portions (like when I had to read bits in school):

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T

The Tempest - William Shakespeare

In The Tempest, long considered one of Shakespeare's most lyrical plays, Prospero - a magician on an enchanted island - punishes his enemies, brings happiness to his daughter, and comes to terms with human use of supernatural power. The Tempest embodies both seemingly timeless romance and the historically specific moment in which Europe begins to explore and conquer the New World. Its complexity of thought, its range of characters - from the spirit Ariel and the monster Caliban to the beautiful Miranda and her prince Ferdinand -its poetic beauty, and its exploration of difficult questions that still haunt us today make this play wonderfully compelling.

Why do I want to read it? If there is any classic author I should read before I die, it's Shakespeare, right? And seriously, I have yet to read any complete work of this guy's, despite studying him a bit in school and university.

Revisiting Ireland, post-Blog O'Hop

Not long after arriving in Ireland.

Hi everyone! Yes, it's Sunday and ordinarily I'd be basking in the lack of need to post anything for the A-Z, but I decided that I didn't want to fail at anymore goals this year than I absolutely have to, so I'm here to post my monthly travel blog post.

Killarney.

Back in March, I took part in Mark Koopmans's Irish-themed Blog O'Hop, in which I talked about my upcoming travels to Ireland and what I thought I could expect from the visit. Mark gave me the idea of following up at some point with a reflection on how my expectations measured up to the reality of the Emerald Isle as I found it. So that's what I'm going to do today!

A view from the top of
Blarney Castle.

Want to know something funny? I actually did believe I'd never visited Ireland before. But one day during my travels, after I'd sent my mum a text message filling her in on our trip around the Ring of Kerry, I got the following surprising text back from her:

"Is it a big ring? You fell off a table while Lester rode around the ring of kerry. You and I stayed at a caravan park. You were about 10 weeks old."

Imagine my surprise to learn that I had, in fact, visited Ireland before! Sure, I was only 10 weeks old at the time, but still, it counts!! Right? ;) Oh, and Lester's my Dad in case anybody wondered. Anyway, let's get back on track. During my Blog O'Hop post, I mentioned the following expectations that I had of Ireland:

What am I expecting of Ireland?

Blarney Castle gardens.

• Cold(er) weather
• Lush green landscapes
• Possibly some depressing dinginess, but also cool medieval-ness
• Guinness!
• A lot of old history
• Groovy little old Irish pubs with hot stew...and potatoes.

And I can say that, for the most part, I got what I was expecting. But let me break it down for ya:

Weather

I did get a bit of mist,
which made me happy.

The Cliffs of Moher.

I didn't get the sort of cold weather I was hoping for, and yet it was perfect weather for sightseeing. We were some of the lucky few who saw the Cliffs of Moher without mist obscuring the beautiful views. We had blue skies and hardly any mist most of the time, and while I personally adore a dark, misty landscape, I was still thankful that I could actually see the stuff I'd come to see. I was disappointed by all the overbearing central heating, but not surprised. It's a chronic fault of countries in the colder northern climes, I find. ;)

Landscape

This is my kind of scenery!

To be honest, I was expecting it to be more green. People sitting with me on the bus would probably scoff to hear this. "What, you want it more green than this? Jeez, can't please you can we?" But seriously, it wasn't that sort of searing emerald green I'd been led to believe from all the photos my friends have taken of the place over the years. Still, it was beautiful.

Depressing dinginess & cool medieval-ness

I didn't really see much of the dinginess, which I suppose is a good thing! ;) I guess the most depressing part was various monuments to the awful history, i.e. the Potato Famine and the like. Speaking of that, I once read a great book called STAR OF THE SEA by Dublin-born Joseph O'Connor, which while it was pretty tragic, was also a great read. As for cool medieval-ness, yep, saw that. I will talk more about it lower down, when I mention Blarney. :)

I also sampled a fair few wines...
mostly Chilean. The rest were
Australian. haha

Guinness

Well, yes, I found a lot of Guinness, but I only had one pint of the stuff! I actually found that my favourite Irish beverage was Kilkenny, similar to Guiness but with much more creamy goodness. Yep, I'm a Kilkenny konvert!

Old history

Of course there was a lot of this, and probably  my favourite example of it was our visit to Blarney, and more importantly the castle that resides there! It was an amazing experience, climbing those tiny stairwells and imagining people of hundreds of years earlier doing the same thing.

Irish pubs, stew, potatoes

There wasn't really much stew that I saw, but there was soup...and we ate a lot of soup. There were also potatoes left, right and centre. As for pubs, oh yes, there were plenty of great pubs. Mostly though, we stuck to the bars at the hotels because we were too exhausted from the gruelling tour schedule to wander too far out.

