Playing Catch-Up

This fall seems to be baseball oriented more than most falls. Not complaining though :) By the end of December, I will be pulling out my never ending to be read and to be seen (books and movies I haven't seen) to see what is baseball related. This year, I plan on watching Ken Burn's Baseball documentary. There's always a baseball movie or two I haven't seen, plus I have to watch Field of Dreams. Book-wise, this winter I plan on reading the Mickey Mantle bio that has come out. Nope, not obsessed with baseball at all :)

As for what I have read here lately one has been so-so, one not so great, and one was fabulous. I have been waiting for The Sister's Brothers since, easily, June. I have heard so many good things about this book. It's similar to the Coen brother's movies I heard. It's funny and it's hysterical. I, myself, got 3/4 of the way through it and wondered what the heck is wrong with me. Honestly, it felt way too hipsterish. Kinda like watching a guy in skinny jeans, slip on canvas shoes, and a cardigan-you can't help but wonder why in God's green earth is this considered cool. Yes, maybe I just don't get it. Let's blame it on my upbringing which included healthy doses of John Wayne and Louis L'Amour-guys who wear the white hat and are inherently good. I did finish this which is rather rare for me to finish something I don't like. Patrick deWitt can write-I just wasn't crazy with this one.

 Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick is the eagerly anticipated follow-up to The Invention Of Hugo Caberet. Hugo blew me away-it is such a great mix of drawings and story and movies. Wonderstruck was just okay. The story about a boy who has never known his father and his mother has recently died, traveling to NYC to find his father is a classic storyline. The use of museums and collecting was cool. After all, all boys have collections where it's Pokemon or Hot Wheels or rocks. If you like Hugo, I would definitely encourage y'all to pick this up and give it a shot. As usual, the combination of drawings and story is fantastic and worth the price of admission.

Witchlanders by  Lena coakley is a debut book and I am in love with it! I have been gushing about this book at work and I will now proceed to gush here about this book. The first few chapters, remind me of Hunger Games and Graceling. It's really an old story about borders, war, effects of war and peace, and mistrust of your neighboring country. I also really enjoyed the fact this was about two boys who are told from birth that they are enemies but end up striking up a friendship. Oh-and another great thing about this book is the lack of romance! Great for boys looking for something similar to Hunger Games with out the love and romance.

I am just about done with Lady of the Rivers  by Phillipa Gregory and then I  have just a few days to get read Tony Horowitz's new book about John Brown.

What are you reading?