Roni 'ncats Relishes 2012: Books and Arts and Crafts Part 5

Lake Murray, one of our favorite walks

Books read in 2012

* indicates re-read, # indicates library book, + indicates Kindle book, % indicates Book Off The Shelf (BOTS)

January
1. The Night Circus# by Erin Morgenstern (387 pp.)
2. Cannery Row# by John Steinbeck (196 pp.)
3. Darkship Thieves% by Sarah A. Hoyt (479 pp.)
4. Gabriel's Ghost by Linnea Sinclair (447 pp.)
5. The Family Trade% by Charles Stross (308 pp.)
6. Maxwell's Closet+ by Steven Belskie
7. The Goose Girl# by Shannon Hale (400 pp.)
8. Salt: A World History+ by Mark Kurlansky (450 pp.)
9. A Proper Companion+ by Candice Hern
10. Organized Simplicity+ by Tsh Oxenreider (256 pp.)

February
11. The Pride of Chanur* by C. J. Cherryh (224 pp.)
12. Crochet Master Class+ by Leinhayser and Weiss (191 pp.)
13. Troubled Waters# by Sharon Shinn (391 pp.)
14. Tuesdays at the Castle# by Jessica Day George (225 pp.)
15. Chanur's Venture* by C. J. Cherryh (312 pp.)
16. The Kif Strike Back* by C. J. Cherryh (299 pp.)
17. Chanur's Homecoming* by C. J. Cherry (398 pp.)
18. The Peach Keeper# by Sarah Addison Allen (271 pp.)
19. Enna Burning# by Shannon Hale (317 pp.)
20. The Wild Ways# by Tanya Huff (295 pp.)
21. Midnight in Austenland# by Shannon Hale (272 pp.)
22. Timeless by Gail Carriger (386 pp.)
23. Oath of Fealty* by Elizabeth Moon (471 pp.)
24. Kings of the North* by Elizabeth Moon (478 pp.)
25. Echoes of Betrayal by Elizabeth Moon (451 pp.)
26. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children# by Ransom Riggs (348 pp.)
27. The Hidden Family% by Charles Stross (309 pp.)

March
28. Firebird # by Jack McDevitt (375 pp.)
29. Undone Deeds by Mark Del Franco (323 pp.)
30. Murder of a Royal Pain % by Denise Swanson (248 pp.)
31. Finding Clarity + by Kim Novak ((242 pp.)
32. Lord Pete %r by Dorothy Sayers (481 pp.)
33. River Secrets # by Shannon Hale (290 pp.)
34. A Gift of Dragons #+ by Anne McCaffrey (304 pp.)
35. Ready Player One # by Ernest Cline (372 pp.)
36. Glory in Death # by J. D. Robb (293 pp.)
37. Blood Maidens # by Barbara Hambly (244 pp.)
38. The Cruellest Month # by Louise Penny (311 pp.)
39. The Genesis of Science # by James Hannam (355 pp.)
40. Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead + by Christiana Miller (330 pp.)
41. Among Others # by Jo Walton (302 pp.)
42. A Discovery of Witches # by Deborah Harkness (579 pp.)
43. The Kingdom of Gods % by N. K. Jemisin (600 pp.)
44. Revelations: Visions, Prophecy, & Politics in the Book of Revelations by Elaine Pagels (177 pp.)
45. The Coroner's Lunch # by Colin Cotterill (257 pp.)
46. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie # by Alan Bradley (373 pp.)
47. Petty Treason # by Madeleine Robins (316 pp.)
48. Entangled + by Barbara Ellen Brink (340 pp.)

Books read in 2012--2nd Quarter

* indicates re-read, # indicates library book, + indicates Kindle book, % indicates Book Off The Shelf (BOTS)

April
49. The Screwtape Letters* by C. S. Lewis
50. Hide Me Among the Graves by Tim Powers (511 pp.)
51. James Tiptree, Jr.: The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon# by Julie Phillips (405 pp.)
52. The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels (151 pp)
53. Her Smoke Rose Up Forever# by James Tiptree, Jr. (520 pp.)
54. Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire (344 pp.)
55. Touched by an Alien by Gini Koch (389 pp.)
56. Solstice Wood by Patricia McKillip (278 pp.)

May
57. A Princess of Mars* by Edgar Rice Burroughs (146 pp.)
58. The Closing of the Western Mind by Charles Freeman (403 pp.)
59. Tea With the Black Dragon* by R. A. MacEvoy (166 pp.)
60. Jesus, Interrupted# by Bart Ehrman (292 pp.)
61. A Sensible Lady+ by Judith Lown (187 pp.)
62. The Curse of Chalion* by Lois McMaster Bujold (442 pp.)
63. The Hallowed Hunt* by Lois McMaster Bujold (470 pp.)
64. Paladin of Souls* by Lois McMaster Bujold (456 pp.)
65. House of Many Ways* by Diana Wynne Jones (404 pp.)
66. Magic Under Glass# by Jaclyn Dolamore (225 pp.)
67. Who Fears Death% by Nnedi Okorafor (386 pp.)
68. Illegal Magic+ by Arlene Blakely (227 pp.)
69. Religion Explained# by Pascal Boyer (330 pp.)
70. Thirty-Three Teeth# by Colin Cotteril (256 pp.)
71. The Master of Heathcrest Hall by Galen Beckett (718 pp.)

June
72. Changes# by Mercedes Lackey (326 pp.)
73. Daughter of Smoke and Fire# by Laini Taylor (418 pp.)
74. An Undeniable Rogue+ by Amanda Blair (320 pp.)
75. Dandelion Wine* by Ray Bradbury (184 pp.)
76. The Marriage Bargain+ by Sandra Edwards (190 pp.)
77. Curricle & Chaise+ by Lizzie Church (251 pp.)
78. Od Magic* by Patricia McKillip (315 pp.)
79. 97 Orchard by Jane Ziegelman (227 pp.)
80. Ridiculous+ by D. L. Carter (325 pp.)
81. oh. my. gods.# by Tera Lynn Childs (264 pp.)
82. Hell: A final Word by Edward William Fudge (173 pp.)
83. Make-Believe# by Elizabeth Goudge (267 pp.)
84. The Scent of Water* by Elizabeth Goudge (222 pp.)
85. Captain Vorpatril's Alliance+ by Lois McMaster Bujold (400 pp.)
86. The Bible Repairman and other Stories# by Tim Powers (170 pp.)
87. A Breath of Eyre# by Eve Marie Mont (331 pp.)
88. Disco for the Departed# by Colin Cotteril (247 pp.)

Books acquired in 2012

This will be only dead tree books and books for which I actually paid money on my Kindle. All the free Kindle books don't count.

January
1. The Shadow of Saganami by David Weber (PaperBackSwap) (replace)
2. Disappearing Act by Margaret Ball (PaperBackSwap) (replace)
3. 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami (Kindle-Amazon) $14.99
4. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale (Kindle-Amazon) $.99 READ
5. Impossible Things by Connie Willis (PaperBackSwap)
6. Ashes of Victory by David Weber (paperbackswap) (replace)
7. War of Honor by David Weber (PaperBackSwap) (replace)
8. A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penney (library sale) $1.00

February
9. Crochet Master Class by Leinhayser and Weiss (Amazon-Kindle) $15.99 READ
10. Undone Deeds by Mark del Franco (Amazon) $7.99 READ
11. Timeless by Gail Carriger (Amazon) $7.99 READ
12. Echoes of Betrayal by Elizabeth Moon (Amazon) $16.58 READ
13. Reading the Old Testament by Lawrence Boadt (PBS)
14. The Princess Bride by William Goldman (PBS)

March
15. Dragondrums by Anne McCaffrey (BookMooch) (replace)
16. Hide Me Among the Graves by Tim Powers (ER) READ
17. Solstice Wood by Patricia McKillip (PBS) READ
18. Revelations: Visions, Prophecy, & Politics in the Book of Revelation by Elaine Pagels (Amazon) READ

April
19. The Master of Heathcrest Hall by Galen Beckett (B&N) READ
20. Green Belt Kakuro
21. Touched by an Alien by Gini Koch (Mysterious Galaxy) READ
22. Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire (Mysterious Galaxy) READ
23. 97 Orchard by Jane Ziegelman (gift) READ
24. The Bird Catcher by Laura Jacobs (gift)

May
25. The Killing Moon by N. K. Jemisin (ER)

June
26. Hell: A final Word by Edward William Fudge (ER) READ
27. Crafting with Cat Hair by Kaori Tsutaya (Amazon)
28. A Confusion of Princes by Garth Nix (Amazon Kindle)
29 Captain Vorpatril's Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold (Amazon Kindle) READ

FIRST!

Okay, that was a pretty pathetic comment, but I've never been first to a thread before, especially one that is illustrious as yours! I'm glad that you're on your fifth thread already, Roni. And congratulations on all the books (some of which are very heavy) that you've read!

Good grief, Eris, I hadn't even been open a minute! Certainly no content--I was just going back to get my tickers for the first message when you posted. You are Johnny-on-the-spot this morning for sure. But it is so good to see you--you've been MIA lately what with RL keeping you busy.

