Magic marker, indeed!

Posted on March 26, 2014 by betsybeadhead | Leave a comment

There are several children’s books that feature a child who draws with a pencil (or marker, or crayon) and things magically appear from what they draw. They are all enjoyable. Here are some that I’ve particularly liked.
AUTHOR Gilliland, Judith Heide.
TITLE Not in the house, Newton! / Judith Heide Gilliland ; illustrated
by Elizabeth Sayles.
NOTE Everything Newton draws with his magic red crayon becomes real,
and heeding his mother’s admonition he flies the airplane he
draws right out the window.
AUTHOR Johnson, Crockett, 1906-1975.
TITLE Harold and the purple crayon / by Crockett Johnson.
NOTE Harold goes for an adventurous walk in the moonlight with his
purple crayon.

AUTHOR McCarty, Peter.
TITLE Jeremy draws a monster / Peter McCarty.
NOTE A young boy who spends most of his time alone in his bedroom
makes new friends after the monster in his drawing becomes a
monstrous nuisance.

AUTHOR Collins, Ross.
TITLE Doodleday / by Ross Collins.
NOTE Despite his mother’s warning, young Harvey draws on Doodleday,
but when his drawings come to life in frightening ways, only
his mother can help.

“Dog Loves Drawing” by Louise Yates

“The Pencil” by Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman

Aaron Becker’s series – Journey, Quest, and Return

Movies that make you question reality

Posted on January 4, 2014 by betsybeadhead | Leave a comment

Ones I’ve seen and enjoyed –

Dark City
The Matrix
The Prestige
Total Recall
Existenz
Abre Los Ojos / Vanilla Sky
Alice in Wonderland (Anything except Disney versions)
Memento
Inception
Orlando

Ones that other people have recommended for this category but I’ve not seen yet or don’t remember well enough –

Cube
The 13th Floor
Videodrome
Jacob’s Ladder
12 Monkeys
Sphere
Minority Report
The City of Lost Children
Hitchcock – Spellbound
Equilibrium
Kurosawa – Rashômon

So, if you want to inspire a sense of alternate reality without doing drugs, watch a few of these back to back.

Goin’ on a book hunt…

Posted on October 7, 2013 by betsybeadhead | Leave a comment

I love going to used book stores. I’ve created a method to find the next great book I’m going to read in the speculative fiction section. I’ve discovered some amazing gems this way.

At any point the book can be passed aside. There are various tests that each book must pass. Sometimes a book will pass several tests, but not the following one. Then, depending on how high they rate in the previous tests, I may still give it a try.

First, the book has to be half an inch thick or less. Less is better. If the author needs 500 pages to get to the point, I’m not interested. Break it up into a trilogy if you have that much to say.

One reason for this requirement is that I often hold paperbacks with one hand while eating, and I often carry paperbacks in my purse. The smaller, the better. Size does in fact matter.

Second, I look at the cover art. Yes, I do judge a book by its cover. We all do, don’t look at me like that. There are some really amazing covers out there. There some real clunkers too. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then I want to see a picture that is worthy of the words I am considering reading.

Deal-breakers? The cover has a picture of a muscle-bound man with a sword or a gun. Especially if he has a nearly-naked woman by his side. If the woman has a sword too, I reconsider. I am tired of books where the woman has to be rescued. Then there are covers with lots of spaceships and antennae. I’ve found I like books that are set on other planets with other cultures, but I’m not so interested in books that are set on a spaceship. Somehow I get claustrophobic reading those.

Camp is not my thing, so covers that look excessively silly won’t do.

This “druid” looks like he has been mainlining steroids.

Now, if the cover art is really good I’ll consider buying it just for the cover, but the cost is then an important factor.

Third – the price has to be right. Under $2 is good. $0.75 or less is ideal. Because of this, I don’t look at well-known authors. Because of this I’ve found some amazing “new” authors. They aren’t new at all. They are probably dead, because most of the books I’m reading are 30 years old or more. But there are probably other books by that author to find the next time I go.

If the price is over $2, there had better be other factors that change the balance. It doesn’t mean it is out, but it does mean there had better be other points in the book’s favor. Now, $4 or more is right out.

Fourth – I flip to the back and read the blurb. Is it interesting? (plus) Is there excessive capitalization? (minus)

Are there long silly names? (minus)

Fifth, I open it. If the print is tiny then everything ends right there, even if everything else passed. I am getting older, and tiny print is a real pain. I love my Kindle in part because I can make the print as big as I need, but that doesn’t factor into used book selection. Plenty of these books will never make it to Kindle. Even if they did, they’d cost too much. I love the Kindle, but you can’t trade in used Kindle books like you can real books.

