MYSTERIES in PARADISE: Sunday Salon

Showing posts with label Sunday Salon. Show all posts

21 August 2011

Sunday Salon: 21 Aug 2011, listening to different points of view

Good morning fellow Sunday Saloners.
It's heading to a nice 21C here in downtown Adelaide. A nice time of the year.

Things have gone on pretty well as usual here at MiP. I was pretty productive in reading and managed to get three reviews written.

Currently reading

Australian - RING OF FIRE, Peter Klein
from library: BRUNO, CHIEF OF POLICE, Martin Walker
on audio - STILL MIDNIGHT, Denise Mina
next Agatha Christie: N or M

I completed a reading challenge, updated my efforts in another, and participated in a couple of memes

This week looks a bit busy:

The next edition of the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge Blog Carnival will be published on Wednesday.
I'm the host for the next Book Review Blog Carnival. Here is the current one.
Tomorrow on Crime Fiction on a Euro Pass we move on to Belgium or Holland, depending on the participant's choice. Guess who my post will be about?
I'm off to Melbourne on Friday to talk to a conference of teacher librarians about e-books. My presentation is here.

Take the poll this week

I have a new poll this week: Do you agree? Standalone=plot. Series=character
The poll is an extension of the results of last week's poll where I asked if readers avoided reading a book if it was part of a series. Overwhelmingly the participants didn't but there were some interesting comments about the differences between a series and a stand_alone, hence the poll.

News & Headlines

14 August 2011

Sunday Salon: 14 Aug 2011: gauging opinions

One of the reasons why many of us read the blogs of others is to find out what they thought of particular books and to pick up recommendations for our reading.

In the last 20 months I have been watching and assessing the trend in the adoption of e-readers. We've been subjected to a lot of hyperbole from Amazon about how sales of e-books have been increasing and it certainly seems that there is a marked adoption of e-readers in the crime fiction reading community.
I've summarised the poll results here: e-book poll has closed: interesting & significant results

For the next two weeks I am running another poll: Series or Stand-Alone?
Do you have a preference? Do you avoid reading a series? Have your say.

Other posts this week

Crime Fiction on a Euro Pass

On Monday 1 August we began the meme Crime Fiction on a Euro Pass
Tomorrow, August 15, we move on to France.
Just check on the blog tomorrow. Your participation in the 12 week meme can be occasional if you like.

The future stops on our journey will be

Monday 22 August - Holland/Belgium
Monday 29 August - Denmark
Monday 5 September - Germany
Monday 12 September Austria
Monday 19 September - Switzerland
Monday 26 September - the Czech republic
Monday 3 October - Italy
Monday 10 October - Greece
Monday 17 October - Turkey

TBRN (To Be Read Next)

next Australian - BEREFT, Chris Womersley
next from library: THE GOLDEN MILE TO MURDER, Sally Spencer
now on audio - STILL MIDNIGHT, Denise Mina
next Agatha Christie: N or M

7 August 2011

Sunday Salon: 7 August 2011: a quick catchup

My reading seems to have slowed down a bit this week, although there's been a lot happening on the blogging front.

Currently I'm running a poll about e-reading and you have 6 more days to take part. The poll is in the right hand column.

Last Monday 1 August we began the meme Crime Fiction on a Euro Pass
Tomorrow, August 8, we move on to Spain/Portugal.
Just check on the blog tomorrow. Your participation in the 12 week meme can be occasional if you like.

This week the Ned Kelly Awards shortlist was released and I for one was disappointed at the omission of some big contenders, in particular Adrian Hyland's GUNSHOT ROAD.

Other posts

News & Headlines

Currently Reading

next Australian - BEREFT, Chris Womersley
next from library: THE GOLDEN MILE TO MURDER, Sally Spencer
now on Kindle - THE COSY KNAVE, Dorte Hummelshoj Jakobsen
next on Kindle - BLUE MONDAY, Nicci French
now on audio - STILL MIDNIGHT, Denise Mina
next Agatha Christie: N or M?

Do you read Agatha Christie?

If so you will be interested in Plans to celebrate Agatha Christie's birthday and the invitation to you to participate.

