bohemima's bibliography for '13, part 1

Documented Doom 2012 edition

1. Actual Books Bought: 65

2. Audio Books Bought: 75

3. Nook Books Bought: 148

4. Kindle Books Bought: 14

Total Books Bought: 302

Total books read, of any sort: 102

The shame.

Better Reading Through Self-Denial 2013

1.Actual Books Bought: 3

2. Audio Books Bought: 0

3. Nook Books Bought: 1

4. Kindle Books Bought: only the goddess has time to figure this out

Total Books Bought: 45

Total Books Read, of any sort:

Total Books Removed from House: 33
How is it possible that I bought 26 33 45 books already???

Edited 02/08/13

Goals for 2013:

1. Read 75 books off my shelves (books that I owned as of 12/31/12)

2. Curtail book-buying: Well, as soon as I ascertain how many books I bought last year ETA: Fewer than 302 for the year.

3. Participate in several Group Reads to get rid of or at least read some items that have been hanging around here for a long, long time

4. Particpate more on LT, especially with regard to mini-reivews/comments on books read.

Read in 2013:

January:

1. Thale's Folly by Dorothy Gilman Status: Removed from house
2. The Road to Camlann by Rosemary Sutcliffe Status: Removed from house
3. Lolita: The Annotated Edition by Vladimir Nabokov Status: Removed from house
4. The Trail of the Serpent by Mary Braddon Status: Archived on Nook
5. The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt Status: Archived on Nook
6. A Fatal Advent by Isabelle Holland Status: Pulped because of very poor condition
7. The Stockholm Octavo by karen Engelmann Status: Removed from house
8. Thou Shell of Death by Nicholas Blake Status: Permanent Collection
9. Memoirs of a Midget by Walter de la Mere Status: Archived on Nook
10. The Right Attitude To Rain by Alexander McCall Smith Status: Packed to Go
11. The Egyptian by Mika Waltari Status: Permanent Collection

Hope I'm not jumping in too soon Gail to let you know that I'll be trying just as hard to keep up with all my good friends this next year as in the one we are about to leave. X

Oh, Paul, you could never be too early. Always welcome, my dear man.
Well, since I'm way, way behind, the coming year has to be better. One good thing is that I can rearrange my time to be a bit more productive (that is, from my point of view; anyone else surely would say, "You consider *that* productive?!?") when I'm here at my desktop. The little machines are helping me so that I can attend to small matters--book shopping, movie watching, any inconsequential game-playing, and music, e-books and audio books, as well as email--anywhere at all, so this is only for business and LT.

Jumping in after Paul so I star your thread, Gail. I think I need a hard working elf to handle all the tedious RL tasks so I can spend more time on LT keeping up with the threads.

In 1957, Popular Mechanics had a cover story that shouted "YOU WILL OWN ROBOT SLAVES BY 1965!!!"

Still waitin' on that and not too terribly patiently,

*smooch* darlin heart

Caro, welcome to what I hope will be better than last year.

Rdear, Popular Mechanics? How well I remember the older brothers reading them and laughing at me as I tried to understand what on earth was going on.

And a *smooch* to you, my dear m an.

Well, plus we were promised jet packs. I. Want. My. Jetpack! :)

Welcome back!

Me too, me too. I watched an episode of NCIS sometime back where McGee got to play with a jetpack. ENVY!

A starcat placekeeper so I can find you again...

10. I want a hoverboard. I demand a hoverboard!

It was Modern Mechanix, not Popular Mechanics, that had the story in it. What a hoot it is to look at the futures we predicted in the past! Some of 'em I like better than this, the actual future!

You probably can own a robot slave, Richard, it would just cost a mint.

Happy New Year, dear Gail!

Happy New Year Gail! See you in 2013 :)

Happy New Year to all. It only took me five(!) tries to get the links correct in my last post in the old thread. Man!

Wall of Shame Award: I bought a nook book *today*. Why? Because I'm crazy, that's why.

Happy New Year, Gail!

So what did you buy? I have gone a whole 12 hours of 2013 without buying *anything*! Long may it last...

I wish you a good year with many pleasant surprises, Gail - and that includes a lot of reading!

Jet packs and hoverboards? This is Gail's thread, isn't it? Sounds like a fun new year is in store for you. Lol.

As I bookended one group I must the other - Happy New Year Gail!

。☆ 。☆。☆
★。＼｜／。★
Happy New Year!
★。／｜＼。★

Aha! found you again...
You know that I wish you much happiness ... at least a wee bit in every day, and many days of much!

Stopping by to star you so I can keep track of how life is treating you. Hope the New Year is starting out to be a good one.

Hello, Welcome, Happy New Year to Paul, Caro, Rdear, Jim, Paws, Stasia, Chelle, Cushla, Peggy, Donna,Kath, and Tina! It's so nice to see you all! Any lurkers hanging about are welcome, of course, as well.

Let's see: I need a Robot Slave badly; a jet pack would be wonderful for library trips.

The nookbook I bought yesterday was Let's Pretend This Never Happened, purchased because it was a $1.99 special and I've had my eye on it for a while. Today I downloaded a free book, as I'd like to look over Madeline and Lyzard's Tutored Read of The Trail of the Serpent. I'm still on the shelf (oh erggggg) about counting free downloads as purchases. They are, after all, newly-acquired books, even if only in the ether.

Book 1 of 75:
Thale's Folly
Oh brother. I thought this would be a light mystery. Wrong. It's a romance, not my favorite genre by any stretch. However, it was cute, quick, and amusing. It has been removed from the house.

Book 2 of 75:
The Road to Camlann
This is a YA version of the end of the Round Table and Arthur's Britain. It's written in a particularly compelling voice, something of a cross between an epic poem and a tale for (older) children. It moves right along and is quite engaging, if very sad.

Books removed from house today: 15.

Wow....I'm impressed....books removed???? I'm still trying to organize the ones I brought back from the trip to Mom's and Chèli's and daughter's houses. And I'm trying to catch up on threads and the blog feeder. SIGH.....it's 9:00 PM and I still haven't read a single paragraph of any book. I did listen to about 30 minutes of an audio early this morning, but really.

Hi Gail, finally visiting your thread and marking a place. Wow, you've already read two books!

Let's Pretend This Never Happened was good.. funny and weird. I hope you like it as well as I did.
Books removed feels good, doesn't it :) and makes room !

I have been caught out a time or two with romantic fluff.. I even read a freebie amish one a year or two ago.. Not terrible. I never totally dislike a book where I like at least some of the characters, and find it difficult to like a book that has unlikable folk.. so?

I wanted to start a second book yesterday, but just never did. oh well... a long year ahead. I hope your day is a good one!

Tina: My husband was getting a bit antsy about all the books; he has a legitimate point, but thank goodness he doesn't quite grasp the Nook or Kindle concepts. Otherwise, he might truly blow a gasket. I've made a silent vow to read more steadily this year, without so many fits and starts. Right. We'll see how that goes!

Kerri: Welcome aboard! I hope to do a better job this year of keeping track of new books and deleted-from-collection books. If I didn't get even one more book, I estimate that I could read for about 10 years without repeating myself. Now that's kind of ridiculous! I must read faster...

Kath: Good morning, Dearie. I'm coffee'd up; the laundry is done (no knowing how that happened). Must shower and get ready for errands, which will take me will into the p.m. My good but slightly annoying dental office has made a double appt. for Dh and self for cleanings starting aty 11:15. I hate appts. that come right in the middle of the day. The romance really was an okay way to pass the time; just not what I was expecting. I loved The Road to Camlann, though; the author did a great job on that.

Must run. RL is calling me, darn it.

OK, I have you starred now. *waves*

I hope the day ended up being kind... and that you try the honey...
I am tired and cold and thirsty. I need some water, but I am catlapped.
Could be worse :P

friday coffee maybe?

Oh gosh, I understand the bit about husbands getting antsy over the amount of books in the house. I mentioned to mine that I might get rid of a few and he nearly threw a party, he was so happy to hear it. That said, I'm not sure he quite believes me yet, I think it's an "I'll believe it when I see it" situation. Good thing he doesn't realize that I want to get rid of a few to make room for NEW ones... :D

#30....catlapped.....love that term!!!

*smooch* for Thursday being peaceful and happy. Camlann? That sounds like a Kathbook.

I was thinking that too, rd :)
Good morning to you! hmmm. Is it a *shudder* Bridge day?

