WHAT ARE YOU READING NOW? Where? Why? How? What? Is it? What?

I often wonder where people get the book they are reading. I am sure I am not the only one. Was it a friend who loaned it to them or maybe they found it in a dusty old used bookstore, maybe they bought it online. I want to know.

Why did you pick this book? Did the cover get your attention? Or maybe it was the title? Did someone recommend you this book?

The list goes on...inquiring minds want to know.

First give the title of your book and the author and then try to answer the questions below. I have added 2 questions. I hope you all don't mind.

1. Where did you get this book?

2. How much did it cost?

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?

4. How long has it been on your shelf?

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.

Reading The Testament by John Grisham

I got this book in "Value Village" in my home town Ajax

I am pretty sure it only cost me $2.00

I recently moved. I have been putting books on the shelf in my office. I thought that I had read all of John Grisham's books, but found a few that I didn't know I owned and haven't read. And so "The Testament" was chosen.

The longer I had this book in my hands the more I started recalling when and where I picked it up. I believe I bought it just about a year ago and more than likely was placed in a box and not on a shelf.

The beginning is that what I like best so far. It reeled me in. I didn't know what to expect to happen next. I was disappointed when I had to put it down.

The beginning was awsome. It left me wanting to know more. Now, being in the middle of the book it has somewhat lost my interest. I do hope that it picks up.

I am on page 168 with 365 to go.

This used book is in great condition. On page 164 there is a teeny weeny itsy bitsy little fold at the top of the page. Pages 113 and 116 are folded together in a unique fold. One I learned to do when I was selling Avon. Other than that I can't see anything

Listening to Bones by Jonathan Kellerman:

1. Where did you get this book? Audible.com

2. How much did it cost? About $15

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW? I was in the mood to visit old friends, Milo and Alex.

4. How long has it been on your shelf? About 6 months

5. So far, what do you like best about this book? I was in the mood for a little predictability and I found it. The usual good story with some familiar and some new characters.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be? Right on target

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
I have about 7 minutes left, but I was running late so I could not sit in the parking lot at work to finish it...Darn!

I'm now reading Heaven's Net is Wide by Lian Hearn

1. Where did you get this book?
I think it was in a 3 for 2 offer in Waterstones bookshop

2. How much did it cost?
Depends if it was the free one or not ;)

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
Part of my 999 challenge

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
Closing in on a year.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
Adding more detail to characters from previous books in the series

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
Wasn't expecting too much from this one with it being a prequel but as it deals with good characters then I have been pleasantly surprised

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
293 with 285 still to go

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.
Bought new.

#4 - djay666 I loved the Tales of the Otori and I was a little hesitant to read Heaven's Net Is Wide since I thought I knew what happened but I ended up really enjoying the book. What an excellent series!

#5 - DeltaQueen50, I think that's exactly why it's taken me a year to get round to reading it. Also agree that it is a quality series overall.

Presently reading The Bone Doll's Twin by Lynn Flewelling

1. Where did you get this book?

Bookmooch

2. How much did it cost?

One point

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?

It was selected for me on the Go Review That Book! group.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?

June 9, 2008

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?

The very first pages deal with a wizard looking over Nysander, who was an important character in the Nightrunner series. It was nice to have the familiarity.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?

I was utterly horrified by the bit I read at lunch involving the murder of a newborn infant. It is not something I can even stomach in the abstract. Since I'm still near the beginning of the story and I'm such a fan of the Nightrunner books I'll push on with this, but I wish the author had found a different way to handle her plot line.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?

I'm on page 37 of 524 so I have quite a ways to go.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.

It is in amazingly good shape for a mooched book!

The Thirteenth Tale

1. Where did you get this book? Borders

2. How much did it cost? $15.00

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?

I was in the Mall and was just browsing in the Borders. I'd heard of the book before, but It struck me as something I wanted to read now.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?

It hasn't just bought it a couple days ago.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?

It's a book lovers book! The attention to detail is really wonderul. Has an old time feeling. Excellet imagery!

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?

Hmm ... Can't make up my mind on this one. It's a bit better than I had expected.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?

ON: Page 193
LEFT: 214

Silk by Alessandro Baricco

1. Where did you get this book?

Amazon Marketplace

2. How much did it cost?

1 penny, oh yes and £2.75 postage.......... 1penny sounds better

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?

I'm going through a long run of weighty Russian and India Classics and just wanted a break this evening

4. How long has it been on your shelf?

Hours ;-)

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?

Cheating, I'm going to paste my review

Having gorged myself on a diet of weighty Russian and India novels recently I scanned my bookcase for a palate cleanser. With no anticipation I began reading Silk.

Reading the sparse pages in one sitting of almost poetry like prose, the often repetitive narrative captivated me. It drew me in much the same way as Herve Joncour was drawn to the round eyed, child faced concubine of Japan.

The back story of the French – Oriental silk trade held my interest but mostly I was overwhelmed by the light, almost non-existent nature of the tale, silk like, you could say.

I closed the book, sated, having been part of an evocative, sensual world, with a tear on my cheek.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?

It was so much better than expected

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?

Finished in a few hours this evening accompanied by a glass of whisky, bliss

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.

The space, the lack of dense text, almost as if opening a small poetry book

I'm reading Ink Exchange, by Melissa Marr

1. Where did you get this book?
My local library.

2. How much did it cost?
Nothing! :)

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
I read Wicked Lovely right before this one, and this is the sequel. And my library books are due back soon.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
I went to the library 7/12, so a couple weeks.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
There seems to be more character development in this installment in the series.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
About the same. I liked Wicked Lovely, but not enough to own it, necessarily.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
Page 81 of 325. It's a quick read, though.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.
It's in good shape for a YA library book. A bit of marker on the bottom, but nothing too dramatic.

Message 9: BookMarkMe...What a wonderful review. Thank you for sharing.

Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand by Samuel R. Delany
1. Where? My friendly local library
2. How much? The cost of a twenty minute bike ride
3. Why? For the SF Group Reads thread
4. How long? About a week-I had to check out some Agatha Christie mysteries first, one Poirot and one Miss Marple
5. Best? It's pretty lucid right off the bat, which is a sign of a good writer, but I'm still not sold on the way Delany alters basic grammar points like pronouns to create the appearance of evolved future language. It also appears to have some sort of gay love story aspect, which I could do without, but the overriding story sounds pretty good so whatever. Who doesn't like an intellectual battle over control of who knows how many worlds in the galaxy? I'm also curious if it has any '1984' aspects, which the cover blurb sort of implies.
6. Better or Worse? Definitely better. I wasn't too excited to read it (I voted for Neuromancer in the group poll) but it grabbed me pretty quick and is certainly well written. I can see why it won several awards in the mid 80's.
7. Page 32 (thats it?) of 350 some
8. Uniqueness? Not much, but someone starred a paragraph on a character's origins, maybe for a book report(?)

I will keep it simple invoking Occam's Razor :)
The Buddha of Brewer Street by Michale Dobbs

And I am really enjoying because in the UK I am involved in a new political movement called NOTA
NONE OF THE ABOVE. Check us out on Face book via my mate TERRY MARSH.

#12 That one interests me.

Frost in May by Antonia White
1. Where?
My bookshelf.
2. How much?
It was a freebie duplicate give-away from Teazle. (thank you so much)
3. Why?
For a challenge: "All Virago/All August.
4. How long?
It has been on my shelf since June 18th.
5. Best?
It's too early to tell. I have just started it.
6. Better or Worse?
Ditto the answer to # 5.
7. Page 14 of 221. (I have literally just begun the book)
8. Uniqueness?
Only that it came to me from a lovely fellow LTer.

Cutting for Stone

1. B&N
2. ~$20 with discount and coupon
3. I'd read another of his books and loved it, this has received lots of cudos on LT, so moved it up the stack.
4. A month
5. Told from the POV of one twin. He is very sensitive and very aware of others around him.
6. Better.
7. Book's at home, but I think I'm on about 210 of 540.
8. Nothing.

#12 never heard of this one before. Very interesting. Looked it up, added to my "to read" list.

I am now reading Storm Cycle by Iris and Roy Johansen.

1. Where did you get this book?
Amazon.com

2. How much did it cost?
$17.81

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
It's brand new and I have been looking forward to it. I really like books by Johansen.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
Just a couple of days.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
The nail-biting suspense and the complex story. I have no idea who the real villians are here.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
It is as thrilling as I thought it would be. My only complaint is that the action is so fast and furious that little time is spent on emotions.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
I'm on page 322 with only 80 pages to go.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.
This is brand new. It is a clean, unmarked copy. I haven't even spilled any food on it yet.

A Hanging Offense: The Strange Affair of the Warship Somers
by Buckner F. Melton Jr.

1 Bought the book from a book dealer on E-Bay
2. $7.00
3. I've always injoyed books about the age of sail. Both fiction and non-ficton. I had reread Billy Budd by Melville recently and read in the preface that his cousin had served on the USS Somers on which the only mutiny on a U.S. Naval ship had happened, resulting in the hanging of three of the crew including the son of Pres. Tyler's Secretary of state.
4. Came in the Mail started it right then and there. (usually books will remain on the TBR pile for awhile)
5. Each chapter is more of an essay on all things leading up to the mutiny and the outcocme of the events. The authors low keyed writing style made it read like a novel rather that a history book.
6. Much much better
7.Have finished it.
8. The book was an ex-library copy from the Pikes Peak Pubiic Library

2: callmejacx
I read The Testament many years ago and I agree that the beginning was the most unusual, exciting and different opening chapter I had read till that time. It lead me to read a few other of his books.

Pyramids by Terry Pratchett

1. Where did you get this book?
Borders

2. How much did it cost?
$7.99

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
Just finished another book and wanted to read something more humorous.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
Bought it today.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
Haven't read but two pages so far. Too early to tell.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
See #5

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
4 of 323

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.
N/A - book is brand new

#20 usnmm2...In my unpacking I found a few more of John Grisham's novels. I am about half way now and getting somewhat into it again. Really hard to know where this story is going, so don't give me any hints.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote

1. I borrowed it from the library.

2. It only cost me the two minutes that it took to find it on the shelf.

3. I’m reading it now because I just saw the movie again and it got me interested in reading the book.

4. I only had it a few days before I started reading it.

5. I like the way Holly is written so that she is aggravating and sympathetic at the same time.

6. So far it’s better. I was afraid that since I liked the movie the book would disappoint.

7. I’m on page 83. I have 22 pages left in Breakfast at Tiffany’s but 78 pages left in the book. There are a few others stories in there.

8. Nothing unique really, just the library stamps and stickers and one of the pages looks like water had been spilled on it. It’s in good shape for a library book.

Treason's Shore by Sherwood Smith

1. Where did you get this book?
Amazon.com

2. How much did it cost?
$17.13

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
Because I have been waiting for this book to be published so that I can find out what is going on with Inda and company. This is book four in a series.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
2 days (I had to finish the book I was reading!)

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
I'm not sure I like it at all. I find that so far there is a lot of references to situations I don't remember really well from previous books. So far also there has been a lot of skipping around to catch up with a variety of characters.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
Worse but I expect it to get better.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
I'm on page 69 of 669.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.
As usual for me, this is a brand new book.