31 July 2011

Sunday Salon: Sun 30 July 2011 - how time flies

Surely it can't be the end of July already!
How's your reading going? Are you on target?
I'm on my 98th book for the year, so well on the way to my target of 142+

The new meme: Crime Fiction on a EuroPass will begin on 1 August (tomorrow).
It will continue for 12 weeks and will give recommendations for crime fiction reading in 12 European destinations. Please consider joining in.

This week I ran a poll linked to the post My local library is important to me
The poll asked whether people used their local library, and approximately 1 in 4 said they never use it, while 1 in 3 gets most or all of their books from there.

Recently reviewed library books

Do you e-read?
This week's poll asks if you e-read, that is, whether you read books on any form of e-reader. e.g. a dedicated one like a Kindle or Sony e-reader or whether you use a multi-functional device like an iPad or iPhone a perhaps a computer. Or whether you've still not succumbed. I'll compare the results to those from earlier polls.

Do read Agatha Christie?
If so you will be interested in Plans to celebrate Agatha Christie's birthday and the invitation to you to participate.

Other blog posts this week

News & Headlines

TBRN (to Be Read Next)

next Australian - BEREFT, Chris Womersley
next from library: THE GOLDEN MILE TO MURDER, Sally Spencer
next on Kindle - BLUE MONDAY, Nicci French
now on audio - STILL MIDNIGHT, Denise Mina
next Agatha Christie: EVIL UNDER THE SUN

Fair Dinkum Crime (Australian Crime Fiction)

24 July 2011

Sunday Salon: 24 July 2011 - support your local library

Just when I thought I was managing to blog a bit less than I have been in the past, certainly less than I did last year, then this week there seemed to be a lot to post about.

This week I posted four summary posts for the 26 weeks of the Crime Fiction Alphabet
You will find there lots of genuine recommendations for your crime fiction reading.

Yesterday I began putting up the lists for Best Crime Fiction Reads 2011 - so far - Titles with multiple mentions.
Tomorrow I will list the authors who were mentioned more than once and then, later in the week, I'll publish the full list of over 130 recommendations.

How often do you borrow from your local library? Mine is very supportive for crime fiction readers, but really for all readers including children.
I have a poll running on my blog that you might like to participate in.
See my post: My local library is important to me

The new meme: Crime Fiction on a EuroPass will begin on 1 August.
It will continue for 12 weeks and will give recommendations for crime fiction reading in 12 European destinations. Please consider joining in.

Other posts in the last week:

News & Headlines

TBRN (To Be Read Next)

next from library: THE MESSENGER OF ATHENS, Anne Zouroudi
next on Kindle - BLUE MONDAY, Nicci French
now on audio - STILL MIDNIGHT, Denise Mina
next Agatha Christie: EVIL UNDER THE SUN

17 July 2011

Sunday Salon: 17 July 2011:

This week we finished Crime Fiction Alphabet and so in the coming week I'll be writing the summary posts containing about 400 recommendations for crime fiction titles/authors to look for.

Other posts will list the recommendations made for Best Crime Fiction Reads 2011 and I will probably schedule those posts for next week.

I'm preparing for my new meme: Crime Fiction on a EuroPass that will begin on 1 August. Please consider signing up.

Next Sunday will see the publication of the next edition of the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge Carnival too.

My attention was caught today by a post on The Red Room by Pauline Rowson headed Is Crime Fiction Set for a Surge in Sales?
The gist of the article is based on something Pauline read that said Crime often spikes when the economy splutters, but does demand for crime fiction surge as well? Publishers hope so.

Certainly it seems to me that crime fiction is booming, not just in physical made-from-paper books but in e-books as well. I am never at a loss for something to read, and in fact am having trouble in keeping up with all that I want to read. In Australia there are a number of Writers and Readers Weeks happening too. Check the events list on Fair Dinkum Crime.