Easy day here.. Dan is going out for breakfast with a friend..
I only have to fend for myownself. yay! I really feel like climbing back in bed..

Very cold morning. They say it will warm up later.. I think the cold has me down a wee bit.
Nothing happening yet thank goodness.. not here not in the world around me. Grateful for that.

Mornin' Terri. I sort of lost my head (oh, why not be honest--I can't find my brain most of the time) and sort of double posted on your two threads.

Faith, I have to give Dh credit: he removed an entire large brown grocery bag of his own books! Shocking.

Kath, Hey. Friday coffee is do-able. No bridge today, but a dentist appt. near noon for Dh; they found a cavity yesterday. Which is fine; I mean, I'll just read while they do the work. It was supposed to be sunny today, but we woke up to rainshowers. That's our common lot for winter, so I'm grateful; I hate to drive in snow.
I do think you'd love the Camlann book, but it's the third in a series. I found it great.

Rdear: Thank your for the peaceful wish. I'm really working hard on staying calm, not letting the future get in the way of the "now".

Tina, I'd love to be "catlapped" right this minute. With a book, of course; otherwise, I'd just fall asleep.

Currently reading The Trail of the Serpent, a book of 50 essays, and looking hard at the book about Stockholm that Rdear recommended last year.

Year-to-date Totals:
3 books read and off shelves
1 book bought and currently reading

Hi Gail!
Star for you.
Can't believe I feel late for all the threads on the 3rd day of the year. I think I missed blast-off! And you are already doing year-to-date!

"Books removed from house today:"
Love it! I will keep that one in mind :)

*smooch* a bright and beautiful Friday for me deario!

Cee! A pleasure and a delight to see you here. I'm working on keeping track of books bought, books read from the shelves, books removed from the house; I'd like to know how I'm doing in those areas. Last year was acomplete, total, Massive fail on accounting. Just dreadful. Doing better, and cataloguing as time permits.

Rdear Hey, Sweetie. Hope your Friday is pain-lessened. I would like to see the sun shine, at least for one day.

Porposed January reads:
Memoirs of a Midget Done
The Trail of the Serpent Done
Lolita--3rd and last time for this one Done
The Sisters Brothers Done

I'd like to read The Egyptian this month, as my daughter gave it to me for a special Christmas present: Interesting book from the year I was born. She said there weren't too many to choose from. Well, that's understandable, being it's so close to the first printing press and all...

ETA: The Egyptian is up for February. I note from the cover copy that it was the best-seller of 1949...

" Read 75 books off my shelves (books that I owned as of 12/31/12)"

Wow, I really love that. I think I'll borrow that, if you don't mind.

Looking forward to a well read 2013.

Oooooooh is it in the original hieroglyphics? Do you remember enough from the first Pharoah's reign to get back into the habit?

I've got The Egyptian on my wishlist and I don't remember why. I'll be waiting to hear what you think of it. (Maybe then I'll remember why the heck I put it there!)

See? Forethought ! That is what I need to give to my reading.. I have a couple of rereads that are calling out to me...I might indulge myself.

Looking forward to a friday coffee with you!

Stephanie: Glad to see you hereabouts. Please feel free to borrow anything you see here that seems helpful. I do have a wee bit of a problem with buying more books than I read, or could ever read. Hence that specific goal.

Rdear: I did get out some of the familiar papyrus rolls to brush up, but no...seems the book is written by "the greatest Finnish writer of the 20th century". So I guess I'll be brushing up on, er, The Elder Edda, maybe? Soemthing else that's sort of keen: the book was "widely condemned in the U.S. as obscene". It will be interesting to see what on earth seemed obscene in 1949!

Charlotte, I'll let you know how it goes. I was amazed when I looked at the backcover copy and found that the author was Finnish.

Kath: 7-ish?

#43 - yeah, I have the same problem. I intend to read them when I order them but then I get overrun ...

ha! I hadn't seen this yesterday..... great minds ? lol

Weekend! I hope yours is soft and satisfying......
Tomorrow is Owen's birthday.. so I will be down there for a bit...I need to pick a book..
I have one in mind...

Happy New Year Gail! Hoping to keep up with you better in 2013.

Gail - trust that the weekend is going well for you. I am the last one to comment of course but if you need any assistance in suggesting ideas for book smuggling.....

Good night my friend... log day.. so tired! sweet dreams tonight...
hugs

#38: I loved The Egyptian when I read it! I hope you do too, Gail.

Loved your goal of curtailing book buying. I started along that path this year too and then found I put in so many caveats it was pretty pointless. It would have ended something like 'Stop buying new books for six months. Exceptions are those featuring in the BookClub read or part of my classics club challenge. Booker prize challenge and Reading the World Lines challenge.

with all those exceptions it would have left only the spontaneous purchases to curtail LOL

ok... I am now looking forward to our thoughts on The Egyptian!
It does look good. There was a time when I read all I could get my hands
on about Egypt... then I wandered off..

The Egyptian sounds interesting. I also will be interested in your thoughts on it.

xo

Hey, Gail! Finally found and starred your thread.

I really liked Let's Pretend This Never Happened. I laughed out loud several times while reading it. Weird and quirky people with a great sense of humor--my cup of tea.

Sandy K

*smooch* for a marvelous Monday!

Goodness, it seems as though I've been off here forever, instead of just a couple of days.

Stephanie: My resolution/goal on reducing book buying was such a massive fail that I decided to re-orient myself by directing the goal toward reading the danged things instead of not buying them. I'm resolutely deleting all emails about actual paper books, but do check out the e-books, just in case there's a bargain there...well, that's my excuse, anyway.

Kath Good Monday to you. Hope Duncan has resolved his issues and that you're doing well today. I've not been too terribly interested in ancient Egypt except for those very funny Amelia Peabody mysteries. Still, this looks like a good 'un, and I'm always up for learning something new.

Heather, so nice to see you here. I'm finding that threads are dropping off my list, for no apparent reason, so that then I must go and search for them. Just come by as you can.

Paul, I hope your week-end went well and that today is winding down (I think?) toward home time. Currently I'm limiting any purchases to e-books, but that probably (ha! absolutely) won't last.

Miss Stasia, my Dear, so good to see you here. I'm looking forward to The Egyptian and really hope to fit it in by the end of the month.

Karen, see my above comments re: book buying and reading. I'm much more likely to follow up on and actually accomplish a "reading" goal than to do the same with not buying books. I've got to get some of these old friends, who are quietly weeping and whining about being neglected, read and off to new homes and friends.

Tanglewood: I'm amazed at all the interest stirred up by The Egyptian, which seemed sort of obscure to me. Obviously, I'm just not in the swim.

Sandy, I thought Let's Pretend This Never Happened looked cute. My best friend from working days used to say that all the time. "Just hold your head up and keep walking," was her motto.

Rdear Hi, Sweetie Pie. Monday is starting well. I hope yours goes well too, and is the beginning of a great week.

Read a book today.. and did stuff. Now I have to try to find my earring drat it.
Otherwise all is well here, too..

I think The Egyptian is / was obscure until your brought it to light again..
it happens.. and you did it!

#56: I like it. I made a few rules for myself as well: the books for this challenge have to be easily accessible to me (meaning not in a box back in the stacks I have to dig through) and something I already own.

I didn't make any rules about getting rid of them except to do my best. So far all the books I've read are ones I want to keep, but I'll keep trying.

:) I was just noting elsewhere about how we make rules for our reading. I do it too..
and sometimes wonder why? That Seems like a very sensible rule.... easy access!

Good morning Gail dear!
Hope it's a good one for you... I work late today so my M.O. is to burst through the door at 7:30 trying to pet 5 furkids at once.... bolting through to the back door. I put Dunkers out and feed the kitties.. and put his dinner in the microwave. I manage to sit with my own dinner about 8P and gaze at NCIS for 2 hours. I suspect that will happen today, too !

I would like to reduce the really quite awesome piles of books around here if I can. I've made a couple of mistakes in the past (well, I've made thousands, but I'm only addressing these few) by passing on books and then realizing that I really, really wanted my own copy. Sometimes that happened through lending carelessly, but sometimes I just thought, "Well, I don't need to read that again, I don't think." Wrong again, Watson!