They Were Expendable by W. L. White

1. Where did you get this book?
At A yard sale

2. How much did it cost?
$2.00

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
This year I've set a goal of reading at least 50% non-fiction. Also I've always been interested in the early part of the War in the Pacific Have read and enjoyed Cruise of the Lanikai: Incitement to Warby Kemp Tolley and
Ship of Ghosts: The Story of the USS Houston by James D. Hornfischer

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
About six months

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
This book was one of the first that was published using eyewitness accounts of people who were there. Four young Naval Officers talked of their experiences in an interview with White only a few months after they happened (DEC 41 to May 42 book was pub. Sept. 42)

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
About what I expected. I had read that the book wasn't 100% factual but really captured the raw emotions of the veterans that returned. Also White had and agenda in letting the American People know that these forces were not properly trained or supplied, Even Knowing that war with Japan was unavoidable

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
About 40 of 205

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.
Even though the book was from a yard sale it looked as if it had never been read.

Currently reading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

1. Where did you get this book?
I found it on my shelf! It's my brother's book, but I'm pretty sure he ordered it from this program his school had to get kids into reading.

2. How much did it cost?
It didn't cost me a thing, but I guess it cost my brother 6 pounds :)

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
I was never very much a fan of fantasy books, but I had several people, including two brothers and a very good friend telling me I had to read Tolkien. I would have done so anyways because I want to read all the books on the '1001 books to read before you die' list :)

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
I'm guessing at least 5 years!

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
I like the simple language it uses, plus the imagery is descriptive but not too florid.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
Better! I very much admire the imagination it requires to create a whole new world.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
Right now I'm on page 83 with 282 pages to go.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.
This book is like new!! No name, no highlights, if I didn't know any better, I could have been the first to read it! The only thing that makes it unique are the words on the pages!

The Hobbit...one of my favorites.

The Hobbit has always been my favorite of Tolkien's books. Have read it at least a dozen times over the years. I

I am currently reading (actually, re-reading) Michael Jackson Conspiracy by Aphrodite Jones

1. Where did you get this book?
Since my library didn't have a copy; I ordered it off Amazon.com. The customer reviews for it were excellent, so I broke my personal "only free from the library" rule and plopped down the dough! (ha!)

2. How much did it cost?
It was a little less than $20 (hardcover).

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
Well, I was never a big Michael Jackson fan. Can only take his music in, shall we say, "small doses" and have never bought a MJ record in my life!!! (A high school pal gave me "Thriller" - on vinyl - for Christmas my junior year. I lost it!) Never paid too much attention to the allegations swirling around ... but, after he died, I became really very interested in the "cases" against him. So I did my own research on it (before I knew about this book) and wow, did my picture (which was not a good one) of MJ change quite drastically!

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
Ha! This book never had a chance to collect a speck of dust. It hit my doorstep on a Friday afternoon, and I had it finished by the next day. (That's unusual for me.) Then I decided to go back and read it S-L-O-W-L-Y.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
It moves at a pretty decent pace. The best part, though, is that the author uses the actual trial transcripts when she uses any quoted testimony. And there's quite a bit. (It must have been quite a chore for her, the actual transcripts are 1,903 pages!)

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
It's much better. I've never read a "true crime" book before - had never heard of Aphrodite Jones before. I was really leary and thought it would be boring or would be "over the top" praise of Michael Jackson. She does write some pretty nice things about him on occasion, but I think it's her way to assuage her guilt. She went into the trial assuming he was guilty, and was one of the journalist "bashing" Michael Jackson. But, actually, she does, for the most part, IMHO keep a pretty dry, matter-of-fact tone.

7. What page are you on now?
I'm on page 165 out of 294.

8. ... Tell us what makes your book unique?
What makes this book unique for me is the way I found it. Unlike me, my mother is a fan of MJ's and one day she gave me a list of songs that Michael Jackson had written all by himself. A few of those were songs that we had never heard of, so, knowing MJ's penchant for music videos, went looking for these songs on YouTube. On the list was "Michael Jackson - Aphrodite Jones" - which I thought was another Jackson song I had never heard of. It turned out to be a video of the author's book signing at Borders in Santa Barbara in 2007.

Right now I'm reading De verloren stad Z (The Lost City of Z) by David Grann .
I bought it for my husband as a present on Father's Day. My children gave it to him, of course.
Since I bought it in the shop where I work, I got a discount and it was around 20 Euro.
After my husband read it, he told me to read it so I could tell him what I thought. He is a slow reader and I had another book to finish, so the book spent about a week on the bookshelves.
To be honest, I bought the book for him, because I was very curious myself after reading a raving review in a dutch newspaper. I couldn't wait for him to finish.
And it doesn't disappoint me! Adventure, history, humor, horror... it's a very complete book.
I was afraid that I would be disappointed after such a raving review. How could it live up to my expectations? But it does!
My excitement can still change, I'm on page 170 with 135 pages to go. One doesn't know what will happen. However, my huband liked the second half better.
He read the book almost without bruising it. There are some slight indentations on the cover, some small dog ears. Since we hardly read the same books, it is therefore a unique book.

I'm reading The Oracle Glass by Judith Merkle Riley right now.

1. Where did you get this book?

Amazon

2. How much did it cost?

$4.00

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?

I'm on vacation right now and I chose it because I KNEW I would like it. She's one of my favorite authors.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?

Since 24 June 2009

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?

Everything

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?

It's everything I hoped for and maybe a little more.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?

I'm on page 124 with 383 left to go.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.

It's used, but except for a slightly wrinkled dust jacket it seems to be in perfect shape.

I'm reading Mencken: The American Iconoclast by Marion Elizabeth Rodgers.

1. Where did you get this book?

The library.

2. How much did it cost?

Nothing.

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?

I've been frustrated for a while that my library has nothing by Mencken in its collection. The other day I noticed this biography and decided if I couldn't read anything by him, maybe it was time to read about him.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?

I had it about a week until I finished my previous book.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?

It evokes Mencken's personality (at least, what I always expected his personality must have been), and the Baltimore/United States of his time.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?

It is at least as good as I hoped, maybe better. The library had another biography of Mencken that had been recommended to me, but I like the look of this one better, at least for now. I expect I'll get around to reading the other eventually.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?

I don't know. I've read maybe 5 or 6 chapters of a very thick book (673 pages).

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.

The book is in excellent condition, with no notes or doodling.

South To Java by Adm. William P. Mack USN (Ret.)

1. Where did you get this book?
Amazon Books

2. How much did it cost?
$14.00

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?

Have been reading alot of non-fiction lately, so I needed a break and fell back to one of my two favorite genres. Naval/nautical fiction

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
About four months

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
The book is about an old WW1 four stacker destroyer in the Plillipines at the start of WW2. The main charactor is a young Naval Officer is the gunnery officer. Just so happens that at the start of WW2 that Adm. William P. Mack USN (Ret.) was was a young gunnery officer on the USS Pope an old WW1 vintage four stacker station in the Phillipines.
What makes this book unique from the many other fiction books that I have read set in this time frame is the authenticity of the conversations amoung the people about where the war will start. Pearl Harbor, Hong Kong, Singapore etc.
The second is the charactors or more fleshed out than in most booksof this kind. Not only the officers but the enlisted as well. They all have their lives and problems and we care about them. Having spent time in the navy myself I can say I know everyone of these people.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
Much, much better

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
200 out of 464

Genghis Khan by John Man

1. Where did you get this book?
WH Smith at Luton Airport while waiting for a delayed flight

2. How much did it cost?
About GBP 6 (in a 4 for 3 sale)

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
I wanted to read some non-fiction, but nothing too heavy or scientific, as I read mostly when I am tired.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
About 3 weeks

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
Learning more about the history and accomplishments of Genghis Khan, and also how he is still in the hearts and minds of people today.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
Both actually. I am severely disappointed in the bad historical practices (the author sees a stone and sees it as a right assumption to say it was a through used by Genghis' men or something like that). But it is easy to read, and I will finish it in about two days.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
349, with 53 left to go.

Starlight: The Great Short Fiction of Alfred Bester
1. Where? Paperback Book Exchange in Mt. Pleasant, MI. The irony is that there is no mountain within 200 miles of Mt. Pleasant...
2. How much? The sticker on the dust jacket says '$5.00 no trades'
3. Why? I had to get up early and decided to read a short story late a few nights ago, rather than start 'Robert the Bruce', which is a bit of a project. Bester is one of the great SF writers of the 50's and 60's who is largely forgotten by today's readers. He did 'retire' in the early 70's when he decided he had said all he had to say on the subject. The Stars My Destination and The Demolished Man alone are hall of fame worthy.
4. How long? 8/05
5. Best? Obviously, reading the Short Stories of a true master writer is a high point. Also, clearing this from my to read pile is a great load off my mind. I've waited too long to get to it.
6. Better or Worse? I thought it would be great and it is.
7. Page? 205 of 409 - The book consists of two collections 'The Light Fantastic' (done) and 'Star Light, Star Bright' (Starting today)
8. Uniqueness? No marks, old '70's book club edition

I am reading The Decoy Princess by Dawn Cook.

1. Where did you get this book?
Amazon.com

2. How much did it cost?
$7.99

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
It has been calling to me for a while from my TBR pile. I wanted to see how Kim Harrison writes when she is Dawn Cook.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
Maybe a month or so.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
Interesting concept so far. A girl is unknowingly raised as a decoy princess to keep the real princess from assassination attempts.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
It is interesting so far. The action is just really beginning. I'm not sure I like the main character. She seems awfully shallow.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
Page 70 of 356.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.
It is new.

>DirtPriest you've inspired me. I loved The Stars My Destination and Demolished Man by Alfred Bester; now I'll look for these short stories.

Why did you pick this book?
Funny you should ask. My first 'solo' venture after I got my driver's license was to a bookstore to get a paperback copy of this book. Sometime over the next 20 years, that book disappeared from my shelves (along with several others). I won't speculate how. So, I've been searching for it (but not online - I consider that 'cheating') ever since.

Did the cover get your attention?
Originally, no. But when I 'refound' (a hardcover First Edition!!!), you bet!

Or maybe it was the title? No. Did someone recommend you this book? No.

The list goes on...inquiring minds want to know.

First give the title of your book and the author and then try to answer the questions below. I have added 2 questions. I hope you all don't mind. I'll try to forgive you...

Almost Home by Jonathan Schwartz

1. Where did you get this book? a used book store.

2. How much did it cost? Around $15. It originally sold for less than $6.

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW? Because I finally found it after 20 years of searching for it.

4. How long has it been on your shelf? It hasn't made it to my shelves yet. I started reading it in the bookstore. It has to share time with 3 other books, though...

5. So far, what do you like best about this book? Well, it's been 39 years since I read it the first time, so I'd have to say that I'm enjoying the timelessness of it. They could have been written yesterday. I'm also appreciating the depth on each story more than I did way back when. Age does have its advantages.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be? Far better.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go? 105 of 225.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique. There's no marginalia at all. The dust jacket was already carefully wrapped in Mylar.

Edited to fix html-ish fat-fingering...

#38 I loved Almost Home too.

Am reading The Barbarian Conversion: From Paganism to Christianity by Richard Fletcher

(I'm sorry - I never noticed these additional questions before today. I'm making them question number 9.)

1. Where did you get this book?

I think it came from the History Book Club

2. How much did it cost?

There's a sticker on the back that says $21.95 - probably paid a little bit less than that, but then there must have shipping and handling...

