For those of you who have managed to pull yourselves away from the seemingly endless retrospectives of the horrific events of September 11, 2001, here is what found it’s way through my front door this past week. In addition to these, I also got – from the library – The Big Roads, The Untold Story of the Engineers, Visionaries and Trailblazers Who Created the American Superhighways by Earl Swift.
A Trick of Light by Louise Penny [Minotaur 2011 hardcover, new] – mystery – Since I read Penny’s first Three Pines book, Still Life, I have been hooked. The books are now called “Chief Inspector Gamache” novels on their covers, perhaps reflecting that the action takes place in a variety of locations and not all just in the small town of Three Pines. I had the privilege of having breakfast with Penny and her husband at the San Francisco Bouchercon, she is a very, very intelligent, kind, polite and gracious woman who draws you into the conversation and listens, even to fannish babble. It was a delightful half hour, and her books are equally delightful. If you haven’t read Louise Penny yet, you have missed out.
Blackdog by K.V. Johansen [Pyr 2011 trade paper, new] – fantasy – interesting premise of this one drew me in. We’ll see if the writing supports the decision to buy it.
Spindrift by Allen Steele [Ace SF 2008 paperback, used] – science fiction – After reading an excellent rating in a review of this author’s novel Hex, I bought it, only to discover there were many previous books. I’ve bought the first 3 in his Coyote series and also got this one, which I found used on BookSwap, but have yet to read any, though my hand has moved towards that part of the TBR more than once. Soon, soon.
The Broken Bullhorn 
Allen steele. that sure sounds familiar. I might have this book in my TBR pile.
I know you meant 2001.
Whew – no need for me to add any of these to my growing want list for a change. And no new books for me last week either!
I’ve read the first two books in Steele’s Coyote series. Nothing special. I’m looking forward to seeing what the Dealers’ Room at the BOUCHERCON in St. Louis has to offer.
How cool that you had breakfast with Louise Penny. Her name was on the periphery of my awareness until I started reading reviews of this book on the R.I.P. Challenge sites. I instantly went and added her first book to my list of books I want to read. I also added Donna Leon’s first Brunetti book to my library queue.
I actually didn’t see much Sept. 11th stuff yesterday, other than what was talked about during football, as I kept myself in front of the games pretty much all day. So nice to have football back.
Really like the Penny book I read. And I met her briefly in Baltimore and she seemed so nice.
The Louise Penny sounds interesting. I may have an Allen Steele or two, but I haven’t read them. A friend swears by them though.
And I’m not to blame for any of these!
Jeff, of course I did, and now I’ve updated the post. Thanks for catching that.
George, some like an author, some don’t. Good luck with the dealer’s room at B’con.
Carl, it was nice, and so is she. Her books are soaked with atmosphere and sense of place. I hope you like the Leon, the series gets stronger as it progresses. Like you, I kept the games on most of the day, except while I was hanging out with some people who came by to browse at my book stash and chat about books and stuff. That was a fun few hours, especially since they are all three authors and since I pulled a couple of things out of the hat (“Have you ever seen a copy of __ ?” “Yep, got one right here”. “Wow.”) That’s a big grin for sure.
Yes, it is nice to have football back, not that I’m much thrilled by the performance of the Seahawks.
Patti, she will likely be in St. Louis, since her new book just came out. Talk to her if you can, she is really gracious and easy to talk to. I still haven’t read the previous book, Bury Your Dead, so I’m 2 behind.
Randy, Steele’s books have gotten many good reviews. I got mine, except for Hex, on BookSwap, so they didn’t cost anything.
Bill, one way or another you may be to blame for everything, but in a good way!
I didn’t fare well with any of the teams I root for this week (Saints, Cowboys, Chiefs). At least the Seahawks may win a game this year, LOL. The Chiefs didn’t even show up for the one game they should have won. The schedule gets brutal from here on out.
That sounds like a really fun day. I love showing off books and talking books. Nothing could be better.
I’m thrilled that my Zen review brought mentions of Donna Leon’s work up because I had been wondering for awhile but didn’t know anyone who had read her. Also thrilled about reading the Louise Penny stuff at some point.
Oh Carl, just wave a book in front of you and you are so easily thrilled…
Sometimes that is all it takes. 🙂
I still have the first Penny book here, unread, as well as the first Leon for that matter/
As for football, I kept waiting for Tony Romo to come through and f*ck it up as he usually does and finally he did. I always celebrate when the Cowboys lose.
I grew up a Cowboys fan (living in Nebraska oddly enough) thanks to Roger Staubach and the gang. Even though I have sometimes loathed the coaches and owner since those days, and sometimes some of the players, I still can’t help but cheer them on. They must be ready to hang Romo alive in Dallas. He has definitely learned how to excel at doing amazing things all through a game until the end and then doing terrible things to give it away. They need to play him for three quarters and then switch him out for the backup QB. 🙂
Jeff, I was amazed at that play, though I think perhaps it was the center who goof it up.
Carl, now THERE’S a plan…