I’ll flip to a random section and try it out. How does it read? Are there lots of unintelligible words? (minus) Does it seem plausible yet surprising? (plus) I’ll flip to several sections to check it out at this point. This part takes the longest, which is reasonable. I’m going to spend the longest amount of time reading it, so it had better be worth my time.

Sixth- How does the book smell? And I don’t mean that old-book smell. That is a plus. I mean does the book smell like pee – human or pet? Does it smell like cigarette smoke? Does it smell of some cloyingly elaborate perfume that some ladies wear to cover up the other two smells?

Those are definite deal-breakers. I have no desire to spend hours really close to a book that smells.

Here are some covers of books I’ve enjoyed recently using this technique. I hope it inspires you to find new authors. Happy hunting!

Here’s a collection of some I found using this method for the first time. It was on a road trip.

Personality test.

Posted on August 29, 2013 by betsybeadhead | Leave a comment

This is a cool personality quiz I learned many years ago.

Ask someone –

What is your favorite animal?
What is your favorite color?
What is your favorite form of water?

After each question, get her to describe its qualities. Try to get her to not describe the physical qualities, but how she feels about it or its characteristics. Try to get at least four characteristics or qualities.

For instance, if the animal is “dog”, “fuzzy” isn’t helpful, but “loyal” is.

For each one, the answer isn’t important, the description is. How does the person describe this thing? “Dog” could produce “loyal, friendly” but it could also produce “protective, fierce”.

Here’s the key to the quiz –

Animal refers to how the person sees herself.

Color refers to how others view her.

Water relates to how she feels about sex.

Death books

Posted on August 20, 2013 by betsybeadhead | Leave a comment

Books on death, dying, and funeral customs. Face your fear. These are in no particular order. I’ve read most of them. Some look interesting and I’ll get to. There is enough information here for you to get them from Inter-Library Loan (ILL) if your local library does not have them.

CALL # 611 R6282s.
AUTHOR Roach, Mary.
TITLE Stiff : the curious lives of human cadavers
ISBN/ISSN 0393050939 (hc : alk. paper)
ISBN/ISSN 0393324826 (pbk.)

CALL # 393.9 P9772f.
AUTHOR Puckle, Bertram S.
TITLE Funeral customs : their origin and development
ISBN/ISSN 1558887504 :

CALL # 393 M6475f.
AUTHOR Miller, Clarence W.
TITLE The funeral book
ISBN/ISSN 1885003021 (pbk.) :

CALL # 155.937 C69h.
AUTHOR Colgrove, Melba.
TITLE How to survive the loss of a love
ISBN/ISSN 0553077600 (pbk.) :

CALL # 152.4 J279g 2009.
AUTHOR James, John W.
TITLE The grief recovery handbook : the action program for moving
beyond death, divorce, and other losses including health
career, and faith
ISBN/ISSN 0061686077 (pbk.)
ISBN/ISSN 9780061686078 (pbk.)

CALL # 362.14 S92m.
AUTHOR Strong, Maggie.
TITLE Mainstay : for the well spouse of the chronically ill
ISBN/ISSN 0316819239 :

CALL # YA 306.903 M6138t.
AUTHOR Meyers, Karen, 1948-
TITLE The truth about death and dying
ISBN/ISSN 9780816076314 (hardcover : alk. paper)
ISBN/ISSN 0816076316 (hardcover : alk. paper)

CALL # 393.9 M9841m.
AUTHOR Murray, Sarah (Sarah Elizabeth)
TITLE Making an exit : from the magnificent to the macabre-how we
dignify the dead
ISBN/ISSN 9780312533021.
ISBN/ISSN 0312533020.

CALL # 362.1756 H4342.
TITLE A healing touch : true stories of life, death, and hospice
ISBN/ISSN 9780892727513 (hardcover : alk. paper)
ISBN/ISSN 0892727519 (hardcover : alk. paper)

CALL # 616.078 N969h.
AUTHOR Nuland, Sherwin B.
TITLE How we die : reflections on life’s final chapter
ISBN/ISSN 0679414614.

CALL # 155.937 L8499f.
AUTHOR Longaker, Christine.
TITLE Facing death and finding hope : a guide to the emotional and
spiritual care of the dying
ISBN/ISSN 0385483325 (pbk.) :

CALL # 155.937 K95od.
AUTHOR Kübler-Ross, Elisabeth, 1926-2004.
TITLE On death and dying : what the dying have to teach doctors,
nurses, clergy, and their families
ISBN/ISSN 9780684839387 (trade pbk.)
ISBN/ISSN 0684839385 (trade pbk.)

CALL # 344.7304 U78L.
AUTHOR Urofsky, Melvin I.
TITLE Letting go : death, dying, and the law
ISBN/ISSN 0806126353 (pbk.)
ISBN/ISSN 0684193442.