So now I'm much more thoughtful about books I pass on; still, there's lots of books that I just won't read again, so why keep them? I mean some of the "pass the time" mysteries or modern "potboiler, page-turner" types that I really do read just to see what they're like or if I'm tired of reading, um, ya know, hard books and stuff. A big help to me in reducing the stacks is that old and beloved mysteries are available on Kindle: Asey Mayo, Nero Wolf, John Dickson Carr, Edmund Crispin, and so forth. Old mysteries and Victorian novels will always be my go-to comfort reads, so it's great that I can store those digitally and not worry about them taking up yet more room here in the house. But I don't think I'll ever give up paper books. Ever.

Stephanie, all my books are easy access, as my Dh was thoughtful enough to have numerous built-in bookcases and cupboards installed when we built here in Alabackward six years ago. But those double stacks on some shelves do present a bit of a problem.

Kath, I hope work goes smoothly and that you'll give serious consideration the sheep swap meets.

Old mysteries and Victorian novels will always be my go-to comfort reads

Have I told you lately that I love you? :)

Gail - I live in 244 square feet (a renovated 1-car garage) so most of my books are in boxes but there's still a large stack just sitting on the floor. So easy to me means not having to root around in the boxes. I envy you your bookcases :-)

"Alabackward"

Now that is the funniest thing I've heard today.

oh, double shelved books. Hate them.
But love them, too. Well,, not really, but you know what I mean.
I have a some built ins in the living room. Not enough... but, are there ever enough?

Tired... no reading tonight...

I reviewed that story collection I've been carryin' on about. Volt: Stories. I gave it 4.5 stars because it didn't change my life, perzackly, but it did wallop me a good one. I suspect it might be a widge on the bleak side for your reading pleasure, so I'll leave you with this bit for flavor, and because it made me sit right up and pay attention:

"...One world was like it was back home, where folks ate cheeseburgers and kids had sleepovers and ball games and people went to work and got angry over stupid shit that didn't matter. Like their TV ain't no good, or they ain't got the right sneakers. Some shit like that.… But then there's another world, where folks ain't got a goddamn thing, and these motherfuckers'll try any damn thing to blow your ass to dust. Sarge says it was up to us to keep them worlds apart, and if we thought that shit that happened over there wouldn't make it back to some little girl's sleepover then we had our heads full-way up our asses. ...Supposed to rally us, I guess. ...But then I had to go back out that next day and the next and all I come to think on was how I ain't never had no sleepovers or ball games or none of that shit, and didn't none of it make a damn lick of sense.”
p204

Well. There it is. The people who fight for the rights of us all don't have the privileges of us few. And we wonder how come there are so many walking wounded out there screaming their pain with their guns and dancing to the tune of radio mullahs whose hate and bile spewing nonsense feels just like their listeners do inside.

These are beautiful and brave and sad and wrenching demands for anyone with fifteen dollars to spend on a frippery like a book, or with enough luck to live where there's a library, to pay attention.

Ours is not the only world. No oceans separate us from the enemies we've made within.

Hello dear Gail.

Richard, you are a wise sage my friend!

Heh, thanks Linda!

I am not a fan of short stories, Richard, but your words move me to read this one. You are our conscience and what would we ever do without you.

. hmmm lets try this again!

Good morning Gail dear! What is on the agenda for today?
I have no agenda other than getting through it ... I will be happy to get to some down time tonight..
for one thing, I am dying to read Lamb, for another.. I am simply lazy and anxious to have the workday behind me. I am still not settled into this job. Terrible of me I know, but I still feel like I am in the center of a tornado on work days.. :P

Is DH better? I hope you didn't pick up a bug from him? I hope you have a qiet and gentle day.. with at least one bowl of sorbet!

How's the bookstack doing? Going down much yet?? Mine is growing - picked up three in a sale in the library and ordered three new ones on Amazon and downloaded two onto the IPAD. When I'm supposed to read them all I can't imagine

Liz, Wise minds sharing the same tastes...

Stephanie! Whoa! How do you do it? Is there a shower? One of the kids lived in about 550 sq. ft. for a year and thought she'd lose her mind; one issue was, of course, books. She, the black-hearted little devil sometimes craftily forgetful person that she is, rarely turns loose any book that might be worth reading or re-reading in the coming millenium. Some of my little treasures wound up in her collection before I learned to buy her a copy for herveryownself. (And if you're readin' this, Kiddo, ya know who ya are.)

Charlotte, it's only funny if you don't live here...well, maybe not. It is just a tad bit slow on the uptake around here, but the people are really friendly. Example: Dh likes tonic water (go figure) and needs the diet kind, so I bought some today at Walmart. The clerk wanted to know what it was, said, "Diet Water?" in a completely unbelieving tone, which led us to a discussion of g. and t. or v. and t., etc. This sort of thing happens to me all the time.

I can only echo your remark to Rdear.

Rdear, I don't mind bleak, especially if I can take it in small doses like short stories. Thanks for the tip, on the WL it goes. Love that last sentence in your message, btw.

Linda, Why, hello, Dear. I hope this finds you in reasonably good health. I see you've been doing some good reading, as I lurk in a corner of your thread.

Kath, Hey, and a good evening to you. The tum problem seems all cleared up. We now work diligently on getting the b.p. down. *silent scream*
I can't wait for your reaction to Lamb. When I first read it, a very long time ago, I was initially just a bit shocked but then doubled up with laughter. Really, a great book. Don't forget to look for the Vidal, too.

I wish we could find a way for you to get paid for reading!

Oops, Karen crossposting going on. My bookstack remains the same, but one will be leaving before the end of the week. I'm not counting e-books as part of the bookstack per se, as they mostly won't be deleted, but still, they're piling up. I don't know if you're familiar with the concept of the World Wide Book Famine, for which many of us are desperately trying to be ready.

>68 Fourpawz2: I am so pleased to have tempted you! Please let me know how the read went.

Rdear: On the tempatation list, you are no. 1, thus qualifying for the title of the "Mephistopheles of LT". I'm finishing three books right now, and the Stockholm Octavo is next up.

You wicked man.

I agree. Wish we could get paid for reading.
And rd is a wicked man.

Remind me about the Vidal...I think I wishlisted it at ammy?
Have to check. I will look for it at the library soon. I have 4 books now and on on hold.......

Weary and frustrated tonight. :PPP

Hey :) I was just thinking of you, actually while you were posting to my thread :)
Sorry to hear that DH isn't feeling well. If you go out today on your own.. try to take a few minutes doing something just for you? Heaven knows you can use the break.

I'm looking forward to coffee on friday :)

#71:
Gail, I had a lot of help putting floor to ceiling industrial shelving on wheels around the perimeter of the "living space." We created a wall out of several sets of shelves on which the boxes of books reside but since they are stacked, it's difficult to get to anything beyond the first shelf.

It has a little kitchen space and a nice bathroom with a shower. It's very "cozy." Given the rents in California, it's a steal.

Oh, you won't believe my good fortune. My brother still lives in FL. He and his partner have invited me to the Leonard Cohen concert in Tampa in March. Dh would stay at brother's house with a friend while we go to the concert, as Cohen isn't to Dh's kind of musical taste. I can *not* believe my luck.

Hey Gail! The concert in Tampa sounds fun! Well, I don't know if I would call Leonard Cohen's music "fun", but you know what I mean, I hope! I used to go to a lot of concerts, not so much anymore. I do love listening to live music.

Alabackward made me laugh, too.

Have a good day today!

Sandy K

Hi Gail .. lost you in the threads there for a bit, but found you again. Whew!

Having tried to read more than I bought in 2012, I'm now glad that challenge is behind me and I wish never to do it again. I'm sending you a lot of supportive mojo ..because dearie, believe you me, you're going to need it as the months roll by. It was easy for me in the first couple of months, but it became more and more difficult before the half year mark had even rolled up.
Good on you though ... GOOD LUCK!

So did you get out today?
Nice !!! A concert will be good fun for you...I am so glad you were asked!
I bet that put some sparkle into your day :)

#71 I hadn't heard of the book famine but I shd probably get prepared. I don't have a thing in the cupboard right now!

#77 Hooray! :-)

Have to agree as usual with Caro - I don't like to fail abjectly but read-more-than-you-buy was just a step too far for me. No libraries over here is not good for my bank balance.
This time last year books bought - 0
Eventually bought - 857

So far bought - 43
Anticipated purchases - 600

Less control more buying - let's see. I am actually planning my buying this year instead of planning my non-buying!

Have a lovely weekend Gail.

((Hugs)) for today, Gail.

No libraries? I didn't know about that, Paul... yikes!


