Abandoned books

This was a Booking Through Thursday question a few weeks back, but I have to report that I have abandoned two books in the past few weeks: The Hours, by Michael Cunningham (which was to be on the Book to Movie challenge), and American Gods by Neil Gaiman. I was especially disappointed after enjoying "Good Omens" so much, but apparently it was the combination of Pratchett and Gaiman that I enjoyed. I haven't tried a Pratchett book yet, but I won't get my hopes up.

Learning to Bow - Bruce Feiler

I happened across this one at Paperback Swap, and had it on my wish list forever before I finally managed to get a copy. The subtitle is "Inside the Heart of Japan" and it tells the story of an American who travels to Japan in the early 90's to teach English. He is very good at describing the different culture without seeming too judgmental. He doesn't always succeed, but you can tell he is trying. The students embrace him and are happy to teach him about Japan, although they are more reluctant to learn "American" traditions. This was a fast and enjoyable read, and made me more eager to visit Japan one day.

101 Family Vacation Games - Shando Varda

This was another ARC I received via LibraryThing. It has some great car games, and some interesting outdoor games. Some of them seem a little complicated, and some of the baby games seem a little obvious - it actually describes how to play "Peek-a-boo." Nevertheless, this would be invaluable for a babysitter, especially a relatively inexperienced one, and very useful for a long car trip.

The Guardians - Ana Castillo

I apologize for the absence - work and life have been keeping me busy. But, I have been reading, so here are a few reviews!

I got this one as an Advance Reader's Edition, and I'm so glad I did! This is a charming little book. The characters are so real and human, and each has their own voice. We hear from each character in separate chapters, and they are recognizable from their "voices." Regina is my favorite character - she's flawed and wonderful, and she speaks in a delightful mix of English and Spanish - I could hear her speaking in my head. The book is very topical, as it deals with troubles at the Mexican/US border, but aside from that it is about people dealing with every day life.

A quiz!

What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Dedicated Reader You are always trying to find the time to get back to your book. You are convinced that the world would be a much better place if only everyone read more.
Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm
Literate Good Citizen
Book Snob
Fad Reader
Non-Reader
What Kind of Reader Are You? Create Your Own Quiz

Friday Fill In

I found a new meme - Friday Fill In! (Thanks to Musings of a Bookish Kitty):

1. October . . . is the month when it finally cools off enough to believe fall is coming!

2. Trick-or-treaters . . .don't scare me!

3. Haunted houses . . . have always captured my imagination

4. My favorite scary movie is . . .28 Days Later . . . because . . . the speedy zombies scare me every time.

5. Waking up when it's cold and dark outside is always hard for . . . me.

6. It was a dark and stormy night . . .and I was sitting up in bed watching the lightning flash.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to . . . relaxing in front of the TV . . ., tomorrow my plans include . . . a celebratory dinner with family . . . and Sunday, I want to . . . catch up on chores I've been neglecting, and watch 28 Weeks Later !

Plague Year - Jeff Carlson

This was another of my alternates for the Unread Authors challenge - I have a bad habit of reading the alternates first - ha ha.

I enjoyed this - it reminds me a lot of Michael Chrichton, both because of the nanobot plotline, and in the general style. This had a lot less science, though. The characters were interesting, if a little flat in some parts. I would have liked a better picture of how devastated the world was, and what the survivors still faced. It was a quick read, though - perfect for the end of summer.

I finally started reading "The Guardians", so that will be next.

Bar exam

I found out yesterday that I passed the bar exam - yay! I really did not want to have to go through that experience again. My character and fitness report is still being processed, so I can't be sworn in yet, but at least I am one step closer!