Things have calmed down now, so I hope to get back more into LT. I've been keeping up with your thread, though, and I can't wait to see what you read next. Your pottery from last thread is wonderful, by the way! You have the neatest hobby!

Great opening picture!

Like the new thread, Roni! Forgive me if I missed it, but what did you think of A Princess of Mars? I loved those Edgar Rice Burroughs books as a kid, and wondered how they'd stand up today.

:-)

Glad to hear that, Eris. Thanks--I actually get a little down that I'm making progress so slowly but I really do enjoy working with the clay.

Thanks, Hannah. Since you liked it so much on the last thread, I thought I'd highlight it here. One of my favorite walking spots.

Hi, Joe. I actually enjoyed A Princess of Mars quite a bit on my re-read. You know it is pure adventure going into it, and it was still fun. I suspect the Tarzan books have not aged as gracefully.

Hey, Sara, good to see you here. Did you check out the tutored Persuasion thread during your recent reread? And you've already finished up Bring Up the Bodies! I have to get to Wolf Hall this year.

Just visiting your new thread . . . Nice picture.

Happy New Thread, Roni! That is a lovely, lovely spot up top!

Ah, I'm glad you "reran" that lovely picture, Roni. That is the way I picture Paradise...I can see why you like to walk there.

Welcome, Brenda and Peggy! Donna, I love your walk in the woods by the stream too.

229 (of previous thread): you wouldn't know it was in the middle of a city, would you?
So it is. I just looked on Google Maps. Nice.

Just dropping by your new thread (although I think I was in the middle of reading about Constantine on your old thread, so I will have to go back.) Gorgeous opening photo!

Hi Roni! Nice new thread :) *hangs head in shame... admits to falling far, far behind on the last thread and being secretly relieved there's a new thread on which poster is only 18 posts behind*

Hope you're having a good spring, Roni.

I think I've left a trail of drool from your last thread to this one, and I'm blaming the beautiful scenery (such a clear, blue sky!), turkey talk and those wonderful new pottery projects (which get more and more impressive every time!).

Hello Roni! Still reading your, enjoying and finding your comments on the Closing of the Western Mind thought-provoking. One day when I have some brain-space I will read that book.

Book #74 Undeniable Rogue by Annette Blair (320 pp.)

I cling to the hope of finding Regency romances that approximate Georgette Heyer--mostly in vain--which explains why I pick up such books when they show up for free on the Kindle. I was between books, wanted one on the Kindle so I could read in bed without bothering my husband, and was too lazy to look for another. Which explains why I didn't Pearl Rule this loser. Poor editing (taught used when taut was meant) and the font used a capital I for a 1 throughout, which completely threw me out of the story every time a date was used. And then the story was ridiculous and the verisimilitude of the period totally compromised. The sex was good, though. I cannot believe that this received nominations and even won an award or two--the bar must be even lower than I had feared. Even on LT this gets a 4.1 rating. *sigh*

Great initiative, Katherine! That would indeed show how urban the surrounding area is.

Anne DC, thanks for visiting. And for checking out my chapter summaries.

Anne, as busy as you've been, it's no wonder you've fallen behind. I'm just glad you made it to my new thread to visit.

Hey, Amber, glad to have you drop in after getting back home, even though you are busy settling in and preparing for the in-laws' visit.

We've been to vote, returned my three outstanding library books (the second Dr. Siri, the Mercedes Lackey, and the Laini Taylor) and I think this is the first time in months and months that I have no books out nor any on the hold list. No, I'm wrong; I have The Secret Magdalene on the way. I need to order up the next Dr. Siri while I'm at it, too. And then a stop at the grocery store to pick up the ingredients to try the 1-2-3 cake that Terry Loeffler described on her thread. 3 tablespoons angel food cake mix, 3 tablespoons flavored cake mix, 2 tablespoons water, mix together in a mug and stick in the microwave on high for one minute. It actually works! Neat.

Wonderful photograph. I can understand your desire to find someone as good as Georgette Heyer (unintentional rhyming there.....). That's how you realize what a gift she had, that it's good stuff!!! Can't be mimicked easily!

Roni, congrats on your new thread (with envious glances at your Lake Murray walking routes).

Looking for Regency romance that comes close to Georgette Heyer, usually just ends up with me turning back to Heyer. Nobody does it better, she just has that perfect light touch that you don't really appreciate until you look for duplicates and find there just isn't any.

Like Anne, I'm secretly relieved that I don't have to read through the entire old thread in order to be caught up with you.

Had to laugh at your comments about Undeniable Rogue that earned a 4.1 rating despite being terrible. The sex must have been REALLY good! Georgette Heyer is one of my LT discoveries - I'd never read her before, and now I love her.

Happy new thread!

Thanks for pointing the way Eris! Yes, Roni I do recognize Lake Murray -- have walked around it a time or two myself although we live in Hillcrest and I don't get out to the college area as often as I did when my husband taught at SDSU. Nice photo and reminds me we should go walking there again.

Love the picture of Lake Murray, Roni. What a great place to go walking through.....hope the snakes hear you and hide under a rock until you go by, though.

*waiting for pics for your lush vegetable garden and new pottery*

Lucy and Judy, I know very well that Heyer has no peer--and I regularly reread her just to enjoy. I tried very hard to find other Regency authors in the 70s, and couldn't find any to compare. Now I just dabble occasionally--mostly with free Kindle offerings. I'm so glad you found Heyer, Sandy--she is a gem.

Paul, thanks for stopping by. I'm sure you must have some lovely walks in Kuala Lumpur as well.

Hi, Leah. Thanks for stopping by.

Reba, I'm glad you found me here. I'm in East San Diego and so quite a bit closer--just a hop, skip and a jump away.

Caro, fear not. There is a maintenance access road all around the lake that everyone walks or bikes on, although there are some dirt trails down to the water for the fishers. See below. The new pottery is at the end of the last thread. I'll have to get an updated garden pic tomorrow.



But this is where we went walking today.

Wow... great photos, Roni. Did you go to the beach after your walk on the trail?

No, today was beach day. The caption went with the picture below it. The trail picture is from the other day at Lake Murray, the same day as the one at the top.

I wouldn't mind a beach walk..... sounds just the thing.

Only 68 degrees--had to keep moving!

Roni - gorgeous! wonderful walking weather also in the 60's. Kuala Lumpur has some nice places to walk but the climate is so debilitating that I normally like to look at it from the vantage of my airconditioned motor vehicle.

Is that the Strand? We lived in Coronado until about 3 years ago.

No, it's south Mission Beach, Reba.

Hi Roni! Sorry I seem to have missed out on your last thread, but I'm back! Thanks for the gorgeous pics, reminds me I need to transfer a bunch from my iPhone. I've been taking walks at a park near to my house, and it's so lovely and quiet... there's nothing quite like being out in nature, is there?

And thanks for the unintentional reminder to read Heyer. I've never read her before, and have 4 titles on my shelves simply from LT friends gushing about her. Any favorites?

What 4 do you have, Laura?

ETA You have 5 in your library, two of which are mysteries. Of those 5, I'd say try The Foundling first, with The Nonesuch in second place. You want to get a sense of Regency England and the conventions of society before reading Venetia.

Some of my favorites are The Reluctant Widow, Fredericka, The Grand Sophy, The Unknown Ajax, and Cotillion.

Oh, see? Didn't even remember I had 5. :) Will put Foundling at the top of the stack, and will add your favorites to my library list. Thanks Roni!

#40 The Reluctant Widow? Sounds like one of those porno regencies Susan reads!

Hi Roni, just dropping by to make sure you are starred in your new home.
I'm looking out the window here in the UK at the greyest, rainiest weather imaginable, so your pictures brought a little sunshine to my day, thanks!

porno regencies ?? LOL

Well, I'm pleased to hear there's a romance I won't have to get to :-) Some of the conversions into e format are quite shocking - I read a couple of new Mills & Boon novels recently where a lot of the exclamation marks had been replaced by the letter l, so a character saying "Ow!" in fact said "Owl". Just not..the same, really.

As far as Regencies go, I like Marion Chesney's books almost as much as I like Heyer. I didn't care for the books the author wrote under the name M.C. Beaton (mostly mysteries), but the Chesney regencies are light and funny and I devoured them when I was a teenager. I particularly liked the House for the Season series, which starts with The Miser of Mayfair.

The Reluctant Widow? Sounds like one of those porno regencies Susan reads!

*spews*

Not at all, Piyush. You would even enjoy it! The non-Heyer I just reviewed, IT was one of those porno Regencies. Ugh. You may well spew, Eris.

You are welcome, Laura. I think you'd enjoy any of those. Foggi, I remember reading Chesney back when. She and Joan Smith, I think, and maybe another, were decent second tier writers.

Hannah, glad I could brighten your day.

Hi, Kath!

I'm going to participate in the Dandelion Wine memorial read this weekend.

This is my copy

and here is the title page



I also had him sign my old copies of The Martian Chronicles, The Illustrated Man, and Something Wicked This Way Comes on that visit.

Wow. How cool is that!

That's so great.

That is very very cool!

I don't like the M.C. Beaton mysteries all that much but I do LOVE the Hamish MacBeth BBC series.

