thornton37814's 75 books in 2011

Since I'm committed to at least 77 books with the 11 in 11 challenge, I should be able to reach 75 here. I read over 100 in 2010, but I plan to slow down a little bit so that I have a little more time for cross-stitching as well. I haven't decided on my first book, but I'm leaning toward The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet.

Hi, Lori! It's nice to see you here, too! I'm really eager to read The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet too. But I gave it to my son-in-law for Christmas, since he's an even bigger David Mitchell fan than I am, so I'll have to wait until he's read it and loans it back to me.

Hi Lori -- I just finished The Thousand Autumns a couple weeks ago. I thought it very good, so I'll put in a pitch for that being your first book!

Hi Lori: Welcome to 2011.

I'm planning to read The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, too, for my 11 in 11 seasonal challenge. Probably not right away though.

I checked it out of the library before I left on Christmas break. It's due back when we reopen on January 10, so it will probably be first or second! I had thought about reading it right after Christmas, but I saw that it really fit one of my 11 in 11 categories, so I thought I might save it for the beginning of the year. I found a couple of cozy mysteries (first in series) that have been on my TBR pile for ages. I decided to fill out 2010 with those so that I'll be very excited about the first read of 2011!

Welcome to the group, Lori!

Welcome!

I'm going to go ahead and start on my first 2011 book. I know that because of commitments I have tomorrow and a day of travel on the 31st that I won't possibly finish it until the 1st or more likely a day or two later!

Sounds like a good plan to me, Lori!

Hi Lori--I read your intro thread and thought "There's a kindred spirit" Mysteries, histories, cookbooks, foodie books, cats and a librarian too!! I also have The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet on my list....loaded it onto my MP3 last week and plan to make it one of my top reads while I'm in Hilton Head with my mother for two weeks next month. I'm excited to see what you come up with this year.

Thanks, Tutu! I'm sure Hilton Head will be lovely next month. After I catch up on the threads tonight, I'm going to head back and read some more about Jacob!

1. The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell - What a captivating books about Jacob de Zoet, a clerk for the Dutch East Indies Company in Japan. He falls in love with Orito, the disfigured daughter of a doctor who works as a midwife. The story alternates voices in different chapters. Most action is in Dejima in Nagasaki Harbor or at the monastery/convent run by Abbot Enomoto. The opening pages seemed to be a bit slower in action than later ones, but the language utilized by David Mitchell was so captivating that I never considered abandoning the book. I knew very little about life in Japan during that era. I was saddened by the plight of women during this time. Most of the book's action was set in 1799 with a little in 1800 and a couple of follow up chapters that catch us up on the characters in 1811 and 1817 respectively. Highly recommended. 4.5 stars.

#12: I really must read that one this year!

#12 - Gosh, my Kindle is a dangerous tool. I just went and got The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet as it sounds very interesting. One more book in my way too big pile of books to read...

2. My Famous Evening by Howard Norman - Howard Norman discovered Nova Scotia in the late 1960s while a graduate student working on a folklore project at Indiana University. He's been returning ever since because of his attachment to it. He shares stories with us that he has learned from the locals as well as from his own personal encounters. There is a small thread which each seemingly unrelated story to the other. While I enjoyed Norman's writing, I wasn't particularly drawn into his style of writing. My favorite story was the first which was largely a collection of previously unpublished letters shared with him by the letter writer's sister. Persons with an interest in Joseph Conrad, Elizabeth Bishop, or birding may enjoy the stories featuring each. 3 stars.

#15: I think I will give that one a pass. I hope you enjoy your next read more, Lori!

>16 alcottacre: Stasia, the person from whom I borrowed the book enjoyed it more than I did. She rated it 4 stars. I liked it, but I just didn't love it.

#17: I have one of Norman's books here to read. I will check out his style and then pursue the one you mentioned if I like it.

3. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson. Widower Major Ernest Pettigrew lives in the little village of Edgecombe St. Mary. He enjoys his friendship with the widowed Pakistani grocer Jasmina Ali who shares his love for literature. This is a wonderful novel that explores race and prejudice, social customs, inheritance, generation gap, religious differences, and much more. It's a wonderful read with characters you love as well as a few that anger you. Edgecombe St. Mary is an interesting village that most readers will feel they wish they could visit. This book did not disappoint. 4.5 stars.

I should have finished this last night, but as I was flipping channels, I ran across one of my favorite movies, Mr. Holland's Opus, so I lost a couple hours of reading time.

4. Puritanism: A Very Short Introduction by Francis J. Bremer. Author Francis J. Bremer delivers exactly what is promised by the title of this book -- a brief introduction on Puritan thought. There are a few quotes, mostly in shaded sidebars. While one could tell the author was familiar with primary source writings, she utilized quite a few secondary sources in this overview of the Puritan movement. There are no footnotes, but there are bibliographies which accompany each chapter, leading the reader who wishes to explore the topics more fully to good sources. We learn a bit about the history and theology of the movement, how the Puritan interacted in society, and about personal lifestyle. The weakness of the book is in describing the decline of Puritanism and describing the genealogy of present-day groups claiming some level of origin with the Puritans. This book, however, is well-suited to persons who just want an introductory level of knowledge about Puritan history and theology. 3.5 stars.

#19: I loved that one. I am glad to see you enjoyed it as well, Lori!

>19 thornton37814:: Helen Simonson seems to be saying very little about future plans. Most first-time authors seem to trumpet, "I'm working on another book," regardless of how far away that book might be. Hopefully, it's not a one-book-wonder situation.

5. The Corpse Wore Tartan by Kaitlyn Dunnett. This is the first novel I've read in the Liss MacCrimmon Mystery series although it is the author's fourth. In this installment, members of the Scottish Heritage Appreciation Society along with most of the hotel staff and a few of the townspeople are snowed into the Spruces hotel in Moosetookalook, Maine. (You've got to love the town's name.) Even a local police officer and a member of the sheriff's department are among those caught by the blizzard as they've come to investigate a theft. It's not long before a body is found. When I first began this novel, I thought it was possible that I was going to find yet another novel using the Agatha Christie plot of "And Then There Was None," but I was pleasantly surprised to find much less similarity than I expected considering the circumstances. This was a quite enjoyable read for a somewhat snowy day. I enjoyed the main characters enough to want to go back and read the rest of the series. This review is based on a LibraryThing Early Reviewer copy received with the expectation that a review would be written. 3.5 stars.

#23: I read the only book in that series that my local library has. I enjoyed it - as you said an enjoyable read for a snowy day.

6. Darkness at the Stroke of Noon by Dennis Richard Murphy. Sgt. Kennison, a Mountie, has been sent to Yellowknife, NWT, because of the threat he poses his superiors. When the body of Dr. Kneisser, a scientist researching the Franklin Expedition, and another person turn up dead in Victory Point, King William Island, Nunavut, he is sent to investigate. Meanwhile, Ruby Cruz has been sent by Kneisser's sponsors to fetch him back to the Washington, DC area along with a journal he's discovered. For such a cold and dark destination, there's a surprising amount of action and adventure packed into these pages. I'd love to revisit the characters, but the author's death after completing this book makes that an impossibility. I'll just have to imagine what might have happened. 4 stars.

#25: That one looks interesting. I will have to see if my local library has a copy. Thanks, Lori!

7. The Hemingway Book Club of Kosovo by Paula Huntley. Huntley's husband decided to take a one year leave of absence to go to Kosovo to help with the legal system. She took a brief TESL course so that she could teach English to persons desiring to learn. She found a used copy of Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea which turned out to be one of the best teaching tools because it provided a good springboard for discussion, giving the class more of a "club" feel. Huntley has utilized the journal that she kept during the time she spent in Kosovo to tell the story of her time there. In it we see a glimpse of what life was like, not only for Americans living there in the days after the revolution, but also for the locals. We see the threat of more war as well. It's a touching story. The author has provided a list of organizations where persons may volunteer Overseas service. Many persons will be inspired to do just that as there are some inspiring stories in its pages. There's also a follow-up interview with the author. 4 stars.

#27: I enjoyed that one too!

Lori, you've really hit the ground running this year! 7 books in 8 days, that's nearly a Stasia reading pace! Several of these are going on the wishlist right away.

>29 sjmccreary: Sandy, I've still been on Christmas break from the college where I work, and I participated in the read-a-thon over the weekend. Otherwise I wouldn't be doing that well. I'll be slowing down as soon as we go back. I was at church most of yesterday so I didn't make much progress. We were supposed to go back to work today, but we're snowed in. It's entirely possible we won't make it tomorrow either. We'll just have to wait and see on that.

8. The Quick and the Thread by Amanda Lee - Marcy Singer leaves the rat race of San Francisco to open her own needlework shop in Tallulah Falls, Oregon where her former college roommate and her husband own the coffee shop next door.. The morning after her open house, she discovers a body in the storage room. The deceased had begun engraving a message with an embroidery needle. It's up to the detectives (and Marcy, of course) to puzzle out the message and find out who the murderer is before another person becomes a victim. This was a good debut mystery. There were several viable suspects with enough red herrings to keep it entertaining. The author used a lot of references to older television programs in her narrative. They often provided just the right amount of humor or the exact picture or amount of descriptiveness to convey the point. I do hope that as Marcy's customer base grows in subsequent novels, that a more intimate group of stitchers is developed, such as the group in Monica Ferris' novels. There is still a little something lacking in the atmosphere of the needlework shop and even in the town's atmosphere. It was, however, a good beginning to the series, and I do plan to read the next installment. 3 stars.

Nice summary of a first novel. I am not a mystery reader, and have plenty (too many) books in my TBR piles to add another, but I was tempted by your quick review. Good job. I'll be lurking through and look forward to more of the same.

Just what I need - another series to delve into!!! Since sewing-especially counted cross stitch and other hand stitched techniques are my other vice besides reading, this one will have to be investigated. SIGH~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yes, you'll recognize "Nordic Needle" and other designers mentioned. I cross stitch too, although I've neglected my stitching projects in favor of reading some this past year. I am getting ready to work on a Little House Needleworks design.

I find that listening to audio books helps me settle into my stitching, although I am far behind on all those projects. I'm taking my big one - a great blue heron - with me on vacation next month because it will give me an excuse not to have to do anything else except 'ear-read' and sew while I'm in Hilton Head. I'm not a shopper, and the weather will be too cold to go to the beach (although I definitely will walk at least an hour a day) but my sister Cheli (cyderry) and I will have to have something to keep us occupied while we're with our 86 yr old mother who does NOT read, does NOT sew. Her hobby is TALKING TALKING TALKING (usually the same story over and over again.) We just have to sit and listen and nod, and occasionally say "Uh-Huh" etc. Usually she does bring her magazines (like the whole years worth) and will nod off while 'reading' them.

If Hilton Head has no snow, I'd rather be there. I'm really getting sick of shoveling! Eventually we'll have to go back to work . . . whenever the thaw comes. They are out of snow for most roads around here at least until Monday. With our hilly/mountainous terrain, that is not a good thing. They are going to try to keep up with the main highways, but even they are reported as being quite icy.

