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Porch_Reader (Amy) Reads in 2012Join LibraryThing to post. This topic is currently marked as "dormant"—the last message is more than 90 days old. You can revive it by posting a reply. 1porch_readerEdited: Dec 31, 2011, 10:58am 
Hi! I'm Amy, and this is my 5th year in the 75ers. Welcome to my shiny new 2012 thread. I hope that you will visit and comment often, or feel free to lurk.
I read a variety of books, including literary fiction, mysteries, assorted non-fiction, and YA/juvenile. I also read aloud to my sons (a fifth-grader and a second-grader), and I'll keep track of those books here too.
You'll also see some management/leadership books here that I read for the classes that I teach at the University of Iowa.
QuoteHere’s a quote from The Lost Art of Reading by David L. Ulin, which I love. "Reading, after all, is an act of resistance in a landscape of distraction, a matter of engagement in a society that seems to want nothing more than for us to disengage. It connects us at the deepest levels; it is slow rather than fast. That is its beauty and its challenge in a culture of instant information, it requires us to pace ourselves. What does it mean, this notion of slow reading? Most fundamentally, it returns us to a reckoning with time. In the midst of a book, we have no choice but to be patient, to take each thing in its moment, to let the narrative prevail. Even more, we are reminded of all we need to savor - this instant, this scene, this line. We regain the world by withdrawing from it just a little, by stepping back from the noise, the tumult, to discover our reflections in another mind. As we do, we join a broader conversation, by which we both transcend ourselves and are enlarged" (pp. 150-151). 5porch_readerEdited: Mar 5, 2012, 7:49pm
GoalsI'm not setting many explicit reading goals for the year, but I do have a few general goals. As always, I'd like to read some of the many books that are currently on my shelves. I plan to read more by some of my favorite authors, including: John Irving Edwidge Danticat John Green Bonnie Campbell Ann Patchett Barbara Kingsolver Shel Silverstein I’d also like to read some authors whose books I've never read, including: Margaret Atwood - Oryx and Crake - January 6, 2012 Mario Vargas Llosa - Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter - February 16, 2012 J.D. Salinger Zadie Smith Julian Barnes - The Sense of an Ending - March 3, 2012 Gabriel Garcia Marquez Daphne Du Maurier Kurt Vonnegut Robertson Davies Gish Jen Lan Samantha Chang Jeffrey Eugenides Deirdre Madden Ernest J Gaines Laurie Halse Anderson I’d love to add more names to this list. Feel free to suggest your own favorite authors. 6Donna828Dec 31, 2011, 11:15am
Hi Amy, it's good to see you here. I recently added Edith Wharton to my list of favorite authors. Robertson Davies is a new-to-me author that may go on the list after I've read more of his work. Isn't it great that our reading lives are constantly expanding?
Wishing you a Happy New Year full of new reading discoveries. 7jnwelchDec 31, 2011, 12:56pm
Hi, Amy. I like your '11 favorites and goals. Lots of good authors to read. Should be a great 2012! 8LuxxDec 31, 2011, 1:06pm
Popping in to mark my spot for lurking. Happy new year!
Hi Amy...what a great way to start the New Year. I especially like the way you've set out your goals, favorites and past history. Gives us a great refresher all in one spot. I may steal your format. Looking forward to lurking on your threads this year. I don't do a lot of gabbing, but trust me, I'm always keeping up with what's happening here....you have some great reads from the past, and planned for the future.
Have a great year! 11muddy21Dec 31, 2011, 2:59pm
I'm glad to be back on LT and will be stopping by to hear about what you're reading - we have a lot of reading interests in common. Best wishes for the New Year!
Somehow I missed your thread last year, Amy, but it looks like we have some similar tastes so I'll be peeking in here occasionally.
Starred! Looking forward to your reads this year.
Hi Amy - am looking forward to seeing what you read this year.
Hi Amy, I just started reading AY books this past year. Looking forward to see what you can add to my tbr.
Happy New Year, Amy! Glad to see you joining us again for 2012!
What a great way to start the New Year – with lots of visitors! #6 – Donna – I’m definitely going to add Robertson Davies to my new-to-me author list. I bought the Deptford Trilogy at a used book store last year, so I can read a new-to-me author and a book-off-the-shelf at the same time. I’ve only read one book by Edith Wharton – Ethan Frome – but I have The Age of Innocence on my Kindle, so maybe I’ll give that one a try too. Happy New Year! #7 – Hi Joe! When I saw your 2011 favorites on the 2011 group, I went looking for your thread. I think almost all of your favorites were books that I’ve loved or books that I want to read. I’m so glad that you’ve staked out your space in the 2012 group. I’ll be visiting often! #8 – Happy New Year to you, Luxx! I hope 2012 is a great one for you. #9 – Thanks, Tina! I love looking back over the past year and setting goals for the new year. I’m looking forward to seeing what you read in 2012. I’ve got your blog in my Blog Reader too, so I’ve got two places to keep my eye on you! #10 – Hi Karen! I’m glad to see you in the 2012 group. I just checked out your thread, and already added a couple of books to my TBR list! #11 – Hi Marilyn! Thanks for stopping by. #12 – Hi Jim! Good to be back. Many thanks to you for setting up the 2012 group. I’ve already used the threadbook several times! #13 – Hi Micky! I’m glad you stopped by. I just popped over to your thread – what a fun place! #14 – Hi Faith! I’m looking forward to keeping up with you too! Happy New Year! #15 – Hi Cushla! I know that 2012 will be an exciting year for you. Look forward to keeping up with your reading and education adventures. #16 – Cindy – I started reading YA based on several good recommendations from 75ers, especially Linda/Whisper1. I’ll be keeping an eye on your reading too. #17 – Stasia – It always makes me smile to see a post from you. Here’s to a great 2012! #18 – Hi Morphy! Ready Player One was such a fun book. I read it in August, and it was a perfect summer book. Thanks for the Brene Brown recommendation on my 2011 thread. I’ve only read The Gifts of Imperfection, but I definitely want to read more by her. 20jnwelchJan 1, 2012, 1:53pm
Thanks, Amy. The pleasure is mine. I noticed the same similarity in book tastes - I'm looking forward to visiting a lot in 2012! I loved Ready Player One, too. My son and nephew ate it up - we gave it to my nephew for Christmas and he could barely tear himself away from it.
Dropping by to wish you a Happy New Year!
#20 - Joe - I'm with your nephew on that one. Ready Player One is definitely a book that drew me in. #21 - Hi Rachel! I went and visited your thread and your profile. Love the pic of you holding the penguin. I'm so jealous! #22 - Happy New Year, Roni! Here's to a great 2012.
Book #1 - Every Last One - Anna Quindlen - Finished January 1, 2012 Category: off-the-shelf Pages: 299 I used to love Anna Quindlen's columns in Newsweek, and I was excited to pick this book up at a library book sale. The first half of the book is the story of a typical family (if there is such a thing). Mary Beth Latham is a wife and mother of three teenagers. Each has their own triumphs and their own issues. Quindlen captures the daily moments of being a mother beautifully, while at the same time building subtle tension. A string of crimes in their safe suburban neighborhood, an ex-boyfriend who continue to obsess over Latham's daughter, a son who shows signs of depression - these are the things that keep Latham up at night. But I never imagined what tragedy the Lathams would face. Because I had developed a relationship with Mary Beth, I felt her emotions deeply and had to read the rest of the book in small chunks. A book that can evoke that kind of emotion is a good read in my book.
Book #2 - Every Thing On It - Shel Silverstein - Finished January 1, 2012 Category: off-the-shelf, juvenile, poetry, TIOLI Pages: 195 I was thrilled to get this posthumously published collection of Shel Silverstein's poems and drawings for Christmas. I grew up with Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic, and I still appreciate Uncle Shelby's sense of humor. Reading these while the kids were home from school on Christmas break meant that I could share the best of the collection on the spot. While the kids were most fond of the funny poems, I like the poignant ones, including one titled "When I Am Gone." When I am gone what will you do? Who will write and draw for you? Someone smarter - someone new? Someone better - maybe YOU!
Hi Amy! Adding my star...
I love Shel Silverstein, too. I often recommend that my young students use one of his poems as an audition piece, as it's difficult to find monologues for children.
Sandy K
Book #3 - We Wanted to Be Writers: Life, Love, and Literature at the Iowa Writers' Workshop - Eric Olsen and Glenn Schaeffer - Finished January 1, 2012 Category: Early Reviewers, off-the-shelf, nonfiction, writing Pages: 344 Olsen and Schaeffer were students at the Iowa Writers' Workshop in the mid-1970s, along with Jane Smiley, T. C. Boyle, Allan Gurganus, Jayne Ann Phillips, and many others. In this book, they've pulled together observations about the Workshop, writing, and the publishing industry from about 30 fellow students and faculty. For those who are curious about the experience of getting an MFA and being/becoming writers, We Wanted to Be Writers provides diverse perspectives, from those who found inspiration and support to those who found the Workshop too competitive. The diverse voice also provide insight into the range of ways that Workshop graduates approach writing and define success. I live near Iowa City and teach at the University of Iowa, so I was fascinated to learn more about the Iowa Writers' Workshop. The influence of the Workshop extends far beyond the MFA students. I love the readings and events that take place in Iowa City, a UNESCO City of Literature. And I've always enjoyed learning about learning - in books like One L, which provides insight into law school, and Snapshots from Hell, which shows us the ropes of MBA programs. This book joins that tradition. The choice to blend so many voices in one book had its pros and cons. The diverse perspectives came at the expense of a flowing narrative. However, for those of you who are interested in a behind-the-scenes look at a legendary MFA program, I recommend We Wanted to Be Writers.
#26 - Hi Sandy! I can imagine that Shel Silverstein's poems make great monologues. They are just dripping with imagery. Happy New Year! 29weejaneJan 1, 2012, 8:46pm
Hello Amy! I too read Ready Player One last year. It was so phenomenal I have considered re-reading it this year. It was one of those books that was so hard to put down, yet I didn't want it to end.
Three books down already? Wow! What a terrific start to your reading year, Amy! I am anxiously awaiting the day my local library has Ready Player One. I would love to read it.
#29 - I agree, Brit! I'm anxious to see what Ernest Cline writes next.
#30 - Unfortunately, Stasia, I'm afraid that it is all downhill from here. :) I started those three books in the end-of 2011 readathon, but now that they are done, I'm starting a couple of new ones. It may be a while until I resurface!
Hi and Happy New Year Amy.