CALL # 155.937 B398i.
AUTHOR Becvar, Dorothy Stroh.
TITLE In the presence of grief : helping family members resolve death,
dying, and bereavement issues
ISBN/ISSN 1572306971 (pbk.)
ISBN/ISSN 1572309377.

CALL # 393 E845.
TITLE Ethnic variations in dying, death, and grief : diversity in
universality
ISBN/ISSN 1560322780 (pbk.)

Greening Death: Reclaiming Burial Practices and Restoring Our Tie to the Earth by Suzanne Kelly

When We Die: The Science, Culture, and Rituals of Death by Cedric Mims

Saying Goodbye Your Way: Planning or Buying a Funeral or Cremation for Yourself or Someone You Love by John F. Llewellyn

Grave Matters: A Journey Through the Modern Funeral Industry to a Natural Way of Burial by Mark Harris

The American Way of Death Revisited by Jessica Mitford

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty

Dealing Creatively with Death: A Manual of Death Education and Simple Burial by Ernest Morgan

When Death Occurs: A Practical Consumer’s Guide Funerals, Memorials, Burial, Cremation, Body Donation by John Reigle

The Funeral Book: An Insider Reveals How to Save Money and Reduce Stress While Planning a Funeral by William Miller

Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs, and Communications of the Dying by Maggie Callanan

Religious books

Posted on July 16, 2013 by betsybeadhead | Leave a comment

When I say “religious” I don’t mean just Christian. I mean “follower of God”, the Creator, the Divine Spirit – whatever you name the Force that animates us and created us and loves us.

These are books I’ve read that I find useful or helpful. They are in no particular order. They speak to what it means to have an active faith. They are about living a life that is directed by love and service. There is a lot of questioning in there too. If you local library does not have these books you can ask them to order them via Inter Library Loan.

CALL # 277.3 M6437t.
AUTHOR Miles, Sara, 1952-
TITLE Take this bread : a radical conversion / Sara Miles.
EDITION 1st ed.
IMPRINT New York : Ballantine Books, c2007.
DESCRIPT xviii, 283 p. ; 22 cm.
SUBJECT Christian converts — United States — Biography.
SUBJECT Church work with the poor — United States.
SUBJECT Food relief — United States.
ISBN/ISSN 0345486927.
ISBN/ISSN 9780345486929.

CALL # 248.32 B87717p.
AUTHOR Brown, Patricia D., 1953-
TITLE Paths to prayer : finding your own way to the presence of God / Patricia D. Brown.
EDITION 1st ed.
IMPRINT San Francisco, Calif. : Jossey-Bass, c2003.
DESCRIPT vii, 343 p. : ill. ; 19 cm.
SUBJECT Prayer.
ISBN/ISSN 0787965650 (alk. paper)

CALL # 248.4 C4542c.
AUTHOR Chan, Francis, 1967-
TITLE Crazy love : overwhelmed by a relentless God / Francis Chan ; with Danae Yankoski.
IMPRINT Colorado Springs, Colo. : David C. Cook, 2008.
DESCRIPT 205 p. ; 21 cm.
SUBJECT Christian life.
ALT AUTHOR Yankoski, Danae.
ISBN/ISSN 9781434768513 (trade pbk.)
ISBN/ISSN 1434768511 (trade pbk.)

CALL # 242 S8442s.
AUTHOR Stevens, Becca, 1963-
TITLE Sanctuary : unexpected places where God found me / Becca Stevens.
IMPRINT Nashville, TN : Dimensions for Living, 2005.
DESCRIPT 125 p. ; 18 cm.
SUBJECT Stevens, Becca, 1963-
SUBJECT Meditations.
ISBN/ISSN 0687494206 (pbk. : alk. paper)

CALL # Fiction Kazantz.
AUTHOR Kazantzakis, Nikos, 1883-1957.
TITLE Saint Francis : a novel / by Niko Kazantzakis ; translated from the Greek by P. A. Bien.
IMPRINT New York : Simon and Schuster, 1962.
DESCRIPT 379 p. ; 22 cm.
SUBJECT Francesco d’Assisi, Saint, 1182-1226 — Fiction.
ADD TITLE PhtŻochoulŻes tou Theou. English.

