why is sjmccreary reading in 2014
Diskutera2014 Category Challenge
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1sjmccreary
So many people here have great category themes that include song titles! As I started making a list of categories, I wasn't thinking about using song titles, but about half way through I realized that all my categories consisted of reasons I choose a book. Why I'm reading that book at that time. "Why, why, why Deliliah?" - which is a phrase my husband and I use frequently when seeking an explanation for something, as well as a great song. Here is a link for your listening pleasure while you read my categories: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dTWuslyIrk (isn't the horn section fantastic? check out the band leader!)
2sjmccreary
14. I've had a personal alphabetic reading challenge going for several years now. I read a sample of titles and authors starting with one letter of the alphabet from my wishlist, and then move on to the next letter. My thread is here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/91489. I thought it would take about a year to complete the alphabet. It's been more than 3 years already, and I'm still just in the L's. This is my primary criteria when choosing books. I will read at least 14 books that are chosen just for the first letter of the title or author.
13. I've begun to be more involved in the group reads sponsored by the Category Challenge group, causing me to choose many books I wouldn't have otherwise. I hope to participate in at least 13 2014 Category Challenge group reads.
12. I think it was 2011 when I had a category where I would read books chosen for me by my LT friends. That was my best category that year. I want to do it again. I hope you will be willing to help by choosing one book for me to read each month - 12 in all.
11. Mysteries. My favorite genre. I expect that at least 11 books will be chosen just because they are mysteries.
10. I recently joined the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die group (http://www.librarything.com/groups/1001bookstoreadbefo). They also sponsor monthly group reads that I've been participating in. I try to join in every month, but I'm sure to miss one or two. I plan to complete at least 10 1001 books in 2014.
9. I love audio books - have for years. I always have one in progress in the car, and often another in the house. Sometimes I go to the library and look for audios - often finding something completely different that anything I would read in print. Nine should be a cinch.
8. Last year the category challenge group added monthly CAT challenges. They are fun, voluntary challenges to read books that meet certain criteria each month. The 2014 CAT themes are still be determined, but I hope I'll be able to do at least 8.
7. I've always enjoyed nonfiction books - especially histories. Plus, over in the 75 Books group, there is a quarterly group read that chooses nonfiction books about science, religion and/or history (http://www.librarything.com/topic/146538). Between the group reads and what I pick on my own, I think I can finish 7 nonfictions in a year.
6. The Missouri Readers Group (http://www.librarything.com/groups/missourireaders) does a group read every other month - choosing a book that has some connection to the Show Me State. So, I'll read 6.
5. Besides reading, my main interests are gardening, cooking and quilting. Reading about them is best of all. Five books sounds about right for a year.
4. I don't own very many books - at least by LT standards. I mostly read library books, but sometimes I choose a book off my own shelf just for convenience. Four is probably all I will do.
3. Sometimes a book seems to just follow me home for no reason that I can identify. It probably happens about 3 times a year.
2. Even though this list of reasons seems comprehensive, sometimes I choose a book for a reason I haven't named. I hope it doesn't happen more than twice!
1. As much as I love audio books, and as carefully I choose a selection for the car when we take a vacation, the one we end up listening to is usually a dud. Maybe this year it will be a good one.
Overlaps - at least 14 will be permitted. Maybe more.
13. I've begun to be more involved in the group reads sponsored by the Category Challenge group, causing me to choose many books I wouldn't have otherwise. I hope to participate in at least 13 2014 Category Challenge group reads.
12. I think it was 2011 when I had a category where I would read books chosen for me by my LT friends. That was my best category that year. I want to do it again. I hope you will be willing to help by choosing one book for me to read each month - 12 in all.
11. Mysteries. My favorite genre. I expect that at least 11 books will be chosen just because they are mysteries.
10. I recently joined the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die group (http://www.librarything.com/groups/1001bookstoreadbefo). They also sponsor monthly group reads that I've been participating in. I try to join in every month, but I'm sure to miss one or two. I plan to complete at least 10 1001 books in 2014.
9. I love audio books - have for years. I always have one in progress in the car, and often another in the house. Sometimes I go to the library and look for audios - often finding something completely different that anything I would read in print. Nine should be a cinch.
8. Last year the category challenge group added monthly CAT challenges. They are fun, voluntary challenges to read books that meet certain criteria each month. The 2014 CAT themes are still be determined, but I hope I'll be able to do at least 8.
7. I've always enjoyed nonfiction books - especially histories. Plus, over in the 75 Books group, there is a quarterly group read that chooses nonfiction books about science, religion and/or history (http://www.librarything.com/topic/146538). Between the group reads and what I pick on my own, I think I can finish 7 nonfictions in a year.
6. The Missouri Readers Group (http://www.librarything.com/groups/missourireaders) does a group read every other month - choosing a book that has some connection to the Show Me State. So, I'll read 6.
5. Besides reading, my main interests are gardening, cooking and quilting. Reading about them is best of all. Five books sounds about right for a year.
4. I don't own very many books - at least by LT standards. I mostly read library books, but sometimes I choose a book off my own shelf just for convenience. Four is probably all I will do.
3. Sometimes a book seems to just follow me home for no reason that I can identify. It probably happens about 3 times a year.
2. Even though this list of reasons seems comprehensive, sometimes I choose a book for a reason I haven't named. I hope it doesn't happen more than twice!
1. As much as I love audio books, and as carefully I choose a selection for the car when we take a vacation, the one we end up listening to is usually a dud. Maybe this year it will be a good one.
Overlaps - at least 14 will be permitted. Maybe more.
3sjmccreary
14 alphabet challenge books:
1. Trail of the Spellman's by Lisa Lutz - 1/7/14
2. Mystic River by Dennis Lehane - 2/3/14
3. The Leopard by Giuseppe Di Lampedusa - 5/15/14
4. The Lost Art of Finding Our Way by John Edward Huth - 5/22/14
5. The Last Kashmiri Rose by Barbara Cleverly - 5/28/14
6. The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury - 6/18/14
7. Locust by Jeffrey A Lockwood - 7/21/14
8. Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan - 8/9/14
9. The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan - 8/23/14
10. The Boys From Brazil by Ira Levin - 11/28/14
11.
12.
13.
14.
Currently reading:
Upcoming "L" books:
The Lexicographer's Dilemma by Jack Lynch
Sun Storm by Asa Larsson
Land of Lincoln by Andrew Ferguson
1. Trail of the Spellman's by Lisa Lutz - 1/7/14
2. Mystic River by Dennis Lehane - 2/3/14
3. The Leopard by Giuseppe Di Lampedusa - 5/15/14
4. The Lost Art of Finding Our Way by John Edward Huth - 5/22/14
5. The Last Kashmiri Rose by Barbara Cleverly - 5/28/14
6. The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury - 6/18/14
7. Locust by Jeffrey A Lockwood - 7/21/14
8. Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan - 8/9/14
9. The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan - 8/23/14
10. The Boys From Brazil by Ira Levin - 11/28/14
11.
12.
13.
14.
Currently reading:
Upcoming "L" books:
The Lexicographer's Dilemma by Jack Lynch
Sun Storm by Asa Larsson
Land of Lincoln by Andrew Ferguson
4sjmccreary
13 2014 Category Challenge Group Reads:
1. The Inimitable Jeeves by P G Wodehouse - 2/13/14
2. Anne of Green Gables by L M Montgomery - 4/6/14
3. Middlemarch by George Eliot - 4/4/14
4. The Great Influenza by John M Barry - 4/18/14
5. Before the Dawn by Nicholas Wade - 5/5/14
6. The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer - 6/8/14
7. Baudolino by Umberto Eco - 7/24/14
8. The Summer Book by Tove Jansson - 9/5/14
9. Go Tell it on the Mountain by James Baldwin - 9/16/14
10. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett - 10/16/14
11. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert - 11/7/14
12. Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain - 11/28/14
13.
Currently reading:
Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
Paradise of the Blind by Duong Thu Huong
Planned books:
Shirley by Charlotte Bronte - November (overlap w/ 1001 books)
The Man Who Loved China by Simon Winchester
1. The Inimitable Jeeves by P G Wodehouse - 2/13/14
2. Anne of Green Gables by L M Montgomery - 4/6/14
3. Middlemarch by George Eliot - 4/4/14
4. The Great Influenza by John M Barry - 4/18/14
5. Before the Dawn by Nicholas Wade - 5/5/14
6. The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer - 6/8/14
7. Baudolino by Umberto Eco - 7/24/14
8. The Summer Book by Tove Jansson - 9/5/14
9. Go Tell it on the Mountain by James Baldwin - 9/16/14
10. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett - 10/16/14
11. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert - 11/7/14
12. Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain - 11/28/14
13.
Currently reading:
Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
Paradise of the Blind by Duong Thu Huong
Planned books:
Shirley by Charlotte Bronte - November (overlap w/ 1001 books)
The Man Who Loved China by Simon Winchester
5sjmccreary
12 Books picked by a friend:
1. Shipping News by Annie Proulx - 1/23/14 - picked by -Eva-
2. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig - 5/6/14 - picked by cyderry
3. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie - 5/19/14 - picked by thornton37814
4. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon - 6/16/14 - picked by deltaqueen50
5. One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus - 7/28/14 - picked by dudes22 and deltaqueen50 (a duplicate pick!)
6. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein - 8/4/14 - picked by Lindapanzo
7. The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig - 10/6/14 - picked by cbl_tn
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Currently reading:
Possibilities:
picked by -Eva-
The Know-it-all by A J Jacobs
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
picked by cyderry
The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
picked by dudes22
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
March by Geraldine Brooks
picked by thornton37814
picked by lindapanzo
One Summer America 1927 by Bill Bryson
The Mirror by Marlys Millhiser
picked by deltaqueen50
Laura by Vera Caspary
Mudbound by HIllary Jordan
picked by cbl_tn
Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard
The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney
The Invisible Ones by Stef Penney
picked by countrylife
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
plus 22 other books!
picked by tymfos
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
The Curse of the Narrows by Laura MacDonald
The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough (another duplicate pick)
A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash
1. Shipping News by Annie Proulx - 1/23/14 - picked by -Eva-
2. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig - 5/6/14 - picked by cyderry
3. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie - 5/19/14 - picked by thornton37814
4. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon - 6/16/14 - picked by deltaqueen50
5. One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus - 7/28/14 - picked by dudes22 and deltaqueen50 (a duplicate pick!)
6. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein - 8/4/14 - picked by Lindapanzo
7. The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig - 10/6/14 - picked by cbl_tn
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Currently reading:
Possibilities:
picked by -Eva-
The Know-it-all by A J Jacobs
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
picked by cyderry
The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
picked by dudes22
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
March by Geraldine Brooks
picked by thornton37814
picked by lindapanzo
One Summer America 1927 by Bill Bryson
The Mirror by Marlys Millhiser
picked by deltaqueen50
Laura by Vera Caspary
Mudbound by HIllary Jordan
picked by cbl_tn
Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard
The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney
The Invisible Ones by Stef Penney
picked by countrylife
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
plus 22 other books!
picked by tymfos
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
The Curse of the Narrows by Laura MacDonald
The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough (another duplicate pick)
A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash
6sjmccreary
11 Mysteries:
1. Trail of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz 1/7/14
2. Mystic River by Dennis Lehane - 2/3/14
3. Abandoned by Cody McFayden - 2/15/14
4. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler by E L Konigsburg - 3/31/14
5. Siren of the Waters by Michael Genelin - 4/2/14
6. The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen - 5/2/14
7. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie - 5/19/14
8. Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell - 6/4/14
9. The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury - 6/18/14
10. The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais - 6/24/14
11. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett - 7/22/14
COMPLETED!
12. A Mind to Murder by P D James - 8/14/14
13. The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan - 8/23/14
14. The Cleaner by Brett Battles - 11/11/14
15. The Christmas Train by David Baldacci - 11/19/14
16. The Way Through the Mountains by Steve Frazee - 11/23/14
17. Boys From Brazil by Ira Levin - 11/28/14
18. The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton - 11/28/14
Currently reading:
Planned for MysteryCAT:
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Murder With Puffins by Donna Andrews
Sun Storm by Asa Larsson
1. Trail of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz 1/7/14
2. Mystic River by Dennis Lehane - 2/3/14
3. Abandoned by Cody McFayden - 2/15/14
4. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler by E L Konigsburg - 3/31/14
5. Siren of the Waters by Michael Genelin - 4/2/14
6. The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen - 5/2/14
7. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie - 5/19/14
8. Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell - 6/4/14
9. The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury - 6/18/14
10. The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais - 6/24/14
11. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett - 7/22/14
COMPLETED!
12. A Mind to Murder by P D James - 8/14/14
13. The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan - 8/23/14
14. The Cleaner by Brett Battles - 11/11/14
15. The Christmas Train by David Baldacci - 11/19/14
16. The Way Through the Mountains by Steve Frazee - 11/23/14
17. Boys From Brazil by Ira Levin - 11/28/14
18. The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton - 11/28/14
Currently reading:
Planned for MysteryCAT:
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Murder With Puffins by Donna Andrews
Sun Storm by Asa Larsson
7sjmccreary
10 books from the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list:
1. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway - 1/21/14
2. Middlemarch by George Eliot - 4/4/14
3. Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks - 4/24/14
4. Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo - 5/14/14
5. The Leopard by Giuseppe di Lampedusa - 5/15/14
6. Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell - 6/4/14
7. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett - 7/22/14
8. The Summer Book by Tove Jansson - 9/5/14
9. Go Tell it On The Mountain by James Baldwin - 9/16/14
10. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert - 11/7/14
COMPLETED!
11. The Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain - 11/27/14
Currently Reading:
Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
Paradise of the Blind by Duong Thu Huong
Planned books:
Shirley by Charlotte Bronte (overlap w/ 2014 group reads)
1. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway - 1/21/14
2. Middlemarch by George Eliot - 4/4/14
3. Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks - 4/24/14
4. Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo - 5/14/14
5. The Leopard by Giuseppe di Lampedusa - 5/15/14
6. Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell - 6/4/14
7. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett - 7/22/14
8. The Summer Book by Tove Jansson - 9/5/14
9. Go Tell it On The Mountain by James Baldwin - 9/16/14
10. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert - 11/7/14
COMPLETED!
11. The Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain - 11/27/14
Currently Reading:
Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
Paradise of the Blind by Duong Thu Huong
Planned books:
Shirley by Charlotte Bronte (overlap w/ 2014 group reads)
8sjmccreary
9 Audio books:
1. The White Rhino Hotel by Bartle Bull - 1/7/14
2. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway - 1/21/14
3. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See - 1/26/14
4. Abandoned by Cody McFadyen - 2/15/14
5. Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo - 5/14/14
6. Over the Edge of the World by Laurence Bergreen - 5/31/14
7. A Good American by Alex George - 6/10/14
8. The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais - 6/24/14
9. A Conspiracy of Faith by Jussi Adler-Olsen - 7/8/14
COMPLETED!!
10. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein - 8/4/14
11. A Mind to Murder by P D James - 8/14/14
12. Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes - 9/15/14
13. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet - 10/16/14
14. The Cleaner by Brett Battles - 11/11/14
15. The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore - 11/25/14
16. The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton - 11/28/14
Currently "reading":
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
1. The White Rhino Hotel by Bartle Bull - 1/7/14
2. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway - 1/21/14
3. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See - 1/26/14
4. Abandoned by Cody McFadyen - 2/15/14
5. Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo - 5/14/14
6. Over the Edge of the World by Laurence Bergreen - 5/31/14
7. A Good American by Alex George - 6/10/14
8. The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais - 6/24/14
9. A Conspiracy of Faith by Jussi Adler-Olsen - 7/8/14
COMPLETED!!
10. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein - 8/4/14
11. A Mind to Murder by P D James - 8/14/14
12. Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes - 9/15/14
13. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet - 10/16/14
14. The Cleaner by Brett Battles - 11/11/14
15. The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore - 11/25/14
16. The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton - 11/28/14
Currently "reading":
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
9sjmccreary
8 CAT books:
1. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See - immigration (US) - 1/26/14
2. Siren of the Waters by Michael Genelin - Slovakia (East Europe) - 4/2/14
3. Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz - Egypt (Middle East) - 4/17/14
4. The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea - Mexico (Central America) - 4/27/14
5. The Last Kashmiri Rose by Barbara Cleverly - India (South Asia) - 5/28/14
6. The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard - Antarctica - 7/25/14
7. The Fencing Master by Arturo Perez-Reverte - Spain (West Europe) - 8/9/14
8. Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes - Vietnam War (East Asia) - 9/15/14
COMPLETED!!
Currently reading:
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
Planned books:
The Colour by Rose Tremain - New Zealand (Oceania), November
1. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See - immigration (US) - 1/26/14
2. Siren of the Waters by Michael Genelin - Slovakia (East Europe) - 4/2/14
3. Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz - Egypt (Middle East) - 4/17/14
4. The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea - Mexico (Central America) - 4/27/14
5. The Last Kashmiri Rose by Barbara Cleverly - India (South Asia) - 5/28/14
6. The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard - Antarctica - 7/25/14
7. The Fencing Master by Arturo Perez-Reverte - Spain (West Europe) - 8/9/14
8. Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes - Vietnam War (East Asia) - 9/15/14
COMPLETED!!
Currently reading:
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
Planned books:
The Colour by Rose Tremain - New Zealand (Oceania), November
10sjmccreary
7 Nonfictions, including the Science-Religion-History group reads:
1. The Great Influenza by John M Barry - 4/17/14
2. Orphan Trains by Stephen O'Connor - 4/24/14
3. Before the Dawn by Nicholas Wade - 5/5/14
4. Over the Edge of the World by Laurence Bergreen - 5/31/14
5. The Ten Ancient Scrolls for Success by Og Mandino - 6/3/14
6. Locust by Jeffrey A Lockwood - 7/21/14
7. The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard - 7/25/14
COMPLETED!!
8. Never Enough by Tom Kupsh - 9/14/14
9. On Shaky Ground by Norma Bagnall - 11/5/14
currently reading:
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
Planned books:
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (overlap w/group read)
The Man Who Loved China by Simon Winchester
The Book Nobody Read by Owen Gingerich
1. The Great Influenza by John M Barry - 4/17/14
2. Orphan Trains by Stephen O'Connor - 4/24/14
3. Before the Dawn by Nicholas Wade - 5/5/14
4. Over the Edge of the World by Laurence Bergreen - 5/31/14
5. The Ten Ancient Scrolls for Success by Og Mandino - 6/3/14
6. Locust by Jeffrey A Lockwood - 7/21/14
7. The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard - 7/25/14
COMPLETED!!
8. Never Enough by Tom Kupsh - 9/14/14
9. On Shaky Ground by Norma Bagnall - 11/5/14
currently reading:
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
Planned books:
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (overlap w/group read)
The Man Who Loved China by Simon Winchester
The Book Nobody Read by Owen Gingerich
11sjmccreary
6 Missouri Readers Group Reads:
1. Orphan Trains by Stephen O'Connor - 4/24/14
2. A Good American by Alex George - 6/10/14
3. Torn Away by Jennifer Brown - 9/18/14
4. The Maid's Version by Daniel Woodrell - 10/6/14
5. On Shaky Ground by Norma Bagnall - 11/5/14
6.
currently reading:
planned books:
Across the Wide Missouri by Bernard DeVoto
Egan's Rats by Daniel Waugh
1. Orphan Trains by Stephen O'Connor - 4/24/14
2. A Good American by Alex George - 6/10/14
3. Torn Away by Jennifer Brown - 9/18/14
4. The Maid's Version by Daniel Woodrell - 10/6/14
5. On Shaky Ground by Norma Bagnall - 11/5/14
6.
currently reading:
planned books:
Across the Wide Missouri by Bernard DeVoto
Egan's Rats by Daniel Waugh
12sjmccreary
5 books about gardening/cooking/quilting:
1. The Complete Guide to Drying Foods at Home by Terri Paajanen - 1/28/14
2. The Primal Blueprint Cookbook by Mark Sisson - 5/30/14
3. The Vegetable Gardener's Bible by Edward C Smith - 6/7/14
4. The Quilter's Album of Patchwork Patterns by Jinny Beyer - 8/31/14
5.
Currently reading:
Planned books:
1. The Complete Guide to Drying Foods at Home by Terri Paajanen - 1/28/14
2. The Primal Blueprint Cookbook by Mark Sisson - 5/30/14
3. The Vegetable Gardener's Bible by Edward C Smith - 6/7/14
4. The Quilter's Album of Patchwork Patterns by Jinny Beyer - 8/31/14
5.
Currently reading:
Planned books:
13sjmccreary
4 books I own:
1. The Shipping News by Annie Proulx - 1/23/14
2. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig - 5/6/14
3. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon - 6/16/14
4. One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus - 7/28/14
COMPLETED!!
5. The Fencing Master by Arturo Perez-Reverte - 8/9/14
6. The Way Through the Mountains by Steve Frazee - 11/23/14
Currently Reading:
Planned books:
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
1. The Shipping News by Annie Proulx - 1/23/14
2. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig - 5/6/14
3. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon - 6/16/14
4. One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus - 7/28/14
COMPLETED!!
5. The Fencing Master by Arturo Perez-Reverte - 8/9/14
6. The Way Through the Mountains by Steve Frazee - 11/23/14
Currently Reading:
Planned books:
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
14sjmccreary
3 books just because:
1. The Lost Art of Finding Our Way by John Edward Huth - 5/22/14
2. The Ten Ancient Scrolls for Success by Og Mandino - 6/3/14
3. Y: The Last Man by Brian Vaughan - 7/29/14
COMPLETED!!
4. Never Enough by Tom Kupsh - 9/14/14
Currently reading:
1. The Lost Art of Finding Our Way by John Edward Huth - 5/22/14
2. The Ten Ancient Scrolls for Success by Og Mandino - 6/3/14
3. Y: The Last Man by Brian Vaughan - 7/29/14
COMPLETED!!
4. Never Enough by Tom Kupsh - 9/14/14
Currently reading:
15sjmccreary
2 books for some other reason:
1. Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan - 5/21/14
2. Baudolino by Umberto Eco - 7/24/14
COMPLETED!!
3. The Christmas Train by David Baldacci - 11/19/14
4. The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore - 11/25/14
1. Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan - 5/21/14
2. Baudolino by Umberto Eco - 7/24/14
COMPLETED!!
3. The Christmas Train by David Baldacci - 11/19/14
4. The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore - 11/25/14
17christina_reads
I really love your explanations for your categories! Will look forward to seeing how you fill them.
20rabbitprincess
Great setup! Looks like a good reading year ahead for you :)
21lindapanzo
Great categories, Sandy. I ought to mosey over and check out the 1001 Books to Read group. I would really like to read more nonmystery fiction.
23sjmccreary
Thanks for all the supportive comments - I always look forward to a new year and a fresh start!
Linda - definitely go check out the 1001 books group - I've been visiting there occasionally for several years before finally deciding to make the leap. I love the group reads, as they encourage me to read books that I might never read otherwise. So far, they've all been great.
Almost as soon as I posted my categories, I realized I would have to make a change. I was thinking ahead to the books I have planned for the next couple of months, and realized that I have one book that I very definitely want to read, but which would not fit into any of my 2014 categories as they look now. So, I'm going to have to make some changes to get a category in there that will house books chosen for some other reason. I think I know how I'm going to do that, but will wait a while before making a final decision.
Linda - definitely go check out the 1001 books group - I've been visiting there occasionally for several years before finally deciding to make the leap. I love the group reads, as they encourage me to read books that I might never read otherwise. So far, they've all been great.
Almost as soon as I posted my categories, I realized I would have to make a change. I was thinking ahead to the books I have planned for the next couple of months, and realized that I have one book that I very definitely want to read, but which would not fit into any of my 2014 categories as they look now. So, I'm going to have to make some changes to get a category in there that will house books chosen for some other reason. I think I know how I'm going to do that, but will wait a while before making a final decision.
24clfisha
Love the categories and reasons! I think setting up our challenges so early allow us get comfortable with them and tweak them. That's part of the fun :)
25DeltaQueen50
Hi Sandy, I also love how you reasoned out each category that you will be using next year. I remember the Alphabet Challenge well, it was the first challenge I did here at LT and lead me on to join the Category Challenge. Looking forward to following your reading next year.
26sjmccreary
It's always exciting around here when everyone is moving in and setting up their challenges - like moving into the dorm before the beginning of a new school year!
I've continued to think about my categories and have been tweaking them on the side. I think I'm up to version 5! Mostly, the changes involve moving the categories around, calling for more or fewer books in each. But after reading Judy's category list - where she had her grandson choose books for her - I got to thinking about adding an entirely new category. I don't have any grandchildren to choose books for me (alas), but I did have a category a couple of years ago where I had my LT friends choose books for me. As I remember, it was my best category. Are you willing to do it again?
I've continued to think about my categories and have been tweaking them on the side. I think I'm up to version 5! Mostly, the changes involve moving the categories around, calling for more or fewer books in each. But after reading Judy's category list - where she had her grandson choose books for her - I got to thinking about adding an entirely new category. I don't have any grandchildren to choose books for me (alas), but I did have a category a couple of years ago where I had my LT friends choose books for me. As I remember, it was my best category. Are you willing to do it again?
28DeltaQueen50
Sandy, it is always so interesting to see what other people pick for you. I would happily participate in picking a book for you if you decide to add that category!
29lkernagh
Great inverted step/pyramid for your challenge!
It's always exciting around here when everyone is moving in and setting up their challenges - like moving into the dorm before the beginning of a new school year!
Agreed and a lot of fun checking out what everyone else is planning!
It's always exciting around here when everyone is moving in and setting up their challenges - like moving into the dorm before the beginning of a new school year!
Agreed and a lot of fun checking out what everyone else is planning!
30thornton37814
You have some good categories set up. I haven't decided when I'll reveal mine yet, but it will probably be another 6 weeks or so. I do have them defined. That's not saying I won't change them, but I do have 14!
31cyderry
Still trying to decide whether I want to do a pyramid or 2+0+1+4=7 in each category and then what theme?
32sjmccreary
The buzz is getting louder in the group as the group reads are being discussed and scheduled, and the CATs are being voted on and decided and more and more people are announcing their categories. Very exciting!
I've decided to make a few changes in the arrangement of my categories. The biggest change is the addition of a "chosen by a friend" category. Another change is the consolidation of 3 non-fiction categories totaling 19 books into 2 categories and 12 books - much more realistic. I'm dumping the category of books being read just to placate someone else, and replacing it with books that I want to read for a reason of my own that isn't included in any of the other categories. And I'm moving a few of the remaining categories around. I'm noting my changes in msg #2 above, and correcting the category headings in posts 3-16. Plus, since group reads are being determined, I'm going to start listing planned/possible reads where appropriate.
I've decided to make a few changes in the arrangement of my categories. The biggest change is the addition of a "chosen by a friend" category. Another change is the consolidation of 3 non-fiction categories totaling 19 books into 2 categories and 12 books - much more realistic. I'm dumping the category of books being read just to placate someone else, and replacing it with books that I want to read for a reason of my own that isn't included in any of the other categories. And I'm moving a few of the remaining categories around. I'm noting my changes in msg #2 above, and correcting the category headings in posts 3-16. Plus, since group reads are being determined, I'm going to start listing planned/possible reads where appropriate.
33-Eva-
An overflow category is almost a necessity, I feel, in order to not get burned out on "must-reads." No matter how fun your categories are, at some point during the year I think we all say "gah!" to whatever we have picked - that's when the whatever-category comes in handy. :)
34sjmccreary
You're right about that - but I've never actually had an entire category devoted to overflow or "doesn't fit anywhere else" books. I am hoping that, by defining my categories according to WHY I'm reading, rather than WHAT I'm reading, everything I pick up will fit somewhere. That's the plan at least!
36VivienneR
I love your categories - an overflow category is a great idea. I wish I could use it but I purposely made my categories very broad so that a book will fit in more than one, maybe several. It seems like a cop-out but I really want to clear some of my tbr.
37sjmccreary
#4 Well, it looks like the group reads are nearly finalized. So far, I've got 15 on my list. That includes all 4 volumes of the Raj Quartet, which I might not finish if #1, I don't enjoy them or #2, I can't find them. The quarterly biography group reads is still up in the air, and one of my wishlist books was still in the running last time I checked, so I might pick up another one from there.
#9 CAT themes are being voted on now, and I may regret allocating only 8 books for CATs. As soon as those themes are announced, I'll begin planning books for them and listing them here.
It's already obvious that there will be overlaps between 2014 Group Reads and 1001 Books, and between CAT books and mysteries.
#9 CAT themes are being voted on now, and I may regret allocating only 8 books for CATs. As soon as those themes are announced, I'll begin planning books for them and listing them here.
It's already obvious that there will be overlaps between 2014 Group Reads and 1001 Books, and between CAT books and mysteries.
38sjmccreary
I'm starting to see more discussion about starting the 2014 challenge in December. Tempting - I am excited to get started. However, *sigh*, I need all the time I can get to finish up the 2013 challenge. So I think I'll wait until January. I have begun to list current and upcoming books in my categories above. I know that some of the books I have lined up currently won't be completed before year-end. Heck, some of the books I've already started reading probably won't be completed before year-end, so I'll be entitled to count them in the 2014 totals.
Considering tweaks to the categories before things get started. I'm so excited about the CATs this year, that I'm thinking about expanding them - move them up the ladder to the higher book counts and move some of the others down a notch or two. Also considering separating GeoCATs from MysteryCATs in the categories, rather than being lumped together as it is currently labelled. No decisions on this yet.
I've also been thinking about how to handle overlaps. Since I'll be lucky to complete 75 books in 2013, and my 2014 challenge adds up to >100 DeltaQueen50: books, I think I'll allow an overlap for every book that fits into more than one category - but I'll only count each book in 2 categories even if it fits 3 or 4, It'd be nice to finish the challenge by the end of the 3rd quarter and have time for "free" reading before the next year starts.
Considering tweaks to the categories before things get started. I'm so excited about the CATs this year, that I'm thinking about expanding them - move them up the ladder to the higher book counts and move some of the others down a notch or two. Also considering separating GeoCATs from MysteryCATs in the categories, rather than being lumped together as it is currently labelled. No decisions on this yet.
I've also been thinking about how to handle overlaps. Since I'll be lucky to complete 75 books in 2013, and my 2014 challenge adds up to >100 DeltaQueen50: books, I think I'll allow an overlap for every book that fits into more than one category - but I'll only count each book in 2 categories even if it fits 3 or 4, It'd be nice to finish the challenge by the end of the 3rd quarter and have time for "free" reading before the next year starts.
39RidgewayGirl
It is tempting to start over the holidays, but I'm also going to wait until January 1, mainly because I use the challenge tags as an easy way to keep track of each year's reading.
And I started out with no CATegories and have adjusted and adjusted into having a CATegory for each of the CATs.
And I started out with no CATegories and have adjusted and adjusted into having a CATegory for each of the CATs.
40thornton37814
I prefer to keep mine on a calendar year, partly to keep track of which books I've read in a given year. However, the other part is that the perfectionist in me insists that it isn't 2014 until the ball drops in Times Square!
41.Monkey.
>40 thornton37814: I'm with you, until you mention Times Square! It's 2014 a number of hours before that in much of the world! :P
42sjmccreary
I started early one year and struggled all year with my challenge count not being the same as my calendar year count. (I'm an accountant, of course the different tallies must balance - right?)
Times Square happens in 2013 for me (although they show it on TV at OUR midnight - not live). New Year's Day is generally quiet, so I'll just plan to curl up in front of the fire and spend the afternoon reading 2014 challenge books!
Times Square happens in 2013 for me (although they show it on TV at OUR midnight - not live). New Year's Day is generally quiet, so I'll just plan to curl up in front of the fire and spend the afternoon reading 2014 challenge books!
43VivienneR
Most of the world is asleep when midnight eventually reaches us on the west coast. It's like arriving at the party just as it is ending :(
Whatever anyone else is doing, my 2014 reading will remain stacked on the night table until Jan 1st.
Whatever anyone else is doing, my 2014 reading will remain stacked on the night table until Jan 1st.
44sjmccreary
#43 I remember on NYE 1999 that we watched the celebrations beginning in our afternoon as midnight started in the far east and moved westward around the globe - it was very neat to see. So you on the west coast aren't arriving as the party ends - you are just the last to leave!
46.Monkey.
Whatever anyone else is doing, my 2014 reading will remain stacked on the night table until Jan 1st.
Mine too! Well, more like on my desk and plotted in my head but still on the shelves and such :P but, yes, until it is officially 2014 I can do no 2014 reading!
Mine too! Well, more like on my desk and plotted in my head but still on the shelves and such :P but, yes, until it is officially 2014 I can do no 2014 reading!
47tymfos
Hi, Sandy! I really like the format of your challenge categories!
I started early one year and struggled all year with my challenge count not being the same as my calendar year count.
Me, too. So now all my challenges will run consecutively Jan1 - Dec. 31. However, I always count books as of the date they are finished, so I may start a book in 2013 that ends up in this count. No way am I going to stop reading for a day or so when I get to the end of the last book I know I can finish in 2013!