News & Headlines

This Week's Posts

TBRN (To Be Read Next)

next - THE DARK VINEYARD, Martin Walker
next from library: VILLAIN, Shuichi Yoshida
next on Kindle - REVENGE SERVED COLD, Jackie Fullerton
now on audio - STILL MIDNIGHT, Denise Mina
next Agatha Christie: EVIL UNDER THE SUN

10 July 2011

Sunday Salon: 10 July 2011

Tomorrow, August 11, the very successful Crime Fiction Alphabet meme comes to its final letter for the year: Z
It has been an exciting journey with some great recommendations for crime fiction readers. In the week beginning Monday 18 July I will be putting up some summary posts but you can check the postings for individual letters at Crime Fiction Alphabet Reading Challenge

Currently I am collecting submissions from readers about their best crime fiction reads so far in 2011.

See Best Crime Fiction Reads 2011: mid way report

On August 1 we will begin a new meme: Crime Fiction on a EuroPass

These challenges don't necessarily involve participants in new reading for the challenge itself (although a list of books that you'd like to read could be a result), but allow you to point to books you've already read, or reviews you've already written, or to dabble in a bit of research.

Although the challenge relates to crime fiction reading, you don't have to be a crime fiction addict like I am to participate. Crime Fiction on a EuroPass begins on August 1. The blog post has a Mr Linky where you can sign up.

Check out the countries we'll visit in the 12 week schedule.

News & Headlines

This week's posts

TBRN (To Be Read Next)

next - THE DIGGERS' REST HOTEL, Geoffrey McGeachin.
next on Kindle - ASHES TO WATER, Irene Ziegler
now on audio - STIFF UPPER LIP, P.G. Wodehouse
next Agatha Christie: EVIL UNDER THE SUN

3 July 2011

Sunday Salon: 3 July 2011: challenges and stocktakes

We reached mid-year this week and so in one of my posts I checked my progress against my New Year's resolutions and the challenges I've joined.
Mid year stocktake

Another post invites you to tell us about your best crime fiction reads so far this year. Best Crime Fiction Reads 2011: mid way report

I have decided to follow the very successful Crime Fiction Alphabet Reading Challenge up this year with a new challenge: Crime Fiction on a EuroPass

These challenges don't necessarily involve participants in new reading for the challenge itself (although a list of books that you'd like to read could be a result), but allow you to point to books you've already read, or reviews you've already written, or to dabble in a bit of research.

Although the challenge relates to crime fiction reading, you don't have to be a crime fiction addict like I am to participate. Crime Fiction on a EuroPass begins on August 1. The blog post has a Mr Linky where you can sign up.

Check out the countries we'll visit in the 12 week schedule.

Other blog posts in the last week:

Current News & Headlines

TBRN (To Be Read Next)

next - WRONGFUL DEATH, Robert Dugoni
next on Kindle - THE LOCK ARTIST, Steve Hamilton
now on audio - STIFF UPPER LIP, P.G. Wodehouse
next Agatha Christie: EVIL UNDER THE SUN

26 June 2011

Sunday Salon: 26 June 2011, a new Crime Fiction Reading Challenge

Good morning fellow Sunday Saloners.

MYSTERIES in PARADISE is the home of the Crime Fiction Alphabet Reading Challenge.
The 2011 edition of this popular meme is entering its final letters: X, Y, and Z.
It has been very successful with an average of 15 or so participants each week suggesting books to read and authors to find.

I have decided to follow it up this year with a new challenge: Crime Fiction on a EuroPass
These challenges don't necessarily involve participants in new reading for the challenge itself (although a list of books that you'd like to read could be a result), but allow you to point to books you've already read, or reviews you've already written, or to dabble in a bit of research.

Although the challenge relates to crime fiction reading, you don't have to be a crime fiction addict like I am to participate. Crime Fiction on a EuroPass begins on August 1. The blog post has a Mr Linky where you can sign up.

Check out the countries we'll visit in the 12 week schedule.

As we approach the middle of the year begin thinking about your best crime fiction reads so far for 2011.
I'll be collecting lists here on MYSTERIES in PARADISE from July 1. I'll put up a special post about it and several reminders.

Other posts this week:

News & Headlines

TBRN (To Be Read Next)

next - THE KILLER'S ART, Maria Jungstedt
next on Kindle - VIOLENT EXPOSURE, Katherine Howell
now on audio - STIFF UPPER LIP, P.G. Wodehouse
next Agatha Christie: ONE, TWO, BUCKLE MY SHOE

19 June 2011

Sunday Salon - 19 June 2011 - an update

Was it only 10 days ago that we returned from our overseas trip? Feels like ages!

