Kara's 75 in 2011 #1

1. Edward Sawtelle by David Wroblewski 3 stars my thoughts here

2. The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue 4 stars review here

3. Horns by Joe Hill 3 1/2 stars review here

4. Up High In The Trees by Kiara Brinkman 3 1/2 stars review here

5. The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse 2 stars review here

6. Briar Rose by Jane Yolen 3.75 stars my thoughts here

7. Graceling by Kristin Cashore 3.75 stars review here

8. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater 2.75 stars my thoughts here

9. Linger by Maggie Stiefvater 2.75 stars my thoughts here

10. Fire by Kristin Cashore 4 stars

11. The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey 4 stars

For those that missed my last two reviews from 2010 The Secret Scripture and The Convent they are here

Currently reading The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue....almost done :)

Next up is Edward Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

Glad to see you decided to stick around for 2011, Kara!

Kara- Welcome back to the 75 Club! I've had The Stolen Child on my shelf forever, let me know what you think. I had mixed feelings about Edgar Sawtelle.

NOOOOOOOoooooo Save yourself! Run away!

Donate the Sawtelle to .. to.. a fire sale?

Ugh ! The Stolen Child, I believe I liked a lot.. I read The Secret Scripture but do not remember if I liked it..

ahem

Welcome back to the 75ers :)

starred!

Mark The Stolen Child I finished and I will have a review in a few days :)

Kath....why fire sale? and not compost heap? I have heard mixed reviews ..... is it the animal thing you don't like? I get that part.
Don't read The Convent there is an animal part that is terrible! I thought of you and reminded myself to warn you :)

I think I am on pg 200? in Sawtelle it's kind of dragging for me but there are sparks here and there (maybe for your fire kath?) I know about the whole loosely based Hamlet connection and I am assuming there is a great tragedy at the end. Other then that I know nothing else about the book. I purposely avoid talk about popular books I want to read and I wait until the frenzy goes away until I read it.

Compost heap is good.. I will remember that.
Yeah.. they kill dogs left and right and sideways, it seemed.
I just hated it . In fact, I don't even remember if I finished it. I think I didn't.
I need some good old fashioned fluff, maybe?

OH NO! not a bad animal part in the Convent.
I couldn't take it. :(

I am currently reading The Dead Path having finished the Voyager book..
I liked that one a lot.. and will review it soon. It caught me out a couple of times.. but it was a truly fascinating read. All the more interesting because Claudia, who gave me the book ... knows the authors :) and lives near them.
That made it "more better" :)

So glad you are here dear... I hope you can keep visiting regularly :)
I do enjoy your company!
I will ask that jude not send it my way.
She kindly offered to do so .. thank you for the warning :)

Welcome back!

Hi Kara!

Glad to see you decided to stay. Getting nervous about the "Sawtelle" book. Didn't know anything about it... will wait to see what you think.

There might be Spoilers below for those interested in reading The Convent or Sawtelle

Kath so far in the Sawtelle book only one dog was supposedly shot when the father and his brother Claude were younger (haven't found out if that was the truth) since the story of said dog came from the troublesome Uncle Claude :/...... but still it was a terrible story of an unnecessary animal death.

as for The Convent the Mother Superior starts a rapid slide from responsible judgment into self-delusion and irrationality .... the stray dogs that are cared for by an animal loving nun succumb to a horrible death by the hands of the Mother Superior. I did not put this specific tidbit in my review because it is one of the first signs of the Superior turning "crazy" and it might spoil it for those who would like to read it. But you I needed to warn because I remember reading on someones thread that you wanted to read it :)

____________________________________________________________________________________________

OK Spoiler Alert Done

Stasia, I missed you way up at the beginning.... I am sorry, glad you stopped by and thanks! I am waiting for your 2011 thread to start around Jan 9th right?

Jim, thanks for the welcome! :) psst I lurk on your thread :) did you start a 2011 one yet?

Claudia, I am almost half way through it and if it doesn't pick up soon I am going to start a compost heap.....who am I kidding, with my OCD I will make myself finish it.

edited to fix that scoundrel Claude's name

Hi Kara, found and starred you as promised. Count me in the group that really likes Edgar Sawtelle. It was pretty uneven but I always give first-time authors the benefit of the doubt. I blame the editor in this case!

I loved the journey part of it and also the parts where the author portrays the dog's thinking. I don't like to see animals hurt in books either (like Kath), but sometimes you just have to suck it up and enjoy the good parts. ;-)

I'm really glad you decided to start a thread here -- even if we don't agree on this book!

Hi! I've starred your thread. So glad you decided to stay with us!

#11: Yes, January 9th. I am sure you will be able to find it :)

Donna.. that is why I as able to enjoy the Voyagers book.. the rest if it was so good. Sawtelle.. I just couldn't do it. :PP

I did thank Jude and ask that she not send it to me after all..
and as always she was sweet about it and agreed that it might not be right for me, after she remembered that part ..

Well.. back to work!

Have a good one!

Donna..... I loved the journey part of it and also the parts where the author portrays the dog's thinking.

yes I agree with that completely, I am also liking the visions that Edward is having about his father (in the rain, it gave me chills). I am half way through it and I think the editor could have slimmed it down some to really keep it flowing smoothly IMO.

Terri! Hi! I need to find your thread and star it :) I think I lost your 2010 one :/

Stasia, I will be looking for it :)

Kath, today is the dreaded Mon. thing isn't it? Me too.... Hope your first day back goes well and that the unswallower is home or has good meds to control the unswallowing? maybe he has severe GERD

Hi Kara, just popping my head around the door. Thanks for the welcome ~ cute gif!

Hi Calm! yes have to keep that welcome mat clean you never know who will pop in :)

Popping to say hello- I was like %$#% is Kara's thread? lol Finally found you!

checkin' in...

The unswalloer appeard to have vertigo ( again) today.
His mom of course said it was the bus ride.
no further comment there..
He couldn't stand or even sit.
He slept for the entire day
again.

whatever.

:PPP

Hi Tamara! I forgot to give you my thread? sorry about that, but you found me now...all is good :)

Kath whatever is right

well home from work now, so gonna eat dinner then pay bills yuck..... then read :)

I was strolling on the internet this morning and I came across two websites that I thought were interesting

Quill & Quire Canada's Magazine of
Book News and Reviews http://www.quillandquire.com/authors/profile.cfm?article_id=7810

and CBC Books http://www.cbc.ca/books/ both are websites for Canadian Books

during my browsing of these two sites I found three books that interested me and have since been placed on my ever growing wishlist....

Cockroach by Rawi Hage and De Niro's Game by Rawi Hage

also Annabel by Kathleen Winter an ER book

has anyone read any of these?

Thanks for sharing the links, Kara.