Isn't it every so wonderful that some of us have been together for five years. And, it is also ever so lovely that many new, incredible people joined over the years.
Tomorrow is my 40th birthday! It's also the day my kids go back to school after Christmas break, and I need to get back to work as well. So we celebrated on New Year's Eve. One of my friends has a middle-school daughter who is great at decorating cakes, and she got a book-shaped cake pan for Christmas. Add some creativity and a lot of icing, and here's what she came up with:  (The picture is also on my profile page if it is too small here.) My husband and kids also got me several book-related birthday gifts, including Wonderstruck, California Pizza Kitchen Family Cookbook, parts 1 and 2 of the 7th Harry Potter movie on DVD, and a shirt that says, "I'm with the Banned" and lists lots of banned books. All in all, a nice celebration (but I'm not that thrilled about being 40).
#32 - Hi Linda! Happy New Year to you! I feel like I've known you forever. Besides being responsible for some of my best reads over the past few years, you also always bring a smile to my face with your posts. Here's to a great 2012! 35phebjJan 2, 2012, 8:38pm
Happy Birthday, Amy! Age is relative and from my perspective, you're a mere child. That cake is amazing and I hope your friend's daughter is considering culinary schools. Hope you have a good day tomorrow even with going back to work. 36sydamyJan 2, 2012, 9:33pm
Hi Amy (love your name, it's my younger daughters!) I loved many of the books on your best of list and I'm glad to see you loved some that I have sitting on my tbr pile -hello Ready Player One. If you read Invention of Hugo Cabret you will love Wonderstruck, I could star at those illustrations forever. Happy reading and happy birthday! 37weejaneJan 2, 2012, 10:02pm
That's a great cake Amy! I hope you have a great birthday tomorrow!
Enjoy your birthday! I love the book cake.
I felt weird about turning 40, too. But that feeling went away quickly.
Sandy K
Happy Birthday, Amy! Great cake!
Stopping by to star your 2012 thread! Happy Birthday, Amy! That cake rocks.
Thanks, Pat, Susan, Brit, Sandy, Roni, Anita, and Marcia! Even though I had to go back to work, I had a great day. I've already read 250 pages of Wonderstruck, and I love it. The illustration are gorgeous. My husband took me out for lunch (and flourless chocolate torte), and then I went to Prairie Lights, our excellent Iowa City bookstore. I ended up with Bel Canto, a re-read for me but one that I want to own, and Running the Rift, which won the Bellwether Prize for Fiction. ( Mudbound, one of my favorite favorites won the Bellwether a few years ago. It's an award that Barbara Kingsolver gives for fiction in support of social change.) So far, 40 is not so bad!
Happy Birthday, Amy! And how nice that you got to go book-shopping to celebrate!
A belated 'Happy Birthday' from me, Amy! 45weejaneJan 4, 2012, 6:16am
I'm waiting for Wonderstruck to be returned to the school library so I can check it out. 46nittnutJan 4, 2012, 9:48am
Starred you! I'm late to the party, but I'm getting caught up.
Amy, I have a son older than you...and he shares your birthday! I'm not saying how old he is; I had him when I was very young. ;-)
What a cool cake. I might have to check into buying a book cake pan and think of something clever to write on it.
Happy (Belated) Birthday!
Hi Milda, Stasia, and Jenn! Thanks for stopping by! Donna - You must have been a VERY young mom. How cool to find a birthday twin! Brit - Wonderstruck is a quick read. I've been making myself read small chunks just to make it last a little longer. I'll be interested to hear what you think of it!
Book #4 - The Christmas Genie - Dan Gutman - Finished January 4, 2012 Category: read-aloud Pages: 150 Once again this year, I'm going to try to make time to read with each of my boys before bed. We've been doing this for a few years. It doesn't happen every night, but we've read quite a few books this way. My fifth-grade son and I love Dan Gutman. We enjoyed The Homework Machine and Return of the Homework Machine, and The Christmas Genie was just as good. When Mrs. Walters' fifth-grade class gets the chance to make a Christmas wish, they have very different ideas of what to wish for. The book is funny and fast-paced. The dialogue between the kids sounded just like conversations that my son and his friends have. The book also led to some good discussions about what we would wish for if we were given the opportunity.
Happy Belated Birthday to you!
52weejaneJan 6, 2012, 6:44am
Amy - Maybe I'll take Wonderstruck with me to my girls basketball tournament on Saturday. . .
Nothing to bemoan, this getting older thing. Those of us who've had a couple o years in the club now realize that the extra years help you savor life on a different level. Welcome to the club!
Might look for the writers workshop book. Just got a book about getting an MFA without the school; The Portable MFA in Creative Writing
#52 - Brit - Wonderstruck is a heavy one to carry around, but it drew me in so much that I could read it even with lots of commotion in the background. (By the way, I'll be at a basketball tournament this afternoon too. My fifth-grader plays three games!) #53 - Thanks, Mac! The Portable MFA book sounds interesting. I believe that there are several books about the Iowa Writers' Workshop. We Wanted to be Writers is the first one I've read. #54 - If you liked Hugo Cabret, I think you'll love Wonderstruck, Joe! It is a beautiful book in so many ways. By the way, I got one of your 2011 favorites for Christmas, Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter. It'll be my first by Mario Vargas Llosa!
Book #5: Wonderstruck - Brian Selznick - Finished January 6, 2012 Category: Off-the-shelf Pages: 637 If you liked The Invention of Hugo Cabret, you will love Wonderstruck. If you haven't read The Invention of Hugo Cabret, you should read them both. Brian Selznick is a genius of storytelling in words and pictures. Wonderstruck begins with the story of Ben, a boy who lives in Minnesota in 1977. Ben's story is told in words. His mother has just died, and he doesn't know his father. But clues from his mother's room set him on a journey. Interspersed with Ben's story is the story of Rose, a girl in New York City in 1927. Rose's story, told entirely in pictures, is also a story of a child searching for her place in the world. The storylines and the ways they are told come together in a way that feels natural, not forced. The story is also richly layered. Selznick weaves in information about Deaf culture, museums, life in Minnesota, life in New York, and more For me, this was a very satisfying read. I also have to note that this is a beautiful book. The pictures themselves are striking. The characters look up off the page directly into the reader's eyes. Although I was drawn into the story and often turned the pages quickly, I want to go back and savor the pictures. But the words are beautiful too. Ben and Rose both know hardships in their lives, but the story is ultimately one of hope and connection. 57jnwelchJan 7, 2012, 10:58am
Great review of Wonderstruck, Amy. I'm really looking forward to reading it. I hope you enjoy Aunt Julia as much as I did. I thought Llosa's imagination and skill were just un-freaking-believable in this one.
And with that, Wonderstruck finally creeps its way onto the TBR list. Excellent review, Amy! 59weejaneJan 7, 2012, 8:40pm
Hey Amy - I hope your kid's tournament went well! I actually didn't get any reading done at mine, which was fine. I loved your review of Wonderstruck. I'm anxious to start it!
I have Hugo on my TBR list, I've added Wonderstruck now, too. Especially as I live in Minnesota.
>56: It looks like I have to add two books by Brian Selznick to the sagging WL! I've been told by many to read Hugo before seeing the movie. By the time I get to it, the movie will be gone. ;-)
Oooh, I love to watch kids play basketball. My 9-year-old granddaughter plays but I usually only get to see one game per season because of the 3-hour distance.
Hi, just de lurking to say congrats on reaching 40! One of those milestone birthdays Im sure to enjoy (maybe) in a few years! If the J D Salinger book you're looking at reading this year is The Catcher in the Rye, I'd go for it asap. Its short and easy to read, but also very powerful and enjoyable. And of course, one of those important books that's talked about.
Thanks, everyone! Wonderstruck is one of those books that I feel good about recommending. I think that it would be very popular at your library, Stasia! The basketball tournament went great yesterday. My son, who works hard but doesn't get a lot of basketball skill from his genes, had a great day. And the game was played in an auditorium. The school where they played put a basketball court on their stage. So instead of sitting on bleachers, I watched from a comfy theater seat in the balcony. #63 - Megan - So glad you delurked! 40 isn't bad, although I played basketball and soccer at my second-grader's birthday party this afternoon, and I think I'm feeling my age in my aching bones! The Catcher in the Rye is the Salinger book that I'm thinking about reeading. I can't believe I've never read it. It is time to remedy that.
Book #6 - Oryx and Crake - Margaret Atwood - Finished January 7, 2012 Category: New-to-Me Author, TIOLI, Orange Prize Pages: 376 This year, I want to read more new-to-me authors, especially those who have a large body of work and who I've read good things about on so many of your threads. Margaret Atwood definitely falls in that category. Although this didn't sound like "my kind of book" based on the blurb on the back, I was immediately drawn in by Atwood's storytelling ability. It is clear from the beginning that something has gone terribly wrong. Snowman is alone in a post-apocalyptic world, and through flashbacks, we gradually learn about the world in which Snowman grew up and the steps that led to the current state of the world. It is the subtle differences between our world and the world in which Snowman grew up that are perhaps the most disturbing. Although the conditions in which Snowman is living now seem unlikely and even far-fetched, Atwood shows how a short slippery slope could land mankind in such a place. There is not a single misstep in this tightly plotted book. What a pleasure to discover such a skilled writer who has written so many other books that I look forward to discovering.
Hey Amy, great write-up of Oryx and Crake. I just finished a reread (listened to the CD actually) and again I was astounded with Atwood's creativity. So many fascinating details, didn't you think? chickinobs, anyone?! I"m listening to the 2nd of the proposed trilogy in the car now- The Year of the Flood. I read it when it first came out, but I was so far removed from O&C that I had trouble connecting. This one takes place in the Plebes-- completely different.
#64: I did find it in the library card catalogue - under Wonder Struck rather than spelled as one word. I am hoping to be able to pick it up this next week. #65: Oryx and Crake was the first of Atwood's books that I read too, Amy. I loved it. You might want to give the follow up book, The Year of the Flood, a shot. 68lunacatJan 8, 2012, 11:08pm
And once you're done with The Year of the Flood which, as the others said, is the follow-up and much 'easier' to read, you should pick up The Handmaid's Tale. A few people I've seen have really disliked it but it's one of my all time favourites, and also a book I can continue to read and find new things from.