I started early one year and struggled all year with my challenge count not being the same as my calendar year count.
Me, too. So now all my challenges will run consecutively Jan1 - Dec. 31. However, I always count books as of the date they are finished, so I may start a book in 2013 that ends up in this count. No way am I going to stop reading for a day or so when I get to the end of the last book I know I can finish in 2013!
48dudes22
I agree Terri. I've started one of my chunksters for next year knowing that with the busyness of the holidays, I'll not finish it before next year starts.
49lauranav
I like the structure of your challenge. I couldn't quite pull off a full ladder (although I do agree with your thoughts on counting in 2 categories).
50sjmccreary
Books are showing up for me at the library that I ordered for January weeks ago - getting excited about the new challenge!
51DeltaQueen50
Hi Sandy, I am getting excited about starting as well. Also a little nervous as 14 categories and numerous side challenges adds up to a lot of reading!
52sjmccreary
I finished my first 2 books today:
Book #1
Trail of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz
Categories: #11, mysteries (mysteryCAT = detective); #14, alphabetic (L)
Fifth in the fun series about Isabel Spellman and her wacky family, and the family business, Spellman Investigations. As in the 4th book, Isabel continues to mature and to take her career as a private investigator more seriously, and forcing her parents to take her more seriously as a full member and owner of the firm.
Book #2
The White Rhino Hotel by Bartle Bull
Category: #9, audiobooks
Set in British East Africa (Kenya) after the close of WWI, this book features a cast of characters from all around the world (some of them quite nasty, some gross, some truly earnest) who have ended up in Africa seeking fortune and freedom.
Book #1
Trail of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz
Categories: #11, mysteries (mysteryCAT = detective); #14, alphabetic (L)
Fifth in the fun series about Isabel Spellman and her wacky family, and the family business, Spellman Investigations. As in the 4th book, Isabel continues to mature and to take her career as a private investigator more seriously, and forcing her parents to take her more seriously as a full member and owner of the firm.
Book #2
The White Rhino Hotel by Bartle Bull
Category: #9, audiobooks
Set in British East Africa (Kenya) after the close of WWI, this book features a cast of characters from all around the world (some of them quite nasty, some gross, some truly earnest) who have ended up in Africa seeking fortune and freedom.
54electrice
>52 sjmccreary: Thanks Sandy, The White Rhino Hotel is going on the BB list. I know too little about colonialism in Africa.
55DeltaQueen50
Hi Sandy, I just recently finished The Devil's Oasis which was the third book in Bartle Bull's African Trilogy. Overall it's a pretty good trilogy, lots of action and adventure. Of the three, I would say the third book was the weakest.
56lkernagh
I haven't read any of the books in the Spellman series and I keep meaning to do so.... they sound like my kind of family!
57Donna828
Sandy, I'm happy to see The Missouri Readers Group represented in your categories. Across the Wide Missouri is a long one! Best of luck on reaching your goals.
58sjmccreary
Book #3
For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
Category: #10, 1001 books before you die
My first taste of Hemingway since high school and The Old Man and the Sea, which I was pretty cool on at the time. What a surprise to discover that I really enjoyed the writing in this book - not a great deal of plot, as the story covers only 4 days and features a band of guerrilla fighters in the Spanish Civil War in 1937 who are waiting for a planned attack to begin so they can perform their assigned task - destroying a bridge. For me, the real highlight was the dialogue, and especially the internal monologues. THIS is how people talk to each other, and to themselves. Loved it. 4-1/2 stars
Book #4
The Shipping News by Annie Proulx
Categories: #12, Picked by a friend (-Eva-); #4, owned by me
Another beautifully written story about a man who returns to the ancestral family home in Newfoundland with his aunt and his 2 young daughters and attempts to make a new life for himself and his family following the deaths of his wife and his father. Loved the descriptions of the dark, cold north. 4 stars.
For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
Category: #10, 1001 books before you die
My first taste of Hemingway since high school and The Old Man and the Sea, which I was pretty cool on at the time. What a surprise to discover that I really enjoyed the writing in this book - not a great deal of plot, as the story covers only 4 days and features a band of guerrilla fighters in the Spanish Civil War in 1937 who are waiting for a planned attack to begin so they can perform their assigned task - destroying a bridge. For me, the real highlight was the dialogue, and especially the internal monologues. THIS is how people talk to each other, and to themselves. Loved it. 4-1/2 stars
Book #4
The Shipping News by Annie Proulx
Categories: #12, Picked by a friend (-Eva-); #4, owned by me
Another beautifully written story about a man who returns to the ancestral family home in Newfoundland with his aunt and his 2 young daughters and attempts to make a new life for himself and his family following the deaths of his wife and his father. Loved the descriptions of the dark, cold north. 4 stars.
59thornton37814
I once owned a copy of The Shipping News. I'm guessing that it is one that I got rid of in a move. Your review makes me wish that I still had it so I could revisit it. I liked it the first time I read it, but I think I'd appreciate it more now.
60sjmccreary
Lori, I can see that The Shipping News might make a good re-read someday. And that is why I'm always reluctant to get rid of books. :-)
61sjmccreary
Book #5
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
Categories: #8 GeoCAT (US/Canada, focus on immigration); #9 Audio books
The story of 2 sisters from a moderately wealthy Shanghai family in 1937 whose lives change overnight when their father announces that he has arranged marriages for them in exchange for having his gambling debts paid off after he lost all the family's money. Soon afterward, the Japanese invade China at the beginning of what would become WWII, and the girls overcome much hardship to escape China and sail to the US to join the husbands they haven't seen since the wedding. Once in America, the sisters and their new family work hard to build successful businesses and new lives as Americans, while trying to retain their identity as Chinese. They must overcome the hostility of the American people to all foreign immigrants and to Chinese in particular. During WWII, the Chinese faced additional persecution when they were mistaken for Japanese by Americans who couldn't tell the difference between them. Later, in the 1950s, after the Republic of China had fallen to the communists, Chinese-Americans were again persecuted for suspicion of communist sympathies. It is a wonderful story about family loyalty, about how ordinary innocent people can be caught in the middle when governments become aggressors, and the choices that must be made in extraordinary situations. 4 stars.
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
Categories: #8 GeoCAT (US/Canada, focus on immigration); #9 Audio books
The story of 2 sisters from a moderately wealthy Shanghai family in 1937 whose lives change overnight when their father announces that he has arranged marriages for them in exchange for having his gambling debts paid off after he lost all the family's money. Soon afterward, the Japanese invade China at the beginning of what would become WWII, and the girls overcome much hardship to escape China and sail to the US to join the husbands they haven't seen since the wedding. Once in America, the sisters and their new family work hard to build successful businesses and new lives as Americans, while trying to retain their identity as Chinese. They must overcome the hostility of the American people to all foreign immigrants and to Chinese in particular. During WWII, the Chinese faced additional persecution when they were mistaken for Japanese by Americans who couldn't tell the difference between them. Later, in the 1950s, after the Republic of China had fallen to the communists, Chinese-Americans were again persecuted for suspicion of communist sympathies. It is a wonderful story about family loyalty, about how ordinary innocent people can be caught in the middle when governments become aggressors, and the choices that must be made in extraordinary situations. 4 stars.
62electrice
>61 sjmccreary: Interesting topic, on the BB list :)
63lindapanzo
You're reading some great books this year, Sandy. I'll add the Hemingway, the Proulx, and the See books to my wishlist.
64sjmccreary
Book #6
The Complete Guide to Drying Foods at Home by Terri Paajanen
Category: #5, Books about gardening, cooking or quilting
OK, so a while back an LT friend read a book about food dehydration and loved it, and shared her wonderful experiences drying food at home and then using the dried foods in her cooking. I wasn't able to find the same book that she read and so I've been trying out different books on the same subject. This one is actually the best I've found so far. I don't know whether her book was just that much better than those I've read, or whether this is simply a subject that really doesn't interest me that much after all, but none of the books I've gotten have generated any excitement in me at all.
This one is very straight-forward: comparison of dehydrating foods to other methods of preservation, history of food drying and different methods of doing so, chapters on different kinds of food that can be dried (e.g., herbs, fruits, vegetables, meats, etc) including instructions for preparing the food and recipes for using the dried food. Bleh. None of the recipes even sounded very good. Still, it does provide clear and easy-to-understand instructions and I would feel very confident giving this a try.
I'm going to stop actively looking for a good book on this topic, but am still willing to give dehydration a try once we get a garden up and running and actually producing something that needs to be preserved.
The Complete Guide to Drying Foods at Home by Terri Paajanen
Category: #5, Books about gardening, cooking or quilting
OK, so a while back an LT friend read a book about food dehydration and loved it, and shared her wonderful experiences drying food at home and then using the dried foods in her cooking. I wasn't able to find the same book that she read and so I've been trying out different books on the same subject. This one is actually the best I've found so far. I don't know whether her book was just that much better than those I've read, or whether this is simply a subject that really doesn't interest me that much after all, but none of the books I've gotten have generated any excitement in me at all.
This one is very straight-forward: comparison of dehydrating foods to other methods of preservation, history of food drying and different methods of doing so, chapters on different kinds of food that can be dried (e.g., herbs, fruits, vegetables, meats, etc) including instructions for preparing the food and recipes for using the dried food. Bleh. None of the recipes even sounded very good. Still, it does provide clear and easy-to-understand instructions and I would feel very confident giving this a try.
I'm going to stop actively looking for a good book on this topic, but am still willing to give dehydration a try once we get a garden up and running and actually producing something that needs to be preserved.
65thornton37814
When I was little, I can remember going to my grandmother's house where she dried fruits out on window screens. I remember there were lots of flies to shoo away.
66sjmccreary
Hi, Lori - what did your grandma do with the fruit after she dried it? We never had any kind of dried foods when I was growing up. Except raisins, of course, in those little red boxes. My grandmother used to can her fruit, or freeze it. But she never did those things when I was around, so I never had a chance to watch her or help her. However, my mother made jelly, and I used to help her sometimes. She always wanted me to hold the metal funnel steady while she poured the hot jelly from the big pot into the small jars. I was very jumpy! (Although, to be fair, I don't remember a single time that I suffered any burns.)
I was intrigued by Labwriter's descriptions of drying vegetables and then running them through the food processor until they were powder, storing them in tightly capped jars, and adding the vegetable powder to her soups and stews. Her picky-eater husband raved about how good the food tasted, even though he evidently wouldn't eat the vegetables if he saw them. She suggested it would be a great way to get vegetables inside children who are picky, too. She also raved about the freshly dried banana chips and other fruit.
In any event, my fruit trees are barely more than twigs, and the vegetable and herb gardens are still only plans. So, it's not like I'm dealing with piles of fresh produce - yet!
I was intrigued by Labwriter's descriptions of drying vegetables and then running them through the food processor until they were powder, storing them in tightly capped jars, and adding the vegetable powder to her soups and stews. Her picky-eater husband raved about how good the food tasted, even though he evidently wouldn't eat the vegetables if he saw them. She suggested it would be a great way to get vegetables inside children who are picky, too. She also raved about the freshly dried banana chips and other fruit.
In any event, my fruit trees are barely more than twigs, and the vegetable and herb gardens are still only plans. So, it's not like I'm dealing with piles of fresh produce - yet!
67.Monkey.
Re: Hemingway, man, a ton of people read that one recently and it stings a little each time someone else posts about how much they enjoyed it, LOL. I fairly detest him, and while that one is the "best" of his that I've read so far, I did not like it one single bit!! :P
Re: Shanghai Girls, that sounds interesting. Having been a good bit before my time, I was only marginally aware of how the US abused Asian-Americans during that period. A couple years ago I read Journey to Topaz, a YA fictionalized but rather autobiographical story of a child's account of her family's abduction into an internment camp. That was my big "Oh, damn" wake-up call to just how horrible things were. :(
Re: Dried powdered produce, I wonder how much of the nutrients the vegetables retain in such a state? I think shredding or blending fresh ones is probably a better way to go from a nutritional standpoint, like those cookbooks that are around these days for hiding stuff in foods so picky kids will eat it. I've been wanting to get one for a while for myself, haha, because I don't care if I know it's there, but I need the taste of certain things hidden. Like, I'd like to eat them for their nutritional value, but, for instance, I can't stand zucchini (which is a main one used in those, haha). So if it were masked by other things... :P
Re: Shanghai Girls, that sounds interesting. Having been a good bit before my time, I was only marginally aware of how the US abused Asian-Americans during that period. A couple years ago I read Journey to Topaz, a YA fictionalized but rather autobiographical story of a child's account of her family's abduction into an internment camp. That was my big "Oh, damn" wake-up call to just how horrible things were. :(
Re: Dried powdered produce, I wonder how much of the nutrients the vegetables retain in such a state? I think shredding or blending fresh ones is probably a better way to go from a nutritional standpoint, like those cookbooks that are around these days for hiding stuff in foods so picky kids will eat it. I've been wanting to get one for a while for myself, haha, because I don't care if I know it's there, but I need the taste of certain things hidden. Like, I'd like to eat them for their nutritional value, but, for instance, I can't stand zucchini (which is a main one used in those, haha). So if it were masked by other things... :P
68christina_reads
@ 67 -- PM, you and Claire should start a Hate Hemingway club. ;) I wouldn't join, though, as I'm OK with Hemingway...it's Faulkner I can't stand!
69thornton37814
Sandy, Apples would be used in pies, apple stack cakes, etc. When they are rehydrated and cooked again, they make good fillings. I'm sure it was similar for other fruits.
70sjmccreary
Hi, Monkey! There was a group read of For Whom the Bell Tolls over in the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die group in January so, yes, there were a lot of people reading it recently! The comments in the group discussion were mostly positive.
As far as nutrition in dried foods goes, that book I read claims that most nutrients are retained - as they are in freezing. Of course any water-based vitamins, like vitamin C, would be lost, but all the B vitamins and minerals would remain.
Christina, I don't think I've read any Faulkner. I guess I should try him at some point, too. Remind me not to ask you for a recommendation!
Lori, I was thinking that dried apples would be good for pie fillings, but hadn't thought about cakes or muffins. I have an entire cookbook of apple recipes - it is one of my very favorite foods. I can't wait for my trees to start bearing!
As far as nutrition in dried foods goes, that book I read claims that most nutrients are retained - as they are in freezing. Of course any water-based vitamins, like vitamin C, would be lost, but all the B vitamins and minerals would remain.
Christina, I don't think I've read any Faulkner. I guess I should try him at some point, too. Remind me not to ask you for a recommendation!
Lori, I was thinking that dried apples would be good for pie fillings, but hadn't thought about cakes or muffins. I have an entire cookbook of apple recipes - it is one of my very favorite foods. I can't wait for my trees to start bearing!
71dudes22
I'm with PM and Clare - not a fan of Hemingway. Read The Moveable Feast a couple of years ago and thought it was one of the worst books I've ever read.
Grinding dried vegetables/fruits to add to other dishes sounds very intersting.
Grinding dried vegetables/fruits to add to other dishes sounds very intersting.
72RidgewayGirl
Ah, Betty, A Moveable Feast is my favorite book of all time!
73dudes22
REALLY??? get up, go down the hill, eat, go to the racetrack, drink, play cards, walk back up the hill, repeat day after day, page after page. I just never got it. Oh well, if we all only liked the same book, all the other authors would be broke :)
74RidgewayGirl
True enough! : )
I read a different book -- one full of the atmosphere of Paris when it was cheap and full of amazing authors and artists all interacting with each other to create something valuable.
I read a different book -- one full of the atmosphere of Paris when it was cheap and full of amazing authors and artists all interacting with each other to create something valuable.
75-Eva-
Very happy to hear you enjoyed The Shipping News - Proulx has such wonderful language.
76clfisha
I am trying to propagate the myth that everything someone reads Hemingway a fairy dies. It's not really catching on ;-)
77sjmccreary
I've been largely absent and even more silent on LT lately due to intrusions from RL (stupid work).
However, this week I had an opportunity to accompany my husband to Washington DC for him to attend an industry governmental affairs conference. He has, in fact, been on Capitol Hill all day today meeting with legislators. While he has been busy with work concerns, I have had an opportunity to relax, do some sight-seeing, and read. Yesterday I traveled to Maryland to have lunch with my first-ever LT friend, cyderry. Cheli and I have chatted online for years but this was the first time we've had the opportunity to meet face to face. She picked me up at the train station in the snow and we settled ourselves into a cozy restaurant for a lovely lunch and a nice long visit. Here we are, feeling happy from the excellent company and a rich dessert:
However, this week I had an opportunity to accompany my husband to Washington DC for him to attend an industry governmental affairs conference. He has, in fact, been on Capitol Hill all day today meeting with legislators. While he has been busy with work concerns, I have had an opportunity to relax, do some sight-seeing, and read. Yesterday I traveled to Maryland to have lunch with my first-ever LT friend, cyderry. Cheli and I have chatted online for years but this was the first time we've had the opportunity to meet face to face. She picked me up at the train station in the snow and we settled ourselves into a cozy restaurant for a lovely lunch and a nice long visit. Here we are, feeling happy from the excellent company and a rich dessert:
78lindapanzo
So glad to hear that you and Cheli got together, Sandy. Nice picture!!
79rabbitprincess
Yay, meetups! :) Great photo!
82LittleTaiko
Love the photo - so happy you were able to meet up.
85DeltaQueen50
Looks like you both had a wonderful time, how nice to actually meet face-to-face after all this time.
86thornton37814
How fun that you and Cheli got to meet!
87dudes22
Glad to see you had a good time even in the snow. I got to meet up with mysterymax last summer and it was quite fun to meet a fellow LTer!
88sjmccreary
I can't believe how far behind I've fallen here! The last book I posted was in January! Fortunately - or unfortunately - I haven't been reading much since then so I don't have many postings to catch up on. I'm getting back to normal in April. But I'm not even sure what books I read in the dark months of February and March - I didn't record them at the time and I can't remember much either. I've updated my category lists at the top of the thread and I'll make an effort to come back this weekend and post something here about each of them. I will say, though, that it looks like I'll be rearranging my categories - they definitely aren't working out the way I'd planned!
89thornton37814
>88 sjmccreary: I've got one category where I've got nothing in it. I hate to change it, but if I don't find several books on my TBR list that are readily available, I probably will be forced to do so. I've always stuck with my categories before. I really want to do so this time!
90sjmccreary
Lori, I know what you mean, it somehow feels like a failure when I can't stick with the categories I start out with. I'll wait a while before making any changes. Hopefully, it's just this recent book famine that's causing the trouble and I'll get back on track soon.
91thornton37814
>90 sjmccreary: I was just looking through what I had on my Kindle that might fit the GeoCAT challenge for the month. I found a Polish cookbook that was arranged by seasons, so I decided to broaden my description of the category, and I used that to fill my first slot in "Seasons in the Sun." I think I have something in every category now!
92tymfos
So good to see you posting, Sandy!
I've been tweaking my categories, and changed one or two outright. I think it's better to have something that works than to stick with something that doesn't.
I've been tweaking my categories, and changed one or two outright. I think it's better to have something that works than to stick with something that doesn't.
93sjmccreary
OK, as near as I've been able to piece together, these are the books I've read since I posted last:
Book #7
Mystic River by Dennis Lehane
categories #14, alphabetic challenge, and #11, mysteries
I haven't found all of Lehane's books easy going, but I've ended up loving every one I've read. This one is so much better than the somewhat forgettable movie that was based on it. 4-1/2 stars.
Book #8
The Inimitable Jeeves by P G Wodehouse
category #13, group reads
I've heard so much about Wodehouse and his Jeeves series that I had no choice but to read along with the Wodehouse group read in February. Jeeves brilliantly, but subtly, steers his employer - the young Bertie Wooster - out of one scrape after another. Most of Bertie's escapades involved either gambling or women or both. My favorite was his scheme of placing wagers against his friends on which of the local vicars' Sunday sermons would run the longest. 4 stars.
Book #7
Mystic River by Dennis Lehane
categories #14, alphabetic challenge, and #11, mysteries
I haven't found all of Lehane's books easy going, but I've ended up loving every one I've read. This one is so much better than the somewhat forgettable movie that was based on it. 4-1/2 stars.
Book #8
The Inimitable Jeeves by P G Wodehouse
category #13, group reads
I've heard so much about Wodehouse and his Jeeves series that I had no choice but to read along with the Wodehouse group read in February. Jeeves brilliantly, but subtly, steers his employer - the young Bertie Wooster - out of one scrape after another. Most of Bertie's escapades involved either gambling or women or both. My favorite was his scheme of placing wagers against his friends on which of the local vicars' Sunday sermons would run the longest. 4 stars.
94sjmccreary
Book #9
Abandoned by Cody McFadyen
categories #11, mysteries, and #9, audio books
Chosen for the February mystery CAT theme of "series", this is the 4th book in the series about FBI agent Smokey Barrett who heads up a unit in LA that investigates serial crimes. After an LAPD detective, who had been missing for 7 years and presumed dead, is dumped out at the wedding of a member of Smokey's team, Smokey discovers that many wives of unhappy husbands have been disappearing up and down the west coast for a number of years. She pushes herself and her team nearly to the brink to discover what has happened and who is responsible. Very creepy.
Book #10
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler by E L Konigsburg
category #11, mysteries
For the March mystery CAT them of "childrens and YA mysteries", I chose this Newberry award book that I first read when it won the award back in the 1960's. When a girl and her brother to run away from home, they stay at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. They use their time there to learn about the different art exhibits until they see a special exhibit of a sculpture of an angel that is rumored, but not proven, to be by Michelangelo. From then, they devote all their energy into solving the mystery of the Angel. Their search eventually leads to Mrs Basil E Frankweiler, the woman who donated the statue to the museum. Delightful.
Abandoned by Cody McFadyen
categories #11, mysteries, and #9, audio books
Chosen for the February mystery CAT theme of "series", this is the 4th book in the series about FBI agent Smokey Barrett who heads up a unit in LA that investigates serial crimes. After an LAPD detective, who had been missing for 7 years and presumed dead, is dumped out at the wedding of a member of Smokey's team, Smokey discovers that many wives of unhappy husbands have been disappearing up and down the west coast for a number of years. She pushes herself and her team nearly to the brink to discover what has happened and who is responsible. Very creepy.
Book #10
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler by E L Konigsburg
category #11, mysteries
For the March mystery CAT them of "childrens and YA mysteries", I chose this Newberry award book that I first read when it won the award back in the 1960's. When a girl and her brother to run away from home, they stay at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. They use their time there to learn about the different art exhibits until they see a special exhibit of a sculpture of an angel that is rumored, but not proven, to be by Michelangelo. From then, they devote all their energy into solving the mystery of the Angel. Their search eventually leads to Mrs Basil E Frankweiler, the woman who donated the statue to the museum. Delightful.
95sjmccreary
And that actually brings us up to April. So far this month, I've read these books:
Book #11
Siren of the Waters by Michael Genelin
categories #11, mysteries, and #9 GeoCAT (Eastern Europe)
The first of a series about Commander Jana Matinova based in Bratislava, Slovakia. Jana is called out to a grisly traffic accident only to discover that the multiple deaths involved may not have been accidental. She quickly realizes that everyone who was in the crashed van was involved in human trafficking, either as a victim or a participant. Her investigation takes her to Ukraine and Russia to make contact with other law enforcement agencies before she is appointed to represent Slovakia on an international panel examining the problem on human trafficking in Europe. Upon arriving in Strasbourg for the conference, she is introduced to a panelist from the United States who turns out to be her son-in-law, the husband of her long estranged daughter. While in France, she continues to make inquiries and discoveries about her case in Slovakia. Interspersed are flash back chapters which tell her personal back story about the progress of her career throughout the fall of communism and her marriage to a prominent actor and the events that led to the estrangement of her daughter. Not great, but it provides a nice base for a series to build upon.
Book #12
Middlemarch by George Eliot
categories #13, group reads, and #10, 1001 books before you die
Fairly tedious classic novel about life in the early 19th century English town of Middlemarch. My main take-away from this book was that it provided a wonderful look at the timelessness of human nature. The young 20-something women in the book were behaving in strangely similar ways to my own 23-year old daughter's behavior while during the time I was reading. Worth reading once.
Book #11
Siren of the Waters by Michael Genelin
categories #11, mysteries, and #9 GeoCAT (Eastern Europe)
The first of a series about Commander Jana Matinova based in Bratislava, Slovakia. Jana is called out to a grisly traffic accident only to discover that the multiple deaths involved may not have been accidental. She quickly realizes that everyone who was in the crashed van was involved in human trafficking, either as a victim or a participant. Her investigation takes her to Ukraine and Russia to make contact with other law enforcement agencies before she is appointed to represent Slovakia on an international panel examining the problem on human trafficking in Europe. Upon arriving in Strasbourg for the conference, she is introduced to a panelist from the United States who turns out to be her son-in-law, the husband of her long estranged daughter. While in France, she continues to make inquiries and discoveries about her case in Slovakia. Interspersed are flash back chapters which tell her personal back story about the progress of her career throughout the fall of communism and her marriage to a prominent actor and the events that led to the estrangement of her daughter. Not great, but it provides a nice base for a series to build upon.
Book #12
Middlemarch by George Eliot
categories #13, group reads, and #10, 1001 books before you die
Fairly tedious classic novel about life in the early 19th century English town of Middlemarch. My main take-away from this book was that it provided a wonderful look at the timelessness of human nature. The young 20-something women in the book were behaving in strangely similar ways to my own 23-year old daughter's behavior while during the time I was reading. Worth reading once.
96lindapanzo
The Lehane and Wodehouse sound good. I don't think I've ever read either of them.
97sjmccreary
Book #13
Anne of Green Gables by L M Montgomery
category #13, group reads
My first time with this children's classic, I thought it was wonderful and wish I'd picked it up 40 years ago.
Book #14
The Great Influenza by John M Barry
categories #9, audio books, and #7, non-fiction
A good but not great examination of the 1918 influenza pandemic, including the scientists and their work in understanding disease and its prevention and treatment, the military and government officials whose actions influenced the spread of the disease, and the societal issues that the disease raised. It had a lot of interesting information, but tended to be unfocused and wandering.
Book #15
The Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz
category #8, GeoCATs (February = Middle East)
First published in Arabic in the mid-1950's, this is the story of a traditional Muslim family living in Cairo at the end of WWI. The husband/father is very stern and admits to being rather stricter than most men regarding his family. He rules them with an iron fist, not allowing his wife even to leave her home except when accompanied by him on rare visits to her mother. His daughters, likewise, are not permitted to be seen in public, and never to be seen by any man outside the family. From his sons, he expects absolute obedience. However, with his friends he is jovial, outgoing, fun-loving and prone to public singing, drinking and womanizing. His traditional ways are challenged when his children begin to reach the age of marriage and they begin thinking about their own futures. Coincidentally, as WWI comes to a close, Egypt seeks independence from the English protectorate that has been in place for many years. While he is as patriotic as the next man, desiring his beloved country to gain its independence from the hated English, he has quite different feelings when he considers that his own son might be one of the student demonstrators so much in the news. Excellent.
Anne of Green Gables by L M Montgomery
category #13, group reads
My first time with this children's classic, I thought it was wonderful and wish I'd picked it up 40 years ago.
Book #14
The Great Influenza by John M Barry
categories #9, audio books, and #7, non-fiction
A good but not great examination of the 1918 influenza pandemic, including the scientists and their work in understanding disease and its prevention and treatment, the military and government officials whose actions influenced the spread of the disease, and the societal issues that the disease raised. It had a lot of interesting information, but tended to be unfocused and wandering.
Book #15
The Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz
category #8, GeoCATs (February = Middle East)
First published in Arabic in the mid-1950's, this is the story of a traditional Muslim family living in Cairo at the end of WWI. The husband/father is very stern and admits to being rather stricter than most men regarding his family. He rules them with an iron fist, not allowing his wife even to leave her home except when accompanied by him on rare visits to her mother. His daughters, likewise, are not permitted to be seen in public, and never to be seen by any man outside the family. From his sons, he expects absolute obedience. However, with his friends he is jovial, outgoing, fun-loving and prone to public singing, drinking and womanizing. His traditional ways are challenged when his children begin to reach the age of marriage and they begin thinking about their own futures. Coincidentally, as WWI comes to a close, Egypt seeks independence from the English protectorate that has been in place for many years. While he is as patriotic as the next man, desiring his beloved country to gain its independence from the hated English, he has quite different feelings when he considers that his own son might be one of the student demonstrators so much in the news. Excellent.
98tymfos
Wow! Good reading and good reviews, Sandy!
I agree about Lehane. Not easy reading but I love his books.
I agree about Lehane. Not easy reading but I love his books.
99sjmccreary
Hi Terri, and hi Linda sneaking in up there between the books!
Two more books completed this week:
Book #16
Orphan Trains: the Story of Charles Loring Brace and the Children he Saved and Failed by Stephen O'Connor
categories #7, non-fiction, and #6, Missouri Readers Group
Last fall, the MO Readers group read a short, easy-reader for adult beginners about the orphan trains organized by Charles Loring Brace that brought east coast children to the west in search of homes during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The topic was fascinating, but that book simply wasn't up to the task of providing much in the way of details. So we picked this book in response to our desire to know more. First off, while that book, published by the University of Missouri press, focused exclusively on orphans who settled in Missouri, this book barely mentions Missouri. So there is that disappointment.
Secondly, and more importantly, I don't think this author really knew what he wanted to say. The subtitle is misleading. After the first 2 or 3 chapters of biographical information about Charles Loring Brace, he was barely mentioned again except quite deliberately - almost as an afterthought once per chapter. This book is definitely NOT about CLB. It is about the orphan trains that brought children west from the east coast, and about the children who rode those trains. It is about the dilemma of whether the orphan trains were a good or bad thing. It is about the families those children were taken from (not all were orphans, it turns out) and the families they went to. It is about the terrible record keeping that the different child relief agencies did, and how they simply did not document what really happened to the children. It is about the difference in the way society viewed children in the mid-19th C versus the way they are viewed today. It is about O'Connor's opinions about child welfare in general. If only he had taken time to organize his thoughts and decide what his main points were and how best to support each of them, it would have been a far better book.
A fascinating topic like this deserves a more interesting book.
Book #17
Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks
category #10, 1001 books before you die
An Englishman returns to France as a soldier in WWI never having gotten over the affair he had had there years earlier with the wife of a business associate. There are "flash-forward" chapters to his granddaughter in 1970's London who is looking back for information about her grandfather. Neither the love affair nor the granddaughter were particularly interesting. However the chapters about the war, the battle scenes, and the details about the digging of trenches and tunnels made the entire book worthwhile. Very grim. In the group read comments over in the 1001 Books group, several people compared the battle scenes in this book to those in All Quiet on the Western Front. Overall, I thought it was very good.
Two more books completed this week:
Book #16
Orphan Trains: the Story of Charles Loring Brace and the Children he Saved and Failed by Stephen O'Connor
categories #7, non-fiction, and #6, Missouri Readers Group
Last fall, the MO Readers group read a short, easy-reader for adult beginners about the orphan trains organized by Charles Loring Brace that brought east coast children to the west in search of homes during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The topic was fascinating, but that book simply wasn't up to the task of providing much in the way of details. So we picked this book in response to our desire to know more. First off, while that book, published by the University of Missouri press, focused exclusively on orphans who settled in Missouri, this book barely mentions Missouri. So there is that disappointment.
Secondly, and more importantly, I don't think this author really knew what he wanted to say. The subtitle is misleading. After the first 2 or 3 chapters of biographical information about Charles Loring Brace, he was barely mentioned again except quite deliberately - almost as an afterthought once per chapter. This book is definitely NOT about CLB. It is about the orphan trains that brought children west from the east coast, and about the children who rode those trains. It is about the dilemma of whether the orphan trains were a good or bad thing. It is about the families those children were taken from (not all were orphans, it turns out) and the families they went to. It is about the terrible record keeping that the different child relief agencies did, and how they simply did not document what really happened to the children. It is about the difference in the way society viewed children in the mid-19th C versus the way they are viewed today. It is about O'Connor's opinions about child welfare in general. If only he had taken time to organize his thoughts and decide what his main points were and how best to support each of them, it would have been a far better book.
A fascinating topic like this deserves a more interesting book.
Book #17
Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks
category #10, 1001 books before you die
An Englishman returns to France as a soldier in WWI never having gotten over the affair he had had there years earlier with the wife of a business associate. There are "flash-forward" chapters to his granddaughter in 1970's London who is looking back for information about her grandfather. Neither the love affair nor the granddaughter were particularly interesting. However the chapters about the war, the battle scenes, and the details about the digging of trenches and tunnels made the entire book worthwhile. Very grim. In the group read comments over in the 1001 Books group, several people compared the battle scenes in this book to those in All Quiet on the Western Front. Overall, I thought it was very good.
100DeltaQueen50
I'm happy that you enjoyed Anne of Green Gables, Sandy, one of my most favorite childhood books.
I felt much the same way as you did about Birdsong, didn't care much about the story but the war scenes were exceptional. I still think about the sappers digging those muddy tunnels.