Hi Gail... what does the day hold for you?
Right now I am sitting with a blanket and a fire.. . some coffee.. and kitties.. Dunkers is snoozing in Dan's chair. Pretty nice way to start my day :) Hope your morning is as quiet and calm :)
Hope were still on for coffee this evening ?

Good mornin', all. Lovely French toast and a couple pieces of bacon for b'fast, courtesy of Dh. Quiet, wet, drizzly sort of morning, brdige this p.m. (searches for slightly bent halo).

Odd phrase for today: "Sometimes you have to take the horse by the wheel."

What? Silent thinking, *cart before horse, no; wheels on the bus, no; horses, wheels, legs, take charge of something...* ah ha! "Do you mean take the bull by the horns?"

Dh: "Yeah."

I swear, soemtimes one has to be psychic to know what's being said around here.

Anyway. Stephanie, yes, cozy sounds about right. And I know rents/housing costs in CA are astronomical, so it perfectly makes sense. I don't know if I could do it, however. Kudos to you for being able to even tolerate it, much less be comfortable.

Sandy, We have other names for AL, but that is our favorite. The upside? Nice and quiet, lots of birds, gardening, four seasons. Could be worse. As you can see above, today started out with a bit of a word puzzle. Should be an okay day, really. Not much stress, as yet, in sight.

Caro, I too experienced massive and embarrassing failure last year. That's why I switched to just the reading goal; I can't set even a buying *pause*! So far this year, I've finished three books off the sheves and am a third of the way through one more, while reading one new one as part of a tutored read. I find I'm really liking the idea of the e-books, as, honestly, my shelves are way, way too full of stuff I haven't read. We won't mention nearly 300 on the Nook and heaven only knows how many already on the Kindle. I steeled myself, with much weeping and gnashing of teeth, and actually packed up 11 (wow O.o) books that I haven't and won't read. They're not gone, but they are packed. It's a start.

Karen, many of us here at LT are all too aware of a possible book famine and wish to be completely prepared. I believe Paul, Richard, and perhaps Stasia are the most prepared. I'm getting there.

Heather, Thank you! I can't possibly express how much this means to me. We haven't been to a concert in, well, a couple of years anyway; last really good one was Willie Nelson...that was fun. My musical tastes are, if anything, even more eclectic than my reading tastes, so I might be listening to almost anything at any time...

Paul, 857???
*faints*
My habit is ingrained and severe, but doesn't touch yours. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, I'm finding the e-book thing to be quite the enabler.
I think your week-end has started; hope it's a wonderful one for you.

Stasia! Hello to you, my Dear, and hugs right back to you. Hope your week-end goes well.

Kath, oh yes, it was a huge day-brightener to be invited (at their expense, too!) to the concert. However, it wasn't shocking, as brother and I have very, very similar musical tastes (except classical, which he's not crazy about), we both love Cohen, and we're both, well...odd. We used to go to concerts with my oldest brother, who is on the other side now, but that was more music that he and my husband loved. Still, they were fun!

Of course we're still on for coffee, barring an disaster. Wouldn't miss it.

Did I read this right - you plan to buy 600 books? What this year or over your lifetime???

Hahaha Karen - I'll be relieved if I buy only 600 books this year!
Gail I am lucky that I haven't yet got myself sucked into e-reading - who knows what my numbers would look like.

My book buying was reduced a great deal when I left my last job. I don't actually make enough money
to go back to it, with this job... but fortunately, I have access to books at work I can't imagine where I would even put 6-800 books now that I have re-homed so many hundreds and repurposed the shelves. I still have a few hundred unread. I agree that the ereader is an enabler too :)

I love my books though, AND my ereader!

I hope the weekend is like a fresh sweet breeze for you Gail dear!
I cannot imagine someone else making me breakfast! How wonderful that DH does that for you :)
hugs

Yes, Karen, Paul did say 600 books, this year. When I think my bookbuying is getting out of hand, I remember Paul.

Paul, the e-readers have a curse and a blessing that is exactly the same: books that take up no physical room. I'm enjoying them tremendously, but still there is something about a physical book that will be eternally appealing to me.

Kath, Mornin', Dearie. I think it's great to work at a library where you may serendipitously find things you never would have seen otherwise.
Kind of like LT, except that the books are rright there, conveniently waiting to be picked up at no cost.

One thing I've been a bit pertrubed abouton the e-readers is the, in my opinion, extremely poor overall results with Project Google. Many of the "books" are completely unreadable, or include only a half or a third of the text. I never use this now; I just go for a Penguin or Oxford edition, which has notes and is almost always very easy to read. Just my personal experience.

Beautiful day today: partly sunny, 60's, not too damp. Will be opening the windows a few inches this afternoon to air out the house--and my mood.

Happy week-end, everybody.

*smoochifications*

Gail...agree with your assessment of Project Google books on the e-reader. Maybe I just haven't hit the right ones, but free or not, I refuse to waste time and espace on stuff that is so eye-taxing, it's detrimental to my mental health. If it means I have to download from the library collection, or (Horrors!) break down and spend a few $$, if it's something I really want to read, it's worth it.

IMHO I think a lot of people download Proj Goog books because they are a) Free, and b) because they were on a list of somebody's "you gotta read this" -without giving much thought about whether they really want to read the book, or they're feeling guilty because they never got around to reading it in high school.

I hope you have a lovely weekend, Gail!

My results with Project Google have been mixed at best. Some books I have found to be completely unreadable, others are not too bad. A very mixed lot, I would say.

If I acquired that number of books I have a feeling a divorce might be on the cards!

I haven't bothered with google books.. there are so many other places to go to find them.
And right now I am in a downloading lull..

Any plans for the day? None here ...not yet.
Feeling sort of lazy.

*places three neatly folded blankets on the chair......leaves*

Thanks for the blankies, Kath; I've slept most of the day! Absolutely zero energy, not sure why. We did take a tiny walk, and get to the paper recycle, but that was it.
I've read a tiny bit and we watched an episode of "Foyle's War"; folded laundry, snoozed, aired out house--again; supposed to get chilly again tomorrow.

Tina and Stasia: I should have known right from the first book I downloaded, when the consistent substitution of ? for T and at least 10 other substitutions left me both cold and annoyed. I just leave them alone now, like Kath.

Karen: No divorce in sight within any foreseeable future. lol.

Currently I'm planning a book-and-movie deal: Driving Mr. Bohemima.

Ah, the music of Lenard Cohen brings back lots of memories. Years ago I dated a man who introduced me to Cohen's works. Then, I stumbled upon a Jennifer Warnes cd wherein she sang his music. The title of her cd is The Famous Blue Rain Coat.

The Song of Bernadette is incredible.

I hope you enjoy the concert. Certainly, you are very worthy of a break. I think of you often and send love and light.

Here you go:

enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZIFavgLd38

The words are powerful, especially

"That there are sorrows to be healed and mercy, mercy in this world!"

So... are you reading anything good, or still just adding them? LOL
I think we are all pikers when we compare to Paul.. what was it.. 800 books added last year with
expectations of 600 this year? Astounding! And none of them ebooks! I always envision his walls all lined with books....so I think we should all just get the books we need to own. I just bought myself a new deLint for Fantasy February and to add to my deLint collection.

I hope today is a smooth, easy, "Breezy day" for you~

Linda.. That was beautiful!

now thats what I call a serious book buying habit. I'll have to try pointing this scale on my family the next time they roll the eyes when I get home with one or two.

Gail, last year I tried to not buy more than I read off my shelves, and failed miserably. And e-readers really are enabling devices for those of us with a book habit, aren't they? My iPhone has made things worse, as I have the app for all the major book types -- Nook, Amazon, Sony Reader, as well as the library Overdrive app.

I haven't done much with Project Google. I've had some good luck with the free Project Gutenberg books. But the biggest portion of my downloads are just sitting on the reader or in the computer.

Delightful about the concert. Enjoy!

My buying has decreased dramatically with my income.. and now being at the library
three or four times a week... no need to buy most books...

Missing you !

90> When I think my bookbuying is getting out of hand, I remember Paul.
LOL. Yes, he is helpful in keeping most of us out of the book-buying guilt doldrums.

Sorry to hear that your energy has been low lately, Gail. Just stopping by to say hello and wish you well.