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?

It was assigned to me by the Go Review That Book Group

4. How long has it been on your shelf?

Years and years

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?

It's readability

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?

Much better

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?

I'm on page 48 with 476 pages to go

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.

It's brand new - or at least it once was

9. Why did you pick this book? Did the cover get your attention? Or maybe it was the title? Did someone recommend you this book?

I bought it by accident - the perils of not returning the monthly selection card promptly! (I have a bunch of books that I acquired in this way.) I can say that the cover would not have grabbed my attention - it's pretty blah looking. The title might have grabbed me, but I'm 100% sure that no one I knew at that time would ever have recommended this book to me.

First a side note: How do you make text bold or use italics in these posts? That would allow me to make things stand out.

I am reading Knockout by Catherine Coulter.

1. Where did you get this book?
Amazon.com Marketplace

2. How much did it cost?
About $12 I'd guess including shipping. It is a used copy.

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
It is huge and will really take down my TBR pile if I read it soon.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
A couple of days.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
I like catching up with Savich and Sherlock. This one has psychic overtones. I didn't recall that Savich was psychic.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
It is good. I can't take too many Coulter books at a time. The dialogue is too 'cute'. Once a year is enough and I don't plan to re-read. It is a good summer book -- a pleasureable couple of hours that doesn't require too much thought. In fact, it is better not to think and just roll with the story.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
I'm on page 191 of 417.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.
It looked brand new when it arrived here.

Regarding why I chose it -- I wanted to revisit old friends - Savich and Sherlock.

Regarding the cover -- I never choose or pass up a book because of the cover. I seldom even look at the covers. I took off the jacket of this book before I started reading so I don't even know what the cover looks like. The only part of the cover that matters to me is the author's name or maybe the title and the blurb on the back. Although, if I have bought a book because of something I have read on one of the many blogs I follow, I don't even check the blurb on the back.

Reading and almost finished with The Strain by Guillermo Del Torro and Chuck Hogan

1. Where did you get this book? library

2. How much did it cost? free, unless I bring it back late, then I have to pay on overdue fine

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW? I put it on reserve a month ago after talking to my aunt about it, she just finished it and loved it...I was #10 on the waiting list so when my number was up I got it

4. How long has it been on your shelf? one week

5. So far, what do you like best about this book? creeps me out... I haven't read a book that has done that in a long time

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be? interesting take on vampires/science.. love the storyline about how it all began

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go? on page 293 have 108 to go

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique. nada

#41...kmartin802...You change the text style by using opening and closing commands around the text. So:

This is bold, italic, and underline.

becomes

This is bold, italic, and underline.

You can even do strikethrough with a + block.

Reading The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie

1. Barnes & Noble

2. Retail was $9.95 but I got 10% of because I'm a member than another 15% off using a coupon.

3. Because I challenged myself to read all of Agatha Christie's mystery novels in order within the next year.

4. Just got it today.

5. I've read it before, but it was years ago. I love this book because it is her second book and it introduces Tommy and Tuppence.

6. Just as good as I remember it.

7. LOL....only the 3rd page but a lot has already happened. I promise!

8. Absolutely nothing

Sounds like another good Agatha Chrisite book.

Aren't they all?

Yes they are. Haven't read a bad one.

Christie is the best. Great summer choice.

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

1. I got it at Border's

2. It cost about $15

3. I picked this book to read now because I woke up a few mornings ago with the name of the book ringing through my head, no idea why. For some reason I must have been dreaming about it! I saw the movie years ago but didn't really like it and never thought about it since. But for some reason, I woke up with "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe" repeating over and over in my head. No lie! I have no idea why...!

4. It hasn't been sitting on my shelf at all; I started reading it the day after I bought it.

5. So far, the best thing about this book is that I am extremely attached to the characters and hooked to the story. It touches me very deeply!

6. This book is WAY better than I was expecting it to be.

7. Right now I'm on page 331 with 72 pages to go.

8. Well, as any dog owner will understand, what makes my copy of this book special is that there is already dog hair on it... and it's only been in my home for less than 3 or 4 days... :)

King Hereafter by Dorothy Dunnett

1. Where did you get this book?

I no longer remember definitely but I suspect Amazon.

2. How much did it cost?

Cover says $16

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?

It's the next book on my 999 Challenge cycle.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?

Lord knows.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?

The complexity of the political intelligence it incorporates into the multi-ethnic history of 11th century Scotland. Plus the story telling is great.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?

Oh. Much better. But with Dunnett I should have known.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?

I have read the first 167 of 721 pages. 554 to go.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.

Although I bought it new, it has been a TBR so long the pages are yellowing. Pristine but dingy.

1. I'm reading Leklust (original german title: Spieltreib) by Juli Zeh, that strangely doesn't seem to have been translated into English. Yet?

1. Where did you get this book?

I bought it at a Salvation Army flea market.

2. How much did it cost?

45 swedish kronor, about 5 dollars.

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?

I first picked it up after getting it recommended from a friend and colleague of mine. I told her before the summer holidays I would finally get around to reading it

4. How long has it been on your shelf?

When I put my Ex Libris stamp in my new books, I also write when I bought them. This one I picked up in october 2007. (Just under two years is actually not too long a wait on my looong TBR list.)

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?

While pretty dark and disturbing, this book actually makes an effort to investigate the moral landscape of today's (german) youth. It strikes me as quite wise in an eerie sort of way. It's also very funny at times.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?

I had high hopes, but I think it's even a little better. It's more easy reading than I thought.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?

On page 420. 98 to go.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.

No blemishes, apart from a smudge on top of the book. The price of it is still written in pencil on the first page. I'm pretty sure it was unread when I bought it.

I just started the next 39 Clues book -- The Black Circle by Patrick Carman.

1. Where did you get this book?
Amazon.com

2. How much did it cost?
A little under $10

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
I am following the series and collecting the cards.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
A couple of days. I had to finish the current book first.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
It is a children's book. I am reading it mainly so that I can talk to my students about it this fall. I'm just beginning and don't know what I like best yet.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
It is OK so far. I like that the series is being written by a number of authors. It gives me a chance to see what each author's style is like.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
I'm on page 34 of 168.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.
The only unique thing might be the code that was on the six cards in the book. I'm not sure about that though.

I still don't understand how to do bold, italic, or underline. The help says limited html coding is allowed. But standard html coding (as I know it) says put the code in square brackets which makes it a touchstone here and doesn't work. I tried just putting in the letter, space, word and then /letter and that just showed up as I typed it. What am I doing wrong?

works for book titles; works for authors; the format for underlining, bolding et at is word-or-phase. These work most of the time. The title and author touchstones are not entirely reliable. You may get nothing. You may get the wrong thing. They work often.

Dag. Let's try that again.

" " works for book titles; " " works for authors; the format for underlining, bolding et at is ""word-or-phase"". These work most of the time. The title and author touchstones are not entirely reliable. You may get nothing. You may get the wrong thing. They work often. I put the instructions in quotes in hopes they would remain visible this time.

See. I never stop trying. OK. Single brackets for books; double brackets for authors; opening carats surrounding an instruction like "i", or "u", or "b" or what-have-you at the start of your expression followed by opening and closing carats surrounding "/i", and so on at the close of your expression. I hope I am being clear, finally.

I just started Wicked Game by Jeri Smith-Ready. (And I got some help with the formatting of this post which I intend to try.)

1. Where did you get this book?
I bought this at Amazon.com after reading about it in a few different blogs I follow.

2. How much did it cost?
Cover price is $7.99 which is probably what Amazon charged me.

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
Reviews in some blogs about paranormal fiction made it sound like I would really enjoy this title. I bought the book because it wasn't available for my Kindle.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
It arrived yesterday.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
It is unfair to say yet. I have just begun the book. the back cover blurb talks about vampires, recovering con artists, and rock 'n roll. Who could resist?

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
The book begins with a job interview that brings back not-so-happy memories of my own. It is interesting.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
Page 4 of 392.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.
It is brand new.

The cover is typical paranormal -- The cover is dark with a girl in tight black naval-baring clothing and tattoos on her shoulder and tummy. As is typical, the face is cut off at the nose level. There is a building with neon letters being struck by lightning in the background and also a large radio tower. From the back blurb it looks like it is the radio station. I probably have 50 other books with very similar covers.

Riders To The Stars by Curt Siodmak

1. Where did you get this book? ebay

2. How much did it cost? $2. 1/3 of a set that was $6.

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW? I just got a copy of the movie and want to read the book first.

4. How long has it been on your shelf? Several months.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book? Not far enough in to decide. Story is still setting up but seems ok.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be? In the middle.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go? 23 of 166.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique. It's a reading copy, pretty rough.

For the past week, before sleep, I have been reading one or two chapters from Whitethorn Woods by Maeve Binchy.

1. Where did you get this book?
My daughter gave it to me after she read it. She knows I have read Ms. Binchy in the past, and thought I'd like it. She was right.

2. How much did it cost?
I have no idea, except that she likely paid no more, and probably less than the price on the book, US$7.99

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
Because I am unlikely to keep it, so this will get it out of the way! And it's easy reading, but not boring, for the summertime.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
What shelf? It was on my night-table as soon as she gave it to me, which was about a month and a half.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
Ms. Binchy's inimitable style.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
At least as good, and perhaps better.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
I'm on p. 161; there are 283 to go.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.
Nothing. My daughter read it, kept it clean. Since it's a mass market paperback, you can tell it's been already read by the crinkling on the spine; she's very good with books, too good, by my standards!

There is nothing about the cover particularly remarkable. The usual slight embossing, with the author's name in letters more than four times the height of the letters in the title. The publishers know what will sell the book!

>50 NeverStopTrying: NeverStopTrying, I've added King Hereafter to my library wish list to request soon, it sounds fascinating.

I'm reading Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

1. Where did you get this book?
Library

2. How much did it cost?
free

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
It's been in my TBR longlist for awhile, and I just decided I was in the mood for a good Gothic novel. Plus, it is the first book due back to the library so that moves it up in priority.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
I think I had it on a table in my room for about a week before I picked it up

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
the really evocative mood and sort of creepy atmosphere

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
hard to say...I like it, but I think my expectations were a bit high after hearing many praises - so maybe about the same, or a little worse

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
173, with 203 left to go

8. Tell us what make your book unique.
Just the regular library markings

Book: The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny
(Advance Readers' Edition)

1. Where did you get this book?
Through LT's Early Reviewers program

2. How much did it cost?
free

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
The book arrived for me to review and it looked very interesting and I decided to read and review it right away, without delay.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
It spent about a day on the shelf.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
It's a serious book about a serious murder, but there's still clever humor in it, the characters are colorful and I like the atmosphere.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
I thought it would be good, but so far it is even better than I expected.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
I'm on page 97 of 372.

8. Tell us what make your book unique.
This is my VERY FIRST Advance Reviewer's copy I've ever received!

A Case of Exploding Mangoes by Mohammed Hanif


1. Where did you get this book?
It was sent to my bookcrossing. com alias "FreePages" :-)
In other words, It is a bookcrossing.com book that arrived in the mail from another bookcrosser.

2. How much did it cost?
Nothing so far, after I finish reading it, I'll post it on to the next person who wants to read it, so it will cost me postage only.