CALL # 231.3 C4542f.
AUTHOR Chan, Francis, 1967-
TITLE Forgotten God : reversing our tragic neglect of the Holy Spirit / Francis Chan with Danae Yankoski.
EDITION 1st ed.
IMPRINT Colorado Springs, CO : David C. Cook, 2009.
DESCRIPT 186 p. ; 21 cm.
NOTE Includes bibliographical references (p. 167)
NOTE It doesn’t make sense that Almighty God would have children
characterized by fear and insecurity. Could it be that we’ve
forgotten the One who distinguishes us from every other
religion and cult in the world? Chan returns us to the Holy
Spirit as the Bible describes Him.
SUBJECT Holy Spirit.
SUBJECT Spiritual life — Christianity.
ALT AUTHOR Yankoski, Danae.
ISBN/ISSN 9781434767950 (trade pbk.)
ISBN/ISSN 1434767957 (trade pbk.)

CALL # 813.54 L235g.
AUTHOR Lamott, Anne.
TITLE Grace (eventually) : thoughts on faith / Anne Lamott.
IMPRINT New York : Riverhead Books, 2007.
DESCRIPT 253 p. ; 21 cm.
SUBJECT Lamott, Anne — Religion.
SUBJECT Novelists, American — 20th century — Biography.
SUBJECT Christian biography — United States.
SUBJECT Faith.
ISBN/ISSN 9781594489426.
ISBN/ISSN 1594489424.

CALL # j248.32 M118p.
AUTHOR MacBeth, Sybil.
TITLE Praying in color / Sybil MacBeth.
EDITION Kids’ ed.
IMPRINT Brewster, Mass. : Paraclete Press, c2009.
DESCRIPT 38 p. : col. ill. ; 26 cm.
SUBJECT Prayer — Christianity — Juvenile literature.
SUBJECT Color drawing — Religious aspects — Christianity — Juvenile
literature.
ISBN/ISSN 9781557255952 (pbk.) :
ISBN/ISSN 1557255954 (pbk.)

CALL # 291.43 S9744p.
AUTHOR Sweeney, Jon M., 1967-
TITLE Praying with our hands : 21 practices of embodied prayer from the world’s spiritual traditions / Jon M. Sweeney ; photographs by Jennifer J. Wilson ; foreword by Tessa Bielecki ; afterword byTaitetsu Unno.
IMPRINT Woodstock, Vt. : SkyLight Paths Pub., c2000.
DESCRIPT 83 p. : ill. ; 21 cm.
NOTE Includes bibliographical references (p. 83)
SUBJECT Prayer.
SUBJECT Body, Human — Religious aspects.
SUBJECT Hand — Religious aspects.
ISBN/ISSN 1893361160 (pbk.)

CALL # 283.092 M6437j.
AUTHOR Miles, Sara, 1952-
TITLE Jesus freak : feeding, healing, raising the dead / Sara Miles.
EDITION 1st ed.
IMPRINT San Francisco, CA : Jossey-Bass, c2010.
DESCRIPT xx, 171 p. ; 22 cm.
SUBJECT Miles, Sara, 1952-
SUBJECT Saint Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church (San Francisco,
Calif.) — Biography.
SUBJECT Christian converts — United States — Biography.
SUBJECT Church work with the poor — California — San Francisco.
SUBJECT Food banks — California — San Francisco.
SUBJECT Christian life — Anglican authors.
ISBN/ISSN 9780470481660.
ISBN/ISSN 0470481668.

CALL # 801.9 L5662w.
AUTHOR L’Engle, Madeleine.
TITLE Walking on water : reflections on faith & art / Madeleine L’Engle.
IMPRINT Wheaton, Ill. : H. Shaw, c1980.
DESCRIPT 198 p. ; 22 cm.
SUBJECT L’Engle, Madeleine.
SUBJECT Christianity and the arts.
ISBN/ISSN 0865474877.
ISBN/ISSN 087788918X.
ISBN/ISSN 0877888965.

CALL # 299 H69t 1982.
AUTHOR Hoff, Benjamin, 1946-
TITLE The Tao of Pooh / Benjamin Hoff ; illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard.
EDITION 1st ed.
IMPRINT New York : E.P. Dutton, c1982.
DESCRIPT x, 158 p. : ill. ; 19 cm.
SUBJECT Milne, A. A. (Alan Alexander), 1882-1956 — Characters — Winnie
the Pooh.
SUBJECT Milne, A. A. (Alan Alexander), 1882-1956 — Religion.
SUBJECT Children’s stories, English — History and criticism.
SUBJECT Winnie-the-Pooh (Fictitious character)
SUBJECT Teddy bears in literature.
SUBJECT Taoism in literature.
SUBJECT Taoism.
ISBN/ISSN 0525244581.
ISBN/ISSN $0525244581.