Linda, Thank you very much for the link. I came across Cohen on an NPR interview show and became an immediate fan. Coincidentally, Louise Penny's newest release, due in August, I believe, is called "How the Light Gets In"; this Cohen line from Anthem has been used as a title by several authors, it turns out. Several years ago, I asked my brother if he knew of Cohen, we discussed his work briefly, and very soon a CD arrived at my house: The Essential Leonard Cohen, with a note saying it was for "those other moments". He attended the Boston concert in December and said as soon as "Who By Fire" started he thought of me. He and I share book likes (50%) and music likes (85%). We also have the same sense of humor, not always a good thing.

Karen, Just to put things in perspective, last year I bought, easily, well over 200 books, about half of which were e-books. Hence my desire to read books I already own. I learned the hard way to make no promises about "not" buying.

Terri, I haven't had any luck with Project Gutenburg, either, or very little. I do shop for bargains when I can get them, and was greatly helped a couple of years ago by a huge push B. and N. put on for Classics for the Nook--they offered 5 free selections per week, I think. I really stocked up then.

Kath, I've been reading a few, but i must admit adding like mad--trying to get my collection updated is time-consuming and annoying, but I really need to do it so that I don't double buy or buy something that I disliked so much I didn't finish and promptly forgot about it.

Ellen: Thank you for your kindness. I seem to be struggling to stay awake most of the time; I'm not sure why. Doubled my coffee consumption, but that's not working either. Oh well. I go to the dr. in about a month.

Book 3 of 75:
Lolita: the Annotated Edition
Now here's something that proves too much information can be a bad thing. The book itself, of course, remains the same: a sad and sadly comic tale of pedophile obsessed with a particular girl. Most everyone knows the plot, so no point in discussing that here. Oddly there's not much sickening stuff, but one does develop an absolute loathing, combined with reluctant pity, for the narrator, Humbert Humbert. Lolita herself, where she's not a creation of HH's imagaination, is a rather dislikable child in a horrible situation. But here's the thing: I studiously read all the notes, more fool I, and came away with the feeling that Nabokov was in fact, a terribly arrogant sort of pain in the neck who loved to use extremely obscure references just to prove he's smarter than everyone else. I wish I'd never seen this edition.

Book 4 of 75
The Trail of the Serpent
remarks to follow.

Popping in to see if you are napping or feeling a bit perkier..

I am laplocked x 2 just now. Rosie and Angus.

If you could visit.. they could take a turn on your lap too!

>107 mckait:: Oooo, I'd love that. I'll just wear my jeans and a tee--no worries about, um, shedding (or me spilling tea).

Trying to keep my eyes open with toothpicks. Difficult. You know, I'm right back where I started about 6 months ago: exhaustion, muscle spasms have returned, feel a bit out of it (you may all stop laughing now) and that sort of thing. Just like before. Crap.

Oh, we had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day yesterday at bridge. The big Tuesday group is much, much more taxing for Dh. So this a.m., I very, very gently and as kindly as I could, suggested that we do Tuesday bridge every other week to see how that works out. Dh himself mentioned how tiring it was for him, thus giving me an opening I was searching for. He was all for every other week, which means that it must have been horrid for him yesterday. He hates to give up bridge.

The Trail of the Serpent by Mary Braddon
is a perfect example of neglected women's writing. Sort of a "The Count of Monte Cristo Meets Iago", with the very first detective with any sort of disability (he is mute, but not deaf) thrown in for good measure. Are there wild coincidences and some silly contrivances? You bet. Is it a rattling good, fast-moving thriller-type read? Absolutely. What keeps it from being mundane is Braddon's wonderfully understated and sly sense of humor and her on-point digs at Victorian society. I loved it. Really. 4.5*'s, half-star off for all the plot silliness. Still, no sillier than many other works of the era. If you like Vic. lit. at all, do give this under-known gem a try.

Phew! I always get a little stressed when anyone takes me up on a recommendation. :)

Very glad to hear that you enjoyed it, and I hope you'll continue to drop in on Madeline's tutored read.

The Trail of the Serpent, eh? *potters off to investigate*

#106 - when I read "annotated version" I perked up. I've never had a desire to read Lolita but thought I might learn something through the annotations. That lasted about two seconds. Thanks for the warning, I will continue not wanting to read Lolita.

Feeling a little behind because I spent an hour or so reading a "book" that wound up being given up on in disgust and hitting the trash bin. (And I never throw books away, it was that bad.) That's an hour I'll never get back.

So. What made you feel better 6 months ago? Do you remember? Can you make that happen again?
Maybe instead of waiting for the appt you have, you can see your GP and get some help? Seriously think about something that would make you a little bit happy each day...would that help? Can you tell if it's physical or .. not? This is worrying...

>111 AuntieClio: So... what book? must know!

#112 - Make the Break (If You Can) by Reginald Exton. It's published by the Humanist Press and is an absolute screed against anyone who has faith in any type of supernatural being. Basically his point was, "science proves all this is bunk, why are you so stupid?"

To be clear, I don't care if people or believe or not and I'm always interested in finding out why they do or don't. This was so poorly written and condescending, I gave up in disgust.

Reviews are here: http://www.librarything.com/work/13287970/reviews

Mine is the one that begins with "it wasn't a book, it was a concert program."

Thank you Stephanie..good review... thank you for the link!

Kathleen, you're welcome!

FRIDAY!

It got here! It took a week, but what can one do?

LOL

Gail - Just togo back on the book-buying consequences as raised by Karen. A divorce could be in the offing if the extent of my "crimes" were discovered!

Have a lovely weekend Gail and your review reminds me why I try not to buy annotated books. Largely annoying as are books with excessively long introductions - I mean who the hell reads those?

Talking is good. Like the dessert of the day.

.

Ah, Gail. I turn around and I'm 80+ messages behind. Anyway, I hope you're having a good weekend and feeling better. My bridge group decided that we could all survive if we play every three weeks; that certainly works for me, but then, I love it least among the four of us. My mama, on the other hand, can play two or three times a week every week with no problem.
Meanwhile, I'm reading all the notes in my Kindle copy of The Brontes and pretty much enjoying them except that it makes the reading So Slow. Since it's a 1000+ page book (but I think only 70% or so of it is text), this is a significant undertaking.
I love "Alabackward" too. Sounds like home. I walked into a discount store one day and asked whether they stocked any hats. The clerk answered, "You mean like the kind you wear on your head?" Yep. That was exactly the kind I meant. Now I hope I made you smile, and I'm off for a bite of supper.

Liz, I too get nervous, a bit, when making suggestions about books, but over the years it gets easier to have your loved ones rejected/disdained. Well, a little easier. I will surely continue to follow the tutored thread. I appreciated one def. you supplied, about a little joke, trans. from the French; for some reason, that was one of very few not in the notes of my edition. Did you feel Lady Audley's Secret to be somewhat compromised because of the ending or what? I haven't read the book, but with a book of this type I don't mind a mild spoiler.

Rdear, I think you'd like its fast pace and sly social commentary. As a mystery reader, you should find the plot to be pretty easy to see about a mile off...;>)

Stephanie, thanks for warning me off an unnecessary book. Good review, too!

Paul, Well, really; I mean how silly to take all the joy or even pleasure out of reading a book by going into all this obscure stuff...er...just like high school, eh?
On another note, Dh is waging a low-key but persistent campaign for both of us to clear the house of some books we'll not read again. He's right, of course. My problem is all the ones I'm discovering that I want to buy and read...and buy and read...and buy and read later...

Kath! A good conversation (translated as women chatting about nothing for an hour or two) is truly the best dessert and a perfect ending to what may or may not have been a long week.
Looooooove the kitty.

Peggy, welcome back. Whenever you have time is fine for visiting here. Some book notes are great (I especially appreciate trans. of foreign phrases), helpful and/or interesting. But some are way too much like a bad college or high school course, where all the pleasure is just sucked right out of the book.

Great story about the hat. Wonder what other kind she may have been thinking of.
Here's one:
"Hi, I'd like to make an appt."
"Are you a new patient?"
"Yes, I am."
"Are you in our system?"
Erm...
probably not.

And it got worse from there.

Book 5 of 75
The Sisters Brothers
comments to follow

Book 6 of 75
A Fatal Advent
This is a solid mystery of the cozy-type. It takes place at a large Episcopalian church in New York City, circa 1980. Fun characters, a good plot, interesting church stuff, including one of those magical boys' choirs. 3 *'s

#106: I have never had a desire to read Lolita, although I am a fan of Nabokov's writing. Your review of the annotated version leaves me even less desirous of reading the book.

