For Fans of Alexander McCall Smith

I'm in the midst of a trial this week, but I wanted to share this with you all:

A friend of mine brought to my attention the fact that HBO is running a series based on Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. I know he's got lots of fans out there, so do check it out. I believe the show is on Sunday nights, but the link has all the info.

I've not read any of that series yet, but I did read 44 Scotland Street last year. I'm not a huge fan (yet), but I know many out there in blogland are. Check back in and let me know if the show is any good!

Hopefully, I'll be back when my trial is over (Thursday). Good reading to you all!

Friday Fill-Ins

1. "In a hole in the ground there lived ME."

2. "We ain't got no money but that ain't no matter."

3. "After dark the rain began to fall again, and I fell asleep listening to it."

4. "Fabio emerged from the hold of the Spanish galleon."

5. "There was a hand in the darkness, and it scared the crap out of me."

6. "Accidents ambush the unsuspecting, every day."

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to this week finally being over, tomorrow my plans include a day completely to myself and Sunday, I want to accompany Ricky to hang out with his cousin, who is in town for the weekend!

Recently Received

From Heather, at The Library Ladder, the first of the Night Watch trilogy...can't wait to get a chance to start in on these!

Also, from Random House and LibraryThing, Loon by Jack McLean. Another book on the for-review pile!

Sorry I've been away so much. It's been a long couple of weeks. Hopefully, I'll be able to get back into the swing of things this weekend...

Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak

Last night, I finally finished Boris Pasternak's Doctor Zhivago. I've had this on my list for a while, it being one of those works that are considered a "classic," although I think the movie is more of a classic than the novel.

The book tells the story of Yuri Zhivago, from his childhood on, as he deals with one of the most turbulent times in Russia's history - the Russian Revolution. He marries and begins a family, then is sent off to war, where he meets his One True Love, Lara. They are again separated by the war, and he spends quite a bit of time with the opposing forces.

I'll be very honest: all I know about the Russian Revolution, I learned from a Danielle Steele novel. That made it decidedly hard to put anything in the novel into context. I couldn't keep all the Reds and Whites straight (which were the Bolsheviks?) and, while some names - Tolstoy, Blok, etc. - were familiar to me, I'm not well-versed enough in their work to know what it meant during the Revolution. Overall, I liked the story, especially Pasternak's writing (I believe he was a poet first). But there were too many names. Unpronounceable names. Russian names. Place names, people's names, even animals' names!!! And, since I'm unfamiliar with Russian, I had a hard time keeping all the people and places straight.

I would give this book 3 out of 5 Whatevers. It was enjoyable while I was reading it, but I often found it hard to make myself go back to it. I think it would have appealed to me more if I'd had longer, uninterrupted stretches in which to read it. It's a must for Russian literature lovers and lovers of beautiful prose, but if you need action, skip this one.

The Read-a-Thon Is Back!

One of my favorite things that Dewey did while she was with us was to organize the 24-Hour Read-a-Thon, fall and spring editions. I wondered, after she passed, if the Read-a-Thon would continue. Happily, it will.

It is set to begin April 18, 2009 at 12:00 GMT, and last for, duh, the next 24 hours. I have only participated one other time, in October, but I had SO MUCH FUN. I do plan, at this point, to participate in April. However, that is T-minus 35 days and counting to the wedding, so we shall see. If I still have my sanity, I'll be there.

Anyone who wants more information should go here.

Friday Fill-Ins

1. Why do we have to say goodbye so soon?

2. Reading and blogging are now habits.

3. I have a very understanding fiance'.

4. I had never heard the phrase "keep your powder dry" and it apparently hearkens back to the days of muskets.

5. I'm falling behind, the way I always do.

6. How was I to know I wouldn't get any reading done this year?!

7. And as for the weekend, Friday night I'm looking forward to Girls' Night at Maria's - fondue and crafting, today my plans include having a migraine, apparently and Sunday, I want to go to the memorial service and do some work!

Another Super-Busy Week

Not much reading done this week. Again. I went shopping with friends Monday night and ended up buying a BlackBerry. Sigh. Dinner with Ricky's parents and brother on Tuesday. Trivia night on Wednesday night. Girls' Night last night. Hopefully, this upcoming week will be a little calmer.

It's also been a rough week for me, emotionally. A judge that I used to practice in front of passed away suddenly. The memorial service is tomorrow. While I wasn't close to the judge, he was a presence in my life at the courthouse, and it's really made me think a lot about those I love.

I hope to finish up Doctor Zhivago this weekend and then catch up on some of my magazine reading that has fallen by the wayside...

Friday Fill-Ins

1. When I look to the left, I see my big puffy winter coat, which I never use anymore .

2. The living room is the room that has the best view in my home.

3. Let it work itself out.

4. Dirty deeds, of course done dirt cheap!

5. Jury duty is a responsibility that all qualified citizens must share.

6. If you have any extra books feel free to send them my way.

7. And as for the weekend, Friday night I'm looking forward to my friends' law firm grand opening, today my plans include relaxing and Sunday, I want to go to the mall!

I'm Still Alive

This week was a busy one. Wednesday was the cake tasting for the wedding...we're going with a six-inch cake and individual cupcakes for the guests: vanilla cake with strawberry mousse filling. YUM! I love the place we went for our cake. The cake will totally have palm trees on it.

Thursday was a busy day at work. I was zonked when I got home.

We got our wedding rings in yesterday. Mine is messed up...some weird dark spot on the metal, so I have to take it back. I think Ricky thinks it's a bad omen. Heh.

Last night was the grand opening for my friends' new law firm, so I spent an enjoyable evening eating their food and drinking their beer. Afterward, we went to a local restaurant to take in the reggae band. Good times.

So I've been largely absent from the blogosphere this week. (Which seems to be more of a trend for me.) I guess everyone has those periods of life when we aren't able to spend our time doing the things we WANT to do, because we're so busy doing the things we HAVE to do.

I hope next week is a little calmer. This weekend will be.

Castle

Okay, so last night I tuned in to Nathan Fillion's new show, Castle. It's about a thriller writer, a la James Patterson (who guest starred last night, along with Stephen J. Cannell!), who starts working with the police. Richard Castle has just published his latest book, which killed off his main character, Derek Storm. The episode which aired last night was all about how he got started working with the police in the first place: someone was staging murders to resemble the murders in his "lesser works," heh, and he was called in to consult. At the end of the episode, he decides to start writing a new series focused on a detective who greatly resembles the female detective he was helping, and he needs to work with the police force for "research."

At the beginning of last night's episode, the writing was so weak I was rolling my eyes. But by the middle, I was engrossed in the whodunnit. I'll probably tune in again next week, but mostly because I love Nathan Fillion. Although the stunt-casting of Patterson and Cannell as Castle's poker buddies was pretty funny. We'll see if the show can keep it up.

Friday Fill-Ins Never Seem to Happen on a Friday

1. Isn't it sad that I can't remember what was my last random act of kindness?

2. Another place, another time.

3. I feel pretty comfortable right now in matters of the heart.

4. Coffee, tea or ME?

5. Sometimes even the best of friends go down separate paths.

6. Our President reminds me that there is hope for the future.

7. And as for the weekend, Friday night I'm looking forward to SLEEP, today my plans include a jewelry party at my friend Shannon's house and Sunday, I want to clean the house from top to bottom!