1. Yes, My Accent Is
Real by Kunal Nayyar, read by the
author, 2015, 7hr, DDC 791.4502 (1/1/17)
The actor known
for playing Raj Koothrappali on The Big Bang Theory shares stories from his life. I listened to the
audiobook, which I highly recommend because not only is it a very funny book in
itself, but Nayyar does the reading, and who would pass up the chance to listen
to Raj tell stories?
2. One Librarian by Katherine Smith Diehl, 1956, 165 pg, DDC 027.7
(1/7/17)
Diehl recounts
her experiences as the solo librarian at a small religiously-affiliated junior
college in Texas during the 1940s and early 1950s. She discusses furnishings
and layout, materials selection, interactions with faculty and administration,
library policy, and the crucial role student workers play in day-to-day
operations. Although written for her specific time and place, much of what she
says is relevant to the libraries of today as well.
3. Pawn of Prophecy (The Belgariad #1) by David Eddings, read by Cameron
Beierle, 2003, 10hr 25m (1/12/17)
I read the
Belgariad and about half of the Malloreon back in the early nineties, and after
a few years of selecting books based on reading challenge criteria, I have been
wanting to dive into more fantasy. When I came across Pawn of Prophecy
on Hoopla, I decided it might be nice to reunite with Garion, Polgara, and
Belgarath, but I was particularly delighted to remember Silk's existence just
as he was entering the story.
4. Willow by Wayland Drew,
1988, 276 pg (1/13/17)
Speaking of
reading more fantasy and revisiting old friends... I came across my copy of Willow
while cataloging my mountain of scifi/fantasy. Yes, it's a movie novelization,
and I'm generally not a fan of those. However, this novelization is a good one.
It provides more depth in the backstories than I've typically seen, and the
story is enjoyable. I may just have to hunt up the movie for a rewatch one of
these days.
5. When Red is Black
(Inspector Chen #3) by Qui Xiaolong, 2004, 310 pg (1/14/17)
I actually
checked out this book with the intention of reading it as my X author book for
last year. When I realized I wouldn't be able to finish it in time to count for
2016, I decided to hold off and read it at the beginning of 2017 so I could
take care of that pesky X author category early on. I enjoyed the first two
Inspector Chen books when I read them in previous years, and this one was also
good. I like how Xiaolong weaves cultural elements and explanations into the
narration in a way that helps readers who are not familiar with Chinese culture
and history feel less ignorant without being weighed down by exposition.
6. Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson, read by the author, 2015, 8.5hr, 070.92
(1/15/17)
7. A Prefect's Uncle by P.
G. Wodehouse, 1972, 154 pg (1/16/17)
I was wandering
past the stacks containing the children's collection at our university library
one afternoon when I noticed some P. G. Wodehouse books on one of the shelves.
I have been sort of falling in love with Wodehouse's writing over the past
couple of years, but experience his stories almost exclusively through
audiobooks. (I've also watched the television adaptations of his work in Jeeves
& Wooster and - one of my very favorites - Blandings.) Since
I couldn't remember actually reading any of his books, I flipped through the
few that were on the shelf and checked out the one that seemed to have been
written the earliest. It's full of English boarding school boys with
their escapades and cricket matches, as well as Wodehouse's usual turns of
phrase that amuse me so greatly.
If you'd like a
peek at my odd sense of humor, here is an excerpt from chapter one that made me
laugh. In it, Marriott is asking Gethryn for help in deciphering part of a
letter he has received from one of his aunts, asking him to befriend a new boy
at the school.
'His name is—'
'Well?'
'That's the
point. At this point the manuscript becomes absolutely illegible. I have
conjectured Percy for the first name. It may be Richard, but I'll plunge on
Percy. It's the surname that stumps me. Personally, I think it's MacCow, though
I trust it isn't, for the kid's sake. I showed the letter to my brother, the
one who's at Oxford. He swore it was Watson, but, on being pressed, hedged with
Sandys. You may as well contribute your little bit. What do you make of it?'
Gethryn
scrutinized the document with care.
'She begins with
a D. You can see that.'
'Well?'
'Next letter a
or u. I see. Of course. It's Duncan.'
'Think so?' said
Marriott doubtfully. 'Well, let's go and ask the matron if she knows anything
about him.'
'Miss Jones,' he
said, when they had reached the House, 'have you on your list of new boys a
sportsman of the name of MacCow or Watson? I am also prepared to accept Sandys
or Duncan. The Christian name is either Richard or Percy. There, that gives you
a fairly wide field to choose from.'
'There's a P. V.
Wilson on the list,' said the matron, after an inspection of that document.
'That must be
the man,' said Marriott.
(If you'd like
to experience the rest, the ebook is available from Project Gutenberg and an
audio version is in progress at LibriVox.)
8. The Beverly Hillbillies (stage
adaptation) by D. D. Brooke, 1968, 96pg, play in 3 acts (9m/12f) (1/23/17)
I have been
working on a project to catalog and organize my personal library and recently
tackled my drama boxes. Many years ago, a friend of mine passed along several
scripts that had been left in her classroom by her predecessor, including 20
copies of the stage adaptation of The Beverly Hillbillies. I read the
script to determine whether or not I should hold on to these scripts for the
eventual someday when I would use them to direct a production. The script has
plenty of cheesy bits, some fun moments, and some not-exactly-p.c. elements. If
there are die-hard Hillbillies fans out there who want to help a new
generation gain an appreciation for Granny, Jed, Elly May, and Jethro, this is
the show for them. I do not happen to be one of these people, so I will be
releasing these scripts so they can find a new home.
9. Has American Christianity Failed? by Bryan Wolfmueller, 2016, 250 pg, DDC 230.41 (1/24/17)
10. Coriolanus by William Shakespeare,
1999, 142 pg (1/29/17)
2016 marked the
400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death, so my main reading challenge
- beyond my usual Title and Author A-Z and Dewey Decimal challenges - was to
read the complete works of Shakespeare. I didn't quite complete the challenge,
but I came close! Coriolanus was the lone remaining work by the end of
the year.
Title A-Z: A B C
D E F G H I J K L M N O P
Q R S T U V W X Y Z #
Author A-Z: A B C D
E F G H I J K L M N
O P Q R S T U V W X
Y Z
Dewey: 000 100 200
300 400 500 600 700 800 900
TBR: 4
Library Books: 6
Print: 7
Audio: 3
Children's: 1
Adult: 3
Scripts: 2
Nonfiction: 4
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