LOCATIONS Goodlettsville-Suppression & Main
CALL # 248.32 S5419i.
AUTHOR Sheets, Dutch.
TITLE Intercessory prayer / Dutch Sheets.
IMPRINT Ventura, Calif., U.S.A. : Regal, c1996.
DESCRIPT 275 p. ; 22 cm.
NOTE Includes bibliographical references (p. [263]-264) and indexes.
SUBJECT Intercessory prayer.
ISBN/ISSN 0830718885 (hardcover)
ISBN/ISSN 0830719008 (trade paper)

CALL # 296.4 D261t.
AUTHOR Shendelman, Sara.
TITLE Traditions : the complete book of prayers, rituals, and blessings for every Jewish home / Sara Shendelman and Avram Davis.
EDITION 1st ed.
IMPRINT New York : Hyperion, c1998.
DESCRIPT 255 p. : col. ill. ; 22 cm.
NOTE Includes bibliographical references (p. 239-243)
SUBJECT Judaism — Customs and practices.
SUBJECT Fasts and feasts — Judaism.
SUBJECT Jewish families — Prayer-books and devotions — English.
ALT AUTHOR Davis, Avram.
ISBN/ISSN 0786863811 :

CALL # 813.54 L235p.
AUTHOR Lamott, Anne.
TITLE Plan B : further thoughts on faith / Anne Lamott.
IMPRINT New York: Riverhead Books, 2005.
DESCRIPT 320 p. ; 21 cm.
SUBJECT Lamott, Anne — Religion.
SUBJECT Novelists, American — 20th century — Biography.
SUBJECT Christian biography — United States.
SUBJECT Faith.
ISBN/ISSN 1573222992 (alk. paper)
ISBN/ISSN 0739457985 (pbk.)
ISBN/ISSN 9780739457986 (pbk.)

CALL # 813.54 L235t.
AUTHOR Lamott, Anne.
TITLE Traveling mercies : some thoughts on faith / Anne Lamott.
EDITION 1st ed.
IMPRINT New York : Pantheon Books, c1999.
DESCRIPT x, 275 p. ; 22 cm.
SUBJECT Lamott, Anne — Religion.
SUBJECT Women novelists, American — 20th century — Biography.
SUBJECT Christian biography — United States.
SUBJECT Mothers and sons — United States.
SUBJECT Faith.
ISBN/ISSN 0385496095 (Anchor pbk.)
ISBN/ISSN 0679442405.

CALL # 283.092 T2386a.
AUTHOR Taylor, Barbara Brown.
TITLE An altar in the world : a geography of faith / Barbara Brown Taylor.
EDITION 1st ed.
IMPRINT New York : HarperOne, 2009.
DESCRIPT xvii, 216 p. ; 22 cm.
NOTE Includes bibliographical references (p. [213]-216)
SUBJECT Taylor, Barbara Brown.
SUBJECT Episcopal Church — Clergy — Biography.
SUBJECT Anglican Communion — United States — Clergy — Biography.
SUBJECT Spiritual life — Christianity.
ISBN/ISSN 9780061370465.
ISBN/ISSN 0061370460.

CALL # 283.092 T2386L.
AUTHOR Taylor, Barbara Brown.
TITLE Leaving church : a memoir of faith / Barbara Brown Taylor.
EDITION 1st ed.
IMPRINT [San Francisco] : HarperSanFrancisco, c2006.
DESCRIPT xiii, 234, [1] p. ; 22 cm.
NOTE Includes bibliographical references (p. [235])
SUBJECT Taylor, Barbara Brown.
SUBJECT Episcopal Church — Clergy — Biography.
SUBJECT Anglican Communion — United States — Clergy — Biography.
ISBN/ISSN 0060771747.
ISBN/ISSN 9780060771744.

CALL # 253.53 G92h.
AUTHOR Guenther, Margaret, 1930-
TITLE Holy listening : the art of spiritual direction / Margaret Guenther.
IMPRINT Cambridge, Mass. : Cowley Publications, c1992.
DESCRIPT 146 p. ; 22 cm.
NOTE Includes index.
NOTE 92-27431BL.
SUBJECT Guenther, Margaret, 1930-
SUBJECT Spiritual direction.
SUBJECT Women — Religious life.
ISBN/ISSN 1561010561 :

CALL # 283.092 P96414d.
AUTHOR Proctor, Minna.
TITLE Do you hear what I hear? : religious calling, the priesthood, and my father / Minna Proctor.
IMPRINT New York : Viking, 2005.
DESCRIPT xiv, 274 p. ; 24 cm.
NOTE Includes bibliographical references (p. [257]-262) and index.
SUBJECT Proctor, Gregory, 1941-
SUBJECT Episcopal Church — Clergy.
ISBN/ISSN 067003326X (alk. paper)

Thanks!

Posted on July 16, 2013 by betsybeadhead | Leave a comment

Knowing how to say thanks in someone else’s language is one of the most useful things you can do. These are the ones I’ve learned, that I have need of. I’ve written them out phonetically.