#36 It sounds like you don't normally get this kind of weather. Snow on hilly roads without the equipment to keep them clear sounds like a bad idea. I'd stay home, too!

I discovered that the best-selling books were not available for the week of my birth. In fact, there seemed to be a big "black hole" around my birthday in the database folks are using to locate the bestsellers from their birth week. I decided to pull the microfilm for the New York Times at our library and try to find out if the database was missing the data or if none had been published. What I discovered was that the "Western Edition" of the New York Times which is what our microfilm was (even though the box did not specify an edition) did not publish a paper on Sundays. I tried to locate bestsellers in either the Saturday or Monday papers, but I did not find them. I did find some brief articles on books in the Monday paper.

Since I still am unable to tell you which books were selling best on my birth week, I decided instead to report on the front page headlines on the day of my birth in the New York Times. Here they are:

• Kennedy Ends 'Private Social' Visit in New York


• Khrushchev Bars Accord with West Against China


• U.S. Again Urgin Soviet to Hasten Pull-Out in Cuba


• Test-Ban Policy Found Confused by G.O.P. Attack


• France to Center Navy in Atlantic


• Fighting Goes on in Iraq Capital


• Rockefeller Bid Pleases Midwest


• Smaller Transistor Takes on Features of a Vacuum Tube


• Rail Unions Seek Parleys on Jobs


• Stroessner Victory Conceded as Paraguay Votes


• Debris Sighted in Plane Search for Tanker Missing Off Florida

#38: The headline that stands out to me is :Smaller Transistor Takes on Features of a Vacuum Tube

Oh my.

>39 alcottacre: Stasia, I have to agree that was also my favorite!

9. White Nights by Ann Cleeves - A local artist Bella Sinclair is hosting a joint exhibition at her home, the Manse, in Biddista, Shetland Islands. A mysterious man shows up at the Manse and when Jimmy Perez, the local policeman, speaks to him, the man is acting rather confused, claiming a case of amnesia. The next morning Jimmy is called to investigate a body that has been found. It turns out to be the man no one claims to know, holding a mask in his hand. Roy Turner from Inverness comes in to help with the investigation. They must determine who the man is and why someone in Biddista would want the man dead. It's an interesting case. There were plenty of options as to whom the murderer might be. I had not completely settled on a suspect in my own mind when the outcome was revealed. I did enjoy this second installment, although I believe I enjoyed the first one slightly more. This review is based on an Advance Readers Copy loaned to me by a friend. 4 stars.

#41: I found my copy of that one the other day. I really need to get it read! Thanks for the reminder.

I'm always glad to find another fan of this series! But of the 4 Shetland Island books, White Nights was my least favorite.

>43 Copperskye: Joanne, I'm glad to know that! I will be looking forward to Red Bones next.

10. Rosewater and Soda Bread by Marsha Mehran - Three Iranian women are now in Ireland, having escaped the Revolution. The setting is the mid to late 1980s. A local woman finds a mermaid-like girl who has committed unspeakable acts in trying to abort a baby. The women carry on with their lives while trying to help their friend discover the identity of the girl. There's really not much of a plot here, and I suspect that my enjoyment of the novel is greatly marred by having not read Pomegranate Soup first. There just really seems to be quite a bit lacking in this novel . . . including a gripping plot. 2.5 stars.

#45: Sounds like I can safely skip that one! I hope your next read is better for you, Lori.

>46 alcottacre: Stasia, You won't be missing anything. I think I thought this was the first one and that Pomegranate Soup was the second. I had read a favorable review of it. I just got the order wrong. Unfortunately by reading the second one first, I'm not in a hurry to find a copy of the first one to read -- no matter how much better it is than this one according to the other reviews.

11. My Reading Life by Pat Conroy - Pat Conroy's love affair with books began with his mom's love for literature. A high school English teacher also had a profound influence on him in his early years. In this book, Pat Conroy shares his lifelong love affair with reading. He shares with his readers some of the books that influenced his life, some of the people that called attention to books, and to his encounters with others in the book business -- fellow authors and persons more involved in the publishing aspect. Anyone who aspires to be a writer needs to read this book. Persons studying Conroy's works will find a greater appreciation of them by knowing something of Conroy's life and the extent to which he employed his own life in his work. I've missed reading a few of the classics mentioned by the author as being influential in his own life, and his praise for them makes me want to read these. I've already downloaded a free copy of one of these works to my Kindle application. This is, perhaps, the highest form of praise that I can demonstrate. 4.5 stars.

This really is one of those books that will be savored by bibliophiles everywhere. I'm still intimidated by the size of War and Peace, but Pat Conroy has made me want to read it!

#48: Ah, a very good book to rebound from the bad one! Good for you.

12. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen - There's not a lot that I can say about this book that hasn't already been said. It was a re-read for me. I read the Illustrated Edition that I downloaded for free on Austen's birthday in December to my Nook application for iPhone. I enjoyed the illustrations. I gave it 4 stars.

I also just finished My Reading Life and loved it. War and Peace still looks too intimidating but he did really tempt me to at least take a look at it. I loved his story about The Catcher in the Rye especially since my son had just finished it for school.

>51 Copperskye: He did have a lot of good stories about many books, including The Catcher in the Rye. I was a little disappointed that he didn't talk more of his mother in his adult life. She seemed to influence him so much in his younger years with her love for books. I just kept expecting him to be discussing books with his mom into his adult years, but it's almost as though she completely disappeared.

13. Here and Nowhere Else by Jane Brox - This is an account of the author's life on her family's farm in the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts. The author's descriptions of the land are vivid, but her writing style does not flow quite as naturally as the nearby Merrimack River. It is, however, a good depiction of farm life. 3 stars.

14. Tupelo Honey Cafe by Elizabeth Sims and Brian Sonostus - I received a copy of this for 60 day review use via NetGalley, but I'm definitely purchasing it when it is available in stores. The Tupelo Honey Cafe is located in Asheville, North Carolina, which is about 70 miles away. The book has many recipes that are quite manageable for everyday use as well as some that are elegant enough to serve on special occasions. It is beautifully illustrated with photos of the food, ventures into the garden, and scenes from the area and the restaurant. I loved the glimpses into regional culture in the book. There are quotes from Asheville author Thomas Wolfe as well as several mentions of Duke's Mayonnaise as being the preferred one. 5 stars.

15. Not Yet Drown'd by Peg Kingman - Catherine MacDonald has recently lost both her husband and her brother. She is trying to hang onto her stepdaughter, even when the stepdaughter's blood relatives send a servant from America to obtain custody of the girl. Catherine has received a parcel from India suggesting that her brother may not have drowned in the floods as had been assumed. Eventually she sets out to India to try to locate her brother with a runaway slave and a girl from India who have been helpful to her accompanying her. I found that the plot of the book was not what I expected based on the description. The story line is different from most, and it certainly pushes the fringes of what could have realistically happened at that period of time. I did enjoy the author's bringing William Carey, the renowned missionary, into the plot. Music and tea play important roles in the narrative. The portion of the book which dealt with the period before setting sail could have been reduced by 50 to 75 pages without hurting the story. I found the latter part much more pleasurable to read. 3.5 stars.

16. The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths -Ten years ago a young girl was reported missing in Norfolk. Some bones have been discovered near a henge, and Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson calls upon Ruth Galloway, an archaeologist from the nearby university, to help date the bones. He's disappointed that they are from the Iron Age. Ruth, of course, becomes involved in the investigation. The setting for this one reminded me of the setting in Erin Hart's Haunted Ground which dealt with bog bodies. It's the same type of soil in this area of England that was in that area of Ireland. The novel itself has a lot to offer with the setting and with archaeology, folklore, and ancient ritual all figuring in the plot. There were three viable suspects, and I really wasn't 100% sure until the revelation which of the three had committed the crimes. The writer sometimes goes a little over the top with her descriptions when something a little more subtle would have been just as effective or more so. The one example that continues to bother me is the fact that it was pounded into our heads over and over in the opening chapters that Ruth's parents were Evangelical Christians, but Ruth was not. One time would have been sufficient to convey that thought but I'm not even sure that it was introduced at an appropriate time. It seemed unnatural and disrupted the flow of the narrative in the early chapters. I think the appropriate time was a later time when it was brought up as she was discussing religion with another character. However, by that time, we were well aware of Ruth's beliefs as it had been pounded into our heads at least a half dozen times by that point. If this had been an important theme in the book, it might have been different, but it really only served the purpose of Ruth's being able to identify Biblical references because of her parents' influence. It really seemed more that the author was injecting her own agenda into the novel in a place where it didn't completely fit. Still it was a very interesting mystery, and I am looking forward to reading The Janus Stone. 3.5 stars.

Hi Lori!! Thanks for visiting my thread a few weeks back and for sharing your anecdote. It looks like you have a really good start on your goal!!! I'll be back to visit and see what other good books you've found.
Happy Reading!!!-- Tammy

17. The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris - I really wanted to like this book, but I found myself struggling with it because it was not quite what I expected. I expected more of a unified narrative detailing how the author became closer to God because of her sojourns in the monastery. Instead, I got a lot of short, choppy thoughts with a few more thoughtful narratives thrown in the mix. When I got to the end, I saw that some of the sketches had been previously published in various publications. I prefer Brother Lawrence's The Practice of the Presence of God as a depiction of monastic life and intimacy with God. 2.5 stars.

#58: I had not heard of The Practice of the Presence of God before. Thanks for mentioning it.

>59 alcottacre: Stasia, Brother Lawrence is one of those classic works of religious devotional literature. I first became acquainted with it in college.

18. Family Affair by Debbie Macomber - I'm not an avid reader of romance stories. A colleague of mine read this book as soon as we received it in our library. She told me that I'd like the book because it was about cats. Since it was only about 100 pages long, I told her to hold it for me when she was done. I will have to admit that this is a cute story about how a full-blooded Abyssinian and a tom cat get their "servants" together because of their indiscretions. It's also the story of piecing one's life back together and regaining confidence after a divorce. It's a cute, quick read. I may have to try some of the recipes for cat treats at the end of the book. 3 stars.

#58 - lori, I too was terribly disappointed in The cloister walk. in fact, I gave up and didn't try to finish. I was so blown away by her Amazing Grace that I guess I was expecting more of the same. I'm not familiar with the Brother Lawrence one--will have to check it out.

>62 tututhefirst: Tina, I'm relieved to hear that I'm not the only person. I realized that my rating was lowering the overall rating for the book.

19. Murder Checks Inn by Tim Myers - The Trask family has checked into Hatteras West, an inn in the Blue Ridge Mountain area with a replica of the famed lighthouse . They are there for the reading of their husband and father's will. When the attorney handling the estate is murdered, Alex, the inn's owner, knows that he must find who killed his uncle (the attorney). There are plenty of suspects and motives and a little romantic action on the sidelines. It's a cute cozy read for fans of the series. I liked this third installment a little more than the second. 3 stars.

#62 and #63 same here - I wondered if it was just me too... and I think you hit on it Lori - it was VERY choppy...