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
It was listed for the booker prize in 2008, and is part of my self-challenge to read all of the short-list and some of the long-list for the 2008 booker. Any bookcrossing books that I receive in this way, I try to read ASAP, so I can quickly send it on to the next person who wants to read it.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
It hasn't had any shelf time. It went straight from the mailbox to my bedside table waiting for me to read it.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
The plot revolves around conspiracy theories about why the plane carrying Pakistan's military dictator, General Zia ul-Haq, crashed in Aug 1988.
So far, it is concentrating on a couple of young officers in the Pakistani military and it is a bit like Catch-22. Very funny.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
Pretty much as expected, so far.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
I'm up to page 33 of 295 pages.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.

It has a unique bookcrossing ID.
The book has a bookcrossing label titled "Discover the Secret lives of books..." on the inside page. The label has the BCID linking it to here and was registered by "Fleebo" in 2008, in Sydney, Australia.

There is also an Eco-Libris label saying that there was "One tree planted for this book".

I am reading My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent.

1. Where did you get this book?
Amazon.com

2. How much did it cost?
$9.99

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
It is one that I plan to donate to my HS Media Center after I read it. School is starting soon! I read Vincent's other books and wonder how she will do for YAs.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
Since August 1st. I preordered it in June.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
I like the characters. The main character is a nice young girl who senses when someone near her will die and has panic attacks that lead to screaming. She lives with her aunt and uncle who put her in the mental ward of the hospital when it happened on a previous occasion until she convinced the doctors that she believed she was cured.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
Better. I have been a little disappointed with other paranormal authors who have decided to try YA (Kelley Armstrong and Kim Harrison).

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
54 of 279

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.
It is a brand new trade paperback

For about a week I've been reading The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.

1. I got it from my favorite bookstore, Bookman's.

2. It was $4.98.

3. NOW was the time to read it since I just found out that not only has it been made into a movie, but it's in theaters!

4. It's been on my shelf since December 5, 2008, which I know because the receipt is still tucked inside.

5. My favorite thing so far is that this is unlike any other book I've read before.

6. It's as good as I thought as it would be so far, though I suspect by the end I'll be blown away.

7. I'm on page 247 and there are 290 pages to go.

8. This book is unique because there is a phone number written on the inside of the front cover (222-3500). I haven't called. It's probably for a time share. It also has a little water damage on the last 100 pages or so. Usually I don't buy books with water damage, but I'd had my eye out for this book for awhile and couldn't resist the impulse once a copy appeared.

Reading two books currently:

The Lost City of Z

1. Library.

2. Free

3. Have to finish it by 8/24 or return it.

4. ~2 weeks.

5. The background of Fawcett is the most fascinating part of the book.

6. Better. There's been a lot of hype here on LT about this book and I'd decided that it probably didn't deserve it. Wrong again!

7. ~ 2/3s finished.

8. Has the usual library covers and stickers. It also has a musty smell, which is really confusing me. The book, according to the library notation written inside, is only 3 months old so how did it get musty so soon?

Yellow Raft in Blue Water

1. Bought it at the Friends of the Library years ago.

2. 25 cents.

3. The Global Reading Group is reading about Aboriginal Peoples for August. This is one of two books I've planned to read.

4. Logged into my library on March 7, 2004, so over 5 years.

5. The character of Rayona is wonderful. She's a much nicer, less messed up character than she has any right to be (given the family she has).

6. The story is told through three women. I loved the first character, but I'm definitely not loving the second. It remains to be seen what I'll think of the third. That said, it is well written and very interesting.

7. ~ 1/2 finished.

8. It's a mass market PB. The book is very old, the pages are yellowed and stained, and it smells moldy. But, the glue is holding and all the pages are intact.

I am reading Goddess of the Sea by P. C. Cast.

1. Where did you get this book?
Amazon.com Marketplace used books.

2. How much did it cost?
$8.48 with shipping

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
I looked at the TBR pile and this one jumped out. I'm in the mood for some fantasy.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
I ordered it on July 21 and it probably arrived at my house about ten days later. My guess is that I have had it for a couple of weeks.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
I've barely begun. The main character is in the air force, hates airplanes, has gotten lost on her way home from work, and has parents who have forgotten her 25th birthday. This all happens in the first few pages. She also talks about eating from the various food groups including KFC for the meat group and the grease group and champagne for the fruit group. She misses her mom's chocolate chip cookies for the dairy/chocolate/sugar group. Sounds like my kind of eater. ;-)

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
It is as good as I thought it would be. I like P. C. Cast's voice. I have read all of her House of Night books for YAs and really enjoyed them. I was interested in trying her earlier, adult stuff.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
I'm on page 6 of 342.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.
The book looks new but has a black line on the bottom of the pages which is probably the remainder mark.

I'm reading Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson.

1. Where? Bookmans, local used book store

2. How much did it cost? $3 minus my teacher discount

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW? I picked up Inkheart out of a stack of books at work and got addicted. That set me off on a fantasy kick.

4. How long has it been on your shelf? Since about the 1st. I had to finish all the Inkheart books and then this one was next.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book? It is just a fun easy read, good for riding the bus with.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be? About the same, it isn't my favorite book by any means, but it is good enough to keep me interested.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go? pg 341 out of 442, so 101 to go.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique. It was used, but other than the price written in it from the bookstore, you would never know.

In The Fall by Jeffrey Lent

1. Where? Borrowed from my nephew, Brad.

2. Cost? Nothing. Brad's nice like that.

3. Why now? I've had it for a while, and he hasn't read it yet, so I feel guilty.

4. How Long? 2-1/2 months

5. What do I like best? Intriguing story, so far

6. Better or worse than expected? Too soon to tell, but so far, it's about as I expected.

7. Page? Page 51, 491 pages to go. (whew!)

8. Although it is a borrowed book, it's never been read, and barely looks to have been opened. It's scary to read such a pristine book when it's not yours! It was recommended by laytonwoman3rd, and when I looked at the LT listing of it, I noticed Brad owned it, so I borrowed it.

White Fang by Jack London

1. Where? A boot sale in Essex.

2. Cost? 50p

3. Why now? I saw the book in the film A walk into the wild. 2 nights before seeing it on the bookstall I guess the Universe wants me to read it.

4. How Long? Only eight days.

5. What do I like best? It is the fascinating story of a Wolf and tells of all the scrapes it gets into.

6. Better or worse than expected? I did not have any expectation I tend to just go with the flow.

7. Page? 65 with another 207 to get through.

8. It is well worn the pages are yellowing and the name Nicola Wright is written into it in pencil. I put my name in ink in all of my books and sometimes I will highlight relevant passages, although I only do so with Science books and not my novels.

Perry Mason The Case of the Sleep Walkers Niece by Erle Stanley Gardner

I got this book at a local library sale. It was amongst other crime/mystery books that were tossed into a large brown paper bag for $1.00

I would guess that there were about 15 books in total in that big brown bag. That would be around 6 cents.

I recently moved and set up some of my book selves in my office. All the binding of other books were facing me, but this small book couldn't fit where the binding would show. Laying there different from the rest I had choosen it to be my next read.

This book must have sat in the brown bag for months beside my sofa and then on a shelf for close to two years.

I am enjoying the way Perry Mason thinks. I enjoy the suttle words of humour.

It is so much better than what I expected. I never have seen a Perry Mason movie or book. I appreciate the cast of characture page at the beginning of the story. I think I would have gone crazy trying to remember who was who if is wasn't for that.

I am on page 148 with 50 pages to go.

The first thing I noticed was that the page ends are printed red. When did they stop doing that? The pages are yellowed and has that old smell that can only come from an old book. It looks to me as if many people have read this book. The binding has many creases, but is still in good condition. Although I got this book at a library sale it isn't a library book. The price on the book is fifty cents. When did they stop selling books we could all afford? This specific book is the 20th printing and the date is June 1967.

message 69 (interesting number) what is the title? There is a mystery behind your mystery/crime novel.

lol

I am reading Cape Storm by Rachel Caine on my Kindle.

1. Where did you get this book?
Amazon.com

2. How much did it cost?
$6.39

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
I had been waiting for it to arrive and finished the book I was currently reading.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
About a week

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
I like that characters. Joanne is someone that I would like to be like -- smart, talented, resilient.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
It is very good but I was expecting that.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
I am reading on my Kindle. I have completed 8% of the book.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.
It is just electronic data. No one has had the opportunity to mark or comment on it.

Message 70 ... Just testing you guys. Honestly, how stilly of me to forget the title of the book.

No Fond Return of Love by Barbara Pym.

1. Where did you get this book?

PaperbackSwap

2. How much did it cost?

One PBS point

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?

I recently discovered Pym; her books are a delight, and I needed something light and entertaining as the summer winds down and fall classes loom.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?

Less than a week.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?

Great characters! They are quirky but believable, everyday people in ordinary situations. I took the book with me this weekend while visiting friends. Two of them are in the throes of editing books. I started reading the book before going to sleep, and it was so funny because the characters meet at a convention for people involved in editing and research. The lecture topics included "Some problems in editing" and "Some problems in indexing"--two things my friends had just been griping about!

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?

It's as good as I expected it to be.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?

86/256.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.

It's a well-read used book, but there's nothing remarkable about it--no writing, just lots of smudges.

Addendum to #67:
I gave up on In the Fall at about page 75. I'm sure it will end up being interesting, but I am too obsessive to read 500+ pages of incomplete sentences. There was some action going on at the beginning, but it has stopped, and I have too many other books to read. I'll check back in once I've settled into something better.

Presently reading Enchantment by Orson Scott Card

1. Where did you get this book? BookMooch

2. How much did it cost? One point.

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW? It is on all three of my challenge lists.

4. How long has it been on your shelf? Since October, 2007

5. So far, what do you like best about this book? I like that the main character has an international POV. Childhood in Russia and then immigrates as a Jew to the U.S. I've never read a book that looks at the U.S. from a non-U.S. POV.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be? I didn't really go into the story with any expectations. It is just different than what I thought it would be, not better or worse.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go? Slow going for a couple days of reading. I'm only on 29 of 387.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.

There is a dedication on the inside blank page in the front.

edited to add

Sorry about not putting it in before...I ran out of time and didn't have a chance to get back to it yesterday!

"For Darcy @ Christmas 2001
A Little bit of magic
A little bit of heritage
with love -
Dru"

# 75...Jenson...What does the dedication say????

Just finished up Pyramids and started Mort by Terry Pratchett.