Chinese – sheh sheh

Russian – spa-SEE-bow

Arabic – shoe-CRAHN

Ethiopian – ah-mee-sahg-NAH-loo

Indian – SHOO-kree-ah

Korean – kan ma HAM ne dah

Laotian – hope guy YEAH

Greek- eh-fah-ri-STO

German – DAHN- keh

Spanish – GRAH-see-ass

French- mare-SEE

Swahili – ah-SHAN-tea

Japanese- dough-moe ah-ree-GAH-toe

Kid’s books that are fun for adults

Posted on May 28, 2013 by betsybeadhead | Leave a comment

Who says kids should have all the fun? These are around 8-12 year old range, but enjoyable for adults too. I gave this list to the children’s librarian at my library, and she has made some changes (corrections). I still think my order is right. So, I’ve added her changes (where there were some) at the end of each section. You are advised to check the order for yourself.

Martin Booth – The Alchemist’s Son series.
1) Doctor Illuminatus
2) Soul Stealer
(Sadly, there is no #3. The author died. Read them anyway)

Pierdominico Baccalario – The Ulysses Moore series. (time and space travel, mystery, adventure)
1) Ulysses Moore: The Door to Time
2) The Long-Lost Map
3) The House of Mirrors
4) The Isle of Masks

Helen Dunmore – the Ingo series (Cornwall, mermaids, adventure)
1) Ingo
2) The Tide Knot
3) The Deep
4) The Crossing of Ingo
5) Stormswept (due to be released 1/5/2012)

Diana Wynne Jones – The Castle series (Neil Gaiman and Hayao Miyazaki are fans)
1) Howl’s Moving Castle
2) Castle in the Air
3) House of Many Ways

Susan Cooper – The Dark is Rising Series (British “good versus evil” supernatural adventure)
1) Over Sea, Under Stone
2) The Dark is Rising
3) Greenwitch
4) The Grey King
5) Silver on the Tree

Madeline L’Engle – the Wrinkle in Time Series (Christian fiction masquerading as sci-fi. Beautiful, uplifting)
1) A Wrinkle in Time
2) A Swiftly Tilting Planet
3) A Wind in the Door
4) Many Waters (can be read separately)
(the librarian says the order is Wrinkle, Wind, Swiftly, and Many)

John Christopher – The Tripod series. (post apocalyptic humans versus machines)
1) When the Tripods Came
2) The White Mountains
3) The City of Gold and Lead
4) The Pool of Fire
(The librarian says the order is White, City, Pool, and When, but When is a prequel that was written last)

Terry Pratchett – The Bromeliad Trilogy (not Discworld – these are tiny creatures. Well written.)
1) Truckers
2) Diggers
3) Wings
Separate, but also good – “The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents”

Zombie fiction list

Posted on May 14, 2013 by betsybeadhead | Leave a comment

I read zombie fiction because I like to be surprised. There is so much really good writing out there that happens to be in this genre.

“Monster Island”, “Monster Nation”, “Monster Planet” by David Wellington

A great trilogy. So great I bought the series and gave it to my brother-in-law for Christmas, because you know that nothing says “Happy birth of the Messiah” like zombie fiction. This is zombie fiction from the zombies’ and the survivor’s points of view. In this take on zombies, the zombies can retain their mental capacities if oxygen continues to get to the brain during the death period. Most zombies are the average insentient zombie – they are in the front lines of the zombie attack. A few – either accidentally or intentionally, are sentient, and they can control the others telepathically. The action in the book starts off in New York, and then travels over the entire world, in a quest to find the source of the zombie epidemic. In this series, animals can become zombies too. Zombie pigeons and cats are actually quite terrifying. The second book is a little slow (the writer was experiencing a lot of heavy stuff in his life at the time) but slog through it – it is worth it to get to the third book. This series is excellently written, with very good pacing of the action and some surprising and thought-provoking twists about the zombie myth.

“I, Zombie” by Al Ewing (Tomes of the Dead series)

From the Abaddon Books “Tomes of the Dead” series comes “I, Zombie”. Set in London, it starts out with our narrator the zombie, named “John Doe”. He has forgotten his real name, and also does not know how long he has been a zombie. He is a hired hitman. He goes and kills bad guys for money. He is a civilized zombie, and tries desperately to not let his zombie nature take over. He is hunted by an elite force that has set up shop in the Tower of London. This group, this secret British military unit, has been tasked with the responsibility of eliminating all zombies in England. They breed werewolves to track him. He is the last of his kind, and they want to study him to learn how he works. They take him apart, and all of his organs try to re-form into more zombies. He also has the ability to slow time. There is a lot more to this, and it isn’t the average zombie story (there are aliens, Earth colonization). It was excellently written and came together very nicely in the end. Creepy good.