I was so proud of myself at having made progress in catching up when I found myself at the "end" of your "newest" thread -- LOL. Well, I've still made progress, but there is much to read -- nice thing is: I want too! :)

from the faux thread 2:
Hey sweetie! THanks so much for stopping by my thread. So kind of you, especially when I'm only 5 months behind on yours! *blush*

I've finished thread one and will do #2 (the other one ;->) later. That pottery!!! You go gf! I hate getting my fingers gooky -- pottery classes were real torture for me. But I admire it so much. Thx for the pics!!

Good morning, all! Thank you, Sara, Kerry and Lucy--I thought it was pretty neat myself and was so happy I had the opportunity. When I saw the date, thought, I couldn't believe it was so long ago. Where does the time go?

Hey, Susan! Lovely to see you here, and amazed that you are actually going to read through the old threads--that's dedication! I don't mind getting my hands dirty--playing with mud pies is right down my alley--but I could never do the lovely scrapping compositions you do. Glad to hear the kitchen is coming along, and I'm full of admiration for your work on your foundation. And all your porno regencies, as Piyush styled them above. ;-)

Ah, Piyush... maligning me on my thread is one thing... ;->

Thanks Roni for the kind words :) Pressing on...

Woah....very cool having those signed copies, Roni.

I'm not a big Georgette Heyer fan *ducks from the shoes being thrown my way* but I did like The Grand Sophy and her mysteries, Death in the Stocks and They Found Him Dead.

Enjoy the Dandelion wine reread Roni.

#49 That's lovely Roni. I hope you enjoy The Dandelion Wine read this weekend. i don't have a copy of that but the other Ray Bradbury books I own but haven't read have been bumped up my TBR pile.

22 > What is the Pearl Rule?

I'm so glad I have a ton of Heyers left to discover; 'twill keep me away from other mediocre Regencies for a time!

Formulated by author Nancy Pearl, if you haven't gotten into a book by page 50, you are permitted to ditch it.

Book #75 Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury (184 pp.)

This was reread as part of the group read in memoriam for Bradbury's death this last week. A lyrical ode to summer and childhood, the language trips off the tongue and the anecdotal episodes sparkle like gems in your memory. One of my favorite books for ages, it was a great pleasure to read it along with others appreciating the writing and the author.

And here is this week's pottery:

49: AWESOME! I'm ashamed to admit I haven't read any Bradbury books. Must rectify that deplorable situation. I'll be looking for copies of his books at the Summer Sizzlin' Book Sale in Kansas City on Thursday. We'll be thinking of you.

I'll be thinking of you all as well, Donna, especially since my original plan had been to be there, if my class hadn't decided to hold a reunion in July.

Wheee....new pottery. And beautiful as all the others. Is it possible to make yellow or orange pottery? I've just realized that most pottery I see are blue, red, green, brown or carbon in color, but I don't recall ever seeing yellow or orange pottery.

Ooooh, me like the blue one! Cammelias would look so beautiful in it. ^_^ And I'm glad you did a reread of Dandelion Wine. That reminds me to reread Fahrenheit 451...

#61 Me too like the blue glaze.

beautiful pots on a beautiful day :-) Just finished Dandelion Wine} -- what a lovely book. Is that June gloom or smoke over your way?

Cool pottery (again!), Roni. What a pleasure that must be.

Caro, I know yellow is doable. I'm sure orange is as well, but that's not a color I've seen much of at this pottery.

Reba, it's all sunshine here!

Thanks, Caro, Heather, Reba and Joe regarding the pots. But I think they are distracting from the major accomplishment. Look for the bold print right ABOVE the pots!!

OK I"m missing something -- bold print above the pots?

Glad to hear you had sunshine. We live on 6th floor and have windows looking east -- it was sunny here but the mountains weren't showing and it looked like there was a layer of something over there. We had June gloom earlier so I thought perhaps it hadn't cleared over you way yet.

Congratulations on reaching 75 books! You're done for the year! ;-)

Yep, you got it, foggi. Now I can stop reading...

Right . . .

Congratulations on 75 books and a couple of lovely bowls.

I wonder what the difference is between your edition and mine? Mine had 256 pages and was
called Dandelion Wine (Grand Master Editions)... hunh! interesting ...

Lovely bowls!

But, Brenda!!!

Thank you, Kerry.

Smaller print, Kath, I can guarantee you, in my 1964 edition. Tiny, tiny print.

Thank you, Amber.

Not sure what I'll be doing today, although I should get back to the Jemisin ARC and I'm also reading the book Caro gave me, 97 Orchard: An edible history of five immigrant families in one New York tenement.

Congratulations on reaching 75, Roni! Looks like you did it with an excellent book, too.

Congratulations on 75! I've never read Dandelion Wine but maybe I will see if the library has it.

(and beautiful pottery too)

Congrats on 75! Keep those pretty pottery pics coming!

Wow. My observation skills are stunning - it's only now that I notice the big #75 next to Dandelion Wine! Congratulations, Roni - 75 books all by the month of June? I bow down to your excellent reading skills! Brava!

Delurking to say that I've enjoyed the discussion on Regency Romances - I'm another one who loves Georgette Heyer and had never found anyone else as good. I'm a bit late to the conversation as I was accidentally ignoring your thread, and only found it again this morning along with several others that I also hadn't meant to ignore at all. On the same subject, I was at a talk by China Mieville last week where he said that he was currently reading a lot of Regency Romances and was studying the genre to see what made it tick - but he wouldn't commit as to whether or not he was going to write a Regency Romance of his own.

Thank you so much, Mary, Anne, Laura and Eris!

Rhian, that is totally fascinating about Mieville!

Congrats!

What a tidbit about Mieville.... wonder what will come of it, indeed!

Belated congratulations on reaching 75 books this year Roni. What a special copy you have of that book!

72: Now I can stop reading...
Well, a signed copy of Dandelion Wine is quite the way to go out.

Congrats on the 75 Roni. I have recently acquired The Martian Chronicles through Bookmooch, so will have to give that a read sometime soon.
I'm crazy about all things orange (the colour of joy, dontcha know), so would be thrilled to see orange pottery! (It's true you hardly ever see it. I have a strange 60's Hungarian pottery piece that's orange, but I think it has a kind of painted glaze that was added post-firing, or something)

Thank you, Marie, Jim, Katherine, and Hannah! Lucy, exactly!

I've been reading junk, along with my nonfiction book. Not too energetic today, as I woke up at 4 and couldn't get back to sleep.

Book #76 The Marriage Bargain by Sandra Edwards (190 pp.)

This Kindle self-published freebie contemporary romance is very typical of the genre, not terrible, not good. No touchstones. For genre readers only.



Book #77 Curricle & Chaise by Lizzie Church (251 pp.)

Another Kindle freebie, this Regency romance is decent but not outstanding.

Hi Roni, congratulations on reaching your 75th book. I have to admit that I have never read Ray Bradbury before, but I am certainly going to give Dandelion Wine a try, it sounds like a book that I would enjoy.

Thanks, Judy. I think you will enjoy Dandelion Wine/



Book #78 Od Magic* by Patricia McKillip (315 pp.)

I will always love the early books that introduced me to this author, the Riddlemaster of Hed trilogy and The Forgotten Beasts of Eld. Both were unique for their time and showcased the author's lush language as well as her unique vision. Since that time, some of McKillip's books have appealed more to me than others, although all of of great quality. However, this book, published in 2005, is by far my favorite of her later books and the one I will put up against those early books as rivaling them for preeminence.

Od Magic is a tour de force of ideas, characters, and language coming together to weave a fantastic tale, in all the best meanings of the word, that enchants and mesmerizes at the same time as it addresses serious issues at its core. When Od sends Brendan from the far north to be gardener at her school in Kelior, it sets an inevitable concatenation of events into motion that will affect a princess, a scholar, a wizard, and a magician's daughter in every aspect of their lives.

Get this book. Read it. You will not be sorry.

I love that book and your review Roni:)

Oh I am going to have to reread that one, Roni -- I don't even have it listed on here I don't think, but I remember the cover and nothing else!

I can't believe I haven't read that, Roni. Unfortunately the library doesn't have it.

Thank you, calm. Yes, Lucy, better reread it! Nathan, Amazon has it new for $5.60 or used for $1.09 plus their $3.99 postage--or you could try interlibrary loan!



Book #79 97 Orchard: An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement by Jane Ziegelman (227 pp.)

This is actually a book much more about the food than the five families mentioned in the title. The ethnicity of the family and the time it spent in Orchard Street served to organize the information about the waves of immigrants, the foods they brought with them, and how this affected the stores and restaurants of New York. Sample recipes are given throughout to illustrate the foods the immigrants would be preparing in their homes.

I would have appreciated maps of the Lower East Side, being completely unfamiliar with New York City, and also a font that didn't use a capital I for a 1, which completely interrupted my reading every time a date was cited, averaging at least twice a page and often more.

However, the information about the housing in that area, the waves of immigration, the kitchens at Ellis Island, and the stores and restaurants of the area was fascinating even though the prose was fairly prosaic and the book just...ended. Without conclusion.

This book was a gift from Caro upon the occasion of our meet-up here in San Diego, and much appreciated.

Od Magic looks good I like McKillip.. but have only read a few of hers..