1. Where did you get this book?
Barns & Noble

2. How much did it cost?
$7.99

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
Actually wanted to read it but it wasn't in stock so ended up buying and reading Pyramids. I've since purchased a copy and finished up Pyramids so on to Mort.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
About a week and a half.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
I love the character Death.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
It's been very enjoyable so far.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
On page 41 of 243

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.
N/A - book is brand new

The Labours of Hercules by Agatha Christie
1. Where? My friendly local library (again)
2. How much? The cost of a twenty minute bike ride (again)
3. Why? I've already enjoyed 3 Christies this summer, why not another?
4. How long? Less than a week. I first read The Destruction of Atlantis: Compelling Evidence of the Sudden Fall of the Legendary Civilization by Frank Joseph and completely forgot to post it here. That happens when you plow through a great book in three days. I will post a review of it when I'm done here.
5. Best? The main plot is an old friend of Poirot challenging him to undertake the Labors of Hercules, in honor of his namesake, before Poirot's planned retirement. Then follows twelve great SS's themed with the Labors, like the dognapping ring as the Nemedian Lion, capturing a wanted murderer in an isolated Swiss resort as the Erymanthean Boar, finding a lost love of a countryside mechanic as the Arcadian Deer, etc.
6. Better or Worse? It's better, which is saying alot. This is my favorite of the four I've read so far, but I also borrowed The Moving Finger, which Christie said was here personal favorite, so we'll see. This will be hard to top.
7. Page 185 of 320
8. Uniqueness? It is an old library copy that has been at the Grace A. Dow Library since 1978. The only marks I've noticed are a torn page repaired with old yellowed scotch tape and also someone totaled up the page lengths of each of the stories in the TOC. It has a label for the ancient optical pistol scanners that always took several passes to finally work. Beep-Beep-bu-bu-bu-bu-bu-blurp. Repeat as necessary until it beeps instead of blurps. These are getting rare at my home away from home. Sad, but the new barcode scanners are way better.

>76 callmejacx: I've added it in. Sorry for leaving a cliffhanger :-)

I just finished Fledgling by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller on my Kindle. I was part of the author's online story bowl and contributed enough to receive a signed copy from the authors which is expected to arrive in early October. I couldn't wait to see how the rough draft had transformed into a finished novel. It was excellent. I strongly recommend the books of Lee and Miller if you are a fan of character-driven science fiction.

Now I'm reading The Language of Bees by Laurie R. King.

1. Where did you get this book?
Amazon.com for my Kindle

2. How much did it cost?
$9.99

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
This one jumped out at me when I scrolling through the list of unread books on my Kindle. I have read the rest of the series. I was in the mood for something historical and with a dense style and leisurely pace.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
I have probably had it for a couple of weeks.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
I like Mary Russell's voice. I like that it is about Sherlock Holmes.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
So far, so good. I have barely begun.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
I am at the 2% mark.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.
This book is new.

Weekends at Bellvue

1. Early Reviewers

2. 0

3. Arrived Thursday night, I'd just finished another book so started it immediately.

4. Never hit the shelf.

5. So far she's very sympathetic to the problems of her patients.

6. Better.

7. Page 10 of 320; 310 left.

8. Brand new, but I've already noticed minor errors in the spelling/grammar/punctuation.

What were the errors? Sometimes I find that so far off that it doesn't make sense.

I am reading Sea Glass by Maria V. Snyder. It follows Storm Glass very closely in time.

1. Where did you get this book?
Amazon.com for my Kindle

2. How much did it cost?
$9.99

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
I enjoyed reading Storm Glass and wanted to read the sequel while the events were still relatively fresh in my mind. However, I would have appreciated an infodump to get me back up to speed. This one just plunges in to the action.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
It downloaded to my Kindle this past Tuesday. It isn't officially out until September 1.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
I like the character of Opal. She is a young woman with unusual powers who is trying very hard to do the right thing.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
Worse -- but only because it is hard to get back into the nuances of the story without re-reading the first volume.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
It's a Kindle book. I am at the 27% mark now.

I am reading "The Piped Piper of Sweden".
I bought the book through Amazon.
The book cost $12.95.
The book is historical fiction directed toward the Swedish colony of Bishop Hill. It is about the murder of the founder of the colony. I chose the book because my mother is Swedish, and I like historical fiction - plus, I was attracted by the cover.
It has not been on my shelf. I began reading it as soon as I bought it.
I like that the book is historical, but is filled with interesting dialogue that brings the characters to life. And, there is romance, mystery, and murder in the book. Life is stranger than fiction.
It is a very good book. It is better than I expected.
I am on page 107, chapter 26, Root Seduces Charlotta.
I have about 110 pages to go.
It is not used.

I am Reading: Need by Carrie Jones
I got the book at the library
the book cost nothing
The book is romance and a whole lot of other things
It has been on my shelf
I like that the book is romance and that it has a lot of surprises
I like it
i am on page ?
Im excited to see what happenes in the ending

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud.

1. Where did you get this book?, I bought it in Borders while in Singapore

2. How much did it cost?, 8.5 US dollars

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW? I remember reading it some time ago, and remembering it was good, but never finishing it

4. How long has it been on your shelf? About 4 years.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book? Bartimaeus's footnotes and how the chapters change perspective every 10-15 Chapters

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be? It was much better.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go? 462, 0 left to go, it was so good I read it in 1 day :)

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.

It wasn't a used book.

I am reading Bad Moon Rising by Sherrilyn Kenyon.

1. Where did you get this book?
Amazon.com for my Kindle

2. How much did it cost?
Probably $9.99 which is the going rate for "best sellers".

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
I have read most of the books in the series. This one is getting very mixed reviews in the blogsphere and I wanted to see for myself. I also wanted to catch up with characters I am familiar with.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
A couple of weeks maybe. I have had it since shortly after it was released.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
I'm not sure I really like this book. The characters seem not very realistic (even within the realm of fantasy books) to me. I'm not really understanding their conflicts and motivations.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
Thus far I'm agreeing with those in the blogsphere who said it wasn't very good. I'm not seeing the whole section repititions of text that others have mentioned which is probably because I haven't read the others in the series recently enough to recall that much detail.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
I am at the 43% mark in the book.

Thus far, I'm glad the book will not be taking up shelf space in my home. But it is not bad enough to quit reading.

Crampton Hodnet by Barbara Pym.

1. Where did you get this book?
Either PBS or BookMooch.

2. How much did it cost?
One point.

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
I was absolutely charmed by Pym I just finished, No Fond Return of Love, and I wanted MORE!

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
About 10 days.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
I'm not too far into it yet, but I would have to say that it's Pym's descriptions of characters and their little quirks.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
Not quite a catchy as No Fond Return of Love, but I'm hopeful. I really just started it.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
Page 19 of 216.

8. Well, I consider it unique to have gotten a used book with a pristine dust jacket.

>88 kmartin802: Bad Moon Rising is one I'm really looking forward to, but I have to catch up with the two novels before it. It is rather disappointing to hear that it seems to be lacking.

Now reading The Sense of Being Stared At.
I bought it in 05 from Amazon for £7.99 it is in pristine condition. I think Rupert Sheldrake is one of the best Scientists out there. One of the few but a growing number of Scientists who is challengening the orthodox view that consciousness arises in the brain.
Do you know there are cases in the medical literature where people have been born without brains and they still function consciously.
This book is packed with Scientific Data and graphs which are the results of experiments done all around the world.
Apparently during the Asian Tsunami a couple of years ago, no animals died, they all fled to the hills before the waves hit the shore.
Only one reason seems to explain this Telepathy of the group mind.
This book excites me and it is much better than the normal junk being dished up by anyone from the mainstream.

Why is the mainstream the main stream? That only implies one stream of ideas only. Snobbery is annoying.

Someone linked me to this thread. Here I go:

I am reading:

(a) The Secret to Life: Right Under Your Nose by Meijer Bjorn; (b) Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke; (c) The Malloreon, Volume 1 by David Eddings; (d) 2600: The Hacker Quarterly, Volume 25.3 edited by Emmanuel Goldstein; and (e) French Now! by Christopher Kendris.

1. Where did you get this book? (a) the author, (b) Barnes & Noble, Mentor, OH, (c) father-in-law, (d) Borders, Webster, TX (e) Borders, Webster, TX

2. How much did it cost? (a) free, (b) $20~, (c) free, (d) $6~ (e) $30~

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW? (a) working my way through my LT ER books, (b) Rereading this book with my wife, (c) wife picked it, (d) wife picked it, (e) trying to learn French, NOW!

4. How long has it been on your shelf? (a) about a month, (b) since it came out (I first read it as soon as I got it), (c) eight months, (d) since autumn 2008, (e) about four months

5. So far, what do you like best about this book? (a) short chapters (b) vivid storytelling and picturesque writing, (c) it occasionally makes me chuckle, (d) poignant computer security articles, (e) it helps me learn mon francais.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be? (a) same, (b) better, (c) same, (d) same, (e) worse

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go? (a) 77/124, (b) ~ch 10, (c) 222/805, (d) 53/66, (e) chapter 4? of 12?

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique. (a) I renamed the file to fit my sorting scheme (it's an ebook), (b) My book has a red cover and my name written in the front with a silver pen, (c) some bent corners from traveling around in my book bag for as long as it's taking, (d) a frayed spine from reading it whenever I get a chance, (e) it has my solutions to the questions I've worked through so far.

The Second Son by Charles Sailor
For some reason, this came out as The Dragon's Son in the Touchstones panel to the right of the dialog box. Why? I do not know.

1. Local library book sale
2. 50¢, but hardbacks have since gone up to $1.00
3. I read it every few years, and it was simply time, again. It is an old friend.
4. Twenty-five+ years
5. The unique story makes me think.
6. Better
7. 245, 344 Oops! I misread the question. There are 344 pages in the book, not 344 left to read. Sorry.
8. It had the previous owner's name written in the front. This is the only book written by this author. My daughter read and loved it, too, and has her own copy. I'm pretty sure she's read it more than once. I lent it to my sister, who lent it to a friend, so this book has been around. It is now out of print and has been for quite some time.

I am reading Obsidian Prey by Jayne Castle.

1. Where did you get this book?
Amazon.com for my Kindle

2. How much did it cost?
Probably about $6.39

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
I have been waiting for it for months since I first heard about it.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
I arrived on my Kindle on the 25th.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
It is fun to read the books in this series. They are futuristic romances that also include the paranormal. I like the banter between the characters and the feisty heroine. I also like the dust bunnies. I want a dust bunny!

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
I had high expectations that this would be a fun, fluffy read and it is meeting those expectations.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
I'm at 71% of the file.

I am (re)reading Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.

1. Where did you get this book?
This is my second copy, having thrashed the first. I bought the first in 1982, likely at an independent bookstore on the west side of Los Angeles. I bought THIS copy about 15 years ago, at Barnes & Noble.

2. How much did it cost?
$8.99, probably less the member discount

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
I reread it every 6-10 years. So, I was due. AND, it is unbearably timely.

4. How long as it been on your shelf?
This one, 15 years. The novel in general, nearly 28 years.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
It is a brilliantly written constant reminder of the possibilities of man, and the tendency of the masses to marginalize these possibilities. The concept of Atlas shrugging the globe from his shoulders is far less fantasy than any of us would presume. There is nothing NOT to like about this book, other than the clear message of the potential for destruction.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
It gets better every time I read it, and I believe this is my fifth reading. It also gets more frightening each time, as humanity moves uncomfortably further from the ideal.

7. What page are you on NOW?
I am on page 699, with 375 pages yet to go. Sadly, with each reading, the print gets more difficult to read comfortably. I fear the next reading will require the purchase of a larger print version, which I imagine will increase the # of pages.

8. What makes your book unique?
It is dog-eared and tattered, the cover has been taped on several times. and I have written several notations throughout. I LOVE the feel of used books, and this book has become one of my own used books in its own right.

I just finished read Bait by Karen Robards

I got this book from the library therefore it cost me nothing.

I had read one other book by this author and it was a page turner and kept me guessing until the end. I was hoping this one would be as entertaining.

