One step further--What books did you get this year?

[SRHowen]

I'm assuming since we are all writers that we got books of some sort for the Holiday.

I know my hubby has to hunt for "writers" books I don't have or that I want, and he is always looking for one on style, grammar or words that he thinks I will like. I am many time surprised by what he finds.

He also knows my fav authors (and those who have po'd me--Patrica Cornwell--she in the last two books of hers has switched to third person present tense--awful!) and the sort of non-fic I like.

So what follows is this years list of books I received:

Writers Books

The Elephants of Style Bill Walsh

McGraw-Hill Companies

Described as A trunk load of tips on the big issues and gray areas of contemporary English

Non-fiction

On the Rez Ian Frazier

Small Press: Picador, Distributed by Holtzbrinck Publishing (never heard of them before this)

Describes his experiences among those Indians on the Pine Ridge Reservation--he's non-Indian. A modern book much like those of the missionaries who went among the Indians in the past--I like the idea of comparing the thoughts of modern non-indians to those of the past, his style is humorous and open.

Lore and History

American Indian Myths and Legends Erodes & Ortiz

Pantheon Books, New York

I give hubby great credit for this one, it's hard to find an American Indian myths and legends book I don't have or that contains myths, legends and stories I don't know or have in writing.

Fiction

The Cat Who Talked Turkey Lilian Jackson Braun

Jove

Just for fun read in hour escapism book.

"R" is for Ricochet Sue Grafton

Putman

I have read these from the start, her alphabet mystery series. Consistently good books, they have changed a bit--moved into a more modern world, but come to think of it in 18 years they should. I'll savor this one a bit, read a chapter a night or so.

So what books did you get?

Shawn

[aka eraser]

A friend bought me Eats Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss. Apparently this book proves grammar can be fun. Haven't skimmed yet.

I splurged on a hardcover, a rare event for me; Robin Hobb's Fool's Fate.

I plucked a couple from the used book store the other day too: Elizabeth Hand's Glimmering and Cecilia Dart-Thornton's The Ill-Made Mute.

The latter three are all fantasies.

[Stephenie Hovland]

We haven't finished celebrating yet. With extended family it really is the 12 days of Christmas around here.

But, so far I've gotten a B & N gift certificate from one of my fifth grade students. I told her that was one of the best gifts I could've gotten. I'm hoping she remembers for next year, when I have her again. (I teach fifth and sixth; she's not flunking.)

[reph]

Mary Ann Rishel, Writing Humor: Creativity and the Comic Mind.

[HConn]

No books for me. Some cooking stuff along with a Cat-a-pult. (http://www.mcphee.com/bigindex/current/11418.html)

[sc211]

The Old Farmer's Almanac, the perfect back-of-the-john book with interesting bits on everything.

[drgnlvrljh]

I didn't get any books this year. But after my 7 y/o daughter was tested, and we found out she's reading about 3-4 years above her level (and made it very clear that she did -NOT- want "picture" books, but chapter books), we went nuts and got her some. We got her the first Harry Potter, and Alice in Wonderland (both in hard cover), and friends of mine thought it would be fun to send her copies of their childhood favorites. So she now has Ronia, Momo, the entire Chronicles of Narnia, and A Wrinkle in Time. I think she's going to have enough to read for a little while, at least (And the child had to get stronger glasses because she was sneaking around, reading in the dark, instead of sleeping)

:rollin

[aka eraser]

That brings back memories drgn. I used to hunker by the window and read by the streetlight. And yeah, I had glasses by the time I was eight.

[Fillanzea]

Books for me:

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, in Spanish
A bilingual book of Pablo Neruda
A book of the art of a French artist in Japan

The first two are part of my concerted effort to learn Spanish so that I can be a good librarian in a year and a half, but I'll subsume them under the theory that everything is related to writing.

[Stace001]

I received Eats Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss, and it is fabulous!! She mentions lots of situations that drive her crazy that I found hilarious. Anyone intersted in writing or books on writing will love it.

Also Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code (absolutely mind-blowing...loved it!!!!!) and Janet Evanovich's Metro Girl. (very funny and light-hearted.)

[Writing Again]

I bought myself two books on screenwriting from Amazon dot com for Christmas but they won't arrive until January.

[Greenwolf103]

I teach fifth and sixth; she's not flunking.

Too bad I never gave any of my teachers a B&N gift card! ;)

The only book I got was an "all-about-me" kind of journal. But it's a "creativity journal" and I find that interesting. At least it encourages creativity, like "make a list of values important to you and write about how you use these values in everyday life."