Hunting for Phil Lynnot's grave.

Unexpected things

Walking back down Blarney Castle.
See my silver Doc Martens?

Some place I can't remember...

There were things I saw and did that I hadn't planned on. They included a visit to the Trinity College Library (my friend and I, both being librarians, got a little bit giddy as we stepped inside that mammoth vault of history), a trek out to the site of Phil Lynnott's grave, and an awe-inspiring walk up the Blarney Castle (I didn't kiss the stone; too worried about who else might've kissed it. haha). All in all, my favourite place in Ireland was Blarney, but there was a lot of amazing stuff to see in that country. Someday I wouldn't mind going back and doing things properly, i.e. by driving myself around!

I hope you enjoyed my revisiting of the Irish experience, and that if you haven't visited yourself yet, you get to someday soon!

A-Z ... THE SILMARILLION

For this year's A-Z challenge, I'm posting an A-Z of books taken from my to-read shelf at GoodReads. For today's book starting with "S", I've chosen a work by a legend whose most famous other books I haven't yet read either...

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S

The Silmarillion - J.R.R. Tolkien

The tales of The Silmarillion were the underlying inspiration and source of J.R.R. Tolkien's imaginative writing; he worked on the book throughout his life but never brought it to a final form. Long preceding in its origins The Lord of the Rings, it is the story of the First Age of Tolkien's world, the ancient drama to which characters in The Lord of the Rings look back and in which some of them, such as Elrond and Galadriel, took part. (read more here)

Why do I want to read it? Well, gawwsh...why not? ;) I've read THE HOBBIT, and that's it. This is on my list, as well as The Lord of the Rings (nope, haven't read those either!).

A-Z ... RING

For this year's A-Z challenge, I'm sharing an A-Z list of books taken from my to-read shelf at GoodReads. For today's book starting with "R", I have selected...

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R

Ring - Koji Suzuki

One night in Tokyo, four healthy teenagers die one after another of heart failure. A journalist, the uncle of one of the victims and intrigued by the coincidence, investigates and learns of a videotape that the four watched together a week before dying. Amid a series of bizarre and frightening images is a warning that the viewer will die in exactly one week unless a certain act is performed. The description of the act, of course, has been erased from the videotape, and the journalist's work to solve the mystery assumes a deadly urgency.

Why do I want to read it? I saw the remake that was released a few years ago and it creeped me out sufficiently to make me want to read the book. Sounds weird, huh? But I guess I like a creepy, scary story, even if they're not my main staple when it comes to reading! I figure I have to read this one as it's already a bit of a classic!

A-Z ... QUEEN OF SORCERY

For this year's A-Z challenge, I'm posting an A-Z list of books I want to read. My selections are taken from my to-read shelf at GoodReads. For today's book starting with "Q", I've chosen...

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Q

Queen of Sorcery (The Belgariad #2) - David Eddings

"BELGARIAD is exactly the kind of fantasy I like. It has magic, adventure, humor, mystery, and a certain delightful human insight." PIERS ANTHONY The master Sorcerer Belgarath and his daughter Polgara the arch-Sorceress were on the trail of the Orb, seeking to regain its saving power before the final disaster prophesized by the legends. And with them went Garion, a simple farm boy only months before, but now the focus of the struggle. He had never believed in sorcery and wanted no part of it. Yet with every league they traveled, the power grew in him, forcing him to acts of wizardry he could not accept.

Why do I want to read it? I have never read any David Eddings, even though I was a hardcore fantasy addict for many years, and still love a good fantasy read... Eddings strikes me as a bit of a must-read for fantasy fans, a legend in the field. From what I've heard in the past, I'm not sure if I'll like this series or not, but I won't know until I try, right?

A-Z ... PHANTOM WALTZ

For the A-Z challenge of 2012, I'm posting an A-Z list of books I haven't yet read but want to (titles taken from my TBR shelf at GoodReads). For my P book, I've chosen a book that a fellow blogger has mentioned numerous times on her blog (unfortunately I can't remember which blogger it was! I'm like that...). The book in question is...

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P

Phantom Waltz - Catherine Anderson

With one glance, wealthy Crystal Falls, Oregon rancher, Ryan Kendrick falls hard - and fast - for lovely Bethany Coulter. A beguiling mix of sass and shyness, naivete and maturity, she shares his passion for horses, has a great sense of humor and can light up a room with her beautiful smile. She is absolutely perfect - in every way but one. A long ago barrel-racing accident has left Bethany confined to a wheelchair. In the years since, she has known both betrayal and heartbreak - and vowed never to open her heart to a man again. She has even accepted the possibility that she'll never be able to enjoy a healthy intimate relationship or have children of her own. But there's something about handsome Ryan Kendrick. Something that makes her believe she can overcome every obstacle. Something that makes her believe in lifelong, lasting love . . .