20. Food from Many Greek Kitchens by Tessa Kiros - This is a well-illustrated and useful cookbook on Greek cuisine. There is a special Greek alphabet feature at the beginning as well as a glossary of terms at the beginning that will help orient the user to many of the terms used. This is not a cookbook for beginning cooks. Many of the recipes are quite involved. There are quite a few that extend to two pages and even an occasional recipe that takes more space than that. The author does, however, include most (if not all) of the foods that I enjoy at the annual GreekFest at the Greek Orthodox Church in Knoxville. I received this for review through NetGalley. 4 stars.

#66: I love Greek food! Unfortunately for me, I am the only one in my family who does.

>67 alcottacre: That's too bad, Stasia. This is a really good book. I don't know how much I'll use it, but I hope I can pick up a print copy at a somewhat reasonable price at some point in time. I don't want to pay a huge amount for something that would get limited use, but I wouldn't mind having a copy in my cookbook collection.

#68: I always figure if I can get at least 3 good recipes that I will use out of a cookbook, then it is worth the price. I hope you can find a copy, Lori.

21. The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths - A child's skeleton is found buried under an archway on a construction site that dates back to Roman Britain, but these bones appear to be of more recent origin. Once again, Ruth Galloway, a forensic archaeologist, teams up with Harry Nelson to solve this mystery. I really enjoy the way the history of Roman Britain and some of the rituals are incorporated into the story line. I enjoy the main characters in this series -- Ruth, Harry, and Cathbad. I received an advance copy of this book through NetGalley for review. 3.5 stars.

22. Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear - The owner of a grocery store hires Maisie to locate his 30+ year old daughter who has run away from home. Meanwhile, the police are investigating the murder of someone who is a friend of the runaway daughter which appears to be a copycat of another murder. The timing is a little too coincidental so Maisie begins to investigate. The more she investigates, the more she is convinced the police have it all wrong. There's another thread running alongside of the main one that involves Maisie's assistant, Beale, who became addicted to pain medications due to his war injuries and yet another that involves Maisie's relationship with her father. It's an interesting puzzle. Readers will sometimes be frustrated that we don't know exactly what Maisie has found or seen until she gets ready to share it with someone else, but it is an effective tool to keep interest and make the plot less predictable. 4 stars.

#70: I wish my local library had that series of books!

#71: I really need to get back to that series. I have not read the latest couple.

23. My Korean Deli: Risking It All for a Convenience Store by Ben Ryder Howe - Before coming to America, Ben Ryder Howe's mother-in-law owned a deli/convenience store in Korea. He and his wife are living with her family as many Korean extended families do. It is his wife's dream to give her mother her dream so they begin looking through the streets of Brooklyn for the shop that will fulfill that dream. Ben is an editor for George Plimpton's Paris Review during Plimpton's final years, but he has to take his turn running the store as well. This is a memoir of his experience running the store while working as an editor. I expected to like this book much more than I did. I like to think of a deli as a place where one purchases sandwich meats, sliced cheese, olives, pickles, a few salads, a little fresh produce, and some some breads, but this one was really more of a convenience store that catered to the beer, cigarette, and lottery crowd. The former would be a nice type of shop to own, but someone the latter just didn't resonate with me. Since Howe had once been an editor for a literary magazine, I expected his narrative to be more absorbing. Instead I encountered moments of greatness in the narrative that might have been refined into more absorbing articles with a little more work along with many more moments that just did nothing for me. I enjoy food writing; I enjoy immigrant narratives; I don't enjoy memoirs that don't resonate with me. Unfortunately this was one fell into the last category. I received this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program with an expectation that a review would be written. 2 stars.

#73: Too bad about that one, Lori. I am with you on your first description of the deli, not the place with the convenience store air about it. Oh well, one I do not have to add to the BlackHole.

I hope your next read is better for you!

24. The Good Daughter by Jasmin Darznik - This is a gripping biography/memoir of the women of Jasmin Darznik's family. While much of it deals with her mother Lili and the abuse and oppression she faced in Iran, it also provides a great deal of information about her grandmother Kobra and her half-sister, Sara, whom her mother calls "The Good Daughter" because she was not corrupted by American values. The descriptions are vivid, transporting the reader to Iran. The book reads more like a literary novel than the work of non-fiction that it is. We learn of the treatment of women in the country of Iran during a period of time in which Iran was caught between the old ways and modernization. There are many other themes explored in this book including education, medicine, and alcoholism. My only criticism is that the last couple of chapters of the book depicting life after immigration to America seemed a bit rushed. I received this as a review copy in epub format through NetGalley. 4.5 stars.

#75: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation, Lori!

Yes. I was disappointed when I didn't win this one from the December ER batch, but I think it's a good thing that I didn't. I found the review copy on NetGalley. I've already managed to read it and post my review, and there are no ER reviews posted yet.

#77: I like NetGalley and their offerings. I posted my first review there this morning.

Hi, Lori,
I just got all caught up on your thread, and now my wishlist is smoking! You have read lots of interesting books this year already. Have a great day!
--BJ

Hi Lori

I hope your birthday tomorrow is a special one!

Happy Birthday for tomorrow Lori. Hope you have an extra good and special day.

Happy, Happy Birthday!
--BJ

Hi Lori: Happy Birthday!! Enjoy your special day.

Happy Birthday, Lori! I hope it is a good one!

Thanks, everyone. I rented a cabin for the weekend over in the mountains. Things have been a little strange this week for me. It was nice to get away to relax. A couple of friends were originally going to stay here with me, but they ended up only getting to be here today. We did hit a bookstore though where I managed to find Encyclopedia of Appalachia which retails for $80 for $25. I also got a cookbook and an Amazon.com gift card for my birthday so my love of books has been indulged. I'm just sad that I'll have to leave the cabin in the morning. I think I'd love to stay here for another week just to rest and relax! However, my cat has other plans for me, and I must admit that I'm really missing him.

#85: Sounds like a wonderful weekend, Lori! Glad to see the love of books was not ignored for the birthday.

# 48: I started some years ago reading one of Conroy's books, but never finished it. Although I can remember thinking - what a beautiful prose - I have to give him a second chance. My Reading Life - does he talk a lot about each book or just a few sentences on each book he mentions? It sounds interesting.

# 58: Have not read A Cloister Walk. But last year I read The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of Saint Therese of Lisieux
- a moving story of a young girl entering a very strict monastery - and her complete devotion (but also how it got a little out of hand). Made a big impression on me.

I agree. Brother Lawrence is good.

I'm afraid I'm largely responsible for Lori's birthday weekend plans falling through. I'm one of the friends who was supposed to join her for the weekend at the cabin. Instead, she spent most of three days last week keeping me company in the hospital after I was admitted from the ER Tuesday night. I don't have family in the area, so it's a blessing to have friends who step in to help on a moment's notice. I did make it up to the cabin yesterday, as did the 3rd friend, and the three of us enjoyed a little bit of shopping (I bought the most books) and a nice dinner in the evening.

>86 alcottacre: It wasn't too bad. I think the worst part of the weekend for me was how much I missed my mom who died last March. This was my first birthday without her. The memories really flooded me not just because friends on Facebook were mentioning some of the things she used to do on my birthday as a child but also because the cabin I rented for the weekend was at a place where I have a lot of memories of her as well.

>87 ctpress: The amount of time spent on the books varies. In some cases he relates stories of how the book was brought to his attention as well. It's still interesting.

>88 cbl_tn: I was glad to be able to help out.

Lori
Grief packs a might punch long after the original loss.

Gentle hugs to you.

Hi Lori, Sorry I missed your birthday. Happy belated!

I also lost my mom last March and my first birthday without her was last month. I understand your feelings and share them...

25. The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnston - This is a novelized account of Newfoundland's first premier Joseph "Joey" Smallwood. It's a "rags to riches" story with a lot of disappointments for Joe along the way. He made his name in journalism and organized labor unions over the years. I really can't say that I liked Joe's character or his politics, but I do admire his drive. In fact, I'm not sure that I really admired any character in the book. The book is a little long, and the author does lose a little steam as the novel progresses. It's as though more care was taken in the first half to two-thirds of the book, and the author was rushing to meet deadlines and took less care later. Still it's an interesting story of how Newfoundland came to be a Canadian province. 4 stars.

#92: I wish my local library had that one. I have seen sevral good reviews of it.

>93 alcottacre: I picked it up for $1.50 at our used bookstore.

26. A Miracle for St. Cecelia's by Katherine Valentine - Father James Flaherty presides over the parish of St. Cecelia's in Dorsetville, Connecticut. The parish consists of a community in economic decline and aging residents. The church itself is in disrepair and in violation of the fire code. There is a lot of need both in the families of the parish and the community at large that will go unmet if the parish is forced to close. Unfortunately the archbishop decides to do just that. The parish will close after Easter unless a miracle transpires. I loved the characters in this book. They are endearing yet real, having their share of problems and flaws. While many others have claimed this book is similar to Jan Karon's Mitford series, I feel that it is more of a cross between Jan Karon and more traditional Christian fiction, while being distinctly Catholic. I would hesitate to recommend this book to many of my Evangelical friends because of the emphasis on the Virgin Mary. If one can get past those doctrinal differences between Protestantism and Catholicism, this would be a great read for fans of the Jan Karon series or of Christian fiction. 3.5 stars.

Sounds like a book that I would like, so I added it to my wishlist.
--BJ

I've had The Colony of Unrequited Dreams waiting for me since I heard about it on LT last year. Glad to see you liked it!

>96 billiejean: It really is an enjoyable read. I'm not Catholic, but I did enjoy it. I just accepted the differences and read on, but I know a lot of Evangelical friends who would not be able to do overlook it.

>97 Copperskye: It was enjoyable, but at 576 pages, it's a little long!

#99 - Yup, it's the length that makes me hesitate to start it!

I rarely abandon a book, but I've just abandoned on of the books I was planning to use for a TIOLI challenge this month.

The End of East by Jen Sookfong Lee - I abandoned this book after reading 86 pages. The author is incorporating three time periods in her work, but it is difficult to find where she transitions from one to the other. This book is in serious need of many chapter breaks to help the reader with those divisions. There was very little plot action in this first third of the book and what was there did not grab me and make me want to read more. I normally love immigrant stories, and I expected to like this one, but I was greatly disappointed.

I felt I was being quite generous in giving it 1 star. However, others liked it more than I did. I did see other comments as I scanned the reviews after posting mine that mentioned structural problems so I don't feel quite so bad in giving it such a low rating.

#101: I hope your next read is a better one for you, Lori!

>102 alcottacre: - I made sure it would be. I picked up a Frances Mayes book to read!

De-lurking to say a belated Happy Birthday! Can't wait to see what Mayes book you picked!

>104 LauraBrook: It's A Year in the World. I've read some of her Italy ones, and I picked this one up awhile back, probably at Borders (I think it's their discount sticker), for $5.99. I've finished the Spain section and am ready to head to Portugal with her. You'll have to stick around until I'm finished for the review. I'm not getting much reading done tonight because of "Who Do You Think You Are." Absolutely loved the Rosie episode! I plan to join the 2 hour discussion that begins in about 20 minutes. They wait until it's had time to air in the Mountain states and the west coasters are at least watching it.

