Winter's Tale Mark Helprin.

I love that book.

One of my favorite novels EVER. SO beautiful and rich and imginative.

oh man. ok. didn't stick to my 'no new things' strategy. and the gift card was $25 but by the time I got to checkout I was committed - new Gardiner Dozios series and all that, plus Devil in the White City and Winter's Tale, and Hugo Cabret - so eh - looks like my behavior is the same whether I'm in the store or not. but not completely bad. I took care of two baby shower gifts and a movie for Iris too.

t /poor impulse control

$25 gift card to a bookstore is like half a blast. Good enough to keep the snake away, not enough to get your head up. I generally have to go in my pocket, too. With shipping and all. Especially since life is not HBO and it's ill-mannered to open the card and say "Are you fuckin' kidding me with this?"

I'm ok, given who it was from. Plus same person gave me Randall Jarell's The Animal Family and also? she rocks.

but yeah, going in pocket sucks.

I'm worse at The World's Best Independent Bookstore Ever, but that's because I've known the owners since I was five and they have amazing taste and I would give them all of my possessions if that would keep them in business.

Last night I wrote a blog post exploring why lately I've been reading (and writing) books that are targeted (or perhaps stereotyped) more toward men than women: [link]

The post is an attempt to explain why current historical fiction targeted toward women leaves me cold, hopefully without insulting writers who produce it or readers who enjoy it. Later this week I'm going to explore what it is about swashbucklers with male protagonists that appeals to me so much, and also make a stab at why the woman-focused stories that fail to intrigue me do speak to others.

So...stop by if you're interested, and if you love "women's" historical fiction, please tell me why!

I'm worse at The World's Best Independent Bookstore Ever, but that's because I've known the owners since I was five

You're not talking about Chester County Books, are you, Sox? Because that's my favorite independent bookstore ever, and close to where you are now!

You're not talking about Chester County Books, are you, Sox?

nooo - but I could be ... I can get there pretty easily. Will try to.

I'm talking about The Reader's Forum in Wayne. it is awesome. and that opinion has nothing to do with the fact that they save me advance readers' copies of the scifi as well as fantasy for my sis.

Gris, I'm curious - what are some of the major (if any) differences between the book and the movie?

Plot-wise, there are very few differences. I was pretty shocked at the consistency of the narrative. And I really think the movie did a great job of conveying a lot of the feel of the book, which is very impressive, since the book is almost entirely internal. In fact, in a lot of ways it's a tell-not-show book almost entirely, which would be bad except the telling is so evocative.

Basically, I think she should see it if she loved the book. I think they are very good together.

I will be picking up A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray on page 124 the second I get off this computer. Thank You for talking about her, even though I might not get enough sleep tonight.