I was able to download The Trail of the Serpent to my Nook. Maybe one of these days I will actually read it!

#122: I look forward to your comments on that one!

((Hugs)), sweetie.

*smooch* for Sunday joy

If you haven't read Lady Audley's Secret I won't say anything specific, just that I suspect that Braddon was forced to do something plot-wise that she didn't want to, to "soften" it a bit.

Heh! I keep wanting to take issue with you over deducting half a star for "plot silliness". Complaining about that in a sensation novel is like saying there are too many Russians in Anna Karenina! :)

I can relate to dealing with seemingly brainless people. I wonder how they keep their jobs?
As for the dessert... more please?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZTHjjGtuDA

through

http://www.tatlife.com/

Stasia, Hello, my Dear! So glad to see you; I know how busy you must be. I loved The Sisters Brothers, but am still thinking over what I want to say about it. Certainly it's an original work.

Rdear, Sunday joy to you as well, Dear Sir. It's mighty chilly here and due to get quite a bit chillier. However, the sun is shining, I'm warm inside; life could be worse.

Liz: Point well-taken on the sensation novel aspect. I loved The Count of Monte Cristo, and if that wasn't full of plot silliness, nothing is. Hmm. Perhaps a re-think is in order. I did enjoy the book very much, and was surprised both by how easy it was to read in comparison ot some others of that era, and how very sharp a woman she was. Of course now I must put Lady Audley on the nook just to see how much I like that one.

Kath, at least I don't have to face brainless folks in a work situation, where one can't really get away from them. Although it is maddening to me to try to keep one's temper and even demeanor (oh yeah, that's likely) while explaining for the umpteenth time that one's name is blah blah blah, and not bly bly bly.
Of course we'll have more dessert. I depend upon it.

Gail, I hope your energy levels increase this week. I get lethargic when we have a string of overcast days. Bright sunshine today thank goodness. I so agree on the originality of The Sisters Brothers. It was a pleasant surprise for me.

Heather and I are planning on reading Braddon's first novel, The Octoroon, together at some point, although that one's not very readily available.

For French sensation novels, apparently the go-to guy is not Dumas, but Eugene Sue. I haven't tried him yet, but I'm planning to. :)

Interesting warning about the annotated version of Lolita. I have it on my shelf - I bought it because I loved the book when I read it but was positive a lot of references and allusions went over my head. Now I'm feeling a little trepidatious about really reading it. Hm.

good

The more coffee and dessert the better!

brrrr going down to 6F tonight. :(
Hope things are nicer there?

hugs

Yep. Six degrees right now. I am seriously unhappy with this turn of events.
It was 57 in my living room this morning.. thank goodness I have a fan/heater in my bathroom or
showering would not have been fun. I left the furnace on 62 overnight, but it is just too cold.

I want to get it nice and warm before I go for the furkids... but, it might not be possible and it probably won't stay warm if I get there...

Late night ...( okay only 7pm ) so I am stressing...
gah!

Did you watch the inauguration?

How are you feeling today? Still having the fatigue...?
I hope not...

off to finish Dunkers food prep..

hugs

whew..woke and did floors, cleaned the bathroom, and the kitchen just got a lick and a promise...
So I sort of hit the ground running today. I was able to shower and wrap up in a fleecy and plushy cozy robe I found on clearance ( online of course) I hate to have to get back to reality, which I have to do in about 10 minutes. Owen's birthday today... yay!

Not much to say ... things are all status quo here.. It concerns me that I haven't seen you..
hope all is well ? I'm looking forward to fridays dessert.. are we on for that?

No internet yesterday. Interesting. But shutting down the entire system: p.c., router, modem; worked to make all better. Haven't had to do that for a while. Naturally I was too lazy to try that at first.

Donna, my energy levels are up a bit, but then this p.m. was forced to lie down and nap for an hour. And then had to force myself to get up and get dinner sort of going, making the meatloaf, finding the vegs., etc. I mean finding the vegs. in our freezer, where we keep all the (unnecessary) extra food we prepare. I didn't mean I had to go out into the fields to find them...I loved Sisters Brothers, but still not sure precisely what I want to say about it.

Liz: Eugene Sue? Who? Did he write that book, The Wandering Jew? Ah, touchstones tell me he did. That is the sum of my knowledge of M. Sue. I've mentioned before that I've had dodgy luck with books originally in French; what I'd like to find is a really good trans. of The Three Musketeers so that I can enjoy it at least half as much as my daughter did many, many years ago when I said, "Here, why don't you give this a try?" I can't seem to enjoy Balzac, never tried Victor Hugo (if the Classics Comics edition of The Hunchback of Notre Dame doesn't count), and have yet to enjoy, if that is the proper word, Madame Bovary. But I've not given up hope. What about Zola or Collette?

Ursula, Welcome to my thread! Don't be put off by my remarks, as I'm a very idiosyncratic reader. For example, I loved The Annotated Alice, which is one of the reasons I tried the Lolita. Also I knew that I was missing an awful lot of references, which I hate to do. People have taken me task for my less-than-enthusiastic reaction to this particular edition. I have to tell you that on my first two readings of Lolita I was completely engulfed in the story and characters. I'd be delighted to know your reactions when/if you give it a go...

Kath! Bad somber mood Monday, no 'net access yesterday--good grief! I went to purchase a wee bookie on the Kindle when I discovered that little item--but back today.

Wow! You've been busy! I did a bunch of house stuff this week-end and then again yesterday, but have run out of steam again. This is tiresome (no pun intended). It's chilly here, temps in the very low 50's for a high; supposed to stay this way into next week. I watched about three minutes of the inauguration, during which I noticed how beautiful the first daughters are. Completely irrelevant, but there you are.
Absolutely on for dessert; 7-ish?

Sometimes I'm reaaaalllly slow on the uptake. It occurred to me that Dh will be 77 (when could that have happened????). So maybe I've been looking at this from the wrong angle. He's slowing down, precisely the way my dad did. That made me feel fairly stupid.

Reading The Stockholm Octavo, Memoirs of a Midget, and Thou Shell of Death right now. All are wonderful in their own peculiar ways.

Hi, Gail. Yes, that's the guy, although I gather that the place to start is The Mysteries Of Paris, one of these huge, rambling, multi-plot, multi-part things. There's a free version out there which I'm planning on giving a try quite soon.

To be truthful, European classics have never spoken to me the way that English ones do, although I'm not certain if it's a content / style issue or a translation issue. It's something I need to look into more diligently. I haven't tried Colette yet, though I mean to at some point; if you want advice on Zola, Ilana may be able to help you.

I was without the internet for over a week last year. It nearly killed me. :)

yep.. a good time for dessert I think....
7ish it is.

*smooch*

No worries, I like people who tell it how they see it! I had the same experience - so engrossed in the story and everything that I knew I was missing a lot of what had been put there for the reader. I don't often re-read, but I bought that edition specifically to re-read. I'll get around to it eventually.

Gail, you gave me an idea (http://www.librarything.com/topic/147646#3861856)

Just popping in to wish you a gentle and relaxing day...
I am too empty headed just now to think of anything more :)

hugs

REALLY looking forward to dessert!

Stephanie, I dropped by your thread and left a comment there...I like the way you expanded the idea!

Kath: I've had a couple of epiphanies this week, so am truly looking forward to this evening, too.

Book 7 of 75: The Stockholm Octavo
What an amazing book! Fuller review coming (Iknow, I know, I still haven't done Sisters Brothers either).

Must update TIOLI now.

I'm just about to finish The Sisters Brothers and will look forward to your review!

Well.. I am still slumped instead of reading. I am not sure why.. I really want to read.. this blasted schedule is what is throwing me off.. le sigh...

Take care and remember how important it is that you do something to make YOU happy at least once a day.
Important for DH and especially for you. Got it?

good... do report in on the being nice to Gail thing :)

Hi, Peggy. I'm feeling fortunate to have read three really good books in a row (just finishing off Thou Shell of Death this a.m.) Then must actually think about what to say.

Good morning, Miss Kath. It's cloudy and damp and quite cool here today. Not sure what I'm going to do today, after lunch. Laundry this morning, plus reading. Housekeeper came yesterday, so house is reasonably tidy, except for my desk/work area, which looks terrible. I might feel better if I cleaned that up. May take a walk, too, with headphones. I love being outside.