The only Atwood I've read is Alias Grace but I absolutely loved it, so I recommend that one. :)
Eek, Oryx and Crake is one of the books I have disliked the most. I couldn't place it in any time or place in my head that made sense. Like you and Stasia it was my first Atwood, and I've read others since. I also intend to read Surfacing and Bluebeards Egg soon. Yes, soon. Well maybe in the next few years ;) 73leahbirdEdited: Jan 9, 2012, 9:27pm
hi there! i'm doing the 75 challenge for the first time this year (i've done others in past years), and i thought i'd drop in and say i was following your thread. i think we might have similar reading tastes, so it should be fun. happy reading! 74weejaneJan 10, 2012, 6:22am
Amy - so glad to hear that your son's tournament went well!
Margaret Atwood certainly generates a lot of discussion! I’m so glad that you all stopped by to share your thoughts. #66 – Jenny – I think that it is the details that will stick with me from Oryx and Crake. I’m afraid that the snats (snakes + rats) will show up in my dreams. #67 – Hi Stasia! I’ll definitely try The Year of the Flood. #68 – I’m so glad to hear that you liked The Handmaid’s Tale, Jenny. I bought it when it was a Kindle Daily Deal, so I’ll be reading it soon! #69 – That’s good to know, Morphy! It sounds like I have no place to go but up! #70 – {Adding Alias Grace to the TBR list.} Thanks, Micky! Sounds like I should plan at Atwood-athon! #71 – Eek, Oryx and Crake is one of the books I have disliked the most. I couldn't place it in any time or place in my head that made sense. I can see what you mean, Megan. I wonder if Atwood didn’t associate it with any specific time or place on purpose. But I haven’t read much dystopian fiction, so I thought maybe that was typical. I’ve never even heard of Surfacing or Bluebird’s Egg, but they both sound fascinating too. Atwood certainly doesn’t seem to be a formulaic writer. Her books all seem so different from each other. #72 – Jenn – Can’t wait to see what you think of Wonderstruck! And thanks for the Atwood perspectives. I’m beginning to think I’m just going to have to try several of her books to find my favorites. #73 – Leah – Thanks for stopping by and declaring your presence! I poked around on your profile, and I do think we have similar reading tastes. I’m also fascinated to hear more about your Bookworm Farm! #74 – Thanks, Brit! He’s supposed to have a game tonight too, but he has an awful cough, so we are having a recuperation day.
#71, 75 - Year of the Flood "feels" like New York City or a similar northeast coast city. I would place it about 25 years in the future.
Book #7: Drive: The Surprising Truth about what Motivates Us - Daniel Pink - Finished January 12, 2012 Category: work, off-the-shelf Pages: 272 I am teaching an 8-week EMBA course on Management in Organizations, and our first week focuses on motivating and engaging others. Pink's book Drive presents evidence in support of the importance of intrinsic motivation. Especially for tasks that require creative or adaptive solutions, if-then rewards don't work well. For those types of jobs, employees may be more motivated when they have freedom to choose how to do their work (autonomy), when they have the opportunity to use their strengths and to learn and develop (mastery), and when they contribute to a meaningful outcome (purpose). Pink gives lots of examples of how business organizations use these intrinsic motivators to improve performance and employee well-being, which makes this a very readable book. His ideas are also consistent with the research evidence in this area. If you don't want to read the whole book, Pink introduces his ideas in a TED Talk, which is available here.
Book #8: Salvage the Bones - Jesmyn Ward - Finished January 13, 2012 Category: award winner Pages: 261 In Salvage the Bones, Ward tells us about twelve days in the life of Esch, a fifteen-year-old girl growing up in a coastal town in Mississippi. We see the typical, everyday events of her life - helping her brother Skeetah care for a litter of puppies, watching her brother Randall play basketball, and caring for her younger brother Junior. But through these events, I got to know Esch so well that I felt like I had crawled inside her skin. And because of the relationship I developed with her, I was affected deeply by the challenges that faced her in this story - an alcoholic father, an approaching hurricane, and the growing knowledge that her life is about to change. While Esch is the focus of the book, the supporting characters are also vibrant and crystal clear. Ward has written a book that is layered - a coming-of-age story, a portrait of a family, a look into a region and a way of life. For me, this book was a surprise that transported me to another place, inside another person. I recommend this book highly, but I do have to warn you that there is a chapter about a dog fight that was very difficult for me to read. I think that the intensity of the chapter illustrates the author's skill, but that didn't make it any less difficult to read.
Amy, thanks for that review of Oryx and Crake. I've got it on the agenda for next week after I finish a few library books. The 12 in 12 Challenge is doing a group read on it this month. It should be good support for me as I'm not a big dystopian fan. Darryl (kidzdoc) also gave a warning about the dogfight chapter. I think that will keep me from reading the book. I am so squeamish when it comes to animal cruelty. Other than that, it sounds like a good book. I like how you identified with the characters. 80EBT1002Jan 16, 2012, 6:03pm
Found you and starred you, Amy (thanks for the link). Salvage the Bones sounds terrific and I gave your review a thumb. Yes, Prairie Lights is the one. Even though I was living on pre-doc intern wages, I believe I contributed to their well-being during the year I lived there. And happy very-belated birthday! :-)
#79 - Donna - I'll be interested to see what you think of Oryx and Crake. I found it pretty disturbing in places. But it does say something about the author when she can invoke such a reaction from me. The same was true of Jesmyn Ward with Salvage the Bones. I still find myself worrying about Esch. #80 - Ellen - Thanks for stopping by and for the thumb! I have taken over for you in contributing to the well-being of Prairie Lights. I do feel less guilty when I buy books from an independent book store. #81 - Mac - I didn't even know Atwood had a writing book. Onto the TBR it goes! 83EBT1002Edited: Jan 18, 2012, 1:34am
Yes, Amy, it's nice that we can buy books from an Indie and, as Darryl once said, practically label it "contributing to a charity!" :-)
It does ease the guilt a bit as they do need our business.
Book #9: Cannery Row - John Steinbeck - Finished January 17, 2012 Category: classic, group read Pages: 181 Add me to the list of 75ers who loved Cannery Row. I haven't read any Steinbeck since high school, so a big thanks to those who organized the Steinbeckathon. This was a great start to the year. The title of this book is spot on because this book is, first and foremost, a portrait of Cannery Row. Using a combination of interesting characters and beautiful description, Steinbeck transports his readers to Cannery Row. Life there is not easy, and the people we meet all face challenges. But they are genuine, and there are some very tender moments. These are characters I won't soon forget. 85EBT1002Jan 18, 2012, 10:16pm
"this book is...a portrait of Cannery Row."
So true. 86phebjJan 19, 2012, 9:38am
So glad you loved Cannery Row, Amy. It is definitely one of my favorite books and I don't think I ever would have read it if not for the Steinbeckathon. 87jnwelchJan 19, 2012, 10:10am
Ditto from me, Amy. Glad to see you enjoyed Cannery Row. The book makes me smile just to think of it.
Hi Ellen, Pat, and Joe! The other thing that I liked about Cannery Row is that so many others are reading it at the same time. I've enjoyed seeing everyone's comments, favorite quotes, favorite characters, etc.
Book #10: This is Where I Leave You - Jonathan Tropper - Finished January 19, 2012 Category: Audio Pages: 352 I listen to audio books on my drive/walk to and from work - about 45 minutes/day. I enjoy listening to books this way, but sometimes it feels a little choppy. It's hard to really sink into a book. But this semester, I'm teaching Executive MBAs in Des Moines - about two hours from here. Honestly, I'm not that excited about driving to Des Moines four times in January and February, but my silver lining is that I get a chunk of time to listen to a book. I was glad to be able to do that with This Is Where I Leave You. Judd Foxman's marriage is crumbling, and he has lost his job when he gets the news that his father has passed away. Their father's last wish is that the family - Judd's mother and his three siblings - sit shiva. For a family that has trouble making it through holiday dinner, it is not surprising that the week they spend together is filled with conflict. But despite the fact that the book deals with some serious issues, there are plenty of humorous moments as well. Tropper's snappy dialogue is often spot on and quite funny. It is the wry observations that made this book stand out from other family dramas. For example, Judd notes that people come to pay their respects in groups, as if they have formed "shiva alliances." Tropper doesn't pull any punches or resort to easy resolutions. Instead he describes a family that has its troubles along with its tender moments. Other than their tendency to resolve problems with physical violence a little more often than seemed necessary, the Foxman's felt like a real family to me.
Book #11: The Upright Piano Player - David Abbott - Finished January 21, 2012 Category: TBR Pages: 264 This is a book that got some attention when it was published in 2010. But the short descriptions - retired businessman with family problems becomes the target of a random act of violence on the eve of the new millennium - made me question whether I would like this book. However, curiosity got the better of me when I saw the book on my library's shelf. I decided to give it a try. My uncertainty about whether I would like this book continued throughout the first half of the book. The main character, Henry Cage, was hard for me to like and hard for me to hate. He felt very uneven. The book begins with a tragic event that takes place in May 2004. Abbott uses this event to build some sympathy for Henry. However, the rest of the book is a flashback to 1999-2000, and Henry is a much less sympathetic character. Sometimes, I understood his motives. Other times, I just wanted to shake him. He is not only the victim of a random act of violence. He is a victim of his whole life. Then it dawned on me that perhaps that was Abbott's point. I re-engaged with the story. And in the last half of the book, Abbott took me on a ride. I can't reveal much, but the storyline has some twists and turns that makes it evident that the opening chapter was not simply a device to build sympathy for Henry, but a key part of the story. In the end, I was still frustrated by Henry, but I was also impressed with Abbott's storytelling skills. This is Abbott's first book, after a forty-year career in the advertising industry, and I will be looking for his future books.
#90: I have The Upright Piano Player in the BlackHole and my local library has a copy. Hopefully I can pick it up this next week. Thanks for the reminder about the book, Amy. 92EBT1002Jan 22, 2012, 6:14pm
Hi Amy. Another book that I might pick up if I see it at the bookseller. Sigh. I really do wish I could quit my job and just read. Even though I know I'd get bored without some work to do, really.
Amy, I enjoyed both those reads too. Wasn't David Abbott brave to begin his novel in such a way? You really nailed it in your review. Any insights on the title? Mark and I had this discussion last year and I can't remember if we came up with anything.
>77 employees may be more motivated when they have freedom to choose how to do their work (autonomy), when they have the opportunity to use their strengths and to learn and develop (mastery), and when they contribute to a meaningful outcome (purpose)
Can you tell this to my old manager? He wouldnt listen when I tried to :)
>89 what a great amount of time each day to get some listening/reading done. How relaxing it must be.