I've caught up for the moment, Roni - strand walking, lovely bowls, Regency porn and all. Is that 2 books lately that have used I for 1? Horrors! 1 don't think I've seen that even Ice. I do like the sound of *Orchard*, but I don't think that you liked it enough for me to hunt it out.
Meanwhile, I'm trying to deal with the mental image of Miéville reading regencies...........not computing!

I'm definitely a fan of early McKillip. There's something about those first books that seemed strikingly original, while her later books seem slightly derivative of herself...if that makes any sense?

Hi, Roni, I just checked and my library has Od Magic so I've added it to my wishlist. Hope you are having a nice weekend, up here we are having rain, rain and more rain.

Hope you try it, Kath, and you can have that single cup of coffee from your new coffeemaker with it!

Hey, Peggy. No, it was this book, not the other, and now I can't find my reference to the previous book to take it out! And that mental image of Miéville is what has me so intrigued...

It does make sense, Tad. Od Magic to me seems totally original again--that's one of the things I love about it.

Hey, Judy, hope you get it soon and enjoy it. We are having a sunny but cool weekend so far--no rain. Wouldn't mind a bit of yours, actually, if you could oblige.

Today was discouraging at pottery class. I think my clay was too moist and I could NOT throw to save my life. I did trim and put handles on two mugs, though, that will be ready to glaze next week.

And I finished this book the night before last--another free Kindle.



Book #80 Ridiculous by D. L. Carter (325 pp.)

And it was. This purported Regency started off quite promisingly, with a novel spin on the mother and daughters left penniless when the husband and father dies. And the conversation was quite sprightly as well. And then, the second half of the book descends into ridiculousness. Sadly. Disappointingly because there was so much potential. It could have been nearly as clever as Heyer's The Masqueraders, from which it borrows plot heavily, but then has to ruin it with an overpowering sexual relationship which has the Duke announcing to his influential aunt his intention to marry his mistress. Very melodramatic, I grant you, but completely inappropriate to the times.

Bummer!! Sunds like it was good enough to get you hooked and then turned on you.

#91 I really need to read some of those McKillip titles you mention - I think I've had them on my wishlist since joining LT!

#100 Oh dear.

Reba, if it were not for those few jarring notes, it would have been so good.

Heather, I really think you should.

Such a bargain today at Amazon--all 14 Oz books by Frank Baum on sale for 95¢! I'll have to think where I can post this so more people will see it.

It's interesting that there are two versions of that e-book sale... I'm trying to figure out what's different about them other than the cover image. Also interesting is that I'm pretty sure you can get each of the books for free, so is there something extra? It's awesome but confusing.

ETA: Actually, I've now found a THIRD Kindle edition for $.95. What is up?

Hmmm, well, yes, you are right. They are all free in isolation. This collection has an "active" table of contents while the other doesn't, and I'm happy to have them all bundled together on my Kindle as organizing stuff on it is a real pain, afaiac.

I think it's cool too, especially the active table of contents, I'm just a bit confused as to how all these collections are on sale at the same price/time.

And yes, organizing a Kindle is awful. I've just given up thinking I'm going to make some sense other than "last read, top left"...

ETA: Apparently the e-book collections with active contents is a big thing right now because I've got about 30 recommendations on my Amazon list and it's all collections like that for around $1.00. Austen, Alcott, Conan Doyle, Lovecraft, Andrew Lang, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Dickens... very interesting.

Book #81 oh. my. gods. by Tera Lynn Childs (264 pp.)

This cute book is about a high school senior transplanted from her southern California school and life to the Greek islands when her mother unexpectedly marries the principal of a private school there. Not only does she have to settle into the social setting of high school cliques, but these kids have powers that make hazing out of the ordinary! Lots of teen angst but it's light-hearted and competently done, a YA fantasy that is a fun summer read. I was going to warn Richard dear off of this one, but upon searching , find out that he was the one who caused me to put this on my wishlist, and even had nice things to say of it. OMG!

recommended by rd?! huh!
Old Magic, I have read and enjoyed

Wow Roni you've really picked up the pace since Dandelion Wine with six books polished off in less than a week since! Congratulations belatedly for zipping past the 75 and trust that you have been having a lovely weekend whilst mine has slowly eked away.

Congrats on zooming past the 75 book goal already!

Here I am feeling pleased that I'm on track to do my 75 this year and you've finished half-way though June!! I'm impressed.

Roni, I may have to start waking up at 4:00 a.m. In order to catch up to your reading. Oh yeah, almost forgot that this isn't a race. That's a good thing because I don't like losing!

I don't have much trouble organizing my e-books because I have so few of them. I like to fondle my unread books. ;-)

Kath, yes, I was shocked as well, given his recent statements about YA and teen angst.

Thank you, Paul and Terri. Reba, I'm am blessed to be a fast reader, and also tend to read mostly in genres that are fast reads as a rule. This is pretty close to my usual pace for the year. If I didn't spend so much time playing games on the computer, I'd have a lot more read.

Yes, NOT a race, Donna. I tend not to read tomes like Infinite Jest and Bring up the Bodies, so the numbers are not everything. It's those free daily Kindle books that cause the problems--I just can't resist downloading everything that sounds interesting. So I have 200 books on my Kindle right now. I had to set up a spreadsheet to try and keep track of what I have.

The fact you don't take up door stoppers shows that you are a sensible person!

Oh, those Kindle freebies! I sympathise. There is a forum on the Mobilereads website where they list all the deals and freebies, and ,every time I turn my Kindle on, five things download that I have ordered since last time. And mostly forgotten about. I like the spreadsheet idea - I try and put them into collections but I forget what they are (although most of them are romance :-) )

I like the sound of oh. my. gods!

113: Trying to make us forget The Closing of the Western Mind? :-)
(Note that I'm in no position whatsoever to nag.)

Thank you, Lucy! (Shhh, Katherine! I'm trying to make everyone forget that since I've not finished my chapter summaries yet.)

The spreadsheet helps, Susan, since I also can keep track there of what I've already read. I've avoided deleting those, although I guess I could get them off my Kindle since they would still be on my account with Amazon and I could re-download them if I ever wanted to. My sister has pretty much told me she has so many of her own, she won't be borrowing mine.

for what it's worth -- I have a category "books I've read" and I move them there. Since you can have something like 1200 books on the device itself I don't see any reason to send them to the clouds :-)

Thanks, Reba! I'll consider that.

Today's walk with Molly was along San Diego Bay.



And on the way home, we stopped by the library. Remember how I unusually had no books out from it last week. Well, it didn't last long.

Brought home on Saturday:
oh. my. gods. by Tera Lynn Childs (read yesterday)
The Secret Magdalene by Ki Longfellow
One Dog and his Boy by Eva Ibbotson
The Bible Repairman and other Stories by Tim Powers
The Ill-Bred Bride by Rosemary Edghill

The first three were holds based on recommendations by LTers, the Powers was on the new books shelf, and the last one was in the free books box.

Today I brought home:
Disco for the Departed by Colin Cotterill
A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont
Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton
Make-believe by Elizabeth Goudge
Catalyst by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough

Ditto for the first three, holds based on LT recommendations. The Goudge is one I've never read, and the last book is for my group read tomorrow--I read it last year but wanted to skim it to refresh my memory.

Wasn't it a beautiful day today? Your walk along the bay looks really nice.

Ohmygosh, that looks so lovely! I've only been to San Diego once, for a week, but, oh, such a week it was! I'd love to go back some day...

Traipsing through to see where my Bloomfix is...when will it be Bloomsday again...and also to mention Elsie Lee, whose The Nabob's Widow was a good Regency.

That is all.

Oh, yes, Richard, that was a good Regency, a real classic. Bloomsday? As in...?



Reba and Amber, welcome! Just lovely weather every day here, right, Reba?

HAROLD Bloomsday! Close that Western mind, lady!

You betcha :-)

Would a Charles Freeman do?

The Closing of the Western Mind

Chapter 13: "Enriched by the Gifts of Matrons"
Bishops and Society in the Fourth Century

This chapter is all about how the bishops went from a very precarious position during Diocletian's rule, where they often lost property and even life, to becoming more and more entrenched politically and fiscally starting with Constantine. "The emperor's desire to bring the bishops into the fabric of the state involved...enormous patronage...to those bishops ready to accept the emperor's position on doctrine, and those who took advantage of it came to have access to vast wealth and social prestige." While some bishops lived extravagantly and others gave their wealth to the poor to reinforce their Christian authority, bishops were now men with a stake in good order and who increasingly took control when other social structures weakened. The association of the churches with wealth, conservatism and the traditional structures of society was to endure in the European Christianity well into the twentieth century.

The bishops had always been based in the cities. (Note: the derogatory term "pagan" has the connotation of one who lives in the country.) The capital city of each province became the seat of the archbishop who had authority over the other bishops in the province. The original idea of giving status to a bishopric because of its association with Jesus or the apostles fell prey to political considerations. Jerusalem was under the authority of the bishopric of Caesarea, where the governor lived. Rome claimed privilege but was simply too far away from the core of the Empire to be significant. Antioch and Alexandria were the great Christian cities of the East, but Constantinople now became the preeminent bishopric, highlighting the extent to which the church had become a political institution, although this was highly resented by Rome and Alexandria.

