The Telephone Gambit

I recently finished reading "The Telephone Gambit: Chasing Alexander Graham Bell's Secret" by Seth Shulman. The author takes the reader through his investigation of who really invented the telephone. Children are taught from an early age that Bell was the inventor of the telephone, but they are never taught about the battle Bell went through to prove he was the true inventor. For those interested in the history of science, I think this is a great read. It also brings to light some of the flaws in the systems of the Patent Office in its early years. As a scientist, I found this aspect of the book quite interesting. Did you know that at one time the U.S. Patent Office required inventors to submit working models of their inventions? Imagine the storage facility they would need today if this practice were still in place.

A few days of no reading...

It is terrible when you don't have a chance to read for a few days. Last week I finish up "Change of Heart" by Jodi Picoult, and then we had visitors all weekend. It was not until yesterday that I finally had a chance to pick up a book. Right now I am reading multiple books. I am trying to finish up one of my Spring Reading Thing Challenge books, "Persuasion". At the same time I am reading a book called "The Telephone Gambit", which discusses who really invented the telephone. This one is due back at the library next week, so Jane Austen will have to wait. As soon as I have a spare minute I will write a review of Change of Heart. Let's hope tomorrow we can get to that. Until then...

Story on NPR about Book Social Networking

I heard a great story on NPR this afternoon about a variety of book social networks on the web. The one that was of particular interest to me was www.Librarything.com. This site allows you to list all of the books in your library, or those that you have read. It then will match you up with other readers with "eerily" similar interests. Sounds like fun, I am definitely going to sign up! I will add a link to my library on my blog as soon as I complete it.

Spring Reading Thing 2008

After watching the movie "The Jane Austen Book Club" (and reading the book), I realized that I had read so few classic novels. So a few weeks ago I went out and bought several Jane Austen books. I have added these to my Spring Reading Thing 2008 List, as well as an Oscar Wilde book given to me for my birthday. So as of today, here is my list:

Emma
Northanger Abbey
Persuasion
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Mansfield Park

The Doctor's Office

I went to the doctor today for my annual physical. As always, I carried a book along with me. You just never know when you are going to have time fit a few pages of reading in. While I waited in the office, at least ten to fifteen people were called into the examination area. I noticed that not one of them was reading. They simply sat there waiting. To me this is the worst torture, to have to sit idly waiting. I crave a book whenever I am forced to wait for anything. Luckily today I had "Changes of Heart" in hand.

Let's Try A Reading Challenge...

I discovered a neat Reading Challenge hosted by Joy. The requirements are:

• align the author's last name or the title of a book (excluding "the", "a", etc.) with its corresponding letter in the alphabet
• enter a different book for each author and title (total of 52 books)
• complete the alphabet lists anyway that suits your fancy
  (i.e.: complete each list separately in alphabetical order, read both "A" entries, then "B" entries, fit whatever you're reading into either list, etc.)
• complete the challenge in the year 2008
• enjoy the experience!

Since I am getting started a little late, I am going to include the books that I have read since the first of the year. This should be interesting...I will probably include some audiobooks as well since I am a book listener as well.

A to Z Title List:
Atonement Ian McEwan

B
Change of Heart Jodi Picoult
Devil's Bones Jefferson Bass
E
F
G
H
I Am Legend Richard Matheson
J
K
Leviathan Paul Auster
Murder in the Sentier Cara Black
N
O
Persuasion Jane Austen
Q
R
Small Steps Louis Sachar
Timbuktu Paul Auster
U
V
World Without End Ken Follett
X
Y
Z

A to Z Author List

A

Black, Cara "Murder in Marais"
Cornwell, Patricia "Book of the Dead"
D
E
F
Gore, Al "The Assault on Reason"
Hale, Shannon "Austenland"
I
Jungersen, Christian "The Exception: A Novel"
K
L
M
N
Oates, Joyce Carol "After the Wreck, I Picked Myself Up, Spread my Wings, and Flew Away"
Patchett, Ann "The Magician's Assistant"
Q
Roach, Mary "Spook"
Shulman, Seth "The Telephone Gambit: Chasing Alexander Graham Bell's Secret"
T
U
V
Weiner, Jennifer "Certain Girls"
X
Y
Z

My First Post...

Here is my first post, and what a great way to start but with a Jodi Picoult book. Last night I started reading "Changes of Heart" before I went to bed. It is amazing how her books grab you from the first page. I read the Prologue and I wanted to stay up all night and read. Alas, sleepiness got the best of me.

Jodi Picoult is truely one of my favorite authors. I love how her books tell a story from the perspective of so many different people. The first of her books that I read was "My Sister's Keeper", and since then I have made my way through most of her books.

I am going to try to slowly update my blog with various books that I have read, what is in my queue to be read, as well as some of my favorite authors. Until then, happy reading!