2022 book 23

 Justina Ireland's Ophie's Ghosts

Not sure how I missed that Justina Ireland wrote a book set in 1920s Pittsburgh, but you bet I grabbed it from the library as soon as I found out! Things actually start down in Georgia, where the titular Ophelia is awakened by her father and warned to grab her mother and run--only it turns out that it's actually her father's ghost, and the lynch mob that killed him is on their way to burn down the house. (The death and fire both happen off-page.) So now she and her mother are off to relatives in Pittsburgh, working for a rich old white lady, still dealing with racism, but now also dealing with all the ghosts Ophie can see. And eventually, solving a murder. The pacing was a little slow in the middle, but things pick up in a big way toward the end, and I loved the little tribute to the Hill District. Satisfying and lovely wrap-up. A-.

2016 book 85

Jennifer Haigh's Heat and Light
Haigh's latest--after News From Heaven--is also set her in fictional Western Pennsylvania coal mining town, Bakerton--but now the town is overrun by fracking. This one didn't work as well as its predecessor, for me--it's a novel, but parts read like short stories, and there is just a little too much going on. I felt like the characters were all given short shrift--there just wasn't enough to them, even with the occasional random flashback chapter. I mean, I would have read a whole book JUST about possible-trans farmer Mack and their partner. And one late reveal is pretty obvious to anyone who's ever seen The Sixth Sense (or read the internet). It's a really great and interesting look at the fracking industry, though (environmentalists don't come off too well, either), not to mention small towns, families, etc. And Haigh's descriptions, particularly of the Pennsylvania landscape and general atmosphere, really struck home for me. She's a very evocative writer. This one just didn't quite land for me. B/B+.

2011 book 145

Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower
This is one of those books that was just never on my radar--it came out when I was in college and wasn't reading YA--but this article about the filming of the movie version (starring Emma Watson) made me want to read it. I just love that he made the actors all get O-fries. Unfortunately I wasn't that into the book--the stilted style didn't work for me, and I thought the revelation at the end kind of cheapened things and I'm still not sure it made sense. It did make me nostalgic for Pittsburgh (I was a few years younger than the characters, but my friends and I totally went to Rocky too). And I loved the throwaway references to Penn State and sticky buns. Maybe this is one of those books you have to be a guy to really get. B.

girl with the . . .

football team?

I'm extrapolating just a little bit here, but: LISBETH SALANDER OWNS THE STEELERS!!!!!!

links and whatnot

Links to stuff I've shared on Google Reader (and now, Google Buzz):

Part 1 of an interview w/ Jim Rugg, who had an awesome signing Saturday at Chapel Hill Comics (and is from Pittsburgh!). He rules.

Sweet Valley High: The sequel??

I am eagerly awaiting the Powers tv show.

links and whatnot

I don't even know what to think about leftover Halloween candy pie. I think I want some! After all, if Nigella believes in winter indulgence, who am I to argue (doesn't that risotto sound yummy)? I love you, Nigella. I also love this cookbook and wish I worked in a place with weekly cakes.

Look at these cute Hanukkah plushes. Awwwww!

Or take this wicked fun Mr. Rogers-related quiz. (I got a 90%--it would have been embarrassing for a Pittsburgher to get any less.)

I am sooo excited for the Scott Pilgrim movie.

Finally: tiny bunnies.

2009 book 149

Kathleen George's The Odds
It's interesting that the words "a mystery" appear right on the front cover of this book when it's not a mystery at all (unless wondering how soon the police officers will solve the case counts as a mystery, as the reader is given all other information). Anyway, George's Pittsburgh cops are back, trying to solve a murder that's linked to a major narcotics ring. Meanwhile, a kind man with ties to the drug ring gets involved with four local children living on their own (and they're GREAT characters). But yeah, not actually a mystery, though still a fairly compelling read. B+.