105: Wait, they have a discussion after WDYTYA airs? No way! I ADORE that series and am watching it later tonight as my reward for getting rid of dozens of old magazines and putting 7 books onto PaperbackSwap this evening. And I purchased A Year in the World twice - once when it first came out (still unread *ahem*) and then again when the paperback was released with a totally different cover. Pet peeve!

#105: A Year in the World looks like one I would enjoy, so I am adding it to the BlackHole review unseen.

>106 LauraBrook: Laura - They have it at: http://www.geneabloggers.com/ They have a call-in number with a host, usually Thomas MacEntee, although Pat Richley (aka Dear Myrtle) hosted this week. There is also a chat room so everyone is interacting. You can listen to the archived episodes there. Maybe you can join live next time!

27. A Year in the World by Frances Mayes - Frances Mayes takes us on a journey through several European cities and to cities in Turkey and Morocco in this book. It's not quite a world-wide trip, but it is a year of travels that I would probably enjoy. I love her descriptions of food, gardens, libraries, bookstores, etc. Her passion for good food and good literature shines through this volume. Some of the narratives are more engaging than others, but I suspect that is more of an aspect of what the location had to offer or of the circumstances in which she found herself in some of the locations than of being bad writing. Many people would say that they were uneven. I think that she was trying to give people a true sense of her year of travels, including the ups and the downs. It's hard to write with the same passion about a place one did not completely enjoy. I'm ready to pack the suitcases, get out the passports, and join her! The only thing preventing that is money. 3.5 stars.

A P.S. to my review of A Year in the World. As I was reading on the book Saturday night, I got to the section on Morocco. She was in the city of Marrakesh and mentioned a storyteller. I knew that there was a recent book with the title The Storyteller of Marrakesh because I remember it being offered recently through Early Reviewers. I thought it was so interesting that several years before the recent book that the storyteller had garnered a mention in Frances Mayes' writings.

I am going to have to try one of Mayes' books.

28. The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley - Flavia de Luce is on hand when a puppeteer's van breaks down right by the local church cemetery. It appears that the puppeteer may have known some of the village's residents before this breakdown. It's not long before there is a murder in the village. Flavia sets out to investigate in the manner in which an 11-year-old with a love for chemistry and other scientific things would do. Flavia is one of the more delightful sleuths of recent times. I'm amazed at times by what adults will tell her, especially about things that adults often will not discuss with pre-adolescents. Although I read her first adventure, I do not feel that one necessarily has to have read the first one in order to appreciate this one, but why miss out? Read them both for a fun romp in an English village. This review is based on an advance uncorrected proof borrowed from a friend. 4 stars.

I keep seeing great reviews of Bradley's Flavia de Luce series. I read the first one and couldn't stand the little darling, but your review has me wondering if I shouldn't give these another try.

>113 tututhefirst:: They appear to be books that people find charming or unpalatable with not a lot of middle ground. I bought the first one based upon raves but haven't been motivated to pick it up, yet, due to all the "it did nothing for me" reviews that I saw later.

I need to read the first Flavia de Luce book soon and decide for myself.

Flavia is a character who grew on me. It took me awhile to begin to enjoy her in the first book. I did put off reading this second in series for awhile, probably because I remember it taking time to really get into the first one. I think I knew what to expect this time, and it was just the piece of escapism that I needed after several non-fiction or more demanding fiction reads and one book that was so bad that I abandoned it. I can see where Flavia might be annoying to some people. However, she didn't annoy me as much this time. In some ways she's the epitome of a pre-adolescent. She can be wonderful one moment and then do something shameful the next.

29. I Am Hutterite by Mary-Ann Kirkby - Mary-Ann Kirkby tells about her childhood growing up on a Hutterite colony in Manitoba. Then she tells of her family's removal from the colony, and their gradual progress in integrating with the "English" in the community in which they lived. Because the Hutterites practiced communal living, leaving the colony was a very difficult decision for the family, but one which her parents knew was correct. They lived in poverty. As she described the meals they ate as a family after striking out on their own, my stomach churned just thinking about it. Fortunately things did improve for their large family within a few years. This was an interesting look at a religious group about which I knew very little. 4 stars.

>117 thornton37814:: I had never heard of the Hutterites (I thought it was a reference to people living in the Principality of Hutt River at first). You say it's interesting...is it well-written?

I read I Am Hutterite last year and had mixed feelings about it... I thought it got somewhat tedious at times. It was interesting, but not very elegantly written. I don't recall all my feelings on it, but I think I ended up giving it 3/5. Decent and more or less interesting, but not wonderful and a bit long in the tooth at times.

I think what makes it a bit awkward is the integration of some of the German dialect spoken by the Hutterites into the narrative. It sometimes makes it not flow quite as well as other times. It's not poorly written, but it's not a 5 star performance on writing. I suspect that the folks at Thomas Nelson did quite a bit of editing.

Stopping by to say hello - I've been so behind on all the threads that I missed your birthday, so Happy (Very-)Belated Birthday! The cabin weekend sounds wonderful, but I'm sorry to hear about the sadness that accompanied it; I lost my brother last March (seems to have been an awful month for a lot of us), and I'm really not looking forward to that particular anniversary. I know it's going to be hard to get through.

30. Among the Departed by Vicki Delany - When RCMP officer Adam Tocek along with his girlfriend Constable Molly Smith of the Trafalgar police locate a boy who wandered from his campsite in the nearby provincial park, they happen across some human bones. The first person that pops into Molly's mind is the father of one of her childhood friends who went missing about 15 years earlier. Can the bones be identified? Was foul play involved? If so, who committed the deed and why? It will be up to Molly's colleagues to find out. I loved the characters of Adam and Molly and of most of the people in the town. They were quite fun and pleasant. This novel, however, did have a few problems. The one that nagged at me from early in the book is an error which showed poor research on the part of the author. They were discussing the find of the bones and how identification could be made through DNA. One of the characters made the statement that mitochondrial DNA could be collected for comparison. Then they went to the son of the person to whom they believed the bones belonged to attempt to collect a sample. Mitochondrial DNA is passed along by the mother instead of the father, so the son would not have been a match had he agreed to give a sample. Instead, they should have been collecting a sample from a sibling of the person. Fortunately, the son refused to give a sample, and they ended up making identification through dental records, so I didn't have to congratulate them upon finding their mother's brother. There were a few proofreading errors that would not have been caught by spell check that were present. I'm also pretty sure that the dish one of the characters enjoyed while dining was huevos rancheros instead of huveros rancheros as the book stated. In spite of the problems, the characters make this an enjoyable read. This review is based on an Advanced Readers Copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley. 3 stars.

31. The Sands of Time: A History of Hilton Head Island by Margaret Greer - This is a very short (70 p.) illustrated history of Hilton Head. It gives the reader a good idea of the island's role during the Revolutionary and Civil War periods. It does, however, leave the reader wishing for a fuller treatment of the island's development since the 1950s. Although the author clearly did utilize resources, there are only a few internal citations and no footnotes. The sources quoted internally do not match up with the book's bibliography. It is unclear whether the author actually utilized the sources being cited or if she was relying on quotes in the secondary sources in her bibliography. The book is clearly aimed for the tourist market and succeeds in being a fairly interesting account for the general reader. 3 stars.

Lori...this looks like one Cheli and I should have read before our recent vacation. Mom goes every year, so I'll be sure to check it out before I go next time. I usually do like to read up on places before I visit, but this year's trip prep just got away from me.

It's a quick read -- will only take an hour or two, depending on your pace.

32. Inside the Natchez Trace Collection: New Sources for Southern History edited by Katherine J. Adams and Lewis L. Gould - A fascinating look inside one of the special collections at the University of Texas that deals with Mississippi's history and culture. The disappointing thing is that the collection itself seems to be misnamed "The Natchez Trace Collection" when it primarily focuses on the Natchez area rather than the entire Natchez Trace which runs from Tennessee, through the northwest corner of Alabama, and through Mississippi. My primary purpose in reading this book was to try to assess what the collection held in terms of value to genealogists exploring their Mississippi ancestry. My conclusion is that it is very valuable if your ancestors resided in the Southern portion of the state and far less valuable if your ancestors, like mine, were in the northern portion. The book contains several overview essays written from different perspectives to show what is available in that area (such as slave studies, women's studies, sectionalism, etc.) The essays are well-written. I would have liked to have seen an essay included written from a genealogist's perspective. I was, however, impressed that one of the authors did recognize the value of genealogy to historical research. This is a good overview volume, but to really mine the worth of the collection, one has to go to Austin and use it. 3.5 stars.

I did very little reading today. I was home sick but watching the local news featuring cameras at flooded intersections with idiots trying to drive through them and having to be rescued when their cars stalled or started being swept away kept me occupied. One of the major routes in Knoxville more closely resembled a river than a highway today.

33. A Cup of Friendship by Deborah Rodriguez - Sunny is an American from Arkansas living in Kabul, Afghanistan. She is the proprietress of a coffee shop. A visit to the women's ministry brings Yasmina into the lives of Sunny and her friends. Yasmina is widowed and pregnant. She would be in danger if left on her own. Through Isabel, a British journalist, and Candace, the former wife of an American diplomat, we learn of the atrocities committed by warlords and the Taliban against women. The book is heart-wrenching at times. It's set in a war-ravished country where living becomes increasingly dangerous for those who really don't have to be there. I enjoyed this little glimpse of life in another culture. 4 stars.

Hi Lori, I see we're sharing an ER book this month. I'm trying to ignore your review directly above this post, at least until I have a chance to read it later this month.

I tried not to give too much away in the review. I just wanted to be able to remember a bit of what it's about!

34. Natchez before 1830 edited by Noel Polk - This was a small collection of essays on the history of Natchez, Mississippi up to 1830. The French and Spanish periods are included. I would have preferred to have seen more topical essays included. For example, an essay on religion in Natchez up to 1830 would have been useful instead of having to get a paragraph or two from three or four essays to form a picture. This collection is useful to persons studying this period of Natchez' history. 4 stars.

35. Murder on Bank Street by Victoria Thompson - It's been over 4 years Sarah Brandt's husband Tom was murdered. Detective Malloy decides to reopen the case before Roosevelt accepts an appointment in Washington. An eye witness has told him that the father of one of Brandt's patients murdered him with a silver-headed cane. Malloy accepts help from a couple of Pinkerton detectives on his terms. Sarah mainly sits on the sidelines, but Maeve, the girl from the mission who helps her care for Catherine decides that she wants to join the investigation. I really enjoy this series. While I missed the involvement of Sarah in the investigation, it was fitting that she should not be in this one. While I don't think it's my series favorite, I did like having the mystery surrounding Tom Brandt's death resolved. A fun and enjoyable read! 4 stars.

36. Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle - A book conservator under whom Brooklyn apprenticed ends up dead while working on a rare edition of Faust that is said to be cursed. Who killed him and what was the motive? The book was heavy on action and low on plot. My favorite parts of the book are the descriptions of the book conservations that are taking place. I'm not sure I ever completely warmed to the supporting characters in this series, and I'm not sure the commune in which Brooklyn grew up is a setting I want to revisit. I do have the second in the series so I will likely give it a try in the future. This was a pretty quick read although it did not leave me completely satisfied. 3 stars.

37. Costa Rican Typical Foods by Carmen de Musmanni - This is an English-language cookbook featuring Costa Rican foods that is probably intended for the tourists who visit the country. It's definitely a low-budget publication with line drawings rather than photographs showing the prepared foods. It presents several foods that you would expect to find in a Central American cookbook. There is a glossary at the back, but it's not as descriptive as some ethnic food glossaries. I think the most disappointing thing is the author's failure to discuss each dish, where it's typically served, the dish's origin, etc. -- things that really add an element of interest to the publication. There are a few dishes in this small book that I do intend to make in the future. 3 stars.

38. Kissed a Sad Goodbye by Deborah Crombie - Annabelle Hammond is found murdered on a park on the Isle of Dogs. Is it a love triangle? Does the murder have roots in the present or the past? I love the Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James series by Crombie, but this installment is one of my least favorite in the series. There are two storylines related to the mystery that are going on -- one more absorbing than the other. The ones closest to the victim are all lying because each has something he's trying to cover up or someone he thinks he is protecting. The interaction between Duncan and Gemma seemed to be a little bit off in this installment as well. In spite of its flaws, it is still a good mystery. 3.5 stars.

39. Memphis Cuisine: A Sampling of Restaurants and Their Recipes by Christine Arpe Gang - I lived in the Memphis area not long before this cookbook was published in 1991, having moved away about two years before. Although there are certainly restaurants featured here that I would have expected to be present, such as Huey's, various Grisanti restaurants, and Owen Brennan's, there were also a number of restaurants that I would have expected to have been represented that were not included. For example, there is nothing from the Rendezvous. There was nothing from either Gridley's or Corky's (still mostly a Memphis restaurant at that time). The restaurants that lined Overton Square were underrepresented with at least two of the more popular restaurants of that era not being included. I enjoyed many of the recipes included although I probably will only use a few of the recipes. It would be interesting to see a version of this with the restaurants of 2011 (20 years later) represented. Would the author omit restaurants such as Neely's or Interstate Barbecue? 3 stars.

Hi Lori! You've been doing some great reading lately. I just popped over to thank you for letting me know that Amazon has a good deal on the Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day DVD on Amazon. I ordered it and the book and a couple of other books.

40. Scones and Bones by Laura Childs - Theodosia and Drayton are attending a Heritage Society "pirate" event when the featured item, a skull cap of Blackbeard inlaid with a sizable diamond, goes missing and an intern turns up dead. When Detective Tidwell is injured in an accident on his way to investigate, Theodosia realizes that important clues may be missed without Tidwell to guide the investigation so at Timothy Neville's request, she sets out to investigate. With suspects ranging from pirate enthusiasts to antique collectors, she has her work cut out for her. The conclusion may have been a bit rushed, but it was not quite as predictable as some cozies. I always enjoy my visits with the folks at the Indigo Tea Shop. I just wish that it were a real place and not a fictional one so I could taste the tantalizing treats and teas mentioned throughout the book on an upcoming Charleston visit. I do intend to try one or more of the recipes at the end of the book. 4 stars.

41. Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear - There are basically three story lines in this book. One is Maisie's efforts to clear a young girl of murder charges. Another is to find a missing aviator--a case Maisie primarily takes on so that the girl has adequate legal representation. The third is to locate her friend Priscilla's brother's grave. In the midst of it all we encounter a fair amount of espionage, which is not really my cup of tea when it comes to mysteries. Maisie's life is in danger, but she's not sure who is responsible for the attempts on her life. There's just a little too much going on in this novel to try to keep up with everyone and with which part of the story the person might be connected. It had been quite awhile since I read the first book in this series, and I have forgotten some of the things from that particular book which might have helped me understand more of some of the action in this novel. Winspear is a good writer, but this is my least favorite installment in the series to date. 3.5 stars.

Holy cow, you are reading like crazy! *envious*

I can't believe how much I've read this year. I'm way ahead of where I thought I would be. I had trouble getting to 100 last year. By the end of this month, I will already be halfway to that 100 (or very close to halfway).

42. The Law and the Lady by Wilkie Collins - Valeria marries a man who is not quite what he seems. She soon discovers that his name is not what she had presumed it to be and wonders if her marriage is valid in such a circumstance. She sets out to discover his real identity and why he is hiding behind another name and then attempts to clear his name. The story kept me interested, although I'm not certain that Valeria's person has a ring of truth about her. Her loyalty to her new husband under such circumstances is completely unexpected. At the same time, her husband's actions and reactions are not what I would expect. Probably the most interesting character in the book is the "madman" Miserrimus Dexter. Where in the world did Collins come up with such a name? Ariel, who blindly follows her master Miserrimus Dexiter, is also interesting. The story itself is about a 3.5, but the characters add such richness that it is worth a 4 star rating.

I managed to finish the Collins book this morning, but I've been able to read very little yesterday or today. I had gone home from work yesterday to pack to leave for my spring break trip when I looked at my phone that had just rang and recognized the number of the hospital in the town where my Dad lives. I knew that wasn't a good sign. I was basically informed that they'd discovered he had some blood clots in his leg and were admitting him for several days. I hastened my packing and managed to get to Dad's house in the wee hours this morning. My sister-in-law offered to stay with him last night. We've had people in and out of the room all day. I also went to his house to cook something for a family in his church who had lost a loved one. It's just now getting quiet enough for me to settle back in with a book. Not sure how much reading I'll get done or whether I'll be able to finish all my TIOLI challenges for the month with this unexpected "kink" in my plans. I'm just glad that I'm able to be here.

Sorry about the wrench thrown into your plans, but I hope your Dad is doing okay! Sounds like a lot of accidents are going around this place in the last few days. Be careful, and try and enjoy yourself if you can!

Oh, dear, best wishes to you and your dad!

Lori, I wish all the best for you and your father. Those of us with elderly parents can commiserate. My own father is going in soon to have a squamous growth removed from his face and he is really bothered by the thought of it, after having several basal cell growths removed in the past. How wonderful it is to still have them with us, but how fearful of those health issues that can plague them. I'm glad you're able to be together.

Lori, so sorry about your father! I'm hoping and praying for a speedy recovery.

My dad is still in the hospital and will be for at least a couple more days. I'm up through chapter 50 (or 80% complete according to my Kindle) on Pride and Prejudice now. Since it's a re-read, I don't have to concentrate quite as much on it so it's been the "go-to" book among my current reads for when I've been able to read. Most of you know the constant interruptions in hospitals -- doctors, nurses, lab techs, visitors, etc. I'm hoping to get back to a more normal reading schedule soon.

I also hope some of you are better with the NCAA Men's brackets than I seem to be. My Southwest Region bracket is awful. Kansas is the only team that I have left in that one so I certainly hope they win that region! I've done much better on the women's one.

Not an easy time - best wishes to you and your father. I hope things start looking up soon.

43. The Farmers' Market Cookbook by Nina Planck - Nina Planck grew up on a farm in Virginia. While employed by the American embassy in London, the thing she missed most was the availability of farm produce so she began a Farmer's Market in Islington. It was such a success that she opened other farmer's markets and quit her embassy job. I loved her descriptions of the produce and food she ate while growing up. After the introductory matter, she proceeded to take different fruits and vegetables available at her markets (combining a few such as pumpkins and winter squashes), tell a little about it (such as growing season, marks of good produce, occasional other items of interest such as the area to which it is native and how it came to be in the British Isles). After the introduction to the fruit or vegetable, a few recipes are given showing how to use the item. The recipes are in British weights and measures so North American cooks such as myself will have to convert grams to cups, celsius temperatures to Fahrenheit, etc. The recipes are usually quite simple -- many for which I would never need a recipe. The strength of the book is in its information on fresh produce rather than in the recipes (although I would enjoy many of them). 3.5 stars.

44. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - Jane Austen's well-written tale featuring Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy is a classic work of romantic literature. The characters are well-drawn. With hundreds of other reviews, there is little need to go on and on about the story itself and its elements. I do, however, wish to make a comment on the free Kindle version that I read -- the formatting is awful! There are even places where locations are missing with hyphens in their places. Fortunately for me, this was a re-read so I knew the locations that should have been where the hyphens were. I had several other e-book versions I could have used on other readers, but I would have had to read on my iPhone instead of my Kindle to have been able to use them because of DRM. I prefer reading on my Kindle, but if I'd realized how poor the formatting would be on that version, I would probably have read chosen to read the Illustrated Edition that I have on my Nook reader application on my iPhone. I did not penalize my rating of the actual book because of the formatting, but other readers probably would like to be aware of this before reading it. 4 stars.

Hope things continue to go well for your father Lori.

>151 thornton37814: I think it may not be the Kindle omitting place-names. My old, hardback copy from 1976 does the same thing. It looks like this: "--shire". The same thing occurs in my current read (Jane Eyre), and other books I've read. I've often wondered why that is.

I did find this:
http://www.cliffsnotes.com/Section/Why-are-there-blanks-in-place-of-people-s-nam...

...though I'm not sure it really explains.

Interesting. I don't remember the blanks being there before. Still, there were formatting issues otherwise. There were hard returns after words like Mrs. in places. It just disrupts the flow. I read Sense and Sensibility back during January on the Nook app and used the Illustrated edition which I had downloaded in December when it was being offered free. I didn't own a Kindle at the time. I should have downloaded these for the Kindle app too later in the day after they finally showed up for free, but I didn't.

45. Urban Pantry by Amy Pennington - Amy Pennington offers tips on how to stock a pantry in small living quarters, such as her New York apartment. In this book, she not only offers tips but also a few recipes for each ingredient she recommends keeping on hand. I found that the things she would consider staples and the things that I would consider to be staples are different. While some of her recipes sounded good, others did not. The book has been on my wish list for awhile, and I'm glad that I discovered a copy in our public library and checked it out before purchasing it. I will probably write down or copy a recipe or two for future use, but it's not one I would use that much if I did own a copy. While I enjoyed reading a bit about the various ingredients and some of her stories about recipes and specific tips about recipes, the format got a little old as the book progressed. If you live in a small space in a large urban area, this may be a book you would enjoy, but since I live in a small Southern city near the mountains and have a larger living space, it's not quite as applicable. 3 stars.

46. He's Been Faithful by Carol Cymbala - I've been a fan of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir for several years. When I stumbled across this book in our public library, I knew that I had to read it. In its pages, Cymbala tells of the call she and her husband had to ministry -- first in New Jersey and then to Brooklyn. She recounts God's faithfulness in the ministry of the Brooklyn Tabernacle to those in Brooklyn by sharing testimonies of what God has done in and through the church and also by sharing testimonies of various persons who have been reached by its ministry. Probably my favorite part of the book was when she recounted the circumstances in her life that led her to write one of the most powerful songs in Gospel music, "He's Been Faithful." I'm sure that I will later recall many of the testimonies recorded in these pages, including the one about the song's birth, for many years to come. 3.5 stars.