I felt much the same way as you did about Birdsong, didn't care much about the story but the war scenes were exceptional. I still think about the sappers digging those muddy tunnels.
101dudes22
I thought Orphan Trains sounded interesting at the start of your post, but think I'll pass.
I have Birdsong on my TBR somewhere. Good to know what to expect.
I have Birdsong on my TBR somewhere. Good to know what to expect.
102sjmccreary
Hi, Judy - I would have adored Anne of Green Gables as a child. I feel cheated! And re Birdsong, I don't think I'll ever forget those tunnels!
Hi Betty - Surely there is a book out there about the orphan trains that is wonderful. You might have a different reaction to this book. I thought he was wishy-washy and unfocused. Someone else might claim he was being neutral or balanced. He DOES present both sides of the issue. It's been a week since I finished the book and I'm trying to remember if there was anything - any little detail - that I found fascinating. Unfortunately nothing is coming to mind. I think you'll enjoy Birdsong, though.
ETA - problems with touchstones this evening?
Hi Betty - Surely there is a book out there about the orphan trains that is wonderful. You might have a different reaction to this book. I thought he was wishy-washy and unfocused. Someone else might claim he was being neutral or balanced. He DOES present both sides of the issue. It's been a week since I finished the book and I'm trying to remember if there was anything - any little detail - that I found fascinating. Unfortunately nothing is coming to mind. I think you'll enjoy Birdsong, though.
ETA - problems with touchstones this evening?
103dudes22
I think there was. I was trying to move over to thread 2 and I couldn't get any to work. But seems like it's fixed today.
104sjmccreary
Books finished last week:
Book #18
The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea
category: #8, GeoCAT (March = Mexico, C America, Caribbean)
This is a book I put on my wishlist based on the recommendations of 4 or 5 different LTers who all raved about it. I first checked it out of the library to take along to read on our Panama Canal cruise last fall, since about half the trip was to be spent in, and just off-shore from, Mexico. I didn't even open it on the trip, partly because I was engrossed in another book, but mostly because I was put off by the size and lack of knowledge of the story and its setting (pre-revolutionary northern Mexico). Sometimes I'm an idiot. The book is worthy of all the raves - I finished it in about 3 days, despite its size.
The book is the fictionalized story of Teresa Urrea, the great-aunt of the author. She was born on a Mexican cattle ranch to a poor hired girl. Her father was the Patrón and when he eventually became aware of her, he took her under his wing, moved her into his house and raised her as his daughter. Teresa was taught to be a midwife and healer, and she eventually developed a reputation as a miracle worker. The local Indians called her Saint Teresa and made pilgrimages to see and be healed by her. The attention paid to Teresa and the ranch resulted in unwelcome scrutiny by the government in the months leading up to the revolution. I don't know how much of the story is factual, and how much was fabricated, but it is a great story. I was expecting much more of the magical realism that many Latin American authors use, but there was very little here. Recommended.
Book #19
The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen
category: #11, mysteries (MysteryCAT = Nordic)
The second in the Department Q series based in Copenhagen, Denmark featuring a washed out detective pushed aside by the authorities as head of a new department specializing in cold cases. Probably no one realized that Carl Mørk would actually solve the cases he worked on. In this case, he is looking into the deaths of a brother and sister many years earlier. However, a man was convicted and imprisoned for that crime, so the authorities are not supportive to Carl re-opening the case. Which makes him all the more determined to do just that. It was fairly obvious who the guilty person was, but it was not so obvious how the investigation would end up. A page turner.
Book #18
The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea
category: #8, GeoCAT (March = Mexico, C America, Caribbean)
This is a book I put on my wishlist based on the recommendations of 4 or 5 different LTers who all raved about it. I first checked it out of the library to take along to read on our Panama Canal cruise last fall, since about half the trip was to be spent in, and just off-shore from, Mexico. I didn't even open it on the trip, partly because I was engrossed in another book, but mostly because I was put off by the size and lack of knowledge of the story and its setting (pre-revolutionary northern Mexico). Sometimes I'm an idiot. The book is worthy of all the raves - I finished it in about 3 days, despite its size.
The book is the fictionalized story of Teresa Urrea, the great-aunt of the author. She was born on a Mexican cattle ranch to a poor hired girl. Her father was the Patrón and when he eventually became aware of her, he took her under his wing, moved her into his house and raised her as his daughter. Teresa was taught to be a midwife and healer, and she eventually developed a reputation as a miracle worker. The local Indians called her Saint Teresa and made pilgrimages to see and be healed by her. The attention paid to Teresa and the ranch resulted in unwelcome scrutiny by the government in the months leading up to the revolution. I don't know how much of the story is factual, and how much was fabricated, but it is a great story. I was expecting much more of the magical realism that many Latin American authors use, but there was very little here. Recommended.
Book #19
The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen
category: #11, mysteries (MysteryCAT = Nordic)
The second in the Department Q series based in Copenhagen, Denmark featuring a washed out detective pushed aside by the authorities as head of a new department specializing in cold cases. Probably no one realized that Carl Mørk would actually solve the cases he worked on. In this case, he is looking into the deaths of a brother and sister many years earlier. However, a man was convicted and imprisoned for that crime, so the authorities are not supportive to Carl re-opening the case. Which makes him all the more determined to do just that. It was fairly obvious who the guilty person was, but it was not so obvious how the investigation would end up. A page turner.
105sjmccreary
So, for the first week of May, my challenge progress is:
14 alphabet challenge books - completed 2
13 group read books - completed 3
12 books picked by a friend - completed 1
11 mysteries - completed 6
10 from the 1001 books to read before you die list - completed 3
9 audio books - completed 4
8 GeoCAT books - completed 4
7 non-fiction books - completed 2
6 Missouri Readers group reads - completed 1
5 Cooking-Gardening-Quilting books - completed 1
4 books I own - completed 1
3 books for no particular reason - none
2 books for another reason - none
1 vacation audio book - none
The big surprise to me was the terrible progress on the alphabetic challenge. Usually that is my default book selection parameter. However, with so many great group reads and CAT themes, I haven't had to choose my own books much. I need to decide whether to rearrange my categories, or just keep them as they are and see how it all turns out. The total books need to complete my challenge is 105 (14+13+12, etc) and I'm allowing overlaps (max of 2 categories per book). So far I've got 28 books towards the challenge. Maybe I'll just keep going until I get to 105 and laugh at how wildly wrong I was!
14 alphabet challenge books - completed 2
13 group read books - completed 3
12 books picked by a friend - completed 1
11 mysteries - completed 6
10 from the 1001 books to read before you die list - completed 3
9 audio books - completed 4
8 GeoCAT books - completed 4
7 non-fiction books - completed 2
6 Missouri Readers group reads - completed 1
5 Cooking-Gardening-Quilting books - completed 1
4 books I own - completed 1
3 books for no particular reason - none
2 books for another reason - none
1 vacation audio book - none
The big surprise to me was the terrible progress on the alphabetic challenge. Usually that is my default book selection parameter. However, with so many great group reads and CAT themes, I haven't had to choose my own books much. I need to decide whether to rearrange my categories, or just keep them as they are and see how it all turns out. The total books need to complete my challenge is 105 (14+13+12, etc) and I'm allowing overlaps (max of 2 categories per book). So far I've got 28 books towards the challenge. Maybe I'll just keep going until I get to 105 and laugh at how wildly wrong I was!
106lkernagh
Happy to see The Absent One was a page turning read for you. I am currently 200 pages into The Keeper of Lost Causes, and looking forward to continuing with the series.
107RidgewayGirl
My challenge surprises me every year, too. I think I'll need to rearrange a few categories, but I'm going to wait until they're a little fuller. Maybe you'll be able to add the alphabet challenge to the criteria for the CATs? And thereby make it as complicated as possible? A classic Golden age mystery set in India where the detective is a mother and involving the letter U in the title? Could be fun. Or not.
109sjmccreary
#106 - I am loving the Dept Q series so far and am also looking forward to continuing with it - my husband is even reading it, too!
#107 - Or not! I thought about doing something similar with the mysteryCATs. Since the Serial Killer theme didn't make the final cut, I thought about trying to find a book for each month's theme that also included a serial killer. I got tripped up on the month for children's/YA mysteries and quickly gave up the whole project!
#108 - Cheli, great minds definitely think alike! That is exactly what I was considering!
#107 - Or not! I thought about doing something similar with the mysteryCATs. Since the Serial Killer theme didn't make the final cut, I thought about trying to find a book for each month's theme that also included a serial killer. I got tripped up on the month for children's/YA mysteries and quickly gave up the whole project!
#108 - Cheli, great minds definitely think alike! That is exactly what I was considering!
110tymfos
I like Cheli's idea, too. Pretty much what I did from the start. I've got very low to nonexistent goals as far as how many are needed in each category.
111lindapanzo
I always aim for 10 books per category. Since I'm not doing as well this year, I'm planning to keep the categories but reduce the number of books per category. Maybe still aim for 10 and then, around Labor Day, see how I've done and, if not so well, reduce it to 8 or maybe even 6 per category.
112hailelib
Last year I finally said that if there was at least one in each category it would be all right and I'm doing the same this year although it doesn't seem to be much of a problem at the moment. I am aiming for 7 in 14 categories which is fairly low for me, but there is one that may be more difficult than I anticipated.
113sjmccreary
Well, I've decided I'm not going to change any of my categories or number of books in each. I did go back and fiddle with how I was counting some of my books - I'm putting each book into 2 categories, if it will fit into 2 categories. And I think I'll just keep reading until I get to 105 category-books. And not sweat it that some categories will be far short and others will be way over.
So having taken care of that bit of business, I finished 2 more books last week:
Book #20
Before the Dawn: Recovering the Lost History of Our Ancestors by Nicholas Wade
categories #13, group reads, and #7, non-fiction
I've read a couple of books now about the deep history work being accomplished with DNA. The best one so far has been Seven Daughters of Eve by Bryan Sykes who presented evidence that the majority of people with European ancestry are descended from only 7 prehistoric women. This book goes far beyond that one. Wade takes a much wider look. First at how it was that modern humans came to evolve in the first place, then how they came to leave Africa and populate the entire globe. He talks about how scientists can place relative dates on different population groups based on their DNA. And he talks not only about the daughters of Eve who were our grandmothers, but the sons of Adam who were our grandfathers. Then he compares the evidence showing the similarities, and surprising differences, between the migration of women and that of men throughout history. He touches on language and linguistics, development of technologies such as tools and agriculture, and changes in culture as evidenced by the transition from migratory hunter-gatherers to settled urbanites. And he talks about how each of these are influenced by DNA, and how DNA could have been influenced by each of these elements. Pretty good overall - as long as you ignore the last chapter where he attempts to speculate on the future of human evolution. 3-1/2 stars.
Book #21
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig
categories #12, picked by a friend (cyderry), and #4, books I own
Cheli warned me about this one. I picked it up to read just for a few minutes the other morning before starting my work. The reading got longer and the working got shorter all day until I finally finished the book before I went to bed. Far from perfect, somewhat predictable, and containing too many jarring modern turns of phrase for a story set in Napoleonic times. Still. A fun story full of intrigue and romance. It's been sitting on my shelf for a couple of years now, and I'm glad I finally took the time to read it. And there are several more in the series that come after, so I'm not finished yet. Cheli warned me about that, too. 4 stars.
So having taken care of that bit of business, I finished 2 more books last week:
Book #20
Before the Dawn: Recovering the Lost History of Our Ancestors by Nicholas Wade
categories #13, group reads, and #7, non-fiction
I've read a couple of books now about the deep history work being accomplished with DNA. The best one so far has been Seven Daughters of Eve by Bryan Sykes who presented evidence that the majority of people with European ancestry are descended from only 7 prehistoric women. This book goes far beyond that one. Wade takes a much wider look. First at how it was that modern humans came to evolve in the first place, then how they came to leave Africa and populate the entire globe. He talks about how scientists can place relative dates on different population groups based on their DNA. And he talks not only about the daughters of Eve who were our grandmothers, but the sons of Adam who were our grandfathers. Then he compares the evidence showing the similarities, and surprising differences, between the migration of women and that of men throughout history. He touches on language and linguistics, development of technologies such as tools and agriculture, and changes in culture as evidenced by the transition from migratory hunter-gatherers to settled urbanites. And he talks about how each of these are influenced by DNA, and how DNA could have been influenced by each of these elements. Pretty good overall - as long as you ignore the last chapter where he attempts to speculate on the future of human evolution. 3-1/2 stars.
Book #21
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig
categories #12, picked by a friend (cyderry), and #4, books I own
Cheli warned me about this one. I picked it up to read just for a few minutes the other morning before starting my work. The reading got longer and the working got shorter all day until I finally finished the book before I went to bed. Far from perfect, somewhat predictable, and containing too many jarring modern turns of phrase for a story set in Napoleonic times. Still. A fun story full of intrigue and romance. It's been sitting on my shelf for a couple of years now, and I'm glad I finally took the time to read it. And there are several more in the series that come after, so I'm not finished yet. Cheli warned me about that, too. 4 stars.
114rabbitprincess
Good idea! :)
115DeltaQueen50
The Secret History books are a lot of fun, and this reminds me that I have stalled on that series and need to get going again.
116thornton37814
I think I'm glad I'm not the only person saying they aren't keeping up with reading as much this year. I feel so behind, and it's even worse after not picking up the book I was reading at all last week.
117cyderry
I'm glad that this year I decided not to try to push myself by chose to do a halfer - 7 books in each category. My problem is that I still have enough books that I want to read read for a full challenge but I'm having a hard time choosing which book to read next. I swear I should take a speed reading course - then maybe I could read all the books I want!
118sjmccreary
Speed reading. That was the one skill my dad always thought was the most important. I wish I'd taken his advice and learned it. Of course, I'm not sure that I wouldn't have twice as many books on the wishlist if I could read twice as fast. I'd still be in the same spot.
119rabbitprincess
>118 sjmccreary: Good point! For me, reading fast means I can read other people's reviews and add titles to the wishlist that much more quickly ;)
120cyderry
Not having the speed reading ability (I only do about 200WPM) doesn't stop me from adding books to my wishlist or TBR. I just might get them off faster.
121sjmccreary
Yes, I see your point Cheli. I was thinking that so many of the wishlist books come as a result of other books read, so reading more books would result in wishlist books piling up even faster. Although in reality, it's a silly thing to think about since we all know that we'll NEVER clear out our reading wishlists, no matter how fast we read!
And speaking of reading, I finished another 2 books this week. It seems I've been on a rather steady pace lately - 2 books per week for the last 4 weeks. After a difficult winter, reading-wise, it's nice to get back to something normal.
Book #22
The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
categories: #10, 1001 books to read before you die, #9, audio books
We've all heard of this story so many times, and seen film versions and Disney versions, and whatever, that I was a little surprised to realized that I never actually read the "real" book. It makes a great movie. I found the book to be somewhat tedious since Hugo's ulterior motive in writing it was as a treatise in support of the conservation of medieval architecture, and he goes on and on and on about different buildings and building styles and architectural elements and the inferiority of modern styles and how, as a medium of of the preservation of history, architecture was being replaced by printing. Which wasn't totally uninteresting, but....
Still, I'm glad I read the book. Now I know the real story about Quasimodo and Esmeralda and the reason she took sanctuary in Notre Dame.
ETA - touchstones for Hunchback are overwhelmingly for Disney and abridged versions - THIS is mine: https://www.librarything.com/work/2971/book/108380661
And speaking of reading, I finished another 2 books this week. It seems I've been on a rather steady pace lately - 2 books per week for the last 4 weeks. After a difficult winter, reading-wise, it's nice to get back to something normal.
Book #22
The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
categories: #10, 1001 books to read before you die, #9, audio books
We've all heard of this story so many times, and seen film versions and Disney versions, and whatever, that I was a little surprised to realized that I never actually read the "real" book. It makes a great movie. I found the book to be somewhat tedious since Hugo's ulterior motive in writing it was as a treatise in support of the conservation of medieval architecture, and he goes on and on and on about different buildings and building styles and architectural elements and the inferiority of modern styles and how, as a medium of of the preservation of history, architecture was being replaced by printing. Which wasn't totally uninteresting, but....
Still, I'm glad I read the book. Now I know the real story about Quasimodo and Esmeralda and the reason she took sanctuary in Notre Dame.
ETA - touchstones for Hunchback are overwhelmingly for Disney and abridged versions - THIS is mine: https://www.librarything.com/work/2971/book/108380661
122sjmccreary
Book #23
The Leopard by Giuseppe di Lampedusa
categories: #14, alphabetic challenge (L), #10, 1001 books to read before you die
I've had this on my "coming up soon" list for a very long time. I was put off by the unadorned cover and that fact that it is one of the 1001 books. The book actually reads very easily. It takes place in 1860's Sicily and tells the story of the Garibaldi campaigns and the formation of a unified Italy from the perspective of Don Fabrizio Corbera, Prince of Salina (and great-grandfather of the author). Don Fabrizio struggles to respond to the changing culture and must face the increasing influence of an emerging class of newly rich merchants, while attempting to retain his own family's position of wealth and power. Much is left unsaid - only hinted at. I thought it was very good.
The Leopard by Giuseppe di Lampedusa
categories: #14, alphabetic challenge (L), #10, 1001 books to read before you die
I've had this on my "coming up soon" list for a very long time. I was put off by the unadorned cover and that fact that it is one of the 1001 books. The book actually reads very easily. It takes place in 1860's Sicily and tells the story of the Garibaldi campaigns and the formation of a unified Italy from the perspective of Don Fabrizio Corbera, Prince of Salina (and great-grandfather of the author). Don Fabrizio struggles to respond to the changing culture and must face the increasing influence of an emerging class of newly rich merchants, while attempting to retain his own family's position of wealth and power. Much is left unsaid - only hinted at. I thought it was very good.
123RidgewayGirl
Everyone I know who has read The Leopard speaks highly of it. I've got to get to it!
124tymfos
so many of the wishlist books come as a result of other books read, so reading more books would result in wishlist books piling up even faster. Although in reality, it's a silly thing to think about since we all know that we'll NEVER clear out our reading wishlists, no matter how fast we read!
Oh, so true! When my husband and I were in seminary, and professors and classmates would recommend this book and that book, we always joked about putting them on our eschatological reading list, because we knew we would never get to all of them inthe time we have in this world! We book lovers will definitely need eternity to finish our reading lists. ;)
Oh, so true! When my husband and I were in seminary, and professors and classmates would recommend this book and that book, we always joked about putting them on our eschatological reading list, because we knew we would never get to all of them inthe time we have in this world! We book lovers will definitely need eternity to finish our reading lists. ;)
125sjmccreary
2 more books again this week:
Book #24
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
category #2, books read for some other reason
I've seen the Hallmark movie a couple of times but never read the book. Like the film, the book is a heartwarming story about a mail order bride from coastal Maine who travels to the plains to marry a widower and be a mother to his young children. Loved it.
Book #25
The Lost Art of Finding Our Way by John Edward Huth
categories #14, alphabetic challenge (L), #3, books chosen for no reason
A nonfiction about being able to use clues in our surroundings to safely navigate in unfamiliar places. So, it talks about the stars, and the sun and moon, and moss growing on the north side of trees, and weather, and waves. Being a life-long resident of the continental interior, I was disappointed that so much of the book focused on navigation at sea and so little on land-based navigation. In fact, the entire last section of the book was devoted to sailing and included chapters on the ways that the hull and sail design of boats can make them easier or harder to control and navigate in different conditions. It was really pretty interesting, but I still would have enjoyed it more if it were more applicable to situations that are familiar to me.
Book #24
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
category #2, books read for some other reason
I've seen the Hallmark movie a couple of times but never read the book. Like the film, the book is a heartwarming story about a mail order bride from coastal Maine who travels to the plains to marry a widower and be a mother to his young children. Loved it.
Book #25
The Lost Art of Finding Our Way by John Edward Huth
categories #14, alphabetic challenge (L), #3, books chosen for no reason
A nonfiction about being able to use clues in our surroundings to safely navigate in unfamiliar places. So, it talks about the stars, and the sun and moon, and moss growing on the north side of trees, and weather, and waves. Being a life-long resident of the continental interior, I was disappointed that so much of the book focused on navigation at sea and so little on land-based navigation. In fact, the entire last section of the book was devoted to sailing and included chapters on the ways that the hull and sail design of boats can make them easier or harder to control and navigate in different conditions. It was really pretty interesting, but I still would have enjoyed it more if it were more applicable to situations that are familiar to me.
126sjmccreary
This week's books:
Book #26
The Last Kashmiri Rose by Barbara Cleverly
categories: #14, alphabetic (L), #8, GeoCAT (South Asia/India)
The first in the Joe Sandilands series set in 1920's British India. Joe, a member of Scotland Yard in India to train local law enforcement, is called to investigate the death of an officer's wife that was ruled suicide, a conclusion that was not universally believed. He comes to believe that, not only did the lady not commit suicide, but that she was merely the most recent in a string of murdered wives of officers from the same unit whose deaths had been arranged to look accidental.
Book #27
The Primal Blueprint Cookbook by Mark Sisson
category: #5, C-G-Q (books about cooking, gardening, or quilting)
For about a year now, we've been trying to follow a paleo/primal/caveman diet. The basic premise behind these is that the human body has not had enough time to evolve to be able to thrive on an agriculture diet including grains and processed foods. It's a low-carb, gluten-free diet that doesn't permit grains of any kind or legumes. We don't follow it religiously, but both of us lost a significant amount of weight in a relatively short amount of time, have kept if off until now, feel good, and have gotten good reports from the doctor, so we're pretty positive about it. However, a lifetime of eating bread and potatoes at every meal is hard to overcome. What do you put on the plate besides a hunk of meat and a salad? We've already done many of the easy substitutions (mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes - he loves it, I don't), and have been learning to eat vegetables we thought we hated (turnips, anyone?). Still, I've been searching for more ideas and variety.
This book, on the surface, looks exactly what I wanted - a collection of recipes for main dishes, side dishes, desserts and beverages, and a chapter on substitutions. But, it just didn't catch my interest much. Determined to try something new, I selected a recipe to fix. Five Spice Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry. Not really anything "new", except for some of the seasonings, but it was very tasty and easy to prepare and contained no expensive exotic hard-to-find ingredients. And we didn't even miss the rice, since it contained lots of crunchy bean sprouts.
Book #26
The Last Kashmiri Rose by Barbara Cleverly
categories: #14, alphabetic (L), #8, GeoCAT (South Asia/India)
The first in the Joe Sandilands series set in 1920's British India. Joe, a member of Scotland Yard in India to train local law enforcement, is called to investigate the death of an officer's wife that was ruled suicide, a conclusion that was not universally believed. He comes to believe that, not only did the lady not commit suicide, but that she was merely the most recent in a string of murdered wives of officers from the same unit whose deaths had been arranged to look accidental.
Book #27
The Primal Blueprint Cookbook by Mark Sisson
category: #5, C-G-Q (books about cooking, gardening, or quilting)
For about a year now, we've been trying to follow a paleo/primal/caveman diet. The basic premise behind these is that the human body has not had enough time to evolve to be able to thrive on an agriculture diet including grains and processed foods. It's a low-carb, gluten-free diet that doesn't permit grains of any kind or legumes. We don't follow it religiously, but both of us lost a significant amount of weight in a relatively short amount of time, have kept if off until now, feel good, and have gotten good reports from the doctor, so we're pretty positive about it. However, a lifetime of eating bread and potatoes at every meal is hard to overcome. What do you put on the plate besides a hunk of meat and a salad? We've already done many of the easy substitutions (mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes - he loves it, I don't), and have been learning to eat vegetables we thought we hated (turnips, anyone?). Still, I've been searching for more ideas and variety.
This book, on the surface, looks exactly what I wanted - a collection of recipes for main dishes, side dishes, desserts and beverages, and a chapter on substitutions. But, it just didn't catch my interest much. Determined to try something new, I selected a recipe to fix. Five Spice Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry. Not really anything "new", except for some of the seasonings, but it was very tasty and easy to prepare and contained no expensive exotic hard-to-find ingredients. And we didn't even miss the rice, since it contained lots of crunchy bean sprouts.
127lkernagh
I have heard interesting things about the paleo/primal/caveman diet. Now that I have started bread baking as a hobby, carbs are in our diet, but no more then they were before. We have just replaced commercially produced breads with homemade made from alternative flours like spelt and Kamut and no interesting 'additives'. bruce_kraftt is the one who got me hooked on replacing cooked white rice with sauteed/ pan fried grated cauliflower for certain dishes. That is what we always use now instead of rice when I make a curry for dinner. Haven't tried it with a stir-fry yet.
128sjmccreary
I think from a gluten perspective, your "alternative" flours are probably very beneficial. For quite a while I was dismissive of the increasing number of people who claimed to be gluten-intolerant. Growing up in Kansas, the "bread basket" of the nation, as we were very proudly taught as schoolchildren, wheat was vitally important and eaten by everyone all the time, with no visible side effects. Several years ago, we began noticing that the wheat being grown was very short and learned that it was newly developed to be so - the plant's resources were to be focused on producing a vibrant seed head - the grain part - and less on unnecessary stems and leaves. And it seems that this new wheat is very highly allergenic - much more so than the old wheat (although the Ag industry will deny that). Thus the relatively sudden increase in people becoming painfully aware of the wheat they are eating. I don't notice a difference on days I eat bread compared to days I don't. Overall, however, I've noticed that my joints are less stiff and sore, which might be due to consuming far less gluten and wheat generally than I used to do. And I'm getting accustomed to not having bread and miss it less and less. What I DO miss, though, are sandwiches!
We've also done the grated cauliflower as a substitute for rice. It's not horrible. I think I just don't like cauliflower. I'd rather not have any "rice" at all. Chris, however, likes it. And I think the important thing is getting rid of the chemical additives, which you're doing by making your own bread. Whether or not our bodies have evolved to eat grain, I'm pretty sure we have not evolved to be able to thrive on chemicals! I'd made homemade bread for years as part of our traditional Sunday dinner. I still make it on Sundays when the kids are coming over. And send the leftovers home with them!
We've also done the grated cauliflower as a substitute for rice. It's not horrible. I think I just don't like cauliflower. I'd rather not have any "rice" at all. Chris, however, likes it. And I think the important thing is getting rid of the chemical additives, which you're doing by making your own bread. Whether or not our bodies have evolved to eat grain, I'm pretty sure we have not evolved to be able to thrive on chemicals! I'd made homemade bread for years as part of our traditional Sunday dinner. I still make it on Sundays when the kids are coming over. And send the leftovers home with them!
129cbl_tn
I haven't tried going gluten free yet. I may eventually, but with a tomato allergy and now a corn sensitivity (if not a full-blown allergy) it would add more difficulty to my life. I cut out anything containing a corn product (which means most processed foods) about 2 months ago and I feel years younger with fewer aches and pains. I haven't lost any weight thanks to all those cane sweetened products I've substituted for the ones with corn syrup. I've never been a big bread and potatoes eater anyway, though, so my diet has never been heavy in wheat.
130lkernagh
Interesting about the modifications to the wheat plant for higher yield purposes. My other half has noticed that he doesn't feel as 'bloated' - his term - when he eats our homemade bread. Thankfully, we don't have food allergies but I know members of my family have developed certain food allergies later in life - my mom developed a food allergy for pineapple, of all things, in her 50's - and a number of my friends and colleagues have developed a number of food allergies they either didn't previously have or they were not as affected by those foods as they are now. From our perspective, I try to make sure that our diet is varied, following my grandmother's rule of 'everything in moderation', which is no guarantee, I warrant.
Cauliflower does have a rather bland flavour to it - and depending on how it is cooked, a somewhat questionable texture - so I understand not being all that keen on it. For me, the white colour of the cauliflower has always been a turn off. I love colourful meals. I have found that the cauliflower works best as a compliment for a very flavourful or spicy dish.
Your kids must love going home with fresh homemade bread!
Cauliflower does have a rather bland flavour to it - and depending on how it is cooked, a somewhat questionable texture - so I understand not being all that keen on it. For me, the white colour of the cauliflower has always been a turn off. I love colourful meals. I have found that the cauliflower works best as a compliment for a very flavourful or spicy dish.
Your kids must love going home with fresh homemade bread!
131dudes22
My brother was telling me about the book Wheat Belly by William Davis which is described as a book on how to change your health by eliminating wheat from your diet, but I'm pretty sure he said it talks about the changes that have been made to wheat production and how it affects our health. I haven't read it yet although it's on my list to read.
And I like cauliflower - raw or cooked.
And I like cauliflower - raw or cooked.
132sjmccreary
Carrie, I think a corn allergy would make it nearly impossible to eat outside of your own kitchen. Now, tomatoes, - well, I started to say that would be no big deal for me because I don't like tomatoes. But it's RAW tomatoes I don't like, I eat lots of cooked tomatoes in sauces and that would be hard to avoid. I'm glad that I don't have any food allergies - I like eating out too much!
Lori, my kids grew up eating homemade bread so it's no big deal for them. Just another left-over! I think with cauliflower, it's the texture and the smell that I don't like. As you say, the flavor is bland. Potatoes are also white, and I love those, so the color isn't a problem either.
Betty, I've heard of that book but never read it. I think I'd like to read it someday, too. I thought of that title the other day when I saw a man about my age at the DMV who was pretty tall and big - muscular, not fat - except that he looked about 7 months pregnant, just a perfectly round belly sticking out in front of him. (You can have my cauliflower!)
Lori, my kids grew up eating homemade bread so it's no big deal for them. Just another left-over! I think with cauliflower, it's the texture and the smell that I don't like. As you say, the flavor is bland. Potatoes are also white, and I love those, so the color isn't a problem either.
Betty, I've heard of that book but never read it. I think I'd like to read it someday, too. I thought of that title the other day when I saw a man about my age at the DMV who was pretty tall and big - muscular, not fat - except that he looked about 7 months pregnant, just a perfectly round belly sticking out in front of him. (You can have my cauliflower!)
133sjmccreary
I guess I'm ready to do a May recap. It was my best reading month in a long time - of the 27 books I've read so far this year, 11 of them were in May. Progress on my categories:
14 alphabetic books - completed 5
13 group read books - completed 5
12 books picked by friends - completed 3
11 mysteries - completed 7
10 books from the 1001 list - completed 5
9 audio books - completed 6
8 GeoCAT books - completed 5
7 nonfiction books - completed 4
6 MO readers group reads - completed 1
5 cooking-gardening-quilting books - completed 2
4 books I own - completed 2
3 books for no reason - completed 1
2 books for some other reason - completed 1
1 vacation audio book - none (but I've got 3 on hold at the library for a trip later this month)
105 books to complete challenge (14+13+12...) - completed 47 (allowing up to 2 categories per book)
I've got some great books lined up for June and am having trouble deciding which to read first.
Surely I'm not the first to admit to this, but the other day I started a list of categories for 2015.
14 alphabetic books - completed 5
13 group read books - completed 5
12 books picked by friends - completed 3
11 mysteries - completed 7
10 books from the 1001 list - completed 5
9 audio books - completed 6
8 GeoCAT books - completed 5
7 nonfiction books - completed 4
6 MO readers group reads - completed 1
5 cooking-gardening-quilting books - completed 2
4 books I own - completed 2
3 books for no reason - completed 1
2 books for some other reason - completed 1
1 vacation audio book - none (but I've got 3 on hold at the library for a trip later this month)
105 books to complete challenge (14+13+12...) - completed 47 (allowing up to 2 categories per book)
I've got some great books lined up for June and am having trouble deciding which to read first.
Surely I'm not the first to admit to this, but the other day I started a list of categories for 2015.
134countrylife
Glad to find your thread! I just read through and found several books to look into. I love Middlemarch, the movie, but don't think I'll tackle the book. Palace Walk sounds intriguing. I actually have Sarah, Plain and Tall on tap for June; can't believe I haven't read that one yet, either!
Fascinating discussion about wheat and bread. I haven't paid enough attention to the issue and had somehow thought that the yeast in bread was the culprit. May have to check out the Wheat Belly.
Fascinating discussion about wheat and bread. I haven't paid enough attention to the issue and had somehow thought that the yeast in bread was the culprit. May have to check out the Wheat Belly.
135lkernagh
>132 sjmccreary: - Good point! I love roasted potatoes with lots of herbs and seasoning and I will admit that when I make mashed potatoes, I dump half a bottle of Kraft peppercorn ranch dressing in instead of just milk and butter. So good!
136mamzel
Another thing I've done with cauliflower is boil and mash it half-and-half with potatoes. It's particularly good if you have a yummy gravy to pour over it.
137sjmccreary
#134 And I was glad find your thread in the 75 group. What a beautiful baby! Congratulations!
#135 Lori, I don't think I ever met a potato I didn't like! I remember my dad giving me pieces of raw potato when I was a kid and tricking me into eating them by telling me they were apple.
#136 I used to (even as an adult) "hide" things I didn't like very much by eating them in a bite of mashed potatoes. It's funny to think of hiding the "potatoes" now under the gravy! But that's exactly what I do when they're made with cauliflower. Rather than mix half-and-half with potatoes, I think he puts a single potato plus a couple of parsnips in with the cauliflower. Then he also mixes in a little cream cheese for texture. With plenty of gravy, or melted cheese when it's baked on top of a shepherd's pie, I can eat it. But I don't go for second helpings any more.