It has taken a while to get back into harness, catching up on emails, and typing up book reviews that I drafted on paper. And of course, life has changed too. I've retired and regular work has been replaced by lots of other things, like providing child care for our grand daughter.

I've read some great books recently. My pick of the month for May was THE WRECKAGE by Australian author Michael Robotham.

Currently I've read 75 books for the year. I've already completed a number of challenges and you can read about my progress on my Reading Challenges Update

Blog posts since I got back

My reading for May

4.2, THE VANISHING OF KATHARINA LINDEN, Helen Grant (29 May)
4.8, SILENT VOICES, Ann Cleeves (27 May)
5.0, THE WRECKAGE, Michael Robotham (25 May)
4.8, THE HANGING WOOD, Martin Edwards (20 May)
4.6, SAD CYPRESS, Agatha Christie (15 May)
3.9, DIAMOND EYES, A. A. Bell (13 May)
3.5, WHAT WAS LOST, Catherine O'Flynn (9 May)
4.1, LIQUORICE TWISTS , Dorte Jakobsen (9 May)
4.7, WHITE SKY, BLACK ICE, Stan Jones (9 May)
4.8, KEEPER OF LOST CAUSES, Jussi Adler-Olsen (5 May)
4.5, VENGEANCE ROAD, Rick Mofina (4 May)
4.4, EYE OF THE RED TSAR, Sam Eastland (2 May)

TBRN (To Be Read Next)

next - AN UNCERTAIN PLACE, Fred Vargas
next on Kindle - VIOLENT EXPOSURE, Katherine Howell
now on audio - TEN-SECOND STAIRCASE, Christopher Fowler
next Agatha Christie: ONE, TWO, BUCKLE MY SHOE

News & Headlines

1 May 2011

Sunday Salon, May Day 2011

A big week this week. On Friday I retired, and this coming Thursday we begin an overseas trip to Abu Dhabi and the UK. While we are in the UK we will be attending CrimeFest in Bristol and I am looking forward very much to meeting up with some of my cyber pals.

So I'm trying to think about packing, as well as making sure I have enough books on my devices to take with me (no worries with that) as well as scheduling some blog posts for the period that I am away. When I have an internet connection I'll be popping in to add some book reviews too.

Blog Posts this week:

News & Headlines

Currently Reading

next - THE FACILITY, Simon Lelic
currently on Kindle - VENGEANCE ROAD, Rick Mofina
then on Kindle - THE VANISHING OF KATHARINA LINDEN, Helen Grant
currently on audio - EYE OF THE RED TSAR, Sam Eastland
current Agatha Christie - SAD CYPRESS

Fair Dinkum Crime

24 April 2011

Sunday Salon - Easter Sunday, 24 April 2011

This morning we've combined an Easter brunch with a birthday party for an 8 year-old princess.

For most of the week I've been reading THE LEOPARD by Jo Nesbo. An impressive book in many ways, but I've still got just under a third to go, so it will be a day or two before I write my review.

As I wrote a couple of days ago, this weekend we combine Easter holidays with Anzac Day, so tomorrow we will be attending a dawn service and then the Anzac Day Parade through Adelaide.

Today I've published the April 2011 edition of the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge Blog Carnival. There are always a dozen or so participants whose contributions make good reading.

The Agatha Christie Reading Challenge is one of those that you can join at any time. You determine how you approach your reading - read the titles in order of publication, or just as you locate them - you decide. See details here.

Other blog posts this week:

News & Headlines

Currently Reading

now: THE DARK VINEYARD, Martin Walker
next: A GRAVE IN THE COTSWOLDS, Rebecca Tope
then - THE FACILITY, Simon Lelic
next on Kindle - THE LEOPARD, Jo Nesbo
now on audio - THE FOUR LAST THINGS, Andrew Taylor
current Agatha Christie - SAD CYPRESS

17 April 2011

Sunday Salon: 17 April: top crime fiction

This week I've read a book that I gave my top rating of 5.
I haven't given very many of those in the 55 books I've read so far this year but A THOUSAND CUTS by Simon Lelic is a crime fiction title that will make you sit up and take notice.