#91 - Stasia - I hope you get your hands on The Upright Piano Player. It's a quick read, and I'll be interested to hear your thoughts. Hope all is well with you! #92 - I'm with you there, Ellen! I used to think I'd be bored if I quit my job to read (not to mention broke!), but with LibraryThing, I think that I could manage nicely - posting, doing challenges, etc. I'd also like to cook more. Cooking, reading, and LT - maybe one of these days! #93 - Jenny - Yes, brave is a good description of Abbott's choice. At first, I doubted him, but it all came together at the end. And the title has been bugging me since about 3/4 of the way through the book. Henry sat down to play the piano for the first time in a long time, but that was the only piano reference I caught. I have no idea if the title grew out of that scene or if I missed something! #94 - Megan - There are definitely some managers who get it and some managers who don't. I keep telling my students that good management sounds like common sense, but it is not common practice!
Book #12: The Lost Hero - Rick Riordan - Finished January 26, 2012 Category: YA, series, off-the-shelf Pages: 553 This is Book One of Rick Riordan's The Heroes of Olympus series. It's a follow-up to the Percy Jackson series, which I thought got better and better as it went along. But The Lost Hero blows Percy Jackson out of the water! (I just caught that pun when I read back through my review, and now I'm pretty proud of it!) The Lost Hero is told from the points of view of three new demigods - Leo, Piper, and Jason. When they learn that they are demigods and arrive at Camp Half-Blood, they briefly meet some of our old friends from the Percy Jackson series (although Percy himself is MIA). However, Piper, Leo, and Jason soon leave on a quest of their own. As they attempt to find Hera and save Piper's dad, they also have the challenge of figuring out Jason's past. (He has lost his memory.) This book is a satisfying read on its own and a great start to the new series.
Hi Amy,
I'm new o the 75 book challenge and thought a good way to decide which threads to follow would be to look for those with whom I share the most books. You're high on my "weighted" list so I'll be checking in with you often. I'm looking forward to a good year of reading.
Reba (Chautauquan)
> 96: hi Amy,
I enjoyed the Percy Jackson books too, so now I am waiting for the translations of these books!
#97 - Hi Reba! I'm glad you stopped by. I just popped over to your thread, and I'm looking forward to seeing what you read this year.
#98 - Hi Anita! I hope that the translate The Heroes of Olympus series soon. You are in for a treat!
Book #13: Life is a Verb: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live Intentionally - Patti Digh - Finished January 27, 2012 Category: Kindle, life Pages: 240 When Patti Digh's stepfather was diagnosed with lung cancer, she helped to care for him in his remaining 37 days of life. This experience made an impression on her and caused her to seriously consider what she would do if she only had 37 days to live. She provides 37 suggestions organized into six themes: Say Yes, Trust Yourself, Slow Down, Be Generous, Speak Up, and Love More. Each chapter includes personal stories that bring the ideas to life. For example, Carry a Small Grape may seem to be an unusual piece of advice. But when Patti relates the story of how thrilled her young daughter Tess was to find a teeny tiny grape in a bunch and how she carried it around for days, the message to appreciate the small things comes to life. Digh also sprinkles lots of quotes from other people throughout. I love quotes and highlighted many of these including: "Shall we make a new rule of life from tonight: Always to try to be a little kinder than necessary?" ~ Sir James M. Barrie Each chapter also ends with a short (10-minute) reflection and an activity to try for 37 days. While I didn't do many of these on this first read through the book, there are a few that I think I will go back to - including writing a Haiku every day for 37 days. In fact, Digh even writes book reviews in Haiku. Perhaps we should adopt that practice on LT - I might be able to make it through all of the threads then. I thought I'd try it for this book: Stories from Digh's heart Don't wait until it's too late Go all in each day Although I didn't come away from Life is a Verb with any striking new revelations, these ideas - focus on what's important, connect authentically with others, appreciate the small things - are ones that I always need to be reminded of. Digh also has a blog - 37days.com - that I like a lot! One other note - I bought this book for my Kindle. (It is on sale for $3.99 right now.) But because of the illustrations and quotes, I think that the formatting might be better in the physical book. 101nittnutJan 29, 2012, 10:47pm
I haven't checked in for awhile. Hope you're doing well. :)
Amy - my first visit to your very interesting thread. Will try to keep up with you a bit better now that I have found your thread.
I loved Oryx and Crake so much the year I read it I gave it as Christmas gifts to friends and family. It's also a wonderful audio to listen to. Margaret Atwood is one of my favorite authors. The Handmaid's Tale is also a GREAT read. Enjoy!
#101 - Hi Jenn! Thanks for stopping by. I'm doing great! It was almost 60 degrees today - definitely not typical for an Iowa January day. I loved seeing the pictures of the Denver meet-up! #102 - Hi Paul! I'm glad that you popped by. Come back anytime! #103 - Tamara - I'm so glad that you recommend The Handmaid's Tale. I'll have to get to it soon! I think Atwood may become one of my favorites too. I can't believe I've gone so long without reading anything by her. Better late than never, I guess!
Book #14: No Talking - Andrew Clements - Finished January 29, 2012 Category: read-aloud Pages: 146 I read this one with my fifth-grade son. We love Andrew Clements, and this one didn't disappoint. What happens when a very chatty fifth-grade class stops talking? As the boys and girls compete to say the fewest words, the teachers are perplexed and then angry, but students and teachers alike end up learning a lot about communication. Clements has an uncanny way of accurately capturing the dynamics between students and teachers. This doesn't beat our favorite Clements' book, Frindle, but it is worth a read.
WOW Amy...14 books this month! That is incredible!
Book #15: Roscoe Riley Rules #3: Don't Swap Your Dog for a Sweater - Katherine Applegate - Finished January 31, 2012 Category: read-aloud Pages: 96 My second-grade son and I also finished our read-aloud book. We love Roscoe Riley. He's always in trouble for something hilarious - like swapping his dog for a sweater. This series is a great beginning chapter book series.
Hi Linda! I just noticed your message up there! Thanks for stopping by. I snuck one more in (a read-aloud with Matt), so I'm ending January with 15, but I'm even more excited that 6 of those came off my shelves and 3 of them were read-alouds with the kids. I also read some great fiction this month! I hope that you are doing well!
What a great reading start to the year! Happy to see you liked The Lost Hero -- the second book in the series is just as fun.
#110 - That's good to hear, Faith! My son got me the second book for Christmas, so I'll have to get to it soon!
Book #16: Running the Rift - Naomi Benaron - Finished February 2, 2012 Category: off-the-shelf, award winner Pages: 360 "If you stretch a spring long enough, far enough, the metal will fail and the spring will snap. The same with a human body. The same with a human heart. The same, even, with a country."In Running the Rift, Naomi Benaron keeps the plot pulled as tightly as a spring, building tension across chapters and across the years leading up to the Rwandan genocide. The story focuses on Jean Patrick, a Tutsi whose father is killed when he is young. He is raised by his mother, his aunt and uncle, and an extended set of family and friends, and he dreams of becoming an Olympic runner. When he begins working with the track coach at his school, it seems that his dreams may come true. However, he is so focused on running that he often ignores the increasing tension between Hutu and Tutsi, until it becomes impossible to ignore. Benaron brings Rwanda to life. The book is filled with images, colors, and sounds that made me understand the Rwandan saying, "God spends the day elsewhere, but He sleeps in Rwanda." Because she created such beautiful images, the images of destruction were even more powerful. Jean Patrick's reluctance to see the danger signs is believable and provides an interesting lens on the conflict. I read the final 100 pages breathlessly as so many of the characters who I felt connected to were put in harm's way. Even though it is only February, this book is a strong contender for one of my best reads of the year. It also won the Bellwether Prize for Fiction, which was established by Barbara Kingsolver to promote fiction that address issues of social justice.
Amy - very good review indeed but are you sure you don't mean book # 16 and not Book #115!?
#113 - Thanks, Paul! That's what I get for trying to post and help with 5th grade homework at the same time. We'll just call that "new math!"
hahaha if I suddenly put you 70 books clear of the field in the reading stakes the front runners there would come after me with sharpened implements!
>100 Right, that's it. Im going to write a haiku every day for 37 days. I may or may not post them though as I might be shy :) 117phebjFeb 2, 2012, 8:34pm
Amy, I just thumbed your review of Running the Rift. It sounds great and I thought I hadn't heard of it but when I WL'd it I recognized the cover so I've seen it somewhere.
#115 - Tee-hee, Paul! I think you are safe. I'm pretty sure that I'm no threat to the front runners - unless I win the lottery and can have a "Do Nothing but Read" year. Wouldn't that be nice. . . #116 - You should do it, Megan! And you've got to share at least one of your haikus. I haven't started yet, but I'll share one too! #117 - Thanks, Pat! Running the Rift just came out earlier this month, I think. I bought it for myself on my birthday, and I'm so glad that I did. It does have an eye-catching cover. #118 - Hi Brit! Yes, I'll probably read The Son of Neptune soon, although I've got several other books begging to be read too. 120phebjFeb 3, 2012, 4:26pm
Amy, I was in Barnes & Noble this morning and saw Running the Rift in the Staff Recommendations section. I used my latest coupon and now have a copy sitting next to me. I plan to read it this month. Thanks for the recommendation!
Amy -it is funny that I find nothing bizarre about thinking in terms of winning the lottery in relation to it helping your reading. I would be exactly the same but I would still struggle to read 20 books a month.
Ah. We were enjoying high 50's temperatures too, until yesterday. Now I'm looking at a LOT of snow and feeling a little grumpy about it. We had a snow day today, which wrecked my plans for lunch with a friend and a pedicure. Although getting a pedi when you have to just shove your feet right back in boots is kind of pointless. I just finished An Ordinary Man, about Rwanda, so Running the Rift is looking intriguing. Adding it to the pile. :) Did I miss your b-day? Happy belated 40th! I'll be having my 40th next week. I have been feeling fine about it, except for the odd moment the other night when two of my friends both started talking about feeling old because they just turned 30...
Just waving and saying 'hi' Amy, while I try the increasingly difficult task of keeping up with threads!!
Amy - I totally understand that feeling!
Swinging by to say hi, Amy! You had a great reading month in January. There are a couple of books in there that I've added to my list. My work life is sooooo busy right now that I'm slowing down a bit. I hope you're doing well.
You are my reading hero(ine), Amy. You read such interesting books and take the time to share your thoughts with us.
100: Mindful living is one of my daily goals. I'm not sure about the Haiku idea, but I'll share my thoughts about how to have pleasant dreams...
Take your book to bed
Spend quiet time with wise words
Read until you sleep.