#135 Lori, I don't think I ever met a potato I didn't like! I remember my dad giving me pieces of raw potato when I was a kid and tricking me into eating them by telling me they were apple.
#136 I used to (even as an adult) "hide" things I didn't like very much by eating them in a bite of mashed potatoes. It's funny to think of hiding the "potatoes" now under the gravy! But that's exactly what I do when they're made with cauliflower. Rather than mix half-and-half with potatoes, I think he puts a single potato plus a couple of parsnips in with the cauliflower. Then he also mixes in a little cream cheese for texture. With plenty of gravy, or melted cheese when it's baked on top of a shepherd's pie, I can eat it. But I don't go for second helpings any more.
138christina_reads
I've read a big chunk of Wheat Belly (though not the entire book), and it does have a lot of interesting information about how wheat has been modified in the last 50 years or so, and how this affects health. My mom is a big believer in the paleo/wheatless way of eating and has lost 30-35 lbs, so it definitely worked for her!
139electrice
>122 sjmccreary: Good review of The Leopard and it seems like a good way to learn about a part of Italy history.
140sjmccreary
#138 That's great about your mom! I lost 10 pounds in the 30-day "experiment" I decided to try to test this whole system. That got my attention! In the next 4 months, I lost 20-25 pounds more - about the same as your mom did. Then we took a 2-week cruise, came home in time for Thanksgiving, then there was Christmas, and New Years, then we were traveling for 5 weeks in a row, then before long it was Easter. From the time we left for the cruise in late October until now, I've put back on only 2-5 pounds (depending on the day). I think that if I'd been home, and not eating so many holiday and feast foods, I might have lost more. I certainly have more weight that can be lost. I think there might be something true in the theory.
#139 Thanks. And, yes, it was an interesting perspective on things. I'm not familiar with Italian history, but wikipedia confirmed much of what I picked out of the story.
#139 Thanks. And, yes, it was an interesting perspective on things. I'm not familiar with Italian history, but wikipedia confirmed much of what I picked out of the story.
141cyderry
Hi, Sandy!
Glad to see that you are dioing so well on your challenge. May was a bust month of reading for me - 5 books - worst total since I joined LT in 2008! I was busy with my big fundraiser the beginning of the month, visit with Mom in the middle, and my big trip at the end. If it wasn't for the plane ride, I've only read 4!
Enjoy your June reads - I'm hoping to do some catching up!
Glad to see that you are dioing so well on your challenge. May was a bust month of reading for me - 5 books - worst total since I joined LT in 2008! I was busy with my big fundraiser the beginning of the month, visit with Mom in the middle, and my big trip at the end. If it wasn't for the plane ride, I've only read 4!
Enjoy your June reads - I'm hoping to do some catching up!
142sjmccreary
Hi Cheli
It always amazes me that you are able to read so much as busy as you are. Five books in a month IS pretty bad! (Especially for you!) But I managed to do even worse this winter - 3 books in February, and only 1 in March. That book I was carrying around the day we met for lunch? It took me until April 24 to finish it. (What a fine I had due at the library when I finally returned it!)
I've lost track of your thread again - what was your big trip this year? Someplace good, I hope! Our travels for the this year are going to be scheduled around family events - weddings and such. Next year, though, we'll do another cruise, or a beach resort. Or maybe both!
It always amazes me that you are able to read so much as busy as you are. Five books in a month IS pretty bad! (Especially for you!) But I managed to do even worse this winter - 3 books in February, and only 1 in March. That book I was carrying around the day we met for lunch? It took me until April 24 to finish it. (What a fine I had due at the library when I finally returned it!)
I've lost track of your thread again - what was your big trip this year? Someplace good, I hope! Our travels for the this year are going to be scheduled around family events - weddings and such. Next year, though, we'll do another cruise, or a beach resort. Or maybe both!
143sjmccreary
In the last week and a half, I've managed to complete 5 books:
Book #28
Over the Edge of the World by Laurence Bergreen
categories: #9, audio, #7, non-fiction
This was chosen for the GeoCAT theme for June - water and islands. It uses primary source documents (especially diaries kept by on-board personnel) to tell the story of the expedition headed by Ferdinand Magellan which was the first to circumnavigate the globe in the 1520's. (A feat which was not repeated for about 50 years by another expedition that relied heavily on Magellan's notes.) Included in the tale of the 3-year voyage were mutinies, terrible storms, fear and distrust by the crew, strange native tribes, and starvation and scurvy. Magellan, of course, did not survive the trip, and the account of his death is included here as well. With all that happened on the trip - the intrigues, the discoveries, the conflicts - the acquisition of a load of cloves and the subsequent arrival back in Spain was almost anti-climatic. Very interesting and informative. Recommended.
Book #29
The Ten Ancient Scrolls for Success by Og Mandino
categories: #7, non-fiction, #3 no reason
For several months now, my daughter has been reading the most highly rated and most praised self-improvement books she can find. Starting with Seven Habits of Highly Successful People, and winding up with her most recent book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, she has also found books I'd never heard of. Including this pocket-sized book. Actually an excerpt from the author's earlier book, The Greatest Salesman in the World, the ten "ancient scrolls" in the title are actually precepts which he recommends be read as a daily affirmation for 30 days, before moving on to the next "scroll". Mostly things you'd expect - form good habits, love the people you meet, be persistent, develop a sense of self-worth, manage your time, etc. Good basic advice.
Book #28
Over the Edge of the World by Laurence Bergreen
categories: #9, audio, #7, non-fiction
This was chosen for the GeoCAT theme for June - water and islands. It uses primary source documents (especially diaries kept by on-board personnel) to tell the story of the expedition headed by Ferdinand Magellan which was the first to circumnavigate the globe in the 1520's. (A feat which was not repeated for about 50 years by another expedition that relied heavily on Magellan's notes.) Included in the tale of the 3-year voyage were mutinies, terrible storms, fear and distrust by the crew, strange native tribes, and starvation and scurvy. Magellan, of course, did not survive the trip, and the account of his death is included here as well. With all that happened on the trip - the intrigues, the discoveries, the conflicts - the acquisition of a load of cloves and the subsequent arrival back in Spain was almost anti-climatic. Very interesting and informative. Recommended.
Book #29
The Ten Ancient Scrolls for Success by Og Mandino
categories: #7, non-fiction, #3 no reason
For several months now, my daughter has been reading the most highly rated and most praised self-improvement books she can find. Starting with Seven Habits of Highly Successful People, and winding up with her most recent book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, she has also found books I'd never heard of. Including this pocket-sized book. Actually an excerpt from the author's earlier book, The Greatest Salesman in the World, the ten "ancient scrolls" in the title are actually precepts which he recommends be read as a daily affirmation for 30 days, before moving on to the next "scroll". Mostly things you'd expect - form good habits, love the people you meet, be persistent, develop a sense of self-worth, manage your time, etc. Good basic advice.
144sjmccreary
Book #30
Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell
categories: #11, mysteries, #10, 1001 books to read before you die
I've had this on my wishlist for a very long time. I wish now I hadn't waited so long. This is the first of the Kurt Wallander series, set in Sweden. Not quite like any police procedural I've ever read - where the detective gathers clues, suffers a set back or two, and then solves the crime. Neat and tidy. This one took months to solve. Investigators were taken off the case. New cases were given to Wallander to solve. Things happened that had nothing to do with the case. I was worried that, after a great beginning, the ending would just fizzle out. For a short time, I even worried that the case wouldn't be solved at all! But, not to worry, this series is renowned for a reason. Mankell is in complete control at all times, and the book - and the case - keep moving along nicely until it reaches the end. Recommended.
Book #31
The Vegetable Gardener's Bible by Edward C Smith
category #5, C-G-Q books
I'd actually read this book before, but got it out to read again more closely. This author's premise is that plants, especially vegetables, will grow better in wide rows - several feet rather than a few inches - with very deep, loose soil. We finally got a spot dug up for a garden at our new house this spring only to discover that the soil there is heavy clay and rocky. We've been trying to get it loosened up and mostly disagreeing about what to do next. Remembering that Smith's whole system is based on good soil conditions, I wanted to see what advice was in this book that might be helpful in our situation. I'm still trying to sell it to my husband, but I think raised beds are going to be the fastest and easiest way for us to get a productive garden. And in the book he provides instructions for building very basic, sturdy beds. If only he also gave advice on convincing an uncooperative spouse!
Of course this book contains all the usual information about mulching, composting, planting and transplanting, watering, and harvesting. A very informative book, and an excellent reference.
Book #32
The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
category #13, group reads
Heyer is simply the best at historical romances. Light and breezy, with strong intelligent women - and men - these books are a pleasure to read. One of my greatest discoveries since joining LT. Highly recommended.
Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell
categories: #11, mysteries, #10, 1001 books to read before you die
I've had this on my wishlist for a very long time. I wish now I hadn't waited so long. This is the first of the Kurt Wallander series, set in Sweden. Not quite like any police procedural I've ever read - where the detective gathers clues, suffers a set back or two, and then solves the crime. Neat and tidy. This one took months to solve. Investigators were taken off the case. New cases were given to Wallander to solve. Things happened that had nothing to do with the case. I was worried that, after a great beginning, the ending would just fizzle out. For a short time, I even worried that the case wouldn't be solved at all! But, not to worry, this series is renowned for a reason. Mankell is in complete control at all times, and the book - and the case - keep moving along nicely until it reaches the end. Recommended.
Book #31
The Vegetable Gardener's Bible by Edward C Smith
category #5, C-G-Q books
I'd actually read this book before, but got it out to read again more closely. This author's premise is that plants, especially vegetables, will grow better in wide rows - several feet rather than a few inches - with very deep, loose soil. We finally got a spot dug up for a garden at our new house this spring only to discover that the soil there is heavy clay and rocky. We've been trying to get it loosened up and mostly disagreeing about what to do next. Remembering that Smith's whole system is based on good soil conditions, I wanted to see what advice was in this book that might be helpful in our situation. I'm still trying to sell it to my husband, but I think raised beds are going to be the fastest and easiest way for us to get a productive garden. And in the book he provides instructions for building very basic, sturdy beds. If only he also gave advice on convincing an uncooperative spouse!
Of course this book contains all the usual information about mulching, composting, planting and transplanting, watering, and harvesting. A very informative book, and an excellent reference.
Book #32
The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
category #13, group reads
Heyer is simply the best at historical romances. Light and breezy, with strong intelligent women - and men - these books are a pleasure to read. One of my greatest discoveries since joining LT. Highly recommended.
146thornton37814
I have an ARC of Mankell's latest that I need to get around to reading soon.
147-Eva-
Glad to hear you ended up enjoying Faceless Killers.
148tymfos
I think Mankell's books are amazing. I'm glad you liked Faceless Killers. I've done a lot of them on audio. It seems the narrator, Dick Hill, is one that people either love or hate. I really like him for the Wallander series, as it seems just the right tone (but don't know if I'd like him on other things -- maybe not). Then I've heard some really critical reviews of those audios. Different strokes . . .
ETA to add I just was on Lori's thread, and I see you're one who doesn't like Dick Hill. Like I said, different strokes for different folks. To me, he captures Wallander's angst perfectly, with his sort of dour, clipped tone. (I don't hear a twang, at least not in the Wallander audios.) And that's what it is about Wallander for me, really. The character is just so full of angst, he agonizes over so many things, overthinks some of the time, but manages to do such impulsive and foolish things. Yet he somehow gets to the heart of the matter to solve the crime.
ETA to add I just was on Lori's thread, and I see you're one who doesn't like Dick Hill. Like I said, different strokes for different folks. To me, he captures Wallander's angst perfectly, with his sort of dour, clipped tone. (I don't hear a twang, at least not in the Wallander audios.) And that's what it is about Wallander for me, really. The character is just so full of angst, he agonizes over so many things, overthinks some of the time, but manages to do such impulsive and foolish things. Yet he somehow gets to the heart of the matter to solve the crime.
149mstrust
I'm catching up! Thanks for your review of Palace Walk. It's been sitting on my shelf for so many years I can't even remember who recommended it to me, but I hope to get to it soon.
150sjmccreary
Only one book finished this week:
Book #33
A Good American by Alex George
categories: #9, audio books, #6, Missouri Readers group read
A perfectly wonderful book that is narrated by a man - the same age as my father, born in 1937 - who is telling the story of his family. Beginning with his grandparents who immigrated from Germany just after the turn of the 20th century and settled in a small Missouri town. Then the births of his father and his aunt, and their lives.
The grandfather volunteering for the army, when the US joins WWI, to go to Europe and fight Germans was a key turning point. He had been pleased with his adopted country from the beginning, but that was when it was clear that he had truly become an American, not just a German immigrant.
Eventually, the father grew up and married and the narrator and his brothers came in quick succession. Their own lives were noisy and rowdy, matching the mood of the country in the post-war years. They, in turn, grew up and made career and life choices - going their separate ways and coming back together again. They had children of their own, and grandchildren before the story finally ends in the present.
I enjoyed so many things about it - but probably what pleased me the most was the constant presence of music. Grandfather first got Grandmother's attention by singing to her, and he passed that love, and talent, to his son, and to his grandsons. Opera, jazz, blues, barbershop, classical, all kinds of music are here.
Another central element to the story of the family is the business they own. Begun as a tavern purchased by Grandfather as a young man, then converted to a restaurant when prohibition took effect, then periodically changing formats as different family members took over operations and as the times and society changed. By the end of the book it had become a Mexican restaurant, serving fajitas and margaritas - even though the new owner, the narrator's great-nephew and his wife, have never even been to Mexico.
I thought it was a very satisfying story of the progression of the lives of a single family, good times and bad times, and the parallel life of the nation, for over 100 years.
Book #33
A Good American by Alex George
categories: #9, audio books, #6, Missouri Readers group read
A perfectly wonderful book that is narrated by a man - the same age as my father, born in 1937 - who is telling the story of his family. Beginning with his grandparents who immigrated from Germany just after the turn of the 20th century and settled in a small Missouri town. Then the births of his father and his aunt, and their lives.
The grandfather volunteering for the army, when the US joins WWI, to go to Europe and fight Germans was a key turning point. He had been pleased with his adopted country from the beginning, but that was when it was clear that he had truly become an American, not just a German immigrant.
Eventually, the father grew up and married and the narrator and his brothers came in quick succession. Their own lives were noisy and rowdy, matching the mood of the country in the post-war years. They, in turn, grew up and made career and life choices - going their separate ways and coming back together again. They had children of their own, and grandchildren before the story finally ends in the present.
I enjoyed so many things about it - but probably what pleased me the most was the constant presence of music. Grandfather first got Grandmother's attention by singing to her, and he passed that love, and talent, to his son, and to his grandsons. Opera, jazz, blues, barbershop, classical, all kinds of music are here.
Another central element to the story of the family is the business they own. Begun as a tavern purchased by Grandfather as a young man, then converted to a restaurant when prohibition took effect, then periodically changing formats as different family members took over operations and as the times and society changed. By the end of the book it had become a Mexican restaurant, serving fajitas and margaritas - even though the new owner, the narrator's great-nephew and his wife, have never even been to Mexico.
I thought it was a very satisfying story of the progression of the lives of a single family, good times and bad times, and the parallel life of the nation, for over 100 years.
151lindapanzo
This is one Missouri Readers book I plan to read. Forgot to reserve it at the library so I need to see whether they've got it.
152cbl_tn
>150 sjmccreary: That one caught my eye when it was offered via Early Reviewers. It's still on my radar, and you've just bumped it up with your review. Family saga + music is right up my alley.
153clue
> 150 I read this last year and thought it was really good too. One of the things I appreciated about it was that this family settled in a small town in the central US. It seems to me that most fictional immigrant accounts take place on the coasts but not very often out here in middle America.
154thornton37814
>150 sjmccreary: We've returned that one to our lease book company, and the public library has it. It's going on my wish list anyway!
155sjmccreary
Oh, I'm so pleased at the positive response to A Good American. I didn't know anything about it before it was selected for the MO Readers group read. I will look forward to everyone's reactions to it - I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did!
156countrylife
>148 tymfos: - Terri, I'm one who thinks Dick Hill is perfect for Mankell's Wallander series. He got on my nerves at first, but the more I listened, the more he seemed "just right". I don't know that I'd like him in something else. By the time I got to the last book in the series and found that Dick Hill was not the narrator, I was lost without him! Robin Sachs narrated the last book, and to tell the truth, I liked him just as well for the part!
>150 sjmccreary: - Great review of A Good American, Sandy! I've now got it on my list at the library.
>150 sjmccreary: - Great review of A Good American, Sandy! I've now got it on my list at the library.
157sjmccreary
Cindy, have you listened to Dick Hill do anything else? I'll admit that he does a pretty good job in Faceless Killers, and I enjoyed it immensely. But over many years of hearing him read dozens of books, I mostly don't like him and usually avoid him if I can. There has been more than once that I've quit an audio book without finishing just because I couldn't stand DH's reading another minute. All his books sound alike - he has a standard "cast" of voices that he uses in every book. Unfortunately, I don't like most of them.
But I totally understand your feeling when you've listened to a single reader do an entire series and they get someone different. Ack! Luckily, it seems like most of them are just as good, if different, from the one I came to love.
But I totally understand your feeling when you've listened to a single reader do an entire series and they get someone different. Ack! Luckily, it seems like most of them are just as good, if different, from the one I came to love.
158countrylife
Nope; haven't heard him do anything else, and, now that he's Wallander in my head, I don't think I'd like him in anything else. But Robin Sachs was excellent, as well, and I think I would like to hear him again.
159sjmccreary
I was just curious. Like Terri said, we all like different things. One of my favorite readers (Scott Brick) has an entire contingent of people who can't stand him. I figured Dick Hill is the same way. Not sure I've ever listened to Robin Sachs. You say he's good? ...
... just checked the library's catalog for books read by Robin Sachs. I recognized 2 that I know I had on audio. One I especially enjoyed was The American Civil War by John Keegan - the reading was very good on that one. The other was The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht, which was just OK, but my ambivalence was due to the writing, not the reading.
... just checked the library's catalog for books read by Robin Sachs. I recognized 2 that I know I had on audio. One I especially enjoyed was The American Civil War by John Keegan - the reading was very good on that one. The other was The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht, which was just OK, but my ambivalence was due to the writing, not the reading.
160cyderry
Sandy,
Things are at a bit of a lull so I'm trying to catchup on threads.
Tim and I took a 12 day trip at the end of May to Napa Valley to celebrate our 4oth anniversary and my 60th birthday. We had a great time visiting the wineries and tasting great wines and some not so great as well as showing some of a friends the wineries that we love.
Our next big project is the master bath renovation and I have been big collecting pictures of what I want as well as contacting contractors for estimates. Next I'll have to go to showrooms for tile, countertop, and cabinet selections.
I'm hoping to do a bit better reading this month but who knows. Next month we have an out-of-town wedding/family reunion to go to, the drive will give me time to read but otherwise, not so much.
Keep cool and safe from any bad storms.
Things are at a bit of a lull so I'm trying to catchup on threads.
Tim and I took a 12 day trip at the end of May to Napa Valley to celebrate our 4oth anniversary and my 60th birthday. We had a great time visiting the wineries and tasting great wines and some not so great as well as showing some of a friends the wineries that we love.
Our next big project is the master bath renovation and I have been big collecting pictures of what I want as well as contacting contractors for estimates. Next I'll have to go to showrooms for tile, countertop, and cabinet selections.
I'm hoping to do a bit better reading this month but who knows. Next month we have an out-of-town wedding/family reunion to go to, the drive will give me time to read but otherwise, not so much.
Keep cool and safe from any bad storms.
161sjmccreary
Hi, Cheli
I'm very envious of your wine country trip. Someday, surely, we'll finally get out there. Not too long from now we'll also be celebrating my 60th birthday and our 40th wedding anniversary in the same year - just like you. Looking back, I can't believe how young I was when I got married. Do you ever feel that way, too?
Will you be posting before and after pictures of the bathroom renovation? That's a project I'm not in any hurry to do again!
Here's hoping all of us can get extra reading done during our summer travels this year. At least when we drive I get to listen to an audio book. My husband rarely lets me have uninterrupted hours for reading on vacation. Sometimes I wish he was crazy about golf or something that would keep him occupied so I could read for more than 30 minutes a day.
Luckily, the damaging parts of the storms we've had have missed us this year, although some have been pretty close. Last night we had a thunderstorm with high winds and very heavy rain - this morning we had more than 2 inches in the rain gauge, but no damage.
I'm very envious of your wine country trip. Someday, surely, we'll finally get out there. Not too long from now we'll also be celebrating my 60th birthday and our 40th wedding anniversary in the same year - just like you. Looking back, I can't believe how young I was when I got married. Do you ever feel that way, too?
Will you be posting before and after pictures of the bathroom renovation? That's a project I'm not in any hurry to do again!
Here's hoping all of us can get extra reading done during our summer travels this year. At least when we drive I get to listen to an audio book. My husband rarely lets me have uninterrupted hours for reading on vacation. Sometimes I wish he was crazy about golf or something that would keep him occupied so I could read for more than 30 minutes a day.
Luckily, the damaging parts of the storms we've had have missed us this year, although some have been pretty close. Last night we had a thunderstorm with high winds and very heavy rain - this morning we had more than 2 inches in the rain gauge, but no damage.
162sjmccreary
Two books finished last week:
Book #34
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon
categories: #12, picked by a friend (picked by DeltaQueen50), #4, owned by me
I was thrilled when Judy picked this book for me to read. I'd read such rave reviews all over LT that I'd actually bought the book knowing nothing about it. It is short, and easy to read. As you probably already know, it is narrated by a boy who is, ... well it never says for sure, but something on the autistic spectrum. Asperger's, maybe? I don't know enough about any of those conditions to say. Anyway, he is alarmed to discover his neighbor's dog has been stabbed with a garden fork and killed, and resolves to solved the crime. Even though doing so will require him to go to new places and talk to strangers and other things that are usually too unpleasant or frightening for him. He keeps reminding himself of his larger goal and continues to push himself to overcome his reluctance to do things he isn't comfortable with. In the end, he learns a great deal about the people around him and their relationships with one another, and where he fits into the mix. I thought it was a very good book. Recommended.
Book #35
The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury
categories: #14, alphabetic (L), #9, mysteries
I almost didn't go ahead with this book, assuming it was just another Dan Brown knock-off. And it was, I guess. But it was a fast-paced entertaining book, and kind of fun, so it was OK. It even pokes fun at all the Dan Brown knock-offs. Beginning with an exhibit of artifacts from the Vatican being presented by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the action gets off to a quick start when 4 horsemen dressed in knight's armour ride right up the front steps of the Met in front of crowds of people and TV cameras covering the opening of the exhibit and one of them wields his broad sword to cut the head off a man who was standing in his way. They continue on inside the building and loot the exhibit of treasures of gold and jewels. And a strange box of gears. One of the witnesses is an archaeologist who recognizes the "knights" as Templars and reports her idea that the costumes might have been chosen intentionally and provide clues pointing to their identity and the reason the strange box was targeted.
So, of course there is much talk about what the Templars knew and why the Vatican wanted (and still wants) to keep that knowledge secret. And who the horsemen were, and who is killing them. And, of course the pretty lady archaeologist won't just report her suspicions to the FBI and let them handle it. And, of course the handsome agent in charge is willing to let her continue interfering in the investigation. After all, she is the one who is able to figure out what is really going on, and who is personally acquainted with the prime suspect. And of course, everyone has to traipse all the way to the Middle East to attempt to uncover "the" artifact that will change the world. And, of course there is kissing.
So, somewhat predictable, but well done enough that it held my interest. Which was a good thing because there is a nice little twist right at the very end that just made the whole book. It's also the first of a series.
Book #34
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon
categories: #12, picked by a friend (picked by DeltaQueen50), #4, owned by me
I was thrilled when Judy picked this book for me to read. I'd read such rave reviews all over LT that I'd actually bought the book knowing nothing about it. It is short, and easy to read. As you probably already know, it is narrated by a boy who is, ... well it never says for sure, but something on the autistic spectrum. Asperger's, maybe? I don't know enough about any of those conditions to say. Anyway, he is alarmed to discover his neighbor's dog has been stabbed with a garden fork and killed, and resolves to solved the crime. Even though doing so will require him to go to new places and talk to strangers and other things that are usually too unpleasant or frightening for him. He keeps reminding himself of his larger goal and continues to push himself to overcome his reluctance to do things he isn't comfortable with. In the end, he learns a great deal about the people around him and their relationships with one another, and where he fits into the mix. I thought it was a very good book. Recommended.
Book #35
The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury
categories: #14, alphabetic (L), #9, mysteries
I almost didn't go ahead with this book, assuming it was just another Dan Brown knock-off. And it was, I guess. But it was a fast-paced entertaining book, and kind of fun, so it was OK. It even pokes fun at all the Dan Brown knock-offs. Beginning with an exhibit of artifacts from the Vatican being presented by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the action gets off to a quick start when 4 horsemen dressed in knight's armour ride right up the front steps of the Met in front of crowds of people and TV cameras covering the opening of the exhibit and one of them wields his broad sword to cut the head off a man who was standing in his way. They continue on inside the building and loot the exhibit of treasures of gold and jewels. And a strange box of gears. One of the witnesses is an archaeologist who recognizes the "knights" as Templars and reports her idea that the costumes might have been chosen intentionally and provide clues pointing to their identity and the reason the strange box was targeted.
So, of course there is much talk about what the Templars knew and why the Vatican wanted (and still wants) to keep that knowledge secret. And who the horsemen were, and who is killing them. And, of course the pretty lady archaeologist won't just report her suspicions to the FBI and let them handle it. And, of course the handsome agent in charge is willing to let her continue interfering in the investigation. After all, she is the one who is able to figure out what is really going on, and who is personally acquainted with the prime suspect. And of course, everyone has to traipse all the way to the Middle East to attempt to uncover "the" artifact that will change the world. And, of course there is kissing.
So, somewhat predictable, but well done enough that it held my interest. Which was a good thing because there is a nice little twist right at the very end that just made the whole book. It's also the first of a series.
163thornton37814
>162 sjmccreary: So glad you read Curious Incident. That was a real winner for me when I read it several years ago.
164DeltaQueen50
>162 sjmccreary: I am also very glad that you enjoyed Curious Incident, one of the first books that was recommended to me here at LT.
166sjmccreary
Quite a bit of travelling lately, so only 1 book completed in the last 2 weeks:
Book #36
The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais
categories: #11, mysteries, #9, audio books
This is the first in the Elvis Cole series that I've wanted to start for a long time now. Truthfully, this book wasn't particularly memorable and perhaps suffered from its 1980's setting - what with Elvis having a tendency to sleep with every distracted female who crosses his path - client or not. On the other hand, the setting in 1980's California reminded me of the Kinsey Milhone series which I've enjoyed, and the lack of cell phones and computers has a certain charm. Elvis's hillside canyon home also reminded me of another California sleuth, although I can't remember just who - maybe Harry Bosch? Anyway, as a standalone, this book isn't great, but as a series opener it makes me want to continue.
Book #36
The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais
categories: #11, mysteries, #9, audio books
This is the first in the Elvis Cole series that I've wanted to start for a long time now. Truthfully, this book wasn't particularly memorable and perhaps suffered from its 1980's setting - what with Elvis having a tendency to sleep with every distracted female who crosses his path - client or not. On the other hand, the setting in 1980's California reminded me of the Kinsey Milhone series which I've enjoyed, and the lack of cell phones and computers has a certain charm. Elvis's hillside canyon home also reminded me of another California sleuth, although I can't remember just who - maybe Harry Bosch? Anyway, as a standalone, this book isn't great, but as a series opener it makes me want to continue.
167sjmccreary
#166 - wow - it sounds like a terrible book, doesn't it? Actually, it wasn't that bad. I enjoyed it while I was reading (listening), but I finished it almost 2 weeks ago, and I just don't remember much about it. I gave it 3-1/2 stars right after I finished it.
And I also missed doing a 6/30 progress report:
Eight books completed in June, for a year-to-date total of 36.
By category:
14 alphabetic books (L) - 6 completed = 43%
13 group read books - 6 completed = 46%
12 books picked-by-a-friend - 4 completed = 33%
11 mysteries - 10 completed = 91%
10 books from the 1001 list - 6 completed = 60%
9 audio books - 8 completed = 89%
8 GeoCAT books - 5 completed = 63%
7 non-fiction books - 5 completed = 71%
6 MO Readers books - 2 completed = 33%
5 Cooking-Quilting-Gardening books - 3 completed = 60%
4 books I own - 3 completed = 75%
3 books for no reason - 2 completed = 67%
2 books for some other reason - 1 completed = 50%
1 vacation audio book - 0 completed = 0%
105 books to complete the challenge - 61 completed = 58% (allowing each book to count in up to 2 categories)
At the 50% point in the year, I'm slightly above that for the challenge. Not bad considering that I had such terrible reading months in February and March. I'm still optimistic that I'll finish the challenge (105 category-books) before the end of the 3rd quarter.
And I also missed doing a 6/30 progress report:
Eight books completed in June, for a year-to-date total of 36.
By category:
14 alphabetic books (L) - 6 completed = 43%
13 group read books - 6 completed = 46%
12 books picked-by-a-friend - 4 completed = 33%
11 mysteries - 10 completed = 91%
10 books from the 1001 list - 6 completed = 60%
9 audio books - 8 completed = 89%
8 GeoCAT books - 5 completed = 63%
7 non-fiction books - 5 completed = 71%
6 MO Readers books - 2 completed = 33%
5 Cooking-Quilting-Gardening books - 3 completed = 60%
4 books I own - 3 completed = 75%
3 books for no reason - 2 completed = 67%
2 books for some other reason - 1 completed = 50%
1 vacation audio book - 0 completed = 0%
105 books to complete the challenge - 61 completed = 58% (allowing each book to count in up to 2 categories)
At the 50% point in the year, I'm slightly above that for the challenge. Not bad considering that I had such terrible reading months in February and March. I'm still optimistic that I'll finish the challenge (105 category-books) before the end of the 3rd quarter.
168cyderry
Love the way that you indicate what you're currently reading for a category - I'm going to have to go back and include hat in my thread. Thanks for the idea!
169sjmccreary
Thanks, Cheli - I started doing that only to aid myself in keeping track of so many different categories, each with a different target number of books, and it became especially helpful when I began allowing myself virtually unlimited overlaps. I wonder what everyone else does to keep track of their categories?
170christina_reads
>169 sjmccreary: I've got documents on my computer where I keep track of what I have read, am currently reading, and plan to read in each category. I'd never remember what's going on without them! :)
171DeltaQueen50
Hi Sandy, like Christina, I have documents of proposed books to read for each category - of course, my completed list usually looks very different at the end of the year!
172cyderry
>>169 sjmccreary: Sandy, That's why I have those huge lists on the message of each of my categories and check them off as I read one. I also note if I recorded them in another category.
I'm about halfway done my "halfer" but some categories have more than others. I need to start concentrating on the categories that are lagging behind.
I'm about halfway done my "halfer" but some categories have more than others. I need to start concentrating on the categories that are lagging behind.
173sjmccreary
Hi, Christina and Judy! Devising the right mix of simplicity and thoroughness seems to be the hard part, don't you think? From my very first category challenge (2009), I've kept an excel spreadsheet to track completed books in each category. A few years I also kept a list of "possible" books on the side of the spreadsheet. And for the last couple of years, I've planned ahead for group reads and placed books on hold at the library before the year started. This is the first year I've used my thread to keep track of "planned" books, and the first time I've used my excel spreadsheet to keep track of both "planned" and "currently reading" books. I added the currently reading titles to my thread sometime after the start of the year, so that this list will match my spreadsheet list. And this year I also planned ahead for all the CAT reads and placed those books on hold at the library back in October. And, I have to say, this system is working very well for me. The library books show up like magic, and I can refer to the spread sheet, or this thread, and be reminded why I requested them.
Cheli, I'm off to find your thread and see how you're doing halfway through. I remain conscious of the categories I'm falling behind in, but I decided not to make a concerted effort to catch them up. I'll simply allow myself to go over in other categories to balance things out. I'm enjoying the challenge this year more than I have since in quite a while and am refusing to become stressed about it. (Which may be WHY I'm enjoying it so much!)
Cheli, I'm off to find your thread and see how you're doing halfway through. I remain conscious of the categories I'm falling behind in, but I decided not to make a concerted effort to catch them up. I'll simply allow myself to go over in other categories to balance things out. I'm enjoying the challenge this year more than I have since in quite a while and am refusing to become stressed about it. (Which may be WHY I'm enjoying it so much!)
174lindapanzo
I need a simpler challenge next year. Back in 2009, 9 categories wasn't too bad but 15 seems like far too much.
The other day, I reduced my goal from 10 books per category down to 8. I'm trying to make an effort to fill in the laggard categories but, invariably, there's one last category that never grabs my interest and so keeps getting changed.
The other day, I reduced my goal from 10 books per category down to 8. I'm trying to make an effort to fill in the laggard categories but, invariably, there's one last category that never grabs my interest and so keeps getting changed.