It looks like you might need a reminder too that over on Fair Dinkum Crime this month we are celebrating Aussie Authors Month with the Fair Dinkum Baker's Dozen, a series of interviews with Australian authors. We've approached the author interview a little differently, trying to offer the authors (who we thought must get asked a few standard questions fairly frequently) the opportunity to share some of their lesser known secrets. Or not, it's entirely up to them. We provide the authors with 13 beginnings and, like the creative geniuses they are, they turn them into sentences (or paragraphs, or full blown essays should the urge arise).

Our first Fair Dinkum Quiz
To further help celebrate Aussie Authors Month we're offering a selection of slightly loved books (i.e. bought new, read once) from some great Australian authors as prizes for our inaugural quiz. In keeping with our baker's dozen theme there are 13 questions ranging in difficulty from 'googlable' to 'should probably have read a few posts on Fair Dinkum before attempting this quiz' to 'oh heck I hate quizzes'. Find The Fair Dinkum Quiz #1 here. Closing date for entries is midnight on 24 April 2011 (Australian central standard time which is GMT +9.5)

My other posts this week:

News & Headlines

Currently Reading

now: DEVIL-DEVIL, Graeme Kent
next: A GRAVE IN THE COTSWOLDS, Rebecca Tope
then - THE FACILITY, Simon Lelic
next on Kindle - THE LEOPARD, Jo Nesbo
now on audio - THE JUDGEMENT OF STRANGERS, Andrew Taylor
current Agatha Christie - SAD CYPRESS

10 April 2011

Sunday Salon: 10 April: Aussie Author's Month

Over on Fair Dinkum Crime this month we are celebrating Aussie Authors Month with the Fair Dinkum Baker's Dozen, a series of interviews with Australian authors. We've approached the author interview a little differently, trying to offer the authors (who we thought must get asked a few standard questions fairly frequently) the opportunity to share some of their lesser known secrets. Or not, it's entirely up to them. We provide the authors with 13 beginnings and, like the creative geniuses they are, they turn them into sentences (or paragraphs, or full blown essays should the urge arise).
So far we've interviewed

Coming up:

Brian Kavanagh
P.D. Martin
Leah Giarratano
Michael Robotham

Aussie Authors Month is a cross-genre celebration of Australian writing. In addition to sharing reviews, author interviews, competitions and anything else relating to the writing and reading of works by Aussie authors the month is focused on raising awareness of the Indigenous Literacy Project (ILP). The ILP is a charity with the aim of raising literacy levels among Indigenous Australians in rural and remote communities and it works in partnership with the Australian Book Industry and the Fred Hollows Foundation.

Our first Fair Dinkum Quiz
To further help celebrate Aussie Authors Month we're offering a selection of slightly loved books (i.e. bought new, read once) from some great Australian authors as prizes for our inaugural quiz. In keeping with our baker's dozen theme there are 13 questions ranging in difficulty from 'googlable' to 'should probably have read a few posts on Fair Dinkum before attempting this quiz' to 'oh heck I hate quizzes'. Check Fair Dinkum Crime from Monday 11 April for the quiz questions.

What's been happening on MYSTERIES in PARADISE

This week's posts:

News & Headlines

Currently Reading

now: KING OF THE CROSS, Mark Dapin.
next: A GRAVE IN THE COTSWOLDS, Rebecca Tope
then - THE FACILITY, Simon Lelic
next on Kindle - THE LEOPARD, Jo Nesbo
now on audio - DEATH AT THE PRESIDENT'S LODGING, Michael Innes
current Agatha Christie - AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

3 April 2011

Sunday Salon - 3 April 2011 - Autumn begins Downunder

Just thought I'd post a gentle reminder (in the title) to my northern hemisphere cobbers that when a new season starts where you are, it does here too, but diametrically opposite.
The best thing about today was the end of daylight saving, the fact that I not only got an extra hour in bed, but also the fact that tomorrow, a work day, it won't still be dark when I get up. Sure, I'll miss the longer days, but I can live with that.
The weather in good ol' Adelaide this time of the year is beautiful. Nice warm sunny days that are the best in the world.