Safe travels wherever you go this month...and sweet dreams!
Books bear me to lands
Unknown, unforeseen, and yet
They are my true home.
>119 I will try to post at least one, Ive done three so far and would call them warm-ups at best (although in my defense they have been written at the speed of light and usually with the background chorus of some kind of kiddie disaster!)
>127 niiiiice (damn, can I steal it?)
Sounds powerful. I just put it on my Kindle. I didn't know about Kingsolver's prize but I love her books, especially Animal, Vegetable, Mineral.
I've been traveling for work, but I knew I could count on you guys to keep my thread going while I was gone! #120 - Pat - That sounds like serendipity to me. I hope that you enjoy Running the Rift #121 - Paul - That's what I love about LibraryThing. Some of my friends would think that wishing to win the lottery so that I could read more was strange, but not you guys! #122 - Jenn - I hope that your snow is gone by now. We are getting a few flurries right now, but we've been pretty lucky this winter. I added An Ordinary Man to my TBR list, so we are even! I hope that you have a happy 40th! There are still some days that it makes me feel old, but for the most part, it is not too bad! #123 - Hi Prue! Good luck with keeping up with threads. I am failing miserably at that task! #124 - Brit - I'm in even worse shape now because I went to The Strand when I was traveling. (More on that below!) #125 - Don't you hate it when work gets in the way of reading, Ellen! I'm feeling the same way right now. #126 - Donna - First of all, you are my reading heroine, so the compliment means so much coming from you. And I love your Haiku. In fact, I'll be heading to bed with my book in just a few minutes. #127 - Roni - You rock! You should be a professional Haiku-ist. Amazing! #128 - Megan - You are doing better than me. I haven't gotten beyond thinking about writing. #129 - Reba - I love Kingsolver too! I read one other book that won her Bellwether Prize - Mudbound. It was an amazing read too!
So, as I mentioned above, I was traveling for business the past few days. I was in NYC for two straight days of meetings. We didn't even leave the conference room for lunch. Yikes! But I did steal some time to see two shows - War Horse and The Book of Mormon. I loved both, although they couldn't be more different. The way that the horses were depicted on stage in War Horse was amazing. And I stole an hour to browse around at The Strand. What an amazing bookstore! I had very little room in my carry-on luggage, but I did come home with three books for myself: How Fiction Works - James WoodNew York: Stories (Everyman's Pocket Classic) Every Man Dies Alone - Hans FalladaI also discovered a couple of new books for the kids: Nicholas - René GoscinnyMilo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze - Alan SilberbergPlus, I got a lovely Strand tote bag. I think I could live in that place!
I hope to go to The Strand someday. It sounds like you managed to have some fun in between work!
Book #17 - War Horse - Michael Morpurgo - Finished February 6, 2012 Category: YA, Kindle Pages: 196 This is an amazing story told from the perspective of Joey, a horse who is raised by an English boy named Albert and then sold by Albert's father to fight in World War I. Morpurgo captures the events of war as Joey sees and experiences them, and in doing so, he provides a new and harrowing perspective on war. Morpurgo also does a great job describing the varied relationships that Joey forms with the humans he encounters. From his initial days with Albert to his time with soldiers on both sides of the war, Joey is cared for deeply by many people, and as a reader, I came to care deeply for him too. I read this book before I went to see the Broadway play, and I was glad that I did. The play takes some liberties with the storyline, but there are many similarities between the two. Most importantly, both the book and the play convey Joey's essence beautifully.
#133 - Ellen - If you are ever in New York, The Strand is definitely worth a visit. I could have spent hours there.
If you are ever in New York
*sigh*
I wish.
(One day I will return, one day.....)
Thanks for the War Horse review -- I'd been debating if I wanted to read it, and you've tipped the balance in its favor. And I really, really want to see The Book of Mormon....
#136 - Megan - Are you originally from the NY area? I've lived in the Midwest US all my life and only been to NYC twice. But now that my kids are getting older, I want to take them sometime soon. #137 - Dejah - I really liked War Horse although there are a few sad parts. It is a quick read! (And thanks for stopping by my thread!)
Hi Amy!
The snow isn't gone, but for 2 days there have been a scraper, front end loader and snowplow/sand truck working my street. Imagine. If it snows 2 feet and then the plow doesn't come for a week, that's what it takes to clean up the mess. I wonder if they saved money? :)
Ooh...two Broadway plays AND The Strand. Color me green!
We're going to be there in May, and the Strand is #1 on our list.
>138 I have visited NY, as a pure 100% tourist. I went on my own for 5 days when I was .....23....I think. I stayed in a hostel on Upper West Side and went all over on buses and the subway and went to all the (big) art galleries (that was the main reason I wanted to go), and had a great time. Id love to go back.
What's the Strand btw? 143brenziFeb 10, 2012, 5:48pm
Running the Rift sounds really good Amy and somehow jumped onto my teetering tower. The Book of Mormon AND the Strand?? Lucky you!
Saw the film of War Horse with my tribe last Saturday and everyone had a tear in their eye except tough old Belle - she has also remained like stone with her cat at the vets and being suggested for liquidation by the "vet".
Amy- checking in to confess I have yet to write todays haiku! Like you're the teacher checking my homework :) Will get onto it asap, I promise. Hope you're well.
#139 - Jenn- I know what you mean! When you get that much snow, it is hard to find a place for all of it to go. #140 - Donna - I was an awesome 24 hours - a bit of a whirlwind, but lots of fun. #141 - Joe - Make sure that you leave plenty of time at The Strand. I could have spent days in there. #142 - Megan - The Strand is a bookstore on the Lower East Side. It's got new and used and rare books - four floors of them. #143 - Bonnie - I hope that you enjoy Running the Rift. It's become one of those books that I'm pushing into everyone's hands. #144 - Paul - I haven't seen the movie of War Horse yet, but I'd like to now that I've read the book and seen the play. I'm so sorry to hear about Belle's cat. #145 - Megan - I haven't been very regular with my haiku writing at all, so maybe I should be reporting back to you. I did write one after driving to Des Moines and back this weekend. Drive across Iowa Windy, flat, and lots of trucks Love my books on tape!
Book #18: Maine - J. Courtney Sullivan - Finished February 11, 2012 Category: audio Pages: 400 This story is told from four points of view - Alice, the matriarch of the Kelleher family; Kathleen, her daughter; Ann Marie, her daughter-in-law; and Maggie, Kathleen's daughter. As the family prepares for their summer visit to their Maine beach house, we gradually learn the history of the family through flashbacks. What is most striking about the book is the vast constrast in the ways that the four Kelleher women perceive their each other and their past. The same event is seen very differently through the contrasting points-of-view. The story was pleasant enough to listen to, but I never felt like I got to know the Kelleher women well. While Sullivan tried to make each of the women sympathetic in some way, at times they were cold and somewhat one-dimensional. In the end, the story fell a bit flat for me. 148ronincatsEdited: Feb 14, 2012, 11:30am
I wake, my heart sinks.
I recall must-do haiku.
Inspiration fails.
;-)
Or, contrarywise--
The disciplined mind
Rejoices in the structure
Of daily practice.
>148 Oh there you go getting 2 banged out when I still havent finished my one for today...ok, here goes.
Nighttime sirens awake baby.
Tired but sad,
Worried for injured.
Ok that was crap, here's a better one.
We will get there anyway.
The destination
Is not important
Roni and Megan - I would not be writing any Haikus if it weren't for your inspirations!
My Haiku for today is inspired by the fact that I have been teaching and traveling for work most weekends since the beginning of the year, but I am home this weekend and greatly looking forward to it.
Two whole days - no work
Patient book leaps from my shelf
To my waiting hands
Book #19: Wool - Hugh Howey - Finished February 16, 2012 Category: Kindle Pages: 68 I learned about this science fiction novella from Karen (karspeak), and since it is only $.99 for Kindle, I gave it a try. It is a very satisfying start to a 5-part series. Howey places us in the midst of a post-apocalyptic world and only gradually reveals the details, so I don't want to provide too much detail and spoil it. The revelation of the details is quite satisfying, but it was not until a twist at the end of the book that I realized the path that Howey had led me down. While Wool doesn't compare to the best of the post-apocalyptic genre ( The Giver, Oryx and Crake), it did entice me to download Wool 2.
Book #20: Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter - Mario Vargas Llosa - Finished February 16, 2012 Category: new-to-me author, prize winner, off-the-shelf Pages: 374 Many of you have read books by Mario Vargas Llosa, especially since he won the Nobel Prize for Literature, and your reviews piqued my interest. That, plus my goal to read more new-to-me authors this year, led me to Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter. This is a strangely mesmerizing book. Marito is a law student who revises news items for use by a local radio station in Lima, Peru. When his recently divorced Aunt Julia returns to Lima, the two begin an affair (throughout which, he continues to refer to her as Aunt Julia). At the same time, Pedro Camacho is hired by the radio station to write serials. He is a master who quickly wins a large following. Chapters from his various serials are interspersed with the story of Marito and Aunt Julia, providing an interesting look at the many sides of Peru. But slowly Camacho begins to confuse his listeners (and me) by moving characters from one serial to another. As Marito and Aunt Julia deal with their family's disapproval, Marito also tries to figure out what's going on with Camacho. This book is a bit of a whirlwind. While there is some continuity in the plot, the pieces of the serials serve more as interlude - and increasingly hard-to-follow interludes at that. But this experimental structure is part of what I really liked about this book. Also, Mario Vargas Llosa excels at creating a sense of place. The people and places of Peru jump to life. It found it hard to get into the rhythm of this book, but the exquisite writing and the humor kept me engaged to the end.
Grasshopper, your joy
Leaps upward into your words
And contentment reigns.
I went to a wonderful Japanese drumming concert tonight and thought of you all and your haikus. Wish I could do that (either drum or write haiku) but will have to settle for reading Lisa See I guess :-)
I told my friend that the lovely notebook she gave me was being put to good use by putting a haiku on each page for 37 days, and she has now started texting me throughout the day ...in haiku! It is so funny.
I'm glad you enjoyed Wool! It is the best of the 5, IMO, with the 5th being the weakest, but by that point I needed some closure so I *had* to read it.
151: Books-a-leaping... I like that image. Enjoy your week end at home, Amy. I hope the perfect book leaps into your waiting hands.
#154 - Roni - You continue to amaze me. You've taken Haiku to a new level!
#155 - Thanks, Joe!
#156 - Reba - A Japanese drumming concert sounds amazing! What a cool thing to see.