175sjmccreary
Back in 2009, 9 categories seemed about perfect. And only 9 books in each made it fun and easy. Just 81 books total. I think I finished sometime in September, and that was late compared to some. (You, for instance!) Since then, my reading has slowed down and the challenges have gotten bigger, and I don't think I've completed a category challenge in any other year. I'm trying to think of ways to make the 2015 challenge manageable. And fun.
176lindapanzo
It has gotten harder. I was routinely finishing, without a struggle. Reaching my original 10 books per category would've been impossible. Even 8 books per category will be a stretch, though I'll probably aim for some books that are overlaps.
btw, what a worthy opponent!! I have to put on my thinking cap against you.
btw, what a worthy opponent!! I have to put on my thinking cap against you.
177cyderry
I found each year as the challenge got larger it was stressing me out so this year I gave myself only a halfer 7 books in each category. I suppose you could say that my categories have a tendency to overlap or are pretty open so that many of the books that I decide to read could fit in several of the categories.
For instance, this year I have a category for my Nook books, cozy mysteries, audiobooks, and series that I want to catch up on. Those series books could be on audio or on my Nook so they would fit into either category - wherever I want to put it. The wide open categories I try to leave for last so that any book that from one of the other categories (if they get filled) can be slipped to the wide open ones.
But because I have those wide open categories, I do try to give myself a few very specific categories so that the challenge isn't too easy.
For instance, this year I have a category for my Nook books, cozy mysteries, audiobooks, and series that I want to catch up on. Those series books could be on audio or on my Nook so they would fit into either category - wherever I want to put it. The wide open categories I try to leave for last so that any book that from one of the other categories (if they get filled) can be slipped to the wide open ones.
But because I have those wide open categories, I do try to give myself a few very specific categories so that the challenge isn't too easy.
178RidgewayGirl
I've stuck with ten categories for a few years now. It's right number for me.
179sjmccreary
Cheli - I think you've nailed it - how to make the challenge easy enough to be fun, but not so easy that there is no challenge. Back in 2009 I was new to LT and my challenge categories prompted me to go in search of books that would fit. Now, I have so many books on a wishlist that didn't even exist back then that it seems imprudent to go looking for new titles just to fit a category. But that was part of what made the challenge so much fun that year. Hmm. Something to think about for next year.
Kay, do you keep the same 10 categories (more or less), or are they completely new each year?
(Linda, I don't think for a moment that you are quaking in your boots when you see a challenge from me!)
Kay, do you keep the same 10 categories (more or less), or are they completely new each year?
(Linda, I don't think for a moment that you are quaking in your boots when you see a challenge from me!)
180lindapanzo
>178 RidgewayGirl: Kay, 10 categories with 15 books each might be a possibility, as long as I can do overlaps.
181tymfos
Now, I have so many books on a wishlist that didn't even exist back then that it seems imprudent to go looking for new titles just to fit a category.
My dilemma, too. So then I make the categories broad so I can use those books . . . but lose some of the challenge/fun. Truly hard to balance.
My dilemma, too. So then I make the categories broad so I can use those books . . . but lose some of the challenge/fun. Truly hard to balance.
182RidgewayGirl
Kay, do you keep the same 10 categories (more or less), or are they completely new each year?
Some categories stay around a few years, others only appear for a year. I try to mix harder categories with easier ones. Many "new" categories are variations on older ones. It's fun thinking up new categories, isn't it?
Some categories stay around a few years, others only appear for a year. I try to mix harder categories with easier ones. Many "new" categories are variations on older ones. It's fun thinking up new categories, isn't it?
183sjmccreary
I've got a preliminary list of categories for 2015. But I'll wait until the CATs are selected before finalizing my categories. Last year the CATs were mostly a non-event for me - this year they are my starting place every month. I'm leaning towards a slate of 15 categories - if I can settle on a good mix, and decide on a workable structure.
184sjmccreary
So I haven't posted any books for this entire month. Mostly because I've been in the midst of a normal mid-summer slow-down. So far in July, I've finished 5 books, but 4 of them have been this week. I guess the usual summertime slump was a short one this year! Another positive thing is that I've finally started completing some of my categories. I'll keep going on them, though, as I'll need extras on some to make up for expected shortfalls on others.
Book #37
A Conspiracy of Faith by Jussi Adler-Olsen
categories: #9, audio books (completed), #1, vacation audio (completed)
The 3rd book in the Danish Department Q series focuses on a case involving a serial killer who targets large families who are members of fringe religious groups. Carl Mørk and his team are made aware of this case when a message in a bottle found in Scotland several years before was finally opened and identified as Danish and forwarded to Copenhagen.
This was our vacation audio book that we listened to together for hours at a time, and we would periodically stop the story and talk about what was happening. My husband and I have both been reading (or listening) to this series this year, so we enjoy comparing notes about what we each remember about earlier books. One thing we especially enjoyed speculating on were the details being revealed about Rose and Assad, Carl's associates. We're both looking forward to the next book.
Book #37
A Conspiracy of Faith by Jussi Adler-Olsen
categories: #9, audio books (completed), #1, vacation audio (completed)
The 3rd book in the Danish Department Q series focuses on a case involving a serial killer who targets large families who are members of fringe religious groups. Carl Mørk and his team are made aware of this case when a message in a bottle found in Scotland several years before was finally opened and identified as Danish and forwarded to Copenhagen.
This was our vacation audio book that we listened to together for hours at a time, and we would periodically stop the story and talk about what was happening. My husband and I have both been reading (or listening) to this series this year, so we enjoy comparing notes about what we each remember about earlier books. One thing we especially enjoyed speculating on were the details being revealed about Rose and Assad, Carl's associates. We're both looking forward to the next book.
185sjmccreary
Book #38
Locust: The Devastating Rise and Mysterious Disappearance of the Insect That Shaped the American Frontier by Jeffrey Lockwood
categories: #14, alphabetic (L), #7, non-fiction
Written by an etymologist from Wyoming, this is a fascinating account of the enormous swarms of locust that plagued settlers in the west and mid-west in the 1870's, destroying crops and gardens and leaving pioneer families destitute and starving. Locusts have plagued humans for all of recorded history, and continue to do so in Asia and Africa. However, after the outbreaks in the late 19th century, the Rocky Mountain Locusts of North America seem to have disappeared, and have been presumed to have become extinct.
Lockwood follows the story of the plight of the victims of the swarms, and the actions (and in-actions) of the government to provide assistance to them. He highlights the work of 3 prominent etymologists of the time who teamed together to investigate the locust and determine how to control it. However, its demise remained a mystery - nothing done by farmers, or scientists, or the government had any great impact, and for generations there has been speculation as to what happened to the Rocky Mountain Locusts.
As a young professor in Wyoming, Lockwood's research focused on locusts and other grasshoppers - still a major concern in the west - and he eventually came to develop his own theory about the fate of the Rocky Mountain Locust. He provides arguments and evidence to support his theory, which has become the currently prevailing explanation.
Similar in scope to The Worst Hard Time, about the dust bowl of the 1930's, but does tend to be more preachy than that book was. Still, it's a very interesting and informative, and readable, book about a little-known episode in the history of the American West.
Book #39
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
categories: #11, Mysteries (completed), #10, 1001 books list
I've watched this movie several times, but this was my first time reading the book. Even thought the dialogue in the movie was taken nearly word-for-word from the book, the book was much better. I can't stay awake through the movie - I couldn't put the book down.
Locust: The Devastating Rise and Mysterious Disappearance of the Insect That Shaped the American Frontier by Jeffrey Lockwood
categories: #14, alphabetic (L), #7, non-fiction
Written by an etymologist from Wyoming, this is a fascinating account of the enormous swarms of locust that plagued settlers in the west and mid-west in the 1870's, destroying crops and gardens and leaving pioneer families destitute and starving. Locusts have plagued humans for all of recorded history, and continue to do so in Asia and Africa. However, after the outbreaks in the late 19th century, the Rocky Mountain Locusts of North America seem to have disappeared, and have been presumed to have become extinct.
Lockwood follows the story of the plight of the victims of the swarms, and the actions (and in-actions) of the government to provide assistance to them. He highlights the work of 3 prominent etymologists of the time who teamed together to investigate the locust and determine how to control it. However, its demise remained a mystery - nothing done by farmers, or scientists, or the government had any great impact, and for generations there has been speculation as to what happened to the Rocky Mountain Locusts.
As a young professor in Wyoming, Lockwood's research focused on locusts and other grasshoppers - still a major concern in the west - and he eventually came to develop his own theory about the fate of the Rocky Mountain Locust. He provides arguments and evidence to support his theory, which has become the currently prevailing explanation.
Similar in scope to The Worst Hard Time, about the dust bowl of the 1930's, but does tend to be more preachy than that book was. Still, it's a very interesting and informative, and readable, book about a little-known episode in the history of the American West.
Book #39
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
categories: #11, Mysteries (completed), #10, 1001 books list
I've watched this movie several times, but this was my first time reading the book. Even thought the dialogue in the movie was taken nearly word-for-word from the book, the book was much better. I can't stay awake through the movie - I couldn't put the book down.
186sjmccreary
Book #40
Baudolino by Umberto Eco
Categories: #13, group reads (from May), #2, read for some other reason (completed)
This was my 2nd attempt at this book, after failing in my first attempt a year or so ago. I nearly gave up again but decided that I WOULD finish the book this time (the "other" reason). It was slow going - but not as slow as it seemed. I don't know why. The story was actually pretty fun, the characters engaging. The writing wasn't hard to read. I'm not sure why it took so much time and effort.
Set in the 12th century, Baudolino was a peasant boy who was adopted by emperor Frederick, educated in Paris, and spent his life seeking the kingdom of the legendary Prestor John. Along the way, he makes friends and engages in outrageous schemes. They have adventures and journey into the mythical lands far to the east, in search of the elusive Prestor John. I ended up enjoying it very much. (It would make a good, but long, movie.)
Book #41
The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard
Categories: #8, GeoCAT (polar regions), #7, non-fiction (completed)
First published in the 1920's by a member of the British expedition to the antarctic in 1910-1912, this account of Robert Scott's unsuccessful attempt to be the first to reach the south pole (Norwegian Roald Amundsen beat him by a month) relies heavily on diaries kept by several of the expedition members, including Scott. He provides some rather tedious details about equipment and provisions that were packed and hauled around, and lots of weather reports of wind and snow and cold temperatures. But, taken as a whole, it is a remarkable story about a group of men who accomplished something that seems impossible. Spending nearly 3 years in the antarctic, conducting scientific research, making many different journeys of hundreds of miles on foot, camping on snow and ice, enduring blizzards even in summer. It boggles the mind. Recommended.
Baudolino by Umberto Eco
Categories: #13, group reads (from May), #2, read for some other reason (completed)
This was my 2nd attempt at this book, after failing in my first attempt a year or so ago. I nearly gave up again but decided that I WOULD finish the book this time (the "other" reason). It was slow going - but not as slow as it seemed. I don't know why. The story was actually pretty fun, the characters engaging. The writing wasn't hard to read. I'm not sure why it took so much time and effort.
Set in the 12th century, Baudolino was a peasant boy who was adopted by emperor Frederick, educated in Paris, and spent his life seeking the kingdom of the legendary Prestor John. Along the way, he makes friends and engages in outrageous schemes. They have adventures and journey into the mythical lands far to the east, in search of the elusive Prestor John. I ended up enjoying it very much. (It would make a good, but long, movie.)
Book #41
The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard
Categories: #8, GeoCAT (polar regions), #7, non-fiction (completed)
First published in the 1920's by a member of the British expedition to the antarctic in 1910-1912, this account of Robert Scott's unsuccessful attempt to be the first to reach the south pole (Norwegian Roald Amundsen beat him by a month) relies heavily on diaries kept by several of the expedition members, including Scott. He provides some rather tedious details about equipment and provisions that were packed and hauled around, and lots of weather reports of wind and snow and cold temperatures. But, taken as a whole, it is a remarkable story about a group of men who accomplished something that seems impossible. Spending nearly 3 years in the antarctic, conducting scientific research, making many different journeys of hundreds of miles on foot, camping on snow and ice, enduring blizzards even in summer. It boggles the mind. Recommended.
187cyderry
Wow! did I see 3 categories finished already? I'm jealous.
I'm hoping to complete a few next month.
I'm hoping to complete a few next month.
188sjmccreary
Well, actually, I've completed 5 categories, but two of them have a combined total of just 3 books. My biggest categories are still only about half finished. Overall (total book count), I am at 68%. Still, I'll take my accomplishments where I can!
Say, what are you doing up this late? It's past midnight there, isn't it? Hope all is going well with you, and you're not still up just because you're not able to sleep. I can barely keep my eyes open and am off to bed. Nephew's wedding tomorrow, so I probably won't be back to LT until Sunday evening. Have a great weekend. We'll be dancing!
Say, what are you doing up this late? It's past midnight there, isn't it? Hope all is going well with you, and you're not still up just because you're not able to sleep. I can barely keep my eyes open and am off to bed. Nephew's wedding tomorrow, so I probably won't be back to LT until Sunday evening. Have a great weekend. We'll be dancing!
191RidgewayGirl
I agree with you about Eco--I always finish his books with a feeling of having read something very good and funny and worthwhile, but midway through I always flag a bit. I think Eco does it on purpose.
192cyderry
>>188 sjmccreary: Watching the Orioles - they're playing in California so the games don't start until 10PM here. The joys of retirement allow me to sleep late!
193sjmccreary
#189 Eva - it was a great party, and a beautiful wedding. But hot. Outdoor ceremony = 106 degrees. Poor nephew, in a tux!
#190 Lori - yes, right on track! How are you doing with your categories?
#191 Kay, I'm so glad you said this. That's exactly how I felt. I want to read more of his books, but a little afraid of them at the same time.
#192 Cheli - I've been hearing a lot of good things about retirement. How are your Orioles doing? Our Royals have alternated between streaks and slumps all summer and are currently just above .500. Everyone is pretty happy with them this year.
#190 Lori - yes, right on track! How are you doing with your categories?
#191 Kay, I'm so glad you said this. That's exactly how I felt. I want to read more of his books, but a little afraid of them at the same time.
#192 Cheli - I've been hearing a lot of good things about retirement. How are your Orioles doing? Our Royals have alternated between streaks and slumps all summer and are currently just above .500. Everyone is pretty happy with them this year.
194sjmccreary
Two more books, then a month-end summary:
Book #42
One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus
categories: #12, Picked by a friend (dudes22 and deltaqueen50 - a duplicate pick!), #4, books I own (completed)
What a wonderful book (as are all picked-by-a-friend books, it seems). The author states that in the 1870's the Cheyenne Indians made an offer to the American government: Send them one thousand white women to become wives of Cheyenne men. In their matrilinear culture, children belong to their mother's tribe. The Cheyenne saw this as a peaceful way of assimilating their people into white America. The government refused. But this novel is based on the premise that the offer was accepted. Which women would be selected to go to the Cheyenne and what would happen to them once they arrived? The story is told in the words of May Dodd, through a diary which she kept throughout her "adventure". May was committed to an insane asylum by her wealthy family after she took up with a man below her class, openly lived with him, and bore him 2 children. She was diagnosed with promiscuity and confined to her dark room. When the government accepted the Cheyenne's offer, they sought women from the fringes of society, and May was given an opportunity to be released from the asylum. Which she took.
As May travels west she becomes acquainted with the other women - only about 40 in the first "installment". They are nervous and uncertain about what awaits them in the wilderness among the savages. I was totally taken in by the story. It is so believably told that I understand now why the author included his note at the beginning firmly stating that this is a work of fiction, and that these events never happened. May, and the other women, had suffered so much before going west, and endured even more after they arrived. I saw the story to be a testimony to the strength and resilience of women in all times and places. Regardless of their losses and hardships, most of the women continued moving forward, seeking the best lives they could manage for themselves and their families, just as women have always done and continue to do. In spite of the frequently destructive and stupid actions taken by men. I'll be passing it along to my daughter to read. Thanks, Betty and Judy, for such a great choice.
Book #43
Y: The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan
category #3, no reason (completed)
I actually found this book mentioned on _eva_'s thread and checked it out of the library for my husband to read. Since it was just laying around the house, it didn't take long for me to pick it up and read it myself. I think this might be my first-ever graphic novel. I liked how much information could be conveyed in so few words - it makes for a very fast-reading book. This is the story of what happens to society after all the males in the world - of every species - suddenly fall dead. Except one man and his pet monkey. Different groups of women want to hide him, to kill him, and to use him for science. He just wants to get to Australia where his girlfriend is. First of a series - I thought it was very well done.
Book #42
One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus
categories: #12, Picked by a friend (dudes22 and deltaqueen50 - a duplicate pick!), #4, books I own (completed)
What a wonderful book (as are all picked-by-a-friend books, it seems). The author states that in the 1870's the Cheyenne Indians made an offer to the American government: Send them one thousand white women to become wives of Cheyenne men. In their matrilinear culture, children belong to their mother's tribe. The Cheyenne saw this as a peaceful way of assimilating their people into white America. The government refused. But this novel is based on the premise that the offer was accepted. Which women would be selected to go to the Cheyenne and what would happen to them once they arrived? The story is told in the words of May Dodd, through a diary which she kept throughout her "adventure". May was committed to an insane asylum by her wealthy family after she took up with a man below her class, openly lived with him, and bore him 2 children. She was diagnosed with promiscuity and confined to her dark room. When the government accepted the Cheyenne's offer, they sought women from the fringes of society, and May was given an opportunity to be released from the asylum. Which she took.
As May travels west she becomes acquainted with the other women - only about 40 in the first "installment". They are nervous and uncertain about what awaits them in the wilderness among the savages. I was totally taken in by the story. It is so believably told that I understand now why the author included his note at the beginning firmly stating that this is a work of fiction, and that these events never happened. May, and the other women, had suffered so much before going west, and endured even more after they arrived. I saw the story to be a testimony to the strength and resilience of women in all times and places. Regardless of their losses and hardships, most of the women continued moving forward, seeking the best lives they could manage for themselves and their families, just as women have always done and continue to do. In spite of the frequently destructive and stupid actions taken by men. I'll be passing it along to my daughter to read. Thanks, Betty and Judy, for such a great choice.
Book #43
Y: The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan
category #3, no reason (completed)
I actually found this book mentioned on _eva_'s thread and checked it out of the library for my husband to read. Since it was just laying around the house, it didn't take long for me to pick it up and read it myself. I think this might be my first-ever graphic novel. I liked how much information could be conveyed in so few words - it makes for a very fast-reading book. This is the story of what happens to society after all the males in the world - of every species - suddenly fall dead. Except one man and his pet monkey. Different groups of women want to hide him, to kill him, and to use him for science. He just wants to get to Australia where his girlfriend is. First of a series - I thought it was very well done.
195sjmccreary
Seven books completed in July, for a year-to-date total of 43.
By category:
14 alphabetic books (L) - 7 completed = 50%
13 group read books - 7 completed = 54%
12 books picked-by-a-friend - 5 completed = 42%
11 mysteries - 11 completed = 100%
10 books from the 1001 list - 7 completed = 70%
9 audio books - 9 completed = 100%
8 GeoCAT books - 6 completed = 75%
7 non-fiction books - 7 completed = 100%
6 MO Readers books - 2 completed = 33%
5 Cooking-Quilting-Gardening books - 3 completed = 60%
4 books I own - 4 completed = 100%
3 books for no reason - 3 completed = 100%
2 books for some other reason - 2 completed = 100%
1 vacation audio book - 1 completed = 100%
105 books to complete the challenge - 74 completed = 70% (allowing each book to count in up to 2 categories). And 7 categories completed!
By category:
14 alphabetic books (L) - 7 completed = 50%
13 group read books - 7 completed = 54%
12 books picked-by-a-friend - 5 completed = 42%
11 mysteries - 11 completed = 100%
10 books from the 1001 list - 7 completed = 70%
9 audio books - 9 completed = 100%
8 GeoCAT books - 6 completed = 75%
7 non-fiction books - 7 completed = 100%
6 MO Readers books - 2 completed = 33%
5 Cooking-Quilting-Gardening books - 3 completed = 60%
4 books I own - 4 completed = 100%
3 books for no reason - 3 completed = 100%
2 books for some other reason - 2 completed = 100%
1 vacation audio book - 1 completed = 100%
105 books to complete the challenge - 74 completed = 70% (allowing each book to count in up to 2 categories). And 7 categories completed!
196AHS-Wolfy
>194 sjmccreary: Glad you enjoyed your first GN, especially when it's one I want to read too at some point.
197lkernagh
>193 sjmccreary: - I only have 8 books left to complete my challenge but I keep reading books with large page counts so it will probably take me until the end of September, or possibly into October, before I manage to complete all of my categories. ;-)
198-Eva-
>194 sjmccreary:
I'm glad to hear you gave it a try - it's not a bad example of a well-written graphic novel, so good one to try out the format on.
I'm glad to hear you gave it a try - it's not a bad example of a well-written graphic novel, so good one to try out the format on.
199dudes22
I'm so glad you liked One Thousand White Women. It was probably my favorite book the year that I read it. I read another of his books earlier this year - The Wild Girl - and although not quite as good, I enjoyed that one too.
You're doing really well on your challenge. I'll probably be right to the last minute.
You're doing really well on your challenge. I'll probably be right to the last minute.
200cyderry
>>193 sjmccreary: O's are hanging in first place for the division 2.5 ahead of the Blue Jays and 6 games ahead of the hated Yankees!
You seem to be doing well this year in your reading for the challenge - seems like some great books there.
You seem to be doing well this year in your reading for the challenge - seems like some great books there.
201countrylife
Hit with another BB - had to wishlist One Thousand White Women. It's been on my periphery for awhile, but always neglected because it wasn't "true". Your review swept aside my resistance.
I'm at the same place you are with Department Q. (Well, except that my husband isn't a reader.) I'm also loving the character development as the series progresses; unfolding Carl layer by layer. Really interested in what's up with Assad, but personally don't like where it looks like Rose is headed. I like the series, a lot, even though it IS rather violent.
I'm at the same place you are with Department Q. (Well, except that my husband isn't a reader.) I'm also loving the character development as the series progresses; unfolding Carl layer by layer. Really interested in what's up with Assad, but personally don't like where it looks like Rose is headed. I like the series, a lot, even though it IS rather violent.
202DeltaQueen50
Hi Sandy, I am very happy that you enjoyed One Thousand White Women, like Betty it was one of my favorite books for the year I read it. I have also read The Wild Girl and totally agree with Betty, it isn't as good as One Thousand White Women but I did enjoy it.
203lindapanzo
Sandy, so did you like Code Name Verity? I just recommended it to my old boss, too.
204sjmccreary
Yes, I liked it very much. Slow getting started, but then it just sucks you in and it's hard to get it out of your thoughts. I really appreciated the author's afterword where she explained that her goal was to make the events in the story plausible - it wasn't based on a particular person, or people, or event, but everything in the book could have happened. I enjoyed that explanation.
Have you read the sequel?
Have you read the sequel?
205lindapanzo
>204 sjmccreary: I have a copy around here somewhere but haven't gotten to it.
I thought the same. It sucks you in and you're wondering whether she's telling the truth.
My copy of that Missouri tornado book came in from ILL so I'll be reading it sooner rather than later.
I thought the same. It sucks you in and you're wondering whether she's telling the truth.
My copy of that Missouri tornado book came in from ILL so I'll be reading it sooner rather than later.
206sjmccreary
>205 lindapanzo: I'm #9 in line for 12 copies. I'm hoping to get it in time to take on vacation the 2nd week of Sept - it'll be a near thing. You'll probably be finished by the time I get it.
207sjmccreary
Despite being on LT nearly every day, I've forgotten to keep my own thread updated with books I've completed. So far, August has been kind of a slow reading month - only 5 books completed in just over 3 weeks.
Book #44
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
categories: #12 - picked by a friend (Lindapanzo), #9 - audio books
As always, the picked-by-a-friend books are wonderful. This is the story of 2 British girls - well, young women - who become active in the war effort in WWII. One is a pilot who flies as much as she is able - often unofficially as women were not permitted to fly to the continent. The other has amazing abilities for improvisation and - as we soon discover - is chosen to do intelligence work. They become best friends. Their plane crashes when the one is flying the other into France for a secret mission. The first part of the book is told through a series of written "confessions" the spy makes while being held prisoner by the Germans. The second part of the book tells of the efforts by the British and the French resistance to locate and free her.
It was slow beginning, but soon sucked me into the story. It often popped into my mind when I was doing other things, and I couldn't wait to get back to the book. After finishing, it continued to stay with me for days. "Verity" is the title - meaning "truth", but it isn't made clear until the last pages of the book what the real truth was. An excellent book - recommended.
Book #44
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
categories: #12 - picked by a friend (Lindapanzo), #9 - audio books
As always, the picked-by-a-friend books are wonderful. This is the story of 2 British girls - well, young women - who become active in the war effort in WWII. One is a pilot who flies as much as she is able - often unofficially as women were not permitted to fly to the continent. The other has amazing abilities for improvisation and - as we soon discover - is chosen to do intelligence work. They become best friends. Their plane crashes when the one is flying the other into France for a secret mission. The first part of the book is told through a series of written "confessions" the spy makes while being held prisoner by the Germans. The second part of the book tells of the efforts by the British and the French resistance to locate and free her.
It was slow beginning, but soon sucked me into the story. It often popped into my mind when I was doing other things, and I couldn't wait to get back to the book. After finishing, it continued to stay with me for days. "Verity" is the title - meaning "truth", but it isn't made clear until the last pages of the book what the real truth was. An excellent book - recommended.
208sjmccreary
Book #45
The Fencing Master by Arturo Perez-Reverte
categories: #8 - GeoCAT (Western Europe), #4 - books owned by me
Set in Madrid in 1866, during the "Glorious Revolution", this is the story of Don Jaime Astarloa, an older gentleman, one who structures his life according to a code of morals and mores that date back to a more traditional time. He is a fencing master who tries to ignore all the talk of political upheaval and intrigue going on around him. He concentrates on his fencing students - mostly sons of noble families.
One day he is summoned to the home of Adela de Otero. Thinking her to be a parent of a son who might become a new student, he goes willingly. Once there, however, he is surprised to find a beautiful young woman who wants him to take HER on as a student - to be taught Don Jaime's secret thrust, an indefensible attack which he developed. After first refusing, he eventually becomes convinced of her fencing skill and sincerity in learning the advanced move and agrees to accept her as a student.
After the lessons are well underway, Adela asks Don Jaime to introduce her to one of his acquaintances, a marquis with family ties to the government. Later, he glimpses Adela speaking to a mysterious strange man. Before he realizes what has happened, Don Jaime finds himself enmeshed in the very intrigue he sought to avoid.
I love Perez-Reverte's Captain Alatriste series, set in an earlier time. I felt this book assumed too much knowledge of Spanish history, which left me not realizing the significance of several revelations. Still, though, it is still a wonderful action adventure/thriller. I continue to read anything I can find by this author.
The Fencing Master by Arturo Perez-Reverte
categories: #8 - GeoCAT (Western Europe), #4 - books owned by me
Set in Madrid in 1866, during the "Glorious Revolution", this is the story of Don Jaime Astarloa, an older gentleman, one who structures his life according to a code of morals and mores that date back to a more traditional time. He is a fencing master who tries to ignore all the talk of political upheaval and intrigue going on around him. He concentrates on his fencing students - mostly sons of noble families.
One day he is summoned to the home of Adela de Otero. Thinking her to be a parent of a son who might become a new student, he goes willingly. Once there, however, he is surprised to find a beautiful young woman who wants him to take HER on as a student - to be taught Don Jaime's secret thrust, an indefensible attack which he developed. After first refusing, he eventually becomes convinced of her fencing skill and sincerity in learning the advanced move and agrees to accept her as a student.
After the lessons are well underway, Adela asks Don Jaime to introduce her to one of his acquaintances, a marquis with family ties to the government. Later, he glimpses Adela speaking to a mysterious strange man. Before he realizes what has happened, Don Jaime finds himself enmeshed in the very intrigue he sought to avoid.
I love Perez-Reverte's Captain Alatriste series, set in an earlier time. I felt this book assumed too much knowledge of Spanish history, which left me not realizing the significance of several revelations. Still, though, it is still a wonderful action adventure/thriller. I continue to read anything I can find by this author.
209sjmccreary
Book #46
The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan
category: #14 - alphabetic challenge (L)
A short, fast-reading little book that is arranged as a series of alphabetic "dictionary" entries. Each of which is used as a jumping off point to make a statement about the narrator's romantic relationship. Told non-sequentially, eventually the entire history of the relationship is revealed, a period of several years. Some statements are only a sentence, or less (the entry for "abstinence" is followed by the notation "N/A"). Some are several paragraphs. Some are sweet, some confused or angry or bewildered. One entry explains that he doesn't like it she uses his shampoo - because then her hair smells like him, not her.
A very clever book, done well enough. But easily forgettable.
Book #47
A Mind to Murder by P D James
categories: #11 - mysteries, #9 - audio books
The second in the Adam Dalgliesh series. I didn't love it. Set in an upscale psychiatric clinic in London in the 1960's, an unpopular administrative officer is murdered in the clinic basement during operating hours. Dalgliesh investigates and after uncovering all the ugly secrets of the doctors and staff, identifies the guilty person. Bleh.
There was no sense of the time - I found myself thinking that the story was taking place in the 40's or even earlier and would be startled by a stray reference to something which identified the setting as the 1960's. Also, none of the characters were particularly likable - including Dalgliesh himself. Finally, I just didn't buy into the motive ascribed to the guilty person. Hoping the series improves quickly!
The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan
category: #14 - alphabetic challenge (L)
A short, fast-reading little book that is arranged as a series of alphabetic "dictionary" entries. Each of which is used as a jumping off point to make a statement about the narrator's romantic relationship. Told non-sequentially, eventually the entire history of the relationship is revealed, a period of several years. Some statements are only a sentence, or less (the entry for "abstinence" is followed by the notation "N/A"). Some are several paragraphs. Some are sweet, some confused or angry or bewildered. One entry explains that he doesn't like it she uses his shampoo - because then her hair smells like him, not her.
A very clever book, done well enough. But easily forgettable.
Book #47
A Mind to Murder by P D James
categories: #11 - mysteries, #9 - audio books
The second in the Adam Dalgliesh series. I didn't love it. Set in an upscale psychiatric clinic in London in the 1960's, an unpopular administrative officer is murdered in the clinic basement during operating hours. Dalgliesh investigates and after uncovering all the ugly secrets of the doctors and staff, identifies the guilty person. Bleh.
There was no sense of the time - I found myself thinking that the story was taking place in the 40's or even earlier and would be startled by a stray reference to something which identified the setting as the 1960's. Also, none of the characters were particularly likable - including Dalgliesh himself. Finally, I just didn't buy into the motive ascribed to the guilty person. Hoping the series improves quickly!
210sjmccreary
Book #48
The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan
categories: #14 - alphabetic challenge (L), #11 - mysteries
As the book opens, Grace is in prison and on trial for murder. Her attorney has asked her to write an account of the events that led to the alleged crime, which is what follows. Grace was a passenger on a luxury ocean liner in 1914 with her new husband, escaping the war breaking out in Europe, when there was an explosion, causing the ship to sink. Grace's husband got her into one of the lifeboats which got her away from the ship. The lifeboat was over capacity - holding about 40 people, including one of the seamen from the ship.
Her journals recount the experiences of the survivors in the lifeboat - their crowded conditions, their lack of food and fresh water, their bickering about what should be done and how, and the different reactions of the passengers to their plight. She also talks about her husband, and her own family's background, and some of the events that took place on the ship. After the first few days, when the survivors expected to be rescued at any moment, the conditions on the lifeboat quickly deteriorate as tempers flare and people begin to fall ill or lose their minds. Day after day, there are disagreements about how much food and water should be distributed, whether they should make contact with other lifeboats in the vicinity, and much gossip and speculation about exactly what happened on the ship in the moments leading up to their escape. Much of the speculation centers around Mr Hardy, the lone seaman in the boat, who has assumed for himself the role of captain.
I thought the book was an interesting look at the different ways people respond to tragic situations. And the key question - is it permissible to cause the deaths of some in order to prevent the deaths of all? Very thought-provoking.
The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan
categories: #14 - alphabetic challenge (L), #11 - mysteries
As the book opens, Grace is in prison and on trial for murder. Her attorney has asked her to write an account of the events that led to the alleged crime, which is what follows. Grace was a passenger on a luxury ocean liner in 1914 with her new husband, escaping the war breaking out in Europe, when there was an explosion, causing the ship to sink. Grace's husband got her into one of the lifeboats which got her away from the ship. The lifeboat was over capacity - holding about 40 people, including one of the seamen from the ship.