Still, I'm hopeful. My hubby and I haven't exchanged gifts yet (with soooo many people to shop for, we decided it was best to wait until AFTER Christmas for each other's gifts). With any luck, I'll get a bookstore gift card.

I did buy my daughter books, though.

[Writing Again]

I never gave my teachers anything except a headache, and none of them gave me anything except a "F" except for one whose class I skipped the entire year: She gave me a "D" (because I did not bother her) and she ruined my perfect "F" grade.

I should have stayed in class so I could have kept my average down where it belonged.

[debraji]

Books are my favorite presents. This year's haul:

Elizabeth Hand - Mortal Love

Gene Wolfe - The Wizard (now I can start The Knight and read both books back-to-back)

Shelby Foote - civil war trilogy (history)

The Philosopher's Kitchen (ancient Greek & Roman recipes adapted for the modern kitchen)

Shakespeare's Kitchen (Elizabethan recipes...)

The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom (children's book publisher)

The Annotated Grimm's Fairy Tales

I bought Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell in September, but saved it to read during the holidays. It was absolutely wonderful--I highly recommend it to lovers of fantasy, Jane Austen, and/or Patrick O'Brian.

I've also recently finished Philip Roth's The Plot Against America (clunky worldbuilding, but vivid, vivid characters).

[Nateskate]

I'm not naming names, but I went out and searched for books written by authors posted here on the boards. I gave Barnes and Nobles a run for their money.

Even when it is in the store, the books are not always where they are supposed to be. They spent a 1/2 hour searching for one book and finally found it.

I guess I figured it was another way to get to know people here. But I didn't list names, because I don't want anyone to feel slighted if I didn't get there book. Worse, that I couldn't find their books, which was a problem in some cases.

[drgnlvrljh]

That brings back memories drgn. I used to hunker by the window and read by the streetlight. And yeah, I had glasses by the time I was eight.

In her opinion, it's a small sacrifice to be able to enjoy her books (Wow, does she ever take after her mother!)

[STORMTURNER]

With my limited knowledge on writing novels, I bought my share of how-tos.

1. You Can Write a Novel by James V. Smith, Jr. (which I recommend);

2. How to Write a Damn Good Novel by James N. Frey;

3. How Not to Write a Novel by David Armstrong (which I returned because I found it unuseful);

4. Writing the Thriller by Trish Macdonald Skillman;

5. Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction by Patricia Highsmith (3 stars); and

6. The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing: A 16-Step Program Guaranteed to Take You from Idea to Completed Manuscript by Evan Marshall (which I returned and borrowed from the library after finding the internet more useful)

[Greenwolf103]

How to Write a Damn Good Novel is a damn good book.
(Pardon my English.)

[Vulpes Sapien]

My sister handed me a gift bag and said, "Mom and I found this in the Walmart book bin. Mom thought you wouldn't like it, since you don't read horror, but I looked through it and I think you will."

It was Stephen King's On Writing. *G* I had wanted it, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

My husband gave me a gift certificate for Chapters bookstore. I'm going to buy The First Five Pages and Self-Editing for Fiction Writers.

My son received an audio book of Charlotte's Web, and a set of three books called "Pendragon". I hope they're good.

On a funny side note, because Santa put some in my stocking, my son also thinks that the Bic company chose their name to appeal to writers ... you know ... they're the Butt In Chair pen company.

[HollyB]

:) I guess we all need BIC pens!

My family doesn't buy books for me -- they complain that I've already read everything. But thank goodness for gift certificates!!!! And my kids made me adorable book marks (what a perfect present!).

I do love buying books as gifts, and I have a special talent for picking the perfect book. For my globe-trotting friend, The Kite Runner. For my SF-loving nephew, Susannah Clark's Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. My daughter got the whole Little House on the Prairie series and Chasing Vermeer.

It doesn't feel like Christmas without a good book under the tree!

[Jyndral]

I got some books and I will be getting some books. lol.

I got a $10 gift card to Hastings from my brother. From my mom, I got Eragon by Christopher Paolini, Walk On: The Spiritual Journey of U2 by Steve Stockman, and Life Lessons for Women by the same guys who do the Chcken Soup for the Soul books.

She'd ordered some others for me, but they haven't come in yet. Two of those that I know of are Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer and The Renegade Writer. She won't tell me what the others are. lol.

[ShinyPenguin]

HConn, that cat-a-pult is FUNNY! (and I'm a cat lover) Reminds me of when the kids asked if our cats could fly and I said, "Sure if you throw them hard enough."