I know that I have De Niro's Game in the BlackHole because someone in the group recommended it, but I cannot recall who. I have not even heard of the other Hage book.

Stasia Cockroach publication date is 2010 so it is fairly new maybe that's why you have never heard of it :/

The Quill & Quire site I have stumbled upon in the past but forgot about it until I found it again yesterday

Annabel I remember seeing on one of our ER lists but I passed it up until I saw it on the CBC site and read a review on it

Finished The Stolen Child so review will be posted this weekend....reviews during the week are no good for me unless I am on vacation :)

On pg 310 in Sawtelle 252 more pages to go :) It is not a compost book yet for me and it might never be....I am starting to really like Edward and his revenge agenda, still a little long winded in parts but.....

I look forward to your review of The Stolen Child, Kara.

Me too stas, despite the inexplicable attraction the the S book :PP

lol

OK, I am going to my step fathers 85th birthday party this Saturday and I am giving him books as presents.

He likes westerns, action and being a veteran wars/battles so....

I am looking at getting him Matterhorn and WAR are there any other suggestions?

And both the books I am getting him I want to read hehe so he can pass them on to me when he is finished :)

#27: Does he like WWII books, Kara? If so, I would recommend any of Carlo D'Este's books to you for him, especially Warlord.

Thanks Stasia! I will check that one out :)

Looking for aviation books also

I snagged an Early Reviewers copy of The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse from the December 2010 batch. :)

I forgot that I requested that one and it looks like it is book 3 in the Lanquedoc Trilogy.....

Book 1 Labyrinth I read so long ago I don't remember it and Book 2 Sepulchre is still wishlisted :/

maybe I need to start over in the series

So I have completed my mission.....

Stasia, I asked my mom about Warlord and she said that she wasn't sure if my step dad would like it :/....I thought it looked interesting, so I added it to my wish list :)

Went to book store during my lunch and picked up Matterhorn and The Killer Angels (recommended by Mark) for my step dad's birthday....
Both of these I want to read so I will borrow them after he reads them. Pretty clever of me huh?

I didn't leave unscathed tho....I bought for me WAR

The Killer Angels is a great book! I have Sepulchre sitting on my TBR shelf...still haven't gotten around to it. I won an ER book that I don't know why I requested it now....

Kara- You picked up some great books there! I didn't care for Labyrinth, so not much of a fan of Mosse.

Jess which ER book did you get? was it The Winter Ghosts like me? I don't know why I requested it or even remember requesting it...wonder if there is some LT shenanigans going on ;)

Thanks Mark! I am thinking Labyrinth didn't blow me away because #1 I didn't rate it and #2 I don't remember it.... clearly not a good sign

The Killer Angels is one of my all-time favorite books -- one of the few I loved enough to replace my worn paperback copy with a nice hard cover edition!

I loved both The Killer Angels (one of my all-time favorites too) and Matterhorn, so terrific choices IMHO, Kara!

I agree with Mark. Not a Mosse fan, but her books do have great titles and appealing covers :)

So what books did you buy for your stepdad?

Kath

Went to book store during my lunch on Friday and picked up Matterhorn and The Killer Angels for my step dad's birthday....
Both of these I want to read so I will borrow them after he reads them. Pretty clever of me huh?

I didn't leave unscathed tho....I bought for me WAR

I must have made good choices (with the help of my LT friends) because he was excited to read them when he opened his gifts :)

My friend at work just gave me 5 books that I have on my wish list.........

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
The Year of The Flood by Margaret Atwood
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

My birthday came early I guess :) I actually asked her twice if she was sure she didn't want them back....she said they are mine to keep :)

I had requested Winter Ghosts but didn't win it. For some reason I won The 60-Minute Money Workout by Ellie Kay. I don't know if my subconscious was preparing for the new year or what.

>39 curlysue: I often come home from work with several books; unfortunately, it's because I hit the bookstore during my lunch hour. Lucky you to have such a good friend at work! I am hoping to get to Olive Kitteridge and Wolf Hall this year.

Kara- What a great haul! Congrats! "Olive" was one of my top reads of last year and I also loved Never Let Me Go. Wolf Hall has been on my WL and I have The Magicians on audio. Enjoy!

Ooh looks like you got some good ones there!

I've missed this thread until now...? How'd I do that? Anyway, here I am.

Wow! nice friend :) good taste too ..
At work, I am the one giving books away.
I do get some for the library there.. but
no one ever gives one to me :P
hmmm that is probably a good thing, come to think of it.

Now see what I mean about Mosse? Great Cover on Winter Ghosts :)
I wish I liked her writing!

well off to ..

It may be too late to add this to the birthday book selection but I would like to reccomend Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. It is the true story of an aviator's experiences during the war. Well written, fascinating and humbling.

Mark + Tamara....Yup, I got a great haul! and without spending any $$$ :)

Jess, if you want Winter Ghosts after I am done with it I can send it to you if you still want it by then :) I wish all things financial could be worked out in 60 min.

Katie, Hi and Welcome! My book giver from work actually introduced me to LT and our tastes in books are similar so lucky I am, :) plus she takes good care of her books...they look like I just bought them ;)

Richard, I've missed this thread until now...? How'd I do that? ummm, maybe it is all that globe-trottin' Mr Thread King ;) but I am glad you are here now :)

Kath, Mosse does have some pretty covers but I am sad to say her books fall a little short so I am hoping MAYBE Winter Ghosts will be different :/

Jennifer, it is never too late to add a book suggestion :) Unbroken looks like a perfect book for my step dad. He used to work for Cessna Aircraft and likes anything regarding aviation. I will give him the name of this book and he will probably be able to pick it up at the library on one of his weekly stops. :) Thanks!

Wow! Cool to get all those books from a friend!

Oh dear, is that Mosse of Labyrinth infamy renown? *delicate shudder* We are a poor aetheric fit, she and I. I tend to pitch bitch-fits at the sight of her books after that Labyrinth experience.

>48 tymfos: Terri, yes it is cool and I am a lucky girl :)

>49 richardderus: Richard, I am afraid it is the Mosse of that Labyrinth experience.... I don't remember mine... maybe a good thing? I will remember not to post her Winter Ghosts cover for fear of your bitch-fit :) do you do good ones? I haven't seen a good bitch-fit in a long time ;)

Not too excited now to read Winter Ghosts now....maybe it will get lost in the mail :/

Finished Sawtelle last night :) 3 stars I think I will give it. I will not review it... there are way too many reviews done on this one, but I will post my thoughts on it.

Starting tomorrow I am on a mini vacation :) Review on The Stolen Child and my thoughts on Sawtelle I will do before Saturday.

Currently reading Horns by Joe Hill

>50 curlysue: I just picked up The Stolen Child at B&N and look forward to your review. It looks really good... hope I didn't make a bad purchase!