I had this book about a week before I found the time to read it.

I liked this book because not only was it suspenseful but it also had romance!

The book lived up to my expectations

I finished the two days ago and expect to start reading The Offer by Robert J. Randisi tonight or tomorrow evening.

Great idea!

I'm currently reading Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.

1. Where did you get this book? I purchased this book at a Borders near my home.

2. How much did it cost? $8.95 plus tax.

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW? After finally finishing Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, I decided I wanted to read another long, in depth novel. Anna Karenina had been sitting on my bookshelf for a while and my great uncle loves it dearly, so I decided it would be my next endeavor.

4. How long has it been on your shelf? About six months.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book? Well, I only started reading yesterday so I don't have much to say yet, but I really enjoy the descriptions and the language Tolstoy employs.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be? Better.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go? I'm on page 20 now, which leaves 811 to go.

Right now I am reading Dead Before Dark by Wendy Corsi Staub

1. Where did you get this book?

I went to visit my bestest friend and she was kind enough to lend me a bag of books. Everyone ought to have a friend like that. Picked this book out of the seven she gave me.

2. How much did it cost?

Not a red cent.

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?

I didn't actually pick the book. I was in bed with a sore ankle. Had just finished another book from my friends bag of books and asked my son to pick a book for me.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?

Borrowed book never get a place on my shelf. I need to read them before I read my own. I did get possession of this book on Aug 19.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?

I am really getting a kick out of reading the main charactures thoughts.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?

I had started reading this book a couple of nights ago. I kept re-reading what I read and couldn't quite get it. I suppose the pain of my ankel played a part in that, cause the next day I had no problem understanding what I was reading. It is much better than I thought but only because at the beginning I struggled.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?

I am on page 69 with only 404 to go.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.

This copy is unique because of my friends name printed on the inside page. I can almost positively say that this book had only one other reader, being my friend, but you would have guessed more have read it with all the creases in the binding. (ouch that hurts) I could never do that to a book, especially a new book.

I am reading "Humpty Dumpty was Pushed" by Marc Blatte. Why? I loved the title and requested for a review book.

Cost: zip

How long on shelf: about one month

What do I like about this book? I really didn't like it at first, but it's growing on me. It's odd but interesting. Doesn't stop.

I won't say it's worse than I thought it would be, but it's different than I thought it would be!

There will be a blog tour in the last of September so watch for it on www.grammasreads.blogpost.com

I am reading Frederica by Georgette Heyer.

1. Where did you get this book?
Amazon.com

2. How much did it cost?
$10.94

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
I recently received a new copy of the book published by Sourcebooks with a lovely cover. It is trade paperback size. I am gradually replacing by favorite Heyers with new editions since the old ones are falling apart.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
Less than a week.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
I love revisiting old favorites. I love the way Heyer sucks me right into Regency England. I love her alpha heroes and feisty, intelligent heroines. The supporting characters are well drawn and fascinating characters too.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
It is a marvelous comfort read.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
I am on page 3 of 437.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.
It is a new book with a lovely fine art picture on the cover and lovely crisp pages. It has that wonderful new book smell.

Gotta love that new book smell

I'm currently reading Hindoo Holiday by J. R. Ackerley.

1. Where did you get this book? I don't remember; probably at Borders or Barnes & Noble.

2. How much did it cost? $12.95 plus tax.

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW? I just finished a very long, detailed biography, and felt something relatively short and shallow was in order.

4. How long has it been on your shelf? I don't know. More than a year, most likely.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book? It is funny in a very dry, understated way, bizarre, the sections are short, it was written during a time (the 1920s) and at a place (India) that fascinate me.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be? I'm not sure what I expected, but I'm pleased with what I got.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go? I'm on page 112 out of 302.

I'm reading Broken by Kelley Armstrong

1. Where did you get this book?
I honestly don't remember. Maybe a used bookstore.

2. How much did it cost?
?

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
Still working through my challenge lists and this is one that appears on two of them.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
My catalog says I entered it on March 14, 2007, so probably around then.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
I like the relationship dynamics between the three main characters. I've read the two books prior in the series featuring them and they've really come a long way.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
It is not holding my attention very well. Since it seems to be relying more on mystery investigation instead of action, the story seems slow to me.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
I am on 193 of 444

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.
This came from a used bookstore at some point and has 3- written in the corner of the first page.

The 3 could mean that it was the 3rd book in the series. Am I smart, or what!!!

I'm rereading Sarah by JT LeRoy.

1. Where did you get this book?
My wife bought it from Pocket Shop, back in 2002.

2. How much did it cost?
It says "cirka 65 kr", so I'm guessing about that. About nine dollars at current rate.

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
It's going to represent (unflatteringly, but still) West Virginia in my 50 States Challenge.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
I last read it in the fall of 2002, so just under seven years.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
I like the fairy tale quality of it, which collides with it's dark content. How it's a book of horrible things written in a fairly light tone.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
Since I last read this book J.T LeRoy has been revealed as a persona (or a hoax, depending on how you look at it). The bubble was burst when I read The heart is deceitful above all things, and the pseudo-autobiographical claim in that book felt speculative to me, leaving a bad taste in my mouth. I was worried that I'd feel the same way about this book now. I'm happy to say so far, this one fares better.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
I'm on page 71, with 119 left to go.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.
It shows the very very gentle dents of being read twice by two booklovers who like their books in good condition.

Evil under the sun by Agatha Christie.

Where did you get this book?
At the annual village book sale to raise funds for Cancer Research. For one day a year, everyone wanders about the village with carrier bags and rucksacks full of books, and blissful smiles on their faces.

How much did it cost?
30 pence.

How did you pick this book to read now?
All the other books on my TBR pile are thick and scary.

How long has it been on your shelf?
Since Sunday.

So far, what do you like best about this book?
Interesting observation of characters.

So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
Better.

What page are you on now? How many pages left to go?
Page 88 of 189.

Tell us what makes your book unique.
The smell. It is a 1970's paperback with a horrible cover. The paper has yellowed. And it smells very musty indeed. I am probably inhaling lethal spores as I read.

#107...sometimes the smellier the book the better it is. ;)

I am reading Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell with my grandson (he's 10).

1. We borrowed the book from the library.

2. No cost

3. We chose this book together, I remembered it as a good read and thought it would appeal to my grandson. He liked the idea of surviving on an island alone.

4. We picked it up on Monday, and will probably finish it today.

5. What I like best about this book is the heroine, her bravery, her ability to cope with both the basics like getting food and shelter but mostly for her ability to overcome her sheer aloneness. My grandson likes how she hunts for herself, and how she makes friends with the animals and birds on the island. Of course reading this with my grandson makes it all the more special.

6. I think we both have found this book to be better than we thought it would be. Definitely one of my all time favorites and I hope one of his.

7. We are on page 133 with 48 pages to go.

8 No special marks on this this copy, but it does have it's well deserved gold Newberry Award stamp on the front cover.

I'm now reading The Complete Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

1. Where did you get this book?
I picked it up at The Bodhi Tree in WeHo today.

2. How much did it cost?
$29.95

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
Was strongly drawn to it...apparently it's time to create.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
It will hit the shelf tonight for the first time.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
It's simplicity and the gift of structure.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
Better, because it dove directly in.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
29, with 686 to go. I shall relish every page.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.
Bought new.

The Book Thief

1. B&N
2. $17 minus discount.
3. It's one of two books chosen for a group read on Goodreads.com for September.
4. It's a re-read for me, but I've had it 3+ years.
5. The narrator is death -- terrific idea.
6. I gave it 5 stars 3 years ago and would give it the same today.
7. 73/550; 477 left
8. I wrote the catalogue number inside front and there are currently 4 tape flags on the pages I've read. Sure to be many, many more tape flags before I'm done. They will be removed when I'm finished.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

1. B&N
2. $15 minus discount
3. It's the second book for Group discussion on Goodreads.com. for September.
4. ~4 weeks.
5. It's well written.
6. Better.
7. 19/590; 571 left.
8. New.

'The Other Queen' by Philippa Gregory
1. Amazon
2. $16.00
3. Book Club selection
4. One day
5. Fascinating subject, Time period, writing
6. Good as the last by the same author
7. Pg 43, 390 to go
8. New unsoiled

Right now I've just began reading The Book Thief. I borrowed it from a friend of mine. It cost me nothing and it’s never been on my shelf! :-) That's the beauty of borrowing! Besides I never buy a book unless I'm sure I would want to keep it in my collection (as it is my two poor book shelves are full to the brim. Any more books and my room would look even more like a pigsty than it already does!). The narrative style of this book is quite interesting. It’s actually better than I thought it would be. I'm only on page 56 and still have more than 300 pages to go.

I am midway through The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde.

1. Where?
I got this one used from Thriftbooks.
2. How much?
It cost me .01 plus 3.95 S & H.
Why?
Because I had been seeing this series bandied about on LT for quite some time and it sounded like a fun read
4. How long?
I have had it about a week.
5. Best?
I am quite enjoying the characters in the book.
6. Better or Worse?
I think it probably is not quite as good as I thought it would be.
7. Page 195 of 374.
8. Uniqueness?
This book is unique in that when I began it, I realized that it has been autographed by the author on the title page; fairly unusual to be found in a used book.

#114...nannybebette...Wow... a signed copy!!! Sounds to me you gotyourself a deal there.

I am reading All My Patients are Under the Bed Memoirs of a Cat Doctor By Louis J. Camuit

1. Where did you get this book?

I got thie book at a garage sale

2. How much did it cost?

A whole 25 cents.

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?

In June I moved to a new home and am still trying to get things organized. I was cataloging my books when I entered this title and saw that it was a duplicate that a fellow LT'er, Kirconnell, had recommended at the beginning of this year. I decided it was going to be my next read.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?

This book has been on my shelf for about 3 years.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?

I am enjoying the different stories and how Dr. Louis J. Camuti got started in the business of being a vet.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?

Much better. After reading Marley and Me and some of James Harriots books I didn't think that this one would come close to being as enjoyable but I was so wrong.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?

I am on page 58 with 164 left to read.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.

This was a used book and is in great condition except for a glass ring on the cover that I am sure I could probably wipe off.

#116 - I loved that book! Anyway...

I'm reading Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski

1. Where did you get this book?
I think from Barns & Noble.

2. How much did it cost?
$7.99

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
I liked the first book and the video game based on it.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
About 4 months.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
I'm not very far in, but I like the writer's style. Also, it feels very much like the first book so far.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
So far about what I thought, though I'm not very far along yet.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
28 of 398

I am reading Blood Promise by Richelle Mead.

1. Where did you get this book?
Amazon.com

2. How much did it cost?
$10.19

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
I have students waiting to read it at my HS Media Center. I'll be donating my copy as soon as I finish it.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
About a week. Back to school is a busy time for teachers!

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
I like watching Rose grow and change. I am caught up in her story and wonder if she will be able to kill Dmitri now that he is Strigoi or if, somehow, he can be saved.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
Better. I like that the story has moved out of the school and into the bigger world.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
255 of 503

I'm reading The Saucier's Apprentice by Bob Spitz.

1. It's a library book.

2. Not a cent. Love the library.

3. Last week I read Julie and Julia and Toast by Nigel Slater and so I'm on a foodie book binge.

4. Just got it.

5. I already know that the recipe on page 160 (Magret in Double-Wine Sauce) is a winner since a friend served it, so I'm hoping to find other great recipes.