The authority of bishops was consolidated by tying them into the structure of the legal system. Constantine had extended to bishops the rights of all magistrates to hear civil suits and free slaves. Sitting in courts became a major part of a bishop's life. The Church's attitude toward slavery was of acceptance, and most wealthier Christians owned slaves themselves. Augustine "who was always conservative in social affairs, took matters further in asserting that slavery is God's punishment for evil."

It was an ancient tradition that a city should glorify itself through its temples, and the bishops and emperor lavished funds on the building and adornment of churches. The basilica, the edifice used as the audience halls of the emperors, was adopted as the most appropriate form as Christian churches, unlike temples, needed to house congregations. The costs were tremendous, as churches were gilded and bejeweled. Although Jesus disdained the display of wealth, there were precedents in the Old Testament and Revelation to justify it. "If heaven is so rich in treasure, then a basilica can be seen as a symbol of heaven on earth and as worthy of similar decoration." If churches were now a symbol of heaven, the figures of the holy family and the saints were modeled on the imperial court, dressed as emperors and their court. Even the martyrs, who rejected the vanities of the world, were depicted as an empress or emperor.

While the emperors initiated the massive patronage required to build the churches, it became a badge of faith for wealthy Christians to contribute. Often wealthy women would make over much of their estate to the support of a church. The finest churches were those of the great cities. The bishops' estates, properties, churches and institutions (all tax-exempt) transformed them into estate managers and financial overlords as well as major employers. Bishops held office often for life, while provincial governors generally stayed in a post only for a few years, contributing to their status and influence. Such men were necessarily drawn from the traditional elites, skilled in rhetoric and management.

Freeman notes that many bishops also established programs for the destitute and funded them. These went beyond traditional patronage by giving to those who had nothing and no influence, including food and medical services.

However, the prestige of bishoprics was now so high that they were often fought over bitterly, literally. "The linking of access to resources with orthodoxy was bound to lead to nasty rivalries when doctrine was so fluid." Bishops attempted to discredit rival bishops and even bribed officials for support. The original framework of Christianity, set in a framework where power, wealth, even conventional social ties were renounced, had now been embedded within the social, political and legal establishment.

UGH

It's like watching a slow-motion train wreck! I can't stand the idea of what's to come, and yet come it will no matter what. I could sob every time I think about it.

I was sure this was a Harold Bloom title. *sigh* Well, thank you for these synopses. It makes me feel I've read the book without the boring bits!

I read Charles freeman's AD 381, which was a very interesting work. I found myself in not total agreement with it, although it would be a tricky thing to argue with him as he clearly has read very widely on the subject. On the Amazon UK review of his book on that site there is a review from a Dr. Richard M. Price, an academic in the field that is extremely fair, heaping praise on the work whilst pointing out some flaws with the analysis. Worth a look.

The second review on the site is mine ;)

The reviews are here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AD-381-Heretics-Pagans-Christian/dp/1845950062

Freeman references "The Closing of the Western Mind", and I really should read it too.

Book #82 Hell: A Final Word by Edward W. Fudge (173 pp.)

This book was received through the Early Reviewers program on LT.

The author is a committed evangelical scholar who, through his investigation of divinely inspired scripture, has come to the conclusion that there is no evidence for the popular image of Hell as a place where the soul is tormented for eternity. In this, his third book on the subject, he carefully lays out the evidence from both the Old and New Testaments for Hell as the final and irreversible destruction of the soul of the wicked. He carefully defines terms, explaining the common usage of the times of the Greek words that have been used to support current conceptions of Hell. He deconstructs the "4 pillars" that support Hell as eternal torment, showing how they do not hold up, and finally concludes that the primary reason for that view is the introduction of Platonism by Tertullian, with its concept of an eternal, indestructible soul, a view that is not supported in scripture. In scripture, the immortality of the soul is a gift that is granted at the final Judgment to the just.

This book is very clear, using short, precise chapters to make the author's points with summaries of the evidence supporting them. Only one chapter doesn't seem to work. Although Chapter 46 presents Tertullian and his views, it also gives very brief summaries of a number of other early Church theologians such as Origen, Augustine and Anselm. As these were widely differing, what we get is a potpourri of very surface characterizations which do not contribute to the overall point.

Clearly Fudge's work is within the worldview of Scripture as divinely ordained and inerrant. Yet within that, he just as clearly seeks to place writings and words within appropriate context and to recognize scholarship about probably authors of various books; he comes across as a highly trained and intelligent scholar.

Does he refer to John Stott at all? This was John Stott's position also - another very prominent evangelical.

126: When you're done, maybe you could put all the chapter summaries in one thread and the rest of us could count it as a book.

>131 Inspired! Roni, please? Please?

I need to gather them all from my thread anyway, and create a Word document with the entire summary after all my hard work. So yes, Katherine, and YES, Richard, when I am all done, I will put the whole summary into a separate thread.

Stephen, he mentions Stott in a group of about 10 theologians of the same generation who have supported this position, in his summary of how minds are changing within the evangelical community. Fudge's original research on this and his scholarly book date from 1982.

131/133: I like it! :)

Book #83 Make-believe by Elizabeth Goudge (267 pp.)

I love Goudge's fiction, her marvelous characters and her descriptive language. Her first book, Island Magic, was written in 1934 based on stories about her ancestors at the end of the 19th century on the Channel Islands. This book, written in 1949, is a collection of eight short stories featuring that same family, the Du Frocqs, and is a welcome return to that charming island setting.

That is a very good idea, Katherine.

>135 Goudge is such an old-fashioned writer, and I mean that as a compliment. She's just so clear and so unpretentious in the stories she tells!

Goin' on my list -- sounds like a lovely read.

Nice list of Library books. Great place to walk the dog...
I'm starting to worry about myself. I am so envious of people
who live in beautiful places. I never used to be. Sense of impending doom, like
I will never even see that much less live it. sigh. maudlin is me.

This sounds strange, but I didn't realize that other people knew about Goudge! I haven't read much of her stuff, but I adore it. Richard is right (as usual), she's clear and unpretentious. She was a favorite of my Grandmother, and I think I need to tackle one of her books again. Thanks for the reminder!

I found her in the 70s, Laura, and have many of her books in my library. I lent 3 of my favorites out, The City of Bells, Sister of Angels, and The Blue Hills, a number of years ago, cannot remember to whom, and cannot replace them now, to my great sorrow. Richard, I'm so glad you appreciate her too. Many may call her writing sentimental, but I disagree. I think she illuminates.

Thanks for visiting, Lucy and Kath.

Reba, good ones to start with might be A City of Bells, The Scent of Water, The Rosemary Tree, or The Dean's Watch.

Oh, bummer! How awful! I'll keep my eyes peeled for her stuff when I'm used book shopping and will let you know if I discover any titles.

Let me add, I'd like to replace them for under $20 each. If I'm willing to pay more, I can find copies.

Thanks Roni, I've made a note. As to cost of buying, I went on-line and found them rather pricey. I'm going to have to keep an eye out. Have you checked the used bookstores along Adams?

The good thing is that our local library has many of them, Reba, so I'd definitely look for copies to read there. Yes, they are rather pricy online. Except for the lovely children's books, The Little White Horse and Linnets & Valerians which were reprinted in the early 2000s.

Maybe I'll make that an excuse to go and see our beautiful new main library when it's finished :-)

Hey Roni--Try here: http://used.addall.com/ It's a metasearch engine book dealers often use. It looks like there are many copies of Goudge's books-- a lot from the UK, but also some in the US.

Will absolutely keep that in mind, and thanks for the link, streamsong! If we're all looking someone, somewhere, should be able to find copies for under $10, right?!? Hope so.

As much as I like Tim Powers (I have his latest novel from my library), I want to see how a Regency reader responds to Tooth and Claw.

just passing through and catching up.. more or less..

Read and liked The Warrior's Apprentice. Is The Mountains of Mourning what I should read next?

You certainly can, Piyush. It is next chronologically. That novella, however, is wrapped up with a couple of others in Borders of Infinity, and those skip around in time to some extent. I think The Vor Game comes before the other stories in that collection, followed by Cetaganda, and then the other stories in Borders of Infinity, then Brothers in Arms, and then the connecting story of Borders of Infinity. The Mountains of Mourning is available free online, so you might want to go ahead and read it, then go on to The Vor Game. I'm happy you enjoyed your first exposure to Miles. TVG and BIA are about the same level, but then the books get better and better.

Reba, good excuse, but that may be a while. Thanks, Streamsong, for the site. I usually use www.bookfinder.com but yours gave me more choices, and there are some in my price range. Laura and I may be able to find some.

QQ, I looked at the author's introduction last night, and she terms it a Victorian novel rather than a Regency, but I can see that it is going to be very interesting!

Hey, Kath! Hang in there and keep cool.

I was having a mini-book slump, starting at least three books and having difficulty sticking to them, so turned to an old favorite stimulated by our Goudge discussion, A Scent of Water. I got 123 pages into my old Fawcett Crest paperback with the crooked pages last night, and wanted to share this quote:

Mary has arrived at the old house her cousin had left her and is settling into her bedroom the first night.