Hi Kara, it's about time I paid you a visit, isn't it? I think the books for your stepfather sound great. In fact, I recently bought Killer Angels on Terri's (tymfos) recommendation. It looks wonderful. And I've heard great things about Matterhorn, too. I hope you and your stepdad enjoy the new books!

Too bad you didn't like Edgar Sawtelle more. It was pretty uneven, but I always give new authors an easier time on their first book. I think I rated it fairly high because I shelled out the big bucks for a new HC and wanted to feel vindicated.

Enjoy your mini vacation!!!

Hi Kara!

Just wanted to add my thumbs up for Killer Angels. It made me want to go to Gettysburg (had never been there before) and I begged my DH until he turned to mush and gave in. What an awesome experience for both of us. The book is a fav of mine, too.

I'm still teetering on Matterhorn so will be interested in what you think.

Hope you get more rest on your vacation than I did... not that I expected to in the least! :)

We do seem to have similar taste in books...
and so I look forward to your thoughts on that blasted Edgar :P
as well as the others. I remember liking Stolen Child.. I think?
:)

Hi everyone!

had a busy day...oil change in the car (took 2 hours because they were behind but at least I had my book), went to mall and picked up a pair of work boots for my hubby then bank

now dinner....spiral cut ham, baked potatoes and maybe roasted asparagus

tomorrow will be my "complete things before I leave to Hilton Head SC/Savannah GA day" :)

I will post my review on The Stolen Child tomorrow unless I have time tonight

And I will give my thoughts on Sawtelle..... :)

While waiting for my oil change I was able to read a couple of chapters of Horns.....this one is perplexing me, but in a really good way. I sure hope it lives up to it and doesn't tank at the end.

On LT there are 270 reviews on Sawtelle so I will be posting my thoughts only……



Some Spoilers

David Wroblewski is very talented and did a great job with regards to language, setting and the ins and outs of breeding/working with dogs. There are flashes of brilliance in his narrative and some of the writing is beautiful, especially the few chapters from the viewpoint of the Sawtelle dog Almondine.

But…..

While there are passages that will take your breath away, there are unnecessary sections that slowed it down for me. To me Sawtelle needed editing. At 562 pages and for a book with all this potential, I just didn’t feel it came together.
The ending is wrong for this book whether you see it as a retelling of 'Hamlet' or as a dog story. Sawtelle dogs are special. They have a connection to their humans; this is bred into them; that is the importance of the Haichiko http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachik%C5%8D story in Sawtelle. Essay, a Sawtelle dog is loyal to Edgar. So to have her choose to lead the Sawtelle dogs off into the woods at the end of the book instead of going into the barn to defend and protect Edgar just doesn’t make sense. If Wroblewski wanted to show us that you can't breed loyalty, then why did he show the loyalty and love between the Sawtelle dogs and their humans throughout the book?

I was disappointed and not fulfilled as a reader but I can’t reject this read either. 3 stars for the good points it has. Recommended, only if you can love this book for the beautiful described imagery and get past the much needed editing.

hmmm my thoughts kinda turned into a review LOL

doing laundry will be back with The Stolen Child review

The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue



Don’t call me a fairy. We don’t like to be called fairies anymore. Once upon a time, fairy was a perfectly acceptable catchall for a variety of creatures, but now it has taken on too many associations. If you must give me a name, call me hobgoblin. Or better yet, I am a changeling

Inspired by the W. B. Yeats poem "The Stolen Child", Keith Donohue's novel of the same title begins with 7 year old Henry Day being abducted and replaced by a changeling. We kidnap a human child and replace him or her with one of our own. Not any boy or girl will do, but only those rare souls baffled by their young lives or attuned to the weeping troubles of the world. They select carefully because it might take decades to find a suitable child who is exactly the same age as the changeling was when he or she was taken. Once the switch is made Henry is now called Aniday and will live out his life as a changeling until it is his turn to replace another child in the human world. He must learn the ways of his new companions and as his mind matures; his body will remain that of a child. He also must deal with the loss of his true identity because as a changeling he is slowly losing the memories that made him who he was.

the rest is here

>58 curlysue: So glad I picked this one up and look forward to reading it!

oh yeah.. that brings it all back to me.. thumby good review :)

It is a good read Katie and I hope you like it as much as I did :)

Thanks Kath! :)

what about my Sawtelle thoughts? is it a no go for you?

I LOATHED that book.. hated hate hated it ..

ahem

* tidies hair*

Kara- We have very similar feelings, in regard to Edgar Sawtelle. Like you, I really wanted to love this book but by the time it was over I was completely unsatisfied. He's a good writer. Maybe his next book?
Good review of The Stolen Child and yes, I've bumped it up.

I figured that Kath :) I wouldn't recommend it to you even if you hadn't read it....it's not right for you :)

Mark I am hoping Wroblewski's next one will be better, because he does have the "juice" so to speak he just has to learn to tame it I think....maybe a better editor? ...............Glad I was able to facilitate in the bumping up of The Stolen Child :)

Well, I am going to Hilton Head SC tomorrow and then to Savannah GA on Sun :) I will be checking out the Mercer house in Savannah (Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil) along with taking the usual historical tours. At night we are going to take the ghost tour around Savannah's hot spots! :) I think we are going to stop and eat at Paula Dean's restaurant for lunch that day. That should be a treat!
Camera is packed and I will be back Tuesday afternoon.

I think I will take my laptop but not sure if where we are staying has wifi :/ I hope to capture some great pictures and maybe some ghostly ones too!

Hope you have good weather, Kara.
And lots of spooky fun... Your plans sound terrific! :)

#39: Great friend you have there, Kara. That is a terrific haul!

#56: I think I will give that one a pass.

#58: That one is already in the BlackHole.

I follow that Savannah Ghost Tour on FB :)
That will be lots of fun for you, is my prediction..
I would love to do all of the things you have planned!
Remember everything and share, ok? :)

I LOVE Savannah! One of the most beautiful cities on the planet, I believe. Have a REALLY GREAT time, Kara!

I did one of the Savannah ghost tours a few years back. There are several different ones. Mine was one of the walking tours. We had a really terrific guide, a college student who actually majored in folklore studies, as I recall. Afterward, I met my family at the Pirate House to eat -- it was not on the tour I took, but also supposed to be very haunted.