#157 - Megan - Haikus must work well for texting, although I'd be worried that auto-correct would ruin my sylllable patterns.
#158 - Karen - I know what you mean. Closure is sometimes worth pounding through a less-than-stellar ending to a series!
#159 - The perfect book DID leap into my waiting hands, Donna! Just see below.
Book #21: Here Lies Linc - Delia Ray - Finished February 19, 2012 Category: young adult Pages: 308 My fifth-grade son read this book in his talented and gifted program. His TAG teacher knows the author, so each student got a free autographed copy of the book and they got to meet the author. Plus, since the book is set in Iowa City (only about 10 minutes from us), they got to go on a field trip to the cemetery that is the setting of most of this book. He had barely finished the last chapter when he began insisting that I read the book too. Of course, I don't ignore book recs from my kids, so with the long weekend ahead of me, I flipped to the first chapter and had trouble putting the book down again. Here Lies Linc is a story about a boy who lives near Oakland Cemetery. Linc's mother is a history professor at the University of Iowa specializing in burial rights and customs. His father, who died suddenly when Linc was seven, is interred in a columbarium in Oakland Cemetery. Linc is no stranger to cemeteries, but as he starts his first year of junior high, he just wants to be a normal kid. That's why he can't believe that the first field trip of the year is going to take him to Oakland Cemetery on a tour led by his mom. Linc manages to survive the field trip (despite a classic embarassing moment), but he and his friends aren't quite done with Oakland Cemetery. As they research some of the people buried there, Linc finds himself uncovering secrets that circle closer and closer to his own family. Ray keeps the pages turning by weaving together multiple storylines. Suspense and tension build as Linc navigates the challenges of the middle school and the mysteries waiting to be solved. My son and I both loved this book. It is a well-paced story, gradually building to its final crescendo. Ray's characters feel real. Whether it is a middle school football star, a middle-aged widow, or an elderly neighbor, each voice is pitch perfect. This book would be perfect to recommend to any 4th-6th graders in your life, and you might even want to try it yourself!
What an excellent review - you got a thumbs up from me!
Book #22: An Unexpected Twist - Andy Borowitz - Finished February 19, 2012 Category: Kindle Single I enjoy Andy Borowitz's Twitter feed. His sense of humor works for me. However, I was somewhat skeptical that Borowitz could bring humor to a life-threatening medical condition involving a twisted colon. I shouldn't have doubted him. An Unexpected Twist reveals the details (sometimes too many details) of Borowitz's harrowing experience. Like many stories of unexpected medical conditions, Borowitz reminds us that we should be thankful for our health, but he does so with humor and a light touch. For example, early in the story, he describes a doctor in the ER: "The door opens, the doctor enters, and he is . . . twelve. I feel like I'm being waited on at the Apple store. . . But he's a nice kid, and it was thoughtful of him to skip Model U.N. to see me." At that point, I knew that I was in good hands. A Kindle Single is probably the perfect length for this story. In exchange for 99 cents and less than an hour, I got a good laugh and a reminder that you never know what's around the next corner.
#162 - Thanks, Dejah! There were only a couple of reviews of Here Lies Linc on LibraryThing, so I'm glad to bring a little attention to this book. Any book that gets my kids excited about reading is a treasure in my eyes!
Love the review of Here Lies Linc and will look for it. I'll bet Linda (Whisper1) would love this book too, if you want to mention it on her thread?
#165 - That's a great idea, Roni! I'll have to let Linda know about this book. She's given me so many YA recommendations in the last couple of years, it will be nice to give one back! #166 - Ellen - I've been trying to figure out which Mario Vargas Llosa to read next. I got Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter for Christmas, so I started with it!
Book #23: The Sisters Brothers - Patrick deWitt - Finished February 25, 2012 Category: off-the-shelf, Man Booker shortlist Pages: 325 Set in the Wild West in 1851, The Sisters Brothers tells the story of Charlie and Eli Sisters, brothers and assassins who work for the powerful Commodore. We meet them as they are setting off to find Hermann Kermit Warm, who is panning for gold in California and owes the Commodore money, and we get to go along for the ride. I loved this book. The story is engaging. On the way to find Warm, Charlie and Eli meet up with a number of other interesting characters. deWitt's observations about the Wild West are wry and sometimes darkly humorous. But I was most impressed with his characterization of Eli. Eli is not your typical assassin. He is multi-layered and conflicted. He has a tender relationship with his horse, Tub (who is not the ideal mount for the situation). And although they are very different people, he has a tender relationship with his brother Charlie as well (although I'd hate to lay money on whether he likes Tub or Charlie better). This is not your typical Western. I'd recommend it for anyone who loves a good story and who likes a main character that lives and breathes. 169nittnutFeb 26, 2012, 10:43am
I'm no poet, but I am getting a huge kick out of the Haiku, especially Roni's.
Yet another positive review for The Sisters Brothers (I gave you a thumbs up, by the way). I keep hearing about this book, but as I don't much care for Westerns, I've put it off. If I keep reading positive reviews, I may have to give it a try. Thanks!
The Sisters Brothers has been on my TBR list for a while, but I'd not heard any opinions on it so I hadn't gotten around to it yet. The premise sounded wonderful though, so I've kept thinking about it. Glad to hear such glowing praise for it! I think it might be moving up the list soon. 172jnwelchFeb 26, 2012, 12:51pm
Good review of The Sisters Brothers, Amy! I liked that one, too. I agree with you about Eli - a complex and memorable character.
>172 I second that, love the Booker category. Add to that all the other good reviews of it and the great cover, and look at that- It's wishlisted.
The Sisters Brothers is unlike any western I've ever read. Another great review, Amy.
My audience calls!
No, it is only one, and
This is not my thread.
Sorry, I could not resist! Thanks, Jenn. And a very nice review, Amy!
I just finished "Running the Rift" -- you're right, it's a marvelous book.
#169 - Jenn – I know, right? The Haikus are a good addition to my thread! #170 - Thanks for the thumb, Dejah! I don’t read a lot of Westerns either, but I loved The Sisters Brothers. I think you should give it a try! #171 – Leah – It took The Sisters Brothers a while to move up my TBR list too. But it finally got me! #172 – Joe – Yes, I think that Eli will stick with me for a while. I thought the book would be more plot/action driven, but I found myself more entertained by getting to know Eli. #173 – It is a great cover, isn’t it, Megan? #174 – I agree, Donna! I think that I may have a “Western” in my Best Books of the Year two years in a row. Last year, it was Doc. #175 – Roni – Feel free to share your lovely Haiku on my thread anytime. They always make me smile. #176 – Reba – I’m so glad that you enjoyed Running the Rift. I hope that lots of people read that book. #177 – Joe – Take it from Reba and me. You should read Running the Rift!
I looked at the library just in case The Sisters Brothers was there (against all odds) and it was! Must have been a glitch on the computer system that said all copies were out. So its in my hot little hands. hehehe
Book #24: The Throne of Fire: The Kane Chronicles Book Two - Rick Riordan - Finished February 29, 2012 Category: audio, YA, series Pages: 464 I'm trying to keep up with both The Kane Chronicles and Heroes of Olympus. You would think that I could read at least as fast as Rick Riordan writes, but it is a challenge! I found The Throne of Fire (Book Two of The Kane Chronicles) on audio at the library, so I listened to it on my drives back and forth to work. This series is a nice contrast to the Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus books. Instead of Greek gods, Sadie and Carter Kane have to deal with Egyptian gods. To defeat the gods of chaos, Sadie and Carter have to reawaken Ra. With the help of the utterly hilarious god of dwarves, Bes, they face a number of challenges along the way. I don't like this series quite as well as the Heroes of Olympus. Perhaps it was just because I was listening to this one on audio, but large chunks of the book were filled with fast-paced, breathless action. Even so, it seemed like it took a while to move the plot along. But Sadie and Carter are likeable, and I'm interested enough in what happens next that I'll definitely read the third and final book in the series, which is due out in May.
Book #25: The World According to Humphrey - Betty G. Birney - Finished February 29, 2012 Category: read-aloud Pages: 124 My kids' elementary school is trying something new to promote reading at home. They call it "One School, One Book." At the beginning of February, every family with elementary-aged kids received a free copy of The World According to Humphrey and a reading schedule for February. Each day at school, the kids answered a question about the chapter that they read the night before and had the chance to win prizes. There were also weekly activities, and next week we get to go to Humphrey Family Night at the school. What a great program! We loved this book! I read it aloud to both boys each night, and we would try to guess what the next day's question would be. The story is told from the perspective of Humphrey, a hamster in a second grade classroom. Humphrey is a keen observer. As he goes home with a different student each weekend, he learns some secrets, provides some encouragement, and isn't afraid to "squeak up" when needed. At the end of the day, this was a fun, uplifting book. Choosing a book that works for K-5th graders is hard. Humphrey may be best for about 2nd-3rd graders, but I know pre-schoolers who listened with their older siblings, and my 5th grade son loved it too. There are several others in the series, and I have a feeling we'll be reading more Humphrey books.
what a great programme for the school to run. I cant wait to suggest these type of things when my littlies are at school, that is if they arent already doing cool stuff like that.
PS what does the K mean on "K-5th graders"?
I do love the emphasis that my kids' school puts on reading. We live in a small town, and the school isn't very big - about 60 kids per grade. It is a fairly economically diverse school, so I love it when the school does things to make sure every kid has a book in their hands.
Oh, and K is kindergarten. The elementary school has kindergarten through 5th grades. Then they move on to middle school. My oldest son will be a middle schooler next year!
>184 oh, ok, so Kindergarten is for 5 year olds? Or 4?
We have Pre-school for 0-4 year olds or kindergarten for 3 and 4 year olds, then primary school for 5-12 year olds. And High School for 13-17 year olds.
eta: we shorten the word Kindergarten to "kindy", but I see you shorten it even further!
#185 - Hi Marcia! I'm glad to have contributed to your TBR list!
#186 - Megan - I like "kindy" - it has a nice ring to it!
#187 - I thought so too, Ellen. It's the first year for it, but I hope that it becomes an annual thing.
Since it is Dr. Seuss's birthday, I'm skipping the Haiku in favor of this:
A Weather Report from Iowa (in honor of Dr. Seuss)
One flake, two flake
Big flake, true flake
From inside it looks just grand
Like a winter wonderland!
But outside it’s not so pretty
Slushy streets crisscross the city
One flake just went down my shirt
One in my eye – that kinda hurt.