“Tide of Souls” by Simon Bestwick (Tomes of the Dead series)

The world has flooded. Zombies are called “Nightmares”. Killing a person by shooting him in the head does not ensure that he will not come back as a zombie. The zombie’s eyes glow green. It is divided up into sections, with each section having a differerent narrator.

“The Way of the Barefoot Zombie” by Jasper Bark (Tomes of the Dead series)

The zombies are the draw for a special educational vacation retreat. Rich people from all around the world come to a secluded Caribbean island to learn about life and business by studying and imitating zombies that are in a captive colony. The party goes awry when operatives from the Zombie Liberation Front step in.

“The Devil’s Plague” by Mark Beynon (Tomes of the Dead series)

Set in England during the time of Oliver Cromwell – who has enlisted an army of the undead to win his war against the Royalists. The zombies are “The Kryfangan” – who are said to be an army created by the Devil himself, and had been used by Ghengis Khan.

“The Words of Their Roaring” by Matthew Smith (Tomes of the Dead series)

Set in London, where zombies have free reign. The civilization is non existant. However, a former mob boss thinks this is great – he now has a chance to get control of the city the way he likes. He figures out how to use the zombies to be his troops. One zombie is sentient, and helps out the resistance. The reason for the zombie outbreak is a virus that was being developed to create an army of zombies. The plan was to send expendible zombies to war instead of live soldiers.

“Death Hulk” by Matthew Sprange (Tomes of the Dead series)

A historical naval zombie fiction. You can’t escape zombies when you are out to sea or on a deserted island. I agree with the reviews that the historical accuracy and the nautical descriptions appear spot on – but it takes way too long to get to the zombie part of the story. Once you get there, it is pretty scary.

“Breathers, A Zombie’s Lament” by S.G. Browne

Advertised as a “Zombie Romantic Comedy” – or a zom-rom-com. An enjoyable light read, and most likely the only romantic comedy I’ll every bother with. The main character, Andy Warner, was in an automobile accident yet walked away from his funeral. Not all the dead reanimate in this book – and it is unknown what the cause is for the reanimation. But when they do reanimate, they find they have no civil rights. Their identities die with them – no name, no driver’s license, no bank account. If a zombie is lucky, he has relatives who are willing to claim him and give him a place to stay. If he isn’t, he is sold for dog food or medical research. Andy lives in his parent’s wine cellar. He attends a support group called “Undead Anonymous” where he meets Rita, a sexy suicide with a taste for lipstick. The formaldehyde in everyday products like lipstick and nail polish help the recent zombies to look more natural. A very funny tale about who is human and who has rights as a human.

“Death Troopers” by Joe Schreiber

Star Wars plus zombies. Really, who could want more? Well, I want a better ending, but other than that it is a great read.

“Viking Dead” by Toby Venables (Tomes of the Dead series)

Really fabulous. Zombies and Vikings. Another winner from the Tomes of the Dead series.

“Empire of Salt” by Weston Ochse (Tomes of the Dead series)

A little slow paced at times. This was advertised as being really good horror, but it isn’t that scary. Good suspense, but the characters are a little off.

“Festival of Death” by Jonathan Morris

A Doctor Who zombie book – no, the Doctor isn’t a zombie, even though he never seems able to die. This has interesting characters and a good plot, but it gets a little confusing because of all the time-travel. It is a little hard to keep up with.

“Alice in Zombieland” by Gena Showalter

Young-Adult level, butt-kicking romance with zombies. Think “Twilight” but not annoying. This is really good.

“Brown Girl in the Ring” by Nalo Hopkinson

The zombie myth goes back to the source. Voodoo magic fiction. Very good.

“Double Dead” by Chuck Wendig (Tomes of the Dead series)

What happens if you are a vampire and you wake up and the world has been taken over by zombies? You suddenly have to protect the humans, because otherwise you’ll starve to death. This is a refreshing take on the zombie myth.

Life Hacks

Posted on May 10, 2013 by betsybeadhead | Leave a comment

Consider this a public service announcement.

Toilets and gross personal stuff

Always live in a house that has two toilets. One will invariably break and it will invariably take a while for the plumber to come. Also, if you don’t live alone, it is also very common that two people will need to use the bathroom at the same time, especially after coming home from a trip.

Always make sure there is toilet paper in the stall before you need it. This is especially true when you are not at home.

Just go ahead and use the bathroom before you are leaving a place. You never know if there is going to be a traffic jam.

If female, place a towel under yourself while sleeping when you are having a period. I cannot believe it took me nearly 30 years to figure this one out.