I am back! Tired but had a great time. :)

Hilton Head was nice! we were right on the beach, it was chilly but sunny, a heated pool and hot tub :) lots of things for the kids to do.... except for Mon when we had rain but that was ok because we spent the day in Harbour Town shopping, checking out the lighthouse and ate lunch at The Crazy Crab yummm steamed clams and oysters for appetizers then fried seafood for main course.... diet be damned :)

Savannah was beautiful! I took pictures, mostly of the buildings and of the landscape. We took an on and off trolley ride during the day. We got off when we wanted and explored. Saw the Mercer house and stopped into a little book store and bought a print of The Bird Girl, can't wait to have it matted and framed :) On River St. there is an amazing candy store! :) My sister and I bought a pound of Gophers (caramel with crushed pecans and a thick circle of chocolate on top) with that you get a free pound of taffy :) At night we took a Graves and Gravestones trolley tour :) There were two stops one at Colonial Park Cemetery where we got off. You can't go into the cemetery after dusk so we hung out by the black iron gates while we were told stories. I snapped two pictures through the gates into the cemetery and the second one has some strange looking orb things, you can see right through them...they are up in the branches of the tree that is growing over a burial plot :) pretty neat. The second stop was at River Street’s Perkins and Sons Ship Chandlery.

If I can figure out how to post some pictures here I will, I have some really nice ones of the Mercer House, the Sorrel-Weed House, a fantastic fountain in the center of Forsyth Park and a Cathedral of St John the Baptist :) I could spend days there just hanging out, Savannah is that good! I will definitely go again especially since my mother has a 2 week time share in Hilton Head where we stayed :)

I did read a little at night for as long as my eyes would stay open :) half way through Horns

back to work tomorrow :(

Hi Kara!
Happy you had such a nice time! Sounds wonderful!
Anxious to see pictures... Have never spent much time in Savannah.
Maybe someday we won't be just driving through...
Welcome Home! :)

Stopping by to say Hi. Glad you had a good time!

Welcome home Kara- Sounds like you had a great time! Savannah is a beautiful town. I was stationed, in the early 80s, at Ft Stewart, which is about 40 miles away. We would hit the bars on River St.
Btw- I liked Horns!

Sounds wonderful! looking forward to pics... :)

Sounds like you had a wonderful time. Glad to see you back safe and sound, Kara!

The Stolen Child sounds v. good. Thumbed your review.

Thanks everyone for stopping by! :)

yes we had a great time and can't wait to do it again!

still working on the posting the pictures thing :/ I will get it eventually

been busy at work since being gone for a week, but isn't that always the case?

#76 arubabookwaman thanks for the thumbs up! :) hope you enjoy The Stolen Child

just popping in.. are you on to reading something else?

Read and napped all day today and just finished Horns by Joe Hill giving it 3 1/2 stars....review later this week :)

Kath, I am starting Up High In The Trees :) you sent it to me months ago, sorry I haven't got around to it until now. I am thinking I will be able to finish this one up by Feb. and maybe be able to join Mark in his Fantasy Feb. read :)

I am flying through Up High In The Trees....this is a very touching book Kath, and I thank you for sending it to me :) I just want to reach through this book and comfort Sebby, he is breaking my heart.

Received The Winter Ghosts ER book in the mail the other day :/ Looks like it will be a quick read, maybe I will start that one next....and get my ER review commitment out of the way.

I like getting review commitments done and over with..
then on to other things..
Glad you like the book :)

Finished Up High In The Trees 3 1/2 stars :)

a touching and heartbreaking story....but there is hope and a family does come back together at the end.... my thoughts or review later this week :)

Leaving work early today...around 4pm

we are going to have a BAD storm this late afternoon into the evening...tornadoes, severe storms etc and I don't like driving in it!

So I will go home, start dinner and I guess start The Winter Ghosts :/ maybe not, depends how I feel, I would really like to start Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter :)

Kara- I listened to Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter last year. It was a pleasant surprise. Very well-researched.

Well I started The Winter Ghosts last night....

not much to say about it because I am only 3 chapters in. I think I am going to research a little on Catharism and the French Pyrenees since Mosse has put the book in the Pyrenees after WW1 with some 13th century tales of the persecuted Cathars.

Mark, I have flipped and flopped about using audio books... I don't know what it is about me not trying it.
Maybe my thoughts are that the narrator will just totally kill the book for me and I would think that if I read it instead I might have loved it :/

I really am curious about it, maybe I should just do it....45 min to and from work 5 days a week, that might work :)

Kara, I have Mosse's Sepulchre on my TBR shelves, but I've heard mixed things about her, so I'll be interested in your take. Have you read others by her?

Re: audio books - I tried them once on a long drive but couldn't concentrate. I think that's why I haven't gone back - I am afraid I'll listen to a book, think I got it, but really be missing out on some key stuff. I should probably try again one of these days...

Katie, I read Labyrinth a long time ago, didn't rate it because I don't remember what it was about...not a good sign

Sepulchre I have not read yet. I am thinking The Winter Ghosts is not going to take long to read, it is a pretty slight book.......the book cover is really pretty, I hope the inside isn't a waste!

completely understand about your thoughts on audio books :)

Mark! help! any suggestions? you are always listening to an audio book :)

Mosse ugh! But as I have said, her covers are unbeatable!
:)

Cannot listen to a book. Doesn't work for me at all..
I tried though.. I tried with several books a few years ago..
but, no...

My eyes aren't so great anymore - nevertheless - the "eye/brain" trumps the "ear/brain" connection. I just can't listen and hear while I am doing something else. So, after trying audio I decided to wait till I am blind. Then I'll be able to listen better.

Maybe my thoughts are that the narrator will just totally kill the book for me and I would think that if I read it instead I might have loved it :/

I am afraid I'll listen to a book, think I got it, but really be missing out on some key stuff.

the "eye/brain" trumps the "ear/brain" connection. I just can't listen and hear while I am doing something else.

Those are all probelms that I've had with audio books. I got impatient for an early reviewer book I won and didn't receive, so I got the audio from the library when it was available and hated it. Now I need to "re-read" it from the hard copy that finally arrived, to give it a fair chance.

I've found some books don't work at all for me on audio; and many will work in certain situations (while doing mindless chores) but not others (driving in traffic). But I've found a few books that work for me in most situations except those where I really need to be concentrating on something else (driving in traffic again!)

Kath, Claudia, Terri..... *sigh* I agree on all the points you gals made :)

maybe some day I will listen to one...

So, I am half way through The Winter Ghosts.....meh!
it just seems so amateurish in the writing and the main character is a wimp IMO, I am supposed to feel sympathy for him (that's what I think Mosse wants) but I don't............ blah!

I will finish it today or tomorrow, then on to my Fantasy Feb. read :) I have a couple of YA series books I am going to choose from, The Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness or The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins......

which ever one I choose I will read the whole series for Fantasy Feb :)

Finished The Winter Ghosts....... :/ no comment

Review this weekend.....