Her journals recount the experiences of the survivors in the lifeboat - their crowded conditions, their lack of food and fresh water, their bickering about what should be done and how, and the different reactions of the passengers to their plight. She also talks about her husband, and her own family's background, and some of the events that took place on the ship. After the first few days, when the survivors expected to be rescued at any moment, the conditions on the lifeboat quickly deteriorate as tempers flare and people begin to fall ill or lose their minds. Day after day, there are disagreements about how much food and water should be distributed, whether they should make contact with other lifeboats in the vicinity, and much gossip and speculation about exactly what happened on the ship in the moments leading up to their escape. Much of the speculation centers around Mr Hardy, the lone seaman in the boat, who has assumed for himself the role of captain.
I thought the book was an interesting look at the different ways people respond to tragic situations. And the key question - is it permissible to cause the deaths of some in order to prevent the deaths of all? Very thought-provoking.
211lkernagh
Like you, I have loved Perez-Reverte's Captain Alatriste series - the books I have read so far, anyways - and I am a sucker for action adventure/thriller stories that involve sword play so The Fencing Master joins my ever burgeoning "to read" list.
212sjmccreary
>211 lkernagh: - I'm sure you will enjoy it - but take the time to read the wikipedia article on Spanish history first - especially the Glorious Revolution. Maybe you'll have a better time understanding the intrigues than I did.
213christina_reads
Yay, so glad you enjoyed Code Name Verity! I absolutely LOVED it. Also, I'll have to look into The Fencing Master..>I love a good swashbuckler!
214lindapanzo
Whew, a relief that you liked Code Name Verity. Without exception, the friend-chosen books have been terrific. People choose either books they've read and loved and think I'll love too or else something from my wishlist.
The more I think about it, the more I think I'm going to include a friend chosen category for next year. I probably ought to beef up my wishlist/Christmas wishlist a bit though.
The more I think about it, the more I think I'm going to include a friend chosen category for next year. I probably ought to beef up my wishlist/Christmas wishlist a bit though.
215thornton37814
>210 sjmccreary: I have alternated back and forth between whether I want to read that one or not. I think it would be interesting in some ways, but then in others, I'm not sure I would like it. I guess the only way I'll ever figure out whether or not I like it is to read it, but there are so many other books calling my name.
216sjmccreary
>213 christina_reads: I can't imagine that anyone here wouldn't enjoy Code Name Verity - can you? And The Fencing Master, I read one review that stated that the final scene alone is worth the effort of reading the entire book. Very exciting!
>214 lindapanzo: I think the coolest I ever felt about a picked-by-a-friend book was when I merely liked it. I don't know exactly what it is - your suggestions are probably right on - but those picks are fabulous. I think I'll have the category again next year. I've gotten enough suggestions this year to last at least one more year, but I'll still probably ask for more.
>215 thornton37814: I think I understand how you are feeling about The Lifeboat, Lori. The subject is grim, no question, and there are no easy answers to the moral dilemmas that are raised. However, I felt she did a very good job presenting the situation from the point of view of a person in a life or death situation. There simply is no comparison in ordinary life. I thought it was well-written and extremely thought-provoking. It would make a good book club book, as there would be much to talk about. I didn't find it to be overbearing or depressing - if that helps to make up your mind.
>214 lindapanzo: I think the coolest I ever felt about a picked-by-a-friend book was when I merely liked it. I don't know exactly what it is - your suggestions are probably right on - but those picks are fabulous. I think I'll have the category again next year. I've gotten enough suggestions this year to last at least one more year, but I'll still probably ask for more.
>215 thornton37814: I think I understand how you are feeling about The Lifeboat, Lori. The subject is grim, no question, and there are no easy answers to the moral dilemmas that are raised. However, I felt she did a very good job presenting the situation from the point of view of a person in a life or death situation. There simply is no comparison in ordinary life. I thought it was well-written and extremely thought-provoking. It would make a good book club book, as there would be much to talk about. I didn't find it to be overbearing or depressing - if that helps to make up your mind.
217mamzel
Now that you have discovered Code Name Verity I hope you will continue with Rose Under Fire, not exactly a sequel but equally as riveting IMO.
218RidgewayGirl
My daughter has Code Name Verity on her shelf. I may need to liberate it for a few days.
219sjmccreary
>217 mamzel: I hadn't given much thought to the "sequel", but I should at least add it to the wishlist so that I don't forget about it.
>218 RidgewayGirl: Definitely!
>218 RidgewayGirl: Definitely!
220lindapanzo
I've got the sequel sitting around here someplace. My mother loved it but I haven't gotten around to it yet.
221WebsiteMart 
Detta konto har stängts av för spammande.
222sjmccreary
I was just looking at my library account and thinking about what to take along on our upcoming vacation. I noticed a group of holds that I placed recently and promptly forgot about. Every December lots of people here make a point of doing Christmas reading, which I always thought was a great idea. So this year I picked several "Christmas" books and put them on hold. Most of them aren't traditional Christmas stories, but I'm kind of looking forward to them. If I play my Messiah CD and fix myself an eggnog to sip on while I'm reading, it should count as Christmas, right? They should show up about Thanksgiving.
Linda, I'm up to #3 on the wait list for the tornado book - I'm getting hopeful that it will be here in time to take along on the trip. Have you started reading it yet?
Linda, I'm up to #3 on the wait list for the tornado book - I'm getting hopeful that it will be here in time to take along on the trip. Have you started reading it yet?
224lindapanzo
Sandy, I'll probably start the tornado book right after Labor Day.
Our library is converting to a new system. I'm hoping that all my extended holds carry over.
Our library is converting to a new system. I'm hoping that all my extended holds carry over.
225VivienneR
>222 sjmccreary: American Thanksgiving always seems like a run-up to Christmas so your plans are perfect. Canadian Thanksgiving is in October, more like a run-up to Halloween :)
Regarding holds, if mine arrive sooner than expected, I wonder if other readers enjoyed them so much they raced through them. Or, were they abandoned? In any case, they will always come in when I have a sizeable stack of current reads on the go.
Regarding holds, if mine arrive sooner than expected, I wonder if other readers enjoyed them so much they raced through them. Or, were they abandoned? In any case, they will always come in when I have a sizeable stack of current reads on the go.
226sjmccreary
>223 mstrust: let's see, I've got A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote, The Stupidest Angel: a Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror by Christopher Moore, Hogfather by Terry Pratchett, The Physics of Christmas: From the Aerodynamics of Reindeer to the Thermodynamics of Turkey by Roger Highfield, and Norman Rockwell's Christmas Book. Plus I'll take down my own copy of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and read that, too. I don't normally spike the eggnog, but that sounds like a good idea!
>224 lindapanzo: oh, surely they will - mine did when our library converted last year
>225 VivienneR: I always assume that people raced through the book if a hold shows up earlier than I expect it. That's usually the only time I return a book early - I don't normally abandon a book until I just can't keep it out any longer. Our library has a very nice feature that lets me suspend a hold, either indefinitely or for a specified time, so that lets me have some control over how many books show up at the same time. I know exactly what you're describing - I used to hate that, and even the librarians would laugh at how that always seems to happen.
>224 lindapanzo: oh, surely they will - mine did when our library converted last year
>225 VivienneR: I always assume that people raced through the book if a hold shows up earlier than I expect it. That's usually the only time I return a book early - I don't normally abandon a book until I just can't keep it out any longer. Our library has a very nice feature that lets me suspend a hold, either indefinitely or for a specified time, so that lets me have some control over how many books show up at the same time. I know exactly what you're describing - I used to hate that, and even the librarians would laugh at how that always seems to happen.
227electrice
>210 sjmccreary: I bought this one at a sale this summer, I'm happy to see from your review and your comment that it's the kind of story that I was hoping for :)
228sjmccreary
>227 electrice: That's always a big relief, isn't it? I hope you will enjoy it.
229sjmccreary
Only one more book completed in August to report before doing a recap:
Book #49
The Quilter's Album of Patchwork Patterns by Jinny Beyer
category: #5, Books about Cooking, Gardening or Quilting
This book has been on my Book Depository wishlist ever since it was first published. It also shows up regularly on my Christmas wishlist that is distributed to all family members. Surprisingly, I have never received it. Of course, the fact that it is nearly 500 pages long and costs $50 may be off-putting to all but my (fellow quilter) mother. Even my husband blithely substituted another (smaller and less expensive) book of patterns one year thinking that it would be just the same - right? Well, no, it wasn't just the same. Nice, but not the same. So, before I spent the money to buy the book myself, I checked it out of the library to spend time with it and read it carefully, and to decide whether I still believed it to be a worthwhile reference book for my quilting library.
I quickly get tired of Jinny Beyer's signature style - having read other books she's written. But she is a very talented quilter, and designer of both fabrics and patterns, and teacher. And she's very dedicated to doing things the right way, not always the fast way. Many (most? all?) of her quilts are done entirely by hand - which I adore. Even though I use the sewing machine for most of my piecing these days, I still do a fair amount of hand work, and I used to do ALL of my piecing by hand. I still do hand quilting, too, although I frequently send quilts out to be machine quilted. So, I appreciate her attitude about working by hand. However, she is not in the least condescending to those who prefer machine work. But I digress - there is no discussion about the merits of hand vs machine sewing in this book.
This book is a presentation of years of research and collecting that Beyer has done of quilt block patterns that have been published for the last 100+ years. She includes more than 4000 different patterns in this book. Each one is pieced, photographed and charted. She has analysed each of them and presents an easy way to break any block pattern down for comparison and for use. She also includes a very helpful discussion about how to re-draft any pattern into any desired size. Plus a couple of chapters that explain, again, some of her own ideas about quilt design, many of which are especially well suited for her fabric designs (that's the part that I get tired of - very clever, but I'll never do most of that stuff).
So, I loved the book and would consider it essential reading for most serious quilters. I still want my own copy. I may have to present it more prominently on this year's Christmas list. If that doesn't work, I'll be buying it for myself early next year.
Book #49
The Quilter's Album of Patchwork Patterns by Jinny Beyer
category: #5, Books about Cooking, Gardening or Quilting
This book has been on my Book Depository wishlist ever since it was first published. It also shows up regularly on my Christmas wishlist that is distributed to all family members. Surprisingly, I have never received it. Of course, the fact that it is nearly 500 pages long and costs $50 may be off-putting to all but my (fellow quilter) mother. Even my husband blithely substituted another (smaller and less expensive) book of patterns one year thinking that it would be just the same - right? Well, no, it wasn't just the same. Nice, but not the same. So, before I spent the money to buy the book myself, I checked it out of the library to spend time with it and read it carefully, and to decide whether I still believed it to be a worthwhile reference book for my quilting library.
I quickly get tired of Jinny Beyer's signature style - having read other books she's written. But she is a very talented quilter, and designer of both fabrics and patterns, and teacher. And she's very dedicated to doing things the right way, not always the fast way. Many (most? all?) of her quilts are done entirely by hand - which I adore. Even though I use the sewing machine for most of my piecing these days, I still do a fair amount of hand work, and I used to do ALL of my piecing by hand. I still do hand quilting, too, although I frequently send quilts out to be machine quilted. So, I appreciate her attitude about working by hand. However, she is not in the least condescending to those who prefer machine work. But I digress - there is no discussion about the merits of hand vs machine sewing in this book.
This book is a presentation of years of research and collecting that Beyer has done of quilt block patterns that have been published for the last 100+ years. She includes more than 4000 different patterns in this book. Each one is pieced, photographed and charted. She has analysed each of them and presents an easy way to break any block pattern down for comparison and for use. She also includes a very helpful discussion about how to re-draft any pattern into any desired size. Plus a couple of chapters that explain, again, some of her own ideas about quilt design, many of which are especially well suited for her fabric designs (that's the part that I get tired of - very clever, but I'll never do most of that stuff).
So, I loved the book and would consider it essential reading for most serious quilters. I still want my own copy. I may have to present it more prominently on this year's Christmas list. If that doesn't work, I'll be buying it for myself early next year.
230sjmccreary
August recap:
Six books completed in August, for a year-to-date total of 49.
By category:
14 alphabetic books (L) - 9 completed = 64%
13 group read books - 7 completed = 54%
12 books picked-by-a-friend - 6 completed = 50%
11 mysteries - 13 completed = 118%
10 books from the 1001 list - 7 completed = 70%
9 audio books - 11 completed = 122%
8 GeoCAT books - 7 completed = 88%
7 non-fiction books - 7 completed = 100%
6 MO Readers books - 2 completed = 33%
5 Cooking-Quilting-Gardening books - 4 completed = 80%
4 books I own - 5 completed = 125%
3 books for no reason - 3 completed = 100%
2 books for some other reason - 2 completed = 100%
1 vacation audio book - 1 completed = 100%
105 books to complete the challenge - 84 completed = 80% (allowing each book to count in up to 2 categories). 7 categories completed, and still on track to complete the challenge by the end of October.
Six books completed in August, for a year-to-date total of 49.
By category:
14 alphabetic books (L) - 9 completed = 64%
13 group read books - 7 completed = 54%
12 books picked-by-a-friend - 6 completed = 50%
11 mysteries - 13 completed = 118%
10 books from the 1001 list - 7 completed = 70%
9 audio books - 11 completed = 122%
8 GeoCAT books - 7 completed = 88%
7 non-fiction books - 7 completed = 100%
6 MO Readers books - 2 completed = 33%
5 Cooking-Quilting-Gardening books - 4 completed = 80%
4 books I own - 5 completed = 125%
3 books for no reason - 3 completed = 100%
2 books for some other reason - 2 completed = 100%
1 vacation audio book - 1 completed = 100%
105 books to complete the challenge - 84 completed = 80% (allowing each book to count in up to 2 categories). 7 categories completed, and still on track to complete the challenge by the end of October.
231dudes22
>229 sjmccreary: - I know what you mean. Some of her patterns would seem to work only if you did them the way she did with her fabrics. I have a couple of her smaller books and I think I have one of her patterns somewhere in my quilting stack ( different than my TBR pile). I might see if our library has that book and check it out if they do.
232sjmccreary
I just got home from vacationing in the Wisconsin Dells. A very beautiful place - which was cold and rainy last week. As usual, I took lots of books to read and mostly ignored them. However, I did finish one just before we left, and read one book cover to cover that was purchased on the trip.
Book #50
The Summer Book by Tove Jansson
categories: #13 - group reads, #10 - 1001 Books
I thoroughly enjoyed this short book about a girl who spends the summer with her grandmother on a remote island off the coast of Finland. We know that there are some issues in the girl's life - it was revealed very early that her mother has recently died. Her father is with her on the island, but this story is about her relationship with her grandmother. This is not the stereotypical smiling, hugging, cookie-baking granny. This grandmother likes her solitude, loves her island, tolerates her son (the father), but has warm feelings for her granddaughter. The granddaughter, on the other hand, is learning to understand and love the island and to respect her grandmother's privacy. She is also quite protective of her grandmother's health and often orders her to stop and rest while they are out exploring.
My grandma was a suburban Denver housewife. But my relationship with her was not dissimilar to the one in the book. I only got to see her once a year for 2 weeks in the summer. She spoke to me as she might to an adult, she tolerated no nonsense - which is not to say that she didn't enjoy fun and occasional silliness, and she took no offense when I laughed if she was being foolish (like running across the yard screaming and climbing up on the fence, just because of a small harmless garter snake in the garden). She shared her pain with me when her favorite dog had to be put down, and her ambivalence at being identified as a grandmother (she was only 43 when I was born). Our relationship was our own, and my aunt once complained to my mother that I was being disrespectful of my grandmother when she overheard us talking privately. My mother told her that grandma didn't mind and pointed out that I didn't talk that way when other people were around. Grandma was only 58 when she died. This book reminded me how much I still miss her.
Book #50
The Summer Book by Tove Jansson
categories: #13 - group reads, #10 - 1001 Books
I thoroughly enjoyed this short book about a girl who spends the summer with her grandmother on a remote island off the coast of Finland. We know that there are some issues in the girl's life - it was revealed very early that her mother has recently died. Her father is with her on the island, but this story is about her relationship with her grandmother. This is not the stereotypical smiling, hugging, cookie-baking granny. This grandmother likes her solitude, loves her island, tolerates her son (the father), but has warm feelings for her granddaughter. The granddaughter, on the other hand, is learning to understand and love the island and to respect her grandmother's privacy. She is also quite protective of her grandmother's health and often orders her to stop and rest while they are out exploring.
My grandma was a suburban Denver housewife. But my relationship with her was not dissimilar to the one in the book. I only got to see her once a year for 2 weeks in the summer. She spoke to me as she might to an adult, she tolerated no nonsense - which is not to say that she didn't enjoy fun and occasional silliness, and she took no offense when I laughed if she was being foolish (like running across the yard screaming and climbing up on the fence, just because of a small harmless garter snake in the garden). She shared her pain with me when her favorite dog had to be put down, and her ambivalence at being identified as a grandmother (she was only 43 when I was born). Our relationship was our own, and my aunt once complained to my mother that I was being disrespectful of my grandmother when she overheard us talking privately. My mother told her that grandma didn't mind and pointed out that I didn't talk that way when other people were around. Grandma was only 58 when she died. This book reminded me how much I still miss her.
233sjmccreary
*wiping away a tear* - sorry about that - but I thought the book was wonderful and touching, and I would recommend it.
Book #51
Never Enough: The Creative Life of Alex Jordan by Tom Kupsh
Categories: #7 - non fiction, #3 - no reason
So, in preparing for our trip to Wisconsin, we read and heard that the House on the Rock is a must-see attraction. So we went. This is a house that was built on top of one of the beautiful rock towers that are common to the area. Alex Jordan, the man who built it, did the work himself and used local materials and no written plans. He wanted the house to look like an extension of the landscape. After the house was completed, he added other similar buildings and, later, put up plain metal buildings to contain a continuation of his eclectic design style as it applied to collections of antiques and memorabilia. This is the place that has the iconic "infinity room" - a structure added to the house which extends beyond the rock tower to hang in space above the valley. It is made with an optical illusion so that, when entering the room, it appears to extend forever.
We really didn't know what to expect before we got there. The self-guided tour took us about 3-1/2 hours, including lunch. I overheard someone say that the entire route is about 3 miles. As we were leaving, we still weren't sure what we'd seen. My mom picked up this book at the gift shop and I read it immediately. It tells the story of Alex Jordan and his family, and how the house came to be built and evolve into what it is now. It is written by one of the artists who was on Jordan's staff. He remains a creative consultant to the present owners (Jordan died in 1989). I can't imagine that it would be very interesting or meaningful to anyone who had not toured the property. After reading the book, I'd like to go back and visit the site again. An interesting story about a project that defies description.
Book #51
Never Enough: The Creative Life of Alex Jordan by Tom Kupsh
Categories: #7 - non fiction, #3 - no reason
So, in preparing for our trip to Wisconsin, we read and heard that the House on the Rock is a must-see attraction. So we went. This is a house that was built on top of one of the beautiful rock towers that are common to the area. Alex Jordan, the man who built it, did the work himself and used local materials and no written plans. He wanted the house to look like an extension of the landscape. After the house was completed, he added other similar buildings and, later, put up plain metal buildings to contain a continuation of his eclectic design style as it applied to collections of antiques and memorabilia. This is the place that has the iconic "infinity room" - a structure added to the house which extends beyond the rock tower to hang in space above the valley. It is made with an optical illusion so that, when entering the room, it appears to extend forever.
We really didn't know what to expect before we got there. The self-guided tour took us about 3-1/2 hours, including lunch. I overheard someone say that the entire route is about 3 miles. As we were leaving, we still weren't sure what we'd seen. My mom picked up this book at the gift shop and I read it immediately. It tells the story of Alex Jordan and his family, and how the house came to be built and evolve into what it is now. It is written by one of the artists who was on Jordan's staff. He remains a creative consultant to the present owners (Jordan died in 1989). I can't imagine that it would be very interesting or meaningful to anyone who had not toured the property. After reading the book, I'd like to go back and visit the site again. An interesting story about a project that defies description.
234thornton37814
>232 sjmccreary: That sounds like a rather interesting book. I might be adding it to my TBR list.
ETA: My public library has it!
ETA: My public library has it!
235sjmccreary
#234 Oh I hope it brings back nice memories of your grandmother, too!
236-Eva-
>232 sjmccreary:
What a lovely review. I like your grandma now too. :)
What a lovely review. I like your grandma now too. :)
237electrice
>236 -Eva-: What she said :) The book has gone the BB list !
238sjmccreary
>236 -Eva-: >237 electrice:. Thanks, I hope you will enjoy the book. Eva, I'm a little surprised you've never read it. Didn't Jansson write in Swedish? There is a photo of Grandma and me when I was about 4 years old that I'd love to share right here, but I don't have a copy of it. A rare picture of her wearing a skirt. (She was not a dress-up kind of lady)
239cyderry
Isn't wonderful when a book brings back such wonderful memories?
Rooting for the Royals til the end of the season!
Rooting for the Royals til the end of the season!
240sjmccreary
Root hard!
241lindapanzo
Sandy, did you see that KC is coming up here to Wrigley next year? Late May, I think. Hint, hint.
I started that Missouri Readers book late last night. It probably wasn't my smartest idea ever to start it during a thunderstorm!!
I started that Missouri Readers book late last night. It probably wasn't my smartest idea ever to start it during a thunderstorm!!
242sjmccreary
No, I hadn't heard anything about next year's schedule. I think the whole town is too focused on THIS season to think ahead.
No, probably not a good idea! Did you finish it yet?
No, probably not a good idea! Did you finish it yet?
243sjmccreary
Three books last week:
Book #52
Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes
categories: #9 - audio books, #9 - GeoCATs (East Asia, focus on Vietnam War)
This was my first-ever Vietnam War book, and I thought it was excellent. Focusing on a Marine combat unit as they endure the weather, the tedium and stress of being on constant alert, the ineptitude of their superior officers, and most of all the fear that comes from seeing their comrades wounded and killed and knowing they might be next. The wonderful audio version was read by Bronson Pinchot who made an already vivid scene come to life. Highly recommended.
Book #52
Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes
categories: #9 - audio books, #9 - GeoCATs (East Asia, focus on Vietnam War)
This was my first-ever Vietnam War book, and I thought it was excellent. Focusing on a Marine combat unit as they endure the weather, the tedium and stress of being on constant alert, the ineptitude of their superior officers, and most of all the fear that comes from seeing their comrades wounded and killed and knowing they might be next. The wonderful audio version was read by Bronson Pinchot who made an already vivid scene come to life. Highly recommended.
244lindapanzo
>242 sjmccreary: I finished it late last night. After lunch, I'll put together my comments. Very thought provoking for me.
I'm rooting for KC. Looks like there's still a good chance for wild card. Not sure about the AL Central though.
I'm rooting for KC. Looks like there's still a good chance for wild card. Not sure about the AL Central though.
245sjmccreary
Book #53
Go Tell it on the Mountain by James Baldwin
categories: #13 - group reads, #10 - 1001 books
A wonderful book set in 1930's Harlem about a boy growing up in a family of slave descendants who belong to a charismatic church where his father is a deacon/sometimes-preacher. Everyone expects that he will also grow up to become a preacher, but he is conflicted because he doesn't want any part of that or of the church at all.
Book #54
Torn Away by Jennifer Brown
category: #6 - MO Readers
A very good YA novel about a high school girl who rode out a monster tornado alone in the basement of her family's home. After emerging from the wreckage, she is unable to make contact with any of the family and soon discovers that her mother and sister were killed. Days later, her step-father shows up dazed and beaten down. He is unable to deal with his step-daughter and her needs so he sends her away to her biological father's family - relatives she never knew she had - people who don't want her. She, then, is forced to deal not only with the loss of her mother and sister and home, but also her friends and school and the security and love she'd always known.
Go Tell it on the Mountain by James Baldwin
categories: #13 - group reads, #10 - 1001 books
A wonderful book set in 1930's Harlem about a boy growing up in a family of slave descendants who belong to a charismatic church where his father is a deacon/sometimes-preacher. Everyone expects that he will also grow up to become a preacher, but he is conflicted because he doesn't want any part of that or of the church at all.
Book #54
Torn Away by Jennifer Brown
category: #6 - MO Readers
A very good YA novel about a high school girl who rode out a monster tornado alone in the basement of her family's home. After emerging from the wreckage, she is unable to make contact with any of the family and soon discovers that her mother and sister were killed. Days later, her step-father shows up dazed and beaten down. He is unable to deal with his step-daughter and her needs so he sends her away to her biological father's family - relatives she never knew she had - people who don't want her. She, then, is forced to deal not only with the loss of her mother and sister and home, but also her friends and school and the security and love she'd always known.
246sjmccreary
>244 lindapanzo: No, our failure to win big against Detroit this weekend probably sealed the division win for the Tigers. No one is happy about having to play for the wild card, but it's the first time in a generation that we're actually in the conversation about the post season at all, so it's still exciting. Chris has placed his order for post-season tickets, and is thrilled about the chance of getting to go to the world series - however unlikely that is.
247lindapanzo
I was at the last Cubs day game of the season yesterday. Between innings, I was perusing the 2015 schedule I picked up, while also trying to stay warm in the face of seemingly gale force winds.
I left after the 7th inning, something I almost never do. I was so cold I called my baseball fan friend and we went out for hot soup/hot coffee for dinner.
The Cubs' future looks brighter than it has in awhile but that might not be til 2016 or beyond.
Anyway, I hope he gets to go to many playoff games. There's a whole different level of intensity and excitement.
I left after the 7th inning, something I almost never do. I was so cold I called my baseball fan friend and we went out for hot soup/hot coffee for dinner.
The Cubs' future looks brighter than it has in awhile but that might not be til 2016 or beyond.
Anyway, I hope he gets to go to many playoff games. There's a whole different level of intensity and excitement.
248DeltaQueen50
I'm happy that you enjoyed your read of Matterhorn, Sandy. I've read a lot of books on and about Vietnam and it is definitely one of the best!
249lkernagh
I just finished my first Baldwin read - Giovanni's Room - this past weekend. Looks like I should be adding Go Tell it on the Mountain to my future reading list. I do like Baldwin's writing style and he makes me think about things from a broader perspective.
250tymfos
Matterhorn is on my Ever-Expanding list of books to read . . . I do hope to get to it soon.
251cyderry
I was disappointed about he suspended game but still hopefully that the Royals will make it. Rooting for Royals!
252sjmccreary
>247 lindapanzo: We'll talk more later about next May - I'd love to make the trip.
>248 DeltaQueen50: Judy, you're the one whose recommendation put Matterhorn on my wishlist in the first place, so thanks for that!
>249 lkernagh: I feel the same way about Baldwin's writing - this was my first time with one of his books, too. I've seen lots of good comments about Giovanni's Room and will be putting that one on my wishlist. He shares a trait with a few other prominent African-American writers that I like - their stories, their characters' stories, all have their roots in slavery. That experience, even when it happened to a parent or grandparent, as in Go Tell it on the Mountain, defines how they look at the world and themselves. There is such an awareness of the interconnectedness of people in the community that seems to stem from that shared history.
>250 tymfos: I hope you can work it in very soon - I think you'll enjoy it. I've been talking this book up to everyone!
>248 DeltaQueen50: Judy, you're the one whose recommendation put Matterhorn on my wishlist in the first place, so thanks for that!
>249 lkernagh: I feel the same way about Baldwin's writing - this was my first time with one of his books, too. I've seen lots of good comments about Giovanni's Room and will be putting that one on my wishlist. He shares a trait with a few other prominent African-American writers that I like - their stories, their characters' stories, all have their roots in slavery. That experience, even when it happened to a parent or grandparent, as in Go Tell it on the Mountain, defines how they look at the world and themselves. There is such an awareness of the interconnectedness of people in the community that seems to stem from that shared history.
>250 tymfos: I hope you can work it in very soon - I think you'll enjoy it. I've been talking this book up to everyone!
253sjmccreary
>251 cyderry: Hi Cheli - we're cross posting. Is it still possible for the Royals to win the division? This town will go crazy if they do!
254lindapanzo
Sandy, with 6 games left to play for KC, they are one game back of Detroit for the division. Their elimination number is 6 (each Tiger win counts as 1 as does each Royals loss).
Most likely, if the Royals manage to win their division, they'll play Baltimore in the first round and the Angels would get the wild card winner.
If that doesn't work out, right now, the Royals have a 2 game lead on the Seattle Mariners for the second wildcard spot. Seattle's elimination number for a wildcare spot is 5.
MLB calculates the Royals' postseason probability right now at 88 percent.
Most likely, if the Royals manage to win their division, they'll play Baltimore in the first round and the Angels would get the wild card winner.
If that doesn't work out, right now, the Royals have a 2 game lead on the Seattle Mariners for the second wildcard spot. Seattle's elimination number for a wildcare spot is 5.
MLB calculates the Royals' postseason probability right now at 88 percent.
255sjmccreary
Linda - thanks for the update. I've never heard the term "elimination number" before, but I think I'm seeing what that means and how it works. We're actually in a better position than I thought we were. "if the Royals manage to win their division, they'll play Baltimore in the first round" - and that will be the end of Cheli's support!
256lindapanzo
I'm pretty sure that's right. I believe that the division champ with the best record gets to play the wildcard team. The Angels are still catchable but, with only 6 games left, it'd be tough for the Orioles to surpass them for best record.
The "elimination number" used to be called the "magic number." For the team that's ahead, most people still use that phrasing.
Note that, when the elimination number is 1, the higher ranked team has clinched at least a tie.
The "elimination number" used to be called the "magic number." For the team that's ahead, most people still use that phrasing.
Note that, when the elimination number is 1, the higher ranked team has clinched at least a tie.
257-Eva-
>238 sjmccreary:
Yes, she did. It's on my wishlist - I've tended to go for her children's books instead.
Yes, she did. It's on my wishlist - I've tended to go for her children's books instead.
258lindapanzo
Congrats to the Royals, Sandy!! I hope they go far in the playoffs.
259sjmccreary
Thanks, Linda. You should see the front page of the KC Star this morning! Anxiously waiting to find out which game we'll be playing in, and hoping it won't be a home game on a day we're out of town.
261lindapanzo
>259 sjmccreary: If they win the division, their next game will be on Thurs. If they are the wildcard, they'll play on Tues.
Here's the schedule...
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/schedule/ps.jsp?y=14
Here's the schedule...
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/schedule/ps.jsp?y=14
263lindapanzo
Incredible ball game!! One of the most amazing games I've ever seen.
Congrats to your Royals.
Congrats to your Royals.
264sjmccreary
What a game that was! And loud - my ears are still ringing. We didn't leave the stadium until midnight, and it was 1:00 before we got home. Still up - trying to unwind before attempting to sleep. Glad we're still on "vacation" and don't have to be anywhere in the morning.
265dudes22
Saw the highlights this am on the news back here in the east. Looked like it was a great game.
266lindapanzo
So now it's Angels/Royals. KC games on Sunday and then on Monday if necessary.
267cyderry
Are the Royals trying to keep me from getting my beauty sleep?
Extra innings again? I'll try to stay awake for their win.
Go KC!
Extra innings again? I'll try to stay awake for their win.
Go KC!
268sjmccreary
So did you stay up for all of it? I stayed up for the end of the Orioles game. ;-). That was fun. At least we were able to watch this one on TV and didn't have an hour-long drive home after.
269cyderry
Nope, dozed off before the end. But I see that they won, YEAH! First thing
I checked this morning.
Tim went to the O's game last night and is headed to the Nat's game this afternoon.
I checked this morning.
Tim went to the O's game last night and is headed to the Nat's game this afternoon.
270lindapanzo
I'm rooting for Baltimore, Kansas City, St Louis, and Washington to advance.
Besides flipping between the ballgames and the Packers game, I was trying to read last night (the second Dr Siri mystery set in Laos). I was tired and didn't stay up for the Royals/Angels extra innings but I checked first thing this morning.
Besides flipping between the ballgames and the Packers game, I was trying to read last night (the second Dr Siri mystery set in Laos). I was tired and didn't stay up for the Royals/Angels extra innings but I checked first thing this morning.
271sjmccreary
Lots of baseball going on - we're pleased that Baltimore is ahead of Detroit, and happy that KC won the first game last night. We've lost so much sleep watching them play late into the night this week, that we don't have the TV on tonight. I'm periodically checking the status of the game while I'm online. Bottom of the 8th, and we're still tied.
So I thought it was a good time to do a month-end recap.
September recap:
Five books completed in September, for a year-to-date total of 54.
By category:
14 alphabetic books (L) - 9 completed = 64%
13 group read books - 9 completed = 69%
12 books picked-by-a-friend - 6 completed = 50%
11 mysteries - 13 completed = 118%
10 books from the 1001 list - 9 completed = 90%
9 audio books - 12 completed = 133%
8 GeoCAT books - 8 completed = 100%
7 non-fiction books - 8 completed = 114%
6 MO Readers books - 3 completed = 50%
5 Cooking-Quilting-Gardening books - 4 completed = 80%
4 books I own - 5 completed = 125%
3 books for no reason - 4 completed = 133%
2 books for some other reason - 2 completed = 100%
1 vacation audio book - 1 completed = 100%
105 books to complete the challenge - 93 completed = 89% (allowing each book to count in up to 2 categories). 8 categories completed, and still on track to complete the challenge by the end of October!
So I thought it was a good time to do a month-end recap.
September recap:
Five books completed in September, for a year-to-date total of 54.