"John's photograph was on the mantelpiece and a volume of Jane Austen was by her bed. She liked Jane. She liked her cheerful sanity. She had expected no very great things of human nature, yet she had loved it, and in Mr. Knightley and Jane Bennet she had portrayed a quiet steady goodness that had been as lasting in literature as it would have been in life. And she had lived in a house much like this, in a village hidden in a quiet fold of green and rural England, and found her existence entirely satisfying."

It will indeed be a while before the library is finished...but I have so much in my TBR pile that it's probably a good thing. Hope you're enjoying this glorious day.

It is absolutely marvelous, isn't it? 75 degrees at the bay, a couple of degrees warmer here, and brilliant sunshine. Paradise indeed.

Have you been walking some place marvelous again?

No, I've been home, relaxing. My deck is a very nice place to read and enjoy the weather at the same time, and we read the morning paper on the front porch (east-facing) this morning.

Sounds lovely. We made a quick trip to the farmer's market this morning before church and I've been enjoying the day from inside since then...probably should have gone outside but our balconies face east and north and it was a bit too cool out there today.

I just let Lucky out and got hit with a blast of hot air. I hope you come to the Midwest during a rare cool spell in July, Roni. My son and DIL will be here for a high school reunion the second week in July. Rebecca is a native Coloradan and really suffers from the Missouri humidity. But then, I do too!

Mom said she had been inside all day, Donna, and only took her dog for a short walk very early this morning. We should be so lucky...doubt it will happen.

Reba, we often hit the Hillcrest market on Sunday morning too, but not today.



Book #84 The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge (222 pp.)

Goudge excels in character studies, and her books are peopled with marvelous characters as well as a transcendent faith that illuminates their thoughts and actions.

The other Austen quote from the book:

Mary is at another house staying with a rather tiring friend who needs company right now. Cherishing the opportunity to be alone and too tired to sleep, she has retired to her bed and picked up a book.

"But Mansfield Park failed to hold her. Fanny was good but she lacked the serene depth of Anne Elliot and Jane Bennet. Mary found her a rather tiresome little creature and putting her gently aside turned to another. It was Cousin Mary ('s diary) she found she wanted.

So this blessing of loneliness was not really loneliness. Real loneliness was something unendurable. What one wanted when exhausted by the noise and impact of physical bodies was not no people but disembodied people; all those denizens of beloved books who could be taken to one's heart and put away again, in silence, and with no hurt feelings."

Oops, not only did I buy the ebook of Garth Nix's A Confusion of Princes on Friday, but I also just discovered that an ebook ARC was available from Baen of Bujold's new book, Captain Vorpatril's Alliance for a slightly ridiculous price--and I couldn't resist. And now I have all these library books out, but while I can hold off for a while on the Nix, I have a feeling the Bujold is going to jump to the top of the pile.

Also picked up a dead tree book I couldn't resist--one I should recommend to Richard, Crafting with Cat Hair: Cute Handicrafts to Make with Your Cat.

That's 3 new books in one week, to add to my previous 26 books for the year.

An author sho quotes Austen -- I love her already.

We love the Hillcrest market and go almost every week -- early so we can park :-)

Oh gosh, the new Bujold...... oh itchy fingers......

Book #85 Captain Vorpatril's Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold (400 pp.)

This is the last of the books to be set in the Vorkosigan Universe, and Lois has put together an affectionate swan song tying up numerous loose ends (although not all) and letting us see most of our favorite characters through fresh eyes. No spoilers here. Not a place to start with the Vorkosigans, but not to be missed by fans of the series.



Book #86 The Bible Repairman and other Stories by Tim Powers (170 pp.)

I am not as a rule a fan of short stories but Powers, as usual, proves an exception to the rule.

Just ordered my copy of The Warrior's Apprentice! I can't wait!
I would have ordered it sooner but I was having trouble tracking down an affordable copy. I don't think it was ever published in the UK because new copies aren't going for less than about £17. On Amazon even used copies were quite expensive, so I had given up on getting it through that channel. However, I just used www.bookfinder.com from the link you left here, and it directed me back to Amazon, so it seems some cheaper copies have become availabe since the last time I checked - yay!

Glad to hear it, Hannah! I have the same problem with Elizabeth Goudge books--more and cheaper in the UK and New Zealand.

All this is reminding me that I need to get back to the Vorkosigan books...

Hmm..never read Elizabeth Goudge, and after your review, I think I may need to add this to my obese wish list. Thanks for the recommendation, Roni.

So, today's walk was at Coronado Beach, and a late lunch at Point Loma Seafood afterwards--squid sandwich on sourdough, yum, yum, and California roll with real crab, more yum-yum!

Book #87 A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont (331 pp.)

This got on my wishlist somehow, but I have no idea who brought it to my attention where. There are no conversations or reviews of LTers I recognize about it. But I requested it from my library recently, and just finished it.

This is a YA, a first person POV of a girl in high school, a scholarship student at a pricey boarding school, dealing with alienation from her father and stepmother, with boys and clicques and a hostile roommate. The hook is that at two points she enters Jane Eyre's persona within the book and uses that experience to arrive at some essential truths about herself and her mother's death. If you can't stand teens and their angst, keep your distance, but if you appreciate a good coming of age book and Jane Eyre, go ahead and give it a try. It's really pretty decent!

Beautiful photo, Roni.

I'll look into A Breath of Eyre! I love Jane Eyre and I am, unfortunately, all too familiar with teen angst, so this seems like a book I would be interested in.

I have never heard of a squid sandwich before (though I love squid) but it sounds amazing! What kind of condiments are usually used with that? Tartar sauce? Cocktail sauce?

wow that beach looks beautiful!

Oh, lovely photo! I'll pass on the squid, though. This mid-western gal likes here fish in square or stick form, thankyouverymuch. :)
(Except for crab cakes, which are delicious, or were when I had them in San Francisco.)

squid sandwich *droooool* oh yes please two please extra tartar sauce please and a mountain of fries!!!!

I had something else in mind when you said you had a squid sandwich. That definitely wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting maybe breaded squid rings and tentacles.

Love the photo of the beach .. I sooo want to be there!

That is a beautiful beach, Roni, I love to see the palm trees as well, so tropical. Almost as beautiful is that squid sandwich, I'm joining Richard in the drooling!

Gorgeous beach - and I am soooooo hoarding the final Vorkosigan that I haven't even considered buying it yet. Of course, I'll get it for my birthday in a month. So I don't even have to consider buying it. I was never able to hoard Bujold when I discovered her, so probably I'll just sit down and read it. Sigh.

Re: bookfinder and addall. If I'm really looking for something, I'll search both since they do search slightly differently. I used to take part in a professional book seller's board and the debate usually tipped toward addall although both are good (and that was OMG 7 years ago so things could be different now).

Really liked your review of Hell: A Final Word. I may have to look for that one.

Gorgeous beach!

Well I do like squid a lot. I am not sure I have ever thought of putting it between two slices of bread though!

I love Coronado Beach. Are yous staying at the Hotel Del Coronado or just wishing you were?

It is a beautiful beach, Reba and Hannah and Lori! No, not staying at the Hotel Del, Lori, as I'm a local--just doing a morning walk along the beach.

Nora, it's tartar sauce (their home-made) all the way, and it is DELICIOUS! Amber, it IS in stick form. Caro, not rings and tentacles, but strips of big, fat, tender steaks. Richard and Judy, wish you could join me for a meal here. Stephen, you'd love it! These are superlative sandwiches.

Lucy, I can understand hoarding the Bujold--but I can't do it either. I will still buy the hardback when it comes out this fall.

Streamsong, that's good to know. I've added Addall to my bookmarks. Thanks for the info.

No beach today--we're off to the San Diego Fair in a few, to look at animals, woodworking, home arts, gems and jewelry, and garden exhibits and to sample the food!



But first, Book #88 Disco for the Departed by Colin Cotteril (247 pp.)

Another Dr. Siri book, still fascinating both for its characters and its cultural exposition--those caves must be amazing. But POOR Mr. Geung, he's the real hero of this one, I think.

A non-reading day, but a nice one. The fair was great.



We had a nice break in the middle of our day there listening to Ben E. King sing his 12 top-10 hits solo and with the Drifters--Spanish Harlem, Under the Boardwalk, Save the Last Dance for Me, Stand by Me, and so on.



And then we stopped by our favorite microbrewery for a brew before heading home...

Did you eat any crazy fair food? We haven't been to the fair in years -- should go again.

Wow, that sounds like a *wonderful* day!

I love fairs ...and that looks like a fun one, Roni. I've only read 3 in the Dr Siri series and am looking forward to the rest in the series.

Any weekend plans?

No crazy fair food, Reba. Just a barbeque sandwich.

It was a very nice day, Amber, with the temperature in the mid-70s.

The San Diego Fair is a great fair, Caro. And I've only read the first three of the Dr. Siri books as well.

Been out gardening this morning--watering, and pulling up my sweet peas and bachelor buttons, harvesting some carrots, trying out a new hose and nozzle I got at the fair yesterday, along with a fur thinning thingy for the cat.

Was out in La Mesa this morning -- what totally perfect weather today. It was warm and sunny but not even close to hot even that far inland -- just wonderful.

Yes, lovely weather indeed, Reba. I've finished a book and we're off to run a couple of errands.