6. I'm not far enough in to tell but I'm hoping that the narrative of traveling through the cooking schools of Europe is as good as the recipes.

7. 24 of 323 pages

I am reading His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik

1. I got this book from my youngest daughter, she is a big fan of fantasy books and insisted I would love this series.

2. Free

3. I decided to see if she was right and pulled it off my TBR shelves.

4. I had only had this book a couple of weeks before starting on it.

5. I love the story, I love the writing, I love the characters, and mostly, i love the Dragons!

6. This books is as good as my daughter promised me, and I am so glad that there at at least two more in this series!

7. I am on page 171 out of 356

8. This is my daughter's book, and she is as big a book lover as her mother, so the book is in excellent condition.

Heart Stopper by Joy Fielding

1. Where did you get this book?
a second-hand bookstore in Maastricht, the Netherlands

2. How much did it cost?
€ 6,50

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
I wanted something easy and thrilling

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
It didn't touch my shelf, I started reading right away.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book? The tension, the "whodunnit", that's untill I figured out who did it....

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
It's a bit better than I thought it would be, but the end is a bit disappointing because I already guessed who did it.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
I'm on 536, I have 13 pages left....

My Soul to Take and Heart Stopper both sound good. thanks

Blue Meridian: The Search for the Great White Shark by Peter Matthiessen

1. Where did you get this book?
Second hand via Amazon. I am going to start looking via BetterWorldBooks.com in the future.

2. How much did it cost?
Don't remember.

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
It's next on my 2009 list.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
A little more than a year. Bought it with a bunch of other Penguin Nature Classics.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
The seamless integration between the story of filming Blue Water, White Death and the contextual natural science.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
It's about what I expected.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
Page 76 of 204. It's a short one.

8. Anthing unique about the book itself?
Nope.

Uncle John's Triumphant 20th Anniversary Bathroom Reader

1. Where did you get this book? Birthday present

2. How much did it cost? nada

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW? Making sure it was readable, where it says it's readable :)

4. How long has it been on your shelf? Back o' the bowl since July '09

5. So far, what do you like best about this book? Soft and absorbant (but seriously...fun trivia)

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be? Worse...Uncle John must be running out of new ideas.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go? @150 of 600

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique. The post-reading aroma is surpisingly delicate...

By These Ten Bones by Clare B. Dunkle

1. Where did you get this book? library

2. How much did it cost? $0

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW? basically because it's the next one due

4. How long has it been on your shelf? I think I've had it out for about a week

5. So far, what do you like best about this book? I'm still in the set-up part of the story, but it had an intriguing beginning

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be? hard to say as of yet

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go? page 28; 201 pages to go

8. Tell us what make your book unique. other than library markings, it's pretty plain and looks as if I'm the first reader

#125 bell7

Tell me what you think afterward. I know her, not well, but she is really nice.

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

1. I got it from the library.

2. It cost me nothing.

3. It has picture of a skeleton in a suit on the cover, how could I not read it.

4. I've had it about a week.

5. The best part so far is the great characters.

6. It is better than I thought it would be. It is funnier.

7. I'm on page 228, with 164 pages to go.

8. I got it from the library so there are all the library stamps and such and someone who took it out before me doodled on some of the pages.

Right now I'm reading The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I got it from the same friend who gave me The Book Thief last week (which I finally managed to finish last evening. If you are interested you may read my review).

This book is a part of my effort to read more contemporary books, the first of which was The Book Thief, unlike all the classics I usually stick to.

I'm about halfway through the book. And I believe the following words sum up my feelings pretty precisely, "Never have I read such tosh.... Of course, genius may blaze out on page 652 but I have my doubts." This is what Virginia Woolf wrote to Lytton Strachey in 1922, after reading the first six chapters of James Joyce's Ulysses. And this is exactly how I feel right now, while trying very hard not to just give it up and go to sleep.

I'm reading From Dream to Dream by Arlene Golds

1. Where did you get this book? Amazon

2. How much did it cost? I can't remember exactly but I know it was one of their bargain books at the time and was around $5.00. I picked it up on because one of the people I was chatting with on Shelfari said the author was her aunt.

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW? It is another one that is on more than one of my challenge lists.

4. How long has it been on your shelf? Since August, 2008.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book? I like the concept of dreaming things into reality.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be? It is much harder reading than I expected. I'm not a big fan of dense, descriptive works and this one is very much that. The story is kind of interesting and I kind of like the characters, but reading it makes me tired. I keep finding myself skimming the narrative.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go? I'm on page 178 of 308.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique. It was brand new when I got it.

I'm also reading Bio of an Ogre by Piers Anthony

1. Where did you get this book? Library book sale.

2. How much did it cost? It was one of those "fill a bag for $2.00" things so I'm not sure. I loved reading his Xanth and Robot Adept books in high school so I thought it would be interesting.

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW? It is another one that is on more than one of my challenge lists.

4. How long has it been on your shelf? Since March, 2007 or before.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book? Reading this autobiography kind of reminds me of the conversations I had with my old boss who has since passed away. They both lived very eventful lives, unlike me who has never really done much.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be? The font is teeny tiny which makes this book more even more difficult to read for someone like me who doesn't really like biographies. I thought the author would be more witty and personable, but he actually seems kind of harsh and judgmental which I find surprising.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go? I've been reading this since the beginning of August and am on page 107 of 311. I figure so long as I finish it before the end of the year I'm good.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique. This is a former library book so it has those stickers and such and is in very worn condition.

In the car I'm listening to Artemis Fowl The Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer

1. Where did you get this book? The library.

2. How much did it cost? Free!

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW? My son and I started listening to the Artemis Fowl books at the beginning of the summer and wanted to try and fit this one in before school started. That didn't really work.

4. How long has it been on your shelf? Never.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book? The story is very interesting and the reader is really good!

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be? Since we've already listened to the previous ones in the series I pretty much knew what to expect and have not been disappointed. We're both really enjoying the books!

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go? Just started disc 4 of 6.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique. No skips so far so nothing to complain about :-)

Another Day, Another Dungeon by Greg Costikyan
1. Where? Science Fiction Book Club introductory package years ago.
2. How much? Not much, plus I got my Elric of Melnibone set, books 2 and 3 of Weis & Hickman's Death Gate Cycle and the 3rd of 4 omnibuses (omnibusi?) of Fred Saberhagen's Books of Lost Swords. Not too shabby for around $10!
3. Why? I have spent the last year and a half finishing off sets and series and finally got the companion volume to GC's Cups and Sorcery two-book series after 17 years.
4. How long? 3/92
5. Best? It's funny. Not really funny ha-ha but gamer nerd funny. It seems like a novelization of a good, but slightly silly D&D game.
6. Better or Worse? I enjoyed it alot way back when, which is why I peeked around for the volume 2 for so long. My favorite thing about it is that, at least in our old D&D games, getting the treasure is sometimes easier than keeping it. In the story, a stodgy fire mage hires a quibbling couple who are allied thieves to take him on a quest into the nearby Caverns of Cytorax in search of what we gamers call a random encounter adventure. In the Orc chapel they find a life sized magical statue of the last King of the city and smuggle it back into the town. The problem is hiding it from the wizard's council who scan the city daily looking for unusual magic auras. How do they do it? I don't remember, but the final 2/3 of the book will remind me, I'm sure.
7. Page? 84 of 241
8. Uniqueness? The book is mint, but the old jacket on it is a bit tattered, since I've moved 13 times in those 17 years. Minimum wage and lousy roommates suck. Especially with an ever-growing library that has had to move into four upstairs apartments and two different basements, one of which was in then out and now back in.
Just to be nice to the author, as he has written only four novels, he is in the Adventure Gaming Hall of Fame for his Role-Playing Game design work, including West End's classic Star Wars game and Pax Brittanica, both award winning games of the 1980's. There are still people who play the old Star Wars game today and prefer it over Wizards of the Coast's new version, and Pax Brittanica is still a popular play-by-mail strategy war game.

The Tirpitz and the Battle for the North Atlantic by David Woodward.

1. Where did you get this book? Impact! (A small local thrift store)

2. How much did it cost? 35 cents!

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW? Bought a nice pile at that store, this was on top so it was the one to read.

4. How long has it been on your shelf? 24 hours

5. So far, what do you like best about this book? an older history of the last German battleship of WW II.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be? Not far enough in to be sure, but looks good.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go? page 7 of 186

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique. Very beat up, creased, yellowed, but a bargain at the price.

I hope you got a nice well written history there. The Tirpitz event was a major part of the downfall of the Nazi's because it made them reluctant to commit further resources to their Navy. That's like voluntarily not playing a center fielder. Dumb.

'dolf was a landlubber, I doubt if anyone would have ever gotten through his thick skull with any serious proposal to build up the Kriegsmarine.
Just as well for the world as we know it...

Right. The inability to use the Tirpitz was all the proof the former Herr Schickelgruber needed to deep six his navy

>126 cakefriend: cakefriend, I liked By These Ten Bones pretty well, but prefer the Hollow Kingdom series.

You Just Don't Understand by Deborah Tannen (I've been slowly reading it for some time)

1. Where did you get this book? I don't remember for sure, but probably a library book sale

2. How much did it cost? If I remember where I bought it correctly, than 50 cents. Otherwise, I don't remember at all.

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW? I've been meaning to read it ever since I took a course in basic linguistics, and finally decided it had been languishing unread on my bookshelves for far too long

4. How long has it been on your shelf? A few years at least

5. So far, what do you like best about this book? I like the way Dr. Tannen describes conversations and interprets them from the viewpoints of both speakers without making moral judgments regarding conversational style

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be? about the same

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go? page 226, with 76 left to go (I'm not counting the notes, index, etc.)

8. What makes your book unique? A previous reader underlined passages in the beginning but apparently lost interest in the book as the underlines stop at p. 104.

This is my first post on this board, exciting stuff!

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass

1. Where did you get this book?

Waterstone's

2. How much did it cost?

It was £4.99 (but I bought it with some book vouchers, so technically it was free!)

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?

I've been going through a phase of re-reading my favourite books from when I was little, so this one was next on the list.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?

I read it straight after buying it, which is rare for me! (I have a huge backlog of books to be read...)

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?

I love the sheer silliness of it, the crazy characters, and the way that Lewis Carroll plays with language.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?

There's a lot in there that I can't remember from when I was younger - it's nice to rediscover those bits, so I guess it's better than I thought it would be!

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?

I'm on page 165 out of 327, so *quick maths* 162 to go.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.

It was bought new, so nothing particularly remarkable about it. However, I do feel particularly attached to the story because I was in my university Ballet society's production of Alice in Wonderland two years ago (I played the Dormouse!)

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

1. My daughter gave it to me in a number of books for Mother's Day.

2. I do not know, as it was a gift.

3. I didn't pick it. It picked me. I guess it's time.

4. About four months.

5. It is so well-written that it is easy to suspend disbelief.

6. Better because I had thought it would be entirely unbelievable.

7. 283 out of 536

8. It was bought new, but it is special because my sweet daughter gave it to me.

Right now I'm reading The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. I borrowed it from a friend of mine

This is the third book from my quest to read more books written in this millennium (finished reading the second book in my quest The Time Traveler's Wife yesterday. The less said about that experience the better. You can read my review or you can read my full rant).