Drove straight home, clutching the wheel
Rounded the corner with a squeal
Calmed my nerves with some Thin Mint snacks
Be safe out there – stay in the tracks!
Spring, Dr. Seuss march
One, two, one, two, but Winter
Has the final say.
#190 - Roni - That is so appropriate for us Iowans!
#191 - Ellen - Me too! Plus, I love the fanfare around his birthday every year!
Congratulations on the Off-the-shelf number! I am still at only 3 for the whole year.
189: Brilliant, Dr. Amy!
I also like the hamster POV in The World According to Humphrey. A second-grader who is near and dear to me is having an April birthday. This book has Audrey's name written all over it. Thanks for the hint!
Congratulations from Dr. Seuss' hometown :-)
Back for more Haiku. Love the Dr. Seuss take on winter too.
Nice job on off the shelf books!!!
#194 - Thanks, Roni! Although I have to admit that I'm pretty liberal in counting my off-the-shelf reads. I even include books that just hit the shelf right before I read them.
#195 - Donna - I'm so glad to pass along the Humphrey recommendation. I hope it is a hit with Audrey!
#196 - Wow, Reba! I'll bet you have a big Dr Seuss's birthday celebration there.
#197 - Jenn - Glad to provide your Haiku fix!
Book #26 – The Sense of an Ending – Julian Barnes – Finished March 3, 2012 Category: Booker Prize, book club, off the shelf, new-to-me author Pages: 176 We meet Tony Webster twice in this short book. In the first part of the book, Tony is a young man who is trying to figure out his place in the world. He learns a lot by comparing himself to others, including his new school friend Adrian: “This was one of the differences between the three of us and our new friend. We were essentially taking the piss, except when we were serious. He was essentially serious, except when he was taking the piss. It took us a while to work this out.” In the second part of the book, Tony is older, divorced with a grown daughter and a grandchild. He is in a period of reflection, but as Barnes points out around every turn, memory is a fickle thing. In a beautiful turn of phrase, Tony reflects, “the history that happens underneath our noses ought to be the clearest, and yet it’s the most deliquescent.” Through a reunion with an old friend, Tony illustrates this point vividly. Throughout this book, I had the sense that Barnes was playing with me – well, with all readers in general, but I was most concerned about me. Tony is an unreliable narrator set in a story about the unreliability of history. One had to guess that a twist was coming. And what a twist it was. I have to commend Barnes for leaving me both speechless and flipping backward to put the pieces together more snuggly. Even now, a couple of days later, I’m still trying to get a better sense of the ending. I highly recommend this book. I can mention several books this year which have allowed me to enter other worlds, but few which have pushed their way into my world the way this one did.
Book #27 – The Last Werewolf – Glen Duncan – Finished March 4, 2012 Category: Kindle, off the shelf, series Pages: 304 My kids are somewhat inflexible. If they are expecting something (like a trip to the ice cream shop), and it doesn’t happen, they are outraged, even if the trip is replaced with something even better (like a trip to the amusement park). After much reflection (and several pointed hints from my husband), I’ve realized that they got this trait from me. When I have something set in my mind, a deviation often causes me much distress. We’re all trying to learn to enjoy a little serendipity. And so I had a rough start to The Last Werewolf. I went into this book without knowing much except what is relatively evident by the title. Jake Marlowe is the last living werewolf. I’ve had a busy few weeks, so I was ready for a light, easy read – a typical werewolf story if you will. But what Duncan has written is much more than a typical werewolf story. It took a few chapters to readjust my expectations, but once I did I realized that I was in for an unexpected treat. First, the writing is beautiful. I’ve heard the book described as literary, and I’d definitely agree. This is not to say that The Last Werewolf is dense or unexciting. The plot moves fast. The twists and turns kept me turning the pages faster and faster. Jake Marlowe is a reflective character, often pontificating on the wisdom that is the product of his many, many years. His insights on the experience of being a werewolf are sometimes surprising. The book is sexually explicit and violent in places, but if you can move beyond that, The Last Werewolf is a phenomenal read.
yay, Im glad you liked Sense of an Ending, I really want to like it too once I get to reading it.
I finished The Last Werewolf yesterday but had a very different response to it. I do agree that Duncan's writing style, when not lewd, is beautiful- he manages some breathtaking descriptions, which were very unexpected. And the story of his contamination and first transformation had me TOTALLY transfixed. But after that, I really didn't enjoy it. It felt all over the place and like there were 5 different plots that he approached and then abandoned. So for me, writing style was great, plot was a dud.
Dr. Seuss was so private I doubt many people knew he lived here until he died. His widow has made some donations and held some commemorative events since so it's become more widely known.
Good reviews, Amy, of The Sense of an Ending and The Last Werewolf. I agree with you on both. The first is very clever in how it sets up the reader and then changes everything, and the second is a literate and thoughtful page-turner - pretty unusual. For me, unlike Leah, the plot was A-OK.
Ew - The Last Werewolf is probably not for me. :) 206Whisper1Edited: Mar 7, 2012, 9:55am
Hi Amy I've very far behind on the threads. It is a joy to know that others acknowledged Dr. Suess' birthday. When my daughters were young, I read The Sneetches on the Beaches to them. It is a classic that stands the test of time! 
#201 - Megan - I'll be interested to hear what you think of The Sense of an Ending. It sure made me stop and think! #202 - Leah - I can see what you mean about The Last Werewolf plot. It didn't bother me until the very end, when it got a bit frenetic. But by then, I was breathlessly reading to find out how it ended. #203 - Reba - That's interesting. I didn't know that Dr. Seuss was a private person. He must have been outgoing through his characters! #204 - Joe - I agree that thoughtful and page-turner don't often go hand and hand. I think that's why The Last Werewolf has gotten so much attention. #205 - Jenn - It is one that I am hesitant to recommend. Although it is a testament to the author that the writing and plot overshadowed the graphic sex and violence for me. #206 - Linda - I love The Sneetches. My mom read it to me as a kid, and I read it to my kids last week. Then, when I was preparing the first and second grade Sunday School lesson for last weekend, which was about how Jesus knows us inside and out, I realized that The Sneetches fit right in. I read it to the class, and I've never seen them be so attentive. It is a rather rambunctuous class of mostly boys, but they were quiet as mice for The Sneetches. I also read The Lorax to my boys before we went to see the movie. We had a very Dr. Seuss-y weekend! ***** By the way, last night was Humphrey night at my kids' elementary school. What a great event! There were five stations - a maze, a snack, learn about Brazil, a craft, and an opportunity to buy more books in the series. They had way more people attend then expected, so the halls were packed. A high-school kid dressed up like Humphrey and was crawling around the halls, and I almost got trampled by a kindergartner who was scared of him and started running the other way! Other than that, it was great fun.
The Sneeches as a Sunday School teaching tool?!... I'd never thought about it that way. Now I want to read it again!
#208 & #209 - My Sunday School lessons tend to be pretty basic - appropriate for 1st and 2nd graders - but I'm always amazed by how much I learn in preparing them!
Book #28 – The Checklist Manifesto – Atul Gawande – Finished March 9, 2012 Category: audio, work Pages: 240 I appreciate counter-intuitive ideas. A book that confirms what I already believe has an easy task – preaching to the choir, if you will. But Gawande, a surgeon who has reflected on performance challenges in previous books, had a bigger hill to climb in this book about the use of checklists to improve performance on complex tasks. Prior to reading this book, I believed that checklists were appropriate for routine tasks, but might limit creativity and teamwork for complex tasks. Using examples from industries like healthcare, construction, investment services, and aviation, Gawande argues that checklists can be useful for complex tasks. They remove the need to focus on the routine and free up cognitive space for other parts of the task. They can be used to encourage communication between team members at various points in the process. And they can be used to insert pause points in processes so that unforeseen complications can be addressed. In making his point, Gawande sometimes makes claims that may need a bit of qualification. For example, he repeatedly asserts that team members who do not know each other previously to working together should introduce themselves before starting a surgery or flying a plane. This I agree with. However, I’m uncertain that this step alone creates teamwork to the extent that Gawande claims. But for the most part, Gawande uses evidence and examples to support the potential benefits of checklists for a range of complex tasks.
Wahooo! Spring Break has officially begun. The first 8 weeks of the spring semester have been busy for me, so I'm looking forward to a little R&R. I'm giving a talk about a research project at the University of Florida at the end of the week, but my husband, the boys, and I are leaving tomorrow for a couple of days in the Florida Keys and a couple of days at St. Louis Cardinals spring training. They'll hang out in Gainesville while I work, and then we'll wrap up with a couple of days at the Nick Hotel in Orlando. I'm not sure how much reading or posting I'll get done, but I'll report in when we get back!
Sounds fun -- have safe travels
215phebjMar 10, 2012, 11:36am
Have a great time, Amy! 216jnwelchMar 10, 2012, 11:57am
The Checklist Manifesto intrigues me, Amy. Thanks for the review. I'd read about it elsewhere, too. My recollection is that he's supposedly pretty persuasive as to the benefits of checklists in hospitals. Was that your reaction?
I like Gawande- Ill have to check this one out too.
#213-215 - Thanks, Roni, Reba, and Pat! So far, we've had a great time. We rented a pontoon boat in the Florida Keys and saw wild dolphins in Florida Bay. We saw the St. Louis Cardinals beat the NY Mets 7 to 1 yesterday. They lost to the Astros today, but it was a great game! Spring training is great because the players are so much closer. We walked through the practice fields and saw batting practice up close today.
#216 - Joe - Gawande definitely provides evidence about the benefits of checklists in hospitals. He's pretty clear about their limitations too.
#217 - Megan - I haven't read anything else by Gawande, but after this book, I'll be looking for more of his work.
181: I requested The Throne of Fire when I first read your review. I read the first book Red Pyramid last year, so I've been meaning to get to it soon. I was reading the The Alchemyst series at the same time, and I kept getting confused because the setups are so similar between the two series (brother/sister, fighting supernatural forces, characters from mythology, etc.) I'm looking forward to reading The Throne of Fire. Thanks for the nudge, and your review! Karen O.
Sun on white beaches,
Dolphins frolic in the sea,
Vacations are MAR-
I'm jealous of the Spring Training games you're seeing - not the teams (I;m a Braves fan) so much as any games at all! Of course, it's always nice when the Mets lose.