Book #89 One Dog and His Boy by Eva Ibbotson (282 pp.)

This is the last book Ibbotson wrote before her recent death. It is typical Ibbotson, a children's book through and through with a touch of fantasy. And it is her typical fun read--I raced through it in an afternoon as I followed Hal and his trek, with its send-ups of certain types of adults and its good-hearted kids and, in this case, its personality-full dogs. Good fun!

Fair looks like it was terriff, and the brewpub...!!

*checks flights for San Diego*

Roni - all the fun of the fair - Ben E. King, what a legend and done up in that suit in the broiling heat. The Drifters are one of my all time favourites - superb stuff.
Can see you will have a brilliant weekend but don't overindulge on all that enticing looking food (I'm jealous really).

What broiling heat, Paul? The fairgrounds are next to the Pacific Ocean, where water temperature is 65 degrees. Low 70s. Thai food tonight.

Richard, we can get you here on Southwest for $181 from Long Island.

Roni - now I am even more jealous than I already was. Enjoy the thai food - I may just follow suit with that myself this weekend.

Roni - I found out earlier this month when it appeared on a UK awards shortlist that there is one more Ibbotson, The abominables. It also looks like a fun read and I'm waiting for my library to get it in.

I didn't know that Eva Ibbotson had passed away. I feel in love with her when I read The Secret Countess and The Journey to the River Sea. Sorry to hear she's gone.

Great photos ( as always ) and lots of good fun here. Except for the squid. Blech

Speaking of food --for breakfast I just ate (half a) mango from a backyard garden in Florida sent up to me by a friend. What a perfect way to start the day!

#189 Glad to hear that one's good. Eva Ibbotson is on my list of authors I need to read more of - I loved The Dragonfly Pool when I read it last year.

#197 Oh, yum!

$181 is fabOO! Now the rehab where I'll need to stay for a month after sitting in airline seats will be costly. On balance....

Mmmm....Lucy, a good start to the day indeed. I love fresh mango.

Paul, pad thai and eggplant delight--yum!

Thanks, Kerry--I'll keep an eye out for it! Judy, she died in October of 2010. Heather, there are her children's books and then her romantic novels--both are good.

Kath, first time I ever ate squid, it was on a mixed plate of seafood and I had no idea what it was (also steak pieces, obviously), but we asked what was so good.

Mangos are good, Lucy. I've been cutting up fresh pineapple here for breakfast, with pear tomatoes.

Caro, here are my pottery pieces today. But I didn't clear up my work table for my photos, so you can also see a jewelry piece and a crochet piece I'm working on.

The Closing of the Western Mind by Charles Freeman}}

Chapter 14: Six Emperors and a Bishop--Ambrose of Milan

Ambrose, bishop of Milan, is presented as the most fascinating example of how a bishop survived the tricky and unsettled political climate of the late fourth century. Milan was the "linchpin of the western empire", serving as a court of the emperors but close enough to the northern borders to serve as a base to launch campaigns. From 355 to 374, Auxentius, a Homoean, had been bishop with the support of Constantius and Valentinian. On his death, peace was threatened by unrest between the Homoeans and supporters of the Nicene Creed. Ambrose, the local provincial governor, was summoned to keep order and was acclaimed by the populace and accepted by the emperor Valentinian as bishop, even though he was not even a baptized Christian at the time.

Ambrose was at ease with the exercise of authority, as the son of a prefect, an effective orator, and a flair for politics. He was not, however, an original thinker and although he knew Greek, he never fully understood the theologies he now had to absorb. His most famous pastoral work was a Christian reworking of Cicero's On Duties and he was warned about his plagiarizing of Greek works by Jerome. Ambrose was naturally austere in habit and he was preoccupied by virginity, one of the first to preach the perpetual virginity of Mary, and he classified Christians by their degree of sexual purity. He inspired his most famous convert, Augustine, to make it a badge of Christian faith. Ambrose was able to maintain good order between the rival Christian communities in his first years, although he came to believe in the common divinity of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit and ended up a fervent supporter of the Nicene Creed.

When the young co-emperor Valentinian and his mother Justina fled to Milan after the defeat in Thrace, Justina demanded of the emperor Gratian a basilica in Milan to house the Homoeans, and this attracted a large community. Ambrose was asked by Gratian to give an account of his faith, which resulted in Ambrose's first two books De Fide. This work doesn't develop the Nicene Creed, simply adopting the belief of common divinity (common in the West) and engaging in a polemical attack on a range of beliefs that Ambrose lumped under the umbrella of Arianism. This made for some odd bedfellows and aroused opposition, resulting in Ambrose producing 3 more books of De Fide. However, the books impressed the emperor Gratian, who moved his own court to Milan. After his death, however, the struggles resumed between Justina and the Homoeans versus Ambrose and supporters of the Nicene Creed. Valentinan and Justina had to flee the advance of Maximus, a pretender to the throne, to the East and Theodosius, who then defeated Maximus, returned Valentinian to the West, and came himself to Milan, the fifth emperor under whom Ambrose had served.

Theodosius, although a supporter of the Nicene Creed, was less impressionable than the younger emperors with whom Ambrose had interacted. In an attempt to get his attention and forge a relationship, Ambrose campaigned for the emperor's support after a bishop and his congregation burned down a synagogue, claiming there should be no building where Christ was denied. This is the first instance where the protection the empire granted to the persons and property of the Jews was relaxed.

Theodosius then used Ambrose and the church to ameliorate the consequences of a massacre he ordered in Thessalonika, by requesting penance. Ambrose, however, reframed it as the emperor accepting the supremacy of the church over state matters. The latter view ended up triumphing. When imperial rule collapsed in less than a century, the church survived and the event became part of its mythology, giving it power over secular rulers. In addition, Theodosius after his penance passed laws that banned cult worship at pagan shrines. Christian mobs now began destroying the great shrines of the ancient world and the Olympic games, nearly 1200 years after their start, were held for the last time in 395.

Theodosius died in 395 and Ambrose at Easter in 397. Ambrose had been committed to imposing the dominance of the church on secular society and he hammered this message home in his sermons and writings. It was this combination of spiritual message with the use of personal authority and passionate rhetoric that made Ambrose so formidable and earned him a place among the founding fathers of the Roman Catholic Church.

Wow, I missed an entire thread! So much lovely pottery! And I'd no idea Eva Ibbotson had died. Huh.

Obviously must do a better job keeping up on your threads -- important stuff happens here.

Christian mobs now began destroying the great shrines of the ancient world and the Olympic games, nearly 1200 years after their start, were held for the last time in 395.

The sins of the fathers, or in this case Fathers, shall be visited on the sons unto even the seventh generation.

Reparations must be paid. Plus interest, compounded weekly, of oh let's say 100%.

Horrible people. Thanks for reading this. I think I'd've had a cerebrovascular accident long before now.

Gorgeous work, Roni. That turquoise bracelet is beautiful, so delicate.

I like the potpourri of pottery, jewelry, and fiber art on your work table, Roni. The fair and Coronado Beach look oh so inviting, but I'm going to pass on the squid. I thought all Kansas girls ate beef!!! Speaking of Kansas, Haley wanted you to see her summer Jayhawks dress!

Glad you are here now, Sarah. Richard, Freeman just confirms all your biases, so you would be chortling along with your apoplexy.

Thanks, Judy--I still need to add the stone beads to the two outside rows.

June summary:

Overview: 19 books read, 5222 pages.
16 new books, 3 rereads

Genre: 1 sf, 8 fantasy, 1 children's, 2 nonfiction, 4 romance, 1 mystery, 2 general fiction

Format/Source
9 library books (all hardbacks)
5 Kindle books (4 free)
1 Early Reviewer book
1 gift book
3 rereads from my own library
0 books from my tbr pile

Author: 15 female, 4 male

Half-year summary:

90 books read, 28,775 pages read

74 new books read, 16 rereads

37 library books read, 8 Books off the Shelf

14 science fiction, 41 fantasy, 3 children's, 12 nonfiction, 4 general fiction, 7 romance, 11 mystery.

Donna, what a darling dress!! Oh, and Haley is darling as well--great picture!

I just realized that while I added book #90 to my spreadsheet and my stats, that I hadn't put it in my thread yet. Finished at 11:30 last night...



Book #90 White Cat by Holly Black (310 pp.)

This is not what I expected, because I was conflating Holly Black, who I now see is a co-author of The Spiderwick Chronicles, with Holly Lisle, who writes urban fantasy. While contemporary, this is a different tone. Cassel is coping with boarding school, a mother in prison, family issues with his brothers, and a possible memory loss, as well as being the only member of his family who is not "gifted", a quality which is fast becoming a crime in the US. This alternate history is full of unexpected developments and eschews the stereotypical happy ending. I enjoyed it. First of a series. Don't know if I'll continue.

Roni, your pottery and jewellery is stunning!! I especially loce the turquoise pot.

I've been meaning to say since your last thread that I am thrilled with your chapter summaries of the Charles Freeman book. I bought it back in 2008 or 2009 and have tried several times to get into it - but two of those times have been in ten minute bursts at the local swimming pool while the kids are having lessons. It just isn't that kind of book! When I do get to it, which will not be this year, I think I'm going to print all your summaries out.