We've done quite a few Cymbala/Brooklyn Tabernacle pieces at my church over the years. I'm going to look this one up!

>157 drneutron: She mentions a book written by her husband Jim entitled Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire that also sounds very good. She occasionally quotes an excerpt from it in her book. I'd like to read his book sometime as well. I always love it when we do "Brooklyn Tab" numbers in our choir! We don't do nearly as many as I would like.

47. Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoë François - This is one of, if not the best, bread cookbooks that I've ever encountered. The basic recipe is very straightforward, but the recipes included go beyond loaf breads and venture into pastries, flatbreads, and more. This book had been on my wish list for a long time. I borrowed it from the public library, but this is a cookbook that I will purchase for my own collection. I love the fact that it is not based on a starter which must be constantly fed. The book even includes a few recipes for soups and salads. 5 stars.

That book sounds wonderful! I used to make bread with a starter, but I did not keep up with it. I added this to my wishlist.
--BJ

you've read more than I have over spring break even with the change of plans of your dad being in the hospital!

other than finishing up the early reviewer book end of last week I've barely read anything! (and normally spring break is my big reading week - though granted generally speaking I go somewhere on spring break, and I always read more books on vacation than I do at home) - My house certainly appreciates the time that was spent cleaning though!

My 4th thingiversary is coming up next week, so to honor the occasion I went to the Goodwill Bookstore in a city near where my father lives and purchased 5 books.

Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers
A Crafty Killing by Lorraine Bartlett
Savannah Country Cookbook by Paula Deen
Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris
The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy

The Conroy book was a 2009 printing that included a Reader's Guide that appears to not have a record in Worldcat. The pagination is different from the 2005 book that bears the same ISBN. I entered up entering it manually.

>159 thornton37814:: That's one I'll have to pick up. I love homemade bread but generally just don't have the time to devote to it. I've got a quick recipe from James Beard's book that I use regularly, but that's about it.

>162 thornton37814:: Clouds of Witness...it makes me wish I was just starting the Sayers series. I read picked up one of them in the mid-80s at some second-hand sale and ended up reading the entire set over that summer.

>159 thornton37814: The artisan bread book sounds wonderful and the prep sounds very doable. I love the smell of fresh bread in the afternoon!

48. Mollie Katzen's Sunlight Cafe by Mollie Katzen - This cookbook is all about breakfast. It, however, contains no recipes with meats because the author also wrote the well-regarded Moosewood cookbooks. It is a very comprehensive book when it comes to vegetarian breakfasts, relying on fruits, whole grains, eggs, condiments, etc. to provide the nutrition. There is a section on beverages that discusses the various breakfast beverages consumed. The narrative sections were not as interesting as the recipes and were sometimes repetitive. For someone who gets tired of having the same thing at breakfast all the time, this cookbook can add a huge variety to your first meal of the day because of the quantity of recipes included. 4 stars.

So, have you tried any of her recipes yet? What was good? I've been so much better in recent years to make sure I have whole grains in one form or another for breakfast and feel so superior to the people targeted in adds for yogurt or a nasty drink to keep regular. I think if people just ate real food they wouldn't have any problems.

I'm using it more as ideas for twists on recipes I already use. For example, her blueberry muffins have lemon zest in them. I think it's an interesting idea and may incorporate some the next time I make a batch. It's not a recipe book I would use regularly so I imagine that I'll just continue to borrow it from the library if I want to consult it for additional ideas. I think it's better suited to someone who is new to cooking than to someone who has more experience. I did not actually prepare any of the recipes because I'm not home at the moment. Many of the recipes are very similar to things I already prepare.

I'll let you know about My Soul to Take by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir . I thought from reading about it, it might be really creepy - but so far it's fascinating and not too creepy at all. I was delighted to see it in my local bookstore and purchase it for just 5.00. I'm about 80 pages into the book -and so far it's my plan to read more in her series.

Thanks for visiting my thread!

49. The Long Quiche Goodbye by Avery Aames - I should have liked this book. It involved food -- cheese, to be specific -- and I love cheese shops. It was set near Ohio's Amish country which holds a special place in my heart because I had ancestors who were part of Ohio's Amish settlements in the 19th century and have enjoyed many vacations there. However, the book fell flat for me. I never connected with the characters. I didn't feel that I really knew any of them. Their development was weak. There were too many characters. I knew enough about some of the lesser characters, but I don't really feel that I ever got to know the main ones. Charlotte Bessette, the amateur sleuth in the series, is trying to exonerate her grandmère who has been accused of murdering the owner of the building they rent for the cheese shop. Her grandmère is the mayor of Providence, but she certainly doesn't act much like a mayor, and her character is not adequately developed. With as many characters as there are in the book, there are lots of suspects available, and Charlotte seems to suspect every one of them more than once as she's investigating on her grandmère's behalf. I held high hopes for this series, but this first in the series did not deliver. 2 stars.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....I have that one sitting on my "cozies to try" pile.....I'm thinking it may sit there a bit longer. My sister gave it to me, and I just checked...she gave it 3 stars, and a ho-hum review. Right now, there are too many great series, good cozies, and tons of other books to read. Thanks for the warning.

I realize that I rated it lower than many others, but it just didn't work for me. I've read several blog posts by the author over on the Mystery Lovers Kitchen blog (http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com/). Lesa Holstine certainly liked it better than I did: http://lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com/2010/07/long-quiche-goodbye-by-avery-aame....

50. Thou Shalt Not Kill edited by Anne Perry - As with most collections of short stories, some of the stories are stronger than others. Fortunately there were more stories in this collection that were better than in many. The entire collection of short stories are inspired by stories of the Bible. My favorites include "Way Down in Egypt's Land," "A Blessing of Frogs," "Corpus Christi," "Fear and Trembling: A Father Dowling Mystery," and "Lost Causes." My least favorites were "Cain Was Innocent" and "The People Outside." 3.5 stars.

You can read my full review with comments on individual stories at: http://www.librarything.com/work/1502725/reviews/33795846.

I stopped at the McKays bookstore in Chattanooga on my way back from Mississippi today to "stretch my legs." Since I had my cat in the car, I didn't dare stay long, so I basically hit only 3 aisles quickly -- cookbooks, history, and religion. Everything I picked up was in one of the first two categories, and the most I paid for any item was $2.00. My grand total for 10 items was a little over $8 (with tax).

I'd already purchased the books for my Thingiversary which is tomorrow, and this is twice as many as I'd have been eligible to purchase.

The Place Where Hell Bubbled Up: A History of the First National Park by David A. Clary
This House of Sky: Landscapes of a Western Mind by Ivan Doig
Stinking Creek by John Fetterman
Food in History by Reay Tannahill
Celebrity Chefs Across America: The Ingredients for Managing Diabetes by Anthony Dias Blue
Georgia Plantation and Historical Homes Cookbook by Susan C. Trudeau
Selected Health Recipes from the Saturday Evening Post Family Cookbook by Cory SerVaas
Kahlua Recipe Book by Kahlua
Scandinavian Cookbook by Culinary Arts Institute
Diabetic Recipes for the Holidays

I don't have diabetes, but I have so many family members now that are that I want to have a few things on hand when I cook the big family meals (since I seem to have taken on that role at the big events the last three or so years) that they can eat.

51. Remembering Knoxville by William E. Hardy - While it would be impossible to capture enough photographs to properly document the history of even a small town, especially one which has been around as long as Knoxville, Tennessee, William Hardy has done a remarkable job of selecting historic photographs of places and even people (such as sports teams and sports action shots) that show Knoxville from the 1800s to late 20th century. I enjoyed his selections, but recognize that this book should be used along with other volumes of photographs and photographs that are accessible in institutional repositories (and homes) in Knoxville and beyond. 4 stars.

52. The Food of a Younger Land edited by Mark Kurlansky - One of the projects of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was the Federal Writers' Project (FWP). This particular project had written a number of guides to various states that had been quite successful. It was a means of giving employment to struggling writers in a struggling economy. A later project of the FWP was called "America Eats." The projected book was never completed because the WPA and FWP came to an end before the manuscript was completed. Various submissions from the different writers' projects across the states were found in the Library of Congress' manuscript collection. Kurlansky has put these together to give us an understanding of the different foods and cultures across the States during that time. Several writers that we read and discuss in American literature classes (or regional literature classes) were among the writers employed for at least a brief time by the project. I am originally from Mississippi and was delighted to discover the Eudora Welty was one of the writers for the state. Her submission was definitely of a higher quality than some of the other pieces found in the collection. This was quite natural since some writers are more talented than others. There seems to have been a great deal of freedom in how the essays or other pieces (such as poems) were written. Some entries are little more than a list of recipes. Others, such as Welty's, attempt to discuss the people and give a little more background while including recipes. I found the most humorous entry to be a rant by an Oregon writer on why potatoes should not be mashed. I did find an error in the name of a person in Welty's manuscript. She used a person from my home county in Mississippi who, although not a cousin of mine, was from a family that is well-connected collaterally to my family. The name in Kurlansky's book for the person is Mrs. C. L. Lubb, but it should have been "Tubb." Her husband was Carlos Lovol Tubb, and she was Verlie Cordelia Ritter before her marriage. I'm not sure if the error is in the original manuscript (which may have been typed from notes) or if Kurlansky made the error in transcribing it from written copy. It makes you wonder how many similar errors appear throughout the pages of this book or in the original manuscripts. This book does provide an interesting glimpse into the foodways of the United States in the mid-20th century. 3.5 stars.

>175 thornton37814:: What an interesting volume. Makes you wonder what other unfinished FWP projects might await discovery in the Library of Congress.

I so thoroughly enjoyed the Kurlansky book that after reading and listening to the library's versions last year, that I bought one for personal collection. It is a treasure to see the stories behind so many of the food recipes and traditions that many of us grew up with.

I have a volume called America Eats by Pat Willard that was written about the same time as Kurlansky's book and based on the same collection. I am very tempted to pull it out so I can really compare the two volumes while the one is fresh in my mind.

I'm almost finished with my library copy of The Food of a Younger Land, and really enjoying it. Especially liked the sections on making gumbo file and the history of hush puppies.

53. A Tiger in the Kitchen by Cheryl Lu-lien Tan - Cheryl Tan never bothered to learn how to cook as the other female members of her household had while growing up in Singapore. After graduating from journalism school at Northwestern and after working for other papers, she eventually landed a job with the Wall Street Journal. She began to crave the dishes that she had grown up eating in Singapore. She decided to go back to Singapore to learn from remaining family members (mostly aunts) how to prepare the dishes she remembered. Unfortunately the author skips around so much that it is hard to keep track of whether she is in New York or Singapore at a given moment. One minute she's making something in Singapore with her aunt; the next she is in New York preparing some Italian dish. She backtracks, not following any sort of chronological order, throughout the book. (There is a marriage in the book, and later it is before the marriage again.) As I began to read more of the book, I decided that her book would have been better on the screen than in written form. I could also tell that this was a young writer more so than a middle-aged or older one because of the style of writing employed. It's very conversational and has a very "chick-lit" feel to it. I prefer other genres of literature so the writing quality did not pass muster with me. There are a few recipes at the end of the volume, but most of these are not going to able to be made by American cooks who lack access to some of the key ingredients. This review is based on an Advance Readers Copy provided by the publisher through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program with the expectation that a review of the book would be written. 2.5 stars.