So cold outside here.. brrrrr..
Walk is good if it makes you feel good so yay you!
Hopefully you did it.. or something else to make you feel breezy...

Whoa. The bum-bum is just painful as all get-out. Did try arnica gel which brought some relief, but not as much as the heat. So walking any distance isn't much fun. This a.m. we drove around town, went out for breakfast, went out for lunch, did some light shopping. Bought my first three paper books for this year: Chocolat, The Secret History, and Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History. Yesterday I ran errands and dropped off 16 of my books and several of dh's at a local library.

Finished up
Book 8 of 75
Thou Shell of Death
Absolutely loved it. Much, much better than the first in the series; funny, intricate plot. Howvever, at the very end of the book, I had the distinct impression I'd read it many, many years ago.

I promise to work on reviews today, and get them posted by Tuesday.

I am also reading Memoirs of a Midget Gail (well just starting it) and have the Stockholm Octavo slated to buy in the next fortnight.

My local library has exactly one Nicholas Blake book and it is number 7 in the series! Arg!!

Paul, Let me tell ya, me boyo, that the Midget book is just weird. But I loved the other. Loved it.

Stasia, Hello, busy one. I hate that libraries no longer stock old mysteries; of course, space issues apply, but still...I've had some good luck finding old mysteries at Rue Morgue Books online, and on kindle. But it's catch as catch can: sometimes they're available, sometimes not.

No worries.. I'm fine.. I was mostly sulking. .. and p.o'd Seriously people.. throw down some salt.
I guess that since Dan wasn't available to do her driveway... she just didn't. Grr. And I was picking out cinders... because they put down a salt and cinder mix. Today... Pure ice is falling from the sky.

Glad to hear that you made your appointment. The dry run was a good idea.. Maybe the results will help them do something for your fatigue.

I plan to read today...what is your plan?

Looking forward to friday :)

Plan for today:
1. Reading
2. Resting
3. Laundry
4. Reading
5. Fold Laundry
6. Reading
7. Figure out something for dinner
8. Reading
And stuck in between and around and through every number: Dh.

Oh, and I might meditate, too, or try to.

Good plan :) it resembles my day yesterday..

I love your plan for today, Gail. I'll be doing 1, 3, 5, 7, and 8 with you! I also have my after-school tutoring gig and a meeting following that to see if we can improve on the program.

Nice little book haul. I loved The Secret History.

So here we are, another day. I hope your plan has less of 1,3,5 and 7.... and more of 4 & 8.. and some good food. Lots of relaxing ( 9?) would be good :)

Work for me... I read 1.5 books yesterday, so I am hoping that this means the book slump is over. But since it is work that tips me into the slump, due to the hours I work being my preferred reading time .. so?

Oh well. May your day be soft and gentle.. and filled with energy and books. Oh, and good food!

Unfortunately, today is a bridge day. Didn't go well the last time we played on a Tuesday; we'll see what happens today.

I did mah duty, Sirs and Madames, and reviewed three books:

The Sisters Brothers, already marked as one of my favorites is reviewed right here. A fantastic, orginial, grimly humorous work. I loved it.

The Stockholm Octavo, a fascinating study of something fairly obscure to us 'Murricans, Swedish history during the period of the French Revolution, is discussed on this page,

and Thou Shell of Death, a superior Golden Age classic mystery, is reviewed here

Okay, that will never happen again: I managed to cite all 3 reviews correctly in one go! I'll get the hang of this here computer stuff yet.

Finishing up Memoirs of a Midget, which is...odd. Interesting, though.

Donna: I wish every day could be filled with books and a bit of time outside. Or a day of reading on the porch. Nice.

Kath, Food kind of dull this week so far. I like a dull life, though, as most excitement in the past few years has involved moderated to severe health issues. Wait--that doesn't have anything to do with food, does it? Sorry. I am getting back to reading in all the odd moments available, which considerably helps my mood.

Danny darling! I send hugs and smooches and apologies for being neglectful. I'm finding bureaucracy still in my way with the boiler repair contract problem I'm currently dealing with.

I'm expecting to be back in the swing of things LT before long.

ha! timing.. I just texted you

>162 mckait:: Checking that out shortly...

Rdear!, Howdy do. Stinky boiler problems. I love the phrase, "what they fixed wrong". So typical of all this nonsense we go through nowadays.

hugs sweet dreams

Yay! I do love Strangeways and need to read *TSoD*. And your stomach turned only once in *S Bros*? Good for you! I'm glad you're still on a solid good reading binge.
(And our 4th player - well, I guess technically I'm the 4th - broke her leg and hasn't felt like sitting up for 2 or 3 hours, so I've been bridgeless for a month!) (That's a fairly drastic solution to the too much bridge problem.)

Great plan for your day yesterday Gail, hope it worked out.
Have dropped Memoirs of a Midget for now as I have decided if stuff doesn't get started in my 4-weekly reading plan it has had its chance and gets shunted to another date.

Oh dear, more personal reading challenges.. lol. I am such a wimp.

Doesn't Bridge have seasonal breaks? Maybe you should introduce them :)
Or just bring a few bottles of wine the next time ...

just 2 days left :)

Breeeeeezing through to leave a hug :) and wish a happy day !

Peggy, I found *TSoD* so much better than the first book of the series. Nigel S. is an entrancing character. I'm looking forward to finding more of these. As for *Sisters*, I was so engaged by the character of Eli that I accepted many things just as he did. On the bridge front, I'm so grateful to have every other Tuesday off that nothing else matters.

Paul, I had started *Memoirs* and got completely confused; put it aside and had to start over, but finished it off on the 30th. I don't know if I liked it or not; it's kind of "sensation" fiction. but the narrator is a well-developed person with a believable point of view.

Kath: Ha! Tomorrow's the day. I'm trying to get through five books a month--uh-oh, that would only be 60, but I'm determined that previously-owned books will outnumber new books by a wide margin.

Book 9 of 75
Memoirs of a Midget
is really, really strange. Miss M, the main character and narrator, is the midget of the title. Her life, which closely resembles the lives of other narrators of sensation fiction, is interesting in a mild sort of way. Her perspective of being an outsider is enhanced by her size, which provides some unique difficulties for the heroine of this sort story. I'd rate it 3 *'s.

So, of 9 books completed in January, only one was a new purchase or acquistion. Pretty good start.

To read in February:
The Egyptian
Stuck in the Middle
The French Lieutenant's Woman
A Maggot
Standing in the Rainbow
The Oldest Dead White European Males

Gail, yay for only buying one new book. I had a dream last night in which someone was telling me I had to do "something" about my books and I told them I hadn't bought any books in January, wasn't that enough?

Hoping to finish Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain tonight so I will have 10 for the month. (Go me.)

Whoa, 10 in one month! Wow. That'll get you right up there for the year, if you can maintain it.

Of course, not buying any books for one month is actually doing enough about your books for the whole year!

How do you like the Bourdain book?

#159 Hit by all three book bullets Gail!

And congratulations on reading 10 books this month! :-)

Memoirs of a Midget sounds like one I'm happy to pass by. *smooch*

Gail, I love Anthony Bourdain's style, he tells great stories. I am planning on buying Kitchen Confidential so I can re-read it. Maybe that will be the only book I buy for myself in February. ;-)

Counting the minutes...

Heather: I actually did read 10 books this month, but I'm only counting 9, as The Listener is, well, just not being counted by me. I'm very glad you got nicked by 3 bb's. Each one is well worth a read.

Rdear, I don't think "M. of M." is worth your time. You've plenty of other fish to fry without that one.

Stephanie, I've not read any Bourdain books although I do love to read books about cooking. My favorite cookbook title is The Way to Cook by Julia Child--so self-assured.

Kath: Not long now...

I've started The Egyptian, which is really interesting and quite engrossing. Apparently this author is/was known for his historical fiction, as he alsw wrote The Roman and The Etruscan. Based on what I've read so far (maybe up to page 100), I'd read the other two as well. Thick and with tiny print, but great reading.

Also reading Stuck in the Middle with You and Standing in the Rainbow. The last is a re-read and one of my "guilty pleasure" authors. Flagg's characters and plots are so down-to-earth, funny and sad; they make great soothing reading.

Gail, Bourdain's books are stories about kitchens and the restaurant industry, not necessarily cooking. I also like Michael Ruhlman It's not always pretty, but always fun to read. :-)

And I did make 10 books for the month!

Hello dear Danvers, how fun that you're reading Mika Waltari! By today's historical-fiction standards he was a perpetrator not a writer, but they're whacking good yarns.