Housekeeping

Whatever it is that you always wash together (towels, underwear and socks, jeans), sort them as you go by putting them in a separate bin. Don’t waste time every wash day digging them out of the pile.

Bananas are a real pain to separate when they start to get very ripe. Tear them apart from each other when you get them so you don’t end up with two that are “open” when you only wanted one.

Whatever it is that you use regularly, get an extra of it so you have it on hand when you need it. Nothing slows down a home-maintenance project like having to go to the hardware store. Sometimes it slows it down so much it doesn’t happen at all.

Only shop with a list. No list – everything is bought on impulse and you probably won’t pick up what you needed to get in the first place. Most smart phones have a list application. This is very handy – no paper to lose.

Take apart a bath puff to create a soft mesh container to hold and use all those tiny soap bits. This way you can use up every bit of a bar of soap. Just tie up the ends and you are good to go. This way it also exfoliates.

Money

Sometimes you need a check. Sometimes places won’t take a credit card and you won’t have enough
cash. Fold up a check and put it under your driver’s license. I have gone to restaurants that only took checks, and they didn’t post or mention this before I ate. I went to a doctor’s office that didn’t take cards and I didn’t have the cash for the copay. Worst situation – I went to buy a car and tried to pay for the down payment on a credit card (I wanted the points). No dice. Four hours of negotiating and paperwork for nothing – but I had one check. They took checks. Trust me on this one. Carry one check.

Always carry some cash. I have a 20, a 10, a 5 and some ones at all times, as well as some change. I normally use my credit card, but every now and then the credit card machine isn’t working. This is especially important when you need gas.

Pay your credit card off every week. Don’t accumulate a balance. The fees are exorbitant. Why should you pay extra for what you bought?

Get a credit card that gives you money back for using it. I make about $150 a year this way.

Relationships

This is not original, but I like it. Here are six things to tell your spouse in order to have a successful marriage – “You look great.” “Can I help?” “Lets’ eat out.” “I was wrong.” “I am sorry.” And of course – “I love you.”

Heard from our minister when we got married – “trouble shared halves it, joy shared doubles it.”

Never date a guy who drives badly with you in the car. If he doesn’t care about your safety, he doesn’t care about you.

When choosing a spouse, think of it as interviewing someone for a job. Don’t hire them if they aren’t willing to do the job you need them to do. Somebody has to cook, clean, mow the lawn, take care of the bills and deal with service techs. It doesn’t have to be divided along standard gender lines, but it does have to be done. Talk honestly beforehand about what you are willing to do and what you won’t do.

Some people will annoy you. They may not know that they are annoying. Tell them how you feel. If they continue their bad behavior towards you, then it is intentional. If it is intentional, it is abusive.

Just because someone is related to you doesn’t mean they have the right to be abusive. If they are abusive, they do not respect you as a person.

Avoid tedious people who don’t respect you. Especially if they are family.

Health

When sick with a head cold – drink a lot of water. OK, more than that. 8 glasses is the recommended amount, and almost nobody gets that. Drink a glass every half hour while you are awake. Water is water – not Coke, not coffee. Take an Echinacea tablet with every meal. Eat a spoonful of local honey every morning. Eat an orange every day.

Prevention is cheaper than cure. Eat real food, not processed. Get regular exercise. This is more than just moving around. That isn’t exercise – that is proving you aren’t a plant. You need to work hard at least thirty minutes every day.

Exercise – Find something you like to do. Dancing counts. Nobody said it had to be drudgery. I do water aerobics, walking, and yoga. If you like doing it, you’ll do it more often.

You get out what you put in. Give it your all. Don’t waste your time going through the motions. Really try hard when you exercise.

Don’t make up excuses. Just do it. You’ll be happy when you are through. Skip, and you’ll feel bad. Trust me. I’ve been there.

Get a coat that fits and use it. Don’t wear your coat unbuttoned and then complain that it is cold.

If your hands are cold, it means your core is cold. Instead of putting on a pair of gloves, put on a sweater.

If there are medicines that you take every day, get a small container and put three days’ worth in there and carry it with you. Emergencies are bad enough but they are worse if you are without essential medicine.

Wear a hat. Not a ball cap. Aside from looking stylish, you’ll have a warm, dry head. This alone leads to much happiness.

Other

Take leftover containers with you when visiting family for Thanksgiving and Christmas. You know you’ll want to take some food home.

Find things that make you happy other than food. “Comfort food” can lead to a lot of problems if you need to be comforted with it a lot.

If you have to pick up or touch something questionable with your hand, use your non-dominant hand.

Travel

Pack a spare pair of shoes.

Bring a map, not just the GPS. “Lost satellite reception” translates to “lost.”