I locked myself out of my online local library account grrrrrr I forgot my password and I guess I guessed my password too many times, so they locked me out :(

now I can't reserve books or see what books I saved for future reservations.......I did this back in July LOL now I have to go to the library tomorrow and straighten this out so I can get the books for my Fantasy Feb. read

>91 curlysue: Oh, dear - not a good day in The World of Books for you, Kara! Hope your next read is better and you get things sorted with the library.

#91: I hope you get the situation straightened out soon, Kara!

Well.. on the upside, you will be at the library, and may find a treasure !

I have just put The Stolen Child on hold at the library, thanks for the great reviews.

YIPPEE!!!! Just got back from the library, everything is good now! :) I now have access to my library account and I was able to reserve the Hunger Games series and the Chaos Walking series :) I am first in line for when they are returned!

I did pick up Briar Rose, which I will start and finish by Fantasy Feb. time....and I picked up Graceling that will be my first Fantasy Feb read!

Oh, and I got the DVD for Winter's Bone! that I will watch tonight, I can't wait........

HI! Katie, Stasia, Kath and Kel Light! Everything is alright now in my library/book world :)

Kath, The Book Nest ( a cute little used book store right inside my library) was closed today :( and the used books they had for sale outside where meh...so no used treasures today but I was lucky to find the Fantasy read Graceling!

Kel Light, I am thinking you will like The Stolen Child from what I have seen in your library :) enjoy it!

Now off to review or give thoughts to my 3 finished reads..... Horns, Up High In The Trees and *cough cough* The Winter Ghosts...back later :)

Just got a notification that I snagged an ER of Wrecker by Summer Wood :)

ETA touchtones not working for Wrecker :/

I am glad you think I will like it! After reading though threads today I have added about 7 books to my library hold list. Oops!

That is what LT does to us all Kel Light! :) we all watch our TBR list grow and grow.... no water needed :)

Kara- I'm glad you were able to grab your books! Wow, you are in for a treat, on both of those series. Enjoy and see you over on the FF Thread.

thanks Mark!

Horns by Joe Hill 3 1/2 stars



Ignatius “Ig” Perrish spent the night drunk and doing terrible things
Ig is a good guy; a decent guy; he always tried to do the right thing until life suddenly whacked him between the eyes. On the anniversary of his girlfriend Merrin’s rape and murder he gets drunk and curses god. Now upon waking there are knobby little horns growing out of his head. These horns have a strange effect on everyone he talks to. Though they are blatantly visible, people don’t recoil from them. More significantly, these horns somehow compel people to confess their worst thoughts to him, and when he touches them, he can "see" their worst sins.

the rest is here

Up High in the Trees by Kiara Brinkman 3 1/2 stars



Up High in the Trees is an endearing story told completely from the perspective of an 8 year old trying to come to terms with concepts too broad for his small shoulders to bear. Sebastian “Sebby” Lane lives with his father, a music professor, and his older sister and brother. Sebby exhibits symptoms of autism, probably a milder form called Asperger's syndrome. He can speak, but only in short sentences that sometimes seem inappropriate or illogical. He takes great comfort in routine and shuts down when stressed, retreating to hiding places under his bed or under tables. But he displays none of the savant abilities associated with autism in the popular imagination. Five months earlier Sebby's mother was hit and killed by a car while jogging at night. She had been pregnant; carrying a baby they had already named Sara Rose.

the rest is here

The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse 2 stars



The year is 1928 when Freddie, a young man in the throes of grieving for his brother who was killed in WW1, goes on a journey to the south of France. When Freddie crashes his car in a snowstorm in the foothills of the Pyrenees he thinks he hears a woman's voice; hint, hint, wink, wink The Winter Ghosts. He abandons his car and walks down the hillside path to the small village of Nulle, where he finds a friendly hostelry to spend the night.He is invited to a yearly feast in the local Ostal where he meets the beautiful and ghostly looking (to the reader, not to Freddie) Fabrissa and tells her of his unhappiness at losing his brother in WWI. She too has a terrible tale to tell.
The Winter Ghosts unarguably has all the right ingredients for a good read.

the rest is here

Great reveiw of The Winter Ghosts..Even though you only gave it two stars, your description prompts me to add it to the tbr pile.

Hi Linda! welcome :)

The Winter Ghosts is not a BAD read per say..........the historical content was right on the money (I did my own research on Catharism) the main character just got on my ever living nerves!

It is a good quick read for something like the beach or a plane ride :)

My library has a copy and I've reserved it. Thanks for further comments. I had the same experience when reading Ethan Fromme..I quite literally wanted to smack the wimp on the side of the head.

Linda, never read Ethan Fromme...I might stay away from him too :)

wimp :) that's what I called Freddie from The Winter Ghosts up in post #90 :)

good luck with it, I hope you like it better then I did.......was going to ask you if you wanted me to send it to you but then I see you reserved it...if that should change I would be happy to send Ghosts to you :)

or anyone else that wants to have it :)

Three good reviews, Kara! I already have Horns on my wish list, but I added Up High in the Trees. And given all the bleh comments I've heard about Mosse, I don't think I am going to give her a shot. I have Sepulchre but may add it to my "trade-in" box for the used bookstore.

I am adding Up High in the Trees to the BlackHole. Thanks for the review and recommendation, Kara!

Horns sounds pretty good..

Mosse is already on my DNBW list
( do not bother with) so..

Very good reviews on all !

Mosse is also on my "DNBW" list as well! I did enjoy Horns though! I need to get to Heart-Shaped Box, which sits in the stacks.

Great reviews, Kara!

Horns and Up High in the Trees are both books I plan to read in the near future.

I can't take all the credit for Up High in the Trees...If it wasn't for Kath sending me the book I would have never have read it :)

Katie Thanks! I have Sepulchre on my wish list :/ that might have to be revised...got you with that book bullet Up High in the Trees :) it is a fast read but very good IMO

Stasia book bullet #2! :)

Kath Thanks! Horns is good...Hill writes similar to his Dad, Stephan King, but different in his own way...hope I explained that well enough :)

Mark Heart Shaped Box is REALLY different...Horns is more subtle in it's "horror" where as Heart Shaped Box is in your face! I liked them both :) for different reasons

Terri Thanks! I hope you enjoy them

Will finish Briar Rose by Jane Yolen today :) I can't put this book down!

drat having to work :) might be able to finish it during my hour lunch...

next up is Graceling for the Fantasy Feb read :)

I have Heart Shaped Box.. haven't read it yet...

Adding Horns to my list though.. sounds intriguing ~

I started looking at Heart Shaped Box one day in the county library and couldn't put it down. Had to check it out and take it home to finish -- pronto. But I agree, it is very "in your face."