Thank you, Cushla! Good to see you here. When I finish all the chapter summaries, I will put them all in a separate thread to make it easy for people, including myself, to reference them.

We were out on an emergency pet food run (as in the cats' food bin was totally empty) this afternoon and, as my husband seemed to be in the mood for driving, I suggested a pass by Mysterious Galaxy. Where, forced, absolutely forced by the reviews of fellow LTers, I bought The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter and Redshirts by John Scalzi. Ups my acquired numbers to 37, but comes in AFTER my semi-annual summary.

ETA and I got an Among Others bookmark!

Oh yeah, the strongarming of these miserable jackbooted LT thugs! Why ever do we hang out here?

Beautiful pots! I just love coming here to see your new creations.

And the mention of Thai food has me hungry, even though it's not yet 7am for me! There's a Thai place in Dubuque that we've not tried yet, but I'm eager to do so...

201: But I didn't clear up my work table for my photos
I like seeing the craft repertoire. What are you crocheting?

EXACTLY, Richard!

Hi, Amber! Just like I love coming to see your creations and Charlie! Keep cool!

Katherine, that's a table runner I'm working on.

Cool and cloudy here today. I'm working on Chapter 9 of Our Mutual Friend for the group read and Tooth and Claw as well, and hope to finish the bracelet in the pictures above today as well.

Yay, Vorkosigans! I'm so envious you've read the new one, Roni! Is it really the last? My preference would be for the series to go on however.

All is well with us in Sydney. Hope it is for you.

So many project... Dazzling! I don't know how you do it!

Gorgeous new pots, Roni. I remember you doing some red pieces last year (?) ...do work mainly with blues and greens? Is it more difficult working with some colors than others?

Love the jewelry work in progress too. Pretty pieces.

What are you crocheting?

I love the pots Roni and I think table clutter just adds to their charm (do other people not always have cluttered tables?).

Yay for Pratchett! Sarah was luring me towards John Scalzi on her thread too.

Roni, I must say that you have this retirement business down pat. You Go, Girl! and other phrases of admiration!!

Joe, Bujold has basically said this is the last she sees in that time frame for the Vorkosigans. I'll miss them too, but agree that she really has mined that story arc well. The e-ARC is available on Baen for $15, and has very few errors in it, if you are tempted.

Hey, Kath, I've lots of time and a husband who takes care of himself a lot more than your Dan, and even then I'm only lazing along.

Thanks, Caro. The red pieces have been mainly for my husband--they don't really go with the house colors which are forest green, teal, magenta and rose, along with tones of wood. The blues are more for my mom and my sister-in-law. And then some experimenting--these have to go up for sale at some point!

I was hoping people would think my table clutter adds to the charm, Heather--you are a person after my own heart! And I'm looking forward to getting to those two books.

Thanks, Peggy. The first two year, at least, have been great.

This has been a pretty-much blown day. We were both awake at 4:30, went back to bed at 7:30 and woke up again at 11. So our day started very late--good thing we didn't have anything planned. We aren't even cooking out, as it has been overcast and cool all day, not a day to be sitting out. I've read a bit and finished my bracelet.



and am not feeling too ambitious at all. Potato salad is made and ribs are in the oven rather than on the grill. I want to watch the concert on PBS tonight--that will be my celebration!

Nice to see it is not so broiling hot over there - happy 4th of July!

Weather is on the news right now. La Jolla Shores--air temperature was 64 for a high, water temperature 68 and everyone there at the beach is all bundled up!

And thank you, Paul. Happy Fourth of July to all my kindred Americans, a belated Happy Canada Day to our northern neighbors, and happy hump day to all the rest of you!

Happy July 4th to you, Roni. Your bracelet turned out lovely!

Beautiful bracelet!!

It's so hot and dry here, and it has been for so long, that I can't even imagine what a cool 64 degrees feels like anymore. Sigh.

I love that bracelet. I'm basically thilled LMB wrote this one last volume, I had thought she was done with it....

Thanks, Judy, Amber, and Lucy!

I think she felt she had to tell Ivan's tale--too many people were asking about it!

Had a migraine today, but have finally shaken it after two rounds of medication and a nap this afternoon. Been reading a bit (but not much) in both my current books, the Walton and the Dickens. Rogue has just "deposed" to our lawyer friends and they have taken him to the Inspector in OMF.

Hi Roni! Lovely, lovely bracelet and my favourite colour nonetheless. :)

Keeping my fingers crossed that I can keep up with everyone from here on out!

Roni, sorry to hear about migraine. Hope you're feeling better now and have a great day tomorrow.

Feeling better?

Roni, it sounds like the fireworks display in SD was a bigger blast than expected. At least people got to go home early. ;-(

{{hugs}} Roni... hope the migraine's but a distant memory?

Migraine is gone, thank you. Thanks for visiting, Valerie, Reba, Kath, Donna and Caro! Busy day--Cox has been over to fix a tv connection and we are off to book a cruise and then go see Roberta Flack with the symphony tonight.

Were are you going to cruise to?

In October we are going to fly up to Seattle, spend a couple of days, Amtrak up to Vancouver, spend a couple of days, and then cruise from Vancouver back to San Diego with a stop at Victoria.

Sounds great. Holland America?

Sounds like a beautiful trip . . .

Yes, Holland America, Reba. We've never been to the Northwest, Brenda, so we are looking forward tonight.

Roberta Flack was marvelous tonight! Such a great voice. The venue is wonderful, out on the Embarcadero with water on three sides--I wish they allowed cameras, because there was some great scenery. And--wait for it--they had fireworks afterwards!! Only a 10 minute show, but really lovely, and a lot longer than folks got on the Fourth!

Hi Roni,

Oh, I love your photos of your walks. The make me miss SD in a big, big way! I loved your review of One Dog and his Boy. We love Eva Ibbotson, but I had never heard of this one.

Guess we aren't going to make it to the Pops this summer. Sounds like you had a great one last night though. We always cruise on Holland America -- they just suit us to a "T". The northwest is beautiful. You're going to have a great trip.

Roni "The First Time Ever I Saw Her Face" is one of my favourite balads of all time. It must have been special to see and listen to her.
Hope your trip north-west goes great and makes for a wonderful weekend.

Hey, Anne, I hope you all are cooling down in Colorado. The galleys of One Dog and his Boy came back the day after her death, according to the blurb. I think your daughters would enjoy it.

It was really nice, Reba. I love Roberta Flack, loved her collaborations with Donny Hathaway and Peebo Bryson, and her voice is still strong and true, and you can't beat the songs, as Paul said.

Today was pottery day, and I went early as we are going to the Padres game this evening. Here's what I brought home. The cups are much more of a soft green than they seem in this picture and are a birthday gift for one of my friends.

While our trip of 10 days to the Northwest and back is considerably in the future, in mid-October, we will be leaving a week from today to drive back to family in the middle of Kansas. We're taking a new route, slightly longer, going up I-15 from San Diego to Salt Lake City and then across Wyoming and Nebraska on I-80 until York, where we drop down into Kansas to Salina and over to Abilene. So this coming week will be getting everything in order to be gone for nearly 3 weeks in total and packing and prepping for the actual trip. This includes not only laundry and finishing and returning library books but also planning to use up everything fresh in the refrigerator and refraining from acquiring anything new except what we might pack in the cooler to take in the truck. The dog goes with us, while the cats have a petsitter come in, who usually never even sees them.

Ooooooooooooh! I like the handles on that second pot! And those cups... all the colors... your talent is amazing, Roni!

Roni, You two have this retirement thing down pat! So many fun, interesting things going on . . .
Your friend will love the mugs. Lucky him/her . . .

LOVE the pot with the handles! You make such cool stuff, Roni!

Great pots and LOVE those cups.

We went to the Globe tonight to see Divine Rivalry which is based on an actual painting competition between Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci which was orchestrated by Machiavelli -- who knew! Good play.

Thank you, Eris, Brenda, Sarah and Reba. A quiet day today after all our dissipation of the last few. I started to get clothes out for the trip, returned books to the library, and wrapped the mugs to give my friend at jewelry class tomorrow. I also finished Book 1 of Our Mutual Friend and am 30% of the way through the book, slightly ahead of schedule for the month! And 2 more chapters of Tooth and Claw, which I find myself needing to take slowly. Also, I picked up a book Richard recommended at the library today, by Catherynne Valente, Deathless, which I can take with me on the trip if need be (thanks to the magic of renewing via the Internet!).

Wonderful new creations! And the trip sounds lovely; I always enjoy trying out new driving routes - such an adventure!

Oh that last casserole-pot - those handles, lovely.

Yes, I agree, we all love Ivan Vorpatril, and it is delightful of her to indulge us, when all is said and done!

Hi Roni, it sounds like you are planning a great driving trip. Road trips are my favorite way to travel, no airports or fixed schedules, just me and hubby with either some great music or perhaps an audio book that we can both enjoy.

So with that in mind, we are also planning a road trip to tie in with a Family Reunion in August. We will be in Alberta for the reunion and are planing on heading south across the border and driving across Montana to North Dakota. A quick visit to the Badlands Nat'l Park and then head to South Dakota - Deadwood, Mount Rushmore and the scenic Black Hills.