The Historian has been on my wish list for some time now. I've just started reading the book. So far it seems o.k. Almost all of the book is before me. So, would have to comment about it later.

Six Months in Sudan

1. Library
2. 0
3. Due back in a week
4. N/A
5. He gives a real sense of what it's like to be dropped into this very strange situation for six months
6. Better
7. About 1/3 finished
8. New with library cover and marks on it.

The Angel of Darkness

1. Friends of the Library
2. 25 cents
3. Wanted a book like The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo to read, this was as close as I could get without reading the next in that series (which I don't want to do until at least January because the third won't be released until May)
4. About 3 months
5. Carr does an excellent job of setting the tone and scene
6. As good, certainly. Too early to tell if I'll think it's the page-turner that The Alienist was
7. 28/752 - only 724 to go
8. It's an old MM PB, but in good condition and no one has written on it.

I just began The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown.

1. Where did you get this book?
Amazon.com for my Kindle

2. How much did it cost?
Probably $9.99

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
It has been getting so much hype and I'm home sick for a few days. It is much different than the YA books I have been reading lately and I was in the mood for a change.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
It downloaded to my Kindle on Tuesday.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
I have truly just begun it. I am looking forward to the plausible mysteries that it is supposed to have. I enjoyed Angels and Demons and The DaVinci Code.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
The prologue was nicely enticing. Who is this guy? Why is he taking these vows with no intention of fulfilling them?

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
I am just at the 1% mark in the book.

The Sin of Father Amaro by Eca de Queiros

1. Where did you get this book?
Powell's

2. How much did it cost?
$5

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
I've wanted to read it for years, but it was out of print and I didn't run across a copy until recently. I waited a bit to start it, though, because it's long and there were a number of short books I also wanted to read, so I did those first.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
A couple of weeks.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
It's quite well-written, and the presentation of the emotions and mentality of the characters is very naturalistic.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
I expected it to be good, and it is, but it is a little different in terms of the experience than I expected.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
I'm on page 106, with 246 pages to go.

8. It is a used book, but apart from being old, (1964) it's in good shape. It doesn't have any writing or highlighting, but I'm pretty sure it was never read all the way through. There are faint marks on the spine, but only toward the beginning, and the pages for the most part are very tight, as though they've never been read.

The Pillars of the Earth. Ken Follett

1. Where did you get this book?
Local charity shop

2. How much did it cost?
£2

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
Everyone was raving about it on Book Crossing so I decided to hold a poll. It was a toss up between this one and Time Travellers Wife.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
Since June 09.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
The fast moving plot is good and I love the theme being interested in theology. What is not so good is the actual prose. Using 20th century colliuialisms for 11th century characters spoils it somewhat.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
I had no expectations and when I have finished it I will pass it on to a friend.
7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
931 another 140 to go.

8. It is a used book, and it is not in bad shape.

Requiem of the Human Soul by Jeremy R. Lent
1. Where? Member's Giveaway from the Author-and a signed copy to boot.
2. How much? Freebie!
3. Why? I checked out the first few pages and got hooked right in, deep enough to set aside my library books that I may not have time to finish.
4. How long? About 3 or 4 days now
5. Best? This is an outstanding story about future genetically engineered humans having a trial to determine if they should let the unenhanced 'primals' continue on or if they should be exterminated except for a few examples to basically fill a place in a zoo. There is a really cool sideline (actually the trial is a sideline for this part of the story) about the prefrontal cortex of the brain and its evolution into the dominant determining factor in both the societal evolution of man, and how genetic engineering might be affecting the delicate natural balance that generates the human soul. This is actually based on research the author is involved in, I'll go get the bookmark-www.humansoul.com. I haven't dipped into that yet, but there it is.
6. Better or Worse? I'm really enjoying it alot so i guess that makes it better. I wasn't sure what to think as it is a first novel but Mr. Lent is an English Lit guy from Cambridge and the writing is excellent. The way that emotions are dredged up for Eusebio, plus the first-person narrative is very engaging, mostly because it is very easy to put yourself in his place in the story. The anger, frustration and rage that he feels during the trial are the same emotions I would feel. The judge character (Harry) is a pompous ass the likes of which should only exist as foils in a story. What a dink.
7. Page? 274/329
8. Uniqueness? A signed copy of a first book by a talented author and thinker? That's a first in my good-sized library. Thanks Mr. Lent!

I am reading My Life In France by Julia Child with Alex Prud'homme

1. I picked this book up at the library today, after being wait-listed for about 3 weeks.

2. No cost

3. I am reading this book now because I have heard some great things about it here on LT, also because it is in such demand at the library I need to get it read and returned quickly.

4. Never made it to a shelf

5. What I like best about this book is it's sheer readability. Julia Child immediately draws you into her life, her situation, her times.

6. It is actually way better than I had thought it would be. I thought it might be a tad "dry", but instead it's interesting and humorous.

7. I am on page 89 out of 302.

8. This library book is in excellent condition without any distinguishing marks.

Catch 22

1. Where did you get this book?
In Dubai from the Virgin Media store.

2. How much did it cost?
49 Dirahms

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
It has been on my to read list for a while so thought i would get stuck into it.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
Since July 08

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
It is fast moving and all the characters seem to be completely mad, reinforcing my view of the Americans. LOL

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
I read the odd war book now and again this is better than I expected, it took me about 15 minutes and I was into chapter three already!
7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
45 er 486 lol I think.

8. I bought it new and apart from writing my name date and place I bought it, it is in pristine condition.

Message 145: Arten60 I had read that book a while back. It was one my husband said that I had to read. It was totally different from what I was expecting. About a year later I watch the movie. Not sure if it had the same name. I am thinking it did.
Again it was good.

Thats a really good book. I read all the series.

Does anyone know about this website because i just started.

@148, Basically, this site is a place to catalogue the books you have in your own collection (it's not somewhere to read books online). I'd suggest you take a look at the Help/FAQ which is linked at the bottom of the page if you want to know more.

My Sergei: A Love Story by Ekaterina Gordeeva with E. M. Swift

1. Where did you get this book?
I asked an uncle to get this for me when he went to the US after the book was published.

2. How much did it cost?
I cannot recall the price on the receipt, but he didn't let me pay for it!

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
I caught sight of it on my TBR pile and felt that I'd like to read it at this time.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
Over 10 years!

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
The beautiful story of Gordeeva & Grinkov, and the simple, personal way it was written, as if you were having a chat with Katia Gordeeva.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
It is better than I thought it would be -- easy to read and not dragging, filled with sweet little anecdotes.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
A little over page 200; less than a hundred pages to go.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.
It's a brand new book, unique in that it was given to me by my uncle.

#146 I picked up Catch-22 because I saw it listed as one of the greatest books of the 20th century and was curious about it. I reviewed it a while back (if you want to you can read it here,
http://www.librarything.com/work/1479#).

All I can say is that it had left quite an impression on me.

>146 callmejacx:.

The film has the same title as the book. It's directed by Mike Nichols (he directed Charlie Wilson's War, Angels in America, and the Spamalot). It stars Alan Arkin as Yossarian, and features Art Garfunkel, Bob Newhart, Anthony Perkins and Orson Welles.

The book (and it's sequel, Closing Time) are much, much better.

I have the sequel to it amazes me that I never read Heller before now maybe from my Spiritual perspective Now is the Right Time. I only read two books during my delinquent teenage years. Today on my local tv news station a lady who works with boys involved in crime quoted statistics about their inability to read. I am sure she is right and there is a link between lack of education and crime. I never had that problem at 7 I was already well ahead of the class my problems stemmed from boredom and being a member of a dysfunctional family. That was and still is my karma but to paraphrase Bill Hicks it has been an amazing ride.

After a busy week finally got some time and finished The Historian Friday night. It was alright, nothing memorable. To read my review you can go to,

http://www.librarything.com/work/5189/reviews/50391489

or to my 50 Book Challenge thread,

http://www.librarything.com/topic/72408

Right now I am about halfway through Le Mystère de la chambre jaune, otherwise known as The Mystery of the Yellow Room.

I got it from Project Gutenberg, which means it cost me nothing and it's now in my pc!

After reading three books written in this millennium back to back I felt the urge to go back to my true love, classics. Being a mystery buff I've heard so much about this book that when I saw this book on another LT member wisewoman's recently added list I just had to read it.

So far, it is not as good as I thought it would be. But things might get better towards the end when the final denouncement is made. So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

The Housekeeper and the Professor

1. Library
2. O
3. Due back 10/3.
4. Two weeks
5. Very different, spare but lyrical writing
6. Better
7. 20/180 - 160 to go.
8. Paper back with library plastic cover and library stickers on it, but otherwise clean.

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

1. Where did you get this book?
Barns & Noble

2. How much did it cost?
$7.99

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
Saw the musical a few weeks ago and wanted to read the book it was based on.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
About 3 weeks.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
The writing style.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
Based on reviews from here, I was expecting it to be different from the musical. And they were right. I am enjoying it though.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
62 of 519

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

1. Where did you get this book?
Barnes & Noble

2. How much did it cost?
$14.95

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
Finished a horrible book on Sunday and wanted something adult and good. Have been anticipating this one for a long time.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
Since about March 28, 2009

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
The writing, the story and the characters.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
Had high hopes for it, it is even better than I had hoped.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
On page 231 with 174 left to go.

8. It was new when I bought it - a gift card book for my birthday.

I am reading Raising Jake by Charlie Carillo.

1. Where did you get this book?
Amazon.com for my Kindle

2. How much did it cost?
It was one of the free books that are offered for Kindles

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
I was looking through the titles on my Kindle and the title sounded interesting. I knew nothing about the book or the author.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
I added it to LibraryThing on Aug. 26, 2009

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
It is an interesting story about a man whose life is falling apart and, hopefully, how he will get it back together. I don't know how it ends because things are still falling apart.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
It is different than I thought it would be. It is not a mystery. It is not a paranormal. It is not science fiction. It is not a romance. It doesn't fit into any of the genres I usually read. If I had to classify it, the best I could do would be to call it contemporary fiction.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
I just hit the 80% mark.

Right now I am reading Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels

1. Where did you get this book?
I got this book at a goodwill store

2. How much did it cost?
This book cost me $1.50

3. Why did you pick this book to read NOW?
I had picked this book for my husband to read. He just finished it. I was at the end of my book and planned to read this one next.

4. How long has it been on your shelf?
I would say close to half a year.

5. So far, what do you like best about this book?
This book is very discriptive and written poetically.

6. So far, is it better or worse than you thought it would be?
My husband decribed it as a piece of cake with too much icing. I can undertand how he would have thought that. So far it is better than I thought it would be. Maybe I just haven't reached the icing part yet.

7. What page are you on NOW? How many pages left to go?
I am on page 60 and have 230 left to go.

8. If this was a used book maybe someone has highlighted parts, written down their own name, it could have been given as a gift and written on it from and to someone, or maybe they just doodled in it. Tell us what make your book unique.
This book still have the green goodwill stick on the cover. My husband was careless and now this perfectly good used book has a crease on the front cover..

This thread is getting long. Thought it time to start a new thread. Read the questions carefully...I have changed them just a tad.

See you there.... http://www.librarything.com/topic/74233