I only got two books, both from my brother-in-law. One is a book of knitting patterns and the other is Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse by Robert Rankin. I think I may go out to the bookstore for my birthday tomorrow though.

[ChunkyC]

Some fabulous books listed here.

My brother sent me UNCLE JOHN'S SLIGHTLY IRREGULAR BATHROOM READER, and I received a used but in good shape paperback copy of THE DIFFERENCE ENGINE by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling.

[Victim 655321]

America: The Book
Wake Up, Sir!
The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard

[STORMTURNER]

I almost forgot that my husband bought "My Life" by Bill Clinton for me. I made it through the first couple of pages and thought, "Eh, I know the ending" so I put it down.

[Pellegrina Leoni]

The Portable Dorothy Parker
Reservation Blues by Sherman Alexie
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Grendel by John Gardner

[AncientEagle]

Jon Stewart's AMERICA: THE BOOK
David Sedaris' HOLIDAYS ON ICE
Chris Baty's NO PLOT? NO PROBLEM!

[CindyBidar]

Chris Baty's NO PLOT? NO PROBLEM!

That sounds like a book I could use! :|

[STORMTURNER]

"Lolita" was such a good read. Believe it or not it was required reading for all 9th graders when I attended Sidwell Friends in '91.

I saw the movie, too. The screenwriter left too much out.

[Pellegrina Leoni]

This will be my first read of Lolita.

I hate it when movies leave out half the book. Makes me think of Wuthering Heights, the classic movie with Orson Welles. Such a shame to end the film when Cathy (the first) dies. There's much more to the story!

[macalicious731]

No books for me, but my mom got the new Ellen Degeneres, and my dad got The Plot Against America and America: The Book.

Oh, Pellegrina, Stormturner's right. Lolita is wonderful. Haven't seen the film, though.

And HConn, I've only seen Pig-a-Pults in stores.

[Kallahan]

Funny you should bring this up. Well not really, this is a writers forum.

Anywho I've been kinda hit or miss this year, I recently picked up a couple books that demonstartes my frustration.

Valis by Philip K. Dick - recently got this one, kinda iffy, its a real slow start. Not his best work in my mind. Picked this up as a sure fire winner.

The Engines of God, by Jack McDevitt - Picked this up as a secondary sorta thing, you know try a new author. Ended up staying up all night reading it, Ironically McDevitt is a Phillip K. Dick award winner, I'll have to peruse his selection in depth for the new year.

All the star wars books realesed this year, by all the Authors who realeased star wars books this year - Yea I know I'm pathetic.

Visions, by Michio Kaku - Its an interesting look into the future from 1996. He's my favorite living Theoretical Physicist.

Cats Cradle, By Kurt Vonnegut - Don't know how this one slipped by me until recently, I've always enjoyed his works.

I'm sure there are dosens more, my debt card says so, but thats all I can think of now.

[HConn]

And HConn, I've only seen Pig-a-Pults in stores.

If you follow the link, you can order yourself a genuine Cat-a-pult.

At the same time, you can order Windup Hopping Lederhosen (http://www.mcphee.com/amusements/current/11138.html) and Nunzilla. (http://www.mcphee.com/amusements/current/10354w.html)

Oh, this is a thread about books. Well, the same store sells a book: Book Lust. (http://www.mcphee.com/bigindex/current/M5985.html) While I don't have Ms. Pearl's book, I do have the Librarian Action Figure modeled on her. (http://www.mcphee.com/bigindex/current/11247.html)

[Pellegrina Leoni]

I plan to start Lolita after I finish Dorothy Parker - I'm looking forward to it.

And Kallahan, Visions is excellent. Since you're interested in theoretical physics (yum!), let me recommend Brian Greene's The Elegant Universe. It's about superstrings.

[Kallahan]

I've read all of Brian Greene's stuff :)

[Pellegrina Leoni]

Cool, Kallahan! Brian Greene rocks. :rollin

[Zane Curtis]

I didn't get any books for Christmas -- I guess my family is a bit wary of my eclectic literary tastes. :b It doesn't really bother me, though, because I got so many books through the year:

Books I've Read

Foundation's Edge by Isaac Asimov
Light by M John Harrison
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett
The Dreamthief's Daughter by Michael Moorcock
King of The City by Michael Moorcock

Books I Haven't Read Yet

Fortune's Favourites by Colleen McCullough
The Scar by China Mieville
Neuromancer by William Gibson
The Frogs and Other Plays by Aristophanes
The Skrayling Tree by Michael Moorcock
The Nicomachean Ethics of Aristotle

[STORMTURNER]

I would love the book I buy this year, '05, be mine.