I think I am in trouble :)

When I went to the library this past weekend to clear up my online account I kinda put some books on reserve.......ok it actually was 8 books on reserve :)

well the library has them in, so after work I am picking up

Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness
The Monstrumologist series by Rick Yancey
The Wolves Of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

so much for reading MY books off the shelf :P

ha! Sounds like you will be a little busy in the next month :)

Well, it looks like I'll be seeing a lot of you over on the FF Thread! I have the audio of the last Chaos Walking book. I'm going to try squeezing it in, toward the end of the month. It's a good series. Very original.

Hi There

I'm compiling a list of birthdays of our group members. If you haven't done so already, would you mind stopping by this thread and posting yours.

Thanks.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/105833

>119 mckait: A little Kath? that's saying it lightly LOL :P my husband just rolled his eyes when I walked in the house with 8 books stacked in my arms.....I just laughed in response :P

>120 msf59: I certainly will be on the FF thread Mark :).....some on that thread seem to think the Chaos Walking and The Hunger Games series are sci-fi but I read your response and I agree...lets just have fun!

>121 Whisper1: Linda, I totally forgot! I will run over there now :) I believe Luxx and I have the same birthday :) March 20

really tired today..

just want to crawl into bed

How well I remember those days!
Hope you get some real rest soon, Kara. :)

it's the kind of tired that your face/eyelids feel really heavy.............

I could go face down onto this keyboard if I let myself but I need to finish these care plans on the computer :(

Oh, I know. Need toothpicks for the eyelids - but how do you keep the brain alert? :(

coffee...

and I get up and walk around every 15min or so

sucks!

Hi there! Just stopping by after a little LT hiatus. I loved Briar Rose when I read it. Jane Yolen is one of my favorite YA authors. Hope you get your work done soon!

:( sorry. You are off the weekend, yes? I hope?

drive-by hug, Kara dear

Jess welcome back from your LT hiatus! yes I was pleasantly impressed with Yolen in how she integrated a classic fairy tale with the holocaust

Richard {{hug}} back

yes off this weekend :) slept in this AM, came to work a little later.....have 17 more monthly care plans to do then I am done! :)

still reading Graceling....it got a little slow around the middle (a romantic connection was established between the two main characters) but it is picking up again.....hopefully I will finish it this weekend :)

I haven't read in days. I am feeling a little swamped. Or rather.. I was. I think it will be better now that it is friday. I can read and do what I need to do.
I hope.

I hope so too Kath!

I hope you have the weekend you need and deserve :)

So what are you up to for the weekend? Chores and cooking done..
and now I am reading, or rather.. on a brief book break to see what everyone is doing..

Weaveworld is fab!

took a break from internet yesterday...........

cleaned house and did laundry saturday

prepared baby back ribs for super bowl tonight :) thinking of making a potato salad and cornbread to go along with it!

finished Graceling today....it was really good! now starting Shiver

Hi, Kara! Enjoy the day! Sounds like you're having good eats for the Super Bowl!

Briar Rose by Jane Yolen 3.75 stars



Jane Yolen does a beautiful job of intertwining fact, and fairy tale in Briar Rose.

She combines the eerie enchantment of "Briar Rose" (also known as "Sleeping Beauty in the Wood") with the terrifying history of the Holocaust.

This is a beautiful, haunting story. Recommended

Hi Terri!!

enjoy your day too :)

Graceling by Kristin Cashore 3.75 stars



In the Seven Kingdoms, a select few are born with gifts called graces. They are known as Gracelings. Some may have very useful graces like predicting the weather, or a great sense of navigation; while some may only be able to climb tall trees, or speak backwards at will. But all Gracelings are born with two different colored eyes and they are feared. Katsa, niece to king Randa, has been able to kill a man with her bare hands, since she was eight. She was raised on training grounds, mastering every weapon, every skill, making her the ultimate weapon. It isn't something that she enjoys but it is something that she has come to accept. While on a mission for The Council she encounters another Graceling whose presence makes an impression on her. Later, she encounters him again and learns that he is a Prince in his own right. The meeting with Prince Po will prompt her to make a decision that will change the course of her life and her world…
There are so many aspects of this novel that make it a great read. The characters, so strongly drawn; the excitement and suspense; and Cashore's writing; so simple, yet wonderfully descriptive. She tells so much in so little. I would definitely recommend it to anyone and I look forward to reading other works by Cashore.

I have started to rate books by .25 or .75.....some books are just not full 4's but they are better then 3 1/2!

Now I am off for a nap and maybe some more reading of Shiver before the super bowl :)

Ummmm....ribs and potato salad. Beats the popcorn and cheese 'n' crackers on our party menu. I have my annual physical at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow so I didn't want to be too bad.

You've been doing lots of great reading over here, Kara. I'm so glad you have a thread again this year so we can keep up with you better. I'm still waiting for those pictures of Savannah. ;-)

I am pretty sure that I am going to have to break down and read Graceling..

#137: I already read that one, so I get to dodge that BB.

#139: I own that one but still have not read it! I really must remedy that.

Hi Donna, Kath and Stasia!!

The ribs were falling off the bone, they were so tender! I decided on corn on the cob with some Hawaiian sweet rolls and potato salad :) double fudge brownies for dessert!

I know, I have been procrastinating on the Savannah pictures.....I promise I have not forgot!

Kath and Stasia...Graceling was good....there was a little bit of a bog down in the middle but I think the strong female protagonist Katsa clinched it for me :)

I do have Fire which is the companion to Graceling, but I will get to that after I finish Shiver and Linger

Shiver is a meh for me right now. half way through it and it is kind of making me feel like Twilight (which I never read, but heard much about)

just not really feeling it....too teenage mushy for me....I hate mush, much less mush geared toward teens :/

I don't know we will see......

good info, kara dear........thank you!

Good review of Graceling! Awhile back, Stasia had recommended this series to me, for my daughter and I never tracked it down. I think I will now!

Hi Kara, hope you are having a good day.

Just stopped by to say Hi!

Hi Mark, Kath, Calm!!!

cute gif Calm... I am stealing it :)

ok....finished Shiver last night......giving it 2.75 stars

there were some parts, and I say some that I really liked and I wished Stiefvater had done more of it, but there was too much meh!.......more detailed thoughts later :)

despite me giving Shiver 2.75 stars I am reading Linger, the second book in this trilogy.....why?

1. because of my compulsion to finish a series
2. because there is some unfinished business in Shiver that I hope Stiefvater resolves!

>149 curlysue: Hmm, I had looked at Shiver at the library and almost brought it home. I'll look for your more detailed thoughts to help determine if I want to try it or not...

The ribs were falling off the bone, they were so tender! I decided on corn on the cob with some Hawaiian sweet rolls and potato salad :) double fudge brownies for dessert!

Kara! Yum! You are invited to my house for the 4th of July!

careful kara.. I sense some cooking in your future..
She is sweet but wily !

