happy

[salixbabylon]

I so totally did not do any of the things I meant to get done for the last two days. Instead, I mostly stretched out on the couch and read. A book. Of paper. Remember those?

It's even a book I have read before, because it's just so exceedingly well-written that I can savor the language and phrases and characters and let go of the mystery and suspense. The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King.

Who I met with once, in a 4-person seminar about becoming a writer. And who is incidentally married to one of my favorite professors from university. So I don't know her, but I feel like I have this connection, and it makes the book even better.

And soon, I'm going to go and have tea and scones. For dinner. Possibly with peaches. Scones that I will make, and eat with lemon curd. And then a bath with LUSH bubble bar-bits. With Tibetan singing bowls in the background so I can meditate space out.

And ooh - pretty sunset right now.

Life is grand.

Comments

[roshismomma.livejournal.com]

:)

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

Not bad for a goof-off day, huh? :)

Missed see you guys tonight though. *huG*

[houseofwhacks.livejournal.com]

Sounds positively wonderful. I've been reading alot this summer (yes, books!) because the Princess wanted to sign up for the summer reading program at the public library. And I found out they have a program for adults as well. I've finished 5 novels so far.

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

Yay! That was my first fictional book all year. Between non-fiction and slash, I just never seem to make the time. I'd forgotten what a pleasure it is to just get absorbed in someone else's universe for a few days.

So what are you reading and what have you liked?

[houseofwhacks.livejournal.com]

Well, my biggest weakness and greatest love in books are mysteries. I started off with Stephen King many years ago and graduated to things like James Patterson, Patricia Cornwell and several others. My other faves are true-crime books. (someone once said that I read those because I want to see where the criminals screwed up, so that I can someday commit the perfect murder!) Right now, I'm reading novels by Alex Kava about an FBI agent named Maggie O'Dell. I read an excerpt in a magazine and liked it so much that I had to go to the beginning of her series and start there. I'm also reading Lisa Gardner (another mystery writer) and just finished a book about the Brothers Grimm. It's a bit of a mix with me - last week I read a wonderful novel called Heavy Metal and You, by Chris Krovatin. Got it from the Young Adult section in the library. I read just about everything, except for romance novels and sci-fi. I've even been known to get books from the juvenile section! The Princess gets herself a stack of books, but we always get one book to read out loud together (who cares if she's 12?? It's the whole bonding thing, ya know?) This week, it's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. We spend an hour every afternoon, sometimes an extra hour at night, reading out loud. Heh...that answer your question?

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

What's the book about the Brothers Grimm? I've always been a big fan of folk and fairy tales - sounds interesting. :)

I read books from the kids section all the time, too. And my husband and I read out loud to each other whenever we go on road trips. It's something I really enjoy - I'm so glad you and your daughter share that!

[jasmineskie.livejournal.com]

I have that book in my to-be-read pile, along with one of the sequels. The concept looked really intriguing. It's nice to know that you like it so much. :D

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

I think I read 4 or 5 of them, when they first came out (too lazy to check the bookshelves) and there are at least 2 that are "new" since then. (And since I have OCD, I also read all of the Sherlock Holmes stuff, too.) Obviously, I liked them a lot. I hope you do, too. :)

[oceansecrets2.livejournal.com]

Oh, I really like her series of those books - I think I've read three or four of them, and they get even better as they go. Your evening sounds exquisite - enjoy!

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

*hug* I just picked up the first one to check a few lines that were buzzing around my head, but I just might read all of them again. :)

Do you read many mysteries? I've read these and Dorothy Sayers' and a few others, but seem to stick to non-gorey detective fiction set in 1900s England. I'm always looking for recommendations, though!

*serves you tea and scones while we talk about books* My idea of a perfect date.

[gattodoro.livejournal.com]

I'm right there with you. My personal favourite is reading in the bath with a large glass of wine.

If I promise to bring strawberries and real clotted cream, can I come too? I could gush about the Mary Russell series for hours (and do) - not even a "guilty" pleasure because they are so densely plotted and multi-layered. Ever since I read "Oh Jerusalem" I've had this itch to go to the Sinai peninsula.

Some recs: -

If you can cope with Laurie King's "Kate Martinelli" books then I think you'll like Carol O'Connell ("Flight of the Stone Angel" had me spellbound, "Judas Child" is still heartbreaking even though I've read it several times).

Wrong period, I know, but have you read any of Lindsey Davies' Falco series set in various parts of the Roman Empire circa AD70?

Also wrong period (20th Century USA but they read more '50s than '90's) Paula Gosling's Blackwater Bay series repays repeated reading because she draws her small-town characters with love and humour, almost like whodunnit's as written by Garrison Keillor.Although American by birth, she now lives in genteel Bath.

Then there are the (Victorian Era) Sergeant Cribb books by Peter Lovesey and I'm personally very fond of Reginald Hill's Dalziel and Pascoe books because of the complexity of the characters, the wit and the literary references (try to forget the TV series). "Pictures of Perfection" was just that for me.

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

Oooh! Recs! THank you! *massive hugs*

I haven't read any of those at all. I'll have a wander through the bookstore and check them all out and see what grabs me. :)

[oceansecrets2.livejournal.com]

That does sound like a perfect afternoon! Earl Grey and apricot scones and talking about books...

I used to read a lot more mysteries before I started reading (and writing!) slash! I really enjoy Sara Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski novels, especially since they're set in Chicago. Anne Perry's Victorian novels are very atmospheric and well detailed, I'll read anything Robert Crais or Tony Hillerman writes, J.A. Jance, Dana Stabenow, Margaret Coel...

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

Oooh, apricot scones. Yum!

I'll add those to my list of books to check out! Thank you for the suggestions. :)

[orli-gasm.livejournal.com]

What's this paper book you speak of? Is it new from Japan? LOL!!!!

That sounds like a very light and delicious dinner! Mmmm, homemade scones!

Here, I am lending you bathtub Orli for your bath! He even has a friend you can play with too!

[orli-gasm.livejournal.com]

Oh and in case you want the one that was originally made to relax you...loL!!!

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

Oooh! Multiple bathtub Orlis! *swoon* Pretty. :)

Scones = not the healthiest dinner, but hey. Everything in moderation, right?

[govannen.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that all sounds good. :)

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

It was a lovely evening. I hope to have a repeat soon. :)

[rifleman-s.livejournal.com]

Happy for you . . .

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

*hug* Thanks! It was really nice and relaxing.

[miladyhawke.livejournal.com]

Another Holmes fan on my list? *G* Was just watching The Resident Patient last night myself (Brett being the only Holmes for me *happy sigh*). Somebody else just recommended The Beekeeper's Apprentice on 221b_bakerst, but I'm seriously leery of enormous Mary Sue and OOC Holmes. It does not have these pitfalls?

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

Actually, the Mary Russell books were my into to Holmes, and I've never seen any of the tv programs. I enjoyed the books when I read them (hi, I have OCD so I read them all, in order), but Holmes in LRK's books is very different from in Doyle's , IMO. Far more human, fallible, occasionally cruel, and devastatingly sexy. *blush* I lvoe how he constantly forgets "Russell" is a female and the tension that brings to their interactions.

But I don't know if that's OOC or not. I know that I liked the books a lot, because I loved Mary Russell as a character. I'd say, pick up one and give the first two chapters a go and see how she strikes you. :)

[miladyhawke.livejournal.com]

*nods* Not a bad idea - I'll probably give one a go :)