Enjoy the rest of your trip!
yay the Checklist Manifesto is at my library.....will await its return. eta have given up on writing my haiku...go very disheartened when I realised I had done them wrong, the syllables are supposed to be 5, 7, 5. I had my syllables all over the show :(
Hi everyone! Thanks for keeping my thread from getting lonely when I was on Spring Break! It was sure hard going back to work today. #219 - Karen - I haven't read The Alchemyst series. It sounds like one I would like! #220 - Roni - Very clever use of the dash, my friend! Your Haiku skills continue to impress me. #221 - Thanks, Dejah! I hope that the Braves have a good year this year - especially when they are not playing the Cardinals. #222 - Megan - I think you can just re-label your Haiku as Free Verse, and you'll be off and running again. Although I'm out of the Haiku habit too. The weather here just turned gorgeous, so I'm on a walking and being outside kick for a while!
Book #29 - Murder in the Marais - Cara Black - Finished March 15, 2012 Category: mystery, series, Kindle Pages: 370 I didn't get much read while on vacation, but I did finish Murder in the Marais, the first book in the Aimee Leduc series. Each of the books in this series is set in a different neighborhood in Paris. Marais is the historic Jewish quarter of Paris, and this mystery is linked to events that occurred during World War II. Overall, I enjoyed this book and the history that is woven into the plot. However, there are flaws. The plot is complex and at times, I had trouble keeping the various threads straight. Aimee Leduc is a struggling private detective who may grow on me, but she wasn't a stand-out character is this first book. However, I liked Murder in the Marais enough that I will try another book in this series.
Murder in the Marais has been sitting in one of my TBR piles for awhile. I'll get to it eventually, but I'll try to remember to keep it for a time I want something a bit more complex. 226jnwelchMar 20, 2012, 10:44am
I liked Murder in the Marais at about the level you did, Amy. It was a little convoluted and I didn't get as strong a connection to Aimee as I would've liked. But it was good enough that I tried the second one, Murder in Belleville, and had a similar reaction to that. It is fun to move about Paris this way, and eventually I'll try yet another one. 227EBT1002Mar 20, 2012, 12:19pm
Your Florida vacation sounds really wonderful.
Hi Amy, I'm sure it was wonderful to have some family fun in the Florida sun. Hey, it's not a Haiku, but it does rhyme!
How did your talk in Gainesville go? I hope you got your mojo going for the rest of the semester. I go back to school next week after a 2-week break. Of course, it's a lot different being an auditing student of one class than being the teacher of (?) more than one classes.
#225 - Lori - I hope that you enjoy Murder in the Marais. I think I might have enjoyed it more if I could have read longer sections at a time. Spring Break wasn't very conducive to that kind of reading! #226 - Joe - I agree. I like the concept of moving around Paris. It looks like there are about a dozen books in the series, so I'll bet that Aimee Leduc develops a bit along the way. #227 - Thanks, Ellen! We had a great time. #228 - Donna - Nice rhyming! We definitely had fun in the Florida sun. My talk went well. It was a very friendly audience, and I got good advice about how to develop the ideas that we are researching. But I came back to a stack of grading and a paper that needs to be finished. I made some progress this week, but still feel like I'm partially on break. For the rest of the semester, I'd teaching only one class - an online organizational behavior course with just 11 students, so I've got it pretty easy. More time for reading, I hope!
Book #30: Lumby's Bounty - Gail Fraser - Finished March 22, 2012 Category: off-the-shelf, series Pages: 368 This is the third in the charming Lumby series. It was a great book to take on vacation, and I enjoyed finishing it in the busy week that followed. In this installment, a hot air balloon festival is coming to Lumby and the town must come together to build their own balloon and show Lumby's hospitality to the visitors. Several story lines along with salt-of-the-earth characters kept me quickly turning pages until the end. I actually think that I feel my heart rate slowing when I read these books. It's nice to take a deep breath and enjoy the hospitality of Lumby. 231nittnutMar 24, 2012, 12:16am
Hi! Laughing about the Sneetches. My 5 yr old has been watching the cartoon and has been going around the house singing the song all week.
Dont normally do mystery novels so will leave your read from post #224, cant win 'em all.
#231 - Jenn - Those Dr. Seuss songs really get in your head, don't they? #232 - Megan - Yes, I'd say Murder in the Marais isn't for you. The Louise Penny Three Pines series are the mysteries that I usually recommend to non-mystery fans.
I need to read the second Lumby book. I think I've scheduled it for later this year.
Lori - I find that I pick up one of the Lumby books when I need a comfort read. They remind me of the Mitford books by Jan Karon in that way. Hope you enjoy the second one!
I'm sure I will. I loved Mitford, and Lumby has that same type of feel.
Book #31: The Big Dance: The Story of the NCAA Basketball Tournament - Barry Wilner and Ken Rappoport - Finished March 23, 2012 Category: Early Reviewer Pages: 236 "This is March. It's our favorite month." ~ Kellie Jolly, Tennessee Volunteers Every March, the college basketball season wraps up with the NCAA tournament - also known as March Madness. This year 68 men's teams and 64 women's teams were chosen to play for the right to be national champions. Millions of people filled out brackets and predicted which teams would advance to the Sweet Sixteen, the Elite Eight, and the Final Four. These same fans watched the opening games of the tournament, cringing as two No. 2 seeds - the Missouri Tigers and the Duke Blue Devils - lost in the opening round of the tournament to No. 15 seeds Norfolk and Lehigh, who held onto their dreams of becoming the tournament's Cinderella stories. Stories - for me, that's what makes the NCAA tournament special. While some might argue that the tournament is made up of games, carefully seeded match-ups, I follow the NCAA tournament for the stories. The powerhouse teams that advance through the bracket on the shoulders of giants. The Cinderella stories who have the support of everyone who loves an underdog. The players themselves - athletes who each come to the court with a history, a set of supporters, a set of challenges, and a dream. It is these stories that Barry Wilner and Ken Rappoport tell in their book, The Big Dance: The Story of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. The book does not flow in a continuous narrative, but rather is made up of chapters that highlight legendary stories of the tournament. The authors also weave in a number of interesting facts about the tournament that will make you the hit of your Final Four parties. If you are looking for something to do to pass the time between rounds of the tournament, I recommend dipping into The Big Dance.
Book #32: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable - Patrick Lencioni - Finished March 24, 2012 Category: work Pages: 229 We've all worked on dysfunctional teams, where trust is low, conflict is mismanaged, no one is held accountable, and nothing gets done. Lencioni provides suggestions about how to avoid these dysfunctions of a team through a fable - a story of a top management team that goes from dysfunctional to high performing in just 229 pages. This book is a favorite of many of the MBA students that I teach. I read it so that I would be ready to discuss it when they bring it up. But I have to admit I was skeptical. I am a proponent of evidence-based management, and I like to see the statistical evidence that supports team effectiveness principles. In this fable, there is not a correlation coefficient or effect size to be found. However, the principles that Lencioni advocates for effective teams - trust, healthy conflict, commitment to a shared direction, holding each other accountable, and focusing on team results - are consistent with the research evidence on drivers of team effectiveness. So, if sharing this evidence in the form of a fable helps readers to understand and remember it, I'm all for that.
I have to say I've never been a big fan of the fable / story style of management / teams / sales / business book - I must be in a minority, though, as they seem very popular. I'm glad to hear that you found this one at least base on reasonable principles / ideas!
I recently read Who Moved My Cheese? which was a fable style of management book. I wasn't impressed either.
Who Moved My Cheese? was one of the books I was thinking of specifically when I wrote my post - that style just doesn't seem to work for me.
I'm with you on Who Moved My Cheese? It's been a while since I read that one, but I remember just being frustrated by it. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team isn't really a fable, in my opinion. It's a fictional story about a top management team going through steps to become a better team. So while it does use storytelling to illustrate principles, at least the story is about people, not mice!
Book #33: When She Woke - Hillary Jordan - Finished March 29, 2012 Category: dystopian fiction Pages: 344 I loved Mudbound. It was one of my favorite books a few years ago - historical fiction with strong characters and a compelling plot. When I saw that Hillary Jordan had written another book, I was thrilled. And then I read the description. Hannah Payne has been turned red because of a crime she committed. In a world in which strong religious beliefs influence political decisions, Hannah has to try to survive as a Chrome. I don't consider myself a fan of dystopian fiction (although Oryx and Crake was one of my favorites from January), so I didn't rush out to get this book. But it kept drawing my eye, and I finally caved in. Let me start by saying that Jordan can write anything. The world that she creates in When She Woke is frightening. Bit by bit, we learn more about how this near-future world is different (and not-so-different) from ours. Perhaps what is most frightening about it is that many of the conditions are just slightly more extreme than extremist views now. As Hannah attempts to navigate life as a Chrome, the book turns almost hopeless. Many people discriminate against Chromes, while others attempt to more directly harm them. Hannah has few allies. But Jordan punctuates the horrors that Hannah faces with a few spots of hope - a friend, a father, a sense of inner strength - that make reading this book just bearable. Hannah herself is real and multi-layered. I cared what happened to her. All in all, I was captivated by this book. . . until the end. Hannah makes some decisions that seem out of character. Pieces fall together a bit too neatly. I don't want to spoil it, but it just didn't seem to fit with the rest of the book. An ending like this doesn't completely negate the overall satisfying reading experience, but it did leave me a little less excited about this book than I might have been. Still, if you like dystopian fiction, it is worth a read.
Thanks for the thorough, thoughtful reviews. I also like your monthly summary. I may start that, partly because it seems like a good recap for myself.
btw--also thanks for Running the Rift recomendation. I LOVED it! 247jnwelchMar 31, 2012, 11:57am
I'm about halfway through Running the Rift and loving it, so my thanks, too. I find the senseless intolerance so frustrating, but the story is beautifully told. Go Jean Patrick!
I loved Mudbound last year when I read it, so I'd definitely be up for another read by the author. How interesting that this book is so different than the other! I do like dystopias; I haven't read Oryx and Crake but did read the sequel Year of the Flood and liked it quite a bit.
#245 & 246 - Reba - I love doing the monthly summary. It's a nice way to look back each month. It also helps when I go to pick my favorite books of the year. I'm so glad you loved Running the Rift. I want everyone to read that book! #247 - Joe - I agree. Running the Rift reminds me of A Thousand Splendid Suns with all of the senseless intolerance. Both books were a little hard for me to read. But I was so glad that I did. #248 - Julia - I couldn't believe how different Mudbound and When She Woke were! I'm impressed when an author can do that. If you like Jordan and dystopias, you should definitely read When She Woke. #249 - Ellen - If you are not a dystopian fiction fan, I'd say that you're probably making a good choice staying away from When She Woke. Maybe Jordan will write another historial fiction next.
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