Why do I want to read it? Because it was (very) highly recommended, and I do love a good romance!

A-Z ... OSCAR AND LUCINDA

In the A-Z this year, I've been featuring books from my "to read" list on GoodReads which I really want to read. Sometimes it's been hard to pick just one, and in hindsight I could've done honourable mentions, but oh well, moving on! Today we're posting for the letter "O", and the book I've chosen is...

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O

Oscar and Lucinda - Peter Carey

Peter Carey's Booker Prize winning novel imagines Australia's youth, before its dynamic passions became dangerous habits. It is also a startling and unusual love story. Oscar is a young English clergyman who has broken with his past and developed a disturbing talent for gambling. A country girl of singular ambition, Lucinda moves to Sydney, driven by dreams of self-reliance and the building of an industrial Utopia. Together this unlikely pair create and are created by the spectacle of mid-nineteenth century Australia. Peter Carey's visionary brilliance, and his capacity to delight and surprise, propel this story to its stunning conclusion.

Why do I want to read it? Another classic, this time Australian, and one I've heard about for years but have never read (or seen, that I can recall).

A-Z ... THE NEVERENDING STORY

It's A-Z time, and for this year's theme I've been posting an A-Z list of books I want to read, inspired by my seemingly neverending GoodReads "to read" list. We're up to "N", and for today's book I've chosen a book whose movie adaptation is one of my all-time favourites, but that I'm rather shamed never to have read in book form!

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N

The Neverending Story - Michael Ende

When it was published more than three decades ago, this special story within a story captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of readers worldwide. A lonely boy named Bastian is drawn into a beautiful but doomed world. Only Bastian can save this enchanted place of dragons, giants, monsters, and mysteries . . . but will he have to stay there forever? This beautifully repackaged hardcover classic will lure even more readers into its wondrous world.

Why do I want to read it? Like I said up there, I loved the movie, and when that's the case I tend to want to read the book the movie was based on, too. And I have been trying to read more classics, whatever their age, in recent years!

A-Z ... THE MERMAID'S MIRROR

For the A-Z challenge of 2012, I'm posting an A-Z list of books I want to read, inspired by my GoodReads "to read" list (which is rather long). For my M book, I have chosen...

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M

The Mermaid's Mirror - L.K. Madigan

Lena has lived her whole life near the beach – walking for miles up and down the shore and breathing the salty air, swimming in the cold water, and watching the surfers rule the waves – the problem is, she’s spent her whole life just watching. As her sixteenth birthday approaches, Lena vows she will no longer watch from the sand: she will learn to surf. But her father – a former surfer himself – refuses to allow her to take lessons. After a near drowning in his past, he can’t bear to let Lena take up the risky sport. Yet something lures Lena to the water ... an ancient, powerful magic. One morning Lena catches sight of this magic: a beautiful woman – with a silvery tail. Nothing will keep Lena from seeking the mermaid, not even the dangerous waves at Magic Crescent Cove. And soon ... what she sees in the mermaid’s mirror will change her life ...

Why do I want to read it? I've read one of L.K. Madigan's books before, and loved it. I've heard about her Mermaid book for ages but haven't read it yet. And I haven't read much about mermaids since MY SISTER SIF, something I read as a pre-teen. But I do love a mermaid story.

A-Z ... LEGEND

For the A-Z challenge of 2012, I'm posting an A-Z list of books I want to read, inspired by my GoodReads "to read" list (which is rather long). When it came to books starting with L, I found it hard to choose, but in the end I settled on this one:

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L

Legend (Legend #1) - Marie Lu

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias' death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets. Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

Why do I want to read it? There was a lot of hype, of course, but I hadn't heard of this book until after it came out. When I did finally hear about it, I thought, OOOOOH that sounds good. That's how it got on my list. And I must thank the blogging community for bringing this book to my attention!

Just had to say hi!

I am now back home, and have a few days off before returning to work. I had a fabulous time travelling, but I am glad to be home so I can get back to my usual routine - and recover from all the hard work of the last month! No really, travelling is hard work. Still, when I'm at home I don't get to see the amazing things I saw while overseas. Famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Moulin Rouge... Westminster Abbey, Jane Austen's house, Shakespeare's birthplace. Places like Culloden Moor in Scotland, where dramatic events of history have taken place. The watery home of Nessie, the Loch Ness monster. ;) That kind of thing. I saw beautiful landscapes, amazing old buildings, the stuff of ancient history and times more recent.