This week I completed another excellent month of reading and blogged about it here, uploaded my 400th book review, THE JANUS STONE, Elly Griffiths, and over on Fair Dinkum Crime we began a series of interviews of Aussie authors called Fair Dinkum Crime Baker's Dozen. Our first interview was with West Australian author Felicity Young.

You might like to take look at the new widget I uploaded to the right hand column of my blog. Smik's Crime Fiction Daily is generated from Twitter posts by myslef and 165 people I follow. Clicking on the widget will take you out to the Daily itself.

At the beginning of December I added another widget, Revolvr Map, which you'll find half way down the right hand column. It says that my blog has has 26,500 clicks in 4 months.

Currently reading

now: COLD JUSTICE, Katherine Howell
next: A GRAVE IN THE COTSWOLDS, Rebecca Tope
then - THE FACILITY, Simon Lelic
next on Kindle - RELICS OF THE DEAD, Ariana Franklin
now on audio - DEATH AT THE PRESIDENT'S LODGING, Michael Innes
current Agatha Christie - AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

Other blog posts this week:

News & Headlines you may have missed

Coming up this week

Tomorrow the Crime Fiction Alphabet moves onto the letter M.
It is never too late to join in this one so check it out. There is a cohort of about 15 crime fiction bloggers contributing some great suggestions to add to your TBR.
The Book Review Blog Carnival publishes another edition later today, and the mystery and crime fiction carnival posts another edition tomorrow. I should have items in both.

27 March 2011

Sunday Salon: 27 March 2010: SS a way of life

Sunday Salon has become a way of life for me,an opportunity to summarise my week.
But I'm not really sure that many of my fellow Sunday Saloners actually visit. Certainly, from what I can see from my RSS feeds coming in, few of them are actually crime fiction readers.
So if you are a fellow Sunday Saloner, do leave a comment and let me know where to find your post this week.

The best book I've read and reviewed this week was CROOKED LETTER, CROOKED LETTER by Tom Franklin.

The book explores relationships in a small Mississippi town where segregation and accompanying class differences had once been entrenched. We glimpse too how life has changed over a period of about thirty years. That makes it a story of a nation too, and makes this novel much more than crime fiction. An excellent read. One of those books that will stay in your mind long after you've read it.

Currently reading

now: A GRAVE IN THE COTSWOLDS, Rebecca Tope
next: COLD JUSTICE, Katherine Howell
now on Kindle: THE SERPENT AND THE SCORPION, Clare Langley-Hawthorne
next on Kindle: THE JANUS STONE, Elly Griffiths
next audio: THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X, Keigo Higashino
current Agatha Christie - AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

Other blog posts this week:

News & Headlines

Coming up this week

Tomorrow the Crime Fiction Alphabet moves onto the letter L.
It is never too late to join in this one so check it out.

20 March 2011

Sunday Salon - 20 March 2011, 'bin travellin'

We've spent this weekend in Melbourne, and waiting in airports and flights (even though Adelaide to Melbourne is relatively short), and loads of free time, always means a bit of extra reading.

Yesterday we visited my favourite second hand bookshop in Melbourne, Kill City, and came away with a copy of MURDER IN PARADISE by Ann Cleeves. A very apt title for this blog!

There was great excitement in our household at the beginning of the week. Visit Brand New Addition and you'll see why.

Other blog posts this week:

News & Headlines:

TBRN (To Be Read Next)

now: CROOKED LETTER, CROOKED LETTER, Tom Franklin
then: COLD JUSTICE, Katherine Howell
now on Kindle: THE SERPENT AND THE SCORPION, Clare Langley-Hawthorne
next on Kindle: THE JANUS STONE, Elly Griffiths
next audio: THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X, Keigo Higashino
current Agatha Christie - AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

Coming up this week

Tomorrow the Crime Fiction Alphabet moves onto the letter K. It is never too late to join in this one. so check it out.
The March edition of the Agatha Christie Blog Carnival will be posted onWednesday.

Interested in Australian Crime Fiction?

