Okay, if you’re over the age of 30, you probably remember that line from the infamous Malt O Meal commercial. It remains one of my favorite late 70’s/early 80’s quotes of ALL TIME. Right up there with “now you know, and knowing is half the battle” (GI Joe), and “where’s the beef?” (Wendy’s). Okay, enough with the flashbacks. Moving on.
Today is full of good stuff, Maynard or otherwise. Because today, I get to announce the winner of the “Is Anyone Listening?” Comments Contest. And that winner should come as no surprise, as he asked the most random, bizarre, and laugh/snort/spit-out-my-coffee question ever. That’s right, Shan, you are our winner! For combining veal, math, and the use of Wikipedia into one question, you’ll receive a gift card to Target. Just email your mailing address to thecheapchick@gmail.com, and I’ll get it sent out to you, toot sweet.
I want to thank everyone who logged on, read my blog, and asked a question. I love holding these Comments Contests, because hearing from you guys? Is the BEST. Never forget, you’re the reason why I have this website. It’s all about YOU. No pressure or anything…
Other good stuff? Also on the docket for today, I’m creating my summer reading list – yes, much like the ones we got at the end of each school year. Except now I’m in charge of what I get to read, and there will no sign of Hemmingway or any other ‘good for me’ book on the list. I’m all about the beach book, people. I’ll show you mine, and then you show me yours, okay? Okay.
The Cheap Chick’s Summer Lovin’ Reading List (available mostly at the library, or from my sister-in-law, who shares my tastes in literature):
1. The latest books from Kim Harrison, Charlaine Harris and Ilona Andrews. I’m so badly addicted to the Rachel Morgan, Sookie Stackhouse, and Kate Daniels series. Luckily a. they all have new books out and b. my SIL has already bought/read them. Thank you, SIL, for loaning me books so I don’t have to buy them or wait for them to show up at the library. You are made of WIN.
2. Reread A is for Alibi and M is for Malice. Also, finish T is for Trespass and start U is for Undertow. Guys, I loves me some Sue Grafton. I will cry mighty and many tears when she finally reaches the letter Z. What will I read then? Oh, I know…
3. Reread Desperation and The Regulators by Stephen King. King wrote one book as himself and the other as his alter-ego, Richard Bachman. He used the same characters in both books, but switched up their personalities/fate between the two. So if you were a good guy who lived in one book, you were a bad guy who died in the other. One book ends on a note of love, enlightenment, and faith in God… and the other? Not so much. And in case you didn’t know, Bachman represented King’s dark side. Yes, even King has a darker dark side. Scary, no?
4. Finally, finally, FINALLY read Duma Key by Stephen King and Swan Song by Robert McCammon. I’ve been meaning to read these for over a year now, and should really get crackalackin’. I WANT to read them, it’s just their lengths are a bit daunting. Not because I don’t like long books, I just have a problem putting down a book until I’ve finished the whole darned thing. And folks, I’ve got stuff to do – like eating and sleeping.
What do you plan to read this summer? And can you complete your list with books from the library, or will you have to purchase them?
6 Comments
Just bought the new Sookie book today. I am hopeful, but not too much, I’ve heard disappointing things. Looking forward to the start of True Blood!
I can’t even begin to name my list. I have about 200 books on my TBR bookshelf. I get stuff from the library, but mainly from thrift stores and garage sales. I just really like to have the option to keep the ones I love. Have you read all the Stephanie Plum books? You would LURVE them.
Actually Hemmingway can be pretty entertaining. One summer while laid off I spent a weekend laying on a dock in the sun with my dog Heidi reading The Sun Also Rises.
Honestly I don’t remember a lot about the book but remember that I sure did enjoy the time I spent reading it.
Great list of books and authors. Good ideas for new authors to discover! I love Stephen King as well, but have only read “Insomnia” and “Needful Things”.
I’m working on reading numerous books, some fiction, some not. Lots of sewing and cooking ones, all from the library. I, too, prefer to have the option to keep the books and read at my total leisure. But that’s not always an option I can enjoy. I’m “shopping in my closet”, so-to-speak (as it’s often recommended for clothing), by digging through my current book collection for stuff to re-read, or stuff I haven’t gotten to yet. I get most of my books from Half Price Books, thrift stores, the sale shelves at the library, and occasionally, from Amazon (*looooove* Amazon). I’m looking forward to getting through “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe”, “You Can If You Think You Can”, “Walking in Circles Before Laying Down”, “Gone with the Wind”, “Scarlet”, and others, as time allows. I could never get a Kindle or similar device. The actual books are a big part of the experience for me. Cheap Chick, do you have the inkling to get a Kindle?
I don’t know what I plan to read this summer but I love your choice of Regulators/Desperation. That was a genius duo Mr. King had there.
Wait … did you say there’s a new Sookie book? If there is, I need to get that one. stat.
I heartily nack your decision to read Duma Key. Un-freakin-believabel! I would lend you our copy, but my mom took it to Michigan and who knows when I will make it out that way to collect all the books I have lent her…. However, I can lend you Under the Dome, also a really really good King tome. I read it in 3 days. When you look at how huge it is, the so good I can’t put it down factor becomes obvious!
May I recommend “Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand”? I thought it was a great debut book, very entertaining. I probably have 500-600 books in the house right now; a lot I have read and will keep and then quite a few to be read. Some reference books and a few books for work (I’m a computer programmer by day). I’m reading a cozy mystery right now and will then go into something a little heavier but prefer to keep the books lightweight in the summer. Something about the heavy humidity and heat vs. a wonderfully light, fluffy read.