When I'm more organised, I'll put up more photographs. But for now, I just wanted to say "yay!" to being home, and "wow!" in regards to the things I saw while on holiday. I hope your A-Z challenges are going well - I've already begun catching up with some of you, but I have a loooot of work to do!

A-Z ... THE KEEPING PLACE

For the A-Z challenge of 2012, I'm posting an A-Z list of books I want to read, inspired by my GoodReads "to read" list (which is rather long). For my K book, I've chosen a book in an epic (and not yet finished) fantasy series by one of my favourite Australian authors:

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K

The Keeping Place (The Obernewtyn Chronicles #4) - Isobelle Carmody

When a Misfit is kidnapped, Elspeth finds she has little choice but to join the growing rebellion against the Council. Her extraordinary mental powers could tip the scales of the struggle, but Elspeth feels torn between toppling the corrupt authoritarian regime and seeking clues vital to a more personal quest—her ambition to destroy what remains of the Beforetime weaponmachines

Why do I want to read it? In truth, I have to read a few of her other books first (i.e. ALL the books prior to this one in this series), but I've wanted to for years and...I will!

A-Z ... JACOB'S ROOM

For the A-Z challenge of 2012, I'm posting an A-Z list of books I want to read, inspired by my GoodReads "to read" list (which is rather long). For my J book, I've chosen another classic:

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J

Jacob's Room - Virginia Woolf

The tale of Jacob Flanders, a lonely young man unable to reconcile his love of classical culture with the chaotic reality of World War I society, unfolds in a series of brief impressions and conversations, internal monologues, and letters. A sensitive examination of character development and the meaning of life. Based on the life of her brother, this unforgettable book chronicles the life and times of Jacob Flanders-and remains an important work in the development of the novel form, and a shining example of Woolf's genius and literary daring.

Why do I want to read it? I haven't read any Virginia Woolf, and while I'm a little concerned that I might find her writing depressing, but I guess only time will tell!

A-Z ... IN COLD BLOOD

For the A-Z challenge of 2012, I'm posting an A-Z list of books I want to read, inspired by my GoodReads "to read" list (which is rather long). We're up to I, and for my I book I've chosen...

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I

In Cold Blood - Truman Capote

On November 15, 1959, in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas, four members of the Clutter family were savagely murdered by blasts from a shotgun held a few inches from their faces. There was no apparent motive for the crime, and there were almost no clues. As Truman Capote reconstructs the murder and the investigation that led to the capture, trial, and execution of the killers, he generates both mesmerizing suspense and astonishing empathy. In Cold Blood is a work that transcends its moment, yielding poignant insights into the nature of American violence.

Why do I want to read it? It's been recommended to me from various quarters, it's a bit of a classic, and I like the sound of the story (no, I don't mean I'm a huge fan of murder and mayhem...!).

A-Z ... THE HAUNTING OF ALAIZABEL CRAY

Hi everyone! I'm not quite home yet, but I actually am able to sit here for a moment and add a "live in the moment" (it's live in the moment as I type it, anyway) message to this scheduled post! I want to thank everyone for all the comments. I haven't been able to do a lot of commenting in return, of course, but I intend to get right back into that upon my return home (from April 12th on). I've had a great holiday, but I am excited to get home and get on with my life - and to get back to a shower I know just how to operate!! And to see my kitties. :)

Anyway, let's move on to today's actual post. As you know, for the A-Z challenge of 2012, I've been posting an A-Z list of books I want to read, inspired by my GoodReads "to read" list (which is rather long indeed, sometimes I've found it hard to choose a book for a particular letter!). For my H book, I've chosen...

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H

The Haunting Of Alaizabel Cray - Chris Wooding

The Alienist meets Dracula in this gripping, gothic-horror thriller from young UK phenom Chris Wooding. Thaniel, just seventeen, is a wych-hunter. Together, he and Cathaline--his friend and mentor--track down the fearful creatures that lurk in the Old Quarter of London. It is on one of these hunts that he first encounters Alaizabel Cray. Alaizabel is half-crazed, lovely, and possessed.Whatever dreadful entity has entered her soul has turned her into a strange and unearthly magnet--attracting evil and drawing horrors from every dark corner. Cathaline and Thaniel must discover its cause--and defend humanity at all costs.

Why do I want to read it? I guess it sounds like a cool mix to me - weird and cool and creepy!