2009 book 121

Kathleen George's Afterimage
EW reviewed another book by George recently and mentioned that she sets her mysteries in Pittsburgh, so of course I had to check them out! George is actually a theater professor at Pitt, but she has a good story sense for mysteries. Apparently this is the third in a series, but it didn't feel like I was missing anything and there wasn't much referring to pat events. In this one, a rookie cop is vaguely acquainted with two murder victims and gets a hunch for who the killer might be. I found the end a little disappointing, and was annoyed that characters would announce that the rookie cop had a crush on her boss when we'd seen no evidence that was the case until then, but it was a serviceable story and I'll read her new one if the library gets it. B.

more fun stuff i've shared

I really like this print--it is excellent advice!

Is there a new Kindle coming out? I'm still not sure whether or not I want one.

Here's a great analysis of Neil Gaiman's Newbery win.

Does high-fructose corn syrup contain mercury? Guess it's not as natural as sugar after all, despite what those goofy commercials say.

5 reasons to watch the Puppy Bowl instead of the Super Bowl. Sorry, fellow Pittsburghers, but I'm leaning toward the puppies.

Speaking of Pittsburgh--check out what got caught in Google street view. Haha. I really do get a lot of Pittsburgh-related content in Google Reader for someone who doesn't subscribe to any Pittsburgh-related blogs.

blah blah

Who has time for reading (or blogging about reading) when movers are coming in less than a week???

Here's a few things to whet your appetites.

Ron Rash's Serena, which I loved, is getting good press and was one of Janet Maslin's top ten books of 2008 (I like all of her fiction picks, actually). No idea if it'll make my top whatever--but it for sure is a strong contender.

Pitt brought dogs to campus to help ease the tension of finals week. Puppies make everything better. Speaking of animals, JB is biting my feet--HARD--in an effort to get my attention, so I gotta run. OW.

2008 book 145

Jennifer Haigh's The Condition
This excellent novel deals with a New England family and their various travails--most strikingly, the diagnosis of their daughter with Turner's Syndrome. One of the blurb-ers (Tom Perrotta, actually), notes that "the ailment at the center of this remarkable novel is the human condition itself" and I think that's pretty apt. Also, part of the story takes place in Pittsburgh and the Steelers are mentioned in passing several times, so I was even more inclined to like it. A.

2008 book 115

Ellen Litman's The Last Chicken in America
I knew I was going to like this nove in stories about Russian Jews who have immigrated to Pittsburgh b/c on the first page it described a trip to the exact supermarket my parents go to! Yup, the whole thing takes place in my neighborhood, Squirrel Hill, and it's full of lots of great late-90s Pittsburgh details. I assume some of this is autobigraphical--the author emigrated from Russia to America as a teenager. Anyway, it made me all nostalgic for home, so it gets an A-.

Multimedia message

Multimedia message
Originally uploaded by wordnerdy

A Pittsburgh-themed bar in Florida . . . what will they think of next?

great essay; peirogies

Here is a thought-provoking essay by Heidi MacDonald (of Publisher's Weekly) about the current state of comics and comics snobs. I agree with most of her points and am looking forward to next year's Abel and Madden version of the Best American Comics anthology.

In other news, I'm eating dinner at a Pittsburgh-themed restaurant tonight. In Florida. Life never stops amazing me. I will probably even bring a camera.

finally a little scared of google

Google Street View expanded to Pittsburgh today--I am seriously looking at my parents' driveway on the internet. And I'm a little freaked out (in a good way).

omg!

There's a book about my neighborhood! Yeah Squirrel Hill!

P7300355/2007 book 115

P7300355
Originally uploaded by wordnerdy

Today my parents and I went to see the Dale Chihuly exhibit at Phipps Conservatory. It was pretty amazing, and apparently is even better at night (some of the sculptures light up). I think it's up through November so get to Pittsburgh and see it!

Also, I read a pretty awesome book this afternoon:

Heather McElhatton's Pretty Little Mistakes
McElhatton, a contributor to This American Life (among other things), presents a grown-up version of a choose your own adventure book (the writing is much better too). A girl has just graduated high school--what choices will she (you) make??? I've read the majority of the endings--I think--and they range from tragic to silly to beautiful. I can't think of a book that better fits the adjective "entertaining" . . . I was VERY entertained! A.


Oh, and as of this morning my parents have wireless and my computer is actually working, so hooray!

i heart mr. rogers

15 reasons you should too.