Thursday, May 14, 2009

The Apartment Is Clean(er)

While I remain in a holding pattern, waiting to hear from the new editor, I figured I'd let you know I don't spend all my spare non-apartmentcleaning time, playing with Scooter.

Actually, since I have almost a week before the American Idol finale, I have plenty of time to read (well, maybe not plenty, since Joyce and Lew are coming this weekend). Here's the list of what I just read, am reading, and will be reading:

I finished reading Devil's Gate. I learned a lot about early Mormon history. If I'd had any doubts before, I decided I never ever want to cross America while pulling a handcart. Never.

I am currently reading Nathan Hale by M. William Phelps. I'm determined to finish it before Joyce and Lew get here, so if Lew wants it, I can give it to him. It has big margins and not that many pages, so I should be able to finish it today.

Next, I'll be reading Testimony by Anita Shreve. It's a 2 week library book, but it has big margins and not too many pages and looks pretty juicy (if any of you have read it, and it's not juicy, don't let me know).

After that, I'll be reading Mistress of the Monarchy by Alison Weir. I had one of those Borders coupons, and I treated myself to it. I always like Alison Weir biographies, so I was pleased to see a new one. This one is about Katherine Swynford, Duchess of Lancester. I never heard of her either. She was John of Gaunt's mistress. I haven't exactly heard of John of Gaunt (although his name is familiar), but I like biographies with lots of sex in them. You have no idea how many biographies I've read of Henry VIII and all six wives. Catherine Howard was definitely the sexiest.

Scooter is just now figuring out how to chase his tail. This is very distracting.

After I finish Mistress of the Monarchy, I'm going to reread Cashelmara and The Wheel Of Fortune by Susan Howatch. Alison Weir says one of the characters in The Wheel Of Fortune is based on Katherine Swynford (so I guess Susan Howatch had heard of her), and while The Wheel Of Fortune isn't exactly a sequel to Cashelmara, it kind of is, so I might as well reread it first. Susan Howatch novels are my favorite things to reread in the summer.

I found this game on the internet. You open the book you're reading to any old page, and then you write down something from lines 7-12. So in honor of Nathan Hale and inspiring people to read, here goes:

Nathan explained where he had traveled over the past eight months, after he had left Coventry in January. "As to Brigades." he said, "at the beginning of the Campaign we were at Winter Hill...from thence we were removed to Roxbury... and then we moved from that place here...eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeghw22222222222222222222kkk, 78222222222222222222222222222222222222222

Okay. Some of that isn't from page 131 of Nathan Hale. Scooter may not know how to read, but he sure knows how to write!

8 comments:

Becky said...

Have you read The King's Rose by Alisa M. Libby? It came out this year and is too much fun.

I have also been enjoying some Margaret Campbell Barnes though I've only managed to find two of her books. (I'd love to read them all!)

I've only read one Alison Weir biography--though I loved it.

Ann Marie said...

Testimony by Anita Shreve is a great book, but her best book ever is Fortune's Rock.

Ann Marie
Teen Librarian
West Hartford Public Library

Elaine Marie Alphin said...

Sorry for the long time silent - I've been having back trouble and been traveling way too much. But I had to jump in when I saw you also love Cashelmara and The Wheel of Fortune! I re-read those books regularly, and it's good to find someone else who does also.

By the way - major congrats on B3! Even though I haven't been writing to you, I've been reading your blog and thoroughly enjoying your comments about its progress before you sent it out. I can't wait to see the book next year.

Susan Beth Pfeffer said...

Hello to Becky and Ann Marie and Elaine Marie Alphin-

It's good to hear from all of you, with or without Marie as your middle names.

I finished the biography of Nathan Hale a few minutes ago. Apparently he was tall, handsome, intelligent, and stunningly inept as a spy. Also, he never said, "I regret that I have but one life to give for my country." He never even said, "I regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."

Hale, himself, didn't turn out to be so interesting, but the story of how his brother Enoch tried to find out just what had happened to him was really quite moving. We take the ease of acquiring information for granted now, but in those days, when everything was done by letter or word of mouth, it was so hard to learn just what had happened.

Is The King's Rose historical fiction? I'm not big on historical fiction, unless it's a nice fat family saga novel. I miss family saga novels. I had this great realization that they've been replaced by memoirs.

I'm two days worth of NY Times behind, and my friend Joyce has an article in today's, so I'd better read it before she comes tomorrow!

Becky said...

I just love big fat books. Especially family sagas. Have you read Edward Rutherfurd? I love, love, love London and Sarum!

Yes, King's Rose is historical fiction on Catherine Howard. It is a very delicious book--very well written.

Susan Beth Pfeffer said...

Hi Becky-

Thank you for the recommendation. I'll put The King's Rose on my list.

Catherine Howard was one naughty girl!

jmaster1324 said...

go scooter. better be carefull, or your cat will take your job, ha ha ha, just kiding

Susan Beth Pfeffer said...

Hi Jmaster1324-

Sometimes I think Scooter could do a better job than me.

He's certainly a lot cuter than I am!