That is so sad. I hoped, seeing the title and the first few sentences of your review, that it would be a great read. The idea of going all the way back to Singapore to learn how to cook for the older members of the family seems like such a rich concept. I wonder if some strong editing would make it a better book; and, she needs to take some recipes and adjust them for the U.S. food markets. But that's just my "not so humble" opinion. Thanks for the review.

>181 maggie1944: She lives in New York City so I suspect there are some ethnic markets where she can get those types of items. I suspect that if I still lived in Cincinnati that I'd be able to get those at Jungle Jim's in Fairfield, but I'm 300 miles away now, and I'm not driving that far, especially with the price of gas, just to pick up a few ingredients to try a recipe. I was quite disappointed in the book. I'm not sure if the editing would help or not. I just think the content didn't deliver on an otherwise great concept.

Looks like you found lots of great books at McKays!
--BJ

>183 billiejean: Yes - I was quite excited about my "haul."

Not trying to catch up - I will just try to keep up from this point forward :)

I've missed you around here, Stasia! Glad you are back.

Thanks. It is good to be home again.

54. The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer - Andras Levi, a Hungarian Jew, manages to secure a chance to study architecture in France. This book chronicles his time in France and his brother's chance to study medicine in Italy. Then they lose their student visas and must return home. The hardships suffered by them and by their families are chronicled in the book. I was a bit intimidated by the size of this book -- almost 600 pages, but I need not have worried. Orringer is a very skillful storyteller and kept my attention throughout the entire book. The characters are well drawn. The atrocities suffered by the Jews during the Holocaust are never easy to read, so be prepared to shed a few tears. I am impressed by the amount of research that the author must have done to write such a marvelous piece of historical fiction. 5 stars.

This may be my best read of the year to date! Highly recommended.

55. Plum Gorgeous by Romney Steele - If you are looking for a cookbook to give as a gift, this would be a great option. The recipes in this book utilize many fruits, not just plums. From soups to meats to breads to desserts, a plethora of tasty treats awaits discovery by those who peruse it. The biggest strength of this book is in its illustration. The author shares some memories of the recipes, but her descriptions often left me wanting a little more information about the circumstances or the event. This review is based on an advance readers copy provided through NetGalley. 3.5 stars.

56. Cucina Povera by Pamela Sheldon Johns - This book is much more than a cookbook. In fact, for me, the strength of the book was not in the collection of recipes, but in the information on the foodways or food in culture of Italy. The first section of the book was devoted to a glimpse region by region of foods in that area. The illustrations for this section depicted the people. What a wonderful glimpse of the Italian culture! While the recipes are very typical of foods that would be served in Italian homes, I will probably use very few of them. I might enjoy trying stuffed squid in a restaurant, but I don't think it's something I would want often enough to create at home. To be fair, that is a rather extreme example, but overall, I felt that I would not use that many of the recipes in my own kitchen. The illustrations are marvelous, but not every dish is illustrated. This review is based on an advanced readers copy provided through NetGalley. 3.5 stars.

#188: I am hoping to get to that one this year. I have seen nothing but good reviews of the book here in the group. I am glad to see you thought highly of the book too, Lori!

57. Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream by David Platt - This is a challenging book for Christians, not only because the author asks readers to make a one-year commitment to enact the principles set forth in the book, but because he's asking them to get out of their comfort zones. I really cannot find fault with the principles the author expounds. They are well-documented by Scripture references. The one aspect of the book with which I took issue is the conversational tone in which it was written. Too many Christian books today are "dumbing down" the English language and thus perpetuating the notion that Christians have a lower intellect than critics of our faith. It's a book about our priorities. Are we truly concerned for the lost, or are we more concerned for ourselves in this culture of consumerism? It is certainly a thought-provoking book that would make wonderful group study and discussion among Christians. 3.5 stars.

#191: I will have to see if my local library has that one. Thanks for the review, Lori!

58. Christ in the Passover by Ceil Rosen and Moishe Rosen - I first encountered this book when I was a student at a Christian college in the early 1980s. A member of the Jews for Jesus organization gave a presentation and offered this book for sale. At that time, I remember really thinking the book was a wonderful presentation on the symbolism of the various parts of the Seder and showing how everything in the observance of Passover pointed to Christ. I wanted to read this book again this year. I began looking for my copy, but I could not find it. However, I was able to locate a copy in the library where I am employed. I was not quite as captivated by the read this time. I don't know if it was because I had just seen a similar presentation by another Messianic Jewish group or if my standards for book quality have changed over the years. The edition I read was published in 1978. The illustrations are definitely dated in this edition. I know that the copies currently for sale have a 2006 copyright date so I hope that this problem has been resolved. This is still a useful book on this topic, but I recommend that persons interested see a presentation of the topic which is far more engaging. I really prefer the presentation as done by Jews for Jesus over the other one I've seen, and I've noticed they have a 40-minute video available for viewing on their website. 3 stars.

I really liked that review, thornton, and am bookmarking the website to remind me to watch it once I have new internet service that allows me to do more.

59. Literary Taste: How to Form It by Arnold Bennett - I spotted this short little book on the shelves at our library and thought it would be an interesting read. There is no copyright date, but the type of paper used and the typeface hint that it was probably published between 1900 and 1920. I did find a 1909 bibliographic record for this work, so it's probably in the earlier part of the period. It was an interesting perspective to say the least. I loved some of the author's advice. He's given me the perfect advice excuse to go on a book-buying spree. On page 20, he advises his readers to "buy." He says, "Buy without any immediate reference to what you will read. Buy! Surround yourself with volumes, as handsome as you can afford." Later in the book he tells them (on page 88) to "Buy a library. It is obvious that you cannot read unless you have books . . . The moment has now come to inform you plainly that a bookman is, amongst other things, a man who possesses many books. A man who does not possess many books is not a bookman." The author does caution the reader against reading too much of the same kind of stuff. He encourages the reader to read short stories, essays, and poetry in addition to longer fictional works. He encourages the reader to read materials from all periods of literature, beginning with Chaucer and extending to the recently deceased. He does not have time to read contemporary literature, preferring to read what is tried and true. He gives a bibliography of 226 authors and 335 volumes which everyone should own. All of these can be had for the low price of $131.40 (12 cents per day for 3 years)! (If that were only true for us today!) I wonder what the author would think of Kindles and Nooks? While this book is extremely dated, it was an entertaining read. 3 stars.

Since the book was written in 1909, most if not all of those titles are probably available free on many websites, even without a Kindle or Nook.

True - but if he wants physical books, he's going to have to spend a lot more, particularly if we got the editions he specified -- even from a used book vendor.

>195 thornton37814: Thanks for the review, Lori! I was intrigued by this book and wanted to see the list. There are numerous online texts available (I used Project Gutenberg). I just quickly skimmed it, but did find it interesting and funny. Does your copy give the prices in dollars? The one I looked at is in pounds -- and it appears that only British writers are listed! At least, I didn't notice any Americans...

Message #188. Many memberse in our challenge gropu have read and raves about this book. I hope to read it soon.

>198 ivyd: The copy I read was kind of funny. In some places in the book, it used British pence; in other places it used American cents. I can't remember now what the list had on it. In fact, I don't really remember the values being with the individual volumes. When I returned it, I read a few key passages to our circulation librarian, and she checked out the book too so I can't really go back in the morning and check (unless she happens to have it with her).

>199 Whisper1: The Invisible Bridge is well worth the read!

>198 ivyd: P.S. All the titles I remember were British ones.

Adding Literary Taste to the BlackHole. Thanks, Lori!

60. Secret of the White Rose by Stefanie Pintoff - This is the first of the three Simon Ziele mysteries that I have read. A judge is murdered. Near the victim is a white rose and a Bible upon which the judge's hand has been placed. Among the judge's belongings is found a musical score with a white rose on the staff. The score turns out to be a musical cipher. The setting is New York City a few years after Teddy Roosevelt had begun reforming the department. The new police commissioner is more interested in the department's image than in justice. The commissioner is convinced by influential people to call Simon to the scene even though the case is not in his jurisdiction. He knows this case could make or break his career. This is just the beginning of a book that held my complete attention. We see anarchists and other interesting characters as the story unfolds. Because of the setting, I could not help but compare the book to Victoria Thompson's Gaslight Mysteries featuring midwife Sarah Brandt and Detective Frank Malloy. In fact, there were times that I really wish that these fictitious characters had been in on the investigation as well. I do not mean to take away from Simon's abilities at all, but the separation of only a few years in the settings and with many of the same places visited in the narrative just makes it a natural connection. Perhaps the highest praise I can give this book is that I want to go back and read the earlier books in the series to catch the exact references made to previous cases. Not having read them did not mar my enjoyment of this installment. This review is based on an advance uncorrected proof received through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program with the expectation that a review would be made. 4 stars.

>198 ivyd: Ivy - I was able to take a look at the copy of Literary Taste: How to Form It that I read. The list of books at the end only gave the author, title, and sometimes the series. No prices--British or American.

61. From the Jewish Heartland: Two Centuries of Midwest Foodways by Ellen F. Steinberg and Jack H. Prost - Authors Ellen F. Steinberg and Jack H. Prost have done a marvelous job combining social history with cookbooks and recipes to create an outstanding book on Jewish foodways in the Midwestern United States over the last two centuries. The authors have examined extensive published and unpublished sources, and their research is evident. As a genealogist, my favorite portions of the book were those which talked about Jewish culture and shared recipes from eras long ago, especially when the sources of such recipes were handwritten cookbooks or other manuscripts. I loved that they had researched in newspapers and manuscript collections to find the materials to adequately document their research. They did not overlook the many resources which can be found on the Internet. Carefully chosen photographs and facsimiles illustrate the text. This book will be treasured by persons interested in Jewish history, those interested in foodways of various ethnic groups, and by genealogists and other historians. This review is based on an advance reader's e-galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley with the expectation that a review would be written. 4 stars.