Have you caught up with Fair Dinkum Crime yet?
Fair Dinkum Crime is hosted by two Adelaide-based book bloggers, Kerrie and Bernadette, who are fans of Australian crime fiction. The site is a place for their reviews of Australian crime fiction to be highlighted and includes author interviews, news, award updates and anything else relevant to Australian crime fiction.
By invitation, reviews of Australian crime fiction written by other bloggers are also incorporated into Fair Dinkum Crime, either by linking from here or by re-publishing here (always with the blogger's permission). If you have reviewed a work of Australian crime fiction and would like a link or copy of the review posted on Fair Dinkum Crime please email us.
Do you know about the 2011 Aussie Author Challenge?
April is Aussie Authors Month and at Fair Dinkum Crime we'll be celebrating.

13 March 2011

Sunday Salon: 13 March 2011, enjoying a holiday weekend

What better way to spend some quality time on this Adelaide Cup holiday weekend than to get some reading done?

Mind you, if I was at the races I'd have my Kindle or a book with me!

Reminder: you have a week left to participate in Do the Write Thing (until 19 March)

Do the Write Thing! is a charity raffle put together by Margot Kinberg at Confessions of a Mystery Novelist to raise funds for Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake relief.

Thanks to the generosity of 39 authors from around the world (Woot! Thank you!) you’ve got a chance to win signed copies of some wonderful books for just about every taste. Each winner will get a package of 3-4 titles.

To enter the raffle click HERE.

*******************
I've had a really good reading week actually: a mixture of books from the library, on the Kindle, and audio.

4.7, WHERE MEMORIES LIE, Deborah Crombie (12 Mar)
4.2, THE POCKET ESSENTIAL AGATHA CHRISTIE, Mark Campbell (11 Mar)- kindle
4.3, MURDER IS EASY, Agatha Christie (11 Mar)- kindle
4.6, SARAH'S KEY, Tatiana de Rosnay (11 Mar) -audio
4.0, MRS POLLIFAX, INNOCENT TOURIST, Dorothy Gilman (9 Mar)
3.8, MONSIEUR PAMPLEMOUSSE TAKES THE CURE, Michael Bond (8 Mar)
4.8, THE SWEETNESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIE, Alan Bradley (7 Mar)- kindle

Other posts this week:

News & Headlines

Currently reading:

now: FROZEN MOMENT, Camilla Ceder
next: CROOKED LETTER, CROOKED LETTER, Tom Franklin
then: COLD JUSTICE, Katherine Howell
next on Kindle: THE JANUS STONE, Elly Griffiths
next audio: THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X, Keigo Higashino
current Agatha Christie - AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

Blog improvements:
I added side bar gadgets for some existing labels: library books, Kindle, audio books
This is actually quite easy to do: you just use the RSS feeds for the labels.
I already have some there for Friday's Forgotten Books, Reviews, Crime Fiction Alphabet and more.
As I add posts where I use those labels, then the little gadgets will update.

6 March 2011

Sunday Salon: 6 March: Do the Write Thing!

Hello fellow Sunday Saloners,

I know I told you about the fundraiser for the Christchurch (NZ) earthquake) last Sunday, but full details of how to contribute and participate in the raffle were released this week.

Do the Write Thing! is a charity raffle put together by Margot Kinberg at Confessions of a Mystery Novelist to raise funds for Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake relief.

Thanks to the generosity of 39 authors from around the world (Woot! Thank you!) you’ve got a chance to win signed copies of some wonderful books for just about every taste. Each winner will get a package of 3-4 titles.

To enter the raffle click HERE.

Other happenings this week:

This week the Crime Fiction Alphabet surged on to the letter H, and you really need to check the links out.
Look out for the letter I tomorrow. Here's a quick link to the letters covered so far: Crime Fiction Alphabet

I released my Pick of the Month for February too. I had an excellent reading month, the second for the year.

I'm heading for an annual record at this rate: I've read 34 books so far in 2011. Dare I hope to read 200 in the year? If you are interested to see what I've read so far check 2011 Reviews.

I'm also doing pretty well with my reading challenges: see Reading Challenges Update

My other posts this week:

Pages

21 August 2011

14 August 2011

7 August 2011

31 July 2011

24 July 2011

17 July 2011

10 July 2011

3 July 2011

26 June 2011

19 June 2011

1 May 2011

24 April 2011

17 April 2011

10 April 2011

3 April 2011

27 March 2011

20 March 2011

13 March 2011

6 March 2011

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