random bookishness

Well, first of all, while this seemingly has nothing to do with books or reading, I just wanted to say how great I feel right now. As it is a crisp, cool, and frankly just perfectly gorgeous morning here, I decided to walk to our polling place this morning. (It's only slightly more than a mile from home.) So I'm now not only feeling invigorated by casting my ballot, but also from a glorious morning stroll. The only disappointment--I didn't have to wait in line. Not for a single second. Walked right in, signed my name, and walked into the booth. I'd taken my book along and was so looking forward to standing in line reading guilt-free while I waited, but it was not to be. Okay, I'm being somewhat facetious here. I am grateful that I didn't have to wait in line for hours on end, but geez, couldn't I have just got a page or two in?

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It's Tuesday, Where Are You?

I have just boarded a plane in Monrovia, about to head to the U.S. The date is May 16, 1980, and circumstances are terrifying. (The House at Sugar Beach) I'm also in London in the late 17th century watching Edward Tyson make some fascinating discoveries in comparative anatomy. (The Scientists) And finally, I'm listening to Admiral David Farragut shout, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" as he tries to take the port of Mobile, AL, in the summer of 1864. (The Civil War)

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Tuesday Teasers
Tuesday Teasers asks you to:
-Grab your current read.
-Let the book fall open to a random page.
-Share with us two “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
-You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Richard was smiling and shaking his head. It flashed through my mind: How are you supposed to act at school the day after your father is executed by a firing squad?
(from The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper, p. 187)

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And finally, while I did get a couple of new books...The 13 Best Horror Stories of All Time edited by Leslie Pockell, which I guess is part of my prize from the read-a-thon (?) and In The Land of Invisible Women by Qanta A. Ahmed, MD, which I am so excited to dive into (I heard the author on the Diane Rehm Show on NPR and really wanted her book, so imagine my elation when I was actually offered a review copy)...I have no points to award for the Blame Game. And speaking of the blame game, I originally said it would go until the end of April, but I think I'm going to move it up until the end of January and then start a new round, with each lasting 3 months.