62. Digital Disciple by Adam Thomas - I expected to like this book much more than I did. The author is an Episcopalian priest. He identifies himself as a member of the Millennial generation, and unfortunately the writing is so geared toward the Millennial generation or to those younger that it was difficult to follow his thoughts. Even though I am quite familiar with Facebook, Twitter, and other forms of social media, I could not identify with metaphors he used from World of Warcraft and other computer games as I had never played them. The copy that I read was an advance Kindle-version e-galley provided through NetGalley. There were serious problems with the formatting that marred my reading enjoyment. It appears that they used OCR to convert the book. Drop caps were letters that were a line above the second letter of the word in opening chapters. Footnotes appeared exactly following the word where they appeared at the bottom of the page. This means that every time I got to footnotes that I had to skip one or more of them and locate the line where the rest of the sentence continued. Sometimes it was difficult to tell that you were beginning the text of the footnote or to identify where a footnote ended and the top of the next page began. I sincerely hope that the publisher will convert the text to utilize endnotes (either at the end of the book or at the end of the chapter) in the final Kindle version. I've always been a fan of footnotes in print publications, but after reading this book, I will admit that they don't work in the MOBI format. 2 stars.

I want to add one more comment that I didn't include specifically in the review. Although he defines what he means by "The Tech" early in the book, and it appears to be one of those illusions to something that probably only the millennial generation or younger would "get" without the explanation, I still found it hard to remember later on when he kept using that term over and over what he meant by it, especially if I resumed reading the next day or a couple of days later.

I'd like to see a book on this subject written in a language that baby boomers can understand!

>195 thornton37814: I just tracked down a cheap HC copy. I need books that justify my book buying habits instead of making me feel that they are a bit out of control.

>207 Tanglewood: Don't we all?!

63. This book came across my desk as I was cataloging today, and I liked it so much that I had to spend a little extra time examining it. The Photographs of Marion Post Wolcott by Marion Post Wolcott - What a great selection of photographs capturing primarily the Southern States (although there are a few stray photos from Wyoming, Montana, Missouri, and Vermont)! Wolcott was a photographer for the Farm Services Administration in the 1930s and 1940s, and these photographs were selected by the Library of Congress as part of the Fields of Vision series that showcases the work of individual photographers in that project. I loved the old painted signs on buildings, the glimpses into the home life of persons such as the photograph of a North Carolina woman in her kitchen, the old court docket book from Granville County, North Carolina, the painted advertisements on buildings such as the one in Natchez, Mississippi, the people hard at work, and the photos of children enjoying life. I could go on and on. 5 stars.

Sounds like an enjoyable hour or two could be spent perusing the photographs in the above mentioned book I will check my library for it but I have my doubts whether it would be carried here in Canada.

It's a very short book. After I got through looking at it, I showed it to a couple of other members of our staff. We all loved it!

64. The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig - Paul Milliron, Superintendent of Montana's Department of Public Instruction, has the unpleasant task of announcing the closure of the state's one room schoolhouses. He was a product of the one in Marias Coulee himself. Much of the book is a recollection of his 7th grade year. His mother had died. His dad sees an advertisement for a woman living in Minneapolis who wishes to move west and become a housekeeper. They really believe that the part of the ad about her not knowing how to cook is a joke, but soon find out its truth. Accompanying her is Morrie who is practically a walking encyclopedia. Morrie had a great influence on Paul. When I first began reading this book, I was a bit distracted by life, and the book got off to a slow start even though I really could not fault anything. However, the more I read, the more I enjoyed the book. I'm really not quite sure how I feel about the ending of the historic portion of the book. It's probably realistic, especially for that period in Montana's history, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. I think the one thing that bothered me most about the pending closure of the one-room schools in favor of the consolidated schools was the statement made in the book that no child would have to ride on a bus more than 1.5 hours each way. In today's schools, I'm not sure this could be justified because of the high cost of gasoline. It also makes for a very long day for the children. That's 3 hours in addition to a normal 7 hour school day. I also believe that the students in many of those one room schoolhouses learned far more in the first eight grades than today's students. Some would say that it's just a different type of learning, but having seen many college students unprepared for college, I believe that some of those students were better prepared for today's colleges than are many current students. It's definitely a thought-provoking literary work. 4 stars.

Lori...great discussion of Whistling Season--I just downloaded the audio and can't wait to get started on this one. I loved Doig's Work song - the sequel- so I have high hopes for this one too.

I was just eying Work Song in our library today and wondering how it measured up to the other. However, I do believe that if Tina likes it, Lori should like it too. I have a few things I need to read (2 NetGalleys to read, 1 ARC from GoodReads, and 2 more April TIOLI books) before I can allow myself to check it out, but maybe I can get to it in the next couple of months.

If I'd been posting this review on Amazon.com, I would have just seriously lowered it's rating. It has 2 five star reviews there.

65. At My Grandmother's Knee by Faye Porter - Every Southerner will recognize the recipes in this collection. If they were not prepared in your own family, you knew someone who brought them to the church dinners. This is a collection of recipes compiled by the author. The recipes are headed by short vignettes that include a quote from a granddaughter about her grandmother who made the recipe. The graphic design and layout of the book were nice and the food photography was excellent. Unfortunately the cookbook suffers from a major problem in regards to organization. The order in which groupings of recipes were presented was problematic. For example, there is a section on pies and cobblers, then cakes, then cookies, then one on chocolate pies, and then on other desserts. Why are the pies and chocolate pies not combined or at least together? The earlier sections also suffer organizational issues. I was actually disappointed in the book. The author, in her introduction, calls this book part history and part cookbook. Unfortunately the book failed to deliver on the history aspect. The vignettes were so short that a reader never got a sense of the grandmother in most cases. If this book was a tribute to grandmothers, why weren't there photographs of the grandmothers to accompany the recipes? The e-galley I read was missing the index so I'm unable to review that aspect of the book. I probably won't go out of my way to purchase a new copy of this book, but if I do happen to find it at a bargain price in a used bookstore or on a bargain table, I might consider it. This review is based on an advance reader's e-galley provided by the author through NetGalley. 2.5 stars.

66. How to Eat a Small Country by Amy Finley - This book can be summarizes in the three letter text abbreviation, "TMI" (or "Too Much Information"). From the introductory pages that droned on and on about killing a rabbit to cook to the very last page, the book grew tiresome quickly. Even the descriptions of the food did little to redeem the book. The book is in need of an experienced memoir editor to hone the pages. I do admire Amy for her willingness to give up her Food Network career to save her marriage, but this book did not do a very good job of describing how that was done. Instead we are offered short episodes that usually center around a meal they had in France. There are no recipes included -- a glaring omission in a book written by a chef discussing food and cuisine. This book was received through Goodreads' First Reads program for review. 2 stars.

After I wrote my review, I began looking at other reviews both here on LibraryThing (which had very few) and over at Amazon.com. I found one there that describes this book exactly as I saw it. I offer you a link to that review: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2SFK0IOL5HKUH/

67. A Deadly Shaker Spring by Deborah Woodworth - A series of incidents makes it appear that someone is out to destroy the North Homage Shaker community. It becomes apparent that the person is intimately acquainted with the Shaker ways. Is it a current member or an apostate? It's up to Sister Rose Callahan who has recently been named eldress to determine the source of problems and to call in the police if necessary. This is my second venture into this series. I tried one several years ago, but I don't think I could even finish it. I managed to get through the book this time, but I don't think this will ever be a favorite series. I think my biggest problem with the series is probably the thing that makes it unique -- the Shaker Village setting. I just don't really care for it. The plot of this is somewhat plausible, and it's believable that the Shakers would want to keep the investigation within their own community as long as possible. I probably won't bother to read additional books in this Shaker series. 3 stars.

#212 When I was a child, my siblings & I were the first ones on the bus in the morning, then rode 1 hour and 20 minutes to school. Several years down the road, the school decided that to be "fair" we would switch routes at the semester, and thus we didn't have to get on until 7:45 am or so, but we became the last ones off at night, getting home around 4:45. I much preferred getting on early, when I had my pick of seats, and getting off early as well!

Consolidated schools are still the norm in rural America, but I don't know how long bus rides are these days.

68. At Home on Ladybug Farm by Donna Ball - Tired of city life, Cici, Bridget, and Lindsay purchased a farm in the Shenandoah Valley which they intend to restore. Cici's daughter Lori has dropped out of college and moved in with them. They've also taken in an orphaned boy. The ladies must come up with a way to make the farm pay for itself. They encounter their fair share of troubles along the way. This is a pleasant escape. I do love the way that they utilize the library to learn about things they need to know in their venture. I also love the way that the farm's history was woven into the story. I discovered that this is the second in the series, although I have not read the first. I will be on the lookout for that book as well. It's just a nice story about rural life. 4 stars.

I read the Winter Shaker one years ago and didn't continue with it either.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't really care for the series.

69. Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo - Our pastor used this book as an extended illustration in his Easter sermon yesterday. I wanted to read it for myself. Just shy of his 4th birthday, Colton Burpo suffers a near-death experience in which he visits heaven for a short period of time. He begins to slowly reveal his experiences to his parents over a period of time -- telling them things which he had no way of knowing based on his earthly experiences. It's a very inspirational story, and I don't want to give away too much of it in my review. It's a good reminder to us all that we should have the faith of a child and that "Jesus really loves the children." The book was co-written by Colton's father Todd, a Wesleyan pastor, and by the man who helped write Sarah Palin's book, Going Rogue. 4 stars.

Knowing that I'm heading to the Charleston area, I picked up this short book from my giant TBR pile. I probably should have left it on the pile.

70. Murder on Pawley's by Margaret Haswell - The author fictionalized the story of her ancestral Alston family. This is apparently the second installment. (The first is entitled Maria.) Anyone who has visited the Charleston, South Carolina area will recognize many of the surnames in this story. The murder is that of a mulatto plantation overseer. Unfortunately the narrative does not flow well. The conversation is awkward, and the remaining narrative is not engaging. 2 stars.

71. A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park - Tree-ear, an orphaned boy in 12th century Korea, lives with Crane-man under a bridge. He often admires the work of the potter Min. After breaking a piece of pottery, Tree-ear goes to work for the potter. It will eventually change his life. It's a good story at a lower middle grades reading level that will resonate with many of its readers. 3.5 stars.

Lori,

Sorry that your Charleston read didn't suit you, but look on the bright side, you're going to Charleston!

I wish....

If only I hadn't read the Laura Childs tea mystery as soon as it came out, Cheli! I think I'll check out a Dorothea Benton Frank book. I'm one or two behind on hers. That one should get be fine!

>224 thornton37814: - When I read this book I was inspired to look up examples of Korean pottery and the celadon color that was spoken about. It really is beautiful!

72. The Snowman by Jo Nesbo - Norway has its first serial killer who leaves behind a snowman as his signature. Harry Hole is the only detective with experience tracking serial killers. He sets out to find the person responsible for the deaths in what appears at first to be a missing persons case. It's a mystery filled with suspense -- much of it a little too nightmarish for my personal taste. Although I understand why the author used it, I don't enjoy reading things that involve sex crimes. While this one doesn't go all that far in that direction, it did so to an extent beyond my comfort level. It's a well-plotted mystery, full of action that builds the suspense. There are some formatting issues with the Kindle version that make it a little awkward to read in places. It's not on every page but there are awkward line breaks and breaks in the middle of words. This review is based on an advance reader's e-galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley, and it is hoped that the formatting issues will be resolved in the final version. 3.5 stars.

Time for a new thread. Here it is: http://www.librarything.com/topic/115453