I keep considering the Shiver (I really like the look of the cover). However, I can't tell from the description if it is primarily a love story or not. I don't mind a little romance in YA books, but I don't enjoy it if it is the main emphasis. Looking forward to hearing more of your thoughts on Shiver.

Hey, Kara! *waving*

Claudia "invited" me....nothing was said about cooking, right Claudia? :P the ribs were easy to make....I would cook them as long as there was wine for me to drink :)

Hi Stasia! *waves back*

Katie.... details on Shiver coming right up :)

Hi Tanglewood! glad you stopped by...I just visited your thread :) I am doomed! :) some really interesting books you have over there!

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater 2.75 stars



Grace survived a wolf attack when she was 11, but never “changed”, and ended up bonding with a yellow-eyed wolf that saved her from his pack. This starts her obsession with the pack that lives in the woods behind her house, particularly with the yellow-eyed wolf. The yellow-eyed wolf is actually a boy named Sam. He was also attacked. He can only change from human to wolf in relation to the weather (spring/summer climate makes him human, winter climate makes him wolf.) Strangely however, he manages to become human during the winter and the two fall even more in love. The story is told from both Sam and Grace's points of view.

I hate to say that much of the novel is composed of Grace and Sam being overly consumed with one another and their attempts to keep Sam warm, so he doesn’t turn back into a wolf. It was so overdone that it became cheesy. Too much teenage mush for me and that is just my personal opinion.

The story-line had too many plot holes in it. Some things were just strange and random and others just didn’t make any sense. A contagious infection is now the werewolf cure? I won’t go into how this was figured out or how the cure was administered for those that still want to read Shiver. The storyline just didn’t do it for me……

What I did enjoy was the different spin Stiefvater took on werewolf lore. The temperature having a direct effect on the werewolf “change” I liked. I also liked the POV of Sam as a werewolf. His wolf thoughts were touching at times, but there was so little of it.

A disappointing meh.......

Now I will say this, I am currently reading Linger the second book in the trilogy and there is not as much teenage mush….so far :)

It looks like Stiefvater is introducing new characters in Linger…….I just hope she does them justice. I would really like to care for them and not be annoyed all the time, like in Shiver

There is also a character that was in Shiver that seems to have a more prominent role in Linger….I like her….she is sassy, she has “character”……..she breaths life into this teenage drama, I just hope it continues and Stiefvater doesn’t put some random twist into her storyline.

>155 curlysue: Kara, just come! Plenty of wine and we'll straighten out the cooking when you get here! (hehehe)

oh so tempting Claudia :)

*senses a surprise for kara is in store*

(hehehe)

>156 curlysue: & 157 - Kara, You're not helping me make up my mind! Guess I'll wait to hear more about the series... Oh, well, I have enough to keep me occupied for a while!

LOL Katie....I am sorry

I have never read the twilight series, nor had the desire too...with that being said, these books are along the same line ....good girl meets paranormal boy, they fall madly in love (too fast I think) then pandemonium ensues

there are plenty of better YA books out there...these can most certainly wait! I just want to know how it all ends, if you know what I mean....I definitely would not encourage someone to BUY them :)

Linger is a little better...I am about 3/4 of the way through it, so we will see :/

Well, I think I am going to pass on the series. It sounds like it is just what I was afraid of. Glad to remove something from my wishlist.

Since we had pretty much a similar take on Graceling, Shiver just moved to the bottom of my TBR pile. Added The Stolen Child to my wishlist, it sounds very similar to The Replacement which I quite liked.

Tanglewood....glad to help you lighten your wishlist :)

liezkl......I just checked out The Replacement :) The cover is exceptionally creepy in a really good way! I have added it to my wishlist :) Yes it does look similar to The Stolen Child...I think you will like The Stolen Child........off to your thread (how did I miss that you had one?)

*waves*

are you creeping through my thread Kath? :)

I am having the damnedest time finding The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks........I have been wanting to read this for awhile

My library has other books from Banks but no Wasp factory :(....there is an online request area that I filled out, thinking that someone would get back to me regarding whether or not they would purchase it....no such luck! Guess I will have to go in and rattle some chains ;)

I know I can get it from Amazon but still, my whole county library system doesn't carry it?

playing some catchup on the threads here...

I am glad you liked Briar Rose, I really enjoyed it when I read it.
Graceling sounds like one I might enjoy - I will have to look into that.
I have looked at Shiver, but have always been hesitant. I am curious to see how you like the rest of the series. It's a bummer that it is being compared to Twighlight because I HATED that series!

tiptoeing

tiptoeing is better then creeping I guess...creeping is kind of sneaky like and I know you are not a sneaky person :)

Jess....it doesn't look good then for Shiver to jump on your pile.......some say Twilight is written better :/ what ever that means, I have nothing to compare...I didn't read Twilight

I am many things.. sneaky is sure no one of them...lolol

I liked Shiver OK, so I will probably read Linger. I read the first Twilight book - that was enough for me :)

*drive by hug* Hi Kara!

Twilight... nope... nor did I :) nor will I.

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater 2.75 stars





Not much to say about Linger :/

1. Not as much teenage mush....which was good :)

2. 2 new characters were introduced...one became interesting and I did start to care about him. The other had a short lived storyline. The one character that I talked about in Shiver that I hoped had a more prominent role in Linger; thank the goddess she did! she was my light in this book.

3. The last couple of chapters were fast paced (what happens at the end I saw coming a mile away, Stiefvater just dragged the eventual out IMO)

4. The books cover is pretty :)

5. I will read Forever; the third in the series; when it comes out....completing a series is my crutch

Hi Stasia! Shiver, I guess I can say was OK (even though there were things in it that irritated me) I really hate to tell someone not to read a book just because I didn't like it. Who knows they might have a different opinion then me and that is OK. :)

Tam! {{hug}} back :)

Kath...having a good, quiet weekend? I hope :)

So now I have started Fire by Kristin Cashore :)

this is the companion to Graceling....

still in the beginning of it, but what I can say is that a really NASTY character that was in Graceling is in Fire. It is starting out by showing his life as a boy and how he becomes a King. Along the way Cashore has introduced a new type of Graceling. These are human and animal Gracelings and are considered "monsters." The humans are Graced and have the different eye colors but they also have really strange colored hair (blue with gold or magenta etc.) The animal Gracelings are more superior then their non "monster" species plus they also are colored different....a blue rabbit, a purple leopard etc.

really liking this one :)

#178: I will be interested in seeing what you think of Fire, Kara. I have Graceling here to read.

I really enjoyed Fire although Graceling was my favorite. I can't wait for her next book Bitterblue to come out. It takes place six years after the events in Graceling.

Have a nice day!