By category:
14 alphabetic books (L) - 9 completed = 64%
13 group read books - 9 completed = 69%
12 books picked-by-a-friend - 6 completed = 50%
11 mysteries - 13 completed = 118%
10 books from the 1001 list - 9 completed = 90%
9 audio books - 12 completed = 133%
8 GeoCAT books - 8 completed = 100%
7 non-fiction books - 8 completed = 114%
6 MO Readers books - 3 completed = 50%
5 Cooking-Quilting-Gardening books - 4 completed = 80%
4 books I own - 5 completed = 125%
3 books for no reason - 4 completed = 133%
2 books for some other reason - 2 completed = 100%
1 vacation audio book - 1 completed = 100%
105 books to complete the challenge - 93 completed = 89% (allowing each book to count in up to 2 categories). 8 categories completed, and still on track to complete the challenge by the end of October!
272lindapanzo
Extra innings again. I am getting tired. Might stay up one more inning.
Oh my!! You might want to put the game on ASAP.
Oh my!! You might want to put the game on ASAP.
274sjmccreary
Missed the ending last night - watched the highlights this morning. The last update we got last night was top of the 11th. It's a good thing we turned out the lights then, if we'd watched the rest it would have been another hour or more to settle down enough to sleep.
275lindapanzo
The tide really turned when that center fielder threw the Angels guy out at third. Dyson? Probably the play of the year. Amazing.
I'll probably be starting the Daniel Woodrell book this weekend.
I'll probably be starting the Daniel Woodrell book this weekend.
276sjmccreary
>275 lindapanzo: And yet that is one play I haven't seen being shown in the highlights, or even really mentioned in the stories. Did you watch the game last night? Dyson has a new haircut - "zoom" shaved into the side of his head - he usually comes into the game as a pinch runner for our DH, Billy Butler. Who actually stole a base last night! For the first time in 2 years! Billy is my favorite player, but he is not a good runner. The fact that he actually stole a base was the basis for lots of fun at his expense, I'm sure!
I've also picked up the Woodrell book, but I probably won't get started on it this week. Did we set a date for discussion?
I've also picked up the Woodrell book, but I probably won't get started on it this week. Did we set a date for discussion?
277lindapanzo
>276 sjmccreary: How about next week?
I was so happy that the Royals won. I'll be rooting for them in the next round, again, though I also like the Orioles. The Royals are fun to watch.
On Friday night, Dyson caught the ball on the run and threw in one motion, throwing out the runner at third at a critical point in the game.
I kind of like that guy who keeps hitting the home runs. Can't remember his name but I think he plays first base. They had him mic'd the other day and he's the one they always seem to interview, surprisingly, and not Alex Gordon.
I'll have to pay more attention to Billy Butler.
I was so happy that the Royals won. I'll be rooting for them in the next round, again, though I also like the Orioles. The Royals are fun to watch.
On Friday night, Dyson caught the ball on the run and threw in one motion, throwing out the runner at third at a critical point in the game.
I kind of like that guy who keeps hitting the home runs. Can't remember his name but I think he plays first base. They had him mic'd the other day and he's the one they always seem to interview, surprisingly, and not Alex Gordon.
I'll have to pay more attention to Billy Butler.
278sjmccreary
>277 lindapanzo: I'll pick that book up next, as soon as I finish - or abandon - one of the books I've got in progress now. I might be finished by the end of next week - Woodrell's don't normally take very long to read.
That sounds like a great play by Dyson - I wonder why they aren't showing it with the others they keep showing over and over? I'd like to see it.
You mean Eric Hosmer - yes, he's very popular. Especially with the girls! My friend's 13-year old daughter practically swoons every time he gets up to bat. She was at the game last night, and was thrilled (to say the least) when he got that home run. (When we were texting after the game, I think her exact words were "OMG! That was so awesome!!!!!!") I'm not sure Alex Gordon is quite as articulate as Hosmer, but I see him being interviewed sometimes. He's very quiet, I think - maybe he tries to avoid the press.
Billy Butler caught my eye when he first joined the team in 2007. He's only about 2 weeks younger than my son Bill, and sort of resembles him - a husky guy with buzz-cut hair and a round face. And not a natural runner. (Our Bill wasn't very athletic at all, but he was especially bad at running.) When Bill died, we became permanent fans of Billy. He hasn't had a very good year this year, and several times this summer I've heard people in the crowd bad-mouthing him. There was even some talk about trading him away before next year. I hope they don't - I like seeing him play.
That sounds like a great play by Dyson - I wonder why they aren't showing it with the others they keep showing over and over? I'd like to see it.
You mean Eric Hosmer - yes, he's very popular. Especially with the girls! My friend's 13-year old daughter practically swoons every time he gets up to bat. She was at the game last night, and was thrilled (to say the least) when he got that home run. (When we were texting after the game, I think her exact words were "OMG! That was so awesome!!!!!!") I'm not sure Alex Gordon is quite as articulate as Hosmer, but I see him being interviewed sometimes. He's very quiet, I think - maybe he tries to avoid the press.
Billy Butler caught my eye when he first joined the team in 2007. He's only about 2 weeks younger than my son Bill, and sort of resembles him - a husky guy with buzz-cut hair and a round face. And not a natural runner. (Our Bill wasn't very athletic at all, but he was especially bad at running.) When Bill died, we became permanent fans of Billy. He hasn't had a very good year this year, and several times this summer I've heard people in the crowd bad-mouthing him. There was even some talk about trading him away before next year. I hope they don't - I like seeing him play.
279lindapanzo
I just watched the replay of the Dyson catch and, while it was a spectacular, almost impossible, throw, the catch itself was fairly routine. He threw out Cowgill at third base.
Next game isn't til Friday and, unfortunately, I'll probably miss that game. Not sure when the second game is, probably Sunday. My FB friend, Renee Fleming, and I are going to the opera. She is performing and I am attending. (I love Renee Fleming performances...last time was A Streetcar Named Desire.) So, anyway, depending on the time, I might miss game 2, as well.
That's nice that Butler gives you good memories. I was thinking of Brett Butler who is probably now way too old to be playing.
As for Woodrell, I am plodding through the Dr Siri book but ought to be done in the next day or two and will look for something shorter/lighter next and then the Woodrell.
Next game isn't til Friday and, unfortunately, I'll probably miss that game. Not sure when the second game is, probably Sunday. My FB friend, Renee Fleming, and I are going to the opera. She is performing and I am attending. (I love Renee Fleming performances...last time was A Streetcar Named Desire.) So, anyway, depending on the time, I might miss game 2, as well.
That's nice that Butler gives you good memories. I was thinking of Brett Butler who is probably now way too old to be playing.
As for Woodrell, I am plodding through the Dr Siri book but ought to be done in the next day or two and will look for something shorter/lighter next and then the Woodrell.
280lindapanzo
Sandy, you're probably aware but the Royals are at home next week on Mon, Tues, and Wed. 10/13, 10/14, and 10/15.
If they advance to the World Series, they'd play at home on 10/21 and 10/22 and, if necessary, on 10/28 and 10/29.
If they advance to the World Series, they'd play at home on 10/21 and 10/22 and, if necessary, on 10/28 and 10/29.
281sjmccreary
I was vaguely aware - unfortunately, I'll be out of town for business an all but the last two of those days. Chris isn't worried since he thinks he'll easily find someone to use the 2nd ticket if I can't go. But I won't get to go :-(
But I got to go to the wild card game, which was one of the best games in any sport I've ever watched, so I really can't complain. I've been away the last couple of days - how are the National league teams faring?
One nice thing about being away from home and out of touch with the world is that I finally finished another book - the first one in more than 2 weeks. And all the driving gave me a chance to jump ahead in the mammoth Pillars of the Earth that I have on audio in the car.
But I got to go to the wild card game, which was one of the best games in any sport I've ever watched, so I really can't complain. I've been away the last couple of days - how are the National league teams faring?
One nice thing about being away from home and out of touch with the world is that I finally finished another book - the first one in more than 2 weeks. And all the driving gave me a chance to jump ahead in the mammoth Pillars of the Earth that I have on audio in the car.
282lindapanzo
KC, wow!! Up two zip with the next 3 games in KC.
284sjmccreary
We went to a local Irish festival yesterday evening - about an hour's drive from here - and had the game on the radio in the car during the trip. When we got there, the score was still tied - bottom of the 8th, top of the 9th, something like that. Chris, only half-kidding, told me to hurry up and get the car parked so he could get out and not have to listen anymore. He was so sure that Baltimore would come back and win the game. I thought they would, too, truth be told. Of course, the final score was announced by the emcee at the concert which put an end to the worry. As the evening wore one, and beer was consumed by the masses, impromptu cheers of "let's go Royals!" broke out at the festival, and even at the IHOP at 2am. A strange phenomenon in a town that isn't used to winning and doesn't know how to act, but is determined to enjoy every moment. But we know that Baltimore is a very good team, and we also know that our team has a better record on the road than at home, so it's entirely possible that the Orioles will come back - and maybe even go ahead in the series - this week in Kansas City. Of course we're hoping that doesn't happen, and Cheli is hoping that it will!
285sjmccreary
Book #55
The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig
category #12, picked by a friend (cbl_tn)
I loved the setting and pace of this story about 7th grader Paul Milliron who lived in rural Montana in 1909 and attended a one-room school with his two younger brothers. It is told from the POV of the same boy as an adult who works as a superintendent of schools and is faced with the task of informing the schools in his district that the small, one-room schools are to be closed and consolidated into larger - modern - schools. This was to be done in response to the launching of Sputnik by the Soviets, and the nation's demand for better science and math education. But in looking back, Paul recalls the education he received in science and astronomy at a time when Halley's comet was scheduled to make its regular appearance in the spring of 1910.
I thought it was a wonderful tribute to the excellent teachers throughout history who have coaxed and inspired students to achieve their best, and who often were able to do so with little more than their wits and a piece of chalk.
The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig
category #12, picked by a friend (cbl_tn)
I loved the setting and pace of this story about 7th grader Paul Milliron who lived in rural Montana in 1909 and attended a one-room school with his two younger brothers. It is told from the POV of the same boy as an adult who works as a superintendent of schools and is faced with the task of informing the schools in his district that the small, one-room schools are to be closed and consolidated into larger - modern - schools. This was to be done in response to the launching of Sputnik by the Soviets, and the nation's demand for better science and math education. But in looking back, Paul recalls the education he received in science and astronomy at a time when Halley's comet was scheduled to make its regular appearance in the spring of 1910.
I thought it was a wonderful tribute to the excellent teachers throughout history who have coaxed and inspired students to achieve their best, and who often were able to do so with little more than their wits and a piece of chalk.
286lindapanzo
Started the Woodrell book tonight. Not too far into it yet but not liking it at all.
Good thing it's short...
Good thing it's short...
287sjmccreary
Oh, no. That sounds bad. Although, I do recall that Donna and Brenda (and maybe Terri) read it when it first came out and didn't love it. I still haven't started - I got a 650-page ILL in on Thursday that is due back in 2 weeks. I've been very regimental in reading that one every day so that I can get it finished in time. I'll take Woodrell with me on my business trip this week.
288lindapanzo
I'm about a quarter of the way through the Woodrell book. The e-book is due back on Thursday but, if I don't finish it, I won't use the wifi on my Kindle til I'm done.
It's picking up a bit. Still not crazy about it though.
It's picking up a bit. Still not crazy about it though.
289LittleTaiko
Which Woodrell are you two reading?
290sjmccreary
>289 LittleTaiko: The Maid's Version - have you read it yet?
I started it today over lunch and read it some more over dinner and I'm also about a quarter of the way through. It's been slow starting, but I'm liking it pretty well so far.
I started it today over lunch and read it some more over dinner and I'm also about a quarter of the way through. It's been slow starting, but I'm liking it pretty well so far.
291lindapanzo
I'm amazed that you can read. If the Cubs were only one win away from the World Series, I wouldn't be reading anything but the sports pages.
What I don't like in the Woodrell is all the jumping around. With the game ending early, I'm shutting off the TV and reading for awhile.
What I don't like in the Woodrell is all the jumping around. With the game ending early, I'm shutting off the TV and reading for awhile.
292LittleTaiko
>290 sjmccreary: - Yes, I read it earlier this year and overall liked it but not as much as I thought I would. The constant change in narrative ended up taking me out of the story and didn't allow me to connect with the characters. Sometimes that style works for me but it didn't work as well this time. I do look forward to trying more by him though.
293lindapanzo
I stayed up late reading the Woodrell book last night and I'm about three quarters of the way through. It has gotten better. When I finish it tonight, I might go back and re-read the first quarter of it. I think a lot of that went right over my head.
Usually, I'd love a disaster book, even a fictional one, but, for this, I'd say like, not love. Way too disjoined to suit me. A 3 or 3.5 star book for me, so far.
It reminds me of something I've read but I can't remember what.
Usually, I'd love a disaster book, even a fictional one, but, for this, I'd say like, not love. Way too disjoined to suit me. A 3 or 3.5 star book for me, so far.
It reminds me of something I've read but I can't remember what.
294lindapanzo
I finished it this afternoon. Still thinking about it, before I put up my comments on my threads, though.
On the Kindle version, it ends abruptly at about 84%. There's a reading group guide at the back.
On the Kindle version, it ends abruptly at about 84%. There's a reading group guide at the back.
296sjmccreary
Well, you don't have to, but's it been pretty fun so far.
Kansas City is so excited about our team going to the World Series - everyone is smiling and talking about the games and wearing Royals gear. Even my son, who normally couldn't care less about sports, told me that he'd been following the playoff games closely. It's always fun when you're winning. I feel very bad for the Baltimore team, and their fans. To make it that far and then not win a single game in the ALCS must be frustrating. I can imagine what it would feel like if the Royals don't win a single game in the World Series next week. Some people would be angry and say mean things about the team or the coach. Others would still be satisfied with the best season we've had in years. It might even be embarrassing to finally make it to the top level and then fail to perform. So, you have my sympathy and I'm sure there were some real tears that were shed as a result of the Oriole's loss. They played well, and we were worried in every game that they were going to do something to shut the Royals down, especially after they figured out how to keep our guys from stealing bases. It never seemed like they were very far from winning any of those games. I hope they have another great year next year.
Kansas City is so excited about our team going to the World Series - everyone is smiling and talking about the games and wearing Royals gear. Even my son, who normally couldn't care less about sports, told me that he'd been following the playoff games closely. It's always fun when you're winning. I feel very bad for the Baltimore team, and their fans. To make it that far and then not win a single game in the ALCS must be frustrating. I can imagine what it would feel like if the Royals don't win a single game in the World Series next week. Some people would be angry and say mean things about the team or the coach. Others would still be satisfied with the best season we've had in years. It might even be embarrassing to finally make it to the top level and then fail to perform. So, you have my sympathy and I'm sure there were some real tears that were shed as a result of the Oriole's loss. They played well, and we were worried in every game that they were going to do something to shut the Royals down, especially after they figured out how to keep our guys from stealing bases. It never seemed like they were very far from winning any of those games. I hope they have another great year next year.
297sjmccreary
Finally finished Pillars of the Earth last night. That's been my car audio for a few weeks now, and it's been great. I'll be making another long driving trip soon, but won't be travelling alone. Fortunately, my travel companion is also an audio book fan, and is in charge of providing us with suitable listening material. It will be a surprise for me!
298-Eva-
"I is in charge of providing us with suitable listening material"
Well, that could go well. Or not very well at all. :)
>294 lindapanzo:
I always try to check in advance where an ebook actually ends, just in cases like those. Just squint while you look so you won't accidentally read a spoiler.
Well, that could go well. Or not very well at all. :)
>294 lindapanzo:
I always try to check in advance where an ebook actually ends, just in cases like those. Just squint while you look so you won't accidentally read a spoiler.
299sjmccreary
>298 -Eva-: Before I willingly relinquished all control, we had a conversation about what kinds of books we liked and had already read. ;-) He gave me a choice of 4 or 5 different titles and the one I picked for us to listen to has been perfect. Something we both are enjoying despite the fact that we are different as night and day. And it is the first book in a series that I'd never heard of before so that is a bonus! So I'd say it's going pretty well.
302sjmccreary
>301 hailelib: Well, not yet. We got through half the book on the trip out and will finish it on our trip back home in a few days. It's an action thriller type book, with secret agents jetting around the world meeting contacts and hiding out from bad guys. Kind of fun for sometimes, but not something I'll want a steady diet of.
304sjmccreary
Book #56
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
categories: #13, group reads, #9 audio books
Oh, what to say about this book? This was one of those wonderful books that I couldn't wait to get back to, and often thought about when I wasn't reading. It is probably not perfectly written, I imagine there are historical and technical errors but I wasn't able to identify them. More than a week after finishing, I still think about details from the book. Highly entertaining. Recommended.
Book #57
The Maid's Version by Daniel Woodrell
category: #6, Missouri readers group read
The universal consensus seems to be that this is not Woodrell's best work. Far from it. His writing is still wonderfully descriptive, but the narrative is disjointed and hard to follow. It is telling the story of a catastrophic fire that occurred in a dance hall in town many years earlier, killing dozens of people. Officially, no cause was ever discovered but there were rumors galore. The narrator's grandmother, long estranged from his father, her son, went half crazy following the disaster, which killed her sister. In an effort to reconcile with his mother, the father finally allowed his son (the narrator) to go stay with his grandmother, a former maid, one summer. It was at that time that she began to tell him the stories that climaxed in the great fire. It's a short book that reads quickly, and I was tempted to re-read it immediately and take notes in order to put the different elements of the story into chronological order so as to make sense of all the details that are provided. Not recommended unless you have already read several other books by this author.
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
categories: #13, group reads, #9 audio books
Oh, what to say about this book? This was one of those wonderful books that I couldn't wait to get back to, and often thought about when I wasn't reading. It is probably not perfectly written, I imagine there are historical and technical errors but I wasn't able to identify them. More than a week after finishing, I still think about details from the book. Highly entertaining. Recommended.
Book #57
The Maid's Version by Daniel Woodrell
category: #6, Missouri readers group read
The universal consensus seems to be that this is not Woodrell's best work. Far from it. His writing is still wonderfully descriptive, but the narrative is disjointed and hard to follow. It is telling the story of a catastrophic fire that occurred in a dance hall in town many years earlier, killing dozens of people. Officially, no cause was ever discovered but there were rumors galore. The narrator's grandmother, long estranged from his father, her son, went half crazy following the disaster, which killed her sister. In an effort to reconcile with his mother, the father finally allowed his son (the narrator) to go stay with his grandmother, a former maid, one summer. It was at that time that she began to tell him the stories that climaxed in the great fire. It's a short book that reads quickly, and I was tempted to re-read it immediately and take notes in order to put the different elements of the story into chronological order so as to make sense of all the details that are provided. Not recommended unless you have already read several other books by this author.
305mamzel
Pillars was one of the rare books that as soon as I was finished I immediately started reading it again. I think I may have been experiencing a serious book drought at the time, however...
306LittleTaiko
Really need to read Pillars someday - everybody I know loves it.
308lindapanzo
>307 tymfos: Let's hope they can hang onto the lead and force a game 7.
310sjmccreary
My husband is going to game 7 tomorrow. He's so excited he can hardly keep still. I gave up my ticket to our son who's been watching every single post season game on TV and very politely asked during the series with Baltimore whether he could go to a world series game if KC made it. I'll be watching on TV with the rest of the country. Go Royals!
311RidgewayGirl
How did your husband and son like the game last night?
312cyderry
I kept thinking that maybe it would be nice if they could have saved some of those runs for tonight. I'll be watching and wearing my blue, just for you Sandy!
313sjmccreary
>311 RidgewayGirl: Oh, everyone here was thrilled about last night's game. I had lunch today with my husband and he said that productivity in his office is pretty low today - everyone is so excited about the game tonight.
>312 cyderry: The consensus here is that there are plenty more where those came from. Hoping that's true! I was in town today and everyone (including me) is either wearing a Royals shirt or something royal blue. Every business in town with a message board - even the library - has something about the Royals on their sign. If they don't win tonight, it will be a very melancholy place tomorrow.
>312 cyderry: The consensus here is that there are plenty more where those came from. Hoping that's true! I was in town today and everyone (including me) is either wearing a Royals shirt or something royal blue. Every business in town with a message board - even the library - has something about the Royals on their sign. If they don't win tonight, it will be a very melancholy place tomorrow.
314lindapanzo
Go Royals!! We were in Michigan for the day and, fortunately, got home just in time to see the game. It'd be fun if it were a blowout like last night but, more likely, it'll be closer.
315sjmccreary
too close for comfort so far - top of the 6th
317sjmccreary
So do I - I finished off the ice cream in the freezer. Only 2 more innings left.i
318lindapanzo
I just had some ice cream too.
I don't want this to be the last inning. They need to figure out this Giants pitcher and fast.
I don't want this to be the last inning. They need to figure out this Giants pitcher and fast.
320sjmccreary
Well, darn. I kept hoping he would suddenly get tired and give up one more good hit. But what a season the Royals had - they haven't played a post season game in nearly 30 years, and then they made it to game 7 of the world series. I just hope this year was the start of something, and not an anomaly. I guess I'll go watch the post game show. Or maybe turn the TV off and read a book.
321lindapanzo
Phooey. Right after the last out, I shut it off and started reading. Time to focus on hockey and reading now.
The Royals had a great run in the postseason. One pitcher was the difference.
The Royals had a great run in the postseason. One pitcher was the difference.
322sjmccreary
I'm not going to finish any books today, so here is the October recap. Despite my slightly optimistic hopes of completing the challenge this month, I only finished 3 books. Several reasons/excuses for that which don't really matter, I guess. The total stands. Actually, if I can just finish the 4 books I have in progress right now, I will have completed my 2014 challenge.
October recap:
Three books finished in October, for a year-to-date total of 57.
By category:
14 alphabetic books (L) - 9 completed = 64%
13 group read books - 10 completed = 77%
12 books picked-by-a-friend - 7 completed = 58%
11 mysteries - 13 completed = 118%
10 books from the 1001 list - 9 completed = 90%
9 audio books - 13 completed = 144%
8 GeoCAT books - 8 completed = 100%
7 non-fiction books - 8 completed = 114%
6 MO Readers books - 4 completed = 67%
5 Cooking-Quilting-Gardening books - 4 completed = 80%
4 books I own - 5 completed = 125%
3 books for no reason - 4 completed = 133%
2 books for some other reason - 2 completed = 100%
1 vacation audio book - 1 completed = 100%
105 books to complete the challenge - 97 completed = 92% (allowing each book to count in up to 2 categories). 8 categories completed, and now on track to complete the challenge by the end of November!
October recap:
Three books finished in October, for a year-to-date total of 57.
By category:
14 alphabetic books (L) - 9 completed = 64%
13 group read books - 10 completed = 77%
12 books picked-by-a-friend - 7 completed = 58%
11 mysteries - 13 completed = 118%
10 books from the 1001 list - 9 completed = 90%
9 audio books - 13 completed = 144%
8 GeoCAT books - 8 completed = 100%
7 non-fiction books - 8 completed = 114%
6 MO Readers books - 4 completed = 67%
5 Cooking-Quilting-Gardening books - 4 completed = 80%
4 books I own - 5 completed = 125%
3 books for no reason - 4 completed = 133%
2 books for some other reason - 2 completed = 100%
1 vacation audio book - 1 completed = 100%
105 books to complete the challenge - 97 completed = 92% (allowing each book to count in up to 2 categories). 8 categories completed, and now on track to complete the challenge by the end of November!
323lindapanzo
Go, Sandy!! Read those books, rah rah rah!!
I'm hoping to finish around Thanksgiving, which might be a tad optimistic as I've still got about 12 or 13 to go. However, I am genuinely out of my reading slump and baseball season is over, so it's still possible.
I'm hoping to finish around Thanksgiving, which might be a tad optimistic as I've still got about 12 or 13 to go. However, I am genuinely out of my reading slump and baseball season is over, so it's still possible.
324cyderry
I'm hoping to finish by the end of the year. Mine's a halfer (7 books in 14 categories =98) I have read 83- leaving me with 15 to go.
My problem is I have a few real chunksters to read - Pillars of the Earth, Golden Compass, Emerald Atlas, and finishing the Arabian Nights. With the holidays and all the events to get to, I hope I can do it.
My problem is I have a few real chunksters to read - Pillars of the Earth, Golden Compass, Emerald Atlas, and finishing the Arabian Nights. With the holidays and all the events to get to, I hope I can do it.
325sjmccreary
>323 lindapanzo: A cheerleader! I've never had one of those before!
>324 cyderry: "Chunksters" - that's one of my reasons/excuses. I already finished Pillars, but it took a lot of time. One of my in progress books is a 660-page brick for a 1001 Books group read, plus Mill on the Floss that was the 1001 Books group read for Sept that I'm still struggling with. My other two are audio books, so it's just a matter of driving time before they are completed. Trouble is, I'm not as enthralled with either of them as I was with Pillars and keep turning them off to drive around in silence.
You should see my TBR pile - books checked out of the library plus owned books I plan to read. There usually isn't more than about a half dozen, but I think there's about 15 books stacked up there on the dresser right now. And that's even after I went ahead and took 2 or 3 back to the library unread.
ETA, Cheli, that 660-page brick I mentioned is something you might be interested in for next year. It is Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain. It is an autobiographical account of coming of age in England during WWI. Excellent so far - about 1/3 finished.
>324 cyderry: "Chunksters" - that's one of my reasons/excuses. I already finished Pillars, but it took a lot of time. One of my in progress books is a 660-page brick for a 1001 Books group read, plus Mill on the Floss that was the 1001 Books group read for Sept that I'm still struggling with. My other two are audio books, so it's just a matter of driving time before they are completed. Trouble is, I'm not as enthralled with either of them as I was with Pillars and keep turning them off to drive around in silence.
You should see my TBR pile - books checked out of the library plus owned books I plan to read. There usually isn't more than about a half dozen, but I think there's about 15 books stacked up there on the dresser right now. And that's even after I went ahead and took 2 or 3 back to the library unread.
ETA, Cheli, that 660-page brick I mentioned is something you might be interested in for next year. It is Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain. It is an autobiographical account of coming of age in England during WWI. Excellent so far - about 1/3 finished.
327sjmccreary
Mine didn't either, I got it on an ILL. Fortunately, the lending library (a local private university) let me renew it for a much longer time than my library originally gave me (only 2 weeks) and now I have until the end of November to finish it. The copy I have is an original 1933 edition, but I think it might have been re-printed in the 1970's. I hope you'll be able to find it.
ETA - I just found that Abe Books has a "fair" paperback copy from 1989 for about $3.50 and no shipping fee. If you're interested.
ETA - I just found that Abe Books has a "fair" paperback copy from 1989 for about $3.50 and no shipping fee. If you're interested.
328lkernagh
Very happy to see the recommendation for the Follett book and YAY for being on track to complete your challenge this month!
329sjmccreary
I came home from the library today with a huge stack of books - 2 armfuls. Now I have all my planned reads for the rest of the year sitting here in one place. Sixteen books. To be read in 6 weeks. So far this year I've averaged fewer than 6 per month. Why do I do this to myself? Five of them are Christmas books - chosen this year for the first time. I'd like to think they'll go faster than the others, but probably not enough to make any difference. I know that some of these will be returned unread. I don't know which yet, but it makes me a little sad. How silly is that? Anyway, all 16 are on my profile listed as "coming up soon".
330lindapanzo
You can do it, Sandy.
I've picked up the pace a bit myself. Most months this year, I'd read about 6 books. This month, 7 so far, with 4 books left to finish my category challenge. I'll probably have a couple of weeks to read whatever, until I start the 2015 one on 12/15.
I've picked up the pace a bit myself. Most months this year, I'd read about 6 books. This month, 7 so far, with 4 books left to finish my category challenge. I'll probably have a couple of weeks to read whatever, until I start the 2015 one on 12/15.
331dudes22
I've scheduled a bunch of Christmas books this year, but might end up readings some of them in Nov instead. I already seem to be reading less as the holiday season approaches.
332thornton37814
I finally got a copy of Unbroken so that one is coming up soon for me too. I loved Murder with Puffins when I read it. I read Baldacci's Christmas Train a few years back. I just finished Shirley earlier this month for the group read. Enjoy whichever ones you get around to reading.
333cyderry
I got myself to "Christmas" books his year - Polar Express (only 32 pages) and Tim Cratchit's Christmas Carol. I think that I can handle this much. But Pillars of the Earth may be the death of my category Challenge with the 1000+pages.
334DeltaQueen50
I am having a small mini-panic over your statement that there is only 6 weeks left in the year! Where did the time go?
335-Eva-
>329 sjmccreary:
Better to take home too many from the library than too few!
Better to take home too many from the library than too few!
336sjmccreary
>330 lindapanzo: I've been following your progress, Linda - you're very close. Actually, I am too, although I haven't posted my completed books recently so you wouldn't know that. I have only one more book to complete the challenge.
>331 dudes22: I might do some of those Christmas books in November, too. We are taking a weekend trip next week and a couple of them are audios that my husband will also enjoy, so I think I'll take them along with us.
>332 thornton37814: Glad that you enjoyed those books. I know that there's no practical way for me to finish all those books. What will be most helpful in deciding how to prioritize them is for someone to tell me that something on my list is terrible and not worth the effort!
>333 cyderry: Pillars is a big part of the reason I've gotten into this situation of having too many books left for the available time.
>334 DeltaQueen50: I know - right?
>335 -Eva-: I like the way you think!
>331 dudes22: I might do some of those Christmas books in November, too. We are taking a weekend trip next week and a couple of them are audios that my husband will also enjoy, so I think I'll take them along with us.
>332 thornton37814: Glad that you enjoyed those books. I know that there's no practical way for me to finish all those books. What will be most helpful in deciding how to prioritize them is for someone to tell me that something on my list is terrible and not worth the effort!
>333 cyderry: Pillars is a big part of the reason I've gotten into this situation of having too many books left for the available time.
>334 DeltaQueen50: I know - right?
>335 -Eva-: I like the way you think!
338sjmccreary
Absolutely not! How far along in it are you?
340sjmccreary
What are you waiting for? I thought it was the kind of book that just sucks you in - I couldn't wait to get back to it. A good story, lots of characters and interactions. Very entertaining. True, it's very long.
341cyderry
I guess the length has frightened me a bit. I also need to finish my book club read for Wednesday.
342lindapanzo
One book to go, Sandy? That's great. Which one?
I'm at about 3 and a half books to go now. Nearly 400 pages is awfully long for a mystery but A Presumption of Death is one of the best WW2 homefront mysteries I've ever read. It may also turn out to be my favorite mystery of the year, perhaps.
I'm at about 3 and a half books to go now. Nearly 400 pages is awfully long for a mystery but A Presumption of Death is one of the best WW2 homefront mysteries I've ever read. It may also turn out to be my favorite mystery of the year, perhaps.
343sjmccreary
>341 cyderry: I can understand that. I had it on audio, so the extraordinary length was less obvious. Sure, it was 30+ disks, but the carton wasn't any bigger than the more normal 15-ish disk books.
>342 lindapanzo: Which one? Whichever one I can finish first! I've got an audio in the car that I'm about half finished with. Plus the group read for the 1001 Books Group, which I'm loving, but which is long and slow. Testament of Youth - I think I mentioned it earlier. I'd like for that to be the one, but - as I said - it's going slow. I've got a paperback Western that I found in a box at home last week and started reading because I thought it would be fast and easy. Bleh - it's not, and so far it's terrible. I don't want to give up on it yet, but I would hate like anything for that to be the book to finish the challenge on! I've also got Mill on the Floss that I've been reading for nearly 3 months now. I returned it to the library and then took it right back out again, giving me another 12 weeks before it must be returned again, so it suddenly lost all urgency (what little there was). I even thought about picking up one of the next 2 books on the stack, both of which might be fast-reading - neither look very long or have small print. Of course, that's what I thought about that Western!
>342 lindapanzo: Which one? Whichever one I can finish first! I've got an audio in the car that I'm about half finished with. Plus the group read for the 1001 Books Group, which I'm loving, but which is long and slow. Testament of Youth - I think I mentioned it earlier. I'd like for that to be the one, but - as I said - it's going slow. I've got a paperback Western that I found in a box at home last week and started reading because I thought it would be fast and easy. Bleh - it's not, and so far it's terrible. I don't want to give up on it yet, but I would hate like anything for that to be the book to finish the challenge on! I've also got Mill on the Floss that I've been reading for nearly 3 months now. I returned it to the library and then took it right back out again, giving me another 12 weeks before it must be returned again, so it suddenly lost all urgency (what little there was). I even thought about picking up one of the next 2 books on the stack, both of which might be fast-reading - neither look very long or have small print. Of course, that's what I thought about that Western!
344lindapanzo
I read The Christmas Train about 10 years ago and I think it was a pretty fast read. I read the first Donna Andrews mystery and liked it and picked up the second one, Murder with Puffins and never could get into it so I put it aside.
Beyond that, I don't think I've read any of the others in your about to read pile.
I was pleased by my luck (planning?) in having 4 mysteries left to finish my challenge. After my current mystery, 2 of the remaining 3 are by favorite authors, Ellery Adams and Charles Finch. The only iffy one is the planned "first in the series" book. If it doesn't grab me, I have other first in the series books I could substitute.