Typhoid Mary was another decent read by Bourdain. Related to cooking and kitchens....

#180, oh yes Typhoid Mary was a really good one. I'm pondering getting Cook's Tour at some point.

Stephanie: Bourdain sounds interesting, if somewhat off-putting. Typhoid Mary seems like a good place for me to start. On of the daughters loves his work.

Rdear! You sweet thing. I'd never heard of Waltari, but certainly agree about the "whacking good yarns". The title character and narrator of The Egyptian is an interesting and completely believable person. Nice to find books from that era that I'd not read/heard of and enjoy them so much.

Kath, thanks for the links! Anything to get me started on another author. I did get a wee title on the kindle by Mr. de Lint, just for exploratory purposes. Last night was a high spot in my week.

Very cold, for here, today. A beautiful sunny day, though. Laundry going now; some dusting to do (erg), some more organizing: today is my day to clean out the guest bathroom drawers and linen closet of unnecessary/out-of-date/unknown items. Why would I, who wear cosmetics about twice per week, have 6 cosmetic bags? Crazy, that's why.

Oooo...my set of Downton Abbey series 3 came in the mail. Saved a nice $10 by pre-ordering, too. I have some very favorites: "Brideshead Revisited" (the first series, with Anthony Andrews and Jeremy Irons), "Gosford Park", "The Shooting Party", "Doc Martin", and several more. Often I buy them, so I can be prepared for either the cable going out, the World-Wide DVD famine, or that day when I say, "Enough! No more cable for me!"
Or perhaps I'm just a book and movie hoarder...

I am evolving into a real lurker this year. However, I am delurking just now to wish you a great weekend and sending you lots of hugs {{{{{{{Gail}}}}}}}
and good energy for those days it gets a bit low.
Back to lurking. I know. Kinda selfish of me but it balances my screen/book ratio a bit better ;-)

#185 Gail, Bourdain's books are rough and tough. Easy to read but often about not very nice people, including himself (which he freely admits to) and filled with "language." I find myself liking him more and more, both on TV and in his books, because of his attitude. I would like to meet him and shake his hand, maybe buy him a few beers and listen to his stories. However, just because I like him a lot doesn't mean everyone else does, or should.

Srsly? You tell me you downloaded a deLint and not which one ?!?!? *anguish*
*heavy sighs* * gnashing of teeth* * nail biting* etcetera.
:)

*smooch*

Cee, I've been doing quite a bit of lurking this year too; like you, I want to improve my screentime/booktime ratio. I'm doing better on that score, really. Thanks for the good energy! I always need that.

Stephanie, Language probably won't bother me too much. What I'll do is borrow one from the library and see if he's an author for me or not. My tastes are at best eclectic, at worst scattered all over the map.

Kath, I put the title on your thread; I think it's Jack in the Green. It seems like a painless way to get started. Heh. Then I'll get hooked and never get away.

Beautiful day today, with that pale winter sky and semi-bright sun. The moon was there to greet me when I went out to get the paper. Things to do this a.m. and then a small errand in the p.m. so Dh can get out and get some fresh air.

And there's always reading...

Thinking of you and sending hugs

Thank you, dear Linda. You're so very sweet and thoughtful to all of us.

Gail, borrowing from the library is a great idea! I'll be interested in knowing what you think after you've read some of his stuff.

The first week of any month is not a good one for me to avoid book buying, since Amazon runs monthly special sales in big groups. Tonight's purchases:

1. Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light by Patrick Milligan

2. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

3. The Bucolic Plague by Josh Kilmer-Purcell

4. Sixpence House by Paul Collins

5. Steampunk! An Anthology of Fantastically Rich and Strange Stories

6. Crossing the Heart of Africa by Julian Smith

7. The Crocodile Bird by Ruth Rendell

8. Gandhi's Passion: The Life and Legacy of Mahatma Gandhi by Stanley Wolpert

Whew! I see those bargains and just "click---click---click---" repeat until done or ill.

Oh Gail, I feel your pain. University of Chicago Press has a great sale until the end of the month, whittling it down to affordable was a huge challenge. And then, of course, since I bought a birthday book for a friend at Amazon, I had to buy two more for me just to get the free shipping.

I may be buying more from U of C before the month is out.

Thanks, Stephanie, for your empathy. I'm reading a book right now from U of C...may look at their lists...

I haven't finished a single book yet this month, but am half-way through 2, and have another fat one that will be a very quick read. Somehow February does me in; I make loads of plans and then run out of days. Never mind; I'll just do my best, such as it is.

Still cool here (50's), but sunny and cheerful. Must fill the birdfeeder and plant some bulbs today; the bulbs may not bloom this year, but will do fine next year, after a long summer of green leaves soaking up energy for them. The potted crotons on the front porch seem to be doing fine with just a weekly watering. Fertilizer is scheduled for them next month. Took our tax paperwork to the accountant today; so painless and really reasonable to just have her do it, file it electronically, and get the refund (one presumes) deposited automatically.

Kind of a low day for Dh, but that's just part of the game. Fortunately today is a no-bridge Tuesday, so we went out to breakfast, ran a couple of errands, and came home.

Off to threads...

I think of February as the evil month, it's short and it's usually unpleasant weather-wise and the only relief in sight is spring in March. Yech on February.

Just stopping by for a quick read and a speak. I went on a Fowles kick when Daniel Martin came out and need to look him up again. *groan* Somehow, it's not supposed to count if I read a book 30 or so years ago and don't have much of it left in me. That's true of so much that I read 30 years ago that I could retch.
Hope tomorrow is a brighter day all around.

almost friday, thank goodness!!!!

and here it is! yay!!!

Rdear: I've always hated both February and November. A Massachusetts November was endless rain, sometimes freezing, with perhaps 3 sunny days oout of 31, and nothing at all to look forward to but the dark, cold, snow and sleet of winter. By February everyone was sick to death of said dark cold nastiness, and March was usually full of mud...but also crocus, daffodils, hyacinth...oh my, pardon me. I forgot for a moment that you don't care for flowers.

Peggy, I just started The French Lieutentant's Woman today. I have only the very vaguest of memories of it--so many books have intervened--but it starts beautifully.

Kath, At last. Calmly aniticipating.

A few more e-purchases:

Four in the Doan and Carstairs series:
1. Holocaust House
2.The Mouse in the Mountain
3. Sally's in the Alley
4. Oh, Murderer Mine

and a few others:
5. Dr. Thorndyke Mysteries Collection Volume One
6. Mornings on Horseback
7. Abraham Lincoln
8. In the Time of the Butterflies
9. Petrella at Q

I seem to be gathering a vast amount of mysteries on the kindle; a good way to pass the time if one is stressed.

Forgot to mention I finished two more books:

11 of 75
The Right Attitude to Rain

12 of 75
The Egyptian

Thoughts upcoming.

:) Such a great time last night! Have a happy weekend.. feel hugged and try to sneak in a wee bit of breezy time.

Kath: Yes, indeedy. Wide-ranging and interesting!

Feeling chilly here (37) but obviously not complaining as I could be living in MA. As I look out the window next to me, the iris and lilies are starting to green up.

I enjoy the Botswana mysteries (sort of mysteries) by Alexander McCall-Smith, but I've failed to like his other books as much. The Right Attitude to Rain is the third in the Dalhousie series, set in Scotland with a philosopher as the main character. The books are somewhat engaging, but have an odd problem: the main character is so realistic that she is sometimes very boring. You want to say, "My word, get on with it already!" as she analyzes every thought and action minutely. You know, just like real people do. I'd give it perhaps 2.75*; it just isn't that interesting.

The Egyptian, on the other hand, is extremley interesting. Set in the time surrounding Pharaoh Aknetaton, it's an absorbing study of society and religion in ancient Egypt. Widely termed "obscene" in 1949, this book would hardly cause a raised eyebrow today. The main character, Sinehue, is a physician, and the close descriptions of medical knowledge and practice of the times added considerably to my enjoyment of the book. Waltari includes a lot of information on legends and myths of the times which may give certain readers pause, as these pre-figure biblical stories. A good, if long, read. 4.0*

Am now reading three books, but I've got a lot to finish up and this month is short, short, short.

I like Isabel Dalhousie a bit more than you do, sugarbritches, but I still know what you mean about the "yeah yeah and...?" response.

Ah. The Waltari found a fancier. How comforting!