Stasia........Fire is looking good :)

Tanglewood...I did not know that! thanks for the info! looking forward to Bitterblue now:) I liked her in Graceling so I am curious to see her story now that she has become a "child" queen.

Claudia..

Just checking in.. This Graceling thing is getting serious.. three books now?
hmmm

I stole the gift you put on my last thread.
:) Very amusing :)

Glad to know that Fire is looking good, Kara!

ARH!! it is monday..

Hope it is a good one for you

Kath....Is Monday ever any good? well it is Valentines Day so maybe it will turn out OK!...which gif? the door one where he/she is waving? I liked that one that's why I posted it to you :)....Only 2 books so far, Bitterblue is not released yet, but as Tanglewood said it follows the Graceling book.....Fire is a stand on it's own so to speak, seems like there is only 1 character in it that was also in Graceling. Also Fire is set prior to Graceling. they are very good, I know you would like them! :)

Stasia...Yup Fire is good...stayed up until 1am last night reading :) half way through now :)

"stayed up until 1am last night reading "

Truly the sign of a good book!

next monday will be fine..

glitter-graphics.com

Hi! Hope you had a good Valentines Day!

Claudia....yup it is good :) only 40 some pages to go!

Kath...sorry yesterday at work was crappy

Tamara and Terri...Happy Valentines Day to you!

Can't wait to finish Torment so I can get started on Fire, since it must be good if it's keeping up till 1am. Good to know about Bitterblue, although I hope we don't have to wait too long for that one.

liezkl.........Fire is good, about the same as Graceling...for me it might be a little better because I like all that mind control stuff :) After Tanglewood mentioned Bitterblue I went to .........

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/kristin-cashore/

looks to me Bitterblue is due out Sept. 2011 :)

Finished Fire! 4 stars :) thoughts/review later this week....

now reading The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

Hi there, catching up on threads. I have so much on the shelves to read have been avoiding people's threads so I don't add even more books to the wishlist! BUT I like the sound of Briar Rose so that goes on :) I've just finished the first in The Hunger Games series - thought it was great and going back to the library to reserve the next two same as you. Will be keeping an eye on your thread, so many books I've never heard of.

Hi kirsty! :)

I hit you with a Briar Rose book bullet! :) hope you enjoy it...it was a quick read with some surprises here and there :)

I just started The Monstrumologist book #1 today after that I will go to book #2 The Curse of the Wendigo....after that I will start the Chaos Walking series :)

I do have The Hunger Games...hoping I can keep renewing it until I get to it LOL

Don't be a stranger :) drop by anytime! just close your eyes when you see the blue words! Everyone has a Wishlist or TBR pile that is pushing maximum density.....you are not alone ;)

thanks for dropping by! kara

Glad you are enjoying that seirs.. I have it on my list for future consideration :)
And it is YOUR fault.

My Fault!......

you would like them...no consideration...add to list ;)

drat

adding

brat! :)

LOL...brat, I thought that name was for Stephen???

usually

Kara- Please stop what you are doing, pick up your copy of The Hunger Games and begin reading. You will not stop. Simple, right?
Funny, my son (he's 18) has not read a pleasure book in about 2 years. He picked up HG and finished it in 2 days. For him, this was jaw-dropping.

Mark I am reading The Monstrumologist now, and liking it :) When I have the Hunger Games series in my hot little hands then I will blow right through them :)....promise :)

Wish I could get my just turned 17 year old to pick up a book for pleasure! you would have to scrape my jaw off the floor if I ever see that miracle! Has he read any more in the series Mark?

Stasia

Kara- I had my copy of Catching Fire, (the 2nd book), lent out but she brought it back just in time. Yes, he's immersed! Hope this kick-starts him to read more. God knows, I have plenty to choose from.

I have a 21-year-old who is very much of a jag reader. She will read the entire Harry Potter series through and then not touch a book for months. Different strokes, I guess :)

It's certainly not that we don't model good reading habits, is it? ;-)

Are you on your way home?

#207: If I am sitting still for long it is because I have a book in front of me :)

Stasia...different strokes is right...some are readers and some are not :/

mamzel...It's certainly not that we don't model good reading habits, is it? Long story short, my 17 year old son is actually my stepson...My husband and I got permanate custody of him at the age of 5...he got off the plane and called me mom from the get go...he did not know what it was like to be read to (the whole experience of being read to, talking about the pictures was foreign to him, it killed me), he did not know how to read simple words or write the A,B,C's...he almost was held back in kindergarten but I worked with him...flashcards, reading time etc...he is now in honors English and has a vocab. that I am proud of, but he RARELY picks up a book for pure pleasure...nothing I can do about it but hope my obvious reading habits and the memories of our reading together when he was a child will bring him back to pleasure reading as an adult. :)

kath...you posted at 6:36pm yesterday...I was already home cooking dinner :) I am getting to work at around 7:45am-8am so I can leave by five :)

I know....sigh.
They would rather spend more time "liking" posts on Facebook.

*waves*

Have a great weekend, Kara!

Well thank goodness! LOL normal hours!

Well.. just stopping by for a sec to say hello, and off to make some food for my kids.. yay!

Hi Tamara, Kath, Stasia and mamzel!

hope everyone is having a good weekend :)

lazy day for me :) still reading Monstrumologist...half way through and liking it!

was going to start a new thread, possibly review Fire and try to post Savannah pictures...but I am lazy today, forgive me :)

I took Monstrumologist back to the library unread, but I will probably check it out again some time in the future. I cannot wait to see what you think of the book when you are done, Kara.

Laziness on weekends is a given :)

Laziness on weekends is a given :)

AMEN

Hi Kara... have another restful, lazy day today. Gotta re-charge the batteries! :)

Lazy weekend it was for me!

napped, read, and watched some of the 500 between droopy eyelids ;)

just about done with Monstrumologist......I am surprised I like it as much as I do. For a YA book the hunting and killing of these "monsters" are quite gruesome but appropriate. It is not what I would consider a "slasher" story. It needs a mature young reader...or else I can see your kid sleeping with you at nights :) Setting is 1888....nice gothic feel to it!

#219: I will have to check that one out again!

Finished Monstrumologist! 4 stars :)

Now on to Book #2 The Curse Of The Wendigo by Rick Yancey

Cool! I loved it too.

Hi Jim!!! Have you read Wendigo, book 2?

is it the weekend yet?

I am so far behind on LT, need to do 2 reviews and start a new thread.....not any time at work to do those things.....just enough time to browse the threads while I drink my coffee, then I have to hit the grind :(

Not yet, but it's on my list. I'm hoping March...

Wendigo~ "Charmed" had an episode once with a Wendigo :)

Hi Kara! Quick wave from sunny and happy CT! :)

Follow me.........

New thread can be found here