Beyond that, I don't think I've read any of the others in your about to read pile.
I was pleased by my luck (planning?) in having 4 mysteries left to finish my challenge. After my current mystery, 2 of the remaining 3 are by favorite authors, Ellery Adams and Charles Finch. The only iffy one is the planned "first in the series" book. If it doesn't grab me, I have other first in the series books I could substitute.
345sjmccreary
My "next" two books are Paradise of the Blind and Boys From Brazil - both were actually planned for October, but I've fallen behind schedule. The Christmas Train might be a good choice, especially if it is fast. It has the added attraction of being shiny and new, having come into the house only 3 days ago!
346lindapanzo
I note that I read the Baldacci book in 2002 but I think it was fast.
My mother read Boys from Brazil years ago and liked it, I think. Wasn't that really popular in the 70s?
I may not get to Egan's Rats for a week or two.
Up to the minute news...we had our monthly dinner with friends planned for tonight. One friend is sick and with temps around 10 to 12 degrees by the time we'd be done, no one is up for going out tonight. Maybe I can finish my book tonight, after all, with that extra couple hours of reading tonight.
My mother read Boys from Brazil years ago and liked it, I think. Wasn't that really popular in the 70s?
I may not get to Egan's Rats for a week or two.
Up to the minute news...we had our monthly dinner with friends planned for tonight. One friend is sick and with temps around 10 to 12 degrees by the time we'd be done, no one is up for going out tonight. Maybe I can finish my book tonight, after all, with that extra couple hours of reading tonight.
347sjmccreary
Yes, I think Boys From Brazil is from the 70's. I don't know when I'll get to Egan's Rats either. At least a week or two.
I can't believe how cold it is. They are forecasting an overnight low tonight of about 7. I was in Denver for a week in late October. I took my heavy coat because, well, it was Denver in late October. It was in the 80's most of the time I was there. Then I came home to a week of cool weather, and now for a week it's felt like February! And our 5-day forecast looks like it will continue being February for the rest of this week. There was snow all around us this weekend, be we only got a dusting here. I drove into town today and saw several cars with snow on the bumpers and icicles hanging from the frames. What do you have up there? I don't blame you for taking whatever reason/excuse you have to stay in tonight. It's just too early for this cold! I need more time to become acclimated!
I can't believe how cold it is. They are forecasting an overnight low tonight of about 7. I was in Denver for a week in late October. I took my heavy coat because, well, it was Denver in late October. It was in the 80's most of the time I was there. Then I came home to a week of cool weather, and now for a week it's felt like February! And our 5-day forecast looks like it will continue being February for the rest of this week. There was snow all around us this weekend, be we only got a dusting here. I drove into town today and saw several cars with snow on the bumpers and icicles hanging from the frames. What do you have up there? I don't blame you for taking whatever reason/excuse you have to stay in tonight. It's just too early for this cold! I need more time to become acclimated!
348cbl_tn
I also remember The Christmas Train being a fast read. I enjoy lighter reads around the holidays, and I remember that I liked it.
The Colour was OK. I loved the descriptions of New Zealand, but by the end of the book I was glad I didn't have to spend more time with any of the characters.
The Colour was OK. I loved the descriptions of New Zealand, but by the end of the book I was glad I didn't have to spend more time with any of the characters.
349sjmccreary
>348 cbl_tn: "by the end of the book I was glad I didn't have to spend more time with any of the characters" -- I feel this way about a lot of books!
The Christmas Train is quickly moving up the TBR pile, maybe I'll open it up tonight while my husband watches the football game is on TV. (If I can find a room in the house that is quiet, has good light and a comfortable chair, and is warm.)
The Christmas Train is quickly moving up the TBR pile, maybe I'll open it up tonight while my husband watches the football game is on TV. (If I can find a room in the house that is quiet, has good light and a comfortable chair, and is warm.)
350lindapanzo
Safely home. The cold/wind wasn't that bad. The dusting of snow that froze on the parking lot surface, leaving an icy glaze, was not fun. Thankfully, the roads were fine.
I've got about 160 pages left in my Wimsey book so finishing tonight might not happen. Still enjoying it though. The Rue Morgue Press catalog arrived today, too. That's always a distraction, as is the football game. I assume that he/you are Chiefs fans?
I've got about 160 pages left in my Wimsey book so finishing tonight might not happen. Still enjoying it though. The Rue Morgue Press catalog arrived today, too. That's always a distraction, as is the football game. I assume that he/you are Chiefs fans?
351sjmccreary
Glad to hear that your roads weren't dangerous last night. I love catalogs, but they do demand attention - I seem to be incapable of putting one aside until later, I must look at it immediately, cover to cover.
Chris is a big fan of football in general. Specifically, yes, he likes the Chiefs but he likes the Raiders too. And he also likes college football and even high school. Me? I couldn't care less about football. Last night, he watched the live coverage of the game on his tablet and didn't turn the TV on at all, so I was able to read for a few hours, which was nice.
So I read for about an hour in Testament of Youth, which is about all I can manage at a time. Then I read a couple of chapters of that Western - again about all I can stand. Then I continued to ignore Mill on the Floss and started The Christmas Train since both you and Carrie made positive comments about it. It was a good choice - very fast and easy going. I'm already a little over half finished, and might wrap it up tonight.
After we watch the basketball game, that is. Wichita State is playing Memphis this afternoon up in South Dakota as part of a 24-hour marathon basketball schedule organized by ESPN. We're recording the game and will watch it this evening. Avoiding sports news in the meantime. (Although I'm tempted to watch it live - one of the benefits of working from home.)
Chris is a big fan of football in general. Specifically, yes, he likes the Chiefs but he likes the Raiders too. And he also likes college football and even high school. Me? I couldn't care less about football. Last night, he watched the live coverage of the game on his tablet and didn't turn the TV on at all, so I was able to read for a few hours, which was nice.
So I read for about an hour in Testament of Youth, which is about all I can manage at a time. Then I read a couple of chapters of that Western - again about all I can stand. Then I continued to ignore Mill on the Floss and started The Christmas Train since both you and Carrie made positive comments about it. It was a good choice - very fast and easy going. I'm already a little over half finished, and might wrap it up tonight.
After we watch the basketball game, that is. Wichita State is playing Memphis this afternoon up in South Dakota as part of a 24-hour marathon basketball schedule organized by ESPN. We're recording the game and will watch it this evening. Avoiding sports news in the meantime. (Although I'm tempted to watch it live - one of the benefits of working from home.)
352thornton37814
>351 sjmccreary: Basketball marathon? I know what to watch tonight. I'm glad you are enjoying The Christmas Train. I have a review to write tonight for one that I completed last night. Then I want to finish an ARC that I received. Then I hope to start Unbroken. I'm also in the mood for a Christmas book. We got one in the lease book shipment today that I want to read, but I put it out on the shelf to give others a chance to read it. I may grab it if it is still there in a day or two. It should be a quick read.
353sjmccreary
It's not quite month-end, and I still have hopes of finishing another book before December, so I don't want to do a month-end recap just yet. But, I've had a pretty good reading month in November, and have finished my challenge, so I at least want to get my reporting caught up to that point.
Book #58
On Shaky Ground by Norma Bagnall
categories: #7, non-fiction; #6 Missouri Readers group
No new material in here for me, but still a very interesting and well-written short book about the 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes that devastated the area centered around what is now Southeast Missouri.
Book #59
Madam Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
categories: #13, group reads; #10, 1001 Books
A long and trying read. Emma Bovary is one of the most unlikable characters I've ever read - self-centered, shallow, and unwilling to accept any responsibility for her own actions. People who like it have described it as an interesting psychological character study, and I guess I can see that in hindsight. But while I was reading, I mostly couldn't wait to be done.
Book #60
The Cleaner by Brett Battles
categories: #11, mysteries; #9, audio books
This started out to be an exciting, fast-paced thriller. Then it just got convoluted and confusing. Features Jonathan Quinn, a free-lance "cleaner" who contracts his services to an organization known only as "the office". He is the guy who cleans up the mess left behind after covert operations have been accomplished. He is not an operator and is not supposed to be targeted as an operator. But somehow he has been and now has to work on his own to identify who is trying to kill him and why. First of a series that seems to be loved by only a few people on LT. Not planning to continue.
Book #61
The Christmas Train by David Baldacci
categories: #11, mysteries; #2, other reason (Christmas book)
What a relief! A very nice, sweet book about a hardened reporter who has lost track of what is most important to him. Banned from domestic air travel, he is forced to take the Amtrak from Washington DC to LA at Christmas time to visit his lady-friend with whom he has a several-times-per-year long-distance relationship. While on the train, he meets a variety of interesting people, including a former flame - his one true love. And he solves the mystery of who is stealing random objects from each of the compartments during the cross-country trip.
Book #58
On Shaky Ground by Norma Bagnall
categories: #7, non-fiction; #6 Missouri Readers group
No new material in here for me, but still a very interesting and well-written short book about the 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes that devastated the area centered around what is now Southeast Missouri.
Book #59
Madam Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
categories: #13, group reads; #10, 1001 Books
A long and trying read. Emma Bovary is one of the most unlikable characters I've ever read - self-centered, shallow, and unwilling to accept any responsibility for her own actions. People who like it have described it as an interesting psychological character study, and I guess I can see that in hindsight. But while I was reading, I mostly couldn't wait to be done.
Book #60
The Cleaner by Brett Battles
categories: #11, mysteries; #9, audio books
This started out to be an exciting, fast-paced thriller. Then it just got convoluted and confusing. Features Jonathan Quinn, a free-lance "cleaner" who contracts his services to an organization known only as "the office". He is the guy who cleans up the mess left behind after covert operations have been accomplished. He is not an operator and is not supposed to be targeted as an operator. But somehow he has been and now has to work on his own to identify who is trying to kill him and why. First of a series that seems to be loved by only a few people on LT. Not planning to continue.
Book #61
The Christmas Train by David Baldacci
categories: #11, mysteries; #2, other reason (Christmas book)
What a relief! A very nice, sweet book about a hardened reporter who has lost track of what is most important to him. Banned from domestic air travel, he is forced to take the Amtrak from Washington DC to LA at Christmas time to visit his lady-friend with whom he has a several-times-per-year long-distance relationship. While on the train, he meets a variety of interesting people, including a former flame - his one true love. And he solves the mystery of who is stealing random objects from each of the compartments during the cross-country trip.
354sjmccreary
So, at this point, my challenge is complete!
To sum up:
By category:
14 alphabetic books (L) - 9 completed = 64%
13 group read books - 11 completed = 85%
12 books picked-by-a-friend - 7 completed = 58%
11 mysteries - 15 completed = 136%
10 books from the 1001 list - 10 completed = 100%
9 audio books - 14 completed = 156%
8 GeoCAT books - 8 completed = 100%
7 non-fiction books - 9 completed = 129%
6 MO Readers books - 5 completed = 83%
5 Cooking-Quilting-Gardening books - 4 completed = 80%
4 books I own - 5 completed = 125%
3 books for no reason - 4 completed = 133%
2 books for some other reason - 3 completed = 150%
1 vacation audio book - 1 completed = 100%
105 books to complete the challenge - 105 completed = 100%. 9 categories completed - longest category = audio books 159%. Shortest category = picked-by-a-friend @ 58%.
Challenge complete!
For the rest of the year, I will continue to list books in these same categories.
To sum up:
By category:
14 alphabetic books (L) - 9 completed = 64%
13 group read books - 11 completed = 85%
12 books picked-by-a-friend - 7 completed = 58%
11 mysteries - 15 completed = 136%
10 books from the 1001 list - 10 completed = 100%
9 audio books - 14 completed = 156%
8 GeoCAT books - 8 completed = 100%
7 non-fiction books - 9 completed = 129%
6 MO Readers books - 5 completed = 83%
5 Cooking-Quilting-Gardening books - 4 completed = 80%
4 books I own - 5 completed = 125%
3 books for no reason - 4 completed = 133%
2 books for some other reason - 3 completed = 150%
1 vacation audio book - 1 completed = 100%
105 books to complete the challenge - 105 completed = 100%. 9 categories completed - longest category = audio books 159%. Shortest category = picked-by-a-friend @ 58%.
Challenge complete!
For the rest of the year, I will continue to list books in these same categories.
356lindapanzo
Congrats on finishing your challenge, Sandy!! You finished just about one hour before me.
358dudes22
Congratulations, Sandy! Lots of people are finishing early. I'm closing in, but still won't finish til next month sometime.
359cbl_tn
Well done! I'm glad to see you enjoyed The Christmas Train.
360rabbitprincess
Woo hoo! Congratulations!
363DeltaQueen50
Congratulations, Sandy on putting your 2014 Challenge to bed. Enjoy your free reading time!
365LittleTaiko
Congratulations on finishing. Nice timing with the Christmas book.
366MissWatson
Congratulations!
367sjmccreary
Thanks everyone. After such a pile-up in October and early November, I finally feel like things are opening up a little. I had a good reading month in November - my 2nd best month of the year. December is starting off well, although I expect it to slow down once Christmas preparations and activities heat up.
I finished the challenge on - hmm, let's see - looks like November 19. I need to post the rest of the November books and then do a month-end recap.
I finished the challenge on - hmm, let's see - looks like November 19. I need to post the rest of the November books and then do a month-end recap.
368sjmccreary
Book #62
The Way Through the Mountains by Steve Frazee
categories: #11, mysteries; #4 books I own
I found this when I was doing some cleaning up a few weeks ago. It was in a box of books and other items to take to Goodwill that I'd gathered up after we moved. I remember packing the box, and I remember all the other books and why I put them in a give-away box. But I don't remember this book. It was brand new, never read, with a book store bar code label on it. I don't remember buying it. I don't think anyone would have given it to me. It certainly isn't anything my husband would have had. I don't know why I would have put it in this box without reading it first. Reading the blurbs, it looked like a fast easy read. So I pulled it out of the box to read. According to everything on the cover, it looked like a Western adventure with a side of romance. Nice.
Except it wasn't. There are so many things wrong with this book that I don't know where to begin. The story is about a man hired by a railroad company to investigate the problems that they are experiencing tunneling through the Colorado mountains to complete their new line to the Pacific coast. The boss who hired him was named Hannibal T ~something~. When the hired man hitches a ride on a company engine headed into the mountains, he meets a crew of men who love to engage in word play and who refer to the boss as "Cannibal T". From then on, the boss is called "Cannibal" - even by the narrator, not just in conversation between characters, or within the thoughts of the hired man. Except sometimes, he wasn't for a whole chapter at a time. Then he was again. Very distracting.
The plot involves an ongoing corporate espionage from a rival railroad. Very convoluted - with people changing sides back and forth and no assurance to the reader that they sincerely changed their loyalty and aren't simply double agents, yet the characters in the book accepted this with no reservations. Lots of characters with similar names. Lots of technical references to mining and railroading that aren't explained. Lots of tramping around in unbelievable blizzards and mountains of snow and very extreme cold. Yet, in one scene, a day's travel - on foot - took the guy to another location where the sun was shining and men were comfortably working outside. On foot in the mountains in the snow - just how far can you go in a day? The romance consisted of 3 "encounters" with 2 different saloon madams, except that he fell in love with one of them and went back to her at the end.
This would actually make a better movie. The story idea is a good one. But having visual clues would make for better understanding of many of the book's important scenes than his sparse and confusing verbal descriptions. I thought about abandoning the book in the middle, but I kept with it to the end. Then promptly threw it back into that box. Definitely not recommended.
The Way Through the Mountains by Steve Frazee
categories: #11, mysteries; #4 books I own
I found this when I was doing some cleaning up a few weeks ago. It was in a box of books and other items to take to Goodwill that I'd gathered up after we moved. I remember packing the box, and I remember all the other books and why I put them in a give-away box. But I don't remember this book. It was brand new, never read, with a book store bar code label on it. I don't remember buying it. I don't think anyone would have given it to me. It certainly isn't anything my husband would have had. I don't know why I would have put it in this box without reading it first. Reading the blurbs, it looked like a fast easy read. So I pulled it out of the box to read. According to everything on the cover, it looked like a Western adventure with a side of romance. Nice.
Except it wasn't. There are so many things wrong with this book that I don't know where to begin. The story is about a man hired by a railroad company to investigate the problems that they are experiencing tunneling through the Colorado mountains to complete their new line to the Pacific coast. The boss who hired him was named Hannibal T ~something~. When the hired man hitches a ride on a company engine headed into the mountains, he meets a crew of men who love to engage in word play and who refer to the boss as "Cannibal T". From then on, the boss is called "Cannibal" - even by the narrator, not just in conversation between characters, or within the thoughts of the hired man. Except sometimes, he wasn't for a whole chapter at a time. Then he was again. Very distracting.
The plot involves an ongoing corporate espionage from a rival railroad. Very convoluted - with people changing sides back and forth and no assurance to the reader that they sincerely changed their loyalty and aren't simply double agents, yet the characters in the book accepted this with no reservations. Lots of characters with similar names. Lots of technical references to mining and railroading that aren't explained. Lots of tramping around in unbelievable blizzards and mountains of snow and very extreme cold. Yet, in one scene, a day's travel - on foot - took the guy to another location where the sun was shining and men were comfortably working outside. On foot in the mountains in the snow - just how far can you go in a day? The romance consisted of 3 "encounters" with 2 different saloon madams, except that he fell in love with one of them and went back to her at the end.
This would actually make a better movie. The story idea is a good one. But having visual clues would make for better understanding of many of the book's important scenes than his sparse and confusing verbal descriptions. I thought about abandoning the book in the middle, but I kept with it to the end. Then promptly threw it back into that box. Definitely not recommended.
369sjmccreary
Book #63
The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore
categories: #9, audio books; #2, other reason (Christmas book)
OK, this one was almost too much. Unless you like this author already, or extremely dark humor. Zombies attacking the town's Christmas celebration. Some lines were very funny. Some scenes were just gross. However, surprisingly, the ending was very nice.
Book #64
Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain
categories: #13, group reads; #10, 1001 books
This book was fabulous. A autobiographical account of a young English woman whose Oxford education was interrupted by WWI. She became a nurse and spent the war in hospitals in London, Malta, and France nursing British soldiers and even German prisoners for a time. Her brothers and his 3 friends - including one who was also her fiance - were all intellectual men who joined the army and went to the front lines in France and were killed in action. She spends much of the book discussing the effect the war had on her entire generation, coming as it did just as they reached adult-hood. Her narrative continues through 1925, so she also has many activities and comments to make about the formation of the League of Nations, and the campaign for women's rights. This last became especially important to the war generation women who were left without husbands or brothers to "take care" of them, forcing them to become independent and self-supporting. The book was published in 1933 - before the events that lead directly to WWII.
The book is long - my copy was 660 pages - and the middle section, about the war years, is emotionally grueling. It is not a book that can be rushed. However, it is worth the effort. Highly recommended.
The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore
categories: #9, audio books; #2, other reason (Christmas book)
OK, this one was almost too much. Unless you like this author already, or extremely dark humor. Zombies attacking the town's Christmas celebration. Some lines were very funny. Some scenes were just gross. However, surprisingly, the ending was very nice.
Book #64
Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain
categories: #13, group reads; #10, 1001 books
This book was fabulous. A autobiographical account of a young English woman whose Oxford education was interrupted by WWI. She became a nurse and spent the war in hospitals in London, Malta, and France nursing British soldiers and even German prisoners for a time. Her brothers and his 3 friends - including one who was also her fiance - were all intellectual men who joined the army and went to the front lines in France and were killed in action. She spends much of the book discussing the effect the war had on her entire generation, coming as it did just as they reached adult-hood. Her narrative continues through 1925, so she also has many activities and comments to make about the formation of the League of Nations, and the campaign for women's rights. This last became especially important to the war generation women who were left without husbands or brothers to "take care" of them, forcing them to become independent and self-supporting. The book was published in 1933 - before the events that lead directly to WWII.
The book is long - my copy was 660 pages - and the middle section, about the war years, is emotionally grueling. It is not a book that can be rushed. However, it is worth the effort. Highly recommended.
370sjmccreary
Book #65
The Boys From Brazil by Ira Levin
Categories: #14, alphabetic (L); #11, mysteries
A famous thriller from the 1970's about a Nazi plot - led by Dr Mengele - to clone Adolph Hitler, place the infant boys into families around the world which are similar in some way to Hitler's childhood family, and then cause tragic events in the lives of those boys which mirror the tragedies suffered by Hitler. Very chilling. And very good.
Book #66
The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
Categories: #11, mysteries; #9, audio books
A teenage girl witnesses her mother killing a strange man who came to the house. It was never spoken of within the family. Fifty years later, Mother is on her death bed and the woman is still puzzled by the event. She decides to investigate her mother's secrets and enlists the help of her younger brother - who, as a toddler, was also present when the man was killed and has vague memories of something violent. Mother has always been secretive about her past before she married Father. Her entire family was killed during a blitz in WWII and she was left alone in London to make her own way at age 18. The only clues are a photograph of her mother with another woman identified as "Vivian" found inside a playbook of Peter Pan that was inscribed to her from Vivian, an old fur coat, an unsigned Thank You card, and a framed photo by a famous photographer that Mother always kept hanging in the house. A very intriguing mystery, told partially in flash-back. More sad war-time scenes. (I was listening to this book on audio at the same time I was reading Vera Brittain's book.) I thought the book was a little too long, and the ending was a little forced and too neatly wrapped up. But still recommended.
The Boys From Brazil by Ira Levin
Categories: #14, alphabetic (L); #11, mysteries
A famous thriller from the 1970's about a Nazi plot - led by Dr Mengele - to clone Adolph Hitler, place the infant boys into families around the world which are similar in some way to Hitler's childhood family, and then cause tragic events in the lives of those boys which mirror the tragedies suffered by Hitler. Very chilling. And very good.
Book #66
The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
Categories: #11, mysteries; #9, audio books
A teenage girl witnesses her mother killing a strange man who came to the house. It was never spoken of within the family. Fifty years later, Mother is on her death bed and the woman is still puzzled by the event. She decides to investigate her mother's secrets and enlists the help of her younger brother - who, as a toddler, was also present when the man was killed and has vague memories of something violent. Mother has always been secretive about her past before she married Father. Her entire family was killed during a blitz in WWII and she was left alone in London to make her own way at age 18. The only clues are a photograph of her mother with another woman identified as "Vivian" found inside a playbook of Peter Pan that was inscribed to her from Vivian, an old fur coat, an unsigned Thank You card, and a framed photo by a famous photographer that Mother always kept hanging in the house. A very intriguing mystery, told partially in flash-back. More sad war-time scenes. (I was listening to this book on audio at the same time I was reading Vera Brittain's book.) I thought the book was a little too long, and the ending was a little forced and too neatly wrapped up. But still recommended.
371sjmccreary
November recap:
Nine books finished in November for a year-to-date total of 66.
By category:
14 alphabetic books (L) - 10 completed = 71%
13 group read books - 12 completed = 92%
12 books picked-by-a-friend - 7 completed = 58%
11 mysteries - 18 completed = 164%
10 books from the 1001 list - 11 completed = 110%
9 audio books - 16 completed = 178%
8 GeoCAT books - 8 completed = 100%
7 non-fiction books - 9 completed = 129%
6 MO Readers books - 5 completed = 83%
5 Cooking-Quilting-Gardening books - 4 completed = 80%
4 books I own - 6 completed = 150%
3 books for no reason - 4 completed = 133%
2 books for some other reason - 4 completed = 200%
1 vacation audio book - 1 completed = 100%
105 books to complete the challenge - 115 completed = 110% (allowing each book to count in up to 2 categories). 9 categories completed.
Nine books finished in November for a year-to-date total of 66.
By category:
14 alphabetic books (L) - 10 completed = 71%
13 group read books - 12 completed = 92%
12 books picked-by-a-friend - 7 completed = 58%
11 mysteries - 18 completed = 164%
10 books from the 1001 list - 11 completed = 110%
9 audio books - 16 completed = 178%
8 GeoCAT books - 8 completed = 100%
7 non-fiction books - 9 completed = 129%
6 MO Readers books - 5 completed = 83%
5 Cooking-Quilting-Gardening books - 4 completed = 80%
4 books I own - 6 completed = 150%
3 books for no reason - 4 completed = 133%
2 books for some other reason - 4 completed = 200%
1 vacation audio book - 1 completed = 100%
105 books to complete the challenge - 115 completed = 110% (allowing each book to count in up to 2 categories). 9 categories completed.
372clue
I'm glad to have the reminder to work Testament of Youth into next year's planned reading, I've wanted to read it for years. At some time in the past it was done on PBS. I didn't see it but it got rave reviews.
373countrylife
Yes. Your review of Testament of Youth got me, too. I've also added it to my 2015 reading goals. I enjoyed Kate Morton's The Secret Keeper, too. I've just come to expect that her books are always going to be a bit longer than I think is necessary, but I always enjoy them. I know Madame Bovary is one of those books everyone's supposed to read, but, thanks to your review, I think I'm ok with skipping that one.
Congrats on completing your challenge!
Congrats on completing your challenge!
374-Eva-
I read The Boys From Brazil when I was (a little too) young and it seriously creeped me out - I still get chills when I think about it. :)
375sjmccreary
>372 clue:, >373 countrylife: I have a feeling I will be singing the praises of Testament of Youth for quite a while to anyone who will listen. I'm so glad I read it. I'll be searching for the film version next.
>374 -Eva-: I can see where that book would be quite disturbing if read too young. My library copy was labeled as YA, but I'm glad I didn't read it back when it came out.
December books completed:
Book #67
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
categories: #8, GeoCAT (sub-saharan Africa); #7, nonfiction
Excellent memoir of a barely-teenaged boy who was forced by the Army of Sierra Leone to serve as a soldier in the civil war during the 1990's. It was only chance that he was taken in by the army rather than the rebels who were also "recruiting" children to fight. I'm not sure it would have made any real difference to him, except that the rebels branded their soldiers and the army didn't. He suffered truly horrific experiences and has survived intact only as a result of UNICEF who rescued child soldiers from both sides and rehabilitated them. An amazing story of determination and survival. Recommended.
Book #68
A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
categories: #7, nonfiction; #2, other reason (Christmas book)
A delightful story of a young boy being raised in a house with elderly relatives, who has a special relationship with a distant cousin. She and he are friends who work together to save money throughout the year in the depression-era South. They use the money to purchase whiskey and other ingredients to make dozens of fruitcakes to give as Christmas gifts to people they know and people they don't know, including the President. Once that is finished, they go in search of the perfect Christmas tree and bring it home, decorate it, and then make gifts to give each other. I'm sure it would be a charming story for children, but I found it to be slightly melancholy after reading how their lives changed in the few years following this one. Based on the author's own life.
Book #69
Orlando by Virginia Woolf
categories: #13, group reads; #10, 1001 books
An unusual story - a fictional biography of Orlando, whose life story covers 400 years, beginning as a boy in 16th century England, through to the time she entered middle age as a woman in 1928. Full of symbolism and hidden meanings. Reportedly written as a tribute to Woolf's (who was married) lesbian lover (who was also married). Much of the changing sex thread had to do with examining the differences between male and female charactistics - both real and constructed. I'm not sure yet what my real reaction to the book is - I didn't hate it, but I don't know yet how much I like it.
>374 -Eva-: I can see where that book would be quite disturbing if read too young. My library copy was labeled as YA, but I'm glad I didn't read it back when it came out.
December books completed:
Book #67
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
categories: #8, GeoCAT (sub-saharan Africa); #7, nonfiction
Excellent memoir of a barely-teenaged boy who was forced by the Army of Sierra Leone to serve as a soldier in the civil war during the 1990's. It was only chance that he was taken in by the army rather than the rebels who were also "recruiting" children to fight. I'm not sure it would have made any real difference to him, except that the rebels branded their soldiers and the army didn't. He suffered truly horrific experiences and has survived intact only as a result of UNICEF who rescued child soldiers from both sides and rehabilitated them. An amazing story of determination and survival. Recommended.
Book #68
A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
categories: #7, nonfiction; #2, other reason (Christmas book)
A delightful story of a young boy being raised in a house with elderly relatives, who has a special relationship with a distant cousin. She and he are friends who work together to save money throughout the year in the depression-era South. They use the money to purchase whiskey and other ingredients to make dozens of fruitcakes to give as Christmas gifts to people they know and people they don't know, including the President. Once that is finished, they go in search of the perfect Christmas tree and bring it home, decorate it, and then make gifts to give each other. I'm sure it would be a charming story for children, but I found it to be slightly melancholy after reading how their lives changed in the few years following this one. Based on the author's own life.
Book #69
Orlando by Virginia Woolf
categories: #13, group reads; #10, 1001 books
An unusual story - a fictional biography of Orlando, whose life story covers 400 years, beginning as a boy in 16th century England, through to the time she entered middle age as a woman in 1928. Full of symbolism and hidden meanings. Reportedly written as a tribute to Woolf's (who was married) lesbian lover (who was also married). Much of the changing sex thread had to do with examining the differences between male and female charactistics - both real and constructed. I'm not sure yet what my real reaction to the book is - I didn't hate it, but I don't know yet how much I like it.
376lindapanzo
Wow, you are reading some great books!!
377sjmccreary
Hopefully Egan's Rats is next. I've started it, but not very far along yet.
378lindapanzo
I started it and am not getting into it. Not sure if it's the book or too many holiday distractions.
379sjmccreary
OK - one more before Egan's Rats:
Book #70
Paradise of the Blind by Duong Thu Huong
categories: #13, group reads; #10, 1001 books
This is the first Vietnamese novel to be translated and published in North America. The author is a Vietnamese woman whose work is banned in her home country. She has been expelled from the Communist Party and was imprisoned for her political beliefs.
It tells the story of Hang, a girl who grows up in Hanoi after her mother left the ancestral village. Her family consists of her mother, her aunt - the sister of her unknown father, and her uncle - the brother of her mother who has aspirations of a position of authority in the Communist Party. I was hoping there would be more in the book about the political situations within the country, but this is a story of Hang's family and her immediate community. The expected subservience of women towards men, and of citizens to the government are taken for granted. It is hard to tell just when this is taking place - there is no mention of the Vietnam War. However, there is this quote from the middle of the book. Hang is feeling nostalgic for her hometown after having lived and traveled in Russia.
Another interesting part of the book is the look at the customs, celebrations, and observances of the Vietnamese culture. The traditional foods are described in quite a lot of detail.
This book lacks the punch that an American author might have given the story, but it is quietly powerful just as it is.
Book #70
Paradise of the Blind by Duong Thu Huong
categories: #13, group reads; #10, 1001 books
This is the first Vietnamese novel to be translated and published in North America. The author is a Vietnamese woman whose work is banned in her home country. She has been expelled from the Communist Party and was imprisoned for her political beliefs.
It tells the story of Hang, a girl who grows up in Hanoi after her mother left the ancestral village. Her family consists of her mother, her aunt - the sister of her unknown father, and her uncle - the brother of her mother who has aspirations of a position of authority in the Communist Party. I was hoping there would be more in the book about the political situations within the country, but this is a story of Hang's family and her immediate community. The expected subservience of women towards men, and of citizens to the government are taken for granted. It is hard to tell just when this is taking place - there is no mention of the Vietnam War. However, there is this quote from the middle of the book. Hang is feeling nostalgic for her hometown after having lived and traveled in Russia.
An ordinary pond, like the kind at home. A pond lost in some godforsaken village, in a place where the honking of cars and the whistling of trains is something mysterious, exotic. A place where young women bend like slaves at their husbands' feet. A place where a man whips his wife with a flail if she dares lend a few baskets of grain or a few bricks to relatives in need. A strip of land somewhere in my country, in the 1980's... (pg 130)The self-sacrifice of women is a major element of the story. Hang's aunt, a property owner, is a single woman who uses much of her wealth to indulge Hang. Hang's mother, a street cart vendor, uses money that could have gone for repairing and upgrading their home and providing wholesome food for Hang to indulge her brother's sons. Even though she does not like him, Hang finds herself at the beck and call of her uncle. The book opens as she is forced to leave her own sickbed, having been just released from hospital, to travel by train across Russia to Moscow to tend to her uncle when he telegrams her that his is sick.
Another interesting part of the book is the look at the customs, celebrations, and observances of the Vietnamese culture. The traditional foods are described in quite a lot of detail.
This book lacks the punch that an American author might have given the story, but it is quietly powerful just as it is.
381clue
>375 sjmccreary: The Christmas Memory is a favorite among favorites for me. I don't know when I first read it, probably close to 20 years ago. For at least the last 10 years one of our local residents, highly talented as a reader, has read it at one of our public library branches one evening in early December. It has become the perfect start to the season. An intimate setting, a voice with just the right amount of Southern, apple cider and sugar cookies made by the reader's 80 something year old mother, oh, and the tears, they fall like rain from the sky! We love it all!
382mathgirl40
Belated congratulations on finishing your challenge! You've posted some excellent reviews in the past weeks. Paradise of the Blind looks particularly interesting.
385DeltaQueen50
Wishing you and your family all the best for the holiday season, Sandy.
386rabbitprincess
Merry Christmas and a happy new year!
